Montessori 18th edition

FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE *18th ISSUE *NOVEMBER 2015

Exam Stress

COLOUR Your LIFE

Why Montessori?

Yummy Tummy Bullying or Bullied?

PUBLISHER 2Luni Media

ed’s letter Hello Parents and Teachers

EDITOR Linda Navon 071 346 8138

This is the first time we have completely separated the Montessori Edition from the Conscious Living magazine. All the sections on babies, parenting, youth and family life in general will be in the Montessori edition. Everything to do with healing, natural living and related topics will be available to be read in the sister magazine, which will be distributed alongside this mag.

OUR “Little Boss” Carmen Che Jardim

We are debating whether to do both editions for the December issue as the schools will be closed by then. January kicks off a new chapter for 2Luni Media with a new publication which is still under wraps.

SALES & MARKETING Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010

We have focused on the benefits of Montessori schooling for parents who are looking where to place their children in 2016. We also understand that South Africa has a shortage of Montessori teachers and have included the training centres that we know of.

FREELANCE WRITER Arizona Quinn DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH Lee Coulter OFFICES Sonata Square Olivedale TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 FOR ADVERTISING PLEASE CALL Cj ON 082 900 1010 Email: candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

Please feel free to send us any relevant info for the next and upcoming editions.

After all, this is YOUTR magazine and we want you to participate.

There is a creative and fun new product on the market called Wiki Stix, which we introduce in the mag in the Montessori at Home section.

With the heat we are experiencing everyone is hitting the pools and the beach – please make sure that your children know how to swim.

Aqua Turtle is our first swim school to join the mag. Next edition we will all be swimming!

Bullying is a massive issue – we have started covering this topic and will keep doing so. Our Youth in SA are in trouble emotionally, suicide is rife and so are drugs.

This is a topic which needs to be addressed with Parents as well as getting in touch directly with our Children of The Universe.

We touch on one type of Epilepsy along with the Ketogenic Diet and a supportive Product.

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.

Read about the dog that rescued a human and people, with the festive season upon us, please be vigilant about stray animals and their plight for help. Many of them have been ‘thrown away’ by unfeeling humans who are going on holiday.

Paul from Vondis will fill you in on the fleas that spring up in Spring, how to control them naturally.

Time to step out into your gardens and do a Rain Dance, we are all roasting and the Earth is dry.

www.childoftheuniverse.co.za

Until the next edition, happy days and keep smiling!

MEDIA PARTNERS

Namaste Linda and Cj xXx

contents montessori Why Montessori?

All the benefits of Montessori schooling SAMA list of schools & Training

montessori teacher training

positive parenting 3 Signs your Child is an Old Soul Social Skills for Kids Manners4Minors What Grandparents should know Ditch the Dummy Refractory Epilepsy & The Ketogenic Diet

Training Centres in South Africa

animal world Montessori at home

Spring has Sprung & so have the fleas Animals as our Teachers I Rescued a Human Today

Learn to Swim NOW! The Power f Play Toys & Educational games Toys for 0 – 3 years olds Wiki Stix Creative Crafts The Basics of Balance Crafts for kids at home

Yeesh! Play and party Sugarbay Holiday camps Farmers Market Fun

yummy tummy

reading

The Health Plate Preschooler Eating Guide Gluten free ready-made meals

Why read to a baby?

The ‘Buddy Reading’ approach Books from Hay House

youth of the nation

hampers to be won

Tips for Exam Stress All about Bullying

Teachers hampers Hampers for Parents Smart Heart board game

cover Megan from Child of the Universe Models

out & about

The Colourful Edition

TUKS FM – WE SALUTE YOU Thank you for the many hours of awesome company, music and idle chit chat, and especially for playing all our requests for Nothing Else Matters for Vincent. You entertain us with while we work, all hours of the day and night. Tune in online if you don’t live in the Pretoria vicinity. www.tuksfm.co.za

montessori joyful learning

Frequently Asked Questions Is Montessori religious? (Is it some kind of cult?)

According to Google, these are the two most frequently asked questions about Montessori.

The answer is no. Maria Montessori was a deeply spiritual Catholic, but Montessori education does not in itself have a religious orientation. Religious Montessori schools do exist, and some Catholic Montessori schools use a Montessori approach to religious education called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

As for being a cult, it is true that Montessori was founded by a charismatic leader and inspires passionate believers. Needless to say, it does not engage mind control, manipulation, exploitation, or any other cult-like behaviours.

Isn’t Montessori too rigid? Aren’t the children required to use the materials in a certain way?

Montessori was founded on the principle of liberty, at a time when education was much more rigid than today. In 1912 she wrote, “The fundamental principle of scientific pedagogy must be, indeed, the liberty of the pupil.” The hallmark of a Montessori classroom is children choosing their own work and working with it to their own sense of satisfaction and completion. It is true that the materials and lessons are given with a great deal of precision, and that a teacher might intervene if materials are being used inappropriately, but the goal always is to open the way for free exploration and learning.

Isn’t Montessori too open-ended? How can children learn if they just do whatever they want?

It’s curious that Montessori is thought of as “too rigid” and “too free” at the same time.

Children in Montessori schools do have a lot of choice—but the choices available are exceptionally well thought-out, and based on over one hundred years of observation and refinement.

Is Montessori only for families who can afford it?

Montessori’s first classroom served poor children in Rome at public expense. Today, tuition at private Montessori schools is typically competitive with other nearby programs, and many schools offer need-based financial aid. Montessori is increasingly available in public and charter schools. Montessori programs are offered in very poor communities in Kenya, Haiti, Australia, and elsewhere.

With gratitude to www.montessoriobserver.com

Frequently Asked Questions Is Montessori religious? (Is it some kind of cult?)

According to Google, these are the two most frequently asked questions about Montessori.

The answer is no. Maria Montessori was a deeply spiritual Catholic, but Montessori education does not in itself have a religious orientation. Religious Montessori schools do exist, and some Catholic Montessori schools use a Montessori approach to religious education called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

As for being a cult, it is true that Montessori was founded by a charismatic leader and inspires passionate believers. Needless to say, it does not engage mind control, manipulation, exploitation, or any other cult-like behaviours.

Isn’t Montessori too rigid? Aren’t the children required to use the materials in a certain way?

Montessori was founded on the principle of liberty, at a time when education was much more rigid than today. In 1912 she wrote, “The fundamental principle of scientific pedagogy must be, indeed, the liberty of the pupil.” The hallmark of a Montessori classroom is children choosing their own work and working with it to their own sense of satisfaction and completion. It is true that the materials and lessons are given with a great deal of precision, and that a teacher might intervene if materials are being used inappropriately, but the goal always is to open the way for free exploration and learning.

Isn’t Montessori too open-ended? How can children learn if they just do whatever they want?

It’s curious that Montessori is thought of as “too rigid” and “too free” at the same time.

Children in Montessori schools do have a lot of choice—but the choices available are exceptionally well thought-out, and based on over one hundred years of observation and refinement.

Is Montessori only for families who can afford it?

Montessori’s first classroom served poor children in Rome at public expense. Today, tuition at private Montessori schools is typically competitive with other nearby programs, and many schools offer need-based financial aid. Montessori is increasingly available in public and charter schools. Montessori programs are offered in very poor communities in Kenya, Haiti, Australia, and elsewhere.

With gratitude to www.montessoriobserver.com

WHY MONTESSORI?

If this description of the Montessori Method doesn’t convince you, then nothing will! Every child should have the advantage of going to a Montessori school - Ed

Trevor Eissler Montessori Madness Trevor Eissler, father of three Montessori students, is a business jet pilot and flight instructor. Over the last fifteen years, he has taught hundreds of pilots, from beginners to professional pilots. He is the author of four books, Montessori Madness!, 4,962,571, That 17th Hat, and N is for North Korea. He is a juggler, unicyclist, triathlete, and Toastmaster. He lives with his wife and family in Georgetown, Texas Email Trevor at

trevor@montessorimadness.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgN0lEh5IA

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10 Benefits of a Montessori Preschool

www.education.com

Only you can know what kind of preschool is right for your child. The good news is that many programs, such as the Montessori Method, offer research and evidence supporting their techniques. If you’re considering Montessori for your child, read on to discover 10 benefits of their educational philosophy.

1. Focuses on Key Developmental Stages A Montessori curriculum focuses on key developmental milestones in children between the ages of three and five-years-old. Younger children focus on honing large muscle and language skills. Four-year-olds work on fine motor skills and completing everyday activities, such as cooking and arts and crafts. Older preschoolers broaden their learning experience to their communities, through trips and special events.

10 Benefits of a Montessori Preschool 2. Encourages Cooperative Play Because the teacher does not “run” the classroom, students guide the activities they do throughout the day. This encourages children to share and work cooperatively to explore the various stations in the Montessori classroom. Children in Montessori classrooms, by the very nature of the environment, learn to respect one another and build a sense of community.

3. Learning Is Child-Centered Montessori preschool students enjoy a classroom and curriculum designed around their specific needs and abilities that allows them to explore and learn at their own pace and on their own terms. Everything in the classroom is within reach of the child, and furniture is sized for children to sit comfortably. In addition, older children in the class work with the younger ones, so mentoring comes as much from peers as it does from the adult teachers in the classroom.

4. Children Naturally Learn Self-Discipline While the Montessori Method allows children to choose the activities they want to work on each day, and how long they will work at a specific task, there are specific “ground rules” for the class that are consistently enforced by the teacher and other students. This environment naturally teaches children self-discipline, and it refines important skills like concentration, self-control and motivation.

5. Classroom Environment Teaches Order All objects and activities have precise locations on the shelves of a Montessori classroom. When children are finished with an activity, they place items back into their appropriate places. This sense of order helps facilitate the learning process, teaches self-discipline, and caters to a young child’s innate need for an orderly environment. When children work and play in an area that is neat and predictable, they can unleash their creativity and focus fully on the learning process.

6. Teachers Facilitate the Learning Experience Teachers in the Montessori classroom are “guides” that are there to facilitate the learning experience, rather than determine what it will look like. Teachers take the lead from the children in the classroom, ensure the ground rules are followed, and encourage students to perform tasks at their own pace. However, teachers do not determine the pace of the classroom – that is strictly up to individual students, as teachers strive to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

10 Benefits of a Montessori Preschool 7. Learning Method Inspires Creativity Since children are allowed to choose their activities and work at them on their own terms, creativity in the classroom is encouraged. Children work at tasks for the joy of the work, rather than the end result, which allows them to focus more on process than result – a natural path to creativity. Exposure to a wide variety of cultures also encourages children to broaden their thinking about the world and address those concepts in a variety of ways.

8. May be More Effective in Developing Certain Skills Research conducted by Dr. Angeline Lillard, a professor of psychology from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, examined the abilities of children who have been taught in a Montessori school. Published in 2006 in the journal Science, the research studied Montessori students in Wisconsin and found that five-year-olds in Montessori classrooms had higher math and reading skills than their counterparts in public schools. In addition, the study compared 12-year-old Montessori and nonMontessori students. While math and reading skills appeared to be more on par with this age group, social development appeared to be higher in Montessori students by this age.

9. System is Highly Individualized to Each Student Students in the Montessori program are allowed to explore activities and concepts at their own pace. This naturally encourages children to try more challenging areas, which accelerates their learning experience. Learning occurs at a comfortable pace for each student, rather than inflicting the same rate on every student in a classroom.

10. Curriculum Focused on Hands-On Learning One of the greatest benefits of the Montessori Method, particularly during the early learning experience, is the focus on hands-on learning. The emphasis is on concrete, rather than abstract learning, as students work on activities that teach language, math, culture and practical life lessons. Teachers encourage students to concentrate on tasks, and they discourage students from interrupting one another, allowing students to focus on activities until they are properly mastered.

There are many potential benefits of a Montessori preschool for children just starting out in the education process. These important early years prepare a student for the learning experience that is to come, whether they continue with the Montessori Method or move to a public classroom environment in the future.

Grace Chen is the lead editor and writer for Public School Review. From teaching at-risk public middle school students to lecturing for the Haas School of Business and FIDM, Grace is passionate about the state of education.

Benefits of Montessori Montessori education offers our children opportunities to develop their potential as they step out into the world as engaged, competent, responsible, and respectful citizens with an understanding and appreciation that learning is for life.

•Each child is valued as a unique individual. Montessori education recognizes that children learn in different ways, and accommodates all learning styles. Students are also free to learn at their own pace, each advancing through the curriculum as he is ready, guided by the teacher and an individualized learning plan.

•Beginning at an early age, Montessori students develop order, coordination, concentration, and independence. Classroom design, materials, and daily routines support the individual’s emerging “self-regulation” (ability to educate one’s self, and to think about what one is learning), toddlers through adolescents.

•Students are part of a close, caring community. The multi-age classroom—typically spanning 3 years—re-creates a family structure. Older students enjoy stature as mentors and role models; younger children feel supported and gain confidence about the challenges ahead. Teachers model respect, loving kindness, and a belief in peaceful conflict resolution.

•Montessori students enjoy freedom within limits. Working within parameters set by their teachers, students are active participants in deciding what their focus of learning will be. Montessorians understand that internal satisfaction drives the child’s curiosity and interest and results in joyous learning that is sustainable over a lifetime.

•Students are supported in becoming active seekers of knowledge. Teachers provide environments where students have the freedom and the tools to pursue answers to their own questions.

•Self-correction and self-assessment are an integral part of the Montessori classroom approach. As they mature, students learn to look critically at their work, and become adept at recognizing, correcting, and learning from their errors.

•Given the freedom and support to question, to probe deeply, and to make connections, Montessori students become confident, enthusiastic, self-directed learners. They are able to think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly—a skill set for the 21st century.

Introduction to Montessori The Montessori Method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a childcentered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood.

Dr. Montessori’s Method has been time tested, with over 100 years of success in diverse cultures throughout the world.

It is a view of the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment.

It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive.

Why I Chose the Montessori Method for My Family

By Marnie

Seeing the title makes me laugh. The Montessori method chose me and my family, not the other way around. That’s how Montessori feels to me.

That’s how natural the philosophy works for our family and parenting style. Montessori is our soul mate so to speak.

Why the Montessori Method Makes Sense I discovered the Montessori method many years ago when I began researching school options for my oldest son. I stumbled upon an article about Dr. Maria Montessori; her life, her research, and the Montessori method. If there was a metaphor for the moment, the clouds parted and the sun began shining upon my family. I remember the defining moment, sitting at my laptop as my son napped one overcast Seattle afternoon. I realized immediately that Dr. Montessori’s philosophy is exactly how I was raised by my mother. The philosophy more than resonated with me. Her words and observations made sense to me. It seemed second nature.

Getting certified seemed a natural next move. Education is in my blood. My mother is a teacher having spent brake four decades in the public school trenches. Soon after, I began a Montessori training program.

What is a Montessori Method Childhood?

My mother never made excuses for her children. Our family was a team (and we still are). Together, we cared for our home and each other. In short, she respected me, even as a young child. She trusted me to make the best decisions for myself at the time (even if not the optimal decision). She gave me the space and opportunity to learn these lessons, leading my own path of development.

Though, she always knew just when to enter the scene.

My mother is a master at observation and facilitation. She encouraged and made sure my brother, sister, and I spent ample time exploring outdoors even in the most dire weather. There were no reward charts in my home growing up. On report card day we typically went out to dinner to celebrate as a family. I did not receive $5 for every A. I never knew any different, and that was okay.

You see, everything I received in my upbringing was because I earned it. That’s the way it needs to be for children. Work hard because the effort, the potential failure, the inevitable successes, is what feels right and what you should do, not because it will get you a Lego set (although nice for learning, it sends the wrong message).

As you continue on this journey, remind yourself to be patient and to be kind to yourself. Changing behavior and integrating a different philosophy on how you’re going to manage your home and be a family will take time. Frustration will present itself but you will also have triumphant moments.

Celebrate and honor those moments, as fleeting or as defining as they may be.

Namaste.

Marnie

Nitika Le Maitre* Freeze Models

My mother knew I was capable. She honored my development by giving me the space and opportunity to lead my social, emotional, and cognitive learning not without many bumps and bruises along the way. How fortunate am I to have grown up in a home of which Dr. Montessori would be proud? I simply never knew there was a name for the type of environment.

Should you be looking for a SAMA accredited school for you child for 2016, or wanting to become a Montessori teacher please click on either of the boxes below for full information:

http://www.samontessori.org.za/

Montessori Teacher Training 2016

Overview Of Course Options & Duration The College of Modern Montessori offer three teacher training courses: a) Full-time teacher training course: one year + 6months research. b) Part-time teacher training course: one - two years (maximum). c) Distance learning course (home study): 12 – 18 months or maximum three years.

Full-Time Course The course enjoys international MACTE Accreditation.

Course requirements: Students must attend three lectures per week between 08:30 and 14:30.

In addition, they are required to complete two practice days per week, during the three private school terms.

Part-Time Course The course enjoys international MACTE accreditation.

Course requirements: Students must attend one six-hour lecture a week, which takes place on a Saturday. They are also required to complete 250 hours of teaching practice at one of our Montessori schools within a two-year period. Lectures for Gauteng students are held at our Linbro Park campus. Students in KwaZulu-Natal should attend lectures at our site in Gillitts.

Entry criteria for students: Prospective candidates must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid matriculation certificate. Students who do not meet this requirement have the option of an interview to determine possible exemption.

Selection procedure for part-time students: Students are required to undergo an interview with relevant college personnel to assess suitability for enrolment. Prospective students' motivation, their commitment to hard work and determination to become a Montessori director/ directress are all factors which are taken into account in the selection procedure.

Distance Learning Course This course benefits parents who want to help their children maximize their potential. It is also recommended for people who enjoy working with young children. Qualified teachers have derived great benefit from learning how to individualize their teaching curriculum, so that learners of mixed abilities can work at their own pace. The home study course also benefits students who want to start their own Modern Montessori school.

For full information contact (011) 608-1584 www.montessoriint.com

BECOME A MONTESSORI TEACHER IN 2016 Be the change you wish to see in the world and become a Montessori teacher!

Imagine a career where the focus of every day is about building humanity - a better humanity.

Maria Montessori (in the 1946 London Lectures) spoke about the study of the child as

follows: "If we study the child, we appeal to the whole of humanity, because children enter the lives of all men and women. Wherever man exists, children are born. And if we direct the love and attention of men and women to the child, we must remember that it is not the child to whom we direct their attention - but to all those men and women who will one day be adults; to the adults who are just starting on their way along the ascending path, and to the crowds of adults, who have and will have produced (through multiple centuries) all the marvelous things that have ever been created to form civilization."

A career in early childhood is so much more than just 'looking after little children'.

Montessori goes on to say:

"If we touch children, we touch humanity. We must educate adults to realize that we can only better humanity through the child. We must realize that the child is the builder of the man."

All our new part-time courses start in February 2016. Registrations are now open and applications will close as soon as all the places at the centres have been filled.

Do not delay... apply today!

If you would like to obtain further information on courses available, please visit www.montessorisa.co.za and see the courses page for all details.

montessori at home

To Swim or Not To Swim? No question.. its about how soon can you start!

Even competent swimmers can drown so, instead of just teaching children to swim, we teach them how to be safe in and near water and how to rescue their peers.

Our aim is to make youngsters aware of the dangers around water, to give them hands-on practical experience of how to act in an emergency, who to call for help and what to do while they wait for help to arrive. If teens are empowered with the valuable life skill of basic bystander CPR, fewer water related incidents would result in a fatal drowning.

Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide. It does not only occur during times of flooding or rough seas, but in swimming pools and inside our homes, and even in the roads and countryside!

Drowning can happen very quickly and in less than 2.5 cms of water, so filled bathtubs, swimming pools, dams, and even buckets of water and sinks can be dangerous.

Stay away from drains, filters and water intakes.— possibly trapping a What Can you Do? child under the water.

Most incidents of drowning occur at our residential swimming pools! Too often do we neglect in our supervision and a toddler ends up in the swimming pool. How can we prevent this? ·

We need to supervise as actively as possible - Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s reach to provide active supervision

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Parents should avoid distractions when children are near water and give them all of their attention!

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Even strong swimmers need adult supervision.

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Parents should not only supervise but also advise on safety in and around the pool.

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Teach children to swim. Most children can learn to swim at about age 5 — but know that swimming lessons won't necessarily prevent a child from drowning.

The best manner to prevent drowning is through effective education and training.

Toys custom-made to requirements

THE POWER OF PLAY

There has been an abundance of research around play and its positive effects on early childhood learning and development. In general, research shows strong links between creative play and language, physical, cognitive, and social development.

Play is a healthy, essential part of childhood. Infants explore their world through their senses while adults in their world foster their development and learning through playing games with them.

Toddlers engage in pretend play when they imitate actions and events they have experienced in their family life. As they grow into four and five year olds, young children engage more and more in play activities that expand their knowledge of the world around them, develop their motor skills, and focus on their peers.

What Are Suitable Montessori Toys / Materials For 0-3 Years?

In line with Montessori philosophy here are some suggested toys & gifts for the different age groups and also some developmental considerations.

Many quality toys have age guides to help choose what the appropriate age is, but remember these serve as a guide and always check for small pieces when young children are around.

The quality of the toy’s materials is a valid consideration; natural wooden toys will last far longer than plastics, but can prove a challenge to wash.

Toys & Gift Suggestions: Birth to 18 months •soft toys •things with bright contrasting colors •rattles (wooden or silver) •mobiles (that catch children’s attention/ reflective) •squeaky toys •music boxes •balls (of various sizes and textures) •knock down toys •blocks •bath and pouring toys •simple wooden musical instruments •push or pull toys •spinning top •drop boxes •stacking toys •rings and bases •board books

Montessori Toys for Toddlers 18 to 24 months Children are learning to control events and organize the world, they have little sense of danger.

Mostly, cannot share. They want to imitate you, yet are still becoming independent 2-3 years More imitation of adult behavior and exploration of the adult world.

Enjoy manipulating objects, express their own personality and test everything.

Toys & Gift Suggestions: 18 months to 3 years •posting toys •wooden jigsaws •blocks •sandpit toys •hammer and pegs •wooden animals •rocking horse •crayons, colored pens •paints, easel board •simple musical instruments •household objects (real child sized) •moving toys (such as trucks) •large threading beads •bean bags •wheelbarrow or a wagon •interlocking blocks •doll equipment and clothing •large cartons and boxes •play dough •realistic animals (farm or zoo) •child sized cleaning apparatus (mops, brooms, gardening tools) •simple story books

More Fun than a Toy‌

More Creative than a Craft!

The really cool tool for teaching. Teachers, homeschoolers, moms, grandmas and anyone helping children learn. Wikki Stix are a proven tool for tactile, hands-on learning. From preschool through to middle School, Wikki Stix are an easy medium to use. They stick with just fingertip pressure to any smooth surface, including the pages of a book, paper, posterboard‌and more! And they are endlessly reusable.

Wikki Stix do not break or tear apart, but cut easily with scissors.

Easy to use, Wikki Stix are fun and colorful, as well as soft and pliable, making them an excellent product for preschool. Great for learning letter and number formation and ideal for fine motor skills. Wikki Stix are a tactile, sensory and engaging product.

For middle school, they provide hands-on involvement which can often be overlooked at that level. Since they are easy to peel up and re-position, “mistakes” virtually disappear which is wonderful for helping build-self-esteem. Ideal at this level for lots of science projects from diagrams and cross-sections, to graphing and charts.

Wikki Stix are made of hand-knitting yarn enhanced with a microcrystalline foodgrade, non-toxic wax, the kind used in bubble gum and lipstick. They do not contain latex, gluten, nor peanut or other nut oils or by products which makes them an ideal creative activity toy for children with allergies.

Wikki Stix appeal equally to boys and girls, and span a wide range of ages, from 3 to 103! They are perfect for quiet, independent play or interaction with others. They help enhance learning through hands-on kinesthetic involvement. They stimulate the imagination and creativity in everyone! And…there is no right or wrong way to play!

CONTACT LYNTON OR TANYA

082 376 8613 / 082 375 7676 lynton@wikkistix.co.za www.wikkistix.com

The basics about balance Balance is a multi-sensory activity that enables us to know where our bodies are in the environment and to maintain a certain position. Normal balance depends on information from the inner ear (vestibular system), other senses (such as sight and touch) and muscle movement (motor skills and proprioception).

Our sense of balance is specifically regulated by a complex interaction between the following parts of the nervous system: • • • • •

The inner ears (also called the labyrinth) monitor the directions of motion, such as turning or forward-backward / side-to-side / up-and-down.

The eyes observe where the body is in space (i.e., upside down, right side up, etc.) and also the directions of motion.

Skin pressure receptors such as those located in the feet sense what part of the body is down and touching the ground.

Muscle and joint sensory receptors report what parts of the body are moving.

The central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes all the bits of information from the four other systems to make some coordinated sense out of it all.

Ideas to improve balance Start with static (while standing still) balance before moving on to dynamic (while moving) balance.

Start by doing these tasks with your eyes open and then with your eyes closed – be safe and do it under supervision • • • • • • • • •

Kick a ball while kneeling – use your knees Jump with a ball held between your feet Hop-scotch Jump on 1 leg Stand on 1 leg Walk on a balancing beam Stand on your toes Stand heal-toe Play Twister

www.wikipedia.org www.ehow.com

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•

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Walk on your heals Balance a beanbags on different body parts Set up an obstacle course at home. Put objects with unstable surfaces such as thick blankets, air mattress, couch cushions and pillows down on the floor for the child to walk across Stand with your feet in 1 position (not moving) and throw and catch a ball

JUST4FUN Dad’s little rock star

Strengthening a child's tiny hand muscles is really important for an array of early learning tasks including cutting, drawing, & writing.

There are tons of fun activities that can easily be set up to help strengthen fine motor skills; here is a great collection of simple ideas the kids will love.

yummy tummy

MOTHER LAUNCHES HER OWN READY-MADE FOOD COMPANY TO SUPPORT HER DAUGHTER’S GLUTEN INTOLERANCE My daughter was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis| Inflammatory Bowel Disease‫‏‬ last year. In our search to find a cure it was recommended by doctors that she cuts out all wheat from her diet.

The result of this was that my daughter was left with very little to eat. There is not an abundance of prepared READY made meals available in SA, which is very surprising as there are so many people that are gluten intolerant.

The only available gluten free products available are dry foods such as pastas and breads. Of course if you had to go buy these expensive products, you still have to cook the food.

Available at selected stores. See website

This lead me to develop my own company, hoping to help people like my daughter and inspire change in our own diets as well.

To your health!

Francisca Cell: 0829017744

…more from my website www.ihearthealthyfoods.com

youth of the nation

Stressed out about exams? Stress can show itself in many ways. Some of the common signs are your heart racing, stomach cramps, trouble sleeping, losing your appetite or overeating. Here's some tips to help you chill out.

Start studying early Start studying as soon as your teacher announces the exam. Even before that, read over your notes after each class to make sure you understand them. Put the notes in your own words.

Be healthy Studies show that taking the time to get some exercise and eating healthy improves performance on exams. So get out and get moving. When we're stressed we sometimes want to eat junk food but eating healthy will

You can prepare even more by thinking of questions that your teacher might ask on an exam. Write the questions down and answer them after your class is finished. This will make studying easier.

actually make you feel better.

Have a plan to manage your time Cramming all night doesn't usually work.

Plan your study time ahead so you'll feel confident for the exam.

Plan to have enough time to study about 50 minutes at a time with five or 10-minute breaks. Have a snack, watch some TV or go for a walk. Study so you understand the material and not just to memorize it. Plan to study in a place where you can concentrate without distractions.

Also, get enough sleep - especially in the days before your exam. Good sleep helps you remember what you learned.

Visualize success This one might seem a little out there, but sometimes it helps to imagine success. Think of yourself writing the exam and knowing the answers.

Visualize the A+ on the paper after writing the exam. When you imagine yourself being successful, you're more likely to succeed.

But don't just visualize studying - you actually have to do it!

Practice, practice, practice Ask your teacher for a practice test. If there isn't one, make your own. Answer the questions with friends and grade each other's work.

Chill out, try these relaxation techniques Think about the stress you're feeling. Write down your stressful thoughts.

Whenever a stressful thought pops into your head, replace it with a positive one. For example, replace "I'm going to fail this exam" with "I'm going to study early so I can ace this exam."

Also, you may want to practice deep breathing. Take a few deep breaths, breathing from deep within your abdomen and not just your chest. Let them slowly out.

This will get more air into your lungs and will help you relax.

Talk to someone If you find that you're still stressed, talk to someone you trust, whether it's a parent, teacher, school counselor or friend. They will help you put things in perspective.

Taking the exam Scan each page of the exam before starting to make sure you have all the questions. This will also help you decide how much time you'll need to complete it.

Read all the instructions on the exam. Do the questions you can answer first to make sure you get the marks for them.

Pace yourself. Stay until the end of the exam in case you remember an answer. Go back, review your answers, and remember the relaxation techniques you learned.

Breathe!

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Identify which kind of bullying your child may be experiencing Bullying is defined as mean, hurtful behavior that occurs repeatedly in a relationship with an imbalance of power or strength. It takes many forms -- verbal, physical, relational, and cyber bullying. Although schools are doing more to deal with bullying, parents are still the key to empowering kids to prevent and stop it.

Here are tips on how to deal with the four common types of bullying.

Verbal Bullying What It Is: Verbal bullying, or bullying with cruel spoken words, involves ongoing namecalling, threatening, and making disrespectful comments about someone's attributes (appearance, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, etc.).

Example: When a child says to another child, "You're really, really fat, and so is your mom."

How to Spot the Signs: Children may withdraw, become moody, or show a change in appetite. They may tell you something hurtful that someone said about them and ask you if you think it's true.

What to Do: First, teach your kids about respect. Through your own behavior, reinforce how everyone deserves to be treated well -- thank teachers, praise friends, be kind to store employees. Stress self-respect, and help your kids to appreciate their strengths. Discuss and practice safe, constructive ways your child can respond to a bully. Brainstorm key phrases to say in a firm but not antagonistic tone, such as "That wasn't nice," "Leave me alone," or "Back off."

Physical Bullying

Relational Bullying

What It Is: Physical bullying, or bullying with aggressive physical intimidation, involves repeated hitting, kicking, tripping, blocking, pushing, and touching in unwanted and inappropriate ways.

What It Is: Relational bullying, or bullying with exclusionary tactics, involves deliberately preventing someone from joining or being part of a group, whether it's at a lunch table, game, sport, or social activity.

Example: A child gets his pants pulled down on the playground at lunchtime.

How to Spot the Signs: Many children don't tell their parents when it happens, so watch for possible warning signs like unexplained cuts, scratches or bruises, missing or damaged clothes, or frequent complaints of headaches and stomachaches.

What to Do: If you suspect your child is being physically bullied, start a casual conversation -- ask what's going on at school. Try to keep your emotions in check.

Emphasize the value of open, ongoing communication with you and with teachers or school counselors. Document the dates and times of bullying incidents, the responses from people involved, and the actions that have been taken. Do not contact the parents of the bully (or bullies) to resolve matters on your own. If your child continues to be physically hurt, and you need additional assistance beyond the school, contact local law enforcement.

Example: A group of girls in dance class keeps talking about a weekend sleepover and sharing pictures, treating the one uninvited child as if she were invisible.

How to Spot the Signs: Watch for mood changes, withdrawal from peer groups, and a shift toward being alone more than usual.

Girls are more likely than boys to experience social exclusion, nonverbal, or emotional intimidation. The pain can be as strong as physical bullying and last even longer.

What to Do: Make it a nightly routine to talk with your kids about how their day went, advises Jennifer Cannon, a family therapist in Newport Beach, California. Help them find things that make them happy, point out their positive qualities, and make sure they know there are people who love and care about them. Focus on developing their talents and interests in music, arts, athletics, reading, and after-school activities so your kids build relationships outside of school.

Cyber bullying What It Is: Cyber bullying, or bullying in cyberspace, involves haranguing someone by spreading mean words, lies, and false rumors through e-mails, text messages, and social media posts. Sexist, racist, and homophobic messages create a hostile atmosphere, even when not directly targeting your child.

Example: When someone tweets or posts, "Kayden is a total loser. Why is anyone hanging out with him? He's so gay."

How to Spot the Signs: Watch to see if your child spends more time online (visiting social media pages or texting) but appears to be sad and anxious afterward. Even though she's reading painful things on her computer, tablet, or phone, this may be her only social outlet.

Also take note if she has trouble sleeping, begs to stay home from school, or withdraws from activities she once loved.

What to Do: Mean messages can be distributed anonymously and quickly, leading to 24/7 cyber bullying, so first establish household rules for Internet safety. Agree on age-appropriate time limits. Know the popular and potentially abusive sites, apps, and digital devices before your kids use them. Let your kids know you will be monitoring their online activities. Tell them that if they experience cyber bullying, they shouldn't engage, respond, or forward it.

Instead, they should inform you so you can print out the offending messages, including the dates and times of when they were received. Report cyber bullying to the school and to the online service provider. If the cyber bullying escalates to include threats and sexually explicit messages, also contact local law enforcement.

By Suzanne Peck http://www.parents.com/kids/problems/bullying/comm on-types-of-bullying/

The term cyber-bullying sounds so futuristic … so foreign … and so far-off. When I heard the word about a year ago, I thought I had plenty of time before this type of threat could touch my family. Part of me wanted to believe we could avoid it altogether—that it was something that happened to “other people”.

But now I know that kind of thinking is just foolish and naïve.

I know this because cyberbullying has been getting frighteningly close to home.

Family friends and loyal readers of my blog are telling me just how easily it happens … just how damaging it feels to the victim … just how helpless it feels to the parent … and in some case, just how devastating it feels to be the bully who never intended for things to take a tragic turn.

CLICK ON LOGO TO READ MORE

The impact of bullying can last a lifetime A study of the long term impact of bullying Young victims of bullying are at risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression and conduct problems, but these problems can sometimes persist even after the bullying has stopped.

In a recent study, we examined the adult outcomes of children who were bullied when they were 7 or 11 years old. The data used for this study came from 7,771 participants who were born during one week in 1958 in England, Scotland and Wales, and followed up until the age of 50.

Our findings show that the impact of bullying is still visible up to mid-life, four decades after people were bullied.

We found that people who were frequently bullied in childhood still experienced symptoms of depression, and anxiety when they reached midlife. They also reported more suicidal thoughts than people who were not bullied in childhood.

The link between childhood bullying and poor outcomes in mid-life remained even after considering childhood factors that may make participants more likely to be bullied in the first place or to show poor outcomes at mid-life. These included childhood emotional and behavioural problems, childhood IQ, parents’ socioeconomic status, and low parental involvement.

We found that the associations between childhood bullying and poor adult outcomes were of a similar magnitude to other forms of childhood adversity such as being placed in care.

The impact of bullying is not only persistent but also pervasive, with health, social and economic consequences still visible well into adulthood.

We found that the impact of bullying was not limited to mental health problems, but extended to poor physical and cognitive health and worse social and economic outcomes.

People who were frequently bullied in childhood were more likely to have lower educational levels, with men who were bullied more likely to be unemployed and earn less. Social relationships and wellbeing were also affected. Individuals who had been bullied were less likely to be in a relationship, to have good social network, and were more likely to report lower quality of life and life satisfaction.

Our study is the first to show that the impact of bullying is still visible 40 years later. This should serve as a stark reminder that we need to move away from any perception that bullying is harmless and part of normal growing up. Instead, we need to see bullying alongside other forms of childhood abuse such as physical maltreatment and neglect.

It’s now clear that not only do we need to increase our efforts towards reducing bullying in schools and the community, but we also need to provide better support to these young victims because their problems may last a lifetime.

We need to be vigilant to early signs that something is wrong: children not wanting to go to school, failing grades, crying. Parents and siblings must get involved in supporting family members who may be targeted by bullies. If symptoms persist or create interference with dayto-day life, it may be advisable to consult a health professional.

This blog was written by Louise Arseneault, a Professor in Developmental Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London www.familylife.org.uk

RESOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Ed’s note: We are trying to gather more information on resources for parents and kids. If anyone has information, please contact us on linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za Your help will be much appreciated.

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Bully Busters South Africa

The South African Anti Bullying Forum

www.bully.co.za

There us a danger of providing a caricature of a child who bullies as an individual who is physically strong, emotionally detached and vindictive.

These characterizations are unhelpful because they lead to many cases of bullying being overlooked and provide little insight into underlying difficulties that might account for the child’s behaviour and provide a means for intervention.

Bullying can also be a reaction to emotional distress or untreated mental health issues. This can often go unrecognized and in these cases, little attention or support is given to address the mental health or emotional well-being of the perpetrator.

READ MORE

www.centreforparenting.org

Here are the Top 10 Tips to handle teasing and bullying: 1.Establish family rules about treating people with respect.

2.Teach how to be assertive, not aggressive.

3.Increase your children’s sense of power through athletics and extra-curricular activities.

4.Talk about how to be a good friend.

5.Point out how other people are feeling.

6.Let them know you believe in them.

7.Get involved directly if your child is being bullied and is unable to resolve it alone.

8.Treat the bully with compassion.

9.Discuss ways to stand up for others who are being bullied.

10.Speak out against bullying in your life and your children’s.

positive parenting

Children are beautiful creatures; they are raw, brutal, compassionate and deserve a lot more credit! They operate entirely from their emotional body, using feelings as their guidance system. Their connection to Source, their overpowering imagination and surreal way of thinking is something that seems to dissipate into the design of society.

As we grow from children to adults, if we stayed in our emotional bodies, our world would operate based on feeling rather than hard logic. It would be fantastical, nonsensical and literally magical. Our belief systems would have stayed open throughout our development and the idea of impossibility would not exist.

Children that are considered old souls are those here with a purpose to spread their timeless wisdom through a newly born vessel. There’s something so captivating about a child that has brought forth so much information and insight from the other side.

1. They Are Insightful

3. They remember Past Lives

Children have a funny way of looking at the world. Their perceptions are still developing and they literally view the world through their imagination.

Remember seeing things as a child? Some children have incredible, blunt, compassionate, insightful advice for you.

What makes kids so special is their ability to be so raw, to tell it like it is.

If you ever wanted advice on hard hitting topics, ask a child and really ponder their response, even if it makes no sense, is irrelevant or even just a single word. See their thought process, their mental pathways and why they work that way. It will open doors you never knew existed!

If you’re born able to recall memories from past lives – there’s a specific reason you have that ability. Our consciousness has existed before this lifetime, we’ve all had lives before this. Children that are born with vivid memories, detailing their lives that they seemed to be living just a short while ago – remember it for a reason.

2. They Are Sensitive All children are sensitive – babies cry constantly as their main form of communication. When children have the capacity to be upset about something while seeing the bigger picture – that’s being an old soul. When they understand theirs no real reason for them to cry while working through the feeling – that’s. so powerful.

There’s kids like this that have such compassion it makes you want to cry.

There’s kids like this and this that are born with a deep understanding of how life works.

There’s kids like this that are hilarious through their insight.

Someone with an old soul is wise – they want to learn from their mistakes, they want to see their problems so they can create the solutions for them.

If you have a child that is persistently telling ‘stories’ of previous lives, listen to them – don’t dismiss it!

In the grand scheme of everything – everything exists, all is possible and is already occurring so the idea of past lives isn’t as strange as we’re told!

Listen to the stories, the questions, the funny ideas and strange observations children have.

They are immensely important in understanding genuine and loving communication. We have a lot to learn from them if we can humble ourselves to understand wisdom comes from experience – and we’ve all had lifetimes of experience! http://thespiritscience.net

A fun interactive way of introducing children to life and social skills

Karen Turner Weltevreden Park / Constantia Kloof karent@manners4minors.co.za

What are social skills?

The Wikipedia definition is "any skill facilitating interaction and communication with others. Social rules and relations are created, communicates and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways“.

So makes sense right, we all know how to do that?

However we all have our own interpretation of interacting and communicating. As we know there is no such thing as common sense, so how do we develop common social skills so that we can have meaningful interaction?

When we are all making meaning in our own heads, how do we teach children to grow and develop in a society that is so diverse?

Manners4Minors was developed from the need to fit in socially and acceptably and to lay the foundation of core value systems. Don't be misled by the name. Our brand is not just about PLEASE and THANK YOU, but rather assisting little ones to develop self-esteem.

Working parents, demanding life's styles and peer pressure all add to the struggle of raising confident caring children. We cannot hold teachers responsible for teaching life and social skills.

They play a pivotal role in child development but have their own challenges on what to focus on during school hours.

ALL WORKSHOPS ARE AGE APPROPRIATE AND INVOLVE COOL ACTIVITIES

So why it is important to develop these skills?

Through my coaching work I am often faced with youngsters devoid of self-belief and selfvalue. As adults we grow up believing that what we do is more important than who we are.

As a result of this we place value on what we achieve, the roles we play and how we perform.

While this has it's a place, what happens when we don't perform so well? Can I value myself even when I'm not the best in the ballet class or I don't make the soccer team? When my selfesteem is not intact and I have never learnt the skill of resilience, respect and acceptance of consequences, I may act out in inappropriate ways.

Manners4Minors offers a wide range of topics which are taught in a fun interactive way for sustainable learning. Included in these are • bullying, • stranger danger, • playground behaviour, • listening, • whining and nagging, to mention a few.

Communication with parents is essential so that learning continues in the home environment.

Wouldn't you want your child to be happy and have a healthy sense of self?

What every grandparent needs to know

Time sharing your grandkids

Would you know how to respond, for example, if your grandchild asked where babies come from? Most of us have found ourselves in at least one of the following situations.

Are the “other” grandparents more involved with your grandkids than you are? It happens, and it’s tough to deal with.

Step back to gain a little perspective, and cultivate other relationships and interests. You can also ask (nicely) your adult children and their spouses for more time with the grandchildren if you feel you’re being shortchanged. Also refrain from making too many comparisons to the other grandparents and know that your grandbabies will never know — or care — which of their grandmothers was most on the ball about nappy rash, burping, and gas.

Move beyond name pain

It’s not a popularity contest

It isn’t easy to embrace fully a baby who has been named after a relative you hated, or who was cruel to you, but experts say the process begins with forgiving the relative who wronged you.

Forgiving someone is not the same as saying that their behavior was okay. It simply recognizes that they were in so much pain and confusion that he or she acted in ways that a loving person could not. This allows for the possibility that when you speak your grandchild’s name, you can do so with love and joy, not with waves of pain and hurt. The child may just be the catalyst that motivates you to do the healing that will help release the burden you’ve been carrying.

Are your grandchildren’s parents jealous of their kids’ affection for you?

Do your grandkids throw a fit when it’s time to leave your house and go home?

The intensity of their fondness for you can be a bitter pill for parents. Here’s some advice: • Let your daughter and son-in-law know that as flattering as it is to be so adored by your grandchildren, you are as eager as they are to take steps to reduce the outbursts and tantrums. • If your grandchildren insist on staying at your house, let them to express themselves but answer firmly: “I know this is not what you want to hear, but tonight you’re sleeping at your house.”

As joyful as grand parenting is, there will inevitably come a moment when you’ll be at a loss for words, or just wish you could leave the room.

Answering THAT question

Bedtime blues

Until adolescent hormones begin raging, a child’s interest in sexual behavior is usually nothing more than innocent curiosity. If your grandkids ask you questions, your responses should be simple. If your granddaughter asks why her little brother’s body is different from hers, don’t give her a college-level anatomy lecture; if she asks where babies come from, don’t give her a dissertation on intercourse.

A straightforward answer that girls are different from boys, or that parents who love each other know how to make babies, will likely send the kids happily on their way.

Your grandchildren’s bedtime is 8pm but they refuse to go to sleep. You don’t want to punish them but you want to do what their parents have asked. So what can you do? Hold firm. For the kids’ own good, stay faithful to their usual bedtime routine. Try to be as consistent as possible to what goes on at home. Limit the bedtime drama by standing your ground. Letting things slide comes with a price, usually in the form of inadequate sleep for your grandchildren.

Interfering much?

If your daughter (or son) tells you you’re a busybody, it will certainly hurt, but understand that they may have done you a favour by telling you their feelings instead of keeping them bottled up. Rather than taking the comment as an insult, look at it as a gesture they’re making to try to make things better. Ask if there are any specific examples of times when they felt you annoyed them, and then listen.

Make the conversation into an information-gathering mission, an opportunity for you to understand specifically what they’re talking about.

The clearer an idea you have of what they consider upsetting, the better you’ll be able to avoid doing those things in the future.

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Call us on 0860 13 13 14 or visit www.indwerisk.co.za for more information.

(from mums who have been there and survived)

If you have a toddler who loves the dummy, then you’ve probably questioned when is the right time to get rid of it. And just how are you going to handle the tantrums and tears that are sure to follow ?

With gratitude to Jenna Gallina There are plenty of pluses to letting your little one use a dummy. It can help them self settle, it can help guard against SIDS and it can help them feel secure. But, there are a few downfalls to relying on the dummy too, especially as your baby grows into a toddler or preschooler.

According to Evelina Weidan Sterling, PhD, MPH, co-author of Your Child’s Teeth: A Complete Guide for Parents. “Before age two, any problems with growing teeth usually self-correct within six months of stopping pacifier use. After the two-year mark, problems can start. Your baby’s top or bottom front teeth may slant or tilt.”

And the problem can worsen as time goes on. “Pacifier use after age four, which is when permanent teeth start to come in, can have major long-lasting effects on adult teeth,” she says.

For many children, their binky is their first love. So you can expect a few days of despair as your little ones learns how to live without the dummy. It took my daughter four full days to learn how to fall asleep without sucking and without relying on the dummy any time she felt angry, sad, upset or lonely.

How did we ditch the dummy? My daughter took a fall on the tile with it in her mouth. She cracked her two front teeth and wound up with a mouth full of blood and bruising. After that it was “dummy hurt me,” and we never saw the thing again.

And, while this is definitely not the way to go, hopefully some of these other ideas will help your little one ditch the dummy habit.

Give it to the dummy fairy.

Collect all the dummies in the house and have your child place them by his bed at night. When he wakes up, the dummies will have gone with the dummy fairy. Perhaps leave a small treat or toy in return.

Or Santa Claus. Or the Easter Bunny. Or the flock of birds in your backyard.

There has to be someone or something that your little one will be willing to give the dummies to.

Ducks love chewed up dummies, I’ve been told.

Cut holes in the tips.

Many children will prefer to just toss a damaged binky rather than continue to suck on one with the tips half broken.

Drizzle something your child doesn’t like on the tip.

Vegemite could work?

Go cold turkey.

Dummy is gone and that’s that. Most mums admit that the cold turkey method is challenging but a child will normally forget about it within three days to a week.

Make dummy art.

If your child loves to get crafty, then make a dummy collage to hang in their room or a dummy mobile perhaps?

Swap it for a new toy.

When all else fails, you can never go wrong with bribery.

Lose them.

And make sure you accidentally lose them on the same day that the rubbish is collected. That way there is no going back and fishing them out of the bin after three hours of tantrums.

Tie them up.

Tie all the dummies to the cot with a short ribbon. That way, if your little one wants to use the dummy, he has to remain stationary.

Usually standing still and toddlers do not mix.

Hang them in the Dummy Tree.

There’s a magical playground in Denmark where children leave their dummies for the fairies (or council workers) to collect. And while the Pacifier Tree is an airplane ride away, this doesn’t mean you can’t make your own in your backyard or at a nearby park

Read all about it.

Some great books to include in your ditchthe-dummy plan include The Binky Ba-ba Fairy, by Heather Knickerbocker-Silva, Baby’s Binky Box, by Jennifer Ormond, illustrated by Curt Walstead, Bye-Bye Binky, by Brigitte Weninger, illustrated by Yusuke Yonezu, I Want My Pacifier, by Tony Ross and Say Bye Bye to the Noo Noo by Jill Murphy.

Plant them.

Plant all of the dummies in the garden underneath a pretty flower, plant or veggie patch. Help your little one water his new plant and watch as his dummies grow into something beautiful.

Jenna Gallina Jenna Gallina is a features writer for Babyology.com and loves showcasing all sides of parenting. When she is not watching Disney/Pixar movies or dreaming about Jon Snow, she is drinking coffee or wine in an attempt to ignore her children's constant cries of "Muummmm". Born and raised in Canada, she now lives in Cairns with her adorable children, good looking husband and naughty dog.

If your doctor says you have refractory epilepsy, it means that medicine isn't bringing your seizures under control. You might hear the condition called by some other names, such as uncontrolled, intractable, or drug-resistant epilepsy.

Ketogenic Diet The Ketogenic Diet was originally developed in the USA in the early 1920s and has recently been shown to be effective in a randomized clinical trial in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy (Neal et al., 2009).

It is a highly restricted dietary regimen that is typically initiated in a hospital. The diet requires careful weighing of foods and is very high in fat, but restricts carbohydrates, protein and caloric intake.

The Ketogenic Diet is now considered to be the recommended first treatment for specific types of epilepsy in children. Also, it is becoming an important alternative to drug therapy for children with medically intractable seizures.

However, it is important to consider that the Ketogenic Diet requires a high level of dietary supervision, commitment and resources The management of epilepsy must be initiated as soon as possibly possible in order to prevent permanent damage to the brain, however 30% to 40% of individuals suffering from epilepsy fail to respond to antiepileptic drugs (AED).This is known as drug resistant, intractable or refractory epilepsy .

The ketogenic diet (KD), which is a high fat and adequate protein diet, has been proven to be safe and efficacious in individuals suffering from refractory epilepsy.

The KD for each patient is specified according to the patient’s diagnosis, age, lifestyle and nutritional status, a registered and adequately trained dietitian is required to assist in determining the specific dietary needs for each patient. While the mechanisms underlying the KD’s anticonvulsant effect remain elusive, the KD provides the brain with ketones formed from the fat metabolism instead of glucose such as in a normal diet. The ketones have an anticonvulsant effect and may alleviate seizures.

animal world

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AN HOLISTIC SOLUTION TO ALLERGIES AND FLEAS We, as humans, adapt to change in climate and amend our habits accordingly. For example, when the weather is hot we wear lighter clothing and we generally eat less bulky meals. We protect ourselves from the UV rays and we probably shower more often, especially after spending each day at Clifton beach or a trek through Newlands forest.

Our pets rely on us for their daily activities and feed as well as their general exposure to the environment. It is, therefore, essential that we understand our companion and make the necessary adaptations to the change in climate.

Offering your companion a variety of different foods or adding tasty tit bits may improve appetite. Identify whether your companion is a “hot” dog and then include cooling supplements into the meal.

Remember, not to over do it with washing and shampooing, as their natural skin bacteria is very venerable. Rather rinse with fresh water or even a Natural Rooibos Soak.

Summer and hot weather impacts on the well being and behavior of our pets.

Spring affects our companion in many ways but the biggest irritant is fleas and itchy skin.

This is both traumatic for pet owner and pet.

Allergens are rife and abundant and our pets seem to react to everything:

Long grass, dust mites and flea bites – allergies It is important to boost your pet’s immunity during this season. Strong immunity is your pet’s sole protector against allergies.

Supplementation is essential and should be administered religiously.

The use of probiotics and/or spirulina would be well advised. A good quality omega 3 fish oil (not flax) is essential. Include apple cider vinegar daily in your pet’s water or food.

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural parasite cleanser and will help rid toxins and parasites.

A natural diet with vegetables and loads of cooling herbs like mints, sages, lemon balm would help to build immunity and calm and cool irritable skin.

Fleas and Ticks In the last few years we have seen an epidemic of fleas. They just will not go away.

Whilst it is always tempting to use strong chemicals and poisons to rid these pets, it will certainly impact on your pet’s well being and sensitive skin. Here is the dilemma. If you choose to use flea and tick drops, it may rid fleas, but it certainly will impact on your pet’s immunity and ability to deal with allergens and thus may worsen skin conditions.

The use of natural chemical free repellents is well advised and can be just as effective if applied regularly. Khakibos as a spray is fantastic to apply on your dogs. For cats we would recommend the khakibos powder.

Knowing how rife fleas and ticks are at the moment, I would recommend daily use.

When we go to the beach and sunbath we apply sun protection is advance. We don’t wait to get burnt and then apply a sun cream after. The same is true with regards to applying khakibos onto our pets. Let’s keep them off our pets as a first priority!

Internally, I would recommend increasing the daily dose of fresh garlic. Another alternative would be the use of aloe ferox bitter crystals (they are extremely bitter and you would have to hide the crystal in some meat or snack). Only one small crystal taken every few days is necessary.

Spring and Summer in South Africa is truly special but it can be problematic for our pets. Fleas and allergies can be contained naturally by boosting our companion’s natural immune system. Extra care and time is required during these months but the results are worth it. After all, a happy pet means a happy owner.

LEARN FROM THE ANIMALS Animals do teach us unconditional love. This is true.

Imagine then, if we learned from them and treated each other with as much love, tolerance and patience.

We are much more patient with our animals than we are with our spouses. We forgive our animals much easier than we forgive our spouses, friends, family and children.

We rise up as one to defend animals, yet we often fail to rise for fellow humans. We tolerate snippy behaviour from our animals much more than we would from... our loved ones.

We handle our animals 'off days' with more compassion than we do the people we love. I can only imagine how I'd react if my partner unrolled the toilet paper seven times a week. I know how I've reacted when my partner broke my special vase, or scratched my car. I know that I'd get irritated if my partner vomited up a hairball on my rug every other week.

Yes, animals do teach us unconditional love, we just fail to learn that from them.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.

I would promise to always be by her side.

I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

Support your local animal shelters – ‘forever homes’ needed

out & about

SUNDAYS

The Fourways Farmers' Market boasts 107 VENDOR STALLS, selling carefully selected produce - LOCAL, SEASONAL, DELICIOUS! There is a selection of organically grown vegetables, locally made cheeses, cured meats, baked goods, jams, preserves and finally, beautifully handcrafted jewellery and other crafts.

With a choice of seating- under the Jacarandas, in the Maypole Ribbon Marquee area, amidst the beautiful plants of our nursery or simply having a picnic on the lawns whilst watching the children play- you'll be hard pressed to find a more relaxing way to spend a Sunday. Surrounded by birdsong and butterflies, watching children run free, you couldn't be further away from the Sunday Mall Shop.

We promise to change your Sundays forever.

Earth Outdoor Living Nursery c/o William Nicol Drive and Monte Casino Boulevard Fourways - Johannesburg

reading

Why read to a baby who clearly can’t understand what you’re reading?

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Reading aloud to a tiny tot who doesn’t yet say a single word may seem strange or even silly. But children who are read to from an early age are more successful when learning to read later for several reasons:

Listening to stories helps babies develop language skills. They begin to understand the rhythm of sentences and key words.

Hearing you read aloud encourages babies to use their own voice and coo back to you.

Picture books help babies learn to recognize familiar objects, like balls, dogs and shoes.

Reading picture books can be more effective at teaching a baby words than simply pointing to an object. (For example, you might point to your baby’s nose and say ‘nose’ – but unless you’re doing this in front of a mirror, they may not be making the mental connection. Showing them a nose in a book is much more clear.)

Stories stimulate babies’ imagination and creativity, which helps them develop better problem-solving skills.

Don’t forget that reading stories is great bonding time and can be very soothing for your toddler.

Some tips on reading to tiny toddlers: • • • • •

Slow right down. Reading slowly helps children work out who’s saying what and helps them to follow the storyline.

Use voices – animate the book by using a booming voice for dad or a squeaky voice for the mouse.

Use a cloth book if your baby isn’t interested in sitting still. Let them mouth it and squash it and crinkle it – and just generally use it as a toy.

If you only read one page at a time before your little one hops up to do something else, that’s completely fine. Don’t worry if your child won’t sit through a whole book.

Go for books that repeat words. Babies and toddlers love repetition.

A great way to help your child gain fluency is to do buddy reading In buddy reading, you and your child take turns reading by sentence, paragraph, or page.

Also called paired reading or partner reading, buddy reading has multiple benefits, but perhaps the biggest benefit is that it prevents discouragement.

Learning to read is hard work, and for some kids disheartening!

Imagine you’re a child with significant reading challenges. You’re faced with pages of text—and you know that you’ll have to sound out many of the words. You want to be able to read the story, but it is so hard.

With buddy reading, you read alongside your child. She reads for a while, and then you read for a while. She no longer feels that she has to do it all on her own. She feels your support, and she learns from your fluent reading.

Because buddy reading has so many benefits, our customer support team often recommends this technique when coaching customers with young or struggling learners. I invited Robin from our team to share some real-life examples with us.

Here’s‫‏‬Robin: My youngest child, Belle, struggled to gain fluency in her reading. She had to sound out every word of a story, and it would take her a long time to read even one page. She would get tired, then frustrated, and then discouraged. Often, she would be in tears by the time she finished a story. I tried having her read the story over a couple days, but then she would be in tears that she couldn’t finish it in one day.

So, I began buddy reading with Belle. We would read a short story over a period of three days.

On Day 1, Belle would read the odd-numbered pages, and I’d read the evennumbered pages. Together we would read through the story, alternating pages, until we reached the end of the story.

On Day 2, we’d re-read the story, but I’d read the odd-numbered pages, and Belle would read the even-numbered pages. In this manner, we would read the whole story through again, each reading the pages the other had read the day before.

On Day 3, my daughter was finally able to read the story by herself in one sitting—without tears. After two days of reading and hearing it read, Belle was familiar with the story and words. She still had to sound out many words, but not as many as on the first day. She was able to be successful.

Over time, Belle has needed less buddy reading. Now it’s enough to help her with just a paragraph, or a just a few sentences, instead of an entire page. As the stories have gotten longer, Belle has started to get tired toward the end of the story. She doesn’t want me to read a full page anymore, so instead I supply words when she struggles to sound them out. I don’t do this throughout the whole story, and we never move on to the next lesson until she can read the whole story by herself. I just step in as needed to help her to complete the story the first time through without tears.

Buddy reading also has other uses.

Buddy reading is helpful when a child wants to read a book that includes words with concepts and phonograms that haven’t been taught yet. For example, my boys love the DK Beginner Reader books on topics like Lego®, Star Wars, snakes, and other exciting things. These books always contained words that my sons weren’t equipped to read yet. I found this especially common with names. Supplying a young reader with words like taipan (a kind of poisonous snake) or Tatooine (a planet in Star Wars) can be all that is needed to help them read these books.

As children progress to higher levels of reading, buddy reading can come back into play again. If a child reads so slowly that it takes him a month to finish a chapter book, he may be discouraged from starting the next one. But if I can share the reading of it with him, so that he can get through a whole chapter book in just two weeks, then he may be all the more excited to start the next one. So I read a page or two, and then my son reads a page or two, and we work our way through the chapters.

Buddy reading shares the load and encourages more reading, and, more importantly, better feelings about reading.

About Marie Rippel Marie Rippel, curriculum developer of the award-winning All About Reading and All About Spelling programs, is known for taking the struggle out of both teaching and learning. Marie is an Orton-Gillingham practitioner, sought-after speaker, and member of the International Dyslexia Association. When not writing or teaching, Marie can be found riding her Icelandic horses.

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