Advice from the experts
Parenting Hub

Crafty Ways To Solve Your Boredom Blues

One of the great conundrums any parent faces is how to keep their kids stimulated. Regardless of how many toys they have, what their screen-time limits are or how many books they still have to read, the boredom blues always manage to strike when parents least expect them to. Fortunately, arts and crafts not only turn boredom into hours of fun, but they are also a great way to bond and practice mindfulness with your kids as well. With a few clicks or a walk down some well stocked aisles, you and your kids can bring all of your arts and craft dreams to life while breezing through your boredom. Home graffiti: The best part about creating your own art is that it is yours. It holds sentimental value. It is part of what ends up making your house a home. One of the best and most fun way to do this is by creating some unique wall art.  What you will need is:  Fired Earth paint, which is exclusively available at Builders, in a colour of your choosing A step ladder An extender pole Assorted acrylic paints A roller tray and brush Paintbrushes Drop sheet, masking tape and double-sided tape Cloth Adhesive glue Chalk Scissors, goggles and gloves Permanent marker What you’re going to want to do first and foremost is don your protective gear and cover all of the parts of the room that you don’t want to have to scrub clean later. Next apply the background colour to the wall. It is a good idea to have a general sense of what you want you want your masterpiece to look like. From there put your creative juices to work paint with panache. If you lucky that should keep everyone busy for a couple of days. For a step-by-step guide click here. A fun, but less paint intensive, take on this may be to create your own poster wall. There are few things this generation loves more than being unique and curating a wall full of your child’s favourite posters is about as unique as it gets. This idea will also probably appeal more to your teen since finding interesting and quirky ways to express themselves is the hallmark of their age group.  If you gather yourself a paintbrush, some wallpaper adhesive, a variety of your favourite posters and a few other items readily found at your local Builders, you can easily create a feature wall that is as distinctive as your Gen Z is. Make your own masterpiece: All it takes to discover that your little one may be the next Nelson Makamo or Lady Skollie is a paint brush, some canvas, and a little paint. Research has shown that unleashing your self-expression on canvas is not only fun but has mental health benefits for both you and your child.  Chalk it up: Chalk boards are not just a useful resource for teachers, when used in the home, they can be a fun surface for kids draw on without ruining the walls. Trying to figure out where one would even buy a chalk board in the first place is a lot harder and a lot less fun than simply making your own. All you need is:  Some old photo frames Spray on primer Black chalkboard spray paint From here prep your photo frames by carefully removing the glass and applying primer in light and even strokes to both the backing boards and frames. Allow them to dry before adding a second coat. Once your backing boards are dry, you can put them back into the frame and voila, a new chalk board. For an in-depth step-by-step guide click here The best part about arts and crafts is that they don’t just have to be confined to the holidays. You can break them out on weekends, at children’s parties, whenever you feel like doing some fun bonding or if you just want to relieve some stress. Regardless of what the occasion, Builders has the tools for you.

Wriggle and Rhyme

MEMORY – take note of the role of MUSIC!

Have you ever heard a song and it has brought back a memory? That memory may include the place where you heard the song, what you were doing at the time, how you felt and sometimes even a sensory trigger, like the memory of a certain taste or smell. The effect is so profound that a heart-warming movement called “Music and Memory” creates personalised playlists for residents with dementia in nursing homes. Apparently, the response is incredible!  Eyes light up and bodies start to move with the rhythm, as the music awakens memories of forgotten lives. All this from a piece of music! So why does music impact memory so profoundly? Neuroscientists have analysed the brain mechanisms related to memory, finding that words set to music are the easiest to remember.  We can all relate to that – just try and remember anything set to a tune and your powers of recall will be stronger! Apparently, the hippocampus and the frontal cortex are two large areas in the brain associated with memory and they take in a great deal of information every minute. But, we all know from experience, that retrieving all that information is not always easy. However, the structure of a song helps us to remember, because it provides a rhythm, rhyme and sometimes alliteration, which helps to unlock that information with cues.  The cues can also include things like the melody, emotions or images that the song lyrics evoke. Neuroscientists are constantly discovering more and more about how music affects memory. A 2009 study done by cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Petr Janata at the University of California, found a potential explanation for the link between music and memory by mapping the brain activity of a group of subjects while they listened to music.  Dr. Janata found that songs linked to strong emotions and memories corresponded with fMRI images that had greater activity in the upper part of the pre-frontal cortex, which sits right behind the forehead. This suggests that this area of the brain, which is also responsible for supporting and retrieving long-term memories, acts as a “hub” that links together music, emotions, and memories. The soundtrack of our lives … Janata explains that listening to a piece of familiar music “serves as a soundtrack for a mental movie that starts playing in our head,” calling back memories of a particular person or place. What about music in the brains of children? Over the past 14 years of using music as a catalyst for learning at our Wriggle and Rhyme music classes, we’ve seen, first hand, how music-based activities affect children’s brains. The responsibility to fill children’s brains with positive, learning experiences is not one that we take lightly.  We recognize that because our programs are set to music, we are building memories that may last a lifetime. Music education is therefore both a privilege and an exquisite burden! Whether you’re a parent, caregiver or educator, bear that in mind!  When it comes to music, everything that you expose your child/ren to needs to be done intentionally, with purpose.  You could be impacting your child’s memory for the rest of their lives! So, can I encourage you to build musical memories that evoke rich, joyful experiences for years to come? Because, when it comes to memory, we need to take note of the role of music! Musical resources Wriggle and Rhyme has a range of musical stories which you can access on your favourite streaming service (Apple music, Spotify, iTunes, etc.) or take a look at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/our-music . We also have fun, musical episodes on our YOUTUBE channel “Wriggle & Rhyme SA”. Our baby and toddler music classes are available in Cape Town – RONDEBOSCH, CLAREMONT, MELKBOSSTRAND and MEADOWRIDGE. Our pre-school music classes take place at partner pre-schools across the Mother City.

Parenting Hub

Estate Planning: Caring For children with special needs

Proper estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for your children. Not only does it spare them the anxiety of having to tussle over your estate while mourning your loss, but it can also serve as a final parting gift from one generation to the next. Despite this, 70% of South Africans still do not have a will in place. This is especially concerning for the parents of the roughly 3 million South Africans who live with disabilities.  Louise Danielz, Chief Operating Officer of Sanlam Trust says, “Regardless of your income bracket, it is important to get a professional to help you draft a will. For parents who have children with serious disabilities, estate planning is even more crucial as these children may not ever be able to work and provide for themselves. In these scenarios, trusts are key to ensuring your loved ones are properly provided for, for the rest of their lives, should you not be there to do so in person.” Providing for your disabled beneficiaries after you are gone The most important thing about planning for your child’s future in the event of your passing is making sure that their unique needs are considered. Putting measures in place while you are still alive, and understanding the practical implications of those arrangements, is very important. Danielz suggests doing the following as soon as possible: Ensure you have a valid will: Passing away without a valid will that makes provision for your minor children runs the risk of having their inheritance paid over to the Master of the High Court until they turn 18. This could potentially put their standard of care at risk Nominate a guardian for your minor child(ren): Choose someone you trust to carry out your wishes and care for your child in the best way possible. This can become tricky and time consuming if you have not made adequate plans or had the proper guidance. Above all, get expert advice: If you do not do adequate planning, funds due to minor beneficiaries could be paid to the Master’s Guardian Fund. To avoid this, it is best to set up a testamentary trust in your will to cater for them. Why you need a trust Having a trust is key if you want your estate to be administered, managed, and executed in the best way possible for the beneficiary. Being part of a trust ensures that a dedicated administrator, in conjunction with an elected guardian, acts with due care and diligence in administering the funds in their capacity as trustees. This means that the administrator will consider the maintenance needs of the beneficiary, engage with the guardian, and invest the funds appropriately.  Danielz says, “With Sanlam Trust, a dedicated administrator is appointed to engage with the guardian, so that they work together within agreed guidelines to take care of the beneficiary’s immediate and future educational needs if possible. If there is a need to consult with a caregiver, for example an occupational therapist, to make the best decision for the beneficiary, then this will be done.” With the right planning, parents can take care of their disabled loved one long after they have passed on. Danielz concludes, “Planning gives you peace of mind and it also creates continuity and support for your loved ones. It is all about understanding what you want and how this can be achieved.”

Squish

Simple toddler suppers for busy moms

 Time-saving toddler suppers for busy moms Sometimes the day runs away with you, and before you know it, it is time to put supper on the table for your little one. These easy supper recipes will help you quickly prep and serve a meal that is full of natural goodness – and delicious too! BUTTERNUT AND CARROT MASHED POTATO Get supper sorted in a flash with this tasty supper – if you have leftover mash in the fridge, it can be on the table in minutes! You can serve this on its own, or add a bit of tuna, cooked chicken or mince for some extra protein and flavour. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are a smart choice for your growing child – they are made with quality fresh fruit and vegetables and are free of nasties like colourants, flavourants and preservatives, and have no added sugar or starch.  Ingredients 1 cup mashed potato 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree Optional: Steamed tenderstem broccoli for dipping Method Heat mash in the microwave and stir through Squish Puree. Steam broccoli and serve alongside mash as dippers TIP: Always double-check the heat of food you have warmed in the microwave and stir before serving. CHEESY MIXED VEGETABLE EGG SCRAMBLE When you’re rushed for time, eggs are always a good option. They’re so versatile and are full of protein. This cheesy scramble is a good way to use up half-full Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees you might have in the fridge. Squish pouches come with convenient resealable lids, so you never need to waste a drop. Ingredients 2 eggs 50 ml (½ pouch) Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree (or any flavour you please) 45 ml (3 Tbsp) cheddar cheese, grated Method Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add Squish Puree and mix well.  Melt a blob of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the egg and puree mix and cook, stirring, until just cooked. Stir in the cheese. Serve warm with buttered toast. TIP: Use a cookie cutter to create fun-shaped toast. CHICKEN AND VEG RICE The convenience of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree means you can always serve your child a nutritious meal, no matter how little time you have. This tasty one-bowl supper is super-easy to make – we used Squish 100% Mixed Veg, but you can switch up the taste by using any Squish flavour, including Pear + Sweet Potato Puree, Butternut + Carrot Puree, or Apple, Sweet Potato + Sweetcorn.  Ingredients 1 cup cooked rice 1 chicken breast, steamed and shredded 1 x 110 ml pouch Squish 100% Mixed Veg Method Heat a small saucepan over medium heat, adding a dollop of butter. Add rice and chicken and fry briefly. Add Squish Puree and continue stirring until heated through.  TIP: It’s always a good idea to have a couple of ready-cooked chicken breasts in your fridge to add to leftover rice, mash, or pasta or to stir through a pouch of Squish 100% Veg Puree.   You’ll find a whole range of easy-to-make, nutritious recipes on the Squish website. Click here.

Parenting Hub

HELP YOUR CHILD BOUNCE BACK FROM WINTER COLDS

While science has taught us never to underestimate the power of germs, sometimes these microscopic critters are simply too crafty, even for the most stringent germ detective. Is Winter To Blame For Childhood Colds? Welcome to winter – the season of snuggles, bear hugs, hot chocolate, colds, and flu! Of course, winter isn’t actually to blame for the spread of pesky viruses, but the cold does seem to shake viruses into action. Some studies have shown that many virus strains replicate better at colder temperatures.1  In addition, when the weather dips, families tend to spend more time huddled indoors with their windows closed, increasing their chances of breathing in the same air as someone who is sick and consequently getting the illness.2  When one child begins sneezing and coughing, a domino effect quickly occurs, and everyone who lives under your roof is hopelessly curled in bed like a bear with a sore head. What Is The Distinction Between Colds And Flu? Colds and the flu are both respiratory diseases caused by different viruses. Rhinoviruses cause 30–50 percent of all colds, and coronaviruses cause 10–15 percent of all colds.3 Influenza viruses are responsible for flu-like illnesses and symptoms are characterized by fever, headache, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, weakness and loss of appetite.3 What Are the Symptoms and Signs of a Cold? Acute upper respiratory tract viral infections (URTIs) are the most common diseases of human beings, with adults having two to five common colds each year and school children having from seven to ten colds per year.3 A tickling in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing are among the initial symptoms of a cold. Those who have colds may also experience headaches, chills and a cough. Nasal mucus may thicken and turn yellow or green. Generally, the severity of symptoms increases rapidly, peaking 2–3 days after infection and lasting for about 7–10 days.3 How to Treat and Prevent Colds in Children It is possible to protect your child from colds by ensuring that they practice good hand hygiene by washing their hands often with soap and water, avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and avoiding contact with sick children and adults.4 There is no cure for a cold. Colds, like the majority of viral diseases, must run their course. Rest and fluids – juice and water – might help your child feel better while they are recovering.4 If your child does become ill with a cold, some medications can be used to alleviate their symptoms while their body recovers. These include saline nasal sprays or decongestants for a blocked or runny nose, lozenges for a sore throat, and paracetamol for fever and pain, such as the conveniently packaged Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets. Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5ml Sachets contain paracetamol, an effective option for treatment of pain and fever in children.5 Other Panado® Products Suitable For Your Child*  In addition to Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, Panado’s range for children includes Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Strawberry (50 ml | 100 ml),6 Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint Alcohol and Sugar-Free (50 ml | 100 ml),7 and Panado® Infant Drops 20 ml.8 Make pain and fever care easy by shopping for Panado products from independent pharmacies and selected Clicks, Dis-Chem, and Pick ‘n Pay stores. For more information, visit https://panado.co.za/and join the conversations onFacebook. #Panado #ADoseOfCare *For infants aged 3 months and older. ends 2022042510198726 References: 1. Foxman EF, Dtorer JA, Fitzgerald ME, Wasik BR, Hou L, Zhao et al. Temperature-dependent innate defense against the common cold virus limits viral replication at warm temperature in mouse airway cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015;112(3):827-832. doi:10.1073/pnas.1411030112. Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311828/ 2. Acharya B, Thapa K. Indoor staying during winter season makes people more susceptible to flu. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2016 Jan;14(32):69-70. PMID: 27426715. Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27426715/ 3. Eccles R. Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005;5(11):718-725. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(05)70270-X. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7185637/  4. National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases. Common Colds: Protect yourself and others. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html 5. De Martino M, Chiarugi A. Recent advances in paediatric use of oral paracetamol in fever and pain management. Pain Ther 2015;4:149–168. DOI 10.1007/s40122-015-0040-z. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1971248/ 6. Panado® Paediatric Syrup Strawberry (Syrup). Approved package insert, March 2002. 7. Panado® Paediatric Syrup Alcohol & Sugar-Free / Panado® Paediatric Syrup. Approved package insert, April 2010. 8. Panado® Infant Drops (Drops). Approved package insert, August 1990.

PowerPlastics Pool Covers

Drownings are not seasonal! Cover your pool year-round to avoid accidents

Child drownings happen year-round and PowerPlastics Pool Covers, is on a fresh drive to remind parents that these drownings are entirely preventable with multiple layers of safety applied to the pool. The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover and adult supervision at all times should be included in these layers of safety at all times.  The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover offers parental peace of mind as it completely seals off the entire pool. The PVC cover is drawn over strong aluminium batons that rest on the coping, and a tamperproof ratchet fastening system makes it impossible for a small child to access the water. Small drainage holes prevent rain or sprinkler water from collecting on the cover as just a few millimetres of water can be fatal to a curious child. The cover withstands up to 220kg and is easily deployed by two people, or it can be semi-automated for single person usage. The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is available in a range of colours, allowing it to blend into the outdoor area.  Importantly, the cover complies with the recommended guidelines (SANS 10134) for pool safety, set by the SABS who oversees pool safety compliance in SA.  Thermal pool covers or ‘bubble’ covers that lie directly on the water should never be considered as child safety pool covers as they do not bear weight.  As part of the education drive, PowerPlastics Pool Covers is reminding parents about its educational resource TopStep, the home of pool safety. This educational website offers great tips and advice on preventing drownings.  Aside from covering the pool, every adult in the home needs to know what a drowning in progress actually looks like as TV has created wide misconceptions around this. There is no noise or splashing nor calls for help. Drowning is quick and silent. Visit www.topstep.co.za to learn more about this. Even if one doesn’t have children, it is still necessary to consider safety for visitors. Families living in residential complexes with a communal pool should insist that their body corporate install a solid safety pool cover.  PowerPlastics Pool Covers has also created a Safety Monitor system. Based on the principle that adult supervision is key to avoiding drownings, it allows children to quickly identify the adult in charge should there be a safety issue among the children in the pool. When there’s a larger number of children in the pool, e.g at pool parties, it is advisable to have two or more supervisors each wearing a tag. A busy pool is high risk. You can download it here here and print at home. Laminate it if possible (to prevent water damage) and then add a lanyard or tie it on a loop of string and wear around the neck. The bottom line is that children need to be supervised around pools, and as long as the pool is covered and other layers of safety are in place, the likelihood of a tragedy occurring in your pool is greatly reduced. To learn more about child drowning prevention and swimming pool safety, visit educational blog TopStep, the home of pool safety. www.topstep.co.za. Your best protection against drowning is to have a PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover properly secured over the pool at all times.  Practical tips for pool safety Don’t let your pool’s water levels drop. Keeping the pool topped up allows for small arms to easily grab the edge if needed.  For every two children in the pool, have one adult supervising and use the Safety Monitor tag system. The more children, the more supervisors needed. Be aware that children’s pool parties are high risk events.  Turn off fountains and water features. Not only do they waste water and power, they can cause ripples and splashing, making it harder to see when a child has encountered difficulty in the pool or has sunk to the bottom.  Ensure that every adult in the home knows CPR, including domestic workers. Never hire a baby sitter or au pair who can’t swim. Don’t let anyone who has been drinking or on sedative medication supervise children in a pool.  Don’t leave toys in or near an open pool as children will be tempted to retrieve them. Teach your child to swim fully clothed and with shoes on. If your child develops a fear of water, don’t ignore this – a child who panics is at greater risk of drowning. Never allow swimming after dark. Discourage your dogs from swimming. Children and pets in a pool are not a good mix. Never leave the pool without securing it with your PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover. Never design / build a pool that cannot be secured for child safety. 

Squish

5 signs your baby is ready to start on solids

Introducing solids to your baby is an exciting milestone in your little one’s growth. But how do you know when your baby is ready to start enjoying new flavours and textures, especially when everyone from your best friend to your mother-in-law keeps giving you contradictory advice? These developmental signals will let you know that your baby is mature enough to take this exciting – and, be warned, messy! – step.  Don’t be in a rush to introduce solids – if you introduce them to your baby too early, you can put their health at risk. The World Health Organisation and the South African Department of Health recommend that you breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first six months.  But baby’s developmental readiness can’t be determined only by age, to cope with this change in diet their digestive tract needs to be mature enough and they need to be developmentally ready. But how do you know when that is? Fortunately, your baby will show you – from around six months old, they will start giving you signs that they are ready for the introduction of small meals.  Watch out for these developmental signals: Strong, firm neck: Your baby is able to hold their head up unaided when propped in a sitting position. Remember, your baby needs to be able to sit on their own before you introduce non-puree foods.  No more tongue thrust reflex: Your baby no longer automatically uses their tongue to push solids out of their mouth. There is an easy way to test whether your baby still has this reflex or not. Mix a small amount of Squish 100% Fruit or Veggie Puree with a little breastmilk or formula. Dab a small bit onto the end of your finger or a teaspoon and place it in your baby’s mouth. If they push the food out of their mouth with their tongue – you can try a few times to give them a chance to get used to the idea – then they are not yet ready to try solids.  Pincer grasp: Your baby has started to reach out and try to pick up or grab food and objects.  Food interest: Does your baby gaze longingly at you when you’re eating or try to grab food from your plate or fork? If they do, they’re ready to explore new tastes.  Can open wide: Your baby can open their mouth wide to receive a spoon and is able to move their tongue in up and down and back and forth. You’ll need to keep an eye on their tongue movements to determine this.    Once you have noted these signals and assessed that your baby is ready, you can gradually start introducing solids. Squish 100% Fruit and Veggie Purees are made from 100% fruit and vegetables and are ideal as your baby’s first food. Squish Purees offer a wide range of delicious flavours, including Pear + Sweet Potato, Butternut + Carrot, and Banana + Apple, and are preservative free, finely strained, easy to digest – and delicious! They also contain no flavourants and colourants – and have no added sugar or starch.  Squish’s screw-top packaging means you can just use a small amount at a time while your baby gets used to a world of new tastes, textures and flavours – and you don’t need to waste time, money, and effort preparing food that your baby doesn’t eat. You can simply pop the lid back on the pouch and put it in the fridge for later.  To find out more about Squish and how it can benefit your baby or toddler, click here.

Mia Von Scha

HOW TO PREVENT EMOTIONAL DAMAGE DURING SEPARATION?

There may come a time in your marriage where you realise that your partner’s negative behaviour is becoming detrimental to both you and your children. What do you do in a situation like this? What if your partner won’t accept getting divorced? What if you are not working or are afraid to work longer hours because you’ll lose quality time with your kids? How do you prevent emotional damage to yourself and your children? Here are some practical guidelines to navigating this very difficult and stressful situation… Firstly, our law does make allowances for one person in the marriage to insist on a divorce proceeding. I’m not a lawyer, but I do know that you can go ahead with a divorce proceeding from your side whether your partner wants it or not, particularly if you can show that you have real grounds for wanting this – if your partner had an affair, if you have a report from a psychologist regarding any abuse etc. It might help to get some professional advice and there are companies like The Family Law Clinics who offer free legal advice. It is definitely important, for both you and your children, for you to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Please be aware that it is absolutely normal for children to act up in situations like this. They will tend to play out the aggression and negativity they experience at home, but also an aggression and negativity that is repressed in the home. Think of their behaviour as a barometer for the emotional environment that they come from. You or your child’s teacher may even notice some aggressive play and pictures. Please remember that kids process their worlds through play and creativity. It might look negative right now, but they are actually working through their issues and helping to resolve them in their own mind through these actions. This is healthy and necessary and will subside once things settle down. When wondering how to deal with any aggressive behaviour please keep in mind that all emotions are acceptable, but some behaviours may need to be addressed. First allow your child the space to feel the intensity of the emotion and once calm you can discuss different ways to express this that don’t hurt others. You don’t need to worry that they will be permanently like this though. Children adapt very quickly and they respond well to improvements in their situation and environment. What you can do in the meantime is to give them lots of space and support to express their emotions. There is a saying that goes “for the good feelings to come in, the bad feelings first have to come out”. They act out their negative state because they either don’t have the capacity yet to express themselves verbally and have someone understand what they are going through, or because they feel they are not allowed to express it in a safe way. Sometimes, as the parent, we are not the best person for them to chat to, as they are also trying to protect us and our emotions, or they may be angry with us or have some other emotion that they feel they’re not supposed to have. It can be very helpful to have somebody else involved in their lives that they can trust, but who is removed from the situation. Ideally, this would be in a play therapy environment, where they are taught not only that it is safe to express whatever they are feeling (and so don’t have to express it behaviourally) but also coping techniques that they can use throughout their lives when some challenge comes along. Often in divorce proceedings you are already finically stretched. If you have medical aid or the financial resources to manage it, find a great play therapist that you trust. Alternatively, you can contact an organisation like FAMSA who offer reduced rate or free therapy for kids depending on your situation. The next thing to look at is the kids’ routine. If you’re having to start a new job or work longer hours you may need to make arrangement for your kids like aftercare or lift schemes. If at all possible, try to get some of their homework, bathing etc done before you get home. Perhaps even chat to the teacher about helping with this during school time to alleviate some of the pressure on you. I wouldn’t worry about playtime with the kids in the evening. It is more important for them to have a good routine (this helps kids particularly in times of change to feel that the whole world is not falling apart) and sleep is essential for anyone trying to deal with stress. Of course you will want some quality time with the kids in the day, and if you can manage this it will definitely help. Keep in mind, though, that quality time doesn’t need to be a lot of time. It can be five minutes of connecting at bedtime, it can be the conversation you have over dinner, or the wet hug as they get out of the bath. You can also make sure that you maximise on the weekends in terms of fun things that you do together. Just be careful of alleviating any guilt you may have by keeping them up later so that you can spend time with them. That evening time may actually add additional stress, in which case they would be better off with a bit more sleep. The one other thing that you can do to help while this situation gets resolved is to manage your own stress levels. Focus on deep breathing, make sure you connect with people and experiences that support and nurture you, get enough sleep yourself, and be patient and kind to yourself. You are in a very intense situation, and you need to give yourself some credit for where you are handling it well. Also give yourself some credit for what you know

Squish

Quick and easy toddler meals and snacks you can freeze

As every busy parent knows, there often simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. But one thing you don’t want to compromise on is being able to give your child nutritious meals and snacks. These quick and easy freezer-friendly recipes will help make your life easier – and keep your toddler happy and well fed too! SNEAKY VEGGIE-LOADED MAC AND CHEESE The great thing about Squish 100% Veg Purees is that they allow you to add veggie goodness to your child’s favourite meals, like bolognaise, scrambled eggs, and mac and cheese, without them noticing – a great solve for picky toddlers. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees contain no nasties, which means they’re free from preservatives, colourants and flavourants and have no added sugar or starch. Double this recipe so that you can freeze the extra portions and have a whole batch of quick and easy suppers ready to simply heat and serve when you’re pressed for time. Ingredients 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree 250 ml (1 cup) milk Salt and freshly cracked black pepper 250 ml (1 cup) cooked macaroni pasta, drained 125 ml (½ cup) cheddar cheese 65 ml (¼ cup) cream cheese 1 ml (¼ tsp) ground nutmeg 65 ml (¼ cup) breadcrumbs 15 ml (1 Tbsp) butter Method Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Mix the Squish Puree and milk together, then add the drained pasta.  Add the cheddar and cream cheeses and stir well to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Spoon into ramekins, top with breadcrumbs and a dot of butter. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 180°C for 20 minutes or until lightly golden and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving. MINI FRUITY MUFFINS These mini muffins are perfect grab-and-go snacks and are great to add to your little one’s lunch box. Bake a batch (or two!) and freeze so you always have on hand when you need. These muffins are made using Squish 100% Fruit Puree, which adds natural sweetness meaning you can use less cane sugar. You can switch up the flavours by choosing different purees each time you bake a batch – try Summer Berries, Banana + Strawberry, or Pear. To make a variety in one go, divide the batter, and add the leftovers from your Squish pouches (even the Squish 100% Veggie Purees work well). Squish pouches come with a resealable lid, meaning you never need to waste a drop. Just use what you need then put them back in the fridge for later.  Ingredients 375 ml (1½ cups) cake flour 7.5 ml (1½ tsp) baking powder 5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda 5 ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon 125 ml (½ cup) brown sugar 1 egg 65 ml (¼ cup) sunflower oil 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Banana + Apple Puree 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Apple Puree Method Sift flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl.  Stir in the brown sugar. Mix the egg and the oil together and stir in the puree. Add the puree mixture to the dry ingredients and fold gently until just mixed. Spoon the muffin batter into a muffin tray that has been lined with paper muffin cups. Bake the muffins in an oven that has been preheated to 180˚C for 15 minutes or until the muffins are golden and firm to the touch. CHEESY VEG BALLS These Cheesy Veg Balls are delicious and packed with natural goodness too. They are great as a meal on their own, a lunchbox filler, or as an on-the-go snack when you’re enjoying a day out with your toddler. This recipe uses a whole sachet of Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree, but you can switch it up and use any of your child’s favourite Squish flavours, including Butternut + Carrot and Apple, Sweet Potato + Sweet Corn. Squish Purees are made using 100% fruit and vegetables with no dilution, which means they provide parents with convenience, without compromising on quality.   Ingredients 1 cup cheese  1 x 110ml Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree  ¼ small onion, finely grated 2 cups breadcrumbs (simply put several slices of bread into your processor and blitz) ½ cup wholewheat flour 2-3 large courgettes, finely grated 2 large carrots, finely grated ½ clove garlic grated, finely grated 2 Tbsp olive oil/coconut oil 1 tsp dried herbs Method Combine all the ingredients then leave to rest for 20 minutes. Roll into small balls. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 20-25 minutes. (If you have an air-fryer, 10 minutes tops.) For a dipping sauce, simply mix some full-cream plain yoghurt with Squish 100% Veg Puree. FREEZER HACK: Keep a stash of Squish Yogi pouches in your freezer. Pop into your toddler’s lunchbox and by snack time it will have gently melted creating a refreshing slushie (and keeping their lunchbox contents cool!).  Looking for more toddler-friendly recipe inspiration? Click here.

Parenting Hub

Marmaduke is Back!

It’s time for high discipline in Marmaduke, a legendary dog trainer who believes he can transform Marmaduke from an undisciplined, but lovable Great Dane, into the next winner of the World Dog Championship. Our hero is lovable (if out of control) Great Dane who is happiest when having fun with his family, the Winslow’s, especially when playing “Cowboy” with nine-year-old Billy. But, try as they might, the Winslow’s just can’t seem to keep Marmaduke out of trouble.  When one of Marmaduke’s epic fails goes viral, the video catches the eye of a famous trainer who accepts the challenge of transforming Marmaduke into the winner of the World Dog Championship. It’s a wild ride from there with Marmaduke eventually taking center stage, although not in the way everyone expected.  In the end, Marmaduke and Winslow realize that the most important thing in life is not winning but being true to yourself and the ones you love. 

Bill Corbett

WHAT IF MY CHILD WON’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER?

If you’ve said no firmly and you’re child is wearing you down, avoid doing what many parent do when they are tired and overworked; giving in just to stop the pleading and begging. Doing so might stop the noise that’s adding to your stress, but it will also teach your child to repeat this behaviour anytime they receive a NO from you (and others) in the future. BE FIRM, STAY CALM, AND REMAIN QUIET So let me get right to the punch on this question. If your child is asking for something you can’t or won’t give to them and they won’t stop drilling you for it, calmly tell them that you’re not willing to discuss this issue any further and remain completely quiet if they try to engage you further. Be ready and willing to talk to them about any other subject, just not this one. WHAT IF YOUR CHILD HITS YOU IN RESPONSE? If this occurs, the answer is to tell them firmly, “No one is allowed to hit me,” and remove yourself from your child’s access immediately. This means you must go to another place in the house to be away from your child in the moment. If this isn’t easy to do, do your best to remove yourself from your child. Do not hit your child back and avoid yelling or punishing them. Doing so will only reward your child by reacting. WHAT IF THE CHILD CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE? Some parents have reported that when they left the area to be away from their child, the child became so angry that they caused some damage to something in the house. While there is a risk that this could occur, it is better to have property damage then physical damage to you or your child. If their behaviour becomes this extreme in response to a no, you should consider seeking help immediately from your child’s paediatrician or a family therapist. OTHER IDEAS TO CONSIDER When your child asks for something and you know that your NO may cause a meltdown, guide your child to a calendar and set a date and time in which the two of you will sit down and discuss the request. They may not be happy with this response, but it will tell them that the door isn’t completely closed on their request. This is also a great technique if what they are asking for is big and you need more time to think about it or research their request, such as piercings, dating, cell phones, etc. Finally, try replacing the word NO with one of these two phrases: “I’m not willing ____________,” or “I’m not ready for you to ___________________.” They put the ownership on you and not on your child. It is also less likely that your child will feel less driven to change your NO into a YES by arguing. When you demonstrate power over your own “will,” or state that you’re NOT READY for them to do something, you don’t have to have a reason for it, or even a date as to when you’ll be ready. Simply tell them they can ask again to see if things have changed.

Parenting Hub

Fisher-Price Play Lab experts choose their favourite toys

Fisher-Price’s unique Play Lab is a state-of-the-art centre where its toys are developed after being tested by parents and the real experts: the kids themselves. It’s run by a dedicated team of child development experts who each hold advanced degrees, areas of specialty and are parents themselves, which gives them the best qualifications. Here, three of the experts discuss five of their favourite toys that have been put through their research process by babies, toddlers and preschoolers in the Play Lab. Crawl With Me Puppy Chosen by Lisa Lohiser, EdD, Manager of Early Childhood Development Research  WHAT IS IT? Kids can pull the sock in this adorable puppy’s mouth to get him moving and watch him wiggle his tail and shake his bottom as he scoots backwards, encouraging babies to crawl after him. There are three levels of Smart Stages technology. Level 1 introduces the colors, numbers, and fun puppy sounds. Level 2 encourages baby to count and sing the alphabet while crawling after puppy, while level 3 features silly puppy sounds, and fun phrases to entice baby to move and pretend. WHO’S IT FOR? Suitable for babies and toddlers 6-36 months. The puppy was designed and tested in the Play Lab to encourage little ones who are on the verge of crawling to go.  You can place puppy just out of baby’s reach to encourage them to move towards it. Once they’re a steady crawler it becomes similar to a game, they’ll try to get to the puppy to activate him, begin to anticipate where he’s going to go next, and what he’s going to do. He’ll move away to entice them to keep going to reach him and engage with him all over again.  HOW TO USE IT: During playtime, puppy is a perfect toy to help baby get on the move, and an opportunity for caregivers to play and engage with their little ones too.  WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? The Crawl With Me Puppy can entice your baby to crawl and encourage them to go further. The puppy also has a sit-at mode, so sitting babies can press the buttons and hear the sounds, which help develop important fine and gross motor skills, too. While they play they are also exposed to early academics through sung songs and phrases.   Let’s Connect Laptop Chosen by Lisa Lohiser, EdD, Manager of Early Childhood Development Research  WHAT IS IT? A fun, colourful ‘laptop’ that’s loaded with hands-on activities numbers & letters, a roller that activates content, and an LED light up mouse pad. WHO’S IT FOR? Suitable for babies and toddlers 6-36 months old. Babies and toddlers are really attracted to items they see in their homes like phones and remotes and want their own. So we created a laptop just for them. It has buttons they can push for learning content, a mirror, a roller and a slider. It has Smart Stages technology that grows with the baby. Each level has different content. Level 1 introduces number 1-10 and greetings.  Level 2 encourages babies to explore and find objects and introduces number 1-10 in Spanish. While level 3 encourages babies to sing along and engage in pretend play.  HOW TO USE IT: The laptop was tested via our virtual parent panels during the Covid-19 outbreak, when everyone was Zooming and laptops were very prevalent in children’s worlds. It was modified with their feedback to include the types of buttons and graphics they wanted, as well as to include a mirror with a headphones ‘filter’. Of course we also tested it with babies and toddlers to ensure they could activate all the fun content.  It’s perfect for early role play, it fosters experiential learning by introducing babies to concepts and things that they see every day. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? It helps develop fine motor skills, stimulates the senses and encourages early role play while introducing babies and toddlers to early academics and exposing them to new vocabulary.  Cool Beats Penguin Chosen by Lauren Celenza, Senior Child Testing Researcher WHAT IS IT? Similar in design to Fisher-Price’s much-loved sloth Linkimal, this fun black and white moving penguin works with the other Linkimals to create an immersive learning experience for babies and toddlers through interactive music, dazzling lights & engaging learning content. This cute character moves from side to side and flaps his arms up and down to encourage babies to move and groove to the beat! WHO’S IT FOR? Babies ages nine-months plus. Buttons on each foot activate learning content, music, movement games and phrases. It’s great for exposing little ones to the alphabet, opposites, shapes and counting – and also makes a great dance partner!  HOW TO USE IT: Each of the Linkimals characters links virtually with the others to create an engaging learning experience for babies through interactive music and dazzling lights. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? The Cool Beats Penguin focuses on developing baby’s gross motor skills through music and motion. A four-month research study, which included testing with babies in the Play Lab with eye-tracking glasses, proved that the Linkimals toys do indeed promote learning when using multiple toys during play. 2-Sided Steady Speed Walker Chosen by Lauren Celenza, Senior Child Testing Researcher WHAT IS IT? An innovative speed-controlled baby walker that can be approached from both sides that underwent extensive in-depth testing in Fisher-Price’s Play Lab. This sturdy walker features activities and buttons at the base, as well as handles at both sides to allow babies to easily pull themselves up when they’re ready to walk. The two different sides allow and encourage toddlers to approach the walker from either side and get ready to take off! WHO’S IT FOR? Six months plus. A steering wheel and shape sorting activities at the base for sitting babies, it’s perfect for babies who are learning to explore. Then, when they’re ready, they can pull themselves up to a kneeling position, and then use the two levels of handles for easy grasping as they climb to a

Parenting Hub

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BABY’S PORTION CONTROL

Managing a baby’s portion control can be tricky, especially if you are a new parent. However, this can be made easy if you have the right equipment in your feeding arsenal! Take a look at why portion control is important for your child, and how to get it right with the perfect plate. Developing Healthy Habits Through Baby Portion Control From an early age, your child is picking up on how to interact with the world. Therefore, instilling a healthy relationship with food is vital for your baby. Portion control can help your child avoid: Diabetes Obesity Anorexia Bulimia  All of the above mentioned health problems can be linked to the practice of overeating – which is scary.  The Do’s And Don’ts Of Baby Portion Control Below are a number of suggested habits to get yourself into to strengthen your baby’s portion control: Do Allow Self Feeding: This will help your baby develop not only a good relationship with food, but also the ability to determine when he or she is satisfied. Do Try Various Flavours: This will allow you to suss out which are your little one’s favourites, and will allow your baby to widen their pallet. Do Make Use Of A Divide Plate: If you don’t know the first thing about baby portion size, get something to guide you along the way. Don’t Encourage Plate Completion: This is a grave mistake made by many parents. Encouraging your child to finish a whole plate of food may give them a poor relationship with food, as they are being forced to continue eating even once they are full. Rather ask them if they are satisfied and have had enough. If they say yes, trust them on this.  Don’t Use Food As A Rewards System: This will also deepen an unhealthy relationship with food. Rather than coaxing them into doing something with the promise of a sweetie, reward them in other ways.

Parenting Hub

Crèche Syndrome, Breaking the Cycle Naturally

You won’t find it in the medical textbooks, but if you’re a parent boomeranging in and out of your paediatrician’s rooms with an endlessly sniffling baby or toddler, chances are you’ve heard of ‘crèche syndrome’.  It’s a colloquial term referring to a cycle of infections, usually upper respiratory, that unfortunately, commonly afflict little ones regularly attending playschool or pre-school.   It’s not hard to guess why.  Babies and toddlers have developing immune systems, and frequent exposure and close contact with a range of other children results in the quick and easy spread of pathogens, no matter how much cleaning happens in the environment.  Infections often get worse in the winter when the children spend more time indoors and the bugs proliferate in the closed environment. Snotty and a bit of a wet cough may not sound like the worst, but the reality is that these ongoing infections take a big toll on parents.  There’s the naturally high levels of stress that parents experience when their children are unwell; there’s lost sleep and more often than not, lost working hours too.  Most parents can take this in their stride when it happens once or twice, but ‘crèche syndrome’ refers to a spate of rolling infections over an extended time, and it can easily become desperately exhausting and costly.  In addition, the symptoms are not always mild, and one seemingly slight sickness can lead to other issues including ear infections, serious chest infections and gastric infections.  With rosy health as an important marker of our parental responsibilities, continuous sickness in our child can make us doubt our abilities. The good news is that you’re not alone; you’re not a bad parent and, according to Michele Carelse, Founder and CEO of online natural health and wellness retailer, Feelgood Health, there are ways to break the debilitating cycle of crèche syndrome.  She says, “Parents can consider the natural treatment route and they will find that there are various easy strategies to help support their little one’s developing immune systems.  Also, for those parents concerned about the efficacy of antibiotics and the impacts of frequent antibiotic use, a holistic approach can be the way to go.” How to prevent and treat creche syndrome naturally  There are many things a parent can do to protect and strengthen their kids’ immune systems. With a strong immune system, infections can be fought better and faster, and the risk of secondary infections developing is much lower. Here are some of the best proven ways to build your child’s immune system:  1) Good nutrition Many kids are fussy eaters, so parents often end up feeding them ‘easy’ meals, which are often highly-processed and nutrient-poor. Nutrition directly impacts health and immunity – a lack of daily nutrient-rich foods can result in susceptibility to a host of infections and increase your child’s risk of nutrient deficiencies and related health conditions. It’s important to know and understand children’s dietary requirements and discover some of the many, easy ways to serve up nutrient-dense foods that your child will happily eat.  If you find that you are still struggling to turn them on to regular healthy meals, then consider a kid-friendly nutritional supplement such as Solgar’s Kangavites Multivitamins, which contains all the vitamins and minerals a child needs for growth, strong immunity and healthy brain functioning in a yummy chewable form.  2) Probiotics There’s a well-researched link between the healthy gut biome and immune functioning.  An increasing number of parents are becoming educated about probiotics and have started giving their kids probiotics on a daily basis, especially before and during flu season.  3) Diffusers and essential oils Essential oils are commonly used for their antiviral and antibacterial properties. Take note that babies and toddlers are especially sensitive to essential oils being applied directly onto their skin, so a diffuser is the best way to get the therapeutic properties of the oils into your little one’s respiratory system.  Some of the best essential oils for respiratory infections are eucalyptus, tea tree oil, peppermint oil and rosemary.  4) Don’t dry out phlegm Contrary to popular belief, drying out a runny nose or a phlegmy respiratory tract may not be a good thing. Mucous and phlegm are appropriate bodily responses in the efforts to rid the respiratory tract of germs. Rather than drying out the respiratory tract, use a Colloidal Silver Nasal Spray which will help loosen mucous without drying anything out. The added benefit of doing this is that colloidal silver contains powerful antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and antibiotic properties. 5) Immune-boosting supplements Natural herbal and homeopathic remedies made from plants have been proven effective in boosting immune systems and fighting infection.  Here is Michele’s top selection of immune-boosting natural remedies for children: BaniFlu: This homeopathic ‘flu remedy can be used by the whole family, including children and babies. KiddieBoost: Naturally strengthens immune functioning in children and promotes your child’s natural resistance to illness. This antiviral and antibiotic alternative speeds up recovery from illness and is suitable for little ones over the age of 12 months. Sniffly Sprinkles: Sniffly Sprinkles contains a selection of 100% homeopathic ingredients to relieve sneezing quickly, safely and effectively, as well as runny and blocked noses in babies and children. It can be used for new-borns and children up to the age of 12 years.

Exigo Care

The importance of choosing the right baby nappies: On the couch with Jessica

As a mother, I only want to put the best baby nappies on my little one’s bottom. As a nurse, I understand the importance thereof. The super absorbent core and extra depth double leak guards feature are the heart and soul of our Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull Ups. A super absorbent nappy core ensures a dry nappy surface protecting baby’s sensitive skin from prolonged exposure to moisture. Excess moisture in a nappy is the leading cause of nappy rash and here is why:  It causes maceration of the skin surface. This is caused when the skin gets lighter in colour and goes wrinkly – just like when you sit in the bath for too long – compromising the skin’s integrity. Broken down skin is a free pass for fungal, yeast and bacterial infections which thrive in a warm moist environment. A premium nappy with a super absorbent core can save you on medical bills. Prolonged contact with urine and faeces irritates the skin which can lead to inflammation and skin breakdown. Contact dermatitis is especially common when babies have diarrhoea, often paired with illness or teething. The effects can be minimised by using a premium nappy that has good absorbency, to lock away excess moisture, combined with a good barrier cream to protect the skin.  In addition to protecting baby’s skin, a premium nappy with a super absorbent core is the difference between waking up at night to a crying, cold and wet baby and a good night’s rest, with 12 hours of dryness. It means more time to play with your little one. Time to pay attention to the things that matter, and less time spent washing wet clothing and linen.  As parents we want what is best for our little humans and with Hi Baby Premium Nappies you are giving them just that. Til next time Jessica  (Registered Nurse/Midwife)

Parenting Hub

HAPPY TRAVELLING HACKS WITH PANADO® PAEDIATRIC SYRUP, PEPPERMINT 5 ML SACHETS

Even seasoned travellers may find car and plane trips with infants or toddlers daunting. How will you entertain your child while on the road? What if your child experiences earache or a fever during the plane flight? How can you ensure that your entire family arrives safely and in good spirits? Do not fear, fellow parents!  These suggestions for travelling with a baby or toddler will ensure that everyone has a pleasant experience. Headaches Regrettably, airplane travel may be a headache generator, especially for pint-sized passengers.  Airplane Headache (AH) is exclusively related to airplane travels, and although may occur at any time during a flight; there is a higher incidence during the take-off and landing phase.1  Motion Sickness Headaches arising due to motion sickness from riding in cars can also make your child miserable. Symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and headache are common to motion sickness.2 Encourage your child to look outside the window of the car rather than putting their head down and focusing on books, games or screens.  If your child is prone to motion sickness, don’t forget to pack recently launched and conveniently packaged, Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, for the symptomatic treatment of pain and fever for kids on the move.  Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets contain paracetamol, which is included in the List of Essential Medicines for Children of the World Health Organization.3 Avoid Overdoing It Bear in mind that babies and toddlers lack the tolerance that you do for lengthy road trips. If your car trip will take several hours or days, break it up with pauses for playing, eating, and sleeping.  Plan Trips Around Your Child’s Sleep Time Your infant or toddler may slumber during your road trip if you’re fortunate! Some experts encourage driving at night when travelling with toddlers or infants. However, arriving in the middle of the night may rouse your children and disrupt their circadian patterns as well. Provide Lots (and Lots) Of Snacks Pack some nutritious travel snacks for children. Consider whole-grain cereals, fruit chunks, and cheese cubes. To ensure food safety, keep refrigerated items in a cooler bag. If your child is prone to choking, serve snacks and meals at a rest stop, park, or restaurant. Ensure That Your Child Is Properly Secured Make sure children are properly buckled in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt – whichever is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.4a The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that data shows the correct use of a car seat reduces the risk for injuries in crashes by 71% – 82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone, while booster seats reduce the risk for serious injury by 45% for children aged 4-8, when compared to seat belt use alone.4b  Other Panado® Products Suitable for Your Child  In addition to Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachet, Panado’s range for children include Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Strawberry (50 ml | 100 ml),5 Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint Alcohol and Sugar-Free (50 ml | 100 ml),6 and Panado® Infant Drops 20 ml.7 Make pain and fever care easy by shopping for Panado products from independent pharmacies and selected Clicks, Dis-Chem, and Pick ‘n Pay stores. For more information, visit https://panado.co.za/and join the conversations on Facebook. #Panado #ADoseOfCare 2022040110194118 References: 1. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) (2013) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version). Cephalalgia 33:629–808. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-016-0628-7 2. Cuomo-Granston A, Drummond PD. Migraine and motion sickness: what is the link? Prog Neurobiol. 2010 Aug;91(4):300-12. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.04.001. Epub 2010 Apr 21. PMID: 20416353. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20416353/ 3. de Martino M, Chiarugi A. Recent Advances in Pediatric Use of Oral Paracetamol in Fever and Pain Management. Pain Ther. 2015;4(2):149-168. doi:10.1007/s40122-015-0040-z. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676765/ 4a,b. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.  [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/child-passenger-safety/index.html 5. Panado® Paediatric Strawberry Approved package insert March 2002. 6. Panado® Paediatric Syrup Alcohol and Sugar-Free & Panado® Paediatric Syrup package insert. April 2010. 7. Panado® Infant Drops (Drops) approved professional information, August 1990.

Pampers South Africa

Grace Matlhape’s SmartStart partners with Pampers to keep children learning

Access to early childhood learning has a lasting positive impact on educational and life outcomes for children With more than 1 million preschool children from disadvantaged communities in South Africa not having access to quality early childhood learning opportunities, Pampers has committed to supporting access to early learning through its partnership with SmartStart, following its recent R1million donation.  “With our focus on children from disadvantaged homes, SmartStart, with the support of partners such as Pampers, aims to address inequality in education from an early age,” said SmartStart’s CEO, Grace Matlhape. Research has shown that the brain grows most rapidly during the first five years of childhood, together with other significant developmental changes. As a result, learning capabilities are primarily formed during these years, which are critical in laying the foundation for a child’s future. Like so many moms in South Africa, Mpho Zwane is currently an unemployed single mother, struggling to raise her three-year-old daughter, Mpilo, while job hunting and facing economic and social challenges. Being able to provide a good early-childhood education for her child with the help of a Pampers scholarship, means her child can have access to life-changing opportunities.  “At a SmartStart centre, Mpilo is learning skills that are preparing her for future success at school,” said Mpho. “I’ve seen Mpilo develop so quickly since attending the lessons. She is curious and bubbly! At three-years-old she is already counting to 10, says her prayers confidently and knows the different colours. Not only is she learning, but she is in a safe and secure environment too and enjoys making new friends. There is not much support structurally for single mothers, so this Pampers scholarship has really been a godsend to us.” 40% of South African moms are single moms. The extent of the stringent lockdowns hit women badly as they saw an increase in roles and an extra burden of family care, but they fell disproportionately on single mothers, many of whom were already facing hidden challenges – such as unemployment or job stress. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), said parental stress and anxiety increased during the lockdown. The call volume of people seeking help doubled during the lockdown with up to 1 400 calls a day. About 85% of these calls came from women – single mothers making up the majority. This very real stress and unequal share of childcare responsibilities was a crisis that affected almost half of the moms in South Africa is coupled with social stigma and discrimination that only increases the anxiety. Pampers believed that they must play a strong role in alleviating this parental stress and champion the healthy and happy development of South African children through early learning initiatives that support both child and mother. “We are presented with a unique opportunity to come alongside parents to support the holistic development of children by creating greater access to the critical development resources they need to have a brighter future,” said Rajat Gupta, Pampers Senior Marketing Director. Statistics South Africa General Household Survey for 2019 revealed that the proportion of children up to four years old attending an early childhood development programme declined between 2018 and 2019 from 43.9% to 40.7%. Having supported some 5500 playgroups and disadvantaged communities in South Africa since it started in 2015, SmartStart has some skin in the game when it comes to championing childhood learning. The organisation has enabled more than 120 000 preschool children to enjoy the benefits of high-quality early learning programmes, which they would otherwise not have had access to. In addition, it has provided opportunities to unemployed women and men across the country. “Recognising this decline and the lack of access to ECDs, particularly among the poorest, expanding the availability of quality early learning is part of the South African Government’s National Development Plan Vision 2030. We, along with our partners, are keen and proud to be able to support the government in achieving this,” said Grace. SmartStart playgroups and ECD centres follow a structured programme based on South Africa’s National Early Learning Standards (NELDS), and take a holistic approach to child development, covering emotional, social, cognitive, physical and language skills. Emphasis is also placed on partnering with parents and caregivers, providing guidance and the resources, for example reading material, for them to continue their child’s learning experience at home. “We believe in providing a nurturing environment and playful learning opportunities to provide our pre-schoolers, not only with the skills, but also with the enthusiasm, for lifelong learning,” Grace concluded.

Wriggle and Rhyme

MUSIC MATTERS in your little one’s development!

As parents, we want what’s best for our children.  This means that we want them to be healthy and develop holistically.  We want to give them the best possible chance to thrive!   I don’t know about you, but I often feel bombarded with information. It can be quite overwhelming at times! If you’re feeling like that already, I certainly don’t want to add to that as you read this!  But, I do want to share something of my passion for one of the oldest activities known to humanity – MAKING MUSIC. Since the dawn of time Music has been around since the dawn of time.  The oldest piece of evidence for this was discovered by archaeologists in a cave in southern Germany – a 42,000-year-old flute made from the wing of a vulture.  One doesn’t need to be a scientist or educator to know the enormous impact that music has on children.  From a little baby beginning to sway or babble along to music, to a toddler dancing and singing, to a pre-schooler playing a simple instrument … the list goes on!   Music is a phenomenal teaching tool … but what’s going on in a child’s brain when they’re engaged in music-based activities? What does Neuroscience tell us? With significant progress in the field of Neuroscience over the past decade, there is now more and more data available to review. Functional MRI scans allow neuroscientists to see what’s happening in the brain, when engaged in various activities. What they’re learning, is that music is the one activity that lights up all areas of the brain simultaneously – effectively giving the brain the equivalent of a full body workout! (For more reference material or research on this, look at the work of Dr Anita Collins www.anitacollinsmusic.com and the work of Dr Nina Kraus at the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory www.brainvolts.northwestern.edu, amongst many others). The research is very exciting, because it confirms what parents and educators have witnessed all along – that intentional musical activities are powerful tools for learning and development. There are many, many ways that music exercises the brain – these are my top 5: 1 MEMORY Music has a way of embedding information into our memory in a powerful way – not just the information, but often the circumstances as well.  For example, you may struggle to remember a poem, but as soon as it’s put to music, you can recall it really easily. Music acts like the brain’s search engine!  It connects the dots between experiences, information and emotions. That’s why when you hear a familiar song, you won’t just remember the song itself, you’ll often remember other details too – where you were when you first heard the song, who you were with, and how you felt! This makes music a powerful tool for learning!  It can be used to embed learning and experiences into a child’s brain in a positive and safe way, which the child can then recall at a later stage. 2 LANGUAGE and LISTENING Music connects with the language centre of the brain. It’s also a powerful tool to increase vocabulary, strengthen auditory processing, extend speech and build tools for early literacy – skills needed for learning to read at a later stage. 3 EMOTIONS Music has the ability to make us feel a certain way because it connects us with our emotions.  One poet said that “music is what feelings sound like”. This means that music can be used, not only to help children identify and express their emotions but to give them the tools to help them to regulate their responses. These are the building blocks of developing emotional intelligence. 4 MOVEMENT Music was made for movement. Intentional movement to music promotes fine and gross motor skills, as well as hand-eye co-ordination. All of this stimulates oxygen flow to the brain, setting up the brain to concentrate and learn. 5 SOCIAL SKILLS All team-based activities promote social skills such as working together, sharing, etc. However, music is unique, because we can incorporate emotional awareness into the social aspects – especially sensitivity and consideration to those around us. Just like a group of instruments playing together is full of unique and beautiful sounds, they need to work together with sensitivity and emotional awareness, for the greater good. Some ideas to include more music in your child’s life Music-based learning matters!  Here are some ideas for including music in your child’s daily routine: 1.Wake up your child in the morning by singing a little song / rhyme to them 2.Play music when you’re travelling to listen to together 3.Switch off screens and consider adding audio stories to your child’s “down- / rest-time”.  This stimulates imagination in a way that visual resources cannot.   Wriggle and Rhyme has a range of musical stories which you can access on your favourite streaming service (Apple music, Spotify, iTunes, etc.) or take a look at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/our-music  4.Use music to help to set a mood in your home – e.g. at bedtime, play gentle, soothing music but at playtime, play upbeat, energetic music. 5.Make singing together part of your daily time with your child.  Expose them to your favourite music too – it’s not just about them!  6.Consider enrolling them for a music programme at their school, or encourage them to learn a musical instrument.  You don’t have to spend a fortune!  An instrument like a recorder is a cheap and easy way to get started! Whatever your circumstances or resources, make sure that you put music on the map!  Because when it comes to your child’s development, MUSIC MATTERS! Wriggle and Rhyme also offers a host of unique musical stories which can be accessed on your favourite streaming platform.  They also have a YOUTUBE channel where fun episodes called “MUSICAL FUN WITH FROGGY” can be found. @wrigglerhyme  #wrigglerhyme  YOUTUBE – Wriggle & Rhyme SA Article by Kirsty Savides Founder and Programme Director, Wriggle and Rhyme South Africa

Boomerang

Web Phenomenon Lucas the Spider is Coming to Boomerang Africa!

Viral sensation with over 870 million views and 3.6 million subscribers will premiere on Boomerang Africa on Monday, 2 May. Adapted from the famed YouTube shorts, Boomerang Africa’s brand-new show, Lucas the Spider, follows the adventures of an adorable little spider named Lucas as he and his friends try to navigate the big and curious human world around them. The fun-filled animated series features a happy, inquisitive, impossibly cute little jumping spider who is four years old and lives in a big, bright Victorian house in the city across from a park. Lucas’s passions are to spread love, live in the now, and explore his world – and that’s precisely what he does. With the help of his group of friends – a dog, chameleon, fly, bumblebee, owl, and more – Lucas bravely leaps head-first into adventure and discovery and makes the most out of every moment while learning about what it means to be a loving friend. Lucas the Spider was originally created by accomplished animator Joshua Slice as a series of animated shorts (voiced by his nephew), which premiered on YouTube in November 2017.  Currently, Lucas has amassed over 870 million views and over 3.6 million subscribers and has launched a successful line of toys and licensed goods. Retaining the authenticity of the original shorts, the producers of the new 3D computer-generated animated show, Fresh TV, in association with WexWorks Media, will focus on Lucas and his innocent and endearing perspective of the world while introducing longer narratives, new characters and an expanded universe. Join the cutest spider you’ve ever seen as Lucas and his animal friends jump onto Boomerang Africa for their latest adventures every weekday at 07:15 CAT, starting on Monday, 2 May.

The Headache Clinic

Children’s Nightmares and Snoring Can Lead to Headaches

You may want to pay closer attention the next time your child wakes you up after he or she has experienced a nightmare. New research shows children can grind their teeth during a nightmare, or if they snore, and this can lead to them developing headaches. A study published in the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, aimed to investigate the routine, sleep history and orofacial disorders associated with children aged 3-7 years with nocturnal bruxism (grinding their teeth at night). Data about the child’s routine during the day, during sleep and awakening, headache frequency, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and hearing impairments was obtained through interviews with the parents and caregivers. An electromyography examination was used to assess the activity of facial muscles. Multiple logistic regression (MLR), chi-square test and t-test analyses were also performed. The results showed an association of nightmares and snoring with bruxism, says Dr Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s pioneer in the field of migraine surgery and the medical director of The Headache Clinic. According to Shevel, it is well documented that bruxism can lead to headaches. The causes of bruxism are largely unknown, but risk factors are anxiety, stress, caffeine, sleep apnoea, snoring and fatigue. “At The Headache Clinic we have found that muscle tension in the jaws, face head and neck are some of the major underlying causes of migraine. This knowledge has resulted in our unique muscle treatment methods that restore and maintain the correct, relaxed posture of the jaws, head and neck. Clenching the jaws and grinding the teeth at night is common in many of our patients, not only children, and the headaches that result are treatable – without the use of medication.” “This study now confirms that nightmares and snoring may also lead to children grinding their teeth. Variables related to awakening revealed an association with bruxism. Parents of the main group (children with nocturnal bruxism) reported more complaints of orofacial pain, facial appearance and headache occurrence amongst their children. Auditory and muscle disorders however, were not significant variables,” explains Shevel. Dr Shevel advises that parents should consider treating the muscle tension to prevent migraine pain and teeth grinding, while addressing the underlying fear and insecurities causing their child’s nightmares.

The Bridge Assisted Learning School

Dissecting Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a disability that is believed to affect 2 – 10% of the population.  This disability can be defined as “a development disability of organisation of movement.  It is caused by an immaturity of the brain resulting in messages not being properly transmitted to the body.” [1] In laymen’s terms, dyspraxia affects motor planning.  Before looking further at how this happens, let’s first look at what motor planning is. ‘Motor planning is the ability to conceive, plan and carry out a skilled, non-habitual motor act in the correct sequence from beginning to end…. The child with motor planning difficulties may be slow in carrying out verbal instructions and often appears clumsy in new tasks.” [2]   For motor planning to be effective, all sensory systems of the body need to be working correctly.  With dyspraxia, the messages that are being sent from the brain are not being reliably transmitted to the rest of the body.  Dyspraxia does not change intelligence, but it does change how the child learns. Children with dyspraxia are seen to be clumsy, accident prone and extremely messy.  They will take time and repetition to master a new skill.  Dyspraxia can hinder thought processes and these children will often experience difficulty with planning and personal organisation.  Time management concerns arise, as well as difficulties in memory, perception and processing. Some other issues that arise are poor co-ordination, immature speech, poor attention and social and emotional difficulties.  Self-belief and confidence are affected, and the child often experiences anxiety and stress.   In order to help a child with dyspraxia, it is imperative that the teacher, school and parents work together in order to best facilitate the child to reach his or her full potential.  Regular meetings must be held between teacher and parents in order to ensure that the child is receiving all the support needed and achieving the goals that he / she is capable of. As a teacher and in order to obtain optimal performance, it is imperative that the child’s confidence is developed.  Always motivate the child and focus on what they can do.  Goals must be within the child’s reach.   The following steps can be taken in order to further benefit the child: Verbal instructions are to be given slowly and are to be kept short and simple.  Ideally, only one instruction should be given at a time. Minimalise distractions for the child. The child should be placed close to the front of the class. When setting work, this child requires work of a shorter length, that he / she will be able to complete in the allocated time, thus feeling the success of completing a task.  This can be done by creating worksheets for the child which require minimal handwriting (e.g. fill in the missing word) Work that needs to be written can be printed out for the learner beforehand, giving the child time to focus on the actual work, rather than the pressure of copying it down. In order to help with handwriting, it is suggested that the child is given books with larger lines to accommodate for writing, as well as larger quad paper, to facilitate in mathematics. During examinations, this child will require certain concessions, such as additional time, rest periods, a reader and perhaps amanuensis. Homework can be scribed by parents in order to take pressure off of the child. The optimal learning environment for a child with dyspraxia would be a one on one learning environment, but with the correct support and intervention, will thrive in a small, nurturing environment where he / she can reach his / her potential, as well as helping him / her with social skills and development. By Linda Langefeld, Grade 4 Teacher at The Bridge Assisted Learning School 

Parenting Hub

What happens in the Play Lab doesn’t stay in the Play Lab!

Behind-the-scenes at Fisher-Price’s unique research space – including a huge treehouse, and eye-tracking goggles When Herman Fisher first started making toys in 1930, he knew that to put them to the ultimate test, he would need to call in the real experts: the kids themselves! Fast-forward to 1961, when the Play Lab developed from being half of Fisher’s office space, to having its own dedicated playroom-style environment, where researchers could observe children’s every move from behind a one-way mirror. Today, it has evolved into a unique and innovative 15,000sqft area in the Fisher-Price’s New York headquarters, where they host around 2,500 kids and 1,850 parents a year in various methods of research. Additionally, 450 toys and initial designs are tested each year in three inspirational, child-friendly rooms, by little ones aged 0 to five. Here, The Senior Director of Early Childhood Development Research, Deborah Weber, PhD, who oversees the Play Lab reveals what really goes on behind the scenes – and how taking part is like every child’s dream come true! What happens inside the Play Lab? Deborah says there is a real “wow” moment when children first walk into the Play Lab, which has four rooms; three for children and one for parents. Each is designed specifically for watching little ones play as naturally as possible, making sure it’s an environment in which they feel welcome and comfortable. The Right-at-Home Research Lab is designed to look and feel like an open-plan kitchen-dining-living room space with carpet, hardwood, linoleum and tile floors to test toys such as walkers and scooters. While the Pre-Cool Lab, for preschoolers, is like a classroom. There are comfy, cozy places with couches for content viewing and reading. And there are open spaces for running, riding and swinging. Everything is child-size, including the tables and chairs, and the toilets and sinks. Deborah says: “The first thing children do is climb the huge life-size treehouse! They can then pick and choose what toys they want to play with from the open shelves – books, toys, art supplies, dolls, and dress up clothes. “Development teams observe the children via one-way mirrors and video and audio systems. Inside the preschool and discovery labs there are 360-degree cameras and audio wired into the walls, floors and tables so the product development teams can watch the play patterns of children from all angles.  “They’ll watch that hands-on play to see whether something about the toys isn’t working quite right, or whether certain things aren’t working right well or don’t resonate with the children.” What are the toy developers looking out for? Every Fisher-Price toy goes through a six-month cycle of testing, and improving, before it comes to fruition.  Children can be brought in to test products as soon as the initial ideas stage – they might be shown photos or a prototype, so researchers can gauge their interest and thoughts. Deborah says: “During this time, the researchers will be looking at many different aspects. From what draws a child’s immediate attention, to the types of play features that are intuitive for them – do they know how to play with it, without being taught. How long the child plays with the toy, and the level of engagement. “Does it make them smile? Does it make them move? Do they sing along with the music? Do they want to try out all the different features?” Another key factor for researchers is whether children play with the toy as they intended, or perhaps they put their own spin on it. Why are parents’ views important? While the kids are the main testers, Fisher-Price is keen to have parents’ views too. This is carried out either in the Play Lab, or in homes, something that was carried out virtually during the pandemic.  They’re asked for feedback on toys, including how children play with them around the home, and what interests they have. Deborah says: “We can then take their perspective into consideration and help design and develop toys that are first and foremost meaningful, relevant and developmentally appropriate for children, but also that resonate with the families and parents in regards to the experiences that they want to expose them to.” How is the Play Lab moving forwards? Just as toys evolved, how Fisher-Price observes children play is evolving too. This is the first year the brand has fully integrated face reader software analysis as well as eye-tracking research. Face reader software allows researchers to take videos of the children and then run through the analysis to see how they were feeling when they were engaged and playing with the toys. And with eye-tracking, there’s a camera pointing to each eye to see the features in toys or watching content that children are looking at that are a visual prompt to start playing or interacting with it. Deborah says: “Fisher-Price is also now working with TV show developers, using eye-tracking to see how kids watch that content, and then go to the toys and play. So how does the show inspire their play – or how does their play inspire new content? “We’ll put the goggles on the kids and play certain clips for the first time for them and just kind of take in what they are gravitating towards, what is really magical for them? Where are their eyes going? When are they losing interest and looking away? It’s surprising what they’re focusing on. “ How are the Play Lab findings beneficial to parents? Busy lifestyles mean adults simply don’t have the time to spend hours researching every toy their child wants. And this is especially true during the pandemic, which due to lifestyle changes, may have seen many little ones falling behind with their developmental milestones. So it’s reassuring that every toy Fisher-Price designs has the brand’s Early Childhood Development & Learning Framework at its core, upholding its commitment to babies’, toddlers’ and preschoolers’ physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.  Whether it’s the Steady Speed Walker for little ones who are

Parenting Hub

A Practical Way of Teaching Children about Money

Here is an easy-to-manage tool to help your children learn about money?  Each time they receive money from chores, holidays or gifts, they should break up the money by percentage and place the amounts into envelops.  Here’s how to do it: Purchase 6” x 9” yellow mailing envelopes and place them in a 2 or 3-ring binder.  Soft plastic zip-up pencil cases that are made to go into a binder also work well. The exact size doesn’t really matter, as long as they are big and strong enough to contain notes and coins. The first envelope should be titled TITHING or DONATIONS and should have 10% written on it.  Making this the first envelope will teach your child that giving money away to others in need comes before satisfying personal desires.  Any nonprofit organisation could qualify to be the recipient of this money and it works best if your child can make that choice (with your guidance of course).  Allow them to decorate this envelope with images that represent the organisation that will receive the money. The second envelope should be titled SPENDING or MAD MONEY and should be marked with 20%.  Money in this envelope could be designated to be used anytime that the child wants to spend money, for example, when going on shopping trips with an adult or when the ice cream truck is in the neighbourhood. The third envelope should be titled SHORT TERM SAVINGS and should be marked with 40%.  Money placed into this envelope can be designated for more expensive items the child would like to purchase within a year or two.  Examples might be: a new toy, a game cartridge, a bicycle or even set aside as money to be spent on a school trip.  Allow your child to draw or cut out a picture of the item he or she is saving for and put the price of this item on the envelope to act as the target amount. The fourth and final envelope should be titled LONG TERM SAVINGS and have 30% written on it.  Money saved in this envelope should be removed and banked on a monthly or quarterly basis.  I suggest there be no target for this except to save and record the deposits as they are made.  You may even want to make a rule that this money can only be withdrawn with the parent’s permission.  It also works best to allow your child to physically make the deposits at the bank with your help. Implementing and maintaining the process needed to manage this new savings book can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the parent and the child.  Every time the child receives money, it should be broken down by the percentages and deposited into the four envelopes.  At the very start, you’ll want to build a cash box and store it away, ready for making change for the child each time he or she receives money.  The parent should be responsible for keeping the book at all times.

Lynne Brown

Enhance Your Child’s Potential

If it were possible to enhance any aspect of your child through genetic intervention, what would it be? Most parents would probably choose genes that tend to increase intelligence, strengthen immune systems and lengthen lives. Others might be more inclined to choose genes that will engineer a piano-playing prodigy like Mozart, an Einstein, a world champion athlete, or maybe a blue-eyed, blond-headed brood. This begs the question: what enhancements would it be morally acceptable for parents to choose to make in their offspring if biotech innovations become available? Sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it – but if biotechnologist’s get their way, these possibilities may not be too far off. Getting back to reality, and assuming we agree that it is a parent’s responsibility to enhance their child’s potential, when is the best time to start and what means or tools do we currently have at our disposal? Pre-conception and Pregnancy The chances of giving your newborn a good start in life begins at least three months before conception, when both parents should take a serious look at their own nutrition. Healthy dads produce healthy sperm, and mom needs to ensure she accumulates a store of nutrients before baby starts leaching them out of her. A well-balanced diet supplemented with a good multivitamin for both parents, with extra zinc for dad and additional folic acid and omega-3 DHA for mom, is recommended in the months before conception. During pregnancy, talk to your unborn child. Play classical music, especially baroque music, which according to numerous studies may stimulate the brain, contribute to mathematical and other logical abilities, and possibly even stimulate overall mental development. Children have emotions too Enhancing a child’s potential is most definitely not all about raising a child’s intelligence: an unhappy child cannot achieve despite having inherited ‘intelligence genes’. Children need to feel secure within a caring, concerned and loving environment. Be sure to find at least one thing to praise in your child every day. Children love earning their parents’ approval, and praise reinforces and builds confidence and hence more positive behaviour. Avoid criticism, which instils feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem and negativity – traits common in children who are performing badly at school or have behavioural problems. It is not suggested that you spoil your child, because discipline is important too – as long as it’s sensitive, thoughtful and appropriate. For a child to feel secure and to grow into a successful adult, he or she needs to know what is and isn’t acceptable in present-day society. Creating the right environment Whereas previously it was commonly thought that inherited genes were solely responsible for intelligence, it is now recognised that a child’s brain grows in power and intelligence when stimulated by the environment. Just as a bodybuilder exercises his muscles to make them larger and stronger, the very young human brain grows in power when stimulated or exercised: there is no limit to brain growth and intelligence! This is not a new discovery – Mozart’s father discovered it almost two hundred and fifty years ago when he turned his young son into a musical prodigy. Brain building is not the role of the educator alone. In fact, parents can probably do it better. They alone have the love, the patience, and the one-on-one time that’s so necessary. Furthermore, a mother does not need a university degree to teach her child – in fact that’s probably the last thing she needs. Thinking provides a catalyst for learning, and children are stimulated to think by being read to, learning how to read, conversing with family members and engaging in games and activities with them. Nutrition  The influence of nutrition on a child’s brain power is no longer disputed. Food affects how a child learns, behaves and feels. In The NDD Book Dr William Sears states: ‘You put junk food into a child’s brain, you get back junk behaviour, junk learning and junk mood. It’s as simple as that!’1 As he has raised eight children of his own, I think we can safely bow to Dr Sears’s superior knowledge. Improve your child’s diet by avoiding all junk foods and increasing the number of servings of fruits and vegetables (French fries don’t count!), whole grains, good dairy, fatty fish, lean meats, eggs, unprocessed nuts and beans.Foods that had to grow themselves will also make your child grow. Proteins and omega-3 essential fatty acids are the best ‘growth foods’ for the brain. Never send your child off to school without breakfast. Skipping breakfast means decreased attention span and learning ability. A smart breakfast would be oatmeal porridge or muesli, plain yoghurt sweetened with fruit and honey, and a handful of nuts or seeds. Proteins perk up the brain by feeding neuro-chemicals that foster focusing and learning, so ensure that there is protein in every meal or snack you feed your child. To be avoided Foods that are aggressively marketed to kids have the worst nutritional quality of all foods. Cereal boxes depicting colourful cartoons and other cheery tricks are designed to stimulate your child into wanting these ‘fun’ foods, but the damage they can do to your child’s health is no laughing matter. Some may contain up to 40 g of sugar to 100 g of cereal. Kiddies’ yoghurts in tubs beautifully decorated with pictures of colourful fruits usually contain not a gram of fruit: just colourants and flavourants which were never meant to go into a child’s body. No child, especially one with learning or behavioural problems, should be taking in any colourants, MSG or aspartame. In the UK and Europe there is a voluntary ban on six colourants, and manufacturers who still choose to use them display the following warning on their products: ‘May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children’. In South Africa these six are still freely used, especially in foods targeted at children. Obesity If you really want to enhance your child’s potential, don’t send him or her to school overweight! The 2007

Boomerang

RIGHT ON TRACK! AS THOMAS & FRIENDS FIND A NEW HOME ON BOOMERANG

World-famous children’s animated show brings its fourth major revamp, in its illustrious 75-year history, to Boomerang Africa. Climb aboard for a series of all-new adventures with Thomas the Tank Engine! Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go is set to premiere on Boomerang Africa on Monday, 4 April 2022. The brand-new series, with an entirely new storytelling approach, promises to bring even more fun-filled adventures with vibrant 2D animation and compelling new characters while visiting exciting new locations and learning about teamwork and friendship! The Island of Sodor is home to the biggest, silliest, most musical and toot-ally awesome-est adventures with your number one pal, Thomas the Tank Engine. He is joined by some familiar friends, including Percy, Diesel, Gordon, Nia, a tank engine from Kenya in Africa, and Sir Topham Hatt, along with fresh faces like Kana – the first electric train in Sodor, and the best fix-it crew, Carly the Crane and Sandy the Rail Speeder. But it doesn’t end there. This new series sees a one-hour movie special offering viewers an action-packed adventure with new characters and a collection of new songs in Thomas & Friends: Race for the Sodor Cup, which premiers on Sunday, 17 April @ 06h30 CAT.  “Thomas and his stories have held a special place in the hearts of children across the globe, and we are proud to make Boomerang Africa the new home for Thomas &Friends: All Engines Go. Thomas will be centre stage in the brand-new series. We will see the world through his young eyes,” says Ariane Suveg, VP Kids’ Channels France, French-speaking territories, Africa & Israel. “More playful and relatable than ever before, his competitive spirit will be readily apparent as he strives to be the Number One Tank Engine through more physical comedy and music, play, trial and error, all while just enjoying being a kid!”  Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go is the fourth major revamp ever of the world-famous children’s animated show in its illustrious 75-year history. Brand-new to Boomerang Africa, the show incorporates 26 fun and entertaining social-emotional, cognitive, and physical learning moments throughout the series, including friendship, taking turns, teamwork, self-help, and empathy, a perfect show to entertain and engage the little ones whilst moms and dads enjoy the nostalgia brought on by the show!  Fred Soulie, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mattel Television, says: “This new creative direction for the classic Thomas & Friends franchise is crafted to appeal to contemporary audiences, yet still maintain the beloved characters’ core ethos: the value of friendship. Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go features stories that are both timeless and timely, with themes that will resonate with children, parents and caregivers alike.” Mattel also gives the gift of playtime fun where kids can make their favourite moments from Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go come to life with a new range of Thomas & Friends toys. Don’t miss out on all the abso-toot-ly, off-the-rails fun with Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go on the new Cartoonito morning block on Boomerang Africa from Monday, 4 April at 06h50 CAT.

Toptots Head Office

Being flexible and regulating emotions

The world we live in is fast-paced and unpredictable. We are exposed to constant changes, unmet expectations, challenging situations and unexpected bumps in the road. Our personality has a large role to play in the way that we manage these situations i.e. type A versus type B personality’s.  However, we all need to develop resilience to cope with whatever life throws at us. Resilience is developed through being exposed to these changes or challenges, having the tools to cope with them and then successfully working through them. Thus, we build confidence that when the next challenge comes along, we will be able to cope with it. Being flexible is the ability to change how you think about things (i.e. not being rigid in your thinking) and to deal with changes in your plans and expectations. Self-regulation is the ability to manage your behavioural and emotional responses to these situations. Inflexibility often = emotional outbursts. Between 2 and 5 years a child can shift actions based on changing rules e.g. run outside, but not inside; understand turn-taking; shift attention; cope with small changes; be comfortable with new people and places, though may want parents close by; be fairly flexible in their play time. By 5 years, they should be able to play cooperatively with other children. By 6 to 9 years, have a good awareness of the consequences of their actions; understand the difference between needs and wants; have more of an understanding of time. After this they should be able to separate their actions and feelings and take more responsibility for their actions. How do we identify challenges with flexibility and emotional regulation? The following behaviours may be observed: Getting upset if they can’t be first in the line. Tattles on others who aren’t following the rules. Has difficulty coping with sudden/ unexpected changes. Takes a long time to adjust to a new routine. Is not comfortable with new people or in new places. Will only eat food prepared/ set out in a particular way. Has difficulty transitioning between tasks. Has difficulty transitioning between what they want to do and what someone tells them to do. Is overly-emotional and has difficulty calming down. Over-reacts to situations. Want to be in charge of games/ boss other children around. Can cope for the morning at school, but have meltdowns at home because they have used up all their reserves. How to encourage more flexibility and emotional control:  Have a consistent daily routine (not rigid, but just based on the important things) so that they have a general sense of security and safety within that routine. Try not to encourage habits that will make life difficult for your child and cause disappoint or meltdowns if they can’t be maintained e.g. only eating off a certain plate or only drinking from a certain cup etc. Encourage your child to make small changes to increase their adaptability e.g. “every Friday, we are all going to eat off paper plates” or if they only like one type of cereal, help them to find another alternative cereal that they will find acceptable. Prepare them for changes, so that they can learn to handle them calmly i.e. give them a 5 minute and then a 1 minute warning before they have to change activities e.g. from watching television to going for a bath. If it’s a big change e.g. going to a new school, prepare them by showing them pictures of the school, the uniform etc. This makes change seem far less intimidating. When they do cope well with a change or a new situation, make a point of praising them for it e.g. “You were so brave on your first day of school, and you’ve already made a new friend!” Implement fun changes e.g. sleeping outside in the tent for a night; eating a picnic in the garden; trying out different foods together; going to different shopping centres or play venues; stop somewhere nice on the way home from school now and again etc. IMPORTANT FACT: In pre-school aged children, their mood can still be affected a great deal by their physical state. Therefore, this needs to be considered and taken into account. If a child is tired or hungry or over-stimulated, they will find it harder to cope with changes and will be more prone to meltdowns. Choose your moments i.e. don’t implement big changes when they are tired!  Teach your children a vocabulary of feeling words, so that it is easier for them to express when they are tired or scared or frustrated.Don’t give in to tantrums… this reinforces that tantrums work to get what you want!

Good Night Baby

Why so dark?

Lights out is a well-known phrase over many years, indicating it is bedtime, however there is more to it than that.  Exposure to light is one of the most important factors when it comes to sleep.  Most people know it is easier to sleep when it is dark, but it is important to know that the link between sleep and light exposure goes much deeper. Before electricity, humans woke and slept in sync with the rising and setting of the sun, but now there are lights in our homes, electronics and light pollution outside have made the relationship between light and sleep much more complex.  Light has dramatic effects on sleep, influencing our circadian rhythm, melatonin production and sleep cycles.  Circadian Rhythm:  work by helping to make sure the body’s processes are optimized at various points during a 24-hour period.  Circadian rhythms throughout the body are connected to a master clock, sometimes referred to as the circadian pacemaker – located in the brain.  During the day, light exposure through the eyes causes the master clock to send signals that generate alertness and help keep us awake and active. As night falls, the master clock initiates the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, which then keeps transmitting signals that help us stay asleep through the night.  Circadian effects vary based on the type of light and the duration of exposure. While prolonged light tends to be impactful, even short periods of artificial light can affect circadian rhythm. Melatonin production:  Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland located in your brain.  It helps your body to know when it is time to sleep and time to wake up.  Your body makes more melatonin at night – it increases once the sun starts to go down.  Melatonin decreases in the morning as the sun comes up.  The amount of light you get during the day together with your body clock determines how much melatonin you produce.  It goes without saying that we need to make sure little ones have enough melatonin when it is time to sleep. Light inhibits the secretion of melatonin. “Even if you doze off, light can be detected through your eyelids and your brain won’t produce melatonin if it’s confused between night and day,” says Joyce Walsleben, PhD, associate professor at the New York University School of Medicine. “You want as much darkness in your bedroom as you can handle.”  Sleep cycles:  are a combination of different sleep stages (REM and non-REM sleep).  When exposed to light at night is disrupts the transitioning between sleep cycles, reducing the quality of sleep.  When exposed to too much light it will cause repeated awakenings, interrupting the sleep cycle and reducing time spent in deeper, more restorative sleep stages.  Studies suggest that a healthy sleep cycle is integral to maintaining a balanced mental and emotional well-being. If your quality of sleep gets affected due to even a small amount of light, then you run the risk of having sleeping issues, which are well-known for causing a range of emotional problems, including depression. Now that we understand how important darkness is, the question is  HOW dark should it be and how do we achieve that?  Have you ever visited a hotel, guesthouse or lodge where they have block out curtains?  Most people can recall how well they slept in complete darkness.  This is not only beneficial for good quality of sleep, but helps us to fall asleep easier and stay asleep.  Teaching babies and children to have good quality sleep is so important and one of the most important (and easiest) ways to do so is to make their room dark.  When closing the curtains during daytime it should mimic the night.  Not only does it signal the brain it is time to sleep, but it helps little ones to fall asleep without any distractions.  Children’s eyes are anatomically slightly different, they do allow in more light, which is why it is even more important to make sure they sleep in a dark environment most of the time. As a mom myself, I know every parent wants the best for their children and we will do what it takes to help them sleep better (I am sure I don’t have to explain to you how important sleep is).  So why not take a few minutes to do a darkness check and if needed make the changes – it will be worth it. Recommendations: Block out curtains are a great long-term investment. Request a voucher for block out curtains for your baby shower! Its THAT important. Spend the money on good quality 100% block out curtains that are made for your windows. Most shop bought curtains are not 100% block out, even if they say block out. To test whether curtains are 100% block out, take your cellphone light and shine it through the fabric – if you can see the light, they are not 100% block out curtains. Have a 3 rail system – voile, block out and then your normal curtains. Make sure the curtains cover the whole window and no light is shining in on the sides. Block out lining.  If you already have taped curtains, no need to buy new ones.  Simply order block out lining and hook it on the inside of your current curtains. An easy, cheap and effective way of blocking out light is to cover your windows with black bags, brown paper, cardboard or even aluminium foil. Block out travel blinds have suction cups and sticks to a window – what an easy and effective way to sleep better when traveling!  Take 5 minutes and switch off the lights in the room – go and stick Prestik or double-sided tape on all small LED lights in the room – eg monitor light, aircon light, humidifier light etc Keep night-lights low and on the ground so that they are not shining directly into a child’s eyes. Dimming all household lights one hour before bedtime. Keep toddlers

Parenting Hub

The milestones that may have been impacted by Covid – and the Fisher-Price toys to help your child play catch up

The Covid pandemic caused huge disruptions to families’ routines across the globe. From parents working from home, schools and nurseries closing, mask wearing and social distancing, each measure taken against the pandemic had an impact on caregivers and their children.  This has led to concerns from caregivers about how the outbreak may have impacted their little ones reaching important milestones. Here, paediatrician and Fisher-Price advisor, Dr Laura Jana, discusses some of the negative effects the pandemic has had on children and how helping your little one to catch up and thrive may be as simple as child’s play!  Time for bed! Dr Laura Jana says: “Children of all ages do really well with routines – including preschoolers. When a routine is thrown off, such as what happened during the pandemic with parents not going to work, or childcare being closed, it can throw off children’s sleeping patterns. “Sleep plays a much more critical role than it’s been given credit for. During Covid, almost all of us have had our sleep disturbed, whether that’s due to having Covid, parental stress, or a lack of routine. “The take home message about sleep is that it represents much more than just the absence of being awake. A lot goes on during sleep for children; it’s an information processing period during which new information is processed, and all the learning children experience through engagement with the world around them while awake is solidified.  “If you want to instill a healthy sleep routine, introduce wind down cues. In addition to routine hygiene tasks, like bathing and brushing teeth, I’m a particularly big fan of bedtime reading. While older kids can certainly read to themselves, all children can benefit and enjoy having you can read aloud to them before bedtime. “Especially for younger children, it can also be helpful to include something that they can be in charge of that makes the transition to bedtime easier.” How to improve social skills… Dr Laura Jana says: “One of the subjects that has come up the most is how the pandemic has affected children’s social emotional development.  “As someone focused on healthy early brain and child development, I often emphasise the importance of social emotional development by pointing out that it’s as important for young children to learn how to read people – their facial expressions and understanding people’s moods, and body language – as it is to read books. This plays a big role in children’s ability to feel empathy, to take someone else’s perspective or take turns, those sorts of things.  “Of course, the concern during the pandemic has been that when you cover up half of someone’s face, with a mask, coupled with a decrease in social interaction due to social distancing, that it might impact these critical elements of social emotional development during the first five years.  “Fortunately, it continues to be clear that caregivers – even with masks on – can positively impact children’s early development, and that young children can continue to learn these foundational skills – how to read other people’s emotions, how to listen or take turns – through interaction with you.”  “What parents can focus on is plenty of caring responsive interactions with their children.  So, what does this look like day-to-day?  It’s as simple as playing with your child. You can do this with a game, reading a book, taking a walk or interacting with a toy – all while having conversations about it. Given the leading role that a child’s day-to-day experiences and interactions plays on learning, these simple and fun back-and-forth interactions can really help kids make up for a lot of what might otherwise be lost when it comes to learning.” Getting back into the classroom Dr Laura Jana says: “Children may have been a bit freeform at home for the past year during the pandemic without much routine or structure, so it shouldn’t be surprising that some will need a bit more help getting back into the routine of going to school or childcare. “This can mean figuring out how to follow classroom rules, concentrate on the topic or activity at hand, and just generally practice how to become part of the classroom again. All of this has a lot to do with the development of what are known as executive function skills, which have their most rapid rate of development between the ages of three and five.  “Children get to practice and develop their executive function skills naturally through interacting with other kids. But especially when in-person interactions have been limited due to the pandemic, there are things you can do to help foster them. “Age-appropriate games allow children to practice following the rules of the game with you.  “Books are great for lots of reasons, including that reading adds structure – from flipping the pages with a two-year-old and pointing at the pictures, to learning to focus one’s attention for longer periods of time. “It’s the same with certain toys, such as interactional ones where you have to take turns or have simple rules to follow. It could be that you must do something, then push a button, then wait for something else to happen. “Play that’s structured can help kids learn to fit in when there are going to be rules.” Choose a mix of toys… Dr Laura Jana says: “As parents and caregivers take on greater responsibility for enhancing their children’s early learning during the pandemic, it can help to make use of a variety of toys.  “Some toys serve to help develop what I refer to as the “IQ Skills” – whether it’s the alphabet or numbers or counting. These reading, writing, and arithmetic type skills have long been and continue to be foundational for school readiness. Yet for many young children, the pandemic has interfered with the introduction and practice of their ABCs and 123s that might otherwise have occurred in preschool or kindergarten.  “But as important as these sorts of toys are for learning, the benefit

Good Night Baby

Naps Take Longer

As parents embark on their journey with us, they are delighted when, improvement in their baby’s  night time sleep happens relatively quickly. They kiss their baby goodnight, lay them in their cot and since they have become so accustomed to spending ages helping their baby fall asleep, it delights them that their little one simply drifts off into dreamland within minutes. Going to sleep independently at bedtime tends to get progressively easier with each passing night. Babies fall asleep more quickly and start to have fewer night wakings. It is a wonder to behold, one which we can be thankful for.  However, naps really do tend to take longer to settle. Going to sleep happily in the day and the nap lengths can take up to 3 weeks to resolve. Day naps are often where we see parents second guessing themselves and the plan that they are following. “Surely, by now, she should be falling asleep in the day without protesting so much?” At night, it is easier for babies to fall asleep. At night time, their melatonin hormone levels naturally increase, which promotes sleep.  The bedtime routine is longer, including a bath, which is a strong signal to the brain that sleep is coming. This is not the case with day naps, because of course, they occur throughout the day. It is bright and light outside, melatonin levels are naturally low, its noisier, your baby may be more excited to practice their newest standing skills than sleeping and there tends to be far less “sleep pressure” encouraging your baby to fall asleep, like there is at night time after a busy day. For those reasons, babies just starting with a new routine often find it challenging to either fall asleep quickly or to stay asleep longer for their day naps. They have not yet fallen in love with sleep, but it will come. It helps when your baby has independent sleep skills, an environment conducive to sleep which includes a darkened room to produce just that little amount of melatonin to help them sleep in the day time, a shortened “nap wind down routine” prior to the nap and an appropriate awake time so they are sufficiently tired, but not overtired. However, for some babies, even with the perfect plan in place, they will still protest prior to falling asleep. For most babies, you may simply need a little more time to see progress in the day. It is nothing that you have done wrong. We often see that the families we work with do not see naps improving until the second week and in some incredibly determined little ones, the third week of us working together. If this is you, please do not stress. Simply be consistent and your little one will get there. It is a wonderful experience, once you are on the other side of the sleep training process, to see how your baby responds to sleep. You will immediately be attuned to your baby’s own sleepy signals and will know when to put them down for a nap. Your baby will not fight you, the protesting will become less and they will welcome their cot because they know that wonderful sleep is coming. They may immediately roll over, grab their comfort item, or get into their favorite sleep position and will start to doze off all on their own! You will walk out the room, close the door and marvel at how you have made it to the other side of the mountain. We know that the journey is tough and we know it is challenging to push through and to continually remind yourself that what is happening now, is only temporary. You will be glad you pushed through and you will be exceptionally proud of your little one for proving you wrong! By Tammy Buitendach – Good Night Consultant Resources: www.verywellfamily.com www.sleepfoundation.org www.parentingscience.com

Exigo Care

The Perfect Fit

Wearing clothes that are too tight, shoes that don’t fit properly, being heavily pregnant and not fitting behind the steering wheel, that face mask that just doesn’t sit right and makes you want to touch your face constantly… We all know the discomfort when something just does not fit correctly. When it comes to little humans, you want only the best for them: not stretched out clothing that is too small, but clothes that fit correctly to keep them warm and comfortable. When they start to walk, you want their little feet to be protected by shoes that will not only keep their feet safe but will allow for perfect development as they grow. You want them to have the correct diet to ensure optimal nourishment and development. When they are ill, you want to ensure that they get the correct medication or assistance to restore them to health as soon as possible. When travelling, you strap baby in the car seat and make sure that the safety belt is on correctly to keep them safe, but not so tight that it can hurt them.  You want baby to have the ‘perfect fit’ when it comes to essentials and when it comes to baby nappies it is no different.  Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull ups are the ‘perfect fit’ in so many ways. The super absorbent core of Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull Ups means that baby is dry and comfortable throughout the night. You want the nappy to fit correctly and their skin to be free of redness and irritation – this can be ensured thanks to the soft leak guards, the stretchy waist and the adjustable velcro straps. Being free from oxymethylene, flourescer and brightener, these nappies and pull ups do not have a chemical smell and are gentle and safe – suitable for even the most sensitive skin. Unlike many other brands, all Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull Ups come in packs of 50 regardless of their size and at a consistent price. This means that you do not need to push baby to stay in a size for longer than needed. As a result, this is also the ‘perfect fit’ for your pocket.  Furthermore, our size 6 pull ups are slightly larger than most other brands, meaning you have more peace of mind not having to worry that your baby will outgrow their favourite nappy brand before they are potty trained.  Parents of children with special needs can also rest assured that, as a company, we will, where possible, endeavour to supply you with size 7 nappies and pull ups as well as a good quality adult nappy range. Feel free to contact us directly, or to get in touch with your nearest reseller, should you have a special request or should there be a specific product you need. In summary, Hi Baby Premium Nappies and Pull ups are the ‘Perfect Fit’ as your trusted brand Protection against nappy rash as baby’s skin is kept optimally dry Ensures better sleep as baby is kept warm, dry and comfortable throughout the night Redness and irritation avoided thanks to the soft leak guards, stretchy waist and adjustable Velcro straps  Free from harmful chemicals Easy on the pocket  Comfort and freedom of movement ensured Trusted AAA Grade Quality Free delivery ensures the ‘perfect fit’ for today’s busy lifestyle Indicates when nappy is wet with the featured Wetness Indicator to avoid unnecessary changing Trusted product conceptualized by moms for moms Until next time,  Sr Jessica Bredenkamp (Registered Midwife (BCur) & Mom)

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