An innovative way of encouraging young children to eat healthily This product is the brain child of Claire McHugh a Paediatric Dietician who has written a colourful story book that teaches your child about the roles of the different food groups in your child’s diet. The plate encourages them further by putting healthy eating into practice. Book and plate are part of the set.
The LEGO Foundation and Sesame Workshop Highlights the Importance of Learning through Play in Parent-Child Relationships in South Africa in Celebration of World Play Day The ‘Play Every Day’ program empowered caregivers to effectively guide children in learning through play in South Africa In celebration of World Play Day, the LEGO Foundation and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organisation behind Takalani Sesame, announced the results of a multi-country research evaluation of Play Every Day, a program designed to shift parent and caregiver perceptions about the educational value of play and to encourage play that contributes to children’s early development and learning outcomes. The impact evaluation, conducted by an external evaluator, found significant changes in parents and caregivers’ perceptions of play and play-related behaviour, as well as improved confidence of parents and caregivers as play mentors for their children. Over the course of a 12-week intervention in low-resource communities in South Africa, India and Mexico, Sesame Workshop conducted weekly in-person play workshops or home visits, in addition to reminders utilising WhatsApp and other digital platforms and community events. The research in South Africa was conducted in IsiZulu, IsiXhosa and Sesotho in the communities of Orange Farm, Alexandra, Diepsloot and Braamfontein. Caregivers participating in the Play Every Day program in South Africa reported: Increased frequency of play by 15% Increased confidence as “play mentors” for their children through quality play time, with an increase of 18% Increased confidence using recycled materials such as plastic bottles, cans, and cardboard rolls as play objects, with an increase of 19% in South Africa An increase of 19% in the ability to make everyday activities playful An 11% increase in the link between pretend play as a foundation for academic learning The research findings will inform the upcoming Takalani Sesame ‘Learning Through Play’ Initiative, which will reach millions of children and caregivers across South Africa through television, digital media, and targeted community engagement. The findings will also inform a USD $100 Million Humanitarian Play Programto support children affected by the Rohingya and Syrian refugee crises. The Play Every Day program empowered caregivers and children to learn together, rather than in parallel, providing valuable insights for the development of caregiver-child programming. “With such a large portion of the South African population being in low-resource settings, this research is invaluable and will guide Takalani Sesame programs in South Africa. We continue to educate caregivers and teachers on the benefits that Learning through Play provides, as one of the most powerful ways for children to learn, develop and overcome setbacks,” said Innocent Nkata, Managing Director of Sesame Workshop South Africa. The facilitated workshops, implemented through local community partners, provided primary caregivers with content that is easy to replicate at home to improve caregiver confidence in playful learning techniques and provide new ideas for engagement with children, such as building toys with recycled materials and playing pretend using everyday household items. To ensure culturally relevant and effective interventions, the 12-week intervention was preceded by three pilot phases between November 2016 and May 2018 that tested a variety of play activities, materials, and methods of facilitation for each country. “The LEGO Foundation is working to build a future in which learning through play helps all children grow into creative, engaged, life-long learners. Parents and other primary caregivers are fundamental to this aim as they are children’s first teachers and playmates. We are excited about the positive results from the Play Every Day program. We hope that these insights will inspire and empower primary caregivers in in South Africa to harness the power of learning through play,” said Kerry Kassen, LEGO Foundation Initiatives Lead for South Africa. The findings have been announced as we celebrate World Play Day on 28 May. To mark this important day, Sesame Workshop and the LEGO Foundation are partnering with Cotlands and Kagiso Trust to host an event at the Multipurpose Centre in Sasolburg on 1 June 2019. Takalani Sesame Muppets Zuzu and Kami will join over 300 children to highlight this year’s World Play Day theme, “Play is a right.” The event will feature songs, dancing, and play activities for children. “We’re deeply committed to bringing learning experiences to children across South Africa through Takalani Sesame, and we too believe that play is a right for all children,” adds Mr. Nkata. “This World Play Day, we have a lot to celebrate; with the new research findings, we will be able to build upon our work to ensure that every child has access to positive, playful experiences.” Additional highlights from the Play Every Day impact evaluation can be found online here.
Play time is so important for our children as a foundation for learning: Here are some tips to encourage meaningful and purposeful play, to maximise your child’s learning opportunities through play: LET YOUR CHILD HAVE SOME UNSTRUCTURED PLAY TIME EVERY DAY – don’t make their days so full of activities that they don’t have any time to create, explore and experiment. Give them free time to play! (And don’t let them choose to watch TV in this time). DON’T INTERFERE IN THEIR PLAY – don’t criticise, plan, direct or correct the way they are planning. Let them guide their own learning. Research tells us that the more motivated we are to do something, the more meaningful the experience. DON’T SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEM IMMEDIATELY – if they want to do something in a certain way, but have difficulty with it when they are playing, give them the time and opportunity to try and solve the problem for themselves; if they can’t, give them some clues and guidance, but don’t do it for them. The more they learn to solve minor problems, the more able they will be to cope with larger, more complex challenges. GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY DATES – playing with peers is important for emotional and social development. Arrange regular play dates with some of your child’s friends. If they have disagreements, give them some space to work it out, don’t step-in unless you see it’s necessary. These are great opportunities for learning to compromise and resolve conflict. SCREEN ACTIVITIES ARE NOT PLAY – TV games, computers games and games on an iPad or phone have been proven to often hinder development of social-emotional and language skills, rather than stimulate it. You don’t need to cut these out completely, but researched guidelines suggest that the developing brain should not be exposed to more than about 30 minutes a day (for children under 4) and not more than 45 minutes a day for children under 7. Follow the principle that when it comes to screen time – Less is more! BASIC TOYS/ ITEMS ARE OFTEN MORE BENEFICIAL THAN EXPENSIVE TOYS – some of the toys that children love the most are very basic things e.g. cardboard boxes, bicycles, Tupperware, blocks, balls, spades, old tyres etc. These provide for so many different play options, rather than an expensive toy that can often only be used in one way. TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OUT AND ABOUT WITH YOU – give your children the chance to explore different environments and experiences as these all offer different learning opportunities e.g. playing on the beach versus playing in a park versus playing in a fun play centre with other children. Talk to them about what they are seeing, touching and hearing. Let them organise their own picnics when you go to a park or let them organise campouts in the garden. PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN – follow their lead, encourage their ideas, build on their themes and just enjoy spending this precious time with your children. Not only are you the perfect person for them to practice their skills on but playing together will make them feel much closer to you and it opens doors for communication. ENCOURAGE IMAGINARY PLAY BY BUYING OPEN-ENDED TOYS e.g. arts and crafts supplies (which could be toilet rolls, cardboard, tinfoil, paint, glue, scissors, leaves, flowers, ice cream sticks etc); items for dressing up; things like farm yards and soldiers and dolls and cars etc. Also, when they are younger encourage symbolic play by buying toys like pretend lawnmowers, brooms, cooking utensils or gardening tools. HAVE AN ORGANISED, FREE SPACE IN WHICH YOUR CHILD CAN PLAY – your child should be able to find the toys they need and should have space to spread them out and go “wild” for a little while. A disorganised, chaotic play space is often over-stimulating and limiting. LET YOUR CHILDREN GET DIRTY – it’s normal for children to get dirty and its part of what makes play time so fun! Don’t let your dislike of dirt ruin their enjoyment!
The average person uses digital photography as a way to document their life. Most people do this because it’s a memory that in 40 years’ time they will be grateful for. By taking a picture you make a souvenir, and 1000’s of these souvenirs land up on cell phones, tablets, computers, cameras and SD cards, as well as on an array of social platforms like facebook and Instagram. And let us not forget cloud storage also. If you’re not finding the time to look through digital archives now, you’re not going to have time in the future either! Also think how much more you’ll have accumulated by then; you’ll have loads more to sift through. Images sometimes get lost when you only have them on digital. You’ll take 300 pics and then forget about them. However, if you backup your digital photos by printing the best pictures out in a tangible format, you tend to treasure them and of course, really enjoy them more. Technology never stops changing. That means what is around now, might not be around in 20 years or so from now. This is why it’s important to save irreplaceable memories and precious mementos of life, in a protected format that works for now, and the future. Backup your digital photos by printing them out in a tangible format. Display these highlights together with other valuable and touchable irreplaceable mementos like keepsakes, achievements and art, creating a comprehensive overview of every year. Combine all these most valuable traces of childhood, then arrange them easily in an exquisite MY FILE ABOUT ME presentation that can be viewed and enjoyed regularly. With digital technology it’s so easy to take over 30 photos or more at one special event. Over a month you can easily capture 120 photos. That means in a year its highly possible to collect over 1,500 photos or more, depending on how much of a happy snapper you are. Multiply 1,500 photos by ten years and that gives you 15,000 (fifteen thousand) photos. That’s an insane number of digital photos to get through in a few minutes, or in a day, in a week, a month or even in a year! With that crazy thought, my suggestion is to select at least 16 to 32 of your child’s most cherished digital photos from every year. Doing so will allow you to create a summary of the most important events and memories for each specific year. Now print them out and keep them together. It’s easier and more time efficient to view a small number of printed photos in one place rather than being overwhelmed by thousands and thousands stashed in the clouds, SD cards and mobile phones. More photos mean it is more time intensive to view. And seriously, do you know what photo you’ve filed where and are they in yearly order? Do you even remember what photos you have taken? If you print 32 photos per year over 10 years, you’ll have 320 photos to view. This is very much more manageable and of course more time effective to look through than 15,000 photos dotted all over the place. There’s a solution I’d like to introduce you to that will allow you to browse, in 5 minutes, 320 printed photos (150 x 100mm), chronologically in only 20 pages. That is an impressive 16 jumbo photos per page that save incredible space in a tangible way. This breath-taking presentation reruns 18+ years of memories in less than15 minutes of active browsing. More impressive, is that this solution is refillable, expandable and totally customizable for your particular needs. It offers the opportunity to obtain additional refills that also accommodate A5, A4 and even A3 photo enlargements. And that’s all without cutting or gluing anything. More impressive, is that this revolutionary solution is multi-purpose. It not only links your yearly printed photos together, it also combines your digital photos too, along with all other keepsakes, mementos and valuables from the same year. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can keep your child’s yearly stash of precious memoirs and valuable souvenirs of childhood. You’ll be super impressed at how orderly, neat, compact and effectively you can preserve at save physical keepsakes and memories. One compact solution provides an entire childhood at your fingertips to revisit regularly as often as you wish. It beautifully and effectively links tokens of an entire year together, centralizing them in a unified and truly impressive way. It further delivers a comprehensive outline of each year in a storybook fashion. Thereafter, it links each year sequentially, transporting you through an all-inclusive childhood from birth to adulthood (or pre-school to adulthood) in a very quick and accessible way. Get all your most cherished touchable keepsakes out from piles, boxes and hidden places. (Remember: out of sight is out of mind). Now combine up to larger than A3 school art, certificates, badges, medals, CDs, DVDs, birthdays, family holidays and more with your printed photos. Then preserve and display an annual collection of memories in the all-in-one My File About Me system. This instant overview of life’s amazing journey is an exceptionally effective and beautiful way to summarize your child’s entire life in one pleasing and space-saving patented format. I love using Forever Child. I love how it’s instant: That instant gratification of having captured a moment with a token or two to go with it: Memories that can be made then put away and then brought out and shown to someone, not only now, but far into the future also. It’s a lifetime investment that continues to grow in value as time moves on. . It is a life story that can be enjoyed over and over and celebrated for generations and forever. Remember precious memories may fade and valuable mementos can get lost, but MY FILE ABOUT ME… is forever! Click here to discover a world of convenience. About the Author Eleni Korfias is a wife, mother of three
Learn@Home, our school’s arts inspired online learning programme, has been specially devised to facilitate and integrate the holistic development of pre-school learners through a unique Play & Learn approach that mimics our school’s fun-filled arts powered curriculum presented on site.
A school is not a quiet place. In my experience children constantly talk and more often than not they talk at the same time. Keeping everyone quiet in class can be a big challenge. Then there have been a few occasions where I have taught a child who doesn’t talk at all. The silent one. They were not only quiet and shy but did not talk at all! This is how I have learned about and experienced ‘Selective Mutism.’ According to Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder. These children prefer not to talk in social settings as a result of the extreme anxiety they feel. It is important to know that many children with Selective Mutism were early speakers without any speech delays/disorders. Parents are often confused and surprised when they get feedback that their child never communicates at school as these children are often loud and boisterous at home and extremely verbal. Proving that they are able to selectively speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable and relaxed. These children become mute in any setting where they are expected to talk. This can be experienced in public places such as a restaurant, family gatherings and then of course the school environment where social interaction is constantly required. According to Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blumi it is common for a child with selective mutism to have a blank facial expression. In my own classroom I have found that they tend to ‘disappear’. They do not want anyone to notice them and are fearful of being put ‘on the spot.’ So how do you as a teacher handle a child with Selective Mutism? The most important thing to focus on is dealing with the anxiety. Be aware of the child’s tendency to ‘disappear’ in class of their quietness. Remove all pressure and expectations for the child to speak. Try to treat the child as normal as all the other children in your class. Do not make an issue of the fact that the child does not want to talk. As a teacher there is a tendency to talk for the child or to only give them yes or no questions. Your job as teacher is not to make the child speak but rather to minimise the anxiety in the classroom activities for the child. In some instances, these children develop one or a few friendships and will whisper or even speak to a few children in school especially on the playground. They do experience the need for social interaction. They might also communicate nonverbally in class by nodding their heads or pointing if they need to answer a question. Nonverbal communication is acceptable when the child is new to the classroom environment. However, strategies and interventions need to be put in place to help the child to progress from nonverbal to verbal communication. Seat the child to the side of the classroom, preferably not in front or in the centre where everyone can see them. Avoid eye contact at first. In my own experience it is better to gain the child’s trust by not putting any kind of pressure on them, but also not by excluding them from the classroom activities. I have found that sometimes it works to create spontaneous opportunities for the child to speak. For example, if we do counting on the carpet I will go around and throw a ball randomly to each child. That child must then give the next number. The children enjoy this and get very excited. I have experienced that the children with selective mutism get so involved and excited with the other children that when they catch the ball they sometimes give the answer as there is not enough time to register the anxiety around talking. That can be a big moment for you as a teacher, but it is very important to not make a big deal out of it. Just continue with the game and act as if this is normal behaviour for the child. It is important to know as a teacher that these children can be referred to specialists that can assist with medical treatments and advice in order to reduce anxiety, the main culprit behind selective mutism. By: Wilma du Toit, Grade 2 teacher, The Bridge Assisted Learning School
The development of a baby’s memory is also known as Object Permanence and basically means that the baby has developed a memory. This is an extremely important intellectual milestone and can be encouraged in several ways. A small baby sees the world as a mass of images and sensations. When looking at an object, she will focus on it briefly and then move on to the next object that captures her attention. Once the first object is out of sight it is basically out of mind. So, if you take a toy from her and hide it behind your back, it no longer exists for her and she won’t bother to look for it. Gradually though, she starts to hold images in her mind for longer periods of time until it becomes noticeable at about 6 months. You will notice it when you take a toy from her; your baby will look for it and may even cry for it. This shows that she remembers that just a second ago she had something interesting in her hand and now it is gone. This is a very early form of symbolic thought and memory and we encourage it by playing certain games. As your baby approaches 1 year, she will get very upset when you leave the room. This is known as separation anxiety and peaks at about 12 months. The following games will help your baby to learn that mom or an object may disappear for a while but will come back again: Peek – a – Boo – In this game you hide yourself away behind a cloth or book or even a toy. You then pop up all excited to see your baby. Your baby will respond with glee and this will be her favourite game for years. The time that you hide away can gradually become longer and longer. Hiding toys – Where did it go? Hide a small toy in your hand or behind your back and get your baby to look for it. Praise her when she finds it. Hide and seek – Crawling babies love to play hide and seek. You hide behind the couch, call her name until she finds you. This progresses into the real game later on
It’s stressful when your kids are sick and even more stressful when they refuse to take their medicines. Not to mention the icky stickiness that is almost impossible to wash off your skin. In this blog I will share with you some tips I have learnt over the years to help make the medicine go down. 1. Disguise the taste Many over the counter liquid medications available for kids are flavoured. Look on the bottle to see which flavour you are buying. Some brands have different options for the same drug such as Panado’s strawberry and peppermint flavours. Some brands may have the same flavours but taste different. My daughter prefers the strawberry flavour of Calpol than that of Panado. If the medication needs to be made up by a pharmacist, ask them to flavour the medication if possible. Unfortunately, some meds just taste awful and not all pharmacies stock flavourings. You’ll need to get creative here. You can mix the liquid with fresh fruit or vegetable juice and even honey (if your child is over one year). You can also try mixing meds with milk or yoghurt but the calcium may interfere with the effects of some medications, particularly with certain antibiotics. Acidic foods may also inactivate some antibiotics. It’s important to ask your pharmacist and read the patient information leaflet before you decide to try this method. If you are hiding the medication in a food or drink, keep the volume small so that the entire dose can be taken. Don’t mix with a full bottle or cup of juice if your child will not finish this. 2. Equipment I always use a syringe and squirt the medicine along the inside of the cheeks and not onto the tongue. This way you can bypass the taste buds a little. You can also use a medicine dropper the same way. Slide the syringe or dropper along the cheek towards the back of the mouth and squirt the medicine slowly. Do not aim for the throat as your child will gag and cough and if you aim too far in front of the mouth the medicine will simply be spat out. Using a syringe also allows you to give correct dosages. In kids it’s vital you give the correct dosage of medication. You can wash and reuse the syringes but after a while you should replace them. 3. Keep it chilled You can also numb the taste buds beforehand. Your child can suck on a block of ice if he or she is older or you could try an ice-lolly for a younger child. Some medications can also be stored in the fridge, which can make them taste better. 4. Wash it down Whilst Mary Poppins recommended a spoonful of sugar, I’m not sure many of us moms will be too happy with the after effects of this sugar rush before bedtime. Have a glass of water or your child’s favourite drink on standby to drink as soon as they swallow just so they can wash their taste buds. 5. Coat the taste buds You can try giving your child a spoonful of something thick and sweet such as maple syrup or honey to coat the tongue before giving the medicine. 6. Try a tablet instead Some liquid medicines are available as chewables. If your child is old enough you can try these. Whilst there are some tablets that can be crushed and mixed with food. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you do this. You may also find dissolvable tablets. Dissolve the tablet in a small glass of water and add some fruit juice to hide the taste as these can be extremely bitter. 7. Give your child some control You will find that your kids will be more willing to take their medicine if they are in control or at least think they are. Allow them to choose when to take their medicine, for example, before or after the bath. They can also choose what flavour medicine they would like when you are buying it for them. IF IT WORKS, STICK TO IT You might find that more than one trick is necessary. If you have found a technique that works, stick to it. A while back I tried using one of those fancy medicine syringes I got at my baby shower instead of a simple syringe (I had actually forgotten to replace the ones I had thrown out). These syringe type medicine feeders are quite big and I couldn’t get it far enough to the back of the mouth to bypass the taste buds. My daughter did not like this at all and I ended up wearing most of the medicine! Do you have any other tricks or tips to get your kids to take medicine? Please share in the comments section below! If your little one requires medicine on a regular basis, here is a medicine chart to help you organise the days and quantities: https://www.oneaid.co.za/resources/
We have all bought those flimsy shape box toys right? My greatest frustration was always the poor quality material that was used to make them. We found the Oops Easy-Activity Box to be oh so bright and fun. Although shapes are fun to get through the little hole, imagine having a butterfly or an owl? These bright attractive wooden inserts into the dragonfly house really make this such a fun toy for toddlers 12 months and up. You can develop your Childs motor skills as well as keep their attention with this 6 piece set This range is available from Takealot, Loot and selected Kids Emporium Stores
Regression is going from totally dry during the day to having 2 or more accidents every day. This doesn’t include a small wet patch or trickle from not concentrating. A change in circumstances that causes stress and makes your child anxious can cause regression in potty training. For example, it can happen when a new sibling is born and the older sibling feels a little insecure. Toddlers often test boundaries if there is a change in circumstances like moving house. It is their way of showing you that they do not feel safe and secure. If you let the boundaries drop and allow your toddler to go back to wearing nappies, you will reinforce the idea that the change is scary and your toddler should not feel safe and secure. But if you keep the boundaries firmly in place, your toddler will soon feel safe and secure again. Some toddlers decide they do not like stopping an activity to use the potty and wet their pants instead. If this is the case: Make it worth his while to use the potty/toilet by praising and rewarding him. Tell him you are busy and he will need to wait to be changed if rewarding does not work. He will soon feel uncomfortable in wet underpants. Trust CHERUBS Classic Wipes to keep your baby’s bottom soft and clean. Our wipes ensure a deep but gentle cleanse for your baby’s skin. They are flushable and biodegradable making them as kind to the environment as they are to the softest skin. CHERUBS Classic flushable baby & toilet training wipes are: Eco Friendly Flushable & Biodegradable For Baby & Toddler pH Balanced Alcohol, Chlorine & Paraben Free Made in SA with love Cherubs Classic Flushable Baby & Toilet Training Wipes Fragranced Wipes 80’s : R33.85 Cherubs Classic Flushable Baby & Toilet Training Wipes Fragrance Free Wipes 80’s: R31.96 The CHERUBS Classic Wipes are also available in Triple Packs with a convenient carry strap – R69.99 (320’s) Available at all leading retailers nationally
Oops is a lovely company all about children’s happiness! They create products with the child in mind and this is a company we can certainly get behind. From the easy-backpack to the stunning lunchboxes, your toddler will be the talk of the town. This backpack is small and is great for giving your children their first bag. It will be extremely riveting for them as their first backpacks have 3D animal friends to accompany them every step of their day. These characters have their own special names, where you can find on their website. This product is a product of Oops. This backpack is super cute and has lovely designs such as ladybugs, dragonflies, owls, bears, and many other cute animals. The straps are adjustable and this lovely helper is strictly fitted for small children. The backpack isn’t suited for big amounts of packing. It is strong enough for little and not heavy-weighted items. This bag is suitable for going to pre-school and looking the coolest, holding your toys and even a lunch bag.The lunch bag is fully lined so you can easy wipe out spills and messes with no problem at all. They are easy to wash, super cute and should be on every shopping list. Available to purchase from takealot.com
Nelson Mandela famously stated that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. At the same time however, our education system is in crisis. According to Cindy Glass, Co-Founder and Owner of Step Up Education Centres, “Negative behaviours such as aggression, bullying, disrespect toward teachers and peers, intolerance and demotivation seem to be hindering our children’s ability to learn effectively and this has resulted in the learning experience, in general, becoming one of distrust, anxiety, stress and misery. Our innate need to learn is being destroyed by negative human behaviours and relationships and this equates to an ever-increasing lack of empathy skills.” She adds that it takes a village to raise a child and it is time that parents step in and step up to help change the way their children see themselves and the people in their world. The one life skill that she believes can change this is empathy. “This all-important life skill is the ability to identify with another person’s feelings and experiences. Empathy essentially allows children to ‘walk’ in another’s shoes and it teaches them to genuinely have respect for others, even in difficult circumstances. It teaches kindness, compassion and listening skills. Empathy teaches children to seek the good in others and to embrace differing beliefs and cultures. Empathy helps children to seek positive solutions to difficulties and challenges, without intending hurt for another. Just imagine the possibilities in learning if our children could master the skill of empathy!” Cindy gives 5 helpful tips to teach your child to become more empathetic: YOU are your child’s first and longest-lasting teacher: Your child is more likely to do what you do, rather than what you say. It is up to you to model, instruct and expect your child to care about and behave respectfully toward others. Teach your child to express himself in a positive way: If he is upset, teach him to express the feelings he is experiencing in words so that a positive solution can be found. Allow uncomfortable conversations that need expression. Avoidance will lead to feelings of shame and even anger and this could lead to your child making negative choices in a bid to deal with suppressed emotions. Teach your child to allow others to express their feelings in the same way: This leads to listening skills. Teach your child to learn to listen to understand the other person without the need for defensive responses. Listen with an open, non-judgemental mind. Genuinely hear what others are saying. Strive to create a meaningful, face-to-face connection with your children: Social media has desensitised us in so many ways that meaningful, wholehearted human relationships are becoming rare! People make-up and break-up over the phone. Some of the most misunderstood arguments and hurtful words are given over a digitised device. Nothing can replace face-to-face positive human connection and relationships. Teach your children to value themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses: Remember that we are only able to treat others based on how we feel about ourselves. Teach them of their worthiness to love and be loved. Teach them the value of each human being walking the earth with them- do we not ALL share the same human spirit? Do we not all bleed, cry, smile and breathe in the same way? Just as you teach your children to respect themselves, so we MUST teach them to respect others, to choose kindness and to master the skill of empathy.
Process art is all about the experience children have when they are creating. It is important to let your child explore and be exposed to different mediums when creating art. These easy to use roller paints are perfect for the young child. Available in a set of four primary colours in an easy roll on bottle. Painting is made easy as the toddler rolls and glides the paints over the page minimising mess.
You would never believe the benefits that building blocks have… yes building blocks! From problem solving, imagination, self-expression, mathematics, self esteem, emotional growth…. The list really does go on and on. When you pair building blocks with bright attractive colours you have the must have toy in any developing toddlers household. Then when you have building blocks that are also match up blocks, it really does make the toy rather exciting. Generally from around 18 months upwards this will really keep your toddler entertained. The Oops Match Up! Cit Building Blocks provide a city theme match up sticker card and then the blocks for your little one to match their masterpiece to. How this works is the match up card is a selection of stickers, you the parent stick them to the appropriate block and from there your little one can match the two parts together. How fun does that sound! The Oops Match Up! City Building Blocks comprises of 14 pieces and is suitable for 18 months and up. This range is available from Takealot, Loot and selected Kids Emporium Stores
In our Toptots classes, a question that frequently arises is that of how to stop young children from hitting either their moms or their peers. This is often an embarrassing scenario for mothers, and they may feel unsure about how to address this type of behaviour. The first thing to remember is that hitting (or biting or pushing) is quite typical in the toddler years, especially while children are still learning to speak and are not yet able to clearly voice their needs or their frustrations. Hitting another child could occur from frustration if, for instance, one’s toy is taken, and hitting mom could be out of frustration of not getting a need or a desire met. However, it is something that needs to be addressed as soon as it starts to prevent the behaviour from continuing. Toddlers are learning all the time, but the question is are they going to learn appropriate behaviours or inappropriate behaviours, and the only people in a position to teach these skills are parents (and to a lesser degree the teachers who see the children on a regular basis). It is very important for children to learn that certain behaviours are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. They are extremely smart and can learn very quickly to identify which boundaries they can cross, and which boundaries are firmly in place and cannot be crossed. It is a normal part of development to test boundaries and see what is tolerated and accepted, however, young children cannot judge for themselves what appropriate behaviour is, and thus they rely on their parents to set clear boundaries so that they can feel secure in the knowledge of what is expected of them in terms of good behaviour. Children who are consistently allowed to hit (or bite or push) are more likely to view this as appropriate behaviour for when they are frustrated, or angry or just don’t get what they want when they want it! This could ultimately result in them not having friends, because no one really wants to spend time with children who hurt them! It could also result in children engaging in bullying behaviour to get what they want. Here are some suggestions to assist with these types of behaviours: Remember who the parent is: You are not there to be your child’s friend and to give in to their every demand! You are there to set rules and boundaries to help your child feel secure in the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. This will help them to grow up to understand that certain things are not acceptable and to be able to manage their own impulses and behaviour. Be consistent in your expectations: This is so important. Your child needs to know that there are certain behaviours that are not acceptable, and they will not be tolerated at any time. Both parents (and anyone else who spends time with your child e.g. grandparents, care-givers etc.) need to have the same boundaries in place. Respond confidently and in a matter of fact way to your child’s inappropriate behaviours: Don’t be scared to reprimand your child. How else will they understand if something is not okay e.g. “I don’t want you to hit.” You don’t need to respond with anger, but just be direct about your expectation. If necessary, block your child: if they continue to hit, hold their hands in your own and physically stop them from hitting you/ their peer. Again, this doesn’t have to be done in anger, but just stopping them and again reinforcing “I don’t want you to hit”. Remember that it is okay for your child to get angry when you stop him from doing something: Anger is a normal response to not being able to do something that you want to do, and this is a typical emotional response. Children need to experience the full range of emotions in order to be able to learn how to process them and deal with them effectively. Praise good behaviour: Always remember to praise your child for good behaviour. This is so important in order to validate that they have made good choices and that their behaviour is acceptable and pleasing to you. Again, how will they know what good behaviour is, unless it is acknowledged and praised. Just remember, children are not innately naughty… but they do need to test boundaries and try out different behaviours in order to learn what is appropriate. A lack of routine, structure, discipline and boundaries can result in an increase in negative behaviours, making life more challenging for the child as well as for you as a parent. Setting boundaries early on can make life far easier as your child grows up and understands what is expected of him/her.
A commonly used phrase these days is: “Play is the work of children”. Some people may wonder how play can be classed as work when the two terms have totally different connotations. However, when it comes to children, play is the way that they learn and without play, their learning is compromised. Thus, just in the same way that we need to work, and study, and be mentored and develop greater proficiency in our roles at work, so too do children need to play to develop greater competency in life. The longer they engage in one play activity or theme, the more they develop the ability to concentrate for longer periods, and this is in fact a large reason why many children find it difficult to concentrate – they never have the opportunity to lose themselves in one thing – they often flit from one task to another or engage in passive tasks like watching TV. When they encounter challenges in their play, they have the chance to work through their frustrations and they have the opportunity to problem solve. When they set up and structure their own games and environment, they learn to plan and organise. When they invite someone else to play with them, they learn to communicate, take turns and compromise. When they concoct complicated stories, they develop their vocabulary and imagination, and will become better essay-writers when they are older. When they are able to act out difficult situations that have happened in real life, they are able to work through the feelings that they experienced in the situation. Not only does play improve their social and emotional skills, it can also improve their future scholastic performance. If their games involve climbing, swinging, swimming, rolling and jumping, their core muscle strength will improve, which will improve their endurance for sitting and working at a table. The more endurance and stability they have, the better their focus, and the better their fine motor skills. If they play with things like play-dough, sand, pegs, tongs and finger paint, it can help develop their fine motor skills. This in turn sets up a foundation for legible and efficient writing later. If they build puzzles and play with Lego and blocks, their spatial skills will develop, which will help with reading at a later stage. Play builds the foundational skills for academic learning, and this foundation allows children to feel skilled and competent, which leads to confidence when entering a formal learning environment. As we all know, a house with an unsteady and poorly-built foundation is not nearly as stable as one with a solidly-built foundation and this is just as true for our children. If they are not equipped for the expectations they are faced with as they get older, their self-esteem suffers, and many children nowadays suffer from anxiety.
We all know that there is a lot of research on how puzzles help young minds develop. When your child is alone with a simple puzzle from an early age the following basic skills are being built: Physical skills – from holding the puzzle pieces to turning them until they fit Cognitive skills as this a problem solving exercise Emotional skills as puzzles teach patience and reward after completion We have found the Oops Range of puzzles to be an absolute must for all our readers. Old school wooden puzzles really are easier for young child to grasp and best of all, you are able to keep them clean. The Oops Range of puzzles play an important role in the development of spatial awareness which proves to be beneficials once your little one heads off to school. Would you believe that by introducing puzzles to your little one that this provides over all better muscle-growth and provides a full brain workout for your child. The reason for this is that puzzles force your little one’s brain to work on both sides thus increasing their cognitive function. The Oops Range of puzzles are also cut at different thicknesses therefore helping your child to start understanding proportion. The Oops Build a House comprises of 20 pieces and is suitable for 12 months and up. This range is available from Takealot, Loot and selected Kids Emporium Stores
You don’t need an extravagant vacation to make a lifetime of memories with your children. When my son was two years old we went on a family holiday to Portugal, he was very excited about going on a plane. He enjoyed the flight and thought this was all very exciting but the carrying of luggage bags, staying at various homes of family and friends, not having our own bed to sleep in and not having our family routine was too overwhelming for him. He soon felt insecure and was not as excited about being on holiday. Two years later we immigrated to Portugal where our daughter was born, we made it a priority to do something exciting with them outdoors. We would make sure that every weekend and one day during the week after work we would have a family outing. In summer we would go to the beach and even in winter we would walk along the beach Picnic in the park Picnic by the lake on the mountain Visit museums and castles Go to various play parks where they could ride their bikes and climb on the jungle gyms One day I decided to camp in my living-room, the children brought their sleeping bags and their toys and my wife and I slept on the floor while they slept in between us and I must say that they were so excited. Although it was not comfortable it was worth seeing them so excited. This is a moment that I will always treasure with my children. This made me realise that you don’t have to always go out of your home to have a family adventure. Children treasure having quality time with their parents and these are memories that they will always treasure. A few suggestions: Have a camp out in your garden Board games evening Play hide and seek Picnic in the garden Movie and pyjama day Gardening day (plant vegtables and let them see it grow) Family baking day Go for a adventure hike Visit a nature reserve HOME is a special place for children and gives them a sense of belonging and security Contributed by Jose De Sousa of Clamber Club Sports – LynnwoodCell: 063 682 2520Email: [email protected] Website: www.clamberclub.com
Being a parent brings many joys and along with those joys comes challenges. It is not always easy or simple teaching our children the things they need to know to keep them safe along with all the other skills they are going to need in life. My biggest frustration has always been how to get my kids to listen while still keeping myself calm and patient. I don’t want to be that nagging screeching mother. It has sometimes felt like nothing I do gets my kids to listen. Here are some of the things that I have learned that help my kids to listen: Are Their Needs Met? Now this may seem like it has nothing to do with getting your children to listen but it is actually really important – if my kids needs are not met they become grumpy little creatures that create mayhem everywhere they go. This is particularly true of my son that has just turned 5 years old. If he has not eaten properly or he is tired he is sure to melt down and there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it. If my kids are bored, excited, hungry or tired I can’t expect them to behave perfectly or listen properly. As far as possible I try and be prepared for anything. I have toys, books, coloring books, crayons, spare clothes and emergency snacks and drinks in my car. This means that I can mostly meet their needs whenever and wherever we are. If we are sitting in a restaurant that has no play area and the food is taking too long I can whip out a book to entertain them and if they are getting hungry I can give them a quick snack to keep them going until their meal arrives, instead of moaning at them to sit still and to keep the noise levels down You will be amazed at how just this one thing can change a situation around. One of the challenges I have often had as a work from home mom is that my kids just want my attention. Instead of pushing to get my work done first I do something with them and I will let them know that I need to work afterwards and what is expected of them while I work. I get them started on that activity before I get going with my work. Their needs have then been met and then I can get some work done. Get Their Attention The next important thing is to get down to their level and talk to them. Get yourself down to their eye level and hold their hands, then ask them to look at you while you talk to them. Holding their hands will keep them focused on you while you talk. Once you have spoken to your children ask them to repeat back to you what you have said to make sure that they did in fact listen and to ensure that they properly understand what you have said. Yes you may be busy and trying to get something done so calling out for them to stop what they are doing may seem like the simple and easy way to do things but it really serves no purpose and you will most likely land up moaning, groaning, nagging and even yelling. Taking a few moments to get their attention properly and talk to them once will be much more effective. Use Positive Talk If you feel like what you are saying is going in one ear and out the other it probably is. If you want your children to listen try changing the way that you speak. Turn negatives into positives and see what a difference it makes. Your child will not enjoy hearing you saying this like “stop it”, “don’t do that”, “no” and similar negative statements. Instead replace those with positive statements that tell your children what they should be doing instead of what they shouldn’t be doing. Rephrasing something like “don’t bounce the ball in the house” to “please play with your ball in the garden” can make such a difference to the way that your child processes the information. Your child is much more likely to listen and follow your instructions when they are phrased in a positive way and the message is clear. Think about it – if you tell your child not to bounce the ball in the house are you telling your child what they should be doing instead? Explanations Very often children don’t understand why they can’t do something. Let’s take something very simple like the example of bouncing the ball in the house. If you tell your child not to bounce the ball in the house it is a negative statement that does not teach your child why it is important to play with their ball outside. It may take something as simple as explaining to your child that bouncing the ball and throwing the ball in house can lead to things in the home being broken. Broken things can result in dangerous situations such as being cut by broken glass. You can use situations as a way to explain to your children why you don’t want them to do something instead of just telling them what they shouldn’t be doing and leaving it at that. Use Books and Videos To Teach Your Children Lessons Children love reading books and watching videos. Look for fun books that teach your children lessons – they are sure to take these things in and start to understand things in a better way. There are also lots of free Youtube videos that teach lessons to kids. Children absorb information better when they are enjoying themselves and when it doesn’t seem like a lesson to them. There are so many amazing books that can teach your children lessons (like the importance of listening) and the values that are important to you as a family. Reading to your children is also a wonderful way of bonding with your
When talking about discipline in schools, modern trends use buzz-words such as “Positive discipline”; “Values-based education” and “Character guides rather than codes of conduct”. The aim of these “different” or “new” approaches is to focus on rewarding and encouraging positive behaviour, rather than focusing on punishing negative behaviour. Children learn to cultivate habits, approaches and values, that are not only relevant to the classroom or school grounds, but to society, the adult world, and life. It might be too early to say in some instances, but it appears, through the experiences of teachers, that this “new” approach is working. Positive discipline is based on the idea that there are no bad children, just good and bad behaviour. Below are a few tips to assist with positive reinforcement when disciplining your child: Create understanding rather than fear. Creating fear in a child, to stop them from repeating what they did will not completely stop them. They will still want to do it again. If you explain to them why “what they did” was wrong or inappropriate, there’s a higher chance of them not wanting to do it again. During this engagement understanding on both sides should be encouraged. The parent also needs to understand why their child did what they did. Control yourself not the child Children strive for independence throughout their childhood. Give them the power and responsibility to make their own decisions and control their own behaviour. Don’t compare Comparing children to others will encourage them to behave more defensively, resent their actions or themselves and lose confidence in themselves. Allow them to own their actions and don’t associate their behaviours with other children. Don’t shame your child Discussing your children’s behaviour to others in front of them is not an effective way to express your concern, rather have this discussion in private. Children don’t need to be reprimanded multiple times about the same incident by other individuals. Focus on their good qualities Nobody likes to be told that they’re wrong however constructive criticism is an effective method for self-reflection and behaviour change. Use your child’s good qualities to overcome their bad qualities.
We’ve all been there as a child—apprehensive, maybe even afraid of the dentist. Now as a parent, you face the other side, helping your child beat their fear of the dentist. The good news is, there are many things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable for them so that the next time they need a checkup, they go with a lot less fuss. Here are some of the things you can do to get your kids to go to the dentist. Start Dental Visits Early Many kids fear the things they don’t know. If you take them to the dentist early enough, they will be used to it long before many of their friends are. As soon as they get their first teeth, you can introduce them to the fact that there is nothing to worry about. Let Them Talk to a Dentist There is nothing wrong with calling your dentist and informing them of your child’s apprehensions. A lot of the time, they will welcome a visit so they can discuss the process with your child. Even if they don’t end up being treated that day, it can go a long way towards helping future visits. Use a Family-Friendly Dentist. Some Dentists will be friendlier than others. Given this, you want to make sure you find one that specializes in family treatments, so you know your kids are in good hands. In terms of being family friendly, North Pointe dental options are abundant. Enquire before you visit your office of choice and see how they can make your child more comfortable. Do Not Use Bribery It can be tempting to offer a reward for visiting the dentist. This can add to the tension they are feeling. If you tell them that if they don’t cry, they can have X, then they will think about why they might cry just as much as the reward. Also, any offer of a sugary reward isn’t a great idea, for obvious reasons. Give the Dentist Space There is nothing wrong with holding your child’s hand if they ask, or even if you feel like you want to. What you shouldn’t be doing is interfere if they make a fuss about the situation. The dentist will be well versed in how to help your child feel more relaxed. It will be easier for them to do so if they are given the room to. Encourage Good Oral Hygiene If you encourage your child to develop good teeth care habits, then they will better understand why a trip to the dentist is necessary. Help your child to see that a dentist will work to keep their teeth healthy. Although it can be a stressful time for both parent and child, a few simple steps can go a long way. Your future trips to the dentist will run a lot smoother when you know how to help.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of conditions that affect a person’s social communication, sensory processing, thinking and emotional regulation. It is a lifelong condition that has a spectrum of difficulties. Savannah Senior, Clamber Club Expert and Speech-Language therapist, sheds some light on Autism, the signs and how you can help your little one. This means that a child with ASD will have small to significant difficulties in each area of the spectrum. Although many people describe a spectrum as a line, a circle can also be used. This can sometimes give one a better idea that a child may function better in one area and less so in another. Sensory Processing: The ability to process and integrate all your senses and use them in a functional way. For example, to hear the teacher’s voice, seeing her writing on the board, feeling the pen in your hand = processing this information and understanding that you need to copy the teacher’s writing = motor movements of you writing. Children with ASD frequently struggle to process and integrate the sensory information that they receive from their environment. Social Communication: Communicating with others and sharing joy in social relationships. Children with ASD are impacted in this area of communication as they struggle to understand others facial expressions and body language; are more literal than figurative; struggle to make eye contact; find it difficult to share attention together with someone else etc. Thinking: Children with ASD may think in a rigid manner meaning that they cannot understand or accept alternatives when they were not expected. Thinking ahead may be difficult and new unexpected situations may be difficult. Routines often help with this. They frequently have fixed interests. Emotional Regulation: This is being able to monitor and modify emotional reactions to situations that may distress you. If one cannot emotionally regulate, behavioural difficulties can often be observed. When you are well regulated, you can recognise when you need to implement a regulation strategy such as talking to our friends, taking a break when you need it, sleeping enough, exercising etc. Children with ASD find regulating their emotions difficult and this can often result in self-harm, physical aggression, or inconsolable children. Behavioural difficulties are frequently associated with children who have ASD. It is important to remember that every behaviour is a communication. The cause of ASD is unknown but it is thought that it is a combination of genetic and environmental components. At one point it was thought that MMR vaccinations caused ASD, but this has been extensively researched and has shown that there are no links between ASD and MMR vaccinations. What to look for: ASD comes in all shapes and sizes, in other words, every child is different! Not every child will present with the same signs. Here are a few signs to look out for, but remember that a child usually has a few or many of these signs and may have ones that are not mentioned here: Struggling with non-verbal communication including: eye-contact (receiving and using); understanding and using facial expressions and body language Delayed understanding and use of language. Difficulties understanding figurative language. Children with ASD will frequently take phrases literally i.e. It’s raining cats and dogs. A child with ASD will look up to see where the cats and dogs are. Lack of interest in other children. They frequently prefer to play alone or alongside children. Difficulty understanding their own and other people’s emotions and feeling. Echolalia: repeating words, phrases or sentences (immediately or later) without fully understanding their meaning. Oversensitive to touch, light, textures or sounds. Lack of imaginative or pretend play. Children on the spectrum will frequently play with toys in an unusual way such as lining them up, spinning or opening/closing a toy instead of playing with it as a whole. Enjoying routine and structure. Difficulty moving from one activity to the next or difficulty getting them to engage in an activity (seems as if they have poor attention). Preference for repetitive activities and games such as lining things up, opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, putting things in something and taking them out etc. Arm flapping, self-harm, uncontrollable temper tantrums and other behavioural difficulties. What to do? If you are concerned that your child is presenting with signs of Autism, seek help. It is best to contact your child’s Paediatrician who will be able complete a developmental assessment and either diagnose your child or refer your child for further assessments. Autism South Africa can also help you on your quest of answers! They can be contacted through their website: http://aut2know.co.za/. Some General Tips: Make things visual! Children on the spectrum are usually visual learners. Use pictures to help improve your child’s understanding of up-coming events and situations. This can include photographs, line drawing, visual schedules, showing your child an object/action while speaking etc. When communicating, break things into smaller phrases i.e. instead of saying, ‘Put your coat on and go to the car,’ rather say, ‘Put your coat on’ child puts coat on ‘Go to the car.’ Remember that all behaviour is a communication. You can try deciphering what your child is saying by keeping a log of: the behaviour that occurred, what happened before this and how you helped your child become regulated again. Look through them to try find patterns. Avoid figurative language. Copy your child’s actions and play routines to enter their world.
I’m sure many of you will agree that bath time is loads of fun for our kids. Whilst the bathroom is a fun place, it can also be a scary place with a number of dangerous hazards such as the drowning, burns and poisoning. It’s important that you are always in the bathroom with your children before, during and after bath time. Drowning is a major cause of death in children under five years. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commision in the United States, 80% of the 87 children, under five years who drown at home each year, have drowned in the bathtub. Young children are top heavy and can slip suddenly and drown in very little water. Infants and toddlers also don’t have the upper body and core strength to lift themselves up if that slip under the water. HOW TO RUN A BATH Keep your child away from the bath until the water is the right temperature. The safe temperature of bath water should be between 37oC and 38oC (36OC for a newborn). Children have thinner skin than adults so they can burn much more quickly. Even if the bath feels warm to you it may be hot to your little one. Your plumber can also set the thermostat of your geyser to a maximum of 50oC. Always fill your bath with cold water first. Your child could put his hand or foot in the water before the bath is ready and get burnt. If you have a mixer tap, run hot and cold together but start with the cold and slowly increase the amount of hot. Run cold water through the tap before your child gets into the bath to cool the tap and prevent them from getting burnt if they touch it. If you have a mixer tap, point the lever on the cold setting when you are finished running the bath to ensure the hot water does not get accidentally turned on in the bath. Do not overfill the bath. Fill the bath water to just over your little one’s knees. HOW TO HAVE A S-A-F-E BATH S: Supervision is key! Always supervise babies, toddlers and children less than six years in the bath and when you run the water. Never leave an older child to supervise. A: Arrange everything you will need for bath time in advance for e.g. towel, soap, shampoo, nappy, clean clothes and any medications.F: Feel the water with your elbow first. It should feel warm but not hot. You can also use a water thermometer. Remember to swirl the water around to ensure an even temperature with no hot pockets. E: Empty the bath as soon as bath time is over. SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS Slips, trips and falls in the bathtub and shower are a common cause of injury in young children and according to statistics more common than tub drownings. Use a non-slip mat in the bath. If you are using a bath seat or ring, your child will still need to be supervised. A bath seat is not a safety device. These seats are actually associated with an increasing number of reported drownings. This is because the device gives parents a false sense of security and they are therefore more likely to leave their baby alone in the bath. Infants should be bathed in the bathroom basin or a smaller infant bathtub. This way they can’t roll over or ever be completely covered by the water. Wipe up any splashes before your kids get out the bath so that nobody, including you, can slip and hit their head. As your kids get older you should also teach them to remain seated in the bath and not to stand up and jump. Be sure to keep a MiniKit in your bathroom for peace of mind. Each kit contains a range of thoughtfully selected first aid items geared towards common childhood injuries. You can purchase one here: https://www.oneaid.co.za/product/minikit/ WHEN CAN YOU STOP SUPERVISING YOUR CHILD IN THE BATH? This is a difficult question to answer as children mature at different ages. Since most children who drown in bathtubs are under the age of five, the general consensus is children under the age of six should never be allowed to bath alone and even those over six should be closely monitored. Even if your child knows how to swim you should never be too far away. OTHER BATHROOM HAZARDS Toilet: luckily my daughter has never been interested in exploring the toilet bowl but I have had moms tell me how their child likes to play with the water in the toilet. Keep the toilet lids closed at all times and if your little one is particularly curious install a toilet-lid lock. Appliances: make sure any electrical appliances in the bathroom are unplugged and out of reach when your child is having a bath. Regular plug sockets may actually not be fitted in bathrooms for safety reasons so rather keep extension cords out. Medicines: many of us keep medication in the bathroom. Make sure they are all locked away, out of sight and out of reach. Dangerous items: make sure you keep cosmetics, razor blades, nail scissors, cleaning products and other dangerous items away. Don’t get distracted during bath time. Keep your phone on silent or rather keep it out of the bathroom and join in on the fun. You could also try having a shower with your child instead for some extra fun. My daughter loves this and the best part is that I manage to get cleaned up as well freeing up some time later in the evening for something else. Just make sure you get a slip-proof mat for the shower first. RESOURCES https://www.aappublications.org/news/2015/11/11/PPBath111115 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000154.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19596735 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/2/541.long https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/100/4/e1.long?utm_source=TrendMD&utm_medium=TrendMD&utm_campaign=Pediatrics_TrendMD_0
How many times have you been out for dinner, or to a picnic, only to find that baby has nowhere to sit whilst eating? Most parents can relate, socialising and traveling with small children is not always easy. Chicco offers an incredibly efficient, convenient and cost effective way to ensure maximum safety whilst enjoying meals with baby – the new Easy Lunch Hook On Chair. Simple to install, the Easy Lunch is a durable canvas chair with adjustable screw legs that connect onto any table surface, and can be adjusted to a snug fit for maximum safety. The Easy Lunch is not just the perfect solution for restaurants and socialising, but is also ideal for the home too, as any kitchen or dining room surface can be used. The resilient upholstery fabrics are dirt-resistant and can easily be removed for washing. Suitable from 6 months old, the chair is suitable for any child up to 15kgs in weight and is for use with table tops with a thickness between 19 and 35 cm. If you plan on traveling, grab the Easy Lunch Hook On Chair and fold or completely disassemble and store in the transport bag included in the delivery. This funky little chair is available in beige (known as mirage), green and blue and is for sale for the average price of R799 in SA at all leading retailers and online portals.
The Chicco Mode Booster Seat is the ideal solution for toddlers who want to sit at the table and join in with their family during meals. It has 3 different height positions, can be adjusted to suit different types of tables and adapt to your child’s growth. The adjustable and removable tray is also an ideal surface that toddlers can use when they cannot reach the table. The seat has a padded lining and trendy solid colour or geometric patterned prints. Safety tested and approved by the most authoritative European laboratories, the Mode Booster Seat grows with your baby, from 6 months to 3 years. This funky little piece of furniture is the perfect first chair for your baby as they start gaining their independence and want to sit, eat and socialise with the family. Comes in trendy Pois design as well as a cute Elephant design. Pick one up today at al leading retailers and online portals for the suggested price of R899.
How do you survive an influx of your kids’ stuff pouring into your home from school on a regular basis? Today it’s a drawing of your family, tomorrow it’s a painting, yesterday it was a school photo, 3 weeks ago it was a special valentine’s card and next week it might be a footprint in clay. And I’m sure your memory keeping doesn’t stop with creative objects. During the year you’ll take digital photos of a birthday ring, receive a medal of achievement from a sports day and near year end, purchase a video of a school concert. Memory keeping, I’m sure you’ll agree, doesn’t stop there. You’ll most likely celebrate a birthday with a specific theme, and you’ll enjoy a family holiday. Both events will bring loads of digital photos and videos to show for them. And that’s just for one year. Now multiply that by the number of years your child goes to school and multiply the stash of keepsakes you have for every other child you have. Oh, my! That’s a lot of, well… good stuff! Who else is living with the dilemma of clutter in their living space? So why then, do we collect all these objects that take over our lives? I don’t know about you, but my heart goes all mushy when delight fills my daughters’ eyes, as she delivers her little masterpiece into my hands, after a day at school. Her unique voice rambles away with joyful excitement as she explains her creative work. I love being part of her development, watching her grow and flourish from day to day. I especially enjoy participating in the progressing maturity of her work. And that’s why I tend to keep a careful selection of her beautiful efforts. Each piece telling a story of her childhood journey. Sentimental items, that’ll one day take her back in time, of days long forgotten. Browsing through photos of when she was a baby and toddler, never ceases to amaze her. Again, and again, she loves to travel back in time and witness how she has grown over the years. I feel particularly fuzzy inside, when she suddenly gets excited about a birthday theme she had, or friends that were present in her life. She suddenly remembers stories of her past and confidently tells us about them, and as a family, we share in her joy. Children are a joy! As parents we choose to celebrate their lives. And most of the time, I’m sure you’ll agree with me, all these precious memories and valuable mementos of their childhood, are of course, very sentimental. And that’s the reason why we keep these tokens of their lives. How much we tend to keep, is purely a reflection of who we are as individuals. Some moms will keep more, some will keep less, but the point is, we all keep something, because there is priceless value associated to whatever we choose to keep. The problem doesn’t lie with keeping these treasured pieces. The problem therein lies, on where we keep them and how we display all these very dear tokens of childhood. The truth is, most of us moms and dads, think we have solutions for saving our children’s prized works and achievements. We think we have all our digital memories all saved safely and sorted. But if we ask ourselves honestly, do we really have it together? I’ve experienced it all myself and I’m sure dozens of you feel the same. From boxes, of all shapes and sizes, to envelopes, files, books, scrapbooks, flip files, albums, drawers and shelves. We’ve all tried and tested a mix of them all. Some work, some don’t but the combination of assorted methods tend to create havoc on in our lives. To make things worse, and with the advent of the digital world, well this just bamboozles our filing methods all together. Because simply put, there are way too many videos and photos to look through in a single lifetime. And they too, are just dotted all over the place in various drives, SD cards, memory sticks, computers, phones, CDs and DVDs. Do you feel swamped? Do you need a life jacket yet? If you are anything like I was, or how most people are, you’re using a bunch of standalone keepsake methods that are cluttering up your home and life. In isolation they probably work, but honestly, they negatively alter the way every childhood story should unfold, that is, chronologically, in unified sequence. If you want to feel better, faster, I’ll pinpoint ONE staggering storage solution, that’ll save you money, space, time, chaos in the long term. More importantly, this one revolutionary system is guaranteed to accurately and chronologically keep a variety of ALL your keepsakes, art and memories together, in ONE place, in a neat, tidy, organized and compact way. A way that is not only easy to put together, instant to enjoy and look through, but impressively tracks childhood year by year, whilst keeping all documents safe, from anything that can destroy them. ForeverChilds – My File About Me has made a huge difference in my life, and it’s had an impact on the lives of thousands of our happy customers too. I invite you to embark on a new adventure. It’s truly a delight to watch your child grow and capture the journey. To discover more or shop online www.myfilleaboutme.co.za
You can teach a student a lesson for a day, but if you can teach him/her to learn by curiosity, he/she will continue the learning process as long as he/she lives – Clay P. Bedford Children are naturally curious. They are constantly exploring the world around them; constantly asking questions, and constantly wondering how things work. The question, therefore, is not how do we create a curious mind, but how do we nurture a child’s curiosity so that they have a continued passion for learning throughout their lives. Learning is about discovering how life works, and children are not afraid to ask the “How?” and “Why?” questions. A curious mind is a hidden force that drives learning, critical thinking, and reasoning. It’s about having an open and active mind. It puts the brain in a state that makes learning easier, more enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Stimulating a child’s curiosity impacts their learning and development for a lifetime. Curious children explore their environment, devour books and information, ask questions, investigate concepts, manipulates data, searches for meaning, connect with people and nature, and seek new learning experiences. So how do we nurture this curious mind? Model interest in the world, and teach them to be good observers When walking around wonder out loud about the things you see. The trees, the sky, etc. Follow the child’s lead Encourage their natural interests. Children learn so much more through activities that capture their attention and interest. Encourage them to ask questions Answer their questions simply and clearly, in a way, they will understand. Before answering though, first, ask them what their thoughts are. If you do not know the answer let them know that not knowing is also ok, and then model how they can go about finding the answers (eg. Internet, talking to someone, etc) Introduce your child to the library and foster a love for books and reading, whether it be story books or about rockets. Stimulate your child with open-ended questions that can’t be answered with only a “ye”, “no” or “fine”. Create an interesting environment, continuously rotate your supply of toys to keep things “fresh”. Redirect behaviour instead of discouraging it. For example, if they like pouring out water from their cup onto the floor from their highchair, move them to the floor or backyard with a bucket in front of them so they can continue experimenting with a water. This will also teach them problem-solving skills, creative and acceptable ways to do and get what they want. Allow time for open-ended activities Do not tell them what to do with materials like boxes, blocks, water, sand, etc; how to do it; or what it should look like in the end. Curiosity broadens a child’s mind, and a broader mind helps in the holistic development of the child. Curiosity should therefore never be suppressed or else it can have an adverse impact on a child’s early development. As John Holt says: “Children do not need to be made to learn” since they are already born with what Einstein called “the holy curiosity of inquiry”. By Lauren Holton, Teacher at Trinityhouse Northriding
A fantastic booster seat that suits baby’s needs as they start developing independence and more refined eating skills, the Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Chair is a sturdy, funky and completely compact piece of furniture that baby can own all for themselves. Easily slipped into any chair, the Pocket Snack provides height for the child and allows them to celebrate meal times with the family. Made from durable plastic, the chair is easily wiped down to avoid stains and can be adjusted as your child grows. The perfect solution for home or being out and about, the chair even has a safety harness to secure a wriggly child. Chair comes with a removable tray and a handle to carry about with ease. Available in SA in dark grey, modern mint and lime, the Easy Snack goes for approximately R699 at all leading retailers and online portals.
Play for a child, prepares them for adulthood with all life’s delights and contests. What better way to learn as a child than to be given the chance to play freely in large areas? One of my best memories as a child was of running around the field at Pre-school with my friends in tow, the real excitement at finding new treasure troves, making up games, and the tangible fear we felt, like when we had to climb a high jungle gym or run away from a scary dinosaur! Being brought onto the playground, where we would get stuck in exploring all the new possibilities there for fun, games and imagination. What a treat! Because I was fortunate enough to have a home with a large garden, I remember how liberated I felt being free to meander around without my parents watching me all the time, and how nature became my learning ground. However, I would imagine that this is not the case for most children because of the way society has changed and with many of us now living in townhouse complexes, some with very limited space. Today’s children get so few opportunities to play freely, because we understandably fear for their safety, be it the road or “stranger danger.” My own interest in play and children’s development stems from my experience of working as a Teacher and Principal for the past 27 years, where I meet the most amazing children and their parents every day and fortunately are willing to help them with any issues, usually related to their development, emotions or behaviour. From my work, research, studies and experience, I have gained a good sense of what children need to develop to their full potentials. Not a lot has been written on the benefits of playgrounds, which is surprising given that our children spend so much time in them. Below are 7 good reasons why children should have space to play, based on different aspects of a child’s development: Social, Brain and Language Development Children of all ages develop their social skills on a playground through the creation of “games”, like catch or make-believe play, where the equipment is turned into something else (e.g. obstacle course, hospital, school, etc), where children give themselves roles and they work out the “rules of the game” in cooperation. Playgrounds provide an opportunity for children to practice their social skills, to come up with solutions to problems, and to learn self-control in working out their conflicts. Play also encourages language development, as children often talk aloud during their play (e.g. “Look at me going down the big slide!”), and the interaction with their peers allows them to express their thoughts and feelings and to develop their understanding and spoken skills. I’ve noticed that children who don’t even speak the same language can get on just fine during play! Physical Development and Good Physical Exercise As children progress, they are drawn to different systems of play which encourage their development, like rough and tumble play. Children naturally seek this form of play, which helps them to work out their physical space in the world, where their body begins and where it ends. This is crucial for the development of their motor skills and spatial awareness. It’s FUN! Large open spaces encourage your children to get out there and move! It’s so much fun and exhilarating for them! Playing is your child’s most natural form of expression, regardless of their age, and when they are engaged in it they forget everything else and really enjoy the moment. By Elizabeth Steenkamp, Principal of Junior Colleges Castillian
We are often asked by moms in our classes – “When do I start to teach my toddler to cut?” Followed by: “How do I do it? Isn’t it dangerous?” We hope to answer some of your questions here and put your mind at ease. Cutting is a fine motor skill and hence takes a little longer to develop. Remember we develop from the large muscles to the small muscles and seeing as some of the smallest muscles are in the hands, it takes a toddler at least 2 years before he can start to understand the mechanics behind cutting. Cutting helps to develop eye hand coordination – for example holding a piece of paper in one hand and cutting with the other while watching where you are cutting with your eyes. Bilateral coordination is also developed which is being able to use both sides of the body at the same time in a controlled manner. Remember it’s not easy to try and cut out a shape, holding onto the piece of paper, turning it as you are cutting and at the same time opening and closing the scissors to perform the task. It is also important to discuss the correct scissor grip. By using the correct scissor grip you can make cutting skills develop more naturally and with less effort, thus making the process more enjoyable. The correct scissor grip for this age group is for the child to place their thumb in the top loop and both their index and middle fingers in the bottom loop. As they become a little older (approximately 5 years of age) they can change to a more refined grip of having their thumb in the top loop and their middle finger in the bottom loop and their index finger supporting the bottom of the scissors. So what scissors do you start with? Use toddler safety scissors. Also make sure that the bottom hole is big enough to fit the two little fingers in. This all helps the toddler gain control over the scissors. You can also purchase scissors that are designed to be used by left and right handed children. First step is to show your toddler how to use scissors appropriately and to learn to always put them away after use. They must be taught the basic safety rules of using a pair of scissors – to never run around with scissors in their hands and that scissors are for cutting paper – nothing else! If these rules are broken, the scissors are to be put away until another time. All cutting activities must be done under adult supervision at all times. Exposure to scissors should be between 1.5 and 2 years of age, starting with learning how to open and close the scissors. At this stage they are not ready to cut up paper. Show him where to place his fingers and practice opening and closing the scissors. Then give him some play dough that’s been rolled out to cut. No matter the action if he opens and closes the scissors it will cut. Once he has mastered the open close action, he now needs to practice snipping. Remember we are not looking for perfection here. Cut pieces of cardboard into thin pieces and let him snip, snip, snip. Practice makes perfect. There won’t be any forward movement on the cardboard with the scissors, just small snipping motions. Only at about 2.5 to 3 years of age will your child start to move the scissors in the forward cutting motion. Draw some short wide- apart lines on paper. Show him how to hold the paper with thumbs up. You can even stick a sticker on each thumb nail so that he knows they have to face up when cutting. He now just snips the lines drawn. Again we are not looking for perfection. Exposure to cutting is going to help make them master the skill. Just remember that he won’t be able to cut along the drawn lines accurately as he is not quite there developmentally. Between the ages of 3 and 3.5 years your child will start to use his non dominant hand to help “turn” the paper when cutting and by the time he hits the age of 4 years of age he should be able to cut along a straight line of about 15cms. Some tips Always start off by cutting play dough Thin card is easier to learn to cut on than paper Take strands of wool, knotted at the top and let your toddler snip them into smaller pieces Cut plastic straws and let her string them afterwards to make a necklace Cutting flower stems and leaves are great fun as well. Learning to use scissors is a complicated task and this skill wil only improve with lots of practice. Have patience during the process and your child will eventually master the skill of cutting.
