Child Magazine | Joburg August 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

science experiments your child can do at home

ABCs

of the new curriculum

a pain in the back is your child’s school bag too heavy?

reading to learn the fourth-grade challenge

www.childmag.co.za

August 2011

free

education beyond the classroom 33 exciting school outings

health

education

entertainment

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

I love a good book. My dad, however, was more of a newspaper kind of guy.

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

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Anél Lewis • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Gillian Hurst • joburg@childmag.co.za Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • lucille@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Art Designers Nikki-leigh Piper • nikki@childmag.co.za Alys Suter • studio1@childmag.co.za Samantha Summerfield • studio2@childmag.co.za

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

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: Brooke Fasani

Client Relations Renee Bruning • renee@childmag.co.za Natasia Cook • natasia@childmag.co.za

So, to compromise, I bought him a copy of Professor Jonathan Jansen’s book, We Need to Talk, for Father’s Day. Hughie (as we fondly refer to my dad) was a big fan of the man, but as a subscriber to the Pretoria News and not The Times, he had to rely on a friend who would carefully cut out every one of his columns and hand deliver them to him. Being in the final stages of lung and brain cancer, it sometimes took my dad half a day to read each perfectly penned piece. The chemo had eroded his sight and the cancer his motor control, but he read them as he lived his life – with stubborn determination and a sense of humour. Each column provided a proverbial ray of light in his final months, because he shared Professor Jansen’s sense of black and white, wrong and right and his distaste for racism or discrimination of any kind.

He was open to new ideas, but steadfast in his principles, with a firm belief in honesty, integrity, humility and hard work – qualities he shared with Prof Jansen.

Sadly, my dad died last month, and so the book was left to me to read. I thought it fitting to quote from it this month, especially

as Prof Jansen addresses us, parents, about the need to inspire our children to embrace learning.

“It is the simple things that parents do between tests and examinations, like the marvel they express when observing a loaded plane lift off the runway, the questions they pose about a scientific discovery, the joy they demonstrate when recalling a favourite poem, and the delight they exude when solving a problem. For parents to inspire children to learn, they need not be highly schooled themselves. All they need is to enjoy learning themselves.”

In this high-tech, dynamic and competitive world in which we raise our children, it is certainly the simple things that count.

Thanks Hughie, for the simple things you did that lead me to love learning so much.

I learnt by example… yours.

If you love the magazine, you’ll love our website. Visit us at childmag.co.za

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

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

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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.

Annual subscriptions (for 11 issues) cost R165, including VAT and postage inside SA. Printed by Paarl Web. Copyright subsists in all work published in Joburg’s Child magazineTM. We welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted right to change any received copy. We are under no obligation to return unsolicited copy. The magazine, or part thereof, may not be reproduced or adapted without the prior written permission of the publisher.

We take care to ensure our articles, and other editorial content, are accurate and balanced, but cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or inconvenience that may arise from reading them.

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August 2011

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contents

august 2011 40 the big day

how do you know if your child is school-ready? Donna Cobban goes

looking for the answers

health

34 upfront 3

10 spot(s) of trouble

Tamlyn Vincent finds out what to do when your baby has thrush

12 eyes wide shut

Lucille Kemp looks at blocked tear ducts in infants

13 a heavy burden

a note from lisa

your child’s school bag may cause injury, warns Gillian Hurst

6 over to you

regulars

readers respond

15 reader’s blog

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14 upfront with paul

David Morris has a fear of birds, but his toddler can’t get enough of them

Paul Kerton reminisces the death of a family pet

features

16 dealing with difference

20 back to basics

ichelle Jones explains Action Plan M 2014 and the new school curriculum

24 so in love with science

Robyn Goss gives you fun project ideas your children can do at home

27 room to grow

Christina Castle’s son has immigrated – to his own bedroom

28 survive the fourth-grade slump

your child will need extra support when reading turns to reading to learn. By Caroline van der Mescht

19 dad’s blog

Marc de Chazal tells us about his daughter’s giving nature 42 resource – beyond the classroom

Gillian Hurst compiled a list of extraordinary school outings 47 a good read new books for the whole family

52 what’s on in august 70 last laugh

Lucille Kemp poses the boarding school question to a few parents

Sam Wilson suffered from sleep deprivation when her children were small. Now she’s catching up

34 what is your child’s style?

new research into the causes of ADHD suggests alternative treatment options. By Donna Cobban

32 to board or not to board

wins

help your child by understanding how they learn. By Anél Lewis

classified ads

38 banish boring lunch boxes

62 family marketplace

67 let’s party

Margaret Barca gives you recipe ideas to replace the boring sarmie

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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August 2011

Johannesburg

Cape Town

Durban

SAHETI School Photographer: Shireen Arbuthnot

shutterstock.com

shutterstock.com

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August 2011

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letters

over to you winning ways

Thank you so much for the awesome prize I won from Polly Potter’s Toy Store. The children in my playgroup are going to be thrilled. I have been coveting that dollhouse for them since I spotted it and I can’t wait to sit down with the children and just play and play.

Lindi

support through our calendar Thank you so much for featuring us in your “How to help” section. We have had numerous requests from your readers to come and assist.

We have also received many donations; even a brand new tumble drier.

Michele van Jaarsveld Ikholwa Children’s Home We have been listed in “Support groups” in your calendar for the past few months and thanks to this, a family with a deaf baby knocked on our door. They would not have otherwise known where to find help.

Hi-Hopes

good old-fashioned family time I enjoyed the July publisher’s note where Lisa Mc Namara refers to playing games with her children – something so many of us forget to do. My own two children love, more than anything, sitting as a family, playing games. Our favourites are Uno, which we’ve played since my daughter was three, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders and Hit the Hat. Winter holidays are the perfect time to haul out the puzzles and Lego.

Activity sheets and colouring-in pages are downloaded and we also swap games with friends for something different. Playing with your children is so rewarding. It’s often while playing with mine that they tell or show me the most of what is happening in their world.

Candice Freeman

it’s not just “cheers!”

In response to Claire Douglas’s letter (July 2011) – society tends to disregard the fact that alcohol is a drug that acts on the nervous system, causing a change in behaviour. Sugar also causes behavioural changes but unlike alcohol, sugar is not the number one cause of death in our society. Just look at the number of drunk drivers on our roads. Our full rehabilitation facilities attest to our inability to raise responsible consumers of alcohol.

In my 15 years as a teacher, I have dealt with numerous adolescents who overindulged in alcohol. They mostly come from households where parents drink freely and they encourage their children to have the “odd sip”.

I have been unfortunate to know teenagers who have been killed and maimed because of alcohol.

Interestingly enough, these children all fall into the category Claire calls “middle income children”. It should be noted that one doesn’t need to be classified as an alcoholic or an addict to be able to injure yourself, or someone else, in a drug-induced state.

Claire quite rightly cites sugar overindulgence as a cause of behavioural problems and body issues.

However, society is far too glib about indulgence in its cousin – alcohol. I’d rather offer my children a piece of chocolate than a sip of wine or beer.

Michelle The letter on alcohol and minors (July 2011), while written as a personal anecdote, neglects to mention that serving or allowing your child to consume alcohol is against the law. The writer mentions France, where drinking is part of the culture, neglecting to mention that they have one of the highest rates of liver failure because of the huge alcohol consumption. We don’t allow our children to become social smokers and encourage them to have a drag. Why is alcohol different?

Gemma Etchells According to a Unisa study for Rape Wise more than 40 percent of people who begin drinking before the age of 13 stand a good chance of becoming dependent. It is illegal to give or supply alcohol to anyone under the age of 18, or to allow them to drink alcohol. To get help, contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0861 435 722 or Al-Anon (for families of alcoholics) on 0861 252 666.

make the right choice for your child My son didn’t eat breakfast for four years, homework was a daily struggle, and last year, his Grade 3 teacher told us he was taking toilet breaks, or finding a safe space in the reading corner, when work was set. Educational psychologists’ reports showed he had above average abilities, with exceptional abilities in several areas, but he wasn’t thriving. Instead, he was anxious about going to school, thought he was stupid and his self-confidence was being eroded. He was happy in the playground, but it wasn’t working for him in the classroom. Academic excellence was his school’s main focus and in their terms, he was below average.

We had years of therapy, in consultation with the school, before we decided to look for alternatives.

Remedial school, the traditional suggestion from mainstream schools, was a disaster. Then we went for a trial at a Synergy School, and there we stayed. Our son is doing fantastically well: he’s happy to go to school and most importantly he’s believing in himself again. I feel as if I’ve “met” my son. He has finally emerged from the defensive shield he was hiding behind in the onesize-fits-all, mainstream school environment. My son’s gone from saying, “I can’t!” to “Hey, (maybe) I can.”

Sue When my son was at school in a small town, he was confident, polite and friendly. The school had a personal touch and parents had regular contact with teachers. In Grade 2, he was diagnosed with ADHD and was put on Ritalin. He later said it made him feel “not himself” and he stopped taking it. He coped just fine, but not as well as with the Ritalin.

We then relocated to the city and it was a huge adjustment going to a bigger school. He complained about problems at school, but I dismissed his stories of

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victimisation as “attention-seeking”. Then an incident in Grade 5 made me look for an alternative school. I found a “home school” type of private school that also works with the mainstream school syllabus. It has a family-orientated environment where values and respect, not just learning, form part of the education. My now teenage son is independent and confident. I have my “real” son back.

My message to parents is to find an alternative before it becomes a necessity, and before your child suffers psychological damage. If your gut tells you your child is unhappy, listen to it.

Kerry Cooper

a good read I want to thank you for producing such a lovely magazine. I have every copy on my coffee table and reread them regularly. I always find something helpful.

Zuleiga Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

write to us You can also post a comment online at

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

childmag.co.za

childmag.co.za or PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010.

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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.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Thanks so much for making us winners in the Polly Potter’s Toy Store giveaway. My 4-year-old son, Kyro, is over the moon with the rocket he won. His comment when we collected the prize was: “I can’t believe my eyes. It’s a rocket!” For the first time there was no argument to get him in the back seat and buckle up. The box was on his lap all the way home. You made this little boy’s year. That night he told his mom he needs to go on a course to fly the rocket.

Kyro and the Steytler family

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August 2011

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wins

giveaways in august only the best for the best

princess for a day

Old School Cool is a recruitment agency specialising in placing high-calibre au pairs, nannies, domestics, tutors and drivers. The team thoroughly screens and evaluates candidates, making sure that they recruit the best person for your needs. For more information contact Shaun or Tiffini: 011 262 2511, info@ oldschoolcool.co.za or visit oldschoolcool.co.za You could win an Old School Cool placement to the value of up to R15 000. Simply email us or post your personal details and mark your entry as “Old School Cool Win”.

Accessorize and Monsoon children’s wear, international brands from London, launch their summer 2011 range. It’s a feminine, vintage collection of 50s style dresses, ruffles, bows, lace, kimono-sleeve tops, charm jewellery, handcrafted sandals and floral hair accessories. For more info, contact 021 447 7718 or info@accessorize.co.za We have one Monsoon party dress to give away valued at R699. Email your personal details to competition@accessorize.co.za and mark your entry as “Child Mag JHB Win”.

toying with development

artyfacts

Ideal Cycle & Toy Wholesalers stocks a range of creatively educational and affordable toys.

For more detail on their products, contact: idealtoy@iafrica.com or visit idealtoy.co.za Up for grabs is one hamper, which includes Ideal Toy exclusive brands such as Math Bingo by Orda, Colour Code by Smart Games and Metaforms by Fox Mind. Simply email us or post your personal details and mark your entry as “Ideal Toy JHB Win”.

The Deluxe Pottery Set is a genuine electric pottery wheel that comes with a variety of tools to position and sculpt the clay. Your child can decorate their creations with the colourful paints, mosaics and glass pieces, which are included.

For more info contact: 021 945 3881 or info@alextoys.net We have three Deluxe Pottery Sets valued at R680 each to give away.

Simply email us or post your personal details and mark your entry as “Alex JHB Win”.

well and on their way Cipla Medpro gives you Airmune Junior, the tasty and all-natural immune system supporter for little ones. It contains 17 active ingredients, which will help keep colds at bay. For more information contact: 021 917 5620 or visit airmune.co.za You could win a Nintendo DS Lite valued at R2 000, while two readers will win an Airmune pack. Simply email us or post your personal details and mark your entry as “Cipla JHB Win”.

Unless it is otherwise stated, emailed entries go to win@childmag.co.za and postal entries go to PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Only one entry per reader is allowed and entries must be received by 31 August 2011.

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congratulations to our June winners E Hart, Lauren Forbes, C Ramposi, Elmarie Knapton and Diana Oosthuizen who win Its Mine labels; Jenny Geldenhuys wins a Fatsak; Nicole Landsman who wins with Life Day Spa and Janeen Jordaan, Beverley du Plessis, Maria Findt, Nina Farrel, Catherine Thompson, Natalie Peterson and Maryam Patel who win with Wallies.

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August 2011

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health

spot(s) of trouble TAMLYN VINCENT finds out why babies get thrush, and how to treat it.

our baby has white spots on the inside of her mouth, or white stuff on her tongue. It may, at first, look like milk residue, but if it doesn’t budge when you try to rub it off, it could be thrush.

Sister Desiree du Plessis of Cape Town says thrush in babies is “absolutely harmless”. They get thrush “when there is an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth,” says Durban-based registered nurse and midwife Sister Linda Glasson, and it usually occurs when they are younger than 10 to 12 weeks. Babies, and everyone else for that matter, have small amounts of yeast in their mouths already, but an imbalance of this can cause thrush. Although harmless, in some cases “it can make the mouth a little sore” says Glasson, which may make it difficult for a baby to drink. If thrush is left untreated, it can also pass down into the gastrointestinal tract, says Du Plessis. If this happens, your baby may develop thrush on her bottom.

signs and symptoms Thrush is generally not caused by poor hygiene, says Glasson, and there is also no clear cause for the infection.

Taking a course of antibiotics can affect the amount of bacteria in the body, which might cause a yeast imbalance.

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Also, bottles or dummies that aren’t properly sterilised may cause bacteria to grow, says Du Plessis.

Look out for a few telltale signs if you think your little one has thrush. “The spots look like milk curds on the inside of a baby’s mouth, and they don’t come away when wiped,” says Glasson. If the spots do come away, they may leave a red mark and can even bleed. If your baby has a nappy rash as well, look for satellite blisters, or red spots that stand out from the rest of the rash, which will indicate thrush.

treatment As yeast is a fungus, your doctor or clinic would usually prescribe an anti-fungal gel or cream. An oral gel can be applied to the baby’s mouth, recommends Du Plessis, while an anti-fungal cream can be used for nappy rash.

The gel and cream work as a topical treatment, applied straight to the thrush, but “it does take a few days to go away,” warns Glasson.

Thrush can also be passed between a mom and baby.

You may have a yeast infection on the breasts, which your baby may pick up when breast-feeding. Or, your baby may have thrush, and pass it to you. It is therefore best to treat both the baby and the mother in cases of thrush. You can also use an anti-fungal cream or gel on your breasts.

useful tips • Maintain good hygiene, says Glasson. Make sure bottles, dummies, teats and even toys are cleaned and sterilised properly.

• Follow the instructions for sterilising. Don’t leave bottles in a sterilising solution for too long, says Du Plessis, and if you are using the microwave, follow the time guidelines provided.

• If you or your baby has been taking antibiotics, replace the good bacteria with either a probiotic or something natural, like yoghurt.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

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health

eyes wide shut

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wenty to 30 percent of newborns have blocked tear ducts, says Cape Town-based paediatrician Dr Anita Parbhoo. According to Dr Pierre Cilliers, a Johannesburg-based ophthalmologist, this occurs when the lachrymal passage, which drains the tears into the nose, fails to open before the infant is born. It can also be caused by a duct abnormality (a possible narrowing of the duct) as well as atypical development of the skull and face. In older children, the blockage may in rare instances be due to a tumour growth in the nose, while a trauma to the face can also disrupt the flow of tears.

“Babies with blocked tear ducts usually develop symptoms between birth and 12 weeks,” says Parbhoo.

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Your child’s blocked tear duct will most commonly show itself through excessive tearing. Look out for pus, redness and/or swelling in the corner of the eye or crusting over the eyelid or eye lashes, and conjunctivitis (inflammation and redness in the white of the eye).

When a tear duct is blocked there’s an excessive pooling of fluid along with dead cells, dirt and dust. This becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and fungi, leading to infection. Infants are more prone to infection, so make sure you keep the affected eye clean and monitor it closely.

step by step Cilliers says, “Most babies will outgrow the condition by the age of six to nine months.” Since an improvement occurs on its own, Parbhoo suggests your first approach be one of conservative management – clean the eyes with sterile water, apply warm compresses and massage the tear duct several times a day. If there is an infection in the eye, an antibiotic ointment or drops will be prescribed.

Parbhoo says that though it does not open the blocked tear duct, breast milk’s antibacterial properties mean it can be used as a home remedy to treat infection. (Cilliers,

however, is not of the same opinion.) If the issue escalates further, consult your ophthalmologist, who will decide on the best time for intervention. If the infant has had a blocked tear duct from birth, Cilliers usually intervenes at about six months of age.

If the tear duct fails to open by nine to 12 months or if your child develops a serious infection or has repeated infections, it’s probably time for surgical probing, says Parbhoo, “which is done with a thin, blunt metal wire that is gently passed through the tear duct to open any obstruction.” The duct is then flushed to clear any remaining blockage. “Surgical probing is totally atraumatic.

There is no cutting or bleeding,” says Cilliers. “If surgical probing is unsuccessful then a procedure called balloon catheter dilatation can be performed,” says Parbhoo. Both these procedures are fairly short but require that a child be put under general anaesthesia, which has its associated risks, though these do decrease after the age of one.

Although the success rate of sorting out the blocked tear duct is high, some children might eventually require an artificial tube replacement for chronic tear duct obstruction.

This is, however, rare. “Thankfully most cases fall within the 95 percent success rate,” says Cilliers.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

LUCILLE KEMP takes a look at blocked tear ducts in infants.

health

a heavy burden Weighty school bags are more than just a pain in the neck (or back), they could cause long-term spinal damage, says GILLIAN HURST.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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t was with some alarm that I recently tried to fling my son’s school bag into the car boot. Nearly floored by the Herculean effort needed just to get the bag off the ground, I was staggered that my 11-year-old had been carrying what feels like the equivalent of a hefty first-grader on his back, without a word of complaint.

Take a moment to pick up your child’s bag. You may be surprised at the dead weight of it. A demanding curriculum means your child often lugs numerous books, for each subject, from one classroom to the next. Many children also carry extra bags packed with sports equipment, as well as bulky lunch boxes and drinks.

“Bearing such heavy loads can start a degenerative process in the spine, the consequences of which could last

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a lifetime,” warns Johannesburg-based chiropractor Marie Rosenberg. “Carrying a backpack or shoulder bag that is too heavy can cause functional scoliosis (an abnormal curvature of the spine), especially if the bag is carried on one shoulder. The uneven distribution of weight can result in poor posture, joint fatigue and pressure on the sacroiliac joint,” she says.

“To work out just how much weight is going through your child’s spine each time they pick up their school satchel, multiply the weight of the bag by 10,” advises Rosenberg. For example, a 4kg bag puts 40kg of weight on the spine, far too much for the average child to manage safely.

“Unfortunately, the children themselves are often part of the problem,” warns Cape Town-based physiotherapist Melanie Vogel. “Often the best bags, with their padded straps and added supports, are dismissed by children as being ‘uncool’.

Peer pressure to have the ‘right’ brand on their back can lead to long-term damage

and parents need to make their children aware of this from a young age.”

Biokineticist Amy Lichtenstein says she has treated quite a few cases of school bag injuries at her Johannesburg practice.

“Muscles being used more often become shorter, tighter and overdeveloped, while the other side of the body is in a lengthened position, which creates an imbalance,” she says.

safety tips • The type of school bag you choose makes a big difference. Shoulder bags are a definite no-no as children tend to carry them on one shoulder, causing strain, says Lichtenstein.

• If your child insists on a backpack, make sure it has wide, padded straps that are worn over both shoulders, and a belly belt for extra support.

• The best option is the wheelie bag, but even these are not perfect, as they become unwieldy when fully loaded and

can catch on uneven terrain, causing muscle tears and strain.

• The Chiropractic Association of SA advises that the backpack should not weigh more than 10 percent of your child’s weight.

• Lockers could be the answer to this weighty problem. Lichtenstein advises parents to lobby for lockers at school.

• Rosenberg says you should talk to your child’s teacher about ways the school can help lighten the load children have to carry.

your child’s school bag may be too heavy if he has: • • • • •

headaches; dull, lower backache; neck ache; fatigue and bad posture.

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upfront with paul

pet symmetry When the sad time comes to bid the family pet farewell, make sure it gets a fitting sendoff, says PAUL KERTON.

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here is nothing quite like a small and furry creature with big eyes, endearing habits and an inherent vulnerability to make a child smile, and bring out the same feeling of unconditional love that you have for your child.

The challenge here is, once you buy one – whether it’s a puppy, rabbit, kitten, goldfish, finch, parrot or a more exotic creature – you have a responsibility to it, and your children, to try and keep it alive. And if you don’t, there comes that awful parental “gulp” moment, as your offspring’s favourite fish floats like driftwood on top of the water, and you think, “now what do we do?”

Like at a recent dinner party, when Sabina screamed and came running into the dining room in tears. “Daddy, Brutus (name changed to save embarrassment)

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has flushed my fish down the toilet.”

Brutus, aged three, had clearly overdosed on Finding Nemo and, more appropriately, Flushed Away DVDs, and had literally freed the fish to return to the sea. It was a noble intention, but heartbreaking for my daughter.

We have been very unlucky (read “useless”) with pets. One of our rabbits had its leg broken in the great St James’ tornado of 2005 when the hutch was unceremoniously thrown across the lawn and the two rabbits were sandwiched between the lid and the frame. One ran away never to be seen again, and the other one would have followed except that it was crippled. The vet sucked air through his teeth as he estimated that it would take about 10 hours of microsurgery (and a cool R9 500), and seven customised stainless-steel pins in its limbs before the

rabbit would limp, never mind hop, again. It was a highly emotive decision.

When we put our pretty finches outside on the veranda to experience some fresh air and morning sunshine, they took it as an open invitation to limbo-dance under the cage wire and take a short flight to freedom. Little realising that they would last about 10 minutes amid that flock of nasty, aggressive gangsta-starlings.

The problem with pets is they die, no matter how well cared for and loved. Goldfish are not robust creatures. Their brain is so tiny that they often forget to breathe. And they do not travel well; sometimes they don’t even make it from the pet shop to the house.

What to do when disaster strikes? The initial reaction is for one parent to keep Junior busy while the other scurries around

every pet shop in town looking for the same sex, size and colour of animal that has died.

This is completely futile of course, especially at 2am, which brings one to the delicate matter of burial rights. There is a tendency to over-emotionalise here but you cannot cheapen your child’s probable “first true love” by dismissing the deceased with a twist of a Woollies’ packet and a practised basketball dunk into the bin. Particularly if it’s something like the family hound, which has been whacked by a hit-and-run truck.

In this case, the correct sendoff is a pretty, fancy box, filled with Rover’s accessories – bowl, lead and jacket – and a burial near one of his favourite haunts. And if anyone plays the trumpet, that would be even better.

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

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PHOTOGRAPH: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

Saskia, Paul and Sabina

blog

fighting phobias DAVID MORRIS bravely puts aside his fear of all things feathered to take his daughter to the farmyard.

ILLUSTRATIONs: mariette barkhuizen, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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rowing up, everyone has their fears with the usual suspects perhaps being spiders, heights and the dark. Mine? Well, I’m embarrassed to admit it (and very few people know) but it happens to be birds. There’s just something about the feathers and all the flapping that makes my skin crawl.

One of my clearer childhood memories – I must have been about six or seven – is of a family visit to the bird park. To cut the long story short, my Woody Woodpecker experience ended with an entire packet of birdseed in the bin and me running to my father in tears.

He caught the whole incident on camera, but because of all the shaking from laughter, the images could have been mistaken for an earthquake scene.

Fast forward 24 years and I now have a child of my own, with another one on the way, and – surprise, surprise – I

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am stuck with the same phobia. Unlike the fizzy drink Mello Yello, these things don’t just go away. Imagine then how horrified I was to learn that our next family outing would be to a petting zoo where hens, ducks and every other feathery fiend can waddle free? I knew this day would come eventually but that’s not to say I hadn’t tried to avoid it.

My 19-month-old daughter’s fascination with birds didn’t help either. In fact, one of the first words she picked up was the dreaded “bird”, as she pointed to the sky.

But there comes a time in every father’s life where you have to make sacrifices, and this was one of them.

To make matters worse, my wife had taken ill, which meant my moral support went flying out of the window (no pun intended). I had to tackle the bird life with my daughter, alone.

When we arrived, Jade was asleep in the car. Was this my chance to turn around and tell my wife the park was closed? No, that would have been unfair on my little girl and chances are my detective of a wife would know I was lying.

As we entered Higgledy Piggledy farm, the mother of all hens immediately greeted me. Like a flash my daughter was away to explore – a good excuse to run after her when I was in fact running away from Chicken Licken. My plan of attack was to distract Jade by showing her the non-beaked animals, such as the pigs and goats. But that was soon foiled when she saw other children feeding Mother Goose and the gang.

“Yum, yum,” said Jade, which meant she wanted to have a go at feeding them too. Hesitantly, I bought her a cup of seeds. That was my first mistake.

The second was letting her pour all of

it on the floor. But the third was my initial regret about coming to Higgledy Piggledy farm. You see, even with my body frozen with fright after Jade and I were swamped with every avian creature you can think of, even after my mind leapt back 24 years to that bird park with my father, the look of happiness on my daughter’s face and her laughter made it all worthwhile.

Has my fear of birds been cured?

Definitely not. Will I go back to Higgledy Piggledy farm again with my daughter?

You better believe it.

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

August 2011

15

dealing with difference

diagnosing ADHD New research provides fresh insight into the causes of ADHD, and offers parents alternative and holistic treatment options. By DONNA COBBAN

l

ance*, father to now 11-year-old Aiden*, was doubtful when his son was first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of nine. Three years later, the Johannesburg-based father still finds himself vacillating over the issue. “There are times when I look at my son’s behaviour and think that he definitely has ADHD. But then I stop and think that I behaved like that as a child, so did I have ADHD? Then there are the other times when I watch him and I think to myself, there is no way he has ADHD.” Despite sometimes doubting the diagnosis, Lance has now accepted his son’s condition and he ensures that Aiden gets the correct treatment.

Concerta (a drug similar to Ritalin) and Lance watched as the Aiden he knew slipped away; his personality and appetite taken by the medication. There was also no subsequent improvement of any kind in his concentration or schoolwork. “Diagnosing a child with ADHD is a long process and it’s important to do it right. Teachers are not experts,” says Lance.

Aiden was eventually diagnosed by a number of people using the popular Conners’ Rating Scale (an instrument that uses observer ratings and self-report ratings). His school reports, school work, general behaviour and concentration levels were all taken into account before the treatment started. This time he was given

The treatment is diverse, and is applied to all aspects of Aiden’s life. As Lance explains, “Treating a child with ADHD is not just about putting him onto medication.”

Instead, he encourages other parents to examine the child’s emotional state, as well as the food they are eating and the amount of exercise they are getting.

ADHD is one of the most debated disorders, with everyone wanting to offer an opinion if your child appears to be heading towards a positive diagnosis.

There are those who will blame your child’s diet or offer a “miracle” cure, while others will say the condition does not exist, suggesting that your child is just disruptive and needs a good hiding.

Like many parents, Lance was frustrated by the way in which his son was diagnosed.

“Initially Aiden was treated by a GP whose experience of ADHD was severely limited.” He was given a prescription for

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August 2011

Strattera, a drug used to treat ADHD in children over the age of six. Unlike Ritalin, Strattera does not stimulate the central nervous system and is not scheduled as a controlled substance. But, as with Ritalin, there are often negative side effects.

Fortunately, in Aiden’s case, the treatment worked well and along with a carefully controlled diet largely free of artificial ingredients and inclusive of omega oils, Aiden now appears to be thriving.

Lance’s immense concern and love have also gone a long way to improving Aiden’s condition. “Love, security, positive attention and a healthy diet are all essential elements to raising a happy, healthy child,” he says.

causes of ADHD Although no-one knows for sure what causes the disorder, the Adhasa support group reports that “it is neurological – magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

Diagnosing a child with ADHD is a long process and it’s important to do it right.

Teachers are not experts.

meaning that there is an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters; it is biochemical – meaning a deficiency in Prostaglandin’s E1, E3 (PE1, PE3); and it is an 80 percent genetic condition.” Like any mental condition, there is no blood test or brain scan that can prove beyond a shadow of doubt that someone has ADHD. So we rely largely on research scientists to keep us informed and, together with their findings, new understandings emerge and adjustments in thinking shift as new treatments are found. Some interesting research, conducted recently by Alina Rodriguez from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, suggests that stress during pregnancy may be a contributing factor. (Stress, in terms of this particular study, included depression, bereavement or the breakdown of a relationship.) The study involved more than 1 700 children and tracked them from pre-birth to primary school. Neurologists found a link between antenatal stress and what is known as “mixed-handedness” (where the right or left hand is used to perform different tasks) as well as a link to behavioural problems in children, with ADHD being the most common.

rewards, not drugs Recently, interesting research, which spanned an entire eight years, suggests that people with ADHD have a compromised “reward pathway” in the brain. Led by the renowned Dr Nora Volkow, a research psychiatrist in the USA, this study explains why attention deficits in people with ADHD are most evident in tasks that are considered boring, repetitive and uninteresting. Volkow’s findings suggest that ADHD sufferers have fewer dopamine receptors and transporters in the mid-brain area – the area responsible for the “reward pathway”. She suggests that an intervention to make tasks more magazine joburg

engaging and rewarding would have significant results.

Dr Christopher Lucas, associate professor of child psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, explains that children with ADHD may be able to concentrate for hours on video games, but not at school. Unlike school, which demands sustained attention with no rewards, a video game requires sustained attention with intermittent rewards.

Linda*, mother to now 21-year-old Jack* knows about ADHD and rewards better than most. Jack was four when he was first diagnosed with ADHD. Linda, from Cape Town, was a single mother with a limited income and a child whose behaviour was both stressful and worrying.

Jack needed little sleep; he was disruptive in class, found reading and writing difficult and he would enthusiastically begin a project, and then often fail to finish it. On top of this, he was deeply sensitive, making the time-outs and the punishments difficult to endure. Then an insightful psychologist worked with Linda to devise a star chart for Jack. Star charts are controversial things at the best of times – critics warn of a need to motivate from within and not for a reward, while parents, at their wits end, use the chart to restore family peace.

So for most families, the star chart has a limited life span, but for Jack and Linda, the star chart was their literal lifeline.

“Everything revolved around the star chart – from behaviour to chores, schoolwork to fun-time. He had certain chores he had to complete (this included schoolwork) and three stars out of five earned him a treat of his choice on weekends (such as a video or a sleepover).”

Linda also became firm about things like eye contact, listening to one instruction at a time and speaking slowly and effectively.

She is a firm believer in the reward system, but says, “You have to stand fast and August 2011

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dealing with difference

Love, security, positive attention and a healthy diet are all essential elements to raising a happy, healthy child. not budge for it to work. Jack needed to stay within his boundaries and the star chart took care of that.” This was done as a complementary form of treatment, in addition to Ritalin, which Linda believes was a double-edged sword she had to accept. Had her finances allowed it, she would have sent Jack to a more suitable school, with smaller classes and one-onone attention. This may have eradicated the need for the Ritalin, which sadly Jack had to take, and the endless teasing he was exposed to at a mainstream primary school.

Now that Jack is out of school, Linda concedes that he may not have completed his schooling without Ritalin. But Linda says she should have changed Jack’s school and sought out a support group. “Very few people understood. They thought he was just naughty and needed a ‘hiding’.”

support Erica Stander, who heads up the ADHD Hout Bay support group in Cape Town,

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stresses the importance of such groups as they form a “melting pot of all those interested and affected by ADHD, whether they be parents, teachers or psychologists specialising in the field”. She says, “Each person plays an important role and support groups ensure that the parent and the teacher have the same consistent approach.” Long-term professional help, which is recorded and monitored, is also critical. This will allow you to apply for extra exam time, for example. “Accept that your parenting is going to be different and try not to worry what other people have to say about it,” advises Erica. Linda knows this all too well. She shows me a few pictures of the now grown-up Jack and I see a beautiful young man; a unique individual filled with promise and purpose, about to start his adult life. Although Linda and Jack’s journey has been far from easy, they have much to be proud of in spite of, or perhaps because of, ADHD. *Names have been changed

what is ADD and what is ADHD? Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD is a hangover from the past and technically speaking no longer exists. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1987, where the term officially replaced ADD. Before that, similar symptoms were referred to as “minimal brain dysfunction” and “hyperkinetic impulse disorder”.

Science now recognises three subtypes of ADHD: • inattentive • hyperactive-impulsive, and • combined.

According to Adhasa, approximately eight to 10 percent of the South African population have ADHD. This seems to follow international trends. In the USA, there are suggestions that just over nine percent of the population between the ages of four and 17 have been diagnosed with the problem. Recent studies in rural areas of Limpopo reveal similar statistics.

further reading • T he ADD & ADHD Answer Book by Susan Ashley (Sourcebooks, Inc) • Overcoming ADHD Without Medication (Helping Your Child Become Calm, Engaged, and Focused – Without a Pill) by Stanley I. Greenspan (Da Capo Lifelong Books) • Parenting Children with ADHD (10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach) by Vincent J. Monastra (American Psychological Association) • ADD & ADHD Answer Book: Professional Answers to 275 of the Top Questions Parents Ask by Susan Ashley (Sourcebooks, Inc) • 50 Activities and Games for Kids with ADHD by Judith M. Stern and Patricia O. Quinn (Chicago Review Press) • Putting on the Brakes Activity Book for Kids with ADD or ADHD by Patricia O. Quinn and Judith M. Stern (Magination Press)

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dad’s blog

a caring heart MARC DE CHAZAL is touched by his daughter’s kind gesture.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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very now and then our children may really surprise us. I’m not referring to when they actually do what we ask them to without kicking up an almighty fuss, surprising as that may be. I’m talking about something more profound, like caring for others.

One day a homeless guy who used to make his weekly rounds in my neighbourhood, asking for a helping hand, was accompanied by his young son who was about my daughter’s age.

She was just a tiny tot then, but not so tiny as to be oblivious to the misfortunes of others. We chatted for a while at the front gate, as we’d done on his many other visits, before I found some food in the kitchen

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for them. As they were heading off my daughter, who’d been thoughtfully watching from the house, came outside with one of her stuffed animal toys for the little homeless boy.

She understood that he had very little to call his own in this world and wanted him to at least have something nice to play with. I thought it was an especially kind gesture – unprompted by either of her parents, I must add. Have your children done something to make your heart swell?

She understood that he had very little to call his own in this world and wanted him to at least have something nice to play with.

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

August 2011

19

spotlight

back to basics Long-term changes to the education curriculum will bring the three “Rs” – Reading,

s

o much has changed since we were at school.

Standards have been replaced by grades, pupils are now called learners and for more than 10 years, our children have been grappling with an outcomesbased education system that focuses more on practical tasks than the three “Rs”. But a government review of the Basic Education curriculum, to be phased in over the next three years, has been welcomed as a much-needed, back-to-basics approach with a renewed focus on literacy and numeracy.

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In July 2010, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the department would make a number of changes to the existing national curriculum statements.

She did not explicitly mention outcomes-based education (OBE), but many saw the move as a strong signal that it was being dropped. Educators say the revision of the controversial OBE will lessen the heavy administrative burden it placed on teachers, giving them more time to teach. It will also mean fewer assignments for your child, allowing them to focus again on learning. Some of the

department’s changes have already been made and more are set to take place each year until 2014.

death knell for OBE OBE, introduced in 1998, was supposed to encourage teachers to plan teaching programmes that would produce learners with relevant knowledge and skills.

But the curriculum is said to have failed partly because the onus for making it work fell to already-overstretched teachers with scarce resources and poor facilities.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

wRiting and aRithmetic – back into your child’s classroom, says MICHELLE JONES.

Children attending under-equipped schools, with no access to libraries and computers, were suddenly expected to complete a number of assignments and projects. Motshekga wants the curriculum changes to produce better results. “There are too many learners who, after many years of school, have not mastered the skills they need to have mastered. Research has shown, for instance, that many learners who complete Grade 6 are not able to write even simple sentences, or do basic arithmetic. This problem of an unacceptably low level of learning can be found across all grades.”

revision for schools The minister has released a comprehensive turnaround plan for schools, Action Plan to 2014, which is part of a larger vision called Schooling 2025. The action plan comprises 27 goals to “make schooling better”. These include increasing the number of Grade 12 learners who qualify to study for a bachelor’s degree, improving the performance of learners of various grades in maths, science and languages and enhancing the professionalism of teachers. “We need to deal quickly and efficiently with curriculum implementation challenges and difficulties that do exist. We have already started the process of identifying problems and have taken the necessary steps to find solutions. We have made and will continue to make changes on an ongoing basis where they can be made with minimal disruption,” says Motshekga.

The revised curriculum will make it easier for teachers to do their jobs. “Every subject in each grade will have a single, comprehensive and concise curriculum and assessment policy statement that will provide details

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education A,B,C Action Plan to 2014: A 27-goal plan to improve education. Thirteen of these goals are output-driven, dealing with improved school results and better learner enrolment. The remaining 14 deal with things that must happen for the output goals to be realised.

ANA: Annual National Assessment. Tests started this year to assess whether learners in Grade 1 to Grade 6 and Grade 9 are at the correct level.

Caps: Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements. These provide an in-depth guide for teachers to plan their time and structure lessons, and detail what work they are expected to cover each term.

CTA: Common Tasks for Assessment. Until last year these tasks were compulsory for all Grade 9 learners. The marks formed 25 percent of their year mark.

Curriculum: The subject matter to be learnt by learners.

Foundation Phase: Grades R to 3.

Further Education and Training Phase: Grades 10 to 12.

General Education and Training Band: Grades R to 9, made up by Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phases.

Grade R: This reception year before a learner starts Grade 1 is now compulsory for all learners.

Intermediate Phase: Grades 4 to 6.

Learner: The correct term when describing a school-going child.

OBE: Outcomes-based education.

Schooling 2025: An initiative to improve the standard of basic education in the next 14 years by elevating the matric pass rate, improving literacy and numeracy results for foundation phase learners and enhancing the quality of teachers.

Senior Phase: Grades 7 to 9.

Subject: In the various grades and phases of education, different subjects were referred to as learning areas or programmes. From this year, all learning areas and programmes will be known as subjects.

Teacher: Sometimes referred to as an educator, teacher is the correct term when referring to a professional who teaches learners in a classroom.

August 2011

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spotlight

what the experts say

on what teachers ought to teach and assess on a grade-by-grade and subjectby-subject basis,” says Motshekga.

This will help teachers plan their lessons and detail what work they are expected to cover each term. The statements also list which textbooks, workbooks and other media should be used.

changes to the curriculum One of the first changes, at the beginning of 2010, was to discontinue the Common Tasks for Assessment for Grade 9 learners.

Teachers and principals thought the assessment was unnecessary and added to teachers’ heavy workloads.

Graeme Bloch, an education specialist at the Wits Graduate School of Public and Development Management, has lauded what he refers to as “the death of OBE”.

“The important thing is they are simplifying the subject areas. They are focusing on the foundations of literacy and numeracy and they are admitting that OBE didn’t work.” But Bloch says it will be important for some of the creativity of OBE, where learners are encouraged to think outside the box, to be maintained.

“I think there is a lot of work to do.

But I think the direction is right, (with) the focus on emphasising the foundation and knowing the basics.”

Alan Clarke, an education consultant and former principal of Westerford High School in Cape Town, says the downside of OBE is that it is a very complicated curriculum and everybody has a different view on how it could be taught. The revised curriculum will work if it clearly spells out what is expected of both teachers and learners.

All three major South African teaching unions have given the revised curriculum, with its learner workbooks and the promise of yearly assessments, the thumbs up.

SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) general secretary Mugwena Maluleke says, “We believe (it) will benefit both the learners and teachers and improve the quality of teaching and learning.”

Research has shown, for instance, that many learners who complete Grade 6 are not able to write even simple sentences, or do basic arithmetic.

Other changes include fewer projects for learners and the removal of portfolio files for learner assessments. Instead, every learner in Grades 1 to 6 gets literacy and numeracy workbooks. Each book has 128 worksheets, in the child’s mother tongue, and learners are encouraged to take the books home so parents can be involved in their learning. Another key change is the start of annual national assessments. These were due to begin in late 2010, but were postponed to early this year because of a public sector strike. The tests were held in February for Grades 2 to 7, and for Grade 10 learners who were tested on the numeracy and literacy levels they should have achieved the year before. Education department spokesman Granville Whittle says, “The department has set a target of improving numeracy and literacy attainment levels of Grades 3 and 6 from the current average attainment levels of between 27 percent and 38 percent to at least 60 percent by 2014.” The annual assessment will provide regular, well-timed, valid and credible data on pupil achievement in schools.

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The education system should rather concentrate on content-based classroom teaching, with a focus on the basics of reading, writing and mathematics, says Chris Klopper, chief executive of the SuidAfrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU).

“Reinforcing these concepts will allow children to function productively and make them more employable.”

Bloch says it’s pleasing to see that the Department of Basic Education is committed to making things easier for both educators and learners. Motshekga has announced a 15-year plan to improve teacher education.

“Our targets on teacher development include consistently attracting increased numbers of young qualified teachers, filling vacant posts, achieving the appropriate number of hours teachers spend in professional development activities, reducing teacher absenteeism and ensuring full coverage of the curriculum.” The number of teacher graduates produced by universities is to be doubled by 2014 to 12 000 each year to meet the needs of the schooling system.

Michelle Jones is the education writer at Cape Times. magazine joburg

separating the sexes Western Cape educators are experimenting with separating boys and girls in classrooms. This after research found that there are key differences in the way the sexes learn and cope with their changing bodies and emotions. Gavin Keller, principal of the Sun Valley group of schools in Cape Town, says the idea was first discussed at Western Cape meetings of the SA Principals’ Association, and had caught on with a number of schools since, but it is not something being considered by government to implement permanently. He says research shows that it’s easier to teach just boys or just girls at critical stages in their development. Boys are about nine to 15 months behind in reading ability but the same amount of time ahead in maths, science and sports. Because of this, boys in primary school often feel that reading is for girls and choose to focus instead on the areas they are more comfortable with. Keller says in these early years girls are more skilled at reading, leaving boys in the same class feeling uninterested. But when the sexes are separated, boys are able to learn to read at their own pace, and enjoy doing so.

Another difference between the sexes is girls’ ability to quickly verbalise their emotions while boys are generally only able to recognise basic emotions of feeling happy or sad. When in separate classes, boys are taught to recognise the full spectrum of their emotions. In the later grades of primary school and early high school, hormone-driven boys and girls in separate classes are able to learn without feeling as if they have to appeal to members of the opposite sex, says Keller. Some of the schools that are opting to separate the sexes include Bergvliet High, Edgemead Primary, Sunlands Primary, Kenridge Primary and Camps Bay High.

Some Eastern Cape schools were separating classes after going on courses and hearing Keller speak.

Thembi Ndlovu, president of the SA Principals’ Association’s KwaZulu-Natal branch and principal of Khanyanjalo JP Primary in Durban, says separating the sexes is not something schools there are doing. “Boys and girls learn in the same classes and must be able to do so together,” she says.

a textbook for every learner Soon, your child will be able to access his science or maths textbook via his cellphone.

The Department of Education aims to put a textbook in the hands of every learner by 2012 and Siyavula, a Shuttleworth Foundation project that promotes the use of technology in education, has lent its support by offering learners and educators access to its online textbooks. The project has submitted their openly licenced maths and physical science text books to the department for inclusion in the 2012 textbook list.

“If they make it onto the approved booklist for 2012, any learner will be able to read a prescribed textbook on their cellphone, whether in class, on the bus or at home,” says Siyavula’s Mark Horner. Conventional textbooks are often prohibitively expensive and not always available. The online textbooks will be accessible to learners and teachers, who will be able to legally copy, change, print and distribute them. For more about the digital textbooks, visit siyavula.cnx.org

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August 2011

23

ideas

so in love with

science

ROBYN GOSS suggests 15 ways to unleash your child’s inner Einstein.

c

hildren are natural scientists. As soon as they can stretch out their hands, they set about trying to understand their surroundings. They conduct sound experiments with pitch and volume, diligently explore the properties of puréed apple and quickly learn to dismantle everything within their reach. You can keep this love of science alive by encouraging their natural inclination to explore, experiment and explain their world.

measuring and weighing activities Arm your little scientist with a variety of containers of different shapes and sizes and turn her loose in the bath or the sandpit. Point out how the same volume of sand is held by both a long thin bottle and a short fat bottle, how water trickles through a thin opening but pours through a wider one and count how many cups of sand it takes to fill a bucket.

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Take it outdoors and teach your child to measure the world with rain gauges and outdoor thermometers. If you don’t have a rain gauge, visit ehow.com for ideas on making your own. Talk to your child about any environmental changes he might be noticing. Does today feel colder than yesterday? Does it seem to be raining more this week than last week? Older children can record their readings in a notebook and compare them over a whole season.

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There’s no better place for a child to learn about science than in the kitchen, where they can witness first-hand the effects of mixing ingredients and subjecting them to heat or cold. Talk about the way the texture of flour changes when a liquid is added, what happens to cream when it’s whipped, how fruit juice turns into an ice lolly in the freezer – and then back into fruit juice; and why a lump of biscuit dough changes shape when it’s rolled out on the table.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, ILLUSTRATIONS: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

Get a small kitchen scale and a collection of items to weigh – small and large tomatoes, stones of different sizes, a potato, a pen, your house keys or a slice of bread. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, use a bathroom scale and weigh heavier objects, such as books and toys. If your child is old enough, you can teach him how to read the measurements.

the natural world

5

Get organising. Gather a variety of objects from the garden, such as different sized stones, coloured leaves, pine cones, twigs, bits of bark (although household items will also do) and let your child organise them in as many ways as she can.

Set them out from smallest to largest and from softest to hardest. Let her guess which objects will float or sink, which will feel prickly and which will feel soft.

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Teach your child about solids, liquids and gases using water. Help your child follow the transformation of water from one state to another; from the tap to the freezer to the stove top. What other solids and liquids can you find in the house?

Are there any gases your child might encounter (such as helium in balloons and the exhaust fumes they may smell on the road)?

Turn your little explorer loose with a magnifying glass. Garden soil, the inside of a tomato, the lounge carpet... everything looks thrillingly different in extreme close-up.

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Encourage your child to drop a variety of objects from shoulder height and watch what happens. If you’re feeling brave you could even drop an egg to really get their attention. With older children, you can talk about gravity. Get the younger ones to predict what they think will bounce and what won’t, then test their theories.

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August 2011

25

ideas

the senses

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Stimulate your child’s sense of touch. Put out a container of warm water and one of cold, a square of Velcro, some cotton wool, a pot scourer and some strands of cooked and uncooked spaghetti. Let your child touch, splash and squish to her heart’s content.

Make a racket. Gather a variety of hard and soft objects: pots, pans, plastic buckets, wooden stools. Put a spoon in your child’s hand and let him bash away.

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Put several glass bottles in a row and fill each with a different level of water – empty, a third-full, half-full and completely full. Let your child tap each with a spoon and listen to the different tones. Older children can blow across the tops of the bottles to find different notes.

cool experiments Write a secret letter in lemon juice on a sheet of paper. Let the paper dry completely, then hold it close to a heat source such as a toaster or a light bulb. Watch the invisible message reveal itself.

How to explain it: The acids in the lemon juice weaken the paper, so when heat is applied, it’s the letters that burn first, long before the rest of the paper.

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How to explain it: The dishwashing liquid breaks the surface tension of the milk (think of it as a sort of skin, keeping the liquids separate), letting the food colouring flow into it.

Tear a tissue into small pieces and lay them out on a table. Have your child rub a plastic comb against his hand for a few seconds, then hold it over the tissue pieces and watch them rise.

How to explain it: When you rub the comb against your hand, you’re building up a negative charge in the comb. The tissue pieces are more positively charged than the comb and, when they are brought close together, the opposite charges attract one another, pulling the tissue pieces up to meet the comb.

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Pour a cup of milk into a shallow container.

Add a few drops of food colouring – the more colours, the better the effect. Then add a drop of dishwashing liquid and watch the colours swirl.

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let science take you places Cut squares out of three pieces of cellophane.

Make one red, one blue and one yellow. Let your child look through them and describe what they see. Then layer one over the other — red and blue to make purple, red and yellow to make orange, yellow and blue to make green. Talk about primary (red, yellow and blue) and secondary (purple, orange and green) colours.

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The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg is home to over 300 interactive exhibits. Children of all ages can play safely with everything from magnets to mirrors. Contact: 011 639 8400 or visit sci-bono.co.za

read more about it Maverick Science: 50 Incredible Experiments to Try at Home by Chris Smith and Dave Ansell (Struik).

For more science-related books, visit childmag.co.za/content/mad-about-science

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my story

room to grow CHRISTINA CASTLE reluctantly accepts her teenage son’s move to his own bedroom with its “smelly-chaos” décor.

ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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y eldest son, Dylan, 13, immigrated last year – to his own room. It was his decision. He said that Alex, 10, kept him awake at night with his silly jokes, sleep talking, snoring and other bodily noises. Besides, he just wanted his own space, he said.

Until then they had happily shared a room. And had pretty much done so since day dot. It was a simple room, but it was cosy and expressed just who “we” were – “we” being the operative word, of course. It had two white, limewashed beds with matching denim duvets piled high with teddy bears, a bookcase lined with all our old favourites, toys spilling out of baskets, dinosaur posters that had

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gradually replaced the Pooh pics, driftwood sailing boats floating across the walls and a row of monkey skulls sitting on the window sill (a lovely collection donated by my husband to the boys when he believed they were old enough to love it as much as he did). I called the look “bush meets beach”.

And then the teen years entered into the equation.

Actually, I was quite impressed that Dylan lasted as long as he did in that room. I think he secretly enjoyed the company at night – seriously, do boys ever grow tired of giggling and farting? But he longed for a spot where he could grow into a smelly teenager, and I just had to suck it up and go with it.

Just how far I would go though, was the real question. So I decided to brainstorm the look of his new room with him.

“I like sport” he said, “so I am going to have all my Manchester United players along this side of the room and the Stormers over here. Surfing posters will go over there.

And my surfboard – I might hang it from the ceiling next to the punching bag.”

Not exactly my design choice but he was proud of it. At least girls in bikinis were not featuring – yet.

Overnight it became the equivalent of a locker room – complete with sweaty rugby socks, jocks and jerseys, and empty Energade bottles working as accessories to complement the poorly placed Manchester United calendar cutouts and skew Stormers heroes. I call this look “smelly chaos” and cringe every time I walk in there.

I often used to just sit in the boys’ old room, when they weren’t there, and soak it up. It felt safe and familiar. But Dylan’s room is foreign. He has immigrated to a different space – physically, emotionally and aesthetically. And as a mom, I just have to move with it.

The other day I was chatting to my interior design guru friend and I offloaded my frustrations about Dylan’s room, hoping for some inspiring decorating advice.

“What’s the problem?” she said. “What could be better? Delicious boys all over the walls? It would become my favourite room in the house.”

And I think she may be right. I’m off to buy Dylan another poster of Jean de Villiers.

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spotlight

survive the

slump Your child will need extra support when the focus shifts from reading to reading to learn,

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August 2011

There are no special arrangements for new uniforms, or transport, to suggest that a big change will occur during this year.

That grade is Grade 4. Surprised?

I was. Officially of course, Grade 4 is the start of the Intermediate Phase and

The earlier they slip, the faster they fall, and the further behind they are in each succeeding grade.

Yet the intellectual demands made in this grade may have an impact on your child’s later schooling, and they should get extra support during this critical year.

Grade 4 teachers are often aware of the extra challenges children face. By this stage, children are reading and writing.

They can find library books and learn for

tests. They can blow their own noses and tie laces and remember their sports kit (sometimes). However, this apparent competence disguises the fact that they may need more support from their parents, particularly when it comes to reading.

grade 4 demands more If you visited your child in Grades 1, 2 or 3 you would have noticed the focus on reading tuition in the classroom. You would have seen reading groups and a complex

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

e

very year in mid-January, more than a million children start a new grade in primary school. Usually, the older the child, the less anxious you as a parent will feel. The parents of children starting Grade 1 or Grade 8 probably feel the most nervous, as they consider the impact a new institution, different teachers and new friends could have.

However, there is a grade in the middle of your child’s primary school career that may, at first, appear without problems.

says CAROLINE VAN DER MESCHT.

system of cards and graded readers and you would have noticed phonics cards and reading homework daily.

When your child reaches Grade 4 and the reading work lessens, you may feel relieved that this seemingly endless admin is over. The school (driven by the curriculum) seems to be saying: “Congratulations!

Your child is a reader. You can relax now.”

But therein lies the problem. Children in Grade 3 may be reading well, but in Grade 4 “learning to read” changes into “reading to learn”. They are now given textbooks and asked to learn their content. Textbooks contain a different kind of vocabulary from reading books. They use the words of scientific or abstract concepts such as “energy”, “evaporation” or “history”. Children encounter many such foreign words and now need to understand

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them in new subjects such as natural sciences and technology. This poses a completely different kind of challenge to young readers and their reading slows down as they grapple with the additional vocabulary load. Found to happen to all children, this well-recognised trend has been called “the fourth-grade slump.”

what can parents do?

Vocabulary becomes the key to success in the middle grades and teachers and parents need to look at how to develop their child’s vocabulary, particularly with less common, more abstract and literary words.

But parents should not think their children’s vocabulary will improve by getting them to learn lists of new words.

According to education literature, reading is critical. Read to your children,

and read for fun and discovery. If you and your child already have a habit of bedtime reading just increase her exposure to new words and concepts. If you are not yet reading to your child, consider picking up a book as soon as you put down this magazine (see box “what should you read to your children?”). Playing and having fun with words is also important, so find word origins and play games such as “I spy” or “The minister’s cat”.

If the fourth-grade slump affects all children, won’t they just ride the slump together until it corrects itself?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is a clear “no”, for a number of reasons.

Research shows that children who do best at reading are those who interact with adults in all sorts of activities, as they are more likely to use words found in their school reading. The fourth-grade slump is a vocabulary issue, so stay involved and expose your child to your broader vocabulary. Also look for reading camps, supervised homework and school care centres, library story hours or holiday activities that are run by adults.

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spotlight

The increase in unfamiliar words and abstract concepts that first appears in Grade 4 does not stop there. The vocabulary becomes increasingly technical throughout primary and high school, with words such as “metamorphosis”, “reactionary” and “onomatopoeia”, so children need support all the way through. It is a grim fact that reading problems almost never correct themselves. Jeanne Chall, an American specialist in reading performance whose work documented the fourth-grade slump, makes this very clear: “Once a child falls behind in reading, writing or language, deceleration is likely to increase with each succeeding grade.” There is a good chance that once a child’s reading starts slipping it will become weaker rather than strengthen by itself.

many years; if students fall behind, they seldom right themselves without special help.” Don’t wait for things to go wrong with reading in any grade before offering your child support and encouragement.

reading barometer Your child’s enjoyment of reading is a good indicator, as children usually enjoy what they do well. However, the best way of finding out is simply to ask the teacher.

Chall says that good readers have parents who keep a strong contact with their teachers. They make a habit of greeting teachers and talking to them about how children are doing. This makes sense; by keeping in touch, parents prevent problems from entering a downward spiral. As part of this, it helps to make

Don’t wait for things to go wrong with reading in any grade before offering your child support and encouragement. the “Matthew effect principle” As the fourth grade is the place where children come up against their greatest reading challenge, a sharp increase in difficult words, it is also where their reading may start slipping and continue to fall. In 1986, Keith Stanovich, professor of Human Development and Applied Psychology at the University of Ontario, called this trend the “Matthew effect principle” after a verse from Matthew’s Gospel that is sometimes written as “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer”. In children’s reading, the mechanism works like this: When children are confident readers they enjoy it more and so become better at it. They increase their vocabulary and get used to understanding different kinds of texts. However, when children are not confident readers they tend to avoid books, which they associate with unpleasant experiences. They get less practice and fall behind. The gap between stronger and weaker readers can widen alarmingly quickly. Because closing the gap relies on what poor readers avoid – reading – it is very hard for children to close that gap without help. Chall says, “The earlier they slip, the faster they fall, and the further behind they are in each succeeding grade. Literacy and language develop over

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sure you understand exactly what report cards say about your child’s progress. The curriculum categories are very broad and can be misleading.

Spending time on subject homework will enable you to keep in touch with how your child is progressing – explain unfamiliar abstract words and share an important activity. In intermediate grades, parents can help a great deal by reading subject texts aloud to their child.

When listening to your child doing reading homework, focus on fluency. To get the most out of a text, a child needs to read steadily and smoothly. Fast, jerky or disconnected reading makes it difficult for the reader to follow meaning, so a focus on fluency helps the child’s comprehension.

Children are able to transfer fluency to silent reading and so gain in comprehension there too. You can do this unobtrusively for your child whether you are concerned about their progress or not. But if you become anxious don’t “wait and see”. Go to the teacher immediately and ask what can be done. When children’s reading begins to slip they need immediate, special instruction. What is absolutely essential is that children should not be allowed to slip further and further behind. magazine joburg

Put reading at the top of your parenting agenda. As well as feeling your love and support in the big reading adventure, you are using your most powerful influence as a parent; teaching by example. When you read to them every day, there can be no doubt in their minds about what is important to you.

Your example is even more powerful if you consciously develop a reading habit yourself. Turn off the TV so that the whole family can read. Buying books together, or going to libraries and book sales, can be part of the pleasure. Children love to

re-read books so they should be taken to libraries regularly and be able to own some favourite books.

When you are choosing a book to read to a child, the right level is the one that holds interest for him and is a level above what he can read on his own. This makes sure that your reading is giving him access to what he does not yet have access to himself. Reading affects everything your child does in school. Make reading a pleasant and enjoyable experience, so that your child can progress successfully through the Intermediate Phase.

what should you read to your children?

• B ooks read to children by adults need to be challenging, with a vocabulary and sentence length greater than that of their school readers.

• Include some factual books, such as encyclopedias, textbooks in other subjects and other reference books, as these are more likely to contain some of the unfamiliar words they need.

• “Real literature”, sometimes called “the classics”, is full of interesting and unusual words.

• Variety is important so get books from different sources such as the school library, the public library and as gifts.

• Select books on a “you choose; I read” basis, which allows a child to explore his or her own interests. Drop any book that doesn’t seem to grip your child.

• This does not mean that children can stop reading to themselves. Books slightly more advanced than their school reading are a pleasurable challenge, but children should always choose what to read.

further reading • P reventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children by C. Snow (Washington, D.C., National Academy Press) • Teaching Reading in the Early Grades – the DoE handbook, is excellent for teachers and parents and is available on education.gov.za • Also visit wordworks.org or readingrockets.org

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debate

to board, or not to board Many of us delighted in reading, or watching, John “Spud” Milton’s experiences of boarding school, but would you

yes A change in circumstances may be one of the reasons you would consider sending your child to boarding school. This was the case with single mom Letebele Jones when she moved from Cape Town to Tulbagh for work. She wasn’t enamoured of the local schools, so she chatted to her then 13-year-old son Mashilo about becoming a boarder at his current day school when they relocated.

Perhaps you want to send your child to boarding school because you want a firstclass, internationally recognised education for him. Take the Bovijns, a Cape Town-

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based family who sent their oldest son Marcel, now 17, at his own request, to St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown as a full-time boarder. Marcel, who is thriving there, was introduced to St Andrew’s while at Wetpups, an affiliated Western Cape primary school. Linda and Ed Bovijn entertained Marcel’s request to go, as they liked the idea of sending their son to a high school away from the big city. Being a renowned, independent school, it would also provide an education that would open doors for their son. Schools, such as St Andrew’s and Michaelhouse in KwaZuluNatal, pave the way for alumni to study at leading international universities. Many parents who can afford it, see the away-

from-home aspect of boarding school as a small price to pay for this educational edge.

Marcel could easily have gone nearby to Bishops, but he chose St Andrew’s.

Tom Crowden, of Durban, says that, based on his own positive experience with boarding school – the structured homework and study time and the sense of independence it gave him – he wouldn’t mind sending his nine-month-old daughter Isabel to boarding school one day. Londonbased Tessa Daniel, who is planning on returning to her native South Africa with Welsh husband Andy Routley and their 18-month-old daughter Mae, says she would consider letting her go to boarding school in the last three years of high

school. Although Tessa remembers craving freedom at that stage of her own life, she is mindful that it also depends on what Mae wants when she gets to that age.

Stellenbosch-based Bridget Berlyn, 29, grew up in Umtata. With no good school nearby, her parents sent her to DSG in Grahamstown four-and-a-half hours away.

She says that, to this day, her school mates are like sisters, and she values the opportunity she had to attend a boarding school, as it taught her to believe in and rely on herself. She loved her high school boarding years, and sees age as a major factor, which is why she would only consider sending her child to boarding school from Grade 10.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

send your child to one? LUCILLE KEMP asks parents.

no Parents have more to consider than just the material merits of sending their children away to a top-notch boarding school. It can often be more of an emotional decision than anything else (for both moms and dads). Questions include: “What will our relationship be like if they’re away most of the time? What kind of influences will they be around? Who will protect them if I’m not around to do so?” Many parents, wanting the best for their child’s education and emotional security, have strong opinions on the subject.

Andy says he could not imagine his daughter Mae being away for school and missing out on family evenings that gave him so much joy when he was growing up. “I also question the ability of an establishment to instil the morals and values that I would like to give my child. If the school is that good then send them as a day pupil.”

Tim Cockcroft, of Cape Town, says the idea of boarding school goes against what they are trying to achieve as a family – closeness. His wife Nancy, a beauty therapist, is working on starting her own business from home so that their five-month-old daughter Georgina, can have a stay-at-home mom. Like

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many parents, they want full control over raising their child. Somerset West-based Tracey Falkson Brown, mom to 16-yearold Michael, is emphatic: “I won’t let an institution mould my child.” Many people sing the praises of boarding schools based on their own experiences, but when asked whether they’d send their children, it is a resounding “no”, with some saying they wanted their “babies close”. And let’s remember, some moms’ definition of a “baby” can cover the years up to and including 18, or even 21, if they can help it.

illustrates, with the story of a child, how bad the repercussions can be when all things are not considered. A 12-year-old boy was infatuated with the idea of going to a particular boarding school because of its sporting opportunities, but after three months he grew homesick and his health deteriorated so much that he became heavily depressed and had to be sent home to recuperate. Only then did he reveal more about his hardships there, and that he wanted to attend a local school so that he could be back at home.

If a child goes to boarding school based on unrealistic and lopsided perceptions, the disappointments will be too difficult to deal with.

Johannesburg psychologist Ilze van der Merwe-Alberts says a child will only benefit from boarding school if both the parents and the child agree on the opportunities and experiences boarding school can offer.

“It is important to break the fantasy that it will be all fun and games, because if a child goes to boarding school based on unrealistic and lopsided perceptions, the disappointments will be too difficult to deal with.” Van der Merwe-Alberts

Although Bridget’s overall experience of boarding school was positive, it first took her two agonising years to adjust.

What with “a matron who would be better suited to a Roald Dahl novel” and the pang of missing Mom, she was on the phone to home in tears every day. With hindsight, Bridget feels this was because she was too young, being just 11 years old when she arrived at boarding school.

Letebele feels that the first 13 years of a child’s life are important developmentally,

so the foundation should be laid at home, a place of unconditional love. Letebele learnt this the hard way as she was sent to boarding school in Grade 1, and saw her parents only twice a year – at Christmas and Easter. She has therefore ensured that Mashilo’s experience of boarding school is infinitely different from hers.

So, he is a weekly boarder who comes home at weekends, speaks to his mom every day and only started boarding in high school. Just because your child is eager to go to boarding school, it does not mean he is eager to leave his parents, so the separation, if premature, can be devastating.

all things considered It’s not whether boarding school is right or not, it’s whether it’s right for your child. If you can stomach the idea, there are steps you can take that will make it a pleasurable, rather than miserable, experience. Before you send “Spud” packing, look at his weaknesses, strengths, his personality type and his extracurricular interests. Talk about boarding school far in advance, so you can deal with any fears or concerns.

Make plans for staying in touch via a daily sms or regular Skype chats and encourage him to take reminders of home, such as a family photograph, to school.

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parenting

what is your child’s style?

Make learning more enjoyable by understanding the way in which your child

j

osh, aged seven , does his homework with a whiteboard marker on the sliding door in the lounge. Sometimes he practices his writing in chalk on the street outside his house and he loves to recite his spelling words while doing star jumps. He is also thriving at school.

But a few months ago, Josh’s teachers complained that he was unable to listen in class, follow instructions or complete tasks. His mother, Cindy Perry of Cape Town, says, “He wasn’t concentrating or finishing his work. He was talking too much and at other times, it was like he wasn’t there when the teacher was speaking.”

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Josh was often separated from the class, spending time at his desk while they were on the mat, for example.

Concerned, Cindy initially had her son’s eyes and ears tested to see if there was a physiological explanation for his behaviour. She then called a GP who recommended, without even seeing Josh, that he be put on Ritalin for ADHD. Cindy was not keen to give her son medication, and not without a thorough examination, so she took him to Lindy Hearne, a speech therapist, for her advice.

“Lindy made Josh read to her and gave him questions to answer. She also asked him to describe how he played

at school.” Josh gushed animatedly about the wonderful games he played on the playground, and Lindy realised that with his vivid imagination, he required some form of activity to be stimulated, explains Cindy. She suggested that Cindy find ways to do homework that would fit in with Josh’s particular style of behaviour.

So, instead of forcing Josh to sit still at a desk, while he writes within the margins of a notebook, Cindy allows him to practise his letters on the sliding door. Sometimes, the tarred road is his workbook. “The freedom of that really appealed to him.” Spelling has been made more interesting

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

processes information, says ANÉL LEWIS.

It’s not uncommon for children to be misdiagnosed as having ADHD and other learning difficulties, if their favourable style of learning does not fit in with the more structured learning modalities usually preferred by schools. by allowing him to chant while he does star jumps. “He loves it, and wants to do more.” She says there has been a definite improvement in Josh’s work and his confidence, since they modified his learning methods. Cindy has also given Josh plenty of positive encouragement, and adapted his diet to include more Omega-3 fatty acids.

Lindy explains that she observed a mismatch between Josh’s learning style, which was movement-based or kinaesthetic, and the way in which he was being taught at school. This is why she suggested different ways of learning that would allow Josh to process information in a way that was comfortable for him.

what are learning styles?

Melanie Hartgill, an educational psychologist from Johannesburg, says there are several different theories about how many learning styles exist. But there are three main learning pathways: visual (seeing), auditory (hearing) and doing (kinaesthetic). “Three of our five senses are used primarily when learning, storing, recalling and retrieving information. Just as we are predominantly left or rightbrained, we tend to use one modality more than the others.”

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Visual learners learn best by seeing what is written on the board. They will enjoy writing and drawing, and will grow impatient listening to long lectures. Auditory learners have excellent listening skills and will often prefer to recite information, rather than write it down. Kinaesthetic or tactile learners prefer to be mobile and will often excel at hands-on activities such as experiments.

Greg Crighton, an educational psychologist based at St Stithians Boys’ College in Johannesburg, says that a learning style is a preference. “There is a rigid perception that you are one or the other, but in reality all people are all three and can use all three.” Your child is probably a combination of all three, just to varying degrees.

Glenda Karow, a Durban-based educational psychologist who specialises in learning problems, agrees. “Be careful not to ‘pathologise’ the learning style. It is a preference and not a problem.” She says children should be encouraged to develop various learning styles, which they can adapt depending on the subject being studied. “Students who are able to learn through a variety of ways are more effective learners. Remember, they will have to cope in a variable learning-style world.”

when can you tell?

Karow says your child’s learning preference will manifest from an early age, as soon as he starts interacting with his environment and speaking. “Our learning style is believed to be relatively established by the age of seven years and though we are able to strengthen our styles after this age, we tend to have one dominant style,” Hartgill adds.

But, having said that, how a child learns may often depend on what is being learnt. Science and maths, for example, will require a more kinaesthetic approach than history.

importance of knowing your child’s style Cindy would have spent thousands of rands on diagnostic tests, and medication for ADHD, if Lindy had not

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parenting

thought to change the way in which Josh approached his studies. Josh works better if he can move, so sitting on a ball instead of a chair, or doing star jumps as he learns to spell, is more suited to his learning style. Hartgill says that understanding your child’s learning style will let you know why they struggle in some areas and excel in others. “Knowing your child’s preferred style would allow you to help them enjoy the learning process.” Karow says it is useful to recognise your child’s style so that you can grow it, while encouraging the “not-so-easy” ways of learning. This will ensure your child is able to cope with various teaching styles and tasks at school, and later in life.

Also, remember that what works well for one child may not necessarily work for another. Lindy agrees, saying that while teachers change each year, it is the parent who has to provide consistent learning support. “If a parent understands how to teach a child, the long-term prognosis is that much better.”

teachers who don’t cover all three (learning styles), but the teaching style will depend on the teacher – her age and her preferred teaching method,” notes Crighton. Hartgill says teachers should combine different teaching methods to meet the respective needs of their class.

“This would mean verbally teaching a concept while making use of visual input, such as notes, handouts, information on the board and overhead and then allowing the children to work through examples or elements of the task themselves.”

Karow says teachers may sometimes not understand the different learning styles.

“Parents need to be advocates for their children, and suggest (alternative) ways for them to learn in the classroom.” Teachers with larger classes may find it difficult to accommodate varying learning styles, and often their flexibility will depend on their own learning style, says Lindy.

Outcomes-based education (OBE) has encouraged teachers to explore different learning styles, says Karow. Most teachers

Parents need to be advocates for their children, and suggest alternative ways for them to learn in the classroom.

She says it’s not uncommon for movement learners like Josh to be misdiagnosed as having ADHD and other learning difficulties, as their favoured style of learning does not fit in with the more structured learning modalities usually preferred by schools. Karow says an ADHD diagnosis should only be made after a thorough psycho-medical investigation.

While a learning preference will not be the cause of a learning problem, or ADHD, parents of a child with such a difficulty should pay extra attention to his learning preference. Crighton says there may be cases where a child is misdiagnosed because of his learning style. “If the child is more visual, and the teacher just talks, the child may drift off.”

at school The experts agree that teaching has evolved to accommodate various learning preferences. “There are not that many

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will vary their teaching methods, tasks and requirements. Crighton agrees, saying OBE has allowed for more group work and practicals, which are especially beneficial to kinaesthetic learners.

While the auditory or “good oldfashioned talking” is often the most popular mode of teaching, there is a growing emphasis on visual methods. “We had to listen to the radio, and some TV, but now with the internet, PlayStation and TV, children are far more visual,” says Crighton. So teachers are moving towards more visual ways of teaching, using interactive white boards and DVDs during their lessons. Often it is the parents who are stuck on the conventional modes of learning, observes Karow, but by trying something different, such as doing star jumps in the garden instead of sitting at a desk, you could encourage your child to discover a more comfortable, and rewarding, way of learning. magazine joburg

how to identify your child’s learning style or preference: Hartgill identifies the characteristics of the three main learning styles.

Note that your child may show a stronger leaning to one of these styles, but is probably a combination of all three. the visual learner: • learns with images; • reads charts, diagrams and maps more easily; • can sit and play with building blocks; • may be described as a daydreamer; • is good at remembering faces but may forget names, and • prefers to take detailed notes. the kinaesthetic learner: • needs to move; • cannot sit still for long periods; • uses body language and gestures to communicate; • needs to be shown things, and not just explained to; • loves to touch things; • may be incorrectly labelled as ADHD; • usually excels in sports, and • is often evident in boys. the auditory learner: • thinks in words; • enjoys storytelling; • is unlikely to battle with spelling; • loves reading; • has an excellent memory for names, dates and trivia; • enjoys word games; • is often musically talented, and • doesn’t enjoy writing.

Tips for parents and teachers: Karow recommends that you encourage your child to use as many senses as possible when learning. This could involve: • getting your child to pretend to teach, reciting out loud, at her desk or on her feet; • using paper, posters or a white board for homework or study; • drawing or writing (a mind map for example) as a visual demonstration of the work, and • taping the teaching session so that you can play it back later.

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learning guidelines Encourage the visual learner to: • use memory games, books with pictures and diagrams; • use coloured paper and pens; • highlight sections that are important; • work on the computer; • sit in the front of the class, and • learn through seeing or reading handouts.

Encourage the kinaesthetic learner to: • listen to music as they work, if they ask for this; • take frequent breaks to move around if needed; • tackle hands-on projects; • move around while they are working; • do art projects, and • act out stories.

learning guidelines

Encourage the auditory learner to: • read aloud when writing tests and exams or studying; • create word problems; • dictate their work onto a computer dictation system; • present their assignments verbally; • encourage debates and discussions, and • use mnemonics to help their memory.

Encourage the visual learner to: • use memory games, books with pictures and diagrams; • use coloured paper and pens; • highlight sections that are important; • work on the computer; • sit in the front of the class, and • learn through seeing or reading handouts.

Encourage the kinaesthetic learner to: • listen to music as they work, if they ask for this; • take frequent breaks to move around if needed; • tackle hands-on projects; • move around while they are working; • do art projects, are • act out stories.

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book extract

banish boring lunch boxes Forget about soggy sarmies and humdrum fillings. MARGARET BARCA suggests four nutritious recipes that will turn snack-time into a gastronomic treat.

hammy pinwheels

popcorn muddle

Makes 6 pinwheels

Makes 4 cups

• 2 slices soft white or wholemeal bread • 2 tablespoons light cream cheese • 2 slices thin ham • bean sprouts (optional)

• 1 cup popping corn • 1 tablespoon oil • ½ cup dried apricots or peaches, chopped • ½ cup peanuts • ½ cup sultanas • ½ cup choc bits

1 Cut the crusts off the bread and

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bag for an easy school snack.

1 Pop corn in microwave roll) and press lightly to secure. Cut each roll into three pinwheels, and garnish with bean sprouts if desired.

Tip: Pita or any other flat bread can be used for a looser roll-up.

PHOTOGRAPHS: julie renouf

lightly press each slice with a rolling pin to flatten.

2 S pread cream cheese on the bread, making sure to spread right to the edges.

3 Lay a slice of ham on each bread slice, then roll up (as for a Swiss

4 Pack in a small tub or Ziploc plastic

or saucepan, following directions on packet.

2 When cool, combine with the other ingredients.

3 Store in an airtight container.

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chicken and mango couscous salad

shredded cheddar and veggie roll-up

Makes 2 servings

Makes 2 roll-ups

dressing • 1 tablespoon light olive oil • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice • salt and freshly ground black pepper

• ½ cup grated Cheddar cheese • ½ cup grated carrot • 1 tomato, sliced • ½ small red capsicum, chopped • 2 pieces wholemeal pita bread • salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 tablespoon tzatziki

salad • 1 cup couscous • 2 cups hot chicken stock • 1 small cucumber, chopped • 1 spring onion, finely sliced • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint • 1 mango, peeled and cut into cubes • ½ grilled chicken breast fillet, sliced or ¼ cold roast chicken, sliced • extra finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, to serve

1 To make dressing, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

2 For the salad, put couscous in a

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Tip: Tzatziki is a Greek dip of yoghurt and cucumber. You can substitute ½ a cup of cream cheese, combined with ½ a teaspoon of crushed garlic. You can add any of your child’s favourite vegetables – cooked green beans, asparagus spears or grated courgette are just some of the options.

1 Layer cheese, carrot, tomato and

2 medium-sized bowl, pour hot stock over, cover tightly and leave for 5 minutes until stock is absorbed.

3 F luff couscous with a fork to separate grains.

4 Stir cucumber, spring onion, parsley, mint and dressing through the couscous. Then gently stir in the mango.

5 Divide couscous between two bowls or lunch containers, place chicken slices on top and sprinkle with extra parsley.

capsicum on half of each piece of bread. Season with salt and pepper if desired, and spoon tzatziki over.

Roll up tightly and wrap well.

about the book Does your child bring home an unopened lunch box, or indulge in unhealthy, tuck shop snacks instead of eating the sandwiches you packed? It may be time to rethink the lunch box, advises Margaret Barca. She has compiled a Lunchbox Bible (Penguin Australia) brimming with healthy, time-saving recipes, to keep your children interested in their lunches.

Many of the meals use leftovers and can be prepared the night before. Available at all good bookshops nationwide.

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education

the big day How do you know if your child has the necessary skills and maturity to start school?

DONNA COBBAN finds out.

i

kept my child out of playschool until well after his third birthday, as I thought by the time we walked through the doors of his little school he would possess the inner strength he needed to be away from all that is familiar for a few hours. I was right, he slotted right in, comforting the criers and bossing the smaller ones.

He could not have enjoyed it more... until I did not arrive on time to fetch him.

preschool first Bev Walker, head of Pandora’s Pre-Primary School in Durban, tells me that from a teacher’s point of view, “it is preferable to send the child to preschool the year before Grade R, to acquire valuable socializing skills”. She stresses that this time is one of settling into the emotional separation from the parents and is best done before starting in Grade R.

Other parents arrived and he witnessed reunion after delighted reunion. By the time I arrived, his quivering bottom lip had given way to heart-wrenching sobs. I made a point to never be late during that first term and now, three terms into the year, he knows I will always be there; sometimes a little earlier than some parents, sometimes a little later. While I am sure the experience didn’t damage him for life, it was something I could have easily avoided with a little foresight. It also left me wondering whether he had started school too early or too late.

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Redhill School in Johannesburg has found that in the preschool years, it takes about 10 days for new children to get used to a larger group of children, as well as going to school every day. The school encourages parents to collect their children before the mid-morning nap as they believe the rest routine is the most difficult for young children to master. A child has to feel safe and secure in his school environment before he will accept the need to lie quietly on his blanket. Most hiccups that occur later on in the term can magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

It is preferable to send the child to preschool the year before Grade R, to acquire valuable socializing skills.

be traced back to uncertainty or worry about being fetched on time or waking up in an unfamiliar environment.

“big” school prep According to SA law, a child must be in school by the time they are seven years old.

A five-year-old may start school if they will turn six by the end of June in their Grade 1 year. But school readiness depends on more than just your child’s age. The Early Learning Research Unit (ELRU), based in Cape Town, suggests that the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of your child needs to be taken into account when preparing him for school. Anya Morris, a trainer at ELRU, says, “Parents try to teach their child basic numbers and letters and how to hold a pencil properly when the year preceding school needs to be filled with physical activity, as it is the large muscles that need to be developed in order for any child to successfully master a correct pencil grip.” So you should strongly encourage your child to spend his days before the start of school, running, climbing and bike riding.

You also need to consider the mental aspect and “fill the year before school

with lots of book reading, drawing, games, shapes and colours”. Your child’s emotional needs must be nurtured and here the ELRU recommends that you shift your child onto a new schedule a few months before the school term starts.

letting go When the school day dawns, don’t, warns everyone I speak to, put any negative feelings you may have about school onto your child. Once you have dropped them at the school gates, leave quickly with as little hesitation as possible. Walker gives a valuable piece of advice here: “Do not allow the child to put his arms around you, as this will make it very difficult for you to leave and it makes the situation worse.” This happened to me once this year – my son came in for a last-minute cuddle on a difficult day and then hung on like a vervet monkey. While I did eventually manage to distract, disentangle and depart, it was a lesson learnt. Now when things might be tough on any given day, I give lots of love and hugs at home but keep the school goodbye as normal as possible.

when should your child start preschool?

While intuition and necessity often play a large role, you can consider sending your child to preschool when he: • is able to ask for help and follow instructions; • can use the toilet with no or little assistance; • can play alone and with others; • can talk with confidence to other adults; • has “print awareness” – knows which way to hold a book – and has an interest in reading, and • is able to express his feelings.

ways to get your child school-ready • P ractise dressing, so they can take a jersey and shoes on and off by themselves.

• Spend time drawing, cutting, sticking and colouring. Work on puzzles together and encourage them to copy patterns and repeat stories back to you.

• Teach your child how to tie his shoelaces and fasten shoes.

• Practise sharing, taking turns and making choices.

• Visit museums, art galleries, the aquarium and other places of interest.

• Practise counting together.

• Encourage your child to pack away their toys and help with tasks around the house.

• Sing nursery rhymes, play rhyming games with real and made-up words and encourage your child to ask questions.

• Organise social time with other children.

stories and advice from parents who have been there • “ I cried all the way to work about three times the first week, but was never called to come and fetch him as he was fine within minutes of me leaving.”

• “When he switched schools he was fine from the outset – but I did send him with his father, who is firmer, for the first two days.”

• “Granny forgot to fetch him on day three. It took him about two weeks to recover from that.”

• “We read lots of books about kindergarten, so I think this helped, and we chose a nice bag and a fun drinking bottle and lunch box together.”

• “The best advice is the hardest. Just give them a kiss, pass them to the teacher and go, despite all the screaming and clinging.”

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resource

beyond the classroom GILLIAN HURST recommends fascinating, offbeat school outings that will keep children entertained while they learn.

Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary

Chartwell Castle and Maze

Coin World at the SA Mint

Hartbeespoort Dam

Fourways

Centurion

Explore the natural indigenous forests on elevated wooden walkways and encounter exotic monkeys in their natural environment.

The tours are highly informative and the walk is leisurely, winding its way through a tranquil forest setting. This 90-minute tour gives learners an understanding of the exotic pet trade and explains what the sanctuary is doing to stop it.

Contact 012 258 9908, 071 791 7712 or visit monkeysanctuary.co.za

This venue boasts the largest known, uninterrupted hedgerow maze in the southern hemisphere (and the third largest in the world), with over 900 conifers. It is five times bigger than the world-famous Hampton Court maze in London. A tour of the castle, which is based on an authentic 17th century design, takes two hours.

Contact Tamara: 010 227 0002, 079 310 1156, info@chartwellcastle.co.za or visit chartwellcastle.co.za

Special features include a complete museum display of South African coins, working machinery, works of art, antique furniture and a trained guide who tells you more about the exhibits. Krugerrands, jewellery, limited edition medallion watches and other exciting collectors’ items are available directly from the mint at bargain prices. Children enjoy the unique experience of striking their own proof coin on one of the world’s

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oldest working mint presses, nicknamed “Oom Paul”. Tours take one to one-and-ahalf hours.

Contact Joseph: 012 677 2777, josephm@ samint.co.za or visit samint.co.za

Croc City Lanseria Learners can hold a baby crocodile, view a wide variety of exotic snakes and get up close and personal with a tarantula. The guided tour also visits the senior crocs, with some measuring up to an impressive

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five metres in scaly length. This toothy tour takes approximately an hour and a half.

Contact 083 657 7561, 083 321 1016, info@croccity.co.za or visit croccity.co.za

Douglasdale Dairy Bryanston Children hear more about milk before visiting the factory to see the bottling process. They can then bottle-feed the farm’s calves. A tour of the facilities takes 30 minutes and ends with a delicious picnic in the garden. This dairy outing is suitable for children over the age of seven, but other tours tailored to specific age groups can be organised.

Contact Shelly: 011 549 0411, dairytours @douglasdale.co.za, or visit douglasdale.co.za

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Garden World

Honeydew Mazes

Muldersdrift

Honeydew

A qualified horticulturist teaches children about farming and conservation. There are age-appropriate workshops, presented in English or Afrikaans, where children can get their hands dirty by planting seeds in a pot to take home. The duration of the programme varies depending on the children’s ages.

Contact Magriet: 011 957 2545, 083 997 6142, nursery@gardenworld.co.za or visit gardenworld.co.za

Learners need to use logic, memory and teamwork to reach the end of the giant Elemental Maze. They have to find five secret gardens, and answer 10 general knowledge questions posted at stations throughout the maze. The quiz can be specifically themed to be used as a learning tool for Grades 1 to 12. Topics include history, ecology, English and maths. The maize maze is only available in summer, but the Elemental Maze is open all year, as are all the other activities on offer. The centre is open from 9am to 12pm and it takes about 90 minutes to complete the programme.

Contact Judy: 073 795 2174, enquiries@maizemaze.co.za or visit honeydewmazes.co.za

Gold Reef City Crown Mines This living museum tells the story of Johannesburg, the City of Gold. Children discover how gold was first found on the reef and learn about the lives of the men and women of that time. A walk through the “house” exhibits offers an exciting glimpse into the way people lived in the 1800s. One of the houses shows learners what a school classroom looked like two centuries ago. The historical tour takes two to three hours.

Contact the Gold Reef City Heritage Office: 011 248 6896, tour@goldreefcity.co.za or visit goldreefcity.co.za

Johannesburg Art Gallery Joubert Park This enormous gallery, with more than 9 000 artworks collected over a century, includes San art and the work of modern artists such as Picasso, Warhol and Kentridge. School groups and students can use the amply stocked library. It takes about two hours to work your way through the vast gallery, one of the largest in Africa. Bookings should be made two weeks in advance.

Contact Tiny: 011 725 3184 or tinym@ joburg.org.za

Johannesburg Zoo Parktown Children take a 90-minute ferry tour to five of the zoo’s main enclosures. They learn about the importance of conservation while watching the guides feed the animals. After the tour, classes can enjoy their snack on the lawns under the shade of trees that have been growing for generations. A highlight is the night tour, where children can learn more about the zoo’s nocturnal creatures.

Contact 011 646 2000, info@ jhbzoo.org.za or visit jhbzoo.org.za

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Kolobe Tented Camp and Team Building Centre

Predator World Pilansberg

Polokwane The camp is ideal for leadership and educational tours. Situated on a 1 000 hectare nature conservancy, learners can take hikes and do tree, bird, dung and spoor identification tours. There are 25 species of wild life in the camp and an adventure obstacle course.

Contact 015 290 5000

Melville Koppies Melville Whether the subject is history, geography, art, science or life orientation, there is much to be learnt at this National Heritage Site and tours are adapted to suit each group’s age and interest.

Contact Wendy: 011 482 4797 or fomk@ mk.org.za

There are a number of tours to suit different budgets and schedules. These include: the four-hour Lion’s Whiskers tour, which incorporates a zoo tour of the big cats and predators, kettie shooting, farmyard feeding, a treasure hunt, a reptile demonstration and a lunch of hot dogs and cool drinks; the two-and-a-half hour Cheetah’s Spots tour, which includes a zoo tour, kettie shooting, a treasure hunt, a reptile demonstration, and hot dogs and cool drinks; the twohour Leopard’s Tail tour, which includes a zoo tour, a treasure hunt and a reptile demonstration and the shorter, one-and-ahalf hour Scratchy Meerkat tour and onehour Little Animal tour. The park is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Contact 014 552 6900, info@predatorworld. co.za or visit predatorworld.co.za

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve Montecasino Bird Garden

Magaliesberg

Fourways An oasis in the middle of bustling Sandton where children can enjoy the huge walkthrough aviary as well as the enclosures housing exotic snakes, reptiles, monkeys, spiders, frogs, meerkat and lemurs. They also learn about conservation and the preservation of endangered species.

Contact 011 511 1864, mbirds@mweb. co.za or visit montecasino.co.za

The stars of the show include racing cheetahs, pygmy hippos and lion cubs.

Children will be amazed to see the speed a cheetah can reach at full pace, and the snake show will educate children about the importance of respecting and conserving their environment. This experience offers two to three hours of educational fun and is ideal for primary school children.

Contact 011 957 0349/0106/0109, trs@ iafrica.com or visit rhinolion.co.za

Museum Africa Newtown

SABC Television Studio Tour Johannesburg

Exhibits cross time, from the mystical world of ancient Egypt to the treason trials that sent Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others to jail. Featuring rock art, oil paintings, hieroglyphics, modern resistance art, pottery, photographs, furniture, beadwork and carving, this centre offers learners a broad view of our continent. The museum is open from 9am to 5pm and a walk through the exhibits takes up to two hours.

Contact Denise: 078 853 2441

Television is something most children would rather not live without and this tour offers a unique view behind the scenes of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

A studio tour reveals the intricate workings of a broadcaster, and the functions of its crew, from camera operators to news anchors. The tour takes one to two hours.

Contact Lebo: 011 633 9111 or seketelm@ sabc.co.za

Sci-bono Discovery Centre Newtown A collection of interactive exhibits, housed in the Old Electric Workshop, provides hours of fun for children of all ages as they discover, explore and play with science and technology. From Lego pits and mini-construction sites to understanding the principles of electromagnetism, the

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exhibits cater for curious minds of all ages.

The interactive tour takes two to three hours to complete.

Contact 011 639 8491, info@sci-bono. co.za or visit sci-bono.co.za

Survive or Race The Adventure Pelindaba Two fun-filled programmes that would start the term off with a bang or reward learners at the end of the term. Modelled on the popular television show, teams must complete various tasks in the Survive programme. The challenges in the Race programme are designed to give each child a chance to take the lead. Children receive a certificate after completing the challenges.

Contact 082 895 2513, 086 503 5315, admin@surviveorrace.co.za or visit surviveorrace.co.za

The Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves Maropeng Schools can visit The Cradle of Humankind and its two centres. The main one at Maropeng is packed with interactive exhibits while the smaller one, at the gateway to the Sterkfontein Caves, contains secrets about our past. With the help of a resource pack, full of useful and practical educational material, teachers are able to prepare learners before they visit the site and give them follow-up assignments. The pack is integrated with the school curriculum, and has been endorsed by the Department of Education.

Contact 014 577 9000, info@maropeng. co.za or visit maropeng.co.za

commemorates the events of 16 June 1976, the Soweto uprising, when thousands of school children challenged the apartheid government about its language policy. A visit to this museum would be worthwhile for older children learning about apartheid, the impact it had on the man on the street and how our contemporary society has been shaped as a result. School workshops and programmes of different durations and for various age groups are available.

Contact 011 536 0611/0612/0613

The Lion Park Lanseria This nature reserve allows children to play with young cubs and feed the ever-hungry giraffe. The park, home to a large number of brown and white lions, hyena, bird life and grazing buck, offers children a closeup encounter with the wild.

Contact 011 691 9905, lionpark@cknet. co.za or visit lion-park.com

The National Children’s Theatre, Johannesburg The theatre crew brings the magic of theatre to children in an interactive and fun way. They offer tours and workshops for children between the ages of seven and 16. These workshops allow young people to explore their dramatic side in a warm, culturally enriching environment, designed to break down social barriers. Also enquire about their Life Skills programmes.

Workshop duration varies.

Contact 011 484 1584/5, info@jyt.co.za or visit jyt.co.za

The Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam Experienced guides provide in-depth information and insight into African elephants. Children are introduced to the elephants in the boma area, where they are able to touch and interact with them. They can feed the elephants, and learn about their anatomies. This journey into the world of the pachyderm takes up to two hours.

Contact 012 258 0423, elephantsanctuary@ mweb.co.za or visit elephantsanctuary.co.za

The Goodman Gallery Rosebank With a focus on contemporary art, this gallery is home to 40 artists including William Kentridge, Kendell Geers and David Goldblatt. While the gallery exhibits the work of established artists, it also supports new contemporary artists from South Africa and the rest of the continent.

It takes a school group up to an hour to work its way through the gallery.

Contact 011 788 1113, jhb@goodmangallery.com or visit goodman-gallery.com

The Hector Pieterson Museum Orlando West This collection of documents, photographs, oral testaments and material culture magazine joburg

Lesedi Cultural Village Hartbeespoort Dam Experience the vibrant beat of Africa’s past and present at Lesedi. Children participate in an adventure that examines the mystical folklore and ancestral traditions of the Zulu, Basotho, Xhosa, Pedi and Ndebele tribes.

Enjoy the traditional dancing, drumming and singing of the Giant Ngoma, a multicultural dance display, and take part in activities such as kettie shooting, a quiz and an Amazing Race. This African adventure lasts for two to three hours and ends with a traditional lunch of pap and wors.

Contact 012 205 1394, 071 507 1447, enquiries@lesedi.com or visit lesedi.com

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resource restaurant area and provide an exciting glimpse of our pioneer history. Children can complete worksheets about the Great Trek, make stokbrood in restored coal ovens and enjoy a traditional Afrikaans lunch.

Contact Mark: 078 075 0720 or mark. turner@oxwagonlodge.co.za

The Planetarium Braamfontein

The National Zoological Gardens Pretoria SA’s largest zoo promises an equally large adventure for visiting school children.

Rated among the top in the world, this facility is home to more than 3 000 animals.

Discover everything from Komodo dragons to ragged tooth sharks. The gardens are also famous for their collection of exotic trees. Educational programmes are linked to the national curriculum and different programmes are available for younger and older children. A trip around the zoo takes three to four hours.

Contact 012 328 3265, info@nzg.ac.za or visit nzg.ac.za

The Oxwagon Lodge Hartbeespoort Dam Visiting The Oxwagon Lodge is like taking a step back in time. Genuine, restored ox wagons form a semi-circle around the

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School children enjoy an imaginary journey through the universe to each of the planets, where they learn more about their respective environments. There are several programmes, each suited for a specific age group – from toddlers to teens. Little ones from as young as three can take part in sing-alongs with a friendly astronomer, while older children learn the science of the universe and its stars, asteroids and planets. This journey to infinity takes about an hour and a half.

Contact 011 717 1392/94, planet@ planetarium.co.za or visit planetarium.co.za

The Star Newspaper Johannesburg The media plays a huge role in modern society and The Star’s school tour shows children how news is reported, and how it gets from the journalist to the printing press. Children learn about the newspaper’s history and the importance

of the media during the two-hour tour that is only available between 9am and 11am.

Contact Vusi: 011 633 2317 or vusi. baloyi@inl.co.za

The Voortrekker Monument Pretoria This monument commemorates the Voortrekkers’ history. Children can take a trip to the top of the monument and visit the museum to discover more about 19th century society. They learn about the AngloBoer War through well-preserved artefacts such as diaries, Bibles and craft. Tours are conducted in Afrikaans, English, Tshivenda, Tsonga, SeTswana and Sepedi and cover information about the Great Trek, the Voortrekker Monument and Fort Schanskop.

Contact Arend: 012 326 6770, 083 357 6522, opvoed@voortrekkermon.org.za or visit voortrekkermon.org.za

are designed to support current national education policies. They include subjectand grade-specific information with important conservation messages. A visit takes between one and three hours.

Contact 011 958 5177, botsoc@ sisulugarden.co.za or visit sanbi.org.za

Wild Cave Adventures Magaliesberg This excursion is a unique blend of adrenaline-pumping adventure and ecological education. Children from Grade 6 to 12 learn about the underground world on a torch-lit guided tour. Each tour is customised to be age-appropriate and takes three to four hours.

Contact Sandy or Neil: 082 486 2464, 082 632 1718, info@wildcaves.co.za or visit wildcaves.co.za

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens Roodepoort A visit to the 300-hectare gardens allows children to explore the rich biodiversity of the site. A breeding pair of Verreaux’s Eagles nest on the cliffs alongside the waterfall.

The garden is home to an abundance of wildlife with more than 220 recorded bird species. There are reptiles and small mammals, including small antelope and jackals. Programmes for Grades R to 12

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books

a good read for toddlers

for preschoolers The Gruffalo’s Child Magnet Book

By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

The Game of Light and The Game of Finger Worms

By Herve Tullet (Phaidon Press, from R81 and R74) Parents will have to help children with The Game of Light. This magical game is played in the dark with a torch. Each page has selected cutout features and by shining the torch through them, your child can see flowers bloom on the ceiling and fish swim across the walls. With The Game of Finger Worms, your child will only need to use his finger. Draw a little face on the finger, poke it through the numerous holes and play along in each scene with your friendly finger worm. These two entertaining books are perfect for children four to five years old.

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Wolf won’t Bite!

By Emily Gravett (Macmillan Children’s Books, from R125) Take your seat in the front row and watch in wonder as three cheeky little circus pigs make a wild wolf jump through hoops (literally), endure feats of astounding derring-do, and even withstand perilous games of dress-up. Safe in the thought that “Wolf Won’t Bite!” they even put their heads between his jaws… but can you push a wolf too far? Sure to strike a chord with anyone who has both a pet and a young child, this is a very funny and playful story with a snappy ending.

Children from age two to four will enjoy this read.

(Macmillan Children’s Books, from R174) Your child can hop into the deep, dark wood with this great magnetic book. It is packed with Gruffalo’s Child play scenes, games and activities. Using the 60 magnets, your child can build a snow Gruffalo, illustrate scenes of the story (or make up his own stories), decorate the Gruffalo’s cave and take quizzes.

A special mini edition of The Gruffalo’s Child is included. Please note that the magnetic pieces are not suitable for very young children. They can be a choking hazard and swallowing more than one magnet could require surgery.

great bedtime story

When Titus took the Train

By Anne Cottringer and Sarah McIntyre

(Oxford University Press, from R96) Trains, dinosaurs, gadgets, bandits, and superhero strength are rolled into one glorious picture book for young boys to enjoy. Titus’s imagination is in overdrive: the curly moustache of a fellow passenger provides the impetus for his fisticuffs with bandits on the train’s roof and the sharp metallic teeth of the guard’s ticketpuncher propels him into a dangerous tunnel encounter with a dinosaur. This edge-of-your-seat adventure-bedtime story will be very popular. Clever page design and wonderful endpapers recreate the doodles and jottings that Titus makes in his notebook throughout the journey.

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educational books for early graders, pre-teens and teens Quiz Whiz – Nature (Kingfisher Books, R105) Fact-filled pages, bursting with colourful illustrations, introduce weather, climate, animal habitats and the environment to young learners.

The book poses more than 300 questions, and provides the answers, to test learning in a simple but exciting way. Colour-coded clues ensure that no-one misses out on the fun. With lists of record-breakers at the end of each themed chapter, Quiz Whiz Nature has plenty to satisfy young minds. After studying each page and its photographs, children simply have to answer the questions and turn to the back to see if they are correct.

Active Learning – Children’s World Atlas Smart-Kids skills Grades 1 to 3 series: Multiplying and Dividing, Story Sums, Phonics and Spelling, and Adding and Subtracting (Pearson Education, from R39,95 each) This series helps children develop key skills from the South African curriculum. Each book has graded activities with step-by-step instructions and answers. Children will have so much fun working through these books with the lovable characters – Emma, Mandla, Jaco, Lebo, Ravi and Jody – that they won’t even know they’re learning. Experienced teachers, who believe that children should build their skills while developing a real love of learning, designed the Smart-Kids series.

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(Map Studio, from R110) This atlas boasts over 85 pages of colourful, easy-toread country-by-country maps, with interesting facts and figures and a reference index. Aimed at 10 to 15 year olds, the atlas contains the latest, updated mapping of the world. It includes physical, political, vegetation, human activities and time zone maps, and there is an informative introductory page for each continent. The Globeman character appears on the maps in his yellow Volkswagen Beetle, asking questions as he takes your child on a world tour.

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Navigators – Rainforests

By Andrew Langley

visual feast

(Kingfisher Books, from R100) Navigators brings you the ultimate visual guide to rainforests, with its incredible variety of animals, plants and natural resources. Your child can journey through the layers of the forest, peer through dense foliage and meet unusual creatures, colourful plants and people of the rainforest.

The 3D artwork promises maximum impact and children can watch a jaguar pounce, swim with piranhas and electric eels and discover why rainforests provide one of the world’s most important habitats.

Early Reader series: Horrid Henry’s Car Journey and Sleeping Beauty

By Francesca Simon and Sally Gardner (Orion Books, from R85 each) These books are perfect for children five years and older, as they start honing their reading skills. There is a contents page, and the story is broken down into short chapters, with limited words on each page. The books have lovely illustrations and also introduce your child to dialogue, a plot and a worthwhile ending. Sleeping Beauty is a well-known story, and you can also get other classics such as Snow White, The Princess and the Pea and Cinderella in this series. Boys just love Horrid Henry and this specific car trip will have them squealing with laughter.

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Everything You Need To Know About Animals

By Nicola Davies Wonders of Learning – Discover Volcanoes & Earthquakes and Discover Endangered Animals (North Parade Publishing, from R60 each) These two books for young learners explain in simple detail, and with stunning photography, how volcanoes and earthquakes are formed, what geysers and hot springs are, how to measure an earthquake, when an animal species is considered endangered and much more.

Each page has a fact file and interesting titbits. Sketches to explain the layers of the earth or to illustrate ancient disasters and maps are included where necessary.

Real life photos of disasters and animals complete these very handy project books.

(Kingfisher Books, from R210) This 160-page first-time animal encyclopaedia is a great source of knowledge for children aged five and older. It is a clever combination of information, colourful illustrations, animal facts and activities. A bright and cheerful colour palette, with carefully pitched writing, helps readers find their way easily around the book, inviting them to browse on their own or share the reading experience with an adult. Children can explore everything about the animal world in five chapters: types of animals, how animals move, how they get food, their sense of the world and baby animals.

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for us

surprise find Love Virtually

By Daniel Glattauer (Quercus, from R135) It begins by chance: Leo receives emails in error from an unknown woman named Emmi. Being polite he replies, and Emmi writes back. A few brief exchanges are all it takes to spark their mutual interest in each other, and soon Emmi and Leo are sharing their innermost secrets and desires. The erotic tension simmers, and it seems it will only be a matter of time before they meet in person.

But they keep delaying the moment, as the prospect both excites and unsettles them. After all, Emmi is happily married. Will their feelings for each other survive the test of a reallife encounter? And if so, what then?

Love Virtually is a funny, fast-paced and utterly absorbing novel, with plenty of twists and turns, about a love affair conducted entirely by email.

Port Mortuary

By Patricia Cornwell (Penguin Group, from R205) Port Mortuary is Cornwell’s 18th book since Dr Kay Scarpetta first appeared 20 years ago in the award-winning debut Postmortem. The writer again uses the first-person to reveal unexpected secrets about forensic pathologist Scarpetta.

The heroine has been training at the Dover Port Mortuary mastering the art of the “virtual autopsy”, a ground-breaking procedure that could soon revolutionise forensic science. Before long, these new skills urgently need to be put into practice.

A young man drops dead, apparently from heart failure, but when his body is examined, there are indications that he may have been alive when he was zipped inside a pouch and locked in the cooler.

Pilates – Practice Companion

By Alycea Ungaro (DK Publishing, from R195) One of the most widely recognised and influential Pilates instructors and wellness experts, Alycea Ungaro is the founder of Real Pilates, New York City’s top studio dedicated exclusively to the Pilates method with celebrity clientele including Madonna and Uma Thurman. This book is about more than just exercises; it’s about what happens in an actual Pilates class. Features include step-by-step instructions for over 100 individual exercises, nine distinct workout programmes of various time lengths, information about the physical and mental benefits of poses and tips on how to assess your progress.

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parenting books

Ultimate Guide to Family Health

By Dr Linda Friedland (Human & Rousseau, R299,95) This comprehensive, easy-to-use medical guide was written especially for South Africans. In it Dr Friedland explains how to prevent illness and what are the major health threats and what to do about them. She discusses common medical conditions and how to treat them as well as children’s, women’s and men’s health problems and the solutions. She also covers first-aid and trauma treatment. One section of the book provides the reader with solid preventative health tips and goes on to explain the different diseases South African families are likely to encounter, their symptoms and possible treatments. This essential guide is a must-have for all homes.

Brain Rules for Baby

By John Medina

your s question d answere

(Pear Press, from R218) What is the most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What is the best way to handle temper tantrums?

Scientists know the answers. In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, John Medina showed us how the brain really works and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. In Brain Rules for Baby, he shares the latest scientific findings about how to raise smart and happy children from birth to the age of five. The book bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents actually do.

Low Muscle Tone in Children

By Pamela M.T. Dawson

Your Child Can Do Maths

By Johan van Lil

(Pamela M.T. Dawson, from R120) The author qualified as a physiotherapist in 1987 and has since completed her Masters degree with research in Low Muscle Tone (LMT). Because LMT is a condition of idiopathic or unknown origin, the author felt it necessary to write this book. It outlines LMT as a clinical condition and fully describes the symptoms and how it is diagnosed. The physiotherapeutic management of this condition is fully discussed and it includes exercise plans. The book, written to be easily understood by parents, teachers and medical professionals, can be ordered via 031 763 3892, 082 578 9986 or pdawson@polka.co.za

(Metz Press, from R120) Did you battle with maths at school and does your child have the same problem?

Or, were you a maths whiz but now you have no idea how to help your child who is struggling? Then this book, written in easy-to-follow language with useful advice, is for you. Learn why maths is important, how to use movement to wire your child’s brain for maths success, how to ensure your child remains positive about maths, and what basic knowledge and concepts all children should master. The book shows you how to help your child do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as which general maths problems to watch out for.

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calendar

what’s on in august

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

Spring is on the horizon and Johannesburg is buzzing with fun for the whole family.

GillIAN Hurst has compiled a list of activities to keep everyone happy.

27 sat

special events

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FUN for children

56

only for parents

63

bump, baby & tot in tow

66

how to help

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SPECIAL EVENTS

FUN FOR CHILDREN

ONLY FOR PARENTS

bump, baby & tot in tow

how to help

Leisure days are here again It’s holidays and there’s so much to do.

The Pink Floyd Experience – Pulse tour A real treat for the fans.

Every day is play day Fun with friends is on the cards.

Animals in need Help vaccinate and protect these pets.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Nestlé Ice Cream Jive Spring is nearly here; let’s hit the water.

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SPECIAL EVENTS 5 friday Decorex Explore all that’s hot and happening with hall after hall brimming with newly unveiled home products, trend predictions, themed pavilions, and designminded seminars. Ends 9 August (5th and 6th are trade-focused). Time: 9am–5pm.

Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. Cost: adults R70, pensioners and scholars R60, children under 12 R5. For more info: visit decorex.co.za Maragon Schools open day Find out more about the internationally recognised education offered by Maragon. Their focus is on the development of knowledge, critical thinking, problem-solving and life skills in a safe environment. Also 12 and 19 August. Time: 9am–4pm. Venue: Maragon Private Schools, cnr Peter and Van Dalen Rds, Ruimsig. Contact Belinda: 011 958 0707, belinda.espag@maragon.co.za or visit maragon.co.za

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9 tuesday Totalsports Ladies Race Walkers, joggers and runners of all ages are encouraged to celebrate Women’s Month by either taking part in the 5km or 10km run/walk. Moms with prams are welcome, while husbands, friends and family are encouraged to join in the fun and show support on the route.

Prizes are up for grabs. Time: 8am. Venue: Rooseveldt High School, Emmarentia. Cost: R57. For more info: visit totalsports.co.za

OppiKoppi 17 – “Unknown Brother” It’s time for the annual Bushveld celebration. Three days of non-stop music from 80 artists on five stages. The stellar line-up includes aKing, Zebra and Giraffe, Karen Zoid and The Black Hotels. Ends 7 August. Time: all day, all night. Venue: Oppikoppi Farm, Northam, Limpopo. Cost: R500 online, R600 at the gate. Tickets available from ticketbreak.co.za. For more info: visit oppikoppi.co.za

6 saturday Kinesiology for children workshop This workshop for a parent and child pair teaches practical, holistic techniques to increase concentration and coordination, and boost energy. Discover simple, new exercises to improve reading, comprehension and writing. For ages 8 to 12 years and parents. Time: 9:30am–1pm.

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Time: 9am–2pm.

Venue: Pretoria National Botanical Garden, 2 Cussonia Ave, Brummeria. Cost: adults R10, children R5. Contact Melissa: 083 562 5249, greenmelilly@gmail.com or visit greenmarketevents.yolasite.com

Venue: Jabula Recreation Centre, Sandringham. Cost: R450 for a parent and child. Contact Bronwyn: 082 818 3860 Miracles of Spring This garden design show features the magnificent 2011 Kirstenbosch Chelsea exhibit. Ends 4 September. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Garden World, Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost:

entrance to the designer gardens and the Chelsea exhibit is R20, senior citizens R10, children under 12 enter free. Contact Magriet or Corné: 011 957 2545, 083 997 6142 or visit gardenworld.co.za The Green Market Browse through stalls packed with nature-inspired products and unique, handmade local goodies.

10 wednesday The History Boys Alan Bennett’s smash hit comedy is set in Sheffield in the 1980s, and follows the fortunes of an unruly bunch of bright sixth form boys in pursuit of a place at Oxbridge. Ends 11 September.

Time: 8pm, Wednesday–Friday; 5pm and 8pm, Saturday; 3pm Sunday. Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre. Cost: R100–R150. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

13 saturday Dance for a Cure Winds of Change raises funds to vaccinate children against cervical cancer. Time: 7pm. Venue: The

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Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City, Northern Parkway, Ormonde. Cost: R180. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Mandela Trilogy This is a musical tribute to the life of Madiba. From prisoner to president and from Nobel Laureate to revered statesman, this inspiring story is told as an on-stage cultural showpiece celebrating a vibrant variety of local music and drama. Also 14, 17, 18 and 19 August.

Time: 8pm, 14 August at 3pm. Venue: The Teatro, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R150–R300. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: R150, includes supper. Contact Magriet: 011 957 2545 or 083 997 6142 The Pink Floyd Experience – Pulse tour With soaring music, mind-blowing visuals and flawless production, The Pink Floyd Experience immortalises the band, capturing the intense live experience that was the hallmark of one of rock’s greatest bands.

Ends 4 September. Time: varies. Venue: The Johannesburg Theatre, Braamfontein. Cost: R190–R280. Contact: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com

19 friday Super Cool Circus The Boswell Wilkie family has teamed up with the Super Cool star Nedine Blom for a weekend of fun with clowns, jugglers, acrobats and more. 19, 20 and 21 August. Time: 12pm. Venue: Boswell Wilkie Circus Farm, 116 Springbok Rd, Daleside, Randvaal. Cost: adults R80, children R60. Contact: 083 226 1213, info@circus.co.za or visit circus.co.za

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10 August – The History Boys

18 thursday Nianell Enjoy an evening concert and meal with Nianell. Booking essential. Time: 6pm for 7pm. Venue: Garden World,

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Elma Park Pre-Primary School open day Visit the school to meet the teachers, tour the facilities and find out more about why this could be the right school for your child. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: 17 Adjutant Rd, Elma Park, Edenvale. Cost: free entry.

Contact Glynis or Carla: 011 453 9388 Coffee and Chocolate Festival Discover a wide variety of chocolates, coffee and

related luxury products. Learn about the art of making chocolate and roasting coffee. Time: morning market 8am–2pm, candlelit market 5pm–9pm. Venue: Hazel Food Market, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison and Mackenzie St, Menlo Park, Pretoria. Contact Retha: 083 554 5636 or visit hazelfoodmarket.co.za Rock ’n roll evening Get your dancing shoes on for a good cause – the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation. Enjoy great music, food and fun. This non-profit organisation works in the East Rand and Midvaal areas to sterilise, deworm and vaccinate animals and provide general vet care. Time 6:30pm for 7pm. Venue: Benoni Bowling Club, cnr Newlands and Kimbolton Ave, Benoni. Contact Robyn: 082 922 3619 or Reinette: 076 714 5460

22 monday Mexico the Wicked Food Way Learn how to blend the exotic flavours of Mexico with those of the rest of the world. Time: 6pm. Venue: Wicked Food Cooking School, The Square Shopping Centre, cnr Rivonia and Naivasha Rds, Sunninghill. Cost: varies.

Contact Shanaaz: 011 234 3252 or visit wickedfood.co.za

23 tuesday Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles Direct from its phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, this internationally acclaimed Beatles concert debuts in South Africa for

18 August – Nianell

a limited season only. From the early hits to later classics, this tribute takes you back to a time when all you needed was love.

Ends 4 September. Time: varies. Venue: The Teatro, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R190–R375. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

26 friday James Blunt Live Get ready for the James Blunt Some Kind of Trouble tour. This five-time Grammy award nominee has many hits, which include “You’re Beautiful”, “Goodbye My Lover” and “1973”. Time: 8pm. Venue: The Coca Cola Dome, cnr Olievenhout and Northumberland Rds, Northriding. Cost: R272–R529. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

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27 saturday Artists Under the Sun It’s spring selection weekend. A large number of talented new artists display their work hoping to secure a place among the permanent exhibitors.

There is also a children’s art competition.

Also 28 August. Time: 9am–4:30pm. Venue: Parktown. Cost: free entry and parking.

Contact Val: 011 432 1482, artists.aus@ mweb.co.za or visit artistsunderthesun.co.za Nestlé Ice Cream Jive Celebrate the end of winter with fun in the sun on the beach and loads of prizes and entertainment, from animal displays to magicians. Also 28 August. Time: 10am–4pm, daily. Venue: Valley of the Waves, Sun City. Cost: gate entry R100, valley entry R100. Contact: 072 626 4042 or events2@telkomsa.net Parkhurst Festival of Miniatures Step into a tiny world and visit this exhibition that celebrates all that is small. View the incredible detail and intricate work that goes into the creation of rooms that would fit into the palm of your hand. Also 28 August. Time: 10am–4pm. Venue: Parkhurst Recreation Centre Hall, cnr 5th Ave and 13th St, Parkhurst. Cost: adults R10, children and pensioners R5, (door proceeds go to Children of Fire). Contact Wilna: 011 975 2777 or wriekert@mweb.co.za or Sue: 011 787 2340 or miniatures@telkomsa.net Telkom Business Michael Fridjhon wine experience Well-known South African wine authority Michael Fridjhon takes guests on a taste journey of some of the world’s most desired and esteemed wines. This annual event has three sessions starting with the benchmark tasting on

26 August – James Blunt Live

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Marlieze Keith’s Accidental Harvest Fascinated by the art of early colonialists whose drawings were partly record, partly for an attempt to understand what they saw, Keith draws to make sense of her world. 26 August–4 September.

Time: 10am–3pm, Monday–Saturday; 10am–1pm, Sunday. Venue: Bamboo Designer Lifestyle Centre, cnr Rustenburg Rd and 9th St, Melville. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 011 726 1701/5657, alisong@ kingsley.co.za or visit bamboo-online.co.za

Saturday, followed by the gala dinner and a champagne brunch on Sunday. The theme is “The World’s Best Shiraz”. This year promises an extraordinary collection of highly sought-after wines matched with menus fine-tuned over months. Ends 28 August. Time: varies. Venue: Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, cnr Oxford Rd and Biermann Ave. Cost: benchmark tasting and dinner R4 950, champagne brunch R1 875, full weekend R6 500. Contact: 011 482 5936 or visit outsorceress.co.za

FUN FOR CHILDREN holiday classes and workshops Edukits Children aged 2–12 years can enjoy a wide range of holiday workshops that explore science, ecology, literacy, maths and art through fun, hands-on projects and games. Lessons in Afrikaans, German, French and Zulu are also available. Time: varies. Venue: Randpark Ridge (address given on booking). Cost: all workshops are R100 per child and include a variety of goodies for them to do and take home, plus a mid-morning snack. Contact Lauryan: 082 331 5273, lauryan@edukits. co.za or visit edukits.co.za Empowering Kids Discover Me workshop This teaches 5- to 12-year-old children vital life skills to help them handle stress and boost self-esteem. 10–11 August.

Time: 2:30pm–4:30pm. Venue: Crazy Kids Farmyard, Kensington B, Randburg. Cost: R350 per individual workshop, R900 for three workshops. Contact Samantha: 083 321 4222, sam@samshealthspot.co.za or visit samshealthspot.co.za Engenius Toys holiday programme 10–12 August: Early simple machines (ages 4–6) 9am–12pm, We do (ages 7–9) 1pm–3pm, Mechanical mania (ages 8–13) 1pm–4pm. 29 August–2 September: Mechanical mania (ages 8–13) 9am–12pm and 1pm–4pm. Venue: Engenius Toys, Lake Level, Fourways Mall. Cost: varies. Contact Stuart: 011 465 5386 or 083 625 8788 Fastrackids holiday programme 10–12 August: children aged 2–6 years old learn more about vertebrates and invertebrates. Time: 9am–1pm. Cost: R688.

15–19 August: children aged 4–8 years old “travel” to various regions of the world and learn how children in those countries live. Time: 9am–1pm. Cost: R855. Also for children 18 months–3 years. Cost: R688. 22–26 August: children 2–8 years old learn with Spencer the bunny about magazine joburg

exercises and sport from around the world.

Learn different stretches, exercises, yoga techniques and sports. Time: 9am–1pm.

Venue: Fastrackids Fourways, Shop 7, Broadacres Shopping Centre. Cost: R688.

Contact: 011 467 0230 or visit fastrackids. com/fourways Holiday pony camps Learn all about keeping and caring for ponies, and also have two riding lessons per day. For children 6 years and older. Lunch and cool drinks are provided. Time: 9:30am–5pm, Tuesday and Wednesday during school holidays. Venue: Namirembe Riding School, Plot 82, Nooitgedacht 88, R114 Old Nooitgedacht Rd, Muldersdrift. Cost: R200 per day. Contact Heather: 082 638 3781 or buysge@gmail.com Imagine Your Life workshops Crafts, activity worksheets, games, discussions and lessons on life skills for children aged 7–11 years. Booking is essential. 8–12 August. Time: 8:30am–12:30pm. Venue: Farmall, Chartwell, close to Fourways.

Cost: R100 per morning. Contact Gail: 082 928 7474, imagine@mailnet.co.za or visit imaginechildrensparties.co.za Indigo Essence Self-esteem and life coaching that provides primary school children with the tools to think positively, manage their feelings and develop a positive self-image. 8 and 9 August Grade 3−5; 11 and 12 August Grade 6−7. Time: 9am–3pm. Venue: Bryanston. Address supplied on booking for security reasons.

Cost: R750 per child. Contact Donna: 083 557 3980 or donnasinc@mweb.co.za ITA Tennis Clinics Fun, action-packed tennis clinics for all ages. Mini tennis is available for ages 3−6, while the halfand full-day clinics are for ages 6−16.

Intensive coaching, daily prizes and loads of fun. 15–19 August. Time: mini tennis 8am–9am, half-day clinic 9am–1pm, fullday clinic 9am–5pm. Venues: Lonehill Crawford Preparatory School, Sceales Rd, Lonehill or Craighall Park Tennis Club, St Alban’s Rd, off Jan Smuts Ave. Cost: mini tennis R200 (five days), half-day clinic R800 (five days), full-day clinic R1 500 (five days). Contact Michele: 083 443 3391 or michele@itatennis.co.za Jozi-X Extreme fun-park suitable for children aged 4 and older. Time: 10am–5pm, daily. Venue: cnr Main Rd and Sloane St, Bryanston. Cost: varies. Contact Marco: 082 456 2358 or visit jozix.co.za King’s Camps Get your children out and active at this sports and activity day

22–26 August – King’s Camps

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Jozi-X

camp. For children 4–15 years old. 22–26 August. Time: 8am–3:30pm, Monday– Friday. Venues: Kingsmead College, Oxford Rd, Melrose or Summit College, cnr Lynx Rd and Caracal Rd, Kyalami. Cost: from R530 for the week. Contact Brushett: 072 189 4288, info@sa.kingscamps.org or visit sa.kingscamps.org Little Cooks Club This programme is designed to encourage healthy eating habits in children. Interactive cooking classes allow moms and tots to create wholesome meals.

Time and cost: varies. Venues: Rivonia, Fourways, Fairland, Mondeor, Edenvale/ Bedfordview and Pretoria. Contact: 083 556 3434, christine@littlecooksclub.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za

8 August–5 September – My World Holiday Club

My World Holiday Club A holiday club for toddlers and babies, including all meals, a music day, jumping castle, puppet shows, art and crafts, wacky sports and more. For 0–6 year olds (babies and toddlers are separated). 8 August–5 September. Time: 7am–5:30pm, Monday–Friday. Venue: 52 Oaklands Rd, Orchards. Cost: R2 000 nonmembers, R800 members. Contact Nicole: 011 640 1544 or 084 711 7899 Polka Dot Pencil Lots of creative fun for children as they discover the wonderful world of mosaic, painting, papier-mâché and art science. Time: 11am–1pm, every Saturday. Venue: Norscot Manor Recreational Centre, 16B Penguin Dr, Norscot, Fourways. Cost: R100 (including all materials). Contact Candice: 073 761 7045 or candiflo@gmail.com Sailing SA training courses Sailing, canoeing and stand up paddling for sevento 18-year-olds. Classes range from learn to sail programmes for beginners to advanced race training. SAS accredited centre. All equipment supplied. From 10 August. Time: all day. Venue: Victoria Lake Club, Germiston.

Cost: varies. Contact: 083 626 7597 or shellee@sailingcentre.co.za August 2011

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calendar Scrapbooking on the Move Children aged 8–12 years learn a variety of scrapping techniques, including matting, tearing, inking and stamping to help them create scrapbooks of distinction. Booking is essential. 10–12 August and 22–24 August. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Edenvale, or Dorian can come to you if you get a group of friends together. Cost: R700 for three mornings (includes materials, a snack and juice). Contact Dorian: 083 409 7434 or dorian@gam.co.za Seedpod Studio This studio offers regular workshops for children and adults in ceramics, decoupage, mixed media and mosaic. Venue: Broadacres Lifestyle Centre, Cedar Rd, Broadacres. Contact: 011 465 0375 or visit seedpodstudio.com Tots n Pots Let your little ones loose in the kitchen as they explore the creative side of cooking and crafts. 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 23 and 24 August. Time: 10am–12pm, Tuesday and Friday; 2pm–4pm, Wednesday.

Venue: Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, 16B Penguin Dr, Fourways. Cost: varies.

Contact Janine: 072 086 6213, janine@ totsnpots.com or visit totsnpots.com Zeal For Life foundation programmes Zeal means to have energy and enthusiasm, no matter what is thrown your way.

Once children start learning how to stop blaming others for what is happening around them, and start setting goals to tackle the areas in their life that need improvement, their personal

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disappointments are going to be a thing of the past. Classes throughout August. Cost: R600–R3 600 (dependent on personalised recommendation). Contact the Equal Zeal head office for a group near you: 011 022 5997, info@equalzeal.com or visit equalzeal.com

family outings Artists Under the Sun For over 50 years Artists Under the Sun has been a showcase for the largest variety of art and styles in South Africa. Browse for art in beautiful surroundings. There is also a children’s art competition and entry is just R5 for a poster on which to paint. 6 and 7 August.

6 and 7 August – Artists Under the Sun

Time: 9am–4:30pm. Venue: Parktown.

Cost: free entry and parking. Contact Val: 011 432 1482, artists.aus@mweb.co.za or visit artistsunderthesun.co.za Brunch on the Vaal Relax and enjoy a family Sunday lunch, with plenty of space for children to play. Time: 12:30pm–3pm, every Sunday. Venue: Matthew’s Restaurant, Riviera on Vaal, Mario Milani Dr, Three Rivers, Vaal Triangle. Cost: adults R160, children under 16 half price. Contact: 016 420 1300 or visit rivieraonvaal.co.za Rietvlei Farm and Lifestyle Centre Pack a picnic, take your bicycles and explore the farm and mountain bike route, or walk one of the hiking trails. There is also a nine-hole putt-putt course. Light meals and tuck shop-style refreshments are available. Braais are also allowed. Children can feed the farmyard animals and visit the bird aviary. Time: 8:30am–5:30pm, Tuesday–Saturday. Venue: Rietvlei Farm, Swartkoppies Rd, Alberton. Cost: adults R25, children under 12 R15 and R30 per vehicle. Contact: 011 024 1512/4, 079 041 1488 or info@rietvleifarm.co.za South African Lipizzaners Meet the riders and feed carrots to the stallions in the courtyard after the show. Browse through their second-hand book stall while your children play on the jumping castle. Picnic baskets can also be ordered when booking for shows. Time: 10:30am–11:30am, every Sunday. Venue: Indoor Lipizzaner Centre, 1 Dahlia Rd, Kyalami. Cost: R110, children

under 3 free. Contact Judy: 083 601 2104 or visit lipizzaners.co.za or book through Computicket: visit computicket.com Spit-braai lunch Get out of town for a break and relax around the pool while you enjoy a spit-braai lunch with the family.

Activities such as a game drive, swimming and quad bikes are also possible on-site.

Time: 11am–2pm, every Saturday. Venue: Mogale Country Lodge, Plot 39, Waterval, Krugersdorp. Cost: adults R95, children R50 (excludes activities). Contact: 011 952 9910 or events@mogalelodge.com Sunday Jazz lunch Enjoy the scenic views across the Magaliesberg range as you relax to the sounds of acoustic guitar and marimba while enjoying a carvery lunch. Time: 12pm–3pm, every Sunday.

Venue: Tumulus Restaurant, Maropeng Visitor’s Centre, Cradle of Humankind.

Cost: adults R135, children under 12 R75 or they can order from the children’s menu for R50. Contact: 014 577 9000 or visit maropeng.co.za Van Gaalen’s Cheese Farm Situated at the foot of the Magaliesberg this is a working cheese farm and restaurant.

The menu offers delicious cheese-based, Dutch treats. Farm animals and a play area keep the little ones busy. Tours of the farm are available on Wednesday and Saturday at 10am. Time: 8am–5pm, Wednesday–Monday. Venue: off the R512, Skeerpoort (near Hartbeespoort). Contact: 012 207 1289

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Predator World Enjoy a 50-minute horse ride with an experienced guide. Time: subject to booking.

Venue: Predator World, R556, near Sun City. Cost: adults R385, children R369, includes entrance into Sun City, a hamburger, wedges and a drink. Contact SanMare: 014 552 6900, 076 817 6869 or visit predatorworld.co.za

finding nature and outdoor play Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary Offers guided tours through indigenous forests where you can view a variety of exotic primates. Time: 9am–4pm, daily. Venue: R512, Hartbeespoort. Cost: adults R195, children 3–14 years R95. Contact: 012 258 9908/9 or visit monkeysanctuary.co.za Dirt Ryders This adventure park offers everything from go-karts, paintball and

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volleyball to a play centre for the little ones. There is also a swimming pool and restaurant and bar area with live entertainment every Sunday afternoon by a two-man band called Adrian Blaine.

Time: 10am, Wednesday–Sunday. Venue: Farm ME, 12B Pelindaba Rd, Lanseria. Cost: varies. Contact Clive: 082 458 3634, clive@ dirtryders.co.za or visit dirtryders.co.za Drakes Farmyard Pack a picnic and relax in lovely surroundings. Children can

take pony rides and pet the cows, rabbits and sheep. Picnic baskets are welcome.

Time: 9am–5pm, Monday and Wednesday.

Venue: Clulee Ave, Linbro Park. Cost: R25, includes tea or coffee and a pony ride.

Contact Bev: 084 941 8219, info@drakes. co.za or visit drakes.co.za Elephant Sanctuary A caring team introduces you to the unusual experience of touching, feeding, walking and riding these magnificent giants. Time: tours at 8am, 10am and 2pm, daily. Venue: on the R512 (Old Rustenburg Rd) next to Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary. Contact reservations: 012 258 9904/5/6/7, elephantsanctuary@mweb.co.za or visit elephantsanctuary.co.za Lion Park Home to several carnivores including white lions, you can play with cubs, enjoy a game ride and visit the restaurant. Time: 8:30am–5pm, Monday– Friday; 8:30am–6pm, Saturday–Sunday.

Venue: cnr Malibongwe and R114, Lanseria.

Cost: adults R115, children R80. Contact: 011 691 9905, lionpark@cknet.co.za or visit lion-park.com Ludwig’s Roses Home to the largest selection of rose varieties in the world and the largest exhibition of free-flying butterflies in Gauteng. Time: 8am–5pm, daily. Venue: off the N1 freeway, Wallmannstahl, Pretoria. Cost: free entry.

For more info: visit ludwigsroses.co.za Melville Koppies Winter on the Highveld usually means deep blue skies over a

pretty dry landscape. Melville Koppies has two winter flowering plants that make a beautiful display. Join a three-hour groupguided tour on a Sunday morning at 8:30am (14 and 28 August) or an afternoon tour at 2pm (7 and 21 August). Venue: park opposite the entrance at Marks Park in Judith Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: donations R30 per adult and R10 per child. Contact: 011 482 4797, fomk@mk.org.za or visit mk.org.za

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17–20 August – Fiesta De Baile

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, daily. Venue: Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: adults and children over 10 R38, children under 10 R22,50. For more info: visit montecasino.co.za Myths and Legends Maize Maze Get lost in 3,5km of maze set within a growing maize field. The maze involves finding the eight major habitats of the world and endangered animals. Time: 10am–5pm, Saturday and Sunday. 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 Origins Centre An interactive museum that delves into the origins of man and South Africa’s long tradition of rock art.

Learn and be entertained by movies, computer games and documentaries and installations by top South African artists.

Time: 9am–5pm, daily. Venue: cnr Enoch Sontonga Ave and Yale Rd, Wits University campus, Braamfontein. Cost: adults R75, children under 12 R35. Contact: 011 717 4700, ask@origins.org.za or visit origins.org.za

bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za or visit bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za Camp Candy baby and children’s craft market Browse a wide selection of quality handmade goodies for children and they can enjoy lots of space and entertainment. 6 and 27 August. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Camp Candy, Rietvlei Farm, off Swartkoppies Rd, Brackenhurst, Alberton. Cost: free entry. Contact Izilde: 076 348 8281 or izilde@organicarbon.com Craighall River Market This is an organic produce, art and crafts market for the whole family. 13 August. Time: 8:30am–1pm.

Venue: Splendour Nursery, Marlborough Ave, Craighall Park. Cost: free entry. Contact Roy: 011 465 3413 or jmsinek@mweb.co.za Fare on the Square There are 30 carefully selected stalls selling wares such as crafted toys, miniature cacti and delicious preserves and delicacies. Open on the last Sunday of each month. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Irene Village Mall, cnr Nellmapius and Van Ryneveld Dr, Irene. Cost: free entry. For more info: visit irenemall.co.za

markets Bryanston Organic Market A large number of stalls offer everything from organic clothing, children’s toys and décor to crafts, coffees and food.

Time: 9am–3pm, every Thursday and Saturday. Venue: Culross Rd, off Main Rd, Bryanston. Contact: 011 706 3671, jules@

Jozi Food Market

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Hazel Food Market

Hazel Food Market If you love food, you won’t be able to resist filling your basket at this foodie’s paradise. Homebaked goodies, organic produce and cheeses and Indian, Italian, Greek, Portuguese and South African cuisine are all on sale. Delicious meals are also available and can be eaten under the trees while you soak up the festive atmosphere.

Special coffee and chocolate festival 20 August. Time: 8am–2pm. Venue: Hazel Food Market, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison and Mackenzie St, Menlo Park, Pretoria. Contact Retha: 083 554 5636, info@hazelfoodmarket.co.za or visit hazelfoodmarket.co.za magazine joburg

Irene Market Offers over 300 stalls of art, numerous food stalls and a licensed tea garden with a safe children’s entertainment area. Open on the second and last Saturday of each month. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Smuts House Museum, Jan Smuts Ave, Irene. Cost: free entry. Contact: 012 667 1659 or visit irenemarket.co.za Jozi Food Market Experience a mixture of culture and gourmet delights at this market where each vendor offers their own specialities. Time: 8:30am– 1pm, every Saturday. Venue: Pirates Sports Club, Fourth Ave Ext, Parkhurst.

Cost: free entry. For more info: visit jozifoodmarket.co.za The Green Market Celebrates women and inspires you to “Go Green” in 2011.

Stalls with nature-inspired products and handmade, local goodies in the beautiful garden. 6 August. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Pretoria National Botanical Garden, 2 Cussonia Ave, Brummeria. Cost: adults R10, children R5. Contact Melissa: 083 562 5249, greenmelilly@gmail.com or visit: greenmarketevents.yolasite.com

on stage and screen Fiesta De Baile Helena Montoya Spanish Dance Theatre is the first Spanish dance company to appear at the recently built Atterbury Theatre. Helena Montoya, her daughter Maria Lorca Montoya, and their dancers bring a festival of Spanish dance to the public. This show promises a feast of modern and traditional Spanish dance, fiery rhythms and bewitching music. 17−20 August. Time: 3pm and 8pm. Venue: Atterbury Theatre, cnr Lynnwood Rd and Daventry St, Lynnwood, Pretoria. Cost: R150−R180. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Hannah and Miley Best of Both Girls Showtime Australia is proud to bring this energetic, fun and interactive musical tribute to South Africa. Clasina Preston is Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. All the hit songs and all the fabulous costumes are included in one show that has the audience bopping throughout. 23–27 August. Venue: The South African State Theatre, Pretoria. Cost: R100–R150. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

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24–28 August – Michael Jackson HIStory This is It

Mandela Trilogy This is a bold musical tribute to the extraordinary life of Madiba.

From prisoner to president and from Nobel Laureate to revered statesman, Nelson Mandela is hailed across the globe as a treasured icon. The life of this great man, who changed the course of South African history, is a fascinating and inspiring tale, now told as an on-stage cultural showpiece.

Mandela Trilogy celebrates a vibrant variety of local music, while dramatising the defining moments that shaped Madiba’s life. Great entertainment for the entire family with added educational benefits for children. 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19 August.

Time: 8pm; 14 August 3pm. Venue: The Teatro, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R150–R300. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Michael Jackson HIStory This is It This spectacular tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Direct from Las Vegas, Kenny Wizz is the world’s most highly acclaimed Michael Jackson impersonator.

Together with a full international touring company of musicians and dancers (including South African talent), plus authentic costumes and a massive lighting rig, HIStory is the recreation of what the fans crave – a Michael Jackson concert. 24–28 August. Time: tbc. Venue: South African State Theatre, Pretoria. Cost: R162–R250.

Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Offbeat Broadway After six years, Offbeat Broadway is back − older, slower and fatter.

This insane and irreverent romp through the best and worst of Broadway returns with the original cast of Anton Luitingh, Lindy Abromowitz and Paul du Toit. That most famous of genres, musical theatre, once again gets overhauled with their wicked harmonies and irreverent sense of humour.

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calendar of the Opera, Miss Saigon and brand new material from musicals like Wicked, Billy Elliot and Hairspray. 19 August­–2 October.

Time: 8:15pm, Wednesday–Friday; 5:15pm and 8:15pm, Saturday; 3:15pm, Sunday.

Venue: The Studio Theatre, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R150. Book at the theatre box office: 011 511 1818 or visit computicket.com

playtime and story time Bryanston Library Story time for children aged 2–6 years. Time: 2:30pm, every Wednesday. Venue: cnr New and Pyne St, Bryanston. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 706 3518 Emmarentia Library Story time for children aged 2–4 years. Time: 2:30pm, every Wednesday. Venue: cnr Barry Hertzog and Greenhill Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 646 5821 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: children under 3 R25, older children R30 per hour. Contact: 011 452 2180 or visit jimmyjungles.co.za Jungle Tots Farmyard Children can interact with farm animals, enjoy a pony ride or play in the playground. Time: 1pm–5pm, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Venue: Glenferness, Kyalami. Cost: R30, includes refreshments. Contact Jenny: 083 377 7571

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Rain − A Tribute to the Beatles Direct from its phenomenally successful Broadway engagement, the internationally acclaimed Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles makes its debut in South Africa for a limited season, presented by Jacaranda 94.2fm. From the early hits to later classics (“I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, “Let It Be”, “Come Together”, “Hey Jude” and more), this tribute takes you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends. 23 August–4 September. Time: varies. Venue: The Teatro, Montecasino, Fourways. Cost: R190–R375. Book through Computicket: 083 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Oki Doki This play and party venue offers a unique “tiny town” where children can play dress-up. There is also a coffee shop where parents can relax. Time: 8:30am–4:30pm, Tuesday and Thursday. Venue: 66 6th St, Linden. Cost: free entry for adults, children R20. Contact: 082 824 1089, info@okidoki.co.za or visit oki-doki.co.za

Parkhurst Library Story time for children from 3 years of age. Time: 3:30pm–4pm, every Monday. Venue: cnr 5th and 13th St, Parkhurst. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 788 4510 Sandton Library Story time for children aged 3–8 years. Time: 3:30pm–4pm, every Tuesday. Venue: Sandton Square, cnr West

St and Rivonia Rd. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 282 5911 Serendipity Fun-filled activities, including T-shirt painting, sticky mosaics, canvas painting, scrapbooking, beading, bug-making, hat decorating, creating helicopters, and more. Time: 9am–5pm, Tuesday–Friday; 8:30am–4:30pm, Saturday; 8:30am–4:30pm, Sunday and public holidays. Venue: 48 Keyes Ave, Rosebank.

Contact: 011 447 7386, serendipityplay@ gmail.com or visit serendipityplay.co.za Yeesh! Fun for kids Supervised soft-play indoor playgrounds with coffee bars. Time: 9am–5pm, Tuesday–Sunday. Venues: Unit G6, Woodmead Commercial Park, Waterval Crescent, Woodmead and 5 Main Rd, Bryanston. Cost: R100 for up to three hours (includes a juice and a biscuit); more than three hours R150 (includes a juice or water, biscuit and hot dog). Contact Woodmead: 083 923 2306 or Bryanston: 073 230 6531 or visit yeesh.co.za

Serendipity

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28 August – Sasko Toughies

sports and physical activities Abseiling and Caving Adventure Get togged up in an overall and helmet, enter the roof of a wild cave on a rope and spend time on a torch-lit underground adventure.

No previous experience needed, but the minimum age is 8 years. Time: 11am–2pm, every Sunday. Venue: in The Cradle of Humankind Heritage area. On booking, directions to the meeting place are sent via email. Cost: adults R250, children R220, includes equipment for each threehour session. Contact Sandy: 082 486 2464, info@wildcaves.co.za or visit wildcaves.co.za Avalanche Hit the ice –­ go bumboarding or skiing on the 65m slope and drag lift.

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Instructors are on hand at all times for lessons and safety. They offer beginner ski lessons as well. Time: 9am–late, daily.

Venue: 1 Mezzanine Level, Cedar Square, Fourways. Cost: varies. Contact Lance: 011 467 2426 or visit avalanche.co.za Ice Skate at Northgate Develop your skills or just have a bit of fun on the ice.

Remember to take socks. Time: 10am–5pm and 7:30pm–10:30pm, daily. Venue: Northgate Ice Arena, Northgate Shopping Centre, entrance 6, cnr Olievenhout and Northumberland Ave, Northriding Cost: entry R43, skate hire R20. Tuesday nights half price. Sunday night madness R30 for entry and skate hire. Contact: 011 794 8706

Joyride Family Fun Park This paintball park is a dream for children; they get to drive, while their parents play passenger. There is a wide range of age-appropriate vehicles to choose from, including mini Pajero buggies and 4X4 quads. All activities have been carefully designed with safety in mind. For children over 8 years. Time: 12pm–8pm, every Saturday and Sunday. Venue: plot 37, Nettleton Rd, R550 Grasmere.

Cost: R30 entry. Contact Karin: 082 723 9953, karin.fitzpatrick@joyridefunpark. co.za or visit joyridefunpark.co.za Randburg Raceway Race in specially designed imported racing karts fitted with slick racing tyres, 160cc Honda engines and safety equipment. There are junior karts for 6–14 year olds that have been adjusted so that children can reach the pedals. Time: 11am–8pm, Monday– Saturday; 11am–6pm, Sunday. Venue: 272 Samantha St, Strijdom Park, Randburg.

Cost: varies. Contact: 011 792 2260, 082 780 5115, info@randburgraceway.co.za or visit randburgraceway.co.za Sasko Toughies If you are a sporty family, this is for you. Teams of four participate in a run, swim, paddle and run again competition in their age group across the beach and wave pool. There is no age limit, so the whole family can all take part. 28 August. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: Valley of the Waves, Sun City. Cost: R200 per team.

Contact Valria: 072 626 4042 or events2@ telkomsa.net

Joyride Family Fun Park

only for parents classes, talks and workshops 30-minute meals for entertaining This Gordon Ramsay cooking class is based on his book Cooking for Friends. Wicked Food reinterprets six of the dishes, which are all quick and easy to make and great for entertaining or even for the family.

Venue: Wicked Food Cooking School, fourth floor, The Square Shopping Centre, cnr Rivonia and Naivasha Rds, Sunninghill.

Cost: R390. Contact Shanaaz: 011 234 3252, sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za or visit wickedfood.co.za Intuitive drawing mini workshop Have fun and release your creativity through a mini-adventure into spontaneous, intuitive, expressive drawing using a

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calendar variety of materials. People of all ages and artistic skill levels welcome. 28 August.

Time: 2pm–5pm. Venue: Creativity Gym Studio, first floor, 777 Rivonia Rd, (entrance in 7th) Ave, Rivonia. Cost: R450 per person; R600 per adult/child team – includes all art materials although you are welcome to bring your own along too.

Contact Mischala: 084 777 4361 or visit creativitygym.yolasite.com Mixed media demonstration Joan Launspach demonstrates the new craft taking South Africa by storm. Use bought tiles, or make your own, then use beads and buttons, clay, moulds, metallic powders, rubber stamps, paint techniques, charms and lots more to create one-of-akind keepsake boxes, frames and crosses.

27 August. Time: 10am–11am. Venue: Ngwenya Glass Village, off Beyers Naudé Dr and the R114, Muldersdrift. Cost: R75 (includes tea and cake). Contact Joan: 083 326 5157

My-Pro-Doll and his Neuro-Friends This is the first locally-produced ventriloquism comedy show by the country’s pioneering ventriloquist, Conrad Koch. The show is a multimedia extravaganza set in a world filled with lively characters and mayhem. From beginning to end, the audience is immersed and taken to another dimension where anything can happen. 16−20 August. Time: 8:15pm, Tuesday− Friday; 6pm and 8:30pm, Saturday.

Venue: Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square. Cost: R120. Contact: 011 883 8606 or visit theatreonthesquare.co.za

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More to Life weekend If you’d like to know more about the sources of your own habitual patterns and how to change them, this weekend enhances your capacity for self-mastery. 26–28 August. Time: all day. Venue: Bahai Conference Centre, Bel Air Dr, Randburg. Cost: R2 750. Contact Mandy: 011 482 5665 or johannesburg@ moretolife.org Parents on Purpose This get-together provides parents with a space to find solutions to challenges, to feel heard and acknowledged and to feel more empowered as a parent and as an individual. For parents with children from newborn up to age 12. 11 August. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: Isabella’s Country Cuisine Restaurant, Crowthorne Shopping Centre, Arthur Rd, Kyalami. Cost: R250, includes snack and tea/coffee. Contact Samantha: 083 321 4222, sam@samshealthspot.co.za or visit samshealthspot.co.za PK Art Studio for Women Art classes for adults – whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, everyone is welcome.

Time: 10am–1pm, Tuesday; 6pm–8pm, Wednesday. Venue: 24 Merriman Ave, Highlands North Ext. Cost: R160–R180 per lesson (approximately 10 lessons per term). Contact Philippa: 083 225 5786 or philippa.kotzen@telkomsa.net POAA Indaba The fifth Annual Professional Organisers Conference is sub-titled “Growing Stronger Together”.

This event is for all professional organisers or anyone interested in the organising industry in South Africa. 27 August. Time: 8:30am–5:30pm. Venue: The Hertford, Lanseria. Cost: R1 000. Contact Kirstie: 083 627 4729, education@poaa.co.za or visit poaa.co.za The Bridge transformational workshop This inspirational workshop is based on Louise Hay’s books Love Yourself and Heal Your Life. Anyone who works with children or is a parent benefits from this course. 6–7 August and 27–28 August.

Time: tbc. Venue: Buccleuch, Sandton.

Cost: R650 per person for the weekend.

Contact Laurinda: 076 135 7601 or bridgetranswork@gmail.com

on stage and screen Beautiful, Beautiful Piano South Africa’s most flamboyant and adventurous pianist, Rocco de Villiers, has cooked up a fresh brew of fun and nostalgia that few can resist. From the showstoppers to some cheesy retro and a bit of high drama, all the songs are bound to bring back memories.

19 August. Time: 8pm. Venue: Joburg Promusica Main Auditorium, Florida Park, Roodepoort. Cost: adults R100, students and pensioners R75. Book through Computicket: visit computicket.com

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Women’s mandala art therapy workshop Celebrate Women’s Day by painting your own mandala (magic circle) onto a mounted canvas board. The group is gently inspired and facilitated throughout the process and absolutely no art experience is necessary. Suitable for women aged 18 to 80. 9 August. Time: 9am–2:30pm. Venue: Glenhazel. Cost: R850, includes art materials, canvas and brunch. Can be claimed from your medical aid.

Contact Samantha: 083 326 6655, sami@arttherapy.co.za or visit arttherapy.co.za

Burn the Floor From Harlem’s hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the lindy hop, foxtrot and charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the chacha, rumba and salsa steamed up the stage, the cast takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. This electrifying Latin-American and ballroom dance spectacular has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries. Ends 14 August.

Time: evening shows 8pm, matinee shows 2pm or 3pm. Venue: The Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein. Cost: from R265. Contact: 011 877 6800 or visit joburgtheatre.com

out and about Art tours Take a tour and explore the wide range of public artworks in the inner city through an artist’s eyes. The art tours on offer include Braamfontein Spruit, Newtown and Resistance. Date and time varies per booking.

Venue: tours travel across Johannesburg.

Cost: R1 025 per person, R950 per person for a couple or R650 per person for a booking of three to five people. Contact Bié: 083 728 5606 or visit art-tours.co.za Comedy night at TSG Fourways Book a table for dinner and get ready for a hilarious stand-up comedy show. Time: 8:30pm, every Wednesday. Cost: free entry. Contact Ciara: 011 465 7270/7224, ciara@tsg4ways. co.za or visit tsg4ways.co.za Romantic picnic at Lethabo Take the day off with your partner to de-stress and enjoy a romantic, gourmet picnic on the banks of the Crocodile River. If you want to take the children, family picnics are also available. Time: breakfast picnic 8am–11am; lunchtime 11am–5pm, Monday–Sunday.

Venue: Lethabo Estate (between The Cradle of Humankind and Diepsloot Nature

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Reserve). Cost: romantic picnic for two R400 each, and for larger groups and ­ family outings R225 each. Contact Lise: 082 654 1690, info@lethaboestate.com or visit lethaboestate.com

support groups Al-Anon Offers help and support to the families of problem drinkers. Contact: 0861 252 666 or visit alanon.org.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 Hi Hopes Early intervention programme, supporting and empowering families of children with a hearing loss (mild to profound). Contact: 011 717 3750 or claudine.storbeck@gmail.com LifeLine Provides a 24-hour confidential crisis intervention service. Contact: 011 728 1347 Little Miracles Support group for parents of premature babies. Contact: 0861 548 853, 012 333 5359, info@lmps.co.za or visit lmps.co.za Respect Me Support for children and their family members who are 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

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calendar Sandton Medi-Clinic maternity ward tour Expectant parents are invited for a free tour of the maternity facilities. View the labour wards, water birth facilities, maternity units and suites. Time: 10am–10:30am, every Wednesday.

Venue: main reception area, Sandton Medi-Clinic, cnr Peter Place and Main Rd, Bryanston. Cost: free entry. Contact Liezl: 011 709 2206 or visit mediclinic.co.za Top Tots Learn how to keep your child stimulated and happy with fun, interactive exercises that build confidence, fine and gross motor skills, creativity and problemsolving skills to name just a few. Venues: several in Gauteng. Cost: varies. Contact Koren: 082 459 5860 or visit toptots.co.za

Mothers and Miracles

Tough Love This is a self-help programme as well as a support group for families affected by drugs, alcohol, substance, verbal or physical abuse. Contact: 0861 868 445 or visit toughlove.org.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow Clamber Club This well-rounded programme aims to stimulate your little one in all spheres of development.

Toddlers and babies are separated into groups for 1−3 year olds and a baby group for children 2−12 months old.

Dates and times vary according to branch.

Venue: branches throughout Gauteng.

Cost: varies. Contact Rosa: 011 025 5825, headoffice@clamberclub.com or visit clamberclub.com Get fit and have fun Parents, children and even babies in prams can enjoy a 5km fun walk through the zoo. Second Saturday of each month. 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 Moms and Babes Interactive workshops for parents with babies from 2–12 months.

Workshops include guided play with ageappropriate toys, fun and movement to music, easy to do exercises and sensory stimulation. Time: varies. Venue: several venues throughout Gauteng. Cost: varies. Contact: 011 469 1530 or visit momsandbabes.co.za

Moms and Tots Interactive workshops for parents with tots from 1–3½ years.

Workshops incorporate music, play with educational toys, stories, crafts, life skills, messy play, gross motor activities and some free play. Venue: several venues throughout Gauteng. Contact: 011 469 1530 or visit momsandtots.co.za Mothers and Miracles Fun learning experiences for babies and toddlers.

Weekly workshops offer an intimate and nurturing environment where mothers and their young children engage in a range of carefully designed play-based activities that maximise learning potential. Workshops available daily at franchises nationwide.

Cost: varies. Contact: 082 413 7666 or visit mothersandmiracles.co.za Preggi Bellies Hour-long cardio and weight training programme for expectant and postnatal moms. It conforms to strict obstetric guidelines for exercising during pregnancy. Venues: Bedfordview, Craighall, Fourways, Melrose, Parkmore and Rivonia. Cost: varies. Contact David: 011 440 6222 or visit preggibellies.co.za Push Me Fit exercise classes This is an exercise programme for moms with babies over 6 weeks of age. Classes have been developed by a physiotherapist. Time: varies.

Venues: Mushroom Farm Park, Delta Park and Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.

Cost: contact their office for information on the various packages available. Contact Jo-Anni: 011 326 4639, info@pushmefit. co.za or visit pushmefit.co.za

Conscious Birth Connect with your unborn baby while you relax and enjoy the process of being a mother. 23 August. Time: 1:30pm–4pm. Venue: Triba, 39−41 St Albans Ave, Craighall. Contact Theoni: 083 229 3253 or visit consciousbirth.co.za

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how to help Abraham Kriel Childcare This organisation protects, cares, educates and treats children in order to give them a chance to become contributing members of society. With more than 800 children of all ages in their care, they nurture those who have been abandoned, neglected and orphaned. Sponsor a daily bowl of breakfast porridge for a month, bread for lunch boxes or even much-needed orthodontic treatment. Contact: 011 839 3058, info@abrahamkriel.org or visit kinderhuis.co.za adoption.org.za This online resource aims to provide the information you need to make a potentially life-altering decision: to either become an adoptive parent or to give your baby up for adoption. The site is also a resource for others affected by adoption, including adopted children, and answers some of the most common questions people have. Contact: 0800 864 658 Daily Bread Org This home for orphaned and abandoned children runs a project where they are looking for sponsors to foster orphans over the December holidays. The object is to give these children an experience of a lifetime and hopefully it will inspire them to achieve in school. You can follow the progress of the child and foster them again a year later. For more info: visit heavenlypromiseorg.webs.com Refilwe This multi-focus, non-profit organisation works to help the communities of Lanseria through child care and community development initiatives. They need sponsorship for high school students’ fees, winter clothes, shoes and blankets.

Econo-heaters, school stationery and supplies would also be greatly appreciated.

Visit their website to view their wish list for other important items needed. If you cannot supply goods, volunteer your time, which is just as valuable. Contact: 082 465 6972, 087 150 1380, james@refilwe.org or visit refilwe.org

Top Tots

The Berea-Hillbrow Home of Hope This organisation helps sexually exploited children, victims of human trafficking, orphans, child-headed families and other vulnerable groups who might be infected, or affected, by HIV/Aids. Home of Hope creates an opportunity for sustained physical, educational and holistic wellbeing for exploited girls in Hillbrow and solace for all children in the surrounding community.

Contact: 073 250 2086, info@hopehome. org.za or visit hopehome.org.za The Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation This non-profit organisation works in the East Rand and Midvaal areas to sterilise, deworm and vaccinate animals and administer general vet care in these disadvantaged areas. Donate dog food, blankets, collars, leads, dog kennels and bowls or any bric-a-brac for their shop, which helps to raise funds. Contact Eleanor: 084 549 3322

The Living Link This is a non-profit organisation that supports the inclusion of people with intellectual impairments into society and facilitates their transition from school to work to independent living. The organisation’s wish list includes cleaning materials, basic foodstuffs kitchen equipment, and computer equipment. To find out how you can help: visit thelivinglink.co.za

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 5 August for the September issue, and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online, visit childmag.co.za

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it’s party time

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it’s party time continued...

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last laugh

snuggle down SAM WILSON makes up for years of sleep deprivation by lying in

Joe, Sam and Benj

i

had old friends over for brunch this weekend, and finally got to meet their three daughters, all under the age of three. Yep. Three under three.

I know what you’re thinking, but no, their mother Jessie does not look like a wraith in need of an alcoholic IV and a month in a quiet padded cell; she’s miraculously well-dressed and at ease. But she did have that faintly hysterical air of the happy but perpetually under-slept.

“How much sleep are you actually getting?” I asked, consolingly. (Well, I was trying to sound consoling, but truthfully it was more of a morbidly curious question.)

“Well,” she said bravely. “Every few days, one of them will sleep through the

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night and then the Sleep Fairy puts a little treat under her pillow, doesn’t she girls?”

Three little girls look up at her blankly.

“Okay, so it doesn’t happen that often, but we live in hope, don’t we?” she said, with that slightly hysterical lilt.

I turned to Benjamin, who was innocently wolfing down a salmon bagel next to me, and glared at him with thinly disguised dislike. Benjamin did not sleep through the night once until he was three-and-a-half years old, and – despite his many charms – I have never quite forgiven him for it.

Of course, I had brought it on myself by taunting the Goddess of Mothers during the first year of Josef’s life. “He’s always slept in 12-hour stretches,” I used to say smugly of my eldest’s miraculous sleeping pattern. “I think it’s because my pregnancy was so calming, and because we’re so structured with bed times. Routine makes all the difference, you know.”

(I know, I have thinly disguised dislike for Young Mom Me too.)

Now that both of my boys are in double figures age-wise, I can look back on these dark memories while I doze in the morning as they do their own thing.

Because you see, I am taking this sleep debt thing very seriously. I spent the first half of my thirties horribly sleep-deprived.

And when I did get some shuteye, it was invariably while wrapped around some small, sweaty Human Torch who was intent on splaying his limbs like a starfish while keeping one toe firmly in my bellybutton.

The boys owe me.

Which is why, these days, I am now so emphatic about lying in on weekends.

“We’re playing soccer in the garden, come join us!” my sons will shout through the window on a Saturday morning. But I just wave regally, and snuggle with a good book or a series on DVD.

“Mom has another hour of dozing to do, loved ones,” I’ll shout back. “Remember, I’ve still got that huge sleep debt to catch up on. Also... are either of you thinking of making a little tea and toast? Because I am beginning to feel rather peckish.”

I know, it’s manipulative, but there’s nothing in the parenting rule book that forbids mothers from being childish.

(Actually, there may be. I’ve never read a whole one of those things.)

And I really do urge those of you also fond of the odd duvet half-day to reclaim your sleep debt in a similar manner. That way, we will have paved the path to payback sleep for truly tired mothers such as Jessie. Oh go on. Snuggle down in sisterhood.

Sam Wilson is the Editor-in-Chief of Women24, Parent24 and Food24. She’s writing this from her bed on a chilly Saturday morning, while waiting for some tea.

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PHOTOGRAPH: Andreas SpÄth

late on weekends, and getting her children to bring her breakfast.