Child (March 2018)

The magazine for parents

CHiLD ISSUE 58, March 2018

WELCOMING SPRING LEARNING LATIN VIOLENCE TOWARDS PARENTS TEENS’ SELF-ESTEEM

Plus: alternative Easter treats, April Fool’s ideas, hygiene tips for our homes

EASTER

CELEBRATIONS

CHiLD ISSUE 58 MARCH 31, 2018

Contents

A time of joy

Features 6 Environment: Introducing toddlers to nature 14 Education: Latin pilot project 18 Health: Minimising the risk of infection at home 20 Parenting: Victims of domestic abuse 28 Leisure: Innovative storytelling programme 32 Sport: Interview with waterpolo player Kendra Navarro 38 Teenagers: Overcoming low self-esteem 42 Recipes: Alternative treats for Easter

Regulars 12 Top Tips: Easter activities 30 Top Tips: April Fool’s tricks 46 Shop Window: The best of products and services

Correspondence to the editor may be sent to: The Executive Editor, Child Magazine, Times of Malta, Triq l-Intornjatur, Mrieħel, BKR 3000, or send an e-mail to stephanie.fsadni@timesofmalta.com Executive Editor Stephanie Fsadni Publisher Allied Newspapers Limited Printing Progress Press Limited Production Allied Newspapers Limited Contributors Coryse Borg, Sandy Calleja Portelli, Sarah Carabott, Joanne Cocks, Sadie Gorvett, Juanita Muscat Design Krista Bugeja Advertising Sales Amanda Gauci (tel: 2276 4332; e-mail: amanda.gauci@timesofmalta.com).

This publication is being distributed as part of the Times of Malta.

All rights reserved. © 2018 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

4 CHiLD MARCH 2018

Spring is my favourite season. The days get longer and warmer and the countryside is greener and dotted with a myriad flowers… It is a time of rebirth and renewed energy and the world somehow looks more cheerful.

Easter too is a time of joy and it’s not only because we can eat chocolate eggs and figolli. Even though the roots of this celebration can be traced back to pagan times, it is also a very important feast for Christians, as it celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This edition of Child gives ideas on activities you can do this Easter, from crafts to the classic egg hunt to baking alternative treats with your children.

If it’s a nice day, you can also spend some quality time in the great outdoors. Sadie Gorvett from BirdLife Malta gives parents ideas on various activities that can introduce toddlers to nature.

They will surely love exploring the countryside and all the little creatures thriving in it. This way, they may learn to appreciate and respect nature from a young age.

Turning to formal education, Latin is being introduced in some schools. Sarah Carabott finds that the aim of this pilot project is not to have children fluent in the language but rather to help them grasp other modern languages. Latin literacy classes, which are replete with Roman tales and myths, also help creative writing.

Also aiding children’s creativity is a series of innovative storytelling workshops, currently under way. Joanne Cocks attends one such workshop, where children listen to stories about the physical, natural and man-made environment and explore their role within it.

Coryse Borg meets a young female waterpolo player who is doing very well on a national level and is working hard to pursue her dream: that of representing Malta at the Olympics.

This issue’s section dedicated to teens covers self-esteem.

Youths often suffer from low self-esteem, which may affect them on various levels, especially academically and socially. Parents should be on the lookout for any tell-tale signs, because, unfortunately, it is not something one grows out of and the more serious cases would need professional help.

On an equally serious note, Sandy Calleja Portelli looks into cases of domestic abuse, but where the victims are not the children, but the parents. Help is luckily available for such families.

I hope you find this issue of Child interesting and informative.

Wish you and your families a pleasant Easter and a delightful springtime.

ENvIRONMENT A panoramic view of BirdLife Malta’s Għadira Nature Reserve from Foresta 2000. PHOTO: KINGA KUPSKA

At one with nature Nature provides an infinite playground, where children can have an amazing time exploring and discovering its many secrets and learn to appreciate and respect the environment. Sadie Gorvett gives parents some ideas on how they can introduce their toddlers to nature this spring.

ature is full of incredible creatures, beautiful flowers and exceptionally tall trees. Not to mention the mysterious caves, the unpredictable sea and the exhilarating clifftops. Although in Malta it can often seem unreachable, nature can be found, explored and enjoyed by all – you just need to be open to the prospect of adventure, something toddlers love!

Toddlers are extraordinary human beings. They find excitement and wonder in almost everything they encounter. Nature offers endless possibilities for them and all they need is to experience it.

But are there any benefits to connecting with nature? As parents we want the best for our children and providing them time to explore and connect with nature can offer benefits that may not be obvious at first.

Connecting with nature has been shown to increase creativity, problemsolving skills, improve self-esteem and

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physical activity as well as reduce stress, improve concentration, cooperation, social interaction and independence.

It also has benefits for nature itself.

Through positive experiences in nature children will develop their appreciation for the natural world and grow into environmentally-responsible adults.

these green giants. Blindfold your toddler and take them to a tree, get them to hug it and see if they can wrap their arms around it. Can they feel any branches sticking out? How does the bark feel to the touch? Your child will really enjoy using their sense of touch to learn more about trees. Afterwards, take the blindfold off and see if they can work out which tree was theirs.

LET’S EXPLORE An important part of connecting with nature is learning to respect it. This is the first step to introducing your toddler to the natural world. Below are some activities you can do to help your child experience the outdoors in a fun yet respectful way.

HUG A TREE Every tree is unique, in its shape, size and texture. Every tree is important too; they provide shelter and homes for wildlife, oxygen for all living things to breathe and help clean the air. Hugging a tree is a chance to really get to know

NATURAL ART There is a lot of leaf litter scattered around. This is something of great importance for small creatures such as insects and it helps to provide a rich source of nutrients to keep the soil healthy, allowing plants to grow. Leaf litter can also provide a fun resource to create artwork. Let the children collect a selection of natural materials like leaves, twigs, pine cones and nettle, making sure they don’t pick anything fresh! And then let them use their collection and imagination to create a picture on the ground.

ENVIRONMENT An Easter egg hunt at BirdLife Malta’s Simar Nature Reserve.

PHOTO: HOLLY FORSYTH

SCAVENGER HUNT Everyone loves a scavenger hunt. They are so simple to create; you can either download one from the internet, make your own or simply give your child a list of things to find while out walking. Can you spot a red flower? A smooth rock?

A butterfly? This provides a focus for your walk and your child will be excited when they manage to find everything on the list.

Rock pools host micro habitats.

MINI-BEAST DISCOVERY Who doesn’t love looking for bugs?

Bugs are cool! They are mysterious and exciting. Your child will love getting close up to these incredible creatures.

Before setting off on your mini-beast discovery, be sure to explain how gentle your child needs to be so they don’t hurt any living creature. Mini-beasts are important to keep nature healthy by breaking down leaf litter and provide food for other animals. We need to protect them.

This is a great activity to really get your child looking closely at nature.

Mini-beasts are small, secretive and like to hide! Get down close to the floor, move rocks very slowly and inspect the earth. When they find a mini-beast, encourage them to count its legs and look at its colours. Maybe have a spotter sheet for them so they can tick off all the creatures they find.

ROCK POOLING When enjoying a day at the beach or walking along the coast, take some 8 CHiLD MARCH 2018

time to appreciate the micro habitat that exists in the small rock pools you pass by. Spend five minutes sitting quietly; your child’s patience will be rewarded when they catch a glimpse of a scuttling shrimp or a creeping crab.

Introducing your toddler to nature can be as simple as taking them outside and listening to all the sounds they can hear, spotting all the birds they can see or feeling all the different textures.

It’s about letting them discover and

experience for themselves the wonders and beauty nature has to offer.

Don’t worry if they get a little dirty or a little soggy, sometimes the best times spent in nature are when you come home tired, covered in mud and drenched from the rain! The memories of these experiences will stay with your child for years to come and they will remember and appreciate the opportunities you provided them.

Sadie Gorvett is education assistant at BirdLife Malta.

ENvIRONMENT

WHERE TO GO A walk at Foresta 2000.

PHOTO: BIRDLIFE MALTA

BirdLife Malta has a number of nature reserves which are great places to introduce your toddlers to nature. They are protected sites which are very rare in Malta and have an abundance of wildlife to discover.

Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija is open from November to May on Sundays from 10am to 4pm, while Għadira Nature Reserve in Mellieħa is open from November to May on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

A range of activities are available for the whole family, with visitor assistants on hand to show you around and help you to spot new things.

The last weekend of each month, special themed days with hands-on games and activities are held at both Simar and Għadira nature reserves.

Children are encouraged to use all their senses to explore, keeping their eyes open for the smallest of bugs to the flashiest of birds. If you’re lucky you might even spot a wild rabbit or hidden chameleon.

Foresta 2000 in Triq il-Marfa, Mellieħa, is open all year round. The area offers a spectacular view across Malta from coast to coast and has a range of habitats to discover. Trek up the small incline to the top of the hill

and look out across the reserve.

Which birds can you spot swooping through the trees? How many different sounds can you hear? What colours can you find? These are all simple questions to get your toddler to start experiencing the natural world. Continue along the winding trail and discover hidden hideaways and rolling meadows with colourful butterflies fluttering by. When you reach the end of the trail, look out

across the glistening blue ocean. Can you or your children spot a whale or a dolphin?

Entrance to all reserves is free of charge. For more fun-filled activities, BirdLife Malta offers a children’s membership, Klabb Ħuttaf – the largest junior nature club in Malta. More details can be found on https://birdlifemalta.org/become-member/childrens-membership.

Competition Pemix Distributors Limited is giving readers the chance to win €50 worth of Babylino Sensitive products by answering the following question:

How can you ensure that your baby remains dry?

Answers, including your name, surname, telephone number and e-mail address, are to be sent to Amanda Gauci on amanda.gauci@timesofmalta.com, until the end of April. The winner will be announced in the next issue of Child, out in May. Last months winner is Dennis Bonnici.

Terms and conditions: The voucher is valid for six months. It can be redeemed on Babylino Sensitive products only (whole available range). Products will be given at consumer prices.

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TOP TIPS

EASTER ACTIVITIES TO SHARE WITH THE KIDS aster is a great time for families. Whether you are thinking of the religious aspect, the Easter Bunny, your family and friends, or all three, it should be something special.

Children also have a break from school and many parents take some time off work to spend some quality time with them.

There are indeed many Easter activities that can be shared by adults and children alike, including the following crafty ideas.

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1. EASTER EGG COLOURING Dyeing and decorating Easter eggs is an ancient tradition which can be dated back to the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who would dye eggs red in memorial of the blood shed by Christ at his crucifixion.

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Today, colouring eggs is a fun activity which allows children to express their creativity while learning about Easter. Food colouring can be used to create an enormous amount of effects which can then be entered into a family Easter egg competition, with the winner receiving a small prize.

2. EGG HUNT No Easter would be complete without a traditional Easter egg hunt. Kids expect chocolate treats at Easter time and if they are going to get them, it is a good idea that they do some running around first. An Easter egg hunt will not only get the children active in the outdoors but it’s also a great way for families to have fun together and bond.

TOP TIPS

3. EASTER CRAFTS

Like Christmas, Easter is a great time for decorating the home with seasonal trinkets. This provides an excellent opportunity to get the children involved in making decorations. The internet is full of great Easterthemed craft tutorials, from making your very own Easter Bunny ears to making paper baskets to collect Easter eggs in.

4. FOOD

When most of us think of Easter food, we think of chocolate eggs but there is much more to Easter dining than that. Gather the family together for a sumptuous Sunday roast and let the children help with dessert. Chocolate cornflake cakes can be transformed into bird’s nests, complete with chocolate eggs, or you could all get stuck in and bake delicious treats (see also pages 42-45)

5. THE STORY OF EASTER Whether you are religious or not, the story of Easter is a fantastic and important one, with a great message. You may want to take some time out to tell the children the meaning behind all of the festivities and traditions you have taken part in, reinforcing what they have learnt at school or in Cathecism classes.

eduCATIOn

A pilot project taking place in a number of schools is proving that Latin is not a dead language. Sarah Carabott finds that learning the language may help children grasp modern languages and encourage them to approach problems using critical thinking.

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atin might not sound like the most exciting of subjects but who would say no to tales of minotaurs and three-headed dragons?

Since October, the Malta Classics Association has been introducing the classical language to Year Five students as part of a pilot project called Literacy Through Latin.

The children are not being taught to write and speak fluent Latin but, instead, they are being exposed to a language that takes them back to the origins of the languages we speak.

So next time they hear the Italian mano or the Romanian mână, their mind thinks of the Latin manus, meaning hand. And if they come across derivatives such as ‘manual’ and ‘manacles’, they would immediately realise that these words have something to do with hands.

Jennifer Mitchell, who teaches the Latin programme at Chiswick House

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Classics undergraduate Jessica Farrugia says the pilot project’s intention is not for children to become fluent in the language but to use it to develop their knowledge of other languages.

School, explains that Latin literacy classes are often peppered with Roman myths and tales that not only support and enhance creative writing, but often also impart some moral lesson, like that of Icarus, who did not heed his father’s advice. Icarus flew too close to the sun and, as a result, the wax holding together his feathery

wings melted, sending him spiralling down into the seas, where he drowned.

Other tales, such as that of hero Aeneas, who was in essence a refugee, could help teachers tackle important current issues.

“When treated correctly, a study of his journey and reception in the ancient world can enable discussions about a

eduCATIOn very serious and relevant topic and encourage students to see things from a different perspective,” says Ms Mitchell.

But aren’t children already weighed down with Maltese, english, and in later years, a third language?

“As a teacher, I fully understand the difficulty of squeezing something else into an already fully-loaded curriculum but, by using a holistic approach, it is entirely possible to incorporate elements of Latin into the grammatical study of other languages as well as a range of other subjects,” she says.

“For example, as Maltese is an inflected language, it is much easier for students who predominantly speak it to make grammatical connections to Latin, as well as providing an opportunity for exploring the history and development of the Maltese language in a different way.”

Through Latin, children can uncover derivations in Italian, French and english words present in the Maltese language, which can also provide the ideal opportunity to discuss how historical events have directly affected the language spoken nowadays.

In fact, contrary to the belief that Latin is a dead language that is no longer spoken, it is still very much alive in many of the modern languages we speak today, according to Jessica Farrugia, a Classics under-graduate student who has coordinated the teaching for the pilot project at the Fgura primary school.

Millions of people across the globe speak languages that directly evolved from Latin – the Romance languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Moreover, even in languages such as english and Maltese, which are not directly evolved from Latin, the influence of Latin is such that over half of the vocabulary is derived from Latin.

Jennifer Mitchell, who teaches the Latin programme at Chiswick House School, claims that Latin literacy classes enhance creative writing as they are often peppered with Roman myths and tales and often impart some moral lesson.

“Millions of people across the globe speak languages that directly evolved from Latin”

Ms Farrugia noted that although Latin is “a wonderful language that merits being studied in its own right”, the project’s intention is not for children to become fluent in the language but to use it to develop their knowledge of other languages.

“This way, instead of being burdensome, it will have the opposite effect by facilitating the study of other languages,” Ms Farrugia says.

“What we teach the children is very basic Latin that includes within it a combination of key vocabulary and fundamental grammar exercises with the purpose of consolidating children’s understanding of language in general.”

So while it may seem useless compared to other languages, Latin is actually at the root of so many languages that it makes sense to use it as a building block for other languages, she adds.

Put simply, Latin is “immortalised” in other languages, continues Ms Mitchell.

Once you have learnt its grammatical rules, you can apply them to other languages.

It is, therefore, a gateway to learning other Romance languages but the discipline and problem-solving skills required to study a fairly rigid grammatical approach can also be applied to infinite scenarios in everyday life.

She says that Latin encourages children to approach problems using critical thinking – they can make connections across languages, especially the Romance ones, but also across other subjects including science, geography, history and social studies.

“They learn to question the motives behind the stories that were told in ancient times, most of which explain a scientific phenomenon. For example, myths about a flood can be traced back to Mesopotamian times and are still relevant today where tsunamis are triggered by seismic activity.

“While we now have scientific explanations for these events, Latin teaches you the skill to see things from another perspective and question whether sources are reliable or even reputable.

In the age of ‘fake news’ this is an increasingly necessary skill, integral in creating a more informed society. It can also be used to promote understanding and tolerance,” claims Ms Mitchell.

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PSyChoLoGy

Here are two recent studies which can give you some insight into your children’s psyche.

Social media ‘negatively affects adolescent girls more than boys’ irls who start using social media younger tend to be unhappier as they progress through their teens, research has shown.

Social media seems to have a greater impact on the well-being of girls, scientists at the University of Essex and University College London found.

Girls who spent an hour or more on social media by the age of 10 showed lower wellbeing by the time they reached 15.

The research, based on a survey of 9,859 UK adolescents aged 10 to 15 years old, found adolescent girls used social media more than boys.

By age 13, about half of the girls surveyed used social media for more than one hour per day on a typical school day, compared to one-third of boys.

Social media use increased with age in both genders, but girls were still more prolific users than boys by the age of 15, with 59 per cent of girls interacting on social media

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for an hour or more each day compared to 46 per cent of boys.

The study, published in the BMC Public Health journal, found that wellbeing declined throughout adolescence for boys and girls, but the drop was larger for girls.

Researchers found that throughout adolescence happiness scores dropped nearly three points from 36.9 to 33.3 in girls and two points from 36.02 to 34.55 in boys.

Participants were assessed using a happiness score on different aspects of their lives including family and school.

They also filled out a “strengths and difficulties” questionnaire measuring negative aspects of well-being such as emotional and behavioural problems.

Five-year-olds aware of their reputation hildren start to worry about their reputations from the age of five, say psychologists. By the time they go to nursery school, they are already developing “adult” concerns about social status, according to a review of recent research.

Alex Shaw, one of the authors from the University of Chicago, US, said: “We’re finding that the kinds of complex and strategic self-presentation behaviour we see in adults appear at a much younger age than previously known.”

A child’s awareness of social standing cascades down from adults and spans all cultures, said the researchers, writing in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

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Like adults, young children want to be accepted by those they admire. Five-year-olds also behaved “strategically” to improve their image, altering behaviour to appear “moral” or “socially good” in the eyes of key observers, said the experts.

Co-author Ike Silver, from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, US, said: “Children are sensitive to how those around them behave, including adults who highly value their reputations.

“Moving forward, a question we’re thinking about is, ‘what happens even earlier than age five?’ We don’t believe children show up to the first day of kindergarten and have the idea of reputation suddenly pop into existence.”

HEALTH

Ensuring hygiene at home Our homes are full of organisms, including harmful bacteria. Medical student Jacques Galea Souchet gives some tips to minimise the risk of infection and emphasises the importance of keeping our hands clean.

e share our homes with a diversity of species and organisms, ranging from bacteria and viruses, fungi to the more evolutionarilyadvanced plants. Even though bacteria are beneficial in some cases, for example they aid in digestion, they can become problematic and cause infections.

Individuals over the age of 65, babies, young children and patients with superimposed medical conditions (such as diabetes or cancer) are more susceptible to contracting an infection. Toddlers are constantly growing and their organ systems, including the immune system, are continually developing. Hygiene is essential to break the chain of infection (see diagram).

As a general rule, items which often come into contact with hands throughout the day would have most germs.

These include mobile phones, computer keyboards, money, handles, as well as TV remotes. Such items should be cleaned more regularly, for example by using an alcohol wipe, for sufficient disinfection. Other ‘highrisk’ areas include:

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• The kitchen sink (food particles and the moist environment can provide a great breeding environment for germs); • Toothbrushes (it is recommended to properly dry the toothbrush between uses and replace the toothbrush often, especially when one is sick).

Bacterial and viral infections are the most common; these viruses are behind infections such as the common cold and chickenpox.

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, while viral infections require different treatment.

Prescriptions by qualified doctors must be followed rigorously in order to allow complete resolution of an infection.

Where an infection comes from?

People, pets, contaminated food or water

How an infection gets out?

From your faeces (bowel movements), vomit, pus from wounds, skin scales, juice from food

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HEALTH Proper practices, especially sufficient hand-washing, decreases the chance of spreading germs.

Hand contact with areas which can provide an entry point for germs must be minimised, such as the mouth, nose and eyes.

Hygiene is, however, not only important for young children but also for parents and caregivers. Since parents have the most contact with their children, the chain of cleanliness and hygiene must begin from there.

Certain infections can also be transmitted through air and hence one should cover their mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing. If hands cannot be washed directly after the sneeze or cough, covering the mouth and nose with one’s elbow is a sufficient alternative.

Young children have a tendency to place objects in their mouth. Besides the risk of choking, this could also pose a risk of infection to the toddler. Oral exploration is a key developmental stage in toddlers, however, parents must be watchful of objects which can enter their child’s mouth and, where possible, try prevent oral contact with dirty or unsanitary items.

Overgrowth of certain fungi such as mould is associated with the development of asthma in young children; hence areas of dampness must be cleaned properly and disinfected.

Children should be taught how to wash hands properly from a young age. Good hand-washing habits include washing hands for a minimum of 20 seconds (the time taken to sing Happy Birthday twice), and sufficient rubbing of all parts of the hands. Damp towels can be an area of significant germ growth and should be changed often.

To sum it all up, the chain of infection must be kept in mind and precautions should be directed towards breaking the chain at some point or another. The role hands play in transmitting infection should not be underestimated.

“Hygiene is not only important for young children but also for parents and caregivers”

How an infection spreads?

Hands, hands and food touching surfaces, cleaning cloths and other cleaning items, clothes, linen and aerosols

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, hands should be washed especially in the following 10 scenarios: • Before, during and after preparing food; • Before eating food; • Before and after caring for someone who is sick; • Before and after treating a cut or wound; • After using the toilet; • After changing nappies or cleaning a child who has used the toilet; • After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; • After touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste; • After handling pet food or pet treats; and • After touching garbage.

How an infection gets in?

Mounth, nose, eyes, damaged skin or mucus

Who can get infected?

Everyone can get infected but some people are more at risk than others

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PARENTING

WHEN CHILDREN TURN ON THEIR PARENTS Whenever we hear stories of domestic abuse, the children are often the victims but, sometimes, it is the parents who suffer at the hands of their offspring. Sandy Calleja Portelli looks into such cases.

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PARENTING

ome. It should be a safe haven, the place you retire to at the end of the day, where you can comfortably be yourself secure in the knowledge that you are where you belong, ideally surrounded by the people dearest to you.

Unfortunately, for too many people, this ideal home scenario is a pipe dream as they live in fear of the next attack from somebody who is supposed to love and cherish them… a partner, parent or child. And no, the last one is not a typo.

We are accustomed to reading about intimate partner violence or child abuse, but cases of domestic violence in which a child is abusive towards one or both parents are still relatively unheard of although it is neither a new phenomenon nor is it as rare as we would like to believe.

As at May 2015, almost a 100 cases had been reported to Aġenzija Appoġġ.

“Globally, the awareness about child to parent violence is very recent and we treat it within domestic violence.

Once we established the fact that this type of violence is also happening on our shores, we set out to ensure that our staff is adequately trained to deal with this issue,” says Alfred Grixti, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS).

“We have brought foreign experts who conducted a oneweek intensive training session and also organised a seminar directed towards stakeholders. We wanted to ensure that our staff is qualified to offer the highest level of assistance to all involved and everything we do is evidence-based; we don’t just start a service without researching it thoroughly.”

Roberta Agius, operations manager within Aġenzija Appoġġ, explains that child to parent violence is a problem that affects families from all socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds. It usually manifests itself between the ages of 10 and 17 which is a difficult period for most youngsters.

Although challenging behaviour is common as adolescents try to assert their independence, abusive behaviour goes beyond what is acceptable as the child tries to control the parent, making threats and demanding money.

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“Parents who are experiencing this kind of abuse will be afraid and will often find that they adapt their own behaviour so as not to provoke their child”

Social worker Maria Mangion agrees. She says: “Parents who are experiencing this kind of abuse will be afraid and will often find that they adapt their own behaviour so as not to provoke their child.”

“Although we cannot generalise, we have noticed that cases of child to parent violence are often a result of previous domestic violence within the family and the majority of cases reported involve a son exhibiting violence towards his mother. We often find out about these cases through schools; usually the mother has to go to the school because of her son’s behaviour issues and it all comes pouring out,” continues Mr Grixti.

“There are various characteristics that can lead to a child’s violence towards a parent but it is always related to some kind of past trauma which has not been adequately dealt with either because the child did not speak out or was not believed.

Of course, the traumatic experience may not necessarily be only domestic violence but could include sexual abuse or bullying, so it’s important to find the underlying cause of the child’s behaviour to prevent it from spilling over into other relationships,” says Ms Agius.

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PARENTING CASE 1 When working with families who have reported cases of child to parent violence, Aġenzija Appoġġ has a zero tolerance to violence policy and makes it clear to all concerned that violence is never acceptable.

“We often find that the dynamics within a family are very complicated; sometimes even the way family members communicate among themselves is related to issues of power and control. These children are often both perpetrators and victims themselves which is why it is crucial that we break the cycle by offering therapy rather than portioning blame,” Ms Agius points out.

Parents who feel they are being subjected to child to parent abuse are encouraged to seek help at the earliest opportunity. While the police should be called in cases of imminent danger, in situations where parents are concerned but not in immediate danger, they are encouraged to contact Aġenzija Appoġġ by calling on 179 or by speaking to one of the community social workers.

After carrying out a risk assessment and a social work assessment which is geared to establishing the type of help the family needs, the family members would then be put into contact with the Child to Parent Violence Services which is part of the Managing Abusive Behaviour Service within Aġenzija Appoġġ’s Domestic Violence Services where a social worker and a therapist meet with individual members of the family to make sure that each person feels safe. Once a ‘non-violence agreement’ is established within the family, long-term therapy is offered to all members of the family.

The following stories are made up from a number of cases referred to the Managing Abusive Behaviour Service within Aġenzija Appoġġ. All names, family details and specific incidents are fictitious.

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Seven years ago, Anna had to leave home with her three children, Alan, Alex and Angela (now aged 19, 16 and 11 respectively), because of her husband’s escalating abusive behaviour.

Although life was hard for the family as Anna struggled to juggle work with childcare while trying to regain her physical and emotional strength, they appeared to be coping well. Although Anna’s schedule meant that the family’s days were not very structured, the children were doing well at school and maintained a relationship with their father.

In the summer of 2015, Anthony took the three children out for the day and unexpectedly announced that he would not be seeing them again until they were older.

The estrangement from his father hit Alex particularly hard; he lost all interest in school, started truanting and went from achieving excellent grades to failing in most subjects. At home, he turned his anger towards his mother, blaming her for making him lose his father.

“Alex was 13 at the time and already going through that rebellious teenage stage but when his dad stopped visiting, he started calling me vicious names, saying he wished I were dead and that he would love nothing better than to attend my funeral. It was like being with my husband all over again,” recalls Anna.

Hoping this was just a phase that would pass, Anna tried to pacify her son but rather than calm down, his anger seemed to increase until, after one particular argument, he grabbed a knife and chased his mother through their flat until she locked herself in the bathroom. From that day, Alex would often physically lash out at his mother.

“What could I do? We all tried to keep him happy and calm but I never knew what would set him off. I didn’t want to report him to the police; he’s my son and I love him but, at the same time, I have to protect Alan and Angela. I worry he will hit Angela or that Alan will one day lose his temper and retaliate – then what would happen?

“Last summer Alex went on a rampage, he started throwing stuff at me because he didn’t like what I was cooking for dinner.

He kicked a hole in my bedroom door, yelled how he wished he were dead and stormed out of the flat. As soon as he left, I called Appoġġ; they had helped me when I left Anthony and I didn’t know where else to turn.”

A social worker met Anna to assess the situation and a care team, which included a psychiatrist, psychologist and social workers, has since been working with the family both individually and as a group to help them work towards achieving healthier relationships. The family signed up to a non-violence agreement and are currently working through their issues.

PARENTING

CASE 2 Joseph had a very difficult childhood; he was constantly criticised and denigrated by his domineering father and vowed he would never do the same to his own daughters. Jacqueline is 13 and Julia is 10. Although Joseph’s wife, Jane, also works full time and the family has a good income, Joseph regularly works later than strictly necessary which has caused a strain between the couple.

Jacqueline, who used to be something of a ‘daddy’s girl’ when she was younger, picked up on the marital discord and has taken to insulting Joseph at every opportunity.

“It started just after her 10th birthday. She wanted to go out to the cinema with friends but without an adult. Jane and I had a row about whether she should be allowed to go or not and, in the end, we said she could only go if Jane or I went too. Even though I thought we should have let her go, Jacqueline called me ‘a useless idiot’,” Joseph remembers.

From then on, Jacqueline’s insults have escalated, she has started drinking and experimenting with recreational drugs and regularly demands extra money from her father whom she insults and mocks at every turn.

“Jane never corrects her about this behaviour and seems to think the child is right and that it’s my fault. I thought that opposing Jacqueline would just make drugs and alcohol more attractive to her. I really thought she would grow out of it if I didn’t fuel the fire but things have gone too far now. She is using drugs more regularly and her behaviour has escalated to the point that I just can’t bear it.”

After Joseph contacted Aġenzija Appoġġ, the family has been assigned a social worker and psychologist.

Joseph and Jane are seeking help with their marital difficulties while Jacqueline has also been offered services to help her break her drug habit. Although the situation within the family is still fraught with difficulties, they have established emotional boundaries and agreed to adopt a non-violent contract.

24 CHiLD MARCH 2018

“These children are often both perpetrators and victims themselves which is why it is crucial that we break the cycle” CATCH THEM WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG • Establish age-appropriate boundaries at a very early age; violence is never acceptable.

• Teach children how to express their emotions in an acceptable manner and model this behaviour yourself.

• Maintain appropriate discipline – establish and enforce rules.

LEISURE

Life’s a tale Who doesn’t like a good story, be it one passed down by word of mouth for generations or one that has made it to print? Joanne Cocks catches up with Giuliana Fenech who is running an innovative storytelling programme for children.

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LEISURE

Giuliana Fenech leading one of the Parallel Universe workshops.

PHOTOS: NADIA ZAMMIT VERBEKEN

torytelling is an old practice of sharing and connecting different human experiences through stories.

“We are all innate storytellers because we are alive and cognitive. But we sometimes hesitate to say ‘I am a storyteller’ because we are not used to having people’s undivided attention.

We allow fear to replace worthiness, responsibility to eradicate the joy of discovery and play,” says storyteller and researcher Giuliana Fenech. “When we tell stories a magical stillness falls. A rich space for growth opens up, in fact we always feel like we need more.”

Dr Fenech is interested in exploring matters and sites of human connection as well as notions of risk, learning, play and make-believe. She explains how, in traditional societies, stories carried the knowledge and wisdom of the elders and were shared orally in storytelling

S

“In these

circles, around fires In this particular series storytelling workshops and kitchen hearths. of workshops held in the we learn through play, “Nowadays, we mornings for schools, emphasising that we are tell stories through children listen to stories all different and that different media about the physical, natudifference is necessary platforms as new ral and man-made and positive” forms of community environment and explore emerge. But the need their role within it. and desire for meaningful “They experiment with creconnection remains the same. ative solutions to problematic isThe programme Lignin Stories was set sues and attitudes such as animal up to help form more face-to-face stoextinction, deforestation, excessive plasrytelling circles, enhancing connection tic use and polluted oceans. They also and unbinding people’s potential.” enjoy creating a whole new universe in Another programme for children, which everything is possible, even the Parallel Universe, aims to trigger their most outlandish idea. This is fun and also ability to imagine unlimited possibililiberating,” says Dr Fenech. ties for themselves and the world The frequency and duration of the around them. workshops varies. Some are themed CHiLD MARCH 2018 29

LEISurE taking place at particular times of the year such as on World Book Day or around Christmas. Others are included in festival programmes such as ŻiguŻajg.

Children walk into the sessions expecting a formal learning situation, a set of rules and outcomes, but they find a completely different scenario.

“The first thing I say as I welcome them into the storytelling circle is that there are no rules in stories, only magic and respect for others and our world.

Immediately their eyes light up and the energy changes. Deep down every child is a visionary. Formal education often stifles children’s potential turning the focus to information-based assessments,” says Dr Fenech.

“In these storytelling workshops we learn through play, emphasising that we are all different and that difference is necessary and positive. The set-up invites holistic, multidisciplinary work across different themes, emotions, ideas and cultures. The result is always rich as both the children and the accompanying adults enjoy the feeling of acceptance.”

Asked whether she was considering organising the workshops in the evening, Dr Fenech says that Lignin Stories considers all invitations for collaboration, especially when the work is The programme Lignin Stories was set up to help form more face-to-face storytelling circles.

community based and operating on the principle of ‘paying it forward’.

“Paying forward to others our experiences, time, knowledge and resources,” says Dr Fenech. “We are able to work flexibly, offering some of our workshops in the evenings or on weekends. Next up we have storytelling sessions designed specifically for adult women and an innovative “There are no fairy tale experirules in stories, only ence that will magic and respect launch as part of for others and our the ŻiguŻajg 2018 world” programme.”

The future, adds Dr Fenech, also holds exciting plans for Lignin Stories “as we expand our international collaborations to work on research and training projects while running various workshops being planned with Esplora, as the curthroughout the year.” rent project, Grandma Got STEAM, has She is determined to push forward yielded “empowering results that de‘learning through play’ prototypes that serve more time and attention”. challenge our more traditional education system. These will use storytelling Parallel Universe is part of the Malta practice as their base and will be Arts Council Culture Pass programme shared in various schools and vocaand is available for booking through tional platforms. schools. Details of upcoming workAlso, more work on gender equality shops can be found at www.ligninstoin STEAM (Science, Technology, Engiries.com or through the Lignin Stories neering, Arts and Mathematics) is Facebook page.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS “What I liked most about the story was that I could imagine the story coming to life. I loved it so much because we had to do some activities and participate.”

– Yaelle Dintimille, Kayleigh Bezzina and Valentina Gauci “The storytelling was so much fun!

We heard two amazing stories and they were narrated so well.

Every story had a really good lesson and I liked that a lot. We also were able to act and write about the stories. It was such a great experience and I would love to do it again!”

– Michaela Spiteri

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TOP TIPS

FAMILY-FRIENDLY APRIL FOOL’S DAY PRANKS April Fool’s Day is falling on Easter this year.

This means you can try some extra fun tricks.

Here are some silly ideas.

1. Some ideas have gone viral, including 4. For dessert, serve ice cream or trifle wrapping grapes in foil to look like mini chocolate eggs, filling a chocolate bunny with mustard to give someone a spicy surprise or disguising a real egg as an Easter egg by using a hard-boiled egg and a chocolate fountain.

2. For breakfast, you can switch cereal bags so

the contents do not match the box. Then invite your children to pour their own breakfast.

3. Put vanilla frosting on the kids’ toothbrushes instead of toothpaste.

with plastic spiders hidden inside the dish or drill a hole in your child’s apple, then insert a gummy worm. You can also make sponge cake with actual sponges. If you're looking for something more extreme, you can make candied apples with onions.

5. Open a snack-size bag of chips from

the bottom end. Replace the chips with carrot sticks, then glue the bag shut again. Offer the chips as a snack while on an outing.

SPORT

Making waves Kendra Navarro is a young female waterpolo player who is making a name for herself and her team. Coryse Borg has a chat with the girl and her coach and learns how waterpolo can help children gain self-confidence.

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SPORT

endra Navarro is only 16 years old but she is already a force to be reckoned win. A prolific and talented waterpolo player, she recently won the accolade of the Aquatic Sports Association ‘Women’s Player of the Year’ which, she says, made her feel both overwhelmed and satisfied... and also excited to set a new goal for her career in waterpolo.

Kendra, who has been practising the sport for 10 years, says that her family are her main source of support and inspiration.

“When I started my career in waterpolo there were only a few women who played this sport – maybe one or two – but my parents never questioned my love for waterpolo and instead encouraged me to always keep going and never quit,” she says.

Kendra used to attend ballet lessons when she was younger but when her brother started waterpolo, she was motivated to follow suit. She started playing waterpolo with Marsascala at the age of seven.

“My first inspiration was my brother as I always looked up to him and respected him.

He would often stay with me after training to show or help me improve my skills,” she says with a smile.

She currently juggles waterpolo with her studies: Maltese and marketing A-level, as well as psychology, physical education and environmental science at intermediate level at Junior College.

Of course, playing waterpolo, like other sport disciplines, comes with its own set of ‘sacrifices’.

Kendra has to follow a specific diet that includes carbohydrates in the afternoon or three hours before a game or training, and preferably protein in the evening. The night before training, it is important that she sleeps well and mentally prepares herself.

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“My ultimate goal is to coach a female waterpolo team and my dream is to participate in the Olympics”

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SPORT

The women's team at Aqua Academy won every game in the national championships last year.

“Yes, there are always sacrifices to be made,” she admits. “I rarely have free time or any time for hobbies and any late nights are utilised to conclude assignments or homework. Games are usually held on the weekends or Sunday mornings, resulting in me rarely going out… and I often choose to rest and focus to concentrate on the upcoming game.”

A typical day sees Kendra waking up at 6am to catch a bus to Junior College. After lectures, which usually finish at 5pm, she has training from 6 until 7.15pm. A normal training session consists of exercises such as swimming, passing, legwork and shooting.

34 CHiLD MARCH 2018

This past year Kendra had the opportunity to play with the national team as well as with the Ortigia girl squad in Serie A2, Serie B and under 17. So where does she see herself in five years’ time?

“I will hopefully graduate and keep playing waterpolo,” she says. “My ultimate goal is to coach a female waterpolo team and my dream is to participate in the Olympics.”

Kendra’s coach, Gordon Zammit, started the Aqua Academy, where Kendra trains, in 2014 to partner up with Exiles Sports Club. He manages the nursery as a partnership between the two entities. When the Aqua Academy started up, he coached the boys’

team and also trained the fledgling women’s team which consisted of just six players at the time.

“I strongly believe that Malta can improve much further by focusing on children and the quality of coaching at a young age,” he asserts. “I believed that some of the girls had real potential and I pushed hard to create the awareness needed to view female waterpolo in Malta seriously.”

It must have worked as, last year, the women’s team reached the top of the national championship by winning every game in the league.

Today, the Academy boasts a team of 30 women, 20 of whom are under the age of 20 and six under 13 years of age.

SPORT

Coach Gordon Zammit started Aqua Academy in 2014 to partner up with Exiles Sports Club.

“Kendra is a determined player she is focused on her goal and works hard to get it”

Four of them play or have had experience in foreign leagues. They have also fielded the first junior female team for a competition (against boys) but Mr Zammit says they plan to do much more.

“My personal aim is to compete in a junior female competition in Europe. I think we’re getting close to this and it is possibly achievable in the next few years. My ultimate dream is to be able to compete in Europe at club level – that requires more time and work – but it is still highly achievable with the enthusiasm and improvement the girls are showing.”

Kendra joined Exiles a year after Aqua Academy was formed. Mr Zammit says that she immediately showed

huge potential but she worked hard (and still does) to improve her confidence while improving her technique.

Mr Zammit states that if Kendra’s career continues on track, she will have what it takes to join one of the top leagues in Europe. He adds that although she already had a positive experience in Italy, she could aim much higher.

“Kendra is a determined player – she is focused on her goal and works hard to get it,” he says. “She is still young and has many things left to work on but she is doing her utmost to continue improving. I believe she has what it takes to become a much stronger player and I definitely think she will be one of the top local players, breaking new ground

in female waterpolo. She will be one of the ambassadors of the sport and a defining example to young girls aspiring to become waterpolo players.”

According to Mr Zammit, waterpolo is an incredible sport for young people.

The fact that it takes place in a different medium – water – offers a constant challenge.

“Female waterpolo obviously offers the same advantages to girls as boys, but the benefits in girls are much more,” Mr Zammit claims, “Girls gain confidence in themselves. I have seen shy and introverted girls excel, I have seen extroverted girls excel. It seems to push all girls in the right way to become life-long achievers.”

CHiLD MARCH 2018 35

BABY STOP CRYING? f your baby is constantly crying, one of the possible reasons it that he or she might have colic. Colic is fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or obstruction in the intestines and is suffered especially in early infancy.

It is a common condition and carries on until the baby is about three to four months old.

Even though the baby may scream for all they are worth, colic is not dangerous or harmful. But how can you be sure that your baby has colic?

I

Here are some tips to know whether the cause might be colic: • If your baby starts crying suddenly, the cry is high pitched and nothing you do seems to help; • The crying begins at the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening and can last for minutes or hours; • Your baby might draw their legs up when they cry and their tummy might look swollen; • Your baby might clench their hands and your baby’s face might flush; • The crying often winds down when your baby is exhausted or when they have passed wind or a stool.

Babies with colic are not ill and there are always things you can do for them, such as: • Buy special teats designed to prevent air from getting into the feed; • Hold your baby in an upright position to help any wind to pass; • Make sure that the hole in the teat is not too large.

Things not to do are to: • Feed your baby too quickly; • Give your baby herbal treatment or soya based formulas before checking with your doctor.

Remember that your baby should be over colic by the time he is four or five months old. Meanwhile, try not to worry as long as your baby eats well and normally gains weight.

Treatments are also available at the pharmacy. One of these is Infacol, which contains the active ingredient Simeticone and is given to babies to relieve griping pain, infant colic or wind due to trapped air. It is an anti-flatulent which means that it helps bring up wind or air trapped in the tummy. It can be given from birth onwards.

For more information, refer to the full summary of product characteristics or visit www.actavis.com.mt.

This is a paid advert

TEENAGERS

OVERCOMING LOW SELF-ESTEEM Teenagers often suffer from low self-esteem but parents may not realise their children do. Stephanie Fsadni learns to recognise the signs and finds how parents can help them out. oes your teen always seem negative?

Is he or she never satisfied of school results? Does he or she ever mention friends? These could all be tell-tale signs that your child has low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem is a common issue among teenagers. There could be multiple causes – from receiving negative comments to verbal abuse, to bullying, being excluded from activities with family or friends to developing a negative body image. Basically, anything in which the person is made to feel they are not good enough can lead to low self-esteem, says counselling psychologist Stephanie Borg Bartolo.

A person with low self-esteem does not necessarily display particular behaviours.

“It’s not always the same; reserved and shy people are often thought to have low self-esteem but this is not always the case. I have seen people who are big extroverts but deep down have a very low self-esteem,” claims Dr Borg Bartolo.

“They may never be happy with what they have achieved, feel like a failure, are irritable and lay the blame on themselves. They may refuse to attend school or bully other children.

Most commonly, they constantly focus on what they can’t do rather than on what they can do. Now, if caregivers display the same kind of behaviour, it’s easy to see how their offspring might develop this type of thinking.”

Although recent research shows that selfconfidence may be linked to a genetic predisposition, Dr Borg Bartolo believes that self-esteem is nurtured.

“The way people in our surroundings respond to us mostly affects our self-esteem.”

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38 CHiLD MARCH 2018

“They may never be happy with what they have achieved, feel like a failure, are irritable and put the blame on themselves”

This might be also the case when children form part of families with rigid belief systems.

“Making children feel like they are constantly ‘sinning’ or ‘hurting Jesus’ (or any other god) can cause children to feel like they are causing pain and internalise that they are a bad person,” Dr Borg Bartolo points out.

Low self-esteem can affect a child on various levels. It’s not simply a matter of not going out, refusing to meet friends, not getting involved in activities or missing out on great opportunities – it goes much deeper than that.

“Low self-esteem can lead to constantly feeling like you are not good enough, as a mother, father, sister, child and student. This can lead to depression and

TEENAGERS

CHiLD MARCH 2018 39

TEENAGERS

anxiety. In relationships, low self-esteem can manifest itself in “It does not really happen without any intervention. If it constant fear that the partner will leave them because they does, it would not really have been low self-esteem to begin will think ‘I’m not good enough for them’.” with but rather low mood. If the conditions remain the same, Low self-esteem can also affect one’s performance at self-esteem only tends to get worse by time. school.

“When they grow up, they may find an area they are good “There is a lot of pressure, especially in Malta to in, experience positive feedback and change but, again, this perform; there is a very big emphasis on academic is because they found a different experience. achievement and not enough on well-being,” says “Usually anxieties like ‘not being good Dr Borg Bartolo. enough’ tend to generalise over “If a child does not somehow fit into that time, so it may start with school, “Low system, they feel different, left out, not then to friends, then ‘I’m not self-esteem can good enough. This is then reinforced good at anything I do’. This is lead to constantly when their grades drop. The pressure is what we want to avoid as this then increased.” can lead to depression.” feeling like you are not She refers to Maslow’s hierarchy of good enough, as a WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? needs. mother, father, sister, Parents should look out for “On a basic level, if a child is not feelchronic negative statements ing well in themselves, how can they poschild and student. rather than positive ones. Some sibly focus on what the maths teacher is This can lead to signs would be not mentioning saying? The basic needs have to be met depression and any friends, never talking about before they can focus on other things, yet their strengths or always being unthe expectations remain. Having said this, anxiety” happy with their achievements. Young there are teenagers who are particularly good at children may destroy pictures they would compartmentalising and can somehow cope, but I have drawn, saying “it’s not good enough, it’s would not say this is the norm. It also depends on the not nice and it’s ugly”. severity of the problem and other factors that may be at play.”

Dr Borg Bartolo says that talking and listening to them is the Social media may be exacerbating the problems in some biggest support you can offer. Do not always offer advice unaspects, while helping in others, Dr Borg Bartolo adds. less they ask you for it and perhaps you could share a She gives the example of a teenager who finds it really similar experience you had while growing up. It’s important to difficult to make friends, especially face to face due to be mindful of “not being critical for the sake of being critical”. anxiety and low body image, but who may feel more at ease “Words hurt and cannot be taken back once said. Make talking online. time for the two/three of you to just ‘check in’ and see how “They feel protected by the barrier of the screen, they feel they are doing,” she says. they have time to think about how to answer and can delete If parents offer their child the space to listen, focus on their something if they feel it’s inappropriate before they send it. strengths, offer them different options to find something they There are also many support groups of people their age that excel at and, after a few months, there is no change, Dr Borg usually helps them feel less alone.”

Bartolo suggests speaking to a professional.

However, social media such as Facebook and Instagram, But how would a psychologist help them out? where people post photos or statements and people react to It depends on the age of the child and the issue at them, can make things worse. hand. Some children need more work on cognitive “Let’s say someone with low self-esteem posts a photo, and distortions, in which case a psychologist would use cognitive after a day only get three 'likes'. To that person that will act as behavioural therapy. an affirmation that ‘people don’t like me’, ‘I have no friends’, In other cases, children need some nurturance first as there ‘No one actually sees what I post, I’m invisible’. would have been a lot of experiences in children that led to If they do, it can temporarily boost their self-esteem. The low self-esteem and “those wounds need to be healed first”. danger is that there is no consistency and the self-esteem beIn that case, a different approach is used. Parents are comes dependent on others’ opinions of the person. encouraged to meet the psychologist before to discuss their “There is also cyberbullying that takes place, which child’s circumstances and discuss the best approach that means that for some children, the bullying never stops. Comwould suit them. paring to their peers is also much easier, 94 likes versus 3 likes Usually, the focus is on developing an internal sense of for example. security and a self-esteem that is not controlled by other Low self-esteem is not something one grows out of, accordpeople’s perceptions of them. ing to Dr Borg Bartolo.

40 CHiLD MARCH 2018

PROMO

AN ADDICTIVE CARD GAME Does it ever seem to you that the tablet is an extension of your daughter’s hand?

Does your son ask for your phone to play games every other minute?

A simple card game by Merlin Publishers might help pluck the screens off your children’s hands.

Il-logħba tal-Lupu is a matching game which ties in to Merlin’s bestselling Lupu Lupettu Kull Kulur, the first book in the Lupu Lupettu series. It uses the card game format to reinforce the days of the week and colours for children aged four and up.

The game is easy to play and addictive, and is a clever way of helping children follow rules, sharpen their memory skills and face competition. Furthermore, it is the perfect excuse to encourage children to shout out loud the colours and days of the week, in Maltese during play.

Il-logħba tal-Lupu is a good tool to teach patience and good sportsmanship, motor and listening skills and concentration. Shuffling and dealing cards aides manual dexterity and the development of fine motor skills. As their tiny hands hold playing cards, they build dexterity, agility and eye-hand coordination.

The game comes in a small pack and simply requires a flat surface, which means it can easily be played anywhere. Moreover, it provides a great opportunity for interaction between all family members, as it can be played with a minimum of two players and a maximum of six.

Il-logħba tal-Lupu not only offers a break from screen time but gives young children the possibility to compete against their parents… and win!

Il-logħba tal-Lupu is available for sale in all leading bookshops or directly from merlinpublishers.com.

RECIPES PHOTOS BY IVAN MUSCAT

It’s not only about figolli Easter is round the corner and if you didn’t have time to bake figolli or your children simply don’t like them, here are some alternative recipes, courtesy of Juanita Muscat, which you can easily prepare for tomorrow and all year round! Your children can also give a helping hand, as Juanita’s children – Nikolai, 12, and Gabriela, 8 – did.

CHOCOLATE CHUNK OAT COOKIES These cookies are one of my children’s favourites both for breakfast or as a snack. They are ideal if accompanied by a glass of fresh milk or a fresh fruit smoothie. One might also add dark chocolate chunks, coloured chocolate buttons or any variety of dried fruit to the recipe. This mixture yields 30-40 pieces, depending on the size of the cookies.

Ingredients • 250g unsalted butter • ½ cup granulated sugar • ½ cup packed light brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 3 cups plain flour • 1.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tsp baking powder • ½ tsp salt • 3 cups rolled oats • 150g white chocolate (cut into chunks) • 150g milk chocolate (cut into chunks)

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Directions Preheat oven to 200°C and line four baking trays with oven paper.

Mix the butter, sugars and vanilla in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about two minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time until combined.

Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

Gradually stir into the butter mixture and mix until combined.

Remove from the electric mixer and divide the mixture into two equal parts.

Fold the white chocolate chunks into half of the mixture and the milk chocolate chunks in the other half using a wooden spoon.

Drop heaped tablespoons of batter on the baking trays, spaced about 4cm apart. Shape the batter into a ball with your hands and flatten slightly. Bake the cookies until golden for 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes before removing.

Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to three days or frozen for up to three months.

RECIPES

CHiLD MARCH 2018 43

RECIPES

EASTER MARBLED CUPCAKES These cupcakes are delicious on any occasion, both decorated or plain. You can serve them tomorrow for teatime but they are one of the hottest items for birthday celebrations at school. This mixture yields around 18 cupcakes.

Ingredients for cupcakes • 150g unsalted soft butter • 150g granulated sugar • 3 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract 225 self-raising flour • ½ cup milk + 1 tbsp white vinegar Ingredients for frosting • 200g unsalted butter (room temperature) • 400g icing sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract or butterscotch flavouring • 1-2 tbsp hot water To decorate • Dried apple chips, perlini, miniature Easter eggs Directions Preheat the oven to 180°C and line two tins with paper cases.

Mix the milk and vinegar in a jug and set aside. The milk will start curdling.

Mix the butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about two minutes.

Sift the flour into a bowl.

Crack the eggs into the milk jug and beat slightly with a fork.

Gradually stir the flour and wet ingredients into the butter mixture, a third at a time. Start with the wet ingredients, beating on medium speed. Add a third of the flour and mix until combined. Before adding the last third of the flour, stop the mixer and scrape the mixture from the bowl to make sure that no lumps remain at the bottom. Mix until combined.

Divide the mixture into three bowls and splash some food colouring in each of them. Do not mix the colour in completely if you want the marble effect.

44 CHiLD MARCH 2018

Pour the mixture into the paper cases until half full as the cupcakes will rise double the size while cooking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the cupcakes. Do not overbake so that the cupcakes will stay soft and moist.

For the frosting: beat all the ingredients besides the hot water together in an electric mixer. Start on low speed and increase gradually to maximum speed for about 10 minutes until the frosting becomes white and creamy. If the frosting is too hard, add the hot water gradually.

Allow the cupcakes to cool for about 10 minutes and decorate with the frosting. Frosting can be piped using a

piping bag or spread on the cupcake using a tablespoon.

Decorate with dried apple chips and any kind of egg-shaped sweets (eg.

Chocolate-coated nuts/raisins, miniature Easter eggs, perlini).

Cupcakes can be stored in airtight containers in a refrigerator up to five days or frozen (plain, not decorated) for up to three months.

Tip for busy mummies: I normally bake double this batch and freeze half the cupcakes. They defrost in less than an hour and come in very handy for tea parties, kids’ play dates or unplanned sleepovers.

RECIPES

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND FOREST FRUIT DESSERT CUPS These cups are easy to prepare and make for an ideal fresh dessert both after lunch or dinner during the warm spring and summer seasons. Frozen fruit may be substituted by fresh fruit when available.

Ingredients • 400ml whipping cream • 100g white chocolate +30g for grating • 8 chocolate chunk oat cookies (recipe given) • 400g frozen forest fruit Directions Prepare four glasses or transparent plastic cups.

Melt the white chocolate in a microwave oven and put aside to cool slightly.

Whip the cream according to the instructions on the packaging.

Once the cream has firm peaks, pour in the cooled chocolate with the beater still running.

Mix for one to two minutes until the chocolate blends into the cream.

Put one tablespoon of cream at the bottom of each glass/cup.

Top with one tablespoon of forest fruit.

Crumble one cookie on top of it and repeat these three layers – cream, forest fruits, crumbled cookie.

Top with a last tablespoon of cream and finish off with forest fruit.

Shave some white chocolate on top of the fruit and garnish with a chunk of white chocolate.

Refrigerate for four to six hours before serving.

Desert cups may be stored in the fridge for up to three days.

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PRODUCTS & SERVICES

SHOP WINDOW Nutritious infant cereal Cerelac Infant Cereals provide the essential nutrients the infant needs to support healthy growth and development. These cereals provide infants who have small stomach capacity with nutrient-dense foods, which are enriched with key vitamins and minerals and are specially selected to reduce the risk of micro-nutrient deficiencies and thus promote healthy growth and development.

Pampering your skin Stressful lifestyles can leave your skin in need of some serious pampering.

The Happy Naturals Spa Argan Oil range encompasses super moisturising, nourishing argan oil for the ultimate in spa therapy.

Argan oil is widely recognised for its skincare benefits – it is exceptionally rich in vitamin E and omega essential fatty acids and therefore well known for its anti-ageing, moisturising and anti-oxidant properties. The Happy Naturals Sea Mineral range combines essential oils with mineral-rich, energising Dead Sea salts to rejuvenate your skin and leave you feeling revitalised.

The Happy Naturals ranges are exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd, tel: 2144 6205/6.

Toiletries for mum and baby Mothercare has used its specialist knowledge and know-how to launch All We Know, a range of baby toiletries, wipes and cotton wool. All the ingredients used in the baby toiletries are fully dermatologically tested to ensure they are kind and gentle to their skin. Each of the toiletry formulations contains natural extracts of chamomile and olive oil. Chamomile, known for its soothing qualities, is perfect for a newborn and has protecting and antibacterial properties. Olive oil is nature’s ultimate moisturiser and is renowned for its skin moisturising and protection properties.

The toiletries have also been tested by Mothercare’s panel of independent midwives, parents and babies. With over 120 years of experience, the midwives used and tested these toiletries and their thoughts and observations were recorded. When a product underperformed, the

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A natural and organic skincare range for mother and child Mommy Care specialises in the development and production of natural and safe skincare products for expecting mothers, babies and children. This line of maternity products can be used to prevent stretch marks and help the body retain its shape after pregnancy. The baby and kids products are especially suitable for the most delicate and sensitive skin. Mommycare, a natural and organic range of products, does not use parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, SLS or any other controversial ingredient and it is its mission to keep developing high-quality, safe skincare products that support mothers who are looking to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their children.

For more information and samples, contact Mommycare’s exclusive distributors, Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd, tel: 2144 6205/6.

Sensitive baby wipes Thanks to their pure formula with chamomile and arnica extract, the new Babylino Sensitive wipes, lightly scented, cleanse and care for the baby’s sensitive skin while helping to protect against irritations and rashes.

Each pack comes with a practical re-closable lid for better product preservation and a pleasant baby fragrance.

For trade enquires, contact Pemix Distributors Ltd on 2143 7926 or visit www.facebook.com/Babylino.Malta/www.parentchildclub.com.

company amended the formulation and re-tested to create the best balance and offering. As well as seeking professional opinion to test the range, Mothercare also asked the opinion of parents.

The toiletries were tested on a panel of 450 people, including 150 newborn babies, to make sure the claim ‘suitable from birth’ is supported.

The unique All We Know bottle has been specifically engineered to fit snugly in the hand during use and the contemporary and distinctive design provides something stylish for any bathroom.

The 300ml bottled range comprises a baby bubble bath, baby shampoo, baby lotion, baby oil and baby body wash. Other products in the range are baby nappy cream, fragrance-free baby wipes and a variety of cotton buds and cotton wool.

Also available is the All We Know Bath Case, which makes a perfect gift for a new mother and comes with a full-size baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby bubble bath, baby nappy cream and mild baby soap.

For more information, visit facebook.com/mothercaremalta or any Mothercare outlet in Sliema, Valletta, Birkirkara, Fgura and Gozo.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES Meeting your baby’s needs

Marks & Spencer lowers prices

With 30 years of clinical experience in baby feeding, Philips Avent has been designing and manufacturing products to meet your baby’s needs. These products are inspired by nature and have been developed through extensive research and clinical trials and, even more importantly, by listening to mothers. These products help to support the choices mothers make, whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding or combining the two. Then as your baby grows, the ranges’ interchangeable design features mean the products can be adapted to meet your baby’s developing needs. Philips Avent offers a full range of baby products from bottles, cups, soothers, electric and manual pumps, breast pads, monitors and much more.

Philips Avent is exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd, tel: 2144 6205/6.

Providing essential nutrients Young toddlers have many interests and their appetite may also fluctuate accordingly. Several surveys conducted in Europe have also demonstrated that the nutritional status of many toddlers is less than satisfactory.

In the short term, nutrient deficiencies can result in impaired growth and sub-optimal cognitive development affecting brain development and influencing learning ability and behaviour patterns later in life.

In the long term, then there is increasing scientific evidence to suggest that nutrition during the early formative years has a significant influence on the level of disease risk in adult life. These nutritional shortcomings in a young child’s diet can be corrected by giving Bebelac 3, a nutritionally-balanced growing up milk.

Bebelac 3 helps to provide your toddler with the goodness he/she needs at this important stage of development.

For trade enquires, contact Pemix Distributors Ltd on 2143 7926, www.parentchildclub.com.

Marks & Spencer has announced that is has lowered prices in Malta by a substantial amount across its womenswear, menswear, lingerie, kidswear and beauty collections. With the ‘New prices you’ll love’ campaign, Maltese customers will be able to purchase Marks & Spencer’s quality products at new prices from all Marks & Spencer stores in Sliema and Valletta.

Luke Zahra, the group commercial manager, said: “This season we’ve invested into our prices to make us more competitive for our customers in Malta. By introducing new prices across all our clothing products, our Maltese customers will be able to take a fresh look at our style – with the quality you know, now with lower prices you’ll love.”

Catering for your pregnancy Women’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and breastfeeding. So you might want to start making the right nutritional choices before you become pregnant as this is important for your baby’s health.

One of those choices should be to start taking a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid before you are pregnant. Folic acid is a naturally-occurring vitamin which your body needs.

If a woman does not get enough folic acid, her baby has a higher risk of developing a type of birth defect called neural tube defect (NTD).

While folic acid can be found in some of the foods you eat, most international guidelines recommend that women should take a folic acid

Fostering service The Fostering Service at Aġenzija Appoġġ offers a warm family experience to children who, for various reasons, cannot live with their biological families. The children may need foster carers for many reasons, including parents’ death, crisis in the family, lack of parenting skills, sickness, parents’ vices, guardians’ incarcerations, poverty, inadequate accommodation and various forms of child abuse including negligence, physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

The Fostering Services’ goal is for the child to return to their biological parents should the situation prove to be in the child’s best interest.

People interested in fostering will be guided by social workers throughout the process. After six training sessions lasting three hours each,

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an assessment is carried out by social workers from the fostering team to evaluate the applicants and the skills needed to become a foster carer. The social worker then issues a report to the Fostering Board, which ultimately decides whether or not the application can be approved.

The benefits of fostering are infinite – children are given the opportunity to live in a family environment where they feel loved, safe and experience stability. Thanks to fostering, children are also given ample opportunities to develop their capabilities, skills and characters in order to reach their full potential.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to call the fostering team on 2295 9000 or visit the Facebook page Fostering Service – Malta.

supplement at least 12 weeks before conception, throughout pregnancy, and for four to six weeks after delivery or as long as breastfeeding continues.

Starting a supplement before you get pregnant prepares your body for your future pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s need for a number of essential nutrients increases, for instance, extra iron is required to help maintain a healthy placenta.

Nestlé Materna helps provide the vitamins and minerals you need during all stages of your pregnancy. After pregnancy, Nestlé Materna provides both calcium and vitamin D to help meet the nutritional needs while breastfeeding.

Available in pharmacies.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Making bath time fun 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 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: 2144 6205/6.

Ensuring dryness for your baby Is your baby starting to wriggle around and to crawl away during nappy change? Do you sometimes find taped nappies hard to apply? Then say goodbye to fussy changing time with Pampers Baby-Dry Pants.

Pampers Baby-Dry Pants are easy to pull on and provide up to 12 hours of dryness. Their all-round fit adapts to your baby’s movements to provide comfort and fit. The revolutionary three absorbing channels help distribute wetness evenly for less wet bulk and lock it away, keeping your baby dry.

Make changing time quick and easy with Pampers Baby-Dry Pants, wherever your baby is crawling.

Distributed by VJ Salomone Marketing, tel. 8007 2387.

Adorable babywear

McDonald’s is giving a lucky child the opportunity of a lifetime to escort a football star on to the pitch at the FIFA World Cup 2018 Final in Moscow in July.

The McDonald’s Player Escort Programme is open to all children aged between six and 10 and is part of McDonald’s initiative to improve children’s well-being through sport.

The prize consists of transfers, accommodation, family activities and two tickets for a selected 2018 FIFA World Cup match.

Children must take part in one of the football festivals in March and April organised by the Malta Football Association (MFA) and McDonald’s Football Plus for Kids.

Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from www.mcdonalds.com.mt/player-escort or collected from a McDonald’s restaurant and sent to Premier Restaurants Malta Ltd, Nineteen Twenty Three, Valletta Road, Marsa, MRS 3000 by April 30.

A random draw will determine the 61 participants of the final tournament on Saturday, May 12, when a winner will be selected by random draw to redeem the prize. The 60 runners-up will take part in the locally-held UEFA Nation’s League matches.

“There really is no better place to experience a big game than at the stadium. Now imagine the thrill of standing beside a football star, in the FIFA World Cup final match before turning 11 years old. This is a magnificent, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that the Player Escort Programme offers to all Maltese children,” said Paul Dragan, general manager of Premier Restaurants Malta.

McDonald’s has been a major sponsor of the World Cup for many years and the Player Escort Programme is a highlight of its campaign. Almost 1,500 children accompanied their idols on to the pitch at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

DISCOUNT COUPON

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From their first pair of baby booties to newborn baby grows and sleep suits, Next has beautifullydesigned newborn’s clothing collections this season. Pieces in monochrome, stripes and plain make up the range. The unisex baby clothing in neutral colours for your baby’s first wardrobe also offers a choice of great newborn gifts.

McDonald’s Player Escort Programme for FIFA World Cup

10% off at early learning centre This coupon is to be redeemed by April 14, 2018.

It is not valid with any other offer.

Online coupon code: easter18 Kindly present this voucher to the cashier prior to payment. E-mail: info@elctoysmalta.com Web: www.elctoysmalta.com

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