COOKING

Mango Magic Tots and Pots, Fourways, Feb 10-Mar 9.

We will be cooking and baking with seasonal fruit and herbs. Each week the kids get to explore new tastes and learn interesting facts about the ingredients used. We will also be making a special Valentine’s treat.

Tots n Pots – Pretoria West- Valentines  Creations -make pink watermelon muffins and almond heart fondants and gift bags Feb 11, 9am R120 per child – 2-10

Praline Truffles lesson, Lindas Bake, Westdene, Feb 11.

MARKETS

Hazel Food Market Menlo Park, every Sat.
and join us for breakfast, brunch or lunch whilst the little ones make use of the jumping castle and jungle gym. More than 80 dedicated food stalls to choose from.

Organic Food Market Kyalami at Mapatiza Gemstone Mine
Plenty of stalls: fruit & vegetables, farmers market, baked goodies, cheeses,Indian & German foods, arts & crafts. There are fun activities for kids such as Camel rides, Gemstone Scratch Patch and the gemstone mine

PARENTING WORKSHOPS

Equal Zeal Pretoria East –Parenting workshop ( 4 weeks)

319 Acornhoek Street , Faerie Glen Pretoria East

Equips parents with the skills for dealing with a new-age technological era that in many cases causes difficulty in transferring morals and values to their children. This program assists parents in re-assessing their values and looks at the effects of the modern day world on their children’s outlook and how to channel these influences appropriately, Feb 9,16,23,Mar 1.

THEATRE

Shakespeare Week for Schools, Brooklyn Theatre, Feb 7-10, from 9am, R50 per learner. Various Shakespeare Acts: Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Ceasar, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Henry V, Hamlet, Othello.

TUITION SERVICES
maths/accounting tuition throughout Gauteng
languages Afrikaans, Zulu, French, English
all subjects for school and university students

SUPPORT SERVICES
life skills/therapy for kids, teens, families & parents
holistic homeopathy, psychometrics, polarity therapy
special needs extra murals & support services

FUN
Zoo to Zoo Orienteering Adventure, Joburg Zoo, Jan 29, Pretoria Zoo Feb 4th
2 km novice course weaving its way through the cages in the zoo. Orienteering is a family outdoor adventure activity like a treasure hunt,the treasure being the points(or controls) on the map at which you find a special orienteering flag and a punch which you use to prove that you have been to that point .

MUSIC at Barnyard Theatre
Big Top Rock Barnyard Theatre Menlyn Park, until Mar 11
This show features 6 decades of music from icons like Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Pink to rock bands like ACDC, U2, Journey, Santana and many more. The show includes music, aerial acts, jugglers and a circus atmosphere that will rock you like no other.

Rough Diamonds and Divas, Barnyard Boksburg, until March 11. This show celebrates the distinctive gravelly-voiced superstars. From Joe Cocker to Neil Diamond, Tina Turner to Bonnie Tyler, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi,  Rod Stewart, Cher, Kenny Rogers, James Brown, Tom Jones and a few surprise

The Final Countdown Barnyard Theatre, Cresta, until Mar 11.
This is a musical journey through 6 decades of fashion, radio, music and above all “Rock ‘n Roll”, - from  the Beach Boys to the Beegees, Lionel Ritchie to the Spice Girls

SHOWS

Chinese Marvels Celebration, Emperors Palace, Jan 27-29
For the first time in South Africa, the China National Acrobatic Troupe which will bring to the Palace of Dreams its brilliant Acrobatic and Chinese Gong Fu show entitled Chinese Marvels on the occasion of the Chinesse New Year.

The Phantom of the Opera Montecasino, Fourways, Jan 31

The Parlotones live Barnyard, Cresta, Jan 25

PARENTING COURSES

Child Care & First Aid,( 2dys) Nannies in Training, Jan 28
Childcare course covering Hygiene, Safety, Security, HIV Awareness, Nutrition, Playtime and our “How To” practical baby and child section from bathing and feeding to routine and how to handle a crying baby. Practical and Hands On. Zulu Co-trainer

Pregnancy Wkshps, Bright Start Early Intervention Centre in, Saxonworld runs workshops on Thursday and Saturdays in
Jan 26 – infant Massage -  3rd trimester
Jan  28 – B-Day – 3rd trimester

EXTRA MURALS

Nows the time to register your child for extra murals whether its dancing ( modern, ballet, hip hop, freestyle, latin, Spanish, irish), a musical instrument, swimming, tennis, martial arts, even archery and chess. Click on extra murals to find whats on offer in your area.

SCHOOL PREPARATIONS:

PARENT- BABY TODDLER  CLASSES

Weekly classes offered by Toptots, Moms & Tots/Babes, Kindermusik, Clamber Club, The Wendyhouse, Mothers & Miracles and more.

HOLIDAY CARE

Holiday care for last 2 days – most schools reopen on the 18th January. These are places you can also visit with your kids over weekends that are running holiday programs  on Monday and Tuesday.

Purple Cow Centurion, until Jan 17
A restaurant with a playground for kids and supervised activities this week,
Ages 4-10yrs .Time: 7am-6pm

Kinderland Pretoria, until Jan 18
Sandart, bake apple tart, Jan 17
Paint fridge magnets, make chocolate,or Rock Art, Jan 18
Ages: 3-10yrs, special care unit for 1-3yrs
Time: 7am-5pm

Kerry Haggard works as a writer for a Johannesburg-based PR company. She cherishes the two most beautiful boys that ever there were, and embarks on adventures in baking in her not-so-copious free time. Find her on Twitter @KerryHaggard

When faced with five children and a hot muggy (but beautiful) Jozi day, I was looking for an outing that wouldn’t involve too much effort in the heat of the day, but that would be fun and appealing to all of us – from my father-in-law to my three year old son. My first thought was the Joburg Zoo (which I love), but in the interest of keeping the holiday suitably exertion free, we wanted somewhere that didn’t involve too much trekking around in the hot sun.  Friends had spoken highly of the Lory Park Zoo in Midrand, so we piled into two cars and headed north to Midrand, hoping to leave the heavy clouds and the spitting rain behind us – we all needed a change of scenery, and we were not going to let the heavy clouds deter us!

It was a bit of a hunt to find Lory Park – there are signs, but there could possibly be more – but when we got there, it was easy to find parking in the secure parking lot. It’s a bit more pricey than the Johannesburg Zoo, at R55 per adult and R35 per child, but I guess if you’re not enjoying government subsidies, you are obliged to charge a bit more. This made it a bit pricey for our party of eight, but we weren’t disappointed once we were inside.

Years back I worked on a publishing project with the Johannesburg Zoo, so I have a bit of back knowledge about the signs of a good zoo – and Lory Park has a lot of them. The animals are healthy – well covered but not fat – and the design of their enclosures attempts to replicate their natural habitats as far as is practical. The tigers and pumas revelled in their ponds and waterfalls, while the tiger cubs had a lush ‘jungle’ where they could frolic and ever-so-gently maul one another, to the great amusement of visitors. There were a few animals that were pacing, but there was no clearreason for this – these animals are all very well fed and cared for, with all sorts of stimulation devices (like ice lollies for the lions) to keep them from boredom.

The zoo has a daily programme of interactive events which is publicized on its website and on handouts at the entrance, so I eagerly sought out the snake handler and his red boa. My boys were not keen to see a snake draped around their mother (and neither was my husband!), but I valued the opportunity to get close to a creature that we all normally shy away from. I was intrigued at how warm this cold-blooded snake was, and at how it just ‘parked’ quietly across my shoulders until his handler took him back.

There’s a wide variety of animals, reptiles and birds, which meant that there was something for everyone to enjoy. There are some rareties – it’s the first time I’ve seen a honey badger close up, and it was great to be able to see the black puma’s spots on closer inspection.

There’s a cafe that serves fairly reasonably priced hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and cold drinks, and a covered area to enjoy your purchases. There are also braai areas scattered throughout the zoo, and there are covered bomas, grassy patches, benches, tables and chairs at regular intervals where you can rest or enjoy refreshments – they seem to be completely ok with you bringing your own.

We all really enjoyed the zoo – just remember that the snakes and other reptiles are kept in their cool enclosures in the heat of the day, so we didn’t see many of them on our hot afternoon, and that the zoo closes at 4 every day.  Visit its website for useful updates and opportunities to get involved in its conservation work:  www.lorypark.co.za .

We spent the day in Newtown, Johannesburg, today… at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre. It’s like a science museum only cooler… way cooler.  It’s 3 floors of stuff… packed with coolness and loads to keep the kids occupied.

It was easily the most fun we’ve ever had for R30!! Seriously, that’s all it cost to get in, because Connor was “free” ‘cos he’s under 6.   We got there at 11:30am… and I managed to drag them out of there at 3:30pm!! And they were complaining that they didn’t want to go home yet.

I was in two minds about going to Sci-Bono.  The only people I knew that have been there, have got little kids.  I was worried that Bradley would get bored.  Well, I’m not actually sure who was more engaged by the centre actually.  They definitely got different things out of the day.   Connor was just interested in getting things to work.  Bradley would intently read instructions to get them to work right… but he’s not yet interested in why it works like it does… and I’m sure older kids/teens would be… so it caters for all ages.  And it’s under cover!! Perfect for a rainy day! And for those worried about going to “scary” Joburg  the parking lot is right outside with a guard

The highlight of the place was definitely the Murray and Roberts construction site.  The boys kept coming back here.  There was a “site office” where they had to get kitted out with hard hats and bibs.  There were piles of foam bricks and cement to build walls between steel structures…

I managed to tear them away to get them to a science show at 12:30pm.  And on the way we got sidetracked by this machine that showed pressure in a chamber when you used a lever to spin a soccer ball

The science show was fabulous.  They used chemicals to produce fires and all sorts of cool things for the kids to see… in this experiment she blew cake flour out of a funnel and lit it… I did not know that flour could burn like that! Then she made bubbles with liquid nitrogen and I can’t remember what else .

Then it was time to see the dinosaurs.  They were awesome, and roared and moved when you pressed a button.  Really cool for the kids!

Both boys loved the Eskom section where they played with circuits and currents… this one used batteries to get a train to move around a track.

This was them running to get back to the construction area after being through all 3 floors of magnetic, electric and musical fun….

We’ll definitely be back.  Connor wants to go there again tomorrow… LOL! And I’ve definitely decided that this is a definite party venue for one of them this year!

We all remember the Adventures of the lovable and fearless Tintin and his cute dog, Snowy, but the movie elevates Tintin to a whole new level of excitement and adventure!  Tintin has been all over the world, but he has never been to the big screen, so prepare yourself for the thrill of thrills.

The animation is absolutely amazing and at times I had to remind myself that the characters were NOT real people J And the 3D action brings the screen to life like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

When Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) buys a mysterious model ship from a flea market stall, he and Snowy discover there is more to the ship than meets the eye, as they find themselves being drawn into the middle of a centuries old mystery.

Enter Ivanovitch Sakharine, the bad guy, who wants the ship more than anything else on the planet and doesn’t care who he has to annihilate to get it.  Sakharine (voiced by Daniel Craig) believes that Tintin has stolen the ship, a priceless treasure, from a pirate named Red Rackham, and Tintin is on the evil villain’s hit list.

Tintin and Snowy team up with the constantly inebriated, entertaining Captain Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis) and Scotland Yard’s finest two detectives (NOT!!!), to solve the mystery and outwit Sakharine.  This results in a rip roaring adventure on land, sea and in the air, travelling across continents to find the remains of the Unicorn, a shipwreck that they believe holds the key to a fortune in gold, and an ancient curse.

Thrills and danger galore will keep you wondering until the very end, when all is revealed.  Or is it?

This movie is a real classic from the Master of epic movies, Steven Spielberg, and in Spielberg’s own words “As soon as I read my first of the books, Tintin never strayed far from my thoughts and heart.  I knew Tintin and I were destined for some kind of collaboration …a journey of discovery”.  He was right!

The movie was released at cinemas countrywide just before Christmas.  Put it on your “to do” list for 2012.  Kids and adults alike will be enthral

My daughter, husband and I had the incredible priviledge of experiencing what Montecasino calls their  Show and Stay Package including dinner, bed, breakfast, show tickets and a programme. Wow, what a treat, one I would recommend to anyone needing a holiday around the corner.

In as long as it took for us to reach the palatial splendour of Montecasino we felt the strains  and stresses of every day life melt away and were transported into another world.

First booking into a room that elicited oohs and aahs from my daughter who examined everything, the mirrors, square basin, a little stint trying out the bath and of course watching TV. Then down to the dining room  for a delicious meal.

Then onto the show performed by the award winning Imperial Ice Stars. From the word go the colourful costumes, grand sets and most of all unbelievable ice skating sequences had us captivated.

Yes, it lives up to the blurb on the Montecasino website. It is ” choreography that further raises the bar, with ever more breathaking high-speed leaps and throws and awe-inspiring, acrobatics, coupled with the most graceful and sublime ice dancing”

After all the excitement, what a pleasure to simply catch the lift to our soft comfortable beds upstairs and then awaken to the most divine breakfast before returning to the humdrum of daily life

Thank you Montecasino for  a a great Show and Stay.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

The Nutcracker On Ice Montecasino, Fourways
Starts on Thursday Dec 8th and runs right through until Jan 15th daily, excluding Mondays.

Hannah Montana Tribute Show at Gold Reef City, Dec 10-Jan 15

Holiday Fun @ Cedar Junxion Zwavelpoort, Dec 18,24; Jan 1.
Mini steam trains, paddle boats, skateboarding, picnic area – great for family outing.

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

Sundowner Adventures Intro to fly fishing, Magaliesburg, until Jan 15.
Abseiling and Caving holiday adventure, Muldersdrift, until Jan 11
Joburg Zoo holiday program, Parktown, Dec 19-23.
Montecasino holiday program, Fourways, Dec 19-23; Jan 3-6.
Pretoria Zoo Dec 19, 21, 22,23, Jan 3-5
Kids Cooking Holiday Program, Little Cooks Centurion, Dec 14-16, Jan 10-12

SLEEPOVER CAMPS

Mazz Kids (5 dys) Pony Camps, Centurion, Dec 19-23.
Stone Meadows (3 dys) Holiday Camp, Magaliesberg, Jan 8-11.

HOLIDAY CARE

Purple Cow Holiday Care, Centurion, until Jan 17
Kinderland Holiday Fun Club, Pretoria, Dec 9-Jan 19th.
Pretoria Montessori Garsfontein, Dec 19-22
Kids Village Day Camp, Honeydew, until Jan 13

SHOPPING MALLS WITH KIDS FUN

The following shopping malls will be open, offering activities for kids right through until the day before Xmas. 2 exceptions are Menlyn Park and Irene Village Malls who will be running kids holiday programs right through until school starts pretty much.

EAST RAND:
Crafts, Carols & Holiday Fun at East Rand Mall, Boksburg North, Dec 1-24
Festive Fun Lakeside mall, Benoni, Dec 9-23.

JOBURG
Fourways Mall Xmas Carnival, Fourways, Dec 12-24.
Children’s Treasure Island Irene Village Mall, Pretoria, Dec 1 -Jan 9
Santa at the Centre Brightwater Commons, Randburg, Dec 9-24
Season for Giving Northgate Mall, Randburg, Nov 29-Dec 24.

PRETORIA
Menlyn Park holiday program, Menlo Park, Dec 2 -Jan 15.

WEST RAND
Clearwater Mall holiday program, Roodepoort, Dec 10-24.

DECEMBER 16th FAMILY TRIPS

We have an incredibly long list of venues we found that are open on this public holiday  including child friendly restaurants, museums and places to see animals and action activities. Here are a few:

MUSEUMS
Apartheid Museum Ormonde: 10am-5pm: adults  R55,  kids  R40, under 7yrs free
Hector Pieterson Orlando East, Soweto: Adults R25, free  under 13yrs, students R5

James Hall Museum La Rochelle: Free 9am-4.30pm,  adults 25, kids R15
James Hall Museum of Transport (JHMT) is a thematic land transport museum covering various modes of transport dating back some 400 years and is the largest museum of its kind in South Africa. We have steam driven vehicles, trains, trams and trolley busses, fire fighting vehicles, early bicycles, animal drawn vehicles and cars.

Museum of Military History, Saxonwold 9am-4.30pm, adults R25, kids R16
The Museum’s collection of more than 44 000 items are divided into 37 separate categories and include the official South African war art and photograph collections. The Museum library has a unique collection of books, journals and archival material. Interviews are regularly conducted in the library as part of an ongoing oral history collection project. In this way, it ensures that previously unrecorded experiences of ordinary servicemen and women are preserved for posterity.

Origins Centre Braamfontein, adults R75, under 12yrs, R35, 9am-5pm
The Origins Centre tells a story of how all humans began in Africa, developed tools, language, art and spirituality. The Centre contains the latest interactive multi-media equipment. (Hologram and virtual rain animal).Workshops for bushman art and shadow dancing, story telling, shadow puppets, music, dance and more

Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Newtown – Adults R20, kids R10,  9am -4.30pm
From LEGO pits and mini-construction sites to understanding the principles of electromagnetism, the exhibits cater for curious minds of all ages
.
Transvaal Museum CBD Central. Adults R20, kids R10
This is a small Natural History Museum which even if a little outdated provides a memorable interactive experience for the whole family. The museum currently houses a vast taxidermy collection as well as a number of fossils. There are four exhibition halls; Genesis of Life, The Austin Roberts Bird Hall: collection of SA birds, arranged according to their number in the Roberts Bird Guide. The Geoscience Museum: collection of different minerals, crystals, and gemstones in SA and the Discovery Centre: hands-on experience about nature and science

RESTAURANTS AND PLACES WITH ANIMALS
Croc City Crocodile Farm, Fourways.
Joburg Zoo Family Day, Parktown.

Restaurants in Joburg, Pretoria and the East Rand that have playgrounds and activities for kids.