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Advice from the experts

What is Perinatal Distress… and what does it really look like?

Most of us have heard of perinatal distress, also known as postnatal depression or PND, but why is this common and treatable illness often misunderstood and underdiagnosed? I was propped up in bed trying to feed my one-week-old infant staring at a pamphlet titled: “Postnatal Depression”. I thought to myself, “oh that’s when a new mother lies in bed all day crying. I definitely don’t have that. I’m not even going to open this pamphlet. I’m exhausted, I have my hands full with a fussy baby, I don’t have time to read this and besides, I don’t have PND anyway.” Two months later, I was hospitalised for nearly two weeks, followed by months of therapy and medication. You guessed it: I had PND. This medical condition had gone undiagnosed long enough for it to ravage my body and mind, as well as tear a hole through our entire family. When I look back at that dark and difficult time, I often think to myself that if only I had understood then what PND truly looked like, this illness would never have been able to take such a powerful hold on my life. The jaw-dropping reality is that PND affects well over 10% of women within the first year of giving birth. Many of those women are never diagnosed and treated because they don’t know what PND is or may be too ashamed to seek help. Why do we know so little about PND? Let’s rewind a little. PND used to stand for Postnatal Depression, a mental health condition in which mothers would experience depression and anxiety after their baby’s birth. Fast forward to present day: PND now stands for Perinatal Distress, because experts now understand that this mental health condition can occur both before and after giving birth (yes you can have PND when you are pregnant!) and that mothers can experience a wide range of symptoms. These may include depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive behaviours, sleep disorders, anger and more. In the most extreme cases (postnatal psychosis – a medical emergency) a mother may experience hallucinations or voices. The full list of symptoms is a long one, but may include some or all of the following: Feeling low, sad, tired, hopeless, alone, scared, angry, bored, irritable, guilty, on edge. Changes in appetite (either eating more or less than usual) Weight loss or gain Loss of interest in enjoyable activities; not looking forward to things. Lack of interest in the baby Panic attacks Overwhelming, scary thoughts. Even thoughts of harming yourself or the baby Changes in energy levels, sleep patterns or tiredness (hard to gauge with a new baby when you’re sleeping less anyway, but if you are unable to sleep when you are exhausted, there may be a problem) Mood swings, crying more often, restlessness and irritability Brain fuzz or racing thoughts Herein lies the Problem These symptoms cover most of the common emotions experienced by mothers in the perinatal period. Some of these symptoms are completely normal and result from extreme hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy and birth. However, these symptoms should only last for a couple of weeks after the baby is born (The Baby Blues). So how can a mother tell what is normal, and what is PND? A good rule is that if you feel like you’re not yourself, or you are not coping, have a chat to your healthcare provider. If you don’t feel like you can talk to your GP, obstetrician or clinic nurse, then turn to a trusted friend or family member. You do not have to suffer in silence. There are various treatment options available to you which are perfectly safe, both before and after giving birth. With the correct treatment, PND can be completely resolved. Left untreated, it may be fatal, to both a mother and her child. Why do most women have only a vague idea of what PND can actually look like? Because we don’t talk about it! Even in todays’ open-minded world of acceptance, there is still a heavy burden of societal stigma attached to a mother’s mental health. When a woman is pregnant or has a baby, she is expected to be happy! “You’ve been so blessed!”; “Enjoy every minute, they go by so fast!”; “You’ve got what you always wanted – you must be thrilled!” These are all phrases that most mothers have heard at some point. If she is struggling inwardly, she may feel guilty that she is not happy. Mothers are often wracked with insecurity, which they can keep well hidden. She may worry that she will be seen as ungrateful, or even unfit to be a mother. PND survivor Hayls Lieberthal wanted nothing more than to have a child, but as her pregnancy progressed, so did her self-doubt. “I was told all the time, ‘you are carrying life, you’re very blessed’ and ‘You have nothing to feel sad about!’” She vividly recalls a woman saying to her “look at you, you must be so excited!” and found herself lying behind a false smile: “I am so excited I can’t wait!” Meanwhile, on the inside all she could think was “I can’t do this.” From the moment your pregnancy is confirmed, healthcare professionals typically focus intensely on a mother and baby’s physical health, but less on a mother’s mental health. Even when a healthcare provider is aware of PND and asks the patient all the right questions, a mother may not divulge how she truly feels because she feels ashamed. After I had my first baby, I was overwhelmed by my new life and role. There were times that I thought I had made a terrible mistake, and that maybe I wasn’t cut out to be a mother after all. These feelings were shameful to me, and I didn’t feel like I could tell anyone. Little did I know that those feelings are incredibly common among new mothers, even mothers who do not have PND. The Truth about PND PND is not

March 15, 2021

Chicco Ohlala2 Stroller

Chicco, a 63-year old leader in baby products, has tirelessly committed to ensuring that all strollers and prams have optimal comfort and functionality for children. On top of this standard promise, Chicco looks after the needs of parents, allowing mom and dad to #parentmore – the Chicco catchphrase for stress-reduced parenting. The Ohlala2 stroller is one of the lightest strollers on the market. Weighing in at just 3.8kgs, it is known as the stroller you can lift with one finger. Perfect for busy modern parents, the Ohlala folds down into the square book-fold and takes up minimal space in the boot of your car or the home. In a deep black colour with white graphic details, the Ohlala is on-trend and historically has been one of Europe’s best-selling Chicco strollers due to convenience and level of functionality for baby. It is also available in twin format (Ohlala Twin). Complete with large canopy, full recline, large storage basket and bumper bar, the Ohlala2 provides a safe and comfortable journey for your little one from birth – 15kgs. Grab a Chicco Ohlala2 at participating retailers such as Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Thekidzone.co.za, Babanino.co.za, Brand Hubb, Little Kingdom online and others.

March 15, 2021

Rent vs Salaries – Here are SA’s most affordable destinations

Despite consumer inflation being at a 16-year low, the prices of most basic goods are still higher than they were a year ago. With new restrictions set in place to combat the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, South African families are anxious about how the economic climate will affect their incomes and purchasing power over the next year and beyond. Along with food prices and the fuel cost, which is continuously on the rise, it appears as though the cost of accommodation is also still on the rise. In October 2020, Adzuna analysed income data and compared it to average rental prices in the country’s leading hubs. It was found that the average South African family spent as much as 28% of their salaries on rent. At the start of February 2021, Adzuna analysed the same statistics and was able to pinpoint where some of the most cost-effective destinations for South Africans to live and work in. The PayProp Rental Index (Q1 2020) indicated that rental growth was at 3.2% year-on-year by the end of 2020. With these figures in mind, Adzuna drew a comparison between the average rental price and average salaries offered in South Africa’s main city centres. The findings indicated that South African families spend anywhere between 17% and 32% of their wages on rent every month. Cheapest places to rent in South Africa After comparing income and rental prices in South Africa’s ten biggest cities, the most affordable cities to rent in were Rustenburg, Polokwane, and Port Elizabeth. All three towns see renters spending less than 20% of their salaries on rent every month. City Average Rent Average Salary % of Salary Spent on Rent Rustenburg R6 100 R36,000 17% Polokwane R5 500 R32,000 17% Port Elizabeth R5 500 R30,000 18% Bloemfontein R6 500 R32,000 20% Nelspruit R6 200 R31,000 20% Kimberley R5 000 R25,000 20% Johannesburg R8 700 R40,000 22% Durban R9 000 R35,000 25% Pretoria R8 000 R30 000 26% Cape Town R13 000 R41,000 32% Salaries have remained unchanged since October 2020 while rental costs have increased across the board. In cities like Cape Town, families are spending as much as 32% of their monthly income on rent. Cape Town is still the most expensive destination in South Africa. Capetonians that choose to reside just outside the city centre might spend between 25% and 27% of their income on rent. However, these costs are still much higher than average rental prices in other main hubs like Pretoria and Johannesburg. One of the most significant changes Adzuna noticed was the increase in rental cost in Pretoria. In October 2020, Pretoria residents spent roughly 18% of their monthly salaries on rent. This year, residents are forking out almost 10% more than they did in 2020, with the average family now spending up to 26% of their salaries on rent. Cheapest province for renting in South Africa Although rental prices vary from one city to the other, there is also quite a dramatic difference in the amount a family in the Eastern Cape, for example, must spend on rent compared to a family living in KwaZulu Natal. Province Average Rent Average Salary % of Salary Spent on Rent North West R5,000 R31,000 16% Free State R6,500 R36,000 18% Gauteng R8,000 R39,000 20% Limpopo R7,000 R33,000 21% Northern Cape R8,000 R35,000 22% Western Cape R9,000 R40,000 23% KwaZulu-Natal R8,000 R32,000 25% Mpumalanga R7,500 R30,000 25% Eastern Cape R8 500 R32,000 26% Even though rent in the city of Cape Town is sky high, the province has a significantly lower average rental cost. In 2020, the Western Cape was one of the most expensive areas to rent in, but this year, the Eastern Cape is one of the most expensive destinations for families to live and work in. On the other side of the scale, the North West and Free State are still two of the most cost-effective destination for South Africans looking to strike a balance between rental costs and their monthly income. Final Thoughts Lower rental prices can no longer be the only deciding factor for considering where to rent a property. Since salaries have remained unchanged since the end of 2020, it is now essential to consider job availability and average salaries before blindly making a move. Even though salaries offered in Polokwane and Rustenburg seem incredibly high, these stats are affected by the technical and mining sectors, which means that job competition could be fierce here and landing a job in these destinations might not be easy. Western Cape, for example, has much more on offer as far as job opportunities are concerned, and salaries tend to be very high, but one also has to consider the fact that you could be spending up to 32% of that hard-earned salary on rent. *Adzuna’s analysis was also compared to average property prices provided by Property24 and Numbeo*

March 12, 2021

How important is it to revise your work regularly?

We talk about learning sciences as something that has appeared recently or is new to the educational world – this cannot be further from the truth. In this article, we look back to the 1880s, specifically at Hermann Ebbinghaus’s work. Ebbinghaus was a German psychologist who specialised in memory and learning. His most famous experiment is the ‘forgetting curve’, which we will use to reflect on the importance of regular revision of your work. The forgetting curve In developing the forgetting curve, Ebbinghaus noticed a correlation between memory retention, the strength of a memory, and the passing of time. To test this correlation, he taught himself ‘gibberish’. In other words, he created phrases made up of a sequence of random letters and taught them to himself. He performed multiple tests to see how well he could remember the information after different time periods, e.g. one day, two days, etc. had elapsed. He found that retention of information decreases rapidly after the first day of having learned the information. To counter this loss of memory, he revised some of the nonsense phrases at regular intervals both after and on the first day of learning them. He then found that the more he revised the phrases, the less frequently he had to revise them, and he could remember them for longer periods of time after he had learned them initially. While this is an old experiment, modern science confirms the findings, and the forgetting curve is still an important theory in the learning sciences today. The real question, though, is what this story means for your learning journey. Also read: The importance of practice in your learning journey Important things to remember when revising The most important thing we can learn from Ebbinghaus’ experiment is that your memory and retention of information decreases rapidly after the first day of learning something. Therefore, revise the most important parts of the information you learned within 24 hours of learning it. Revise your work multiple times – Ebbinghaus’s work also helps us understand that you will need to revise your work multiple times before you can remember it well. There is, unfortunately, no magic number of revisions, but the more you can review the work, the more easily you will be able to remember it. This ability to recall information may seem less important while you are actively learning the work for the first time, but the more information you can remember, the easier it is to prepare for examinations as you can focus on and review the most important areas instead of all the information. Avoid using the ‘oh yeah’ method of revision – We have all been there, paging through your textbook, and as you recognise the information, you mutter, “oh yeah, I know this” in your mind. When you get to the test or examination, that ‘oh yeah’ turns into ‘oh no’ when you can’t remember the information. There is a big difference between recognising the information while reading, watching, or listening to it and being able to recall it from your memory when you need to. When you revise, try to remember the information actively instead of just looking at an answer or solution presented in the information. Some tools to help you As we just mentioned, we don’t want to recognise our work – we want to remember it; otherwise, the time we spent on revision is wasted. Here are some tools that can help you: Flashcards – a flashcard is a simple piece of paper on which you write the problem or the question on the front of the card and the answer on the back. When you use flashcards, you challenge yourself to remember the answer before turning over the card, which means you are using your brain’s pathways to retrieve the information from your memory. Using flashcards is fantastic for learning and, if you can, you should make yourself a deck of flashcards for all your subjects. They work very well when you have to learn vocabulary and definitions in particular. They can also work in other subjects like Mathematics if you have to learn facts, such as when to use sin, cos, or tan (ratios of the sides of a right-angled triangle). It may take some time and effort to create your flashcard decks, but your brain will thank you when exam times arrive. Mnemonics – a mnemonic device is a learning technique that helps you retrieve information from your memory using certain cues. One of the most famous ones is the knuckle mnemonic, where each knuckle represents a month with 31 days, and the spaces between the knuckles represent a month with 30 days. Another example is using the phrase ‘never eat sour watermelons’ to remember the points of the compass, where each word in the phrase stands for north, east, south, and west, respectively. There are many mnemonics devices, but the advantage of mnemonic devices is that you can create your own. Just remember that you should not re-use a mnemonic device; otherwise, you might forget what it is helping you remember. Also read: Smart study hacks for the exams Benefits of revision Ebbinghaus shows us that it is vital that we review our work regularly. Besides remembering your work better, revision will also reduce stress and anxiety before tests and exams because you will already know a lot of your work. Tutors and parents can also help identify the most important parts of the work to ensure that flashcard decks don’t become too large and impractical or that the number of mnemonics created doesn’t become unfeasible. Learning doesn’t need to be stressful – if you are disciplined in your revision, your efforts will bear fruit. Dr Nicolaas Matthee

March 12, 2021

#StillNotFound ‘Age-Progression

Missing Children South Africa is currently running an ‘Age-Progression’ Campaign called #StillNotFound. Age progression is the process of modifying a photograph of a person to represent the effect of aging on their appearance. Digital image processing is the most common technique today, although sometimes artists’ drawings are used. Age progression is most often used as a forensics tool by law enforcement. Please keep a lookout for these 3 children, who went missing many years ago (and all adults now) who have just never been found, and whose families are still hoping and praying for their safety and safe return. MCSA Identity Kit Missing Children South Africa has developed an Interim ID Kit, and this is a great way to document all the important information about your child. Download it here https://missingchildren.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Interim-Kit-2020-1.pdf. Print and complete one for each of your children and keep it in your bag, just in case you might need it. Losing a child is one of the most traumatic experiences and this will relieve a lot of stress, having the information with you, when you need it most. Our website www.missingchildren.org.za acts as an emergency report facility, as well as being MCSA’s platform for informational and educational material with regards to Child Safety. The service MCSA offers to the community and government is invaluable and as you can imagine we certainly have our work cut out for us. We provide our services free of charge to anyone who needs us. Sadly we don’t necessarily enjoy the same privilege for our needs and our financial requirements quite often outweigh our resources! We rely solely on the goodwill of individuals and corporations for financial support – funding remains MCSA’s biggest challenge. You can assist us now by clicking here https://missingchildren.org.za/donate/ and donating – this will be deeply appreciated and is much needed. Education plays an incredibly vital role in the life of Missing Children South Africa, and all funds received is utilised to further MCSA’s educational program; ‘Tips for Children’ and ‘Tips for Parents’ which promotes Child Safety. The education is targeted to all the vulnerable and orphaned children, and also children with disabilities. The education is also shared with parents, guardians and the families who take care of these children. The education focuses on not only the dangers, but also the solutions with regards to what to do to keep children safe, and especially what not do. Missing Children South Africa’s social media platforms are: FB: https://www.facebook.com/MissingChildrenSouthAfrica/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/072MISSING Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missingchildrensa/ What To Do When A Child Goes Missing Try not to panic and DO NOT WAIT 24 hours to report your missing child. Get a responsible person to stay at your house while you’re at the police station or searching for your child. This person can take messages if someone calls about the child’s disappearance or if the child returns home. Go to your nearest police station and take a recent photograph of your child with you. Make sure that the photograph is of good quality so that your child will be easily identifiable. Give a good description of what your child was wearing, their last whereabouts and any information that may help the police. Complete a SAPS 55 (A) form which safeguards the police against false or hoax reports. This form also gives the Police permission to distribute the photos and information of the missing child. Make sure the police give you a reference number and a contact name and number of the SAPS officer(s) assigned to the investigation. Click on our Report Now button, and complete the form: https://missingchildren.org.za/report/. Remember that if your child returns home, you should go to the Police station to report that your child is safe and let MSCA know that your child has returned home safely.

March 10, 2021

Collab weaning

Excerpt from Weaning Sense Weaning your baby onto solid foods can be daunting. As busy working mums, Meg Faure and Kath Megaw saw a need for better guidance on creating meals that are suited for little ones as well as expert advice on weaning your child at all stages of their development. Meg, an occupational therapist, and Kath, a paediatric dietician, went on to author one of South Africa’s most successful parenting books, Weaning Sense [Quivertree], the ultimate guide to making decisions around your baby’s weaning. It’s firmly grounded in science and packed with advice, expertise and over 50 easy recipes that you can make at home. Is it time to wean your baby onto solids? Transitioning your baby from an exclusive milk diet onto solid food brings with it many questions – When is the right time? How will I know when my baby is ready? And exactly what should I be offering my baby as a first food? You will find there is a lot of advice available, which ranges from ‘introduce at 4 or maybe even 6 months’, to ‘wait until your baby can embark on Baby-Led Weaning when a little older’. We believe that weaning in its ideal form should not be a case of following rigid advice but rather be a collaboration between the advisors who guide you, your own self, wishes and personality and of course, your baby. And that’s where COLLAB weaning comes in. “Collaboration is the process of two or more people working together to realise something successfully.” It is very similar to cooperation and is the opposite of competition. Collaboration requires leadership but this leadership should be social leadership – a working within a team. COLLAB weaning is an approach that considers your baby as central in the weaning process – his age, development and sensory personality. It encourages moms to guide their babies in the context of these factors as well as science and what we know about healthy eating. So, while you may manage the choices, it is in the context of your baby himself. Very importantly, COLLAB weaning takes the pressure off you and your baby, allowing you to write your own weaning journey. COLLAB is an acronym that will become a way of parenting for you. It stands for: CUES – Recognising and respecting your baby’s cues for readiness will guide you as to when your baby is ready to wean. Your baby will also give very clear cues within each feeding session (for hunger and fullness) and respecting these cues, interpreting them for your baby and offering food (or stopping a meal) in the context of these cues is the most critical contribution you make to ensuring your child has a healthy relationship with food and in the long term, preventing obesity. It is only by understanding your little one’s cues that you can wean collaboratively. OWN PERSON – Your baby is his own person and will not wean like the baby next door. Some babies engage with new textures with gusto and others need to have a blander and slower route to whole food. Knowing your baby’s sensory personality is the secret to weaning happily. LOW PRESSURE – There is simply enough pressure on moms to follow a pattern, conform and achieve. Weaning is not a race. Weaning is not a competition. Weaning is a journey, not a destination. Take the pressure off you and off your little one. LED BY SCIENCE – While it would be wonderful to entirely ‘wing’ parenting, in the face of decades of valuable research we have to consider the science to be sensible. Sensible feeding involves filtering noise and opinion and understanding what dietary science tells us about early infant feeding. This does not create rules for weaning but safe boundaries to work within. AGE APPROPRIATE – Research can and does guide us towards the age at which babies are best weaned. It is certainly not a certain week of life – e.g. week 17 or 24, as is commonly presented as fact. It is rather a window of around 4 months in which sensible weaning should begin. BABY FRIENDLY – As your little one grows, he develops self-regulation, which is the ability to manage his own physiology, emotions and behaviour. Feeding is one area where self-regulation is mastered. Being baby-friendly is all about facilitating his own self-mastery in all areas, including feeding, right through the toddler years. It is the best way to prevent fussy toddler eating. COLLAB weaning will change not only the way to wean your baby but so many aspects of your parenting journey, making parenting your little one a sensational journey, a respectful nurturing of a life for long term physical and emotional health. The Weaning Sense team is proud to partner with UCOOK to help demystify weaning so you can rest assured that your baby is getting what they need, when they need it. For more info visit UCOOK or follow UCOOK.baby on instagram

March 10, 2021

Glenoaks Remedial and Special Needs School

Remedial vs Special Needs There is often some confusion regarding the meaning of remedial and special needs and how schools adapt to the students’ different needs. A remedial program is for learners who have average or higher intellectual abilities but who are not performing well in school. At Glenoaks, learners in the remedial stream sometimes have intellectual test scores below average, but we find that they have the capability to cope in an academic program. Thus our admissions process looks at overall ability and not simply a test score. Typically, remedial students are not struggling because of their intellectual abilities but instead with one subject area like reading, writing or mathematics. Learners may experience various barriers to learning, or learning challenges, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, visual difficulties, ADHD, mild autism, dyscalculia, language delays etc. Remedial programs usually focus on narrowing or closing academic gaps, to the extent that the learner can be re-introduced to a mainstream schooling system. Our remedial stream follows the Grade 1 – 7 CAPS curriculum with accommodations, differentiation and adaptations depending on learners’ needs. The majority of the learners in our remedial stream enter mainstream schools or supportive high school environments and successfully achieve good grade 12 results. Many have continued to further their studies at universities, colleges and other tertiary institutions. We are particularly proud of our past pupils who have become high school prefects and head prefects. Special education differs from remedial education because the learners in these programs lack the intellectual ability to perform in a class that teaches standardised concepts and subjects. The students in these classes may lack social maturity, emotional maturity, physical ability or the analytical skills that are needed to perform in a remedial or a mainstream classroom environment, in addition they may experience global developmental delays. Special needs programs are often individualised with the aim of helping the learner to become a functional, employable adult. In our special needs streams we focus on functional subjects in literacy, numeracy, life skills, and world knowledge, and offer learners exposure to a variety of practical and project-driven vocational subjects such as hospitality, IT and enterprise. At Glenoaks we have two special needs streams; namely the GOAL stream and the Oak House Vocational Academy. Glenoaks Assisted Learning (GOAL) Stream The GOAL Stream caters for learners from the ages of 6 to 14 who have special educational needs which inhibit them from learning in the ‘traditional classroom’. Often our learners’ chronological and developmental ages differ significantly, and it’s important that they learn according to their abilities and at their own pace. GOAL Stream learners have differing areas of strength, often exhibited in practical tasks. They benefit from repetition, positive reinforcement and reduced time pressure; aiming at functional skills of daily living within their levels of ability. We work on individualised numeracy and literacy programs with each learner. Other subjects include: life skills, activities of daily living, cooking, supported reading, home management, basic administration skills, computers, library, sport, social and emotional skills, Occupational Therapy group, Speech, Language and Communication group and art. Older learners have opportunities for project-based learning in preparation for in-house work experience. Oak House Vocational Academy Oak House Vocational Academy was conceived from the need to provide an appropriate setting for specific learners with special needs from our school, and from the broader community, whose abilities and needs are not met in an academic setting. After intense research and planning both locally and abroad, a blueprint was formulated for our vocational academy – highly particular, uniquely crafted and finely tuned to Glenoaks’ vision. The Academy provides learners with a sense of purpose and self-worth, continued applicable academic input, emotional and academic support and an incremental exposure to the expectations and realities of the world of work. This culminates in a learner being more employable with practical work skills and experience in specific industries. If further training or employment opportunities exist for a graduate, those are facilitated and supported by Oak House Vocational Academy. Our Academy program is designed to expose students to a variety of vocational settings aligned to each individual’s strengths, abilities and areas of interest. Students learn the skills required for entry level jobs, and also focus on critical social skills, appropriate behaviours and attitudes required in the workplace. Prior to this, our students are taught a creatively crafted curriculum which includes academics, life skills, business skills, entrepreneurship, IT and admin skills, world knowledge, home management, hospitality, gardening, woodcraft and enterprise. Learners in the work experience program are gaining exposure to a variety of industries and businesses including retail, IT, hairdressing, production line, garden nurseries, schools, sport, robotics and many more. In 2019 the first group of students graduated from Oak House Vocational Academy and successfully commenced with further training, part time or permanent employment. Our School The school’s journey began over forty years ago in 1969 with Dr Lorna Swartz. She started a small school in Melrose for her daughter, who was then regarded as ‘learning disabled’. As word spread, other parents brought their children to Dr Schwartz, and Glenoaks School was born. Glenoaks School at this time was also one of the few schools who included learners of differing racial groups. In 1976 the school moved to Orange Grove. In 1981 Glenoaks expanded and moved to our current premises in Kensington. Dr Swartz’s vision has lived on through the leadership of Ms Peacock, Ms Patt, Mr Barnes and currently Mrs Caldeira. Many who visit the school remark on the friendly and nurturing atmosphere that permeates every aspect of Glenoaks School. The small class settings, individual and group therapies and the unwritten curriculum of care and concern help us to grow our learners socially, emotionally and academically. We strive to ensure that our students are intrinsically motivated and happily engaged in their own learning. We also strive to develop a sensitivity to and an understanding of academic, cultural and religious differences. Glenoaks has a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychologists, occupational, speech & language, remedial and learning support therapists, as well as

March 10, 2021

When the stomach turns .. tummy bugs or COVID-19?

As South Africa nears the end of the second wave of Covid-19 and braces for a third, a stomach bug is circulating and spreading in schools and the community. Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, head of operations at Bonitas Medical Fund, discusses the signs and symptoms of a stomach bug and common gastrointestinal (GI) viral infections versus the GI symptoms from Covid-19. He says, ‘Although the period between November and May usually coincides with an increase in diarrhoea and pneumonia cases, according to the MMC: Community Services and Health, Zahid Badroodien, it is significantly reduced with a 29% decrease in cases and a 15% decrease in hospital admissions. The decline is partially attributed to the increased adherence to health protocols for Covid-19 like hand-washing, sanitisation and wearing masks.’ However, the recent tummy bug that is circulating, is proof that the virus is still around, Dr Mkhatshwa talks about common GI viral infections and GI symptoms associated with Covid-19. What are the symptoms of a tummy bug? Stomach bugs (or stomach flu) are known as viral gastroenteritis and are characterised by the following symptoms: Diarrhoea Abdominal cramps Nausea Vomiting Fever Thirst Joint aches Headache General malaise How long does a stomach bug last? People typically develop stomach bug symptoms within 24 to 72 hours of being exposed to the virus. While most cases resolve in three to four days, it’s not uncommon to feel unwell for up to a week. How do I know if it’s food poisoning or a stomach virus? The symptoms of food poisoning and a stomach virus are very similar. However, food poisoning symptoms develop in as little as a few hours. Most people suspect food poisoning when symptoms develop shortly after eating food which may seem questionable. Covid and gastroenteritis Research consistently shows that approximately 10% of adults with Covid-19 report GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Typically, patients will also have the more common upper respiratory symptoms that accompany Covid-19, such as a dry cough or difficulty breathing. How do you tell the difference between Covid-19 symptoms and ‘stomach flu’? So, how do you know which one you’re dealing with if you’re experiencing, for instance, a fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea? ‘Unfortunately, it is not always easy,’ says Dr Mkhatshwa, ‘if you have respiratory symptoms, (particularly chest pain) and loss of smell or taste, it is pretty clear cut. However, GI symptoms can occur on their own with Covid-19. A stomach bug also typically lasts only 72 hours while GI related symptoms with the coronavirus can last much longer.’ What should you do if you suspect the GI symptoms are in fact, Covid-19 related? Consult your doctor – via phone or virtually – to discuss your symptoms and if he/she feels you are displaying signs of the coronavirus infection, they will refer you for a Covid-19 test. How long are you contagious with a stomach bug? Stomach viruses are highly contagious and can spread quickly. People infected with a stomach virus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill and also for the first few days (up to 72 hours) after they recover. A stomach virus can spread in several different ways: Eating food or drinking liquids that have been contaminated with the virus Having direct or indirect mouth contact with an infected person or surface with the virus on it Unhygienic behaviour, such as not washing hands after toilet use, not washing fruits and vegetables before consumption The virus also inhabits the vomit and stools of people who have the infection How do you treat or get rid of a stomach bug? Supportive therapy that includes increased hydration, rest, electrolyte replenishment and medication for fever is usually all that is needed for viral illnesses. This is because viruses do not respond to antibiotics and simply need to run their course. If the infection is caused by bacteria, like Salmonella, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Viral gastroenteritis will typically resolve within a few days or less without medication. However, hydration is vital to a speedy recovery and prevention of complications. Here are a few steps you can take at home to aid recovery from a stomach virus or food poisoning: Try not to eat any solid foods until you feel better Suck on ice chips or take small sips of water to prevent dehydration Avoid juices or other beverages with a lot of sugar or sweeteners that can make diarrhea worse Ease yourself back into eating. Start with bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as toast and rice. Stop eating if a feeling of nausea returns Avoid dairy, caffeine, fatty foods and sugar until you feel better You should be cautious of taking over-the-counter medications, unless advised by a healthcare provider, as some can worsen the infection When to treat it seriously and consult a medical doctor? Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms: A bloody stool or vomit Are unable to keep liquid down for 12-24 hours Feel dizzy or light-headed Have a fever above 40°C Are experiencing severe, unrelenting abdominal pain. Fortunately, thanks to the Covid-19 protocols which include wearing masks, social distancing and the washing and sanitising of hands the incidence of stomach bugs has been reduced. However, it is a virus and you may still be susceptible but remember it will run its course and you will recover. During the time you are experiencing symptoms rest, stay hydrated and stay away from others while you are still contagious.

March 10, 2021

3 Brisk Activities That You And Your Child Can Enjoy Together

“Come have some tea with Miss Bubbles and me” – said your 7-year-old, as they pull you in to sit on a miniature chair. It’s 9:30 PM, you’re bushed and you’re about to have tea with a teddy bear and the Queen of England herself. Spending uninterrupted time with your child has its infinite benefits and rewards, so what happens when you’re swallowed by your work and life responsibilities that quality time with the Queen of England is unintentionally put on the back burner? Let’s face it – life is busy, finding moments in your life to spend intentional quality time with your child is definitely a hard task as a working parent. And if not having enough time wasn’t hindrance enough, you have to find something that you’d both like to do. Doubling the guilt for our poor parents. Creating childhood memories, formulating the idea of love with your child and getting to know each other a little better, are only a few of the amazing benefits of quality time with your offspring. Don’t despair, at Sugar Bay we have over 100 free-choice activities and we have given you 3 of our best time- effective activities that both you and your child can enjoy. Adventure / Explore Our campers go on adventures on the beach and around camp, where they’re always discovering and learning something new about the environment around them. The beauty in this activity lies in how it’s physically active and educational simultaneously. Whether you’re going on an adventure in your backyard or looking for things to recycle around your neighbourhood, you’ll always find out something new about each other and maybe lose half a kilo in the same breath. Splatter painting In our arts and crafts classes, campers discover that something can always be made out of nothing. All you need is a blank wall or a large piece of white cloth. This is where you let loose! You both get to get as dirty as possible and laugh at how you became Picassos overnight. This activity allows your child to see your free-spirit, fun side; a side that shows that you’re not only their parent, but you can also be their friend. Who knows: you could create the 21st century Mona Lisa. Skits and Stunts Lights, camera, action! Costumes, mom acting silly, dad mimicking mom after taking a dose of helium and a whole lot of laughter; this is the memory that can be created with your child with this activity. Skits and stunts allow your child to build their self-esteem and gives them the confidence to be themselves in the world. Give your child & teen the holiday of a lifetime! Sugar Bay is an American-style camp offering over 100 activities, 24-hr supervision & professionally trained staff. Covid compliant. Call 032 485 3778 or email here holidays@sugarbay.co.za.

March 9, 2021

Play has the power to help address kids’ anxiety

As restrictions around COVID-19 continue, parents continue to feel anxious – as do their children, who are facing yet another year of limited extra murals and social activities. Even though schools are open for the 2021 academic year, it’s under limiting conditions, which in turn is likely to increase anxiety among children. Anxiety manifests in various ways in children, including poor appetite, getting angry or irritable, worrying or having frequent negative thoughts, being fidgety, being clingy, or complaining of tummy aches or headaches. With the last year or so having thrust families into very different situations, with parents working from home and children kept distant from friends and teachers – whose facial expressions are hidden behind masks – anxiety is being seen in children as young as two years of age. This could be because they’re picking up on the stress their parents have experienced during the pandemic, or it could be that they’re accustomed to passive and isolated screen-bound activities, and they’re struggling to acclimatise to new interactions and activities on returning to school after a long break. “Children communicate and express themselves through play, which is a useful tool, both therapeutically and at home, to provide children with an arena in which to explore and express some of their emotions,” says Colleen Johnson, a Johannesburg child psychologist. “Playing with a child helps not only to connect with them on their level, but offers an opportunity to defuse power struggles, unearth some of their fears and insecurities, and to offer positive resolution through the medium of play. Playing with your child encourages secure attachment, connectedness and fun, which reduces feelings of anxiety.” Cape Town-based occupational therapist Anine van Schalkwyk suggests letting children play through scenarios that make them feel anxious. “Let them play through a situation after it’s happened, rather than asking them direct questions, like ‘how was your day’,” she suggests. “Give them the cues to build a situation, and let them allocate ‘roles’ to you and themselves. In creating the scenario, using their favourite toys, chances are that they’ll tell you the story of their day and what caused their anxiety – and you can help them talk through it.” Johnson adds that the type of play to help resolve anxiety depends on the child’s personality and specific needs at the time – children who are disorganised may benefit from structured play, such as building a LEGO® set together, following the visual instructions. Those that enjoy a less-structured type of play have the freedom to use LEGO® bricks to create builds that express their imaginations – or the issues that may be on their mind. “This helps reduce anxiety as the child feels safe by being able to follow specific guidelines towards a predictable outcome,” she explains. “However, allowing the child to engage in free play or fantasy play has tremendous benefits too, as the child feels in control of their environment, taking the lead and determining their own outcome.” The LEGO® Play Well Report, based of research conducted among children and families in multiple countries, including South Africa, found that parents believe that play develops a wide range of benefits, for their child, for themselves, and for the family unit as a whole. The research highlighted that 91% of respondents felt that play was important to help the family stay entertained, with 88% confirming that play helped them stay emotionally healthy. Van Schalkwyk emphasizes that parents should prioritise close contact play with their children – perhaps even more intensely than they would have before the pandemic, given that children are not getting the sensory and social input needed for appropriate development, because of rigorous social distancing in schools. “Hug your children tight, and often,” she says. “It’s a tough balancing act when you’re tired from working all day, but intense play is good for parents as well – it lowers adults’ anxiety too!”

March 9, 2021

Your second trimester – making the most of it

Your second trimester is from the beginning of week 13 until week 28, during this time your pregnancy will begin to show. However, you should feel like you have more energy than you did in trimester one. This is why this trimester is also nicknamed the honeymoon period of pregnancy – your baby isn’t big enough to make you uncomfortable and your pregnancy hormones should have eased up. During this time there are one or two things that you can keep in mind to make the most of this time while you’re feeling better, and to ensure that your baby (and you) are kept healthy and happy. Childbirth classes, preparing your mind and body Even if this isn’t your first baby, childbirth classes can help prepare you for what is to come. If you’re feeling anxious about labour and birth, these classes will help ease your worries, by informing you what is to come and how best to manage your mind and body coming up to, during birth and after birth. Prenatal exercise and a healthy lifestyle Stay fit and healthy during your pregnancy is important to both you and your baby. What you eat and regular exercise are both ways in which you can provide needed nutrition to your baby and keep yourself healthy. Low impact exercise, such yoga, swimming, walking and prenatal pilates can help improve your sleep, and increase your strength and muscle tone. Keeping active can even have the added benefit of helping prepare your body for labour and birth. Maternity wear and staying comfortable Not only is learning about your pregnancy and staying healthy essential but staying comfortable is also important. The second trimester is generally when your tummy will start looking and feeling bigger, so invest in some trousers that have more give in the waistline. Luckily certain fashion items, such as flowy dresses and layered knits, may even mean you can still keep using your pre-pregnancy clothes.

March 9, 2021

NEW CATRICE True Skin Foundation NOW available in SA!

Any beauty enthusiast knows that a good foundation can literally make or break your face beat. Your choice of foundation should melt into your skin, smooth over acne, redness, uneven texture and hyperpigmentation. However, it can be tough to find the right foundation for your skin, especially one that succeeds in making you look dewy, luminous and honestly all-around radiant all day long. But don’t fear – CATRICE has just launched its NEW True Skin Hydrating Foundation to provide moisture like no other. Come in a little closer, let’s chat about this absolutely magical product in a little more detail. FEELING THIRSTY? HYDRATE YOUR SKIN WITH CATRICE TRUE SKIN Say goodbye to foundations that make your face look and feel “cakey”. The CATRICE True Skin Hydrating Foundation with hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed oil provides INTENSE moisture. Bonus: It photographs beautifully and never feels heavy. NO ANIMAL CRUELTY – VEGAN ONLY Vegan beauty products are cruelty-free, better for the environment and better for YOU! Literally, avoid animal tested products like a plague, generally, these products contain a bunch of questionable ingredients that you wouldn’t want anywhere near your face. There’s no question that vegan foundation is the way to go – and you can’t choose better than the True Skin Hydrating Foundation. COULD THIS FOUNDATION GET ANY BETTER Not only is the CATRICE True Skin Hydrating Foundation SUPER moisturising and 100% vegan, but it also provides an even complexion, allowing you to create buildable coverage according to your preference. The True Skin Foundation allows you to cover minor imperfections and makes redness disappear all while feeling totally feathery light on the skin for an incomparable “real skin” finish. FIND YOUR SHADE MATCH There’s no reason to struggle to find the correct shade for your skin or have to deal with the frustration of going home with the wrong colour for your tone. The CATRICE True Skin Foundation is available 21 diverse shades and you’ll be able to find your ideal True Skin Foundation shade on the CATRICE shade finder here: https://catricecosmetics.co.za Enjoy finding your perfect match! WHEN AND WHERE TO FIND IT The CATRICE True Skin Hydrating Foundation can be found at multiple retailers online and in-store. Choose from your favourite retail outlets like Dis-Chem, Takealot, Superbalist, Skinmiles and House of Cosmetics. Once you’re glowing and taking the perfect selfie with your new foundation on your face… WE WANT TO SEE IT. Remember to tag us in your pics online! @cosmetix_sa

March 8, 2021

TRANSITIONING TO A NEW NAP PATTERN

What to Know Just when you think you’ve mastered your baby’s nap schedule, it will change. In fact, your child’s daytime sleep needs and patterns will change multiple times from the newborn phase through infancy and then again into toddlerhood. Nap changes typically occur at predictable ages and stages, but of course each baby is unique so watching your baby for signs that he’s ready for a new nap schedule will help you and him make a smooth transition. No matter what the current schedule, naps are hugely important for children. Naps support optimal growth and development because they provide great mental and physical restorative effects. Naps also help to improve your child’s coping skills and to avoid that all-too-familiar “overtired” state, which can lead to crankiness and sleep disruptions at night. Homeostatic pressure (or sleep pressure, the buildup of the need for sleep) drives our requirement for sleep and naps. This pressure builds up quickly in newborns and gradually lessens as babies grow older which is why their sleep and nap needs change over time. So when do these nap schedule changes typically occur? Here are some examples of nap needs for children of varying ages: Newborns 0-4 months: unpredictable nap pattern Newborns have a low tolerance for long periods of wakefulness and nap at irregular times and durations. Naps anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours in length at this age are typical. Infants 4-6 months: 3 to 4 predictable naps per day The first time you’ll likely see an obvious change in your baby’s daytime sleep is between 4-6 months of age. During this stage, a regular morning nap will likely occur 1.5-2 hours after a predictable morning wake time, after which 2 or 3 more naps will occur throughout the day as necessary. Total daytime sleep at this age averages 4 hours. Infants 6-9 months: 3 predictable naps per day At about the 6 month mark, you will begin to see your baby’s naps lengthen in duration and a more predictable 3 nap per day pattern typically emerges, with a morning nap 2 hours from wake-up averaging 90 minutes in length, a second nap about 3 hours from the wake of his first nap averaging 90 minutes in length and a third catnap in the late afternoon or early evening averaging 15-45 minutes. Total daytime sleep at this age averages 3-4 hours. Infants 9-15 months: 2 predictable naps per day At around 9 months, your baby will be able to stay awake for longer periods of time and will likely shift to a 2 nap per day schedule. To accommodate this change, eliminate the late afternoon catnap and shift your baby’s bedtime 15-30 minutes earlier. Total daytime sleep at this age averages 2.5-4 hours a day. Toddlers 15-18 months: 1 predictable mid-day nap At around 15-18 months of age, your child will likely be ready for just one nap a day. This one nap should be at about the midway point of the day and will average 3 hours in length (so the total amount of daytime sleep your child requires may lessen only by 15-30 minutes, if at all, but his sleep will be distributed differently throughout the day). Many families report the transition from 2 naps to 1 nap a day is the most challenging, as your child may have trouble staying awake in the morning all the way until his single midday nap. To help his body adjust to the new nap pattern, you can start the nap a little earlier and then slowly push your child’s naptime later and later over several days until the nap begins at midday. Or you can try a rotating schedule of offering 2 naps and then 1 nap every other day, until he becomes comfortable with 1 nap every day. Total daytime sleep at this age averages 1.5-3 hours a day. What to Do Watch for signs that your child is ready for a new nap pattern If your child has trouble falling asleep, either at bedtime or during one of his regular daytime naps, it’s likely time for a new nap pattern. Long periods of unexplained wakefulness in the middle of the night can also indicate a need for a change in the schedule. Create an optimal sleep environment for naps – a cool, dark, quiet and safe space A cool sleeping space – experts agree that a cool room (around 18,5’C) makes for the best sleep, as the body’s temperature naturally falls during sleep. Overheating can disrupt the sleep process, so don’t over-bundle your child. A dark sleeping space – the room should be dark enough that you are unable to read. Avoid using cell phones, TV’s or computers in your child’s sleep space, as these devices all have LED lights (pure blue hued lights) that negatively impact the circadian rhythm. If you have a toddler, nightlights are a common addition to a growing toddler’s room to allay any sleeptime fears. If your toddler needs a nightlight, place it behind a piece of furniture, so he is not looking directly at it. Use a warm colored light bulb that mimics the warm glow of a candle and be sure to leave the nightlight on during the entire nap so the sleep environment remains consistent. A quiet sleeping space – offer a white noise source to block out extraneous sounds, but remember your child’s sleep environment should remain consistent. If the white noise is present at the start of naptime, it should remain on for the entire nap. Avoid playing music that changes in pitch or tone, such as thunderstorms or ocean waves. A safe sleeping space – if you have a baby, place him on his back on a firm mattress (such as in a bassinet or bedside co-sleeper) free of any loose bedding or clothing. If he is younger than 8 weeks (or, more importantly, has not yet started to roll), you can swaddle him to encourage sleep and calm. Just remember not to swaddle him

March 8, 2021

Chicco Liteway3 Stroller

Chicco, a 63-year old leader in baby products, has tirelessly committed to ensuring that all strollers and prams have optimal comfort and functionality for children. On top of this standard promise, Chicco looks after the needs of parents, allowing mom and dad to #parentmore – the Chicco catchphrase for stress-reduced parenting. The Liteway is a well-known brand of stroller from Chicco that just keeps getting better. Created for modern mothers that may require a smaller stroller in their car boots, the Liteway3 has the traditional umbrella fold, seeing it broken down into a thin package that fits comfortably in boots and car seats. In a stylish Titanium silver colour, the Liteway3 is the perfect stroller for moms who live in urban settings. With full recline for nap time, an extendable canopy, bumper bar, shopping basket and safety harness, it is designed with sick characteristics and a modern finish for parents who like to make a statement. A birth – 15kgs stroller, baby can enjoy a comfortable outing in the Chicco Liteway3 stroller. Look out for the Liteway3 stroller at participating retailers such as Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Thekidzone.co.za, Babanino.co.za, Brand Hubb, Little Kingdom online and others.

March 8, 2021

Buy a prenup, get a free divorce

The Savvy Woman’s Prenup Package: buy a prenup and get a free your divorce, if you end up needing one. A prenup involves planning ahead – for things you can predict, and things you can’t. DIYLegal, the SA company that makes it as easy as possible to be prepared, has just launched the world’s first prenup and divorce package to safeguard your future. SA women 57% more likely to initiate divorce The facts: Women in South Africa are 57% more likely to initiate a divorce than men. 64% of DIY Legal prenups are bought by women. 44% of South African marriages last less than 10 years. South African marriages decreased by 23% between 2010 and 2018 while divorces increased by 10% This package empowers women to take decisive action, and softens the blow of a divorce – both emotionally and financially This product is exclusively for women Prenup + divorce insurance Think of The Savvy Woman’s Prenup Package as divorce insurance. Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but if you do its best to be prepared. COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on employment and revenue in South Africa. By May 2020, 8.1% of South Africans had been made redundant or had to close their companies as a result of COVID-19. The numbers have not improved in the months since then. The pandemic has also made people re-evaluate their lives; looking at work, life and love in a more practical manner. One in five South African marriages lasts less than five years: this package is designed to protect you if the odds aren’t in your favour. Evaluating and planning for the future You might think that The Savvy Woman’s Prenup Package sucks all the romance out of marriage, but a pragmatic approach at the beginning can save you some heartache if the marriage ends. A prenuptial agreement already examines the couples finances and provides a logical window to evaluate and plan for a potentially uncomfortable future. Divorce is difficult and painful, and you may not be in the right state of mind to be able to manage it if you are suffering from heartbreak. Having this already planned gives you some much needed emotional breathing room. As DIYLegal focuses on getting your documents drawn up in 48 hours, it is possible to make a quick and speedy exit. For full information on this offer, please visit the DIY Legal Savvy Women’s Prenup page. DIYLegal provides low cost professional fast legal services for all South Africans.

March 5, 2021

The benefits of art therapy for children

“Art is a place for children to learn to trust their ideas, themselves, and to learn what is possible.”– MaryAnn F. Kohl Art has been a source of communication and recreation for centuries. Art therapy, which emerged as a distinct health discipline in the 1940s, is a form of therapy where creative materials and methods are used to help children explore their thoughts and feelings. Performed by art therapists and related professionals, it is particularly effective in helping children suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. It has also been shown to help children who struggle with learning disabilities, behavioural issues, or developmental delays. Also read: ADHD: Setting the record straight The benefits of art therapy include: Helping children express their thoughts and feelings. Enhancing executive functions such as attention, memory, and spatial orientation. Improving language and communication. Encouraging exploration. Enhancing creativity. Promoting self-awareness and boosting self-esteem. Improving motor skills. Encouraging creative and constructive problem-solving. Art therapy encompasses visual arts, such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and music and movement, with each component offering specific benefits. Music, for example, can connect us to our deepest emotions, making it a wonderful therapy tool. Not only does it enhance attention and memory, but it also strengthens creativity, encourages socialisation, and helps children structure language. Through movement, which includes theatre and dancing, children can integrate the emotional, cognitive, and physical, which helps with spatial orientation and strengthens creativity. Being physically active also does wonders for their mood! Also read: Why exercise is important for good academic results Ten things to try at home Although art therapy is only considered actual therapy when directed by an art therapist, doing art projects at home can still be beneficial. Here are a few guidelines for practising ‘art therapy’ at home: Clay: Make or buy clay and let your children make a ‘monster’ to express their feelings or simply let them pound and mould the clay. Collage: The physical sensation of handling different materials and textures is very comforting. In addition, the creative process of putting things together in a new and different way helps organise and calm the brain. Dancing: Dancing has incredible therapeutic powers because it helps children channel their emotions. Through dance, body awareness is created, which allows children to connect to themselves. Drawing: Allow your children to draw what they are feeling, even if those feelings are negative. This allows free expression, especially for children who cannot verbalise their feelings. Also read: Can homeschoolers take part in extracurricular activities? Mandalas: Drawing figures with repeated patterns, such as mandalas, is good for regulating emotions and the nervous system. It can also help children focus their attention and calm down. Masks: Creating or decorating a mask can lead to discovering different aspects of our personality. Give children preformed masks or make some out of paper and let them decorate it however they like. When they are finished, let them tell you the story of the mask. Nature: Working with natural materials is soothing, and there are myriad items you can make. An added bonus is that children have to walk around outside to find useful materials, which is a natural mood booster. Painting: Children’s paintings offer a window into their world without them realising it. Finger painting, especially, is a great way to stimulate different parts of the brain at the same time. Puppets: Make puppets from old socks or paper bags, and let children use the puppets to tell you about their feelings and fears. Singing: Through song, children can express what they are feeling in a fun and creative way. Keep in mind that the goal is not necessarily to make something that is pretty because our feelings and emotions aren’t always pretty. Instead, try to focus on the benefits of being creative. *Please contact a professional art or related therapist if your child is unable to share his or her feelings or becomes behaviourally out of control. by Danielle Barfoot

March 5, 2021

Keep on and power up immunity and antioxidants

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to teach us tough lessons and it’s an ongoing fight. The bigger picture is that whether we are travelling, at work, home or school, our bodies are continuously responding to tiny organisms that can cause disease. Germs like viruses and bacteria are everywhere, and it is our immune system which protects us. While there is no magic “healthy pill”, there are proven ways to boost our immunity superpowers. Proper face masking, frequent handwashing and sanitising and social distancing are a good start. But there’s more we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones against threats to our health and wellbeing: Support your immune system with good nutrition that is packed with immune boosting nutrients and a variety of antioxidants. Eat at least two fruits and four portions of veggies a day. The deeper the yellow, orange, red or purple colours of fresh produce the better. Move more, especially if you are in a sedentary job. It has been shown that fewer sick days are taken by people who do regular aerobic exercise. Even 20 minutes of brisk walking for five or more days a week boosts our immunity. Sleep is essential for good health. Quality sleep helps us to be more resilient to everyday stress and, improves energy and moods. Supplement with protective antioxidants. A one-a-day, every day, immune boosting nutritional supplement like Nativa Immune Complex® contains a powerful combination of antioxidants, vitamins, mineral and herbals. These provide antioxidant protection and help strengthen natural immune defences. Around R126 for a month’s supply. Power up with extra Vitamin C when health needs or stress levels increase, if smoking, or during a change of season. High dose Vitamin C supports immune function and offers antioxidant protection to help maintain good health. Have a look at Nativa’s new Vitamin C range. It is suitable for children from 4 years old. 500 mg Vitamin C (from 4 years of age). 1000 mg Vitamin C (from 9 years of age). Around R80. Add in some sunshine power with Nativa Vitamin D3 which is essential for immunity, bone and brain health, and muscle function. Vitamin D3 is of value particularly for those who get little sun exposure or who have dark skins. 1000IU Vit-D (from 6 years of age) around R100. All products are available from Takealot, Dis-Chem, Clicks and selected pharmacies nationwide. WIN! Stand a chance to win a R500 Takealot voucher.

March 4, 2021

Enjoy an Eggciting New Range of #CadburyEasterEggs to Hide With Love This Easter

Cadbury is back with an eggciting new Easter range, filled with all the delicious treats that chocolate eggthusiasts have come to love! There’s the melt-in-your-mouth Cadbury chocolate covered Fluffy Mallow Eggs and Cadbury chocolate Hollow Eggs filled with Whispers or Astros. New to the range are the scrumptious candy coated Cadbury chocolate Hens Eggs and the delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk 170g Top Deck Bunnies slab. Cadbury is also introducing delectable Cadbury Mini Eggs as well as the popular Creme Eggs into the local market. Generosity is at the core of everything Cadbury does and what could be more generous than making the time and effort to find that perfect hiding spot for your #CadburyEasterEgg, creating special moments for consumers and excitement for the family within the home when you Hide Them With Love. “This year, Cadbury wants to help create these special moments for fans. Traditionally Easter has always been about the ritual of the Hunt,but because Cadbury lives and breathes generosity, we wanted to highlight the thoughtfulness that goes into the Hide. It’s this generous act of seeking out special hiding spots, knowing the excitement it will bring to our loved ones, that truly expresses our love. And with lots more #CadburyEasterEggs in store for chocolate lovers this year, the opportunities to Hide Them with Love are endless,” says Lara Sidersky, Mondelez SA Category Lead for Chocolate. To celebrate the new Easter range and showcase the Hide Them With Love sentiment, Cadbury has released an emotive ‘’Easter Homecoming” TVC centred around the special relationship between a father and daughter and the opportunity Easter brings to make lifelong memories though the simple act of hiding #CadburyEasterEggs with love. To get you started – Cadbury’s most trusted eggspert Fluffy has some tips on how to find those special hiding spots to Hide #CadburyEasterEggs with Love: Let the kids pay it forward and get in on the fun of finding the perfect hiding spot to hide #CadburyEasterEggs with love for their parents, siblings or anyone they love. Plot your route and make sure you Hide Them With Love where they won’t get squashed, melt and safe from critters Among a pile of their favourite books is an eggcellent place to Hide Them With Love for the family storytellers! Pick special places or items around the house that have meaning for different family members and hide #CadburyEasterEggs with love in these spots! Egg-hiding is eggshausting! Always have eggtra #CadburyEasterEggs on hand to keep you going Last year, you helped Fluffy find the missing Easter Eggs – this year he’s taken the fun up a notch! You can learn more from him when you join the action on Facebook. Fluffy will be sharing more of his tips throughout the Cadbury Instant Eggperience where you stand a chance to win cool prizes and meet great characters along the way with loads of eggcitement at every turn! The Cadbury Easter range is available from all major retail stores countrywide. For more #CadburyEasterEggs news join the conversation at Instagram and Twitter @cadbury_sa and Facebook @CadburyDairyMilk andwww.cadbury.co.za/easter. *T&C apply

March 4, 2021

WORLD BOOK DAY: CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF BOOKS WITH THE READ INSTITUTE!

As soon as your child opens a book, something magical happens. From wondrous journeys through lands unknown and epic adventures, to lessons on kindness, courage and compassion. Inside every book’s cover is a whole new world just waiting to be discovered! Beyond the tales of bravery, enchantment, hopes and dreams, reading develops your child’s imagination, boosts their confidence, increases their vocabulary, supports healthy brain development, and helps them cope with stress and anxiety. Reading has so many benefits and The Read Institute is encouraging all South Africans – big and small – to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday, 5 March. Every year, this much-loved annual event sends a powerful and positive message about books and reading. In 2021, the power of books rings even louder in the face of a global pandemic that has turned our daily lives topsy-turvy. Despite these crazy times, it’s always the perfect time to read! Curious to know where, how, and why World Book Day originated? Read on! This auspicious day stems from Spain, where writer Vicente Clavel Andres wanted to honour author Miguel de Cervantes (best known for his novel Don Quixote) on his birthday and anniversary of his death. When the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization heard of World Book Day, they took the idea on and spread the word worldwide, with the first World Book Day taking place on 23 April 1995.1 Today World Book Day is celebrated in all corners of the world, in more than 100 countries. It’s not just a day to indulge a love of books, but also a day where children and young people can gain access to books. Sharing in the love and value of books, accredited training provider The Read Institute offers invaluable learning courses that will empower ECD caregivers with the tools required to teach little ones how to read with confidence. As part of the READ Group, The Read Institute is built on the foundation of READ Educational Trust, a proudly South African NGO working tirelessly in teacher training and school resource provisioning and actively promoting literacy through successful programmes, since its inception in 1979.2 This year, The Read Institute is spreading the message that reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives. Throughout March, The Read Institute is rolling out an exciting competition on social media platforms with six classroom Set-Up Packs up for grabs until 26 March. To find out more and to enter the competition, join the conversations on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheREADInstitute, Twitter: www.twitter.com/READEInstituteSA and Instagram: www.instagram.com/thereadinstitute. For more information, about The Read Institute, visit http://www.thereadinstitute.co.za/.

March 3, 2021

Tips on how to transition from breast or bottle to sippy cup

Breast or bottle feeding is about more than just nutrition. For you and your baby, how you’ve been feeding since birth forms an incredible bonding experience. Typically, health professionals recommend breastfeeding to be the best nutritional choice for newborns. It isn’t always possible for all women, however. You may have struggled to breastfeed, or simply find bottle feeding to be the right option for you. Whatever the reasons or method, mothers should never feel judged. The most important thing is to find a way to keep you baby fed, that also works for you. Bonding through feeds Whether it’s breast or bottle, the feeding experience provides an opportunity to bond with your baby. Milk feeds are when a baby needs nutrition, comfort, and on a primal level, survival. They are also segments of time where it’s just you and your baby, sharing a moment together. It could be daytime feeds when your baby snuggles up and falls to sleep once he or she has a full tummy. Perhaps a bottle feed provides the opportunity for daddy to give mummy a rest. Or maybe it’s a time where another member of the family gets to share that togetherness. Therefore, it’s not just about a baby drinking the milk, and it’s also about comfort. Your baby or toddler, will have formed an attachment to whatever they are used to. Breaking the comfort ties For babies, whichever way they’ve been fed is what they will enjoy. Your breastfed baby might look to the breast when they’re feeling anxious, upset, or have been hurt. Similarly, a bottle fed baby probably won’t show any interest in drinking from anything else. As with everything in parenting though, these milestones arrive and pass in the blink of an eye. The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months and continuing along with complimentary foods up to 2 years old. You may have breastfed for a shorter or longer time period, however. There is no real right or wrong about when you should wean a baby off the breast. It’s a personal decision. For bottle-fed babies, the Department of health suggests that it’s a good idea to introduce a cup from about six months onwards, fully removing all bottles with teats by the age of one. It is believed that prolonged use of a bottle can delay speech development and also damage a toddler’s teeth. Whichever feeding method your baby is used to though, all babies should be offered water alongside meals. Consequently, the time to introduce a cup comes around before you know it. For any parent that’s gone through this pain however they will know It can be easier said than done. Here are our top tips on how to move on from the breast or bottle to drinking from a cup. Choose the right cup When you select your child’s first cup, have a look at the advisable age. Most brands will suggest a recommended age band. Start with a free-flowing cup or open top cup, or ideally try a range of options. This type of cup avoids sucking, and instead encourages sipping. Sipping is naturally important for the development of muscles used in speech. A sippy cup with handles can also help them to get to grips with the new type of bottle. Be prepared for mess Open cups or free flow, will leak and spill. This is part of the learning process, teaching your baby how to handle a cup properly. It might take a while however, so only offer small amounts of liquid to begin with. Give them time If you’re removing the breast or bottle in line with a specific timeframe e.g. returning to work after maternity leave, the best approach is to do this gradually. Introduce your baby to a cup about a month or so before you officially begin to wean them off. It may take a while to find the right cup, or get them to buy into the idea, so giving them plenty of time for trial and error is key to this process. Likewise, unless you have a very good reason to do so, going cold turkey may not be the best idea either. It’s likely to stress them out, upset them, and in the process you’ll probably cave and revert to the old method. Offer alternative forms of comfort For a lot of babies, a bottle at bedtime is the ultimate comforter. Try to disconnect a nighttime bottle with sleep by offering milk at a different time of the day. For example, bring storytime forward, offering the bottle during a cuddle on the sofa. When it comes to self settling with no bottle therefore, you may need to replace the comforter with something else. Try a teddy or playing some lullabies to start a new routine. Whatever works for you and your baby, it’s important to continue the affection and attention, to maintain the physical closeness that the baby has been used to their whole lives. Tackle it earlier As we’ve already said, it is recommended that a baby drinks water alongside meals as they wean onto solid foods. Therefore, around six months is a good time to offer water in a cup. By doing this, a baby will be used to and hopefully happily use the cup already, and so won’t be overly confused when the cup becomes the norm. Start by offering a drinking cup which helps a baby transition easily from bottle or breast to sipping from a cup, suitable from 4 months. Put yourself in their shoes At whatever point that you wean your baby off the breast or bottle, it is likely to cause upset. You need to be prepared for this, and empathise with how they’re feeling. The breast or bottle might be all they’ve ever known as part of their routines, and therefore it’s probably going to be hard for them to understand this change. Offer lots of reassurance and extra comfort to help them get their heads around

March 3, 2021

Why Choose Catrobatkidz?

We often hear messages in the media that children aren’t getting enough physical activity. But what exactly does “being physically active” mean when you are an infant, toddler or pre-schooler? And is it important for their health now and in the future? When we talk about physical activity for young children we don’t mean going to the gym. These ideas of physical activity aimed at adults, are not suitable for young children. They are still learning to inhabit their bodies. For young children, physical activity is about active play and exploring their environment. They are learning how to manoeuvre themselves physically and how to orient themselves in space. Physical activity is essential for a child’s development. Catrobatkidz exposes children to movement patterns required for physical development, giving them a good start in life. Movement and exercise from a young age have various benefits which reach far beyond only physical development. It is during early childhood that children are more willing to try new activities. Physical activity promotes healthy growth and development. It helps build a healthier body composition, stronger bones and muscles. It also improves the child’s cardiovascular fitness. Children benefit physically, mentally, socially and emotionally by taking part in Catrobatkidz. Catrobatkidz is researched and developed for children ages 2 -9. It is during these fundamental years that window periods open and close during which children have the opportunity to develop each skill (balance, locomotion, gross & fine motor, spatial relationships, co-ordination, rhythm & timing, strength and flexibility) to the best of their ability, in order to build a solid foundation that will allow them to achieve both physically and mentally throughout their life. Children, and most adults, learn best through ‘doing’. How often have you begun to show your child how to perform a new task or skill, and you are barely halfway through when he or she begs, “Let me try.” A growing child constantly tests his or her physical abilities and takes delight in progress: “Look how far I can stretch”, “Look how high I can jump”, and “Look how fast I can run” Catrobatkidz provides a safe, positive, fun-filled forum for children to develop their physical skills and abilities. Because all movement requires exercise and integration of the brain, mental skills and abilities are exercised and developed in direct proportion to physical activity. Maximum learning capacity is achieved when the left and right sides of the brain are working together, or integrated. Specific movements and exercises involving balance and co-ordination, crossing the mid-line of the body and combining the senses (sight, sound and touch) are the core elements of Catrobatkidz lesson plans. Catrobatkidz structured lesson plans incorporating music, mini gymnastics equipment and hand apparatus, teaches movement patterns that allow children to connect concepts to actions which is essential to accomplish a goal, and to learn through trial and error. We not only help children increase physical strength, but also increase memory, perception, language, attention, emotion, self-discipline and decision making. Movement is necessary for children to meet their developmental milestones. Reading and Writing skills require brain integration and physical co-ordination. Children will discover new ways to move and exercise each week in Catrobatkidz class. “Can you touch your wrist to your ear and hop on your right foot?” In that exercise alone children are reinforcing knowledge of body parts, of left and right, practicing balance and following a sequence of verbal information. Imagine the benefits of a full half hour devoted to movement! Rhythm plays an important part in reading skills – each week the lesson also includes creative movement to music. Controlling his or her body and movement is a wonderful way to develop a child’s self-discipline and self-confidence. Basic gymnastics positions, stretches and routines are also taught and practiced throughout the year. Development of eye-hand and eye-foot co-ordination will ensure children are ready to participate in any sport of their choice in Primary School. Any of you who exercise regularly know the benefits associated with it – good physical health, stress release and a general feeling of well-being and a good self-image. Exercising can also put you in a better mood. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel happier. It’s just another reason why exercise is a good idea! Physical activity should be integrated into young children’s lives to create a foundation of movement and activity which will be carried with them throughout the rest of their lives. At Catrobatkidz we aim to develop a love for physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle in each child who participates in the program. Catrobatkidz, giving your child the power of movement, giving your child a leg up in tomorrow’s world.

March 3, 2021

Chicco Goody Stroller

Chicco, a 63-year old leader in baby products, has tirelessly committed to ensuring that all strollers and prams have optimal comfort and functionality for children. On top of this standard promise, Chicco looks after the needs of parents, allowing mom and dad to #parentmore – the Chicco catchphrase for stress-reduced parenting. The Goody stroller is just another way for parents to stress less whilst providing the best products for baby. A birth – 22kg stroller, the Goody is optimised in the sense that it folds down automatically with the touch of one button and no additional pressure, ensuring parents can comfortably hold children without having to fiddle with the breaking down process of packing away a stroller into the car or at home. With luxury padding, an extendable canopy and a bumper bar for extra safety, the Goody is the stroller of the future for modern moms on the go. A hands-free approach to baby strollers, there is a large storage basket for all of baby’s needs and it fully reclines for when baby wants to take a nap. Hardy wheels make the Goody the perfect urban stroller as you manoeuvre through streets, malls and pavements with ease. Available is a trendy Graphite colour with a beautiful stitching details, the Goody is not only high-functioning, but a real show-stopper in terms of looks too. Look out for the Goody stroller at participating retailers such as Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Thekidzone.co.za, Babanino.co.za, Brand Hubb, Little Kingdom online and others.

March 2, 2021

Beauty Boosters for Fabulous Skin

Our passion for beauty, our pure joy of life and our innovative sense of trends – that’s what CATRICE is all about. Now we’re taking our experience in decorative cosmetics to a whole new level: to skin care. Because a great look begins with our skin – it offers the perfect canvas for beautiful make-up. Discover our #catricebeautyboosters Our Beauty Boosters are high-quality skin care products. They have been developed with specific skin-friendly ingredients in highly effective dosages with properties that have a positive effect on our skin and our well-being. These include vitamin C + B3 for a healthy glow, hyaluronic acid to replenish and hydrate as well as panthenol to calm stressed skin. They are optimally geared towards meeting the most important skin needs and suitable for various skin types, and their packaging makes them easy to integrate into our beauty routine. Good to know: OUR BEAUTY BOOSTERS ARE: Vegan Free of animal testing Without parabens Without mineral oils Without microplastic particles Without allergenic fragrances Dermatologically confirmed Sneak Peak at our skincare heroes: Hydro Plumping Serum Moisturizing and soothing Has a plumping effect Ideal basis for every make-up look Balance Hydro Spray Moisturizing and soothing Absorbs quickly – even on make-up Natural rose scent and free of artificial fragrances Glo Booster Serum Vitamin complex for a healthy glow As a caring treatment before make-up or on freshly cleansed skin With vitamins C, E and B3 Available at Dis-Chem, Takealot, Zando, Superbalist & House of Cosmetics

March 1, 2021

6 EASY WAYS TO ACE THE SCHOOL YEAR

Settling in to the new school year and a classroom-ready mindset isn’t always easy. Beyond the excitement of physically going back to school full time (after the 2020 restrictions), new classes and even new friends, children and parents alike can get easily overwhelmed by the changes the new school year brings. Here are six tips that will help your family make this year the best school year yet! Stick to a Routine Children benefit from having a steady routine. Setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time will ensure that your children are getting enough sleep. If they don’t, concentration and academic performance will suffer. Likewise, having a well-balanced breakfast each morning will ensure that the day starts off on a positive note. If your children spend a lot of time getting their uniforms out of the cupboard and preparing their school bags in the morning, add these activities to their night-time routine. Create a Distraction Free Study Area Completing homework at the same time each day will help create strong study habits. Establish a location in your home where your children will study and do homework throughout the year. Choose a location where you can keep an eye on them, but still minimize distractions like TV, phone and electronics. Support Homework Independence Once your children are able to read directions on their own, encourage them to complete their homework assignments by themselves. They may continue to ask for help primarily because they enjoy the parental attention, not because they truly need assistance. Support their independence by encouraging them to work through the problems on their own. When your children do their homework without a reminder, acknowledge their independence to reinforce the positive habit. Think Long-Term Children who set long-term goals often have increased motivation in school. Setting long-term goals with your children can help connect the relevancy of their daily activities with the future. It is also never too early to develop time management skills. Using time wisely by completing homework and chores efficiently allows children to have more time for fun activities. Have a Positive Learning Attitude Attitudes are infectious and an integral component to success. Parents who have a positive attitude towards learning and school can excite children with their enthusiasm. Show interest in your children’s studies by asking questions, which can help foster motivation and a positive learning attitude. Remember to reinforce a positive, growth mindset. Children who understand that hard-work is more important than natural intelligence are more likely succeed. Connect with the Teacher Parents who plan an active role in their children’s education make a huge difference in their success. Building a relationship with your children’s teachers can help you understand how your children are doing at school and how you can help your children at home. Try to meet with your children’s teachers at the beginning of the school year and set the expectation of working together as a team. Developing a strong, positive partnership with your children’s teachers can help the school year go more smoothly for you and your children. This article is from the KUMON NORTH AMERICA website: https://www.kumon.com/resources/6-easy-ways-to-ace-the-school-year/

February 26, 2021

What to do while you’re unemployed

One of the most important things you’re probably doing if you don’t have a job at the moment is job hunting. But did you know that aside from sending out your CV, there are some other tasks you should be doing while you’re unemployed? Here’s what you can do in the meantime to make yourself more employable during your job search! Keep your skills current Now is the ideal time to expand your skillset. Take advantage of the extra time you have on your hands and enrol in some classes or online lessons. Research the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for and use your time to work on those skills. Volunteer Volunteering while you’re unemployed can improve your chances of getting hired. Lend your skills and expertise to a non-profit that needs some pro-bono help. This will also help keep your skills current and relevant. Plus, volunteering experience always looks good on your resume and lets potential employers know you give back to the community regardless of your employment status. Build your network Whether you reconnect with old contacts or work on making new ones, networking is a big part of finding a new job. Reach out to your old contacts (old employers and even lecturers) and let them know you’re in the market for a new role. Ask for their advice and whether they know about any opportunities. Keep the contact fresh and regularly follow up. You can expand your network by joining in on industry networking events. These are great opportunities to connect with new people and those that share your interests. Work on your online presence It’s more important to have a strong online presence today than it has ever been. Hiring managers will search for you online to try and get an idea of the kind of employee you will be. You want your social accounts to represent you in the best way possible. You also want your presence to align with what’s currently trending in your industry. Final thoughts There’s no use wasting your time when you’re unemployed or randomly applying for jobs you’re not qualified for. Instead, be specific with your time and focus on what’s important. Do whatever it takes to make yourself more hireable and use this time to build on and refresh your skills. Ready to start applying for roles that correlate with your skills and experience? Start browsing Adzuna’s listings today!

February 26, 2021

Shimmer Cream Bronzing droplets

Shimmer what? Shimmer Cream is a curious product – it’s something that, until you use it, you don’t realise how much you’ve always needed it. Once you’ve used it, it becomes that thing your summer travel bag will never be without. It will be the finishing touch to your everyday – and every night – look. It’ll be the reason people stop and stare. It’ll be the thing you tell your friends they have to try. Here’s why, Magic in a tube Shimmer Cream is the perfect summer beauty product – it takes your natural or at-home self-tan to another level. This bronzing cream immediately deepens your tan by at least one or two levels. Even better – if your tan is uneven, this magical stuff evens it right out, sneakily disguising any imperfections and giving you that catwalk-ready, airbrushed look. Ultra-sparkles As though that wasn’t enough, Shimmer Cream adds a little extra glamour to your skin with extremely fine, ultra-subtle sparkling particles. You’ll be turning heads with barely any effort at all. The secret to a darker tone: For those in the know, Shimmer Cream has another quite useful function. Tan-fans may already have discovered how useful Shimmer Cream is for achieving an even deeper, richer, more intense tan. The trick: add Pure Pigment Darkening Drops mix thoroughly and apply to your skin, making sure to do so in an even, circular motion (skin prep basics are essential, of course, and should be done before this). This is ideal for quick, effective results. Available at Dis-Chem, Clicks, Takealot, Zando, Superbalist, & Caribbeantan.online

February 25, 2021

Tips for starting your new job on the right foot

After months of searching for the perfect role, you’ve hit the jackpot and are amped for starting your new job. But this isn’t where your journey ends. In fact, this is where you’ll set the stage for long-term success. You have loads to learn and even more to prove. Here are some of the most important things you need to do when starting a new job! Get to know the players It’ll take a while to settle into your new role, but while you ease into things, start exploring the inner workings of the company machine. Who is in charge, and who holds the most prominent titles? It’s essential to figure out who to keep at arm’s length and who your potential allies could be. Dig into the company culture Understanding company culture is super important for anyone starting a new job. You need to understand how the organisation operates and what the management and leadership styles within the business look like. When you know how and why your boss leads, you’ll have the foundation for a good working relationship with him or her. Do not engage in water cooler drama Making friends with or just getting along with your colleagues is essential, as long as you don’t get dragged into gossip and office drama. If you happen to hear anything about the receptionist, treat the information as if it is private. Nobody wants to be caught with their hand in the gossip jar. Schedule your 6-month review Make a schedule of what you’d like to achieve and by when and keep on checking in on your own performance. This tactic will ensure that when your 6-month review does come up, you’ll already be ahead of the game. Final thoughts Starting a new job can be an exciting time in young professionals’ lives, but just because you finally landed a job doesn’t mean you need to stop putting in the effort. What you do during the first six months of your first job will ultimately be what sets the stage for the future of your career!

February 25, 2021

Learning to Play Alone

Parents often feel they must occupy their baby’s every waking moment or boredom will set in. Not so. Not only is learning how to play alone an important skill to grasp, but your baby will be more cheerful overall if you don’t play together 100 percent of the time. If your child needs downtime, she may turn away, get restless, or cry. Tune in to baby’s cues. When you respect a wish for independent play (supervised, of course), you show that being alone can be a good thing. Also encourage your child to develop self-entertainment skills. Engage them in a favourite activity. Play for a few minutes, then step back to observe. Once your baby is comfortable with you being some distance away, walk out of sight for a few minutes. (Of course, make sure the area is carefully baby-proofed, and keep your baby within your sight.) When your child first realises you’re gone, they may fuss but will probably settle down in a few minutes and become absorbed in the activity or toy. Wean yourself from being the driving force of play; you’ll help boost your child’s creativity. While learning through play is your baby’s “work,” for you it can be one of the very best perks of parenting. Our parenting advice is given as suggestions only. Laugh & Learn™ Smart Stages™ Puppy and Sis Have you already met Smart Stages™ Puppy and Sis? These soft and cuddly pals are entertaining companions for little explorers at the age of 6-36 months. They respond to your baby’s touch with exciting sing-along songs and phrases that introduce more than 100 first words, parts of the body, colours, shapes and more! And because every baby develops at their own pace, Puppy and Sis come with Smart Stages™ technology, so you adjust the level to unlock new content as your child grows. There are a variety of songs, sounds and phrases within each of the three levels of play. And Puppy and Sis’s light-up, multicolour heart even twinkles along to the music! Level 1 – Explore – Baby can press Puppy and Sis’s hands, foot, heart, nose or ear to hear first words, colours, the alphabet, parts of the body and more! Level 2 – Encourage – In this level, fun phrases reward little ones as they’re encouraged to count along, find colours, and identify parts of the body! Level 3 – Pretend – Puppy and Sis are ready to play pretend with fun sing-along songs and phrases that engage toddlers in exciting and imaginative play, all while expanding their vocabulary! By Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education

February 25, 2021

33% of gamers in South Africa hide how much they game from their parents

A third (33%) of gamers in South Africa are ashamed of how much they game and hide it from their parents. This is according to global research1 by Kaspersky and was discussed in a recent Mum’s Got Game live panel. This research1, commissioned by Kaspersky and conducted by Savanta in November last year, looks at gaming in 2020 across 17 countries and 5,031 respondents, and considers what dynamics between gamers and their parents have changed and what can be done to break down barriers and stigmas. According to the gamers surveyed, this gaming shame is due to archaic stigmas2 that remain around it, such as “bad for your health” (55%) or “rotting your brain” (56%). The biggest disappointment for gamers is that while parents appreciate many of the positives – creativity (55%), social skills (33%), problem solving (50%) – they are less able to engage with them about their passion, mainly because gameplay and the social elements of gaming are so different to the likes of movies and music. In fact, half (54%) believe that if their parents “got” gaming, their relationship overall would be better. Andrew Winton, Vice President of Marketing at Kaspersky, said,“Gaming has provided huge support to many people this past year; offering solace, relief and friendship in difficult times. But for many families, the negative perceptions of gaming can be very counter-productive in enabling open dialogue and building relationships. We hope that the wise words from these mums will help others start to have better and more positive conversations between gamers and parents.” To read the full report visit our blog.

February 24, 2021

Cheese, full of goodness and a lunchbox fav

Versatile and delicious, it’s incredibly easy to make cheese one of your family’s three-a-day dairy options, every day. Like other dairy, cheese is also a firm favourite with kids. Used as a tasty topping, an essential ingredient and a go-to sandwich filler, cheese also stands alone as a nutritious and satiating snack. Packed with protein, calcium, phosphorus and other essential nutrients, cheese, in all its many varieties, deserves its place as a healthy food item in your family’s diet. Understanding the benefits of cheese, how to choose it and how to use it will help you to plan, shop and enjoy including cheese across breakfast, lunch and supper, and the snacks in between. Natural cheese is a fermented food, and while its exact origins are unknown, there is evidence from Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt that the goodness of cheese has been recognised for thousands of years. Cheesemakers use milk, salt, beneficial bacteria and a natural enzyme known as rennet as the foundations for producing a vast array of cheeses. Different formulae and ageing processes result in different textures, flavours and colours that are all packed with goodness. Maretha Vermaak, the registered dietitian at Rediscover Dairy says, “Cheese can make a significant contribution to your daily nutrient requirements – from the protein that supports healthy bone and muscle development and repair of body tissue; to the dental protection we get from the calcium and phosphorus by having cheese directly after a meal. As parents who are concerned about good nutrition for our growing children, it is great that cheese is also so completely delicious.” When it comes to choosing the cheeses we include in our family’s meals and snacks, value for money is often top of mind. Luckily, today’s cheese options range all the way from luxury to everyday prices and there’s something to fit every budget. Proper storage of cheese also impacts on affordability because you want to avoid any food waste. Many cheeses freeze well, enabling you to buy specials or cheaper bulk options and safely freeze for later use. It often works well to buy a big block of a harder cheese such as cheddar or gouda, grate it all before its use-by-date and freeze the surplus for quick and easy use. Processed cheese spreads can be stored in the pantry until they are opened, and some varieties of cheeses, including sliced processed cheese, have longer shelf lives in the fridge. It’s always important to check the labels when it comes to storage and the nutrient content of a food item. Proper meal planning, and shopping for value for money can help you to include more cheese, more often. Another factor for many busy parents is convenience. The reality of our daily lives is that we often need fast solutions and time-savers. It helps to have nutritious options such as cheese on hand so that we can quickly prepare daily meals, snacks and lunchboxes. A good example of this is glass jar cheese spreads which are healthier options than many other bread spreads, or sliced or portioned cheese products that are grab-and-go, and a great way to control portions. When it comes to lunchboxes, cheese is always a winner, some tips include: Plan for lunchboxes – plan before you shop, and pack lunchboxes before the morning rush Involve your children – in preparing their school snacks and lunches. They learn about nutrition and how to share chores, and you can have fun together Keep it different – it may seem easier to keep doing one thing but embracing a variety of lunchbox foods encourages your children to try new foods as they develop and prevents boredom and lack of interest in eating their school lunches Aim for balance – growing children benefit from a variety of nutrients, even when it comes to snacks and lunchbox lunches. Make sure you are including protein sources like cheese, milk and yoghurt as well as carbohydrate sources like bread and crackers. Don’t forget to add fresh fruit and veg too. Hydration is essential – dehydration can have adverse effects on your child’s performance at school. Water and milk are top choices. Rather avoid sugary drinks. For more dairy ideas join the Rediscover Dairy Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RediscoverDAIRY

February 23, 2021

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