Child magazine | JHB November 2014

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

making praise meaningful holiday care made easy are we raising

spoilt brats?

toddlers & teenagers fun

activities

free

to bond with

www.childmag.co.za

November 2014

the sound of music

teenagers

health

motivating your child to practise

using pinterest

as a teaching tool

rustic getaway where less is best

education

entertainment

Hunter House P U B L I S H IN G

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

They say that families who play together, stay together.

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

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

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

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

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

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

a

Lisa and Robyn in Elgin

s my children have grown from high-energy toddlers to high-maintenance teenagers, finding the fun can be tricky.

My husband and I often have “brand building” meetings to brainstorm ways to make our brand as parents more attractive to our maturing children. In our most recent quest for coolness, we took my youngest, Robyn, and her friend, Jack, both soon-to-be teenagers, zip lining. We were staying in Elgin, a mere 45-minute

Child magazine Online

Joburg’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing,

childmag.co.za

Bentley Office Park, cnr Rivonia and Wessel Rd, Rivonia. Tel: 011 807 6449,

Online Content Manager Marc de Chazal • online@childmag.co.za

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

drive from Cape Town. While the adults were content with bike rides and swimming with the dogs, the children yearned for more adventure. So we headed for the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, with scarves and beanies, but no real idea as to what we were getting ourselves into. Five hours later, we had conquered (or in my case, survived) 12 slides, some 320 metres long, a swing bridge over a double waterfall, and platforms as high as Table Mountain. If my brand value increased along with my adrenalin levels, I should be set for life.

Connecting with your teenager has a lot to do with letting go as a parent, but still keeping them close and making sure that family time is fun time. With this in mind, we have rounded up some enriching ways to bond with your teenager (or soon to be) – see page 32. If you have half the fun we had, I guarantee a surge in your brand value too.

Have fun this November.

Lisa Mc Namara Publisher

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

55 47 40 40

164 738 171 161

to advertise Tel: 011 807 6449 • Fax: 011 234 4971 Email: jhbsales@childmag.co.za Website: childmag.co.za

welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted right to change any received copy. We are under no obligation to return unsolicited copy. The magazine,

childmag.co.za

ChildMag

childmagazine

South Africa’s best guide for parents

or part thereof, may not be reproduced or adapted without the prior written permission of the publisher. We take care to ensure our articles are accurate and balanced but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage that may arise from reading them.

magazine joburg

Free requested Jul 14 - Sep 14

All our magazines are printed on recycled paper.

November 2014

3

contents november 2014

32 upfront

health

3 a note from lisa

10 quicksilver mercury is poisonous.

6 over to you readers respond

features

Marina Zietsman finds out how hazardous it is in our everyday lives

regulars

14 spoilt brat syndrome Christina Castle warns about raising children with a false sense of entitlement

16 music to my ears the biggest challenge when teaching children to play a musical instrument is getting them to practise, says Donna Cobban

18 back to basics Catherine Janse van Rensburg and her family take a break from city life in the Klein Karoo

22 praiseworthy a child’s self-worth stems from meaningful praise.

By Gary Koen

24 pin it Tamlyn Vincent discovers that Pinterest is a great educational tool for projects and research

26 club together Tamlyn Vincent compiles some ideas for parents to share the load of holiday care

28 something familiar, something new in her book, Make Five, Heleen Meyer gives inspiration on how to turn one simple ingredient into five mouth-watering dishes

8 pregnancy news – the vitamin A issue it’s essential to our diet, but pregnant women should take care not to overdose on Vitamin A, says Lucille Kemp

9 best for baby – public displays of affection Tamlyn Vincent looks at the contentious issue of breast-feeding in public spaces

12 dealing with difference – are you serious? Lauren Kirk-Cohen has Asperger’s, and here she gives advice about handling bullying

32 resource – reconnect with your teenager Simone Jeffery compiles a few ideas to inspire a new adventure with your teenager

36 what’s on in november 46 finishing touch it’s true, says Cassandra Shaw, children do say “the darndest things”

47 a good read for the whole family

classified ads 44 let’s party 46 family marketplace

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

4

November 2014

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

Accessorize accessorize.co.za

Eco-Punk Kids Clothing eco-punk.co.za

Ackermans ackermans.co.za

CJ Photography cjphotogroup.webs.com

magazine joburg

feature

magazine joburg

November 2014

5

letters

living with loss I recently became a statistic of miscarriage, one of the many women in the world that has lost a baby in utero at some point. Even though I was just over six weeks pregnant, it shook my world. After my son was born, I tried for years to conceive again. I felt cheated, deprived and angry, constantly questioning why I fell pregnant in the first instance if it was willed to be so short-lived. It was a little girl, and that knowledge made it virtually impossible to get over the loss. Until I read the letter from “anonymous” in your October 2014 issue entitled “the other side of miscarriage”. Only then did I realise how selfish I had been in mourning my loss, giving no thought to what the child might have had to endure had it survived the harsh side effects of the drugs prescribed to “save” her. And in “saving” her we were ironically also “killing” her. After reading this letter I realised that nature does indeed know what’s best for us sometimes. I no longer feel cheated or deprived.

Ash

paying the price I have just opened the September 2014 issue of Child magazine and page six stopped me dead in my tracks: “why do people cheat?” I am adding to the plea from the anonymous letter writer: I did exactly the same

thing and can relate to the hurt and pain I hear in her voice and the shame she feels. Unfortunately my marriage ended because of my poor judgment. Two years later and the pain is still so raw, as if it happened yesterday. If only I could turn back the clock. I was married to the most incredible man. Please don’t make the same mistake so many of us have already made.

At the time it always seems like a good idea, but please don’t.

Anonymous

pay it forward To pay it forward is when someone does a good deed for you; instead of paying them back, pay it forward by doing a good deed for someone else. This simple phrase has often made me wonder: could it actually work? We always dig so deep and search so far and wide to try and make a difference in the world, that the simplest things go unnoticed. I saw your October 2014 issue’s theme is “dealing with difference” and I believe we should all try and make a difference. And it does not have to be profound. We don’t have to break the bank, or sacrifice precious family time or me-time. Just pay it forward. For every good thing that happens in your life, make a difference to three other people or causes and see that as pay back – or pay forward, in this case.

You can call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

over to you dearest grandpa and grandma After reading “golden oldies” in the October 2014 issue, I thought I’d share my story. Our only child started Grade 1 this year, and it’s with dread that we save up for holiday care, because we have to work. Reluctant to split our small family for the first time, we never considered sending Tyler to stay with family over the school holidays. But come the October holidays we realised we had to “let go” and drove the 90km from Cape Town to Betty’s Bay to let him spend the week with Pinke, a name he has given his granddad since he was a toddler (no one knows why), and Grandma Sandy. We anxiously waited for a call to go and fetch him because “he’s not eating”, “he’s driving Pinke up the wall”, or “we didn’t know seven year olds could be sooooo busy”, or any other (legit) reason. But exactly the opposite has happened. Tyler and Pinke went fishing together and penguin watching, spotted whales, flew his kite and played pool with their own set of rules. He helped Gran Sandy in the kitchen and, to my surprise, he’s learnt to eat mushrooms, gem squash and prawns – things he’s always refused to touch. I think what sealed the deal for me was when I phoned him the first time, expecting to talk to a tearful little boy missing his parents. Not so! He

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

6

November 2014

Give someone a book that has made a huge impact on your life. You can educate yourself on a concept or a disorder that has up to now been Greek to you, and in doing so learn patience, compassion and teach yourself to understand – then spread the word next time you are in a situation where a level head and a bit of knowledge can diffuse a possibly volatile situation.

Or pay it forward where someone has their whole life consumed by a debilitating disease or “difference”, and they just need someone to show them support and a bit of understanding. I’m also a working parent trying to keep up with this ever-changing world, but I’m going to try and remember those three words the next time I’m rushing from point A to B: pay it forward. It won’t always be easy, but I’ll try.

Annie

mom’s little girl This is a big thank you for the article “raising an introvert” (October 2014). I am the mother of an introvert and it really worried me. I thought of taking her to modelling or drama lessons to drag her out of this shell, but your article has helped me realise she is just like me. I don’t interact easily and I don’t talk to kill time.

She is her mother’s daughter. I urge all teachers to read this article.

Anonymous

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.

sounded content. He even sounded more mature and “knowledgeable” about the world. Now we’re dreading that next time he won’t want to come back. Thanks to grandparents all over.

Nicole

your voice on childmag.co.za “jacked up” I would like to add this to your article on hijacking – have a tracker fitted so that in the horrible event that they get away with your child in the car, the car can be tracked and hopefully your child found before any harm comes to them.

Cindy “guidance for parents of intellectually gifted children” My 7-year-old son struggles to concentrate. He does well when he puts his mind to something, but it would need to be a task that he really enjoys or he will get bored.

His teacher says that he is very intelligent, but seriously lacks focus/concentration. Most days are a struggle and she is trying to find ways to “tap into his concentration”.

She went on to say that there’s always something on his mind that pulls him away from what needs to be done in

class; he’s always asking questions and wanting more information. She’s asked me to assist in helping him focus more, but I don’t even know where to start.

Nuraan “rethink recycling” Thank you for the article “rethink recycling” (September 2014). We are raising Generation Recycle and the best way we can change our recycling habits is to teach our children how to separate at the source. Take note of how much domestic refuse you put out before you start recycling. It could be as many as five bags. Some homes put out half a bag of refuse a week if they recycle paper, plastic, tins and cans and glass, as well as composting kitchen scraps. Imagine the difference we would make to landfills if we all put out less waste. Well done on a great article.

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

To subscribe, visit childmag.co.za

We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters.

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

Post a comment online at childmag.co.za

magazine joburg

magazine joburg

November 2014

7

pregnancy news

the vitamin A issue Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but should be treated with caution by women of child-bearing age. LUCILLE KEMP

where to find it Vitamin A comes from animal sources as retinol, such as in eggs, dairy, liver, and kidney and fish liver oils. It also comes from plant sources such as orange and yellow vegetables and fruit, and dark-green leafy vegetables, mainly as betacarotene. As it is extremely difficult to overdose on betacarotene from natural sources, these fruit and vegetables are recommended for pregnant women.

v

itamin A is essential for vision, cell reproduction, immunity and the formation of some hormones.

It also helps promote bone growth, tooth development, and helps maintain healthy skin, hair and mucous membranes. It has shown to be an effective defence against measles, and is essential for the healthy development of the foetus. “However, as vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin it can easily cross the placenta, so it is essential that pregnant women get the right amount of the vitamin as large doses may be toxic for the baby and can cause abnormalities,” says Cape Town gynaecologist Dr Joy Robinson.

8

November 2014

when to be cautious As a woman trying to conceive, your intake of vitamin A should be limited in a few ways. “The recommendation for vitamin A in pre-pregnancy and the first eight to 10 weeks of pregnancy should not exceed 6000IUs of vitamin A from supplements, fortified foods and animal sources. After this time 6000–10000IUs are considered optimal,” says Robinson. Supplements containing up to 5000IUs of betacarotene are fine but it is advisable to avoid pre-pregnancy and pregnancy vitamin supplements that contain the retinol form of the vitamin. Foods to be avoided, or eaten not more than once a week, include liver, fish liver oil and pâté.

As it is generally unethical to run clinical trials on pregnant women, qualified skincare therapist Lusinda Burch says there is a certain grey area around the safety of using skincare

products containing vitamin A, even if the concentrations are low. If there is a product you want to use that you’re not sure about, talk to your doctor. Products to vet include stretch mark prevention formulas and immune boosters, which may contain vitamin A, as well as some cold and flu formulas, hair, skin and nail formulas, and eye-health preparations.

Robinson points out that these are often termed “natural” or “homeopathic”, but it’s important to remember that medicine available without a prescription doesn’t necessarily mean it is without harmful side effects. Many health professionals will tell you to avoid over-the-counter medication during pregnancy and to consult your doctor for your health needs.

The acne medication Roaccutane and its generics should be avoided for three months before conception, because the likelihood of birth defects is extremely high.

While there are dangers in getting too much vitamin A, it’s important to guard against vitamin A deficiency. Aside from dry skin, poor bone growth and weak tooth enamel, vitamin A deficiency can affect eyesight. While deficiency is unlikely in a healthy population, it is not impossible.

“Some women have faddish or inadequate diets and may develop significant deficiencies of vitamin A and other essential nutrients. Robinson therefore recommends a dietary middle-ground.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

learns more from a gynaecologist.

best for baby

public displays of affection Wide acceptance of breast-feeding in public is essential if we want what is best for moms and their babies.

By TAMLYN VINCENT

y

ou may have seen the sign on social media, the one outside a UK café that reads: “Breast-feeding Mums: Pop in and have a free cup of tea if you need a pit stop.” Imagine if all public venues were this accommodating of women trying to do the best for their babies. Sadly, they’re not.

The reality is that many people barely tolerate or openly disdain women for breast-feeding in public places.

Anelle Greyling, a lactation consultant from the Panorama Breastfeeding Clinic in Cape Town thinks that people from western cultures see breasts as sexual objects and because of that view public breast-feeding as inappropriate. Others see breast-feeding as a private affair that should be done at home, says Ana Frawley, a lactation consultant in Joburg.

Esmé Nel, from La Leche League and a lactation consultant, says much of this negativity stems from what people think about breast-feeding, rather than what they know.

breast is best

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

Breast-feeding has health benefits for both moms and babies, from fewer infections during infancy to decreasing the risk of breast cancer for moms. Nel says that babies who are breast-fed continue to receive immunities, vitamins and enzymes as long as they’re breast-feeding. There are also benefits for moms who breast-feed in public, most of which relates to convenience. They can feed their babies as soon as they’re hungry, and breast-feeding can help to soothe a tired or fussy child.

A hungry baby needs to eat and breast-feeding is a natural, normal way to feed. Frawley points out that as adults, we are quite comfortable eating in public, and she sees breast-feeding in public as no different. She adds that when women breast-feed, they usually do so

magazine joburg

inconspicuously, with their breasts concealed. So there is no reason for breast-feeding moms to be confined to their homes or working moms to stop breast-feeding. Rather, what needs to change is public opinion. Frawley suggests that breast-feeding should be seen more in public, whether through posters or moms breast-feeding, so people become more comfortable with it. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act says breast-feeding employees should be given two 30-minute breaks a day to breast-feed or express milk. They should also be able to do this in a designated room, not the toilet. In public, designated rooms may help lead to awareness and acceptance, but experts agree that women should be able to breast-feed anywhere. After all, it’s a baby’s constitutional right.

discrete feeding • P ractise in front of the mirror at home first so you know how to do it easily without exposing yourself.

• Baby slings are easily adjustable and work well.

Alternatively, use a breast-feeding apron, your scarf or a blanket to cover yourself. But if you’re using a blanket, it may get hot for the baby.

• Wear the right clothes. Choose nursing bras that can be unfastened with one hand. Buy or make your own shirts with hidden slits or panels. Wear a loose shirt that you can lift up easily, or that unbuttons from the bottom.

• Sit near a wall or corner or, if possible, choose a booth at a restaurant.

• Look out for your baby’s cues and feed him before he starts to cry and fuss.

November 2014

9

health

quicksilver Mercury is toxic, but what are the chances of being poisoned?

t

MARINA ZIETSMAN does some digging.

he element mercury, aptly named quicksilver, is impressive in that it only starts boiling at 356,7C, however all of its compounds are toxic. Although mercury poisoning can cause various symptoms, the most severe damage is to the brain and nervous system, and in some cases, results in death.

to clean up a mercury spill, visit epa.gov/ hg/spills/#whatnever.

Dental fillings (or amalgams) also contain elemental mercury. Wium says the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapour associated with dental fillings were a cause for concern.

“They concluded that it is safe for use in adults and children older than six,” says Wium. “The amount of mercury measured in people with dental amalgam fillings was well below the levels associated with adverse health effects.” Again, removing dental amalgam fillings may be problematic as you will be exposed to mercury vapours from the heat of the drilling process.

it’s elementary, my dear Elemental mercury is mainly found in thermometers, barometers and fluorescent light bulbs because of its high density and high rate of thermal expansion that is fairly constant over a wide temperature range.

The danger occurs when one of these gadgets break, causing a mercury spill.

Cherylynn Wium, a medical scientist at the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre says, “[Reports of] severe toxicity is unusual.”

However, problems arise when mercury comes into contact with heat, especially in an enclosed space. “Never use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the mercury. The heat from the vacuum cleaner will cause mercury vapours and increase inhalation exposure,” says Wium. For a guide on how

10

November 2014

mercurochrome contains inorganic mercury and is still available in South Africa. It has been banned in several countries due to fears of potential mercury poisoning.

mercury and vaccines Thiomersal is a mercury-containing organic compound used for decades as a preservative in numerous drugs, including vaccines. It prevents the growth of dangerous microbes. Extensive research has now made it possible for manufacturers to create safe vaccines without thiomersal. “None of the flu vaccines currently available in South Africa have thiomersal in them,” says Lee Baker, a medicine information pharmacist. “That said, thiomersal contains ethylmercury and not methylmercury, which is the mercury that can accumulate in the body.”

a fishy tale The most common source of methylmercury, a type of organic mercury, is fish. “Lowlevel dietary exposure to organic mercury does occur, but toxicity is rare,” says Wium. She says a lot of research has been done on methylmercury concentration in fish, especially in Alaska and Japan where fish is an essential part of the diet. “Trace amounts of methylmercury found in fish, even in large consumption, have not been associated with cognitive delays or other neurologic toxicity,” says Wium. According to the FDA, fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. They do warn, however, that some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or a young child’s developing nervous system. Women who want to fall pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children should avoid certain fish and only eat seafood that is low in mercury, such as anchovies, hake, sardines and whitefish. Mercury levels in tuna differ depending on where the tuna was caught.

magazine joburg

magazine joburg

November 2014

11

dealing with difference

are you

serious?

Children on the autism spectrum are often bullied at school.

LAUREN KIRK-COHEN, who has Asperger’s, says the answer lies in building the self-confidence of these children.

i

pull up to the boom and wind down my window. “I’m going to tutor a student in the library; is it okay if I park here?”

I ask the security guard.

“It costs fifty rand.”

Uncertain pause. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, it’s fifty rand.”

“Oh… ok, I’d rather park outside then.”

“No, I was joking,” he says angrily,

honestly whether they are or not. It usually comes with a lot of good-natured laughing and joking.

I was only diagnosed when I was 16, but of course, I’d had Asperger’s my whole life, even though no one identified it for what it was until then. I’d developed my own ways of coping with it. Other children aren’t as fortunate.

If you bring up your children to have confidence in themselves, to know their own worth, mean words will just slide off them.

12

November 2014

social strugglers Most people on the autism spectrum struggle socially. As Asperger’s is on the spectrum, many people with the disorder struggle with the same issues as people with autism. According to Simon BaronCohen, professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge, there are two main differences between people with Asperger’s and those with autism. People with autism often have a lower than average IQ, while people with Asperger’s have an average to abovemagazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

glaring at me and stalking away. I negotiate my way into the parking bay, confused. I thought he was joking, but how could I be sure? I didn’t want to park and end up with my wheel clamped for not paying. I asked if he was serious, and he said yes. Why would he lie? Why would he get angry at me for believing his lie?

As someone with Asperger’s syndrome, this is the kind of thing I frequently struggle with. My family and friends all know me well. When I’m not sure if they’re joking, I’ll ask if they’re serious, and they will tell me

average IQ. The second difference is that people with autism often experience a delay in learning how to speak, while people with Asperger’s don’t.

Things like not understanding when someone is joking, picking up social cues and knowing how to behave appropriately in certain situations often alienate them from other children. People with Asperger’s and autism often lack theory of mind, which is defined as the ability to accept that other people have opinions different to them. This makes interacting with others much more difficult than it is for neurotypical people. Many of them are bullied in school due to ignorance from others about their condition.

I guess I’m lucky; I just don’t care what people think of me, and I’m generally oblivious to their criticisms. I think people did try to bully me at school, but while I would notice being punched, the sidelong looks and sneers went right past me. I had a few close friends in high school, and I coped fine.

If they learn how to deal with it in school, it will be an invaluable skill for later life, as well as make their school experience more pleasant. For many people on the spectrum, the workplace can feel like school all over again, as the bullying often continues there.

So how can parents help children deal with bullying?

I know I am good at maths; I always have been. If someone tells me I’m terrible at maths, I’ll just laugh at them and move on. However, I am rather insecure about my body. If someone tells me I’m fat and ugly, I will be terribly upset. The difference is in my self-confidence. If you bring up your children to have confidence in themselves, to know their own worth, mean words will just slide off them.

Give them positive affirmations when they have done well; and when they do badly at something, give them constructive criticism. Be encouraging; rather than focusing on what they’ve done wrong, show them how to get it right in future. Tell

The trick is to help your child change their mind-set. Fighting back isn’t going to help anything; we just need to change the way we think about bullying. If they learn how to deal with it in school, it will be an invaluable skill for later life.

Children can be mean, and while teachers may attempt to control bullying, I don’t think they can completely eradicate it. As far as I know, there is only one defence, which comes naturally to me: ignore them. What does it really matter what people think of you? Who cares if they think you’re strange? I focused on finding a few people I liked and trusted, people who understood me. I’ve been out of school for over five years, but some of my friends from high school are still my closest friends.

in pursuit of happiness Instead of focusing on what makes us miserable, it makes more sense to focus on what makes us happy. For example: my English teacher loves my writing and always gives me great marks for it. I’m really improving at maths. I’ve reached out to a girl or boy in my class, they’re really nice and I think I could be friends with them. Our netball team won the game last week. I’m working on an exciting new project.

The trick is to help your child change their mind-set. Fighting back isn’t going to help anything; we just need to change the way we think about it. Bullying is a really hard thing to deal with, but it is something many people – and not just people on the spectrum – have to deal with all their lives. magazine joburg

them that you love them and you know they can do it.

Many of the things that neurotypical people take for granted can completely rattle people on the spectrum. Most children learn to read facial expressions and pick up social cues as they develop.

Often, children with autism or Asperger’s do not. Spend time teaching them things like that, showing them methods of working out a world they do not understand. When they feel like they can cope better in normal society, they will naturally feel more confident in themselves.

While it is generally harder for people on the spectrum to cope with everyday life – particularly in school – it is possible. There are many professionals who specialise in helping people on the spectrum, as well as online resources giving tips on how best to help your child.

The most important thing is to make sure that no matter how much external circumstances change, they are confident enough in themselves to know they can deal with it.

resource National Autism Resources – visit nationalautismresources.com

November 2014

13

parenting

spoilt brat syndrome CHRISTINA CASTLE wonders if we’re raising children with a sense of false entitlement and admits she may have one or two brats on her hands.

14

November 2014

performances that my mother delivered every time I asked for an increase in pocket money and would be left standing there feeling guilty and oh so spoilt. I am sure she rehearsed it daily just for moments like

flying machine, or vehicle for that matter, he’ll be receiving on his eighteenth birthday will be made of Lego (if he’s lucky).

“Children should be brought up to be deserving but not entitled,” says Victoria

Unfortunately, many families have lost touch with reality and are breeding children who believe the world owes them a living. these. But my soliloquy did not have the same effect on my son. Instead, he rolled his eyes, popped his earphones in and turned up the volume of his iPod. Brat, I thought. He’s going to pay for that. The only

Mayer, a clinical psychologist based in Cape Town. “Unfortunately, many families have lost touch with reality and are breeding children who believe the world owes them a living. It’s a bit of a wake-up

call and sometimes a little too late when they realise it doesn’t.”

shower with love, not gifts We live in a world of high consumption. We shop, spend and “have to have”. We reward ourselves with gifts and gadgets “because we can”. And the same goes for our children.

With the pace of our daily lives, we are not often available to our children. We satisfy our own guilt of absence by showering them with things. It’s all too easy to compensate by throwing a bit of money at the problem.

“Find the time to spend with your child.

Schedule it in. The value of knowing that your child comes first in your life is the greatest gift you can give him,” says Mayer.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

m

y mother would be horrified by the conversation I recently had with my 17-year-old son. It went something like this: “Mom, instead of buying me a car when I turn 18, can you rather buy me a plane?” he asked. Actually, it was more like an announcement.

“What makes you think you are even getting a car when you turn 18?”

I responded.

“Just a small plane,” he added, detecting the lambasting he was about to receive. I think he thought he was compromising by asking for a small one.

And so I let rip with one of those Oscar-winning “when I was your age”

pocket money should be earned

encourage the entrepreneur

Far too often we hand over pocket money to our children and expect nothing in return.

This breeds a sense of expectation. It becomes a hand-out. Children need to know they have certain responsibilities in a family and a household, regardless of financial reward. That said, by being rewarded with pocket money our children will be exposed to the concept of working for money. It is often the only place our children have the opportunity to learn this. However, many South African households enjoy the luxury of domestic help, which often means there is little left for our children to do around the house. But there are loads of simple chores they can be taking on from an early age.

Here are a few (there are millions more): • Make their beds • Clean their rooms • Unload the dishwasher • Take out the rubbish • Feed the pets • Pick up the dog poo • Fold the socks • Polish shoes • Weeding • Clean the pool

My brother used to steal avocados from our neighbour’s garden and then sell them to the corner shop. He made a killing, until our neighbour caught him halfway up their tree and called the police. Not long after that he spent his afternoons after school retrieving lost golf balls at the local golf course and then selling them back to the golfers who had lost them in the first place.

Let’s just say he was industrious. And I think it’s a good trait.

“Being paid for work outside of the family environment teaches our children responsibility in a real life situation,” says Mayer. “They will value that experience enormously, not to mention build confidence, independence, pride and selfworth, which is priceless.”

There are many legal ways our children can earn a buck around the neighbourhood from an early age, such as: • Car washing • Dog walking • Babysitting • Lawn mowing • Cooking and baking • Growing and selling vegetables

magazine joburg

While many children aspire to being “rich”, wealth requires hard work. This can be introduced from an early age. Goalsetting is an important part of the process.

So, when my son is busy eyeing out a new skateboard and I feel tempted to just buy it for him, I need to think again. While he may be deserving of the skateboard, he is not entitled to it. If he wants it, he works for it.

And let him learn the reality of, and reward for, hard work. He will value it more and ultimately, himself more.

value systems My children are growing up in an elite, privileged community. Holiday houses, expensive cars and overseas trips are the norm more than the exception. So when my 17 year old asks for a plane for his eighteenth birthday, chances are, one of his mates is actually getting a plane for his birthday (and a car, of course). While we are certainly in no income bracket to be buying our children planes or cars when they turn 18, the pressure is on to keep up with the Joneses.

“Unfortunately, children identify their own self-worth by what they do or don’t

have. And as much as this is a tough lesson to learn, buying into this branded charade of entitlement merely perpetuates this false sense of worth,” says Mayer. “Spoil them with reality. Don’t spoil them with stuff. Talk freely as a family about what you can and can’t afford. Establish ‘provisioning’ within the value system of your family. And don’t be dictated to by the entitled peers your children may be at school with. They need to be aware of what is real beyond the school gate, in the greater community. Only then will they be able to shift that sense of entitlement to a sense of gratitude.”

walk the talk Ultimately, our children will do as we do.

If we are replacing iPads at every upgrade opportunity, chances are our children will end up doing the same. We are breeding a culture of consumers. Value what you have.

Our children will end up doing the same.

And so I will walk the talk. From today, the boys will be earning every cent of their pocket money. I will be sending them over the neighbour’s fence to steal lemons (I’ll keep a lookout) and both can start saving for whatever mode of transport they desire.

November 2014

15

your child’s life

music

to my ears It’s one thing to get your child excited about learning to play an instrument, but the challenge is motivating them to practise. DONNA COBBAN

a

shares some lessons learnt the hard way.

round the age of 13, I came to the conclusion that deftly plucking away at the strings of a classical guitar would bolster my teenage self and add an element of intrigue. I imagined sitting around campfires, one side of my face strategically lit up by the glowing embers as I channelled Joni Mitchell through the dying light. With this very personal and ego-driven agenda in mind, I went forth and banged loudly on the parental wall of resistance... many months of perpetual banging met with eventual success and a brand-new six-string was mine.

My relationship with that guitar lasted for a pain-filled six months. I refused to practise, I refused to cut my elegantly long nails, my teacher was fed up and my parents were fed up. The instrument gathered dust and was eventually sold. I lived with a twinge of regret... until many

thinking some internal motivation would spring forth. I was wrong. We survived four months of lessons and returned the hired instrument. While my intentions may have been admirable, my modus operandi could certainly have done with some fine-tuning.

choosing an instrument Dr Victoria Williamson, a UK-based music psychologist and author, suggests you ask yourself what sounds your child enjoys hearing – what type of music gets them dancing? Find out what colour, shape and feel of an instrument they get excited about. She says that while these may seem like trivial choices, giving a child a choice can have a big impact.

This idea is reiterated by Alta van As, head of the arts division at the Wits School of Education who shares my belief in the power of YouTube, except her agenda

years later when my own child arrived, giving me the opportunity to right those wrongs. Or so I thought. YouTube was our inspiration, with pint-sized prodigies aplenty to motivate the uninitiated five year old. I decided that he should learn to play the violin, so I hired a wee wooden one along with a retired Austrian teacher. The combination simply could not fail.

Just one lesson in and I’d learnt that in order for a five year old to learn to play the violin, the mother must too, so I dutifully filmed the end of each lesson and returned home to repeat it every evening.

Each week started in high spirits with the two of us chanting: “Dr Suzuki says do not be lazy, practise and practise until you go crazy!” It was the practise part that tripped me up. I hoped my son would seize the moment, swing bow towards string and maintain a daily routine. He resisted and I was a fool not to have a basket of bribes at hand. It was our downfall, me

16

November 2014

is far more sensible and pragmatic. She suggests you show your child a variety of instruments being played (especially by young children) and use this to help them with the decision-making process.

“Many teachers prefer that learners start with the recorder,” says Van As. “Learning to read and play on this uncomplicated little instrument helps with the understanding of pitch, note values and phrasing.”

This knowledge can easily be carried across a range of instruments. Niki Sampson, a retired music teacher, is a fan of the ukulele for beginners. “The instrument is excellent for learning basic chords, theory of harmony and rhythm,” she says. In addition, “...it is a very suitable communal instrument, to accompany singing, or to play along with a guitar.” For exactly these reasons, the ukulele has been used as a classroom instrument in countries where quality school music is a priority (Canada is one example). magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

I hoped my son would seize the moment, swing bow towards string and maintain a daily routine. He resisted and I was a fool not to have a basket of bribes at hand.

motivation and practise While researching, it soon became evident that it is a rare child who willingly moves towards their instrument for the required period of practise time every day. I was intrigued every morning when I heard the tinkering of scales from our neighbour’s house. How did they do it? I soon learnt that there was a highly efficient Minecraft/ piano exchange programme in place... the more time spent at the piano meant more time on Minecraft. Another parent I spoke to became so fed up with trying to coerce her child towards practising that she ended up simply leaving a few coins on top of the piano. “Practise for the required time and you are free to remove the coins” was the message. However, not all children need this external motivation. Another mother I spoke to has a daughter who continues on the path towards piano playing perfection based on a sense of internal motivation – she sees herself progressing and puts in the required effort.

Niki Sampson’s ideas on motivation and practise are perhaps the hardest to hear: “Ideally,” she says, “parents should play their own instruments at home to

motivate their children to practise.” A twinge of regret returns. However, failing this she suggests playing recordings of classical music at certain times of the day, and engaging with them as a family.

“Another motivating factor,” she says, “is to take young musicians to live performances.” I swiftly heeded her advice and we headed off to listen to a talented youth orchestra. Dvorak’s Carnival Overture was up first and my six year old sat riveted to his seat. Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, Op.129 followed and disaster struck.

Gone was the brass, no clashing drums, no ever-ready triangle. There was no suspense and action. My son couldn’t wait to leave.

choosing a teacher Van As suggests that you look for a teacher “who makes her children fall in love with music”. In addition, she advises that you look for learner progress stories.

“A record of success with other young children speaks volumes about a teacher.”

Niki believes that a personal teacher is vital, especially for beginners. “This helps to establish the correct physical habits and principles of sound musicianship.”

piano tips

resources

• I f your child is learning the piano, get it tuned regularly – never let a child practise on a piano that is out of tune or has a poor sound quality.

• If you can’t afford a good piano, let your child learn to play a touch-sensitive electronic or digital keyboard or piano.

This has the advantage of a headphone facility for silent practise. Electronic keyboards with a variety of sounds are also favoured by those children who like to feel technologically up to date.

Courtesy of Niki Sampson

books • The Right Instrument for Your Child by Atarah Ben Tovim and Douglas Boyd (Orion Publishing) • You Are the Music by Victoria Williamson (Icon Books)

YouTube • Full length – Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra • How to Play Ukulele by Jake Shimabukuro (Hawaiian-born, world-class ukulele player) • Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo (for anyone who does not believe in the power of music)

iPad apps • Karajan • Guitar Lab • PianoMan Courtesy of Niki Sampson

magazine joburg

November 2014

17

getaway

back to basics Sometimes less is best. CATHERINE JANSE VAN RENSBURG tells how her family

PHOTOGRAPHS: CATHERINE JANSE VAN RENSBURG / shutterstock.com

enjoyed the simpler things in life during their relaxing break in Vanwyksdorp.

18

November 2014

magazine joburg

t

here’s something magical that happens as you leave Cape Town, drive through the mountains and on towards Route 62 – Klein Karoo country. The air becomes cleaner and the landscape brighter. The mountains are bold, the sky wild, the road ongoing, the landscape rugged, the fruit trees promising and the wide open spaces freeing. For my husband and me and our two children, Arden (4) and Nina (2), this five-hour drive, partly on dirt roads, to the middle of nowhere, was to visit my parents on their self-sufficient, off-the-grid, organic-everything smallholding just outside Vanwyksdorp.

Vanwyksdorp was a once thriving Karoo town in the days of the ostrich boom. Today, it has only a big old church and school, revealing its days of former glory. It is home to a small community of people eager to get away from the city and back to country living. Everyone has their own vegetable patch, a few apricot trees and small-town idiosyncrasies.

My parents live on a smallholding affectionately named Kleinplasie, just outside this quaint town. They grow enough food to feed a small army, with every type of fruit and nut tree you can think of and a beautiful, big, well-tended vegetable garden. There’s also a reservoir for irrigation water (and swimming), and a solar geyser and solar panels on the roof, which power everything from lights to laptops. On an overcast day, they heat bath water over the woodstove. And don’t let me forget to mention, there’s a long drop a little walk from the house – a room with a most beautiful view of the veld.

It was with great excitement that Arden counted down the sleeps until we left for Granny’s house. We stopped halfway at a fruit and nut shop to stock up on treats, which along with music and I-spy helped us survive the long drive.

Vanwyksdorp is full of characters, each fulfilling a role in the community. There’s Sharon who runs the only restaurant, which is only open on Friday night and you can only order pizza. There’s Gary the potter and Pandora the animal activist. Then there’s Charles, who has two cows and is the only supplier of cheese and yoghurt in town. I took Arden and Nina to meet his cows, noble beasts that spend their days eating grass in an apricot orchard. We also went to visit another neighbour’s batch of chicks and baby goats. It was around these animals that I noticed just how citified my children are, watching their country counterparts fearlessly pick up bleating baby goats, while they initially looked on in terror.

Not keen to miss the fun, they soon adapted and it was difficult to tear them away from the animals when we left.

magazine joburg

Picking raspberries is just one of the many activities Nina and Arden enjoyed on the smallholding

Nina explores a courgette flower

At Kleinplasie, every fruit and nut you can think of is grown

November 2014

19

getaway

Arden got to pick his own apricots

Nina helps pick fruit to be bottled, dried and juiced on the smallholding

One of my favourite things about the weekend was the self-sufficiency that so much space gave my children. They would disappear into the garden for hours, happily collecting, digging, making and exploring. Arden loves digging in sand, something that I try to restrict to his sandpit at home, to preserve my flower beds. On the farm, however, where manicured beds are not an issue, the children could be left to do their thing.

My mom found a tortoise the day before we arrived, and kept it in her vegetable garden for the children to see. The tortoise got fed and doted on (much to his displeasure) and then very quickly made his escape when we left the gate open. The children found an abandoned bird’s nest, porcupine quills, loads of animal tracks, an ants’ nest and an empty baby tortoise shell. These were all great teaching moments and helped open my children’s eyes to the simple intricacy of the outdoor world around them.

With an imagination and some creativity, there are always things to play with, even if it means using kitchen containers to set up a restaurant, and serving leaf soup and chocolate mud pies under the trees.

Arden carried the baby tortoise shell around most of the morning and then brought it up to the house. We were just getting ready to sit down to a lunch of home-made pasta and salad from the garden, when he screamed and dropped the shell. A rain spider the size of my hand had decided the empty tortoise shell was no longer a safe home and made his great escape. The spider jumped into Nina’s lunch, and in the chaos that followed, my brave mother, armed with an empty yoghurt container and spoon, caught and released the frightened arachnid. Arden delighted in telling his oblivious little sister that she was in fact eating spider food. This didn’t seem to worry her in the slightest and she finished her pasta. Wildlife is all around in the countryside and keeping mice out of the pantry, bats out of the attic and snakes out of the garage is a very real, full-time job.

I don’t pack many toys when we go away on holiday, which makes packing easier, but also gives my children space to explore and enjoy the new things that aren’t at home. With an imagination and some creativity, there are always things to play with, even if it means using kitchen utensils and containers to set up a restaurant, and serving leaf soup and chocolate mud pies under the trees.

Floating on my back in the dam, watching high clouds sail across the clear blue sky and feeling the warm Karoo sun, I could feel myself unwind and adjust to the different pace of life. The silence interrupted only by the sound of my children’s chattering voices and the distant bleating of goats was surprisingly relaxing. With all the swimming, walking, exploring, sun, fresh air and healthy food, the children were usually exhausted well before bedtime.

20

November 2014

magazine joburg

In the evening, with the children tucked into their bed and a few lamps burning, we sat on the stoep sipping soetwyn (a Klein Karoo speciality), listening to the crickets, watching the stars come out and the Karoo night sky reveal its splendour.

Arden was always up at the crack of dawn with the birds… and my parents, who by the time I woke at 8am, had already been working in the garden for hours. Arden was so eager to get to the garden that he left us to sleep in peace and joined my mom to pick apricots and youngberries. I’m usually very aware of my children’s whereabouts at home, even in my own garden. I found that being in the country and away from lots of people, I was able to relax and let go of my children more than usual.

My mom makes bread every day, by grinding wheat in her stone mill and then baking a loaf in the solar oven. For breakfast the children had a change from their normal porridge and ate what we had – fruit salad and drop scones – while we sat around the table cracking almond and pecan nuts from the garden – something that appealed to the children’s foraging instincts. Between lunch and supper, we had more fruit than I usually eat in a week at home. I offered the children everything we ate and encouraged them to at least try new things. They coped well with the different food and when they were not keen, there was always home-made bread to fall back on. My parents bottle, dry and juice a lot of the fruit and have a pantry brimming with supplies for the year.

We specially chose to go to Kleinplasie over a long weekend that coincided with the Vanwyksdorp Festival. Now, when I say “festival”, bear in mind there were only about 100 people there. This included a Saturday morning market and an evening braai and dance.

At the market a group of local children danced a reel in the traditional Karoo Khoikhoi style, which my brood found fascinating. We found a stall selling home-made teddy bears for next to nothing and my husband tucked into the vetkoek and mince, something he needed after all that fruit and veg. The Saturday evening braai and langarm sokkie was in a shed and something out of a movie. We took our children along with us to the dance and after a failed attempt to get them to sleep (what were we thinking?), ended up dancing with them.

It was a special evening and something that we wouldn’t do at home, with our network of babysitters and bedtimes. It’s great changing the rules when you are on holiday and letting children experience things out of their norm.

Bath time was another different experience. With the water being solar heated, we all had to shower one after another, before the tank refilled with cold water. It also had to be in the evening, which for someone who’s day doesn’t begin until she’s washed her hair, took some getting used to. “Showering” at Kleinplasie means washing from a big bucket with a jug. It’s amazing how effective (and what a huge water saving) this can be. For the children, bathing was in the big laundry sinks, which they thought was fabulous. I want to bring them up with a sense of adventure, an appreciation for different ways of doing things and the ability to adapt and cope in changing situations.

Our weekend away in the country was a special family memory-making time; a window into another world and an opportunity to do things differently.

Arden shows off the “champion” onion he picked

Arden and Nina explore the big vegetable garden at Kleinplasie

magazine joburg

November 2014

21

parenting

praiseworthy GARY KOEN explains how parents can make their praise meaningful.

ne of the most important things a child needs is a relationship with someone who cares about them, who they trust and who will tell them the truth. A relationship like this does not drop out of the sky. It takes years to build.

In the early stage of your child’s life, your main role is to manage, soothe, comfort and reassure this bundle with its gasping, gurgling, agitated, ever-present needs. As they grow older, your focus will gradually change. Each time they reach a developmental milestone or display a sense of independence, you’ll naturally respond with applause and compliments. Every incident of self expression, every creative moment, and every act of kindness, self-respect and assertiveness, will be welcomed and praised, which serves to deepen and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

But perhaps the real purpose of our praise is to encourage our children to get to know themselves and to like who they are so that one day they will be able to look after themselves properly.

The essence of our praise, therefore, should be directed at our children’s efforts at self-improvement. After all, we want them to continue exploring their world, to enjoy newfound abilities and sensations because ultimately we want them to gain the satisfaction that comes from being self-sufficient. But it’s vitally important that our children understand that while we may praise their achievements, what we are really trying to instil in them is the understanding that growing and learning is a process, which will continue throughout their lives. Briefly put, the purpose of praise is to help our children grow, but it does need to be authentic.

22

November 2014

feet on the ground Unfortunately, in our highly competitive world children are often taught that being proud of who they are means they need to be better than others. Instead of encouraging growth, this can have the opposite effect. Being the best little cricketer or ballet dancer or artist in the class may be commendable, but it doesn’t make them better people than everyone else. Children who are constantly trying to be better than everyone else inevitably lose sight of who they really are. Rather than getting to know themselves better, they end up moving further and further away from their true selves.

Children who are constantly trying to be better than everyone else inevitably lose sight of who they really are.

Praising your child does not mean worshiping them. As previously mentioned, children need a relationship with someone they trust, so it’s the parents’ responsibility to constantly restore balance and humility in the lives of their little over-achievers. While high standards and goal-setting are admirable qualities, it’s vital that they don’t become crippling, otherwise the only time a child will feel good about themselves is when they are the best at something.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

o

We’re not doing our children any favours by dishing out empty praise.

meaningful praise We need to be constantly aware that there is a subtle distinction between praising our children for what they do as opposed to praising them for who they are. Talents alone are not enough. The real value of being good at something is only felt if these achievements are integrated and used to enhance the entirety of a person’s life. So, while achieving goals are admirable and important, the real praise should be aimed at the way in which our children achieve their goals. Not only will this ensure that your praise of them remains truly meaningful, it will also ensure that the level of trust that exists in your relationship will strengthen and grow. Honest, consistent praise will help your child trust that you genuinely want the best for them; one-sided, over-inflated praise may end up causing them to doubt not only themselves, but also the trust they have in you.

Children thrive on praise, just like adults do. False praise, however, will merely confuse and distort a child’s sense of who they are. For this reason, praise should not be dispensed like flyers at traffic lights. Simply praising everything our children do, without discriminating between a good effort and a poor one, will inevitably erode the true value of our praise.

Effusive, undiluted praise is of little value to a child if they cannot connect what is being said to how they actually feel. When it becomes obvious to children that their parents don’t really notice what they are doing nor appear to care, they may regard their efforts as futile and meaningless.

in praise of teachers Parents may hold the key to building (or breaking) a child’s self-esteem, but there are other people who may also significantly influence a child’s life. It could be older siblings, cousins, aunts and friends. Their teachers, however, will arguably have the greatest influence on them apart from their parents. They occupy a powerful place in the expanding world of a growing child and have the opportunity to make a unique contribution to that child’s life. Children tend to adore their teachers and will often go out of their way to please them, to earn their respect and to make them proud. Praise from a teacher can take a very special place in the self-esteem of a child because they automatically feel that they have genuinely earned it.

Teachers can complement the role of the parent in a child’s life, but they can also compensate for any gaps left by a parent. The child who feels they have been heard and properly understood by their teacher will immediately feel more whole. Praise from their teacher that is balanced, honest and encouraging can have a lasting effect on a child’s self-worth.

magazine joburg

November 2014

23

education

pin it Pinterest is fast becoming the go-to site for ideas and inspiration. TAMLYN VINCENT looks at how it can also be used as an educational tool.

d

id you know that sea pigs are real? Or that there are creatures called water bears, which apparently are virtually indestructible? Neither did I until my son, Hayden, asked if we could search for them on Pinterest.

Pinterest is one of the fastest growing content sharing sites, with over 70 million users in July 2013. The site allows users, or pinners, to pin visuals onto boards in their profile.

You can also follow other pinners, search for pins and boards, and like or comment on pins. Pinterest was built as a place to find the things that inspire people, so the number and variety of pins and subjects are seemingly endless. When I first heard of the site, I laughed it off as a waste of time. But when I eventually signed up, I began to understand its value. I could pin ideas for the home or kitchen, for parties, lunchbox inspiration and, perhaps my favourite, for craft ideas and activities to do with my son.

for parents One day I opened Pinterest on my phone and asked Hayden if he’d like to make a paper penguin. He was hooked. We made the penguin, then we searched for ways to make cardboard robots, and went on to pin destinations to visit. The only problem is that Hayden now expects us to visit all these places – a volcanic island, sure, but I’m not as keen on the Inca rope bridge in Peru. When Hayden asked if we could search for sea pigs, I chuckled, but typed it in anyway. And there they were – little pink blobs that live on the ocean floor, which resemble real pigs but with feelers and more feet. Then we learnt about water bears, leaf dragons, leapons (a leopard-lion hybrid) and vampire squid. We’ve “visited” countries, learnt how to grow beans and found fresh ways to paint and new games to play, all on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a quick and easy way of obtaining new ideas for activities and teaching.

Given its many uses and benefits, Pinterest is gaining momentum as an educational tool.

The teachers at Highbury Preparatory School in Durban agree. “It’s a quick and easy way of obtaining new ideas for activities and teaching,” says Grade 00 teacher Cecily Fraser.

There are countless ideas for art and craft activities on almost any theme, and some pins give step-by-step guidelines. You can find new ways to use everyday items or ideas for creating play equipment. Or you can search for ideas on class displays; maths or language posters; fundraising activities; class parties, and the list goes on.

Lea Lyle, a Grade 1 teacher, follows other teachers from around the world, so the ideas she finds are varied, as well as tried and tested. Lyle also looks for games and lessons that can be used to help students grasp concepts, such as phonics, more easily. Spelling, reading and maths games or multisensory activities are all available.

Kerri Peatt, a Grade 2 teacher, says it helps her find fresh, dynamic ideas, which she can use to get her children actively involved in learning.

The organisation of Pinterest lends itself to lesson planning, allowing pinners to create boards around topics, and pinning ideas and links onto them. Grade 3 teacher Tarryn Misic uses Pinterest for lesson planning when she’s covering a new topic. She recently taught her class how to summarise: “I found amazing diagrams, instructions and practical tips that helped me plan the entire thing.” This ease of access to your boards and pins, and through these to relevant websites, means it’s easy to organise ideas and keep them in one place.

24

November 2014

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHs: shutterstock.com

for teachers

Ideas for classroom management can also be found on Pinterest. This may include ideas for reward and consequence or ways to support children with attention difficulties, says Peatt. Teachers can also find ways to help children with their homework. In fact, they could pin these ideas and share them with the parents of the children in their class.

for students Given its nature as a content sharing site, Pinterest can also be used to keep up to date with news from around the world, or to research any number of subjects. Misic cautions that many images are not child-friendly and may be inappropriate for younger age groups.

But older children, or children who are supervised by parents, can be taught how to avoid questionable material and learn from the site. Pinterest allows you to invite others to pin on boards, so you could create project boards for groups of children, or even the whole class. If you’re learning about volcanoes, students can find pins on active volcanoes, ash clouds or how to build a volcano. Groups can then keep everyone’s contributions in one place, maybe even sharing this board with the class at the end of the project. This improves research skills, and helps children learn about organisation as they create boards and populate them with relevant pins.

With so many users, and so many pins, concern about inappropriate content is understandable. Pinterest does have a policy restricting pins from being sexually explicit, pornographic, hateful or promoting harm. Some pins may slip through, and while Pinterest does remove pins that they think contravene this policy, it is not a site created for children.

Content may not always be appropriate and can be offensive. If you are giving children access, ensure that they are supervised and monitor who they choose to follow.

Pinterest is an ideal tool for education, for teachers in and out of the classroom, for parents and for students. The main concern, as my son and I have discovered, is that it’s addictive.

tips for pinners • S et up your boards carefully, so you can pin and find pins easily.

• Be specific in your search, for example: “helping children with homework” or “lunchbox ideas for toddlers”.

• Pin ideas from websites you visit.

• Be selective in who you follow. You can search for pinners or boards, and select the ones you want to follow.

eduClipper Similar to Pinterest, eduClipper is geared specifically towards teachers, students and schools. It allows users to: • f ind lessons, resources and other educational content; • add clips to boards, and • share boards with the class.

The aim of the website is for students and teachers to work together collecting and organising resources, to improve both the teaching and learning of material.

Visit educlipper.net

magazine joburg

November 2014

25

how to

club together Join up with other parents these holidays to ensure your children have more fun and

1

art and craft days

Come up with a few age-appropriate craft projects, such as building cardboard robots for younger boys or making beaded wristbands for older girls. Then gather enough of all the necessary supplies, from paint and paper to glue, string and scissors. Set up your art space, possibly outside or in the garage, somewhere you don’t mind a bit of mess, and let the children get creative.

Other ideas include painting a giant mural on an old sheet, making Christmas decorations, getting blank mounted canvasses to create handprint pictures, and making cardboard box birdfeeders.

3

kite flying

Children can make their own kites, using materials from around the house or bought from a hardware store. You’ll need a few straight sticks, some newspaper, wood glue, string and colourful material for the tail. Once children have built and decorated their kites, fly them in the garden or in a nearby park. For easy steps to make a kite, visit childmag.co.za/content/make-kite.

you get some down time.

t takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes, and while this may not always be the case, it’s a useful ethos when long school holidays come around. For parents who have to work, fit in Christmas shopping or run errands, holidays can be tricky. But if you join forces with like-minded moms or dads, holiday care becomes so much easier.

The basic idea: • A group of parents decide to share holiday care.

• Each day, or once every few days, one or two of the parents take care of all the children.

• Each parent organises activities, outings or games for their allocated day.

We’ve compiled a few practical and fun ideas to get you started.

26

November 2014

2

baker’s day

You’ll first need to decide whether or not each child is making their own dish, in which case they’ll need their own ingredients and equipment, or if they’re all helping you. Then find some easy recipes for children, such as butter biscuits or easy pizza dough. Find a work space that’s big enough for everyone and where children can stand or sit, then get cooking.

Another option is to make cookie dough beforehand for children to roll and cut out their own biscuits. Children can decorate pre-made cupcakes or design ready-made pizza bases.

Older children may like to try a cook-off, where they each get the same ingredients and have to make something with them. If children are using sharp knives or the stove, make sure they’re supervised.

4

out and about

Keep children interested to learn new things by planning an outing to a science centre, aquarium or natural history museum.

Turn the outing into a competition by creating a scavenger hunt of things they need to see, such as a poisonous frog or a dinosaur fossil, or create a fun quiz they need to answer. You can also visit a water park, nature reserve or playground, where children can work off a bit of steam. Older children may be keen to do their own thing, so agree on a meeting point and time before they disappear. Keep younger children in sight.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

By TAMLYN VINCENT

5

princess (or pirate) for a day

Girls will love spending the day getting dressed up, and Mom can do their hair and make-up. Set up a high tea for lunch, with finger snacks, cakes and mini tarts.

If you’re looking after boys, let them dress up as pirates.

Add scars or tattoos to liven things up, then send them out on a treasure hunt to look for their hidden lunch.

6

set a record

Use the Guinness World Records, or get the playing cards, to show children some records that have been set, and then get them to attempt to make and break their own. Find out who can do the most jumping jacks or the longest handstand, or who can blow the biggest bubble or build the tallest marshmallow tower. Award the children prizes or certificates for their records.

magazine joburg

7

sports days

If you belong to a sports club that has a range of facilities, book some time.

Children can play tennis or squash, swim or try their hand at lawn bowls. Set up a friendly game or mini soccer tournament. The club may also have a braai or entertainment area you can use for lunch.

Other activities could include going to a local bike park, or visiting a playground where younger children can ride on push bikes. If you’d prefer to stay home, set up an obstacle course or bike track in your garden.

8

water play

Perfect for hot summer days, playing with water can be tailored to suit most ages. Just be mindful of using water sparingly.

Playing in the pool is fun for older children or in a paddle pool for younger ones. You could also set up a slip-and-slide with a long sheet of plastic and a hose pipe. Get some water balloons, split children into teams and see who can get the wettest. Or hoist up plastic piping with holes cut into it and a hose pipe at one end, to create a walk-through sprinkler.

If children are playing in or around water, make sure they are supervised. If you’re throwing a pool party, ensure all the children know how to swim and be clear about pool rules, such as no running or diving.

making it work • C onsider the children’s ages and capabilities when choosing activities.

Also consider whether or not you’ll need to cater for different age groups.

• Think about the number of children you’re looking after. If you’re staying at home you may be able to cater for more children. But if you’re travelling somewhere, especially to a public place such as a water park, fewer children will be easier to manage.

• If you’re driving, find out if you need car seats. And inform the other parents before you drive their children anywhere.

• Decide upfront how much money each parent should spend on their day, or if everyone will pay for each day’s activity.

• Discuss what form of discipline is acceptable and what set of rules children should follow. Ensure your children understand that each parent is in charge for that day.

• Find out about food allergies and stock up on food, especially if children will be busy outside.

• It helps if the children like spending time together and can play well together for long periods of time, especially if they’re of different ages.

• Have a back-up plan. Children won’t always want to do the planned activity or it might rain on the day you want to go to the park.

November 2014

27

book extract

something familiar, something new In Make Five HELEEN MEYER shows us how to turn one common ingredient into five exciting dishes. Be inspired by these simple yet delicious recipes.

steak with basil butter serves 4 | 30 minutes

One of the best ways to enjoy steak is with a simple, yet flavourful accompaniment or side dish. Use the butter in small quantities, as it has lots of flavour.

oven-roasted mushrooms with crème fraîche serves 4 | 30 minutes

A very simple dish, but the subtle flavours will not be easily forgotten. I have served these mushrooms as a starter and as a luxurious salad. They’re also delicious on toasted Italian bread as a canapé with drinks. Use a variety of mushrooms for an interesting taste. ingredients • 400g mixed mushrooms of your choice, such as shiitake, portabellini, shimeji or oyster • 30ml (2 tbsp) olive or avocado oil • 12–15 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped from the stalks • salt and pepper • 80ml ( cup) crème fraîche or sour cream (optional) • 45ml (3 tbsp) fresh thyme leaves • 2 handfuls small lettuce or fresh Italian parsley leaves

method 1 Preheat the oven to 220ºC. Line a baking tray with baking paper so that it overlaps the edges slightly. If the mushrooms are quite big, tear or cut them in half or in quarters.

2 Mix mushrooms and oil in a large mixing bowl until they are coated in oil. Pack in a single layer on the baking paper and sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.

3 Roast for 8–10 minutes or until the mushrooms are just cooked, but still juicy. Allow to cool and serve with spoonfuls of crème fraîche, extra herbs and lettuce leaves.

ingredients butter • 125ml (½ cup) soft butter, cubed • 75ml (5 tbsp) olive or avocado oil • 60ml (¼ cup) chopped fresh basil • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 50ml grated pecorino cheese • 15ml (1 tbsp) finely grated lemon rind • pepper steak • 4 x 200g–300g steaks of your choice

method 1 butter Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend well together. Season with a good grind of black pepper. Or whisk everything together in a bowl and season.

2 Spoon butter onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a sausage.

Cover with more plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze until needed.

3 steak Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Rub steak with oil and fry for 4–5 minutes on one side until golden brown. Season lightly with salt. Turn with tongs and fry for another 4–5 minutes.

4 Allow the steak to rest for a few minutes before slicing it. Serve with a baked potato, a salad or green veggies of your choice. Serve teaspoonfuls or thin sIices of butter with the steak and veggies.

tip If exotic mushrooms are not available, use brown or button mushrooms.

The flavours will be different, but still delicious.

a panful of green veggies with an egg

28

November 2014

Lightly cooked green veggies with fresh mint is a wonderful combination. Serve as a light meal or omit the egg and serve as a side dish.

• 125ml (½ cup) frozen peas, rinsed • 60ml (¼ cup) coarsely torn fresh mint • 4–6 eggs, soft fried, boiled or poached

ingredients • 30ml (2 tbsp) olive or avocado oil • 10ml (2 tsp) wholegrain mustard • 10ml (2 tsp) apple cider vinegar or lemon juice • salt and pepper • 5–6 large baby marrows, cut into ribbons with a vegetable peeler • 100g fine green beans, halved diagonally

method 1 Mix 20ml (4 tsp) of the oil with the mustard and vinegar and season to taste. Set aside.

2 Heat the rest of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat and sauté baby marrows until just soft. Add beans and fry for a few more minutes.

3 Stir in peas and the oil mixture and season to taste. Stir in the mint and serve immediately with the eggs.

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHS: NEVILLE LOCKHART

serves 4 | 25 minutes

magazine joburg

November 2014

29

book extract

tomato and chorizo tart serves 4–6 | 2 hours

This tart can be served as a light meal or as a savoury tart at tea time. The pastry can also be used for many other recipes.

Chorizo has a very specific flavour, but it works well with tomatoes. ingredients pastry • 375ml (1½ cups) cake flour • 75ml (5 tbsp) cold butter, cubed • 50ml finely grated pecorino cheese • 10ml (2 tsp) chopped fresh rosemary • 125ml (½ cup) smooth cottage cheese • 1 egg, beaten filling • 10ml (2 tsp) olive or avocado oil • 100g chorizo or any other spicy sausage, sliced • 400g cherry tomatoes, halved • 5ml (1 tsp) chopped fresh rosemary • 2,5 ml (½ tsp) smoked paprika or 5ml (1 tsp) ordinary paprika • pepper • 50ml coarsely grated pecorino cheese

30

November 2014

method 1 pastry Place flour, butter, cheese and rosemary in a food processor and blend until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add cottage cheese and egg and mix until it forms a soft ball of pastry.

2 Gently press pastry into a circle the size of a side plate, and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3 filling Heat a thin layer of oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry sausage for a few minutes or

until aromatic. Remember that the sausage is quite fatty, so oil may not be necessary. Add tomatoes and sauté until the skins begin to burst.

4 Stir in the rosemary and paprika and season to taste with pepper. The sausages are quite salty, so salt is really not necessary. Reduce the heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 5 minutes so that the tomatoes form a sauce. Spoon out and allow to cool.

5 Preheat the oven to 200ºC. Spoon filling into a 22cm shallow tart dish and sprinkle with cheese.

6 On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pastry into a circle that is big enough to overlap the edges of the tart dish. Place pastry over the filling and fold in, in between the filling and the dish.

7 Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Allow to stand for a few minutes until the sauce has been absorbed a bit.

8 Place a plate over the tart dish and turn out in one quick turn. The pastry will now be on the bottom, with the tomato filling on top. Serve as a light meal with a green salad.

magazine joburg

falafels

serves 4 | 45 minutes Chickpeas form the base for these little vegetarian “meatballs”, which are often served with pitas and salad ingredients.

They make a delicious snack and are perfect for a picnic, on a pita or in a wrap. ingredients falafels • 1 x 410g tin chickpeas, drained • 2 spring onions, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, crushed • finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon • 10ml (2 tsp) each ground cumin and coriander • 45ml (3 tbsp) chopped fresh coriander • 30ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh mint • salt and pepper • 60ml (¼ cup) cake flour • 1 egg, beaten • 30ml (2 tbsp) olive or avocado oil • tomato, cucumber and avocado to serve

magazine joburg

about the book

yoghurt sauce • 125ml (½ cup) plain yoghurt • 5ml (1 tsp) finely grated lemon rind • pinch ground cumin • 30ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh herbs, such as Italian parsley, mint and coriander method 1 falafels Place all the ingredients, except the oil, in a mixing bowl. Mash with a fork or a potato masher until

smooth, but keep the texture slightly coarse. Season with salt and pepper and more lemon juice if preferred.

2 Shape mixture into small balls. Heat a thin layer of oil in a frying pan and fry falafels on both sides until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towel.

3 yoghurt sauce Mix all the ingredients together and season to taste.

4 Serve falafels with yoghurt sauce, tomato, cucumber and avocado.

Make Five by Heleen Meyer (Human & Rousseau) is perfect for those days when you’re feeling uninspired, yet want to try something new with what you have available – it could be butternut or potatoes or even tinned tomatoes, pasta or dried beans. Meyer demonstrates how to take one common, easily available ingredient and turn it into five exciting new dishes. You can pick from main courses that can be prepared in just a few minutes, light meals, interesting side dishes or salads. Make Five is available in all good bookstores for R265.

November 2014

31

resource

reconnect with your teenager If your teenager seems like a stranger living in your house, eating your food and spending all your money, then it’s time for some old-fashioned bonding. Here are a few activity suggestions to get you started. Compiled by SIMONE JEFFERY

The sensation of scuba diving is how I’d imagine it would feel to fly. You’re weightless, suspended in a world of turquoise and among creatures that glide past you with ease. The benefit of scuba diving is that you get to explore the 71% of the earth’s surface that is covered by water. Although Gauteng is a landlocked province with no access to the sea, you can learn to scuba dive in numerous lakes and swimming pools around the province. Legally, children from the age of 10 to 14 years old can take part in junior open water courses. They need to be comfortable in water, a good swimmer and of reasonable fitness. Training generally takes place in a deep, heated pool and once you’ve completed your training you will progress to a lake, dam or the ocean to qualify. If you’re not sure if this activity is for you, find out if the centre offers a free trial to help you decide.

32

November 2014

where to go AquaZoo They offer PADI-certified courses. Roodepoort. Contact: 082 788 0023, aquazoo@icon.co.za or visit aquazoo.co.za The Urban Dive Centre They offer PADI-certified courses, and children’s scuba birthday parties are also offered.

Northcliff. Contact: 011 476 5172, 082 330 2848, cresta@urbandive.co.za or visit urbandive.co.za Turtle Divers They offer NAUI-certified courses for adults and children 12 years and older. Benoni. Contact: 011 425 3914, 083 230 4975, lianne@turtledivers. co.za or visit turtledivers.co.za

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

making bubbles in the water

magazine joburg

bonding with strings attached

talking in tongues

Rock climbing is a social hobby that also provides a great workout. While a head for heights is a must, you don’t need to be super fit or strong to find it enjoyable. Apart from the fun and exercise, climbing is also a great way to build trust between you and your teenager – nothing builds trust more than letting them hold the ropes for a change.

You might prefer to start indoors in a safe and controlled environment until you feel comfortable with the equipment and techniques. Indoor climbing also enables you to climb at night and offers protection from the elements. Most introductory courses will cover basic climbing movements, the equipment and safety. Rock climbing is generally done in pairs, with a lead climber and a belayer (who holds the rope), but you can also boulder, which is climbing without equipment. Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and tight-fitting takkies. Most climbing gyms hire out gear, offer classes and organise supervised outdoor climbing trips.

Learning a foreign language can open up a world of opportunities for you and your children. Along with learning the language they will be exposed to different cultures and will gain an increased global awareness.

You might also want to learn a new language to get back to your roots or perhaps you’re planning a trip overseas. The earlier your child learns the better as children are more receptive and master pronunciation and native inflections quicker. Sharing the experience with your children will aid the learning process as it will increase opportunities for everyone to practise. Find out what your learning style is and try to make the learning process as fun as possible. Consider labelling household items in the new language and having dedicated days where you try to converse solely in this language. It is possible to learn the basics of a language within six months, especially for young children.

where to go Rockfit An indoor climbing gym in Sandton that conducts classes and monthly outdoor climbing trips. Contact: 011 262 4292, management@rockfit.co.za or visit rockfit.co.za The South African Climbing Academy They offer courses, for parents of children who are already climbing, on how to safely take their children rock climbing. Contact: 083 669 3028, info@saclimbingacademy.co.za or visit saclimbingacademy.co.za Wonderwall Climbing Gym An indoor climbing gym in Kya Sands. Contact: 011 708 6467, 083 501 8565, info@ wonderwall.co.za or visit wonderwall.co.za

where to go Alliance Française They offer French, Portuguese and Zulu lessons. Contact: 011 646 1169, johannesburg@ alliance.org.za or visit alliance.org.za Dante Alighieri For Italian lessons. They are situated in Houghton. Contact: 011 728 6782, 011 728 6727, courses@ladantejhb.co.za or visit ladantejhb.co.za The Spanish Academy Spanish lessons are offered at their academy in Highlands North and with their teachers based in Bedfordview, Sandton and Sydenham. Contact: 011 887 4009, 082 455 5341, admin@thespanishacademy. co.za or visit spanishmadeeasy.co.za

magazine joburg

November 2014

33

resource

your personal soundtrack Perhaps it’s finally time to start that family band. Playing a musical instrument is a great way to de-stress as it requires you to concentrate on the task at hand and enables you to forget about all your other worries. If you’re lucky enough to have a shared taste in music with your teenager, learning a musical instrument together may be just the kind of activity for you. Just as with learning to speak another language, learning to play a musical instrument has many advantages and requires a great deal of practise and discipline if you’re going to play fluently.

Playing an instrument increases the communication between the logical and creative sides of your brain and is a skill that you and your teenager can take with you throughout your lives. Most music schools offer tuition in numerous instruments. where to go Bandstars and Guitar 4 All They offer structured group or individual lessons in guitar, drums, keyboard, piano and vocals. Kyalami. Contact: 083 350 5376, sandy@guitar4all. co.za or visit bandstars.co.za Fame Music Academy They offer lessons in drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals. Benoni.

Contact: 011 849 0549, 082 341 0521 or cariharding@telkomsa.net Play Music Lessons in guitar, piano, keyboard, drums, voice training, songwriting and music theory, offered in your home. They also offer a free trial class. Contact: 082 824 5742, 082 462 6511 or visit playmusic.co.za

make it and mend it

photo hunt

Sewing is a rewarding craft for those who have patience and nimble fingers. It will also give your teenager a sense of pride when they wear items made with their own hands.

Once you are nifty with a needle you will be able to create heirloom quilts, enhance your wardrobe and create personalised gifts. Sewing lessons are practical and for those who don’t mind making mistakes and starting over a few times. Most sewing schools will have a sewing machine that you can use, but you will need to take your own fabric. You are taught the basics and start with simple patterns, adding more complicated patterns and skills to your repertoire as you go.

Take your teenager on a road trip in search of the perfect photo. Photography is a great way to preserve memories and it gets you to view the world from a different perspective – appreciating the lines and colours and developing your patience as you sit and wait for the perfect shot.

You are also able to express yourself creatively and document your life for future generations. Most photographic courses are practical with a bit of theory thrown in to reinforce the concepts. They will teach you to use your camera creatively and improve your photographic eye.

where to go Honeydew Bears If you already know how to sew, they will teach you how to make teddy bears. Honeydew. Contact: 011 764 4317 or visit honeydewbears.co.za Learn How to Sew They offer sewing lessons in Randburg. Contact: learnhowtosew@ iburst.co.za or visit learnhowtosew.co.za Sew and Grow Sewing School Melville Contact: 011 482 6542, 082 568 7408, fatima@sewandgrow.co.za or visit sewandgrow.co.za Sew Southern Africa Licensed instructors teach an easy-to-follow sewing curriculum.

Contact: 021 200 0168 or visit ssaan.com

34

November 2014

where to go Colette Baillie Photography Contact: 083 779 7005, colette@cbphotos.co.za or visit cbphotos.co.za Cheese Photo Company They offer photography courses in Joburg and Pretoria. Contact: 082 655 4751, 082 775 5546, liezel@cheesephoto.co.za or visit cheesephoto.co.za Jaci’s Lodges Photographic Safaris They offer courses by professional wildlife photographers for all skill levels held on Madikwe Game Reserve. The safari caters to a minimum of four people.

Contact: 083 700 2071, 083 447 7929, jacisreservations@madikwe.com or visit madikwe.com

magazine joburg

karate chop!

Perhaps the last thing you want is a teenager trained in mortal combat techniques on your hands, but martial arts will teach your teenager discipline and confidence and is a great way to improve fitness levels at the same time. Learning to master a new skill will boost your teenager’s self-esteem and make them feel more confident. Add to that the sense of empowerment through selfdefence that you will both feel and this could be a really beneficial hobby for the family.

Most martial art forms follow a syllabus and grading system, which can help you to

monitor your progress and give you a sense of achievement as you advance. where to go Fighting Fit Central Classes in cardio kickboxing and tae kwon do in Rivonia, Emmarentia, North Riding and Bryanston.

Contact: fightingfit.co.za or tkd.co.za Shaolin Martial Arts Centre Training in kung fu. Contact Randburg: 011 787 2790, 082 412 9862, Bedfordview: 011 450 3952, 083 228 1538, Kempton Park: 082 859 5004, Northcliff: 072 024 8044, Olivedale: 078 238 7021 or visit shaolin.co.za Stan Schmidt Shotokan dynamic karate lessons in Webber St, Sandton. Contact: 082 464 6424, info@stanschmidtkarate. co.za or visit stanschmidtkarate.co.za Tapout Academy They specialise in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Northcliff. Contact: 076 364 4674, tapoutacademykids@ gmail.com, visit tapoutacademy.co.za or Facebook: Tapout Academy Kids Warriors of Faith Martial Arts A Christianbased martial arts academy in Randburg.

They offer classes for all age groups in kickboxing, Muay Thai and Krav Maga.

Contact: 084 500 1510, 076 099 7654, info@wfma.co.za or visit wfma.co.za

do the chukka Not just for blue bloods, equestrian polo is a great family sport for active outdoor fun, and interacting with animals has numerous health and emotional benefits. Two teams, four players for grass polo and three players for indoor, beach or snow polo, compete on horseback to see who can score the most goals. The object of the game is to move the ball down the field with the aid of a long polo mallet, hitting it through the goal posts for a score and doing this within time periods known as chukkas. You would first start out with a private lesson until you feel confident enough to join a group. A lesson includes practical and theoretical training and covers everything from basic riding, safety, the horse and tacking.

Young children can also take part in polo lessons, starting on the ground with a foot mallet and ball and finally joining Mom and Dad on the polo field once they start riding. where to go Gunsmoke Polo Ranch Bapsfontein Contact: 083 233 9097, gunsmoke.polo@vodamail. co.za or visit gunsmokepolo.com Inanda Club A novice and children’s polo school in Sandton. The school is open to all riders and non-riders from preteens and upwards. Contact: 082 443 9951, craigjames@ vodamail.co.za or visit inandaclub.co.za

for the thrill of it If classes aren’t your thing or you and your teenager are looking for a once-off adventure, try these activities: • Find a Zorb park and take a roll • Fly through the trees on a canopy tour • Sign up for tandem paragliding • Rapp jump your way down a building • Take a tour on a quad bike, scooter or a Segway • Go microlighting • Race each other around a go-kart track

magazine joburg

November 2014

35

calendar

what’s on in november

You can also access the calendar online at

childmag.co.za

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

Compiled by SIMONE JEFFERY

28

FUN FOR CHILDREN – p39

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p41

Gold Heritage Tour Learn how Joburg came to be and witness the magnificent glow of a live gold pour.

Kenny G live Enjoy an evening of contemporary and smooth jazz.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p43

how to help – p43

Good Night sleep seminar A panel of experts discusses baby and toddler sleep patterns.

Bramley Children’s Home golf day Support the vulnerable and orphaned children at this home.

SPECIAL EVENTS – p37 A Christmas concert An evening with the Gauteng Opera.

36

November 2014

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com

fri

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 saturday Creatures of the night An expert helps you to identify owls, nightjars, frogs, spiders and stars. Time: 6:30pm. Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Roodepoort. Cost: members R15–R30, non-members R30–R60, children under 2 years old free. Contact: 083 793 3019 or botsocevents@gmail.com Gardens of the Golden City Explore Christopher Greig’s three-and-a-half acre Hyde Park garden, a classic Joburg garden designed by Joan Pymm in the 1940s. 30 October–2 November. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: Beechwood Gardens, 25 Christopherson Rd, Hyde Park. Cost: R40, children under 12 free. Contact: 082 689 0930 or visit beechwoodgardens.co.za Mutters Dog Day A day of dog-delights for all pooches. Time: 10am–3pm. Venue: Ball and All Driving Range, cnr R114 (Lion Park Rd) and Malibongwe Dr, Nietgedacht.

Cost: R10 per person, dogs free. Contact: info@mutters.co.za Nappy Run Wear a cloth nappy (optional) and take part in a 5km fun run, walk, stroll or roll on wheels to raise awareness of the needs of children with disabilities and raise funds to collect disposable nappies for those in need. Time: registration 7am, race starts 9am. Venue: Joburg Zoo, Parkview. Cost: R80. Contact: 011 452 2774, verena.pillay@ ncppdsa.org.za or visit nappyrun.org.za

magazine joburg

1 sat

12 wednesday Me-Nuts Like2Bike cycling series The final leg in this cycling series for 2–14 year olds consists of a 2,5km or 10km cycle. Time: 8:30am. Venue: Monaghan Farm, Ashanti Rd, Lanseria. Cost: R110 pre-entry, R120 on the day.

Contact: 083 326 6721 or visit like2bike.co.za

2 sunday

7 friday

Ram Slam T20 Challenge Also 14 November. Time: the Knights versus the Warriors 10am, the Cape Cobras versus the Titans 2pm, the Highveld Lions versus the Dolphins 6pm. Also 14 November: the Highveld Lions versus the Knights 6pm–8pm. Venue: Wanderers Stadium, Sandton. Cost: full day R100, 14 November R25–R50. Contact: 011 340 1500 or visit wanderers.co.za

Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair An outdoor market featuring crafts, microbreweries and food. Limited tickets are available at the door. Ends 9 November.

Time: 12pm–10pm Friday, 10am–10pm Saturday, 10am–4pm Sunday. Venue: Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre, cnr 6th Ave and Jan Smuts Dr. Cost: R90–R100. For more info: visit foodwinedesign.co.za

4 tuesday

The Christian Community Advent Fair Children can enjoy activities like copper beating, iron forging, candle dipping and storytelling, while adults browse through the craft stalls. Time: 10am–4pm. Venue: The Christian Community Church, 46 Dover St, Ferndale, Randburg. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 789 3083 or joburg@ thechristiancommunity.org.za

Pure mind, pure world An inspirational talk by international speaker and Buddhist nun, Gen-la Kelsang Kunsang. For 7 years and older. Time: 7pm–8:30pm. Venue: Craighall Primary School, Craighall Park.

Cost: R70, includes refreshments. Contact: 011 447 2746, 083 678 5956 or visit meditateinsa.org

8 saturday

Prestige Baby and Kidz Academy open day Interested parents can view the facilities and talk to teachers. Also 19 November.

Time: 9am–10am or 3pm–5:30pm. Venue: 56 Knox St, Waverley. Cost: free. Contact: 076 434 0985 or visit prestigebaby.co.za

14 friday YWD Blue Breakfast campaign This World Diabetes Day, Youth with Diabetes are asking you to make your favourite breakfast blue and count the carbohydrates.

Then post a photo to Facebook and Twitter with the amount of carbohydrates and tag it with #YWDbluebreakfast. For more info: visit youthwithdiabetes.com or Facebook: Youth with Diabetes

15 saturday Kids FUNdamentals MTB skills clinic This clinic aims at entrenching safety, bicycle control, respect and appreciation for the bike. Booking essential. For children 2–14 years old. Time: 8am–10am. Venue: Northern Farms, R114, Diepsloot. Cost: R250 pre-entry only. Contact: 083 326 6721 or visit like2bike.co.za Nakekela Montessori open day This Montessori school caters to children 18 months–6 years old. Interested parents can view the facilities. Time: 8am–12pm.

Venue: Nakekela Montessori, 2 Elizabeth Ave, Rivonia. Cost: free. Contact: 011 803 8116 or visit nakekelamontessori.co.za

November 2014

37

calendar

17 monday GeekFest Packed with loads of entertainment for the whole family, including a flea market and craft beer. There is gaming and entertainment for children of all ages as well as a fancy dress competition for 6–14 year olds. Time: 10am until late.

Venue: Ball and All Driving Range, cnr Malibongwe Dr and R114, Nietgedacht. Cost: adults R50, children under 12 years old R25.

Contact: info@geekfest.co.za or visit darkcarnival.co.za

29 sat

Wear purple for preemies For World Prematurity Day, buy a sticker or bracelet and wear purple to help raise awareness of preterm birth. All proceeds go to the Groote Schuur Hospital’s Newborn Trust Fund in order to expand their neonatal intensive care unit. Cost: R10 per sticker, R15–R30 per bracelet. Contact: 021 404 6023 (stickers), 083 286 9582 (bracelets) or enquiries@newborns.org.za

by Candlelight

22 saturday

27 thursday

Broadacres Farm Nursery School’s carols concert Take a picnic and enjoy as the Grade 0, 00 and 000 perform. Time: 5:30pm–7pm. Venue: Broadacres Farm Nursery School, 28 Syringa Rd, Broadacres.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 465 3810 SA Guide Dogs’ carols by candlelight An evening of carols and a Christmas market.

Take your own chairs and picnic. Time: 3pm–9pm. Venue: Gladys Evans Training Centre, 126 Wroxham Rd, Bryanston. Cost: adults R30, pensioners and children under 12 R15. Contact: 011 705 3512

MamaMagic – The Baby Expo The latest products and services and expert seminars for parents of 0–6 year olds as well as live entertainment for children. Ends 30 November. Time: 9am–6pm daily, Barney shows: 10:30am and 3:30pm Thursday and Friday; 10:30am, 1pm and 3:30pm Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Coca-Cola Dome. Cost: adults R70, children under 10 free (max of 2 children free per adult). For more info: visit mamamagic.co.za Thanksgiving carols by candlelight Take a picnic and join Poplar Academy for an evening of singing and a picnic.

Solar lights and lanterns are on sale. Time: 6:30pm–8:20pm. Venue: Poplar Academy, 39 Whisken Ave, Crowthorne, Midrand.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 082 655 0723

23 sunday Lonehill carols by candlelight Pack a picnic and chairs and enjoy Christmas stories and carol singing. Father Christmas visits. Time: gates open at 4pm. Venue: Lonehill Park, Calderwood Dr, Lonehill.

Cost: adults R50, children 13 years and under R20. Contact: 011 465 9196

38

November 2014

23 November – Lonehill Carols

28 friday A Christmas concert Featuring the Gauteng Opera, the Opera Chorus and a

festive orchestral ensemble. You can take unwrapped gifts for children 3–18 years old to donate to Child Welfare. Time: 8pm–10pm. Venue: The Linder Auditorium, 27 Saint Andrews Rd, Parktown. Cost: R100–R200. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Carols by Candlelight with Swing City With Nathan Ro, Graeme Watkins and Loyiso Bala. There is a KidZone with games for the children. Time: gates open 5pm, concert 6pm–8:30pm. Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Roodepoort. Cost: R80.

For more info: visit Facebook: Old Mutual Music in the Gardens Parkview Christmas Market Shop for handmade decorations, crafted gifts and locally produced fare and enjoy live entertainment and the champagne and oyster bar. Proceeds are donated to Nicarela Charity. Ends 30 November.

Time: 3pm–10pm Friday, 10am–10pm Saturday, 10:30am–4pm Sunday. Venue: George Hay Park, 45 Lurgan Rd, Parkview.

Cost: adults R40, children free. Contact: 082 450 4599, kmcarthur@telkomsa.net or visit nicarela.org.za

29 saturday Children’s goldmine adventure Children explore Confidence Reef, try some “gold miners” food, and enjoy a day in the nature reserve. Booking essential. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, cnr Galena Ave and Veronica

magazine joburg

St, Kloofendal, Roodepoort. Cost: R80.

Contact: 011 674 2980, 079 693 5608 or visit kloofendalfriends.org.za Foothold Christmas Party A weekend of camping. Take a wrapped gift that costs no more than R150 and is clearly marked with your child’s full name. Father Christmas hands these out. Ends 30 November. Time: anytime on Saturday and depart lunchtime on Sunday. Venue: Foothold in the Magaliesberg. Cost: adults R50, children free. Contact: 078 885 6505 or visit jhbhiking.co.za

30 sunday Benoni Art Route Twenty artists have joined together to form an art route that meanders past the lakes of Benoni on the last Sunday of every month. You can download the route from their website.

Time: 10am–4pm. Venue: varies across Benoni. Cost: free. Contact: 084 581 6340 or visit benoniartroute.co.za Collector’s Toy Fair There are 70 stalls, offering dinky toys, corgi and diecast cars, Lego, Meccano, Hornby train layouts and more. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, Park Lane, off Conrad Dr, Blairgowrie, Randburg. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 011 787 2696 or 072 229 7977 Johnny Clegg live Pack your picnic basket and enjoy the legendary Johnny Clegg. Time: gates open 3pm, concert starts 5pm. Venue: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens Roodepoort. Cost: adults R180,

magazine joburg

8 October–5 December – Exact Imagination: 300 Years of Botanically Inspired Art

children under 13 years old R75. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Tree of Light Take a picnic basket to enjoy on the lawns and buy a globe in support of HospiceWits. Time: from 5pm.

Venue: Joburg Zoo, Parkview. Cost: free entry after 5pm, globe R50. Contact: 011 483 9139/48 or visit tree-of-light.co.za

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science Exact Imagination: 300 Years of Botanically Inspired Art A selection of artworks addressing a range of ecological or environmental concerns. 8 October–

5 December. Time: 8am–4:30pm Monday– Friday, 9am–1pm Saturday, lunchtime lectures 1pm–2pm every Wednesday. Venue: Standard Bank Gallery, cnr Simmonds St and Frederick St, Joburg. Cost: free. Contact: 011 631 4467 or visit standardbankarts.co.za Gold Heritage Tour Learn how gold was discovered on the reef, descend 75 metres underground and witness a live gold pour.

Suitable for children 2 years and older.

Time: tours at 9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm. Venue: Gold Reef City Theme Park, Ormonde. Cost: from R165. Contact: 011 248 6896 or visit goldreefcity.co.za Killing the goose Mandy Coppes-Martin’s solo exhibition is a collection of works that refer to the contradictions in conversations around the environmental crisis. 2–27 November. Time: 10am–5:30pm. Venue: Lizamore and Associates Gallery, 1 Chester Court, 142 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Rosebank. Cost: free entry. Contact: 011 880 8802 or visit artspace_jhb.co.za The Dino Expo A showcase of life-size, moving dinosaurs. Children can dig for dinosaur fossils, have their photos taken and faces painted, and enjoy the jumping castle, water walking balls and zorb balls.

Refreshments are on sale. Tickets are available at the Joburg Zoo or through Computicket.

1 November–19 December. Time: 9am–6pm every Friday–Sunday. Venue: Environmental Education Centre, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia. Cost: R30–R120. For more info: visit thedinoexpo.com

classes, talks and workshops Fire your imagination You can choose a piece of raw ceramic to paint, or choose your mosaic item instead. Time: 9am–5pm Monday–Saturday, 9am–3pm Sunday, also 13 November 6pm–9pm. Venue: Color Café, shop 14, Hyde Square Shopping Centre, cnr Jan Smuts Ave and North Rd, Hyde Park. Cost: varies. Contact: 011 341 0734 or visit colorcafe.co.za Sculpt and mould A chance for your children to learn a variety of pottery techniques and ceramic painting. For children 4 years and older. Time: 2pm–4pm every Monday. Venue: Anne Rimbault Pottery Studio, Bordeaux. Cost: R200 per two-hour class. Contact: rebeccahopedawson@gmail. com or visit annerimbault.com Teenage workshop A one-day workshop designed to teach 13–15 year olds the tools to cope with the constant changes in their lives. Booking essential. 8 November.

Time: 9:30am–3:30pm. Venue: Houghton.

Cost: R450. Contact: 082 829 7091 or karensutherlandscott@gmail.com

family outings Cruising on the Vaal Time: buffet cruise 1pm–3pm, 50-minute cruise 3:30pm–4:45pm every Sunday. Venue: Stonehaven on Vaal, next to Baddrift Bridge, Vanderbijlpark. Cost: buffet cruise: adults R275, children R82,50, casual cruise: adults R50, children R40. Contact: 016 982 2951/2 or visit stonehaven.co.za

November 2014

39

calendar

markets

Every Sunday – Let’s go fly a kite

Diamond X Cowboy Ranch cattle drive Skilled and novice riders can take part in a cattle drive and enjoy a “City Slickers” breakfast. Booking essential. Suitable for children 7 years and older. Time: 8am–12pm every Sunday. Venue: Diamond X Ranch, Gobey St, Rayton. Cost: R400. Contact: 082 410 3180 or visit diamondxranch.co.za Let’s go fly a kite Every Sunday you can buy or rent a kite and take it for a spin in the great blue sky. Time: 10am–3pm.

Venue: Huddle Park Golf and Recreation, Club St, Linksfield. Cost: varies. Contact: 074 303 1212 or visit capekites.co.za

finding nature and outdoor play Search for frogs Join Warren Schmidt for a presentation on frogs and take a nocturnal walk around the reserve in search of frogs. Booking essential. 29 November.

Time: 6pm–8pm. Venue: Kloofendal Nature Reserve, cnr Galena Ave and Veronica St, Kloofendal, Roodepoort. Cost: adults R70, pensioners R60, children 12 years and younger R50, R10 per car. Contact: 011 674 2980, 079 693 5608 or visit kloofendalfriends.org.za Trout fishing at Huddle Park Time: 8am–6pm every Saturday and Sunday.

Venue: Huddle Park, 121 Club St, Linksfield.

Cost: free entry, R75 per fish, includes rod hire and bait, R50 per additional fish. Contact: 011 640 6693/4456 or visit huddlepark.com

holiday programmes Youth with Diabetes Nelspruit Camp A youth camp which strives to empower children living with diabetes. The camp teaches children the basics of diabetes care and how to make smart food choices while also getting them to take part in obstacle courses and other games. Suitable for 6–18 year olds. 28–30 November. Time: 2pm Friday–3pm Sunday. Venue: Ella Combrink Camp Site, Nelspruit. Cost: registration R50, R650 per child. Contact: 083 277 8260 or visit youthwithdiabetes.com

Books2You Book Fair Hundreds of books to discover. Time: 10am–3pm Thursday, 7:30am–1pm Friday. Venue: Mulbarton Primary Schcool, 15 Archibald Ave, Mulbarton. Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 705 7744 or orders@books2you.co.za Charity Christmas Market Stalls sell everything from clothes and accessories, to art, educational toys, books and organic candles. There is a jumping castle for the children, live music and numerous food stalls. 22 November. Time: 10am–5pm.

Venue: Rustika Guest Lodge, 42 Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: free entry. Contact: sheilagh@chantillynetworking.co.za Glenshiel Christmas Fair Local entrepreneurs sell everything from adults’ and children’s clothing, fashion accessories and jewellery to handmade toys, ceramics, linen, decadent Christmas cakes and puddings. 31 October–2 November. Time: 9am–6pm Friday, 9am–5pm Saturday, 9am–2pm Sunday. Venue: Glenshiel, 19 Woolston Rd, Westcliff. Cost: adults R20, children 12 and under free. Contact: 011 646 5520 or visit stjohn.org.za Hello Sam Market Enjoy a fun day out with family and friends while browsing through stalls. The market supports Barking Mad, a pro-life animal rehabilitation centre.

2 November. Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: cnr Putfontein Rd and Nicol Rd, Benoni. Cost: free entry. Contact: 083 379 8865 or visit Facebook: Hello-Sam-Market Out of the Box Christmas Fair Browse the stalls of handmade crafts. Out of the Box teaches skills to people who live in the squatter camps surrounding Germiston and then helps them to use these skills to earn an income. 7–9 November. Time: 12pm–4pm Friday, 10am–4pm Saturday and Sunday. Venue: 305 Long Ave, Ferndale.

Cost: free entry. Contact: 083 583 5383 or visit outofthebox.org.za Rotary Christmas Craft Market The market is set on the banks of the Vaal River and sells goodies made by locals.

2 November–21 December. Time: 9am–5pm every Sunday. Venue: Stonehaven on Vaal, next to Baddrift Bridge, Vaal River, Vanderbijlpark. Cost: free entry. Contact: 016 982 2951/2 or visit stonehaven.co.za The Pop-up Market A travelling market with a host of creative stalls, a live band, and a jumping castle and face painter for the children. 2 and 27 November. Time: 2 November 10am–3pm, 27 November 5pm–9pm. Venue: club house at the Eagle Canyon Golf Estate, Honeydew. Cost: free entry. For more info: visit thepopupmarket. co.za or Facebook: The Pop-up Market

Every Saturday and Sunday – Trout fishing at Huddle Park

40

November 2014

magazine joburg

on stage and screen Boxtrolls An animated adventure in which a young orphaned boy, raised by underground cave-dwelling trash collectors, tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Premieres 28 November at cinemas nationwide. For more info: visit sterkinekor.com or numetro.co.za Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jnr Booking essential. 3 November–24 December. Time: government school terms: 9am and 11am Tuesday–Friday, government school holidays, Saturdays, public holidays and certain Sundays: 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Venue: Peoples Theatre in the Joburg Theatre Complex, Loveday St, Braamfontein. Cost: R70–R110. Contact: 011 403 1563/2340 or visit peoplestheatre.co.za Janice Honeyman’s Peter Pan Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the villainous Captain Hook and his pirate crew fill the stage in this fast-paced, lavishly designed, over-the-top panto with plenty of surprises.

5 November–28 December. Time: varies.

Venue: Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein. Cost: R145–R260. Book through the Joburg Theatre: 0861 670 670 or visit joburgtheatre.com Puppet shows at Kinderspiel Interactive puppet shows take place throughout the month. For children 3 years and older.

Time: 3:30pm every Tuesday, 10am every Saturday. Venue: Kinder Theatre, 39 Greenhill Rd, Emmarentia. Cost: R50.

Contact: 011 646 0870 or kinderspiel@ telkomsa.net The Wizard of Oz Join Dorothy and her beloved dog Toto as they journey over the rainbow to the Emerald City searching for the great and powerful wizard. Booking essential. 11 November–22 December.

Time: varies. Venue: National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Ave, Parktown. Cost: R70–R110. Contact: 011 484 1584/5 or visit nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za War Horse This is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship that features ground-breaking puppetry work, which brings breathing and galloping horses to life on stage. No children under 3

The Vertical Hour A theatrical drama by Sir David Hare and directed by Fred Abrahamse. The production pits personal philosophies against global politics. 5 October–9 November.

Time: 8:15pm Wednesday–Saturday, 5:15pm Saturday, 3:15pm Sunday. Venue: Studio Theatre at Montecasino, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R150. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

Adrenaline rush Jozi X offers a range of high-flying rides that are suitable for children 5 years and older. Be daring and try the tight rope, trapeze, jungle swings and slip and slide, or try their latest addition, Battle Rush.

Time: 10am–5pm Wednesday– Sunday. Venue: cnr Main Rd and Sloane St, Bryanston. Cost: Action World R100 Wednesday–Friday, R120 Saturday–Sunday; Battle Rush: R120 for two hours. Contact: 082 456 2358 or visit jozix.co.za

years old, PG10. 22 October–30 November.

Time: 8pm Tuesday–Saturday, 2:30pm Saturday, 1:30pm and 6:30pm Sunday.

Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R100–R450. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

playtime and story time Baking at Serendipity Your little ones can sieve and stir, knead and decorate while kitted out in chef hats and jackets. Time: 11am every Friday. Venue: Serendipity, 48 Keyes Ave, Rosebank. Cost: R70 per child. Contact: 011 447 7386 or visit serendipityplay.co.za

sport and physical activities Meditation for children Learn about the Dharma tool of wisdom through a story and games. For 3–13 year olds. 2 November. Time: 10am–11:15am. Venue: Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Centre, The Colony, 345 Jan Smuts Ave. Cost: R20 per child. Contact: 011 447 2746 or visit meditation.org.za Yogi Bear kids yoga classes Yoga classes geared towards assisting children with mental focus, mobility, strength and flexibility. All levels are welcome.

For children 4 years and older. Time: 3:30pm–4:15pm every Wednesday. Venue: Yoga by Yarisha, Broadacres. Cost: R250 per month. Contact: yarishayoga@gmail.com or visit yogabyyarisha.info

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Colourful crafts A chalk paint and twisted ring demonstration. Booking essential.

1 November. Time: 9:30am–10:30am.

Venue: Ngwenya Glass Village, off Beyers Naudé Dr and the R114, Muldersdrift.

Cost: R100, includes tea/coffee and scones.

Contact: 083 326 5157 magazine joburg

November 2014

41

calendar

8 November – Healthy food for babies and toddlers

Courses with Domestic Bliss Have your domestic worker trained on an accredited course. The elementary cooking course starts 5 November. The laundry course, including care and maintenance of washing machines, starts 14 November. Time: 8:30am–2pm.

Venue: Domestic Bliss, 235 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North. Cost: elementary cooking course R2 400 for five weekly sessions, laundry course R1 050 for two weekly sessions. Contact: 011 447 5517, 083 525 4992 or visit domesticbliss.co.za Fun with letters and words A demonstration of how the Fun with Letters and Fun with Words educational kits help to improve or accelerate your child’s reading skills. For teachers, therapists and parents of 4–9 year olds. 14 November. Time: 8:30am–9:30am. Venue: Sunninghill Gardens.

Cost: free. Contact: marian@raisingreaders. co.za or visit raisingreaders.co.za Healthy food for babies and toddlers Cooking class for parents of babies 6 months and older. 8 November. Time: 10am–12pm. Venue: Me, Mom and Dad, shop u097, Greenstone Mall, Edenvale.

Cost: R100 per person, includes a goody bag. Contact: zita@memomanddad.co.za or visit memomanddad.co.za Left-Hand Learning workshop Step into the shoes of your lefty and find out what their daily struggles are and find solutions to these challenges. 1 November.

Time: 9am–11am. Venue: Constantia Kloof.

Cost: R250 per person. Contact: 083 417 3316 or visit lefthandlearning.co.za Montessori information session Find out more about the Montessori training courses offered in 2015. Part time and distance learning options are available. 15 November. Time: 10am–11:30am. Venue: Buccleuch Montessori School, 35 Muller St North, Buccleuch, Sandton. Cost: free.

Contact: gauteng@montessorisa.co.za or visit montessorisa.co.za Parenting workshop A parenting workshop addressing issues relating to children and based on The Work of Byron

Katie. Booking essential. 16 November. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: Linden or Greenside, tbc. Cost: R500 per person. Contact: 072 202 6198 or theworkbodytalk@gmail.com Raising Toddlers seminar Informative speakers address parents of multiples and discuss sleep training, the five love languages, and ways of building confidence. Booking essential. The seminar is for parents of 1–6 year olds. 1 November. Time: 8am–4pm.

Venue: Holiday Inn Sandton, 123 Rivonia Rd, Sandton. Cost: R350, includes a light lunch and goody bag. Contact: 072 049 7891 or marionsmith@telkomsa.net The Stork Talk Children who have good conversations with their parents about sex are more likely to delay sexual activity, have fewer partners, and use condoms and other contraceptives when they do have sex. Booking essential. 19 November. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: PsychMatters Family Therapy Centre, 9 Park St, Bedfordview.

Cost: R400 per person. Contact: 011 450 3576 or info@psychmatters.co.za Toy Talk Nikki Bush presents her selection of toys and games for 0–12 year olds.

Booking essential. 11–13 November. Time: 6pm Tuesday, 9am and 6pm Wednesday, 6pm Thursday. Venue: Bryanston Country Club, 63 Bryanston Dr, Sandton. Cost: R250 per person, includes refreshments. Contact: 083 260 8792 or visit toytalk.co.za

on stage and screen Kenny G Live Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G is performing an intimate seated concert for lovers of contemporary and smooth jazz. 20 November. Time: 8pm. Venue: CocaCola Dome, cnr Northumberland Rd and Olievenhout Ave, North Riding. Cost: R590–R1 200. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Loyiso Gola live at Joburg Theatre In his outspoken and intelligently frank manner, Loyiso covers current affairs for the past 6 months. 25 November. Time: 8pm. Venue: The Mandela at the Joburg Theatre Complex, 163 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein. Cost: R130–R160. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com

out and about Bone Detectives Join scientist Brendon Billings for an evening of fine dining and a robust discussion on paleoanthropology.

Booking essential. 1 November. Time: 6pm. Venue: Maropeng Boutique Hotel, Cradle of Humankind. Cost: R375 per person, includes welcome drinks, a three-course set menu and the presentation. Contact: 014 577 9000 or visit maropeng.co.za

Mom Squad Share the joys and challenges of motherhood. For moms of newborns to 18 months old. Time: 9:15am–11am every Thursday. Venue: Linden. Cost: R10 donation towards refreshments. Contact: 082 334 4029 or vandermerwekj@gmail.com

42

November 2014

magazine joburg

Bourbon, Beer and Burgers Festival A day at the racetrack with live music, pop-up food stalls, craft beer and bourbon vendors, designated family-friendly areas and the Charity Mile, a horse race in which each horse earns a prize for the charity it represents. 1 November. Time: 11am. Venue: Turffontein Racecourse, 14 Turffontein Rd. Cost: festival packages start from R150. Book through Webtickets: 086 111 0005 or visit webtickets.co.za Chantilly Networking Ladies Forum Mingle with other small business owners and enjoy a talk by small and start-up business consultant, Daryn Cheketri from SSBC and Jaco van Schalkwyk from the Character Company. The evening includes a three-course dinner. 5 November. Time: 6pm–9:30pm. Venue: Rustika Guest Lodge, 42 Witkoppen Rd, Fourways. Cost: R250.

Contact: 082 653 5128 or sheilagh@ chantillynetworking.co.za Women’s breakfast With public protector Thuli Madonsela. 2 November. Time: 9am. Venue: Sydenham Highlands North Community Centre, 24 Main St, Rouxville.

Cost: R200. Contact: 072 492 0664, tdfranky@yahoo.com or visit sydshul.co.za

support groups Akeso Clinics’ Psychiatric Intervention Response Unit Telephonic support for people in the grip of a psychological emergency who need immediate help and containment. If the caller is in crisis, the intervention vehicle will be dispatched.

Offered in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Contact: 0861 HELP US (4357 87) or visit akeso.co.za/response-unit Dyspraxia SA Support Group Support for parents and/or caregivers who have children and young adults dealing with dyspraxia. Northern suburbs. For more info: visit dyspraxiasouthafrica.co.za The Compassionate Friends They offer counselling and outreach programmes for bereaved parents, siblings and friends.

Contact: 011 440 6322 or visit tcfjhb. wordpress.com

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops Active mommies Outdoor exercise classes designed for moms with babies and toddlers. Time: 9am every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Venues: Sandton, Broadacres and Lonehill. Cost: R100 per class. Contact Sandton: 082 529 6906, Fourways: 082 462 7519 or visit activemommies.co.za Good Night sleep seminar A panel of experts discuss all you need to know about your baby and toddler’s sleep, and explain the role of nutrition. 1 November.

Time: 9:30am–2pm. Venue: The Indaba Hotel, William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R350. Contact: 082 646 3991 or visit goodnightbaby.co.za Homeopath talk Kerri Sacks discusses how homeopathic medicines can help with pregnancy ailments and conditions.

3 November. Time: 11am–12pm.

Venue: Me, Mom and Dad, shop u097, magazine joburg

Story time at Parkview Library

Greenstone Mall, Edenvale. Cost: free.

Contact: zita@memomanddad.co.za or visit memomanddad.co.za

playtime and story time Story time at Parkview Library For children under three at 10am. Children older than 3 years old can attend the reading at 3:30pm–4:30pm. Time: 10am every Monday. Venue: 51 Athlone Ave, Parkview. Cost: free. Contact: 011 646 3375

support groups Cranio Kids Providing support for parents of children with craniosynostosis. Contact: 082 601 8585, robyn.rondi@hotmail.com or visit craniokids.co.za Hi Hopes Provides home-based support for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing infants. Contact: 011 717 3750, info@ hihopes.co.za or visit hihopes.co.za

how to help Bramley Children’s Home golf day Tee off in support of the vulnerable and orphaned children at Bramley Children’s Home. 6 November, Time: tba. Venue: Serengeti Golf Estate, R25 (off the R21), Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Joburg. Cost: R8 000 per four ball. Contact: monica@ symplexity.co.za or visit childwelfare.co.za Cancer awareness campaign Helping SA is a non-profit organisation that raises funds for children with cancer in state hospitals. The funds raised are used to buy clothing and toys and assist with the travelling expenses. Donate R100 and receive a cancer awareness brochure and a handmade ribbon. Contact: 081 703 1373 or visit helping-sa.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 31 October for the December/January 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

November 2014

43

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

childmag.co.za/resources/birthday-parties

44

November 2014

magazine joburg

magazine joburg

November 2014

45

finishing touch

what will they say next? hildren tend to say the funniest things. My son and I were chatting and happened to be agreeing on something funny. He piped up and said, “Mom, you totally slipped my mind.” Similarly, the other day he was roughhousing with his dad, who had him in some sort of playful hold, when he said, “You’ve got me, Dad. I’ll be stuck here for several weeks now, hey?!”

It’s funny when children make these little mix-ups, but just because they come out of the mouths of babes, don’t think for a second that it gets any better with age.

As parents we’re also guilty of this from time to time. I, for instance, am notorious for mixing up song lyrics – especially the occasional Creedence Clearwater Revival song. When I sing “There’s a bad moon on the rise”, it’s “The bathroom’s on the right”.

And “…Have you ever seen the rain?” suddenly becomes “have you ever seen Lorraine?” But somehow I’m guessing

she and her son have made over the years.

Cassandra and her son

(or hoping) I’m not alone. Unfortunately, when you’re older you don’t have an adult around to correct you, and the ones that are would rather have a quick chuckle at your expense just before they decide to rip you off.

I think the worst slip-up I ever had as a child was thinking that “circumcised”

meant that someone was very small or short. So I was in for a shock when I told my aunt that I was small enough to play on something because I was circumcised.

How embarrassing! I was little, but I still remember how bad I felt from her reaction.

I knew straight away that I had said something wrong.

When my son says something funny we try not to laugh because we want to encourage the growth of his vocabulary as best we can, and sometimes it works.

The other day he scolded his dad saying, “Daddy, you must not antagonise me anymore!” That’s my boy. But, despite this, there’s nothing wrong with keeping a sneaky journal of all the funny things they say and do over the years to share with them when they’re older.

I started one, after realising that I was beginning to forget all of the hilarious things we heard coming out of his mouth.

Now I’ve got lots of ammo for his 21st birthday, his future girlfriends, his wedding, to tell his children as they grow up, or any other opportune moment a parent gets to embarrass their child. I just hope he doesn’t disown me if I ever go through with it.

With a pen in hand and an evil villain grin on her face, Cassandra eagerly awaits what her son will say next.

family marketplace

46

November 2014

magazine joburg

PHOTOGRAPH: MENKE BONNEMA

c

CASSANDRA SHAW shares some of the verbal blunders

books

a good read for toddlers

for early graders

for preschoolers

Hooray for Hoppy!

By Tim Hopgood (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R93) This is an engaging first-book about springtime and the senses for toddlers from the age of two years old. When Hoppy wakes up on the first day of spring, he discovers a world full of wonderful things, but after he’s sniffed the fresh air, listened to the singing birds and tasted the fresh green grass, he starts to feel a little lonely.

And so he wakes up his friends so they can enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of spring together. This bold and beautiful introduction to the senses includes an activity spread to help children learn to use their senses to interact with the world around them.

Have You Slurped Strawberry Soup?

By Nicole Levin and Vian Oelofsen

let the n atio imagin go

(Published by Shuter and Shooter, R66) Have you slid down a rainbow, swung on a star or floated on a cloud in the sky? With every slurp of strawberry soup your child’s imagination will fly high. At the end of the book Levin shares a simple recipe for strawberry soup. The author is an educational materials developer, drama teacher and storyteller who delights in taking children on magical and whimsical journeys into their imaginations.

for preteens and teens

Timmy Failure: Now Look What You’ve Done

By Stephan Pastis

a is f aqua or rium

My Cape Town ABC

By Sandy Lightley (Published by Random House Struik, R108) This book will help teach beginners their ABC the fun way, and also serves as an illustrated guide to Cape Town for children. From A for aquarium and P for protea, the bright illustrations bring the city to life, while fostering an awareness of sounds and letters. There are fun questions about the elements and the book features a helpful parents’ guide of key activities and places of interest. These will be very helpful when visiting the Mother City. So, whether for young residents of Cape Town or those just visiting the city, this beautiful book will serve as a much-loved keepsake.

(Published by Walker Books, R118) He doesn’t like to pull rank: Timmy Failure, the founder, president and CEO of the greatest detective agency in town, probably the country, and perhaps the world. But he is, and he’s about to crack the biggest case of his generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe, and win the prize money.

But someone is clearly trying to cheat, so it’s up to Timmy, with the dubious help of Total, his lazy polar bear partner, and his unlikely new ally, eccentric Great Aunt Colander, to find a way to avenge these shenanigans, and obliterate Timmy’s arch-nemesis, the Wedgie. This is a hilarious read for children from the age of eight years old.

for us Black Widow White Widow

By De Wet Potgieter

Dead Ends

By Erin Lange

rful a powe f-o g in com ry age sto

(Published by Faber and Faber, R130) Dane Washington and Billy D. couldn’t be more different. Dane is clever and popular, but he’s also a violent rebel, who is one suspension away from expulsion. Billy D. has Down’s syndrome, plays by the rules and hangs out with teachers in his lunch break. But Dane and Billy have more in common than they think: both their fathers are missing. They’re going to have to suck up their differences and get on with helping each other. There are answers to be found. This is a powerful, funny, moving book for children from the age of 12 years old – the ultimate coming-of-age novel.

It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves a road trip, anyone that has ever been bullied and anyone who has ever felt different.

Oxford School Dictionary – Learn isiXhosa Editors-in-Chief Gilles-Maurice de Schryver and Mary Reynolds (Published by Oxford University Press, R129,95) Oxford University Press Southern Africa recently launched the first bilingual isiXhosa and English dictionary in almost 30 years. This dictionary helps learners develop effective reading, writing and speaking skills in English and isiXhosa, helping them to succeed at school. It also gives vital support to learners using English to study other subjects. Modern and easy to use, it gives support in four key areas: it helps learners to choose the right translation; it shows how words are really used; it includes useful words from across the curriculum; and it gives frequently used translations only. There are also diagrams, activities, model letters, maps, verb tables, pronunciation help and more. Illustrations boost the learner’s understanding and authentic phrases help learners to sound natural and feel confident in their additional language.

realit y check

(Published by Penguin SA, R202) When he first published a report in 2013 on the active presence of Al-Qaeda in South Africa, all hell broke loose for investigative reporter De Wet Potgieter. He was forced to retract before two more articles could be published. Then the massacre at Westgate Mall hit Nairobi, which made the involvement of the so-called White Widow – operating on an illegally acquired South African passport – front-page news.

Suddenly the world’s media was beating a path to Potgieter’s door. Now, for the first time, he tells the full unsettling story of Al-Qaeda’s presence in this country. The book shows how, taking advantage of corrupt state machinery, Al-Qaeda factions launch attacks in other African countries. Black Widow White Widow paints a frightening picture of the possibility of future attacks from, or on, South African soil.

parenting book Teenagers Translated

By Janey Downshire and Naella Grew (Published by Random House, R235) Counsellors Janey Downshire and Naella Grew have developed a programme to help parents get the best out of the teenage years. Their approach is positive and straightforward, providing simple strategies for nurturing better behaviour and providing a happy, supportive home environment. The book shows how to help teenagers feel supported and secure and gives strategies for improving communication. It deals with digital technology and media influences and shows ways to encourage self-confidence and independence. It also helps parents cope with challenging behaviour, attitudes and pastimes, plus discusses drinking, drugs, sex, bullying, peer pressure, eating disorders and more.