ed’s letter Hello lovely people
ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR Linda Navon 071 346 8138 linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za OUR “Little Boss” Carmen Ché Jardim SUB–EDITOR, NATIONAL SALES & MARKETING Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za ADVERTISING SALES MAQNAGER Clinton Stebbing 076 657 4139 clint@childoftheuniverse.co.za DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH Lee Coulter WRITER Dani Jardim dani@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 0110 468 737 DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.
MEDIA PARTNERS
October has been a very sad month for many of us, and it is with huge sadness that we have to say Goodbye to Heather Picton who passed away earlier this month. Many of our readers will have been taught by Heather at some stage, or read her books regarding ADHD for your own children. Our condolences go out to her family – she will live on through our magazines. We have already started with ‘silly season’ it seems. There are decorations going up in shopping malls, which excites the children, and makes us parents groan in despair… how could this year have passed by so quickly. We have included a couple of snippets on Halloween as our kids do so enjoy the fun of dressing up – even though it’s not a traditional South African pass-time. Good luck with all the sweets and the kids climbing the walls for a few days after the event! Personally, I will be in hiding and not encouraging my grand daughter to go ‘trick ‘n treating’. Friends, please start making arrangements with your neighbours or local kennels if you are going away over the festive season. Last year the shelters were overflowing with pets who had been left at home to fend for themselves. There is always someone who will take care of your animals, and if you are stuck for ideas – please call us. Our magazines are usually published by the second week of each month, reason being that, once again, we are not conventional. We like to delight our readers with something fresh and insightful to read once you have gotten over the month end rush, and can put your feet up with a nice ‘cuppa’ tea, and consciously relax with us. Till next month – be well. Much Love
Linda
Contributing Team & Experts
LINDA NAVON Editor/Owner
LISA RALEIGH Fitness Trainer
AMY McCREADY
LEIGH DAVIES
Cj MATTICKS
MARGIE McALPINE
HELEN HANSEN
HANNA KOK
Sub Editor/Marketing Director
Angel Connection School
CLINT STEBBING National Sales
VINCENT JARDIM
VALERIE DENEEN
RENEE JAIN
Our Guardian Angel
HEATHER PICTON
MARNIE CRAYFROFT
Founder ADHASA ADHD Foundation
Carrots are Orange Montessorian
BrainGym
VERONICA HAUPT Re-code Your Life
Adventures in Wisdom
NICOLETTE ROUX
KARA LEWIS
RENAYE
Powerful Mothering
ALESSIA SANTORO POPSUGAR MOMS Asst Editor
SERGIO SALOTTO Life Journey Facilitator
contents BABIES & BEYOND
9 Tips for 9 Months How Music benefits Learning Dyslexia and Writing Skills
CONSCIOUS PARENTING
What is Theta Healing How to Inspire Kids to be Grateful Benefits of Yoga for Kids When Nightmares become Reality Relaxing to focus on studying Thriving by Reducing Stress My Dear Son – how to treat a Woman
OUT & ABOUT
Being Sun Smart
STORY & PLAYTIME
Halloween Fun Stories of Monsters & Magic
YUMMY TUMMY
Healthy yummy meals for the whole family What are Green Mondays? Treats for Halloween
ANIMAL-LOVE
Raw Love Nutrition – animal Yummy Tummies Wags & Whiskers
REACH OUT
Hope Begins with You – Helping Children with Leukaemia Beautiful dogs and cats looking for their Forever Homes
COMPETITIONS & GIVEAWAYS
What to expect when you’re expecting: 9 tips for 9 months For some people, being pregnant may sound like a scary prospect – having the responsibility of creating a new human being and keeping them as healthy as possible. The truth is, being pregnant is not scary at all. It is a beautiful, natural process that every woman should treasure. However, even though pregnancy is natural, you still need to look after yourself, and your unborn child, which is why we have compiled a list of healthy things to do during your pregnancy – one tip for every month you are preggers. 1. Eat healthy Eating well during your pregnancy can help you to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Try not to miss any meals throughout the day, especially breakfast, as this is probably the most important meal of the day. Try to avoid foods that are uncooked such as raw fish and meat and even soft cheeses and start increasing your daily intake of fruits and vegetables and other healthy snacks. You should also decrease how much caffeine you eat and drink per day so less coffee and chocolate and more water!
2. Carry on exercising Don’t believe the old myths that exercising while you are pregnant can be harmful for your baby. Now we aren’t saying that you can do an intense weights session or cardio class, however exercising is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy. There are so many classes that you can take that are specially for pregnant women such as preggibellies, preggy Pilates and preggy yoga. And if you don’t feel like partaking in one of these, a simple 15-20 minute walk, or even a quick swim when it’s hot, will do.
3. Read as much as possible and stay informed If you are pregnant for the first time, our best advice to you is to read, read, read. Not only are there hundreds of books out there, but there are many pregnancy blogs that you can read online as well. The more information you have, the less scary things may seem. Don’t forget though that your pregnancy is important to others too so don’t be afraid to ask other mothers, including your own, as many questions as you need to.
4. Take your vitamins Take a prenatal vitamin every day that contains iron and folic acid. Iron helps keep your blood healthy while folic acid helps prevent any birth defects. Speak to your doctor and pharmacist to find out which vitamin is best for you.
5. Stick to your doctor appointments There is a reason that gynecologists want to see their pregnant patients at numerous stages during their pregnancies so make sure you don’t miss them. Each appointment checks the progress of the pregnancy, making sure that both mom and baby are healthy and well. By not sticking to your appointments, you may run the risk of missing something important. And above all, don’t you want to watch the progress of your new addition?
6. Relax The best thing you can do for both yourself and your baby is to relax as much as possible. We know that it is not always easy, especially if you have a full time job and a family to look after, but did you know that stress releases toxins into your body, which may become harmful to your baby – you don’t want to risk going into early labour because you forgot to relax. Meditation and yoga can help to calm your mind and keep you stress-free.
7. Speak to your partner Don’t forget that even though you are the one carrying a baby, there were two people involved in getting you pregnant. It is important for you to share with your partner what you are going through and how you are feeling because they are left in the dark. They don’t know what it feels like when you feel your baby kick for the first time or why you are so uncomfortable near the end of your pregnancy. Communication is key as during this time, you and your partner will start forming a new type of bond.
8. Cut out unhealthy habits Smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs and taking certain medication while pregnant is without a doubt one of the most harmful things you can do to your unborn child. Not only can the toxins found in alcohol, over-the-counter medications, drugs and tobacco can cause birth defects for your child, but if you take drugs or drink while pregnant, there is a likelihood that your child will be born with an addiction.
9. Create memories Finally, one of the most special things you can do during your pregnancy is to create memories. Keep a journal and jot down all your feelings throughout the nine months – this is something that you can keep forever and maybe even one-day share with your child. You can also record your progress by taking monthly pictures of your growing belly, which you can stick into your journal.
As parents of children with learning disabilities, we want the best for them. We want them to succeed and achieve their educational goals. By Hannah Roberts As a teacher, I have had meetings and conversations with parents where they expressed concern over their child’s participation in “frivolous” classes, such as art, drama and music. But art, music especially, is advantageous for your child’s overall educational wellbeing. Stanford University in its 2005 study “musical training helps language processing” discusses that learning a music instrument is useful for language development, especially for children with dyslexia or other types of learning disabilities.
Tips, pointers and ideas Here are some ways you can incorporate music to enhance their core subjects: Have your child learn their multiplication facts set to music. To enrich history lessons, learn songs from different cultures or ears in history. Use rhythmic music combined with clapping to strengthen reading and fluency. Create raps, chants or songs to help your child remember details. Simply play instrumental music in the background while a child studies to improve focus. For further information about how music and learning are interrelated please check out the graph below.
HOW TO TEACH A DYSLEXIC CHILD TO WRITE
by Hannah Roberts Children with dyslexia spend a lot of time and energy learning to read and write. These are not passive learning activities for children with dyslexia. Frequently, parents and educators believe dyslexia affects predominantly reading and comprehension. However, the ability to write is affected by Dyslexia.
A difficulty in writing is referred to as dysgraphia. These difficulties can come in pairs because they are simply different expressions in differences or weaknesses in the components of learning. These weaknesses or differences cause difficulty in language processing and writing is a part of language processing. Much can be done to strengthen these components. To find our which are affecting you take our learning difficulties quick analysis. As a teacher discovers the student’s learning achievement, she will see a discrepancy in the student’s oral abilities versus how the student expresses themselves on paper. Every child with Dyslexia displays different symptoms and severity of symptoms.
COMMON WRITING PROBLEMS You may see some common symptoms in writing. They are listed as follows: 1. Writing events out of sequence 2. Run-on sentences 3. No spacing between words or inappropriately spaced 4. No or little use of punctuation 5. Frequent spelling errors From my experience as a teacher, students become engrossed in learning to read and understand each word. They are perplexed as to why their written essays, book reports, journal entries need to be so neat and perfect— essentially following the rules of grammar. As a teacher, I start with basic understanding and practice of grammar. We usually work on one aspect at a time. For example, capitalization, we discuss the rules of capitalization; I point out words in their reading books that are capitalized and when writing that is the only rule I require them to adhere to. We do this until they have mastered capitalization. Then we start the task of learning a new rule such as punctuation.
Writing Apps In my classroom and with my children at home, I like to integrate technology when it benefits the child or enhances their lessons from school. There are many great apps out there, but I will highlight a few. I like the ABC Writing app. It provides the student the opportunity to write words and letters. Additionally, the child can hear the word spelled letter by letter and the entire word. Like most apps, it’s colorful with music and different color pens to write with. I love for my students with Dyslexia or any learning disability to use Toontastic (a free app). This app allows a student to create their own cartoons. The app helps the child go through the whole writing organization process, writing, and publishing of their cartoon. As a teacher and mom, I know it's important to celebrate the small milestones with your child with Dyslexia. Start out simple and slow. Continue adding more skills as they master each step. Starting slow and building on successes is just ONE of the important principles behind the Learning Success System. If you'd like to help your child with this get the Learning Success System Now!
Conscious Life Magazine
Conscious Life Magazine
How do we inspire our kids to be more grateful? By Rebecca Wolthers So, in today’s modern world, how do you inspire children to grow up with an attitude of gratitude instead of an “attitude”, if you know what I mean? Many psychologists have studied gratitude and its effects on our well being. People who are more grateful seem to lead more satisfying lives and are more resilient in a crisis or under pressure. I for one definitely want that for my whole family! Rudolf Steiner, known for creating Waldorf Education, said this “Gratitude is the basis for love. When children deepen their appreciation for the natural world, they deepen their love for all of creation.” An easy way to start is to simply as your kids, “What are three things you are grateful for today?” Or, for younger ones, try a rhyme or a song that appeals to you. Giving thanks before a meal is another powerful way to inspire gratitude. Here’s a sweet one for the younger kiddos:
The eagle gives thanks for the mountains,
The fish gives thanks for the sea We give our blessings for the food we are about to receive.
These Are the Chores Your Child Should Be Doing This Year Based on Their Age by ALESSIA SANTORO
If you're a mama who feels like she's doing literally everything around the house, including picking up after your very capable kids, we know how you feel. It makes some parents feel guilty to give their children mundane responsibilities like taking out the garbage, and some moms follow the "if I do it, it'll get done faster and better" mode of thinking. But the truth is, our children can — and probably should — handle more than we think. We're not suggesting you turn your child into a regular Mrs. Doubtfire, but there are a bunch of tasks around the house that can be completed by children based on their age. If you're looking to set your kiddos up with a chore chart to help them learn about hard work and having responsibilities, there's something every child can help with.
Ages 2-3 At this age, chores are a kind of code for being held accountable in the smallest way. While your kiddo is young, it's important to not do every little thing for them so that getting them to help out when they're older isn't a losing battle. Here are some things they can help you or their older siblings with: • • • • •
Put laundry in the hamper/washer. Put their toys away. Put books on the bookshelf. Help feed the family pet. Throw diapers into trash.
Ages 4-7
Ages 8-10
As your child gets a bit older, their ability to do a few small chores independently increases, especially if they were helping out with little things before their fourth birthday. As they make their way through preschool and into grade school, here are a few things they can manage: • Help set the table. • Make their bed. • Water plants/the garden. • Help put away groceries. • Put non-breakable (and not sharp) items in the dishwasher. • Switch laundry from the washer to dryer. • Help clear the dinner table. • Pack up their backpack for school. • Sort silverware. • Sweep floors.
Once they reach the higher grades of elementary school, their chore list will start snowballing from the previous age lists. Things they helped with before can likely be done by them independently now, and responsibilities can extend from things that affect just them to things that help the entire family (like setting the table for dinner). Here are a few things you can get on your 8- to 10-year-old's chore chart: • Clean their room. • Set the table. • Vacuum. • Feed the family pet. • Help wash the car. • Take out the trash. • Rake leaves. • Help cook dinner or pack lunches. • Empty/load the dishwasher. • Put away groceries. • Bring in the mail. • Fold laundry and put it away.
Age 11 and Older
By the time your child hits middle school, they're going to be asking for more and more independence in terms of social life and schoolwork, so they should be able to handle doing larger-scale chores by themselves. All kids develop differently, but as your child ages from 11 and on, chores like doing laundry and packing lunches are things your tween and teen should be capable of in time. Here some other chores to consider for kids 11 and above:
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Clean their bathroom. Help clean the kitchen. Wash dishes. Clear the table and put dishes in the dishwasher. Mow the lawn. Shovel snow. Do laundry. Pack their school lunch. Garden. Wash the car. Walk the dog. Bake/cook with limited supervision. Watch younger siblings for short periods of time (depending on state law).
So many kids today are living in 'virtual reality' and sedentary lifestyles. Yoga is an option for very young children that connects them with all living things, fosters a calmer, more emotionally stable, higher selfesteemed and more focused child and adolescent. An alternative that empowers children, rather than numbing them. Yoga is gentle, centering, calming, and can be practiced at an early age and last a lifetime. Yoga provides a gentle physical activity that helps kids to regulate their emotions and manage stress by being more centered and calm. Yoga is especially important during a child’s formative years of development. Yoga contributes to a healthier body and greater self-esteem.
We love it when we find a great source of interesting and helpful links, and we want to be one of ‘those places.’ We also think it’s helpful when you can see a brief description of WHY you should make the effort to ‘click-through.’ We’re hoping you agree!
WHEN BECOME REALITY Growing up I can remember watching movies on the Lifetime Channel. I could watch them because all of the plots seemed so bizarre and foreign to me. Except for the one where a mother was killed by falling logs during a logging truck accident. Ever since that movie, I've had nightmares about logging trucks and am petrified of them. Ask my husband. And then one day, while pregnant with Dino, there was a logging truck accident right in front of my house. We lived on the main highway. Every ounce of my being shook, as I called my husband at work. I couldn't begin to describe how I felt in that moment, when my nightmares became reality. Little did I know, that the logging truck incident was just the beginning of a long list of Lifetime movies that would play out in my life. After Bulldo was born, I was told by my doctors, not to have anymore children. I was okay with that then. There were always other options like adoption. When Bulldo was six months old we felt the impression that a little girl was waiting to come to our family. We researched all of our options. In the end, we felt inspired to adopt through the foster care system.
The process to become certified foster parents took about nine months. And then the waiting began. I would be cleaning or putting the boys down to nap, when I'd be hit with these overwhelming feelings of sorrow and anxiety.
What was happening to my little girl, so that she could eventually come to our family? I was overcome with emotion every time. In my head, I couldn't begin to imagine what she was enduring, nor did I want to. But I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wept and grieved, praying fervently for her. Things I had only known as nightmares were reality for my daughter, and I could do absolutely nothing to stop them from happening. And then she arrived as a foster baby. Her mother surrendered her rights quickly. She was safe and she was ours. But it wasn't that simple. Permanent damage had been done before she came to us.
Our daughter had Reactive Attachment Disorder and PTSD. Adjusting to life as a parent of a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder was very difficult for me. Looking back, those first few years were the darkest times I can remember. Her screaming never stopped. She experienced night terrors. Every day seemed like a constant battle, with her refusal to let me care for her.
When I'm stressed, I don't sleep.
Parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder is the most stressful thing I've ever done. Sleep was not happening. My daughter eventually grew from an infant to a toddler, and I thought times would get better. I still had hope they would anyway. But as her speech improved, she could communicate. And with communication came descriptions of flashbacks and memories of incidents from the past.
One wouldn't think a child so young would remember. But they do. Always. Every time she spoke and shared more information about what happened to her, I lost it. Since when do nightmares become reality in our home? How can this be? This isn't happening! But it was. There was no escape.
Oh, how I wanted to sleep. I wanted to enjoy the innocence of sweat dreams. But there was no innocence left. Nightmares weren't even nightmares anymore. Nightmares had become reality. And so I stayed awake. There was only one thing that could ease my mind, and that was watching medical dramas on TV. The only thing I could think of that was worse than what my daughter was telling me, was medical trauma. I would watch episode after episode of Grey's Anatomy until my eyes literally fell shut, receiving a maximum of about 4 hours of sleep each night. This went on for years. And it wasn't just me. It was her too. Every time she'd close her eyes, she'd have these vivid dreams of what was, or worse, what might happen again. We began to see paranoia in our daughter. She worried all the time and was developing OCD tendencies. She wouldn't sleep, It was too scary. In her case, medicinal intervention was necessary.
In my case, we had to stop living the drama that came with being foster parents. Because not only were we hearing about past accounts from our daughter, we were living them every day with foster children we were caring for. Until you live that lifestyle, you have no idea how many of your nightmares are reality for so many innocent children. It took two years to recover from those experiences, before I was able to sleep at night. I had to simplify life in as many ways as I could. I'd like to say the stress lessens over time, and nightmares go back to being nightmares, but it just gets worse. Except now different nightmares become reality. These new ones involve the safety of our family because of Reactive Attachment Disorder. The only thing that helps me endure it all is love. I love my daughter. If it takes every fiber of my being to help her overcome these nightmares that are reality, I'll do it. It's also that love that helps me sleep at night, even on the worst days. I need the courage and the strength to get up and do it all over again tomorrow. Without sleep, I don't have that.
I can't watch Lifetime movies anymore. Heck, I can't watch a lot of movies anymore. They're too much of a reminder of when nightmares became reality. But I can finally sleep, and so can she. We'll take the progress!
By Hanna Kok How stressed are you? And how is it affecting your health, relationships, sleeping pattern, your overall sense of well-being? The higher your stress levels, the more you are just surviving. If we can understand what causes stress, then we can do something about it and we can actually reduce the stress in your life so that you thrive more and more each day.
What causes stress? The desire that our life (past, present or future) would be different. Let's explore a few examples.
Example 1: Studying For Exams Exam time is coming up and you are stressing. Maybe you don't know the material that well. You desire that the exams, were not on your doorstep, that you studied more or something else. You might be worried that you are going to fail and you desire that you will pass. Stress is caused by "fighting" with what is, instead of accepting what is and making the best of it.
How to reduce stress in exam time: Instead of worrying about the exams, it is important to accept that the exams are on your doorstep. Then you focus on what you can do.
Conscious Life Magazine
You can start with making sure you can to study as effectively as possible. One way to do that is to ensure your whole brain is "switched-on" for learning. Did you know that when you are stressed, large parts of the brain switch off up to 86%, including your frontal lobes. This is where your higher thinking is located, which you really need for problem solving, creative thinking etc. You cannot afford studying and writing exams without these frontal lobes supporting you. Did you know that whole brain functions better that than the sum of the different sections together? When all parts work in unison, we get Creative Listening, Serf-actualized communication, My Rhythm, Language with meaning and more.
Conscious Life Magazine
My Dear Son, This is How to Treat a Woman A father offers his expert advise on what to do, and not to do, to find and happily marry the right woman. My Dear Son, You told me you were messaging a girl and you were planning to meet somewhere at school. I wanted to ask if it was a date, but I didn’t want to embarrass you. I wanted to ask what she’s like. Is she nice? Is she smart? What type of music does she listen to? Is she like your mom? It has been too long ago for me to remember. Was it like a switch? One minute you find girls annoying, and then all of a sudden, all you want to do is hang around them. It seemed like only yesterday that the only girl you didn’t find annoying was your mom. When did that switch flip? When did you start liking girls? I guess it doesn’t really matter how it happened. Or when. What’s important now is that you know what to look for, and more importantly, how to behave when you’ve found her .I know you’re only 12. And you will likely have several girlfriends before marrying the right one. But you might as well learn from the Expert so that you don’t waste time making all the mistakes I made. When you were little you told mom that you wanted to marry her when you grow up. Well you know now that’s not possible. But at that time, you wanted to marry mom because she had all the qualities you want in a girl. If that’s true then you should ask ME because I’m the only one that managed to marry her. I’m the “expert,” so to speak. I know you’re only 12. And you will likely have several girlfriends before marrying the right one. But you might as well learn from the Expert so that you don’t waste time making all the mistakes I made. Do not get advice from your friends. Remember, “If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” So here is a list that helped me when I met your mom.
What to look for: Look for someone that’s better than you. It’s as simple as that. Look for someone that you admire, not only for her beauty, but also for her brains, her attitude, how she treats her family and friends. When you find someone that is better than you, you will automatically want to be a better person around her. When you strive to be a better person for her, it will also uplift you.
Nothing else matters. Her race, ethnicity, how many friends she has or how many likes she can get on Instagram. Not her social status or even her religion. None of that matters. Ask yourself this; “Does she make me want to be a better person?” If the answer is YES – then you’re with the right person at this time.
How to behave – A list of DO’S: This will sound corny but it’s true because I’m the Expert. Chivalry is not dead. Be a gentleman. There’s the easy stuff you hear all the time; hold doors, help her carry stuff, pull out the chair for her, give her your coat when she’s cold. These are all good. But then there are some details that seem to be lost to your generation. Like: 1) Let her order first and wait for her food to arrive before you eat. 2) Compliment her on how beautiful she looks. 3) Be respectful in front of her parents. Don’t say “Hey, how’s it going”. Say “Good morning Mr. ____.”
4) Be respectful to her parents even when they’re not around. Even if she’s angry at them, stay respectful. 5) Surprise her with something for no reason. Like flowers, not like a snapchat. However, a snapchat story on how you got those flowers might be cool. 6) Watch to make sure she gets home safely before you leave. 7) Walk on the outside of the sidewalk when you’re with her.
8) Don’t kiss and tell (come talk to me if you do not get this.) 9) Make her laugh. And then there is the really important stuff. Like: 10) Encourage her to aim higher (do better at school, run faster at track, play harder in sports.) 11) Challenge her to try new things, new experiences that will improve her as an individual.
12) Respect her opinions and decisions at all times. If you can do 80% of these, she’ll love you. Do 100%, she’ll love and respect you.
How to behave – A list of DON’TS: In no particular order – just don’t do this stuff:
1) Hurtful pranks. I don’t get how anyone can play a hurtful prank on their girlfriend for a laugh. I know it’s all over YouTube and it gets a million likes. That just tells me there are at least a million people out there that won’t have a worthwhile partner. You don’t want to be one of them. 2) Bodily emissions on purpose. Just like how you wouldn’t walk up to your teacher and fart or burp in her face, don’t do that to your girl. It’s not respectful. Save that for your buddies. 3) Profanity. Don’t use any profanity directed at her, her family or friends. In front of her or behind her back. Respect. 4) Let her down. If you say you’re going to be somewhere or do something, do it. Don’t let her down intentionally. Girls like men, not little boys. And men stick to their word.
5) Stare at your phone. Don’t text, talk. If you’re with her, keep your eyes on her, not technology. 6) Lie and hide. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Change, improve, and move on. If you are practicing all these hacks, she will forgive you. 7) Shame or belittle. Similarly, she might make mistakes, forgive with sincerity. Never hold a grudge, shame or belittle her. 8) Gossip about other people. Even if she does, listen but don’t participate. Don’t tell her not to do it, just acknowledge what she is saying. She might feel annoyed initially but she will respect you for it in the long run. Your girlfriend now might not ever be your wife, but if you follow the advice of this Expert, you will build a lifelong friendship. And perhaps the next girl you meet will be like your mom.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” Love you, Dada
By – Alex Lim
FIND & BOOK ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN SOUTH AFRICA lovetostay.co.za is your green heart guide to eco-friendly accommodation throughout beautiful South Africa. We partner with all kinds of accommodation establishments that operate in an eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible way. So whether you opt for a luxury boutique hotel or rustic tree house, you can feel good knowing your holiday supports a place that serves the environment and community in a positive way. To help you make these good choices, we are committed to growing a wonderful selection of urban and country, luxury and rustic green accommodation options where you will love to stay! Search for your next green getaway on www.lovetostay.co.za by location or type; the Check Availability & Book Online green button will enable you to check real-time availability, make a booking & secure online payment through the Nightsbridge booking system at no extra charge.
WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION? Eco-friendly accommodation is defined as a lodging establishment with structural features that minimize the impact and footprint on the environment; as well as well as those that follow green living, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
WHAT ARE GREEN HEARTS? Look out for the Green Hearts Seal of each establishment. We are proud to showcase all of our members and love to highlight their specific efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Seals display between 1-5 Green Hearts as awarded to them for their positive Green Acts. Here`s more info!
What it Means to Play Safe in the Sun… It’s so important to know the dangers of exposure to the sun and also how to reduce the risk of skin cancer which is the result of skin cell damage that begins in the lower part of the epidermis (the top layer of the skin). At least 80% of sun-induced skin damage occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later in life.
Reducing the Risk The good news is that the risk of skin cancer can be reduced by respecting the sun and following these tips: • Avoid direct sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm. Stay in the shade or under an umbrella as much as possible • Wear protective clothing; wide brimmed hats and UV protective clothes / swimsuits • Wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of minimum UV400 • Always apply sunscreen regularly (SPF of 20 – 50) according to skin type. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of race, age or sex. People with fair skin have a higher chance of getting skin cancer while dark-skinned people are still at risk. • Avoid Sunbeds and Sunlamps • Spot-the-spot: Check your skin carefully every month (follow A, B, C, D, E rules) – find more info here…
Screening CANSA has five mole-mapping dermoscope devices called the FotoFinder used to examine moles and help reduce the risk. Every client with suspicious skin damage is referred for an intensive skin evaluation. Examinations are available at some CANSA Care Centres. People with albinism are the most vulnerable for damage by ultraviolet radiation. CANSA successfully lobbied and helped to ensure that the government now supplies approved sunscreen (aligned to the CANSA Seal of Recognition standards) at adequate levels of supply at public hospitals.
Get to Know the Lingo… Knowing your skin is important, but knowing what terms like SPF, UV, UPF and spot-the-spot means, is just as important – especially when it comes to staying safe in the sun. • SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is usually found on sunscreen bottles – it’s a measure of how well it protects your skin against UV rays and indicates how long you could spend in the sun before burning when protected by sunscreen, compared to when you have no sunscreen on. CANSA encourages the use of SPF 20-50 according to skin type. • UV refers to ultraviolet light emitted by the sun. UV rays have disruptive effects on skin cells, which cause sunburn, and can result in skin cancer. • UPF is similar to the SPF indication on sunscreen, but UPF is usually found on clothing. It indicates the Ultraviolet Protection Factor of clothing, sunglasses and hats, to protect you against the UV rays of the sun. • Spot-the-spot is a term to encourage you to do self-examinations on your skin. It’s important to keep a track of marks, moles and spots on your skin and to make note of any changes. Make sure to follow the ABCDE rules when doing these selfexams.
Skin Cancer Common in SA South Africa has the 2nd highest incidence of skin cancer in the world after Australia, as far as Caucasians are concerned. Myths •
• • • •
The sun is only dangerous in summer or on a hot day Sunscreen will protect me completely from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays One or two cases of sunburn won’t result in skin cancer People with darker skins are not at risk for getting skin cancer Sunbeds are a safer alternate to obtain a tan
The Truth About Tanning There is no such thing as a healthy tan – even a sunless tan… In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the use of sunless and self-tanning products such as sprays, mousses, gels, pills, nasal sprays & injections called Melanotan 1 and 11. Melanotan 11 has serious side effects, and may induce malignant melanoma. CANSA warns against this product.
Tips: Sunscreen & Protective Garments
Although some self-tanning products contain sunscreen, it offers minimal ultraviolet radiation protection. It does not provide protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun and CANSA strongly discourages individuals to use any form of tanning product.
With credit to TED-Ed. Original video at Why do we have to wear sunscreen – Kevin P. Boyd
FOLLOW THESE TIPS 1. Use an Effective Sunscreen
ONE OF THE GREAT SUNSCREENS TO TRY:
• We have raised our Seal of Recognition standards & requirements for sunscreens. In addition to current SA standards, as of 1 April 2013, sunscreens bearing our Seal need to comply with the European Colipa Standards. • Our new CANSA Seal of Recognition logo (CSOR) appears on approved sunscreen products and is a guarantee that the manufacturers of these UV protective products have complied with CANSA’s strict set of criteria – see new logo to the right. • See list of CANSA’s SunSmart Sunscreen Partners… • Be sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of between 20 and 50 & 30 and 50 for fair to very fair skin. • Products usually expire two years after manufacture – don’t use a product that has been opened and used after a year has passed.
2. Apply Sunscreen Correctly • It’s important to know the best SPF for your skintype • Always apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside and re-apply at least every two to three hours
3. Wear Protective Clothing • Wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of UV400 • Wear protective clothing & swimsuits and thicklywoven fabric hats with wide brims – avoid caps where the neck & ears are exposed • Buy SunSmart garments & apparel… – look out for CANSA’s swing tags (right) & SunSmart Choice logo (top right) on clothing, hats & summer fun accessories.
Educate & Protect Children • Our youth should take special precaution when spending time in the sun – two blistering burns before the age of 18, can dramatically increase the risk of getting skin cancer later in life. • Parents and schools need to play an increasingly important role in educating our youth re being SunSmart. Unfortunately a recent study shows that most schools are not SunSmart. Read more…
Hey Gorgeous Gorgeously Natural Sunscreen R175 www.hey-gorgeous.co.za Or www.faithful-to-nature.co.za
Article courtesy of CANSA
Tel: 0800 22 66 22
HALLOWEEN Are you celebrating Halloween? I found 10 yard decorations you and the kids can make!
By Nicolette Roux
Do you celebrate Halloween? Do you decorate your backyard? Let the kids help with all these fun kid-made backyard decoration ideas for Halloween! Click here for ideas and many more crafts:
Monsters and magic can help kids through tough times. Here’s how.
(istockphoto) By Kate Milford and Fran Wilde
In fiction, dystopias come and go, but magic and monsters are forever. During times of real-world upheaval, tales of fantasy can provide a useful escape into wonder. But can these stories also provide real, useful coping mechanisms to kids muddling through difficult times?
We say, emphatically, yes.
Last March, one of us (Fran) spent a day at Ridge Elementary in Richmond, Va., teaching a writing workshop to 80 fifth graders, soon after some pretty scary world events. The school’s theme that year was Superheroes and Ridge Elementary’s hallways and library were filled with bright Bam! and Pow! posters. Even a library mascot, a horse, wore a red super-cape. Fran walked into the library and the students were waiting, wondering what the heck a fantasy author had to do with superheroes, the challenges they were facing at home, at school, and what was happening in the world. (Fran notes: I have to admit I was wondering about that, too …) ‘Superheroes! Pretty great right?’ she said. She got nods all around, some smiles. A few kids played with their pencils and elbowed each other. Then she asked, ‘You guys want to make some monsters?’ You could hear a pencil drop. From the back, she heard a whispered, ‘YESSSSS.’ And for the next hour, they walked through how Fran built monsters in her books by taking a familiar thing, mixing it with something scary, figuring out its weaknesses and fears, then setting it loose. At the end, students shared their monsters: from flying washing machines, impervious to everything except blackouts; to lots of giant spiders, variously armored; a clown with flames for hair; and a basketball with teeth. The students talked about why their monsters were the scariest, and then they all set out to see if they might overcome the monsters together. That’s when the room got really interactive, with kids helping each other solve problems related to defending against the monsters they’d built out of things that scared them. Monster building is a great way to talk with young students and our own children about the creative process. It’s also a problem-solving exercise that helps with real-world fears: If you can imagine how to make a monster, you can figure out how to disassemble one, too..
The world is confusing, especially right now. Even though both of us have been adults for some time now we still look at the world outside our own walls and feel confusion, if not actual fear, at what we see. It’s impossible for our kids not to be affected by tensions in the world around them: media is everywhere and by the time kids are in middle school, they are, if anything, more connected to it than adults. They’re living with the same confusion and fears these days that we are, and they have fewer tools for understanding and coping with it.
Reading about and making up monsters can help kids build realworld problem-solving skills to address those fears. So can magic, in very similar ways, by teaching about complex systems and how to use them. Writers often start the work of creating a magical world by putting together a logical system with consistent rules to govern it. For a reader, part of the work of enjoying these books is learning the rules of the system, often alongside the characters as they figure out how to make that system work for them. Just like with the monster workshop, this kind of engagement involves problem-solving and creative thinking. It involves figuring out how to function in a place that is much bigger than one small person, and how to survive there until you can figure out how to thrive there, or to change it for the better. And here’s the important part: the magic, and the monsters, too, are never fully the point of the stories. Often it isn’t magic that ultimately wins the day, and the monsters are rarely the end of the world. Instead, it’s the characters who solve problems using real life skills that win and save the day. Magic is secondary, for instance, at the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In reality, it is athleticism that aids Harry in catching the key, strategic thinking that leads Ron to a win at wizard chess, and logic that helps Hermione work out which potions will move Harry forward to the showdown and her backward to safety. Athleticism, strategy, logic: things that are within reach to many kids in one form or another, and that can be applied in their real-world lives.
Magic enchants readers while underscoring the fact that heroes can win by using tools that we, too, possess. Monsters teach similar things.
When engaging with magic and monsters, young readers (and young writers too) are studying some really important stuff: how to persevere and solve problems, even when the world seems unfamiliar and scary or strange.
Selected (and not at all finite) Book Suggestions (in somewhat ageascending order): Ed Emberly — Go Away, Big Green Monster Maurice Sendak — Where the Wild Things Are Grace Lin — Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky J.K. Rowling — The Harry Potter Series Lewis Carroll, — Through the Looking Glass, Alice in Wonderland Diana Wynne Jones — (everything but especially …) Howl’s Moving Castle, The Dalemark Quartet Lloyd Alexander’s — The Chronicles of Prydain C.S. Lewis — The Chronicles of Narnia Tracey Baptiste — The Jumbies E. Nesbitt — The Enchanted Castle Bruce Coville — A Magic Shop series Shaun Tan — The Arrival L. Frank Baum — The Wonderful Wizard of Oz J. R. R Tolkien — The Hobbit Susan Cooper — The Dark Is Rising Series Patrick Ness — A Monster Calls Jonathan Auxier — The Night Gardener Cindy Pon — Serpentine
Witches Hat Treats for Halloween Ingredients ice cream cones chocolate biscuits (digestives work well) melted chocolate sweets for decoration Dip the cone bottom in the chocolate and stick them to the biscuits. Then leave for a bit to stick. Dribble the cone in chocolate. It doesn’t matter if they get a bit messy. You could also use black icing. Decorate with the sweets, using green and orange smarties and little stars. They look really good for a Halloween party.
MORE IDEAS… CLICK ON PICS…
Cheesy Green Fritters Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • •
3 cups broccoli florets and stems, roughly chopped into 2cm (about 1 medium head of broccoli) 2 T coconut oil 1 garlic clove, minced ½ cup plain / whole-wheat flour ¼ cup grated parmesan 1 egg 2 T milk (any) ½ t salt Black pepper ¼ cup plain yoghurt 2 t lemon juice Salt and pepper
Method: • Microwave broccoli in sealed casserole dish with drizzle of water until tender - roughly 3 minutes on high. • Pop into blender and blitz until chunky. • Combine the yoghurt, lemon juice, salt and pepper and set aside as your dip. • Lightly beat egg in a bowl then add in the remaining ingredients and mix until combined. The batter will be thick before adding the broccoli. • Add the broccoli and mix to evenly disperse throughout the batter. • Heat 1 T of oil in a frying pan over medium heat, scoop the batter into the pan and cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. • Serve with the yoghurt sauce and extra lemon wedges, if desired. NOTES This recipe also works great with cauliflower.
Conscious Life Magazine
Quinoa Loaf Ingredients: • • • • • • • •
300g whole uncooked Quinoa (soaked in plenty of cold water for a few hours) 60g chia seeds (soaked in ½ cup water until gel-like for a few hours, stir a few times before using) ½ cup water 60ml olive oil ½ t bicarbonate of soda ½ t Himalayan rock salt ½ T xylitol / honey Juice from ½ lemon
Method: • Preheat oven to 160° Celsius. • Drain Quinoa and rinse thoroughly. • Place the Quinoa into a food processor followed by chia gel, water, olive oil, bicarbonate of soda, salt, sweetener and lemon juice. Mix for 3 minutes. • The batter should be fairly thick with some whole Quinoa still left in the mix. • Spoon mixture into a loaf tin lined with baking paper. • Bake for 1 ½ hours or until bread is firm to touch and bounces back when pressed with your fingers. • Remove from the oven and cool for 30 minutes in the tin, then remove it and cool completely before eating.
Conscious Life Magazine
Actress, Anji Woodley is no stranger to the lights, the cameras and the action. But what she really enjoys doing …. COOKING! For more info, follow Anji on social media: https://www.twitter.com/AnjiWoodley, https://www.instagram.com/ANJIWOODLEY https://www.facebook.com/anjiwoodleySA
Pumpkin & Ricotta Gnocchi Ingredients: • 150 grams diced pumpkin , heat till soft • 250 grams (1 small tub)ricotta cheese • 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 2 tsp psyllium husk powder • 1 egg yolk
Instructions: • • • • • • • • • •
Drained the ricotta and squeeze out any moisture through a cheese cloth or thin dish towel Let it drain in a sieve Blend pumpkin with a bit of melted butter and salt and pepper Beat egg yolk ,add pumpkin & ricotta , mix till well combined then add coconut flour and psyllium husk. You are welcome to add more salt and pepper to taste. Get a pot on the boil and spoon small amounts of the mixture into the boiling water , one at a time so they don't stick. Once the gnocchi floats to the top gently place on a paper towel to drain Once gnocchi is cool , gently fry in a pan of butter and thyme till gnocchi is golden. Flash fry some sugar snap peas and asparagus Serve hot with a drizzle olive oil and grated parmesan and crushed pecan nuts. Bon Appetite!
It’s about making a difference one meal at a time! Eat green! By pledging to eat plant-based meals every Monday you will be munching your way towards a healthier body, a more sustainable planet and a more conscientious approach to eating. Love your veg and they’ll love you back! Green Monday is a global initiative promoted by Humane Society International (HSI). Watch this quick video explaining why you’re onto a good thing when you support GreenMondaySA.
Goodbye Blue Mondays! Start your week by pledging green! Get your friends, family and colleagues to get on board too.
Sign Green Monday’s pledge to eat green every Monday and help save the planet
No Bake Macaroni & “Cheese” Recipe Credit: Nikki Botha for Green Monday SA
Ingredients: • • • • •
500 g 180 ml 110 g 875 ml 12 g
Macaroni Sunflower oil All-purpose flour Soy milk Crushed garlic
• • • •
20 g 16 g 4g 10 ml
Onion powder Tomato paste Salt Lemon juice
Instructions: • • • •
Mix oil and flour in to a smooth paste. Add the soy milk and whisk until smooth. Add all the other ingredients and whisk until well incorporated. Put on a stove top and cook until sauce is smooth and thick and flour has cooked off. Do not stop stirring as your sauce will become lumpy. • In a separate pot, boil your macaroni. Do not add oil to the water as it will prevent the sauce. from properly adhering to the pasta. • When the sauce is cooked, fold in to the pasta. • Serve hot. Photo credit: House of Vizion
The pomegranate is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and was cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. This nutrient dense, antioxidant rich fruit has been revered as a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life. A compound called punicalagin found only in pomegranates shown to benefit the heart and blood vessels. Punicalagin is the major component responsible for pomegranate’s antioxidant and health benefits. It not only lowers cholesterol, but also lowers blood pressure and increases the speed at which heart blockages melt away
More Benefits Of Eating Pomegranates Stomach Disorders Pomegranate peel, bark and leaves are used to calm disorders of the stomach or the diarrhea caused by any kind of digestive problems. Drinking tea made from the leaves of this fruit also helps in curing your digestive problems. Pomegranate juice is also used for handling problems like dysentery and cholera.
Cancer The antioxidants present in pomegranate helps in the combination process of free radicals inside body. So it gives protection against breast cancer and protest cancer, the nutritional benefits of pomegranate works by preventing the body from cancer disease.
Anemia Healthy blood flow can be maintained in the body by consuming this fruit in any form. Pomegranate supplies iron to the blood, thus helping to reduce symptoms of anemia, including exhaustion, dizziness, weakness, and hearing loss.
Diabetes For diabetic patients, drinking pomegranate juice can reduce the risk of various coronary diseases. Along with this, there is a reduction in the hardening of the arteries, which can inhibit the development of various heart diseases.
PET NUTRITION REVISITED
? By Ilse Makowka
So much has changed in the last 50 odd years. We’ve seen racial segregation, political and traditional family structures erode and evolve under the influence of civil rights, women’s liberation, the sexual revolution, financial deregulation, and creation of the Internet. Faced with the devastating consequences blind pillaging of our natural resources brought, we are slowly exploring sustainable alternatives. Why do things change? Because someone starts questioning why we do what we do. The time has come to question why we feed our pets the way we do.
So we end up with a bowl of dehydrated, starch based, processed non-food, but are assured that it provides everything our pets need – scientifically speaking ‘nogal.’
Historically we’ve been conditioned to accept processed pet non-food (kibble) as the norm. More recent efforts to improve the offering were entirely focused on supplements – with marketing drives punting ‘balance’ and ‘complete meal’. For whose benefit are these statements made?
Let’s consider human food for a moment. We now know that processed, fast food don’t do us any good, nutritionally speaking. Why would this be different for animals? A thought that must have occurred to more and more people, culminating into the cage rattling Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (“BARF”) diet debate in the early 2000’s.
Founded by Australian veterinary surgeon, Dr Ian Billinghurst, the BARF diet finally presented an approach that made sense. (And thank goodness he’s a vet.) At its core, BARF purports a species appropriate diet for dogs and especially cats, based on meat combined with the appropriate veg & fruit ratio – no grains, preservatives, or flavourings. The food is fed raw to ensure no nutrients and living enzymes (aiding digestion) are killed during the manufacturing process; optimizing absorption of these nutrients by the body. Understandably this idea upsets the kibble applecart and pro lobbyists are adamant in their objections, citing the ‘scientific’, ‘hygienic’ and ‘balanced/complete meal’ properties dry pet food annexed. For us it’s a simple test of logic: On the one hand, we have dehydrated, grain based, biologically inappropriate, processed pellets containing supplements, flavourants and preservatives. On the other, a fresh meal made with real meat and veg/fruit, bursting with nutrients in a form that the body can easily process and absorb.
It’s certainly not rocket science. As with anything, however, we need to be discerning in the consumer choices we make. Do your own research around BARF principles, the importance of raw, meaty bones and fasting (for dogs). When choosing a raw food brand, carefully scrutinize ingredients, including meat source and meat/veg/fruit ratios.
Feed your pets real food and watch them thrive!
About Wags & Whiskers Rescue Team We are a small group of people who are dedicated to helping all furr-kids. Located in Fourways & Midrand JHB. Email wagsandwhiskers7@gmail.com Robyn: 084 593 1292 of Cheyna 082 307 2377
NEVAEH NEVAEH (Heaven spelled backwards) is being looked after by Robyn herself until she can find her forever home. “She is beyond amazing. Can be skittish with strange men but she has been amazing with all the kittens, puppies, kids and whoever else comes through my door. Please someone offer her a forever home.�
Delicious Hamper of the awesomely healthy new My T Iced. The latest creation from our friends at My T Chai, these iced teas are filled with goodness, delicious natural flavours to cool you down this Summer. We are hooked and we know that you and your friends will be too!! To enter email your addresses and your phone number to my-t-iced@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject: Subscribe. T’s & C’s: Only open to SA Residents, Competition Closes 10 November
EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED – PLEASE REACH OUT!
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