Child (November 2019)

The magazine for parents

CHiLD ISSUE 67, November 2019

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

STEM SUBJECTS CAR SEAT SAFETY

BULLYING

DIGNITY FOR EVERY CHILD

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CHiLD

Sponsored by Missio Malta

ISSUE 67 November 23, 2019

Contents

The best gift is you

Features 6 Values: The real spirit of Christmas 8 Rights: The key to good parenting 12 Education: Girls and STEM subjects 20 Activities: Alternative education methods 22 Safety: The best car seats for your child 29 Gifts: Christmas on a budget 32 Bullying: NGO initiatives 35 Recipes: Christmas sweets 38 Arts: Competition for students 41 Out and about: Christmas markets 44 Theatre: This season’s pantomimes

Regulars 49 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 Photo Sponsored by Missio Malta Contributors Jessica Arena, Ciara Attwell, Claudia Calleja, Sandy Calleja Portelli, Claudia Cini, Gail Fero, Giselle Muscat, Nicholas Vella Laurenti, Fiona Vella (Heritage Malta) Design Krista Bugeja Advertising Sales Amanda Gauci (tel: 2276 4332; e-mail: amanda.gauci@timesofmalta.com).

Popular wisdom – or common parlance – would have it that this is the season to be jolly. But is it necessarily so?

Parents and guardians will surely try their best to please their children but will the latest toy or gadget really make them happy? And what about children in families with poor means, those who are sick, bullied or abused, those living in institutions or shelters, children of immigrants, and children in less developed countries?

This edition of Child spares a thought for the latter, some of whom we can help by giving a humble donation. Missio, the international mission agency of the Catholic Church in Malta, raises funds for mission in Malta and around the world.

Through the generosity of benefactors, a number of children are leading a better life as one can read in two heartwarming stories in the following pages.

The proverbial ‘charity begins at home’ also takes on special significance at Christmas. Sometimes we get distracted by the material things in life and think we can give our children instant happiness by heaping gifts under the Christmas tree. However, children have other, more basic needs that money cannot buy, such as quality time with their parents or guardians.

Christmas is a time for families to pull together and create memories that last a lifetime. There’s no need for expensive gifts – and this issue gives some tips on how to stick to a budget – but doing things together, such as decorating the house, baking Christmas treats, visiting crib exhibitions or a local Christmas market, or doing some voluntary work, will surely put a smile on your child’s face. Remember, children love attention and feeling loved, so the best gift you can give them is yourself.

Festivities aside, Child looks at some other important matters, such as the lack of girls taking up STEM subjects and the need to buy a good car seat for your children. Another article looks at initiatives by Malta’s first anti-bullying NGO to tackle the problem which can target victims of any age but may have a particularly deep and long-lasting effect on the most vulnerable among us, children.

I wish you all and your families a blessed Christmas.

All rights reserved. © 2019 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 3

TITLE

DIGNITY FOR EVERY CHILD CLAUDIA CINI Over a decade ago, two little girls, Shorti and Vandoosha, came under the care of Sr Clara at the Marialaya Home for Girls, in India, after enduring abuse and exploitation. Shorti was begging in the city at the age of three, while Vandoosha had part of her ear cut off in the home she was sold to.

Fortunately, things have changed a great deal for these girls. Now, they are about to enter senior school, they are achieving good grades and they love to sing, dance and create art and craft. Shorti wants to become a doctor and Vandoosha wants to work in social services. More importantly, they’re both happy and healthy, and it’s all because of the dedication of Sr Clara and the Salesian Sisters at Marialaya in India. But where would they be without support?

Through a partnership with Missio Malta and the Sisters in Heide with her granddaughter Bridget Chennai, we have journeyed with these two precious girls for most of their at the time, weighed as much as an lives. On their behalf, we thank all our 11-month-old baby. Brittle bone benefactors. But there are many more syndrome had made her arms and legs vulnerable women and girls who need extremely fragile and she could not support today. We urge you to continue stand and support her own weight. helping us fund this partnership with Heide could not afford to dream of her global missionaries. With your help, precious girl ever being able to walk on together, we can make a difference. her own. At the age of 67, she feared for Bridget’s future.

Two years on, Bridget has gained Two years ago, Heide wanted only one some independence. Thanks to the thing for her granddaughter, indegenerosity of benefactors through pendence. Bridget, just seven years old Missio Malta, the Canossa Health and 1 CHiLD SEPTEMBER 2019

Shorti and Vandoosha with Sr Clara

Social Centre has provided Bridget with a wheelchair, increasing her mobility and reducing the burden on Heide. Now, Heide can dream of a brighter future for Bridget. This is one of the many ways in which the Canossa Health and Social Centre has supported the community of Tondo in Manila, Philippines, for over 10 years.

Together we’ve been there with them and we thank our benefactors for joining us on this journey. Through your support you can continue to ensure God’s love is felt by children like Bridget all over the world.

If you would like to help these children and others with similar backgrounds or to receive more information, do not hesitate to contact Missio on 2123 6962 or visit www.missio.org.mt.

VALUES

INVEST IN WHAT REALLY MATTERS THIS CHRISTMAS Child looks at three areas worth investing in this Christmas… and they don’t include gifts.

The hustle and bustle of the season would seem to indicate that Christmas is all about the gifts — getting them and giving them.

This is evidence by the fact that, when you are asked if you are ready for Christmas, you instinctively know that the questioner is wondering if you have purchased all your gifts yet.

There is no escaping the commercial aspects of Christmas and the reality that, at least in most homes, the opening of gifts is the dominant activity on Christmas morning.

But is this really what Christmas is about? Here are three areas beyond gifts that are worthy of an investment of your time and focus during the holidays.

1

Family Sure, you should select the best gifts possible to give to the ones you love. Long after those gifts are broken or collecting dust in a closet, though, the memories of shared experiences will live on.

Christmas is a time for families to pull together and create memories that will last a lifetime. Granted, in the case of broken homes, this can require some careful planning and compromising. However, it is always worth the effort. Aim to develop family traditions that you will look forward to year after year.

2

Friends There is no shortage of Christmas activities to occupy your time. Instead of just being busy, though, use these activities to invest in your friendships. As with your family, you can create memories with your friends that will enhance your relationships and move them forward.

While it is important to not intrude on family events uninvited, most people welcome some downtime among friends during the Christmas rush. See if you and your friends can reserve one or two evenings during the season to spend together with little or no added pressure or expenses.

3

Faith Christmas is primarily a Christian holiday. Whether you are a religious person or not, it is worth your time to become familiar with the history and meaning of the season.

6 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019

Otherwise, you will miss out on the rich heritage and symbolism of many Christmas songs, traditions and decorations.

Although it was not the first date used, December 25 was chosen by the Christian Church to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. Some ancient pagan religions may have had festivals around that same time of the year (usually connected to the winter solstice), but the Western world has long recognised December 25 as a Christian holiday.

All churches offer special services in the run-up to Christmas, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to observe the Nativity of Jesus. You can also visit various crib exhibitions during this time of year, which will surely please the children.

Do not allow another Christmas to pass by without investing in what is truly important. This year, intentionally create opportunities to focus on family, friends and faith. It may take some discipline and may require you to say “no” to some expectations but the payoff will be worth the sacrifice.

RIGHTS

THE KEY TO GOOD PARENTING The birth of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was born in Geneva 30 years ago, on November 20, 1989. Nicholas Vella Laurenti says that by probing the significance of this legal text ratified by 194 countries, including Malta, parents can develop a keener understanding of their children, hence their role as parents.

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RIGHTS he key to good parenting is not some special skill we as parents need to possess but is rather a simple yet profound knowledge of those whom we parent, our children.

For the past 30 years, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has been this key. To unlock the deeply practical meaning of the Convention, let us first read and mull its title back to front.

Starting from the word ‘child’. What is important here is not so much the definition of child, which is given in Article 1 of the Convention as “….every human being below the age of 18 years….”, as the choice of the singular versus the plural form of the word, that is child, not children.

This means that we cannot mentally lump children together into one or many groups and view the child as just a number within this or that group. Rather the Convention invites us to look at and treat each child as unique.

Moving backwards to the word ‘rights’.

The rights enshrined in the Convention are fundamental, meaning that every child has them just by virtue of being a child. This means that no child should ever be at the mercy of his or her lot in life and that each child should have sufficient opportunities to develop to the maximum of his or her potential irrespective of the social background he or she is born and raised in.

These rights are bestowed on the child by none other than the united nations of the world, which have come together, or convened, for this very purpose. Therefore, the ultimate source of the rights of the child is higher than any national authority and it is not for any such authority to choose whether or not to grant these rights.

So where do we as parents fit in all of this?

The answer can be found in Article 5 of the Convention which upholds and calls on governments to respect the “the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents… to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognised in the present Convention”.

Our job as parents is to guide each and every one of our children in the direction of his or her rights, such direction being unique to each child. Furthermore, this article adds another important piece to the complex puzzle of the real nature of children, namely the idea that the child is a doer or agent, not a recipient, of his or her rights.

This means that in the journey towards the rights of the child, we need to guide the child as much as we should be guided by the child’s evolving consciousness and mastery of his or her unique self, his or her unique personality, inclinations and abilities. To do this, we need to be ready to learn from the child and grant “the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being

T

given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.” (Article 12) Unfortunately, this awareness hits against a number of cultural barriers that parents tend to put up in their dealings with their children.

The first barrier tends to challenge and undermine the uniqueness of the child by tracing back the child’s physical and mental characteristics to one or another of the child’s parents or other ascendants. One often hears parents celebrating their child’s prowess in a particular activity, like sports, as just like their own, or, conversely, bemoaning a weakness in the child’s character, such as laziness, as like that of the child’s other parent. The truth is that while there are natural similarities between children and their parents, each child is unique and different from his or her parents and siblings.

When these differences are recognised, a second barrier is put up by parents who fail to accept them, judging the views, preferences and characteristics expressed by the child negatively simply because they do not conform to their own or because, rightly or wrongly, they are afraid their children will suffer. By doing this, parents cause untold harm to their children, who react either by suppressing their differences or rebelling against the parents’ authority.

Providing ‘appropriate direction and guidance’ to children, as the Convention invites parents to do, means that parents recognise and accept without prejudice the unique make-up of their children and help them develop their individuality.

By way of example, it is every parent’s duty to encourage his or her child to pursue education diligently beyond the age of compulsory schooling.

In so doing, however, the parent needs to take heed of the child’s particular talents and abilities and guide the child to follow an educational pathway that will develop these talents and abilities to the maximum of their potential.

For instance, a parent should be aware of his or her child’s gift for dancing or for helping others and guide the child along a pathway that leads the child to developing his or her theatrical or altruistic talents and pursuing a career in dance or the care professions.

The classic heart-wrenching film Dead Poets Society, where a boy commits suicide in the face of his father’s stubborn and authoritarian resistance to his son’s wish to become an actor, is a stark and poignant reminder of how wrong it is to oppose a child’s desire and determination to follow his or her path.

It is this simple interplay between being guided by the true unique nature of the child and guiding the child on a life path that enables the child to develop his individual nature that is the key to being a good parent.

“The parent needs to take heed of the child’s particular talents and abilities”

Nicholas Vella Laurenti is policy officer at the Office of the Commissioner for Children.

WWW.TFAL.ORG.MT CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 9

ESPLORA — WHERE THE

MAGIC OF SCIENCE

COMES ACROSS What is one of the most basic inclinations which enables learning to happen? How important is it in the learning process? And is it essential for meaningful long-term learning to happen? Curiosity. Very. Yes. For meaningful learning to Dr Jeffrey Pullicino happen, curiosity must be sparked.

Orlando Curiosity might have killed the cat but it also enables a child to be minds-on. We often speak of hands-on learning but how often do we give importance to minds-on learning?

At Esplora we believe that both active and interactive learning are important. Our core ideology is based on providing hands-on and minds-on tasks which foster 21st century skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and initiative – all of which are crucial in this ever-changing world.

An obvious question follows: how do you make a child curious? We cannot be presumptuous adults and think that we know it all, that we remember what it was like to be a child 20 or perhaps 30 years ago or that we know what it actually is like to be a child in 2019.

We might be very aware and knowledgeable of how children might feel in this day and age but if we really want

to engage a child and spark their interest and curiosity, then we need to be relevant, current, relatable and, above all, what we have to say or show must matter in the eyes of the child.

People often ask: “What do Christmas and carnival have to do with science?” At Esplora, we hold thematic events embedded in our cultural traditions so that we put science in a context which matters, is relatable, useful, attractive and of value to our visitors.

Whether Santa really exists or not has little relevance to Christmas at Esplora; it is a means and a story to enthuse and make visitors curious. Once visitors are on board this learning journey, we can then safely say they would be looking forward to explore anything from how the hydrogen fuel in rockets work, how certain things in nature can be invisible or can emit light through the use of microscopic organisms, as well as learn interesting facts and raise awareness about caribou.

In a way, one could say that at Esplora we harness the power of storytelling to bring the magic of science across from finding the answer to the question: ‘Who stole Santa’s gifts?’ through the use of forensic science, to the story of Leonardo da Vinci as one of the most renowned scientists and artists of all times featured in our Planetarium film Dream to Fly. Dr Pullicino Orlando is Executive Chairman of The Malta Council for Science and Technology.

THIS IS A PAID ADVERT

EDUCATION

READING GIRLS IN(TO) SCIENCE

Across the EU in 2015, women made up just one-fifth of all STEM professionals and just 17 per cent of ICT specialists. Sandy Calleja Portelli looks at the current situation and highlights the strong influence that media, including books, has on children’s ambitions and possibly the number of girls aspiring to become scientists.

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EDUCATION ow can a global shortage of scientists in general, and female scientists in particular, possibly be connected to children’s books? And why on earth does it matter anyway? The answer to the first question is “more easy than you may think”.

And it matters because innovation and research into areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) has been described as crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are aimed at eradicating world poverty by 2030.

In order to tackle the issues facing our world at this moment in time, we need scientists to develop new vaccines and medicines, new energy resources and find ways to manage climate change, to mention just three examples.

The demand for STEM professionals is expected to rise sharply worldwide and the EU is forecasting that Europe alone needs 20 per cent more scientists and engineers by 2025.

Unfortunately, global agencies are also predicting a shortage of people entering these fields in what Unesco is describing as a “global STEM crisis” which needs more children to embark on STEM careers.

Although we are missing scientists from all genders and ethnicities, there is an even greater lack of women from all backgrounds in science across the globe. Across the EU in 2015, women made up just one-fifth of all STEM professionals and just 17 per cent of ICT specialists and this situation is repeated across the globe.

The lack of women in science leads to an imbalance in the problems being identified as needing research as the female perspective is often lost or overlooked. It is also true that when most of the research and development team are men, the result is often centred around the male figure. One example of this bias is found in a recent

H

“The lack of women in science leads to an imbalance in the problems being identified as needing research”

trial of facial recognition software that was very accurate when identifying white men but much less so in the case of nonwhite men and all women.

Describing the lack of women in STEM as a problem that “matters for human rights, for inclusion, for sustainable development”, Unesco, several countries and major organisations have launched several initiatives aimed at encouraging girls and women to dream of a career in science and technology. These include ‘For Women in Science Awards’ organised by Unesco and L’Oreal, UN Women’s ‘Un-Stereotype Alliance’ and NGOs like the local MissInTech which aims to increase the number of women in IT in Malta.

Microsoft’s initiatives ‘Alice Envisions the Future’ and ‘Digigirlz’ as well as Vodafone’s ‘Code Like a Girl’ are also available here. These initiatives all serve to encourage girls and women

who are already interested in STEM to take that interest further, but some experts identify girls’ lack of interest in this arena as being the major hurdle to increasing the number of women in science and technology.

The question of why girls do not see themselves as scientists, engineers, computer programmers, etc, is one that occupies the attention of leading experts and academics and nobody has yet identified a definitive answer.

However, a Unesco report issued in 2017 identified four main barriers that discourage women from engaging with science and technology: the learner, family and peers, school and society.

According to this report, the main reason girls choose to opt out of STEM is the perception that they do not belong in the field and that this perception is reinforced by pressures from family, schools and the attitudes of their society.

Researchers in the UK recently published the results of a nationwide CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 13

EDUCATION

survey into what children aspire to be when they grow up and concluded that “children cannot dream of being what they cannot see”.

In this report, the students’ ambitions were mainly limited to jobs they encountered in their daily lives (teacher, police officer, doctor, nurse, etc) or in popular culture (actor, footballer, singer) which highlights the strong influence that media, including books, has on children’s ambitions and possibly the number of girls aspiring to become scientists.

Since most children are unlikely to meet a scientist or engineer in real life, the scientists they see on screens or in books are possibly the strongest influence on their ideas of what a scientist might be like and the type of person who can become one.

Unfortunately, the stereotypical image of the brilliant but mad scientist, who is usually an older white man, socially awkward and totally devoted to his work, is unlikely to be a role model which young girls dream of copying. Although it is impossible to know how deeply children are influenced by what they see or read in the media and in literature, it is safe to assume they are influenced to some degree.

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“The stereotypical image of the brilliant but mad scientist... is unlikely to be a role model which young girls dream of copying”

According to Roberta Seelinger Trites, a leading academic in children’s literature, the books children read or have read to them influence their ideas of who they are and what they can be and do, especially as they start to mature. And this is how children’s literature is connected to the global shortage of STEM professionals, especially women.

If we consider that a career in science, technology or engineering could be something our children could imagine for themselves and that the books they read may encourage or dissuade them from at least thinking about it, then finding books in which girls and science are shown in a positive way becomes important.

Unfortunately, the shortage of women in STEM in the real world extends to the world of literature and there is also something of a shortage in the books published about women in science although the range of biographies and books of fiction with female characters is growing.

Of course, the old proverb about leading a horse to water holds true and a child may read countless books featuring women in STEM without ever being tempted to fill that role for themselves.

The most important aspect of these books is that they present the possibility of women being involved in STEM as perfectly normal which could lead to more little girls dreaming of becoming scientists and more little boys growing up to understand that this is indeed completely normal.

Recommended books − fiction Suitable for children under 3 Baby Loves Coding! and Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering!, both written by Ruth Spiro and illustrated by Irene Chan, are part of the Baby Loves Science series published by Charlesbridge.

I Want to be an Astronaut, written and illustrated by Byron Barton, published by Harper Collins.

EDUCATION Suitable for children aged 4-8 Ada Twist, Scientist and Rosie Revere, Engineer, both written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, introduce Ada and Rosie with big curiosities and an appetite for experimentation.

Maria’s Comet, written by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Deborah Lanino and published by Aladdin, is based on the life of astronomer Maria Mitchell.

Izzy Gizmo, written

by Pip Jones, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie and published by Peachtree Publishers, tells the story of Izzy the young inventor who tries to help a new friend.

Marvellous Mattie: How Margaret Knight Became an Inventor, written by Emily Arnold McNully and published

by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is the biography of Margaret Knight.

Suitable for children aged 8 and over My Robots: The Robotic Genius of Lady Regina Bonquers III by Johan Olander, published by Two Lions, invites readers to read through Lady Regina’s notebooks to discover the mystery behind her sudden disappearance.

The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series is a set of three books which

follow the fictional partnership of the historical Ada Byron and Mary Godwin as they come together to solve crime in Victorian England. Written by Jordan Stanford, illustrated by Kelly Murphy and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl

by Stacy McAnulty, published by Random House Books for Young Readers, follows the trials and tribulations of a 12year-old math genius, Lucy, who has always been homeschooled but must spend one year in middle school and make one friend before her grandmother will let her enrol in university.

Recommended books − non-fiction Suitable for children aged 4-8 Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine, written by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by April Chu and published

by Creaton Books (Ada Byron is credited with writing the first computer program).

I am Amelia Earhart, written by Brad Melzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopolous and published by Dial.

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya, written by Donna Jo

Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson and published by Simon & Schuster.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13, written by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Dow Phumiruck and published

by Henry Holt & Co. Suitable for children aged 7-10 Hidden Women: The African American Mathematicians of Nasa Who Helped America Win the Space Race, written by Rebecca Rissman and published by Capstone Press.

Lise Meitner: Had the Right Vision About Nuclear Fission, written and illustrated by Mike Valencia and published by Children’s Press.

Sally Ride The First Canadian Woman in Space, written

by Tom Riddolls and published by Crabtree Publishers.

Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall, written by Anita Silvey and published by National Geographic Children’s Books.

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

What makes Babylino Sensitive diapers so safe to use?

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 Maria Dalli.

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

www.pemix.com.mt

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 15

NUTRITION

MEALS TO BOOST YOUR CHILD’S IMMUNE SYSTEM THIS WINTER

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NUTRITION

Giselle Muscat gives some healthy eating suggestions to help your children get through the cold season.

A

healthy balanced diet may help the immune system to function at its best when the need arises.

Rather than loading on vitamin C when your children catch a cold, it is best for them to eat healthy throughout to get the body prepared in advance. The following ideas are packed with nutrient-rich foods to boost their immune system:

OATMEAL

This is a breakfast or snack which can offer so much to boost the immune system. Oats are extremely nutrient-dense and maintain a healthy gut. Use it as a base and add other ingredients: yoghurt (protein, calcium, vitamins and probiotics), berries (powerful antioxidants — prevent respiratory infections and improve digestion), almonds and sunflower seeds (vitamin E, fibre, protein, healthy fats and anti-inflammatory properties) and dark chocolate chips (contains theobromine, a powerful antioxidant).

SALMON AND SWEET POTATO

Combine them together into a fish cake or serve the potato as mash on the side.

Salmon is highly nutritious and a great source of omega-3 which has loads of health benefits. It also contains healthy fats, protein, B vitamins, potassium and selenium. Sweet potato is full of beta carotene, another antioxidant. You may add ginger for an extra boost.

FRUIT AND DIP PLATTER

Vitamin C is more important for prevention, rather than when already sick. Make a simple dip and let the kids dip nutrient-rich fruit and vegetables in

them: orange, clementine and kiwi slices, red bell peppers (these are packed with Vitamin C), pomegranate (has antibacterial properties), carrots, cucumber, etc. Ideas for dips include avocado and Greek yoghurt; peanut butter, kefir and honey; or garlic hummus (chickpeas are high in zinc).

CHICKEN SOUP

This is useful both as prevention and also during colds to ease symptoms and help get better sooner. It provides immune-boosting amino acids, minerals and water. Poultry, such as chicken and turkey, is also high in vitamin B6, zinc and iron.

SPINACH FRITTATA

Dark leafy greens are full of vitamins and minerals (including zinc), fibre and carotenoids. Combine these with eggs which provide high-quality protein and unique antioxidants, and you have a healthy meal that is quick to make and that kids will love. You may add mushrooms and garlic for an extra nutrient boost.

Don’t forget: Besides diet, there are other important ways to prevent getting sick: washing hands regularly with soap and water, exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep and taking the influenza vaccine.

For full recipes and more information, visit www.vanilla mummy.com and look it up on Facebook or Instagram.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 17

FLEXIBLE SEATING AT SAN ANDREA SCHOOL San Andrea School, limits of Żebbiegħ, has over the summer transformed the classes in the Early Years to learning spaces, seeking to give students ownership of their learning while revitalising classroom environments.

In a world that is rapidly changing, our classroom environments should be conducive to open collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. The traditional arrangement of desks does not always lend itself to these 21st century skills and, for this reason, flexible seating has been introduced in the Early Years.

Most can generally agree that children tend to seek and enjoy movement activities a lot more than us adults. The importance of providing our children with enough opportunities to experience physical activity and ‘movement breaks’ is nowadays common knowledge among the parent population.

Thus, incorporating a flexible seating arrangement aims at redirecting children’s focus on learning. The ultimate aim of all sensory chairs and cushions is to transform sedentary tasks into active ones, so that it helps children in getting the movement they are ‘seeking’ while sitting at their desk.

dynamic seating arrangements provide children with non-distracting, continuous movement stimulation during sedentary tasks, thus keeping the brain actively focused. It is particularly helpful for the active child, who finds it difficult to remain seated and who will often seek to engage in distracting or unsafe movements which is often not appropriate within a classroom environment.

Ordinary chairs have, therefore, been replaced by wobble stools, bean bags, stability balls and scoop chairs. Children move around and choose where they would like to work during different activities.

“Children are motivated, behaviour has improved and teachers are happier teaching in such a positive environment.

We are extremely proud to be the first school on the island to introduce this concept to our classrooms. Apart from the change in furniture, a change in the mindset of the teachers was required as the furniture is a resource to encourage a teaching methodology which promotes 21st century skills. I am extremely proud of our educators who are always so enthusiastic to embrace change,� head of School Stefania Bartolo said.

ThIS IS A pAId AdvErT

ACTIVITIES

CREATING LASTING EXPERIENCES AND MEMORIES

Drawing Birds and Bats PHOTOS: HERITAGE MALTA

Heritage Malta has teamed up with the Education Department to design a variety of thematic activities for the 2019-2020 scholastic year. Child learns about the value and scope of this collaboration. eing able to touch and see something is simply more powerful than just hearing or reading about it.

Inspired by this insight, Heritage Malta has collaborated with the Ministry for Education and Employment to design a variety of thematic activities which will cover the entire 2019-2020 scholastic year.

“All the thematic activities have been duly discussed with the heads of the Education Department and with a number of teachers to ensure that these are in line with the national school curriculum. Our main aim is to guarantee that these thematic activities reinforce what has been learnt at school through hands-on

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experience,” Vanessa Ciantar, senior executive at Heritage Malta’s Education and Outreach Department, said.

“Apart from collaborating on the design of the activity itself, the Education Department also lends teachers who, together with Heritage Malta’s staff, do their utmost to deliver a creative activity. This constant teamwork helps to improve the services being offered by the two institutions.”

Most activities tackle history and another subject or two, Ms Ciantar explained. In this way, the cross-cultural elements that can be studied within sites and museums is highlighted. This also provides students with a “different perspective to the past and to the sites and museums themselves”.

Students are allowed to experiment and learn by trial and error without bearing any real consequences. They also serve in the understanding of any potential gaps between theory and practice.

Studies have shown that when students prepare themselves for written exams, they tend to memorise the required information for just a short period and then the acquired data simply fades away. Retaining information can be a struggle, not just over long periods of time. There are situations when a student is taught something and forgets it almost immediately if it doesn’t sink in. Hands-on activities are proven to be more effective in helping students grasp better what they are taught.

ACTIVITIES

Creating Prints

Fort St Angelo: Running Between Present and Past

Tasting November Sweets

When the act of learning is transformed into a unique lasting experience which encourages the students to get up and move, do something meaningful, rise for a challenge or create something, a positive memory is instilled which gives rise to improved attentiveness.

A close look at Heritage Malta’s new educational programme will divulge a captivating list “Our main aim is to of very intriguing thematic guarantee that these activities. thematic activities Among these, one finds reinforce what has the activity Niskopru lĦlejjaq li Jgħixu Madbeen learnt at school warna (Discovering the related to through hands-on Creatures That Live Among traditional experience” Us) which is aimed at kinderfood and is garten students. This activity targeted at Year will take the students to the 5 students. The National Museum of Natural History in activity is delivered at Mdina in order to learn about the world the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa and of birds and bats. It starts with a story starts with a brief tour of the historical about a bat who gets lost and ends up building which also serves as the being brought up by a bird together Ethnography Museum. with the other baby birds.

Particular attention is given to The aim is to teach students about Maltese traditions, especially culinary diversity and acceptance, while showing ones, that are tied with the month of that strong friendships can grow November; the month of the dead. between two different beings. Students Students are then invited to watch will then be led to the bird section of the and participate in the making of the museum where different birds and their traditional sweet L-Għadam tal-Mejtin characteristics are pointed out to them.

(Bones of the Dead) which they can They are then invited to create a bird and bake and take with them to school. a bat, using feathers for one and fur for This activity focuses on why it is the other, so that they can understand important to keep traditions alive and the basic differences between the two. increase the knowledge about the Another activity, Induqu l-Ħelu ta’ origins of culinary delights and what Novembru (Tasting November Sweets), is led to their creation.

Even older students can attend these thematic activities. The activity Forti Sant’Anġlu: Ġirja bejn il-Preżent u lPassat (Fort St Angelo: Running between Present and Past), is directed at Year 8 students and is delivered at Fort St Angelo in Vittoriosa.

Students are split into six groups, with each group starting from a different station and then moving to the next ones.

Six stations are set up in different parts of the fort and each tackle varied themes, including circuit training and rope skipping (physical exercise), a brief tour of the fort (history theme) and the creation of prints of the skyline of Fort St Angelo (art).

The new educational programmes of thematic activities can be viewed on https://heritagemalta.org/learning2/educational-cultural-calendar/.

For more information, contact Vanessa Ciantar on vanessa.ciantar@ gov.mt.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 21

SaFeTy

Certified car seat adviser Rebecca Buttigieg with her son.

PHOTOS: CHRiS SanT FOuRnieR

Make your child’s safety while driving a top priority Rebecca Buttigieg was always interested in how the world works, which is why she graduated in mechanical engineering. Becoming a mother marked the beginning of a newfound interest ‒ in car seat safety. The mother-of-two tells Claudia Calleja how, what started as research spurred by personal interest, soon became a passion. Now a certified car seat adviser, she hopes to help educate people in Malta to choose safe car seats and use them correctly to ensure their children are always safe.

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SaFeTy What inspired you to take an interest in car seats? Why do you do it? i used to be an industrial engineer but when i became a mother, my focus shifted to the world of baby products. i didn’t even choose my first car seat – it just came bundled with the pram i wanted. When my son outgrew the first car seat and i came to choose the second car seat, i did some research and was shocked to discover i had made some serious safety mistakes, and that many car seats on the market were not really safe. a bit later, i noticed that someone in a Maltese mothers’ Facebook group asked a question about car seats. i didn’t know the answer, so i researched it. Four hours later, i had the answer. i kept on doing this, learning more and more. i joined the main car seat safety advice groups for europe and the uK on Facebook, carefully noting the advice given by the experts, and began reading academic studies about car seat safety.

One thing led to another, including me going to the uK for car seat safety certification accredited by the institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Meanwhile, i was invited to join a uK advice group on Facebook and now i have been volunteering in that group for a few years – we have over 60,000 members now. i started a Maltese page of my own and give a lot of advice for free on Facebook. i do it because i think that keeping children safe is really important.

That’s what keeps me going.

“Younger children should remain rear facing until at least the age of four, preferably longer”

Are all car seats safe? Are there standards?

There is a car seat standard that is maintained by the united nations economic Commission for europe (uneCe). The law of most european countries says: “Children must use a car seat that conforms to the uneCe standard.” The problem is that the standard is not very high and ignores safety advice from scientific studies.

Many car seats on the market are aimed at the cheapest market segment, so they tend to be as low quality as possible while still meeting the standard. They are only tested to 50km/h. i don’t think that’s enough given the speeds we use on modern roads. That’s why i prefer to recommend the “big names” in car seats who voluntarily design their car seats to higher standards. unfortunately, those seats are more expensive and, therefore, less popular.

What should people look out for when buying a car seat?

The main safety factor in car seats is rear facing, so the first thing to check is how long the car seat can rear face. People should check what weight their child is estimated to be at age four and that will show what rear facing weight they need. an average-sized child will need an 18kg weight limit to get to age four, but a heavier child will need a 25kg weight limit.

Parents should also look at the quality of the seat – the more flimsy a car seat is, the more likely it is to break, especially when forward facing. unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell how a car seat performs without crash testing but, in general, the big names tend to do better. There is a consortium of consumer organisations and car clubs who conduct crash testing twice a year of popular car seats and parents can check those results on adac.de (use an online translator unless you speak German!) or else buy an online subscription for the British organisation called Which?.

Till when should a child use a car seat?

The law says that children should be in, at least, a booster cushion until age 12 or 150cm tall, whichever comes first. This is quite close to the safety guidelines – cars’ seat belts are designed for adults who are at least 145cm tall, so most children have no chance of a safe fit until they are at least 10 or 11 years old.

The shoulder belt should touch and wrap down over their shoulder, not pass through the air in front of the shoulder or cross over the neck. The lap belt should sit flat on the upper thighs, not partly or fully up on the torso – that could cause severe internal injuries in a crash. if a 12-year-old’s lap belt or shoulder belt sits too high up, they should keep using a booster cushion until it sits properly.

Till what age should they remain rear facing? Why? younger children should remain rear facing until at least the age of four, preferably longer. The spine is like a tower CHiLD nOVeMBeR 2019 23

SaFeTy of Lego bricks – it’s really strong when you push down on it but when you pull on it, it’s easy to pull one bone away from the other.

When rear facing, the spine remains in line and there is very little “pull” on it. But, when forward facing, in a frontal crash the head flies forward and pulls on the neck. if the neck stretches too much, the nerves inside are damaged, causing paralysis or even death. at higher speeds, the skull pops off the top of the spine and that is usually fatal for the child because the spinal cord is so damaged that the brain can’t tell the lungs to breathe.

Some people think that rear-facing children might break a leg in a crash but, surprisingly, it’s actually the forward-facing children who break legs, as their legs swing forward and hit the front seats during a crash.

WHAT’S THE SITUATION IN MALTA FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE? in Malta there is very little awareness about car seat safety. in countries like the uK, the main problem is people misusing car seats, but here in Malta, the main problem is people not using car seats at all. it’s very common to see children and toddlers standing, kneeling and moving around in the back seat of cars, completely unrestrained while their parents wear seat belts because that’s what the wardens enforce and fine them for. a huge concern i have is how many children are driven around in just a seat belt and no booster. if the lap belt is sitting on a child’s belly, then it’s going to injure internal organs in a crash – it’s meant to be down on the lap. if the shoulder strap is tucked behind the child’s back because it’s uncomfortable, then that child is risking internal injuries and even a spinal fracture in a crash.

Many parents complain to me about the cost of a good car seat or about the hassle of strapping in children. a car seat is basically an insurance policy – if you’re never in a crash, then you’ll never need it. But if you are in a crash, it could save your child’s life.

“A car seat is basically an insurance policy ‒ if you’re never in a crash, then you’ll never need it.

But if you are in a crash, it could save your child’s life”

Is there a safety difference between Isofix and non-Isofix?

There is no safety difference between an isofix car seat and a correctly-installed non-isofix car seat. However, most nonisofix car seats are not installed correctly. Of course, there’s no point in having a car seat if you don’t use it safely – make sure that you read the manual and watch the installation video. install it according to the instructions and adjust the straps according to your child’s shoulders. Remember to adjust them higher as your child grows.

Small children tend to get their arms out of the harness. Is there a safe solution to this? it’s normal for children to go through a phase of getting their arms out of the harness. Pulling it tight only makes it worse. you should still leave enough slack in the harness for you to easily insert one finger between the child’s shoulder and the strap.

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The easiest solution is to join the two straps together. There are many chest clip devices on the market to do this but almost all of them are not safety tested. There is only one cliplike device that was designed and tested by a car seat manufacturer: the Besafe Belt Collector, so this is the one i recommend but unfortunately it’s not sold in Malta.

For more information, visit the Facebook page Car Seat Safety – Malta or visit carseat.com.mt.

GIFTS

Christmas on a budget Not everyone can afford to buy their children the latest toys or gadgets for Christmas. Many parents may dread not being able to give their kids what they want, but Gail Fero reassures them that choosing to have a budget Christmas does not mean you cannot have a fun and beautiful holiday. ot everyone can spend a lot of money on Christmas.

Once you start adding children to your family, ordinary, everyday things can become expensive, never mind holidays. However, it’s important to remember that for smaller children, they often do not fully understand the concept of Christmas.

They are learning from what they see around them and what version of Christmas you are bringing into the home.

Have discussions about it, whether or not you are pretending that Santa exists.

Implement a policy from a young age and refuse to deviate from it. While it can be tempting to give in and have those extravagant Christmasses you see on TV or among families

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around you, remember that you do not have to and it is not necessarily a good thing for your child. But choosing to have a budget Christmas does not mean you cannot have a fun, beautiful holiday with surprises and gifts.

Make the holiday about spending more time together as a family. Start new traditions or continue old ones. Young children love to get involved and are not yet at that age where parents “are not cool”.

Make Christmas cards together and make ornaments to give as gifts. Have your children help you make presents for each other or for siblings. This can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Your children would love to help and you can have a Christmas without the financial stresses.

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GIFTS Make Christmas about more than material items. Help your young children past the commercial greed that is constantly advertised. Volunteer with your children or make the holiday about family time and quality time. Expect tantrums or endless questions but just as you would with anything else involving kids.

They may want to know why they cannot have that expensive toy or everything they have seen on TV. Explain it to them in age-appropriate terms as best you can but also know that you do not have to explain yourself if you do not want to.

Sometimes there just isn’t a reason in life.

Do not allow the Christmas to be any more stressful for your family than it needs to be. There are more important aspects of Christmas than expensive gifts and giving your child everything they could want.

If you set expectations and lead by example, there is no reason why your family cannot have a budget but still very merry, Christmas.

What about older children?

As your children get older, it is your responsibility to help them grow into the adults you want in the world. While it is easier to start traditions with younger children and accustom them to what you want to be the norm in your family, it is never too late to start.

Christmas does not have to stretch you financially as you strive to meet the growing demands of your older children.

By now, your children probably have a good idea that Santa does not exist and that you are the one filling the stockings and stacking the gifts under the tree late at night. If this is true, having a budget Christmas can be even simpler.

This is your opportunity to teach your children about financial responsibility and introduce them to the idea that they cannot have everything they want in life, and that everything will not just be handed to them.

Have thorough discussions about the financial realities of your family, that sometimes you cannot afford to buy them the newest phone or the next game station.

In order to keep the holiday centred around family and give your older children more of a sense of responsibility for the festivity, introduce the idea of family presents. Everyone needs to give a gift to each family member, making it a more equal and less financially burdensome part of the holiday. If money is a problem for your children − or even if it’s not − require all presents to be handmade. That removes the money issue entirely.

Another idea to introduce into your Christmas is that of gift exchange. This radically reduces the amount of gifts required from everyone while presenting a game-like atmosphere.

Every member of the family provides one present, which is wrapped and left under the tree. Then, either by drawing numbers or assigning turns, each person gets to choose a wrapped present.

Once unwrapped, if the person does not like the gift they got, they get one traded for an already-opened present. This encourages a more general giftbuying experience and makes setting a budget simple.

Of course, this does not have to mean a Christmas with few or no presents. It just means changing the focus on your Christmas and helping your older children to understand the changes and the reasons.

There is nothing wrong with requiring your children to work for what they want in life or teaching them patience or delayed gratification. Christmas does not need to be the expensive free-for-all that it seems to have become. And you should not have to dread it for the financial burden it can be.

“Choosing to have a budget Christmas does not mean you cannot have a fun, beautiful holiday with surprises and gifts”

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Counselling

Finding the right tools to be brave The impact and long-term effects of bullying on the psyche of its targets is at this point known and well documented. Lingering in the lives of those affected long after their schoolyard days are over, the ways in which a person can be bullied have evolved in tandem with the means with which we communicate. Malta’s first anti-bullying NGO, bBrave, is working to empower people to break the cycle of the torment of bullying. Jessica Arena caught up with Amanda Lia to find out more.

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Counselling

espite their close proximity to you in daily life, it might be hard to notice at first that somebody you care about is being bullied. even in a family, it’s impossible to know of everything that a spouse or a child who venture out of home experiences. Bullying can be an isolating and damaging thing that makes it difficult for the person on the receiving end to relay that experience. it’s in this landscape that we find bBrave. Malta’s first anti-bullying ngo has been around for a few years but with a fresh look and the dial turned up on their determination, bBrave has ramped up the momentum on an outreach programme designed to reach anyone, but especially children, on every relevant platform.

“What we’re starting with is telling children to be more mindful of each other,” social media manager Amanda lia says.

“Bullying isn’t just physical or verbal abuse, it can be psychological, like intentionally leaving a person out for example. The reality is that this isn’t just something that happens in schools, it can happen in offices or the workplace. We try to tackle it from a young age so that it doesn’t repeat itself in the future.”

Having just spearheaded Malta’s first national anti-bullying week, with the theme of ‘Change starts With us’, the organisation’s primary focus has been an awareness campaign.

A core member of the london-based Anti-Bullying Alliance, which works on policy, resource delivery and training, bBrave is spreading its wings in not only raising awareness but also connecting those affected by bullying to resources where they can get help and working to reduce the bystander effect.

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“We want to impart the message that you shouldn’t be a bystander but an upstander and do something about it”

“We worked with a uK theatre company, two boards and a passion, to tour schools and try to educate in an interactive way how not to be a bully or a bystander,” Ms lia points out.

“Participating in bullying is worse, of course, but when you see this sort of behaviour and do nothing about it, it can be emboldening and just as bad.

We want to impart the message that you shouldn’t be a bystander but an upstander and do something about it.”

While the gravity of bullying is determined on a case by case basis, there are ways to reach out if you notice somebody being bullied.

Talking to that person and letting them know that you care are the first steps in breaking the sense of alienation that bullying may cause. Asking what you can do to help and getting help from a trusted adult are some of the safest ways to move forward from bullying behaviour. “it depends on the severity of the case but, ideally, there needs to be communication. it can be difficult but finding one trustworthy person when the bullying is at its worst and you don’t feel like you have anybody to speak to, it could make all the difference,” Ms lia notes.

“Today kids are online all the time, so bullying doesn’t have to be face to face, it continues when they’re at home as well. For a person to constantly go through that, it hurts, it has to be unbearable. This is why i believe that schools should have that one person of trust that anyone can walk up to.

Because the first step is to talk about it.”

While bBrave doesn’t currently offer in-house support services, they offer multiple resources online and can connect anyone who reaches out directly with trained professionals who can offer invaluable insight, advice and support.

CHilD noVeMBeR 2019 33

Counselling Today, under the patronage of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and together with two other ngos, ADHD Malta and the Autism Parents Association, bBrave will be holding an open day with support services.

Volunteer student counsellors will be on site for anybody to talk to and information sessions will be held about how to access support services.

“The first step is to talk about it” in their push to reach a younger audience, Ms lia says feedback so far has been positive, particularly through social media campaigns that targeted young users directly and empowered them to access resources available to them.

“We’ve had an amazing response so far, from schools and parents but also directly from Facebook and instagram,” she says.

ReCipes

FUN FESTIVE

BAKING We all love our Christmas logs, honey rings and mince pies, but wouldn’t your children love trying some alternative treats? The following recipes, courtesy of www.myfussyeater.com, are all easy to make and the children will surely love helping out in the kitchen.

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ReCipes GINGERBREAD BROWNIES Makes 9 Ingredients 100g coconut oil 25g unsweetened cocoa powder 2 bananas 150g apple sauce 1 tsp vanilla 2 tbsp honey 2 medium eggs 150g wholemeal flour ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground nutmeg 2 tsp icing sugar Mini gingerbread men biscuits

Method preheat the oven to 180ºC and line a 20x20cm baking dish with parchment paper.

Add the coconut oil to a large jug and melt in the microwave.

Mash the bananas well and add them to the melted coconut oil along with the apple sauce, vanilla and honey. Mix well and then add in the eggs and mix again. in a large bowl, add the wholemeal flour and spices and mix with a spoon. pour in the wet ingredients and mix just enough until the ingredients are well combined. pour the mixture into the prepared dish and bake in the oven for 18 minutes.

Remove and allow to cool for approximately 10 minutes before cutting into nine pieces.

Add the icing sugar to a small bowl or cup and mix with just a dash of water to form a thick icing paste. Use this to stick a gingerbread man biscuit to the top of each brownie.

Note: These brownies can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. They can also be frozen for up to three months.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHOCOLATE CAKE POPS Makes 8 Ingredients For the cake 100g unsalted butter at room temperature 100g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 medium eggs 100g self-raising flour 3 tbsp cocoa powder 3 tbsp milk For the decoration Red and white writing icing 2 packets (approx 75g) smarties handful of edible silver balls 8 candy canes icing sugar

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Method preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan. Grease and line a 23cm round cake pan with parchment paper. in a large bowl cream together the butter, caster sugar and vanilla extract with an electric mixer.

Add the eggs, one at a time and continue to mix. sift in the flour and cocoa powder and mix by hand. Add the milk and mix again. spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and flatten with a spoon or spatula.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cook in the tin for a few minutes before turning it out on to a wire rack to cool. it’s really important to let the cake cool completely before cutting it so that it won’t crumble. You need it to hold its shape.

Once the cake is completely cooled, cut it into eight triangles – in half first, then quarters, then eights.

Turn the cake triangles upside down for a flatter surface. Use the writing icing to create a string or tinsel effect and add a few smarties.

Then decorate with a few silver balls.

Use the end of a teaspoon to make a small hole at the bottom of the Christmas tree. snap off the curved part of the candy cane and insert that into the hole.

Finally, dust with a little icing sugar.

ReCipes

FROZEN GINGERBREAD HOT CHOCOLATE Serves 3 Ingredients 3 cups hot chocolate or hot cocoa, cooled 3 scoops vanilla frozen yoghurt or ice cream 1 tsp vanilla extract ¼ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground cinnamon cream and chocolate shavings to top (optional) Method place all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until well combined. Top with cream and chocolate shavings and serve immediately.

CRANBERRY AND ORANGE PIES Ingredients 300g fresh cranberries (or frozen and thawed) 300g peeled, cored and diced red apples (approximately 4 small apples) 150g caster sugar 2 oranges, juiced ½ tbsp orange zest (from the orange skins left over) 1 tsp vanilla 2 x 375g sheets of ready-rolled shortcrust pastry 1 tbsp cornflour 1 tbsp water Method preheat the oven to 200ºC. Add the cranberries, apples, orange juice, orange zest and vanilla to a large saucepan.

Bring to the boil and then simmer for 10-12 minutes until the cranberries and apples are breaking down. You can use a potato masher to break them down further.

Meanwhile, roll out the two sheets of pastry. Use a 9cm round pastry cutter to cut out 15 bottoms for the pies. Gently press each of them into muffin trays. Use the remainder of the pastry to cut out 15 star shapes for the top.

Makes 15

Mix the cornflour and water together in a cup until smooth. Add this to the cranberry mixture and cook for another two to three minutes until thickened.

Divide the cranberry mixture between the 15 pastry cases and bake in the oven for approximately 15 minutes until golden brown around the edge. Allow them to cool a little in the tin as the filling will be very hot, then put them on a wire rack to cool completely.

While the pies are cooling, place the pastry stars on some greaseproof paper on a baking tray and bake for five to six minutes until just starting to brown around the edges.

Remove the pastry stars from the oven and place them on top of the pies.

Note: These pies can be served straight away or kept in an airtight tin for up to three days. They can also be frozen. Allow them to cool completely and then place on a tray or plate in the freezer. When frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or container and store in the freezer for up to three months.

Defrost at room temperature. if you want to warm them, heat them gently in the oven or microwave.

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ARTS One of the finalists of the 2019 edition of the Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize – Let Me See by Julian Micallef, San Andrea Senior School

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ARTS

Award aims to highlight local artistic talent The third annual Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize was recently launched in Malta. The award aims to celebrate the importance of art in the education system and recognise the quality of work that can be produced by local students. ll secondary schools and colleges in Malta and Gozo have been invited to participate in the third edition of the Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize by nominating and submitting five of the best artworks produced by their students. Of these, 12 pieces will be shortlisted and three winners will be chosen.

The winners will receive monetary prizes for themselves and their schools during an award ceremony to be held towards the end of April 2020.

The competition was launched by Sovereign Trust (Malta) Ltd, which forms part of the worldwide Sovereign Group, in association with The Sovereign Art Foundation.

The foundation is a charity established in 2003 by Howard Bilton and funds projects using art as education, rehabilitation and therapy for disadvantaged children throughout the world.

Since its inception, the foundation’s art award has become the largest in Asia, and the charity has raised over $6 million for charities worldwide.

The Sovereign Art Foundation has run student prizes in Hong Kong, Singapore, Bahrain, Mauritius, Portugal, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. “Sovereign Trust in Malta is again very proud to support The Sovereign Art Foundation,” Stephen Griffiths, managing director of Sovereign Trust (Malta) Ltd, said.

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“It is becoming a firm fixture on the Malta arts calendar"

Another 2019 finalist – Holding Onto Freedom, Leura Natalie Ysabelle Garing, St Clare College

“Last year’s students’ prize was an even bigger success than our first year and the prize continues to provide an international platform on which to showcase art from talented students across Malta and Gozo.

“We are delighted to be involved with the third annual Schools Art Prize. It is now becoming a tradition and a firm fixture on the Malta arts calendar. We hope this year’s prize will gain more interest and participation from both schools and the public at large.

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ARTS “Art continues to play a vital role in fostering creativity and building confidence within young adults. The foundation aims to use the prize to encourage artistic talent and showcase the efforts of those talented students in Malta, Gozo and beyond.�

Entries will be accepted from December 16 to January 10, 2020.

All works will be viewed by an international judging panel, which will consist of senior Sovereign personnel, including Mr Bilton, chairman of the Sovereign Group, Mr Griffiths and local artists.

Finally, the judges and the public will select three winners by either voting online or at exhibitions of the shortlisted works.

For more information, visit www.sovereignartfoundation. com/art-prizes/student-art-prize/malta/.

Speechless by Elisa Abela, GF Abela Junior College

Trapped in Freedom by Manuela Grech, St Michael Foundation

OuT AND AbOuT

Let’s go to the market The magical atmosphere created by Christmas markets is incomparable.

Nowadays, we can all experience this magic as markets are sprouting in almost every village. Many schools are hosting their own event as well. Here are a few you can visit with your family 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 The 11th edition of the San Anton School Christmas Market will feature a plethora of goods related to this festivity: from traditional decorations, gift-wrapping, home accessories, advent calendars, giftware, poinsettia and holly plants, chocolates, toys, books, children`s gifts, jewellery to gourmet foods, festive treats, jams and preserves, and many more original gifts and stocking fillers.

While the adults shop, the children may participate in various fun activities such as storytelling, Christmas cookie workshops and arts and crafs. They may also write their letter to Santa or pay him a visit in his grotto. The younger children will especially want to have a turn on the bouncy castles and go-carts in between activities.

The cast of the Christmas panto The Little Mermaid by FM Theatre Productions will give a small preview of their upcoming production.

Lunch, refreshments, mulled wine, traditional imbuljuta and other treats will be served during the day.

This is a San Anton School fundraising event.

Austrian-German Christmas Market November 29 to December 24 LaBranda Riviera Hotel & Spa, Marfa Local crafts on display in traditional Christmas huts, Christmas carols and a selection of Austrian-German dishes will make a trip to Marfa truly worthwhile.

The highlight will, of course, be the many traditional Austrian-German dishes that visitors will be able to taste, such as German sausages, spit-roasted

meats and beef goulash. There will also be home-made apple strudel, kaiserschmarrn (a sort of pancake), stollen (fruit bread), Christmas cookies and inhouse crafted gingerbread houses for sweet lovers.

Christmas Village 2019 From November 30 at 4pm to December 1 at 5.30pm San Ġorg Preca College Guardian Angel Secondary Education Resource Centre The school is once again hosting its Christmas village where one will find traditional decorations, home and hand-made accessories, cards, giftware, books, toys, children’s gifts, jewellery and many more gifts for sale.

Kids will have the opportunity to take a photo with Santa in his own workshop.

CHiLD NOVEMbER 2019 41

OuT AND AbOuT There will also be a train ride, a bouncy castle and several other activities for all children.

Food, refreshments, mulled wine, coffee, mince pies, Christmas logs and other delicious cakes and items will be sold.

Entrance is free of charge and pets are welcome. This is a Guardian Angel Resource Centre fund-raising event. hilltop Gardens Christmas Market November 30: 2 to 8pm December 1: 10am to 6pm Hilltop Gardens, Triq l-Inkwina, Naxxar Over 20 local artisans showcasing handmade jewellery, accessories, clothes, ceramics and décor will take over The Crescent lobby at Hilltop Gardens for two days of festive cheer. One can also have some mulled wine and enjoy the spices, crafts, candles and cakes on display. the Sliema Christmas Market From December 6 at 4pm to December 8 at 10pm Bisazza Street, Sliema The Sliema Christmas Market, hosted

by Times of Malta, will feature a wide range of stalls selling seasonal gifts and decorations, local produce, homemade goodies, crafts, jewellery, last-minute gifts, seasonal food, mulled wine, organic wines, drinks and much more.

All outlets in bisazza Street will also be open. Entrance is free.

Christmas at the Fort December 6, 5 to 11pm December 7, 9am to 11pm December 8, 9am to 8pm Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa Heritage Malta is transforming Fort St Angelo into a unique Christmas village.

Visitors can enjoy a walk around the specially-decorated fort, join a Christmas-themed guided tour or buy a gift for their loved ones.

A number of Christmas-themed workshops and activities will be taking place throughout the three days, including traditional Christmas cooking activities for kids, art activities, a talk on traditional crib figurines (pasturi) and a children’s choir.

Traditional Christmas-related food and drinks will also be available. Some 42 CHiLD NOVEMbER 2019

stalls will offer artisan gifts while Heritage Malta will present a series of special offers on its various publications.

For more information, visit www. heritagemalta.org. enchanted Village Christmas Market December 6 from 4 to 9pm December 7 & 8 from 10am to 9pm San Ġwann Primary School The San Ġwann Primary School Market is putting on its second Christmas market. Apart from stalls, there will be various activities for all the family. Children will have the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Santa, take part in various activities and have fun in the kids’ area. Entertainment will be provided on the main stage and there will be traditional food and mulled wine on sale.

Malta Artisan Market Christmas 2019 From December 7 at 10am to December 8 at 6pm Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar The stunning 18th-century palazzo will host the Christmas edition of the Malta Artisan Market. Local entrepreneurs and creatives will be selling unique products such as arts and crafts, ceramics, candles, woodworks, hand-sewn goods, filigree, jewellery and accessories, knitwear and crochet as well as Christmas treats made locally. The market promises to showcase a variety of eclectic, authentic goods either handmade or originally sourced as well as quality artisanal products made or styled in a unique way. Entrance is free.

Natalis Notabilis From December 11 at 6pm to December 15 at 11pm Rabat centre The fourth edition of Rabat’s Christmas village will see around 90 stalls selling goods related to Christmas in the heart of town, while historic buildings will be hosting various Christmas-related activities.

Among other attractions, there will be a Nativity Trail at the Franciscan Friary’s secret garden and a large crib exhibition.

The youngest of children will have their own Christmas village, titled Natalini. eco Christmas by eco Market Malta From December 21 at 1pm to December 22 at 6pm

MArketS CloSe to hoMe Most localities in Malta will be hosting a Christmas village this year. Look up the following events on Facebook for more details.

Mqabba: Milied fil-Misraħ għal Puttinu, from November 29 at 7pm to December 1 at 5pm Birżebbuġa: Milied filpjazza, November 30 to December 1 Żurrieq: Milied f’Bubaqra, November 30 from 5 to 11pm Marsascala: Milied Skaliż, December 6 to 8, from 5pm onwards on both days Mġarr, Malta: Suq talMilied, from December 6 at 5pm to December 8 at 8pm kirkop: Gigantic, December 7 from 5 to 10pm and December 8 from 10am to 8pm Attard: Villaġġ tal-Milied f’Ħ’Attard, December 7 to 8 Mosta: Christmas Village, from December 12 at 5pm to December 15 at 7pm Mellieħa: Milied Mellieħi, from December 19 at 7pm to December 22 at 11pm Żebbuġ, Malta: Milied Żebbuġi, from December 21 at 1pm to December 2 Swatar, Birkirkara: Christmas Village 2019, December 22 from 8am to 11pm

Magazzino Hall, Valletta Waterfront Visitors to the Eco Christmas market will find the most innovative, contemporary and sustainable gifts of any kind: from household and housewares, toys, books, fashion and accessories, to personal care products and artworks.

There will also be give-aways, contests and freebies and vegan savoury, sweet and drinks vendors on site.

For more details, visit https://ecomarketmalta.com/21-22-december-2019/.

PROMO

THE PERFECT BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS

M

i lied Imħawwad is more than just a book. It is the healthier equivalent of opening a window of an Advent Calendar each day – instead of a chocolate, there’s a story, a beautifully illustrated chapter which comes with no sugar rush attached.

Milied Imħawwad is a classic tale of Christmas wishes and hopes. As all children in the world know, if you’ve been good, Santa always grants your wishes. But what a little girl in Sweden named Rutan really, really wanted for Christmas was a new friend. So she wrote Santa Claus a letter.

Which is how, one day in December, a very strange creature popped up in her room: a blue creature who needed Rutan’s help to get back to his home.

And this is Milied Imħawwad: the story of Rutan’s Christmas. It’s a sweet, touching Christmas story about inclusivity and how love and friendship can conquer all.

It is the perfect book as a Christmas present, for both children and grown-ups, because of its very original advent calendar format. It has 24 chapter-stories, so children aged eight and over can read one each December night leading up to Christmas, starting from December 1 to the 24th.

Younger children can rope in the help of their parents for some bedtime reading. Grown-ups will enjoy it too as it gives a little snapshot of Christmastide in Sweden.

In fact, it was this Swedish spirit of Christmas which drew University of Malta professor Ġorġ Mallia and artist Marie Louise Kold to the original book in Swedish, En Klurig Jul, written by Ingelin Angerborn.

Mallia and Kold were so taken in by the imaginative story and its nudges towards, that they translated it into Maltese, adding a glossary at the back of the book specifically to explain Christmas traditions. It has been published locally by Merlin Publishers.

Milied Imħawwad is available for sale from all leading bookshops or directly online from merlinpublishers.com.

THEATRE

IT’S PANTO TIME! Child gets the lowdown on the main Christmas pantos being staged this Christmas season.

The main cast of The Little Mermaid – A Panto Under the Sea

The Little Mermaid – A Panto Under the Sea FM Theatre Productions FM Theatre Productions’ take on the beloved fairy tale follows Ariel, King Triton’s feisty mermaid daughter who loves going to the surface of the sea which, of course, is forbidden by her dad. Her best friend is Doreen, a forgetful fishy character who drives everyone nuts including, of course, Ariel’s nanny, Dame Bormaljotta.

On the surface, Prince Rubinu is off on a quest to search for his father King Barbakannella who hasn’t returned from his voyages.

Meanwhile, the evil sea witch Ursoola Minnofs, is planning her takeover of the underwater kingdom with the aid of her two minions, Morina and Skorfina. Will she succeed? Will Ariel get her wish? Will the Dame get herself a hubby? Will Triton get his daughter to obey him and will Rubinu find his dad?

Will Fairy LE manage to beat the sea witch? Is there life on Mars? Is there life in Malta?

The cast is led by Edward Mercieca as the Crustacean Dame, Katherine Brown as the evil cephalopod Ursoola Minnofs, Chiara Hyzler as the hilarious Doreen, Nikki Cassar as the feisty Ariel, Tezara Saliba as the swashbuckling Prince Rubinu, Karen Decelis as this year’s rather cool Fairy LE,

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THEATRE Antonella Mifsud and Maria Cassar as the two bungling Eels, Renato Dimech as the grovelling Captain Barbuljatu, Joe Depasquale as the rather bulky Triton, and Adriel Camilleri as Bosun Ċikku Flieles as well as a chorus of sea creatures, zombie pirates, sailors and various flotsam and jetsam.

The panto is directed by Chris Gatt, with musical direction

by Kris Spiteri and choreography by Luisa Fenech Conti.

Analise Cassar is the vocal coach.

The panto is being staged at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta on December 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 and January 2, 3, 4 and 5. There will be two shows daily at 3 and 8pm except for December 23, when there will only be one show at 8pm, and January 5, when the panto will be staged only at 3pm.

For tickets, visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt.

Rodney Gauci as the Dame in Aladdin: IlPentow bil-Malti

Alexander Gatesy Lewis in the title role in Aladdin: The Original Panto

Aladdin: Il-Pentow bil-Malti Kumpanija Teatru Rjal

Aladdin: The Original Panto MADC This year’s MADC panto takes the audience on a magical trip to the Orient to tell the story of the poor young Aladdin, who goes on an intricate journey peppered with fun and funny characters, spirits, genies, music, dance, drama and magical rings and lamps to get his wishes fulfilled.

The script is written by Alan Montanaro, who returns to play the Dame. The production features a cast of over 30 actors and dancers directed by Michael Mangion, choreographed

by Francesco Nicodeme and led by musical director Ryan Abela, with lavish costumes designed by Isabel Warrington.

The production also stars Stephen Oliver, John Montanaro, Alexander Gatesy Lewis, Jasmine Farrugia, Noel Zarb, Matthew Manfre, Joseph Pavia, Karl Bartolo, Chaya Fenech, Carly Zarb, Coleen Genovese, Megan Attard, Nicole Sciberras, Andrew John Sciberras, David Bartolo, Gianluca Bianco, Kurt Gabriel Meli, Mariosa Pavia, Rhea Fenech, Martina Farrugia, Emily Abela, Luke Galea, Gareth Fenech and Brandon Vella.

There will be performances on December 23 at 7.30pm, on December 26 at 3 and 7.30pm, on December 27 at 7.30pm, on December 28 at 3 & 7.30pm, on December 29 at 3 and 7.30pm, on December 30 at 7.30pm, on January 3 at 7.30pm and on January 4 at 3 & 7.30pm.

For tickets, visit www.madc.com.mt.

The evil Jafar plans to take over the kingdom of Asthmaba, where development and construction are the order of the day. And he is keen to destroy all trees, in order to increase the sale of inhalers.

Aladdin, a small-town crook, ends up embroiled in the ordeal and meets Jasmine. He soon finds the magical lamp with its Genie named Dame Evgenia. The future of Asthmaba thus ends up in his hands.

The show is written by Rodney Gauci and is directed by Ray Abdilla, with choreography by Clayton and Daphny from the Kinetic Dance Studio and musical direction by Conrad Briffa.

It is produced by Pawlu and Joseph Testa.

Mario Cassar will star as Aladdin, Michela Galea as Jasmine, Louis Andrew Cassar as Jafar and Mr Gauci as Dame Evgenia.

The Maltese panto will be staged at the Catholic Institute in Floriana on the following dates: December 22 at 10am and 4pm, on December 26 at 2.30 and 7.30pm, on December 27 at 7.30pm, on December 28 at 7pm, on December 29 at 2 and 6.30pm, on December 30 at 7.30pm, on January 4 at 7.30pm and on January 5 at 6.30pm.

For tickets, visit ktrmalta.com or call 9999 4987.

L-Imbuljuta – A Panto in the Dark Spazju Kreattiv in partnership with Teatru Malta and Esplora After the successful first panto in the dark, Gawgaw, held last year, Spazju Kreattiv is teaming up with Teatru Malta and Esplora to stage another panto in pitch darkness.

Titled L-Imbuljuta, it is set three days before Christmas as a single mother of one tries to figure out how she is going to pay rent for December. Could the answer lie in a warm, aromatic drink?

The multisensory adventure features crazy twists and lots of laughs, with Chucky Bartolo making his return as Dame.

Performances will be held at Space C, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta, on December 14, 15, 17-20 at 8pm, 21 and 22 at 5 and 8pm, 23, 26-29 at 8pm.

For tickets, visit www.kreattivita.org.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 45

PrOMO

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

PRODUCT SAFETY AWARD FOR BABYLINO

Top Product Safety Award

by European Commission for Babylino Sensitive The Greek baby diapers Babylino Sensitive recently received the Product Safety Award from the European Commission.

In a special award ceremony in Brussels, the Commissioner responsible for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, awarded those companies which always try to offer something more in order to protect the consumers while placing children’s safety at the centre of their activities.

Babylino’s key pillars of safety are: • Careful raw material selection fulfilling the strictest criteria of absorbency and exceptional skin-friendliness; • Investment in extremely advanced quality assurance systems; • Advanced automated cameras (inspection cameras), which control thoroughly every piece separately in comparison with the model and the strict standards set by the Quality Control department; • Investments in state-of-the-art machinery; • Strict tests in internationally acknowledged dermatological institutions.

• Thanks to the high priority of Mega Disposables to proven product safety, Babylino Sensitive diapers were the first diapers in Europe to be Oeko-Tex® certified for the absence of more than 200 harmful substances.

Babylino baby diapers come in skin contact daily from the first moments of an infant’s life. And that is a huge responsibility for Mega Disposables. That is why maximum product safety is a non-negotiable promise from day one of the company’s operation. Mega Disposables firmly believes that when creating products that touch a baby’s skin, it has a responsibility to be as safe as possible. The company's commitment is to always provide the utmost safety to the most rightfully demanding consumer: the mother.

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THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF THE EU SAFETY AWARD Through the Product Safety Award, the European Commission wishes to inspire other companies to develop this kind of practice, increasing the level of consumers’ protection for the whole EU. Meanwhile, this award aims to increase consumers’ awareness regarding their right to find only safe products on the market.

The first edition of the award was open to companies from the EU member states, as well as from Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Entries received from 16 countries were assessed by a high-level jury comprising experts from government and consumer organisations. The award-winning companies were in total four medium-sized companies and four large companies from Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.

More information on the EU Product Safety Award can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/product-safety-award.

PROMO

Raising children and ensuring you provide them with the essential life tips is certainly not an easy job.

One of the greatest life lessons you can pass on to a child is teaching them the true value of money. This will pave the way to building strong moneymanagement skills that they will surely find handy as they grow older. They are also more likely to appreciate the value of what they have if they save up to buy the things they want.

Here are a few fun ideas that can help your child learn about financial responsibilities from a young age: Saving for a goal: You should encourage your child to start saving for the things they want. Use different envelopes, jars or shoe boxes and have your child draw pictures of what they want, then encourage them to start saving for it. This also helps them understand that it will take longer to save for some items rather than others.

Playing games: Younger children tend to learn more through playing 48 CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019

and games. There are a variety of games you can engage in that help children learn about money and spending.

Pocket money: By giving your child a specific amount of money regularly, they start making conscious decisions about what to spend it on, how to budget and save any remaining amounts.

Odd jobs and errands: Paying your child to do certain tasks around the house, such as clearing their rooms or washing the car, will teach them that money must be earned.

Setting a good example: One of the most effective things you could do is to let your child see that you practise what you preach. This can include involving your child in basic everyday financial decisions and regularly saving money yourself.

Teaching them ways to enhance their savings through financial institutions: Many banks allow children to open an account in their name to deposit their own money. Another option

would be to start a savings plan with a life insurance company. This enables children to have a better understanding of the savings process and to think about their financial responsibility in the long run, while maintaining control and oversight yourselves.

Mapfre MSV Life offers Child Savings Plans designed to help your child achieve their dreams. To find out more about how you can help your child start saving today, you can contact them on Freephone 8007 2220 or via e-mail on info@msvlife.com, or get in touch with one of their intermediaries. You can also visit www.msvlife.com for more information.

Mapfre MSV Life plc (C-15722) is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to carry on long-term business under the Insurance Business Act, Cap 403 of the Laws of Malta. Mapfre MSV Life plc is regulated by the MFSA.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

SHOPWINDOW

Need help? Life Line Malta is here for you

Reclining chair for mothers-to-be and more If you are expecting a baby, Fama’s Moonrise chair is just what you need. It will catch your attention but once you try it, you will fall in love with it. This concept of a recliner is different to everything else on the market. Its wide measures offer the possibility of finding a great variety of very comfortable positions such as lying up or on one side, embracing the cushion, etc. In addition, the mechanism is reclining, swivel and rocking. It is also available in XL size, so it is wide enough to share it with someone else. The reclining system works with a remote control and can be stopped in different positions. It also has two independent adjustable headrests.

The full range of Fama sofas and chairs are available from R Living, Mrieħel Bypass, Qormi. For more information, call 2149 9699, send an e-mail to info@rliving.com.mt or visit www.fama.es.

Season must-haves: sweatshirts and hoodies Girls will be spoilt for choice with Next’s range of stylish sweatshirts that include pastel tones, bold colours and fun slogans. The unicorn-themed hoodies are a super cute trend this season, while floral and characterinspired prints remain an all-time favourite.

Life Line Malta is a 24/7 online chat and helpline, supported by skilled listeners and professional counsellours, that provide a safe and confidential space for the mother, relatives or friends.

Life Line Malta offers free counselling sessions to mothers facing a crisis pregnancy arising from social and emotional issues, a negative prenatal diagnoses or healing from postabortion trauma.

Life Line Malta also supports men and other relatives involved in the life of the mother.

The services provided also includes the provision of baby clothes, maternity clothes, food or baby equipment.

Furthermore, Life Line has opened its first maternity home, Dar Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm. The maternity home together with Life Line Malta offers nonjudgemental care and support aiming to transform the lives of pregnant mothers and their pre-born baby in need of a shelter.

As an organisation it believes that by supporting and empowering women, both the mother and the baby can be saved.

Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm desires to bring hope and healing to all who come to the centre's warm, friendly environment and to help empower women to make life-affirming choices.

Children’s Fund and Children’s Dreams − supporting children in need Children’s Fund and Children’s Dreams are two separate initiatives within Aġenzija Appoġġ, both having the same aims: to assist, to provide opportunities and to put a smile on the face of several children who are currently using the services provided by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services.

The Children’s Fund is a collective voluntary effort which was created by Aġenzija Appoġġ staff to support children in need.

The fund, which is sustained through fundraising activities and donations, has managed to support thousands of children.

Multiple in-house activities by the employees are organised during the year in aid of these children, who are experiencing multiple difficulties and social constraints in life.

Besides efforts to offer encouragement and support, the social workers may determine that the children and their families need financial assistance to meet their

emergency needs. In these cases, the social workers make a request to the Children’s Fund for financial assistance.

The other initiative is Children’s Dreams, a project led by Lina Pecorella together with Aġenzija Appoġġ, which follows the footsteps of a similar project in Lithuania. This unique online project aims to fulfil the dreams of children whose families are facing various problems or are living in care. Just before every year’s festive season, children tell their respective social workers what is their wish and what they dream of having as a present for Christmas. Once all the children’s dreams are collected, they are published by the Children’s Dreams team on the project’s website www.childrendreams.org so that the public can choose from and finally turn these dreams into reality.

For more information, call the team on 9928 2198 or 2295 9266.

CHiLD NOVEMBER 2019 49

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

SHOP WINDOW Tailored nutrition range gets new packaging and logo The Aptamil tailored nutrition range underwent a change in packaging and logo.

The updated range now features a new Aptamil ProExpert logo and enjoys a refreshing image. Kindly note that the product formulation has remained unchanged.

For more information, visit https:// pemix.com.mt/news or the company’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pemix distributors/.

Baby diapers Diapers are not only a daily baby care product but also a way of living in a friendly, safe and sensitive environment. Certified by Oeko-Tex 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, visitwww.facebook.com/Babylino.Malta/ or www.pemix.com.mt.

How nutrition can support your child’s health

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Sprinkle the magic this Christmas with Mothercare Snowflakes, red double-decker buses, vintage styles, cosy jumpers and retro-feel coats − these are a few of Mothercare’s favourite things this Christmas. For a jolly look ideal for family lunches and Christmas gatherings, check out the full Christmas collection in-store now.

Mothercare is available at Sliema, Valletta, Birkirkara, Fgura and Gozo.

Malnutrition is very often underrated and like an iceberg, its threat remains hidden under its surface.

It is widely perceived as a condition related with death, which happens for instance during catastrophic events like wars or natural disasters, but for the majority, malnutrition affects a child slowly and silently, by delaying their physical and brain development, causing permanent delays and decreasing the immune system activity.

Indeed, very often, behind a frequent episode of infections, low growth rates, skin problems and poor cognitive development, there is a history of neglected malnutrition.

Malnutrition should not be confused with starvation and scarcity of food, but a complex combination of many factors such as: protein deficiency, fat or carbohydrates or even micronutrients deficiency like vitamin D, calcium, zinc and DHA, and it can come in all sizes. People with malnutrition could be both underweight and overweight.

Obviously, the majority of cases affect the first group, and eventually may cause a condition called ‘failure to thrive’ or even just a decrease in term of growth, that your paediatrician or paediatric dietitian identify as a negative “deviation” on the growth chart.

The second group does not show signs of stopping growing but still may cause brain development and cognitive system delays.

Malnutrition can also be related to other acute or chronic diseases that may interfere with the nutritional intake, absorption or metabolism of food, like celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cardiovascular problems, hyperthyroidism or cancer.

As mentioned above, malnutrition causes permanent growth delays. It is, therefore, crucial to intervene as soon as a symptom is noticed. Always seek the help of a paediatrician and paediatric dietitian.

Resource Junior is a high-energy 1.5 kcal/ml, ready-to-drink sip feed for children aged one to 10. It is nutritionally complete and provides the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat. It also includes a blend of fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, enough to satisfy your child’s requirements and can be used as a supplement or as a sole source of nutrition when needed.

Moreover, it has fibre, which is essential to prevent diarrhoea, to maintain a normal intestinal function and microbiome. It is available in two popular children’s flavours (strawberry and vanilla) to improve the palatability and compliance even in the long term.

Children’s Fund and Children’s Dreams Supporting children in need 9928 2198 or 2295 9266