Did you know that the best-selling safety pool cover – the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover – is also a great way to reduce your pool’s power consumption? In our power crisis, if every pool were covered, it would reduce the need for loadshedding! Get covered, get the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover – the easy solution for child safety as well as sustainability. A total no-brainer! Get a quote today.
New and expecting moms know that there is plenty to prepare in and around the home before baby’s arrival. From setting up a nursery to making sure you’ve stocked up on all the essentials, expecting moms go through plenty of effort to ensure a seamless transition to their new normal. For the first few months, baby will likely spend most of their time feeding and sleeping, but as they grow a little bit bigger and start moving around on their own, there’s another aspect to consider: home safety. You may have heard the term “baby-proofing” – the act of making an environment safe for babies and small children. This is an essential step to take at home to avoid accidents and ensure your baby or toddler stays safe while enjoying a little bit of their newfound freedom. A few simple additions to your home will ensure your peace of mind, and your little one’s safety. Keeping safe at home One of the number one safety items you’ll need in your home once baby starts crawling or walking, is a safety gate. Placed at the top and bottom of a staircase, it’ll prevent baby from taking a fall, but it’s also handy to place at the entrance of a room. A room like an office, for example, may contain hazardous items that baby shouldn’t have access to. Placing a gate at the door will prevent baby from entering on their own. Safety 1st Auto Close Safety Gate (R999.99) offers a smart and easy-to-use automatic closing mechanism. Simply squeeze the buttons on the handle to open it and let it close automatically when shutting. It opens in both directions, making it convenient and practical to use. Most of us have a traumatic childhood memory of a finger getting pinched or closed in a door. Prevent this painful accident by safe-guarding the doors in your home. Safety 1st Finger Pinch Guard (R54.99) protects fingers from accidentally getting pinched by a closing door. When the door is fully closed, it conveniently hangs on the doorknob where it’s easy to access when needed again. It is made from a soft foam material and is easily removed. If you’ve ever walked into the sharp corner of a table or counter you’ll understand why it is essential to avoid your little one from running into it (especially when it’s head-height!). Safety 1st Corner Cushion 4 Pack(R47.99) contains four foam bumpers that are easily applied to tables, counters and other home furniture to soften the sharp corners and help protect your child. Little ones are curious, and you may find them touching everything they come across. One of the biggest home hazards are plug sockets. Located close to the ground (thus within baby’s reach!), they can cause electrocution, should baby put their finger into one of the holes. Safety 1st Outlet Plug Protectors 12 Pack (R49.99) is an essential. Made with rounded edges that are child-resistant, these durable plastic gadgets fit snugly into an electrical socket, sealing it and protecting baby from electrocution. Keeping safe in the car Once baby arrives, you’ll take much better precautions when you’re on the road, and it’s important to alert others of baby’s presence too. Let everyone know that you’ve got precious cargo on board with the classic Safety 1st Baby On Board Sign (R52.99). It attaches easily to your car’s window and reminds others to drive safely. Healthcare safety We all know the importance of keeping a first aid kit in your home and in the car, as you never know when you might need it. The same goes for baby. Make sure that you have basic healthcare tools such as a thermometer and medicine dropper stored in a convenient place – when you need it, you’ll want to be able to access it immediately. Safety 1st Healthcare Kit (R269.99) features baby healthcare essentials, conveniently packed in a reversible case. The kit contains a soft-grip toothbrush, new-born nasal aspirator, medicine dropper with spill guard, a digital thermometer and an emergency contact card. If baby’s nails grow too long, they’ll be at risk of scratching themselves, so it’s important to trim them regularly. However, moms know that this can be a challenging task! Take the stress out of nail trimming by investing in a pair of baby nail clippers. Safety 1st Clearview Nail Clipper (R54.99) has an adjustable 5x magnifying lens for a clear view and an easy-grip handle for secure hold. It helps you trim baby’s nails closely and cleanly. Keeping your baby or toddler well-groomed is essential for their health and development. You only need a few basics to keep their hair, nails and teeth in tip top condition. Safety 1st Essential Grooming Kit(R229.95) covers all of baby’s basic grooming needs in one convenient place. The kit contains a soft grip brush and comb, soft grip toothbrush, baby scissors, nail clippers and 5 emery boards in a convenient reversible travel case. All accessories are ergonomically designed and are suitable to use from birth.
I have had the privilege of teaching in larger groups of 5, smaller groups of 2-3, and individual classes. We Learn through play, and fun is key to learning to swim by the time they start Grade 1. Swimming Learning to Swim is not about stroke development. Instead, it is when you can swim from one side to the other side of the pool comfortably and effortlessly, breathing and climbing out of the pool. Children up to 3 or 4 years old do not know and understand that they are in a learning environment; therefore, repetition of songs, actions, and progressions helps them learn more effectively. I believe the earlier you introduce children to water in a safe environment, the more comfortable and content they will be. Older children have more obstacles to overcome when they start lessons later, e.g., introduction to a large mass of water, orientation, the instructor, the children, the venue, and the building of trust. What do typical swimming lessons look like for each age group? I will begin my journey with the youngest age group; I call them my ‘water babies,’ they are ages one year – eighteen months. They love the water. A parent must accompany their baby in the water and we teach them how to hold and manage the baby. We learn songs and cues; it takes about 4-5 lessons for everyone to settle down in the water. Once babies can crawl, walk and climb on land, they can start learning this in water, and hence why our very first lesson we learn is entry into shallow water before proceeding into the deep end. If you are fortunate to have a shallow step in your pool, you can make the lesson fun by encouraging your child to crawl like a crocodile, hop like a bunny, and climb or hold onto objects or obstacles. Once we enter the water, we can walk around with the baby on the hip & allow their hands to feel and move through the water. Since they are so small and all their body parts work together simultaneously, parents do most of the actions by manipulating their arms and legs, and as baby grows, they can attempt the activities on their own. Examples of manipulation will be moving their arms around and digging in the water, splashing their feet, and holding on. As they become confident and master a skill, we can progress on each skill. An example of a skill would be back floating. It starts with a parent walking backward in the water with the baby’s head on the parents’ shoulder while the baby is facing upwards. Mom will hold the baby’s hand, and the other hand will drift freely. Eventually, we move the baby off the shoulder and against the parent’s chest with one finger lifting the chin up while the other hand supports the baby’s head. The parents can sing and count to promote confidence and excitement. We then would progress to catch and release the hand away from under the head, catch and support. We should be teaching babies at this age to close their mouths and hum. Humming prevents water from entering through the nose. Humming on its own takes a lot of practice, and cues are vitally important; E.g., 1,2,3 hum and submerge. Please note we only immerse once the baby is comfortable and the mouth is closed. From 18 – 36 months, our toddlers become more independent, and we wean them off the parents in the pool. Activities in this age group include: Holding to the side of the pool, Floating on their backs, If they cannot back float yet, we focus on getting the toddler more comfortable on their backs with ears in the water by supporting them under the head with one hand, and with our other hand, we use a finger to help lift their chin up- wards. Eventually, we progress until they can float for 3 – 4 seconds without the support and increase the duration to 10 seconds. From here, you will teach back, push and glide. Crab crawling along the wall, Climbing in and out, Sitting out the pool and launching to the teacher in the pool is being taught by assisting them in turning & returning to the wall. By now, most toddlers can submerge themselves in the water, and I speak for those attending lessons weekly. Toddlers start learning to blow bubbles, but we still hum when submerging. “Natural accidents” begin to happen because of their independence, eg. They tumble in the water; hands may slip off the poolside during crab crawling, or they may even sniff or drink some water on the step. These accidents may cause them to become cautious and insecure, but we do our best to motivate and encourage them to continue. Ways of doing this include counting out loud to a certain number which teaches the child that we will eventually have a break when they reach a specific number; patience is key! Age Groups 3-4 years From experience, we see that the children chat away and love demonstrating at this age. We allow them to show off their tricks, as it encourages the other children in the class to participate. Their balance and coordination on a noodle start improving, and their kicks become stronger. One-action swimming is typical for this age group. E.g., They will kick on the noodle, but as soon as they need to take a breath, blow bubbles & kick then, one of the actions stops. The coordination of the required skills takes time to develop in small children. As an instructor, you have the responsibility to remind and assist them. E.g., when they swim underwater, we tap their hands, lift them to take a breath & release them so they can paddle further. We do this often. Another example is saying out loud and clear, kick and blow, cheek/ear in the water, and take a breath. From the age of 3
Once your baby is accustomed to purees you can start introducing finger foods, usually at around 6 to 8 months. Finger foods are an important part of your child’s food journey, helping them develop biting and chewing skills and developing their coordination and motor skills. Try these recipes. CREAM CHEESE DIP Little ones love dipping! This dip is super versatile – use Squish 100% Fruit Puree if you’ll be serving it with fruit slices, or add Squish 100% Veg Puree if you’re opting for savoury. Make this dip using any already open Squish 100% Fruit or Veg pouches you have in the fridge – feel free to mix and match flavours. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree pouches come with a resealable lid, which cuts back on food waste when you are introducing new tastes and textures to your baby, and just want to try a small amount at a time. Ingredients ½ cup plain cream cheese ½ pouch of Squish 100% Fruit or Veg Puree Lightly steamed vegetable batons or slices of apple or pear Method Place cream cheese in a bowl and add your child’s favourite Squish 100% Fruit or Vegetable Puree. Stir well to blended. Finger food tip: Cutting food into wedges or batons is best. Make them around 7cm long so that your baby can hold in their fist. It is essential to steam or roast crunchy vegetables so that they can’t break into large chunks and become a choking hazard. SWEET POTATO PANCAKES Sweet potatoes are packed with beta-carotene and vitamin C and their natural sweetness makes them an excellent choice as your baby gets used to new flavours. These pancakes are made using a pouch of Squish 100% Sweet Potato, Apple and Cinnamon Puree. They freeze well, so you can have them easily on hand when you need a tasty meal for your little one. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are made using quality fresh fruit and veg and are free from nasties like preservatives, flavourants and colourants. Ingredients: 160 g (1 cup) cake flour 5 g (1 tsp) baking powder 2 eggs 125 ml (½ cup) milk (you can switch this out for breastmilk or formula) 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Sweet Potato, Apple and Cinnamon Puree 15 ml (1 Tbsp) oil for frying Method: Sift together flour and baking powder. Whisk together eggs, milk and Squish Puree. Whisk the Squish mixture into the dry ingredients and beat to a smooth, thick batter. Heat the oil over a very low heat in a non-stick frying pan. Add spoons of the batter and shape into circles. Cook until bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, then flip over and cook on the other side until the pancake is firm to the touch. Repeat with remaining batter. Finger food tip: Sometimes little ones can ‘store’ food in their mouths. At the end of mealtimes give their mouth a quick check to see they have swallowed all of their food. VEGGIE-LOADED SCRAMBLED EGG From around six months it is safe to introduce eggs into your child’s diet. Although you might not think of scrambled eggs as finger food, your little one with love picking up the bits of egg and eating it. Just make sure when you’re scrambling that you don’t break the egg up into pieces that are too small. This scrambled egg has Squish 100% Veg Puree added to it – we used Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree, but you could try different flavours too, including Butternut + Carrot or Pear + Sweet Potato. Serve with toast cut into fingers. Ingredients 2 eggs 50 ml (½ pouch) Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree (or any flavour you please) 45 ml (3 Tbsp) cheddar cheese, grated Method Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk. Add Squish Puree and mix well. Melt a blob of butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the egg and puree mix and cook, stirring, until just cooked. Stir in the cheese. Finger food tip: When your baby first starts on finger foods you need to ensure the food is soft. Your baby should be able to squash the food between their fingers.
As a parent, you already know the importance of child drowning prevention and how quickly accidents can happen. What you perhaps didn’t know is that in South Africa, pool safety will become a regulatory issue, governed by the SABS through its building Standards. According to the Safety Standard (SANS 10134), pool safety will need to be provided on all properties. The most effective way to address this is with a solid safety cover. But not all safety covers are made equal and it is important to understand the criteria when choosing a safety cover. These are the questions to ask and the critical factors to get right if your safety cover is to perform as it should and keep unsupervised children (and pets) safe. After rain, does the water drain off within 15 minutes, leaving no water pooled on top of the cover? A compliant safety cover must have drainage holes. Could an object measuring 114mm fit under the edge of the cover? This represents the size of a small child’s head. Is the cover’s weight tolerance 220kg or more? Can two adults and a child walk on it without harm to themselves or damage to the cover? Are the batons supporting the cover manufactured for solid safety pool covers and able to carry the intended weight? Similarly, are the ratchets of adequate quality? Are the supplier and the installer accredited by SANS 10134? Does the supplier provide official certification with the safety cover? The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is the leading child safety cover and complies with all the abovementioned requirements. Solid Safety Covers were first designed and introduced to the South African market by PowerPlastics Pool Covers. Many have tried to copy it but don’t always get the quality right. Cutting corners by using cheap components could result in a pool cover that is as unsafe as an uncovered pool if not even more dangerous, imagine being trapped under a defective cover! A Solid Safety Cover is a specialist product, and requires specialist design and installation methods. Go with the original and best in quality cover from PowerPlastics Pool Covers. You will be glad you went the extra mile when your quality safety cover stops a child or pet drowning in your own home. Learn more at www.powerplastics.co.za
The rising cost of living means we are all feeling the pinch when it comes to putting healthy and delicious meals on the table for our families. These smart budget-friendly tips for meals for your little one will help keep your grocery bills in check, without compromising on quality and natural goodness. 1. Plan ahead and shop wisely Before you head to the shops, do a quick audit of your grocery cupboard, fridge and freezer so you only buy what you need. Compare prices at various supermarkets to make sure you make the most of any specials – the easiest way to do price comparisons is to log onto their online shopping apps. And don’t be afraid to try cheaper cuts of meat – if they’re cooked long and slow you can produce a delicious meal. 2. Stock up on staples A good supply of basics in your grocery cupboard is a real cost-saver – it means you can quickly and easily create a meal or snack without heading to the store (or being tempted to get takeaways). Got a tin of butter beans in your pantry? Quickly whip up this Bean Dip and serve with mini pitas or veggie sticks. And remember, having a selection of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree pouches in your pantry means you’ll always have a meal on hand for your little one. They are designed to be the perfect portion size and fit easily into your handbag or nappy bag if you’re heading out with your baby or toddler. Squish Purees are filled with quality ingredients and are free of nasties like preservatives, colourants and flavourants – plus they have no added cane sugar. 3. Cook batches of food and freeze The freezer really is your friend when it comes to saving money – and time! Next time you’re cooking a mince or chicken dish, double the recipe and freeze half. Freezing also means you can cut back on waste. Instead of throwing out veg that are past their prime, use them to make a soup or stew and freeze in meal-size batches. This Easy Veggie Sauce is a real winner too. It’s made with Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree and can turn rice, mashed potato or pasta into a goodness packed meal in a jiffy. Cook up a batch and freeze in smaller portions for extra convenience. 4. Maximise leftovers With a little imagination and a few pantry basics, leftovers can be transformed into a delicious meal for your toddler. Stir Squish 100% Veg Puree through leftover pasta, rice or mash, add shredded chicken or tuna and pop in the microwave to heat through. Squish Puree pouches all come with a resealable screw-on lid, which means you never need to waste a drop. Use what you need, then pop in the fridge to use later. They’re available in a variety of flavours, including Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot; Sweet Potato, Apple + Cinnamon; Apple, Beetroot + Guava; and Pear + Sweet Potato.
Mr Price Baby has launched, offering you a whole new world of baby: a one-stop shop with every need sorted! “Since launching baby clothing in November 2020, we saw the need to give parents even more of the unbelievable value we are known for. After two years of thorough market research, talking to parents and soon-to-be moms, we have designed a store experience to make parenting affordable and convenient for all South Africans. As you would expect from Mr Price, the new concept will differentiate from competitors through its famous fashion-value formula. Further differentiators include an in-store shopping experience that is tailored to the baby and toddler shopper as a one-stop destination, and a digital platform with the same features that has made Mr Price the most visited South African fashion retailer.” – Donovan Baney, Managing Director of Mr Price. Mr Price Baby will be with parents every step of the way offering a wide assortment of products and major baby brands across changing, personal care, bath, travel, drinking, sleep, feeding, play and clothing for babies (0-24 months) and kids (1-7 years). You’ll be able to shop everything from prams and car seats to nappies, toys, baby food and so many more essentials. “Mr Price Baby is a major milestone for us being the people’s value champion with so much potential to grow.” – Donovan Baney, Managing Director of Mr Price. You can find our standalone Mr Price Baby stores in Eastgate Shopping Centre, Menlyn Shopping Centre, Mitchells Plain Promenade Mall, Carnival Mall, Parow Centre and Pine Crest Centre. You can shop a selection of product in the Mr Price Kids stores at Carlton Centre, Mall of Africa and Midlands Mall, as well as in the following Mr Price stores: Benoni Lakeside Mall, Cavendish, Fourways Mall, Golden Walk Shopping Centre and Nelspruit Riverside Mall. Added convenience includes a kiosk in selected stores where customers can shop online with the option of door-to-door delivery or click & collect at their nearest store or create a baby gift registry. Our full assortment will also be available to shop online at mrprice.com and on the Mr Price app. Follow us @mrpricebaby on Instagram and Facebook Official hashtag: #mrpricebaby
Good day everyone. Welcome to on the couch with Jessica. I’m Jessica from Growing Hearts and today we are going to talk a little bit more about the age old question that many moms have asked. Why does my baby’s nappy leak?
Some days you will shake your head; some moments, you just look at your child and think, who will clean you up now? Parents, don’t get discouraged; this is the best time for your little one to learn. Creative expression is important for a child to trigger their emotional development. Importantly, this must happen in their lower classes, so they grow up by responding well to their happenings. Creativity gives them the freedom to explore their surroundings and learn. By allowing your child to get messy, you are allowing them the freedom of being a child. This allows them to play, create, and explore different textures and elements nature offers. Letting children climb a tree strengthens their large muscles, enhances their midline crossing, and helps with problem-solving skills. Letting children play in mud allows them to explore, feel, and build a stronger immune system. Let them get messy, play in the nature around them, and explore what they can do with their bodies. Childhood is a state of mind that ends when a puddle is first viewed as an obstacle instead of an opportunity.
According to the law, children under the age of three have to be strapped in when travelling in vehicles on South African roads. The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child’s age, size, and developmental needs. Once you’ve established what car seat you’re after though, correctly installing it and knowing how to strap in your child is the next very crucial step to securing your child’s safety when in a vehicle. According to Maxi-Cosi car seat manufacturers, their seats are among the safest you can buy, but all car seats need to be fitted and used correctly for safe travel and maximum protection. Here are their top tips for car seat safety: Install car seats correctly Baby car seats must always be rear facing. If you have ISOFIX in your car use an ISOFIX car seat, it’s easy to install the seat to the anchor points. If you don’t have ISOFIX you can use a seat belt installed car seat. Make sure you know how to guide the belt correctly and pull the car seat belt tight. Make sure the seat is locked down – a simple check is to check if the car seat is moving around a fair amount, in which case it’s not installed correctly Pull the car seat’s safety harness tight. If you can just slip one finger between the harness and your child’s chest, it’s tight enough. Read the car seat manual or watch the installation video and follow the instructions carefully. Various baby stores can also install carseats for you and check that your seat Secure your child correctly Always use a car seat, even on short trips It’s obvious, and it’s the law, but we still sometimes see children travelling without a car seat. Accidents can happen, even on the shortest trips. Use a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible It’s safest for babies and toddlers to stay in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 15 months old. It doesn’t matter if their legs stick out, but if their heads are higher than the seat shell, they need the next size. Avoid second-hand car seats You can never be sure a second-hand car seat is a safe car seat. You don’t know if it’s been damaged in an accident, or has pieces missing. Use the correct size car seat It’s best to buy a car seat for your child’s current height and weight, then buy the next size up. Avoid seats that claim to cover all ages in one. Make sure the safety harness is at the right heightThe harness should be at shoulder height. Take your child’s coat offA thick coat can make the harness less effective. If your child is cold, use their coat as a blanket over the harness. Beware of activated frontal airbagsThe safest place for a rear-facing car seat is on the back seat, passenger side. This avoids the danger of front airbags inflating against the seat. Deactivate the front airbag if you use your car seat on the passenger seat and place this seat in the rearmost position. Make sure the safety harness straps are not twisted. Keep loose items off the rear parcel shelfIn an accident, even small loose items can turn into dangerous projectiles. Tuck them away safely. Follow these tips and enjoy lots of fun, safe outings with your child.
A nutritious and delicious lunchbox is essential to see your little one through the day. These quick and easy prep-ahead snacks are packed with Squish goodness and will take the hassle out of filling your child’s lunchbox every morning. Add a Squish 100% Pressed Juice box to their lunch bag to help keep your toddler hydrated as they go about their busy day. SQUISH BAKED BREAKFAST BARSSQUISH BAKED BREAKFAST BARS These breakfast bars store really well in a sealed container, which means if you bake a batch on the weekend, they should see you through the week. We’ve used Summer Berries in this recipe, but it works just as well with any of the many Squish flavours. Try Pear + Prune; Pear, Butternut, Yoghurt + Mango with Cinnamon; Apple + Guava; or Fruit Salad. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are made used quality ingredients and are free from preservatives, flavourants and colourants. Ingredients 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Summer Berries Puree 750 ml (3 C) quick oats 125 ml (½ C) sugar 2.5 ml (½ tsp) salt 5 ml (1 tsp) baking powder 5 ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon 125 ml (½ C) butter, melted 2 eggs Method Place the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Mix together the puree, butter and eggs. Add the puree mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Line a baking tray with baking paper and spoon in mixture. Flatten with the back of a spoon. Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 180°C for 25 minutes or until firm to the touch. Leave to cool slightly then cut into fingers. TIP: These breakfast bars are also delicious crumbled over some natural yoghurt and topped with Squish 100% Fruit Puree. SQUISH FRUIT AND SPICE LOAF This moist tea cake stores well in the fridge so you can simply slice off as you need. The loaf is packed with grated carrot too, which is high in fibre, Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Ingredients 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Pear, Butternut, Yoghurt + Mango with Cinnamon Puree 125 ml (½ C) Squish 100% Apple Juice 440 ml (1¾ C) cake flour 250 ml (1 C) sugar 5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon 2.5 ml (½ tsp) baking powder 5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda 125 ml (½ C) grated carrot 2 eggs 125 ml (½ C) sunflower oil Method Sift the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Add the grated carrot. Mix together the eggs, oil, juice and puree. Add to the dry ingredients and beat well to mix. Pour the batter into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for 35 minutes or until the loaf is well risen and a wooden skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Turn out and leave to cool. TIP: Use a frozen Squish 100% Pressed Fruit Juice box as a lunchbox cooler. Your child can then enjoy it later in the day once it has melted. CHEESY VEG BALLS These tasty little balls are so moreish, and they’re packed full of healthy veg! They’re a great way to use up half-empty Squish 100% Veg Purees you might have in your fridge – just make the quantity up to 110ml. All Squish Puree pouches come with a resealable screw-on lid, helping you cut back on food waste. Just use what you need, then pop in the fridge for later. Ingredients 1 cup cheese 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree (or any flavour you please) ¼ small onion, finely grated 2 cups breadcrumbs (simply put several slices of bread into your processor and blitz) ½ cup wholewheat flour 2-3 large courgettes, finely grated 2 large carrots, finely grated ½ clove garlic grated, finely grated 2 Tbsp olive oil/coconut oil 1 tsp dried herbs Method Combine all the ingredients then leave to rest for 20 minutes. Roll into small balls. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 20-25 minutes. For a dipping sauce, simply mix some full-cream plain yoghurt with Squish 100% Veg Puree. TIP: These can also be cooked in an air-fryer – 10 minutes tops. • Looking for more toddler-friendly lunchbox inspiration? Click here.
There’s a new buzz around the playgrounds of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durbs (Bloem too!) as JoyJoy Kids’ Sneakers make their way to hundreds of South Africa’s little feet. ‘The world’s first insanely cool sneaker’ qualifies as an interchangeable kaleidoscope of fashion-fun as kids ages 3-12 get to snap on, snap off and swap out their choices of shoe design. Ready to impress, JoyJoy hits the online space this Winter with an addictive collection of shoe reverie that will affect (and improve) the carpool, the playground, the classroom, Saturday parties, extra lessons and extra – everything. Started by Mompreneurs, Jade Kirkel and Daniella Silbermann – on a lounge floor somewhere between a playdate and a bottle feed. This fresh, interchangeable sneaker allows kids the freedom to experiment with their unique sense of style: to change their look and their mood, in a snap – and to ultimately help build their self-confidence on and off the playground. “We intended to think of everything along this journey, ” says Dani Silbermann, Co-founder of JoyJoy, “the comfort factors, the confidence factors, the convenience factors and the fashion factors – but mostly, the JOY factors of wearing shoes at a young age.” “Beyond that – we also wanted to build a fashion brand that would make our little ones feel in charge of their feelings and their style choices,” adds Jade Kirkel, Co-founder of JoyJoy. “Imagine a pair of sneakers that gets kids excited about wearing shoes, and, at the same time, makes mom or dad feel like they’ve won the war in the ‘dress-myself department’; that’s what JoyJoy does,” says Kirkel. But that’s not the only problem this sneaker solves: it saves on money (and tantrums too). For parents, a trip to the shoe-shelf is no fun feet, with kids’ needing to replace their shoes more often, due to wear and tear or fashion trends. JoyJoy relieves this with the convenience of just one quality pair of white sneakers and 100’s of ways to wear it. The fun won’t ever end in this theme park of shoe exhilaration and gone will be the days of tying laces. Designed to meet young girls and boys where they’re at, all JoyJoy Snap Packs are themed to suit a day in the life of a little grown up: from The Sweet Life to Snap Dragon to Play it Cool to Princess Squad, Goal-Getters and, even, The Chill Out Snap Pack – kids can’t go wrong with changing their minds, hearts or vibes in a moment. Better yet, besties will have a roaring time swapping out their snaps for their best days ever. And when the day goes wrong? And the shoe doesn’t fit (by foot size nor fashion sense), guess what – they don’t have to wear it! Knowing the inevitable frustration that comes with fussy pirates and mermaids, Jade and Dani offer a problem-free Joylosophy with their J.S.I.B promise – JUST SEND IT BACK. No laces attached. Too big? Too small? The glitter’s come off? The shark looks funny? Want a last- minute crown and not a dragon? No fashion faux pas is too little nor too big for these Moms on a mission to serve joy. Parents can easily reach out to the JoyJoy team for a return or refund. Undoubtedly, Jade and Dani have made it their sole mission to impress little big humans and to remove the grudge from shoe-wearing. Even the parents at home might have shoe envy (sorry folks, no adult sizes yet!). Where to start? The JoyJoy Starter Box is Mom and Dad’s first port of call along the JoyJoy journey, picked and packed and delivered straight to your door. The Starter box includes a pair of signature white JoyJoy sneakers (which can be worn on their own) and a Snap Pack of mix and match snaps of your choice. The starter box retails for R799 including free delivery (yay more added joy!). Once you have your signature base JoyJoy sneaker, you have now opened up a world of infinitely interchangeable snaps. Snap Packs are a mixer-matcher dream and are released regularly in collections of three Velcro snaps per pack. Here’s a SNEAKer Peek: The Ice Cream Starter Box: Pair of White JoyJoy Sneakers Ice Cream Patch Snap Purple Glitter Snap Gold Glitter Snap Butterfly Starter Box: Pair of White JoyJoy Sneakers Butterfly Patch Snap Purple Glitter Snap Navy Glitter Snap Shark Starter Box: Pair of White JoyJoy Sneakers Shark Snap Patch Red Snap Grey Snap JoyJoy is your child’s answer to confident dress-sense and self-awareness; giving them the freedom to stand up and stand out; the power to express their feelings through fashion and to choose and change their vibe, style and mood – as many (many) times as they like. Go on, add to cart Mom. Shop JoyJoy online at www.joyjoy.co.za
You may have read the subject of today’s article and chuckled to yourself. As MUSIC is primarily an auditory experience, of course music has a role to play in promoting listening skills, you might be thinking! But, what I want to expand on today is not just “listening skills” in its most generic form, but AUDITORY PROCESSING. So, what is Auditory Processing and why it is so very important in a child’s development? What is Auditory Processing? Auditory Processing is the natural process of taking in sound through the ear and having it travel to the language area of the brain to be interpreted. In other words, Auditory Processing is “what our brain does with what the ear hears” (Katz). Why is it so important? Imagine this scenario: your child’s pre-school teacher tells him / her that show-and-tell is coming up and they can bring something to share with the class. She then goes over what is appropriate to bring and what is not. Your child must first use their auditory system to acknowledge that they know what show-and-tell is and how it works. Then, your child must use their auditory system to remember that the teacher said show-and-tell was this Friday. They then have to retain what was appropriate to bring and what was not. Finally, they must use their auditory system to store that information and recall or repeat the details to you when they come home from school. Acknowledge-Understand-Retain-Recall-Repeat So, Auditory Processing is not just important, it’s critical to our living and learning! Auditory Processing Disorder is a huge “buzz word” in education at the moment, and the impact of music education in assisting with this, is well known. (External reference – https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/central-auditory.html) Music and Auditory Processing Music strengthens the AUDITORY CORTEX, the part of the brain’s temporal lobe that processes aural information. This means that exposing your child to music-based activities from early on, can positively impact their auditory processing skills. Though scientists don’t yet fully understand the many ways music helps auditory processing and other cognitive skills, they do believe that participating in music-based activities in childhood lays down a neural scaffolding, or framework from which other, similar abilities can grow. Music challenges the brain to look for patterns and to differentiate tones, at a range of speeds. The brain also has to process different sounds in one piece of music simultaneously – picking out the melodies and harmonies. There are also deep-seated interactions between music and the way it is heard by the brain, that stimulate neural connections. FMRI scans show that when movement is added to the music-based activities, a fireworks display goes off in the brain! Movement-based activities help your child’s brain become a “whole” brain. These activities work the left and right sides of the brain to build those neural connections, while also building the brain from top to bottom and back to front. These are the areas that improve expressive language, retention, comprehension, emotional grounding, fight or flight responses, reasoning, critical thinking and much, much more. So, it makes sense that when you add music to movement, there’s the opportunity to really intensify the learning experience … That’s exactly what we aim to do with our Wriggle and Rhyme music and movement programme! We use the amazing medium of music as a catalyst for a vast range of learning and developmental skills. Take note of the role of MUSIC in developing LISTENING SKILLS Musical resources Wriggle and Rhyme has a range of musical stories which you can access on your favourite streaming service (Apple music, Spotify, iTunes, etc.) or take a look at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/our-music . We also have fun, musical episodes on our YOUTUBE channel “Wriggle & Rhyme SA”. Our baby and toddler music classes are available in Cape Town – RONDEBOSCH, CLAREMONT, MELKBOSSTRAND and MEADOWRIDGE. Our pre-school music classes take place at partner pre-schools across the Mother City.
Vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective and critical medical interventions to successfully eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases while reducing the burden of disease and mortality from diseases such as pneumonia and other associated pneumococcal diseases1, writes Professor Prakash Mohan Jeena, paediatric pulmonologist and head of the paediatric intensive care and pulmonology department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Vaccines have proven effective in eradicating and eliminating preventable diseases, with smallpox caused by the variola virus (VARV) and rinderpest from the rinderpest virus (RPV) now eliminated, thanks to vaccine intervention initiatives2. Similar benefits are now being realised with the implementation of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), with PCV7 being introduced in 2009 and the more advanced PCV13 emerging in 20113. PCVs have had a resounding impact, and have averted as many as 175 million cases and 624,000 deaths associated with pneumococcal disease4. While statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirm that medical interventions such as vaccinations are needed to tackle the plight of preventable diseases such as pneumonia, more needs to be done, particularly when considering that over 740,180 children died from pneumonia in 2019. The disease remains the single most infectious cause of mortality in children worldwide and accounts for up to 14% of deaths in children under the age of five5. Reducing disease incidence in South Africa The South African Department of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) recommends that children receive three doses of the PCV13 vaccine6 to protect against potentially serious and even deadly infections7 caused by pneumococcal disease. This includes Streptococcus pneumoniae – a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia and Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) such as pneumococcal meningitis8. While PCV7 had little effect on lowering meningitis incidence, global studies have indicated that PCV13 has proven effective in reducing the impact of this disease by as much as 48%9. When considering the burden of pneumococcal disease in children between 0 and 59 months, the number of infected children with pneumococcal disease drastically declined from 107,600 cases per year between 2005 and 2008 to an estimated 41,800 between 2012 and 2013. While several interventions such as HIV care and prevention initiatives were in place during this time, this reduction can be largely attributed to the introduction of effective PCV medications10. More needs to be done to increase childhood immunisation in SA Vaccines save lives, and the repurposing of Clairwood Hospital in Durban is a good example of this. Once a healthcare facility that dealt primarily with infectious diseases, the hospital has had to adapt its practices in recent years as infectious disease wards remained empty. South Africa’s immunisation coverage rate is lower than the 90% coverage rate set forth by the Global Vaccine Action Plan11, with the country recording 83.9% in 2020, according to the EPI National Coverage Survey Report 202012. While these figures are up from the 81.9% recorded in the 2018/2019 period12, more needs to be done to increase South Africa’s childhood immunisation rate to prevent future disease outbreaks13. What’s holding South Africa back? While there are several factors that lead to low immunisation coverage rates, including the impact of COVID-1914, the Academy of Science of South Africa’s Root Causes of Low Vaccination Coverage and Under-Immunisation in Sub-Saharan Africa consensus study report suggests that the overarching reasons include education, low trust, difficulties in accessing reliable immunisation services, and poor vaccine stock availability15. As such, Community Healthcare Workers (HCWs) need to be more involved in the mission of the EPI programme as they are instrumental in raising awareness of the dilemma and driving educational community-based vaccination campaigns12. While South Africa’s EPI is successful, there continue to be challenges related to human resources capacity. Apart from the real-time collection, collation and analysis of data, the programme needs to invest in a robust health facility network and community-based interventions to drive immunisation coverage across all districts in the country, including tapping into the power of mainstream and social media to do so12. The Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (GAVI) has also come to the party to provide access to vaccines for children in low-income countries, and to date, has helped with the vaccination of nearly half of the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases16. Since South Africa falls under the middle-income category, it does not have access to the subsidized vaccine benefits of its low-income counterparts. However, manufacturing affordable vaccines locally will be greatly beneficial to the country, offering several advantages. The many benefits of local vaccine manufacturing Manufacturing vaccines locally will increase South Africa’s health security, ensuring a seamless and adequate supply of vaccines for its citizens. It will also stimulate the economy by increasing the GDP, creating additional employment opportunities and growing the local sector’s technological expertise17. Manufacturing vaccines locally will reduce the country’s dependency on importation and reliance on foreign trade, and make life-saving vaccine interventions more affordable to meet South Africa’s needs17. Notably, the Biovac Institute and other local manufacturers have been instrumental in the packaging and manufacturing of vaccines to enable the country to respond to regional epidemics and vaccine-preventable diseases. As a result of a partnership with the government, the ongoing success of the institute is key to the provision of affordable vaccines for national health management and vaccine security18. The benefits of local vaccine manufacturing are plentiful and will continue to ensure that, apart from the economic benefits, more South African children will have access to affordable interventions that will ensure they live healthy and productive lives, and become integral members of our future society. References: 1. Immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases is essential to protect children [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jun 19]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/stories/immunization-against-vaccine-preventable-diseases-essential-protect-children 2. dev-site. 8 Diseases (Almost) Eradicated from Existence Thanks to Vaccines [Internet]. Makati Medical Center. 2021 [cited 2022 Jun 21]. Available from: https://www.makatimed.net.ph/blogs/8-diseases-almost-eradicated-from-existence-thanks-to-vaccines/ 3. Kleynhans J, Tempia S, Shioda K, von Gottberg A, Weinberger DM, Cohen C. Estimated impact of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on pneumonia mortality in South Africa, 1999 through 2016: An ecological modelling study. PLoS Med. 2021 Feb 16;18(2):e1003537. 4. Ten year public
With a little culinary creativity, last night’sleftovers can be transformed into a quick and easy supper for your little one. These recipes will help you make tasty suppers in a flash – and help you cut back on food waste (and your grocery spend) too. It’s a win-win for everyone! CREAMY TUNA PIE This dinner is so delicious and easy, it is worth cooking a little extra mash each time you make it so that you have leftovers for this toddler-friendly fish pie. We used Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree, but it will be as yummy with Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees allow you to conveniently add natural goodness to your toddler’s mealtimes. They’re made using quality fresh fruit and veg and contain no preservatives, colourants or flavouring, so they’re as good as homemade, just minus the fuss! Ingredients 1 cup mashed potato 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree 1 x tin tuna, drained 2 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp grated cheddar, for topping Method Stir drained tuna, and Squish Puree into leftover mashed potato, mixing gently. Add milk to make the mixture more creamy. Place mixture in ramekins and top with grated cheese. Bake in the oven at 180° for around 15 minutes until heated through. TIP: Got a little leftover cooked chicken in the fridge too? Switch the tuna for shredded chicken and follow the same method. VEGGIE SAUCE Leftover cooked pasta loves this sauce – and so does mash! This is also a great way to use up the leftover Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees you may have in your fridge too. You can use a mixture of them to make up the required amount – this recipe is forgiving so you could use a little more or a little less too. All Squish Purees come with a convenient resealable screw-on lid, so you don’t need to waste a drop. Just use what you need then pop it back in the fridge for later. Ingredients 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 x 410 g can Rhodes Quality Chopped & Peeled Tomatoes 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Salt and pepper 2 Tbsp basil leaves, finely chopped Method Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onions and fry until softened. Add the garlic and fry for a few minutes more. Add tomatoes and Squish Puree. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat, season to taste and stir in the fresh basil. TIP: This sauce freezes well. Make a batch and divide into meal-size portions so you can just grab out of the freezer and use when needed. CHICKEN AND VEG RICE The convenience of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree means you can always serve your child a nutritious meal, no matter how little time you have – especially when you have other tasty leftovers on hand too! This recipe uses cooked rice and chicken. Ingredients 1 cup cooked rice 100g chicken, shredded 1 x 110 ml pouch Squish 100% Apple, Sweet Potato + Sweetcorn Method Heat a small saucepan over medium heat, adding a dollop of butter. Add rice and chicken and fry briefly. Add Squish Puree and continue stirring until heated through. TIP: Having ready-cooked chicken breasts in your fridge is the key to easy suppers. Steam a batch on Sunday night so you’re prepped for the week. You can add to leftover rice, mash or pasta and stir through a pouch of Squish 100% Veg Puree.
What is “play”? Well, think of it this way, play is a medium that all children use to explore and experience the world around them. It is the best teacher your child can have. The best “play” is motivated, spontaneous, and focuses on the process rather than the product. The idea is for them to have fun even if there is a specific outcome you are trying to accomplish. Children love to use their imagination, and to get creative, “play” should be free of rules so that they have the freedom to create their own games, experiences, and ideas. This helps them create a new world in which their reality experience can be reflected. The main goal is to learn; all children learn best when having fun! During “play,” children are constantly thinking, problem-solving, developing memory, planning and investigating, concentrating, and developing language and social skills. “Play” contributes to your child’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development throughout their lives. This is why play is so important. As parents and teachers, we must ensure that our children have stimulating environments that encourage play and creativity and allow them to use their imagination throughout their day. There are many different stages of play that a child will go through and experience from birth through early childhood. These stages of play are based on and refer to the levels of social interaction during play or the main characteristics of the types of play a child can use or take part in based on their already developed skills. Some examples of these stages of play include: Unoccupied play is your baby’s random movements with no purpose or thought. This is the first initial form of play a child will experience. They will rely on their parents to create different stimulation. Solitary play is when children play alone and independently without noticing other children playing around them. Onlooker play is when children watch and observe others play and perhaps ask questions but do not join in. In parallel play, children play side-by-side but without interacting directly. This is the first step of socialization. They will begin to play together and interact in associative play, but there will be no coordination in the game or activities. Cooperative play is when children start interacting and participating in group games and activities with specific goals like “hide and seek.” This is vital for team and future leadership skills. There are different types of play that can be identified. The types of play are based on and refer to the specific type of activity involved and skills being learned, such as language or construction. Types of play can include: Constructive play is play that involves building and creating. This type of play supports visual, spatial, fine motor, and math skills. Physical play is any play with physical activities that support muscle development, healthy exercise, and coordination. Expressive play is any play that allows children to express feelings. This can be through art, music, and writing or telling stories. This is vital play to inspire creativity. Competitive play is play that will help children learn about rules, fairness, and taking turns. These can be games, and activities like Simon says or races on the playground. Fantasy play is when children have the freedom to use their imagination and think beyond their world. This is good for learning creative problem-solving. Digital play this type of play would involve modern-day technology such as tablets, cell phones, or laptops. Children are growing up in a digitally influenced world, so it is important to teach them these skills. This would be considered solitary play but will still impact their social skills like eye contact and attention. It is important to remember that your child needs to experience all types of play to learn the necessary life skills needed to grow into independent thinking adults.
The past couple years have had a tremendous impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of most people, and young children have not escaped the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdowns in this regard. Parents may have seen a change in their children, including increased instances of anger outbursts, sometimes of the explosive kind. “There has definitely been an increase worldwide and in South Africa of children struggling to manage anger and anxiety – outbursts that are quite distinct from run of the mill so-called tantrums which some children exhibit under normal circumstances,” says Educational Psychologist Dr Greg Pienaar, Principal at The Bridge Assisted Learning School, a brand of ADvTECH, Africa’s leading private education provider. The Bridge, which opened its doors in January 2018, has filled a niche demand in education, catering to students of average to above average ability who face certain learning barriers and social or emotional challenges. Pienaar says that parents whose children exhibited out-of-character anger outbursts, with an increase in frequency or intensity, may have been left baffled by these incidents. “The first thing to note is that, given the unusual circumstances of this year, this behaviour is relatively normal. However, having said that, parents definitely need to address the situation to ensure it is resolved, and seek help should they struggle to do so,” he says. A September report by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), noted that Covid-19 affected children directly and indirectly beyond getting sick or the threat of them or their loved ones falling ill. “Many children’s social, emotional, and mental well-being have been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have long-term consequences across their lifespan,” the report said. Listed as contributing factors to this impact were: Changed routines Breaks in continuity of learning Breaks in continuity of healthcare Significant life events that were missed Loss of safety and security “All the above factors, and many others, mean that children have had to deal with a major and historical life event at a very young age, when they are still learning to process feelings and emotions. Unusual behaviour may have arisen as a result,” Pienaar says. “This includes anger outbursts, simply because children often don’t know, or don’t have the tools, to express their feelings effectively when they are young. Anger is their way of communication, their way of telling you there is a problem.” Essentially, the misbehaviour is the language the child has available to express themselves. So, parents and teachers need to respond appropriately to meltdowns and not immediately react with harsh punishment, arising from their own anger. It is important to model calm and considered behaviour at this point, Pienaar says. “The most important first step is to understand that there is a reason for the meltdown, and then to determine what that reason is. This involves spending time with the child, and communicating as effectively as possible,” he says. “Remember we as adults have the ability to understand what is going on, even in our uncertainty. But our children were faced with a tremendous amount of unexpected and immediate changes, ranging from wearing masks, having to social distance, giving no hugs or not seeing important people in their lives. Children had to learn to grow up and face fear of death, uncertainty and the fallout from their parents’ fears and anxieties before they were mature enough to handle these big changes and big feelings. So it is not reasonable to expect all children to just have absorbed these changes and coped forthwith.” Pienaar says to bring the situation back to normal, parents should ensure they: 1. GET ALL ROUTINES BACK TO NORMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE Try to get life at home back to a predictable routine, explain why it is necessary and why everyone is going to stick to it. Children need predictable routines, boundaries and restrictions to give them the parameters in which they can explore and thrive. 2. HARNESS ‘IN THE MOMENT’ SITUATIONS Under normal circumstances, an anger tantrum may call for a timeout. However instead of timeouts, try time-ins. Sending children away and into isolation may sometimes worsen the situation. Rather take the child for a walk, or sit in a park, and be there for them. Discuss the feelings the child is having, and discuss how the child can manage those feelings in an alternative way. Listen and learn. “Remember that there is a difference between a tantrum and an outburst of anger, although they may seem similar on the surface,” Pienaar says. “A tantrum occurs when a child doesn’t get his way. The way to address this is to consistently not indulge the demands of the child, which ultimately allows the child to learn that the parent will be consistently enforcing rules and boundaries, and that tantrums are pointless.” Anger issues however point to larger problems outside of the child’s control. “Developing a close connection with the child, spending quality time and developing language around emotions, is the best way to empower a child to manage their anger effectively. If this does not help, and the outbursts continue or escalate, it is advisable that parents seek additional intervention to address the matter early and before greater emotional trauma develops.”
With a little careful planning – and an extra change of clothes! – heading off for a day out with your toddler in tow needn’t be daunting. Packing a variety of nutritious single-serve snacks and treats is essential to keep hunger at bay. These recipes are tasty and packed full of natural goodness – your little one will love them! FRUIT CRUNCHIES These treats are full of sweet fruit which means less cane sugar. We used Squish 100% Apple Fruit Puree in the recipe, but you can switch it for any flavour you choose, or use a combination of leftover Squish Purees from your fridge. All Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees have a screw-on lid, which means you can just pop the lid back on and save leftovers for later. Ingredients: 230 g (1 cup) rolled oats 60 g (½ cup) desiccated coconut or ground almonds 125 g (¾ cup) cake flour 2.5 ml (½ tsp) baking powder 1 ml (¼ tsp) bicarbonate of soda 60 g (⅓ cup) dried apricots, finely chopped 65 g (¼ cup) butter 55 g (¼ cup) brown sugar 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Apple Fruit Puree Method: Place the oats, coconut (or nuts) and cake flour into a bowl and stir to mix. Add the baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Add the apricots. In a small saucepan melt the butter and the sugar together. Whisk in the Squish Puree and leave to cool. Add the apple mixture to the dry ingredients and stir well until evenly blended. Press the mixture into a baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray and lined with baking paper. Bake in an oven that has been preheated to 160°C for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and slice into bars in the pan. Leave to cool. TIP: Use a frozen Squish 100% Pressed Fruit Juice as an ‘ice pack’ in your cooler bag. Your little one can drink it later in the day once it has melted. CREAM CHEESE DIP AND CRUDITÉS This snack is so quick and easy to make and travels well. Plus, it provides a perfect combo of protein, dairy and healthy fruit and veg. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are made from quality fresh fruit and veg and are free from preservatives, colourants and flavouring, which means they’re just like homemade. And there is no added sugar or starch. Ingredients ½ cup plain cream cheese ½ pouch of Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Puree Fresh veggies or fruit, for dipping. Method Place cream cheese in a bowl and add your child’s favourite Squish 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree. Stir well to blended. Serve with washed and cut fruit and vegetables. TIP: Switch the cream cheese for cottage cheese for a different taste and texture. POTATO POPS These filling and delicious pops are mess-free and easy to serve. You can switch the regular potatoes for sweet potato if you like. Ingredient 500 ml (2 cups) mashed potato 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Veg Butternut + Carrot Puree 250 ml (1 cup) grated cheddar cheese 1 egg 295 ml (1 cup + 3 Tbsp) breadcrumbs salt and freshly cracked black pepper 30 ml (2 Tbsp) sunflower oil Method In a large bowl, combine the mash, Squish Puree and cheese. Add the egg and 45 ml (3 Tbsp) of breadcrumbs and mix well. Season to taste. Shape into balls and roll in breadcrumbs. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Fry the potato pops in batches for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. These can also be cooked on a baking tray in the oven at 180°C for 15 minutes. TIP: These pops freeze well. Make a double batch and keep a stash in the freezer for lunchbox fillers. For more delicious delicious toddler-friendly recipes, visit www.squish.co.za
Pain can be hard for a child to describe, especially if your tot’s vocab is limited to “mama”, “dada”, “woof”, and “nana”. However, fever and pain occur together frequently in childhood conditions.1 Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, contain paracetamol, an effective option for treatment of pain and fever in children.2 The Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, are great for on-the-go parents and super convenient for when you’re travelling! Make pain and fever care easy by shopping for Panado products from independent pharmacies and selected Clicks, Dis-Chem, and Pick ‘n Pay stores. For more information, visit https://panado.co.za/ and join the conversations onFacebook. #Panado #ADoseOfCare 2022042510198726 References: 1. Clinch J, Dale S. Managing childhood fever and pain – the comfort loop. Child Adol Psych Mental Health 2007;1:7. doi:10.1186/1753-2000-1-7. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1971248/ 2. De Martino M, Chiarugi A. Recent advances in paediatric use of oral paracetamol in fever and pain management. Pain Ther 2015;4:149–168. DOI 10.1007/s40122-015-0040-z. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1971248/
During school holidays your children’s social media or interactive game time online may kick up a notch. As a parent, you want to make sure that they have a safe experience. Though the Internet can be a wonderful place to play and socialise, parents need to be aware of what their children see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves. Every age group – from toddlers to teens – comes with its own parental concerns. But there are some general guidelines that are good to keep in mind for children of all ages. Keep usernames and passwords safe Many of the websites your kids use require usernames and passwords. Make sure they know not to give this information to anyone – even their friends. Teach them to keep usernames and passwords private and change their passwords if you suspect they’ve been compromised. In fact, it’s best to change passwords intermittently as a matter of online hygiene. Every 3-6 months, or if accounts or platforms report hacking or data breaches, is a good habit for children to get into. Don’t give out personal information Children should never tell anyone their full real name, address, neighbourhood, or phone number online. They should never share any information that could lead a predator to find them. Even small details like their school’s name or sports team are enough to give away their identity. Be discerning on social media The Internet is vast, yes. But embarrassing pictures, rude comments, and personal information can leave a lasting, even permanent, mark. Remind your children that anything they post online immediately becomes public property and anyone can view it. Check age requirements Many apps and websites have age restrictions to set up accounts, browse, or join them. But they seldom actually have age verification in place. For instance, Facebook and Snapchat only allow users 13 and up, but signing up is as simple as filling in a false age. Explain location sharing Most apps and websites these days have some kind of geo-tagging or location-sharing feature. Children need to know the dangers of sharing their location – from online predators who can find them to identity theft – so they don’t agree to it or unknowingly click the pop-up boxes that allow it. Create a list of Internet rules Sit with your children and make a list of Internet rules together. You can introduce them to kid- and teen-friendly sites, talk about why Internet rules are important, and encourage them to tell you if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by anything they find on the Internet. Set boundaries but be realistic. Use the golden rule online, too Teach your children that the golden rule applies just as much online as it does face-to-face. Children should be kind and polite to people online and should say nothing over text they wouldn’t say to someone’s face, even if they are posting anonymously. Explain fake ads Talk to your children about Adware and similar scams they might encounter on the Internet. Often, these look like real offers to entice children to download a fake app, sign up for a sweepstake, or offer personal information in exchange for free products. They can be links to share with friends or post on social networks. If children know that these scams exist, they’ll be less likely to fall for them. Educate children about meeting strangers in person Children should never meet up with strangers they met online unless you are there to supervise the meeting. Teach them not to interact with people they don’t know offline. Online predators or cyberbullies can disguise themselves so your children might not know they are talking to someone who found them online. Monitor Internet history For all ages, it’s a good idea to spot-check your browser history to get a sense of what sites your children are visiting. Be completely transparent about checking their usage so they don’t feel spied on. Enable history tracking and check it across all Internet-enabled devices. If you come across any untoward sites, ask your children about them. Set parental controls Set up and review parental controls on all your devices at age-appropriate levels to protect children from accessing inappropriate content online. You can also use them to set usage times, monitor activity, and prevent the sharing of personal information. Run antivirus program Run antivirus software on all your devices to protect them from incoming threats. It can also seek out, destroy, and warn of threats to the system. Antivirus software keeps up with the latest threats and stays on top of new viruses, which come out all the time. Use a trusted cybersecurity solution Cybersecurity tools, like Kaspersky Safe Kids, help you safeguard your children’s activities, monitor their behaviour and protect them when they are online. Choose one you can use on all your child’s devices, and that is flexible enough to change with them as their needs change and as they get older. Most importantly, talk with your children about how to use the Internet safely, the tools you use to protect them, and how and why you monitor their online activities. To support parents and guardians in keeping their children safe online, Kaspersky and Parenting Hub are giving 5 lucky readers a chance to win a license code to Kaspersky Safe Kids – a parental control software that helps to safeguard children’s activities online. You can enter this amazing give-away when you click here By Bethwel Opil, Enterprise Sales Manager at Kaspersky in Africa
Sleep is so essential for our children’s overall development and health, but we cannot address sleep habits if there are medical reasons for a child’s restless nights. There are a few ear, nose and throat (ENT) related conditions that can contribute to poor sleeping – let’s look at the two most common causes amongst infants and toddlers: Adenoid hypertrophy or enlargement Any form of a blocked nose causes difficult, uncomfortable and noisy breathing while sleeping. The most common cause for a chronically blocked nose that an ENT specialist diagnoses are enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Adenoids are lymphoid glands that form part of your immune system. They are located behind the nasal cavity where they trap viruses and bacteria or allergens that try to enter and infect the upper respiratory tract. When they are constantly exposed to viruses or bacteria (for example at creche or school) or even to allergies, they enlarge and block the passage where air needs to pass from the nose to the airway. Adenoids are often enlarged in children, but shrink as we grow older and our immunity improves. Adenoid hypertrophy causes snoring, a blocked and runny nose, nasal voice, mouth breathing and postnasal drip with night-time wet coughs. Severe cases can even lead to obstructive sleep apnoea where your child stops breathing for a few seconds at a time. Your child will snore loudly and wake sporadically during the night due to these pauses in breathing and will not be able to enter the deeper part of sleep. In the long run this is detrimental to their sleep and overall health as essentially, they are not getting enough oxygen to their bodies and their hearts and lungs must work extra hard. It can lead to failure to thrive and poor growth, behavioral problems, poor school performance due to lack of concentration, enuresis (bed wetting) and even heart failure. Middle ear infection or effusion The middle ear has a natural drainage pathway to the back of the nose called the eustachian tube. Any fluid build-up in the ear from inflammation or an ear infection is supposed to drain naturally via the eustachian tube. When the adenoids are enlarged and block the eustachian tube’s opening, this cannot occur and fluid builds up and becomes stagnant in the middle ear. This leads to recurrent infections or chronic fluid build-up called an effusion. You know the feeling you get when your ears need to pop when landing in an aeroplane? That is the pain a child has almost constantly when there is pressure build up in their middle ear, especially when lying down and there is increased blood flow to the head. That is enough to keep anyone awake at night. Not only is it painful for children, but it can cause difficulty in hearing and eventually delay their speech development because of the muffled sounds. In severe cases it can even affect their balance. Some mothers notice how their infants walk differently when their ears are acting up. These conditions are very common in infants from around 6-8months of age into toddlerhood and if the above symptoms are present, it’s best you visit an ENT specialist. There are certain medications that can be prescribed if caught early to try and reverse the inflammatory process and essentially shrink the adenoids, but often it requires surgery. The surgery is a low-risk, quick procedure where the adenoids are removed through the mouth (often combined with a tonsillectomy) and grommets can be inserted into the eardrums to drain the fluid. Once these medical conditions have been resolved there will be a marked improvement in their sleep and a child that already had well-stablished sleep habits, will often return to sleeping well once they are feeling better. What can you expect from their sleep once they have been treated? Waking early: Suffering from any of these conditions affect both the quality and quantity of your child’s sleep. Some children become so accustomed to poor quality sleep that once they finally get helped, they find themselves waking up at the crack of dawn refreshed and ready for the day. They’ve never slept so soundly before, and it can take your child a while to adjust to sleeping more appropriate hours. White noise: Once ears are cleared of fluid, some children become hyper-sensitive to the white noise in their room. You can temporarily reduce the volume and remember to never exceed 50 dB once you turn the volume back to normal. Discomfort: This will need to be addressed and you should offer your child comfort and reassurance. Once they are feeling better go back to your plan and ensure that they don’t become reliant again on any unsustainable sleep associations. Short term-use is often not the problem, it is allowing the bad habits to creep back in permanently that becomes an issue. Once your child is feeling better and has recovered, go back to their normal routine. Often sleep concerns after a procedure are easily resolvable and your sleep-trained child will undoubtedly surprise you with how well they bounce back. If your child slept poorly prior to the procedure, look at contacting a sleep consultant for some assistance. Quality sleep is vital to your child’s health and well-being and they certainly deserve a good night’s rest after what they’ve been through. By Dr Nina du Toit – ENT and Tammy Buitendach – Good Night Consultant www.drninadutoit.co.za
Few issues vex the parents of babies and toddlers more than their child’s struggles to sleep well. It’s debilitating for the whole family, and tightly stretches the emotional resources of parents, who are battling the consequences of their own sleep deprivation. Sleep time is the body’s time not just for much-needed rest, but also healing and regeneration. Not getting enough of it, depletes moms, dads and kids – physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s not surprising then that there are reams and reams of sources of advice for how parents can get their babies to sleep better. It’s hard to know where to turn, and whose advice to trust. Michele Carelse, a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of online health store, Feelgood Health says, “A baby’s sleep patterns go through various changes as they grow and develop, which can leave parents feeling at a loss, because what seemed to be working over the past week is suddenly upended. It can feel like a rough rollercoaster ride. What’s important is to understand the basics of baby sleep and have strategies in place to help you manage family sleep time as best as possible. Fortunately, there are options, so if something is not working for you and your baby, you can try alternatives. It’s important for parents to prioritise good sleeping patterns for the whole family and feel determined to find solutions so that they persevere when times are tough.” On Wednesday, 27 July 2022, from 8:15pm to 9pm, Feelgood Health, one of South Africa’s pioneering online healthy lifestyle stores, will be hosting a free parent’s webinar on how to get your baby or toddler sleeping peacefully. The session will include a Q&A chat so that parents can talk through their concerns with Michele and also learn from other parents’ experiences. Michele says, “All babies are unique and develop at their own pace. It’s better to know the general expectations of how babies’ sleep patterns develop, than to consider these ‘milestones’ that your child must reach by a certain time. Just like us, all sorts of things can disrupt a baby’s sleep. For instance, teething often brings discomfort, and this is commonly a time when a baby or toddler may struggle to fall asleep, or get back to sleep on their own if they have woken up because they are uncomfortable or sore.” For a new-born baby, up to around 2 months, feeding takes priority over sleeping. There’s no getting around that you will be waking every two hours or so for feeding over these first precious weeks of life. Around 3 to 6 months, your baby may be able to sleep for up to 6-hour stretches, much to the relief and delight of their new parents. However, it is a common experience that between 6 to 9 months of age, things can go seemingly awry. Michele says, “There is major brain development going on at this stage, as well as physical developments such as teething which can disrupt the sleep pattern. Your baby may well begin to realise that sleeping means being left alone, and they may start crying at bedtime in the hope of keeping you close to them. This is when you need strategies to manage the situation, to both soothe them when they need it, such as using a natural remedy to ease teething discomfort – and also to give them gentle opportunities to learn to self-soothe.” There can be many reasons why a baby is struggling to fall asleep or fall back to sleep if they have woken up, including hunger, illness, pain, the need for comfort and bad dreams. It’s important to go through a process of elimination so that you have some understanding of what is causing the sleep disruption. Many parents expect that at around 1 years old their baby would have established a healthy sleeping pattern that better suits the whole family’s sleep routine. However, this is not a rule or a set milestone, and it’s perfectly natural for some children to need ongoing parental structure and intervention in order for them to sleep easily and peacefully. Helpful strategies to enable your baby to sleep more peacefully, include: Facilitating plenty of stimulating day-time activity Setting up a sleep-conducive bedroom environment for your baby or toddler Establishing and maintaining a relaxing, consistent night-time routine Making sure your child’s hunger is sufficiently satiated before bedtime Winding down to bedtime Using natural remedies for calming, relaxing and relief of discomforts Implementing gentle sleep training To learn more about why these strategies are important, and how to implement them, join this parenting conversation with Clinical Psychologist, Michele Carelse at the Feelgood Health How to get your baby or toddler sleeping peacefully webinar. Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2022Time: 8:15pm to 9pm Registration is free here. Parents who register will receive the webinar Zoom link.
Anyone who’s ever seen a child jumping knows what the face of true joy looks like. Jumping is one of the simplest, cost effective workouts that combine fun and fitness together, providing physical, health and educational benefits to children, young or old. Best of all is that jumping is enjoyable and can be done any time of the day, anywhere. The Benefits of Jumping For children who are averse to taking part in sports, jumping works really well by getting a workout without realizing it! Healthy Heart Cardiovascular health has become one of the primary concerns in children. Jumping is an important cardiovascular exercise that gives the heart a healthy and organic workout. It helps the blood to circulate properly throughout the body ensuring that oxygen is pumped more efficiently. So, you can encourage your child to do this fun exercise and ensure the proper functioning of their heart, making them feel healthier and more alert. Plus, it is a great way to keep weight down! Stronger Core Muscles When children jump, they learn to control the movement of their bodies, which involves virtually all major muscle groups in the body. The core muscles are used to jump and land alike. This is how the core is strengthened. Jumping motions, with simultaneous impact and flex to keep the body going up and landing, allow the joints and muscles to move, strengthening both muscle and bones and increases endurance. Strong legs can take us very far in life, and children who jump can get the benefits of muscular limbs early on. No more getting tired and begging you to carry them after only half an hour of walking! Improved Learning Jumping increases a child’s metabolic rate, helping the child’s body to process nutrients faster and more efficiently. This helps to keep their weight down, leading to a fitter, leaner toned body, which boost self-esteem. In addition, while jumping, the body produces mood-enhancing substances, that is why children are happy and joyous and find it a fun exercise. Jumping creates a balance in the child’s mind. With happiness comes an ease of learning. Children who jump regularly tend to be better at study, grasp things easier, and have a sharper memory, improving their learning abilities. Jumping strengthens both the mind and the body! Motor Planning & Sequencing Jumping requires continuous motor planning and sequencing – skills that allows us to plan and execute our movements in order to safely navigate our environment. When jumping, the child uses motor planning to judge distance, evaluate how much power is required to jump and land, plan movements, and then execute the jump in the proper sequence. Strong Lymphatic System Jumping activates and stimulates the lymphatic system which manages the levels of toxins in the body. When toxins are managed well, it helps keep diseases away and improves the immune system. Better Co-ordination Jumping helps children understand their bodies better. They have to concentrate on a number of skills at the same time: bouncing, balancing, maintaining the body’s position, and anticipating the next action. Both sides of the brain and body have to work together while controlling different muscles and limbs at the same time as one another. This greatly improves, and has a positive impact, on bilateral motor skills and overall coordination. Weight Loss Jumping is great to help tackle weight issues and is very helpful with weight loss. Children can do this easy workout and burn a lot of calories on a daily basis. Jumping means a leaner body and more flexibility. Jumping can burn around 100 calories in only ten minutes – You can do it too!
On busy mornings the last thing you want to be stressing about is what you’re going to put in your little one’s lunchbox. These simple recipes can be prepped ahead so that you always have snacks packed with natural goodness ready to go. CHEESY VEG BALLS These little balls of deliciousness are filled with veggies, including baby marrows, carrots, and Squish 100% Veg Puree – you can choose whichever flavour you like or use up your leftover Squish pouches. Our pouches come with resealable screw-on lids, making them super-convenient and cutting back on waste. You can just use what you need, then pop the leftovers back in the fridge to use later. These veggie balls freeze well, so you can make ahead and freeze then just grab what you need each day for your child’s lunchbox. Ingredients 1 cup cheese 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Veg Puree of your choice ¼ small onion, finely grated 2 cups breadcrumbs (simply put 3 or 4 slices of bread into your processor and blitz) ½ cup wholewheat flour 2-3 large baby marrows, finely grated 2 large carrots, finely grated ½ clove garlic, finely grated 2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil 1 teaspoon dried herbs Method Combine all the ingredients and let the mixture rest for 20 minutes. Roll into small balls. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 20-25 minutes. (If you have an Air-fryer, 10 minutes tops.) For a dipping sauce, mix some full-cream plain yoghurt with a little Squish Veg Puree. TIP: Double the recipe. If you have older children, they’ll love these in their lunchbox too. Just roll up in a wrap or pita. BEANY DIP Beans are an excellent source of protein and are packed with calcium, potassium, magnesium, folate, iron, and zinc. In other words, they’re an excellent addition to your child’s diet. We used Squish 100% Pear + Sweet Potato Puree in this recipe, but you can switch up the flavour by picking a different Squish Puree flavour, like Apple, Beetroot + Guava or Butternut + Carrot. Remember, Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are completely free of added nasties like flavourants, colourants and preservatives – and there is no added cane sugar or starch. Pack along with mini pitas or fresh veggie sticks. Little ones always enjoy dipping! Ingredients 1 x 410g can of Rhodes Quality Butter Beans ½ clove of garlic 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Pear + Sweet Potato Puree 1 tbsp fresh herbs of your choice and a pinch of salt Method Drain butter beans and place into a food processor – or you can use a stick blender. Add garlic and Squish Puree. Add fresh herbs and a little salt. Puree until well blended. TIP: Keep leftover dip in a well-sealed container in the fridge and use within 3-4 days. FRUIT AND SPICE LOAF It is always nice to include a ‘treat’ in your toddler’s lunchbox, but that doesn’t mean you need to rely on shop bought snacks which are often full of preservatives and other additives. This home-baked loaf is bulked up with grated carrots – which are high in fibre, Vitamin A, and beta-carotene – and Squish 100% Pear, Butternut Yoghurt + Mango with Cinnamon Puree. It also contains a box of Squish 100% Apple Juice. Squish juices come in four flavours and are made from top quality 100% pressed fruit and vegetables and are preservative free. Remember to put one in your child’s lunchbox too, to keep them hydrated during their school day. Ingredients 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Pear, Butternut, Yoghurt + Mango with Cinnamon Puree 125 ml (½ C) Squish 100% Apple Juice 440 ml (1¾ C) cake flour 250 ml (1 C) sugar 5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon 2.5 ml (½ tsp) baking powder 5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda 125 ml (½ C) grated carrot 2 eggs 125 ml (½ C) sunflower oil Method Sift the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Add the grated carrots. Mix together the eggs, oil, Squish Juice, and the Squish Puree. Add to the dry ingredients and beat well to mix. Pour the batter into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for 35 minutes or until the loaf is well risen and a wooden skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Turn out and leave to cool. TIP: This loaf cake is lovely and moist and stores well in the fridge so you can simply slice off as you need.
Loving our kids is easy… keeping pain and fever at bay? That’s harder. But here’s the secret: It doesn’t have to be!When your baby or infant has a fever, turn to conveniently packaged Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets. Parenting is a rollercoaster. One minute you’re pacing from room to room in the wee hours with a crying baby – the next, you’re at their bedside, waiting anxiously for them to wake up. Your concern level can rise when you add a fever to the mix. Feeling your child’s forehead, looking for a thermometer, and seeking advice from relatives and friends can be daunting. Fever and pain occur together frequently in childhood conditions.1 If you’re a new parent, it can be scary when your child is burning up with a fever. Even if you’re not a rookie parent, fevers can still cause worry for parents of older kids. Pain can be hard for a child to describe, especially for children under two whose vocab is limited to “mama”, “dada”, “woof”, and “nana”. It’s often up to parents to watch their child for signs of distress, such as behaviour changes, facial expressions, and body movements.1 The good news is that Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, contain paracetamol, which is an effective option for treatment of pain and fever in children.2 How do you know your child has a fever? Fever is one of the most frequently cited reasons parents or caregivers seek medical help for their children. It is often a source of concern for parents and healthcare practitioners, who believe it may be linked to a greater risk of morbidity.3 Additionally, there is often uncertainty regarding how to manage fever. A fever is defined as a body temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius.3 A child’s temperature should be taken using an infrared thermometer placed in the ear or with a standard thermometer placed under the arm (in the armpit or axilla). A child’s temperature should not be taken in their mouth with a thermometer.3 Home Care Tips To Manage A Fever. Just like adults, babies, toddlers, and children can suffer fever or pain associated with a common cold and symptoms can include a sore throat, running nose, body aches and headaches.4 Here are a few easy-to-digest tips for treating your child’s pain and fever at home.3 Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, which are conveniently packaged, can be safely administered to infants and children to relieve pain and fever. Always administer using a medicine measure or a syringe Do not over-dress or underdress your child or wrap your child in heavy blankets Check your child during the night, but do not wake your child up just to administer medication for a fever Encourage your child to drink fluids regularly (breast milk is best for breastfeeding children) Seek medical advice if the fever does not get better within 48 hours or if your child’s condition worsens Alwaysgive the dose written on the bottle or sachet according to your child’s weight to ensure that you are using the correct medication at the right dose. If you’re unsure, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before administering medicines for fever. Other Panado® Products Suitable For Your Child In addition to Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets, Panado’s range for children includes Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Strawberry (50 ml | 100 ml),5 Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint Alcohol and Sugar-Free (50 ml | 100 ml),6 and Panado® Infant Drops 20 ml.7 Make pain and fever care easy by shopping for Panado products from independent pharmacies and selected Clicks, Dis-Chem, and Pick ‘n Pay stores. For more information, visit https://panado.co.za/and join the conversations onFacebook. #Panado #ADoseOfCare 2022042510198726 References: 1. Clinch J, Dale S. Managing childhood fever and pain – the comfort loop. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2007; 1:7. [Internet]. 2015 [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1971248/ 2. Acharya B, Thapa K. Indoor staying during winter season makes people more susceptible to fu. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2016 Jan; 14(32):69-70. PMID: 27426715. [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27426715/ 3. Green R, Jeena P, Kotze S, Lewis H. Webb D, Wells M. Management of acute fever in children: Guideline for community healthcare providers and pharmacists. S Afr Med J. 2013;103(12):948-954. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.7207 4. CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others [Internet]. 2021 [Cited 2022 March 29]; Available from : https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html 5. Panado® Paediatric Syrup Strawberry (Syrup). Approved package insert, March 2002. 6. Panado® Paediatric Syrup Alcohol and Sugar-Free / Panado® Paediatric Syrup. Approved package insert, April 2010. 7. Panado® Infant Drops (Drops). Approved package insert, August 1990.
It’s hard to believe that Tsepiso Monamodi, local entrepreneur and founder of Oratile Kids – the colourful, one-hundred-per-cent South African children’s shoe brand now stocked at Clicks – started her business with just one sewing machine. Perhaps more surprising: she didn’t even know how to sew! “The lady who sold me the machine said, ‘I can’t sell you this machine if you can’t sew.’ So I would go to her shop every Friday afternoon for lessons,” Tsepiso recounts. Oratile Kids was born from Tsepiso’s quest to find shoes for her toddler. Her aunt had told her about soft shoes for toddlers that were available when Tsepiso was a child, insisting that Tsepiso buy them for her own little one. Tsepiso searched high and low but could only find one very overpriced supplier. The more she researched, the more she fell in love with the concept of comfortable, durable shoes that actually aided baby’s development. “I thought, maybe I could offer them, but they could have more of an African feel. I wanted them to be unique. I taught myself how to make the shoes – it took me about six months.” The word oratile means love, and was chosen because the shoes are made with love. Tsepiso sold her products at markets for about three years, and describes this as her “biggest learning experience” because engaging with customers in this setting allowed her to hone her craft. When the pandemic hit and markets were forced to close, Tsepiso started using social media to sell her products. This was when her business started to flourish and she caught Clicks’ eye. She recalls that when she received a direct message on social media from the Clicks team, she thought it was a hoax. “I thought, ‘No man, these people are lying!’” she says with a laugh. But the interest was real, and Oratile Kids became a Clicks supplier when the first stand-alone Clicks Baby Store opened at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in KwaZulu-Natal last year. You can find her products as well as many other South African brands by looking out for the locally sourced logo in-store and on the Clicks website. Building a healthier economy by supporting local businesses “We currently stock close to 780 locally produced products in our stores and we plan to continue growing this number,” says Clicks Brand Executive Phathiswa Sefatsa. “Sourcing locally is an important part of building healthier futures for South Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises and is what will create stable jobs and a healthier economy for our country.” The leading health and beauty retailer’s commitment to sourcing South African products saw the launch of a supplier development programme in 2021. In addition to actively seeking out brands such as Oratile Kids, Clicks also launched a user-friendly portal on clicks.co.za, via which local entrepreneurs can apply to become a supplier. The Clicks Group plans to target over R4.5 billion sourced through black women-owned suppliers over the next three years. “Our sales have increased by 34% since we started selling at Clicks. They have really held my hand through this,” Tsepiso shares. “Remember, I knew nothing about retail. They’ve helped us to be more consistent in terms of the products that we’re delivering. They also want to help us enhance our offering. We’ve started engaging about an enterprise development plan, where they are going to be helping us to get factory space, more machinery and also to increase the number of stores that we are in. It’s really exciting – good things are coming!” The Oratile Kids range is available from R190 at Clicks Baby stores and countrywide via clicks.co.za
First Foods As baby grows, the time will come when you need to introduce him or her to solid foods. Usually this is around age 4 months. Solid foods can be introduced in any order. It is recommended that puréed meats, poultry, beans and iron-fortified cereals are introduced as first foods, particularly when your baby has been primarily breastfed. Introduce only one single new food at a time, to enable baby to become familiar with the different textures and flavours. This will also help to identify any food that appears to not agree with baby’s young and fragile digestive system, which can then easily be eliminated and introduced again at a later stage. Banana purée is rich in potassium and fibre and can be introduced with rice cereal which is one of the most common first foods recommended for baby. Rice cereals are the least allergenic and can be very easily digested. Other great suggestions are : Pea purée Avocado purée Sweet potato purée Butternut purée Baby carrots purée Sippy Cups How do you know when your baby is ready to start using a sippy cup? Experts say that around 6 months is the ideal time. By now baby is sitting confidently in a high-chair, can keep their balance and is able to firmly grip objects between both hands. By six months baby will also be well into eating solid foods. Babies have been known to start to reject their bottle around six months, which makes it the perfect time to introduce a sippy cup. Children stop drinking formula altogether by the time they are 18 months old and by this time, will be enjoying more interesting liquids in their sippy cup such as diluted fruit juice or rooibos tea. Initially offer small amounts of cooled boiled tap water to encourage baby to become familiar with the feeling of a different way of drinking. At first, you may place baby formula in the sippy cup as well, however, it’s important to know that you should not substitute a sippy cup for baby’s normal bottle. The idea is to simply introduce baby to the sippy cup, so that over time they become more comfortable with it. Weaning baby from the bottle is a big step and no matter your approach, it’s interesting to note that parents who decide to stick with the bottle longer without introducing a sippy cup, have found that baby tends to drink more milk. This causes baby to fill up making the introduction of solid food a little more challenging. When first introduced to baby, the sippy cup is not meant to replace a bottle feed, bearing in mind that initially your baby may not drink too much from the sippy cup, until he or she grasps the concept and understands how sucking will bring the liquid up through the straw. If you introduce a sippy cup at around age six months, your baby should be comfortable with it by the time you begin to wean them from the bottle at around 12 months. From a nutritional aspect, your baby by age 12 months, should not require a midday bottle anymore, making it a good first bottle to eliminate. Make the process of switching from bottle to sippy cup a gradual one – every few days – to ensure that baby doesn’t become distressed which could result in a refusal to take the sippy cup. Do this every few days until only the evening bottle is left. The gradual switching from bottle to sippy cup over time, may not work for everyone and this is completely okay. You need to do what works best for you and your baby! There is no hard and fast rule that says baby must be completely weaned from their bottle by their first birthday or by 18 months. Please remember that these are merely guidelines. Using sippy cups promotes good oral hygiene and prevents speech and dental issues that could develop. If your baby has been solely formula-fed, you may have already had to try several different brands of teats before finding the perfect fit. However, finding the perfect sippy cup for baby is just one click away. Baby and I have that perfect sippy cup! The Gravity Learning Sippy Cup is dynamic with a practical design which makes baby’s drinking experience more interesting. With a V-shaped drinking straw, the cup is completely leak-proof and most importantly, choke-proof. The Gravity Learning Sippy Cup will train baby’s hand eye coordination with special features such as : 360 Gravity Ball Leakproof Eco-friendly Easy to Clean Durable BPA free Preferred Tritan Material Clean as Glass Cleaning The Gravity Learning Sippy Cup is simple It is recommended to use warm water and a mild detergent to clean. If high temperature disinfectant is required, do not exceed 30 seconds as this can cause deformation of the cup. The Gravity Learning Sippy Cup is available on Baby and I website . Please note certain products take 2-3 weeks for shipping, but Baby and I will stay in touch through this time. Baby & I Melrose offers a unique experience as a Baby Boutique in South Africa. We hold a niche in the baby and children’s industry by providing the world’s premier shopping experience for expectant and new parents. From cots to travel systems to educational toys to nursery décor, we have an exclusive range to help you welcome your bundle into your life. As a Premier Baby Boutique in South Africa, we focus on offering exceptional essential baby products and brands with attention to detail and providing quality items all delivered to your door. We offer premium brands and products available at your fingertips 24 hours a day.
A reminder that pool safety is a year-round responsibility for parents and pool owners and that child drownings can almost always be prevented if the right steps are taken. Should an accident occur in your pool, knowing what a drowning in progress looks like and a quick reaction can make a big difference to the child’s prognosis. Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the following indications of a drowning and please share widely with other parents. Always keep the pool covered with a PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover to prevent child drownings. Find these and more tips about pool safety from TopStep and PowerPlastics Pool Covers. www.topstep.co.za www.powerplastics.co.za Myths about drowning Television has a lot to answer for when it comes to how drowning is portrayed and there are many myths out there. Be aware of the signs and remember that the appearance of a drowning can vary widely. Myth #1: Drowning children will shout for help Drowning children are physiologically unable to call out. The respiratory system is designed for breathing – speech is the secondary function. Drowning children’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface but while their mouth is above the surface, they need to exhale and inhale before they sink again. There is not enough time to cry out. Myth #2: Drowning children wave their arms to attract attention or will thrash in the water Drowning children cannot wave for help. A person who is drowning cannot perform voluntary movements such as waving or moving towards a rescuer. Envisage the surface of the water as a platform. Someone who is drowning often presses down on the surface and tries to use it as leverage to get their mouth above the water’s surface to breathe. So what the onlooker sees are arm movements that can appear to be playful swimming. Children will not kick wildly either. They remain upright in the water with no evidence of a supporting kick. They are quiet, focused only on breathing and show no signs of violent struggle. The child’s struggle is quick — 20 seconds, whereas an adult struggles for 60 seconds. Myth #3: Drowning children are unsupervised children 50% of all child drownings will occur 25 metres or less from an adult who was distracted for only a few seconds. Myth #4: My child has had swimming lessons so he/ she won’t drown No child is ever drown-proof, no matter how good their swimming skills. A few swimming lessons are no guarantee when it comes to drowning prevention. Myth #5: Water wings and flotation aids will prevent drowning Water wings give a dangerous and false sense of security, often making children think they are stronger swimmers than they actually are. Flotation aids can also suddenly deflate. Myth #6: My children are older and can swim so my pool is fine left uncovered Children who drown are often short-term visitors to that property. It could be your neighbour’s child who comes over the wall to play, your domestic helper’s child who comes to your property during school holidays or visiting grandchildren and friends’ children – you will have children visiting who can’t swim and the pool needs to be secured for them too. What does a drowning in progress really look like? Being able to identify a drowning in progress means you can react quicker and increase the chances of a full recovery. Familiarise yourself with these behaviours: Head low in the water, mouth at water level Head tilted back with mouth open Trying to roll over onto the back to float Hair falling over the forehead or eyes Body is vertical/ upright Eyes glassy & empty, unable to focus Eyes open, with fear evident on the face Hyperventilating or gasping Trying to swim in one direction but without progress Sometimes the most common indication that a child is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may look like they are treading water and just looking up at their surrounds. One way to be sure is to ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all, they are probably fine. If they give a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them and prevent a drowning occurring right before your eyes. Remember, children tend to make a noise in the water. If they’re quiet – get to them ASAP! Most people imagine Picture A is an accurate depiction of a drowning in progress. In reality, Pictures B & C are more accurate – mouth at water level, head bobbing, body upright, little to no splashing and sometimes the appearance of doing doggie paddle.
Fruit and veg purees are a quick and easy way to add natural goodness to your toddler’s mealtimes. These yummy recipes all include Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees, which means you can simply grab a pouch from your pantry or fridge and get cooking – how convenient is that? Cheesy Veg Balls Little ones love finger foods – and these nutritious and delicious veggie balls are perfect for a meal on their own or as on on-the-go snack when you’re out and about with your child. We made these using a whole sachet of Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree, but you can switch it up and use any of your child’s favourite Squish flavours, including Butternut + Carrot and Apple, Sweet Potato + Sweet Corn. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees contain no nasties, which means they’re free from preservatives, colourants and flavourants and have no added sugar or starch. Ingredients 1 cup cheese 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Mixed Veg Puree ¼ small onion finely grated 2 cups breadcrumbs (simply put several slices of bread into your processor and blitz) ½ cup wholewheat flour 2-3 large courgettes, finely grated 2 large carrots, finely grated ½ clove garlic grated, finely grated 2 tablespoons olive oil/coconut oil 1 teaspoon dried herbs Method Combine all the ingredients then leave to rest for 20 minutes. Roll into small balls. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 20-25 minutes. (If you have an air-fryer, 10 minutes tops.) For a dipping sauce, simply mix some full-cream plain yoghurt with Squish 100% Veg Puree. Veggie Mac and Cheese The great thing about Squish 100% Veg Purees is that they allow you to add veggie goodness to some of your children’s favourite meals, like scrambled eggs, bolognaise, or this delicious mac and cheese. It’s a good idea to double this recipe so that you can freeze the extra portions and have a whole batch of ready to heat-and-eat meals for those evenings when you’re short on time. And because every toddler loves mac and cheese, they’re great to have on hand when your little one has friends over for a playdate too. Ingredients 1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree 250 ml (1 cup) milk Salt and freshly cracked black pepper 250 ml (1 cup) cooked macaroni pasta, drained 125 ml (½ cup) cheddar cheese 65 ml (¼ cup) cream cheese 1 ml (¼ tsp) ground nutmeg 65 ml (¼ cup) breadcrumbs 15 ml (1 Tbsp) butter Method Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Mix the Squish Puree and milk together, then add the drained pasta. Add the cheddar and cream cheeses and stir well to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Spoon into ramekins, top with breadcrumbs and a dot of butter. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 180°C for 20 minutes or until lightly golden and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Apple, Cinnamon and Rice Pudding This rice pudding is perfect for winter – it’s warm, nutritious, and full of flavour. Add even more fruity goodness by topping with sliced banana and a sprinkling of raisins. You can try different variations on this rice pudding by using a combination of different Squish 100% Fruit Purees – this is a great opportunity to finish up any half-pouches in your fridge. For a dairy-free option, you can use almond milk instead. Remember, even children with special dietary requirements can enjoy Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees – they’re free from egg, soya, wheat, nuts, dairy, and gluten. Only Squish 100% Fruit Yogi Purees contain cow’s milk. Ingredients 750 ml (3 cups) milk pinch of salt 30 ml (2 Tbsp) coconut sugar or brown sugar (optional) 2.5 ml (½ tsp) vanilla essence 100 g (½ cup) white rice 2.5 ml (½ tsp) ground cinnamon 1 x 110ml Squish 100% Apple + Banana Puree Method Place milk, salt, sugar (if using) and vanilla essence into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and add the rice and cinnamon. Cook stirring occasionally for 40 minutes or until the rice is tender and the pudding thick and creamy. Remove from the heat and stir in the puree.
Former secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, once said that “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realise his or her full potential,’’ yet for millions of South African children, that bridge seems inaccessible. While the literacy crises in South Africa continues, many experts agree that learning to read in one’s mother tongue can helps combat this issue. According to early literacy specialist, author, and translator, Dr Xolisa Guzula, ‘’Research shows that children learn better when they are grounded in their mother tongue.’’ However, what exacerbates the problem is that most kids only have access to books that are not in their home languages. Only 2% of children’s books published commercially in South Africa* are in local African languages. In a country where approximately eight out of ten people speak a home language other than English, creating relatable stories in indigenous languages is critical if we hope to improve childhood literacy. Cadbury Dairy Milk has always been a brand steeped in the spirit of generosity and pioneering social impact. Cadbury remains committed to its mission of igniting a love for reading in the next generation by making homegrown stories more accessible in their home language. The Homegrown Stories initiative is the latest step in a long-term social mission to grow, co-author, distribute and inspire relatable children’s stories in all 11 official South African languages. Last year, Cadbury Dairy Milk asked the public to translate words into their mother tongue. A team of young local authors then weaved these words into exciting new stories. To date over 500 stories have been translated and made available for download from the Cadbury Digital Library with an additional 45 000 books printed and distributed directly to the children who needed them the most. South Africa is a nation of natural storytellers, crafted through our shared experiences and diversity. This year, Cadbury is encouraging South Africans to tap into their innate storytelling abilities and, by using their everyday interests and experiences as inspiration, generously share a homegrown story in their beloved home language. ‘’With a goal to increase the number of homegrown stories, available in all local African languages, to 1,000 by the end of the year. What better way to advance this mission than by bringing South Africans from all walks of life together to participate in a collective labour of love. Together a small generous act of sharing a story can create lasting impact on a child’s life. An authentic story can encourage a child to want to read more, which in turn can open new worlds and introducing opportunities for the next generation. By sharing our own homegrown stories, we are hoping to create a space where our children can see themselves reflected in the books that shape their childhood.” Lara Sidersky, Mondelez SA Category Lead for Chocolate. Telling our own stories Representation and resonance are important aspects in the literacy journey. When children can see themselves reflected in stories it aids comprehension and encourages enjoyment of the reading journey, which in turn promotes a culture of reading. Professional storyteller and author Baeletsi Tsatsi agrees, ‘’By telling relatable stories to our children, we give them a sense of their place in the world and let them know that they matter and their experiences matter. If we want children to fall in love with reading and themselves, then it is paramount that they see themselves in the stories they read, and this is a beautiful way to do that.” Dr Guzula continues, “The importance of children being able to relate to the stories we tell them cannot be overstated when it comes to developing a love for reading. Nurturing the enjoyment of reading also puts a child at an advantage when they reach school going age.” To amplify this enjoyment Cadbury commissioned local illustrator, Russel Abrahams aka Yay Abe, to incorporate his contemporary design style into creating engaging, impactful Cadbury Story Edition packs to launch the Homegrown Stories journey. Creating Impact through accessibility Cadbury Dairy Milk has partnered with several like-minded organisation and distributors to ensure these stories reach all children, both physically and virtually, in languages that they understand. Alongside community radio stations, who provide an ideal storytelling platform, Cadbury has also partnered with Qualibooks, a leading provider of curriculum-based library and other educational resources to schools and communities. Chris De Beer, a director at Qualibooks, adds, “There is clearly a demand for literature in African languages that needs to be provided for. The number of stories being read after school via our KiBooks online platform clearly shows that we are helping children develop a love of for reading in their spare time. If we can help cultivate that by providing them with more titles that speak to their lived experiences, we have no doubt that we can do our bit to improve childhood literacy in this country.” How South Africans can play a role Cadbury Dairy Milk is asking the public to join them and help children fall in love with reading by sharing an authentic Homegrown Story. Look out for the Cadbury Homegrown Story Edition packs for all the details on how to unlock your stories. Simply scan the QR code on pack to open WhatsApp and follow the prompts to share a story in your beloved home language either via voice notes, typing your story ending or uploading a PDF. You can also visit the Cadbury Digital Library or see your story brought to life through the interactive AR lens. Visit cadbury.co.za and join the #CadburyHomeGrownStories conversation: @CadburyDairyMilkSA (Facebook) @Cadbury_SA (Twitter and Instagram) Scan QR code to access Cadbury Digital Library:
