Child Magazine | Joburg July 2013

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

things for your bucket list

get up &

do it

getting children off the couch

singapore on a 3-day gastronomic adventure

happy holidays www.childmag.co.za

July 2013

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health

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Hunter House P U B L I S H IN G

Holidays are a great time to scale down on parental intensity.

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

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

In our house, this means escaping the taxing juggling of lift clubs, extramurals, homework and the morning lunchbox rush.

Of course, keeping children busy during the long winter holidays comes with its own challenges, but hopefully we’ll all find the space to create joy and fun as families.

As I write this note, we’re at the height of “protest season”, which seems to spill into our homes as we strive to reach unattainable parenting standards. So I’m really looking forward to taking a few days

Resource Editor Simone Jeffery • joburg@childmag.co.za Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • capetown@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

Art Designers Nikki-leigh Piper • nikki@childmag.co.za Alys Suter • studio2@childmag.co.za Mariette Barkhuizen • studio@childmag.co.za Mark Vincer • studio3@childmag.co.za

off to watch my husband run the Knysna half marathon, to eat oysters with Robyn and hopefully do a bit of my own running with my eldest (beagles in tow) in our quest to get fit for summer. Let our Bumper Holiday issue inspire you and check our jam-packed “what’s on” pages for ways to have fun with your family.

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

P.S This month we turn the spotlight on two issues close to my heart: PND (page 8) and breast cancer (page 16), as we honour the women worldwide who fight these diseases and their partners who support them. “Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.” – Angelina Jolie

Client Relations Renee Bruning • renee@childmag.co.za

Subscriptions and Circulation PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: BROOKE FASANI

Helen Xavier • subs@childmag.co.za

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

Joburg’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 5, First Floor, Bentley

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July 2013

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contents

july 2013

upfront

regulars

3 a note from lisa

8 pregnancy news – more than just a mood swing Lynne Gidish

6 over to you readers respond

features

looks at treatments for postnatal depression

10 best for baby – lighten the load

16 making a clean breast should you consider a preventive mastectomy? Glynis Horning investigates the odds

20 up and at it children can now get fit in numerous creative ways.

By Lucille Kemp

22 what’s it worth? Ruth Rehbock says children should learn the true value of money, charity and self-worth

25 feasting in Singapore Christina Castle grabs her preteen son for a gastronomical adventure in the Garden City

28 nutrition’s little helper there are so many vitamin supplements on the market, it can create confusion. Tori Hoffmann sheds some light

Françoise Gallet suggests ways to support your back when carrying or bathing your baby

11 upfront with paul what’s in a name you may ask? Plenty, says Paul Kerton

12 dealing with difference early detection of cancer signs in children could save lives. By Glynis Horning

30 resource – make a memory Child magazine recommends a bucket list of things to do with your children while they’re young

32 a good read new books for the whole family

36 what’s on in july 50 finishing touch Anél Lewis warns against instilling gender stereotyping in our children

health

classified ads

15 warts and all Tamlyn Vincent looks

45 family marketplace

at ways of to get rid of these unsightly skin deformities

47 let’s party

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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July 2013

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

EARTHCHILD Clothing earthchild.co.za

Mr Price mrprice.com

EARTHCHILD Clothing earthchild.co.za

EARTHCHILD Clothing earthchild.co.za

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July 2013

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letters

how do I get my copy?

I have had the pleasure of reading Child magazine for the first time. It says on the cover that it is “free”. The magazine is amazing and I will not mind paying for it, but, if it is free, where can I get a monthly copy? If not, where can I buy it and what does it cost?

Adri Grant Childmag says Welcome to our community of readers. Our magazine is free, but if you can’t get hold of a copy, why not subscribe for R165? This means the magazine is sent to your mailbox for a year and you won’t need to hunt for a copy. Send your details to subs@childmag.co.za and we’ll take it from there. Happy reading!

can’t get my child into a school Our government, in particular the Department of Education, has suggested that all parents have their children registered at public schools, for 2014, by the end of May 2013. This is a brilliant idea. However, has this minister considered that there are not enough public schools or places in the schools for all children? I have registered my son at five schools in our area and have had five calls to say that they are full. They also added that I should have sent my child’s siblings to that school. I understand that siblings get first priority, but how do I get my eldest into a school that is already full? I am now desperate as to where to send my son to school next year and being told that “he’s on the waiting list” does not help. I’ve also been told that schools are not allowed to have a waiting list anymore.

over to you

My child needs to go to school next year. I’ve done all the right things to get him there: stood in queues at 4am; given the schools all the information they might require, but I now have to pray that 15 or 20 other parents will take their child out of school so that my child can go to Grade R. When is the government actually going to do something about educating the children in this country?

Roisin Losco

it was a great journey After just over three years delivering Child magazine, I believe it is now time to concentrate on various other pursuits and pastimes. I must say that it has been fun. Although it had its moments in the rainy season, it saved me a whole lot of cash in gym fees and it has given me the opportunity to make friends with numerous dedicated childminders.

I guess when you hear some of the school children calling you “Grandpa” as you struggle through the door with four bundles of magazines in your arms, it makes one think! The reaction and feedback over the years to your very popular magazine has always been highly complimentary and positive. The only negative comment I ever received was on the size of the magazine, people saying it’s just too big, but then I always told the teachers that “lots of good articles need a big magazine.” Thank you again for the opportunity.

Forbes Horncastle

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.

what a weekend!

thank you for giving me hope

We have recently returned from a weekend at Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, which I won through Child magazine. Trying to organise a romantic getaway without the children was an enormous task. We had both forgotten how wonderful it is to be spoilt, cared for and pampered in every way possible. I cannot describe the game drives, our great host Phillip, the animals and adventures we were taken on, the people we met, the adult conversation and the food; oh my word – five star service every minute. Thank you so much for such an incredible experience. We all forget how important quality time is for us parents.

Bonny Cooke

I am a young mother of a two-year-old baby girl who was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital. (This is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures – Ed.) It was not easy accepting that she would not experience her development stages like other children would, but with the help of the internet and access to publications like Child magazine, I’ve found hope again. I have learnt that giving your child your full attention and showing them that you love them regardless of their disability, will encourage them and help them develop self-esteem. Thank you for a magazine that informs us on how to deal with specialneeds children.

Anonymous

meningitis scare Thank you Child magazine for making us aware of meningitis (May 2013). Most people only realise the severity of these diseases when they occur in their own home. Education is important, and even though the number of cases are reduced due to vaccinations, the advances of modern medicine and early diagnosis and treatment, most people are misinformed. Most mothers do take their children for vaccinations, but parents and young adults are not educated, hence we often miss the signs until it is too late. Let’s spread the word and not just give vaccinations and medication.

Matsepo Manyokole

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July 2013

the need for alternative schools I think an alternative to traditional schooling is definitely a must. Having to deal with a child who does not conform to how most children learn is something I do understand. However, my problem with some of the alternative schools I have investigated is that these children are limited from a more inclusive view of the world on a social level. The schools are often too small and offer no valuable physical extramurals, so the child does not have access to team sports, which I believe is a very important life lesson in how to manage conflict, play fair and get exercise. The other downfall

to these schools is that, because they are either small or exclusive, they are very expensive and certainly do not suit many parents’ budgets. There was also a quote about traditional schools being based on memorising information. OBE (outcome based education), which has just been thrown out of the GDE (Gauteng Department of Education), did not focus on memorising work or rote learning at all and this is proving part of the problem in higher learning. As much as we need to understand and experience something to learn it properly, it is naive to discount the value of rote learning in exercising the brain.

Leigh Thomas

it’s chocolate or (vanilla) ice-cream My daughter is the loving offspring of a mixed race marriage. When she was four years old, while bathing her, she looked at me and she said “mommy, you and dad don’t look the same. You are chocolate and he is ice cream, and I’m fabulous”. Even now, at age six, she still doesn’t call a black person “black” and a white person “white” – its chocolate or ice cream.

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July 2013

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pregnancy news

more than just a mood swing

m

airéd Edwards, of Joburg, started feeling anxious and weepy about six weeks after her son’s birth, but she thought these were normal “new mommy” feelings. The attorney, and mother of David, now two, and Ciara, six months, shares her experience: “My mother had returned home after being with me and I was feeling increasingly isolated and overwhelmed about not being able to do the motherhood thing perfectly when I was doing everything else in my life so well. Control is a big issue for me and I found being at a baby’s mercy very hard. The day that I had a complete meltdown and couldn’t stop crying, quite unlike the usually calm and collected me, my husband took it seriously and contacted my gynae. We’d been told during our antenatal classes that people with A-type, perfectionist personalities like mine are susceptible to postnatal depression (PND).”

Mairéd was referred to a psychiatrist who put her onto medication and she also went for counselling. “Employing a nanny and another visit from my mom made a huge difference as I managed to get a lot more sleep (sleep deprivation played a huge part in my postnatal depression) and gave the medication a chance to start working. Realising that it was my body’s reaction to a massive drop in hormones, and not a weakness or fault of mine, made me feel a lot better and I stopped beating myself up and feeling ashamed and inadequate.”

Postnatal depression is a medically recognised disorder that can be treated, says LYNNE GIDISH.

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Mandy Rodrigues, a Joburg-based clinical psychologist, says, “There’s a vast difference between having the baby blues and PND. Baby blues affects between 50 and 70 percent of new moms between days three and 10, with bouts of weepiness and feelings of insecurity in being able to cope. But unlike PND, these symptoms are temporary.

PND develops slowly at any stage of your baby’s first year, and may progress into a chronic low-grade depression if it’s not treated. There are many misconceptions about PND, which is why there’s so much guilt and shame involved. There’s also a great deal of stigma attached to the condition as many people think having it implies that you are a bad mother, that you’ll harm your child and that you are weak because you’re unable to cope with something that should be completely natural. But this is not true. PND is a medically recognised mood disorder that affects women indiscriminately. It’s important to understand that motherhood is not easy no matter how capable you may be in every other aspect of your life.

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ILLUSTRATION: shutterstock.com

maybe it’s just the blues?

Bonding with your baby may take time. You may have difficulty breast-feeding, and be sleep deprived, which is often used as a form of torture because it causes depression, confusion and even psychosis after 48 hours, and plays havoc with your emotions and hormones. This sets you up for developing PND, especially if you are an “of-course-I-cancope” A-Type perfectionist. The good news is that there is help out there. It’s important to see a professional for medication and therapy and to ensure you get support at home.

Don’t beat yourself up – you are not a failure as a mother; you may just need a little time to adjust.

caught off guard Shelley Ball, Joburg-based mother of Bianca, 14, Joshua, four, and Catherine, nine months, never suspected that she would develop PND with her second pregnancy.

“Bianca’s pregnancy and birth were problem-free and I coped perfectly well as a new young mother, so the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that engulfed me when I had Joshua took me completely by surprise. I was older, had done it before, and should have known it all, especially as a successful juggler of a high-flying career and motherhood, who had handled the stressful emotions of a divorce and was happily remarried.”

But things were different this time. Shelley was bedridden for three months with an “incompetent cervix”, a diagnosis that constantly played on her mind. “I felt completely inadequate, unable to naturally carry my own child, go to work or be a wife or mother.

Things got worse after the birth. I was an absolute mess, crying all the time as I battled to cope with the children. I thought that going back to work when my son was four months old would help, but it only made things worse. Since I’ve always been a high achiever I felt like a failure. I was referred to a psychologist who diagnosed PND and prescribed antidepressants. That, together with therapy, allowed me to slowly reclaim my life.”

That was until she fell pregnant with Catherine, and the same thing happened again.

“This time I spent four months in bed, but as soon as I started spiralling down I went onto medication, which helped. I now understand that PND can happen to anyone, regardless of how capable you may be.”

Lynne Gidish holds the Pfizer Mental Health Journalism Award for 2012/2013. This is the second year that Pfizer SA has sponsored the award in partnership with Sadag.

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one in 25

the number of dads that suffer from postnatal depression

what to do if you think you have PND Elizabeth Matare, chief executive officer of the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), offers the following advice: • Remember that PND is a very common illness that can be successfully treated and you are not suffering from it because you are weak or hopeless.

• Seek professional help at the first sign of any symptoms.

• Grab as much sleep as you can at every possible opportunity.

• Make sure that you eat regularly and healthily to keep your energy levels up.

• Get some exercise – even a walk outside will do wonders.

• Communicate with your partner; you need his support. Having a young baby will be difficult for him and he’ll be concerned about you too.

• Don’t suffer in silence. There’s no embarrassment or shame when it comes to PND. Talk to other new mothers – you’ll find that many of them also feel the same things you do.

watch out for these symptoms • • • • • • •

Anxiety Weepiness Feelings of guilt and insecurity Irritability Exhaustion Loss of interest in usual activities Loss of confidence and self-esteem • Living from feed to feed

where to go to for assistance South African Depression and Anxiety Group Contact the tollfree helpline: 0800 753 379; the sms line: 31393 or visit sadag.org Post Natal Depression Support Association Sms “help” to 082 882 0072 and they will contact you, or visit pndsa.org.za

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best for baby

lighten the load

i

f you’ve balanced your baby on your hip, with your cellphone tucked under your ear, and then bent down to pick up a heavy nappy bag, you may well have strained, or even injured, your musculoskeletal system.

a pain in the back New mothers find that the first three months of a newborn’s life are particularly physically demanding. The combination of breast-feeding or bottle-feeding, lifting and carrying a baby, sleep deprivation and the stress of coping with a new baby makes new moms susceptible to back pain of all types.

Joburg-based chiropractor Dr Michael Marinus explains that, during pregnancy, the body releases hormones that relax the ligaments to allow the pelvis to move for natural birth. Your body also undergoes rapid weight gain. Then post pregnancy, as your ligaments are still loose from the hormone release, your subsequently weakened postural muscles have to work “double time”, says Marinus. The functionality of the core stabilising muscles will be compromised further if you have a Caesarean.

And what exacerbates matters, asserts Joburg chiropractor Dr Monica Fiandeiro, is that new mothers are often not taught correct postural breast-feeding techniques, carrying methods and lifting positions. “While mom is so busy caring for her little one, she will often compromise herself into awkward positions.”

tips for tending your back and your baby Power nap Fatigue affects your physical coping strategies and makes it difficult for your body to heal. Avoid the temptation of doing housework while your baby is sleeping and get some rest too. Even 10 minutes can be beneficial.

Bath time Place the baby bath on the kitchen sink where it does not require heavy lifting to fill and empty. Your working surface needs to be at elbow height. For older babies, place a pillow under your knees, a folded towel under your ribs and let the bath brace you underneath your arms.

Picking your baby up from a cot, a playpen or the floor Face your baby and then squat by bending your knees, keeping your back straight and sticking your bottom out to maintain the lumbar curve. With your body in this position, bring your baby close. Use both arms to lift your baby.

Carrying your baby Change sides regularly.

Using a pram Adjust the handles so that your elbows are comfortably bent and your back is straight. Buy wisely; opt for a lighter weight stroller.

Putting your baby in a car seat Avoid bending and twisting by ensuring the seat is easily accessible in your car.

Baby pouches A pouch that positions your baby in front is ideal when they’re still small. As they get older, they can face forwards. Reduce strain by keeping your baby close to your body and positioned in the midline.

Gentle exercise This helps your body regain its muscle tone and strength. Note that mothers who have had a C-section need to wait at least six weeks and get their doctor’s approval first.

Carrying a baby can be a back-breaking

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activity. Françoise Gallet suggests ways to spare you the strain.

Breast- and bottle-feeding Sit in an upright chair and slide a small pillow in above your buttocks to keep the lumbar spine concave. Prop your baby up on your lap with pillows to avoid slumping forward or lifting your baby with your arms.

Lift your head frequently to break the flexed position of your neck when looking down. If possible, you can try breastfeeding while lying in bed on your side. Avoid crossing your legs while sitting and keep both feet on the ground.

Changing nappies Make sure your hands touch the surface with a slight flexion at your elbows.

who to see Chiropractors assess, diagnose and provide treatments for drug-free pain relief. Physiotherapists treat musculoskeletal dysfunction during or after pregnancy. If you want the problem looked at holistically, an osteopath who specialises in the biomechanics of the body will also offer long-term care, such as advice on how to sit correctly.

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upfront with paul

naming rights PAUL KERTON says if you are determined to give your child a name that better suits a demented poodle, you are not doing her any favours.

o PHOTOGRAPH: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

Saskia, Paul and Sabina

kay, I admit, it really isn’t my problem anymore; having two daughters with what I consider to be great names – Saskia and Sabina – to match their fabulous personalities.

My friend though, a pending new father, is struggling with names and it is painful watching him grapple with the pressure to find something different, but not too different, distinctive, without being pretentious, authoritative without being naff... Tarquin? No. Dante? No. Eric? No. You have to give a name some real thought since your child is going to go through life bearing the weight of it. This can range from the sublime – John, that is unduly neglected (as it does not pass the put-some-work-into-it test), to the ridiculous, as personified by numerous

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pop icons, often while under the influence of artificial stimulants. David Bowie gave his son a girl’s name, Zowie (a bastardisation of Zoe), simply to rhyme with Bowie. Luckily Zowie overcame this disability to become a feted, awardwinning film director, now under the more sedate name, Duncan Jones (Bowie’s real surname). I was working with Paula Yates when she called her first baby Fifi-Trixibell.

I told her it sounded like a demented poodle, but she loved it and called her second daughter Peaches Honeyblossom.

Her “love child” with INXS’s lead singer, Michael Hutchence, is a real mouthful: Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.

The hippy era caused all sorts of ghastly aberrations as well-meaning, tepee-dwelling parents sought to connect

with nature and a more tranquil lifestyle.

Parents actually called their children names like Peace and Love. The late actor River Phoenix’s hippy parents also called his siblings, Rain, Summer and Liberty.

The problem is that baby names are often part of trendy fads that fade fast.

Should Prince William and Kate name their daughter Jessica, then half the world will be teeming with Jessicas. Teachers hate it when they have more than two of the same name in class. Can you imagine teaching five Jessicas?

The main advice is to keep it simple and avoid undue complications. On a practical level, think how many forms and official applications your child is going to write in their lifetime. Using the name of every member of Manchester United’s

cup-winning team is not a good idea. It is handy too if people can actually spell the name and pronounce it. I spent half my life listening to my wife, Tziona, first spell and then pronounce her name a thousand times to strangers. It gets tedious.

When I arrived in Africa I thought the traditional naming of children after emotions or personal qualities was quite charming, but it’s a big ask for the child to live up to the name as they grow up. I have met a helluva lot of women called Patience who don’t have an ounce of it. I once went into a restaurant and when I asked the waiter his name, he said, “Pardon.” After about half an hour spent repeating myself, I twigged that Pardon was his Christian name. (Honestly, I couldn’t make that up).

Follow Paul on Twitter: @fabdad1

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dealing with difference

of adults, so while, for instance, bowel cancer cells in adults double in about 300 days, those in children may double in 30 days or even 30 hours. But this more rapid growth makes these cancers more sensitive to treatment, and even those in stage four – the most advanced – can today often be cured.

Of the

2 500 children who develop cancer each year in SA, only

childhood cancers and treatment

c

Robert undergoing treatment

olleen and Mike Eddles were taking a brief break together in the Okavango when they had the call every parent dreads: “Robert’s not well,” their au pair told them from their Durban home. The week before, they had taken their six-year-old son to the GP to check out a small lump in his groin, and been told it was nothing antibiotics would not sort out. Now it was red and tender, and when the au pair took him back to the doctor, his spleen was enlarged and there was activity in his blood. The doctor advised a biopsy. Colleen and Mike rushed back and, two days later, on 31 May 2006, heard the words they feared most.

“I’m sorry to tell you your son has cancer; acute lymphocytic leukaemia.”

“Why are you crying?” their pale but composed boy asked later, as sisters Megan, nine, Gilly, 14, and other family and friends gathered around. “You have baddies in your blood,” explained his father. “But doctors are going to bring in an army of goodies to fight them.”

That weekend the Eddles began to wrestle with the inevitable questions. Why them?

And would their son be all right? In the eight months of intensive treatment that followed, they found answers “and incredible support” from the Durban paediatric haematologist who supervised Robert’s blood transfusions and chemotherapy injections and drips, from the psychologist who counselled him and them, and from the Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (Choc).

800

Worldwide, the most common childhood cancers are leukaemia (around one in three get diagnosed and treated of all cancers in under 15s), followed by brain tumours (around one in five) and lymphomas and neuroblastomas. Though in South Africa Wilms’ tumours (kidney cancer) are the third most common, Davidson reports.

Childhood cancers now have an overall cure rate of around 70 percent, rising to 80 percent for some leukaemias like Robert’s (which some 50 years ago stood at just five percent), and over 90 percent for localised Wilms’ tumours and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This progress is due largely to the establishment of specialist childhood cancer referral units linked to major academic hospitals, which include support services, from laboratories to social workers and therapists, for a multidisciplinary team approach. It can also be attributed to medical advances. Chief among them, says Davidson, are improvements in the treatment of infections and other side effects, allowing for more intensive treatment; the advent of implantable ports and lines to take blood samples and deliver chemotherapy; and surgical advances like minimally invasive surgery and bench surgery, where organs are removed for surgery and then replaced. Other advances are the use of titanium clips to mark surgical beds for radiation treatment, new forms of radiation therapy to make it safer and more effective, bone marrow transplantation, and new biological agents.

In January 2009, Robert’s haematologist did a marrow biopsy and it came back clear. She kept him on medication and he had further chemotherapy and lumbar punctures every three months. Then in July 2011 this too stopped. Today he goes only for biannual checkups. “Strangely, this has been almost as hard for us as Robert’s treatment,” confides Colleen. “A security blanket – the routine reassurances of the tests and of the doctors and nurses, who have become like family – has been pulled away. Sometimes Robert asks ‘Can I get cancer again?’ And I tell him, ‘we can never say never.’ In the dead of night I still worry. But counselling has helped me deal with this, and with the anger you feel at times.”

there is a bright side diagnosis and support One of Colleen’s biggest comforts has been chatting with mothers of other children with cancer. “Whenever you think you’re having a bad time, there’s always someone at Choc who has had it worse than you, and you realise how much you have to be grateful for.”

While around 700 children diagnosed with cancer in South Africa are reported to the Children’s Tumour Registry each year, it’s believed that this is only a third of the actual number of sufferers. “The rest are either not reported, for example children who undergo surgery without being referred to an oncologist or who die before referral, or are never diagnosed and receive no treatment,” says Davidson.

In addition, many children are diagnosed only in the final stages when treatment has less chance of success. “Some parents first consult traditional healers or try alternative remedies, and even when they do use conventional clinics or hospitals, the cancers may go undetected for varying periods,” he explains. Many also struggle to raise the transport costs to hospital, which prevents them from bringing sick children back for chemotherapy or checkups.

coping with childhood cancer The prognosis for children with this disease is usually good. So spot the signs and find the right help fast, says Glynis Horning.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: Michael Eddles / GLYNIS HORNING

What they learnt began lifting the fears that weighed them down. First, they were in no way “to blame”. It has been established that childhood cancers, which affect around one in every 600 children before the age of 15, are different to adult cancers, which are often linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, environmental factors (pollution, radiation, sunburn), and genetics. Most have no discernible cause. “Some parents struggle with the fact that there is in most cases no easy answer; nothing or no one to blame,” says Prof Alan Davidson, associate professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Cape Town and head of Paediatric Haematology-Oncology at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

Second, the prognosis is amazingly good. The overall cure rate for childhood cancer has improved considerably over the past 25 years, even for aggressive types, Davidson says. And Robert’s type was the most common childhood cancer, one that progresses rapidly but responds well to treatments and has a good chance of curing. Children’s natural resilience is one of the biggest factors countering cancer. They tolerate treatment better than adults and have fewer side effects. Their cancers grow more rapidly than those

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dealing with difference

This is where Choc helps, assisting where possible with transport costs and providing parental accommodation for families living far from town. “Our family has so much to be thankful for,” says Colleen, hugging Robert as he runs up for a photograph.

Today he’s an engaging, energetic 11-yearold who has now started playing water polo.

Confident beyond his years, he also speaks at blood donor rallies. “I want people to know about cancer in children, especially, so they can watch for signs and catch it early,” he says earnestly. “And I want them to be able to get stuff they need, like blood and bone marrow donations. I didn’t need marrow at my stage, but blood donations helped save my life.”

check your child

parenting pointers

If the following signs persist, they can indicate cancer: • lump in the abdomen, pelvis, head, neck, limbs, testes or glands (armpits, groin); • b ulging eyeball, impaired vision, new squint, white spot in the eye; • enlarging head; • easy bruising or bleeding; • unexplained fever, loss of appetite and weight, pallor, fatigue; • u nexplained headaches and vomiting and fits; • aching bones, joints or back; • easy fractures; • a change in balance or gait and • a change in behaviour or achievement of milestones.

Dr Brenda Talbot is a Durban-based child psychologist with a PhD in the field of childhood cancer. Her son was diagnosed soon after birth with a life-threatening blood disorder and passed away in 2005 at age 21. She and Alta Bence, Choc’s psychosocial support services manager in Joburg, advise: • Answer your child’s questions honestly in age-appropriate terms.

• Never lie; it breaks trust. Even giving blood is not painless, so explain that it hurts a bit but will be over fast if they stay still.

• Illness and hospitals disempower, so empower your child with choices wherever possible – even just to offer their left arm or right when giving blood.

• Encourage your child to play out fears with toys or in drawings – acknowledge and name their emotions, and listen actively.

• Treat your child with cancer the same as others in terms of discipline; don’t overcompensate.

• A young child may wonder if they’ve done something bad that made them sick – reassure them. The same is true for siblings, who may feel they’re to blame for the illness.

• The sick child will receive attention and gifts; set aside one-on-one time and

Sms the name of your province to 34486 and a Choc representative will contact you. Or contact Choc: 086 111 2358 (Joburg), 086 110 6441 (Cape Town), 086 111 2182 (Durban), 012 323 3490 (Pretoria) or visit choc.org.za If cancer is diagnosed, consult a paediatric oncologist, preferably attached to a specialist referral centre in a major hospital with a multidisciplinary team.

small treats for siblings too.

• Know that a child with cancer has the potential to be as well adjusted as their healthy counterparts. Get counselling to help if necessary.

• Encourage your child to participate as much as possible in ordinary activities – achievement builds self-image and socialisation is vital.

• Some parents become intensely involved with the sick child, but others immerse themselves in activities like work – this reflects different coping styles to protect themselves from the reality of the situation.

• Try to be involved in the illness as a couple so it doesn’t come between you.

• If you have difficulty resolving differences, get professional help.

Colleen and Robert celebrate his good health

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health

p

warts and all

ut a frog in front of a girl, and she’s likely to squeal that it will give her warts if she touches it. But warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and spread by contact with contaminated objects, such as towels, and infected people, rather than a chance encounter with a hapless amphibian. Most people develop immunity to HPV over time. Younger children with a still-developing immune system are therefore more prone to developing warts.

how you get them The spread of this contagious virus is made easier if there is some breach in the barrier of the skin, says Dr Ilshpi Browne, a Cape Town-based dermatologist. This may occur if the skin is injured, or has been in water for too long, perhaps if the child has been swimming. Warts can also be spread around a child’s body if they pick at a wart and then scratch themselves elsewhere. Warts can grow anywhere on the body, including the soles of the feet, or on the lips and inside the mouth. Warts that develop on the bed of the nails are difficult to treat and could affect the nail’s growth.

getting rid of those bumps Fortunately, warts seldom exist for more than 18 months in people with a normal immune system. “Warts are not life-threatening and will run their course anyway,” notes Browne. But treatment is still recommended, as warts can get bigger or spread, says Durban pharmacist Peter

magazine joburg

Although generally harmless, warts are an unpleasant skin condition that can easily be treated. By Tamlyn Vincent

Carruthers. They may also be uncomfortable or even embarrassing for children. Plantar warts, which grow on the bottom of the foot, need to be treated by a doctor. For other warts, there are various treatment options.

One home remedy worth trying is using an occlusion tape, such as duct tape. This should be left on for a week at a time, which will cause the wart to soften and dissolve.

This will cause an inflammation that will activate the immune system to get rid of the wart. Browne says that, although a safe option, it often doesn’t work as people don’t keep the tape on for long enough. Using plant juice, such as aloe, may work if it causes some inflammation. But Browne cautions against using substances on children, especially on fingers that could come into contact with the mouth.

Over-the-counter medications are also available.

Salicylic or lactic acid treatments can be painted onto the wart. It may also help to file the wart down with an emery board. However, it could be several months before you see results. Carruthers says these treatments need to be used with care and noninvasive homeopathic lotions or tablets may be better for children.

A doctor can also surgically cut out or remove a stubborn wart with liquid nitrogen. Although quick, a surgical procedure may be painful and more likely to leave a scar. Brown adds that as the immune system is not involved in getting rid of the wart, the child is not building immunity to the virus and there is a chance of recurrence.

prevention is better than cure • C hildren should not share towels and washcloths.

• Encourage them to wear slip-slops in communal changing rooms and around pools.

• Keep their feet clean and dry, and change socks and shoes daily.

• Boost their immune system with a healthy diet to prevent warts from recurring.

old wives’ tales There’s no guarantee that any of these remedies will work, but there’s also no harm in trying.

• Peel a thin slice of potato skin and rub it onto the wart. Repeat this twice a day.

• Rub garlic onto the wart and then cover the wart. Repeat twice a day.

• Cut off a small piece of banana skin and tape it, inside skin down, onto the wart.

• Rub apple cider vinegar onto the wart using some cotton wool, then cover. Repeat every 12 hours.

• Paint a layer of clear nail varnish over the wart, repeating whenever the nail polish comes off.

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spotlight

making a clean breast Angelina Jolie has made headlines with her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. Yet this is a decision ordinary South African women have been

a

t 37, Angelina Jolie is at the peak of a profession obsessed with appearance and, with partner Brad Pitt, is part of one of the world’s most attractive brands – Brangelina. But when she learnt she carried the cancer gene that caused her mother’s death at age 56, having a risk-reduction double mastectomy seemed the sensible choice. As she wrote in the New York Times in May, “My doctors estimated I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and minimise the risk as much as I could.”

Spelled out this way, what woman would not do the same, if she could afford it? Especially a woman like Jolie with young children: Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, and Zahara,

eight (who Angelina adopted), as well as Shiloh, six, and twins Knox and Vivienne, four (who she had with Brad).

“They know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can,” she noted movingly.

should more of us consider gene testing, and taking this route? “A risk-reduction double mastectomy is no walk in the park. It’s major invasive surgery with risk of complications,” says Cape Town breast cancer surgeon Prof Justus Apffelstaedt, president of the Breast Interest Group of Southern Africa and head of the Breast Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. “On the other hand, with modern surgical approaches we can preserve the outer contour of the breast as well as the nipple and areola and give these women a virtually normal appearance. For women who are at high risk, and who have it done in reputable centres by experienced specialists with proper counselling and appropriate testing and treatment, it can give welcome reassurance and save lives.”

If you test positive for a causative BRCA mutation there’s a 50 percent chance with each pregnancy that you may pass on the faulty gene to your children.

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If Jolie could make this call, and declare herself delighted by both the reduction in her risk of developing breast cancer (now five percent) and the aesthetic results of breast reconstruction (“small scars and that’s it”),

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

making for some time, reports GLYNIS HORNING. Should you consider it?

“The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) doesn’t promote risk-reduction mastectomy without ensuring the patient has access to a comprehensive health team in respect of counselling and support after surgery.

This includes consulting her loved ones before taking this decision,” adds Cansa CEO Sue Janse van Rensburg.

“Every person is different and should make an informed decision within their own realities.”

Services Task Force estimates this to be just two percent of women. “Breast cancer is common, so someone in most families will have had it,” he says. “We worry only if you’ve already had cancer in one breast before the age of 35; if you have two immediate relatives (sister, daughter, mother) who had it before menopause, or one immediate relative with ovarian cancer before age 30; or if you have one immediate male relative (father, brother, son) with breast cancer. This cancer is very rare in men and a strong indication of a gene problem.”

so, should you consider it?

Official South African statistics give the incidence of breast cancer as one in 29 women, but this is inaccurate as cancer often goes undiagnosed and unrecorded, says Apffelstaedt. He and other specialists such as Dr Devan Moodley, an oncologist at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Joburg, estimate it to be one in eight urbanised

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women, the same as in the UK and Australia. But only women at “genuinely high risk” should contemplate gene testing, they say, and if that’s positive, preventive surgery.

You should consider genetic testing only if you have a family history of breast cancer that’s been “checked and substantiated”, Apffelstaedt says. The US Preventive

getting tested Genetic testing is done by sending a blood sample or saliva swab for analysis, and is now offered in most major South African centres. It’s done at two levels, says Prof Maritha Kotze of Stellenbosch University and the

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spotlight

Gknowmix genetic service. The first test is for “known abnormalities in the South African population”, which costs around R2 000, and “delivers positive results in around 10 to 20 percent of patients depending on their ethnic group”.

If this test proves negative, the cancer risk with a strong family history is so serious that it warrants having full gene sequencing, says Apffelstaedt. This looks for rare BRCA1 and BRCA2 abnormalities specifically associated with cancer and costs around R6 000 to R10 000. Results are available in one to three months, says Kotze, which can be a long wait. No testing should be done without extensive pre-and post-test counselling, which includes considering whether you will have a preventive mastectomy, and when.

“It’s a tough decision, but risk-reduction mastectomy is a common and well-supported intervention,” says Apffelstaedt. “It takes care of a problem that can kill. Breast cancers linked to BRCA1 problems, which Jolie had, are generally very aggressive and treatment is not very successful.”

It’s important to understand, however, that while the operation can reduce your risk of breast cancer by up to 95 percent, you still have a five percent chance of developing it, as you can’t remove all breast tissue during surgery, he says. Also, if you carry the cancer gene you will still be at risk of ovarian cancer, depending on your particular family history. Jolie’s risk is estimated at 50 percent and her only defence against it would be the removal of her ovaries.

For women who are at high risk, and who have it done in reputable centres by experienced specialists with proper counselling and appropriate testing and treatment, it can give welcome reassurance and save lives.

It’s a difficult decision, and women take on average two years to make it, says Apffelstaedt. “But if you carry the BRCA mutation, there’s no knowing when the risk may become a reality.” He tells of a 40-something patient from abroad, whose strong family history made her a candidate for genetic testing. This came back positive. “She made up her mind to have preventive surgery and wanted it when she returned to South Africa on holiday in six months. I alerted her that you never know when the gene becomes applicable.

She arrived in my office six months later, saying ‘Let’s do it!’ But when I examined her she had developed advanced cancer that needed a mastectomy and chemotherapy.”

options for ops There are two basic forms of preventive mastectomy: total mastectomy, where the whole breast and nipple are removed, or subcutaneous mastectomy, where the surgeon removes the breast tissue, but keeps the nipple and skin intact. A total mastectomy gives the greatest protection against cancer, but for aesthetic and psychological reasons many women favour the subcutaneous kind, often combined with immediate reconstructive surgery.

The most common option for this is the one Angelina has taken and involves inserting silicone or saline implants. But high-end specialist centres offer tissue-flap reconstruction.

This uses your own fat and tissue removed from your buttocks or back, or from your stomach in a combined “tummy tuck”.

A double mastectomy, with immediate reconstructive surgery using your own tissue, is a major procedure. One patient ruefully told Apffelstaedt that when he advised her that

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immediately afterwards she would feel as though she’d been hit by a lorry, he lied: “It was like a lorry with a long trailer behind it!” But even this patient felt it was a good investment in her health, he says.

Like all surgery, double mastectomy and reconstruction carries a risk of complications such as bleeding and infection. And in some women the change in body image and loss of normal breast function, especially the ability to breast-feed, can be distressing.

“This is where the importance of counselling comes in,” he says. “There is inevitably loss of sensitivity in the breasts, but some may come back. And the peace of mind is mostly well worth it.” Studies have found that most women who have had risk-reduction mastectomies are glad they did.

The biggest factor holding women back may be the cost. Genetic testing, risk-reduction surgery and breast reconstruction amount to around R150 000. But against that, run-ofthe-mill treatment for breast cancer, with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, costs around R400 000 to R600 000. The testing, preventive surgery and reconstruction are done free of charge for poor women in the public sector. Large academic centres such as Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals in Cape Town, Albert Luthuli in Durban, and Baragwanath and Helen Joseph in Joburg, all run high-risk familial breast cancer clinics.

In the private sector, the procedures are covered by medical aids according to your individual plan. Genetic tests are funded from member’s day-to-day benefits, says Nozuko Basson, media relations consultant for Discovery. “We will fund a risk-reducing mastectomy that’s in line with specific criteria, including the presence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes tied in with a strong family history of breast cancer. All requests are reviewed on a case-bycase basis. Breast construction is also funded.”

“It’s good that medical aids understand that risk-reduction surgery is a very costeffective way to prevent cancer, the treatment of which is very invasive, very expensive and not always successful,” Apffelstaedt says.

choices and children Depending on your specific medical and psychological profile, some doctors may advise close monitoring instead of surgery for carriers of BRCA mutations, says Dr Moodley.

This would include monthly breast self-examination, frequent professional checkups, and periodic mammograms or MRI scans. They may also prescribe medications such as Tamoxifen or Raloxifene in some circumstances. These have been shown to lower the chances of getting breast cancer even in women at high risk, but carry side effects, he says. “Lifestyle changes such as a low-fat, high-fibre diet, limited alcohol and regular exercise also help.”

One of the most worrying aspects of testing positive for a BRCA mutation is that there’s a 50 percent chance with each pregnancy that you may pass on the faulty gene to your children, says Kotze. “But genetic testing is not indicated before the age of 18.”

The risk for cancer doesn’t become important before that, explains Apffelstaedt, “so don’t worry your children about it before then”. A daughter who inherits the gene is at risk of breast and ovarian cancer; a son who inherits it risks a variety of cancers – breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, blood, and even certain skin cancers. “Speak to your specialist,” he urges. “Be alert to the possibilities and encourage regular checkups.”

for more information Call Cansa toll-free: 0800 226 622 or visit http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/ factsheet/Risk/BRCA.

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July 2013

19

ideas

and

at it

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July 2013

Five alternative activities guaranteed to get children of all ages off the couch. By LUCILLE KEMP

1

yoga

Described Yoga classes for children include interactive poses and games designed to hold the child’s attention and stimulate their physical, mental and emotional abilities.

They can also be used as a form of therapy for children with different physical and emotional ailments. Children’s classes are usually more focused on the introduction of yoga basics than memorising and perfecting poses and routines. They learn the basic techniques for relaxation, self-control and proper breathing, which can be taught at a very young age. Unlike most traditional physical activities, yoga teaches creativity rather than competition. Classes for preschool children usually involve imitating, playing, singing and moving. As many yoga postures are named after animals and resemble them, this activity makes use of children’s natural interest in, and affinity for, animals when asking them to make a specific pose.

Benefits Yoga has been shown to be a highly efficient method for treating different ailments in children. This includes reducing headaches, the improvement of concentration and it can even help minimise the risk of obesity. Studies prove that children with autism spectrum disorders or post-traumatic stress disorders can benefit from the breathing exercises and yoga postures. Children get to work on their flexibility, strength and balance with the various postures, while working on their sense of focus and self-awareness. For children with disabilities or chronic health conditions, yoga postures can be adapted to match their physical abilities and needs.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

up

2

tag rugby

Described This is a fast moving, noncontact team game that allows boys and girls to play together. Each player wears a belt with two Velcro tags attached to it, or shorts with Velcro patches. Attacking players attempt to dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders work to prevent them from scoring by “tagging” or pulling the tag from the ball carrier, rather than making a full-contact tackle. The teams are usually seven-a-side.

Benefits The most apparent benefit of tag rugby is that, thanks to its noncontact nature, it is regarded as a safe sport for children. Many tag rugby coaches believe young players should focus more on the fun of the game, rather than the competition, and this makes it an enjoyable sport for players of all skill levels. It will also improve the older child’s performance on the field during a “traditional” rugby game as it develops fitness, pace and evasive running.

3

zumbatomic

Described Zumbatomic is a fun dance and fitness programme designed specifically for children with age-appropriate songs, games and dance steps that encourage enthusiastic participation. It combines high-energy to classic Zumba rhythms – salsa, cumbia, reggaeton and merengue – with games to provide a safe, effective and fun workout. The classes are supportive, noncompetitive and no costumes or make-up are required. Zumbatomic classes take into consideration a child’s developing motor skills and shorter attention span, so the classes are usually split into two main age groups: for four to seven year olds and for eight to 12 year olds.

Benefits Along with physical fitness, Zumbatomic develops balance, coordination, discipline, memory, creativity and self-esteem, and teaches leadership, respect, teamwork, confidence, responsibility and social skills.

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4

blokart sailing

5

fencing

Described This fast and somewhat extreme sport uses a blokart, which is a light, compact three-wheeled buggy and sail. Your child sits in a sling seat, with their legs stretched out in front of them and they take hold of the steering bar and sheet rope. The blokart is manoeuvrable and requires few sailing adjustments, which make learning to sail particularly easy. Blokart sailing can be done along the beach or through a park.

Benefits It can be as relaxing or as thrilling as you want it to be and all you need to get going is a long stretch of ground. Blokart sailing is easy to learn and the blokart is simple to assemble and use. It is also a great way to spend quality time outdoors with your thrill-seeker child.

Described Fencers do battle following fixed movements and strict rules. In a competition, three types of swords are used: the foil, épée and sabre. Fencers compete in intense individual contests and in team events. Matches require speed, focus and on-point technique. Your opponent can make an attack in any number of ways and your defence and counter-attack need to be lightning fast. There are fencing schools that will take students as young as 6 years old.

Benefits This individual sport has physical and cognitive benefits with students describing fencing as a “physical game of chess”. Fencers need to develop strategy and quick reflexes to be good at the sport. They also learn good sportsmanship, self-discipline and how to make complex decisions, analyse problems and think on their feet. Research has revealed that fencing can enhance mathematical performance, and help children learn to pay attention and develop their decision-making abilities. Fencing helps people with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to focus.

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parenting

what’s it worth?

Children need to develop a healthy understanding of money, the importance of charity and true meaning of

w

self-worth. By RUTH REHBOCK

hen I was 10 years old I used the R40 I had saved to buy myself a watch. It was the first thing I bought with my own money. I still have the watch, but I have over the years lost the carefree, positive attitude I had towards money when I made that first purchase as a child. If you search for “children and money” on the internet you will find a plethora of books, articles and programmes that teach children about money, but the one thing that stands out is how our attitude towards this commodity has changed. We have to introduce children to money as early as we can and be active in giving them opportunities to learn how you get it, how to spend it and how to save it. Children of this generation have a unique opportunity to learn good financial habits early in life.

teach good habits Linda Gibbon, an educational psychologist in Joburg, says delayed gratification is one of the most important factors in developing a healthy relationship with money. “A good first step is to teach children the difference between needs and wants, according to their level of understanding. It’s important for a child to recognise that they can’t get things on demand.” Gibbon says learning to tolerate not getting what you want immediately is critical to learning to set goals and to work towards achieving them. For her, a child must learn that “needs” such as food, a bed and schooling are a right, whereas “wants” such as toys, games and cellphones ought to be appropriately open to negotiation. “As with all things, when to give or withhold ought to be based on a healthy relational foundation between parent and child,” she adds.

In our consumer-driven society we are at risk of placing too much emphasis on material objects. “More often than not, adults and children tend to base their self-worth on what they have rather than on who they are,” says Gibbon. It’s important to help our children value other things such as being a good person; taking responsibility for important things, showing kindness and compassion towards others and respect for parents. And the idea of respect is critical too when it comes to your child’s relationship with money.

“I strongly believe that learning about money in junior and primary school is imperative.

Learning the life skills involved with handling money equips them with knowledge they will use for the rest of their lives. You can see how empowering it is when the children are able to check their own change after buying tuck,” says Margi Kopping, a Grade 2 teacher at King David Junior School in Joburg.

As far as learning about money at school, and how it works, children are taught economic management sciences (EMS) from Grade 7 as part of the curriculum. This involves understanding who creates an economy, how it functions, 21st-century banking technology and how to write up a business plan. Other useful aspects covered include drawing up a budget, types of personal income and the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur.

respect and share One of the problems parents face is teaching children to develop a respect for money.

They need to understand that it doesn’t come from a machine in a bank or shopping mall but from hard work. “Give your child tasks for which she will earn money, but also instil an understanding that some tasks don’t have a price tag. Children need to know there are

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Teach children the difference between needs and wants, according to their level of understanding.

It’s important for a child to recognise that they can’t get things on demand.

things they must do that are based on what’s good for them and the family,” says Gibbon.

“Don’t reward a child materially for managing their daily (chores).”

The other no-no is using money to make your child feel guilty or threatening not to give or to take something away, to discipline them. If you use money in this way you will teach your child that money is a tool of praise or punishment, and they will possibly use it against you, and others, to the detriment of their personal relationships. And the corollary is also true. Don’t allow your child to manipulate you into getting them what they want. The refrain: “I am the only one who does not have a... so you have to get me one”, is used to make you feel guilty, and it is exacerbated by the fact that many 21st-century children learn to define themselves by, for example, access to technological gadgets.

One of the ways in which we can teach children responsibility and the power of money is by sharing it with others. “Charity and sharing are values learnt within the family, at school, and within communities, and parents should persevere with the lessons even though sharing requires a degree of sacrifice, which little children struggle to understand,” says Gibbon. And, as always, watch what you say in front of your children because they will emulate you. “Negative speech and derogatory statements about others who are less fortunate will leave a big impression,” she warns. “The best thing you can do is to help your child understand why we share and, most importantly, to act on your own words. If you are compassionate towards others, you will impart the lesson of charity and caring to your children.”

dos and don’ts around children and money Talk about money openly Explain how you earn the money that pays for groceries, toys and school fees. Convey to them how it’s far easier to spend money than to earn it. Answer their questions honestly.

Don’t give money on demand If you do, it confuses wants and needs and doesn’t allow them to learn that once they have spent their pocket money or savings, they have to earn more.

Make it possible to earn money at home This way they learn that work leads to reward.

But be sure to keep a few tasks that must be done without any incentives. magazine joburg

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parenting

Give your child tuck money Be sensible about how much is needed and how much items cost. Tell children not to be fooled if someone asks for food in return for friendship, for instance.

Teach children to save Give children a sensible amount of pocket money that’s related to your budget and to the child’s age. Provide a piggy bank or open a savings account for an older child (most banks now offer safe, inexpensive accounts for under-16s). Offer guidance on how best to manage their money.

Explain the difference between cash and a bank card If your child is able to understand, explain that using a card when your money is used up leads you into debt, as owing the bank will cost more in the long run. Show them how they can get access to their accounts using the internet.

give in order to receive • T each children that the recipient of your donation also has dignity. Charities are not the dumping ground for things that are beyond repair. For example, through the Santa Shoebox Project, children can get personally involved with giving to underprivileged children throughout South Africa. Ask your children’s teachers to put collection tins in every classroom.

• Relate sharing to the child’s experience and don’t use guilt to get your child to share with others.

• Pick a worthwhile charity for the family to sponsor. Decide what each family member is able to contribute, whether time or money, and only involve children in age-appropriate tasks or commitments. A few well-known charities are Choc, St Luke’s Hospice and Childline.

Avoid exposing children to family conflict around money When parents are separated or divorced, they may disagree constantly about money issues, and children may feel they are a financial burden. Negative feelings about money can lead to more serious problems.

Explain how saving and investing is important for the future This applies to toys, books, holidays, education or eventual retirement.

more reading • Raising Money Smart Kids by Janet Bodnar (Kaplan Publishing) • Raising Wealthy Kids: Seven Steps For Creating The First Financially Responsible Generation by Melanie Jane Nicolas (Kids Wealth International Club) • The Child Who Finds Money – Bedtime Stories For Children by MassiMo (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform) • Little Kids Big Money: Tools for Teaching Kid Friendly Finance by Andrea Travillian (Smart Step) • What’s in the Yellow Envelope? by Leoni Webster and Annelie Sdralis (Money is Childsplay CC t/a Money4kids)

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getaway

feasting in Singapore When Christina Castle organised a spur-of-the-moment trip via Singapore, she grabbed her near-teenage son to take along for the ride and discovered just how

PHOTOGRAPHs: christina and alex castle

delicious a travel companion he is.

t

here was a time when my now 12 year old thought the world of me. He even used to say he wanted to marry me one day. Recently, however, I have become well and truly ditched and replaced big time by mates and BBM. It’s okay. I have an older son and I know this is temporaryish. I also know that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So when the chance came to gap a few days in Singapore, I knew exactly who I wanted (and needed) as my travel mate. For me, this was a chance to reconnect before he became a positively revolting teenager.

Singapore is not new to us. It has often been a stopover of sorts en route to visiting family in Australia, so many of the tourist spots have already been ticked. This was to be a wandering experience, to follow our noses, meander the streets of Chinatown and Little India and eat ourselves stupid. And because Alex is an adventurous eater, I was almost guaranteed a marriage proposal after this trip.

Chinatown was our hood; and the perfect place to base and pace ourselves. This quaint yet bustling neck of the woods is a cultural blend of local and colonial. Many streets are lined with heritage buildings and old shop fronts that have been cleverly and colourfully restored and now house boutique hotels, restaurants, bars, speciality shops and businesses. But Sago, Pagoda, Smith and Temple Streets

magazine joburg

Bargain-hunting in Chinatown; a great place to test your skills

July 2013

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getaway

Sizzling up a storm in Satay Street

y of these we really ate I am not going to tell you how man

are bustling market streets with stalls selling cheap souvenirs, fresh juices and good local food. Chinatown is also home to a number of mosques, ornate Buddhist and Hindu temples, shrines and museums. They are inviting and offer the chance to observe the daily spiritual practice of the locals.

While Chinatown’s market streets offer tourists good local fare, the Maxwell Road Hawker Centre became our favourite eating spot. This is more of a local hang-out, where tables are shared and ceiling fans are permanently on high to offer a brief reprieve from the high wall of humidity. The food is authentic and fresh – Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, chilli crab, 1st Born Egg Tarts and lime juice. I was scoring huge points here.

Little India is a sensory journey and is just as its name suggests – a petite, yet vibrant Indian enclave of markets, restaurants, shops and stalls selling incense, spices, fabrics, oils, gold and garlands of jasmine and marigolds. Like Chinatown, Little India boasts its fair share of mosques and temples. The Tekka Centre is a wet, fresh produce and hawker market that is worth a morning visit to experience it in full swing. The Hindu Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is particularly beautiful. Leave your shoes outside and indulge your spirit. By lunchtime, however, we needed to indulge our appetites and feasted on amazing South Indian cuisine with a South African expat friend (they always know the best places to go).

By late afternoon we “rolled” into Raffles. No, not in the Bentley those other guests were arriving in, but by foot; and certainly not with any luggage. This beautiful heritage hotel is a landmark in the centre of town. It is the epitome of luxury and colonial architecture, worth a very slow stroll around the grounds. It is also the home of the Singapore Sling, and the only place to down one. Yes, they even make them for 12 year olds (and a more potent version for 44 year olds).

By dusk we were heading in the direction of Lau Pa Sat or “old market”. Originally Singapore’s first wet market, today Lau Pa Sat is foodie-hawker heaven, housed in a spectacular national monument. There is a vast selection of Asian food to choose from, but we had come specifically to experience the fare of Satay Street. Stall owners sizzle away their satay on a street in the middle of the busy financial district, which is closed each evening and set up with informal tables and chairs. The atmosphere is festive, the food filling and it’s loads of fun.

A laser show over Marina Bay against the backdrop of spectacular modern architecture was a surreal way to digest all that we had consumed in the day.

On our third and final day in Singapore we decided to slow down on the food intake a little and rather work off the indulgences of the previous days. A sweaty stroll through

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the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the humidity would at least help us shed some pounds.

We’d visited the gardens on a previous trip, and knew this vast, beautiful, and very peaceful sanctuary was worth returning to. Famous for their orchid garden, Alex discovered two orchids named after famous South Africans – Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. We left without locating the Julius Malema orchid.

We laughed, ate, talked, bantered and snuggled our way around Singapore. I loved watching Alex travel, experiment, explore and grow. But I don’t think he wants to marry me, which I think is a good thing.

getting around We like to think we walked our way around Singapore, and that we walked off everything we ate. However, to be completely honest, we spent a lot of time on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) too. Slick, safe and easy to use, Alex was in charge of transport and had the whole system taped within two days. He plotted our routes, organised connections and even bought the tickets at the machines. I could have dropped him on the other side of the city and told him to find his way back to the hotel, and I have complete confidence that he would have done it. Buses are just as easy to get around on. In fact, once, while at a bus stop, we looked a little lost and all the local commuters helped us find the correct bus to the botanic gardens.

where to stay We love a little character and stayed at Naumi Liora Hotel in a quieter area of Chinatown.

It is a beautifully restored heritage building in a vibey little back street, but perfectly safe any hour of the day. Visit naumiliora.com

other things to do with children • • • • •

There are over 1 000 species of orchid found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

ingapore Zoo and Night Safari S Sentosa Island Gardens by the Bay ArtScience Museum Jurong Bird Park

... and 2 000 hybrids as well

A fine pair/pear! Even the leaves look edible

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fyi

nutrition’s little helper Should you give your children vitamin supplements or not? Tori HoffmanN gets advice from the experts.

t

here’s a reason why there are so many vitamin supplements on the shelves today, for parents and children. It’s not just because popping a pill has become a marketing ploy and a quick fix for a poor diet and a busy lifestyle. It’s because picky eaters, overprocessed food and trying to pack too much into an often stressful day has left the majority of us needing a supplement in one form or another.

According to Michelle B Lewis, a Cape-Town based nutrition and natural health coach, “We all need some sort of assistance when it comes to our diet, largely because of the stresses of environmental pollutants and the fact that a lot of the foods we eat today are processed and over-processed. The western diet also includes artificial additives and we lose a lot of nutrients along the way.” She explains that proper eating and correct food combinations are very important and good nutritional development starts in the womb. We all need a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, wholegrains and the forgotten nutrient, water. Of course, eating healthily isn’t always possible, Michelle admits, especially when

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterSTOCK.COM

what’s lacking and why?

it comes to picky eaters, and this is where vitamin supplements serve a purpose.

do we need a supplement?

Opinion on whether or not you or your child needs to take a vitamin supplement is divided. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that it’s up to you and your family doctor to decide what you need to take and why. Some doctors don’t believe in vitamin supplements and some, like Cape Town-based paediatrician Dr Lara Smith, don’t advocate multivitamins unless there’s a specific medical concern, such as an iron deficiency or the need to supplement a child’s dairy-free diet with calcium. She adds that there is now also a recommendation to give vitamin D supplements to exclusively breast-fed babies. “I don’t dissuade parents from giving supplements if they want to, as I’m not aware of any compelling evidence against giving them to (otherwise) healthy children, but I don’t routinely prescribe vitamins unless indicated. Each case needs to be assessed individually,” she explains. Michelle says that while we don’t have to take supplements, she believes that we do need to help our bodies as much as possible. However, she emphasises that a supplement should never be used to replace a meal.

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what you need and when • Toddlers and children who are picky eaters or going through a phase of unbalanced eating will benefit from a supplement for that period, says Dr Smith. Also, families that consume vegetarian diets that completely exclude dairy products, for example vegans who exclude all animal products and their by-products, would need a supplement too.

• Growing children often need a supplement for general health and development. If your child has been sick or has a low immune system, then a vitamin C and zinc supplement may be helpful. While the sun is the best source of vitamin D, children who don’t get enough sunshine might also benefit from a vitamin D supplement.

“Natural sunlight is the best form of Vitamin D (before 10am and after 3pm),” says Michelle.

• Older children and teenagers are said to need cold-pressed oils such as omega and essential fatty acids.

This is especially true for sporty children and those who are busy with exams. Not only are the omegas believed to help with bone and brain development, they help with peak endurance and concentration too. They’re also thought to assist with hyperactivity. When your daughter starts menstruating, you might consider an iron supplement or evening primrose oil to combat premenstrual tension.

• Parents who find themselves feeling rundown would need a vitamin supplement and taking one should be part of their daily routine. “They help combat stress and a vitamin B complex is very important for women,” says Michelle.

Tip: Parents wanting to give their children vitamin and mineral supplements should make sure that it contains no more than the RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of the vitamins and minerals for the ages of their children.

RDAs are set high enough to more than meet the needs of most individuals in that category.

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resource

make a memory Here are 25 experiences to share with your child before they turn 18, or let them inspire you to come up with your own list of truly memorable things to do with them. By CHILD MAGAZINE

performance later on in life. them the value of money. Reward them for certain chores, open a bank account with them and teach them budget basics.

10 Show them how to play the schoolyard games of your youth, such as marbles, French skipping and hopscotch.

9 Teach

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out and about 11 Go for an extended road trip and take in unfamiliar sights, such as the seaside, a desert or a mountain range if they’ve never seen them before.

12 Show them how to safely light a fire and cook something on it.

13 Go to an art gallery together.

14 Teach your child to pitch a tent.

15 Visit South African landmarks such as Robben Island, God’s Window, Pilgrim’s Rest, Sara Baartman’s grave, the Big Hole in Kimberley, Maropeng, Table Mountain and the Union Buildings.

16 Stargaze. This works best far away from city lights.

17 Go strawberry or apple picking.

18 Build the biggest sandcastle you can.

19 Watch a pantomime.

20 Go to Kruger Park to see the Big Five in their natural habitat.

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

close to home 1 Learn to play an instrument together or make it possible for your child to take lessons.

2 Get involved in volunteer work in your community.

3 Plant something and watch it grow. A sprouting bean is an old favourite.

4 Build a kite together and then fly it.

5 Read an age-appropriate classic novel together or a book you loved as a child.

6 Cook or bake something with your child.

7 Make a fort in the lounge.

8 Get them to dance and sing without restraint and video it so they can watch the

wish list Be sure to include a few big-ticket, aspirational ideas that you can dream about and work towards with your family. Here are a few suggestions…

21 See the seven wonders of the ancient world or visit as many countries as possible.

22 Visit Disneyland when they are old enough to go on the rides.

23 View the world from the lofty heights of a hot-air balloon.

24 Learn a second language.

25 Go tubing or whitewater rafting.

suggestions from facebook Jane Reuben: Horse-riding, camping in the wild for at least a week, trekking through the mountains of Colorado, travelling anywhere in South America, and enjoying a boat ride with a whale sighting…

Michele Mistry: Visiting the Etosha plains, ice-skating on a river, seeing the Himalayas at dawn, starting a family band, my list is endless...

Carmen Louise Harper: A helicopter ride – my son loves them Rona Mirimi: A trip to the Far East for six months, especially India

down the rapids Frank Muller says he’s taken his two sons on two separate canoeing trips – one son at a time – along the lower reaches of the Orange River. On both they travelled about 70km over four days. “You sleep in the sand by the riverside, under stars so bright you can read a book by their light. The rapids make it exciting, but you are never in any real danger. The guides prepare three great meals every day, so you can focus on canoeing, enjoying the majestic scenery and getting to bond in a special way.”

This activity is recommended for children from the age of seven and it’s best to go Frank and Ludwig

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in late April and early October, when the temperatures are mild and rain is less likely.

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books

a good read for toddlers

Doll’s House

By Sarah Powell and Dan Green

A Kiss like This

By Mary Murphy

(Published by Priddy Books, R55) Children from the age of two will love exploring all the beautiful rooms as they pay a visit to the doll’s house in this delightful board book. There are toys hidden in the cupboards, a parrot called Cindy asleep on her perch, Toodles the cat hiding in the kitchen, a cake for tea time, a mouse in the grandfather clock, fresh lemonade for after a day’s toil in the vegetable garden, cupcakes baking in the oven and beautiful party dresses in the wardrobe. With fun flaps to lift on every scene and easy-to-turn, tabbed pages, this sturdy board book turns reading into an adventure.

(Published by Candlewick Press, R137) A giraffe kiss is very tall, just turn the page and see what a tall giraffe kiss looks like.

Elephant kisses are long, of course, while tiny mice and bubbly fish have kisses all their own. Using a clever split-page format that makes for charming surprises, authorillustrator Mary Murphy shares a series of animal kisses that are sure to have babies and toddlers gurgling, giggling, smiling, and leaning over for their kisses. The creator of I Kissed the Baby! celebrates animal moms and babies in an irresistible novelty book. This delightful read will also make mom and dad smile.

My Dog, My Cat, My Mum and Me

By Nigel Gray and Bob Graham

an absolu te deligh t

(Published by Walker Books, R78) There are puppies, kittens and babies galore in this fun lift-the-flap book from the awardwinning partnership. The story begins: “My dog got fatter and fatter. I didn’t know what was the matter!” When a litter of puppies arrives, the reason becomes clear. Lift the flaps as the little girl meets puppies, kittens and finally her very own little baby brothers in this fun, simple introduction to the concept of birth and life cycles for children from the age of two.

for preschoolers Baby Baboon

By Mwenye Hadithi and Adrienne Kennaway (Published by Hodder Children’s Books, R89) This is another stunningly illustrated book by the author and illustrator that also brought you Lazy Lion and Greedy Zebra. Leopard is hungry, but he is also lazy. How will he catch his dinner? He recruits the help of Baboon and Baby Baboon to trap Hare in an underground tunnel. But as Leopard goes off to the dam to get a drink of water, and Baboon stands guard at one end of the tunnel, clever Hare makes his escape out the other side. This is the story of how Leopard came to lie in wait in the trees and why you just might hear Baby Baboon laughing and laughing.

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for preschoolers

read and sha

re

Kaliya the Serpent King

By Joshua M. Greene and Patrick Wire

Tao in the Box

By Mia von Scha (Published by Light Page Publishing, R141) This is an inspirational children’s picture book with vivid and enticing illustrations.

It explores the passage in the Tao Te Ching: “The Tao begot one. One begot two. Two begot three. And three begot the ten thousand things.” It shows, in simple, entertaining verse, how the world began from nothingness, expanded to the Yin and Yang of opposites, and how you were created to connect these opposites and bring the rest of creation to life. This is a great tool for parents trying to help their children find their place in the world and learn. “So hold hands tightly and keep in mind you are the most precious thing that you could ever find.”

(Published by Mandala Publishing, R172) Kaliya, king of ancient India’s serpent people, crosses the gods and must leave. He relocates to the pristine Yamuna River, which flows by young Krishna’s village of Vrindavan. The serpent king’s venom poisons the river. Birds fall lifeless to the ground, trees and vegetation dry up, and the lives of the villagers are in danger. Although only a child, Krishna has sworn to protect and safeguard the many animals and people who depend on the river for their existence. Whether one views Krishna as a divine being or as a mischievous child, his respect for nature is exemplary.

for early graders Ronny-G’s Travels

By Gina Wolfenden-McDowell (Published by Logogog, R60) Not many people know what dolls think and do. This enchanting story transports you into the world of Ronny-G, a doll made in Thailand.

From heart-stopping adventures up the Eiffel Tower in France, to meeting a cuckoo bird in a cuckoo clock in Switzerland, Ronny-G interacts with toys from all over the world. This unique tale blurs fact and fiction and includes lessons for everyone. Ronny-G’s travels were born out of the author’s many travels and life experiences. Most of the experiences of Ronny-G are factually based, besides, of course, the story being about a talking doll. To read more about Ronny-G and to order books, visit ronnygstravels.com

The Lil’ Five and the Secret of the Black Cave

By Franz Scholl, Michael Crafford and Karl Mostert (Published by They Did This!, R130 plus R30 postage) Welcome to the world of The Lil’ Five and join Leo, Kitty, Ellie, Rox and Hoofer as they embark on adventures that will capture the imagination. From vine forests to the Black Caves, pirate coves to mountain monkey villages, a whole new world full of adventure, excitement and danger awaits. The Lil’ Five is the first creatorowned publication by Cape Town-based creative studio They Did This! Secret of the Black Cave is intended to be the first of a series of Lil’ Five adventures. They Did This! aims to make The Lil’ Five as synonymous with South Africa as Asterix is to France and TinTin is to Belgium. To order, visit lilfive.com magazine joburg

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books

for preteens and teens Children’s World Atlas (Published by Map Studio, R150) The Children’s World Atlas for South Africans brings an understanding of the world to your child. It introduces children to continents, time zones, countries’ flags, countries’ facts and much more, while they follow Globeman, a globe with “personality” travelling in a yellow Beetle, through interactive map-related activities.

This atlas for children includes detailed country-bycountry maps showing national capitals and towns.

Other content includes facts like sizes in comparison, number of countries per continent, length of road and rail networks, population and population density as well as population growth per annum. This introductory guide to the world for your child is perfect for ages 10 to 15.

Darkness, Be my Friend & Burning for Revenge

By John Marsden (Published by Quercus, R107 each) This is books four and five in the very popular series for children from the age of 12. After the trauma of the invasion and the pain of their tragic loss, Ellie and her friends have finally found sanctuary. After five months, though, they are called upon to return to the fight. The gang has got used to feeling safe, but sometimes there’s only one answer: they’re going back. In the fifth book they find themselves in the heartland of the enemy, and they have the chance to carry out their deadliest attack yet. But terror takes it toll. Kevin’s very sanity is at stake and the friendship that has kept everyone together for so long is under strain.

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for us scarily relatab le

The 50 List

By Nigel Holland Secrets, Lies & Locker 62

By Lil Chase (Published by Quercus, R108,95) Secrets have a special home at Mount Selwyn High. For years, students have posted their deepest desires and fears in Locker 62. And then this locker is assigned to new girl Maya. She could use the knowledge to help people, or she could use it to become popular.

Maya, who was bullied, who has never been cool, who will do anything to be popular, is now the most powerful girl at school. What will she choose to do next? This funny, and scarily relatable book is recommended for girls between the ages of 10 and 15 years old.

(Published by HarperCollins Publishers, R125) Nigel has a disability, a degenerative disease (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), that means his nerves do not tell his muscles what to do. But he does not consider himself disabled. His youngest child, Ellie, has been diagnosed with the same condition. To inspire Ellie, Nigel set himself a list of 50 challenges. As the years pass, his mobility will gradually get worse and many of them, sadly, will no longer be possible. But for now he is focusing on being his daughter’s superhero. This is the heart-warming story of the adventures that sparked this list.

Inspiring and surprising, it will move you to tears and laughter, and leave you believing that you really can accomplish anything.

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for us

parenting books

Recognising Postnatal Depression

By Paula Levin, Zahava Aarons and Andy Taub-Da Costa (Published by Penguin South Africa, R171) Having a baby is hard for everyone, and for some women it’s worse than hard – it’s a living hell. The journey to motherhood is sometimes clouded with unrealistic expectations and society’s unfair judgment of any woman who isn’t immediately blissfully happy with her new baby. This title offers hope, support and comfort and a clear path out of what may feel like an overwhelming situation. Written by a medical doctor, a clinical psychologist and their patient, a writer, each author contributes her own experience and expertise in the area of postnatal depression to an open, enlightening discussion of just what this illness is, how to recognise it and ways to achieve recovery of body, mind and spirit.

Pilates for All

By Patricia Lamond

get th e balanc e right

(Printed by Nooitgedacht Pers, R250) This book, with its instructional DVD, gives an introduction to Pilates and speaks about how we use and overuse our bodies. It tells you how to diagnose and prevent problems, looks at the medical professionals who can help and explains more about our anatomy and posture. It details the foundation of Pilates and shows, in photos and with descriptions, the specific exercises for certain conditions. The author, for many years a classical ballet and national dance teacher and now a fully qualified Pilates instructor, also talks about diet and how to educate our children about posture. The DVD offers basic principles, and shows a balanced class and other routines that range from 15 to 20 minutes.

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Parenting the QBQ Way

By John G. Miller with Karen G. Miller

Play Learn Know

By Melodie de Jager and Liz Victor

(Published by Perigee Books, R108) Learn to parent the QBQ way, and bring personal accountability to life within your family. Based on the same concepts that have made John Miller’s signature work, QBQ: The Question Behind the Question, an international bestseller over the last decade, Parenting the QBQ Way provides the tool called the QBQ or The Question Behind the Question that will help every parent look behind questions such as “Why won’t my children listen?” or “When will they do what I ask?”. It will help them to find better ones, like “What can I do differently?” or “How can I improve as a parent?” This simple but challenging concept turns the focus, and responsibility, back to parents and to what they can do to make a difference.

(Published by Metz Press, R220) These are simple, playful solutions to developing complex skills, preparing children aged three to seven for school and life. A child is a work in progress who thrives when everyday living becomes an interactive game. Play Learn Know is a guide to help parents and caregivers shape their child’s body, heart and mind with care and thoughtfulness. A child needs to experience it to become part of life. You can help your children to belong by exposing them to everyday life by teaching them to name the things they touch. Explain what happens around them and show them how things work. Allow children the opportunity to discover-learn, to move and ask questions freely.

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calendar

what’s on in july

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

Find out what’s happening in and around your city. Compiled by SIMONE JEFFERY

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FUN FOR CHILDREN – p38

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p44

In The Forest Children spend their days in the outdoors discovering the wonders of nature, playing camp games, building forts and more.

Cake Alchemy Combine the taste and textures of cake with the finest whiskeys, ports and cognacs.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p46

how to help – p47

Fittummy and baby Get your body back into shape, with or without the help of your baby.

Zambia Project An organisation operating in Zambia that is involved in many different projects.

SPECIAL EVENTS – p38 The World of Dogs and Cats An expo for those who love pets, whether they are big or small, furry or scaled.

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calendar points across Joburg. Time: 7am–11am.

Venue: Marks Park Sports Club, Judith Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: R125, park n ride R50.

For more info: visit walkthetalk.co.za

SPECIAL EVENTS 5 friday Fabrics, flavours and fragrances The EID Shopping Festival is a three-day event featuring the latest Eastern trends in apparel, accessories and lifestyle. There are fashion shows and workshops, and a Kidzone.

Ends 7 July. Time: 2:30pm–11pm, Friday; 10am–11pm, Saturday; 10am–10pm, Sunday. Venue: Coca-Cola Dome, North Riding. Cost: adults R35, children under 6 years free. Contact: 012 370 4956, 082 410 1372, info@eidshoppingfestival.co.za or visit eidshoppingfestival.co.za

6 saturday

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science

This is a friendly Strider Bike race that young children can participate in and experience what it is like to race. There are Strider Bikes and helmets available or bring your own. For children 5 years and younger. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Alrode BMX Track, cnr Bosworth St and Dan Jacobs St, Alrode. Cost: free. Contact Chris: 083 225 6171, chris@x-streambalance.co.za or visit x-streambalance.co.za

19 friday

Winter party Play with snow, take a ride down a ski slope, enjoy music and have something to eat. There are prizes up for grabs and activities and entertainment for the children. Time: 10am–3pm. Venue: Lonehill Park, Calderwood Dr, Lonehill.

Cost: free. Contact City Life Church: 011 465 8848 or visit citylifechurch.co.za

Coffee and Chocolate Expo There are workshops with top executive chefs, and stalls showcasing the latest technology in coffee machines, accessories, crockery and products. Ends 21 July. Time: 9am–6pm.

Venue: Turbine Hall, 65 Ntemi Piliso St, Newtown. Cost: tbc. Contact: info@ coffeechoc.co.za or visit coffeechoc.co.za The World of Dogs and Cats You can spend some time browsing the stalls and getting advice from experts, or enjoying the fashion shows, puppy training demos, sledding displays, breeders challenge and more. No pets allowed. Ends 21 July. Time: 10am–6pm. Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. Cost: adults R75, pensioners and students R60, children R10. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit dogscats.co.za

20 saturday

Have all your questions answered with regards to acting for television, television commercials, film and modelling during a free interview session. For children from 3 months old. Time: 9:30am–1pm. Venue: Phidias Centre, cnr 7th St and van Riebeeck Ave, Edenvale. Cost: interview free, registration R700, photos per outfit R150. Contact Kerry or Zandile: 011 452 7475 or visit talentinternational.co.za

20 sat

ADD/ADHD: modern myth or reality?

Listen to a talk on homoeopathic remedies for ADD/ADHD, dietary interventions, sensory processing difficulties and essential life lessons. For all ages. Venue: The Centre for Holistic Health, 56 Kingfisher Dr, Fourways. Cost: R450. Contact Vicki: info@ natureschildren.co.za SA Independent School Expo Find out more about the offerings of the different pre-primary, primary and secondary schools on display and know what options you have for your child’s education. For parents of children entering preschool through to Grade 12. Also 21 July. Time: 8am–6pm.

Venue: Helderfontein Conference Estate, 1 Chattan Rd, Glenferness, Midrand. Cost: R30–R40. Contact: 011 482 8473 or afrison@tladistone.co.za

21 sunday Me-Nuts Kids Like2Bike series The third children’s cycling event in a series of five. Whether it’s your child’s first time on a bicycle or if they’ve already been riding

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Art therapy and life coaching for teens These are offered to teenagers with emotional disorders, as well as children finding it difficult to function in society and struggling with low self-esteem. The classes help them to adjust and teach them the skills to be functional. For children 13–19 years old. Time: 9am–7pm, daily. Venue: Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Kibler Park, Mondeor. Cost: R150 per session. Contact: 074 356 6916 or artmatters101@gmail.com Buzz Drama dance and singing workshops Interactive workshops where children take part in high-energy activities, games and improvisational play, following the theme of “under the sea”.

For children 5–9 years old. The new term starts 15 July. Time: 2:30pm and 3:30pm, Monday–Saturday. Venues: Roosevelt Park, Fourways, Parktown North, Linksfield, Sandton, Northcliff and Rosebank. Cost: first class free. Contact Kara or Hanneke: 011 025 2525

Strider racing

13 saturday

Interviews with talent international

classes, talks and workshops

Art & Justice tour Join the curator of the court’s art collection for a guided tour.

The tour focuses on the art collection, using the artworks as a point of access into dealing with justice as a concept. Time: 6pm–7:30pm. Venue: The Constitutional Court of South Africa, 1 Hospital St, Braamfontein. Cost: free. Contact Stacey: arts@concourt.org.za

sun

and food scheme: Rifle Range Rd; Meals on Wheels Makeover: Moffat View Old Age Home, Moffat View or Shalom Ministries, Heidelberg. Contact Michelle: 0860 000 700, michelle@mealsonwheels.co.za or visit mow.org.za

Adopt a grandparent Meals on Wheels is running different projects to bring joy to the less fortunate elderly. They are looking for volunteers to assist with the preparing, cooking and delivering of meals, and assisting with the makeover of Moffat View Old Age Home and Shalom Ministries.

Time: 8am–4pm. Venue: parcel packing

25 thursday

14

Dutch Winter Faire Join the Dutch Community of Gauteng for Dutch cuisine, relax in the beer garden and find handmade goods. There is entertainment for all ages including a fancy dress competition, a maze, and PS3 championship. The proceeds from the faire support local charities. Time: 9am–8pm. Venue: 3 Sherborne Rd, Parktown.

Cost: R10. Contact: dutchwinterfaire@ gmail.com or visit dutchwinterfaire.co.za

18 thursday

for years, they can enjoy this scenic funfilled ride. Parents are able to run alongside their little ones. For children 2–12 years old. Time: 10km, 9:30am; 5km, 9:35am; 2km, 9:40am. Venue: Northern Farms, off the R114 to Diepsloot. Cost: R100. Contact Kirsty: 083 326 6721, kirsty@like2bike. co.za or visit like2bike.co.za Walk through Albert’s Farm A guided walk that leads you along the network of paths that snake through the park to the dam and wetland area. Dogs are welcome.

Time: 8am. Venue: meet in the car park of Albert’s Farm, 8th St, Greymont, Northcliff.

Cost: R20. Contact Susaar: 011 477 7114

FLL Disaster Blast Challenge Registrations to join the Junior First Lego League are open. Children explore natural disasters and they design and construct a working model using Lego bricks and moving parts to solve problems. For children 6–9 years old. Venue: nationwide.

Cost: R200 per team. Contact Zelda: 082 851 8892 or visit jfllsa.org Looking as Learning ll The exhibition showcases works from the gallery’s permanent collection, exploring trends based on the national secondary school visual art curriculum. 7 April–10 August.

Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: The Johannesburg Art Gallery, Joubert Park, entrance in King George St, Joburg CBD. Cost: free. Contact: 011 725 3184, jag@joburg.org.za or visit joburgculture.co.za/museums-galleries/jag SITE art exhibition Featuring a line-up of sought-after contemporary painters and sculptors. The artworks express how the various artists perceive their internal and external worlds, using different media and genres. 20–28 July. Time: 9:30am–4pm.

Venue: Upstairs @ Bamboo, cnr 9th St and Rustenburg Rd, Melville. Cost: free entry.

Contact Carol Lee: 011 486 0526

26 friday Turbine Art Fair A weekend of art viewing and educational lectures for first-time art buyers. Paintings, original artist-made prints, sculptures and photography are all on show with over 40 galleries being represented at the fair. A free crèche has been set up. Also 27 July. Time: 11am–6pm. Venue: Turbine Hall, 65 Ntemi Piliso St, Newtown. Cost: R50. Contact Hazel: 087 310 3888 or visit webtickets.co.za

27 saturday Moms and daughters pamper day Booking essential. For children 4–8 years old and their moms. Time: 9am–2pm.

Venue: Playground Café, cnr Peter Rd and Kuilstock Ave, Ruimsig. Cost: R200; includes buffet breakfast and all equipment for the day. Contact Thalita: 083 774 1012, info@cakesandcastles.co.za or visit cakesandcastles.co.za

28 sunday Discovery 702 Walk the Talk Choose from the 5km, 8km, 15km or 30km walk. Park n ride service is available from

28 July – Discovery 702 Walk the Talk

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mon Drakensberg adventure camp Experience a real adventure in the Drakensberg. Children enjoy activities like zip lining, abseiling, hiking, canoeing, star gazing and more. For children 7–13 years old.

8–13 July. Time: departs from Joburg 9am, Monday; returns Saturday 3pm. Venue: Drakensberg. Cost: R3 850 per child; R3 750 per sibling (all inclusive). Contact: 076 575 8003 or Kyle: 076 035 4038, info@intheforest.co.za or visit intheforest.co.za

Ceramic painting and mosaics Children of all ages can paint on a wide range of ceramic figurines, mugs and plates, or mosaic a mirror, heart or wooden cut-out.

Children under six need to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. 6–20 July.

Time: 9:30am–12:30pm and 1pm–4pm, Monday–Friday; 9am–2pm, Saturday.

Venue: Pottery Junxion, 99 Linksfield Rd, Edenvale. Cost: R20 per person per hour; excluding products. Contact: 011 453 2721, rosie@potteryjunxion.co.za or visit potteryjunxion.co.za

6–20 July – Ceramic painting and mosaics

CPR course This basic first aid course teaches children the knowledge needed to manage basic emergencies at home.

Topics include bee stings, burns, visible bleeding, fainting and more. The home emergency response plan is also discussed.

For children 9–11 years old. 13 July. Time: 8:30am–11:30am. Venue: 41 St Albans Ave, Craighall Park. Cost: R220 (includes an emergency response plan template).

Contact Julie: 083 677 1402, madpupssa@ gmail.com or visit madpups.co.za Creative week at Seedpod Studio Craft activities include ceramic painting, beadwork and sewing, pottery, mosaics, and dry brushing. Parents can join. 1–5 July.

Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Seedpod Studio, Broadacres Lifestyle Centre, cnr Valley Rd and Cedar Rd, Fourways. Cost: R200 per morning; R880 for a full week. Contact: 011 465 0375 or visit seedpodstudio.co.za First aid and CPR An interactive basic first aid and CPR course for children 10 years and older. 17 July. Time: 9am–2:30pm. Venue: All Souls Anglican Church of Southern Africa, 42 O’Reilly Merry St, Northmead,

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Benoni. Cost: R450. Contact Yolanda or Ann: 083 655 3808, information@ aidathand.co.za or visit aidathand.co.za Kids’ freestyle and hip-hop Children learn dance techniques and build their concentration and fitness levels. For children 4–10 years old. Time: 5pm–5:45pm, every Thursday. Venue: Xstatic Dance Studio, 32 Hornbill Rd, Douglasdale. Cost: R850 for 10 classes. Contact Lindy: 079 497 2680 Vicky Friedman’s Fame Academy A musical theatre workshop where children sing, dance and act. Classes are taught by professional television and theatre performers. Booking essential. For children 6–16 years old. 1–6 and 8–13 July. Time: 9am–12pm, Monday–Saturday. Venue: Crawford College High School, Waterstone Dr, Benmore, Sandton. Cost: R850 per week. Contact Vicky: 082 336 4424 or vicky@showiz.co.za What to do when you are hijacked This informative course for the entire family is facilitated by a trained professional. It provides your family with a clear plan of what to do when hijacked. There are three one-hour courses taking place. Booking essential. 20 July. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: The Academy of Light, 160 Coleraine Dr, Rivonia, Morningside. Cost: R100. Contact Julie: 083 677 1402, madpupssa@gmail. com or visit madpups.co.za

family outings al Fiume family fun day On the last Sunday of every month, families can enjoy a day of wine tasting, jazz bands, face painting, jumping castles and cupcake decorating. 26 July. Time: 12pm–3:30pm. Venue: al Fiume Riverside Restaurant, 18 R511, Hennops River Valley. Cost: adults R295, children R125. Contact: 079 886 9827, info@ riverplace.co.za or visit riverplace.co.za Garden World Spring Festival The annual spring festival offers 10 ways to celebrate the forthcoming season. Displayed are 12 new designer gardens, the Chelsea Exhibit and Rand Water’s water conservation display. 26 July–1 September. Time: 8am–5pm, daily.

Venue: Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: adults R20, children free. Contact: 011 957 2545 or visit gardenworld.co.za magazine joburg

finding nature and outdoor play FroK Junior Ranger programme Young children learn more about animals, insects, spiders and reptiles and complete a set of questions and projects to attain a Junior Ranger Badge. For children 5–12 years old. 21 July. Time: 2:30pm–5pm. Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Galena Ave, Roodepoort.

Cost: R25 per child. Contact: 084 337 2929 or visit kloofendalfriends.org.za Hike through the Koppies This is a threehour hike through the indigenous reserve.

For children 6 years and older. 28 July. Time: 8:30am–11:30am. Venue: Park at Marks Park Sports Club, Judith Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: adults R30, children R10. Contact Wendy: 011 482 4797 or visit mk.org.za Introductory fly-fishing clinic Learn the techniques of fly fishing where you receive guidance and tips from an experienced guide. No experience required. For children 7 years and older. Time: 10am–1pm, Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Midrand or Magaliesburg. Cost: adults R300, teenagers R250, children R200. Contact: 011 315 4503 or visit sundowneradventures.co.za

holiday programmes Artjamming winter holiday programme Every day of the week follows a different theme, including Andy Warhol workshops, creating comics, make a Jackson Pollock collage, dabble in graffiti and learn about the art of mosaics. Booking essential. For children 7–14 years old.

24 June–5 July. Time: 10am–12pm, Monday– Friday. Venue: branches in Melrose Arch or the Lonehill Centre. Cost: R135; including all materials. Contact Melrose Arch: 011 684 1608, melrose@artjamming.co.za or Lonehill: 011 465 5778, lonehill@ artjamming.co.za or visit artjamming.co.za Domestic Bliss children’s cooking programme Children learn about kitchen safety, terms, measurement, hygiene and nutrition as they cook up a storm under guidance. For children 7–13 years old. 1, 2, 4 and 5 July. Time: 9am–12:30pm. Venue: 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: R260 per day; includes refreshments. Contact: 011 447 5517, 083 525 4992, db@domesticbliss. co.za or visit domesticbliss.co.za Domestic Bliss Junior Rangers Children explore and learn about plants, snakes, spiders, scorpions, insects, birds, spotting animals, using a compass and how to deal with and avoid bites and stings. Booking essential. 3 July. Time: 8am–2pm. Venue: 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: R275; includes refreshments. Contact: 011 447 5517, db@domesticbliss.co.za or visit domesticbliss.co.za

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Drumkidz workshop This is for children 3–11 years old. 5 July. Time: 9am–10am or 11am–12pm. Venue: The Party House, 9 Clonmore Rd, Bryanston. Cost: R100 per child; includes coffee/tea for parents and juice and snacks for the children. Contact Elsa: 082 788 1587, elsa@drumkidz.co.za or visit drumkidz.co.za Happy Acres holiday camp A weeklong winter camp with activities in nature in a fun, safe environment. These include art, crafts, walks, games, sports, hobbies, swimming, cookouts and crab catching. For children 7–14 years old. 29 June–6 July and 6–13 July. Time: tbc. Venue: Happy Acres, Magaliesburg. Cost: R1 260. Contact Jigs: 083 449 5123 or hacres@iafrica.com In The Forest children’s holiday camp Children spend time outdoors, discovering nature while playing camp games, doing crafts, cooking their own food, building forts and more. For children 6–13 years old. 1–5 July. Time: 6am–5pm. Venue: In The Forest, Eikenhof. Cost: R195 per day, R175 per day for siblings; including breakfast, lunch and snacks. Contact Erin: 076 575 8003 or Kyle: 075 035 4038, info@intheforest.co.za or visit intheforest.co.za Kidz fishing camp Children learn how to fish, enjoy the outdoors and ultimately get closer to nature. All fishing equipment is supplied and children are taught by an SA angling coach. Meals are provided.

For children 7–12 years old. 2–4, 13–15, 20–22 and 27–29 July. Time: 8am–3pm.

Venue: Villa Nova, Vaal River. Cost: R950; all inclusive. Contact Manuela: 083 610 2911 or visit kidzfishingcamp.co.za Little Cooks Club holiday programme Children bake, make chocolate moulds, crafts and more. For children 5–12 years old. 3–5 July. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Little Cooks Club Fourways, 5A Valk Ave, Fourways. Cost: R240. Contact Deborah: deborahg@littlecooksclub.co.za or visit littlecooksclub.co.za Playground Café holiday club Children take part in cooking lessons, mosaics, yoga and the planting of seeds. For children 4–7 years old. 1–6 July. Time: 10am–2pm.

Venue: cnr Peter Rd and Kuilstock Ave, Ruimsig. Cost: R200 per day; includes lunch, snacks and all craft materials. Contact Kim: 083 228 0343, kim@playgroundcafe.co.za or visit playgroundcafe.co.za Ryan Maron’s Cricket School Children are taught the basics of the game. There is a match and prize-giving on the final day. For children 4–14 years old. 1–4 July.

Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: University of Johannesburg, cnr Kingsway Rd and University Rd, Auckland Park. Cost: R500. Contact: 0861 123 273, william@cricketschool.co.za or visit cricketschool.co.za

Goldmine Adventure Children learn more about Confidence Reef, the imported stamp mill and try their hand at panning for gold. Booking essential. 27 July. Time: 9am–12pm.

Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, cnr Galena Ave and Veronica St, Kloofendal, Roodepoort. Cost: R80. Contact Karin: 079 693 5608 or visit kloofendalfriends.org.za

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calendar Scrapbooking holiday club Children 6 years and older learn techniques to help with school projects. 1–31 July.

Time: 9am–1pm, Tuesday and Thursday.

Venue: Scrapbook Den, 75 Dunvegan Ave, Dunvegan, Edenvale (off Linksfield Rd).

Cost: R200. Contact Jeanette: 011 453 2724, 082 552 4332, j.mac@iafrica.com or visit scrapbookden.co.za Sew and Grow holiday programme Children learn to create their own sewing bag and denim skirt or backpack, using a sewing machine. The classes take place over two sessions. Spaces are limited. For children 8 years and older. 24 and 26 June; 3, 4 and 10 July. Time: 10:30am–12:30pm.

Venue: Sew and Grow, 17 2nd Ave, Melville.

Cost: R500 (including fabrics). Contact: 011 482 6542 or visit sewandgrow.co.za South African Mzansi Ballet winter school Dancers experience an environment of a professional ballet company. Classes cover ballet, repertoire, contemporary dance, stretching, pas de deux, pointe work, Pilates and more. For children 6–14 years old. 1–6 July. Time: varies. Venue: Joburg Theatre, Hoofd St, Braamfontein. Cost: juniors R1 700, seniors R2 700. Contact: 011 877 6898, edgar@samzansiballet.com or visit joburgtheatre.com Virgin Active Holiday Camp Club-V is packed with fun, creative and energetic activities, classes and Adidas giveaways. Each child who signs up for the holiday camp receives an Adidas backpack. For children

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Wild West pony camp Spend five days with the ponies, meeting new friends and making new memories.

There is a fancy dress on Friday so bring your Wild West goodies to dress up your favourite pony. Children 8 years and older are able to sleepover. For children 6–16 years old. 1–5 July. Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Shepherd’s Fold Stables, 55 Sunset Dr, Elandsdrift, Lanseria. Cost: R275 per person, R50 extra per night. Contact Belinda: 084 220 2657 or belinda.milsom@gmail.com

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3–7 years old. 24 June–5 July. Time: all day.

Venue: all Virgin Active Club-Vs. Cost: free for Club-V members. Contact: 0860 200 911 or visit virginactive.co.za Winter craft school Traditional art and crafts workshops inlcuding spinning, textile design, iron and copper forging, felting and jewellery making. Space is limited. For children 9 years and older. 1–5 July. Time: 9am–4pm, Monday–Friday. Venue: Michael Mount Waldorf School, 231 Bryanston Dr (entrance in Culross Rd), Bryanston. Cost: R1 250 for the week (two courses). Contact: 083 454 4076 or leaholtz@icon.co.za

clothing, toys and more. A jumping castle and face painters entertain children. 6 and 7 July. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Ramkietjie Country Estate, 35 Peter Rd, Honeydew.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 087 940 9920 or visit ramkietjie.co.za Rotary Farmer’s Market and collectables fair A quality craft market held on the banks of the Vaal River. 7 July.

Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Stonehaven on Vaal, next to Baddrift Bridge, Sylviavale Ah, Vaal River, Vanderbijl Park. Cost: free entry. Contact: 016 982 2951/2, info@ stonehaven.co.za or visit stonehaven.co.za

markets Bamboo Farmers’ Market Buy organic fresh produce, farm milk, butter, free-range eggs and chickens, preservative-free bread, fair-trade coffee and more. The market is cancelled in the event of bad weather. Time: 8am–1pm, every Saturday. Venue: Bamboo, cnr 9th St and Rustenburg Rd, Melville. Cost: free entry. Contact Alison: 011 726 1701, 083 284 6226, alisong@kingsley.co.za or visit bamboo-online.co.za Ramkietjie Country Market Find quality homemade and organic products, décor items, mosaics, local art, jewellery,

Alice’s African Adventure A charming, imaginative puppet show that takes children on a journey across Africa. 2 and 4 July. Time: 9:30am and 11:30am. Venue: Irene Village Theatre, Pioneer Rd, Irene.

Cost: R55. Contact: 084 804 0490 or tshwaneyouththeatre@gmail.com Honk! Jr. This contemporary retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale, The Ugly Duckling. 3 June–21 July. Time: 10:30am and 2:30pm, Tuesday–Sunday during government school holidays; 9am and 11am, Monday–Saturday during government school terms. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown. Cost: adults R110, children R90. Contact: 011 484 1584/85 or visit nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za Kidz Rock A nine-piece cast pays tribute to Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, One Direction,

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Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars, Pink, Rihanna and more. Order pizzas from the in-theatre deli or bring your own food.

No beverages are allowed into the theatre.

13 July. Time: show starts 2pm. Venue: Barnyard Theatre Boksburg, East Rand Galleria, cnr Rietfontein Rd and Northrand Rd, Boksburg. Cost: R80. Contact: 011 823 6933 visit barnyardtheatres.co.za Lipizzaner’s Sunday show Afterwards, you can meet the riders and feed carrots to the stallions in the courtyard. Special picnic baskets can be ordered in advance. Time: 10:30am, every Sunday. Venue: Lipizzaner Centre, 1 Dahlia Rd, Kyalami. Cost: R130, pensioners R75, children under 3 free. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000, 082 457 9725 (Marianne), mgwyther@ mweb.co.za or visit computicket.com Nicholis Louw Live at Hillfox 21 July. Time: concert starts 1pm; market: 9am–5pm. Venue: B&B Markets Hillfox, Hillfox Value Centre, Hendrik Potgieter Dr, Weltevreden Park. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 011 442 4488 or visit craft.co.za Robin Hood and his Merry Adventures It’s an hilarious take on the old classic that is suitable for the whole family. You can order pizzas from the in-theatre deli or bring your own food and snacks. No beverages are allowed into the theatre. 6, 13 and 20 July. Time: varies. Venue: Barnyard Theatre at Cresta Shopping Centre, Beyers Naudé Dr, Randburg (6 July); Barnyard Theatre, Rivonia Crossing 2, cnr Witkoppen Rd and

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Achter Rd, Paulshof (13 July); Barnyard Theatre Boksburg, East Rand Galleria, cnr Rietfontein Rd and Northrand Rd, Boksburg (20 July). Cost: R60. For more info: visit barnyardtheatres.co.za Starlight Express An electrifying production that tells of a child’s dream in which his toy train set comes to life. 2 July–1 September.

Time: 8pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 3pm, Saturday; 2pm, Sunday. Venue: Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein.

Cost: R100–R280. Book through the theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com The AristoCats Kids – A musical 27 May–28 July. Time: 9am and 11am, Monday–Friday during government school terms; 10:30am and 2:30pm, Saturday and government school holidays. Venue: Peoples Theatre, cnr Loveday St and Hoofd St, Joburg Theatre Complex, Braamfontein.

Cost: members: adults R90, children R70; public R105; membership R90. Contact: 011 403 1563/2340 or visit peoplestheatre.co.za There is a Dragon in my Castle Margaret Auerbach performs a fantasy tale based on classic stories. For children 3 years and younger. 20 and 27 July. Time: 10am. Venue: Kinderspiel, 39 Greenhill Rd, Emmarentia.

Cost: R50. Contact: 011 646 7457 or visit kinderspiel.co.za

playtime and story time Cooking buddies Children make savoury morsels. Bring your own apron. Booking essential. For children 2–6 years old. Time:

3pm–4pm, every Monday. Venue: Ladybird Corner, 24 12th Ave, Linksfield Netcare Hospital. Cost: R350 per month; including material and food. Contact: 011 485 3057 or info@ladybirdcorner.co.za Holidays with Clearwater Mall During the holidays and on weekends children can take part in Build-A-Bear workshops. 18 June–22 July. Time: 10am–6pm, Monday–Saturday; 10am–4pm, Sunday; 7 July: a visit from the Despicable Me 2 characters: 12pm–1:30pm.

Venue: Clearwater Mall, Strubensvalley, Roodepoort. Cost: free. Contact: 011 288 5260 or visit clearwatermall.co.za Miniature steam train rides Along the 1km railway track. All ages. 7 and 21 July.

Time: 9:30am–4:30pm. Venue: Len Rutter Park, cnr Louis Botha Dr and Golf Club

Terrace, Florida Park. Cost: free entry, R5 per ride. Contact: 011 046 9179 or visit rsme.co.za

sport and physical activities Children’s meditation class Classes help to develop and nurture positive qualities through meditation and positive thinking. Activities, games and art are based on Buddhist philosophies. No need to book. For children 5–12 years old. 7 July.

Time: 9:30am–10:45am. Venue: Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Centre, 4 Francis Rd, Blairgowrie. Cost: R15 per child. Contact: 011 326 1982 or info@meditation.org.za ITA tennis clinic Children learn the rules and skills needed at the clinic. Children 3–6 years take part in mini tennis.

Hiking with your pooch Bring your socialised dog for a hike around the Melville Koppies. No booking required.

For children 6 years and older. 6 July. Time: 8am. Venue: Arundel Rd, Westdene. Cost: R20. Contact: 011 482 4797 or visit mk.org.za

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calendar For children 3–16 years old. 1–12 July.

Time: 8:30am–1:30pm, Monday–Friday.

Venue: 1–5 July: Craighall Park Tennis Club, St Alban’s Rd, off Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park; 8–12 July: Lonehill Crawford Preparatory School, Sceales Rd, Lonehill.

Cost: varies. Contact: 083 443 3391, info@ itatennis.co.za or visit itatennis.co.za Playball classes Playball uses sports, movements and games to develop children’s gross motor and fine motor skills, and perceptual development. For children 2–9 years old. Time: 2:30pm–3:30pm, every Monday. Venue: Panorama Sports Centre, Nic Diedericks St, Panorama. Cost: R450 per term (11 weeks). Contact Roxanne: 078 474 2929, honeydewplayball@gmail. com or visit kidinmecoaching.co.za

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Basic counselling training This course takes place over nine weekly sessions and focuses on developing basic, practical and theoretical knowledge of counselling skills.

Starts 22 July. Time: 8:30am–1:30pm, every Monday. Venue: The Family Life Centre, 1 Cardigan Rd, Parkwood. Cost: R2 800.

Contact: 011 788 4784, counselling@ familylife.co.za or visit familylife.co.za Basic sign language workshop Workshops one and two are covered in today’s full-day class that teaches parents and caretakers how to communicate using sign language. Classes are in both English and Afrikaans. Booking essential. 19 July.

Time: 8am. Venue: Sandton. Cost: R765; excludes refreshments. Contact Monita: 082 218 7339, contact@tinyhandz.co.za or visit tinyhandz.co.za Freestyle and contemporary dance Classes are for teens and adults of all levels.

For 12 years and older. Time: 6pm–6:45pm, every Thursday. Venue: Xstatic Dance Studio, 32 Hornbill Rd, behind Three Little Steps Nursery School, Douglasdale.

Cost: R850 for 10 classes. Contact Lindy: 079 497 2680 Creative giftwrapping workshop The course starts with tea and light pastries, followed by demonstrations of different giftwrapping and ribbon bow-making techniques. Each participant receives a

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giftwrapping starter pack to take home.

Space is limited. For teenagers and adults.

27 July. Time: 8am–12pm and 12pm–4pm.

Venue: Lifestyle-on-Location, 15 Komari Rd, Paulshof. Cost: R350; includes all materials.

Contact: 071 560 9829 or bookings@ lifestyle-on-location.co.za Elementary cooking course Have your domestic worker trained on a five-week accredited cooking course that covers healthy, home-cooked meals. 10 July. Time: 8:30am–2pm. Venue: Domestic Bliss, 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: R2 250. Contact: 011 447 5517, 083 525 4992 or visit domesticbliss.co.za Fitmommy A class for moms to get their bodies back into shape. Time: 5:30pm–6:30pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Venue: Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, Penguin Dr, Fourways. Cost: from R780 per module. Contact: 082 895 2513 or visit fitmommy.co.za Inclusion Conference This conference is presented by The Southern African Association for Learning and Educational Differences (SAALED) in association with the Unesco Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity and Development at the Wits School of Education.

It aims to identify exclusionary pressures and practices in education, which makes education inclusive. For teachers, therapists and parents. 1–6 July. Time: from 8:30am.

Venue: Wits School of Education, St Andrew’s Rd, Parktown. Cost: R2 500–R6 000. Contact Barbi: 011 325 2406, md@saaled.org.za or visit inclusionconference2013.org Parent effectiveness training This eight-week course teaches parents practical communication and conflict handling skills. 26 July. Time: there are two sessions: 9am–12pm or 6:30pm–9:30pm. Venues: tbc in Bryanston and Midrand. Cost: R1 800. Contact Bryanston: 082 339 1543 or Midrand: 073 250 1040 or visit parents.co.za Parenting 101 workshop Authors of Future–proof Your Child, Dr Graeme Codrington and Nikki Bush, give you guidelines on how to prepare your children for a fast-changing world. Proceeds go towards Joburg Child Welfare. For parents with children 3–13 years old. 18 July. Time: 6pm–9pm. Venue: Redhill School, 20 Summit Rd, Morningside, Sandton. Cost: R230. Contact Tracey: 011 298 8500, pr@jhbchildwelfare.org.za or visit jhbchildwelfare.org.za

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Rave-O workshop A reading, writing and spelling programme based on the science of the brain that teaches every aspect of a word and uses a cognitive approach to make connections between sounds, spelling, grammar and multiple meanings.

8–10 and 18–20 July; trainers’ course 11–12 July. Time: 9am–5pm. Venue: Bellavista School, 35 Wingfield Ave, Birdhaven. Cost: from R3 450. Contact: 011 788 5454 or visit bellavistaschool.org.za Sensory learning and sensory overload in the classroom This talk is for teachers, classroom facilitators and school-based therapists on why and how you can survive today’s challenges within the education system. 26 July. Time: 1:30pm–5pm. Venue: Forest Town School, cnr Rannoch Rd and New Forest Rd, Forest Town. Cost: R385. Contact Romy: 084 582 8263, romy@sensoryintelligence.co.za or visit sensoryintelligence.co.za START workshop for professionals This practical three-day course is appropriate for professionals and people who have knowledge and experience with the developmental stages of children aged 0–7 years old. 16–18 July. One day training for therapists 26 July. Time: 8:30am–3pm.

Venue: TMI Building, 3rd floor, Joubert St Ext, Braamfontein. Cost: R2 500. Contact: 011 642 2005, training@sunshine.org.za or visit sunshine.org.za Stork talk A guide to talking wisely to your children about their sexuality.

For parents with children 3–13 years old.

13 July. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: Psych Matters, 9 Park St, Bedfordview. Cost: R500, early bird booking R450. Contact Linor: 011 450 3576, linorvaneck@gmail. com or visit psychmatters.co.za Tiny Bite workshop Learn how to make and decorate biscuits; and learn how to bake and decorate cupcakes. Booking essential. 20 July: children’s character cupcakes; 26 and 27 July: spring day biscuit workshop. Time: 9am–12:30pm.

Venue: Sandton. Cost: R350 per workshop.

Contact Allison: 082 927 9763, allison@ tinybite.co.za or visit tinybite.co.za Winter pruning demo You and your gardener can learn how to prune roses. No booking required. 13 and 14 July. Time: 10:30am. Venue: Ludwigs Roses Egoli, cnr Main Rd and Lachlan Rd, Glenferness.

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The Rise of The Insanity League This sketch comedy show pokes, provokes and tickles all the right places and promises to be more than just a random selection of sketches. 17 July–11 August. Time: 8pm, Wednesday– Saturday; 5pm, Saturday; 3pm, Sunday. Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R100–R160.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit facebook.com/ TheInsanityLeague

17 wed

Cost: free. Contact: 011 458 6045 or visit ludwigsroses.co.za Working with clay and mosaics You choose your board size and design, and then create your own clay pieces for your mosaic. 6 and 20 July. Time: 9am–12pm.

Venue: Broadacres Garden Centre, Cedar Rd, Fourways. Cost: R300 per morning, R1 000 for four mornings (excludes paint and certain underglaze). Contact: 011 465 0375 or visit seedpodstudio.co.za

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on stage and screen Elvis Forever Get ready to shake, rattle and roll as you pay tribute to the king of rock n roll. Listen to hits spanning the 50s, 60s and 70s. 4–7 July. Time: 8pm, Thursday–Saturday; 2pm, Sunday. Venue: Barnyard Theatre, Boksburg, East Rand Galleria, cnr Rietfontein Rd and Northrand Rd, Boksburg. Cost: R90. Contact: 011 823 6933, eastrand2@barnyardtheatres.co.za or visit barnyardtheatre.co.za

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27 July – Open day at Michael Mount Waldorf School

International Guitar Night Two of the world’s greatest contemporary acoustic guitarists, Jon Gomm and Preston Reed entertain. 1–6 July. Time: 8pm. Venue: The Fringe at the Joburg Theatre, Loveday St, Braamfontein. Cost: R165. Book through the Joburg Theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com Tchaikovsky`s Swan Lake Attend a fulllength, four-act production of Tchaikovsky`s Swan Lake by the internationally acclaimed St Petersburg Ballet Theatre. 10–20 July.

Time: 8pm, Tuesday–Saturday; 2pm, Saturday; 1pm and 6pm, Sunday. Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R260–R490. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Twitch A new South African comedy by Robert Fridjhon involves four twitchers, in a bird hide in the Kruger National Park, who take part in a major birding competition. 12 June–14 July. Time: 8pm, Wednesday–Saturday; 5pm, Saturday; 3pm, Sunday. Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R100–R160. Contact: 011 511 1818 or visit montecasinotheatre.co.za

out and about Aloe walk and talk An informative, guided walk through the botanical gardens with Andrew Hankey, assistant curator and specialist horticulturist. Booking essential. 13 July. Time: 9am. Venue: Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, end of Malcolm Rd, Poortview, Roodepoort.

Cost: members R30, non-members R60.

Contact Karen: 011 958 5177 or botsoc@ sisulugarden.co.za Cake Alchemy Combine the taste and textures of cake with the finest whiskeys, ports and cognacs. Booking essential. 4 July.

Time: 6:30pm–8:30pm. Venue: Annica’s Boutique Restaurant, Michelangelo Towers Mall, Maude St, Sandton. Cost: R265.

Contact: 011 884 9445, info@annicas.co.za or visit annicas.co.za Diepsloot Preschools Project gala dinner Dress in a black tie, evening dress or traditional dress as this project celebrates its 20th anniversary. Enjoy a threecourse meal, music from Clint & Co, and entertainment from Nik Rabinowitz. 11 July.

Time: 7pm. Venue: Sandton Sun. Cost: R10 000 for a table of 10. Contact Patti: 082 557 9915, patti@global.co.za or visit diepslootpreschoolsproject.weebly.com Enrolments at Acorn to Oak Montesorri Enrolments for 2014 are open. Visit the

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school to meet the teachers, view the facilities and have your questions answered.

For parents of children 2½–4 years old.

Time: 8am–5pm, daily. Venue: 66 Dawn Dr, Northcliff, Ext. 4. Cost: free. Contact: 082 660 4203, feeleeceetee@gmail.com or visit acorntooakdotnet.wordpress.com Open day at Michael Mount Waldorf School The day starts with a talk about Waldorf education and ends with a tour of the school and a complimentary coffee at the Bryanston Organic Market. 27 July.

Time: 9am–11am. Venue: 231 Bryanston Dr, Bryanston. Cost: free. Contact Theresa: 011 706 6125, registrar@michael-mount. co.za or visit michael-mount.co.za Open day at the Kim Field Academy Applications for enrolment for the 2014 academic year are open and parents can visit the school to learn more about the diverse curriculum. For parents with children in Grade 1–7. Time: 8am–4pm, Monday–Friday throughout July. Venue: 46 Kingfisher Dr, Fourways. Cost: free.

Contact Kim or Anika: 011 465 1801, 083 626 0392, kimfield@kidsinternational.co.za or visit kidsinternational.co.za Play-to-Give golf day Join the folk of Northcliff Nursery School for a game of golf. 25 July. Time: 11:30am. Venue: Krugersdorp Golf Course, Nightingale Crescent, Rant-en-Dal, Krugersdorp. Cost: R1 400 per four-ball. Contact: 011 709 9682 or visit northcliffnurseryschool.co.za

support groups Single parents support group A social club for single parents and their children that meets and takes part in various activities once a month. 27 July. Time: 1pm. Venue: varies. Cost: free membership.

Contact Jean-Marie: 076 054 5510 or visit soloparenting.weebly.com The Family Life Centre The Centre offers full psycho-educational assessments for children between Grade R and Grade 12, who are struggling with certain areas at school. They also offer school readiness screenings for Grade 0 and Grade R learners. Venue: The Family Life Centre, 1 Cardigan Rd, Parkwood. Cost: varies. Contact Chaleen: 011 788 4784 (mornings), counselling@familylife.co.za or visit familylife.co.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops Brainbooster parent workshop A onehour workshop teaches parents how to play with their children while teaching them at the same time. For parents of children 0–6 years old. 6 July. Time: 9am–10am. Venue: Hammets Crossing Office Park, 2 Selbourne Rd, Fourways.

Cost: R350. Contact Marinda: 083 625 8033, marinda@nanniesintraining.co.za or visit nanniesintraining.co.za Fittummy and baby Get your body back into shape, with or without your baby.

Time: prenatal 9:45am–10:30am; postnatal 10:30am–11:30am, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Venue: Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, Penguin Dr, Fourways.

Cost: from R780 per module. Contact magazine joburg

Debbie: 082 895 2513, admin@fitmommy. co.za or visit fitmommy.co.za Moms and babies Pilates Get into shape and have fun with your little ones at the same time. Time: 11:45am–12:45pm, every Friday. Venue: Ladybird Corner, 24 12th Ave, Linksfield Netcare Hospital. Cost: R100 per drop-in class. Contact Lerato: 011 485 3057 or info@ladybirdcorner.co.za Start of Toptots term 3 Share and be a part of your little one’s development. For babies 3 months–4 years old. Starts 15 July.

Time: varies. Venues: there are 16 venues across Gauteng. Cost: varies. For more info: visit toptots.co.za

playtime and story time Smudge’s toddler programme An interactive programme that includes various creative activities from reading sessions to messy play, musical bumps and fun with dough. For children 3 years and younger. Time: 10am–1pm, Tuesday– Friday. Venue: Smudge, shop 21A, Valley Centre, 396 Jan Smuts Ave, Craighall Park.

Cost: R80 per child. Contact Sandra: 011 501 0234, sandra@smudgeart.co.za or visit smudgeart.co.za Toddler art workshop Toddlers learn another form of communication and develop their self-esteem while having fun.

Time: 2:15pm–3:15pm, every Monday.

Venue: Ladybird Corner, on the grounds of Linksfield Hospital, 24 12th Ave, Linksfield West. Cost: R300 per month. Contact Lerato: 011 485 3057 or info@ladybirdcorner.co.za

support groups La Leche League support group This is a mother-to-mother breast-feeding support group. Meetings are open to all mothers who would like to or are breast-feeding.

They help, inform and encourage mothers to breast-feed, promoting the importance of breast-feeding. 20 July. Time: 2pm.

Venue: Fourways. Cost: free. Contact Ute: 082 652 6436, mumtonerys@gmail.com or visit llli.org Mom Squad A support group for new or expectant moms to share the joys and challenges of motherhood under the guidance of a doctor and mother of two.

15 July – Start of Toptots term 3

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

childmag.co.za/resources/birthday-parties

Wheel Well Donate your child-safety seats to Wheel Well, which will create a “seat exchange” whereby lowerincome families can receive child restraints in return for an affordable donation. Contact Peggie: 072 385 7121, peggie@wheelwell.co.za or visit wheelwell.co.za for drop-off points in your area.

Time: 9am–11am, every Thursday. Venue: 4 Pafuri Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: R10 donation towards the refreshments. Contact Liz or Karin: 083 226 7130 or vandermerwekj@ gmail.com Postnatal Support Group New moms and dads, feeling a little bewildered by the birth of their child, can get the support they need from trauma counsellor, Tracey Kotzen. Time: 9:30am–11:30am, every Wednesday. Venue: Ladybird Corner, 24 12th Ave, Linksfield Netcare Hospital. Cost: R100 per person, R160 per couple. Contact Lerato: 011 485 3057 Thirsty Tuesdays A breast-feeding advice and support group, hosted by childbirth specialist Jane Maclaren. Time: 10am–12pm, every Tuesday. Venue: Ladybird Corner, on the grounds of Linksfield Hospital. Cost: R60. Contact Lerato: 011 485 3057 or info@ladybirdcorner.co.za

how to help Smile Foundation Make a difference in the lives of children with facial abnormalities. For more info: visit smilefoundationsa.org.

The Paige Project A non-profit organisation with the objective to raise funds to benefit disadvantaged children with physical and mental disabilities (primarily caused by cerebral palsy), by supplying their family, care facility or social workers with equipment or training courses. Contact David: 082 808 1456, david@thepaigeproject.co.za or visit thepaigeproject.co.za Zambia Project This organisation operates in Zambia and is involved in many different projects from establishing water wells, community development and medical outreach to HIV babies and more.

For more info: visit zam.co.za

don’t miss out!

For a free listing, email your event to joburg@childmag.co.za or fax it to 011 234 4971. Information must be received by 5 July for the August issue, and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online, visit childmag.co.za

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it’s party time

continued...

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finishing touch

it’s a girl thing – or is it?

g

irls wear pink and boys play with trucks. Really? Or do we as parents inadvertently impose these gender stereotypes on our children? I confronted this uncomfortable notion recently when Erin decided to wear Conor’s clothes for the day. Conor’s clothing cupboard is at just the right height for her to be able to “window shop”. She usually just dumps his stuff on the floor, but on this occasion she announced that she wanted to wear his shirt and jeans. I decided not to make a big deal of this, and duly dressed her in her brother’s gear. Craig was less enthusiastic about her clothing choice. He tried to encourage her to put on a dress instead, but she was having none of it.

I didn’t think it bothered me much, until we got to the market and I suddenly became acutely aware of all the little girls dressed beautifully in skirts or dresses.

Erin is also not a fan of hair accessories, so when dressed in her brother’s khakis and denim, she looked just like a boy. And

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Erin, Anél and Conor

when she started playing with another little girl, attired in the de rigueur pink, I found myself explaining to the mother that Erin was in fact a girl, and that she was just going through a phase.

But why should it matter so much what Erin is wearing? Surely it’s limiting to presume that only boys can wear blue and that girls can never wear functional shorts and neutral colours? I am starting to realise how insidiously these stereotypes creep

into the way we speak and act. We recently bought Conor a toy train to play with, and Erin a doll. Of course, she was more interested in the locomotive and insisted on getting one too.

This being said, it has been fascinating to observe how differently brother and sister play. Erin naturally gravitates towards a more nurturing role. She talks to her ponies and will cook up imaginary dishes in her wooden oven, while Conor is fascinated with wheels

and other moving parts that make a noise. In an article on gender norms, Australian family psychologist Ian Wallace explains that this is partly because the Y chromosome kicks in at about the eighth week in utero for boys and this causes them to be “wired” differently to girls. They need more physical activity to learn, for example, and will therefore engage in rougher, action-driven play. But despite their different wiring, parents should still be cautious about unconsciously imposing gender labels. Think twice before referring to your son as “my big boy”, but your daughter as your “little girl” as you lead her towards the dolls in the toy shop. Let them tackle similar activities and expose them to the same experiences.

Erin’s “cross-dressing” exercise was, say the experts, a normal and healthy exploration of her free will. She does not have any gender biases yet, and she is not constrained by any stereotypes. I just hope we can keep this in mind should Conor show an interest in wearing her princess pyjamas.

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PHOTOGRAPH: STEPHANIE VELDMAN

ANél LEWIS hopes her children grow up without gender stereotypes limiting their sense of adventure.