Child magazine | CPT September 2014

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

spring

into action tastes of italy

a family culinary getaway

recycling

made easy for schools

antihistamines are they safe for children?

also in this issue www.childmag.co.za

September 2014

free

is the low carb, high fat diet for you? a short guide to cricket (for moms) family-friendly rides and runs common reasons for speech therapy

health

education

entertainment

Hunter House PUB L IS H ING

September is a great month to find the fun.

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

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Marc de Chazal • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Lucille Kemp • capetown@childmag.co.za

It comes easily to children, but adults seem to forget what it means to “go and play”. At a recent routine medical checkup, my doctor asked me what I do for fun. “Well, I go to Pilates twice a week, run on the treadmill every so often… um, walk the dogs.” With an annoyingly knowing look, she replied, “Let me ask you again, what do you do for fun?”

And there it was – the sad state of my seriously fun-lacking life laid bare. What seemed to come so naturally to me as a child has been shelved, hidden by more important work, community and parenting pursuits. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but over the years the serious side of life

Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Art Designers Nikki-leigh Piper • studio@childmag.co.za Mark Vincer • studio3@childmag.co.za Louise Topping • studio@childmag.co.za

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

Client Relations Lisa Waterloo • ctsales@childmag.co.za

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PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: BROOKE FASANI

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

Child magazine Online

childmag.co.za Online Content Manager Marc de Chazal • online@childmag.co.za

Cape Town’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 7, Canterbury Studios, 35 Wesley Street, Gardens, Cape Town. Tel: 021 465 6093, fax: 021 462 2680, email: info@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 Child magazineTM. We welcome submissions

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has clouded the lighter side, leaving little room for spontaneity. Clearly, it’s time for a change, and this issue may be just what I need to put a spring in my step, thanks to our features editor. In “follow the crowd” (p 22), Marc has found the fun for me in the form of group fun runs and bike rides that encourage spontaneous exercise purely for the fun of it – and they’re free. Just what the doctor ordered.

I hope you find loads of inspiration in this issue to get out there and enjoy yourself.

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September 2014

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contents september 2014

22 health

upfront

9 little wonder drug antihistamines

3 a note from lisa 5 over to you readers respond

are still the safest, most effective option to relieve allergy symptoms.

By Marina Zietsman

regulars

features 7 rethink recycling Tamlyn Vincent shares tips on how schools can get in on the “going green” action

14 against the grain everyone is talking about the Banting diet. Lucille Kemp explains how it works

16 comfort objects Donna Cobban observes why some children form lingering attachments to lifeless objects

18 experiencing the tastes of italy Catherine Janse van Rensburg went on a gastronomic getaway to the home of pizza and pasta with her family

20 fabulous farm food winner of MasterChef Australia season five, Emma Dean, shares delicious, fresh recipes from her new book

22 follow the crowd Marc de Chazal points you in the direction of fun, free group activities where you can get outdoors and get fit

24 a short guide to cricket the laws of the game can be intricate.

Greg Castle explains them in layman’s terms

8 upfront with paul it can be quite a balancing act for parents to be fair in a home with more than one child, says Paul Kerton

10 pregnancy news – it’s raining love Tamlyn Vincent looks at the relevance of baby showers

11 best for baby – mind the gap Marina Zietsman discusses the procedures to fix so-called tongue-tie and lip-tie in babies

12 dealing with difference – words don’t come easy children may need speech therapy for a host of reasons. Marc de Chazal speaks to some experts

26 resource – to your door... consult these experts when things get out of hand at home. Compiled by Lucille Kemp

30 a good read for the whole family 32 what’s on in september 42 finishing touch Cassandra Shaw’s household has learnt that early morning is great for bonding

classified ads 39 family marketplace 40 let’s party

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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September 2014

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

Sarah-Jane Photography sarahjanephotography.co.za

Joli Jacqueline Photography facebook.com/ jolijacquelinephotography

Mr Price mrp.com

Tara Kelly Photography tarakelly.co.za

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letters

over to you thanks for your support Thank you for the invaluable contribution and assistance in The Sunflower Fund’s first children’s colouringin competition and Miss Sunflower Beauty Pageant in association with N1 City Mall in Cape Town. Your support and commitment towards this campaign is greatly appreciated. All proceeds will be used to pay for potential donors to be included on the South African Bone Marrow Registry and will directly give more hope to children and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia. Thank you so much for being prepared to “Share a Little, Save a Life”.

Janine le Roux and Rachel Kotu – The Sunflower Fund On behalf of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, a big thank you to Child magazine Cape Town for your kind gesture of advertising our four-day book sale, which took place at Canal Walk from 26 to 29 June, at no cost to our society. We value your assistance greatly. Because of your generosity and support we raised a total of R73 985, which is a 16% increase when compared to last year. The funds raised will touch the lives of many animals from all communities of the Western Cape, more so than any other social benefit organisation – from

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Let us know what’s on your mind. Send your letters or comments to marina@childmag.co.za or PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010.

thousands of indigent people who use our services, to the corporates who call us to rescue an animal in distress and the thousands of school children who we teach weekly. We also hope that the awareness that was created during the event will inspire more people to make a difference to the lives of animals. Just this past year more than 100 000 animals have come through our doors and that is why the assistance we receive from organisations like yours is so vital to allow us to continue the work that we do.

Natasha Johannes – Fundraising officer, Cape of Good Hope SPCA

the other side of miscarriage In response to the article “living with loss” (August 2014), I would like to ask: what happens if the miscarriage is prevented? Most parents, including myself, when going through a miscarriage would beg the doctor to save the baby, and of course, everything is then done to stop the loss. But early in my career I became aware of what life is like for the little ones who are pushed to survive. I was a teacher at a special needs school for children who desperately struggled through life. I

was shocked to discover that almost 95% of the children’s mothers were threatened by a possible miscarriage.

Modern medicine may have saved their babies from dying in the womb, but possibly not from a worse fate; often these children die at a young age. I’m not sure what the right or ethical thing is to do, but the doctor should at least warn a parent that by interfering with nature, they might be setting their child up for a life full of disability and hardship.

Anonymous

what’s next?

I thought the article on “wireless hazards” (August 2014) was poorly written. Leaning away from science with fearmongering could deprive children of the magic of the internet. What is next? Vaccines cause autism?

Stephen Childmag says We always try to strike an objective balance when tackling a contentious topic, which we believe Glynis did in her article about the potential health risks of Wi-Fi to children – the jury is still out. Internet connectivity was never the issue, just doing so via Wi-Fi.

September 2014

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letters

your voice on childmag.co.za “gaining with gaming” Games can be a wonderful tool – both educational and entertaining. We just need to ensure they are ageappropriate and don’t expose children to harmful content.

Anonymous “how family pets can benefit your children” We just adopted a two-year-old Yorkshire terrier who is playful, lovable and fully house-trained. We wanted a pet for our seven-year-old foster child who is involved with social workers and attorneys during our difficult adoption case. He was having nightmares almost every night and would crawl into our bed. Since the dog joined our household, our little boy’s nightmares have lessened considerably and he has even stayed in his own bed for most nights. He continuously says, “I just love Teddy.”

Anonymous “learning digitally” The links mentioned in the feature are simply superb. You’ll get lost for a few hours as you take a digital stroll through the fascinating pockets of information.

Juliet “why do people cheat?”

I had an affair more than eight years ago. I was 30, married for four years and we just had our first baby. My husband

Follow us on twitter.com/ChildMag, facebook.com/childmag.co.za and pinterest.com/childmagazine

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September 2014

was a good husband and did not deserve what I did. The pain, hurt and betrayal I have caused him is indescribable.

He is trying to forgive me and we, only through this process, have discovered how we lived passed each other for so many years. I have tried to explain my actions based on my needs not being met, but I made the wrong decision. If there is anyone considering an affair, I plead with you not to do it.

Speak to your partner. I wish I could turn back time.

Anonymous “dyspraxia: out of step” My nine-year-old son has dyspraxia. Professionals suspected it, but only as a symptom of ADD. As I did more research, I realised that he has dyspraxia with ADD as a symptom. Why don’t professionals recognise dyspraxia as a disorder? Now I know why ADD medication never worked and why he did not act like other ADD children.

Amanda “overcoming dyslexia” I am a parent of a nine-year-old girl. She has struggled since she started school. She attended OT, speech therapy, extra maths and English lessons, had her eyes and hearing tested, and eventually she had an educational assessment. She was then diagnosed as being dyslexic. I find it strange that her independent school with all those therapists could not pick this up, especially since she swapped her “b” and “d” and struggled to concentrate.

We were advised to admit her to a remedial school. I put my foot down. She is not a slow learner and I just could not bear to take her away from her friends. Then we found a programme called Edublox. Why do schools and therapists point parents to the remedial route if programmes such as Edublox can help a child with dyslexia? Please try Edublox, as this may be the answer you are looking for.

Samantha Ferreira “prepare for takeoff” We recently flew long haul and had mixed experiences. We discovered there are two options for under two year olds: a seat with a five-point harness, which our toddler could not get comfortable in, and a glorified box, which was too small for her, but easier to cover with a blanket to reduce disturbance. We could not find any changing facilities, and the flight attendants all disappeared to sleep at night, so my advice is to ask for anything you may need in advance.

Anonymous Childmag says We recommend that you always check that your chosen airline meets your family’s needs prior to booking. subscribe to our newsletter and win Our wins have moved online. Please subscribe to our newsletter and enter our weekly competitions.

To subscribe, visit childmag.co.za

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.

Post a comment online at childmag.co.za

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education

rethink recycling

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

s

TAMLYN VINCENT looks at how schools can do their bit for the environment.

eptember is all about getting people involved by making a difference to our environment. There’s Recycling Day, Arbor Week, coastal cleanups and many more initiatives for everyone to pitch in and help out.

But how can schools get more involved and work to ensure recycling becomes part of their culture? make it easy Making recycling accessible means that children won’t have to go out of their way to do it. Place recycling bins outside the tuckshop, or put an e-waste bin in the computer room. If children bring in paper or plastic, get the recycling collected from the classroom once a week. turn it into a competition If it’s fun, chances are it will keep children interested. So, have inter-class or inter-grade competitions to see who can bring in the most recycling. It needn’t be the same every month either. Find out what local community projects need, such as plastic bottles, bottle tops or wire for crafts, and get children to bring these items to school. use it for fundraising Put your recycling to good use by having an upcycling market. Each class, or groups within each class, can make items from recycling and then sell them.

The opportunities are endless: you can make birdfeeders from plastic bottles, mats from old T-shirts, baskets from paper or vases from cans. Children can also get creative and make art from junk. You may like to theme the exhibition to

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create awareness, such as a save-the-ocean theme, where children work with plastic bags and other items polluting the ocean. Once the class, grade or school has enough art, host an exhibition evening and ask visitors to make donations. make something useful Recycled items can be put to good use in and outside the classrooms. Upcycled cans become pencil holders or pots for plants. Plastic milk bottles can be turned into containers for stationery, old tyres can become chairs or swings, and there are plenty of creative ways to use recycling for storage. use it to help others Many community projects rely on donations of specific items, so that they can create usable products to sell. Charities such as Cotlands encourage people to make toys from recycled goods, and donate the toys to orphanages, crèches or other places in need. Turn this into a class project by getting children to make toys from recycling they’ve collected. For ideas on how to make these toys, visit cotlands.org.za/get-involved/

25 500

the average number of minutes a plastic bag is used the number of years it can take for a plastic bag to disintegrate

initiatives, days and projects • Rethink the Bag encourages people to stop using plastic bags that are only going to be used once and then thrown away. Greyton in the Western Cape has embraced this philosophy and has become a bag-free town. Visit rethinkthebag.org • Recycling Day is dedicated to recycling: Visit recyclingday-sa.co.za • Beach, river or dam cleanups are a way for children to learn about nature, while helping to save it. You can join in an organised cleanup or take the class on an educational outing to an area that needs cleaning up. Visit cleanup-sa.co.za • Get involved in Arbor Day, Arbor Week and Arbor month by planting and maintaining indigenous trees in South Africa. Visit greenworks.co.za/ arborday.html

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upfront with paul

spreading the love It’s not easy to be fair and even-handed in a family with more than one child

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September 2014

responsibility for their own actions. An older daughter or son rightly gets peeved when the youngest is allowed a sleepover three years before the eldest was ever entrusted with the privilege; or when the six year old wants the same cellphone that the eldest had waited 12 years to get. The very fact that technology is moving at such a pace and is readily accessible means that younger children are copying elder siblings and becoming technologically savvy at a frighteningly early age.

What I found difficult to explain to my youngest is that just because we buy X a dress or a bike, doesn’t mean that Y has to get one at the same time. They may get one, but not right now. All children need more or less the same things, but at different stages. “Patience” and the concept of “your time will come” are alien concepts to a four year old seeking instant gratification.

They want something NOW and trying to explain the concept of “fairness over time” is tough: “Saskia didn’t get anything last

weekend when you got new shoes, so now it is her turn.” Luckily younger children have no concept of value or worth so you can easily fob them off with something that is eminently cheaper than a new bike – such as a fairy cake – although this simple blackmailing technique loses its potency as they get older and begin to understand pricing and get better at maths.

Failure to spread the love properly can capsize a well-balanced family unit if you allow it to get lopsided, so you need to be strong and consistent in your judgement and resolve. You can drive yourself nuts if you try and react to all their crazy demands and any accusations of favouritism. But in a world where “stuff” and “possessions” speak louder than emotions, it is easy to forget that above all the bikes, new dresses and fancy holidays, it is a hug and knowing that you love them and are there for them that really counts for something.

Pull that off and you’ve cracked it.

Follow Paul on Twitter: @fabdad1

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ILLUSTRATION: MARK VINCER

o

ne of the most difficult things as a parent of more than one child is spreading the love (and money, and time, and opportunities, and food, and things) evenly between the brood. It is a seemingly impossible task to be fair to everyone, certainly at the younger end, but this gets easier as they get older and are able to reason.

My take is that provided you spread the love (and money) evenly between the two or more children over a prolonged time frame you are doing well. If you can look back over the year and think, “Well, X got a new bike and Y went to Switzerland on a school skiing trip, and Z got a bigger ‘designer’ bedroom,” then you have achieved a certain balance. Nobody – whether it’s the children themselves or friends, grandparents, ex-partners looking in – can complain, and you can sleep well.

This is tricky when they are younger and have yet to develop that all-important reasoning faculty, and a sense of

in it, but we need to be consistent. By PAUL KERTON

little

wonder drug

Antihistamines help to alleviate allergy symptoms, but are they safe for children?

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

MARINA ZIETSMAN finds out.

a

t any given time of the year, many South Africans suffer from severe allergies, specifically allergic rhinitis, when their nasal airways become inflamed.

Whether caused by pollen, dust or certain animals, allergic rhinitis can be a debilitating condition, affecting the quality of life for sufferers. Because of the common occurrence of these allergy symptoms, many parents rely on antihistamines to relieve the symptoms. “They are recommended by physicians as the first line of therapy for childhood allergies, especially seasonal allergies,” says Dr Adrian Morris from the Allergy Clinic Cape Town and principal allergist at Surrey Allergy Clinic in the UK.

how they work The body produces histamines to attack allergens, but these histamines cause sneezing, watery eyes, itching and congestion. Antihistamines in turn counter the histamines that our bodies produce. They can be taken as tablets, syrups, nasal sprays or eye drops. Antihistamines are also divided into categories according to how long they’ve been on the market – first-, second- and third-generation antihistamines. “First-generation antihistamines are the older, sedating types of antihistamine that need frequent dosing throughout the day and can make children ‘bad tempered’,” says Morris. Second-generation antihistamines are less sedating, and according to Morris they are even safe to take during pregnancy and when breast-feeding.

Morris’ first recommendation, however, is third-generation, non-sedating antihistamines.

how harmless are they?

Morris says most antihistamines can be used by toddlers as young as one year old, and even babies can be administered a reduced dose, but he warns that apart from drowsiness, most first-generation antihistamines

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health can cause weight gain, a dry mouth, urine retention, headaches, muscle spasms and confusion in some children.

“Third-generation antihistamines are well tolerated, and though there are no absolute contraindications to their use, they should be used with caution in children with severe heart disease, liver and kidney disease, epilepsy and porphyria.”

Morris also points out that third-generation antihistamines can help to prevent allergies, not just treat symptoms. “Certain European clinical trials have shown that they slow the progression from eczema to asthma,” he says. “The Early Treatment of the Atopic Child (ETAC) group conducted a study that supports their recommendation for using antihistamines for 18 months from age six months to 2 years old on a daily basis to prevent allergies in highallergy-risk children.”

the bottom line There is nothing quite as effective as antihistamines for seasonal allergies. Inhaled steroid sprays work, says Morris, but need to be used continuously and may cause thrush. “Oral steroids should not be used for prolonged periods in children as they may stunt growth, cause cataracts, glaucoma and infections and even trigger stomach ulcers and diabetes,” he adds. “Homeopathy, herbal treatments and acupuncture seem less effective and results of international clinical studies have been disappointing.” He adds that antihistamines have a good safety profile, that they are almost all available over the counter without prescription and there are very good generics available in South Africa. “They should, however, only be used at the recommended dose and if prolonged use is needed (more than a few weeks), a doctor should review the symptoms to check that the antihistamine is the most appropriate treatment,” he concludes.

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pregnancy news

it’s raining love Whether you’re planning a trendy shower or a quiet sprinkle, baby showers should

t

he food and drinks table decor is pink and white.

So are the food and drinks. My friend balances gifts on what little is left of her lap, opening each to a chorus of “oohs” and “aahs”. At my own baby shower – a fun but anxious event – I was terrible at guessing who gave what. Why do we need to guess, anyway? And do we really need all those clothes, gadgets and toys?

Traditionally, baby showers were an opportunity to give advice and help new parents prepare, but with today’s parents often waiting until they can afford everything, is it still necessary?

taking account Baby showers can be expensive. Tarryn Livsey, an event and party organiser from Durban, says that showers can cost between R3 000 and R10 000. That price tag is for everything from invitations and favours to food and drinks, and the event planner, but baby shower presents can be valuable. One mom, Adele, says she received baby things that others had found useful. “I got goodies that lasted pretty much throughout my daughter’s first year,” adds Adele, commenting that her surprise shower made her feel special at a time when she felt uncomfortable. Knowing that your baby is loved and supported by friends and family is an invaluable gift for a new mom.

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top trends Livsey says baby showers are getting bigger as social circles expand and the traditional baby shower is being reinvented. “Themes are a big focus,” says Livsey, with novelty cakes and other decorative touches being added.

Occasionally fathers-to-be have man-showers, a braai or drinks where mates bring nappies. An international trend is the sip-and-see, held after a baby is born, where friends and family meet the baby and drink champagne. For those who don’t believe in throwing baby showers before a child is born, this is one way to celebrate.

Gender reveal parties are also popular. Instead of telling you the gender, your doctor writes it on a piece of paper, which you give to your baker, who bakes a pink or blue cake accordingly, covered with neutral icing.

The couple, close family and friends find out the gender together when they cut into the cake. Alys, a mom who found out this way, said she wanted it to be a surprise, and the gender reveal party became a special memory. They wanted a boy, so were thrilled to see a blue cake, but Alys would have been just as excited had it been pink. If you do have your heart set on a particular gender, however, you may want to find out privately.

Showers for second or third children are on the rise, especially if you’re expecting a different gender, says Livsey. Fay, mom to a son and daughter, says it’s normal among her friends to have a meal and presents for second children. Most of her presents were clothes and all included something for her older child. If second- or thirdtime moms do have everything they need, but still want to celebrate, host a sprinkle – a smaller shower where guests aren’t expected to give as much.

Baby showers can be tailored to suit a budget and the mom-to-be, whether it’s a themed shower or a quiet sip-andsee. Regardless of how you celebrate, the most value comes from celebrating the new arrival and in offering support.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

be about helping new moms prepare for the journey. By TAMLYN VINCENT

best for baby

mind the gap Babies who struggle with breast-feeding may require a common dental procedure to fix what is known as a tonguetie or lip-tie. MARINA ZIETSMAN takes a closer look.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

grew up with a slightly long maxillary labial frenum (the tiny muscle in the mouth that attaches the lips to the gum). Inevitably this forced a gap between my two front teeth. In my early 20s, my wisdom teeth were removed, and as an added “bonus” so was this small obstacle. Recently I asked my mom why this procedure was not done years earlier, sparing me from “the gap”. Her nonchalant answer was that it was a nightmare to get me to the dentist, “and besides, people with a gap between their front teeth are considered lucky…” I’m waiting patiently for my ship to come in, but should something have been done about this when I was a baby?

big word, small problem “A frenum is a band of fibrous tissue situated in various sites of the mouth,”

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explains Dr Meenakshi Iyer, a Pretoria dentist with a special interest in paediatric dentistry. “The frenum in the upper lip and the frenum under the tongue are usually the ones causing problems,” says Iyer. “In the upper jaw it attaches the lips/cheek to the gums and the lingual frenum attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth.” With an abnormal frenum the lip and tongue can have very limited mobility, depending on the severity of the attachment. Iyer says these conditions are sometimes referred to as a lip-tie and a tongue-tie.

teeth erupt, the upper incisors maintain a gap, or midline-diastema, because of the frenum’s attachment. It’s also difficult to brush teeth properly in these cases, so tooth decay can set in.”

A severe tongue-tie can also be detrimental. “It has an effect on breastfeeding, as a baby with a tongue-tie cannot create a proper seal around the mother’s nipple, resulting in painful nipples for the mom and the baby’s failure to thrive. Depending on the severity, swallowing and speech are also affected. Some children even struggle to lick ice-cream,” says Iyer.

why it needs to be fixed Iyer says both are developmental abnormalities and are usually not associated with other developmental problems, “but a heavy lip-tie can result in speech impediment and difficulty smiling.

Also, as a child grows and the permanent

the procedure An obstructive lingual frenum is usually “snipped” without any problems before the infant is four months old. With older children the frenum has developed and surgery becomes necessary (scalpel or laser). “The

healing time with the laser removal is quicker, but there is a certain recovery period and associated pain with both procedures.” Iyer says the final decision to remove the frenum depends on individual cases.

signs of lip- or tonguetie in your baby • reflux or colic • difficulty latching (breast or bottle) • gumming or chewing nipples (when breast-feeding) • gas • not gaining weight • excessive drooling • choking when drinking • releasing the breast or bottle to gasp for air

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dealing with difference

words don’t come easy Mastering speech and language is an important life skill, but many children require speech therapy to overcome stumbling blocks.

i

t can be rather endearing to hear a young child mispronounce a word or come up with a truly toddleresque way of saying something. After all, young children are still learning to express themselves. Eventually, if all goes well, they will master speech and language so they can effectively communicate with others. It’s a really important life skill, so it goes without saying that any developmental problems affecting your child’s speech should be checked out and appropriate therapy prescribed where necessary.

Children with conditions such as autism or who have cognitive and other developmental delays often require speech therapy, but let’s focus our attention on the typically developing child to find out what potential problems may hide in the wings.

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September 2014

Five-year-old Samantha* was referred to speech therapy by her class teacher because of her lisp and possible auditory processing difficulties, which is not unusual for typically developing children.

A child with a lisp will often substitute “th” for “s” when articulating a word – they will say “yeth” rather than “yes”. Samantha’s mom, Wendy*, says her daughter went to speech therapy for a year and her lisp was fully remediated. There was also a marked improvement in Samantha’s ability to follow more complex verbal instructions, thanks to sensory integration occupational therapy and auditory processing therapy.

According to Joburg-based speech and language therapist Mandy Skinner, many children like Samantha have difficulties other than special needs conditions that require her assistance. She explains that magazine cape town

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

MARC DE CHAZAL speaks to some experts.

some of the common difficulties children encounter include fluency difficulties (such as stuttering), and language delays (when a child develops speech and language skills slower than their peers). By the age of five or six years old, your child’s speech should be fluent, even if he occasionally reverses sounds or is still developing the “s”, “r” and “th” sounds. Children with auditory processing difficulties, on the other hand, find it difficult to understand speech in noisy environments, follow directions and discriminate between similar-sounding speech sounds, says Skinner.

elephant in the room It’s true that nowadays there is a greater awareness of speech and language development in our schools than in the past, but teachers and parents still overlook difficulties and their indicators or they are misdiagnosed. “The child is often labelled as lazy, naughty, hyperactive, rude or shy in these instances,” says Skinner.

Cape Town-based speech and language therapist Catherine Barry agrees. “Children who have difficulties communicating are often very frustrated, and this can lead to challenging behaviour,” she adds. “In typically developing children, difficulties with social interaction and social skills, delayed play skills or poor listening skills are often not seen as areas that require intervention, or parents are just unsure how to develop these skills and where to find help. But they are essential building blocks for effective communication.”

Your first port of call if your child is struggling in this area is to visit a qualified audiologist. Once any hearing problems have been ruled out, a speech therapist can begin to form a more comprehensive picture of what’s likely going on by means of interviews with the parents, standardised tests and consultations with any other professionals involved.

“Once we have a clear profile of the child and have a baseline to measure progress, therapy begins,” explains Barry.

“This usually takes place once or twice a week for half an hour at a time. Parents, grandparents, nannies and au pairs often sit in on the sessions so that the therapy targets and skills can be practised at home. The type of therapy depends on the age of the child and the nature and severity of the difficulties. Much of the time,

therapy is based on play with specific aims and activities planned for each session incorporated into play or games.”

how you can help There are a number of things you can do at home to help your child’s speech and language development.

Nursery rhymes are important for developing auditory discrimination skills and lay the foundation for reading and spelling skills. “Sing nursery rhymes with your child.

It’s important that he sings the words rather than makes them up,” says Barry.

Reading with your child is an excellent way to develop listening and language skills.

“Read books with a small amount of print and lots of pictures at first,” advises Barry.

“Repetition is very helpful.” As they get older, progress to books with more print and start conversations around the book’s topic.

Model listening behaviour by looking at your child when he speaks, listen actively and respond appropriately. Try to make time to focus on your child each day without the distractions of TV and household chores.

“You can also develop sequencing and planning skills by talking your child through an everyday sequence such as making a sandwich,” explains Barry.

Play empowers your child. “Communication skills overlap with play and social interaction skills,” points out Barry, “and play provides multiple and varied opportunities for learning.

Through play a child will be able to observe, explore, reflect and discover, as well as work through certain emotions.” Provide enough stimulating resources appropriate to your child’s age and stage of development.

Develop expressive language by encouraging your child to tell you rather than show you. Also, add to what your child says by repeating then expanding on it, says Barry. Child: “Mommy go shop.”

Adult: “Mommy is going to the shop.”

And remember that your child will need to hear a new word in various situations before they fully understand its meaning.

Just don’t bombard your young child with too much language – give them time to process and respond. “When you take your child to the shops, talk about what you are seeing and doing so that they learn to make a connection between the word they hear and what they observe happening,” says Barry. *Names have been changed.

indicators that your child needs speech therapy • • • • •

Your child is saying fewer words, phrases or sentences than his/her peers.

You cannot understand what your child is saying.

Your child does not understand what you are saying.

Your child has difficulty remembering things that you say.

Your child has multiple, involuntary dysfluencies in their speech, such as sound and/or syllable repetitions (“l-l-like this”; “li-li-like this”); prolonged sounds (“llllllike this”); or blocks (“l---ike this”).

Source: Mandy Skinner

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September 2014

13

a against

the grain

Prof Tim Noakes has been the passionate mouthpiece in South Africa for low-carb high-fat living, and garnered as much opposition as support.

LUCILLE KEMP explains the eating plan.

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low-carb diet is nothing new. It first came into prominence in 1863 when William Banting wrote about his weight loss on a diet of mostly meat and greens that excluded sugar and starch.

Renowned UCT professor of sport science and exercise Tim Noakes’ discovery of the Banting diet, or the low-carb, high-fat (LCHF) lifestyle, came from a personal need to improve his health. He specifically wanted to find an eating plan that would address his carbohydrate resistant needs and relieve his pre-diabetic symptoms. It worked for him and he has been researching the topic ever since, launching the Noakes Foundation to fund independent studies into low-carbohydrate nutrition.

Not able to ignore the drastic improvement in his health and fitness thanks to a LCHF lifestyle, Noakes became outspoken on the topic as he came to believe that we really should not be consuming so many carbs.

Dietician Rael Koping agrees saying, “Many people are not able to tolerate the level of carb intake that the modern diet advises, so their body overproduces insulin, which effectively locks the metabolism in the storage cycle.” This storage spells weight gain and compromised health.

what to expect Let’s face it, a diet that is low in carbs, moderate in protein, high in fat and considered healthy probably seems contradictory to most of us, but the way Swedish doctor Andreas Eenfeldt describes it, it doesn’t seem like such an outrageous notion. “You’ll eat meat, fish, eggs, vegetables growing above ground and natural fats such as butter, and you’ll avoid sugar and starchy foods; you’ll eat when you’re hungry until you are satisfied; you won’t count calories and you’ll forget about industrially produced low-fat products.”

In Noakes’ book The Real Meal Revolution, pregnant women are also considered. “Particularly good LCHF

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

health

foods to eat during pregnancy include liver, meat, fish, eggs, chicken, game and duck.”

The LCHF foods are good quality, so you eat whole foods, never processed, prepacked or wrapped. This means for breakfast on-the-run, buy an apple not a cereal bar.

Noakes calls the eating plan a lifestyle change in that your food preferences and eating patterns will be transformed. There’ll be no 3pm slumps or need for cheat days. Though you may feel it in the beginning as you wean yourself off carbs and sugary products, this eating plan won’t leave you feeling deprived. You’ll become a dab hand at reading food labels – glycaemic carbohydrate, total sugars and modified corn starch will all be under the spotlight, and you’ll be planning ahead skilfully, from making sure your fridge is always stocked with the right ingredients to packing rescue foods such as cheese, nuts, olives and biltong. This is especially necessary when you’re new to the diet and still used to quick fixing hunger with carbs.

how it works Quite simply, in the absence of carbs the body burns fat for fuel and you lose weight. Eenfeldt says LCHF works because when you avoid sugar and starch your bloodsugar stabilises and the levels of insulin, the fat storing hormone, drop. While many dieticians are reluctant to prescribe a LCHF lifestyle because it still needs to stand the test of a long-term trial, they do agree on reducing carbs. Paediatric dietician Claire McHugh says her hyperactive and overweight young patients are almost always found to be eating lots of refined carbohydrates.

The high-fat part of the eating plan satisfies in a way that a low-fat diet doesn’t, says Noakes, making it sustainable. This is a huge plus for a family; the tasty menu makes it easier to train your children to replace pastries, sweets and processed foods with healthy options.

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the benefits

is it for your family?

South Africans have adopted this eating plan in their droves and describe it as the easiest way to lose weight because they don’t feel hungry. “Taking hunger away is a huge factor in weight loss,” says Noakes. Cape Town-based dad, Andy Milne, 41, decided to do a public 100-day test of the low-carb high-fat diet, with a team of doctors tracking his progress. At eight weeks his feedback included “significant weight loss with a body shape better than it’s been in 15 years.” If you have an overweight child and have tried everything with little success, LCHF would certainly be worth investigating with a dietician, especially as the low-carb high-fat principles already have their place among children through the Ketogenic diet, an effective treatment for autism and epilepsy.

Dr Russell Thomson, who assesses LCHF eating, notes that it seems to benefit those who suffer from metabolic syndrome, diabetes and carb intolerance. The aspect of the diet that cuts out grains, such as wheat, has been a revelation for many. Dr William Davis, an American cardiologist and author of Wheat Belly, says when he asked his patients to eliminate wheat, including whole grains, which increases blood sugar more than most other foods, the results included weight loss, improved cholesterol values and reduced blood pressure. Low-carb eating during pregnancy protects against the risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes as long as, according to Noakes, “there is sufficient fluid and intake from protein, healthy fats and nutritious vegetables.”

Many have adopted the LCHF lifestyle simply because they have sought more satisfying food to eat, my healthconscious friend being one. She reports running her fastest times ever and finally losing those “stubborn two kilos” – something years on a low-fat, somewhat bleached, diet couldn’t do.

Consult your GP and dietician first and consider each family member’s medical requirements before starting on the eating plan. Noakes explains that people digest carbs differently – the more carbohydrate resistant you are, the stricter you must be; if not, then the occasional sweet potato is allowed.

Although there is more evidence that sugary and starchy foods are responsible for raising the cholesterol that may cause heart disease, there is still a fear that eating all the fat that a LCHF lifestyle requires can’t be good for you.

However, while one of Noakes’ biggest opponents, Prof Lionel Opie of UCT’s Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, can’t vouch for the long-term benefits of LCHF eating, he isn’t able to ignore how effective the diet is for weight loss and recommends going on the LCHF eating plan for a short period of time. Whatever LCHF eating lacks in proof it certainly makes up for in relevance – the testimonies of those who’ve experienced life-changing results on the eating plan can’t be passed up easily by those seeking the same change.

The discerning parent in you requires you to assess the need for change in your home, research both sides of the LCHF debate, ask your healthcare practitioner probing questions, and, if you see it as a viable avenue, adopt a willingness to try.

you may be carbohydrate resistant if: • Y ou feel sleepy two hours or less after eating a sugary or starchy meal/snack • You tend to gain weight around your middle • You feel hungry when you don’t need more food • You get irritable, restless or anxious before dinner • You are very hungry first thing in the morning

September 2014

15

your child’s life

comfort objects

DONNA COBBAN explores the reasons why many children form lingering attachments to inanimate things, such as a beloved blanket

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or a tattered stuffed animal.

obin was five when her granny took her on a road trip from Pietermaritzburg to Harare in a little grey Beetle, whose slow progress eventually met with success and they spent a happy week there. On the return journey they stopped off at Great Zimbabwe, a distance of some 250 kilometres from Harare. It was here that the young Robin discovered the alarming absence of her beloved blanket. Her grandmother, realising the gravity of the situation, swung that old Beetle right around and headed straight back to Harare, no questions asked and no convincing needed.

Over 40 years have since passed, but Robin still feels a rush of gratitude towards her late grandmother for understanding, without question, just how important that blanket was to her. She remembers the emotional attachment as if it was yesterday. “I was totally inseparable from that little tartan blanket. I could not go to sleep without it. I loved the feel and smell of it. If I was sad, I went to my room and lay on my bed holding my blanket next to my face and everything in the world felt safer and better. I was totally beside myself if I had to sleep without it.”

While most of us grow out of the need to rub a softened piece of fabric against our face or to clutch a teddy bear tightly while we sleep, some of us do not easily move away from our object of affection.

The day her grandmother returned to Harare to fetch the blanket was also the day the blanket was cut in half; one half was held in a safe place, while Robin kept the other half nearby. Robin goes on to explain that she only managed to detach herself from the extremely worn out half-bit of blanket when she was 14 years old – she believes this delayed ability to part with her comfort object was due to growing levels of internal anxiety that she eventually, in the absence of her blanket, treated with an ever-increasing alcohol dependency. Robin stresses that this is her own personal perspective on her early blanket attachment and later alcohol dependence.

Others I speak to tell of fine fleecy blankets rubbed softly against noses, the enhanced awareness of which seems to make them more aware of their own children’s experiences.

In the case of Emma, her eldest son ignored objects of replaceable affection, but her middle boy developed an obsession with the soft muslin cloths she used to wipe up daily spills. He refers to them as “munnies” and in times of tiredness and distress is easily comforted by the proximity of one.

There seems to be no telling pattern within families – one child will develop an attachment, another child won’t. Certainly the dogged determination in some children to remain attached has caused some consternation in adults over the years.

Donald Winnicott, an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst working largely in the middle of the last century, is regarded as the expert voice on what he came to name “transitional objects”. He believed that there was a “space” within a person’s psychic and external reality, which he called the “transitional space”. He believed that in this space one could find the “transitional object”. Winnicott went on to describe these transitional objects as the infant’s first real possessions, which gave the infant warmth, texture or something that shows it has a vitality or reality of its own.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

attachment issues

Pauline Mawson, a Joburg-based clinical psychologist, says that “transitional objects are vitally important in the child’s psychological as well as mental and physical development.” She also points out that transitional objects are common in babies, toddlers and even older children. “They are generally considered a source of comfort when the primary caregiver is not available and teach the baby, toddler or child self-soothing and coping techniques,” says Mawson.

I have often wondered why as a child I was firmly attached to my transitional object while my own son has never bothered with a similar devotion to any of his inanimate furry friends. “Some children carry their object around with them, others are happy to just use the object from time to time,” explains Mawson. This may depend on a variety of factors, some of which may include the type of relationship (or attachment) they have with their primary caregiver and what’s happening in the environment around them. Mawson says that exposure to trauma may also result in an increased attachment, but this is largely dependent on an individual’s coping mechanisms.

in transit While most of us grow out of the need to rub a softened piece of fabric against our face or to clutch a teddy bear tightly while we sleep, some of us, as Robin earlier conceded in her own case, do not easily move away from our object of affection. If your child is particularly fond of their transitional object and struggles to “grow out of it”, Mawson suggests that you explore what is keeping your child so attached to the object, as it can be traumatic to just take it away. Families may need the help of a professional to assist with this. Eventually, learning to cope without the transitional object is part of a normal developmental process, explains Mawson.

While most children slowly grow out of their objects of deep affection, some have them removed suddenly. Perhaps a well-meaning adult has had enough of the filthy creature whose ears are eternally sodden and whose fur is stiffly matted. In my case a London cab took off with my transitional object still inside the vehicle – a small red and white rabbit of no real consequence to the finder, but the loss of which felt so severe that my childhood years were eternally wracked with the loss. I would remember him over Sunday lunch, at a friend’s birthday party, or while out walking in the bush with my grandmother.

While I soon got used to the weight of his loss, his abrupt absence from my life informed many emotions to come. I wish to this day he had not been lost, but I am grateful for the emotional wherewithal learnt over the years… perhaps now making the comings and goings of life in adult years somewhat easier.

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September 2014

17

getaway

experiencing the

tastes of italy Stunning scenery, historic locations and, most of all, deliciously flavourful food – CATHERINE JANSE VAN RENSBURG

e left on a very long flight to Europe with our daughter, Nina. Being under two she didn’t pay for a ticket, something which worked considerably in our favour – along with the fact that her vocab and expression of her own opinion is still pretty limited.

And so began our family adventure to Italy with my sister and her husband.

We landed in Pisa, loaded up the bags in our rental car and headed straight for the Leaning Tower. I literally gasped as we rounded the corner and the tower came into view – a feeling of awe that I was to experience over and over again.

Our first night was in Lucca – a beautiful, medieval walled town in Tuscany.

Our first mission was to find pizza, wine and gelato. The next day’s mission was more challenging – a 15km hike with a toddler. We got up early and headed to La Spezia, where we boarded a train and were soon winding our way along the picturesque Italian Revere, to Cinque Terra, an area of rugged coastline between five remote seaside villages. My husband was amazing and carried Nina in the backpack, which worked well. The walk was longer and harder than expected, but the views were breathtaking and we finished with a swim in the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

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By now everyone was over pizza and we were ready for some real Tuscan cuisine and a change of pace. We rented a beautiful villa on a working farm, Podere Magione, near San Gimignano in Tuscany.

Our farm-style kitchen with shutters and terracotta floors, bathed in late summer sun, was the perfect setting for all sorts of culinary experiments. Peter (my brotherin-law, an avid chef in his spare time) treated us to homemade spinach and

prosciutto, Parmesan cheese, basil pesto, salad greens, mozzarella balls and fresh figs. We lathered this with balsamic vinegar and olive oil – produce from the farm where we were staying.

One of my favourite memories from our trip was eating in the garden overlooking the Tuscan countryside of sprawling hills, villas, vineyards and vegetable gardens.

While we spent afternoons cooking or sprawled out on the lawn basking in the

I literally gasped as we rounded the corner and the tower came into sight – a feeling of awe that I was to experience over and over again. ricotta ravioli. He also made mushroom risotto from local chanterelle, porcini and oyster mushrooms and a really delicious carpaccio salad. We had tortellini (pasta stuffed with meat) one night and gnocchi another. Gnocchi are soft dumplings made from potato flour, which I covered with a rich tomato sauce and Parmesan shavings. I also made caprese salad for the first time, by layering slices of juicy vine tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil pesto and olive oil. For lunch we always had a spread of warm Tuscan bread, which has a thin crust and soft centre,

summer sun, Nina was happy with a big bowl of water and a collection of containers and spoons – her own café on the grass, from which she served us copious cups of leaf tea and flower soups.

My sister and I spent hours walking through the Tuscan farmlands. None of the farms have boundary fences and we felt quite safe wandering along the footpaths and fields. Being the end of summer, the fruit trees were laden with fruit and the vines were thick with bunches of red grapes, ready for harvest. I was charmed and inspired by the number of vegetable gardens, brimming

with aubergines, tomatoes, artichokes, herbs and courgettes. I saw our neighbour harvesting a basketful of courgette flowers from her garden early one morning. I later discovered that these flowers make a popular starter – either stuffed or fried in batter.

The local co-op was the best place to buy most food, as it offered a wide range of fresh food at reliable prices. One of my favourite things to do in a new country is check out the supermarkets. In Italy the fresh produce is similar to South Africa, as the climate is much the same. I was, however, intrigued by the choice of classic Italian foods such as mozzarella, pastas, Parma hams and pestos. Almonds are used in many of the biscuits and cakes, such as biscotti and panforte – a dense cake made with almonds, raisins, cinnamon and cloves. The range of completely different wine cultivars was also a novelty.

We visited a few markets where farmers sell fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, cured meats, cheeses, baked goods and even seafood. Italians eat a lot of pork. They make thinly sliced, dry cured Parma ham from pigs that are fattened on the whey left over from making Parmesan cheese. Porchetta, or roasted pork, is also sliced and stuffed into fresh rolls, something we tried at

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PHOTOGRAPHS: CATHERINE & ernst JANSE VAN RENSBURG

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describes her family’s culinary journey through Italy.

Opposite page: The farm-style kitchen in San Gimignano, Tuscany, bathed in late summer sun. This page, from left to right: Juicy caprese salad with local fare; Nina shares a gelato with Mom; the Leaning Tower of Pisa; Nina took part in culinary walks backpack-style; Nina was especially keen on pizza.

one of these markets. The locals found my blue-eyed, blonde haired daughter fascinating and all stopped to say “bella bambina” (pretty little girl) and give her bits of food, which she loved. She ate most of what we ate and was especially keen on the pizza. I always had snacks in my bag for when we ate late or the food wasn’t toddler-friendly. Popping into a corner shop for a banana and some yoghurt was a quick meal for Nina, when I was desperate.

We didn’t have to lug our camp cot to Italy as all three places we stayed at provided one (on request). We could use the extra baggage allowance to bring home a few bottles of Tuscan wine, which we are looking forward to sharing with our wine club. We went wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano. A delightfully flamboyant Italian character, Luigi, was the presenter.

The last 13 generations of his family have been making wine at this farm for over 300 years. Having just had lunch at our villa, we were greeted with a four-course food-andwine pairing. Luigi was very persuasive and we couldn’t say no to his mama’s lasagne – so we ate and drank on. The Tuscan region is known for its white wine, Vernaccia, and a red wine, Chianti, made from the Sangiovese grape. Interestingly, Chianti pairs well with tomato, which is

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used in many Italian dishes. We started with an antipasto of cheeses and cold meats. Next was ribollita – a Tuscan soup made from bread, beans and vegetables and then Luigi’s mama’s lasagne (say it with an accent). Dessert was a generous bowl of almond biscotti served with sweet wine, for dipping. Nina was remarkably well behaved. Perhaps the wine took the edge off my stress, but she was happy enough to sit in her high chair next to me,

My sister and I, with a craving for all things Italian, loads of enthusiasm, limited ingredients and absolutely no recipe, embarked on making it. We mixed 700g of mascarpone cheese and half a bottle of sweet wine with a little sugar. We then soaked a huge bag of boudoir biscuits in mugs of rich Italian coffee. We layered these mixtures with a slab of grated dark chocolate and coco powder and set it in the freezer. It was

Our farm-style kitchen with shutters, terracotta floors, bathed in late summer sun, was the perfect setting for all sorts of culinary experiments. sip her water like a connoisseur, scribble all over my tasting notes and then explore my handbag and cellphone.

After rolling home from our wine tasting experience, Peter insisted we keep to our scheduled braai that evening and, given the menu, none of us could refuse. It was beef carpaccio with rocket and Parmesan salad for starters. We also braaied marinated pork ribs and made our own version of Italian braai broodjies with ciabatta, basil pesto, mozzarella and tomato. The dessert won my heart – a huge bowl of homemade tiramisu.

so completely delicious that my husband had two huge helpings and couldn’t face gelato in Siena the next day, which says a lot.

Pizza was the most cost-effective way to eat on the go in the bigger towns. We had pizza in Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Florence and Rome. We would get takeaway pizza and treats from a bakery and then find a park or patch of grass to sit and eat, where Nina could run around and get rid of some energy.

We stayed at the Salvation Army Hotel in Rome, which was clean, central and

by far the cheapest option. As travelling parents, we had to adjust and do some things differently from home. For instance, none of the accommodation had baths, so Nina bathed in basins. Toddler behaviour is not predictable, but we found that Nina was generally interested in all the activity going on around her. Although she was sometimes stretched in terms of her normal routine, I think the new experiences were good for her. Being on holiday we had more time and emotional energy for her, which she thrived on, and her vocab improved considerably over the two weeks.

We made the most of our short stop in Rome, which has to be my favourite city in the world. In one day we saw Vatican City, St Peter’s Church, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the ancient ruins, and took the audio tour of the Colosseum, had a picnic lunch in a park and enjoyed dinner in a charming Italian pizzeria. Ironically, if it wasn’t for Nina we would never have seen the Sistine Chapel. Having her with us, we were allowed to skip the 900m queue, which would otherwise have taken hours.

Thanks to our travelling toddler, we were able to see Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, another highlight that I’ll remember forever. Travelling with little ones has its benefits.

September 2014

19

book extract

fabulous farm food

Bring local produce to your table with these delicious, earthy recipes from EMMA DEAN’s A Homegrown Table.

mussels my way serves 2 ingredients • 1 eschalot (shallot), peeled, sliced • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon olive oil

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method 1. Heat a wok or a wide pan over mediumlow heat. Sauté the eschalot and garlic in the olive oil. Add the chilli and sauté for a minute or two.

2. Add the mussels and samphire. Turn the heat up and add the white wine. Put a lid on and shake the pan while still on the heat. As soon as the mussels open, remove the pan from the heat – this should take only a few minutes. Take out all mussels that haven’t opened and discard. Toss in the parsley and butter and serve with freshly baked bread.

baked farm eggs with wild mushrooms, spinach and parmesan serves 4 ingredients • 2 knobs butter • 250g wild mushrooms • ½ bunch English spinach leaves • 1 clove garlic, to taste • salt and pepper, to taste • 150g thickened cream • 4 eggs • 4 large shaves parmesan (about 35g) • 4 tablespoons tomato kasundi (optional) method 1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC. 2. In a deep frying pan, heat the butter and sauté the wild mushrooms with the spinach.

Pierce the garlic clove with your fork and use the fork to stir in the mushrooms and spinach together, to give a hint of garlic.

Cook until wilted and season to taste.

3. Splash in the cream.

4. Pour the mixture into individual ovenproof pans or ramekins or across the bottom of one ovenproof dish. Crack the eggs on top.

Bake for 10 minutes or until the egg white is cooked and the yolk is still runny. You may have to watch this carefully so it doesn’t overcook.

5. Once they are ready, remove the ramekins from the oven and add the parmesan shaves over each egg.

Serve with a dollop of tomato kasundi on top.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: sue stubbs

• ½–1cm long red fresh chilli, deseeded and chopped • 1kg mussels • few handfuls of samphire, if you can find it • 1 cup white wine • 2 handfuls flat-leafed parsley, chopped • 2 tablespoons butter, to serve • 1 loaf freshly baked bread, to serve

honey thyme cake serves 10

ingredients • 90g butter, melted • 4 eggs • 185g caster (superfine) sugar • zest of 2 lemons • 60ml cream • 90g self-raising flour, sifted topping • 2 cups flaked almonds • 90g butter • 90g caster (superfine) sugar • 60ml cream • 2 tablespoons honey • 2 heaped teaspoons fresh thyme leaves method 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Grease and line a deep 20cm round pan.

2. Beat the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until thick and pale. Using a spatula, fold in the lemon zest, butter and cream in batches. Fold in the flour. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 40 minutes until firm in the centre.

3. When the cake is nearly ready, make the almond topping by combining all the ingredients in a saucepan.

4. Stir over a medium heat and bring to the boil. Turn off the heat and pour the hot mixture over the top of the cake.

5. Put the cake back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the topping turns golden.

Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the tin.

6. Once cool, remove the cake from the tin and place on a serving plate. This is fabulous with whipped cream.

about the book With over 80 nourishing recipes, Emma Dean combines the familiar with the unusual in A Homegrown Table (New Holland Publishers). This collection of recipes showcases different cuts of meat, heirloom vegetables and wild greens with her farmto-table approach to food. Her book proves that seasonal produce, treated with love, will always be the most delicious. A Homegrown Table is available at all good bookstores for R330.

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September 2014

21

how to

follow the

crowd Get out, get fit and have fun.

MARC DE CHAZAL lists some spontaneous outdoor activities happening in your community.

getting started Social media and word of mouth are probably the best ways to find out about group activities that you can take part in with your child. Before you do, however, ask yourself what you’d like to get out of the activity. Do you want to connect with like-minded people? Do you want to get fit? Do you want to do something fun with your child in a non-competitive environment? There seems little point if you’re not having fun.

Besides the fun factor, you should also consider the age-appropriateness of the activity; fitness levels required, especially if your child is running; and safety. If you’re cycling or skating, ensure everyone in your family always wears a helmet.

for runners Parkrun is a free, weekly 5km timed run that caters for people of every ability. It’s an easy, safe run you can do at your own pace with your child. There are currently 33 Parkrun locations around South Africa, including Big Bay in Cape Town. Because the runs are timed the organisers request that participants register once-off, and that parents or guardians register children if they would like them to receive a time.

“We heard about Parkrun and I thought it would be something fun for us to do together,” says Chris Haynes, who regularly takes part in Parkruns with seven-year-old Sam. “My son enjoys the vibe and it’s not competitive at all – he can stop when he’s tired and walk. Sam ran his first one when he was five. At first he was the only child his age, but now some of his friends from school join us.”

Jenna van der Merwe, a Durban-based biokineticist and one of the organisers of the North Beach Parkrun, says they are primarily a family fun walk or run.

“Participants must remember that it’s not a race, but a fun event open to all. Children from six can participate, but with an adult at their side,” says Van der Merwe.

Parkruns are for everyone, irrespective of speed, so you can walk the routes if you want to. They do permit moms and dads pushing children in buggies to run at the back of the pack.

PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock / BRENDA GARTH-DAVIS

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ome things are a lot more fun to do in a group than to go it alone. There are a number of popup outdoor activities drawing thousands of enthusiasts around the country, which you can participate in with your child. The beauty of these informal events is that you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to take part, they’re free and beginners are welcome. If you have a bicycle, running shoes, rollerblades or a longboard, you can join the happy masses of young and old as they peddle, jog or skate their way around your city.

Parkrun

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for skaters Skaters weren’t allowed to enjoy the Sea Point Promenade until recently. So every Monday at 6pm a lively group congregates on their skateboards, longboards, rollerblades and roller-skates in a social skate/push along the Sea Point Promenade from Queens Beach parking lot to the Sea Point Library. They enjoy some slides and skateboarding shenanigans, then a slow skate back to Queens Beach. If you BMX, you’re also welcome to join the action. Find them on Facebook: Promenade Mondays.

Moonlight Mass

for cyclists Moonlight Mass takes place once a month in Cape Town on a full moon and attracts a colourful crowd. People often dress up in crazy outfits and adorn their bicycles with fairy lights. The group congregates at the Green Point Circle near the stadium at 9pm and ends up at Green Market Square 12km later. The pace is relaxed; I’ve often seen children riding their bicycles with their parents on the days I’ve done it.

Some older children and teenagers keep up with the slow-moving cyclists on their skateboards or longboards, adding even more diversity to this highly social event.

The only thing that may detract from bringing children along is if the ride falls during a school week, in which case it’s probably a little late to be up. The ride finishes around 10pm. Lights and helmets are strongly advised for safety.

Critical Mass is a similar venture aimed at enhancing bicycle usage and democratising our city streets. It takes place on the last Friday of every month.

Like Moonlight Mass, it’s free and everyone is welcome. The route is a bit longer than Moonlight Mass, but the pace is equally relaxed. Check their website for times and routes.

Promenade Mondays

for pioneers If the times and days of these events don’t quite suit your family, why not start a group activity of your own? To get things going and to let people know about your activity, you can use social media; before long you’ll have friends asking if they can join you. If you keep the focus on the social connection and the sheer enjoyment of getting out and about, you can’t go wrong.

links • parkrun.co.za • criticalmass.co.za • moonlightmass.co.za

sensory trails Children who are blind or wheelchair-bound can also get out and explore nature, thanks to the various braille and sensory trails in wildlife reserves and parks around the country. These trails tend to be self-guided paths with guide rails and storyboards in large print and braille, which allow people to touch, feel and smell plants and trees. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens’ Fragrance Garden accommodates the sight-impaired. The plants are grown in raised beds within easy reach for touching, feeling and smelling. The Kirstenbosch Braille Trail is a short self-guided tour that starts and ends in the Fragrance Garden.

If you’re travelling to Gauteng or Durban, check out these options: • The Sasol Sensory Trail in Joburg’s Delta Park is an accessible 103m trail.

• Moreleta Kloof Discovery and Sensory Trail is a 2km long trail in a 100-hectare reserve in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria.

• Durban Botanic Gardens’ Sensory Garden also offers sensory encounters with plants.

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September 2014

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sport

a short guide to cricket

bat

/noun 1. An implement with a handle and a solid surface, typically of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as cricket

Do you ever find yourself on the sidelines watching your child play, but you’re clueless about the intricacies of the game?

Become an aficionado with the help of GREG CASTLE.

ball

/noun 1. A solid or hollow spherical or eggshaped object that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game: a cricket ball

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cricket myths To start with, let’s dispel a few cricketing myths: • A box is not something to wrap presents in, no matter how precious the package.

• A slip is not a woman’s undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt.

• An extra cover is not a coat for your son to wear over his jersey.

• You don’t need a magnificent figure to field at fine leg.

• If your son is asked to field at backward point, that doesn’t mean he is in any way being chastised for making a silly point.

• Deep mid-wicket is not an innovative name for a follow-up sequel to 50 Shades of Grey.

sideline savvy Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are a few tips to help you appear extremely knowledgeable during idle chatter (but only between breaks in play), just enough to

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

am one of the fortunate fathers privileged enough to have attended most of my sons’ sports games over the years. I’ve found myself mostly surrounded by moms on the sidelines (perhaps fortunate in and of itself), and even the odd youthful au pair. I usually get suckered into spending a great deal of the match as purveyor of the rules of the game (especially cricket and water polo). The expectation that I must automatically know the rules may be some elaborately sexist, stereotypically caring way of making me feel less conspicuous among the more intuitive sex. Nevertheless, I embrace the banter, as it inevitably drifts to far more intriguing “women’s talk” a few moments later. At least I’m contributing something to the social sidelines.

Despite my generally boosted status and morale, I feel compelled to offer this short guide to cricket for moms (and au pairs). It’s no easy task, but I’ve selected a few things that pop up more frequently than others, with some useful tips to improve your cricketing prowess. (Note that I have refrained from including “…for dummies”.)

make your friends marvel and cricket-savvy dads treat you with a newfound level of sideline respect.

There are three main types of cricket: Test cricket, limited overs cricket and 20/20 cricket. This knowledge alone will score you incredible points on the sidelines with impressed eyebrow lifting and nodding to boot.

Test cricket is usually played over five days at professional level. However, at school level in order to teach the “proper” game to children with limited attention spans, “time or declaration” cricket is often played to emulate Test cricket instead. This is when there is a strong chance of a draw and when the first side to bat doesn’t have sufficient time left to bowl the other side out, no matter how few runs the latter side may have scored.

Difficult to comprehend, but stay with me here.

Limited overs or 50/50 cricket was introduced back in the 80s to offer those with limited attention spans a chance to enjoy the game and put bums on seats, as time and appreciation for the original form of the game had started to wane. Even the essential “whites” were replaced by some rather colourful gear. This form of the game creates much hype and opportunity for marketing, sideline distraction, TV coverage and most importantly, for many spectators.

If the above form wasn’t enough to disgust true cricketing aficionados, T20 or 20/20 cricket most certainly was. As instant gratification became more prevalent among sport enthusiasts in the late 90s, and advertising revenue ruled the roost of professional

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sport, this form of cricket was introduced to offer sheer entertainment. Batsmen are enticed to take much greater risks in order to score big runs and there is as much entertainment off the field as on it. Scantily clad dancing girls gyrate after every boundary, jiving to the beat of a loud cacophony of music and pyrotechnics. To cricket snobs, this is “just not cricket!” But bums on seats is what counts, and this form of the game has made cricket far more accessible and a great day or night out for the entire family.

A box is not something to wrap presents in, no matter how precious the package.

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Annoyed moms on the sidelines often want to know why their sons are not bowling or why they are batting lower down the order. The most likely reason is team strategy and tactics. Your son may be a great opening batsman, but not much good at scoring quick runs required in limited overs. Much like chess, cricket is a game requiring a great degree of strategic planning and tactical adaptation. Similarly, on any given day, your beloved son who is generally a marvellous little bowler may not be the most appropriate chap to bowl in this particular game.

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You may feel that your son is a talented all-rounder, and that may be delightfully true, but genuine allrounders are rare commodities. It would be nice for your son to do a bit of everything (like Jacques Kallis or AB de Villiers), and in the junior age groups that should be encouraged. But as he moves up the prep or primary school ladder, it will become evident as to what he is most likely to excel at. Remember, less than 1% of our darlings will ever play professionally.

Some people poo-poo cheering on the sidelines, but there are differences in etiquette in the various forms of the game. The stiffest rules apply to Test cricket. However, today shouting encouragement from the sidelines is no longer out of place, so long as you do so during breaks in play. “Bravo!” is a firm favourite as is “jolly good cricket all round, chaps”, but comments such as “take his head off” and “moer him!” are generally still frowned upon.

Finally moms, a box is something your son should choose for himself. Although he is bound to choose one that’s way too big for his package, it’ll give him some sense of satisfaction even if he has to make readjustments after every shot.

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Cricket is brilliantly character-building for those who persevere. My advice is: be brave, be very brave, as your sons have to be in order to enjoy this challenging, complex, yet extremely gratifying game.

Howzat!?

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resource

to your door…

If things get a bit too hectic at home, contact one of these lifesavers to take care of daily chores and tasks. Compiled by LUCILLE KEMP

Au Pair at Home They specialise in the placement of au pairs, “English nannies”, baby specialists and night nurses, as well as the placement of learner facilitators at schools.

They seek the right candidates via their qualifications, experience, personality type and what they as individuals have to offer children and their families. Included in the process is a backup support service to both parties.

Contact: Tokai: 021 712 9511, Table View: 021 424 8332, 021 556 0066, northern suburbs: 021 932 2425 or visit aupairathome.co.za Au Pair SA An online au pair agency that works for your family and the au pair. The site offers instant matching for families and au pairs in all major cities of South Africa, and caters for a wide variety of requirements.

Contact: info@aupairsa.co.za or visit aupairsa.co.za Au Pairs for You They provide trained, screened and reference-checked au pairs, tutors and babysitters.

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Contact: 021 557 3935, 082 431 3608, info@ aupairsforyou.co.za or visit aupairsforyou.co.za Cape Cares They offer au pairs, babysitters, nannies, tutors and drivers for clients looking for permanent, semipermanent or temporary placements. They help you find suitable, reliable and compatible childminders by screening and psychometrically assessing them before matching them to families according to the family’s needs and personalities.

Contact: 021 531 9468, 071 613 8960, shaun@capecares. co.za, info@capecares.co.za or visit capecares.co.za Chilton Au Pair Placement and Training Services include formal childcare training, as well as au pair, nanny and private tutor placements. They are members of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA). They offer long- and short-term, part- and full-time placement, with a 12-month guarantee and backup support service. They are based in Cape Town central.

Contact: 079 842 6599, chiltontraining@gmail.com or visit chiltonaupairs.co.za

Kidos Aupair Complementary matching of families with reliable and responsible au pairs. They don’t charge large upfront placement fees, but minimum monthly fees. Parents may choose a permanent service or a temporary service such as babysitting.

Contact: 074 621 6227 or visit kidosaupair.co.za Mary Poppins A recruitment and placement agency for childcare professionals, including au pairs, tutors, teachers and maternity nurses. They place in the Cape Peninsula and surrounds as well as in the Middle East and Greece.

Contact: 083 454 1282, info@marypoppins.co.za or visit marypoppins.co.za Village Nannies All their nannies are screened and have at least two years’ experience with babies and toddlers. After an interview with you, there is a one-week trial for candidates before signing the contract. They offer a three-month warranty period as well as mediation and support.

Contact: 021 671 2249, 083 343 7580, info@ villagenannies.co.za or visit villagenannies.co.za

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

au pairs

baby specialists Baby Love This nationwide company specialises in routine and sleep guidance programmes geared towards pregnant couples and parents of babies two years and younger.

Your consultant will show you how to guide your baby towards healthy, age-appropriate daytime routines and healthy sleeping patterns by teaching your baby to self-soothe, fall asleep unassisted and to link his sleep cycles. They offer workshops, private consultations and Skype consultations. Baby Love is an approved service provider of the South African Multiple Birth Association.

Contact: 082 851 2141, jacqui@baby-love.co.za or visit babylove.co.za Birth Options A group of rigorously trained nurses/midwives provide antenatal care, postnatal homecare and facilitate birth in hospital or at home. They are backed by a team of obstetricians and based in Plumstead.

Contact: 021 761 9623, info@birthoptions.co.za or visit birthoptions.co.za Bowwood Baby Clinic A well-baby clinic that sees to babies from discharge onwards, assisting parents with breast-feeding, bottlefeeding, solids, weaning, developmental milestones and

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potty training. They offer vaccines for children aged six weeks to six years old. There are five nursing sisters, and one is a certified lactation consultant. All the sisters are midwives registered with the South African Nursing Council and Denosa. They are based in Claremont.

Contact: 021 674 5521, bowwoodbabies@webafrica. org.za or visit bowwoodbabyclinic.co.za

Mom’s Helper They provide hands-on sleep training, and spend two nights at your home showing you how to implement the suggested method. They also offer baby classes and night nurses. They are based in the southern suburbs.

Contact: 072 222 6279, rhonel@sleeptrainingconsultants. com or visit sleeptrainingconsultants.com

Good Night A South African child sleep consultancy that guides and supports parents. With representation in Cape Town, Joburg, Pretoria and London, they are able to assist clients via Skype. They are members of the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants, the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and the South African Society of Sleep Medicine.

Contact: 082 646 3991, 082 079 1382, 0044 75 065 41059, info@goodnightbaby.co.za or lene@goodnightuk.co.uk Kids Clinic A private clinic run by a paediatric nurse with over 22 years’ experience, which includes ICU and special needs expertise. Services include primary care, parenting classes, first aid, developmental screening, immunisation, breast-feeding support and psychological support.

Contact: 021 438 0020, info@kidsclinic.co.za or visit kidsclinic.co.za

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resource

catering and cooked meals Dial a Chef They prepare fresh, balanced, home-cooked meals daily. Meals are prepared using fresh vegetables and the best quality meat, which is purchased daily. The food is dished into microwaveable containers and sealed with clingwrap to maintain freshness. Portion sizes vary according to customer requirements. Meals are prepared in the morning and delivered in the afternoon to a convenient, safe place, often in cooler boxes. They are based in Parow.

Contact: 021 930 2273 or visit dial-a-chef.co.za Dish Food & Social Gourmet Garage They offer a Monday to Friday take-away meal option. The menu changes every fortnight and is mailed on a Monday morning. Check the website for menus, ordering details or to sign-up via email. They are based in Observatory.

Contact: 021 447 0323, info@dishfood.co.za or visitdishfood.co.za The Flying Pan They create and deliver flavourful, nutritious home-cooked dinners. Quality ingredients are used and food is prepared every day. The professional chef combines local and international flavours. They’ve recently launched a low-carb menu. Delivery is free within the CBD and southern suburbs. In addition to their homemade meals, they offer a private catering service and gift vouchers for new parents.

Contact: 081 385 5589, info@theflyingpan.co.za or visit theflyingpan.co.za The Happy Snack Box This health store offers a variety of preportioned, non-perishable snacks in small and large boxes, for children and adults. Snack boxes are made up of savoury, dried fruit or sweet ingredients. They deliver to your door. They are based in Parklands.

Contact: 021 556 3662, 061 418 0008, info@dream-bizgroup.co.za or visit happysnack.co.za

diy Cape Handyman They offer a comprehensive handyman business, including plumbing, building, electrical, waterproofing, carpentry and painting services; filling of large cracks and installation of laminate flooring and burglar bars. They cover Table View, Parklands, Durbanville, Bellville, Parow, Milnerton, Edgemead, Gardens and Sea Point.

Contact 021 839 2855, 071 952 0360, mike@capehandyman.co.za or visit capehandyman.co.za Homefixers Their services include fixings, decorating, electrical, plumbing, small-scale tiling jobs, damp-proofing, door hanging and refurbishment, and geyser blankets. They are based in Parow.

Contact: 0860 349 377, info@homefixers.co.za or visit homefixers.co.za Pink Handyman Services They do electrical installations, repairs, painting, plumbing, carpentry and house maintenance.

Contact: 083 484 9725, dean@pinkhandyman.co.za or visit pinkhandyman.co.za

garden services

Garden Vision They offer landscaping, design and maintenance. They will tailor-make your outdoor space using innovative design and implementation techniques.

Contact: 021 797 0115, info@gardenvision.co.za or visit gardenvision.co.za McPherson’s Landscaping Landscaping, hardscapes and features, instant (roll-on) lawn, irrigation, compost and fertilisers, water and stone features, accent lighting and site furnishings are some of the services offered.

Contact: 021 556 6012, 082 897 3783, info@mcphersonsa.com, angus@ mcphersonsa.com or visit mcphersonsa.com Room To Grow Gardens Offers an exterior design and landscape solution. Room To Grow Gardens is a principal member of the South African Landscape Institute.

Contact: 021 797 8975 or visit roomtogrow.co.za

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home organisers All Sorted They assist you with decluttering and organising your home. They help you clear and sort before you move, or they can manage your entire move. They create household cleaning and maintenance systems as well as space and time management for domestic help. They are a member of the Professional Organiser Association Africa.

Contact: 082 926 3531, judith@allsortednow.co.za or visit allsortednow.co.za My Life Organised An initial, free-of-charge briefing session identifies your specific needs. Services include taking care of household chores, running errands, shopping, making holiday or travel arrangements, organising entertainment, decluttering your home and attending to your home/tenants while you’re away.

Contact: 082 963 7234, caro@mylifeorganised.co.za or visit mylifeorganised.co.za Simply Sorted From decluttering to organising, they tailor effective systems and help you maintain them. They’re a member of the Professional Organiser Association Africa.

Contact: 083 393 0538, saskia@simplysorted.co.za or visit simplysorted.co.za The Clutter Coach As a professional organiser and life coach, The Clutter Coach focuses on decluttering and implementing organising systems in spaces around the house.

They belong to the Professional Organiser Association Africa.

Contact: 071 855 4962, info@thecluttercoach.co.za or visit thecluttercoach.co.za

nanny and first aid training Educare Courses include childcare, first aid, cooking, nutrition, stimulation and housekeeping. They offer domestic, nanny and au pair placements, contracts and UIF assistance. They are affiliated with the American Heart Association and the Resuscitation Council of South Africa.

Contact: Blouberg: 082 826 2566 or bbc123@ telkomsa.net, Durbanville: 021 945 1289 or info@ educarecape.co.za, Somerset West: 079 578 6993 or educare.somersetwest@gmail.com Professional Emergency Care The CPR and first aid training for children is aimed at those who would like to receive a basic orientation to first aid for children.

It covers child safety, basic first aid, medical emergencies, injury and environmental emergencies. They are based in Constantiaberg Mediclinic, Plumstead.

Contact: 021 705 6459, training@pec.co.za or visit pec.co.za Sugar & Spice Nanny Training Courses equip domestic workers who work as nannies and housekeepers with the skills and confidence needed to take care of children from birth upwards. The first aid module is accredited with the Resuscitation Council of South Africa. Their branches are in Claremont, Kirstenhof and the CBD. Contact: 083 406 0028 or visit nannytraining.co.za Super Nannies Their CPR/FA module is accredited by the American Heart Association and the Resuscitation Council of South Africa. They also offer CPR/first aid courses.

Contact: 0861 462 669, info@supernannies.co.za or visit supernannies.co.za

school lifts Bizzy Bees They focus on transporting children from school (nursery, primary or high school) and can also be used for day trips. Visit the website to book a shuttle.

Contact: 021 557 5044, 074 105 1522, christel@bizzybeez.co.za or visit bizzybeez.co.za Kidos Cabbie This is a children’s transport service that matches families with personal lady drivers. All drivers are required to obtain a valid PrDP licence. Parents get to interview potential drivers. A backup driver is also assigned in case of emergencies or unforeseen events. Parents may choose a permanent or temporary service.

Contact: 074 621 6227 or visit kidoscabbie.co.za

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books

a good read for toddlers

the joy of reading

The Midnight Library

By Kazuno Kohara (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R193) Once there was a library, which opened only at night. When we are fast asleep in bed, the Midnight Library opens its doors to all the night-time animals. The little librarian and her three assistant owls help each and every animal to find the perfect book. But tonight is very busy. Will the little librarian have enough time left for a cosy bedtime story with her assistants?

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for preschoolers

for early graders

The Dark

By Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen (Published by Little Brown Books, R123) Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn’t come into Lazslo’s room. But one night, it does. This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark. With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear. This book should find a solid fan base in the five- to eight-year-old age group. The UK’s Sunday Times says: “The combination of text by Lemony Snicket and pictures by Jon Klassen makes this a picture book not to miss.”

Jojo’s Wire Car

By Veronica Lamond (Published by Random House Struik, R81) Beautifully illustrated and with a heart-warming story, this book with African flavour will appeal to a wide range of children. Jojo lives with his old granny in a shack. He has to help out with many chores after school, including selling fruit at the roadside to help make ends meet. A wire-toy-making competition offers him the chance of winning a big prize, but his packed schedule means he has less time than his friends to look for wire and other scraps. With its colourful, evocative drawings, this book will have young readers sharing in Jojo’s plight – and rejoicing in the happy ending.

One Day: Around the World in 24 Hours

By Suma Din and Christiane Engel (Published by Bloomsbury, R248) One Day follows 15 different children from around the world through a 24-hour period.

Not only will readers learn about their different lives and cultures, but they will also discover how time zones work, and what’s happening on one side of the world while the other sleeps. This is a fantastic and accessible introduction to the concept of time and time zones for a younger audience.

It also contains extra material exploring how time is measured and why. The book includes cultures from the USA, Peru, Turkey, South Africa, China and Australia.

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for early graders Explorers: Insects and Minibeasts and Planet Earth

By Jinny Johnson and Daniel Gilpin (Published by Kingfisher, R70 each) Explorers is designed to appeal to readers aged six to eight years old – those who are just starting to read alone and more confident readers who are beginning to exercise wider cross-referencing skills. Lively artwork scenes draw children into a subject, and each scene is followed by a photographic spread that gives extra detail. As a fun additional element, the reader can follow themed links to access information on related topics. In Planet Earth, young readers take a trip around the globe and examine the core subject of the earth. In Insects and Minibeasts, young readers get an up-close view of life in a variety of insect habitats.

for preteens and teens Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds

By James Dashner (Published by Doubleday, R251) The Eye of Minds is the first book in Mortality Doctrine, a series set in a world of hyperadvanced technology, cyber terrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams – or your worst nightmares. For Michael and the other gamers, the VirtNet can make your fantasies become real. And the more hacking skills you have, the more fun ensues.

Who wants to play by the rules anyway? But some rules were made for a reason. One gamer has been taking people hostage inside the VirtNet, with horrific consequences. The government needs Michael to track down the rogue gamer, but the risk is enormous and the line between game and reality could be blurred forever. This edge-of-your-seat adventure is recommended for children from the age of 12 years old.

magazine cape town

parenting book

for us healthy family fare

Annabel’s Family Cookbook

By Annabel Karmel (Published by Random House Struik, R378) Bestselling children’s cookery writer and mom of three, Annabel knows how tricky it can be to find food the whole family can enjoy together. Too often, busy moms have to make one meal for the children and then another for adults.

In her new cookbook, Annabel offers no-fuss, tasty recipes for all mealtimes that will get everyone around the table at the same time. She includes her favourite quick recipes, as well as easy-to-make light meals, snacks and lunchboxes. For families, she offers her foolproof prep ahead recipes, as well as her weekend dishes, which are ideal for leisurely brunches, big family lunches or a relaxed supper with friends.

Help! I’m a Dad

By Nick Harper (Published by Michael O’Mara Books Limited, R204) This is an essential guide for all new fathers.

The book covers everything you need to know, from what to buy to how to use it.

This handy book includes clearly labelled, easy-to-navigate sections with practical lists and step-by-step instructions, making it useful for quick reference. It also contains sobering facts, such as the fact that you will get through nearly 3 000 nappies in the first year. It gives advice and true stories from moms and dads who have been there before. Told with Nick Harper’s ready wit, not to mention his years of experience, this book will show you how to be a confident and capable dad and, most of all, how to enjoy the experience.

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calendar

what’s on in september

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

Your guide for what to do, where to go and who to see.

FUN FOR CHILDREN – p35

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p38

Sanparks Week at Cape Point Children get a free trip on the Flying Dutchman Funicular.

…Miskien This is a simple story of two best friends, who are stuck in similar dead-end jobs and nondescript lives.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p38

how to help – p39

Mom Space A place for moms and their 0–3 year olds to connect, have fun, share and be inspired.

National Cupcake Day Host your own cupcake party and help make a difference for children with cancer.

SPECIAL EVENTS – p33 Hogsback Reforest Fest Spend a weekend planting trees, hiking in the forest, participating in eco-workshops, doing forest yoga, enjoying delicious meals and live music, and visiting the oldest Yellowwood tree in the Eastern Cape.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com / Heidi J Photography

Compiled by LUCILLE KEMP

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 monday Montessori Connect open day A tour of their three schools, which are for 3 months– 12 year olds. Time: 8:30am–12:30pm.

Venues: The Children’s Workshop, Claremont, Nutwood Forest, Green Point or Sunridge Primary, Table View. Cost: free. Contact: Claremont: 021 671 7538, Green Point: 021 439 4874 or Table View: 021 556 4119 National Skin Cancer Screening Day The aim is to show individuals how to inspect their families for signs of skin cancer and advise them on methods of prevention. For more info: visit skincancerfoundation.org.za

Rockstar Cricket opens in Obs Fun seven-a-side cricket played as a one-hour game with 20 overs on a dedicated oval that has been scaled down with a playing area of 40x40metres, making it ideal for children starting off in the game, but big enough for a more serious game with your mates. There is also a VIP area, party space, food, drinks and more. Time: 8am–11pm daily. Venue: The Riverclub, Observatory. Cost: adults R90, children R60 (playing 8am–5pm). Contact: 071 899 7024

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2 tuesday Pink Brain Blue Brain talk at Camps Bay Primary Education authority Gavin Keller helps teachers and parents learn a few fundamental ways to touch the lives of boys and girls during the school years.

Time: 7pm. Venue: Camps Bay Primary School, Dunkeld Rd, Camps Bay. Cost: R60.

Contact: 072 200 2691

6 saturday Tru-Cape Kogelberg Mountain Challenge An annual event for trail runners, nature lovers and their families. The festival site offers a reptile show-and-tell for children and a guided fynbos walk. There is also a baking and potjie competition.

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Time: 7:30am. Venue: Pringle Bay Community Hall. Cost: varies. Contact for the race: sandykei@sonicmail.co.za or for more info: jacqueshomeandguestservices@ gmail.com or visit tru-cape.co.za Waterblommetjie festival The festival features the Miss Waterblommetjie pageant for 4–6 year old girls and waterblommetjie dishes. There are jumping castles, jungle gyms and trampolines for the children.

Time: 9am–3:30pm. Venue: Rhebokskloof Wine Estate, Agter Paarl Rd, Paarl. Cost: free entry. Contact: 021 869 8386, functions@ rhebokskloof.co.za or visit rhebokskloof.co.za

11 thursday Chefs Who Share This black-tie charity gala brings together 14 awardwinning South African chefs to raise funds for youth development. Time: tbc.

Venue: City Hall, Darling St. Cost: R3 000.

Contact: tickets@chefswhoshare.com or visit chefswhoshare.com

12 friday Hogsback Reforest Fest Plant trees, hike in the forest, participate in eco-workshops, do forest yoga, enjoy meals and live music, and visit the oldest Yellowwood tree in the Eastern Cape. Ends 14 September. Time: varies. Venue: Terra-Khaya Family and Eco Lodge. Cost: R330–R520, which includes six meals, trees to plant and activities. Book through Webtickets: visit webtickets.co.za and for more info: info@greenpop.org

13 saturday Baby Sense Seminar The seminar delivers the latest parenting advice from experts Meg Faure (Baby Sense co-author), Sister Ann Richardson (Toddler Sense author), Tina Otte (midwife) and Dr Claudia Gray (paediatrician). Time: 8:30am–12pm (morning baby seminar) and 1:30pm–5pm (birth and newborn afternoon seminar) and 12:15pm–1:15pm (Johnson’s baby massage workshop). Venue: Vineyard Hotel, Newlands. Cost: R240 per seminar and R80 for the massage workshop. If you book for both seminars and the massage workshop a discounted rate of R480 applies. Contact: 021 671 3245, seminars@ babysense.co.za or visit babysense.com/ talks-and-workshops Imhoff Waldorf School spring fair and fun run Delicious, wholesome food is served, there are games for all ages, live music and entertainment, juggling, poi and fire dancing, handmade Waldorf crafts for sale and storytelling for little ones. The fun run’s distances are 3km, 6km and 8km. Time: 9am–3pm, 7:30am for fun run registration, and the parade and maypole dancing starts at 10:30am. Venue: Imhoff Waldorf School, Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie. Cost: free entry to the fair, for the fun run single entry R25, adult and child ticket R45, adult and two children ticket R55. Contact: 021 783 4237 events@imhoffwaldorf.org or visit imhoffwaldorf.org

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calendar

13 September – Junior Chess Tournament

Junior Chess Tournament All young chess enthusiasts are invited to participate in this event. Time: 8:30am for the open age group and 10am for the juniors. Venue: German International School Cape Town, 28 Bay View Ave, Tamboerskloof. Cost: R50 for 6–10 year olds (juniors) and R100 for 11 years and older (open). For more info: watukobese@dsk.co.za or to apply visit: dsk.co.za Terroir to Table Braai Day with Reuben Riffel Set on a wheat and sheep farm, Reuben is joined by resident chef and author, Louise Gillett. Enjoy interactive cooking demos by the chefs, an array of produce unique to the area and a fourcourse alfresco lunch. There is also a team challenge where each group has to create a starter from a mystery box of ingredients.

Ends 14 September. Time: 12pm. Venue: Bartholomeus Klip, Riebeek Valley. Cost: adults R385, 6–12 year olds R185, children under five years old free. Contact: 082 542 7566, reservations@foodroutes.co.za or visit foodroutes.co.za or bartholomeusklip.com

17 wednesday Contemporary parenting talk on EQ This is an interactive and informative evening of sharing and learning the ABCs of emotionally intelligent parenting.

Time: 6:30pm–8:30pm. Venue: St Cyprian’s Girls School, Oranjezicht. Cost: free. Contact: 082 652 8008 or hello@ contemporaryparenting.co.za Open Book Festival The festival features readings from around 100 authors, of which 25 are top international writers.

There are author dinners or writer sports where the festival turns writing into an Olympic game. Ends 21 September. Time: varies. Venues: The Fugard Theatre is the hub, with events also at the District 6 Museum, The Homecoming Centre, The Townhouse Hotel, The Slave Lodge, The National Gallery, Central Library and Lobby Books. Cost: varies. For more info: visit openbookfestival.co.za

18 thursday Talent Development in Pink and Blue Teams talk at International School of Cape Town What effect does gender have on growing talent in children? Gavin Keller, neuro-learning expert and head of Sun Valley Group of Schools is speaking on this topic. Time: 7pm–8:30pm. Venue: Edinburgh Close, Wynberg. Cost: free.

Contact: 021 761 6202

20 saturday Grace Primary School open day They offer quality, affordable, independent education in small classes. Time: 9:30am.

Venue: Pinelands. Cost: free. Contact: 021 824 4055, info@graceprimary.org or visit graceprimary.org The Vine School open day The day includes a presentation on Ambleside education, a Q&A and a demonstration lesson. Childcare and refreshments are provided. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: 37 Denver Rd, Lansdowne. Cost: free. Contact: 021 696 3220, info@thevineschool.org.za or visit thevineschool.org.za

21 sunday Cape Town Marathon This city marathon (42,2km) offers a spectacular new route that provides runners with a unique car-free experience of the city’s stunning natural and cultural attractions such as the 12 Apostles, Camps Bay, Clifton, the Company’s Garden, Parliament, the Bo-Kaap, the City Hall, the Castle of Good Hope, District 6, the V&A Waterfront and Table Bay. The event forms part of a festival of running including a 10km peace run. On 20 September a 5km fun run, adventurous trail runs and a team-building relay race take place. There are festive, safe supporter zones along the route, which offer food stalls, beer gardens, live music, fancy dress prizes and the expo.

The Cape Town Marathon is an official qualifying race for the 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans and Comrades ultramarathons.

Venue: festival ground is the Cape Town Stadium, Green Point. Cost: participants should visit the website. Contact: 021 867 1224, info@capetownmarathon.com or visit capetownmarathon.com

23 tuesday

25 September – Shakespeare Festival at the Vine School

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Herschel open day Visit the prepreparatory and preparatory school campuses and chat to the staff and pupils to learn more. For 3–13 years old. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: Herschel Preparatory School, Kenmar Crescent, Claremont. Cost: free. Contact: 021 670 7520, bmaho@ herschel.org.za or visit herschel.org.za magazine cape town

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The annual Pearl Valley celebrity charity golf day They hope to raise a total of R100 000 for The Children’s Hospital Trust. Time: 12:30pm. Venue: Pearl Valley. Cost: R4 000 per four-ball or for an extra R1 000, your own branding of a hole. Contact: 021 867 8000 or events@ pearlvalley.co.za

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25 thursday Shakespeare Festival at The Vine School An annual festival of Shakespeare’s sonnets, sword fighting, maypole dancing and an abridged performance of The Merchant of Venice. Time: 6pm. Venue: Wynberg Girls’ Junior School, Aliwal Rd, Wynberg. Cost: adults R40, children R20. Contact: 021 696 3220, info@thevineschool.org.za or visit thevineschool.org.za The Cape Town Fringe This new performing arts festival features dynamic, cutting-edge work from some of the country’s leading theatre makers, who present around 40 productions in venues in and around the city centre. 25 September– 5 October. Time: tbc. Venue: Cape Town’s City Hall is the home base. Cost: varies. For more info: visit capetownfringe.co.za

27 saturday Mambo’s monthly Kids Cooking Club Cooking classes for 3–10 year olds that are held on the last Saturday of every month. Booking essential as space is limited to 20 children. Time: 10am–11am and 12pm–1pm. Venue: Green Point. Cost: R60 per child, giveaways and coffee for the parents. Contact: 083 309 8024 or thekidscookingclub@gmail.com

28 sunday Run Wild amazing race with Camps Bay Preparatory School Individuals dressed in endangered animal costumes hide in the Glen. Children, accompanied by family and friends, follow riddles to find the animals and collect a footprint of each one. Once all have been found the children run onto the Camps Bay High School field to win a prize. Breakfast and entertainment is available. Time: 9am. Venue: Camps Bay High School sports field. Cost: call to enquire. Contact: 021 438 8075 Nederburg Concert Series Clarinet maestro David Krakauer and New Yorkbased South African pianist Kathleen Tagg come together for a performance at the wine estate. For 12 years and older. Time: 5pm. Venue: Nederburg Manor House, Paarl. Cost: R200, including finger food and wine. Contact: 021 809 8412 or concerts@distell.co.za

Nestlé Ice Cream Strawberry Festival A fun family weekend of good food, live music with a special performance by Lianie May, 60-plus stalls, a play park, strawberry and ice-cream eating competitions, a beer tent, a trail run and a fun run/walk, strawberries and more. Ends 28 September. Time: 9am–5pm Saturday, 9am–4pm Sunday. Venue: Redberry Farm, Geelhoutboom Rd, Blanco, George.

Cost: adults R25 (Saturday), R35 (Sunday) children under 12 R15 on both days. Contact: 044 870 7123, info@redberryfarm.co.za or visit strawberryfestival.co.za

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science Connecting through Art A weekly termtime art group where children connect with themselves and their peers through making art. This may suit children who would benefit from an expressive outlet, who are perhaps a little shy, anxious or are experiencing changes in their lives.

For 9–10 year olds. Time: 3:30pm–5pm, every Thursday. Venue: Frank Joubert Art Centre, Newlands. Cost: R130 per weekly session. Contact: 076 581 1794 or rebecca. solveig@gmail.com Picasso Kids educational art classes For 12–24 months and 2–3 year olds and their parents. Venue: Blouberg Rise. Cost: the first class is free; thereafter it’s R300 a month. Contact and to book a class: 072 995 6944 or picassokidsinfo@gmail.com Sue Nepgen’s children’s art classes The programme consists of work inspired by current art exhibitions and environmental displays, creative ceramics (sculpture or pottery), mixed media collage, chalk pastel pictures, sketching, watercolour painting, acrylic painting, colour work with wax and turpentine, as well as drawing and painting projects on personal themes. For 4–13 year olds. Time: held in the afternoons and Saturday morning. Venues: Michael Oak Waldorf School, Kenilworth or 28 Klaasenbosch Dr, Constantia. Cost: R640 a term, including materials and firing. Prorata fees for late joiners. Contact: 021 794 6609/4723, 083 237 7242 or snepgen@ xsinet.co.za

classes, talks and workshops 13 September – Biscuit class

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Biscuit class Make an edible necklace out of cookies. For 5 years and older.

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calendar 13 September. Time: 9:30am–11:30am.

Venue: Julie’s Cake Studio, Newlands Quarter, cnr Dean St and Main St, Newlands. Cost: R175 per child. Contact: 021 686 2372, hello@juliescakestudio. co.za or visit juliescakestudio.co.za Cooking with Hannah Small, intimate cooking classes for children 2–10 years old. Time and venue: 3pm–4pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Meadowridge and on a Thursday in Noordhoek. Contact: 082 569 8666 or cookingwithhannah1@ gmail.com New summer outdoor area for The Kids Cooking Club For fun, creative cooking and baking classes or parties in the

kitchen. Play area and coffee shop available during term time and holidays. Morning and afternoon weekday classes as well as Saturday mornings. School outings or onceoff groups are welcome. Master Chef classes and parties are now available for 2–15 year olds. Time and cost: call to enquire. Venue: Stodels, Constantia. Contact: 083 309 8024, thekidscookingclub@gmail.com or visit thekidscookingclub.co.za Optimal learning workshops Sessions in English or French, which cover fun, simple, integrative activities and relaxation techniques to assist students in improving learning skills so they can reach peak performance at school and in other areas of life. From 6 years old.

Time: 2:30pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Venue: based in Hout Bay or your home. Cost: R280. Contact: 079 800 2749, aureliebraingym@gmail.com or visit aureliebraingym.wordpress.com

family outings

Horse riding for moms and children

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Cupcakes for Cancer Party of Hope To create awareness of early warning signs of cancer, Valley Farmstall is hosting a fun day of collecting cupcakes, which they will deliver to charity organisations. There is a market, cupcake decorating, a photo booth, a children’s fun area and tea garden.

Time: 10am–3pm. Venue: Valley Farmstall, Valley Rd, Hout Bay. Cost: free, please take cupcakes. Contact: 076 678 0258, 079 323 6290 or eventsatthevalley@gmail.com

Hogsback Reforest Fest 12–14 September. Time: call to enquire. Venue: Terra-Khaya Family and Eco Lodge. Cost: R330–R520, which includes six meals, trees to plant and tools, live music and various activities. Book through Webtickets: visit webtickets.co.za and for more info, info@ greenpop.org

finding nature and outdoor play Horse riding for moms and children Take your child for riding lessons and the parent rides free. Nervous and first-time riders welcome. 30 August–30 September.

Time: 9am–4pm. Venue: Fat Pony Riding Centre, Joostenbergvlakte. Cost: R150 per session. Contact: 084 825 3847 or fatpony@iafrica.com Sanparks Week at Cape Point Children get a free trip on the innovative Flying Dutchman Funicular and a free meal at the Two Oceans Restaurant, if accompanied by a paying adult. Both are open 9am–5pm. 8–12 September. Time: 7am–5pm (reserve). Venue: Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park. Cost: adult ticket for the Funicular is R52. Contact: 021 780 9010/11

markets Camphill Market On the first Sunday of the month. Time: 10am–2pm. Venue: Klein Dassenberg, near Paarl. Cost: free entry. For more info: visit camphill.org.za/market

City Bowl Food Market For fresh local produce, locally crafted wine and beer and homemade food. Both markets are childfriendly and have live music. Microchefs is holding a class on 9 September (9am–12pm).

Time: 4:30pm–8:30pm, every Thursday or 9am–2pm, every Saturday. Venue: 14 Hope St, Gardens. Cost: free entry. Contact: 079 429 1454, citybowlmarket@gmail.com or visit citybowlmarket.co.za Elkanah House Schoolyard Market Great for foodies and craft lovers. 27 September. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Elkanah House High School, Sunningdale. Cost: free.

Contact: 021 554 8586, michellej@elkanah. co.za or visit elkanah.co.za Groote Post Country Market Artisan foods, art and crafts, homeware and decor, live entertainment and activities for children. Locals present a divine selection of Darling gourmet produce. 28 September.

Time: 10am–3pm. Venue: Groote Post, Darling. Cost: free entry. Contact: 082 877 6677 or eldre@iloveyzer.co.za The BMC Family Market Art, crafts, decor and homemade foods are on offer. Support the child entrepreneurs. Entertainment for children is available. 6 September. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Bergvliet Methodist Church, 2 Wesley Ave. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 021 715 3045 or familymarket@ bmchurch.org.za The Country Craft Market For highend handcrafts. Children can enjoy face painting, sandart and a jumping castle.

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commissioned music. 26–28 September.

Time: 8pm Friday and Saturday and 3pm Sunday. Venue: Theatre On-Main, Church Rd, Tokai-on-Main. Cost: R80. Contact: 021 715 9510 or info@theatreonmain.co.za Shakespeare Festival at The Vine School 25 September. Time: 6pm. Venue: Wynberg Girls’ Junior School, Aliwal Rd, Wynberg. Cost: adults R40, children R20.

Contact: 021 696 3220, info@thevineschool. org.za or visit thevineschool.org.za

playtime and story time New mountain bike track at Rhebokskloof Wine Estate Situated on the Northern slopes of Paarl Mountain, the track offers some of the most scenic views in the Western Cape, with dedicated single-track routes in the vineyards and slopes on either side of the farm. The eastern slope at the back of the farm has about 70 landscaped terraces within this single track. Riders seeking longer distances can do a 20km loop into the adjacent Paarl Mountain Reserve, resulting in a 35km track in total. Time: 8am–5pm Monday–Friday, 7am–5pm Saturday, 8am–4pm Sunday. Venue: buy your permits from Rhebokskloof Restaurant. Cost: R30 permit. For more info: visit paarlmtb.com/rhebokskloof

Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Southey’s Vines, 186 Main Rd, Somerset West. Cost: free.

Contact: 021 852 6608, 021 843 3287, info@countrycraftmarket.org or visit countrycraftmarket.org

on stage and screen Incredible Crew on Cartoon Network Every episode pokes fun at common

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aspects of children’s lives at school, home and with friends. This new show premieres on 6 September at 8am and repeats on Saturdays at 8am and 4:15pm, and 5pm Monday and Thursday. DStv channel 301 Precious Gems, The Circus and Musical Instruments Dance Crew, in association with the Amy Gould Ballet School, presents three originally choreographed works with specially

Story hours On 3 September: something with flowers; 10 September: collage of different colours; 17 September: play a game; 24 September: teach a song and something to make. For 2–5 year olds.

Time: 11:30am. Venue: Brackenfell Library hall, Paradys St, Brackenfell. Cost: free.

Contact: 021 980 1375 or gertruida. duplessis@capetown.gov.za Story time in Table View Time: 10am every Saturday. Venue: Exclusive Books, Bayside Centre. Cost: free. Contact: 021 521 4900

sport and physical activities Children’s Pilates The core principles of Pilates stem from the movement of babies, so children naturally respond well to it. For 5–12 year olds. Time: 2:45pm–3:15pm, every Monday. Venue: 29 Derry St, Vredehoek. Cost: free trial class. Contact: 021 461 2159 or visit healthjunction.co.za

Friday master class with Rugby School of Excellence Expert sessions on the intricacies of rugby. Individual skills based on player position as well as superior individual skills training for the modern requirements of rugby. Ends 19 September.

For 4–13 year olds. Time: 3:30pm–5pm, every Friday. Venue: call to enquire. Cost: R600 for eight sessions. Contact: 0861 123 273, info@therugbyschool.co.za or visit therugbyschool.co.za Kids OnCloud9 Classes in soccer, cricket, “kids kinetics” and dancing. For boys and girls pre-Grade R–Grade 7. Time: 9am–6pm Monday–Friday. Venue: southern and northern suburbs and Atlantic seaboard.

Cost: R390 per term. Contact: 084 777 1212, coachgrant@kidsoncloud9.co.za or visit kidsoncloud9.co.za Little Kickers Fun-filled soccer classes for boys and girls 18 months–7 years old offered in three age groups. A free trial lesson is available. Time and cost: call to enquire. Venue: classes run in Paarl, Stellenbosch and Somerset West. Contact: 076 265 0196 or boland@littlekickers.co.za Rugbytots free taster A morning of free Rugbytots games for boys and girls 2–7 years old. There are spot prizes, relay races and parents take on the Rugbytots teams with a game of tag at the end of the class. Time: 8:30am–9am for 2–3,5 year olds and 9am–10am for 3,5–5 year olds and 10am–11am for 5–7 year olds. Venue: Rondebosch United Church, Belmont

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calendar

on stage and screen

6 September – Family and friends CPR

Rd, Rondebosch. Cost: if your child takes a friend they attend free of charge. Contact: 079 410 1728, steed@rugbytots.co.za or visit rugbytots.co.za Teddy Tennis at The Glen Country Club Development programme for 2,5– 8 year olds accompanied by music. First lesson is free. Time: afternoons, Monday– Friday. Venue: The Glen Country Club, Clifton. Cost: call to enquire. Contact: 083 679 0731, mark@teddytennis.com or visit teddytennis.com

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Chilton Advanced Course in Childcare A six-week, advanced childcare/ECD training programme to ensure trainees are well equipped to begin a career in professional childcare. 1 September. Time: 9am–12pm Monday–Thursday. Venue: Chilton College, The Scalabrini Centre, 47 Commercial St. Cost: R5 300. Contact: 079 842 6599, chiltontraining@gmail.com or visit chiltonaupairs.co.za Family and Friends CPR 6 September.

Time: 9am. Venue: Constantiaberg Mediclinic, Plumstead. Cost: R270; with paediatric first aid R320. Contact: 021 705 6459, training@pec.co.za or visit pec.co.za Nanny cooking lessons Basic classes start 3 September and run over four Tuesdays and advanced classes start on 4 September and run over four Wednesdays.

Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Montana Rd, Camps Bay. Cost: R1 700, which includes certificate, recipe folder and ingredients.

Contact: 082 319 9215, janis@nicetouch. co.za or visit nicetouch.co.za Save-a-Child first aid course The course covers all relevant emergencies such as drowning, burns, seizures and bleeding as well as a practical CPR and choking education session. 6 September. Time: 8:30am–1pm. Venue: Shop 8B, Nobel Park, Old Paarl Rd, Bellville. Cost: R400 per person or R650 per couple. Contact: 083 291 7070 or info@educarecape.co.za Sugar and Spice nanny training childcare course 4 September: Claremont, 10 September: Tamboerskloof. Contact: 083 406 0028, kirsten@nannytraining.co.za or visit nannytraining.co.za The Happiness Boot Camp A course for women based on positive psychology. Time: 2pm–5pm, every Wednesday (8-week course).

Venue: Rosebank. Cost: R3 200. Contact: 021 686 2298, thehappinessbootcamp@ gmail.com or visit livehappier.wix.com/ thehappinessbootcamp

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…Miskien Performed in English and Afrikaans, this is a simple story of two best friends who are stuck in dead-end jobs and lives, waiting for Happy Hour at the end of each day. 2–27 September. Time: 8:15pm.

Venue: Baxter Golden Arrow Studio. Cost: R80–R145. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Spring & Fall Presented by Cape Town City Ballet, in association with Hamburg Ballet. 26–30 September. Time: 2pm, 3pm or 7:30pm. Venue: Artscape Opera House. Cost: R100–R280. Book through Computicket: visit computicket.co.za

out and about Nederburg Concert Series 28 September. Time: 5pm. Venue: Nederburg Manor House, Paarl. Cost: R200, including finger food and wine. Contact: 021 809 8412 or concerts@distell.co.za

support groups Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersexed Parents Support Group Venue: Triangle Project, Elta House, 2nd floor, 3 Caledonian Rd, Mowbray.

Contact: 021 686 1475, info@triangle.org. za or visit triangle.org.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops HypnoBirthing Course 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 September. Time: 7:30pm–9:30/10pm.

Venue: Deer Park House, Sunshine Health, 2 Deer Park Dr, Vredehoek. 14, 21 and 28 September and 5 and 12 October. Time: 9.30am–11:30/12pm. Venue: Angela-theMidwife’s, Fish Hoek. Cost: call to enquire.

Contact: 082 223 0549 or charlene@ beautifullyborn.co.za The Parent Centre moms-to-be and moms and babies groups For moms with babies up to 1 year old.

Mediclinic Cape Town, every Tuesday.

Time: 10:30am–12:30pm. Mediclinic Constantiaberg, every Thursday. Time: 10am–12pm. Cost: R50. Contact: 021 762 0116 or visit theparentcentre.org.za Toptots Children 8 weeks–4 years old learn while playing. Time: call to enquire.

Venues: City Bowl, Claremont, Constantia, Durbanville, Edgemead, Parklands/ Sunningdale and Somerset West. Cost: varies. Contact: 031 266 4910, admin@ toptots.co.za or visit toptots.co.za

playtime and story time Babies Read Books story time A children’s librarian and storyteller offers a drama programme for 1–3 year olds.

Children who can walk are encouraged to dress up and perform to music. 9 and 23 September. Time: 9:15am–9:45am.

Venue: Cape Town Mediclinic. Contact: 021 461 2843, 082 222 4082 or visit babiesreadbooks.co.za Mom Space A place for moms and their 0–3 year olds to connect, have fun, share and be inspired. Time: 9:30am–11am, Tuesdays during term. Venue: Church of the Holy Spirit, Kirstenhof. Cost: free. Contact: 021 701 3201 or cathi@chscapetown.org magazine cape town

Prémaman health and wellness talks 6 September: hypno birthing five-week course. 27 September: breast-feeding course. 8 September: a new spin on introducing complementary foods. 9 and 30 September: CPR and first aid course by Safe Kids. 12 September: Happy Mind, Happy Baby by psychological counsellor Nikki Branca. Every Monday and Thursday: Pilates classes. Every Wednesday morning: mom support group. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: guided relaxation sessions for pregnant moms.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: BabyGym1 for expectant parents.

On Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: BabyGym2 Firm Foundations fiveweek course for new parents. On Saturday and Sunday: BabyGym3 postgraduate courses. Venue: Prémaman shop, Tygervalley Shopping Centre. For times, costs and more info, contact: 021 914 6646 or barbara@premaman.co.za

Playgroup in Italian Toddlers learn basic Italian while playing. For 12–36 month olds. Time: 9:30am–11am, every Friday.

Venue: 137 Hatfield St, Gardens. Cost: R700 per term. Contact: 021 465 8261, info@ladante.co.za or visit ladante.co.za

support groups La Leche League free breast-feeding support group Southern suburbs: every second Thursday. Contact: 082 814 7210 or 083 460 5753. Parklands: every fourth Wednesday. Contact: 021 553 1664, 021 556 0693 or 079 524 5008. Parklands: every second Saturday. Contact: 082 330 5352. Parow: every third Wednesday.

Contact: 021 930 2475. Durbanville: every second Tuesday. Contact: 021 976 2598, 021 913 3586 or 021 910 2885. Kenridge: every first Monday. Contact: 021 910 0606 or 021 979 1425. Paarl: every third Tuesday.

Contact: 082 922 8195. Stellenbosch: every second Tuesday. Contact: 082 940 9685.

Telephonic help: Strandfontein: 021 393 1634. Malmesbury: 083 265 5458. Botrivier: 082 524 4243. Northern suburbs: 021 976 8537 or 082 062 0206

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in communities in the form of functional role models exposed to the children, shows them there is another way. The foundation offers a platform to get involved with remedial work in primary schools and challenges you to join them in creating a Tipping Point in the Retreat, Steenberg and Westlake communities in 2014. For more info: visit lifemattersfoundation.org National Cupcake Day 27 September.

Host your own cupcake party and make a difference for children with cancer. All you need is a group of friends or colleagues and you will receive an Angel Party Pack. For more info: visit cupcakesofhope.org Red Reading Box Sponsor a Red Reading Box for a child online or purchase one. For every Red Reading Box bought, READ will donate one to a needy child. For more info: visit read.co.za Santa Shoebox pledging opens on 1 September Help the Santa Shoebox Project get gifts to thousands of underprivileged children. For more info: visit santashoebox.co.za

how to help Life Matters Tipping Point Project Research has shown that when the amount of role models in a troubled area is increased to 5% or above, there is an instant, not gradual, improvement. It appears to be the boiling-point number to bring positive change to an entire community. Intervention

Life Matters Tipping Point Project

don’t miss out!

For a free listing, email your event to capetown@childmag.co.za or fax it to 021 462 2680. Information must be received by 5 September for the October issue, and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online, visit childmag.co.za

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it’s party time For more help planning your child’s party visit

childmag.co.za/ resources/birthday-parties

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finishing touch

you snooze you lose CASSANDRA SHAW explains how waking up a bit earlier

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Cassandra and her son

after 5am and we were relying, a little too much, on early morning TV. After a while, we noticed a change in his behaviour – he was moody, uncooperative and bored – so we decided it best to try and spend some time with him during the early hours of the morning instead of letting the TV babysit him.

Instead of catching those extra few moments of shuteye, however needed they were, my husband “took one for the team” and started waking up super early to do the things he had always planned on doing with his son – teaching him the alphabet, how to write his name, playing games and doing crafts together. They even take their

tea together at our son’s desk in his room, which he calls his “office”.

Now, after doing this for a month, our son seems happier in the mornings. When we are all running around the house trying to get him ready and ourselves out the door, he is chatty, cooperative and back to his real self again.

A little bit of effort on my husband’s part seems to have made a real difference in our son’s life. That extra bit of time spent with him in the mornings has almost doubled the amount of quality time we are able to spend with him and, as a result, despite our busy schedules, we’ve managed to take part in the things we had always hoped to teach our child. Well, at least my husband has. I on the other hand am still currently working on waking up at 5am…

Cassandra is seriously thinking about putting her alarm clock in another room to escape the ease of pressing snooze.

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PHOTOGRAPH: MENKE BONNEMA

a

s parents, we consistently have a lot on our plate. We wake up, get our loved ones ready for school, make breakfast, taxi everyone to school, go to work, sit in meetings, work with deadlines, commute home, make dinner, get our children ready for bed and then have about an hour left for ourselves before sleep overtakes us. It’s all pretty exhausting. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who wonders if I’m doing enough for my child at the end of it all.

With all of the madness in the day, it leaves little time for parents to spend with their children doing all of the things they dreamed they would one day do together – sharing their favourite stories, teaching them how to write, how to play a particular sport, learning to sing and so on.

Recently, my husband and I thought we weren’t spending enough time with our son. He regularly wakes up a little

has improved the lives of her husband and son.