Aphrodite’s Garden

Love, Connection & Postpartum Reality: Redefining Intimacy

February is often celebrated as the month of love, romance, and connection. But for many new parents—especially mothers in the postpartum phase—this narrative can feel far removed from reality. Postpartum life is intense. Your body is healing from birth, hormones are fluctuating, sleep is fragmented, and much of the day revolves around feeding, changing nappies, soothing, and repeating the cycle again. Many women experience physical discomfort such as muscular aches from breastfeeding positions, constipation, haemorrhoids, lingering postpartum bleeding, or tenderness and healing after a caesarean birth. Add emotional overwhelm, exhaustion, and limited personal space, and intimacy can feel like the last thing on your mind. At the same time, partners are often equally depleted—sleep deprived, adjusting to new responsibilities, and navigating how to support both baby and mother. The result isn’t a lack of love, but rather a lack of energy and opportunity to connect. Why Connection Still Matters in the Postpartum Phase Research into postpartum wellbeing consistently shows that gentle emotional and physical connection between partners supports maternal mental health, relationship satisfaction, and long-term family stability. This doesn’t mean returning to pre-baby expectations of intimacy. Instead, it calls for redefining closeness in ways that are realistic, respectful, and nurturing. Connection in this phase is less about performance and more about presence. Creating Small, Intentional Moments Together One of the most accessible ways to reconnect postpartum is through intentional, pressure-free touch. Even short moments—ten minutes of quiet time—can help calm the nervous system and rebuild closeness. A simple ritual may include: Massage has been shown to support relaxation, reduce stress hormones, and stimulate oxytocin—the hormone associated with bonding and trust.  For couples who feel ready, Aphrodite’s Garden natural Love Balm may be introduced to support comfort and ease during intimate touch. Hormonal changes after birth can contribute to dryness and sensitivity, and supportive lubrication can help intimacy feel more comfortable and less demanding. Reconnecting With the Body—At Its Own Pace Postpartum recovery is deeply individual. Desire may return slowly, and that is both normal and valid. Gentle sensory care—such as massage with Aphrodite’s Garden natural Love Potion massage oil—can help a woman reconnect with her body without pressure, allowing intimacy to unfold naturally rather than being forced. A Gentle Postpartum Reminder Love during the postpartum season is quieter and slower. It lives in shared pauses, supportive touch, and intentional presence. Making space for your relationship—however small that space may be—is not a luxury. It is part of holistic family wellbeing.

February 4, 2026
Wingu Academy

Teaching Online the Right Way: Why Wingu Academy Sets the International Standard for Online and Hybrid Education

The global shift towards online and hybrid education has reshaped how learning is delivered. What was once considered an alternative is now a preferred choice for families seeking flexibility, quality and academic credibility. However, effective online education requires far more than simply moving lessons onto a screen. It demands structure, trained teachers, thoughtful pedagogy and a school model designed specifically for live online learning. This is where Wingu Academy stands apart — as an internationally recognised online school that has refined live digital education into a proven, high-performing system. Beyond the Classroom: Teaching Online with Purpose At Wingu Academy, online learning is not an emergency solution or a temporary adjustment. It is a deliberate, expertly designed educational model supported by qualified teachers who are trained to teach live in a virtual environment. Drawing on international best practice, Wingu Academy ensures that learners experience: This approach supports both fully online learners and families choosing a hybrid schooling solution. Best Practice for Live Online Learning — The Wingu Way High-quality online education relies on intentional teaching strategies. At Wingu Academy, these principles are embedded into daily teaching practice. Prepared, Accessible Learning Materials Teachers ensure that lesson resources and links are shared in advance. This allows learners to arrive prepared, reduces disruptions and enables revision after lessons — a key advantage of digital learning. Small Group Engagement Live lessons incorporate breakout sessions where learners collaborate, discuss and problem-solve in smaller groups. Teachers actively move between groups, much like they would in a physical classroom, ensuring participation and support. Real-Time Feedback and Interaction Through polls, chat functions and guided questioning, teachers can assess understanding instantly and adapt instruction in real time. Learners are encouraged to participate actively, making lessons dynamic and responsive. Clear Structure and Instructions Complex tasks are carefully planned, explained both verbally and in writing, and often modelled through screen sharing. Teachers regularly check understanding before learners begin independent or group work. Established Online Classroom Norms Wingu Academy sets clear expectations for participation, questioning and communication. Whether learners are using chat, raising hands or speaking, structure ensures lessons remain focused and respectful. Building Community in a Digital Space A strong sense of belonging is essential for learner success. At Wingu Academy, community-building is not an afterthought — it is intentionally woven into the school day. Time is dedicated to connection, collaboration and relationship-building, ensuring that Wingulians feel supported, seen and part of a vibrant school community, even in an online setting. Flexibility with Accountability One of the defining strengths of Wingu Academy is its balanced approach to flexibility. While live attendance is prioritised, lessons are recorded to support: This ensures no learner is left behind — without compromising academic standards. Technology with Compassion and Realism Teaching online means entering learners’ home environments. Wingu Academy teachers are trained to approach this with empathy and professionalism, recognising the realities of family life while maintaining clear academic expectations. Teachers are also equipped to troubleshoot technical challenges efficiently and ensure learning continues smoothly. Designed for Online and Hybrid Schooling Wingu Academy’s model is ideally suited to families seeking: With a strong academic framework and internationally recognised standards, Wingu Academy offers learners continuity, credibility and confidence — wherever they are in the world. Leading with Optimism and Expertise Online education is most effective when teachers lead with confidence, adaptability and optimism. At Wingu Academy, educators model lifelong learning and collaboration, setting the tone for strong outcomes and resilient learners. Why Families Choose Wingu Academy Parents choose Wingu Academy because it offers: A Smarter Way Forward As education continues to evolve globally, Wingu Academy remains at the forefront — proving that online and hybrid schooling, when done properly, can deliver exceptional results without compromise. The Wingu Way is not just online learning. It is education reimagined.

February 4, 2026
Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Medical aid myth busting: The misunderstandings we’re leaving behind in 2026

From tracking steps and calories to getting the gains at the gym and taking care of mental and emotional wellness, South Africans have never been more health conscious. At the same time, there is a growing disconnect in how we perceive the systems that protect that health.   As we step further into 2026, it’s important to debunk the myths around medical aid that often cloud our judgement when it comes to looking after our own health and that of our families. Cover without interruption should be high up on our list of resolutions this year, and to achieve this, it’s important that South Africans get the facts straight. Myth 1: Medical aid is a luxury The most pervasive myth is that medical aid is a luxury. The data, in fact, suggests otherwise. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) 2024 Industry Report, hospital expenditure remains the dominant cost driver in South Africa, accounting for nearly 36% of total benefits paid. ‘Medical aid acts as a bridge to immediate, specialised intervention,’ says Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund. ‘For a scheme like Bonitas, being a member is a guarantee of access to a network of private facilities when time is the most critical variable.’ Myth 2: Plan adjustments mean lower quality There is a common fear that moving to a different plan within a scheme is a step backwards. In reality, the healthcare market is defined by customisation, allowing you to choose a plan that fits your specific lifestyle and healthcare needs without paying for bells and whistles you don’t use.  This is best seen in the rise of options that make strict use of networks and digital-first plans like Bonitas’ BonCore that was unveiled in September last year. Network options offer reduced monthly premiums by requiring members to use a specific group of healthcare providers with whom preferential rates have been negotiated. BonCore takes this further by offering a digitally enabled hospital plan that combines unlimited hospital cover with virtual-first primary care. This means that simple GP consultations happen via video link, which lowers costs and increases convenience while still providing a Benefit Booster for physical visits and specialised tests. Myth 3: Secondary products can stand alone A dangerous trend has seen some people viewing gap cover or health insurance as a replacement for full medical aid membership. While these tools have their place, they are designed as supplements and not replacements. Gap cover, for instance, is a vital tool for managing specialist shortfalls, but it relies on the foundation of a medical aid to function. Without that foundation, the protection is incomplete. Real security comes from a holistic ecosystem, with Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) ensuring that a pre-determined list of chronic conditions and emergency procedures are covered by law, regardless of the plan you choose. Myth 4: Public-private hybrids are a universal quick fix While the integration of public and private care is a key pillar of national health policy, the immediate reality for many in 2026 comes down to capacity. Public facilities are under significant strain, and while insurance products linked to public care provide a basic entry point, they often lack the elective agility that private medical aid provides. In simple terms, this means that while you might be covered for a life-threatening emergency, you could face a very long wait for elective procedures like hip replacements, cataract surgery or specialised scans. Securing private care through a scheme with a broad national footprint allows for proactive health management and the ability to treat a condition before it becomes a surgical emergency. Myth 5: Medical schemes prioritise the young and healthy South African medical schemes operate on a principle of social solidarity. This means that all contributions go into a collective pool of funds to be used by all members, as and when needed. As per the Medical Scheme’s Act 131 of 1998, open schemes are legally required to accept all applicants. In fact, Bonitas’ 2026 strategy emphasises preventative care for all life stages, which includes a series of health screenings, vaccinations and wellness assessments. This ensures that the Scheme’s R9 billion in reserves is used to keep all members healthy for longer, regardless of age. ‘Ultimately, being a member of a medical aid is about having a partner that bridges the gap between health consciousness and health security. We must move beyond viewing healthcare as a grudge purchase to seeing it as a vital tool for long-term resilience,’ concludes Callakoppen.

February 4, 2026
Cartoon Network Africa

Regular Show – Laughter and Adventures for the Whole Family

Two best friends, a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby, try to turn their regular, boring job as groundskeepers at a park into exciting adventures. Trying to entertain themselves by any means, often creating hilarious messes, they are joined by a hot-tempered gumball machine named Benson, a yeti named Skips, an English gentleman with a lollipop-shaped head named Pops, an overweight green man named Muscle Man, and High-Five Ghost, a ghost with a hand extending from the top of his head. Parents, watch with your kids and enjoy the wild, funny, and unpredictable adventures of Mordecai and Rigby together! 📺 Premiere Monday 2 February 2026⏰ Tune-in Monday to Friday @ 16:15 CAT on DSTV Channel 301Tune in for endless laughter and adventures for the whole family!

February 4, 2026
Dalza

Sleep, Mood, Meltdowns: Turn Quick Notes into an Action Plan at School

If you parent a neurodivergent child, your days are full of small moments that matter. The noise that tipped them over.The transition that went better than expected.The snack that helped. The one that didn’t. You clock these moments in real time. But then the day moves on. By the time you’re packing lunches or collapsing on the couch, the details are blurred because you’re trying to hold too much in your head. So next time the teacher or therapist asks, “What seems to trigger it?” your mind goes blank This is the quiet stress most parents don’t talk about: the pressure to remember everything, because it all feels important. For parents of neurodivergent children, the challenge isn’t noticing the small moments. It’s remembering them accurately, connecting them over time, and turning them into something useful, without keeping a novel-length diary or relying on exhausted memory. What does help is a simpler approach: brief daily notes that take seconds, can turn a week of scattered moments into clear patterns, and real support at school. Here’s how to do it. The only rule: one line a day For one school week, write one short line each evening. Just a note you’d want to remember later. If it helps, anchor it to this single question: “What changed today?” That change might be: Why this works. This approach draws on simple journaling techniques that use one sentence a day to capture what matters, without overwhelm. When notes are short and consistent, patterns start to surface on their own.  After a week, you’re no longer relying on memory; you’re looking at evidence. And that’s where things start to shift. After 10 days, look for just three things: 1. What showed up more than once? (“Late nights → tough mornings” / “Noise before lunch = meltdown risk”) 2. What helped, even a little? (“Headphones after assembly” / “Written instructions”) 3. What surprised you? (These are often the most useful insights.) Turn it into a teacher/ therapist-ready message.  “Over the last week, we noticed that when instructions were given verbally only, [Your child’s name] struggled to get started. When they were written or shown visually, they were able to work more independently.” It’s this actionable insight that bridges the gap between home, school and therapy and gets everyone in the care team working towards the same goal: supporting your child.  Keeping these daily notes in one place matters. When they’re scattered across your head, your phone, and half-finished notebooks, patterns get lost again. Dalza is an award-winning app that gives parents a single, secure place to jot these one-line notes, spot patterns, and then share insights with teachers or therapists in a 1:1 or group chat.  Small notes turn guesswork into clarity, and clarity is what helps your child get the right support, sooner. Dalza is free for 30 days, so you can try the ‘one line a day’ technique and see if it helps reduce your mental load, risk-free.  To get started today, simply add your name and email here. 

February 3, 2026
Wriggle and Rhyme

Ready, steady, music!

Music stimulates movement! Have you ever thought about the fact that our bodies are naturally rhythmical?  Our hearts have beats and so, a rhythmic pulse is built right into the fabric of our lives. So, what’s happening in our brains when we want to move to music? The answer is, the process of making music, argued by Molnar-Szakacs and Overy (2006).  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18985111 Conventional, non-digital music is made with physical vibrations, through various actions. For example, we move the muscle of our vocal cords to sing, we shake our maracas, we hit our drum with a drumstick, etc. These actions activate the pre-motor areas of our brain, specifically the MIRROR NEURON SYSTEM. Mirror neurons fire when we initiate certain actions AND when we see the behaviour performed by someone else. So when we listen to music, our “audio-visual” mirror neurons are activated.  They fire as if we are playing the instruments, and this general activation in pre-motor areas, triggers our desire to move and dance. The existence of “audio-visual” mirror neurons indicates that we are not only in-built dancers, but we are also in-built musicians! Of course, music also stimulates our emotions … the ability to make us feel happy, sad, soulful, joyful, excited, scared etc.  Getting up and moving, stimulates the oxygen supply to our brains and can also trigger the release of endorphins … which in turn contribute to us feeling positive about the experience. At Wriggle and Rhyme, we use music as a catalyst for learning and development.  Some of the ways that we do this, are by encouraging rhythmic movement, actions in our singing and dramatic expression. Rhythmic Movement We actively encourage the children to feel the underlying rhythms and move in time to them.  In the baby classes, this starts with the simple rhythm of a ticking clock. Singing with Actions When singing with children, often the tendency is to think of adding actions to words, only in a way that reinforces the vocabulary of the song.  This can be very effective – for example, in a song like “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”.  By touching the head, when the word “head” is sung, there is an easy association made and the word is reinforced. However, actions to songs can be much broader than that. By adding movement in the form of gentle exercise, we can also stimulate co-ordination, crossing the midline and so much more. Dramatic Expression In our pre-school programmes, we give children the opportunity to express themselves in music – sometimes dramatically, sometimes emotionally. This kind of movement adds another layer of depth too. But, whatever movement is stimulated, there’s no denying it … Music makes us want to move! Whether it’s tapping a foot, swaying along to a rhythm or really getting our groove on, and dancing like no-one’s watching … Musical resources With that in mind, we have some wonderful, uniquely SOUTH AFRICAN musical stories for your little people to enjoy. These are accessible on your favourite streaming platform (Apple music, Spotify etc.) and are a great alternative to screens.  Just go onto the platform for search for “Wriggle and Rhyme”.  There are 4 different albums available. For more info about the W&R musical stories and online resources, have a look at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/our-music  Find us on Facebook and Instagram @wrigglerhyme Our Cape Town-based music classes for BABIES and TODDLERS are situated in Claremont, Crawford, Fish Hoek, Meadowridge and Melkbos.   Find out loads more info here – www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za

February 3, 2026
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