Parenting Today August 2012 by Nation Publishing Co. Limited

C R E D I T S Publisher VIVIAN-ANNE GITTENS Editor LYLE JONES Advertising Manager PAULETTE JONES Editorial Team CHERYL HAREWOOD, LYLE JONES, DAWN MORGAN, APRILLE THOMAS Photography INSIGHT DIGITAL Contributing Writers CHERITH PEDERSON, DAVID W. HINKSON Contributing Partners FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARIBBEAN CHILDREN Design/Layout RANDY PHILLIPS – IMAGEWORX Advertising Sales Executives KELLY JOHNALLY TEL: (246) 430-5515 Email: kellyjohnally@nationnews.com YVETTE BERRY TEL: (246) 430-5521 Email: yvetteberry@nationnews.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE Summer is a wonderful time for the young ones. The long holiday, enjoyable camps, and the opportunity to vacation with their mummies and daddies doing fun stuff, make it all the more exciting. The end of summer brings a period of transition for many parents and children: the first day of nursery, kindergarten, primary and secondary school. The period of adjustment can be a trying time, but as you read the pages of this issue of Parenting Today you will find valuable advice from experts presented in an informative and entertaining manner. Leading off with the journey that prepares you for parting with your baby to rejoin the world of work, we will share tips on choosing a nursery, provide insights on what to expect as the child develops, and more. A child’s hearing is more sensitive than many realize, read on to find out why, and how to protect it. To ensure they have a balanced, healthy diet, review our

suggestions for making veggies fun and more appealing to children. In keeping with the fun of the summer look out for the creative party suggestions, and tap into your child’s creativity with a visit to our craft corner. With the increasing stress on the total development of the children passing through the education system, our focus on extra-curricular activities, their value and maintaining a balance is both timely and instructive. It is with special thanks that we acknowledge our valued contributors and advertisers, without whom compiling a package such as this would have been impossible. As our readers, your opinion is important. We welcome your suggestions on what you’d like to see in future editions of Parenting Today, as we seek to inform, educate and entertain you. Lyle Jones EDITOR

Parenting Today is produced by The Nation Publishing Co. Limited; a subsidiary of The Nation Corporation, which is a member of the One Caribbean Media Limited (OCM) group of companies. For general info email: parentingtoday@nationnews.com Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this magazine is accurate, however, The Nation Publishing Co. Limited cannot be held responsible for any consequences that may arise from any errors or omissions. This publication cannot be copied in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the Publisher. ©2012 NATION PUBLISHING CO. LIMITED

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

ISSUE #2 AUGUST 2012

ON THE COVER: ZAHRA AND HANNA ASHBY COVER PHOTO BY INSIGHT DIGITAL

Parting With Your Joy

Ready–Set–Go

Safeguard Your Child’s Hearing

Paving The Road To Success In Secondary School

Doctor Q&A

Unlocking Their Full Potential

Healthy Hair is Good Hair

Healthy, Fun Foods

Birthday Party Ideas

Back-to-School Craft

Happy Children are Healthy Children

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

Pictured (from top); Dario Rice (left) and Aaron Griffith; (Middle) Amanda and Jasmine Sealy; Zhara and Hannah Ashby (Bottom) Photo Compliments Foundation For The Development of Caribbean Children

Contents

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

PARTING WITH YOUR JOY START EARLY

Day care

One of the biggest changes for parents is leaving their

children and going back to work. Particularly because choosing the right day care centre for children isn’t as easy as looking in

Story by Aprille Thomas

the telephone book or going to the one nearest to you. Rather, Marcia offers some guidelines for parents: •

The earlier, the better. Children who spend more time at home with their parents may have a harder time leaving

them than those whose ties are severed early. fter the big day

has passed and you’ve

brought

your baby home and spent weeks, months, or even years bonding with them, it’s time for the next big day — leaving them. Some

The earlier, the better. Children who spend more time at home with their parents may have a harder time leaving them than those whose ties are severed early.

•

Parents should be abreast of the developmental expectations of their child at that age. Day care providers should be able to provide you with information in the form of literature; as well as tell you when your child reaches certain goals.

•

The day care environment should be clean, light and airy. It should resemble the cleanliness standards at your own home.

•

The staff at the day care should be caring, loving,

parents won’t be able or

encouraging and embracing. They should offer daily

will choose not to stay home and raise their children, and so it

feedback during pick ups, about your child’s habits and

becomes necessary to ﬁnd someone who can. This can be a

behaviours — eating, sleeping and so on. This is especially important for children who cannot yet speak.

difficult transition for children and parents alike; but the truth is that children are always transitioning, and it’s at these times

•

during the day regarding any unusual behavior your child

that they most need the love and support of their parents.

may exhibit. Providers should be open to communication.

Director of Parent Education for Development in Barbados (PAREDOS), Marcia Graham, is an authority on the subject

•

Parents should ensure that they have a physical copy of the provider’s policies and practices.

and advises that parents develop the mindset that they have to concern themselves with transitions every year, and be

You need to ﬁnd out if it’s a provider who will call you

•

Some day care centres will only allow healthy meals,

right there for their children, “Transitioning means that you

snacks and beverages. You should know what your day

have to spend extra time with the child.”

care’s position is on the matter.

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

Kids in the

Make sure that when you get home, your house is calm and empty because you will be tired and want some time to relax. Keep visitors to a minimum; . . . age, so that if you ﬁnd that your children aren’t

Primary school

reaching them, you can discuss it with their teachers.

By the time children reach the age of four, they are a lot •

more developed and independent. Marcia reminds parents

Find out about extra-curricular programmes that

that at this time, children who attended day care would also

are offered, for example, swimming, Cub Scouts,

have had their relationships with their ‘aunties’ broken, and

educational tours, and Brownies.

would need lots of support from their parents to help them

•

Once you decide on a school, you should take your

understand the big change. She advises that parents also

child there and allow them to spend time in the new

spend time doing research before choosing a school and

school. It is important for parents to be positive about

offers the following tips:

the school, because children will pick up on this.

•

Thoroughly research the school: alumni, teaching

•

Before the school year begins, parents can do a few

methods and types of communication. You should

trial runs to the school so that you can be familiar

even ﬁnd out about the non-teaching staff because

with the time it will take, and maybe even learn a few

they are the ones who will have contact with your

‘back roads’ in the process.

children before school, during lunch, when they’re •

•

When school begins, parents should ensure that they

sick, and so on.

get involved with the Parent Teachers’ Association

Find out what kind of curriculum is offered. What kind

(PTA), which will give you closer access to the school.

of subjects will they be exposed to?

Participation is also advised, so that you will have the

Also be abreast of the milestones expected at this

ability to inﬂuence policies.

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

Conﬂict resolution Children should be taught to say, “No, I don’t like that,” in response to any verbal or physical abuse from other

socialization process, “They have to learn to get along with children who are different.”

students, rather than being taught to return the abuse. If

Parents need to work with their young ones at home, just as

your child comes home with a complaint about another child,

much as teachers work with them at school, or more. Home is

Marcia suggests that parents ﬁrst ask questions rather than

the place where children should develop a high self-esteem

immediately complaining to the teacher. Children should be

and a strong sense of character. These lessons fall squarely

encouraged to take matters to the teacher before parents

on the shoulders of parents and can only be taught through

get involved. “Schools must have systems in place to resolve

listening and talking to your children.

conﬂict and teachers should be trained in conﬂict solving.” If the matter isn’t resolved at the teacher’s level, it should then be taken to a senior teacher or the principal.

Learning at home

Time management is extremely important, especially for busy, working parents. You need to allocate enough time for work, rest and recreation. If you have the

With your little ones undergoing such huge changes to

resources, you should also look

their daily routines and socializing with others, it is expected

to solicit help from family, friends

that you may experience changes in their attitudes, language,

or professionals. You may not be

and behaviours. As parents, it is your duty to be aware of

good at mathematics or science,

any such changes and be ready to communicate with your

but you may have a friend who

children about them.

studied science at school. Raising

Marcia advises that parents teach their children about the

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

a child can be a collective effort.

With your little ones undergoing such huge changes to their daily routines and socializing with others, it is expected that you may experience changes in their attitudes, language, and behaviours.

EDUCATION TODAY

READY–SET–GO! Submitted by the Foundation for the Development of Caribbean Children

Factors that contribute to children’s readiness for Grade One These factors include: • The quality of child interactions within the family, with parents, siblings, and other caregivers • The security and quality of the child’s learning environments the environments the home, the day care centre, the preschool, and the community around him or her • The availability of learning materials • The quality of the teaching/caregiving personnel and environments • The pupil to teacher ratio • The social and economic conditions of the child’s family and neighbourhood Many preschool personnel and parents believe that making preschool more like formal “academic” school will better prepare children for primary school achievement. The results of several studies contradict this belief. The active-learning approaches of Grade One teachers with early childhood training seem to produce overall better student performance and maintain gender equity more ably than the primary trained teachers and traditional primary settings. Both teachers and parents see children themselves as being responsible for their lack of readiness skills on entering Grade One. It was however shown that teacher preparation and the quality, quantity and variety of learning materials are critical elements in readying children for primary schooling. The preschool settings in which teachers were better trained and used more active learner-centred approaches resulted in higher levels of child competencies.

What we know about readiness – Preschool environments The preschool environments should help develop listening and comprehension, ﬁne motor and other reading and writing readiness skills, and encourage children’s love of learning. Studies however indicate a general belief among pre-primary teachers/caregivers and parents that children at the end of their preschool experience should have “academic” readiness skills, that is, be able to write, read, recognize the sight and sounds of the alphabet, spell some words, and solve some math problems. Studies in the region, however, contradict this belief. Parent and teacher expectations Other readiness expectations, especially of parents, were that children should demonstrate basic social courtesies and respect for others, and display selfhelp skills such as dressing and feeding themselves, going to the bathroom independently, and taking care of their environments.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Gender differences Studies suggest it is at the primary level, not before, that boys begin to drop behind the performance of girls quite signiﬁcantly.

In keeping with the research ﬁ ndings on readiness for Grade One and in a bid to build a ﬁ rm foundation for our children’s future growth and learning, the following are recommended: 1. Develop and strengthen public and parent education to address the false premise that mimicking formal “academic” school will better prepare children for primary school achievement. 2. Provide support and incentives to schools and training institutions to embrace and promote teaching strategies and learning environments which will promote children’s school readiness, especially cognitive, social, emotional and physical readiness for primary school, fostering a love of learning in the process. 3. Implement strategic public education and communication campaigns to raise the image and importance of the early Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

5. 6.

childhood practitioner. Establish incentives (for example scholarships, time release) to boost enrollment for studies leading to higher qualiﬁcations in early childhood education. Set higher prerequisite qualiﬁ cations for practitioners in pre-primary institutions. Review and revise teacher training and classroom curricula to include, without bias, the different learning styles and needs of both girls and boys. Ensure that parenting education strategies also address, without bias, the different learning styles and needs of both girls and boys. Equip primary school principals with the evidence and strategies to improve primary competence by utilizing early childhood approaches in early primary years.

Photos compliments Foundation for the Development of Caribbean Children

Studies of early childhood environments suggest that boys may derive greater beneﬁt than girls from more active, learner-centred environments, as the research literature suggests that girls will adapt to and learn more easily in most settings than will boys.

ll athletes, and those who follow athletics, know the excitement of watching well-prepared runners take off for the finish line. A good education is much like a race to the finish line and in the same way requires preparation and hard work during the school years, to ensure good academic and social outcomes. Many factors contribute to children’s readiness for the official start of the race — Grade One. There are also many commonly held beliefs and misconceptions about what children should be able to do upon entering Grade 1. We know that many children drop out of the race before reaching the end, and are left under-equipped for their tasks as parents, workers, citizens.

Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

TRANSFORMING ANEW

THE BIG STEP

Paving the road

to success in secondary school

Story by Cherith Pederson

ongratulations, your child will be amongst several entering secondary school this September. Transitions can be nerve-racking, but with due care it can be made as smooth as possible.

1: The 11-Plus is only a snapshot With your child entering Secondary school, it is easy to start typecasting his or her future solely based on results. As parents we must always focus on our children’s education as a lifelong process. The 11-Plus exam is only a snapshot of their potential. Learning is a lifelong commitment, a perspective often forgotten in the sheer panic or jubilation over exam results. Our duty is to steer their course towards a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to learning, which will prepare them for a knowledge driven society. Futurist educators predict students of tomorrow will need to be extremely self-motivated to keep their skills current. In a highly competitive job market, lifelong learning and retraining will be the norm. Those parents who provide wholesome enriching educational experiences for their children, will undoubtedly place them well ahead of the game. 2: Reassurance boosts self conﬁdence Let’s start at this point, part of providing an enriching experience is to understand how your child develops. Children in this age group have increasing abilities to reason things out, think abstractly about the pros and cons of a situation, as well as reﬂect on themselves. If your children

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

did not achieve the “desired” results, then constantly reprimanding or withdrawing your affection as parents, will only serve to alienate them. Allowing them to wallow will also be detrimental in the long run. It’s now time to put the results behind you, and refocus your energy on the emotional and perhaps educational support your children will need. They are well aware of what the results mean, so putting them at risk for low self worth, poor self esteem and feelings of inferiority will inadvertently do more harm than good. Your children need you now more than ever, not only to navigate the Secondary school transition, but to also tame the adolescent beast snapping at their heels. Choose to reassure. Work on their academic difficulties constructively, especially if they have suffered a tremendous blow to their self-conﬁdence. 3: You will both be transformed So with the exam behind us, we begin to breathe a little easier…. Well prepare yourself! You are just about to slide down the slippery slope of adolescence. It won’t be so bad you think.... Perhaps, however, your pre-teen is about to experience a tremendous amount of transformation: psychologically, emotionally, and hormonally. Adolescence brings many serious changes in the way they think, behave and feel. Your style of parenting will also need to be tweaked in step with these changes. Some balance needs to be struck between fostering their independence and setting ﬁrm boundaries; giving warmth and affection without smothering; and most of all, providing

Children who keep strong bonds with friends from their primary school, as well as make friends at their new school, are much more successful at transitioning. guidance without stifling initiative. Children of parents whose “parenting style” is warm, supportive, responsive, yet flexible, tend to fare better. Your role is to help shape their development by providing positive support and good communication. Parents who are overly controlling and rigid are not meeting the developing needs of their teenagers, and in fact undermining their ability to make decisions on their own. 4: Joining the PTA will enrich your child’s education In these developing years, children will need a school environment that is safe and allows their to refine the skills they will need to achieve their full potential. Building a good relationship with the school and teachers is essential for the next critical years of their school life. Entering Secondary school means a larger school, more teachers, new classmates, new rules and invariably more demands on your child. Studies show that students who have good relationships with their teachers tend to be more successful in school. Research also points to high parental involvement as a good cushion for the transition. In other words, parents should prioritize getting involved in school activities, and the Parent Teachers’ Association, since it will determine how well their children thrive in their new school environment. Furthermore, such high visibility in the school will gain the respect of staff. 5: Good friendships help Another relationship that deserves some attention is your child’s relationship with peers. Children who keep strong bonds

with friends from their primary school, as well as make friends at their new school, are much more successful at transitioning. Good friendships are a comfort and a buffer in times of change. If children have trouble making friends, participation in extra curricular activities is an easy way to meet those with like interests. Extra-curricular activities are also an integral part of enriching your child’s education. It helps to build character and provide learning experiences outside the classroom. Children involved in extra-curricular activities begin to apply knowledge gained in the classroom, and build connections with peers that are beneﬁcial. 6: You still need to keep them on track Given the increasing academic demands of Secondary school, your 11-year-olds will still need you to keep them on track as they transition. You may need to guide them to make a schedule that balances schoolwork, social life and extracurricular activities. You will have to monitor that homework is completed, their grades are as expected, and that their relationships are positive. This lays the foundation for them to strive for the same balance in the future. Education should provide quality experiences that lead children to feel hopeful and positive about their future. Therefore, preserving their sense of well-being, control and optimism while in school are paramount to them achieving success in life. Fun tip: Decorate and create a portfolio/folder with your child. This is a good exercise in helping you to document and save memorabilia from their time in secondary school.

“Cherith Pedersen is an expert in clinical counselling and expressive arts therapy, with years of teaching experience. She runs a counselling agency which works in collaboration with PAREDOS, Supreme Counselling for Personal Development and the National Council on Substance Abuse.” Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

CHILDREN’S HEALTH TODAY

Safeguard your child's

hearing

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Story by David W. Hinkson | Photos by Insight Digital

. . . cell phones, iPods and other personal entertainment devices have become items many of us cannot live without; not to mention a growing number of public entertainment “hot spots” in action all year round, mean that our ears are facing much more stress than in years gone by.

Let’s face it: we live in a noisy world! Increased traffic on the road; construction projects; our heavy use of cell phones, iPods and other personal entertainment devices; not to mention a growing number of public entertainment “hot spots” in action all year round, mean that our ears are facing much more stress than in years gone by. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are still developing and are therefore much more sensitive to overstimulation of any of their senses. Barbadian ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, Marquis Dowell, says there are relatively few congenital issues that can lead to hearing defects in young children. Premature birth is one factor, if the child is born at a time when the inner and middle ear are not yet fully developed. If the mother has contracted rubella during pregnancy, or has used any medication not recommended for use at that time, it could also result in hearing deﬁciencies or other health problems in the child. Another factor that can lead to hearing loss is a lack of oxygen at birth. The Oto Acoustics Emissions (OAE) screening test is recommended early in a child’s life, and is normally administered a few weeks after birth. It is aimed at determining whether the auditory pathway (outer/inner/middle ear) is in good shape. In it, a signal is used to stimulate the ear, and the

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

results are measured via a computer. If anything abnormal is noted, the doctor will take a closer look at the ear to identify the cause and recommend solutions. One challenge parents face on occasion is wax buildup, which is sometimes hereditary in nature. According to Dr Dowell, ear wax is one of the natural methods the ear uses to protect itself, and generally speaking, it dissipates on its own. In the case of a buildup, he says it is best to visit a general practitioner or ENT specialist to have it removed. He advises against inserting cotton swabs or any other foreign object into the ear to clear the excess wax, since it could lead to infections owing to the thin, sensitive skin within the ear canal. With that in mind also, he says using syringes to inject a mixture of water and peroxide into the ears to clear excessive wax was even more troublesome. In his words, “Water and the ears don’t mix very well, since the ear is essentially a closed cavity with one entrance and one exit. Because of this, and the thin skin, any water that settles there can easily be colonized by fungi and bacteria already present there.” In terms of day-to-day protection, the specialist says that, to his knowledge, there are no speciﬁc items we can introduce into our diets to enhance our hearing, and adds that most hearing problems come about because of prolonged exposure to noise above 90 decibels.

Here are some recommendations:

Pictured; Marcus and Dominic Jordan

Avoid standing near to speakers, horns, or any other sources of loud noise when attending concerts, street parades or sports tournaments. Bear in mind that even if children fall asleep during the event, the noise can still have an adverse effect on their hearing. If possible, bring along ear muffs or other devices to protect their ears. * Monitor your child’s use of headphones and ear buds when using iPods, MP3 players and other such devices. If you can hear their music while standing next to them, it is too loud. In terms of general hygiene and protecting the ear from possible infections, clean the headphones and ear buds on a regular basis. * Read the labels/instructions on children’s toys for warnings about noise levels. Bear in mind that children have shorter arms and often hold things close to their ears. You can also reduce the noise levels by placing clear tape over the microphone part of the toys, and encourage children to take breaks when they play with noisy toys. * When travelling on an aircraft, middle ear inﬂammation is a common problem that can lead to ear infections, and children with colds are especially vulnerable. If your child has a cold and it’s not practical to cancel your travel plans, use decongestants and nose drops as these can alleviate any potential hearing challenges. These few simple measures will help ensure that your child’s hearing remains in good health, even as our world gets louder every day. David Hinkson is an experienced journalist and the proud daddy of a two-year-old girl.”

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

HEALTH TODAY

WHAT'S UP DOC? Q

How often should I feed my baby? She’s just six weeks but has quite an appetite. Left to her she would want to feed every half hour to 45 minutes. Is that normal, or could something be wrong with her metabolic rate?

Babies generally feed very often, especially when they are exclusively breast fed. In the ﬁrst few weeks in particular they breast feed almost every hour for more than half an hour per feed and so it often seems as though they are always breast feeding. As they get older and mom’s milk becomes richer, the feeding frequency should reduce and the duration of the feeds much shorter so breast-feeding becomes a little less tedious.

My seven-week-old son is often constipated. He’s still exclusively on breast milk, and I maintain a well balanced diet. Is it possible that I’m missing something in my diet that’s causing the problem?

16 A

This is a common question asked by parents and I believe that parents think their babies are constipated if more than two days have passed and they have not passed stool or if they seem to be straining while passing stool. Constipation by deﬁnition means that they are not passing stool for at least ﬁve to seven days and the stool is hard like pellets. Many babies will not pass stool even if they are breast feeding exclusively for three to four days and when they do, they tend to pass a huge load. This is perfectly normal. Straining is expected whenever a baby is passing stool because they have to use their abdominal muscles (which in utero were not being used) to do this and like any muscle that has never really been used before, a little bit of work is necessary for them to develop.

We decided against having our son circumcised, however it is difficult cleaning the head of his penis as the foreskin is rather tight at this stage – he’s ﬁve months – and we don’t to risk causing serious damage by forcing it, since it hurts him when we try to. Is there anything we can do to make the process less painful?

The foreskin up to three years of age should be quite tight. Cleaning of the head of the penis is done by the foreskin. If you try and pull the foreskin back, you run the risk of tearing it and once this happens, scar tissue may form which may

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

then cause the foreskin to tighten over the penis and this can only be released by circumcision. The recommendation is therefore to leave the foreskin alone, it will clean the head of the penis. By about three years of age, the foreskin should start becoming a bit looser but still not fully retractable. Usually by six to seven years, then the foreskin fully retracts. All of this should happen without our intervention. When parents choose to circumcise their male babies, then of course they have to undertake the responsibility of the foreskin which has been removed and so they then have to clean the head of the penis. In those few boys who reach the age of six or seven years. and the foreskin is not retracting, they will then have to be circumcised.

How do I tell when my child is running a fever? From birth his temperature has always seemed high to me, but his doctor said children normally have higher temperatures than adults. Are there any other symptoms that I should look for to conﬁrm when high is too high?

Children can “feel” warm but that does not necessarily mean they have a fever and the only way of knowing is to measure their temperature with a thermometer this way you are measuring their “core” temperature. There are many methods of measuring their temperature: the oral, rectal, ear and underarm methods are all acceptable. Most electronic thermometers when set appropriately will also alarm if the temperature is elevated. Fever is part of your child’s normal immune response to an infection. However, it is concerning in certain cases: When your child is under two months of age When your child has had a fever for over 72 hours. When the fever is not responding to treatment, for example, the correct dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen for his or her weight, not necessarily age.(parents remember, medication may take up to one to two hours to bring a fever down) When the fever is associated with other concerning symptoms like excessive irritability, drowsiness, a rash which does not disappear when you press on it, intolerance to light (even when the fever has broken) and in babies, when the soft spot (fontanelle) feels tense (when they are not crying and are in the upright position). In these cases, it is wise to seek early advice.

Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TODAY

Unlocking their full potential

FIND YOUR PASSION

Role for extra–curricular activity to play Story by Cheryl Harewood

18 t may well be considered a balancing act – school work versus extra-curricular activities – but both are vital to your child’s character building, physical, social, mental and spiritual development. In fact, those otherwise fun activities can sometimes be the launch pad for your child’s future career. Joan was just nine years old when she joined the Literature Team at her primary school. She began writing short stories from those already in her grammar book, before moving on to writing poetry. By the time she reached secondary school, she was immersed in English Literature and English Language projects. Soon after, she initiated the birth of a school newspaper with the help of her class teacher. It became a success! By Class Three, Joan had already shared short stories with the local newspaper. When she left school at the age of 18, she applied to the media house that had published her work, and landed a job as a cub reporter. All this evolved because of her decision to get involved in an extra-curricular activity. Allowing your child to participate in an extra-curricular activity can and will also play a key role in that child’s college admissions process. Admissions officers at highly selective international colleges will tell you that over 40

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

The key to choosing extracurricular activities for your child is to discover the things about which he or she is most passionate. It is also important that they stay consistent.

per cent of applicants are academically qualified to get in, but since they all cannot, they look for details beyond strong academic work to create the class. This is where extra-curricular activities come into play. The key to choosing extra-curricular activities for your child is to discover the things about which he or she is most passionate. It is also important that they stay consistent. It is not unusual for children to find their love for an extra-curricular activity at such places as summer camp or vacation Bible school. They may display a deeper involvement in a particular activity, or establish a new interest. A student’s choice of extra-curricular activity is influenced by several factors, the three most important being interest, fun and time availability. However, an important factor to note, is that it is possible to have too many activities. If these activities interfere with your child’s academic work, it may be necessary for him or her to reduce the number of activities in which he or she is involved.

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Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TODAY

HERE ARE SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER:

MAINTAINING A BALANCE While there may be positive aspects to involving your children in organized activities, it can sometimes be difficult for them to ﬁnd the balance between keeping on top of homework and aiming to be the next big cricket star of their community.

SET HOMEWORK TIME EARLY Have your children complete homework the minute they get home, if practice for their extra-curricular activity takes place after school.

DON’T OVER-CROWD THEIR SCHEDULE Don’t over-crowd their schedule Sports, music and other activities take up a lot of time with practice often occurring after or before school and competitions taking place on weekends. Make sure your child is not enrolled in so many activities at a time, that he or she does not have adequate time for homework, rest or spontaneous play.

CREATE A SCHEDULE Sit with your child and create a schedule to make both of you happy. Let it include fun time, school time and sport time.

BE INVOLVED Be involved with your child’s schoolwork and activities. Maintain contact with teachers and coaches so you know when it’s time to focus more on schoolwork and less on optional activities.

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

CREATE A REWARD SYSTEM If children are effectively balancing school and a sports, they are working hard! It is therefore alright to reward them for their efforts. That way they’ll know that hard work pays off. Striking a balance between schoolwork and extra-curricular development opportunities can be especially difficult if your child is enjoying the activity more than schoolwork. That’s why you must always stress that school still comes ﬁrst.

Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

BEAUTY TODAY

No More Mo e 22

fter the summer-long fuss about shopping for school uniforms and supplies has subsided, parents are often exhausted. And even with the alleviation of the pressure to get that new pink backpack or the fuzzy pencil case she had to have, the stress continues for the parents of young girls. ‘What am I going to do with her hair?’ might be the question on everyone’s lips. Whether you choose to leave your daughter’s hair natural or to use a chemical treatment, we want to make sure that you are fully equipped with information on how to care for her hair type. Karolynn Browne has had years of experience in the cosmetology ﬁeld and offers hair tips to Parenting Today.

NATURAL HAIR • Hair follicles need to be clean and unclogged in order for hair to grow. Therefore hair should be washed regularly (every two weeks) with detangling, moisturizing shampoo, and nourishing, moisturizing conditioner. On top of this, a weekly wash with just conditioner should be done, also known as a co-wash. For particularly thick or coarse hair, when wet you should section and detangle it with a wide tooth comb and a leave-in conditioner. • Air dry in sections or use hooded dryers for optimum results. If you’re in a hurry, only blow-dry after ﬁrst toweldrying at least 70 percent of the water out of the hair. • The key to healthy hair is moisture. Use creamy moisturizers ﬁrst, then oil the hair and scalp after to seal in the moisture. You should pay special attention to your daughter’s hairline when moisturizing. Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

Story by Aprille Thomas | Photo by Insight Digital

CHEMICAL TREATMENTS (RELAXERS AND TEXTURIZERS) • Hold off chemical treatments until your daughter’s hair is literally ‘old enough’ to handle it. Not doing so could result in permanent damage to your child’s scalp and hair. Her hairline or ‘baby hair’ should be strong and free from damage, especially if she may have had tight cornrows or hairclips in those areas. • All girls should visit a hair care professional for their ﬁrst chemical treatment, in order to have their hair analyzed and to discuss the best treatment options. Discuss your child’s current hair products and activity schedule with the professional to determine the best hair regimen for your little girl. • Relax hair NO less than every eight to 10 weeks with either mild or regular strength relaxer (not super, coarse or extra coarse) • Co-wash (wash with just conditioner, no shampoo) weekly • Have hair treated every two weeks • Constantly moisturize the hair • Cover the hair nightly GENERAL TIPS Other general tips she offers for natural hair are to treat it monthly with a protein conditioner; trim the ends every six months; and cover your daughter’s head with a silk or satin scarf or doo-rag before bed. As it pertains to styling, you should make sure your daughter’s hair is never cornrowed tightly, and try to avoid constantly using styles that would put a strain on the hairline.

Piictured; Amanda and Jasmaine Sealy

Hair Drama

NUTRITION TODAY

Story by Dawn Morgan | Photos by Insight Digital

Healthy, fun f ods

ES! THE WORDS “healthy and fun” do belong together, but young children can be turned off by “its good for you” lectures. You’ll get more cooperation if you concentrate on good taste and attractive colours and textures. Here are tips to help parents get children (and adults) to eat more veggies and fruit.

BLEND vegetables with fruit (the fruit taste dominates) to make cool smoothies in nifty colours, even adding natural food colouring for more eye appeal. HIDE the veggies where you can. Boiled and mashed spinach can be added to meatloaf or meatballs or hamburger patties. Use mashed pumpkin with cheese for a zesty pizza topping. Red beans or lentils and purees of carrots, green beans or spinach can be used in tomato sauces with pasta, including lasagne. Mash pumpkin or squash, or puree other veggies and add to cake, cupcake and muffin mixtures, (they don’t need to know) plus fresh or dried fruit which can also be used to decorate. FUN FOOD times can be created with some imagination. Have GIANT snacks of whole “baby” carrots, broccoli “trees”, whole cherry tomatoes, Brussels sprouts “whole cabbages” and whole small sausages. Add food colouring to some foods to make them unusual. Serve peanut butter in 1-1/2 to 2-inch pieces of celery and place a few raisins on top, and tell them its “ants on a log”. Green colouring makes the storybook treat of “green eggs and ham”.

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

SMOTHER veggies with grated cheese to gain acceptance at first, then reduce the cheese. Make individual small bowls of mashed sweet potato or breadfruit with grated cheese mixed in and sprinkled on top. Let them try it without confessing what it is, they will think its white potato at first. MODEL for them by eating the same foods you want them to eat! Have fun with eating with fingers and making yummy noises and chill about the mess. That’s what easy to wipe tabletops and counters are for, plastic mats and plastic table covers, or craft aprons or wearing kitchen cloths tied around necks. BUY SMART by planning menus and meals while being flexible to purchasing what is fresh and in season (hopefully cheaper). Limit the junk foods and sugary carbonated drinks you bring home. How can you complain about the kids eating overly salted, oily and high-sugar snacks and cereals if you are the person bringing it home!

Pictured; Gabrielle and Aidan Deane

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Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

PARTYS TODAY

Birthday Party Ideas STAR FOR ONE NIGHT

Story by Aprille Thomas

American Idol party (GIRLS) Invitations: ‘Golden Tickets’ can be printed and cut at home on gold-coloured copy paper, or ordered from a professional ticket-printing company. They should read something like ‘Congratulations, you’ve made it through to Hollywood for ____’s Idol Party’. Dress code: Have the guests come in their best celebrity outﬁt. Decorations/Set up: You’ll need a stage, judges’ table and chairs for the audience. You can improvise with the stage by just designating an area of your house and hanging a large black sheet on the wall, decorating it with glitter and tinsel to mimic a stage. If your budget will allow, you can go the extra mile by hiring a lighting company to make your stage come to life. For the outside décor, you can purchase red felt to lead up to your door, and rent gold posts with red ropes to offer ‘crowd control’. Activities: Everyone will be either a performer, judge or audience member. Have family members greet the stars as they come up the red carpet, and give some of them recorders and video cameras to interview the celebrities. For the show, all you need is a radio or computer with CDs or mp3s to play the songs the little performers choose. Backstage, have the performers rotate between ‘hair’, ‘make-up’ and ‘accessories’ which you can have family

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

members do. Of course to go over the top you can hire professionals. Food: Since you’re doing so much in every other aspect of the party, you can go simple with the food. Pizza, chips and dip should do it for these celebrities. Give the celebrities fun coloured plastic goblets for their juices and sodas and they’ll deﬁnitely feel like they’re getting the star treatment. Cake: Your star’s cake should be as glamorous as she is on the day! Some ideas for cakes include a microphone cake, a star-shaped cake, or a cake with a picture of her favourite Hollywood celebrity. Memorabilia: Have guests decorate plain picture frames (that you can choose to buy or make with lolly sticks, for example) with stars and glitter. When you print the pictures from the party, you can place them in the frame and give them to each guest.

Everyone will be either a performer, judge or audience member. Have family members greet the stars as they come up the red carpet, and give some of them recorders and video cameras to interview the celebrities.

Avengers Party (BOYS) Invitations: You can make these yourself with cardboard and markers. Cut stars out of the cardboard, covering them with white paper. On the front, use words from the comics like ‘POW’, ‘ZAP’ or ‘BIF’; that will definitely get their attention. On the back, start with an epic, urgent message, like ‘Urgently calling all superheroes…’ Dress code: There are several printable superhero masks that you can get online, and have the guests decorate at the party. Decorations: You can string up store bought American flags, plastic shields and hammers, in addition to the usual Avengers tablecloths, plates, cups and napkins. Activities: A spin on the popular party game, you can play ‘pin the cape on the superhero’. Also, to give the young children the opportunity to practise their superhero powers, you can orchestrate games of hide and seek and treasure hunt. Races to test speed and agility will end the arguments about who’s the fastest superhero. Lastly, set up a tug-ofwar to determine if any other heroes can take on Hulk’s strength. For any younger children that might be there, you can also get printouts of Avengers colouring books and pages. Food: Keeping the world in check is sure to work up an appetite. Superhero cupcakes, Hulk green Jello and tiny sandwiches should do. Blue, green and red popsicles would be ideal if it’s a hot day. Cake: The cake should be the simplest part of the day: whatever superhero your son loves the most. If he can’t decide, do them all! Memorabilia: Avengers loot bags can be filled with sweets, candies and other tasty treats to keep these young heroes energized and ready to save the world!

Ask parents to bring their children in crazy outfits or onesies, mimicking Thing 1 and Thing 2. You can also buy or make outrageous hats beforehand, for each guest. Dr. Seuss Party (GENDER NEUTRAL) Invitations: Like the Cat in the Hat, the invitations should be quirky. There’s a lot of Disney clip art online that you can choose from to make and print your own invitations. Word play would bring the theme home for these invitations. For example, ‘Would you, could you, come to my party’ and ‘___I-Am is turning two.’ Dress code: Ask parents to bring their children in crazy outfits or onesies, mimicking Thing 1 and Thing 2. You can also buy or make outrageous hats beforehand, for each guest. Decorations/Set up: Your set up should be fun and colourful and you can make several signs or posters with cute little rhymes such as, ‘I like cake here, I like cake there, I like cake and ice-cream everywhere’. You should also have lots of balloons. Activities: Since these children are younger, the activities will be less structured. You can purchase several Cat in the Hat colouring and activity books, or print sheets that you find online. You can also set up your own home theatre to show Cat in the Hat movies or episodes. If you’re going to have any older children in attendance, you can choose to buy a Cat in the Hat board game to entertain them. Food: It goes without question that you should have a brunch menu, with none other than eggs and ham (you can opt to use food colouring for the eggs and ham, but not if you have very picky children). You can have funny names for regular juices like ‘Mean Green Juice’ or ‘Mink Pink Drink’. Oddly shaped, decorated cookies will also sit well with the little ones. Cake: A zany striped cake would only be fitting, with your child’s name in a scribbled handwriting. Memorabilia: A simple option would be to just place favours in loot bags, with each guest’s name enhanced with an adjective beginning with the first letter of their name. So for example, Danielle’s bag would read, ‘Dancing Danielle’. A way to go over the top would be to give a small fish to each guest— one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

LEARNING TODAY

5X1=

Apples and

oranges Story by Dawn Morgan

hildren learn to count – at least to 10 – using their fingers, from an early age. Then they learn if you have two oranges and you add four it makes six, and if you take away one, it leaves five. Later on they learn fractions beginning with basic halves and quarters. While all of this is going on, they are going around with parents who they observe spending money, and they often hear parents discussing money, but the very young really don’t grasp the value of money. Parents can do a lot to educate them about the purchasing power of money when they are present in the supermarket and stores. It just takes a little time, and it gives a wider understanding of arithmetic than they get in the classrooms. Give them examples such as: One orange costs $1, so if we buy five, how much would we have to pay? If two apples cost $1, how much are we paying for one? Carrots are a low price this week, so I can buy two packs; but beets are expensive so I won’t buy any. If we cut the cake in half, then cut the halves in half,

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

how many pieces do we get? These little snippets teach them to shop wisely. When they get to the primary school age, they can be coached to take the book you are buying for them to the cashier, with the responsibility of counting the change and making sure it is correct. Of course, you will be watching their movements but this starts the process of greater independence with cash transactions, rather than if you never involve them and just continue to do all the paying yourself. You could also use the system of giving them pocket money on a daily or weekly basis, then questioning them about their purchases, to further encourage them to think of money value and spending. A similar process can be applied to giving them spending money at fairs and then asking them to account for what they bought and the change they have.

One orange costs $1, so if we buy ﬁve, how much would we have to pay? If two apples cost $1, how much are we paying for one?

Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

CRAFT TODAY

BACK TO SCHOOL CRAFT Story by Aprille Thomas

Tear pages out of old magazines and cut them in different shapes and sh sizes. Glue the cut pages to the box haphazardly to haph create a colourful c collage effect.

What you’ll need: 3 toilet paper rolls 1 regular cereal box or 1 pasta box Sheets of blank A4 paper Piece of cardboard Glue Stapling machine Scissors Old magazines

Desktop organizer: Cut the piece of cardboard down to a size that will ﬁt comfortably on your desk. (You can choose to leave the edges straight, or round them.) Completely cover the cardboard using randomly cut pieces of old magazine pages to create a colourful, collage effect. This will be your base. Cut a slant in each of the toilet paper rolls so that there’s a semi-circular opening on one side. This will be the front of the pencil holder. Cut one of the three toilet paper rolls in half. Use cut, old magazine pages to cover the toilet paper rolls entirely. Glue the three rolls onto the cardboard, arranging the taller ones at the back and the shorter one at the front, in the middle. Cut sheets of blank A4 paper to a size that will ﬁt onto your cardboard base. (You can choose to round the edges, or leave them straight.) Stack the papers together and staple them. Glue the last paper in the stack to the cardboard, and you’re done! Here you have a colourful, personalized desktop organizer that stores pens and pencils and has a cute notepad for making notes.

Paper holder: For this you can choose to use a regular sized cereal box or a pasta box if the cereal box is too big for your desk. Cut off the top of the box. Then cut an opening at the front of the box in the shape of a ﬂat bottom ‘V’. Tear pages out of old magazines and cut them in different shapes and sizes. Glue the cut pages to the box haphazardly to create a colourful collage effect. Now your child has a colourful place to store loose papers from school!

Parenting today · AUGUST 2012

Parenting today 路 AUGUST 2012

ADVERTORIAL

Fun colours and shapes are helpful in developing ﬁne motor skills.

HAPPY CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY CHILDREN rom the age of three months children are accepted into the Parents Education for Development in Barbados (PAREDOS) programme. The Bertie Graham Early Childhood Stimulation Center offers full nursery and day care services until children are ready for primary school. PAREDOS has been in operation for 12 years and word of their unique programme is spreading. This year they are offering three preschool classes to accommodate everyone. A full complement staff of 17 workers, along with two supervisors, will ensure that your child is well taken care of as you go back to work. Director of PAREDOS, Marcia Graham, says that it is common now for children to come into the programme when they’re just three months old and stay until four years old. “Parents and children get accustomed to and are comfortable with the PAREDOS schedule so they stay until primary school age.” Marcia added that their unique programme is what she thinks draws parents to PAREDOS, as well as their track record for success. “Early stimulation is extremely important.” “Children who come through our programme are conﬁdent and articulate. They are taught feeling words and can explain what they’re feeling, as well as concepts, which will give them an easy transition into doing things at school, like writing.” Marcia describes PAREDOS as a happy, friendly and stress free environment. Children are never ‘shushed’, rather, they are encouraged to communicate. The ﬂoor is cleaned regularly so that babies who can’t yet walk, can crawl around, aiding in the development of their large muscles. Children are introduced to structure with the PAREDOS routine of assembly, lunch, a teaching session, and circle time – which is very interactive. Overall, the key focus at PAREDOS is well-rounded development. “We have access to the best park in Barbados. Children must go outside every day and they can climb, jump, hop and skip around to develop their large muscles.” This is all part of PAREDOS’ play approach to learning, where

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having fun is highly integrated into the learning process. “We are also focused on sensory development, so we have activities for their fine motor skills like art, painting, crayons, and sand and water play… We try to keep them happy, yet disciplined.” Other activities at PAREDOS include language development, counting and mathematics, science, health, cooking, drama, music and the teaching of values. They also help the children to understand the concept of God and His love. An integrated approach is taken to teaching, where several lessons are taught based on one topic. At PAREDOS they also make sure that what’s learnt in the classroom can be applied to external environments. The children are therefore taken on tours where they can see shapes, colours and numbers in the real world and parents are always invited to attend. “We also bring in resource persons (usually parents) like firemen, police and paramedics to teach them about emergencies.” Parents are kept abreast of their children’s progress and lessons. “We have an open door policy and we encourage parents to call and come and ask questions about their children” Parents benefit from the PAREDOS environment as well. “We bring parents together from all cross-sections in our Parent Teachers’ Association’s activities and they become a family, supporting each other. They are encouraged to get involved in our parenting classes and counseling services which are free and confidential. Parent education is extremely important, that is why PAREDOS was birthed.” An effort is also made at PAREDOS to assist parents who might not be able to afford their services, through scholarships. The teachers are constantly learning as well. Every month at Paredos there’s a staff meeting which heavily incorporates training as it relates to child development. Every July, PAREDOS celebrates the children who are advancing to primary school with their First Milestone ceremony. “We honour and highlight the skills and activities of our children. Every child is a gem and has something interesting to offer.”

Tel: 427-0212 • Email:paredosbarbados@yahoo.com Parenting today · AUGUST 2012