Child Magazine | Cape Town February 2010

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Cape Town’s

FEBRUARY 2010 Issue 67 Circulation 40 162

C a p e

To w n ’ s

b e s t

g u i d e

f o r

pa r e n t s

www.childmag.co.za

extramurals:

getting the balance right

ease your child into a

new school no more

mad

project

morning

management

rush

health

education

101

entertainment

welcome

back!

And an especially warm welcome to those of you who are reading our magazine for the first time. 2009 was a good year for us so we’ve upped the number of magazines we are printing and added a sizeable group of schools and family-focused businesses to our distribution network. We hope you enjoy reading our Back to School issue as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you!

When I was growing up, my mom always used to say February was her favourite month.

She loved the fact that everyone was “back in their box”. While I appreciate a certain amount of order, I am not so sure I am happy to be back in my “box”. I quite like the carefree vibe of summer holidays. I love the extra family time, the lack of stress and the absence of urgency for anything other than getting to the beach before the wind picks up…

But now it’s back to work and school, and somehow that has a charm of its own. It’s nice to start the day with a sense of purpose, and end it with tales to tell. For Robyn, my youngest, who has just turned eight, this means a brand new school. She’s enjoying being able to walk to school via the beach or the park, getting the teacher she really wanted, and being part of a class full of boisterous boys, one of whom is her best friend. Somehow the newness brings with it an excitement that calms fears (hers and mine) and, with support, leads to greater happiness.

It’s this newness that makes February so fabulous. It’s our chance to do it right, to plot our paths with purpose and an overwhelming sense of positivity, and to watch our children grow a little older, a little stronger, and to discover a whole lot more of their personality.

Stay with us, we’ve got a great year planned for you.

Hunter House PUB L IS H ING

Publisher Lisa Mc Namara • lisa@childmag.co.za

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Elaine Eksteen • elaine@childmag.co.za Calendar Editor Lucille Kemp • lucille@childmag.co.za

monthly circulation Cape Town’s ChildTM 40 162 Joburg’s ChildTM 40 135 Durban’s ChildTM 35 019

to advertise Tel: 021 465 6093 • Fax: 021 462 2680 Email: ctsales@childmag.co.za Website: childmag.co.za

Copy Editors Nikki Benatar Debbie Hathway

Art Senior Designer Samantha Summerfield • sam@childmag.co.za Designers Mariette Barkhuizen Nikki-leigh Piper

Advertising Director Lisa Mc Namara • lisa@childmag.co.za

Client Relations Client Relations Manager Michele Jones • michele@childmag.co.za Client Relations Consultants Taryn Copeman • taryn@childmag.co.za Lisa Waterloo • capetown@childmag.co.za

To Subscribe Helen Xavier • subs@childmag.co.za

Accounts Helen Xavier • helen@childmag.co.za Nicolene Baldy • admin@childmag.co.za Tel: 021 465 6093 • Fax: 021 462 2680

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Cape Town’s ChildTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 7, Canterbury Studios, cnr Wesley and Canterbury Streets, Gardens, Cape Town. Tel: 021 465 6093, fax: 021 462 2680, email: capetown@childmag.co.za. Annual subscriptions (for 11 issues) cost R165, including VAT and postage inside SA. Printed by Paarl Web. Copyright subsists in all work published in Cape Town’s ChildTM. We welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted right to change any received copy. We are under no obligation to return unsolicited copy. The magazine, or part thereof, may not be reproduced or adapted without the prior written permission of the publisher. We take care to ensure our articles are accurate and balanced but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage that may arise from reading them.

February 2010

contents

february 2010

upfront

38 nature’s child

3 a note from lisa 6 over to you

readers respond

i n an extract from her book 52 Ways to Grow Creative Children, Lisl Barry gives ideas for fun outdoor activities for children (and parents)

42 tooth truth or fairytale

12 readers’ blog

onna Cobban takes an in-depth D look at the fluoride debate

next year this family will be hiding in Namibia over the festive season

46 school-project management 101

features

18 no more morning madness Judith Penny offers tips for turning mornings into a calm and organised start to the day 24 what my teachers taught me

whose assignment is it anyway?

Christina Castle gives you a step-by-step guide

regulars 10 wins 13 health Q&A

Donna Cobban looks back at her early school years and the lessons she learnt

the benefits of pre- and probiotics

14 upfront with paul Paul Kerton cannot understand why his snooze queens fight sleep

28 a whole new world

s tarting a new school does not have to be a scary experience for a child, says Laura Twiggs

15 health Q&A

30 extramurals: getting the balance right

16 dealing with difference

tips for ensuring children aren’t over loaded with after school activities. By Brigid Brown

help left-handed children excel

48 resource: back-to-school basics

34 pirls of wisdom – part 2

how to combat infection

aroline van der Mescht shares more C valuable ideas on how to improve your child’s reading abilities

seven important health and safety issues you, the educators and your children should know about 52 the good book guide

new reads for the whole family

58 what’s on in february 70 last laugh

18

S am Wilson muses over the things her sons have taught her

classified ads 66 family marketplace 67 it’s party time

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

comstockcomplete.com

February 2010

JK Kids Gear

Ackermans Schoolwear

Contact: 021 551 8673

Contact: 0860 900 100

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February 2010

letters

over to you thanks for a great magazine I have been reading your magazine for ages and always intend to write to you but never do. Now that I have some free time, I thought I would let you know: I love your magazine! Thanks for awesome and useful articles. I also make use of the advertisers in your publication by purchasing from them if I need products or services. I especially love Sam Wilson’s column! As soon as I get my copy, I go straight to the back page and read what she has to say. It’s inspirational, always so well written and a good laugh. My favourite column was when she wrote about her birthday. I scanned that article and mailed it to my girlfriends, because while we are all good at planning children’s parties, we all stress about our own!

Shana I pick up Child Magazine from various places and my son, Jayson, and I “visit” the magazine together. We go through each edition every time to absorb all the details.

Jayson even tries to help! He loves the outsized pages and insists on “reading” each edition several times to point out objects he knows, numbers he can find and letters he now recognises. Your publication is down to earth, informative and attractive to look at.

Thank you.

Bronwyn Burdis

February 2010

fun with lunch boxes Just wanted to share a couple of things I have learnt over the years... I have a really great and easy lunch box idea. As I am not always able to afford branded products I often buy the latest character stickers and stick these on lunch boxes and bottles. I also use a range of non-permanent Koki pens to write names, letters, numbers and messages on the lunch box. I know it sounds corny but your children will love it. I decorate the lunch boxes on a Sunday afternoon for the whole week and it’s a great project to keep the children busy and entertained (especially in wet weather).

I also pack all the dry elements into the lunch boxes on a Sunday afternoon. I take the boxes out in the mornings, drop in the yoghurt and fruit (which I cut into slices or squares and place portions in zip lock bags in the fridge for the coming week) and slip them into school bags. In total, I spend about an hour a week on school lunches. Not bad for a busy mom.

Samantha Mew

a recycled wardrobe I really enjoyed the article titled a “question of clothes”, in your December/January issue.

Our daughter was born at the beginning of 2009. With nappies and formula now on the shopping list and the cost of food escalating thanks to the recession, it’s been an expensive year... One in which I have been bowled over by the generosity of friends.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the only thing we have bought for her room is a lovely second-hand chest of drawers (which we use as a nappy-changing station).

Ella is her cot’s fourth inhabitant and it’s still going strong. Amy, the now two-year-old

Cape Town’s

daughter of friends of ours, who receives various hand-me-downs from her brood of cousins, has lent us her entire wardrobe from newborn to now. Each time we see her parents we exchange packages. I return the items Ella has grown out of and we get a bundle of fabulous things for the next season. And, with the rate children grow out of things, even after Ella is finished with the polka-dot shorts and pretty T-shirts, they still look perfectly new. I love her recycled wardrobe!

Marcia

taking control Thank you for your bumper December/January issue! Just a few pages in, I had already discovered new places to take the children during the holidays, found some great icecream recipes and read two articles that provided a lot of food for thought.

The topic of that issue’s blog, especially, stayed with me. In the past couple of months, I have been struggling with my work-home balance and I felt I had to make some choices. Over the past few years, I’ve been promoted to increasingly senior positions with more responsibility and pressure. With our oldest son going to school this year, I found my ability to cope with everything severely compromised, especially since my support structure is not that good.

My senior position naturally comes with a good salary, but my main conflict of interest has been that I am quite ambitious. I have a degree and, at one point I was heading towards a stellar career in academics. When our family was going through a tough financial period, I sacrificed my academic career to move to the private sector where the money is better. Just when my hard work in this new environment was starting to pay off, I found

myself possibly having to make another sacrifice. But this time, I decided not to. I went as far as discussing a less pressured position with my manager, but then realised that I would be very unhappy settling for something less than I’m capable of doing.

Owning your destiny is about taking control of your life choices and not merely making them because they’re expected of you, or because they’re easier. It’s about doing the things that will make you happy. Because if you’re not happy, then you can’t make your loved ones happy. So, instead of accepting the fact that I don’t have the greatest support structure, I have made some changes. Changes that will relieve me of some of the schlep aspects of parenting, so that I can fill all my family time with the things that I really want to do with my boys, like reading and playing sports. Somebody else can do the never-ending round of extramural pick ups and drop offs, weekday cooking and other non-stimulating time-stealers that mothers are expected to take care of. Yes, I will have to pay for some additional services, but that’s a small price to pay if it gives me the freedom to pursue my own dreams and still play a healthy and positive role in the lives of my boys.

Maritza van den Heuvel

write to us We would like to know what’s on your mind. Send your letters to: marina@childmag.co.za or PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters. The opinions reflected here are those of our readers and are not necessarily held by Hunter House Publishing.

Cape Town’s

February 2010

February 2010

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February 2010

wins

giveaways

in february Pick n Pay makes shopping (and winning) so much easier

Interact with Disney

The Pick n Pay Gift Card is today’s way to shop.

The Gift Card is an easy-to-use electronic shopping voucher that can be topped up at your convenience at any till point and can be used at Pick n Pay stores. Your card is valid for 18 months from the last date of use and is safe because you don’t have to walk around with cash. For more information visit picknpay.co.za This month you have the opportunity to win your share of R10 500 in Pick n Pay Gift Cards. Cape Town’s Child is giving away 10 x R500 Pick n Pay Gift Cards – great for school stationery, or groceries – and 100 x R55 Pick n Pay Gift Cards, which are perfect for topping up airtime on your child’s cell phone.

All you need to do to enter is email your details to win@childmag.co.za with ‘Gift Card Win’ in the subject line before 28 February 2010. Only one entry per reader. Winners will be announced in the April issue of Cape Town’s Child. This competition is offered by Pick n Pay in association with Tiger Brands.

CeleBEARate Valentine’s Day at Build-A-Bear Workshop® Let your teddy do the talking this Valentine’s Day. Come along to Build-A-Bear Workshop® to Build-AValentine and record your personal message for your sweetheart with Build-A-Bear Workshop’s® unique Build-A-Sound. Spoil your loved one with the new loveable bears: Be Mine Dalmatian, Vday Heart Puppy or Hugs Fur Your Monkey.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® is giving five readers the chance to win a child’s membership to the Pawsome Club™. These are valued at R200 each and the Bear Rands loaded on it are valid for one year. To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with ‘Build-A-Bear CT Win’ in the subject line or post your entry to Build-A-Bear CT Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2010. Only one entry per reader.

Disney Interactive Studios has designed a series of PC games that encourage the development of children’s individual learning capabilities while being interesting and enjoyable. With an emphasis on exploration, discovery and personal choice, the games help children develop problem-solving skills that equip them for life. There are nine titles in the range with age-related activities for children aged two to nine years old. Titles feature children’s favourite Disney characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and Nemo. These PC games are available at any of the following stores: Checkers Hyper, Dion Wired, Look and Listen, Makro, Reggies, Toys R Us, Top CD, Take 2 and CNA. Disney Interactive Studios is giving away four hampers valued at R531 each, containing all nine games in the range. To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with ‘Disney Interactive CT Win’ in the subject line or post your entry to Disney Interactive CT Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2010. Only one entry per reader.

For the love of Cape Town

An open-top City Sightseeing bus tour is one of the best ways to see the sights in Cape Town and get to Table Mountain.

Choose from the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour or Red City Tour and visit places like Two Oceans Aquarium, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Table Mountain Cableway. The buses have a hop-on, hop-off service with children receiving an activity pack when they board. Children also get the opportunity to join the fun and funky Kids Club and have their very own bus commentary. For more information on the City Sightseeing buses, routes and the fantastic Kids Club call 021 511 6000, email info@citysightseeing.co.za or visit citysightseeing.co.za Stand the chance to win an exclusive two-hour trip for your child and 39 guests (with you, their classmates and educators) around Cape Town in a City Sightseeing open-top bus in May 2010 valued at R4 800. All your primary school-going child needs to do is get creative and tell City Sightseeing what they love the most about Cape Town. They can do this by writing a poem or a story, or painting a picture. To enter, email competition@citysightseeing.co.za with your child’s name, age, physical address, your daytime and evening contact numbers, email address and your child’s school name, along with their creative work as an attachment. You may also fax the information to 086 516 6574 or post it to Private Bag X7, Sea Point, 8060 before 28 February 2010. Terms and conditions apply.

Please note: City Sightseeing will email all entrants a newsletter. Entrants will have the opportunity to unsubscribe.

City Sightseeing will not share these details with a third party.

Congratulations to our November winners: Lindi Swanepoel who wins a Keedo voucher; Carol Rasmussen, Joy Dromgoole, Brenda Morrow, Michele Mendonca Wood and Nicky de Beer who each win a Hop-its; Anslin Fry, Yumna Lee, Vanessa Burditt, Michele Bryant, Lena Baldringer and Wiedaad Damon who each win jewellery from Jewellery by Janine.

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February 2010

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blog

family bonding Having just survived a holiday littered with freeloading relatives, TRACY LE ROUX devises Operation December 2010.

y husband, our two children and I moved from Pretoria to Cape Town six months ago. What an adjustment it has been! Suddenly we’ve got two oceans lapping at our feet and a majestic mountain almost on our back stoep.

It has been an amazingly busy time for us. While trying to keep to a routine during the week, we like to head off on an adventure every weekend. My son, age six, enjoyed an extended holiday before starting school this year, and our three-year-old daughter has been unable to believe her luck. She loves water – so our beach-filled weekends

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daughter, new boyfriend in tow, would be flying into town and they’d “like to pop in and say hi”. Somehow a suppertime braai turned into a five-day fully catered for (by me) stay. Since the festive season is a time for family and goodwill, I managed to keep my irritation under control in our cramped home. I even agreed to lend the pair my car to explore the city. I made the best of the situation and entertained the children at home by baking cookies and making a scarecrow for the veggie patch. Come day six, the visitors disappeared. The boyfriend’s family had arrived from up north and the paid-for beach house on the West Coast was now officially open. What a relief!

There’s really only one thing I wanted to change about my husband when we first met, and that was to get him to stop leaving a trail of glasses and cups around the house. I did manage to break the habit, but his sister’s child suffers from the same malady. It seems

just abandoning your mug where you’ve finished your beverage is genetic.

I was still retrieving crockery from the oddest of places (surely the beer mug in the post box was just a bad joke?) when I received another call from a family member hoping to drop in and deliver greetings from outlying parts of the country. Three days later my cousin’s nephew was off again, leaving behind numerous black bags bursting with beer cans.

I have now worked out Operation December 2010. This year will be different.

I’m going to tell a white lie, and say we’re going to a remote lodge in Namibia for Christmas – and we’re renting out the house. This B&B is officially closed.

Readers, this is your page – it’s a space to air your views, share a valuable parenting lesson, vent your frustrations or celebrate your joys. Send your writing to marina@childmag.co.za

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ILLUSTRATION: NIKKI-LEIGH PIPER

m

have been heaven for her. Even my husband, who has had to adjust to a new working environment, has felt the tension dissipate as we metamorphosise into laid-back Capetonians.

For the first time in years, we decided not to go away for the holidays – much to my delight. We didn’t need to, we were living the holiday!

But that dream was soon washed away by a tide of visiting family.

The festive season is when some magazines run stories of (long-lost) relatives turning up at someone’s coastal home uninvited, and then horribly overstaying their welcome. While living in Pretoria, I thought these articles were simply urban legend rehashed for emotional appeal. Well, this Christmas put paid to that theory. Move over urban legend, this is real life we are talking about – my life!

The first phone call came from deep in the bushveld. My sister-in-law’s student

health

Q&A

healthy bacteria What are prebiotics and probiotics and what are their benefits?

Pre- and probiotics are powerful immune-system boosters. Probiotics are cultures of the beneficial bacteria that occur in the intestinal tract of healthy human beings. These bacteria include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium infantis.

Although these names may sound daunting, all you need to remember is that we have thousands of these beneficial bacteria in our gastrointestinal tracts.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are food components that improve the food supply in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract so that beneficial bacteria can grow and flourish.

Are probiotics good for babies?

At birth, the intestines of human babies are totally sterile and do not contain any bacteria, not even “good” ones. During the birth process and through feeding, the infant receives some beneficial bacteria from the mother. This “gift” of organisms starts to multiply immediately in the tiny GI tract of the baby, and boosts its immune system. Bifidobacterium infantis is the dominant bacterium in an infant’s digestive tract.

These bacteria decrease the growth of Rota viruses, which cause diarrhoea and thrush, thus protecting the newborn baby against common infections. Bifidobacteria also help to prevent lactose intolerance and increase the absorption of minerals and B vitamins, and boost the infant’s immature immune system. Breastfeeding is an excellent way of increasing the number of Bifidobacteria in the infant’s GI tract so that your child is protected against childhood diseases.

What beneficial bacteria live naturally in the adult gut?

Adults have much larger populations of bacteria in their GI tracts than babies, but only a few of these bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are beneficial to our health and are capable of boosting immunity.

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics or cultures of beneficial bacteria compete with harmful bacteria in the GI tract for food and prevent the transport of pathogens into the body. As we get older, we develop a deficiency of beneficial bacteria and therefore become more vulnerable to infections. Probiotics also increase the uptake of important minerals from the GI tract, thus preventing deficiencies that lower immunity.

Bifidobacteria are the most common beneficial bacteria in the GI tract and also the good bacteria that decrease as we age. It is, therefore, necessary to take preparations that contain live Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. It’s a good idea to include in your diet dairy products that contain AB cultures, such as yoghurt.

Can you take a probiotic supplement?

Probiotic cultures of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are currently available in SA. Ask your chemist or health shop for the following: • supplements that contain Lactobacilli and are excellent for combatting Candida (thrush) infections; • supplements that contain Bifidobacteria and will combat constipation and other colonic problems; • supplements that contain a combination of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria to boost immunity in general.

What is the solution for a lack of probiotics?

By ingesting cultures of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium we can gain all the benefits listed above. It is important to remember that Cape Town’s

The information in this column can be found on the health24.com website.

February 2010

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upfront with paul

fighting sleep

Paul, Sabina and Saskia

m

y daughter’s eyes are drooping.

She has been through the ratty and irrational stage and now her body is collapsing in on itself, but she is determined to stay up as long as possible. “You’re so tired,” I comment, which is the worst thing you can say. Much worse than telling a friend they’ve had too much to drink and aren’t fit to drive home. It’s a red comfortblanket to a raging bull.

“I’m not tired at all,” she barks back, violently pushing my comforting arm away while trying to sit more upright in an attempt to look properly “not tired”; her eyes frantically scanning the room for a suitable

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prop to focus on – a book or a toy – to emphasise how wide awake she really is.

Actually she is totally exhausted. She has had a busy, exciting day with double swimming lessons and a birthday party, which ended with a family supper across town that dragged on much later than expected. It is late but still she is fighting.

Now she’s standing up. Talk about overstressing a point!

What is it with children and tiredness?

Tiredness is their number-one taboo subject and admitting to tiredness is seen as a form of weakness. I think the bottom line is they just don’t want to miss out on anything and want to stay up as late as everybody else. Me, I was ready for bed hours ago and would gladly have curled up on the sofa with her and gone to sleep. I can nap anywhere, anytime. But I am well past

that age when you stop pretending that you are not tired and start wholeheartedly embracing it, shouting: “Where is my bed?

Bring me my crisp Irish linen sheets and a cup of hot Milo now!”

I know numerous people of a similar age who habitually fall asleep in the middle of dinner parties, and I’m sure (well, I hope) it isn’t just my conversation. Guests just talk around their quiet snoring and comical body positions while stealing their food and wine. They may wake up hungry, but always come back.

“Bedtime has to be a ritual,” say the baby sages. And I agree. TV off, followed by a drink, brush the teeth, story and lights out. Okay then, that tiny comforting night light can stay but then it’s not a peep.

Generally our children are good sleepers and once we get them to sleep you would

need a bulldozer through the bedroom wall to wake them.

When other parents complain that their brood is up and demanding bowls of Wheaties at 5:30am, I secretly wish that mine could get up slightly earlier. Not quite 5:30am, you understand, but they are the original Snooze Queens and can snuggle up and drift back to sleep if you turn your back for five seconds. Also, being girls, once up they can spend 40 minutes in front of the mirror brushing and styling their long locks. “I’m just brushing my hair,” they shriek, all huffy when I call them to come for breakfast. It’s all so very tiring.

Excuse me, won’t you, while I testdrive this fluffy duck-down pillow.

Paul Kerton is the author of Fab Dad: A Man’s Guide to Fathering and 82 Mistakes Parents Make (With Children).

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PHOTOGRAPH: JILL BADER

PAUL KERTON wonders why tiredness is a taboo subject with children.

QA

health &

combat infection What is the immune system and what does it do?

The immune system is made up of special cells, proteins, tissues and organs. It defends the body against germs and microorganisms every day. In most cases, the immune system keeps people healthy and prevents infections. Sometimes problems with the immune system can lead to illness and infection.

What are the signs that disease, stress or an unhealthy lifestyle might have compromised the immune system?

Immunodeficiency causes continuous or recurring infections (infections caused by normally mild organisms). Opportunistic infections are infections that are widespread and controllable, but can seriously affect people whose immune responses are lacking. Be aware of: • Incomplete recovery or a weak response to treatment of infections. Needing several courses of antibiotics to clear up an infection could be a sign of poor immune response.

• An increase in the incidence of certain cancers, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma or nonHodgkin lymphoma.

• The presence of tumours could also reflect poor immune responses.

• Recurring yeast infections could be a sign of immune-system trouble.

• Ongoing and recurring respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, could indicate immune system problems.

• Delayed or incomplete recovery from illnesses, from which others may be recovering far more quickly, may indicate a problem.

How can we strengthen our immune systems?

The cold and flu season isn’t the only time you should be paying attention to your immune system. By boosting your immunity throughout the year you’ll lower your susceptibility to a variety of different infections.

• Learn which vitamins and minerals can boost your immunity – and make a point of including these in your diet. For a child’s immune system, vitamin A, zinc and iron are very important.

• Research has shown that prebiotics and probiotics can strengthen the immune system.

• Eat defensively.

• Boost your immune system the natural way by eating healthy foods and being active.

Find out about herbs and other remedies that help boost the immune system.

Do we need supplements to help boost our immune system?

There are many different points of view on whether to supplement or not, but there is a great deal of scientific evidence to show that vitamins and minerals do prevent a variety of diseases: • Spina bifida and neural-tube defects in babies can be reduced by as much as 70% if women take multivitamins containing folic acid before and during pregnancy.

• Regular use of multivitamins and mineral supplements by the elderly can improve immune and neurological function, thus reducing infectious diseases and mental degeneration.

• Calcium and vitamin D supplements can reduce the incidence of hip fractures in elderly men and women.

• There is a growing body of evidence that taking folic-acid supplements for long periods can prevent certain types of cancer.

• A good nutritional supplement guarantees a child’s micronutrient needs are met daily, especially if food patterns tend to be erratic or a child is sick or recovering from an illness.

The information in this column can be found on the health24.com website.

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February 2010

15

dealing with difference

is

left right?

Left-handedness used to be a stigma that parents and teachers tried

a

frustrated parent tells me over the phone: “My child’s teacher told me that my left-handed child needed to learn how to write with his right hand. My child is now seven, has terrible handwriting and is having to go to occupational therapy to relearn how to write. What is this all about? Should my child be right-handed?”

Fair question. When I did a quick survey among teachers, they all emphatically said “no”. However, I then asked them what they do differently in the classroom to accommodate the left-hander? “We have left-handed scissors”, was the reply. “And what else?”, I asked. The room fell silent.

Generally, it is believed that on average 10% of the population is left-handed, which means that 90% of children in a classroom are right-handed. That’s fair enough then, if the teacher focuses more on righthanded ways, I hear you say. However, what is quite worrying is that according to Stanley Coren, author

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of The Left-Hander Syndrome, the frequency of lefthandedness is increasing with each age group. Only 1% of 80-year-olds are left-handed.

The reasons for this are well documented. Stories of left hands being tied behind children’s back to force them

Left-handed children are more likely to enter some form of remedial therapy than their righthanded counterparts. Why is this? to write with their right hands are common in the older generation. Thankfully, left-handedness is now seen less as a sign of evil and more as a physical trait. Ten percent

of 30-year-olds are left dominant but 16% of 10-yearolds are left-handed. Based on the same formula, one can possibly predict that about 20% of six-year-olds are left-handed. This is a statistic, I believe, that warrants some action.

Let’s start at the beginning. What are the actual differences? We assume that if children are left-handed, they will perform all tasks – such as drawing, cutting, writing, throwing and catching – with their left hands.

Not necessarily. Diane Paul, author of The Left-handers’ Handbook, says a child is left-handed when he or she performs the majority of – not necessarily all – tasks with the left hand. It is, therefore, very common to find children who write with their left hand and cut with their right. This can often cause confusion among parents and teachers who then worry whether the child has not yet established dominance, or if there is confused dominance. What can then make matters worse is when teachers or therapists

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PHOTOGRAPH: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

to eradicate. DENISE PAPE gives some tips for keeping that in the past.

insist that the child uses one hand for all tasks, creating a confused dominance where, before, there possibly wasn’t one.

According to research, left-handed children are more likely to enter some form of remedial therapy than their right-handed counterparts. Why is this? Do we assume that left-handed children are less able to perform general fine-motor tasks – such as cutting, drawing and writing – than their right-handed peers? Or is it because we, as teachers and parents, are not educated in how to teach these skills to left-handed children correctly and, thus, need additional help ourselves?

The Left-Handers Club in England undertook a worldwide school experiences survey and it was interesting to read that as many as 88% of the respondents reported problems with writing. The main issues were the smudging of work, aching hands and writing slowly. People often assume that left-handers are more likely to have untidy handwriting and are likely to have what is known as a “hooked grip” when writing.

In response to the challenges of teaching left-handed children writing skills a great deal of research has been conducted worldwide and, in some countries, guidelines have been drawn up to help teachers teach left-handed learners. These teachers have had enormous success and have found that left-handed children can also have excellent fine-motor skills.

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What happens to the left-handed child who doesn’t receive the right support? Let’s face it, if a six-year-old is placed in a classroom with no other left-handers and is given equipment only designed for right-handed use and, subsequently, takes longer to perform certain tasks simply because he or she hasn’t been shown correctly, it will affect that child’s self-esteem. No child wants to feel like the odd one out and often, unintentionally, that’s exactly how they are made to feel.

How can teachers and parents make sure they do what they can to teach left-handed children correctly?

Firstly, ensure children have the correct hand formation and pencil grip. The hand and wrist should be straight and pointing to the line on which they are writing. The paper should be angled about 30˚ clockwise. This will

ensure they don’t smudge their writing. Secondly, if you are demonstrating a task, do so from a left-handed child’s perspective. It can be quite confusing for a lefthander to try to copy a task demonstrated by a righthanded adult.

Thirdly, teachers should consider putting left-handers together in a class – this will mean they can use the same equipment and workbooks, they won’t bump elbows when they write and they will feel less isolated.

Lastly, learn everything you can about your children’s left-handedness. Teach them in a way that allows them to learn – with the right equipment, knowledge and instructions. You never know, that little lefty of yours could become one of the many left-handed presidents, business leaders or professional sports people.

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feature

m rning madness

let’s start with planning…

Forgotten lunches, half-packed bags, homework not signed off, breakfast on the run… school mornings can be frantic and stressful. But they need not be, says JUDITH PENNY. All you need is a bit of planning and some routine.

w

e all know how important it is to get off to a good start in the mornings, but too many times we end up yelling for the children to hurry up, forgetting school lunches and swimming gear and muttering miserably as we sit in traffic. A little planning and some easy-to-practise routines can make a big difference and will change your attitude towards mornings. In no time, you’ll be singing in the car on the way to school.

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• Have a large family planner in a central spot where everyone can see it. You could have a white board, a chalk board, a computer printout or a large monthly calendar.

Find one that works for you and your family. Write down absolutely everything you need to know and have to do – reminders, extramurals, appointments, birthdays, pick-up times and emergency numbers. You could use a different colour for each member of the family for easy reference. You will need to pick a time in the week to update it. I take time on Sunday evenings to check our planner and add in anything new.

• Schedule your personal day and don’t pack too much into it. Leave gaps where you can and give yourself more time than you think you need between activities.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM, Treehouse Children’s dÉcor co

no more

Packing in too much will only leave you stressed and unhappy. This applies to your children as well. Make sure their schedules include some rest and relaxation too. • Plan your weekly menu, keeping it simple. Make a list of ingredients and other essentials and shop for these. Remember to include the lunchbox items. Believe it or not, knowing what is for supper makes a big difference to the beginning of the day. Cook double portions when you can.

These handy reward charts are printed by Priddy Books and are available from selected book stores at Planner for the family

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R65 each.

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routine begins the night before • Each child should have a list of items needed for each day of the week put up somewhere visible in their rooms. This way it will be a lot easier for them to make sure they have everything they need for a particular day.

• Ensure schoolbooks, schoolbags and clothes are ready the night before. Remember projects, notices and extramurals. Younger children can be encouraged and assisted, while older children should get themselves ready. It is good for them to take responsibility for their things at an early age. As they grow older, this will become second nature and they will be able to prepare for school without fuss.

• Get the breakfast table ready after clearing the supper dishes. Children should be encouraged to set out their own breakfast things. This will give you more time to eat a proper breakfast and not rush out the door with just a health bar in hand. Ensure you have healthy options during the week (and treats at the weekend).

Pack school lunches

• Prepare lunch boxes as far in advance as possible.

Know what you will be giving your children each day, and have those ingredients at hand. With juice bottles and fruit all ready, it will be a breeze to do the rest in the morning.

• Maintain the same evening routine during the week, particularly with small children: homework, playtime, bath time, supper, reading or quiet time and bedtime.

Choose a routine that works for the whole family and, where possible, get older children to help with younger siblings. Have an age-appropriate bedtime for each child. This way they get the sleep they need and should wake up refreshed and easier to manage in the morning.

• Before you go to bed, take five minutes to have a quick look around and pick up and tidy things left lying about. Check your schedule for the next day to ensure there are no surprises and nothing left to chance – you’ll go to bed more relaxed and hopefully sleep better.

Maintain a routine

A locker, such as this one from Treehouse Children’s Décor Co, is a great way of organising sports kit.

Prepare for breakfast

get up and get going • Start your day 15 minutes earlier than the rest of the family. Have a little time to yourself to gather your thoughts, and be ready to tackle the day ahead.

• Start a regular wake-up routine when your children are little. Have a list of the basic activities – get up, get dressed, brush teeth – to remind smaller children.

Encourage them with star charts and reward their efforts regularly. For those who can tell the time, a time chart will keep them focused on the task of getting to the breakfast table. By the time they are in high school the morning routine should be well established and easy to maintain.

• Breakfast is essential for the whole family. Whether you all sit down together or eat when you are ready, a good breakfast is a key factor to a happy day. In our family, it’s not negotiable.

Wake up earlier

Have a morning routine

• Keep calm. This can be hard when someone spills the last of the milk, or the car won’t start. Train yourself to take a deep breath, think and then act. This way you will stop something small escalating into a major incident.

• Leave time for the unexpected. Aim to leave the house 10 minutes earlier than you need to. This will help when you find yourself in a traffic jam, or you have to make an unexpected detour.

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the benefits of planning and routines

Enjoy a good breakfast

Your mornings will run smoother, your days will be less frenetic and everyone will be calmer and happier. Your children will get to school on time, and with everything they need for the school day. You will be ready to tackle your day in a positive and productive way.

So, in a nutshell, lead a simple life during the week with a plan of action, daily routines and early nights. Then relax over the weekends.

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feature

what my teachers taught me DONNA COBBAN reminisces about her junior-school days. hen I was small, teachers were teachers – they were not wives, husbands, parents or people… They were our teachers and they lived who knows where and, after school, did who knows what. It was only on the rare occasion that I found myself in the local supermarket, penny cooler clutched in one hand and a chocolate Freddo frog in the other, face to face with an escaped member of the teaching profession. “Good afternoon, Miss Weaver,” I would blurt out, surprised that teachers even shopped for food, let alone ate it. In much the same way as the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny, teachers had their place in this world and that was firmly within the school grounds, not roaming the supermarket.

I can remember the name of every teacher from Standard 1 to Standard 5 – I can recount what they wore, which shoes they favoured, the cars in which they drove

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to school, the afternoon sports they took and, in many cases, I can remember their handwriting – neat ribbons of red comments, tucked neatly into the margins of my exercise book. I don’t remember if they were engaged, married, divorced or widowed; I don’t recall if they had children or not, but I do remember what it felt like to sit in their classroom and listen to them teach.

And the one I remember more vividly than all the rest was Mrs Hounsel. I can conjure up her face in a second.

She had dark eyes and her hair swung about her shoulders in a pretty bob. Her shoes were flat and her dresses sensible, and the first time we walked into her Standard 2 class she announced that we would be taking a trip around the world. We shuffled nervously over to our assigned desks and sat down. We were clearly anxious. There was a map of the world up front and Mrs Hounsel announced that

we would be split into groups and each group would visit a different country – this way we would learn about the world more quickly. “Have you all got passports?” she asked. We thought we were a tough bunch and no-one was going to pipe up about missing mumsy. A whole term in Switzerland (which was where my group was headed) I wasn’t sure I would cope being so far from home for so long. Who

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country’s national costume and make food and crafts. We would man our stalls for the day and tell the rest of the school wonderful tales about our travels. Could she be for real?, I wondered to myself. She hadn’t even asked my mother’s permission.

Just as I was about to raise my hand in objection to this imminent Swiss abduction she turned to us and

smiled warmly and told us how in the class she had taught the previous year one little boy had thought they were really going and burst into tears. Wow, what a relief to hear. But we went nevertheless, in our heads we travelled to far off lands and wrote to our parents about the sights we saw. I shopped with Swiss francs and navigated Swiss train timetables. And at the end

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ILLUSTRATIONS: NIKKI-LEIGH PIPER

would feed my hamster? I bit my quivering bottom lip and looked about for other quiverers. Mrs Hounsel carried on, we would write to our parents every week; we would have to learn a new currency; we would have to find our way around the country on trains and buses and learn a new language. Then when we finally made it home, we would have a fair and everyone would dress up in their

In our heads we travelled to far off lands and wrote to our parents about the sights we saw. I shopped in Swiss francs and navigated Swiss train timetables. And at the end of it all, we arrived home with wonderful tales to tell.

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of it all, we arrived home with wonderful tales to tell.

At our international fair my mother was forced to fashion a Swiss national dress for me and I spent many an evening constructing a cuckoo clock from cardboard and, much to my mother’s annoyance, cutting great big holes into a block of cheddar cheese in an effort to make some authentic looking Swiss Emmenthal. Years later when I went to Switzerland for real, it felt like I had been there before.

It’s not only the remarkable teachers we remember, it’s often the sage advice of the more dour ones that sticks.

To this day I feel guilty when licking the end of a piece of cotton in order to thread it through the eye of a needle because, doing that, Mrs Bus told us, would rust the eye of the needle!

On a recent road trip to Knysna, while mulling all of this over, I turned to my mother, aged 70, and asked her if she had a teacher who stood out from the rest. “Oh yes!” she replied, “Mrs Lancaster-Smith taught me all I needed to know.”

“Which was what?” I asked.

“Ducks are from Aylesbury and stainless steel is from Sheffield. Bendigo and Ballarat are gold-mining towns in Australia. When you are at the North Pole, everything else is south. King Harold was shot in the eye by an arrow at the battle of Hastings,” she replied.

I was amazed. Other than the Swiss trip, learning how to thread a needle properly and gaining an increased agility in writing and arithmetic, I can only pull out one other piece of knowledge from my junior school days, which Mrs Kelly, my Standard 3 teacher, taught me when I asked to go to the loo one day. “It’s the toilet, Donna,” she warned me sternly.

“It’s never the loo!” So from that day to this, I have never used the word again.

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feature

a whole

new world Starting at a new school is one of the scariest things a child will ever have to do. But with your help, your child can turn it into an exciting challenge, says LAURA TWIGGS.

deal with. “Will I be able to make friends?”, “Will I fit in with the kind of children that go to this school?” are the sorts of things that are probably going through the child’s mind, says Johannesburg-based psychologist Jane Dannerup.

“Just talking about it all beforehand can go a long way to easing their anxiety,” she says.

Interestingly, the biggest problems with starting a new school are not of the child’s making, but the parents, says Paul J Donahue, psychologist and author of Parenting Without Fear: Letting Go of Worry and Focusing on What Really Matters.

He says the three major mistakes parents make are: • Not preparing properly (not getting your children into a routine before school starts, not having an orientation with your children around the new school’s grounds, not finding out what activities your children are likely to do on their first days at the new school); • Unwittingly “planting seeds of negativity” (for example, telling your child that you know they are likely to miss you, or not to feel bad if they are teased or bullied); and • “Not transitioning well” (being late on the first day, not sticking to the schedule, hanging around after other parents have left).

Anxiety over making “ new friends, feeling ‘uncool’ or coping with academic pressure can make even a well-adjusted child anxious.

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Once Lynne knew how frightened Chrissy was, she took immediate steps. “I have this very independent child and there was so much to organise for the move that I just assumed she’d be fine. But she started to become a different child: a bit clingy, a bit needy, having a few nightmares.

That’s when it just clicked and fell into place. I took her on a shopping trip for her supplies in Johannesburg, even though I had intended to do it only once we were in Cape Town. She usually loves stationery and sniffs every eraser and spends ages picking the perfect pencil case. But this time she seemed paralysed and couldn’t choose anything.

When I asked her what was wrong, she said she couldn’t decide because she didn’t know what the other children would have. I realised that she’s been the ‘cool kid’ but now she won’t know the ‘cool code’. We went for an ice cream and that’s when she told me about how scared she was, and how much she dreads being the outsider. It was hard to listen to, but a relief, too.”

Chrissy managed to feel better about her new school before the first day. “I have told her that she just has to be herself, and her reply was: ‘That has always worked, hasn’t it, Mom?’. I’ve also been reminding her of all the other ‘firsts’ in her life, and how well she’s coped with them. It seems to have reminded her of her own resilience and confidence.”

And, as someone who knows Chrissy, I can’t help but think that perhaps it’s the other children at the new school who should be feeling just a little nervous. *Names have been changed.

prepare your child • Take your children shopping for school supplies and use this as an opportunity to get them to talk about how they feel about the new school.

• Visit the new school with your children and walk around the playground, find out where the bathrooms, library, secretary’s office and other important places are, so your children don’t feel lost. Feeling lost and being late for classes will greatly enhance any feelings of anxiety.

• Take your children to story time at the library closest to your school. It’s a way of meeting other children and even if your children don’t make friends immediately, a familiar face in the classroom or on the playground can make the world of difference.

• Put a picture of your family in their school bag, or a note in their lunchbox for the first week if they are really stressed; it can be reassuring.

• If possible, try to get a class list and arrange a play date with one or two of the children in the new school so that your children recognise someone when they arrive on the first day.

• Encourage your children to be themselves, to not arrive as a bossy boots, and to be polite and friendly. Let them know that they must tell an educator the minute they are bullied or teased.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM, SXC.HU

i

t took Chrissy* “weeks if not months” to admit to her mother Lynne* that she was scared of sitting alone and eating her lunch on her own in the playground. It was a heart-tugging admission from an otherwise feisty and brave eight-year-old red-headed tomboy, who thinks nothing of walking under the belly of an 18-hand stallion at her riding school and, as the neighbourhood ringleader, can usually be found chortling like a drain in the middle of a pack of her peers as she concocts some wicked prank. But, as soon as she shared her anxiety, says Lynne, “It was on the table and we could help her to deal with her fear.”

Like many children, Chrissy started at a new school this year. Her family moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and the bustle of activity around the move meant that no-one really considered what an upheaval and what a challenge Chrissy faced.

Just the thought of being “the newbie” can make children physically ill. It’s terrifying to move away from an environment where everyone knows you and you don’t have to prove yourself. “Anxiety over making new friends, being in a new school, facing bullies, feeling ‘uncool’ or coping with academic pressure can make even a welladjusted child anxious. And that anxiety or fear can build up in a child’s mind, and manifest itself in many ways — from tummy aches and sleep problems to out-and-out refusal to go to school,” says University of Michigan Health System child psychologist Dr Michelle Kees.

Indeed, it was symptoms like these that alerted Lynne to the fact that Chrissy was struggling with the thought of being the new girl, anonymous and out of her sphere of tremendous influence. But, says Dr Kees, parents can help with this if they encourage their children to face their fears realistically, and work through various coping strategies with them.

However, one of the real problems for parents like Lynne is that if they don’t consciously create a space for their children to open up and talk to them, they may never know about the anxiety their children feel every time they imagine their mom’s car driving away, leaving them to face the strange playground on their own.

When there’s a new school, new teachers and a new layout, anxiety can become pronounced because the fear of the unknown is perhaps the scariest thing a child has to

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feature

extramurals:

getting the balance right Are we overloading our children? There is so much on offer – the only limit seems the size of your budget. Brigid Brown

t

here’s no question that sport and other extramurals teach our children important life lessons, such as teamwork, loyalty, community spirit, artistic appreciation and pride in our cultural heritage. Healthwise, it’s important that they are active; it’s also important to encourage their creativity. If we have a wide choice for our children, we – and they – are blessed. But there’s a temptation to sign up for everything.

Anne McDonald is a respected Cape Town school counsellor. “There is no doubt that organised activities in the areas of sports and culture will have developmental benefits for children, but research shows that there is also the need for parents to guard against over-scheduling the lives of their children,” she comments. “The evidence is clear that ‘free play’ – play that allows children to use their imagination and creativity – is critical in helping them to develop socially, emotionally and cognitively.” Tellingly, she adds, “it is also very important that children are allowed to move at their own pace and also to recognise their own interests and abilities. Parentdriven schedules can stand against this.”

The saddest stories I heard from the instructors I spoke to – school coaches and teachers, as well as those operating outside the schools – were of little boys and girls

told by their parents they’d be concert pianists, famous artists, prima ballerinas and national sports stars. And the parents were wrong. As Ingrid Dane, a Johannesburg sports mistress, says: “One in a million is an Olympian; the rest are simply good swimmers.” (Similarly, one in a million gets to be a prima ballerina; the rest are just good ballet dancers. See boxes on page 30 on the demands of dancing and swimming.)

Ingrid also points out the danger of removing the juniorschool child entirely from school sport and subjecting her to professional coaching only.

Such focus on the individual means these children never learn the loyalty, decisionmaking and teamwork that competing for your school engenders (and Ingrid should know; she was a champion swimmer by high school and subsequently, through sheer determination, earned national colours for hockey). “In the business world,” she notes, “corporations spend a fortune on fostering team spirit. At school it’s free!”

When I asked instructors what characteristics child prodigies have in common, they came up with the same set: talent and incredible commitment to putting in the time required but, most notably, the child has to be one of those few individuals who combine a narrow focus, an

The saddest stories were of little boys and girls told by their parents they’d be famous. And the parents were wrong.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM, SXC.HU

asks experts how much is appropriate for each age and stage.

overwhelming passion for their chosen discipline and a consuming drive to excel at it. This is often called genius; it’s also called obsession.

Acclaimed author Malcolm Gladwell (an ex track star) also notes these qualities in exceptional individuals: “Success depends on having the right genes and on a selfreinforcing belief in one’s own ability. But it also depends on a rare form of tunnel vision. To be a great athlete (or artist), you have to care.”

There are two other aspects of greatness that Gladwell talks about in his bestseller, Outliers. One is luck. He notes that a predominance of sports stars are born in the first three months of the year – his hypothesis is that talent is currently identified at too early an age where, for example, in the under-8 age group the physical differences between children born in January and December of the same year are vast. The more mature children are better at the sport and are therefore selected for the A-team; they get the focus of the top coach and they play with more accomplished team-mates against stiffer opposition.

On top of this, children who excel tend to be lucky enough to be born into environments that facilitate their success.

SA sports scientist Dr Ross Tucker concurs: “That’s as much a reflection on the fact that sports science hasn’t fully worked out what determines performance, and that performance is the result of a cluster of physiological, psychological and environmental traits that are currently too complex for us to analyse. Hard work and training is one of them, and when one looks at the very top level of performers, the difference made by hard work becomes the tiny difference between victory and defeat.”

And that brings us to Gladwell’s other criterion for exceptional performance. Practice. He reckons that when you add 10 000 hours of focused, conscious practice to the other prerequisites, you get exceptional greatness.

But perhaps he should have added a caveat for all those competitive parents whose children are born after March.

Not only, as Dr Tucker writes, is it “misleading to tell people that they can achieve anything, regardless of their genes” but there is the very real possibility of repetitive strain and overuse injury for young, still developing bodies.

In The Sports Medicine Bible for Young Athletes, Dr Lyle J Micheli, founder of the world’s first sports medicine clinic for children (at the Children’s Hospital in Boston) says that he has come to believe that many children drop out

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rands and sense Many schools in South Africa offer extramural curricula that don’t involve any extra cost beyond uniforms and, possibly, travel. But if you’re home-schooling your children or they loathe the idea of organised sport, there’s a lot you and your children can do together to remain active. For great ideas, try the following websites: discovery.co.za/portal/loggedout-individual/schools-overview kidnetic.com pecentral.com bam.gov/index.html

signs of overtraining in children • Slower times in distance sports such as running, cycling and swimming • Deterioration in execution of sports plays or routines such as those performed in figure skating and gymnastics • Decreased ability to achieve training goals • Lack of motivation to practise • Getting tired easily • Irritability and unwillingness to cooperate with teammates “Unfortunately, when a parent or coach is confronted with signs of overtraining, the tendency is to push the child harder. But if overtraining is the culprit, any increase in training will only worsen the situation. Too much training may eventually lead to overuse injuries in which actual damage to the bones and soft tissue occurs because the body can’t recover from the repetitive physical demands placed on it by sport activity. This raises an important question: How much is too much? Unfortunately, not a great deal of hard data is available on this subject. In the absence of data obtained from clinical studies, we need to formulate our guidelines based on observations made over the years by coaches and sports scientists.” – Dr Lyle J Micheli, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine and founder of the sports medicine clinic at the Children’s Hospital Boston, on childrenshospital.org

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of sports due to low-grade pain that is actually the early stage of an overuse injury. “Any joint pain lasting more than two weeks is justification for a visit to the sports doctor… to make sure abnormalities in growth or maturation do not occur.”

Such was their concern that the American Academy of Pediatrics went as far as to issue a statement in July 2000 advocating that children not specialise in a sport before the age of 12. They also recommend that “children are encouraged to participate in sports at a level consistent with their abilities and interests. Pushing children beyond these limits is discouraged, as is

so your daughter’s a prima ballerina?

Patricia McIntosh, a ballet teacher from Durban, gives us some sobering truths “I teach ballet classes from the age of three upwards.

When a parent calls about classes for a three-year-old I always ask if the child is keen. Often I find a supercompetitive parent who is concerned her child will get left behind if not started early enough. If the child is really keen then I suggest they try a couple of classes before forking out for all the kit. It is absolutely fine to start at age four or five.

“I give one lesson of 45 minutes a week until they are about seven or eight when they need to come twice a week (still 45 minutes each class ) – it’s just not possible to get through the exam syllabus and achieve the standard required on anything less than that. Although I don’t make a fuss about results and rather stress the importance of doing their best when they’re still young, exams do give them something to work towards.

“If they apply themselves they are learning life skills, such as good time management, self-motivation and self-discipline, how to deal with disappointment, and an appreciation of the arts. But the reality is that very few will end up making dance a career. While some ballet students will make outstanding teachers, a career as a dancer generally ends in the mid-30s (there are exceptions, of course). Durban has no professional ballet company, and those in Cape Town and Johannesburg are struggling to keep afloat.

Unless the student has all the attributes required (including the correct body type, musicality, artistry, huge determination and a good work ethic), it is cruel to let them even entertain the idea that they might have a future as a dancer. Generally parents are fairly realistic about their child’s future and those who are under the impression that they have the next Fonteyn before them are normally brought down to earth by their children’s exam results.

“I have spoken about girls only… I have to mention that I have four little boys in the studio – very cute!”

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specialisation in a single sport before adolescence”.

(We’re talking sport here, but the same goes for music, dance, art…)

Anne McDonald concludes: “There is a lot of pressure on parents these days to provide opportunities for their children because this is what is the best for the child. Often these very opportunities can put families under strain in terms of finances, as well as decreasing time left for highquality family time. One also cannot discount the effects of hurried schedules on both parents and their children: they can lead to stress, anxiety, school avoidance and sometimes depression in children.”

As my son added extramurals to his days, his school work, behaviour and focus in class actually improved.

My son is seven. He loves cricket so much I wonder if he shouldn’t be getting extra instruction. He was thinking of giving up judo but the gold team-medal received last week put paid to that idea. He has one music lesson a week and happily practises his recorder most evenings.

He’s in the choir, which involves a before-school practice

once a week. There are his catechism classes, and I’d like him to take a Xhosa lesson once a week as he’s losing the gift of this language. I have seldom seen a child so happy in the water and he goes for coaching three times a week – he doesn’t have to do the third lesson, as we get it on a buy-two-get-one-free deal, but he insists.

His is not an unusual load for a Grade 1 child at the school he attends or at the schools of the educators, counsellors and coaches I interviewed – in fact, it’s been suggested that he could be doing more swimming and that he should have tried out for the school squad.

I was pushed a bit by my parents as a child. But I know that in “Sub A” I was definitely not doing this much organised sport at school, and I certainly hadn’t begun practising the loathsome scales I’d be bashing out for nine years on the Bechstein at home.

My child is happy and energetic. As he’s added extramurals to his days, his school work, behaviour and focus in class have actually improved. But I can’t help worrying whether, in helping him do well at what he loves, I’m feeding my own competitive spirit… worrying because I had a friend at school who had to choose the provincial sport she’d play every season; she was a champion at everything she touched, from music to spring-board diving, from hockey to athletics.

Today she says her parents ruined her life and stole her childhood.

so you’ve got the next Thorpedo in your pool?

Cape Town swimming coach Brian Button spells out what it takes “Toddlers should be exposed to water in order to become confident in that environment from a safety point of view.

For four- and five-year-olds who are happy in the water we can start to introduce the very basics of stroke technique and breathing skills. Importantly, there are land drills (their ‘homework’) that require the commitment or involvement of a parent to ensure that the drills are practised correctly. I find a ‘squad’ environment works because peer pressure is an important development aspect. These young swimmers will move to a more advanced group when I feel they are ready.

But for most, their school gala will be their first exposure to competition. (Michael Phelps was ‘spotted’ by his coach at six years old but it was a long time before he started breaking records because he was nurtured intentionally.)

“Once they reach eight or nine years, formal competitions are introduced within the limitations of their abilities. At this age disciplines of technique and so on are entrenched, and the minimum number of coaching sessions is three.

“I encourage exposure and involvement in other sports so that by the time they reach 12 or 13, some sort of preference should start to become evident.

“From 14 or 15, success in swimming – which in my view is the toughest sport in the world – requires total commitment involving initially a minimum of five, one-hour training sessions per week together with land-drill exercises. Training sessions and mileage requirements are huge and unfortunately it’s at this age that many good swimmers are lost to water polo – a wonderful game that, through pressure from schools and peers, has cost us a lot of talent and at the same time broken down technique and led to shoulder problems.

“If children want to excel they need to apply themselves full-time to swimming; otherwise they must just enjoy as many sports as possible and have fun. Michael Phelps’s eight gold medals required dedication, commitment and sacrifices (like giving up holidays), long hours in the pool and gym, the ability to absorb the losses, and determination to go on and win. It’s a mindset, a determination to be the best that makes winners. It also takes world-class facilities, government funding, the best coaching programmes, physios, biokineticists and nutritionists… there’s a whole team behind every champion.”

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a loose age-based guide to what’s appropriate

age 2–3 Organised developmental activities and interaction with other moms and children allow little ones to learn and practise important socialisation skills such as sharing. Attendance of one such junior social-networking group a week is sufficient, especially if the child also attends a playgroup three times a week.

age 7–8 (Grade 2) Most children can certainly manage a short after-school activity a day now. Let them enjoy whatever takes their fancy and experience as much as possible, changing activities with the terms. And remember, focus on the child’s interests – not yours. Try to keep at least one day free for play dates – physical and musical endeavours are important but there’s little fantasy or imagination involved in following rules and instruction so free-play with friends and “down” time for themselves are still essential.

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age 4–5 (Nursery school to Grade R) Most crèches and nursery schools focus on getting children school ready; few are equipped with staff specifically trained to offer the sort of extramurals that can be introduced now: while a gymnastics, dance, martial arts or ball-skills programme is a good idea, swimming is an essential survival skill.

age 6–7 (Grade 1) Some parents will have already introduced their children to programmes that enhance maths abilities – there are excellent internet and worksheet-based programmes available. Introductory coaching in ball sports, after-school art classes and swimming, with the emphasis firmly on enjoyment, are all good options.

Music lessons can start now, and this is often the year some children begin extra lessons in, for example, the language of instruction or family heritage (French/ Italian etc), and religious studies. Many children will also be attending OT classes.

Bear in mind that three or four, half-hour activities a week are sufficient – don’t let your child’s schedule get too heavy, there’s still next year (and the next!).

age 8–9 (Grade 3) Sport gets more competitive now and the arts a little more demanding, so there can be a narrowing of focus (for example, your child may have to choose between dancing and swimming). Remember that teamwork doesn’t have to be learnt through sport – cubs/brownies and drama are good alternatives – but some physical exertion is important. If possible, consider one “club” activity that introduces your child to a wider circle of acquaintances beyond family and school friends.

age 11–13 (Grade 5 to 7) Some children will start to define a favourite, possibly seasonal, activity.

Try to get them to wait until 13 before they specialise in one sport. Some focus on the child’s place in your home is also important – chores teach responsibility, so don’t pamper the champion athlete you think you have in your midst (even Olympians have to take out the rubbish, lay the table and take the puppy, they begged for two years ago, for a walk). And, if at all possible, you and your child should do something communityoriented together so they can see that you attach importance to social responsibility.

age 9–11 (Grade 4 and 5) Children may still want to sign up for many activities, but intensity (and frequency) of lessons is increasing now – remind them that schoolwork is also important. Also, remember the life lessons: when children sign up for an activity, it should be seen through to some sort of conclusion (at least the end of the term) even if the child finds he/she doesn’t like it. (There are too many guitars abandoned beneath beds – consider renting equipment until it’s clear you’re in for the long haul). This teaches the valuable skill of perseverance, and shows respect for the instructor or teacher.

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feature

pirls

of wisdom part

2

Following the findings in the international PIRLS study, CAROLINE VAN DER MESCHT brings us some valuable ideas on improving literacy levels in our children.

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Some of these factors are the responsibility of schools, and the Department of Education is already trying to change these statistics as rapidly as possible. Other factors are more directly under parents’ control. For example, PIRLS showed higher performance scores among children who had access to early home-literacy activities: reading books, telling stories, playing with alphabet blocks, playing word games, singing songs and reading out labels on boxes or street signs.

But there may be another reason why South African children did not perform well in the PIRLS assessment. The curriculum, as well as international recommendations for teaching literacy, proposes that 12 reading strategies are introduced to learner readers (see page 35). These strategies or “reading skills” are taught through the questions educators ask young readers while they are reading. The strategies also find their way into comprehension questions. But the PIRLS results show that our children lack many of these strategies.

PIRLS also shows that some reading strategies are only being introduced in Grade 4 and later, in spite of the curriculum requirements. The PIRLS report states that “the learners for whom the more complex reading strategies are first introduced and emphasised in Grade 1 achieved the highest number of points, as compared to the learners for whom the skills are only introduced in Grade 4”.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

f you read the first part of this article in our November 2009 issue, you’re probably still shocked at what the Performance in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) report revealed about reading literacy in South Africa. (PIRLS is an international research project for reading literacy that took place in 43 countries.)

In this international study of Grade 4 learner’s reading abilities, South African children averaged the lowest – at 302 points. (In SA Grade 5 children were surveyed because many schools switch to English as a language of instruction in Grade 4). This is 100 points under the benchmark for the “low” category of the study. The director of this study estimates that 60 points represents about one year’s schooling. This places the average South African Grade 5 reader three years behind the international average of Grade 4s – our children read their home languages about four years behind children in other education systems in the world.

This very reputable, detailed study suggests that South African children are not reading effectively because resources are limited. For example: • 60% of South African primary schools do not have a library or classroom library; • Fewer than 50% of South African children have more than 10 books at home (the international average is 78%); • South African class sizes were the highest in the study; and • Many children receive fewer than three hours of reading instruction a week, although the curriculum stipulates six as a minimum.

In a recent international study of children’s reading ability, South African children averaged the lowest.

In Part 1 of this article I suggested that parents could make sure their children are learning to answer a range of questions by discussing the stories they read and asking simple, ageappropriate questions. This begs the question: what kinds of questions should our children be introduced to? And what is an age-appropriate question? International trends (and the new curriculum) identify 12 strategies that children should have: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Knowing letters Knowing letter-sound relationships Reading words Reading isolated sentences Reading connected text Identifying the main idea of text Explaining or supporting understanding of text Comparing text with personal experience Comparing different texts Making predictions about what will happen next Making generalisations and inferences Describing the style and structure of text

The first five strategies are about the mechanics of reading. These require children to know that letters make sounds and words make sentences, but do not require children to understand what they are reading.

The next two strategies – identifying the main idea of text and explaining or supporting understanding of text – require children to grasp the whole text at a simple level. Examples of questions about Little Red Riding Hood may help to illustrate these. To identify the main idea, children need to stand back and answer the question “What is this story about?”

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One needs to be careful here – the story of Red Riding Hood is not about “a little girl who was asked by her mother to take her grandmother a basket of food…” That is retelling the story. Little Red Riding Hood is about a little girl’s adventure in a forest. To ask children to explain their understanding of a story you could ask why she was called Red Riding Hood, or why the forest was a dangerous place for a little girl.

Strategies 8 and 9 – comparing text with personal experience and comparing different texts – require children to see similarities and differences between what is described in a story and something else. This “something else” could be in real life or in another story.

For example, you could ask: “Have you ever been in a forest? What was it like? Do you think it was like the forest Red Riding Hood had to go through? In what way could it have been different?” Answering a question like this takes a bit of practice and children need to have had related experiences out of school. To compare a story with other stories, learners need to have been exposed to a range of different stories or rhymes or songs so that they can see, for example, that the “baddie” in Little Red Riding Hood and Three Little Pigs is in both cases a wolf.

Strategy 10 requires children to make predictions about what will happen next. For this, children need to understand the genre or type of story, or the situation it describes. “Do you think Red Riding Hood will escape?” relies partly on children knowing that fairy stories usually end happily for the heroine. It also relies on their knowledge of likely outcomes to a situation. However, this is not a question open to all learners, so it is important to discuss implausible answers sympathetically while still pointing out that Red Riding Hood probably won’t be rescued by dinosaurs.

Strategy 11 – making generalisations and inferences – involves two skills. Generalising is rather like summarising, but expressing it in terms of a known truth. For example, Little Red Riding Hood teaches that wolves are dangerous, that mothers should not send their daughters unattended on dangerous trips, and so on. Inferring is about coming to a conclusion that is not very obvious, by reasoning from the situation that is described. One could infer, for example, that the hunter was a friend of the grandmother’s, because he arrived so promptly, or that Red Riding Hood’s mother was a busy woman or she might have gone with her.

Finally, strategy 12 – describing style and structure – is probably the skill that implies the most teaching. For this, a child has to stand back and see the story as an object. Is it written in long or short sentences? Is there a lot of dialogue? Is the story in the form of a poem or a song? What do any symbols suggest?

Your most important task is to provide a pleasurable reading experience and communicate the importance and worth of books.

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You might think that the last few strategies are too difficult to grasp for young children just starting to read. However, children in other education systems around the world master these strategies successfully and have demonstrated this in the PIRLS tests. All these strategies also appear as items in our own curriculum. Clearly questions requiring children to understand stories at this level are not too difficult for them unless they have not been exposed to them before.

The PIRLS results suggest that our children are just not seeing enough of these kinds of questions. Something parents can do is encourage your children to be critical readers, who are aware of what is happening in the stories they read. While you are reading to them, you can explore some of these strategies from time to time.

How best can this be done? Well, the style of your question needs to be casual and easy. One would not say: “Compare the situation described in the story to the situation today,” but rather “Is it different these days?”. It’s important to remember that a difficult question does not need to be expressed in a difficult way. “Was it fair to kill the wolf?” is a difficult question, because it poses a moral dilemma with no clear right and wrong, but it is not expressed in a complicated way. The answer “Yes” shows moral judgment of what the wolf deserved for trying to kill someone. The answer “No” might reveal a more sophisticated morality: that the wolf is merely responding to instinct, or that he was hungry. An uncomplicated but demanding question to ask is “Why?”. It is the question behind explaining inferences and asks children to justify their answer and perhaps rethink their position. “What if…?” questions also work well and can push readers into unexpected areas. For example: “What if Red Riding Hood was a boy?”.

Something to keep in mind is that more difficult questions may prompt complex discussions, and sometimes there are no “right” answers. Don’t worry: this is enjoyable exploration, so don’t get too hung up on correctness. You may also need to give children some time to get used to the style of the question if they are not getting many of these questions at school.

But any discussion must be part of the fun of reading: a tired child may just want soothing bedtime reading, not intellectual engagement. Your most important task is to provide a pleasurable reading experience and communicate the importance and worth of books. PIRLS makes that very plain: “Learners with very positive attitudes to reading tended to achieve higher scores.” As with all reading, if you and your child don’t enjoy yourselves, there really is no point.

For more tips on teaching your child to read, visit readingrockets.org Cape Town’s

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book extract

nature’s child

In an extract from the book 52 Ways to Grow Creative Children, LISL BARRY and her family share ideas for quality time that gives your children the chance to learn through fun outdoor activities.

go walking • a botanical garden • a nature reserve or national park that allows walking

Walk for the pure enjoyment of you and your child experiencing nature together. When they are still crawling, you could get a child-backpack, designed so that you can carry your child hands-free on your back. As they get older, they will love to run and walk themselves. Do it when you have enough time.

Go at their pace and don’t be troubled about getting anywhere, for they will stop every few paces to investigate some wonder.

Be sure to have a snack and water to keep you and them going. Pack in toilet paper too, for those unexpected emergencies. You can entice them along by asking them to spot things along the trail, such as small bugs, animal footprints, birds’ nests or rocks and stones shaped like hearts.

Most children are unaware of the noise they make with their voice tone or constant nattering. Stop sometimes and let them listen to the quiet or bird song.

As one would teach children to respect others in a library or a place of sanctuary, teach your children to respect the environment or other people who may be walking in a quiet tranquil place. They should be taught not to throw stones or pick flowers, and should leave nothing but their footprints.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: LISL BARRY

Take a visit to: • a beach • a forest

draw Allow plenty of opportunity for your children to draw freely (rather than only in colouring-in books) and encourage their imagination simply by showing an interest. To save on paper and protect the forest:

grow sunflowers • sunflower seeds • egg boxes • potting compost • pots or garden space

aint a blackboard in their room •P using non-toxic blackboard paint. A varnished surface acts as a good base coat for a perfectly smooth finish. Optional: Find an empty picture frame, paint the selected surface and fix the frame around it. This looks great, and creates an ideal ledge for the chalk. reate a small, shallow sand •C drawing box outside. Dampen the sand so your child can draw with a finger or stick. The beach is best for this.

A

• sk a local business to save their paper waste, where only one side has been used, for your child. Optional: To make a drawing pad, square up a small pile. Weight the top down and brush wood glue on the edge of the pile. Allow to dry.

• I f your child uses clean paper, use both sides.

• L ook out for beeswax crayons or easy to grip thick crayons.

Inexpensive oil pastels are a great treat because they have such wonderful colours.

1. O ptional: Seeds can be sprouted between two layers of damp cotton wool over a few days to share with your child the magic that happens underground. Keep the cotton wool moist and put in a warm place. Once the seeds have sprouted, plant them into egg boxes.

2. Put compost into each section, not filling to the top. Plant two sprouted seeds (shoot upwards) or seeds straight from the packet into each section.

3. When they have grown two leaves, pull out the smaller shoot in each section to make way for the stronger one. As they grow, the roots will grow through the soft sides of the egg box.

4. Pull the egg box sections carefully apart and plant each in a pot or 30cm apart in the garden. Plant them on the north-facing side of the house.

5. Watch them grow! As they do, support them with a pole. The petals will eventually fall from the flower.

Leave the seeds to ripen. When they are ready, if you can get to them before the birds, shake out a few for next year’s planting or just enjoy watching the birds feast.

Place special drawings in a file so that your child sees they are enjoyed and cared for. Recycle discarded paper drawings.

Show your child how the sunflowers’ flowers follow the sun as it moves through the sky.

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knit with your fingers

make fruit ice lollies

Pure wool is wonderfully natural to the touch and, if hand spun, smells mildly of sheep too. The cost is worth it for your child’s tactile experience.

Make a loop with a strand of wool around your thumb and knot it. Wind the wool a second time around your thumb and pull the first loop up over the second one. Pull the strand so that the remaining loop on your finger is secure.

Wind the wool to make another loop and repeat the process.

It is much easier for children to remember the process if a story goes with it. Try something like: (one loop is already on the finger) the fox runs around the tree searching for the rabbit (wind the second loop around), the rabbit jumps right over the fox (pull the first loop over the second) and pulls the fox’s tail (pull the strand to secure the remaining loop).

• ice-cube or ice-lolly trays

If possible, take your child to a working farm to see the real thing and pick bits of wool from the fences. If you can find someone that spins wool with a spinning wheel, participating in this will be a magical experience for your child.

Support smaller greengrocers or farmers’ markets, especially organic, where inseason, local produce is available. These fresh fruit and vegetables always taste better. It also means fewer food miles.

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• a freezer

It is a wonderful nutritious treat on a hot sunny day (all year round). There are various options. Children love to help prepare them, although it’s hard for them to have to wait for the frozen goodies. Work at the kitchen sink.

Mashed fruit Any in-season fruit that is easy to mash will do. Especially good summer ones are sweet melon, cantaloupe (spanspek) and watermelon. Once mashed, spoon and smooth into moulds or ice cube trays. Freeze overnight.

Fruit juice Use freshly squeezed or juiced in-season fruit. Mix two parts fruit to one part water. Pour from a small jug into ice-lolly moulds or ice-cube trays.

Optional: Chop up a kiwi fruit or large strawberry and include in the lollies.

Organic yoghurt and fruit Liquidise or juice strawberries and one ripe banana. Mix two parts fruit to one part organic yoghurt. Spoon into moulds or ice-cube trays.

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create body portraits • apron • scissors • paint brushes • newspaper • clothes pegs

• a dark crayon for doing the outline • paints • tubs for water • rope • strong card, the backs of calendars or posters taped together, or brown paper

1. C ut or tape the paper to match the length of your child.

Place the paper on the ground. With your child lying down on the paper and using the crayon, follow the outline of your child’s body onto the paper. If there is more than one child, they can draw each other.

2. Have the paints ready and let them paint their life-size body. Optional: Use scrap material, wood shavings, felt and coloured paper offcuts, wool, scissors and glue.

3. If there are a few friends, cut holes out for the faces. Do this before they begin painting. When the paintings are dry, string up a rope and peg the paintings securely. They can show their faces through the holes. Put a mirror up for them to see.

They will have lots of fun play-acting from behind the painted bodies and swapping bodies with each other

about the book 52 Ways to Grow Creative Children is published by Jacana Media and is available from all leading book stores and online book stores at a suggested retail price of R135. For more information on other titles, visit jacana.co.za

Collect offcuts created when making things and store for later use: material such as felt, cloth, wool and coloured paper.

These can later be used for activities, crafting, or to make simple collages.

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feature

tooth truth or fairytale

Fluoride – evil toxin or vital mineral?

DONNA COBBAN takes a look at the debate.

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come from a line of genetically crumbling and decaying teeth. I was raised by a mother who was raised on a then-unfluoridated water supply in New Zealand.

While I was growing up in Harare, she sought to correct the wrongs of her dental past and my sister and I were screened regularly and given fluoride doses every six months from the time our big teeth emerged. My mother was triumphant as we held our pearly white smiles a lot longer than many of our counterparts. And then, in my late 20s, it all fell apart, or rather my teeth started to, as one filling swiftly followed another. Just today I was at the dentist and celebrating four years of filling-free living, when an X-ray revealed a little hole deep within one of my molars that was getting steadily larger. I swallowed my needle fear and booked an hour out of my life for this teeny hole to be filled – a whole hour!

So there you have it – my mother wasted time and money, or did she? It’s a tricky debate, as I was not given any fluoride treatment until my big teeth arrived. Perhaps if supplements had been given earlier, I would now be footloose and filling free.

In 1901, a newly qualified dentist, Dr Frederick McKay moved to the small town of Colorado Springs in Colorado. He was fascinated by the stained and mottled teeth of most of the locals, most of whom suffered from very little tooth decay. Research eventually linked both the staining and the lack of tooth decay to the high level of naturally occurring fluoride in the water supply. Further research conducted by the US Public Health Service was aimed at determining how high the fluoride levels in water could be before dental fluorosis occurred. By 1936 it was established that 1,0 part per million (ppm) in the drinking water did not cause mottling or dental fluorosis. This discovery lead to the gradual introduction of artificially fluoridated water in 1945 in North America.

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Google the word “fluoride” and you will come across opponents far faster than you will come across proponents, but the truth doesn’t always lurk on the first page of a Google search, and often the truth is not as clear cut as we would like it to be. Firstly, fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that comes from fluorine, which is an abundant element within the earth’s crust. In a number of countries it is added to the water. Most North Americans have been ingesting fluoridated water for the past three generations, but adding fluoride to water is no easy task.

According to Rand Water, the cost of fluoridating water could be as much as R30-million per annum, which is not (really) a priority when there are still so many people without running water. Sometimes levels of fluoride exist naturally in water, so the task of adding fluoride to water becomes a highly skilled one; ingesting too much fluoride can result in dental fluorosis, which causes defects in the teeth’s enamel. This often presents as small white spots or streaks, with more severe forms resulting in discolouration or brown markings, with possibly pitted and rough enamel.

Over and above the cost of adding fluoride to the water is the ethical issue – which is where the anti-fluoride groups are most firm, as they see it as a form of forced mass medication that cannot be adequately controlled. I tend to agree with them: I would far rather be in control of my child’s fluoride intake. That said, there are many people for whom fluoride supplements are a superfluous luxury, so my reasoning becomes out of place and elitist. There’s also the old North American 1930s rumour to consider – apparently the “communists” were adding fluoride to the water in order to dumb down the population and invade the free world. So, it seems fluoride is a deeply emotional issue, the truth about which is not easily uncovered.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

how it all began

“

“

The fluoride supplements your baby takes now are working on strengthening the emerging teeth.

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control his fluoride intake until he learns to spit properly, at which point I can start him on a low-fluoride toothpaste, keeping the amount of paste he uses down to the size of a pea.

One of the shock tactics that Gail fell prey to was that a child could die from eating a tube of toothpaste, which is indeed possible – that’s why we spit out and don’t swallow toothpaste.

Keep all toothpastes out of reach and closely monitor all teeth brushing sessions. Just last week my dentist told me to move from the fluoride drops we had been using to the fluoride tablets, but he warns me to keep them well out of reach as they are very tasty.

Small amounts of fluoride help prevent tooth “cavities, but high levels can harm your health.

“

Gail*, mother to Jethro*, knows these is it poisonous? emotions only too well, as she has been Yes, but, like most substances, the both an opponent and a proponent, all level of toxicity is related to the dose. within the brief space of six years. Soon Practically every substance on earth, after Jethro was born, Gail was reading a including water and oxygen, becomes popular “health” book and was somewhat toxic if enough of the substance disturbed to learn that the author becomes concentrated in the stomach believed that by giving your child fluoride or blood. Anti-fluoride activists will tell supplements, you are simply abdicating you that fluoride is listed as a toxic your responsibility as a parent and are substance by the US-based Agency for exposing the child unnecessarily to an Toxic Substances and Disease Registry extremely dangerous way of trying to (ATSDR), and this is true, but they state prevent tooth decay. Gail read on, appalled clearly that “small amounts of fluoride and relieved that she had learnt how toxic help prevent tooth cavities, but high fluoride was just in the nick of time. Jethro levels can harm your health”. was a first baby and Gail was fastidious about what she fed him – breastfeeding, no sugar, no wheat, gentle tooth brushing from the time the first tooth emerged.

She opted for a safe, nontoxic, fluoride-free toothpaste to keep Jethro’s teeth intact.

After a trip to the dentist, Gail was horrified to learn that Jethro had been given a quick dab of fluoride from the dentist. Luckily he survived this “toxic assault” but not long before his sixth birthday he complained he was not losing his teeth like all his friends, and he started to complain of toothache.

A trip to the dentist revealed six holes in the molars and the only way to fill them would be under general anaesthetic. Gail is quick to point out that Jethro tasted his first sweet well after his second birthday and any juice he has is always diluted. Her first filling was at 21 so Gail knew it wasn’t genetics at play. Mind you, she had been raised on fluoride so her anti-fluoride take was swiftly swept aside. Jethro now visits the dentist quarterly, uses a fluoride supplement daily, brushes with fluoride toothpaste and has restricted amounts of dried fruit, juice and sweets. “A painful and extremely expensive lesson has been learnt,” concludes Gail.

It was on a dental check up of mine while pregnant that my dentist began dishing out regular fluoride lectures, telling me the amount of decay he sees in children’s teeth is markedly lower in those who take fluoride supplements. He also warns against the belief that milk teeth don’t matter and says parents should kick-start their babies’ oral hygiene programme as soon as milk teeth appear. “The fluoride supplements your baby takes now are working on strengthening the emerging teeth; waiting until later will be too late,” he warns.

So that’s why he gets to fill my teeth every few years – my mother’s best intentions were too late. My son, who has just turned two, is unable to spit his toothpaste out so I use a fluoride-free toothpaste and combine this with fluoride supplements. This way I can Cape Town’s

The South African Dental Association (SADA), the World Health Organization (WHO), the FDI (World Dental Federation) and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) all believe that fluoride is essential for dental health. According to Dr Jeff Michelson at SADA: “Fluoride can be obtained in two ways, by swallowing (for example, through water and diet) and by topical application (for example, by using fluoridated toothpastes, gels and mouth rinses). Topically applied fluorides strengthen teeth already present in the mouth while swallowed (systemic) fluorides are those that are ingested into the body and become part of a developing tooth.”

My poor mother tried so hard to give me strong healthy teeth and for that I am most grateful, even if her plans did go awry. I hope, given new research and supplements, to give my son a better and stronger set of teeth than I have and that they will last him a lifetime. *Names have been changed

what is fluoride?

Most people think fluoride is a man-made creation and do not know that it comes from a naturally occurring mineral, fluorine, which is the thirteenth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It never occurs by itself in nature but is always combined with other elements as a fluoride compound.

Courtesy of SADA

how does fluoride prevent cavities?

Fluoride inhibits the loss of minerals from tooth enamel and encourages remineralisation (the strengthening of weakened areas where cavities are beginning to develop). Fluoride also affects the bacteria that cause cavities, discouraging acid attacks on the teeth’s enamel. Risk of tooth decay is further reduced when fluoride is used in conjunction with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.

how much fluoride?

Current opinion is that supplements should be given from the age of six months until about 14 years. The dosage will vary according to a number of important considerations, the most important of which are: • Body mass (weight) • The level of naturally occurring fluoride in your tap water (depending on the area in which you live).

• The amount of toothpaste swallowed – young children should always be supervised while brushing and taught to spit out rather than swallow toothpaste.

They should use an appropriately sized toothbrush with a small brushing surface and only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste at each brushing.

Courtesy of SADA

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feature

101

school-project management

“Sorry I’m late, Victoria, but I have just dropped the boys off at school with a three-kilogram blue chameleon.

He’s exquisite if I may say so myself,” I say.

“School project?” she enquires.

“Yep, school project. And I just had to admire all the other works of art that were being trawled in by the moms and dads. They are amazing. We seem to have a very talented bunch in Grade 3.”

By this stage Victoria was having a good chuckle. “Do you mean the children are talented or are the parents talented?”

And yes, I blushed at this point and didn’t have a quick retort. So for the next hour we dissected the topic of school projects and what our approach as parents should be. Here are our suggestions:

read the instructions

CHRISTINA CASTLE, your children’s school projects are as much a challenge for you as they are for them.

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wo mornings a week I walk on the mountain with a psychologist. Okay, let me clarify that. Two mornings a week I walk on the mountain with a friend, who happens to be a psychologist. While I certainly get my physical therapy for the day, I’m lucky enough to get a bit of mental therapy as well. We chat about everything.

Both of us fight our way through drop-off traffic on our way to school and greet each other with stories of the goings on with the children, the sport, the lunchboxes, the dinner parties, the birthday parties and on one particular morning – the school project I had just delivered with my son.

choose the subject There’s a good chance your child may already have decided on the subject of his project. While he may be set on choosing a chameleon, your visions of a papier-mâché snake are worth sharing with him. Brainstorm the subject with him. Get him thinking about all the reptiles that he could choose. But remember, it’s his project and his choice. You are there to guide him through this project journey. And at the end of the day we want him to feel good about his choice of subject.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

Let’s face it, says

That piece of paper arrives home with a very concise brief of the project. It’s written so the children can read it too. It’s to the point and explains exactly what’s required complete with deadline and a little message to the parents about their expected role in the exercise. This is the part I generally fail to read as my head is usually caught up in creating whatever it is that is required to be created.

At this stage your children should read the instructions to you. Let them take ownership of the project and tell you what it is all about in their teacher’s words and in their own.

Let them take ownership of the project and tell you what the project is all about in their teacher’s words and in their own. make a plan Before you scream off to the shops, pull out a blank piece of paper and teach your child how to think the project through from beginning to end. He will learn all the aspects involved in putting together a project. Have him refer to this plan throughout.

start early Don’t delay. You may be given three weeks to complete the project but we all know how time flies.

Leaving a project to the day before can put your child under unnecessary pressure and make for a not-so-fun experience. Besides, some material you may need to work with may need time to dry, set or grow.

r is for research Oh, how we love the internet! Yes it’s the best place for doing research when time is tight but community and school libraries are often able to provide all the information you require. Help your children to sift through the mountains of information they are presented with, and identify the most important points about the subject or to answer the questions outlined in the instructions.

Don’t complicate the situation by doing more (even if the information is very interesting to you). If the teacher asks for “three interesting facts about your reptile”, then give three interesting facts about your reptile. Not five or six. And remember, let your children choose what they find interesting.

don’t break the bank Scrounge around at home for all the bits and pieces required before you hit the shops. Encourage your children to get resourceful and consider using materials from your recycling stash, Dad’s tool shed, Gran’s sewing box or out of the food or art cupboard. But if it’s clay you need and you don’t feel like digging up the garden, then pull out that purse. Have your children write a list of items they need you to buy. That way, they’re taking charge.

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get messy Plan the day, make the space and make a mess.

With very young children you will have to be really hands on. Little fingers do need help with shaping clay, wire, paper, play dough, cutting, sticking and painting, but don’t take over.

Make suggestions, provide supportive advice, help them with the tricky bits and let the creative juices flow.

Let them make mistakes and help them overcome them.

They need to know it’s their masterpiece. They also need to know they have to clean up afterwards.

see it through It’s easy to lose interest once the fun is over but part of the learning experience is to see it through from beginning to end. You will need to show your children how to bring all elements of the project together to present a complete work.

While you may need to guide them firmly on this one, let them decide what goes where – no matter how odd it looks.

So the masterpiece is finished. It’s not quite what you had in mind but he’s the boss of chameleon building. And he can’t wait to get to school to show it off to his mates.

He may or may not score the highest marks in the class, but he has scored big time on confidence and had a great time doing it.

Alex has just arrived home with news of his project for this term. He has to do a PowerPoint presentation about a famous person. “I’ve chosen Freddie Mercury,” he announces with great enthusiasm and breaks into ‘We Are the Champions’.

I think of all the other famous people he could have chosen and say, “What a great choice, Alex. Let’s start it tonight.”

“Started already, Mom. We’re doing it all at school.”

I hold my breath as I try and work out how I can hack into the school computer network. (And just for the record, the psychologist is just as guilty as the rest of us.)

Alex has just arrived home with news of his project for this term. He has to do a PowerPoint presentation about a famous person. “I’ve chosen Freddie Mercury,” he announces with great enthusiasm and breaks into ‘We Are the Champions’.

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resource

back-to-school

basics

Sending your children off to crèche or school for the first time can be daunting. You can’t be there every minute of the day to keep them safe, but you can talk to them and to their educators and caregivers about dealing with any nasties. By TRACY ELLIS.

car safety • Children under 12 are safest in the back seat of the car, in an approved car seat suitable for their age and weight (see our guide).

• Avoid buying second-hand car seats as they may be faulty or may have been in an accident.

• Fit your car seat according to the manufacturer’s instruction manual.

• Use infant and child car seats in the rear-facing position until your child weighs 10kg and is at least nine months old.

• Never use an infant car seat in the front of a vehicle with a passenger airbag. it is not safe to: • buckle two children with one seatbelt • use a booster seat with a lap belt • travel with a child on your lap • allow children to place the seatbelt behind their backs or under their arms • hold or breastfeed your baby in a moving vehicle.

Talk to the your child’s educator about the school’s seatbelt policies during school outings and find out if you can send your child’s seat along.

Talk to your child about always buckling up when he is travelling in someone else’s car for a lift club, play date or school trip.

car seats: age and weight guide

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

• I nfant car seat Birth–1 year (0–10kg) • Child car seat 0–5 years (0–18kg) • Booster seat (cushion and back) 4–6 years (15–25kg) • Booster cushion (without back) 6–10 years (22–36kg) • Seatbelt in back seat 10–12 years (36kg and over) • Seatbelt in front passenger seat 12 years and older

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bee stings Bee stings can be very painful but unless your child is allergic to bee venom or has been stung by a swarm of bees, the sting does not warrant medical attention and is easily treated. It was once believed that the stinger should not be pinched by hand but ought to be scraped off with something sharp so as not to release further venom. But new research shows that the method of removal is less important than the time it takes to remove the stinger; the longer it remains in the body, the more severe the reaction will be.

Remove the stinger quickly and apply ice or antihistamine cream to the sting site, as it will most likely be painful, itchy and swollen.

If your child develops a red itchy rash and shortness of breath after a bee sting, she may be allergic to bee venom and you should seek immediate medical attention. It can take up to an hour for a severe anaphylactic reaction to occur. If your child is allergic, she should wear a Medic Alert bracelet and a doctor may advise carrying an epinephrine injector. If stung, use the injector before symptoms appear. A wasp or hornet sting will not leave a stinger behind but can still cause an allergic reaction.

Talk to your child’s educator if your child is allergic to bee venom. Provide her with emergency contact numbers, an epinephrine injector and instructions on how to use it.

Talk to your child about why bees sting humans. Children are usually afraid of bees but it is worth teaching them to stay away from a hive of any sort. Teach your allergic child to tell her educator immediately if she is stung at school.

nosebleeds Most common in children between the ages of two and 10 years, nosebleeds are caused by picking, excessive blowing, a knock to the nose or dry nasal membranes due to dry weather conditions. There is usually no need to panic as most nosebleeds are easy to stop and although bleeding may be profuse, your child is not likely to lose a dangerous amount of blood. The best course of action is for your child to sit down and tilt his head forward while gently pinching the soft part of the nose to close the nostrils. This pressure needs to be maintained for at least 10 minutes or until the bleeding has stopped. It is important not to lie back or tilt the chin upwards, as blood may drain into the throat and cause gagging or vomiting.

Talk to your child’s educator if your child has frequent nosebleeds. You may even want to send a box of latex gloves to school. Most educators are well equipped to deal with a bloody nose and will only call you if they can’t control the bleeding or if the nosebleed is the result of a head injury, in which case you should consult a doctor. If your child is a frequent nose-picker you may enlist the educator’s help in breaking the habit.

Talk to your child about how to blow his nose gently. If he suffers from allergies or dry membranes, use a humidifier at home and purchase a saline spray or a Vaseline balm, which he can keep in his pocket and use on his nostrils while at school. If he has frequent nosebleeds, pack a pair of gloves into his schoolbag.

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nut allergies Peanut and tree nut allergies are potentially life threatening. Even a small trace of peanut protein can set off a severe reaction, which may include an itchy rash, redness and swelling around the mouth, belly cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, a runny nose, watering eyes, wheezing and lightheadedness.

In severe cases anaphylaxis can cause airways to swell and blood pressure to drop, resulting in a loss of consciousness and even death. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid nuts and food containing nuts. Read labels and look out for phrases like “may contain nuts” and “produced in a facility that processes nuts”. High-risk foods include peanut butter, cereals, bakery items, biscuits, sweets, chocolates, sauces, ice cream and Asian cuisine.

Talk to your child’s educator about your child’s nut allergy and find out if they have a nut-free lunch table. If not, consider putting an allergy label on your child’s lunchbox.

Provide the school with emergency contact numbers and talk about an action plan in case your child has a reaction. If necessary, leave an epinephrine injector at school and chat to the educator(s) about when and how to use it.

Talk to your child about not sharing her lunch, as a classmate could have a nut allergy (or be diabetic). Explain that unless clearly labelled as “nut free”, most foods contain nuts or traces of nuts. If your child has allergies, discuss the option of wearing a Medic Alert bracelet. Come up with a plan for birthday parties such as taking nutfree snacks and treats from home.

burns Burns are best treated according to their cause and severity. Burns at school may be caused by heat, electricity, chemicals or the sun. A mild (first degree) burn is usually limited to the top layer of skin and results in redness, pain and swelling but no blistering.

A second degree burn involves the deeper layers of skin and results in pain, redness and blistering. Blisters may even break open and weep. Third degree burns are the most severe, damaging all the layers of skin as well as underlying tissue and nerves. The result is a charred appearance with obvious tissue damage and a possible absence of pain due to nerve damage. Medical attention is required for chemical and electrical burns, as well as all types of second and third degree burns, or any burn that covers more than 10% of the body. All burns are best treated by flushing the burn site with cool (not cold) running water for five to 10 minutes. Never apply butter, grease or ice to a burn and do not break blisters. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will help with the pain.

Talk to your child’s educator at crèche about putting protective covers on electrical outlets. Speak to the primary school educator about any chemical experiments the class may be doing and don’t assume educators know how to treat burns.

Talk to your child about how to treat his burn by running it under cool water – the quicker they can cool the burn site, the less severe it will be.

sun safety at school Sunburn is not only painful and uncomfortable; it can lead to skin damage and cancer.

Even 15 minutes in the sun can result in redness and pain. Make sunscreen part of your child’s morning routine, especially in the hotter months and during the swimming season. An SPF30 is recommended for children. Chat to your child’s educator about the school’s hat policy on the playground and encourage your child to play under trees or in shade on really hot days. Treat accidental sunburn with a cool bath, after-sun gel or calamine lotion and pain medication. See a doctor if your child develops a fever, becomes dehydrated or lightheaded after sunburn, or if the sunburn covers a large area of the body.

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HIV/Aids The amount of information you give your children on HIV/Aids depends on their age. By Grade 3 most children will have heard about the disease and may have asked questions about it.

Your preschooler can be taught that Aids is a sickness caused by a virus carried in people’s blood. Reassure your children by explaining that they cannot catch this sickness by playing with or hugging friends, but stress the importance of not touching anyone’s blood. By junior primary you can begin to explain in more detail how the virus works and that it can result in death. By senior primary, once you have had discussions about sex, you can introduce the message of transmission through intercourse and drug use. Allow your children to lead you and answer questions honestly when they are asked.

Talk to your child’s educator if you need advice on when to initiate a discussion on HIV/Aids. Find out what they are teaching in the classroom and reinforce it at home.

Let their educators know if your children have fears about catching Aids at school and if they are bringing home incorrect information from their friends about HIV/Aids.

Talk to your child about never touching someone else’s blood, not even their best friend’s. Explain that if they injure themselves at school, the person helping them needs to wear gloves. Ask a question like: “Have you heard about Aids before?” to assess how much they know and understand.

earache Earache is a common complaint especially among children under five years. The most common causes are middle-ear infections following a cold or illness, and swimmer’s ear, an infection of the outer ear and ear canal. Children will often pull on or rub their ears when sore and will often be fussy and irritable. A visit to the doctor will determine which type of ear infection it is and the doctor may prescribe antibiotic eardrops or oral antibiotics.

Recurring middle-ear infections may warrant a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to determine if ear surgery is recommended. Recurring swimmer’s ear can be prevented with the use of earplugs or swimmer’s eardrops. However, the eardrops must be used immediately after swimming and not when swimmer’s ear has already set in, as the drops are alcohol based and will aggravate an infection. Children should have their hearing tested once a year by an audiologist. Never stick an ear bud into your children’s ears. Ears are self-cleaning and should only be washed with water. For stubborn wax, see a specialist.

Talk to your child’s educator as many schools have an audiologist who tests all the learners annually. If your child suffers from swimmer’s ear, enlist his educator’s help in administering the eardrops after a swimming lesson and ensuring he wears his earplugs in the pool.

Talk to your child about not sticking objects into her ears. Encourage children to wash their hands frequently to reduce chances of picking up colds and flu.

handy emergency telephone numbers Ambulance – Netcare 911 Ambulance – ER24 Ambulance – Government SAPS Flying Squad Cellphone Emergency Line Fire and Rescue Fire, Accident and Natural Disaster Red Cross Poison Unit Tygerberg Poison Unit Childline SAPS Crimestop Your Your Your Your

082 911 084 124 10177 10111 112 021 535 1100 021 480 7700 021 689 5227 021 931 6129 0800 055 555 086 001 0111

local police station local emergency room family doctor security company

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books

the good book guide for toddlers One Pig Went For A Drive

By Alan Durant (Macmillan Children’s Books, R90) When Harry Pig drives into town in his bright-blue motor car, it isn’t long before – with a splutter, splutter, splot – the engine stops. Luckily he meets some friends along the way. They help him get the car back on the road again and everyone hops in to share the ride. But it isn’t long before – “Crash Bash! Bing Bang! Clanga-langaclunk!” – Harry’s car is beyond repair. How will Harry get home? Luckily a circus comes to his rescue. This is a wonderful tale featuring five cheerful pigs and is beautifully illustrated by Tor Freeman, who also illustrated Hooray, I’m Five Today!

Ernest

By Catherine Rayner Wow! Said the owl

By Tim Hopgood (Macmillan Children’s Books, R165) At night, when we are feeling tired and ready for bed, owls are just waking up.

But this curious little owl decides to stay awake all day, instead of all night, and discovers a world bursting with colour. This well-illustrated book is great for toddlers learning about different colours. According to Booklist: “With a satisfying night-to-day-to-night cycle, the book not only reinforces the concept of colours but also provides a sense of security about the way things are supposed to be in the world. The repeated refrain of ‘Wow!’ throughout the book will elicit a chorus among young listeners at story time.”

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(Macmillan Children’s Books, R165) Ernest is a large moose with a big problem… he can’t fit into this book! Luckily Ernest is also a very determined moose, and he and his little chipmunk friend aren’t going to give up easily. He struggles to shimmy, shuffle and shunt in forwards, but that’s no good. He tries to squidge, squodge and squeeze in backwards, to no avail. Featuring a surprise fold-out ending, children aged two and older will love this delightful book from the award-winning author and illustrator Catherine Rayner.

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read & play

Messy Fingers

By Emma Dodd (Macmillan Children’s Books, R150) Join your children in a big interactive journey from messy to muddy, sticky to soapy and, finally, sleepy. With lots of big, sturdy flaps to lift and tabs to pull, this is the perfect book for curious little fingers. The text is written in rhyme and is a treat to read out loud: “Messy fingers, messy toes, messy smiles, messy nose!” Emma Dodd has worked on many books, including the popular Amazing Baby series.

Her first book, What Pet to Get?, was shortlisted for the 2006 Early Years Awards.

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Muddle Ocean

By Ben Cort (Macmillan Children’s Books, R150) Children can dive in and enjoy hours of underwater fun with this magnetic play book. They join diver Dave and a host of friendly sea creatures in their exciting deep sea adventures. With over 15 magnets, the book encourages interactive learning, stimulates creativity and provides fun and entertainment for children aged four and older. Ben Cort is the illustrator of the phenomenally successful Aliens Love Underpants and many other popular books, including The Shark in the Dark and Muddle Jungle.

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books continued... for preschoolers Lucy Goes to Market

By Sanchia Oppenheimer (Macmillan Children’s Books, R165) When Lucy goes to market she finds everything she needs, from an Asparagus Angel and a Delicate Dragon to an Invisible Igloo and a pair of Wacky Wellingtons. But will they all fit in her doll’s house? This uniquely beautiful alphabet book is illustrated by the award-winning Imogen Clare. It’s not your run of the mill ABC book – you’ll find flamingos feasting on fruitcake, a nomad named Nathan and a vulture with vertigo. Children can join Lucy on a magical journey through an unforgettable book.

A Song for Jamela

By Niki Daly

good read!

(NB Publishers, R89) The summer holidays are here, and Jamela is as bored as a girl can be. All she can think about is the Afro-Idols TV final. When she lands a job at Divine Braids hair salon, she can’t believe her eyes at the arrival of the glamorous Afro-Idols celebrity, Miss Bambi Chaka Chaka. But while Jamela’s idol dozes and Aunt Beauty designs the star’s hairdo, a busy fly appears on the scene and threatens to ruin everything… Can creative Jamela save the day? This is Niki Daly’s fifth Jamela book and is most suitable for children aged five to seven. Both the story and illustrations are lively and humorous, offering wonderful entertainment.

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The Lucky Leopard and The Brave Little Penguin Retold by Andrea Florens (Art Publishers, R75 each) Both these truly South African books were adapted from original African folklore tales and are beautifully illustrated by Claire Norden. The Lucky Leopard is a story about Lengau, a leopard being hunted for his skin. Children can read how the leopard and his friends outwit the hunters.

The Brave Little Penguin is a story about a baby penguin born on top of a mountain.

Follow him on his incredible journey as he first tries to find out what kind of animal he is, and then searches for his family.

Big Barn Farm: Farmyard Adventures Activity Book and Big Barn Farm: Go Go Gobo!

Colouring Book (Ladybird Books, R37 each) Children can join in the fun at the farm with exciting activities, crafts and games. At the end, they can build their own farm and play with the farmyard animals. Models are included for placing the animals on a big fold-out farm. There is also an obstaclecourse board game and a fun animal game for the whole family (complete with farmyard noises). The colouring book includes press-out farmyard animals to inspire little creative minds.

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for Grade 1 to Grade 3 Hello World!

By Manja Stojic

d

feature book

(Boxer Books, R122) People say “hello” all over the world, each and every day, in their own way. In this colourful book children can learn how to say “hello” in 43 different languages as children from many cultures greet each other. The languages featured in the book span the world from west to east – across the continents from the Americas to Australia. The greetings can be pronounced by using the phonetic spellings beneath each translation.

For example, the French word for hello is “bonjour”, which is pronounced {bohn-zhoor}.

This joyful book celebrates diversity while reminding us that a warm greeting can unite children everywhere.

Weather: Kingfisher Young Knowledge

By Caroline Harris (Macmillan Children’s Books, R95) Children can investigate the world of science with this remarkable series.

Photographs zoom in on intriguing details and fun projects provide plenty of opportunity to learn more, with activities for home and outdoors. In Weather children can find out about what weather actually is, all about world climates, how ice is formed and how to make a rainbow and sun dancer. Other books in this series include Rocks and Fossils, Oceans and Seas and Planet Earth.

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Big and Busy: How Things Go

By Roger Priddy (Priddy Books, R86) Children aged five and older can discover how engines work, aeroplanes fly, and submarines navigate our seas in this interactive hardcover book. There are plenty of flaps to lift to find out more. The explanations are clear and the photography and graphics are bold and bright. This book is perfect for helping with school projects and is a fun and enduring learning aid. The Big and Busy series will also help your children’s reading skills and encourage their imagination as they learn more about the world.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

By T.S. Eliot, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Faber and Faber, R166) Axel Scheffler has achieved worldwide acclaim for his illustrations of children’s books and has created many bestsellers, including the award-winning The Gruffalo.

This lovely new edition of T.S. Eliot’s beloved cat poems contains beautiful colour illustrations. Meet magical Mr Mistoffelees, Old Deuteronomy and Tum Tugger. Eliot’s playful cat poems have entertained readers ever since they were first published in 1939.

The lives of Mr Mistoffelees and others were originally composed for his godchildren, with Eliot posing as Old Possum himself. This is a wonderful book to introduce children to the fun of Eliot’s poems.

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more books... for preteens and teens pick of the month

Ask Me Anything Senior editor Julie Ferris (Penguin Group, R230) This book is packed with trivia, facts, fun and incredible information on just about everything you can think of.

Questions include: What’s the most dangerous spider?; How much would you weigh if you lived on Venus?; Where can you post letters under water?; Why does the earth quake?; Can animals talk?; and How many people live in cities? The book also reveals how to split an atom, assemble an orchestra, and tells readers what happens when astronauts fart in their spacesuits. The whole family will benefit from the facts found in this hardcover book.

Archie’s War – My Scrapbook of The First World War

By Marcia Williams (Walker Books, R248) This is a fictionalised autobiographical scrapbook charting the fortunes of the Albright family during the war years from 1914 to 1918. The story is told through the eyes of 10-yearold Archie Albright, whose uncle gave him a scrapbook.

Soon the empty pages are filled with characters Archie makes up, stories about his family and home in the East End of London, and the weird and wonderful souvenirs he collects. A few months later World War One breaks out and Archie’s world slowly starts to change. But he keeps on with his scrapbook, writing down all the events, even the terrible ones, that touch his life.

Children’s Atlas of World History

By Simon Adams (Macmillan Children’s Books, R150) This exciting atlas presents a fascinating picture of people and events through the ages. Featuring beautiful handillustrated maps and packed with information about nations, empires, religions and social changes, it is the perfect pictorial guide to the world’s human civilisations.

Discover cultural centres such as Babylon and Mecca, find your way to places in Persia, explore European monasteries and learn about people who worked the land and sailed the seas. In-depth features focus on topics such as the ancient Egyptians, the Aztecs, the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution. Use the picture symbols to find key sites, battle scenes, historic figures and details of everyday life.

It Happened Here First!

By Clive Gifford (Macmillan Children’s Books, R150) Our planet is home to thousands of trailblazing inventors, intrepid pioneers and daredevil record-breakers. This unique atlas pinpoints where more than 500 firsts from every field of endeavour – science and technology, exploration, sport, arts and entertainment – hit the headlines around the world. From the truly ground-breaking to the mind-bogglingly bizarre, it reveals which car was first to break the sound barrier, where Pelé scored his first goal, who first “walked” across the Atlantic Ocean, who won the first-ever Air Guitar World Championships, where the Wright brothers first took to the air, and much more.

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parenting books

Liking the Child You Love

By Dr Jeffrey Bernstein (Da Capo Press, R167) Are you exhausted by your children arguing over every little thing? Finally, there is a name for your feelings: Parent Frustration Syndrome (PFS). No child is perfect, but parents often don’t realise just how much their own thoughts, rather than their children’s behaviour, contribute to their being emotionally overwhelmed.

In Liking the Child You Love, renowned American psychologist Dr Jeffrey Bernstein offers proven strategies for taming the nine most common toxic thought patterns that prevent parents from parenting effectively.

101 Ways to get your Child to Read

By Patience Thomson (Barrington Stoke, R37,95) Some children need a lot of help if they’re ever going to learn to read. But what is the best way to help them? How can you get your child to read if she just doesn’t like books? And what if you don’t read much yourself? This book gives answers to these and other questions. It explains why your child needs to read and how you can help your dyslexic or struggling child grow to love books. Practical tips help parents and children understand reading problems and give solutions to these.

for us Don’t Tread On My Dreams

By Dora Taylor (Penguin Group, R153) Whether set in Cape Town, Johannesburg or on a remote farm, these short stories by Dora Taylor present a heartfelt sensitivity to the troubles of ordinary people during apartheid. Offering a historical record of the times, the book reveals the hopes and dreams of people of all races. Taylor was forced to leave South Africa in 1963, but she never gave up her fight to bring about change in South Africa. She was unable to return to her beloved Cape Town and died in exile in 1976. This book shows Taylor’s power of observation, which enables readers to draw alongside the stories’ subjects and offers insight into some of the tragic events of our country’s past.

19 with a Bullet

By Granger Korff (30° South Publishers, R250) This book is a fast-moving, action-packed account of Granger Korff’s two years’ service during 1980/81 with 1 Parachute Battalion at the height of the South African “bush war” in Namibia (South West Africa) and Angola. Apart from the standard counterinsurgency activities of Fireforce operations, ambushing and patrols, to contact and destroy SWAPO guerillas, he was involved in several massive South African Defence Force conventional crossborder operations such as Protea, Daisy and Ceiling into Angola to take on FAPLA (Angolan troops) and their Cuban and Soviet allies. It’s a riveting and emotional read.

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calendar

1 monday Imagination Movers premiere Get your preschoolers ready to move to the music. This dynamic new Playhouse Disney live-action series, starring the popular award-winning New Orleans band of the same name, introduces preschoolers to the Movers’ energetic rock ’n roll music style while emphasising creative problem solving skills. Starts at 7:20am on the Disney Channel (channel 304 on DStv) Gymboree Play and Music is reopening today in Newlands. Free parking available.

To enquire about Saturday classes and parties call Robyn. Time: Monday–Saturday, 9am–6pm. Venue: Piazza Level, Letterstedt House, Newlands on Main building, cnr Main Rd and Campground Rd. Cost: tbc. Contact: 083 448 8797 or visit gymboree.co.za 1 February – Imagination Movers premiere

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Collect-a-Can Artistic Expression competition Grade 1 to Grade 12 learners are required to interpret this year’s theme, which is Used Beverage Cans in Perfect Harmony with Nature, with a painting or drawing. Competition closes 31 May. Send your child’s painting or drawing with their age, grade level and school’s name to Janette Raath, Collect-a-Can, PO Box 30500, Kyalami, 1684. For more info: 011 466 2939 or visit collectacan.co.za La Leche League breastfeeding support groups Pregnant and nursing mothers are welcome to attend. Time: 10am. Cost: free entry. Venue: Panorama.

Contact Carol: 021 558 5319. The group also meets in Durbanville on 9 February at 10am. Contact Trudy: 021 913 2816 and in Parow on 17 February at 10am. Contact Dilshaad: 021 930 2475

Information Empowers! is a community based organisation that aims to educate South Africans about child sexual abuse, starting with residents on the Cape Flats. They have developed workshops and workbooks for children, teaching them about personal safety.

They also have identity profiling kits available, called smart kids’ kits, in the event that your child should go missing. Parents and caregivers who would like more information or documentation for themselves or their children, or have any questions or queries regarding child sexual abuse, should contact Norah: 083 225 9463, email norah@xsinet.co.za or visit informationempowers.org.za

2 tuesday Cinderella on Ice An ice dance spectacular that will wow the whole family. Ends 7 February. Time: varies, depending on date. Venue: Artscape Opera House. Cost: R100–R375. Book through Computicket: 083 915 800 or Artscape Dial-A-Seat: 021 421 7695 or visit computicket.co.za World of Birds Take your child to explore the aviaries of the largest bird park in Africa, which is set in a tropical garden in the Hout Bay valley. In support of their conservation cause, you can become a member, sponsor an aviary or adopt a bird or animal. Time: Monday–Sunday, 9am–5pm. Venue: Wildlife Sanctuary, Valley Rd, Hout Bay. Cost: adults R65 and children R39. Contact: 021 790 2730 or email info@worldofbirds.org.za Pregnancy yoga and mom and baby yoga Stretching, breathing, relaxation,

birth preparation, connecting to baby in the womb and after birth. Time: pregnancy yoga: Tuesday and Thursday, 6pm; Wednesday, 9am. Mom and baby yoga: Wednesday, 11am. Venue: Sunshine Health Academy, 2 Deer Park Dr, Vredehoek. Cost: R85 per class, R320 per month. Contact: 082 958 4801, email info@sunshinecolouracademy.com or visit sunshinecolouracademy.com Sugar and Spice Nanny Training starts today in Panorama and runs over four sessions. It covers first aid, safety and a childproof environment, routines, hygiene, nutrition, ways to childproof, and teaching simple games and activities.

Call to enquire about the nanny training in Green Point, Claremont and Noordhoek.

Time: 2pm–5pm, every Tuesday for four weeks.Venue: Panorama Breast Feeding Clinic. Contact Kirsten: 083 406 0028 or visit nannytraining.co.za

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PHOTOGRAPHS: COMSTOCKCOMPLETE.COM

what’s on in february

For a free listing, fax your event to 021 462 2680 or email it to lucille@childmag.co.za. Information must be received by 8 February for the March issue and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. Compiled by LUCILLE KEMP.

and planters. Time: 10am. Venue: Super Plants, 1 Link Rd, Bothasig. Cost: free.

Contact Marga: 021 558 0190

4 thursday

3 February – Tots n Pots

Planet Kids SuppAut group meeting for parents of children living on the autistic spectrum, ASD. Time: 7pm. Venue: Planet Kids, 3 Wherry Rd, Muizenberg. Cost: call to enquire. Contact: 021 788 3070 or email andy@planetkids.co.za

3 wednesday Tots n Pots is a fun, hands-on cooking and baking workshop dedicated to providing moms, dads or grannies with valuable time with their child. Today you’ll try your hand at making ham and cheese tarts. Enquire about their other courses on 10, 17 and 24 2 February – Pregnancy yoga and mom and baby yoga

February. Time: 2:30pm every Wednesday.

Venue: Daisies Coffee Shop, The Garden Centre, Doordrift Rd, Constantia. Cost: R80 per class, R480 for six weeks or R720 for nine weeks. Contact: 083 649 7405, email chene@totsnpots.com or visit totsnpots.com Talks held at Super Plants Today they talk about perennials, which are a fantastic investment for anybody who visualises having blooms and greenery for several consecutive years. Talks also on 10 February: Pest Analysis Control; 17 February: Is your soil’s PH correct?; 24 February: Raised beds

Recession depression buster Canal Walk comes to your rescue with a Centsable Shopper Savings book. Use it at participating stores to qualify for a discount or special offer; the book will be stamped with each purchase. When the savings book is full, receive your reward. To apply for your Cents-able Shopper Savings Book, visit the information desks at Canal Walk or contact: 021 529 9699. Alternatively, visit canalwalk.co.za for updated details of participating stores. Also, register for Canal Walk Kids World via the website.

Designed for children 5–12 years, you can receive the latest news on suitable events, movies and toys monthly

5 friday Up the Creek music festival Let the children run around barefoot for three days, exploring the festival with you. There are three stages and more than 30 live music and comedy acts. Children 13 years and younger enter free, children 14 years and older pay full price. Ends 7 February. Venue:

Swellendam. Cost: R150–R450. Contact: 021 510 0547, email info@upthecreek.co.za or visit upthecreek.co.za The Mama Bamba Way weekend workshop Birth preparation classes help to create an empowering birth experience.

Choose the weekend of 5−6 February or 13−14 February. Maximum seven couples per class. Enquire about Thursday evening birth preparation classes running until 11 March. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: The Long House, Dreyersdal Farm Rd, Bergvliet. Cost: R1 500 per couple. To book contact Robyn: 021 715 0525, 076 888 6551 or visit mamabamba.co.za

6 saturday Sunshine Saturdays South Africa’s top bands get your Saturday evening off to a great start. Food and drinks on sale.

Today Watershed is on stage. Kurt Darren performs on 13 February and Johnny Clegg on 20 February. There is plenty of space for younger children to play safely. Time: gate opens at 2pm; supporting act 3:30pm; main act 5pm. Venue: Wynberg Boys High School. Cost: R100 through Computicket, R120 at the gate, R50 for children under 12 years and free for children under three years. Contact Annie: 021 671 2589

What is happening at The Play Shed?

5 February Painting class for all ages Time: 11am–noon. Cost: R100, which includes paint, brushes and canvas, and an extra hour’s play before or after the class. The canvas can be taken home.

Block book for February for R325 14 February Children’s photographer Time: 10am–5pm. Cost: R150 for five photos and half hour free play. Book ahead to secure a place

Valentine’s Day party Time: 2pm–4pm. Cost: R100 (or R150 for two children) including a party pack, two hours play and a photo frame with photo. Venue: The Play Shed, Oude Molen Eco Village, Alexandra Rd, Pinelands. Contact: 021 801 0141, 074 196 2778 or email madre@iafrica.com In the previous issue there was a misprint of The Play Shed’s number. The correct number is 074 196 2778

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6 February – Farmhouse Rocks

First aid for parents Every first Saturday of the month, Nanny Training is offering a certified CPR and paediatric first aid workshop for parents. Call to enquire about their nanny training courses and child safety workshops at the Well Mother and Child Clinic in Rondebosch. Time: first aid course 9am–noon. Venue: Baby Grow Clinic, 2 Deer Park Rd, Vredehoek.

Cost: R250. Contact Karin: 072 972 2038, email info@supernannies.co.za or visit supernannies.co.za Farmhouse Rocks CODA performs their share of party-igniting songs. These Saturday sessions are a hit with families.

Visit their website for details of other acts on 13, 20 and 27 February. Time: gates open at 1:30pm; show starts at 3:30pm. Venue: Cape Farmhouse, of Junction M65 and M66, Redhill Rd, 3km past Scarborough.

Cost: adults R50, students R40, children under 12 free. Contact: 021 780 1246, email info@capefarmhouse.co.za or visit capefarmhouse.co.za Puppet Show Mania Regular puppet shows throughout the morning, with an array of characters and stories in each show. All puppet shows are interactive, educational and fun. Also balloon tricks and face-painting. Call to enquire about Valentine’s Day Fun on 13 February,

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February 2010

Enchanted Parties Theatre on 20 February and the Magic Show on 27 February.

Time: 10:30am–12:30pm.

Venue: The Bandstand, Noordhoek Farm Village.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 021 789 2812 or visit noordhoekvillage.co.za Build-A-Bear-Workshops® invite you to take part in their promotion “Party with Us”. If you book a Build-A-Bear Workshop® party for your child and five of their friends, each child will receive their own new furry friend plus a cool T-shirt. Offer is limited and ends 15 March. Time: book your date and time through their party line. Venue: a Build-A-Bear Workshop® near you. Cost: R600 for six friends. Contact: 08611 BEARS (08611 23277)

7 sunday Holistic Lifestyle Fair Investigate wholesome living on the first Sunday of every month with everything from holistic treatments to organic produce. There is a children’s playground. Dogs are also welcome. Time: 10am–4pm. Venue: Observatory Recreation Centre. Cost: adults R7, children under 16 free. Contact Erica: 021 788 8088 or 083 332 9785

7 February – Holistic Lifestyle Fair

Crafty Sandart parties and functions is offering sand art craft market workshops every weekend for boys and girls. Sand art gifts and kits for sale. Time: Saturday 9am–1pm; Sunday 10am–4pm. Venue: Saturday: Tokai produce market; Sunday: Hout Bay craft market. Cost: R20 per sand art card made. Contact Lana: 072 931 2344 or email sandarthoutbay@yahoo.com Train rides Get your children to Cape Town Market (Epping Market) on the first Sunday of every month for fun rides. Time: between 11am and 2pm. Venue: Cape Town Market. Cost: adults R10, children R5. For more info: visit ctmarket.co.za

8 monday Interior decorating for homemakers This six-week, part-time home decoration course begins today and teaches you how to apply the basic principles of design, enabling you to decorate and enhance your home with minimal effort and expense.

Advance booking essential. Time: every Monday, 6pm–8pm. Venue: Domestic Goddess Academy, Rosendal. Cost: R1 000 (if you take two friends you pay half price). To book: 073 887 7225 or for more info: 021 910 1746 (between 9am and 1pm), email uys@icon.co.za or visit lifestyleacademy.co.za Dress Red and spread the love Valentine’s Day is coming up soon giving you the chance to wear your heart on your sleeve and help the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa with their annual national Dress Red fundraising campaign.

It’s simple, buy a Dress Red “I love my heart” sticker for only R5 and wear red on Valentine’s Day. All funds raised will go towards their award-winning children’s programme, which provides free health education to over 2.1 million children from disadvantaged areas throughout South Africa. For further information on how to get your work or school involved in National Dress Red Day or to order your Dress Red “I love my heart” stickers contact: 021 447 4222 or visit dressred.co.za for more info and competition rules

9 tuesday Entries for the toddler’s leg of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour presented

by Bonaqua opens today. This 1.5km event is open to boys and girls under six years and takes place in Wynberg on 13 March.

The day promises to be a great day out for the whole family. For more info on cost and closing dates for registration, contact: 021 763 7960, email info@cycletour.co.za or visit tricycletour.co.za

10 wednesday Bonjour Paris World-class German brass quintet Harmonic Brass München presents their new programme − a musical sightseeing tour through Paris. Harmonic Brass travels around the globe playing almost 120 concerts a year with changing programmes. Time: 8pm. Venue: varies.

10 February, St George’s Cathedral, Queen Victoria Rd. 11 February, Endler Hall, University of Stellenbosch. Cost: R80–R100.

Book through Computicket: 011 340 8000, 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.co.za (also at Shoprite and Checkers outlets). For more info: visit harmonicbrass.de CPR and first aid classes with Cape Town Medi-Clinic The clinic also subsidises these courses. Also 13 February.

Time: Wednesday, 9am–2pm and Saturday, 9:30am–3:30pm. The course duration is approximately five hours long. Venue: 3rd floor, maternity lounge, Cape Town MediClinic. Cost: a discounted rate of R220 including two manuals. Contact Daniele: 084 593 2314, email danola@mweb.co.za or visit momsbabiesnannies.co.za

11 thursday 5th Darling Music Experience The music varies between classical and contemporary chamber music, popular choir works and jazz. For the children the organisers have introduced the DME Musical Rally, a fun event encouraging children “to use their ears as eyes”. Ends 14 February. Start times: Thursday, noon; Friday, 6:30pm; Saturday, 10am; Sunday, 9am. Venue: various wine estates, the local Presbyterian

Cape Town’s

12 February – Mixed media adult art classes

Church, village barns and a vlei. Cost: call to enquire. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Moms and Babes Claremont Join them for a fun-filled stimulation course with your baby aged 2–12 months. Time: 10am and 3pm. Venue: Claremont. Cost: R770 per term. Contact Di: 021 671 8690 Open day at Rustenburg Girls’ Junior School To find out more about enrolling your daughter for 2011, join them for an information morning. Also 25 February.

Time: 9:30am–10:30am. Venue: Main Rd, Rondebosch. Cost: free. For more info: email saranne@rgjs.org.za

12 friday Mixed media adult art classes introduce participants to the bare essentials of art making. Time: Friday, 9:30am– noon; Saturday, 10am–12:30pm. Venue: Kirstenhof. Cost: R180 per class for a five-week course. Contact: 021 702 0510, 083 472 8368 or visit art.co.za Live vibes Get to Highlands Road Estate and listen to a live guitarist while you sip wine under the willows. Time: every Friday, 5:30pm–8pm. Venue: Highlands Road Estate, 75 Highlands Rd, Elgin.

Cost: free entry. For more info: email highlandsroadestate.co.za

13 saturday Wiggle Waggle The Woefie-Wandel 3.5 km walk takes place today and promises to be just as good as the legendary SPCA Wiggle Waggle Walk. Popular children’s character Lollos will entertain the children after the walk and sponsor Purina has great giveaways and prizes on offer. Look out for other exhibitors and vendors as well as a great selection of food and pet product stalls and a dog agility display.

Time: registration on the day is 6am– 8:15am; walk starts at 8:30am. Venue: Hoërskool Tygerberg, Fairfield Road North, Parow. Cost: R25 per person or dog;

Kidz Playzone Need somewhere to take your child to play? Kidz Playzone is an indoor play centre and party venue ideal for children 1–12 years; it’s the largest of its kind in the northern suburbs. Arts and crafts are offered daily. Holiday programmes incorporate crafts, magic shows, balloon twisting workshops and cooking classes. Kidz Playzone also offers a drop and shop service at R60 per day − leave your children to play safely with the team while you shop or run errands. Venue: Durbanville Business Park, off Klipheuwel Rd, in Durbanville.

Contact Bev: 021 979 4872, 084 575 2546, email bev@kidzplayzone.co.za or visit kidzplayzone.co.za for play rates, information on its Kidz Club and various fun party options

Cape Town’s

13 February – Wiggle Waggle

children three years and under enter free.

Contact Juan: 021 700 4180 or email events@spca-ct.co.za Single Parent play dates on the second Saturday of each month. Meet other single parents in a relaxed space while your children enjoy themselves. Time: 4pm. Venue: Planet Kids, 3 Wherry Rd, Muizenberg.

Cost: adults free with every paying child.

Children 2–12 years: R30 for first hour or R50 for two hours. Cost for children under

two years calculated per month; call to enquire. Contact: 021 788 3070 or email andy@planetkids.co.za Sandcastle building competition Haul out your buckets and spades and head down to Hout Bay beach for the annual sandcastle competition and you’ll be making a difference to the lives of children. Funds raised go towards improving facilities and sponsoring underprivileged children at Valley Preprimary School, Sentinel High School in the Hout Bay harbour community and Little Lamb Crèche in Imizamo Yethu township. Time: registration 9am, competition 9:30am–1pm. Venue: Hout Bay beach. Cost: adults R30, children

13 February – Sandcastle competition

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St Luke’s Hospice St Luke’s Hospice is dedicated to providing holistic care for terminally ill patients. The hospice relies solely on the generosity of corporate donors and the general public to offer their service at no cost to the patients. These are some of their most popular projects and how you can help: 1. Charity shops: St Luke’s Hospice welcomes donations of clothing, books, bric-abrac or furniture that you no longer need. Contact Fazlin or Juanita: 021 761 1700 2. Online auction: Bid on brand new items and vouchers donated to St Luke’s.

For more info on how to register and how the website works, contact Colleen: 021 761 1700, email colleenz@stlukes.co.za or visit auction.stlukes.co.za/auction 3. Tree of Lights: This campaign gives companies the opportunity to donate a light in memory of loved ones who have passed away. For more info: visit stlukes.co.za 4. Million Rand Draw: Only 2 000 tickets are sold at R1 000 per entry. Tickets are currently being sold for the fifth Million Rand Draw, which will take place on Friday, 18 June. For a shot at winning this fabulous prize and more info, contact Colleen: 021 761 1700 or email colleenz@stlukes.co.za For more info on any events at St Luke’s Hospice, contact Megan: 021 797 5335 or email fundraising@stlukes.co.za R15. Corporate team fees and sponsorship fees for Sonwabili teams are R600. School teams competing in the interschool category pay R20 per person or R100 for teams of up to six people. Contact: 072 713 7394 or visit houtbaysandcastle.com Barleycorn music festival Join in the festivities of this annual music festival celebrating local talent. Food and drinks are available or bring a picnic. Remember your sunblock, umbrella, blanket, pillow, friends, family and dog! Face painting and jumping castle plus prizes are up for grabs. Time: 2pm–10pm. Venue: Rygersdal Sports Club, Erin Rd, Rondebosch. Cost: adults R60; members R50; learners R30; children under 12 free. Tickets available at regular Barleycorn gigs at Rygersdal every Monday from 8pm or at the festival. Contact: 082 493 1564 or visit barleycorn.org.za Montessori open morning Looking to continue your child’s Montessori education after preprimary? St Joseph’s Marist invites you to learn more about their school, tour the facilities and meet the teachers.

Time: 9:30am–11:30am. Venue: St Joseph’s Marist College, Belmont Rd, Rondebosch.

Cost: free. Contact Sheryl: 021 685 6715 or visit maristsj.co.za Meridian Hiking Club has an array of walks this month on every Saturday and Sunday, starting today. The walks are through various parts of Cape Town and surrounds, including Klein Drakenstein 17 February – Viaje Flamenco

Peak, Granger Bay, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Table Mountain.

Time: varies. Venue: varies. Cost: nonmembers R15 per hike. Members are reminded to bring their Wild Cards. For more info: visit merdian.org.za

14 sunday

St Valentine’s Day Love is in the air on Disney Channel with the Sprouse twins from The Suite Life on Deck or Selena Gomez of Wizards of Waverly Place fame and even Miley Cyrus’s Hannah Montana. Starts at 8:25am on Disney Channel (channel 304 on DStv) Valentine’s Day lunch special Relax, unwind, take in the majestic views while you and your loved one sip on a complimentary glass of champagne and indulge in a delicious meal. Bring along the children and let them bounce away on the jumping castle or play in the unique wigwam. Booking essential. Time: 11am– 5pm. Venue: Scarecrows, Hout Bay. Cost: call to enquire. Contact Natalie or Jayson: 021 790 0841, 087 802 5943 or email scarecrows.coffeeshop@gmail.com

15 monday Weekday winemaking Gather friends and family for a day of winemaking where you pick, de-stem, crush and press grapes in the traditional way. There are easy nature walks and a large area for the children to play in. A good idea for the holidays ahead: gather two or three families and take over the estate.

It’s a popular concept so be sure to

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Cape Town’s

16 February – Reader’s Warehouse

give Diana a call beforehand. Also, enquire about their weekend getaways throughout February. Time: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm. Venue: Dragonridge Winery, Fynbos Estate, Paardeberg Mountains, 15km outside Malmesbury. Cost: R500, which includes country lunch teas and tastings. Contact Diana: 022 487 1153, or for more info and reservations: email info@fynbosestate.co.za Blue train This miniature train ride is a blast for children as it makes its way around the open picnic area. Relax on a picnic blanket and enjoy some snacks as the children race the train or take a ride. Time: daily 9am–sunset, weather permitting.

Venue: Mouille Point Beachfront, Mouille Point. Cost: R8 per ride. Proceeds go towards charity. For group bookings and parties contact: 021 434 4297 or 072 383 8195 Handy Manny is back in a brand new season where he finds more neighbours to help and more problems to fix. Set in the multicultural community of Sheet Rock Hills, the story follows Manny Garcia, a friendly handyman who has a feisty and sometimes bickering set of talking tools.

Together, they eagerly assist neighbours by taking on their fix-it projects, no matter how big or small. Along the way, Manny and his friends discover problem-solving skills as part of Playhouse Disney’s mission to help children learn and grow up to be well-rounded adults. Time: 9am on Disney channel (channel 304 on DStv). For more info: visit disneytv.co.za

16 tuesday What is better than a bookstore? A book warehouse! Reader’s Warehouse is an independent discount book warehouse that indulges your love of books. It hosts children’s readings, author visits and book club get togethers. Expect regular book promotions and sales. Time: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm; Saturday, 9am–4pm; Sunday, and public holidays 9am–3pm. Venue: cnr Bark Rd and Main Rd, Tokai (opposite Builder’s Warehouse).

To get onto their mailing list, email info@readerswarehouse.co.za or learn more about Reader’s Warehouse and their store locations at readerswarehouse.co.za

17 wednesday La Rosa presents Viaje Flamenco (Flamenco Journey) The cultural history of flamenco is presented through Arabic, Indian, Sephardic, Iberian and African music, song and dance. Ends 21 February.

Time: varies according to date. Venue: Artscape Theatre. Cost: R95–R125. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000

18 thursday Sing it! Jannie Moolman teams up with Pop Idols contestant Brandon October to sing numbers by artists as diverse as Andrea Bocelli and Led Zeppelin. Ends 19 February.

Time: 8:15pm. Venue: Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, cnr Adam Tas Rd and Oude Libertas St, Stellenbosch. Cost: R110–R130. Contact: 021 809 7380 or email theatre@oudelibertas.co.za

15 February – Handy Manny

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The Parent Centre Moms to be and moms and babies group meets every Thursday to share information and experiences.

Time: 10am–noon. Venue: 2 nd floor, maternity section, Kingsbury Maternity Hospital, Wilderness Rd, Claremont. Cost: R35 including refreshments. Contact The Parent Centre: 021 762 0116, email zaiboe@theparentcentre.org.za or visit theparentcentre.org.za Got time to kill? Do a good deed and build your vocabulary by visiting FreeRice. The site challenges you with word quizzes and pledges to donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme for each answer you get right.

The words get harder the longer you play.

Visit freerice.com

Green tip of the month Find

needy

homes

or

charitable

organisations for things that you no longer need or want rather than throwing them away. The wish lists of these homes include school uniforms, sports equipment, bed linen, towels and curtains, study lamps, clothing, household accessories, furniture and computers. To motivate you to drive a short distance and drop off unwanted goods at these homes, instead of dumping

them

in

the

garbage,

19 friday

21 February – Sunday Island market

Natural and Organic Products Exhibition and The Women’s Show Learn about the latest healthy chemicalfree products for you and your baby at the Natural and Organic Products Exhibition, then stroll across to The Women’s Show and be entertained by top live performances, inspiring speakers, fashion shows and cooking demos. Time: Friday and Saturday, 10am–6pm; Sunday, 10am– 5pm. Venue: CTICC. Cost: R50 for access to both shows. Contact: 021 671 0935 or visit naturalandorganic.co.za and thewomensshow.co.za

20 saturday Sunshine Saturdays Johnny Clegg is on stage today. Time: gates open at 2pm; supporting act 3:30pm; main act 5pm.

Venue: Wynberg Boys High School. Cost: R100 through Computicket, R120 at the gate, R50 for children under 12, and free for children under three years. Contact Annie: 021 671 2589 or 082 994 0467 Enchanted Parties Theatre An exhilarating, interactive theatrical experience for children exposing them to different elements of the world around them including conservation, heritage and the magic of theatre and storytelling through the tale of a fairy lost on Table

Mountain trying to find her way home.

Magic tricks, singing and dancing are included. Time: 10:30am–12:30pm. Venue: The Bandstand, Noordhoek Farm Village.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 021 789 2812 or visit noordhoekvillage.co.za Reduce, reuse, recycle and play up a storm with what you have at home.

Fabulous ideas for three to seven year olds.

Time: 9am–10:15am. Venue: 11 Middleton Rd, Claremont. Cost: R70. Book through rlighton@mweb.co.za. For a variety of workshops on offer, visit: reneelighton.co.za Food and fête funfair day with arts and crafts stalls. Time: 9am–6pm. Venue: Milnerton Primary School, Zastron Rd, Milnerton. Cost: ride ticket R50, non-ride

consider this: • It takes a computer approximately 1 700 years to decompose.

• Aluminium takes up to 500 years to decompose.

• Plastic takes about 500 years before it starts decomposing. Plastic furniture and kitchenware will be welcomed by a charity organisation.

• Depending on the fibre of material, in some cases it can take hundreds of

23 tuesday

years before cloth is decomposed.

Visit charitysa.co.za to see which charitable organisations are in your area.

February 2010

Sunday Island market is the city’s first indoor design and lifestyle market featuring up and coming fashion, jewellery and interior design plus a series of lifestyle exhibitions and activities. There is a supervised children’s play area where little ones can have fun while parents browse. Time: 10am–2pm. Venue: 1st and 2nd floor, Northgate Island, on the N1 next to Ysterplaat Airforce Base and alongside the M5. Cost: free entry. For more info: visit sundayislandmarket.co.za.

To enquire about exhibiting your work, contact Ulna: 076 074 0970 or email islandmarket@ymail.com

Adult enrichment at Bergvliet High You’re never too old to learn, so why not sign up for a course or learn a new language.

For more information on courses during the first school term, contact: 021 712 0979, email kathy.miles@ananzi.co.za, get info from selected libraries and the school’s foyer or visit bhs.org.za

to decompose.

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21 sunday

22 monday

• Golf balls can take up to 1 000 years

The site also shows their wish lists

ticket R10. For more info and to book a stall contact Gale: 021 555 2796, 082 920 5166 or email stormhyd@telkomsa.net

19 February – Natural and Organic Products Exhibition

Wildlife photographer of the year exhibition The 95 award-winning nature photographs from across the globe are showcased locally until 13 March. Time:

Cape Town’s

10am–5pm. Venue: Iziko Museum, Queen Victoria Rd. Cost: adults R15, children under 16 free. Contact: 021 481 3800 Parentz Chatz Interactive, tried and tested tips and ideas for moms who want to be more organised. Also, call to enquire about the Zeal for Life four-week Family Programme. Time: 10am–noon.

Venue: Earth Café, Parklands. Cost: R60.

Contact Angelique: 082 453 4313 or email angelique@equalzeal.com Brum Series 3 starts today Brum is a yellow car who’s also a superhero. He zooms into the Big Town and always saves the day by performing amazing stunts and fearless feats, whether he is rescuing the crazy residents of Big Town from mischief and mayhem or capturing hapless baddies. Time: 7:20am and 3:20pm daily on CBeebies (channel 306 on DStv)

24 wednesday My own hand print! is the theme of today’s Tots n Pots cooking class. Time: every Wednesday at 2:30pm. Venue: Daisies Coffee Shop, The Garden Centre, Doordrift Rd, Constantia. Cost: R80 per class, R480 for six weeks or R720 for nine weeks. Contact: 083 649 7405 Learn CPR and save a life Paediatric nursing sister Lee-Ann White runs a CPR course for parents, child minders and au 25 February – Tyger Valley Kids Expo

Cape Town’s

pairs. Discovery Health Members earn Vitality Points for attending. Booking is essential. Time: 10am–noon. Venue: Pinelands. Cost: R200. Contact Lee-Ann: 021 531 4182 or 072 283 7132

25 thursday Tyger Valley Kids Expo South Africa’s leading service providers in the child entertainment industry are under one roof to provide you with a plethora of party ideas. On show will be party décor, cakes and jumping castles to help create the perfect party for your child. Ends 28 February. Time: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9am–7pm; Sunday, 9am–5pm.

Venue: Tyger Valley Centre. Cost: free. For more info: email info@tygervalley.co.za or visit tygervalley.co.za Stodels is hosting a talk by Tanya Visser on gardening 2010. Discount vouchers are available. Tea is served. Seats are limited so arrive early. Time: doors close at 10am at Bellville and 1pm at Milnerton. Venue: Belville, Eversdal Rd; Milnerton, Racecourse Rd. Cost: free entry.

Contact Belville branch: 021 919 1106 or Milnerton branch: 021 528 4000

26 friday Design Indaba Attend the expo for a shot of creative inspiration. Buy from designers or attend fashion shows, short films and talks. See exhibitions featuring advertising, architecture, craft, décor, film, fashion, graphic design, interior design, jewellery, new media, publishing, product design and visual media. Ends 28 February. Time: Friday and Saturday 10am–8pm; Sunday 10am–6pm. Venue: CTICC. Cost: adults R50; learners in uniform and children under 12 years R20. Contact Kim: 021 465 9966 Artjamming workshops at the Design Indaba Artjamming hosts children’s one hour workshops at the Design Indaba, where they teach budding little artists all about famous artists and their techniques. Ends 28 February. Time: 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm daily. Venue: CTICC.

26 February – The Canal Walk Bridal Fair

Cost: R200, including all materials. Places are limited so booking is essential. Contact: 021 462 1168 or for more details visit artjamming.co.za The Constantia Waldorf night market is held on the last Friday of every month during school term. This is a lively new meeting place for the community offering everything from children’s activities, arts and crafts and a disco for 12–15 year olds to live music. You can also buy fresh produce and attend holistic workshops. (If you manage to get the magazine in time you may be able to attend their first market on 29 January).

Time: 5pm–9pm, the last Friday of every month. Venue: Constantia Waldorf School, Constantia Valley. Cost: free entry. For more info contact John: 082 631 0421 or Lexi: 082 785 1159 to book a stall at the market

Cost: free entry. Contact Cheryl Wade Events: 021 914 2852, 083 456 2879 or email cheryl@cwe.co.za Robertson Wine Valley’s Hands-on Harvest festival offers wine enthusiasts a chance to experience the magic of harvest for a day. Ends 28 February. Start time: Friday 10am, Saturday 7am and Sunday 10am. Venue: Robertson Wine Valley. Cost: varies from free to R300 according to the activitiess. Contact Elizma: 023 626 3167, email manager@robertsonwinevalley.com or visit handsonharvest.com

The Canal Walk Bridal Fair will help you create the perfect wedding day. Take in the displays throughout the centre.

Fabulous prizes are up for grabs in the Win your Gown competition.

Brides-to-be can stand a chance to win one of five gorgeous designer gowns to the value of more than R50 000. Ends 28 February. Time: Friday–Sunday, 9am–9pm. Venue: Canal Walk.

the world’s best flying dragon. Time: every Saturday and Sunday at noon. Venue: Iziko Planetarium, 25 Queen Victoria Rd. Cost: adults R20, children R6. For more info: 021 481 3900/3800 or email info@iziko.org.za Full moon picnic at Paarl Mountain Bring a picnic or buy one at the restaurant on-site. Remember to bring a torch. No dogs or fires are allowed.

Time: 5pm–10pm. Venue: Taal Monument

27 saturday Astronomy for under 10s In Davy Dragon’s Guide to the Night Sky, your child can learn all about the sky while Davy tries to fulfil his dream of becoming

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on Paarl Mountain. Cost: R12. Contact: 021 872 3441 or visit taalmonument.co.za Spier Harvest Festival In celebration of the annual grape harvest, the lawns at the renowned wine estate are transformed with games for children, fine wine products and wine tastings as well as harvest foods on offer. Time: 10am. Venue: Spier Wine Estate. Cost: R50. Contact: visit spier.co.za Saturday circus classes Every Saturday children aged 7–12 are welcome to play in the Zip Zap circus tent. They are led in warm-up games and do stretching exercises.

Children get the freedom to play and learn in a safe and encouraging environment.

No auditions are necessary. Time: 10am–

2pm. Venue: Founders Garden, Jan Smuts Ave, Cape Town CBD. Cost: free. Contact: 021 421 8622 or email info@zip-zap.co.za Get to Nitida’s “Degustazione” farmers’ market for a real sense of community, something different and exciting to eat and fun things for the children to do. Time: 7:30am on the last Saturday of every month. Venue: Nitida Wine Farm, Durbanville. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 021 976 1467

28 sunday The Vintage Fair indulges you in some of your favourite pastimes. Snap up a bargain and grab a bite. Time: 10am–3pm. Venue:

Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock. Cost: free entry. Contact: email afdaks@gmail.com Kids Adventure Race includes a 3km cycle, a 1.5km run and a tube leg. Each child receives a goody bag and a lucky number for the spot prizes. Time: 10am–1:30pm.

Venue: Oak Valley Estate, Grabouw. Cost: R80 pre-entry, R100 late entry. Contact Beryl: 072 853 5802 or visit juniar.co.za Kirstenbosch craft market There are 180 stalls of arts and crafts, food and delicacies and attractions for the children.

Time: 9am–3pm. Venue: grounds of the Kirstenbosch Stone Cottages, opposite the main entrance to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. Cost: free. Contact: 021 799 8800

28 February – Kids Adventure Race

family marketplace

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partytime

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it’s

party time

continued...

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last laugh

things my sons have taught me

Joe, Sam and Benj

i

recently realised that I have been a parent for over a decade. Hurrah! And while I wait in vain for someone, anyone (is that woman from the Health Department who popped in on day four never coming back?) to appear with some sort of trophy, I find myself musing over the things my sons have taught me over the past 10 years, and how appallingly these outnumber the things they have learnt from me.

I know it’s true for you too… go on, think about what you thought life was going to be like before you had children and what you know it’s like now. Chalk and cheese, isn’t it? And don’t you just love that?

Here’s a quick list of the top 10 things my sons have taught me – please feel free to email in your own lists, so we can all compare.

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Before my sons, I had no idea… …that comic books could be so profoundly educational, until Josef asked me if I thought it was a good idea that the government moved from the RDP to GEAR. Viva Zapiro and Madam & Eve, viva! And thank you to my brother Quent, who sneakily left his stash of compilations in the boys’ bookshelf before heading North. …that primary schoolboys’ shoes – regardless of their extramural obligations – last a maximum of 9,2 weeks, and that no amount of cajoling, shining, buffing and repair will make it otherwise. Ditto long pants and socks. …that people could sleep with their limbs so impossibly entangled. Andreas and I do not sleep snuggled together, so it was a big surprise to find out that, despite each having his own room equipped with a bunk bed, my boys insist on sleeping like many-limbed creatures in half a bed.

Actually, I love that and often sneak in to check out their latest configuration.

…that a child can literally survive on buttered toast alone for weeks.

And then nonchalantly announce that he loves salmon maki despite never, in anyone’s recollection, having been offered any before. …that cats, even those with really deep, soulful green eyes, really don’t like green jelly. Even if you put it out in the good china. …that anyone could actually understand Yu-Gi-Oh! well enough to play a complete game of it. (Hell, I am impressed enough that I can spell it, and I am not even 100% sure I got it right.) I thought Yu-GiOh! was to children what the series Lost is to grown-ups... fun for a year or so, but at its heart, bewilderingly confusing.

Apparently not. …that it is possible to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ on two recorders at the same time, without any significant drop in proficiency. While impressed, I am holding back my unreserved admiration for when someone manages it on the clarinet.

…that while you and I walk into a lounge and see a couch, a coffee table and two rugs, primary school boys see a trampoline, a secret fort and an assortment of top places to hide all the Marie Biscuits, individually. And that despite what one would consider a limited number of variations on this theme, one will never unearth all the Maries. Ever. …that a mother’s kiss really does heal a bumped knee. I thought it was just something mothers said. I didn’t know that they really meant it and that it really works.

And finally, I didn’t know that a son’s quick, caring smile can cut through a bad day. Just like that. Actually, let’s push out the schmaltz-boat... I didn’t know that each and every smile and eye-lock from my child is the single most wonderful thing that ever happened to me.

Now. Over to you.

Sam Wilson is the Editor-in-Chief of Women24, Parent24 and Food24 and, as far as she can tell, the only person over 35 on MXit.

Cape Town’s

PHOTOGRAPH: Andreas SpÄth

SAM WILSON has found the mentors in her children.