Toddler - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

New look and updates for award-winning Thule Urban Glide 2 stroller

With a modern design and slim profile the Thule Urban Glide 2 Jogging stroller is the perfect stroller for running and everyday use. The new updated versions of this popular and award-winning three-wheel stroller are now available and include a ‘black-on-black’ colour edition (black fabric combined with a black frame for a sleek look) as well as new colour canopies in Majorca Blue and Cypress Green. New features also include a hand brake that provides deceleration, an automatic lock for folding, an extendable sunshade with UPF 50+ protection and extra ventilation, reflective rims for improved visibility and new car seat adapters for a customised fit. Featuring a sleek design and a slim profile, the Thule Urban Glide 2 is an all-round sport stroller that is perfect for everyday life and jogging. It folds easily with a one-handed motion and the air-filled tires and suspension, ensure a smooth ride that handles rough terrain like a pro. Lock the front wheel for added stability during a jog or hike, or leave it swiveling for better maneuverability while walking. Julia Downey, brand manager for the Thule Active with Kids category offers these tips to consider when buying a pram: Think about your lifestyle and what type of pram will suit this best. If you are very active and want to bring baby along while you exercise, or simply if your family loves to fill your day with outings and activities, make sure that you buy an all-terrain pram, which is sturdy with good suspension. Understand the dimensions of how big the pram is when it is folded and unfolded. Make sure that it will fit into your boot and double check that you can fold and unfold it easily (preferably one handed) when you have a baby and a nappy bag that you are carrying too. Always check with the capacity of the pram is. Check that baby is comfortable, particularly if you are buying a pram for a newborn.This means opting for a pram that is well-cushioned with lots of padding, preferably with a reclining seat and sun canopy so that baby can sleep anywhere if needed. Find out if there is extra storage such as hidden pouches. This will limit the amount of stuff that you need to take with you, particularly if you are exercising with your baby. At minimum, a pram should have space for essentials such as keys, phone, a clean nappy and baby bottle. Look at it as an investment, especially if you plan on having more than one child. A good pram will not only last through your baby’s first few years, but onto your next baby too. From there, it could be passed down to younger cousins. Also check what the warranty on the stroller.

November 27, 2020

Embracing colour

Colour makes up the beauty of our world, but why is colouring in so good for children? We’ve taken a look at some of the reasons why embracing colour and art is just so good for your little ones. An understanding of the world Children are born in a greyscale world, seeing colour only as their eyes develop. At the age of 18 months, a child starts to identify colours. At two years and older, they start to name them. We don’t always see how much we link colour to the world around us. Knowing that the sky is blue and the grass is green may seem obvious to us, but to a child learning everything from the start, these are crucial discoveries. Colouring in helps your child to link colours to the world around them, and their understanding and mental growth will grow and grow. Developing their creative identity By colouring in, children develop their hand strength and motor skills, including colouring in between the lines. Their focus and ability will continue to grow and strengthen too. We’re most interested in helping your child develop their individuality. Through using colours to bring pages before them to life, their self-expression will burst into life! You will see them understand colour, size and shapes like never before – and they’ll be having fun the whole time too. Taking time for them In today’s world, we have a greater understanding of stress and how it can affect our healthy minds and bodies. Taking time for yourself is a vital skill that can be learnt from a very young age. And while your child might not want to meditate or self-reflect, colouring in has been proven as a great way to reflect, relax and de-stress. By focusing on the task of colouring, using one pencil at a time, they will find this time away from their busy lives to be healthy and healing, making sure they’re in the best place to tackle their adventures ahead. Hanging out with all the family Colouring in also helps you create quiet time with all the family together. You can sit with your child as they colour in their adventures, or get on with your own relaxation while still being together. It creates a great opportunity for social time without requiring high energy playtime, and you get to watch your child discover the thrill of creativity. Just be ready to be the proudest parent as your child rushes to show you their work, full of pride – whether it’s a modernist masterpiece, or a cheerful scribble! At Characterful, we believe in the power of colour to inspire our readers’ imagination. Pick up any of our books and you’ll step into a world of vibrant backdrops, exciting characters and an immersive atmosphere. And now we want your children to have the chance to colour in our books too, by releasing a colouring in version of our epic story The Door in the Garden Wall. Thanks to our personalisation, your child will now be both the hero of the story and the illustrator.

November 25, 2020

Chicco Baby Senses Elliot Camping Lover and Baby Senses Roger Tennis Lover

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. As babies grow, they can enjoy the more advanced, electronic toys in the Baby Senses range that require batteries and make use of sonic and visual sensory engagement. Baby Senses Elliot Camping Lover is a lantern-shaped electronic toy that allows children to step into the shoes of an explorer. With electronic lights and sounds, Elliot Camping Lover helps develop and perfect those first motor skills with manual activities. Includes melodies and a rotating compass. Perfect for kids from 6 months old. Baby Senses Roger Tennis Lover is an electronic toy named after tennis legend Roger Federer, in the shape of a tennis racket. Lights and melodies and manual activities keep children engaged as they naturally develop motor skills. Suitable from 6 months old. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 23, 2020

5 Care ingredients that are perfect for your baby’s skin

Your little one’s delicate skin needs a lot of pampering when it comes to body care products. More sensitive, porous, dryer and more vulnerable to infections than adult skin, your baby’s skin needs body creams and washes that are safe and kind to their soft skin. As parents, we understand all too well how important it is to only use skincare products with the right ingredients. We carefully consider every ingredient that goes into the products we might purchase to care for our babies skin. High on our agenda are ingredients that gently cleanse, soothe, nourish and protect the delicate skin of our little ones, each product is suitable for all skin conditions, even for sensitive or irritated skin. So, which ingredients should we be looking for? The answer is simple: ingredients that include moisturising complexes, vitamins, antioxidants, essential oils, botanical oils and butters, all sourced from nature! We chatted to the team at JOMAR, a natural skincare range for moms, babies and toddlers, about five favourite care ingredients that are perfect for babies’ skin. Have a look below: 1. Coconut oil Used for anything from substituting traditional cooking oil to hair and skincare, coconut oil has been a favourite staple in many people’s pantries. However, as an ingredient in body care products for babies, it provides so many benefits that your baby will love. Coconut oil is packed with vitamins and healthy fats, not to mention anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and moisturising benefits. It is also gentle on baby’s skin and safe to use as is or in a product formulation to treat common baby skin conditions such as dry skin, skin irritations, eczema and cradle cap. 2. Marula oil Sourced from the famous Marula tree that is inherent to Southern Africa, Marula oil is an amazing ingredient in body care products. This popular ingredient has been used for centuries to treat or alleviate several health conditions. As a baby body care product, its high Vitamin E content, antioxidants and essential fatty acids help to gently soften your little ones’ skin and lock in natural moisture. 3. Shea butter It’s no secret: your baby’s skin loves Shea butter with its anti-inflammatory and healing properties! Its high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins nourish and soften baby’s skin, keeps moisture in and ensures that less water is lost by helping to form a barrier on the skin’s surface. 4. Rooibos A true South African favourite, rooibos as a skincare ingredient for your baby is filled with antioxidants and repairs your little one’s skin as it soothes. Conditions such as eczema, allergies and dryness benefit from rooibos’ vitamin D and zinc ingredients that promote healthy skin. 5. Lavender oil Certainly one of the most calming scents that babies and moms love, lavender is a beautiful skincare product. It can help to relax a fussy baby and even encourage sleep. Lavender can also be used to treat insect bites, skin rashes and alleviate the symptoms of colic. Baby-friendly from start to finish With these 5 key ingredients in mind, you will be able to provide your baby with the best skincare. Together with these recommendations, choose products that are free from harmful chemicals, parabens, lead, petrolatum and sulphates. Your baby will love the care these products provide, from morning to bath time! To find out more about JOMAR’s baby friendly-range, visit their website here.

November 20, 2020

ABCs and… Me?

The ABCs are the start of learning our language, and the way we communicate and speak with each other. Teaching our children how to use these letters can seem difficult, and for them it can be a daunting task. The key when teaching ABCs to your child is to use their curiosity as a building block for learning it. Start small with identifying the first letter of their name: “A is for Andy”. This brings in a level of excitement and your child will love pointing out the letters of friends and family names too. Using tools such as the first letter of loved ones’ names, letter toys such as letter crayons, letter magnets, and letter building blocks, all help keep the alphabet at the forefront of your child’s mind. The building block of language The ABCs are the first thing we learn when discovering how to read and write, and each letter corresponds to multiple sounds whether it’s the ‘p’ in ‘hop’ or ‘peer’, or the ‘c’ in ‘silence’ or ‘cackle’. It can be overwhelming when learning how to use these tricky, vital blocks of sound, and we know that children learn phonetically at first. Phonetic language, or phonics, is the sound of language, the ‘ah’, ‘puh’’, ‘kuh’ sounds that can then become known as ‘a’ ‘p’ ‘k’. This is really useful when getting your children to become familiar with letters. Start their love of language today With a real love of language, your child will be able to discover books, poems and more that all stem back to the written word. The door to all of this culture, learning and art starts with a simple A B C. With easy tools, like ABC books, letter toys and crafts, you’ll be able to help them start out on a journey that they will be grateful for their entire life. At Characterful, we love helping children take on and master challenges. Our stories focus on adventures, with personalised characters putting your child at the heart of the tale, and helping them to make the decisions and overcome the difficulties themselves. That’s why we’ve brought out our own ABC book. Like all our stories, ABC and ME is personalised. Your child travels through the alphabet, encountering giraffes and pirates, mermaids, zebras and best of all, themselves! Each page is beautifully illustrated, while there are easy rhymes to help your child read it flowingly, and enjoy the adventures on each page. When reading our ABC book to your child, we recommend getting them to sound out the word with you, playing around with it and having fun! You can read them the fun rhyme to help them see the sound of the letters in action. Children’s brains are constantly learning and expanding, more so than at any other time, and by reading them stories, you will be helping their brain’s ability to think, understand and grow.

November 19, 2020

Playing for the future

Meg Faure, best-selling author & co-founder of Play Sense We are living in a time when everything we’ve come to accept as normal is being turned upside down. The same is true for education – especially when we think about how to best equip our children for the future. We’ve all heard about artificial intelligence and machine learning and how computers are much better at processing and organizing information than we are. Automation and digitization have changed the way we live and work. To the point that many of the jobs available today will be fulfilled by machines in the (not-so-distant) future. Future-proofing your child So, how do we ready our little ones for the future? Their future. Over the last decade we’ve seen pockets of schools, teachers and parents break away from traditional education, to something that engages the whole child in learning. Whether that be through smaller groups of children, teacher-child ratios of less than ten, different teaching methodologies or any combination thereof. Research and experience have proven that enriched experiences are the architect of little one’s minds. When a child is using their imagination, they are developing soft skills like collaboration, creativity, problem solving and self-regulation. And contrary to what our education system would have us believe – these are the skills that contribute to your child’s lifelong success. Google it More than a decade ago now, Google conducted recruitment research called Project Oxygen. The goal was to define the top 8 criteria candidates needed to succeed at Google. Given that Google is a data and technology business, you would think that STEM skills would be top of the list. But guess what? STEM skills were at the bottom of the list of essential skills – the rest were all soft skills. Soft skills are those strengths that are intangible, hard to measure but also invaluable when it comes to achieving lifelong success and happiness. There is no better time to start fostering soft skills in children than when they are toddlers. Children are in their most exciting development phase between 2 and 4 years old and the best thing we as parents can offer them is the opportunity to learn essential skills through play, guided by a nurturing teacher, in small groups and within a home environment. Toddlers thrive when these factors combine and it’s the basis of our ethos at Play Sense. Child’s play At 2 years old, little ones are not ready for unfamiliar surroundings, big groups of children and an overt focus on rushing through fine motor and cognitive development. It’s only through play that little ones learn – and soft skills form the foundation for their education journey, well into adulthood. Play Sense’s research-based program has been created by early years experts to prioritise the development of soft skills (and the overlap with Google’s findings is incredible!). But what skills does your child need to flourish? Collaboration – the ability to understand one’s own mind, the mind of another and make connections with other human beings is critical in the workplace and beyond. For a two-year-old, this is best fostered in small group settings. When leaving home for the first time, your child should experience socialization in a protected and nurturing environment. This cements the foundation for a collaborative mindset. Creativity – the ability to create something out of nothing, to envisage a product and plan the steps to get there is the cornerstone of a creative mindset. We develop creativity in children through simple toys, free play, and imaginary play – allowing little ones to discover and refine their inherent creativity. Self-Regulation – the ability to manage strong emotions, create a balanced response to changes in the world and to moderate one’s own behaviour is a vital part of learning and success. The only way a young child learns self-regulation of strong feelings and overwhelming behaviours is in the context of loving, empathic relationships. As parents and teachers, we need to be co-regulators – facilitating the development of self-regulation. Executive function – the CEO of the brain – executive function plans the way to achieve something, weighing up all resources at one’s disposal. Executive function activates the plan, reassesses as one goes along, and changes direction should the need arise. This mental flexibility and ability to see the bigger picture as well as the finer details is a critical soft skill. It is wonderfully developed as little ones embark on free play and imaginary games. Super Senses – the motivation, will and drive to learn, be challenged and the spark to engage are what we call the Super Senses – unquantifiable soft skills that drive a child to master their world and develop a lifelong love for learning. Every education opportunity should nurture this magic quality. In the young child, play is the secret to igniting this fire. At Play Sense, we believe in the power of play to develop these and other core capacities. We witness the benefits of play every day along with hundreds of families around the world. And the resounding message is this – don’t overschedule your child with extramural activities, avoid the urge to be ‘busy’. Make play a priority in your home – it holds the key to a wealth of skills and abilities that your toddler needs to realise success and fulfillment in a world of the that most of us can hardly imagine.

November 18, 2020

Chicco Baby Senses Candy Cupcake and Baby Senses Ciro Pizza Lover

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. As babies grow, they can enjoy the more advanced, electronic toys in the Baby Senses range that require batteries and make use of sonic and visual sensory engagement. Baby Senses Candy Cupcake is a fun electronic toy to get baby engaging and using motor skills from about 6 months of age. Using lights and music, this pink, cupcake-shaped toy has small challenges and attractions to keep your little one entertained. Baby Senses Ciro Pizza Lover is a true Italian toy that is named after the pizza-capital of Napoletana. A fun pizza-cutter shaped toy that doubles up as a rattle, your baby can turn him on to active lights and music as they learn to engage with sound. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 16, 2020

Could your child have Type 2 diabetes?

It’s a question no parent wants to ask. But as with so many things in life, knowledge really is power. We’ve outlined all you need to know about the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes so you know what to look for. The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes First of all, it’s important to understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes used to be called ‘juvenile diabetes’ because it was most often diagnosed in children. It’s an auto-immune condition, unrelated to lifestyle or diet. If your child has Type 1 diabetes, you’ll know very quickly because they will get very sick. They’ll lose weight, eat a lot, constantly be thirsty and need to pee a lot – often at night. They’ll also be exhausted. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, develops slowly. Until recently, it was mostly seen in older people – one of the risk factors is being over 45 years old. But it is being diagnosed in children more and more. This is largely because our kids aren’t as active as they used to be – one of the main risk factors is a lack of physical activity. Another is being overweight or obese, particularly around the tummy area, and having a family history of diabetes. What to do if your family is at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes If this is ringing a bell, there are a few simple things you can do. The easiest way to remember them is to think EEL: Eat healthy Exercise Lose weight if necessary Eating healthy means cutting out junk food, sweets and treats, juice and fizzy drinks. Also cut out refined carbs, which means white bread, white rice, pasta – all the white foods. Eat lots of green vegetables (half a plate with each meal), good quality protein and some wholegrain carbs. It might feel like a big adjustment, but your whole family will feel better if you can start eating healthier. Exercise doesn’t have to mean joining a gym. It can be as simple as a 30-minute walk, most days of the week. Or some stretching or yoga at home, or a game of soccer with the neighbourhood kids. It’s so important for kids to be physically active. Losing weight is important if your child is overweight or obese, but that doesn’t mean putting them on a diet. If they’re getting active and eating healthy, drinking lots of water and staying away from junk food, weight loss will be a natural result. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re at risk of Type 2 diabetes, check out our fun 1-minute diabetes risk test on www.sweetlife.org.za. We also have all the information you need on how to reverse Type 2 diabetes, and advice and tips on how to manage diabetes if you’re living with it. The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone in this! There is a whole community of Diabetic South Africans, all living our best lives. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes Very hungry Very thirsty Needing to pee a lot, especially at night Sudden weight loss Exhaustion Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes 45 years old (or older) OR Overweight or obese AND Physically inactive (not much exercise) High blood pressure Family history of diabetes High cholesterol Heart disease history High-risk ethnic group (Asian Indian, Coloured) Diabetes during pregnancy or a baby over 4kg PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) If this sounds like you, it’s important to go for a diabetes screening. There are free screenings at Clicks Clinics and many independent pharmacies during November (National Diabetes Month). Bridget McNulty is a Type 1 diabetic and the co-founder of Sweet Life Diabetes Community, SA’s largest online diabetes community. Find out more about how to live well with diabetes at www.sweetlife.org.za

November 16, 2020

Why moms and their little ones need clean beauty skincare products

Clean beauty has been getting a lot of positive buzz online – and for good reason! Those that invest in products designed with clean beauty principles in mind, reap the benefits of ultimate wellbeing – and this includes moms that chose clean beauty for themselves and their little ones! So, how does it work? In a nutshell, the clean beauty philosophy allows us to be mindful about our health and our impact on the environment. It ensures that ingredients are responsibly chosen, based on their safety and efficiency, as well as their environmental impact. Although there are diverse opinions when it comes to clean beauty products, it is important to remember why this movement started. We caught up with JOMAR, a natural, clean beauty skincare brand for moms and babies, who shared their insights on this topic. 1. Daily exposure means we need to consider what we and our little ones need to be protected from Food, skincare and medication expose us to numerous chemicals each day, which means we are exposed to a phenomenon known as toxic load. That means even ingredients that are deemed safe may become harmful or cause sensitization if use exceeds recommended exposure limits. When choosing clean beauty products for ourselves and our little ones, we are choosing natural, plant-derived ingredients that reduce the risk of toxic load. These ingredients contain fewer chemical by-products known to cause skin reactions. 2. Pure ingredients are gentler and more nourishing Certain traditional skincare brands often have the same product ingredients to ensure each batch looks and smells the same. Unfortunately, this refining process can introduce harmful by-products or can damage naturally beneficial components – something that moms definitely not want when it comes to their and their babies’ skincare! However, natural ingredients undergo less refining and trade consistency in colour and smell to preserve product integrity. This means vitamins and antioxidants remain intact for a longer period. Moms and babies can enjoy products with ingredients in their purest form, knowing they are reaping all the benefits of clean beauty! 3. Clean beauty inspires moms to follow a conscious living approach for them and their little ones Conscious living is all about making better choices for your health, society and the environment. When moms choose a more purposeful lifestyle, they will choose natural products that allow them to align their purchasing habits with their personal values – ensuring they provide the best skincare for their family. Skincare products with natural ingredients require less processing during manufacturing, which means energy consumption is reduced and fewer (if any!) harmful by-products are present. By-products and synthetic ingredients are found in nature due to build-up and contaminated water and soil over time, however, clean beauty can help conscious living moms to minimise their impact on the environment. When moms choose clean beauty products for their families as part of their conscious living attitude, they also support local farmers and sustainable growing and harvesting practices that promote the cultivation of indigenous plant species. It is clear: Clean beauty products are the only option when choosing skincare products for mothers and little ones! To find out more about JOMAR’s clean beauty approach, be sure to visit their website here.

November 13, 2020

Vital Baby’s Guide To Travelling With Your Baby

Keep things simple… The car is probably the most frequent form of transport with a baby and the secret of successful travelling children is careful planning. Young children are surprisingly adaptable so providing you take the essentials, such as food, nappies and a favourite toy or two, your child should be quite happy. Preparation Prepare a survival kit for the journey before you set off and keep it where it is easily accessible. The kit should include spare nappies, a change of clothes, baby wipes, changing equipment and a mat or towel. If you are bottle feeding or giving solids, you will also need to include some feeds plus some feeding equipment. With its large storage capacity the Vital Baby NOURISH snack on the go (R119,99) is the baby and toddler snack-time must-have for independent feeding, or as a baby-led weaning accessory. Ideal for when out on family trips, or at home for less food mess and less stress! Try to make the journey as relaxed as possible by checking the route before you set out and allow extra time to get there. If you are going on a long journey, consider travelling at night. If you are going by other transport, find out what facilities are available for babies and older children before you set off. For example, car seats and restraints From birth, your child should travel in an approved safety restraint suitable for his age and weight. Restraints must be fixed and used properly to obtain maximum protection for your child in the event of an accident. Keeping the children amused A good selection of toys, especially for an older baby, is essential to keep him amused on the journey. Choose toys that have been specially designed for use in the car or ones that have suction pads that will stick on the window or the back of the front seat. Story tapes are also a good idea, especially for long journeys. Journeys by public transport You will need to be selective about what you take with you, as you will probably have luggage as well as your baby. Your survival kit should be packed into an easy to carry holdall. If possible, take a lightweight, folding pushchair. Put your baby in a baby carrier, either strapped on your front if he is still very young, or on your back if he is old enough to sit up on his own. When booking a seat on a train, coach or plane, always mention the fact that you are travelling with a young child and ask for the most convenient seating accommodation available. Some airlines have sky cots and others will allow you to take a buggy onto the plane as hand luggage. Sun sense Whichever method of transport you use, always shield your child from the sun and make sure that any exposed skin is protected by a high-factor sunscreen. Keep your baby as comfortable as possible by putting him in clothes that are loose and easy to change. • A number of layers of fairly thin clothing are best, as this will allow you to add or take away a layer depending on the temperature. Cars can get very hot in the summer, with the temperature creeping up considerably, so keep a constant check on your child while travelling. Take plenty of water with you on hot days.

November 13, 2020

Do NOT Wait 24 Hours before reporting your child missing

Parents must NOT wait for 24 hours to report a child that has gone missing. This is a myth, and if a child is reported missing immediately, our chances of recovering that child in the first ‘golden 2 – 3 hours’ is far more successful. There is no waiting period to report a person as missing. Go to your local SAPS (South African Police Station) and insist that they open up a ‘Missing Child’ case. It is very important to get the case number, as well as the Warrant Officer who will be dealing with the case. Then get hold of Missing Children South Africa immediately, so that we can create a ‘Missing’ flyer, and post it across our social media platforms. Teach your children these important numbers: SAPS|POLICE: 10111 MISSING CHILDREN SOUTH AFRICA: 072 647 7464 CELL PHONE HELP: 112 SAPS CRIMESTOP: 086 001 0111 CHILDLINE SOUTH AFRICA: 080 005 5555 GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: 080 042 8428 HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE: 080 022 2777 Our website www.missingchildren.org.za acts as an emergency report facility, as well as being MCSA’s platform for informational and educational material with regards to Child Safety. The service MCSA offers to the community and government is invaluable and as you can imagine we certainly have our work cut out for us. We provide our services free of charge to anyone who needs us. Sadly we don’t necessarily enjoy the same privilege for our needs and our financial requirements quite often outweigh our resources! We rely solely on the goodwill of individuals and corporations for financial support – funding remains MCSA’s biggest challenge. You can assist us now by clicking here https://missingchildren.org.za/donate/ and donating – this will be deeply appreciated and is much needed. Education plays an incredibly vital role in the life of Missing Children South Africa, and all funds received is utilised to further MCSA’s educational program; ‘Tips for Children’ and ‘Tips for Parents’ which promotes Child Safety. The education is targeted to all the vulnerable and orphaned children, and also children with disabilities. The education is also shared with parents, guardians and the families who take care of these children. The education focuses on not only the dangers, but also the solutions with regards to what to do to keep children safe, and especially what not do. What To Do When A Child Goes Missing Try not to panic and DO NOT WAIT 24 hours to report your missing child. Get a responsible person to stay at your house while you’re at the police station or searching for your child. This person can take messages if someone calls about the child’s disappearance or if the child returns home. Go to your nearest police station and take a recent photograph of your child with you. Make sure that the photograph is of good quality so that your child will be easily identifiable. Give a good description of what your child was wearing, their last whereabouts and any information that may help the police. Complete a SAPS 55 (A) form which safeguards the police against false or hoax reports. This form also gives the Police permission to distribute the photos and information of the missing child. Make sure the police give you a reference number and a contact name and number of the SAPS officer(s) assigned to the investigation. Click on our Report Now button, and complete the form: https://missingchildren.org.za/report/. Remember that if your child returns home, you should go to the Police station to report that your child is safe and let MSCA know that your child has returned home safely. Missing Children South Africa’s social media platforms are: FB: https://www.facebook.com/MissingChildrenSouthAfrica/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/072MISSING Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missingchildrensa/

November 12, 2020

Playing and fun: the most important parts of child development

We know that children all develop in their own way and at their own pace, and that it’s important not to rush them on their journey. In allowing them to grow at their pace, you help build confidence in who they are. It is important to provide an environment that supports a child’s development in a way that they respond well to. Fun facts! At Characterful, we are passionate about keeping learning fun, and rooted in great stories. We’ve gathered some fun facts on child development, some of which might surprise you! Take a look… Ouch! It doesn’t just sound like it – a three year old boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a restaurant. Read out loud: if you read aloud to your child, it will help stimulate their brain development, especially in their early years. They’ll also learn to speak faster if you respond to their gurgles and noises more than 80% of the time. Learn another language: your child’s brain will develop more if they learn another language. You can help them learn it by letting them watch international television programmes like Dora the Explorer with smaller words from another language. Not ignoring you: babies and toddlers have a hard time separating background noises from voices – sometimes they actually can’t hear you when you’re calling their name! Colour blind: Babies are born colour blind, seeing only black, white and grey. As the months go by, your baby will start to develop their colour vision. They also learn what’s important to look at by watching your gaze. And – most importantly in our view…Playtime is everything! By playing, children learn heaps of useful information, including how to socialise, how to regulate their own behaviour, and how to imagine! Having fun while learning To aid in your child’s development, [Characterful] released an activity book with a child’s own character throughout. Your child will be challenged with everything from adding up groups of dinosaurs, to tracing the alphabet at the insistence of a unicorn! They’ll colour in pictures of the famous South African wildlife, while spotting differences between pirates and spaceships, completing dot to dots to find a mermaid’s best friend, and even helping knights find their way back to their castles through deadly mazes! Our activities are designed to test and strengthen your little one’s grasp of maths, logic, language, problem solving and instruction taking. And most importantly – they’re fun! When a child is learning and having fun at the same time, they’ll begin to realise that these challenges – although difficult – can be enjoyable in the future too. You’ll be helping them grow a love of learning and puzzles, that will help them develop even further, ready for the challenges ahead.

November 12, 2020

Chicco Baby Senses Bath Toys selection

The Baby Senses range from Chicco is the primary toy range that encourages babies from as young as 3 months old to use and develop their senses. Baby Senses now introduce their new bath time range of toys to keep little ones engaged and having fun during the important bonding time of bathing. Baby Senses Swimming Frog and Baby Senses Swimming Penguin are two gorgeous bath time companions that work with a mechanical win-up system. Wind them up and watch them swim the length of the bath, creating much laughter and fun for your little one. Also from the range is the Baby Senses Sprinkler Whale. Again, a mechanic wind-up toy, the whale blows water the bath water from his spout as he bobs about in the bath, creating a fun atmosphere that will keep encouraging babies to look forward to bath time. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 9, 2020

Care for your baby’s delicate skin with these top tips

Our little ones come into this world equipped with only their first line of defence: their skin. However, despite a full-term infant’s skin having all five epidermal skin layers intact, including the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum granulosum, stratum lucidum and stratum corneum, there are big differences on how their skin differs from adult skin. This is because the skin cells, structures and composition in a baby’s skin are not yet fully developed at birth and functional maturity only develops during their first year. For the first 2 years of an infant’s life, thestratum corneum is still very thin, which results in your baby’s skin being more fragile, sensitive, permeable, dryer and more susceptible to infections. This is the reason why baby skin should be cared for with skincare products developed especially for baby, such as the JOMAR care range. Wondering how you can ensure even further that you are giving your little one the best care possible? Have a look at the following tips from the JOMAR team: Fragile skin needs sensible skincare Infant skin is 30% thinner than adult skin. This means that it is more prone to injury and damage. However, baby skin has a superpower: an increased healing and recovery ability thanks to the rate at which skin cells grow and mutate. This does not mean wounds on baby skin should be neglected, even if it is unlikely to leave a scar. The golden rule is to treat your baby’s damaged skin with a sensible skincare product that is specifically formulated to calm and support the skin’s natural recovery ability and reduce inflammation. Support sensitive baby skin with proper care Newborns often suffer from rashes, baby acne (milia), dry skin or red blotches; however, these conditions are normal and no reason for concern. Some infants do have more sensitive skin than others which could be caused or aggravated by several internal or external factors. Parents can manage external factors which include temperature changes, detergents, harsh water, harmful chemicals, the sun and wet diapers. Change diapers frequently and choose a skincare brand that you trust and are free from irritants, parabens, synthetic perfumes, colourants and soap. Protect permeable skin from harmful ingredients Because baby skin has an impaired barrier function, topical ingredients penetrate their skin easily and could cause skin sensitivity or a reaction to certain ingredients. Always be conscious of the fact that what you apply to your little one’s skin can seep into the deeper layer of the skin and take stock of all ingredients in a product before using it. Dry and flaky skin? It won’t be always like that! Worried that your baby’s skin is very dry and flaky? Don’t be: it is completely normal during the first three months of life. At birth, a baby’s sebum secretion is very high which could cause tiny white “pimples”, but thereafter it decreases. This low level of sebum in the epidermis and the reduced water holding capacity of the immature skin cells, result in your baby having dry skin. This will change over time and your baby’s skin will become even more hydrated and supple than adult skin. Ensure that you are using a safe, effective and natural skin moisturiser to relieve dry, uncomfortable skin. Keep your environment hygienic to curb infections The reason why babies are more vulnerable to infections is that their skin (as part of the immune system) is not yet fully prepared to offer optimal protection. They are more susceptible to chemical irritants and bacteria compared to adults, due to their impaired barrier function. We need to ensure the baby’s environment is hygienic and clean to prevent any unwanted germs causing skin irritation, rashes and infections. Consider the best skincare possible Based on the above, it is clear why we should carefully consider the skincare choices we make for our little ones. You have to be comfortable with your brand of choice and it is always easier if they share your values. Use a brand that you can really trust and that is kind to skin and the environment! To find out more about JOMAR’s clean beauty approach, be sure to visit their website here. www.jomarbaby.com

November 6, 2020

Top tips to encourage babies and toddlers to eat their fruit and vegetables

We all know fruit and vegetables are an important food group, but persuading babies and toddlers to eat them can be a battle. Even if your child absolutely refuses to eat vegetables it’s important to put some on their plate at every meal so they get used to seeing them. Psychologists have found that once children become familiar with a food, they are more open to trying it, but you may need to present the same food on as many as ten separate occasions before your child feels comfortable eating it. While it’s important to put some vegetables on your child’s plate, many children find a large serving of vegetables off-putting, so it’s better to give them an amount you know they will eat and gradually increase the portion size: Try to incorporate finely chopped vegetables such carrots, peppers and mushrooms into dishes like spaghetti bolognaise Rather than serving them as a side dish, incorporate vegetables into main dishes. For example, add a variety of vegetables to a meat and cheese lasagna When your child says they are hungry, offer them a piece of fruit rather than biscuit Serve raw strips of pepper or carrot with a dip such as hummus. If you serve them at the beginning of the meal when children are hungry they are more likely to eat them Mix cooked pureed spinach, carrots or shredded cabbage into mashed potatoes To encourage toddlers and older children to eat their vegetables, use a star chart where you award one star for each serving of fruit or vegetable eaten. Offer a treat such as a trip to the swimming pool or the park at the end of the week if they’ve made the target of five portions each day for a week Persuading children to eat fruit is usually less of a problem, but if children aren’t keen it can be used to make puddings or smoothies. To make fruit smoothies blend soft fresh fruit (berries, banana and, mangoes) or canned fruits such as apricots, peaches with low fat yoghurt and milk or fruit juice   Stewed or fresh fruit make a great filling for pancakes. For savory pancakes try adding spinach and soft cheese, stir-fried vegetables or ratatouille Spread a mashed banana on toast in the morning instead of jam or marmalade or add a few chopped apricots or some fresh berries to cereal Toddlers learn by example, so make sure that they see you and older siblings eating and enjoying fruit and vegetables You can also share your toddler eating tips, and read advice from other moms by visiting Philips AVENT on facebook: www.facebook.com/philipsavent By Fiona Hunter, Nutritionist

November 6, 2020

Why are Personalised Stories Great for Children

What child doesn’t love being the star of the show? Besides making the child the hero in their own story, personalisation is more than a gimmick. Here’s what putting your child front and centre in their own special book can do… Improving literacy and language skills The more a child reads, or is read to, the better their communication and literacy skills will be. Children’s minds are inquisitive and curious to learn, and they can absorb new words, grammar and spelling at a magical pace, just by reading with you! By personalising a book, your child is put straight into the action as the hero of the story. This will encourage them to read more, and learn to read so they can share their special story with others. By reading more, they will cultivate and grow a love of language that will live with them their whole life long. Learning how to make decisions Characterful’s personalised stories stem from the age-old story tradition of fairytales and quests. As your child reads through the story, they will be faced with challenges and choices they have to make. These might be mathematical or moral, or even a political concept presented in an age-appropriate way. As the main character, your child is immediately encouraged to engage with the challenge personally, perhaps more than if they were learning in a classroom. Readers are encouraged to think laterally, take points of view, make decisions from the evidence, and make positive choices in the story. This will influence how they make decisions in their real lives. Education isn’t just academic. It’s also about developing social skills to prepare them for the future. Empowering our readers Many children shy away from new challenges due to the fear of failure and lacking confidence in themselves. Through personalised stories, children are encouraged to find solutions to get through these difficulties, teaching them to be proactive, and to take a chance. By solving problems in the safety of the fictional world, our young readers can feel empowered to use this same decision-making approach in the real world too, going out into the world with a more confident, courageous presence. Feeling included It’s more important than ever that children see their race, sex, gender, religion, or disability represented in stories that they read, to know that they are valid and take up a deserved space in the world. Through personalised stories, you can ensure your child’s own demographics take front andcentre. Children who might not usually be represented in fiction, can now see themselves on adventures, making friends and ultimately saving the day! A treasured keepsake Children love stories, but they’re not always so careful with the books themselves! Our books are made from sturdy, responsible materials to survive the roughest of loving! Our books are also bound to become treasured keepsakes, with your child seeing themselves as the hero of the story. When they grow up and set off on their real life adventures, you’ll be able to keep these personalised story books as a treasured memory of when they were just starting out in the world. Characterful create immersive and absorbing stories for children, full of adventure and educational elements. Our books are brimming with pirates, mermaids, elves and astronauts. And the best part is – you get to choose exactly who the stories are about!

November 6, 2020

Chicco Smart2Play Transform-a-Ball and Smart2Play Ring Tower

Chicco’s Smart2Play to brand is designed with your baby’s brain development in mind. As babies develop, so does their natural curiosity and therefore puzzle solving, building and creating becomes second nature to them. The Smart2Play Transform-A-Ball is a 2-in-1 creative toy that can help stimulate logical association, creativity, fantasy and transform amusing creative experiences into fundamental cognitive achievements. Let baby explore the multitude of ways to transform the ball into other shapes and even animals. Perfect for both children and even grown-ups as the addictive nature of the puzzle-solving keeps one occupied for hours. Smart2Play Ring Tower is smartest version of the classic stacking toy, that helps develop cognitive skills, logical association, and hand-eye coordination. With two games to play, ‘Stack & Learn’4 helps younger babies learn to stack the rings according to decreasing sizes. The ‘Sort’ game allows babies to sort 4 different coloured shapes into the right hole, and the rocking base makes the game even more fun. Turn amusing creative experiences into fundamental cognitive developments. Items available online at Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Online Home Store, Baby Boom, Babanino.co.za and TheKidZone.co.za

November 2, 2020

Five fun and educational activities that you can do with LEGO® bricks

As school holidays are upon us, many parents are looking for ways to not only keep boredom at bay but also ensure that their kids are learning and mindfully engaged in the process. And while screen time can be a great way for kids to keep busy and entertained, it’s also a good idea to find balance between digital and real-life play. Here are five fun activities that kids, parents and siblings can try out together as a family using LEGO® bricks and sets at home. Perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers LEGO® DUPLO® bricks are ideal for toddlers, and thankfully there are a number of games and activities they can safely enjoy using these sets. Little ones will likely get a kick out of the ‘where’s the brick?’ game. Grab three plastic cups and hide a LEGO DUPLO brick under one of them. Now, swop them around and see if your little one can find which cup the brick is hidden under. To make it more challenging add in a few more cups and LEGO DUPLO bricks of different colours. This is a great way to help train your child’s visual memory. Help little ones to hone their observation skills with a game of ‘spot the difference’. Simply build two LEGO DUPLO towers, with a few small differences in one of them, and see if your toddler can spot what’s different. Now, take the first one away and see if your little one can remember all the differences. You can also create more differences and use more bricks once they’re comfortable with the game and understand how it works. Fun for ages four and up Kids aged four years and older will be able to tackle slightly more technical activities but, remember to keep it light and fun so they don’t lose interest. Build a LEGO maze using LEGO bricks from your collection at home or using the LEGO® Classic Creative Brick Boxes on a LEGO Baseplate, and toss in a small round object to see if it will make it through the maze. Encourage healthy competition by getting each family member to build their own maze and see which rolling object makes it through the maze the fastest. Another fun challenge for kids of this age is to build a boat made of LEGO bricks and load it up with coins to see which one floats the longest. This is a great way to challenge a child’s imagination and encourage them to get as creative as they would like with their boat structures, while developing fine motor skills too. It’s also a great way to incorporate water and teach kids the science behind buoyancy. Older children (six years and up) would of course need a little more stimulation and more of a challenge to keep them interested. The Ziploc Challenge, where kids need to try to build a LEGO brick structure through a sealed plastic bag, is a great way to keep playtime stimulating and fun for the whole family. Decide on an object or character that each player needs to build, add a time limit to make it more exciting, and include friendly penalties for players who open their bags, for example. Remember to keep the mood light and positive, and to make sure that the rules are flexible. It’s a good idea to give toddlers a little more time to complete their activities too, and to make time to engage in playtime with the kids, which has been proven to be tons more fun for little ones (and moms and dads, too!). These are just a few of the many ideas out there designed to keep little ones busy at home, but you can find more super-fun activity ideas and challenges at www.lego.com, as well as by searching the #letsbuildtogether tag online.

October 30, 2020

The benefits of block play & young children

In my opinion blocks are one of the most important toys any young child should have in their playroom. Blocks are a teacher’s best friend and every classroom should have an endless supply of blocks in every colour, shape and size. There are a host of possibilities and benefits to be gained from it! 1. Imagination – Through block play children are free to follow their own ideas as they embark on a voyage of discovery or share in the development of their friends’ creations. 2. Self-expression – Children can express themselves through their play, creations and discoveries, a form of communication that’s particularly valuable for bilingual or non-verbal children. 3. Problem-solving – Blocks offer a great platform to develop problem-solving and reasoning skills. This can be deliberate, with children consciously working to develop a solution, or as a natural consequence of play, as they learn first-hand what does and what does not work. 4. Mathematics – Due to the many shapes, sizes and colours on offer, blocks offer ample opportunity for children to practise important maths skills, covering measurement, number, symmetry, balance and estimation. By comparing shapes and sizes, creating patterns or providing measuring and weighing tools, we can can extend play and exploration. 5. Physical development – Block play promotes the development of spatial awareness and develops hand-eye coordination and mid-line crossing as children reach for, lift, move and build with blocks, strengthening their fingers, hands and arms. 6. Creativity – Blocks are loose parts, meaning children are free to combine and recombine them in countless ways. Parents or teachers can add alternative resources such as dough, small world characters or paint and pencils to further extend opportunities for creativity. 7. Science – Through the exploration of cause and effect and experimentation, children are able to develop their problem-solving skills, test hypotheses and practise scientific reasoning. Blocks help them to become familiar with balance, weight, spatial awareness and gravity. 8. Self-esteem – Children can take risks in their block play, helping them to discover that they have independent ideas. Children experience a sense of achievement as they ‘have a go’, creating and developing something new and unique. 9. Problem solving – Block play allows children to co-construct and negotiate. They take turns, share materials and cooperate with others, forging new friendships. It also encourages self-reliance, increases attention span and develops their sense of self. 10. Communication & literacy – As children encounter new experiences through block play, there are countless opportunities for discussion and the development of new vocabulary. Social interaction with adults and peers unlocks further benefits, while using blocks can support story creation and collaborative storytelling. So what does mom have to say? My inquisitive one year old is learning at such an incredible pace, it’s amazing to see how much she takes in every day. Building blocks are a classic tool that helps children work on spatial reasoning, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and creativity, so I really wanted her to be exposed to them as early as possible. Mega Bloks toys are always made with good quality materials, so these blocks have a lovely feel. The vibrant colours keep my daughter engaged. She’s a bit too young to put the pieces together by herself, but her dad enjoys helping her, and I love watching the dad-daughter bonding as they play together. Cleaning up is quick and easy, and Emma has great fun throwing the blocks into the storage bag that comes with the set. If you are looking for a gift for your young child, look no further than a set of Mega Bloks! They stand the test of time; they are durable and are easy to disinfect and sanitise. Mega Bloks are available to purchase from Takealot so don’t delay – add them to your cart or Christmas wishlist

October 28, 2020

Learning Series – Let’s learn our shapes …. with Play Dough!

Children learn best when all their senses are engaged. Learning our shapes can be taught not only through the visual and auditory senses, but also through touch, creativity and movement. Play Dough is a wonderful tactile activity, and a great way to teach little ones their shapes. Below is a great playdough activity as well as some awesome ideas for shape learning.

October 28, 2020

Why we love the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price®

We love any toy that can strengthen a young child’s developmental skills and the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price® does exactly that! Once again Fisher-Price® have outdone themselves! Not only is the Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl super cute to look at but it is really fun too! Let’s dive straight into the features: The Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl knows when your little baker places the ingredients that comes with the set, into the bowl and rewards each movement of the child. This works both ways, either putting the ingredients into the bowl or taking them out. What a delightful feature! With six removable ‘ingredient’ play pieces, two buttons that activate more fun songs and sounds, and an adorable light-up face, this sweet baking toy is deliciously fun! Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl introduces everyday items to your little one whilst encouraging interactive play, they are introduced to important educational concepts like shapes. Colours and numbers. With each action, colourful lights, music, sound and learning phases will keep your toddler really engaged. From new phrases being introduced, the alphabet and learning numbers, your toddler will be baking for hours with this new addition to the Fisher-Price® family. Strengthen your toddlers fine motor skills through grasping and moving pieces in and out of the mixing bowl whilst introducing them to fun cause and effect skills as they figure out how to activate the bowl and music. Where development comes into play™ Early Academics: Sung songs and phrases introduce your baby to the alphabet, colours, numbers, and more! Fine Motor Skills: Grasping and moving the play pieces in and out of the mixing bowl helps strengthen your baby’s dexterity and hand-eye coordination The Laugh & Learn® Magic Colour Mixing Bowl from Fisher-Price® comes with 6 removable play pieces, the items are BPA-free and suited for babies ages 6-36 months old. So does this get Emma’s Parents Approval… oh yes it does! Here is what mom had to say about it: Emma has reached the age where she loves trying to put things into containers and boxes, rather than just pulling things out. The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl is perfect to keep her engaged with fun items and rewarding sounds. The toy plays the jazziest “ABC” song I’ve heard in a musical toy, I love watching my little dancer tap her feet to the beat! I did find that she had put her shoes, comb and oversized plush toy into the bowl as well, so I’m sure it’s sparking her creativity as she learns what fits!

October 28, 2020

Meet the ever so fun Linkimals!

Fisher-Price is synonymous with being an educational brand that many parents have trusted for years. With so much care and thought placed into each product it is no wonder that the new Linkimals are such a hit! As Emma is now 10 months old, it was the perfect time to introduce her to her very own Linkimals pal. This range is suitable for little ones from 9 months and up. Baby is able to engage with learning in a way that only Fisher Prices knows how to bring to children.. The Linkimals range introduces your baby to counting, colours, music, lights and phrases. With their easy design made totally with baby in mind, Emma was able to interact with…().. easily and with little to no assistance required from mom or dad. Of course Emma just loves pushing buttons so the Linkimals Smooth Moving Sloth was so engaging for her! Emma, and your little one, can easily develop Gross Motor and Fine Motor skills with the Linkimals collection. And when you get the entire gang together, a whole new world of learning is opened up. With 5 Linkimals in the collection and using the Linkimals amazing technology, they are all able to communicate with each other! e How cool is that? All the Linkimals friends want to play as well so when you synchronise them, the continuity between the range of Linkimals is fantastic. It most certainly seems like a bunch of toy friends are singing and encouraging each other all the way through. And their beautiful lights, dance and moving parts really helps to hold baby’s interest in the activity. Their songs are a little longer than would be considered normal for children of this age, but they all do have meaning and are not too long that baby gets bored. You’ll be surprised at the level of concentration your baby has! Having more than one toy from this collection is ideal. It allows children from a young age to experience support from another source, thus providing fun learning activities for your baby. Each unit in the collection teaches different things which is what makes the entire collection so special. The Linkimals collections includes: Linkimals Musical Moose The Linkimals Musical Moose is loaded with exciting interactive play that introduces your baby to counting, colours, and more with playful songs, lights, and phrases. Just press his belly to get the light-up learning party started! Plus, when Musical Moose recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Early Academics: Sung songs and phrases introduce your tiny dancer to colours and counting from 1 to 10! Sensory: The moose’s light-up belly, playful songs and sounds, and soft antlers engage your baby’s developing visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Curiosity & Wonder: Your baby can discover the fun of cause and effect as they press the belly button to activate music and lights or bat at the bobble head. Fisher-Price Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth The Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth gets your baby moving and learning with exciting lights, music, songs, and groovy dance moves. Press the buttons on the sloth’s feet to hear all about numbers, colours and more, as the sloth claps its hands and bobs its head. Plus, when Smooth Moves Sloth recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Early Academics: The sloth’s playful songs and phrases introduce your baby to counting, colours, opposites, and the alphabet. Gross Motor: Sung songs and music encourage your baby to move and groove, giving their gross motor skills a great workout. Sensory: Bright, colourful lights, fun music, and soft arms engage your baby’s visual, auditory, and tactile skills. Fisher-Price Linkimals Counting Koala Climbing up a palm tree with their koala friend, baby makes a startling discovery: this tree grows squares, triangles and circles. The Linkimals Counting Koala from Fisher-Price is a musical learning friend for babies with exciting lights, songs, and phrases that introduce numbers, counting and shapes. And when Counting Koala meets up with other Linkimals friends, they light-up, talk, sing and play together! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately and subject to availability.) Hands-on play, including a bat-at roller ball, shape spinner, and push buttons help strengthen your baby’s fine motor skills, while the exciting interactive content helps introduce cause and effect. Fisher-Price Linkimals Happy Shapes Hedgehog The Linkimals Happy Shapes Hedgehog is packed with exciting play that grows along with your baby! Younger babies can spin, turn, toggle, and bat the activities on their buddy’s back, or press the light-up buttons to hear songs and phrases about colours, shapes, and numbers. Then older babies can push or pull the hedgehog along for more fun music and sounds. Plus, when Happy Shapes Hedgehog recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play : Early Academics: The hedgehog’s playful songs and phrases introduce your baby to shapes, numbers, and colours. Gross Motor: From sitting up to play, to crawling and pushing, to walking and pulling their pal along, this sweet hedgehog helps your baby’s gross motor skills keep going and growing! Fine Motor: Spinning the roller, turning the butterfly clicker, pressing the toggle, and batting the bead bar isn’t just super fun; these activities help strengthen your baby’s dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Fisher-Price Linkimals Lights & Colors Llama The Linkimals Lights & colours Llama takes classic stacking fun up a notch with colourful lights and exciting music, songs and phrases that introduce your baby to different colours. Just stack the rings on the llama’s neck or press down on the topper to get the party started! Plus, when Lights & colours Llama recognizes other Linkimals friends, they create a synchronized music and light show! (Additional Linkimals toys sold separately.) Where development comes into play: Fine Motor: Grasping and stacking the colourful rings helps strengthen

October 28, 2020

Restoring Hope everyday

‘Do your little bit of good where you can. It’s the little bits of good together that overwhelm the world.’ [Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu] It is said that volunteers don’t get paid, because they are priceless. Volunteering is about caring, empathy, selflessness, generosity, leadership, humanity and fortitude – attributes needed to help rebuild communities. There are so many organisations who rely on volunteers to keep them going, to help make a difference in the lives of the people and communities in which they serve. One such organisation is Restoring Hope based in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. This group of young men and women have made it their mission to give back and they say the rewards make it all worthwhile. Humble beginnings Restoring Hope is a non-profit organisation established in 2015 by Devin Frans, Mikhail Kroutz, Kelly Jacobs and Marlon Saaiman, all young and optimistic about the future and determined to bring about positive change and hope to previously disadvantaged communities. The group now has seven core members, who are working and studying but manage to juggle a schedule around everyone’s ‘free’ time. They carry out a feeding relief scheme and other intervention programmes within the Victoria Lodge and Cafda Village communities in Southfield, assisted by an additional 30 volunteers who help them tackle challenges that face this community on a daily basis. From unemployment and hunger through to drug and alcohol abuse, lack of youth development and gender based violence. The organisation is not formally funded but relies on the generosity of local businesses, organisations, community members and kind hearted Capetonians to keep them going. ‘We make use of whatever donations we receive to support and run our outreach initiatives,’ explains Dale Hendricks, director of Restoring Hope. He says without the key role players, such as the volunteers, Red Cross Disaster Relief, the TFG Group, Blue Ribbon Bread, Peace Jam South Africa, Ocean View CAN, Premier Foods, Pie in the sky Bakery, St. George Home for Girls, Help A Girl South Africa and Rush Extreme Sports (Playstation by Rush) this would not be possible. Covid’s impact The Covid-19 lockdown highlighted and brought about additional challenges for the organisation, especially in terms of feeding the community who were unable to finance a daily meal due to economic challenges. ‘We launched a feeding relief kitchen in the community, providing lunch for 1 500 hungry children and residents each week day during the initial three months of lockdown. This has now been reduced to three meals a week for 100 adults and 40 children,’ says Hendricks. Kids Fellowship One of the greatest needs within the community is the support, mentorship and education of children which is why the ‘Kids Fellowship Program’ was started. This to provide development structure to children ages 2 to 18. ‘The program provides a platform for kids to understand how they can reach their full potential through learning, engagement and expressing themselves through various life skills and recreation activities,’ explains Hendricks. An important part of the Program includes a meal for the 40 children and afternoon clubs held twice a week. Play becomes a plate of food Local children’s indoor playpark and restaurant – Playstation by Rush – has become an important part of the team helping to give children a hand up. ‘We met Devin at Rush, our indoor trampoline park and were so impressed with his passion and vision for helping the local community that we decided to try and help where we could. With the opening of our indoor playpark, aimed at children ages 2 to 13 and located close to the communities Restoring Hope work with, we decided to turn some of the profits from play into plates of food,’ explains Damon Walmsley, GM. ‘Now every Wednesday, our restaurant staff prepares a warm and hearty mince and vegetable stew with rice to help feed the community. ‘Month after month, these guys have been champions for the community and although we are helping in one small way, we want to salute them for the personal sacrifices they make to help others.’ Doing more Restoring Hope have also put other programmes in place to assist the community, some are seasonal, such as the blanket and clothing drive during winter. ‘During the harsh winter we were able to provide over 300 vulnerable and struggling citizens with blankets and food parcels. ‘The Toiletry and Sanitary Pack drive, which formed part of Women’s Month, was aimed at helping women and children who have been victims of abuse and gender based violence,’ says Hendricks. While Playstation continues to provide a weekly meal they are also planning a fun ‘play date’ for the children on the Kids Fellowship Program. The children will be hosted at the venue where they will enjoy two hours of play exploring the adventure maze with its challenging levels, swing bridges, nooks and crannies. Or tackling the 4m climbing wall, cycling on the 40m bike track and sliding down the 6m long slides. For the younger children there’s a little kids’ city and mini-slides. ‘We look forward to opening our play park to Restoring Hope and hosting these kids to some well deserved fun time,’ says Walmsley. If you’d like to assist Restoring Hope in any way contact 078 008 9331 or go to www.restoringhope.co.za.

October 27, 2020

Chicco First Dreams Next2Moon Night-light & Projector

The Chicco First Dreams range is one of the most beloved sleeping aid, nursery toy lines in the world – more especially because they are toys that serve multi-functional purposes and really work when it comes to relaxing babies. All tested in the Chicco Observatory sleep laboratory in Como, Italy, the products are customised to soothe babies and let them drift off to a gentle sleep, as well as turn the nursery into a relaxing environment. Brand new to the line is the First Dreams Next2Moon night-light and projector. Unique and exclusive to Chicco, the night-light works either with, or without a canopy. Easily attachable to most cots, or stand-alone on a bed-side table, the nightlight plays classical and jazz music, whilst projecting soft light onto the canopy which creates a magical environment in the nursery. Available in either pink or blue, the Next2Moon is a beautiful way to get baby to relax at night, as well as fill them with wonder whilst awake. The perfect baby shower gift. The Chicco First Dreams Nest is available now at Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone, Babanino and other retailers

October 26, 2020

How to reward your kids the right way

In an age of materialism and instant gratification, it can be tricky knowing how to reward our children appropriately for a job well done. How do we reward them for tidying their rooms effectively or performing well at a particular task? There are a few ways in which you can reward your child and build their self-esteem. Develop your child’s internal locus of control Naturally, we would love our children to do something well purely for the satisfaction that it brings them in doing so. This is what we, as parents, aim for eventually and is called developing the child’s internal locus of control – in other words, doing something from within because the result feels good. If we build our children’s internal locus of control, they will be more motivated to succeed as they will attribute their success to their own efforts and abilities. However, we all know that to eventually inculcate an internal locus of control in our children, it starts with an external locus of control – in other words, children doing things for rewards. Also read: Encouraging your child to succeed – The do’s and don’ts Praise specific behaviours The most basic form of reward starts early and is one that is easily forgotten, and that is praise. When we praise our children for doing something well, it motivates them to continue trying in that area. There are different forms of recognition, but the most effective is those that describe the behaviour that we want to see the child doing more of, for example: “I love how you started doing your homework without me asking you to.” “I love how you put away all your Lego blocks.” One of the best ways to shape a child’s negative behaviour is by ‘catching them being good’ and then commenting on it as the child starts to try harder to gain more of that positive feedback. Praising the child’s efforts and not the result is an essential part of praising – as again, this motivates children to try harder. Avoid arbitrary praise It is crucial that we don’t just praise willy-nilly, for instance, just telling our children that they are pretty, talented, smart, etc. as that can create a subconscious pressure always to be that way and to become scared of failure if not achieving on that level. That is why praise that describes specific behaviours is so much healthier and more motivating and gives them the positive concept of someone who always tries and, in that way, achieves results. We want our children to learn that rewards are not something that just happens but require some form of input and effort to gain them. Also read: Don’t tell your kids they are smart! Reward desirable behaviour The aim for the parent is to mould a desirable behaviour; the aim for the child is to get something they want, so everybody wins when we reward desirable behaviour. There are several ways in which to do this, including: Star charts are an age-old form of giving rewards as the child must do something consistently to achieve the reward. For younger children, star charts should not go on for longer than five days before the child gets the reward they are working towards, as it can be difficult to sustain the effort. When children are given stars, tokens, or stickers to get to the final goal, it motivates them to continue working towards the goal. Contingency rewarding is also helpful such as the child being allowed to gain or do something when they have done something we require. For instance: “Mom, can I go on my iPad now?” “As soon as your homework is done, you can use the iPad with pleasure.” Quid pro quo rewarding like this is just a shortened form of star charts and teaches children to prioritise by first doing what must be done before doing what they would like to do. This starts to prepare them for the higher grades where there is often far more work and more things to fit in. Extra time on various activities is an easy, useful way to reward our children. Sometimes it can be challenging to think of rewards for our children but giving them extra time in addition to what they may be allowed per day doing something they love like soccer, technology, or screen time is a good incentive. Again, this can work in a quid pro quo way of motivating them to push a little harder to get a little more of what they want. Decide on appropriate rewards The most important thing is to know your child’s currency as that gives you leverage as the parent. Rewarding them with things they already have free access to is not motivating but rewarding them with something they really want is a useful form of motivation. If they hate marshmallows, promising them marshmallows when they have finished the task is useless, so make sure you know what your child loves but be rational. You are not promising a trip to Disney Land for tidying up their room or finishing their homework successfully. However, after successive efforts at doing their homework effectively, they may earn a trip to get ice cream or go to see a movie. Rewards must be appropriate and attuned to your child’s desires, for example: Screen time, special activities or outings are ideal for younger children Airtime or data might be more appropriate for older children Simple rewards can also include: Getting their favourite treat in their lunch box Choosing their favourite dinner Choosing a movie to watch with the family Going somewhere with mom or dad, e.g. the war museum, a skateboard park, taking the dogs for a walk, etc. The rewards listed above are all easy, healthy rewards. The important lesson is that they are working to gain something worthwhile. Also read: Cool ways to beat summer boredom Eventually, our children will move to an internal locus of control where they want

October 23, 2020

Introducing the Thomas & Friends™ Cassia Crane & Cargo Set

Did you know that Thomas & Friends™ is an exciting spin-off of Thomas the Tank Engine which was first published in 1945?! Who doesn’t love the Thomas & Friends™ TV show?! Fisher-Price just have that special knack for bringing fun learning activities to children of all ages. With their history of introducing fun learning activities to babies and children, you can’t go wrong with purchasing Fisher-Price toys for your kids. Their superior quality has seen many Fisher-Price toys being passed down through the generations. Now your preschooler will get the chance to relive some of their favourite moments from the Thomas & Friends™ TV show with this exciting train set from Fisher-Price. Thomas wants to be a Really Useful Engine and help deliver a load of avocados to the docks, but he needs help from his good friend, Cassia. Preschoolers can use the toy crane to grab and load the barrels onto the engine’s cargo car, then flip the switch to send Thomas racing around the railway tracks to make the delivery! This TrackMaster™ battery-powered motorised engine, toy crane, and track pieces are all compatible with other TrackMaster™ track sets for limitless adventures. What’s really cool is that you buy additional track sets which are sold separately and your little train-driver can expand his delivery route. Special Features of this set include : Cassia the crane gets to help Thomas load up and deliver his cargo with this Thomas & Friends™ play-set Crane spins 360 degrees with real-working claw for grabbing, lifting, and loading cargo Send the battery-powered train racing around the railway track to deliver the barrels of avocados to the docks (Motorised engine compatible with all TrackMaster™ and Wood tracks; additional tracks sold separately) Includes Cassia, Thomas motorised engine with cargo car, dock pieces, barrels, and 7 track pieces (Compatible with all TrackMaster™ tracks; additional tracks sold separately.) For preschool children ages 3 years and older

October 23, 2020

The Fisher-Price® Puppy & Zebra Walkers

When you think of educational toys, Fisher-Price® is the first name that comes to mind. Fisher-Price® have been around for 90 years, it’s not surprising that they lead the way in developing educational toys that children around the world just love! As part of the Laugh & Learn® & the Smart Stages™ from Fisher-Price® come the fun learning Puppy & Zebra Walkers. Usually babies start pulling themselves up on furniture at around six months and up. Through their interactions with you, they show you when they just want to be up on two legs walking around. Fisher-Price® Puppy & Zebra Walkers are the perfect toy to buy for them at this time. With exciting hands-on activities that encourage phrases and support your little one whilst they take their first steps. These walkers will have your toddler booming with confidence in no time! Let the Fisher-Price® Puppy & Zebra Walkers introduce your toddler to the alphabet, shapes, colours, counting and so much more! Build those muscles and perfect balance! The Fisher-Price® Puppy & Zebra walker will encourage your baby to reach for and interact with various entertaining activities thus building enough strength to get them to pull themselves up to stand and eventually walk behind the walker.. what a fun way to help them learn to balance themselves perfectly! Be delighted as your little one learns how to activate the music and phrases by pressing buttons or pushing the walker along. They see that their actions can make fun things happen—hey, that’s cause & effect! 2 ways to play as baby grows: sit & play or stand & walk! Push Puppy along for fun music & encouraging phrases 7 hands-on activities! Light-up piano keys & nose, roller, spinner, flip page & more! 75+ songs, sounds & phrases introduce the alphabet, shapes, colours, numbers & more Learning content changes with baby’s age & stage with Smart Stages™ technology

October 22, 2020

Chicco Move & Grow XXL Fantasy Play Mat

Chicco is committed not only to developing senses, cognitive skills and good sleep in their toy ranges, they also have taken fitness and movement into consideration when it comes to babies. Many babies live a sedentary life for the first year and ultimately we as parents would like to see our kids move more and grow healthily. The Chicco Move & Grow range of toys is especially designed to get babies as young as 3 months moving around – at a rate that compliments their personal growth. One of the best ways to get babies moving and discovering their bodies early is with a play mat. A simple mat has been used for generations to allow babies to wriggle and crawl around on whilst either playing with toys or practising tummy time, play mats are a safe and comfy way for baby to learn how to use their bodies. Chicco now introduce the first extra-large playmat so that baby can take up as much space as they like, either at home or outdoors on picnics. The Move & Grow XXL Fantasy play mat is 140x90cm in size and has two rings to conveniently pack up and store after play time. The pattern has been designed by child psychologists in the Chicco Observatory in Como, Italy to help engage, stimulate and entertain baby as they come to realise their colours, animals and numbers. The mats are available in a bright primary coloured pattern or a pink-dominant pattern. The Chicco Move & Grow XXL Fantasy Play Mat is available now at Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone, Babanino and other retailers

October 20, 2020

Convenient and Nutritious Food Pouches for Your Little One When You’re on The Go

For busy parents, there are always those times when you’re on the go, or pressed for time, and you don’t have any homemade baby food on hand. It’s at times like these, when baby food pouches can be a quick and convenient snack for your little one! With no plates, spoons or glass jars needed, you can satisfy your tots appetite on the go whilst being rest assured your little one is getting all the good nutrients they need. Organix has been cooking up scrummy, nutritious baby and toddler meals and snacks since 1992. Making sure little ones eat a healthy varied diet, full of texture and taste from real fruit and veggies is at the core of the brand. When Organix make their foods, they think about little ones growing up to be healthy, independent food explorers. They also set their own standards based in their experience in children’s nutrition, from what goes in the food, to the portion sizes they recommend, so everything is just right for little ones as they grow and develop. Organix pouches, suitable for little ones between the ages of 6 months – 36 months, are a convenient way for babies to explore food on the go – just simple combinations of fruits and grains for a fun taste adventure! When little tums are filled with tasty food you can trust, that’s when the wonder starts. The pouches retail for R32, 49 and are available in six delicious flavours; Just Apple, Pineapple & Coconut, Just Apple, Sweet Potato & Pineapple, Just Mango, Pear & Granola, Just Oat, Apple, Banana, Raspberry & Blueberry, Just Apple, Strawberry & Quinoa, Just Oat, Apricot & Banana. Their No Junk Promise is their stamp of reassurance that you will always find in all of their foods – Always Organic – We promise to only use organic ingredients. Nothing unnecessary – We promise to only use recognisable ingredients that serve a purpose. Setting Standards – We promise to set the best standard in what good food for children should be. Organix pouches are available at Clicks, www.takealot.com and www.babiesafrica.com. Facebook: Organix South Africa Instagram: @organixfoodsa #organixsouthafrica

October 20, 2020

Enjoy the great outdoors with your kids in style

Summer is in the air and If you love all things nature-inspired, why not spend a weekend with the family exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. Swedish brand, Thule creates a range of premium products so that you and your family can fully immerse yourself in your given outdoor activity and get your kids involved too, from hikes, to cycling trails and running trails. The most important thing is to be organised and prepared, and of course have the right gear to make things efficient and easy on the day. For trail runs, Thule’s Glide is a must, as this all-terrain pram has a sleek, lightweight design and is all about comfort for you and your little one. The front wheel swivels for easy maneuverability, plus locks into place for jogging for increased stability, when moving at a fast pace. The extra comfortable handlebar moves to different heights, which means that every jogger in the house is comfortable ― and it provides enough space for a generous kick stride. For added safety, the hand-activated front brake increases braking control on steep terrain, while the rear suspension and padded seats provide a comfortable ride for your little one. The vented top reclines, so that no naps are missed, and the peekaboo window allows you to check on your precious cargo, without disturbing them. In addition, the multi-position canopy protects your little person from any type of weather you might encounter. There’s no need to take an extra bag, as there’s a large storage compartment with a water-resistant cover for all the essentials for you and baby. When you’re all done, simply use one hand to collapse the lightweight sport stroller into a sleek, compact position to lift it into your car. If you prefer hiking with your kids, then the Thule Sapling Elite is an innovative child carrier backpack that at once gives your little one a great view and a comfortable, secure ride. Much like Thule’s hiking backpacks, these carrier backpacks are all about comfort and smart features. The plush, height adjustable, ergonomic seat distributes the child’s weight, while the back panel and hipbelt are quick and easy to adjust and effortlessly transitions between parents – a lifesaver on longer hikes. For added on-the-move flexibility, you can place your child in the carrier from the side or the top. Once they are in, there are even stirrups for them to rest their legs and a sunshade to protect them from the sun. For you, the breathable back panel provides padding and support at critical points, allowing air to circulate around your back, keeping you cool. For hot days, you’ll love the convenient water reservoir pocket, plus you can use the zippered compartment to store other essentials. For added peace of mind, you might want to consider the Thule Sapling Elite, which comes with a mirror and allows you to keep an eye on your precious cargo every step of the way; there’s also a rain cover (sold separately) to ensure that your little one stays dry no matter what the weather. For cycling enthusiasts, your little one can join you on your bike (quite literally) for cycle trails, with Thule’s Yepp Next Mini, a lightweight and stylish front-mounted child bike seat. Ticking boxes for safety, durability and usability, this carrier features of plethora of smart designs. It has rubberised shoulder pads to prevent the straps from sliding down your child’s arm, while foot straps keep the child’s feet and legs out of danger. There’s also a two-handed childproof safety buckle, which means that your clever little munchkin will never be able to unbuckle the straps by accident. The shock absorbing materials in the padded seat ensure a safe and comfortable ride for your little one – and for extra comfort, there’s a handlebar for them to place their hands on. If needed, the carrier can be equipped with a windscreen too. Besides being the easiest way to get your toddler excited about bikes and cycling from a very young age, this child bike carrier is also an investment, as it comes with adjustable footrests and straps to use during those years when newly sized clothes are a given every few months. Best of all, the seat is easy to clean and quick to mount and dismount from your bike. https://www.thulestore.co.za

October 15, 2020

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