Child Magazine | Joburg February 2011

J O H A N N E S B U R G ’ S b e s t gu i d e f o r p a r e n t s

back to

l o o h c s

jump to it

raising a child unafraid to try

mental gymnasticors y em

10 games to boost your child’s m

eat up!

healthy lunch box inspiration

www.childmag.co.za

February 2011

free

health

+22 ways to put the FUN back into fundraising

education

entertainment

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

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

Editorial

Welcome back and welcome to our very first issue for 2011.

Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Elaine Eksteen • elaine@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Chareen Boake • joburg@childmag.co.za Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • lucille@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Art Designers Mariette Barkhuizen • mariette@childmag.co.za Nikki-leigh Piper • nikki@childmag.co.za

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

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: Brooke Fasani

Client Relations Client Relations Manager

A new year brings with it new beginnings and lots of possibilities. Granted the first few months can be stressful and even scary for our children, no matter what their age, but these months are also filled with miracle moments.

This might be the year you get to witness the wonder of your child taking his first step, making his first friend or playing his first note. Perhaps you’ll get to see him form his first letter or swim his first proper length.

There’s nothing quite like the joy of watching our children grow into their own, make their own paths, overcome obstacles and acquire new skills.

Each of these big moments, however, requires us to let go a little, to allow them to live a little – and letting go is not so easy.

As my youngest makes the progression from her nurturing prepschool into a new, much bigger primary school and my oldest prepares for a three-month exchange to Australia, I have had to learn a bit about letting go.

In doing so I’ve marvelled at how time flies, and it’s forced me to take stock. So, my New Year’s resolution is to rush a little less and savour my children’s miracle moments a little more. I’m determined to be a more present parent this year. Join me in making this year mean more.

And let us know how it goes; keep your letters coming and be part of the conversations on our new and exciting website.

Have a fabulous Feb.

Michele Jones • michele@childmag.co.za Client Relations Consultants Renee Bruning • renee@childmag.co.za Natasia Cook • natasia@childmag.co.za

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

Joburg’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 5, First Floor, Bentley Office Park, cnr. Rivonia and Wessel Rd, Rivonia. Tel: 011 807 6449, fax: 011 234 4971, email: joburg@childmag.co.za.

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February 2011

contents february 2011

upfront 3

a note from lisa

6

ver to you o readers respond

24

12 r eader’s blog Dawn Botha recounts a shopping trip with her two young sons

features

health

20 r aising a trier unleashing the go-getter in your child. By Glynis Horning

14 d on’t catch me if you can the ins and outs of hand, foot and mouth disease. By Lucille Kemp

24 m emory10 enjoyable exercises for boosting your child’s memory. By Tracy Ellis

15 s top the car!

Chareen Boake on motion sickness 19 l evel with me Catherine Rice unpacks diabetes

28 o ld wives’ tales Lucille Kemp unravels some modern health myths 31 t he “instant family” man Rodney Weidemann’s blind date led to much more than he bargained for

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regulars 8

wins

13 u pfront with paul what to do when the children hijack your grown-up time. By Paul Kerton 16 d ealing with difference dyslexia can be overcome, says Elaine Eksteen 48 r esource – fun(d)raising your guide to topping up the school kitty the fun way. By Chareen Boake

32 b ullying – the parent’s guide Joanne Lillie on helping your child cope with bullying behaviour

54 a good read new books for the whole family 58 what’s on in february

36 g ood food for little people inspirational lunch box ideas from Justine Drake’s book Simply Good Food

74 l ast laugh when it comes to resolutions, do as men do, says Sam Wilson

40 s ocially speaking negotiating play dates. By Tracy Ellis

classified ads

44 l earning to read the methods used to teach your child to read. By Tamlyn Vincent

68 family marketplace 71 it’s party time

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

February 2011

Cape Town

Johannesburg

Durban

shutterstock.com

shutterstock.com

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February 2011

letters

over to you buds. My son, now 18 months, loves bananas. I, on the other hand, used to have to leave a room when someone ate the fruit. I can’t stand the smell or taste – and can even smell a banana loaf from metres away.

Boy, was I in for a surprise! I now have to deal with mushy banana fingers, squishy banana tabletops and having to wipe the sweet fruit from a banana-smeared face. I am slowly, but surely, becoming banana resistant. I

going bananas I really enjoyed Samantha Summerfield’s blog in the December/January issue of Child magazine. I have to admit that extracting bits of moth from your baby’s mouth can’t be pleasant, but for me bananas are just as bad as moths’ wings or any other animal appendages.

Unfortunately, you cannot control your baby’s taste

February 2011

will still not eat one – baked, raw or “smoothied” – but when I look at my son’s happy face, even when decorated with banana mush, my squeamishness dissolves in love.

Thanks for a great magazine.

Jenny

the taming of the tantrum Thanks for such a wonderful magazine. I must say I really look forward to sitting down and relaxing with my copy when my son brings it home from playschool

each month. My son is nearly two, and I have been dreading the onset of the terrible twos since he was born. The sulks and screams have already started, and his stubborn nature (inherited from my husband and me) is starting to show.

So I was extremely happy – yes, relieved – to see the article on taming tantrums. It is comforting to hear that we are not alone; and even though we know what we should be doing to stop the tantrums, it is so useful to have a list of steps to fall back on. I doubt my son will get any less stubborn with age, but at least I now feel (a bit more) empowered.

So thank you for all of your articles, and I look forward to another year of relaxing moments and useful tips from Child magazine.

Candice Walters

a great parenting tool The articles in Child magazine have given me great tools for being a confident parent. I enjoy reading each and every feature. Continue doing what you are doing – you are making a difference in my life as well as my children’s.

Carmelita Wegewarth

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choosing your battles I’m not a doctor or a psychologist. I’m just a mom. I have two children; one with ADHD and the other with ADD. My son is seven and my daughter is five. I recently learnt something I would like to share with other moms… Why spend your whole life fighting with your children? I now have a limit of three battles a day.

Mornings used to be the worst. I would fight with the children to wake up. Then fight with them to brush their teeth, followed by a fight to get them dressed. Not to mention getting them to eat breakfast! We used to get to school late every morning.

But then one day my son’s teacher asked me what my shoe size was. First I thought she liked my shoes, but then she explained to me that I needed to put my little foot down. I had heard the limiting-your-battles theory before, and decided to try it out.

The first battle I chose was meal times. I would not let my children leave the table until they’d eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner. After a very rough two weeks, they’d begun to eat properly.

My next battles were getting them to brush their teeth and wash their hair. After another two weeks they were eating, brushing their teeth and washing hair.

The battle plan was working and I felt great. At this stage, at least, my husband left a calm home in the morning and returned from work to a home where there was no screaming.

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By the fifth week I’d decided that homework, getting them to school on time and taking their medicine in the mornings would be my next battles. In so doing, I’d used up my daily allowance of three battles, and had made no provision for extra fights – which was exactly when the children decided to paint my passage walls! I took one deep breath, suggested they clean it up, then disappeared into the kitchen to get a well-deserved cup of coffee. I sat there quietly contemplating all manner of evils, but after half an hour they reappeared and told me how sorry they were and how much they loved me.

I followed them into the passage and was impressed to see that they’d tried to clean the walls. Next they directed me to their bedrooms and, to my surprise, their rooms were clean. For now, the three-battles-a-day idea is working!

Stacy Heilbronn

listen up I’m writing this before the official figures on fatalities on our roads over the festive season have been announced, but these are estimated to be in the region of 1 400 deaths. This is a shocking figure! Our family holidayed on the Cape south coast over Christmas and New Year, and I was appalled at just how many drivers ignored traffic rules. And a lot of these were parents! It seems to me that people believe the festive season gives them licence to be irresponsible. On countless occasions I

saw children as young as four or five piled on to the back of bakkies for trips to the beach or shops. Then there were the tipsy youngsters in charge of driving these vehicles back from the beach. One accident I witnessed was caused by a woman (children in the back) whose cellphone was clutched between her shoulder and ear.

The crash wasn’t fatal, but it could have been. It also seems that neither the wearing of safety belts nor the use of car seats by children are a priority during the holidays. I am not shocked by the high fatality rate – in fact I’m surprised it’s not higher. Please, fellow parents, stop and think. By disregarding traffic rules, you are not only a danger to yourself and your family, but also to other people on the roads.

Camilla French

write to us We would like to know what’s on your mind.

Send your letters to: marina@childmag.co.za or PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters.

The opinions reflected here are those of our readers and are not necessarily held by Hunter House Publishing. You can also post a comment online at childmag.co.za

February 2011

wins

giveaways in february do sweat it

playtime perfected Ideal Toy is a wholesale family-run business that supplies educational toys to various retail stores countrywide. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options on offer when choosing an educational toy, but with Ideal Toy you are guaranteed top-quality toys and games focusing on multilevel challenges, logical thinking, and visual and spatial perception. A few of Ideal Toy’s brands include Orda, Foxmind, Zoob, Smart Games and University Games.

For more info email idealtoy@iafrica.com or visit idealtoy.co.za One Joburg’s Child reader stands a chance to win an Ideal Toy hamper valued at R2 339. Toys include “Zoologic”, “Memo Spell”, “Go Getter Cat & Mouse” and “Zoob Cube”. To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with “Ideal Toy JHB Win” in the subject line or post your entry to Ideal Toy JHB Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2011. Only one entry per reader.

February 2011

Fitness First, along with the former Spice Girl Scary Spice, is set to launch Get Fit with Mel B, designed for maximum fat burning, toning and weight loss. It is suitable for all fitness levels and combines high-intensity aerobic and boxing moves with conditioning exercises.

Get Fit with Mel B will bring you real-time advice and feedback on several disciplines such as dance fit, cardio, step, pump, tone and kickboxing. The game also delivers a personal nutritional programme aligned to your fitness workout. Get Fit with Mel B is available at CNA, BT Games and Look & Listen. For more info visit getfitwithmelb.com Three readers of Joburg’s Child stand a chance to win a copy of Get Fit with Mel B valued at R399 in a platform of their choice (Wii, XBox or PS3). To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with “Get Fit JHB Win” in the subject line or post your entry to Get Fit JHB Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2011. Only one entry per reader.

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adventures in learning saving monkeys one breakfast at a time Kellogg’s and wildlife charity Born Free have teamed up – simply by eating their favourite breakfast cereal, Coco Pops fans help illtreated monkeys in Malawi. Participate in the “Adopt a Monkey” promotion (running until April 2011) by buying any two promotional packs from the Kellogg’s Coco Pops range: Chocorillas, Crunchers, Jumbos or the original oven-toasted rice grains. SMS (R1/ SMS) the two monkey codes found inside any two of these promotional packs to receive your unique code, which your child will use to adopt a monkey on adoptamonkey. co.za. Children will be able to read each monkey’s own incredible survival story and will be able to rehabilitate their own virtual monkey by playing an online game. To find out more about how Kellogg’s is helping Born Free, visit adoptamonkey.co.za or cocopops.co.za Seven readers of Joburg’s Child stand a chance to win a hamper valued at R300, including a soft toy monkey and Coco Pops munchies. To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with “Kellogg’s JHB Win” in the subject line or post your entry to Kellogg’s JHB Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2011. Only one entry per reader.

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Leapster Explorer is a new learning experience that encourages children to discover something new every day. It offers endless ways to play and learn through games, e-books, videos and online play. Skills are covered in the area of school (reading and maths), special interest (nature and science) and life skills (sharing). Parents can view the games their child plays most and see how they are doing with different skills. The Leapster Explorer is available at most major toy retailers. For more info visit leapfrog.com/explorer/ One reader of Joburg’s Child stands a chance to win a Leapster Explorer Console (R799) and a game (R249) of your choice valued at R1 048. To enter, email your details to win@childmag.co.za with “Leapster JHB Win” in the subject line or post your entry to Leapster JHB Win, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010 before 28 February 2011. Only one entry per reader.

congratulations to our November winners Nina Klein, Hanlie Chemaly and Sharon Lyer who each win a Fastrackids holiday camp; Marcia van der Merwe who wins a Woodcreations jungle gym; Catri Velleman who wins a Polkashoppe baby planner and toy box stork party; Simenthra Bauchoo who wins a Treehouse gift voucher; Ayanda Mafuleka, Geraldine Church, Kirsty Shelley, Monica Krzychylkiewicz and Errolene de Klerk who each win a Green Cross voucher.

February 2011

blog

shopping for four with three DAWN BOTHA negotiates a grocery buying trip with her two young sons.

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February 2011

11. Make it to the till with two crumbs to spare. Son number two tries to grab chocolate bars from the display that’s so conveniently close to the till. When thwarted, he starts howling and this does not stop until I pick him up.

12. So there I am, one son in one arm, one son sitting on my groceries, while I try to unpack them onto the counter.

13. Make it to the car, the car attendant packs all my squashed groceries into the boot in record time – before I have managed to strap even one wriggly body into its car seat – and waits for his tip.

14. Finally make it home singing “Joy to the world” with relish. Unstrap son one and plonk him in front of TV to watch his favourite movie. Quietly, unstrap son two who has fallen asleep and put him down for his nap. Unpack groceries and collapse with a cup of extra caffeinated coffee – just in time to hear son two wake up, and remember that I forgot to get milk!

Readers, this is your column – it’s a space to air your views, share a valuable parenting lesson, vent your frustrations or celebrate your joys.

Send your writing to features@childmag.co.za

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ILLUSTRATION: NIKKI-LEIGH PIPER

w

ith the recession, and the hint of a 40 percent electricity price increase, online shopping for moms is no longer a viable option. So I psyche myself up (read tell myself “It’s got to be done”) – and begin the manual shopping ordeal…

1. Change my youngest son’s nappy and make sure my other child has used the loo.

2. Strap the children into the car.

3. Switch on the Beautiful Creatures CD, and sprint back into the house hoping that my younger son will not notice I’m gone.

4. Grab my keys, handbag, the plastic bags and nappy bag, and lock up the house with my other hand.

5. Unstrap my youngest son, who has produced a dirty

appy; unlock the house with my other hand; change n his nappy; wash my hands; lock the house while holding his wriggly body with my other arm and re-strap him into his car seat.

6. Jump into the car and head for the nearest supermarket singing “I’m Lucas the Lazy Lion” for the millionth time.

7. Park the car; unstrap eldest son; dash to other side of the car and unstrap youngest son (who is antsy because his brother is already out of the car) and, with my free hand, dump my handbag into the shopping bags and shut the car.

8. Manage to bypass the Wimpy (with a small protest from my eldest son about “chips”), the escalator and the lifts (both favourite shopping mall “toys” for boys) and make it into the grocery store.

9. Allow eldest son some choice about the trolley in which he and his brother will be contained; hook plastic bags with handbag on the trolley handle and start to gain momentum… (At this point, if I haven’t got my list out and choreographed how to grab each item off the shelf in aisle order, the shopping trip will not end successfully.)

10. Race to the bakery to grab some rolls and give the children one each. My shopping must be finished by the time those rolls have disappeared into their stomachs.

upfront with paul

show time Sometimes, being a parent means you just

PHOTOGRAPH: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

need to smile and clap, says PAUL KERTON.

e arrive for a dinner party with friends. The children immediately disappear into some secret corner of the house. You don’t hear a whimper. You know they are up to something, but are reassured that nothing dodgy is going down. Nothing has before.

They appear briefly when you shout for them (many times) to come and get some food, which is on the table and going to get cold. The pack arrives; the food disappears fast; and they also disappear, a slight smirk on their faces – that conspiratorial, we-know-you-don’t cockiness. No matter, they are enjoying themselves. There are no “Mommy, I hurt my arm” or “Daddy, Brian pushed me and called me a nerd” complaints from the children. Their silence is uncanny.

The grown-ups don’t really notice because they are relishing their temporary opportunity to be adults again, discussing

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really important stuff like property, sport and fashion, and that beautiful Lalique vase that Sue bought in Venice. They are having such a good time that they have literally forgotten the children exist.

Then, disaster strikes.

With a loud fanfare from one of the more exuberant children, the troupe arranges every seat into an impromptu theatre, around a suitable household space and it is “Show Time”. Suddenly the audio-system is mercilessly hijacked and that smooth, funky, Argentinian tango-jazz is replaced with a nonsense of Abba and Justin Bieber, and worse, rap, with its ugly gangstabitching and parental-advisory lexicon.

The parents cringe; Maureen instinctively reaches to cover her little son’s ears, but bravely stops herself. This is life.

The laughter of the parents dies. Faces and shoulders drop (like Man United players after throwing away a two-goal

lead), but they manage to raise heroic halfsmiles in the face of adversity, stop their conversations and obediently sit down and pay attention.

Irritating though the timing is, the children (bless ’em) do make a supreme effort. They have rehearsed their lines to perfection and their stage management is second only to that of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. They pirouette through their dance moves with ease and the older children (who always claim star billing) have included the very youngest, even if she is just banging a pot lid out of time.

The parents applaud enthusiastically, eager to get back to the sparkling wine and equally sparkling conversations. But wait, there is more. That was just the First Act. Oh no! The parents cannot disguise a collective sigh as they slump back down in their seats to endure Act Two. This is slightly more difficult since the children are

Saskia, Paul and Sabina

now on borrowed time. The problem with children is that they just don’t know when to stop.

Luckily the hostess has seen this movie before and with a cheerful burst of enthusiasm directed at the cast, she first applauds them for their ingenuity and unbelievable talent and then invites the children to have some “special” late night chocolates. A masterstroke. The curtain falls. Conversations resume…

Paul Kerton is the author of Fab Dad: A Man’s Guide to Fathering.

February 2011

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health

don’t catch me if you can

h

and, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious illness caused by viral pathogens. There is no vaccination for HFMD, making all young children susceptible. Although your child is largely at the mercy of their environment, your ability to recognise the symptoms early and know how to control them, to avoid complications, will make all the difference.

Look out for a fever, malaise and a non-itchy rash (raised red spots that may blister slightly) on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Painful cuts in the mouth and a sore throat may also occur later. Other symptoms include irritability, a headache, loss of appetite and, in the worst case, diarrhoea.

HFMD is most common in infants and toddlers, who are most likely to catch the virus from summer or autumn outbreaks at their preschool. You can imagine the perfect breeding ground: a relatively large number of children, who like to touch and taste everything, all sharing a space. This makes exposure to droplets of infected faeces, mucous and saliva on toys, in the toilets and in the sandpit, inevitable. Spreading also classically occurs in the incubation period, when the infection is present before symptoms show, which can last up to a week.

know how As HFMD is a viral illness, treatment is symptomatic. For fever and pain relief, get paracetamol or Ibuprofen syrup, which also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Cape Townbased GP Dr Wendy Dicks says that treating the fever will also relieve the pain caused by mouth ulcers and thus improve the appetite as the lesions make eating difficult. Another vital point Dicks makes is to ensure good fluid intake “as dehydration may occur during high fever and diarrhoea”. A rehydration solution is very important here and is available

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February 2011

from the pharmacy. If your child has diarrhoea use a good barrier cream to avoid nappy rash, and clean the buttock area and change nappies frequently.

Painful mouth ulcers or sores may be treated with various antibacterial and mildly anti-inflammatory applications that will soothe the pain – your GP will be able to prescribe these. Dicks suggests choosing a mouthwash or mouth paint that contains antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients. In addition, “you may also want to apply an antibacterial cream to the skin lesions,” says Dicks.

Complications are rare, thankfully, but if not monitored, Dicks says your child can contract viral meningitis (which shows itself in headaches, light sensitivity and a stiff neck) or a polio-like illness. There have been reports of fingernail and toenail loss occurring four weeks after infection, but these are also rare.

You can reduce your child’s chances of getting HFMD by making sure they have a strong immune system, and by teaching your child to wash their hands frequently, ensuring toys are cleaned regularly and trying to prevent your child from having contact with infected children. On this, make sure your child’s teacher keeps you informed of any outbreaks at school so you can decide whether or not to keep your child at home. It may be an excuse to get away for a long weekend, says Dicks.

what’s in a name?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease should not to be confused with the cattle-borne footand-mouth disease – nor the verbally-induced “foot in mouth” disease.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

LUCILLE KEMP learns more about hand, foot and mouth disease.

health

stop the car!

a

CHAREEN BOAKE finds out about motion sickness.

family holiday is a very exciting event, but getting to your destination can be frustrating, especially if a passenger suffers from motion sickness.

It’s not certain why some people suffer from motion sickness (also called travel sickness) while others don’t, but many experts believe it happens when the brain is confused by conflicting messages that it’s receiving from the body’s motion sensors.

The brain accumulates information from the eyes, skin, inner ear and muscles and if this information doesn’t agree, it results in motion sickness. If you are reading in a moving car, for example, your eyes are focused on a set position and the brain assumes you’re sitting still. However, the delicate sensors in your inner ear will be picking up changes in balance as you move to and fro with the movement of the car. This discrepancy affects the body’s equilibrium causing the common symptoms of motion sickness: cold sweats, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and nausea. Certain computer and virtual simulation games can also cause motion sickness.

According to Johannesburg-based GP Dr Theo Louridas, although motion

sickness is unpleasant, it has no lasting effects. He warns that if these symptoms occur frequently and without travel, it could be indicative of more serious problems related to the cerebellum or possibly even a tumour and you should consult your doctor.

Motion sickness rarely affects infants; it is more common in toddlers and children.

Although some children do outgrow it by age 12, it often continues into adulthood.

Children are more likely to suffer from motion sickness if they’re susceptible to nausea or vomiting, or experience heightened levels of anxiety. Other triggers may include: the vehicle being poorly ventilated or too hot, or the child having their head turned to look out of the side window. Discovering whether your child suffers from motion sickness is a trial and error exercise, but there are measures that you can take to try and reduce the risk of motion sickness.

Natural remedies such as ginger help relieve nausea while certain earplugs and wristbands are said to relieve motion sickness. There are also several overthe-counter medications to treat motion sickness and nausea.

PHOTOGRAPH: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

be prepared • Car: strap your child in the middle seat (if it has an over-the-shoulder belt), encouraging them to look straight ahead rather than out of the side window.

• Plane: ask for a window seat towards the front.

• Eat frequent light, bland snacks like rice cakes or bananas and avoid sugary snacks, fatty foods or dairy.

• Try to travel during children’s nap times or overnight if you’re driving.

• Cover the window beside the child to keep the sun off their bodies and reduce stress on the eyes.

• Distract children with singing or games like “I spy”. Limit reading, colouring-in and hand-held computer games.

• Plan your trip along the straightest road, preferably a freeway with fewer bumps, and stop regularly.

• Place a cool cloth on the forehead and rest the head against the seat to keep it as still as possible.

• Make sure the car is cool. Small battery-powered fans and spray bottles are useful if you don’t have air conditioning.

• Take a potty, towels or nappies to catch vomit and plastic packets to seal the soiled items; bad odours can lead to further nausea.

• Travel with spare clothes, a face cloth, wet wipes and fabric spray.

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February 2011

15

dealing with difference

sound sense Dyslexia – and its associated reading and writing difficulties – doesn’t need to leave your child locked out of learning. Its challenges can be overcome, says ELAINE EKSTEEN.

moving forward Dyslexia can be a debilitating condition, if not overcome.

However, a dyslexic child can almost certainly learn to be a successful reader and, with things such as spell check and voice recognition software, it’s possible for those with dyslexia to succeed in tertiary study and to go on to operate very effectively, and even excel, in the workplace.

As with most learning differences, the earlier it’s picked up the better. If you suspect your child has dyslexia, and if you have a history of reading difficulties in your family, speak to your child’s school about having her assessed by a specialist educator or educational psychologist.

Once she has been properly diagnosed you can set

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about getting her the appropriate help – this may include seeing an educational psychologist, speech and language therapy, tuition from a remedial educator and, in some cases, occupational therapy.

The most powerful tool in helping a child with dyslexia, says Nadler-Nir, is “demystifying” their difficulties. “This helps the child understand why they find reading and writing so difficult,” she continues. Following this, dyslexic children generally need assistance in the areas of phonics and fluency. They “need to understand how words are put together and at the same time they need to become smoother readers,” says Worrall. One of the challenges for dyslexic children who have learnt to read is then developing the ability to express themselves in writing.

My inability to perform the most natural tasks of reading and writing made me ashamed of who I was.

Depending on “a child’s ability to compensate with other cognitive strengths and the type of support there is for them,” says Nadler-Nir, “many are able to cope adequately at a mainstream school.” One such success story is a Grade 5 child Nadler-Nir worked with for five years, who recently received the most prestigious award at her school. “It was for determination and perseverance,” explains Nadler-Nir. “She also got 78% for English and has read the Twilight Series. She is a dyslexic learner who shows that academic success is possible.”

Other dyslexic children make better progress at a special needs school. In fact, says Worrall, whose school was set up specifically for children with learning differences, “many children whose dyslexia is picked up early attend specialised education like ours for just one to three years before being ready to switch to mainstream education”.

sons can both now read and write and they no longer consider themselves stupid. They know that they are bright and that their brain just works a little differently. I would love to say their lives are easy, but that’s not true. But they now have tools to face being in school,” explains Sharon.

homework Whatever your journey is with your child, there are a few very important things parents can do to assist the child thought to have dyslexia. These are: • Take action. Don’t delay having your child assessed if you are concerned.

• “Read to them. This is most important,” says Worrall. Read to your child every night and ask them questions, discuss what’s happening. “Once your child is into the pleasure of reading you are halfway there,” she encourages.

• Keep new teachers informed about your child’s learning barriers.

• “For some children the image they have of themselves as a dyslexic can interfere with their progress,” says Worrall. Make sure you are feeding into your child’s strengths. This will help their motivation levels and is key to their moving forward.

• Accept that overcoming their difficulties will take time and be patient, says Nadler-Nir.

useful reading • Dyslexia-friendly Practice in the Secondary Classroom by Tilly Mortimore and Jane Dupree (Exeter: Learning Matters) • Dyslexia: A Parents’ Guide To Dyslexia, Dyspraxia And Other Learning Difficulties by Dr Helen Likierman and Dr Valerie Muter (Ebury Publishing) • The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D Davis (Davis Dyslexia Association) • International Dyslexia Association (USA): interdys.org • British Dyslexia Association: bdadyslexia.org.uk

different strokes For Durban-based mom Sharon Gerken, herself dyslexic, the schooling of her sons, both dyslexic, was an enormous frustration. “My eldest son could not read and write by nine and my youngest could not read. If I had not stumbled on the Davis method my boys would not have been accepted into any school – their IQ was too high for remedial school,” says Sharon.

The Davis programme, developed by American Ron Davis, focuses on eliminating the perceptual distortions many dyslexics experience. The dyslexic, says Davis, thinks in pictures, not words; making them creative and imaginative, big-picture thinkers. Although some mainstream practitioners are dismissive of the programme, there are many parents who swear by it, claiming Davis’s book The Gift of Dyslexia has transformed their children’s lives. “My

don’t believe it These statements about dyslexic learners are myths, say Tilly Mortimore and Jane Dupree in their book Dyslexia-friendly Practice in the Secondary Classroom (Exeter: Learning Matters): • The majority of dyslexic learners are male.

• Dyslexic learners will never learn to read.

• Most dyslexic learners suffer from some form of attention disorder.

• It is impossible to identify dyslexia before the age of seven.

• Dyslexic learners cannot cope at university.

• All dyslexic learners are of average or above average intelligence.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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ehind this smiling face, I’m not like the others.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had difficulty absorbing information, I’ve struggled to read and write. All the simplest, most natural things the children around me learnt to do without questioning, I just couldn’t seem to do. By age 10, the creeping tentacles of shame already had a grip on me. My inability to perform the most natural tasks of reading and writing made me ashamed of who I was,” says local 20-year-old Erin Levitas in her book Through a Dyslexic Looking Glass, which she co-authored with Mariëlle Renssen.

“The most difficult part was that throughout my early teenage years, no-one would give my condition – clearly a form of learning disability – a name. I always believed that if only we could label it, it’d be much easier for me to deal with,” says Erin.

“I was 16 when the big black mushroom of a cloud that hovered over my head was torn open,” she continues. The “cloud” was given a name; Erin was found to be dyslexic.

“Dyslexia can be summed up as the inability to make sense of the sound system of language,” says Dr Anita Worrall, psychologist and director of Pro Ed Assessment & Therapy Centre/Pro Ed House School in Cape Town.

Dyslexia runs in families and has been linked to problems with information processing, particularly in the language centres of the brain.

Its signs and symptoms are varied, “depending on the child’s patterns of strengths, barriers, attention, personality and so on. Generally a dyslexic child is slow to ‘break the code’ to reading and spelling, and gets frustrated at school because it is so difficult. Their self-esteem is often affected,” says speech-language therapist Elizabeth Nadler-Nir of The Reading Language Gym in Cape Town.

The child with dyslexia will have difficulty understanding rhyme and manipulating sounds, may jumble up words and mix up directionals (up and down, for example).

They often have trouble breaking things up into logical steps, and have difficulty with lists and sequences. These children also struggle to access their “working memory, finding it difficult to retain and recall information when they want it,” says Worrall.

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February 2011

health

level with me CATHERINE RICE helps parents understand the ups and downs of diabetes in children.

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iabetes is the world’s fastest growing chronic disease, affecting people of all ages, including infants. Currently 220 million people are diabetic. The World Health Organisation predicts that deaths due to diabetes will increase by 50 percent in the next 10 years. In South Africa, reliable statistics are not available, but Johannesburg paediatric endocrinologist, Dr David Segal, estimates that about 6 000 children under the age of 14 are currently diagnosed every year.

There are many different types of diabetes, with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus being the most common. Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes, and used to be known as juvenile diabetes because it most commonly is diagnosed in the young. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas no longer produces the insulin

treatment, it can be life threatening.

Common symptoms include excessive thirst, excessive drinking, excessive urination, extreme hunger, lethargy, sudden weight loss, infections that don’t heal plus stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

treatment and management Once diagnosed, the disease is treated with insulin injections, which are given in appropriate doses. To do this effectively, sugar levels need to be monitored frequently.

A finger pricker (a technologically advanced device that pricks the skin painlessly) is used to draw a tiny amount of blood. This is then fed into a small device called a glucometer.

It is not uncommon to have to check sugar levels 10 times in 24 hours. Most important is checking between midnight and 2am, leading to sleep deprivation for parents of diabetic children.

People think that children with diabetes cannot be given sweet things. But this is not true. the body needs. Type 1 diabetes develops before the age of 35 years old. In type 2 diabetes, the most common form, there is often a genetic susceptibility, combined with lifestyle choices that lead to obesity which, in turn, leads to insulin resistance. It usually affects older people with sedentary lifetstyles, and is easier to manage.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

could type 1 diabetes affect your child?

According to Segal, there is not necessarily a genetic predisposition for type 1 diabetes.

“An environmental or viral trigger can set off the autoimmune process.” What exactly that trigger is, doctors do not know.

Once the autoimmune process kicks in, there is no turning back. The body mounts an attack against its own pancreas, and the cells that make insulin are destroyed.

Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas manufactures, that “tells” cells how to extract sugar from the blood, turning it into the energy necessary for survival. Without insulin, the unusable glucose remains in the blood. The body then breaks down fat and protein to use as an alternative energy source and weight loss is, therefore, one of the common symptoms of the disease.

Cape Town paediatric endocrinologist Dr Michelle Carrihill lists the symptoms to look out for. If you suspect that your child has diabetes, she urges parents to seek medical help immediately – without magazine joburg

Parents need to be continually aware of the possibility of a hypoglycaemic attack. A hypoglycaemic attack happens when the sugar levels in the blood drop to unacceptably low levels, due, ironically, to an over supply of insulin. When blood sugar levels fall below a minimum threshold the child feels unwell, eventually lapsing into unconsciousness. To raise blood sugar levels, sugar or glucose, usually in food or liquid form, must be given immediately. This can be problematic if the diabetic is a young child who is asleep, and not interested in eating or drinking anything at that moment.

In recent years, there have been significant technological advances in the treatment of diabetes. One major innovation has been the introduction of insulin pumps.

The insulin pump is connected to the body by tubing which feeds into a canula

or indwelling catheter placed under the skin, usually on the buttocks. It obviates the need for injections, delivering insulin on a continual basis. However, every time the child eats or drinks, blood sugar levels must be checked, carbohydrate intake estimated, and the insulin pump adjusted accordingly. The pump is usually clipped to a piece of the child’s clothing. The catheter site needs to be moved every three days. The insulin pump makes life for a diabetic more flexible and manageable, but is only affordable for people with a decent medical-aid scheme.

looking ahead The harsh truth is that, currently there is no cure for diabetes on the horizon. Although stem cell research shows promise, it will be many years before meaningful results will be seen. The current focus is on more efficient therapeutic technology, such as the insulin pump, and continuous glucose monitoring devices. Segal says the cases

of very young children being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is increasing by about one percent every year. Doctors are not sure why this is, but there is the hypothesis that our continually changing environmental factors affect this.

I have learnt a lot about diabetes in children in the last few years. Three years ago my younger daughter was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 23 months.

It has been a stressful journey, but, as a family we have tried to acquire as much knowledge as possible, in our attempts to give Maya a normal life. Life is more complicated. We can no longer just decide on a whim to go somewhere. Everything must be meticulously planned. Today, we celebrated her fifth birthday and as she ran around the garden, giggling with pure joy.

She looked like any other child revelling in the delights of a birthday.

common misconceptions Type 1 diabetes is not caused by a child’s dietary patterns. People

where to turn

commonly confuse type 1 and

• Red Cross Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic, Cape Town, 021 658 5035

type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is

• Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Johannesburg 011 712 6000

found in older people, and is easier

• Diabetes South Africa (non profit organisation to promote awareness and

to manage.

provide support): 011 886 3721/3765, diabetessa.co.za. Contact the Durban office: 031 764 3953

People think that children with

• childrenwithdiabetes.com is a valuable forum that provides support

diabetes cannot be given sweet

by allowing parents to communicate with thousands of other parents in the

things. This is not true. If insulin

same position.

levels are effectively controlled, a

• Probably the most authoritative book on the subject is Type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents and young adults by Dr Ragnar Hanas (Da Capo Press).

diabetic child can enjoy a normal and healthy diet.

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parenting

raising a trier Children who are open to new experiences can grow and go further. But how

e all want our children to be successful in life, but this takes more than talent and hard work – it takes the courage to keep pushing to new heights, which means risking failure. “To grow, you need to learn to deal with the discomfort of leaving your comfort zone, and take risks,” says Elise Fourie, a Pretoria counselling psychologist and executive coach. “And some find it more difficult than others.”

Part of this is genetic and to do with personality, and part is shaped by life experiences and the way you are raised. Negative childhood events can erode self-esteem, making you insecure and reluctant to expose yourself by taking risks or being judged by others. The challenge for parents is to help children to be positive risk-takers – to raise them to be confident, curious and courageous enough to try things that stretch and strengthen them.

This can be particularly hard for parents today, when we’re blitzed by media coverage of dangers from unsafe toys to drugs, school violence, bullying, teen sex, teen stress

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and suicide, cyber predation and crime in general. Small wonder we’ve been labelled a generation of “helicopter parents”, hovering over our children, supervising their every move and robbing them of opportunities to test and hone

We do our children no favours when we bubble-wrap them, keeping them from difficult choices when they are still young enough to be guided by us. their abilities – and to feel the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles and achieving things for themselves.

I remind myself of it whenever my 16-year-old limps in from teaching himself a new trick on the unicycle he

saved for, or my 13-year-old signs up for some tough music competition.

“We do our children no favours when we bubble-wrap them, keeping them from difficult choices when they are still young enough to be guided by us,” says Michael Ungar, family therapist and author of Too Safe for Their Own Good: How Risk and Responsibility Help Teens Thrive (McClelland & Stewart). “We seem these days to have a magical notion that children can learn common sense by just watching and listening to others talk about it. That isn’t the way our brains develop.” We are experiential beings, he explains. “We need to be pushed, not too far, but just enough to learn something new.”

“Recent research indicates that cognitive development and growth is linked to overcoming obstacles and mastering age-appropriate learning tasks and milestones,” says Fourie. “This includes learning to ride a bicycle, sleeping alone at night, even simple things such as bathing and dressing.”

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PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

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can we encourage them – and still keep them safe? GLYNIS HORNING reports

PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

build confidence Help your child spot talents and develop passions that make them feel special, because the greater their self-esteem, the more open they will be to new experiences.

“Children with positive self-esteem have good selfawareness, and their knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses gives them the confidence to continually seek ways of growing,” says Durban-based child and educational psychologist Dr Caron Bustin. “This enables them to use opportunities to advance, and apply their judgment to resist those that go against their radar.”

lighten up

Strange as it may seem, there’s a connection between the security we offer children, and their violent behaviour, experimentation with drugs, and risk-taking with their bodies, minds and emotions, says Ungar. “According to the children, the real problem is that they must search hard these days to experience danger or risk or responsibility that makes them feel more adult.”

Children who are good risk-takers are better able to cope with the social and emotional dangers that come with peer pressure, say Susan Davis and Nancy Eppler-Wolff, authors of Raising Children Who Soar: A Guide to Healthy

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Risk-Taking in an Uncertain World (Teachers College Press). “They have the courage and the confidence to risk their own position in the social hierarchy, and they are prepared to express their own convictions and feelings – even if they go against the group’s norm.”

Children not exposed to risks arrive at adulthood unprepared for its challenges, and confronted by these they resort to fight (aggression and rebellion) or flight (retreat and withdrawal). Encouraging them to take appropriate risks from an early age makes them feel trustworthy, responsible and capable. Here’s how.

Be vigilant where real risks exist, but lighten up when your fear gets the better of you, says Unger. “Well-founded worry conveys to children they are loved; senseless ungrounded worry debilitates children in ways far worse than the few bumps and bruises they may experience without us.” Letting children explore at the cost of those bumps builds self-confidence, resilience and self-reliance, says Wendy Mogel, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee (Penguin). Girls may need more encouragement than boys, so look for chances for your daughter to ride the high slide and swings.

As Tony Hawk, the legendary American skateboard champion and father of three athletic, daring sons put it in a recent interview: “Let their passion trump your fear. My oldest has learned an important lesson through his injuries: don’t make the same mistake twice. I trust his sense of judgment and commitment, and my job is to support him however I can.”

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parenting

give guidance Barbara Coloroso, author of Kids Are Worth It!: Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline (Harper), talks of “jellyfish” parents, who don’t give children boundaries, and “brick-wall” parents, who enforce rigid rules that allow no room to learn to think independently. Aim to be what she calls “backbone” parents, by providing children with structure and flexibility to negotiate for what they need as they develop, and to take more responsibility for their own decisions. So, yes, your child can skateboard – but only if they wear a helmet at all times. And, yes, they can go to a party, but only if you drop them off, meet the other parents, and collect them at 11pm. Agree on consequences and enforce them.

hurt of some kind. “By nurturing risk and recognising challenge and failure as a normal part of life, we can help our children,” say Davis and Eppler-Wolff. Teach them that failure gives us the feedback we need to get good at the things we choose to do. Teens can be particularly afraid of denting their image, so share this gem from local rocker Arno Carstens: “Success is buried in the garden of failure – if you’re prepared to go dig there, you’ll eventually find it.” And remind them that it took Thomas Edison around 10 000 attempts to invent the electric light bulb. “I often tell parents it’s their task to prepare their child for life, not to protect them from life, so children should be encouraged to dare,” says Fourie.

go gently give safe alternatives Provide safe substitutes for inappropriate risk-taking or “responsibility-seeking” behaviour, says Ungar. Find challenges that help your child feel adult in ways acceptable to you both. “Any child who has not learnt to take good risks will take poor ones instead,” reason Davis and Eppler-Wolff. “Children of all ages need to challenge themselves by taking everyday risks that promote accomplishment and a greater capacity for tolerance and compassion.”

listen up!

When children ignore sound advice or rules, and take a risk that is clearly dangerous or for which they are not prepared, ask why they’ve chosen to take on more responsibility than they’re ready for. Listen closely – chances are they are trying to tell you something. They may need reassurance, guidance or simply attention. “Often dangerous behaviour is an expression of anger towards a parent for lack of attention,” says Fourie. “But it can sometimes be revenge for being reprimanded or punished, or exposed to what they perceive as rejection.”

Children with ADD or ADHD can engage in risky behaviour from impulsivity and a decreased sense of danger. “In this case, education is important, rather than merely attempting to inhibit risktaking behaviour.”

teach them it’s okay to fail You can’t learn to skateboard, speak a new language, make a new friend, or be a class leader, without risking

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If children are hesitant to try new things, challenge them, but gently and supportively.

Ask for their reasons, and acknowledge the feelings behind them, but point out alternative ways of seeing them. “Also suggest coping strategies, as a child often cannot generate these if they feel under threat or fear failure,” says Fourie. So yes, trying out for the school play is scary, but think what fun rehearsals will be, and how good they will feel entertaining everyone.

Remind them of times they’ve tried other new things and found they enjoyed them.

Share your own experiences, without being coercive or patronising. Motivate but don’t push, especially if their resistance is strong, which it can be in matters far out of their comfort zone. Forcing a very shy child to try out for a play or debating team can make them more risk-averse. “Parents often incorrectly believe that public performance is good for a shy child,” says Fourie. “It’s only good if they are really interested in it and have some talent for it. If not, it creates even more opportunity for failure, and already negative self-esteem can become more resistant to change.” Talk through the challenge and break it into achievable steps, which will give a sense of mastery to carry them forward, advises Bustin. “Work with them and be patient.

Suggest how to deal with setbacks, and celebrate small successes along the way.

Remember to praise not only the result but the effort and intention – after all, it’s the effort, not the goal, that’s required forever.”

The moment something is no longer fun, let them stop – they also need to know how to say “no” to things that are genuinely not for them.

“If the resistance appears to be due magazine joburg

It’s a parent’s task to prepare their child for life, not to protect them from life, so children should be encouraged to dare.

more to lack of interest than fear of risk or failure, the child should be encouraged to choose another activity,” says Fourie.

“Parents shouldn’t remain stuck on the idea that public performance is the only activity from which a shy child can benefit. Have them consider team sports, art, singing in a choir, even starting a new sport.”

don’t label them Calling a child “shy” or a “picky eater” pegs them in other’s perceptions and their own, removing the incentive to change and grow, and giving them an excuse not to. “Children can be remarkably intuitive about how others perceive them, and take on labels readily,” says Bustin. “In the end they never realise their true potential, and it results in learnt helplessness.”

“A label almost becomes a safe haven – if it fits, there’s no need to change,” adds Fourie. “Everything is predictable and there is no chance of being caught by surprise, therefore no chance of failing.” Yet many labels are untrue, including “picky eater”.

According to one study, if children have repeated opportunities to try new foods, they’ll accept at least some of them. This may mean you need to offer a spoonful of beans 10 to 15 times before they’ll give it a go, but they will.

it’s added to your life. Be truthful: “That wasn’t much fun, but I’m pleased I tried it, at least I know what to do next time.”

Never berate yourself for failing when you tried something that didn’t turn out as planned, or let them hear you criticise or mock people for not succeeding at things. Model tolerance and respect for others and for yourself, whatever their or your shortcomings. Praise their and your efforts and good points, and you will teach children they don’t need to be perfect.

“Parents who model healthy risk-taking behaviour and dealing with failure teach their children one of the most important coping mechanisms in life,” says Fourie.

Concludes Bustin: “We can’t do better than to show our children that we cannot be anything we want to be, but we can be more of who we already are.”

model an open attitude Children learn most from your attitude and example, says Bustin. “Parents need to examine their own issues, motivations and attitudes before setting expectations.”

How often do your children see you try something outside your comfort zone – eating something exotic in a restaurant, taking a course, or agreeing to speak in public? Share your hesitation, fear or distaste, the persistence or courage it took, and how good you felt afterwards – or how magazine joburg

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education

memory

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TRACY ELLIS looks at some fun exercises and tactics we can teach our children

oncentration and memorisation go hand in hand with learning. Our brains store new information by forming a specific neural pathway to where that information is stored. In order to recall that data correctly, we need to trigger our brain to follow the same pathway back to it.

Sound complicated? According to experts, it really isn’t! Daren Denholm, four times Southern Hemisphere and African Continent Memory Champion, says we are all born with the same mental equipment

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February 2011

but it’s how we use our brain that makes all the difference. Memory is much like muscle: the more you exercise it, the better it gets and helping our children to exercise their memories can have a huge impact on their ability to retain and retrieve information and improve their success at school. Stress and anxiety can severely impair memory retention so it is important to keep learning relaxed and exciting. Here are some fun memory games, tactics and tips, which are useful for developing concentration and boosting memory power.

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ILLUSTRATIONS: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

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to boost their memory power.

ILLUSTRATIONS: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

1

letter logic

memory tool An acronym is a word that is formed using the first letters of other words and can be used effectively to remember a group of words that might otherwise be difficult to memorise on their own. brain training Underline the first letter of each word you need to remember.

Arrange the underlined letters to form your acronym. For example, if you need

2

acrostically speaking

memory tool An acrostic works in a similar way to an acronym by using the first letter of each word in a group of words you need to remember. Instead of making a new word, though, the letters are used to make a new sentence or poem, which often relates back to the original word. Humorous acrostics are easier for children to remember. brain training Write down the first letter of each word you need to remember, then create a sentence using words beginning with the same letters as the

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to remember the points on a compass, you might use the acronym NEWS (North, East, West and South). Acronyms can be a real or made up word, but acronyms that are easily pronounced are more effective. For example NEWS is a better acronym than NSEW. Acronyms can be used in reverse to remember the spelling of difficult words. Take a word, such as “because”, and create a fun sentence using the corresponding

ones on your list. A common acrostic used to remember the nine planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto is My Very Eager Monkey Jumps Swiftly Under Nine Planets. practice drill Children can have fun practising acrostics by using the letters of their name and the names of their friends. The resulting sentence or group of words should describe the person concerned. For example: GAIL might be Generous And Incredibly Loving or Gifted, Arty, Interesting, Lady.

letters: Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants. practice drill Children use acronyms everyday without even realising it. Test your child on the meaning of common ones such as ASAP, PTO and ATM. Ask your cellphone savvy child to teach you some common chat acronyms such as ROFL (Rolling On Floor Laughing), LOL (Laughing Out Loud) and BFF (Best Friends Forever).

3

sing-song

memory tool Rhyme, rhythm, melody, repetition and alliteration can all assist us in remembering facts by committing them to our auditory memory.

Adding rhyme or melody to an acronym or acrostic makes it even more powerful than just speaking it, as it activates both sides of the brain. brain training Singing the ABCs to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or chanting “Thirty days has September, April, June and November” are examples of learning through rhyme and rhythm. Take a list of words and ask your child to put a melody to them. practice drill Try putting new words to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to teach your child something. For example: “We live in South Africa; 11 languages spoken here; Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans…”

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education

4

let’s make a list

memory tool Play a game by building a growing list with your child to practise your collective memory power. brain training Each player takes a turn to remember one thing he saw or bought on an outing to the shops, park or beach. The next player repeats and adds to the list. For example: we went to the park and saw a ladybird; we went to the park and saw a ladybird

5

word chains

memory tool Making inks and chains are effective tactics for remembering short- to medium-length lists of words that don’t necessarily have to be remembered in order, such as shopping lists. brain training Start with your list of words and visualise each word. Link the first image with the second, then the second with the third, and so on. For example, if you need to remember to buy cat food, lettuce, soap and orange juice, you might imagine a cat with a lettuce balancing on its head, then a lettuce taking a bath and finally a bathtub filled with orange juice. The more crazy the images, the more you are likely to remember them. practice drill Have fun with your children by writing lists of words and getting them to imagine and describe the crazy images. When you are done, see how many items they can remember from the list.

7

the case of the missing object

memory tool Use any household objects to create a fun memory game for children. This game tests their ability to concentrate and recall information. brain training Place five to 15 different household objects on a tray or table in random order. For younger children, choose a few bigger objects; for older children choose many smaller objects.

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February 2011

and a tree; we went to the park and saw a ladybird, a tree and a dog…

Keep taking turns and adding items to see how long the list can get and who remembers the most things on it. practice drill This game can be played after any outing and the list can include anything you bought, saw or did.

Change the intro and verb accordingly.

For example: we went to the shop and bought apples, or we went to the beach and swam in the sea.

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mental gymnastics

memory tool Word and number puzzles such as crosswords, Sudoku, riddles and maths trivia can help us think laterally, improve our concentration and train our brains to create new neural pathways, all important for boosting memory power. brain training Killing time in the doctor’s waiting room? Keep a handbag-sized puzzle or trivia book (available at most bookshops and stationers) close by and take five minutes a day to do some brain gym with your child. Children as young as seven can begin solving simple Sudoku puzzles. practice drill If all you have is a pen and paper, simple games like hangman, noughts and crosses, and incomplete sequences and patterns can work just as well.

Tip: for our brains to get the most benefit, the puzzles need to be sufficiently challenging.

Give them a minute to study the objects, then ask them to turn around while you remove an object. They must now identify the missing object. practice drill Make the game easier by touching each object and naming it out loud before they turn around. If they are still battling, give them a clue by telling them the first letter of the missing object. Make the game more difficult by shuffling the remaining objects before you reveal them.

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8

making sense of learning

memory tool Involving multiple senses and combining left and right brain activity while learning gives you the most reward from your memory. Try combining colours, textures, music, smells and tastes when learning. brain training Ask your children to close their eyes and visualise their work. Then ask them to describe it to you in vivid detail. What does it look like? What colour is it? Does it make any sounds? What does it say? What does it smell like?

If it had a taste, what would that be? Get them to add humour and emotion to engage all the senses.

Rewriting and reading text out loud is a more effective way of studying than just reading it silently as it involves multiple senses. Adding in coloured pens, diagrams and classical background music is even better. practice drill Make your own Stroop test (a psychological measure of mental flexibility): write the names of colours in alternatecoloured inks, then ask your child to say only the colour and not read the word. For example, write “red” using blue ink, then have her say the word as “blue”. By combining colour and language, this exercise resolves conflict between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

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do the loci-motion

memory tool The Method of Loci is an ancient memory technique in which facts, words or numbers are assigned to places along a familiar path or route. It works on the assumption that you can best remember places or routes that you are familiar with, so linking things you need to remember with these locations will trigger your memory. brain training Make a list of 10 words for your child to remember in order.

Write them on pieces of paper and then walk with him on the path he would normally take in your house to get from the front door to his

9

cups of fun

memory tool This game is a version of the classic memory card game Concentration or Pairs, but is a little more fun. brain training Take an even number of plastic or polystyrene party cups.

You should have at least eight cups per player. Gather enough matching pairs of household objects such as buttons, small toys or dried beans. Place one object under each paper cup.

Players take turns to lift two cups.

If the objects match, they remove them. The winner is the one with the most objects at the end of the game. practice drill Raise the stakes by mixing coins and small treats in among the household objects.

Each player gets to keep the treats he matches from memory.

bedroom, placing a word at various locations along the way, such as on the couch, kitchen counter and piano.

Say the words aloud together as you place them. When you are done, ask her to visualise the walk you just took and to say the words as she remembers them. practice drill For older children this exercise can be done mentally without actually walking through the house. By visualising the journey and mentally linking words with objects along the way, she should be able to remember the words. Adding another memory tactic such as alliteration or sensory stimulation will improve the results.

healthy bodies, healthy brains Keeping our children healthy through diet and exercise and reducing their bad stress can help to improve their concentration and memories. Make sure your child gets enough sleep and has limited TV time, and encourage him to get active every day. Ensure he eats a balanced diet including memory-boosting foods such as blueberries, broccoli, spinach, onions and grapes. If he is a picky eater and you are concerned he is not getting sufficient vitamins and minerals in his diet, consider giving him a daily vitamin supplement that includes B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.

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February 2011

27

health

old wives’ tales LUCILLE KEMP looks into the latest generation of myths surrounding mothering.

“I need to go on an allergen-free diet so my baby isn’t born with food allergies.”

Canadian food allergist and author Dr Janice Joneja, discussing her research at the 23rd Biennial Congress of the Nutrition Society of South Africa held in Durban in September 2010, said the number of children under five years old who have a peanut allergy doubled between 2002 and 2007.

She suggests that moms, who are not themselves allergic to anything, should “educate the infant’s immune system to recognise that foreign proteins (allergens) are not a threat.

By eating a wide range of foods and exposing an infant before and after birth to small quantities of foreign proteins,

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the child’s immune system is stimulated to produce its own antibodies.” (She encourages exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first four months of a child’s life.) Need more proof?

A study of 8 600 children in Israel and England published in November 2009 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found Israel’s incidence of peanut allergies to be 10 times less than that of England. Interestingly, Israeli families use peanuts as a weaning food while English families tend to avoid peanuts until the child is older.

“I must cut out coffee during my pregnancy.”

The fear is in caffeine and the solution is in moderation.

Researchers have found no harm in drinking coffee if you limit your consumption. “Too much caffeine is not healthy for anyone, pregnant or not, but one or two cups a day will not do any harm,” says Johannesburg-based gynaecologist Dr Johan van der Wat. There are alternatives: tea generally contains less caffeine than coffee, and there

are decaffeinated options such as Rooibos, the poster child of hot drinks for pregnant women.

“I can’t eat sushi while I’m pregnant.”

The usual fear is that raw fish may carry harmful bacteria – but that’s only the case if the fish is not fresh. The other concern is about the mercury content but salmon is classified by the FDA as low in mercury. The same goes for eel, crab and shrimp, each of which is perfectly fine for a pregnant and nursing women to eat. Tuna is a different story, with some species having high quantities of mercury. But, according to Van der Wat: “Eat as much as you like, Japan has one of the biggest populations in the world.” Plus fish is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, “containing high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids and low levels of saturated fat,” says the FDA. For peace of mind, contact the Food Advisory Consumer Service (FACS): 012 428 7122 or visit foodfacts.org.za.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

hile blowing the whistle on these modern folklores, the experts suggest that you keep your head. One day these titbits currently convincing you up the garden path will sound as silly as “feed a cold, starve a fever”.

PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

“I shouldn’t carry or lift anything during my pregnancy because it will hurt my baby.”

Okay, let’s let the doctor rephrase: “You should not lift or carry excessively heavy things during pregnancy,” says Van der Wat, but there’s no need to wrap yourself in cotton wool. Ignore the fear-mongering advice not to carry your toddler, unless your gynae has specifically told you otherwise. Pregnancy changes your centre of gravity, making you vulnerable to strain but it doesn’t make you fragile. Simply listen to your body and you’ll know your limits – carrying two light grocery bags will not hurt your baby, while moving a heavy pot plant can cause problems.

Practise safe lifting habits. Don’t be a hero.

“I can determine the sex of my baby by the way I am carrying.”

Although it’s a sweet, harmless old wives’ tale, it’s interesting just how many people want to believe it. All Van

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der Wat can say is a bewildered: “No, the sex of a baby can only be determined by ultrasound.” It is actually the baby’s position, size of your torso, your body’s shape before you became pregnant, and the amount of fat deposited around your abdomen that will determine the way you carry.

“My daughter has white spots on her fingernails; she must have a calcium deficiency.

Johannesburg-based paediatrician Dr Alison Baxter says, “White spots or white lines on the nails are due to a mild trauma or bump to the nail and can also occur following periods of illness. Some other systemic diseases can be associated with nail abnormalities, so white spots on nails are not one and the same as calcium deficiency”.

Johannesburg-based paediatrician Dr Jennifer Geel says, “Generally you don’t notice the trauma at the time it occurs and the spots grow out weeks later.” So, they’re like bruises on the skin: they are harmless, and will grow out.

“My son has had his tonsils out so he should get fewer throat infections.”

Baxter says that if a child has his tonsils removed “they won’t get tonsillitis but it won’t stop them from getting an infection of a different area of the throat,” such as pharyngitis or laryngitis. Geel says that only if a child has tonsillitis six or more times a year, should she have a tonsillectomy.

“My child should wait an hour after eating before swimming.”

“As a child I used to love to eat sandwiches under water,” recalls Geel. She goes on to say, “I seem to remember that the reason our parents told us not to eat then swim was to prevent drowning and I have never understood the logic of this one. Certainly, if you eat or drink something and then swim quite vigorously, you may taste the food or drink at the back of your throat but this cannot

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cause drowning.” The real issues when it comes to swimming safety are that your child is a competent swimmer and it’s worth it to invest in some lessons. It is also important that your pool is properly secured with a fence or net or both.

“My child has diarrhoea, it must be because she is teething.”

As Baxter puts it: “Teething causes teeth.” She says that some children do get a low-grade fever with teething, but if the fever is over 38 degrees (normal is 37) then you should look for another cause for the fever. With teething some children do also produce a stool that is looser than normal, but this does not equate to gastroenteritis, when the child will go three or four times a day.”

“If my daughter has a cold I should not give her dairy products.”

“Dairy products won’t increase mucous production, but if your child has a cold and is producing a lot of mucous, the milk will coat the mucous so it sounds worse,” says Baxter.

But there’s no need to stop giving them milk altogether.

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Dr Geel says moms should increase their child’s intake of clear fluids, especially those containing Vitamin C.

“If my son reads in dim light it’ll weaken his eyes.”

“Not at all, in my opinion,” says Geel, “Being short- or long-sighted is genetic. This may worsen with time, so a child may seem fine at age five and only later will you notice their poor vision, which some parents may then associate with reading.” Baxter goes on to say that though reading in dim light puts strain on the eyes at that time, and may make them tired, the eyes will recover after a period of rest.” Research shows that there really is very little you can do that will permanently damage your eyes.

“If my daughter goes outside with wet hair she will get a cold.”

“A cold is caused by a virus, so you won’t get a cold just because your hair is wet or because of the weather,” says Baxter. So there you have it: wet hair or cold weather can only aggravate the symptoms of an alreadypresent cold.

fact, in fact Just when you thought you could spot a myth a mile away: it turns out that these have more than a dash of truth in them…

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away Apple phenols help protect the DNA from colon cancer cells. Research has shown that apple consumption may be an effective strategy for cancer protection.

• Long hot baths reduce sperm count Men’s testes are outside the body for a reason. They need to be in a cooler environment to produce healthy sperm. Heat from a hot bath can be temporarily damaging to the sperm, which is why it can affect male fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, men should steer clear of the hot tub and Jacuzzi.

• Eating carrots is good for eyesight It doesn’t make you see any better in the dark, nor does it sharpen your vision but it does reduce the risk of getting macular degeneration, a condition common in seniors and one which causes blindness.

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straight up

the “instant family” man Going from single man to instant parent in the space of a few days changed my life in a multitude

e PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

of unexpected ways, says RODNEY WEIDEMANN.

verything about my life turned on a solitary phone call. My bachelor lifestyle, my “man” habits (yes, I always left the toilet seat up!), my living space and my bank balance – they all changed instantly, the moment I decided to follow up on a blind date arranged by one of my best friends.

I went from being the guy who would, at a moment’s notice, head off to the pub on a Friday night for a few rounds of pool, to the one who asks: “I wonder if there’s anything good on TV tonight?” From Mr “Of course I’m available, let’s party” to the one who repeatedly asks: “Is the venue child-friendly?”

My wife Lorna, with whom I fell in love the night we met, has two beautiful girls – Nicole and Mikyla – who came as part of the deal. This is not something

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that worried me, though. One of my older brothers married a woman who also had two children of around the same age. Both now consider him their second dad.

So, entering into a relationship with someone who already had children held no fear for me. At any rate, I had on more than one other occasion dated women who were mothers. I was, or so I thought, a dab hand at dealing with youngsters.

I also have plenty of nephews (though only two nieces), so I was used to being around little ones. What was there to worry about?

Perhaps we rushed things a little at the outset. We went from dating to buying a house together in the space of about four weeks. We were living together within three months. And that is where the real experience began…

No sane man, who has grown up in a family dominated by males, is ready to instantly share his life with not one, but three members of the opposite sex.

Particularly if he’s a guy who has spent most of his adult life as part of the singles’ scene. Cooking for people with the fussiest of eating habits, playing with Barbie dolls and getting laughed at every time they happen to see your boxers sticking out can play havoc with a guy’s self-esteem.

And, if you think women are bad when they’re with their friends, you should see how they can gang up on a solitary male when they’re all related by blood.

There have certainly been ups and downs. While I have always been happy to defer to Mom when it comes to decisions like “how much TV is appropriate”, our

initially differing views on discipline were cause for much dispute early on. My lack of understanding around the occasional tantrum has also been a problem at times.

And I still haven’t worked out how to do their hair in the pretty styles Mommy always manages.

But has it been worth it? Heck yeah!

I have a gorgeous wife, two beautiful daughters and I’m no longer a spare part at a family gathering. I’m a parent – just the same as the others. I get more cuddles, kisses and “I love yous” than any single man could ever dream of, and I have the pleasure of watching my girls grow and learn, day by day.

Of course, it does also mean that every time they play Bob Carlisle’s “Butterfly Kisses” on the radio, I burst into tears...

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bullying

– the parent’s guide Bullying behaviour is on the increase and it’s being perpetrated in more ways than ever before. What’s important is giving your

elly Gibson was a popular and sporty student at her East Rand school before her peers started victimising her. “I had represented Central Gauteng Aquatics for swimming two years in a row, was in the school’s cross-country team, and had recently made it into the water polo first team. My life couldn’t have been happier,” says Kelly.

But once on tour with the water polo team, Kelly and a friend caused a stir when they refused to participate in an initiation ritual in which they were expected to run naked across a beach. They were immediately ostracised and excluded from team activities.

The abuse only got worse when Kelly got home. “My sister and I were shoved and pushed in the corridors and

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graffiti was written about us in the bathrooms,” she says.

Her belongings went missing and Kelly’s schoolmates even started a Facebook group against her. “They took pictures of me in my full colours blazer, blackened out my teeth and wrote, ‘I r a retard’ all over the picture. The abuse was surreal,” she recalls. Eventually Kelly’s mom moved her and her sister to another school.

why children bully “Many children have been bullied or treated badly for being ‘different’ or not fitting typical stereotypes. It used to be for being ‘too nerdy’, ‘not sporty enough’ or for the way they looked. But nowadays, we find that children and teens are being bullied for being too smart, too pretty or for

excelling in a specific field,” says Cassey Chambers of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). It’s important that we teach our children to have confidence in themselves as well as crucial coping mechanisms to deal with adversity, whatever the situation,” she says.

Johannesburg educational psychologist, Fatima Adam, whose Masters thesis focused on bullying in primary schools, believes bullying is on the increase. “One explanation is that we live in a violent society and children learn that violence is acceptable,” she says. Bullying is a way of expressing strong emotions, dealing with low self-esteem, and a way that some children try to exercise authority over others.

“Violence and a sense of being tough is depicted as cool and children strive to be portrayed that way,” says Adam.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

child the confidence and skills to cope. By JOANNE LILLIE

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

When we adults learn to behave and communicate in non-aggressive and non-violent ways, I sincerely believe that the epidemic of bullying we are witnessing in our society will begin to decline.

Anne Cawood, a counsellor at a private girls’ junior school in Cape Town, observes a trend to emulate behaviour that glamorises being nasty. “Just look at High School Musical. Sharpay is the ‘bad’ girl – but she is the popular one – the one who everyone wants to be ‘in’ with. Children watch these movies and unfortunately the lessons and values become more appealing than those being taught by parents and teachers,” says Cawood.

how to recognise if your child is being bullied “Most children will speak up very quickly if they are becoming the focus of bullies. It’s so important to be connected to our children. This means being very aware of their body language and decoding their behaviour.

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Take their feelings seriously and make it easy for them to share with you; it will be easier to pick up the early warning signs,” says Cawood, who is also the author of the Boundaries series of parenting books.

“It is especially important to tune into the inner world of the more withdrawn child,” says Cawood. “Quieter children often bottle up their fears and anxieties – making it difficult to pick up problems. Look out for any changes in behaviour, for instance, a normally confident child who suddenly becomes afraid and develops stomach aches or headaches; or a quiet child who becomes even more withdrawn,” says Cawood.

“It’s so easy, in a very busy day, to become impatient and brush their issues aside. From this, children learn that

it’s not worth trying to explain how they feel because noone listens or understands,” says Cawood. Don’t forget that shy children who are bullied may be humiliated and ashamed by the negative attention and try to hide it, blaming themselves.

Another response to being bullied is a display of unusually aggressive behaviour, says Adam. A decline in academic performance, or avoiding school, are other signs to look out for.

what you can do “Listen carefully, but avoid an inquisition, as direct questions tend to cause defensiveness. Rather use indirect questions that invite sharing, like: ‘It seems to me that

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you are having a very hard time at school’,” suggests Cawood. “Also, don’t rush in too quickly to solve all the problems. Children do need to become resilient and be able to solve their own problems. But, when an incident is just far too overwhelming for a young child to cope with alone, they should know that they can always turn to you for assistance.”

The most effective thing you can do is focus on the issue and develop a plan, says Chambers. Reassure your child that they were right to tell you, don’t promise to keep it a secret, discuss practical ways to solve the problem, and talk to teachers and other parents – if there’s one bullied child, there will be others.

Something that many parents are concerned about is victimisation that is enabled by adults. “A teacher may not consciously label or victimise a child, but an unassertive child may be side-lined while the extroverts get all the attention. This adult behaviour is noticed by the children in the class (or home) and exacerbates the

perception that a certain child is a ‘loser’.

This can lead to certain children being teased and taunted on the playground – contributing to ongoing feelings of low self-esteem and worthlessness. Children with low self-esteem are more likely to be bullied,” says Cawood.

equipping your child to cope “From as young as possible, teach your child that they have the right to say ‘no’, that they do not have to endure treatment that undermines or abuses them,” says Cawood. “Children are allowed to have feelings – negative and positive, and they should be encouraged to express their

types of bullying Bullying can take a number of forms. According to the experts, any repeated behaviour by a child that deliberately hurts another can be termed bullying. physical Apart from hitting and shoving, children can intimidate each other with mere physical presence, towering over a smaller child or pushing past more forcefully than necessary, says clinical psychologist Justine Bartlett. emotional The difficulty with nasty words, criticism and insults is that these are more difficult to spot – and children will often not admit to being bullied in this way. But it can have much more serious consequences and far-reaching effects than physical abuse. Constant emotional bullying can lead to the development of a dysfunctional self-image, low self-confidence, anxiety and depression. social Bullying by ostracising or singling out can be the most painful, which is where permeating social networking websites (MXit, Facebook and MySpace) and cellphone applications are used to disastrous effect. Unlike traditional forms of bullying, young people who are the targets of “electronic aggression” are at greater risk for depression than their abusers, according to a survey conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (US), and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

“There is very little accountability and children can bypass the normal social rules of face-to-face communication. It’s easier to say nasty things anonymously online and there are often very few, if any, consequences,” says Bartlett. The large public forum can also make humiliation that much more intense. “And the effects can be very severe, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicide,” Bartlett adds.

Consider limiting your child’s online access and helping them develop more active outdoor interests.

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negative feelings in assertive ways. Many children still feel disempowered because they are told to be quiet, not to back-chat adults or to make a fuss,” she says. Rather alarmingly, Cawood says children are often encouraged to ‘just do it back to the bully’, which not only encourages the aggression to continue, it also does not help a child learn the real skills of assertiveness.

“We need to teach our children what is right and wrong in terms of how you speak to other children. This is a skill which sounds so obvious but is often left out of our children’s education at home,” says clinical psychologist Justine Bartlett, who is in private practice in Durban. Teach your children to: • Resolve conflict • Be assertive • Know when it’s time to get grownups involved • Develop a wide social circle so they are not too reliant on any one group for their social stimulation • Understand the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression not only for themselves but for friends too.

“Children are often so afraid of being bullied by others that they will jeopardise their own values and integrity, and be too scared to stand up for others,” observes Cawood. “We need to help children, from as young as possible, to have empathy for others. Ask: ‘How do you think it felt

Schools should have anti-bullying policies that are implemented with serious consequences for those who contravene, setting an example to all, says Adam.

“Bullying policies should actively involve parents on various levels, making it a combined effort,” she adds.

Work with teachers, suggests SADAG: • Notify teachers of the situation in writing. Schools are obligated to respond to bullying.

• Discuss ways the school can help, such as by developing a bullying awareness programme.

• Join the PTA and raise awareness of bullying as an issue.

• Offer to speak to the school board and be the ‘bullying expert’.

• If your child has disabilities, you can build bullying prevention goals into your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Anti-bullying rules should be part of every school’s code of conduct, but, says Cawood, “Schools can only do so much – the main lessons are learnt at home, where violence and intimidation are too often observed by children.

They see adults swear and treat other people aggressively. Children often feel disregarded and disconnected – and then act out their aggression on children who are younger or weaker than they are,” she says.

It’s so important to be connected to our children. This means being very aware of their body language and decoding their behaviour. Take their feelings seriously, and make it easy for them to share with you. to be treated like that?’ this will help children put themselves in others’ shoes,” says Cawood.

Bartlett agrees: “Doing nothing while others are targeted means they are being passive bullies. Standing up for what is right is a strong value that young children need to learn at home.”

ways to help stamp out bullying Adam points out that we need to start with ourselves by converting aggressive habits to calmer, more positive approaches. This in turn will impact our children. “Violent acts should be openly discussed at home so that children learn that they are unacceptable,” she says.

There should also be clear definitions as to what constitutes bullying. “According to my research, carried out at a primary school in Johannesburg, children who were accused of bullying, did not realise that they were bullying. This is because peoples’ perceptions about what bullying is, differs,” says Adam. (Refer to the panel alongside for more about different types of bullying.) magazine joburg

Teaching your child coping skills and to stand up for herself and her beliefs can turn a potentially damaging situation into an opportunity for growth. Since being victimised, Kelly Gibson has started speaking out publicly against bullying and reaching out to other children offering hope, support and change (visit her website respectme.co.za).

She’s shown that we need not perpetuate a cycle of violence and anger.

“When we adults learn to behave and communicate in non-aggressive and nonviolent ways, I believe that the epidemic of bullying we are witnessing in our society will begin to decline,” says Cawood.

call for help Childline 0800 055 555 or visit childlinesa.org.za The South African Depression and Anxiety Group Available seven days a week from 8am–8pm.

0800 567 567, 011 262 6396, SMS 31393 or visit sadag.co.za

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book extract

good food

for little people

Healthy lunch box inspiration from Justine Drake’s Simply Good Food. turkey and avocado wrap (serves 1) 1 wholewheat tortilla ¼ cup (60ml) shredded lettuce ¼ cup (60ml) shredded rocket 4 cucumber ribbons

4 slices shaved cooked turkey, halved ¼ avocado, thinly sliced 4 tsp (20ml) fat-free plain yoghurt mixed with 2 tsp (10ml) wholegrain mustard or sweet chilli sauce

delicious things to add • Create your own flavour combinations by using 1 Tbsp (15ml) reduced sugar chutney or hot English mustard.

• Wraps are great for combining small portions of leftovers – the last spoonful of cottage cheese or hummus, a few lingering roast vegetables, salad leaves or cold chicken slithers.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: Dawie Verwey

Place the lettuce and rocket on the first third of the tortilla that is closest to you. Be sure to keep clear a 4cm border around the circumference of the tortilla.

Top the lettuce with cucumber ribbons, turkey and avo.

Stir the yoghurt and mustard or sweet chilli sauce together and, if eating immediately, drizzle on top otherwise, to prevent the wrap going soggy, store and serve as a dipping sauce.

Fold the side flaps in to enclose the outer edges of the filling and roll up tightly.

Wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Dawie Verwey

asian chicken balls great cocktail food for grown-ups too! (makes 12 balls, which serves 6) 400g chicken mince ½ medium onion, finely chopped 1 tsp (5ml) freshly grated ginger 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 cup (250ml) grated baby marrows (about 4 large marrows) 1 Tbsp (15ml) fish sauce

Tbsp (15ml) finely chopped fresh 1 mint leaves 1 Tbsp (15ml) finely chopped fresh coriander milled pepper 1 Tbsp (15ml) olive oil or sesame oil

Mix all ingredients together, except the oil.

Shape into small balls.

Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and fry the chicken balls for 8 to 10 minutes over medium heat until firm and cooked through.

Drain on paper towel.

Serve with tomato or sweet chilli sauce for dipping. Or serve for dinner as part of a balanced meal with brown basmati rice and steamed vegetables.

delicious things to add • Roll the raw chicken balls in sesame seeds before frying.

• Omit the Oriental flavours (ginger, chilli, fish sauce, coriander, mint) and add some finely chopped fresh parsley. Pop the chicken balls into a homemade tomato sauce and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C. Serve with wholewheat pasta or rice for an Italian take.

• Flatten the chicken balls into burger patty shapes and serve on a wholewheat seed roll with shredded cucumber, mashed avocado, pickled ginger and a little smear of reduced fat mayo.

things you should know • Don’t crowd the pan or the chicken will boil rather than fry. Rather cook the balls in batches.

• Reduce the fat content by baking the chicken balls in a preheated oven at 200°C for 15 minutes or until cooked through.

• To reduce the salt content leave the fish sauce out of this recipe.

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book extract

bean dip a great source of soluble fibre and health-boosting B vitamins (makes 1 cup) 1 x 400g can butter beans, rinsed and drained 1 small clove garlic, crushed 2 tsp (10ml) lemon juice 1 tsp (5ml) grated lemon zest

1 Tbsp (15ml) roughly chopped fresh parsley ¼ cup (60ml) fat-free plain yoghurt milled pepper

Whizz all the ingredients together in a food processor or use a hand blender. Alternatively mash the beans and stir through the remaining ingredients.

Season and stir through a little water to achieve the desired consistency.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 3 to 4 days.

how to use it • Serve with raw vegetables as a snack.

• Spread onto wholewheat bread or high-fibre crackers instead of margarine or butter.

delicious things to add • Use a variety of pulses such as chickpeas, cannellini, borlotti, red kidney beans or even lentils instead of butter beans.

root vegetable chips use any root vegetables that take your fancy (serves 4) 2 large parsnips 2 large beetroot 2 large carrots olive oil cooking spray Preheat the oven to 120°C. Scrub the vegetables and top and tail them.

Shave into long ribbon-like strips using a potato peeler – there will be lots of them! Or use a mandoline if you have one.

Coat the strips with a little olive oil spray.

Scatter the vegetables in one haphazard layer onto a couple of baking trays. Don’t pile on top of one another or they won’t get crispy.

Bake for 40 minutes until golden and crispy.

Season and serve or cool and store in an airtight container for up to two days.

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delicious things to add • Season with your favourite spice or rub mix.

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egg fried rice deliciously simple and the perfect solution for leftover rice (serves 4 generously) 1 1 2 4 2 1 3 1

Tbsp (15ml) olive oil onion, finely chopped carrots, peeled and finely chopped baby marrows, finely diced cloves garlic, crushed tsp (5ml) freshly grated ginger jumbo eggs, lightly beaten Tbsp (15ml) low-sodium soy sauce

2 cups (500ml) cooked brown basmati rice, chilled ½ cup (125ml) frozen peas ½ cup (125ml) frozen or fresh corn ½ cup (125ml) fresh coriander, roughly chopped 3–4 spring onions, chopped

Heat a wok or a large non-stick pan and add oil when the pan is hot.

Add the onion, carrots, baby marrows, garlic and ginger.

Stir-fry for 5 minutes.

Mix the eggs and soy sauce together.

Shift the vegetables to one side of the pan and pour in the egg mixture.

Stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring continuously to break up the egg as it sets.

Add the rice, peas and corn and toss all ingredients together. Stir-fry for a further 5 to 8 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the coriander and spring onion.

Serve as is or as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish.

things to know • Use brown rice instead of white. Brown varieties are higher in fibre and so they help you sustain energy and keep hunger at bay far longer than their refined counterparts.

• Use frozen vegetables – they are just as good for you as fresh ones and much quicker to prepare.

• Use a low-sodium soy sauce in this recipe or omit it completely to reduce the salt content of the dish.

delicious things to add • Add skinless chicken strips or chopped white sustainable fish for an Asianstyle kedgeree.

• Use brown rice instead of brown basmati rice.

• Add red, yellow or green peppers for crunch.

• Stir-fry in sesame oil for an especially nutty flavour.

about the book Simply Good Food by Justine Drake is filled with “food that tastes as fabulous as it looks and is good for you too…”. The recipes will inspire the healthy eater in you. All dishes are low in salt, sugar and monosaturated fat, but don’t skimp on taste-appeal. Think Roast Salmon with Atchar, Chickpea and Ricotta Salad, and Not-So-Naughty Creamy Rice Pudding. Commissioned by Discovery Vitality and published by Lannice Snyman Publishers, Simply Good Food is available from good booksellers nationwide.

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socially speaking Your house or theirs? Stay for tea, or drop and go?

y seven-year-old son recently decided to take charge of his social life. It started with rescheduling his weekly swimming lesson so he could go home earlier with one of his mates from aftercare. Next he brought home a scrap of paper with another mom’s cellphone number scrawled on it and stuck it to the door of the fridge, instructing me to call her before dinner to arrange a play date for the next day. “Don’t leave it ’til the morning Mom because then it’s too late,” he said.

At first I was a little put out, but then I realised just how important his social life was becoming. It was time to haul out the class list and get cracking.

garnering social skills Play dates are a relatively modern idea, and seem to have developed as a result of parents’ and children’s increasingly busy and structured schedules, as well as a heightened sense of security within society. Gone are the

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days when children roamed the neighbourhood freely, with parents having little or no involvement in their social lives.

Sheelagh Bargate, a mother and qualified teacher, works as a registered counsellor at a leading junior primary school in Durban. She says, “Play dates are very important because they teach children how to socialise with others.

Not everyone is easy to get along with and relationships are not always perfect. Children will learn a certain set of socialising skills at school but this is almost always in a group setting. There is a different set of skills to be learnt through having someone on your own stamping ground.

They learn to share, to negotiate and to resolve conflict – all important life skills.”

While some moms and children may get together to socialise in the baby years, children don’t really start playing together until the ages of four or five, when they switch from associative play to cooperative play (see our box on the ages and stages of play).

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PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

TRACY ELLIS helps parents negotiate the play date.

PHOTOGRAPHS: THINKSTOCKPHOTOS.COM

Two moms chatting and drinking tea the entire time their children play side by side is not really a play date, it’s a tea date.

Nicola Grace, a Durban-based counselling psychologist and mother of two says there are no clear rules regarding play dates and ages. “A play date at each age and stage will look very different so there is no way of saying which age group will benefit most from play dates, or when is the best time to start having them. Play is important at every age, but the decision to let your child go to another child’s home is quite a personal and individual one and really depends on the relationship and trust between parents.

Some parents will start arranging play dates when their children are as young as six months, while others

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won’t start until much later. Most parents chaperone play dates until age seven unless it is a play date with a family member or very close family friend.

It gets even more personal when it comes to sleepovers.” Nicola suggests that parents understand the different stages of play so they can know what to expect from their children at a play date. “Two-year-olds can’t be expected to play together. They will play side by side and parents should be prepared to play side by side along with them, teaching them how to interact with one another,” says Grace. “Two moms chatting and drinking tea the

entire time their children play side by side is not really a play date, it’s a tea date.”

playing to learn Play dates are particularly beneficial to children who struggle to make friends. They are also a way for parents to encourage new friendships outside of the regular ones.

Bargate says she has noticed a tangible buzz at school between children, some time ahead of a scheduled play date. “For days before the time, those two children are very excited and will play together more. It’s a great

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way to encourage new friendships.” She also comments that a lot of the children she deals with who are lagging behind in social skills have parents who are very busy and rarely schedule play dates. “It is very easy for shy children to fade into the background in the school setting and for confident children to dominate play. Children are naturally more confident and even bossy in their own environment, so a play date is really beneficial for a shy child who will cope better one-on-one.” Equally important to having a friend around on home turf is for children to experience other values and environments at a friend’s house, but this can be much like a blind date, something a parent may find quite nerve-racking.

Experts agree that it’s best to let your child lead on who to have a play date with, but that it’s healthy to suggest new playmates outside of their regular circle.

for their child to be left in Girlie’s care. I trust her one hundred percent but I can’t impose that trust on another parent. I always make sure the other mother is aware of when I will be in and out and that she is comfortable with me leaving the children in Girlie’s care.” Angela says she is concerned about her children riding in someone else’s car if they go to a play date directly from school.

“I have no problem asking the other parent to pop in an extra car seat for my child and I’ll even leave one at school if need be. I get mixed reactions as not all parents are as serious about this issue as I am, but you can’t be afraid to speak up about your preferences on a play date.”

Bargate warns parents not to judge each other too quickly. “When my children were young I made mistakes. There was one little boy whose friendship I banned because he was extremely rude to his

Children are naturally more confident in their own environment, so a play date is really beneficial for a shy child who will cope better one-on-one.

This can be daunting for parents when the other family is unknown, especially when the children are too young to attend a play date on their own and the parents are forced to socialise as well. Bargate has a good solution: “If you are not comfortable having a new family around for a play date or going to their house, suggest a play date at a local child-friendly venue. You can enjoy a cup of coffee while the children play in the play area. If you decide your families are a good match, the next play date can then be at one of your homes.” If you don’t hit it off, you can easily excuse yourself after 45 minutes.

The decision on when to chaperone a play date is a personal one. As parents, we like to ensure that the friends we entrust our children to have similar value systems to ours, and that their homes are safe according to our standards. Bargate says, “Unfortunately there is a lot of abuse today and parents need to investigate where their children are going.” Grace adds, “Besides the obvious things like swimming pool safety and who will be minding the children on the play date, parents may have personal preferences and rules about food and television and may want to make sure that the other family has similar values to theirs or, if not, will respect their values while their child is visiting.”

Angela McCall, a Durban-based mother of two, often has other children around for play dates, but although she works from home, she is in and out to meetings, so sometimes the children are left in the care of her nanny, Girlie. “I never assume another parent will be comfortable

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mother in front of me. I was so wrong! He has grown up to be the most wonderful adult. I think the lesson is to trust your instincts but also to give it a couple of play dates before you write off the friendship.”

Za Hallé, a Cape Town mom of three, suggests doing your homework on a new family by chatting discreetly to other parents you trust who have had play dates there before. “My children have on average one play date each per week and they are mostly with the same five or six friends, so we are comfortable with each other. I do like to encourage them to play with different children so, every now and then, we will have a play date with a family we don’t know well. I almost always prefer to stay for a cup of tea to check my child is happy there and subconsciously evaluate the environment. I pay particular attention to older siblings and whether or not they will have friends around at the same time. I also need to know that my children are not going to be allowed to swim unless a parent is watching.”

Experts suggest that both one on one and small group play dates are valuable.

Bargate cautions, “Two children sitting around watching TV is not a play date, so encourage free play and suggest some fun activities. If there seems to be conflict between the children, try not to step in unless they are not handling it on their own. Once the play date is over you can chat with your child about the conflict and suggest better coping skills for next time.”

juggling act How do families juggle the social calendars of two or more children? “With difficulty,” magazine joburg

laughs Za. “I try and be methodical about organising play dates, but it doesn’t always work out. One thing I can’t stand is last minute play dates. I insist on arranging them the day before. My youngest doesn’t get nearly as many play dates as the others did, simply because we are so busy with extramurals now.” Angela adds, “I try and teach them that not everything in life is even stevens, so one of them may have more play dates than the other in a given

week, and it just depends on how much homework they have or if I feel like I need extra time alone with one of them.”

As valuable as play dates are, they should not be stressful and chaotic for parents. Set boundaries that make you feel comfortable, and use the opportunity to network with other parents. Most importantly just enjoy watching your children learn and grow through friendships and good old-fashioned play.

ages and stages of play Barbie Daniel, principal of St Martin’s Pre-Primary School in Durban North helps us identify the four main stages of social play. The stages may overlap according to individual maturity and are not necessarily progressive. solitary play (0 to three years) Children play alone with limited interaction and are not aware of each other. They are egocentric and not yet ready to share and cooperate.

Example: Katie plays with blocks while Joey plays with cups on the opposite side of the room. parallel play (two to three years) Children play alongside one another but not together. They may remark on each other’s play but then continue with their own activity. Despite awareness there is no real contact.

Example: Katie and Joey play with Lego alongside one another. They each build their own structure. They are aware of what the other is building and occasionally fight over a piece but are not working on a joint project. cooperative play (three to four years) Children support each other during play and their games rely on dual participation.

They move from mixed sex to same sex groups or friendships. They are able to share and cooperate with others. Each child is able to set aside his own desires and interests so that he can follow the desires and interests of the team while they are playing.

Example: Katie and Annie work together to build a large puzzle. The common goal of finishing the puzzle is more important than who puts each piece in place.

organised group play (four to five years and up) A group of children play together in a game that has a purpose or goal. It is usually active and physical with a strong element of fantasy play. There are definitive followers and leaders and the boss of the game may change often. The leader may decide the function and activities of the game while in charge.

Example: Joey is the leader. He decides that the climbing frame is a jungle and assigns an animal character to each of his friends. He is a lion and is king of the jungle. His friends play along until a new leader emerges, at which point the game may change.

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TAMLYN VINCENT takes a look at the different methods schools are using to teach our

o the big day has come and gone. Your little one – now making you teary eyed at how grown up she looks in her uniform – has had her first week or so at big school. She’ll soon be discovering the wonders of reading as the written word comes alive to her. But how is reading taught? What methods are being used in classrooms? And how can you support her and her teacher on this exciting journey?

the sound of things There are two main approaches taken by schools and teachers when teaching children to read. These are phonics and whole language.

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Phonics is described as a “part-whole” approach. In other words, children learn the parts of the words, and then learn to build whole words. These parts are the sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes) that make up words. This approach is frequently referred to as skills based because children are taught the skills of language – such as decoding words, or recognising sounds – and then they use these skills to build comprehension and to develop their ability to read. This system usually involves practising reading using class readers that they work through, and children practising reading aloud. Phonics works well for more systematic learners, and for those who need to develop language skills such as spelling.

Letterland and THRASS are two of the systems that are widely used when teaching phonics. Letterland and Alphaland, the South African version of the UK-developed Letterland, take the 26 letters of the alphabet and transform them into child-friendly animated characters that each have their own story. Joelline Spiers, a Grade R teacher at Chelsea Preparatory in Durban North, says that this helps children identify with the characters and provides reasons for letters and sounds behaving the way they do. Sammy Snake, for instance, makes a loud hissing noise, but behaves differently when joined with Harry Hat Man, who is quiet. This system assists children in decoding words, and works to entrench phonic information in the mind of

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children to read – and gives some ideas for what sort of support parents can offer at home.

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the child using the characters and narration. For more info visit letterland.co.za THRASS stands for Teaching Handwriting, Reading and Spelling Skills. It uses charts, pictures, sing-alongs and rhymes to teach children the 26 letters, 44 phonemes and 120 main graphemes (letters and letter combinations) that are used in the English language. Julie Skevington, a Bachelor of Education lecturer at Varsity College, notes that this system demonstrates how different sounds (the phonemes) can be represented by different letters or letter combinations. For example, the sound produced by “f” can also be represented by “ph” as in the word “dolphin”, or “gh” as in the word “enough”. THRASS also teaches “hot words”, which are high frequency words or words that appear often in English, such as “the” or “and”. This system then helps with spelling and says Skevington, “learning to identify unfamiliar words using sound”. For more info visit thrass.co.uk

parts of the whole The Whole Language approach can be called a whole-part approach, as children learn to read whole words and then learn the skills and functions of language. As such, children start with comprehension of a concept, and develop their reading skills around this. The approach is often based on language experience. For example, a child may go on a trip and then draw a picture of him or herself in a car. Their teacher would then write: “I am driving in a car” underneath

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Sammy Snake, for instance, makes a loud hissing noise, but behaves differently when joined with Harry Hat Man, who is quiet. an important part of the whole-language approach. Here the child would be encouraged to sit and read by himor herself in order to work through the book by reading, predicting and experiencing the story. the picture. As Skevington suggests, the child understands the concept, so is able to learn words that link to it.

This approach to reading focuses on learning whole words rather than the parts that make up the words.

This global approach to reading means children learn about the different elements of language simultaneously.

Skevington explains that the focus is on comprehension of meaning and enjoyment. Consequently, a variety of books are arranged into categories determined by their level of difficulty and children choose to read books based on their own taste and ability.

This approach advocates that children develop at their own pace, making self-examination and reflection key elements of reading. Silent reading is also therefore

get the balance right Balanced Reading Instruction uses elements of both approaches, teaching phonics to the child using a system such as THRASS or Letterland, while also using language experience or whole language. The latter could take the form of reflective reading time or use elements such as sight words. Sight words, says Spiers, are whole words that children learn to recognise. These contribute to a child’s word bank (a collection of words that children have learnt and can use), which Spiers says helps “to build understanding while children are learning to read”.

Fluency in reading, and reading with understanding are both important for the development of reading

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skills, which include adding appropriate emotional content and emphasis on words. As such, balanced reading would mean children should read aloud, so as to be corrected, and read silently to themselves. According to Skevington, the advantage of integrated reading instruction is that children will learn a skills set, while also developing a positive attitude to and maintaining an interest in reading.

over to us So these are the different approaches taken by schools, but are there things parents could be doing at home to help their child along the way?

Reading and writing is a topic close to my heart. As an English lecturer,

success lies in home literacy, that is, reading and building a love of reading at home. But how do we do this?

1. “Keep the child loving books,” says Skevington. Reading at home is a critical component of developing reading skills, as it entrenches a culture of reading and helps children maintain an interest in books and stories. Try some of the following ideas: • Read a range of texts, from songs to poetry to non-fiction, says Saayman, who works with reading schemes at Heinemann Publishers. “Parents must mix the diet.”

• Books read at home should be those that children will find fun; “something that they are interested in, something that they can relate to,” says Spiers.

Books read at home should be those that children will find fun; “something that they are interested in, something that they can relate to.”

I have seen the challenges faced by tertiary students when it comes to reading and writing. They are often not motivated to read and struggle to spell and construct sentences. English is a difficult language.

Now a new mother, I find myself questioning what I can do at home to ensure my son grows into a proficient reader. How can I ensure he develops a love for books and reading? And how can I make sure he has all of the tools he needs to succeed in and after school? As parents, we try to give our children everything they need to be successful in life. I believe that part of this

2. Ask questions. This also promotes an enjoyment of reading. Saayman suggests doing prediction exercises. Ask children what they think will happen next, or to look at the pictures and say what they think the story will be about. Discussing the order of events is also a useful technique in developing a child’s understanding of stories. Improving a child’s ability to predict what will happen next in a story will make him a more fluid reader – he will enjoy stories more as he will understand them better. This aim for fluidity also means that it is not as important for children to read every word

reading exercises Some children may need supplementary reading exercises if they struggle with the reading done in school. This should, however, only be done for a short time period to ensure that children don’t lose interest in reading. Ron Saayman, from Heinemann Publishers, also suggests that parents “leave structure and specific skills to the teacher” and that parents work closely with the school and teacher so that this work complements what the child does in class. Some useful techniques include: 1. Paired reading Read with your child by starting to read for her. Read a page with her and when she is ready she can tap your hand to take over the reading, pointing to every word as she reads. If she struggles, then she can tap your hand so that you can take over reading again. When she again feels confident, then she can tap you again, and take over the reading. If she struggles with a word, give it to her, ask her to repeat it and then let her continue reading. The important point is maintaining fluidity, so that the story isn’t broken and your child stays interested.

2. Timed reading This can be used to improve reading speed. If anyone reads too slowly they lose interest in a story or forget what they have read and have to start again. Time your child’s reading by giving them a minute to read. Count the number of words they get through. Start to increase this number by extending the length of the passage and getting your child to read this again within a minute.

3. Finger reading Your child points to the words as you read through the story.

This is done to increase the ability of the eye to move across a page, and helps your child remain focused and interested.

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or page; rather their purpose should be to understand and enjoy the story or book.

3. Expose children to many and a variety of books.

4. Saayman explains that parents need to be “supportive and generous with their praise”. This works as “positive reinforcement”, says Spiers.

5. Work to enrich the vocabulary of your child, and avoid the use of baby talk, slang, or corruptions of English, says Saayman.

6. Play games that improve their reading and language ability. Here are a few ideas:

• Spiers suggests trying games like word bingo or making sentences with words from a child’s word bank.

• I-spy and Hangman are useful games for developing spelling skills.

• Ask your child to collect things from around the house or garden that start with a certain letter.

• Develop the imagination and a child’s sequencing ability by starting a story for them: “One day I went for a walk in the garden, and spotted a pathway I had never seen before. What do you think happened next?”

the early years My son had his own little library before he was born, and I try to build on this as often as I can. But what else can parents do at home with the not-yet-school-going child to lay the foundational pre-reading skills?

As parents it is our job to let them start reading when they are ready and not force them to read before then. Children don’t have to know how to read when they start school. In fact, some argue that it’s better if they don’t. What parents can do, though, is develop pre-reading skills in a fun, varied and interesting way.

1. Listening This is an important skill that is often neglected, says Ron Saayman, who works with reading schemes at Heinemann Publishers. Caregivers and teachers may work to develop listening skills, but parents can also do this at home.

He and Julie Skevington, a Bachelor of Education lecturer at Varsity College, give some tips to improve listening: • Ensure that children follow instructions. They can even be asked to repeat commands given to them.

• Make certain that children listen for information by asking them questions about what they have read. Questions can be simple, requiring one word answers, or more complex, requiring more open and developed answers.

• Children should also be able to listen for enjoyment, and listening to poems, songs or a variety of texts will improve this ability.

• Listening to stories is just as valuable as reading them.

2. Using the senses Joelline Spiers, a Grade R teacher at Chelsea Preparatory in Durban North, suggests that parents use auditory, visual and sensopathic methods (use of the five senses) to introduce reading. Letters or words are introduced through hearing stories, seeing books and words, or touching and feeling letters or words. Skevington explains that these techniques will help to consolidate what children are learning. Try these methods at home: • cut out letters or words from sandpaper; • write letters onto a child’s back; • use noodle letters or foam letters; • shape words out of play dough; • create a feeling bag – put items into a bag and ask children to say what letter each starts with, or to describe what they are feeling.

3. Noticing patterns Instead of worrying about teaching children to write, parents can get children to practise the shapes and patterns of letters. Ask them to make zigzag patterns, or any patterns that echo those seen in letters. Children can also match shapes or letters or try to identify them in everyday things they see – a road sign for example, or the M over a McDonald’s. If children are aware of their surroundings, they will start to recognise letters and words in that environment.

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fun(d)raising Chareen Boake suggests 22 ways to put the fun back into fundraising for your child’s school.

a night with the stars Children arrive at school just before sunset. There’s lots of excitement and chatter and the smell of popcorn and hot dogs fills the air. Just like at a movie theatre, the pre-purchased tickets are handed in at the door and moviegoers make their way to their seats. The school hall is darkened and the big screen flickers into action. You can make this a themed night by showing some children’s favourites like High School Musical or a Disney classic. Children are encouraged to dress-up as their favourite character and the hall is decorated according to the theme. An all-night movie marathon on the school field is also a great option for hot summer nights. You’ll need to get permission from the movie’s distributor before your big showing. fund facts: just like a real movie theatre, children buy tickets for the show. Additional money is raised through the sale of refreshments.

Have you ever put your T-shirt on back to front or inside out and only realised something was amiss when strangers started looking at you a little oddly? Well, this idea gives you licence to sport an entire wrong-way-round outfit – it’s a really easy way to raise funds and will cause lots of laughs, too. fund facts: you’ll have to charge a fee for the privilege of wearing clothes back to front or inside out.

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bag a book Ask parents and teachers to donate their used books. Advertise your book sale in local shops, through community forums and by making large posters to hang outside the school. You’ll be amazed at the number of people keen to snap up an armful of second-hand books. fund facts: charge a fee for the books and rent tables to people selling crafts.

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bring and buy Advertise the event well in advance and approach local crafts people to sell their goods. In addition, ask families to donate good quality used goods and sell these on a jumble-sale basis – after all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

fund facts: charge a table-rental fee; since used goods are donated, all the profit will go towards your fundraising.

cupid’s corner If they don’t receive a gift from a secret admirer, children can feel very left out on Valentine’s Day. But you can make this a happy occasion for everybody.

Sell different coloured ribbons – white for friendship, red for love, blue for the funniest person in class and whatever else you can think of. Attach a card to each ribbon so children can write their own messages. fund facts: sell each ribbon for a set price.

how does your garden grow?

Ask parents to donate egg cartons and empty tins as well as packets of seeds or bulbs. Alternatively, they can donate a cash amount and you can purchase the seeds or bulbs. Plant the seeds in the holders and watch them grow. This fundraiser will need some forward planning so that your plants have time to grow to a decent size before you sell them. fund facts: hold a plant sale at the school or ask your local shopping centre if you can set up a table and sell the plants there on a Saturday morning.

This would work well around themed days like Arbour Day or Mother’s Day.

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ready, steady cook All the children have to submit their favourite recipes. The younger children might have to dictate theirs, but the older children can write their responses down as follows: the recipe’s name; ingredients; how to prepare the dish and the cooking instructions. Take the responses down exactly as they tell you. Then get the children to draw a picture of the meal.

Compile the recipe book using the children’s own writing and pictures where possible. It’ll make for some hilarious reading and is a great keepsake. You can also adapt this to make a more “serious” recipe book by asking parents to submit their recipes. A parent I know admits that she still uses the recipe book compiled when her children were at preschool, more than 20 years ago. fund facts: the recipe books are sold for a set price.

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mom, dad, you’re embarrassing me!

For a fun take on karaoke, pit learners against parents, choosing the music of popular preteen favourites such as Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Locnville. Make the event really challenging by getting the youngsters to sing music from our teenage years – bet they’ve never heard of Rick Astley, Wham! and Vanilla Ice. Step aside Justin Bieber! fund facts: like all good karaoke spots, a cover charge is payable.

The school can earn extra money by selling refreshments.

restaurant takeover calling all triathle-tots A toddler triathlon is a great idea for a preschool fundraiser, plus it’s really cute and makes for a fantastic family fun day. First of all, get your “triathletots” to stand at the starting line.

When the whistle blows, they’ll set off on the gruelling 20-metre run. The great thing about this triathlon is that everyone sets off from each transition point together.

When they’ve all completed their run, line them up again for the 100-metre cycling leg. Bicycles, tricycles and plastic scooters are all legal for this event and no “triathle-tot” will be disqualified for sporting fairy wheels. The third leg of the event is a treasure hunt. The athletes each search for a token and, once they’ve found it, dash for the finish line. Of course their eager seconds have been advised where the tokens are hidden so help is on hand. The token is then exchanged for their medal or certificate and everybody is an “Iron-tot”. fund facts: children collect sponsorship for each leg they complete. We’re sure Granny and Grandpa will be keen to cheer them on, literally and financially speaking that is. Selling food and drinks is always a money-spinner.

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Approach some of the family-friendly restaurants in your area and ask whether they’d consider allowing a “takeover” during which the older children play waitron. The children assist the waiters serving dinner and the tips they receive are then donated to the school kitty.

Send invitations to the parents and ask them to forward these to their friends. A school in Johannesburg holds a “takeover” four times a year and managed to raise almost R10 000 during a year. Hint: don’t request their busiest nights like a Friday or Saturday because they’ll probably turn you down. Rather suggest a quieter night like a Monday or Tuesday. fund facts: the school collects the tips that the children receive. Some restaurants may even offer to contribute a percentage of the night’s takings.

sun, suds and fun A wash-a-car-athon is a really festive occasion. Music plays through the school’s speaker system; wors for the boerewors rolls sizzles on the braai; there’s a stand selling cold drinks – and the teacher’s parking area is transformed into the coolest car wash in the suburb. Classes can split into groups of five car washers. You can even have a competition to see who washes the most cars. fund facts: charge a car-wash fee of about R25 per car. If five groups wash five cars at R25 per car, that’s a grand total of R625 per group.

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teacher torture The headmaster selects five teachers to be tortured. Each teacher is assigned a “torturous” activity, such as tinting their hair purple, dressing up like a clown or coming to school in their pyjamas. The teachers are each assigned a money jar and children, parents and other teachers can vote them into the torture “chamber” by placing R5 into that teacher’s jar. The votes are counted and the three teachers with the most money in their jars have to complete their activity. Select a day and hold a special assembly where the “winning” teachers have to make their appearance in front of the school. Just a warning though: laughter may reach seriously thunderous levels. fund facts: votes are cast at R5 each. You’ll need jars or money boxes in which to collect this.

so you think you can dance?

A dance marathon is lots of fun, especially if you dedicate different musical themes – think “Night Fever”, “Bollywood” or modern day hits – to allotted times. Each grade can be allocated a theme and dress accordingly. Watching your children shimmying to the golden oldies can be entertaining. fund facts: the dancers receive sponsorship for every 20 minutes of dancing.

race to riches This is a one-year challenge for all athletic parents and children who participate in racing or endurance events. Each competitor gets a sponsorship form from the school stating that they are raising funds for the school for that particular year. You could even have T-shirts or caps made with your logo on them, so competitors stand out at races. Incentivise the challenge by offering a grand prize at the end of the year to the person who raises the most money. You could even approach local businesses about donating a prize. Mike, a marathon runner, ran every race with a pet rock. When people asked why he was doing it, he explained it was to raise funds for animal welfare. At the end of a year he and his rock had raised almost R4 000. fund facts: challengers are sponsored for each of the events in which they participate. At the end of the year they collect sponsorship money for the number of events completed.

techno savvy This one might take a bit of extra planning as you’d need to design a suitable site and have a pay-to-download facility. Design screensavers and wallpapers, load them onto your school website and have a download facility. You could even include this as an assignment in a computer science class. Who knows? You could have a future Bill Gates in your very own school. fund facts: you’ll need to install a pay-to-download facility on your website.

the amazing race You can take over the neighbourhood, arrange this event at your school campus (if it’s large enough) or at a big park. The other option is to find an event planner that hosts Amazing Race and Survivor parties. You’ll have checkpoints where competitors have to complete a task or answer a question.

Before leaving a checkpoint they will be given a clue that’ll get them to the next checkpoint. The first team home wins.

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facts:

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competitors approach sponsors and raise funds for every checkpoint they complete. magazine joburg

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the wacky world of fashion Ask parents and teachers to donate any old or barely used clothes. Hold a wacky fashion show – clashy outfits, back-to-front, eighties, spaceage, mullet: party on top, office wear on the bottom, and so on. After the show, you can sell the clothing, whatever you don’t sell can be donated to charity. fund facts: advertise the event at your local shopping centre, through the school newsletter or community newspaper. Charge a small entry fee to watch the show and then charge for the sale of the clothes.

toner towers Many companies pay cash for empty printer and copier cartridges. Ask parents to donate their empty cartridges to the school. You can even hold a class competition, awarding the class that collects the largest number of empty cartridges. fund facts: find a company in your city that pays cash for empty toner cartridges.

turn-around day the weakest link This is a take on the golden oldie quiz night, and it’s a really challenging but fun way to raise money. You can consider approaching event organisers, who will be able to assist you with technical quiz night setups, or you can compile your own questions and answers – there are lots of websites that’ll give you ideas. Consider approaching a local restaurant or pub that hosts pub nights and ask whether you could use their facilities for your quiz night. fund facts: charge a cover fee at the door.

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Wouldn’t the children love to get out of bed and go straight to school without so much as brushing their hair? Even the teachers have to participate in this one, and prizes are given for the weirdest, wackiest and ugliest pyjamas and slippers. fund facts: children pay R5 to wear their pjs.

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wine and dime Approach your local supermarkets, delis or wineries and ask them to donate a few bottles of wine and delicacies such as cheese, olives and chocolate for your tasting evening. fund facts: each taster has to purchase a glass and a plate. You could even have your school logo branded on these.

more ideas

who’s that baby?

All the teachers provide a photo of themselves as babies. The photos are blown up to A4 size and pinned on a board. The children have to try and match the photos. The correct entries are all placed into a draw, the true identities of the babies are revealed and the winner receives their prize. Make this even more fun by giving clues. For example, if the teacher was sucking a dummy in their photo, they could wear a dummy on a ribbon around their neck. fund facts: each child enters the competition by buying an answer sheet.

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Encourage your school to participate in established fundraising initiatives. These projects generally require very little fundraising admin on your part, other than making the initial contact with the foundation.

Recycling initiatives are great because they allow you to raise funds for your school while helping the environment. The MySchool initiative is also an easy way to raise funds for your school.

By swiping your MySchool card at participating retailers, a percentage of the transaction is allocated to the school. Your school might also choose to “adopt” a less privileged school or even a charity involved with animals or palliative care, which you can simply nominate as a beneficiary on your card. Many of these organisations also host fundraising competitions throughout the year.

Have a look at the following sites for some ideas: • collectacan.co.za • myschool.co.za • paperpickup.co.za • theglassrecyclingcompany.co.za

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books

a good read for toddlers A Slide and Surprise Numbers Book

By Natalie Boyd and Barbi Sido

Postman Bear

By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

(Priddy Books, R59) This is an interactive early-learning book for children aged two and older. It’s a fun and innovative way for little ones to learn their numbers and the sliding pages help with hand-eye coordination as well as problem solving. The boardbook is easy to wipe clean and the colourful drawings and photos will keep a toddler captivated.

(Kingfisher Books, R110) Animals literally jump off the pages in this illustrated pop-up book featuring 26 wild animals. Young children can discover facts about these creatures with the help of the pop-ups and moving parts. With each animal on its own spread, there is enough space to inform children where each creature lives and what they eat. Some of the animals might be unknown to South Africans, but it’s still a fun way to learn the A–Z.

(Macmillan Children’s Books, R70 each) Each book is a funny re-telling of a classic fairy tale with liftthe-flap surprises on every page. Children from as young as three will enjoy the rhyming text and colourful illustrations.

In this version there are no threats from the Giant “to grind his bones to make my bread”, and both Red Riding Hood and Grandma survive the ordeal – so it shouldn’t frighten little children. Older children will love the humorous take: “When they found Gran in the wardrobe she said: ‘Don’t you agree, Red Riding Hood needs glasses if she thought that wolf was me!’” Each book comes with a CD so that little ones can also listen to the story in the car.

Noisy Cars and Noisy Trains

By Roger Priddy (Priddy Books, R60) With busy, colourful pages and a sound button to press, these are fun and noisy books about cars or trains. The books are developed for children one year and older and will help stimulate your baby’s senses and assist with hand-eye coordination. The sound buttons can be used on each page with the colourful illustrations and the board pages are easy to clean and sturdy enough for small hands to page through the book.

February 2011

Wild Alphabet – An A to Zoo Pop-Up Book

By Mike Haines and Julia Frölich

Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood – Lift-the-flap Fairy Tales

By Nick Sharratt and Stephen Tucker

(Macmillan Children’s Books, R70) This is another delight from the Tales from Acorn Wood series brought to you by award-winning writer/illustrator duo Donaldson and Scheffler. Deep in the heart of Acorn Wood, Bear is writing letters to his friends. Your child can visit Frog, Squirrel and Mole by lifting the flaps that are the doors to their homes. Scheffler beautifully illustrates this sturdy boardbook. Also look out for Fox’s Socks, Rabbit’s Nap and Hide-and-Seek Pig in the series.

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for preschoolers

What the Ladybird Heard

By Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (Macmillan Children’s Books, R85) Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s fine prize cow.

Among all the noisy farm animals lives a tiny silent ladybird. This beautiful glittery creature (little fingers will love to feel her sparkly shape) is so quiet that she hears the two crafty robbers plotting to raid the farmyard.

The ladybird has a plan of her own and urges the animals to put their mooing, quacking, neighing and baaing to cunning use. The crooks get so confused that they end up getting caught. The book comes with a CD, read

by Alexander Armstrong.

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for early graders The Most Brilliant Boldly Going Book of Exploration Ever by the Brainwaves Illustrated by Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar (Dorling Kindersley Publishers, R160) The Brainwaves have certainly made learning fun. In this edition the whacky characters give your child the answers to some weird questions: did ancient explorers really see sea monsters? How did Vikings find new land to pillage? What’s the best way to explore the coldest place on earth? Children (aged nine to 11) can travel through time and experience history’s most exciting journeys of discovery. Exploring mountain peaks to ocean floors, across continents and into space, this is the ultimate guide for the intrepid traveller.

Nature Got There First

By Phil Gates (Macmillan Children’s Books, R105) This book is perfect for children eight and older who are inquisitive. Nature came up with ideas behind many of the great inventions of the modern world.

Solar cells, sonar and jet power are just a few of the technologies that nature was using long before humans set them to work. Inside your child can see a highrise built entirely by insects and learn how the construction industry got tips from beavers for building dams. With plenty of photographs and illustrations, this book will be a hit with your child.

(Macmillan Children’s Books, R105 each) Bursting with colour and drama, lively artwork draws children into their favourite subjects and provides a wealth of information. Written in a clear, friendly style and full of fascinating facts, Explorers is a fresh and fun first reference series for enquiring young minds.

Children can use coloured buttons that link the scenes and allow them to choose their own journey through the book. Also invest in Amazing Animals and Weather. These books are perfect for children aged six to eight years old.

Smart-Kids – Literacy Grade 2

By Gill Maree and Gené Peters (Pearson Education South Africa, R57) The Smart-Kids workbooks have been created for South African children. They are written according to the National Curriculum Statement and the Foundations for Learning milestones so they’re the right level for your child’s grade.

There are notes for parents as well as the answers, to help you understand what skill or concept is being practised.

Activities in the book cover thinking and development concepts, reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling and phonics as well as grammar and language structure.

The Happy Handwriter’s Printing Book 1, The Happy Handwriter’s Printing Book 2 and The Happy Handwriter’s Number Book

By Bunty McDougall (The Happy Handwriter TM, R60 each) Bunty McDougall is a South African occupational therapist who has worked in the field of learning difficulties for over 20 years. Her special interest in handwriting has led to this series. One of her passions is to find ways to reduce the need for specialist intervention and the Happy Handwriter’s workbooks set out to help children to learn correctly the first time. These three books were developed to assist Grade 0 to Grade 1 children with laying down the motor maps required to form letters and numbers independently, thereby reducing difficulties with letter and number formations and reversals. For orders and more info, visit thehappyhandwriter.co.za

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Explorers – Dinosaurs and Explorers – Oceans and Seas

Uncover Tarantula

By David George Gordon (Silver Dolphin, R147) This book, which includes a multilayered model tarantula, will fascinate children from the age of eight. On turning each page a new layer of one of the world’s largest spiders can be explored while your child learns interesting facts about this hairy, scary creature. Learn how these predators capture and kill other insects and animals, use their bodies to protect and camouflage themselves, and why their blood is green. This is a three-dimensional learning experience that turns learning about spiders into an adventure.

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books

for preteens and teens The Big Ideas That Changed the World

What Goes On in My Head?

By Robert Winston

Multilingual Illustrated Dictionary

By John Bennett and Nthuseng Tsoeu (Pharos, R399,95) The new software version of this dictionary makes learning vocabulary fun for children between the ages of 11 and 15. Each of the more than 3 300 words and phrases is accompanied by an audio file, which teaches proper pronunciation in each of the seven languages – English, IsiZulu, Sesotho, IsiXhosa, Setswana, Afrikaans and Sepedi.

Five interactive games are included to test language retention. These aid in the development of reading and writing skills and facilitate improved spelling. You’ll need an operational PC with Windows XP/Vista as an operating system.

Wow! Human Body

By Richard Walker (Dorling Kindersley Publishers, R175) This is a book on the human body unlike any you’ve seen before. Aimed at children aged nine to 11, it is crammed full of facts and pictures. It covers cells, organs, pregnancy, muscles, the brain, hearing, hormones, blood, breathing, spare parts… everything your child needs to know about this walking “machine” we live in. Photography is cleverly used to explain intricate systems. This book will be a welcome companion for biology projects and when studying for exams.

Dawsan’s Maths Dictionary, Dawsan’s Maths Dictionary Orientation Exercises and Dawsan’s Challenge Exercises Level One, Level Two and Level Three

By S. Edwards and D. Williams (Penguin Tutoring, R100 and R50) This helpful maths dictionary is an essential supplementary reference book covering all the terminology required for Grade 5 to Grade 7, continuing into Grade 8. The maths dictionary is a handy cross-reference tool when doing the challenges in the exercise books. Sandy Edwards and Dawn Williams were both maths teachers for more than 30 years and their aim with these books is to eradicate a fear of maths, make it more understandable and to make it fun.

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February 2011

(Dorling Kindersley Publishing, R220) This book will fascinate children (from the age of 12) and adults. For many centuries most inventions started as the big idea of a single person. Just look around you – how many of the things you can see didn’t have to be invented by someone? In fact, without inventions, some of us wouldn’t even be alive (think about those used in a medical environment). This book pays tribute to all those geniuses who have made our lives easier. Find out how things took shape: from the light bulb, the flushing toilet and clean energy to the laser, Walkman, cars and even the humble stapler. This gem of a book will entertain the family for hours.

(Dorling Kindersley Publishing, R135) Children between the ages of nine and 11 can join Robert Winston, scientist and TV presenter, on a mission around the mind to explore the most miraculous and complex organ in the human body.

Learn about the brain’s intricate anatomy and how it creates your emotions, behaviour, memory and personality. Ever wondered what makes you laugh? Or, how your parents know when you are telling a lie? From taste to telepathy, the book gives fascinating insight into how your brain controls everything you do and who you are.

The Mystery of the SS Waratah and the Avocado Tree

By MJ Honikman (Tafelberg Publishers, R99) This is a slice of our South African maritime history examined and made palatable for young readers.

Four friends, Bobby, Ted, John and Zanele look for the answers to the mystery surrounding the steamship Waratah’s voyage from Sydney to London 100 years ago. The mystery is connected to a massive avocado tree in the garden of Bobby and Ted’s house on the Durban Berea. Why has this mystery, a true story, never been solved? Join the children as they hunt for clues. Youngsters will love this fascinating story: it’s a real mystery, a page-turner and a gripping tale (which, you may be happy to hear, does not include a vampire…), and it’s a local story by a local author.

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for us Top 100 Pasta Dishes – 100 Easy, everyday recipes for the whole family

By Annabel Karmel

Hangman

By Faye Kellerman (HarperCollins Publishers, R144) Murder, a missing woman, and a sociopath from the past sweep Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus into a labyrinth of mystery and danger in this electrifying new tale of suspense from this New York Times bestselling author. When LAPD Lieutenant Decker reluctantly agrees to do an old friend a favour, he knows that his involvement will bring the friend’s sociopath husband back into his life. But then both his friend and her killer husband disappear, leaving behind their 14-year-old son. Having to work two cases, and with so many lives hanging in the balance, the 60-year-old Decker wants to get answers quickly. This is another fastpaced novel by Kellerman.

(Random House, R165) Tasty and nutritious, easy, quick and economical, pasta is a firm family favourite.

This is a collection of Annabel Karmel’s top pasta dishes with sections for baby recipes, toddlers and older children. With colour photos, simple instructions, clear cooking and preparation times, this book will be a very handy addition to your kitchen. Symbols throughout indicate clearly for which age group a recipe is suitable and give portion sizes. Karmel has written 19 bestselling books, including New Complete Baby, and she appears frequently on radio and TV as one of the UK’s experts on children’s nutrition.

Indescribable: It’s easy to keep a bad secret

By Candice Derman (Tafelberg Publishers, R140) From the age of eight, well-known South African actress, Candice Derman locked away her secret and lived two lives. Her stepfather abused her and as the darkness spread, she learned how to live with it. She grew up never knowing if she would ever be able to love all of herself. Candice became a normal-not normal child and her secret lay hidden inside her for many years. One day it escaped and she became hungry to find happiness. In 2007 she took a break from acting and started writing her story. In the words of Melinda Ferguson, author of Smacked: “I could not put it down. Sometimes I forgot to breathe. Disturbing, exposing, beautifully written. A book that was aching to be written.”

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parenting books Getting Ready to Start School

By Hilary Pereira and Hollie Smith (Headline Publishing Group, R148) Getting Ready to Start School offers comprehensive advice on everything you need to know about this allimportant step, whether it is adjusting to a whole new daily routine, or just helping your little one hold a pencil.

There are lots of suggestions for making the transition a smooth one, including guidance on what to expect from school life and how to get the best out of it. Experts and other mothers share advice and experience. This book is aimed at British parents, but there are enough pointers and sufficient advice relevant for parents all over, helping them and their little ones start this exciting journey.

Feeding Sense

By Megan Faure, Katherine Megaw and Dr Simon Strachan (Metz Press, R116) Are you uncertain of what to eat during pregnancy or while breastfeeding or just looking for practical guidance on introducing solids? Feeding Sense guides you through your baby’s feeding milestones. Meg Faure, bestselling co-author of the books in the Sense series looks at your baby’s sensory and emotional relationship with food and the developmental journey you embark on when feeding your baby. Bringing 15 years of experience as a dietician specialising in paediatrics, Kath Megaw covers every curve ball from allergies to weight concerns as well as getting picky eaters to enjoy their food. Paediatrician Simon Strachan reassures you with simple guidelines on your baby’s health and common baby illnesses plus tips on why your baby won’t eat when sick.

How to be a Happy Stepmum

By Dr Lisa Doodson (Vermilion, R147) It can be difficult for stepmoms to adjust to their new role: how will you care for your new stepchildren?

Why do you feel excited one minute and guilty and resentful the next? What is the best way to handle your partner’s ex? This book provides essential advice and guidance for adapting to life in your new family. Issues tackled are: strengthening your relationship with your partner; coping with commonly felt emotions such as guilt, frustration and suspicion; establishing a workable relationship with the ex; dealing with practical issues such as family holidays and ensuring your children and stepchildren get along.

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calendar

what’s on in february

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

Things to do, places to go, ways to give back, talks and exhibitions plus loads of fun for the whole family. compiled by CHAREEN BOAKE

22 tues

special events

60

FUN for children

61

only for parents

68

bump, baby & tot in tow

69

how to help

70

SPECIAL EVENTS

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FUN FOR CHILDREN

ONLY FOR PARENTS

bump, baby & tot in tow

how to help

Hey y’all it’s Miley… or is it Hannah?

Ladies, lyrics and song It’s satire… the good old British way.

Look who’s pregnant February is pregnancy awareness month.

Monkey business Adopting a monkey is fun and games.

February 2011

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Mummen what? Theatre performances in a class of their own.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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calendar

5 saturday

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 tuesday SA Tennis Open Watch as some of the great names in tennis showcase their talents at this world-class event. Ends 4 February. Time: Tuesday­–Thursday 12pm, Friday 2pm. Venue: Montecasino Outdoor Court 1, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R25. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

2 wednesday Learning Point High School options exhibitions Representatives from several high schools around the country answer questions regarding high school options for your Grade 7 child in 2012 or your Grade 6 child in 2013. Time: 2pm–7pm.

Venue: Grayston Preparatory School, cnr North Rd and Gillard St, Sandown. Cost:

2 wed

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6 February – Emperor’s Palace Kids Classic

free entry. Contact: 083 552 8778 or visit thelearningpoint.co.za. The same exhibition runs on 9 February at Glenanda Primary School, cnr Edendale and Glen Ave, Glenanda. Refer to February 2 for time, cost and contact details.

World Wetlands day and Wattled Cranes Listen to a discussion on why wattled cranes are critically endangered and what the wetlands have to do with their decline.

Time: 9:30am. Venue: Education Centre at Johannesburg Zoo, Upper Park Dr, Saxonwold. Cost: adults R50, children R30.

Contact Imelda: 011 646 2000 ext 257 or imelda.matlala@jhbzoo.org.za

Faithless Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo return to South Africa with their own unique style and sound. Time: 8pm. Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. Cost: R315–R466. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Laughter is the best medicine Join a laughter yoga coach as she gives an introductory talk on laughter yoga. She shows how anyone can get a stress release by simply laughing for no reason at all. Time: 2pm. Venue: Ngwenya Glass

cycling event. Separate categories for riders aged 2–4 and 5–8. Time: 10am. Venue: Emperor’s Palace, 64 Jones Rd, Kempton Park. Time: 10am. Cost: tbc. For more info: visit emperorspalace.co.za

11 friday Beeld Holiday Show Do you already feel like you need another break? Get into the holiday mood and see plenty of indoor and outdoor exhibitors. Ends 13 February. Time: 9am–6pm. Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, 19 Richards Dr, Midrand. Cost: adults R50, free entry for children. For more info: visit holidayshow.co.za

12 saturday

Village, off Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift.

Cost: R75, includes refreshments. Booking essential. Contact Athalie: 083 285 8383 Little Cooks Budding chefs aged 7–15 years can join in the fun of this four- or fiveweek course and learn how to prepare and cook some delicious and healthy treats.

Ends 26 March or 2 April. Time: 9:30am– 11:30am. Venue: Little Cook’s Club, Rivonia.

Cost: R760 for four classes or R960 for five. Booking essential. Contact Christine: 083 556 3434, christine@littlecooks.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za

Get fit and have fun Parents, children and even babies in prams can enjoy a 5km fun walk through the zoo. Time: 6am–9:30am.

Venue: National Zoo, Boom St, Pretoria.

Cost: adults R35, children R25. Contact Lettie: 012 323 0294 or visit fotz.co.za Bird identification and ecology walk Water and bushveld birds make up part of the ecosystem in this reserve. Enjoy a talk and discussion. Time: 7am. Venue: Northern Farm, Fourways. Cost: R30.

Booking essential. Contact: botsoc@ sisulugarden.co.za or visit sanbi.org

6 sunday

13 sunday

Emperor’s Palace Kids Classic Junior cyclists, grab your bikes and helmets and show what you’re made of at this popular

U2 360 Tour Arguably the best band in the world, U2 performs in South Africa for the second time since 1998 when

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Ave, Kloofendal. Cost: adults R40, children R20. Booking essential. Contact Karin: 079 693 5608 or 072 595 6991

22 tuesday

15 February – Strictly Tap Dance Fever

their PopMart Tour had audiences wowed.

Time: 7pm. Venue: FNB Stadium, Soweto.

Cost: R161–R2 568. For more info on the concert: visit u2.com/tours Children’s hike Parents and children older than eight can enjoy a hike through Castle Gorge in Magaliesburg. Time: 7am. Venue: meet outside Gateview House, Constantia Office Park, Hendrik Potgieter Rd, Constantia Kloof. Cost: adults R40, free entry for children.

Contact Johannesburg Hiking Club: 010 590 1903 or 087 940 1903 Some barking good fun Take your four-legged Valentine along for a fun-filled Valentine’s day celebration. Enjoy a buffet lunch or braai while you listen to live music. Time: 12pm. Venue: Walkhaven, plot 77, Zwartkop, off Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: adults R85, children R40. Contact: 071 212 9955 or visit walkhaven.co.za

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15 tuesday Strictly Tap Dance Fever This smash hit, fresh off the UK stages, takes you on a nostalgic journey through tap dance history when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers reigned supreme. The show features musical classics as well as modern day beats.

Ends 6 March. Time: Wednesday–­Friday 8pm, Saturday 3pm–8pm, Sunday 4pm.

Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre Complex, Braamfontein. Cost: R170–R300.

Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Mummenschanz This extraordinary Swiss theatre troupe wows audiences with quirky creations, illusions and make-believe antics.

Ends 27 February. Time: Tuesday–Friday 8pm, Saturday 2:30pm and 8pm, Sunday 3pm. Venue: The SA State Theatre Opera, Pretoria. Cost: R74,50–R149,50. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

24 thursday Dancing around the clock The Dance Umbrella 2011 is back to showcase the

26 saturday Bat walk Join the bat action group and learn more about these mysterious flying mammals. Time: 6:30pm. Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Galena Ave, Kloofendal. Cost: adults R40, children R20.

Booking essential. Contact Karin: 079 693 5608 or 072 595 6991 Creepy Crawly night walk Take your torch along and spend a fascinating evening discovering and learning about spiders and scorpions from experts. Time: 6pm. Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Malcolm Rd, Poortview. Cost: adults R60, children R30. Booking essential. Contact: 011 958 5177, botsoc@sisulugarden.co.za or visit sanbi.org

FUN FOR CHILDREN arts, culture and science

20 sunday Beautiful butterflies Do you know the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

Join an expert for an interesting and fun morning as you learn the answer to this and many more questions. Time: 9:30am.

Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Galena

largest contemporary dance festival in southern Africa. Ends 6 March. Time: varies. Venue: various venues throughout Johannesburg. Cost: R60–R100. Contact: 011 492 0709 or visit artslink.co.za

20 February – Beautiful butterflies

A journey into space Children aged 2–8 years can spend a morning learning about stars, the moon and space. Time: 10:30am; every Saturday. Venue: Johannesburg Planetarium, Empire Rd, Parktown. Cost: R18. Contact: 011 717 1390 or visit planetarium.co.za

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calendar Artjamming Art studio for children and adults. Time: Monday–Friday 9am–5:30pm, Saturday 9am–4pm, Sunday 10am–3pm.

Venue: Artjamming, Blubird Shopping Centre, Athol-Oaklands Rd and Fort St, Athol. Cost: varies. Contact Kayla: 083 379 2069, blubird@artjamming.co.za or visit artjamming.co.za Color Café Ceramic studio where you can paint mugs, plates, teapots or bowls.

Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Shop 14, Hyde Square Shopping Centre, cnr North Rd and Jan Smuts Ave. Cost: R95 per hour; includes paint, firing and glazing. Contact: 011 341 0734 or visit colorcafe.co.za

Pottery Junxion An art studio where you choose and paint your own pottery.

Also offers regular workshops on drybrushing, paint techniques, antiquing and mosaics. Time: Monday–Friday 9am–4pm, Saturday 9am–2pm. Venue: 5 Glendower Place, 99 Linksfield Rd, Dowerglen. Cost: varies. Contact: 011 453 2721, paint@potteryjunxion.co.za or visit potteryjunxion.co.za Scrapbook Emporium Scrapbooking lessons and craft workshops. Time: 9am– 5pm. Venue: Scrapbook Emporium, shop 109, level 1, Design Quarter, Fourways.

Cost: free entry but workshops and materials are additional. Contact: 011 465 9349 or visit scrapbookemporium.co.za Seedpod Studio This studio offers regular workshops for children and adults in ceramics, decoupage, mixed media and mosaics. Time: varies. Venue: Broadacres Lifestyle Centre, Cedar Rd, Broadacres.

Cost: varies. Contact: 011 465 0375 or visit seedpodstudio.com

classes, talks and workshops

Become a star

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February 2011

Assumption Convent open day This girls’ school offers classes from Grade 00–Grade 12. 19 February. Time: 9am– 11am. Venue: cnr Pandora and Mullins Rd, Malvern East. Cost: free. Contact: 011 615 5053 or visit assumptionconvent.co.za Become a star Children aged 7–16 years can participate in fun-filled theatrical workshops in a real theatre environment.

Seedpod Studio

The workshops cover all the disciplines of the performing arts and include drama, mime, improvisation, singing, and stage and TV techniques. Every Saturday during school terms. Time: 9:30am–12pm. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown. Cost: tbc. Booking essential.

Contact: 011 484 1584 or visit jyt.co.za Children’s art classes These workshops help children to draw details with greater visual perception of what they are seeing.

Suitable for children aged 5–12 years.

Time: every Tuesday 3:30pm–4:30pm, Wednesday and Friday 3pm–4pm. Venue: Fourways Gardens. Cost: R115 per hour. Contact Jenny: 083 301 6229 or art4learning@gmail.com

Discover more about the world of TV and film This one-day workshop is for mom, dad, tots and teens to find out more about the exciting world of TV commercials and film. 27 February. Time: 10:30am–11:30am. Venue: Bryanston Sports Club. Cost: R400. This covers your annual registration fee with Caitlin’s Casting.

Booking essential. Contact: addi@netactive. co.za or visit return2rootsfoundation.co.za Michael Mount Waldorf School open day Listen to a talk on the Waldorf method of education. 26 February. Time: 9:30am.

Venue: Culross Rd, Bryanston. Cost: free entry. Contact Mandy: 011 706 6125 or visit michael-mount.co.za St Teresa’s Mercy School open day Parents with daughters in Grade 6 and 7 can view the facilities and meet the staff at this well-established school as an option for high school. 19 February. Time: 10am– 2pm. Venue: 18 Keyes Ave, Rosebank.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 442 6235 or visit stteresas.co.za

family outings Bambanani Restaurant Offers a children’s play area with childminders and a variety of children’s entertainment every Wednesday. Time: Tuesday–­Sunday 8am–11pm. Venue: 85 4th Ave, Melville.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 482 2900 Flora Farm Offers a garden centre, restaurant and children’s play area. Time: 8:30am–5:30pm. Venue: cnr North Rand

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Rd and Trichardt St, Boksburg. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 894 2377 or visit florafarm.co.za Goblin’s Cove Fantasy Restaurant Set in a forest with a lake, playground with jungle gyms and sandpit, an aviary as well as the Fairywinkle fairy and goblin shop.

Time: varies Wednesday­–Sunday. Venue: R24 Magaliesburg/Hekpoort. Cost: free entry. Contact: 014 576 2143, goblins@ worldonline.co.za or visit goblins.co.za Gold Reef City Adventure theme park with specialty rides for young and old, theme village and several eateries.

Time: Wednesday–Sunday 9:30am–5pm.

Venue: Northern Parkway, Ormonde,

Johannesburg. Cost: weekend R140, weekdays R100; toddlers R90. For more info: visit goldreefcity.co.za Irene Dairy You can see a fully functioning dairy, buy farm-fresh products or enjoy a meal at the country café. Children can play on the tractor and feed the cows. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: 100 Nellmapius Dr, Irene. Cost: free entry. Contact: 012 667 4012, countrycafe@willoworld.com or visit willoworld.com Maropeng This centre in the Cradle of Humankind pays homage to the discovery of early man. It features two restaurants and offers stargazing dinners on certain dates. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: R400,

Emerald Resort and Casino Enjoy a world of water activities in the large Aquadome, games facilities with ten-pin bowling and Lego, a small zoo and several restaurants. Time: varies.

Venue: 777 Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, Vanderbijlpark. Cost: varies. Contact: 016 982 8000 or visit emeraldcasino.co.za

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Magaliesburg. Cost: adults R105, children R60. Contact: 014 577 9000, info@ maropeng.co.za or visit maropeng.co.za Ngwenya Glass Village This village has a glass shop, several curio and craft shops and a brewery and restaurant. Puppet shows and sing-a-longs are held every Friday after 12pm. Time: varies. Venue: off Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: free entry. Contact: 084 607 4291 or visit shadesofngwenya.co.za Papachinos Continental Café Parents can relax in this country-like Tuscan setting while the little ones are entertained with a host of children’s activities. Time: Monday–Saturday 8:30am–9pm, Sunday 8:30am–6:30pm. Venue: 40 Whisken Ave, Crowthorne. Contact: 011 702 1234 or visit papachinos.co.za Stonehaven on Vaal Situated on the banks of the Vaal River, the huge garden features several children’s activities as well as a swimming pool for hot summer days.

The Sunday buffet lunch can be enjoyed on shore or on a river cruise. Time: varies.

Venue: next to Baddrift Bridge, Sylviavale A.H., Vaal River, Vanderbijlpark. Cost: varies. Contact: 016 982 2951

finding nature and outdoor play Acrobranch Discover an original outdoor activity where you go from tree to tree doing fun exercises that test your balance, strength and focus. Time: weekends and

Chameleon Village Reptile Park

public holidays 9am–5pm. Venue: James and Ethel Gray Park, Melrose St Extension, Melrose. Cost: adults R150, children 7–11 R100, children 3–7 R70. Contact: 078 438 7463, info@acrobranch.co.za or visit acrobranch.co.za Bester Birds and Animals Zoo Park This small zoo has a wide variety of exotic animals and birds. Time: Tuesday­–Sunday 9am–5pm. Venue: 44 Simon Vermooten Rd, Willowglen, Pretoria. Cost: adults R25, children R20. Contact: 012 807 4192, zoo@besterbirdsanimals.co.za or visit besterbirdsanimals.co.za Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary Guided tours through indigenous forests where you can view a variety of exotic primates. Time: 9am–4pm. Venue: R512, Hartbeespoort.

Cost: adults R250, children 3–14 years R125.

Contact: 012 258 9908/9

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Melville Koppies family walks

Chameleon Village Reptile Park Anacondas, cobras and rattlers are just a few of the venomous creatures you can see.

Offers a host of activities for children. Time: 8:30am­–5pm. Venue: N4, Hartbeespoort.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 012 253 1451 or visit chameleonvillage.co.za Croc City Crocodile Farm and Reptile Park View crocodiles and hatchlings at close range. Time: 9am–4:30pm. Venue: Old Pretoria Rd, Nietgedacht. Cost: adults R45, children R25. For more info: visit croccity.co.za Cubs and Scouts Children aged 7–18 years can learn practical life skills while enjoying wholesome outdoor fun such as camping, hiking, pioneering and cooking. Time: varies.

Venue: several venues throughout Johannesburg. Cost: varies per term.

For more info: visit scouting.org.za Elephant Sanctuary Guided tours give you the opportunity to touch and feed elephants. Time: 8am–4pm.

Venue: R512, Hartbeespoort. Cost: adults R425–R525, children R215.

Contact: 012 258 0423/0332 or visit elephantsanctuary.co.za Klipriviersberg nature reserve Six hiking trails of varying difficulty offer you the opportunity to enjoy this nature reserve inhabited by several antelope species. Time:

Mountain Sanctuary Park This reserve boasts crystal clear rock pools, a waterfall, hiking trails for young and old as well as camping, swimming and braai facilities. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Magaliesburg.

Contact: 014 534 0114 or visit mountain-sanctuary.co.za

7am–6pm. Venue: Silent Pool, Frandaph Ave, Mondeor. Cost: free entry. Contact Tony: 082 454 6114 Lion Park Home to several carnivores, including white lions. You can play with cubs and enjoy a game drive. Time: Monday– Friday 8:30am–5pm, Saturday–Sunday 8:30am–6pm. Venue: cnr Malibongwe and R114, Lanseria. Cost: adults R115, children R80. Contact: 011 691 9905, lionpark@ cknet.co.za or visit lion-park.com

Lory Park Zoo

Lory Park Zoo A sanctuary for a large variety of wildlife including Bengal tigers, ring-tailed lemurs and several other endangered animals and birds. Time: 10am– 4pm. Venue: 80/1 Kruger Rd, President Park, Midrand. Cost: adults R50, children R30. For more info: visit lorypark.co.za Ludwig’s Rose Farm Home to the largest selection of rose varieties in the world and the largest exhibition of free-flying butterflies in Gauteng. Time: 8am–5pm.

Venue: off the N1 freeway, Wallmannstahl, Pretoria. Cost: free entry. For more info: visit ludwigsroses.co.za Melville Koppies family walks Discover more about the interesting archaeology, geology and ecology of this area. Walks take up to three hours and are suitable for families with children 5 years and older. Every Sunday. Time: varies between 8:30am and 3pm. Venue: meet at the park opposite the entrance to Marks Park Sports Club’s parking in Judith Rd, Emmarentia.

Cost: adults R30, children R10. Contact Wendy: 011 482 4797 or visit mk.org.za Montecasino Bird Gardens These gardens are home not only to birds but to mammals and reptiles too. Enjoy a meal at the Flamingo Café or be thrilled by the Flights of Fantasy bird show. Time: 8:30am­– 5pm. Venue: Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: adults and children over 10 R38, children under 10 R22,50. For more info: visit montecasino.co.za

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Myths and Legends Maize Maze Get lost in a 3,5km maze, where you can find the eight major habitats of the world and endangered animals in the midst of a maize field. Time: Saturday and Sunday 10am–5pm. Venue: 82 Boland St (off Beyers Naudé Dr), Honeydew. Cost: adults R60, children R55, family ticket for four R200. For more info: 010 222 0075, enquiries@maizemaze.co.za or visit honeydewmazes.co.za Northern Farm Nature Reserve This conservancy is a firm favourite for hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and picnics. Time: 6am–6pm. Venue: R114, Diepsloot (near Fourways). Cost: R30. For more info: visit northernfarm.co.za Predator World Enjoy a 50-minute horse ride with an experienced guide. On guided walking tours you can see white lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, tigers, reptiles and more. Time: subject to booking. Venue: Predator World, R556, near Sun City. Cost: adults R385, children R369; includes entrance into Sun City, hamburger, potato wedges and a drink.

Contact San-Mare: 076 817 6869, 014 552 6900 or visit predatorworld.co.za Rhino and Lion Park This park is home to several species of cat, rhino and antelope. Enjoy the freedom of a self-drive or arranged game viewing. Have lunch at the restaurant or make use of the braai and picnic facilities. You’ll love the animal crèche where you have the opportunity to pet lion, tiger and cheetah cubs. Time: weekdays 8am–5pm, weekends 8am–6pm.

Venue: off the R512, Kromdraai, Cradle of Humankind. Cost: adults R100, children R70. Contact: 011 957 0349 or visit rhinolion.co.za The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre Offers a three-hour guided wildlife tour during which you can view cheetah, African wild dog and other large cats, birds and antelope. Not suitable for children under 6. Time: varies. Venue: De Wildt, Hartbeespoort area. Cost: R245–R345.

Booking essential. Contact: 012 504 9906/7/8 or visit dewildt.co.za Trees Eco Fun Park Picnic venues, tunnels, obstacle course and outdoor games. Time: 10am–6pm. Sundays by arrangement.

Venue: 2 Totius Rd, Cloverdene, Benoni.

Cost: R20. Contact Nicolette: 082 458 1504 or 083 452 2104

44 Stanley Fine-food Market This Friday night market offers Indian, Thai, African Kwanza and Hari Krishna vegetarian food.

Nursery (REEA), Craighall Park. Cost: free entry. Contact Roy: 011 465 3413 or jmsinek@mweb.co.za Gourmet Market Bread, nuts, organic vegetables, cheese, pickles and olives.

5, 12, 19 and 26 February. Time: 8:30am– 1pm. Venue: Parktown Corner, cnr 7th Ave and 3rd Ave, Parktown North. Cost: free entry.

For more info: visit jozifoodmarket.co.za Market in the Park Monthly market

Time: 4pm–8pm. Venue: 44 Stanley St, Milpark. Cost: free entry. Contact Robyn: 083 311 4768 Bryanston Organic Market Stalls offer everything from organic clothing, children’s toys and art to coffee and food. Time: Thursday and Saturday 9am– 3pm. Venue: Culross Rd, off Main Rd, Bryanston. Contact: 011 706 3671 or visit bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za Craighall River Market Enjoy a wide variety of art, crafts and organic produce.

Children’s playground and pony rides available. Time: 8:30am–1pm, every second Saturday. Venue: Colourful Splendour

Time: Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5pm. Venue: Lifestyle Garden Centre, Beyers Naudé and Ysterhout Dr, Randpark Ridge. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 792 5616 Irene Market Offers over 300 stalls of art and antiques, numerous food options and a licenced tea garden with a safe children’s entertainment area. Time: 9am–2pm, second and last Saturday of each month.

Venue: Smuts House Museum, Jan Smuts Ave, Irene. Contact: 012 667 1659 or visit irenemarket.co.za Jozi Food Market In addition to the usual array of tasty delicacies and fun activities, you’ll find a host of food and goodies.

filled with crafts, jewellery, games, tasty treats and more. Time: 9am–2pm, first Sunday of the month. Venue: River Café grounds, Field and Study Centre, Louise Ave, Parkmore. Cost: free entry. Contact Lorraine: 011 465 1281 or 083 655 8012 Oriental Plaza This is a shopping Mecca filled with exotic fragrances, delicious foods and everything from fabrics and clothes to suitcases and copperware. Time: Monday­– Friday 8:30am–5pm (closed 12pm–2pm on Friday), Saturday 8:30am–3pm. Venue: cnr Bree and Main St, Fordsburg. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 838 6752 or visit orientalplaza.co.za

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on stage and on screen Evita – The musical The rise and fall of Argentina’s first lady, Eva Peron, is played out in this hit musical featuring “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”. 25 February– 27 March. Time: varies. Venue: Pieter Toerien Main Theatre.

Cost: R125–R295. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Hannah and Miley – the best of both girls This show features songs by talented Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana. Listen to hits such as “Rock Star”, “If We Were a Movie” and “The Other Side of Me”. 4, 5, 11, 12 February. Time: 12pm. Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre Complex, Braamfontein. Cost: R104–R130. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com HIStory – This is it This is a tribute to Michael Jackson that’s sure to have fans dancing in their seats. Kenny Wizz, the world’s most acclaimed Michael Jackson impersonator, takes the lead in this international show, which is fresh from Las Vegas. 4–13 February. Time: Thursday­–Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm.

Venue: The Mandela at Joburg Theatre Complex, Braamfontein. Cost: R181–R308.

Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Riverdance Watch the original Irish dance troupe perform toe-tapping magic. 1– 20 February. Time: Tuesday–Friday 8pm, Saturday 3pm and 8pm, Sunday 2pm and 6pm. Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R221–R399. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

playtime and story time Build-a-Bear workshops Create your own teddy bear or stuffed animals. Daily.

Time: dependent on store. Venue: several in the Johannesburg area. Cost: free entry.

For more info: visit buildabear.co.za Egoli Café and Kids play area Monitored indoor and outdoor play area, climbing wall, jumping castles and jungle gym. Time: Friday 12pm–5pm, Saturday­–Sunday 9am– 5pm. Venue: 17A Terrace Rd, Eastleigh, Edenvale. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 609 4755 or visit egolilodge.co.za Grannies Garden Indoor and outdoor play venue with a coffee shop. Time:

Words Bookstore

Monday–Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am–6pm. Venue: 138 Barkston Dr, Blairgowrie. Cost: R30 per hour. Contact: 011 326 4265 or visit granniesgarden.co.za Hedgehog Lane Outdoor fairground with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and miniature Hedgehog Express Train. There is also a creative studio, bakery and hair salon.

Picnics welcome. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Garden Shop, 278 Main Rd, Bryanston.

Cost: adults free, children R18. For more info: visit hedgehoglane.co.za Lola Park Safe, fun family park with rides, aviaries, fairy garden, water splash-fountain and petting zoo. Time: Wednesday­–Sunday 10am–5pm. Venue: Viewpoint Rd East, Bartlett A.H., Boksburg. Cost: R50, children under two free. Contact: 011 918 0854 or visit lolapark.com Love Books Different storytellers relate everything from traditional African folk tales, to fairy tales, the classics and brand new stories. Suitable for children 4–8 years.

Time: 10am, every Saturday. Venue: Love Books, The Bamboo Centre, 53 Rustenburg Rd, Melville. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 726 7408 or storytelling@lovebooks.co.za Oki Doki This venue offers a unique “town” where children can play dress-up. Also a coffee shop for parents. Time: Tuesday– Saturday 8:30am–4:30pm. Venue: 66 6th St, Linden. Cost: free entry for adults, children R20. Contact: 011 888 8940, info@oki-doki. co.za or visit oki-doki.co.za Piccino’s Indoor soft-play area suitable for tiny tots–6 years as well as a coffee shop for parents. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Norwood Mall, Hamlin Rd, Norwood. Cost: R40 per hour. Contact: 011 728 0928 Smudge Creative Play Centre Sand-art parties, balloon storytelling, puppet shows and music workshops. Time: Monday– Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 10am–4pm,

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Daytona Adventure Park

Sunday 10am–1pm. Venue: Valley Centre, 396 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park. Cost: R110 per child for first hour, R55 for every hour thereafter. Contact: 011 501 0234, sandra@smudgeart.co.za or visit smudgeart.co.za Words Bookstore Enjoy a cup of coffee, read a book and let the children play in the play area. Ten percent off all children’s books on a Sunday and story time can be arranged. Time: 7am–6:30pm. Venue: Health Emporium, cnr Church and Market St, Midrand. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 315 3801 or maria@wordsbookstore.co.za Yeesh! Fun for kids Supervised soft-play indoor playgrounds with coffee bars. Time: Tuesday–Sunday, 9am–5pm. Venue: Unit G6, Woodmead Commercial Park, Waterval Crescent, Woodmead and 5 Main Rd, Bryanston. Cost: R40 per hour. Contact: Woodmead 083 923 2306 or Bryanston 073 230 6531 or visit yeesh.co.za

Boogaloos Skateboard Park for skaters and non-skaters alike. Time: varies.

Venues: Brightwater Commons, East Rand Mall, Montecasino, Festival Mall. Cost: R30.

Contact Quintin: 011 608 1101 or visit boogaloos.com Compu-Kart Raceway Indoor go-karting venue suitable for children 10 and older. Time: 10am–9pm. Venue: Stoneridge Shopping Centre, cnr Modderfontein and Hereford Rd, Modderfontein. Cost: R50–R250 dependent on number of laps. Contact: 0861 465 278 or visit compu-kart.co.za Daytona Adventure Park Take your own bikes or hire quad bikes and spend the day getting dirty. Time: 9am–5pm.

Venue: William Nicol Dr, Fourways (past Dainfern). Cost: varies. Booking essential.

Contact Greg or Vic: 083 625 1537 or 072 202 743 Jozi-X Extreme fun-park suitable for children aged 4 and older. Time: Monday–Sunday 10am–5pm. Venue: cnr Main Rd and Sloane St, Bryanston. Cost: varies. Contact Marco: 082 456 2358 or visit jozix.co.za Orlando Towers Bungee jump, power swing, base jump or rap jump your way to an adrenalin-fuelled thrill. Time: subject to booking. Venue: Orlando Towers, cnr Dynamo St and Old Potch Rd, Orlando, Soweto. Cost: R260–R480. Contact: 011 312 0450 or visit orlandotowers.co.za Randburg Raceway Experience the adrenaline rush of indoor go-karting. Time: 11am–8pm. Venue: Samantha St, Strijdom Park, Randburg. Cost: R120 for a 10minute race. Contact: 011 792 2260 or visit randburgraceway.co.za Runnin Rebels Soccer Development soccer aimed at children 6–11 years. Time: varies. Venues: Bedfordview, Fairmount, Fourways, Parkmore, Zoo Lake. Cost: varies. Contact Alan: 011 646 5461 or visit runninrebels.co.za Sandboarding at Mount Mayhem Similar to snow boarding but without the cold. Time: Saturday and Sunday 10:30am– 3:30pm. Venue: Mount Mayhem, Boksburg. Cost: R250; includes equipment and instruction. Booking essential. Contact Marco: 082 605 1150 or visit jozix.co.za Wonderwall Indoor climbing wall for beginners to advanced climbers. Time: Tuesday–Thursday 10am–10pm, Friday 10am–9pm, Saturday 9am–6pm. Venue: Unit 1 Kya Sands Industrial Village, 22 Elsecar St, Kya Sands. Cost: adults R60, children R40. Contact: 011 708 6467

Abseiling and caving adventure

sports and physical activities Abseiling and caving adventure for children 8 years and older. Time: Sunday, 11am. Venue: Wild Cave Adventures, Cradle of Humankind. Cost: adults R220, children R180. Booking essential. Contact: 011 956 6197 or visit wildcaves.co.za Battlezone Outdoor paintball adventure park. Time: Monday–Saturday 8:30am– 11:30am, 11:30am–2:30pm and 2:30pm– 5:30pm; Sunday 11:30am–2:30pm and 2:30pm–5pm. Venue: cnr Sloane St and Main Rd, Bryanston. Cost: R100; includes gear. Booking essential. Contact: 082 818 0345 or visit battlezone.co.za magazine joburg

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calendar Yoga4kids An educational and ageappropriate yoga curriculum that combines the exploration of the body, mind and self. Time: varies. Venues: Broadacres, Craighall Park, Atholl, Rivonia, Parkmore.

Cost: varies. Contact: 083 299 6555 or visit yoga4kids.co.za Zoo trot A 5km or 10km walk or jog around the zoo. Time: 7am, second Sunday of every month. Venue: Johannesburg Zoo, Forest Town. Cost: R30. For more info: 011 646 2000 or visit jhbzoo.org.za

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Allergies 101 One-day crash course to assist you in cooking for allergy-prone children. 15 February. Time: 9:30am–12pm.

Venue: Little Cook’s Club, Rivonia. Cost:

R350. Booking essential. Contact Christine: 083 556 3434, christine@littlecooks.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Let’s Gets Ready! A variety of workshops for parents and teachers of children between the ages of 3 and 8 years. The workshops aim to teach you how to use what you have at home to support what happens at school.

28 February–4 March. Time: tbc. Venue: tbc. Cost: R100. Booking essential. Contact Renee: 082 714 4356, rlighton@mweb.co.za or visit reneelighton.co.za The Importance of Play A professional play therapist presents this course which gives parents and caregivers a better understanding of milestone development as well as practical ideas for play and learning, how to select sensible toys and how to find a style of play that’s beneficial to the parent and the child. 12 February. Time: 9am– 1pm. Venue: Parkhurst Recreation Centre,

Domestic baking This one-day course gives your domestic employee some great new baking ideas for quiches, cakes and muffins. 4 February.

Time: 9:30am–12pm. Venue: Little Cook’s Club, Rivonia.

Cost: R350. Booking essential.

Contact Christine: 083 556 3434, christine@littlecooks.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za

PACSEN

5th Ave and Thirteenth St, Parkhurst. Cost: tbc; includes notes and refreshment.

Booking essential. Contact: shannon@ exploreplay.com

on stage and on screen Casual Sax This one-woman show weaves stories and songs with voice and saxophone as it follows the performer on her journey: growing up, marrying, divorcing and dating again. 1–19 February. Time: varies.

Venue: Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton. Cost: from R120. Book through the theatre: 011 883 8606 or visit theatreonthesquare.co.za or strictlytickets.com Fascinating Aida This British female satirical musical trio have performed from London’s West End to San Francisco. They bring their hilarious songs and satirical

lyrics to South Africa for the first time.

1–13 February. Time: Tuesday–Friday 8pm, Saturday 4pm and 8pm, Sunday 3pm. Venue: Pieter Toerien Main Theatre, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R100–R250.

Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

support groups Anorexia and bulimia family support group Assists those suffering from eating disorders, as well as their families. Contact: 011 887 9966 or visit edsupport.co.za CHOC Provides advice and support for families affected by childhood cancer.

Contact: 086 111 3500 or visit choc.org.za Compassionate Friends Support group for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. Contact: 011 440 6322 or visit compassionatefriends.org.za

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Divorce Support A workshop for individuals going through a divorce or recently divorced. Scheduled subject to sufficient numbers. Time: 7pm–9pm.

Venue: 1 Cardigan Ave, Parkwood. Cost: R390. Contact: 011 788 4784/5 or visit familylife.co.za Hi Hopes Early intervention programme to empower parents of deaf or hearing impaired children aged 0–3 years. The programme is home-based. Contact: 011 717 3750 or claudine.storbeck@wits.ac.za Johannesburg Bipolar Support Association Contact Linda: 011 485 2406 or visit bipolar.co.za PACSEN (Parents for children with special educational needs) Provides counselling, support and information for parents with special needs children. Contact: 012 333 0149 or visit pacsen.co.za Respect Me Support for children affected by bullying. Contact Kelly: info@respectme. co.za or visit respectme.co.za The Family Life Centre Offers marriage, divorce and couple counselling, single parent and step-parent support groups, family counselling as well as play therapy, grief counselling and trauma debriefing.

Venue: 1 Cardigan Rd, Parkwood. Contact: 011 788 4784/5, famlife@iafrica.com or visit familylife.co.za Tough Love Self-help programme and a support group for families affected by unacceptable adolescent behaviour. Contact: 0861 868 445 or visit toughlove.org.za

magazine joburg

Women and men against child abuse Medical, psychological and follow-up therapy and treatment for children who have been sexually, physically and emotionally abused as well as support for their non-offending family members or caregivers. Contact: 011 789 8815 or visit wmaca.org

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops BabyGym An engaging, easy-to-follow and fun-filled way of making the most of your baby’s vital early years. During the five-week course, parents and caregivers are taken through a step-by-step stimulation programme for babies from birth to two BabyGym

years to help them reach their milestones.

Date and time varies. Venue: Parkwood.

Cost: R550. Contact Retha: 083 778 8356, retha.venter@babygym.co.za or visit babygym.co.za Be Sharp Beetles music and movement programme Develops children through drumming, percussion play and cultural musical stories. Suitable for children 6 weeks–8 years. Children are exposed to English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Sotho. Time: varies. Venue: Northcliff. Contact: 082 922 8161 or visit besharpbeetles.co.za Little Cooks Club programme This programme is designed to encourage healthy eating habits in children.

Interactive cooking classes allow moms and tots to create wholesome and

Be Sharp Beetles music and movement programme

delicious meals. Venues: Rivonia, Fourways, Fairland, Mondeor, Edenvale/Bedfordview, Pretoria. Contact Christine: 083 556 3434, christine@littlecooksclub.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Moms and Babes Interactive workshops for parents with babies from 2–12 months.

Workshops include guided play with ageappropriate toys, movement to music and sensory stimulation. Venue: several venues throughout Gauteng. Contact: 011 469 1530 or visit momsandbabes.co.za Moms and Tots Interactive workshops for parents with tots from 1–3½ years.

Workshops include music, stories, crafts,

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calendar Craighall, Fourways, Melrose, Parkmore, Rivonia. Contact David: 011 440 6222 or visit preggibellies.co.za Pregnancy yoga for expectant moms.

Tots n Pots

Time: Monday 5:30pm–7pm, Tuesday 10am–11:30am. Venue: Craighall and Athol. Cost: R90 per class or R300 for four classes. Contact: theoni@consciousbirth. co.za or visit consciousbirth.co.za Sandton Medi-Clinic maternity ward tour Expectant parents are invited for a free tour of the maternity facilities every Wednesday. Time: 10am–10:30am. Venue: main reception area, Sandton Medi-Clinic, cnr Peter Place and Main Rd, Bryanston.

Cost: free. Contact Liezl: 011 709 2206 or visit mediclinic.co.za Toptots Parent and child workshops aimed at development from birth to preschool.

Venue: several venues throughout Gauteng.

Contact: 031 266 4910, 082 876 7791 or visit toptots.co.za Tots n Pots Lots of fun and new things to cook and bake. Time: 9am, every Saturday.

Venue: Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, 16B Penguin Dr, Norscot, Fourways. Cost: dependent on number of classes you attend. Contact Janine: 072 086 6213 or janine@totsnpots.com

life skills, messy play, gross motor activities as well as some free play. Venue: several venues throughout Gauteng. Contact: 011 469 1530 or visit momsandtots.co.za MOPS workshops For mothers of preschoolers who want to learn how to be the best moms that they can be. Meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Time: 9:30am–11:30am.

Venue: Gracepoint Campus, 125 Duncan Rd, Glenferness. Cost: tbc. Contact:

I-Play educational play zone and coffee shop Children can have fun in the play zone which boasts a mini plane, trampoline and sandpits. Moms can enjoy a coffee while children are taken care of in a safe environment. Time: Monday–Friday 9am–

082 734 0466 Morningside Medi-Clinic open days Expectant parents can view their facilities.

16 and 17 February. Time: between 9am and 3pm. Venue: first floor, Morningside Medi-Clinic, Rivonia Rd, Sandton. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 282 5000 Nanny and toddler workshops These Friday classes provide a morning of interactive play for toddlers aged 1–3 years.

Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Sandton Field and Study Recreation Centre, Parkmore.

Cost: R90. Booking essential. Contact Kerry: 083 391 4921 or kerry@toptots.co.za Preggi Bellies This one-hour cardio and weight training programme is for expectant and post-natal moms and conforms to strict obstetric guidelines for exercising during pregnancy. Venues: Bedfordview,

5pm, Saturday 9am–1pm. Venue: Kayburne Ave, Randpark Ridge. Cost: children R20.

Contact Annemarie: 083 704 2834 Jelly Fish Secure indoor play area with coffee shop. Activities include gardening, dress-up and free play. Time: 10am– 4pm. Venue: Lower Level Bedford Village Shopping Centre, cnr Van Buuren and Nicol Rd, Bedfordview. Cost: R100 for first hour; includes take-home art; R50 per hour thereafter. Contact: 011 024 2379 Jimmy Jungles Indoor adventure playground with supervised, secure facilities for toddlers and children from 6 months up to a maximum height of 1,4m. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Shop 60, Stoneridge Centre, Modderfontein. Cost: R30 per hour. Contact: 011 452 2180 or visit jimmyjungles.co.za

playtime and story time

Bedwetting Support Group

Jungle Rumble Indoor playground and party venue with allocated baby area for birth–3 years. Time: Tuesday– Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am– 5pm. Venue: Panorama Shop & Leisure Centre, cnr Kliprivier and Jordie Rd, Mulbarton. Cost: R15–R45; babies under 10 months free. For more info: visit junglerumble.co.za Parkview Library story time Suitable for children under 3 years. Time: 10am, every Monday. Venue: Parkview Library, 51 Athlone Ave, Parkview. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 011 646 3375 Piccinos Indoor soft-play area suitable for children aged 2–6 years and a coffee shop for moms. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Norwood Mall, Hamlin Rd, Norwood. Cost: R40 per hour. Contact: 011 728 0928 Yeesh! Fun for kids Supervised soft-play

depression. Contact: 011 786 8803, 082 429 2279, pndsagauteng@gmail.com or visit pndsa.co.za SA Preemies Support group for the parents and families of premature babies. Contact: 080 773 3643, support@sapreemies.za.org or visit preemiesforafrica.org South African Multiple Birth Association Provide moral and practical support to parents or guardians of multiple births. Contact: 0861 432 432

indoor playgrounds with coffee bars. Time: Tuesday–Sunday 9am–5pm. Venue: Unit G6, Woodmead Commercial Park, Waterval Crescent, Woodmead and 5 Main Rd, Bryanston. Cost: R40 per hour. Contact: Woodmead 083 923 2306 or Bryanston 073 230 6531 or visit yeesh.co.za

Coco Pops: Original, Chocorillas, Crunchers or Jumbos. Sms two monkey codes found inside any two of the packs to receive a unique code, which you will use to adopt a monkey on the Coco Pops website.

Choose your monkey, read it’s survival story, play an online game and download an adoption certificate. For more info: visit adoptamonkey.co.za International Cancer Awareness Day CHOC appeals to all schools to support this day by planning a Valentine’s Day fundraising event to create awareness about the early warning signs of childhood cancer.

For more info: visit choc.org.za Pregnancy Awareness Many people are battling with unplanned pregnancies and the Neobirth Centre helps women with crisis pregnancies. You can help by looking at their needs list and assisting with donations of goods or even your time. For more info: visit neobirth.org.za World Orphan Week SOS Children’s Villages asks you to do something “WOW” this week and make a difference to the many orphans in South Africa. Companies are encouraged to dress to “WOW”, with participants donating R5, or to display WOW posters. You can also donate time, money or goods. 14–20 February. For more info: visit sos.org.za

support groups Adoption South Africa Offers support groups for adopters as well as extensive services in counselling and legal advice. For more info: visit adoptionsa.co.za Bedwetting Support Group Contact: 083 289 6640, Monday–Friday 8am–5pm Cleft friends Support for parents with babies born with cleft lips and palates.

Contact: 082 393 1206, 079 527 1504, helena@cleftfriends.co.za or visit cleftfriends.co.za La Leche League Breast-feeding support group. For more info: visit llli.org Neobirth Pregnancy Care Centre Support for crisis pregnancies, abortion, miscarriages, adoption as well as support with general parenting issues. Contact: 012 343 6401, neofamily@neobirth.org.za or visit neobirth.org.za Post-natal Depression Support Association Assists mothers as well as family members affected by post-natal

how to help Adopt a monkey Kellogg’s and wildlife charity Born Free have teamed up on a new campaign to help save orphaned and threatened monkeys and baboons in Malawi. Just buy two packs of Kellogg’s

don’t miss out!

For a free listing, email your event to joburg@childmag.co.za or fax it to 011 234 4971. Information must be received by 2 February 2011 for the March issue and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online or browse events, visit childmag.co.za I-Play educational play zone and coffee shop

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it’s party time

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February 2011

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it’s party time continued...

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last laugh

men don’t make resolutions

Joe, Sam and Benj

ith the start of the New Year and the fresh bliss of new pencils (is there anything as happy-making as a brand new, pointy pencil?), comes the time-honoured urge to make broad sweeping promises to oneself about the year ahead.

“This is the year I lose 10 kilograms!”

I’ll say to myself, with ferocious conviction.

(I am way too smart to say this out loud to anyone else.) The weight one always sparks off a whole series of others, which I do say out loud.

“This is the year I figure out e-filing!” I told the family over New Year’s breakfast.

“And take all that bitter rocket out of the herb garden! And actually call someone in to fix the chest freezer’s slow leak

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instead of just squishing old newspapers under it once a week! And clean out my wardrobe! And...”

I tapered off there, as everyone just quietly spooned cereal into themselves while staring at me in slightly distracted bemusement. (That look, where your family is trying as hard as possible to pretend they are listening without having to sacrifice their much more entertaining daydreams.)

“Seriously,” I said to my family, in bewilderment. “Not one of you wants to make New Year’s resolutions?”

The boys stared pointedly at their father, which is well-known boy code for: “You tell her.”

Andreas cleared his throat.

“Well, no, but don’t let us stop you; you love making resolutions,” he said, supportively. “Um, how about exercise?

You usually make a resolution about exercise. Doesn’t she, boys?”

The boys nodded their heads vigorously in unison, before ducking back down to their cereal.

And that’s when it struck me. Boys don’t make New Year’s resolutions. It’s an almost exclusively chick pursuit. Think about it: when last did you hear a man proclaim: “This is the year I sort out the shed!” or “In 2011, I am conquering my DIY phobia!”?

Exactly. Never.

I took this little light bulb with me to my Monday Mommy date with my friend Rosie.

“This year,” she began, while spooning Pad Thai onto her plate and signalling the waiter for more spring rolls, “I am going to get fit, and...”

“Ha! Stop right there!” I interrupted. “See what you are doing? You’re in automatic New Year’s resolution mode, right?”

“Well, duh,” she replied, through a mouthful of noodles. “It’s New Year.”

“But men don’t do this!” I exclaimed, spearing our third spring roll before she noticed. “Only women make New Year’s resolutions! And I think I know why. Women are so bad at accepting themselves for who they are that we feel the need to choose a whole lot of sticks to beat ourselves with

at the beginning of each year. It’s a terrible indictment of society as a whole and the way women never feel good enough!”

Rosie’s eyes opened wide. (But that may just have been her noticing my sneaky spring-roll move.)

“You’re right,” she said, re-signalling the waiter. “Now that I think about it, I have never heard a man make a New Year’s resolution. And it’s not because they are without flaw as an entire gender.”

At this point, we cackled so loudly the waiter decided to deposit our additional spring rolls on another table entirely.

So this year, dear readers, I am making not a single resolution. (Even that silent weight one.) This year, I am going to take a leaf out of Andreas’s book, and just get on with being myself and as happy as possible. And instantly, 2011 is looking a whole lot less stressful.

Sam Wilson is the Editor-in-chief of Women24, Parent24 and Food24. She likes Chinese dumplings almost as much as spring rolls.

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PHOTOGRAPH: Andreas SpÄth

SAM WILSON begins 2011 with a light-bulb moment. And lots of spring rolls.