Kids

It’s all about

kids

The Malta Independent on Sunday MARCH 2017

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GREEN is the colour If your little darlings turn into absolute monsters when faced with greens it’s time to dish up the monster mash ost parents quickly surmise that practically all the experts ways of bringing up healthy children can be adjusted to fit their reallife scenarios and not those of a super-blogger who probably has a fleet of nannies, cooks and cleaners to do most of it for her.

What does up the angst is the food issue, obviously when you consider that providing food so the young can survive is one of the primal instincts of motherhood, and fatherhood, of course. Reading a mere fraction of the ways this should be done will give you the impression that anyone whose child ingests less than an eye-water-

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Introduce vegetables as tastily and attractively as possible

ing volume of fresh fruit and veg, the very items most of them loath, is an appalling parent. Their poor children will fail to thrive or be prey to every disease known to man.

The resulting scenes of tantrums, bribery, despair and mealtime meltdowns are the stuff of childhood memories for every generation.

And if you are trying to nourish a child who flatly refuses to eat anything that doesn’t contain a whole alphabet of E numbers, or a ton of ‘hidden’ sugar and fats, it can be soul destroying. Such poor parents can only cower as a friend describes how her adorable grandchildren always tuck into the wholesome fresh-food feasts she serves whenever they meet.

This is simply because since they got teeth, they are not allowed any between-meal snacks and there is no cooking something different for each member of the family according to their specific demands.

These children eat what they are given because it’s that or nothing.

The will power their parents and carers needed while

this was being ingrained is heroic. Imagine the temptation to give in and avert starvation.

But, naturally it never comes to that. They held fast. And so the children can be taken anywhere to eat, without going into a full scale tantrum because there are no chicken nuggets, and most of the menu is in French. And they and the company they keep thoroughly enjoy their (good, healthy) food, wherever they are.

The easiest thing, if you can, is to establish food preferences by only offering what you think is best from the very beginning. A toddler who loves, olives, carrots and radishes is not deprived. A sweet, starchy or salty snack, full of sugar and fats only becomes desirable because we love them and want to ‘treat’ our children.

And if eating these snacks in front of them ever turns into the equivalent of child abuse that smoking in their presence has become, children in the future may never crave unhealthy food. But that does seem a bit of a reach at the moment.

Meanwhile, it’s not as if the right stuff isn’t readily available. The old days of tough, bitter greens and root vegetables boiled to an old-sock consistency and dished up with not so much a squirt of ketchup are long gone. Everywhere you look brightly packed, bottled and boxed juices, nuts, healthy deserts, crisps – an all-time-favourite but now also made from parsnips, celeriac, beetroot and more, can easily be found.

Recipes for rainbow-coloured dishes, happy-face fishcakes with features made from palatable pieces if fruit and vegetables, cereal bars full of crunchy, naturally sweet fruity goodies, soups and smoothies, all home-made or freshly sourced provide a myriad of choice. And value wise they are worth every cent.

Take the children shopping with you, instead of them just tagging along behind with the promise of an extra hour on the PC if they’re good.

Choose the ingredients for their meals

Going green In honour of St Patrick’s Day, last week and the fact that this saint hails from Ireland, which is described as being “40 shades of green”, and to echo the message of interior designers, decorators and environmentalists that this year’s colour palate is inspired by summer in a forest, here are some recipes to introduce your family to a greener diet.

Green pasta supper This only needs green pasta, topped with a sauce of onions (to taste), mixed herbs, salt and pepper, to season and spinach. Stir fry the sauce ingredients well and blitz them in the blender. Reheat and mix with the pasta then serve with plenty of your favourite hard cheese, grated. You could also use a pesto sauce instead.

And if you think the taste of spinach may be too strong for you to get away it, peas, courgettes and broad beans could work instead.

Green pasta can ‘hide a multitude of vegetables

drops of green food colouring will improve the cosmetic appearance and those with a sweet tooth would like some honey or fruit syrup on top.

Monster mash Green yoghurt desert This is simply a mix of plain yoghurt, with one of the following, stewed apple with some slices of a green-skinned apple added, stewed gooseberries, kiwi fruit, ground almonds, hazel nuts and angelica. One to two

This is simply mashed potato with pureed peas blended in, 50/50 proportion to make it good shade of Shrek green. Pipe it onto a plate and decorate it to look like a caterpillar, or dinosaur or a fierce monster. And don’t tell them what they’re eating till it’s finished.

together and they’ll be more enthusiastic about tasting something new.

It may not be easy but

try and cook a few more meals from scratch. You may even treat them to a chance to help or cook their own! Otherwise, the rela-

tively small amount of extra time it may take to create a dish fit for a fussy eater pales in comparison with that spent panicking over whether he or she will turn out morbidly obese or anorexic.

You will be giving them food that tastes and smells good, which in turn enhances their appetites. Meals as a family, try and have at least one a week, will be a joy, and you may be nurturing a future gourmet cook or at least someone who will always enjoy their food, confident that it is doing them little or no harm.

Plain vegetables look too unappetizing

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Cycling is something all age groups can enjoy

CYCLING SAFELY

For children of all ages, peddling along country lanes and quieter roads on a beloved bike is a joy that we should do everything to encourage lder children should be able to take themselves off, to sporting activities, school or private lessons, or to spend time exploring different places with friends, without endless worries about the logistics and safety factors.

It seems hard to imagine that not so many years ago all this was possible. Bicycles were often the only way to ride to work or carry home piles of shopping. Children growing up on a diet of adventure stories and with the freedom to create their own activities could gather with their bikes and snacks and disappear for a whole day and no one gave it a second thought.

Today, the school run can begin as little as 500 metres from the school gates. Public transport is usually too erratic or crowded to be reliable and school buses are too often in the news for some negative reason or other. But children are not encouraged to cycle to school, as they are in so many other countries.

There’s no shortage of reasons for this. Basically terrible traffic, undisciplined drivers and generations of children reared to avoid any uncomfortable exposure to effort or the elements are creating youngsters who can only get from one destination to another if they are transported.

But with the erratic way vehicles are ridden; driven is hardly an accurate way to describe how many owners use their cars and motorbikes, it’s no wonder parents are reluctant to see bikes as a way to go for their children.

But cycling can provide the means, easily and comparatively cheaply, for family outings, especially those leading to an exciting destination or a special treat, which are the stuff of memories for every generation.

They are an ideal way to combine two primary ‘wanna-have’s of our age: quality family time and outdoor exercise.

With sunny spring days ahead, the need for fresh air and reviving activities is strong. So, if your child has been begging for a bike now really is the time to give in.

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Buying the bike Firstly, buy from an experienced dealer or, if you go for second-

hand, make sure you know exactly what you are looking for.

See the bike for yourself instead of just going by a picture and beware of painted-over damage or old tyres.

A safe and decent bike need not cost a fortune but you do get what pay for. Look for one that fits your child’s height and weight and is not too heavy or over-run with gadgets and superfluous decorations.

It should have a strong, steady, light-weight frame, a comfortable saddle which can be easily adjusted so the child can put a foot on the ground when sitting on the saddle. Do not buy a larger bike so your child can ‘grow into it’, it will be difficult to handle, making it dangerous.

The brakes must be easy to reach and in perfect working order. Test them with your little finger because that has the nearest equivalent strength to a small child’s grip.

Stabilizers may give confidence to children on their first twowheeler and a bell is useful but extra trimmings and pimping can make a bike unstable and affect the rider’s balance. It is best to wait until the rider is truly competent before adding such items.

Once the bicycle has been chosen it is vital to keep it in good condition. Tyres should be firm.

Lights and reflectors – white on the front handlebars, red on the back mudguard – should be clear and always used if the bike is ridden in the dark, or even at dusk. Keep the chain clean and check the brakes often.

Dressing for the part Clothes for young cyclists are important too. They must be wellfitting and comfortable so they do not interfere with the rider’s ability to control the bike. They should be fit for the weather and the areas where children use their bikes. Arm and knee pads can be very restrictive but bright, reflective jackets, vests and even trainers are snazzy to wear and make young riders easy to spot.

Shoes that will not slip off are essential for pedal control and it should not have to be said that a helmet is vital.

Children can be thrown off a bike going slowly over a pot hole or bump, or even wobble off

when idling or stationary with one foot on a pedal and the other on the ground. It may be hard to imagine but serious or even fatal head injuries can occur in such circumstances.

There are so many fun, smart helmets for young cyclists and having a special outing to choose the one they like will make it fun to wear. But whatever pleading is going on in the background, resist the urge to buy anything in cheap, lightweight plastic or with flimsy straps that are so uncomfortable they get left undone. Make sure that the straps can be adjusted and well-fastened or the helmet could fly off just when it’s needed most.

Always remember that if the perfect dinosaur or movie hero helmet cannot be found, buy the best there is. Then the rider can personalise it with cool, reflective stickers or artwork. Not only will they be displaying their style and flair, they will be well visible to other riders and drivers.

The helmet, for any age, has to be the real thing and should have a warranty certifying it fit for purpose. It must have a snug fit and be worn correctly; that is level with and covering the forehead, not pushed too far back on the head, or with a hat under it.

Helmets should be well cared for and tested if they are involved in any incident to ensure they are not damaged and still offer sufficient protection.

Finally, a helmet is for every journey, even one that only goes round the corner.

Setting off Before going on the road children should be able to handle their bikes easily and confidently. Set up mock road conditions and obstacle courses in quiet open areas for them to practice and encourage their schools or your local council to hold road safety sessions in school yards or leisure spaces.

As far as possible, to begin with, children should stick to quiet roads, cycle lanes and areas like Ta’ Qali to enjoy bike riding.

Make sure all children have a good knowledge of the Highway Code. They should be able to know what the road signs mean and to obey them. Older children must be clear about roundabouts, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings

and how to give clear signals.

They must also learn to anticipate what other road users and pedestrians might do, before they go out on roads with heavier traffic.

And, one more thing, how often do we see people, children included cycling along wearing headphones or with neither hand on the handlebars because they are texting? Two things: one how can anyone hear quiet motors creeping up, or car horns, over the sound of music and two, while someone has their mind on a message for just a moment they

could lose contact forever.

Cycling is something all age groups can enjoy. It is ecofriendly, healthy and exhilarating.

It offers adventures and expeditions that should end up tempting the slouchiest couch potato to join in and it’s sooo cheap!

Let’s do everything we can to give children the right environment to get on their bikes.

We can only imagine how far it could go towards a healthier population, enjoying more face-toface social occasions, in cleaner air on clearer roads. Dream on.

Ride in single file on streets and always use arm signals before turning right or left

Cycle sense Here are a few hints for young cyclists on how to stay safe on a bike. Ask them to think up some more to add to the list.

• Stop and look in both directions before going out into traffic or over a pavement.

• Look out for cars turning, pulling away from a parking space or coming out of drives or side roads.

• Don’t ride too close to a parked car in case a door suddenly opens.

• Wheel your bike across busy crossings and always obey traffic lights, signs and signals. You are a road user too.

• Always ride in single file on streets with other traffic.

• Never give a friend a lift on your bike. A passenger will make a bike more likely to over balance or suddenly swerve into traffic.

• Never wear headphones.

You have to be able to hear everyone else on the road at all times.

• Don’t ever try and get a tow by hanging onto a moving vehicle.

• Check behind you before turning, overtaking or stopping.

• Use arm signals before turning right or left.

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Aspects of allergies Having an allergy is a significant problem for a high percentage of children but public awareness and consideration can help ow that there are a number of reliable ways to identify many illnesses and conditions as being the result of an allergy to certain foods and other substances, it is clear just how many children have an allergy.

We should all be aware not only of the dangerous, sometimes life-threatening, reactions sufferers can have to their particular allergen, but also of the incidents of discomfort, the need to be constantly aware of avoiding exposure to an allergen and the feelings of alienation they may face.

Common foods, plants, animals and even the air that they breathe can trigger a reaction of varying gravity. Dealing with a severe allergy can be quite a burden for a child and its family.

Not all allergies last a lifetime many children grow out of them.

But for those who do not, it’s important that symptoms are diagnosed early so management and treatment can help minimise

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their effects as much as possible.

It would also make life easier if more people were suitably allergy aware.

Let’s follow an imaginary young boy called Kim. He is allergic to…. well, you decide. His family, especially siblings, needs to be constantly on the lookout for occasions where he may be exposed to danger, until he is old enough to look after himself.

Food labels have to be checked.

Whenever he goes to a restaurant he has to be sure that a certain food or spice hasn’t been included in whatever he chooses.

Eating at a friend’s house requires prior warning for his hosts as to just how far his allergy goes. Other times he has to field regular comments like: “There’s no egg in it. It’s a crème brulée”. Some foods are a danger however well they are disguised!

Kim might miss out on the joys of a furry pet and visits to friends who have short-haired cats or dogs. Outdoor games and country walks can be limited especially when the pollen count is high or pollution levels rise.

School mates might tease him if he reacts swiftly and nervously to a wasp or bee flying close by, not realising that a sting from either could bring on an anaphylactic shock.

The consequences of life with any allergy can be a struggle for a child. Concentration levels are reduced by lack of sleep, due to reactions to any symptoms caused by the allergy. Negative comments and attention from peers can cause depression, even feelings of being excluded in everyday events and activities.

Stress in childhood has been linked to a higher risk of developing some allergies so it is important that children like Kim are not blamed or made to feel that their allergy is a huge problem for others. Even when it means making adjustments to allow for their condition we owe it to these

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children to keep that from them and play down any extra effort we have made.

If Kim fills his life with all the things he can do, enjoys as many healthy examples of the food and drinks he can eat as he likes and finds friends who take his needs for granted and look after him, his allergy will be less obvious to him and everyone else.

What he doesn’t need is people calling him rude or fussy if he turns down food or doesn’t join in some activity. Adults who single him out at a party with a plate of food made ‘specially for you’ because the rest of it has so much milk, wheat, cheese, sugar, eggs or some such item. And teachers who don’t think before accusing him of laziness or malingering do not help either.

Kim would also like not to be left out of certain activities in school or anywhere else because

there are no structures in place for staff or helpers to deal with the issues childhood allergies can create. Helping children with allergies to become involved in all the things they want to do takes planning, communication and cooperation. Thank goodness there are some people who realise this and step up to the task.

More would always be welcome.

And when his little friends understand, because someone has taken the time to explain, in an age-appropriate way, what an allergy is and how Kim is affected, the rewards for him, his family and children he mixes with will be so worth it.

He will grow up coping with his allergy, as a confident person and, because the number of children with allergies seems to be increasing, simply one of the crowd as he always wanted to be.

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A ‘HOME’ of th Giving your children their own place to play in will boost their imaginations, creativity and social skills

playhouse can truly be said to transcend any ‘toy’ or teaching aid you can think of in the way it provides so much for the child who enjoys it. It will, more than likely, become everything from a sanctuary in times of loneliness and upset, to a social hub for friends and pets.

Besides its role as a shop, school, log cabin, stable, or any of the other uses it may be adapted for, a playhouse is where children can literally play house. They are in control and can choose how they want to bridge the gap between their ideal world and reality, by creating their own scenarios.

These will develop as they grow older and so will the playhouse, into a den, dressing room, private bolt hole, perhaps even a home office one day.

When children see a playhouse as a tiny home to look after, their feelings of responsibility and confidence develop with the joy of having somewhere to call their own and furnish and decorate as they like. When they invite friends in to play, they are developing and practising their social and interaction skills and discovering different talents.

Friendships developed in these circumstances grow strong and close and are important in establishing happy relationships in the future. Time spent alone in a playhouse need not be as lonely and solitary as it might seem but can offer somewhere for children to sort out feelings, make plans or follow a hobby without interruptions.

The concept of the playhouse, or Wendy House as it is often called, is timeless and universal. In Peter Pan, when Wendy Darling was injured in Never-land, Peter and the lost boys built a small house around

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Splendid and stylish, the high end property play house

Sweet and simple makes this house a the perfect space to play in

where she had fallen. This is where the term Wendy House comes from. When the play from the book was first staged, in 1904, the author J M Barrie, designed the first Wendy House for the production.

Winston Churchill had one built for his grandchildren and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a perfect, two-thirds-sized cottage from the people of Wales, for her sixth birthday. It stands in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is loved and played with by generations of royal children.

In America, children are more likely to have tree houses or club houses. Australian children enjoy cubbies, which

are traditionally built from scrap materials and made just to last as long as the school holidays.

But in even the smallest gardens or outdoor spaces room can be made for such a property. And it can sometimes be a selling point when a house is on the market. The idea of many children spending long hours in an outdoor playhouse is the sign of a happy house and gives buyers a feel-good feeling.

Playhouses are certainly not gender specific but no amount of political correctness is going to stop them being transformed into castles, space stations, teashops or even the Tardis, if their owners want. It is this

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heir own Even a bed can turn into a play house

Britain’s future queen Elizabeth outside her miniature cottage

Playhouse built in the 1920s by Sir Winston Churchill for his children, at the family home in Kent, UK

very freedom to customise their own space exactly as they like that makes these little buildings so loved.

The youngest child will often be happy to spend enough time in one for parents to have a good rest. Older, even much older, children will make time to be in theirs as much as they can. In summer they are ideal for sleepovers. In the cooler months with rugs and maybe a small heater rigged up from the

house they can still provide the perfect retreat from everywhere else.

Anyone who was lucky enough to have such a space as a child, whether it was an elaborate mini mansion or a prefab den leaning up against a wall in the yard or a ‘tree house’ built on a corner of the roof, will remember the supreme happiness and the feelings of freedom and sanctuary in an adult-free

world that it gave them.

If you have those memories you will want the same for your children. If you do not, find, build or buy the space they need to call their own. It doesn’t have to be a palace or somewhere the neighbours will be forced to envy. But it is true that: “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home”.

And that’s just how your children will feel when they move in.

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Not such swe Waking in the night because of a nightmare is enough to frighten anyone and children especially need reassurance

onsidering dreams are influenced by our daily lives and nightmares can be due to a number of factors like stress, anxiety, broken sleep patterns, some medications and mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, it is hard to imagine how very young children, even toddlers, can have that much to worry about. But, just as with adults, images in their daily lives affect their dreams, so a child’s real or subconscious fears may immerge in a nightmare.

The very littlest ones will be influenced by something that scared them just before sleep, sleeping in a strange place or being away from parents and loved ones for too long. We can never be sure when a child might wake crying and distressed from a bad dream but there are many ways to help prevent this.

Rushed as parents so often are, bedtime is the one part of the day that should be calm, cosy and cuddly. Sticking to a pre-bed ritual where children can gradually wind down through the process of supper, washing, quiet music and a bedtime story creates a peaceful

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atmosphere. Encouraging tiredness and a feeling of security will send children to sleep happy.

The story is especially important, even for children who can read for themselves, because it is an opportunity to talk about children’s concerns. Some reassurance and the promise that everything will look different or can be sorted out in the morning will give older children less to worry about, or fear dreaming about, before they go to sleep. But, unless you enjoy being hauled out of bed in the small hours to denounce a terrifying creature lurking under the bed as the pair of slippers or discarded toy it actually is, avoid stories with too much dramatic tension in them.

A bedroom which is the perfect environment of a cosy space, full of well-loved toys, books, pictures is very important. A suitable, even themed, bed and furniture which looks familiar and homely in soft lighting, are less likely to harbour huge, hairy monsters than big, dark cupboards and chests.

Children who feel safe in a place that’s made for them are less likely to lie awake listening for the threat of danger or

dream of it either.

But, however much we try to prevent it children’s highly active and immature imaginations will still make them prone to bad dreams. Young children can easily be reassured by a cuddle and a favourite soft toy.

Keeping a low light on or the door ajar so you and your child can hear one another will help.

So will staying nearby till he or she goes back to sleep.

When children can talk about a dream it is easier. But not being able to understand where such dreams come from and the fear of them returning is hard for both them and their parents. Encouraging them to write a story or draw a picture based on the dream may help them explain it. Discussing what they think the dream may represent, or whether what they have been watching or picking up on line could be to blame can also help a lot. So too can being ready to answer children’s questions and concerns about current affairs or disputes. Children pick up on vibes, and snatches of conversation, and news reports are full of graphic images, often involving children, which are bound to affect those seeing them.

Truthful but positive replies to

their concerns will prevent them being overwhelmed by things they cannot possibly control. Then these will be less like to sneak into their dreams.

When children are afraid to go back to sleep in case the dream reoccurs one answer is to say that the same dream cannot come back twice in one night. It actually works. As they are going back to sleep they should choose a happy word and think of all the things that go with it. Some children may resort to delaying bedtime or going to sleep because they are afraid they might have a bad dream. This can be helped by allowing a little more time to read or listen to a story, but only in bed. And tablets and phones should be well out of the way.

A nightlight or torch should always be nearby for any child who is afraid of the dark. And any night time rituals like checking inside a cupboard, under the bed or behind the curtains for whatever scary thing may be hiding there, should be carried out patiently for as long as it takes. The more seriously a child’s fears are taken the quicker they are overcome and everyone will be able to sleep tight all night.

Bedtime stories can create a peaceful atmosphere and encourage a feeling of security

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eet dreams Children’s bedrooms should be the perfect cosy space

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A Japanese feeder from the 18th to 19th century

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Pewter bottles from the 1600s contaminated milk that was already alive with bacteria

The Alexander, one of the Banjo bottles which were eventually banned

This miniature bottle with a rubber teat presented serious cleaning problems

Babies’ bottles fro Babies’ bottles today are as far removed from earlier models as you could imagine, and thank goodness they are

e’re all aware of the ‘breast is best’ message and judging by the earliest examples of baby feeders, as they were sometimes known, it would have been all the more true many centuries ago.

At that time, a wet nurse would be chosen by mothers who could not feed their own children. But often alternative means were needed and some

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of these even survive from 2000BC, although they look more like small jugs. The earliest ‘feeders’ were made from animal horn, wood or pottery and sometimes animal skins were folded into nipple-like shapes and fixed onto a spout for the child to suck.

Glass bottles emerged during the 1st century AD. They had the narrowest of spouts allowing the milk to trickle drop by drop. By the 1600s bottles

shaped like flasks and made of leather, wood and pewter, with screw tops, were used.

Unfortunately, the milk in the pewter bottles would gradually acidify and absorb the metal so it ended up slowly poisoning a baby with probably uncomfortable if not fatal effects on the poor little thing.

Naturally, these examples were almost impossible to keep clean. Milk was easily contaminated and never pas-

teurised and there was no knowledge of hygiene requirements or the means to maintain sterile conditions if there had been. In fact, it’s a miracle infant mortality rates were not ten times what they were.

The early 1800s saw the Banjo design, a particularly appalling example of a baby’s bottle. It appeared under many cute and prestigious names such as ‘my little pet’, ‘the princess’, or Alexander

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The double-ended ‘banana’ bottle Rare Georgian Pearl Ware Baby Feeder - Circa 1810-1820

And here we are today!

om the beginning feeding bottle. Sadly, this was what attracted many mothers, although the design was totally unsuitable for such a product.

The flattened glass bottle had a glass stopper. Attached to this was a length of rubber tubing ending in a bone mouth shield and a rubber teat. It worked rather like a long drinking straw. It was condemned by medical professionals but mothers loved it

because they could leave their baby to feed unattended, even if they were too young to hold the thing.

But it became known as the ‘Killer’ or the ‘Murder’ bottle when it was realised that it was practically impossible to clean properly and therefore a serious breeding ground for bacteria. The resulting illnesses suffered by so many of the children who used the bottle caused an appalling rise in in-

fant mortality and the bottle was eventually banned in 1910.

Meanwhile, in the mid 19th century a certain Elijah Pratt invented the first rubber teat and it could be sterilised, or at least washed, which helped to prevent contamination. The fact that the rubber smelled bad and probably didn’t taste too good rather put a dampener on the product. But, never the less, it was a huge improvement on previous

models and led to a doubleended, ‘banana’ bottle which was a whole lot easier to clean.

When heat-resistant molded glass arrived in 1924, straight feeding bottles with increasingly wide necks that were easy to clean and fitted with rubber teats were snapped up.

But in 1946, a Belgian invention created a ring top that let a teat be fixed on the neck of the bottle without it actually being touched. In the 1960s, a

bottle with the body, ring and teat protector made of polypropylene set a new trend and designs became great fun with images of popular cartoon characters or brand logos printed on the bottles.

And lucky mothers today can now find dozens of ergomatically designed, scientifically developed baby feeders that carry none of the disadvantages of the past and are a delight to use.

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Hard Rock... KIDS EAT FREE Nothing beats quality family time and we at Hard Rock can do just that and more. Our menu has a great selection of appetizers, salads, grills and mouthwatering desserts we are sure you will find something that you enjoy. Our selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic cocktails can’t be missed.

Our kids’ menu features a variety of kids’ favorites, including chicken tenders, cheeseburger, hot dog, fish sticks or even a chicken salad which means your little ones will be full and happy and to make it even better we are offering it for free when you purchase two entrees.

The offer is on everyday including weekends.

You can also

reach out to our sales team on sales@hardrockcafe.com.mt or call 21380983 for more information regarding our menu options for any special event be it a birthday celebration, a hen’s or bachelor’s party, a baby shower or just a get together

Scouting: NOT WHAT IT SEEMS Our members join to have fun and to do things with their friends, other people might think that Scouting is about uniform, camping and discipline, yet in reality scouting is much more than it seems. Scouting focuses on personal development and learning through fun. It aims to encourage and enable the (S.P.I.C.E.S) social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional and spiritual development of our members. The Scout programme is balanced in these 6 areas of development in order to help our members build a healthy character and be able to take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens and members of their communities.

This is done through various fun activities such as camping, nature hikes, community work and cultural visits, as well as weekly meetings. During the meetings members learn to plan ahead and learn some of the skills needed for the out-

door activities including first aid, mapping and fire lighting.

However, through fun, Scouting also prepares young members for life in the adult world by teaching them responsibility for their own actions and progress. The various meetings and activities are used for members to learn and practice teamwork, confidence building and other skills such as decision making, budgeting and time management.

Scouting is about having another family, making new friends, having fun, sharing experiences and making unforgettable memories. But it is also character building, continuous learning, finding oneself, reaching out of the comfort zone, dreaming, achieving and a different way of living all together.

Loraine Borg Group Scout Leader, Xaghra Scout Group & National Trainer for SPICES in Scouting

between family or friends. We offer sit down menus or stand up options with finger food and various drink options.

Whatever the occasion we at Hard Rock are here to ensure that we offer an authentic experience that Rocks every time.

Mediterraneo Marine Park Mediterraneo Marine Park promotes marine life conservation against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. Offering entertainment alongside a unique learning experience.

As Malta’s only marine park, The ‘Mediterraneo’ is a leading island attraction with tourists and locals alike. Boasting an enviable coastal location, the park promotes interactive participation with a varied selection of marine mammals including dolphins and sea lions; parrots and reptiles. Enjoying Malta’s sunny climate, The Mediterraneo Marine Park remains open all year round. The park is conveniently located just off the main coast road enabling good transport links from most hotels and tourist accommodation. Part of the Costa Edutainment-Costa Parchi Spa group (since July 2012).

The Mediterraneo Marine Park advocates animal welfare through an interactive learning environment inspired by their motto “Education, Emotion and FUN”. Visitors may participate in various animal interaction programmes which provide superb entertainment whilst increasing awareness and conservation responsibilities.

The park has three main programmes which are held daily: The Dolphin Presentation, The Sea Lion Presentation and the Parrot Presentation. On October 31, 2014, the park welcomed the arrival of a female

baby dolphin and named it ‘Melita’ This summer Melita will be an added attraction, to the daily Dolphin Presentation.

On May 1, 2015 a new Vivarium was opened, proudly hosting several reptiles amongst which are iguanas, water monitors and boas. A spacious outdoor compound ‘Tortoise Land’ has also been added for the enjoyment of visitors.

All of these presentations and exhibits offer an amazing experience to aid a better understanding of the animals and an appreciation of their individual characteristics. The highlight of any visit to The Mediterraneo Marine Park has to be the Dolphin SWIM programme – a truly unique and once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed! Some of the other species that visitors can also ex-

pect to see include green wing macaw, amazons, snakes, tortoises, turtles, frogs, toads, spiders, scorpions and lizards.

DIDACTIC PROGRAMMES FOR PRIMARY & SECONDARY STUDENTS Specific educational programmes based on four animal areas: Reptiles, Parrots, Sea Lions and Dolphins.

TEAM BUILDING DAYS Ideal for Corporate Companies/Organisations wishing to have their personnel teams indulge in a relaxing and fun outing.

For enquires please email your requests on: info@mediterraneopark.com or reservations@mediterraneopark.com Bahar ic-Caghaq, Malta +356 2137 2218 +356 2137 6519 info@mediterraneopark.com www.mediterraneopark.com

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Children’s eye care The aim of this article is to inform and educate the parents of young children and teenagers about their children’s vision. It is important that parents are aware of the possible signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem, as well as all the preventive measures they may take regarding the health of their eyes. A yearly routine eye test is imperative as it may affect your child’s personal and social development. Children spend numerous hours reading, writing and using digital devices such as Ipads and computers. Around 80% of what is learnt at school is presented to students visually.

Therefore parents must make sure that their child’s visual skills are not affecting their academic performance. The perfect time to commence routine eye examinations is prior to starting their full time education at around the age of 3 to 4.

Children may not readily complain to their parents about the visual difficulties they experience and that is why parents should keep an eye out for the following:

Signs and Symptoms to look out for:

Facts you should be aware of:

1. Sitting very close to the TV 2. Holding books or an Ipad/Mobile very close to their face 3. Scrunching their eyes or even closing one eye to watch TV or read.

4. Struggling to see the white board at school (teachers might be able to point this out to parents) 5. Skipping words or whole lines of text when copying from the white board 6. Frequent headaches 7. Complaints of blurry vision 8. Failure to maintain eye contact 9. Poor concentration and frustration in the learning environment 10. Excessive rubbing of eyes 11. Excessive watering of eyes 12. Child avoids reading, writing or drawing due to discomfort

• BABIES – are able to track and focus after just a few months.

• PRESCHOOLERS – From ages 3 to 5, a child will further develop their visual skills. Preschoolers depend on their vision to learn tasks that will prepare them for their academic life.

Particularly important at this age is a child’s ocular family history. If a ‘lazy eye’/Amblyopia or ‘squint’ is present within the history of the immediate family then this should prompt an eye examination. Treatment for a ‘lazy eye’ is most successful before the age of 7.

• AGE 6/7 is a common age group whereby children develop short sightedness.

• AGE 7+ eyes continue to grow and develop, thus, regular monitoring is necessary.

• TEENAGERS – Another key age group where short sightedness / myopia may develop.

Common ocular conditions explained:

• MYOPIA/SHORTSIGHTE This means your child can see objects up close to but has difficulty focusing on objects in the distance eg: TV, whiteboard etc.

• HYPEROPIA / LONGSIGHTED: This means your child’s distance vision is good, but they have trouble with focusing on objects up close.

• ASTIGMATISM: This is a condition whereby your child’s eyes are not perfectly spherical like a football but rather they are oval shaped like a rugby ball.

This causes blurring for both distance and reading.

Other conditions: • LAZY EYE / AMBLYOPIA: This is reduced vision in one eye. The brain relies on the ‘good eye’ to capture an image hence the ‘bad eye’ is ignored and becomes ‘lazy’.

Amblyopia is not always correctable with spectacles and your eye care professional may opt for patching exercises to

strengthen the weaker eye.

• SQUINT/STRABISMUS: This is a misalignment of the eyes (eyes point in different directions) and can cause blurred vision/doubling of vision and even lead to an amblyopic eye. Strabismus is a common cause of amblyopia and should be treated early in childhood so visual skills can develop normally.

Your child is not only examined for eventual eyesight correction but also an ocular health assessment is carried out.

An eye test may have a significant impact on your child’s vision. If you have any doubts ask your eye care professional, who will guide you accordingly.

Timely identification of your child’s vision problems can be crucial as children are often more responsive to treatment when diagnosed early.

Jerome Gabarretta BSc Optom (Hons)(Bradford)MCOptom, EAOO Resident Optometrist Optika Opticians Rabat, Optika Opticians St Julian’s

Preparing children for tomorrow’s world Teachers are highly trained and in many cases, experienced professionals, with a specific skill set. At St Edward’s College (SEC) we are fortunate to have teachers with these qualities and the extra magic ingredient that all teachers must have if they are to excel – Caring. I have taught at many schools internationally and this one ingredient, to me essential, is fundamental to the skill set of any professional teacher.

Continuous professional development, an openness to improve and learn, forms one of the corner-stones at SEC. An

awareness and willingness to find that key to each individual student is core to our values. At SEC we continue to expand our implementation of ‘Making Thinking Visible’. We do not want our students to learn! We want our students to think, understand and then learn. The emphasis at SEC in each classroom from Early Childhood to Sixth Form, in each subject area, is ‘Thinking and Understanding’. At SEC you can be sure that your child will receive the highest quality education, not just academically but including some oldfashioned values such as

respect, manners, self-discipline and the importance of treating others with understanding and empathy.

At SEC we are very aware of the demands and challenges that students face in tomorrow’s world. We are also very aware of how to go about preparing students for these challenges. Contact us on 27881199 (ext3) or email admissions@stedwards.edu.mt for more information or visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/secmalta Nollaig Mac an Bhaird, St Edward’s College Headmaster

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