Life doesn’t stop when you are pregnant. Most of us are still busy with a full day’s work plus the usual cleaning, washing, shopping and cooking chores while sometimes caring for older children as well.
Everyone will agree that babies are special beings and they deserve to be spoilt. To help you make informed choices when shopping to spoil your baby, we put together three of our favourite picks.
There are many reasons why moms bottle feed their babies. Some moms choose to feed their babies formula from birth and other moms find breastfeeding a struggle and decide to formula feed at some stage due to breastfeeding difficulties.
Becoming a parent is the beginning of an entirely new phase of one’s life. Caring properly for your newborn is imperative for their healthy growth. Becoming a parent is a tough job especially if it is your first baby. However, once you are home, you might feel that you do not have any clue about what is going on and how you are going to do it. However, remember that this is what makes parenting so beautiful; learning to care for your little one.
My husband and I travelled with our two-year-old on a long-haul flight to London. Having bought a seat for our restless bundle of energy was, in our case, the best thing ever. Eleven hours plus on our laps would have been too much to handle. We very quickly learnt what to do and what NOT to do.
Rear and front-facing, the Cosmos is a belt-installed car seat that is the perfect introduction from newborn upwards. When baby grows, simply turn the seat around and let them see the world. A newborn mini reducer will keep small babies snug and comfortable and can be removed as the child grows. Recline into 4 positions to make sleeping on road trip and pleasure. The rounded and ergonomic shape of the seat makes it stylish and solid and it even comes with a small toy car.
Being a mom can be quite exciting. After all, you’re bringing new life into the world. However, this can also be a stressful time, with a whole bunch of emotions, the potential for strained relationships, and it can take a toll on you. But, here are some tips to stay sane as an expecting mom, and to help you have the happiest pregnancy possible.
There have been many studies that focus on the importance of infant stimulation. It is a well-known fact that impoverished environments, under stimulation and the lack of rich and varied experiences can impair children’s development in all areas. Thus, there are many projects that focus on helping these communities and giving them the tools through training and equipping them to be able to change the cycle. But what about over stimulation? It has been shown that environments that overwhelm children with stimulation beyond their current capacities interfere with the brain’s potential, much in the same way that under stimulation does. Our society has become increasingly focused on stimulation. Expensive early learning programs, competitiveness and early achieving have become the norm. We have so over scheduled our children with activities that they do not have time to simply be kids and play. We do not expect a 5 month old to walk or run, why do we then expect a 5 year old to read and write? Many children have not developed or practiced their creativity one should through boredom, as they have not had the chance to be bored. There is actually no evidence that any of this has yielded smarter, better, super babies. In fact, priming infants with stimulation that they are not ready for may cause them to withdraw, thereby threatening their interest in learning and creating conditions much like stimulus deprivation. In addition to this parents may become disappointed when despite the excessive stimulation, their children do not become little geniuses. This creates the danger that parents may view their children as failures at an early age. This in turn could result in infants being robbed of a healthy psychological start while also depriving parents of pleasurable and relaxing interactions with and participation in their children early years. The question this leaves us with is, what would the best conditions be? Let kids be kids. Do not put too much pressure on them or expect them to do things that are not age appropriate. The ideal is to provide age-appropriate moderate stimulation in a loving environment with lots of social interactions. This has proven to be much more beneficial than expensive toys and gadgets. The Skidz Clever Activity boxes provides a program focusing on this exact finding. Each set contains all the equipment needed to complete over 100 activities in each box. The age ranges are as follows: 0-6 months 6-12 months 12-18 months 18-24 months 2-5 years. For more info or to purchase your box go to www.skidz.co.za or follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/skidzsa
Becoming pregnant is one of the greatest gifts a woman could ever experience. Yes, you may have to give up a few things like sushi, your addiction to caramel macchiatos, and your occasional dirty martini, but once you hold that bundle of joy, you realize those small sacrifices are nothing in comparison to the life you just brought into the world. Speaking of sacrifices, there are also sacrifices pregnant women make that they don’t necessarily have to. One of those unnecessary sacrifices that women tend to make is giving up traveling. Air traveling while pregnant is one of the biggest misconceptions in the pregnancy world. The American Pregnancy Association statesthat as long as you are not having any complications or concerns with your pregnancy, it’s perfectly safe for women to travel during their pregnancy. Now, in knowing the pain and discomforts that come with pregnancy, it’s understandable for pregnant women to be wary about traveling. One of the worst things that could happen is to be thousands of feet in the air and experience morning sickness! What You Need to Know The symptoms and discomforts that come with pregnancy can be very mild up to unbearable at times but they aren’t necessarily factors that can prevent you from traveling (unless you’re having complications in your pregnancy). Here are some tips to follow to travel safely and comfortably while pregnant. Air Travel: Pick an Aisle Seat When it comes to air traveling, an aisle seat would be ideal for a pregnant woman. The aisle seat allows you quicker and easier access to the restroom and it also gives you more room to stretch your legs out. [sc name=”Google Ad In Article Ad”] Air Travel: Consider Wearing the Oh-So-Gorgeous Compression Socks Majority of the time, compression socks have been worn by older adults to help with blood flow, and on planes, blood clots are a high risk for not only pregnant women but for people in general, especially those with circulation problems. They’re not the most fashionable type of socks but they are helpful! Some doctors even recommend pregnant women to get up ever so often to do a small walk of the aisle to aid in circulation to the legs and feet. This is another added perk of why that aisle seat will come in handy. ***Big Group Road Trip Consideration: Comfort is Key*** If there is a special occasion coming up that requires you to travel for an extended period of time on the road with a large group of people, you need to have the same type of safety and comfort level in mind as you would on a plane. So let’s say you’re going to your family reunion and everybody really wants to see you now that you’re pregnant. Well, you couldn’t be happier to come but you just need to check on the travel arrangements. You need to let whoever’s in charge of the planning know that in order for you to go, you need to be comfortable. You can even suggest that renting a couple of minibuses would be the best case scenario for not only you but for everyone in attendance as well because those types of buses provide passengers with ample spaceplus, everyone would be able to enjoy each others company on the ride without one person having to worry about navigating through the city. Air Travel: Have Your “Morning Sickness” Kit On Hand They call it “morning sickness” but the truth is that this alleged “morning sickness” can strike at any moment during the course of a day, so when you’re booking your flight be conscious that some flights can trigger nausea with the slightest bump in turbulence. To remedy the nausea that can be associated with flying, you can always ask the steward or stewardess for a clear, caffeine-free soda; the bubbly carbonation is what helps to settle your stomach. You can also keep peppermint oil in your purse or pocket. According to everydayhealth.com, simply smelling peppermint oil can ease nausea. It has that calming and “tingling” effect that actually relaxes your stomach muscles so that the bile in your body can easily break down fats easier. If all else fails, most airlines have those paper (sometimes plastic) bags at each seat in case someone does get sick.
As you watch your baby develop into a toddler and their personality starts to take shape, you might want to change a few things in their room. Changing a baby’s room to a toddler’s room can be easier than starting afresh. Let your toddler’s personality guide you in choosing a theme and then decorate accordingly.
What Every parent should know about…creating a safe sleep environment
Are you planning to decorate your baby’s room? Is that a YES? Here are a few pointers to help make your experience enjoyable.
One of the sturdiest and most popular car seats on the market, the Seat Up is the rock solid Isofix-installed car seat that parents have been raving about around the world. The perfect combination of safety, comfort and practicality, Seat Up cocoons the newborn baby with a mini reducer and then gets adjusted at the headrest and sides as the child grows. Also rear and front-facing depending on age group, the seat will be your child’s companion on their journeys until about 25kgs in weight, making it a logical solution in terms of longevity and savings. The 3-reclinning positions will keep comfort a priority too. A definite all-rounder in terms of car seat stars.
Parents often struggle with knowing the correct temperature of their baby’s bath water. Whilst it is safe to say that bath water is often best at 37 degrees Celsius, how do we know the water is that exact temperature? Chicco introduce two cute bath time favourite toys that act as thermometers and read bath water temperature. Throw them in before placing baby inside the water and rest assured the water is fine for baby’s delicate skin. The floating fish thermometer (both in pink and blue) is a cute bath toy that reads temperature with a sensitive thermo-strip that changes colour with water temperature. Also available is the digital whale in orange colour. Chuck the whale in the bath and watch as it digitally tells you the exact temperature of the water while he bops about and makes a great bath time toy. Fish thermometer available at Baby City, www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, selected Kids Emporium stores and Whale Digital Thermometer available at www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, selected Kids Emporium stores.
Recently, the Twistshake Food Processor has been introduced to South Africa. This is a remarkable product and offers a 6 in 1 user experience. Take a look at everything you need to know about the Twistshake Food Processor below, and see why you should own one today. The 6 In 1 Functionality Of The Twistshake Food Processor This machine will allow you to perform the following functions: Steaming: you will be able to steam fruit, vegetables, or meat products for your baby’s next meal Heating: you will be able to heat your baby’s bottle for breastmilk, or bowl or plate for puree o the Twistshake Food Processor Warmer: You will also be able to keep your baby’s freshly prepared food warm for a set period of time on this device Blending: you will be able to blend and puree foods to make your own baby food at home Sterilizing: this product also allows you to sterilize bottles and pacifiers Descaling: you can automatically descale your Twistshake Food Processor with the simple push of a button Why The Twistshake Food Processor Is A Must Have All parts of the Twistshake food processor are made from food grade materials, meaning harmful things such as BPA, BPS and BPF are nowhere to be seen. Furthermore, you will be able to seamlessly make great, nutritional food for your baby. Know exactly what is going into their food by making it from the comfort of your own home! With the automated cooking pre-sets, you will be able to whip up healthy food in no time. What Your Twistshake Food Processor Will Come With The Food Processor A Blending Jar The Steam Container Accessories: your processor comes with a set of tongs, a ladle and two squeeze bags to package your baby’s puree into
Preparing for a Caesarean birth is a simple, but needed, process. As with a natural birth, there are a few simple tick boxes you will need to have in place for preparation of the arrival of your baby. Read on below now to get the gist of what to consider when leading up to your C-section. The List Of Preparation Tasks For Your Caesarean Who Will Be With You? Consider whom you would like to accompany you into the delivery room before your surgery. Make a list of the people, or person, who you’d like by your side, and make the hospital staff aware of your choice. Do You Want Music? some moms like to listen to a little music before the birth of their baby. If you would like that, consult with your doctor to see if this would be allowed. If you re given the green light, start compiling a play list to help you through your delivery! Do You Want A Camera? ask your midwife if you will be allowed to bring in a camera into the delivery room. If you will be, ensure you designate someone as your photographer. Where Would You Prefer The Screen Placement? if you would like to see the birth of your baby, be sure to ask the doctor to lower the screen upon delivery. Also, if you would prefer no screen, be sure to ask for that pre-surgery as well. How would You Like Delivery To Occur? be sure before you go into your operating room that the staff are aware of your delivery requirements. Would you like silence during the birth so that the first voice your baby hears is your own? How soon post-delivery would you like skin to skin contact with your baby? Be sure to stipulate all of your requirements clearly with your delivery team to avoid disappointment!
Statistics have shown that nearly 70% of common illnesses are spread through the hands by people who have touched ordinary everyday objects. These numbers are worrying given how susceptible babies and young children are to sickness. Most people are surprised to learn that most germs that affect our children breed in common spaces in our homes despite our best efforts to keep these spaces clean. However, although these numbers are understandably worrying, the situation can be contained with a number of simple measures that can keep your children safe and your worries in check through the newborn stage. To do this effectively, there are few things you should keep in mind about germs around your home. Germs in the Home There are so many different surfaces around and in our homes, and all of them are infested with various forms of germs, some of which are harmless and others not. Germs have existed since the beginning of time and can be defined simply as species of bacteria, viruses or disease-causing fungi and protozoa. If you are looking for where these germs are found in your home, you may be surprised to learn that the kitchen drain is actually one of the dirtiest places in the home with the kitchen sponge coming in as a close second. This just goes to show that germs are not concentrated in the places we expect them to be. However, there are a number of easy ways to keep your kitchen germ free as well as your bathroom and your baby’s room. Start With the Kitchen The kitchen has been shown to be one of the dirtiest rooms in the house. It’s home to a large number of germs and bacteria responsible for illnesses: e.coli, salmonella, norovisus and hepatitis-A. Because of the amount of activity that takes place in the kitchen and how many people go in and out regularly, it is recommended that you keep a newborn away from this space even if you clean it thoroughly. However, so you don’t carry germs from the kitchen to your baby, it is important to implement a few measures. First, make sure you disinfect any area on which you have prepared any meat such as fish or steak and the like. It is also important to regularly wash your floors with a disinfectant in case your baby happens to crawl in. Most importantly, disinfect and dry any rags that are used in the kitchen area to prevent germs from festering. Sanitizing Bed Sheets Your bedding and your baby’s bed sheets and covers are some of the most important house items to keep germ free. The bed is where your baby and even you will spend a lot of your time and therefore, it is important to keep high sanitary standards for these. Dead skin cells, body oil, and plain dirt are some of the things you expect to find on any random bed sheet. Make sure to wash your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week with detergent and disinfectant. Wash your baby’s bedding each week as well but make sure to wash them separately from other laundry to prevent the spread of germs. Keeping your baby protected from germs may seem a daunting task for new parents but with a few simple routines, you can help keep your home and your baby safe.
Winter is coming in South Africa and flu, colds and fevers may become a reality in our home. A parent of young children need an ally when it comes to looking after sick loved ones and nothing gives the confidence that a practical and intuitive thermometer can. Both the Digi Baby Digital Thermometer and the Flex Night Thermometers from Chicco are suitable for accurate and fast oral or rectal measurements. Digi Baby is practical and colourful with a specially designed probe and takes measurements in 60 seconds. The Flex Night is a flexi-probe for extra comfort as well as having a backlight display to take temperatures during the night and takes measurements in 10 seconds. Both thermometers take readings in both Celsuis and Fahrenheit. Both thermometers are clinically tested and available at Baby City, www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za and selected Kids Emporium stores. Retail prices are: Digi baby – R79 and Flex Night – R249.
When you are pregnant or have a newborn everyone tells you that time passes by quickly so enjoy it! Then you endure sleepless nights, colic and you think can time please start passing faster so that my child can just get out of this phase and so we wish each difficult milestone away and forget to cherish it. All too soon you wake up one morning and realise your child is now in her final year at school and time really has passed by so quickly. You look back at small handprints and stick figure drawings and you wish you could have that time back, a time when she was just your little girl throwing tantrums and getting dirty in the sandpit. It’s so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind that’s life that we forget about the small things. Take the time to make handprints and foot prints, date them and stick a photo taken on the same day next to it. You forget how small she was when you look back at those tiny prints. Keep a record of milestones achieved and things your little one has done. They will take great delight in reading about themselves when they are teenagers. Keep a record of where you lived, who their friends were and what they loved to play with the most. This becomes a really special keepsake if you keep them all together in a file. Those first drawings that others refer to as scribbles reflect her developing sense of self. Keep samples of these and watch how she learns about her body and how it functions in space. The three year old stick figure she drew is very different from the one she drew at four years of age. Use small photo albums to create books about her favourite things. This is a great way to help with language development and one day she can look back at all her favourite things when she was two, three and four years old. Video those songs and funny things they say and save them on a hard drive. This way you will be able to cherish them forever. Remember these years really do fly by and as they get older there are new memories to be made but keeping and making these mementos from babyhood will allow you to look back and see why she has turned out to be such a stunning young adult. Raising well rounded children takes more than just feeding them, it takes time to be there in body and mind.
I had a call from a concerned parent yesterday and I realised again how hard it is to bring up a baby in today’s world. As first-time parents you are so afraid of doing the wrong thing and not getting it right that we forget to trust our instincts when raising our children. Remember milestones are an indication that all is well developmentally. It’s not a list to be rushed through. A child must spend time in each phase in order to develop all areas of his intellect. The less time he spends playing with gadgets, the better for him. So, ask yourself the following question: Is someone or something allowing him to be able to do this? (Sit/ walk/jump/ draw etc.) If you get a YES, then you know it might hinder him developmentally. Support seats, walkers and jolly jumpers are all allowing him to be in a position that he should not be able to be in at this stage. If he could sit/ walk/ jump he would be able to do it on his own. Help him strengthen his muscles to be able to do just that. Put your baby on the floor and less time in constraints or in mom’s arms. Your child needs to be working on those large muscles so that he can control the small muscles later on. Yes, we are living in a world where you have to be technologically savvy and our children are exposed to IPads and other electronic devices, but at what expense? It’s now even more important than ever before that we limit the use of electronic devices in the early toddler years. Toddlers need to spend most of their day playing, using their imagination, running, jumping and drawing. All these experiences help them to sit still later at school. His “job” is to strengthen his gross motor muscles so that the fine muscle control (to hold my pen and read across a page) will work optimally later. Pushing a child to perform is not the answer. A child that can use the IPad/ computer / cell phone at three is not a genius. He is a child who might have problems later on at school with midline crossing/ fine motor control/ reading etc. Limit devices/ gadgets to 30 min a day and let him be a child. It is the only time he has to be carefree.
The Upspring High Waist C-Panty is a great product for any women who has recently undergone a Caesarean. This is a must have for moms in recovery as it aids in this process. Read on below now to get the full scope of this product and why we recommend it to all C-section moms. Why This Product Is A Must Have The C-Panty line by Upspring has been designed to specifically aid women in the recovery of a caesarean. Firstly, it will aid in reducing both scarring and swelling to your cut. The panty is designed to be comfortable, using a gentle waist band which sits directly beneath the rib cage. This ensures you do not experience an uncomfortable, tight panty line. Furthermore, the materials used in the design of this product actually aid your incision recovery. There is a specific section which will cover your cute, made specifically out of silicone. This will help your skin to recover as well as minimalize scarring. The Pros Of The Upspring High Waist C-Panty The construction of the panty will help you both slim down, and recover post surgery The panty will promote abdominal compression, which will slim down that post baby belly, reduce swelling and shrink the uterus The design of the panty includes the promotion of compression around incision, which will reduce your pain and id moving around post surgery The silicone panel which covers the incision area will help with reduced scarring, and aid the recovery of your cut You can wear this product directly after giving birth, for up to 12 months post delivery This product was designed by a surgeon and is highly recommended by OB/GYNs The Construct Of, And Caring For Your Upspring High Waist C-Panty 92% Nylon, 8% Spandex Machine washable as delicate, line dry
C-Section recovery is a much needed practice after welcoming your bundle of joy into the world. But where do you start? How can you begin to heal as a mom who’s jut delivered via Caesarean? How Long Can You Expect A C-Section Recovery To Take? Generally, the expected recovery time for a C-section is around 6 weeks. However, you may feel as though you need a bit longer. This is particularly true for moms who already have children. If you feel you need more down time, just continue to consult with your doctor regularly to keep check on your recovery. Looking after Your Wound You will need to follow your care instructions given to you by your midwife or doctor post-surgery. After the first few days of surgery, your bandaging will be ready to come off and your stiches removed. you should consult your doctor if at any time you feel: As though you are developing a temperature You are experiencing strange sensations such as tummy cramps or you are just not feeling well Your cut begins to act up in any way – swelling, discharge or becomes painful Pain Relief At Home Know that you are bound to experience a bit of pain and discomfort. You did just undergo surgery after all. As such, you will most likely be prescribed pain medication during your recovery time. You will also be able to make use of various products to help your recovery, such as the Upspring C-Panty range.
Winter is coming in South Africa and flu, colds and fevers may become a reality in our home. A parent of young children need an ally when it comes to looking after sick loved ones and nothing gives the confidence that a practical and intuitive thermometer can. Chicco’s Comfort Quick ear thermometer takes temperatures in roughly 1 second from the ear canal, providing fast an accurate measurements either in Celsius or Fahrenheit. With a small, soft probe it provides minimum annoyance or discomfort whilst taking the reading. Comfort Quick reveals a possible pyretic episode with an acoustic signal that indicates a fever alarm. Clinically tested, comfortable and practical, the Comfort Quick also comes with its own handy storage case. Suitable for use from birth. Pick one up today at www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za and selected Kids Emporium stores for R999.
Being a parent of an eighteen-year-old that has just started university, I again realise how important it is for us as parents to set them up for success but also allowing them to fail along the way. Now I am sure you are saying – why set them up for failure? To be able to function in an adult world one day we need to have learnt that life in general has consequences. If as an adult, you don’t meet deadlines etc. you will ultimately be fired! We all want what’s best for our children but sometimes we lose the plot a little and forget that we are training them to be independent, well-functioning adults one day. At 18 months we can start to teach them about life. It’s very easy to start giving your child the incorrect message very early in life – Its fine – mom will do it if you can’t cope! But remember mom won’t always be there and can’t go into the workplace to sort out her child’s life for her. I am sure we have all heard parents praise their children excessively. Mia picks up her toys and is such a clever girl! Mia was not “clever” when she put away her toys, she did what you would expect her to do and the more appropriate praise is to thank her for putting away her toys. Do you do the hoopla when your husband puts his coffee mug into the kitchen sink? Teach your children about choices very early on in life. Do you want an egg, or do you want cereal for breakfast? Be careful of not saying what would you like for breakfast …? as the answer might be chocolate! Giving them the opportunity helps them to be able to make choices one day when they are older. Don’t fret when she wants to wear the pink dress over orange pants. Everyone will know you did not dress her. More importantly does it matter. She feels great and confident in her choice. Life has consequences. If you don’t pick up your toys I will, but they will go into a black bag not to be seen for at least a few weeks. If you choose the summer dress and it’s raining you will get cold. I can guarantee next time she will take your advice and take a jersey and NO she will not get sick, you get ill from viruses not just a few goose bumps. Consequences learnt! Lack of discipline can impact on a child reaching his full potential and will most probably contribute to a lower self-esteem, as he thinks he can’t do this without help. Raising a confident, well-adjusted child takes guts from you as a parent to allow them to face the consequences of their choices. It’s too late to start at 13 you have by then lost the window of opportunity. How can you expect a teen to make the right choices if she has never been allowed to make any choices in her life? She has to be confident that she can choose and cope with the consequences of a wrong choice. It’s not easy but I know you can do it! After all you want what’s best for your child.
C-section births are a hot topic within the parenting world. Some mother’s may elect to have these for various reasons, and schedule their caesarean. This is known as a planned (or elective) C-section. Other moms may need to have this procedure done, even though they have elected to give natural birth. This is commonly known as an emergency C-section. We will take a look at this procedure and all topics surrounding it below. What Are Elective C-Section Births? Elective, or planned caesareans take place generally when there is a medical complication involved causing the mother to be at risk giving natural birth. A mother will be guided towards this operation on advice from either her midwife, or obstetrician. Common reasons for elective C-section births are: Problems surrounding the mothers placenta placement, such as placenta praevia (a low-lying placenta) The baby’s position in the womb will compromise the natural birth, such as a breech baby Twins, or multiple babies What Are Emergency C-Section Births? Emergency tends to send chills down one’s spine, particularly when your children are involved. However, emergency C-sections are not as ominous as they sound. They are neither rushed nor mean you or your baby are necessarily in danger. Reasons for an emergency C-section birth include: Your labour is not progressing You do not go into labour after being induced by your doctor and you are already over your due date You experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or birth Your baby or your health becomes a concern to your physician You go into labour before a scheduled elective C-section Experiencing A C-Section Birth If you have been a C-section mom – planned or not – know that there are means to help you through both the preparation for, and recovery after having the procedure done.
Winter is coming in South Africa and flu, colds and fevers may become a reality in our home. A parent of young children need an ally when it comes to looking after sick loved ones and nothing gives the confidence that a practical and intuitive thermometer can. Chicco’s Thermo Distance is one of the most multi-functional thermometers on the market and allows you to take readings of not only your children’s foreheads, but also of their food and bath water – all at a distance of 4-6cm away. With a 1 second reading time, either in Celsius or Fahrenheit, this clinically tested tool is accurate, has a fever alarm that can reveal a possible pyretic episode with an acoustic signal and has 10 memory slots for long term sickness recording. Other functions such as the large backlit display, low battery indicator and the Chicco 12 month guarantee makes this a valuable asset to any home. Suitable for use from birth. Pick one up today at www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za and selected Kids Emporium stores for R999.
Play time is so important for our children as a foundation for learning: Here are some tips to encourage meaningful and purposeful play, to maximise your child’s learning opportunities through play: LET YOUR CHILD HAVE SOME UNSTRUCTURED PLAY TIME EVERY DAY – don’t make their days so full of activities that they don’t have any time to create, explore and experiment. Give them free time to play! (And don’t let them choose to watch TV in this time). DON’T INTERFERE IN THEIR PLAY – don’t criticise, plan, direct or correct the way they are planning. Let them guide their own learning. Research tells us that the more motivated we are to do something, the more meaningful the experience. DON’T SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM IMMEDIATELY – if they want to do something in a certain way, but have difficulty with it when they are playing, give them the time and opportunity to try and solve the problem for themselves; if they can’t, give them some clues and guidance, but don’t do it for them. The more they learn to solve minor problems, the more able they will be to cope with larger, more complex challenges. GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY DATES – playing with peers is important for emotional and social development. Arrange regular play dates with some of your child’s friends. If they have disagreements, give them some space to work it out, don’t step-in unless you see it’s necessary. These are great opportunities for learning to compromise and resolve conflict. SCREEN ACTIVITIES ARE NOT PLAY – TV games, computers games and games on an iPad or phone have been proven to often hinder development of social-emotional and language skills, rather than stimulate it. You don’t need to cut these out completely, but researched guidelines suggest that the developing brain should not be exposed to more than about 30 minutes a day (for children under 4) and not more than 45 minutes a day for children under 7. Follow the principle that when it comes to screen time – Less is more! BASIC TOYS/ ITEMS ARE OFTEN MORE BENEFICIAL THAN EXPENSIVE TOYS – some of the toys that children love the most are very basic things e.g. cardboard boxes, bicycles, Tupperware, blocks, balls, spades, old tyres etc. These provide for so many different play options, rather than an expensive toy that can often only be used in one way. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OUT AND ABOUT WITH YOU – give your children the chance to explore different environments and experiences as these all offer different learning opportunities e.g. playing on the beach versus playing in a park versus playing in a fun play centre with other children. Talk to them about what they are seeing, touching and hearing. Let them organise their own picnics when you go to a park or let them organise campouts in the garden. PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN – follow their lead, encourage their ideas, build on their themes and just enjoy spending this precious time with your children. Not only are you the perfect person for them to practice their skills on but playing together will make them feel much closer to you and it opens doors for communication. ENCOURAGE IMAGINARY PLAY BY BUYING OPEN-ENDED TOYS e.g. arts and crafts supplies (which could be toilet rolls, cardboard, tinfoil, paint, glue, scissors, leaves, flowers, ice cream sticks etc); items for dressing up; things like farm yards and soldiers and dolls and cars etc. Also, when they are younger encourage symbolic play by buying toys like pretend lawnmowers, brooms, cooking utensils or gardening tools. HAVE AN ORGANISED, FREE SPACE IN WHICH YOUR CHILD CAN PLAY – your child should be able to find the toys they need and should have space to spread them out and go “wild” for a little while. A disorganised, chaotic play space is often over-stimulating and limiting. LET YOUR CHILDREN GET DIRTY – it’s normal for children to get dirty and its part of what makes play time so fun! Don’t let your dislike of dirt ruin their enjoyment!
The average person uses digital photography as a way to document their life. Most people do this because it’s a memory that in 40 years’ time they will be grateful for. By taking a picture you make a souvenir, and 1000’s of these souvenirs land up on cell phones, tablets, computers, cameras and SD cards, as well as on an array of social platforms like facebook and Instagram. And let us not forget cloud storage also. If you’re not finding the time to look through digital archives now, you’re not going to have time in the future either! Also think how much more you’ll have accumulated by then; you’ll have loads more to sift through. Images sometimes get lost when you only have them on digital. You’ll take 300 pics and then forget about them. However, if you backup your digital photos by printing the best pictures out in a tangible format, you tend to treasure them and of course, really enjoy them more. Technology never stops changing. That means what is around now, might not be around in 20 years or so from now. This is why it’s important to save irreplaceable memories and precious mementos of life, in a protected format that works for now, and the future. Backup your digital photos by printing them out in a tangible format. Display these highlights together with other valuable and touchable irreplaceable mementos like keepsakes, achievements and art, creating a comprehensive overview of every year. Combine all these most valuable traces of childhood, then arrange them easily in an exquisite MY FILE ABOUT ME presentation that can be viewed and enjoyed regularly. With digital technology it’s so easy to take over 30 photos or more at one special event. Over a month you can easily capture 120 photos. That means in a year its highly possible to collect over 1,500 photos or more, depending on how much of a happy snapper you are. Multiply 1,500 photos by ten years and that gives you 15,000 (fifteen thousand) photos. That’s an insane number of digital photos to get through in a few minutes, or in a day, in a week, a month or even in a year! With that crazy thought, my suggestion is to select at least 16 to 32 of your child’s most cherished digital photos from every year. Doing so will allow you to create a summary of the most important events and memories for each specific year. Now print them out and keep them together. It’s easier and more time efficient to view a small number of printed photos in one place rather than being overwhelmed by thousands and thousands stashed in the clouds, SD cards and mobile phones. More photos mean it is more time intensive to view. And seriously, do you know what photo you’ve filed where and are they in yearly order? Do you even remember what photos you have taken? If you print 32 photos per year over 10 years, you’ll have 320 photos to view. This is very much more manageable and of course more time effective to look through than 15,000 photos dotted all over the place. There’s a solution I’d like to introduce you to that will allow you to browse, in 5 minutes, 320 printed photos (150 x 100mm), chronologically in only 20 pages. That is an impressive 16 jumbo photos per page that save incredible space in a tangible way. This breath-taking presentation reruns 18+ years of memories in less than15 minutes of active browsing. More impressive, is that this solution is refillable, expandable and totally customizable for your particular needs. It offers the opportunity to obtain additional refills that also accommodate A5, A4 and even A3 photo enlargements. And that’s all without cutting or gluing anything. More impressive, is that this revolutionary solution is multi-purpose. It not only links your yearly printed photos together, it also combines your digital photos too, along with all other keepsakes, mementos and valuables from the same year. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can keep your child’s yearly stash of precious memoirs and valuable souvenirs of childhood. You’ll be super impressed at how orderly, neat, compact and effectively you can preserve at save physical keepsakes and memories. One compact solution provides an entire childhood at your fingertips to revisit regularly as often as you wish. It beautifully and effectively links tokens of an entire year together, centralizing them in a unified and truly impressive way. It further delivers a comprehensive outline of each year in a storybook fashion. Thereafter, it links each year sequentially, transporting you through an all-inclusive childhood from birth to adulthood (or pre-school to adulthood) in a very quick and accessible way. Get all your most cherished touchable keepsakes out from piles, boxes and hidden places. (Remember: out of sight is out of mind). Now combine up to larger than A3 school art, certificates, badges, medals, CDs, DVDs, birthdays, family holidays and more with your printed photos. Then preserve and display an annual collection of memories in the all-in-one My File About Me system. This instant overview of life’s amazing journey is an exceptionally effective and beautiful way to summarize your child’s entire life in one pleasing and space-saving patented format. I love using Forever Child. I love how it’s instant: That instant gratification of having captured a moment with a token or two to go with it: Memories that can be made then put away and then brought out and shown to someone, not only now, but far into the future also. It’s a lifetime investment that continues to grow in value as time moves on. . It is a life story that can be enjoyed over and over and celebrated for generations and forever. Remember precious memories may fade and valuable mementos can get lost, but MY FILE ABOUT ME… is forever! Click here to discover a world of convenience. About the Author Eleni Korfias is a wife, mother of three
Chicco, global leaders in nursing care, bring trendy babies a funky new look for 2019 in the form of the Fantastic Love range of nursing gear. Already a go-to choice for mothers around the globe, the Chicco Physio Soft pacifier is famous for being the perfect soothing companion. Made from 100% soft silicone, these soft dummies are perfect for face-sleeping babies and come with an extra thin neck to avoid mouths being unduly open whilst sucking. The teat is orthodontic and fits snugly into the palette area, avoiding lolling around in the mouth. The Fantastic Love Physio Soft dummies are available from newborn upwards and come in a gorgeous clear heart shaped box with satin ribbon, making it a gorgeous gift. Another one of the products in this range that babies are loving is the pony shaped teether. With ribbed legs and special mane made in textured plastic, it’s the perfect gummy companion and even has a heart shaped area for small hands to grasp. All products retail at R129 and are available at selected Pick ‘n Pay stores, www.takealot.com and other retailers. Limited units in SA.
The development of a baby’s memory is also known as Object Permanence and basically means that the baby has developed a memory. This is an extremely important intellectual milestone and can be encouraged in several ways. A small baby sees the world as a mass of images and sensations. When looking at an object, she will focus on it briefly and then move on to the next object that captures her attention. Once the first object is out of sight it is basically out of mind. So, if you take a toy from her and hide it behind your back, it no longer exists for her and she won’t bother to look for it. Gradually though, she starts to hold images in her mind for longer periods of time until it becomes noticeable at about 6 months. You will notice it when you take a toy from her; your baby will look for it and may even cry for it. This shows that she remembers that just a second ago she had something interesting in her hand and now it is gone. This is a very early form of symbolic thought and memory and we encourage it by playing certain games. As your baby approaches 1 year, she will get very upset when you leave the room. This is known as separation anxiety and peaks at about 12 months. The following games will help your baby to learn that mom or an object may disappear for a while but will come back again: Peek – a – Boo – In this game you hide yourself away behind a cloth or book or even a toy. You then pop up all excited to see your baby. Your baby will respond with glee and this will be her favourite game for years. The time that you hide away can gradually become longer and longer. Hiding toys – Where did it go? Hide a small toy in your hand or behind your back and get your baby to look for it. Praise her when she finds it. Hide and seek – Crawling babies love to play hide and seek. You hide behind the couch, call her name until she finds you. This progresses into the real game later on
