Archive for November, 2011

]by Merle Dieterich, passionate mom and businesswoman whose 2 beautiful children, Lerato and Marvin never cease to amaze and teach her about what counts. You’ll find her at  jozikids.co.za

My son turned 14 this month and wanted a ( sure you’ll never guess) dreaded “disco party”of course. So of course I went in search of something appropriate on the party themes section of Jozikids and  found Candice from Superstar Disco Parties. Her offer was perfect. She promised a party which combines supervised party games, music, singing, dancing with her as DJ and MC and we weren’t disappointed.

First she created these fabulous customised invitations for Marvin which he folded into small scrolls and handed out to his friends creating a buzz a few weeks before the event.

Candice arrived on party day loaded with speakers, sound
equipment and the works which the boys helped her set up.
Then the dancing and games began with the girls and boys
competing, singing, moving and grooving.

The birthday boy was then given a lesson on how to be a
DJ and loads of fun was had by all.

By the time the parents arrived to fetch their offspring there was
no doubt that  everyone was ready for bed.  Thank you Candice for
helping to create a memorable night for my son’s 14th birthday.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

XMAS CAROLS AND MARKETS

Jacaranda FM Carols by Candlelight, Supersport Park, Centurion, Dec 6;
Montecasino Piazza, Fourways, Dec 8

In Pretoria
Pretoria Botanical Garden Green Xmas Night Market, Dec 3, from 4-9pm,
Pack a picnic blanket, bring your family and friends and come celebrate Christmas with us. Learn how to “Green” your X-mas in 2011. Live music, fresh food and drinks available, free pilates class, nature inspired and eco-friendly gifts

The Black Tie Ensemble A Xmas Concert, at ZK Matthews Hall Unisa, Pretoria, Dec 4 at 3pm, cost starts at R45 per ticket up to R110
The Concert will include much loved traditional carols & songs such as: Joy to the World The Twelve Days of Christmas Battle Hymn of the Republic, When a child is born Somer Kersfees O Holy Night The Holy City (Jerusalem), to name but a few. Come and experience the stirring melodies of the Festive Season, Dec 4

On West Rand
W.S. Botanical Gardens Moonlight Carols, Roodepoort, Dec 3, 6-9pm gates open 4pm
Come and join us as we sing the Christmas carols in glamorous fashion with the Mzansi Choir and Band, and march to the tune of the SA Irish Pipes & Drum to welcome the arrival of Santa Claus. The Botanical Society will sell candles and hand out song sheets. Light the candles and serenade the arrival of the Festive Season on a positive note. Bring camp chairs, picnic blankets and picnic baskets and enjoy the evening

On the East Rand
Lakeside Mall Carols by Candle Light, East Rand, Dec 3, 6 for 6.30 pm. Entrance is free
Xmas carolds to be  sung by Brendon White, Adrian Galliard and the Sweet Voice Vocal Ensemble to a spectacular Laser Light Show. lanterns will be let off into the sky as we make our Christmas wishes.Enter through entrance 1,

In Johannesburg
Dibuka and Alliance Française Xmas Flea Market on Dec 3, from 9am and its free

Dibuka and the Alliance Francaise invite you to the Christmas Flea market! Books, vintage clothes, artcraft, bric a brac,food, music and sales for the World Aids day. Story telling in English, Zulu and French

SPORTS PARTIES

Little Kickers SA
Organises soccer parties for little ones from 18 mnths to 8 yrs.The young party goers are  divided into teams, who play goal scoring games, there are obstacle courses and other ball games while the parents relax. The older ones play a game and the younger ones take part in a competition  In the end each kid gets a medal and certificate and the birthday boy gets a trophy. They have branches throughout the region on the East Rand, Centurion, Joburg, Midrand and the West Rand.

Archers of ZooLake
They will teach the group the basics, then organise a fun competition and play various types of archery games. Age: from 14 years onwards. Size: 10-15 people maximum, great for kids, corporates and team building exercises.

Action Sports Midrand & SandtonCricket, soccer, netball, volleyball and hockey parties in Midrand, Randburg and Sandton from 5yrs up to any age.  Play  supervised games with an official coach  and the parents can relax. For 16 kids.

You’ll find these and a whole lot more fantastic party ideas on www.jozikids.co.za on your computer or your cell phone.

by Joy 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. Visit her blog.

The action takes place long before Puss met Shrek, and is the story of how the Spanish Kitty Cat achieved notoriety, and ultimately became a hero!

Many of our favourite childhood fairytale and nursery rhyme characters come together, albeit with a new twist to their original stories, to make this adventure exciting and amusing.

The story starts when  Puss (Voiced by Antonio Banderas) escapes a bounty hunter,  and whilst having a drink (milk of course) at a local bar,  learns that the giant outlaw couple, Jack and Jill,  have managed to find THE magic beans he’s been looking for since he was a mere kitten!  Puss knows that these beans will grow into a massive ladder, leading to a giant’s castle in the clouds, where the mysterious golden egg laying goose resides, so he sets out to try and steal the beans from Jack and Jill’s hotel room, while they are asleep.

However, he unexpectedly encounters a masked cat in their room, who appears to be on the same mission. Neither of them manages to pull the heist off, but Puss has a massive surprise in store for him!  The masked cat, burglar Kitty Softpaws is a GIRL, (Voiced by Salma Hayek) and further more she  is involved with Humpty Alexander Dumpty  (Voiced by Zach Galifianakis), his long-lost childhood friend from the orphanage where they were both raised. He is enchanted by the gorgeous Kitty Softpaws, and the threesome set out on a rip roaring adventure, in search of the beans and the golden eggs!

There is a lot of adult humour in the film that will have the moms and dads giggling, but will fly over the heads of the kids. But, the story and the fabulous animation will be a treat for kids of all ages. And, all this in 3-D!

This masterpiece from DreamWorks Animation is directed by Chris Miller and produced by Joe M. Aguilar and Latifa Ouaou.

I know that the kids have been eagerly awaiting the release of this movie and I promise they will not be disappointed!

Classified PG, the movie hits the big screen on Friday, 03 December, just in time for the school holidays, so grab some popcorn and prepare for 90 minutes of fun and fantasy.

Reflections and reviews by a Swedish woman of Ethiopian origin living in South Africa.  Find her on her blog entitled, In the Words of Katarina

Richly illustrated by Maya Sereda, the book tells the story of Andile, the proud young owner of a kite that he made together with his father. On its virgin tour the string breaks and the kite sets off on a breathtaking journey across the African continent.

Gumede, who grew up without a present father, has written a warm and educational tale about a boy and his close relationship with his father; a theme of great importance in a society where so many children grow up fatherless.

A Kite’s Flight has been published in 9 languages – ‘n Vlieër vlieg oor Afrika (Afrikaans); Ukubhabha kweKayiti (isiXhosa); iKhayithi Elindizayo (isiZulu); Ho fofa ha Khaete (Sesotho); Go Fofa ga Khaete (Setswana); Phofo ya Khaete (Sepedi); Kundiza kweKhayithi (Siswati); Riendzo ro haha ra khayiti (Sitsonga), R85

In May 2011 A Kite’s Flight won the (American) Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Award, for best children’s book in Africa.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

Lets start with some party ideas. Every week we visit the party pages on Jozikids and find great party ideas, this week we want to tell you about companies that  come to your home with either a  science or a  creepy crawly party.

Creepy Crawly and Science show’s

A company called Creepy Crawly offers parties introduce children  to the fascinating world of insects and arachnids. They  bring live scorpions, Madagascan hissing cockroaches, various spiders, and the snake as a final surprise.  They’ll tell you amazing facts about these little creatures. Did you know that hunting spiders taste with their feet! The show is aimed at kids from 4 – 12 years old but parents are always just as enthralled.

They also do science parties with a science show where they make a fire volcano, turn sugar into carbon and rockets. Then the children get to do 3 experiments of there own.

Experilab

Another company called Experilab organizes Xplosive and Xciting  science parties! It’s slimy, it’s noisy, it’s super cool!  1½ hrs of explosive fun for 6 yrs and up.  The kids can make slime, fly rockets, launch balloons, build a steam car, make a motion detector…They also come to you

PARENTING EXPO IN JOBURG

At the Coca Cola Dome there’s the The Baby Expo MamaMagic Summer Show, starting on Thursday and running through until Nov 27You’ll find all the essentials you need from 0-6 years old. Over 400 amazing brands, expert advice, great entertainment and unbeatableshopping,  There’ll also be a panel of experts to review the latest toys on offer this Xmas at Top toy Favouriites from Nov 24-26

TopToy Favourites: a panel of experts to reviews the latest toys on offer this Christmas, 9-11.30 am Nov 24-26

XMAS CAROLS AND MARKETS

On Friday 25th
In Pretoria
Xmas Carol Picnic with Joe Niemand at Irene Village Mall from 6-8pm

In Midrand
Xmas Carols Market at Midrand Urban Market in Crowthorne,
where there’ll be Carols by Candlight and a market by moonlight. Take your picnic blankets and join in the carols and get all your Christmas shopping done too! Father Christmas, will make a special appearance

In Joburg:
George Hay Park Parkview
With over 70 stands to visit and diverse entertainment, from jumping castles, a climbing wall , an ice-rink, to Father Christmas making his arrival by flying in on a motorbike trapeze-style, bringing with him a very special passenger, the Christmas Angel, who will deliver a message of hope, peace and joy, Opens on Friday 25th at 3pm and ends on Sunday at 4pm

On Saturday 27th Johannesburg Zoo will turn on their Xmas tree of lights and bring your picnic blankets, baskets and families to hear the see the lights, hear and sing Carols . You’ll be able to buy your own globe and send your own message of love and memory for R50. This event has been organized in aid of Hospice Wits which will also be holding a Xmas Market on the Friday November 26 in Orange Grove

by Stefan Fouche, a 13 yr old boy who loves reading, has a strong imagination and dreams of being an electrical engineer one day.

The main characters in the series are Will Solvit, Zoe, Will’s Father and Mother, Grandpa Monty, Plato, and the mysterious letter writer.  The character I like most is Grandpa Monty.  He is a spy, and continually goes onadventures, and he makes the weirdest dinners.  I like the way the author uses Will’s character to demonstrate the traits of patience, love, peace, joy and courage in a practical way.

The descriptions of the series created a sense of being adventurous without fear within me.  I realise now that the new adventures are only experienced in unknown worlds or settings. I have also learned out of this series that life works out for every person according to decisions he makes, and that life trains our characters. A special feature of this series is the fact file in the middle of the book and decoder with every book.  This fact file needs the decoder to explain, and give interesting facts about the characters in the specific book.  I cannot wait for the next release to see if, and how Will Solvit finds his parents!

Age: 9-13yrs

Click here to find more information about  Will Solvit Mysteries ( retail price R49.95 each)
The series is available from all major book stores nationwide including Exclusive Books, PNA, Wordsworth etc.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

Its hard to believe that school holidays are less than a month away. Help!! I hear you say..  Well Jozikids has a fabulous, growing list of holiday sleepover camps and daily holiday programs on our special holiday page.

This week we want to give you a sampling of the range of sleepover camps on offer. If any of them interest you – they’re filling up fast – you need to get moving.

There are pony camps galore starting in the first and 2nd week of December ranging in length from
3 days Chartwell Stables (3 dys) pony camp in Fourways.
5 days Shepherd’s Fold (3 dys & 5 dys) pony camp in Elandsdrift, 15 minutes from Honeydew in Joburg
7 days BBK Trails (7 dys) pony camps in  Mpumalanga,

Then  a camps that focus more on nature and the environment  is Bushtrail Holiday Camps (7 dys) in the Magaliesberg

A beach holiday can be had with  Sugar Bay (7 dys) Zinkwazi Beach in KZN

You can also send your child to catch fish at a 3 day Kidz Fishing (3 dys) camp on the Vaal River

And a camp that seems to have been around forever which many of you  who grew up in this part of the world may remember is Happy Acres Holiday Camp (7 dys) in the Magaliesberg

Survivor and Action Parties

Every week we visit the party pages on Jozikids and find great party ideas for you. This week we found 2 action parties great for kids from about

Andy’s Action Parties
They’ll come to you anywhere in Gauteng and have a range of action parties on offer including -  Survivor , Army , Paintball , Space Explorers, The Amazing Race.

Survive or Race The Adventure
1. The Survive Party with survivor challenges, immunity and tribal counsel, 2.5hours . Challenges include life-size obstacle course, create war-cries, tribal face paint, mind games and more.
2. The Race Party, 2.5hours.  You and your partner race against other teams where you are confronted by detours, roadblocks, fast forwards, yields, intersections and u-turns- who will be the ultimate winner?

You’ll find these and a whole lot more fantastic party ideas on Jozikids on your computer or your cell phone.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

Kids baking and cooking parties

There’s a company called Dipped & Dusted that offers  parties, where your kids can have fun making chocolate goodies. Kids are given bowls of melted chocolate in 5 delicious colours – white, dark, milk, blue and pink.. They get dipping forks to dunk more – biscuits, jelly babies, marshmallows, into the chocolate. They will also be provided with a chocolate ‘mud pie’ to mould and ‘squish’ into shapes to be dipped into chocolate and decorated with various yummy toppings! Sounds like a fun decadent afternoon for those kiddies. They also do corporate and team building events.

A-Z Creative Entertainment does fabulous pizza parties. They come with this incredible original clay pizza oven which they plonk in your garden plus freshly made dough, sauce and toppings. Each child is decked out in an apron, given a rolling pin and off they go.  Each child is given their ow pizza box out of which they eat their own creations.

Little Cooks Club which has franchises across Gauteng in Centurion, Joburg  and Pretoria also offers cooking parties where the children sometimes even make a 3 course meal

You’ll find these and a whole lot more fantastic party ideas on Jozikids

Family shows opening this week

In Pretoria starting on Thursday for a 4 day run :
Cinderella Ballet SA State Theatre, Pretoria, Nov 10-13.

On the East Rand
Three Little Pigs Barnyard Theatre, Boksburg, In this adaption of the original fairytale  the 3 pigs learn to work as a team to overcome Biker Betty a beautiful wolf who wants their skins the make herself a new leather jacket.  the wolf.  In the process the pigs learn about dealing with peer pressure, bullying & internet safety.  That’s on Saturday 12th at 11 am.

In Johannesburg we have
Beauty & the Beast at Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, starting on Nov 12 and running right through until Xmas, Dec 24.
plus
Freshlyground 10th Birthday Tour, Barnyard Theatre, Cresta, Nov 14.

Toy Shopping

Creative parenting expert and author Nikki Bush is running a workshop called ­­­­­Toy Talk 2011 in Bryanston Nov 9, 14 &16. It’s a 3 hour workshop where you’ll find out what’s hot in toys and games this year. Your chance to see touch and feel before you buy.