Six Good Reasons to Move Your Toddler from a Cot to a Bed
Moving your baby over to a big bed can seem daunting but check out some good reasons as to why it could just be the right move for you and your precious!
July 16, 2020
Advice from the experts
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July 15, 2020
Vegan – Is it healthier?
As popular campaigns like ‘Veganuary’ fuel New Year’s pledges to cut back on meat, MANY people has been asking my opinion on vegan diets and on documentaries such as ‘The Game Changers’. If you are intrigued – keep reading.
July 13, 2020
Nutrient Enhancers: my kind of food additives!
This is an excerpt from my book ‘Mila’s Meals: The Beginning & The Basics’ I’m talking about egg yolk, ghee, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, sauerkraut liquid, kefir, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, allspice, turmeric, broth, dulse, liver, blackstrap molasses, baobab, cacao, hemp, lucuma, maca, moringa. It is important for me to make every mouthful of food that Mila swallows as nutritious as possible because: Good nutrition is so important at this stage of life Only a small amount of food is going to go in (at the beginning for some, or forever like with Mila) And because a lot of food is going to be turned away or spat out when the toddler emerges… So I developed a list of ‘nutrient enhancers’ – nutrient-dense foods which can be added to almost any purée or meal without significantly changing the taste, texture or appearance… because trust me… there is no greater food detective than an 18-month old! An excellent example of where nutrient enhancers shine their bright light is in the preparation of plain noodles. “Plain noodles?” I can hear you exclaim! Trust me, there will come a time when your toddler will only want to eat plain noodles, repeatedly, for months on end – and you will make them for her… because you need to choose your battles wisely, because it is the end of a long day, because you have another baby to take care of or because you are tired! So this is as plain as Mila’s plain noodles got: I cooked the gluten-free noodles in bone broth with some seaweed (wakame or kombu). Once cooked, I stirred in a raw egg yolk, some coconut oil, a pinch of sea salt and a sprinkle of dulse. Ta da! Plain noodles… that were eaten with glee! Get creative… there is no end to how sneaky you can be! Nutrient Enhancer: Why is it valuable? Eggs Eggs are a source of high-quality protein and have all the B vitamins (including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12), as well as choline, biotin, folate and cholesterol, selenium, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, D and E. Avoid the egg whites for your little one’s first year as these contain difficult-to-digest proteins and are what usually cause an allergic reaction. Egg yolks should be softly cooked in the beginning, but from 1 year of age you can add them in raw. They can be blended into all plant-based purées to add fat and protein. GheeFlaxseed oilCoconut oilHemp seed oilOlive oil Adding some healthy fats to your little one’s plant-based purées and meals will aid the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Healthy fats are essential for your little one’s brain development Sauerkraut liquidKefir These will supply probiotics – vital friendly gut bacteria that complete the digestion process, produce vitamins, keep pathogenic (‘bad’) bacteria in check, and support the immune system. Get my sauerkraut recipe here CinnamonNutmegCloveVanillaGingerCardamomAllSpiceTurmeric Spices are a great way to develop your little one’s flavour palette. They also have medicinal qualities and are a source of nutrients. Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fibre, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and vitamin A. It is known to have antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antiseptic, local anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory, warming and anti-flatulent properties. Nutmeg is a good source of potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, vitamins A, B’s and C. It is a useful remedy for: insomnia, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, indigestion (gas) and diarrhoea as well as being anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Cloves are a great source of manganese, vitamin K, dietary fibre, iron, magnesium and calcium. They are well known for their ability to relieve tooth and gum pain, aid digestion and provide relief from asthma and bronchitis. Vanilla has antioxidant, anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese. It is a remedy for headaches, motion sickness, nausea, indigestion, wind, colic, cold, flu, bronchitis. Ginger tea is a useful remedy for morning sickness. It boosts the immune system and protects against bacteria and fungi. Cardamom is a great source of iron, manganese, potassium, calcium, magnesium, dietary fibre, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. It is used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant and tonic. It is a remedy for sore throats, constipation, indigestion and colic. Allspice has a good amounts of potassium, manganese, iron, copper, selenium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. It has antiinflammatory, warming and soothing and anti-flatulent properties and is known to aid digestion. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and an excellent source of iron, manganese, vitamin B6, dietary fibre, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium Broth Instead of using water to thin a purée or to cook the vegetables in, use bone broth. Bone broth: builds a healthy gut and digestion aids muscle repair and growth fights inflammation creates a balanced nervous system and a strong immune system inhibits infection caused by cold and flu viruses helps protein and mineral absorption promotes strong, healthy bones It is a source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, boron, zinc, peptides (healing amino acids and natural antibiotics), collagen, omega-9s, iron, vitamin B6 and B12. All the nutrients are easily absorbed by your little one’s body (bio-available). Get the bone broth recipe here Dulse Dulse is an excellent source of calcium, potassium and vitamin B12 – making it a useful addition to any dairy-free or vegan diet. It is also a great source of protein, vitamins B6 and A, iron, phosphorus, manganese and iodine. Sprinkle dulse flakes into purées, or other meals. Liver Liver is an excellent source of high quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B complex (including choline, B12 and folate), a highly bio-available form of iron, vitamin D, vitamin E, pre-formed vitamin A (retinol), vitamin K2, various amino acids and trace minerals such as copper, zinc, chromium and cholesterol. A small amount (1 teaspoon) of raw liver can be grated into any purée. The liver must be frozen for 2 weeks before using it raw (fourteen days will ensure the elimination of pathogens and parasites). Alternatively add some Chicken Liver pâté into purées of other meals. Blackstrap molasses Blackstrap molasses is one way to boost your little one’s iron intake. Its other nutrients include manganese,
July 13, 2020
Language Stimulation is a Piece of Cake!
Fun, easy and practical ways to stimulate your child’s language development by a speech therapist and mother. We find ourselves in a situation, where our children are with us for a longer duration than the school holidays. In discussion with other mums, many are making the best of the current situation. We need to focus on the positives with an attitude of gratitude. Children learn a great amount from observing others and is especially true when it comes to language learning. Your child’s vocabulary increases at a rapid rate. An average 2-year-old has a vocabulary of 50 words while a 4-year-old has a vocabulary of over 1000 words. Your child may use phrases which you or other family members commonly say – even if it is not in the correct context. For example, my husband and I switch from speaking English to Afrikaans when we don’t want our 4-year-old to understand what we are say. When she recognizes that we are speaking a different language, she says “Asseblief!” with great excitement. This is most likely due to “Asseblief” being the most common Afrikaans word that we use. If the thought has crossed your mind, “I wonder how I can stimulate my child’s language development without going bananas”, we present to you a recipe for success. Read until the end where we share with you a detailed explanation how to incorporate language stimulation while making a quick, simple and easy chocolate cake. This recipe is tried and tested – a definite winner in many homes. In the end, you may also say that language stimulation is indeed a piece of cake! Each child may not have the same morning routine but we all do the same activities daily. These include waking up, brushing teeth, having breakfast, taking a shower and getting dressed. Let’s examine each routine activity in greater depth. The main idea is to incorporate language stimulation in your routine so that you do not need to set aside specific time in the day. Let’s be honest, many of us don’t have free time or extra mental energy to add on to our daily routine. This does not mean that you need to be talking to your child the whole day. Use meaningful and language – rich sentences with a goal in mind. If you aim to teach your child their colours, let learning occur without making the process seem like a chore. Read further for fun, easy and practical ways to stimulate your child’s language while going about your normal daily routine. Waking up Upon awakening, your child may come out of his or her room in a range of moods. A typical child aged 4 years old may not remember exactly what day it is hence it would be beneficial to speak about the day, date etc. If your child is anticipating a certain date – explain how many sleeps / days more to go before a particular date or day of the week is reached e.g. Today is Wednesday, 4th September, tomorrow is Thursday 5th September and then it will be Friday 6th September and the day after will be Saturday 7th September. Use your fingers to count how many days away the anticipated date is – you can count forwards (Saturday is 3 days away) and backwards (tomorrow will be 2 days away and Friday will be 1 day away). For your child/ren to visualize the days of the week, a better option is to make your own monthly calendar and change the date each morning with your child/ren. Basics to include are days of the week, dates of the month, name of the month, year, season and weather. A ready-made DIY magnetic calendar is available online from www.thespeechbubbleco.co.za There are innumerable benefits of using a calendar or visual schedule which include: Understanding concepts before, after and sequence of events. Enhance mathematics skills (counting forwards, backwards, addition, subtraction). Learning days of the week and months of the year in a practical manner has great meaning and will be remembered easily. Note – some experts believe that the ability to understand how many days there are from now until an event in future will only be fully understood when a child is between the ages of 7 and 10 years. Brushing teeth From personal experience with my 4-year-old daughter, getting her to brush her teeth is a hard nut to crack. I often need to butter her up by making teeth brushing seem exciting or explaining to her the consequences of not brushing teeth. While in the bathroom with toddlers, the concept of colours can be taught in a meaningful way. A basic colour chart can be stuck on the mirror. The adult chooses a particular colour and the child says what other items in the bathroom match the chosen colour. Since the child’s mouth, the toothbrush and the toothpaste are essential components of teeth brushing – colours related to these can be emphasized first e.g. your teeth are white, what else can you see on your body that is white, what else in the bathroom is white. Having breakfast Mealtimes are exciting for many reasons – many people are together which means food & fun. The excitement can begin before everyone is seated. Ask your child/ren to assist in preparing meals, setting the table etc. Duties can be assigned according to their ages. For fussy eaters, studies have shown that if children participate in the preparing of food, they are more likely to eat it. While chocolate cake isn’t a common daily breakfast menu, our 6 Minute Microwave Cake at the end of this article will provide much fun for the whole family – many husbands have made it independently too! The concept of time can be paired with meals and visibility of the sun. By this we mean, breakfast is associated with the beginning of the cake, lunch in the middle of the day and dinner after the sun has set (i.e. when it is dark). Taking a shower / having a bath During summer months, we may shower twice a day, while in winter – once a day is sufficient. With children, they may often require
July 10, 2020
The very happy story of Grady Mondo
Grady Mondo remained missing since the 15th July 2019, and then Missing Children South Africa received a call from Lettie Motsitsi, a nurse from Steve Biko hospital. She had fortunately seen MCSA’s ‘Missing Flyer’ on Facebook, and realised that it was Grady, who was in the hospital and unidentified until then! Grady is mentally disabled and cannot speak, and as a result of this they had no idea who he was and was not able to identify him. They tried contacting the authorities, but had no feedback from them and he remained a patient at the hospital. Grady had been hit by a car just after going missing. He was in ICU, and when he was moved to the normal ward, he ended up with Lettie who took care of him, and tried to help identify him. Lisa Marie Venter, a student nurse from Pretoria University, also assisted in helping. After Lettie contacted MCSA, we made contact with Grady’s mother and informed her of the good news. She was overjoyed, and beyond grateful to hear that her son was found alive and that she would finally be reunited with Grady, who was delighted to see his mom. Missing Children South Africa is privileged to have been a part of this happy ending, and being able to reunite mother and child. Grady’s mother could not thank us enough and the relief of having found her son brought tears to our eyes. She sent us this personal message: ‘Thank you for the great job you do of helping people, it was not going to be possible without you’. 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. The Covid-19 has had an absolutely dreadful and devastating impact on donations and funding for Missing Children South Africa, which is completely understandable as everybody is experiencing their own crisis’ and trying to navigate through these unchartered waters. 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. 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. 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/
July 10, 2020
Babywearing is NOT an alternative to a car seat
I am a huge advocate of babywearing. Be absolutely clear though – babywearing is not an alternative to using a car seat. While babywearing brands and consultants are very clear that wearing a baby in a car isn’t safe, there are those that don’t know this. So I am adding my voice to theirs in getting this message across. The benefits for baby and the baby wearer are numerous. Keeping baby close and secure is the best thing for baby’s development and babywearing allows you to carry on with normal day to day life. Kangaroo care, babywearing, in public hospitals has proven to help premature babies to thrive. I can understand the temptation to keep baby wrapped close to you at all times because of these benefits. But the dynamics of a car accident don’t change. A baby or child between an adult body and a seatbelt will be crushed to death. Most parents understand that it is never safe to hold a baby or child in your arms or on your lap in a car. Physics research has shown that passengers have less than half a second to react in a crash or even if the driver has to slam on brakes. When a car crashes or suddenly stops, the body takes on the weight of the speed you were travelling multiplied by the actual weight. So while anybody could hold onto something weighing 5kgs… If your baby weighs 5 kg, and you crash at only 60km per hour, your baby weighs 300kg. Nobody can hold onto something weighing 300kgs. Some people believe that wearing a seatbelt over them and their child solves this. The sad fact is… In a crash, your baby or child would be crushed to death between the seatbelt and your body. The force against your baby is roughly that of 30 adults, each weighing 50 kgs, standing on top of your child. 1500kgs… An entire rugby team or the weight of your average car… The wrap or sling won’t make a difference at all in this equation. It will be holding your baby in place between you and that seat belt. Car seats are expensive. They are a pain to move in and out of a car. Car seats are awkward to carry. They can wreak havoc on your back, neck and shoulders. Unwrapping a finally-sleeping baby from babywearing and transferring them into a car seat… Easily equated with disarming a bomb… On a rollercoaster… With both arms tied behind your back. It is a pain. You are tired and sore and you just want to get yourself and your baby… and probably your other kids too… home in the fastest, least traumatic way possible. I feel you mommy. Really I do. I know that overwhelmed feeling oh so well. I’m a mommy. I am a mommy of a toddler. Who still rear-faces, and will until her car seat doesnt’ allow it anymore around 25kgs. I have had to transfer her sleep-heavy little body to her car seat http://www.health4life.net/ drugstore in the rain after a month of sleepless nights. I have faced the consequences of that transfer waking her… Her screaming while the tears pour down my face as I drove home. What I haven’t had to do is face the consequences of not making that choice. I have talked to and listened to and cried with mommies who have though. This mommy lost her baby in a 2 block car trip. It isn’t worth it. Babywearing is wonderful. It is a tradition that has been around for thousands of years. African mommies have been wearing babies for as long as we have records. Daddies, grandparents, even older siblings can now use babywearing to bond with the babies in their world. Wear your baby! Keep them close to you, safe and warm. You are doing the best you can for your baby. And when it comes time to get into the car, transfer them to their car seat. Just as you are designed to hold and support your baby; a car seat is designed to hold and support your baby in a car. The materials used are chosen and tested to make sure that your little one is completely surrounded by protection in the case of a crash. #CarseatFullstop. Every child. Every time. No matter what. One share, seen by one person, who straps in one child, saves a life.
July 10, 2020
Improving the Skill of Visualisation
In a previous article, the importance of the ability to visualise – a reading method which strengthens reading comprehension – was emphasised. Being able to visualise allows readers to gain a more thorough understanding of the text and content they are reading by creating pictures in their minds as they read. What is visualisation? Explained simply, visualisation is the process of creating a mental picture based on any given information. This mental picture isn’t just visual – it can include other sensory details like sounds, smells, and tastes. Being able to create this mental picture is vital for absorbing and processing information. Students who visualise as they read have a richer reading experience and they can recall what they have read for longer periods of time (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000). Readers who can identify with the characters in the text find reading to be a more pleasurable and meaningful experience, and this promotes continued reading (that is, lifelong reading). How to improve your child’s ability to visualise Children are, by nature, very imaginative and very good at playing make-believe. This capacity for creating fictional worlds and scenarios lends itself to the skill of visualisation. And while most people can visualise intuitively, visualisation – like any skill – needs to be practised to be improved. So, how can the ability to visualise be improved? Although the ability starts early with parents reading to their toddlers, or with teaching early readers, older readers can also benefit from practising the skill. A series of lessons will be required to practise visualising, described below. Start small: choose a short sentence/paragraph/passage that contains descriptive language. This can provide a good starting point for forming a mental image and sparking discussions. Use a sentence like: “The girl who was taken in for Christmas by foster parents couldn’t believe her eyes. There was a Christmas tree, beautifully decorated with fairy lights, ribbons, and stars. She had never, ever seen such a beautiful tree, with packages and gifts below. She burst into tears of pure joy.” Discuss the mental images created by the story individually or in a group setting. Although descriptions will vary, it will stimulate the formation of a mental picture. Use different passages rich in information to stimulate image formation. Group activities: read a picture book to small groups, sharing only limited portions of the illustrations. Learners then create their own illustrations based on the text they heard. Alternatively, provide a written description of a character in the story. In addition, only the beginning of a story can be read, and the learners can then write or imagine and tell what happened next or how the story ended. More advanced techniques: follow up to independent reading. Ask specific questions about the content, like “What could the main character have done differently to save the princess?”, “Does the main character remind you of anyone you know?”, or “How would you have changed the setting of the story if you were the author?”. Practising visualisation If children are struggling with the early stages of practising visualisation, it might be helpful to guide them by asking them to think about different components of a mental image, such as colours, shapes, movement, and numbers. Also read: Raising readers: tips for parents Practising the skill of visualising will improve learners’ reading comprehension and, eventually, also their academic achievement, because visualisation helps learners improve their concentration by focusing on specific details, as well as improving their memory by keeping those details in mind. Good concentration and memory are key factors in academic success. By practising visualisation while reading, learners set themselves up for success very early on – and throughout – life. Sources: Harvey, Stephanie, and Anne Goudvis (2000). Strategies That works: Teaching Comprehension to Enhance Understanding. Portland, Maine: Sten house. by Dr Ronelle Venter – Educational Psychologist
July 10, 2020
The no makeup makeup look for moms on the go
I think that most of us have experienced the wrath of COVID -19 and the havoc it has caused in our everyday lives and like most people, we have all grown quite tired of hearing about it. Ever since COVID-19 hit I think it has worn us down and caused us such anxiety that we now have COVID -19 burnout. When the Pandemic first arose, I like most, was consumed by it. We watched the news and followed the stats closely and had so many sleepless nights. Although COVID -19 is still very much a relevant topic, I think we are all yearning for a little bit of normalcy and wants things to look forward to and have conversations about things other than this cumbersome virus. We still want to stay in the loop with things that pertain to us like kids, school, updates, breakthroughs etc but we want to consume it at our own pace; not every time we open a social media app. We have all been feeling a bit down and I don’t know about you, but I haven’t found the need to dress up or even put on makeup. Now that most of us are back at the office or bracing ourselves to go back to work, I wanted to share my tips on how to achieve the “no makeup”, makeup look. Wearing a mask is also mandatory, so this look means we will look office-ready without the hassle, seeing as we are all still running our households and seeing to the kids schooling under the “new normal” circumstances. The “no makeup”, makeup look These days the makeup trend is all about the “no makeup, makeup look.” We are seeing a lot less makeup than before. Makeup is not ‘plonked’ on but rather more natural looking, letting your natural features come through. Here are our tips to achieve the ‘no makeup, makeup look’ Minimal foundation. Try mixing your foundation in with moisturizer so coverage is less. Don’t skip the sunblock. Wrinkles are the last thing we want to add to our already long list of worries. Conceal properly. Colour correct and conceal any discoloration or redness. Use the CATRICE colour correcting palette. Peach concealer underneath your foundation cancels outside blueness or darkness. Green concealer underneath your foundation cancels out redness. For shadow you want to choose a cream shimmer colour for eyes. You could even use a shimmer colour on the inside of your eyes to open it up. If you are not a fan of shimmer, then try using a single shade of eyeshadow all over the lid like a warm brown or orange. Use the CATRICE nude palette. Groom your brows and for a more natural look you could use brow gel. Use the CATRICE clear brow gel. Apply a coat of mascara and for a more subtle look you could also use brown mascara instead of black. Use the CATRICE glam & doll mascara. Bronzer and blush to warm up the cheeks and create definition. Use the CATRICE matt bronzing powder and luminice highlighter palette. Sweep of highlighter and a dash of gloss on the lips. Use the CATRICE volumizing lip gloss. As moms on the go, we all need a little pick me up and confidence boost even if it is a little makeup to help us feel normal again. Feeling good about ourselves is an instant energy boost and mood enhancer. Transitioning your summer closet to winter on a budget Life is expensive – period! Finding smart ways to recycle my summer clothes to winter is something I love doing because it gives me an opportunity to wear my summer clothes in different ways and make it feel like a whole new outfit. Here are my tips: Maxi dresses – throw on a long sleeve top underneath, a blazer or leather jacket, a pair of boots and we have a whole new outfit. Layering – I love layering my white shirts and throwing on a chunky knit or taking a dress and throwing over a knit. Invest in thick winter stockings. Recycle those summer skirts by pairing them up with winter stockings and boots. Add richer, deeper colours – most people will think neon colours should be tucked away for Summer but pairing it up with earth tones will make it perfect for Winter. For example, a neon bodysuit paired with a camel blazer makes it very wearable for Winter. Accessories are life changing and it is a less expensive way to change up an outfit. Layering up necklaces and adding a different earring can really breathe new life into an old outfit. When I do have extra cash I can spend, I like to invest in statement pieces that will last me for years to come. I invest in leather jackets, a few coloured winter scarfs, a few chunky knits, boots, sneakers or loafers, scarfs and hats or beanies. My favourite past time is buying vintage items. You can pick up amazing steals and some name brand items too for a fraction of the cost. I love that the pieces you find are unique and no one else will have the same. Sitting in my closet while the kids are asleep, and hubby is playing Fifa (yes this happens in my household too) and thinking up outfits is something I find so relaxing. Plus, it saves me time in the morning having to decide what to wear. CATRICE Cosmetics is available at Dis-Chem pharmacies and online at Takealot, Zando, Superbalist & House of Cosmetics.
July 9, 2020
The truth about sterilising and hygiene
Health and hygiene are two issues all parents really care about and they’re top of our list too. Let’s face it, caring for a baby and creating a hygienic environment can feel never-ending. With the right equipment, some common sense and a routine, these tasks become second nature and you can feel confident that baby will be safe at home or when out and about. Cleaning & cleansing – regularly wiping surfaces and washing baby equipment is a great habit to get into once baby has arrived. In particular, make sure that any areas used to prepare bottles or food are clean. Sterilising – baby feeding equipment, breast pumps and soothers should all be sterilised until your baby is 12 months, as milk can harbour harmful bacteria which could make your little one sick. There are many different sterilising options out there, from cold water, microwave and electric to new UV sterilisation, which can even clean soothers, teethers and small toys. It’s really important to sterilise baby’s feeding equipment to protect your baby’s developing immune system from potentially harmful bacteria. To sterilise effectively, ensure that all bottles, teats and accessories are disassembled and washed thoroughly with warm soapy water and rinsed clean before sterilising. Ensure you re-assemble items with clean hands or sterilised tongs if you can and always on a clean surface too. As a general rule, as soon as a steriliser is opened, the contents inside are no longer sterile. The Vital Baby Nurture 2 In 1 Combination Steriliser (R390.00) has been designed to give you ultimate convenience and peace of mind, killing 99.9% bacteria to keep your baby healthy and happy. This microwave and cold water steriliser combination offers total flexibility depending on your needs. It keeps contents sterile for a full 24 hours when the lid is kept closed. This is really useful, so you can always have a sterile bottle close to hand. You can choose to sterilise in either the microwave with only water using steam for a chemical free clean, or using the cold water method with sterilising solution added. The large capacity holds up to four wide neck bottles, teats, collars, caps and tongs. This steriliser is also suitable for standard neck bottles and accessories such as breast pumps and their components, soothers and teethers. It can be easily stored in the microwave when not in use and can be easily transported when travelling with baby. Sterilising time is just four minutes in the microwave (based on an 850W microwave). Changing time – always make sure baby is changed on a wipe-clean mat where possible and remember good hand hygiene. Wash hands thoroughly after each change and dispose of dirty nappies using secured nappy bags or a special nappy bin. Germs – germs are all around and as baby grows he/she will want to chew most things! While exposure to germs can be a good thing (and is also completely inevitable!), you don’t want your baby to be exposed to the really harmful ones. Limit their exposure by maintaining a high standard of hygiene in the home. Follow Vital Baby on social media: @vitalbabysa Vital Baby products are available at Clicks, Babies R Us, Loot, Baby City, Takealot and at www.babiesafrica.com.
July 9, 2020
Smart Money Goals
As Metropolitan’s Three Word Stories campaign draws to a close, consumers are given tips to help with their finances during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond Nobody could have predicted the turmoil the coronavirus pandemic would cause for the financial lives of most South Africans. Many people’s income has been significantly reduced, and thousands of others are facing the prospect of unemployment. As a result, the economy is contracting. The pandemic has forced all of us to consider critical questions about our financial security. According to a DebtBusters report from the first quarter of 2020, South Africans were under severe financial strain even before the Covid-19 outbreak and are now increasingly cashing in their long -term investments for immediate survival. The pandemic is likely to continue to affect household finances for years to come. TransUnion recently reported that 79% of South Africans’ household income has been negatively impacted. Therefore, being mentally strong, having a plan, prioritising spending and using resources efficiently is imperative to the financial stability for many families. Now in its final week, Metropolitan’s Three Word Story campaign seeks to build resilience among South Africans by sparking conversations about real-life financial concerns, and ease their anxiety about the future by finding ways to deal with the challenges they face. “Access to money has a great impact on how people experience the pandemic. Our food security, personal safety, health and so many other essentials depend on access to money. The questions consumers are asking themselves about their finances have never been more significant. How do I ensure my financial survival? Should I be saving more aggressively? How do I restructure my finances or my debt? How do I pull myself out of debt? Our tips this week aim to help South Africans deal with tremendous financial challenges we are all facing and how to navigate through these unchartered waters,” says Llewellyn Allen, Head of Marketing: Metropolitan, “My hope is that these tips will assist people find a way to not become overwhelmed, but to dig deep to find their strength. The only way to conquer fear is through action, and that starts with reminding ourselves that we have the mental strength and resilience to deal with whatever financial challenges we face,” adds Allen. Reassess your finances and budget accordingly: Many financial experts have predicted that the value of the rand is likely to fall. Consumers will be forced to spend more Rands to buy the usual items they bought before the pandemic. It is important to be realistic about where you stand financially. Honest budgeting and keeping track of expenses serve as a great reality check. Be honest with yourself; the first step is to understand where and how you spend money. To do this properly, draw up a detailed, accurate account of everything your household spends money on in a normal month. Start by listing all fixed monthly expenses that help you maintain a basic standard of living. Then draw up a second list of variable expenses, including discretionary spending. Once you have both lists, compare them with your income and cut out any unnecessary items so that your expenses are less than your income. Even though removing luxuries from a monthly budget might be painful, the ‘new normal’ of social distancing and staying at home might make it easier to cut out the out of home luxuries. Plus, it will reduce stress if you manage to reduce your expenses to be less than your income. Involve the whole family: This is an opportune time for parents to talk to their children about where money comes from, why budgeting is so important, and how everyone in the family can contribute to lowering household spending by making compromises. Parents may want to consider reducing their children’s allowances now that most children are at home and not able to spend money on excursions. Set savings targets for the whole family and make it fun and practical. Seeing money accumulate in a glass jar in the kitchen and later depositing it into a bank account for safety can be highly motivating, and it can be the start of learning about investments and earning interest. Depositing the money in a bank account, not only keeps the money safe but also helps with fighting the temptation of spending the money when in sight. Make smart financial decisions: A crisis such as the Covid-19 presents new opportunities for scammers and fraudsters to steal money by preying on people’s anxieties. Now is the time to make considered financial decisions and avoid the temptation of investing in and losing your money to get-rich-quick schemes. Speak to an accredited financial adviser if you need help with making smart financial decisions during this time. If the household’s financial standing has changed during this difficult time, calm nerves are required to take stock of the finances and make adjustments if required. Information from credible sources as well as speaking to an accredited financial advisor can help to make sense of things.
July 8, 2020
Nattou Buddiez
Nattou is one of the softest, most luxurious plush labels in the world. Known for being as cuddly as it can get, their range of newborn toys are without a doubt, pure joy for any baby.
July 8, 2020
Four healthy money habits to teach your kids
Beyond getting your child’s own savings started, teaching your children age appropriate lessons about handling money is important. It better equips them, and you, to accumulate and maintain a steady growth on investments, particularly if everyone is on the same page about the family’s long-term saving goals. A good example is education. Though online education opportunities have become quite popular recently, school fees remain a reality, and they can really add up over time. Although COVID-19 brings up a lot of uncertainty, now is a great time to teach your kids some valuable financial lessons, so here are four healthy money habits to pass along. Make money child friendly As your children get older, explore ways to teach them ‘adult’ money lessons in practical and memorable ways. One way could be to pay them ‘performance bonuses’ for spotting opportunities that save money in the home and in their schooling. When you do annual uniform shopping and they find a cheaper deal on school shoes elsewhere, invest the difference into savings. You might consider opening a tax-free savings account on behalf of your child, or a unit trust account if your investment horizon is a little shorter. A formal way to save can make your children cognisant of the cause you are saving towards, and aware that their efforts are actively making a difference. You can also mimic the discipline of saving by paying pocket money on a specific date each month. This demonstrates that money isn’t available on tap and things, just like their education, need to be planned and saved for. Allow trial and error Talk to your children about questions that they may have about money. By helping them understand what’s confusing them, it opens their mind to creative ways to work with it. Once your teenagers understand the concept of compound interest, the excitement and devotion to growing the initial amount might kick in. Additionally, although the (weekly or monthly) pocket money you give them might be the same, their personal expenses will change. One month, your child might ask for an early withdrawal to buy a camera for photography class, and the month after, a book. By providing ‘statements’, your child will be less intimidated by personal financial planning and have a realistic idea of what it looks like to budget, review expenses and be conscious about using their money. More importantly, they will learn to plan ahead for what they need and want. In this time, allow for mistakes so that they know not to panic when the environment or costs change. Intuition combined with your lessons are key to them navigating their newfound financial responsibility. Check twice before clicking once The newer generation is growing up with the internet, but it is never a bad idea to teach them to shop safely and wisely while online. Begin by teaching your kids the difference between a credit and debit card and which one you will be allowing for the online buying responsibilities you might give them from time to time. Emphasise that transactions should only be made on trusted sites and to make it easier, provide a list of places where you will allow the card to be used. You can also suggest they place an item in their virtual shopping cart for a day or two before buying, as this could result in realising the item isn’t necessary to buy, or some retailers may even send a discount for that item, hoping it will conclude the sale. By giving older children the occasional responsibility of doing their own stationery shopping (with your supervision) not only will they learn how to compare prices and stick to the budget, but they will also learn to become familiar with the cost of things (and how they can change over time). Hopefully, your child will learn that financial planning is based on needs first, then wants. Textbooks? Need. New PlayStation? Want. Play the role of an adviser Financial advisers are qualified professionals who commit to evaluating your current situation and help you build a realistic strategy toward reaching your ideal financial goals. As your children gain more understanding, find out their financial goals. You want them to understand the role of a financial adviser in their personal financial planning journey when the time comes, but more importantly, to be honest with their adviser. You might consider including them in conversations you have with your adviser. Small lessons amount to big, well-informed decisions and as a parent, the ongoing lesson of being financially prepared is a gift that will reap many rewards in the future. Ronald King, Head: Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs at PSG
July 3, 2020
Communication is key to helping your child navigate the new normal at school
With more grades returning to school in coming weeks, in line with South Africa’s phased back-to-school approach, parents and guardians should keep the lines of communication open through frank conversations and feedback, an education expert says.
July 3, 2020
Saving money on groceries and meals during Covid-19 pandemic
I thought although this was not in my original “money saving” ideas it is very pertinent to what is happening at the moment and as such I have decided to write about ways to save money during this period of Lockdown/Covid-19 pandemic.
July 3, 2020
Studying from home: Impaq learners and parents share their tips (part 2)
While some schools in some provinces have recently opened, many learners are still learning at home. Some learners have taken to homeschooling like a duck to water, but others are finding it a bit more challenging, even after a couple of months. Impaq’s learners are always home-based, so we asked them, their parents, and tutors to share their tips on how to study from home on Impaq’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
July 3, 2020
How far would you go for a child’s safety?
In the same way that I hate being told what to do, I hate telling other people what to do. Parenting is hard enough without people making judgements about our parenting choices. BUT, there is one notable exception, and that’s when it comes to a child’s safety. If you choose to feed your kid from the boob or with formula, I don’t care because either way your little one is getting fed. If you choose to have a nanny or send your kid to creche, that’s also your choice and I have nothing to add to the conversation. However, if a child is in danger, we all have a responsibility to speak up. The world is full of scary things that threaten your child’s safety I recently saw a video where a little one was almost taken, just a couple steps away from her mom… Or how about the uproar about the Stanford rape case? Babies can get sick and end up in the NICU, a place I hope Harley never ends up in again. Sometimes, there’s nothing we can do to prevent the horrors – it comes down to luck. However, when you get in a car, there is something you can do for your child’s safety… And a frighteningly small percentage of parents do it. I remember the weeks leading up to when we brought Harley home. I kept hoping for her to gain the weight, to be ready to come home, but it didn’t feel quite real. Because she had come so early, Dean and I hadn’t even gotten around to getting her two most important things – her cot and her car seat. I had done my research and I knew exactly what I wanted; the car seat we ended up purchasing is so safe that it claims our car can roll (knock on wood that never happens) and she would still be totally fine and protected. It was only when we bought both her travel system and her camping cot that it felt real that she’d be coming home. We had a way to transport her and a place for her to sleep. South African Statistics around your child’s safety The hospital had a rule that you couldn’t take a baby home without a car seat. I sort of laughed at the time – I mean, obviously, right? Well, not so obviously. According to some scary statistics, less than 7% of babies are in car seats in South Africa. That means a whopping 93% aren’t. When you consider that car seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% in infants and 54% in toddlers… Those are some scary, scary numbers. Thinking of the ridiculous number of accidents that occur every day on our roads, in particular over long weekends or major holidays, it’s actually terrifying to think how many tiny lives are in danger for absolutely no reason. The cost of a car seat Yes, I know, some of you will tell me that there are people who can’t afford car seats, and you’re absolutely right. That’s why there are organizations like Wheel Well which runs a campaign around car seats. That’s right, any old car seat you have can be refurbished and donated to a family in need… Helping them take care of their child’s safety even if they don’t have the funds. But sadly, those aren’t the babies I see most often unrestrained. No, I’m talking about the little ones I see, being dropped off at the nearby schools and creches, the ones driving in Polos or Subarus or Land Rovers or Porsche Cayennes. I see their children standing on the back seats, hanging limbs out of windows, or even climbing into the front of the car. It isn’t due to hardship that these parents aren’t restraining their tiny people, it’s out of negligence. Maybe the kid screams in the car seat, or maybe they figure it’s just a quick trip and everything will be fine. How devastating would it be, then, if that quick trip ended in tragedy, a tragedy that could be avoided. I’m lucky – Harley adores her car seat. She happily goes into it, sometimes just giving a wriggle when I strap her in, and then usually falls asleep during the drive – even if it’s just down the road. She faces backwards, and I’m starting to notice her feet are actually touching the backrest of the backseat. Cool for her, she’s getting taller. But that doesn’t mean she’s getting turned around anytime soon. The reality is, we never know when we could be in an accident It could be a distracted driver on his phone in rush hour traffic while we go fetch Dean in the afternoon, it could be a still-drunk driver on a Saturday morning when we head to Pretoria to see my beautician, it could be due to random glare from headlights late at night driving back from a braai with friends. I consider myself a careful driver; I have never been in an accident. But that doesn’t mean I never will. It’s scary and awful to imagine. Maybe you don’t have a kid, or maybe you always strap yours in. But based on the stats, you know at least one person who doesn’t. You don’t have to explain to them how horrifying it is when a baby is thrown from a car. You don’t have to be “that” friend who lectures them. Simply share these #CarseatFullstop posts when you see them and think more about a child’s safety. Are you following? To make sure you don’t miss any of these posts, be sure to join the #CarseatFullstop Facebook group or follow #CarseatFullstop on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. And a huge shoutout to local mom, blogger, brain and words behind Pregnant in Cape Town and Tums 2 Tots Online, and generally awesome lady Mandy Lee Miller, for campaigning for your child’s safety. She has so much passion for the project and truly puts it in the best words: About the Author Zoe is a rockstar geeky mom to a gorgeous
July 3, 2020
I am overwhelmed: Parenting in a time of COVID-19
Metropolitan’s Three Word Stories campaign provides support to parents Parenting stretches you at the best of times, but the ‘new normal’ asks parents to do the splits, adapt and maintain routine – all at the same time. This public juggling act is taking place every minute of the day, with parents facing increased pressure in their roles of care-giver, role model and individual. Each week, Metropolitan facilitates open conversations on a variety of topics, through its Three Word Stories campaign. “We aim to connect South Africans as they deal with the challenges this virus is causing. In sharing our experiences, we start to feel less overwhelmed by what we are going through. “And with the help of our team of experts, we hope to offer people the tools they need to lighten the load,” says Nontokozo Madonsela, mother of two and Chief Marketing Officer at Momentum Metropolitan. The changes to the normal work/school routine posed by the pandemic sees parents having to navigate and juggle multiple roles. In response, the campaign’s identified story for the past week was ‘I am overwhelmed’, recognising that parents are facing added pressure with their families now based at home. The following steps were provided in answer to this pain point: If it feels like it’s all too much, acknowledge it. “Admit that things have changed – and don’t beat yourself up if you feel that you are not handling it perfectly. We need to adapt to our new situation, and the only way we can do this is through dropping our former expectations and acknowledging that it is going to take time to find our new rhythm,” says Madonsela. Reach out to other parents. During this time of uncertainty, reaching out to friends or family members with children can become that much-needed lifeline. A regular phone call with people going through a similar journey can help build your mental resilience. “Through sharing our experiences, parents gain better coping skills,” Madonsela adds. Be honest with your children about what is going on. In an article for Psychology Today, Rebecca Schrag Hershberg Ph.D states, ‘It’s on us to start conversations with our kids. Continue to ask them what new things they’ve heard about the virus, to correct misinformation, and to answer their questions honestly and using short sentences. Kids get bogged down in words.’ “I found that this helped my kids adapt to their new routines that much more quickly, bringing some normality back into daily life. They knew that if they wanted to know something they could ask, but life had to carry on; schoolwork needs to be done, teeth need be brushed and the rules around screen time still exist,” says Madonsela. “As a parent, it is normal to feel that balls are being dropped. Accept that this is okay; your main priority is that your kids are safe and healthy. Remember to encourage them and let them know they’re doing well, rather than reprimanding them for the occasional missed homework deadline. “Other tasks can be allowed to fall behind for a moment, but the wellbeing of your children is the most important thing,” concludes Madonsela.
July 2, 2020
Back to school with a difference
As the lockdown curtain slowly begins to rise, endless thoughts and emotions engulf our minds. There is an overwhelming urge to return to life as we know it, coupled with the uncertainty and disappointment in our minds regarding the rhetorical question, ‘Is this how it’s always going to be from now on?’ ‘For how long will we continue having to wear masks?’ ‘When will social distancing end?’ There is an overwhelming need to feel the certainty of safety, from that which we cannot see and cannot feel. The terms Covid 19 and Corona virus seems to remain on our minds all the time as we all try to create a life as normal as abnormally possible for ourselves and our children under extremely abnormal circumstances. Some have already begun re-exploring the outdoors; malls are starting to fill up once again. Although it can be understood that being under lockdown has affected all of us in so many ways. This includes having a natural need to enjoy the outdoors and start doing ‘normal’ activities of daily living once again which excludes being at home. With the South African regulations of level 3 of lockdown settling in, there seems to be a slight sense of excitement yet an undertone of fear and loss. This is coupled with a stronger sense of understanding and acceptance of the notion and magnitude of the fact that we are living within a pandemic. Is this advisable though to start going out again? Whilst the need for nature’s best source of vitamin D is long overdue for all of us, it still is not safe for us to go out to public spaces where we are among so many people gathering. Social distancing and physical distancing will still be a compulsory requirement for months to come. Regardless of whether others are doing it or not, hospital wards are filling up, infection rates continue to be on the rise and more and more deaths are being reported daily. We live in an era of self-gratification, where we want what we want and we make sure that we get it. Now that we do not have control, it is so important that we do not let our feelings of frustration and helplessness result in us losing sight of the bigger picture, which is that we have to continue to practice short term sacrifices for our very own long term benefit. New Zealand has managed to combat the virus by maintaining adequate social distancing and isolation. If they can do it, so can we South Africa! This needs to be regarded for ourselves and especially for the sake of our most vulnerable ones, namely our elderly and our children especially as we prepare them for the next phase, school reintegration. Some schools have recently begun with the phasing in of children getting back to school for the first time since lockdown, much to the dismay of parents. Although studies in China and Russia have shown that children are at low risk of fatalities of this disease. How do we know that our kids will be safe and will not contract the virus? The sad reality is that we do not know. Therefore we can only ensure that we maintain the regulations of social distancing and required precautions so that we are able to enjoy a meaningful quality of life with our children as well as our parents and grandparents long term, as opposed to short term gains and possibly not being around long enough to live a fulfilling life due to a virus. So how do we protect our kids who will have to go to school? Here are a few tips I have put together to enable as far as possible comfort and safety for our children: Begin with the mental state of mind: It is vital to ensure that one’s children remain calm and collected. This can only be achieved by parents remaining calm, despite how difficult this may be. Ensure that children are able to express their fears and emotions about returning to school and be there to comfort them Knowledge is power: Parents have to ensure that children are adequately informed and educated regarding the necessary precautionary measures to help them feel in control and more at ease regarding being at school. These measures include the constant wearing of masks, not touching their faces, constantly sanitising and maintaining a constant 1.8 metre distance between them and other children. A good suggestion is taking double precaution with a regular mask as well as a shield mask, as children can easily forget not to touch their face and that is where the shield mask being worn over the regular mouth and nose mask comes in handy. It is also important to remember that the Covid19 virus is also spread through touching the eyes, nose and mouth with a contaminated hand as well as should saliva droplets simply through conversation enter the eyes. Hence enabling your child to wear the face shield is important. If possible, single seated desks are extremely important to enable distancing between children. If not possible, then it is imperative where possible that partitioning be placed between children in double desk seating. Ensure that your child has a pocket sized sanitizer with them to ensure that they are constantly sanitising themselves. Limit the handling of money for your children by ensuring that you have packed adequate lunch and healthy snacks for your children in their lunch bags. It is important to remember that should you or your child touch a surface which has been previously been handled by a virus carrier or even sneezed upon by a virus carrier, it can result in you or them contracting the virus. If your child or a member of your family has tested Covid19 positive, please ensure that they remain at home in isolation for at least 2 full weeks or more. Try to arrange with teachers for work to be typed and handed in online, thereby
July 2, 2020
Make the most of mealtime with your tot
Meal times should be enjoyable, but when you’ve got a stubborn little one to feed, they can be stressful. For some parents, meal times may seem like a battlefield. Yes, it’s bound to get a bit (or a lot!) messy, especially when your tot starts feeding themselves. There may be tantrums over the type of food being served, and they may even resist your help in the feeding process. Don’t despair if this sounds all too familiar – there are lots of things you can do to bring the joy back to meal times. Toddlers, in many ways, are like teenagers. They are learning to navigate their world, they are extremely inquisitive and they are trying to gain more control over some parts of their lives. The major difference is, unlike teens, toddlers have had zero control – up until now. Eating is the first thing they learn to control, and in many cases, they will try take advantage of the situation. And to be fair, who can blame them? They are learning to master their independence. The key to mastering meal times is to give your tot an appropriate amount of control. It is your responsibility to prepare and serve them healthy, appropriate meals, but leave it up to them to decide how much they want to eat, and which parts of the meal they want to eat. Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters and may select one or two meals they love, and seemingly refuse to eat anything else. Many parents offer those same meals every day out of pure desperation to get their tot to eat. This, however, is not the answer to a healthy diet, and parents should not fall into this habit. Your tot won’t starve, and if given other foods, will rather become flexible with their eating habits than eat nothing at all. Variety is key when it comes to getting your little one to eat. Try offer them a few different foods on their plate at each meal time. This doesn’t mean cooking various meals – simply add a few pieces of chopped fruit or veggies, or even some yoghurt to whatever food you have prepared. The more variety you can introduce, the better. Don’t give up on a food first time round. If your child won’t try something, don’t force them to eat it, but introduce it again a few days later. Children can be slow to accept new flavours and textures, and studies have shown it can take up to 20 times before they’ll accept something new! As difficult as it may be, don’t negotiate with your tot. Offering them dessert as a reward for a few more bites is not sustainable, and may create an expectation of this happening after every meal. Have family meals together as often as possible. Set a place at the table for your tot. It’s good for them to see their parents are siblings eating healthy meals together and enjoying the time together. Your tot’s “crockery” and cutlery can go a long way in making meal times less messy. Vital Baby’s Power Suction Plate and Bowl are a game-changer! With super suction power, the Vital Baby NOURISH™ power™ suction plate has been designed to help prevent tipping and spills. It sticks to your baby’s highchair or a table with super suction power and has been proven to have the strongest suction pad available. Easy to use, simply place this baby plate on a table or highchair tray and twist for less mess and less stress at meal times! With powerful super suction, the Vital Baby NOURISH™ power™ suction bowl has been designed with scooped sides to help prevent tipping, spills and splats. This baby feeding bowl sticks to your baby’s highchair or your kitchen table and has been proven to have the strongest suction pad. Simply place it on a table or baby’s highchair tray, flip and twist for less mealtime mess and stress! Follow Vital Baby on social media: @vitalbabysa Vital Baby products are available at Clicks, Babies R Us, Loot, Baby City, Takealot and at www.babiesafrica.com.
July 2, 2020
Sugar Bay and COVID 19
The Bad News We are still at Stage 3 so Sugar Bay holiday camp is not allowed to open for holidays. The GOOD NEWS There is NO Covid-19 at Sugar Bay holiday camp. Sugar Bay is using this valuable time to further improve facilities: Newly renovated bathrooms Re-tiled and designed big swimming pool Re-furbished land and water toys Counselor in Training Camps can and will open soon (check out the end of November camps now). Meanwhile the whole camp is regularly sanitized as it always has been and all visitors are screened before entering. Sugar Bay holiday camp is fortunate to be in a very low risk area in a year round, warm climate with plenty of fresh sea air – ideal for healthy living! We have already moved from Stage 5 to Stage 3. Sugar Bay is alive and well and they are already taking bookings for December. For more information or to book a camp, please call Sugar Bay on 032 485 3778. Alternatively you can send an email to [email protected] or check out their website sugarbay.co.za.
July 1, 2020
Nattou Piu Piu Octopus
Nattou is one of the softest, most luxurious plush labels in the world. Known for being as cuddly as it can get, their range of newborn toys are without a doubt, pure joy for any baby.
July 1, 2020
Four ways to boost your academic portfolio during lockdown
Schools across South Africa opened on June 1 in a phased approach, starting with grades 12 and 7. However, strict social distancing measures will prevent most sporting and cultural extracurricular activities from taking place, and some parents may decide to keep their children at home altogether. Students who have set their sights on top universities, both locally and overseas, must demonstrate innovation in order to stand out and build impressive application portfolios.
June 30, 2020
7 things for our children to consider in preparing for a post-Covid world
As parents, especially of young adults in their final years of high school or university, it has been an anxious time witnessing how the Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted their lives. Crucially, the crisis is disproportionately affecting their generation and driving up our already dire youth unemployment rate. South Africa’s future relies on the collective contribution that our children are going to make to business and society, so it is critical as a parent to address issues related to their education, inclusion and futures right now. To get South Africa to a place they would want it to be, they need to be enabled to be part of the conversation and the journey to get there. So what can our children do to navigate the future amid the unknowns?It turns out, quite a bit. This question was tackled by more than 60 university students from Cape Town (UCT), the Western Cape (UWC) and Stellenbosch (US), Coronation bursary holders, and CEO of Coronation Fund Managers, Anton Pillay, in a recent Youth Month webcast. The students had a chance to share their views and concerns with Pillay, and he in turn gave them support and advice on how to manage their studies and careers to navigate through this stressful time of lockdown and uncertainty. Pillay’s message to students is simple: It is easy to fall behind during lockdown. But the time can also be used to get ahead. The choice is theirs. In every crisis in history, people have had a choice between becoming victims of their situations, or taking control of their destinies. As parents, we can help by instilling the right qualities in our children that will be of value to them in future. It all comes down to tapping into the right skills. Pillay talked to seven qualities, which could stand our children in good stead, in navigating the unknowns during times of adversity: Resilience – resilience is about mental fortitude and managing risk while looking for opportunities Adaptability – only try to control what you know and don’t succumb to anxiety about the unknowns Resourcefulness – think differently and stretch your mind in terms of how you approach activities Self-discipline – maintain some structure in your life and never stop learning Empathy – be caring and responsible in the way you deal with those around you Curiosity – curiosity is absolutely key to success – it encourages you to learn, respond and thrive Optimism – nothing comes easy, but if you remain committed and you seek out the possible, you will succeed. You must have the courage to follow through on what is necessary and to adopt meaningful changes.
June 30, 2020
Lockdown Weight Gain
Since being back at the practice and seeing patients, we found that majority of people have gained 1-3kg during the lockdown period. This weight gain occurred despite eating ‘ok’ and doing some form of exercise.
June 29, 2020
Raising an independent child
Teaching your kids how to be independent will not only make life easier for you but it will also put them on a path towards becoming responsible adults one day.
June 29, 2020
How do I moisturise my baby’s skin?
Those early weeks with a new baby can be magical… and exhausting. You’re still working out how to hold a slippery baby while you wash their delicate skin, and you’re learning what they like and don’t like (clue: they’ll definitely let you know). You don’t need to use moisturiser at this stage, but as you start taking your baby out and about more, their skin is exposed to more toxins from the outside world and might start getting dry.
June 26, 2020
11 Common Car Seat Mistakes
Car crashes remain one of the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children under 14 in South Africa. No doubt, in part, because 4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly… And nearly a third of children ride in incorrect restraints for the size and age. Those are a whole lot of car seat mistakes!
June 26, 2020
Managing Matric in a time of turmoil
For the majority or learners, Matric is the most challenging year of their school careers – even under normal circumstances. The current circumstances facing the Class of 2020 are unprecedented, and have caused massive upheaval and uncertainty on top of the challenges they would ordinarily have faced. Even so, there are ways learners can adjust and respond to ensure they still make a success of the year, an education expert says.
June 26, 2020
Do’s and Don’ts for Making Healthy Food Choices During the Lockdown
With restaurants and most fast food outlets closed since the start of the national lockdown, more South Africans were cooking from scratch at home (if the banana bread photos on social media were anything to go by). Many saw this as an opportunity to start making healthier choices but for others, however, the stress of isolation resulted in bad eating habits such as regularly choosing sugary snacks or overeating. If you are part of the latter group, don’t worry! You can still turn things around. We spoke to Chrisna Brand, a paediatric dietitian and the owner of LEAP Moms and Kidz, to find out what the do’s and don’ts are for making healthy food choices during the lockdown. Do’s Do keep your immune system up by making sure you get all the essential nutrients in your diet. “An ideal diet is one where you have a variety of foods from all the food groups in the correct amounts,” Chrisna explains. Especially focus on having fruit and vegetables at all your meals and snacks to reach those five+ servings a day. Do have a healthy balanced plate for your three main meals consisting of two fruits and/or vegetables, a portion of protein-rich food and a wholesome wholemeal starch. Healthy lunch example: A whole wheat wrap filled with tuna, onions, grated carrots, and cucumber strips. Healthy dinner example: Curried mince mixed with carrot squares, peas, and corn on brown basmati rice. Do plan your snacks and meals in advance. “Planning is key!” Chrisna says. “A week is ideal but planning 3 – 4 days ahead might perhaps be more realistic,” she adds. Get your children to help you with the meal planning and making a grocery list. Not only will this help ensure you have healthy food and snacks that they will eat at hand, but it can also teach them the value of planning ahead. Do keep to a schedule. While your children are probably already sticking to a study schedule,sticking to set times for snacks and meals is just as important. Chrisna explains: “This will avoid snacking all day long and ensure that they sit down for that planned meal and snack”. Do eat as a family.Try to have most meals as a family while preferably sitting at a table. “This will ensure you properly relax and bond at the same time,” Chrisna says. She adds: “Eating at a table while chatting along, also helps your brain to realise when it is satisfied”. Related: Tips for studying from home during the lockdown Don’ts Don’t eat snacks and drinks high in sugar like sweets, soda drinks, biscuits, etc. “Although you might feel peckish when at home, grabbing that high sugar snack is not a good idea if you want the best chance to fight infection. Studies have shown spikes in sugar intake suppress your immune system,” Chrisna explains. Don’t forget to choose healthy snacks in between your meals like calcium-rich yoghurt/milk and fresh fruit, or nuts and raisins, or cut up veggies with hummus, or oatcakes with sliced avocado. Don’t skimp on fatty fish. “Ensure you have oily fish like salmon, fresh tuna, pilchards, sardines or mackerel three times a week for those important immune-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids,” Chrisna says. Don’t forget to hydrate. Water is essential to your immune system as it helps in the production of lymph. Your immune system uses lymph to circulate white blood cells and nutrients to all of your body’s tissues. “To keep your body fighting fit, 6 – 8 glasses of water a day is, therefore, recommended,” Chrisna advises. Don’t keep less healthy snacks in the house. “If there are no unhealthy snacks available you will have to eat the healthier ones,” Chrisna says. by Elmien Ackerman
June 26, 2020
