Child (November 2018)

The magazine for parents

CHiLD ISSUE 62, November 2018

VET SUBJECTS ASSESSMENTS OVERCOMING LONELINESS THEATRE MAGIC

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS Including recipes, crafts and places to visit this festive season

CHiLD ISSUE 62 November 24, 2018

Making memories

Contents Features 5 Festivities: What children want 8 Education: VET subjects 12 Education: New assessment system 16 Arts: ŻiguŻajg festival 22 Teenagers: Dealing with loneliness 32 Technology: Smart device for children with DLD 37 Theatre: The magic of panto 43 Recipes: Christmas-inspired treats

Regulars 30 Top tips: Christmas crafts 40 Out and about: Christmas markets 48 Shop window: The best of goods 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 Jessica Arena, Sandy Calleja Portelli, Jo Caruana, Speechie project team Photographers Matthew Mirabelli, Chris Sant Fournier, Darrin Zammit Lupi Design Krista Bugeja Advertising Sales Amanda Gauci (tel: 2276 4332; e-mail: amanda.gauci@timesofmalta.com).

Like most children, I used to (and still do) love Christmas. It was the glitzy highlight of the year, gift-wrapped in school parties, treats, touring cribs, visiting my grandmas (who would obviously add to the magic with some more gifts) and watching feel-good Disney films on TV with my family. Perhaps the latter is the most cherished memory of all and – much like the brandy that keeps the Christmas cake ‘alive’ – I still try to revive that tradition come end December.

As you grow older you realise that making memories is much more precious than any flashy gift you might receive.

Besides, memories last longer.

This issue of Child delves into the importance of hitting the pause button on our hectic lives and dedicating quality time to our families. It could just mean doing crafts at home with your kids, baking together in the kitchen or visiting one of the various Christmas markets setting up shop around the islands.

One could also have a good laugh together and introduce children to the rollicking magic of panto.

We should especially do our utmost to not leave our loved ones feeling lonely, because that is one of the most unpleasant feelings in the world. Teenage children might especially feel lonely if they feel misunderstood by their family or left out by their peers. It might be just a phase but loneliness can be damaging in the long run. This issue thus advises parents and guardians on the possible telltale signs that their children are not fine.

Christmas issues aside, this edition of Child also focuses on a number of educational matters. These include the introduction of VET subjects at secondary school level, which is giving students a wider choice of option subjects in Year 9 and increasing their chances of employability.

Another major change in the education system this year has been the scrapping of the half-yearly exams and the introduction of continuous assessments at State primary school level.

However, this simple statement does not give the whole picture, as many other small changes are taking place concurrently.

Child also takes a look at an interesting smart device that is being developed to help children with development language disorder (DLD), a condition that affects about seven per cent of the population.

As always, I wish you a pleasant read and hope your Christmas will be filled with joy, health and lots of loving memories.

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

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 3

FESTIvITIES

Christmas

All they really want for

hen you ask children what they want for Christmas, you can almost be sure of the answer. The latest must-have toy, complete with numerous add-ons, is expected under the tree come Christmas morning. While parents understand the hidden cost of these desires, they continue to spend, making sure the little ones have the perfect Christmas. But what children desire most at this time of year often goes unnoticed.

W

NO STRESS Stress around money is one of the reasons behind separations and Christmas debt can really compound the problem. So long as childhood Christmasses continue to mean mountains of presents, parents will rack up the deficit behind the scenes to fuel the fantasy.

Unfortunately, the stress this brings doesn’t stay hidden. Children pick up on the unspoken strain even if they don’t fully understand the reasons.

They hear the after-dark arguments and the daytime mutterings; they notice the long stares and the silent treatments.

Are battery-operated toys, smartphones and designer sneakers worth family breakdown? Admittedly, the answer is no. Though they don’t know it, children want and need financially stable parents. What then can be done to soothe the demands of presentexpecting offspring?

Explain to your children that you are doing things differently this year. Tell them why, using optimistic language,

without blame, taking into consideration their age and understanding. A good rule for present-buying is the rhyme, “something they want, something they need; something to wear, something to read”. The item they “want” can be the big present, but should still be within your budget, if possible.

The other gifts should be directed by you and incorporate things they will need throughout the year that you were going to buy anyway. That might be a course of swimming lessons (need), a new winter coat in their favourite colour (wear) and a monthly subscription to a children’s magazine around one of their interests or hobbies (read).

FAMILY HARMONY Now spending is under control, think of ways in which you can enjoy Christmas as a family. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children this holiday season is your happiness, coupled with a harmonious relationship with your spouse or partner. Children feel secure when they see their parents getting along. If you are married or in a long-term relationship with their other parent, make time to show affection in front of your children.

Hugging, hand-holding and laughing together is just fine. If you are no longer in a relationship with the other parent, aim to show respect differently.

Allow your children to be with their parent for some of the holidays if

CHiLD NOvEMBER 2018 5

FESTIvITIES practical and show them you are happy to see them spend time in the other’s care. Speak respectfully and sort out any disagreements another time away from your children. Make a longdistance phone call if that is what is needed instead and talk politely to their parent before passing the phone over to your children. Aim to create as much harmony as possible in any family situation you find yourself in. Your children need this more than gadgets.

REST How often do you fail to spend Christmas in your own home, resting? visiting a sprawling array of relatives over Christmas week can lead families towards stress and burnout. Likewise, if you are not visiting, but instead having a never-ending carousel of guests to your home, this too can feel overwhelming. Do your children enjoy this?

Decide this year how you want to spend Christmas with your immediate family and if that means staying home,

without additional guests, so be it.

Christmas should be a season of rest: we all need fallow time. Allow your children (and yourself) to spend much of the holidays in pyjamas. Let go of the rules and the guests and rest.

TIME You might believe love is what children need most, yet love comes in a guise many fail to recognise. Time equals love and it’s free. You don’t need to go to the store, swipe the plastic or take out an overdraft to give it. This Christmas, be with your children. Turn off the television, switch off your phone and snuggle under a blanket. Tell stories and jokes or listen to their worries and concerns.

Bake together in the kitchen. Why not find old photographs of Christmasses past when your children were smaller and talk to them about that time in your lives? Show them childhood pictures of yourself as you laugh at your outlandish seasonal jumper and late-1980s haircut.

Make spending time with your children a priority.

Take back control this Christmas.

Limit your debt, making your priority family harmony, rest, time and love.

And do not forget to start inventing those Christmas traditions. With luck, your children will be sharing them with their own families one day soon.

TRADITIONS Looking back, adults rarely remember the gifts received each Christmas as children but they do remember family traditions. These are things that can be created solely by your family and have a special meaning just for you. It might start a few days before Christmas when you start decorating your home. A Christmas Eve tradition of singing together or an old-fashioned board game on Christmas afternoon will hold in your children’s memories far longer than toys. Inexpensive joke presents such as who can gift the most garish socks can lead to beautiful recollections many years later. No one outside of your home needs to know of these traditions. It’s about your family and you.

6 CHiLD NOvEMBER 2018

EdUCATIOn

A more hands-on approach VET subjects are giving students more study options and the chance to put theory into practice. Stephanie Fsadni looks at how one of the first vocational subjects introduced at secondary school level has increasingly generated interest among students. tatistics released last week by the European Statistics Office (Eurostat) revealed that just over a quarter of all students aged between 14 and 16 are opting for a vocational subject. This was the fourth-lowest rate in the EU and significantly below the EU average, where almost half of the students were following vocational paths.

The only positive news is that these statistics were based on 2016 surveys and since then, there has been a concerted effort on a national level to encourage students to take up vocational educational and training (VET).

As part of the My Journey: Achieving Through Alternative Paths project, which is one of the main targets of the Framework for the Education Strategy for Malta 2014-2014, a number of vocational subjects have been introduced at secondary schools, including hospitality, hairdressing and

S

8 CHiLd nOVEMBER 2018

beauty, health and social care, engineering technology, construction and textiles and fashion.

Alongside compulsory core subjects, My Journey allows secondary school students to blend relevant and quality academic, applied and vocational subjects, in a personalised and inclusive learning environment, with the aim of helping them reach their full potential.

Among the first VET subjects introduced at secondary schools is agribusiness, which was first offered at Maria Regina College Secondary Mosta (Żokrija), in September 2014. Since then, it’s been offered as an optional subject in Year 9 (Form 3) at the Gozo College Secondary School, Victoria, the Archbishop’s Seminary at Tal-Virtù and this year was introduced at St Ignatius College Secondary School, Qormi (Ħandaq).

EdUCATIOn

“Students are not just observers but are learning by doing”

There has been a steady increase in the take-up of this subject over the years. Figures show that from the seven students who chose the subject in the 2014-2015 scholastic year (when it was only offered in one school), 88 students have this year opted for agribusiness in Year 9.

As from September 2019, State school students from other colleges can take up the subject by transferring themselves to a college where the subject is available. discussions to introduce the subject in other colleges are also taking place.

But why such interest in this subject?

“The agribusiness industry is predominantly based on the production of food and with the increase in population, we ought to have a better farming community,” says dirk Muscat, education officer of agribusiness.

“The veterinary, ornamental plants and landscaping sectors are also part of the agribusiness industry. Furthermore, agribusiness is presented as a practice that safeguards the environment, this being vital for the survival of all living creatures, man included.”

The subject consists of three study units − one unit per year − covering the following topics: plant and soil science; aquatic and land-based production; and rabbit care and genetics.

These units tackle various contemporary concerns such as

sustainability, which is entwined in several parts of the syllabus as in irrigation, use of fertilisers, plant protection methods and manure management.

Like in other VET subjects, the focus is on taking on a more hands-on approach to learning.

“Theory is not excluded from what we offer but we try to integrate it as much as possible in practical activities. Hence the majority of the lessons are held in fields, greenhouses, science labs, fish rooms, rabbitries, etc,” Mr Muscat points out.

“Within the mentioned areas, students are not just observers but are learning by doing and that may mean propagation of a plant, taking care of a crop, setting up and taking care of an aquarium, caring for and breeding of rabbits and many more activities.”

Schools offering agribusiness thus require a substantial amount of land in the form of a field for crops and a farm for animals, so only schools having this physical resource may currently host the subject.

“There have been major works in these sites to provide a safe environment for students,” says Mr Muscat.

“Works are actually being done everywhere VET subjects are offered, as part of the MyJourney project, which is basically every State school in Malta and Gozo. The aim is to improve labs and make them more apt for the next decade.”

CHiLd nOVEMBER 2018 9

EdUCATIOn

VOCATIONAL SKILLS WEEK

Like other VET subjects, agribusiness is certified by Matsec and hence leads to what is commonly known as an O’level.

One can then further their studies in the sector, such as at Mcast which offers a number of related diplomas and BSCs. “The response of students taking agribusiness as an option is promising and the numbers don’t just include children of the farming community. With Matsec giving the parity of esteem to VET subjects, it is now possible for students to take on a non-conventional subject which allows them to be in contact with nature and do something which is highly hands-on,” remarks Mr Muscat.

“We had students who were skiving but after the introduction of the subject, they were even attending school on weekends and holidays, since they finally enjoyed it and felt included in the curriculum.

“This does not mean that the subject is the solution to all problems but it is a good indicator that our students need to stay in touch with nature and be allowed to experience what happens in the world of work.”

The third European Vocational Skills Week ran from november 5 to 9. Key events and activities took place in Vienna, organised in close cooperation with the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Vocational and educational training tends to be the ‘Cinderella’ area (or neglected area) of education, according to the organisers.

“It’s a well-established concept in Austria but, even here, vocational and educational training tends to be the Cinderella area of education,” said norbert Schöbel, chair of the organising taskforce, which also included many services from the director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (dG EMPL), and two agencies − the European Centre for the development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) and the European Training Foundation.

The Vocational Skills Week – which included workshops, meetings and network opportunities in Vienna as well as many parallel activities and events in over 45 countries – aimed to brush up that image, and to make this form of education a first choice for those interested, “not an alley of last hope”.

Elaine Pavia, head of services at Dar Merħa Bik, represented Malta in Vienna. The local ambassador took part in various activities and is meant to spread the knowledge acquired through various media platforms.

Recently, she told the Times of Malta that there was still stigma associated with the learning of vocational subjects, which could be preventing students from discovering their real talents. Ms Pavia pointed fingers at those parents and guardians who may fail to realise that attending certain vocational colleges could be just as fruitful as attending university.

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

Why should baby products preferably contain a hypoallergenic formula?

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 december. The winner will be announced in the next issue of Child. The winner of the last issue is Rita Sammut.

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.

10 CHiLd nOVEMBER 2018

EDUCATION

All change on the exam front PHOTOS: CHRIS SANT FOURNIER AND MATTHEW MIRABELLI

As from this scholastic year, half-yearly exams will be scrapped in all State primary schools and will be replaced by continuous assessments.

This is, however, only one of the many changes that are set to be implemented, as Sandy Calleja Portelli finds out.

12 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

EDUCATION

ur education system has undergone a series of innovations and changes over recent years, from the introduction of co-ed State secondary schooling to the introduction of vocational subjects at secondary education certificate (SEC) level.

This scholastic year heralds what may be the most fundamental change yet as continuous assessment is introduced in all State schools and some Church and independent schools. Students’ grades will no longer depend solely on their performance during exam periods but on a combination of work carried out during the year and a final annual exam session.

As these changes are implemented, the Department of Education has embarked on an information campaign which will include parent seminars and meetings to be held at various schools and colleges.

In this context three key terms are likely to be widely used and it is worth defining them from the start.

Formative assessment happens in every lesson and includes student/ teacher interaction, homework, classwork, etc. Any marks awarded for this work do not count towards the final mark for that subject. Summative assessments take place at the end of a period of learning (e.g. a topic, term or school year) and, to date, in Malta they have usually been administered through exams and tests. Finally, continuous assessment takes place throughout the school year and while students will also be awarded with a grade, the work required can vary and may include projects, quizzes, tests and assignments.

Continuous assessment is gaining popularity across the globe and is supported by such organisations as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In a critical review published in 2017, Unesco concluded that continuous

O

“Continuous assessment is gaining popularity across the globe” assessment improves classroom teaching and learning as students receive regular feedback on their progress.

The report found that continuous assessment results in a shift in the focus of the learning/teaching process and enables students to “engage fully and purposefully in their learning”.

In an earlier report, the OECD concluded that formative assessments help students feel safe to make mistakes and that, ultimately, a combination of both summative and continuous assessment is important.

Exams are stressful and capture only the information a student can produce in a controlled, unnatural environment at a specific point in time. For generations, students have crammed in the run-up to their exams, only to forget most of the information once they receive a ‘pass’, sometimes sooner. For some, the stress proves to be too much and despite being competent students throughout

the year, they do not perform as well in this high-stress environment.

One of the points of discussion in this debate is the level of standardisation in exams like the benchmarks or SEC exams which is lost with continuous assessment. The Unesco report highlights the flexibility that is an inherent part of continuous assessment as it allows teachers to develop a variety of ways by which to measure different aspects of learning. However, the report also argues that a level of standardisation can be achieved in continuous assessment if all students are appraised against a common set of learning outcomes. As an example, this would mean that all students of a language are assessed on how well they can understand instructions at their appropriate level.

Locally, most media attention has been devoted to the fact that midyearly exams are being scrapped but that simple statement does not give the whole picture. Spread over a period of about four years, the new assessment system will work in conjunction with new syllabi which are being implemented in some school CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 13

EDUCATION years as from this year. So, what is changing and when?

Some subjects in the primary years have long been deemed to be core subjects and students used to sit for exams in Maltese, English and maths starting in Year 4 (there is no formal assessment in earlier years). Science was included as a core subject in Years 4, 5 and 6 as from last year and was assessed through a combination of continuous and summative assessment.

The subject will be gradually introduced as a core subject for all students in primary schools. Although the distinction between core and other subjects may only have been obvious in Year 6 when only core subjects were examined, the new assessment system makes the distinction right from Year 4.

Although not all subjects will have the same assessment methods, the assessment criteria for maths provides a good example of the way the system is expected to work.

The annual exam will count for 60 per cent of the student’s grade for the year. The remaining 40 per cent will be achieved through a series of four assessment tasks, each of which will count for 10 per cent of the final mark.

While it is the class teacher who decides which assessment task to administer during the year, teachers have been provided with a list of proposed assessment tasks which include a maths trail, quizzes, tests and ‘show and tell’, among others.

Mid-yearly exams will also be scrapped for all subjects for middle

As from this scholastic year, halfyearly exams will be scrapped in all State primary schools and will be replaced by the continuous assessments. This will see students in Years 4, 5 and 6 undertake a number of assessments designed by the class teacher over the year and a final annual exam for the core subjects in June.

Religion/ethics and social studies will be assessed solely through continuous assessment with no annual exam.

school students (Years 7 and 8, previously Form 1 and 2 respectively) as from this year, while senior schools (Years 9 to 11, previously Form 3 to 5) will administer mid-yearly and annual exams as was done previously. However, as from the next scholastic year, students moving up to Year 9 will be following a new SEC syllabus which will include a combination of schoolbased assessments and the final SEC exams at the end of scholastic year

14 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

2021/2022. The school-based assessments will be set and regulated by the Matsec board with more information to be made available in due course.

Students will be receiving a report at the end of each term for the core subjects and once a year for the remaining subjects. In line with changes to the syllabi, the reporting system at the end of term will not simply give a global mark for each subject but will classify the student’s achievement in a ‘limited list of learning outcomes’ in each subject.

The end of year report will state a single mark from 100 made up of a percentage of continuous assessment and the final exam where applicable.

However, this will be slightly different for Year 6 students this year because the benchmark exams which these students will sit for will not include a continuous assessment component. Therefore, their end of year report will include separate marks for the benchmark exams and the continuous assessment for English, Maltese and maths.

In tandem with the changes to assessment, new ‘Learning Outcomes Programmes’ are also being gradually introduced starting this year in Kinder 2, Year 4 and Year 7. The new learning programmes, which resulted from the National Curriculum Framework of 2012, have a different focus to the existing syllabi as they are aimed at giving schools more control to develop programmes which will help students gain necessary skills.

The outcomes, which are framed as ‘I can’ statements, are intended to help students ‘learn about learning’ which Unesco concluded “engages students fully and purposefully in their learning … [preparing] them to engage productively, meaningfully and happily in all areas of their life and future livelihood”.

As the continuous assessment system is rolled out across schools, the Department of Education plans to organise a number of information meetings for parents and guardians. Information is also available on the department’s website at: https://curriculum.gov.mt and from individual schools.

ARTS

The young children's show Strange Fathers has toured twice in Ireland and has been performed in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenway and Norway before coming to Malta.

THE MAGIC OF CREATING THEATRE FOR CHILDREN As this year’s edition of the ŻiguŻajg International Arts Festival for Children and Young People draws to a close, Jo Caruana reflects on what it means to create theatre crafted especially for the minds and imagination of the little ones.

16 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

ARTS

Children taking part in previous editions of the festival.

can vividly remember my trips to the theatre as a child. My parents are both fans of the arts, so we would go to pantos at the Manoel Theatre and to musicals in London’s West End. Those experiences were extremely formative; they encouraged a love of watching theatre, exploring other forms of artistic expression and even considering a career on the stage.

So it is with that in mind that I am always very excited to watch ŻiguŻajg roll around year after year. As Malta’s arts festival for children and young people, it attracts thousands annually and many shows sell out within minutes of going on sale. The upshot? Countless children are introduced to the wonderful world of the arts – an escape from academics or technology, and the chance to let the magic of storytelling whisk them away to somewhere wonderful for an hour or so.

Of course, behind that magic are the artists creating it. From film-makers to choreographers, guest artists have decided to focus on the very specific niche of crafting pieces for children and young people (with all the challenges that that brings!) and they are passionate about inspiring the next generation.

“We were children once and now we love creating work for children,” says

I

Julien Vasnier, who co-wrote Soleo, one of the shows that made its local debut at this year’s ŻiguŻajg.

“Children make great audience members; they feel the same range of emotions as grown-ups do – joy, sadness, suspense and so on. So our main goal is always to create a touching show that goes straight to the heart of people of all ages. Our work is very emotive, so we are always confident that it is going to encourage those present to feel something, and that’s always important.”

“Theatre becomes a very powerful tool that can transcend generations to pass on a message that sticks” Echoing that, Chantal McCormick, the creative artistic director behind Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre, explains that her company mixes circus with dance, theatre and video art to make a show that’s fun for all ages.

“Our first show for children was called A Fairies Tale and we found that

it was great to create work for young audiences,” Ms McCormick says. “So we made some more – this time a trilogy inspired by children’s fairy tales called Catch Me, The Elves and the Shoemaker and Cinder and the Ellas.”

More recently, though, the team created Strange Feathers – the company’s first show for the ‘early years’, which means the show has to appeal to really young children.

“It’s a whole other demographic and comes with its own challenges but we were so excited about it from the start,” Ms McCormick continues.

“It came about when I was invited to a children’s festival in Delhi as part of Assitej International – a worldwide network for people that make theatre for children or festivals. They offered funding for people to go to India to work on a project called The Next Generation, which was all about making theatre for children all over the world.”

Ms McCormick explains that, as a result of the people she met there, she went on to collaborate with a creative from Iceland, Tina Grétarsdóttir, and they produced Strange Feathers, which has toured twice in Ireland and has been performed in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway and will be performed in Hong Kong in 2019.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 17

ARTS

Julien Vasnier is the creative mind behind Soleo, one of the shows featuring in this year’s edition of ŻiguŻajg.

“Bringing the show to Malta was also a major highlight; it was wonderful to meet Maltese families and to watch how they reacted to the show. It was all very positive," she says.

Both artists explain that creating work for children works a little differently, as there is a lot to keep in mind, especially as it is usually important to include an educational aspect. For instance, shows for little ones need to be aesthetically pleasing to draw them in and often benefit from having different styles incorporated, such as music, puppetry, magic, humour, audience participation and short, sharp scenes.

Of course, parents and children also look for different things when they are at the theatre. Parents will often want the piece to be educational, appropriate and engaging, while the child will be looking for storytelling they can relate to and a piece that excites them.

The result? Theatre becomes a very powerful tool that can transcend generations to pass on a message that sticks. It creates a platform for adults and children to talk about things together. And, beyond all that, theatre helps its audiences to empathise.

“Our work on Soleo is created for children aged five to 12 and they are just wonderful,” Mr Vasnier continues.

“They let themselves go and have an 18 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

“Children make great audience members; they feel the same range of emotions as grown-ups do” absolute blast because they are fearless. The biggest challenge? They are honest! Children are easily the most sincere audience we have and the most demanding; if they’re bored, they will show it and won’t hold back. But we love that too. When the results are positive, it means we have done something right and pleased them.”

As the ŻiguŻajg curtain falls for another year, it is certain that thousands more children have been inspired by the theatre they have seen and excited by the stories they have heard. Who knows where it could take them?

ŻiguŻajg, produced by Fondazzjoni Kreattività, closes tomorrow. For more information about this weekend’s programme of activities and to sign up to be among the first to book next year, visit www.ziguzajg.org.

PROMO

Lil' Ville: a tech-free environment for your children Notwithstanding all the improvements and progresses made, it is no secret that the world we live in today is not the one we grew up in. While one might say that life has become less strenuous, with everything we need at our fingertips, we wanted to do things a bit differently at Lil’ Ville and decided to pause, take a step back and go back to our roots. We’re stripping down technology from day-to-day activities and focusing on guiding children through their early development stages, focusing more on character formation and interpersonal skills.

gallery to a theatre, restaurant and post office, we’ve created a new exciting environment for children to develop their early skills and have tons of fun doing it.

We want to nurture these early stages of a child’s development carefully, and that is why Lil’ Ville was founded as a technology-free childcare centre. Our focus at the school is to accompany our children in developing their personal, social and emotional intelligence without the aid, need or dependency on any technology.

PREPARING KIDS FOR SCHOOL DELIVERING QUALITY Everyone’s priority at Lil’ Ville is centred around creating a nurturing and soothing environment for your child, treating them with the same importance, affection and care that you, as their guardians, would. We want to make sure that we’re guaranteeing your peace of mind when you drop off your children at Lil’ Ville, which is why our fully qualified team of child carers are all be easily contactable, so you’re free to check up on your child at any time.

We also recognise and value the importance that you as a parent need to follow closely your child’s progress, especially when you’re not around, which is why we’ve created the Lil’ Ville Journal. This personalised communication report will be sent every month, detailing all the updates and progress your child would have made in the past weeks, so you’re never missing out on even the smallest achievements.

We want children to be stimulated by the environment they’re in − enticing them to explore and respond to new sensory triggers, whether they’re textures, actions or shapes. That is why we’ve built our childcare centre to resemble a village, with all the different points of interest you would normally find in your usual town − just on a smaller scale! From an art THIS IS A PAID ADVERT

We know that the introduction of your children to school may be daunting and that is why here at Lil’ Ville we work hard to ensure each and every little ‘villager’ gets a head start by ensuring they reach important developmental milestones that help them approach school with confidence. To make sure all children are not only building strong personal characters but, more importantly, are reaching their full potential, the centre focuses on the following areas: • Soft skills • Gross motor skills • World understanding • Introduction to literacy skills • Communication development • Social and emotional development • Development of adaptive skills • Creativity through arts and music • Expressiveness, inclusion and participation.

Lil’ Ville is a new childcare brand with its first childcare village in Triq Sant Anton Abbati, Mosta. The Lil’ Ville concept has been created by Christabelle, founded

by V&C Investments and managed by a team of loving carers who are qualified in childcare management.

For more information, send an e-mail to info@lilvillechildcare.com.

TRADITIONS

CAROLS IN THE AIR What do you do when you’re happy? Smile a lot? Skip? Laugh? Or maybe you sing? If so, you’re not alone. People have expressed joy by making music for thousands of years. It’s no wonder that one of the most joyful celebrations of the year, Christmas, has a collection of happy songs all of its own – the Christmas carols.

THE FIRST CAROLS The first carols were not singable songs at all but ring dances. They were used to celebrate many occasions as well as Christmas but were not allowed in church.

As carols changed and became songs to sing, composers wrote many of these joyful folksongs and tender lullabies about Jesus’s birth. Story has it that St Francis of Assisi first allowed carols to be part of a Christmas midnight service in the 1200s.

But carols were never for churches alone.

Watchmen, who always sang as they patrolled the streets, would sing carols during the Christmas season. Sometimes people organised special bands called waits just to sing Christmas carols outside people’s homes.

And so for hundreds of years − from Wales (Deck the Halls) to Germany (Silent Night) to France (O Holy Night) to England (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) − people have celebrated Jesus’s birth with Christmas carols.

church organist, Lewis Redner, to set it to music. The morning of the concert, Mr Redner woke with “an angel strain” singing in his head. He wrote it down and that evening the Sunday School children’s choir sang O Little Town of Bethlehem for the first time.

• Jingle Bells Jingle Bells was written for a Thanksgiving programme in James Pierpont’s church in Boston in 1857. It was called The One Horse Open Sleigh. People liked it so much they asked the children to repeat it at Christmas. Later it was published as Jingle Bells.

Each carol has a history of its own. Here are the stories of three familiar Christmas carols.

• Silent Night The organ was broken in Pastor Joseph Mohr’s church in Austria. On Christmas Eve 1818 he gave a poem he had written to his organist, Hans Gruber. Mr Gruber composed a melody for the poem and arranged it for two voices and guitar. That night Stille Nacht was played for the first time at midnight Mass.

• Little Town of Bethlehem In 1865, Bishop Phillips Brooks took a trip to the Holy Land.

Three years later he wrote the words to this carol, remembering how Bethlehem had looked. He asked the

Carols still fill the air during December. You may hear them along the streets of all localites, in shops and on the radio.

You’ll probably see them performed in concerts and on TV. Which is your favourite?

THREE CAROL STORIES

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 21

Teenagers

Dealing with loneliness Loneliness is not just about feeling sad, it is much more complex than that. And prolonged feelings of isolation may have serious repercussions. Child delves into the problem.

22 CHiLD nOVeMBer 2018

Teenagers

o man is an island and less so is a teen. Feelings of loneliness are as common among youths as much as among adults, but teenagers may find it harder to cope. Loneliness can be due to various reasons, which can vary from life circumstances that create the conditions for loneliness, to the pressures of transitions, to bullying or depression.

Teens may particularly suffer when they do not feel part of a community or group and end up feeling alone… even while being in the company of peers. “as a principle, people have never been ‘designed’ to live on their own. Human beings have survived because they always lived in groups. They need groups for protection, support and to develop as people and as civilisations,” said andrew azzopardi, dean of the Faculty of social Well-Being at the University of Malta. “all, or practically all, of our ideas are constructed because people live, talk, discuss and bring their ideas together.

“Loneliness is so incredibly bad for young people and their development. It can have repercussions on them all their life.”

Feeling lonely does not mean not having friends or family around you but it is actually a mental state, says Prof. azzopardi, and it is not just about feeling sad.

“The emotion of sadness is a very personal feeling. You have this sense of a lack of enthusiasm, disconnection, lack of motivation, lack of satisfaction and excitement, doubt about yourself… so many different emotions,” he explains.

This feeling of loneliness is exacerbated around Christmas time.

“It’s not only Christmas per se,” says Prof. azzopardi, “but the actual build-up to it and the new Year festivities. It can’t get any sadder for people who are manoeuvring around this type of problem.”

Teens’ behaviour may often baffle parents, especially when they decide to hole up in their rooms, cutting off communication with them or anyone else. “spending time alone or on the computer or communicating via social media is not necessarily wrong or a crisis. But it risks becoming a situation of concern if it becomes a routine, if young people do not engage with their family and their

N

friends,” Prof. azzopardi points out. He advises parents not to worry too much but to pay attention to any telltale signs of trouble.

“Parents need to be on the lookout for drastic behaviour pattern changes, changes in food intake, the way they speak.

Obviously young people are in a constant state of flux – it doesn’t automatically mean that there are problems but we cannot let such situations happen without asking questions and asking for help and advise. Better safe than sorry.”

Parents can ask for professional help, starting from a school counsellor, psychologist, family therapist or youth worker.

“Don’t take ‘u le m’għandu xejn’ (he has nothing to worry about) as the final word. Make sure you have explored all possible avenues that can lead to dealing with this situation. One doesn’t need to be alarmed but aware.”

Prolonged feelings of isolation can have a lasting effect on many levels – psychological and emotional.

“If this sense of loneliness is not an issue of transition, the dangers of long-term effects is massive.”

Belonging to a community, sports or volunteer organisation surely helps minimise feelings of loneliness.

“Probably, those people who are engaged in a group activity will not feel lonely if they are involved. non-formal and informal activities are crucial. However, looking ok does not necessarily mean we are ok.”

Prof. azzopardi has further suggestions.

“Let’s do a policy, let’s consider dedicating a ministerial post, as they have done in the UK, to deal with this matter, let’s invest in social policy, research (at university), support grassroots action, let’s use our army of volunteers. In other words, let’s really sit and bring about the changes we so need. I believe that academia has a very important role in taking the lead,” he says.

“Parents need to be on the lookout for drastic behaviour pattern changes, changes in food intake, the way they speak”

The Faculty for Social Well-being is involved in research on loneliness and yesterday hosted a conference titled ‘Loneliness, Community and Belonging’. The faculty will be releasing a 30-minute documentary on the subject in December and is working with Caritas on a number of initiatives.

CHiLD nOVeMBer 2018 23

CHANGING DIAPERS hanging diapers for the first time may not seem easy, especially since a baby is so tiny and it’s almost impossible they will stay still.

But as you start to change your baby so many times a day, you’ll soon become an expert! however, here are some things to keep in mind. diapers must be changed regularly, about every three to five hours, and certainly immediately after pooping. if poop stays in contact with the skin for several minutes, it can cause irritation. Therefore frequent diaper changes and careful cleaning of the area is crucial for proper hygiene and to avoid skin problems. in this case, one may use Babylino sensitives, which are dermatologically tested, offer extremely high dryness and are designed with skin-friendly materials, certified for absence of harmful substances.

These could be used with Babycare baby wipes which, thanks to their softness and specially designed formula with herbal extracts (chamomile, aloe, cotton), provide your baby with complete and gentle care. a baby older than 10 months will probably resent having its diaper changed. distract it from the change process by giving it its

This is a paid adverT

favourite toy to play with or by bringing your face close to its own and whispering sweet words and songs.

From this stage onwards, you may find Babylino pants Boy and Girl slip-on diaper-pants more suitable, as they allow you to change your little one while standing, without interrupting their play. after disposing of the diaper and washing and applying cream on the baby’s skin, do not dress them up immediately to allow the area to dry and absorb the cream.

Meanwhile, your baby can keep playing and moving with complete freedom. it is a time all babies love.

Babies have different physiques and, as they grow, their body structure changes even more. so, one has to choose diapers according to the baby’s physique and its weight rather than their age. That is why diaper sizes overlap in kilograms. if you are worried on how to realise when you are to move to the next size, here are some tips: • sudden leaks. if you had no problem with the diaper you were using so far and suddenly you have frequent leaks, this probably means that your baby has grown and needs to pass more urine.

• When worn, the diaper must cover the baby’s navel. if it falls under the navel, then it is too small and will need to move to a larger size. all diapers on the market come in different sizes depending on the weight of the baby and these overlap, to fit babies of different shapes and sizes.

PROMO

A FESTIVAL FOR LITTLE f your children love the performing arts, then the Maltese Islands Festival (MIF’19) invites you to showcase their talents (and yours!) – be it acting, singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument – in a creative space shared with like-minded individuals.

Over the past two editions, the festival – which is a member of the British and International Federation of Festivals – has seen hundreds of performers, aged four to 18+, displaying their talents in front of an expert panel of judges.

Kyle Galea, one of last year’s participants, says that his love for the performing arts – drama and singing in particular – led him to the Maltese Islands Festival.

“Being able to practise what I’ve been studying throughout the year and perform in front of an audience and professional judges has really helped me to develop my skills further,” he says.

Kyle is just one of the multitalented artists who has taken part in three categories of the Maltese Islands Festival.

He put forward a dramatic solo performance of a monologue from the hit-movie Fantastic Mister Fox, a musical theatre singing solo where he gave an interpretation of Chim Chim Cher-ee from Mary Poppins and was also part of the choir section together with other Stagecoach students.

For Andrea Riolo, another participant, the MIF is a unique opportunity to receive helpful comments from experts

I

performers

and to meet and watch fellow dancers. Andrea has successfully taken part in international competitions and full-length ballets alongside professional dancers from renowned ballet companies, mainly the Bolshoi and the Royal Ballet.

With the encouragement of her ballet school principal, Brigitte Gauci Borda, Andrea also competed in the classical ballet solo and the contemporary solo categories.

“I’ve enjoyed participating in both of the previous editions of the Maltese Islands Festival and I feel that the comments from the judge were very encouraging and enriching,” says Andrea.

Although performing may seem intense or intimidating, Kyle says that the hours of preparation pay off and the nerves fade away once you hit the stage. “The festival is well organised and it is great to see people’s reactions during and after a performance, as they truly appreciate the hard work that is required to make a good piece of entertainment.”

The Maltese Islands Festival 2019 will take place between January 23 and 27, 2019, and the final deadline for applications is December 3. To apply, or for a full list of categories in each department, visit www.themalteseislandsfestival.com.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 29

CRAFTS

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS THIS CHRISTMAS Child looks at possible crafts you can do with your children to spend some quality time together while getting into the Christmas spirit. hristmas brings out everyone’s creative genius.

Something about the season begs for the unique, the different. Maybe it is our desire to give something special when we do not have the budget for expensive presents. Certainly this is a theme in such stories as The Littlest Angel or O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi.

How about making your own crafts? With some basic, readily available items, you can easily make stocking stuffers, decorations and gift tags that will delight your friends and relatives. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

One perennial favourite under the Christmas tree is an electric train. A fun present, one that can either be placed in a youngster’s stocking or packaged as a present, is a locomotive

C

30 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

made out of sweets. With a little imagination, you can even add additional cars and the caboose to make a full-fledged train. This is a simple project and a fun activity for adults and children alike.

To make the locomotive, you will need a roll of gummies, some round peppermint sweets, a traditional five-stick package of gum, some individually-wrapped chocolates (Hershey Kisses work best), some bite-sized caramels and a glue gun.

Start by gluing the gummies to the pack of gum. This is the body of your train. Then glue a peppermint to each corner of the pack of gum; they are the wheels. Glue a caramel to the top rear of the gummies for the cabin and a chocolate (with its paper strip ‘unfurled’) to the front for the smoke stack.

CRAFTS

You have now created a locomotive that will delight anyone. Of course, you can let your creative juices run at this point by adding embellishments to your locomotive.

For additional cars, let your imagination run freely. For the coal car, pieces of liquorice add a realistic touch. Individual serving boxes of candies work well as the basis for other cars. Many other candies come in the appropriate shapes suggested here, so have some fun by adding colour and variety.

“The Would you like to enhance the individuality of your Christmas tree this beauty of year? Get away from traditional orseeing children at naments and make your own. Some At the very work is that they are plaster of Paris, colourful yarn, least, you will need cookie cutters and paint will get you cards from years past, your not limited by started. Mix the plaster of Paris; glue gun, construction paper, a hole arbitrary rules about then pour it into seasonal cookie punch, ribbon or yarn and scissors. If the ‘best way’ or cutters (snowmen, Father Christyou want to get fancier immediately, get ‘right and mas, snowflakes, bells, etc), insome edging scissors. With a wide variety serting a small drinking of cutting edges available, you can create wrong’” straw near the top of each interesting borders on your tags with little ef(this is where you will loop fort. First, cut out the part of the greeting card your yarn or ribbon for you want to use. Nothing says you have to use the hanging). whole thing. For example, if all you want is a Nativity star Once the plaster has set, or a snowman, just cut that part out. If it is large you are ready to decorate enough, and if there is no writing on the your ornaments. Paint them back, you are done. Punch a hole in it, loop suitably; then, get out your through some yarn or ribbon and your tag glue gun and get crewill be ready. Otherwise, glue the artwork on ative. Glitter, bits of to some construction (sugar) paper. If you are candy, artificial snow, the type who likes to write longer messages seeds – use whatever on your tags, then use a folded square of constrikes your imaginastruction paper. Now channel your creative, tion to finish off these inner child and add the extra, imaginative unique decorations. touches to dress your tags up. Pieces As you adorn your tree, think of substitutions for the of wrapping paper, old bows, glitter and garland. Many people string popcorn and wind it around rickrack are a lot of fun. Who knows? the tree but add some dazzle with your own clever touches.

Your gift recipient may like the tag more Colour some of the popcorn with food colouring for a special than the present itself. touch. Other embellishments you can use are jelled candies, The key to all crafts is ‘imagination’. Let it run freely. The such as Gummi Bears, and bits of dried leaves and flowers. beauty of seeing children at work is that they are not limited Finally, once you have wrapped your presents, finish the by arbitrary rules about the ‘best way’ or ‘right and wrong’. If packages with personalised tags. Don’t you always feel a little they like it, they do it. The more you experiment, the more sad (or guilty), when Christmas is past, to throw out the seaideas will come your way. sonal greeting cards you have received? It’s such a waste. InThese sweet trains, tree decorations and gift tags are a sure stead of consigning them to the landfill, create your own way to get the family involved in Christmas and make a start unique gift tags. at a fun, joyous holiday season.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 31

TECHNOLOGY

AIDING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES magine the frustration of wanting to communicate a thought or idea but having insufficient language skills to do so effectively, or of being frequently misunderstood because of unintelligible speech.

These are daily experiences for children with developmental language disorder (DLD), who present with speech and/or language difficulties in the absence of an obvious cause, such as hearing impairment or below-average intelligence.

DLD is an unexplained condition that affects approximately seven per cent of the population (Leonard, 2014). In DLD, the development of speech and language skills is slow and effortful, for no apparent reason.

When such difficulties are still evident at age five, the likelihood that they will resolve completely diminishes and the

I

32 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

diagnosis of DLD may be made. Besides the obvious difficulty with expressing themselves, children with DLD are likely to present with more subtle comprehension and memory deficits. The speech and language difficulties characterising DLD are persistent, often affecting school performance and continuing into adolescence and adulthood. Relationships with peers are likely to be affected and the absence of a clear cause can lead to the child’s problems being misunderstood, downplayed or disregarded. Even children’s parents are often baffled by the nature of DLD. Children’s frustration, in the face of the speech and language difficulties they encounter across various contexts of daily living, is a reality that calls for professional intervention.

TECHNOLOGY

“DLD is an unexplained condition that affects approximately seven per cent of the population”

The assessment, diagnosis and treatment of DLD fall within the remit of speech-language pathology. In a nutshell, speech and language pathologists (SLPs) support children in building on relative speech and language strengths to minimise their deficits. Strengths and weaknesses are identified through careful assessment procedures, following which a customised therapy plan is formulated.

Therapy for younger children is characterised by play-based activities which maintain their interest and motivation – the more engaging the play context embedding the speech and language targets, the more effectively the latter can be addressed. Moreover, therapy activities require consistent repetition and practice beyond the therapy session for new skills to be learnt and generalised. This is where parental involvement is crucial.

SLPs not only give children direct input during therapy but also guide parents in carrying over relevant activities to the child’s daily settings.

Ideally, therapeutic intervention for DLD should involve a collaborative partnership between the SLP and the child’s parent/s. However, families’ busy routines seem to be leaving little time for the regular practice of therapy activities. The idea for Olly Speaks was triggered by the need for an attractive play interface that helps to keep children with DLD engaged in their therapy activities, while supporting regular practice beyond the therapy session.

To ensure that Olly Speaks incorporates all the requirements of endusers, a user-centred design (UCD) approach was employed. To this end, a number of focus groups were held with SLPs, parents, personnel at the Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU) and other persons from academia and industry.

Workshops with children were also held in order to identify key characteristics in toys which entice them most and which should be taken into account when designing Olly Speaks.

Once the requirements were identified, various concepts on how the device should look like were sketched out. A penguin concept was selected and further elaborated.

A number of issues had to be addressed in order to strike a compromise between having an ergonomic and aesthetically-pleasing product while, at the same time, facilitating its manufacturing and assembling. A fully working prototype is under way and in the coming months, Olly Speaks will be tested with children in speech and language clinics and at home.

From a technical perspective, Olly Speaks can be categorised as a smart therapeutic device that is focused on games and activities that support speech and language therapy, as well as assessment.

Equipped with various sensors and actuators, including a built-in computing device with touchscreen capabilities, Olly Speaks is designed to offer multimodal features aimed at generating an attractive and interactive play environment for children.

These features include speech recognition, motion sensing, moving arms, animated eyes, interactive games and sound or speech generation, among others.

The device is able to adjust its behaviour according to the stimuli and actions of the child using it. It may thus, for example, be executing a game where an object is displayed on the screen and the child is asked to verbally state what the picture is representing.

Through the speech algorithms programmed in the device, the child’s response is recognised automatically and, if correct, will be rewarded with attractive movements, sounds or game points. If the response is not uttered correctly, the child might be encouraged to try again or be given additional help.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 33

TECHNOLOGY Acknowledgments The Speechie project was funded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) through the Technology Development Programme 2016. The research team is grateful for the contribution of the Speech Language Centre in Luqa, the clients who frequent this department, the SLPs and the management of the Speech Language Centre. Thanks go also to the parents who participated in the focus groups, to the personnel at the Access to Communication & Technology Unit (ACTU) and other persons from academia and industry who in some way or another put forward their expertise. Last, but not least, special thanks go to the children who took part in the workshops.

Olly Speaks is a smart therapeutic device that is focused on games and activities that support speech and language therapy, as well as assessment.

Another game might combine screen graphics with questions asking the child to physically grab and move the device in some specific direction, say ‘up’ or ‘down’. The motion carried out by the child is automatically sensed and Olly’s response will vary according to whether or not the action is correct.

Other games might also require physical touch gestures of graphic icons displayed on the screen. In this manner, the device is able to interact adaptively and intelligently according to the child’s activities and responses – this is what makes Olly Speaks a smart device. At the same time, the games are inherently designed to yield a set of activities that produce the desired speech and language activities for assessment and therapy, thus achieving the main objective that motivated the invention of this device: to assist children with DLD. In addition to these interactive smart multimodal features, Olly Speaks is also able to connect to the internet. This provides the possibility for SLPs to interact remotely with the device while the child is using it at home.

Information on the child’s responses and actions could also be collected over the cloud for detailed offline analysis by the 34 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

SLPs, especially for those activities that took place when the child was using the device without physical or remote SLP supervision.

For more information, visit www.fb.com/speechieproject/ or send an e-mail to speechie-web@um.edu.mt. Olly Speaks is subject to a pending patent application at the European Patent Office.

This article was submitted by Speechie project team members Dr Ing. Philip Farrugia (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering), who is the project coordinator and lead inventor; Dr Daniela Gatt (Communication Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences) and Prof. Ing. Simon Fabri (Systems & Control Engineering, Faculty of Engineering). The team working on the project also includes Dr Ing. Owen Casha (Microelectronics & Nanoelectronics, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology); Anthony Demanuele (Flying Squirrel Games Malta); and four postgraduate students – Emanuel Balzan (PhD), James Attard, Loridana Buttigieg and Louisa Frendo Wirth (all MSc by Research).

theAtre

HAVE JOY AND BE MERRY

The Wizard of Oz (MADC, 2012). Photos: DArrin ZAMMit LuPi

in Malta, as in only few other countries, the yearly pantomime has become intrinsically intertwined with the Christmas season.

For the younger audiences, the seasonal silliness may have a little more to offer than meets the eye, Jessica Arena writes.

36 ChiLD noVeMBer 2018

theAtre

P

antomime finds many of its roots originating from several cultural touchstones across the spread of europe. the improvisational nature of the italian commedia dell’arte gave us the variety of masks from which many panto archetypes have been adapted as well as a healthy spirit of anarchy that inspires the cunning schemes the zanni adopted in overcoming the tyranny of the vecchi. it is also from here that the tradition adopts an appetite for risqué humour, the anonymity of masks being a comfortable shield from behind which to level a crude joke or perhaps a particularly harsh critique of the ruling classes without fear of repercussions.

Cinderella (MADC, 2017). Photo: MAtthew MirABeLLi the harlequin characters of the 18th century continued to build on the archetype of zanni characters with a new sense of vigour and energy that injected movement as an integral part of the show, working its way to become steadfast in the history of British theatre. Acrobat and dancer John rich pioneered the role in the 1720s, introducing a physical agility in the pursuit of base desires as part of the mythos. rich is also responsible for including animals as characters in the spectacle.

Another tangible influence is, undoubtedly, the more modern emergence of clowning, particularly that of Joseph Grimaldi in the regency “In many era. the clown’s very existence is also ways, panto has interwoven with a an ability to turn sense of anarchy, import that linwhat we laugh at his every action gered and took designed to disrupt hold as a popular into an act of order. the comedy form of entertaindefiance as well of the slapstick and ment in Malta. the as of joy” the prevalence of tradition is seldom mischief stand out as a produced in other comic sense of revenge countries and many against the more restricted and former colonies did not have repressive sensibilities of society. a favourable approach to the genre, in many ways, panto has an ability to viewing it as a part of the legacy of turn what we laugh at into an act of erasure under colonialism. defiance as well as of joy. the arrival of the pantomime to without a doubt, the pantomime in our shores was through the British its modern form is a purely British servicemen, who wrote and starred in

Merry Poppins (MADC, 2014).

the productions as far back as 1904.

By 1910, however, a performance of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is reported to have already had “a strong Maltese flavour”. in no time, several Maltese dramatists were integrated into the process and began writing and performing in the shows themselves, evolving the genre into its own separate entity on the island. while the link between Christmas and panto is purely incidental, the relationship the two have formed do serve as something of an ideal partnership.

ChiLD noVeMBer 2018 37

theAtre The Little Red Riding Hood and You Know Who (Masquerade, 2013)

Christmastime is synonymous with holidays for any family with school-age children and thus it's an ideal period during which family time can be spent on cultural enrichment. For younger children, panto is the perfect event in which to introduce them to the theatre in a way that isn’t alienating. one of the great joys of the pantomime is that it is designed to be accessible and appeals to both children and adults. And taking children to the theatre promotes the strength of family bonds through communal activities, some research has shown. some experts also indicate that attending performances boosts literary and vocabulary skills and that young ones who visit the theatre with their parents also exhibit increased imagination and creativity in their communicative skills. one of the pure pleasures of panto is that it asks us to “For briefly suspend our disbelief younger and throw children, panto is logic out of the perfect event in the window. we know, of which to introduce course, that a them to the theatre dame is simply in a way that isn’t a man in a dress alienating” and yet we can sympathise to her troubles presented with theatrical flair as the woes of us common folk. the art of storytelling is presented in a different way that is capable of delivering both drama as high as Hamlet or side splitting comedy at its top form. in some ways, panto even democratises the theatre, treating the child as equal to the adult. Adults require the enthusiasm and honesty of a child to scream “it’s behind you!” in unison at the stage, while children find the opportunity to clearly enjoy the experience in unison with their parents.

38 ChiLD noVeMBer 2018

Robin Hood and the Babes in the Woods (FM theatre Productions, 2015)

Pinocchio (FM theatre Productions, 2014)

theAtre

HOW TO JOIN IN THIS YEAR’S FOLLY Jack and the Beanstalk by MADC written and directed by Malcolm Galea, the plot follows young Jack who has a lifelong dream − to become a famous knight. unfortunately, he comes from a poor family that cannot even afford to keep up with the ever-rising rent. one day, his village is attacked by giants who take away the girl he loves − presumably to eat her. Jack needs to pluck up the courage and climb that beanstalk to make the transition from zero to hero, from nobody to somebody, from loser to legend. the cast includes Michael Mangion as the Dame, Matthew Ben Attard, Katherine Brown, Joe Depasquale, Christina Despott, rachel tedesco triccas, Audrey scerri and sean Briffa. the orchestra will be led by Paul Abela, while roger tirazona is directing the choir.

Choreography is by Francesco nicodeme, sets by ray Farrugia and costumes by izzy warrington. the event will take place at the MFCC in ta’ Qali between December 23 and January 5. For tickets and more information, visit www.madc.com.mt.

the show sees edward Mercieca back in the role of the Dame, Chiara hyzler as Muddles and tezara Camilleri as Maleficent. Gianni selvaggi, raquel theuma, Karen Decelis, rambert Attard, Antonella Mifsud, nikki Cassar and Maria Cassar round up the main cast.

Sleeping Beauty is directed by Chris Gatt, with musical direction by Kris spiteri and choreography by warren Bonello. the show is being held at the Manoel theatre in Valletta between December 23 and January 6. For tickets and more information, log on to www.teatrumanoel.com.mt or call the booking office on 2124 6389.

Junglebook

by Kumpanija Teatru Rjal Kumpanija Teatru Rjal presents another edition of its popular panto in Maltese at the Catholic institute in Floriana.

this adaptation of rudyard Kipling’s classic tale, written by comic duo Danusan and directed by ray Abdilla, stars rodney Gauci as the Dame, Kevin Paul Calleja as the older Mowgli, soraya Queen as the Circus Master and Mariah Mangion, Alexia Micallef, Leah Mifsud, Jeffrey scicluna and Julie Pomorski as the furry and feathery members of the animal kingdom. the show is under the musical direction of Conrad Briffa, with choregraphy by Clayton and Daphny of the Kinetic Dance studio and costumes by Marika Zarb(Louie noir). the show is being staged from December 22 to 30. For tickets, visit www.activemalta.com or call the ticket hotline on 9997 6468.

A number of other pantos are being held in various localities and schools, so keep an eye out on Facebook and other media platforms.

Sleeping Beauty

by FM Theatre Productions FM theatre Productions are back this Christmas at the Manoel theatre with their take on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. written by edward Mercieca, the story sees how at the christening of Princess Aurora, Maleficent, the evil fairy, casts a spell on the baby princess. eighteen years pass and the spell puts Aurora to sleep. Prince Charming, with the help of Dame nanna Kola and Muddles, fights Maleficent and her whole army to break the evil spell and rid the land of the evil fairy once and for all.

ChiLD noVeMBer 2018 39

OUT AnD ABOUT

Christmas at the market Up to a few years ago, one had to travel to experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas markets. But, nowadays, many are being set up across the islands, from schools to public spaces. Here are a few you can visit as from tomorrow until the end of December.

Christmas market at San Anton School Tomorrow from 10.30am to 5pm San Anton School, limits of Żebbiegħ San Anton School is hosting the 10th edition of its Christmas market, where one may find all Christmas needs − from traditional decorations, home accessories, advent calendars, poinsettias and holly plants, chocolates, toys, books, jewellery, festive treats and many original gifts and stocking fillers to impress friends and family.

While the adults shop, children can participate in various fun activities such as storytelling, Christmas cookie workshops and art and craft sessions. They may also write their letter to Santa or pay him a visit in his grotto. The younger children may also enjoy bouncy castles and go-karts in between activities.

The cast of FM Theatre Productions’ panto Sleeping Beauty will give a taster of their upcoming production, while mulled wine, traditional imbuljuta and other treats will be served.

This is a San Anton School fundraising event.

40 CHiLD nOVEMBER 2018

Lola’s Christmas Market November 30 to December 2 from 10am to 7pm Villa Madama, Triq Birbal, Balzan A fun-filled weekend with animation and entertainment for children and adults is awaiting visitors. Stalls will sell anything from toys to jewellery, traditional Christmas decorations, gourmet foods, books, poinsettias and fresh trees among others.

While the adults shop around, children can enjoy themselves in the gardens of the villa which will be turned into a fun park, with rides, activity stalls and food stalls.

This free event is supporting Puttinu Cares.

Stella Maris College Christmas Market December 1 from 4pm to 10pm December 2 from 9am to 1pm Stella Maris College, Gżira The Stella Maris College grounds will be turned into a winter wonderland for the first edition of the school’s Christmas market.

There will be various stalls selling traditional Christmas fare and numerous activities will take place for all the family. The kids will have the opportunity to meet Santa and take a photo with him and a small gift will be presented to each child.

Children will also have a special area for themselves, where they can enjoy doing some arts and crafts and take part in animated storytelling. The main area will host different forms of entertainment provided by some of the school’s own students, as well as other local talent. Food will be provided by up-and-coming chefs from the VET Hospitality course.

Christmas Village 2018 December 1, from 4pm to December 2 at 5.30pm San Ġorġ Preca College Guardian Angel Secondary Education Resource Centre J. Abela Scolaro Street, Ħamrun A Christmas atmosphere will pervade the premises, where one can buy traditional decorations, hand-made accessories, cards, books, toys, children’s gifts and jewellery, among others. Children

OUT AnD ABOUT will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa in his workshop. Food and refreshments – including mulled wine, coffee, mince pies, Christmas logs and other cakes – will also be available for sale.

Entrance is free. This is a Guardian Angel Resource Centre fund-raising event.

North District Christmas Family Far December 2 from 10am to 4pm Training Centre, Triq Camillo Sciberras, Pembroke The north District Girl Guides are organising this Christmas fair as a fundraising event. It will include pony rides, games, hand-made Christmas crafts and homemade Christmas treats including mulled wine, mince pies and roasted chestnuts. A Police Dog Show will be held at 11.30am, to be followed by a fire engine show by the Civil Protection Department at 1pm.

Malta Artisan Markets December 1 from 1 to 8pm December 2 from 11am to 6pm Magazino Hall, Floriana

The artisan Christmas market will host a variety of stalls selling arts and crafts, ceramics, candles, woodworks, handsewn goods, filigree, jewellery and accessories, knitwear and crochet. Visitors will be able to enjoy mulled wine, an array of food as well as locally made festive treats.

There will also be activities for all children accompanying their parents.

The event is this year supporting the nGOs CreateHope and Suret Il-Bniedem. Entrance is free.

Natalis Notabilis 2018 December 7, 10, 11 & 12 from 6 to 11pm December 8, 9 & 13 from 11am to 11pm Rabat centre Rabat is for the third year hosting a seven-day event with around 100 stalls selling anything related to Christmas in the heart of town, while historic buildings will be hosting various Christmas-related activities. These include a nativity trail within the Franciscan Friary’s Secret Garden and the natalis notabilis crib exhibition located in a 500-year-old convent.

The Ta’ Gieżu church will be hosting a number of choir festivals, while a new drama production titled Il-Klarinett Maġiku will be staged at the 18th-century Palazzo Xara. Entrance is free.

Swatar Christmas Village December 8 from 4 to 11pm December 9 from 9am to 9pm Church parking area, Swatar The second edition of the Swatar Christmas Village will feature various stores selling anything from crafts to gifts and food and drink. There will be a bouncy castle and go-karts for children while local talent will entertain the crowd.

Christmas FamilyFest Activity December 9 from 9.30am to 6pm Savina Creations, Triq l-Għassara, Xewkija Fun activities for children and those young at heart are planned for the day.

These include train rides, a visit to Gozo’s Experimental Farm (weather permitting), baking sessions for children, live cooking of Christmas delicacies and free nibbles and drinks.

OUT AnD ABOUT Jollywood Winter Fair December 9 from noon to 5pm QSI Quality Schools International Malta Triq Durumblat, Mosta The Fifth Jollywood Winter Fair and Christmas Market will feature something for everyone, with a range of unique stallholders, ranging from craft stalls to homeware, toys, Christmas decorations, jewellery, clothing, soaps and bath bombs and gifts. There will be a selection of food and drink, craftworkshops, music and dancing, book readings for children, bouncy castles and real animals for some cuddle time!

Entry is free.

Enchanted Village Christmas Market St Clare College, San Ġwann Primary School

December 14 from 4 to 9pm December 15 and 16 from 10am to 9pm The first edition of the San Ġwann Primary Christmas Market is transforming the school premises into an enchanted village. Apart from the stalls, there will be various activities for the

whole family. Kids will have the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Santa, listen to animated stories and have fun in the children’s area. The main stage will host local talent and there will also be traditional food and mulled wine.

Mosta Christmas Village December 15 from 3 to 10pm December 16 from 8am to 7.30pm Parking area beside church, Mosta The two-day event will feature a Christmas Parade, a live crib, food, Christmas gifts and traditional sweets, besides various activities for children.

Among the guests entertaining all those present will be the Full Joy Choir, the Shalom Choir, Claudia Faniello, Chiara, the bands X-Tend and The Mics, the Paul Curmi Dance Company, Our Lady Immaculate Ballet School, Summerbell Dance Company and the Wild Strength Dancers Dance Company.

The event will close with a Christmas concert by the Kor Mirabitur in the Mosta basilica.

Natale al Collachio – The Vittoriosa Christmas Festival December 21 to December 22 from 7.30pm till late Vittoriosa’s city centre and its narrow and winding streets will for the first time turn into a Christmas village with decorative Christmas lights, children’s choirs, bands and festive music. There will also be a lifesized crib, street performers and Santa’s House. The event is being organised by Ten08 together with the Vittoriosa local council.

Santa’s Magical Forest December 22, 23, 26-30 from 10am to 11.30pm December 24, 31 from 10am to 3pm Inspire, Żinżell Street, Marsascala Inspire Foundation is hosting nine days of fun activities and entertainment for adults and children while helping to raise money to upgrade its therapeutical horse riding facilities Tickets will be available at the door.

ReCIpeS

WAITING FOR SANTA In the run-up to Christmas, here are a few recipes children will surely adore, not just because they’re good but also because they look good!

Kids may help out in the kitchen too. Recipes are courtesy of Kristen Chidsey who runs the blog A Mind ‘Full’ Mom. SANTA PANCAKES Makes 12 Ingredients 650g whole wheat flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 2½ tsp baking powder 75ml cup oil 4 eggs 800ml buttermilk 30g cocoa powder bananas strawberries chocolate chips Method Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and grease with butter or oil. Mix flour, salt, baking soda and powder together; mix together liquids. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until batter is just moistened. Divide batter in half and add cocoa to one half. Ladle 55g of batter on to a griddle and flip once bubbles begin to appear on surface, about two to four minutes. Flip pancakes and cook for one to two minutes more per second side.

When ready, slice the bananas to create Santa’s beard. Arrange sliced strawberries in a triangle above the pancake and outline Santa’s hat with some whipped cream (or you could use more bananas). Give Santa two chocolate chip eyes and a strawberry sliced nose.

CHiLD NOVeMBeR 2018 43

ReCIpeS RUDOLPH ‘SANDWICH’ Ingredients rice cakes peanut butter or almond butter or soy butter pretzels bananas chocolate chips

Method Spread the rice cake (or pancake or bread cut into a circle) with peanut butter, almond butter or soy butter. Add two pretzels for antlers and a maraschino cherry as Rudolph’s nose (you can also use a red candy for the reindeer’s nose). Give Rudolph eyes by placing two slices of bananas on the rice cake and then topping with a chocolate chip.

CANDY CANE PIZZA

Makes 6

Ingredients For the pizza dough 170ml warm water 2 tsp yeast ½ tbsp olive oil ½ tbsp honey 245g whole white wheat flour ½ tsp salt

HEALTHY VEGETABLE PLATTER Ingredients broccoli florets red and yellow pepper sliced olives

For the ranch dip 55g dried parsley 1 tbsp dried dill 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp onion powder ½ tsp dried basil 1 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper mayonnaise Greek yoghurt

Method Start with the sauce. Combine all the ingredients and store in an airtight container. Mix seasoning with one-fourth cup mayonnaise and three-fourths cup plain Greek yoghurt. place broccoli florets in a large triangle in the middle of a serving tray. Add pepper slices as garland for the tree. Use the stem of the red pepper for the trunk of tree and using a star cookie cutter, cut out a star from the yellow pepper. Decorate with sliced olives as ornaments.

44 CHiLD NOVeMBeR 2018

For the pizza 60ml tomato sauce 230g mozzarella cheese, shredded 30g pepperoni slices

Method Make the dough: combine the water and yeast and let sit for about five minutes in a large mixing bowl (or bowl of your stand mixer with dough hook attached).

Mix in the honey and oil.

Add the flour and salt slowly and mix in as you go. With the dough hook or large spatula mix together the dough until well combined.

Once mixed, knead for five minutes by hand on a lightly floured surface or with your dough hook on low-medium speed. place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover and leave in a warm spot for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the dough has doubled in size, preheat oven to 220˚C. Shape the dough into a candy cane shape. Spread it with tomato sauce and top with cheese. Add the pepperoni in stripes to resemble candy cane.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.

For more of Kristen’s recipes, visit https://amindfullmom.com

PROMO

10 REASONS TO LOVE THE PANTO AT THE MANOEL or many families in Malta, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without gathering the kids and the grown-ups together and heading to the Manoel Theatre to enjoy a traditional pantomime.

This year at Malta’s national theatre, panto lovers are in for a magical treat as FM Theatre Productions is back with the beloved fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Here’s 10 reasons why you should see the Christmas panto at the Manoel Theatre.

A classic story, retold: In this rip-roaring panto fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Aurora is cursed as a baby by the evil fairy, Maleficent. Prince Charming and a whole cast of colourful characters embark on an adventure of a lifetime as they fight Maleficent to break her evil spell once and for all.

A historic theatre: There’s nowhere more enchanting to watch a magical fairy tale brought to life than in one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful theatres – the Manoel.

What’s more, the theatre’s intimate layout is ideal for audience participation… it’s behind you!

A larger-than-life Dame: Every traditional pantomime must have a Dame – and who better than panto veteran Edward Mercieca? He returns for Sleeping Beauty as Dame Nanna Kola.

A dastardly villain: Tezara Camilleri will be the incomparably evil Maleficent, arguably the best and most memorable panto villain that ever was.

A hilarious clown: Alongside the Panto Dame there must always be a hilarious sidekick, and in Sleeping Beauty another panto stalwart, Chiara Hyzler, will dish out extra laugh-out-loud slapstick as the adorable Muddles.

F

Competition

A beautiful princess and handsome prince: No classic tale of good versus evil is complete without a beautiful Princess, played by Raquel Theuma, and a dashing Prince Charming, played by Gianni Selvaggi.

A fantastic cast: Supporting the action-packed adventure will be a wonderfully talented cast of fairies, henches, kings and queens played by Karen Decelis, Matthew Cassar, Rambert Attard, Analise Cassar, Antonella Mifsud, Nicole Cassar and Maria Cassar among others.

A top production company: As well as producing numerous pantos over previous years, FM Theatre Productions is the same company behind this year’s sell-out successes of My Fair Lady and Mamma Mia. What’s more, top local director Chris Gatt and musical director Kris Spiteri are also on board for Sleeping Beauty.

A non-stop panto spectacular: Today’s best pantos always include superb production values, breathtaking singing and dancing, colourful costumes, spectacular sets and innovative special effects. Here again, Sleeping Beauty won’t disappoint, in a very exciting, fast-paced, all-singing-all-dancing, comedic spectacular for audiences young and old. Oh, and don’t forget the flying!

Family-friendly performances: With a whopping 20 performances to choose from between December 23 and January 6, and shows at both 3pm and 8pm on most days, you and your family are sure to find a showtime to suit your busy festive schedule!

FM Theatre Productions presents Sleeping Beauty at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta, with performances at 3pm and 8pm on 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December and 2, 3, 5 January. There will only be a show at 8pm on January 4 and at 3pm only on January 6. Tickets are priced from €20 and are available from www.teatrumanoel.com.mt. An early bird discount of 10 per cent is available until November 30.

Be the among the first to watch Sleeping Beauty by winning two tickets for the December 23 show. You just have to answer the following question:

Who are the characters depicted in the very first image posted by FM Theatre Productions on their Instagram page?

Send your replies to Amanda Gauci on amanda.gauci@timesofmalta.com by not later than December 15.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 47

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

SHOP wInDOw QUALITY AND PROTECTION FOR YOUR BABY Diapers are not only a daily baby care product but also a way of living in a friendly, safe and sensitive environment. Certified by OekoTex Standard 100 for absence of harmful substances and embedding ‘Dry Matrix’ technology for extra absorbency, Babylino Sensitive diapers offer the quality and protection you need for your baby.

For trade enquiries, call Pemix Distributors Ltd on 2143 7926 or visit https://www.facebook.com/Babylino.Malta/

PROVIDING ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS Cerelac Infant Cereals provide the essential nutrients the infant needs to support healthy growth and development. Cerelac Infant Cereals provide infants who have small stomach capacity with nutrient dense foods, which are enriched with key vitamins and minerals, specially selected to reduce the risk of micronutrient deficiencies and thus promote healthy growth and development.

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 reclosable 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/ or www.parentchildclub.com 48 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

A BOOK GIFT BOX FOR ALL AGES Christmas is round the corner and we’re all trying to jot down possible gift lists, trying hard to remember gift hints that were dropped throughout the year and wishing we had been more attentive.

The Merlin Publishers’ Gift Box may be quite the surprise you’d want to give to win the hearts of your loved ones this Christmas. Kaxxa Rigal is the perfect bookworm’s gift or the ideal gift to encourage a love of reading.

The Merlin Publishers’ Kaxxa Rigal comes in different options: there’s a box with a selection of books for teenagers; another one for those with a science fiction bug; there’s one for your friend who loves wit and humour; and there’s several for young new readers of different ages.

Simply log on to merlinpublishers.com, choose your preferred box and they will prepare it for you in gorgeous hand-tied packaging.

They will even deliver it right to your doorstep.

If you want to go that extra mile to make the box a truly personalised one, you can also make your own custom-made Kaxxa Rigal.

Drop an e-mail with your choice of books (a minimum of seven) and they will create your own unique gift box.

Should you want to give books as a Christmas present but you have no idea what genre would match most with your gift receiver’s character, a Merlin Publishers’ team member is always available and would be more than happy to have a chat with you to recommend the best titles available.

For more than 50 years, customers have entrusted Merlin Publishers with the task of discovering best literature that is on offer and they would be delighted to share their knowledge of Maltese books with you.

Make this Christmas more soulful for you as a giver, and more meaningful for the gift receiver: a book opens our minds and hearts and makes us become a little better at being who we are.

What better way to celebrate the season’s greetings?

For more information, check out merlinpublishers.com or send an email to kristina@merlinpublishers.com.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

SHOP WINDOW IS YOUR CHILD A PICKY EATER? Early feeding patterns in infants and toddlers are critical for growth and development. These patterns not only affect immediate growth and development but also impact long-term health. Food preferences and eating habits will start developing at an early stage so it is especially important to expose your child to a variety of healthy foods since it shapes dietary patterns. Offer picky eaters a variety of foods and experiment with different fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and dairy products if there are no allergies involved. You can use a tasty delicious milk-based product as Mio Merenda and add different fresh fruits as a tasty, nutritious snack.

Otherwise choose from the variety of flavours available to identify your toddlers’ favourite!

AġenzijA Appoġġ’S ADOPTION SERVICE Aġenzija Appoġġ offers an adoption service, the responsibilities of which include: • providing training to prospective adoptive parents; • assessing their suitability; • guiding and supporting them through the adoption process; • completing the necessary documentation and procedures to be approved as adoptive parents; and • giving them the necessary support as may be required.

At their first contact with the agency, the prospective adoptive parents are briefed on the adoption legislation and procedures. Then, a preparation course is provided. The course covers topics on attachments, loss, identity and background, multicultural adoptions and other related topics.

Documents including income returns, bank statements, a psychological

report, police conducts, blood tests and medical reports are required for the application. For the compilation of the home study report, the social worker visits the applicant/s at their home.

This report is then presented to the Adoption Board which, after evaluation, either approves for the adoption to proceed or does not approve the prospective adoptive parents.

Prospective adoptive parents can adopt either foreign or Maltese children. Judicial proceedings in both the foreign and Maltese courts are required for the adoption to be legally valid.

Adopted children are monitored by Aġenzija Appoġġ social workers who review their progress. In the case of foreign adopted children, this progress is reported to their country of origin.

ENSURING DRY NIGHTS Drynites Bed Mats with ‘Stick and Stay Put’ are designed for ultimate undercover confidence. Highly absorbent with waterproof backing, the new peel-off adhesive back sheets secures the bed mat to a mattress, keeping it in place for great night-long protection. Drynites Bed Mats are for children who sometimes wet the bed or simply for extra protection. Drynites Bed Mats offer the perfect solution for a comfortable night’s sleep.

DRESSING UP FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON It’s the most wonderful time of the year! This festive season, Mothercare offers a wide Christmas range. From Christmas jumpers, cute dress-up outfits, cosy novelty pyjamas and special party pieces, your little ones will surely be a total hit this Christmas.

Mothercare is open in Sliema, Valletta, Birkirkara, Fgura and Gozo.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018 49

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR YOUR PRESENTS Debenhams is your one-stop shop for perfect presents for every budget Mum and dad will love the wide selection of gifts for him and her, including grooming kits, skincare products, fragrance box sets, home décor and the latest fashion styles. Retro sweets and clever tech gadgets make spectacular stocking fillers and children (or children at heart) will go crazy for unicorn slippers, Harry Potter merchandise or Star

Wars robes.

Baby grows and bath sets are sure bets for new parents, while the popcorn and smoothie makers are the perfect match for the wide range of board games.

Hampers, chocolates and gourmet goodies remain Debenhams’ bestsellers and are sure to delight one’s favourite foodie friends.

Debenhams is open daily until Christmas at The Point and Paola.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTIONS Make this Christmas one they will always remember with the Next collection of Christmas gifts. From shownightwear, they have everything you need to make the big day even more special.

Next stores are found in Sliema, Valletta and at Arkadia, Gozo.

PLANNING THE IDEAL BEDROOM FOR YOUR CHILD Children spend a considerable amount of time in their bedroom.

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.

The three key ingredients for a successful kid’s/teen’s bedroom are 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 a child’s toys and games or the books and files of a teenager.

The Mundo Joven range offers various solutions on how to utilise and maximise the wall space available, using furniture such as corner wardrobes, bridge storage units, under bed storage and shelving units.

The study area, even if comprising of 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.

50 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2018

The Mundo Joven catalogue 2018 includes a find a variety of different desks to suit all spaces. It offers many colours, options and solutions, with more functionality and options for your children.

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 the room 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 in Mrieħel bypass, Qormi. Call 2149 9699, or visit quick-step.com.mt and rimobel.com.