Child Magazine | Durban March 2012

D U R B A N ’ S

b e s t

g u i d e

www.childmag.co.za

March 2012

deciding on discipline

get busy

inspirational travel ideas

free

health

p ar e n t s

to smack or not to smack

home &

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f o r

in the kitchen with Paddington Bear

getaways education

entertainment

The topic of holidays, past and future, is a firm favourite at our dinner table.

We laugh at the many strange places we have been to and dream of unexplored destinations we would still love to visit, in SA and beyond. Each year we try to tick off a brand-new destination.

Travelling as a family is not cheap, but every cent we have spent on past holidays has been so worth it. This year, our focus isn’t so much on where we go, but who we go with. As the children get older, they want different things out of their holidays, but mostly they just want to be with their mates.

This April, we are going one better than mates, we are making a long trek to meet up with my brother, who lives in Australia, at a “half-way” destination. All of this so that the cousins can have a long, long-overdue holiday together. With four teenagers and a 10 year old, the fun factor outranks the number of stars next to the hotel’s name.

Whether they are in a Bedouin tent in Jordan, on a lounger in Bali or sleeping under the stars on the banks of the Orange River, this holiday will be all about family, and lots and lots of laughter…

Here’s to stretching the budget, for the sake of family, and cracking a smile while doing so.

Happy holidays, home or away.

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Hunter House P U B L I S H I N G

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

Editorial

monthly circulation Cape Town’s Child magazineTM 45 129 40 257 Durban’s Child magazineTM 52 845 Joburg’s Child magazineTM

Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Anél Lewis • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor

to advertise Tel: 031 209 2200 • Fax: 031 207 3429 Email: dbnsales@childmag.co.za Website: childmag.co.za

Tamlyn Vincent • durban@childmag.co.za Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • lucille@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Art Designers Nikki-leigh Piper • nikki@childmag.co.za Alys Suter • studio2@childmag.co.za Mariette Barkhuizen • studio@childmag.co.za

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: Brooke Fasani

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

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

Subscriptions and Circulation Helen Xavier • subs@childmag.co.za

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

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Durban’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: 1st Floor, MB House, 641 Peter Mokaba Road, Overport, 4091. Tel: 031 209 2200, fax: 031 207 3429, email: durban@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 Durban’s Child magazineTM. We welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted right to change any received copy. We are under no obligation to return unsolicited copy. The magazine, or part thereof, may not be reproduced or adapted without the prior written permission of the publisher. We take care to ensure our articles, and other editorial content, are accurate and balanced, but cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or inconvenience that may arise from reading them.

March 2012

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contents march 2012

upfront 3

16

a note from lisa

6 over to you

readers respond

15 dad’s blog

you should encourage your children to embrace life, says Marc de Chazal

features 12 a river adventure

regulars

6 wins

Sue Segar and her family spend a weekend canoeing near Plett

16 spare the rod

the debate rages on: should you smack your child? Lisa Lazarus looks at both sides of the argument

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best for baby – crack the baby code

Ruwaydah Lillah helps you understand your infant’s cries

20 get your paws sticky

11 upfront with paul

Paul Kerton gives some healthy eating tips

Paddington Bear shares his favourite recipes in this book authored by Michael Bond

health

24

10 digesting dairy

what to do if your child is lactose intolerant. By Tamlyn Vincent

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24 resource – dream destinations near and far

we’ve compiled a list of inspirational travel ideas from all over the world

26 a good read

new books for the whole family

29 what’s on in march 34 last laugh

Sam Wilson talks about her lifelong love affair with piñatas

classified ads 33 let’s party 34 family marketplace

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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March 2012

Cape Town

Durban

Johannesburg

shutterstock.com

shutterstock.com

shutterstock.com

magazine durban

magazine durban

March 2012

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over to you

letters

sun facts In the article on sunscreen (“here comes the sun”, December 2011/January 2012), I was surprised to read that using a high factor is recommended. When we were on holiday in Australia, a leader in sun care research, we wanted to buy high SPF creams, but they only sell up to factor 15. A higher factor contains too many chemicals and could also cause skin cancer. Also, Australian children who don’t bring their hats and sun lotion to school are not allowed in.

Ilse Kock

party guide worth it Our company featured in your 2010 party issue and it was fantastic exposure. We would like to be in this year’s edition again.

Romy Honneysett, Vanilla Milkshake Events Ed’s note: The party guide is published in the May issue and you can send your details to durban@childmag.co.za

ritalin debate I feel compelled to provide a voice for the many parents who have found Ritalin a useful adjunct in the management of their child’s ADD/ADHD. My son had just started school when we noticed his inability to concentrate. By the time he reached Grade 2, it was clear that he could not sit still and focus, which meant he did not achieve what he was capable of. An educational psychologist diagnosed ADD and recommended a trial of Ritalin, among other behaviour modification techniques. The difference was amazing.

Our son was able to shut out the “fuzz” in his brain and he started concentrating. Most medications have sideeffects and drugs in themselves are not good or bad, but an understanding of the trade-off of benefits versus side effects in each individual case is warranted. In our case, Ritalin and its derivatives are beneficial and should not be vilified or just dismissed.

Irene Teachers are quick to tell parents to take their child for an assessment, to see if he needs Ritalin. After answering “no” to all the questions of a paediatric neurologist, she still recommended Ritalin. When he turned seven a year later, the teacher suggested another assessment, as he tended to lose concentration, forcing the teachers to repeat themselves. After doing my own research, I decided I would not put my son on a drug with horrific side-effects so that the teacher doesn’t have to “repeat herself”. Even when you discuss the side-effects, the experts simply say they will adjust the dosage. I refuse to alter my child’s personality or the chemicals in his brain. Teachers should do what they did before the drug was so freely available: get on with teaching and stop trying to drug our children.

Dan

to a busy three-and-a-half year old and a newborn. I immediately read the article to my husband, as we were about to launch into another round of arguing about who does more. The tips helped us find a way forward without anger and resentment. Then I read Paul Kerton’s piece “time for tough love”, about being a little selfish occasionally, and it gave me the impetus to start looking after myself. You made a difference today!

Zainub

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write to us Let us know what’s on your mind. Send your letters or comments to: marina@childmag.

You can also post a comment online at

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co.za or PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters.

time out

The opinions reflected here are those of our

Kim Maxwell’s “talk it through” (February 2012) resonated with the incessant arguments and difficulties my husband and I were experiencing in trying to be “selfless parents”

House Publishing.

readers and are not necessarily held by Hunter

wins

giveaways in march class act sweet dreams Protect-A-Bed® keeps your mattress like new with their wide range of breathable, waterproof mattress and pillow protection products.

Mattresses and pillows are protected from spills, stains, allergens and irritants like dust mites and bacteria. For more information, contact: info@protectabed.co.za or visit protectabed.co.za Four readers stand a chance to win a Protect-A-Bed® family pack containing mattress and pillow protectors, valued at R750. Simply enter via childmag.co.za/wins-dbn and use the code “Protect-A-Bed® DBN”. Your details will be made available to Protect-A-Bed®.

Rising Star Performing Arts Academy is an established drama academy that helps students develop the confidence and skills to act. For class times and venues, contact: enquiries@ risingstaracademy.co.za or visit risingstaracademy.co.za One reader stands a chance to win a 2012 speech and drama tuition bursary, starting with term two and ending with term four, valued at R1 950. Enter via childmag.co.za/ wins-dbn and use the code “Rising Star DBN”. Your details will be made available to Rising Star Performing Arts Academy.

shopping spree Polo introduces a crayon-inspired palette for the Polo boys’ collection.

Golfers are updated with a big pony and signature classic chinos and striped shirts are available. Young ladies’ golfers are in cupcake-cute pastel shades of pink and lilac. Favourites include the golfer dress, floral dress and denim collection. For more information, contact: 011 258 7600 or visit polo.co.za One reader stands a chance to win a voucher for a shopping experience in a regional Polo store, valued at R2 000. Simply enter via childmag.co.za/wins-dbn and use the code “Polo DBN”.

to enter simply visit childmag.co.za

or post your entry to PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Entries close 31 March 2012. Only one entry per reader.

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March 2012

congratulations to our December/January winners Mpume Madonda who wins a Computer Skills 4 Africa primary school curriculum; Jill Ainsworth and Aleysha Bodasing who each win a Sistema hamper; Fatima Randeree, Siziwe Eugenia Bilibana, Shanaz Ghuman, Shireen Achary and Sallly Botha who each win a pair of Skechers Twinkle Toes sneakers; Louise Myers and Adelle Jacks who each win a Cool Gear Inc hamper.

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magazine durban

March 2012

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best for baby

crack the baby code Being a parent is as frustrating as it is rewarding – especially if you can’t decipher your infant’s cries. RUWAYDAH LILLAH tries to tune in.

picture of your baby’s needs. “For example, babies under 12 weeks cannot laugh out loud, but they can show joy by smiling, widening their eyes, flapping their arms and kicking their legs,” she says.

decoding neonate and baby emotions According to Durban-based paediatricians, Drs Ronnie and Das Pillay, physicians and the public have for years believed that a newborn baby is unable to respond emotionally to pain and pleasure. But they say, “Despite the fact that the higher brain centres in the neocortex are not yet functional, expressions of pain and pleasure; sensations of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and stimuli – though basic – are evident from birth.” Bonding between mom and baby happens through touch, sight and sound stimuli.

Within a month, emotional reactions are clear as the baby will show that he is upset or overwhelmed by too much or too little stimulation. “Early in the neonatal period,

the Dunstan baby code

what do these signals mean?

Australian mother Priscilla Dunstan found herself in a decoding predicament when doctors told her that she needed to learn the meaning of the cries of her son, Thomas, who suffered from colic. Her immediate reaction was, “Where on earth do I learn that?” No-one could tell her how to differentiate a hungry cry from a tired cry.

Dunstan, a former mezzo-soprano who was able to hear and remember sound patterns from birth and could play the violin by two and a half, claims that all babies make a universal set of sounds within the first 12 weeks of their lives. She discovered this while listening to her son and, relying on her unique gift to interpret sound patterns, used the knowledge to develop the Dunstan Baby Language system. The universal baby sounds Priscilla identified are based on reflexes, which are the same in all newborn babies. When sound is added to these reflexes it creates five universal “words” that mothers tune into to understand their baby’s needs:

arching back You have to look at these signals in the context of what’s happening, Faure advises. “An arching back could be a sign of a number of things, but it generally means that the baby’s experiencing overall discomfort. Check when your baby is arching her back. If it’s after a feed, it could be reflux.” Faure adds that an arching back could also indicate overstimulation, especially in premature babies, or pain. head banging It could be a behavioural problem or a sign of pain from an ear infection, says Faure. Babies tend to head bang when experiencing deep pressure. grabbing ears “Look for the organic problem first, for example if it’s a sign of ear infection or if your baby is teething. However, your baby could also just be tired or discovering his ears,” Faure says. kicking legs This could be a sign of happiness and excitement as your baby explores his world.

It could also be that he is overstimulated. clenched fists This is a reflex in newborn babies and, as they get older, they generally stop clenching their fists. Clenched fists in an older baby could indicate overstimulation or that your baby is frustrated or angry. scrunched up knees When your baby’s knees are scrunched up in the foetal position, he could be looking for comfort.

Neh I’m hungry – A baby uses this sound reflex to let you know she is hungry. This sound happens when the sucking reflex is triggered and the tongue is pushed up on the roof of the mouth.

Owh I’m sleepy – The sound is similar to an audible yawn.

Heh I’m experiencing discomfort – The “heh” sound is used to communicate stress, discomfort or needing a nappy change. A baby says “heh” in response to a skin reflex, such as sweat or itchiness in the bottom.

Eairh I have lower gas – This could be flatulence or an upset tummy. Dunstan says the sound is produced when trapped air from a belch is unable to escape and then travels to the tummy where the intestinal muscles tighten and force out an air bubble. This sound often indicates that a bowel movement is in progress and the baby will bend its knees, bringing the legs toward the torso.

Eh I have gas – “Eh” means your baby needs to be burped. The eh-sound is produced when a large bubble of trapped air is stuck in the chest and the reflex is trying to free it out of the mouth.

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infants cry signals of hunger, soiled nappies or the need to be cuddled. This is often recognised by mothers as a normal cry,” says Dr Das Pillay. He adds that there are individual variations in infant cries.

“The cry of pain may be higher pitched or unvarying in pitch, which is indicative of distress. Facial grimacing, clenching of eyes and pulling of the mouth are indicative of an infant in pain. Refusing to eat and turning away may suggest problems in the mouth, throat or tummy,” he says.

But by far the most common reason why babies cry is because they are tired – especially in the first three months.

Babies sleep a lot and your baby’s sleep signals will come more often than expected, says Richardson. The “I’m tired” cry may be a chopping wail, but keeping a diary of your baby’s sleeping patterns will help you tell when your baby needs to nap. Meg Faure, the other author of Baby Sense says the following are warning signs that your baby is tired or overstimulated: sucking of hands, looking away, moaning, pushing you or toys away and arching.

March 2012

illustrations: shutterstock.com

t

here’s a general assumption that once you become a parent, you instinctively know what your baby wants.

Mothers are almost expected to have “superpowers” when it comes to tuning into their baby’s wants, needs and emotions. But how do you know that your baby’s crying because he’s hungry or that grimacing “smile” means she’s struggling with wind?

Coauthor of Baby Sense (Metz Press), Ann Richardson, says, “Essentially, babies can only communicate with us using body signals such as arching of the back or loss of eye contact and noises like grunting, gurgling and crying. Parents have to ‘read’ these signals to try to understand them.”

She adds that these signals, together with the development of physiological maturity, which enables your baby to show pleasure by smiling at around four to six weeks, and the emotional maturity to experience separation anxiety around nine months, when the mom leaves the room for example, help to give a composite

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March 2012

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health

lthough lactose intolerance can cause varying degrees of discomfort, it is managaeble, says Catherine Boome, a Cape Town-based dietician.

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Boom says an intolerance to lactose occurs when the body doesn’t make enough of the lactase enzyme to effectively digest the lactose. It is different from a milk allergy, where the immune system reacts to proteins in the milk, “presenting with typical allergic reactions”, explains Johannesburg paediatrician Dr Alison Baxter.

to normal. Babies are rarely born without the ability to produce lactase, she says.

Children will usually only show signs of the condition after the age of three. “Symptoms of lactose intolerance begin 30 minutes to two hours after drinking or eating foods that contain lactose,” advises Boome. These can range from mild to severe and may include nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and gas. “Sometimes people may vomit, but more frequently they have loose, frothy stools,” adds Baxter.

testing cause and effect “Primary lactose intolerance can occur naturally as part of the ageing process, as adults lose some degree of lactase activity after puberty,” says Boome. Children are more likely to develop secondary lactose intolerance. This is often because of an infection like gastroenteritis, where diarrhoea causes a loss of the lactase enzyme in the gut, says Baxter. Boome explains that lactase develops fully in foetuses in the third trimester, so premature babies may have reduced lactase. This can cause transient lactose intolerance. However, these enzymes generally return

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March 2012

Baxter uses a stool acidity test for babies and young children. The liquid part of the stool is tested to find reducing substances, or sugars that have not been properly absorbed, and the results are quantified so that the doctor can gauge the severity of the intolerance.

Other tests include the lactose-tolerance test and hydrogen breath test. In both, a high level lactose drink is taken. The first tests the glucose in the blood to see if the body absorbs and digests lactose. The second tests the amount of hydrogen in the breath, which will be greater for lactose-intolerant people. “The tests may be dangerous

for infants and children who can’t tolerate high levels of lactose,” says Boome.

managing it Baxter says lactose intolerance in premature babies is not a major concern as feeding is introduced slowly.

For breast-feeding lactose-intolerant babies, Baxter recommends eliminating lactose from your diet. If your baby is still uncomfortable, try alternating feeds of breast milk with lactose-free formula. If you have taken your baby off lactose, try introducing it again at around three months, says Baxter. Babies on lactose-free formula will still get the right vitamins and minerals. However, you should consult your paediatrician before making any changes.

For children, try limiting the amount of lactose in their diet. If you have completely excluded dairy products from their diet, they may not be getting sufficient vitamin D and B12, calcium, phosphorous, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, protein or potassium. “These nutrients must be obtained from other foods and supplements,” says Boome. A dietician or paediatrician would be able to assess your child’s diet and recommend supplements if necessary.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

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If milk turns your stomach, you may be lactose intolerant. By TAMLYN VINCENT

upfront with paul

food for thought Control your children’s need for nuggets, and other food fetishes, by encouraging them to eat a varied diet. By PAUL KERTON

y

PHOTOGRAPH: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

Saskia, Paul and Sabina

ou might have missed that shocking story about British teenager Stacey Irvine, who has lived on a diet of McDonalds chicken nuggets since she was a toddler and has never tasted fruit or fresh vegetables. Well, surprise, surprise, she collapsed and was rushed to hospital after struggling to breathe, and was promptly told by doctors to “change your appalling diet or die”.

A 20-piece portion of McNuggets contains 58g of fat and 926 calories, which exceeds the daily recommended 56g fat allowance and is almost half an adult’s required 2 000 calories a day. Dieticians do concede that “nuggets and chips provide sufficient calories and vitamin C levels for a teenager but…”, and here is the

magazine durban

zinger, “… vital nutrients responsible for the skin, eyes, bone health and immunity are practically nonexistent”.

So why am I telling you all of this?

Because, fellow caring parent, all our children go through food fads. I know of children that only eat fish fingers, scrambled eggy-weggy or cereal, and it is very easy to slip into the habit of always giving them their favourite food. It prevents conflict and, if their chosen meal is pasta, the one-pot cooking means it’s easy to make. But we need to ensure that a temporary diet fad does not become a long-term obsession.

Both my children are proud pasta maniacs, which is good and bad. Good, because this pasta diet has helped keep them slim, as pasta-eating supermodels

such as Cindy Crawford, have also testified to at some point, but bad, because eating a monotonous diet of any kind will neglect the essential goodies needed for healthy development.

At home we try and maintain a nutritional balance, but children, even your own children, can lie about their food intake.

We’ll ask: “Have you had pasta already today?” Their reply: an emphatic “No”.

“What did you have for lunch?” The answer: a hesitant “Er…” “Was it made in Italy, dirty yellow in colour, hard before you boiled it and served with olive oil, pesto and Parmesan?”

Answer: “I think so.” “Well, that is pasta, so no more for you today, my darling.”

The recommended meat and two veg combo is an effort to cook, and also to eat, as you need to sit upright at a table, on a chair, using a knife and fork and most likely, you’ll be away from the TV. Insist that your children sit at a table to eat, and

maybe, communicate with the family. Yes, children can eat a hot dog upside down while abusing the couch in front of the TV, if you let them. But if that’s how they eat every meal they will have the table manners of an orang-utan.

Luckily, while food fads might annoy you, as the parent, they will shift and change as your children get older. Cook as a family, let them plan meals and make food something to enjoy on a social, as much as a nutritional, level. Keep offering them new things to try from an early age, even if they claim to hate it. One day they will change their minds as they appreciate that new flavours and textures can be exciting to eat. They will suddenly start adding new foods without you even knowing, thanks to sampling at birthday parties or at school, and peer pressure to eat different things. Just keep an eye on those food obsessions.

Paul Kerton is the author of Fab Dad 2: from walking to talking… and beyond.

March 2012

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getaway

a river SUE SEGAR and her family spend a weekend doing the magical Whiskey Creek Canoe Trail on the Keurbooms River

Clockwise from top left: Saskia in her helmet, ready for the river; Dad (Martin) hauls his canoe over the shallow rapid; Tom gets to know his boat.

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March 2012

We were there because we wanted to have an adventure with our children, something that could be done over a weekend. It had to be a challenge, but nothing too dangerous – a mini Survivor weekend of sorts. We had been in that jaded family space that comes from just one weekend too many in the city. Saskia, 11, needed a break from soil erosion projects, music exams and pre-teenage girl politics. Tom, nine, just needed to do something exciting out of The Dangerous Book for Boys. As a great fan of Cape Nature – at the beginning of every year, I park myself in their head office and make four or five bookings in different spots for the family – I’d had my eye on the canoe trail for some time, but wanted to wait until the children were ready. Now, with a successful Whale Trail behind them and a childhood

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illustrations: shutterstock.com / Photographs: robyn rorke

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he comments in the visitors’ book of our remote log cabin on the bank of the Keurbooms River said: “Animals we saw include puff adder, scorpions, spiders and the house snake” and “Paddle further upstream and you will find some White Nile water”. The children, intrigued, were reading the book aloud after arriving at the overnight hut tucked in a forest above the river, the final destination on Cape Nature’s Whiskey Creek Canoe Trail. We’d just arrived – two parents, two children and their vegan godmother – after a 7km paddle up the whiskey-coloured river, starting at the river mouth just outside Plettenberg Bay, and winding through beautiful high gorges and forests of keurboom (the signature tree in this area), stinkwood, yellowwood and Cape beech.

outside Plettenberg Bay.

of holidays spent paddling on the Duiwenhoks River, I was confident that they were up to it.

We left on a Friday straight after school and, to break the trip, spent the night in Bonnnievale at one of the country’s only persimmon farms. Early the next morning, we took a back route through the Bonnievale valley, which was a treat in itself, to Swellendam and back on to the N2 heading for Plett.

VG, we paddled for about three hours upriver, stopping on the bank for a picnic of smoked mussels and crackers as storm clouds gathered above us, ready to burst.

At first, we were shockingly incapable of paddling a straight course, veering either left or right and into the reed beds on the shore. But after a while, we realised it makes a difference whether one is aiming the front or rear end forward.

We had been in that jaded family space that comes from just one weekend too many in the city.

Part of the fun of planning the trip was the “sight unseen” factor, as we had not been up the river before and we had no clue what our canoes would look like. But the challenge that preoccupied me most, while planning the trip into relatively unknown territory, was how to feed the delightful, but determinedly vegan, godmother. Especially as all the clothes, sleeping equipment and food for two nights had to be squeezed into the hulls of three canoes (this was a safari into Africa, minus the bearers).

Once there, we related to another comment in the visitor’s book: “Incredible location. Our second visit. The first time we turned back because we couldn’t find the hut.” Having packed everything into the canoes, making space for the quinoa, the avos and cannellini beans for the

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The first 4km were festive, with occasional picknickers and people on powerboats waving at us; the latter creating exciting waves to paddle through. Then things quietened down, as motor boats are not allowed beyond a certain point upriver, and the river became more tranquil, the birds more plentiful and the weather more overcast. Birds in these parts include the Knysna Loerie and Woodpecker, Malachite Sunbird, Giant Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, as well as various sunbirds and numerous others. A pair of Egyptian geese, with five goslings bobbing behind them, kept us company for a little while. We loved the serenity of the second half of the trail, with the steep, wooded slopes rising on either side of the broad, gentle river.

Top: The deck of the log cabins; Above: The family prepares for the second day on the river.

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getaway

travel tips

Above: The bunk beds inside our cabin; Right: The view during our stay.

About three hours from the start, we reached a narrow section of the river. The fast rapids in the shallow water prevented us from paddling any further so we pulled the canoes over the brown stones and to the side of the river. It took quite a while of strolling up and down the sandy bank before we spied a tiny path winding into the bush and to our hut, the Whiskey Creek Log Cabin.

The children yelped in delight as they ran up the stairs of the golden pine house, which is set on stilts (to accommodate the occasional flood) in the dense riverfront shrubbery, backed by giant indigenous trees. With its fireplace on the wide verandah and an open air kitchen and eating area that looks out onto the river, the house is great for a sociable group of people. The sleeping area is a spacious single room, with four bunk beds and two single beds. We lit a fire and ate supper under the stars before the children managed to talk their godmother into sleeping on the deck.

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March 2012

Most visitors paddle back downstream after only one night; we decided to stay for an extra day in the wild, doing nothing except maybe lying on the deck reading.

We packed a picnic and spent most of the day wading and swimming upriver. It’s absolutely essential to wear shoes in this river as the stones are very hard on the feet. It was idyllic to swim in the warm water and walk in the sun with the sound of the birds and the gurgle of water over the river stones.

The children and their godmother walked further than we did, in search of the “Nile’s white water”. About 20 minutes later, screams of excitement and delight wafted down the river and we knew they had found something that met their expectations. That night, with the children asleep again under the stars, my husband said to me, “Everyone’s gone in for glamour lodges. They have forgotten about nature and the holiday huts in the wild that abound and which give double the reward at a tenth of the price.”

• T he Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is situated about 8km past Plettenberg Bay on the N2 towards Port Elizabeth.

• You must arrive at the gate by 3:30pm to depart no later than 4pm for the trail.

• The trail is limited to 10 people for the overnight hut. Canoes, as well as the compulsory helmets and life jackets, are included in the trail and accommodation tariff. Waterproof shoes with grip soles are essential.

• The dorm-like bedroom contains four double bunks and two single beds. Each bed is supplied with a mattress with cover, pillow and pillow slip.

• The kitchen has a gas stove, fridge, crockery, cutlery and fresh rain water.

• Electricity is supplied via solar power so the optimal functioning of the geyser, lights and freezer cannot be guaranteed.

• A braai grid and black pot are supplied.

Braai wood is sold at the security gate.

• Take food, towels, sleeping bags, bedding and fire lighters, torches and matches.

For more information on the Keurbooms River Nature Reserve: visit capenature.co.za

magazine durban

dad’s blog

be more interesting

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

enjoy the unusual aspects of life. I guess that’s why stumbling upon Jessica Hagy’s quirky perspective on forbes.com/sites/jessicahagy made my day.

Jessica is an artist and writer, best known for her awardwinning blog, Indexed (don’t worry, I’d never heard of it either). Her writing has mastered the art of brevity, accentuated with line drawings to illustrate her points.

There are lessons in communication, which we could pass on to our children, right there.

But the particular article that caught my attention is about being more interesting – or as she puts it, “how to be interesting (in 10 stupid-simple steps)”. She encourages her readers to explore ideas, places and opinions. “The inside of the echo chamber is where all

magazine durban

Encourage your children to leave their comfort zones and explore new places and ideas, says MARC DE CHAZAL.

the boring people hang out.” But Jessica is not endorsing a purely selfish path to self-improvement. We should also share what we discover with others. And we should do

The inside of the echo chamber is where all the boring people hang out. something – anything – instead of sitting around and complaining. I like that one. We live in an age where it’s really easy to whinge and moan about anything and everything without lifting a finger to make a difference.

It helps to have a cause, of course. Jessica’s point is that we need to be passionate about something in life, but she warns against being arrogant. All of this requires a certain amount of courage, and for us to leave our comfort zones and go against the flow. There are no revolutionary ideas in the article, but they are definitely worth emphasising to our children as they grow up.

Being unafraid to try new things and experience as much of life as possible seems to me like a really good way to live.

Read more of Marc de Chazal’s weekly parenting blogs on childmag.co.za/dad-blog

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parenting

spare the rod Is a quick smack a suitable form of punishment, or should any form of hitting be avoided?

a

lthough many of us may have felt the urge to smack when provoked beyond endurance, an increasing number of parents make the ideological decision that this form of punishment is not appropriate. Are they correct, and is smacking likely to lead to horrible consequences?

Rachel Ferriman, 35, lives in Randburg, and is a stay-at-home mother to three children, aged six, four and two. She says, “Smacking is effective before children can talk or understand abstract concepts clearly. A smack is designed to redirect a child’s action. The first time I smacked my first-born, he was about 10 months old. I was changing his nappy on white bedding, and he was trying to move away from me. Of course, I’m entirely to blame for

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the situation – I definitely should not have changed him there. But it was too late, and a quick, sharp smack stopped him in his tracks. From then on he usually lay still when I changed him and because I wasn’t trying to stop him turning and escaping, I could be calm and tender with him, which we both enjoyed. I would have thought it was too early to smack a child – before his first birthday – but it wasn’t.”

Cape Town writer Penny*, 39, has one son, aged three-and-a-half, whom she has smacked on a few occasions. “Smacking is justified when a child is not in a correct mindset to think about what he is doing – for example, the child believes the activity is fun, or he is in the middle of a tantrum, or he is being purposefully defiant.”

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PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATION: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

LISA LAZARUS investigates.

Under such circumstances, she feels it is beneficial to associate a danger with a short, sharp (non-lasting) pain, coupled with a stern rebuke from a loving parent. “It provides an effective deterrent for children who are not old enough to understand the consequences of their actions, or the concept of danger,” she explains.

But educational psychologist and founder of the Bella Vida Centre in Johannesburg, Ilze van der Merwe-Alberts, does not support the smacking of a child of any age. “There are better ways to discipline children,” she says. “Also, it teaches children double standards, because you’re saying that they can’t smack another child, but that it’s okay for an adult to smack. This is confusing for a child.”

Dominique Phohleli, 37, from Fourways, is the mother of two children, aged seven and 11. When her son was five years old, he went around his aftercare swearing at the other children, using offensive language he had picked up from a friend. “The next day I made him apologise to each child and to the teacher as well. It was a difficult thing for him to do,” she says. “He resisted, but I insisted. It was hard for me too, because I felt humiliated at the way

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he had behaved. I don’t believe a hiding would have been half as effective.”

Even though she was smacked as a child, not regularly, but on occasion, Dominique doesn’t think it had any effect on how she made decisions, except to show her that this is not an effective form of discipline. This is a somewhat unusual response, as discipline strategies are fairly

Newsweek’s blog reports on an American population study by Dr Marjorie Gunnoe, a professor of psychology at Calvin College, Michigan. In this ongoing study, adults and their teenage children are interviewed every three years, over a 20-year period. Almost a quarter of these adolescents claim that they were never smacked. Those who were smacked as young children, between the

There are better ways to discipline children… also, it teaches children double standards. likely to pass from one generation to the next. A 2003 study in the Journal of Family Psychology indicated that adolescents’ approval of smacking was highly likely if they themselves were hit as young children.

be consistent Surprisingly, there is little research that compares children who have been smacked with those who haven’t. It’s probably because most children have been smacked at least once in their lives.

However, as a parenting style of no-hitting gains popularity, new evidence is starting to emerge, and the results are intriguing.

ages of two and six, were doing better as teenagers across a number of outcomes, including academic rank, volunteer work, tertiary aspiration and hope for the future.

Po Bronson, co-author of a parenting research book NurtureShock (Twelve Publishers), hypothesises that the lack of consistency when it comes to disciplining, whether you’re a smacker or not, is at the heart of the problems. “My thoughts jump immediately to the work of Dr Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, a professor of human development and family science, (who) found that children of progressive dads were acting out more in school. This

the current debate Proposed changes to the Children’s Act could make it illegal for you to smack your child. Although the Schools Act of 1996 has banned corporal punishment in the classroom, there is no legislation stopping parents from hitting their children at home. A Western Cape lobby group, the Children’s Rights Project, wants this to change, and has asked the Department of Social Development to ban the practice as it considers amendments to the Children’s Act. Their submission will be considered by the department in May. There are concerns that a blanket ban on spanking would turn parents into criminals if they disciplined their children. It would also be difficult to police.

But some children’s rights groups maintain that the new legislation will protect children from abuse.

Several countries, including Kenya, Sweden, Finland and Germany, have banned corporal punishment in the home.

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parenting

was likely because the fathers were inconsistent disciplinarians; they were emotionally uncertain about when and how to punish, and thus they were reinventing the wheel every time they had to reprimand their child. In other words, spanking regularly isn’t the problem; the problem is having no regular form of discipline at all.”

Cape Town-based clinical psychologist Emilita Pecego supports Bronson’s interpretation. “I think those children who were smacked and did well, did so not as a result of the physical punishment that they received, but because they had parents who responded to them consistently.

No response or discipline is probably more harmful to children than a ‘mild’ smack, which is then followed by a loving response, such as a hug.”

behaviour tends to reduce the incidence of bad behaviour,” she says. She doesn’t smack her children, because she believes it doesn’t teach them anything valuable in the long term. “This is a difficult thing for me to admit,” she says, “but if I’m honest with myself, I know the times I’ve been sorely tempted to give a smack were more about me looking for an outlet for my anger rather than an attempt to teach my child something about his behaviour.”

Pecego states that parents often smack when they’re feeling overwhelmed by their feelings of anger or frustration. Although she acknowledges the acceptability of these feelings, their physical expression should try to be avoided. “Particularly in a South African context with its high levels of personal trauma and public violence,

No response or discipline is probably more harmful to children than a ‘mild’ smack, which is then followed by a loving response, such as a hug.

Yet, Pecego does not support smacking as a means of disciplining a child. She states, “I believe that it is preferable to set limits in non-violent ways, as this preserves the integrity and respect within the parent-child relationship.”

effects of smacking Gunnoe’s research also looked at the effects of smacking older children. Those who experienced their last smack between the ages of seven and 11 were slightly worse off on negative outcomes when compared with the never-been-smacked, but a tad better when it came to the positive outcomes. However, adolescents who were still being smacked were always worse off, and clearly exhibited problems.

Van der Merwe-Alberts has the following advice if a parent decides to use smacking as a form of discipline: • Don’t smack in anger.

• Make sure your child knows you’re going to smack so there are no big surprises.

• Remain under control.

• Discuss afterwards why the child was smacked.

• Reassure the child of your love.

consequences, not punishments For Dominique, an important part of child rearing involves praise for good behaviour.

“Star charts or keeping track of good

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parents need to support (and receive support) in fostering a safe and violencefree society,” she says.

So what does Pecego propose as an alternative? “It’s absolutely vital for parents to set limits or boundaries for their children,” she says. “I think that the lack of a parental response – in other words, no boundaries – or the inconsistent implementation of boundaries, leaves a child confused about what behaviour is acceptable. Also, the value of a boundary, that it can be very helpful for protecting oneself and others, is not learnt.”

If these boundaries are transgressed, then there must be consequences.

“Consequences rather than punishments, especially physical punishments for inappropriate behaviour, fit more naturally with how life works. For example, if you refuse to share with friends, they may stop playing with you. The way consequences are enforced should be adapted to the age of the child.”

Parenting is sometimes like a complex strategy game, where you need be patient but firm, wily yet humorous. And the end result takes years, even decades, to emerge. But, ultimately, helping a new life manoeuvre competently through the world is surely a challenge worth working at. * Name has been changed. magazine durban

age-appropriate discipline babies • Discipline cannot be enforced, but it is important to respond consistently, according to the needs of your baby. young toddlers – one to three years old • Apply consequences in a practical way through your actions, and with the understanding that the toddler may not fully understand that his behaviour is a problem.

• Use distraction. Try and interest the child in something else, or remove a dangerous object and verbalise why you are doing this – “I’m taking the fork away, because it can hurt you.” preschool – from three years old • Children have the beginning of a sense of right and wrong, even if they don’t always understand why certain behaviour is inappropriate.

• State the problem. Say, “You are jumping on the couch and that is not allowed, please stop.” If the child does not listen, tell her she will have a time-out.

• Always implement your threat.

• One minute of time-out per year of child’s age.

• Educational psychologist, Ilze van der Merwe-Alberts, recommends the following approach for children over the age of two: when you, as the parent, have made a decision, give the child a choice of two ways of executing that decision. For example, at bath time, the child is given the choice of running to the bathroom either as a racing car or a racing horse. The advantages are that you’re using the child’s language of play, and allowing the child some choice, while still retaining the ultimate parental control. primary school • At times, allow natural consequences to take their course. For example, if the child does not do his homework, then he will have to face the consequences at school. Don’t step in and “save” your child.

• Consequences like no TV or no pocket money would be appropriate, but it does depend on the particular activities that the child enjoys. teenagers • It is important for parents and teenagers to reach some agreement on appropriate and inappropriate ways of behaving, and then to negotiate the consequences for lack of compliance.

• The challenge for this age group is to develop a sense of autonomy and identity, and to begin the process of separating from the parents. Therefore, a more collaborative approach is better.

• The effects of not responding or responding inconsistently at this stage can be serious.

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March 2012

19

book extract

get your paws sticky The whole family will love experimenting with these recipes inspired

by Paddington, the much-loved bear from the popular children’s books.

sweetcorn fritters Ingredients: • 100g plain flour • 1 tbsp baking powder • Salt and pepper • 1 large egg • 150ml milk • 200g tinned sweetcorn kernels • 2 tbsp vegetable oil

What to do: • Sift the flour, baking powder and a good pinch of salt and pepper into the bowl.

• Make a well in the centre, add the egg and gradually beat in the milk with a whisk to form a smooth batter.

• Drain the sweetcorn kernels thoroughly. (Patting it with kitchen roll is a good idea – it stops extra liquid diluting the batter.) Add the kernels to the batter mix.

• Heat the vegetable oil in the frying pan over a medium heat. Fry dollops (about two tablespoons) of the mixture for two minutes or so on each side until golden and crisp.

spicy chicken noodles Serves 2–4

You will need: • Bowl • Chopping board • Sharp knife • Tablespoon • Wok or frying pan • Measuring jug • Wooden spoon

Ingredients: • 125g Chinese noodles, cooked or ready to use • 75g frozen sweetcorn kernels • 75g frozen peas • 400g chicken breast • 4 spring onions • 3 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 tbsp mild curry paste (korma is ideal) • 150ml chicken stock • 150ml coconut milk • Pinch of dried red chilli flakes • Juice of ½ lime

What to do: • Cook the noodles, following the instructions on the packet, and set aside. Measure out the sweetcorn and peas and leave them in a bowl to defrost.

• Cut the chicken into strips. Chop the spring onions.

• Heat the oil in the wok or frying pan. Add the spring onions and stir fry for about two minutes.

• Now add the chicken strips and stir and cook for five minutes.

• Add the curry paste, stock, coconut milk and chilli flakes. Stir well, bring it up to a simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes.

• Add the noodles, sweetcorn and peas, and cook everything for a further three minutes.

• Lastly, add the lime juice, give everything a final stir and serve up in bowls.

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March 2012

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Text copyright © Michael Bond 2011 / Recipes copyright © Lesley Young 2011 / Illustrations copyright © R. W. Alley 2011 / Photographs copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2011

You will need: • Large bowl • Sieve • Kitchen roll • Measuring jug • Tablespoon • Whisk (hand or electric) • Frying pan • Fish slice

Serves 2–4

blackberry and apple crumble Serves 4–6

You will need: • Chopping board • Sharp knife • Potato peeler • Ovenproof dish about 20cm x 30cm and 5cm deep • Mixing bowl • Sieve • Tablespoon

Ingredients: • 500g cooking apples • 250g blackberries • 55g caster sugar • 200g plain flour • 100g unsalted, cold butter, cut into cubes • 125g demerara sugar

What to do: • Preheat the oven to 200ºC. • Peel and core the apples and cut into large chunks. Wash the blackberries and place all the fruit in the ovenproof dish.

• Add the caster sugar, and mix it through the fruit with your hands to spread it about.

• To make the crumble, sieve the flour into the mixing bowl and add the butter. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips, until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the demerara sugar.

• Spread the crumble mixture over the fruit in the dish and pat it down so there are no bald patches. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and there are purple juices bubbling at the edges.

• Leave for 10 minutes before dishing up. Serve with cream, crème fraîche or ice cream.

croque monsieur Serves 2

You will need: • Cheese grater • Chopping board • Knife for buttering • Small saucepan • Tablespoon • Wooden spoon • Frying pan • Fish slice

Ingredients: • 75g Gruyère cheese • 60g butter, softened • 4 thick slices white bread • 15g plain flour • 100ml whole milk • 1 egg yolk • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • 4 slices good quality ham

about the book What to do: • Grate the cheese.

• Butter the bread, using 20g or a third of the block of butter, and put the slices on a board, buttered side down.

• Melt the rest of the butter in the saucepan over a medium heat and add the flour. Stir with the wooden spoon for a couple of minutes until well mixed, then add the milk gradually, stirring all the time, until the mixture is thick and smooth.

• Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the egg yolk, the mustard and the grated cheese. Beat the sauce with the spoon until the cheese has melted.

• Spread the cheese mixture on two slices of the bread waiting on the board. Fold the ham and put two slices on each of the cheese-sauce-covered slices. Put the remaining two slices of bread on top of each of the cheese and ham slices (butter side up) and press down softly.

• Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the sandwiches for about three minutes on each side until they are crisp and golden. (Because they are buttered, you don’t need any fat or oil.)

• Using the fish slice, take them out of the pan, cut into halves diagonally and serve at once. magazine durban

Michael Bond, author of the popular Paddington series, says that the simplest of dishes, provided they are made with style, are the most satisfying. This is why these unpretentious, yet delicious dishes will satisfy even the fussiest of young gourmands.

Paddington, who hails from Peru, loves food, especially if it contains marmalade. He lives with the Browns at Number 32 Windsor Gardens and has been taking cooking lessons from their housekeeper, Mrs Bird.

In this delightful book, Paddington’s Cookery Book (HarperCollins Publishers), with its illustrations by R.W. Alley and recipes by Lesley Young, Paddington shares some of his favourite dishes. The recipes have easy, step-by-step instructions and there are wonderful stories about Paddington’s trips to the market and preparations for his Christmas birthday party. Children of all ages will treasure this story-cum-cookbook.

It is available at all good bookstores.

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advertorial

resource

Get out the atlas, renew everyone’s passports and pick one (or more) of these

False Bay, Cape Town Muizenberg is home to a historical battle site and Het Posthys, the NEAR oldest building on the False Bay coastline, while the Edwardianstyle Railway Station and Victorian beach houses showcase the area’s distinctive architecture. Simon’s Town’s historical mile gives visitors the chance to learn about the area’s naval history. Visit museums, browse antique shops or take in the harbour. For more info: visit awhaleofaheritageroute.co.za Sterkfontein Caves, Gauteng The Cradle of Humankind, with its archaeological digs and fossil deposits, was the site where Mrs Ples, a 2,1 million-year-old Australopithecus africanus skull, was discovered. The almost-complete skeleton of Little Foot, dating back three million years, was also discovered here. Tours take visitors deep into the caves where you can learn about our early ancestors. For more info: visit maropeng.co.za Ephesus, Turkey This city is known as one of Turkey’s great outdoor museums. Built by the FAR Greeks and inhabited by the Romans, Ephesus also played host to the likes of Alexander the Great, and John the Baptist, Visitors should see the Hillside Houses, the Library of Celsus, and the amphitheatres. Be sure to sample Turkish apple tea and bargain with shop vendors. For more info: visit kusadasi.biz

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March 2012

Machu Picchu, Peru Ancient Incan ruins are hidden high in the mountains where visitors can see temples and houses built from stones carved out of the mountainside. Of particular interest is the Intihuatana Stone, which is the only ritual stone not destroyed by Spanish conquerors. Nearby Cusco gives tourists the chance to experience Inca culture first-hand. For more info: visit macchupicchu.org

The Garden Route Cycling around the Knysna area gives families the opportunity to see NEAR beautiful scenery, including panoramic views of the Knysna Heads. Harkerville has a number of circular routes, ranging from easy to tough, while the Homtini trail is moderate with some steep bits. The weather is usually mild, but heavy rain may close several of the routes. You may also need a permit for some of them.

For more info: visit gardenroute.co.za Namaqualand Granite rock formations, farm towns and fields of daisies make this destination a must-see. There is accommodation all over, so it is easy to find a base and to cycle from there. Routes accommodate different experience and fitness levels, and travel through mountain passes or along district roads. Go after the winter rains, when the desert flowers bloom. Permits are required on most routes.

For more info: visit namaqualand.com

Machu Picchu, Peru

Denmark The country has over 12 000km of marked cycle routes and paths that run alongside FAR main roads. The distances between stops are generally quite short, but you can take bicycles with you on the trains. Most of the routes are on flat terrain, and take you past numerous familyfriendly campsites. Avoid visiting in February when the temperature plummets and most of the sights are closed. For more info: visit cycling-embassy.dk Mallorca, Spain This island is a popular cycling destination, given its mild winter weather and extensive route networks.

The terrain ranges from flat to hilly and mountainous. Take short trips between the villages, or travel longer routes around the island. For more info: visit seemallorca.com

Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal Snorkelling in these warm waters will give you a taste of NEAR the kaleidoscopic ocean, but to fully appreciate all that it has to offer you would need to slip on an oxygen tank and explore the many caves, pinnacles and drop offs in the area. Introduce younger children to snorkelling by letting them explore the natural rock pools. The best time to visit is from November to February, when leatherback, loggerhead and green turtles breed on the shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. For more info: visit sodwanabay.com Snorkelling with seals, Cape Town If you can brave the icy waters of the Atlantic with a wetsuit, snorkel and mask, you will be able to dip below the surface and experience life through the eyes of a seal. No previous snorkelling experience is necessary but you do need to be a good swimmer. Go with one of the companies that organises look-outs for sharks to ensure your safety, giving you the peace of mind to interact freely with the seals. For more info: visit scubashack.co.za The Indonesian Archipelago This region comprises more than 17 000 islands, each with FAR unique attractions and diverse marine life. There are beginner and advanced diving options (with reef sharks and majestic whale sharks as

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ILLUSTRATIONS and photographs: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / nqileni village – mike cohen

inspirational travel ideas for your next family holiday. By CHILD MAGAZINE

possible dive companions) and various activities such as hikes up dormant volcanoes, visits to religious temples and opportunities to spot the Komodo dragon.

For more info: visit indonesia.travel Bonaire, Caribbean The island of Bonaire is encircled by a 30-year-old marine sanctuary that is home to sea horses, shipwrecks and a coral reef. It is ranked as one of the top four scuba diving and snorkelling destinations and offers mangroves for kayaking, bays for wind surfing and the Washington Slagbaai National Park for hikes. Young children who are just learning to swim will enjoy its calm waters and warm ocean temperatures. For more info: visit infobonaire.com

AfrikaBurn, Tankwa Karoo National Park A community of volunteers gathers once a year NEAR in the desert to create a temporary city of music and performance, art, theme camps and costumes. The April festival does not allow any commercial exchange, so there are no cash bars, vendors, or branded promotion of services or products. You have to bring everything that you’ll need for the duration of your stay. You may want to make use of the festival’s gift economy option. Children under the age of 14 enter free. For more info: visit afrikaburn.com White Mountain Festival, Central Drakensberg This three-day acoustic music festival takes place in September, coinciding with the start of the school holidays. Expect performances by top South African artists, as well as art and crafts, a beer market, and assorted food stalls and outdoor activities, which range from abseiling and helicopter flips to fishing. Festival-goers can also make full use of the lodge’s facilities, including a restaurant and pub, a children’s playground and swimming pool, and you can either camp, bring your caravan or stay in a chalet.

For more info: visit whitemountain.co.za Craven Country Jamboree, Qu’Appelle Valley, Canada This country-music festival takes FAR place in July and offers a starstudded line-up, rodeos and street carnivals. When you’re not dancing

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you can watch professional bull-riding demonstrations while eating breakfast. Take the family to a hypnotist act, a songwriter’s circle, a karaoke session at the chilled-out Trailer Park Saloon or attend a nondenominational church service. For more info: visit cravencountryjamboree.com Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire, England This festival of music, food and literature, which was named best new festival in 2011, is set among the meadows, lakes and canopies of the ancient Wychwood Forest and takes place in August, which is summer in England. Boutique Babysitting allows children from two to eight to play in a safe, covered area and offers organised, age-appropriate activities. For more info: visit wildernessfestival.com and for more info on the children’s facilities: visit boutiquebabysitting.com

Nqileni Village, Transkei As the Bulungula Lodge team says: paradise is, by definition, difficult NEAR to get to, but see it as a fun mission. The eco-friendly backpacker’s lodge on the Wild Coast, has been voted one of the world’s top 25 ethical travel experiences. Get involved by volunteering with one of the various projects run by the Bulungula Incubator. For more info: visit bulungula.com or http:// bulungulaincubator.wordpress.com Tutuka Family Conservation Project, Botswana If you have children aged eight to 16 years, you can join this project. You learn about the unique ecosystems and wildlife while conducting real conservation tasks and studies alongside an experienced wildlife ranger. You provide hands-on support to disadvantaged rural schools, helping with maintenance as well as educating the school children about their environment.

Discover and explore the bush ecosystems by both vehicle and on foot. For more info: visit conservationafrica.net

FAR

Jabillos, Costa Rica You find yourself immersed in nature, surrounded by plants and animals, with tropical beaches in one direction, and rainforests

Nqileni Village, Transkei

and active volcanoes in the other. Volunteer your time at the Jabillos-based Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rescue Center for injured, orphaned or illegally traded animals such as sloths, raccoons, owls and macaws.

During your free time explore La Fortuna, a town offering activities centered on its famous resident, the Arenal Volcano. Either hike to a lava field, glide along cables above the rainforest canopy or splash in a hot spring at the volcano’s base. For more info: visit handsupholidays.com Phnom Penh, Cambodia From your base in an eco-luxury boutique hotel in Cambodia’s lively capital, explore one of the new Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat and the temple complex, and discover the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake. Tour the Royal Palace, National Museum of Khmer Arts, and renowned Wat Phnom Hill and visit the Siem Reap night market. After sightseeing, help teach at an orphanage in the Angkor Wat temple complex or help build a house for an impoverished family.

For more info: visit handsupholidays.com

Slackpacking on the Wartrail Wander From the bubbling brooks that snake through the NEAR valleys to the soaring eagles, this hike is sure to leave you breathless. The Wartrail traverses the

southern Drakensberg in the Eastern Cape, past Bushmen paintings and unique rock formations. Children must have some hiking experience and be older than 12, though it depends on the child’s fitness. Don’t be deterred, as it can be arranged for children to take part in farm activities. For more info: visit footprints.co.za Wathaba trail, Mpumalanga An untouched treasure in the Skurweberg mountains where you can hear the chatter of the wagtail and crashing of the seven magnificent waterfalls. There is a 10km and 4km circular trail which winds around mushrooms, lichen and wild flowers on its way to the impressive Rainbow Falls.

These trails are suitable for young children, from the age of five. The more adventurous hiker will find the neighbouring Num Num trail more challenging. For more info: visit wathaba.co.za or thenum-numtrail.co.za Dubrovnik, Croatia Vehicles are not allowed in this medieval city, making it safe for you to stroll FAR along its paved streets, taking in the warmth and charm of the residents who frequent its cafés and courtyards. A 2km walk along the wall of the Old City gives you a view of the Adriatic Sea. The best time to visit is during the summer festival, a 45-day cultural event with live plays, concerts and games. For more info: visit dubrovnik-guide.net Walking in Segovia, Spain Hire a donkey for your family to ride at a leisurely pace in the charming towns or the Guadarrama Nature Reserve. Conjure up images of Don Quixote and his adventures, or a world of dragons and knights, as you tread past the Roman aqueducts and fairy-tale castles.

The children can take turns leading or riding on the backs of the placid donkeys. For more info: visit awayfromthecrowds.com

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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books

a good read for toddlers

for preschoolers

Turn and Learn: Baby Animals and On the Farm

By Roger Priddy

Gruffalo What Can You See?

By Julia Donaldson and illustrated

by Axel Scheffler (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R64) This handy little pram book is perfect to introduce very young children to the ever-popular Gruffalo character. Join the Gruffalo as he takes a stroll through the Deep Dark Wood in this bold, bright and portable book. Point out the rustling leaves, big green trees, spotty toadstools, little butterflies, beautiful birds, scuttling bugs and all the characters from the classic story. This book is part of the new My First Gruffalo series for babies and toddlers, from the bestselling author/illustrator team.

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March 2012

(Published by Priddy Books, R48 each) Children from the age of two can turn the wheels and learn more about farm animals and baby animals in these two board books with bright colours and real photography. The interactive books encourage your toddler’s imagination; help with problem solving and handeye coordination. There are furry rabbits, playful puppies, seal pups, adventurous lions, fluffy chicks, leaping kittens, hanging monkeys, an elephant calf, barns, horses, farm produce and spotty pigs to play and interact with.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Pop-up Book

By Roald Dahl and illustrated

by Quentin Blake

The Cross-With-Us Rhinoceros, The Warthog’s Tail and The Giraffe who got in a Knot

By John Bush; illustrated by Paul Geraghty and Lindsay van Blerk (Published by Storytime Africa, from R69) A group of young adventurers discover a lone rhinoceros. Panic sets in and they run for safety. In the second book, the warthog’s tail is a wonder. When he runs it stands up and when he stands it goes under, but it hasn’t always been like this.

In the last book, in a rapture of eating, Cardwell Giraffe closes his eyes and begins munching away. What follows next will have you in knots of laughter. For direct orders: funtasee@cybersmart.co.za

(Published by Puffin Books, R269) The story is still the same: Charlie Bucket loves chocolate, and Mr Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. It’s the prize of a lifetime! Gobstoppers, wriggle sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await.

Charlie needs just one golden ticket and these delicious treats could all be his. With this book, including original illustrations by Blake, children can explore Willy Wonka’s amazing world with unique pop-ups, tabs to pull and flaps to lift. Each book comes with a golden ticket.

magazine durban

llent exce read

Ruby Redfort: Look into my Eyes

By Lauren Child (Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, R140) Normal life is a total yawn. Break out of boredom with Ruby Redfort, the super-awesome new creation from multi-million-copy bestseller Lauren Child. Ruby Redfort is a genius codecracker, a daring detective, and a gadget-laden special agent who just happens to be a 13-year-old girl. She and her slick sidekick butler, Hitch, foil crimes and get into loads of scrapes with evil villains, but they’re always ice-cool in a crisis. Somehow Ruby finds her way into the HQ of the secret agency, Spectrum. They need her help to crack a code but her desk job soon spirals into an all-out action adventure. This great new read for youngsters goes back to Ruby’s beginnings as an agent.

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for early graders Tollins 2: Dynamite Tales

By Conn Iggulden and illustrated by Lizzy Duncan (Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, R158) This is the second collection of three stories of the Tollins in which they face the trials of theatre, radio and armed invasion. In Romeo and Beryl, Sparkler discovers an old human book and decides to put on a play. It’s a story of great love, with quite a bit of shouting. In Radio, the Dark Tollins of Dorset invade in force, with a cat in tow.

Sparkler, Wing and Grunion must find a way to save themselves, and possibly the cat. In Bones, the Tollins leave Chorleywood on a mission of mercy. You will discover the importance of hot tea and toast, as well as jam, in such desperate times.

The Book of Which?

Illustrated by Ray Bryant (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R88) The world is full of questions. Now, at last, you can get the answer to 50 of the most mindboggling of all. These include: Which bird flies underwater? Which computer was as big as a bus? Which country has more sheep than people? Which planet is king? Which is the biggest creepy-crawly? Which are the steepest railways and which bridge can break in two?

Apart from the descriptions, each insert comes with a handy little “did you know?” box, giving your child even more information. The illustrations are child-friendly – bright and humorous and the book includes a few quizzes and a section explaining difficult words.

for preteens and teens The Unforgotten Coat

By Frank Cottrell Boyce (Published by Walker Books, R118) This book for children from the age of nine was short-listed for the Costa Book Awards 2011, one of the UK’s most popular and prestigious literary prizes. Two refugee brothers from Mongolia are determined to fit in with their Liverpool schoolmates. However, they bring so much of Mongolia to Bootle that their new friend and guide, Julie, is hard-pressed to distinguish truth from fantasy as she recollects a wonderful friendship that was abruptly ended when Chingis and his family were forced to return to Mongolia.

Told with humour, warmth and brilliant detail, this magical and compelling story is enriched by stunning and atmospheric Polaroid photos.

best buy

March 2012

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books

for preteens and teens

for us

proudly south african

Gangsta Granny

By David Walliams

Gallows Hill

By Margie Orford

(Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, R150) Walliams has been called the natural successor to Roald Dahl, and in Gangsta Granny he proves this with his wit, warmth and humour. Our hero, Ben, is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the dullest grandma ever: all she wants to do is play Scrabble and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma: she was once an international jewel thief; and two, she has spent her whole life plotting to steal the crown jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…

(Published by Jonathan Ball Publishers, R176) A dog scavenging in an illegal building site digs up a human bone. She drags it back to where her mistress lies dead in an abandoned shed, but there are hundreds more... skeletons, which have lain undisturbed for centuries beneath Gallows Hill, where Cape Town’s notorious gibbets once stood. Investigative profiler Dr Clare Hart is called in by Captain Riedwaan Faizal and she soon discovers that a deadly secret lies hidden among these long-buried bones. Who was the woman in the green silk dress and who wanted her dead? Against the backdrop of corporate corruption and seething political tensions, Clare and Riedwaan’s complex relationship remains as explosive as ever – and their lives are at risk: the keepers of the secret of the woman in the silk dress will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

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March 2012

Been There Done That

By David Bristow (Published by Struik Travel and Heritage, R262) At the age of 14, author David Bristow stuck a large touring map of South Africa on his bedroom wall, determined to eventually mark off every road. Indeed, in 40 years of dedicated travelling, David has pretty much “been there, done that”, visiting most of South Africa’s game parks, nature reserves, mountain ranges, beaches and towns, as well as hiking and biking countless trails. This book is the accumulated knowledge of all those explorations: the history, wildlife, geography, art and culture, things to do, places to stay and routes and trails to be discovered. Anyone who has ticked off a tenth of the entries here is, according to the author, qualified to wear the T-shirt.

The Principal of Fun

By Almarie Mead (Published by Principal of Fun, R180) Almarie Mead, a principal for over 18 years and with 31 years in education, wrote this guide filled with 134 positive and constructive ideas of how to establish and grow a school with heart. Each idea can be used by someone who is passionate about children and education. They are easy to implement and will make a significant difference in any school. Presented in a useful handbook format, with space for your own notes, support documents and templates included, this book can be re-used. To order and for more information, visit theprincipaloffun.co.za or visit them on Facebook at The Principal of Fun. We’ve added some nifty tools from the book for you to use online. These include an anti-bullying guideline and procedure document and a “I am not a bully” pledge. To download these, visit childmag.co.za/content/bullying

magazine durban

calendar

what’s on in march

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

Here’s this month’s guide for what to do, where to go and who to see. Compiled by TAMLYN VINCENT.

30

FUN FOR CHILDREN – p30

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p32

I heart market A family market celebrating local handmade and home-made products.

Red This play tells the compelling story of one of the great 20th century artists, Mark Rothko.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p32

how to help – p32

Mothers 2 Baby Get together and share your thoughts and feelings about motherhood with other moms.

Crow Join the One Thousand One Hundred Club to help rescue and rehabilitate animals.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Shutterstock.COM

fri

SPECIAL EVENTS – p30 KZN Military Concert and Dolphin Show An entertainment experience that combines the best of African culture and military tradition.

magazine durban

March 2012

29

calendar 031 312 2147, bmezher@cliftonschool. co.za or visit cliftonschool.co.za

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 thursday

25 sunday

Cansa Shavathon Shave or spray.

Corporate events 1 and 2 March, public events 3 and 4 March. Time: 9am. Venue: participating shopping centres. Cost: adults R50, children under 12 R 25. For more info: visit shavathon.org.za Thomas More College open days Pre-primary 1 March, Junior Primary and Senior Primary 2 March, High School 3 March. Time: 9am. Venue: Habberton Hall, 15 Sykes Rd, Kloof. Cost: free. Contact Suzanne: 031 764 8640

Old Mutual Music at the Lake concert Time: 1pm. Venue: Durban Botanic Gardens, Berea. Cost: tbc. Contact: 031 322 4021 or book through webtickets.co.za

2 friday Hillcrest Christian Academy open day This independent co-ed primary school offers schooling for Grades 000–7. Time: 9am.

Venue: Main Auditorium, Greenmeadow Lane, Hillcrest. Cost: free. Contact Mrs Edley: 031 765 2752 or visit hca.co.za Umhlanga College open day This is a co-educational school from playschool to Grade 7. Time: 10am–12pm. Venue: 21 Preston Dr, Prestondale, Umhlanga. Cost: free. Contact: 031 566 5736, umhlangacoll@ mweb.co.za or visit umhlangacollege.co.za

4 sunday Special nature walk and picnic. Time: 10:30am–1pm. Venue: Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, Yellowwood Park. Cost: R55, park entry R15. Contact: 031 464 0984 or info@meditateindurban.org

8 Discovery Day Find out more about Durban Girls’ College Junior Primary. For 3–6 year olds and parents. Time: 9:45am–12pm. Venue: Durban Girls’ College, Guildford Rd entrance. Cost: free. Contact Lynne: 031 268 7254 or visit dgc.co.za

6 tuesday Adapt or Fly Pieter Dirk Uys introduces audiences to a collection of political characters. Ends 17 March. Time: 8pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 3pm, Sunday. Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Glenwood. Cost: R95– R140. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

8 thursday Highbury open day Find out more about the school. 8 March: Grades R–7; 9 March: Grades 000–00. Time: 8am–11am. Venue: Highbury Preparatory School, Highbury Rd, Hillcrest. Cost: free. Contact: 031 765 9800, highbury@hps.co.za or visit hps.co.za

10 saturday

17 saturday

30

March 2012

Red A play exploring the creative process and inner conflict of American artist, Mark Rothko. Ends 1 April. Time: varies. Venue: Playhouse Loft Theatre. Cost: R120. Book through Computicket: visit computicket.com

30 friday

Kumon Education franchise info session There is a short presentation, Q&A session and a maths and English assessment.

Time: tbc. Venue: tbc. Cost: free. Contact: 0800 002 775 or info@kumon.co.za Ladies’ breakfast The International Hotel School hosts breakfast in aid of The Sunflower Fund. Time: 8:30am–11am.

Venue: The Westville Hotel, 124 Jan Hofmeyr Rd, Westville. Cost: R150. Contact Shireen: 083 274 4084 or shireene@hotelschool.co.za

18 March – Rocking All Over the World

27 tuesday

thu

Abnormal Loads Three youngsters unravel the secrets and events that connect them.

Ends 31 March. Time: varies. Venue: Playhouse Drama Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede St, Durban CBD. Cost: tbc. Book

through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

18 sunday Rocking All Over the World Set off on a global party. Ends 29 April. Time: varies.

Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway.

Cost: R135, Wednesday–Saturday; R100, Tuesday and Sunday. Contact: 031 566 3045, gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit barnyardtheatres.co.za

21 wednesday Decorex This event offers design and décor exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations as well as a designer collection, talks and a wallpaper feature. Ends 25 March.

Time: 10am–8pm, Wednesday–Saturday; 10am–6pm, Sunday. Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre, Durban CBD. Cost: adults R55, children under 12 R10. For more info: visit decorex.co.za

KZN Military Concert and Dolphin Show uShaka’s dolphins perform with two military bands. Also 31 March. Time: tbc.

Venue: uShaka Marine World. Cost: tbc.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science Artspace Exhibits works from the Absa L’Atelier Art Awards competition. Time: 9am, Monday–Saturday. Venue: artSPACE, 3 Millar Rd, Stamford Hill. Cost: free. Contact: 031 312 0793 or visit artspace-durban.com

19 mon

22 thursday Reach For A Dream’s 6th Annual Men’s Golf Day Get a team of four together for this fun golf day. Time: 10am.

Venue: Durban Country Club, Masabalala Yengwa Ave, Durban. Cost: R3 200 per four-ball. Contact Anna: 031 566 2220 or prkzn@reachforadream.org.za

24 saturday Clifton Preparatory open morning This school offers holistic education for boys.

Time: 8am–12:30pm. Venue: 102 Lambert Rd, Morningside. Cost: free. Contact Barry:

15th Time of the Writer Festival South African, African and international writers gather for readings, dialogue and debate.

Ends 24 March. Time: varies.

Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre and other institutes, centres and schools. Cost: varies. For more info: visit cca.ukzn.ac.za

magazine durban

The Durban Natural Science Museum See exhibits about the earth, animals, present and past, and history.

Time: 8:30am–5pm, Monday–Saturday; 11am–5pm, Sunday and public holidays.

Venue: City Hall, Anton Lembede St. Cost: free. Contact: 031 311 2237

classes, talks and workshops Get Ready for School and Study Skills courses Time: varies. Venue: 125 Ridgeton Towers, Umhlanga Ridge. Cost: varies. Contact: 031 566 1110, 082 042 2556, tracy@kipumhlanga.co.za or visit kipmcgrath.co.za Tots n Pots Children can explore their creativity with hands-on baking classes.

Time: 3pm, every Thursday; 10:30am, every Saturday. Venue: Tots n Pots, Berea.

Cost: R550 per term, once-off registration R100. Contact Bahia: 082 493 8072 or bahia@totsnpots.com Yoga for children Develops strength and flexibility while improving concentration and coordination. Time: 3pm, every Friday. Venue: Centre of Wellbeing, 16 Canberra Ave, Durban North. Cost: R40.

Contact Angela: 076 410 1410 or angela@ rautenbach.co.za

holiday programmes Computer workshops For Grades R–7 or high school learners. 26–30 March.

Time: varies. Venue: 125 Ridgeton Towers, Umhlanga Ridge. Cost: varies.

Contact: 031 566 1110, 082 042 2556, umhlanga@computers4kids.co.za or visit computers4kids.co.za Cool Science Investigators The CSI programme looks at the cool science behind forensics and crime scene investigation.

24 March–9 April. Time: 9am. Venue: The Sciencentre, Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

Cost: adults R25, children R30, children under 4 R15. Contact: 031 566 8040

24 March–9 April – Cool Science Investigators

family outings Book Fair Find popular children’s books at affordable prices. Time: 10am–4pm, 1 March; 7:30am–12pm, 2 March. Venue: Benjamin Pine Primary; also at other schools in March. Cost: free entry. Contact: 082 907 1573, info@books2you.co.za or visit books2you.co.za

finding nature and outdoor play 1000 Hills Bird Park Admire rare and exotic birds in this well-kept park or take a ride on the zip line. Time: 8am–4pm, Tuesday–Sunday. Venue: 1 Clement Stott Rd, Botha’s Hill. Cost: adults R25, children R15. Contact: 072 927 8242 or visit 1000hillsbirdpark.co.za Duck and Deck Animal Farm Children can see farmyard animals, ride a pony or play on the jumping castle, while parents enjoy a cup of coffee. Time: 9:30am–4pm, Tuesday–Sunday. Venue: 3 Willow Way, Assagay. Cost: R15. Contact: 031 768 1029 or visit duckanddeck.co.za

magazine durban

JB Holiday Care Experience fun, wholesome activities and outdoor play. 22 March–5 April.

Time: 7:30pm–5pm. Venue: 62 Silverton Rd, Berea. Cost: R80 a day. Contact: 083 242 1677 or lilianrez@hotmail.com Sugar Bay holiday camps Week-long holiday camps with themes such as Sherlock Holmes week and Up week. 25 March–29 April. Time: varies. Venue: Zinkwazi Beach, North Coast. Cost: varies. Contact: 032 485 3778, holidays@sugarbay.co.za or visit sugarbay.co.za What’s in the Box? Children can explore and discover the theatrical potential of secret items in ‘the box’.

27–29 March. Time: juniors 9am–12pm, seniors 1pm–5pm. Venue: Westville Senior Primary, Westville Rd. Cost: juniors R450, seniors R600. Contact: 082 994 0984 or visit risingstaracademy.co.za

markets Essenwood Market Fresh food, children’s activities and stalls. Time: 9am–2pm, every

Saturday. Venue: Essenwood Rd. Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 208 1264 or visit essenwoodmarket.com Heidi’s Farm Stall Sample delicious cakes, food, coffee and crafts. 3 March.

Time: 7am–1pm. Venue: 1 Clement Stott Rd. Cost: free entry. Contact: 072 927 8242 or raredleg@iafrica.com I heart market Hand- and home-made crafts. 3 March. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Stamford Hill.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 079 496 4788 or thejoyteam@gmail.com Kloof Country market Find quality products and home-made goods. 3 and 17 March. Time: 9am–12:30pm. Venue: Robyndale Centre, 10 Msenga Rd, Kloof.

Cost: free entry. Contact Linda: 082 454 3181 or linda@healinghandskzn.co.za Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market Organic and local produce and crafts are on sale. Time: 6:30am–10am, every Saturday. Venue: cnr Kassier and Alverstone Rds, Assagay. Cost: free entry.

Contact Christine: 083 777 1674 or info@ shongwenimarket.co.za The food market For locally produced goodies. 24 March. Time: 8am–1pm.

Venue: The Hellenic Community Centre, Durban North. Cost: free entry. Contact: 084 505 0113, info@thefoodmarket.co.za or visit thefoodmarket.co.za The Litchi Orchard Farmers Market Covered market featuring live music and a children’s playground. 3 and 17 March.

Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Seaforth Ave,

Foxhill. Cost: free entry. Contact: 084 205 6151 or jeremy@litchiorchard.co.za Umhlanga Antiques Fair Browse among antiques. 18 March. Time: 9am–3pm.

Venue: Umhlanga Centre, 189 Ridge Rd, Umhlanga Rocks. Cost: free entry. Contact James: 082 821 9031

on stage and screen KZN Military Concert and Dolphin Show African culture meets military tradition. 30 and 31 March. Time: tbc.

Venue: uShaka Marine World. Cost: tbc.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Rocking All Over the World 18 March–29 April. Time: varies. Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway. Cost: R135, Wednesday– Saturday; R100, Tuesday and Sunday. Contact: 031 566 3045, gateway@barnyardtheatres. co.za or visit barnyardtheatres.co.za

playtime and story time Akimbo Kids A play venue with a large open playground and separate toddler play area, for children ages 1–7. Time: 9am–4pm, Tuesday–Thursday; 9am–5pm, Saturday–Sunday. Venue: 40 Meadway Rd, Drummond. Cost: R20 entry for children. Contact: 083 261 2742 or visit akimbo.co.za Children’s story time followed by a craft or activity. For ages 3–8 years. Time: 10am, every Saturday. Venue: 26 Rockview Rd, Amanzimtoti. Cost: free. Contact: 031 903 6692 or thebookboutique@gmail.com

4

sun

Wonder Market There is something to fascinate everyone, from stilt walkers to vintage jewellery.

Time: 9am–3pm. Venue: Chris Saunders Park, Gateway. Contact Tarryn: 079 747 7661, wonder@wondermarket.co.za or visit wondermarket.co.za

March 2012

31

calendar Lucky Bean This is a safe children’s playground, with an undercover playbarn, and coffee shop for parents. Time: 9am–4pm, Tuesday–Sunday. Venue: 10 Cadmoor Rd, Assagay. Cost: first child R20, second child R15. Contact Donnae: 079 893 8448, info@ luckybean.co or visit luckybean.co

Highway area and Glenwood. Cost: varies.

Contact: info@momsandtots.co.za or visit momsandbabes.co.za or momsandtots.co.za Toptots Time: varies. Venue: branches in Durban North, Ballito, Glenwood, Kloof, Hillcrest, Westville and Hilton. Cost: varies.

Contact: 031 266 4910, 082 876 7791, info@toptots.co.za or visit toptots.co.za

sport and physical activities Adventure Golf Three courses with nine holes each. Time: 9am–10pm, Monday– Thursday; 9am–11pm, Friday–Sunday.

Venue: The Pavilion Shopping Centre, Westville. Cost: varies. Contact: 031 265 1570, info@adventuregolf.co.za or visit adventuregolf.co.za

support groups

Mosaic classes Enjoy a fun-filled evening creating your own mosaics. Time: 5:30pm–8pm, every Thursday. Venue: 87 Abrey Rd, Kloof. Cost: R85 per class. Contact Colyn: 082 799 2318, colynmoonsami@gmail.com or visit colyn-moonsami-mosaics.yola.com

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Decadent desserts Make easy and delicious desserts. 13 March. Time: 8:30am–11am.

Venue: Meryl’s School of Cooking, 1 Wingfield Rd, Kloof. Cost: R330. Contact Meryl: 031 764 6577, meryl@absamail. co.za or visit merylschoolofcooking.co.za Homeopathy in the Home workshop 10 March. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Musgrave Park, 18 Musgrave Rd. Cost: free. Contact Cherald: 031 202 3082 Moms IT lessons 6–29 March. Time: 9am–12pm, Tuesday or Thursday. Venue: 125 Ridgeton Towers, Umhlanga Ridge.

Cost: R150 per hour. Contact: 031 566 1110, 082 042 2556, umhlanga@computers4kids. co.za or visit computers4kids.co.za

15–16 March – Oil painting workshop

Oil painting workshop Learn about painting portraits in this advanced course.

15 and 16 March. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: 8 Turkeyberry Lane, Simbithi Eco Estate, Ballito. Cost: R500 or R600. Contact Jane: 032 946 1339, 082 486 2126 or blacklaw@ telkomsa.net Sprigs cooking workshops Cooking workshops covering various themes, from Moorish Moroccan to an Italian buffet. 1, 6, 10, 13 and 20 March. Time: varies. Venue: Sprigs The Food Shop, Field Shopping Centre, Kloof. Cost: R240, includes lunch.

Contact: sprigs@telkomsa.net Weight loss challenge A 12-week course where you learn about nutrition, lose weight and gain energy. Starts 9 March.

Time: 9:30am–10:30am. Venue: Umhlanga Rocks. Cost: R350. Contact Tracy: 082 852 4890 or tracy.mills@telkomsa.net

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March 2012

on stage and screen Abnormal Loads The play is set in a fictional battlefield town in northern KwaZuluNatal. 17–31 March. Time: 7:30pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 2:30pm, Saturday– Sunday. Venue: Playhouse Drama Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede St. Cost: tbc. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 Adapt or Fly With Pieter Dirk Uys. 6–17 March. Time: 8pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 3pm, Sunday. Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Cost: R95– R140. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Red 27 March–1 April. Time: varies. Venue: Playhouse Loft Theatre, Durban CBD. Cost: R120. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Pflag parent support group This is for parents of gay and lesbian children. 27 March. Time: 6:30pm. Venue: Amanzimtoti Group Activities Room. Cost: free. Contact Martin: 082 853 7235 Reach for Recovery Breast Cancer Support Group They meet for bringand-share morning teas. Contact: 031 205 9525 or 072 248 0008 Sadag For those suffering from depression or drug abuse or who may be suicidal. For more info: visit sadag.co.za Speak Easy This group offers support for those who stutter. Contact Imraan: 082 786 3718 or visit speakeasy.org.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

support groups

classes, talks and workshops

Adhasa support groups For details on meeting times and support, contact Stuart: 031 298 8896 or Robin: 082 499 1344 Cansa Support Durban North They meet the second Tuesday of every month.

Venue: Durban North Methodist Church.

Contact: 031 564 2510 (for Cansa support groups in other areas call 031 205 9525) Childhood cancer parent support group Choc schedules regular support meetings. Contact Gill: 084 831 3683 or visit choc.org.za Compassionate Friends Support group for family and friends who have lost a loved one. They meet the fourth Sunday of every month. Venue: Absa premises, 20 Hunter St, Durban CBD. Time: 3pm–5pm.

Contact: 031 335 0463 or 082 458 3663 Durban Autism Support Group For mothers. Coffee mornings are held four times a year. Contact Di: 083 443 8385 or dimaitland@tiscali.co.za Famsa Offers family and relationship counselling. Contact: 031 202 8987 or visit 30 Bulwer Rd, Glenwood, Durban Hi Hopes Home intervention programme for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Contact: 082 897 1632, dianne.goring@ hihopes.co.za or visit hihopes.co.za Hoping is Coping Support groups for those newly diagnosed with cancer and their families. Contact: 011 646 5628, lgold@icon.co.za or visit cansa.org.za Overeaters Anonymous Where members can share solutions to the problem of compulsive overeating. Contact: 031 708 6014 or 083 456 6971

Infant Massage class A four-session class teaching easy techniques. Time: depends on booking. Venue: varies. Cost: depends on venue and class size. Contact Dana: 076 387 5425, peace@nurture-now.com or visit nurture-now.com Mom and Baby Yoga Interactive classes for moms and babies. Time: 1pm, every Thursday. Venue: Centre for Wellbeing, 16 Canberra Ave, Durban North. Cost: R170 per month. Contact Angela: 076 410 1410 or angela@rautenbach.co.za Pregnancy Body Stretch For moms and babies. Time: 8:10am, Monday and Wednesday. Venue: Lasting Impressions, 35 Caefron Ave, Westville. Cost: R320 for eight lessons. Contact Alison: 031 267 0435 or info@lasting-impressions-studio.co.za Pregnancy Yoga Beneficial postures, breathing techniques and relaxation for moms-to-be. Time: 4pm, every Wednesday; 9:30am, every Saturday. Venue: Centre of Wellbeing, 16 Canberra Ave, Durban North.

Cost: R170 a month. Contact Angela: 076 410 1410 or angela@rautenbach.co.za

Mothers 2 Baby For new and experienced moms who are finding motherhood challenging. Booking essential. Time: 10am–11:30am, third Thursday of every month. Venue: Hillcrest Private Hospital.

Cost: free. Contact: 078 640 7949 The South African Multiple Birth Association Contact: 082 338 2625 for counselling, kzn@samultiplebirth.co.za or visit samultiplebirth.co.za

how to help Collect-a-can National Schools Competition Schools can do their bit by collecting cans throughout the year. Prizes go to schools that collect the most cans.

Register at your nearest Collect-a-Can branch or for more info: visit collectacan.co.za Crow Their One Thousand One Hundred Club has been launched to help them rehabilitate wildlife. They need 1 000 donors to donate R100 a month. Contact: 031 462 1127 or visit crowkzn.co.za The Robin Hood Foundation They assist poor grannies and moms in disadvantaged communities through different projects, including Gogo Bags and Love the Babies.

To find out how to help, contact: 076 612 9060, robinhoodfund@telkomsa.net or visit robinhoodfoundation.co.za

Looking Ahead Ice Revue from Russia Stars perform amazing acts on the points of their blades. 28 and 29 April.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

playtime and story time

don’t miss out!

Clamber Club Movement and stimulation classes for children 1–4 years old. Time: varies. Venue: Hellenic Community Centre, 6 High Grove Rd, Durban North. Cost: R80 a lesson, R800 a term. Contact Yasmin: 083 785 4332, dbn-north@clamberclub.com or visit clamberclub.com Moms and Tots and Moms and Babes workshops Time: varies. Venue: branches in Amanzimtoti, Umhlanga, Durban North,

For a free listing, email your event to durban@childmag.co.za or fax it to 031 207 3429. Information must be received by 24 February for the April 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

magazine durban

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

childmag.co.za/ resources/birthday-parties

magazine durban

March 2012

33

last laugh

our life in piñatas You can never have too many shots at beating the stuffing out of an animal-shaped papier-mâché object, muses SAM WILSON.

i

s there anything more exotic to a small child than a piñata? Even the word looks mischievous and full of fun, with that festive little squiggly flourish and echo of a party drumbeat. I remember the first time I came across one. I was about 10 years old and watching some TV programme about a Mexican family celebrating in this traditional way.

“You’re kidding,” I said to my mother, who was watching with me. “Those children are allowed to take a baseball bat to that pretty hanging thing, and if they manage to break it they are rewarded by, like, a whole shower of assorted sweeties?”

My mother was also bemused. “It just seems wrong, doesn’t it?” she said. And that was the last she thought of it.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t let go so easily. I mean, there was ludicrously cool fun being had out there, and I wasn’t

the one having it. I continued to dream of fantastically decorated papier-mâché animals having the delicious stuffing whacked out of them. And, by gumballs, one day it was going to be me wielding that Bat of Awesome.

All of this childhood longing was kicked back into high gear when Dreas and I had children of our own. “We need to make a piñata for Joe’s birthday party,” I said to Andreas. “And when I say we, I really mean you, because I have to figure out how to make those little biscuit racing cars with the mint-sweet wheels and the half-jelly baby drivers.”

“He’s one years old, my love,” replied Andreas. “He’s going to be lucky if he stands up for his party, let alone fells a large hanging animal. I know how you feel about piñatas, but I think you’re going to have to hold that thought for a few years.”

And hold it I did, which was a good thing because, well, who knew piñatas were so difficult to make? Over the years, Dreas and I have covered balloon after balloon in sticky paper and streamers, willed them to dry in front of the fire – our sons have winter birthdays – and painted the resulting malformed animals in a variety of apologetically garish colours, but all for naught.

Actually, I lie. We did once manage to get a semblance of a piñata up at one of Benjamin’s birthdays; it just didn’t really perform as intended.

“Hey, where did you get that Fizzer?”

Benj asked one of his guests.

“It fell out of that weird purple car thing!” said the guest, pointing to the gaggle of children falling on the pile of sweets that had leaked out of the alleged piñata, long before anyone had even found a bat.

“That’s not a purple car,” bristled Andreas, just as the leaking, sticky mess gave up all shape and fell to the floor. “It’s Barney the Dinosaur.”

Why am I telling you all this? Because people, the marvellousness is finally upon us. In the last year or so, party shops have started to stock piñatas, which – and I know you won’t believe me but it’s true – you can take home, fill with sweets, hang in a tree and bash to your heart’s content.

So I am so making up for lost time.

I take piñatas to picnics, engagement parties, birthdays, hell, even to after-work drinks. And I have realised my entire life philosophy can be summed up like this: there can never be too many piñatas.

Sam Wilson is now the digital editor for Woolworths and sadly, this is her last column for Child magazine.

family marketplace

34

March 2012

magazine durban

PHOTOGRAPH: Andreas SpÄth

Joe, Sam and Benj