Growing Up in Malta by M2M Publications

Issue 21

SPRING 2013

NOW also

Win a Birthday Party

p08

Organise your own themed party

p44

GUPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5 Birthday Bash! th

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

FREE Magazine for Kids, Parents & Grandparents

Hi everyone and welcome to a very special Birthday Issue!

Editors Word

Five years ago Growing Up in Malta was born...A lot has changed in 5 years. Three of our children are now full blown teenagers. Thank goodness the youngest of 6 keeps us on our toes. But a lot has happend with Growing Up in Malta itself. It has evolved in a well loved publication by our readers and partners. This gives us an enourmous proud feeling. Not that it has all been plain sailng, no far from that... Tears, tantrums and happiness, all to familiar emotions for our “team” (and no we’re not talking about the kids here!). As a Big Thank You to our readers we have got a special Birthday Bash Bonanza! Loads of special treats, presents and give-aways.

The Androids tables are not forgotten, we are currently working to get this online as soon as possible. Keep a look out on our Facebook page for more updates. I hope you will enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. See you next time! Diana

Diana

We hope you will join in the fun and bag yourself some presents.

We also felt we had to do something else... From now on you can also download your very own Growing Up in Malta App from the Apple Store for your iPad. All (future) issues will be downloaded to your very own library so you never have to miss an issue! All links are active so Growing Up in Malta has become even more interactive than we already were, and its FREE! On page 55 you will find more information on the Growing Up in Malta App for your iPad.

www.growing-up-in-malta.com

This Issue Spring 2013 Issue 21 Issue 21

Advertising

Publishers

Additional Editorial Paul Grech Sylvana Brannon Albert Cilia FG.C.C.A Georgia Henderson Dr. Victor Grech

Design & Artwork

Cover Photo

M2M Publications

Janice Azzopardi - PhotoConcepts Model: Thai Spiteri - Nearly 5 yrs old.

Diana Lavender Editor diana@growing-up-in-malta.com Tel. 9986 6358

SPRING 2013

NOW also

Win a Birthday Party

Editorial

p08

Organise your own themed party

p44

GUP’s 5th Birthday Bash!

M2M Publications info@growing-up-in-malta.com Tel. 9986 6358

M2M Publications PO Box 20, St. Paul’s Bay www.growing-up-in-malta.com

Disclaimer C022612

All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, M2M Publications can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts or services provided by the advertisers. The Publisher and/or Editor do not necessarily share the view(s) of editorial contributors. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made regarding the accuracy of the information given and printed in Growing Up.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.

CONTENTS SPRING 2013 Issue 21 for the

little ones p25 p26 p28 p31 p33

Community

Kids Pages

Building Robots during the Summer Colouring Competition Make your own Cake Pops Cake Decorating Competition Bring Spring to your Garden

06 Party time

p18 p20 p26

Billy & Bangle Party Fashion Birthday Bash Bonanza Colouring Competition

for

parents

& grandparents

p37 p38 p42

p10

p06 p50 p52

p06 p34

p13

p08 p20 p26 p31

Parents to be

Tips for Parents to be and New Parents Welcoming solid food into baby’s life Rock-a-bye Baby

Dad in progress Changing Party Traditions

Community

p14 p16 p23 p46 p48

Education

p23 p38 p41

Handwriting and Occupational Therapy A Furry Happy Birthday Party SPCA Annual Spring Fair

Handwriting and Occupational Therapy Growing Up in Malta

Money Matters

p37 p41 p44

Trust for a disabled Child - Tomorrow’s Solution

Competitions

Win your very own Super Bowl Party Birthday Bash Bonanza Colouring Competition Cake Decorating Comeptition

p14

p50

Mum Time

When do I keep my child at home? Whose party is it anyway? Cool Kids - Cool Party Food Organise your own Themed Birthday Party Create your own Themed Pary Invitations

Nutrition

Cool Kids - Cool Party Food Welcoming solid food in your baby’s life What is Quinoa?

Product Review

Air Purifiers What is Quinoa? “A Springboard to Children’s Confidence”

Health

When do I keep my child at home?

Next Issue

Where can I find...

Summer 2013 Issue 22

Distribution Outlets for Growing Up

@ All pagenumbers are hyerlinks and will transport your directly to the editorial page of your choice. Spring 2013 - Issue 21

5:11 a.m. – Preparing for drumming practice with mum’s saucepans.

Up to 12 hours of dryness for great mornings. Your baby will be in a great mood after a night of Golden Sleep. That’s why new Pampers Baby-Dry have the improved Extra Sleep-Layer, to absorb wetness away from skin faster than before. So that baby wakes up nicely dry, comfortable and ready for a new day. Together with Pampers Sensitive Maximum Care™ wipes, they protect and care for your baby’s skin as they sleep.

Peaceful nights. Playful days.

Trade Enquiries VJ Salomone Marketing tel: 8007 2387

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

for

Community

Handwriting and Occupational Therapy

Inspire the foundation for inclusion is one of Malta’s leading NGO’s that work within the disability sector. Inspire currently helps over 1000 babies, children and adults with learning and physical disabilities. As an organisation it addresses the educational, therapeutic, social and recreational needs of its clients using a holistic and multidisciplinary approach across 4 centres within Malta and Gozo. As the Senior Occupational Therapist with Inspire one of the most common questions I am frequently asked by parents is regarding handwriting; from lettering being too large, to not being able to follow the lines or copy from the board in class, to their child not being able to grip a pencil. Handwriting is a complex skill and many children have problems being able to master it, it can be a frustrating time for a child and can affect a child’s motivation to learn the skill. Without handwriting which is legible the child can be denied a mode of communication that is heavily relied on in our society for example; at school the child is required to write for a number of academic purposes, at home they might be required to take phone messages, when they are older they will need to be able to sign their signatures. It is no wonder that so much emphasis is put on handwriting during the first few years of a child attending school (Woodward & Swinth:2002). An Occupational Therapists role for a child with handwriting difficulties

06 00

parents

& grandparents

“Handwriting is a complex skill and many children have problems being able to master it...” is to determine the underlying postural, motor, sensory integrative or perceptual deficits that might have an impact on the development of legible handwriting. First of all, the child’s readiness to begin to learn the skills needed for handwriting should be assessed. These skills include the level of; • Shoulder stability – when we write we use very slow well controlled shoulder movements. If a child has poor shoulder stability then they are unable to hold their joint stable which makes writing extremely difficult for them. • Trunk control – a strong and steady trunk provides the best base support required for activities such as writing, your child may have weakness of trunk control if they lean on their desk, on their hands, or lean on furniture over a period of time. • Fine motor skills – Difficulty with fine motor skills can be seen during activities such as fastening buttons or clasps, difficulty with tasks such as beading or stringing, the child may also show difficulty when manipulating objects like opening a jar. • Visual perception – this is a child’s ability to use visual information and make sense of it; this would include recognition of letters and Spring 2013 - Issue 21

•

also being able to recall what an object looks like after visualizing it. Visual motor skills – this refers to using vision to guide motor output; it includes activities such as the ability to be able to copy shapes, letters and numbers.

If a child has difficulties with any of the above areas it is probable that they will also have issues with their handwriting When a child is referred to an Occupational Therapist due to poor handwriting the therapist will assess the above areas but also take into consideration areas such as possible sensory processing disorders, which if found to be present can have an effect on most areas of handwriting; such as the child not being able to write due to the feel of the pencil in their hand or the feel of the desk on their skin due to tactile defensiveness. Handwriting difficulties can be addressed in a variety of ways, an Occupational Therapist would prescribe activities that can be carried out in different environments; for example, in the home environment activities such as sports, games, and everyday activities help children improve many of the skills involved in handwriting. Any activities involving hand-eye coordination are also helpful such as

cutting, arts & crafts, cooking, baking, etc. To improve visual memory, teaching card games, playing with marbles, and engaging in hand sports using larger rather than smaller balls are all very useful activities. Studies of handwriting remediation suggest that intervention is effective. There is evidence to indicate that handwriting difficulties do not resolve without intervention and affect as much as around 10-30% of school aged children. Despite the widespread use of computers, legible handwriting remains an important life skill that deserves attention from educators and health practitioners (Feder,KP & Majnemer, A:2007). All of the above can be addressed by an Occupational Therapist during one to one sessions and also through group sessions. Inspire runs a 10 week handwriting course which is ran in a group setting by Occupational Therapists. It has been designed to address the above areas taking into consideration factors such as age and the handwriting level of the group members. The handwriting and pre writing groups focus on optimizing the child’s current ability so that their skills will grow and they will become more efficient and accurate in their handwriting. The overall

purpose of the groups is to make children more confident, motivated and skilled at handwriting. All of the groups are lead by one of our fully qualified Occupational Therapists who are passionate about their work; the groups also have a fun element which makes it an ideal environment for developing and learning skills. The groups are kept small to maximize the child’s learning capacity, enabling them to receive one to one help during the group if needed. The groups cover topics such as pre writing skills - which will include activities to develop fine motor skills and hand manipulation, as well as sensory activities. Past pre writing groups will then focus on skills such as letter formation, sizing, spacing between words, sitting letters on the line, lower case positioning of letters and pencil grasp. Depending on the age of the children and their particular level other skills such as visual perception & visual motor skills can be addressed to help them with skills at school for example copying from a board. There will be time in each group to “move around” these activities are directed by the Occupational Therapist and are designed to raise arousal levels which will help your child to focus and be attentive for longer periods. The groups last for 1 hour each week, which includes feedback to parents on

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

how their child is progressing and hints and tips that you can use at home and at school. At the end of the group the work carried out over the last 10 weeks will be taken home in the form of a portfolio so that any areas can be revised easily. If you have a child who has any difficulties in the areas discussed or would like further information regarding the handwriting groups please contact Georgia Henderson at the Marsaskala site of Inspire on 21636526 or via email at Georgia.henderson@inspire.org.mt References: • Feder,KP & Majnemer, A Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology,2007,Apr;49 (4) 312-7 • Woodward,S & Swinth, Y the American journal of occupational Therapy 305-312 May-June 2002, volume 56, number 3. • Useful links: • http://www. handwritinghelpforkids. com/basics.html#1 • http://www.nhahandwriting.org.uk/ handwriting/abouthandwriting-difficulties • http://childdevelopmentinfo. com/learning/handwriting. shtml by Georgia Henderson Senior Occupational Therapist Inspire – The Foundation for Inclusion (VO 199)

07 00

WIN your very own SUPER

Name: Address: Email:

Win a Super Bowling Party!

Growing Up in Malta is turning FIVE and we would like to celebrate in style. So our friends from Eden Super Bowl are giving a Super Bowling Party to one of our readers! All you have to do is aswer the question and you could be the winner of a Super Bowling Party for yourself and 17 of your friends!

Telephone: Mob:

Question: What is the name of the venue where the Bowling Party will be held?

Date of Birth:

Cut out the entry form and send it to:

Answer:

Growing Up in Malta, PO Box 20, St. Pauls Bay, or email your entry to: info@growing-up-in-malta.com before the 5th of June 2013. (Terms and conditions apply)

For more information on Super Bowl Parties or to book your party, call on 237 10 777 or visit www.edensuperbowl.com.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Dad in Progress

Changing Party Traditions By Paul Grech

Contrary to what Elton John sang, sorry has never been the hardest word for me. Instead what I really struggle with is to tell people ‘no’. It has always been a problem for me although, if I think hard enough, I believe that I can trace where it all started. It was at a friend’s birthday party, more precisely when his mother came round holding a plate of stuffed eggs. I’d never tasted one but from the smell I knew that the last place I wanted to put it was in my mouth. Yet my tentative shake of the head wasn’t enough to deter her and, if anything, it seemed to strengthen her resolve to ensure that I ate one. Eventually I gave in, took a bite and made the appropriate appreciative signs. Satisfied, she turned to her next victim as I quickly removed the remaining contents from my mouth. Soon I realised that refusing stuffed eggs at birthday parties was a no-no – “eat them, they’re good for you” – no matter how hard I tried to stonewall whoever happened to be doling them out. Thankfully for them, my kids haven’t had to go through the same experience. Not because stuffed eggs have gone out of fashion but because the nature of birthday parties has changed dramatically. No one seems to hold them in their living rooms anymore, passing round home-made sandwiches and playing donkey’s tail, which were staples of my childhood. Instead everyone is turning to fast food joints and similar establishments offering packaged deals. It is, of course, a matter of convenience for parents. You don’t have to worry about preparing the food,

If you like this article then you’ll love what Paul has to say on his blog over at www.dad-in-progress.com

entertaining a dozen or so screaming kids and then cleaning up after everyone has left. So what if the food isn’t that healthy and the entertainment rather forced; the kids certainly seem to love it and ultimately it is them you’re trying to please. Although that sounds like a criticism, it isn’t meant to be. I’d love to be one of those parents who is able to organise themed parties with wonderfully imaginative food and games prepared for those attending. Yet – and I realise that this might sound bad – the truth is that I have got neither the time nor, I suspect, the aptitude for that. I believe that most parents are the same. What many seem to do in order to compensate for any latent guilt is attempt to prepare an intricate birthday cake in the shape of Thomas the Train (for boys), Peppa Pig (girls) or whatever Spring 2013 - Issue 21

catches their particular child’s fancy. It is the Cake Boss phenomenon where Buddy seems to have inspired a generation of parents to try their hands at artistic cake making. Inevitably some succeed better than others but that hardly matters. What is truly important is the memories that it creates both for parent and child. There are few more rewarding feelings than seeing the look of delight on your child’s face; their joy at the realisation that their mother (or father) did this amazing thing. Just for them! Because while the nature of parties has changed the over-riding emotion remains the same; parents want to see their children happy and these, in turn, want confirmation that they’re loved. And whether it is stuffed eggs or a cake, nothing says that like something you’ve prepared yourself.

plan ahead for your child’s achievements We can help you better prepare for your children’s growing years with the BOV Parents Package. Talk to us today.

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01/03/2013 14:19

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Trust for a disabled Child – Tomorrow’s Solution Money Matters

for

parents

& grandparents

Our first article was all about why ‘every child should have his or her minor’s trust’ and how to help us parents save gradually for their future. A Trust for a disabled Child is another perfect example within the family context where a Trust addresses the concerns and requirements of the parents. A major concern of parents having children with disabilities is who will take care of their children’s affairs when they are no longer able to do so. Who will ensure the children’s assets are administered in the best interest to address their needs? Parents are seeking that peace of mind that unfortunately curators or siblings may not always be able to provide due to potential conflicts of interest or otherwise. So why set up a Trust for a disabled Child? A Trust operates according to the instructions and wishes of the parents setting up the Trust. Therefore besides ensuring that the assets held in Trust are protected for benefit of the disabled child, the Trustee may also be instructed to address more mundane matters. In practical terms, this may include payments of regular bills for services required by the disabled child in his or her daily life. A Trust for a disabled child usually involves a “Protector” who, initially, is the parent and then subsequently a close relative or friend of the family. The Protector is consulted on all major decisions relating to the administration of the Trust. Is it easy to set up a Trust for a disabled Child ? Today’s Trust Deeds are simple and flexible ensuring all the necessary clarity in the terms set out, but still remaining a personal and confidential matter. An arrangement is formalized in writing between the parents, or any other person wishing to set up a Trust, and the Trustee. It determines how the Trustee is to

administer the assets in the best interest of the disabled child. The assets legal ownership will be transferred from the parents, to the Trustee who will manage and protect them for the beneficial owner, the disabled child. The assets can include property, financial investments, cash etc. Initially, the parents themselves can benefit from the use and enjoyment of the immovable property settled in Trust and only subsequent to their

becoming very affordable. It is also becoming a common practice for Trustees to include administration of these trusts as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility activities. Which Laws are Relevant? Trusts in Malta are governed by the Trusts and Trustees Act (Cap.331 Laws of Malta). Professional Trustees are

Today’s Trust Deeds are simple and flexible ensuring all the necessary clarity in the terms set out, but still remaining a personal and confidential matter. demise will this be administered in the best interest of the disabled child.

authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority.

Tax implications? The Tax implications on income earned by the assets remain the same, irrespective of whether they are held in the Trust or by the parents or the disabled child directly.

Setting up a Trust addresses the situation where an individual is not capable to administer the assets so this responsibility is transferred to the Trustee. This is a perfect solution for parents who have a disabled child. When the parents are no longer capable of taking care of their assets for the benefit of the child the Trustee replaces them in this task.

Is a Trust for a disabled child expensive? The trust industry has developed over the years and although the Trust Document is always a very personal matter, the increase in demand and standardisation of the arrangement has resulted in Trusts Spring 2013 - Issue 21

By Albert Cilia - Ganado Trustees & Fiduciaries Ltd. You can contact him via email: acilia@jmganado.com

Health

When do I keep my child at Home? Sick children are taken to doctors and several questions often arise. Actually, when should children be taken to see a doctor when they are ill? And when can they return to school or otherwise join other children after being sick? Fever is a worrying sign. If the child has fever but is otherwise well, with no significant aches or pains, breathing normally etc, it is perfectly reasonable to bring the fever down with simple measures and possibly with medication before seeing a doctor. One can manage a child in this way for a day or two. If fever lasts more than three days, it is equally reasonable to seek medical advise. But any infant up to three months of age with documented fever should be seen as this could be the prelude to serious illness.

Please note that the above are only guidelines. Doctors take parental concerns very seriously and child who is worrying their caregiver should be seen.

Children should also be taken to a doctor if they have labored breathing, such as breathing fast or retracting (ribs sinking in and out) or making unusual noises (especially when they breath in).

When can a child who has been sick mix with other children and return to school?

Any child with persistent or frequent vomiting or diarrhoea should also be seen as dehydration becomes a significant risk. A dehydrated child will pass little urine and would be lethargic and less responsive, with no tears and dry lips. If the child has a rash and if the parents have any concern, then the child should be brought to a doctor’s attention. Children in significant pain should also be seen, as should children with any significant injuries. Conditions which do not get better should also be seen.

Fevers of 101° F or more preclude school. Likewise, even if there is no fever but your child is run down from an intercurrent illness, keep at home. Wait till the child feels better and the fever subsides. Keep your children home if their temperature is 101° F or higher. Wait until children are fever-free before letting them return to school. All children with obviously contagious and potentially serious illnesses should stay home. This includes flu and eye infections. Diarrhea is another reason to keep children away from school, until the stools are again well formed. The same applies to vomiting. Keep children home if they vomit twice or more in the last 24 hours. Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Severe cough and cold symptoms and eye infections should keep children home from school as should a sore throat until treated for at least 24 hours. If your child has a mild cold, it’s okay to send the child to school. A mild cold is no reason to keep children at home so long as their nasal drainage is clear and their cough is mild. Headaches may be a symptom of contagious illnesses such as gastroenteritis, flu, and sore throat. Keep home till the pain subsides. Rashes may imply contagious conditions such as chickenpox or impetigo. Children should be kept home until they’re diagnosed, treated and given the individual OK to return to school. Earaches are not contagious and if the pain is controlled, the child may return to school. by Prof. Victor Grech MD, PhD (Lond.), PhD (Malta), FRCPCH, MRCP(UK), DCH Consultant Paediatrician

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

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Mum Time

Whose party is it anyway? By Sylvana Brannon

I love organising parties, and with 4 small kids I host 6-8 parties a year. Over the years I’ve learned some tricks to keep them simple and stress-free because I’ve learned that if YOU are stressed out, nobody will enjoy the party – least of all the birthday child! Parties nowadays have become very demanding and the cost can skyrocket if you are not careful and simply “go with the trends”. I’ve heard of some outrageous theme parties for 1-year-olds who don’t even know what’s going on, or 4-year-olds with day-long pool parties where the grown-ups enjoy the party more than the kids who are usually overtired and not enjoying their day at all. Parties where even the people invited are stressed because they are not sure what to dress their children in or what’s an appropriate amount to spend on a gift, given the lavish themes proposed. So forget about keeping up with the classmates, and keep in mind WHO THE PARTY IS FOR. Your 1-year-old might not remember much about the day, but it should still be an opportunity to honour the milestone. As they get older, let them participate in the party planning by picking activities and who they want to invite. Keep the number of invitations manageable! Remember that with small kids you need to include the parent as well when it comes to planning for food and seating space. Some people follow a rule of Age + 1. So if the child is turning 5, you invite 6 friends. Do not feel pressured to invite the whole class. I used to do this in the beginning but then nobody enjoyed the party because there were simply too many kids to keep entertained, which means you’d probably need professional help

in running it, with the added expense of having to hire party entertainers. Keep the menu simple. In my experience kids are more interested in running around and going crazy for a couple of hours than in eating, so keep the food simple. I usually have sandwiches, cold tortellini with cheese, sausages, pizza, cut up fruit, water and juice. Throw in some Twistees and/or popcorn and of course a birthday cake, and everyone is happy! When it comes to location, it really depends on the weather. Having the party at home has the advantage that everything you may need last-minute is there, and it can also mean a very easy and relaxed get-together with friends where you throw in a movie and pop some popcorn, and the party is done! At times I just provided them with lots of paper, colours, glitters, empty plastic bottles, and other craft items bought cheaply and leave them creating to their own imagination! On other occasions I gave them costumes and old clothes and handbags and they started dressing up and the next thing you know, they created a show or a concert! I’ve given Spring 2013 - Issue 21

them cardboard boxes and paints, and for 1- and 2-year olds I set up small summer pools filled with plastic balls. My older daughter started having sleepovers instead of parties, so she invites 4 girlfriends and we blow up some mattresses and they watch movies, paint their nails, dance, and dress up all night. And I mean, ALL NIGHT!! For summertime parties I’ve simply taken everyone up on the roof and given them chalk and fingerpaints to “decorate” the roof walls. Empty plastic bottles were also used as skittles. At other times I’ve held picnics in public places like a beach, and they run loose and simply return to the “headquarters” for food and cake. When you hold a party outside, the only clean-up necessary is the basic garbage collecting. So remember to do a reality check if you start feeling stressed out about your child’s party, as this is usually a signal that you may be going overboard! Keep it simple and fun – and keep in mind who the party is for. (You can download resources for birthday party planning from: w w w. m a m a k n o w s . co m . mt / birthday-parties.php)

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

All clothing is available from any Mothercare outlet.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Nutrition

Cool Kids, Cool Party Food A party is all about fun, so forget ideas of converting the little ones to wholemeal bread or lentil salad on this day.That said, there is room for food that offers plenty of nutrition and goodness.It’s all a matter of balance.

If the cake is loaded with snakes and smarties, introduce some healthier savoury options. Or follow the hotdogs and chips with a fruit platter. Leaving the sweet stuff off the table at the start. If you put out the savoury food first,

Pastry Fish and Chips Ingredients: • 6 sheets frozen ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed • 1 egg, lightly beaten • 120g finely grated parmesan • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika Preheat oven to 220C. Working with 3 sheets of pastry, use a floured 10cm fishshaped biscuit cutter to cut 8 fish out from each sheet. Place on baking paperlined oven trays. Using a 5mm piping nozzle, cut eyes out of fish then press

Cool. Meanwhile, cut remaining pastry sheets in 1/2 and brush with egg. Sprinkle 3 halves with 1/2 the parmesan then sandwich with remaining pastry halves. Brush top of sandwiched pastry with egg and sprinkle with remaining parmesan and paprika. Cut into 1cm strips.

nozzle gently into pastry to form scales. Brush fish with beaten egg. Bake for 1012 minutes or until puffed and golden. • • • • • • •

Recipies by Sophia Young - Photographs by Ben Dearnley

Baked Chicken Spring Rolls Ingredients: • 1 barbecued or roast chicken Beef patties in tortilla pockets with tomato salsa Ingredients: • 1kg minced beef • 1 cup (70g) fresh white breadcrumbs • 2 eggs, lightly beaten • 1 small onion, coarsely grated • 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley • 60g grated parmesan • 40g sesame seeds • Vegetable oil, for shallow-frying • 2 x 240g pkts tortillas, halved • Tomato salsa Place mince, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, parsley, parmesan, 1 1/2 tsp salt and

which is healthier than just eating lollies, then they will eat it. Similarly, if you don’t offer endless supplies of chips then there is more chance that the good stuff might get a look at.

2 corncobs, husks removed 4 green onions, thinly sliced 1 tsp finely grated ginger 1/2 tsp sesame oil 1 tbs soy sauce 1 pkt frozen spring roll wrappers 1/4 cup (60ml) peanut oil

Remove meat from chicken in large pieces. Discard skin and bones then finely shred chicken and place in a bowl. Cook corn in a saucepan of boiling water over medium heat for 5 minutes or until just tender. Drain and cool under running water. Cut kernels from cobs. Add to

Place on baking paper-lined oven trays then bake for 12-15 minutes or until puffed and golden. Cool. Serve fish and chips in newspaper cones, lined with baking paper. chicken with onions, ginger, sesame oil and soy sauce. Stir well to combine. Preheat oven to 200°C. Lay out a spring roll wrapper with a point facing towards you. Place 2 tablespoonfuls of corn mixture on pastry then fold pastry over filling once. Fold in side corners. Brush far corner with water then roll up tightly. Repeat with remaining filling and pastry. Place spring rolls on an oven tray. Brush with peanut oil then bake for 20-25 minutes or until crisp and golden. baking paper.

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper in a bowl. Using your hands, mix to combine. Using slightly damp hands, form mixture into patties, 2 tablespoonfuls at a time. Place sesame seeds on a plate then roll patties, 1 at a time, lightly in seeds to coat. Pour oil into a frying pan until it is 1cm deep. Heat over medium heat until hot. Cook patties, in batches, for 2 1/2 minutes each side or until cooked through. Preheat oven to 180°C. Wrap tortillas in foil. Place in oven for 10 minutes or until warmed through and soft. Form warm Spring 2013 - Issue 21

tortilla halves into cones and fold bases under, then fill each with a beef patty and a spoonful of salsa. Wrap with a strip of baking paper to secure.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

games, com petitions

Building Robots during Summer! Last summer STC launched two Training Programmes in Robotics. These courses were intended for students to explore the mechanical and programming aspects of computing and to learn through a fun and creative process of designing, building and programming the robots to reach different objectives. STC incorporated the LEGO® NXT Mindstorms Kits as an essential tool for a hands-on and fun approach to learning. The LEGO® NXT Mindstorms, which at first glance resemble a toy, is in actual fact a robotic kit that enables users to explore various aspects of computing in a relatively quick manner and without any supplemental equipment other than a computer for programming software.

The Robotics Training The Robotics Training is designed to pace students from elementary through to complex problem solving to provide for positive hierarchical learning. This training exposes students to Design Processes and challenges them to apply a multitude of skills and knowledge from many other subject areas including mathematics, visuospatial skills, problem-solving and logic. The programming element in this training may essentially be categorized into Visual and/ or Java interface. The Visual interface using LEGO® NXT software enables students of all ages with no prior programming experience to programme robots towards objectives. It is a skill that is quickly mastered through a highly motivational process of learning trials and error to achieve successful results. The Java interface is a more advanced technique whereby experienced students interface Java and the robot adding logic as an important layer. The added advantage of utilising logic in the programming of robots is that it promotes language development in students. The learning outcomes

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

and a lot of fun!

span from the hard and fast elements of computing to the more subtle nuisances of social skills. Students practice and are immersed in the design process from brainstorming ideas, building and sketching the initial designs, prototyping, testing and revising, to the final production and competition. All the learning stages are highly reliant on team work as an essential component for success. Students also learn an important lesson for life, that in the real world there are no correct or incorrect solutions - but ones that work well, others that don’t work well, and many that don’t work at all. Studies show that robotics creates interest for both girls and boys and thus no gender limitations are at play with such robots. Further details on these courses: http://roboclass.wordpress. com/ http://roboclassjuniors. wordpress.com/

@ 25

Would you like to win your very own Billy & Bangle T-Shirt? To celebrate our Birthday we have 5 T-Shirts to give away!

Colour our colouring-in pages and send them to: Growing Up in Malta, PO Box 20, St. Pauls Bay. Make sure your entry is in before the 5th of June 2013. Have fun and be creative!!! Name: Age: Tel.:

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Touch here to request the colouring pages via email in the interactive iPad version.

27 Spring 2013 - Issue 21

s! Making Birthday Pop Cake

Make your own:

Cake Pops! We can’t get enough of cake pops - they’re the perfect bite size party treat. Why don’t you try creating these chocolate flavoured ones. Easy to make and no oven needed. Preperation time: Cooking Time: Ingredients: Difficulty: This recipe makes:

0:45 0:07 3 Super easy 22 cake pops

2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Add melted chocolate to cake mixture. Stir until well combined. Roll 2 level teaspoons of mixture into a ball. Place on a baking paper-lined baking tray. Repeat with remaining cake mixture.

Ingredients: • 300g chocolate cake • 375g packet chocolate melts • food colouring

Step 2 Place 1/4 cup chocolate in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Dip 2cm of 1 end of each lollipop stick into melted chocolate. Push 1 lollipop into each cake ball. Return to tray. Freeze for 20 to 30 minutes or until firm.

Preperation: Step 1 Using your hands, roughly break up cake, into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Continue breaking cake into smaller pieces until finely crumbled. Place 2/3 cup chocolate in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 1 to

Step 3 Set aside 1/3 cup chocolate. Place remaining chocolate in a small heatproof, microwavesafe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Dip cakes, 1 at a time, into melted chocolate. Tap stick on side

Equipment: 22 x 7cm long plastic lollipop sticks and a thick piece of polystyrene to stand cake pops in and adult to assist with the hot chocolate.

Which piece is missing?

Fun & games

with Tinti

Spot the difference!

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

of bowl to drain excess. Push stick into foam. Stand for 10 minutes or until set. Step 4 Place remaining chocolate in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium (50%) for 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Tint in a colour with food colouring. Spoon into a snap-lock bag. Snip off 1 corner. Drizzle balls with chocolate. Place in fridge until set.

Who knows the way?

H ol

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am NE po W lin A e tt & ra Pl ct ay i st on at s: io n 3 E: info@playzone.com.mt

‘Every Kids Paradise!’ Birthday Parties: Never Ending Fun For Our Little Guests! Free Invitations and a Free Toy to Birthday Child! Main Attractions: Bouncy Castle, Baby Ball Pool, Climbing Adventure, Playstations 3 & more! Phone now for our variety of pricing options! Or visit www.playzone.com.mt for more info.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Made with Love! For Mummy on Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day...

with a little help from

Air hardening modelling clay Suitable for children from the age of 4. A pleasure to use as it has a pleasant and fresh feel and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stain the way clay does. Just leave it to air dry for 24 hrs, thereby eliminating the use of high temperature ovens. Once hardened it can be painted, varnished, polished and cut. Available in the colours white and terracotta.

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Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Cake Decorating

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decorate a cake! How would you like your birthday cake to look? Use your imagination. How many candles, which colours and what should it taste off?!?! We have 2 fabulous cakes to give away to 2 winners. Your entry needs to be in before the 20th of May 2013. Send your entry to: Growing Up in Malta, PO Box 20, St. Pauls Bay and you might be enjoying an amazing cake with your friends and family!

Name: Address: Tel: Age: Spring 2013 - Issue 21

27 31 33

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Spring 2013 - Issue 21

STC Training, Block A, Alamein Road, Pembroke, PBK 1776 , Malta Tel: +356 21453200 www.stcmalta.com info@stcmalta.com

rdening tips for Kids. Ga s! er ng Fi n ee Gr g in ow Gr

Bring Spring to your Garden As Spring is knocking on our door, it is a fantastic time to get our hands dirty in the garden - at this time of year, lots of seeds can be sown such as marigolds, petunia as well as burning bushes and sunflowers!

loose and fluffy for planting the bulbs, though not much air should be kept in between -you would need to press the compost down to avoid airlocks but don’t overdo it.

Plenty of pretty bulbs are currently available to be planted such as dahlias and gladioli as most of the garden is starting to come back to life after a resting period during the winter season. It is a nice family activity, clearing up the garden and preparing it for the coming months by increasing colour in our garden using different kinds of bulbs. Come outside and let’s plant some bulbs! You will need: • Bulbs • Pot or soil patch in the garden • Plastic trowel for better compost/soil handling • Good quality/draining compost (we get the stender brand which is of high quality) • Watering can - preferably with a rosette spout to avoid compost distruption.

Step 1. Take a trip to a Garden Centre and choose a nice selection of bulbs. Many different types and colours are available.

Step 4. Bulbs should be planted with the roots facing down. If you are unsure on which way you should plant your bulb, you can always plant the bulb sideways.

Step 5. Place your bulbs 10cms apart, though there are certain bulbs that would require more space. Alyways check the instructions on the packets to make sure.

In 10 - 14 days you will see the first changes as the bulbs will start to sprout! Make sure that: Bulbs must be placed outside in as much sun as possible. Do not over water as the bulbs would rot. To administer the right amount of water, you need to feel the compost to see if its still moist or not - ideally check compost 5 cms deep as top layer of the compost dries out much faster. To store the bulbs from one year to another, you can either leave them planted and watch them grow next year or remove them from their container and store them in a paperbag/netted bag in dry conditions. Plastic should be avoided at all costs as this does not allow the air to flow. For an instruction video go to: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=IC7SK URSeyowatch?v=IC7 SKURSeyo

Thanks to:

Step 6. Bulbs should be planted between 10 - 15cms deep. Step 7. After putting some compost on top of the bulbs to cover them, water the bulbs in an even and circular motion to make sure all the compost is wet.

Step 2. Once you have all you need, you can start by filling your pot with about 30-35cm of fresh compost. Step 3. The compost should be kept

33 Spring 2013 - Issue 21

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Education

Growing Up in Malta...

by Vanessa Macdonald

When I was young, the Gozo ferry was always accompanied by scores of dolphins but they are now far more rarely seen by commuters. The only problem is, we do not know exactly what is happening to their population. The same applies to turtles. We became so much more aware of their beauty when a turtle laid her eggs at Gnejna Bay last year – but we were also able to appreciate the pressure under which these species try to survive. That poor turtle, carrying almost 80 eggs, had probably been looking for somewhere suitable to lay them for some time. You can imagine her being put off by the crowds at Golden Sands and then at Ghajn Tuffieha before she eventually could go no further and crawled onto the sand at Gnejna. We would all be devastated if bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles were to disappear from our shores – but ensuring their survival requires a proper understanding of their population and the areas in which they breed and live. This, in turn, has to be based on scientific information – and at the moment, we simply do not know enough about their local lifestyle patterns to be able to pinpoint such specific areas and to understand better their population. Even historically, there is very little information available and while more

“We would all be devastated if bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles were to disappear from our shores...” recent information reported by NGOs, the Armed Forces, Transport Malta and experts is invaluable, it is not centralised and each entity records different data, as it is required for different purposes. This is why MEPA decided to create a project which would collect all the data and centralise it. Once done, it becomes far easier to monitor trends, to identify problems, and to lobby for change. MEPA successfully applied to the EU for funds under the LIFE+ project and got the additional money it needed from Bank of Valletta, which has taken on this campaign as part of its extensive community programme. The project is called “Migrate – A wave of hope for marine life”, and it will be underway for over three years. The idea is to record all sightings of the dolphins and turtles, logging details of where they were, the sea and wind state at the time, any associated context which may also influence them such as the presence of a trawler nearby and other important information like the number of dolphins and turtles in the group and so on. The information will be gathered by a dedicated research vessel, with Spring 2013 - Issue 21

the help of the Spanish project partner, KAI Marine. MEPA also hopes to rope in other volunteers who would encounter them at sea, from sailors to fishermen and divers as such data would also be essential in shaping the scientific surveys. BOV will help in this regard by using its extensive community presence to recruit volunteers and raise awareness about the project. There is already a telephone number (9921 0404) on which people can report injured turtles and emails can be sent to marine.species@mepa.org.mt. These contact details are also being used for the Migrate project for any sightings that may occur. Read more about the project at www.mepa.org.mt/lifemigrate. Look out for posters and articles at Bank of Valletta branches, on our website (www.bov.com) and in the media which will explain how you can get involved to save the beautiful turtles and to ensure that dolphins will still be around to charm your children with their playful antics. Ms Macdonald is the Head of Media and Community Relations at Bank of Valletta.

Did you know? There are a number of dolphins which can be seen around Malta. Three of these are the following:

•

the common dolphin (id-denfil komuni) one of the most gregarious species, esaily recognisable by the hour glass pattern and tan or yellowish patch on each side and which despite its name has become one the rarest of the three species mentioned here; the striped dolphin (l-istenella) has distinctive stripings (with a short thin dark streak behind the eye and longer dark stripe running from the eye nearly up to the tail region) and often with a pinkish underside; the bottlenose dolphin’s (id-denfil geddumu qasir) flanks are more or less one colour - a subdued grey colouring. This dolphin is the main species (together with the loggerhead turtle) this project will focus on. However, all the other encountered species will also be recorded.

There are seven species of marine turtle around the world, which can be identified from their carapace (their shell). The loggerhead turtle has a very typical head giving it its name and has a heart-shaped carapace with five plates on the lateral side of the carapace. Three of the species seen in Malta (Green, Kemp’s Ridley and Hawskbill), were recorded only once or twice, whilst for the leatherback and the loggerhead we have a number of records, though the first is not so common, as it is a vagrant species in the Mediterranean. There have been numerous recent reports of turtles laying eggs on beaches but none of the recent ones have been independently scientifically verified, except for the last one in Gnejna in summer 2012 .

Join our award-winning baby development programme! Great for speech, language and social development and more importantly lots of fun! Days: Mondays, Tuesdays & Saturdays. Venue: Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy, San Pawl tat-Targa. Ages: 6-18 months (Stage 1); 14-22 months (Stage 2) SUMMER TERM STARTS 13th APRIL 2013 BOOKING NOW OPEN!

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Spring 2013 - Issue 21

As poon ful of love and protection Nestlé CERELAC contains Immunonutrients and a unique probiotic Bifidus BL Benefits of Immunonutrients: • Iron and zinc which help your baby’s immune system • Vitamins A and C to promote immunity, healthy skin and intestinal barrier Benefits of Probiotic Bifidus BL: • Helps strengthen the immune system • Keeps your baby’s digestive system healthy • Proven to help protect and strengthen your baby’s natural defences day-by-day CERELAC FLAVOURS • • • • • • • • •

Wheat with Milk Rice with Milk Rice & Maize with Milk Apple & Wheat with Milk Banana & Wheat with Milk Mixed Vegetable, Rice with Milk Honey & Wheat with Milk 3 Cereals with Milk Mixed Fruits & Wheat with Milk

To join the Nestlé Baby Club or for further information send an email to nutrition.support@mt.nestle.com

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

parents

to be

Air Purifiers product review

Tips for preventing or relieving muscle cramps

• •

•

• • •

•

Taking a calcium and magnesium supplement can be extremely beneficial for preventing cramps. Do not stand or sit with your legs crossed for long periods of time, this will reduce the circulation in your legs. If you get a cramp, stretch your legs and flex your feet upwards, then massage the cramping area, or walk around until it stops. Doing regular forms of excercise like swimming , walking and or prenatal yoga wil help reduce cramping. Doing calf and leg stretches daily can also be benificial. Doing these before bed is recommended if you are prone to leg cramps while sleeping. A nice warm bath at the end of the day can help relax and sooth sore muscles. Drink plenty of water as dehydration can also be the cause of muscle cramps. If you have a constant pain in your legs, along with swelling, call your doctor to rule out any serious conditions such as blood clotting in the leg vein. Though this condition is very rare, it is better to be safe and have it checked out. In case of any doubt, always consult your doctor or midwife.

Airfree Air Purifiers are the natural solution for asthma, allergies, mould and contaminated air. Airfree are the world’s safest and most tested air purifiers. Approximately 90% of our time is spent in internal environments where air contamination can reach as high as 100 times the level found in streets. The air in our homes is replete with microorganisms harmful to our health including the mould, dust mites, viruses and bacteria responsible for a series of diseases and respiratory allergies. Through its exclusive technology, Airfree naturally eliminates 99.99% of microbiological air contamination and thus guarantees far better quality air. Allergy & asthma sufferers Airfree destroys the allergenic causes of the main respiratory diseases and allergies such as asthma, rhinitis and bronchitis. Mothers-to-be and Toddlers Airfree reduces exposure of babies to allergens thereby contributing towards the prevention of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Homes with Mould Airfree prevents the incidence of must and mould in homes located in humid environments and with low levels of direct sunshine. The Airfree technology is the only proven means of reducing ozone. Furthermore it is highly economic requiring neither maintenance, nor filter-changing and uses less energy than a standard 60 Watt bulb. Airfree purifiers are now available from V&F Portelli & Sons Ltd. in Mriehel.

Kickstart your day - Mum to be Power Muesli Serves 3 - 4 This highly nutritious muesli is the perfect start to the day. Packed with the goodness of whole oats, nuts, seeds and sun-dried fruits. 1 cup whole oats 1 cup of puffed brown rice, amaranth, quinoa or buckweat 3 tbsp of chia seeds or flaxseeds 1/4 cup of pumpkin and sunflower seeds 1/4 cup of raw almonds 1/2 cup of sliced, mixed, sun-dried fruits (e.g. apple, apricot, dates, figs, cranberries or goji berries. Mix together in a bowl and serve with a spoonful of natural yoghurt and milk if desired. You can also add a little drizzle of raw honey.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Nutrition - Weaning

Welcoming solid food in your baby’s life Breast milk is the best start to your baby’s life. For the first six months, it should be the only source of nutrition. But from six months onwards, milk alone cannot meet your baby’s growing nutritional needs. At around six months of age, your baby will be growing at a very rapid rate. For example, it’s weight would double by now and by the time he or she is one year old, it will triple! Not only will the baby gain weight, baby’s body length will also increase and organs will grow rapidly, both in size and activity. Your baby was born with some important nutrients, e.g. Iron, stored in

it’s body. These will also start to reduce then and will need to be filled-in through the baby’s diet.

period of transition from all milk to the family diet. Foods given at this time are normally called “weaning foods”.

To meet these increased nutrient requirements your baby will need an increased amount of additional foods while continuing to have breast milk.

This is one of the most important stages of growing up in your baby’s life. It is important for you to enjoy it, and encourage your baby without forcing it. Let it happen at its own pace.

What is Weaning? Weaning means slowly introducing solid foods in your baby’s diet until he or she is eating the same foods as the rest of your family. In other words, this is a crucial

Remember, all babies are different and have their own preferences about what they like to eat and when they are ready to eat. If you have any questions, seek

Signs of General Progress: 6 Months onwards

8 Months onwards

10 Months onwards

12 Months onwards

When Baby:

Recognizes familiar people especially Mum

Picks up objects and puts them in mouth - including food

Sits without support and holds head erect

Gives an object - responds to a simple instruction

Plays with hands & looks at them

Begins progressively to transfer objects from one hand to the other

Waves bye-bye with hand

Shakes head to say no independently

Enjoys watching things

Sits in high chair

Recognizes familiar voices

Begins to walk alone

Smiles at own reflection in the mirror

Turns head towards sounds

Looks for hidden toys

Communicates in “word”

Plays with toes and begins to grasp feet

Uses sounds to communicate

Responds to it’s own name

Begins to say “mama”

Shows anxiety when seeing a stranger end directs a smile to a familiar face

Strats creeping or crawling

Combines syllables into word-like sounds

Sits with support

Exchanges smiles

Begins to stand with support

Reaches for an object with hand

Changes position to see objects

Begins to hold head up Supports weight on forearms Supports weight on hands with extended arms Rolls over

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Your baby will be ready to start progressively eating solids when these signs of progress appear: 6 months onwards When baby: • Sits with support, and holds head up for short period. • Has progressively lost extrusion reflex (in early infancy baby automatically pokes out tongue when something is put in mouth) • Shows ability to swallow non-liquid foods • Moves tongue in mouth to make a bolus (this is the most important milestone indicating that the baby is ready to eat foods other than liquids) • Begins to open mouth as spoon approaches • Turns head away from spoon when no longer hungry • Shows increased interest on seeing food and excitement when food is prepared 8 months onwards When baby: • Shows good control on lips and tongue • Begins to show likes and dislikes for foods (24 weeks)

• • • • • • •

Begins to be able to chew and must be encouraged (textured semi-solid food) Can make a bolus (by moving food from front to back of mouth) and can swallow it Gradually begins to hold food and put it in mouth Begins to drink from a cup held by an adult Keeps lips closed when offered food he/she does not want Holds bottles with help Moves upper lips to accommodate spoon

12 months onwards When baby: • Takes food with fingers • Holds a spoon • Begins to self-feed • Progressively rotates spoon near mouth • Manages progressively to drink from cup (picking it up, putting it down) • Munches with rotary chewing • Closes lips when swallowing (mature swallow) • Uses lips, tongue and teeth.

10 months onwards When baby: • Has active upper lip • Cries in a different way to express hunger • Holds bottle without help • Drinks from cup with help • Begins to pick up food between thumb and forefinger • Begins to move tongue correctly and chew on both sides • Begins to move food laterally to teeth • Closes mouth firmly or turns head when no longer hungry • Shows first teeth

When to wean? Nutrition - Weaning Making the transition from breastfeeding to solid foods is a big event for both you and your baby. It’s not just a matter of getting nutrition in a new way – it’s a whole set of skills and enjoyments. All babies are different, and have their own preferences about what they like to eat, and when they’re ready. If you have other children, you may be surprised by how different your new baby is from your elder son or daughter. It’s important that you follow the individual cues of your new baby – each to his or her own! Medical experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Weaning should begin once your baby is six months old. Since babies vary in their needs, consult your doctor on when she is ready for sold foods. Starting too early or too late both have their implications.

Starting weaning too soon: •

• •

A baby does not need these foods yet and they may displace breast milk. Less breast milk means lesser amount of growth and protective nutrients. It increases the risk of diarrhea and other infections. In order to make them easy to eat, the food given are often thin, watery porridges or soups that do not provide adequate amount of nutrients to the child.

Starting weaning too late: • •

The child doesn’t get enough food needed to fulfill her increasing needs. It might affect her proper growth Spring 2013 - Issue 21

•

and development. The chances of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies increase.

Foods to give Your baby will take some time to learn and accept new foods. Be patient and help her with the discovery of a lifetime! Your child’s first weaning food should be: • •

• •

Easy to digest and provides optimum vitamins and minerals. Based on cereals (like rice, wheat), mashed fruits (like apple or banana) or cooked veg (like potato or sweet potato). Natural in taste – without added sugars or salt – mashed and well strained. Fortified with Iron while providing additional vitamins and minerals.

At Plum, we make sure our meals nourish every aspect of a baby’s development – the parts that help them learn and explore, grow and develop motor skills, build their immune system and communicate and interact with others – the texture even helps exercise the tiny muscles used for speech. Because if we feed every part we can, your baby has more chance of being all he or she can be. All our recipes are based on Quinoa

Plum builds speech, bodies, bones and, best of all, brains.

Give them a Plum start

29, Sanitas Building, Tower Street, Msida MSD 1824 Tel: 2134 4610 | Email: info@viviancorp.com

Plum Baby Food (Malta)

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

for

parents

Nutrition - Product Review

& grandparents

What is Quinoa? The Spanish colonists scorned quinoa as peasant food and the Incas were forced to grow wheat instead, but over the last decadequinoa has seen a revival due to its excellent nutritional profile. It has a mild, nutty flavour and is often used like a grain. Why is Quinoa good for my baby? Quinoa has nutrition experts excited because of its exceptionally high protein content of 12 to 18% – compared with 7% in rice. Unlike wheat or rice, quinoa is a complete protein because it contains all 9 essential amino acids. In particular quinoa is high in lysine, an amino acid important for tissue growth and repair. Lysine also helps boost the body’s calcium absorption, building strong bones.

Editorial Sponsored by Plum.

Quinoa is also high in fibre (it has 50% more fibre than brown rice) and iron. It is naturally gluten-free making it easy for babies to digest but also has a low glycaemic index – meaning your baby will digest it slowly and it will keep them feeling full for longer. It’s also a natural source of Vitamin E and Vitamin B1, along with most of the minerals needed by the human body – calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium and copper. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation considers quinoa a ‘super crop’ as the only vegetable source that is a complete protein. Why and how does Plum use the magic grain? By adding quinoa to our Stage 1 products, we are offering additional protein into babies’ diet that is ‘lost’ from when babies drop a feed when first weaning. Protein generally isn’t added back into babies’ diet until the introduction of cheese, fish & meat at Stage 2. Many ‘pure’ fruit purees on the market do not contain the required

Quinoa is actually a seed (about the size of a sesame seed) derived from a plant that grows at very high altitudes in the Andes mountains in Central and South America. A main staple of the Inca diet for thousands of years, they referred to it as the ‘sacred grain’ because of its nutritional properties.

protein content to constitute a meal as defined by European infant food legislation. By adding quinoa to our recipes it improves the protein content of each of our recipes ensuring that they meet the nutritional requirements of baby food meals. We use a flaked Spring 2013 - Issue 21

form of quinoa, specially prepared for us to meet baby food production standards. This avoids its traditional chewy texture resulting in a super grain that’s packed with goodness but lovely and smooth – perfect for baby and reassuring for you.

Parents to be

Rock-a-bye Baby... Baby, Please Sleep We all were told before the baby was born that we would have to get up in the night... But no one told us how long this was going to last...

fall asleep by them selves and baby will not expect to be rocked to sleep should he or she wake up in the middle of the night.

Here some sleep tips and tricks that might help baby off to a sound sleep.

Tip 4 - Your there, but you’re not there... Sometimes it will calm your baby if you stay close-by for a little while, just after you put him or her to bed. You are not entertaining the baby or talking to it, but just by being there (perhaps folding some washing or reading a book) baby will have a sense of security.

Can you teach baby to sleep? Most of the time a newborn has a topsy turvey rhythm. Thanks to your physical activities baby might have been asleep during the day. When you finally put your feet up in the evening, baby was waking up. Baby, quite often keeps this sleep and awake pattern, directly after birth. But there is hope, you can try to “teach” baby to sleep.

Tip 5 - Were did we leave it? It will be a major drama when your baby or child looses it favourite cuddly

Baby Massage Touch is the one most important senses in a new-borns life. It gives the feeling of trust and security. It is also an excellent way to calm you baby down just before going to sleep. It’s not difficult. The only things you will need are; some baby oil and a warm and quite space. • Put a little baby oil on the palms of your hands and rub these to warm up the oil.

“Touch is one of the most important senses in a new-borns life. It gives the feeling of trust and security”

Tip 1 - Day and Night Help your child to develop a day and night routine. Put baby to sleep during the day in a light and slightly noisy surrounding. Perhaps after feeding in a travel cot in the living room whilst making a phone call. Or listen to some music while you take a moment for yourself to read a book. At night put baby to sleep in a dark and quiet room, this will teach baby the difference between day and night and slowly but surely your baby will learn that night time is for sleeping and daytime is for napping. Tip 2 - Bath, Cuddle, Song Babies get quickly used to a steady routine. For example after their bath, a nice feed with mummy, a nice cuddle with daddy, a lullaby and then off to bed. This routine could calm and relax your baby. Tip 3 - Awake to bed Put baby at a very young age sleepy but still awake in bed. This will teach baby to

toy or dummy. Make sure your baby or child only has this special toy or dummy at bedtime it will stay in bed and the chances of losing this special toy will be minimal.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

• • • •

•

• • •

Talk softly to your baby or sing a song to your baby whilst massaging. In turn with your left and right hand, long strokes from top to bottom over chest, belly or back. Draw soft circles with your fingertips on the shoulders, elbows and wrists of your little one. Rub down from the shoulders towards the arms and hands. Has baby opened its hand massage all fingers separately. Is the hand closed, massage the closed hand. Massage from the hips down towards the feet, massage with your thumb the sole of baby’s foot and massage each toe individually. Draw with your fingertips soft circles on baby’s hips, knees and ankles. End your massage with long strokes from top to toe. Now a nice big cuddle and then...off to sleep.

Sleep tips for mum and dad Bedroom secrets Night sweats (hormones), dry throat, cold feet...Just a few nighttime uncomforts that can keep you awake, or perhaps wake you after a few hours of sleep. These tips might help:

Tip 1 - Warm and cold A bedroom temperature of 14 to 18 degrees is ideal for your bedroom. Invest in appropriate bedding for each season. Cold feet? Bath your feet in hot - cold baths (start with hot - 38 degrees- and end with cold) this will widen your arteries in your feet and your feet will feel warm. Tip 2 - Not too much green During the day plants and flowers produce oxygen, but at night some plants produce unhealthy carbon dioxide. Even worse are the traces that cause allergies and asthma. So: better no plants and flowers in the bedroom at night. There your are, baby finally asleep, mummy and daddy awake. Temptation must be big to switch on the tv. But... Tip 3 - Bedtime ritual Watching tv is not making you as sleepy as you might think. The light from the tv or a computer screen slows the production of melatonin, this will block the signal to your body of time to go to sleep. It’s better, just like your baby or child, to have a bedtime ritual. Think of brushing your teeth and perhaps read a few pages of a (not to scary) book. Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Lots of young parents will have their dinner after their child(ren) have gone to sleep. This is often too late in the evening. During the evening your body temperature goes down. A late meal will make your body temperature rise; just enough so your body won’t feel the need for sleep, just yet. Tip 4 - Awake due to wine Caffeine in coffee causes sleep problems - we all know this - But did you know that chocolate also contains caffeine? A lot of cheese contains tyramine, this is an amino acid that looks like an adrenaline and this is a stimulant - neurotransmitter. Potatoes and tomatoes also contain tryamine and can cause sleep disturbances. Tip 5 - Sleepy dessert Quark with banana is an excellent dessert, dairy and banana contain Tryptophan. This amino acid stimulates the production of melatonin, the hormone that stimulates a balanced sleep rhythm. Please note that these tips are just what they are, tips. Should you expierence any difficulties with your baby please consult your Midwife, GP or Pediatrician.

Product Review

“A Springboard to Children’s Confidence” A study published by Sandra Buttigieg et al in the Malta Medical Journal in 2012 entitled “Maternal awareness of health promotion, parental and preschool childhood obesity” shows 38.5% of all 3 year old children in Malta and Gozo were either overweight or obese. The findings of the study suggest that mothers with a high BMI (Body Mass Index, a measure based on one’s height and weight) are more likely to have children who are overweight. In addition, the study also finds “that a higher proportion of obese and overweight preschool children had no maternal awareness of health promotion and health education as compared to children with normally accepted weight.”

“Tackling obesity and the issue of being overweight must start in childhood.” vegetables, grains and dairy products. Exercise is vital to the healthy development of children. Research shows that children can gain health benefits simply by becoming physically

Tackling obesity and the issue of being overweight must start in childhood. Any effort in this regard must simultaneously deal with two aspects: a healthy diet and regular exercise. It is easier to prevent being overweight by ensuring a healthy diet and regular exercise at an early age than trying to correct it later on. Food preferences formed in the early years translate as habits into adulthood and obese children are more likely to be obese adults. Parents and educators must help children understand the importance of a balanced diet which includes all the important nutrients: carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are found in seafood, meat and poultry, fruits,

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

more active, but the greatest benefits come from taking part in planned and structured exercise. All young children need to grow, to learn and to move at whatever rate they find

comfortable and entirely at their own pace. They must have the freedom to learn from experience, to experience setbacks without fear of criticism. They must be able to reach self-esteem at the most fundamental level and be given equal opportunity to realise their potential. After all, success upon success builds confidence. Besides developing their self-confidence, exercise also helps children develop their self-esteem. Exercise also helps in gaining more energy and in building strength. Exercise is also known to help improve blood circulation and to lower blood pressure. Other benefits of exercise include an improved memory. Structured physical activity like that offered at Tumble Tots is designed to build children’s self-confidence by helping to develop the physical and social skills of pre-school children. This is done through the use of brightly coloured equipment such as bars, trestles, balance boards, ladders, balls and hoops which are used for tasks designed to include all aspects of physical motor education including ball handling, locomotive skill development, rhythms and manipulative skills. Coupled with the positive-laden, loving and caring environment, such programmes heighten a child’s total body awareness. Through the careful study of child behaviour during their formative years, the Tumble Tots programme is progressive in its methods. Since it recognises the emotional changes and stages in a child’s life, each session

is structured to cater to the different physical skill levels, behaviour and emotions of the age group. Each weekly session combines fun, excitement and challenge in a safe and caring environment. All sessions use unique equipment and are run by staff specially trained to get the best out of your child. It is structured according to the different ages and stages of a child’s development. Tumble Tots caters for babies, toddlers and children from six months to seven years. Gymbabes is specifically designed for babies from six months to walking. Each session helps to stimulate and encourage babies to use all their senses, gently and without pressure. Chartered Educational Psychologist Denise Thornton confirms that “Gymbabes allows babies to learn through experience how to trust their own bodies and helps them to gain confidence in the things they can do. As parents, we begin to understand what our children are capable of and how to help them without compromising their independence.” When children start walking, they “graduate” to Tumble Tots. This includes three distinct programmes for walking to two year olds, two to three year olds and three to four year olds. The Tumble Tots programmes are designed to help children develop their motor skills such as agility, balance, climbing and coordination. As children progress from one stage to the next, they learn new skills through more challenging exercises. The last stage of the programme is known Spring 2013 - Issue 21

as Gymbobs. At this stage, the programme continues to develop children’s physical skills whilst building self-confidence through positive encouragement and achievement of tasks designed to suit the individual skill level of each child. In the last stage of Tumble Tots and in Gymbobs, once a child is three, and much more aware of his physical capabilities, he is confident and independent and thus goes through the sessions unaccompanied by a parent. Trained staff supervise each Tumble Tots session with the staff ratio being one staff to six children except for Gymbobs where the ratio is one staff to eight children. The maximum number of children in a class is of twenty-four. Through Tumble Tots, children start to enjoy physical skills and are encouraged to explore and reach their maximum in physical skill capabilities. The programme also helps in a child’s language development as they participate in action songs and rhymes.

For more information: call 21 421 632 or 9901 8726, or send an email to: info@tumbletots.com.mt or visit our website on www.tumbletots.com.mt.

Party time

Organise your own Themed Birthday Party Birthday Parties for children are getting more elaborate and original every day. Sometimes a child’s birthday party with a “simple” theme just isn’t special enough. If you are one of those people who like to create kids’ birthday parties that your guests and children will remember forever, then these ideas should help get you on your way to an unforgettable birthday party. Just remember; Invitations set expectation and decorations set the mood! Activities nurture creativity and games create excitement!

The Tea Party All little ladies dream of having a tea party, dressing up and sitting down at a beautiful table with nice cups and flowery table accents. So get ready to put on your fancy dress and a tea party hat because the ideas you need to throw a beautiful Tea Party are all right here! Tea Party Invitations: Tea party invitations can be a tea cup, a tea party hat or just a beautiful tea party designed card. Just be sure to make them really special by using a fancy font and graphics that support the theme. Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of the Tea Party. Tea Party Decorations: Set the mood for your party with great decorations like a garland archway and play some fun soothing music. Cover the party table with a flowery tablecloth and a beautiful centerpiece. Create a

beautiful tea party setting for your guests to enjoy the finger sandwiches and tea. Tea Party Decoration Ideas: • China Tea Cups • Fairy Lights • Fancy Place settings • Kiss the Frog • Pink Roses • Playhouse Castle • Sunflowers • The Pink Table • Tissue Flowers Tea Party Activities: Sometimes the memories are even more special when guests get to take home the artwork that they’ve created themselves at the party. Whether they decorate tea party hats, tiara, or a special decorative item, it will be something special that helps them remember and share their event with others. Tea Party Games: What tea party is complete without some tea party games and events. Games like hot teapot, pin the cup on the saucer, tea bag toss or sugar cube relay, add excitement to the party and provide a time for everyone to interact. Other Tea Party Game Ideas: • Birthday Bingo • Book Balance Race • Kiss the Frog Prince • Musical Teapots Spring 2013 - Issue 21

• • •

Pass the Teapot Princess Pinata Tea Cup on the Saucer

Tea Party Costume Ideas: A tea party just isn’t the same without all the guests dressed with some fancy tea party dresses. If you are throwing a tea party, be sure to include a hat or tiara! Tea Party Snacks: Don’t forget the snacks and drinks for all of your tea party guests. Tiny finger food snacks and sweet flavored tea drinks or lemonade are always top of the list. But it’s also fun to have some sweet pastries and fruit. More Tea Party Snack Ideas: • Cucumber Sandwiches • Cupcakes & Marshmallows • Dainty mini Sandwiches • All snacks in the colours Red, White & Pink The Tea Party Cake: A tea cup cake is always popular with those who like to bake. For those who prefer a simple and less complicated treat, individual cupcakes and ice cream in individual cupcake liners can reduce the mess.

Tea Party Favors: Party favors are loved by everyone and say thank you for coming. In fact, adding a thank you to every favor bag, or sending them out after a party is always polite and appreciated gesture. Tea Party Favor Ideas: • Bath Soaps • Hand Bag • Cupcakes • Miniature Tea Set • Tea Cup Gifts

Decoration Ideas: • Cardboard Box Pirate Ship • Ship at Sea Basement/room • Enter on the Gang Plank • Pirate Pinata • Pirate Entrance • Pirate Banner, Chest & Balloons Activities: Sometimes the memories are even more special when guests get to take home the artwork that they’ve created themselves at the party. Whether they make treasure

• Pin the X on the Treasure Map • Pirate Cannon Balls (bowling) • Treasure Hunt Picture Clues • Musical Islands Costumes: A pirate party just isn’t the same without all the pirates dressed in their buccaneer outfits. Being shipwrecked and marooned at the party really requires the right outfit and the magic of pirate costumes makes the party special.

The Pirate Party Shiver me timbers! Ahoy ye hearties and avast thy chase for a booty of pirate party ideas is right here. For all sea dog pirates who are searching for party idea treasures for their young swashbuckler, look no further. Pirate Party Decoration Ideas: Are you ready to transform your home into a family fun Caribbean port and your backyard into a pirate ship? Pirate Party Invitations: Pirate party invitations can be a treasure map, a treasure chest, or a Jolly Roger flag with a scull and crossbones. Just be sure to make them really special by using a fancy font, or calligraphy. Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of your pirate adventure. Pirate Party Invitation Ideas: • Scull and Crossbones • Bottled Invitations • Treasure Map • Pirate Photo Invitation • Parchment Invites Pirate Party Decorations: Set the mood for your party with great decoration s like a Jolly Roger flag flying on a ship’s mast, some some old wooden signs pointing to the Caribbean or a banner over the drive saying “landlubber beware”. Cover the party table in black or red and accent with streamers, balloons and confetti. If your really ambitious you can create a pirate ship out of some large appliance boxes for a special play area.

maps or decorate treasure chests, it will be something special that helps them remember and share their event with others. Activity Ideas: • Pirate Hat Making • Eye patches • Ocean in a Bottle • Shoe/Cigar Box Treasure Chest • Pirate Flags Games: What pirate party is complete without some pirate games like a treasure hunt? Games like walk the plank, pin the eyepatch on the pirate, or a cannonball toss, add excitement to the party and provide a time for everyone to interact. Game Ideas: • Pin the Flag on the Pirate Ship Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Party Snacks: Don’t forget snacks and drinks for all of your buccaneer guests. Certainly snacks and drinks that prevent scurvy are always top of the list, but sometimes it’s best to incorporate some healthy vegetable snacks while providing a pirate dip. The Cake: Although any pirate cake will do, a pirate’s ship cake is popular with those who like to bake. Cake Ideas: • Treasure Chest Cake • Island Cakes • Skull and Bone Cake • Pirate Cake See page 48 and 49 for home made Tea Party and Pirate Invitations incl. templates and instructions.

Party time

Create your own themed Party Invitations To kickstart a themed birthday party we obviously require themed invitations. Not only does this look great, they are easier to created then you might think! Here are some examples we found on the internet:

each pirate ship in white, inside a white stamped frame. Can you imagine the fun your little Captain has delivering these piraty invites?! On each invitation there is an instruction to “say ‘Aye’ if ye be attending” the Captains party. Tea Party Invitations: Tea party invitations can be a tea cup, a tea party hat or just a beautiful tea party designed card. Just be sure to make them really special by using a fancy font and graphics that support the theme. Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of the Tea Party. A Pinterest page full of Pirate Party Ideas: http://pinterest. com/monica_j_dunham/piratebirthday-party-free-printables/

The Pirate Party Invite: These pirate ship invitations are unbelievably simple to create. A sail shape is cut around the printed party information, embossed paper was used to make it look like a piece of linen. A hole-punched in the top and bottom of the sail so a bamboo skewer can slide through it. The skewer is anchored by a big marshmallow that is wedged between the sides of the black ship. The names of the kids are on the side of

Tea Party Decorations: Cut out or copy the tea pot pattern. You can always adjust the size. The tea pot pattern can be used by tracing it onto heavy cardstock and tracing it onto your favorite papers cut it out. I also used a craft knife to cut a slit for the opening to the lid of the tea pot. Copy the label on to a sheet of plain coloured or white paper. Write the party details onto the label. Or use a computer to create a personalized label and include the party details on here. If you use the computer you can adjust letter fonts and sizes accordingly. There is also a little template that can be used as a teabag label. This can be hung Spring 2013 - Issue 21

from the opening of the teapot lid on a piece of string. Place the label with the party details on the center of the teapot and glue this down. You can now tie a ribbon into a bow and trim the ends to the correct length. Decorate the label with the little bow and glue this at the top of the label. Lastly, glue or tape some string or baker’s twine to the back of the tea bag label and then also to the back of the invitations. Slide the label through the slit you cut for the tea pot opening so that it hangs over the front to emulate a tea bag steeping in hot water. You can find the templates for the tea party invitations on page 49. If you wish to receive a printable version just touch here and send an email to: info@growing-up-in-malta.com and put in the subject line: Invites.

A Pinterest page full of Tea Party Ideas: http://pinterest.com/ bpartyideas/tea-birthday-party/

Party Invitation Templates:

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Invited!

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Pets at home

A Furry Happy Birthday Party! Whilst wishing our friends at Growing Up in Malta a very happy fifth birthday, we thought we’d stick with the theme and offer readers some fantastic ideas on holding birthday parties for their pooches! Some of you may read this and not know what we’re talking about, but most people with pet dogs think the world of their them and secretly want to organise a birthday party for them every year.

It’s a good opportunity to socialise our dogs, share a night out with them, meet other dog owners and maybe share a few complaints and achievements. It is great to have like minded people around you for a change. And if you have a puppy it is also the perfect place to practice a few things such as recall and being handled. You can encourage people to make friends with your dog and call him to you for a treat as many times as you can. We want to make it easier for you to organise one next time round by laying down a plan so you don’t have to. Here’s a check list you may or may not want to include in your party plan: •

Time and date: Should you do it on the day of their birthday or the closest weekend? Waiting for the Sunday means you can probably do it in the afternoon which is so much more fun for the dogs and more people can attend with their dogs.

•

Venue: This is probably the hardest one of all. See if you can find a restaurant with an outdoor section that would allow dogs, or maybe see if a dog park is available. Wherever it is, make sure people have poop bags to pick up after their dogs. Water: Don’t forget that dogs need water available at all times so think ahead for this one as you will need several bowls and several bottles to

•

lead and if any dogs should wear muzzles. This may not be necessary but think ahead to avoid last minute complications. It is probably better to ask owners to ensure their pets have their vaccinations up to date too…some will be surprised to find out they weren’t. Party hats: You can get these for the dogs or their owners. Cutting two dents out on each side will make it

No clowns please! They will burst balloons and look huge…dogs won’t be amused.

•

refill the bowls, if this is not available at the venue. Seating: Ask people to bring chairs or blankets to sit on at the park. A restaurant would already have chairs. Guest list: you of course would need to invite your dog’s four-legged friends and their owners, and maybe a few close two-legged friends that your dog really enjoys to meet. House rules: Decide ahead and let guests know of any rules you expect them to know. Particularly whether dogs should be on or off Spring 2013 - Issue 21

•

easier for dogs to wear but most will not tolerate it. Don’t push the issue because it goes against their nature to keep it on. Squeaky toys: We know it would be a cacophony to have all dogs squeaking away at once but just imagine how much fun it would be for them. Ask guests if their dogs have resource guarding issues before going ahead with this one though, as you do not want arguments on the day. Party food: You may need food for both people and dogs. If you’re at

•

the restaurant you need not worry about people food but in the park you could ask owners to bring their own, like a picnic theme. As for the dog food it is probably best to steer clear of putting trays of kibble down. Some dogs may have food intolerances and eating a different kibble to their usual will upset their stomach. Asking owners to bring their own here is probably the best option though it is very unlikely dogs will want to eat with all the commotion. Beer: Yes we said beer! But not ordinary beer - check with your local pet supply shop if they have dog beer. Most dogs love to gulp it down and it actually has vitamins in it, and of course, no alcohol. Dress code: You could give the option to other owners to dress up their dog but again with this, don’t force the issue. Some dogs feel hot enough with just their coat on. Look out for the real divas…they may outshine your pooch! Games: If you organise the party in the park it would be so great for the dogs to be able to jump through a few hoops or over a couple of jumps, if they are inclined to. Other dogs will be better at picking up a scent trail so you could organise a treasure hunt and the dog that finds the most hidden treats wins a prize. Live entertainment: No clowns please! They will burst balloons and look huge…dogs won’t be amused. Why not invite Dogs Trust to do a workshop about dog safety or responsible ownership. Having so many dog owners in one place it is probably the best time to invite a dog behaviourist over to do a demonstration with some of the dogs there or even give advice to pet owners. Music: Be aware that dogs don’t like loud noises so this needs to be kept low. Cakes: You’ll need 2. The one for humans can be anything your guests might fancy but the one for he dogs might sound or taste horrible to you

but should be something the dogs enjoy. Avoid ingredients that are not good for dogs such as onions, coffee, sugar, chocolate, grapes, and some other fruits. Unless you know for sure it’s good for them, don’t give it to them. You can make a quick one using a heap of your dog’s favourite dog food, covered in his favourite treats and then perhaps top it off with a liver or salmon pate and stick a few bone shaped biscuits to that.

You could do one big cake that we both can eat but it is hard to find a good recipe and even then you’re stuck on decorations. It’s your last chance to get your dog neutered and microchipped for free! Times almost up so call your vet any time before the end of March to book and get it all for free, or call Dost Trust on 21 421 500 or 777 111 00 for more info.

Homemade Dog Birthday Cake

Ingredients: • 1/4 cup vegetable oil • 1 cup shredded carrots • 1 tsp vanilla • 1/3 cup honey • 1 egg • 1 cup white or whole wheat flour • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/4 cup peanut butter • Dog biscuits for decoration • Optional: Banana, more peanut butter, frankfurter hot dogs for ‘candles’ How to make the cake: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) Mix together flour and baking soda and add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour all of it into a ring mould sprayed with a non-stick spray, and leave in the oven for 40 minutes. If you’re feeling brave, you can slice the cake into two layers and add more peanut butter and sliced or mashed bananas. Or simply go to the next step. Frost the cake with low fat cottage cheese or cream cheese and decorate with dog biscuit treats. Stick in some halved Frankfurter hot dogs as ‘candles’. Store in the fridge.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Pets at home

Annual SPCA Spring Fair SPCA Malta came into being in 1876, originally, a branch of RSPCA UK. All along, it has been a constant uphill struggle for the Society to deal with the over-population of strays on the streets of the Maltese Islands.

IIn the early days, animal awareness was minimal and the Society had the arduous task of collecting all strays. Over the years, the Home became inadequate and adoptions, particularly in the beginning, were few and far between. The small grant issued by the Government at the time to cover minimal costs was certainly not enough. Against all odds, SPCA Malta has soldiered on and focused on education, promotion of kindness and prevention of cruelty to animals. The Society has most certainly been instrumental in pushing Government to legislate new animal

welfare laws and the micro-chipping of animals. Now these have become realities. In 2009, SPCA Malta teamed up with Dogs Trust UK and we launched our association in Malta to promote an educational campaign targeting schools and the general public. Thanks to this alliance, to date some 900 workshops have been delivered in schools, and the mass-neutering and micro-chipping of over 8,000 farm and factory dogs have been sponsored. It is therefore very apt to say that this partnership has enabled numerous owners unable to sustain the expense of certain treatments such as micro-chipping and neutering, to benefit from these treatments for their beloved dogs at no cost. The present Home facilities are certainly not enough for our animalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs and since it is our policy not to put down any animals we rescue, we are in dire need of a better centre to be able to cater for our strays. Before rehoming our animals, we ensure that all are neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and rehabilitated - and this is no small Spring 2013 - Issue 21

task. Our Home at present has an animal population of over 150 and this needs to be well cared for. Our Society needs a staggering 160,000Euros annually to keep all operations up and running and we have managed to somehow procure all this through generous donations, sponsorships, memberships and adoptions. (We have not had a Gov grant since 2009) To this end, a number of events are also organised and coming soon is our annual Spring Fair set in the beautiful surroundings of Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar on the 19th of May. The Palazzo will offer a relaxing environment while we guarantee a day of family fun, where even your pets are more than welcome. This year, Pawlu and Gorg will also be there to help raise funds for our cause. Besides the chance of buying all sorts of things from our stalls, children will certainly have a field day with treasure hunts, games and competitions going on all day long. Other attractions include an animal garden, face painting, bouncing castle, bonsai exhibition and so much more. Join us! Your presence counts!

For the latest news regarding events, sponsorships and more, please follow us on: www.facebook.com/spcamalta.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Tablet App’s

We are proud to present... Our very own App! Welcome to the Interactive version of Growing Up in Malta. As tablets are moving forwards, we feel we need to take our first careful steps in the digital world and in combination with our printed version we now are able to offer an additional new interactive reading experience to our readers.

Go to the App store on your iPad and search for: “Growing Up in Malta”. (for now we are only available on the Apple App Store for the iPad. The App will shortly also be available in the Android Play Store. For updates please follow us on our Facebook Page.) Step 2.

The ability of layered pages, containing live links, videos, music, additional images or even documents will open a whole new reading expierence. Whilst for the greener people amoungst us, it must feel good that our distribution extention is not costing any more trees. So what are the advantages of the Growing Up in Malta App: • • • • • • • •

Readers can download the App and the latest issue for free! All copies will be saved in a library (from issue 20 onwards) We can embed live links, video’s, music, images, documents, etc. The interactive version will have additional pages in comparison to the printed version. Everyone is “using” the most up to date copy. Electronic copies are never lost. No impact on the environment. Portable - Anytime, any where pleasant reading experience.

Downloading the Growing Up in Malta App is easy and Free! Just follow these easy steps: Step 1.

When your search result has come up click on “INSTALL”. After the app has been installed you can open it. Step 3.

In order to download the issues to your library make sure you download the issue by clicking the “Download” button. You can also subscribe to Growing Up in Malta for free so you will get notified when new issues are available. Just click the “Subscribe” button and follow the instructions. There is no charge for the magazine, the subscription is free of charge. Step 4. Click “View” and you can now start reading your copy of Growing Up in Spring 2013 - Issue 21

Malta on your iPad! The magazine will be stored in your “Newsstand”. Other Functions: All links in the interactive version of Growing Up in Malta are active. This means that when you see for example an email address, you touch it and it will generate an email for you. This is the same with website addresses. If you are connected to the internet and touch the web address on your iPad, this will take you directly to the website. Even the contents page contains links. Each line will take you straight through to the page of your choice.

On the top of every page you will find 4 icons. The first one, in the shape of a house will take you back to the home screen. The 2nd one is the contents button. If you touch this you will see an overview of all the editorial pages and you can make your selection. The 3rd button in the shape of a tag is the bookmark button and the last on on the right hand side is a share button, which you can use to share extractions on Facebook or twitter. Should you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with us: info@ growing-up-in-malta.com Please rate the app in the App Store so we get feedback and improve!

NO W all G also av a o Scho vernme ilable in n ols i n Ma t Prima ry lta & Growing Up is a Free magazine for Children (0 -16), Parents and Grandparents. Goz o Growing Up is published 4 times a year, and available free of charge from the following outlets:

Looking for your copy of Growing Up? Here is where you can find it! San Gwann

Malta Birkirkara

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Sliema

Mothercare, St Anne Square Booksplus, Bisazza Street Tower Shoes, 4 Tower Road Juniors, The Point Shopping Centre Playzone, 211 Tower Road

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Chiswick House School, Antonio Schembri Street

Play and Write, St. Pauls Street Doobles, St. Pauls Street Street

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Early Learning Centre, 193 Merchant Street King Shoe Shop, 42 Ordnance Street Mothercare, 14 South Street

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Msida

Lucky Shoe, Tigrija Palazz Mothercare, F. Mizzi Street Bargate Bookshop, G. Borg Olivier Street

San Andrea School, I-Imselliet l/o Zebbiegh Shanti, Natural Health Products, 241 Triq Il-Kbira Pemix, Eucharistic Congress Road

Inspire,Bullebel Industrial Estate

Victoria

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Rabat

Early Learning Centre, 61 St. Paul’s Street

Or why not take out a FREE* subscription?

Also available at events of the following service providers: Smart Cells Malta and mamaKnows In the Family Way Pemix Parent Child Club Baby Sensory Toddler Sense

For more information send an email to: info@growing-up-in-malta.com or see pag 35.

web: www.smartcellsmalta.com tel: tel: tel: tel:

2163 6735 8007 4142 2144 6217 2144 6217

You can also pick your copy up from several waiting area’s of GP’s and Pharmacies all over the island. All FES Childcare centers.

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

There are just a “few” people we would like to Thank for believing in Growing Up in Malta over the last 5 years... Phil, Arthur, Daphne, Fenna, George (our team) ...Couldn’t have done it without you! Joseph, Gail, Audrey, Luan, Sylvana, Lucienne, Chiara, Annabel, Conrad, Melanina, Paul, Alex, Charmaine, Graziella, Robert, Renato, Sean, Audrey, Monica, Janette, Nadine, Andrew, Lisa-Ann, Nadia, Mariebelle, Jenny, Sarah, Giovanna, Maria, Dr. Victor, Daniel, Albert, Billie, Sandro, Renato, Joanna, Nadia, Chris, Pierre, Rosanna, Ramona, Vinny, Kate, Claudia, Adrian, Tim, Claire, Sjan, Huub, Nicole, Peter, Yasmin, Andrea, Maria, Cliff, Amanda, Matthew, Mary Grace, Daniela, Mario, Tanya, Maria, Helga, Maria Pia, Jocelyn, Paul, David, Blodwen, Leanne, Janice, Anton, David, Josette, Andrea, Adrian, Stuart, Nickii.

Thank you Readers!

And everyone else we forgot to mention... Thank you!

Spring 2013 - Issue 21

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