Bermuda Parent Winter 2014

Finding a Baby Sitter

Just got Easier!

The Return of the All Boys School

What Parents are Talking About

Active Kids are Healthy Kids

Departments

36 Ice Cream!

Have you ever thought about the history of ice cream? It’s not just a summer treat!

40 The Return of the All Boys School Chatmore Preparatory a unique answer for educating boys. TWEENS

44 Organizing Your Tween’s Home Life

5 Simple and Effective Tips.

48 Don’t Get Caught Out This Cold & Flu Season

11 Tips to stay healthy over winter.

50 Awesome Mom

Brendalee White, a single parent, who pulled out all the stops for her children. FAMILY

54 Top Tips to Save on the Light Bill This Holiday

57 Education: to Pay or Not to Pay Is education a priority for you and your child?

58 Mind the [Pension] Gap

Why its never too early to be thinking about pensions and retirements.

Photo By: BNK Images

My, How Time Flies!

an you believe it’s almost the end of the year already? So much has happened in 2014 from our Spring issue that focused solely on Child Sexual Abuse to our special directory style edition called ‘Go, Play, See’ that provided a comprehensive listing of activities for your child and family to get involved in. If you’ve missed any of our issues, visit our website to read them online.

As I was reading through the articles in this issue I got excited about the overarching theme of Building Solid Foundations ‘in our Family’ for a Lifetime (read p 10). Starting with a recipe for Snowman Marshmallow Pops that will bring you and the kids together and is sure to be a hit. Also, Awesome Mom on page 50, how Brendalee White, a single parent, sacrificed and made a way for her three children to be able to pursue their dreams through to university.

We know that this season is about giving, but be sure you Don’t Get Caught Out this Cold and Flu Season (p 48), Alicia Resnik shares eleven tips to building a resilient immune system for you and your kids.

p. 22

Earlier this year I ran the Appleby May 24th Half Marathon Derby with my husband. We consistently ran every Sunday starting from November 2013 to prepare, while getting my parents to babysit. Once the race was over we stopped running. Months later my husband started running again, my five year old asked to join him, although it was short lived (he preferred to play football), I saw the benefit of maintaining an active lifestyle so that they would follow in our footsteps. So, I was excited to read Michelle Jackson’s article on Active Kids are Healthy Kids for Today and a Lifetime (p 22) which renewed me to start exercising around our kids and now both kids are mimicking our exercises.

Another must read is Mind the [Pension] Gap (p 58), don’t get caught thinking you can wait to plan for your retirement, have a good think about what Lisa Lewis has to say on this topic.

Wishing You Happy Holidays and the Very Best in 2015, from the Bermuda Parent Team.

Publisher & Editor

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Katrina Ball

BUSINESS CONSULTANT

Vic Ball

ADVERTISING SALES

Wanda Brown wanda@bermudaparent.bm

333-1925

Carlita Burgess sales@bermudaparent.bm

747-4767

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Picante Creative

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS

SPCA Bermuda, The Ascendant Group Ltd., The Argus Group, HSBC Bermuda, Family First Group of Schools, Alicia Resnik, Duncan Hall, Bermuda School of Music, BSMART Foundation, Angela Young

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sacha Blackburne, Theresa Millet, Kondawi Williams

Bermuda Parent Magazine is published five times a year. Reader correspondence, photo submissions and editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this magazine. Distribution of this product does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein.

CONTACT US

info@bermudaparent.bm

Tel: 504-2937

www.bermudaparent.bm

facebook.com/bdaparentmag

PHOTO BY JESSII TERRA

Movie Birthday Parties

Birthday Package includes:

• Theatre exclusivity to your party so you can better enjoy the movie. Watch one of the movies currently showing at the theatre or bring your own, we do the rest.

• Popcorn, Candy and Drinks (fountain soda) for children and small popcorn and small drink for adults.

• Free refills during the movie and cake time.

• No charge for children under 3 years. For every 10 children, free admission for 1 adult.

• Use the theatre for up to 30 minutes after the movie for cake and candies. All you supply is the cake or have it made by our own pastry chef. We do the clean up.

Note: For parties booked on a Sunday or Holidays there is an additional charge of $100 Pizza Trays are available as well as other Finger Foods.

Times and Prices:

• Parties are booked daily between 9am and 2pm (Party has to be completed by 2pm)

• A $100 deposit is due at booking. If you must cancel due to illness or weather, the deposit may be used to reschedule. Balance due at end of party.

• 3D parties $285.00 for the first 10 children, $14 each additional child and $14 each additional adult.

• 2D/DVD parties $265.00 for the first 10 children, $12 each additional child and $12 each additional adult

CELEBRATE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY!

Riana & Ra’mya & Ryan Robinson

October 5 & December 11 & September 9

Happy Birthday to my two princesses and special birthday wishes for a very special boy! XO Mom & Daddy.

Andrew Fox

November 22

Happy 5th Birthday! Five is for Fantastic, Incredible, Vibrant and Extraordinary. Love you always from Daddy, Mommy, Kiana, Aaron and Tarae.

Jala Imani Hayward

October 17

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl! I fall in love with you more and more every day. Love, Mommy, Nia & Zoey.

Kimahja L’riq Smith

November 19

Happy 10th Birthday! Love from your entire family.

Teche Minors

November 20

Happy 16th Birthday

We love you! The Ibrahims, Da & Papa

Ke’alah Furbert

December 14

Happy 4th Birthday to mommy’s little princess!!! Ke’alah you are the most beautiful, intelligent, funny and outgoing little girl I know. I am so grateful to have you in my life. Have a beautiful day baby love Mommy & baby Brother Ke’Nahri!!!!

NeVaeh-Grace Thomas

October 5

Happy Birthday princess

Mommy, and family love you very much.

London-Adam Eversley

December 25

Happy Birthday

Superbaby, lots of Love Mummy, Daddy & Family.

Khairi Hollis

October 5

Happy 2nd birthday

Khai!! Love Mommy, Daddy and the entire family. Love you baby boy xoxo

Shadyn De Costa

November 15

Happy 5th birthday to our amazing son, hope all your birthday wishes come true. It’s been an honor to have you in our lives. We all love you very much and are very proud of you. Wishing you many many more years to come! Love Always, Daddy, Mommy & Selena.

birthday wishes!

Dec 15 & Dec 22

Happy birthday to our pride and joys. You are the greatest blessings we have in life. Happy, happy, happy birthday! Love you to the moon and back. Love Mom and Dad.

Lyrah Russell

September 13

Happy 5th Birthday

Lyrah

Love Daddy, Mommy, Caius & Akio

Milena Millett

November 19

Happy 3rd Birthday, Milena! We love you to the moon and back!

xo Mummy, Daddy & Caiden xo.

November 3 & January 16

Happy 15th b-day baby girl and Happy 12th b-day baby boy. Love Mummy, Nanny, Zebe and Aunt Pam.

Clarice Mahabir & Winston Mahabir

November 26 & December 4

Happy Birthday Clarice & Winston! Clarice, always stay as sweet as you are and enjoy your year. Winston, keep smiling. We love you so much – Mom and dad!

Zion Armstrong

January 1

Happy 12th Birthday!

Love Mommy, Daddy, Nique’ (with accent over e), Zahra and Nile

Amori Simons

October 1

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet son. You bring so much joy and laughter to our home and we thank God for you!

Love always, Mom, dad, brothers and family

Jahstice Grant

October 21

Happy 7th Birthday to Jahstice! With LOVE from: Mom, Dad, sisters: Keisha, Kijah, Makaila & Chikira

Savannah Tavares

November 8

Happy 7th Birthday

Savannah! May God continue to bless you! Love Mommy, Daddy & Ryan.

Carys Locke

October 1

Happy 1st birthday to our little angel! You bring so much joy to our lives. Love from Mommy and Daddy xoxo

Do you have a February to April birthday baby? Email us at: photos@bermudaparent. bm with a photo and details.

Zepporah & Zebediah Burchall

Jacob Oliveira & Micah Oliveira

PHOTO BY LANKA BULL

PHOTO BY SACHA BLACKBURNE

Give them what they need, NOT what they don’t! NOT what they want!

Never has arti cial avor or articial sweeteners

Toddler sized portions

Designed to develop and advance toddler feeding skills

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and continued breastfeeding for as long as possible. As babies grow at di erent paces, health professionals should advise the mother on the appropriate time when her baby should start receiving complementary foods.

Building Solid Foundations for a Lifetime

The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Babies don’t come with a manual so there’s no way to get what’s happening with these little creatures in every situation.

That’s where science comes in.

For the last 10 to 15 years, researchers have been studying infants more closely than ever in order to understand their development and help parents make good choices. New research gives better cues and clues to parents as to what they can do to enhance their child’s early learning.

The purpose of our neurodevelopmental program is to help parents maximize the critical periods of brain development during the first years of life.

Brain development continues throughout life, depending on the environmental stimuli.

From conception, nature has provided a natural, predictable, sequential development for everyone.

BSMART’s neurodevelopmental stimulation program builds the connections between brain cells so that your baby will reach each milestone in sequence and be well on their way to reach their development potential.

The activities presented are sequentially arranged and are important for developing the foundations needed for successful learning. Each child’s rate of development differs. Ideally all children will pass through these normal, sequential, predictable stages.

You can nurture your child’s development by providing opportunities for your child to enjoy and participate in our stimulating environment.

At SMART Start Playgroup your baby will: Have fun playing

Enjoy being with other babies

Explore a new world with new experiences

Develop a weekly routine

Play with different toys

Relate to other adults

Learn and develop new skills

At BSMART’s SMART Start Playgroup you will: Get out of the house

Chat with other parents

Make new friends

Share experiences

Learn about what you can do to help your little one on the path towards their optimal developmental and life time success!

Physically active pre-school children perform better in kindergarten and grade school. With age appropriate exercises and group activities, our SMART Start provides a different context for learning.

Children with more developed motor coordination have a lower incidence of social and educational problems. By combining physical development with activities that promote sharing, listening and friendship, SMART Start sets the stage for critical life skills.

HAPPY MOMENTS Nursery Preschool&

This Christmas give a memorable gift to your precious little one that will keep unfolding for years to come…

Fill your child’s formative years of schooling, each day, with lots of fun filled explorative experiences with in small learning groups at Happy Moments Nursery & Preschool “Where happy children learn for a brighter future”.

Our conscientious teaching staff is certified in ECE, CPR and First Aid. It is our goal to believe in our students, assist in fulfilling each parent’s dream for their child and to inspire each child in reaching their fullest potential…

Happy Moments is Bermuda’s premier Christian early childhood educational center serving parents since 1998 we provide our students a curriculum which encourages academic excellence through explorative, creative learning as well as offering: Computer, Spanish, and Music (optional) programs.

We are currently accepting applications for ages 18 months - 3 years of age at an affordable monthly tuition fee. Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Contact us happymoments123@yahoo. com or 737-8385 for scheduled interview.

baby

Parent Resources

• Play-based screenings for 24 – 30 month old children

• Parent and Children’s Book Library

• Toy Library

ALSO AVAILABLE:

• Parent Infant Group

• Premature Infant Programme

PArEntIng wOrkShOPS:

• 1,2,3,4 Parents!

• 1,2,3 Magic

Child Care Provider Workshops

tOPICS AVAILABLE:

• Motor Development

• Developmentally Appropriate Programming

• Bonding: Early Steps to Attachment

• Behaviour Management

• Language Learning

little ones

BY DUNCAN HALL

Finding a Baby Sitter, Just Got Easier!

A new online service that seeks to match parents with willing and qualified babysitters is promising to help parents put some ‘couple time’ back into their busy lives.

Launched in April, jobber.

bm is an online, interactive job market where people needing help with various tasks can post jobs – and those looking for cash-in-hand work can bid for them.

In August, child care/ babysitting was added to the range of work categories.

“When a couple has two trusted babysitters, their social life revolves around the availability of those two people,” says website founder Stafford Lowe. “It doesn’t have to be that way. There are other qualified people out there, and jobber.bm will help you to find them.”

Before launching the new service, Lowe convened a focus group of six mothers to determine what they would look for in an online service to identify babysitters. “Two of the biggest things to come out of the focus group were a need to see some sort of CPR qualification, and also an awareness of child sexual abuse,” he says.

Soon thereafter, Lowe and his wife, Laura, took a course offered by SCARS (Saving Children and Revealing Secrets), a Bermuda registered charity that was formed to create greater awareness of the devastation that child sexual abuse can cause in the life of an innocent child, their affected family and community.

They now recommend the course to friends – and to parents seeking

babysitters, as well as babysitters seeking work.

Helpfully, the Bermuda Red Cross offers a babysitting course for boys and girls ages 12-16, teaching the skills required to be an effective babysitter. The 16-hour course also qualifies the person in adult, infant and child CPR and basic first aid. The CPR/ first aid qualification is valid for two years.

As a precaution, potential babysitters on jobber.bm must provide at least one (and preferably two) references before they are allowed to bid on a job. Jobber.bm allows its users to become “verified” which means that they must provide some form of identification - a driver’s license or the photo page from a passport. Potential babysitters are strongly advised to provide this identification and parents posting babysitting jobs are strongly advised to request that a bidder gets verified by the website during the pre-vetting process.

When someone posts a babysitting job on the website, they receive a message that includes a checklist of recommendations compiled by jobber.bm with the assistance of SCARS and the Red Cross.

Posters are advised to check all references and if possible arrange to meet the potential babysitter to check their photo ID and certificates. They are advised to ask the “jobber” to become ‘verified’ on the website, and to ask if they have taken the aforementioned courses offered by the Red Cross and SCARS – and can produce the certificates issued by those organisations upon completion of the courses. They are also advised that they can ask questions of potential ‘jobbers’ while retaining their anonymity through the website.

“By listing those recommendations, we help the babysitter to know how to give themselves the best chance of getting the job – and, for parents, we teach them how to vet people who are new to them by saying ‘here are the certifications and accreditations to look out for’,” Lowe says.

“The website also allows people to rate those who have done work for them so if you are looking for a babysitter you will be able to see what other parents have written. But even if all of those things check out, we strongly recommend meeting with a potential babysitter before you leave your children in their care. If you are

planning on going out on a Friday, post the job on Monday or Tuesday. The bids will come in very quickly, so that gives you the time to actually decide which bids to take a look at, time to check out their references and time to meet people beforehand.”

Would you be ready for an Emergency or crisis in your community?

Do you have a family plan?

Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit?

Are you CPR/First Aid trained?

Are you interested in learning more about preparedness and response?

Would you consider being a preparedness or response volunteer?

Call or email us if you want more information on the above or more….

BY MICHELLE JACKSON, Executive Vice President, Group Insurance, The Argus Group

Active Kids are Healthy Kids –Today and for a Lifetime

Obesity, congenital heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep problems and cancer; this sounds like a list of health concerns for an older person in poor health but, sadly, these illnesses are now being seen in today’s youth.

AHealth Survey of Adults and Children in Bermuda 2006, commissioned by the Department of Health, showed 36 per cent of children aged five- to 10-years old were overweight or obese. This is causing health problems at alarming rates. Lifestyle choices are a leading cause of disease, so we need to consider how we can raise healthy, active children.

Thankfully, children naturally want to jump, run, dance and climb. In fact,

it is recommended that children should only be inactive for an hour at a time, aside from when they’re sleeping. Unfortunately this isn’t happening, which is part of the problem. Children are not getting the exercise they need because neither are many parents. Children look to adults to teach them how to talk, socialise, read and write. But adults also pass on attitudes and behaviours that will remain with children for life. If children don’t see their parents being

active on a regular basis, they won’t consider being active as a priority for themselves.

With today’s busy lifestyles, many families find it difficult to include exercise in their daily routine. As a society, we need to encourage our kids to be active for optimal health. Health care organisations, educators, government and caregivers are focusing on active children but the best place to start is at home.

At a minimum, children should get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. For young toddlers, exercise can include supervised, unstructured play that allows them to follow their curiosity and learn about the world around them. Preschoolers with slightly longer attention spans might enjoy short games, such as finding things hidden around the house, mixed in with play time. Elementary-aged kids and those in their teens can participate in organised sports that require more coordination and a greater attention span.

However, these are simply guidelines, and it is important to find activities that your child enjoys and that fit their skills and interests. Not everyone functions well in a team environment. Some kids may be afraid of a ball, so pressuring them to participate in related activities – and expecting them to enjoy it and stick with it – is not reasonable. For other children, inde-

pendent activities such as bike riding or swimming will suit them best. Keeping your kids’ – and your own – interests in mind, there are fun and easy ways to be active. It’s also a great way to spend time together as a family. The key is to keep it fun and simple so that everyone will happily join in.

If parents can help their children find an enjoyable activity, this hobby will likely become a lifelong habit for healthy living – a wonderful gift that parents can give their children.

Fun Ideas for Active Families

A current fitness craze is the 30-day challenge. Why not design your own challenge by putting together a month of daily fit activities. You could work together as a family to come up with 30 fun and unique ideas such as dancing to every family member’s favourite song, hop around the garden or pretend to shoot hoops and dribble a ball in the living room.

Work exercise into regular activities. If you’re watching TV, do three sets of 10 sit-ups during every commercial break. Stop and do 10 squats every five minutes while waiting for dinner to cook. Or choose a commonly used word in your house and make it a rule that everyone has to do 10 jumping jacks every time it is said. Encourage a competitive spirit and make it a contest to see who can do the most exercise in a day.

Hit the beach. Walking on sand

burns more than twice the energy of what you burn walking on flat, hard surfaces. While there, build a huge sand castle and burn an extra 100 to 200 calories an hour. Or just give the kids a bucket of chalk and a driveway and they will draw, while moving, squatting, jumping and running. It’s all about encouraging your children to move.

If you realise you have not had enough activity for the day, go for a walk. Walk around the block, choose your favourite corner of the Island to explore or visit the Wellness Resources on the Argus website at www.argus.bm for a list of walking routes. As a family, walking together can help everyone reconnect without the interruptions of phone calls, emails and other daily distractions. Plus, getting outside has the added benefit of being amongst neighbours, seeing the scenery – promoting a sense of mental and social well-being, important for a holistic health regimen.

Getting started is the hardest part. Once your family develops a habit of exercising every day, everyone will feel stronger and happier. Physical activity not only helps to prevent many diseases, but it also builds strong bones and muscles, improves sleep, improves social lives, helps with weight control and helps create an overall positive outlook on life. It’s an investment in your health and happiness.

Michelle Jackson, is Executive Vice President, Group Insurance at the Argus Group, with the responsibility of overseeing the Group Insurance department which includes Health Insurance, Group Life and Disability as well as Worker’s Compensation. Michelle joined the company in 2004. She is a YouthNet mentor and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. www.argus.bm

Dogs and Horses on Public Beaches notice

The Department of Parks is informing the general public that as of the 1st November 2013, the 1988 Bermuda National Park Regulations have changed regarding dogs and horses on the public beaches, under the jurisdiction of the 1986 Bermuda National Parks Act.

Notice Dogs and Horses on Public Beaches

Dogs are permitted to be on the public beaches until the 31st March 2015.

The dogs must be on a leash at all times.

During this period until the 30th April 2015 horses are NOT permitted on the following beaches at any time:

1. John Smith’s Bay Park

2. Elbow Beach Park

3. Horseshoe Bay Beach ( South Shore Park )

The Department of Parks is informing the general public that as of the 1st November 2012, the 1988 Bermuda National Park Regulations have changed regarding dogs and horses on the public beaches, under the jurisdiction of the 1986 Bermuda National Parks Act.

The cooperation of dog kennel operators, and the owners of dogs, in abiding by the regulations, is greatly appreciated.

Dogs are permitted to be on the public beaches until the 31st March 2013.

The dogs must be on a leash at all times.

During this period until the 30th April 2013 horses are NOT permitted on the following beaches at any time:

1. John Smith’s Bay Park

2. Elbow Beach Park

3. Horseshoe Bay Beach ( South Shore Park )

The cooperation of dog kennel operators, and the owners of dogs, in abiding by the regulations, is greatly appreciated.

Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988

Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988

1. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall, in any protected area

(a) take a horse other than on designated roadways or trails; (b) ride a horse in a manner likely to cause danger to any person therein;

Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988

(c) ride a horse at a speed greater than fifteen kilometers per hour;

1. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall, in any protected area

(d) being in control of a horse leave the horse unattended when it is not properly tied to some suitable object, other than a tree or shrub;

(a) take a horse other than on designated roadways or trails;

(e) lead from horse-back a riderless horse which is not appropriately bridled;

(b) ride a horse in a manner likely to cause danger to any person therein;

(f) lunge or break in any horse;

(c) ride a horse at a speed greater than fifteen kilometers per hour;

(g) ride a horse in excess of a slow walk when passing in the vicinity of other members of the public using the area.

BERMUDA NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 1994

(d) being in control of a horse leave the horse unattended when it is not properly tied to some suitable object, other than a tree or shrub;

In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister by section 25 of the Bermuda National parks Act 1986, the following regulations are hereby made: -

(e) lead from horse-back a riderless horse which is not appropriately bridled;

Bermuda National Park Regulations 1988

6. No person shall, being the owner of,or in control of, a dog –

Amendment of BR 49/1988

(f) lunge or break in any horse;

6. No person shall, being the owner of, or in control of, a dog –

(a) subject to paragraph (b), bring such dog unleashed on to any protected area; or

(a) subject to paragraph (b), bring such dog unleashed on to any protected area; or

(b) bring such dog on to any public beach in a protected area during the period from the 1st April to the 31st October in any year; or

(b) bring such dog on to any public beach in a protected area during the period from the 1st April to the 31st October in any year; or

(c) subject to paragraph (b), bring such dog on to any protected area using a leash greater than three meters in length, or

(c) subject to paragraph (b), bring such dog on to any protected area using a leash greater than three meters in length, or

(d) cause, permit or suffer such dog to annoy or disturb any person in any protected area.

(d) cause, permit or suffer such dog to annoy or disturb any person in any protected area.

Also by signs and notice: No dogs in the Main Show Ring at Botanical Gardens and no dogs in Coopers Island Nature Reserve.

Also by signs and notice: No dogs in the Main Show Ring at Botanical Gardens and no dogs in Coopers Island Nature Reserve.

5 (2) During the period –

(g) ride a horse in excess of a slow walk when passing in the vicinity of other members of the public using the area.

BERMUDA NATIONAL PARKS AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 1994

(a) 1st November to 30th April in any year no person shall take or ride a horse on Horseshoe Bay, John Smith’s Bay and Elbow Beach but may take or ride a horse on all other public beaches below the high water mark at any time;

In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister by section 25 of the Bermuda National parks Act 1986, the following regulations are hereby made: -

Amendment of BR 49/1988

5 (2) During the period –

(b) 1st May to 31st October in any year no person shall take or ride a horse on Horseshoe Bay, Johns Smith’s Bay, Elbow Beach and Shelly Bay but may take or ride a horse on all other public beaches below the high water mark between the hours or 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

The cooperation of horse stable operators, and the owners of horses, in abiding by the regulations, is greatly appreciated.

(a) 1st November to 30th April in any year no person shall take or ride a horse on Horseshoe Bay, John Smith’s Bay and Elbow Beach but may take or ride a horse on all other public beaches below the high water mark at any time;

(b) 1st May to 31st October in any year no person shall take or ride a horse on Horseshoe Bay, Johns Smith’s

Special provision relating to horses.

big kids

PHOTO BY INHARMONY PORTRAIT STUDIOS

BY CHAS ARNOLD, BERMUDA SCHOOL OF MUSIC

How To Get Your Child To Practice… An Age-Old Problem

*”When I was your age I would have given anything to be able to take music lessons.”

*”If you don’t practice, we’ll have to stop lessons.”

*”Just wait until you grow up. You’ll be sorry that you didn’t practice.”

*”I wish my mother had made me practice when I was young!”

Ihave often been asked by parents, “How do you get your children to practice?” I find that many parents perceive only two alternatives: Either grit your teeth and coerce the child to the bitter end or give up and spare everyone the daily battle.

Some parents give up because they believe it is not fair

to force their own wishes on the child, all the while knowing that the child has talent, which ought to be developed.

Others give up when the child’s interest wanes, and they accept it as a sign of lack of talent, which justifies quitting lessons. Some parents are simply at their wits end to find a way to motivate the child and are tired of all the nagging.

None of these alternatives need be the case.

People are motivated only if they choose to be. All that parents and teachers can do is create an environment which sparks an interest in music and an inner desire to learn. What motivates one person may not motivate another. A child who is involved in the study of music draws motivation from various sources. As an individual gains experience in something, the reasons he or she has for doing it may change.

Beginning with the lowest maturity levels and working upward toward self-propulsion, an individual may find all kinds of reasons to practice:

*Rewards and Consequences

“I practice because my Mom pays me 50 cents every day that I do.”

“I practice because I can’t play until I do.”

*Human Relationships

“I practice because my folks say I have to.”

“I practice because I get a lot of attention when I do well.”

“I practice because I’ve got a great teacher and I don’t want to disappoint her.”

*Feelings of Self-worth

“I practice so I can be competent at something.”

“I practice because it’s fun to play in a group and I want to be as good as (or better than) the others.”

*Joy inherent in the activity

“I practice because I love the music and the reward of doing it well.”

human body — young or old, laughing or crying, kissing or hugging, singing or dancing — is about 60% water.

So if we’re looking after 60% of you, all you have to do is love, laugh, kiss, cry, dance, sing and hug with your other 40%.

ClearWater Systems has been Bermuda’s most trusted source for clean and crystal clear drinking water technologies since 1997.

With music, unlike academic or scientific fields of endeavor, it is too late to wait until a child matures to start practicing. It must begin in the early years of childhood when the motivators must come from outside sources. There is much work involved in getting a child to the blossoming stage of musical development, but the rewards are endless.

*selected excerpts written by Cynthia V. Richards

This article was presented by the Bermuda School of Music. A registered Bermuda charity #483, the Bermuda School of Music has been providing music education to the Island since 1978, commencing with the Dunbarton School of Music. It is our aim to provide community music programmes for students of all ages. This includes community programming, offering free music lessons to children and seniors around the Island. The school’s highly qualified local and international staff provides instruction for children and adults in piano, voice, organ, recorder, flute, saxophone, clarinet, guitar (classical and electric), percussion, steel pan and all string instruments. There are also classes in music theory, composition, and jazz studies. Contact them at 296-5100 or info@musicschool.bm

BY SARA, CORDAY, SPCA BERMUDA

Giving Pets as Gifts

Children and pets go together like macaroni and cheese. They bring certain advantages to each other’s lives and can lead to happy, confident and well-adjusted children and pets. There are a few basic things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family. A pet is a big responsibility and will require your time, attention and money. Please do your homework and research the particular pet you are thinking about getting. Call the SPCA, Bermuda Feline Association Bureau or the Animal Hospital before committinis promising to help parents put some ‘couple time’ back into their busy lives.

If you already have a pet and you will be bringing a new baby home, please remember that this can be a stressful time for your pet and the introductions should be done slowly and appropriately. Your cat or dog was most likely your first ‘baby’ and should not just be forgotten about once you have a baby. There are steps you can take before bringing the baby home to ensure your pet is prepared for the new arrival.

Before your baby’s arrival you should take your pet to the vet for a health check and annual vaccinations. Groom them and get them used to nail trimmings as this will increase once

you have a new baby in the house.

If your pet is used to spending a lot of time with you, try to lessen that attachment as soon as you find out your expecting. This isn’t to say go from doing everything with your pet to doing nothing, just slowly get your pet used to spending a little less time with you every week. This will decrease separation anxiety once the baby arrives and your time is more in demand.

Use baby powder, baby soaps and baby lotion on yourself before the baby comes home. This will get the pet used to the smells.

Do not force your pet to automatically bond with the baby. If everyone is calm and the introductions are always done with adult supervision, the child and the pet will bond when they both feel comfortable enough.

There are many advantages to owning a pet when you have children. They range from social to physical and even include emotional and cognitive advantages.

Social

• A pet is a friend and will become a confidant for your child.

• A pet can create more opportunities for a shy or

introverted child to engage with other children.

• Children who do not like to read out loud to others will almost always prefer to read to a pet.

Physical

• Children with pets go outside more. They go for walks or just run around with their pets.

• Children raised with pets are less likely to develop allergies or asthma.

• Pets have been proven to lower blood pressure and stress levels.

• Cat purrs have been proven to increase the speed of healing of broken bones.

Emotional

• Pets boost self-esteem and self-confidence.

• Pets teach children empathy and compassion.

• Pets are also great teachers of responsibility.

Cognitive

• Teaching kids positive reward training can have benefits on how the work through problems and think about steps to training a behavior in a logical pattern.

Important Tips to Remember Before Getting a Pet

Do not just adopt or purchase a pet because the kids are begging for one; think about it first. Do your homework before bringing a pet home. Research the type of pet you would like before you get one. Call your local animal shelter, the SPCA, or your Animal Hospital to ask questions. Most pets and children get along

swimmingly together but make sure you pick an age appropriate pet for your child. Guinea pigs make good pets for toddlers because if they are handled frequently from birth they can be cuddly and very happy living with a child. Children and pets most always be supervised when they are together.

Remember that you, the parents, will be responsible for the pet for its entire life so make sure you really want a pet.

Examine your lifestyle and travel habits before you get a pet. If you know you travel frequently or spend a lot of time away from your house, you may not have the best environment for a pet. Make sure you are able to give your pet everything they need as far as spaying or neutering, annual vaccinations, flea and worm preventative and emergency care if the need arises.

cleaning.

BPMkids

BY ALICIA RESNIK

Ice Cream!

“I scream you scream we all scream for ice-cream!” The joy of ice cream doesn’t have to end with summer, there’s nothing more wonderful than the cool taste of vanilla melting on your tongue or, the delicious feeling of chocolate tantalizing your taste-buds. Who invented this wonderful dessert and what is the history of “iced-cream?”

Dating as far back as the 4th and 5th century BC, people around the world have enjoyed iced delicacies. The Roman Emperor Nero, ordered snow and ice to be brought down from the mountains and mixed with fruit. The Greeks made an iced treat by mixing ice with honey and fruit. The Persians enjoyed a sweet delicacy of vermicelli and iced rosewater which they mixed with fruits and saffron. The Mughal Emperors in the 16th century used horsemen to bring ice from Hindu Kush to Delhi to make fruit sorbets. Historians tell us

that Charles I of England offered a lifetime pension to his “iced-cream” maker on the condition that he keep the formula for making the treat a secret! The American Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served ice cream to their guests. George Washington loved the dessert so much he had ice cream coolers installed in his house!

If you lived in the 1800’s, you better have strong arm muscles! Ice cream had to be made manually - in large bowls that were packed with ice and salt. Ice was hard to come by and this made ice cream a rare and expensive treat. Fortunately, by the 1830’s, ice-making machines were invented and ice cream became more readily avail able. And in 1851 the first commercial ice cream factory opened in Baltimore, Maryland. Ice cream was now sold in stores for everyone to enjoy!

Whatever your favorite flavor – ice cream is even more delectable when topped with home-made hot fudge sauce. Here’s an easy recipe for kids to whip some up!

Hot Fudge Sauce

With the help of an adult, measure the following ingredients:

¾ of a cup heavy cream

¼ of a cup brown sugar

¼ of a cup unsweetened cocoa powder

½ cup of light corn syrup

6 ounces of dark or semi-sweet chocolate

1 tablespoon of salted butter

½ teaspoon of vanilla

Mix the first four ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan. Stirring slowly bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, let it continue to boil for 30 seconds.

Remove the saucepan from the stove. Then stir in the 6 ounces of chocolate and the tablespoon of butter. Mix until the chocolate has melted and the fudge sauce is smooth and glossy. Then stir in your final ingredient – 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Set the saucepan aside to cool. The hot fudge sauce will thicken as it cools.

While waiting, get out your bowls and scoop up your favorite ice cream flavor. Add your hot fudge sauce, some whipped cream, a cherry and enjoy!

Chatmore Preparatory The Return of the All Boys School!

Our school officially opened in September 2012 and evolved from a need to provide boys in Bermuda with an inclusive learning environ ment that also addressed their language, social-emotional development and individual learning styles particularly between the ages of 5-14 years of age. In January 2014, we became the first school in Bermuda to be Members of The Council of British Schools making us Bermuda’s only British International School.

We implement the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) as it offers a thematic reflective and transformative learning approach that allows our students the time and opportunity to absorb Knowledge, practice Skills and reflect on their per sonal and joint Understanding of the information – at

their own pace - while assimilating their specific experiences to those of others in the group. This does not mean that students are not challenged to achieve high standards – it means that within their group they are able to achieve high standards relevant to their individual pace of learning.

As a whole school we also intentionally practice the Responsive Classroom approach which is a social emotional learning programme associated with greater teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement, and improved school climate. Teachers work with students to produce competent workers, civic and global-minded citizens, creative thinkers, bold innovators, collaborative team players and innovative leaders. During the first six weeks of school, as a group, the boys work together and learn how to develop cooperative skills and with their teacher’s support the goal is to incorporate their social-emotional development into their academic learning. Like our curriculum, the Responsive Classroom approach is transformative learning and requires the support of parents, teachers and the entire school community in order to be effective. Our relationship with Windreach, Bermuda is also deliberate in its approach. Windreach offers the benefit of site-based therapeutic services (sensory room, petting zoo, animal care, therapeutic riding and sustainable development). The facility is purpose-built to assist with the needs of individuals who may require a more hands-on or therapeutic approach to learning. It also exposes our students daily to an inclusive and supportive mindset that prepares them for global interaction and cognitive adaptability from very early in their development.

What are the benefits to attending an all-boys school?

We believe strongly in the benefits of an all-boys education. As the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) so eloquently states, students at all-boys’

schools gain confidence in their ability to learn without being compared to girls who mature more quickly. Although experience clearly affects the development and wiring of the brain, growing evidence suggests that gender also seems to be a contributing factor in brain development. In general, researchers agree that

• Boys have a higher physical activity level and develop self-control later than girls.

• Girls seem to show stronger verbal skills and demonstrate empathy more readily than boys. This means that there are probably more boys who are more active more often in the classroom and more girls who more often show strengths in using words verbally and in writing. (http:// www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol5/512newvoices.aspx)

All-boys schools encourage boys to participate in all activities including the arts, athletics and community service, and they promote self-expression and a respect for the many different paths to manhood.

If any what are the disadvantages to attending an all-boy school?

In our decision as parent to choose the best school environment for our children, where appropriate, we typically identify advantages and disadvantages and our final choice is usually based on a combination of personal experiences, beliefs and standards. According to the New York Times (Lewin, 2011) the strongest argument against single gender education is that is reduces boys and girls opportunities to work together and other purported disadvantages include the possibility that students will not learn to tolerate the idiosyncrasies of opposite gender and be unable to relate to the opposite gender as adults (Novotney, APA, Monitor on Psychology, February 2011). At the moment there is no long term research to support this notion and of course the data would have to apply to all girls’ school continued on page 47

tweens & teens

Happy 16th Birthday!

Love Mommy, Daddy, Zion, Zahra and Nile

Nique’ Armstrong

Organizing Your Tween’s Home Life

In my last article, I discussed the importance of using planners/agendas, setting aside time to discuss homework assignments and multi-tasking. Yet, there are additional organizational strategies parents can apply at home to help their tweens and teens have an awesome school year. These include:

• Set up a home office or study space. Create a designated area where your tween or teen can do his or her school work as well as store binders and exercise books. This area should also have all the supplies they need. From colorful markers to correction tape and binder paper, give your teen the ultimate stationery cabinet! Everything should be centralized so it can be easily located and used immediately when needed. This is particularly helpful for students who have weak executive functioning skills. Multiple sources spread throughout the house; for instance, only creates confusion and sadly, frustrates students whereby they become easily distracted and unable to stay-on-task.

With the first term of school near completion, many parents and students should by now have found their rhythm or routine. On the contrary, others may be feeling overwhelmed; while another percentage may be looking forward to the next school break. I wish I could promise an easy, fun experience for everyone, but unfortunately, I cannot. The middle and high school years are simply another equation to life’s journey.

• Supply stations on a dime. Your home stationary area does not have to be elaborate or expensive. Instead, get creative and recycle items to get that HGTV look! From shoe boxes to towel rolls, you’ll be amazed how these items can be transformed into mini filing cabinets or pen/pencil holders. Check out the Dollar Store or the Barn for cups, baskets, or other cool items to store school supplies. The next time you decide to throw out an item, ask yourself if it can be recycled. Trust me, a little creativity may save you from spending hundreds of dollars.

• Everything has a home. Remind your teen that once they use something, they must return the item to its “home”. This

is very important because it will prevent students from looking all over the house to find that one item to complete an assignment. Naturally, this may require several reminders, but it will be worth it in the end.

• Routine, routine, routine. Moms and Dads, as your teen’s “personal assistant”, it is critical that you establish a system which both you and your teen will adhere to. Remember, structure and consistency will assist your teen in strengthening their executive functioning skills. Once students find a routine that hits their “sweet spots”, then they can focus on getting and maintaining good grades. (I know music to your ears!)

• Take a pulse check. At the end of each week, ask your teen how they are progressing in school and if your home system is helping them. If your systems and routines are not working, then ask your teen what will assist them and be willing to make the necessary adjustments. Trust me, your teen knows the answers, but they may need your help in finetuning them.

Developing and mastering solid organizational strategies takes time. Through trial and error, key insights will emerge so trust the process. Keep the dialogue open with your tween or teen and your partnership will result in a more manageable, rewarding school year.

Angela N. Young, BA, MS, is the Founder and President of iAspirations Limited. To learn more about the KICS products and services, please contact Angela Young at 599-KICS or kicssystems.com.

Do you know that we make CAKES FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS?

Chatmore Preparatory

continued from page 41

as well. To date there appears to be no conclusive research to support any major disadvantages to an all-boys school.

What is your response to “We live in a coed world, shouldn’t education reflect that through coed education?

I think that many people believe that a focus on exclusively boys education means that there will be less attention to girls. With all the hard work placed on bringing women to the fore of our local and global communities, the concern can be considered a valid and important one.

It is a common position of groups opposed to single gender education to propose the following:

“Students in single-sex classrooms will one day live and work side-by-side with members of the opposite sex. Educating students in single-sex schools limits their opportunity to work cooperatively and co-exist successfully with members of the opposite sex.” (http:// www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/definingyour-ideal/1139-single-sex-education-thepros-and-cons.)

We live in a co-ed world where the human sex ratio is reported to be 1:1 male to female, (https://www.cia. gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/fields/2018.html) therefore unless boys are being isolated from other family members, friends or social activities; it may be very difficult for them to escape prolonged interaction with females. If your child attends a single-sex class or school, you might balance his social life with opportunities to interact with peers of the opposite sex. Co-ed sports, community groups and extra-curricular activities are all good avenues for mixing it up.

Being educated in a single gender learning environment does not limit an individual’s ability to interact with the opposite gender – generally, research seems to indicate that individuals educated in single gender environments that focus on the development of the specific student, actually creates greater

self-awareness and confidence in the individual – this disclosure may impress on a “co-ed world” the significance of developing individual genders separately.

Is an all-boys school for every boy? Why or when should parents consider an all-boys school?

The simple and most obvious answer is “yes”. A boy’s school is for boys. Is every boy going to be successful in an all-boys school? Probably no more or less than any student might be in a co-ed school.

It is the parents’ responsibility to determine the school that is best for their child. There may be multiple personal, traditional and/or cultural considerations involved within a single family. In some cases, the school chosen at Primary may no longer be a “fit” for the child or the family as they develop and mature to Middle and Senior levels so parents may choose certain schools for certain stages of a child’s development. Considering the choices that parents make for their children when they are toddlers or primary age, the individual needs of the child and family should always be considered when choosing the most appropriate school.

At certain ages, some boys just need “more” or “different”. That said, Michael Reichert’s international study (2013) in several boys’ schools, clearly identifies the importance of the relationships between teachers and boys. The boys and teachers in the study make it very clear that good teaching for boys involves close supportive relationships with teachers who really care about them and the subjects they teach. Parents should consider the relationships that teachers have with their male students and the value that they place on their learning.

If parents want their sons to be educated in a single gender learning environment then they should, like other educational decisions, carefully consider the options and determine which is best for their son.

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 Toys & Pet Friendly Gifts Location

 A Full Line of Pet Couture featuring exclusive one of a kind Pet clothing handmade in Bermuda.

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Don’t Get Caught Out This Cold & Flu Season

By Alicia Resnik

1 2 3

Check your medicine cabinet. Before illness strikes, stock up on suppliespain relievers, fever reducers, decongestants, cough syrups and drops, tissues and vitamin C.

Encourage your children to keep their hands away from their face! Viruses most commonly enter the body through our eyes, nose and mouth.

Make sure your children wash their hands frequently. Tell them to scrub with soap and water for 20 seconds –about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Remind children to always wash their hands before eating, after using the restroom and after being in a public place.

Keep household surfaces clean! Disinfect heavily touched itemslike doorknobs, remote controls, computers and phones. Put a bottle of hand sanitizer in every room –one with at least 60% alcohol. Get everyone to use a squirt when they pass by.

Watch-out for coughs and sneezes! Germs can spread through the droplets that enter the air when someone coughs or sneezes. If a family member is sick, remind them to cover their mouth, and cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow.

4 5 7 8 9 6

If possible, stay away from crowds during the peak months of cold and flu season. Germs spread more easily

in warm places where people are gathered.

Talk to your doctor about getting the flu shot. No one likes getting an injection but it can help cut down on flu misery. Fever, chills, body aches and pains are a lot less fun than one quick shot!

Despite our best efforts, children get sick. When this happens, keep them home until they’re feeling better. While there isn’t a medicine to “cure the cold” we can treat their symptoms so they feel more comfortable.

Make sure your child gets extra rest and plenty of fluids. Stock your kitchen with favorite foods for waning appetites. Sooth sore throats

Holiday season can mean friends, fun and colds and flu. Every parent dreads their child getting sick. This year plan ahead and be prepared.

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with popsicles, aim for ones with less sugar. Gingerale, plain crackers and toast are great for tender tummies. Don’t forget some of “grandma’s medicine” - chicken soup. When someone is sick, avoid sharing germs at home by temporarily switching to paper goods. Use paper towels instead of cloth ones for drying hands in the bathroom. Switch glasses for paper cups, and never share utensils with one another.

Don’t let your child return to school before they’re fully recovered. This may spread the virus to others and it may expose your child’s weakened immune system to whatever else might be “going around.”

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Adult

AWESOME

Mom

“My mom has worked so hard for the past twenty three years; working during the day then coming home to make dinner and put us to bed before going to a second and third job. She was at every dance recital, tennis match, track & field event and school concert. I used to think she was superhuman but now I know if you truly love someone you will lose sleep, not eat and work yourself- doing anything to make sure they have a wonderful life. Her unwavering selflessness is something I can never repay. She established the solid foundation that nothing is impossible and all things are worthwhile with hard work and dedication.” Kornelia White..

Brendalee White may not describe herself as an “awesome mom” but her children definitely do. As the parent of three successful children, Ms. White didn’t let being a “single mom” hold her back. Not shy of hard work, she once held down four jobs to make ends meet. “I don’t know how I did it. The Lord was on my side. He knew what needed to be done and gave me the strength,” she says.

Born in Bermuda, Ms. White left when she was 16 to attend “Grade 13” at Georgina College in Barrie, Ontario. From there she continued her education in the University of Toronto’s dental hygiene program. Ms. White worked as an assistant dental hygienist for 10

“Brendalee is one of the most amazing, beautiful, strong women I have ever met. She has done things for me that other people couldn’t do by themselves. I love her so much. I don’t know how I can repay her.” —William

White.

years at the Cambrian Medical Center in New York. “In between”, she says she came home, working for Dr. J.B. Dickinson, helping with his mobile dentistry practice. Ms. White married and moved to Houston Texas. In 1994, separated from her husband, she returned home with daughters Kornelia and Kascia. At the time, she was pregnant, with her son, William. When William was 4 years old he required open heart surgery. “So I packed up my family and we went to Philadelphia for the surgery.”

Supporting her children financially has been challenging says Ms. White. “It was important to me to have dinner together, homework, and quality time. This is why I got into security. I’d work from 9 or 10pm until 3 or 4am, get home, get the kids up and off to school and myself off to my full-time job. I was tired!”

Currently working for the Department of Immigration as a Senior Inspector in the Compliance section, Ms. White has also worked for the Police Department as a Traffic Warden and in the Forensics Department as a Finger Print Officer. Other jobs have included working

as an Inspector for the Reserve Police, a Security Officer, catering with the M.E.F Group, working at E.R Aubrey Jewelers, assisting with Security in night clubs, private parties and soccer games.

Ms. White says her children are a credit to her. “It was never easy raising three children on my own. It took a lot of time management and forward planning.” From the time they were born, she made sure her children had a home cooked meal. “We had dinner for breakfast. I cooked. I baked. I couldn’t afford cookies and carrots in shapes. I never gave a whole apple – I would cut it in fours. I saved by doing small things.”

Ms. White says her children were breast fed for a year and never wore Huggies. “My children wore cloth diapers. They never had (jarred) baby food. I made fresh and put it in cubes. And, they were potty trained early!”

Kornelia (now 24), Kascia (23) and William (18) all graduated from the Bermuda Institute. “I never had teenage troubles. They were involved in so much and I shared it with them,” says Ms. White. All have gone on to higher education. Kornelia, a graduate of Oakwood University, is currently attending the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She’s studying to become a certified Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Kascia, is an honors thesis undergraduate majoring in Biology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax Nova Scotia. William recently graduated from St. Andrew’s College in Aurora Canada. He’s now attending Sewanee, the University

of the South in Tennessee.

To do it all Ms. White says you have to be organized - make a list and be realistic. “It’s better to start early in the morning with a goal of what you want to accomplish. And never give yourself anything that’s too hard to get to. Make it as simple as possible.” She says not to be ashamed of making that list and ticking things off. “My kids call me OCD

The Onionpatch Academy

about my lists. But my family always knew Brendalee was coming - with my packed cooler!”

“If I had to describe in a few words all that my mother has been able to provide, it’s nothing short of a miracle. My mother is the strongest woman I know. Her ability to selflessly sacrifice her own well-being for the good of us is phenomenal. What she’s done as a single parent of three is incredible. She put three children through private school and now university. Working day and night to give us what we need and also what we want. She’s gone over and beyond her parental duties. My mom’s my role model and my hero. She provided me with an incredible foundation and a firm set of morals so I can be a well-equipped woman in today’s society. Her unconditional love and support have brought me through every trouble. She’s our biggest fan. With her behind me, no dream’s too big. I love my mom with all my heart. Working hard and making her proud is the least I can do to repay her.” —Kascia White.

Kornelia

Kascia

William

Decorate with LEDs.

LED lights use less energy and are cooler to the touch Put them on timers, and use them indoors and out Use LED candles and light strings to add warmth to your home safely, and LED strings to decorate your tree LED holiday bulbs are now available in many colours As well as using less energy, they are long lasting, safe to touch and won’t burn your children’s hands Use LED light strings to decorate your tree and LED candles to add warmth to your home safely You can use LED lights both indoors and out, but be sure to either put them on timers or unplug them when you go to bed

Holiday safety.

Before decorating, check all light sets for frayed wires, damaged sockets, or cracked insulation

If you find any defects, replace the entire set

When buying light sets, make sure you buy the right ones for indoor, outdoor use, or both

and don’t overload your electrical circuits

Share the holiday spirit and the energy-saving responsibility.

W ith more people visiting and staying in homes during the holidays, energy use can climb Encourage everyone to join in and use energy efficiently

Get the kids involved.

Play energy-saving games with your kids Get them to spot areas in the home where energy is being wasted and where lights, switches or appliances have been left on

Use smaller appliances for more dishes.

Microwave ovens cook food quickly and with relatively little energy They’re great for cooking vegetables and can reheat items at the last minute If you’re cooking for a crowd, use as many energy-saving appliances as you can – the microwave, toaster oven, slow cooker and even the barbeque!

Chill with care.

Don’t let the cold air escape from your refrigerator and freezer – keep the doors closed as much as possible However, by leaving the door open while you take a number of items out at once is more efficient than opening and closing it several times

Trim back appliance usage to save.

Use dishwashers, washing machines and dryers only when they are full, and use the shortest, coolest or most energy-efficient settings

Holiday trips could result in energy savings.

If you’re going away for the holidays, unplug or turn off everything that you can If appliances or electronics are plugged in, they are using energy For example, appliances with built-in clocks even draw small amounts of energy

Enjoy more time with loved ones.

Why not enjoy the holidays watching one TV together, rather than having several on in different rooms?

Remember, too, the bigger the TV screen, the more energy it uses

Best wishes for an energyefficient holiday season.

TOP TIPS to Save on the Bill This Holiday

The holiday season brings family and friends together at home - to share food, exchange gifts and enjoy each others’ company. During the holidays, most households will spend more time cooking, cleaning, entertaining, celebrating and decorating. This year, make the most of the holidays by using energy efficiently and safely, while finding simple ways to enjoy family and friends. Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited (BELCO) is pleased to provide these simple holiday tips.

Brighten the Holidays Safely

• Don’t let children play with lights, and be vigilant with all holiday decorations, cooking and heating appliances, fireplaces and candles

• Never run electrical cords under carpets or around draperies or other flammable materials

• Use LED lights, which are cool to the touch, so less likely to cause fires or burns

• Turn off all electrical decorations before going to bed or leaving the house

• When preparing decorations, remember: don’t use light-duty flat extension cords (usually white or brown), instead use heavy-gauge UL round extension cords; never plug more than 3 sets of lights into an extension cord; check for damaged sockets, plugs, cords and replace anything that looks defective

• Outdoors, use only lights marked for ‘outdoor use’, and don’t use ladders or lights near power lines; fasten outdoor lighting securely to prevent wind damage and use only insulated staples or plastic attachments, not metal nails or tacks

• Live Christmas trees are flammable; keep trees watered, so they don’t dry out and use lights or electrical ornaments cautiously

• To prevent fires with artificial trees, follow the manufacturer’s decorating instructions precisely

• Never use candles near fabric, wood or other flammable materials, and always extinguish candle or fireplace flames, if you will not be nearby to observe them; also, make sure your fireplace chimney is clean

• Never leave portable heaters running when you are not in the room, as they can cause fires; and use them sparingly, as they consume a lot of electricity

• Make sure smoke and heat detectors and alarms are working; have a fire extinguisher in the house and make sure everyone knows how to use it

Decorate with Care

• Switch to strings of LED lights, which use about 90% less energy than traditional incandescent lights, and last longer, too; turn holiday lights on at dusk and off before you go to bed and use timers to help make this easier

• Consider fiber optic trees and decorations, as most use a single bulb in the base to light the entire decoration efficiently and brightly

• Invest in rechargeable tea lights, battery-operated taper candles and even remote control candles to use year after year

• Instead of using lights and electrical decorations, consider using handmade decorations and art objects, or natural decorations, like seashells; decorate with simple, festive items like plants, baskets and colorful cloths

• Outdoors, use color floodlights or efficient gobo projectors that use little wattage, rather than putting up strings of lights and decorations with electric motors, such as inflatable snow globes

Use Appliances Gingerly

• Enjoy traditional foods, but don’t cook more than you really need; overindulging is bad for your health, as well as for your energy bill and the health of the environment

• Don’t open the oven door to check on cooking progress, use the window and turn on the light; opening the door can lower temperature by 25 degrees or more, necessitating additional heating

• Cook more than one item in the oven at the same time

• On the stovetop, save energy by matching the size of the pan to the heating element, keeping lids on pots, and keeping stovetop burners and reflectors clean

• To use less energy, use the smallest possible appliance to do the job, for example, the microwave, slow cooker or toaster oven, and if the weather is nice, use the outdoor barbeque grill

• Refrigerator doors should be kept closed as much as possible, so that cold air doesn’t escape; when you open the doors, take out everything you need at the same time

• Don’t cram the refrigerator full, as cold air needs some space to circulate

• When using dishwashers or washing machines to save water and energy only do full loads, and use the energy-saving settings; use the clothes dryer effectively by doing one load right after another to take advantage of the heat and don’t over-stuff the dryer because air needs to circulate through the tumbling items

Gifts that Show You Care

• Help friends and loved ones on your list to save money by giving them energy efficient LED bulbs, timers, on/off power strips, as well as Energy Star-rated electronic products

• If you buy electronic toys or other electronic gifts, give rechargeable batteries

• Improve your household with new, energy efficient appliances, as well as home office and entertainment products and lighting; always look for the Energy Star rating and buy the most efficient products; today’s products are much more energy efficient than products were 10 years ago

• Buy food and gifts locally to support Bermuda’s economy

• Give gifts from the heart, including gifts that you cook, sew, knit, paint, plant and grow, write, photograph, create, as well as books, scrapbooks, paper dolls and games to enjoy together, or the simple gift of your time and attention

• Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle

Think about what the holidays really mean to your family and friends and to the Bermuda community, and make this a simple, traditional season of celebration, unity and working together to create a bright New Year.

Your best investment could be your child’s education.

It’s 3-2-1 ‘click’. A photo that captures a moment of pride and a day of celebration.

It’s the culmination of hard work that shows that your children have developed into well-rounded people equipped with the knowledge they need to prosper. It’s one of the many important things in your life that forms part of your personal economy. Something that’s totally unique to you constantly changing. So at HSBC Premier we provide personal support for your personal economy, to make sure yours always overachieves. Find out more on how we can make your personal economy prosper at www.hsbc.bm/premier or call 299 5252

BY HSBC BERMUDA

Education: To Pay or Not To Pay

Paying for education is a priority for parents

The majority of parents (67%) around the world understand why people would pay for their child’s education, according to the latest report from HSBC, The Value of Education: Springboard for success. This figure rises to 75% of parents in the USA, 77% in Brazil and Indonesia, and 80% in China.

Globally, more than half (58%) of parents say that paying for a child’s education is the best investment you can make. This view is most strongly held in Brazil (79%) and China (77%). Interestingly, more parents (69%) with a child already in paidfor education agree that paying for a child’s education is the best investment you can make, compared with 51% of parents who do not have a child in paidfor education, suggesting that this view is more than borne out in practice.

The report, which surveyed over 4,500 parents in 15 countries, found that paying for education is a high priority for parents, who on average would ideally allocate 42% of their future child financial support funds to education, well ahead of long-term investment funds (11%) or a deposit for a house (10%).

Public versus Private Schooling

Around the world, opinion is divided on whether private schools are better than public schools, with 40% of parents saying that public schools provide an education that is as good as private schools, compared to 32% who disagree.

Parents see the main benefits of private schools as better facilities or more equipment (45%), and smaller class sizes (34%) while the biggest concern is that private schools are too elitist (38%).

When to Pay?

Just 18% of parents around the world would consider paying for their child’s primary school education. For secondary school, this figure rises to 33% and to 62% for university.

Support for private education is strongest in the developing world and in Asia, where 41% of parents in Indonesia would consider private primary education, as well as around a quarter of parents in Brazil (25%), India (24%), Mexico (23%) and Singapore (23%).

At secondary school, around half of parents in Indonesia (55%), India (48%) and China (45%) would consider private education for their child. Only 6% of UK parents would consider private education at primary school and only 17% at secondary school.

Simon Williams, Group Head of Wealth Management, HSBC, commented: “It’s clear from this report that parents around the world are prioritising their child’s education over other forms of investment. With most parents suggesting they would fund the cost themselves, there is clearly a lot of pressure to plan their finances early.”

Of the parents surveyed who currently pay for their child’s education, 91% said that they fund the cost themselves. When planning, most parents who intend to pay for their child’s education assume that funding will come from their savings or their current income (both 64%).

While only 8% of parents globally with a child in paid-for education expect their child to contribute to funding their own education - for example by taking a part-time jobthis figure is much higher in Taiwan (28%), the USA (25%), the UK (19%) and Canada (18%).

Further supporting Mr. William’s comments, Renee Bullock-Cann, Head of Retail Banking & Wealth Management, HSBC Bank (Bermuda) Limited added, “This report further illustrates the importance of good financial planning, to ensure that you have accounted for any unexpected life events, which could prevent you from providing your children with the best education possible.”

BY LISA LEWIS

Mind the [Pension]

I didn’t start thinking about my pension and retirement until I turned the big ‘4-0’. Until then if someone asked me how much I had saved – it was a guess at best. And I don’t think I’m alone. Saving for retirement isn’t necessarily a priority in your 20’s, 30’s and even 40’s. We already

have so much going on, but thinking about retirement early will benefit you tremendously in the long-term. Consider this conversation with a 65 year old. It might help you prioritize.

What are your biggest expenses now that you’re 65 and retired?

It used to be education for my children and my mortgage, but now it is healthcare - without a doubt. FutureCare (Government healthcare available to seniors) currently costs $450 a month and does not provide major medical coverage like the private insurers, which is a big concern – even with the new hospital wing. If I opt to take out private insurance, it could cost me double or more.

How much did you have in your pension balance when you retired?

Open A BF&M Education Savings

Education is the best investment you can make in your child. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow. Our Educational Savings Plan is simple to set up. BF&M will be happy to help you get started with deposits as little as $50 a month.

For more information please call 295-5566 or visit us online at www.bfm.bm.

About $100,000 – which represents 10% of $70,000 - my average salary since the pension act became law in 2000. I thought this was a reasonable amount, but it will only provide me with about $575 a month for the rest of my life. I don’t have access to a lump sum payment and already my biggest expense (healthcare) uses over 80% of this income.

What about your government pension?

Now that I’m 65, I’m now eligible to collect between $800 and $1400/month for the rest of my life. The total amount depends on how long I’ve worked, and whether my previous employers are up to date with their payments for me.

Educational Savings Plan

So in total, I may receive up to $1950 a month from pension contributions. Without any additional savings or assets that I can cash in, it will prove very difficult – in particular with rising healthcare costs and inflation of goods and services.

So how can you, readers, – at the age of 20, 30, 40, and even 50 – mitigate this illustrative but common problem? How can you maximize your pension now to reap the benefits when you turn 65? There are three easy ways:

• Add to the pot: Make voluntary contributions above the mandated 5% of your salary. If you are 35, and you contribute an additional $500 a month, you will have access to a lump sum of over $400,000, assuming a 5% return and 2% rate of inflation.

• Diversify your assets: If you leave one job to start another, you have the option of rolling your accumulated pension balance into your new employer’s plan or opening your own pension account with a licensed insurer. Avoid ‘putting all of your eggs in one basket’ and open up your own prescribed pension account. This will give you more control over your investments as well as provide the added benefit of being able to diversify – perhaps choosing a more aggressive (or more conservative) investment profile than your pension plan with your new employer.

• Take advantage of the living benefit of life insurance: Most people, when they think of life insurance, think only of the death benefit; if they die, their beneficiary will receive a lump sum payout. But there are life insurance products (Whole and Universal Life) that provide a guaranteed cash value –

a living benefit to the insured– that can be accessed at any time from an active policy. Buying young is the key to maximizing the returns for a low premium. As a 35 year old, female non-smoker, who purchased $400,000 of Whole Life insurance today, you would have access to approximately $285,000 if you surrendered the policy at age 65.

The Magic Number

Lisa Lewis, BSc, is a financial professional of BF&M. With over 14 years in the re/insurance industry, she helps advise individuals and families of how to relieve the burden of unexpected and long-term risks. Lisa can be contacted on 2980229 or llewis@bfm.bm.

So what will be the number you’ll need to save in order to retire with dignity? Let’s look at a 35 year old in 2014, who is earning an “average” wage as per the Bermuda Labour Force Survey of 2013.

Income replacement at retirement (Generally individuals need about 80% $65,600 of their pre-retirement income)

Annual Social Insurance Contributions

(assuming receives maximum benefit of $1400/month) Balance of annual retirement income required:

Contributions from mandatory pension (assuming salary increases 2% each year of $1,279,215 working and earns 5% compound annual return)

Given the above numbers, are you prepared to address your pension gap, so that at the age of 65 you can stop living at work and start working on living the way that you’re accustomed? Or will you be one of the many who has to continue to work into their 70’s in order to cover expenses? You can reduce this risk by making a plan now. Talk to a qualified financial planner today to discuss your options.

Got questions or want to know more about what you read? Contact Lisa Lewis at BF&M.

THE ONLY DETERGENT THAT’S AND BABY-BOTTOM APPROVED

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