Child of the Universe Montessori Mag-Nificence Parenting Mag Oct 2018 Issue 47

*FREE DIGITAL MAG *ISSUE 47 OCTOBER 2018

Learning with Excellence

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT

Babies & Beyond

BUILDING A FOUNDATION OF TRUST

OUT & ABOUT Holiday Camps, Raceways & Reptiles

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ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR/OWNER Linda Navon 071 346 8138 linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za

SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Cj Matticks CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Linda Navon Content & Layout Assistant Arizona Quinn Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

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CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE MONTESSORI MAG We strongly support and believe in the Maria Montessori Method of teaching and learning, and would like to see as many children as possible be fortunate enough to experience Montessori as a lifestyle.

We also believe in the ‘FIRST DO NO HARM’ principle and therefore select our content and advertisers accordingly.

We cover topics around Montessori teaching, learning, lifestyle – in the classroom and at home – and much more. We always include links to our articles and encourage you to follow them for loads of insightful Montessori literature. We include a mix of topics relevant to family life, health and well-being.

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Conscious Life Magazine

ADVERTORIAL

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Conscious Life Magazine

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Conscious Life Magazine

Author: Rochelle

NOT ALL MONTESSORI SCHOOLS ARE ALIKE.

I know, it seems like an obvious statement but there are numerous ways that a Montessori school can differ, and each of those things may determine whether it is a quality program that meets your expectations and the needs of your child, or a program that simply uses materials from the Montessori curriculum.

Throughout my education, my journey as a parent, and my journey as a teacher, I have seen all kinds of Montessori programs. Some are high quality; some are working to get there. Some programs blend Montessori with other curricula, and some are authentically Montessori.

Typically, high quality, authentic Montessori programs come with a steep tuition bill. Luckily, we are in an educational renaissance; Montessori public schools and Montessori blends are becoming more and more common as the Montessori curriculum is paired with Common Core.

Regardless of what age your child is or what type of Montessori program you choose, there are some indicators of quality you can use when looking for a high quality Montessori school:

HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU WALK IN? Do you feel welcome when you walk into the building? Does your child? I have found that in any program, the little things that do, or do not, happen everyday really become some of the big things. Greeting the child every day creates a relationship of mutual respect between the teacher and the child.

Does it feel peaceful? Do you feel calm and comfortable when you’re at the school? Remember, it’s still a school and little humans like to move and make noise so it shouldn’t be completely silent and still. Peace and silence are two different things. As Maria Montessori said, “We do not consider an individual disciplined only when he has been rendered as artificially silent as a mute and as immovable as a paralytic. He is an individual annihilated, not disciplined.” In a highquality Montessori setting, you will see children genuinely enjoying themselves and their work, and that will look different for every child.

WHAT DO THE CLASSROOMS LOOK LIKE? WHAT DO YOU NOTICE AT FIRST GLANCE? WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN DOING? The environment should look as if it is created for children, because it is! Low, natural-colored shelving filled with materials on trays help children become independent because they can choose their works and get them without help. The materials on the shelves are purposeful – and if you don’t know the purpose, ask! One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is to teach parents how my classroom materials are helping their child master new knowledge.

ARE THERE INDEPENDENT AND SMALL GROUP WORKSTATIONS? A large amount of Montessori works are meant to be individual or small group works. Even in the higher-aged classrooms, individual activities that require large amounts of floor space are worked on daily; those activities require plenty of space for productive and focused work.

WHERE DO THE CHILDREN SIT? ARE THERE ROWS OF DESKS OR SMALLER PODS AND WORKSTATIONS? Some Montessori schools are able to use only small tables and workstations but seating for classrooms can be expensive to replace so a high-quality Montessori may still use desks, but more than likely they will be grouped in small sets or pairs.

IS THERE ROOM TO WORK ON THE FLOOR? Many Montessori materials and introductions take place on a work mat, or a rug. Children spread the rugs out on the floor and put their materials on it to work in their own space.

DO YOU SEE PURPOSEFUL WORK BEING DONE? Maria Montessori believed that teachers are there to help the child act for himself, will for himself, and think for himself. Essentially, the teachers are there to show children how to enjoy their work and how to be individuals. Do you see children doing repetitive worksheets or do you see children actively engaged in their own work choices? In a Preschool or Lower Elementary Montessori classroom, children are learning many things with concrete materials. For example, they are learning that the number 2 is a symbol for two items and they can use the numerals and counters to master that knowledge. You may also see children working with materials that don’t “look” like work, like a transferring activity but in reality, those materials are an imperative part of the Practical Life curriculum and strengthen a child’s muscles to prepare him or her for holding a pencil.

…AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT ABOUT THE ADULTS? A Montessori environment can only truly be Montessori if the person who has created and arranged the environment believes in the Montessori philosophy. How can a teacher achieve a peaceful classroom if he believes in yelling? How can a teacher create independent, peaceful children if she just expects silent obedience? Every Montessorian that I know will tell you that it really does become a lifestyle.

I attended a Montessori school from preschool to sixth grade. I didn’t have formal Montessori training when I incorporated the curriculum into our house when my son was born or when I operated my home-based childcare as a Montessori program. When I was given the opportunity to receive formal Montessori training, I learned so much…but my overall outlook on life didn’t change; my philosophy was, however, shaped mostly in a Montessori setting when I was younger. Teachers who understand and believe in the Montessori method will be teachers who value continued education, peace, and creating independence for children.

ROCHELLE Rochelle is a lifetime Montessori student and enthusiast. She has been a lead teacher for 8 years. When her son was younger, she worked to adapt Montessori philosophy into her home practices. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of Montessori education with everyone she meets. Her energy is truly contagious! When Rochelle isn’t in the classroom, she enjoys reading, watching movies and traveling with her family.

Article re-posted with permission from Maren Schmidt.

Children from about age three are asking us to help them learn independence.

Children want to learn how to do things on their own without adult supervision or permission. Even though at times we feel we have to help children constantly, in reality, children are asking us to help them help themselves.

MUCH OF WHAT WE CLASSIFY AS “MISBEHAVIOR” IN THE THREE TO SIX-YEAR-OLD, UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, IS CHILDREN TRYING TO DO THINGS BY THEMSELVES, AND NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL. In our hurried world, it’s easier to do it ourselves than to stop and show our children how to do a task, and patiently wait as they complete it. Do we really have 15 minutes every morning for our three-year-old to put on her shoes and socks?

Visiting friends a few years ago, I asked their nine-year-old if he’d like to help me cut apples for a pie. Jimmy’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, I can’t. Mom won’t let me use a knife.”

“Why is that? Were you irresponsible with a knife?”

“No. Mom’s afraid I’ll cut myself.”

After getting an okay with Jimmy’s mom, I began showing him how to cut the apples into chucks after I’d peeled and quartered them. Within half an hour, Jimmy had learned how to peel, quarter and cube apples. And not a mangled finger in sight. At dinner Jimmy was so proud of our’ pies. He thanked me for taking the time to show him how to use a paring knife. “I knew I could do it if someone just let me.”

Help me help myself.

We can begin to show our children how to use serious tools such as knives, scissors, hammers, and screwdrivers around age three, with 100 percent adult supervision.

First, we need to feel confident that the child will listen and follow our direction. If not, he or she is not ready for these kinds of tasks.

Secondly, we need to find tools that are safe. For helping in the kitchen a small butter knife or canapé knife will cut bananas and apple slices, but won’t cut small fingers. There are scissors available that will only cut paper, and not hair or clothes. Small hammers can be used to drive 16 penny-nails into a log end. For hammering, invest in a pair of child sized safety goggles. A short three-inch screwdriver and ratchet can be used to loosen and tighten screws and bolts on boards.

As a child’s level of skill and responsibility grow, we can introduce new levels of difficulty with different tools and materials.

Giving our children “real” work with real tools will help them gain independence. Self-esteem is based on having skills, meaning you can act in ways that benefit yourself and others. Too often, adults think that just telling someone that they are wonderful develops a feeling of self worth.

Self-esteem is based on the self-confidence of knowing how to do something, not on what someone says to you.

“Help me help myself” is the young child’s cry for independence that leads to true confidence and self-esteem. Don’t do for your child what they can do for themselves. Remember, any unnecessary help is an obstacle to a person’s independence.

Maren Schmidt is an award winning teacher and author, Maren leverages her talents writing and creating online workshops.

Montessori school communities enjoy her weekly Kids Talk Newsletters, as well as her workshops, that are full of put-it-into-action advice about children. Maren is an elementary trained Montessori guide with AMI. She founded a Montessori school and her Montessori roles include parent, teacher, and school administrator. Visit MarenSchmidt.com.

SAMA MEMBER SCHOOLS & TRAINING CENTRES IN SOUTH AFRICA Eastern & Southern Cape KwaZulu Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga Namibia North Gauteng (PTA) South Gauteng (JHB) Western Cape Swaziland Seychelles SAMA TRAINING INSTITUTIONS

Building a Foundation of Trust

by Dawn Cowan

“What do you think?”

“I’m sure you will do the right thing.”

“Do you have any ideas?”

“How might that work?”

Building statements like the above into our repertoire is one small way that parents and teachers build partnership with children. Whether it’s rearranging the garage, working through an argument with a sibling, or figuring out when the best time of day to practice piano, the habit of soliciting children’s thoughts and ideas communicates our respect for their perspective and our trust that they are able to find creative solutions.

It can require patience, suspension of judgment, and a spirit of exploration. Often we have to stop ourselves from jumping in and offering solutions or direction. However, the doors that open can be remarkable and rewarding. Last weekend at a potluck, my daughter asked if she could have a cookie. My response was, “I think you know what my concerns might be and I trust you make a good decision.” To which she replied, “I should make sure to eat some real food first and then not have too many sweets, right?” Of course, this is a point of arrival after many family conversations about nutrition but now we can both move on; me from monitoring her choices at such gatherings and she from feeling the need to run these small decisions by me. Our trust in one another means we both have a little more freedom to enjoy the event. Had I just launched into a directive or negotiation, we would have lost this moment.

When two students argued about use of a certain material, one of my standard responses was to set it aside and send them off to create a plan with which they could both agree. During our Upper Elementary parent orientations, one piece of advice for parents of 9-12 year old children is when they bring a complaint or concern home, the parents best first question is “What did Greg/Stephanie say when you discussed it with them?” While we don’t leave the children adrift, the message comes through clearly: You have good ideas. You have the power to solve your problems. We trust you.

Trust, in this context, is the fundamental belief that we all desire to bring our best selves to each moment. This is not the same as the expectations of perfection which often lead to feelings of disappointment, mistrust and that great demoralizer, comparison. When trust is present, we see the great good in one another and all that is possible rather than looking for what is missing.

The child’s idea of how to clean up spilled water may not be our idea of efficient, but they, invested in creating the solution, will likely give their best self to the effort and will likely be willing to offer help again. I’ve often seen children’s ideas about how to resolve social issues work better than the adult suggestions!

Trust allows the children to rise to their own potential and develop skills of self-management.

Equipped with lessons and guidance, their confidence builds as they begin to believe in their own powers of judgment and autonomy. Creating space for collaboration and independence: this is the joyful challenge of parents and educators with the benefit that the result is that our work together is eased when all parties feel autonomous and respected, cutting out the need for willful opposition. There are plenty of educational programs and parenting approaches that script every part of the day, from morning circle to craft time to sing-along to reading hour. In this case, standardizing the experience solves many variables. Micromanagement offers an illusion of control and peacefulness, but ultimately undermines the opportunities for spontaneous, creative problem solving. Supporting independence and self-management is a messier proposition requiring friendliness with error and, sometimes more challenging, friendliness with one another’s error but leading us toward peaceful collaboration and interdependence in the work of living and learning together.

Relight the Candle Five-year-old Tommy walked over to his mother, Judy. ”Write my name for me, Mommy.” ”Tommy, you know how to write your name.” ”But I don’t ‘member,” he said.

by Maren Schmidt Tommy’s mother, Judy, phoned me, near tears, about this conversation. Judy’s concern was that Tommy had forgotten something as seemingly simple as the three letters in Tom. ”What do you think? Should I call my pediatrician? Do you think Tom has brain damage from falling off his bicycle two weeks ago? Should we get an MRI? A CAT scan?” ”Judy,” I said, ”I don’t think there is probably anything serious going on. I think what you are seeing is a normal part of learning. The candle blew out. Tommy just needs to review and relearn how to write his name. It’s very normal for children to forget things we think they have learned.”

As learning occurs we take in information through our senses and retrieve this information through the memory process.

The first time we encounter information doesn’t mean we’ll remember or retain it. How many repetitions does it take to learn a new phone number?

(Safety note: Cell phones seem to make learning phone numbers obsolete. Every five-year-old should know by heart his or her address and key phone numbers: home, parent’s work, grandparents, etc.)

Some of us can hear a number or look at it once and have it in firmly in memory. For others it may take over a hundred repetitions. Learning theory suggests that most learning requires two hundred or more repetitions.

The process of retrieving facts from memory after they have been learned is another obstacle to a person’s performance.

For example, I used to know my chocolate chip cookie recipe without hesitation since I made them a couple of times a week. (Oops! My secret is out.) In the past three or four years, though, I’ve made a batch only once. As I pulled out the mixing bowl my mind went black. Use it or lose it, they say. How true it is for youngsters…and us older youngsters.

The more ways we can use information the better able we are to quickly access that information.

When we can involve our hands in the memory and retrieval process, long-term learning is helped.

Repetition is a vital key to learning, and the young child before the age of six enjoys doing the same activity over and over. How many times can a three-year-old watch a favorite video? No number that large? Repetition is how the child creates memory and retrieval skills. Sameness creates a sense of order in the child’s mind.

Children over the age of six are more adult-like in their learning and demand variety in the presentation of information being acquired. How many times do adults like to watch a movie?

Skill building weaves in and out of our memories, flickering at the flame of knowledge. At times due to factors in brain development not entirely understood, this flame grows faint or is extinguished. At these times we need to patiently present previously learned information to the child–perhaps dozens of times. At some point, the information will be firmly set in the child’s mind and will be remembered and easily retrieved.

The thousands of skills your child is acquiring take hundreds of repetitions each to become well established in the mind. Knowledge and skills will come and go as these hundreds of thousands of repetitions occur. Be patient and kind, and relight the candle. Make sure you have a big box of matches.

Distance-education & tutor centre DawnCroft Ed is an alternative schooling solution which aims to support parents whose children prefer to study from their own homes in the comfort of their own personal space as distance learners Students are aided in the flexible group tutor sessions through the process of completing the NSC (National Senior Certificate) .

Our students are nurtured in a constructive affirming environment by tutors and facilitators that have a passion for education.

• • • • • • •

Competitive prices Personal attention 1:5 tutor-student ratio Flexible schedule No uniforms Learn Study Skills Registered with SACAI

Tel: 079-520-0547 Fax: 0866-238-103 algabil@tiscali.co.za www.dawncrofted.com

Contact: 083 327 7062 info@hannaford.co.za www.hannaford.co.za

Princeton Centre of Learning is a home schooling centre for students who need more individual tutoring than that which is available in mainstream schooling. Based in Blairgowrie (Randburg), and also in Strathavon (Sandton) we offer tuition for grades 5 to 12.

Our small classes have a teacher to pupil ratio of 1 to 12, thus offering close supervision and learner support. Our nurturing environment is also conducive to students having concentration challenges.

We make use of the fully accredited Impaq syllabus which is CAPS aligned, and follow a 4 term academic calendar.

Please feel free to visit our website: www.princetonlearning.co.za or contact our principal Ian Smit on 082 903 2478

Buckle Up Baby!

Kids Emporium feels strongly that car seat safety for children demands all parents’ attention. Based on the grueling facts, car seat safety for our infants should be at the top of every parent’s priority list.

A quick drive with your unrestrained child to the local supermarket can unfortunately result in your child dying in your arms. Even travelling at a slow 40km per hour, the blow to your child’s head on impact with a windscreen in the event of an accident, or any other part of the car, can be fatal.

The common practice of having a seatbelt over you and your child sitting on your lap is no safer. The force against their small body on impact is equivalent to 1,500kg of weight being put on their body. Seventy-five per cent of children ejected from a car during an accident will not survive, whilst the majority of those that do survive could be permanently disabled. Knowing all of the above, the fact that AA studies show that only 15% of children in South Africa are strapped in is a frightening reality.

Under the National Road Traffic Act, all children under the age of 3 years have to be strapped into a safety certified safety seat when travelling in a car, and the driver is legally responsible for any child under the age of 14 not using a seatbelt in their car. Correctly installed car seats can reduce the risk of deaths in infants by 70% and by 50% in kids aged from 1 year to 4 years old.

The task of selecting a car seat from the wide range available, can be daunting and overwhelming, but with Kids Emporium having recently launched Project Safe Start, the choice of car seat has been simplified for you. It is very important that parents buy and use car seats according to the height and weight limits for each seat. Rear facing seats are recommended as they evenly distribute the force of any impact across the entire back and head of the infant. For this reason, toddlers should be in a rear-facing seat until they outgrow the height and weight recommendation. Children under 25kgs should use a booster seat until they are 1.5m tall or taller, as this positions the safety belt safely over the body, protecting the vulnerable neck and abdomen areas during impact.

Kids Emporium will guide you through the criteria for the different stages of car seats and make recommendations based on your vehicle type and lifestyle, give you a masterclass in any car seat that you wish to purchase, help you with the correct choice of car seat according to your child’s age and weight, and assist you with the correct installation thereof.

Visit your nearest Kids Emporium with a snapshot of the R500 discount voucher below to buy and protect your child with a child seat from our selected range of safety certified car seats.

For more information please email info@kidsemporium.co.za

How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy When it comes to having a baby there’s a lot to think about. Aside from the color of the nursery there are important issues to consider as soon as you know you’re pregnant – or even before you get pregnant. If you want to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and give your baby the best chance for a healthy delivery and life it’s vital to do a few things before you get pregnant or as soon as you find out.

Do no harm.

Of course any woman who wants to have a baby automatically knows not to do any harm. But many mistakenly overlook some of the most important points. It’s vital to quit smoking, drinking alcohol, caffeine, using drugs (prescribed or street drugs), or engaging in any other behaviors that aren’t good for you.

Once you’re pregnant what you do to yourself you do to your baby. Get rid of the bad habits first and foremost.

Eat real food.

Many women look forward to the days of pregnancy when they can eat anything and everything they see. This simply isn’t the best approach for a healthy pregnancy. Gaining too much weight isn’t good for mom or baby.

Excess weight at childbirth can complicate the end stages of pregnancy, delivery, and even the recovery period we refer to as postpartum.

It’s vital when you’re pregnant (as well as before and after pregnancy) to eat a balanced healthy diet loaded with toxin free, natural, fresh foods. This means lots of locally grown fruits and veggies. You should also eat hormone free, free range meats like chicken, beef, and eggs. Eat whole sprouted grains, not processed and refined grains. Opt for nuts, seeds, legumes, and more that Mother Nature has given us to eat.

It’s extremely important to avoid all fake or highly processed and refined foods. These are the bagged, boxed foods that line the grocery store shelves and pack the freezer aisles.

Choose foods that are fresh and whole, not processed. These fake foods contain additives, preservatives, unhealthy oils, dyes, and more toxins you don’t want your baby to have. Protect them in the womb to give them a healthy start.

Do real exercise.

Many women find if they’re active after giving birth and they breastfeed, the weight slips away painlessly.

If you already exercise then keep going as long as your OB/GYN or midwife says it’s okay. Be honest with her or him about what exactly you do at the gym or during your fitness workout. If they advise you to stop or slow down – do it! This isn’t the time to take unnecessary risks. Like I said, there will be years and years to exercise once the baby is born. Don’t risk it now. Sometimes pregnant women are asked to scale back on certain exercises. If you can’t engage in your tried and true exercise try to alternate with walking or some other mild activity that your doctor gives the okay to do. You may discover something new and different that you absolutely love.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends women who are average weight at the onset of pregnancy gain about twenty-five to thirtyseven pounds during the entire pregnancy.

It’s also a good time to consider what type of exercises you can do with the baby once he or she arrives safe and sound. Jogging?

Walking? Hiking? Start them now and when baby’s ready bring them along!

Then there are those women on the other side. Those who dread the weight gain and skimp on meals in fear of getting ‘fat.’ This is a huge mistake too. If you’re ready to become a mom (or think you are) now’s the time to stop putting yourself and your own wants first. It’s vital to consider the health of the baby, not your own growing waistline.

However, if up to this point you haven’t exercised, consider beginning a low impact exercise program. Consult with your doctor first then get started. Power walking, easy hikes, or a yoga/Pilates fusion are a great way to get fresh air and some needed exercise while pregnant. Get creative and don’t be afraid to try out activities you previously wouldn’t consider.

Rest.

Take real vitamins.

Spiritual Growth.

During this time of your life your body (and your baby’s) has a greater need for certain vitamins and minerals. Many prenatal vitamins contain exactly what you need. Be sure to take these vitamins but don’t settle for a low quality vitamin. These cost a bit more but are more easily digested and absorbed by the body than their synthetic counterparts.

There’s almost no other experience in life that will put you in awe of the greatness of our Maker. When you experience pregnancy and childbirth even the biggest skeptics begin to believe in a Higher Power and miracles.

Childbirth is truly a miracle and getting to experience it first hand is powerful.

Some women have trouble tolerating large vitamins. If that’s the case for you, consider liquid vitamins or individual supplements for folic acid, iron, and the other vital vitamins and minerals needed in pregnancy.

It’s also crucial during this time to up your intake of foods containing the specific vitamins and minerals you need. This is actually your best source: •Vitamin A •Vitamin D •Vitamin E •Vitamin C •Vitamin B1 – thiamine •Vitamin B2 – riboflavin •Vitamin B3 – niacin •Vitamin B6 •Beta Carotene •Folic acid •Calcium •Iron •Protein •Zinc

There’s no doubt about it, now’s the time to rest up. You may be in for some sleepless nights in the months ahead so take the time now to nurture and care for yourself. It’s essential to be getting plenty of sleep during this time. Prioritize the items on your ‘to do’ list and put sleep close to the top.

When you’re pregnant you can really begin to nurture your connection to God. It’s during this time that a miracle is taking place within your body. Tap into this and you’ll gain peace, wisdom, and feel surrounded by the greatest love of all.

Whether you attend church, synagogue, meditate, or simply spend time in nature connecting with your Creator pregnancy is a great time to deepen this connection or reconnect.

Having a healthy, vibrant pregnancy in large is up to you. If you follow these steps along with whatever your health care practitioner advises you it can be the best nine months of your life. Enjoy this precious time, a miracle is occurring.

Breast milk is loaded with exactly the right nutrients in the exact amounts a new baby needs. Research shows that breast milk is not merely nutritious, but it contains a variety of factors with medicinal qualities that have profound roles in infant survival and health.

Although the industry continues to attempt to approve infant formula with the addition of compounds, such as fatty acids, oligosaccharides, nucleotides and lactoferrin, breast milk has such far-reaching effects on the infant’s immune response that optimal development depends heavily on its actions. It contains many hundreds to thousands of distinct bioactive molecules that protect against infection and inflammation and contribute to immune maturation, organ development and promotion of a healthy microbiome. (1) For this reason, all mothers should be encouraged and supported to continue breastfeeding for six months and beyond in order to promote the good health of their infants.

Of course, I know most mothers have questions regarding breast milk and breastfeeding, so below I answer nine of the most common questions I hear about breast milk.

9 Common Questions About Breast Milk 1.

How long should I breastfeed?

According to research published in Pediatric Clinics in North America, exclusive human milk feeding for the first six months of life, with continued breastfeeding for one to two years of life or longer, is recognized as the standard for infant feeding.

2. What should I eat to boost the nutritional content of my breast milk?

Studies have found that the fatty acid profile of breast milk varies in relation to maternal diet, particularly when mothers eat too many omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids. Eat lots of omega-3 foods, such as chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, wild-caught salmon, tuna and egg yolks. Balance your omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid consumption by reducing the amount of meat, dairy products, peanut oil, soybean oil, safflower oil and sesame oil you consume daily. (2)

3. Do breastfed babies need to take vitamins?

Vitamin K is typically given to newborns in their first days of life, and deficiencies of other vitamins (except vitamin D) are rare, especially if mothers are nourished adequately. Because the vitamins and minerals in breast milk vary depending on a mother’s diet and body stores, researchers suggest that mothers continue to take multivitamins during lactation.

Vitamin D levels are low in breast milk, particularly for moms who get little exposure to sunshine, so pediatricians recommend that breastfed infants are given a liquid vitamin D supplement in order to avoid a vitamin D deficiency. These supplements usually contain large amounts of the water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins that meet the recommended daily allowances for your baby. (3)

4. How do I store breast milk?

Many mothers pump when they return to work and nurse at night and on the weekends; some decide to exclusively pump too. Many employed moms choose to use the fresh milk they pump at work for feedings the next day, and they refrigerate Friday’s milk for use on Monday (if they have the weekends off).

It’s normal for pumped milk to vary in color, consistency and scent depending on the mother’s diet. You may also notice that stored milk separates into layers, and the cream rises to the top.

Before feeding the baby this stored milk, gently swirl the warmed bottle to mix the layers again, but do not shake the bottle.

Small amounts of cooled breast milk can be added to the same refrigerated container throughout the day, but avoid adding warm milk to already cooled milk. When you store milk in the freezer, leave room in the storage bag because liquids expand when frozen, and write the dates on the bags and use the oldest milk first.

5. How long can I store breast milk?

It’s safe to store mother’s milk in the following ways: ▪ At room temperature for four to six hours (66–78 degrees Fahrenheit) ▪ In a cooler with frozen ice packs for 24 hours (59 degrees Fahrenheit) ▪ In the refrigerator for three to six days (39 degrees Fahrenheit or lower) ▪ In the freezer for six to 12 months (0–4 degrees Fahrenheit) Storing breast milk this way does not increase the possibility of bacterial contamination and growth of infectious pathogens in stored milk. However, the nutritional value of breast milk may be altered.

Research published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition indicates that store time should be limited to 48 hours in order to preserve the antioxidant activity of breast milk. Freezing breast milk resulted in a greater decrease of antioxidants than refrigeration.

Researchers in Spain tested refrigerated and frozen breast milk over a 90-day period. They found that by three months from freezing breast milk, there’s a relevant and significant decline in the concentration of fat and energy content. The modification of total nitrogen and lactose was not constant and at lower magnitudes when breast milk was frozen. (6) Based on this research, I suggest that you use your frozen stash of breast milk for emergencies or to use when your baby begins eating solids that supply her with the nutrients she needs. When your baby begins eating a combination of foods at around six months of age, you can add frozen breast milk to smoothies or purees.

6. Does breast milk lose nutritional value when it’s stored for later use?

According to research published in the International Breastfeeding Journal, bottle systems that are used to deliver expressed breast milk may reduce the concentration of vitamin C to less than 40 percent of the recommended daily intake for infant. The study included the analysis of four bottle systems that were sampled after 20 minutes of milk expression.

Research published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition suggests that there’s a significant difference in the total antioxidant count of expressed breast milk after refrigeration and freezing when compared to the antioxidant count at zero hour. This includes a decline in vitamins C, A and E.

7. How do I heat or thaw breast milk?

Do not microwave breast milk. Microwaving breast milk changes its composition, and it can cause severe burns to the baby’s mouth because of hot spots that develop in the milk.

Thawed milk is safe in the refrigerator for 24 hours, but don’t refreeze milk once it’s thawed. If you need to thaw milk more quickly, run it under warm water or leave it in a sealed container or bottle in a bowl of warm water for about 20 minutes until it reaches body temperature.

To warm milk that’s been stored in the refrigerator, it can be kept out at room temperature for three to six hours or placed in a bowl of warm water.

8. Does alcohol affect breast milk?

Most mothers can drink in moderation while breastfeeding. According to La Leche League, it takes a 120-pound woman about three hours to eliminate the majority of the alcohol from her blood (and thus her milk) in each serving of beer or wine, so multiply the number of drinks you have by three to know how many hours it will take until your milk is mostly alcohol-free again.

There’s no need to “pump and dump” every time you drink alcohol, as long as you’re able to wait before breastfeeding again.

9. Does caffeine affect breast milk?

A 2012 study published in Pediatrics suggests that caffeine consumption during pregnancy and by nursing mothers does not have consequences on sleep of infants at the age of 3 months. In the study, infants until 3 months of age were unable to metabolize caffeine when mothers drank about three cups of coffee per day. However, other studies show that some infants can be sensitive to caffeine and display increased irritability and sleep disturbances when exposed to caffeine from breast milk.

I recommend that mothers drink caffeine in moderation and make sure they drink plenty of water throughout the day as well — both in order to stay hydrated and avoid caffeine overdose.

Breast Milk Nutrition The first fluid produced by mothers after delivery is called colostrum.

Colostrum is one of the most vital ingredients in breast milk, and it’s what is often referred to as “liquid gold.” It’s a thicker, yellowish breast milk that’s made in the later stages of pregnancy. Colostrum is loaded with nutrients and antibodies to give your baby exactly what she needs in her first days of life. After three days or so, the body naturally begins to make mature milk, which contains an ideal combination of protein, sugar, water and fat.

Mature breast milk contains, on average, 1.1 percent protein, 4.2 percent fat and 7 percent carbohydrate; it supplies 72 calories of energy per 100 grams. Fat is the most highly variable macronutrient in milk. Hindmilk, which is the last milk of a feed, may contain two to three times the concentration of milk fat found in foremilk, the initial milk of a feed. This is why mothers are commonly advised to empty an entire breast prior to feeding from the other breast. As hindmilk is more energy-dense due to its higher fat content, this recommendation ensures that the infant’s satiety and energy needs for growth are met.

Antibodies are also a vital part of the mother’s breast milk. Antibodies protect your vulnerable newborn from both viral and bacterial infections. According to a 2002 study published in Breastfeeding Review, infant formula-feeding is inferior to breastfeeding because human milk enhances the immature immunologic system of the infant and strengthens her defense mechanisms against infective and other foreign agents. Researchers indicate that there are bioactive factors in human milk, such as hormones, growth factors and colony-stimulating factors, as well as specific nutrients. Mother’s milk may also reduce the incidence of disease in infancy, and factors in breast milk promote gastrointestinal mucosal maturation, decrease the incidence of infection, alter gut microflora, and have immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory functions.

Breast milk also has antioxidant properties. It contains vitamin C and E and enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Research suggests that all factors, conditions and problems affecting infants, especially those born prematurely, are the outcomes of one unifying disease — oxygen radical disease. If there are too many free radicals produced and too few antioxidants, a condition of oxidative stress develops, which may cause serious damage in infancy. A need to reduce oxidative stress and boost antioxidant defenses in these vulnerable infants is essential.

How to Increase Breast Milk Supply Many mothers fear that they aren’t making enough breast milk for their babies and are looking for natural ways to increase breast milk supply. There are some potential causes of low milk supply that should be addressed before you stress out about taking action to increase your supply (which may already be fine). The golden rule when breastfeeding is that nursing is a supply and demand process. If you’re supplementing with formula, then you won’t make enough breast milk because your body doesn’t know that it’s needed. Scheduled feedings may also interfere with your supply and demand cycle and can lead to a reduced supply, so try to nurse your baby whenever she’s hungry.

To establish your supply when the baby is very young, nurse her about every two hours during the day and every four hours at night, and use both breasts. Frequent feedings ensure that your breasts are stimulated enough to establish a full milk supply. The more milk that’s removed from your breasts, the more milk your body will produce. Supply issues may be caused by the baby not latching properly (which can be due to sleepiness, being used to the bottle or use of nipple shields), so seek advice from a lactation counselor if you think this may be the issue.

Adding pumping sessions after nursing sessions can also be helpful, especially if your baby isn’t eating frequently enough. If you’re working and need to pump milk for your baby, plan to pump your milk two to three times while you’re away from your baby. Each day’s pumping should provide enough milk for the next day’s time at day care or with a sitter.

Galactogogues (like fenugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa) are used to increase breast milk production, but researchers suggest that this should only be done when all nonpharmacologic recommendations are exhausted. The efficacy and safety data regarding galactogogues use is limited, and more studies are needed to evaluate the herbs’ effects on breast milk production.

Flora force fenugreek ad

The folklore that alcohol consumption enhances milk supply has persisted for centuries, but studies show that this isn’t true. In fact, a study conducted at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia suggests that infants consumed, on average, 23 percent less milk following their mothers’ consumption of alcoholic beer relative to the nonalcoholic beer. This decrease in milk intake was not due to a decrease in the number of times the babies fed but because the babies ingested less milk during each feeding.

Lastly, don’t overlook your own needs — mothers need to eat healthy and nourishing foods (like these superfoods) in order to produce enough breast milk, and they need to hydrate, relax and get enough rest (whenever possible!). Take time for yourself at some point during the day, and be confident in your body and its ability to make what your baby needs in terms of nutrition.

Final Thoughts on Breast Milk ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Breast milk is loaded with exactly the right nutrients in the exact amounts a new baby needs.

Colostrum is loaded with nutrients and antibodies to give your baby exactly what she needs in her first days of life. After three days or so, the body naturally begins to make mature milk, which contains an ideal combination of protein, sugar, water and fat.

Antibodies are also a vital part of the mother’s breast milk. Antibodies protect your vulnerable newborn from both viral and bacterial infections.

Breast milk also has antioxidant properties; it contains vitamin C and E and enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

There are a number of ways to increase breast milk supply naturally, but the golden rule is that nursing is a supply and demand process.

There are certain rules to follow when pumping and storing expressed milk to ensure that you reduce bacterial growth and maximize the nutritional content in breast milk.

The Fretful Five “5 common child issues and some guiding help from a Clinical Psychologist�

1.

School Ghouls

Every child is unique and this means that going to school can be traumatic for the more sensitive child. Children often present with feelings of anxiety on school mornings and in some households this may even lead to a heart-breaking struggle to get ready and out of the door. Whilst this may be due to harmless and normal feelings of missing mom or dad, remember that anxiety may also present as physical troubles such as a tummy ache, sleeping issues or loss of appetite. Try giving a child a small 'transitional' object or fluffy toy to keep in her pocket. Assure her that you understand that it is scary to leave for the day, but that this object with be with her and in that way you will be there with her too. School avoidance that persists or accompanies bed-wetting or more severe anxiety should be investigated.

2.

Slumber Shut Down

Bedtime can become a nightly battle for both small children and toddlers. Ideally, healthy sleeping habits should be instilled in the early months of life, but understandably parents often choose to sit with their children until they fall sleep or let their little ones sleep in the 'adult' bed with them. This may then lead to a child feeling the natural emotions of rejection and distress when the sleeping setup changes. The good news is that it's never too late for routine - it just may take some hard work, persistence and consistency. The key here is the less fuss, the better.

Speak gently yet firmly and explain to your child the new arrangement. "Mom is going to sit with you in your own room for a little bit and then you're going to go to sleep like a big girl." Children understand a lot more than we may realize. You may also want to give them a transitional object such as an item of your clothing to sleep with that holds your body warmth and smell. Every other night or so, try to move further away from their bed or cot.

Avoid singing, and if they stir or fret, assure them you are there. You may move closer to them if you like but not right back to the bed.

This process takes time and consistency and you as a parent will be able to judge as to how far you move and the pace at which you increase the distance. There are also natural products available that do not contain sedatives – a great help to naturally soothe a child into slumber.

3. The Midnight Monster It's very natural for a child to be afraid of the dark. Biologically we are programmed to fear the unknown and darkness is not pleasant for a young child. Added to this are the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) messages in television and books regarding evil villains and 'baddies'. If your child develops a specific fear or phobia out of the blue it is important to identify the cause. If you have a cause, you have a starting point. Of course some children develop fear of the dark or bad dreams as a natural occurrence. Remember, the brain 'sorts through' our sub-conscious at night and not all the information processed is guaranteed to be pleasant. Night lights are a great way to instill confidence for a child as are pleasant toys on the bed and again, a personal object from mom or dad. It is essential not to feed into the fear, so avoid saying: "This will keep the monster away."

Rather, assure your child that there are no monsters – but that you understand that they are frightened. Repeated nightmares or night terrors are a more advanced form anxiety and may need treatment. Children who suffer night terrors are inconsolable and often seem to be in a trance like state. If your child experiences episodes of severe night terrors, consult with your doctor or pediatrician.

4. The Shout and Pout A child who shows her independence and her own will is a healthy child. It shows that she has a sense of self and set likes and dislikes.

However, tantrums on a regular basis can become something that needs to be addressed. When tantrums affect daily life and negatively impact on the family or cause physical symptoms for the child (such as vomiting or crying to the point of breathing problems) then appropriate steps should be taken to remedy the situation for all concerned

Try to always approach the situation in a calm and adult manner (remember you are the parent and reacting with similar childish quips will do no good). When speaking to your child, drop to her level so that you're in an eye-to-eye position with her. Compromise is often the secret. Remember to give your child a choice: "Do you want to wear the blue dress or the pink dress?" In this way, you are making it clear that she has to get dressed, but that she will still have a say in the matter.

Another key is distraction – learn the cues of an impending tantrum and when they present, distract your child in a positive manner: "Because you're such a clever girl, mom needs you help with the shopping list.“

5. My 'Friend' Joe Many children go through the phase of having an imaginary friend. Again this is a natural phase born out of a furtive imagination and a natural need to dispel loneliness. A makebelieve friend can help a child to cope with certain situations and allow a child to talk to you 'through' this imaginary persona: "Joe doesn't like asparagus" and so on. This can provide a handy and sometimes necessary go between for communication. Take your cue for your child – if she wants you to include Joe in a meal, do so. As long as the imaginary companionship does not disrupt a child's daily life, there is no need to worry… it’s a natural phase that will pass in due course.

There are great natural remedies available to help instill confidence and allay fears and anxiety in children. Child-safe natural remedies can provide much needed support without the risk of addiction or side effects.

Got no time to yourself? No problem! Bring baby along in their carrier and work your muscles with this simple full-body workout.

Calf raises Stand on a step with heels hanging off and a wall or railing nearby for support. Starting with heels lower than toes, rise up until standing on your toes. Pause for a moment then lower back down to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Tricep Dip Sit on a step with hands by your hips and heels on the floor in front of you. Lift your hips off the surface and lower your body towards the ground until elbows are bent to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Elevated Lunge Stand about a metre in front of a low elevated surface. Step forward onto the step with one foot.

Sink down until both knees are bent to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position. Aim for 2 sets of 8-12 reps with each leg.

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Plié squat Stand with feet wider than hip-width, toes turned out and hands on hips. Keeping your torso upright, sink towards the floor until both knees are bent to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Side Lunge Start standing upright with feet together. Take a big step forward to the side and sink that leg down until the knee is bent to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 8-12 reps.

We just know that you will love Lisa’s new platform: MUMENTOES serves as an online hub of content directed towards families of all sizes and ages: primarily women who want to fall pregnant, expecting moms, new parents, and young families – all looking to enhance their physical and mental health, and that of their growing families. https://mumentoes.wordpress.com/ TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle and Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za www.facebook.com/LisaRaleighSA-Facebook LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – Youtube

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My Bored Kids Complaining About Being Bored Is Driving Me Crazy!

My Bored Kids Drive My Crazy! “I’m so bored!� For many parents, hearing this refrain all summer is like nails on chalkboard. Should parents suggest activities and try to help their teens entertain themselves? Here a mother and teenage daughter discuss her approach to her bored kids, and our panel of experts has advice on when to let a teen entertain themselves, and when to intervene.

MOM | Whitney Fleming Being a tween/teen today is no joke. There are so many opportunities to participate in school activities, athletics, classes, and everything in between. There is a club or organization for nearly every interest, and practices, meetings, and service hours are on the calendar for what feels like every spare moment. Add to that the hours of homework and projects teens must complete.

With three tweens, I often feel like I am passing myself on the road taking someone somewhere.

5:00 a.m. on a Saturday: time to get up for a soccer tournament. 7:30 p.m. on a Thursday: orchestra concert. Friday at 4:00 p.m.: art class.

Bored Kids It’s for this reason I want to pull my hair out when I hear these three simple words: “Mom, I’m bored.”

Perhaps kids are so overscheduled that they have no idea what to do with themselves when they have a moment of “free” time. Or perhaps in today’s iEverything age, teens don’t know what to do if a screen isn’t in front of them. Or perhaps they still want a parent to point them in the right direction, if even subconsciously.

When I hear from my bored kids, I often provide a wide list of responses, including: “Read a book,” “Take a walk,” or everyone’s favorite, “How about cleaning your room?”

To which the responses are often, “Nah,” “I don’t feel like it,” or “Never mind.”

Boredom is a great thing for tweens/teens. It means they have time to breathe and decompress from the external pressures they face.

But figuring out what to do with those 15 minutes between studying and soccer? Well, that’s on them.

Whitney Fleming is a freelance writer and social media consultant. She resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, three tween daughters, and her puppy, Jax. She blogs about parenting, relationships, and w(h)ine at www.playdatesonfridays.com

DAUGHTER | Olivia Fleming

I love activities and hanging out with my friends. I take lessons and compete in Saddleback horse riding; I participate in orchestra, the stage crew of the school play, and clubs at school.

I also like my “me” time. I have two sisters around my age, and we’re always doing stuff together, but sometimes I need a break. I’ll read a book or play on my phone, and I enjoy being by myself.

Other times I feel stuck. If I want to go somewhere or do something, one of my parents needs to drive me.

Or if I just want to chill out and watch a movie or play on my phone, they complain that I’m on electronics too much. So yeah, sometimes I really am just bored and feel like I have nothing to do.

I think I say I’m bored because I’m looking for some company or just want to chat for a few minutes. It’s my way of trying to see if the other person wants to hang out. Sometimes, it’s probably because I don’t feel like doing whatever it is I’m supposed to be doing, like unloading the dishwasher or studying for a test. (Boring.)

Adults seem to get annoyed whenever a kid says, “I’m bored,” like it’s the worst thing they could ever say and they’re just complaining all the time. I think we are just being honest.

I think it’s OK to say you are bored if that’s the way you are feeling. And you never know what someone else may come up with as an idea for doing something fun—like the time I said I was bored and my mom told me to help make dinner for the family. Now I know how to make spaghetti and meatballs all on my own!

Olivia Fleming is 12 years old and entering the seventh grade this year. She enjoys playing the cello, riding horses, reading, and cooking.

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS We talked to the experts about how to respond your bored kids. Here’s how to understand it, and what to do and say about it: Boredom and creativity. Dr. Karen Gaskin, an associate professor of psychology at Penn State University who has researched the connection between boredom and creativity, says not to write off all boredom as bad. “Sometimes a little boredom can be productive, for it can help spark kids’ imagination—encouraging them to see their everyday environment in a new and interesting way.”

Don’t ignore boredom. At the same time, Carl Pickhardt, Ph.D., a psychologist in Austin, Texas, and author of Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence, cautions parents not to trivialize boredom, as it can be a symptom of a search for connection. “Passing boredom is okay, but protracted boredom is not,” Pickhardt says.

“For the teen who cannot find a positive way to connect with herself, who cannot mobilize resources to get unstuck and positively engaged, parents can be door-openers and activity directors: ‘Since you can’t find a good way to occupy yourself this afternoon, just for 15 minutes, I’d like you to try this.’”

What does boredom mean? Amy Speidel, a certified parent coach based in Cleveland, agrees that parents can help young people get unstuck. We can explain to teens that boredom is “the brain’s way of saying, ‘I want novelty; give me something exciting.’” Their brains, Speidel says, “are looking for a boost.”

Try to be patient with teen boredom. It’s a natural parental response, but Speidel suggests we try to avoid feeling irritated when teens say they’re bored. It’s part of life, just like feeling hunger in our stomachs. We can coach our kids to ask themselves, “What would my brain like for nourishment?” just as we would encourage them to find something to eat when they’re hungry.

We can coach our kids to ask themselves, “What would my brain like for nourishment?”

Boredom Solutions to Try What to say in that moment to bored kids? Speidel’s advice indicates Whitney was on track when she suggested Olivia help make dinner. “Your brain’s looking for something to do,” Speidel counsels parents to say, and to suggest a few options for the teen. Puzzles, exploring outside, walking a pet, calling a friend, knitting—the possibilities are endless. It’s helpful if parents have a mental “fridge” full of options for “brain hunger,” just like we have a fridge full of options for stomach hunger. (A physical jar full of ideas for activities “to jar the brain” is also a possibility.)

Then, the next step is on them.

Red alert!

It’s

exam time

If any of your family members are studying for exams, you’ll know how much stress and hard work is involved.

Healthy lifestyles are set aside for textbooks.

Exercise? No time for that!

Eating properly? There’s pizza in the fridge!

It’s a worry for parents. We have some guidelines to help your student through this period, healthily.

again!

Stress, eating and studying Extreme studying combined with an unhealthy lifestyle stresses the mind and the body.

And, we’ve noticed, many people who are studying often lose control of how much and how often they eat, which is pretty much constantly.

This habit of eating while studying seems to be quite uncontrollable. In fact, it is scientifically proven that the drive to eat is related to perceived stress. When people are under pressure, their bodies releases cortisol, a hormone that increases appetite.

They look for comfort food – those goodies that are high in sugar and fat.

How you can help As a parent, you can subtly guide your stressed student through those rough waters of bad examtime habits.

- Eat healthy fats The brain needs fats to function properly.

Sardines, tuna and salmon are good sources of healthy fats, as are eggs and avocado.

Nuts are good too – keep a small bowl of unsalted nuts within reach.

- Encourage them to get active Good luck with this one! But the fact remains that it’s a good idea to go for a brisk walk or jog, or do some stretches, before settling down to study.

- Place a jug of water nearby - and encourage them to drink it all

Physical activity causes the body to naturally release stored energy from its cells. Hunger pangs are satisfied. And that means the fridge, and your biscuit tin, are safe from invasion, at least for a while.

- Prepare ‘smart’ snacks to fuel energy, and keep them within reach Berries, grapes, apples, melon and pineapple wedges, raw veggies with hummus, plain popcorn, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and roasted chickpeas are all low-kilojoule, highly nutritious foods. Hide the crackers, chips, cereal, ‘health’ bars, and other sugary, high-fat foods. Junk food causes blood sugar to spike, and then crash, leaving the body feeling lethargic and sleepy. Your student will simply reach for more carbs. You see the pattern…

- Persuade them to take regular breaks – a walk around the block (great if you have a dog!), a rest in the sunshine; a dip in the pool.

- Little grey cells need a rest too We find that sitting quietly, stilling the mind, really helps. It takes practice, for sure, but a short spell of mind-calming activity can really calm stress levels.

Basically, as a parent, you’re aiming to prevent your child’s stress levels getting so high that they find junk foods irresistible.

By offering them sound nutritional choices, you’ll help them feel more energetic and able to concentrate better.

If you’re at a loss, your nutritionist or therapist can offer solutions.

Here at Flora Force, we know that Gotu Kola (see https://www.floraforce.co.za/gotukola/) supports circulation and helps improve brain function.

And we find Slippery Elm (see https://www.floraforce.co.za/slipelm/) useful to soothe an anxious gut.

These products are advised for people over 18. As always, we advise you to consult your healthcare practitioner – under his guidance, younger children may also find them effective.

Good luck!

5 Co-Parenting Tips From a Single Dad

by Jane Parent

Parenting after divorce – it isn’t easy. Parenting teens and tweens is challenging enough without the added stress of co-parenting with your ex after an acrimonious split. Your Teen caught up with Jeff Meshel, a divorced father of two from New York City, and co-founder of DivorceForce, an online community and resource for divorced parents, to talk about tips for parenting after divorce.

Tips for Parenting After Divorce 1. Get Support.

“Divorce is the second most stressful life event there is,” says Meshel, “and when you are going through it, you are confused, reactive, hurt, and your judgment isn’t always great.

Your friends want to help you, but they probably aren’t divorce experts and are more likely to give you their opinions than concrete legal advice.” Connecting with others who are either going through a divorce, or have experienced a divorce, says Meshel, helps divorced parents receive the support and advice they need.

"Connecting with others who are either going through a divorce, or have experienced a divorce helps divorced parents receive the support and advice they need."

2. Do Your Best to Stay Out of Court.

Matrimonial and family court foster hostility and conflict. If you are having issues communicating with your ex, ask parents or a trusted source to mediate and help you both overcome the hostility so you can move towards an amicable resolution. Litigation is expensive and stressful on your children. “Both parties must be willing to stay out of court, so if your ex isn’t cooperating, find someone close to him or her who can point out all the negatives of litigation.”

3. Don’t Disparage Your Ex – Ever!

As much as you may dislike your ex, remember that person is the mother or father of your kid(s).

“If you have two intelligent people who are committed to putting their kids first, it’s much easier than if you have a hostile divorce with lots of adversity where the kids are very emotionally affected,” says Meshel.

Even when your ex is trying to alienate your kids, or physically or emotionally separate you from them, Meshel recommends learning to “deflect it and not react emotionally in front of the children.” Stay positive and affirming. Don’t lie to your kids or try to shield them too much, but be open and honest, even when it’s painful. “I’ve been an open book about the good and the bad with my 19-year-old,” says Meshel, “and it has really helped to empower him to make good decisions.”

4. You Are Never Fully Divorced.

You share the most valuable possession in the world, and are responsible to raise your kids to the best of your abilities. This will keep you connected forever. “As hard as it may be, and as emotional as you are right now, keep in mind that your ex is a crucial part of your child’s lives, and being able to co-parent is paramount to your child’s happiness.”

5. Don’t Use Your Kids as Messengers.

Avoid unnecessary stress on your kids by using them to talk to your ex. The most common abuse of this is discussing parenting schedules. “Kids don’t need to relay this information, not when you have a host of calendar and scheduling options. We all have phones, sync up with your ex and alleviate the back and forth over simple items.” Less conversations with your ex could lead to a smoother relationship moving forward.

Single Parenting: Find Your Tribe

By Renee Brown

This parenthood thing is quite the journey. I found that once I got the hang of how to handle something, when BAM … a new problem surfaced and I’d be back to square one.

I think everyone can agree having a tribe is a great idea. The problem is, how do you find your people? After my sons and I lived in Lincoln, Nebraska for five years, we moved back to our beloved Minneapolis. I assumed I would pick-up with my girlfriends without a hitch. And I did, for the most part. But I’m not going to lie, it was difficult.

Without the other parent in the home to weigh out pros and cons, making decisions – both large and small – can be an exhausting, tedious and frustrating endeavor to do alone.

I found myself second-guessing my rationale and often felt like it was all too much.

Most of them were happily married and didn’t have much time or space outside of a lunch or happy hour here and there. We would definitely share parenting challenges, but since they had a solid relationship with their kids’ dad, they had him to strategize with. I didn’t have that, so I began to deliberately look for other single parents.

Luckily, not long after my divorce, I decided I needed a tribe. I needed other single moms to spend time with. People who understood my struggle much more intimately than my married and/or childless friends could.

Friends who knew of the delicate struggle I lived with every day as a single mom.

Looking back on my life I can see how some friends were only around for a certain season of my life.

I struck gold at a large church that had not only terrific youth groups for my boys, but also a single mom’s support group that met at the same time as my kids’ activities. In a flash, I was meeting weekly with 20 or more other single moms who all needed support, love, and encouragement. I found that I was far enough along in my journey that I could serve as a mentor of sorts at times. It was in this group that I made some really great friends, including one of my best friends. We saw one another weekly, but really carried the friendship on during the week. Pretty soon, we were getting together on a regular basis for potlucks, walks, movies and of course, happy hours. In between were plenty of emails, texts and phone calls. They rallied around me when I had to go to family court.

These women made all the difference in the world for me. They understood my walk, they praised me (which – let’s be honest – filled up my bucket in a huge way), and they made me laugh, hard, all the time.

Sometimes the women you meet will be friends for just a short period of time, and that’s OK, too. Looking back on my life I can see how some friends were only around for a certain season of my life, and I am able to see how we were there for a particular reason.

Others will be a huge part of your life for many years to come. Don’t force anything; the best friendships happen when both parties have an itch that needs to be scratched.

My tribe has shifted and evolved over and over again, especially now that my sons are young adults. One of my best friends is single with no kids, but she provides me with terrific perspective. I love her advice because it’s practical and always from her heart. I always know she wants the best for me and, what can I say, that’s a pretty amazing friend.

I met some other really lovely single moms too. I met one sitting at the same table during a professional awards banquet. We got to chatting and I laid out the line about raising boys alone and learned she was in the same situation. We exchanged business cards, then met for lunch and have been friends ever since.

All of this is to say, single moms are everywhere, and we all need one another (and single dads, the same holds for you too).

Don’t be shy about letting people know of your situation. You never know who else is on your journey, or maybe has a sister or good friend who needs a tribe. Think of what a win-win this can be!

I needed a tribe. I needed other single moms to spend time with.

Renee lives in Minneapolis and has two young adult sons, Sam and Zachary, plus three obstinate felines. She is a senior account executive in advertising and an avid reader, creative writer, and yoga enthusiast.

EXAM TIME ANXIETY From Flordis

Why we suffer anxiety at exam time?

It is appropriate to feel some anxiety around exams, as with other important events in life. Nervous tension serves to motivate and focus attention keeping the mind alert.

Exam stress becomes a problem if it interferes with the ability to prepare for and perform in exams - too much anxiety can block clear creative thinking, create a negative mind-set and lead to panic.

Here are some valuable Points to remember ❑ Before your exams: Prepare and plan well ahead for exams; timetable a sustainable revision schedule; review your exam skills and deal with specific deficiencies; aim for a balance of work/rest/play; create an area where you can study effectively; consider working with a study partner who you respect and can work well with; take responsibility for your learning style; get organised with a system of collating notes; ask your department for help (past papers; guidance); ensure you understand the structure of each paper (marks allocated, etc); look after yourself well (exercise; eat healthily; sleep regularly; develop effective relaxation techniques); change your attitude to exams (visualise yourself as a competent examinee who is in charge of revision and who 'embraces exams as an opportunity to shine' - try it!). ❑ During your exams: eat well (eg. breakfast before a morning exam); give yourself plenty of time to arrive; use a calming mantra to keep focused but relaxed (eg 'I am calm and am thinking clearly') whilst breathing slowly and steadily; read instructions on the exam paper carefully; plan timing and answers; check your work; if anxiety levels rise - take a deep breath, tense your muscles and release whilst exhaling - assure yourself you can 'have your anxiety later but now it is time to take the exam'; take a mental break then recommence don't give up; maintain a positive attitude; visualise yourself as calm and focused and impressing the examiner with what you write. ❑ Between exams: relax and indulge yourself for a short while after an exam then re-focus for the next; review what went well in your overall approach (including how you managed your anxiety) and aim to improve it in your next exam.

Keep exams in perspective ❑ Lots of people will tell you this, because it's true - exams aren't everything. Whatever happens in your exams, you can still be successful in life afterwards. So ,if you don't do as well as you'd hoped, try to keep things in perspective. ❑ Employers don't just look at your exam scores. They're just as interested in your attitude, your transferable skills and how well you'll get on with other people. ❑ Exam success doesn't define you as a person. Everyone copes differently in different situations and there's so much more to your personality than how well you can respond to an exam. ❑ Think about how far you've come already. You've already done incredibly well to get to university ,and stopping or failing exams at this point isn't 'throwing away' your past success. ❑ Once you've done an exam, try to forget about it. There's nothing you can do about it ,and worrying won't change your mark.

Get that organised feeling ❑ Picture your exams as a time-bound project. Are the exams 60 days away? That's your 60day challenge. Best of all, there's a definite end point.

❑ Work out the basics: which exams you have, how the marks are allocated, and how much you have to learn for each one. Don't expect to learn everything; but having in mind where you'll get the marks can help you prioritise. ❑ Break your revision down into small chunks ,and form a plan. Once you've got a plan, you won't have any more dilemmas at the start of the day about what to work on. ❑ Schedule in plenty of free time to unwind ,and protect this time. Nobody can work all day every day. If you give yourself plenty of rest you can do the same amount of work in half the time or less. ❑ Equally, don't panic if you go slightly off schedule - tomorrow is another day.

Develop good habits ❑ These habits will help you concentrate as well as reducing stress: ❑ Take frequent breaks. Psychologists say we can only concentrate properly for 30-45 minutes.

When you do take a break make sure you don’t stay at your desk, you could go for a walk or even just make a cup of tea! ❑ Eat well. Keep a good blood sugars level to avoid highs and lows of energy, by eating slowrelease foods like bread, rice, pasta, fruit and veg. ❑ Drink lots of water. People often underestimate how much hydration helps! ❑ Think about when and where you work best. Not everyone is a morning person, and some people don’t find the library a productive place to work. There's no one best place or time to work - it's about what works for you. ❑ Keep active. Even a short walk will do. Exercising is one of the quickest and most effective ways to de-stress. Fresh air will clear your head and perk you up. ❑ Try to get about 8 hours' sleep a night. If you're stressed about not being able to sleep, there are lots of ways to aid a good night's sleep. ❑ Find activities that help you relax. Maybe it's a hot bath, watching a TV show, or a creative activity. Schedule this down-time into your timetable.

Avoid bad habits ❑ Don't set yourself ridiculous goals. Nobody can revise 10 topics in a day! Avoid setting the day up to be a disappointment. ❑ Don't cut out all the enjoyment from your life. It's tempting to decide you'll just knuckle down to work and "focus", but this is counterproductive - it's impossible to focus without giving your brain rest by doing other activities. ❑ Avoid stimulants. Caffeine, alcohol and drugs impede your energy and concentration in the long term. It'll also make it more difficult to get that much-needed sleep.

Get support from friends and family ❑ Don't be put off by friends saying that they are doing huge amounts of revision. As already mentioned, that's probably not actually a productive or efficient way of working long term.

One of the key reasons people feel exam stress is due to comparing themselves to other people.

❑ If you can, discuss with your parents what they are expecting you to achieve. Parents with steep or unrealistic expectations will just add unnecessary pressure. It's helpful to let them know what you think you have the capacity to achieve, and to insist that the best way to get there is to have support from your parents, not pressure. ❑ If you're feeling really worried or anxious, chat to a good friend, family member, or tutor. It helps to get it out of your system, and they may well be able to help think about practical strategies to deal with exam stress.

Ayurvedic herb in KEENMIND boosts memory and concentration Two clinical trials have identified that CDRI 08, a specific extract of the Indian plant Bacopa monnieri, promotes memory, recall, concentration and mental clarity in adults.

Seven clinical trials in India and three subsequent trials in Australia proved that CDRI 08 is safe and effective in enhancing the retention of new information in the brain, improving the speed of visual processing, improving learning rate and memory consolidation, and enhancing nerve impulse transmission. The study conducted on Indian children with ADHD showed improvements in overall memory, sentence repetition, logical memory, word recall, digit span and delayed response learning. Studies have also shown that CDRI 08 has a pronounced antioxidant effect

Safe and no side-effects Australian researcher, Professor Con Stough, of the Brain Sciences Institute (BSI) in Melbourne, notes that “numerous clinical studies have shown KeenMind (the Australian listing for CDRI 08) to be safe, well tolerated and devoid of any undesirable side-effects".

This is a significant plus for this natural medicine, as Stough gives a long list of side-effects for medical interventions currently being used to treat cognitive decline and dementia in the ageing population: “These include diarrhoea, muscle cramps, fatigue, nausea, rhinitis, vomiting, anorexia and insomnia.

“Clinical studies on KeenMind have shown that in addition to enhancing cognitive functioning, it has anti-anxiety, antidepressant and adaptogenic effects.”

In today’s society, Stough points out, that optimal brain function is not only affected by ageing.

“Attention and information processing are also impaired in many day- to- day situations by illness, stress, fatigue and increased pressure for performance at school and at work,” he says.

Trials on healthy subjects to date indicate that KeenMind is also beneficial in these learners.

Safe & Magical Spaces for Children

Kids on Camera TV and Print Media Casting Agency

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Kids on Camera offer training for youngsters on how to be professional on camera and help build their selfconfidence. That's what they'll need in the industry to seal the deal and get that commercial they have always wanted.

Our Confidence Training classes are from the ages of three years old and up. We train kids to look into the camera and speak with confidence, and the older kids learn how to present. We sing and dance and have prizes and loads of fun.

R200 for two hours of training, including a certificate.

To register a profile on our database is R350 once off fee.

All ages are welcome.

WhatsApp Natasha on 083 714 3241 See our website for details. www.kidsoncamera.co.za

Yes, every day. Better yet begin and end the day with fresh air.

The best way to wake up and to unwind from the day.

Do Not be Afraid Get dirty. Be welcoming of critters. When I heard one of my Montessori instructors say “in order to create a sense of awe and wonder in children, you need to hold back your fears”, my journey to embracing and loving every thing about the outdoors began. I could no longer say, “oh, gross,” or jump when I saw a spider, or explain my irrational dislike of raccoons in front of my children, at least when they are first discovering the natural world. Embracing and become aware of my own fears of the natural world has changed the way I explore the outdoor environment. I am definitely less afraid myself. So it is easy for me to project that onto my children.

Question & Research When I did discover these fears of mine, I took it as an opportunity to learn more about the critters. So, I was never really a fan of slugs. I held back, though, and decided, instead to accept that these creatures must exist for a reason and human should easily be able to co-exist with them. Sure enough, I was right. As I learned more about slugs and taught my children about slugs, I came to respect their existence on this great earth.

Respect & Be Kind to ALL Living Things I used to, without hesitation, stomp my foot down on spiders, beetles, and insects of all kinds.

Plants were trampled upon without a second thought. Once I began learning about insects and plants, you truly do begin to respect them. You want to be kind to them, respect their place on this great earth, care for them, and make space for them. Butterflies and caterpillars are easy to accept. Bees, though, not so much. So, take five minutes to learn about the amazingness of honeybees and you will soon do all you can to make certain these insects live a healthy and prosperous life.

Explore without Hesitation, Not without Knowledge The short way of explaining this one is: don’t eat plants you don’t recognize. Exploring without boundaries is a romantic notion but let’s be honest a little education goes a long way.

Understand the area. Learn about the plants and the animals living in the environment. Then you can be prepared to be safe, to explore with some security and to treat the area in a way that it needs to be treated, naturally.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a Wilderness Survival Class I have not taken a wilderness class myself. Perhaps some day I will do so. For my boys, though, learning “survival” and other outdoor skills is a priority and will be a part of their childhood through nature immersion camps, outdoor education and the boy scouts. This learning is not so much about making sure my boys can survive if they are stranded or lost in the woods. More so, by learning these skills, they gain valuable emotional and problem solving life skills. How to stay calm. How to think outside the box. They build confidence and security in knowing they can fend for themselves, that they are truly self sufficient.

Read about Environmental Stewards and Pioneers Who were they? What inspired them? Why did they have such passion about the environment?

There is so much to learn from history and others’ journeys. Let their paths inspire you to want to learn more and to be with the outdoors more.

Learn Something New Every Day We’ve all heard this one but apply it specifically to the outdoor environment whether that something new is a type of bird, a plant in your neighborhood or a vegetable you want to protect in your garden this year. Maybe even explore a new area of your region.

Teach Others One of the most satisfying and gratifying ways to appreciate and to love nature is to teach others in your life. I have witnessed my son explain to a friend what insect skates on top of the pond water, then how you can tell how old a tree is by the number of rings in its trunk. There is joy in his teaching. He sees the face of his friend light up, the eyes of his friend squint with thought and questions.

Give your school the edge by adding The Kick-Ups Sports Extra Murals to your curriculum.

Soccer, Cricket, Rugby - All equipment provided by us!

Kicking Up A Healthy Lifestyle Made Fun! We are perfect for Nursery Schools (2 years old +) and Primary Schools (under 13+ years old). scott@thekickups.co.za Mobile 082 449 6022 / www.thekickups.co.za www.facebook.com/thekickupsprogramme

You will need: • • • • • • • • •

plastic bowl plastic cup paint sharpie marker garden soil real or fake succulents blue glass rocks smooth pebbles flowers, mini mushrooms, etc…

Directions: First, you want to find a container for your fairy garden, my favorite container is one of these old enamel pots with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage.

My Grandma used to have a pot just like this so it always makes me think of her and I smile! Fill it up to the top, I do this whether I am using real plants or fake succulents because it is inexpensive filler and gives the natural look to my fairy garden.

Set your container of soil aside so you can work on your mushroom house. I wandered the aisles trying to find something that I could use to create the mushrooms and found this summer plastic cups and bowls, in a 4 pack,, stacked they make the perfect mushroom Smurf house and you can make a whole village for just a few dollars.

I drew out my door and window with a sharpie marker first, go ahead and make your door all the way to the opening of the cup because we are going to cover up about 2″ of it. After you are happy with your design paint your windows and door in with acrylic paint, flip over the bowl and add some spots to your “mushroom top”. Allow paint to dry.

Hot glue a small bead to the door for a handle.

While your paint is drying you can create a fun patch with your small pebbles, and some “water” using the blue glass beads, be sure to leave room for your mushroom house.

Press your cup open side into the dirt about 2″ down. Add glue to the top of your cup and press the bowl down onto it to create your mushroom house. Then start adding your plants and flowers around the house to create a woodland feel.

We were pretty happy with the final result and I see an entire Smurf colony in our future!

We left our Smurf Fairy Garden open for any Smurfs that may wander in but if you would like you can grab a set of these Smurf Figurines to add to the imaginative play.

By Stephanie

6 GREAT REASONS WHY SCHOOLS SHOULD CHOOSE CHAMELEON VILLAGE REPTILE & CONSERVATION PARK – THE INTERACTIVE REPTILE EXPERIENCE! • •

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• • •

We are the zoo that comes to you, first hand encounters without the stress or hassle of organising expensive field trips.

Close and personal encounters without the glass separating you from these vibrant exotic animals.

Interactive learning where you don’t just watch a snake move, you feel a snake move, great for kinesthetic learning.

The opportunity to speak face to face with experienced animal handlers. When visiting a zoo little time is often spent with the keepers, during our visit we are present to answer questions.

Tailor made and customised experiences that best suit your learners in an environment that best suits you.

An opportunity for students to learn about, the importance of wildlife conservation.

Suitable for all age groups, book us for the day and we cater from Pre-primary, Primary and High Schools.

OR

WHY not bring your picnic basket and visit our Parks for the day!

• • •

Hartbeespoort Aquarium Chameleon Village Reptile & Conservation Park Bird Park

For additional information contact us on 012 253 5119 / 082 469 2979 or email us on chameleonvillagereptilepark@gmail.com

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3 Simple Tools to Help Highly Sensitive Kids Thrive Does Your Child Have Sensitivity To Light, Sound, Touch, Taste, Or Smell?

By Robin Ray Green

I think of highly sensitive kids as being gifted with fluency in a second language – energy. It’s a gift that will give them many advantages in life once they understand and harness it.

But, in the beginning, it’s like their sensitivity dial is set on max!

They may be sensitive to everything: light, sound, touch, taste, and smell along with subtle whispers of energy.

Highly sensitive children can sense stressed energy in people and places. They pick up on the true emotions of others and see beyond the social veneer. Some can even feel the energetic residue of strong emotions in a space that was left days or weeks before.

The problem is they don’t know that this is what they’re feeling!

If you have a highly sensitive child, it may seem, at times, that this world is just too much for them. But, when you teach them a few simple energetic tools you can empower them.

Last month when I wrote about 7 Things You Need to Know About Your Highly Sensitive Child, many of the comments on the article and on social media asked for concrete techniques to help our children.

Here are 3 of my favorites:

#1 Body-Emotion Scanning While in a safe space, have your child scan their body from head-to-toe. Ask if they notice any tension or discomfort. Have them describe how they feel emotionally at that moment.

There’s an app called Feelings with Milo that can help younger children with this second part. Tell them to keep that in mind before going into a new place such as a grocery store or friend’s house.

If they notice a change in their body or emotions, talk about what or who it might be related to. With your help and some practice, they’ll be able to sense whether the change was due to their own experience or from energy they’re picking up from others or the place they were in.

#2 Bubbles If you’re going to a crowded shopping mall, airport, or theme park bubbles are a great way to manage sensitivities. Have your child imagine that their body is surrounded by a protective bubble. The bubble can be any color and acts as a barrier that only lets in positive energy and filters any negative or stressed energy.

When I do this with my boys we have a lot of fun with the visualization process. I ask them things like, “What color is your bubble?” and “How far does it extend around your body?” I have them describe how their bubbles feel.

We practice moving it around and sensing each other’s bubbles. Eventually you can just say, “Bubbles Up!” and everyone will know what to do!

#3 Understand Your Child’s Unique Five Element Type One of the things that has helped me the most in understanding highly sensitive kids is the Five Element system of Chinese medicine.

It’s a framework that allows us to determine each person’s unique nature – body, mind, and spirit.

The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each Element has corresponding physical characteristics, personality traits, strengths, and challenges that shape each child’s overall health and way of being in the world.

Once you discover your child’s Five Element type, you’ll have a better understanding of how your child’s sensitivities will manifest.

Five Types and how to help them: Fire and Earth children tend to be emotional empaths.

Metal and Wood children tend to be physical empaths.

Water children tend to be intuitive empaths.

Metal and Water types will need time alone to process the energies they experience during the day.

Fire and Earth types will need gentle reassurance and a safe person to share their feelings with.

Physical activity is a great way for Wood and Fire types to discharge negative energy.

By Down To Earth

Sparked by the name of one of our products, the African Potato Cream, we are asked by many; what is African Potato? Not everyone is aware of its history and uses. We give you some insight into why we use the plant extract in our products and why we believe it is a star ingredient.

The plant The African Potato, known as Hypoxis hemerocallidea or Hypoxis rooperi, is widespread in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa, especially in Kwazulu Natal. The indigenous plant is about 10 to 50cm tall, has bright yellow star shaped flowers and strap like leaves which are hairy all over. It is a geophytic herb and forms a compressed underground stem that looks like a potato, called a corm. The African Potato extract comes from the corm of the plant.

What it is made up of African Potato extract is rich in plant sterols, which are abundant in plants, but are highly concentrated in the African Potato. Researchers have found that plant sterols greatly enhance the functioning of T-cells, which control and regulate the immune system, and possess potent anti-inflammatory properties similar to cortisone, but without the side-effects.

Hypoxoside, an active compound found in the African Potato, when converted to Rooperol, has shown to be a potent antioxidant which scavenges free-radicals and has an anti-ageing effect.

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phase where our expert chemist calculates the best synergistic complex of herbal extracts for maximum effectiveness and safely preserves our products. To the production phase where advanced machinery and manufacturing processes are used to maintain ingredient purity.

Down to Earth really does take the “back to basics approach” in harnessing tried, trusted and safe plant extracts, but with the help of the latest knowledge in producing high-performing topical products.

How to I know which natural product is best?

The usage of the word “natural” is not regulated. Companies are able to use it when marketing their product, even if there is a miniscule quantity of natural ingredients present in the product.

This makes it difficult to navigate and select products available in the market today. We have chosen to be transparent and act with integrity in our declaration of ingredients. We will always tell you what percentage of natural ingredients is in each product. Just look underneath the ingredients list of the label. Other natural product companies with similar ethical values will do the same.

There are certifying bodies such as Ecocert-Cosmos and Natrue, which prescribe a minimum value of natural ingredient required in a product for it to be deemed “natural”. This value is set at around 95% of ingredients that should be natural or nature derived. We strictly adhere to these principles – in fact, our products are in excess of 99.5% natural.

This will help you steer clear of “green-washed” products. This where you are led to believe that the product is natural and that the company follows green practices, but in reality they do not.

It is a hard pill to swallow when you know you money has gone to a company that is not honest and probably does not care about you or the environment.

Are processed natural ingredients still natural?

It makes sense that pure ingredients harvested from nature can’t always be used in all products.

That is why the industry has laid down the following classifications of natural ingredients: • Natural ingredients; obtained only by physical processes like cold pressing.

• Derived natural ingredients; permitted chemical reaction processes on only natural ingredients to extract certain qualities of the ingredient.

• Nature-identical ingredients; they are reproduced synthetically in a lab, but exist in nature.

These ingredients are allowed when strictly necessary in order to ensure consumer safety (preservatives) or for purity (minerals/pigments) or for sustainability reasons.

Why should I use natural products?

As a natural product producer we hope that our customers buy into our ethos as much as they do into our practical and effective products. Here is a summary of what our values entail: • We promote the use of natural ingredients and ingredients from organic farming.

• We maintain appropriate manufacturing processes to maintain ingredient purity.

• We avoid the use of GMO ingredients and potentially harmful synthetics such as parabens, petroleum compounds and synthetic fragrances.

• We use no animal testing in our product development and source ingredients that have not been tested on animals.

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The many uses The African Potato has been used widely for centuries as a traditional medicine, or “muthi,” in the southern regions of Africa. It is known in KwaZulu Natal as “inkonfe” in isiZulu and is used for cardiac diseases, intestinal parasites, cancer, to boost the immune system, diabetes, testicular tumors, prostate hypertrophy, burns, ulcers and more.

The findings of studies show that the African Potato possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic properties and this supports the anecdotal, traditional uses in the management of painful inflammatory conditions, as well as in the control of type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, there is evidence of anti-bacterial and antifungal properties.

The Down to Earth African Potato Cream is a deep penetrating anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant-rich ointment that relieves: • muscle & joint pain • swelling & stiffness • sunburn & minor burns • eczema, acne, rashes & psoriasis The African Potato extract is also used in our Revive Moisturiser to help soothe and calm the skin, eliminating redness and puffiness caused by inflammation.

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The aim of Safe-Train Consulting (PTY) Ltd is to provide quality training and educational programmes to the individual as well as corporate institutions.

This training institution is committed and dedicated to render a comprehensive, effective and professional quality educational service with trained, competent staff and relevant equipment to facilitate learners to be part of health care and minimize loss of life as far as humanly possible. We offer both in class training as well as onsite training depending on the client’s specific requirements.

Safe-Train Consulting (PTY) ltd instructors are registered with the Resus Council of South-Africa to offer training and education which falls under the American Heart Association recognised by the Health Professions Counsel of South Africa.

COURSES OFFERED 1. First aid course for parents 2. First aid course for Au Pairs For more courses please see our website.

We also design first aid courses on request, if there is a group op people that want to learn something in a particular setting. We then offer attendance first aid courses (almost like a workshop).

Contact: :082 926 5585 safetrainconsulting@gmail.com www.safetrain.co.za

“Who are you?”

“What is your purpose in this life time?”

“What are the great, deep and dark fears that hold you back from self-actualisation?”

These soul stirring, thought provoking and existential questions are how I introduce my clients to my life coaching practice. At the darting of the eyes in those moments tells me that they haven’t thought about it much.

And really, how often in this survival-driven high technology and brisk-pace modern world do we ask the big life questions? How often do we wonder the soul-searching paths of the great philosophers and mystics?

Unfortunately, the lay human being is not concerned with these “out there” questions.

The road to self-discovery is daunting. Scary actually. When I first asked myself these questions, and got past the usual garb of my titles, roles and responsibilities as defining factors, I suddenly came face to face with my inner critic. The inner voice with no other references than my past mistakes, making me feel foolish for even asking the questions.

The Heal Your Life process pioneered by Louise Hay has helped me gain perspective on the context of my inner self. We all harbour barriers that prevent us from accessing happiness and love. It’s important then to acknowledge the healing that needs to be the first steps to self-discovery.

As Rumi put it, healing requires you to “find all the barriers to love” within yourself and remove them.

Practically this means identifying your limiting beliefs around the major areas of your life like finances, family and career, and rewiring the mind with beliefs that support the life you want to create.

Healing requires removal of bitterness, anger, fear and resentment through forgiveness.

And the forgiveness begins with forgiving yourself. The Heal Your Life process taught me to look lovingly within, and to seed the beginnings of my journey with the affirmation “I love, approve and accept myself exactly as I am.”

Saying this affirmation, morning and night, as you wake and just before sleep, when the sub-conscious mind is most receptive is vital in prepping the mind for the change about to take place. The journey of self-discovery is change in motion. The mind (or ego mind) does not like change. Instead of fighting with self though, we need to love and embrace it, and thus ease ourselves into this beautiful process.

Healing requires a mind-set shift that everything that has and has not happened in your life serves the ultimate purpose of bringing you to this moment, a moment when self- discovery can occur.

The journey into to self is for the courageous.

It is for those who are willing to let go of who they thought they were, to discover who they really are. This courage means acting in the direction of self-actualisation even though you may walk with fear.

So I ask you today, “Do you have the courage to begin the journey within?”

It all starts by just being willing.

Namaste Simone Naidoo HEAL YOUR LIFE SA

Let’s face it – sticking to a gym routine is a bit too much to ask once December hits. And with good reason! Our bodies need rest and variety, and there are far more exciting things on the go during holidays than a scheduled class at the gym. That said, maintaining our activity levels, balancing our indulgent holiday food and generally making sure we keep moving is still essential. Here are a few ways to do it.

Get walking: This is the simplest strategy for keeping your exercise quota up on holiday.

Skip taxis where possible, and swap slops for trainers and explore your environment on foot. So often, we choose convenience over activity. Park further from the shopping entrance, take the stairs where possible, and squeeze in extra walks after dinner in new destinations.

Take a hike: Hiking outdoors towards a planned destination is a great group activity for friends – especially in our gorgeous SA weather. Choose a scenic route, pack a picnic basket and aim for a specific, marked out destination, like a lagoon or waterfall. This will give you incentive to move, without you even realizing you are exercising.

Step up your girl-time: Instead of a sit-down lunch, meet your friends in the park or on the beach and enjoy a brisk walk while you talk.

You will be burning calories while you catch up, and absorbing some quality time in the sun.

Hit the beach: No matter what the exercise, a beach setting is bound to make it more exciting. We are blessed with activity-filled beachfronts, so cycle, skate, run or walk along local shores. Just heading down for a breakfast? Park a little further away and enjoy the view as you walk. Up the ante and run on the sand – the unstable surface makes it far more challenging than grass or tar, so it will burn more calories. And for the water babies – swim in the sea! It is a great challenge for the body; you can also simply walk thigh deep in the water along the shore and enjoy some resistance as you move.

Get fit in the garden: A few key pieces of equipment transform your home into a hive of activity, great for kids – and adults too!

Gardens or outdoor entertainment areas make wonderful sports grounds, so invest in a stand-alone trampoline, volleyball/badminton net, or basketball hoop. You will be Conscious Life Magazine

encouraging more outdoor activity, whilst merging fitness with precious family. These add an extra fun element to holiday festivities as well – everyone loves an activity while they’re getting merry!

Train in the park: The kiddies’ jungle gym is exercise equipment in disguise. Practice standing push-ups against a low beam of the jungle gym, and try some leg lifts while hanging from the monkey bars, equivalent to a sit-up. Head over to the nearest park bench for some tricep dips and squats, and for your cool down – hit the swings!

Make it a date: If you struggle with motivation, sign yourself and your friends up for charity walks and fun runs. Not only are you getting a guaranteed workout and feeling encouraged to exercise in preparation, but you’ll enjoy a social experience with your friends whilst supporting a good cause.

Be a tourist in your own town: When you look around, you’ll see that your home town offers a lot of fun and novelty ways to entertain yourself! Skip the movies and head on over to tenpin bowling, putt putt, or pedal boats and kayaks at your nearest water source. My ultimate favourite past time at the moment are the Bounce parks cropping up all over SA. Nothing feels less like exercise while burning a ton of calories than bouncing around like a kid on the trampolines!

Squeeze in some HIIT: And if making exercise fun is simply out of the question, keep your trainers and a resistance band on hand and practice quick, intense workouts wherever you are – at home, in your hotel room, or outside. Resistance bands are my number one favourite piece of equipment for travelling with. Practice six tough moves for a minute each, with a 30-second break in between.

Then repeat this circuit once or twice.

Pushups, tricep dips, lunges, squats, bicep curls, shoulder presses and leg lifts are easy exercises to practice to work your whole body.

TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle and Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za facebook.com/LisaRaleighSA LisaRaleighSA - Twitter LisaRaleighTV – Youtube

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Include these three moves into her your routine to tone up your thighs in the holidays.

FIRE HYDRANTS WITH BAND: Position yourself on all fours with resistance band looped just above or below the knees. Keeping the rest of your body in place, lift one bent knee out to 90 degrees. Hold for a moment then lower back down to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

SIDE LEG RAISES WITH BAND: Lie on your side with a band looped around your ankles. Keeping one leg positioned directly above the other, move your top leg up into the air. Pause for a moment then lower back down, not quite relaxing the leg at the end of the rep. Aim for 2 sets of 10-15 reps with each leg.

BACKWARD LEG LIFTS WITH BAND: Stand with hands on hips and a resistance band looped around both ankles. Keeping your balance on one foot, lift the other back and up behind you in a straight line. Pause for a moment then lower back down, not quite touching the foot to the floor at the end of the rep. Aim for 2 sets of 10-15 reps with each leg.

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Hey kidz! If you want some cool outdoor fun during the school holidays, then this is what you’ve been waiting for! The Kidz Fishing Camp offers children between the ages of 7 and 15 a chance to learn what it takes to become a real fisherman.

Villa Nova is where the Camp is situated. It is nestled on the open plains of the Vaal River.

From fishing rods, reels, hooks, bait and lines – kidz will get to understand the different tools and how to use them. They will be taught how to prepare their tools, how to cast the line and catch fish. This exciting 3 days and 2 night’s sleep-over camp offers fishing equipment, accommodation, 3 meals per day and transport to and from the camp Villa Nova.

So come along for tonnes of fun!

The next Kidz Fishing Camp will take place from 9-11 & 12-14 December. Experienced coaches will be on hand to teach your child the secrets of how to catch a big fish.

Book on line at www.kidzfishingcamp.co.za to secure a place or contact Manuela on 083 610 2911.

'Tis the season for pumpkin everything.

BY PINCHOFYUM

Healthy Maple Glazed Pumpkin Muffins

5 Ingredient Pumpkin Alfredo

BY HALFBAKEDHARVEST Pumpkin & Kale Chicken Noodle Soup

RECIPE

Pumpkin Fudge Brownie Pancakes

Stovetop Pizza Stovetop Pizza These days, pizza is the favorite food of many children. Making your own pizza is a satisfying accomplishment. This delicious version uses fresh tomatoes and less cheese than most. You can bake these pizzas on cookie sheets in preheated 425 degree oven instead of cooking them on the stovetop.

Makes 3 10-inch pizzas.

Ingredients Pizza Dough • 1cup warm water • ½tsp baking yeast • 1tsp honey • ¾cup whole wheat flour • 1¾cups unbleached white flour • ½tsp baking powder • ½tsp salt Pizza Toppings • ¼cup shredded Parmesan cheese • ½cup grated mozzarella cheese • 5 Roma tomatoes, diced • ½ red bell pepper diced • 2tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves • ¼tsp salt • ⅛tsp freshly ground black pepper • 2tsp olive oil

Instructions Make the pizza dough In a medium bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let sit 2 to 3 minutes, until the yeast is dissolved. Stir in the honey and whole wheat flour. In a separate bowl, stir together the white flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the whole wheat mixture, stirring to form a rough dough. On a clean, lightly floured work surface, knead the dough for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth.

Cover the dough and let it rise while you prepare the pizza toppings.

Prepare the pizza toppings In a small bowl, combine the cheeses. In another bowl, combine the tomatoes, bell peppers, basil, salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Make the pizzas Divide the dough to make 3 equal balls. On a clean, lightly floured work surface, roll each ball into a circle that is 10 inches in diameter. Heat a 12-inch skillet or griddle over medium high heat until it is hot. Transfer the rolled pizza crust to the skillet or griddle and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Turn the dough. Spread one third of the tomato mixture on top of the cooked side of the dough to make an even layer.

Top with ¼ cup of the cheese mixture. Cover the pan and continue to cook the pizza until the toppings are hot and the bottom of the crust is golden brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the pizza to a cutting board and cut into wedges to serve. Repeat this process to make 2 more pizzas.

Coconut Rice Balls Instructions

Ingredients • • • • • • • •

½cup sushi rice 1cup water 1pinch salt ¼cup coconut milk 4½tsp sugar ⅛tsp pure almond extract ½cup shredded coconut ¼cup mango pieces

Combine the rice, water, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and partially cover.

Cook until all of the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes.

Remove from heat. Stir the coconut milk, sugar, and almond extract into the rice. Let the rice cool to lukewarm. Using wet fingers, take about 1 teaspoon of rice and roll it into a ball. Roll each rice ball in coconut to coat it. Cut the mango pieces into strips, ¼-inch wide and 1-inch long. Just before serving, garnish each rice ball with a strip of mango.

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Safe Gardening with Dogs and Cats 12 Common Garden Plants Poisonous to Pets

By Stephanie Rose Do you like to garden with pets? Dogs and cats can be great garden company and it’s important to keep them safe. I have had my fair share of four-legged garden helpers and I will say that some needed a lot of training to safely roam the garden, while others were able to work it out on their own. When I adopted a young Labrador Retriever, I quickly needed to learn which garden plants were safe for her to eat and which were not because she ate everything. This was very concerning until I learned about twelve common garden plants poisonous to pets.

I watched my lab one day as she explored the peas. She has seen me pick a pea pod and eat it. I then fed one to her. She loved it! The next day, I went out to the garden to find her eating the entire pea patch in one sitting. I guess she had developed a taste for gardening.

As I looked around the garden, I knew that protecting my vegetable garden was hopeless, but that protecting her from poisonous plants was essential. I researched which garden plants could cause her harm and I was shocked by the results. Not only is the list long, but so many of these plants poisonous to pets are common in home gardens.

While the term “poisonous plants� makes us think of rushing a comatose animal to the vet, many poisonous plants will only cause digestive upset or have an unpleasant flavor that will help the animal learn that not everything tastes as good as fresh garden peas.

I was told a story where a dog ate a bunch of ghost peppers off a backyard bush. Those peppers are not only hot but also dangerous for a dog to eat. The dog needed to spend a few days in the vet’s office and had to deal with terrible burning pain. Luckily, the dog made a full recovery and when he got back home, he wouldn’t even walk near the part of the yard that the peppers were growing in (even though the plant had been removed). This pup will surely be savvier in his future culinary adventures.

While there are some plants that will teach your pet a valuable lesson, there are others that you want to avoid altogether. I have researched and compiled a list of the 12 plants that you absolutely do not want Fido or Fluffy to eat.

Common Garden Plants that are Seriously Poisonous to Pets If your pet eats any garden plants that you are unsure of you should take them to the vet for a checkup, especially if you notice your pet acting strangely, seeming lethargic, or drooling. There are many toxic garden plants that can cause varying symptoms depending on pet size and amount ingested. Often, the poisoning is less serious. But to be safe, it’s a good idea to watch your pets and take them to a vet if there is any suspicion that they may have been poisoned.

• • • • • • • • •

Bulbs: Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Autumn Crocus Castor Bean Foxglove Lilies Lily of the Valley Milkweed Oleander Rhododendrons / Azaleas Yew

There are certainly other common garden plants that are poisonous and could have severe consequences. Please look up the plants in your home garden to be sure that you are providing a safe environment for your pets.

Of course, it is impossible to watch them at all times and we can hope that with our guidance they stay away from things that make them sick. If you notice your pet acting out of the ordinary, perhaps more aloof or more cuddly, drowsy, drooling, or with diarrhea, it is worth taking them to the vet immediately to see what could be the cause. You know your pet best, and only you can help them when they need it most.

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EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED – PLEASE REACH OUT! WE ALSO ENCOCURAGE YOU TO REACH INTO YOUR HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND REALLY NEED OUR HELP.

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At Operation Smile we believe every child suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate deserves exceptional surgical care.

For too many families around the world, safe surgery is not an option.

At Operation Smile we believe every child deserves exceptional surgical care. We believe all children deserve to be treated as if they were our own.

EVERY 3 MINUTES, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate and may suffer from torments, malnourishment and difficulty with speech.

We dream of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe surgery. Learn why we do what we do in the video below.

That’s what drives each and every one of us: our global network of medical professionals, who donate hundreds of thousands of hours toward the care of children around the world each year, and our supporters who are moved every day to make a difference in the lives of children they’ve never met.

How you can help Operation Smile South Africa Building 17, 103/104, Waverley Office Park 5 Wyecroft Rd, Observatory 7925 (+27) 021 447 3608 infosa@operationsmile.org NPO number 083-117 NPO

A child’s cleft lip or cleft palate can be repaired for as little as R5500 and in as few as 45 minutes, but your gift is more than a surgery. All of our supporters give renewed hope to children and families around the world.

CHILDHOOD CANCER Awareness & Early Detection CHOC’s Awareness Programme It is estimated that currently less than half of children with cancer in South Africa are diagnosed, and many of those who are diagnosed are in advanced stage of illness. One of the reasons for this is a lack of awareness and knowledge in parts of the health system regarding the early warning signs of childhood cancer.

As a result, CHOC initiated an Awareness Programme to disseminate the early warning signs that the South African Childhood Cancer Study Group drew up.

The objectives of the programme include ensuring that all children with cancer in South Africa are diagnosed as early possible and that the early warning signs of childhood cancer are well known in all parts of the health system (including primary health care clinics and all hospitals).

Cancer Facts Cancer incidence Although childhood cancer is relatively rare, the incidence rate has been increasing. According to a 2014 report by the American Cancer Society, it is now estimated that one in 408 children worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 15. Yet with early detection and treatment in paediatric oncology units, globally the survival rate can be as high as between 70% and 80%, with variance depending on the type of cancer.

Common childhood cancers Cancers in children tend to be different from those found in adults, most often occurring in the developing cells like bone marrow, blood, kidneys and nervous system tissues. Life-threatening blood disorders include aplastic anaemia, thalassaemia and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Despite being relatively rare, in Western countries childhood cancer is the second most common cause of death in children aged 5 to 14 years, after accidents, whilst in Africa it does not make it into the top 10 common causes.

According to the most recent South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG) registry statistics, for 2009 to 2013, the five most common childhood cancers in South Africa are leukaemia, followed by lymphoma (tumours that begin in the lymph glands), then brain tumours, nephroblastomas, or Wilms tumours – cancer of the kidneys - and then soft tissue sarcomas, which are tumours that begin in the connective tissue.

The Saint Siluan Early Warning signs These early warning signs were drawn up by the South African Childhood Cancer Study Group and they have been adopted by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. St Siluan was a monk who prayed for humanity ceaselessly.

If you detect any of the warning signs in your child please contact your nearest CHOC region contact your nearest treatment centre or SMS the name of your province to 34486, at a cost of R2. A CHOC representative will contact you shortly thereafter..

There is also a TOLL-FREE HELPLINE: 0800 333 555 that sisters and doctors at the primary healthcare clinics can call (hosted at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital) for advice on whether to refer the child for further investigation and to which unit. http://www.choc.org.za/regions.html

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Keeping more than hope alive for nearly four decades

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation was established in 1979 as a support group to parents of children with cancer, by parents of children with cancer. Having experienced the immense emotional and financial toll that cancer takes they recognised there is more than one victim in the family of the child with cancer.

Their aim was to ease the burden on parents facing the same journey by providing access to relevant, accurate information, as well as emotional and practical support.

From the onset CHOC provided support in the hospital wards, hence the name Children’s Haematology Oncology Clinics, or CHOC. Gradually parent groups were set up in other key centres, where the major state-funded academic hospitals are located and paediatric oncologists practice.

In 2000, these regional entities merged into a national organisation. CHOC now has a head office in Johannesburg, six regional offices, two branches, and 13 accommodation facilities close to treatment centres. With occupancy steadily increasing our budget for maintenance and running costs of the accommodation facilities in 2015 will amount to R7.132 million, with each facility costing over half a million and we have a total capacity of 66 030 bed nights per annum.

We do not receive funding from government but rely heavily on donations from caring corporates, individuals and parents of children with cancer. Funds raised are used to provide all-encompassing support – from direct practical help to the children and their families and those involved in the treatment – to necessary equipment.

Donate to CHOC The support of corporations and individuals is vital to the ongoing work of CHOC.

HUSKY ROMI WOLF SANCTUARY HuskyRomi is a non-profit organization providing a safe haven for abandoned and abused huskies and wolves in South Africa.

We provide a home to all huskies and wolves that can’t be kept as pets because of their complicated nature. Many of the animals arrive in a poor condition, some not even knowing what grass is. They are rehabilitated with loving care by Larry Paul. This website was started to provide support to the HuskyRomi project and to promote the protection of wolves and other wildlife. The sanctuary is open for the public to come and learn about wolves. We do appreciate donations and sponsorship for the buying of food, for veterinary bills and doing maintenance to the enclosures.

We currently take care of more than 200 huskies, wolves and hybrids in 54 enclosures.

Get Involved We are working towards getting a formal volunteer program off the ground at HuskyRomi. This is available to both local (South African) and international volunteers. Should anybody be interested to become a volunteer or to assist with the program please contact Larry on the number or email below.

Sponsorship and Donations Name a Wolf.

Should you wish to name a wolf, for instance in remembrance of a loved one or pet, you may arrange it with Larry. We just request that you then will be prepared to do a full monthly sponsorship of that wolf for a period of at least two years.

Get in Touch: Mobile: 071 679 5141 larry@huskyromi.co.za http://huskyromi.co.za/wp/ Conscious Life Magazine

PAWS R US (SA) is looking for INVESTORS – help us BUILD THE DREAM of our “HAPPY PLACE”!

After 6 years in animal welfare/rescue, PAWS R US (SA) has moved into the LINBER KENNELS facility out in the Tarlton area, JHB. It is time to spread our wings, create a permanent home, and contribute more effectively to both the cause and effects linked to animal welfare/rescue in SA. Our dream is to build the LINBER KENNELS facility into a top-notch rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming haven for rescue dogs. We also want to establish a home-base for our EDUCATION campaigns, so that we can work with the youth in returning to the core value of COMPASSION and RESPECT for Self and All Life.

To make this dream a reality, we need to BUY the LINBER KENNELS site. And to get that done, we need to find INVESTORS and PARTNERS who want to contribute to something greater than themselves, and help make a real, immediate and practical difference in a world that has lost its way.

The PAWS R US (SA) TRUST has been created as a legal entity – and we now look to spread the net open wide and “go on the hunt” for kindred spirits who want to help build something GOOD. We need INVESTORS of the HEART and MIND – those who want to protect the vulnerable, educate the youth of tomorrow, and know that their investment has directly uplifted lives and communities.

CONTACT: For all enquiries and details related to this search for INVESTORS, and the implications for each INVESTOR within the Trust, please email us on woof@pawsrus.co.za

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with much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and our readers namaste