Toddler - Parenting Hub

Advice from the experts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coping with Anxiety

What could happen if we gave each person the tools to diminish their anxiety, reduce their fears and build a toolbox to achieve true resilience? Anxiety is a normal part of life, but during the recent Covid-19 pandemic, many people are more worried, concerned and/or depressed than in normal circumstances. In order to find the ways to move forward and manage the stresses that recent circumstances have thrown at us, we need to better understand what anxiety is. “I’ve always described it as a gnawing, tightness in your stomach and even in your whole body. It’s a weird feeling, because you can’t really pin it down. You know you feel worried, but you’re not sure about what. For me anxiety is: an underlying fear of not knowing what the future holds, or what the outcome of a situation will be”, says Dr Greg Pienaar, Principal of The Bridge School for Assisted Learning in Beverley, Sandton. Anxiety is a normal reaction to danger, the body’s automatic fight-or-flight response that is triggered when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a challenging situation An overwhelming number of questions may resonate with us during these circumstances and the pandemic that causes an anxious feeling in the pit of our stomach. They include: What does the future hold? Will we ever get beyond the Coivid-19 virus? What will life be like after… Will we go back to “normal”? What if we get sick? What if a loved one gets sick? What if a lot of people get sick? Will we survive? Am I safe at school? “I want to give you some ideas about coping with anxiety”, Dr Pienaar continues. There are many models out there which refer to methods of coping with anxiety. One of the most famous models is the ‘Three Basic Coping Styles model’ (Endler 1997, and Folkman and Lazarus, 1986): Task-oriented (time-outs, eat well-balanced meals, count to ten slowly, limit alcohol and caffeine, take deep breaths, humour, enough sleep and other similar tasks). Emotion-oriented (meditation, distracting oneself, releasing pent-up emotions). Avoidance-oriented (staying away from triggers where possible, drug or alcohol abuse, severe procrastination). (psychologytoday.com) Many models contain similar ideas but might not be the most suitable for everyone. Thus, consult an expert that could work with you on the different methodologies to find the best practice for you. In the meantime, we look at the following steps that may assist you in this pressurised time One of the best ways of coping with anxiety relates to music. Listening to music, finding appropriate songs for a specific mood. It is really strange that sometimes when you’re feeling down, to listen to sad songs can actually make you feel better. Or hearing a particularly “up” song can make you feel worse? Although at other times listening to particular songs or a specific playlist can make you feel better? For example, here is a “Coping with Covid top 5” playlist. These are songs which currently resonate with me: “I’m Not Over” Carolina Liar (Actually about not being over a girl in a relationship, but for me it’s about not being over The World and all the beautiful things in it, just yet). “Carry the Weight” (acoustic version) Denison Witmer (About “carrying the weight of anybody who needs help, especially at the moment). “Times Like These” (acoustic version) Foo Fighters (Who knew there would be times like these). “What a Wonderful World” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Just love this version of how beautiful the world could be…) “Beautiful Day” U2 (Just a reminder about this fact is sometimes required). “Listening to music can definitely make us feel better about the world. The ugliness of the world can melt away, and the important things can rise up: friends, finding beauty in different places or things, sharing, closeness. Especially during Covid 19, having to look at what is really important in life”, says Dr Pienaar However, everybody will have their own songs, or music. Part of the journey will be finding the songs of your life, or the music which is soothing to your soul and assists with anxiety. Enjoy the music. Exercise: If you love running or riding or swimming, this is easy and really helps. However, what if you don’t like exercising? The last thing you want to do when you feel anxious or depressed is to exercise. It’s strange, but that’s when it is the most effective. To force yourself to exercise in those moments will be highly beneficial to you. Walking, jogging, riding, swimming, dancing, stretching, yoga, any exercise. They talk about the release of “endorphins” (feel good hormones) when you exercise, often these can help with easing anxiety. However, be mindful that it won’t help you, if exercising makes you feel bad, frustrated and/or unfit. Another way of coping is to develop a mantra A mantra is a positive saying, expression or motto to live by, that you can use to inspire or motivate yourself. Just by saying it often enough can help with coping with anxiety. “My personal mantra has become ‘I’m Not Over the World’, says …. My mantra used to be “Never, ever, give up”. Develop your own mantra, or use somebody else’s if it fits your world: “It’s going to be ok”, “This is completely understandable”, “The sun will come out tomorrow, or even “I’m doing the best I can”, and possibly in these times: “It is, what it is”. It’s amazing but just the act of talking to someone else is extremely important to assist you to organise your thought processes and help alleviate anxiety. It was once said: “A problem shared is a problem halved…”. It’s almost as if by sharing an issue, someone else hears it, and even if they don’t have answers, they are at least hearing and understanding your anxiety. Drawing, writing, painting, colouring, being creative and innovative can help with calming the anxieties that you are feeling. No-one has to see what you paint or write. It’s more about being

October 15, 2020

Chicco Smart2Play 2-in1 Stacking Cups & Sort & Beat Cube

Chicco has been revolutionising children’s play time for years with small, but effective adjustments to their toy-making thought process by incorporating actions that encourage children to use their cognitive skills to play helps develop the brain and help babies learn problem-solving skills fast. The Smart2Play range is essentially a developmental range from Chicco that aims at bringing that little something else to children’s playtime. Two new items for 2020 include the 2-in1 Stacking Cups and the Sort & Beat Cube. Stacking Cups have been a firm favourite with children for generations and the basic learning skills that are applied whilst stacking from biggest to smallest, in correct numerical numbers helps baby learn early about puzzle-solving and numbers. With 2 games to play, the stacking cups will keep babies entertained from as young as 6 months, for a long time to come. The Sort & Beat Cube is a large cube puzzle that teaches children about shapes, and cause and effect. Suitable from 1 years of age, the cube has two games to play that will develop their cognitive skills, logical association and hand-eye co-ordination. An amusing and creative experience, the shape-sorting on the sides of the cube and hammering activity of the 2 coloured balls keeps baby laughing whilst learning. The Chicco Smart2Play 2-in1 stacking Cups and Sort & Beat Cube are both available now at Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone, Babanino and other retailers

October 13, 2020

New Study Shows That Playing With Dolls Allows Children To Develop Empathy And Social Processing Skills

Today, Barbie®, and a team of neuroscientists from Cardiff University, announces findings of a new study conducted using neuroscience for the first time to explore the positive impact doll play has on children, bringing to light new evidence that doll play activates brain regions that allow children to develop empathy and social information processing skills, even when playing by themselves. Over the past 18 months, senior lecturer Dr. Sarah Gerson and colleagues at Cardiff University’s Centre for Human Developmental Science have used neuroimaging technology to provide the first indications of the benefits of doll play at a brain level. Through monitoring the brain activity of 33 children* between the ages of 4 and 8, as they played with a range of Barbie dolls, the team found that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), a region of the brain associated with social information processing such as empathy, was activated even when the child was playing on their own. These benefits of solo doll play were shown to be equal for both boys and girls. Dr. Gerson explains: “This is a completely new finding. We use this area of the brain when we think about other people, especially when we think about another person’s thoughts or feelings. Dolls encourage them to create their own little imaginary worlds, as opposed to say, problem-solving or building games. They encourage children to think about other people and how they might interact with each other. The fact that we saw the pSTS to be active in our study shows that playing with dolls is helping them rehearse some of the social skills they will need in later life. Because this brain region has been shown to play a similar role in supporting empathy and social processing across six continents, these findings are likely to be country agnostic”. To gather the data for the study, the children’s play was split into different sections so the Cardiff team could capture the brain activity relating to each other kind of play separately: playing with the dolls on their own; playing with the dolls together with another person (the research assistant); playing with the tablet game on their own and playing with the tablet game along with another person (the research assistant). The dolls used included a diverse range of Barbie dolls and play sets, with all Barbie dolls and sets returned to starting positions before each child began their test to ensure consistency of experience. Tablet play was carried out using games that allow children to engage with open and creative play (rather than a rule or goal-based games) to provide a similar play experience to doll play. The findings of the study show that when children played alone with dolls, they showed the same levels of activation of the pSTS as they do when playing with others. Another finding of the study is that when children were left to play tablet games on their own, there was far less activation of the pSTS, even though the games involved a considerable creative element. To understand the relevancy of these neuroscience findings, Barbie independently commissioned a global survey** that asked more than 15,000 parents of children in 22 countries. Results of this showed 91 percent of parents ranked empathy as a key social skill they would like their child to develop, but only 26 percent were aware that doll play could help their child develop these skills. During this time at home, parents are increasingly worried about ensuring their child is developing social development skills, with more than two-thirds (70 percent) saying they are concerned about how this isolation might affect their child and how their child interacts with others. Similarly, 74 percent of parents are more likely to encourage their child to play with a toy if they knew it was proven to help their child develop social and emotional skills, like empathy. “As leaders in the dolls category, we’ve always known that doll play has a positive impact on kids, but up until now, we have not had neuroscientific data that demonstrates these benefits,” says Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel. “The findings of this research highlights that playing with dolls, such as Barbie, offers positive benefits in preparing children for the future through nurturing social skills like empathy. As we continue to inspire the limitless potential in every child, we are proud to offer dolls that encourage skills we know are highly valued by parents and are determinants in children’s future emotional, academic, and social success.” Barbie will be supporting these findings with an online hub, Barbie.com/Benefits, featuring resources for parents, caregivers, and children, to assist them in enhancing and applying their social processing skills. These resources have been developed alongside leading empathy expert, writer, and educational psychologist, Dr. Michele Borba. Michele Borba says: “The latest scientific findings from Cardiff University and Barbie are extraordinary and so relevant to the times we are living, given the limited social interaction our children can have. It’s been shown that children who have developed empathy and social skills early in life can have better grades, stay in school longer and make healthier choices overall. Empathetic children might also be more likely to stand up for a child being bullied and try to engage and resolve the conflict. Understanding that kids can help develop these skills through playing with dolls like Barbie, is remarkable and a helpful tool for parents.” The results of the study are published today in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience as ‘Exploring the Benefits of Doll Play through Neuroscience.’ Recognising that this study is a first step towards understanding the positive impact of doll play with further research required to build on these initial findings, Dr. Sarah Gerson and the Cardiff University team along with Mattel, have committed to further neuroscience studies in 2021.

October 12, 2020

The link between storytelling and empathy

How we can create more empathetic children by reading to them Bedtime stories. Day time stories. Life time stories. However you tell them, storytelling with your children can be an incredibly powerful tool to helping them gain new perspectives and create shared understanding with those around them. But why is it that stories drive our empathy up and why should we care? As the world struggles through a thirty-year decline in empathy levels, impacting our emotional health, levels of bullying in schools and even frequency of violence, we can’t help but look to the next generation to drive a far deeper sense of empathy between all of us. Deep down we know that our world demands this of us and that we have no choice but to rebuild the connections that evolution bound us to as a pro social society. Studies have now shown that from two years of age, children start to show genuine empathy; understanding how other people feel even when they don’t feel the same way that they do. When it comes to bringing up empathetic young humans, there are many ways we can empower our children to truly develop the emotional intelligence our world needs. At its core, the empathetic role modelling we apply at home is probably the most important of these. However, beyond this our commitment to frequently reading stories to our small people has a far deeper relevance than the tales within the books we choose. Emotional simulation and imagination through storytelling is the foundation for our children’s ability to evolve their capacity to empathise and truly understand others. It allows them to make the leap from their own beautifully self-centered world to recognising that others may feel distinctly different to them – and that recognising this is well within our reach and role. Academic research now shows that reading, or being read to, actually changes the neuro pathways in our brain – it quite literally alters the way we process and think. Our ability to instigate children’s’ imaginations and help them ‘feel’ how others experience the world is a superpower us parents have. And all it takes is a few books to get this started. The reality is that storytelling is extremely powerful for all social creatures and for all of modern civilisation we have been sharing and learning through this medium. From drawings on cave walls to the first religious texts and the first children’s tales homed in books for children in the 1740’s, we have always known that stories positively impact society. Telling our children stories allows them to rapidly understand people’s emotions and realities, bringing the brains of a generation of our children together. 3 compelling reasons why you should read more to your children: Stories transport us and allow children to imagine how another sees the world by feeling as the character does. Stories foster children’s understanding of prosocial behaviours and our ability as humans to work together as part of a group. Stories can be used to break down bias, and foster inclusivity. The power of storytelling in building our humanity and society shouldn’t ever be denigrated to a pre-bedtime routine alone. In April 2020, mid the world’s worst global pandemic in recent history, Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, made the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy qualified ‘Essential Workers.’ As this news story unfolded across the planet we saw the belief in the power of storytelling for our children at an unpreceded level. When the leaders of entire countries are imapacting policy to ensure that storytelling and imagination remain at the top of the national agenda – and that our children remain connected to the power of empathising with others (fictional or otherwise) we know that we are onto something that can truly change the face of our, and our children’s, future. By Mimi Nicklin. Mimi Nicklin hosts Empathy for Breakfast, a weekly breakfast show, and a podcast, Secrets of the Gap. She is also a mom and an author, and you can pre-order her debut book, Softening the Edge here.

October 12, 2020

Get total protection for everyday oral hygiene with Biorepair®

The health of your mouth is important at every stage of your life and there’s no better time to pay extra attention to your dental routine. With two of the world’s most common health problems affecting the mouth – cavities and gum disease, it really is in your best interest to practice good oral hygiene. Not only does it ensure a beautiful smile, but it is good for your health. Just like adults, it is important for little ones to look after their teeth too. Children’s tooth enamel is thinner and more vulnerable than an adult’s. It is important to remineralise it to defend it from the acid attacks caused by sugar. Another important step to maintaining good oral hygiene is daily flossing. Both interdental brushes and floss penetrate the places your toothbrush cannot reach, protecting against the formation of the dental plaque that causes cavities and inflamed gums. Biorepair®, the first and only toothpaste in the world that repairs tooth enamel based on the patented microRepair® technology (zinc-substituted-carbonate-hydroxyapatite crystals) offers total protection for everyday oral hygiene. It repairs the enamel surface and protects it from cavities plaque and tartar build-up. What are microRepair® particles? A MicroRepair® particle is very similar to the composition of tooth enamel. This similarity gives microRepair® a biomimetic property, allowing the micro-particles to integrate permanently with tooth enamel and dentine, no matter the condition of the mouth, thus repairing enamel and dentine evenly and naturally. The microRepair® particles form an even coating on the tooth surface, penetrating cracks in the enamel and chemically binding to it, thus repairing and remineralising them. From total protection, and sensitive teeth to gum protection and teeth whitening, the Biorepair® range of oral care products will take care of all your oral hygiene concerns. Biorepair® Gum Protection Mouthwash (R129.99) is the only high-density formula with microRepair® that provides greater adhesion to the teeth. It helps fight gum disease, preventing bleeding and inflammation of the gums, promotes tissue healing and strengthens gums thanks to its hydrating and protective properties. It also prevents plaque and tartar build-up, provides an antioxidant and protective function for the oral mucosa and offers relief for gums thanks to the astringent and soothing properties of the natural ingredients. Biorepair® Fast Sensitive Repair Toothpaste (R79.99) reduces dentinal sensitivity immediately. It closes the tubules, preventing thermal stimuli from reaching the tooth, prevents enamel erosion and the loss of natural tooth whiteness. Biorepair® Total Protective Repair Toothpaste (R74.99) repairs the enamel surface, protecting against plaque, tartar build-up and cavities. Biorepair® Pro White Toothpaste (R74.99) returns the natural white of your smile. It protects the enamel from the daily erosion process, restores the natural whiteness of teeth and uses an innovative PVP whitening technology. Biorepair® Gum Protection Toothpaste (R74.99) protects and strengthens sensitive gums. It repairs and regenerates gingival tissues, allows for antibacterial and anti-plaque action and has astringent and soothing properties. Biorepair® KidsToothpaste (R49.95) contains MicroRepair®, which strengthens tooth enamel and promotes the proper development of healthy permanent teeth. Biorepair® Junior 7-14 Toothpaste (R49.95) contains MicroRepair®, which strengthens and protects tooth enamel from cavities while they are developing and is ideal for remineralising the erosion caused by braces. With the addition of the antioxidant Vitamin E, it helps to maintain healthy gums. Biorepair® Interdental Brushes (R79.99) are made with the innovative SELFCLEANING POLYMER technology and microRepair®, particles made up of the same substance as enamel, which penetrate into places toothbrushes cannot reach. Biorepair® Floss (R69.99) reaches where brushing cannot. The floss features microRepair particles, which are made from the same substance as tooth enamel, helping maintain tooth integrity. Exclusive to selected Clicks stores.

October 9, 2020

Chicco First Dreams Nest

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. A new favourite from First Dreams is the Nest. Available in either soft pink or baby blue, the padded cushion nest is the perfect nursery item to cuddle baby during nap time from 2 months old. As the baby grows, the item can be used for tummy time activities and abdominal strengthening, and eventually a firm back support during sitting. The padded sides safely prevent baby from rolling over, while the toys, teethers and mirror on the sides provide stimulation for the senses. It also has a musical box to play soft classical music, as well as shining lights for your little ones amusement. All in all, the Nest provides baby with a comfy, cuddly playpen that can be used in their crib, on your bed, or on the floor. The Chicco First Dreams Nest is available now at Takealot, Loot, The Kid Zone, Babanino and other retailers

October 8, 2020

Birthday fun!

Kids love birthdays. Not only because it usually signals spoils and presents but they adorably cannot wait to get older. With each year comes more opportunity and freedom. Unlike adults they often ‘round up’ their age, proudly saying ‘I’m nearly 5’, when they are still quite a few sleeps away from the actual day. For adults, these birthdays can be a little more daunting, especially parents who try hard to make their child’s birthday a special and memorable event. It’s the stress of deciding who to invite, what food to serve, the party games, a theme and cake, decorations … not to mention budget. A starting point for any party planning is deciding on a date and then setting a budget. Remember, that there are plenty of fun and inexpensive ways to make a party entertaining. Once you know your budget you can decide on a venue, the number of children you can invite, set a theme, design invitations and sort out entertainment. Catering can be tricky, especially with allergies and dietary requirements, so it’s best to make sure the guests let you know if they have food preferences. If you have a child’s birthday approaching and are finding even the prospect of this ‘to do’ list too overwhelming, perhaps you should consider using a venue that offers a comprehensive party service. There are loads of child-friendly venues that host kiddies parties. One of the newest on the block in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs is Playstation by Rush – an indoor adventure park for children aged 2 to 13. Playstation has a dedicated event organiser and also allocates a party host to make sure things run smoothly and the kids have the best time. Why not opt for the simple, no-fuss but full of fun birthday party at a suitable venue …without feeling guilty? Fuss-free fun Playstation has two private party rooms that can accommodate from 5 (minimum) to 20. It’s about more than just good food, cake and fun. It’s about family and friends sharing special moments without having the worry of organising the party! It’s simply a case of showing up and enjoying the occasion. There are three party plan options, either catered or self-catered. This includes two hours of play, party packs for the little guests and a gift for the guest of honour. The team sort out everything from the setup to the fun and catering. And of course they clean up afterward. No mess, no fuss, for you! Entertainment galore And to keep the kiddies busy there is loads of action and something for everyone. The adventure maze is a world of challenging levels, swing bridges and lots of nooks and crannies. There’s a 4m climbing wall and a 40m bike track – you can bring your child’s own bike or borrow one from the park so they can race around and try to beat the clock. For younger children there’s the little kids’ city and mini-slides. But one of the highlights, which even adults enjoy, are the super 6m long slides, definitely for the brave hearted! A thumbs up Recently the playpark received a high five from a mom who hosted a party and posted her FB review: ‘What a wonderful 5th party at Playstation by Rush. The kids had a ball. They took care of everything from start to finish. Hassle free and you return to a clean house.’ General Manager, Damon Walmsley, who is a father of 3-year old twins says that the party offering is designed to allow parents time to enjoy their children’s parties. ‘My kids are only just three but I know how stressed my wife and I were hosting their first two parties. We were so busy keeping an eye on everyone, making sure the kids were having fun, that there was enough food, we hardly got to share in the experience. ‘But their 3rd birthday was held at Playstation and what a difference. We were able to enjoy the time with our kids and their friends. Parents of the friends didn’t ‘drop and go’ but stayed to enjoy some good food in the restaurant while their kids enjoyed the party.’ So, end those sleepless nights about party planning … as a parent you too can tap into your inner child and count down the sleeps knowing everything is under control! For more information on the party plan options available from Playstation go to www.playstation.rushsa.co.za

October 7, 2020

TEACHING YOUR KIDS TO GO GREEN

– The importance schooling children to recycle and care for their environment – From a tender age, we’re filling our children’s absorbent minds with need–to-know information. As parents, our goal is for perfect manners to become second nature, and for important habits to be instilled as early as possible – like brushing teeth, packing away toys and putting on seatbelts. As parents, we have the opportunity to help develop a generation of eco-warriors. We teach our children to say please and thank you, we tell them not to talk to strangers, not to litter, and so many other small yet essential life skills that we don’t even consciously think about. Why then should lessons in environmental protection and recycling be any different? The future of recycling lies in the hands of our youth, and these are also the individuals who will carry the burden of higher carbon footprints if it is not reduced. The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) consists of a team dedicated to increasing glass recycling in South Africa. TGRC is passionate about ensuring every South African realises the value of recycling glass and actively embraces this practice. It’s up to us to empower our children by educating them as to the positive effect that recycling will have on our environment, and how they can make a difference. To ensure that your family gets as green as possible this month, the following tips will help to keep you on top of your ‘green game’: To find a glass bank in your area, visit the Glass Recycling Company website www.tgrc.co.za or you can also follow TGRC on Twitter (@TGRC), or on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheGlassRecyclingCo Recycle all glass containers – not just beverage bottles. Containers which hold food and are made of glass are all recyclable Explain to your family what is recyclable and what is not. For example, light bulbs and cookware such as “Pyrex”, light bulbs, laboratory glass, windshields and window pane glass are NOT recyclable. They have different properties that can contaminate a recyclable load of glass Reuse old containers – they are great for storing paint, crayons, buttons and arts and crafts tools such as paint brushes, rulers and much more Plan your trips to the bottle banks to fit into your daily schedule – it will become part of your routine rather than a chore! Take your children along with you and show them how and where to put their bottles In South Africa, it is not necessary to wash glass before placing it into glass banks and in addition to this, we don’t need to separate different coloured glass into separate banks. All in all – recycling is very easy Encourage your child’s school to participate in TGRC’s Schools Competition by completing the application form on the website – Entry form There’s no excuse – once you’ve decided to do it, recycling glass is easy and should leave you with a spring in your step! The benefits of glass recycling There are many reasons to love glass; it’s the healthiest packaging solution as it is inert, it preserves the flavour of food and drink, can be recycled over and over again, and is a beautiful, natural substance. The benefits of using glass packaging are endless. Glass is synonymous with quality and its many characteristics, from the different textures, its clarity and striking colours, have led to the beautiful packaging becoming iconic and even collectable. The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC) has a heart for glass and so should you! To better convince South Africans of this, TGRC showcases five reasons to have a heart for glass: Glass is made of natural substances and does affect quality of the contents it contains. Glass bottles can be returned and refilled repeatedly Returnable glass bottles are sterilised and refilled. Certain returnable glass bottles can be taken back to your retailer, after which they are refilled by the beverage manufacture. Returnable bottles include quart beer bottles, glass cool drink bottles and even many of the bottles used for spirits and liquor. Glass is easily reused Jars and bottles are great as vases or décor items, and can be cleverly crafted as creative candle holders; Glass is also ideal for storing food items and your arts and crafts supplies. Glass is 100% recyclable This means glass can be recycled endlessly, in fact every new glass bottle and jar made in our country contains over 40% recycled glass! Glass is timeless and elegant Ever since the first glass bottles and jars were handcrafted, glass has become the only packaging type that inspires consumers to showcase it in their own homes for its aesthetic appeal.

October 6, 2020

Play Based Learning in the Heart of Bryanston

Why Play based learning? Simply put, children (and adults) learn through play, developing the whole child holistically. Play based learning is a type of early childhood education based on child-led and open-ended play. This provides a framework for learning where children can organise and make sense of the world around them. It is a voluntary and enjoyable activity with no purpose or end goal. If you are thinking ‘mud kitchens’ or fantasy play or finger painting, you are on the right track. Children engage in play on their own and explore different materials; they play with each other and use materials to represent other objects (symbolic play) which holds great value in developing imagination, cognitive skills and social competence. One of the elements of play based learning is it encourages the development of language skills. By interacting with their peers they develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills. The context of play allows this to happen in a natural way and learning is amplified as it is enjoyable and relevant to the child’s interests. Music and rhyme supports the development of pre-literacy skills such as listening skills and sound recognition, laying the foundations for reading and basic literacy. It also helps to develop their memorisation skills and their ability to differentiate sounds. The development of social and emotional skills is crucial to the development and learning of a child. Engagement in play is closely associated to the development of these skills as children share social experiences and play co-operative games. Think team work and cooperation, collaborative planning, expressing ideas. It develops a sense of belonging. Emotional competence and empathy are developed through play as they learn about feelings, emotions and motivation of others. Engaging in dramatized play demonstrates ways of caring and showing empathy. Fantasy play is a vehicle for a child to make sense of the world around them and to try to understand their emotions. It fosters creativity and imagination, traits that are vital in the modern world. Using their imagination, they are able to problem solve and find solutions to a variety of problems. This in turn develops a natural curiosity and improved potential for learning in later life. Imagination is all about symbols; laundry baskets become a car or a stick a sword and so on. Understanding symbols is key to reading and writing as letters are symbols. The same would apply to mathematical concepts and numbers. Playing in the mud kitchen or baking; imagine all the measuring and filling and emptying, too much or too little, how many, too thick or too thin, too big or too small and so on; Thus developing all the pre-maths skills. Basic scientific concepts are developed through play, for example, what happens when you stack block on top of another or balancing one side with the other to make it stand or what does the feather or a bird feel like or the shell of a tortoise. Physical development refers to both fine and gross motor development and how a child uses their body. Through play children build physical strength, coordination, balance, position of their bodies in space, fine motor coordination and manipulation, hand eye coordination and foot eye coordination. Running, jumping, climbing, swinging, ball games and so on. They get a healthy amount of exercise. Children are exposed to so many different tactile experiences through their play; The feeling of wood, sand, soft toys, water, paint and more. These sensory experiences are important for the development of the neural pathways and their sensory integration system. Art and play also include many sensory experiences. Creative activities which are process focused, have no rules to guide the children as there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to create thereby allowing them to express their ideas in a way they want to and they feel successful no matter what they make. During this process there is problem solving, sequential organising, logical thinking visual perceptual and many more skills being developed. “A considerable amount of research in the field of play-based learning is indicative of the profound importance of play on the overall development of a child. Playing helps the brain develop cognitive abilities, establish new neural connections, and make us more intelligent in multiple aspects at once. It improves the ability to perceive others emotional states and adapt to ever changing circumstances” It’s important that when a child gets to school they are comfortable in a school setting, comfortable engaging with other children and excited to learn. Emotional learning is as important, if not more, as academic skills learning. This is what they will acquire in a play-based program.

October 5, 2020

Child Pedestrian Safety

The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) annually treats approximately 7500 children for injuries such as burns, falls and transport-related injuries. For every child death as a result of injury, hundreds more are hospitalized, thousands of emergency department visits and unknown numbers of clinic and doctors’ visits. Many children survive their injuries with temporary or permanent, life changing disabilities. Head injuries are far more common than we think, with children often experiencing the consequences long after the injury occurred. There is little focus on these injuries despite injury being the number one killer of young children in our communities in South Africa. The majority of these injuries are preventable. During 2019, approximately 6568 children were treated at the RCWMCH Trauma Unit, on average 18 children per day. 771 children were treated for traffic related injuries. Pedestrian injuries accounted for 72% of all traffic injuries. 71% of these pedestrians were aged between 5 and 12 years, and 39% under 4 years. ChildSafe recommends teaching children the following tips:

October 2, 2020

Preventing falls in children

The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) annually treats approximately 7500 children for injuries which are preventable. For every child death as a result of injury, many more are hospitalized, hundreds of emergency department visits and thousands of clinic and doctors’ visits. Many children surviving their injuries sustain temporary or permanent, life changing disabilities. There is little focus on these injuries despite injury being the number one killer of young children in our communities in South Africa. Children are naturally curious and while exploring the world around them, they will fall. Not all falls require treatment; however, many children sustain injuries so serious that it requires treatment or hospitalization. Falls are the number one cause of childhood injury seen at RCWMCH, accounting for nearly half of all injuries. Over 2 819 children were treated for serious falls, a 5% more than 2018. Falls accounted for 60% of head injuries. Head injuries are far more common than expected. The RCWMCH treated 763 children for head injuries. Often it is ignored and children suffer the consequences later in school and later in their work lives. Children aged 0 to 5 years were at greater risk of fall-related injuries. 64% of these falls took place at home, 17% at playgrounds and 16% at schools. Children 0 to 4 were at greater risk of falls at home and age group 5 to 12 years was at greater risk of falling at school and on playgrounds. “From the moment your baby starts to crawl, the world is a magical place filled with new adventures and discoveries, says Yolande Baker, Executive Director of ChildSafe. “From a child’s perspective, everything is a potential mountain to climb (that giant bookshelf), obstacle to overcome (those pesky stairs) or mysterious place to investigate (anywhere beyond the safety gate). Little bumps will happen, but ChildSafe is here to help so these brave expeditions don’t result in something more serious”. The most common causes of falls are: Tripping and falling at ground level, Falling off furniture, stairs, beds, walls and trees at higher level; Falling out windows and balcony doors Falling from baby walkers and mobiles, Falling off scooters, roller blades, bikes and skateboards are mobile risks; Falling in the playground off swings, jungle gyms, see saws, slides and trampolines; Falling from arms, especially from arms of siblings, or if mother should fall asleep when feeding or holding baby Children are vulnerable to falls and other injuries because their growing brains do are not fully yet able to recognize and assess their own risk to injury. Degrees of dependence, activities and risk behaviors all change substantially as they grow older As children develop, their curiosity and wish to experiment are not always matched by the capacity to understand or to respond to danger. Due to this lack of experience, children need to be shown and helped at every stage of their development, whether it’s crawling, walking or running. Supervision is key to child injury prevention. A challenge for parents is how to make their homes, including yards and gardens safer to prevent falls. Stages of child development From the first days of life, we need to protect children from serious injuries. The different developmental stages need to be understood and considered when thinking about the level of supervision and care needed. For the first few years, children need 100% supervision by parents and adults. From about six months of age early signs of motor development appear with sitting up, rolling over, and crawling, and pulling to stand. When baby is awake and moving about careful supervision is necessary at all times. Children under 11/12yrs should not be left in charge of baby because they lack experience and easily lose concentration. A cot, play pen or a safe enclosure is best for safety when mother is busy. Safe cots, car seats, play areas & traditional back-carrying Mother needs to be confident that baby is safe in bed, and for this a cot with sides is recommended. The cot can be used as a safe place at other times too, when mother visits the bathroom, hangs washing, or is busy in the kitchen. Falls at this early stage need to be prevented as head injuries are highly dangerous and can cause permanent developmental and physical injury. As baby grows, time needs to be set aside for playing together so that falls can be anticipated and prevented. High chairs for meal times are safe zones and prevent falls from heights when baby is strapped in. Using a high chair can remove a baby from other dangers at the table like hot food and drink. On trips in the car, however short, baby should be strapped into a car seat which is correct for size and age. Falls from car seats occur on route to the car and inside the car if baby is not carefully strapped in at all times. Baby walkers can be dangerous and are not recommended. They place the baby in situations of risk, by increasing height and mobility. From the walking ring baby can reach knobs and switches and kettle cords, stairs and steps. Traditional back-carrying is a safe zone for babies both in the home and outside. Development stage 1-2 years To prevent falls at 1-2 years when baby is starting to move about and explore, homes need to be cleared of obstacles such as loose carpets and slippery floors, stairs need gates and windows bars. A play pen at this stage is a safe zone for play to continue when mother is busy and to prevent falls. Prams and pushchairs may be used for outings and shopping, but to prevent falls baby needs to be strapped in at all times. Development stage 2-3 years The risk of falls increases as a child becomes more mobile. Children are quick and unpredictable. Climbing onto furniture and beds should be anticipated and prevented. Children are not ready for bunk beds at this stage. Development stage 3-6years By now

September 30, 2020

Childhood Cancer impacting South African families

Nothing can fully prepare you for the horrific news that your child has been diagnosed with cancer – a sad reality for many South African parents. Statistics show that there are currently 1000 children under the age of 15 diagnosed with cancer each year. According to Laurence Hillman, CEO at 1Life: “What’s also horrifying is that half of the children who contract cancer in South Africa, are never diagnosed.” The international Agency for research on cancer (IARC), reported that the worldwide incidence of childhood cancer is increasing, from the 165 000 cases reported annually to 215 000 cases for children who are 14 years and younger and 85 000 cases reported for 15 – 19 year olds. Globally, childhood and adolescent cancer is threatening to overtake infectious diseases, as one of the highest causes of disease-related mortality in children. While survival rates in high-income countries reach an average of 84% and are steadily improving even in less-resourced areas of the world, South Africa is still well below the rate of developed countries as well as below the World Health Organisation’s survival goal of at least 60%. South Africa’s survival rate has improved over the last 5 years and is around 55%. This is concerning and points out a dire need for parents to not only look out for early warning signs of possible cancers, to improve survival rates, but also to consider what would happen if their child were diagnosed with a childhood cancer. Early identification can save lives According to CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa parents should use the Siluan early warning signs of childhood cancer and keep an eye out for the following, which could be early warning signs that need to be checked out by a professional. Keep in mind that even if your child is experiencing some of these symptoms, it doesn’t automatically mean they have cancer, which is why a doctor’s opinion is vital in diagnosis. Siluan Early Warning Sign of Childhood Cancer: S – Seek medical help early for persistent symptoms I – Eye: A white spot in the eye, a new squint, new blindness, or a bulging eyeball L- Lump: Any lumps should be investigated. Lumps in the abdomen and pelvis, head and neck, limbs, testes, and glands U- Unexplained: Prolonged fever over two weeks, loss of weight, pallor, fatigue, easy bruising, or bleeding A – Aching: Bones, joints, back and easy fractures N- Neurological signs: Change or deterioration in walk, balance or speech, regression of milestones, headaches for more than a week with or without vomiting, enlarging head. “Many people don’t know that children can get cancer. It is a topic most people avoid and feel uncomfortable talking about but it is an important one and the sooner we speak up and create stronger awareness, the more children can be saved” says, Adri Ludick, CHOC Interim National Team Leader and Programme Development Manager. The financial implications of childhood cancers “Just like cancer, prevention is better than cure, and as such, it is important that you consider ways in which to not only identify how to protect your child’s wellbeing by early detection and treatment but that you too consider your finances and the impact of potential healthcare costs should they contract the disease,” says Hillman. If your child has been diagnosed with cancer, your priority will always be to get them the best treatment possible. However, have you considered how you will pay for this treatment as well as the extra expenses that come with the illness such as transportation, specialist consultations, treatments that aren’t covered by medical aid and child are for other children in your family while you care for your ill child? Or what if you had to take unpaid time off work or quit your job because of treatment schedules – which can leave a serious dent in your family’s financial stability and can have long term impacts on the entire family. “Parents can ensure they have the right financial management tools in place that ensure the provision of adequate financial resources to support them through this very difficult time – things such as a good medical aid, a financial plan and long term insurance covers like a dread disease policy specifically for children, are crucial in this financial mix, should the worst happen,” continues Hillman. For example, there are policies on the market that cover more than one child on one policy, for majority of childhood cancers and offer additional value adds to make the family more comfortable during this time – benefits such as cancer coaching consultations to aid cancer remission, 24-hour advice line on a legal matters, and counselling benefits for example. “During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we need to take action and ensure we are protecting our family’s health and finances. I encourage all South Africans to take the time to ensure that that they put the above provisions in place to protect their children as well as that you take the time to join the movement towards stronger awareness when it comes to childhood cancers,” says Hillman. “We need to stand up and be bold, we need to have conversations about childhood cancer, and we need to empower people with knowledge, so that no child will be left behind. During the month of September, we ask people to wear a golden ribbon and in doing so raise awareness about childhood cancer,” Concludes Ludick.

September 28, 2020

Dairy, centrepiece of the Kid’s food table

From infancy through the teen years, children have particular nutritional needs to support their healthy growth. The culture of food they grow up in, and their food choices in the home and at school, also influence whether or not they will be lifelong healthy eaters. Unfortunately, there is probably no greater aspect of our daily lives that is more inundated by misinformation and fads than our food. In the midst of constantly changing, attention-grabbing ‘trends’ and the plethora of ‘latest miracle foods’, there’s a real danger that the sensible, balanced nutritional needs of children get put on the backburner. The wake-up call for South African families is in our cold hard statistics which reveal a double burden of disease with persistent stunting and wasting, as well as rising child obesity. Under-nutrition, which results in stunting and wasting that have lifetime impacts, remains a significant problem in South Africa’s low-income communities. The problem is, unfortunately, expected to be exacerbated by the ongoing economic impacts of Covid19. Obesity is a major health risk, predisposing us to diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Dietary intake associated with under- or overweight impact on both the physical growth and cognitive development of children who are then unable to realise their full potential in life. Through the celebration of milk’s inclusion in school nutrition programmes, the 21st World School Milk Day on 30 September 2020 is a reminder that other food and health concerns should never eclipse the need for meeting our children’s needs for daily eating regimes that promote their healthy growth. Maretha Vermaak, the registered dietitian at Rediscover Dairy says, “Over so many decades, scientific research has confirmed that dairy offers a unique food matrix of bio-available nutrients that supports healthy development in children. Milk, maas, yogurt and cheese offer specific diversity and versatility, so that it is easy to find dairy options for children and ensure that your family meets the recommendation of 2 to 3 portions of dairy a day.” Scientifically sound nutritional information is essential for families and schools. This empowers them to make good food choices and prioritise the nutritional needs of children. Understanding that calcium-rich dairy plays a vital role in bone development, not only for small children but during the teen years when bone density development is accelerated, helps parents to make sure that the family gets enough of the key nutrients provided by dairy. Dairy is not only a calcium-provider for healthy bones and teeth. It is an important source of affordable, high quality protein and is packed with vitamins such as A, B2, and B12, as well as potassium and zinc. Dairy Ideas for Kids No matter their income, many South African families fall short of the recommendations for 2 to 3 servings of dairy a day. However, given the versatility of dairy, it is really easy to include it in meals, snacks and drinks. Add milk or maas to oats and other porridges Add dairy to every lunchbox – cheese wedges and cheese as sandwich filling; small yoghurts; cottage cheese and yoghurt-based dips for vegetables and crackers A simple toasted cheese sandwich is a firm favourite among children Make delicious smoothies with milk and yoghurt with fresh fruits Add milk or buttermilk and cheeses to scrambled eggs and omelettes Melted cheese topping is always a winner that goes with many savoury dishes, vegetables and bread Bake with milk, buttermilk and yoghurt. Top cakes and muffins with cream cheese icing to add more nutrients to your treat Make easy frozen yoghurt popsicles or pots for healthy treats Replace sweetened cold drinks with milk or milkshakes made with fruits or flavoured milk “Parents need to remember that when it comes to eating behaviour, they are the most powerful role models,” says Vermaak, “One of the easiest ways to ensure your kids consume enough dairy is to make sure it is available at home and for them to see you enjoying dairy too.” Through its Consumer Education Project (CEP), Rediscover Dairy partners with National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to highlight World School Milk Day. The NSNP includes dairy once a week in their school feeding programme to support South African children most vulnerable to stunting and wasting. The CEP makes fun information and teacher resources available for Grades R to 7 at http://www.dairykids.co.za/ Parents who are home-schooling due to COVID-19 can download curriculum-aligned interactive posters, worksheets, fact sheets and teaching guides. Children learn all about the healthy eating, SA’s food-based dietary guidelines, the role of dairy in healthy eating and the farm-to-table processing of dairy. For more dairy ideas join the Rediscover Dairy Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RediscoverDAIRY

September 16, 2020

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