Child magazine | PTA July 2015

P r e t o r i a’ s

b e s t

g u i d e

f o r

pa r e n t s

exploring

the emotional life of boys

banish boredom

games for indoor and outdoor fun

dressing dilemmas

fussy, fickle and fashion conscious

the

bumper holiday take your family on a road trip

www.childmag.co.za

July 2015

free

issue

the positive side of single parenting creating the ideal baby sleep environment is parenting killing your marriage?

health

education

entertainment

Hunter House P UB L IS H ING

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

this month we are taking you all on holiday

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

We have filled our pages with

inspiration, banishing boredom with

indoor and outdoor

for your children to play on their own, with

games

friends or the whole family (page 12). We’ve abandoned routine and headed out of town for an historical road trip with

educational detours (page

20). If Ralph Waldo Emerson is to be trusted, it is a “happy talent to know how to play”, so we’ve packed our What’s On in July section (page 21) with

wonderful ways to fill your days. And because the real joy of cooking

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

is in the preparing and sharing of delicious “food for your brood” (page 17), we’ve made life a little easier with recipes for simple snacks and suppers, which you can trust to turn out winning

Advertising

winter warmers. On the

nights Eskom turns out the lights, find a book in our bookcase (page 27),

Lisa Mc Namara • lisa@childmag.co.za

Client Relations

crank up the LEDs and let the

Renee Bruning • ptasales@childmag.co.za

simple pleasure of a good story

entertain your family for a quiet night in…

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

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: BROOKE FASANI

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

Child magazine Online

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Lisa Mc Namara, Publisher

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Tel: 011 807 6449, fax: 011 234 4971, email: info@childmag.co.za.

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July 2015

3

contents july 2015

18 3 a note from lisa

regulars

6 over to you readers respond

7 pregnancy news – second baby blues Catherine Goldfain shares her

features

experience of when she was expecting baby number two

9 boys don’t cry we should nurture healthy emotions in boys, says Jocelyn Warrington

12 challenge accepted Tamlyn Vincent gives you ideas for indoor and outdoor educational, home-made games

14 is parenting ruining marriage? raising children can strain your relationship with your partner.

Samantha Page investigates

16 flying solo why being a single mom works for Jocelyn Warrington and her daughter

17 comforting crowd-pleasers mouth-watering dishes to share with family and friends from Sam Gates’ new book, Food for your Brood

18 dressing without drama Anél Lewis gives tips for when getting dressed in the morning turns the bedroom into a battlefield

8 best for baby – tula tu, tula baba how to create the ideal sleep environment for your baby.

By Marina Zietsman

10 dealing with difference – when words get stuck childhood apraxia can seriously affect a child’s development, writes Glynis Horning

20 resource – discover clarens take the family on a road trip to this historical town. Compiled by Simone Jeffery

21 what’s on in july 26 finishing touch when art projects loom, Anél Lewis wants to run a mile

27 a good read for the whole family

classified ads 24 let’s party 26 family marketplace

this month’s cover images are supplied by:

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July 2015

Joburg

Cape Town

Durban

Pretoria

EARTHCHILD Clothing earthchild.co.za

EARTHCHILD Clothing earthchild.co.za

shutterstock.com

Cotton On Kids cottonon.co.za

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July 2015

5

letters

over to you overcoming dyslexia I have a 15-year-old daughter who has ADD and have been on the same roller-coaster ride as the letter writer’s child in “overcoming dyslexia” (May 2015). When she was in Grade 3, I applied for her to go to a government remedial school, as this was all I could afford as a widow. In Grade 6 I moved her to a small private school, as the other remedial school had no space. She was unhappy, but decided to give it a try. After a year, I took her back to the primary school where she previously was and she returned to her happy self. In Grade 8, she was finally accepted to the government remedial school after years of begging and pleading. The problem was, she had already spent a term in her new high school and just loved it. She had made some lovely new friends too, which is a problem ADD children struggle with. When she was accepted to the remedial school, I thought my prayers had been answered; however, this was when the nightmare began. My daughter was so miserable. She made no friends and hated school and as a result, life. Things at home were extremely tense, Follow us on twitter.com/ChildMag, facebook.com/childmag.co.za and pinterest.com/childmagazine

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.

so I went back to the previous high school, and told them what we were experiencing. The principal was so accommodating and emphasised how important it is to have an emotionally stable and happy child and that she was welcome back. She has been back for just over a year and is in such a good space. She even won the prize for commitment and determination at prize-giving at the end of last year. The funny thing is her marks weren’t much better at the remedial school. She is given extra time for her exams and so far she has passed every year. I am extremely grateful to the school and the principal for giving her another chance to be happy.

Vanessa Viljoen

thanks The latest copy of Child magazine has just landed on my desk. Thanks very much for the article on blood donation. What a well-written article. I’m sure we’ll get more people visiting our donor centres and phoning us to find out where they can go and donate blood.

Sifiso Khoza, Regional Marketing Manager (SANBS)

online comments in response to “dads and daughters” Dads are so important in children’s lives. Being a mother of two girls, I see every day how they miss their father, who has chosen to be absent since we ended our relationship six months ago. I have tried so many times to make him be part of the girls’ lives, but he comes up with excuses all the time. It pains me that he is behaving this way and my girls are suffering in the process.

Anonymous

on twitter This is really an awesome magazine for all parents – full of children’s events and fun family moments. Love it.

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

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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

THE CHARACTER GROUP

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July 2015

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pregnancy news

e second baby

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

blues Being pregnant with baby number two can actually be more of a roller coaster than the first time round, discovers CATHERINE GOLDFAIN.

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verything about my first pregnancy was perfect: from the romance surrounding our “shotgun” wedding, through to long lunches with my husband, en route back from each check-up. I dedicated hours to preparing our baby’s room, ooh-ed and aah-ed over bonnets and booties – and lazed by the poolside like a beached whale. In my (abundant) spare time, I trawled websites to unveil the mysteries of childbirth.

Fast-track to round two and you’d see me and my belly heaving a full trolley (complete with wailing toddler) around the supermarket. Ravenous, I’d scavenge for halfeaten, gob-sodden rice cakes, stuffed into my overfilled handbag-slash-nappy-bag. I prayed my bladder would hold out beyond the till.

My method of avoiding meltdowns was to placate my son with a banana at the start of our “journey”, the remnants of which were smeared all over the trolley by the end of it. With toddler and trolley in tow, I was then free to go and throw up in the public toilets.

A second pregnancy is not for sissies. And the smaller the age gap, the bigger the reality check. In my case, the 21-month gap meant there was no “preparing” my first born for the reality of a sibling. He was simply too young to understand. Try explaining to a barely babbling 18-monthold why dive-bombing Mom’s belly is a no-no.

I puzzled over how I was going to split my attention once the new baby came along. Would my first born ever accept another member of the family? I dreaded that initial separation during the birth – and wondered how he’d survive the “abandonment”. I felt like a traitor, with him blissfully unaware of how his life was about to change.

Apart from battling terrible nausea and heartburn (which I never experienced first time round), the full-time effort of entertaining an active toddler while squeezing in some freelance work was enough to finish me off. As for naps – there was no chance!

Support was tough to find. My husband thought “she knows the drill” and I felt very alone. We’d just started feeling like a family unit – and I mourned the potential loss of that closeness. The financial implications of a second child also weighed heavily on us both.

On the flip side, there was great comfort in knowing what to expect. The labour and birth went off without a hitch, mainly because I’d been there before. And Damien (5) and Alabama (3) are now best of friends.

Despite some initial jealousy issues from big brother, our family is closer than ever – and there is more than enough love and attention to go around. As for the money?

Not so much! Your second pregnancy can feel like a roller coaster sometimes, but be warned: it’s after the birth that the real circus comes to town.

second pregnancy tips • Spend time with your first born, because things will never be the same again.

• Join online forums to get support from other moms and share experiences.

• Buy a gift for the older sibling, which baby can “give” to them in hospital.

July 2015

7

best for baby

snuggle up Meg Faure, co-author of Sleep Sense and Baby Sense (Metz Press), says bedding for a newborn up to the age of one year old should ideally only consist of a sleeping bag (winter and summer).

“Pillows, blankets and cot bumpers are all hazards for suffocation,” says Faure.

But you can have a very small comforting blanket or cloth in the cot. Children get pillows when they move into their own big bed (from the age of three) and this includes toys and comfort blankets. Faure adds that babies under one year old need a firm mattress. “And always buy a new mattress – don’t pass mattresses on to the next generation.” You should also use 100% cotton for bedding and sleepwear as it controls temperature better than other materials. Faure reminds us that newborns are used to the smell of their moms. For comfort you can put your T-shirt or another piece of clothing close to the cot.

lights out Bright lights are a signal for the body to wake up, while dim lights signal that we should

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July 2015

tula tu, tula baba Many things can affect a baby’s quality of sleep, including environmental factors.

MARINA ZIETSMAN finds out how to create the ideal sleep setting for your baby.

hot and cold Researchers still struggle to come up with the exact temperature that people sleep best in, but it is true that when you sleep, your body temperature cools down, and if the room is too hot, your body has to work harder to cool down, which may result in you struggling to sleep. Infants should not be overheated as it increases the risk of Sids. “Whatever you do, try and keep temperature between 18°C and 22°C,” advises Faure. “In South Africa, it’s not always easy, so if it’s too hot, let your baby sleep in a vest.”

no peep

sleep. The moment the body realises it’s time to sleep, it starts producing melatonin, a calming hormone. If there is too much light, little or no melatonin is produced.

Even televisions, laptops, smartphones, and tablets can inhibit the production of melatonin. Faure suggests that a baby should sleep in complete darkness. “Night

lights should only be used for babies from the age of 18 months. This is when children develop their imagination and nightmares come into the equation,” she says. If you have to use a light during the night for feeding or a nappy change, keep the light as dim as possible, or switch on a light in another room, for some visibility.

Your baby is used to the noise he heard in your womb, so complete silence is actually abnormal. In her best-selling book Your Baby and Child (Dorling Kindersley Limited), Penelope Leach writes: “A sleeping baby need not mean a hushed household. If everybody creeps about and talks in whispers while he is asleep, there may come a time when he cannot sleep unless they do. It is therefore important to let him sleep through whatever sound level is normal for your household.” Faure suggests a lullaby before bedtime to create a pre-sleep signal, and to create white noise at night. You can buy an app that creates this or turn the radio to soft static.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

t

he principle of sleep for newborns is sleep safety, and for babies from one year old it’s sleep comfort. Here are some tips to ensure a good night’s sleep for all.

parenting

boys don’t cry …or do they but we pretend otherwise? JOCELYN WARRINGTON explains why it’s high time we speak up for the emotional needs of boys.

f

lick through newspapers and magazines and you’ll find plenty of stories about the problems girls face in childhood and their teens – early sexualisation, pressure to conform to unhealthy stereotypes, depression, anorexia and self-harm – but you’ll find little about boys. It’s as though an assumption has taken hold that boys don’t need or deserve our concern and help.

The reality is quite the opposite.

Boys need our attention now more than ever. According to Anne McDonald, an educational psychologist and counsellor at a prominent boys’ prep school in Cape Town, “Boys exist in a highly competitive world and the jostle for a place in their social milieu can lead to feelings of pain and rejection. The wounding that can develop from this often doesn’t have the opportunity to be exposed or acknowledged and therefore ‘healing’ involves the formation of hardened scars.”

Joburg-based educational psychologist Christelle du Plessis agrees. “Boys today have it tough. The demands on them are enormous and they get it from all sides: by parents and teachers they’re pressured to perform both academically and on the sports field; and by their peers they’re required to find their place in the pecking order. And they’re expected to ‘man up’ to these challenges, not run away, or cry, or do anything else deemed similarly ‘wimpish’.”

Add to this the pressure that huge social changes in the last 50 or so years have piled onto boys. In the 60s, boys were highly valued.

Unskilled labour was still plentiful and it demanded a man’s superior physical strength, as had the Second World War, which had ended only 15 years before – another compelling reason to respect and revere men. But fastforward a couple of generations and the perceived value of boys has plummeted as manual jobs have disappeared to be replaced in a knowledge-based economy by roles that require the “soft skills” of empathy and communication – skills at which females excel. Boys are having to do it the girls’ way, or face lagging seriously behind.

Not only is there the argument that male interests have been squeezed out in the rush to right historic injustices against women, but there exists, too, a profound ignorance of the way in which boys develop. The prevailing wisdom that boys don’t experience strong emotions only recently came under fire by experts in the field of child development. “If we look at the emotional development of children, we see that boys and girls are actually on a par as preschoolers in what is developmentally expected,” notes Du Plessis. “The so-called terrible twos, when children, frustrated at their inability to express their needs, resort to tantrums, are as applicable to boys as they are to girls. As boys grow up, however, they become aware of the different expectations set out for them by their parents, their teachers, their peers (both male and female),

boys to men

and society in general, and they adapt accordingly. Sure, there are basic behavioural differences between boys and girls, but these are overtly exaggerated by our gendered culture. And the accepted notion is that boys must be tough, brave, and unemotional, or else risk being labelled a sissy.”

When they reach adolescence, boys are wellconditioned to keep their feelings to themselves, asserts Du Plessis. “No longer trusting the validity of his emotions, a boy will deny himself his feelings altogether, and may turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to numb his inner pain and escape his emotions,” she explains, adding that such boys are at risk of low self-esteem, depression,

While she admits that there is no doubt that commonly held ideas of hegemonic masculinity contribute towards boys burying their emotions, Anne McDonald refuses to believe this is an inevitable, hardwired response. “Boys can – and often are – open to exploring their emotional lives,” she says, “but their environments need to facilitate this. Parents and schools have to encourage boys to express and identify their emotions, understand where they come from, and then develop constructive ways to deal with them. By so doing, boys will develop the emotional intelligence needed to help them cope with life’s pressures.”

Cunningham-Scholtz adds: “Emotional intelligence also means being able to understand the feelings and perspectives of others and thus develop empathy. This helps in the formation of healthy relationships, both in childhood and later in life. Research – and my own experience – also shows that emotionally intelligent boys are more resilient and better able to cope with the bravado of a testosteronefuelled environment. They develop the crucial capacity to identify when to stand up for themselves and when to let things go.”

Parents can help sons develop emotional intelligence by giving voice to their feelings, says Cunningham-Scholtz.

“Saying things like, ‘I can see you’re getting frustrated…’, ‘I know you get angry when…’, ‘That must have really hurt your feelings to make you cry like that…’ will help a child create a vocabulary for expressing his feelings.”

Scolari points out that parents should also model appropriate ways of dealing with feelings: “If you bottle up your own feelings and don’t talk about what is bothering you, your child will learn that this is an appropriate way to deal with emotions, and do exactly the same.”

She also encourages parents not to be afraid of negative emotions. “We are sometimes so alarmed when our children express negative emotions, such as distress, sadness or anxiety, that our immediate reaction is to try to make it all better. Instead, it’s important that we remind ourselves that negative emotions are an excellent – albeit often painful – way to learn crucial coping and problemsolving skills, resourcefulness and an awareness of one’s own emotional triggers.”

“Parents must remember that they are raising their sons to be future husbands and fathers,” adds Du Plessis. “You want your son to be kind, caring and loving. You want him to be in a happy, fulfilling and enduring relationship one day.

To do this, you need to raise a compassionate man who is able to put himself into the shoes of others, and who can communicate effectively with his wife and children. In the words of the late Walter Schirra, an American astronaut and surely the ultimate ‘manly’ man: ‘You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes’.”

The accepted notion is that boys must be tough, brave,

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

and unemotional, or else risk being labelled a sissy.

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anger issues, anxiety disorders and even suicide. “We see more and more boys, for instance, suffering from anorexia, bulimia and self-harm – the age-old girls’ disorders.”

Durban-based educational psychologist Anwen Cunningham-Scholtz echoes Du Plessis’ findings: “Boys who are unable to ‘own’ their feelings by way of expressing, managing and processing them, often have very chaotic inner lives,” she says. “As a result, they are like emotional ‘pressure cookers’, susceptible to overreacting to seemingly trivial things which, in effect, trigger a well of suppressed emotions.”

According to Cristine Scolari, a clinical psychologist from Joburg, boys who have not learnt – or been allowed – to articulate their emotions also tend to lump all their negative feelings under the umbrella of anger. “It is generally more socially acceptable for a boy to show anger than to admit that he is scared,” says Scolari. “Anger, then, becomes a front for everything from sadness and fear to loneliness and disappointment.”

“The irony,” points out Cunningham-Scholtz, “is that while the mother, however unintentionally, encourages her son to bury his feelings, she simultaneously complains that her husband is emotionally unavailable to her.”

July 2015

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dealing with difference

when words get stuck Childhood apraxia of speech is a little-understood condition that can seriously affect a child’s ability to communicate and develop. Learn to spot it and start therapy early. By GLYNIS HORNING defining the problem

There’s currently no convincing research showing that medications, vitamins or other supplements improve speech in children who have CAS. That paediatrician ruled out what Deidre learnt later is a common early misdiagnosis for her son’s condition, and advised speech therapy. But her son would not allow the therapist to touch his face to help him form sounds (“another clue,” she sighs), and referred him to a psychologist, who finally diagnosed the problem: childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Like most parents, Deirdre had never heard of CAS. But in the three years since, it has become an intimate part of her life, as she’s wrestled with this perplexing, under-researched condition – and started raising awareness and lobbying government for educational support.

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July 2015

sound solutions CAS is a chronic condition requiring early and intensive intervention. There’s currently no convincing research showing that medications, vitamins or other supplements improve speech in children who have it, says De Vos. Treatment focuses on speech therapy, usually combined with occupational therapy. Exercises often include teaching the child how to produce individual sounds and speech of gradually increasing complexity, working with rhymes and melodies, and using multisensory approaches, such as the therapist touching the child’s face and teaching the child to watch and imitate oral movements, says Shaw-Ridley.

“It’s always advisable to have a team of health practitioners working with your child,” says Dr Athena Pedro, a research psychologist lecturing at the University of the Western Cape, who has a six-year-old son with apraxia.

common symptoms of CAS • • • • • •

ifficulty putting sounds, syllables or words together in the right order D Difficulty saying long and complex words Repeatedly attempting to pronounce words Visibly struggling to form words (groping movements with lips and tongue) Saying a word or sound correctly one moment but not the next Using wrong stresses or inflections (“BUH-na-nuh” for “buh-NA-nuh”) or giving equal stress to all syllables (“BUH-NA-NUH”) • Separating syllables (“buh…na…nuh”) • Distorting vowel sounds • Omitting consonants at the start and end of syllables and in consonant blends (“gr”, “st”) • Increased sound errors as the length of utterances increases • Comprehension is much stronger than verbal expression • Difficulty imitating the speech of others Diagnosis is made on the pattern of sound errors and symptoms including a number of the above, says Gill ShawRidley. “There are a few formal tests available, such as the Kaufman Speech Praxis Test for Children, which may aid diagnosis.”

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

a

t two and a half, Evan Warner was a happy, healthy toddler. That he could say only a few words “and not very well” did not alarm his mother, Cape Town management accountant Deidre Warner. “His older sister was chattering away by that age, but we’re told children are individuals and boys start talking later.”

A bout of bronchitis changed her world. It was Sunday, and a paediatrician at her local hospital sorted out Evan’s chest infection then casually remarked: “Your son can’t talk. Has anyone told you he’s autistic?”

“I nearly fell off my chair!” Deidre says. “I cried for a week until I could get to see another paediatrician.”

Evan’s roundabout route to diagnosis is typical for CAS children, and the cost can be high – not just in frustration and worry for parents, but in the delay it brings in beginning therapy, says Joburg neurodevelopmental paediatrician Dr Gillian de Vos. Apraxia or dyspraxia (milder apraxia) is still a poorly understood neurological disorder – sufferers find it difficult or impossible to make certain movements, although their muscles are normal. With apraxia of speech, they struggle to move their lips, tongue and jaw muscles to form words.

The problem is in the brain, which is unable to plan and tell these muscles how to move to produce the necessary sounds, explains De Vos. The diagnosis of CAS is compounded when, as is often the case, a child has additional related problems. Deidre, for example, learnt that Evan also has hypersensitivity – the reason he flinched from the speech therapist’s touch.

The cause of CAS is rarely clear, and can be associated with a range of brain or neurological conditions, brain injury, or a genetic disorder, syndrome or metabolic condition, De Vos says. “It is more common, for instance, in children with autism.”

Like many speech and language disorders, signs of CAS include little or no babbling from seven to 12 months, late first words (after 12 to 18 months), limited use of consonants and vowels, frequent omission of sounds, difficulty with certain classes of sounds, and difficulty

understanding the child’s speech, says Joburg speechlanguage therapist Gillian Shaw-Ridley.

But for a diagnosis of CAS, more specific signs are also needed (see “common symptoms of CAS”). Assessment must be made by a paediatric neurologist, child psychologist or speech-language therapist experienced in diagnosing CAS to rule out other possible causes – including autism (where the child battles to interact), a receptive language impairment (where they battle to understand language), or low oral motor tone resulting in muscle weakness.

Pedro is researching apraxia, special needs and education, and working with parents of children with apraxia, using an individualised programme focusing on age-appropriate developmental milestones. “It’s important that speech, occupational and behavioural therapists, psychologists and even educators work together,” she says.

It’s always advisable to have a team of health practitioners working with your child.

In addition, some therapists advocate teaching children alternative communication methods, such as sign language, using pictures, or using electronic devices like tablets to produce words and sentences – “various apps are available,” says Shaw-Ridley. There are also audio programmes, some using filtered music to stimulate certain areas of the brain. “If one of these is used, it should be made very clear why it’s being used for a specific child,” she says.

“Parents sometimes feel that using alternative communication systems may inhibit the development of language,” says De Vos. “But it can be very useful in encouraging communication and decreasing negative behaviour due to frustration when the child is not understood.”

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Deidre and other mothers report the best progress from a combination of speech and occupational therapy.

“Evan’s been doing both,” Deidre says. “The therapists also taught the wonderful caregivers at his mainstream crèche how to help him, and he’s speaking and reading much better.” This year he turned five and joined a special Grade R class for CAS children, begun recently at the Tygerberg Hospital School.

Deidre’s concern, and that of most parents, is for her child’s future. “After Grade R, then what? Most of these children aren’t fully mainstream, but they also aren’t properly special needs.”

“CAS occurs on a continuum, and depending on the severity, and the progress the child makes, some may later go to a special needs school, a remedial school, or occasionally a mainstream school (with support),” says Shaw-Ridley. There are a few specialised schools that assist children with communication and related developmental difficulties including CAS, she adds, but not enough.

Pedro is currently researching inclusive education at schools in Cape Town, and she and Deidre are founder members of the fledgling Dyspraxia/Apraxia Foundation of SA (DAFSA), which will work to promote inclusive, accessible education countrywide. Deidre and another mom of a child with apraxia, Lydia de Villiers, have also launched Apraxia Awareness SA, to raise awareness in parents and teachers, and lobby government to provide appropriate schooling.

“All we want is for our children to be helped to be selfsufficient and live a full and happy life,” says Deidre. “Is that too much to ask?”

tips for parents • R ead up on apraxia, advises Athena Pedro – visit reputable sites such as mayoclinic.org or apraxia-kids.org • Practise sounds, words and sentences with your child under guidance of a qualified speechlanguage therapist.

• Give positive reinforcement – praise, motivate and encourage them to meet milestones.

• Acknowledge their strengths.

• Be patient.

• Have routine and structure in their day.

• Get all people who interact with your child involved in stimulating language, at home and at school.

find support CAS affects 3% to 5% of preschoolers who have speech impairments, reports CASANA (the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America), and four times more boys than girls. If your child is among them, contact: • Apraxia Awareness SA: deidre@aarsa.co.za, lydia@aarsa.co.za or aarsa.co.za • DAFSA: This was launched with an information and support website on International Apraxia Awareness Day (May 14): 021 976 8795, 073 839 9524 or aspedro@uwc.ac.za

July 2015

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education

Banish boredom from your home during the holidays with these easy-to-make, indoor and outdoor games that can also teach children a thing or two. By TAMLYN VINCENT

alphabet pictures

Prep Print and cut out the letters of the alphabet. Find pictures in magazines that correspond with these letters and cut these out as well. Tie up a piece of string and peg the letters along the string in alphabetical order.

Play Children match up the letters to the pictures. So if they have a picture of a tree, they need to peg it with the letter T. The pictures can be more advanced for older children.

home-made bingo

the key to fun indoors outdoors on your own in a group with a parent

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July 2015

Prep Make your own bingo boards by printing out a grid with colours, pictures, numbers or letters in the blocks. Jumble them up so each card is different. These can be simpler for younger children, using just colours, while older children can have pictures of animals, continents or other relevant items. Print out another set of the pictures or colours, cut these out and place them in a bag.

Play Someone pulls cards from the bag, calling them out to the other players. Any player who has a corresponding block puts a token on that block. The first person to get a straight line of tokens calls out “bingo” and wins the game.

who am i?

Prep Print and cut out a selection of animal names, places or people.

Try to theme these to make it a bit easier, like zoo animals, mountain ranges or famous authors. You’ll also need a few safety pins.

Play Pin a name on the back of each person’s shirt. Everyone else can see each person’s name, but they aren’t allowed to tell that person what name they have.

Children have to figure out who they are by asking questions.

Prep Write down a selection of quick activities, such as “run around the tree” or “find a yellow flower”. Depending on your child’s age, you could write down questions such as “who is the president of South Africa?” Cut these out. Then gather nine plastic cups and place them in a pyramid shape on the ground. Place a few pieces of paper in each cup.

Play Children stand a short distance away from the cups and throw a ball into one of them.

They must then take out a piece of paper and do what it says or answer the question. Add an element of surprise by writing out a few lucky prizes, such as “Choose a treat” or “Sit one out”.

ILLUSTRATIONS: shutterstock.com

challenge accepted

cup of fortune

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storytelling Prep Select a few words at random, such as “dog”, “ladybird” and “hop”. For older children use a dictionary to find more challenging options, or ask children for words they learnt at school. You can also use story blocks. These are wooden squares, like dice, with words written on them. Write nouns, like places or animals, on each side of one block, and on the other write actions or emotions.

Play Ask children to tell a story using the words that have been selected. To play with the story blocks, roll the blocks and tell a story using the words that appear on the top.

marble run Prep Gather an assortment of tubes and pipes, and find some marbles. You will also need some masking tape or duct tape.

Play Give your child the equipment, and find a spare wall in the house. They can then design a marble run, taping the tubes and pipes onto the wall, so that the marbles will run down to the bottom. If there are any flaws in their design, they should find a way to fix them.

If a few children are playing, split them into teams and see who can build the longest, or quickest, marble run with the same number of parts.

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hoop toss Prep Cut the centre out of a few paper plates and stick a long cardboard tube upright on another paper plate. If you have a group of children playing, make a few more uprights and colour the hoops in different colours.

Play Children take turns throwing the hoops over the tube. Try playing in teams if there are lots of children, where each team gets a different colour. You can also do time trials, giving the players a minute to get as many as possible. They will need to use teamwork so that they have a steady stream of hoops to throw.

bean bag maths Prep Get a large piece of cardboard and cut holes of varying sizes in it. Assign numbers to each hole, with the biggest hole having the lowest number and the smallest having the highest number. Use numbers that are age-appropriate.

Play Children take turns throwing bean bags or balls through the holes. Each time they get one through they add that hole’s number to their score. Make it harder by adding symbols like +, -, or x in front of the numbers.

mystery bag Prep Find a cloth bag that children can’t see inside. Place a variety of small objects in the bag. Look for items that have different textures, like squishy balls, a wooden block covered in sandpaper, or a piece of silk ribbon.

Play Children feel inside the bag and try to guess what the objects are. Younger children can simply enjoy feeling the different textures, but older children should try to name the items. If you have a group of children, you can give each child one minute to feel inside the bag, and then they can write down as many objects as they can recall feeling in the bag.

rainy day games guaranteed to use up energy • B alloon juggling – don’t let the balloon touch the ground.

• Indoor hopscotch – use masking tape to outline the blocks.

• Indoor maze – use masking tape to mark a maze on the floor, then kick a ball through the maze.

• Play musical chairs or musical statues.

• Have pillow case races down the passage.

• Stepping stones – children try getting from one side of the room to the other without touching the floor.

July 2015

13

relationships

ruining marriage

?

Researchers say that one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is to focus on their life as a couple, but what happens when parents become too focused on their child, allowing their relationship with each

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other to suffer? By SAMANTHA PAGE

hen you fall in love, you kiss your sweetheart, tenderly, you share in-jokes, you tell each other everything, and, sometimes, you even give up the remote control.

He steers her through a crowd at the busy neighbourhood market with his hand gently resting on the curve of her back, and she takes a moment to admire him from a distance as he chats with his mates around the braai, wondering how she got so lucky.

Jump forward a few years, and the kisses are fleeting pecks before you turn out the light at night, or as you’re rushing out of the house in the morning, and your sense of humour seems to have gone on vacation without you. This scenario may paint a somewhat grim picture of marriage

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with children, but it’s a fact, though much debated, that “taking the leap from being a couple to becoming a family of three is exciting, exhilarating and joyful, but it’s also exhausting, overwhelming and worrisome,” says psychologist Dr Leisa Bailey. Between the sleep deprivation and the mountain of daily tasks, the shift is away from the spouse, and sometimes new parents find themselves losing the strong connection they once shared as a couple.

Dr John Jacobs is a couple’s therapist and the author of All You Need is Love and Other Lies About Marriage (HarperCollins).

He contends that couples often think children solidify a marriage, but the truth is, they can also be a serious threat. “The transition from couplehood to parenthood makes one of the greatest stressors in

remodelling marriage Men and women have been having children since the beginning of time, so why now has your bundle of joy become such a “relationship grenade”, as the writer Nora Ephron once called them? Physician and researcher Danielle Teller presents one theory in her article “How American Parenting is Killing the American Marriage”: “Sometime between when we were children and when we had children of our own, parenthood became a religion… As with many religions, complete unthinking devotion is required from its practioners. Nothing in life is allowed to be more important than our children, and we must never speak a disloyal word about our relationships with our offspring.

Children always come first. We accept this premise so reflexively today that we forget that it was not always so.”

Where Are They Now?, Waldman stood by her controversial confession: “If you focus all your emotional passion on your children, you neglect the relationship that brought that family into existence, and eventually things can go really, really wrong. My husband is the focus of my romantic devotion and, though I haven’t always been the perfect mother, giving my children a sense of security in their parents’ relationship is something I feel really proud of.”

While fathers are by no means exempt from this new-fangled childolatory, a word coined by Psychology Today, which is defined as “the worship of one’s children at the expense of one’s marriage,” it’s often mothers that seem most burdened by overzealous parenting in their Herculean effort to be the best parent and raise the most well-adjusted children. “Parents, especially moms, believe that a good mother stimulates her children constantly, taking them to museums and signing them up for character-broadening extracurricular activities. She reads all the current literature on parenting and takes primary

The paradox appears to be that we expect so much more from our marriages these days, but we tend to feed them less.

When author Ayelet Waldman declared in her 2005 New York Times essay entitled “Truly, Madly, Guiltily” that she “loved her husband more than her children” because she is in love with her husband but she’s not in love with her children, she was virtually burnt at the Mommy Club stake.

“She’s doing a disservice to her family,” said one ardent critic, and thousands of others joined in caustic comment threads on sites across the US and further afield.

Nine years later, on an episode of Oprah:

responsibility for the care and feeding of the children,” says Bonnie Rochman, writing for Time magazine.

In a recent article in The Atlantic, Richard Reeves presents another angle to the debate, citing research that universityeducated women are driving “a new marriage model, reinventing marriage as a child-rearing machine for a post-feminist and knowledge society. It’s egalitarian, committed and focused on children.”

According to Reeves, married, well-

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PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

is parenting

the life of a marriage. Add to that the fact that we’ve become a society that is hyperfocused on the emotional wellbeing of our children, sometimes too focused, and you have almost no time or inclination to attend to the needs of your spouse.”

educated women are delaying childbearing until they are financially stable, and then pouring time, money and energy into raising their children, and while couples occasionally manage a date night, every night is parenting night.

“It had been three years since my husband and I had more than one night alone,” says Natalie Martyn, writing for Parent24.com. “So we went on a sevenday, child-free, naughty, indulgent, sanityand marriage-saving bonanza. Every night we drank red wine and talked as if we’d just met, solving problems, planning the future, having whole conversations without being distracted by the verbal diarrhoea of an energetic toddler. We were like two stray magnets finally reunited.”

that must be acknowledged. “Having ‘me-time’ is as important as having ‘us time’. Mothers should plan a girls’ night out while Dad is home taking care of the children and vice versa. And then couples should schedule a night or weekend away without their children.”

Parents should not sacrifice their needs (or desires) for the sake of their children, declared a Gauteng mom boldly at a recent baby expo, because what will be left of the relationship with their spouse when the children leave home? “They can’t do the best job as parents if their partnership is no good,” adds Cape Townbased relationship counsellor Margaret Fulton. “There’s also the fact that we’re living longer and better these days, so we

how to nurture the couple relationship Some tips from psychologist Dr Leisa Bailey… renegotiate your relationship Discuss the division of labour and how to manage time with all your new demands. Resentments are inevitable if responsibilities are not shared. don’t find time, make time Carve out daily time – even just 20 minutes is good enough – and a larger block to spend together weekly.

Focus on maintaining a sense of knowing each other well and nurturing your friendship. it’s the little things Especially with young children, don’t set romantic expectations too high.

Grand gestures are great, but it’s the simple things that make a difference.

Bringing coffee to your spouse or leaving a note of appreciation can have a tremendous impact. learn to grow Research shows that learning something new or engaging in fresh experiences together makes a couple feel more connected. You need to see your spouse as someone other than a parent. successful couples touch Make both sexual and nonsexual touching an important priority. When children are young, and new parents are overwhelmed and exhausted, it’s essential to find creative ways to stay physically connected and protect your intimacy.

The transition from couplehood to parenthood makes one of the greatest stressors in the life of a marriage. great expectations The paradox appears to be that we expect so much more from our marriages these days, but we tend to feed them less.

Many studies show that couples who do more things together are happier. Yet, says Dr John Gartner, “today’s parents, by substantial margins, spend less time alone together, less time entertaining friends, and less time in leisure activity than their parents did – primarily because of an increase in time spent intensively parenting their children.” And while parents talk earnestly about having downtime, they still feel compelled to sign their children up for a plethora of activities that range from piano lessons to chess club and everything in between.

But Nadia Thonnard, a parenting mediator at the South African Divorce Support Association (SADSA), says it’s not just couple needs but also individual needs

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need to nurture our partner relationships like we would any friendship if we want them to still be thriving when the children are out of the house.”

Nobody really knows for sure what to expect when children arrive on the scene.

There’s no accounting for the effects of an oxytocin high or the unrelenting cuteness, not to mention the primal desire to protect and nurture at any cost, but try to remember that in providing for your child’s needs, one of the most important is to have parents who really love each other and nurture what they had before baby made three. This model will set them up for better marriages themselves when they grow up. On airplanes, says Gartner, in the event of an emergency, we are instructed to put the oxygen mask on our own faces first, and then on the children. Perhaps this is a safety measure that should apply to marriage too.

July 2015

15

parenting

flying solo In defence of single parenthood, long-time single mom JOCELYN WARRINGTON explains why her daughter is not just surviving, but thriving.

result, I embody the idea that it’s better to “want” to be in a relationship for the loving bond, companionship, and all those other plusses, than that I “need” to be in a relationship because there is stuff to be done or bills to be paid.

What’s more, I’ve been surprised to find out all the things I can do as a woman raising a child on my own. I support us both. It pinches sometimes, but I’ve become very good at saving (I never used to be). I’ve even learnt how to do some of the “man stuff”: I’ve put together a crib, a miniature Vespa scooter (so many pieces!), and a kitchen set (with microwave).

i get to share an extra-special bond

i get to see everything… and I get bragging rights

“But doesn’t your child need a father?” people sometimes ask. I guess I understand. We don’t fit into the traditional notion of what constitutes a family – but who does anymore?

And my daughter, Hannah, has a wonderful grandfather and my male friends who provide her with examples of good men and let her know how much she is loved. But, most important, she has me. Our bond is strong. It’s just her and me in our little family of two (plus a 40kg dog). Together we giggle (and sniffle through Charlotte’s Web). We get our nails done (she favours sparkly purple polish). We go for walks on the beach, to the movies and out for sushi. And we talk.

She has only me to depend on and trust (and I get a supersnuggly fleece-clad bedmate).

i get to be a stellar role model of independence One of the best gifts I am able to give my daughter is the knowledge that she can make it on her own. Earn a living, pay the bond, change a light bulb… cue Mom. As a

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that if she wants more than the meagre pocket money I give her, she needs to make and sell greeting cards or loomband bracelets to earn extra money.

i get to break the rules I am already different by virtue of being a single mom, so what do I risk by not conforming to relatively unimportant traditions? For example, I can look you straight in the eye and say, “Yes, after dinner, she baths and gets dressed in her school stockings. When she wakes up in the morning, all she has to do is put on her shoes. You got a problem with that?”

i get to ditch the drama

One of the best gifts I am able to give my daughter is the knowledge that she can make it on her own.

From first step to the first date, I get to see (and photograph) it all. I’m there to witness so many milestone moments, some of which I would miss if I were taking turns with the dad. On top of that, when you’re the only parent, you can lay claim to being the sole reason for your child’s successes. Every milestone, every accomplishment, everything she’s learnt was from me. I taught, I helped, and I was there every step of the way.

i get to teach some valuable life lessons I won’t kid you – or myself – by saying that single parenting is easy on my daughter, but I’ve noticed that my child is more competent, more observant and kinder than many of her friends who live in two-parent households. One reason for this, I believe, is that she has more responsibility – for herself and for the household. She helps out with chores and errands. She understands when I’m tired. She realises

Contrary to some predictions, my daughter has made it thus far without stealing hubcaps, selling crack cocaine or joining a cult – and there is every indication that she will reach adulthood without any such problems. In fact, I’m guessing that she’s better off than if she had spent these years listening to Mom and Dad exchanging angry words or, worse, engulfed by icy silence or crackling resentment. In this assumption at least, research bears me out. A study conducted by social psychologists at the University of Illinois of all different kinds of households in 39 nations found that what mattered most to children’s emotional development was not whether they were raised by two cohabiting biological parents or a single mother (or, for that matter, adoptive parents, or a stepmother, or two fathers…). Instead, whether children had problems with their marks or in their relationships with their siblings or friends depended on whether there were high levels of conflict within their families. In other words, it’s safe for me to say that my child is emotionally better off being raised by a single parent than if she stayed in a home with two married parents who want to kill each other.

The point, then, is to let go of the fantasy that all children living in nuclear families have two totally engaged parents who lavish their love and attention on all their children, and on each other, in a home free of anger, conflict, and recriminations. Sure, Hannah has her share of problems, but she doesn’t have more than her share. magazine pretoria

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

k

nowing that I’ve gone it alone from the day of my daughter’s conception 10 years ago, a broody yet unattached 40-something friend recently asked me, “Should I have a baby on my own?”

Because my single-parent status is more a result of circumstance than choice, I’d never really taken the time to deliberately weigh up the pros and cons of raising a child on my own. Sure, celebrity single moms like Charlize Theron, Sandra Bullock and Madonna make multitasking look defiantly fashionable (and so they should, with an entourage of nannies in their wake), but the default assumption is that single parenting is all hard slog with very little let-up... and that single moms are a haggard breed, teetering permanently on the precipice of either physical burnout or nervous breakdown, or both. It makes me feel almost guilty, then, to admit that I’m having the time of my life. Don’t get me wrong – I’m in no doubt as to the benefits of the dual-family unit. But, with or without a partner, motherhood can be its own reward, and the truth is that there are some very real (albeit sometimes egotistical) perks to raising a child on your own. These are mine…

book extract

comforting crowd-pleasers The recipes in SAM GATES’ cookbook Food for Your Brood will inspire you to gather your favourite people together and get cooking. no-brainer pot roast chicken with bacon, leeks and cider • 5ml (1 tsp) dried thyme or 15ml (1 tbsp) fresh thyme leaves • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 60ml (4 tbsp) double cream • 15ml (1 tbsp) wholegrain mustard • 30ml (2 tbsp) finely chopped fresh parsley

seventies-style red peppers stuffed with spicy rice To guarantee success, use the sweeter red or orange peppers and choose those with a flat base so they sit well rather than lurching drunkenly around the plate. You also need to ensure your filling packs a taste punch so don’t be shy with spices, seasoning and sauce. This super-spicy stuffing was inspired by a trip to Istanbul, but unlike classic Turkish stuffed peppers, these are served hot. It feeds four, and is useful if you have vegans or vegetarians around.

• ½ fresh red chilli, finely chopped • 2 small tomatoes, finely diced • 60ml (4 tbsp) chopped fresh coriander plus more for sprinkling • freshly ground black pepper • 400ml water • 4 big, fat, square red peppers • olive oil for drizzling

ingredients • 160g basmati rice • 100g grated courgettes • 5ml (1 tsp) salt • 60ml (4 tbsp) olive oil • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 2,5ml (½ tsp) turmeric • 5ml (1 tsp) ground cumin • 5ml (1 tsp) garam masala • 5ml (1 tsp) ground coriander • generous pinch of cayenne pepper

Wash the rice well, drain and set it aside. Place the grated courgettes in a colander and sprinkle over the salt.

Set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and sauté the onion and garlic until cooked, but not brown. Add the turmeric, cumin, garam masala, ground coriander, cayenne pepper and chilli and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the rice and cook gently, stirring all the time, for 6–8 minutes so the rice is well coated.

Add the courgettes and stir, then add the tomatoes, fresh coriander, a generous grind of pepper and the water.

Simmer gently for about 12 minutes, until the rice is nearly cooked. Don’t cook any longer as you are going to be putting it into the oven.

Slice the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds. Fill with the cooked rice and courgette mixture and put the lids on the top. Place in a casserole dish small enough for the peppers to sit snugly next to each other and drizzle over a little olive oil. Bake for 1 hour, basting with the juices several times during cooking.

method Heat the oven to 180°C.

This is a wonderfully friendly pot roast. It’s so easy that everyone from the smallest to the grumpiest in the household can be the chef, and supper will still taste amazing. Basically you grab a handful of veggies, some bacon, and a chicken, then find a glass of cider, wine or chicken stock (if alcohol’s not for you) and stick the lot into a big pot with a few herbs and a tight lid. Bake for a few hours, then eat. If that was too quick, here’s the slow version – feeds a hungry foursome. ingredients • 30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 red onion, chopped • 2 rashers streaky bacon, snipped into small pieces • 2 leeks, sliced into medallions • 2kg whole chicken • 6 carrots, peeled and quartered • 1 x 330ml bottle cider or the same quantity white wine (if you prefer not to use alcohol, you can also use chicken or vegetable stock instead)

Gently warm the olive oil in a stovetopto-oven casserole, then add the garlic, onion, bacon and leeks. Cook on a medium heat, stirring continuously, until the leeks and onions are cooked but not brown.

Place the chicken in the casserole, breast side up, on top of the vegetables.

Place the carrots snugly around the bird and pour over the cider or white wine.

Sprinkle with thyme and season with salt and black pepper. Put on a tight-fitting lid and cook in the oven for 1 hour. Remove the lid, baste the chicken with the juices and return to the oven for 20–30 minutes until the breast side is golden brown.

Take the casserole out of the oven and check that the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken and vegetables into a warm ovenproof serving dish, but leave the juices in the casserole.

Cover the chicken with foil and return to the switched-off oven to keep warm.

On the stovetop, bring the juices to the boil in the casserole and reduce a little. Turn the heat down and add the cream and mustard, stirring without boiling until warmed through. Transfer the sauce to a warm jug, scatter the chopped parsley over the chicken and vegetables and serve immediately.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Anthea Kirkman

about the book With over 70 ideas for inspirational, delicious dishes – from noisy, outrageous breakfasts to soothingly sweet tea-time delights and amazing one-pot suppers – Food for Your Brood (Struik Lifestyle) by Sam Gates will transform your cooking. For the author, the best meals are those shared with the people we love, when the humblest ingredients, casually gathered, seem to magically turn into fine feasts. So, celebrate food, life and the people you love with this sunny collection of glorious recipes. Food for Your Brood is available at all good bookstores for R275.

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method Heat the oven to 180 °C.

golden onions baked with cheese and herbs There are two schools of thought when it comes to baked onions. Cook them whole and pour sauce and cheese over the top, or get fancy, scoop out the middle and fill them up with goodies before baking.

Both are good but the simple version has the added bonus of providing excellent mopping up juices to play with, so make sure you have a loaf of crusty bread handy.

Feeds four for lunch or eight as a side dish. ingredients • 8 medium-sized onions, peeled and the top and bottom sliced off • 30ml (2 tbsp) olive oil • 15ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh thyme • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • salt and freshly ground black pepper • 50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated • 2,5ml (½ tsp) smoked paprika • 250ml fresh cream • 4 slices wholewheat bread, whizzed into breadcrumbs • 15ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh parsley or thyme method Heat the oven to 190°C. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and blanch the onions for 6

minutes. Drain and cut in half horizontally, then fit them, cut side up, into a greased gratin dish or shallow casserole. They should fit snugly and hold each other upright. Drizzle with olive oil, scatter over the chopped thyme and garlic, season with salt and pepper, then bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix the Parmesan, paprika, cream and a good grind of salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir in the breadcrumbs.

Take the onions out of the oven and pour the cheese, cream and breadcrumb mixture over the top. Return to the oven for another 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and golden.

Remove from the oven and serve from the hot dish sprinkled with fresh parsley or thyme.

July 2015

17

your child’s life

dressing without drama Does the simple task of getting your child dressed often develop into a full-scale battle?

ANÉL LEWIS has suggestions for dealing with the fussy, the fickle and the fashion conscious.

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July 2015

to be passed on to someone else. She also seems to have tactile issues with certain fabrics. I can’t get her to wear anything with frills, lace or capped sleeves.

dressing dilemmas Clothing for infants and babies is all about safety, comfort and ease of access. And it’s probably the only time you will be able to dress your son from head to toe in butternut yellow, or dress your daughter in a Baby-gro that says “Daddy’s girl”, so enjoy it while you can. As soon as your child moves into the toddler phase and starts asserting their personality, clothing takes on a whole new meaning. Suddenly, a T-shirt morphs into a bargaining tool as your toddler realises that he can mess up your morning routine by refusing to wear that pair of shorts. I have to admit that I have sent my son, Conor, now three, to school in his pyjamas a couple of times rather than magazine pretoria

PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

u

ntil she was about two years old, my daughter Erin would only wear trousers and T-shirts emblazoned with Superman. While other girls arrived at birthday parties in beautiful dresses, their hair swept up with sparkling clips, Erin insisted on wearing a tatty old shirt with an image of her superhero, and a pair of leggings. Now almost five, Erin loves wearing dresses – but if there’s a ribbon or belt, she refuses to let me tie it in a bow. She is also very particular about the shoes she will wear – flip-flops in summer and well, if she could, flip-flops in winter.

I’ve tried takkies with glitter motifs and durable Crocs that will survive the rigours of the playground. But her reaction to these is always the same: “I’ll wear them tomorrow, Mom.” I learnt very quickly that “tomorrow” is Erin’s code for “never in your wildest dreams”, and that the shoes or item of clothing she’s snubbed will have

deal with the histrionics of getting him to wear a clean shirt. Until recently, he was unfazed about what he had on. But now he’s become quite insistent about what he will wear. He won’t dress in anything with buttons and a collar, and “Woody” – who was once the coolest thing out – is now “stupid”, so that T-shirt is languishing at the bottom of the cupboard. Conor also seems to have an issue with anything resembling a uniform. It was after only two Saturdays of tears and tantrums that I realised his issue with rugby class was not the game, but the kit. I let him go in old shorts and a pyjama top the following week and he was happier than Schalk Burger at a Super Rugby derby.

freedom of choice Being able to choose what to wear is critical for the development of your child’s identity. There’s nothing wrong with letting your child assert her personality with her clothing preferences, as long as it won’t do her any harm – a leotard in midwinter is probably not the wisest choice – and it’s appropriate. Try to discourage clothing that’s unsuitable for their age, or provocative. From about the age of three, however, there is bound to be considerable interest in television and movie characters, so you will have to decide whether you want your child to wear themed clothing. I allow one or two branded items, and then opt for colourful basics that they can wear at school and on weekends. Erin has on occasion left the house in a ballet tutu, one of Conor’s truck-patterned shirts, a pair of gumboots and some fairy wings.

She thought she looked amazing and I made sure that her father remarked on her wonderful ensemble. The few hours of slight embarrassment (for us) were well

worth seeing the pride with which she wore her creation. There was also a brief stint where she would emerge from the bedroom wearing items of our underwear over her clothes, but that passed after a few weeks and, thankfully, she never actually made it out of the door in our unmentionables.

So, as long as it won’t make the neighbours point and stare, or induce hyperthermia, it’s probably okay to let them dress as they wish. And besides, if you take good photos you will have plenty of ammunition for the slideshow at their 21st birthday party. Children relish the independence of being able to choose their clothes, and to dress themselves.

So what if a few items are mismatched?

Who said stripes and polka dots can’t feature in one outfit? For children, getting dressed is about exploring themselves and their environment. Be warned, however, that waiting for a toddler to get dressed can be an exercise in patience that would put some Tibetan monks to the test.

Erin’s been known to make several outfit changes before settling on something that passes muster.

appropriate attire As children get older, clothing becomes more important. For some, it symbolises their association with a particular group at school. Be sure to set boundaries – specify the length for skirts and the types of tops you will allow. Teenagers will realise that clothing can also be used to attract the opposite sex, and this will present a new set of challenges. Again, there will be the multiple wardrobe changes, but probably because you’ve read them the Riot Act for wearing something unacceptable, or because they’re searching for the “perfect outfit”.

mitigate wardrobe meltdowns • G ive younger children a choice between two outfits. They’ll still feel as if they have some say in what they are wearing, but it will spare you the multiple outfit changes.

• If there’s a tactile issue, avoid clothing that exacerbates the problem. Keep it simple, opting for cotton fabrics and outfits with few buttons or seams.

• Allow enough time in the morning to get ready – there’s a good chance your preschool child will try on at least two outfits.

• Clothing choices became easier when I let my daughter come shopping with me. She gets to choose what she likes and I save money by not buying items that she won’t wear.

• Have a dress-up box that also encourages your child to show off her inner fashionista before she leaves the house.

• For younger children, buy items that are easier to put on. Avoid belts and finicky fasteners that could make getting dressed a challenge.

• Pick your battles. Some days, accept that you’re not going to win and have a back-up outfit in your bag in case the chosen garb is not weather or situation appropriate.

• Remember that clothing choices reflect your child’s personality, not yours. Try to not be too critical of their selection, unless it goes against the boundaries you’ve set.

• Have a clothing policy for older children. Be firm about what’s acceptable. This includes how much you will spend on branded items, for example.

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July 2015

19

resource

discover clarens Use our nifty guide to explore this historical town and its surrounds with your family. By SIMONE JEFFERY

things to do Browse art In town, you can visit the numerous art and craft shops and enjoy a hearty meal at one of the restaurants surrounding the square. Many artists live in and around town and consequently there are more than 20 art galleries, some offering art classes.

Out and about There are various outdoor pursuits on offer such as horse riding, whitewater rafting, quad bikes, zip lines, abseiling, rock climbing, trout and bass fishing, clay pigeon shooting and hot-air balloon rides. Clarens Xtreme Adventures offers several of these activities at their site in town. They also offer day tours and hire out mountain bikes.

There are unique archaeological sites around Clarens, including dinosaur fossil sites and San rock art paintings in nearby caves. A comprehensive dinosaur tour will take you in search of fossilised dinosaur footprints and give you an opportunity to see fossilised teeth, claws, limb bones and leaf impressions of ancient ferns. It is an easy two-hour walk and is suitable for all ages. San rock art can be seen while on a hike in Schaapplaats, a stud farm 8km outside of Clarens, or at St Fort Country House while on the twoday Cannibal Trail. Both farms offer accommodation and cycling trails, and Schaapplaats offers guided horse trails into the mountains for experienced riders, and shorter trails and picnic rides for children and less experienced riders.

Wildlife and culture To the east of Clarens lies the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a protected reserve that is home to a variety of mammals including black wildebeest, eland, blesbok, oribi, springbok, Burchell’s zebra and

20

July 2015

the rare bearded vulture. Within the park you will find the Basotho Cultural Village, a 16th-century village with huts built and furnished according to the period. Visitors can gain insight into the history and heritage of the South Sotho people while looking inside their homes, sipping traditional beer and walking along the Matlakeng herbal trail with a traditional healer who will locate an array of grasses, roots, herbs, leaves and bark and explain their medicinal and ritual uses.

interesting facts • T he Clarens Brewery makes handcrafted beer and cider that is unpasteurised and preservative and additive free. They host the Clarens Craft Beer Festival every year in February. Visit clarensbrewery.co.za

favoured accommodation for families There are several accommodation options in and around Clarens, from quaint guesthouses and luxurious hotels, to cowboy ranches and even a castle.

Clarens Country House They offer four self-catering apartments themed around the work of Herman Charles Bosman. Families with children of all ages are welcome to stay in the Bosman Suite with two en-suite bedrooms upstairs and a lounge with DStv, a dining area and fullyequipped kitchen downstairs. There is a large garden, braai facilities and a children’s playground on the estate.

The French Cottage This is situated on Naauwpoort, one of the original farms on which Clarens was founded. The fully equipped cottage sleeps six and has underfloor heating throughout the bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen and a dining area. The cottage is surrounded by established fruit trees, and the garden is fenced in so your children won’t be able to wander off. There is also a perennial waterfall.

Castle in Clarens This magical guesthouse is modelled on the fairytale of Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm. A lot of thought has gone into the design and décor of the castle, which caters to four people with two en-suite bedrooms. It is self catering, with breakfast available on request, but if you prefer you can order prepared meals to be delivered to the guesthouse.

• C larens is also known for its sandstone mountains. Formations to look out for include the Titanic – a large, jutting rock at the entrance to Clarens that looks like a sinking ship; Mushroom Rock near St Fort Country House; the golden Brandwag cliffs in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, and heading towards Fouriesburg on Lesoba farm is the Queen Victoria rock formation.

more info Mountain Odyssey – booking office for outdoor activities and accommodation 058 256 1173/1480 odyssey@isat.co.za infoclarens.com

magazine pretoria

PHOTOGRAPHS: Eileen Walker / Ivan Booth / TAMLYN VINCENT / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

n

estled in the Rooiberg Mountain range lies the charming village of Clarens. It was established in 1912 and named after the Swiss village of Clarens where Paul Kruger spent his last days in voluntary exile. Clarens is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Joburg and is perfect for nature lovers, adventurers and culture buffs.

calendar

what’s on in july

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

4

FUN FOR CHILDREN – p22

ONLY FOR PARENTS – p24

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

sat

SPECIAL EVENTS – p22 DStv Kids Xtravaganza Featuring the Teletubbies and I can Cook from CBeebies.

magazine pretoria

The Snow Queen A brand-new production by the Pretoria Youth Theatre filled with singing and dancing.

Carmen Bizet Salon Music brings you Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen.

bump, baby & tot in tow – p25

how to help – p25

Introducing your baby to solids Find out how and when to introduce your baby to solids.

Operation Smile You can assist with monetary donations, or by volunteering your time.

July 2015

21

calendar Theatre, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison St and 13th St, Menlo Park. Cost: R20.

The Harlem Globetrotters

9

thu

This American exhibition basketball squad brings a unique blend of athleticism and theatre to the centre court. Also 10 July. Time: 2pm Thursday, 7pm Friday. Venue: The Dome, cnr Northumberland Rd and Olievenhout Ave, North Riding, Joburg. Cost: R150–R650.

Book through Computicket: computicket.com

SPECIAL EVENTS 1 wednesday Innibos Festival An arts festival with an array of music, theatre, cabaret, children’s theatre, literature and the visual arts. This year’s festival includes Juanita du Plessis and Bok van Blerk. Children can look forward to Liewe Heksie: Flower Power and more. Ends 4 July. Time: all day. Venue: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. Cost: varies.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or innibos.co.za

Contact: 012 346 3474, versterjp@icloud. com or brooklyntheatre.co.za Pamper a Pooch Spend your 67 minutes for Mandela Day pampering a Wetnose pooch. You can buy dog beds as well or make a donation towards the centre. Boerewors rolls are available. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: Wetnose Animal Rescue Centre, plot 75, Vaalbank, Kungwini. Cost: free. Contact: 013 932 3941, wetnose.marketing@ absamail.co.za or wetnose.org.za Winter Wag-a-Walk Special Mandela Day fundraising walk, with or without your dogs, in aid of the Pretoria SPCA. Take along a donation of dog food or a blanket for the animals in their kennels. Time: 7:30am–9am. Venue: Smuts House, Irene.

Cost: R20 per person, R10 per dog. Contact: 012 803 5219 or admin@spcapta.org.za

19 sunday Centrum Kids Like2Bike series Children take part in a 2km, 5km, 10km or extralong 15km cycle. For 2–14 year olds. Time: 10am. Venue: Heia Safari Ranch, plot 59 Beyers Naudé Dr, Muldersdrift. Cost: online pre-entry R120, on the day R130. Contact: 083 326 6721, kirsty@like2bike.co.za or like2bike.co.za

25 saturday Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Take a tour of this working observatory. Booking essential as space is limited. Time: 4pm–8pm.

Venue: HartRAO, R400, Hartebeesthoek. Cost: adults R45, students and pensioners R35, preschool children free, family of four R120.

Contact: 012 301 3100, aware@hartrao.ac.za or hartrao.ac.za

FUN FOR CHILDREN

4 saturday

art, culture and science

DStv Kids Xtravaganza Featuring the Teletubbies and I can Cook from CBeebies.

Ends 9 July. Time: tbc. Venue: Vodacom World, 082 Vodacom Boulevard, Midrand.

Cost: tbc. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or computicket.com

Coffee and Chocolate Expo Take part in informative workshops and watch as celebrity chefs go up against each other in a cook off. Ends 19 July. Time: 4:30pm–9pm Thursday, 9:30am–9pm Friday and Saturday, 9:30am–6pm Sunday.

Venue: Montecasino, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R80–R100, children under 10 years free.

For more info: visit coffeechoc.co.za

CAN Craze Competition Learners who build the craziest and most creative can structure from 300 or more cans stand a chance of winning prizes. 1 June– 30 September. Cost: free. Contact: 011 466 2939 or collectacan.co.za The Art of the Brick View the 75 art sculptures created from more than a million Lego bricks. Ends 2 August. Time: 9am–6pm. Venue: ground floor, The Zone @ Rosebank, Oxford Rd, Rosebank. Cost: adults R140, children under 18 years old R95, children under 2 years old free. For more info: theartofthebricksa.co.za The Ice Age Exhibition Take a peek into a fascinating time when mammoths, sabretoothed cats and giant sloths roamed the earth. 20 June–7 August. Time: 9am–7pm Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, 161 Maude St, Sandton. Cost: adults R145, children R99, children under 18 months (or shorter than the sloth) free, families (two adults and two children) R435. For more info: theiceage.co.za

18 saturday

classes, talks and workshops

Musicula open day Music education programme for children 6 months–6 years old. Time: 11am–11:20am. Venue: Brooklyn

Gymathstics classes A weekly educational maths programme that doesn’t use pen and paper activities to teach mental maths. For

14 tuesday Minions at Montecasino And have your photo taken. Time: 5:30pm. Venue: Montecasino, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: free. Contact: 011 510 7000 or visit montecasino.co.za

16 thursday

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July 2015

children 3–10 years old. Time: 9am–11am every Saturday. Venues: Centurion, Pretoria East, Pretoria North. Cost: R60 per session, R180 per month. Contact: 076 342 2005, info@gymathstics.co.za or gymathstics.co.za Winter warmer Create chocolate treats and decorate a mini pizza with chocolate.

Booking essential. For 8–13 year olds; younger children welcome by arrangement.

3 and 4 July. Time: 2pm–4pm Friday, 10am–12pm Saturday. Venue: Snyman Sjokolateur Boutique Factory, Waterkloof Ridge. Cost: R135. Contact: 074 140 1087 or info@snymanchocolates.com

family outings Spook Maze Make your way around a maze filled with surprises at every turn.

The event is in aid of The Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. For 8 years and older (children need to be accompanied by parents). 26 June–3 July.

Time: 10am–7:30pm. Venue: shop 5, Kolonnade Retail Park, cnr Sefako Makgatho Dr and Enkeldoorn Ave, Montana Park.

Cost: R25. Contact: 012 333 3130/1 or kolonnaderetailpark.co.za

finding nature and outdoor play Aerial tree adventure Acrobranch now offers 38 adrenaline packed obstacles, including Tarzan swings and a 300m long zipline, designed for adults and children nine years and older at their outdoor activity park in Pretoria North. Venue: The Plot 18 Honingnestkrans St, Honingnestkrans, Pretoria North. Cost: R80–R200. Contact: 086 999 0369 or visit acrobranch.co.za Snake Charmers Watch as the snake handlers work with these creatures. Time: 8am–4:30pm daily, snake shows 11am, 1pm and 3pm Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Venue: Chameleon Village Reptile Park, Hartbeespoort Dam. Cost: adults and children over 12 years old R70, pensioners R60, children under 12 years old R35, children under 3 years old free. Contact: 012 253 5119, chameleonvillagereptilepark@gmail.com or chameleonvillage.co.za

Art and story yoga workshop

8

wed

Inspiring children’s creativity with stories, art and movement.

Booking essential. 8 July. For 8–12 year olds. Time: 10am–12pm.

Venue: Alkantrant Library, cnr Daventry Rd and Lynburn Rd, Lynnwood Manor. Cost: R180, includes refreshments and use of art materials and yoga mats.

Contact: 072 645 2984 or mindfullivingacademy.com

holiday programmes Capriole Stables pony camp Each child is allocated a pony and given the responsibility to care for them. They also have riding lessons and outrides, watch videos, play games and enjoy a bonfire.

The sleepover camp is suitable for children 10 years and older. 1–5 July. Time: from 9am. Venue: Capriole Stables, 46 Everfair Ave, Randjesfontein. Cost: tbc. Contact: 082 573 4797, equineiq@mweb.co.za or capriolestables.com Drakensberg adventure camp Children enjoy activities like zip-lining, abseiling, hiking, canoeing, star gazing and more.

For children 7–13 years old. 13–18 July.

Time: departs from Joburg at 9am on Monday; returns on Saturday at 3pm.

Venue: Drakensberg. Cost: R3 850 per child, R3 750 per sibling (all inclusive). Contact: 076 575 8003, 076 035 4038, info@ intheforest.co.za or intheforest.co.za Meet the birds Children learn about the birds’ nests and paint camouflage eggs.

They also build a bird feeder. Booking essential. For children in Grades R–3.

Presented in English 7 and 9 July, in Afrikaans 15 July. Time: 8am–4pm. Venue: National Zoological Gardens, 232 Boom St, Pretoria. Cost: R100. Contact: 012 339 2700 or karabo@nzg.ac.za

7, 9 and 15 July – Meet the birds

Monkey tricks Children learn how to identify primates, and find out more about how they communicate. Booking essential.

For children in Grades R–3. Presented in English 17 July, in Afrikaans 3 July. Time: 8am–4pm. Venue: National Zoological Gardens, 232 Boom St, Pretoria. Cost: R100.

Contact: 012 339 2700 or karabo@nzg.ac.za Montecasino Bird Gardens holiday programme Enjoy a bird show, interactive tours, crafts and workshops. Booking essential. For 6–11 year olds. 29 June–17 July. Time: 8:30am–2:30pm Monday–Friday.

Venue: Montecasino Bird Gardens, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen, Fourways.

Cost: R135 per child per day. Contact: 011 511 1864 or visit montecasino.co.za

markets Books2You Book Fair Every book bought helps get free books for your school. 23 and 24 July. Time: 10am–3pm Thursday, 7:30am–1pm Friday. Venue: Curro Serengeti, Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate, Kempton Park. Cost: free entry. Contact: 031 705 7744 or orders@ books2you.co.za Hazel Food Market The market offers a selection of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, deli-style products and delicious tarts.

Time: 8am–2pm every Saturday. Venue: magazine pretoria

magazine pretoria

July 2015

23

calendar Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison Rd and Mackenzie St, Menlo Park. Cost: free entry. For more info: hazelfoodmarket.co.za Irene Village Market An art market set on the shady grounds of the Smuts House Museum. There are numerous food stalls.

4 and 25 July (Christmas in July). Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Smuts House Museum, Jan Smuts Ave, Irene. Cost: free entry.

Contact: 012 667 1659, irenemkt@mweb. co.za or irenemarket.co.za Regional Fair A monthly market where you can find fresh produce. 4 July. Time: 8am–2pm. Venue: Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Rd, Groenkloof. Cost: R15 per car.

Contact: 012 326 6770, marketing@vtm. org.za or vtm.org.za

on stage and screen All Directions A tribute to the music of the British pop boy band, One Direction. 25 July. Time: 2pm. Venue: Barnyard Theatre Parkview, shop F92 Parkview Shopping Centre, cnr Garsfontein Rd and Netcare St, Moreleta Park. Cost: R100. Contact: 012 368 1555 or barnyardtheatre.co.za

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

childmag.co.za/

Beautiful Creatures A 20-minute show featuring some of Beautiful Creatures’ best loved songs. 4 and 5 July. Time: 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Venue: Montecasino outdoor piazza stage, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: free.

For more info: visit beautifulcreatures.co.za Disney on Ice – Let’s Celebrate A party on the ice featuring more than 50 Disney characters. 26 June–5 July. Time: varies.

Venue: The Dome, cnr Northumberland Rd and Olievenhout Ave, North Riding, Joburg. Cost: R100–R400. Book through Computicket: computicket.com Goldilocks and the Three Bears Tickets are available at the door, but there are no card facilities. 26 June–4 July. Time: 10am and 2pm Wednesday–Saturday, 7pm Friday and Saturday. Venue: Gem Village Hall, Jan Smuts Avenue, Irene. Cost: adults R60, children R40. Contact: 084 492 8785 or wingitstageproductions@gmail.com Lord of The Dance: Dangerous Games A spectacular new staging of the traditional masterpiece. 14 July–8 August. Time: 8pm.

Venue: Teatro at Montecasino, cnr William

Nicol Dr and Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways. Cost: R455–R625. Book through Computicket: visit computicket.com Montecasino’s classic drive-in There is a cafeteria where you can buy snacks.

Space is limited. 19 June–4 July. Time: 5pm–9pm. Venue: Montecasino outdoor event area, cnr Witkoppen Rd and William Nicol Dr, Fourways. Cost: R200 per car.

Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com The Snow Queen 26 June–4 July. Time: 10:30am and 2:30pm, 3 July 6:30pm.

Venue: Irene Village Theatre, 1 Pioneer Rd, Irene. Cost: cushion R80, chair R100. Book through Computicket: computicket.com

sport and physical activities Bounce off the walls A new indoor trampoline park in Midrand that is suitable for jumpers 3 years and older. Time: 10am–10pm Monday–Friday (school and public holidays 9am–10pm), 8am–10pm Saturday, 8am–8pm Sunday. Venue: Waterfall Lifestyle Centre, cnr Woodmead Dr and Maxwell Dr, Midrand. Cost: R90– R140. Contact: 011 517 2500 or visit bounceinc.co.za Like2Bike Fundamentals MTB skills course Booking essential. For 2–12 year olds. 12 July. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: Northern Farm, R114 to Diepsloot, Nietgedacht. Cost: R250, pre-entries only.

Contact: 083 326 6721, kirsty@like2bike. co.za or like2bike.co.za

Little Kickers For 18 months–8 year olds.

Time: 9am–11am every Saturday. Venues: Club Sport Maritimo, cnr Richard St and Park St, Hatfield, and Sport Park, cnr Kruger Ave and Sport Rd, Lyttleton. Cost: R499 for six weeks, R998 for 12 weeks. Contact: 072 222 4147, centurion.hatfield@littlekickers. co.za or littlekickers.co.za Tiny Tots Ballet Ballet classes for children from 3–4 years and older. Time: 1:15pm every Tuesday, 3pm every Friday. Venue: 474 Albert St, Pretoria. Cost: R400 per term.

Contact: 082 377 6222, acquisto@telkomsa. net or Facebook: Beverly Dance School

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Basic Photography Workshop Presented in English and Afrikaans. Booking essential.

For adults and teenagers 13 years and older.

4 July. Time: 9am–1pm. Venue: Laughing Chefs Restaurant, 217 Soutpansberg Rd, Rietondale. Cost: R800, includes a light lunch. Contact: 082 436 3546, monique@ moniquebrits.com or moniquebrits.com En pointe ballet classes For adults of all levels of dance experience. Time: 5:15pm every Monday and Wednesday. Venue: 474 Albert St, Pretoria. Cost: R840 per term.

Contact: 082 377 6222, acquisto@telkomsa. net or Facebook: Beverly Dance School How plants communicate A short lecture about the senses of plants. Booking

resources/birthday-parties

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July 2015

magazine pretoria

essential. 4 July. Time: 9am–12pm. Venue: National Herbarium Lecture Hall, Pretoria Botanical Gardens, 2 Cussonia Avenue, Brummeria. Cost: R150. Contact: 012 843 5053 or l.ferreira@sanbi.org.za

7 tue

out and about Creation food and wine pairing Enjoy five dishes paired with wines from Creation Wine Estate in Hermanus. Booking essential.

10 July. Time: 6:30pm for 7pm. Venue: Casa Toscana, 5 Darlington Rd, Lynnwood Manor. Cost: R350. Contact: 012 348 8820 or casatoscana.co.za

support groups Diabetes support group Support for adults with type 2 diabetes. 25 July.

Time: 2pm. Venue: Lyttelton Library Hall,

magazine pretoria

Homoeopathy for mother and baby: accidents and injuries This talk covers accidents in and around the home, childproofing your house and surroundings, and the benefits of arnica and when to avoid it. Stay for tea, and snacks and social. Time: 10am–11am.

Venue: Naturopathic Health Care Centre, 13 Hazelwood Rd, Hazelwood. Cost: free.

Contact: 012 460 9216/7/8

on stage and screen Carmen Bizet 26, 28, 29 and 31 July, and 2 August. Time: 8pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 3pm Sunday, rehearsal preview 11am–11:20am. Venue: Brooklyn Theatre, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison Rd and 13th St, Menlo Park. Cost: R100–R310. Contact: 012 460 6033 or brooklyntheatre.co.za Laurika Rauch and Elvis Blue: Hart en See 12–15 July. Time: 8pm Monday– Wednesday, 6pm Sunday. Venue: Atterbury Theatre, 4 Daventry St, Lynnwood. Cost: R220–R240. Contact: 012 471 1700 or atterburytheatre.co.za

support groups Breast-feeding support group Time: 10:30am–12pm every Monday. Venue: Midwives Exclusive, 38 Belrene St, Rietondale.

Cost: R50. Contact: 012 329 3865 New parent support group Run by clinic sisters. You can weigh your baby and get advice. For parents with babies 0–4 months old. Time: 10am–12pm every Thursday. Venue: Parentwood, 103 North St, Rietondale. Cost: free. Contact: 012 329 1301 or parentwood@birth2baby.co.za

how to help Cantonments Rd, Lyttelton. Cost: free.

Contact: 082 451 0706 or diabetessa.co.za Dyspraxia South Africa. For more info contact: info@dyspraxiasouthafrica.co.za or dyspraxiasouthafrica.co.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

classes, talks and workshops Introducing your baby to solids The talk is presented by a dietician. 24 July. Time: 10am–12pm. Venue: Midwives Exclusive, 38 Belrene St, Rietondale. Cost: R100. Contact: 012 329 3865 or 083 283 6999 Moms and Tots workshop This programme has been specifically developed for babies and toddlers in the 2–12 months and 1–3,5 year age groups.

Time: varies. Venues: Centurion, Pretoria

East, Pretoria North, The Willows. Cost: tbc. Contact head office: 011 469 1530, 082 468 1444, info@momsandtots.co.za or momsandtots.co.za

playtime and story time Crazi Cow Tea Garden A place for children to play as you enjoy a cuppa and a meal.

Time: 9am–5pm Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm Saturday. Venue: Stimustation, 44 Alexandra St, Doringkloof. Cost: free entry. Contact: 083 272 0372 or naudene@mweb.co.za

Hero Burn Foundation This nonprofit organisation supports burn survivors.

Contact: annerie@heroburn.org or Facebook: Hero Burn Foundation Operation Smile Medical volunteers provide free surgery to children and adults with facial deformities. Assist with monetary donations, volunteer your time or join the student programme. Contact: 021 447 3608, infosa@operationsmile.org or southafrica.operationsmile.org

don’t miss out!

For a free listing, email your event to pretoria@childmag.co.za or fax it to 011 234 4971. Information must be received by 3 July for the August issue, and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online, visit childmag.co.za

July 2015

25

finishing touch

t

he email lands in my inbox, and a quick glance at the subject strikes fear into my heart. I see the words “Please make a…” and I can’t read further. To say I am creatively challenged is putting it mildly – I got a G for needlework in Std 7. So the call for me to make something for my child’s school rates up there on the “painometer” with a root canal or bikini wax. I’m not short on ideas – Pinterest has been a lifesaver in that department – but it’s just the execution that has me somewhat flummoxed. I don’t know how many times my husband, Craig, has found me in tears, with my fingers glued together and smears of paint on my cheek, staring at a dismal blob of papier-mâché lying forlornly on the floor. It’s so bad, when I announce that I am about to tackle a craft of some sort, Craig will suddenly discover several odd jobs, way on the other side of the house, that need to be done urgently.

I had to outsource the making of the Easter bonnet. After the fiasco of the fallen eggs of the previous year, there was no way that I could send Erin to school again in a straw hat adorned with three chocolate eggs stuck with Prestik to the brim.

And don’t even get me started on baking cakes – that’s a whole other world of pain.

I look in awe at the pics posted by crafty

ANÉL LEWIS wants to run a mile every time she has to make something creative for her daughter, but she has come to appreciate the time they spend together on projects.

Erin, Anél and Conor

moms on Facebook of the things they have made – beanies in the shape of popular TV characters, beautiful fairy costumes, and cakes in the shape of boats and butterflies.

The last time I made cupcakes, I swear you could see the neon-pink icing from

space. And after the party, I found several discarded cupcakes in the pot plants outside, which is never a good sign.

Needless to say, I’ve never tackled an actual birthday cake. Unless the children are thinking of having a log party (I can

just about rustle up a loaf-sized yoghurt cake), homemade confectionery is just not an option.

But for children, the process is usually more important than a fancy outcome.

They don’t really mind that your Easter bonnet resembles something a hobbit would wear to a tea party. They just love being involved in the creation of something. I’m seeing this with Erin, as we prepare for her first market day at school. She’s so excited about the paint and the stickers we will use for the items we are making together. And while she is learning valuable lessons about supply and demand and the value of money, I am learning the value of enjoying the creative process without worrying about the outcome.

We don’t have to make something that could win first prize in an art show, or get 1 000 likes on Facebook. It’s about spending time together doing something creative. But I’m not giving up on my premade cake mixes just yet.

Anél Lewis has joined a few crafters’ groups on Facebook for inspiration and has started collecting old magazines in case she needs to make a piňata for Erin’s next birthday party.

family marketplace

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July 2015

magazine pretoria

PHOTOGRAPH: Susie Leblond Photography

art attack

books

a good

read

toddlers

early graders

preschoolers

Bumper Magnets: 6 Friends have Fun on the Farm!

By Brenda Apsley and Marie Allan

The Castle of Cupcakes

By Lynn Bedford Hall and Jane Heinrichs

Superworm

By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

The Egg Thieves

By Joan Lingard

(Published by Human and Rousseau, R143) Children aged three to six years old will love this interactive story where they decide which animal character will take part in every activity. The book comes with six soft and thick magnets that attach to certain areas on each page. Sheep, pony, pig, dog, cow or goat? Which of Billy the bull’s friends are strong enough to help him with his secret plan? Choose bumper picture magnets to complete the pages, then detach and play again.

(Published by Struik Lifestyle, R65) In this book, Mattie, the little girl who enters the secret dream world of animals every night, joins in the creatures’ Baby Show. Every animal mother wants her babies to be the prettiest and win the grand prize, which is a magnificent cupcake castle. But a nasty, greedy buffalo charges into the party and spoils all the fun. Once again, Mattie saves the day, and the show ends with a wonderfully happy celebration.

(Published by Scholastic, R127) In this winner of The Red House Book Award, children up to the age of five years old will meet Superworm. He is not your ordinary hero with massive muscles. Nope: he’s super-skinny, but not weedy at all.

When trouble strikes, this brave worm can turn into a life-saving rope. Or squiggle to the rescue in really tiny spaces. Julia Donaldson’s bouncy rhymes and Axel Scheffler’s jolly art contribute to children loving the super-helpful Superworm.

(Published by Catnip Publishing, R98) Everyone in Lecky Grant’s village is furious when precious eggs are stolen from an osprey nest. Lecky and his friend, Nora, are determined that the culprits don’t strike again, but are they looking for them in the right place? They build a hide and keep a close watch on anything suspicious in their village. They begin to suspect the local handyman, but spot the real culprits just in time. This is a charming story for young readers from an award-winning author.

preteens and teens

parenting

early graders Body Works

By Anna Claybourne (Published by Random House Struik, R106) How do we see, hear and smell? How do our muscles enable us to move?

Why is blood red? With Body Works children won’t only be able to answer these questions about the human body, but they’ll also have tons of fun learning.

Filled with interesting facts and fun activities, Body Works is the ideal gift for young anatomy enthusiasts. A young reader can easily navigate the book by using the four sections as a guide.

The author uses informal and easy-tounderstand language that will keep even the youngest readers interested.

101 Great Science Experiments

By Neil Ardley (Published by Dorling Kindersley, R156) Make science fun with 101 exciting stepby-step experiments that are safe and easy to do at home. Science writer Neil Ardley shows how you can use everyday objects to discover the basic principles of science and understand how these apply to the world around you. So, if you want to make a volcano erupt, see around corners, find out how your eyes work, or build an electromagnet, this fascinating book for children from the age of 10 years old will show you how. Experiments are sorted in 11 categories, including liquids, electricity, and motion and the senses. Illustrated steps make projects easy and fun.

Birdseye

By Máire Fisher

for us

(Published by Umuzi, R210) As children growing up at Marchbanks, an imposing mansion built high on a hill above a Cape seaside town, Bird and her five siblings love to hear the story of how their father wooed their mother, but they don’t know much about the past of their reclusive grandmother, Ma Bess, who rules Marchbanks from its shadows and keeps her stories firmly locked in her cold heart.

When Bird’s 10-year-old twin brothers, Oliver and Oscar, go missing after a day of fishing, Bird appoints herself the family scribe and begins writing to the brothers she refuses to believe are gone for good.

Everyday Blessings

By Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn (Published by Little Brown Book Group, R205) This practical book offers a clear outline for people who want to understand and embrace mindful parenting. It is one of the few books on parenting that embraces the emotional, intuitive and deeply personal experience of being a parent and shows you how to apply the practice of mindfulness meditation to parenting children of all ages. By encouraging moment-tomoment awareness and acceptance, this book will help you grow in compassion, enrich your life as a parent and nourish the internal life of your children.