Child Magazine | Pretoria November 2012

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

let’s talk toddlers and teenagers beastie boys

20

neighbourhood

gems

when those hormones kick in

teaching with technology educational apps for the digital generation

motherhood

www.childmag.co.za

November 2012

free

health

stay at home or back to work?

education

entertainment

As a mom of a 10 and almost 18 year old, I know that the welfare of my children is indelibly linked to my own and that my choices can be life changing for them.

For many moms the dilemma of “to work or not” is one of those choices. When I was a single mom, working wasn’t so much a choice as a necessity. Launching Child magazine 10 years ago was an exciting venture for me, but it was also one of the most thought-through decisions I’ve ever made, because I knew it would have a dynamic impact on my girls.

I know I’m not alone. I receive so many emails from moms either wanting to get back into the workplace or desperate to get out of it; to work from home or not at all. No one seems quite sure how to achieve balance and fulfilment. If you’re facing this dilemma, you’ll find Helena Kingwill’s “modern mom’s dilemma” (page 12) essential reading. “Choosing between work and parenting all comes down to being open and honest with yourself and your partner about your needs and priorities,” writes Helena.

Having the choice to work or not is a luxury and a decision that needs to be made responsibly. Our choice has to be right for our children, our family unit and ourselves. I love my work and couldn’t ask for a more fulfilling career, but parenting, and doing it well, is my ultimate motivation and destination.

I’m sure you’ll find lots in our Toddlers & Teenagers issue to inspire you to nurture your child through these exciting growth phases… and still enable you to hang onto your sanity and sense of humour.

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

Hunter House P UB L IS H ING

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

Editorial Managing Editor Marina Zietsman • marina@childmag.co.za Features Editor Anél Lewis • features@childmag.co.za Resource Editor Simone Jeffery • pretoria@childmag.co.za

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

52 45 40 40

924 844 399 445

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

Editorial Assistant Lucille Kemp • capetown@childmag.co.za Copy Editor Debbie Hathway

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

PUBLISHER’S PHOTOGRAPH: Brooke Fasani

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

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

Subscriptions and Circulation Helen Xavier • subs@childmag.co.za

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

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All our magazines are printed on recycled paper.

Free requested Jul 12 – Sep 12

Pretoria’s Child magazineTM is published monthly by Hunter House Publishing, PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Office address: Unit 5, First Floor, Bentley Office Park, cnr Rivonia and Wessel Rd, Rivonia. Tel: 011 807 6449, fax: 011 234 4971, email: info@childmag.co.za.

Annual subscriptions (for 11 issues) cost R165, including VAT and postage inside SA. Printed by Paarl Web. Copyright subsists in all work published in Pretoria’s Child magazineTM. We welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted right to change any received copy. We are under no obligation to return unsolicited copy. The magazine, or part thereof, may not be reproduced or adapted without the prior written permission of the publisher. We take care to ensure our articles are accurate and balanced but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage that may arise from reading them.

November 2012

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contents

november 2012

11

upfront 3

a note from lisa

6 over to you readers respond 11 dad’s blog

Marc de Chazal takes a trip down memory lane remembering his favourite toys as a child

features 12 the modern mom’s dilemma

stay-at-home mom or back to work? Helena Kingwill looks for answers to a question that has many mothers stumped

regulars 5 wins 9 upfront with paul

14 from boys to men

t estosterone is the catalyst that turns your little boy into an energetic young man. Kate Douglas explains

16 first-class gifts

hristina Castle offers useful tips on C what to get your child’s teacher come year end

18 operation: date night

rekindle the flame between you and your partner. Jennifer Stastny shares a few experiences 20 swipe type learn

t echnology is changing the dynamics of our classrooms. Anél Lewis and Marc de Chazal put things into perspective

health 8

hen does your child’s relationship w with a teacher become inappropriate?

Paul Kerton looks at the warning signs

10 best for baby – bottoms up

a nappy rash should not turn your life upside down, says Anél Lewis

24 resource – take a “sho’t left”

Simone Jeffery rounds up activities for toddlers and teenagers that are right under your nose

28 a good read

new books for the whole family

29 what’s on in november 34 finishing touch

nél Lewis can’t open things or work A with gadgets. She’s made peace with that, and so should everyone else

classified ads

milk it

Lucille Kemp looks at the importance of milk in your child’s diet

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33 let’s party 34 family marketplace

this month’s cover images are supplied by: Joburg

Cape Town

Lili Gaufrette Lili Gaufrette Photograph: Alcide Rioche Photograph: Alcide Rioche Jelli Children’s Boutique Jelli Children’s Boutique

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November 2012

Durban

Pretoria

Tasha Seccombe Photography tashaseccombe.com

Photograph: Chrissy Bruwer artifex.co.za

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wins

giveaways in november sweet tooth

Candyman has spent many years travelling the world to gather the greatest and tastiest treats. They now offer a wide range of confectionary, cakes and party accessories.

Follow the sweet scent to Byl’s Bridge Promenade in Centurion. Contact: 012 665 5997 or visit candyman4all.co.za Ten readers stand a chance to each win a Candyman voucher, valued at R200.

Simply enter via childmag.co.za/wins-pta and use the code “Candyman PTA”. Your details will be made available to Candyman.

herbal health Buchulife is a range of family-friendly, all-natural products manufactured by Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals in South Africa. This innovative and unique brand harnesses the healing and restorative power of the indigenous herb, buchu, to alleviate pain associated with inflammation and infection. For more info: visit buchulife.com Five readers stand a chance to each win a Buchulife hamper, including Buchulife First Aid Gel, Joint Health Capsules, UTI Relief Capsules and the full range of Buchulife Herbal Sparkling Waters, valued at R400. Simply enter via childmag.co.za/ wins-pta and use the code “Buchulife PTA”. Your details will be made available to Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals.

to enter simply visit childmag.co.za

or post your entry to PO Box 12002, Mill Street, 8010. Entries close 30 November 2012. Only one entry per reader.

For full terms and conditions of giveaways please see “Competition Rules” on our website childmag.co.za

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congratulations to our September winners Celeste Tomlinson, Elzane Nienaber, Bavani LingumRajoo, Ilze Aucamp, Heidi Moeken, Adelle Coetzee, Marguerite Grobler, Anita van Wyngaardt and Nthabiseng Ndiweni who each win a voucher to attend a Saturday morning workshop at Nu Song and Elizabeth Wolfaardt who wins six months’ worth of vouchers for Fry’s Vegetarian products.

November 2012

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letters

mother nature is free I’m a single mom struggling to make ends meet and I have a three-year-old daughter, Elle. I’ve realised that she enjoys a visit to the botanical garden for a picnic more than going to a mall. I would like to encourage all mothers, who like me cannot afford expensive entertainment, to familiarise your children with the great outdoors; it’s more fun and costs less.

Nobuhle

the seriousness of allergies In response to Tanya Page’s letter (“we need allergy-free crèches”, October 2012); I can understand her frustration. Both my children have a peanut allergy, and for the older one, it is life-threatening. When it was time to put her into school, I was extremely frustrated with the lack of knowledge on such a severe allergy. Even now in Grade 4, she encounters problems within the school environment. I feel more awareness needs to be created about these allergies or something more drastic needs to be done to either get schools to have a no-peanut zone or for better measures to be put in place to accommodate children with these allergies.

Alicia

thank you, Child magazine I collected my Zoob prize (“giveaways”, August 2012), and was completely blown away by how many pieces of Zoob I had won. I can’t believe the generosity of Child magazine and the prize sponsor. My children are so happy that they can’t put the set down. Thank you very much.

Lorraine Doke

over to you get the right equipment It’s every parent’s worst nightmare; your child is on the rugby field, or playing netball, when an injury sends them hurtling to the ground. They’re struggling to breathe and need resuscitation. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is an important piece of equipment that could mean the difference between life and death. While it is vital for everyone to be competent in performing effective CPR, we must also remember the importance of the AED, an automatic device that will analyse the heart rhythm and deliver a lifesaving shock to the heart should this be required. It is completely safe and can be used by anyone following the audio prompts. The stark reality is that if there is a disorganised heart rhythm, CPR alone without a shock from a defibrillator, cannot bring the person back to life.

Disorganised electrical activity in the heart can occur after a heart attack, when a blood vessel feeding the heart muscle itself becomes blocked, or it may tragically follow a blow to the chest in a young, fit and otherwise healthy person. This is alarming as most people are unaware of the potential for this catastrophe, called commotio cordis, where the heart’s electrical cycle is disrupted due to blunt force to the chest from a cricket ball; an elbow or a sharp kick; a baseball bat, hockey stick or puck or a body collision. However, if there is a defibrillator available on the scene right away, in most cases there

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November 2012

I would like to thank you for the hard work that you put into Child magazine. It is a very helpful and informative magazine, as well as exciting. I have a three-month-old boy and hardly have time to search the internet, and would love to subscribe to your magazine.

How do I do this? Got to go... baby is waking up…

Tracey Samuels Childmag says For subscriptions, email subs@childmag.co.za I would like to extend my thanks for a great job done on Child magazine. I found your August 2012 issue extremely informative and educational. As a working mother, life is hectic, and it’s difficult to find the time to research for parenting tips on how to raise our children. Thank you very much for the time spent and effort put into producing this magazine, and for enlightening us with interesting information.

Mamello Thank you very much for your donation to Lukhanyo Orphanage and Educare. The donation of food, clothes, blankets and school materials will be put to good use.

Audrey Sullivan, on behalf of Ester Dini, Sokhene, Nana, Shaundry, Sabelo, Xhanti, Joyful, Imithandazo, Inathi, and Kuhle I just wanted to say thank you for this prize, a getaway to Jock Safari Lodge (“giveaways”, September 2012). We didn’t have money for a honeymoon; we spent a few nights in very cheap B&Bs on our way home from Durban to Joburg. Our daughter was conceived during this trip. This time, we’ll be able to have a proper “honeymoon” with her. Thank you so much for this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime event for our little family.

Stacey Meyer

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.

need not be a sad ending. We need to advocate for AEDs in our schools and there should be no sporting activity allowed unless there is an AED immediately available with a team of emergency-care providers who are competent to provide good quality CPR. Remember your ABCC: if the person is not Awake, not Breathing normally or only gasping, Call for help – 112 on a cellphone or 10177 on a landline – and Compress the chest.

Martin Botha, part-time lecturer in emergency medicine at Wits University

the evil of TV I am a Grade 1 teacher at a small private school dealing with children who have various barriers to learning, ranging from high-functioning autism to severe ADHD, as well as language delays and anxiety disorders. I am really shocked at the lack of informed parenting coming from home and a major concern of mine is the fact that 60 percent of my class go to bed at night watching TV in their rooms.

They are unfortunately also the children who are behind academically. Parents need to realise the negative impact TV has both on the child’s academic performance well as on the quality of sleep. This habit also impacts on the quality of child and parent interaction. How much more precious would it be to share a bedtime story?

Louise

pressure on the sports field I was horrified at how coaches handle children on the sports field at my daughter’s school. I was at the school when a group of Grade 4 pupils were “being punished”, according to the coach, “for not listening”. The children were made to run around the sports field five times before I intervened. At that point, most of them were holding their sides, close to tears, while the coach yelled, “I had better not see you walking”. They were simply too afraid to say something. None of the children were wearing hats at noon on a hot day. None of them had water bottles, although the coaches did. When will coaches listen? Exercise should be fun. It’s sport, not the army.

Jacqueline

handy website I visited family in Joburg recently and was introduced to your magazine. I was really impressed and was so relieved to see you are also online. I’m returning to the Southern Cape knowing I can access the same information with the click of a button.

Liezel, George

erratum In the article “a world of difference” (October, 2012) Barkly House, Molteno Road was named as the school Matt attends. It is in fact, Barkly House, Harfield Road.

Child magazine regrets the error.

We reserve the right to edit and shorten submitted letters. The opinions reflected here are those of our readers and are not necessarily held by Hunter House Publishing.

Post a comment online at childmag.co.za

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November 2012

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health

available, which one should you be drinking? LUCILLE KEMP finds out.

hat glass of milk before you go to sleep at night might be doing more than just helping you relax.

Medical research suggests that calcium, found in dairy products, may help lower high blood pressure, and reduce the risk of stroke and obesity. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa recommends the consumption of low-fat milk products, which contain less saturated fats, as the healthiest choice.

be guided The Nutritional Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch (Nicus), an independent voice on nutrition, puts milk at the top of the list for good eating in children as it is an important source of energy, essential fatty acids, proteins, calcium and vitamins. In most cases full-cream cow’s milk may be introduced when your child is one year old. They don’t need more than 600ml a day as they should be getting nutrients from other food as well. If their primary source of nutrition is milk, which is a poor source of minerals such as iron, they may be deficient.

Pretoria-based paediatric dietician Cecile van Niekerk says the everyday milk that is widely accessible – low-fat and full-cream – is fine. “Lactose, or milk sugar, is healthy for blood-glucose and body-weight control so even if the amount of lactose is slightly increased, as is found in lowfat milk, it remains healthy. Milk is good for growth and development, and is a nutrient-rich snack alternative to

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cold drinks, fruit juices and milk drinks with added sugar, which contain empty calories.” Van Niekerk recommends that your child has a tub of yoghurt, a glass of milk and a serving of low-fat cheese every day. Nicus goes on to say that if your child needs to be on a kilojoule-restricted diet, “low-fat and fat-free milk can still give them most of the vitamins and all of the minerals with considerably less fat”.

Also, the difference in the lactose content of full-cream and low-fat milk is insignificant and will not affect the total sugar content in their diet. Cape Town-based nutritional therapist Sara Bilbe believes we should not be consuming low-fat products. “The fat content in food helps slow down the digestion or release of sugar from food, that’s why low-fat milk having less fat to slow down the absorption of lactose, has a higher GI than full-cream milk.”

other options If your child is allergic to cow milk protein, give them soy milk, says Van Niekerk. If they’re allergic to both, introduce calcium-rich foods into their diet. Be aware that rice milk does not have any nutritional value for children. If your child is not allergic to all animal milk, Bilbe recommends whole, raw goat’s milk as the best alternative. Full-fat soy milk and goat’s milk can be introduced after 12 months.

If your child does suffer from food allergies, your best bet is to consult your paediatrician and a registered dietitian for advice.

what’s in that glass?

full-cream milk

fat: 3,5% or 3,5g per 100ml; energy: 260kJ/100ml; calcium: 120mg; suitable: for one to two year olds

low-fat milk fat: 2% or 2g per 100ml; energy: 208kJ/100ml; calcium: 122mg; suitable: can be introduced at the age of two, if your child is overweight, but preferably only from age five

fat-free milk fat: 0,18g per 100ml; energy: 146kJ/100ml;

calcium:

123mg

(slightly more than other types as nutrients are concentrated after the removal of fat); suitable: preferably only after the age of five Source: rediscoverdairy.co.za

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterstock.com

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milk it

Dairy is an important part of a balanced diet, but with so many types of milk

upfront with paul

dangerous liaisons While a close relationship between your child and their teacher is encouraged, watch out for any inappropriate behaviour, says PAUL KERTON.

PHOTOGRAPH: MARIETTE BARKHUIZEN

a

s I write this, there are reports of a 15-year-old British girl who “eloped” with her 30-year-old teacher to France, without a kiss or a goodbye to her parents. Quite apart from the fact that she is under the age of consent, or that the teacher is married, or that while they are cavorting around the Continent she is missing vital lessons and exams; eloping – in every respect – is a dumb move for both of them, and exposes the very slippery side of teacher-pupil relationships.

Okay, we can consider for a nanosecond the intense fairy-tale “romance” of being so much in love, something the French authorities did when they refused to search for the couple or arrest them, as they could see “nothing wrong”. But you know, and I know, that when the teacher’s small, ecofriendly saloon runs out of petrol, it will all end in tears.

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Hands up anyone who hasn’t had a crush on a teacher? Thought so. This is a universal trend for pupils of a certain age. You can even see it as early as nursery school, where children fall in love with their loving, warm and cuddly carers.

It’s innocent enough. The danger zone is when children reach prepuberty and their hormones start bombarding them with thoughts of all things amorous. I remember being smitten by my Parisian French teacher, Mademoiselle Maygrit.

She was young, which gave the mistaken impression that she might possibly be attainable; she was sassy and stylish; she spoke with that very husky, sexy French accent, and wafted about the crusty school corridors like a splash of Chanel No. 5. Predictably, there was never any liaison dangereuse. But if a crush is bad for boys, it is far worse for girls who,

we’re constantly reminded, mature earlier.

While boys are still swapping football stickers, girls are looking to older men for experience, money, cars and all the trappings of real life. This is when the alarm bells ring.

Judging by the morning papers, they should be ringing. As a result of the front page eloping story, the press has been awash with an epidemic of lurid eyepopping follow-up tales and confessions involving every permutation of illicit teacher-pupil goings on. The process is made all the more easier because of the much-maligned social media. But remember, social media is not the problem; it is just the delivery system.

The illusion is that classrooms globally have become hotbeds of teacher-pupil speed dating, which we know not to be true since the vast majority of teachers and

Saskia, Paul and Sabina

pupils maintain a respectable position on either side of the unbroken line of trust: in loco parentis. Yes, it is fantastic that your children love their teacher and the teacher loves them, and you cannot underestimate the sheer joy a teacher gets from teaching a pupil who actually wants to learn, but there are limits to the closeness of this bond.

And this is something we, as parents, need to discreetly police.

I would suggest that a teacher who is seen by his colleagues holding the hand of his girl pupil on a plane, on the way back from a school trip to a foreign land, may have been an early warning sign that the line had been crossed, before they took it a step further and eloped.

Follow Paul on Twitter: @fabdad1

November 2012

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best for baby

bottoms up Although nappy rash is fairly common, affecting most babies at some time, it helps to know how it can be treated. By ANÉL LEWIS

what’s that rash?

In standard irritant nappy dermatitis, the baby will have red, moist and sometimes scaly patches on the genital and

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finding relief Essack recommends leaving the nappy off as much as possible, to allow the skin to dry. Make sure your child is changed frequently, and as soon as possible after a bowel movement, especially if you use cloth nappies.

Barrier ointments, such as zinc oxide pastes, petroleum jelly and other unmedicated barrier preparations, are the “mainstays” of treatment, and should be applied after every nappy change.

However, Essack emphasises that baby powder on the nappy area offers no antibacterial benefit. Gentle cleansing, not rubbing, with water or a non-perfumed cleanser, will help to soothe the area. A topical anticandidal cream can be used if there is a thrush infection.

Kapnias says creams with irritants such as ammonia, sodium lauryl sulphates or parabens could irritate your baby’s sensitive skin. Cortisone treatments should only be used as a short-term solution. Topical creams with probiotics will help prevent and soothe nappy rash, he says. The good news, adds Essack, is that even the most severe nappy rash will sort itself out when your child is potty trained, and you can ditch the nappy for good.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterSTOCK.COM

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hat telltale red mark on your baby’s bottom usually means she has nappy rash, one of the most common dermatological conditions to occur in infants and young children. Dr Irshad Essack, a Joburg-based dermatologist, says there are several causes of nappy dermatitis, but the initiating factor is usually a prolonged and increased wetness of the skin. This causes frictional damage, which reduces the skin’s barrier function, making it more susceptible to irritants such as urine and faeces. Cape Town general practitioner Dr Costa Kapnias says the extended use of antibiotics, which may cause a secondary thrush infection, could also contribute to nappy rash. Washing powders that are harsh on the skin, as well as some synthetic materials in nappies, may exacerbate the problem.

bottom areas. The second most common type of nappy rash is candida diaper dermatitis, caused by the thrush fungus. Your baby may have signs of thrush in her mouth too. Essack says thrush from the intestine will contaminate any type of nappy rash that is present for more than three days. Milaria rubra will show as a fine red rash in places where the plastic parts of a nappy can block the ducts of the sweat glands.

Nappy rash may also appear for reasons other than a wet nappy or an infection. Essack says seborrhoeic dermatitis is easily identified by red eruptions with a waxy, yellow scale. Your baby’s scalp may also be affected, with cradle cap, as well as the eyebrows, underarms, behind the ears and the nappy area. Atopic dermatitis occurs in children with an allergic condition, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. In babies, the rash is concentrated on the scalp, face, behind the knees and elbows and in the nappy area. Other conditions include psoriasis, an inflammatory disorder; bullous impetigo, a blistering form of a bacterial skin infection; scabies, which is a highly contagious itchy rash with small bumps; and herpes simplex infection, which causes painful ulcers to appear in the genital area.

dad’s blog

playtime It’s often the simpler toys, or even household items, that will unlock your child’s imagination, says MARC DE CHAZAL.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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id you have a favourite toy when you were a child? I remember being especially attached to an action figure, which I played with for hours on end. His military garb eventually fell apart or was lost, leaving him buttnaked. Inspired by my comic book heroes, I got hold of red nail polish and painted on Superman-style underwear.

This gave him an Aquaman vibe, so he spent a lot of time in the pool with me or in the imaginary underwater world that was my bedroom. I may have also been influenced by a TV show called The Man from Atlantis, about a dude from the legendary sunken city who could swim like a dolphin and preferred a glass of water to beer. I recall trying to stay under water in our swimming pool for as long as I could before actually drowning – it’s

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not advisable. The action figure didn’t have the same breathing issues, so I lived vicariously through him on many an adventure. Who knows what happened to this toy or when I stopped playing with it, but he was a steadfast prop in my childhood imagination.

My daughter doesn’t remember what her favourite toy was, but I have video evidence of me pushing her around the lounge in a red bucket. She loved that more than anything. It wasn’t really a toy, but it’s a great example of a common trend – children can derive as much, if not more, joy from playing with everyday things, such as a plastic bucket used to carry laundry. I wouldn’t deny a child some of the really cool toys available today, but I’m all for unstructured play that sparks the imagination.

what’s your child’s favourite toy?

“My six year-old son Damian’s favourite toys are Lego and superhero action figures.” – Natasha Muller, Joburg “My three-year-old daughter is obsessed with sticky tape. She makes ‘sculptures’ with her toys, crayons and anything else she can find by sticking them all together and expecting me to hang them up all over the place. I can usually distract her with play dough or her dress-up box, but just long enough for me to try and untangle all her ‘artwork’, which is no mean feat.” – Michelle Walton, Cape Town “My boy is six years and 10 months and his favourite toys are his cars and his train set. We can’t afford to buy big expensive toys so he is used to looking for things inside the house to create his own. Many of his favourite toys are his own creations.” – Kobie Nortjé, Cape Town “Sipho’s favourite toys are Superman or Batman.” – Zak Khajee, Cape Town

Read more of Marc’s weekly parenting blogs on childmag.co.za/dad-blog

November 2012

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relationships

the modern mom’s dilemma Stay at home with your children or balance working and mothering?

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HELENA KINGWILL urges you to plan for whatever decision you make.

hen Cape Town freelance photographer Charline Hope, 41, fell pregnant, she proudly announced the news. To her surprise, her main client “dropped her like a hot coal”. She continued to work, but as time wore on, she became more and more distracted by her new important role as a mother.

When her baby was seven months old she hired a fulltime nanny to help her cope with balancing motherhood and her career. Charline found that when she was not physically out on a shoot, she struggled to find time to do the admin necessary to maintain the work flow. “It was hard to keep the mind-set,” she explains. When the phone rings, it’s not that easy to sound professional with a baby in your arms. “I felt like a failure at being a mom and doing my job.” Charline remembers, “I couldn’t give 100 percent to either. I began to feel so guilty, rushed and haggard. It was useless.”

By the time she had her third child, she surrendered to being mostly a mom, but she still hopes to return to her photography career one day. “I worry about losing my contacts and keeping up with the industry,” says Charline.

“It’s important to keep a foot in the door.” In the meantime she has invested in a retail business, which allows her to work half-days while being fully present with her children in the afternoons.

time together? How will not having the income affect the outcome for the whole family? It’s a tough decision.

“We put too much pressure on ourselves to be supermoms,” says Charline. “The key is not to fight it, but to be in it,” she advises. “Enjoy being a mother, and enjoy being with your children while they are small. By the time they reach the age of four, they can go to play group and have playdates. Ideally, parents should financially plan for time off so that mothers can play this sacred role for a few years,” she says.

changing world For many women in South Africa, there is no choice but to juggle work and parenting. According to Statistics SA only one-third (33,5 percent) of children live with both

structures no longer play a part in raising the children.

Now, countless women, like Camilla, find themselves having to do it all alone.

The consequences of this breakdown in society were addressed recently at a United Nations conference dealing with the matter of balancing work and family. “Out of choice and necessity, women enter the paid labour force in growing numbers, where they are often discriminated against in access to employment and benefits. At the same time, both women and girls continue to bear most of the responsibilities for the household. In all regions, women spend at least twice as much time as men on unpaid domestic work,” said Professor O’Brien, codirector of the Centre for Research on the Child and Family at the University of East Anglia in the UK. O’Brien said that some research showed that, “Stable parental care for infants is of utmost importance and recommended.

Optimally, young children should not be left in poor quality, non-parental care arrangements.” International research indicates, “Maternity leave provisions have been associated with a reduction in mortality and morbidity and higher rates of breast-feeding. Paternal leave-taking often results in fathers’ practical and emotional investment in infant care and has been linked to a higher level of father involvement in family responsibilities later on.”

With statements like this being made at an international level, perhaps there is hope of new policies being implemented in South Africa. Beyond maternity and paternity leave, wouldn’t it be great if childcare was a tax-deductible expense? It is, after all, a necessity for selfemployed parents working from home. Unfortunately, the trend is to fall for the remote control option as illustrated by cartoonist Nate Beeler in answer to the controversial Time magazine cover photo “Attachment Parenting”. It

half in, half out Making a living while simultaneously being available to one’s children is a challenge, which seems to be intensifying as the cost of living rises. It all boils down to time or money. Do you choose to spend the money on paying someone else to look after your children so that you can work to make more money? Or do you decide to forfeit your career and spend the time doing the job of caring for your children as you want to harvest the benefits of having spent that formative

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parents. Social security is minimal and single parents have to find a way to make ends meet.

Single mom Camilla Walker, 40, from Durban says that the challenge of being a single mom is compounded by the fact that she feels she has to compensate for her son’s father not being around.

“I resent the time I have to spend away from Dylan when I have to work overtime or on weekends. It breaks my heart but I have no choice. Besides, I need the stimulation and to keep that side of my life alive and dynamic. It is good for Dylan too, that his mom has a life outside of the home,” she explains.

As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but worldwide, demographics have shifted to urban environments where extended families and tribal

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterSTOCK.COM

We put too much pressure on ourselves to be supermoms. The key is not to fight it, but to be in it.

showed a picture of a four-year-old boy standing while being breast-fed by his mother. Beeler’s cartoon shows an obese child with remote control in hand sucking on a takeaway milkshake straw for a breast, while staring up at the TV-screen head of a mother figure composed of fast-food and gadgets. Of course, it doesn’t have to be like that. It all depends on your choices.

what works for you?

Life is not a bed of roses for the married stay-at-home mother either. Annie Finch, 44, of Randburg discloses that being financially dependent on her husband makes her feel like a child. “I don’t feel like I have much clout when my husband and I have to make decisions, because I am not putting any money on the table. And that comes from my low self-esteem as a result of not working, and not from him,” she says. Being dependent makes her feel vulnerable.

“What if anything were to happen to him? I need to study further in order to be able to start earning properly again,” she explains.

Another reason Annie wants to get back to work is because she feels it’s unhealthy beyond preschool level for mothers to be eternally available and at the service of their children. “Except perhaps when they are ill, so a flexible job would be ideal,” she ponders. She makes the point that, “As a role model for your child, it is important to show them that you have a life beyond just being a caregiver.

What’s more, the child needs to learn from your example that she does not have to be available to everyone who needs her attention.”

Role models have a great influence on the big career versus parenting decision. Most women whose parents played traditional family roles, where their mother stayed home and their father worked, feel more comfortable playing the same roles in their own families. Looking ahead, your career choices may indirectly affect your

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children’s choices, not to mention your relationship with your partner over money. Think back to your own parents.

How open were they with each other about money? Was it a bone of contention?

a plan in place Although we have come a long way, much of the feminine psyche still falls down the slippery slope of fairy-tale fantasy. Oh to be swept off by that handsome prince...

Now that I have grown up, I wonder if the princess would be given an allowance for her personal needs, or paid a salary for all her royal duties. Would it be agreed upon before the wedding? Or would she have to awkwardly raise the subject when she ran out of sanitary pads?

Relationship counsellor, leadership and life coach Mary Ovenstone points out that research has proven that women have a hard-wired biological need to be cared for and protected, especially while caring for babies. She argues that even in the 21st century, a woman should not feel guilty about not working when she is doing the important job of mothering nor should she have to surrender control or her dignity, because of money, while she cares for her baby.

“It’s not okay for a woman to lose her power, her choices or her responsibility for the family finances because of

helpful family budgeting websites • frugality-for-today.com/

not being able to earn,” Mary points out. She strongly urges couples to plan ahead and have open discussions about money.

Mary has developed what she calls the “Yours, Mine and Ours” budget model, which includes a separate allowance for each partner and a communal pot. Each partner contributes to the pot proportionally to his or her earnings. “As a result, neither is the archetypal ‘child’ or ‘slave’ without any say in the financial equation. When they move in together they should establish this pattern,” she recommends.

Choosing between work and parenting all comes down to being open and honest with yourself and your partner about your needs and priorities. Sit down and do your accounting and look at where you are spending your energy and where you would rather spend it. This may help you find an even keel in battling the stormy ocean of economic survival versus the demands of children. And if you are a new mother facing the reality of the dilemma, remember, there is no right or wrong answer. My only advice is to listen to your heart, trust your instincts and remember that no matter what: being a parent is the most important job you will ever do. Although it is unpaid, the rewards are priceless.

you told us I’m a working mom

family-budget.html • budgetworksheets.org • Microsoft Excel –

I’m a work-from-home mom

download a Monthly Family Budget Workbook • oldmutual.co.za

I’m a stay-at-home mom

on childmag.co.za

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November 2012

13

health

from boys

to men

Testosterone may be to blame for your son’s transformation into an energetic and boisterous young man. KATE DOUGLAS finds out more.

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estosterone is a hormone with quite a reputation.

It’s often associated with aggressive behaviour, masculinity or steroid-using bodybuilders with bulging pectorals and squeaky voices. Cape Town fertility specialist Dr Sascha Edelstein says, “Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is required for male reproductive health. It is produced in small amounts by the adrenal glands and in large amounts by the testes. Both males and females have the same sex hormones, just in different amounts.”

Testosterone is responsible for male puberty with surging levels promoting the growth of facial and pubic hair, the growth of the reproductive tract, development of the prostate and scrotum, and increases in the length and diameter of the penis. It maintains adult sexual behaviour and is required for sperm production, says Edelstein. It also causes anabolic changes such as growth spurts, an increase in strength and muscle bulk, thickening of the vocal chords and the development of sexual libido.

failure or steroid hormone pathway defects.” Examples of hypothalamic or pituitary defects include Kallmann syndrome; cryptorchidism, which is the failure of the testes to move into the scrotum, and microphallus, an unusually small penis. “Failure of pubertal development can also be due to disorders of sexual differentiation that were not diagnosed during infancy or childhood.”

But most often, low levels of testosterone simply means they’re slow developers. “Once hormonal or other causes of delayed puberty have been excluded, reassurance is really important as both parents and adolescents find it very stressful,” says Kelly. Puberty will occur, even if a bit later than desired. Care should also be taken to recognise and support the adolescent in terms of any psychological distress experienced about feeling different, being teased or being excluded from social or sporting activities.”

testing Testosterone testing is easy, with a health professional requiring a simple blood sample. However, according to Edelstein, an evaluation of delayed puberty requires a thorough family and medical history, physical exam and biochemical evaluation. “Management depends on the specific case, but may include testosterone replacement therapy to induce puberty.”

boys behaving badly

normal testosterone levels Before puberty, a boy’s testosterone level generally ranges from undetectable to 20 nanograms per decilitre (ng/dL) of blood. Some studies suggest that immediately after birth and again at around the age of four, a boy may have slightly elevated levels of testosterone, but this typically drops to normal after six months to a year. However, when a boy hits puberty, his testosterone levels skyrocket and can rise to nearly 1 000ng/dL. “Puberty is the time when we are first able to reproduce,” says Edelstein. “It is marked by the maturation of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics and acceleration in growth as well as behavioural changes.”

Puberty is driven by two separate physiological processes: adrenarche and gonadarche. “Adrenarche is the maturation of the adrenal glands, with the release of adrenal hormones (androgens) that leads to the growth

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testosterone in girls The first sign of puberty in girls is the development

The timing of puberty, and its hormonal changes, has a strong genetic component. of sexual hair (pubic and facial hair),” says Edelstein.

“Gonadarche comprises growth and maturation of the testes, with the associated increase in secretion of testosterone and sperm production.”

While girls may start to develop secondary sex characteristics from the age of eight, boys usually only start puberty from nine and a half years of age.

“The timing of puberty, and its hormonal changes, has a strong genetic component,” says Joburg-based child psychiatrist Dr Linda Kelly. “If a child’s parents are ‘late developers’ then it’s more likely that the child will be too.”

too much or too little High testosterone levels in a boy younger than 10 usually means early or precocious puberty, but it could also be a sign of a tumour in the testicles or an abnormal adrenal gland.

If a pubescent boy has low levels of testosterone, it could be a sign of a problem with the testicles, caused by an injury or slow development. Edelstein says, “A delay in the onset of puberty can be due to a disorder of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, testicular

of breasts, and this should not occur before the age of eight, says Dr David Segal, a Joburg-based paediatric endocrine and diabetes specialist. Ten percent of girls may develop pubic hair before breasts in puberty. Pubic hair, body odour or axillary hair development in isolation is caused by the activation of the adrenal gland and, with it, the production of weak testosterone. “These should also not be present before the age of eight, in either sex,” says Segal. Although girls are showing signs of breast development at a younger age, the age of the first period, at about 12 years, has not changed.

Segal says you should look out for signs of breast budding before the age of six and pubic hair or body odour before the age of eight. He recommends taking your child to see a specialist if you suspect early puberty. The growth acceleration brought on by the early onset of puberty hormones may result in a short stature later in life, as this leads to premature growth plate closure in the bones. Environmental factors, such as exposure to bisphenol-A products and hormones in milk and meat, as well as obesity, could bring on early puberty.

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterSTOCK.COM

The level of testosterone is controlled by the pituitary gland, and it plays a role in human behaviour. The brain has testosterone receptors where the hormone interacts and binds with neurons, communicating to them messages for action. These messages are generalised as aggressive or masculine. Boys are socialised towards masculine behaviour from the moment the doctor announces, “It’s a boy”. They are given action figures rather than Barbies and they’re taught to play rough contact sports, such as rugby. Socialisation teaches them that aggression is a masculine trait.

However, when it comes to physical development, the role testosterone plays is clear. Boys often only start getting taller later than girls, but they grow faster because of their higher testosterone levels. These levels also increase the amount of haemoglobin or oxygen-carrying proteins in the red blood cells. This means that more oxygen can be delivered to the muscles, making it easier for teenage boys to become fitter and stronger.

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November 2012

15

ideas ideas

first-class gifts You don’t have to break the bank to give your child’s teacher a token of appreciation for their

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ou would think I’d have it taped by now. I’ve had children in all sorts of schools for the past 12 years and in all this time I have still not discovered that perfect end-of-year gift for my children’s teachers. Don’t get me wrong; my intentions are always good. My timing however, is not. Needless to say, many of the gifts have been bought on the fly, en route to fetch the children on their last day at school, at shops that I know will always gift wrap and charge like wounded bulls. Inevitably I forget to buy for at least one teacher and just spend way too much money – not that the teachers aren’t worth it, but, you know, we’re all on a budget. This year I am going to plan ahead and get it right.

step 1: write a list This is where I always come short. It’s pointless standing in a shop and trying to count on your fingers just who

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needs to be bought a present. How many subjects does Alex have again – maths, social science, natural science, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, art… ? And who teaches what?

Is the music teacher a man or a woman? Before you know it you’ll be using your fingers on both hands. I can’t remember exactly what teacher matches what subject so I figure I will just pull out the boys’ latest report cards and work it out that way.

card instead, to check out the percentages, and decide that if my child gets 80 percent for English, then I will spend R80 on the English teacher. It looks like the natural science teacher is going to luck out big time. He’s getting a gift for less than 50 bucks. No, that’s not fair, I think. It’s not his fault Alex keeps forgetting to study for his tests. So I work out what I am prepared to spend in total and divide it out from there. And it seems as if all teachers are getting gifts for under 50 bucks this year.

step 2: work out a budget Now that you have at least half a dozen teachers to buy for, and let’s not forget the headmaster, the ladies in the office and the piano teacher, you realise this list has just doubled and the budget has not. Are all teachers treated equal?

My children certainly have their favourites so I consider consulting them. Then I think about consulting the report

step 3: go beyond soap on a rope, scented candles and chocolate My mother was an English teacher at a girls’ school. As a child, I loved it when she came home on the last day of term. She had a basket loaded with gifts and my sister and I would spend the afternoon unwrapping soap, soap

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PHOTOGRAPH: Christie Lee Mann

hard work. Just plan ahead and give from the heart, says CHRISTINA CASTLE.

step 5: write a card

and... more soap. Scented candles were not big back then, but today I hear they have taken on soap status as the preferred gift to give teachers and anyone else you are unsure of what to get. Then there was the chocolate which never lasted long in our house, but was much appreciated.

Today, a luxurious Swiss chocolate brand is making a killing out of the parents and is possibly the reason why the admin staff appear a little larger each year.

step 4: make it home-made and from the heart This year, fresh is my theme for end-of-year gifts. I certainly don’t have green fingers, nor am I a notable cook, but, to get around the R50 limit issue, I’m going to get smart and make it myself. Actually, I’m not. The boys are. These are their teachers and they need to step up to the task. On the list of things to make is red onion

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marmalade, butter biscuits and salted almonds. Package them simply in a few glass jars – you’ll be super stylish and saving the planet at the same time, all for less than R50 a teacher. I am also planning to pull a few herbs from the garden, repot them and serve them with a pair of herb scissors. It’s a different form of “regifting”. It’s novel and nice, and darn useful if you ask me. I am having a Martha Stewart moment here.

No amount of red onion marmalade, butter biscuits and salted almonds quite measure up to the simple words, “thank you”. Take time out to write a meaningful message to each of the teachers. I remember the letters my mother received from appreciative parents and students at the end of each year. Some were pages long, others just a few lines, but they would bring tears to her eys. She is retired now, but they still live in a box on top of her cupboard.

Whether I actually pull this off is another thing. Trying to find that spare afternoon to bake, stir, package and pot in the hectic final weeks before school closes on yet another busy year, is virtually impossible. But I will set aside a few quiet moments to write each teacher a message. With report cards in hand, I won’t leave anyone out – I hope.

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17

relationships

operation:

date night Beg your relatives, call in favours, pay good money if you have to: just make sure you and your partner spend some quality (child-free) time together, writes JENNIFER STASTNY.

perk #1 You get to doll yourself up.

My body, once a plaything, is now a tool for the maintenance of my offspring. And you don’t dress up a spanner, do you? Date Night is the fallen fashionista’s opportunity to reclaim her (or his) dress sense. Don’t let it slip past. “Even though I’m often tired, I always make an effort with my appearance on Date Night,” says Roxanne van Eck,

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November 2012

30, mother to 11-month-old Mia. “I love showing my husband that I can still shine like a new penny.”

perk #2 You get to talk about something other than your offspring.

Of course, you’ll end up doing that too, but eventually you’ll find that you’ve recounted all the munchkin anecdotes you can think of and the conversation will turn to other things. “Once we’re finished talking about Maddie and work, we almost always get to talking about our dreams and things that we need to discuss about ‘us’,” says 30-year-old Candy Preston, mother to oneyear-old Madison. “We don’t get around to that depth of conversation when we’re busy with the mundane tasks of life.”

For Candy’s husband, Brad, 30, the thing that makes Date Night special is the laughing together. “When Maddie’s around she’s our number-one entertainer, but it’s good to laugh at each other the way we did when we were dating,” he says.

Don’t worry if your chitchat doesn’t quite skip out of the child loop. The important thing is that you create the space for conversation. “Ultimately, time spent talking directly to each other, looking into each other’s eyes, is an investment in your relationship, no matter what you’re talking about,” says Candy.

perk #3 You get to spoil your partner.

It’s not unusual for parents to focus all their attention on their children, leaving little or magazine pretoria

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

i

’m considering asking the president to declare 6 January a public holiday in honour of my first date with my husband after our baby was born. Since then, our monthly adults-only outing has been a fortress of sanity in the hurricane that is my life. Not only does it give me the opportunity to wear clothes that don’t have food ground into the seams, I get to eat a whole meal without little fingers snatching the food away and I get to have a conversation. Oh, the pleasure of being able to talk in a grown-up voice! What a tweat.

I knew it was time to start dating my husband again when, instead of kissing him goodbye one morning, I lifted his shirt and zorbited his tummy. I soon discovered that the once simple task of going out for a meal now required bullish determination, military planning and adamantine courage.

Those guys who throw themselves off Table Mountain in squirrel suits have nothing on the new parents who look their baby in the tear-sprung eye and go out for dinner anyway. So why do it, when the emotional cost seems so high? Because of the perks, of course.

no energy for each other. This is doubly true for the parents of twins. “My life revolves around Ella and Connor. By the time they’ve gone to bed, I’m exhausted.

Sometimes I don’t even have the energy to ask my husband how his day went,” says Joanne Seymour, 40, mother to 11-monthold twins. She and her husband, Hilary, 49, make a point of going out every second week and take turns organising surprise dates for each other. Once Joanne packed a bag for Hilary and they went dancing; once he took her to a swanky restaurant for dinner. “The sun was setting and the restaurant staff opened the doors so that we could smell the sea,” says Hilary. “It was the perfect weather for it. We had a truly memorable and romantic evening.”

Date Night is the antidote for inevitable spousal neglect. Dad gets to remember what Mom was like before children – an intelligent, sexy woman capable of making his mind race and his eyes pop – and Dad gets to show Mom that he is still her “hunka-hunka burning love”. Marcelle Morgan, 40-year-old mother to Nathan, four, and one-year-old Nina, says “When we go out, I try to get into the headspace I was in when my husband and I were first dating. I charm and flirt and make him feel super. The rewards over the next month, when he makes me feel good after an exhausting day, make it worth it.”

perk #4 Your relationship grows.

If a relationship is like a garden that needs constant tending to grow, children are like

the moles that dig everything up, but are just too darn cute to get rid of. When those moles move out – as all moles eventually do – the question of whether your garden needs just a little compost or whether it needs to be landscaped from scratch depends largely on how much time the two of you spent nurturing your bond with each other in the growing years. “Before you realise it you’ll be in your sixties and the children will be out of the house,” says Roxanne’s husband, Jack, 38. “It’s important that you go on date nights now so that you can have a solid marriage when that day comes.”

perk #5 You will love your little one more.

Of course you love your children all the time. But when you’ve spent the better part of the day trying to convince them that big boys use a potty, that avocado is not evil snot food and that it is not okay to hang their younger sister upside down from the swing (even if said sibling is crowing with laughter), love sometimes loses ground to frustration and fatigue. On the other hand, a scrumptious meal enjoyed at leisure with a caring partner… well, that’s like sun to a Cape daisy. It opens one up, gives one energy and warms the heart so that one can really feel the love again.

And that’s the best thing about Date Night for me: after it has worked its magic and I feel in synch with my spouse again, I get to go home and plant a kiss on the cheek of the most wonderful little moppet a mother could want.

dating for dummies mummies Get out of the nest with these tips from parents who have been there.

Don’t wait too long “There’s no reason to wait until your child is older before going out. You can start as soon as he or she is in a comfortable routine and you have a reliable babysitter.

It will help get your first-date-without-baby nervousness out of the way so that you can start having fun.” Joanne Seymour, mother to twins, 11 months Turn Date Night into Date Day “Going out at night may be the last thing on your mind if your child is a bad sleeper or prone to nightmares, so go out during the day instead. Children are often open to being looked after by a babysitter during the day, plus you’ll be less likely to fall asleep mid-date if you go out earlier.” Marcelle Morgan, 40, mother to Nathan, four, and Nina, one Preparation is key “Make sure there’s extra of everything when you drop your baby off with the babysitter: food, clothes, even bedding in case there’s an accident. Also pack their favourite toy for comfort – anything to help make the babysitter’s job easier.”

Roxanne van Eck, mother to Mia, 11 months Swap sleepovers with a friend “Trading sleepovers with your child’s school friends becomes an option after the age of eight or so, although this differs for each child. The key to a successful sleepover, particularly on a school night, is making sure you trade with like-minded parents when it comes to things like homework before play- and bedtime. And if your child has slept over at a friend’s, remember to return the favour soon to keep the goodwill flowing.” Susan Perry, 50, mother to Amelie, nine

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19

education

c

November 2012

learn

Technology is transforming our classrooms into interactive, multisensory learning environments. By ANÉL LEWIS and MARC DE CHAZAL

lassrooms have changed significantly since I was at school in the eighties. Gone is the earsplitting squeak of chalk on blackboard. Instead, a teacher projects an enlarged image of her computer tablet screen, as pupils swipe, type and interact with their own handheld computer devices. Technology is changing the way our classrooms operate, the way our teachers impart knowledge and the way in which our children understand and process information. But, in a country where thousands

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type of pupils don’t even have access to basic textbooks, is it realistic to envision a future where computer technology will revolutionise education?

the way of the future Arthur Goldstuck, managing director of World Wide Worx, an independent South African technology market research organisation, is confident that by 2015 the various tablets and programmes in place now will no longer be

experimental, but be part of the way education is carried out. “Case studies, success stories and cautionary tales will combine into a proven set of guidelines and ideal practices and approaches that school and educational authorities can adopt,” he says. But he is quick to point out that the tablet market is only 30 months old. “It is impossible, based on an evolution that began only twoand-a-half years ago, to predict how it will pan out 10 years from now, but there is no question that digital textbooks

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PHOTOGRAPHS: shutterstock.com / Parklands College

swipe

will become the norm, and that educational applications (apps) will be integrated with teaching to enhance the experience of both teachers and students. The platform on which this happens, however, may not be a computer, tablet or phone as we know them today. A new technology platform may well have emerged by then, but it is equally possible that all teaching will be conducted on tablets.”

Vodacom Information Communication Technologies (ICT) resource centres being set up in all nine provinces, will go a long way to bringing computer skills into classrooms. He adds, “It is important to note that the role of ICTs in schools cannot be driven by a specific technology, but rather by the support technology will provide for learning and teaching.”

doing it for themselves to support, not replace, teaching Arthur Preston, headmaster of Elkanah House Senior Primary in Cape Town, cautions that some schools may rush to embrace the computer tablet without thoroughly examining how it will improve teaching in their classroom.

“A bad teacher remains a bad teacher when a (computer tablet) is put into their hands. Technology is not the key for a bad teacher – accountability and ongoing training is the first step.” While some have said that tablets will revolutionise education in SA, he believes the education system is in need of much more basic intervention than adding iPads to the mix. Technology is not a panacea for poor teaching.

But, despite its bad rap recently, with the Limpopo textbook saga and reports of poorly-skilled teachers, the Department of Education has made a commitment in its White Paper on e-Education to provide technology for learning and teaching. However, the department’s spokesperson, Panyeza Lesufi, says that given the “magnitude of the task”, to ensure that all schools have access to technology, government needs the help of the private sector and other resources. Initiatives, such as the

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Parklands College in Cape Town is blazing the trail when it comes to the use of tablets in the classroom. The school launched its Apple One2One project in 2010 and all pupils,

We need to keep our children interested in learning and engage them on a digital level. from Grade R to Grade 12, have access to an iPad or MacBook during the day. The pre-primary classes have two iPads in each classroom, while the Grade 1 to 4 pupils each have access to a device for their lessons, and the older pupils use MacBooks. At least 80 percent of all pupils own their devices. Richard Knaggs, the school’s director of technology, says, “We are competing with Xboxes, PlayStations, powerful home computers and smartphones.

We need to keep our children interested in learning and engage them on a digital level.” The school provides a WiFi network, access to the internet and storage facilities for the

devices. Teachers are trained to use the computer tablets, and appropriate applications. They can create their own content, or use free or bought applications. Information, such as homework, memory sentences and images for projects, is sent via email to pupils. They engage by creating projects or solving problems, using multiple sources of information. They also use digital textbooks, including the Department of Education’s CAPS-aligned e-books for maths, science, history and life sciences. Their goal is for teachers to develop customised content for their lessons.

Next year, the school will replace its paper dictionaries and atlases with digital versions.

Kragveld Primary near Middelburg in Mpumalanga, prides itself on being the only school in the country to use computer tablets as a teaching tool in all the classrooms, for the entire school day. The teachers bought their own iPads, which they use to project content onto large boards for the whole class to see. Doxa Deo East College in Pretoria introduced an Android-enabled tablet into the Grade 10 classroom in January this year, as part of their blended learning policy. There are plans to roll it out to other grades. One of the parents involved in the project says there has already been a marked improvement. “My son’s reading Shakespeare for the first time, and he’s developing skills that will be useful at university.”

benefits for pupils Wendy Hindle has almost 20 years’ teaching experience. Now a Grade 4 teacher and ICT integrator at Parklands College, she says, “My classroom has been transformed. A good

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education

teacher teaches to children’s strengths, which the iPad allows.” Interestingly, she adds that it is often the academically weak pupils who are technologically above average. Tablets allow pupils to process information comfortably and to learn by doing. She says her class is attentive and on task for the entire lesson.

Knaggs says technology enables pupils to work at their own pace, which allows the weaker pupils to consolidate the fundamentals, while the faster pupils move onto new tasks, thus promoting a stimulating learning environment. The work being done is more original and indicative of a pupil’s particular learning style.

Assignments can incorporate sound, video and images; not just written text. Hindle says the use of educational apps leads

strengths of pupils. After all, not everyone is good behind a camera; not everyone is good in front of a camera; not everyone is artistic, and not everyone is a good writer.

But put a group of people together and play to their strengths, and we get a result which is greater than the sum of the parts.”

teachers give it full marks too Bianca Edworthy, a Grade 3 teacher at Parklands College, says the use of educational applications has made an enormous difference in her classroom and to other teachers. “We look at the curriculum in a new light.” Knaggs says teachers have rediscovered an excitement for their subjects and the way in which they teach. They can use tablet applications to transfer classwork, tests and homework to

It is no longer a matter of whether to use technology, but how well you can integrate mobile technology into your educational institute. to incidental learning, where pupils pick up additional skills while doing a particular assignment. Pupils complete tasks digitally, sometimes without even being asked. They create study notes on their devices and many use them to make documentaries or videos of their holidays. They can revise their work at home, independently or with their parents’ help.

Alan Goldberg, education director of Digicape, which has helped train teachers to use the devices effectively, says, “With the advent of the iPad, we are entering an age where learners can work collaboratively, some writing the text, some generating the images or video and creating collaborative documents which, as well as mirroring real life practice where roles and job descriptions are well defined, also plays to the individual

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their pupil’s devices. Edworthy adds that technology has changed the class dynamic.

Instead of the teacher being the sole source of knowledge, pupils and teachers get to learn from each other. Teachers undergo extensive and continuous training, and there are regular meetings to discuss and decide on new applications and approaches.

Michelle Lissoos, managing director of Think Ahead Education Solutions, the education arm of the Core Group that distributes Apple products to schools, says a key benefit is that teachers can create content themselves and communicate tasks to pupils in a visual way. Goldberg says media-rich digital textbooks allow pupils to make notes in the margins, cross-reference the information online and interact with the content. magazine pretoria

more screen time While parents are generally open to the educational benefits of tablet devices, there is concern that children will remain glued to yet another electronic screen for hours on end. Melanie Hartgill, a Durbanbased educational psychologist, says technology is moving at such a rapid pace, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid its effects. The general rule, and one advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is no screens – and this includes computers and smartphones – before the age of two and limited time thereafter.

Hartgill says research further suggests that children should not have access to electronic devices until, at the very earliest, the age of five, as these are the crucial years for development. Exposure to media may discourage imaginative play and family interaction, which are crucial for your child’s development. However, if your children are looking at screens, Hartgill says optometrists recommend the 20/20/20 rule. For every 20 minutes of screen time, your child should look away for 20 seconds, at a point in the distance about 20 feet or six metres away.

Hindle says pupils are seldom allowed to play on their devices during the day. The tablet is for classwork and research. It also has not replaced the pencil, as they still do tasks in their books. “In fact, we have noticed an improvement in (the work) in pupils’ books.” Parklands College has strict controls for the sites and content that can be accessed, as do other schools.

no one-size-fits-all There are, of course, various devices from which to choose, and a multitude

of educational applications depending on what platform they use. Think Ahead has published two Education App Guides for primary and high schools, listing a selection of Apple applications that will support classroom study. Many schools are already using Department of Education-approved CAPS e-books for maths, science, history and life sciences.

There are various computer tablet devices, operating systems and apps available to schools. Maramedia Publishing produces CAPS-compliant school manuals, which can be downloaded on Android and Appleenabled tablets. Classpad, a tablet for interactive learning, offers 7 000 education applications, from preschool to Grade 12. MobiPads have interactive apps for spelling, reading and maths and you can download CAPS-aligned textbooks.

LeapFrog’s LeapPad learning tablets come with a host of educational apps.

and the classroom of 2022?

Knaggs says it’s difficult to project where technology will be in three years’ time, let alone a decade, but he says education will be enabled with the use of mobile devices and their respective applications will give pupils a personalised and dynamic learning programme. “They will have access to the best resources, best teachers and peers – virtual or real – for any given subject at any time, and from any place.”

Lissoos says there are publishers and app developers who are producing more educational content for the South African market. “It is no longer a matter of whether to use technology, but how well you can integrate mobile technology into your educational institute.”

recommended educational apps android-enabled apps

for younger children

• Visit my.kindertown.com

• Match it up 1, 2 and 3 • Families 1 and 2

apple-enabled apps

• Build-it-up

• Book Creator – create books with

• DotToDot numbers and letters

sound, images and video; useful for

• Learn Shapes

languages and literacy.

• Bonsai

• Popplet – mind mapping, which includes

text

and

images

and

Geronimo

by

Jean

Weinstein (Domino Digital Design

for

Company) with a downloadable app

summarising and making study

that helps with numeracy and literacy

notes. Can also be used for planning and story writing.

grades 1 to 4

• iMovie – allows for digital expression through

text,

images,

videos

and audio.

• Notability

• Drawing Pad • PopMath 4 • TeachMe

–

mini

interactive

• The Monster at the End of this Book

whiteboard, which allows pupils to record themselves performing tasks.

• Puppet Pals – to create digital

grades 4 to 7 • Keynote

puppet shows for creative writing

• Explain Everything

and vocabulary.

• Barefoot World Atlas

• iBooks – provides pupils with their own personal digital bookcase.

magazine pretoria

• Bobo Explores Light Source: Parklands College, Core Group

November 2012

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resource

take a “sho’t left” You don’t need to drive for hours to find outdoor fun and adventure for your toddler or teenager. SIMONE JEFFERY rounds up some activities that are just around the corner.

toddlers 19th Hole Putt-Putt, Garsfontein Toddlers will love to dress up and role play in this mini town with its dome chapel, hospital, kitchen and fire station. There is also a shaded jungle gym to keep your children happily occupied for many hours.

Teenagers can play a game of putt-putt on the extensive 19-hole course.

Contact Martie: 082 463 2029, martieroux@yahoo.com or visit onestopentertainment.co.za

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November 2012

19th Hole Putt-Putt, Garsfontein

The restaurant, situated opposite the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, offers a peaceful place to watch the birds. Children can play on the jumping castle or feed the resident blue cranes, ducks and doves – just watch out for their sharp beaks. Feed is available from the restaurant. It is advisable to book a table over the weekend.

Contact Blue Crane Restaurant: 012 460 7615, bluecrane@lantic.net or visit bluecranerestaurant.co.za

Blue Crane Restaurant, New Muckleneuk

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PHOTOGRAPH: shutterSTOCK.COM

Blue Crane Restaurant, New Muckleneuk

Just Play, Menlyn Park Menlyn Park Shopping Centre has a host of in- and outdoor activities. Children from the age of three will love the Just Play Bumper Boats, a wet version of bumper cars. An inflatable play park, pony cycles and peddle go-karts are also available to provide hours of fun.

Contact: 012 471 0600 or visit menlynpark.co.za

Kids Castle Animal Farm, The Willows

Jan Cilliers Park, Groenkloof Let your child run free in this established indigenous park with its well-kept gardens. Have a picnic on the edge of the dam or bring a kite on a windy day.

Contact Irma: 012 358 1415 or visit tshwane.gov.za

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Children can indulge in hours of good, oldfashioned outdoors fun. There are pony and tractor rides, water slides, various jungle gyms and a jumping castle. There’s not much shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat.

Contact Dawie: 082 804 6979 or visit kidscastle.co.za

Contact Irma: 012 358 1415 or visit tshwane.gov.za

National Botanical Garden, Brummeria There are differently themed gardens, giving families more than enough opportunity to reconnect with nature, as well as various walks and a man-made waterfall. Toddlers can run and play on the lawns, and visit the small Ndebele dwellings with their brightly coloured walls.

Contact: 012 843 5172, pretoriagarden@ sanbi.org.za or visit sanbi.org

Commonly known as Rose Park, it has 30 different rose species and 3 000-plus rose bushes. The restaurant is close to the jungle gyms, swings and slides.

Contact: 012 344 3840 or visit facebook. com/Rosiesinthepark

Struben Dam Sanctuary, Lynwood Glen

Magnolia Dell, Muckleneuk A beautiful park for picnics, strolls and the monthly art fair that meets on the last Saturday of every month. Your toddler’s senses will be stimulated by the natural textures and smells as they run and explore the grounds.

Rosie’s Restaurant in Venning Park, Arcadia

Struben Dam Sanctuary, Lynwood Glen

Rosie’s Restaurant in Venning Park, Arcadia

The fenced-off park is great for easy hikes, casual fishing, birding and picnics.

There are plenty of birds, so bring a pair of binoculars.

Contact: 012 358 1510

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resource

Willow Feather Farm, Rietvlei Dam, Irene Young children can run and play on the verdant lawns around the tea garden, scramble over the jungle gyms and feed the farmyard animals. You can get something to eat there or order a prepacked picnic basket to enjoy in the scenic gardens. You won’t find your usual array of animals here – instead, get acquainted with alpacas, emus and potbelly pigs, to name a few. Shop for indigenous trees while you’re there.

Contact: 073 265 9342 or visit willowfeather.co.za

grazing zebras. For children seven years and older.

Contact: 082 803 7731, info@ amazwingzwing.co.za or visit amazwingzwing.co.za

Bush Paintball, Doornrandje Wearing protective gear, children can set off into the bush to take down their opponents with balls of non-toxic paint. There are four fields with bunkering and a double-storey fort. Paintball is for children 10 years and older, but younger children might like to run and play among the trees at the nearby Mad Hatter’s Tea Garden.

Contact Cecil: 084 911 1906, bushpaintball@vodamail.co.za or visit bushpaintball.co.za or Mad Hatter’s Tea Garden: 082 353 3320

Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Groenkloof

Willow Feather Farm, Rietvlei Dam, Irene

teenagers Acrobranch, Oliefantsfontein In a thicket of blue gum trees, harnessed and secured to the cables that run from branch to branch, are three courses and a “Big Zip” that will challenge your fear of heights. The courses are great for brave three year olds to young-at-heart adults.

The more advanced courses are higher in the trees and filled with more complicated obstacles. The yellow course is for children from three to seven years old, the green course is for children seven years and older, while the blue course is for adults and older children who are fit enough.

Contact: 083 925 0679, redbarn@acrobranch.co.za or visit thebigredbarn.co.za

Close to the CBD, this reserve offers mountain biking trails, horse trails, hiking trails and 4x4 routes. Check out the zebra, gazelle, wildebeest, giraffe and antelope while you explore the terrain. The restaurant, Moyo Fountains, has water slides and jumping castles on the weekend.

Contact Groenkloof Nature Reserve: 012 440 8316 or Moyo: 012 341 5729 or visit moyo.co.za

Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Groenkloof

Hartbees Aqua Centre, Hartbeespoort Try out the exhilarating rides on a tube, wake snake, pleasure cruise or speed boat. The wake snake and tubes are only for children six years and older. Wetsuits, changerooms and towels are available.

Contact: 012 253 1162, zoogang@mweb.co.za or visit hartbeespoortsnakeanimalpark.co.za

Acrobranch, Oliefantsfontein

Ama Zwing Zwing, Hartbeespoort The park comprises seven slides and 10 platforms, ranging in height from two to 14 metres. Touch the sky and slide past

26

November 2012

Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park, Hartbeespoort Children can learn more about snakes and seals at the park’s weekend demonstrations by trained handlers.

Contact: 012 253 1162, zoogang@mweb.co.za or visit hartbeespoortsnakeanimalpark.co.za magazine pretoria

Zwartkops Quad Centre Children are taught handling and basic riding safety and then, with their bikes attached to a leash, they do a few practice laps with the instructors walking close behind. It is recommended that children wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes. A helmet is provided. Children from as young as four can take part. The younger children ride on quads that have a restricted speed and are automatic, with only the brake and accelerator for them to worry about. You will also find trampolines, jungle gyms, a basketball hoop, swing ball and a sandpit.

Contact: 012 323 1932, 082 688 6046 or visit quadrides.co.za

Segway Gliding Tours, Hartbeespoort Children 10 years and older, weighing more than 45kg, can get close to the curious giraffe and zebra that call Amazingwe home while riding on a Segway. They will get a few minutes of training before they set off. Be sure that they wear comfortable clothes. Helmets are provided.

Contact: 0861 025 327, info@ segwayglidingtours.com or visit segwayglidingtours.com

StokeCity WakePark, Midrand Whether you’re looking for something new to do or if you want to hone your skills, this unique cable water park caters for all ages.

There is wakeboarding, water-skiing, knee boarding or wake skating, as well as picnic and braai facilities and a swimming pool.

Contact Chantal: chantal@stokecity.co.za

The Climbing Barn, Mooiplaats This unassuming barn features climbing walls with top-ropes and lead climbing, as well as a bouldering wall in the upstairs cave for beginner and novice climbers.

Rock climbing is a great way for children to improve their fitness and build their confidence. The trained staff will guide you all the way to ensure your safety. Be sure to dress in comfortable clothes. Harnesses and chalk are provided.

Contact Paul: 082 335 3220, info@climbingbarn.com or visit climbingbarn.com magazine pretoria

The Climbing Barn, Mooiplaats November 2012

27

books

a good read for toddlers The Yoga Ogre

By Peter Bently and Simon Rickerty (Published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Books, R143) Ogden the Ogre was worried one night. His jim-jams had grown far too short and too tight. The people suggested that an overweight ogre should take up a sport. But, as everyone will soon find out, finding the perfect sport for a big, bumbling ogre isn’t as easy as it seems. This is a really funny picture book from the winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2011. Told in clever rhyme, we join Ogden as he first tries basketball, with disastrous consequences; then causes havoc while playing soccer. When he tries his hand at hockey, the people take shelter and as a jockey, the horses run away. Golf doesn’t work out, as there is now a huge hole where the course used to be. How can Ogden get active?

Zoe and Beans – Pants on the Moon!

By Chloë and Mick Inkpen (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, R117) Zoe is hanging her pants out to dry one day, when, “whoosh!”, a big gust of wind blows her and Beans up, up, up into space – along with the washing line full of pants. When they finally land on the moon, everpopular there’s a lot of exciting exploring to do. But how zoe and on earth are they going to get home again? In this beans fourth title in the popular picture book series for children from the age of three, the ingenious Zoe comes up with a brilliant plan. Parents will also love the story, because they know that there is an American flag on the moon, and why that is important.

for preteens and teens

for preschoolers My First Car was Red

By Peter Schössow

ing someth really special

(Published by Gecko Press, R114) Your first car is always the best. And your first trip is unforgettable – even when it doesn’t go exactly to plan. This is an exciting and hilarious picture book about brothers and cars and one crazy car ride.

The illustrations are vivid and detailed and there are quirky road signs throughout to emphasise the brothers’ adventurous ride. The storyline is funny and entertaining: “Grandpa brought me a surprise. ‘For you,’ he said. It was rusty. Really rusty. But you could tell what it was – a little car! Exactly my size. ‘Diesel or gas?’ I asked. ‘Sweat,’ he said.” Young boys especially will absolutely love this treasure.

for early graders Bink & Gollie – Two for One

By Kate DiCamillo, Alison McGhee and Tony Fucile (Published by Candlewick Press, R158) Your favourite marvellous companions are back. Meet them at the fair in this delightfully droll sequel to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning Bink & Gollie. The state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie, utter opposites and best friends, must use teamwork and their grey matter to navigate its many wonders.

Will the energetic Bink win the world’s largest doughnut in the Whack-a-Duck game? Will the artistic Gollie wow the crowd in the talent show? As the undaunted duo steps into the mysterious tent of fortune-teller Madame Prunely, one prediction is crystal clear: this unlikely pair will always be the closest of pals.

for us

Great Kids

By Carol Surya

Down the Rabbit Hole

By Peter Abrahams

Bliss

By Kathryn Littlewood (Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, R86) Rosemary Bliss’s family has a secret: it’s the Bliss Cookery Booke, an ancient, leatherbound volume of enchanted recipes such as Stone Sleep Snickerdoodles and Singing Gingersnaps. Rose and her siblings are supposed to keep the cookery book under lock and whisk-shaped key while their parents are out of town, but then a mysterious stranger shows up. “Aunt” Lily rides a motorcycle, wears purple sequins, and whips up exotic, but delicious dishes for dinner. Soon boring, non-magical recipes feel like life before Aunt Lily – a lot less fun.

So Rose and her siblings experiment with just a couple of recipes from the forbidden Bliss Cookery Booke. A few Love Muffins and a few dozen Cookies of Truth couldn’t cause too much trouble, could they?

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November 2012

(Published by Walker Books, R99) This is the first in a compelling detective series from Stephen King’s “favourite American suspense novelist”. When Ingrid accidentally leaves her football sneakers at a murder scene, she is sucked into a mysterious case. It’s all her fault that the police are on the wrong track, so Ingrid swears to hunt down Cracked-Up Katie’s killer herself. But Ingrid’s life is full of distractions: Joey, the son of the local police chief; portraying Alice in the Prescott Players’ new production; not failing maths... When the clues lead her to the new member of the theatre group, Vincent, she doesn’t realise the danger until it’s too late, and suddenly she’s battling for her life, about to be pushed over the edge of Echo Falls.

for ry myste r love s

parenting book

Timeless Family Food Journal

By Christine Phillips (Published by Christine Phillips, R350 + R50 delivery) Christine Phillips, founder of the Little Cooks Club, is a qualified chef and a member of the South African Chefs Association. She created this book because she is passionate about healthy eating habits, traditions and spending quality time with her family. This interactive journal is filled with delicious recipes, nutritional information, clever tips and tricks, as well as ideas on how to enjoy quality time together. It gives you the opportunity to record your special family traditions and precious memories in one place, ensuring that they get passed on and remembered. Make this journal unique to your family; there is space to write down your own recipes, stick photographs, and document secret ingredients for recipes that you want to pass on. To order, visit tffj.co.za

(Published by Surya Creations Publishing, R175,44 excluding VAT and postage) This book is about recognising, acknowledging and learning to boost your child’s natural potential. Peppered with practical examples, parents learn simple, highly effective tools for respectful disciplining, establishing security and building your child’s self-esteem. The ability to help children redirect their excess energy, and express and manage their emotions appropriately changes everything. This book offers new and practical ways of approaching and appreciating children. It begins with an understanding of their world and explores the issue of respect and the importance of choice, responsibility and democratic discipline for today’s generation.

The author is a psychologist who has extensive experience helping troubled children and empowering parents. Order the book from greatkids-book.com

magazine pretoria

calendar

You can also access the calendar online at

what’s on in november

childmag.co.za

Here’s your guide for what to do, where to go, and who to see. Compiled by SIMONE JEFFERY.

24 sat

special events

30

FUN for children

30

only for parents

31

bump, baby & tot in tow

32

how to help

32

SPECIAL EVENTS

PHOTOGRAPHs: shutterSTOCK.COM

Art in the Park Meet the artists who have toiled to produce pieces of art and sculptures in various mediums.

FUN FOR CHILDREN

ONLY FOR PARENTS

bump, baby & tot in tow

how to help

The Nutcracker Get into the Christmas spirit with the Youth Dance Company of Tshwane.

Die Groot Trek Side-splitting humour from some of South Africa’s hottest black comedians.

Playtime at Villa San Giovanni Children can let their imagination run free in the outdoor play area.

SOS Children’s Villages Lend a helping hand with gardening, painting the jungle gyms and assisting with homework.

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November 2012

29

calendar

SPECIAL EVENTS 3 saturday Christmas shopping at Margaret Roberts An open day to view the various Christmas products in the gallery and shop.

Wander about the interesting nooks and crannies where you can find homes for fairies and labyrinths. Time: 8:30am–4pm.

Venue: Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre, on the R513 towards Brits. Cost: lecture R100, includes notes and recipes. Contact: 012 504 2121, 071 161 6441, margaretroberts@ lantic.net or visit margaretroberts.co.za Midas Historic Tour This is a big race day involving entries from over 240 classic cars. The historic racing cars range from the early ’60s to the late ’80s. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: Zwartkops Raceway.

Cost: adults R60, students R40, children under 12 free. Contact Elvene: 012 384 2299, events@zwartkops.co.za or visit zwartkops.co.za

Kids alive are Waterwise Join the Olympic swimming team and the staff of Learn to Swim for a day of swimming and learning about the importance of water safety. A photo and autograph session with Ryk Neethling and members of the Olympic team is taking place. Time: 10am–4pm.

Venue: Woodlands Boulevard, cnr Garsfontein Rd and De Villebois Mareuil Dr, Pretoria East. Cost: free. Contact Bettie: 082 782 2782 or visit learntoswim.co.za

10 sat

The Global Diabetes run/walk Wear something blue as you take part in the 5km or 10km walk within the grounds of the Voortrekker Monument. There is live entertainment, spot prizes and free testing stations for blood glucose, blood pressure, eye testing and foot screening.

Enter online or on the day. The walk starts at 9am. Time: 7:15am–12:30pm.

Venue: Voortrekker Monument, Eeufees Rd, Groenkloof. Cost: R30 per person, parking R5 per car. Contact Keegan or Annike: 011 886 3765, global.diabetes.walk@gmail. com or visit diabetessa.co.za

14 wednesday Denim For Diabetes A casual day in light of World Diabetes Day. Learners and corporates are urged to wear an item of denim in exchange for a small donation.

Cost: donation of R10. Contact Diabetes South Africa: 011 886 3765, national@ diabetessa.org.za or visit diabetessa.co.za

24 saturday Art in the Park An open air art gallery is held in the park on the last Saturday of every month. Meet the artists who have toiled to produce the pieces of art in various mediums and sculptures. Time: 10am–5pm. Venue: Magnolia Dell, cnr Charles St and University Rd, Bailey’s Muckleneuk. Cost: free entry. Contact Hannes: 071 676 3600, info@art-in-thepark.co.za or visit art-in-the-park.co.za Zwartkops Extreme Festival A day for car enthusiasts with drifting, an exhibitors’ market, battle of the bands and exotic racing cars. Time: 10am–6pm. Venue: Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria West. Cost: adults R80, students R60, children under 12 free.

Contact: 012 384 2299, events@zwartkops. co.za or visit zwartkops.co.za

25 sunday Sunday picnics in the park Bring your own picnic basket and blanket to enjoy the day outdoors with live entertainment, peddle boats, mountain bike trails, a supersize jungle gym and a mini town.

Time: 8am–5pm. Venue: Cedar Junction, plot 404, Lynnwood Ave, Wapadrand.

Cost: adults R25, children R15. Contact: 012 811 1183, jicon@absamail.co.za or visit cedarjunction.co.za

30

November 2012

FUN FOR CHILDREN art, culture and science Radio Astronomy Observatory Visit the telescope control room and get treated to an audiovisual show on astronomy and the Space Geodesy Programme research that is currently being conducted. Booking essential. 17 November. Time: 4pm–8pm.

Venue: CSIR and HartRAO, Hartebeeshoek, Broederstroom. Cost: adults R45, students and pensioners R35, children under 6 free; family R120 (two adults and two children).

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

classes, talks and workshops iCreate art classes Express your creative side with paint, sand art and mosaic tiles.

The art studio caters for adults and children 5 years and older. Time: 9am–5pm, Tuesday– Saturday. Venue: Shop 17, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr 13th St and 17th St, Menlo Park.

Cost: R30 per hour (excluding materials).

Contact Vicky: 082 456 0688, icreate. menlo@gmail.com or visit icreateart.co.za

family outings Ficksburg Cherry Festival Since 1968 people have been flocking to the quaint town of Ficksburg to celebrate the cherry.

This year’s festival has been redeveloped to incorporate all aspects of family entertainment. 15–17 November. Venue: Ficksburg, Free State. Cost: varies. Contact: 051 933 6486, gavin@cherryfestival.co.za or visit cherryfestival.co.za Train trip to Cullinan Take a nostalgic trip to the old mining town of Cullinan where you can visit craft shops and museums, lunch at a restaurant or bring your own food if you prefer to braai. 3, 23–25 and 30 November.

Time: 8:30am. Venue: Hermanstad Railway Station, 152 Miechaelson St. Cost: adults R175, teenagers R125, children R100, children under 7 R75. Contact: 012 767 7913, sales@friendsoftherail.com or visit friendsoftherail.com

finding nature and outdoor play Abseiling and caving adventure Dress up in overalls, grab a helmet and torch and abseil through the roof of a wild cave. No

15–17 November – Ficksburg Cherry Festival

previous experience needed. For children 8 years and older. Time: 11am–2pm, every Sunday. Venue: meet at EnGedi Lodge, plot 22, Protea Ridge Rd, Kromdraai, Krugersdorp. Cost: adults R300, children R220. Contact Sandy: 011 956 6197, 082 486 2464, info@wildcaves.co.za or visit wildcaves.co.za Scavenger hunt Explore, investigate and collect data of different species of animals from around the zoo to learn more about their location, feeding habits and general behaviour. Booking essential. For children from Grades 4–7. 3 November. Time: 8am–4pm. Venue: National Zoological Gardens, 232 Boom St, Pretoria. Cost: R70.

Contact Karabo: 012 328 3265, karabo@ nzg.ac.za or visit nzg.ac.za The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Working as a team, or individually, you take part in mental and physical challenges and learn useful life skills. You can choose between the 9am, 12pm or 3pm time slots.

Picnic, braai facilities and swimming pools are available. Booking essential. For children 6 years and older. Time: 9am–3pm, every Saturday and Sunday. Venue: Pelindaba, Hartbeesport Dam. Cost: adults R220, children R165. Contact Debbie: 082 895 2513, admin@surviveorrace.co.za or visit surviveorrace.co.za

markets Faerie Folk Market Shop for pottery, clothing, jewellery, Christmas decorations, gifts, fairy outfits and accessories. There is a tea garden and fun activities for children.

1–4 November. Time: 10am–6pm. Venue:

magazine pretoria

303 Murray St, Brooklyn. Cost: free entry.

Contact Muriel: 012 460 6894, 082 885 0207 or visit faeriefolk.co.za Fare on the Square A variety of art and crafts are on sale alongside tasty eats and fun entertainment. 25 November.

Time: 9am–2pm. Venue: Irene Village Mall, cnr Nellmapius Dr and Van Ryneveld Dr, Irene. Cost: free entry. Contact: 012 662 4446, info@irenevillagemall.co.za or visit irenevillagemall.co.za Hazel Food Market A dedicated food market with more than 60 stalls offering traditional South African dishes and food from other countries. Time: 8am–2pm, every Saturday. Venue: Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison St and Mackenzie St, Menlo Park. Cost: free entry. Contact Retha: 083 554 5636, info@hazelfoodmarket.co.za or visit hazelfoodmarket.co.za Irene Village Christmas Market The market is open every Saturday leading up to Christmas. It comprises a large selection of knick-knacks, antiques and collectables plus scrumptious deli food stalls. Time: 9am–2pm, every Saturday. Venue: Irene Market, Jan Smuts Ave, Irene. Cost: free entry. Contact Josene or Corlia: 012 667 1659 or visit irenemarket.co.za

on stage and screen Cartoonito Tales A modern twist on your classic childhood tales brought to life by colourful costumes and fun sets. Tales include Little Red Riding Hood, The Three

Little Pigs, Peter and the Wolf, Swan Lake and Pinocchio. Starts 8 November. Time: 7:20pm, every Thursday on Boomerang, channel 302 on DStv. For more info: visit dstv.com Circus Surprise The children from Kabouterland Nursery School perform in their annual concert. You can expect Spanish dancers, a circus master, clowns, animals, candyfloss and more. The performance is in Afrikaans. 3 November.

Time: 10am and 4pm. Venue: Wierda Park Primary School Hall, cnr Willem Botha St and Ruimteweg, Wierdapark, Centurion.

Cost: R50. Contact: 012 653 1763 or visit kabouterlandkleuterskool.co.za Gravity Falls The summer plans of twins Dipper and Mabel Pines are changed when their parents decide to send them off to spend the summer with Great Uncle Stan.

He lives in and runs The Mystery Shack, a museum of the bizarre. 10 November. Time: 10am on the Disney Channel, channel 303 on DStv. For more info: visit dstv.com Sleeping Beauty Filled with colourful costumes and vibrant music, the play sees an evil fairy cast a spell on a baby princess.

The good fairies of Milkwood Forest end up taking matters into their own hands.

30 November–15 December. Time: 10am and 3pm, Monday–Saturday. Venue: Irene Village Theatre, 1 Pioneer Rd, Irene. Cost: R65–R85. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com The Nutcracker The Youth Dance Company of Tshwane perform this production to get

sport and physical activities Kamers Vol Geskenke An annual market of fresh ideas and items. Scour the stalls for original pieces of jewellery, ceramics and soft furnishings or garden gear, designer clothing, accessories and more. 25 November–1 December.

Time: 4pm–8pm, Sunday; 8:30am–5pm, Monday–Saturday; 8:30am–8pm, Friday. Venue: Open School of Communication, John Vorster Dr, Ext East, Southdowns, Irene. Cost: R50. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit kamersvol.com

25 sun

everyone into the Christmas spirit. The dancers tell the story of a young girl who is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas.

22–25 November. Time: 8pm, Thursday; 5pm, Friday; 3pm, Saturday–Sunday.

Venue: The South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius St. Cost: R80–R120. Contact: 012 392 4000 or visit statetheatre.co.za The Sugar Plum Fairy Party At today’s special performance of The Nutcracker there are cupcakes, sweets and delights served during interval. Children are encouraged to dress up to stand a chance to win prizes. 24 November. Time: 11am. Venue: The South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius St, Pretoria Central. Cost: R140. Contact: 012 392 4000 or visit statetheatre.co.za

playtime and story time

1–4 November – Faerie Folk Market

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Tea with Little Angels Children dress up as angels and decorate a Christmas tree and gingerbread biscuits. 10 November. Time: 8:30am–4pm. Venue: Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre, R513, towards Brits. Cost: varies. Contact: 012 504 2121 or visit margaretroberts.co.za

Dash around the zoo Breathe in the fresh morning air as you run the 5km route around the zoo. Each participant receives a medal. 17 November. Time: 6am. Venue: National Zoological Gardens, 232 Boom St. Cost: non-members: adults R40, children R25; members: adults R30, children R25.

Contact: 012 328 3265 ext. 168, info@ friendsofthezoo.co.za or visit nzg.ac.za Kolonnade Retail Park fun walk Take part in a 5km walk or run in aid of the Jakaranda Children’s Home, a non profit organisation that looks after the welfare of abused children. 17 November. Time: 6:10am. Venue: Kolonnade Retail Park, cnr Zambesi Dr and Enkeldoorn Ave, Montana.

Cost: 5km R26. Contact Alan: 083 325 7779, info@fusionsports.co.za or visit entrytime.com

only for parents classes, talks and workshops Dancing Divas in Harties Beginners’ classes will keep you fit and in shape. As you become more coordinated you can move up to the more advanced classes.

Time: 5:30pm–6:30pm, every Wednesday.

Venue: West Lake Estate Fitness Centre, Schoemansville, Hartbeespoort. Cost: R480. Contact: 082 460 7915 or visit dancingdivas.co.za Italian food and roses Learn how to make a few of the latest Tuscan trends for a delicious three-course meal. Your hosts are renowned chefs Claudio Bernardoni and Marco Guisti. Booking essential. 16 and 17 November. Time: 3pm, Friday; 10am, Saturday. Venue: Ludwig’s Roses, N1 Polokwane, Wallmansthall/Pyramid offramp 163. Cost: R480. Contact Talhat: 012 544 0144, spicedcoffee@ludwigsroses.co.za or visit ludwigsroses.co.za Learning to sign Today’s basic sign language training covers workshop one and two in which you learn about food, animals, clothing, family and more. Classes are presented in English and Afrikaans.

Booking essential. 24 November. Time: 8:30am–3:30pm. Venue: Centurion.

Cost: R350–R700, excludes refreshments.

Contact Monita: 082 218 7339, contact@ tinyhandz.co.za or visit tinyhandz.co.za

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calendar Vive la France A performance of timeless Afrikaans songs that have been translated into French. 11 November. Time: 4pm.

Venue: Atterbury Theatre, 4 Daventry St, cnr Lynnwood Rd and Daventry St, Lynnwood. Cost: R130–R150. Contact: 012 471 1700 or visit atterburytheatre.co.za

out and about

16 and 17 November – Italian food and roses

Montessori Teacher Training This is an information session for those wishing to register for the 2013 accredited training programme; part-time and distance learning study options are available. 24 November. Time: 8:30am–10am. Venue: The Montessori Academy, plot 84, Zwavelpoort, Pretoria East. Cost: free entry.

Contact: info@montessorisa.co.za Sonic meditation group Release your pent-up stress and replace it with a deep relaxation, achieved through meditation.

Booking essential. 4 November. Time: 9am–11am. Venue: South African Centre for Sound Therapy, Meerhof, Hartbeespoort Dam. Cost: R150. Contact Wilna: 071 682 2548, wilna@soundtherapy.co.za or visit soundtherapy.co.za

on stage and screen Big Swing Band A nostalgic evening for you to tap your feet and snap your fingers to old favourites such as “Copacabana”, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “I Left my Heart in San Francisco”. 2, 4 and 7 November. Time: 8pm, Wednesday and Friday; 3pm, Sunday. Venue: Brooklyn Theatre, Greenlyn Village Centre, cnr Thomas Edison Rd and 13th St, Menlo Park.

Cost: R180–R215. Contact: 012 460 6033 or visit brooklyntheatre.co.za Die Groot Trek South Africa’s biggest comedy brand, Blacks Only, brings you a side-splitting line-up. The show is hosted

by David Kau. 2 and 3 November. Time: 9pm. Venue: South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius St, Pretoria Central. Cost: R125–R200. Book through Computicket: 0861 915 8000 or visit computicket.com Seasons of Fire This four-act production sees Mel Botes play out the love, life and passions of four great composers: Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart and Bach.

19 November. Time: 8pm. Venue: Atterbury Theatre, 4 Daventry St, cnr Lynnwood Rd and Daventry St, Lynnwood. Cost: R150– R180. Contact: 012 471 1700 or visit atterburytheatre.co.za

Baby Wellness Clinic open day Firsttime moms and mothers-to-be can have their questions answered by occupational therapists, dieticians and more. 9 November.

Time: 10am–2pm. Venue: Mediclinic Kloof, 511 Jochemus St, Erasmuskloof. Cost: free.

Contact: 012 367 4060, lynette.croucamp@ mediclinic.co.za or visit mediclinic.co.za Flatlands by Marc Shoul This exhibition documents the people who have migrated to Joburg’s inner city in search of “gold”. 11 October–24 November. Time: 10am–5pm.

Venue: North Gallery and Henry Preiss Hall, Pretoria Art Museum, cnr Francis Baard St and Wessels St, Arcadia. Cost: adults R20, pensioners R10, children R5. Contact: 012 344 1807, art.museum@tshwane.gov. za or visit pretoriaartmuseum.co.za Free day @ the Zoo Senior citizens can enjoy free entry into the zoo, the aquarium and the reptile park. The day starts with complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits at the zoo’s Flamingo Restaurant. 6 November.

Time: 9am. Venue: National Zoological Gardens, 232 Boom St, Pretoria. Cost: free for senior citizens; adults R60, children R40.

Contact: 012 339 2700, info@nzg.ac.za or visit nzg.ac.za Soloparenting This is a social club for single parents that meets every month. You take part in different activities with your children. 17 November. Time: 2pm–4pm.

Venue: varies. Cost: free membership.

Contact Jean-Marie: 076 054 5510 or soloparenting@talc.co.za The Stargazers Astronomer Vincent Nettmann talks about the role of astronomy in the development of the human mind and what we have learnt about the starry skies during this process. Booking essential.

10 November. Time: 6pm. Venue: Maropeng Boutique Hotel, Cradle of Humankind. Cost: R295, includes a buffet dinner. Contact: 014 577 9000, childmag@ maropeng.co.za, or visit maropeng.co.za

bump, baby & Tot in tow

Time: 9am–4pm. Venue: Woodhill Estate, Woodhill. Cost: R1 400. Contact Colette: 083 625 8033, marinda@nanniesintraining. co.za or visit nanniesintraining.co.za Little Kickers open day The classes introduce children 18 months–8 years to soccer skills through group play activities.

Time: 9am–11am, every Saturday. Venue: Centurion Action Sports, Office Arena Park, 272 West St, Centurion and Club Sports Maritimo, 378 Richard St, Hatfield. Cost: free trial session.

Contact Fazila: 072 222 4147, centurion.hatfield@littlekickers. co.za or visit littlekickers.co.za Moms and Tots workshop A programme developed to enhance coordination and perceptual skills in children 1–3 years old. Time: varies.

Venues: Centurion, Faerie Glen, Wonderboom and Lyttelton Manor.

Cost: varies. Contact Doringkloof: Tania 082 462 4085; Faerie Glen: Rheta 012 991 3359; Wonderboom: Carla 083 657 0625; Lyttelton Manor: Estie 012 664 5136 or visit momsandtots.co.za

playtime and story time Dancing Tots: Happy Halloween You can bond with your toddler while learning an easy dance routine and creating a craft to take home. Today’s theme is Halloween.

For children 3–9 years old. 3 November.

Time: 10am–11am. Venue: upper level 5, Atterbury Boulevard, cnr Manitoba Dr and Atterbury Rd, Faerie Glen. Cost: R80 per adult and child. Contact Tina: 082 460 7915 or visit dancingdivas.co.za Mungolistix Children can play in a secure, indoor environment. Suitable for children 0–7 years old. Time: 9am–5pm, daily. Venue: Mungolistix, Centurion Mall, John Vorster Dr and South St, Centurion.

Cost: R35 per hour, R25 for groups of four; drop and shop R40 per hour. Contact: 074 122 2787, info@mungolistix.co.za or visit mungolistix.co.za Playtime at Villa San Giovanni Children can enjoy the outdoor play area with a jungle gym, jumping castle, swings and a sandpit, while you enjoy pizza. Time: 7am–9:30pm, Monday–Thursday; 7am–10pm Friday; 8am–10pm Saturday; 8am–5pm, Sunday.

Venue: Villa San Giovanni, Wonderboom Airport. Cost: varies. Contact: 012 543 0501, info@vsg.co.za or visit vsg.co.za

classes, talks and workshops

support groups

Baby and toddler care course Your nanny or domestic learn all the basics to ensure that she cares for your baby and toddler with confidence. 24 November.

Diabetes support group For adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. At every meeting a guest speaker talks about a specific topic, followed by a Q&A session.

17 November. Time: 2pm. Venue: Lyttleton Library, cnr Cantonment Rd and Union Rd, Lyttleton. Cost: free. Contact Louise: 082 451 0706 or visit diabetessa.co.za

Little Kickers open day every Saturday

Famsa Pretoria For family counselling.

Contact: 012 460 0733/8, famsa@ absamail.co.za or visit famsa.org.za HI HOPES Provides home-based support for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing infants. Contact: 011 717 3750, info@ hihopes.co.za or visit hihopes.co.za Pretoria Adoption Support Group (PASG) For those considering adoption and those who have adopted. 4 November.

Time: 1pm–3pm. Venue: Willow Feather Farm, portion 37, Doornkloof, Irene. Cost: R10 entry. Contact Michelle: 072 698 9991 or pretoriaasg@yahoo.com

how to help Barking Mad A pro-life animal rehabilitation centre that specialises in “problem” dogs. SMS 38919 to donate R10. Contact: 076 044 1979 or visit barkingmad.co.za Collect-a-Can The depot in Silverton has reopened and urges residents to recycle their cans. Contact: 012 804 9408 or visit collectacan.co.za SOS Children’s Villages An independent, nongovernmental organisation that cares for orphaned and homeless children. They require help with gardening, painting, assisting with homework, and request other donations such as stationery, toiletries and clothing. Contact: 011 234 8708, info@ sos.org.za or visit sosvillages.org.za Veggie gardens for charity Help create veggie gardens and teach children in impoverished areas to grow their own.

Venue: Shoshanguve. Contact: 082 341 2888 or visit nutria-kids.org.za

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 2 November 2012 for the December/January issue, and must include all relevant details. No guarantee can be given that it will be published. To post an event online, visit childmag.co.za 6 November – Free day @ the Zoo

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

childmag.co.za/ resources/birthday-parties

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finishing touch

mom: 0 gadget: 1 Some things never change, says ANÉL LEWIS, as she battles

m

Erin, Anél and Conor

otherhood changes you. I can tell you who has the latest nappy deals, and which snack bars have the least sugar, but I can’t name a good cocktail spot off the top of my head, and I don’t know where to get the best shoe deals anymore.

But there’s one thing motherhood has sadly not changed, and that’s my shocking lack of gadget-savvy. For starters, I’m notoriously bad at opening doors. Actually, I struggle to open many things. But things with keys are my worst, and it seems to be a trait I’ve inherited from my mother.

I’m also flummoxed by closed boxes and packaging. Have you ever noticed

how tightly things are sealed these days?

You try and open a tiny tub of food that’s covered with industrial-strength wrapping, while holding a 10kg baby. It’s like breaking into a vacuum-sealed time capsule with your hands tied. Many a container has ended up on the floor, or against the wall, as I’ve attempted the Houdini-like feat of just unwrapping the darn thing.

It drives my husband crazy. He can’t understand why opening a tissue box has to be a major challenge. Even if that box was all that stood between me and R1 million on an episode of Minute to Win it, there would be no chance of me getting to those tissues without doing some serious damage. I think it’s a patience thing. I just don’t have the time, or the inclination, to first fathom how something works.

This device aversion has definitely worsened since I got married, and can now rely on someone else to work things out for me. Craig loves technology, so he deals with the nuts and bolts aspects of

our household. It suited me just fine, until recently, when I needed to do some work on the home computer. I’ve never played on the machine – it’s Craig’s domain – and besides, it’s usually in sleep mode so that I can use it if I need to. But for some reason, that day, the machine was switched off. I looked at the sleek, silver box in front of me. Where on earth was the “on” button? I felt around the edges, looked behind the screen and even under the table at the cables. No amount of pulling and prodding, on anything, resulted in that welcoming green light to signal that the computer was on. Craig was at a work function, and not responding to my SOS sms, so I was at its mercy.

I’ve bartered with camel drivers in Egypt and bungee-jumped from a crane in Milton Keynes. You would think I would be able to find the on button for a computer.

Well, after 20 minutes, I had to admit defeat. I sheepishly phoned a friend, who rightly reprimanded me for being so dependent on my spouse for help. She

reminded me that there was a time, way back then, when I could fix plugs and change car tyres, unaided. Faced with no other option, I turned to Google – using my phone – and found a website with step-bystep, illustrated instructions.

Thankfully, Erin, my wise toddler, seems to have dodged the appliance-phobe gene my mom and I share. She is already a dab hand at opening locked doors and turning on the television. She loves discovering how things work and no matter how deftly I close a box or a container, I can be sure that its contents will be strewn all over the floor by the time I get home. Now I just need to get Craig to teach her how to switch on that computer, just in case…

Anél Lewis is Child magazine’s features editor. She can change a nappy in the dark and will happily scoop up spiders and scorpions if needed, but don’t ask her to open a sealed container or figure out how an appliance works. Follow Anél on Twitter: @ChildMagParent

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PHOTOGRAPH: STEPHANIE VELDMAN

technology and containers with tight lids on the home front.