Archive for November, 2010

by Joy Robyn Dembo, married, with an 18 year old son and a 25 year old daughter.  Addicted to the www, particularly Twitter. Recruitment Response Handling Consultant and Freelance Copywriter, vegetarian and animal lover.  Here’s her blog.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, due for release on 03 December 2010, is a whacky, fun-filled combination of comedy, romance and fantasy,  great for  teens and the early twenties, not for younger children.

Scott himself is your normal, every day “nice young man”, but through the use of video game fantasy, Scott’s world is transformed into a crazy, highly imaginative place.

Scott, played by Michael Cerra (of Juna and Superbad fame) is a 22 year old, who is between jobs, and plays bass guitar for a garage band named Sex Bob-omb.  Scott, whose heart was broken a girl who “kicked his heart’s ass”, is now dating a 17-year old Chinese School girl, named Knives Chau, much to the amusement of his younger sister, his friends and his colourful gay room-mate. But, suddenly, the mysterious and somewhat aloof,  pink-haired Ramona Flowers comes into his life and he is totally smitten!

Ramona, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (of Live Free or Die Hard fame) first appears in his dreams and then miraculously, in real life.  Against all odds, he manages to grab her attention, and convinces her to hang out with him, BUT…. The catch to winning this babe is that he has to fight and defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends, who have formed a League and are now out to kill him!

And, thus the film unfolds, with Scott being challenged to duel after duel to the death.  Each ex has some sort of super hero power and each fight is a kaleidoscope of video game showmanship, with each duel moving to a new level of difficulty. The exes include a Vegan Rock Star, an infamous skateboarder and a set of identical twins…and some big surprises that I am not going to ruin for you!

Does he get the girl?  Well, you will have to go and see the movie to find out!

The special effects are phenomenal, and as the writer, Bryan Lee O’Malley says, the story includes elements of Japanese comic books, indie and classic rock and video games, and merges these into everyday life experiences.  The result is a dual world of reality and abstraction. And, even though the characters are living in this part comic book, part Ninja, part Kung Fu, part Anime, part Manga world, they are still real kids, with real emotions and real problems and challenges.

In his own words, Director/Producer/Co-writer, Edgar Wright said that since his previous work had strived towards mixing the mundane with the insane, Scott Pilgrim had him hooked immediately!

It’s doubtful this movie will appeal to adults and it’s definitely not for young children, but I think that the teens and early twenties will love it, and relate to it, in a big way.

There is also a valuable lesson to be learned from this movie, and that is, with all things in life, you have to overcome challenges to get where you want to go.

by Corinne Lamoral,  freelance writer and media consultant, practicing part time corporate communications. She lives with her husband and three children on a koppie in Johannesburg where she pretends the distant hum of traffic is the ocean.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of plastic pushed at children over Christmas, head to the refuge of a bookshop and stock up on some of these favourites.

FANTASTICAL FLYING MACHINES

By Simon Wild and Timothy Knapman (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Wildly original and entertaining, this pop up book tells a rhyming tale of Sally and Jack’s great race and little fight against Baron Von Bang Bang’s dirty tricks.
Age: 2 – 6

THE  PIG’S  KNICKERS

By Jonathan Emmett (Walker Books)
When pig finds a pair of knickers he puts them on and feels special, making him sing and dance for all his friends. What happens when he loses them teaches about how the person, not the clothes make you special. The sight of a pig wearing polka dot panties had my 4 year old in fits of giggles and the punch line even more so.
Age: 2-6

THE TROLL -  book and CD

By Julia Donaldson and David Roberts (Macmillan Children’s books)
The latest book from the bestselling author of The Gruffalo was an instant hit in our house. Loosely based on the story of the troll who calls out “Who’s that trip trapping across my bridge?” this story features hungry pirates and clever creatures that manage to outwit the troll. The CD inspires you to read with great gusto and pirate pizzazz.
Age: 2 -10

MY FIRST BOOK OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN CREEPY CRAWLIES

By Charmaine Uys (Struik)
A new release from Struik’s excellent range of children’s nature books, this is a well-illustrated introduction to some of the 58 spiders, scorpions, snails, millipedes and other creepy crawlies (not insects) that your children are likely to encounter in their environment. All text is in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu.
Age: 2 – 10

BINK AND GOLLIE

By Kate Di Camillo and Alison McGhee (Walker Books)
Welcome to the adventures of Bink – who is tiny, impulsive and filled with enthusiasm and Gollie – who is tall, cool and uses big words. A charming friendship story with a really humorous storyline, the illustrations by Tony Fucile, who designed The Incredibles, add to the book’s originality.
Age: 6 -8

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Macmillan Children’s Books
With words and music for 25 classic carols including Once in Royal David’s City,Little Drummer Boy and We Three Kings, this is a great buy for the whole family.
Age: 6 and up.

A FAMILY CHRISTMAS – music CD

Putumayo World Music CD
Give your festive season a bluesy folk and jazz inspired feel with Putumayo’s roundup of Christmas classics like Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Jolly Old St Nick. My kids were initially unsure of these less recognisable versions of Christmas songs but once we put it on in the background while making dinner, it gave a fun holiday vibe. Good for grown up parties too.

provided byby Nikki Bush, a self-confessed parenting adventurer and mum to two boys. She is also an inspirational speaker, best-selling author, game designer and toy judge.   Her company is called the Bright Ideas Outfit. 

If you are going to be travelling on planes, trains or busses this holiday, or maybe you just want something that is travel-size that you can take out and play with when you get to your destination, then this selection of 28 travel-appropriate games and activites is for you. Each item has been chosen based on the following criteria: play value,  packaging,  size. price

Age guidelines have been included as well as sizes of items where possible. This is a while stocks last promotion so do get your orders in soon. Orders must be placed by 15 December at the latest to ensure deliveries before the Christmas shutdown.

ANACONDA R130.00

Age 7 – adult

Make or break the snake.  This brain teaser, perfectly packaged for travel develops logical skills, strategic plannning, visual and spatial perception.  Place all puzzle pieces together on the board and recreate the snake from head to tail.  100 challenges from easy to expert.   Solutions included.  Measures 15 x 15 cm.

APPLETTERS R185.00

Age 10 – adult

This beautiful apple-shaped package is a domino word building game.  You don’t connect the dots you connect the letters.  2 – 4 players, play anytime, anywhere!  When you create your word it must start or end with the starting or ending letter of a word already on the table.  That’s the only rule.  Simple!  Fabulous for building word power.

BENDAROOS R135.00 (Exclusive to The Bright Ideas Outfit only)

Age 5 to adult

Amazing, flexible building sticks.  Shape them, wrap them, stick them. A 500 piece mega set including 250 rainbow colour Bendaroos and 250 neon Bendaroos, these wax covered super strong strings make for hours of creative fun.  Create flat constructions or 3D ones, stick them on your windows or patio doors.  Use your imagination.  We have seen some stunning ideas at our Toy Talk events.  Create small packets of mixed colours to take to restaurants etc or while travelling to keep boredom at bay.  Brilliant for eye-hand co-ordination and a real see, touch and feel experience.  Fun for the whole family and great when lots of children come to play.  Size of actual box 25cm x 25cm x 22cm x 5cm.

BRAIN BOX MY FIRST ABC R150.00

Ages 4 – 7

Brain Boxes are brilliant for stimulating visual observation and memory skills.  Can you remember what you have seen.?You have a limited amount of time to memorise the card.  Throw the dice and answer the question on the reverse of the card that has the corresponding number.  2 or more players.

This is Brain Box My First ABC.  Looking at the above example, the question may be, “How many ants can you see?”, or “What colour is the apple?” , or “How many words start with the letter ‘a’ ?”. Great for strengthening comprehension skills.  15×15x15cm box.  For the car, just remove a pile of cards and secure with an elastic band.  Don’t take the dice and timer in the car.

BRAIN BOX MY FIRST PICTURE R150.00

Ages 4 – 7

An outstanding visual memory game.  Take a look the picture side of the card until the timer runs out.  Throw the dice and answer the question with the corresponding number on the back of the card.  You have to remember what you saw in order to answer the question, eg. how many teddy bears were in the picture, or what colour was the ball?  10 – 15 minutes a game depending on the number of players. Two or more players. Great for strengthening comprehension skills.  15×15x15cm box.  For the car, just remove a pile of cards and secure with an elastic band.  Don’t take the dice and timer in the car.

BRAIN BOX WORLD R150.00

Ages 8 – adult

With the increased interest in geography  among our children since the Soccer World Cup, this game is a must for any household. An outstanding visual memory game.  Take a look the picture side of the card until the timer runs out.  Throw the dice and answer the question with the corresponding number on the back of the card.  You have to remember what you saw in order to answer the question, eg. how many stars appear on the flag, or what is the name of the capital city? etc.  Great for general knowledge and strengthening observations skills. 15 – 20 mins depending on the number of people playing. Great for strengthening comprehension skills.  15×15x15cm box.  For the car, just remove a pile of cards and secure with an elastic band.  Don’t take the dice and timer in the car.

BRAIN BOX MATHS R150.00

Ages 9 – adult 

An outstanding visual memory game.  Take a look the picture side of the card until the timer runs out.  Throw the dice and answer the question with the corresponding number on the back of the card.  You have to remember what you saw in order to answer the question, eg. how many thermometres were there, or what was the size of the largest angle?  Covers a variety of mathematical concepts from fractions to decimals, geometry, volume, mass, temperature, time etc. Fabulous for observation skills – noticing detail.  15 – 20 minutes depending on the number of people playing the game.  Great for strengthening comprehension skills.  15×15x15cm box.  For the car, just remove a pile of cards and secure with an elastic band.  Don’t take the dice and timer in the car.

CHICKEN SHUFFLE R130.00

Age 6 – adult

The chickens are down at the farm and each chicken wants to sit on her egg, but that’s not as simple as it sounds.  You need to shuffle the chickens around until there is one chicken nesting on each egg.  48 challenges and solutions, transparent sliding puzzle with handy storage compartment.  Measures 15 x 15 x 5cm.  Perfect for travel, no loose pieces.  A one player game.

COLOUR WONDER WINNIE THE POOH R99.00

Ages 3 – 5

Oh wow!  36 pages of specially treated paper and 6 different colouredfat koki’s. However, the pens only work on the treated paper.  On any other surface they are invisible.  Colour in the pictures – only Winnie the Pooh version available – and find hidden treasures in the pictures.  It’s magic!

DINKIE BOOKS R25.00

Age 3 – 5

Lovely A5 size books that fit neatly into your handbag.  The following are available:

-  Dinkie mazes
-  Dinkie dots

FILO R250.00

Age 5 – adult

This light as a feather, beautifully and practically packaged eye-hand co-ordination acitivity will have your child engrossed for ages.  Under the age of 7 your child will just doodle, pushing the ‘pen’ which is filled with a lace, into the ‘holes’ on the rubbery board.  The holes trap the lace with no knotting required and voila, you are on your way to making a picture.  Comes with 18 double-sided pattern cards for older children as well as a complete booklet with even more complex patterns and pictures to copy.  Copying one of these pictures requires counting and spatial planning – a brilliant mathematical activity that also stimulates all the eye-hand and fine-motor co-ordination skills for good reading and writing.  Creating pictures with Filo exercises the tripod grip for handwriting and gives fabulous proprioceptive feedback to the brain via the muscles and joints.  “How hard do I need to push?” A very soothing and creative activity.  Great for travel, the size of an A4 page and 5cm deep.  All the ‘pens’, laces and pattern cards are stored in the plastic, basket-like container with a clip on rubber mat.

FINGER FUN R75.00

Age 6 to adult

Using the tips of your fingers move/roll the marbles into the corresponding positions to match the pattern on the task card by manipulating them through the holes underneath the marble box.  Comes wtih two perspex covered marble boxes and doubles side task cards.  Play against each other or alone.  Brilliant for eye-hand co-ordination and fine motor control as well as working in the midline as one would when reading.

GIANT DICE R40.00

Ages  3 to adult

Use these useful giant dice anywhere for a quick game.  Throw the dice and call out items the same colour or shape.  Play adding games or subtracting games.  Do times tables with the number and dot dice.   Get your littles to throw a colour and find the item that is the same colour or shape, for that matter.  Get them to count the dots and then pick you that number of leaves, or find that number of stones.  Make it really practical and fun for them.  The dice come in a set (one colour dice, one number dice, one dot dice and one shape dice) and each dice is 3cm x 3cm x 3cm x 3cm in size.  Don’t leave home without them.

FUN ON THE RUN BOXES™  R175.00

Parents swear by Nikki Bush’s popular Fun on the Run Boxes™ for when they are travelling or are simply out and about.  They contain a number of items which translate into 25 different activities which are detailed on the information leaflet inside the box as well as listing the skills being stimulated.  Now available in three different age groups:

1 – 3 years

4 – 6 years

6+ years

Don’t leave home without one.  If you haven’t attended Nikki’s acclaimed Parenting on the Run Workshop yet then make a New Year’s resolution to do so!

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR R120.00

Ages 3 – 6

This lovely little first card game, packed in a sturdy tin,  teaches the days of the week.  Each player is The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  The caterpillar must eat his way through the week to turn into a beautiful butterfly.  If you put down Thursday, I must put down Friday.  If I can’t but I have a wild card, I can put that down instead.    15 - 20 minutes a game. 2 – 4 players.

LONPOS COSMIC R140.00

Ages 8 – Adult

A compact brain teaser game perfectly packaged for travel.  Spatial planning, eye-hand co-ordination, this multi-award winning game will get your mind really thinking.  The irregular puzzle pieces train mathematical and logical intelligence in your left brain.  There are dozens and dozens of challenges in the booklet and eight levels of difficulty.  Arrange the puzzle pieces according to the picture in the booklet – there will be some open spaces.  Your job is to fit the remaining pieces into the spaces.   Measures 12cm x 9cm x 3cm.

MONSTER CASES R95.00 (only available in red with yellow fasteners)

These are the best cases for the car as they not only fit perfectly at your child’s feet between the front and back seats, but they make a great little ‘desk’ too.  Fill them with activities and games for the journey.

Monster Cases are also ideal for toy storage at home.  I have had 15 of them for 15 years and they are as good as the day I first bought them.  I have one for Duplo, one for Lego, another for playough, plastic food, army, cars, doctor kit etc.  See how I have marked them with masking tape and a thick black pen.  It makes tidying up together with your child very easy, and toy storage is neat and tidy as the Monster cases interlock.  Stacking on top of each other at the bottom of a cupboard, for instance, uses up wasted space.  The handles lie flat when required.

These cases are not always available and we have waited six months for this consignment.  Buy them while you can.

NO SPILL BUBBLES R45.00

Ages 1 – 7

It’s a miracle – bubbles that can’t be spilt!  What a win for parents of toddlers who’s first reaction to bubbles is to pour them out.  Once the bubble liquid is finished, just replace with any cheap bubble solution of make your own.  Putting the wand in and out of the No Spill bubble container is fine-motor, eye-hand co-ordination, and blowing builds the foundations for the ‘p’ and ‘b’ sounds.

OOPS! R175.00

Ages 7 – adult

50 logic challenges provide hours of fun.  Simon the magician has lost his hat.  Can you help him find it?  The rules are simple.  One piece moves one step, two pieces move two steps etc.  The hat does not move and the head must land up on top.  All pieces are stored in the sturdy plastic box which has a lid that very cleverly folds back on itself.

SCRATCH-A-DOODLE 15.00

Ages 4 – 9

These fabulous activity cards work just like a scratch ‘n win card.  You get two cards in a set with a scraper in the shape of a pen – fabulous value.  Scratch away the lines of the simple picture and reveal a shiny shimmery layer underneath.

SCRIBBLE & DOODLE PAD BOY  R99.00

Ages 5 – 9

An innovative activity pad that comes with a very special ‘finger crayon’.  Dozens of fun activities and some blank pages at the back for your own creative ideas. Something a little different.

SCRIBBLE & DOODLE PAD GIRL R99.00

Ages 5 – 9

An innovative activity pad that comes with a very special ‘finger crayon’.  Dozens of fun activities and some blank pages at the back for your own creative ideas. Something a little different.

SMART ASS IN A TIN R120.00

12 years to adult

Smart Ass is a general knowledge game:  who is it, where is it, what is it?  There are 8 clues on each card, you can shout out the answer any time you like.  If you are right you win the card but f you are wrong you cannot guess again until the next card is drawn.  Eg.

Who is the Smart Ass in your family? Find out in this fun and outragous card game.  Each Who, What and Where card has 10 clues.  As soon as you think you know the answers shout it out, no turn taking here.  But, if you are wrong you are out.  If you are right you keep the card. The player who wins four cards first is the winner.  105 questions.  15 – 20 minutes depending on the number of players.  Packed in a sturdy tin, 20cm x 12cm x 5cm

WORD MIXER R75.00

Ages 8 to adult

Roll this unique letter mixer in the palm of your hand and lay it on the table.  List up to 10 words on the notepad supplied using the letters on the dice. The first person to complete their 10 words shouts “Finished!  Each letter may only be used once in a word. The person with the most number of unique words is the winner, ie. no-one else has the same words.  Scoring is determined by the length of the words.  Determine how many rounds will be played. The person with the most number of points at the end of the game is the winner.  The unique Word Magic Mixer is closed ensuring that the dice can never get lost.  The box is 15cm x 15cm x 4cm but the actual mixer has a flat,circular 9cm circumference.

ZINGO TO GO R150.00 (exclusive to The Bright Ideas Outfit only)

Ages 3 – 7 years

At last, a travel version of the very popular  Zingo, a classic bingo lotto-type game.  Fun for the whole family but easy enough that children can learn how to play without adult supervision very quickly. A drawstring bag is supplied for easy storeage of all items in Zingo to Goa when travelling.  There are 9 ‘robots/traffic lights’ which click/snap together to form a bingo board.  Three traffic lights each means three players can play, two each means four players can play etc.  The little car contains two picture dice. Shake it and see how the dice land.  If you have the picture on your board make sure you shout out quickly.  Then turn over the disc so that the picture is face down.  The first person to turn over all his discs is the winner.  As children get older you can play the first to turn over a horizontal/vertical/diagonal line is the winner etc.  10 – 15 minutes a game.  Size of box is 16cm x 16cm x 8cm.

ENJOY YOUR SHOPPING. Email orders to info@brightideasoutfit.co.za now!Orders can be collected from us in Fourways or delivered to your doorstep anywhere in South Africa (delivery charges apply).

by Jude Foulston,  new mom, wife, entrepreneur,  friend and crafter who’s loving the challenge of trying to  keep it all together on a daily basis. She works for  TomorrowToday and is  the creator of jamtin– an online directory for all things handmade

Having recently returned back to work from maternity leave I realize how fortunate I am to work with a company who not only speaks to the New World of  Work, but who practices it too. I see the other mom’s on the tea party circuit faced with what can end up being a rather traumatic decision of whether to go back to work or be a stay at home mom, and realize how crazy it is that this decision even has to be made, and just how few companies are tapping into this valuable resource , aka ‘the mother’, to create a win-win situation for both employer and employee.

So here’s my suggestion, instead of insisting these mom’s should be at your office from 8am to 5pm, or even 8am to 1pm if they’ve been ‘lucky enough’ to have been offered a half day job, why not consider working on an outcomes based principal – and enabling the mom’s to work from home most of the time – having roaming desks for when they need to come into the office. All this isn’t a new concept, just concepts that aren’t used as effectively as they could be.

By offering this flexibility you automatically gain the full attention of the mother when she’s focused on her work – not distracted while she wonders what her precious bundle is up to at home with the nanny or how he’s coping at day care? This flexibility also gives back up to 2 hours that would have been spent in traffic – wasted. You will also gain the respect from these mom’s who appreciate you taking their needs into consideration and will reward you for that in return with the effort they put back.

Don’t get me wrong – I love the time spent some mornings with other mom’s where I can talk about all things baby, but I also love knowing that my opinion and talents that were appreciated and used before being a mom can still add value, and when I do work it’s without the guilty conscious of abandoning my child to go to work. I don’t feel that I work any less effectively than previously – in fact I would say my time management has improved drastically. Before Layla, 10 minutes was such a small piece of time, now if I have a free 10 minutes I can cross at least 6 things off my to do list, and if you think woman can multi-task well in general, wait until you see a mother multi-task!

The hours I work are no less than what they used to be – yes, I enjoy the odd tea party during the week, but technology allows me to check and respond to any urgent emails or queries where ever I am. My day doesn’t end at 5pm either – I have my laptop open at 8pm making sure my work is done for the day. It might not work for you, but it sure works for me and my baby, and the bottom line is, that it’s working just as well for the guys I work for as well!

By Justin Foxton, husband and dad to a 6 & 5 month old, a 10  & 4 week old –none his own yet. Founder of “Stop Crime Say Hello”  and a  crisis home for abandoned babies called  The Baby House.

Just 20 minutes after arriving we walk away from the Durban Magistrates court – 2.95kg’s of dirty, smelly, beautiful new born baby in our arms, only 17 hours old.

A baby born on the roadside and  left – still wet with afterbirth, her cord attached to nothing – to fend for herself.  She was picked up by the police and taken into custody to await her fate. They named her Junior Nqobile. Nqobile means “conqueror” in Zulu.  Junior? Well – they name all abandoned babies Junior.

In South Africa, there are 1000’s upon 1000’s of children who begin life as Junior. My wife was insistent that we change this immediately “how can such a pretty little girl be called Junior?” she squealed incredulously. So Hope was born.

Women who abandon their children are usually in a desperate position; sick or without support.  They abandon their babies in the hope that they will be found and given a better life; motherly instinct playing itself out in the most painful of ways.

In Hope’s case we immediately took her for her Rapid HIV test and found that her Mum had been HIV+. Mothers who know they themselves are HIV+, who know that they cannot breastfeed their babies and who are unable to afford formula, often dump their babies near clinics in the hope that they will be found and treated. In this case we were able to get Hope onto an Antiretroviral within the 72 hour window period. Mum’s likely plan for her baby had worked.

From the clinic we got Hope to her new home – a little crisis home for abandoned babies that we have set up on our property. As registered state crisis parents we are legally able to take in six babies at any one time. We have converted our old servant’s quarters into what my wife Cathy calls “The Baby House” – a most beautiful sanctuary of love and homeliness for these tiny lives.

Here the babies are loved and nurtured and restored to health. In fact the most important of the house rules for our team of wonderful caregivers is “love the socks off our babies”. We all do just that. They are kept safe and warm, clothed, fed, inoculated and medicated. They get to start their lives over again, staying with us until suitable adoptive parents are identified by Child Welfare.

After an intensive 6 week ARV treatment period we anxiously awaited the results of Hope’s blood tests. On Tuesday 10th August we got the news. Hope is HIV negative. She will lead a normal healthy life.

Hope. This is what our country does best. In the face of the most impossible adversity hope rises and with it comes creativity and the genuine will to make our nation a better place.

To get involved with this work please contact Justin Foxton justin@sayhello.co.za

by Nonkululeko Mbuli, a journalist writing for the  Rosebank  Killarney Gazette where this article was first published

Their Friday routine was to visit Parkview library, spend time at Zoo Lake children’s playground and, at noon, return for lunch at home a block from the park.

But an attempted child-trafficking incident has left a Parkwood family distraught. According to the childminder, a man approached her while she played with her employer’s three-year-old daughter at Zoo Lake.

“In English with a strong Nigerian accent he said, ‘Lets make a deal – you give me this child and I give you a lot of money,’” she said.

“When the tone of his voice changed I realised he was serious.

The minder pushed the girl behind her and shouted. A couple saw the commotion, came to their aid and the man sauntered back to his friends. The minder vowed never to return to Zoo Lake. “I never felt unsafe before. I can’t sleep at night, it replays in my mind

The child’s mother, a Parkwood resident for 20 years, was very concerned. “You don’t believe this can happen to your child. This is clearly a cartel dealing in child-trafficking. “My fear is how to keep my child and child-minder safe. If these men can’t buy a child, they’ll forcibly take a child.”She was worried about people loitering around the play area at Zoo Lake, and felt it might become a breeding ground for child traffickers.

Colonel Nanda Moodley of Parkview police said, “It was decided City Parks should beef up security in the park, while Metro police will patrol on weekends. I’ve suggested mounted police and plain-clothes officers.”

He urged caregivers to be vigilant.

Both Constable Bongi Mdletshe (Rosebank police) and Warrant Officer Kriban Naidoo (Hillbrow police) said they hadn’t heard of similar incidents in the Gazette area. “But we’re nearing the festive season and criminals are becoming creative,” said Naidoo. “Parents must be cautious and go the extra mile to protect their children.”

by Brendah Nyakudya,  a single mum to a 4yr old girl. Admittedly not the best cook, but loves exploring the outdoors with her little one. A political and social commentator she has just started a blog As I see it. During the day she works for management consultants in Johannesburg.

In many parts of the world, when you become a parent your first serious concerns are about  whether your baby will develop colic or take to the formula and when they’re older,  whether they’ll make friends at school and like their teachers.  Once they become teenagers, it’s  about peer pressure, drugs, drinking and teen pregnancy.

But living in South Africa these worries are secondary compared to what now keeps me up at night. As parents, the law and powers that be have let us down by failing to create a safe environment that protects us and our children.  The freedoms that were fought for in the struggle, have been denied us by criminals who prey on our communities daily – denying us the freedom to enjoy a life without fear.

I have turned into a paranoid parent who looks at everyone  with suspicion.  No-one is exempt from my distrust.  At home I worry whether my nanny can take care of my children without physically abusing them.  Around the complex I fear that the maintenance men could harm them.  At school my distrust shifts to teachers and fellow pupils.  Playing in the park no longer feels safe lest someone tries to abduct or buy one of them.  Shopping malls are potential havens for paedophiles and kidnappers. Sleepovers at friends are allowed with such trepidation for who knows what the sexual preference of the host father is?  Family is not excused either, for how many times have we read of the uncle that fiddles or in even more disgusting situations,  the father that sexually molests their child.

As a parent how do you not give in to all these fears and yet remain vigilant enough in a place where every single situation is potentially dangerous? I wish I knew.  Personally I have learnt to trust my gut, and every day try to teach the kids to always be alert ,  learn to say no and report suspicious behaviour.  Helpers and nannies always come recommended with references and we have forged strong friendships with our neighbours who help keep an eye on the children when we are not around. At any given time we know where everyone is and what they are doing…(long may it last). We are teaching the kids to defend themselves physically and  over and above all of this, we pray and ask God to protect us every day.

All this might sound extreme but this is the reality of our situation.  Ideally I want to wake up in a country where  my children need not  fear every stranger that comes near them.  I want to raise my children in a place where being hospitable and kind will not lead to their harm. I want a day where the village that is supposed to help raise my children is not full of predators that will rape and murder them.

Sadly for us South Africa is not that place and today is not that day.

by  Michael Marinus, an early thirties  dad of Megan(3) and James(1) who also works as a Chiropractor in Joburg You’ll find him on twitter @mikemarinus or visit his blog

Dear Student.

When I think of all the exams I wrote whilst at school and during my university days, one recurring theme comes to mind. FEAR. It was my worst enemy during these stressful times and it is only recently that I came across some information about this ‘fear’ state of mind that I wish I had understood when I was in your position.

We all go through a certain amount of healthy anxiety when faced with an examination situation but it is how we deal with this emotion that ultimately decides the outcome. If we let it get the better of us, our chances of performing at our best become impossible. Fear is a state in which the brain changes gears and looks for excuses rather than opportunities. Let me explain.

When you are confronted with stressful situations and you allow yourself to be sucked down by negative emotions to the point of fear, a part of your nervous system activates something called the fight or flight response within you. This is your body’s way of dealing with fear and leaves you in a state where you are constantly agitated, the blood is flowing to the wrong bits of you and you cannot think clearly. This dulls the part of your brain that needs to be sharp when studying and makes it almost impossible to retain information in a way that it can be easily accessed during the actual exam.

Now, how do we make sure that we don’t end up in this position? Fear’s greatest enemies are preparation and confidence. The more you prepare, the more confident you will become in your ability, its that simple. For those of you who tend to worry and put off studying, make sure that a big part of your preparation is learning to calm yourself before trying to study. Half an hour spent putting yourself in the right mindset is a lot more beneficial than three hours spent in useless agitation in front of your books.

Cramming is not preparation. Believe me, I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work. Preparation needs to be a constant process that puts you into a routine as you approach the exam date. It is a proven medical fact that your brain needs time to absorb information and to truly have something sink in, you need to have encountered it at least 17 times during your preparation. This is why, as boring as it may be to go over and over your work, it is necessary if you want to be able to retrieve it when you are sitting in that room and its only you and your thoughts versus the questions.

Good luck to you all, take your time to think about what they are asking and most importantly don’t rush to be the first one to finish. Look over the paper to check you haven’t missed anything and you’ll be just fine.

by Sally Shuttleworth , mother of Emily (6yrs) and Elliot (4yrs) highly values the support and advice of other mothers, since her mom died when Emily was 7 months old.  Sally co-owns  a company which manufactures and imports high quality baby/toddler products called Dizzy Dots.

Babies prefer routine and they tend to sleep better when they are in familiar environments with smells and things they recognise.

Whilst in the womb, a baby is lulled to sleep by his mother’s heart beat and he feels safe because he is tucked in tightly, a feeling we then replicate with the use of swaddling when our baby is first born. The continuation of this feeling of security helps your baby to sleep well, which then helps you set up a routine that works for the whole family (including a good night’s sleep for all!)

Once your baby no longer wants to be swaddled (at about 8-10 weeks old), baby sleeping bags provide a wonderful way to continue the feeling of safety and security that swaddling provides, and helps to establish good sleeping patterns that work flexibly with our every day busy lives.

When your baby gets to about nine months of age, having slept in a sleeping bag for a few months already, he will instantly recognise his sleeping bag, and he will know that it is safe to sleep and time to sleep. He has established that it forms part of his sleep routine. So, even if you are on holiday and aren’t able to bath him at the same time as normal, feed him in the same chair you always do, or lay him in his own cot, you are able to travel with one essential item that he will recognise and find calming, which provides him with the ability to fall asleep more easily on his own.

This sleep solution makes travelling with your baby, or taking him to friends for dinner, so much more practical and easier to face.

The relationship your baby forms with his sleeping bag is one from which he derives huge comfort and security, which means you can go anywhere in the world, and if your baby has his sleeping bag, he will sleep well. (and so will you….)

Your baby can use a sleeping bag from 4kg (Dizzy Dots offers one with a removable swaddle that you can use from birth), and they are available in different sizes and seasons right up to 3 years of age.

Tips when buying a sleeping bag for your baby:

Choose a simple and fuss-free design with an easy-to-use zip system that doesn’t expose your baby’s chest when undone (you don’t want to wake your baby up – just get to the nappy area)

Is it 100% cotton? Very important, so your baby’s skin is able to breathe at night!

Ensure that you have the right size sleeping bag and that your baby’s head is bigger than the neckline of the sleeping bag when fitted.

The thickness of the sleeping bag must appropriate for the time of year.

Never use a fleece sleeping bag or a sleeping bag with sleeves or a hood – your baby needs to get rid of excess heat when necessary.

Use a thermometer in your baby’s room to check the temperature easily.

Don’t stop using a sleeping bag in Summer – you may struggle to get your baby used to it again come Winter when you really need it. Plus, it protects your baby from mosquitos!

Visit the Dizzy Dots advert on Jozikids to find a range of baby sleeping bags to choose from.

By Freda Paxinos, an  educator and  authority on the use of dietary supplements in the effective treatment of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) in children. Read her blog

End of year exams are a very stressful time for pupils, students, and parents alike.

We all know this, but did you know that when we are stressed out, cells in our bodies can be damaged or even die? When we are uptight, our cells need more blood sugar than normal, to prepare the body to fight or flee! The adrenal glands release hormones that break down body proteins and convert them to sugar.  In addition, minerals are released from our bones, fat is mobilised and salt is retained.

If stress is prolonged, and our bodies don’t have sufficient nutrients to counteract the effects, glands can be destroyed. Usually, the first glands to be damaged are the lymph glands, which are essential for the production of antibodies. The adrenal hormones will then break down protein cells from the liver, kidneys and stomach and this is how stress precipitates disease.

However, if our bodies are being supplied with the essential nutrients needed to replace proteins, calcium etc, glands and organs will immediately be rebuilt. So, whilst we cannot eliminate stress, we can ensure that it doesn’t do irreparable damage to our bodies!

Since stress is rife in our lives, regardless of whether we are young or old, working or at school, health experts worldwide have predicted that stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia may be the biggest wellness issues facing us in the 21st Century.

So, what can we do to ensure that stress doesn’t kill us?

Firstly, we have to make time for ourselves! Everyone needs quiet time, time to think, time to meditate, time to engage in prayer, and time to put our lives into perspective.

By the same token, we need to make time to interact with people we love, people who care for us and provide the support we need to carry us through rough periods in our lives.

Daily exercise is critical and a good work out or even a short walk, will make us feel more relaxed and less stressed out.

Eating balanced meals, avoiding greasy junk food, and ensuring that our bodies are getting the nutrients we need is crucial.

And, of course,  getting sufficient sleep is vital to good health.

Having said all that, obviously, we can’t always do what we know we should be doing to manage our stress levels. There are, however, many stress beating supplements that will boost your nutritional defences and eliminate the harmful effects of stress.

As a Biology teacher, I have first hand knowledge of what stress can do to our kids, so please feel free to contact me if you would like any advice in this regard.