TCI Parents Spring 2016

EE FR

SPRING 2016 | ISSUE 2

When teens

What parents are ta lking

about

test the limit

Modern day father

Add years

to your child’s life

Raising Resilient Kids

To board or not to board That’s the question www.tciparents.com www.facebook.com/TCIParents

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PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

Content

PREGNANCY 12 Tips on a healthy

pregnancy

Healthy mommy equals healthy baby! Keeping active definitely has its perks. Now…don’t get all excited and rush to the gym and go into body building mode.

15 Sleep Training

to school in the family car or on the bus.

TWEENS & TEENS 38 What parents should

know about Social Media

If you have given permission for your son or daughter to be on any of the popular social media platforms, it’s time to sit down and discuss some rules of engagement.

After the “joys” of labour, the rampant hormones, and the general shock of becoming a mom, really felt like a dummy needing to be told exactly what to do and when.

40 Managing your Digital

LITTLE ONES 18 What’s in the name

HEALTH & WELLNESS 50 Tips for travelling on a

Reputation

So before you post or forward pictures with your mobile device, remember the facts.

Some people choose to uphold family tradition by choosing their own names or those of older generations, although nowadays this seems to be more popular with middle names..

budget

22 Brotherhood, an

52 Skincare during pregnancy

unbreakable bond

They have this fighting thing that apparently makes them closer and sometimes it’s not easy for me to understand.

27 Add years to your child’s life

Children today experience a very different lifestyle. Walking to school has been replaced with being driven

For large families you know every dollar counts, staying at a guest house is another great idea as they are generally cheaper than hotels and villas on the beach.

The number one skin problem for a lot of women during pregnancy is acne but other persons may even experience discolorations, rashes and bumps due to hormonal activity.

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover Photo A’navia S. Mantock Six years old was the winner of our 2016 Cover Contest Photo taken by Attimi Photography

editor’s note What Parents are Talking About PUBLISHER

Creative Designs EDITOR

Patrina Pierre A DVE R T I S I NG S A LE S

Nidra Ganness tciparentsmag@gmail.com DE S I G N & PRO DU C T I ON

Creative Designs WR I T ER S & CONT R I B UTO R S

Chenice Peniston-Williams, Hope Stafford-Regis, Heather Bernard, Rebecca Payne, Kimberly Wallace, Robin Bardegett, Yolande Robinson, Thea Lowe-Gangasingh, Maxcia Rigby CO N T RI B U T I NG PHOTO GR AP HERS

Attimi Photography and Eva Lakhani Turks & Caicos Parents Magazine is associated with Bermuda Parent Magazine but is published by Creative Designs every three months. Reader correspondence, photo submissions and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this magazine. Distribution of this product does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein.

PRINTING SunDance Marketing Solutions 9564 Delegates Drive Building A Orlando, FL 32837 CO NTAC T US

tciparentsmag@gmail.com Tel: 649-441-4612 www.tciparents.com facebook.com/TCIParents

Spring into good health After all the Christmas shopping and all the festivities the children have now settled into their school routine again. Some parents are relieved to have their children back in a structured environment away from home. Some are dreading the academics challenges that come with school.

However, before you blink they will be on spring break and this means a lot of free time. Those of us with younger children have to get creative and find things to help fill their days with things like play dates and baking cookies.

The older ones (those tweens and teens) on the other hand, that’s a different story altogether. Speaking of tweens and teens, they are growing in independence and with styles all their own. As our kids get older, it seems they spend more and more time in their rooms. Rather than just a place to sleep, their bedrooms become their 40 own unique spaces to talk with friends, listen to music and do homework. As parents we need to monitor their internet use, and if they are allowed to have a social media account, we need to stay on top of that to.

Read more about this on page 38-41.

In the issue you will also find useful tips on how to stay focused on your diet (yes remember that New Years’ resolution) while on vacation pg 48.

There is something for everyone to read in this spring issue, please share a copy with a friend.

Follow us on Facebook, visit our website 48 at www.tciparents.com or send us am email at tciparentmag@gmail.com.

Happy Parenting!

Patrina Pierre Editor notes

TCI Parents

“

Kid, you’ll move mountains!

Dr. Seuss

Carlton Arthur

”

Elliot Poisson

Ethan Gangasingh

Isabella Marcell

Jael Williams

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Zackary & Max Scholar

Destiny Ganness

Devraj Williams

Frederico & Pablo Grau

Peyton Stubbs

Kyle

Jayla Valsaint

Jean Marcell

Want to see your child featured here?

Email a photo with your child’s first and last name to tciparentmag@gmail.com

Malik Musgrove

Owen Barkworth-Knight

Nylah Parker

Maya Robinson

Nataki & Othniel Moffett

Valentine Osmond

Timothy Irwin

La’Mieka & Janellie Stubbs

Lillian Taylor

Olivia Taylor

Talisa Irwin

Savion Rigby

Twain Irwin Jr.

Sophie Taylor

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“

Today you are You, that is truer than true...

A’navia Mantock

Aaron Sutton

Allison Delgado

Amelia Flowers

Ali Doverspike Brooklyn L’Heureux

“

The more that you read, the more things you will know.

“

Think and wonder, wonder and think.

”

Dr. SEuSS

Isaac Turner

Charlie Turner

London Higgs

There is no one alive who is Youer than You.

”

Dr. SEuSS

Caleea robinson

Audrey & Laila McAnally

Zamora Smith

Want to see your child featured here?

8 Email a photo with your child’s first and last name to tciparentmag@gmail.com

www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

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pregnancy

BY Chenice Peniston-Williams

Tips On A Healthy

Pregnancy

So you’ve just found out the great news that there’s a new baby on the way. One of the first things the mommy-to-be begins to wonder is, “how am I going to carry my bundle for the upcoming 38 weeks”?

Y

ou immediately make an appointment with your family doctor to get all the information and guidelines possible to take you through this journey. If you haven’t been to a bookstore or library in ages, this becomes your new favorite spot for all the material you think you would need.

However, you can read all the books and magazines watch all the YouTube videos and enroll in the best Lamaze class, but everyone’s experiences would be unique. The challenge lies in finding a regime tailored to suit you! What I have found that generally works for everyone is captured below.

1. Regular Doctor Visits 2. Keeping Physically Active 3. A Healthy Diet 4. Adequate Sleep 5. SEX! 6. A Strong Prayer Life

1.

Regular Doctor Visits Be sure to keep track of and regularly attend your doctor and clinic sessions. This is important as your doctor would be familiar with your health history and would therefore be best equipped to prescribe and recommend medication and make other health related decisions.

More so, based on your health history, if you are diabetic or suffer with High Blood Pressure (HBP), your doctor is the best person to pilot the plane. Also, these are the visits that you get to voice all your questions and concerns and have them addressed.

So keep track of these appointments! It’s also great to develop a cordial relationship with your medical practitioner, who in turn makes these visits less frightening and nerve-wrecking and you 12

see it as another fun part of the journey!

2.

Keeping Physically Active Healthy mommy equals healthy baby! Keeping active definitely has its perks. Now…don’t get all excited and rush to the gym and go into body building mode. Walking, yoga, and light running, are all simple but effective ways to keep physically active. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle during this period not only helps to make the load easier to carry, but also keeps the baby active and you reap the benefits of the baby positioning for delivery with ease.

Lamaze Class is another great opportunity to engage in physical activity while also engaging daddy-to-be in the pregnancy. He gets an opportunity to bond with the baby and a chance to also feel a part of the pregnancy. Let’s be honest, we can sometimes forget that they too are part of this amazing journey. And the icing on the cake, increased chances of a smooth and quick delivery!

Who doesn’t want that? So in whatever way you can, keep active. Don’t be a couch potato!

3.

A Healthy Diet You are what you eat! The pounds would be coming on no matter what we do, so a healthy diet is important to control the rate at which it comes.

Weight gain – an aspect of your pregnancy you don’t really look forward to, can indeed be controlled by adopting healthy eating patterns.

Eating healthy and drinking lots of water is pertinent during this time.

Yes, the cravings would come and you don’t want to ‘mark the baby’, but don’t overdo. You will regret it post-pregnancy! Enjoy being spoilt with all

the junk but when the cravings come on, try having fruits and always have those greens.

If you can’t resist the junk, indulge in small portions. Apart from weight gain, you do not want to put yourself, or baby at risk because of a poor diet.

4.

Adequate Sleep This one won’t be much of a challenge! You may probably need some “How to Stay Awake” tips. Just in the event that there is some discomfort and you suffer with insomnia, you should ensure that you get as much rest and sleep as possible.

Trust me when I tell you to take advantage of all the rest you can while you still can. You’d be looking back and wish you did! Being well rested will aid in you feeling refreshed to carry out your daily activities and not feel sluggish and more tired than you already feel. Whatever your day may be like, get in on those 8 hours…or more!

5.

SEX! Yes! You’re reading correctly.

This old wives tale has proven to be helpful for some. It has been said that this makes the delivery process a bit easier. More so, it has been proven that sex increases the endorphins level in the body which would be beneficial to combat those mood swings that are beyond our control.

It’s also a relationship booster during this period. Your spouse / mate does not have to be sexually deprived during this time! In the end, everyone is happy! So don’t roll over and skip this vital part of your day’s routine, keep your relationship alive and your body feeling great!

6.

A Strong Prayer Life Last, but definitely not least, establishing and maintaining a strong prayer life is crucial during this time.

Prayer is especially important as pregnancy can prove to be one of the most challenging periods you may go through. Even if you’re having the close to perfect pregnancy, it should not be neglected.

This is an opportunity to engage and ensure that your spirit man is fully loaded for the unexpected turns that can arise. We tend to forget that pregnancy in itself is a risk and as such, need to be sure to cover our bases through prayer, our most vital weapon.

So before you go any further, ask yourself how careful you are and see if your tips match the ones listed above to ensure a healthy pregnancy and by extension, a healthy delivery! Some quotes from mothers on having a healthy pregnancy.

“Attend every clinic appointment or doctor’s visit.”

– Paula, 40, first time mom “Exercise regularly and drink lots of water!”

– Aisha, 23, first time mom www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy

BY Chenice Peniston-Williams

How long you should wait

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

to have another baby

Everyone has a different opinion on how many children you should or shouldn’t have, and how often. This should be a personal decision, however there are alot of factors to take into consideration when you are planning your family.

P

arents hoping to give their baby a sibling close in age might need to reconsider their plans.

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a third of women space their children too close together.

Medical experts are recommending that mothers wait a minimum of 18 months before conceiving again, which means the siblings would be at least 2.25 years apart.

Why the mandated minimum?

Not only is it important for

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women to give their postpartum bodies time to recover, but researchers have also found that those who get pregnant within that first year and a half of their baby’s birth are much more likely to deliver prematurely. There’s also an increased risk in birth defects and childhood behavioral problems.

Although the average US mom waits roughly 2.5 years before her next pregnancy, 30 percent conceive much sooner.

There’s long been debate over “birth spacing” how soon mothers should give birth again with many wanting to keep their kids close in

age for personal reasons, whether it’s so they can grow up together or so parents can tackle major milestones all at once. (Ask a mom of three kids under 5 how she does it, and she might say she’d rather get all that diapering out of the way in one back-to-back blur rather than keep revisiting it every several years.)

Still, about 20 percent of women do wait more than five years to have another baby.

Do you agree with the experts’ advice on spacing? How long do you plan to wait before getting pregnant again, or how long did you wait?

Sleep Training Contributed BY Erin Field

WHEN YOU’RE A BUSY MOM

Like any other first time expectant mother, approaching her last few weeks of pregnancy, I had a number of emotions and questions – how much would labour really hurt, would my son be healthy, would I be a good mom, and would I ever sleep again?

I

have never been a “night owl.” I’ve always needed 8 hours of sleep. So when my water broke, my hospital bag was packed with the essentials (pajamas, breast pads, etc.) but I also had well-leafed copy of a well-known sleep training baby book. I needed my son to sleep through the night stat!

This book appealed to me because the author was the only person who had the courage to tell me (and my newborn) what to do every hour of every day – even when to have a cup of tea! This sounded like sleep training for dummies! After the “joys” of labour, the rampant hormones, and the general shock of becoming a mom, really felt like a dummy needing to be told exactly what to do and when.

The author’s advice and proposed schedule worked like a charm…for the first two weeks.

However, my son didn’t want to play along and refused to fall asleep at the exact time that the book demanded. This threw the entire schedule and because I was relying on a book to care for my baby, I had no idea what to do next!

I spent the next few weeks searching blearyeyed through every possible book on sleep training.

I was overwhelmed, confused, and above all else, exhausted!

Then, like a fairy godmother, I met Linda Russell AKA the Sleep Lady. Based in Scotland, Linda works with families all over the world (including families in The Turks & Caicos Islands) to get their little ones sleeping through the night. Unlike a book, Linda really gets to know you and your baby. She aims to understand your lifestyle and your nature.

Linda firmly believes that babies shouldn’t be pushed into a schedule for the first six weeks they should be enjoyed! Young babies need to be held, comforted and given time to adjust to their new surroundings.

After those initial six weeks Linda gently nudges your baby towards having a small degree of semblance to their days. She asked that I keep a journal to track the times my son would sleep, feed, etc. which I would email her every few days. This allows Linda to see what your baby naturally wants to do a blueprint from which she begins to design

a schedule to fit your life and child. Linda starts with their feeding routine rather than their sleeping habits.

She suggests aiming to feed your baby every two hours eventually stretching to three hours as your baby grows. Sleep time naturally then falls around these feeds.

We continue this way, tweaking the schedule gently as the baby grows and requires less sleep and feedings. As a general rule of thumb, it takes four days to implement changes to your baby’s schedule so don’t despair.

One of the most useful tips that Linda gave me was setting an evening routine right off the bat! For my babies, it was dinner at 5:30 pm, diaper-free playtime by 6:00, “bath” at 6:15 (for newbies a “soldier bath”), another feed in the darkened bedroom by 6:30 and then into their crib by 7:00 pm.

I found that by implementing this one consistent routine, the baby gets to sense the time of day and how it is different from any other and helps them to differentiate between night and day (a challenge for babies and often the cause of sleepless nights).

Linda makes herself available through emails, texting or phone calls. Should questions arise or the schedule disrupted, she can always be reached for advice.

She is truly a wealth of knowledge on all things children. And for those concerned, Linda does not subscribe to the “cry it out method”. She is gentle and sensitive in her approach to babies and sleepy parents!

Using a sleep trainer or even a book isn’t necessary or desirable for everyone parents must do what feels best for them and their babies. For me, however, through Linda’s gentle directions, my son began to sleep through the night at three months old and my daughter at six months (remember, no child is the same).

My children are fantastic “sleepers” and my husband and I enjoy a quiet house at 7:00 pm each night. But even greater than having my eight hours of sleep back, is that Linda helped me to tap into my natural, but fledgling maternal instincts. She showed me that I do know what is best for my children – I just needed a little guidance (and sleep) to boost my confidence. www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy

By Robyn Bardgett

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

Learning to sleep

when they are taking a nap Babies should be kept close during the first couple of months. Whether in a bassinet, pack and play, a co-sleeper or, if you’re comfortable with the idea, having your baby sleep in bed with you. But it’s important to come up with a sleeping arrangement that is comfortable and safe for the entire family.

L

et’s just get the bad news out of the way first: sleep will forever change once you have a baby. Managing infant sleep is important to getting a good night’s sleep ourselves, but it is often a bit of trial and error.

Infant sleep is different from the way we sleep as adults and is a developmental process that changes over time. So it

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is completely normal that most newborns will sleep a lot but in shorter two to three hour bursts both day and night.

And while they start to normalise their circadian rhythm (the way we differentiate between day and night) it can make nighttime sleep seem elusive. It makes sense considering the fact that most babies in utero sleep during the day when mothers are moving

around rocking their babies to sleep and tend to be awake at night when we lay down think about all the little kicks a mother gets when they’re trying to sleep!

Not only that, but while we are pregnant our baby is completely taken care of in terms of nutrients by way of the umbilical cord. Once that connection is taken away they are reliant on their parents to give them food.

So it’s no wonder that it can take some time before what we consider to be normal sleep begins to take shape.

During those long exhausting nights of a waking baby there are some good ways to help cope.

It’s not perfect, but gaining a bit of perspective and realising that it won’t last forever can help get through those nights of broken sleep.

Babies should be kept close during the first couple of months.

Whether in a bassinet, pack and play, a co-sleeper or, if you’re comfortable with the idea, having your baby sleep in bed with you.

But it’s important to come up with a sleeping arrangement that is comfortable and safe for the entire family.

It certainly won’t look like eight hours of deep sleep, but it means

less moving around during the groggy early hours of the morning.

If you’re baby has transitioned to an expressed bottle of milk or you’re formula feeding, it’s a good idea to work out a schedule of who is on duty so feeding can be shared between you and your partner. This does mean sleeping in separate rooms but can help get a few chunks of nighttime sleep.

Once you have sleeping arrangements figured out at night, coping with lack of sleep during the day is also important. Nothing can replace a good night’s sleep, so it is about doing things to just get through the day.

While day time sleep may also be sporadic for your little one early on, or whether you’ve returned to work after maternity leave, during the day is an opportunity to have some me-time. It can be difficult to turn off when there is so much to do, but in those early days it really is important – whether it’s taking a nap, having a shower or just spending a few quiet minutes alone to read or meditate.

You may have to live with the fact that you have a messy house for a few months, but even just setting aside 15 minutes a day can help keep on top of chores and still give you some time to yourself.

If you’re being offered help, this is a good time to accept it. Let someone else keep an ear out for when the baby cries so you really can have some time to yourself without worrying about every whimper.

And if you’re back at work, try and take some time out for yourself where you can, whether it’s taking a walk at lunch or getting your nails done for a bit of luxury during the day.

Eating healthily

and staying away from heavy meals during the day can also help keep those afternoon slumps at bay. And, of course, the old standby of caffeinated beverages can help give a boost.

Just be aware of the amount of caffeine you drink if you’re breastfeeding and try having a big glass of cold water when you feel yourself lagging if you’re off the caffeine.

While it may not directly help with sleep deprivation in the early days, setting the scene for later good sleep habits is key to getting a good night’s sleep in the future.

Establishing a routine from the getgo is a great way to begin teaching your little one when it’s time for bed.

This can come in the form of bath time, putting on pajamas, reading a book, nursing, and rocking or singing to sleep in whatever order makes sense for your family.

These nighttime routines can be relaxing ways to close out the day and bring some predictability and consistency to help your child settle down for a good night’s sleep.

It will all seem very rudimentary at first – the bath may happen in the sink and you may not get through the entire book – but the pattern will set the scene for bed time and eventually your child will get into a sleep pattern closer to your own.

www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy

Courtesy Practical Parenting

What’s in the name?

There are a lot of points to consider when naming your child.

B

aby name books and websites list thousands of names and usually include their meanings.

Meaning can be very important to some parents, who may want to pass on the admirable qualities they value to their child. Some people choose to uphold family tradition by choosing their own names or those of older generations, although nowadays this seems to be more popular with middle names.

When you find a name both you and your partner like, look at the initials to check you won’t embarrass your child with a name that may cause ridicule (Patrick Ignatius Green becomes ‘PIG’, for example!), or that could produce insulting nicknames, as kids inevitably shorten and rhyme with the names of others.

Consider spelling and pronunciation, too. Some people like such unique names that they become hard for others to pronounce. Other parents like unusual spellings, which can make things difficult for the child later on.

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Have a look and see if your favourite baby names are in the top 10 this year:

Girls

1. Olivia 2. Charlotte 3. Mia 4. Ava 5. Amelia 6. Emily 7. Sofia/Sophia 8. Sophie 9. Chloe 10. Ruby

Boys

1. Oliver 2. William 3. Jack 4. Noah 5. Jackson/Jaxson 6. Thomas 7. Lucas 8. James 9. Alex/Alexander 10. Ethan

little ones Nylah Parker

Age: 4 2nd Runner-Up in the www.tciparents.com 19 2016 Cover Contest

little ones

BY Kimberly Wallace

Big Families

Making sure everyone’s are met

A

FAMILY is made up of more than one person with more than one need. Amidst the everyday challenges the average family must contend with school, work and busy schedules, there is this added concern how do you ensure that everyone's needs in the family are being met?

Understanding and responding to each individual’s needs may seem like a daunting prospect, especially if a member of the family has special needs that may require professional intervention, but take heart, meeting everyone’s needs is possible.

Maslow's “Hierarchy of Needs” a theory in psychology by Abraham Maslow suggests that the most basic needs, starting with physiological needs, must be met first.

Followed by safety and security needs, love and belonging, selfesteem and self 20

actualisation, or the realisation of one's full potential.

Once the basic needs of the family are met, it's time to determine the individual needs of each member of the family, the most effective way of doing this is through meaningful and effective communication. In the book 'The 4 Habits of Healthy Families'

by Amy Hendel, the author encourages family discussions with involvement by every family member.

Make family time a positive experience, something that each family member will look forward to, and not something to dread and run away from. Use it as an opportunity to build up, not tear down.

Some families choose to put aside time to sit together for a meal everyday without the distractions of phones, the internet or television. Others choose to have a game

night, this may appeal to young children in a family and can also serve as a stress reliever after a long day at work and school.

This quality family time will not only ensure that one can better understand each individual's needs, it's also an opportunity to observe what Hendel calls 'red flag' behavior, perhaps a family member is being bullied at school which causes him to slip into depression or maybe heavy responsibilities at work can result in one of the adults lashing out on other family members.

Once you identify eyebrow raising behavior, you can set aside one on one time with the individual to address the problem with the aim of coming up with a solution and keeping the peace in the home. It's equally important that a family coming together to enjoy quality time as a unit is not a once in a blue moon occasion but is part of a family’s routine.

Routine is good because it fosters regular communication and can build trust in the family, relationships strengthen when children observe that the family head makes the time which the family spends together a priority.

Making sure that each family member’s needs are met can seem like an uphill challenge, given how busy everyone is these days. It means taking the time to learn what each person’s needs are and it also requires communication together as a family and one on one. But the results: a happier and closer family unit is more than worth the effort it takes to get there.

www.tciparents.com

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little ones

BY Yolande Robinson, B.Ed, M.Ed. Educational Consultant / Educational Materials Distributor

Modern Day THE

Father

As civilizations evolve, the roles of the individuals change according to desires and pressures, expectations and cultural influences. This is a discourse on the change of the role of fatherhood and the modern father’s adaptation in modern culture.

F

atherhood has evolved tremendously from the days when fathers hunted and gathered food for their families, or even the times of the Industrial Revolution when fathers often worked exceedingly long, inflexible hours, and their primary goal was to be the main breadwinner. With the 21st century has come many changes and challenges to our traditional gender roles and stereotypes of moms and dads.

Worldwide we can see that fathers are choosing to change their roles. Whether it’s their involvement in their child’s PTA, father- daughter/ father- son days out or paternity leave…we are seeing changes. Parents of today are challenging gender roles in the office, in the community and in homes. Parental duties are being split based on the needs of the household and not solely along traditional lines.

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Fathers are becoming more involved in the day-to-day lives of their children. Work-life balance is no longer only a chat happening amongst busy mothers. It is now a conversation for both parents during this 21st century. Fathers are more conscious of the importance of being a constant presence in their child’s life.

With the fast paced everyday life of a busy working father, it’s sometime easy for him to forget how important it is to take time to play with his children.

Playing with your child, whether they are 4 years old or 14 years old can yield amazing results.

It has the potential to build and strengthen your relationship, provide avenues for learning, build their self-esteem and self- concept and not to mention be a great stress reliever for dads!

So dads, don’t forget to set aside time regularly to play with your children.

When you take the time to do this, you will certainly see the positive impact all around!

Here are my top 5 tips to incorporate into play time with your children!

1

Allow your child to lead – Allow your child to take the lead when it comes to play. Whether it’s a game of football on the beach with your teenager or baking easy bake muffins with your five-year-old, base your father/child play on their interest.

2

Use play to help build selfconfidence – Who better to build a child’s self confidence than a dad during play time? Your time, care and interaction with your child will work wonders on their selfconfidence.

3

Find a hobby – Whether it’s Lego building, snorkeling, or playing a sport, sharing a hobby with your child can give you a way to connect with your child on a regular basis.

4

Remember that it’s about fun – It’s easy to fall into a pattern

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

of using play time for ‘teachable moments’ or discipline. Remember that your goal of play should be to have fun with your child. Choose activities with them that will allow you to do this.

5

Unplug – With smart phones and tablets attached at the hip, try your best to set aside some time where you can truly unplug and enjoy some good old fashion play!

www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy little ones

BY Maxcia Rigby

Brotherhood,

an unbreakable bond

I

have never been a brother before and chances are, I will never be one either. Actually this may be the reason why I do not understand them .I grew up with brothers and still sometimes I'm clueless. All the fighting and high fives were confusing to me. It wasn’t until I had two sons of my own that I began to understand their brotherly ways.

When my youngest son Isreal was diagnosed with autism, it was a hard blow for our family. We all dealt with it differently. I saw my older son Judah get jealous, but after I spoke to him, it was amazing to see how my 5 year old responded! First I saw his tears and I assured him that Isreal would be okay and we would all make sure of it.

Almost immediately after that,

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he became Isreal's voice, activity planner, protector, friend and most importantly his big brother. He went from being jealous of Isreal to wanting him around all the time.

Over the years I have watched them play and fight together. Isreal would steal Judah's meat and Judah would just say “Isreal!” and let it go.

They have this fighting thing that apparently makes them closer and sometimes it’s not easy for me to understand. All I know is that somehow this strange but common behavior is irreplaceable. This brotherly relationship helped save Isreal. I have never seen brothers hold hands, hug and fight as much as these two. They can't even go to sleep at night without each other!

Isreal doesn't sleep well sometimes which means he wakes

up at night and sometimes has a hard time falling asleep. Though Isreal is in the room kicking him and screaming Judah never wants him to leave. You see, Judah taught Isreal how to button his shirt and tease dogs.

He taught him how to dance and climb. He makes sure that he knows how to play Roblox and scooters and even though Isreal doesn’t like a whole lot of touching most times he tolerates it for Judah. I know Judah has many wishes for his little brother, like being able to play soccer with him.

Yet one thing I know he would never change is their bond: it’s the closest connection Isreal has besides me.

I may never fully understand brotherhood but I know it’s a part of the journey; one of the pieces that fit!

Add years to your child’s life

BY Brenda Dale

Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist

Children’s life expectancy lower than parents

I

t’s a frightening fact for me to accept that for the first time in history, this generation of children may die five years younger than their parents because of poor eating habits and lack of physical activity that could drive life-threatening illnesses.

As a parent, I am terrified to realize that if this situation doesn’t improve soon, this generation of children, through no fault of their own, will experience shorter life expectancy than their parents because of illnesses like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

This situation holds true for all developed and developing economies, and therefore, we are not exempt in Turks & Caicos.

When I look at my children and the children in my community – I am truly frightened and realize I must take action!

How did we get here?

Thirty years ago, we led more active lives that helped keep us at a healthy weight. Children generally walked to school everyday, ran around at recess and lunch, and played for hours after school. Meals were homecooked, portion sizes were more reasonable, and vegetables were a part of every meal.

Children today experience a very different lifestyle. Walking to school has been replaced with

being driven to school in the family car or on the bus. Gym classes have been greatly reduced and replaced with academic classes.

Free play at recess, lunch and after school have been replaced with more sedentary activities and entertainment media including TV, computers, video games, movies and cell phones.

Whether at home, school or being transported from place to place, vehicles, machines and technology now do most of the moving for them. On top of the lack of activity, with both parents working in most families, family life is hectic, with fewer home cooked meals, and more snacking in between meals as we dart from place to place.

Let’s make a CHANGE! As serious as this situation is, the good news is that we can help our children lead healthier lives by making just a few lifestyle changes.

We already have the tools we need to do it, we just need the will! The first ten years of life are

a key developmental phase and are a critical window for building a foundation of healthy habits. We must break this cycle of physical inactivity. As parents, we must ensure that our children have positive experiences in physical play, physical education, and sports.

We must find ways to integrate physical activity back into our daily lives, and we must be active ourselves, so that we can model the behaviors we wish to see.

Helping our children to develop healthy eating habits early in life can last a lifetime. Children learn from the meals we offer, the way we serve food, and the examples we set.

For example, we can make silly faces out of fresh fruit and vegetable slices, involve kids in preparing healthy meals and snacks like trail mix together, and use plates that encourage reasonable portion sizes.

As parents, we must commit to making these lifestyle changes for our children - their life depends on it. Let’s commit to give them their five years back! www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy little ones

BY Yolande Robinson, B.Ed, M.Ed. Educational Consultant / Educational Materials Distributor

Raising

Resilient Kids

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s a mom and an educator I am constantly researching ways to help my child and my students develop in order to be able to tackle our ever changing world.

The reality is each generation has been and will continue to be exposed to different challenges.

Although we often hear the overly used cliché, “When I was your age…” denoting the lecture that is imminent about how tough things were, we often don’t take into account that there are many ways in which things have gotten tougher over time.

Our children are exposed to many things that we were not exposed to as children.

Twenty years ago we may have been worried about the images that were being presented through racy television shows, and the glamorization of certain lifestyles through their lyrical content.

Today, not only do parents have to worry about the racy television shows that have become the reality shows, but also the influence of technology through the use of social media. Our children only physically leave school at three pm because they often remain connected to their peers 24/7 through the use of computers, tablets and smart phones.

The reality is technology is going to keep evolving and reality shows are going to continue glamorizing lifestyles that we would prefer our 28

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

children not feel are the norm. So what can we do about this as parents? We can try our best to make them as resilient as possible and give them the tools they need in order to navigate through any environment within which they find themselves.

So what does a resilient child look like to you? In my eyes a resilient child is motivated, self-assured, assertive, confident, aware of their environment, happy and empathetic.

These character traits are like padded walls that we can provide our children with in the hope that they will be ever present when they are making choices.

Children and teens will at some point or another make choices that do not seem too smart. This is part of growing up, but as a parent, you want to do your best to build the traits that are going to help them to be resilient in their environment, so that when you are not there, they are confident in making the right decisions for themselves, or recovering when they have not made the best choice for themselves.

In order to raise a resilient child it is important to take the time to do so! Don’t assume that your child is going to learn all these skills by him or herself. Skills are called skills because they can be learned and they are not necessarily character traits with which you are born. Many of these skills are picked up through our environment. Children learn

from the people around them.

Children sense happiness, they sense confidence, and they sense empathy. A child with a parent that shows empathy towards others will likely do the same. This points to the fact that parents must remember that they are always being watched.

For this reason, it is important to think of what a resilient child looks like to you and ensure that the example that you are setting as an adult exemplifies these qualities.

Raising a resilient child involves the understanding of the importance of the following three areas:

Build the Self: 1 Ask yourself how you are

working to help your child become self-aware. Being self-aware is an important part of building selfconfidence. In order for our children to feel confident in themselves they need to be given the opportunity to explore to find their strengths and what drives them.

2

Build the Family Unit: With the hustle and bustle of everyday life it is easy to cut out the family time. Building a strong family unit is an important part of the puzzle. Although your child may not come and share all their

challenges within the unit, having a strong family unit at home will make it more likely that they will, and will also provide them with the tools they need in order to tackle every day challenges.

3

Build the Immediate Environment: There are many things within our children's environments which we cannot control. However, there are some aspects in which we have a say. Take stock of your child's immediate environment. Expose them to the types of activities, people and experiences that you believe will help to build their character.

Empowering Through Education www.learnandleadec.com

41 Princess Drive • Unit 15 • Providenciales• (649) 946-8513

www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy real families, real stories

Our blessing from the Lord

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“It doesn’t matter what; every child is a blessing ”

ust a few days after our first wedding anniversary we were very fortunate to bring forth to this world our very first and only child Yodisha.

Her name is made up from our both mothers’ names in order to dedicate that blessing of God to our parents who brought us to this world.

Immediately after birth, we were told that our lovely daughter was diagnosed with “Trisomy 21”. Ignorantly we were thought that “Trisomy 21” is not a problem at all because the

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only thing it would cause to the child is to make her very sexually active when she becomes a teenager; therefore; because we did not believe and we were ignorant of the whole matter, we did not do any research on the diagnosis.

Four to five months later Yodisha could not even sit on her own without support. Her father was very upset with her sometimes, assuming she was lazy. Our friends and family were blaming us, many of them said, “Because she is our first child we refused to let her be independent and therefore; that was the reason

why five months after birth she could not even sit down on her own”, We decided to take her to see a doctor regarding the diagnosis (Trisomy 21), immediately after the doctor looked at her, she was diagnosis with “Down Syndrome”.

We asked her, “what is that?”. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and said, “If you have access to the internet go and research it on your own, you would find more information”. So we did exactly what the doctor said and we found that “Trisomy 21 is the most common form of Down Syndrome, caused by an extra copy of chromosome number 21”. We also learnt that the child’s development would be a few years slower than regular children.

The clarity and understanding of our first and only child diagnosis was quite emotional to us. As a young couple we did not really know how to deal with the matter but as children of God we decided

to ask God to show us the blessings out of it. As the word of God says, (Romans 8:28), “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord…”

As we were learning about Yodisha’s diagnosis, we started to appreciate her more and came to realization that she was indeed a blessing from the Lord.

We started participating in child protection and training workshop and anything that has to do with children awareness. We became so involved with children we even had a radio program at one point.

We realized that Down syndrome children are some of the most caring and loving children.

Yodisha brought joy to our lives by showing love to us and to everyone who comes around her.

She is deeply in love with small babies, she loves to hug and care for others, although sometimes she would show too much love. As they say, “Too much of everything hurts”. Yodisha loves dancing,

singing and helping a lot and we believe dancing is her talent.

When it was time to get Yodisha to school that was one of our biggest challenges. Most schools did not want to take her due to her diagnosis, although we had recommendation from doctors that she can go to regular schools.

We thank God that we were able to find TLC Tender Loving Care preschool which decided to register her. She spent three years instead of two years at TLC due to her diagnosis. After graduating from TLC the next biggest challenge was to find a primary school which would take her. For a second time we found ourselves in a very unfortunate and emotional situation; but thank God to Hope Foundation with Mills Institute who started the autism class that we were able to register her.

We believe she is a blessing from the Lord and God sent her to the exact family that would love and care for her.

www.tciparents.com

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2016 Summer Programs Florida Prep Every summer has a story ....

July 11 - August 5 Grades 6-8 (Middle School) Program includes Math, Science, English and History each day, along with a fun weekly field trip and a weekend theme park visit.

Grades 9-12 (High School) Earn Academic Credits!

Earn one full credit at the completion of the course in a variety of subjects, including Math and English.

For more 32 information about Summer Programs contact admissions@flprep.com or visit our website www.flprep.com Located in Melbourne, Florida. Tel: 321 723 3211

Take 5 to Learn 5 at Florida Prep

During the months of April and May families start planning fun-filled vacations and activities to last through the summer. Although students are ready for a much-needed break from school, most if not all could benefit from doing some form of academic work during the summer. Simply "tackling the summer reading list" won’t give a child the competitive edge needed to get into the college or university of their choice upon graduation.

Research shows that without some form of educational studies during the summer, students lose “about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills” over the summer months. There is no need for a grueling routine in the summer, however. Like all of us, students need time to rest and unwind but they also want planned activities to stay active.

Summer Session at Florida Prep starts July 11th (www.flprep.com/summer) and spaces are filling up fast. The summer months provide an excellent window of opportunity to help students improve grades, language and testing skills, and to socialize with other kids during the day. It’s also an opportunity to ‘test the water’, to spend a month as a boarding school student to see if it may be a good fit.

If you are wondering whether attending a residential program during the summer is right for you and your child, consider the following five things:

1. Advance in Academics

Most children struggle in at least one or more subjects. The summer provides a great opportunity to get ahead in math or English, and to improve important learning skills. With small class sizes, FPA offers summer programs that can assist students with improving grades and test scores, improving study and timemanagement skills, and ensuring academic success!

2. Better than Babysitting

Summertime affords families the ability to spend quality time with each other, but many parents still hold down a Monday-through-Friday job. At Florida Prep, students get to spend each

week making new friends from around the world, learning new skills, engaging in fun activities and mentored sports, and staying busy doing things they LOVE! Optional weekend trips to local beaches, state parks, and theme parks also make the summer fly by!

3. Language Comprehension

Children have an amazing aptitude for language learning. Florida Prep offers both an academic-year and summer-program geared toward helping international students improve their English language skills—unlocking opportunities to attend US colleges and Universities after graduation. This also provides English speaking students with a rare opportunity to develop longlasting friendships with boys and girls from 20+ other countries, and to learn firsthand about other languages and cultures!

4. Social Development

At summer school, your child will interact with children of different cultures and backgrounds.

Summer session reinforces core values of ethics, honesty, caring, respect and responsibility.

Parents frequently report that after Summer Session at Florida Prep, their children better understand the importance of sharing and giving of themselves, and are more willing to be more responsible at school and at home.

5. Personal Enrichment

The summer academic and adventure programs at Florida Prep are designed to provide boys and girls with a variety of opportunities for personal enrichment and academic growth, mentored exercise, making new friends... and having fun! In addition to academics, all students will be challenged with personal and team activities such as go carts, beach trips, surfing, skateboarding, movies, arts-and-crafts, and so much more!

Representatives from the school will also be visiting Turks & Caicos during April. We’d love to meet you and your family.

If you agree your child may benefit from the Summer Session at Florida Prep contact our admissions department admissions@flprep.com.

Tel: 321-723-3211

www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy little ones

BY Chenice Peniston-Williams

Balancing act

Being a mother and a having a successful career Vacation time is over! Your maternity leave is up and the dreaded moment is upon you. It’s time to head back to work again! However, this time you have to add taking care of baby to the daily ‘to-do’ list. The hours in the day don’t seem to be long enough and sleep has become a luxury. So you wrack your brains trying to determine how do I balance work and parenting? There is no magic wand to wave and everything gets done.

safe and secure. Getting a reputable daycare or babysitter plays a major role in To effectively balance work your child’s security and your and parenting, support from friends and family is essential. peace of mind. In turn, you Juggling work and parenting, are more productive during the day. another full time job, can be You want to build a taxing, especially on mothers. relationship with whoever As such, all help should be is taking care of your baby, welcomed. After working whereby they take joy in your regular 8 hour job, you caring for your child and pick up the parenting role. attending to their needs Allow your mate, parents without you having to say so and friends to assist with the all the time. They know your duties.

Furthermore, between you child inside out! If you should have an emergency at work and your mate, you should that requires you to put in a assign and share the roles few extra hours, you’re not on and responsibilities to ease a rigid timer and the caregiver the burden. Mommy is in charge of getting children out is understanding because of the relationship that you the house to daycare and share. school on time and daddy or granny helps out with the It’s OKAY to take a extra-curricular activities.

BREAK! Taking turns caring for the Stop and take a minute or children makes it easier on 10, for yourself. Don’t try to both parties. be supermom! So instead of trying to complete that report Hire Help! or plan the next activity on One of the biggest fears your lunch break, take a deep of parents is leaving your breath and just RELAX! Do children with someone you something you enjoy and don’t completely trust. You don’t really have time for do not want to have to be anymore. Listen to some at work during the day and music, do a crossword, go do worrying if your child is

Take all the help that you can!

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some shopping…for YOU! Just ensure that whatever you’re doing in this free time is for YOU! Ever so often, ask daddy or granny or someone to look after the children and go get a massage or do your hair or get a spa treatment.

Additionally, make it a habit to spend time with your mate at least once a week doing something together that does not include the children. And when necessary, ever so often, if you can, take a ‘mommycation’ time away from all mommy duties!

Leave work at work!

Based on your position in the organization, you may be required to take home work from time to time. However, this should not be a common practice. Even if you’re working on getting that promotion, try your utmost best to not take the office home.

This takes away time from your other job, parenting while simultaneously cutting down on family time. This is where you have to exercise time management skills to be sure that all work deadlines are met.

You can’t take your children to work, so why should you take your work home?

Unless you’re a stay at home parent, you would find yourself always trying to find a way to maximize the 24 hours given every day. So next time you find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated between parenting and working, take some deep breaths and remember that a tired and weary parent won’t be functional to the office or the home.

So take all the help that you get, take time off to attend to you and to always separate your parenting and work responsibilities.

tweens & teens PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

www.tciparents.com

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tweens & teens

Contributed BY NIAMAH CANN

When teens test the Limits

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s your teen matures it’s developmentally normal for them to want to establish some independence and engage in risk-taking behaviour. By setting clear boundaries parents can reduce negative risk-taking, provide a sense of security, and help their teen find a balanced approach to life as they develop socially and emotionally. When setting boundaries it’s helpful to involve your teen in the rule setting, which creates a ‘buy in’ making them more likely to respect the rules.

This also will help you to continue having positive communication with your teen, and facilitate a feeling of trust and respect between the two of you.

Even when you set clearly stated and agreed upon rules there’s a chance that your teen will still test the limits. Here are some tips for guiding your teen when they push the boundaries.

Go easy on the first offence

If his/her personal safety was not at risk, use the first offence as a time to discuss the issue, and what your teen can learn as a result of it. Discipline is meant to teach, and personal experiences are learning lessons.

In very clear language state what the consequences will be if the behaviour is repeated.

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Stay connected to your teen by listening to them

Teenagers need to have limits enforced consistently; however it’s also important to listen to them carefully when it comes to a disagreement. Use reflective language such as ‘What I’m hearing you say is…’ You can also help them to understand your point-of-view by asking ‘How would you feel if you were me?’

Be the parent, not the friend.

Being a friend to your child certainly feels a lot nicer at first; however, down the road it can cause problems. Children and teens need boundaries and your guidance to lead them into adulthood. It must be clear that you’re not afraid to take control if they get out of control.

Make the discipline match to the offence

Connecting consequences to the misbehaviour encourages your teen to rethink their actions. For example, if your teen continues to slam their door, take it off the hinges. If your teen breaks curfew make them come home an hour earlier the next week. Be careful to avoid giving excessive punishments as it could build resentment in your teen.

Choose your words wisely

Words can have the ability to help communicate how you’re feeling, or cause a defensive response. I encourage all parents to recognize and affirm what their child is doing right. Give lots of positive encouragement. If you’re upset or angry try saying you were ‘worried’ or ‘frightened’ to communicate the feeling behind the anger. This may help build

up communication rather than destroying it.

Keep communication open

As a parent, keep listening and try to understand your teen while also sharing your point of view.

Don’t fall into ignoring each other, which is a loss for both of you. As long as you talk it through there’s a chance that the issue can be resolved. www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy tweens & teens

Courtesy Parenting Nation

Social Media what parents should know

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ime has changed and digital connectivity now has turned the standard for most of us. Internet access and smartphone technology has become mandatory. We adore our technology and the many advantages that it affords us.

Apparently, it comes as no wonder when we see our kids also being addicted to this technology the way we are. And of course, you can't blame them when you discover that they're "tweeting," "liking" and "Instagramming" almost every phase of their daily life.

As parents, you will have to admit that your kids are on social media; irrespective of whether you like or not. In fact, some parents open up Facebook or Twitter accounts for their children, while there are a few who try holding them away from exploring the world of social media. It has really become difficult to say "do as I say, not as I do," in this digitallyconnected era.

Therefore, it’s better those parents keep in mind some considerations regarding their kids'

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social media use.

We have to learn to understand the medium.

Before you pose any questions to them, first understand the medium yourself in case you aren’t aware of it. If Facebook and Twitter are alien terms to you, seek help from trusted friend or family member who can teach you the ropes. Learn to navigate popular sites with ease and feel comfortableful with the format, lingo as well as the rules. When you do so, you stand much better prepared to deal with any issue or situation that your child may encounter online.

Our next step should be setting rules of engagement.

If you have given permission for your child to be on any of the popular social media platforms, it’s time to sit down and discuss some rules of engagement. This calls for asking questions and setting some expectations. If there is any site that you would not want your child to visit, be very clear about it. Discuss the time frame within

which he or she can use the sites every day. The rules need to be very clear and justified. The child should understand why you have set those rules and must agree to the same. This will help you in keeping your kids safe from inappropriate languages, images and cyber bullying that occurs on social media.

Implementing privacy settings is super important.

See to it that kids understand the very fact that anything posted online is equal to putting the same personal info up on a hoarding for the world to witness. They should be made aware about the importance of keeping things in the limits of privacy. Teach them how they should keep their details, and photos as posted on Facebook or Instagram confined by privacy settings. This is an important step to take in order to keep their cyber space protected.

As parents we need to set the Right Example Always remember, an apple will never fall far from the tree. If your kids see you pushing to get the finest shot of the dullest moments of life, just to post a picture of it on your Facebook account, they are likely to follow suit. If you post improper images or comments on social media, your kids will see them for sure and might even take some cue. So before you try to draw a line for them; limit and restrain your own social media activity. This will make your kids realize that everything has a place and time.

As parents you will have to keep your kids protected yet worldly and this can be done when you actively participate in their lives. Have open dialogue with them so that there is faith on both sides.

BY Tory Dodge

To board or not to board

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ith the number of boarding schools in the USA, Canada and the UK totaling in the hundreds, a parent may rest assured that there is one or more perfect schools for their child. It is not a matter of fitting the child to the school, but the opposite, the school must be the right fit for the child. With so many schools to choose from, it can be a daunting task for parents to know which one would meet their child’s needs, interests and personality.

An educational consultant can be of great assistance in finding and choosing the right one. Is it Right for Your Child?

When parents enlist the help of a consultant, the first priority is to learn as much as possible about the child. How are they doing in school, what are the child’s strengths or weaknesses academically and socially and importantly, what are the parents’ hopes and expectations.

We must remember that boarding school isn’t the answer for everyone. In my experience, if a student who has no history of behavioral or medical issues, does not want to go away to school even after they have been told how great it will be and have visited, then they shouldn’t. The idea is to send a child TO school not AWAY to school.

This is an incredible opportunity and it should be seen as that. So what makes a school a good fit?

To find the answer one must ask this question:

• •

• • • • • •

What does one school provides that will better instruct, support, challenge, encourage, protect and importantly compliment the child compared to another?

Where to start? The first step to solving this puzzle is for the consultant to gather and reflect on the information given from the parents, school reports, teachers’ comments and any academic testing that is available.

The next step is to consider not only the academic fit for the child but also what that particular child wants.

What are they excited about?

Do they like academics over sports?

Are they enthusiastic about going or not yet convinced?

Was this their idea or their parents?

What country do they want to go to?

Do they like cold weather? And so on.

Educational Consultants exist to assist families in making the best school choice. The goal is to find the school that benefits your child’s learning style, in order to provide an effective educational environment and prepares them for the future.

Together as a team, we can do the job of finding an environment where the children are happy, confident and well prepared for the challenges that life will present them. www.tciparents.com

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pregnancy tweens & teens

BY CYBERTIPS

Managing your

Digital Reputation Sharing, Sending & Posting Pictures on the Internet

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ntil recently, in order to take pictures and immortalize memories, you had to remember to pick up your camera as you were on your way to a special occasion, or if you were on a trip. Now, your camera follows you everywhere you go: it’s in your phone, tablet, or computer.

It is now easier for you to take photos and videos at will. It is also much easier to quickly share them with friends and family: pictures of a birthday or party, photos taken on a recent vacation, videos of what you’ve been up to…

And the reason why sharing photos and videos has become so easy is the Internet: posting, sending, sharing, and forwarding is just a few clicks away. It is convenient, but also dangerous: as the adage goes, “Once on the Internet, always on the Internet!”

It can often be very hard, if not impossible, to delete pictures or videos once they’ve been posted, or to control where they’re forwarded or reposted after that.

Once you’ve shared something online, you can no longer control it. Whether it’s a photo of you or of someone else, once posted or sent, it could stay online for a very long time, and not just on the site(s) where you intended them to be published. A photo you’ve posted can also be copied, shared and even edited, without you even knowing it.

So before you post or forward 40

pictures with your mobile device, remember these facts: Your online reputation is worth protecting: schools, scholarship committees, and employers will very likely do an Internet search on you when you apply. What you say or do online makes a lasting impression on them, often before you get a chance to meet them yourself.

Your behaviour online can also

has offline consequences and in some cases, legal implications.

Once an image is online, there is no getting it back. Even photos and texts that were deleted -or pictures that were posted under strict privacy settings- can stick around. They can be saved on third party servers or captured with screen shots, and remain in cyberspace forever without your knowledge and outside of your

Invest time in a child’s mind

control.

Mobile apps like Snapchat, which for a long time made it safe to send risqué pictures, have now acknowledged that there is no guarantee that your pictures and videos have actually disappeared. For one, anyone can grab a screenshot of your image before it’s deleted, and use it, forward it, edit it, or repost it at will.

People you’ve only met

online may not be who they say they are – you cannot trust your personal videos and photos to someone you don’t know personally. When online, communicate only with the people you know.

It’s never too late to get help if you’ve shared something you regret. You can report photos and videos to the websites they are on or seek help from an adult you trust.

The Nursery School at the International School of the Turks and Caicos Islands provides high quality developmentally appropriate early childhood educational experiences for children 9mo to 2yrs and advocates for children, parents and families.

When you visit The Nursery School we hope you will see children and adults playing, exploring, singing and perhaps even dancing! We hope you will see children and adults working on a project together, cuddled up with a book, and/or exploring our exciting sensory area.

The Nursery School believes in play and relationship building based learning. Children in our group settings experience a lightly structured day that allows them to feel safe, and supported, while exposing them to a wide variety of developmentally appropriate opportunities. We invite you to walk in the door and join us on the wondrous journey of early childhood development.

The four guiding principles that shape our work with children are: 1. Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured; 2. Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships; 3. Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers; and 4. Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision including children with special educational needs. www.tciparents.com

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Think Clean! Going Green!

I

Ramez Hakoura TCI Waste Disposal Part 1

t’s not pretty. At least not at the beginning.

Whisky, wine and rum imbibed, glass bottles lay forlornly, broken and discarded.

The excitement has faded, and their contents empty, cardboard boxes lay beside paper plates and cups, crushed soda cans and murky plastic bottles. Scraps of meat, bone and discarded dinners, lay together in an intimate embrace. They all have one thing in common – they’re trash.

And all will have to pass through the blue and green bins of TCI Waste Disposal and are sifted and sorted. Some are transported immediately to their final destination- the Blue Hills Dump. But, for others, their journey has not ended, and they are transformed into something new, the embodiment of the Green motto ‘renew, reuse, and recycle’.

Under the guidance of Ramez Hakoura, his company, TCI Waste Disposal continues its mission to make the Turks and Caicos ‘green’. It means doing his part to preserve the TCI environment and live by his interpretation of the country’s slogan; ‘Beautiful by Nature’.

Today, $1.5 million of equipment sits in a 6000 sq. ft. warehouse in Blue Hills, Providenciales, and though the company strongly advocates recycling and constantly searches for ways to increase the numbers and types of recyclable trash they process, the business did not begin as a recycling plant.

Hakoura decided to migrate to the islands and discovered there was no reliable provision made for waste disposal on the Island.

He worked at a restaurant and he would take my waste with him to work and put it in a dumpster

there. That’s when I said, ‘hold on a second, I’m going to look into the waste issue in the Turks and Caicos’”. In 2007 Ramez and his brother Samer Hakoura opened TCI Waste Disposal.

It did not begin as it is today, instead with just two vehicles (garbage and a pick-up truck), one employee and a small office in Caribbean Place, off the Leeward Highway, TCI Waste Disposal was born.

Initially they had one client.

“It comprised of me being on the truck with one driver, heading to picking up the garbage and then going back and that was it. For that first week it was just me and my employee, sort of twiddling our thumbs and going ‘let’s wash the truck’”. 400 customers, six trucks, 15 employees, state of the art equipment and 6000 sq. ft. of warehouse and yard space later, parking concerns are a thing of the past.

At first glance it is easy to dismiss the facility as impressive only because of its size. Long fingers of cardboard stacks reach for the ceiling; industrial sized bins are filled with glass and plastic bottles. But, it is trash. Yes, at first

glance, and maybe even the second, it isn’t pretty.

What happens here though has a unique beauty of its own.

For those stacks of cardboard and bins of cans are destined for distant shores, to be remade, perhaps into a renewed version of the thing it once was, or maybe to find new and interesting form.

The glass bottles remain local. Crushed as finely as sand, or when a lighter hand is employed, broken into small pieces, sparking in the sunlightitself becoming a thing of beauty.

For two years the company focused exclusively on garbage disposal. The process was simple.

Pick up the trash, and truck it to the Blue Hills Dump. But in 2009, the company decided to add another component. Seeing the increase in the world’s consciousness about becoming environmentally friendly and protecting limited, natural resources, and coming from a culture themselves where separation of waste and recycling was the norm, TCI Wastes began offering a new service- the option to recycle. The move to recycling was not as simple as disposal.

“It was one of the hardest things we had to do. We were pretty much starting something which previously did not exist in the country. It wasn’t an easy task at all.”

Some customers simply couldn’t be bothered. “Some people were like, ‘hey, I like the easy way of throwing all my garbage in, without having to think of separating’”. Commercial clients such as hotels, seemed at first like easy converts.

Look out for Part 2 in our Summer Issue. www.tciparents.com

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dinner time

Fried Pork Chops INGREDIENTS

Herb Breading

4 pork chops, thin-cut 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk 1⁄4 cup plain breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil 1⁄2 teaspoon dried sage, dried 1⁄4 teaspoon dried thyme, ground, dried 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 cup vegetable oil

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DIRECTIONS

1. In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil over mediumhigh heat until oil begins to glisten.

crumb mixture, coating both sides heavily and evenly.

4. Carefully lower each chop into hot oil and fry for 3-5 minutes on each side or until done. Coating should be golden brown and 2. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk crispy. together egg and milk. In another wide, shallow bowl, 5. Remove chops to a plate covered combine bread crumbs, flour, with paper towel. Place another garlic powder, basil, sage, paper towel atop chops and carethyme, pepper and salt. fully blot off extra oil.

3. Dredge each pork chop first in egg mixture, shaking off excess. Then dredge in bread

6. Serve and enjoy!

Blackened Sea INGREDIENTS ps 20 ounces sea scallocipe follows re , ix m e ic Cajun sp l 1/4 cup vegetable oi : ix M e ic Cajun Sp 1/4 cup kosher salt wder 1/4 cup cayenne po 1/4 cup paprika 1/4 cup garlic er 1/4 cup black pepp n io on s on 2 tablespo d oregano 2 tablespoons drie d thyme 2 tablespoons drie

Scallops

DIRECTIONS

0 degrees F. Preheat oven to 35high heat. Dredge Heat a skillet over d saute on both scallops in spices anoking in the oven, sides. Finish the co utes. for about 4 or 5 min ve all your It is also wise to had all your smoke windows open, an ed, considering the alarms disconnect at this wonderful amount of smoke th dish produces.

Cajun Spice Mix: ass or plastic Mix well. Store in gl container with lid.

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Mosquito Bite Prevention (United States) Not all mosquitoes are the same. Different mosquitoes spread different viruses and bite at different times of the day.

Type of Mosquito

Viruses spread

Biting habits

Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus

Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika

Primarily daytime, but can also bite at night

Culex species

West Nile

Evening to morning — do not bite at night

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites Use insect repellent Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

Active ingredient

Some brand name examples*

Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection DEET

Off!, Cutter, Sawyer, Ultrathon

Picaridin, also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin

Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus, Autan (outside the United States)

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)

Repel

IR3535

Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expedition, SkinSmart

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* Insect repellent brand names are provided for your information only. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cannot recommend or endorse any name brand products.

CS258143A

February 2, 2016

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47

fit mamas

BY Kimberly Wallace

Vacationing on a diet

(

Y

our suitcase is packed. You have your flight itinerary.

And until the plane leaves the tarmac, you will be counting down the days and hours before your vacation officially begins. But there's that little problem that has been nagging you, you're concerned that your diet and all the progress you've made over the past few months will go to naught while you're on holiday. While many see vacation time as the opportunity to break out of the norm, you can still stick to your diet.

First of all, wherever you have decided to vacation, rest assured that many of the locals there are just as interested in dieting and eating right as you are. So explore your options, this you can do on your laptop or tablet from the comfort of your home. When making your hotel bookings, inquire about the menu at the hotel's 48

(

A night on the town may very well be on your agenda, if so while eating out, apply the same restraint as you would if you were dining at the restaurant at the hotel and watch your portions.

restaurant, ask about other nearby restaurants and what they serve so that you can have an idea about what to expect once you've arrived at your holiday destination. Many of us can't resist a buffet breakfast; our taste buds may kick into overdrive when we feast our eyes on French toast, pancakes drizzled with warm syrup, crispy bacon and eggs done however we like it and we may tend to overindulge after all, we're on vacation, right? But it can spell disaster if you're really trying to stick to your diet. So opt for cereal, fruits or yoghurt instead.

The same applies to lunch and dinner resist the urge to overindulge, try vegetables or a tasty salad with some meat of your choice. When deciding on a perfect dessert to cap off your dining experience, order just one dessert which you can share. If it comes with toppings, you might want to put in a request to the waiter to have less than the usual

amount of whipped cream or syrup.

A night on the town may very well be on your agenda, if so while eating out, apply the same restraint as you would if you were dining at the restaurant at the hotel and watch your portions. Nutritionists suggest packing your own snacks that you're familiar with like wafers or health bars, that way you can snack without the guilt.

Your exercise routine doesn't have to come to an abrupt end while you're on vacation either.

Again, when you're making your reservations, ask the concierge whether the hotel includes a gym.

If not, getting your daily exercise by means of an early morning or late afternoon walk or jog will be beneficial. And since swimming exercises every muscle in your body, make time to swim in the hotel pool or in the ocean. Dieting on vacation involves sacrifice but the end result is worth it you feel and look great.

healthy eating

Momables ideas for healthy lunches Here’s a list of healthy lunch foods. Mix and match to see what combinations you can come up with.

Share the list with your children and ask them to choose which foods they’d like to take to school.

Make sure you have plenty of choices on hand for them to choose from each day. Quick Reference Lunch Ideas

Breads

Spreads & Condiments

Bagel Baguette Bread sticks Crackers English muffins Focaccia Lavash bread Pita bread Pizza bread Rice cakes Rolls Sandwich bread Tortillas Gluten – free bread Sprouted bread Genesis bread

Apple butter Avocado (mashed) Banana (mashed) Brie cheese Cashew Butter Cream cheese (low fat) Goat cheese Honey Hummus Jam (spreadable fruit) Peanut butter Pesto Pizza or tomato sauce Pumpkin butter Ranch Mayonnaise

Vegetables Asapagus Beets Bell peppers Bok choy Broccoli Soy beans Cabbage Carrots

Lettuce Mushrooms Seaweed Shelling peas Snap peas Brussel sprouts Spinach Squash

Fruits Apples Apricots Asian pears Avocado Bananas Blueberries Cherries Pineapple Dates Figs Mango Papaya

Grapefruit Grapes Kiwi Melon Nectarines Orange sections Peaches Cranberries (dried) Plums Raspberries Strawberries Pears

Cauliflower Sweet Potatoes Celery Yams Cucumbers Zucchini Eggplant Green Salad Green BeansTomatoes Green Beans www.tciparents.com

49

aspire health & wellness

Tips for travelling on a

BY Tara Stafford-Regis

Budget Dreaming of a vacation, but don't think you can afford it? Maybe it's time to add vacation savings to your budget planner. Vacations can be costly, whether you want to relax on a quiet beach or run wild at an amusement park with the kids. From lodging to eating every meal out, one or two carefree weeks away from home takes serious planning up front.

Y

ou’ve decided to travel to one of our destination islands of the beautiful Caribbean. You have certain scenarios entrenched in your head. You now spend sleepless nights and just can’t get your mind off the fun, sand and sea that await your arrival. You start wishing that your job was better paying.

Well guess what! You should devise a serious budgetary plan, because that vacation is just a dream away. You don’t need much to enjoy a beautiful and exotic vacation on one of the many

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Caribbean islands.

The key is to plan in advance.

Travelling during the non-peak season when flights are at their lowest prices is another sure way to save. For large families you know every dollar counts, staying at a guest house is another great idea as they are generally cheaper than hotels and villas on the beach.

Avoid taxis and welcome public transportation. Most tourists usually take taxis since it’s the easiest way to get from point A to B. It will make better sense to consider the subway or buses because it’s usually much cheaper.

As soon as you arrive you

should get hold of a map, this will make getting around easy.

Avoid eating out in fine dining restaurants and ordering room service. This is a sure way to deplete your bugdet even before you start having fun.

Visiting all the natural scenerybotanical gardens, lakes, waterfalls, enjoy our picturesque topography as you tour the islands, tourist attraction sites, historical sites and monuments, nature trails, all of these are luxury at no cost. To culminate your day, you can spend hours basking in the warmth of the sunlight on our white sandy beaches.

PHOTO BY ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY

The Caribbean islands offer a multi-ethnic heritage, diverse culture and are attractive destinations for business and pleasure. You don’t have to be a millionaire to enjoy the ambiance of the Caribbean Islands. We offer rich flora and fauna and an all year round tropical climate that makes us even more enticing for visits at any time of the year.

Each island has its unique history from the Europeans to Amerindians and from Amerindians to Africans.

So why wait? Start saving today! The Caribbean heart sets the beat for the world so make this dream vacation a compulsory part of your budget. We are waiting to welcome you and extend our unique Caribbean hospitality.

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aspire tips beauty

Contributed By Thea Lowe-Gangasingh

Skincare during

Pregnancy

P

regnancy hormones can affect your skin in various ways. Some lucky persons may have radiant, glowing skin and others will find themselves breaking out like crazy.

Your skin type may change from oily to dry, or normal to sensitive and vice versa, as everyone is affected differently. Whatever the case, your skin needs special attention now.

The number one skin problem for a lot of women during pregnancy is acne but other persons may even experience discolorations, rashes and bumps due to hormonal activity. However, before you reach for any skincare products it is important to note that anything we apply to our skin can be absorbed into our bodies and not all of them are safe for your developing baby.

Some items or ingredients deemed unsafe during pregnancy are as follows: • Salicylic Acid and other acne products • Soy • Oil of Bergamot • Retinoids

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•

Hair removal products and hair minimizers To take care of your skin during and after pregnancy if you are breastfeeding, follow the below steps: • Clean your face with a mild, soap free cleanser twice a day • Apply an oil free moisturizer • Apply sunscreen before going outdoors • Drink lots of water to flush away toxins which will leave your skin hydrated and clear • Cutting out sugars, fried foods, unhealthy fats and refined grains works wonders for your skin • Eat skin friendly foods such as colourful fruits and vegetables, salmon, avocado, walnuts and almonds • Take your prenatal vitamins

Why life insurance should be a part of your family financing plan

W

hether you have responsibility for others, no family ties at all or own a business, life insurance is an important component of any financial security plan. Most people consider life insurance only after a life altering event occurs, such as having a child or purchasing a home.

However, you should consider life insurance as a foundation to help you reach your goals and dreams. There are many ways life insurance can contribute to your financial security.

If someone depends on you financially, you probably need life insurance. Ask yourself, how will my family manage financially if I die? It’s a difficult, morbid question that no one really wants to talk about. But it’s necessary to consider if your family’s financial security depends on you.

• Leave a legacy • Cover final expenses and pay off debts. While you’re alive, some types of Life Insurance can: • Build a guaranteed cash value you can draw on for personal and business opportunities, like college tuition, loans or health care • Supplement your retirement income • Permanent Life Insurance- Provides a foundation of guarantees; premiums, death benefit and cash values. These guarantees are determined through long-term assumptions for factors such as investment returns, mortality and expenses.

• Term Life Insurance - If you are required to have Life Insurance or have a short term need for it, Term Life Insurance may be the best option for you. Term Life Insurance covers a temporary need for a lower initial cost. It has no cash value and a fixed expiration date. You also have the option to renew, but at an increased premium. In an effort to meet your changing needs.

Here are some examples of specific life stages or life events that may trigger the need for life insurance:

1. Married or getting married 2. A parent or about to become one 3. A homeowner 4. A business owner 5. Retired or planning for retirement It’s human nature to procrastinate. However, delaying the purchase of life insurance can be very costly. In addition to paying more, the biggest potential risks are that you could die before putting in place the protection your family needs or not be able to qualify for Life Insurance because of a health condition.

Lower total cash value - Each year you wait means one less year of growth in the cash value of your Permanent Life Insurance policy. Lower total death benefit - Each year you wait means one less year of growth for your Permanent policy’s total death benefit.

If you die prematurely, Life Insurance can: •

Ensure your family maintains a comfortable standard of living www.tciparents.com

53

family finances

BY Yolande Robinson, B.Ed, M.Ed. Educational Consultant / Educational Materials Distributor

Small

Investments in the right places

T

his past year has been a year of growth for me. I have grown as a mother, a wife, an educator, a speaker and an entrepreneur. On the eve of my birthday, I am taking some time to reflect on the ways in which I have grown and the ways I would like to continue to grow in the future.

Entrepreneurship is not an easy thing. There are a number of different qualifiers that can be put in front of the word ‘entrepreneur’ to make it even more specific: woman, young, minority, foreign, local etc. All these qualifiers are relevant to the society in which I live and present just as many opportunities as they do challenges.

The reality is all entrepreneurs have their successes and their challenges. Due to the nature of my business, I often find myself working with other entrepreneurs who are hoping to strengthen their skills

in specific areas in order to be able to propel their businesses to higher levels. I absolutely love doing this.

I also absolutely love when I am working with women and we get to the inevitable conversation about worklife balance.

Work- life balance is often spoken about like it is something to be achieved, when in reality it is an ongoing process...or battle. I am starting to get a handle on what work-life balance is for me. I say for me, because what my definition of work life balance is will likely be different to yours. This is in my view the first step to getting yourself on the path towards a balanced lifestyle.

Part of work life balance for me is making sure I take the time to make ‘small investments in the right places.’ I have borrowed this term from Nigel Marsh, who has a fantastic Ted Talk entitled: ‘Work Life Balance is an Ongoing Battle.’

Nigel Marsh reminds us of the following in his talk: • • •

Have an honest debate Face the truth Be careful with the timeframe we choose upon which to judge our balance • Approach balance in a balanced way So as I finish off my day early to take my daughter to Sapidilla Bay, one of the most beautiful kid friendly beaches in Providenciales, I am quite conscious of the difference that small investments can make and I am reminded of the famous Voltaire quote, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”

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2 FORMULAS FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE NORMAL/DRY COMBINATION/OILY

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