Child magazine | DBN September 2014

D U R B A N ’ S

b e s t

g u i d e

f o r

p a r e n t s

spring

into action tastes of italy

a family culinary getaway

recycling

made easy for schools

also in this issue www.childmag.co.za

September 2014

free

is the low carb, high fat diet for you? are antihistamines safe for children? family-friendly rides and runs common reasons for speech therapy

health

education

entertainment

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

September is a great month to find the fun.

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

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Marc de Chazal • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Tamlyn Vincent • durban@childmag.co.za

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

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

Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • capetown@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

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

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

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

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

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has clouded the lighter side, leaving little room for spontaneity. Clearly, it’s time for a change, and this issue may be just what I need to put a spring in my step, thanks to our features editor. In “follow the crowd” (p 21), Marc has found the fun for me in the form of group fun runs and bike rides that encourage spontaneous exercise purely for the fun of it – and they’re free. Just what the doctor ordered.

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

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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

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September 2014

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contents september 2014

21 upfront

health

3 a note from lisa

7 little wonder drug antihistamines

6 over to you readers respond

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

By Marina Zietsman

features

regulars

11 rethink recycling Tamlyn Vincent

8 pregnancy news – it’s raining love Tamlyn Vincent looks at the

shares tips on how schools can get in on the “going green” action

12 against the grain everyone is talking about the Banting diet.

Lucille Kemp explains how it works

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

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

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

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

Greg Castle explains them in layman’s terms

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

relevance of baby showers

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

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

23 resource – to your door... consult these experts when things get out of hand at home. Compiled by Tamlyn Vincent

26 what’s on in september 30 finishing touch Cassandra Shaw’s household has learnt that early morning is great for bonding

31 a good read for the whole family

classified ads 26 family marketplace 29 let’s party

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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September 2014

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

Sarah-Jane Photography sarahjanephotography.co.za

Joli Jacqueline Photography facebook.com/ jolijacquelinephotography

Mr Price mrp.com

Tara Kelly Photography tarakelly.co.za

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September 2014

5

letters

over to you the other side of miscarriage In response to the article “living with loss” (August 2014), What happens if the miscarriage is prevented? Most parents would beg the doctor to save the baby, and everything is then done to stop the loss. But early in my career I became aware of what life is like for the little ones who are pushed to survive.

I was a teacher at a special needs school for children who desperately struggled through life. I was shocked to discover that about 95% of the children’s mothers were threatened by a possible miscarriage. Modern medicine may have saved their babies from dying in the womb, but possibly not from a worse fate; often these children die at a young age. I’m not sure what the right or ethical thing is to do, but the doctor should at least warn a parent that by interfering with nature, they might be setting their child up for a life of disability.

Anonymous

thanks for your support Thank you for the invaluable contribution and assistance in The Sunflower Fund’s first children’s colouringin competition and Miss Sunflower Beauty Pageant in

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

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September 2014

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

association with N1 City Mall in Cape Town. Your support towards this campaign is greatly appreciated. All proceeds will be used to pay for potential donors to be included on the South African Bone Marrow Registry and will directly give more hope to children and young adults diagnosed with leukaemia. Thank you so much for being prepared to “Share a Little, Save a Life”.

Janine le Roux and Rachel Kotu – The Sunflower Fund

what’s next?

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

Stephen Childmag says We always try to strike an objective balance when tackling a contentious topic, which we believe Glynis did in her article about the potential health risks of Wi-Fi to children – the jury is still out.

Internet connectivity was never the issue, just doing so via Wi-Fi.

your voice on childmag.co.za “learning digitally” What an interesting article. The links mentioned are simply superb. You’ll get lost for a few hours as you take a digital stroll through the fascinating pockets of information.

Juliet “how family pets can benefit your children” We just adopted a two-year-old Yorkshire terrier for our foster child who is involved with social workers and attorneys during our difficult adoption case. He was having nightmares almost every night and would crawl into our bed. Since Teddy joined us, his nightmares have lessened and he has even stayed in his own bed for most nights.

Anonymous subscribe to our newsletter and win Our wins have moved online. Please subscribe to our newsletter and enter our weekly competitions.

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We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters.

The opinions reflected here are those of our readers and are not necessarily held by Hunter House Publishing.

Post a comment online at childmag.co.za

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little

wonder drug

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

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

MARINA ZIETSMAN finds out.

a

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

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

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

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

how harmless are they?

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

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

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

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

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

September 2014

7

pregnancy news

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

he food and drinks table decor is pink and white.

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

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

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

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September 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

t

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

best for baby

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

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also, as a child grows and the permanent

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

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

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

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dealing with difference

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

MARC DE CHAZAL speaks to some experts.

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

elephant in the room It’s true that nowadays there is a greater awareness of speech and language development in our schools than in the past, but teachers and parents still overlook difficulties and their indicators or

Nowadays there is a greater awareness of speech and language development in our schools than in the past.

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

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

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

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September 2014

they are misdiagnosed. “The child is often labelled as lazy, naughty, hyperactive, rude or shy in these instances,” says Skinner.

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

Your first port of call if your child is struggling in this area is to visit a qualified audiologist. Once any hearing problems have been ruled out, a speech therapist can begin to form a more comprehensive

picture of what’s likely going on by means of interviews with the parents, standardised tests and consultations with any other professionals involved.

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

“This usually takes place once or twice a week for half an hour at a time. Parents, grandparents, nannies and au pairs often sit in on the sessions so that the therapy targets and skills can be practised at home. The type of therapy depends on the age of the child and the nature and severity of the difficulties. Much of the time, therapy is based on play with specific aims and activities planned for each session incorporated into play or games.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adult: “Mommy is going to the shop.”

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

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

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

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

You cannot understand what your child is saying.

Your child does not understand what you are saying.

Your child has difficulty remembering things that you say.

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

Source: Mandy Skinner

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

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

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

education

rethink recycling

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

s

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

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

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

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

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

25 500

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

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

September 2014

11

a against

the grain

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

LUCILLE KEMP explains the eating plan.

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September 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

health

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

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

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

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

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

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the benefits

is it for your family?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 2014

13

your child’s life

comfort objects

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

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or a tattered stuffed animal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

attachment issues

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

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

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

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

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

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September 2014

15

getaway

experiencing the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PHOTOGRAPHS: CATHERINE & ernst JANSE VAN RENSBURG

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describes her family’s culinary journey through Italy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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17

book extract

fabulous farm food

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cook until wilted and season to taste.

3. Splash in the cream.

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

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

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

Serve with a dollop of tomato kasundi on top.

magazine durban

PHOTOGRAPHS: sue stubbs

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

honey thyme cake serves 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

magazine durban

September 2014

19

sport

a short guide to cricket Do you ever find yourself on the sidelines watching your child play, but you’re clueless about the intricacies of the game? Become an aficionado with the help of GREG CASTLE.

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

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

bat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ball

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

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

Difficult to comprehend, but stay with me here.

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

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

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

Some people poo-poo cheering on the sidelines, but there are differences in etiquette in the various forms of the game. The stiffest rules apply to Test cricket.

However, today shouting encouragement from the sidelines is no longer out of place, so long as you do so during breaks in play. “Bravo!” is a firm favourite as is “jolly good cricket all round, chaps”, but comments such as “take his head off” and “moer him!” are generally still frowned upon.

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

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

Howzat!? magazine durban

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are a few tips to help you appear extremely knowledgeable during idle chatter (but only between breaks in play), just enough to make your friends marvel and cricket-savvy dads treat you with a newfound level of sideline respect.

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Annoyed moms on the sidelines often want to know why their sons are not bowling or why they are batting lower down the order. The most likely reason is team strategy and tactics. Your son may be a great opening batsman, but not much good at scoring quick runs required in limited overs. Much like chess, cricket is a game requiring a great degree of strategic planning and tactical adaptation.

Similarly, on any given day, your beloved son who is generally a marvellous little bowler may not be the most appropriate chap to bowl in this particular game.

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sideline savvy

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

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

Batsmen are enticed to take much greater risks in order to score big runs and there is as much entertainment off the field as on it. Scantily clad dancing girls gyrate after every boundary, jiving to the beat of a loud cacophony of music and pyrotechnics. To cricket snobs, this is “just not cricket!”

But bums on seats is what counts, and this form of the game has made cricket far more accessible and a great day or night out for the entire family.

how to

follow the

crowd Get out, get fit and have fun.

MARC DE CHAZAL lists some spontaneous

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM / BRENDA GARTH-DAVIS

outdoor activities happening in your community.

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ome things are a lot more fun to do in a group than to go it alone.

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

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

Besides the fun factor, you should also consider the age-appropriateness

Parkrun

of the activity; fitness levels required, especially if your child is running; and safety. If you’re cycling or skating, ensure everyone in your family always wears a helmet.

for runners Parkrun is a free, weekly 5km timed run that caters for people of every ability. It’s an easy, safe run you can do at your own pace with your child. There are currently 33 Parkrun locations around South Africa, including North Beach in Durban. Because the runs are timed the organisers request

that participants register once-off, and that parents or guardians register children if they would like them to receive a time.

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

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how to

pushing children in buggies to run at the back of the pack.

for cyclists Critical Mass is aimed at enhancing bicycle usage and democratising our city streets.

It takes place on the last Friday of every month, it’s free and everyone is welcome.

The pace is relaxed, so you can join the other cyclists as a family. Check their website for times and routes.

Critical Mass

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

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

Parkruns are for everyone, irrespective of speed, so you can walk the routes if you want to. They do permit moms and dads

for pioneers If the times and days of these events don’t quite suit your family, why not start a group activity of your own? The Beachfront Promenade is a hive of activity when it comes to walkers, runners, cyclists and skaters all sharing this communal space. To get things going and to let people know about your activity, you can use social media; before long you’ll have friends asking if they can join you. If you keep the focus on the social connection and the sheer enjoyment of getting out and about, you can’t go wrong.

sensory trails Children who are blind or wheelchair-bound can also get out and explore nature thanks to the various braille and sensory trails in wildlife reserves and parks around the country. These trails tend to be self-guided paths with guide rails and storyboards in large print and braille, which allow people to touch, feel and smell plants and trees. Visit Durban Botanic Gardens’ Sensory Garden for a sensory encounter with plants.

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

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

• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens’ Fragrance Garden accommodates the sight-impaired. The plants are grown in raised beds within easy reach for touching, feeling and smelling. The Kirstenbosch Braille Trail is a short selfguided tour that starts and ends in the Fragrance Garden.

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

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resource

to your door…

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

au pairs Absolute Au Pairs They are an au pair, tutor, facilitator, and babysitter and nanny placement agency. Their aim is to work within your budget and lifestyle, while providing you with experienced candidates. All candidates are interviewed and reference-checked beforehand to ensure they have traceable references, sufficient experience and applicable first aid certification.

Contact:

079

303

1779,

jess@absoluteaupair.co.za

or

visit

absoluteaupair.co.za Mum’s Aide This is a Durban North-based au pair agency that picks the best of local childminders and matches them favourably to families in need of extra help. Mum’s Aide offers au pairs, lift clubs, facilitators, extra lessons and babysitters to those who require wholesome, trustworthy individuals to look after their children. Background checks are done on helpers, and parents are given a choice of candidates, ensuring you have reliable childcare services. Mum’s Aide also organises a holiday club during the school holidays.

Contact: 078 617 2473, tinalepan@mumsaide.com or visit mumsaide.com

baby specialists

catering and cooked meals

Baby Love

Brigid’s Catering They provide healthy, home-cooked meals delivered directly to your door.

Brigid’s meals are delivered frozen and can be stored ready for when you need to heat and eat. The frozen meals cost only R15–R20 per portion.

They charge a R30 delivery fee, and have a minimum delivery order of R200. They also cater to special needs and diets, such as low GI or lowfat meals, or meals suitable for those who are gluten sensitive. They also offer catering for functions, and training courses for beginner cooks or domestic workers.

Contact: 084 649 6581, 082 772 7753, bianca@brigidscatering.co.za, brigid@brigidscatering.co.za or visit brigidscatering.co.za

This is a nationwide company specialising in routine and sleep guidance programmes geared towards pregnant couples and parents of babies two years and younger. They offer workshops, private consultations and Skype consultations.

Baby Love is an approved service provider of the South African Multiple Birth Association (SAMBA).

Contact: 082 851 2141, jacqui@baby-love.co.za or visit babylove.co.za Ballito Babes This maternity and well-baby clinic is based in the Ballito Medical Centre and offers a variety of services. After-birth care is available for those needing assistance with breast-feeding, either at home or in the clinic. A regular baby clinic service assists moms with their concerns and ensures that their babies are healthy. There are vaccine services for babies and toddlers, and antenatal classes and refresher courses are available.

PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

Contact: 032 946 1311, harkess@telkomsa.net or visit ballitobabes.co.za Carol’s Breast-feeding Clinic Carol is a breast-feeding consultant, registered nurse and midwife, who offers her services in the Upper Highway and Waterfall area.

Contact: 083 794 4030 or carol.thomas259@ gmail.com

magazine durban

Meals Made With Love They offer a range of home-cooked meals delivered to Morningside, Berea, Overport and Durban North. Choose from frozen meals, such as chicken casserole, oxtail or macaroni and cheese, or assorted quiches, pies or soups. There is also something for the sweet tooth or you can cater for an event with their range of platters. Delivery fees vary depending on order and area.

Contact: 031 564 3244, 082 717 8782 or johnchar@webstorm.co.za My Chef A range of healthy meals can be delivered to your door every Tuesday and Friday. The meals are specially designed by registered dietician Julie Thomas. To get started, sign up free of charge on their website. Then login and view their range of menu options, which change on a weekly basis. After choosing the meals that suit you and your family, pay securely online. Your food will be delivered to your door and meals come with simple cooking instructions.

Contact: 031 579 1463, 0861 692 433 or visit mychef.co.za Spoonfulls Ready Made Meals Fresh frozen meals are home-cooked, easy to prepare and well-balanced, low in sodium and preservative free.

Meals are available for toddlers, children, aftercare or families. You can also order platters. The meals range from pastas and chicken dishes for children to spinach and ricotta panzerotti for families. Order from the website. A weekly menu is available on request. Deliveries are free in the Durban area for orders over R200.

Contact: 031 765 6037, 076 992 4769, shirley@spoonfulls.co.za or visit spoonfulls.co.za

September 2014

23

resource

diy DV’s Handyman Services Dewald does the jobs you don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. His services include painting, fixing cracks in walls, fixing plumbing leaks and replacing tap washers, and replacing or fitting light fixtures. He can also work with electrical wires and small household appliances, fit shelves, fix leaks, clean roof gutters and more. Services are offered in the Highway area.

Contact: 081 025 3779 or dewald@handyman-dvs.co.za Micro Maintenance They do your maintenance jobs, from home renovations to bathrooms, kitchens, garages and granny flats. They also do any type of micro maintenance around the home. You can enquire about references for previous work completed.

Contact: 084 444 6294 or leslie@frontind.co.za The Maintenance Men Based in Durban, this organisation deals in all aspects of the renovation and maintenance industry. Whether you’re looking for painting contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, kitchen and bathroom work, cutting out rotten window sections, fixing up creaking bookshelves, or cleaning out clogged gutters, they provide the right people. They are affiliated to a number of body corporates and do smaller maintenance work in flats and complexes. They work mostly in the northern suburbs of Durban and in the Berea area, leaving all their building and work sites clean and tidy.

Contact: 082 923 4571 or visit maintenancemen.org

garden services Creative Garden Services and Landscaping A qualified landscaper also offers a garden service and once-off clean ups in the Durban North area.

Contact: 031 563 0855, 082 568 1186 or creativegardenskzn@gmail.com Pro-Turf They offer lawn maintenance, weed control and treatment for termites and mole crickets. Enquire about their garden services, mowing, irrigation, tree felling, maintenance and more.

Contact: 031 569 6400, 082 922 2673 or pro-turf@telkomsa.net

home organisers Neat Freak As an eliminator of clutter and creator of function, Neat Freak organises your life.

They offer consultations, organisational products, info packs and printables as well as courses. They are based in Durban, but have an online shop with a variety of products. They belong to the Professional Organiser Association Africa.

Contact: 082 673 9740 or visit neatfreak.co.za or neatfreakshop.co.za Simplicity Services This is a professional organising service in the greater Durban area. Vicky specialises in decluttering and organising your home, helping you downsize and move into a smaller home or retirement facility, and introducing systems to help you manage your space, time and activities better.

Get help organising your paperwork and filing or sorting out your loved one’s estate.

She can help people challenged by ADHD, anxiety or depression to regain control of their homes and their lives. She is a member of the Professional Organiser Association Africa and the Institute for Challenging Disorganisation.

Contact: 031 202 2794, 083 661 0386, vsim@vodamail.co.za or visit sim-plicity.co.za

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September 2014

magazine durban

nanny and first aid training ABC Nanny Training The training course covers training from newborn to toddler in all general childcare, minor ailments and first aid. Training is conducted in Zulu and English. Courses run in accordance with the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa, which Sister Marlette is registered with, as well as with the South African Nursing Council.

Contact: 031 764 1003, 083 307 6706 or marlette@abcbabycare.co.za Domestic Chef Cooking lessons for domestic workers and busy moms are offered by a professional chef with over 10 years’ experience. Add some new easy dishes to your routine or train your domestic worker to cook for you. Courses can be done at your home, one-on-one, or invite a friend for a reduced rate. Courses can be tailored to suit your needs, such as gluten free or vegan. References from previous customers can be arranged.

Contact: 079 695 4898, tracey@domesticchef.co.za or visit Facebook: Domestic Chef Edubabe Durban Nanny, childminder and domestic training is provided to help parents and caregivers get better equipped. A placement agency is also offered. Services are available in the Durban, Highway and Durban North areas.

Contact: 071 968 1007, durban@edubabe.co.za or visit Facebook: Edubabe Durban Edu-Maid Babycare, child stimulation, basic housekeeping and cooking courses are offered for domestic workers. Classes are held in Sunningdale.

Contact: 084 821 6668 or eleanors@servatech.co.za Meryl’s School of Cooking The domestic workers cooking courses cover tasty family meals, lunchbox snacks, soups and vegetables. Hygiene, basic nutrition awareness as well as time management and menu planning are covered. Classes run for one morning a week for four weeks in Kloof.

Contact: 031 764 6577, meryl@merylschoolofcooking.co.za or visit merylschoolofcooking.co.za Pheka Cooking courses for domestic staff run over a five-week period with one lesson per week. They offer four different types of courses, from beginners or meals for children to healthy eating and advanced cooking. Classes are held from Umhlanga to Berea and in the Upper Highway area. Recipes are provided in English and Zulu.

Contact: 072 261 5192, danielle@pheka.co.za or visit pheka.co.za Super Nannies They cater for busy working parents who are on the go and need a nanny to help them manage their families and busy schedules. They also offer CPR and first aid courses for both nannies and parents, which are accredited by the American Heart Association and the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa.

Contact: 0861 462 669, info@supernannies.co.za or visit supernannies.co.za The Nanny Course The cooking module teaches three basic meals and the early child stimulation module covers milestones, stimulation and more. There is a CPR and basic first aid class, and a module on infant care. A domestic cleaning class is also available.

The CPR course is accredited by the American Heart Association and Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa.

Contact: 082 350 1677, info@thenannycourse.co.za or visit thenannycourse.co.za

school lifts Kiddies Shuttle They will pick up and drop off children between home and school. They work in the Morningside, Berea, Glenwood, North Beach, Durban North, La Lucia and Umhlanga areas.

Contact: 083 242 1677 or lilianrez@hotmail.com

magazine durban

September 2014

25

calendar

what’s on in september

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

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

Compiled by TAMLYN VINCENT

18

FUN FOR CHILDREN – p27

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p28

Dangerous Creatures Face some of the world’s fastest, most venomous snakes and other dangerous animals.

Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience Enthusiasts can explore the world of dance.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p29

how to help – p29

Baby Bright Stars Babies and toddlers can move and explore in a vibrant, safe environment.

Child Welfare Durban and District You can help them care for disadvantaged children and families.

SPECIAL EVENTS – p27 Witness Hilton Arts Festival The four-day festival caters for everyone. A highlight is the bumper Jongosi schools arts festival.

family marketplace

26

September 2014

magazine durban

PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com / Suzy Bernstein

thu

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 monday National Skin Cancer Screening Day Free skin cancer screenings teach you how to detect early signs of skin cancer and how to prevent it. For more info: visit skincancerfoundation.org.za Night of 100 Stars South Africa’s stars come out for this glamorous fundraiser in support of the Cancer Association of South Africa. Time: 7pm. Venue: Suncoast Casino, Beachfront. Cost: R500. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Santa Shoebox 2014 launch Pledging opens today for this year’s Santa Shoebox campaign. Register online. For more info: visit santashoebox.co.za

5 friday Casual Day The theme is “Bring out the Bling”, so put on your dancing shoes. Cost: stickers R10, available at Edcon Group stores, Absa branches, Game, Dion Wired, Shoprite Checkers and participating organisations.

Contact: 011 609 7006, info@casday.co.za or visit casualday.co.za

12 friday Montpelier art auction and sale This fundraising exhibition displays local art for the public to buy. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Blue Waters Hotel, Marine Parade. Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 312 6670

What to Wear Enjoy an inspiring afternoon with a fashion show, guest speaker and high tea. Time: 2pm–4pm. Venue: Durban North Baptist Church, 20 Mackeurtan Ave. Cost: R50. Contact: 082 497 9350, glover. jennie@gmail.com or visit dnbc.co.za

14 sunday Hyper 5km fun run/walk for Charity For the Sunflower Fund. Time: 9:30am.

Venue: Suncoast Casino, Beachfront. Cost: R50, includes bandana. Contact: 031 266 1148 or allison@sunflowerfund.org.za

16 tuesday Old Crawfordian Alumni Society If you matriculated from Crawford College, join an evening of entertainment and reconnecting.

Time: 7pm. Venue: tbc. Cost: tbc. Contact: 0860 724 665, info@oldcrawfordians.com or visit oldcrawfordians.com

Witness Hilton Arts Festival There’s a Jongosi schools arts festival for primary schools (18 September) and high schools (19 September). The festival (20 and 21 September) includes theatre, art and crafts, food vendors and more. Time: varies. Venue: Hilton College, Pietermaritzburg. Cost: varies. For more info: visit hiltonfestival.co.za

6 saturday The Brown’s School fête This family day includes a strawberry bar, live music, entertainment and more. Time: 8:30am–3pm. Venue: cnr Dorfner Rd and Mariannridge Dr, Pinetown. Cost: free entry, secure parking R5. Contact: 031 700 6065, idc@brownsschool.co.za or visit brownsschool.co.za

7 sunday Kids Party Expo and family fun day Enjoy jumping castles, go-karting and more, plus companies exhibit party ideas.

Time: 9am–4:30pm. Venue: Flag Animal Farm, Umhlali. Cost: R33 entry. Contact: 032 947 2018 or visit flaganimalfarm.co.za magazine durban

99 Hits Prepare for a musical rollercoaster, with 99 songs in one show. Ends 12 October. Time: 8pm Tuesday– Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway.

Cost: R145 Wednesday–Saturday, R110 Tuesday, R100 Sunday.

Contact: 031 566 3045 or visit barnyardtheatres.co.za

The Tough-Man trail run series Competitors get a taste of trail running.

Enter online. Entry on the day includes late entry fee. Time: 7am. Venue: Freedom Trails, Hillcrest. Cost: children’s race R15, 8km R90, 16km R120. For more info: visit bactive.com

FUN FOR CHILDREN

19 friday

art, culture and science

Feed the Babies Fund golf day Time: registration 9am, tee-off 10am, ends 7pm. Venue: The Royal Golf Course, 7 Mitchell Crescent, Berea. Cost: R2 000 per four-ball. Contact: 031 468 6612 or visit feedthebabiesfund.org.za

Art lessons For children 8–18 years old.

Time: 9am–11am, every Saturday. Venue: High Ridge Rd, Durban North. Cost: R125 per lesson. Contact: 074 178 9388 or sdyson@remax-panache.co.za Arty Stars Art lessons suitable for toddlers 18 months–5 years old, and moms. Time: 2:30pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Venue: Baby Bright Stars Studio, Westville.

Cost: R680 per term. Contact: 083 777 4578 or visit Facebook: Baby Bright Stars

21 sunday Shall We Dance A dance extravaganza.

Ends 13 September. Time: 7:30pm Tuesday–Saturday, 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, Anton Lembede Rd, Durban. Cost: R70– R130. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

tue

13 saturday

18 thursday

5 September – Casual Day

2

The Tin Man Triathlon This fast-paced triathlon and running event caters for athletes from all walks of life. Time: 7am.

Venue: Suncoast Casino, Beachfront. Cost: varies. For more info: visit bactive.com

26 friday Trevor Noah’s Nationwild Noah tours with other South African comics. Ends 28 September. Time: 8pm Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm Sunday. Venue: Sunstrip, Suncoast Casino, Beachfront. Cost: R220–R300. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Debutantes and Squires Ball The ball, for those 15 years and older, raises funds for charities. Time: 7pm. Venue: Ashton International College, Albertina Way, Ballito.

Cost: R250. Contact: 032 946 2096 or marketing1@ashtonballito.co.za

classes, talks and workshops Children’s Yoga Time: 11am–11:45am, every Saturday. Venue: Centre of Wellbeing, 16 Canberra Ave, Durban North. Cost: R40. Contact: 076 410 1410 or angela@ rautenbach.co.za

Computers 4 Kids Time: 10am–11am or 11am–12pm, every Saturday. Venue: suite 125 Ridgeton Towers, 6 Aurora Dr, Umhlanga Ridge. Cost: R500 per month.

Contact: 031 566 1110 or umhlanga@ computers4kids.co.za Emotional adventuring for children Children 6–12 years old explore their feelings through body movement, creative play and mindful inquiry.

22 September. Time: 3pm–4:30pm. Venue: The Lighthouse, 117 Snell Parade, Durban beachfront. Cost: R200. Contact: 076 763 6433, 082 374 8684 or emotional. adventuring@gmail.com Get Ready for School programme An introduction to formal learning for Grade Rs. Time: 1pm Monday–Thursday.

Venue: Kip McGrath Pinetown, 2nd floor Park Row, 4 School Rd. Cost: varies.

Contact: 031 702 6833 or admin@ kippinetown.co.za Little Cooks cookery classes Fun, healthy cooking, with various classes available. Time: varies. Venue: Little Cooks Club Durban North studio, 14 Zenith Dr, Umhlanga. Cost varies. Contact: 073 282 7955, katiek@littlecooksclub.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Little Learners Grade R students develop literacy and numeracy skills.

Time: 1:30pm, every Monday. Venue: Kip McGrath Education Centre Umhlanga, 125 Ridgeton Towers, 6 Aurora Dr. Cost: varies. Contact: 031 566 1110, 082 042 2556, admin@kipumhlanga.co.za or visit kipmcgrath.co.za

family outings Books2You book fair Time: 10am–3pm 8 September, 7:30am–1pm 9 September.

Venue: Embury College. Also at Al-Falaah College 17 and 18 September and The Brown’s School 29 and 30 September.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 705 7744 or orders@books2you.co.za Inchanga Choo Choo Steam Train Ride between Kloof and Inchanga Stations.

Time: 2:30pm 27 September, 8:30am and 12:30pm 28 September. Venue: departs from Kloof Station, Stoker’s Arms. Cost: adults R180, children 2–12 years old R130.

Contact: 087 808 7715, 082 353 6003 or visit umgenisteamrailway.co.za Sugar Terminal Tours Time: varies, Monday–Friday. Venue: 25 Leuchars Rd, Durban. Cost: adults R16, children R8.

Contact: 031 365 8153, tourguide@sasa. org.za or visit sasa.org.za

27 saturday National Cupcake Day Host a cupcake Party of Hope, or encourage others to get involved and support Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer. Contact: info@cupcakesofhope.org or visit cupcakesofhope.org

Computers 4 Kids September 2014

27

calendar

playtime and story time

Busyballers A sports development programme for children 2,5 years and older. Time: from 3pm Monday–Thursday; varies depending on age group. Venues: Morningside Sports Club, Westville Civic Centre and Mt Edgecombe. Cost: varies. Contact: 083 236 0059 or lisa@busyballers.co.za

finding nature and outdoor play Crow open day Tours include a visit to animals in rehabilitation, and the environmental education centre. 28 September. Time: 11am. Venue: 15A Coedmore Rd, Yellowwood Park. Cost: adults R25, children R10. Contact: 031 462 1127 or info@crowkzn.co.za Dangerous Creatures See the world’s most dangerous snakes and creepy crawlies.

Time: 10am–4:30pm, daily. Venue: Village Walk, uShaka Marine World. Cost: R40.

Contact: 031 328 8000 The Animal Farmyard Feed the animals and see daily milking demonstrations.

Time: 9am–4:30pm daily, milking 10:30am and 3:30pm. Venue: 3 Lello Rd, Botha’s Hill.

Cost: entry R15, rides R5. Contact: 031 765 2240 or visit animalfarmyard.co.za

markets Bulwer Market Enjoy a family market, with plenty to keep children entertained.

7 September. Time: 9am. Venue: cnr Bulwer Rd and Helen Joseph Rd, Glenwood. Cost: free entry. Contact: 072 820 3513 or darryl@wholefood.co.za I Heart market Local foodies and designers showcase their products. 6 September.

Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Stamford Hill. Cost: free entry.

Contact: thejoyteam@gmail.com or visit iheartmarket.blogspot.com Mariannhill Monastery flea market There are monastery tours, fun for children, crafts and more. Time: 9am–1pm, every Saturday. Venue: 5 Monastery Rd, Mariannhill. Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 700 6066 or 074 994 1688 Open Markets All 11 charity shops, the tea garden and nursery are open, plus there is live singing, fun for the children and an internet hot spot. Time: 8am– 12pm, every Monday and Saturday; 9am–1pm, 28 September. Venue: Kloof and Highway SPCA, 29 Village Rd, Village Green, Kloof. Cost: free entry. Contact Barbara: 031 764 1212/3 The Food Market With over 40 local food stalls. 27 September. Time: 8am–1pm. Venue: The Hellenic Community Centre, Durban

28

September 2014

North. Contact: info@thefoodmarket.co.za or visit thefoodmarket.co.za The Play Market For shopping, eating, children’s entertainment and live music.

14 September. Time: 9am. Venue: 110 Stockville Rd, Westmead, Pinetown. Cost: R10 entry into Giba Gorge. Contact: 071 307 0823 or gotoplaymarket@gmail.com Wonder Market Find foods, crafts and treasures. 28 September. Time: 9am–2pm.

Venue: Chris Saunders Park, Umhlanga.

Contact: wonder@wondermarket.co.za or visit wondermarket.co.za

on stage and screen 99 Hits 2 September–12 October. Time: 8pm Tuesday–Saturday, 2pm Sunday.

Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway.

Cost: varies. Contact: 031 566 3045, gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit barnyardtheatres.co.za Planes: Fire and Rescue In this new animated comedy-adventure, air racer Dusty joins forces with a dynamic crew of fire-fighting aircraft and learns what it takes to become a true hero. Premieres 26 September. For more info: visit numetro. co.za or sterkinekor.com Shall We Dance 5–13 September. Time: varies. Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, Anton Lembede Rd, Durban CBD. Cost: R70–R130. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Sofia the First Season 2 starts 22 September on Disney Junior, DStv channel 309 at 9am. For more info: visit disney. co.za/disney-junior

5–13 September – Shall We Dance

Children’s story time For 3–8 year olds. Time: 10am, every Saturday. Venue: The Book Boutique, 26 Rockview Rd, Amanzimtoti. Cost: free. Contact: 031 903 6692 or thebookboutique@gmail.com Lucky Bean A fun, exciting and safe children’s playground and coffee shop.

Time: 9am–4pm Tuesday–Sunday. Venue: 10 Cadmoor Rd, Assagay. Cost: R20 for the first child, R15 for each additional child per family thereafter. Contact: 082 216 3892, info@luckybean.co or visit luckybean.co (no .za) Steam train rides Ride a miniature steam engine at the Durban Society of Model Engineers. The second Sunday of each month. Time: 11am–4pm Venue: 4 Hinton Grove, Virginia. Cost: R5 a ride. Contact Gerald: 082 569 1383 or visit dsme.co.za

covers injury prevention exercises for sporty children. Time: 12pm–6:30pm 26 September, 7am–1:30pm 27 September.

Venue: tbc. Cost: tbc. Contact: 082 307 2337, natalie@physifun.co.za or visit physifun.co.za Pilates in Motion New classes include Booty Barre and Cardiolates. Taibo and toning classes also available. Time: varies.

Venue: Ferguson Rd, Glenwood. Cost: varies. Contact: 082 443 4533 or info@ pilatesinmotion.co.za

sport and physical activities Northwood Crusaders cricket Under 11 or under 13 junior cricketers are welcome. Practices start 5 September.

Time: 4:30pm–6pm. Venue: Ranleigh Crescent, Durban North. Cost: R400 per term. Contact Rob: 082 694 7609 or robclift@dnca.co.za

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Computer course An eight-week introductory course. Time: 9am–12pm, every Tuesday. Venue: suite 124 Ridgeton Towers, 6 Aurora Dr, Umhlanga Ridge. Cost: R3 270, exam fee R330. Contact: 074 113 8364 or umhlanga@computers4kids.co.za Contemporary Parenting’s monthly meet An insightful talk covers parentingrelated topics. Time: 6:30pm–8:30pm.

Venue: 10 September: Makaranga Garden Lodge, Kloof; 29 September: Gordon Road Girls’ School, Morningside. Cost: R250 per person, R350 per couple.

Contact: 082 652 8008 or hello@ contemporaryparenting.co.za Emotional adventuring for adults Get to know your internal emotional landscape.

4 September. Time: 6:30pm–8pm. Venue: The Astanga Studio, 74A Old Main Rd, Kloof. Cost: R350. Contact: 076 763 6433, 082 374 8684 or emotional.adventuring@ gmail.com Physifun workshop: Physiball and Physifit 26 September: Registered physiotherapists and occupational therapists learn about Pilates, yoga and core strengthening. 27 September: Physifit

Pilates in Motion

Pilates retreat A full-day Pilates retreat.

6 September. Time: 8:30am–4:30pm. Venue: Waterfall Retreat Centre, 20 Debengeni Rd, Waterfall. Cost: R500. Contact: 082 443 4533 or info@pilatesinmotion.co.za Taekwondo for ladies Develop core strength, exercise and learn self-defence.

Time: 7pm–8pm, every Thursday. Venue: Westville Library. Cost: R130 per month.

Contact: 082 876 0628 or tkdtornados@ gmail.com

on stage and screen Jomba!

Contemporary Dance Experience 28 August–7 September.

Time: varies. Venue: varies. For more info visit Facebook: Jomba Dance Trevor Noah’s Nationwild 26–28 September. Time: 8pm Friday and Saturday, 5:30pm Sunday. Venue: Sunstrip, Suncoast Casino, Beachfront. Cost: R220–R300.

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

support groups ADDicted to Life They address the concerns of parents or guardians of children with ADD or ADHD. Venue: St Augustine’s Hospital, Glenwood. Contact: 031 822 8573, 083 293 2145, addictedtolifeteam@ gmail.com or visit Facebook: ADDicted to life team Choc – Childhood Cancer Foundation KZN For support and more info, contact: 086 111 2182, dbn@choc.org.za or visit choc.org.za Famsa Offers family and relationship counselling. Contact: 031 202 8987 or visit 30 Bulwer Rd, Glenwood magazine 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 Overeaters Anonymous They aim to overcome compulsive overeating through meetings where they share experiences, strength and hope in recovery. Contact: 083 409 8309 or visit oa.org.za Sadag For those suffering from depression or drug abuse, or who may be suicidal. For more info or referral to a support group: visit sadag.org

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops Baby massage classes Suitable for babies under one year old. Time: varies. Venue: Sunningdale. Cost: four-session course R500. Contact: 084 821 6668 Busytots classes A developmental programme for children 1–3 years old that encourages creativity, exploration and learning through music, dance, art, ball skills and multisensory play. Time: varies, Wednesday–Friday. Venue: Musgrave. Cost: R900 per term. Contact: 083 236 0059 or lisa@busyballers.co.za HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method This five-week course prepares expectant parents emotionally, mentally and physically for calm, comfortable births.

Saturday and weekday evening classes available. Venue: Cowies Hill, Westville.

Cost: varies. Contact: 082 538 1173 or callen.gerrits@gmail.com Infant massage workshop Join a fun, dynamic workshop for moms and their babies. 4, 11, 18 and 25 September.

Time: 10:45am. Venue: Kloof Moms and Babes, 20 Msinsi Rd. Cost: R600. Contact: 083 661 6682, lasting.impressions.studio@ gmail.com or visit lasting-impressionsstudio.co.za Pebbles This playgroup and coffee morning is for moms, pregnant women and little ones.

Time: 9:30am–11:30am, every Friday. Venue: The Rock Church, cnr Tamarind Close and Umhlanga Rocks Dr, Umhlanga. Cost: free.

Contact: 084 567 7776 Pregnancy yoga Time: 9:30am–10:45am, every Saturday. Venue: Centre for Wellbeing, 16 Canberra Ave, Durban North. Cost: R200 per month. Contact: 076 410 1410 or angela@rautenbach.co.za Shongololo Shakers A music and movement class for children 0–5 years old. Time: varies. Venues: Durban North, Westville and Winston Park. Cost: varies.

Contact: 083 893 5155, 060 350 7323, info@shongololoshakers.co.za or visit shongololoshakers.co.za

playtime and story time Baby Bright Stars Interactive classes for moms and babies. Time: varies. Venue:

it’s party time Toptots

For more help planning your child’s party visit

Westville. Cost: R850. Contact: 083 777 4578, kelly@babybrightstars.co.za or visit babybrightstars.co.za Clamber Club Movement and stimulation classes for babies 8 weeks–12 months old, and children 1–4 years old. Time: varies.

Venues: Ballito, Hillcrest and Kloof. Cost: varies. Contact Ballito: 076 222 2946, Hillcrest: 084 577 7630 or Kloof: 083 259 2746 or visit clamberclub.com Little Me Moms and Toddlers workshops Fun workshops for toddlers 1–3,5 years old and moms. Time: varies.

Venue: Sunningdale. Cost: R75. Contact Eleanor: 084 821 6668 or visit littleme. yolasite.com Toptots Children 8 weeks–4 years old learn and play. Time: varies. Venue: branches in Ballito, Durban North, Glenwood, Hillcrest, Westville, Pietermaritzburg (Hayfields) and Hilton. Cost: varies. Contact: 031 266 4910, 082 876 7791, admin@toptots.co.za or visit toptots.co.za

childmag.co.za/ resources/birthday-parties

support groups La Leche Worldwide breast-feeding support organisation. Contact: 031 309 1801 or visit llli.org/southafrica Mothers 2 Baby For new and experienced moms who are finding motherhood challenging. Moms and babies welcome.

Time: 10am–11:30am, every third Thursday of the month. Venue: Hillcrest Private Hospital, Kassier Rd. Cost: free.

Contact: 061 453 3718

how to help Child Welfare Durban and District They aim to provide child protection services to children who are victims of abuse, affected or infected with HIV/Aids, neglected, abandoned or orphaned. They require help through donations, services, volunteer work or through support for their Donation Station Charity Shop. Contact: 031 312 9313 or visit cwdd.org.za Durban and Coast SPCA Every day, neglected, hurt or abandoned animals are helped by the SPCA inspectors. Help them get to these animals by donating towards a new van. Contact: 031 579 6500 or visit spcadbn.org.za

don’t miss out!

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

magazine durban

September 2014

29

finishing touch

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

30

September 2014

Cassandra and her son

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

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

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

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

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

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

magazine durban

PHOTOGRAPH: MENKE BONNEMA

a

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

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

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

has improved the lives of her husband and son.

books

a good read for preschoolers

for toddlers

for early graders

The Dark

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

the joy of reading

The Midnight Library

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

Jojo’s Wire Car

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

for early graders Explorers: Insects and Minibeasts and Planet Earth

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

for preteens and teens Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds

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

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

One Day: Around the World in 24 Hours

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

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

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

parenting book

for us healthy family fare

Annabel’s Family Cookbook

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

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

Help! I’m a Dad

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

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

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