Archive for May, 2009

On Jozikids you will find  a company that organises Kids Martial Arts Parties

A birthday party guide for kids interested in Karate, Kung Fu and Taekwondo. Kick, jump, tumble and celebrate your birthday!
When my son, who’s been studying Martial arts for several years, requested a Kung Fu birthday party, I had to put my party planning skills to the test. First, not all of his friends took classes, so there were safety considerations. Second, at the time there were no products on the market to give me a helping hand. Another consideration was our limited space and whether I really wanted eight children kicking, jumping and Karate-chopping their way through the house.

Problems solved…
We held the party at his Martial Arts School. They hosted parties every Saturday and it was very affordable. This covered the space and safety considerations. I provided black and red themed party products, party favors, beverages and the birthday cake. They supplied the space, activities, martial arts demonstration, introductory lesson and even cut the birthday cake with a broad sword! The kids’ faces lit up when the sword came out!

Call a local Karate, Kung Fu or Taekwondo schools and see if this an option. It’s great marketing for their business.

I have children who never want to close their eyes at night.  They need a lot of help. We have to follow a very clear routine every night starting with supper and ending with a story and lying with them to help them feel safe.  The older one allows us to leave him but even then he will try to sneak reading a book instead of closing his eyes.

Does anyone have ideas about what one can do to help kids who never want to sleep to enjoy allowing themselves to relax into the wonderful rejuvenating world of sleep and dreams

The Course is designed and hosted by a pre-school teacher, and focuses on training your nanny how to mentally develop your child.The HELP AT HOME Childcare course focuses on the daily physical well being of your child. Whereas the new HELP AT HOME Mental Stimulation Course will focus on the Mental, Emotional and Social well-being of your little one.The course is run over a four week period, where your nanny will attend one class a week, one afternoon per week. The cost of the course is R1000.

The first 10 clients to book and pay for the course will receive a 25% discount, paying only R750 for the course.

Dear Editor of Jozikids

We all love taking our kids to restaurants that offer wonderful facilities in which our children can play, and the parents can have a meal “in peace”.  A concerning issue has been raised at the nursery school of my children.  A suspicious Indian Man is trying to lure small kids out of these play areas into his car (a Nissan Almera – TPJ 381GP).  The little girl in my son’s class almost went with this man, because he wanted to show her his little baby (he indeed have a 1 year old toddler in his car).  Her mother managed to run out of the restaurant just in the nick of time to save her child from being kidnapped.  When she confronted the man, he quickly jumped into his car and sped off.  An alert has also gone out at www.eblockwatch.co.za .  I implore you to take this threat very seriously.  Please, forward this information onto all of our branches.  So far he has been spotted at Mimos Pizza in Northriding and in Benoni.  Please let us be vigilant, and let us keep our children safe.  If you think this is a hoax, I promise you, it is not.  Please phone me on the below mentioned number should you have any further questions. If you could somehow use your platform to create an awareness of this, that would be great.

Thanking you for your concern in this very distressing matter.

Heike Niederheitmann

072 904 5871

by Tracey Samuel

I cannot get this out of my head! My daughter was nearly stolen last night! I feel like there is nothing I can do – but I must do something!

I live in Johannesburg North. Last night a friend took my daughter and I out for dinner. We went to the Mimmo’s in Northriding, the one on Bellairs Drive. We went there with the motivation that there is quite a nice big play center for our children to run around in. The play center sits right on the parking lot – but it is caged off very securely. Towards the end of the evening I heard my friend shout my daughters name when I looked up I saw my daughter leaving the play area and walking Into the parking lot. I then shouted her name, but she did not stop or even turn around. My concern was that she was heading into the parking lot and may be hit by A car. I could see headlights facing her, and assumed it was a moving vehicle.

I jumped up and started running to stop her. Once I had caught up I saw the headlights were coming from a stationary vehicle. A white car parked just on the edge of the play area but out of sight from the restaurant. There I was confronted with an Indian man, tall and slender, I would Guess late 20′s to early 30′s. He had a little girl with him which I assumed was his. A little Indian girl, I’d say just over a year old. I shouted at my daughter ” where are you going “. She was just inches Away from the open car door. She said that man said she must come with him and get in his car.

The man then muttered something to me and swiftly got into his car to leave.

I wish I had confronted him, I wish I had taken down his number plate, But it all felt so surreal, at that stage I still wasn’t sure what had actually happened. I just picked up my daughter and headed back to our table telling her She mustn’t go with strangers.

It still feels like it was a dream, it happened so quickly, had things happened differently she would have been gone forever.

On speaking to the children I am told that this man had been speaking to both my daughter and my friends son. They said he was very nice. He then asked my daughter if she would go with him to look after his baby. For those of you who know my daughter, that bate becomes even more sick. As we know that she would jump at the chance to mommy any baby. I also worry about that little girl the man had with him. Was that toddler even his – where was the mother. I don’t know, but I am sharing this story because I think we all need to be reminded to be vigilant at all times, to keep our eyes and ears open, especially at these restaurants with play arena’s.

At the end of the day we are very very lucky – I am in utter shock, but Am incredibly grateful.

Sincerely,

Tracey Samuel

I took my kids to Kiddies Chef in Mayfair to learn to cook REAL food, not only fast food and muffins. It was great they loved it. Each one got a little rucksack with supplies, an apron and hat. They learnt how to make pitta bread and fill it with salad and chicken. Even though they were given little tupperwares to take food home, needless to say there was nothing left by the time we got home.

In this issue we bring you lots that’s new on JOZIKIDS. There’s a new competition, new Mother’s Day events, new JOZIKIDS listings, events and holiday camps for the upcoming school holidays.

This week marks the start of our May COMPETITION. Check out the 9 new prizes ranging in price from R300 to R3000, all generously donated by JOZIKIDS listers.

Congratulations to the winners of the book prizes from our last competition. You will be contacted via email by us and a representative of Exclusive Book.

NEW LISTINGS

Click on the blue underlined headings to find out more. The red phrases refer to special offers.

ARTS/CRAFTS	Pottery Junxion Edenvale, One stop ceramic shop for supplies, wkps & parties. 10% discount on products purchased during wksps.
CHILD CARE	EduBabe, Placement & training of domestics, au pairs & childminders plus franchises available.
COOKING	Kiddies Chef Lenasia, Greenside, Laudium, Mayfair, cooking classes and birthday parties.
COSTUMES	Scrooge and Marley’s Costume and Equipment hire, Centurion, for costumes/ fancy dress, props, lights & dance gear.
DAY CARE	Opti-Baby & Opti-Kids Highveld Centurion, day care for babies & toddlers with web-enabled cameras in each centre.
EDUC GAMES	Puo Educational Products Educ. products in African languages with African images for kids 2-7yrs.
FURNITURE	Sunset Fun Children’s Furniture Gauteng, Kids space saving wooden bedroom furniture.
FOOD	Trimac Retailers Gauteng, Quality, fresh fruit & veg, delivered directly to your door.
HOLIDAYS	Galleon Nook Cape Town, Budget self-catering accomodation in Fish Hoek.
PARTIES	Party Designs Randburg, Roodepoort, Sandton, Party planners. Receive a free jumping castle when you book a themed birthday party for 15/more kids!
READING	Tina Cowley Reading Centre, Highlands North, Reading therapy for children w/learning problems.
THEATRE	Pretoria Youth Theatre Centurion, Acting workshps and kids theatre productions.

 

MAY/ JUNE EVENTS

ARTS/CRAFT	Smudge Art Centre Art activities, Craighall Park, Tues-Sun May 12-Jun 21.
ANIMALS	Shepherd’s Fold Stables Sunset outrides Jun 5; Camps Jun 29-Jul 1; Horse course Jun 16, Elandsrift.
BOOKS	Story Hour/ Storie-Uur at BOEKEHUIS, Auckland Park, every Wed afternoon. Free Book Readings, Kasabow, the Ultimate Kid’s Bookshop, Craighall Park, May 8; make Mother’s Day cards May 9.
BUFFET LUNCH	Family Sunday Brunch ,at the Hyatt Regency Hotel w/ kids activities, Rosebank, every Sunday.
CAMPS	Adventure ‘n Beyond Holiday Camp in Hekpoort June 28-3; Jul 12-17; Aug 2-7. BBK Trails Adventure Pony Camp Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga Jun 28-Jul 5; Jul 5-12; Aug 16-23,. Happy Acres Holiday Camp, Magaliesburg June 28-Jul 4; July 4-11. Horse Haven Holiday Camp, Kyalami, Jun 30 -Jul 3; Aug 25-28. Inkwenkwezi Teens adventure Camp, Drakensberg, Jun 29-Jul 4. Sugar Bay Winter Holiday Camps, Zinkwazi Jun 28-Jul 5; Aug 2-9; 9-16; 16-26.
COOKING	Little Cooks Club Holiday cooking workshops in May & Jun. uShef Cooking Courses for kids from 7yrs & domestic workers, Olivedale, in May. My Suite Hyatt Mini Hoteliers program, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Rosebank, every Saturday.
DANCE	The Happy Prince a kids ballet production by Ballet Bugs, Braamfontein Jun 23-26; Pretoria Jul 7-10
DRAMA	Star Quality Acting classes w/musical theatre, improvisation & more, Rivonia, every Sat. National Childrens Theatre Challenging, innovative & stimulating theatre wksps, Parktown, every Sat.
EXPO	Baba Indaba Fun family outing, Pretoria, May 5-7.
FUN	YEESH! is One Year Old! Lots of fun activities, free gift for every child, Woodmead, Jun 9-21, excl Mon. Assumption Convent Fun Day, giant slides, jumping castles, food & flea stalls, Malvern, May 16.
HOLIDAYS	Swim w/ Dolphins Family Holidays, Halo Gaia Holistic Tourism, Mozambique,Jul 9-12; Dec 12-16.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMS	Kids Holiday Club 5 days of kids activities, Wilro Park, Roodepoort, Jun 29-Jul 3. Fame Academy Holiday Wksps-singing, acting, dancing w/professionals, June 29-Jul 3; July 6-10; Jul 13-17.
MARKETS	Body, Mind and Soul Fayre for holistic fun & entertainmt in Blairgowrie May 31; Edenvale June 7. Hazel Food Market , food products, kids craft classes & a jumping castle, Pta, Sat. mornings. Rosemary Hill Market w/ quality produce & kids activities, Pta East, 2nd & last Sun of mnth. Irene Village Market at the Smuts Museum, Irene, Pretoria, 2nd & last Sat of every mnth. The Rustic Food Market w/homemade and farm produce, Fourways, every Sun. blubird Whole Food Market for fresh produce, Birnam, every Sun. Jozi Food Market in Parktown North every Sat morning. Urban Midrand Market, for quality goods & kids activities, 1st Sat of every mnth. Craighall River Craft Market w/organic food, playgd & pony rides, 2nd Sat of every mnth. Bryanston Organic & Natural Market, food, crafts, kids activities, every Thurs & Sat, 9am-3pm. Crafter’s Market at Bokkie Park, Boksburg-1st Sat of mnth; Bunny Park, Benoni- last Sat of mnth.
MOTHER’S DAY	Footloose Trout Farm Mother’s Day Carvery lunch w/prizes for mom, Diepsloot, May 10. Secret Garden Mother’s day breakfast & lunch buffet w/ fun for kids, Fourways, May 10. Maropeng Mother’s Day Carvery, Muldersdrift, May 10. Tres Jolie Mother’s day breakfast & lunch buffet w/ fun for kids, Ruimsig/Roodepoort, May 10. 702 Mother’s Day Concert at the Johannesburg Zoo, Parkview, May 10. Zwartkops Quad Centre Moms buy 2 rides & get 2 free, Centurion, May 9,10. Ushef Cooking with mum, May 10, Olivedale. Keedo Winter Fashion Show for Mother’s Day w/ prizes to be won, Broadacres, May 9. Yeesh! Mothers Day free beauty gift & a rose, Woodmead, May 10. Friends of the rail Bela Bela – Mother’s Day trip to Marula Mountain Village, May 10. Smudge Art Mother’s Day Week -flower frames, Craighall Park, May 5-10. Indulgence Coffee Cafe home of Lollipops Catering, Mother’s Day Lunch w/ live jazz, Northcliff, May 10.
MUSIC	“Make a Note of It“Alfresco Musical Feast for families, St Mary’s School, Waverley, May 31. Music for Toddlers, Smudge Art Centre,Craighall Park, every Fri. Sundowner Music Concerts, at UJ Kingsway Art Centre, Auckland Park, every Mon.
NATURE	Stargazing at Maropeng with astronomer, Vincent Nettmann, May 23, Jun 11. Planetarium, shows & lectures, Braamfontein, Thur, Fri & Sat.
PARENTING	Bright Ideas, wkps by Nikki Bush for parents, Bryanston, Edenvale, Mar-May.
SCIENCE/TECH	Matric Month in Newtown to enhance and enrich the Grade 12 curriculum, Newtown, May 11-30. Sci-Bono Science Festival From evolution to exploring the universe for schools, Newtown, May 19-23.
THEATRE	Animal Farm by Sibikwa Arts Centre, Dance Factory, Newtown, May 11-30 excl Sun. Princess Magogo,opera, Nelson Mandela Theatre, Braamfontein, May 8. Cuban Ballet Stars perform at Aula Theatre, Pretoria, May 14,18 Othello Shakespeare’s tragedy about racism, love, betrayal, UJ/ Auckland Park, May 28-Jun 4. Pippi Longstocking, interactive kids theatre, National Childrens Theatre, Parktown, Jun 8-Aug 1 Coppélia by SA Ballet Theatre, Roodepoort, Jun 12-14,16,18-21,23-8. Sleeping Beauty Youth Theatre production at the Breytenbach Theatre, Pretoria, Jun 25-Jul 5.
TRAINS	Friends of the Rail, Steam train trip to Pretoria-Tshwane, Cullinan/ Bela Bela, Pretoria, May 30; Jun 16,21,28.
WALKS/HIKES	Check the calender every weekend for a list of regular walks or hikes in Gauteng. The National Zoological Gardens of SA (Pretoria Zoo) 5km Fun Run/Walk, 3rd Sat of mnth. Delta Park Walks Victory park, every 3rd Sun of mnth. The Zoo Trot at Johannesburg Zoo, May 17, June 14. Alberts Farm Walk in Greymont, 3rd Sun of every mnth. Melville Koppies Open Days, every Sunday. Melville Koppies West Walk , Westdene, 1st Saturday of every mnth. Sandspruit Walk in Rivonia, every Sunday. Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Mondeor, every 2nd & 4th Sun of the mnth. Petathon Walk A walk or run with or without a dog +-10km/ 550m, Hartbeespoort, Jun 20.
WORKSHOPS	The Genius of Water for Kids, Exploring the magic of water, Johannesburg, May 23.
YOGA	Revitalise Your Soul, Mom’s Yoga 5 week Series, Yoga Warrior, Rosebank, May 6-Jun 3. Yoga Child Yoga Warrior classes for kids, incl storytelling, games & music, Rosebank, May 9.

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