It's All About Children

children It’s all about

The Malta Independent on Sunday NOVEMBER 2016

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NOVEMBER 2016

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A stained glass window illustrating one of the legends of St Martin of Tours.

ST MARTIN

bviously not as well known or loved as St Nicolas, in his guise of Santa Claus, St Martin of Tours is still an important figure for our times. As a result of various stages and legends during his life, he is the patron saint of horses, riders, cavalry soldiers, beggars, the poor and those who help them, people who run hotels, winemakers, alcoholics and their supporters and geese.

He was born in Rome, in 316, and his parents were pagans.

However, when he was 10 he chose to be a Christian, which enraged his father who subsequently insisted he joined the Roman army, as soon as he was old enough.

When his petition to be discharged, because as a soldier of Christ he should not fight, led to charges of cowardice he volunteered to join the front line armed only with the sign of the cross. He was still imprisoned but for a very short time.

After 20 years in the army, St Martin’s sharing of half his cloak with a homeless beggar and subsequent vision of Christ finally prompted him to be baptized and leave the army.

He settled in France and became a monk. In his lifetime he was a missionary, in what is now the Balkans, from where he was forced into Italy for opposing heretics who denied the divinity of Christ. On returning to France, Martin founded the first of several monasteries and was later made bishop.

There is a popular story that a flock of geese betrayed the monk’s hiding place among them as he was trying to hide from the townspeople when they wanted to make him bishop of Tours. Although this was against his will and he did accept but chose to live in a monastery which he founded

SETS A GOOD EXAMPLE

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especially in central and eastern Europe and in parts of America. Nearly all involve eating and drinking. Roast goose is the traditional meat with red cabbage dumplings and the season’s newly produced wine. In some areas in Germany there is a traditional croissant-shaped sweet pastry to represent the hooves of St Martin’s horse.

Children play a big part in all the countries where St Martin’s Day is celebrated. Most countries have bonfires and processions with music, dancing and folk songs. Often they are lead by an actor impersonating the saint, usually dressed as a Roman soldier riding on a horse.

In Hungary, there are special activities for children. Primary school children in Holland carry home-made sugar beet lanterns in their own procession from house to house singing songs in exchange for sweets. And in some countries the feast day is an opportunity to give children small toys and presents ‘from’ St Martin.

Our own Borża ta’ San Martin, a bag full of fruits, nuts and sweets and Ħobża ta’ San Martin, is eagerly awaited by children here in Malta. San Anton School holds a walk to a cave associated with the saint.

In Baħrija there is a procession with a statue of St Martin, a village fair and a show of local animals.

In Southern Ireland it was once the custom not to spin or turn any wheels on St Martin’s Day in deference to his martyrdom when he was hurled into a watermill stream and killed by the mill wheel.

However, St Martin was not martyred. He actually died, aged over 80, while he was still ministering to the people and was buried in the paupers’ cemetery, as he had requested.

St Martin’s lifestyle and

A Borża ta' San Martin depicting a goose, from the legend that St Martin once hid among a flock of geese.

Winter is well on its way but when the sun shines on St Martin’s Day, we can be sure of a few more summery days to come and some treats for the children.

Little sweet-bread men. called Weggemänner or Brezeln are given to the children on the feast of St Martin.

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near the city instead of the bishop’s house.

His reputation grew largely through his defence of heretics and opposition to civil interference in ecclesiastical matters. He considered the conversion of simple, country people to be as important as his ministering to the elite and educated and is associated with both altruism and modesty.

Even while he was still alive he gained a reputation as a healer and miracle worker.

Different customs and events mark St Martin’s Feast,

example were so impressive that many complementary legends have grown relating to him which, because of their relevance today, are well worth researching and discovering He died in 397and was canonised, in Rome, by Pope Saint John XXIII in May, 1962.

His feast is celebrated between November 11 and 17 and when it brings a short succession of warm, sunny days, during what is becoming a cooler and darker time of year, this is known as St Martin’s summer.

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NOVEMBER 2016

Cosy and cool for outdoor exploring.

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Choose clothes made for lasting style and wear.

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omfort and, for older children who are aware of the environment, the origin and ethical background of their clothes are a priority. Most of us would love to be able to buy only sustainable, fair trade products, just as long as we can find good ones at a reasonable price. And one way to ensure you don’t buy anything that is made in a sweatshop is to buy items made in Europe and, naturally, locally.

If ever there was a time to look more closely at labels when you shop, it's now. Reports from developing countries of factories catching fire or collapsing, with injuries and even loss of life for

DRESS TO

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Most children take as much interest in what they wear as their parents do, and they don’t just want to look good, they want to feel good. hundreds of mostly women and children, make us well aware that quality and production methods are real issues. But it can be hard to way up the savings from buying multi-packs of basic items against certified fair-trade ones, especially since children grow out of their clothes so quickly.

We can however support, as far as possible, manufacturers and retailers who make a genuine effort to source their products and services ethically and ecologically. Search for such companies on line. Note those using eco-friendly fabrics and providing safe work places and reasonable wages for their employees.

This will pay off in the long term.

Fun designs and the organic fibres ensure skin stays comfortable.

Clothes produced by ethical and ecofriendly companies pride themselves on producing a variety of styles, material and colour combinations that make their clothes particularly attractive to most children and also timeless fashionwise.

Their designs are nearly always more original and better made and they offer every bit as good a range and choice as any high street or massproducing outlet. Plus, all the organic wools and textiles used have a Sweet, original very low-to- nil allergy patterns in the risk since so few, if any purest, softest chemicals are used in materials. their manufacture.

Such clothes will provide room to grow, wear better and still remain smart enough to hand down to siblings or donate to charity shops. A large percentage of the thousands of

tons of clothes that end up as landfill are children’s and one way to prevent such waste is by buying as many clothes that can be passed on to younger children as possible.

Clothes can also have a longer life, and funds will go further by supporting school thrift shops, for uniform items and charity shops for excellent selections of hardly-worn clothes, shoes and accessories.

Mothers often regret how children outgrow all their cute or smart outfits, but knowing they can be worn and loved by other children certainly makes donating and buying such clothes well worthwhile.

Then again, what about doing it yourself? Only a few decades ago nearly all children’s clothes were home-made.

Although time is not on everyone’s side a rise in the number of people taking up knitting again is highlighting the appeal and warmth of hand-knitted jumpers, jackets, tights, hats, scarves and gloves

Children stand out in individual designs for children, who thoroughly enjoy the motifs and patterns that can be included to make their items really their own.

You only have to Google sewing or knitting patterns for children's clothes and dozens will appear, many of them can be downloaded free. Organic materials can be sourced on line and there are several excellent fabric and sewing shops to be found in Malta and Gozo.

Knitting and sewing during shared play dates, or while watching that mustsee box set, would be a very productive way to see out the winter hours spent indoors. Just think how stunning your little treasures will look wherever they go too.

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NOVEMBER 2016

TOP TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS It will be here before we know it, so now is the time to bag some of the latest toys which are sure to be on children’s wish lists this Christmas.

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f course, it’s a time when memories of our own childhood Christmases come flooding back, with great doses of nostalgia, so how good it is to see some old favourites returning to toyshop shelves. Here are just two.

Welcome back Furby. The original cute, communicator has been given new skills and as Furby Connect it can now interact with a special application, which can be downloaded to most smart phones and tablets. Other talents include wiggling its ears when it’s tickled and an ability to chatter and communicate on loads of levels.

Far from being forgotten as soon as the Christmas decorations come down, Furby promises years of entertainment, through automatic updating, and will prove its worth as a pet substitute and true companion. Star War fans will also be happy to have the Furby force with them when they home Furbacca Furby, who also promises to be a best seller.

Although well past her golden ‘anniversary’, Barbie retains her youth, popularity and a

Munchkin offers your child a wide range of colourful, interactive toys that make bath time fun and enjoyable. From a Bath Fun Bubble Blower, Undersea Explorer, Bath Tea and Cupcake Sets and a large selection of bath toys, Munchkin is sure to keep your child entertained. With their bright and vibrant colours Munchkin toys are designed to help engage sensory skills as well as encourage your child to learn how to develop play patterns and interactive play. Munchkin also

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interesting property portfolio. Her latest acquisition is a three-story town house with four rooms, a lift to the second floor and a rooftop sun lounge. Furniture pieces include a dining table and chairs, sofa, bed, a bath and dozens of exciting accessories. Other 21st- century features of this ‘Des. Res.’ include sound effects of a ‘flushing’ toilet and a crackling fireplace for realism! Oh, and it can all be folded away, for easy storage.

If you have a budding Eurovision wannabe at home what about the VTech Kidi Super Star? It will connect to Mp3 players and iPods and has a recording feature, and one that removes the lyrics from songs so children can either sing along or make up their own. Also included are voice changer effects, disco style lights and games.

When it comes to toys for toddlers, educational is often the way to go and the Code a pillar

WHEN IT COMES TO TOYS FOR TODDLERS, EDUCATIONAL IS OFTEN THE WAY TO GO AND THE CODE A PILLAR LOOKS DELIGHTFUL. IT ENCOURAGES INDEPENDENT THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING, REASONING AND SEQUENCING – ALL VITAL ATTRIBUTES FOR THE UNDER SIX.

offers a wide range of feeding bottles, spill proof cups, training cups, flip straw cups, dining sets, door bouncers, safety car mirrors, backpacks and much more.

Munchkin is found in leading supermarket, pharmacies and baby shops and is exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd, Tel: 21446205/6.

Munchkin... It’s the little things.

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NOVEMBER 2016

looks delightful. It encourages independent thinking, problem solving, reasoning and sequencing – all vital attributes for the under six.

It has bright lights, which show up in the dark and makes exciting noises. This Fisher Price toy is larger than it appears and needs quite a bit of space but it promises to provide lots of useful skills with plenty of fun.

Parents who imagine toy manufacturers live to hatch new designs to tempt their offspring are not far wrong. So meet one of this year’s top 20 children’s choices, the Hatchimal. Basically, you buy one, or more, of the interactive ‘eggs’, and your child cares for it. You can choose which strange breed of owl/unicorn, bear/parakeet, penguin/koala or whatever you like but its colouring will remain a mystery till it actually hatches. Yes, hatches.

Singing and talking to the yet to emerge little creature will encourage it to peck its way out of its shell. You will know it’s coming when you see its rainbow eyes.

Then you look after your Hatchimal as it develops from baby to child by teaching it to walk, play games, dance to music and, of course, speak. If nothing else this is toy that could actually persuaded children to set aside their screens for a while for some caring,

A baby’s first years of life are filled with exploration as they begin to learn about themselves and the world in which they live. Playgro understands the importance of play in this developmental journey and create fun, innovative toys that engage baby’s senses, stimulate their imagination and encourage movement and play. Younger

responsible one- on-one interacting; this time with something a lot more appealing than the Tamagotchi Children who enjoy channelling their emotions in a less passive way will still be safe enough blasting away with the Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike blaster, which allows them to custom build their blaster and bring a whole arsenal into battle, using one or a combination of three different ways to blast.

As usual the year’s movies are sending their characters out to fill stockings and pop out of parcels under the tree. A huge number of soft toys, working models, dolls and even Lego sets are influenced by such media stars. Here are some that are ever-green favourites or comparatively new.

Paw Patrol Air Patroller sees popular characters from the series working with a helicopter that can become a plane, with suitable sound and light effects.

Trolls have turned up again, on the big screen, and if you can only face one showing, ‘Hug Time’ Poppy will be the ideal one to sit through endless repeats with your children. Giving her a hug will prompt 25 phrases and she rocks to and fro while playing songs from the movie.

Another clever film to spawn a menagerie of toys is The Secret Life of Pets. There are enough versions of the delightful animal characters who appeared in the film available for pet lovers to make up their own stories and adventures for their favourites to take part in.

In another mood, Skylanders Imaginators is the one video game in this selection A combination of good old imagination and hi-tech means players can create their own virtual character for the first time in the series, making it a sure-fire hit for all keen gamers.

Hopefully these few suggestions will tempt parents, family and friends to wander into their favourite toyshops, soak up the fun atmosphere and find something amid the plethora of cuddly, educational, technical and build-it-yourself toys which will truly delight its young recipient well into the new year and beyond. Have fun!

babies can enjoy the bright colours and patterns, and listen intently to shaking, squeaking and rattling sounds.

Older babies begin to explore the world with eyes, hands, feet and mouths. The Playgro Age for Stage guide helps parents select the most age appropriate products for their little one. The guide can be found on all Playgro

packaging, making it easy for parents to find a product that best suits their baby’s stage of development.

Playgro Developmental Toys are exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd. on Tel 21 446205/6.

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NOVEMBER 2016

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Looking at the long term It’s short sighted to ignore warnings about the long term effect of small screens on children’s eyes.

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ard as it will be to resist our children’s pleas for more i-gadgets and games at this time of year, most eye specialists would rather parents and relatives did not give very young children screen-based presents for Christmas.

Now that so many children have been using tablets and i-pads as part of their everyday lives for over a decade, it has become perfectly clear that myopia, or short-sightedness, in even quite young children has increased alarmingly.

With all the time they spend on these devices and considering the effects they can have on us adults, it’s only natural to wonder what staring at these screens for so long is doing to children’s sight.

Myopia is generally found in school-age children, mostly adolescents, but cases are already being seen in children as young as three.

Apart from the proven genetic influence, the other

Children’s eyes are still growing and are vulnerable

main causes of short sight were, for over a century, linked to too much reading, studying small print, sitting too close to a TV screen, fine sewing among other habits. These may all have played a part since they can cause eye strain and tiredness, which have negative effects over time. But the case against small screens is proving quite conclusive.

Leaving aside our increased ability to conduct extensive research and collect more detailed information nowadays, it is clear that there really is a marked increase in myopia.

Worldwide there has been a dramatic rise in the number of children aged 10 and under who are developing short-sightedness. And given the young age of these children and the fact that many have been playing with and using screen devices from the time they could sit up, this cannot be a coincidence.

We all get headaches and eye strain after too much working, watching or reading anything on a screen, even with careful breaks, and our eyes are fully developed. Children’s eyes are still growing and are vulnerable to anything which could damage such a delicate organ Genetics naturally play a part but studies and analysis in the causes and effects of myopia, in various regions and populations, prove there are also environmental influences.

Only 10 to 20% of the Chinese population was shortsighted 60 years ago, the figure for teenagers and young adults now in 90%. It is over 96% among 19year-old men in Seoul, South Korea. The West has not escaped either, with half of the US and Europe’s young adults affected. The number has doubled in the last 50 years. Estimates are suggesting over two billion people in the world could suffer from short-sightedness within the next 10 years.

In all honesty symptoms spoil your quality of life. The

The short-wavelength blue light emitted by digital screens can damage children’s sight.

effects can lead to and in some cases further develop far more serious symptoms. All glasses, even designer ones, stylish as they are, can be a nuisance. Contact lenses will improve but not cure bad sight and surgery is only available in suitable cases.

Never before has so much strain been put on young eyes. Some children spend over three or more hours a day on some digital gadget and a great many have a smart phone or tablet of their own.

The trend for long study periods and children using small screens for so many things does not help. But it is not entirely to blame. The way these tools are used is the key.

What we should be considering is how to ensure healthy sight for our children, because damage is being done. Symptoms may hardly be noticed at first so frequent and regular visits to an ophthalmologist are very important to catch any possible problems before they can develop into something serious.

The latest, very credible, research will prompt a chorus of “I told you so!” from parents and grandparents. Years spent tracking the causes and cases of myopia in younger children now show that the risks can be cut considerably by just spending more time outside.

Playing games, walking, bike rides, watching birds and wild life, beachcombing or gazing into space, stargazing and scanning the horizon are a treat for sore eyes. Who knew it was so simple? Now the next thing is to persuade everyone to down screens for a few more hours a day.

To say that eyesight is precious is beyond an understatement. Children take it for granted and trying to persuade them away from their research, games, entertainment and i-social life might be close to impossible. But you can never overestimate how worthwhile it will be.

Screen facts

Too much focussing on small images can cause early eye problems for children.

Young children have to focus harder to make out images on small devices which sometimes causes one eye to turn inwards and can damage the sight in that eye.

Eyes can become strained and itchy, with a burning feeling or blurred vision if they get tired after too much focussing on a screen.

Children’s eyes can easily accommodate and focus on close objects because the natural lens of their eyes is smaller and clearer. But the shortwavelength blue light emitted by digital screens is more easily transmitted to their retinas, causing possible damage, even in years to come.

Everyone should protect their eyes by taking regular breaks from the screen, at least every 20 minutes.

Poor vision and eye health can affect school work so regular eye tests, at least once a year, even if there are no actual symptoms of an eye problem, are vitally important.

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NOVEMBER 2016

PLANNING the Kids & cash ideal bedroom for your child O Teaching children the benefits of budgeting is certainly one of the best things you can do for them.

ur fairly recent culture of working long hours and saving hard, to provide our children with everything we never had, has been somewhat thwarted by all the financial crashes and global money market fluctuations the 21st century has thrown at us. Add to this the lure of credit cards and long term payment facilities and the expression “money can’t buy happiness” seems more accurate than ever.

These days the famous bank of mum and dad is being ravaged by children who only few generations ago would sooner have died than expect their parents to bail them out. The future does not look good for the children of those who have been spending their way through past few decades, as if money really does grow on trees.

We only have to consider the daily toss up between bills and aspirations, and saving over waving a credit card, to realise that how we manage our money is influenced as much by our actual finances as by how we were brought up to think about where money comes from and how to take charge of it.

Now, more than ever, it is important to give children a clear understanding of how to handle money. As soon as they can understand the role money plays in our lives, they are old enough to have their own allowance and begin learning how to make it work for them. Until they are old enough to earn money from holiday jobs or doing small jobs over and above what is expected of them, this pocket money will just be a regular sum for them to save or spend as they wish.

Parents must decide for themselves how much a weekly or monthly allowance will be, based on what each child is supposed to do with it. Whatever the amount, the importance of saving must be explained.

Children will soon realise that it can be more profitable to save for something

special than spend their money all at once.

This concept is vital and instills an attitude towards money management that will be invaluable for the rest of a child’s life.

Whatever the temptation, bribing children to complete their regular tasks, or study, or visit a boring relative will leave you a lot poorer than you can possibly imagine; and your children assuming ordinary, reasonable behaviour can be bought. Reasonable financial rewards for brilliant achievements are different. The goal will be a challenge and the prize a reward.

The value of money also takes on an added importance if children can regularly receive small amounts to be invested in their own bank account. They will quickly become interested in the idea of interest and creating savings that will give them extra money, for something they will want or need in the future.

This concept will become even clearer when parents or relatives give them plenty of examples of the happiness and security that savings can bring, over that of a spend, spend, spend mentality.

Using actual coins and notes when shopping with children is a good way to impress on them that once they spend their money, it is gone. Credit and debit cards give the impression that even if they do not have the actual money they can still spend it, leading to the idea that money is there whenever they want it.

And seeing parents using credit cards when they have already told a child they cannot afford something he or she has asked for sends mixed messages. This means it is only fair to give children an age-appropriate explanation of how these cards work as soon as they are old enough.

Explaining why they cannot buy something the minute they see it and the importance of budgeting, for basic bills and possible expenses, will help children see the connection between work and payment. They are less likely to demand expensive items if they can see where money needs to be spent and what their family’s priorities are. Whatever the reason, spending over budget just to keep children happy gives a bad example and a skewed idea of the real value of money and what it can buy.

Having their own money to spend can also teach children to look for the best value for money. Researching how and where things are made will give them a concept of fair trade. Deciding when and how to replace something that is broken, lost or outgrown will give them a good idea of how to adapt their spending power to what they actually need and what will bring them the most happiness in the end. And remembering to put a little aside for presents and donations will highlight the joy of giving.

Whatever your family budget, discussing money honestly with children will help them grow up moneywise and with the discipline to manage their finances easily and smoothly. This is an invaluable skill.

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our children will spend a considerable amount of time in their bedrooms. Therefore, it is vital to create a comfortable environment, in which your child can play, relax, and even work. When planning a new bedroom, it is essential to keep in mind that children grow rapidly, and before you know it, your child will become a teenager. Because of this, creating a space that your child can grow into is of utmost importance.

What are the three key ingredients for a successful kid’s/teen’s bedroom?

Storage, study space and a play/chill area!

Bedrooms in most modern apartments are normally restricted in size. No matter the age of the child, having a sufficient amount of storage will always be an issue, be it for the toys and games of a child or the books and files of a teenager.

The Mundo Joven range offers various solutions on how to utilize and maximise the wall space available, using furniture such as: • Corner wardrobes • Bridge storage units • Under bed storage • Shelving units The study area, even if it comprises just a desk, is a must in every child’s bedroom.

Therefore, the desk must be designed in a way which makes the study area as comfortable as possible.

In the Mundo Joven catalogue, one will find a variety of different desks to suit all spaces.

A play zone for young children, or a chilling area for the older teens, can be created by placing a small armchair in the room

and a small unit for a TV/monitor and game console, creating a small living area for your child to enjoy alone or even with friends. In confined spaces, one can also use the divan bed as a seating area. Since every child is different, it is possible to completely personalise your room by using the wide range of wood and solid colours Mundo Joven has to offer.

Finally, finishing off the room with suitable flooring will give it colour, character and a clean surface. This will complete the room, thus creating a truly practical yet aesthetically pleasing area.

Quick-step flooring offers a full range of laminate or vinyl floors that will suit every room for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Rimobel and Quick-Step products are available from: R Living, Mriehel By-pass Qormi Tel: 21499 699 quick-step.com.mt rimobel.com

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