Child magazine | JHB December 2014 / January 2015

J O B U R G ’ S

b e s t

gu i d e

f o r

p a r e n t s

25 in december

things

everyday skincare

to do

for delicate skin

all set for

summer?

bumper guide

stay safe in the sun and water

pen & paper

to what’s on in the summer holidays

games

happy holidays plus

back-to-school special

www.childmag.co.za

Dec 2014 / Jan 2015

free

the right age for your child to start school all sorted for the new year teaching children not to blame themselves

health

education

entertainment

Hunter House P U B L I S H IN G

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

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za

The spirit and sparkle of Christmas reawakens a childlike wonderment in me.

Features Editor Marc de Chazal • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Simone Jeffery • joburg@childmag.co.za Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • capetown@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Do you feel the same way about the festive season?

I have always loved Christmas and the promise of lazy family time that surrounds it. Once again, we have done all the hard work for you and rounded up literally hundreds of things to do as a family these holidays.

It’s time to let go of the stress and strain, and the mundane, and take in all that the holiday season has to offer. Whether you are keen to get out and catch a Christmas show or simply laze around at home, we hope you draw your inspiration for some serious family fun from

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: BROOKE FASANI / ILLUSTRATIONS: SHUTTERSTOCK.com

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

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

Client Relations Yvette Dreyer-Ferreira • jhbsales@childmag.co.za

Subscriptions and Circulation Nicolene Baldy • subs@childmag.co.za

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

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PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 5, First Floor, fax: 011 234 4971, email: info@childmag.co.za. Annual subscriptions (for 11 issues) cost R165, including VAT and postage inside SA. Printed by Paarl Web. Copyright subsists in all work published in Joburg’s Child magazineTM. We

this, our bumper Happy Holidays issue. Why not capture the mood of the season by making your own Christmas decorations, mince pies or gingerbread men? Or if you are feeling more energetic, pack a picnic and head for the park for a game of Frisbee.

With none of the usual school or work commitments, your options are endless and the joy of giving your time to your children has to be the greatest gift of all. ’Tis the season for holiday fun… enjoy!

Lisa Mc Namara Publisher

monthly circulation Joburg’s Child magazineTM Cape Town’s Child magazineTM Durban’s Child magazineTM Pretoria’s Child magazineTM

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December 2014 / January 2015

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contents december / january

16 3 a note from lisa

health

6 over to you readers respond 8 reader’s blog Debbie Prins on shopping with a special needs child

10 make safety your priority Marc de Chazal gives you tips on how to stay safe in the sun and water

regulars

features 18 what’s the right age to start school? some say it’s to your child’s advantage to start school early, others disagree. Glynis Horning considers both arguments

21 old-fashioned fun all you need is pen and paper to play these simple family games. By Tamlyn Vincent

22 keep it green in her recipe book, Star Fish, Daisy Jones only uses the 10 most sustainable fish on the SASSI green list for her delectable dishes

26 the blame game children often feel it’s their fault when bad things happen at home. Glynis Horning gives advice on how to handle self-blame

29 blogging in bali one family relocated to Bali for three months.

Marc de Chazal finds out about their unforgettable experience

32 the joy of giving Marc de Chazal gives tips on how you can support Child Welfare

34 checked off Child magazine compiles a handy checklist to help you prepare for the new school year

12 pregnancy news – bump on the move expert advice for pregnant drivers. By Marina Zietsman

13 best for baby – in the clear Lucille Kemp discusses the sensitive skin of babies and how to prevent and treat certain skin irritations

14 dealing with difference – travelling with a special needs child Deirdré Amy Gower and her wheelchair-bound son travelled far and wide through South Africa

16 resource – what should we do today? Child magazine compiles 25 inspirational activity ideas to keep boredom at bay this festive season

37 a good read for the whole family 44 what’s on in december and january 62 finishing touch Cassandra Shaw hopes her son makes time for nature in his busy city life

classified ads 59 let’s party 62 family marketplace

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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December 2014 / January 2015

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

Spree.co.za spree.co.za/kids

Sheldon Moultrie sheldonmoultrie.co.za

Sarah-Jane Photography sarahjanephotography.co.za

Tanya Rudman De Sousa trphoto.co.za

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December 2014 / January 2015

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letters

over to you dangers of drugs and alcohol Thank you for writing about the dangers of drinking alcohol. There are many health dangers, but I’d like to elaborate a bit on the dangers a woman is exposed to if she is intoxicated. The rate of sexual violence in South Africa is one of the highest in the world. Women must understand that if they drink alcohol they are disempowering themselves and putting themselves at risk of being abused. I’ve given self-defence workshops to underprivileged young adults. One of the first things I tell them is: don’t drink or do drugs. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs impairs your judgment and hampers your ability to respond to a potentially dangerous situation.

It is hard enough to defend yourself against an attacker when sober. It is exponentially harder to defend yourself when one is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sadly many people, both male and female, gravitate towards using alcohol and drugs. Somehow, no matter the warnings, the appeal is too great for them to resist. In my opinion, there is nothing positive about taking drugs or

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December 2014 / January 2015

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

alcohol, but there is much damage that can be caused by using them.

Michele Engelberg

and help old people across the road. There are plenty of youngsters out there with good manners; it’s obvious they have been disciplined.

Concerned child caregiver

children rule the home I think children watch too many movies featuring monsters, and they are glued to their electronic games and screens, some even as much as eight hours per day. It cannot be good for their eyes or their minds. They start acting like “crazy monkeys”, and parents don’t have any control over them. Mothers mostly ignore this, when actually their children should be disciplined; instead they’re ruling the home. I take care of two children: a boy of eight years old and a girl of six years old, who I love dearly. The two of them are cousins and their moms are both single. What concerns me is the way these children talk to their moms, and the way they talk about them behind their backs. It is shocking to say the least. It is clear they are in charge of their homes. I have four sons and I’m a grandmother. My sons grew up in a military home. Their dad disciplined them, but never hit them, and their manners are impeccable. They greet people

be alert Some time back I had the unfortunate experience of being hijacked with my child strapped in the car. That particular Friday I had left home 10 minutes earlier to fetch my three year old from play school. The car park was quiet, but as usual, I opened the gate and walked to the car with my little one. I then strapped her in, unaware that two men were approaching me from behind. They threatened me with screwdrivers, but adrenaline kicked in and I managed to fight and pull my girl out in the process. I threw the car keys away from me, which they went for, giving me time to run to the school gate. They drove off with my car and all our belongings. Things will never be the same again. This has made me very paranoid and bitter, yet very grateful at the same time. Moms, be safe out there, stay calm and watch your surroundings.

Malvika

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your voice on childmag.co.za in response to “spoilt brat syndrome” I really enjoyed reading this article. My husband and I have two children: a four-and-a-half year old and an eight month old. As is almost expected, our first child was thoroughly spoilt. We are now attempting to teach him the value of things, and it’s not working so well.

I’m hoping he will learn to understand the concept “you have to earn something”. He has a piggy bank, but never wants to use his own money. He also doesn’t understand the concept of “big money” and “little money”. Hopefully he will grasp this sooner rather than later. I know there is still time for him to learn, but still...

Yashmitha Padayachee This article was uninformative and I wasted my time reading it. Your target audience is mothers who actually don’t have time to read an article written by someone who dares give us advice and yet confesses to having a 17-year-old spoilt brat of her own. Shouldn’t the magazine rather have briefed a writer who has “walked the talk” and, been successful at it, to write the article? This is not a personal attack on the writer.

The magazine should know better. With all the information overload out there, one has to be selective, and unfortunately, articles like these make me lean towards removing Child magazine from my acceptable reading list.

Faatima

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

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in response to “have you lost your marbles?”

We have just introduced our four-year-old son to the wonder of marbles, out of sentimentality, and it has been one of his favourite pastimes ever since. There is a lot of merit in going back to old-fashioned toys. Through games such as marbles, children interact with other people, which will surely teach them life skills and emotional intelligence.

Surisa foul language My daughter is 13 years old. This year is her first year at a new school. I was very concerned when I saw the WhatsApp exchanges between her and two other classmates. The other girls were cursing a lot in the conversation. The three of them apparently love anime and writing stories. So, they often start a story and each of them write a part of the storyline. A few days ago, I read my daughter’s notebook and found that she had written curses as part of the storyline. She said one of her friends asked her to. Then I saw photos of anime characters online with sexual innuendos. There were even photos of Ninja Turtles with sexual themes and a discussion going on about the sexual preferences of the characters.

We do not curse at home and have never even uttered anything worse than “damn”. It’s frightening to see my girl exposed to these kinds of friends. What should I do?

Anonymous

Childmag asked Gary Koen, a clinical psychologist, to respond: “The good news is that your daughter has presented you with the opportunity to talk about a whole range of very important aspects of being a teenager – from sex and sexuality, freedom of expression and creativity, to the value of friendship and how the company you keep is a reflection of who you are – not to mention the omnipresent internet. Your daughter and her friends certainly sound very creative, which in itself is a wonderful ability, but while 13 year olds definitely do swear, to use swearwords as a means of creative expression sounds to me more for shock value and an attempt to appear more sophisticated than they really are. Their real challenge is to develop and expand their range of creative expression so, at this stage, to use swearwords is both inappropriate and quite limited. I wouldn’t necessarily blame the friends, because one of the hallmarks of adolescence is the process of leaving home and encountering the outside world, which is full of sex and swearing, and our teenagers’ eyes and ears are wide open. A parent’s role is to build your relationship with your teenager so that you are able to continuously talk about all these changes and challenges, and this would include the type of friends they want to hang out with.” subscribe to our newsletter and win Our wins have moved online. Please subscribe to our newsletter and enter our weekly competitions.

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We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters.

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

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December 2014 / January 2015

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reader’s blog

“why is that child funny?”

s

DEBBIE PRINS finds that ignorance is not bliss for the parent who tries to go shopping with a special needs child.

hopping is not always the easiest thing to do with special needs children, as my friends and I have experienced. My one friend took her three year old to the local supermarket to do her weekly shopping. As she was alone, she left the wheelchair in her car and put her child in the trolley seat.

He is on the autistic spectrum and repeats words he hears and likes the sound of, to calm himself when he gets overstimulated.

As she was walking down the aisle, he started his word game. Two old ladies smiled at her, until they got closer, and then told her to teach him more words as he was irritating them. She was embarrassed, but smiled politely and walked away. Around the corner, she overheard them discussing how lazy parents are becoming and how she should make her son walk more as well. She was so upset she left the shop immediately.

My little one was four years old and wasn’t walking yet. I also had her in the trolley to make shopping easier.

I tried to go to the bank and was refused entry. They don’t allow trolleys, even empty ones. I had to argue with the security guard and insisted on speaking to

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December 2014 / January 2015

the manager before they eventually let me in. I was extremely embarrassed and my schedule was totally messed up for the day.

Another mother I know went to the mall with her two boys. One has cerebral palsy; he walks well, but slowly and with a limp. He also has a hand that looks different. A little girl walking towards them pointed, asking her dad in a loud voice why that young boy is gay and cripple. He was so upset that he just wanted to go home. What made the experience worse is that the dad just laughed and carried on walking.

A far better reaction from that father would have been to tell his daughter that it’s rude to point and make assumptions and then to make her apologise to the other person, introduce herself and let her ask questions if she had any. Most parents like me would be more than happy to explain things and most special needs children would love the apology and a chance to explain, if they are able to. The other child would learn a valuable lesson about compassion and empathy.

Don’t be scared of disabled children or whisper behind their backs. They are mostly able to hear and

it hurts. Have some patience with us; we have a really difficult time being out and about. If I bump you with a wheelchair, please don’t yell at me when I try to apologise. My child will get upset and it will take me a long time to calm her down. When our children start making funny noises, repeat words or start screaming, it is not something we can control. It is a coping mechanism for them.

One dad offered to help me take my very heavy angel out of the car and put her in her chair. His son had asked him why that big girl has to have a pram. As the dad helped he asked me questions, letting me explain things to his son. We often see them now at the shops and his son always runs over, greets us and offers to help. His parents should be proud.

Readers, this is your column – it’s a space to air your views, share a valuable parenting lesson, vent your frustrations or celebrate your joys. Send your writing to features@childmag.co.za

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December 2014 / January 2015

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outh Africans love sunshine – we get plenty of it, after all.

In the heat of summer families hit the beaches, pools and garden sprinklers in their numbers. It’s up to parents to ensure their children are adequately protected from the cancer risks of the African sun and from the dangers of drowning.

sun safety

water safety

When your family is out and about in the summer sun • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

• Use appropriate sunscreen. Dr Daynia Ballot, paediatric neonatologist and chairperson of the Wits Paediatric Fund, recommends we use sunscreen with an SPF factor between 15 and 30 for children. “Anything higher has certain chemical additives best avoided for young skins,” says Ballot.

• Covering up with sunhats and UV protective swimwear is also a good idea. “UV protective clothing provides extra protection from the dangers of sun exposure and can also help ease a parent’s conscience if the hourly sunscreen reapplication is forgotten,” points out Ballot.

• Try to avoid the strongest rays of the sun between 10am and 4pm.

According to the Medical Research Council, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children under the age of five years old. The sea, rivers and dams are all potentially dangerous, but public and private swimming pools are the main danger hotspots.

make

safety your

priority

Ensure your family stays safe while enjoying the summer sun with these handy tips.

By MARC DE CHAZAL

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December 2014 / January 2015

Important things you should do to prevent tragedy • Make sure your children never swim alone and are always supervised by an adult.

• Learn life-saving skills such as CPR in the event of an emergency.

• Ensure your children can swim properly, but know their limits.

Cape Town-based swimming instructor Ross Johnston advises that children start swimming lessons as early as possible.

“A child who starts swimming before his first birthday will be swimming on his own by three years old,” he says.

• Make sure they only swim in safe areas.

The Childsafe campaign cautions homeowners with pools against relying on only one safety barrier as this can create a false sense of security. Studies in the US reveal that 70% of all pool drownings occur in fenced pools. To make your pool safer, use multiple layers of safety. Your pool fence should be SABSapproved and have a lockable, self-latching, spring-loaded gate.

You should also have a well-fitted, good quality net that can hold your child above water over the entire surface of the pool. To really beef up safety, use a subsurface pool alarm that will alert you if your child enters the water without you noticing.

Sunlight is one of our main sources of vitamin D, but unprotected exposure can lead to skin cancer. We have one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the world, reports the Cancer Association of South Africa.

flying the flag There are 57 Blue Flag beaches in South Africa.

This international award is given to beaches that meet the criteria for safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards. So if you’re looking for a beach with excellent life-saving standards, top-rate parking and clean ablution facilities, then opt for one with Blue Flag status. Visit blueflag.org.za

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

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health

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December 2014 / January 2015

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pregnancy news

bump on the move Being pregnant doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drive.

any pregnant women believe a seatbelt and airbags can cause more harm than good to them in an accident. Car safety for unborn children still needs more research because foetal injury and death are rarely part of statistics, but Swedish car manufacturer Volvo has developed a virtual crash test dummy called Linda, which is of average size and approximately “36 weeks pregnant”. Linda simulates how a pregnant woman moves in a crash and how the foetus moves inside her. They also researched how the seatbelt and airbag affect the woman and the foetus. After Linda was used in several simulated frontal collision tests, the conclusion was that everyone should wear a seatbelt – and in the case of pregnant women, it should be used correctly. The virtual tests also proved that airbags offer protection for both the mother and the foetus.

a snug fit Petro Kruger, director and cofounder of The Road Safety Foundation, explains how seatbelts should be used. “The lap-belt portion should be placed well under your pregnant tummy, snugly fitting over your pelvis and pubic bone and across your hips as high up on your thighs as possible. It’s really important that while driving you constantly check to see the lap belt has not risen up onto your bump,” says Kruger. “The shoulder strap should be positioned off to the side of the uterus and between the breasts. Again it’s important that while driving you routinely check that the shoulder belt is not lying directly over your bump as this could increase the risk of injury to your unborn baby during a high-speed collision.”

The aim is to be restrained over the body’s stronger areas, like the upper torso and pelvis, thus protecting the weaker parts of the body, such as the soft abdomen containing the fragile foetus. Kruger advises you make sure the SA National Standards Authority or the European Standards authority has approved your seatbelt.

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December 2014 / January 2015

sitting pretty Kruger says it’s advisable to sit as far back from the steering wheel as your legs will allow with the steering wheel tilted, normally downwards, to suit the size of your bump and stature. Your seat should not be too far back to compromise safe driving and control – about a 10cm space between your belly and the steering wheel is recommended.

air force “Pregnant women worry unnecessarily about injuries to their unborn baby following deployment of airbags,” says Kruger. “Any injuries that have been reported as a result of airbag deployment are most likely because of sitting too close to the steering wheel, or the incorrect wearing of seatbelts or not wearing one at all.” Kruger emphasises that airbags should never be seen as an alternative to seatbelts.

general safety • I f you are involved in a car accident, inform emergency medical personnel that you are pregnant.

• Even if you are involved in a low-speed bumper bash, visit your doctor as soon as possible.

• Carry a letter from your doctor confirming your pregnancy with your medical aid card. In case of a serious road accident, medical personnel will find this letter when looking for your medical aid details.

Courtesy of The Road Safety Foundation

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

m

MARINA ZIETSMAN gives some safety tips.

best for baby

in the clear A baby has an immature immune system and a far

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

a

more delicate skin than ours, making them more prone to developing skin sensitivities, writes LUCILLE KEMP.

part from a once-off bout of nappy rash during teething, Cape Town mom Alison’s son Jude didn’t suffer at all from the issues that affect many babies with sensitive skin. This could have been simple luck or it could have been due to the fact that she heeded professional advice to not disrupt his natural skin barrier.

As standard practice from the time he was born, she stayed away from soap, bathing and moisturising Jude only with emollient cream.

If your baby suffers from dry skin, hives, nappy rash, cradle cap, heat rash, welts that flare up from insect bites or eczema, Cape Town paediatrician Dr Salome Abbott and Durban specialist dermatologist Dr Imraan Jhetam both suggest as a starting point to adopt a skincare regime that addresses the specific needs of a baby.

effective everyday skincare Abbott says that colourants and perfumes have been found to irritate the skin and can cause flare-ups. For this reason dermatologists always recommend soapfree cleansers, according to Jhetam, as this will not strip the skin of moisture, as well as fragrance-free moisturizers to hydrate and maintain the delicate skin

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barrier. What works for one child may not work for another. Some moms have found surprising fixer-uppers for various skin irritations that are available without a prescription and have actually been suggested to them by their doctors – zinc ointment has helped bad nappy rash and welts have been effectively treated with petroleum jelly.

If your baby has been diagnosed with eczema, hydration with the use of a fragrance-free moisturizer needs to be more frequent, also bathing with glycerine soap maintains skin hydration. Jhetam says that if the skin is very dry, such as during winter, very fatty moisturizers such as an emulsifying ointment may be required more often; Abbott recommends at least twice a day.

Under a dermatologist’s supervision, treatment with mild cortisone cream may be needed to ease the inflammation of eczema and antihistamine syrup may be required to reduce the itching.

what to avoid Jhetam says water-based creams are not ideal for use, and you should look out for moisturizers that contain humectants like Cetamacrogol and fatty ingredients

like ceramides, glycerine and shea butter. Also, avoid products with urea as this may irritate the delicate skin and lanolin-based creams that may also cause irritation.

“Research has shown that fabric softeners and detergents do not adversely affect a baby’s skin, but rather the type of fabric, so avoid wool and opt for cotton,” advises Jhetam.

for severe eczema A study was done on eczema sufferers between six months and 17 years old and published in the May 2009 issue of Paediatrics. Bleach baths were found to be safe and effective when you soak the child for five to 10 minutes twice a week in a diluted bleach bath; scientists used a scant but specific dosage. “Diluted bleach baths are effective in treating children whose eczema is difficult to control,” says Abbott. “It works by helping clear the skin of bacteria. However, it should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.”

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dealing with difference

travelling with a special needs child DEIRDRÉ AMY GOWER has travelled around South Africa with her wheelchair-bound son and shares some practical tips for families facing similar challenges.

i

n June 2013, after taking my wheelchair-bound son, Damian (15), out of school for scheduled surgery and resigning from my job to be able to care for him during the four- to six-month recovery period, we found ourselves at a loose end when the surgery was unexpectedly cancelled. I decided on a three-week road trip to visit family while determining the way forward. Fourteen months later, that road trip has taken us on an extraordinary journey – discovering new places, forging friendships and finding a gentler way to live. We left Cape Town with some surprises in store for us, and I have packed – and unpacked – our car more times than I can count.

The first leg of our trip included stops in Swellendam, the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth and then on to East London to our family. From there we travelled to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, exploring the area as well as further afield to Durban – visiting a number of attractions and overcoming accessibility challenges when they arose. With time to spare en route back to Cape Town, our real adventures began. We stopped in Plettenberg Bay for two weeks as part of a farm volunteer programme – and ended up staying five months. Exchanging my office stilettos for gumboots, and with Damian by my side, we spent our days looking after and riding horses – a far cry from rushed city life. Returning to Cape Town to pick up where we left off, after a brief holiday with several more adventures in our own city ranging from a boat trip to Seal Island and a horseback safari, we found ourselves on another volunteer farm. Once again, one month became five.

We have learnt to adapt to diverse environments, to streamline our travel preparations and appreciate every moment – good or bad – as part of the journey. After all, a good journey is not just a physical trip, it is an exploration of self, broadening of horizons and building of resilience – and if we can share these things with our children, how fortunate we are.

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packing the car I have mastered the art of getting the maximum number of items into the minimum amount of space. Make sure wheelchairs are easily accessible – the first inclination is to pack bulkier items first. Whether stopping at attractions along the way, or doing a trip in one go, the wheelchair will be the first item needed at your destination. Pack clothing into smaller bags that can be used to fill spaces rather than one big bag that takes up space.

seating “The child should be well positioned and should be moved or stretched at least every two hours,” says occupational therapist Megan Giljam. “Positioning in the car is really important to prevent developing any deformities, inhibiting any patterns of movement like extension and ensuring adequate comfort and pressure relief. It is also quite important for the child to be able to see out the window and experience the excitement of a road trip.”

accommodation challenges Staying in different establishments, each with their own set of accessibility challenges, is a lesson in flexibility. Access to buildings is the first obstacle. Even if there are ramped entrances, the terrain leading to the place may be unpaved, making manoeuvring a wheelchair an exercise in strength and patience. The next hurdle is the bathroom. Some accommodation venues only have showers, which makes washing a differently-abled child difficult.

refreshments and bathroom stops “Special needs children need nutrientdense food,” says Cape Town nutritional therapist Heidi du Preez. “The journey alone might be stressful enough for them to cope with and should not be filled with sugarladen junk food. Plan ahead and pack healthy snacks.” I find Damian loses his appetite while travelling long distances, so keeping him hydrated is vital, though he will occasionally snack on yoghurt, bananas or magazine joburg

Enjoying the scenery on a bicycle trail

As volunteers on a farm in Malmesbury

Troy, the horse, and Damian on the farm in Plettenberg Bay

biltong – all of which are easy to pack and eat. Bathroom stops are tricky ordeals, so easy access to a wheelchair is essential.

benefit from games such as I-spy and count the lampposts or simply paging through books and cuddling a fluffy toy.

entertainment

activities and adventures

Music is always a winning choice for us, whether relaxing melodies or fun songs.

When music isn’t doing the trick, “spot all the white cars” is an excellent concentration game. Sometimes, after 10 minutes of silence and the game forgotten (at least for me), Damian will pipe up with an insistent “There!” indicating the approaching white car with his eyes. Special needs teacher, Joanne Heinen, from Alta du Toit School in Cape Town, often travels with her students and finds that the higher functioning children love to amuse themselves with iPads, while the lower functioning children

• Animal parks and aquariums are popular choices, and many cater for wheelchair users.

• River rafting is a fun option and a child can be seated snugly in the nose of a rubber croc, with a life jacket, while Mom and/or Dad paddle.

• With a selection of bicycle trailers now on the market, special needs children can be included on cycling outings.

• Horse riding is therapeutic as well as enjoyable. Many riding schools have suitable ponies on which special needs children can be led with assistance.

tips for flying Zelda Mycroft, CEO of the Chaeli Campaign and mom to inspirational International Children’s Peace Prize winner 2011, Chaeli Mycroft, shares tips from their travel experiences. booking your flight • When booking wheelchair assistance, some domestic carriers will give you a pile of additional medical forms to complete.

• Book middle and aisle seats, which are easier for access to the toilet and the passenger assist unit (PAU). Online bookings often don’t have the wheelchair/ disability information related to booking readily available.

• When booking an international flight, it’s essential to mention that you will need assistance. Make sure when you book that there is a slipper seat available on board for in-flight use (to take larger children to the toilet).

checking in and boarding • Ask questions – do not assume people know what to do.

• Request a seat that works best for you.

• Ensure PAU is booked.

• Ensure that the slipper seat is available for transit onto the plane.

• Flight attendants are generally friendly and especially helpful.

additional tips • Prepare for any eventuality – pack a spare emergency bag with clothes, antidiarrhoea meds and other essentials.

• Be patient and prepared to be last off. Don’t be in a hurry to go anywhere if you need assistance getting off the plane.

• Wet wipes are essential, along with a well-cultivated sense of humour.

• Introduce yourself to the person you are sitting next to – you might need their help at some stage.

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December 2014 / January 2015

15

resource

watch a children’s play Two great options this December are Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr at the Peoples Theatre and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at the National Children’s Theatre.

visit a Christmas market and bargain hunt for unique gifts.

The Montecasino Christmas Village in Fourways runs daily from 3 to 7 December.

dress-up Choose a theme and stage your own play.

write a letter to family collect pine cones Turn them into pine cone animals, angels or mini Christmas trees with some spray paint, glitter and cardboard.

overseas and include some photos.

take a cultural tour Cycle in Soweto offers half or full-day bicycle and car tours of the township.

make or do something from your parents’ childhood One idea is to

sing christmas carols by candlelight or attend a candlelit concert.

The Christmas Carols at the Lipizzaners in Kyalami takes place in December.

learn a traditional family recipe, like mince pies.

play mini golf Try out the Adventure Golf in Brightwater Commons in Randburg, Fourways Mall in Fourways, Park Meadows in Kensington or Stoneridge Centre in Edenvale.

what should we do today?

Keep your children busy in the holidays with these 25 family-friendly activities from CHILD MAGAZINE. Each day, you can do something new.

freeze dinosaurs or other plastic toys in a tub of water.

Then chisel the toys out.

play garden games Make

play frisbee Find camp out in the garden, roast marshmallows and star gaze.

have a water balloon contest Fill up small balloons with water, making sure each person has enough. Then give chase around the garden and see who can avoid getting wet.

visit an indoor playground spend a day at the dam Pack a picnic lunch, blankets and a ball, hire a canoe, swim and skim stones.

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In Mulbarton, Jungle Rumble offers indoor play areas for children, or try Funky Frogs in Roodepoort.

December 2014 / January 2015

a park, nature reserve or beach with enough space to throw a Frisbee. If there are enough of you, set up teams and try scoring Frisbee goals.

make stain glass windows Cut a frame out of black card and stick coloured tissue paper behind the frame, or use clear contact and stick everything onto this.

ride a pony At Tres Jolie in Ruimsig you can also see and feel farm animals, and even ride a camel.

ride a train Take a trip on a steam engine, such as the Reef Steamers, which departs from Joburg CBD for Magaliesburg, or from Rhodesfield for Irene, on various Saturdays in December.

start a garden Plant a veggie patch, start a herb box, make a flowerbed or turn an old fish tank into a fairy garden or terrarium.

bake a gingerbread man Decorate it with small sweets and icing (mix icing sugar and water together for a basic icing).

Feeling more creative? Try a gingerbread house.

go on a treasure hunt Draw a map and let your children set off in search of hidden treasure. visit a bike park where you’ll find a variety of tracks to suit all sorts of skill levels. One park to try is Hero Adventure Park at Heia Safari in Muldersdrift.

make a book or film a movie.

Write a story from your holidays and illustrate it, or film Christmas on a smartphone and turn it into a family movie.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

visit a library for story time and choose a book to take home.

Weltevreden Library has a holiday programme that follows a Christmas theme.

alphabet pebbles and play Scrabble outside. Play giant Jenga, grass twister or tic-tac-toe. Play pool noodle croquet, with noodles placed over tent pegs in a hoop. Have sack, threelegged and egg-and-spoon races.

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December 2014 / January 2015

17

education

what’s the right age to

start school?

While some educationalists insist starting school early gives children a head start in life, others argue a delayed beginning brings an accumulative advantage.

i

n an era when we all want to give our children the best start in life, the pressure of parental competition can be fierce. No wonder we agonise over the most advantageous age to start school.

In South Africa, moves are afoot to drop the age to five years old by making schooling from Grade R level compulsory, but currently the earliest we can enrol our children is at five-and-a-half. They must turn six by 30 June of their Grade 1 year, and have to start school by the year in which they turn seven.

The Department of Education stipulates that no child may be tested for school readiness before they have been accepted by the school, and that denying a child

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December 2014 / January 2015

admission on the grounds that they’re not “school-ready” is discriminatory. This puts the onus on us to decide when our child should start, within the government’s framework.

For many parents, the earlier they start the better. “Kayla’s really smart. She began reading by three, and I wanted to send her at four to give her an edge,” says her mother, Sandra*, a 28-year-old Durban clothing designer. “That’s the age children start school in the UK where my sister lives, and her two are now ahead. It doesn’t seem fair.”

Starting early can help keep bright children stimulated, boost their self-esteem (at being “smart enough” to go), and enable them to finish school earlier and start a career younger, maximizing their earning years. Internationally,

however, a growing number of parents are delaying the start of their children’s schooling, many inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s best-seller Outliers: The Story of Success (Black Bay Books).

Gladwell cites a study showing a disproportionate number of top Canadian hockey players were born early in the school year. Because they were older, and therefore bigger, stronger and more mature than younger competitors, they were more likely to be identified early as better athletes, given extra coaching, and selected for elite leagues. The implication is that a similar “accumulative advantage” could apply academically and in other areas for children who start later.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

GLYNIS HORNING weighs the pros and cons.

There is increasing evidence to support the benefits of a later start to formal education – but it rests less on “accumulative advantage” than on the importance of children spending more years at play. As British psychologist and researcher David Whitebread, author of Developmental Psychology and Early Childhood Education (Sage), puts it, “Neuroscientific studies have shown that playful activity leads to synaptic growth, particularly in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for all the uniquely human higher mental functions.” And his and other studies have demonstrated “superior learning and motivation from playful, as opposed to instructional, approaches to learning in children.”

School readiness has as much to do with emotional readiness and independence as cognitive ability.

Disturbingly, Whitebread says studies have documented the loss of play opportunities for children over the past few decades, and demonstrated “a clear link with increased indicators of stress and mental health problems.”

Recent New Zealand studies of children who started formal literacy lessons at ages five and seven, showed that by 11 there was no difference in reading ability level between them – and those who started at five developed less positive attitudes to reading, and showed poorer text comprehension. A separate study of 15-year-olds in 55

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countries showed “no significant association” between reading achievement and school entry age.

ready to perform “School readiness has as much to do with emotional readiness and independence as cognitive ability,” says Cape Town educational psychologist Dr René Daniels. It requires having the self-esteem and confidence to handle different situations, and generally a child of five is developmentally less confident and able to cope than one of seven.

Starting primary school is a major milestone, and older children are usually better able to separate from their

parents, interact with other children, listen to teachers, follow instructions, and remember things, says Daniels – “especially if they’ve been in educare before entering formal schooling.”

Older children are also better able to tolerate an 8am to 2pm school day without tiring easily, says Benoni educational psychologist Matshidiso Maseko.

Children can sense success and failure keenly, and if they cope better, they are more likely to be positive about school and do better. If they struggle compared to classmates, it can crush their confidence and discourage them, putting them off school and learning. “It’s

should your child repeat a year?

If your child doesn’t cope at school and proves emotionally or cognitively unready, should you hold them back?

Children can understand the idea of failure as young as three years old and feel bad repeating a year, questioning their self-worth, unless you convey the message to them carefully, says Dr René Daniels. But promoting them when they’re not ready can cause similar self-esteem issues and the feeling of not being good enough.

1 Rule out physical and emotional issues such as sickness, changes or traumas.

2 Explore alternatives: extra homework, tutoring, reading more with them, using stickers to reward progress.

3 Get advice from teachers and an educational psychologist – they may require specialised educational intervention, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, ADD monitoring or a remedial school rather than retention.

4 If they are to be retained, preferably do it in the first grade.

5 Know that some studies show gains in achievement for the first year, but these are small and grow smaller.

6 Know that retention has been associated with increased problems with behaviour and peer relationships.

7 Know too that some children forge ahead and flourish by being more mature than many new classmates.

8 Once you’ve decided, adopt a positive attitude about why this is the best thing and will help them catch up.

9 Give them an explanation to give others: “I was sick a lot when I was little” or “I just need more practise”.

10 Encourage them to express their feelings – they may need to grieve being separated from their friends.

11 Have them meet their new teacher and set up playdates with children who will be in their class.

12 Ditch self-doubt – even if this is a loss for your child right now, it doesn’t mean you’re not doing the right thing.

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education

heartbreaking when little ones aren’t able to meet the demands of a structured academic environment,” says Daniels. “It really damages self-esteem if parents pressurise children to perform when they’re not ready.”

In a study by Britain’s Institute of Fiscal Studies Research, children born at the end of the year, and therefore younger than others in class, were likely to score substantially lower in assessments, and were more than twice as likely to report being unhappy at school and being bullied.

Lacking emotional maturity, independence and resilience and being generally smaller than others makes younger children vulnerable, and in large classes teachers can struggle to give them the extra attention and care they need, says Daniels. They can also be unfairly labelled as failures or as not wanting to carry out instructions, says Maseko, when they’re simply not ready for formalised tuition.

Ironically, bright or gifted children such as Kayla can suffer the most from starting school early. A major US study over eight decades found that their intellect benefited from being slowed down in the early years so they could develop naturally. And according to Dr Richard House of Roehampton University’s Research Centre for Therapeutic Education in the UK, pushing smart children into formal schooling too early can result in their growing up in an “intellectually unbalanced” way, with possible lifelong negative health effects.

Not all children benefit from delayed entry. The US National Association for the Education of Young Children reports that some children who start older worry that they have failed, and develop poor attitudes toward school. They are more likely to have behaviour problems and drop out.

Bottom line? There is no “perfect time” for a child to start school. “Each case should be treated on merit,” says

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December 2014 / January 2015

Daniels. Every child is unique, and a holistic view of them should be taken, including their cognitive and emotional development. Factors to consider include their personality, home circumstances, medical history (such as recurring ear infections), even their position in the family – first-borns tend to mature earlier, says Daniels, although Maseko observes that they can sometimes be immature “due to parental anxiety”.

The key, say both psychologists, is to understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and to start them at school only when you are quite sure they are ready and will be happy – whatever their age. *Name has been changed.

is your child ready for school?

Most preschools assess children for school readiness in their final year, or an occupational therapist can do this. You can form an idea yourself with key criteria: Visual perception • Can they see similarities and differences between objects, match and sort them logically, and copy a pattern?

• Can they tell left from right?

• Can they draw a house or a person?

Gross motor skills • Can they balance on one leg, kick a ball and climb?

Fine motor skills • Can they grip a pencil properly?

• Can they draw lines accurately, colour in and cut within borders?

Emotional readiness • Can they accept separation from you?

• Can they interact with other children, share and take turns?

• Can they recognise and express feelings and needs?

• Can they make independent decisions and follow them through?

• Can they follow two or three instructions at once?

• Can they concentrate on tasks?

• Can they cope reasonably well with frustration?

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how to

old-fashioned fun Whether you’re travelling long distance

and need to pass the time or are just at a loose end during the holidays, beat boredom by playing these simple games with your children.

All you need is pen and paper.

By TAMLYN VINCENT

2 or more players Choose four numbers under 10.

Players must add, subtract, multiply or divide with these numbers to reach a total of 24. The first player to reach 24 wins.

word ladders

2 or more players Each player takes a sheet of paper and draws a head or face at the top. Players can be as creative as they like. They then fold the paper over so that only the lines for the neck are visible. Players pass their drawing to the person on the right, who draws the body of any creature they fancy, folding the paper over again so that only the tops of the legs are showing. On the next turn, players draw the legs, and then unfold the paper to reveal the drawing.

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1 or more players Players are given two words. Changing one letter at a time, the player must change the first word into the second.

other fun games to play

dots and boxes 2 players Create a grid of dots. Each player takes turns joining two dots together, using horizontal or vertical lines. If a player’s line creates a box, he may write his initial in the box and go again.

The player with the most boxes at the end wins.

• Noughts and crosses • Hangman • Battleships

ILLUSTRATIONS: shutterstock.com

heads, bodies and legs

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Visit childmag.co.za/content/ pen-paper-games to download these and more games.

December 2014 / January 2015

21

book extract

green In Star Fish, DAISY JONES uses only the top 10 most sustainable seafood off SASSI’s green list for her scrumptious recipes. Here are some delectable dishes to enjoy with your family.

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December 2014 / January 2015

serves 4

ingredients • sunflower oil, for deep-frying • ½ tsp sea salt • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 4 hake fillets (225g each) • 225g flour, plus extra for dusting • 285ml beer, cold • 3 heaped tsp baking powder method Unless you’ve got a really big fryer, don’t make fish and chips at home for more than four people.

Start cooking the fish only when your oven chips are in the oven. They’ll be in there for half an hour, about the same amount of time you’ll need to cook your fish in batches.

Pour the sunflower oil into your deep-fat fryer or a large frying pan and turn up the heat to high. (We are aiming for 190ºC). Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the fish fillets. This will help to remove any excess water, making the fish really meaty (the same principle as pre-salting). Whisk together the flour, beer and baking powder until shiny. It should be as thick as semi-whipped double cream. Dust each fish fillet in a little of the extra flour. Before you dip the fish in the batter, check that the oil is ready. A raw chip or cube of bread should rise to the top easily, but the oil should not be smoking.

1

2

3

Dip the fish into the batter and allow any excess to drip off. Holding one end, lower the fillets into the oil one by one, carefully so you don’t get splashed – it will depend on the size of your fryer how many fish you can do at once. Cook for 4 minutes or so, until the batter is golden and crisp. When one batch of fish is done, drain it on kitchen paper then simply pop it in the oven with the chips to keep warm (though don’t leave the fish in there too long; remember the oven is scorching hot).

I like lemon and tartar sauce with my fish, and malt vinegar and sea salt with my chips.

4

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PHOTOGRAPHS: Craig Fraser

keep it

hake in beer batter

delhi kedgeree serves 4

4 5

ingredients • 4 eggs • 1 potato, cut into chunks • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 pack frozen haddock steaks • 2 bay leaves • 225ml long-grain or basmati rice • 125g unsalted butter • 1 medium onion, finely chopped • 1 clove freshly chopped garlic or 1 tsp chopped garlic from a tub • 2 heaped tsp curry powder • 1 can brown lentils • 2 lemons • 2 good handfuls fresh coriander, roughly chopped method Preheat the oven to 150°C, if you are planning to take a break between cooking and serving.

Boil the eggs and potato chunks together, in salted boiling water. The eggs will be done after 6 to 8 minutes; the potato may need a little longer. When the eggs are done remove them from the

1 2

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Cook the basmati. It must rest for 5 minutes.

Melt the butter in a pan over a low heat and add the onion and garlic.

Allow to soften without colouring for about 5 minutes, then add the curry powder and cook for a couple of minutes more. Add the lentils, potato and juice of 1 lemon.

6

Peel and cut the eggs into quarters.

Add the rice mixture to the pan.

If you are serving immediately, gently heat the mixture over a low heat, adding the egg and coriander towards the end – and being careful not to break the egg quarters.

7

If you are taking a break now, before serving, put the fish and

rice mixture in an ovenproof casserole dish, arrange the egg and coriander on

pan with a slotted spoon and leave them

the bay leaves. Bring to the boil, cover and

top, and put the dish, covered, into the

in a bowl of cold water. When the potato

simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the

preheated oven.

is done, drain it.

fish is heated through. Remove from the

3

Put the haddock (defrosted or not) into a frying pan with some water and

pan and, when cool enough to handle, flake and set aside.

8

Serve with the second lemon, cut into wedges, creamy yoghurt and

hot mango pickle or atchar.

December 2014 / January 2015

23

book extract

pickled fish serves 8 to 10

Yellowtail is an excellent fish to use for pickling. The cubes hold together well, making it unnecessary to batter the fish. ingredients • 4 large onions, finely sliced • 1 whole yellowtail, about 2kg • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • oil, for frying • 3 cups dark vinegar • 1 cup water • 200ml sugar • 1 tbsp turmeric • 3 tbsp curry powder • 1½ tsp salt • 1 tbsp black peppercorns • 6 bay leaves • 1 cup sultanas (optional) • 2½ tbsp flour method The fish must be cubed into bite-size chunks, about 2,5cm in diameter. I cut off all the brown meat. Also, there must be no trace of skin or bone. The sliced

onion needs to be fine, but with a bit of substance. You want a bit of firm onion in your pickled fish – not mush or hard chunks. Season the yellowtail cubes lightly with salt and pepper then fry briefly in hot oil until cooked through. Don’t overcook the fish.

Drain on kitchen paper. Now put the vinegar, water, sugar, turmeric, curry powder, salt and peppercorns into a large pot and bring to the boil. Add your carefully sliced raw onion and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, until the onion is cooked but still ever-so-slightly crunchy. Get a ladle of the hot sauce out of the pot and mix it with the flour. Now return the mixture to the pot. Stir over high heat. The sauce must thicken. Layer the fish, sultanas (if using) and onion in a large dish. Don’t use a metal dish; there will be a reaction with the vinegar over time. Pour the sauce over the layers, cover and refrigerate. Your pickled fish will taste best after three days in the fridge. Pickled fish will keep for up to 6 months.

tomato salsa serves 2

Seared meaty fish, like yellowtail or tuna, and sour, hot tomato salsa is a classic combination. ingredients • 1 cup finely chopped tomato • 1 spring onion • ½ fresh chilli, de-seeded • fresh mint, finely chopped, to taste • fresh coriander, finely chopped, to taste • juice of ½ a lime (or ½ a lemon), plus wedges for serving • extra virgin olive oil • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper method Finely chop the tomato, onion and chilli on a board. Add the chopped

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December 2014 / January 2015

herbs and mix. Add the lime (or lemon) juice and about the same amount of oil, tasting to see if more lime is required. Season generously and serve with wedges of lime (or lemon).

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salad nicoise serves 4

You can use seared tuna steaks (two steaks, 100g–200g each) in place of the tinned tuna. Please only use local albacore or yellowfin tuna that’s been pole-caught.

and run them under the cold tap. This

ingredients • 200g fine green beans • 2 eggs, hard boiled and peeled • cos or gem lettuce, a handful per person • 1 large handful rocket or basil, or mix • ¼ cucumber • 3 ripe tomatoes, quartered • 8 baby potatoes, boiled and halved (optional) • ¼ red onion, peeled and thinly sliced or 2 spring onions, thinly sliced (optional) • 12 black/calamata olives, stones removed • 1 can tuna in oil • 10 anchovy fillets

Now quarter that bit of cucumber and

method First blanch your green beans.

Drop the beans into boiling, unsalted water and allow them to cook for 2 minutes or so. Taste one.

It should be firm and just tender, retaining all its bright green colour.

They should not be cooked through.

Now get the beans into a colander

1

will arrest the cooking process so they keep their colour and don’t get soft.

Wash the lettuce leaves and rocket/ basil. Cut off a quarter of a cucumber. slice it lengthwise with the peeler, making sure you have a border of skin on all your peelings. Thinly slice your onion, if using. Get the eggs in to boil.

Cook for 10 minutes then leave in cold water until cool enough to handle. Peel and quarter.

2

De-stone the olives by squashing the olive with your thumb to split

the fruit. You should be able to pick out the stone, leaving the two halves joined. Make salad dressing.

3

Now place the gem or cos lettuce leaves flat on a plate and pile

the rocket/basil leaves in the middle.

Sprinkle with dressing. Now pile the green beans on top, and add a layer of cucumber slivers and onion. Sprinkle dressing all over the salad again. Place the tomato quarters, stoned olives, egg quarters and potato halves (if using) in a rough ring around the green heap in the middle. Drizzle with dressing. Scatter the tuna on top. Lastly, lay the anchovy fillets over the chunks in the salad. Dress the salad once more but don’t toss it.

about the book In this fresh take on ocean-friendly fish, Daisy Jones gives us recipes that are simple, delicious and contemporary. This book is for home cooks who want to eat more fish and want to do the right thing. There are family favourites and crowd-pleasers featuring fresh fish and shellfish, but there are also bold flavours here to complement oily, salted, smoked fish…

Switching to green fish is an adventure. Star Fish (Quivertree Publications) is available in all good bookstores for R450.

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December 2014 / January 2015

25

parenting

the blame game When things go wrong in the family, from divorce to death or abuse,

hen seven-year-old Hayley stopped eating and started acting out at school, her mother attributed it to grief for her late grandmother. She was shaken when a therapist said it was more than that. “Hayley actually blamed herself for Nana’s death,” says the Pietermaritzburg hairdresser.

“She was eaten by guilt, sure that if she’d remembered to water Nana’s pansies [a chore she’d neglected] and been a good girl, Nana wouldn’t have had a heart attack and died.”

Many children blame themselves when those they love fall ill or die, fight or divorce, neglect them or even abuse them, and it can affect them years later as adults.

“Young children, especially, don’t have access to the hard facts that we as adults

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December 2014 / January 2015

Take steps to prevent it, writes GLYNIS HORNING. do, or are unable to grasp them entirely,” says Joburg clinical psychologist Liane Lurie. “The only tangible source they have is themselves, and so the cycle of selfblame begins.”

A child’s world is centred on the stability of structures around them, Lurie says. “Adults are seen as omnipotent and as only good, so if something goes horribly wrong, the only reasonable explanation is to attribute it to themselves. Children are also often asked to behave better or be quieter in the face of a potential crisis, and are prone to interpret this as a message that the ensuing chaos is their fault,” she explains.

Self-blame is fed by children being naturally self-centred. At this stage of their development they believe that everything

that happens to them is linked to them, and often believe that by thinking about or wishing for something, or by doing or not doing something, they can make things happen. If only they had watered the flowers, or not made Mom and Dad angry, or had been kinder or cleverer or somehow better, this would not have happened.

Magical thinking, as it’s called, can sometimes offer a sense of control, which children crave. It’s frightening to deal with the reality of being powerless in the face of traumatic events, explains Joburg educational psychologist June Manala.

So it’s preferable to believe that if they just try harder or become better, they can change things back – the dead person may come back to life, or Mom and Dad may get together again. “This is necessary

for psychological survival, but beyond a certain period the repercussions can be considerable,” she says.

“it’s not your fault” Self-blame can leave children weighed down by guilt for years, or wrapped in shame, preventing them from functioning fully and growing to their potential, Manala explains – more limiting self-beliefs are formed in childhood than at any other stage. They are also at risk of depression and anxiety disorders, and adolescents may attempt to escape in substance abuse and risky sexual, or other, behaviour (see “signs of self-blame in children” box).

It’s essential to overcome self-blame in order to heal. And the best way a parent can help lift the burden is with the words

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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children may blame themselves – with serious consequences.

“It’s not your fault”. “These four words are truly one of the most powerful gifts an adult can give a child,” says Sue Bohlin, contributing author to Marriage, Family and Sexuality (Kregel). “This is a powerful truth that children need to hear and they can’t tell themselves; only an adult can.”

Be sure your body language reflects the words, adds Manala. “Younger children rely on nonverbal communication and can easily pick up inconsistencies, particularly in the facial expressions of adults.”

If a child still doesn’t respond, get professional help. “They must feel they are being taken seriously and that they are

understood,” says Manala. Play therapy can help them express their feelings and resolve psychosocial challenges. Or cognitive behavioural therapy can show them how their thinking patterns are colouring their views, and teach them to examine their views more objectively, so they feel and cope better.

Through therapy, Hayley has come to terms with her gran’s death, and accepted it wasn’t her fault. “We’ve planted more pansies for Nana,” says her mom.

“But she knows it’s just a lovely way of helping keep our memories of Nana alive – nothing more.”

signs of self-blame in children

‘It’s not your fault’ is a powerful truth that children need to hear.

• Acting out (from anger, fear or subconsciously seeking punishment because they feel guilty) • Withdrawing (from feeling overwhelmed, worthless, depressed) • Complaining of aches or pains • Change in sleep and eating patterns • Regressing (bed-wetting, thumb-sucking) • Dropping in school grades • Engaging in risk-taking and sexual behaviour • Using alcohol or drugs (to soothe uncomfortable emotions) • Self-harming (chewing fingers, pulling out hair, cutting themselves) Ask your doctor about counselling or contact Sadag: 0800 21 22 23 or sms 31393

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December 2014 / January 2015

27

parenting

stopping self-blame Self-blame can play out differently depending on its source, and should be addressed preemptively if possible “so the child can get on with the business of being a child, unburdened by it,” says educational psychologist June Manala. “Provide children with as much information as possible about what is happening in age-appropriate terms,” adds clinical psychologist Liane Lurie.

“Remember that a child’s imagination is vivid and will fill in any remaining gaps.” after divorce When parents divorce, a child’s world falls apart, with changes in their family structure and routine, and often in where they live and go to school.

Self-blame thinking: “If I’d been a better person/behaved better, my dad or mom might still be here.”

What you (and your ex) need to say: “It’s not your fault – it’s about us.

We won’t be getting together again, but we both love you and will always be there for you.”

Take care: “Avoid criticising each other in front of your child,” says Lurie. “Any

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December 2014 / January 2015

conflict a child has about which parent to choose, or fear of displeasing the other, will create more self-blame.”

they may be more prone to open up if the setting is more relaxed and you gradually introduce potentially emotional topics.”

after illness or death When someone a child loves gets seriously ill or dies, it can be too difficult to understand and too painful to accept, as can the fear it may bring that others they love could also get ill or die.

Self-blame thinking: “If I’d been a better person/behaved better, they might still be fine.”

What you need to say: “Sometimes children think a sickness or death is their fault. Do you? It’s sad, but nothing you said or did made this happen. Are you frightened I may get sick or die too? Even if I did one day, you would be well cared for by X.” Take care: “Be careful of amplifying your child’s fears through incessant questioning,” says Lurie. “Introduce the topic and see what their questions are. Let them know that if there’s anything they’re worried about, you will always try to answer it as best you can. Remember that a child’s primary language may be play –

after physical or sexual abuse When a child is abused, especially by a family member or adult in a position of trust, they often find it easier to blame themselves.

Self-blame thinking: “I must have made them want to do that to me; I let them do it. I must be wicked or worthless. If they’re sent away, it’s my fault for telling.”

What you need to say: Sexual abuse can cause the most self-blame for numerous reasons, which you need to counter individually: • They may feel guilty that they didn’t fight: “It’s not your fault, you don’t yet have the mental or physical power of an adult – you could only do what you had to in order to survive.”

• They let the abuse go on: “It’s not your fault; you were confused (or led on, threatened or scared).”

• They were aroused: “It’s not your fault; touch can feel nice or exciting, and our bodies respond automatically.”

• They enjoyed feeling special: “It’s not your fault – you deserve to feel loved and special, but adults must do it in an appropriate way.”

• They were told by the abuser it was their fault: “It’s not your fault. They said it because they knew what they were doing was wrong and they didn’t want you to tell on them.”

• The abuser was sent away because the child told on them: “It’s not your fault. It was right to tell – they need help, and now they can get it.”

• They have been abused before by different people: “It’s not your fault.

People who do these things often pick on people who have been hurt before. I will see that you are safe. We will manage together.”

Take care: “A child will be especially prone to self-blame if they’ve been told by the abuser to be silent about what transpired,” says Lurie. “This enhances their sense of shame. Self-blame is also amplified when there’s been no appropriate adult intervention to stop the abuse. The child begins to believe they were not good enough for anyone to rescue them.”

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getaway

blogging

in bali

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MARC DE CHAZAL tells how Andrea Kuti, her three children and husband relocated to Bali

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for three months on a trip of a lifetime.

hen Cape Town mom Andrea Kuti read about a natural birthing centre in Bali, Indonesia, a dream was born of furthering her knowledge and experience as a midwife. In 2012, Andrea was accepted to intern at the centre, which meant taking her husband and three young children, then aged nine, eight and three, to Bali for three months. Their plan, which had been two years in the making, entailed her husband, Greg, homeschooling their children for two months, while Andrea interned long hours at the centre. They would then spend their final month in Bali enjoying a family holiday.

The natural birthing centre is in the village of Nyuh Kuning near Ubud. “They arranged for us to live with a local family in the village for October and November, which was exactly what Greg and I wanted for our family – to live among locals and experience something of their culture,” Andrea says. “We went to Bali knowing very little about the place, and now that we’re back in South Africa, I really wish we could have stayed longer.”

Andrea’s children, especially her sons Tantan (8) and Mani (9), are well travelled, so the prospect of living in Bali for a few months was just another globetrotting adventure for them. The children had to be taken out of school for a term, but their parents were confident that they would not fall behind. Andrea and Greg came up with an unconventional idea for home schooling them. “We are very cautious about letting our children loose on the internet,” Andrea says, “but blogging was a perfect opportunity to allow them to use it for a constructive purpose. I set up a blog for each of the boys before we got to Bali, which I made private, so only family and friends we invited could access their posts. They could write about whatever they wanted to, which we supervised, and this soon covered literacy, social and cultural studies, computer skills as well as keeping in touch with loved ones around the world. It was wonderful to see their writing skills develop and observe how they perceived their experiences in a foreign land.”

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getaway

base camp Andrea admits they were a bit sceptical when they arrived in Bali and saw what was to be home for two months. The small two-roomed house was located in a family compound. The tiny kitchen was in a corner of the veranda, which also served as the lounge and study area, and the children bathed in buckets in the bathroom. But as they adjusted to a simpler way of life than the one they’d left behind in Cape Town, Andrea says they settled in to their natural surroundings, and cramped spaces eventually seemed more expansive.

“We would wake in the mornings to a plethora of unfamiliar sounds and smells – prayerful incense, crowing roosters and clucking chickens,” she says. “After breakfast I would head off to the birthing centre, which was within walking distance, and Greg and the children would take

like this all the time. Andrea points out that the slower pace of life on the island impacts the roadways too. “No-one speeds, but there is a lot of hooting – not because of road rage, but to alert other road users to watch out for you,” she explains.

They did fall off their scooter once while travelling home on a bumpy road from a trip to a restaurant located deep in the rice fields. “First my dad fell right into the ditch, then my brother holding my baby sister fell next to him onto the ground, and then me straight onto my brother and sister,” wrote Tantan in his blog. “My dad’s knees were bleeding, my brother’s left elbow was bleeding, my sister bumped her head and I never hit, grazed or made anything bleed, for as I said, I fell on my brother and sister.” Andrea wasn’t involved in the tumble as she was following behind on a bicycle. Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured.

We went to Bali knowing very little about the place, and now that we’re back in South Africa, I really wish we could have stayed longer. living local Mani and Tantan had read up about Balinese culture before their trip. They’d learnt that one shouldn’t sit with your toes pointing towards another person, as this is considered rude, so when they got off the plane they did their best to walk with their toes pointing inwards. It’s not a very practical way to walk, so it didn’t last very long, but Andrea was impressed that her children were trying to be respectful of a foreign culture, even if it was mostly child’s play.

One predominant aspect of Balinese culture is religious ceremony, which happens on a daily basis. Mani blogged about one: “We are invited to our taxi driver’s son’s baby ceremony… In Balinese-Hindu tradition, a baby is not

Clockwise from top left: Yasmin trying on a handmade sarong; on a two-wheeler on the streets of Bali; at an organic restaurant in the middle of a rice field outside Ubud

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December 2014 / January 2015

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PHOTOGRAPHS / ILLUSTRATIONS: ANDREA KUTI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

care of the daily running of the home and their home-school projects.” This included washing clothes by hand, which the children were unaccustomed to, coming from a city where there are washing machines to do the dirty job. In retrospect, Andrea says that everyone pitching in to do menial housework actually made the family more appreciative of one another.

But it wasn’t all mundane chores. There was a lot of adventure to be found in Bali.

Reading their blog posts reveals exciting excursions, including trips off the beaten track. Their main mode of transport for the first two months was a hired scooter, which Greg commandeered. The two boys sat behind him, with their three-year-old sister, Yasmin, sandwiched between her brothers. Entire families travel about Bali

Clockwise from left: On a home-schooling trip to the Arma Museum; Yasmin at a temple ceremony; drinking raw coconut at a household blessing ceremony in full Bali garb

allowed to touch the ground for three months, so this was the ceremony that he touched the ground for the first time.

It was highly interesting, and they put all this gold and jewellery on him, probably representing the hope that he might get good luck and be rich in his adult life ahead. The priest blessed him with holy water, and they did a mini ceremony, going around the big Balinese family compound, spraying holy water, and throwing petals everywhere.”

One can appreciate aspects of a foreign culture by simple observation, but language can pose a very real barrier to effective communication. Andrea and her family learnt some common Balinese words and phrases from a language programme she had downloaded before the trip, and these proved very useful, especially at the birthing centre. “The children interacted easily with our host family’s children because they simply found common ground through play,” says Andrea.

Andrea says there were many other exciting highlights of their time in Bali, such as a minor earthquake that rattled their Nyuh Kuning home in the family compound, but the life lessons were especially memorable. “I wanted my children’s assumptions about what is ‘normal’ to be challenged – and they were,” she says. “There are many things that we simply take for granted in our home culture or social environment, and these may not be the norm at all for others. We were often surprised, however, and deeply moved to see how aligned our family’s value system was with the various people we met.”

Blogging also taught their children important lessons. One home-school excursion was a three-day camp at the Green School in Sibang Kaja, an environmentally-friendly private school made entirely out of bamboo. Mani was involved in a minor spat with a few children at the school and unwisely used his blog

We would wake in the mornings to a plethora of unfamiliar sounds and smells – prayerful incense, crowing roosters and clucking chickens. life lessons An unexpected highlight took place one day when they decided to explore Amed and its surroundings – by car this time, not by scooter and bicycle. They ended up high in the mountains… and got lost. They had asked locals if the road they were travelling on was good, but what they thought was confirmation was actually a classic example of broken telephone. It turns out that the road’s name was Jalan Bagas, not jalan bagus, which means “good”. So it wasn’t wise to choose this road for a joyride. They managed to find their way back to the hotel eventually, and the children had great material to blog about. magazine joburg

to call them out. “We explained to him why it’s never a good idea to do this on the internet, because in our digital age everything is recorded and forever accessible. We encouraged him to delete the problematic bits from his post, which he did,” explains Andrea.

The blog posts the boys wrote during their three-month Bali adventure have given Andrea and Greg some special insight into their children’s thinking, which they may not have been mindful of had they spent these three months at home.

And blogging about their experiences has likely strengthened their memories of Bali, which turned out to be so much more than a family holiday.

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how to

the joy of giving MARC DE CHAZAL speaks to Child Welfare, and offers us some

elson Mandela said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Many children are dealt an unfair hand when they’re born: their homes and communities are rife with drug and alcohol abuse, physical and sexual abuse is rampant, and poverty casts a grim shadow over their futures.

Various child welfare organisations around the country bring hope to these children and can make a real difference in their lives, but not without our help.

cape town child welfare Cape Town Child Welfare (CTCW), South Africa’s oldest child welfare organisation, has been around since 1908. They help children emerge from crisis situations to ultimately live fruitful, productive lives.

3%

Children legally removed from crisis situations that are successfully reunited with their biological families.

“We are first and foremost a child protection organisation,” says Ina Vermeulen, who manages the intervention aspects for CTCW. “We investigate incidents of child neglect, abandonment and abuse.

About 42 new cases come through our doors every week. We also facilitate the foster care placements of children who are removed from harmful situations.” Sadly, only 3% of children legally removed from crisis situations are successfully reunited with their biological families. CTCW reaches around 4 500 children each year.

Their holiday programmes are a regular way of reaching out to many children at the same time, including those who may be at risk. These children also benefit from a nutritious meal each day during the programme. “Our community development workers organise and run the various holiday programmes for us, which have been developed to teach children life skills as well as leadership skills,” says Vermeulen.

It costs money to help this number of children. Only 48% of the organisation’s annual budget is subsidised by government; the rest of the R4 million needed to

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operate their intervention, food parcel and prevention projects each year comes from the private sector. That’s where you and I come in. Fundraising for the organisation involves direct mail, organised events, and social donor platforms such as GivenGain channels donations to worthy causes.

“Our adoption service is quite established,” says Penny Whitaker, who heads up this department for CTCW, “so it’s not our greatest need. There is a lot of interest in adopting children. We facilitate this process, which includes screening to ensure that children are adopted by caring, loving people. The best interest of the child is always our number one priority. We also offer counselling courses for families who adopt cross-culturally and the Rainbow Support Group provides ongoing support for them.”

So, if their greatest need is not for more of us to line up to adopt children, important as this is, how can we help? Here are other practical suggestions: • Emergency kits, which include essentials such as nappies, for emergency foster care placements; • Social relief – food vouchers and food parcels for when children are removed from high-risk situations and placed into safe care; • School shoes, and • Donations to finance holiday programmes and other projects.

Contact Cape Town Child Welfare: 021 638 3127 or visit helpkids.org.za

joburg child welfare Joburg Child Welfare (JCW) has been helping children in Gauteng for 100 years. They have a strong emphasis on community involvement, encouraging people to do their bit to change the lives of children for the better. It can be daunting for the most proactive of us to actually organise a fundraising event, which is why they have come up with some great magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

n

practical ways to help out this season.

ideas to help you plan your event. Here are a few: • Quiz night – hold a quiz in your local pub or community venue and charge teams to enter. Ask a local business to donate a prize.

• Golf days and other sports tournaments can be turned into a fundraiser with prizes for the winners.

• Set up a stall at a local fête and sell crafts and baked goods.

You can even try to get sponsorship for an event you’re already signed up for, which is what Jannie Smit did. He raced in the 94.7 Cycle Challenge and managed to raise R2 710 for JCW. Tristan Green, on the other hand, asked his friends to bring a pair of pyjamas in lieu of a gift for his 15th birthday. He then donated these pyjamas to children in the care of JCW. Contact Joburg Child Welfare: 011 298 8566 or visit jhbchildwelfare.org.za

child welfare tshwane For 95 years, Child Welfare Tshwane has been helping children in seven communities throughout Pretoria. Bramley Children’s Home is one of their current projects, which takes care of 54 children. This home depends on community involvement. You can help them in the following ways: • Donations for a December holiday programme for children that do not have families to spend time with over the Christmas period;

• Food donations, clothes or any secondhand items; • Cleaning materials, stationery or educational toys, and • Getting involved in one of their many fundraising events during the year.

A BBEE certificate and tax certificate is available for all donations over R200.

Contact Child Welfare Tshwane: 012 460 9236 or visit childwelfare.co.za

child welfare durban “We’ve been offering child protection services to communities in the Durban area for 95 years,” says Saveetha Matthews of Child Welfare Durban and District (CWDD). “But the expense of service delivery and the complete cost to raise well-rounded children is enormous, so funding from the business sector and donations from individuals is always appreciated.”

Their services are similar to those provided by other child welfare organisations in the country. Here’s how you can assist to meet their immediate needs in Durban: • School supplies and stationery, and • School uniforms and school shoes.

CWDD has recently opened a charity shop called Donation Station, which accepts donations of clothing, books, ornaments and toys.

Contact Child Welfare Durban and District: 031 312 9313 or visit cwdd.org.za

one man’s trash…

Spring-cleaning your house may produce all sorts of unwanted stuff you could give away to worthy causes. However, used goods should not be donated if they are in an embarrassing state of disrepair or of questionable quality. Give essential, practical items that can make a difference in a child’s life, not simply because you want to get rid of it.

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33

education

checked off Use the holidays to prep for the frantic back-to-school period, armed with CHILD MAGAZINE’S helpful reminders for every stage of your child’s schooling. preschool routine and schedule • Start preparing for the new school year by getting your child back into a routine. Get her to wake up at the same time she would for school, get dressed and have breakfast.

• Talk to your child about school and their first day. It is natural for children to experience separation anxiety and to shed a few tears during their first few days or weeks. Let her know what to expect and reassure her that you will see her at the end of the day.

• Find out who your child’s teacher will be and where the classroom is located in the school.

• Figure out how your child will get to school. Will you use a lift service or will either you or your partner be able to drop them off?

• Come up with a short and sweet goodbye ritual – a high five, a quick hug or “see you later alligator”. Routines are comforting and help your child to understand what is happening.

Whatever you decide, make sure you say goodbye. Don’t quickly disappear when she’s distracted. You want your child to trust you and not think you’ll disappear every time she turns her back.

• Ensure your child’s school bag is big enough and still in good condition.

• Some schools request that your child has a change of clothes available in the event of mishaps and a blanket or pillow for nap times.

• Ensure your child has a hat and sunscreen for outside play.

• Does your child have the right footwear?

Consider getting your child to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off (no laces).

• Ensure that your child has suitable clothes for messy play and tumbles on the playground.

• Be considerate of the person changing your child’s nappies by opting for clothes that are easy to slip on and off.

play time • You may need to arrange for aftercare or extramurals if the preschool closes before you’re able to pick your child up.

Find out what the school’s operating hours are and note what activities they offer.

ready for school

create a budget • • • •

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Set up a budget and decide what you need to buy now and what can wait.

Prioritise items that are compulsory, such as summer school uniforms.

Set aside an amount for expenses that come once school starts, like locker deposits.

Find out if you need to order through a specific store or stock shop. Or look around for good quality second-hand items, like textbooks.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

• If your child has any medical conditions or allergies, stock up on extra medication that the school may require in case of an emergency.

• Check that you have purchased all the necessary stationery and school supplies. The school should have supplied you with a list.

• Make sure everything is labelled. Use a laundry marker or order labels from a label company.

primary school routine and schedule • Before school starts, get your child into a good bedtime routine.

• If your child’s schedule is going to be different next year, explain this to them ahead of time. Talk to your child about what to expect after school has finished, such as where to go for aftercare, who will be picking her up and when.

ready for school • If you need to visit the school stock shop, find out when they are open and schedule time early in the holidays.

• Find out what school bags are acceptable or whether you have to buy bags from the school. Take into consideration how much your child will need to carry. Older children may have more books or your child may need different clothes for extramurals.

• Buy stationery, textbooks and exercise books early to avoid the rush. Use contact to cover books and textbooks to keep them in good condition.

• Label books and stationery, especially items such as pencil bags, scissors and calculators.

• Label all clothing items – school uniforms, sports and PE gear (if you already know what you need), hats and shoes. If your child is attending aftercare, label these clothes as well. Don’t buy or use new clothes for aftercare.

• Make an appointment for a haircut just before school starts. Boys’ hair should be out of the eyes and off the collar.

For girls, make sure clips or hairbands are the right colour. If hair is short, ensure it’s off the face.

play time • Does the school offer aftercare or do you need to pick up your child when school ends? For aftercare, find out what clothes and food is required and what’s provided.

• If your child is required to do sport, get any uniform or equipment early on.

• If extramurals are offered, discuss the options with your child and sign up early if you can.

• Check in advance what sort of swimming ability the school requires of children. If necessary, send your child to swimming classes during the holidays.

healthy lunchbox ideas • A sk your child what she’d like for lunches. Plan a few healthy lunches in advance and write a shopping list.

• Check if the school has a no nuts, sweets or junk food policy.

• Does your child have a water bottle?

• There are companies that deliver school lunchboxes directly to the school or to your door. Find out if there is one in your area.

• If your child is allowed to buy from the tuck shop, chat about healthy choices and what she should and shouldn’t buy.

Lunchbox fillers: • Cheese blocks, nuts and biltong, grapes, fruit kebabs, berries, cookie cutter veggies and cheese, apple bites with peanut butter dip

magazine joburg

Finger snack lunches: • C heese squares, mini cheese biscuits, chicken pieces, ham slices, cherry tomatoes, cucumber rounds and carrot or celery sticks Sandwich fillers: • C hicken mayo, cream cheese and cucumber, hummus, carrots and tomatoes Other ideas: • Sushi sarmies (cut the crust off the bread and roll it up with the filling inside), salad jars (layer salad ingredients in a bottle or plastic container; pack a fork).

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education

high school routine and schedule • Given that the first week is orientation for Grade 8s, make sure you know where and what time they need to meet on the first day.

• Remind your child to check the procedure for ordering name badges and booking lockers, and be prepared to pay a fee.

ready for school • Fit and buy school wear – uniforms, shoes and costumes – preferably only in January, to allow as much time as possible during the holidays for growth spurts.

• Take up hems to uniform standards ensuring that your daughter feels comfortable with the result.

• Wash new school uniforms before your child wears them so the fabric is not hard.

• Make sure your daughter has ample hair elastics that meet requirements, that your son’s hair is the right length, and that nails are short. Check the school’s ear piercings policy.

• For hygiene, suggest that your teen packs deodorant. Buy antibacterial waterless soap for school bags. If girls have just started their menstrual cycle,

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remind them to always carry backup in their school bag and to not flush pads or applicators.

• Labels need to be done. You can use iron on labels for uniforms, but these often have to be redone throughout the year, so perhaps sew them in. It is recommended to buy a label printer, which works well for uniforms and stationery.

• Stock up on project stuff, such as flip files, cardboard and coloured paper.

• Buy pretty paper, cellotape and labels to cover books.

• Purchase plasters for blisters caused by new shoes.

• A laminator is handy for lesson handouts and study material.

• Keep a cupboard or shelf for spare stationery at home instead of sending all of your child’s stationery on the first day.

play time • Visit the school’s website with your child and discuss what sports, activities and possible language electives are available.

• Start a conversation with her about what to expect from initiation.

• Buy your teen that new hockey stick or pair of cricket gloves; the gesture makes a special occasion of starting high school.

health checks for the new year • • • • •

Get eyes tested, once your child can read or recognise letters.

Visit a dentist every six months.

Deworm your family at the beginning of the year and again after six months.

Check that immunisation cards are up to date.

Consider starting your child on a multivitamin before school starts, to avoid the inevitable spread of germs.

• Buy sunscreen to pack in your child’s bag. body awareness and safety When your child is ready, have a conversation about HIV and Aids. To start with, learn the facts yourself. Keep your conversation simple and age-appropriate, focusing on what your child can understand. For preschoolers, start with germ awareness. For older children, explain that HIV is a germ passed between people when they share body fluids. Be careful to explain that you can’t get HIV by being friends with someone, hugging them or sharing with them. If your child knows about sex, then perhaps mention that this is one way the germs are spread. If you haven’t discussed this topic yet, avoid mentioning sex, so your child doesn’t associate it with disease. Regardless, be prepared to answer questions about sex and death. Speak to children about their bodies and their private areas and let them know that no one is allowed to touch them there. For older children and teenagers, let them know it is okay to wait to have sex, and that they shouldn’t feel pressured into it.

magazine joburg

books

a good read for toddlers Pig and Small

By Alex Latimer

Bear in Love

By Daniel Pinkwater and Will Hillenbrand (Published by Walker Books, R123) One morning, the bear finds something just outside his cave. It is orange, long and pointy with bushy green leaves at one end, and it’s sweet and crunchy. Where did it come from?

The next morning, there are two more of the sweet crunchy things. The bear knows that someone nice is leaving him the treats. This is a charming little mystery about unexpected kindnesses, and finding that extra-special someone. It’s perfect to read out loud to children from the age of two years old, and young children will be drawn to the repetitive element of storytelling, which is worked into the text as songs.

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(Published by Random House Struik, R76) When Pig hears a strange squeaking noise coming from his nose, he thinks something is very wrong. But it is just a little bug. The two decide to be friends, but their difference in size soon becomes a big problem, and they can’t seem to find anything that they can both enjoy. Playing a game of chess is a waste of time, because by the time Bug finishes his first move, Pig has fallen asleep. But when it comes to friendship, does size really matter? This book about friendship and finding inspiration where you least expect it, is perfect for children up to five years old.

My Daddy Says

By Justine Smith and Angie Stevens (Published by Campbell Books, R93) This padded board book is perfect for children up to five years old to share with their dads. It’s the second title in a new series about special relationships in the lives of little children. Beautifully illustrated, warm and humorous in tone, this is a story about friends who meet regularly in the park to chat and play until it’s nearly dark, and about the very special relationship that exists between children and their dads. It is a soft and gentle take on family life and of those people who hold a special place in the lives of children.

6 Friends have Fun in the Wild

By Brenda Apsley and Marie Allan (Published by Human and Rousseau, R139) Who is it going to be: lion, hippo, monkey, tiger, zebra or elephant? Which of Griff the Giraffe’s best friends can help him with his big surprise? Children from the age of three to six years old can create the story as they go along. They choose bumper picture magnets to complete the pages, and the big bonus is that the magnets can be detached so they can play again. The six soft and thick magnets attach to certain areas on each page, and children love the interactive nature of the story that enables them to decide which animal character will take part in every activity suggested by Griff. The book is not recommended for children under three years old due to the small parts, which may be a choking hazard.

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books

for preschoolers Mu’s Wolf Problem

By Maria Lebedeva (Published by Print Matters, R134) Mu is home alone – and afraid to be all by herself. What’s more, she can hear scratching and sighing. Whatever can it be? Is it a wolf perhaps? What can she do? Will Mu’s mom get home in time?

Maria Lebedeva was born in Moscow and arrived in South Africa at the age of 6 years old and now lives and works in Joburg.

She holds a Masters Degree in visual art illustration from Stellenbosch University.

Her illustrations are created using mixed media techniques, which give her work a distinctively whimsical and original style. Maria’s work captures in-between moments, memories and observations from life, mixed with folk-tale influences.

Mu’s Wolf Problem is her first children’s picture book, ideally for children up to the age of six years old.

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My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I’m Not.)

By Peter Brown (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R238) Monsters, and teachers, are not always what they seem. Bobby has a problem at school. It’s his teacher, Miss Kirby. She stomps and roars, and she won’t even let him throw paper aeroplanes in class. One day the unthinkable happens when Bobby bumps into Miss Kirby outside school. He soon finds out that there’s more to her than meets the eye. This beautifully illustrated and funny book from awardwinning artist Peter Brown for children from the age of five to eight years old, shows that monsters, and teachers, are not always as bad as they seem.

The Dinosaur that Pooped the Past!

By Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter and Garry Parsons (Published by Random House Struik, R76) Read along with Tom and Dougie as Danny and Dinosaur make history in their third adventure for children up to the age of seven years old. When they accidently go back through history on a time-travelling comed y swing, Danny and Dinosaur meet some new dinosaur classic friends. But soon there’s a rumbling noise; it’s a volcano about to erupt. Can Dinosaur save the day by pooping them back to the future? Find out in this hysterical historical adventure from the creators of The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas and The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet. The authors love reptiles and space, and after writing songs together for nine years in the band McFly, they wrote The Dinosaur that Pooped books the same way they write their song lyrics.

Lilli-Pilli’s Sister

By Anna Branford and Linda Catchlove (Published by Walker Books, R240) Lilli-Pilli’s mother is having a baby, and Lilli-Pilli is sure the baby is going to be a sister. She can feel it in her wings. But the white-winged flycatcher says his wings tell him it’s a little brother. The flycatcher’s wings have never made a mistake before.

Then the big day arrives and as Lilli-Pilli nears home, she can hear a squeaking bundle, and Mom introduces her to a little brother. Then there’s a squawking from her father. Dad is snugly holding a tiny baby fairy – a little sister. They’re twins!

Award-winning author Anna Branford beautifully tells this gentle celebration of new beginnings for children from the age of five years old. Stunning illustrations from debut illustrator Linda Catchlove make this book a keepsake.

magazine joburg

for early graders Fantastic Mr Fox

By Roald Dahl (Published by Puffin Books, R75) Someone’s been stealing from the three meanest farmers around, and they know the identity of the thief – it’s Fantastic Mr Fox. Working alone they could never catch him, but now fat Boggis, squat Bunce and skinny Bean have joined forces, and they have Mr Fox and his family surrounded. What they don’t know is that they’re not dealing with just any fox, and Mr Fox would rather die than surrender. Only the most fantastic plan can save him now. All children should own at least one Roald Dahl storybook and Fantastic Mr Fox is ideal to get children from the age of seven to nine years old hooked on tales by one of the world’s best storytellers. Quentin Blake, the original Dahl illustrator, also collaborated on this version.

How Crab lost his Head

By Nick Greaves and David du Plessis (Published by Random House Struik, R117) Why are dog and man friends? Why does a bat hang upside down? Author Nick Greaves continues the ancient tradition of storytelling in this renamed and freshly jacketed edition by recounting the myths and legends of southern African tribes.

Aimed at seven to 12 year olds, the 19 stories in this volume introduce a magical cast of characters, from a feisty buck, greedy vultures and a bewitched crocodile to an arrogant bat and the perpetually crafty hare. The collection of tales is a delightful addition to the successful series by the author, including When Hippo was Hairy, When Lion Could Fly, When Elephant was King, and When Bat was a Bird. With stunning, full-colour illustrations

by David du Plessis, and extra facts on the animals featured in the stories, this is a book that can be enjoyed and treasured by the whole family.

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wond e world r

A Middle School Story: I Even Funnier

By James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (Published by Random House Struik, R130) Middle schooler Jamie Grimm has big dreams of being the best stand-up comic in the world – and he won’t let the fact that he’s in a wheelchair get in his way.

After winning the New York state finals in the Planet’s Funniest Kid Comic Contest, Jamie’s off to Boston to compete in the national semi-finals. But when one of his best buddies runs into trouble at school and a sudden family health scare rears its head, Jamie has to put his comedic ambitions on hold and stand by the people he cares about. Can Jamie pass up the big competition for the sake of his friends and family? The Middle School series is very popular with children from the age of nine years old.

The Complete Book of Flower Fairies

By Cicely Mary Barker (Published by Penguin Group, R344) This complete collection of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies for children aged five to nine years old is also perfect for all fans of flower fairies. This wonderful collection includes all the original flower fairy poems and illustrations by Cicely Mary Barker from her classic books.

Barker’s Flower Fairies have been ethereal companions to girls and women around the world ever since the publication of her first book in 1923. The magical illustrations have inspired generations of children to search for fairies at the bottom of their gardens. There is something delightfully charming about the delicate, childlike fairies of Barker’s imagination. Once seen, they are never forgotten.

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books

for preteens and teens s

es mel a ti ale t

Lockwood & Co.: The Whispering Skull

By Jonathan Stroud (Published by Doubleday, R247) Ghosts and ghouls beware – London’s smallest, shabbiest and most talented psychic detection agency is back. Life is never exactly peaceful for Lockwood & Co. Lucy and George are trying to solve the mystery of the talking skull trapped in their ghost jar, while Lockwood is desperate for an exciting new case. Things seem to be looking up when the team is called to Kensal Green Cemetery to investigate the grave of a sinister Victorian doctor. Strange apparitions have been seen there, and the site must be made safe. As usual, Lockwood is confident; as usual, everything goes wrong.

The author of the blockbuster Bartimaeus Sequence delivers another humorous and chilling instalment in the critically acclaimed Lockwood & Co. series for children from the age of nine to 12 years old.

The Children of the New Forest

By Frederick Marryat (Published by Faber and Faber, R212) This classic was first published in 1847, but a tale of children making decisions for themselves, getting into life-threatening situations – and getting out of them – still fascinates young ones today. When Roundhead soldiers drive the orphaned Beverley children from their home, they have no idea where they will go or how they will survive. But taken in by their late father’s gamekeeper, Jacob, they learn to live a new life. They gradually shed their aristocratic sensibilities and adapt to the simple ways of the forest, working Jacob’s farmstead and befriending other inhabitants of the woodland. But when Charles II raises an army and the spectre of war returns to haunt the Beverley children, they realise they cannot hide from their true identity.

Warp: The Hangman’s Revolution

By Eoin Colfer (Published by Penguin Group, R167) FBI agent Chevie Savano is trapped in a nightmare future. Unless she can return to 19th-century London and change the course of history, millions will die. Luckily she has Riley, the boy magician, and a Victorian gangster with lovely hair to help her battle two crazed villains, who have brought the military technology of the future back in time – with potentially disastrous consequences.

The stakes are higher than the hangman’s noose and only Chevie can save the day – assuming she can avoid being killed by a couple of psycho warriornuns first. This is the second book in the Warp series for children from the age of nine years old, by the same author who created the popular Artemis Fowl.

Dodger’s Guide to London

By Terry Pratchett (Published by Doubleday, R260) Sir Jack Dodger brings you a most excellent guide to London. Children from the age of 12 years old will find out things about this city that they didn’t necessarily want to know, but they’re just too funny, weird and totally freaky not to discover. Did you know that if a Victorian couldn’t afford a sweep, they could drop a goose down their chimney to clean it? Or those nobby lady’s unmentionables could weigh up to 18kg? Did you know that parliament had to be suspended during the Great Stink of 1858? By the way, that was the smell of untreated human waste and effluent from other activities, which was very strong in central London. From the wretches of the rookeries to the fancy coves at Buckingham Palace, Dodger will show you every dirty inch of London. There is a slight warning: it includes “orrible murders, naughty ladies and plenty of geezers”.

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for us Cook. Better

By Nikki Werner and Brandon de Kock (Published by Quivertree Publications, R395) This is not a cookbook; it’s a book about cooking. Think of it as cooking between the lines. Or what your mother should have told you. It is the “ta-da” moment for those who have been cooking, duty-bound, for years, but didn’t show up for the basic training.

There are recipes, but this book is about the journey, not the destination, so taking centre stage are the hows and whys behind everyday ingredients and techniques – when to use coarse or finely ground salt; best pairings for common garden herbs; extracting and building flavour; champion chopping techniques; and foolproof fillet.

After reading this book you will realise what’s been missing from your life, and you will never again add sugar to your Napoletana sauce and will get lamb chops crisp and medium-rare on the braai.

Weekend Trails in the Western Cape

By Mike Lundy (Published by NB Publishers, R160) The Western Cape boasts some of the world’s most beautiful walks, and Mike Lundy’s books remain the most popular guides on hiking in and around Cape Town.

The walks in this collection have been carefully chosen because of particular points of interest, such as waterfalls, caves, unusual flora and spectacular viewpoints.

Every walk includes an accurate map, route description, information on the hiking time, the availability of water and practical advice on mountain safety and weather conditions, all enhanced with historical anecdotes and notes on the environment.

The guide first appeared in 1992, and for this edition all route descriptions and maps have been meticulously updated.

So, whether you are an out-of-towner or a local, it’s time to start exploring the treasures of this unique land.

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving

By Jonathan Evison (Published by Head of Zeus, R206) Ben Benjamin was at rock bottom. Homeless and down to his last penny, enrolling in a short night course in the fundamentals of caregiving seemed the smart thing to do. But nothing in the manual could have prepared him for Trevor, a sarcastic teenager stuck in a wheelchair. And that’s assuming Ben read the manual properly in the first place. The first rule of caregiving is: be professional. So little m sunsh iss Ben probably shouldn’t tell Trevor why his wife Janet is meet ine s rain divorcing him. He probably shouldn’t mention that he contemplated man suicide last night either. The second rule of caregiving is: don’t get emotionally involved. So Ben definitely shouldn’t pack Trevor into the back of a campervan and drive hundreds of miles through the desert so he can patch things up with his father, especially when Trevor’s mother has absolutely forbidden it. Funny and tragic, this is the story of an unlikely friendship and a man and a boy’s journey back to life.

parenting book Ready to Learn, Ready for School

By Melodie de Jager (Published by Metz Press, R135) This is a practical guide to help parents, teachers and caregivers keep a watchful eye on and enhance a child’s development. The first six years write the script for a child’s school life, and there is a direct correlation between a child’s self-image and his ability to learn easily at school. This book is a map that activates a blinking red light when a developmental problem starts to grow and makes the green light shine when the skills discussed here are ticked off. Red lights don’t mean that all is lost; they simply mean that skilled professionals could be called on to help overcome developmental hiccups. The book includes practical tips, advice as well as a glossary of terms. magazine joburg

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calendar

what’s on in december and january

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

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

Compiled by SIMONE JEFFERY

12 fri

special events

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FUN for children

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only for parents

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bump, baby & tot in tow

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how to help

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SPECIAL EVENTS

FUN FOR CHILDREN

ONLY FOR PARENTS

bump, baby & tot in tow

how to help

In The Forest holiday camp Carefree days are filled with muddy obstacle courses, wacky relay races, giant camp games and more.

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense This comic play is adapted from the works of P.G. Wodehouse.

Talk and supper at Genesis Clinic Expectant moms and dads get information on birthing with a midwife.

Fred and Martie’s Soup Kitchen Donate or volunteer and help Fred and Martie feed hundreds of people from the Claremont community.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

DStv Kids Xtravaganza Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants take to the stage.

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27 nov

Mama Magic – The Baby Expo An expo with the latest products and services for parents of 0–5 year olds as well as seminars by experts and live entertainment for the children. Ends 30 November.

Time: 9am–6pm daily, Barney show times: 10:30am and 3:30pm Thursday and Friday; 10:30am, 1pm and 3:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Coca-Cola Dome, North Riding. Cost: adults R70, children under 10 free (maximum 2 children free per adult). For more info: visit mamamagic.co.za

SPECIAL EVENTS

december 2014 2 tuesday Jacaranda FM carols by candlelight Sing your favourite Christmas carols with top SA artists. Time: gates open 4pm, show starts 7pm. Venue: Coca-Cola Dome, cnr Northumberland Rd and Olievenhout Ave, North Riding. Cost: free, but toy donations for underprivileged children are welcome, songbook R10, candle R25, both for R30.

For more info: visit jacarandafm.com

3 wednesday The Montecasino Christmas Village An outdoor Christmas market filled with a unique variety of gifts, stocking fillers and decorations. You can pick out your own live Christmas tree, enjoy movie screenings on the Outdoor Piazza screen or sing along to African Christmas carols with the Mzanzi Youth Choir. Ends 7 December. Time: market times 5pm–10pm Wednesday–Friday, 10am–10pm Saturday, 10am–5pm Sunday, movie screenings 6pm Wednesday–Friday, 3pm Sunday, Christmas carols 6pm Saturday. Venue: Montecasino, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: free. Contact: 011 510 7995 or visit montecasino.co.za

4 thursday Garden World’s carols by candlelight Join the cast members of 7de Laan for an evening of carol singing. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Ausometism. Time: 6:30pm. Venue: Garden World, Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: R20. Contact: 011 957 2545 or visit gardenworld.co.za

5 December – Emperors Palace Garden of Lights

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Nedbank Golf Challenge Kamp Kwena hosts a kiddies’ mini golf programme for 4–12 year olds for the duration of the four-day Nedbank Golf Challenge. Ends 7 December. Time: from 10am, comedians and bands perform every day after play has ended from 4pm/5pm. Venue: Gary Player Country Club, Sun City Holiday Resort, North West Province. Cost: adults R80–R200, children 12–17 years old free–R100, children under 12 free. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

5 friday Aria! Opera for Everyone Soloists perform popular arias, duets and ensembles. They are accompanied by a narrator, who informs the audience of the stories behind each piece, as well as a small orchestra and members of Sempre Opera. Time: 8pm.

Venue: Roodepoort Theatre, 100 Christiaan De Wet Rd, Florida Park, Roodepoort.

Cost: R120.

Book through the Joburg Theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit roodepoorttheatre.com Christmas cupcake course Moms and children can bake their own Christmas cupcakes using a foolproof recipe and six festive designs. They can also learn to work with fondant icing. Bookings essential.

Time: 9am. Venue: The Little Cake Kitchen, North Riding. Cost: R420 per pair, includes snacks and refreshments. Contact: 079 396 0211 or thelittleck@gmail.com Emperors Palace Garden of Lights The Gardens of Vespasian are brought to life with twinkling fairy lights that take on the form of popular fantasy characters and festive shapes. Father Christmas is there until Christmas Day. In the event of rain the gardens are closed. Ends 4 January.

Time: sunset–10pm. Venue: Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Rd, Kempton Park. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 928 1000 or visit emperorspalace.co.za Cowabunga, Dude! Watch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get gnarly and meet them after the show. You can also help build a Lego fire engine and get creative in the Lego and Duplo play pits. Ends 24 December. Time: shows at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm, Lego activation 10am–7pm. Venue: Checkers Court, Sandton City, cnr Sandton Dr and Rivonia Rd. Cost: free. Contact: 011 217 6000 or visit sandtoncity.com

6 saturday Christmas with Richard Cock A choral Christmas concert performed by the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg and soloists from the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, conducted by Richard Cock.

Also 7 December. Time: 7pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday. Venue: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Rd, Parktown. Cost: R160. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Cooper’s Cave Join palaeoanthropologist Christine Steininger for an interactive fossil and site talk, during which you can explore the cave, search for fossils and learn how to make stone tools. Bookings essential.

Time: 9am. Venue: Sterkfontein Caves, Cradle of Humankind. Cost: adults R375, children 4–14 years old R150, includes a light picnic lunch. Contact: 014 577 9000 or visit maropeng.co.za Farnham championships and prizegiving All riders are welcome to join in the fun as Farnham celebrates the end of the year with some great dressage and show jumping. All ages. Also 7 December. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Farnham Riding School, Plot 228, cnr Galanthus and Maple Rd, Kyalami. Cost: spectators free, participation costs vary. Contact: 082 803 9903 or visit farnham.co.za Irene steam-train trip A steam-train trip from Rhodesfield to Irene. At Irene you have the choice to explore three different locations: Irene Trading Post, The Irene Dairy Farm, Irene Village Market.

Bookings essential. Also 13 December.

Time: 9:30am–3:30pm. Venue: Rhodesfield Station, Anson St, Kempton Park. Cost: adults R240, local pensioners R220, children 4–12 years old R200, children under 4 years old R50. Contact: 011 875 2354 or visit reefsteamers.com Lipizzaners by Candlelight White Lipizzaner stallions perform while the Welsh Male Choir sings Christmas carols to ring in the festive season. Expect to see Santa Claus. You can visit the stables after the performance to meet the stars of the show.

Ends 23 December. Time: 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23 December: 7pm, 7, 14, 16, 21 December: 3pm. Venue: Lipizzaner Centre, 1 Dahlia Rd, Kyalami. Cost: R150, children 3 and under free if seated on adult’s lap. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Mrs Claus’ Kitchen Little hands will prepare Christmas-themed, edible treats with Mrs Claus and her kitchen elves.

You are also able to have your photo taken with Father Christmas. Bookings

6 December – Mrs Claus’ Kitchen

recommended. For children 2–12 years old. Ends 24 December. Time: 11am–6pm Monday–Saturday, 11am–3pm Sunday and public holidays. Venue: Pick n Pay court at the Bedford Centre, cnr Smith and Van der Linde Rds, Bedfordview. Cost: R30 per child per session, photos with Father Christmas tbc. Contact: 083 408 8802 or visit cookingupastorm.co.za

7 sunday Classic Car Show View the well-polished display of hot-rod, vintage, super and muscle cars. There is a beer garden, children’s entertainment, helicopter rides and more. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Nasrec Showgrounds, cnr Randshow Rd, Nasrec. Cost: adults R60, children under 12 R20, parking R20. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

10 wednesday Capoeira class A heart-thumping Brazilian martial art that combines rhythm, music, acrobatics and self-defence. Suitable for children and adults of all ages. Also 12 January. Time: 6:45pm–8:30pm.

Venue: Norscot Manor, 16B Penguin Dr, Fourways. Cost: free trial class. Contact: 076 604 6811

Frogs and Birds Cross the botanical gardens in search of birds in the morning and frogs at night. Bookings essential.

Time: bird walk 6am, nocturnal frog walk 6pm. Venue: meet at the main entrance, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Roodepoort.

Cost: WSNBG members: adults R30, children R15, children under 2 free, nonmembers: adults R60, children R30, children under 2 free. Contact: 083 793 3019 or botsocevents@gmail.com

6 sat

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20 saturday Reefsteamers Christmas Special A Christmas-themed train trip to the Magaliesburg countryside with Santa on board the train. On arrival, passengers can make use of the picnic grounds and enjoy either a braai (using the lit braai fires) or a quiet family picnic. Bookings essential.

Time: 9am–5:30pm. Venue: departs Platform 14, Joburg Park Station, Joburg CBD. Cost: adults R295, local pensioners R265, children 4–12 years R210, children under 4 years R50. Contact: 011 875 2354 or visit reefsteamers.com 23 January – Starlight picnic in the garden

11 thursday Hula Hoop workshop After decorating a hoop with colourful tape children play hoop games, learn how to Hula Hoop, do a few tricks and learn a hoop dance.

Take along a pair of scissors. Bookings essential. For 7 years and older, parents are welcome. Venue: Dance Zone Bryanston, 2nd floor Bryan Park Shopping Centre. Cost: R200, includes the tape and a hoop to take home. Contact: 076 043 1275 or visit hooping.co.za Make your own gingerbread house Spend a fun morning constructing and decorating a gingerbread house for Christmas. Bookings essential. For children 7 years and older. Children younger than 7 are welcome but need parental assistance. Also 12 and 15 December. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Miele Gallery, Peter Place, Bryanston. Cost: R275, includes all materials. Contact: 082 468 7720 or jean@ fun-a-galore.co.za

29 monday Bedford Centre’s carols by candlelight Join in the merrymaking and participate in the Christmas-themed sing-along with the Saheti School choir. Time: 6pm. Venue: Piazza at the Bedford Centre, cnr Smith and Van der Linde Rd, Bedfordview. Cost: free. Contact: 011 622 1840 or visit bedfordcentre.com

31 wednesday Battle of the Sexes – New Year’s Eve The challenge is on as male rock stars take on the divas in a rock-and-roll showdown.

The performance features an 11-piece cast of singers, musicians and dancers. Time: 9pm. Venue: Rivonia Barnyard Theatre, Rivonia Crossing 2, cnr Witkoppen and Achter Rd, Paulshof. Cost: R390. Contact: 011 234 2033 or visit barnyardtheatre.co.za

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Artists Under The Sun Take a picnic basket and blankets and enjoy a leisurely stroll among the artists exhibiting on the lawns surrounding Zoo Lake. There is plenty of shade, row boats and a jungle gym. Also 4 January. Time: 9am–4pm.

Venue: Zoo Lake, cnr Jan Smuts Ave and Westwold Way, Saxonwold. Cost: free. Contact: 011 432 1482 or visit artistsunderthesun.co.za

13 tuesday Morningside Pre-Primary open day The principal, Lisa Lloyd, addresses new and prospective parents at 9am and tea is served. New learners can meet their class teachers while prospective parents find out more about the school. Time: 8:30am–11am. Venue: Morningside PrePrimary, 27 Coleraine Dr, Rivonia. Cost: free. Contact: 011 706 1582 or visit mpps.co.za

23 friday Starlight picnic in the garden Take a picnic basket and enjoy the gardens at night. The moon is in its first phase so the stars will be bright. Bookings essential. Time: 7pm. Venue: Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, at the end of Malcolm Rd, Poortview, Roodepoort. Cost: WSNBG members: adults R30, children R15, children under 2 free, nonmembers: adults R60, children R30, children under 2 free. Contact: 083 793 3019 or botsocevents@gmail.com

25 sunday

12 friday DStv Kids Xtravaganza Dora the Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants perform three stage shows daily. After the shows children can run, jump and play in the Fun Zone. Ends 15 December. Time: shows at 9:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm.

Venue: Vodacom World, 082 Vodacom Blvd, Midrand. Cost: R135, includes live shows and 90 minutes’ access to the Fun Zone. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com or visit Facebook: DStv Kids Xtravaganza Popup Cinema: Home Alone Take your chairs, blankets and picnic baskets for an outdoor movie screening of Home Alone.

Popcorn and other snacks are on sale. Time: gates open 5:30pm, movie starts 7:30pm (depending on the sunset). Venue: picnic area at Rietvlei Zoo Farm, Swartkoppies Rd, Alberton. Cost: adults R65, children 3–12 years R35, children under 3 free. For more info: visit popupcinema.co.za Festive fun at Clearwater Mall Have your photo taken with Santa and watch the family show, A Christmas Tale. Photos with Santa: 12–24 December, A Christmas Tale: 13 December. Time: 9am–7pm Monday– Thursday, 9am–9pm Friday, 9am–7pm Saturday and public holidays, 9am–5pm Sunday, A Christmas Tale: tbc. Venue: Clearwater Mall, cnr Hendrik Potgieter Dr and Christiaan de Wet Rd, Roodepoort.

Cost: free entry, photo costs vary. Contact: 011 288 5260 or visit clearwatermall.co.za

3 saturday

Me-Nuts Like2Bike fun cycling series There is a 2km, 5km, and 12km cycle or a duathlon consisting of a 1/2km run followed by a 6/12km cycle. For 2–14 year olds. Time: starts 8:30am. Venue: The Big Red Barn, cnr Nelson and Glen Rd, Sunlawns, Olifantsfontein. Cost: R120 preentry, R130 on the day. Contact: 083 326 6721 or visit like2bike.co.za

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science

Butterflies and other insects

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Green Screen An exhibition of photographs and paintings by Janet Solomon intended to set up associations between reality and artifice, death and life. 6 November–

2 December–1 March – Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures

31 January. Closed 24 December– 4 January. Time: 10am–5pm daily. Venue: Origins Centre, cnr Yale and Enoch Sontonga, Wits University, Braamfontein.

Cost: tba. Contact: 011 717 4700 or visit origins.org.za The Dino Expo A showcase of life-size, moving dinosaurs. Children are able to dig for dinosaur fossils, have their photos taken and faces painted, and enjoy the jumping castle, water walking and zorb balls. Refreshments are on sale.

1 November–19 December. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: The Environmental Education Centre, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, off Beyers Naudé Dr, Emmarentia.

Cost: R30–R120. Tickets are available at the Joburg Zoo or through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures The exhibition has faithfully reconstructed the tomb of Tutankhamun to scale, presenting a realistic impression of the treasures intended to serve the young pharaoh on his magical journey to the underworld. 2 December– 1 March. Time: 9am–7pm Sunday– Thursday, 9am–9pm Friday–Saturday and on public holidays (venue is closed on Christmas Day). Venue: Silverstar, Muldersdrift, Mogale City (next to R28 Krugersdorp/Pretoria highway). Cost: adults R160, pensioners and students R120, children 6–18 years R100, children under 5 free, family of four R440, includes audio guides. For more info: visit tutexhibition.co.za

sun

Lepidopterist Peter Webb shares his wealth of knowledge of creepy-crawlies. Booking essential.

25 January. Time: 9am. Venue: Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, at the end of Malcolm Rd, Poortview, Roodepoort. Cost: WSNBG members: adults R30, children R15, children under 2 free, nonmembers: adults R60, children R30, children under 2 free. Contact: 083 793 3019 or botsocevents@gmail.com Fun with ceramics and mosaic

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calendar Teenage workshop A one-day workshop designed to teach teenagers the tools to cope with the constant changes in their lives. Bookings essential. 6 December for 13–15 year olds, 17 January for 16–18 year olds. Time: 9am–3:30pm. Venue: 2nd Ave, Houghton Estate. Cost: R450. Contact: 082 829 7091 or karensutherlandscott@ gmail.com

William Kentridge: Tapestries An extraordinary collection of tapestries, created in conjunction with Marguerite Stephens’ weaving studio, plus associated works. The exhibition includes about 20 tapestries and some related sculptures, drawings as well as film footage of the weaving process. 19 November–14 December. Time: 10am–4pm Wednesday– Sunday. Venue: Wits Art Museum, University Corner, cnr Bertha and Jorissen St, Braamfontein. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 717 1365 or visit wits.ac.za/wam

family outings

classes, talks and workshops Active Readers term 1 An extramural that develops your child’s vocabulary, picture perception and comprehension skills. Children explore pre-reading skills, act out verbs and scenes and complete a simple art project related to the storybook. Classes for groups of 3–6 children take place at your home. For 3–6 year olds. Starts 14 January.

Time: varies. Venue: branches in Craighall Park, Morningside and Kyalami. Cost: R1 200 per child per term. Contact: 082 566 1368 or visit active-readers.com Fire your imagination Give the right side of your brain a chance to play, create and have fun. You can choose a piece of raw ceramic to paint, or choose an item to mosaic instead. Closed 24, 25, 26, 30 and 31 December, 1 and 2 January. Time: 9am–5pm Monday–Saturday, 9am–3pm Sunday, 11 December and 8 January

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Berry picking at Just Darling

6pm–9pm. Venue: Color Café, Shop 14, Hyde Square Shopping Centre, cnr Jan Smuts Ave and North Rd, Hyde Park. Cost: varies. Contact: 011 341 0734 or visit colorcafe.co.za Fun with ceramics and mosaic Paint and mosaic and make gifts for a friend or a loved one. Booking essential.

Children 6 years old and younger need to be accompanied by an adult. Closed 16 December, Sundays and from 24 December–1 January. Time: 9am–4pm Monday–Friday, 9am–2pm Saturday.

Venue: Pottery Junxion, 5 Glendower Place,

99 Linksfield Rd, Dowerglen, Edenvale.

Cost: R20 studio time per hour, excluding products. Contact: 011 453 2721 or visit potteryjunxion.co.za NCT theatre workshops Explore the world of theatre, onstage and behind the scenes, and learn about dance, drama, improvisation, scripts, singing, musical appreciation and more. For 7–17 year olds.

24 January–14 March. Time: 9am–12pm every Saturday. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown. Cost: tbc. Contact: 011 484 1584 or visit nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za

Berry picking at Just Darling Take a drive into the countryside and pick your own raspberries and blackberries, enjoy a cup of coffee and let the children take part in ceramic painting and other creative workshops. Bookings essential. Picking season from November–March. Time: 9am–4:30pm Wednesday–Sunday. Venue: Just Darling, 68 Judith Ave, Walkerville.

Cost: adults R35, children under 12 years R20. Contact: 074 135 6572, 082 556 1852 or abigail@justdarling.co.za Diamond X Cowboy Ranch cattle drive Skilled and novice riders can take part in a cattle drive and enjoy a city slicker’s breakfast. Bookings essential. Closed 12 December–12 January. Time: 8am– 12pm every Sunday. Venue: Diamond X Ranch, Gobey St, Rayton. Cost: R400. Contact: 082 410 3180 or visit diamondxranch.co.za Maze walk Take a picnic basket of goodies along to Chartwell Castle and spend the day under the trees and walk

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through their hedgerow maze with over 900 conifers. Bookings essential. Time: 8:30am–5pm. Venue: Plot 1, cnr Hood and Watercombe Rd, Chartwell. Cost: adults R50, children R25. Contact: 010 227 0002 or visit chartwellcastle.co.za

holiday programmes

6 Children’s rock climbing camp

tue

Ace Tennis Clinic For 2–16 year olds.

8–12 December. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Parkhurst Tennis Club, cnr 12th St and 5th Ave, Parkhurst. Cost: R180 per day, R800 for all five days. Contact: 083 271 3804 or annchapman@telkomsa.net Aragon Stables pony camp For children 8–13 years old. 15–17 December. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Aragon Stables, 158 Mountain View Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: R300 per day, R800 for all three days. Contact: 082 666 3728 or visit aragonstables.co.za

During five days of adventure, children take part in fun activities such as rock climbing, hiking, abseiling, rope swinging, shelter building and more. Booking essential. For 8–12 year olds. 6–10 January. Time: 10am–6pm. Venue: Rocky Valley Christian Camp and Retreat Centre, 50 Edward St, Chancliff, Krugersdorp. Cost: R1 800; discounts for siblings.

Contact: 083 669 3028 or info@ saclimbingacademy.co.za 15–17 December – Aragon Stables pony camp

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Chartwell Stables holiday pony camp For children 6–14 years old. 10–12 December. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Chartwell Stables, 112 Runnymead St, Chartwell. Cost: R1 200, daily rate R450.

Contact: 083 500 0103, 073 952 8572 or visit chartwellstables.co.za Creative hothouse course A safe and caring environment where children can make new friends and express themselves creatively through art, music, dance and drama. Bookings essential. For 6–11 year olds. 8–12 December. Time: drop-off 8am, 9am–4pm. Venue: Craighall Park. Cost: R1 800, includes lunch, snacks and materials.

Contact: 083 230 0319 or suegrealy_ studio@hotmail.com Cricket School of Excellence holiday clinic Children learn all aspects of the game. For boys and girls 4–13 years old.

15–18 December. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: University of Johannesburg Cricket Oval, Melville. Cost: R600. Contact: 0861 123 273, adam@cricketschool.co.za or visit cricketschool.co.za Domestic Bliss holiday programme They offer a cooking and junior ranger programme suitable for children 7–13 years old. Junior ranger: 5 December, cooking programme: 8, 9, 10 and 11 December.

Time: junior ranger 8:30am–3pm, cooking 9am–12:30pm. Venue: Domestic Bliss, 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: junior ranger R295, cooking R320 per session, includes cool drinks and snacks.

8–12 December – Creative hothouse course

Contact: 011 447 5517, 083 525 4992 or visit domesticbliss.co.za Drakensberg Adventure Camp An exciting adventure in the majestic and breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains.

Bookings essential. For children 7–17 years old. 15–19 December. Time: tba.

Venue: departs for the Drakensberg from In the Forest, 2 Aloe Ridge Dr, Eikenhof.

Cost: R3 850, including accommodation, meals and activities, transport R850.

Contact: 076 575 8003, 076 035 4038 or visit intheforest.co.za

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Montecasino Bird Gardens’ holiday programme Children learn about reptile rascals, birds of prey, bush survival, feathers and fur, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Bird Gardens. Bookings essential. For 6–11 year olds. 8–12 December and 5–9 January. Times: 8:30am–2:30pm Monday– Friday. Venue: Montecasino Bird Gardens, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Costs: R135 per day. Contact: 011 511 1864 or visit montecasino.co.za

Drama Dynamics holiday club Christmas-themed holiday fun where children create funny skits, play improvisation games and make new friends. Bookings essential. For children 8–18 years old. 11, 12 and 15 December.

Time: 9am–3pm. Venue: Rivonia Barnyard Theatre, Rivonia Crossing 2, cnr Witkoppen and Achter Rd, Paulshof.

Cost: R240 per day. Contact: 083 609 9679 or visit dramadynamics.co.za Expressions holiday camp An activitybased programme incorporating outdoor play and games, art and crafts, yoga, cooking and baking, gardening, and more. Bookings essential. For children 3,5 years and older. 4–12 December. Time: 8:30am–4:30pm. Venue: Expressions Centre, Norfolk Rd, Carlswald, Midrand.

Cost: varies. Contact: 083 791 6674, 082 402 8169 or visit expressionsinfocus.co.za

4–12 December – Expressions holiday camp

FlipFlop Gymnastics holiday camp A three-day camp that keeps your children away from the TV and computer and gets them to take part in treasure hunts and nature walks, baking activities, campfire tales and more. Space is limited. For children 3–13 years old. 10–13 December.

Time: 3pm Wednesday–3pm Saturday.

Venue: Hartbeespoort Holiday Resort, camp bus departs from Bishop Bavin School, St Georges Rd, Bedfordview. Cost: R1 870, includes transport, accommodation, meals and activities. Contact: 072 238 7342 or visit flipflopgym.co.za

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Happy Acres holiday camp Children will take part in a variety of stimulating activities, including art, crafts, walks, games, sports, cookouts and more. For 7–14 year olds. 6–13 and 13–20 December. Time: tba. Venue: departs from the Joburg Zoo for Magaliesburg. Cost: R1 260. Contact: 083 449 5123 or visit happyacres.co.za IEA pony camp Five days of indoor and outdoor activities such as horse riding, stalk the lantern, toasting marshmallows on the braai, cooking competitions and campfires, as well as visits to ice rinks, theme parks and local sporting events.

Bookings essential. For 6–16 year olds.

14–19 December. Time: 5pm Sunday–5pm Friday. Venue: Plot 123 End Rd, Golfview, Walkerville. Cost: R2 000, all inclusive.

Contact: 087 750 6235, 072 338 8041 or visit iea-elite.co.za In The Forest holiday camp A day camp that gets children involved in a structured outdoor programme that includes muddy obstacle courses, wacky relay races, team challenges, giant camp games, art and crafts, swimming, hikes and more. Transport from Sharondale Nursery in Brackenhurst is available. Bookings essential. For 6–13 year olds. 15–19 December and 5–9 January.

Time: 7am–6pm. Venue: In the Forest, 2 Aloe Ridge Dr, Eikenhof. Cost: R195 per day, R975 per week (discounts for siblings), transport R65 per child per day. Contact: 076 575 8003, 076 035 4038 or visit intheforest.co.za ITA Tennis clinic For children 3–16 years old. 8–19 December. Time: 8:30am–1:30pm. Venues: 8–12 and 15–19 December: Craighall Park Tennis Club, 40 St Albans Ave, Craighall, 11, 12 and 15 and 15–19 December: Lonehill Crawford Preparatory School, Sceales Rd, Lonehill.

Cost: varies. Contact: 083 443 3391 or visit itatennis.co.za Kamp Kwena Kids Club A host of structured activities, outings and games to keep 2–12 year olds busy. 8 December–11 January. 25 December: Christmas parade with Santa, Mother Christmas and all their elves followed by a foam party; 31 December: Crazy New Year’s Eve party for 6–12 year olds in the Baobab Room. Time: 2–3 year olds 9am–1pm; 4–12 year olds magazine joburg

9am–5pm; evening session for 5–12 year olds 7pm–9:30pm; Christmas Day party 9am–1pm, New Year’s Eve 7pm–10pm.

Venue: Sun City Resort, Kamp Kwena facility (on lawns of Cabanas Hotel). Cost: from R95.

Contact: 014 557 4136 or 014 557 5980 Kidz Fishing Camp For children 7–15 years old. 2–4, 9–11 and 16–18 December and 6–8 January. Time: tba. Venue: Villa Nova, Vaal River. Children are collected and dropped off in Bedfordview. Cost: R980. Contact: 083 610 2911 or visit kidzfishingcamp.co.za Kings Sports Children 4–17 years old play sports as well as try new games and activities. 8–12 December. Time: 8am–2pm or 8am–4pm. Venue: Kingsmead College, Oxford Rd, Melrose. Cost: R750–R860 for a week, R175 per day. Contact: 010 500 8582, info@kingssports.co.za or visit kingssports.co.za Little Cooks and Playball workshop Children spend the morning cooking, baking, creating crafts and playing sport.

Bookings essential. For 4–10 year olds.

4–15 December. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Playground Café, 185 Beyers Naudé Dr, Honeydew. Cost: R250, includes snacks, lunch and drinks. Contact: 083 228 0343 or visit playgroundcafe.co.za Little Cooks Club holiday programme A morning of baking and crafting. Bookings essential. Little Cooks Club Fourways for 5–12 year olds: 10, 11, 12 December; Little Cooks Club Boksburg for 2–15 year olds: 1–20 December (excluding 15–16 December). Time: Fourways 9am–12pm, Boksburg 9am–12pm and 1pm–4pm Monday–Friday. Venue: Fourways: 5a Valk Ave, Boksburg: 231 Trichardts Rd, Cinderella. Cost: varies. Contact Fourways: 082 874 2851 or Boksburg: 072 271 8904 or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Musical Theatre holiday camp Classes include singing, drama, dance and acting.

Campers will have the opportunity to put the skills they have learnt to practical use when they perform a show for family and friends on the final day. For 7–17 year olds. 8–12 December. Time: dropoff 8:30am, 9am–12pm. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave,

8 December–11 January – Kamp Kwena Kids Club

Parktown. Cost: R1 000 per child for the week. Contact: 011 484 1584 or visit nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za Playball and Playgolf holiday clinic A fun and educational holiday clinic that includes baking, creative time, puzzles, Lego and golf lessons for children 4 years and older. Space is limited. 8–12 and 15–19 December. For 2–9 year olds. Time: 7:30am–12pm. Venue: Fairlands Tennis Club, 236 Kessel St, Fairlands, Northcliff.

Cost: R250 per day, R1 000 for the week.

Contact: 079 089 3993 or roxy.playball@ gmail.com Pony camp at Farnham Riding School Children over the age of 10 years old with some basic riding experience can spend two days riding and playing with horses.

Booking essential. 10–12 December. Time: tba. Venue: Farnham Riding School, Plot 228, cnr Galanthus and Maple Rd, Kyalami.

Cost: R950 per child. Contact: 082 803 9903, ridingschool@farnham.co.za or visit farnham.co.za Rebel Soccer holiday programme A comprehensive soccer skills programme for boys and girls aged 5–11 years old, covering the technical aspects, matchplay and more. 8–12 December. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Zoo Lake Sports Club, Lower Park Dr, Parkwood. Cost: R450 for the week, R100 per day. Contact: 084 444 2297, info@runninrebels.co.za or visit runninrebels.co.za

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thu Taste Bud cooking and baking workshops

Think Nutella-filled doughnut muffins, sticky Thai stir-fry, doily cinnamon cookies, calzone pizzas and more. Booking essential. For children 5–13 years old. 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 December and 5–9 January. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: The Taste Bud Cooking Studio, 3 Waterford Place Rd, Paulshof. Cost: R270, includes refreshments, recipes, apron and hat. Contact: 082 331 9987 or visit tastebudstudio.co.za

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calendar Safety City A comprehensive holiday programme that equips children for emergency situations. The course includes basic first aid, self-defence, what to do in emergency situations, how to call emergency services, and general safety tips around fire, poisons, water, threatening people, animals and on the roads. Booking essential. For children in Grade 0–3.

8–12 December. Time: 8:30am–1:15pm.

Venue: St Peter’s Junior Prep School, 105 Witkoppen Rd, Paulshof. Cost: R1 250 per child. Contact: 082 525 7941, 083 276 5360, info@nataleeholmes.com or visit nataleeholmes.com Shepherd’s Fold Stables pony camp For 6–16 year olds. 3–5, 8–12 and 15–17 December and 5–7 January.

Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Shepherd’s Fold Stables, 55 Sunset Dr, Elandsdrift, Lanseria.

Cost: R300 per day, R50 extra per night to sleepover. Contact: 084 220 2657 or belinda.milsom@gmail.com

Shepherd’s Fold Stables pony camp

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Yeesh! holiday programme

2 tue

For 1–12 year olds; 4–12 year olds can be dropped off. 2 December–13 January. Closed 25 December and 1 January. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Yeesh! Fun for kids, Woodmead Commercial Park, Waterval Crescent, Woodmead.

Cost: R75 per child for two hours, thereafter R25 per additional hour, holiday programme rates vary.

Contact: 011 656 9669, 083 923 2306, info@yeesh.co.za or visit yeesh.co.za

Sugar Bay holiday camp Themed holiday camps with over 100 activities to choose from, ranging from surfing, rockwall climbing, ziplining, scuba diving and kayaking. Each camp lasts for seven to 10 days and follows a different theme. For 7–17 year olds. 6–13 December: The Seven Wonders of the World, 13–23 December: Toy Story, 27 December–6 January: Dr Who, 6–11 January: Fizzy. Venue: Sugar Bay Resort, Zinkwazi Beach, KwaZuluNatal North Coast. Cost: confirmed on booking. Contact: 032 485 3778 or visit sugarbay.co.za The Gadget Factory Curious minds are kept busy with workshops and science shows. 11–31 December (closed Christmas Day). Time: 9am–5pm Monday–Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm Saturday and Sunday.

Venue: Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, cnr Miriam Makeba Dr and President St, Newtown. Cost: adults R35, children R20. Contact: 011 639 8400 or visit scibono.co.za Weltevreden Park Library holiday programme 18 December: Father Christmas visits the library. Take a picnic basket of treats to enjoy afterwards. 17 December: children make an assortment of Christmas crafts, including greeting cards and decorations. For 3–13 year olds. Time: 10am–12pm. Venue: Fern Rd, Weltevreden Park. Cost: free.

Contact: 011 679 3406 or gwynethp@ joburg.org.za

Wild Kids holiday programme A three-hour developmental programme that gets children to experience their natural environment. Booking essential.

For 3–9 year olds. 8–12 December. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Sandton Field and Study Centre, Louise Ave, Sandton. Cost: R250 per child per day, includes a healthy snack. Contact: 082 379 2675, 083 457 4106 or visit wild-kids.co.za

8–12 December – Wild Kids holiday programme

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Zak’s Enviro Club Work in the farmyard, go on nature walks, ride a bike and take part in craft and nature activities. Take your bike, helmet, swimming costume, towel, food and snacks for the day. Booking essential. For children 4–13 years old. 8–12 December. Time: 8am–4pm. Venue: Rietvlei Zoo Farm, Swartkoppies Rd, Alberton. Cost: full day R200, half-day R150. Contact: 083 665 6334 or adelespear@gmail.com

markets Boere Bokki Kersmark There are activities for children. 5–6 December. Time: 11am–8pm Friday, 9am–3pm Saturday.

Venue: 72 2nd Ave, Ravenswood, Boksburg.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 082 645 0578, 083 655 1996 or boerebokki@gmail.com

13 December – Christmas @ The Parks

Christmas @ The Parks Stalls sell accessories, toys, art and crafts and flowers.

There is a playground, live music and carols by candlelight. 13 December. Time: 9am–9pm.

Venue: 168 Kenmuir St, Nortons Home Estate, Benoni. Cost: free entry. Contact: 072 356 7816 or visit theparksfarm.co.za

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Just Darling’s Christmas market An artisan food-and-craft market with live music and jumping castles, craft workshops and face painters. 6 December. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Just Darling, 68 Judith Ave, Walkerville. Cost: free entry. Contact: 074 135 6572, 082 556 1852 or abigail@ justdarling.co.za Kliprivier Community Market A market set on the grounds of a farmstyle artisan bakery with local artists and craftspeople selling food, artisan bread, organic products and books. Time: 8:30am–3pm every Sunday; closed 28 December. Venue: Two Trees Bakery, 101 Kliprivier Dr, Mulbarton. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 072 556 3706 or saramortimer@ gmail.com Rosebank Sunday Market A weekly market offering bric-a-brac, unusual antiques, craft and a variety of food stalls, live music and children’s entertainment.

Rhythm Sundays, with a surprise line-up of bands, takes place on 14 December.

Time: 9am–4pm every Sunday. Venue: rooftop parking, Mall of Rosebank, cnr Baker St and Bath Ave, Rosebank. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 056 7257 or visit rosebanksundaymarket.co.za Rotary Christmas Craft Market Visit the market set on the banks of the Vaal River and pick up a few goodies made by local businesses. 2 November–21 December.

Time: 9am–5pm every Sunday. Venue: Stonehaven on Vaal, next to Baddrift

26 fri

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6 (3-D) A heartfelt comedy adventure about a robotics prodigy who learns to harness his genius and turn his brother and friends into a band of high-tech heroes who are determined to save the day. Premieres 26 December in cinemas nationwide. For more info: visit disney.com/BigHero6

Bridge, Vaal River, Vanderbijlpark. Cost: free entry. Contact: 016 982 2951/2 or visit stonehaven.co.za Stepping Stones Christmas market A variety of stalls where you can shop while listening to entertainment by Tim Desbois.

6 and 13 December. Time: 9am–3pm.

Venue: Stepping Stones Village Market, 283 Honeydew Rd West, North Riding.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 083 676 9449 or visit steppingstonesgardenvillage.co.za

on stage and screen Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr This Disney classic tells the story of a prince who is transformed into a beast and the young woman he falls in love with. Booking essential. 3 November–24 December. Time: varies. Venue: Peoples Theatre in the Joburg Theatre Complex, Loveday St, Braamfontein. Cost: R70– R110. Contact: 011 403 1563/2340 or visit peoplestheatre.co.za

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13 sat

Bieber and Buddies – Never say Never Singers and dancers from the Kidz Rock Band perform a charttopping showdown featuring hits

by Justin Bieber, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez. 13 and 18 December.

Time: 11am Thursday, 2pm Saturday. Venue: Barnyard Theatre Parkview, Parkview Shopping Centre, Moreleta Park. Cost: R90.

Contact: 012 368 1555 or visit barnyardtheatres.co.za

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Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan Journey with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy and her brothers to Neverland. A fast-paced, lavishly designed, over-the-top panto with plenty of surprises and thrills for adults and children alike. 5 November–28 December.

Time: varies. Venue: Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein. Cost: R145– R260. Book through the Joburg Theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com Liefling An Afrikaans musical that tells the love story of Liefling Marais (Liza Brönner) and Jan Ferreira (Bobby van Jaarsveld), and celebrates Afrikaans music and culture. No children under 3. 12 December–4 January. Time: 8pm Wednesday–Saturday, 3pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino, cnr Montecasino Boulevard and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R100–R320.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Penguins of Madagascar 3-D The penguins from DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar are back in their very own feature film. This 3-D comedy adventure features the voices of John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong and others. Premieres 5 December in cinemas nationwide. For more info: visit sterkinekor. com or numetro.co.za The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Click your heels together and join Dorothy and her beloved dog, Toto, as they journey over the rainbow to the Emerald City searching

for the great and powerful wizard. Booking essential. 10 November–21 December.

Time: varies. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown. Cost: R70–R110. Contact: 011 484 1584/5 or visit nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za

playtime and story time Imagine the Venue Children run free in the playground while you enjoy some tea and cake. You can also find out more about Imagine Your Life – You Can Rule Your World, a stimulating activity book for children. Booking essential. For children 7 years and older. 28 November–30 January.

Closed 19 December–9 January. Time: 2:30pm–5pm every Friday. Venue: Imagine The Venue, Chartwell. Cost: adults R50, children R25. Contact: 082 928 7474 or visit imaginethevenue.co.za

Kinder Theatre in December Find out what Santa gets for Christmas, what happens when Rudolph comes to South Africa and what Darin the Magician, Tricky Trevor and the Wacky Wizard pull out of their hats, among others. Three puppet shows or magic shows are performed each week. Time: 10am every Tuesday and Saturday and selected Thursdays, 2 and 9 December 3:30pm. Venue: Kinderspiel, 39 Greenhill Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: from R50 per show. Contact: 011 646 0870 or visit kinderspiel.co.za Story time at Love Books Storytellers relate everything from traditional African folktales to fairy tales, the classics and brand new stories. For 4–8 year olds. 6 and 13 December; 10, 17, 24 and 31 January.

Time: 10am every Saturday. Venue: Love Books, The Bamboo Centre, 53 Rustenburg

Imagine the Venue

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Rd, Melville. Cost: free. Contact: 011 726 7408 or visit lovebooks.co.za

sport and physical activities Meditation for children Recap the year’s dharma tool lessons and celebrate with an end-of-year class party. Everyone is welcome. For 3–13 year olds. 7 December.

Time: 10am–11:15am. Venue: Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Centre, The Colony, 345 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park. Cost: R20. Contact: 011 447 2746 or visit meditation.org.za

Choking workshop Survival CPR is speaking on choking in babies and children. They show you what to do and how to prevent it. 26 January. Time: 11am–12pm. Venue: Me, Mom and Dad, shop u097, Greenstone Mall, Edenvale.

Cost: free. Contact: zita@ visit memomanddad.co.za

classes, talks and workshops

Proteas take on the Windies Show your support for our cricket team as they take on the West Indies. 11 January: KFC T20 International, 18 January: Momentum ODI. Time: KFC T20 3pm–5pm, Momentum ODI 10am–3pm. Venue: Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Illovo, Sandton. Cost: R150– R250. Contact: 011 340 1500 or visit wanderers.co.za

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on stage and screen

memomanddad.co.za or

only for parents

7 December – Meditation for children

Cost: R100. Contact: 011 465 5113, 071 102 4001 or visit dancecafe.co.za Make life easier Learn to empower yourself as a parent and radically influence the lives of your children. 2 December.

Time: 9:30am–12:30pm. Venue: Alberton Teacher’s Centre, cnr Hendrik Potgieter Dr and 1st Ave, Alberton. Cost: R450 per person, R700 per couple. Contact: 082 397 3606 or visit sensoryintelligence.co.za

Chainmaille fun Make your own jewellery. Booking essential. 3, 6, 17 and 20 December. Time: 9:30am–12:30pm.

Venue: Ngwenya Glass Village, off Beyers Naudé Dr and R114, Muldersdrift. Cost: R195, includes all materials, tea/coffee and cake. Contact: 083 655 3237 Courses with Domestic Bliss Have your domestic worker trained on an accredited course. Elementary cooking course starts 14 January; housekeeping course starts 20 January.

Time: 8:30am–2pm. Venue: 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: cooking course R2 400 for five weekly sessions,

housekeeping R2 200 for five weekly sessions. Contact: 011 447 5517, 083 525 4992 or visit domesticbliss.co.za Family health coaching course An online wellness course offering solutions for some of the most common problems faced by families today. 6–8 January.

Time: at your convenience. Cost: R1 500 for seven weeks. Contact: 083 556 3434, headoffice@littlecooksclub.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Line dancing for moms Escape for an hour to a fun, energetic line dancing class. Suitable for ages 20–60. Closed 12 December–5 January. Time: beginner’s class 6pm–7pm every Thursday and 9am–10am every Saturday, intermediate class 7pm–8pm every Monday. Venue: Dance Café, cnr Witkoppen Dr and Main Rd, Bryanston.

Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense A comic play adapted from the works of P.G. Wodehouse, starring Graham Hopkins, Jonathan Roxmouth and Robert Fridjhon.

14 November–11 January. Time: 8:15pm Wednesday–Saturday, 5:15pm Saturday, 3:15pm Sunday. Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R150.

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

Line dancing for moms

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calendar The Greatest Love of All Belinda Davids performs a tribute to Whitney Houston, accompanied by a live band and dancers.

22 January–14 February. Time: 8pm Thursday–Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Venue: Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein. Cost: R160– R350. Book through the Joburg Theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com The Rocky Horror Show Brendan van Rhyn stars as Dr Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s iconic rock musical, performed by an all-South African cast and a live onstage band. 14 November–1 February. Time: 8pm Tuesday–Saturday, 4pm Saturday, 2pm and 6pm Sunday. Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R125– R375. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

19 The Way I See It

fri

Comedian Barry Hilton has a knack of finding the ludicrous and humorous in daily situations to make us laugh at life. 19 and 20 December. Time: 8:30pm.

Venue: The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino, Northern Park Way, Ormonde. Cost: R80. Book through the Lyric Box Office: 011 248 5000 or visit goldreefcity.co.za

Hospital, 5 Northwold Rd, Saxonwold.

Cost: free. Contact: 011 646 3923 or visit genesisclinic.co.za Toptots term 1 Share and be part of your little one’s development while having fun with other moms. For babies 3 months–4 years old. 17 January– 20 March. Time: varies. Venues: across Joburg. Cost: tba. Contact: 031 266 4910 or visit toptots.co.za

playtime and story time Kia 80s Rewind Festival Revellers can take a trip down memory lane and enjoy a night of neon outfits, scrunchies, denim jackets and big earrings. The lineup includes Billy Ocean, Heather Small (from M People), Nik Kershaw, Go West, Wang Chung and Blancmange. 31 January. Time: 4pm.

Venue: Festival Lawns at Carnival City, cnr Century Rd and Elsburg Rd, Brakpan. Cost: R390. For more info: visit rewindfestival.co.za

Dyspraxia SA support group Support for parents and/or caregivers who have children and young adults dealing with dyspraxia. Northern suburbs. For more info: visit dyspraxiasouthafrica.co.za Mom Squad Share the joys and challenges of motherhood with other moms. Moms of newborns–18 months old. Time: 9:15am–11am every Thursday.

Venue: Linden. Cost: R10 donation towards refreshments. Contact: 082 334 4029 or vandermerwekj@gmail.com The Family Life Centre (Famsa) Offers a Building Bonds programme to parents of children 2–19 years old to help them raise happy, confident, healthy, cooperative and responsible children. Dates, times and costs: vary. Venue: 1 Cardigan Rd, Parkwood. Contact: 011 788 4784 or visit familylife.co.za

Larney Ladybirds play day Let the children blow off some steam in the large playground with a scooter track, jungle gym and plenty of shade. Take along a blanket for the grass. 3 and 10 December.

Time: 10am–4pm. Venue: Valley Rd, Broadacres. Cost: adults R25, children R15, includes refreshments and snacks. Contact: 083 770 7702 or visit larneyladybirds.co.za Play days at Elf’s Hill The play area includes jungle gyms, a trampoline, treehouse, Wendy house, bike track, sandpit, toadstool house, cricket pitch and more. Closed 14 December–7 January.

Time: 1pm–5pm every Wednesday. Venue: Elf’s Hill Party Yard, plot 29, Sandspruit Rd, Farmall. Cost: adults R30, children R20, includes snacks and refreshments. Contact: 082 337 5646 or visit elfshill.co.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

out and about Festive underground dinner Enjoy a fabulous evening with award-winning food and cool music among the turbines of a refurbished 1920s power station. Booking essential. 10 December. Time: 6:30pm.

Venue: Turbine Hall, 65 Ntemi Piliso St, Newtown. Cost: R595 per person (only available to tables of 10 or more). Contact: 011 492 3888 or visit theforum.co.za

support groups Akeso Specialised Psychiatric Clinics’ Psychiatric Intervention Response Unit Telephonic support for people in the grip of a psychological emergency who need immediate help and containment.

If the caller is in crisis, the intervention vehicle will be dispatched. Offered in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Contact: 0861 HELP US (4357 87) or visit akeso. co.za/response-unit

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classes, talks and workshops Active mommies Outdoor exercise classes for moms with babies and toddlers. Time: 9am every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Venue: Sandton, Broadacres and Lonehill.

Cost: R100 per class. Contact Sandton: 082 529 6906, Broadacres/Lonehill: 082 462 7519 or visit activemommies.co.za Genesis Clinic open day Pregnant moms and couples are welcome to meet the midwives, enjoy a tour of the clinic and listen to informative talks. 13 December.

Time: 10am–2pm. Venue: Genesis Clinic, 5 Northwold Dr, cnr Jan Smuts Ave and Northwold Dr, Saxonwold. Contact: 011 646 3923 or visit genesisclinic.co.za Talk and supper at Genesis Clinic A light supper and talk for pregnant moms and dads, who would like to find out more information regarding birthing with a midwife. Booking essential. 2 December. Time: 5:30pm for 6pm.

Venue: Genesis Clinic Private Maternity

17 January–20 March – Toptots term 1

how to help Animaltalk calendar in aid of Wetnose Animal Rescue Centre Animaltalk magazine has released the 2015 kittens and puppies calendar. The 14-month calendar with full-colour photos and plenty of space to write is the perfect way to support animal welfare while you get organised. Cost: one calendar R149, two calendars R260, three calendars R345. Free postage in RSA. For more info: visit coolmags.com, or to buy the calendar online, contact: 011 468 2090 or subscriptions@panorama.co.za

1 December – Dinner of Hope

Dinner of Hope To commemorate World Aids Day, host a dinner party or picnic at your premises, or another location, and encourage your guests to make a contribution towards the Starfish Greathearts Foundation instead of towards the meal. Starfish brings life, hope and opportunity to children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/Aids.

1 December. Contact: 011 514 0850 or visit dinnerofhope.co.za Fred and Martie’s Soup Kitchen Help them feed hundreds of people from the Claremont community by donating money, household items, clothing, shoes, blankets, cleaning material, groceries, food, cutlery, crockery, tables and chairs. They also welcome the donation of heirloom seeds for their vegetable garden as well as volunteers to assist. Venue: 2 Lundean Crescent, Claremont. Contact: 011 472 2366, 082 854 6904 or visit sopkombuis.com Trojan’s Neurological Trust They raise funds so that neurologically injured patients can receive comprehensive rehabilitation and get the chance to feel as self-sufficient as possible. Monetary donations welcome.

Contact: 011 807 0491, justbiokinetics@ gmail.com or visit justbiokinetics.com

events all over The Color Run Run, jog or walk along the 5km route that has colourblasting stations at each kilometre mark. The race ends with a colourthrowing party where runners and spectators get to make the world a more vibrant place while dancing to the music. 16 December: Mossel Bay, 21 December: Plettenberg Bay, 27 December: Hermanus, 10 January: Ballito. Times and costs: vary. For more info: visit thecolorrun.co.za

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if you’re visiting cape town 12 december–28 february The Art of the Brick Lego art exhibit See up to 70 art sculptures on display.

Coming to Joburg in May 2015. Time: 9am–7pm. Venue: Watershed Exhibition Centre, V&A Waterfront. Cost: adults R140 and children R95, entry for under 2 year olds free. For more info: visit theartofthebricksa.co.za

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

childmag.co.za/resources/birthday-parties

7 december–25 january Val de Vie market with polo Browse everything from food and wine to clothing and jewellery, and enjoy a polo match. Time: 10am–3pm. Venue: Val de Vie Wine Estate, Paarl-Franschhoek Valley. Cost: free. Contact: 021 863 6100 or visit valdevie.co.za

19 december–10 january Cinderella Classical ballet with humour at its best. Time: 7pm. Venue: Artscape Theatre. Cost: R50–R150. Contact: 021 421 7695 or visit artscape.co.za

if you’re visiting durban 5 december–11 january Aladdin Join Aladdin and his enchanted lamp in this family pantomime, which features popular songs, plenty of jokes, glamorous costumes and amazing sets, such as a golden Chinese palace. Time: varies. Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, UKZN, Glenwood. Cost: R130–R210. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

13–23 december Umhlanga Summer Festival There are games and fun for children and parents every day, including exercise classes, face painting, beach Olympics, beach volleyball, musical towels, tugof-war, a promenade walk and more.

The Lizzard Summer Surf Event, 13 and 14 December, is for novice surfers from 6 years old to masters over 50.

A trail run takes place on 14 December. Time: varies. Venue: Umhlanga, North Coast. Cost: varies. Contact Umhlanga Tourism: 031 561 4257 or visit umhlangafestivals.co.za

16 december Shongweni Farmers and Craft Annual Christmas Market Enjoy a day of wonderful food, fun and live music by The Kickstands, along with a festive showcase of handcrafted items. Time: 9am–4pm. Venue: 1 Fraser Rd, Assagay. Cost: free entry.

Contact: info@shongwenimarket.co.za or visit shongwenimarket.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 6 January for the February 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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finishing touch

wild things CASSANDRA SHAW recalls her carefree childhood and hopes that her son also gets to develop a sense of wonder for nature.

i

had a big backyard when I was a child, where I often climbed trees. I also caught bugs in jars, ate wild flowers and spent a lot of time beachcombing.

In most of my early photos I looked like a carefree child with wild, sun-kissed hair and a fine layer of dirt coating my skin.

In comparison to my son, our early years couldn’t be further apart. He lives in a flat and his backyard consists of a fake section of grass that lines the base of our balcony. There’s nothing wrong with being a city boy, but it’s very obvious where he comes from whenever we take him out into the country. For starters, he’s like a child in a sweet shop. There is endless space for him to explore and be as noisy as he likes.

He loves it! But there are other times when the elements are just too much for him, like

when he insists on wearing snow boots in 27 degree weather and being carried by his dad because he keeps getting sand in his shoes.

The most distinguishing characteristic though is how he reacts to the unexpected.

We recently went away for a weekend

he was quite nervous being around these gigantic, prehistoric-looking birds strutting their stuff. Surprisingly, though, he had no problem when it came time to feed a couple of cheetahs their breakfast and dinner... sure, they were in captivity, but it made me think there was hope for him yet.

There is endless space for him to explore and be as noisy as he likes. He loves it! to the Klein Karoo, and one morning he called out for us, slightly panicked, when a large fly landed in front of him – he thought it was a bee coming to sting him. And when we were out for a walk and were followed by a couple of ostriches in heat who decided to perform for my husband,

I was definitely more scared in that instant than he was.

I suppose that exposure to such things is the main way for children to become more adjusted and well-rounded. With exposure I’ve certainly become more “citified” over the years – perhaps a little

too much, especially since moving to South Africa. In my defence though I think living in a place where you haven’t grown up knowing what all of the plants, animals and bugs are capable of, can put you a bit on edge – especially when it comes to your children and their interaction with them.

Perhaps we both need to explore the countryside a bit more and see what’s out there. I’m pretty sure my son would be up for it, but I think the retired tomboy I am, is more nervous of the prospect than he is.

Cassandra has enjoyed sharing the Shaw clan’s stories and experiences with you this past year. She and her family wish you and your families a very happy holiday season and an eventful New Year filled with fun and memorable stories of your own.

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PHOTOGRAPH: MENKE BONNEMA

Cassandra and her son