Mum's Mail Johannesburg - March 2020 by Mum's Mail

21 March World Down Syndrome Day

Issue 30 | Johannesburg - East Rand | March 2020

IN THIS ISSUE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

From The Editor’s Desk...

March is upon us, and with it comes the school holidays (already?)!

s a working mom, I really struggle during the school holidays. I try to use a holiday club as much as I can, but the costs add up. Then there is the cost that comes with entertaining a child – it never ends! Play dates are also an option, if you have friends that can help out. I have some mom friends from school and we all work full time, so last holidays we formed a WhatsApp group specifically for helping each other out during school holidays. This has become a lifeline

for me. Mom friends are so important – we’re all in the same boat, and we need to help each other out as much as possible! On the plus side, the best part of

CONTENTS

Everyday Life 4 6 7 8

Meet the Cover Stars Disconnected DIY Hanging Planter Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Play

school holidays is not having to wake up so early to do the school run, and not having to prep school lunches – can I get an “Amen”? I’m so excited to share this edition with you – we have some really great articles, from educational and health articles to crafts, recipes, competitions and much more! So take a few minutes, put your feet up and enjoy “life’s little toolbox” with a nice warm cuppa – or wine, whatever floats your boat! Until next time, Sarah. 7

Healthy Life 9 10

World Down Syndrome Day Say Aaahhh and Unite for Mouth Health

EDUCATED LIFE/PARTY LIFE 11 12 13 13 14

Homework – To Help or Not? Cute Easter Treats For Kids Spring Chicks Egg Carton Craft Chick & Lamb Easter Craft Diary Dates

The Mum’s Mail Team

Editor: Sarah Mackintosh • sarah@mumsmail.com • Enquiries: 031 - 714 4700 Accounts: meghan@mumsmail.com • Designer: Wendy Offer Advertising Sales: Bev Delew • bev@mumsmail.com | Anisha Singh • anisha@mumsmail.com Cover Photographer: Shoot the Moon, shootthemoonza@gmail.com, 078 099 4372 DISCLAIMER: Neither the Publisher, Printer or Editor can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any omissions or errors, as every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in Mum’s Mail. We do not guarantee the performance or quality of service of any of the advertisers in this magazine. No part of Mum’s Mail magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor.

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Meet the Cover Star Our lovely cover stars are Wikus and Renate Engelbrecht, with their daughter Catha.

hey live in one of Pretoria’s most beautiful and oldest neighbourhoods – Brooklyn. It has some of the best Jacaranda sightings during the months of October and November. Catha turned two in January and Elian was born just two days later. He was seven weeks old at the time of publication. “Catha is our little butterfly. She has the most colourful personality and is developing into a beautiful little dancing actress. She’s also a sensitive little girl, able to identify when a friend is sad and needs a hug or when “boetie” is not feeling so well. She’s very fond of our dogs and enjoys giving them treats and blowing bubbles for our Great Dane, Majoor,” says Renate.

EVERYDAY LIFE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

“Elian’s personality has only just started to show as he is still very young. He only recently started smiling and making eye contact and is slowly but surely beginning to make sounds. Someone said the other day that he looks as if he is already thinking very hard, which makes me think that he might be a clever little dude. He’s also been ahead of the curve when it comes to growing and already weighed 6kg at six weeks! Not sure how we’re going to keep up with this one.” They love to get out and about and often go out to child-friendly places in and around Pretoria over weekends. They also enjoy a good old braai at home and often invite friends over – “it’s much easier catching up with friends at our own house, as keeping the kids busy often becomes a hassle elsewhere, especially if the friends don’t have children of their own, which is often the case,” explains Renate. “We also enjoy hiking at parks like Moreleta Nature Reserve and Fearie Glen Nature Reserve.” “It’s amazing to see how these little humans develop – physically, mentally and even spiritually. We can now

actually start reading the bible with Catha and pray with her and she understands. I also love how we learn more about each other as a couple – we learn things about each other that we never knew when we got married – the good, but also the bad and the ugly, I guess. It’s awesome to see how we still love each other, even after a rough night of no sleep,” says Renate. “Being a parent is tough, yet so rewarding. It also goes so quickly, so taking snapshots of special moments is so important. But, most of all I think making time for each other as a couple among the chaos is probably the most important thing.” Advice for new parents “Having a healthy, loving relationship not only makes coping with everything easier, it also has an impact on your child’s development and mental state.” “Also, once the second child arrives, make sure that both parents spend time with both kids… This can be surprisingly difficult, I can tell you that much. And, when things get tough, remember: This too shall pass,” concludes Renate. By Sarah Mackintosh

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Disconnected

on’t panic, it must be here. I check again. No phone. Ok, it must be in my hand luggage… You see, I’m always misplacing my phone so this is nothing out of the ordinary. After much bag-scratching, I turn to my husband and say - “My phone is gone.” He rolls his eyes – like I said, this happens often. But this time it really is gone… we go through all the possible scenarios – maybe it was stolen from my bag... But then why didn’t they take my wallet too? Eventually we find out we left it in our friend’s car. I was without my phone for ONE WHOLE WEEK. Let that sink in. If your whole life is on your phone, one week is a long time! In retrospect, this was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was like a forced detox from technology.

EVERYDAY LIFE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

After a lovely family holiday in Cape Town, we boarded the plane, sat down and I opened my handbag to find my phone. I couldn’t find it. Here are a few things I learnt while I was disconnected from the world… Firstly, I am addicted to my phone and social media. Most of us are, and I was already aware of this, but I didn’t realise how bad it was until my phone was gone. Secondly, my phone has become a crutch and a major distraction from life. I found with no phone in my hands, I became SO much more industrious at home! My son was happier… He hates it when I’m on my phone and not paying attention to him - and he misbehaves to get my attention. Well, with no phone

as a distraction, I was fully focused on him and present in those precious moments with him. It felt great! Social media is BORING. Seriously. I honestly don’t know why I have spent so much time on it. I learned to enjoy the quiet moments and to look up and observe the world around me. I even read a book for the first time in a very long time! Of course, there are practical reasons why it’s good to have a phone, but we don’t really need our phones to be attached to us all day, every day. When I finally got my phone back, I have to say I was a little disappointed. So in 2020, my most important goal is to spend less time on my phone. Why don’t you give it a try too, and let me know how it feels? By Sarah Mackintosh

DIY Hanging Planter Everyone has old t-shirts lying around that are too far gone to be donated and it seems such a shame to simply throw them out.

ith this fun hanging planter DIY project, you’ll never need to throw out your old t-shirts again. Repurposing your old t-shirts into a simple, yet trendy plant hanger is a great way to display indoor plants and add a splash of colour to a room. This is an awesome DIY project for teens to do themselves, to create funky decor for their rooms, or even to give as gifts. What you will need: • A pair of scissors • A ruler • A pen • Small to medium ceramic or metal pots • A variety of small plants to plant in the pots

Let’s get creative: The first step is to take your t-shirt and fold it in half, lengthways. Next, use your ruler and pen to make a marking just below the sleeves and cut that section off - you won’t be needing it. Keeping your t-shirt folded, measure eight equal strips along the side. Once they have all been measured, cut these strips. After you have cut all the strips, unfold the t-shirt and cut one hemmed side of each strip. This will make eight long strips of fabric. Gather all your strips and knot them together at one end to create the bottom of your plant hanger. Lay your strips flat on the table and split them into four pairs. Make a knot in each pair near the top where the first knot is. Take care with the positioning of each knot to ensure they are all on the same level when they are hanging. Again, lay the material flat on the table and spread out the knotted pairs. Take one strip from one pair and another strip from another pair and knot them together, a bit lower down from the second knot. Do this until all the pairs have been knotted, bringing the last pair to the front. Repeat this step until you have sufficient material left at the bottom to tie into one big knot - this is the knot you will hang your planter from. Now that your plant hanger is complete, the final step is to place your plant into a pot and position it into your planter. Your planter is now ready to hang anywhere you wish.

Visit www.lifeisagarden.co.za for more gardening tips and ideas.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EVERYDAY LIFE

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Play Children are naturally wired with a desire to play – where adults might see a simple cardboard box, a child envisions an exciting new fantasy world where anything is possible.

pending time creating these realms of possibility in their minds is how children develop their ability to be creative and, ironically, to think outside of the box. By simply having the freedom to play, children are not just having fun, but learning new skills and making huge strides in their physical, cognitive and emotional development. This lays the foundation for the careers they will one day choose, the types of interests they will develop, and the kind of adults they will one day grow up to be.

The state of play As digital technology advances, so has the landscape of play as we know it, making it a far more dynamic and overlapping experience that brings the real world, imaginary play and digital experiences together as one. Children today are more inclined toward digital play, while the current generation of parents still prefer physical activity like sport and ‘rough and tumble’ play. Interestingly, children still want their parents and caregivers to play with them

– even if it is digital-based play like streaming a TV show or playing a game app on a tablet. This has resulted in a shift in play – parents are incorporating technology into games and playtime with their children and agree - despite a belief that screen time is anything but healthy - that digital play can be creative and rewarding for children, and a way to bring families closer together. Playing to learn Play is incredibly important in a child’s development and journey of learning, and playing together as a family is just as crucial for building stronger family ties. Having the freedom to play breeds creativity and encourages a sense of curiosity, while specific focus areas like ‘constructive play’ gives children a goal to work towards and a sense of progress and achievement as they go. By Kristian Imhof, Country Manager for The LEGO® Group in South Africa

WIN! WIN! WIN! Mum’s Mail has 1 x LEGO® DUPLO® My First Bricks set (valued at R329.99) and 1 x LEGO® Classic Bricks and Lights set (valued at R549.99) to give away. Visit www.mumsmail.com to enter.

EVERYDAY LIFE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

World Down Syndrome Day World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed on 21 March.

n this day, people with Down syndrome and those who live and work with them throughout the world organise and participate in activities and events to raise public awareness and create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of all people with Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome must be able to enjoy full and equal rights, both as children and adults. This includes the opportunity to participate fully in their respective communities.

What is Down Syndrome? Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition. It is universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Decideâ&#x20AC;? All people with Down syndrome should have full participation in decisionmaking about matters relating to or affecting their lives. Effective and meaningful participation is a core human rights principle, supported by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The reality today The reality today is that prevailing negative attitudes, low expectations, discrimination and exclusion, ensure that people with Down syndrome are left behind and do not have opportunities to participate

fully in decision making about matters relating to or affecting their lives at all levels. This occurs in society, but also within the disability community and the Down syndrome community. At the root of this discrimination and exclusion is a lack of understanding of the challenges individuals face across their lifetimes and a failure to support them with the opportunities and tools needed to participate meaningfully in everyday life. Across areas of life such as lifelong personal development, personal relationships, education, healthcare, work and livelihood, recreation and leisure and participation in public life, ALL people with Down syndrome must participate in decision-making, included on a full and equal basis with others.

Source: www.worlddownsyndromeday. org.

WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM HEALTHY LIFE

Say Aaahhh and Unite for Mouth Health Backed by the World Dental Federation, World Oral Health Day aims to spread the message about good oral hygiene and the important part oral health plays in maintaining general health and well-being. Celebrated every year on 20 March

orld Oral Health Day focuses on a different theme each year. Under this year’s theme ‘Unite for Mouth Health’, the World Dental Federation encourages everyone to make a pledge to look after their oral health – “Through everyone’s collective pledges and efforts, we hope to reduce the burden of oral disease worldwide.” “Oral diseases will affect all people at some point during their lifetime. It is particularly worrying to see an increasing number of children with tooth decay, which can lead to the development of early childhood caries, negatively affect how a young mouth develops, and create lasting health issues for young children.” Oral Hygiene Tips for Infants, Toddlers and Children Establish good oral hygiene habits right from the beginning. Follow these recommendations to prevent early tooth decay and ensure a healthy mouth. Your baby’s mouth should be cleaned a few days after

HEALTHY LIFE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

birth. To clean, wipe gums and tongue with a damp gauze pad or special infant gum wipes that are stocked at pharmacies. Never add sugar to milk in a bottle. Try not to let your baby ‘comfort feed’ by sleeping with a bottle in his mouth. Take the bottle away after your child finishes drinking. Drinking milk or formula from bottles over long periods can lead to tooth decay. Don’t be tempted to pacify your baby by dipping his dummy in sugar, honey or any other sweet treat. Always clean your baby’s teeth in the morning and before bedtime - from the

time that they cut their very first tooth. Your baby should have visited the dentist by his first birthday and every six months thereafter. Saying no to sugar outright may be impractical for most families. Save sweet treats for after meals because this is when the amount of saliva produced is greater and this will help protect your child’s teeth. Choose sweets wisely. Hard sweets like hard boiled candy and toffees can get stuck between your child’s teeth, which may lead to cavities. Softer sweets like marshmallows and chocolate will be gentler on your child’s teeth. Children should have all their baby teeth by the age of three. Baby teeth start falling out around age six to make way for permanent teeth. Gaps in baby teeth are normal as they make way for permanent teeth. Children should start flossing as soon as teeth touch, or earlier to help build good habits. Source: https://www.fdiworlddental.org/. By Khurhsid Guffar.

Homework – To Help or Not? Getting involved with homework can reap rewards, writes Helen Currie.

ow much should we help our children with homework and projects? Generally, most of us race from work to extra lessons, to sport, to the shops, to home with a million chores, not leaving much time for even signing the homework book, never mind helping with homework. But is this right? Should we be involved, and if so, how much? There is no right or wrong answer regarding helping with homework. Homework allows parents to see what is being taught at school, and one of the reasons for homework is to teach your children how to work on their own. But, it’s not your homework, so don’t do the homework for your child. Your role is to help, advise and guide them and to plan and make suggestions. Here’s how: Reading is the most important aspect of learning, and affects everything we do in life. Encourage your child to read on their own every day, but at the weekends spend time listening to your child reading. Tests often stress children because it’s too much work at one time. Help to form a study plan, spreading the workload over a number of nights, allowing time for testing and revision. Where you can, turn learning into a game. For instance, write the different colours in Afrikaans on a piece of paper and stick on the bedroom wall. Then when dressing each morning your child can say them out loud. Orals can be a rather frightening experience, but also a good life skill to master. Let your child prepare, practice and perfect at home, which will build confidence for the class presentation. Stress the importance of making eye contact and not burying their head in their notes. Projects mean researching, writing and planning, and usually a chance to improve their marks. Help choose a topic, chat about

where to do research, then allow your child to write a rough draft on his own, which you can correct. Discuss how the project will be presented – this is very important. Getting into a habit of encouraging and overseeing homework each day, testing, guiding, supervising and showing interest in what your child is learning, will ultimately form a solid foundation in junior school which will see them through high school and beyond. A parent’s job is never done, but being involved – and not actually doing the work – will pay off.

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Cute Easter Treats For Kids Optional: place cream cheese in sandwich bag, snip one end off, and pipe a cottontail on top of the sprinkled bunny. With your cut out bunny bread, you can tint some cream cheese pink with food colouring, frost and also pipe a tail on! That way nothing goes to waste. Source: www.hellowonderful.co.

Colourful Ice-Cream Sandwich Treats Bunny Fairy Bread

Here’s an adorable Easter lunch you can pack your kids or make as a cute snack that will get them in a “hoppy” mood. You will need: • Thick white bread (we like the “thick slice bread” you can find in the bread aisle of most supermarkets) • Cream cheese • Pink or red food colouring (optional) • Sprinkles • You’ll also need a bunny cookie cutter To make the bread, simply slice the crust off two slices of bread, cut out a bunny on one piece of bread, set aside. Spread cream cheese on the bread without the cookie cutter, add the cutout bread on top. Fill in the cut-out with sprinkles.

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Maybe you’re hosting a family Easter get together or just want to try something fun for the kiddos or a spring themed party. It’s super simple, you only need three things for this recipe: • Crackers/biscuits like tennis biscuits or wafers • Vanilla Ice-cream • Food colouring The first step is to separate your vanilla ice-cream into as many bowls as you want colours. You need about 1.5 cups of ice-cream for each sandwich. If you want to make it even more simple, you can stick to one colour and then you don’t have to worry about making separate portions. Then play with your food colouring and mix up some different colours. Once you’re happy with your colours, put the ice-cream back in the freezer to harden for at least an hour.

Scoop out the amount for each sandwich and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet, right up against the edge. Let the ice-cream soften a bit so you can smooth it out to create flat-ish rectangles. Put the tray back in the freezer to let the ice-cream harden again for at least an hour. Then when they’re hard, carefully sandwich them between your wafers/ crackers. The parchment should peel away easily if you let the ice-cream harden. You’ll get a very rough looking ice-cream sandwich. This is where you take a large sharp knife and some room temperature water and carefully trim off the rough edges. Return them to the freezer one last time to get them nice and firm before you serve them. Source: www.thesweetescape.ca.

Spring Chicks Egg Carton Craft Grab some egg cartons, paint, and a few other craft supplies to make these chicks!

fun kids’ craft project to make for Easter or as a rainy day activity! You will need: • Egg cartons • Acrylic paint & brush • Glue, scissors, marker • Construction paper Directions: 1. Cut apart two egg holders from the carton and trim off the excess on the edges. 2. Glue the two pieces together. 3. Paint and allow to dry. 4. Add a beak and some eyes. And that’s it! With such few supplies needed, this is a great last minute craft for a rainy day. I had everything I needed in my craft supply stash. Source: www.typicallysimple.com.

Chick & Lamb Easter Craft T

o make the Chick you will need a yellow paper plate (or paint a white one with yellow acrylic paint), orange scrapbook paper, yellow feathers, googly eyes, craft glue, and scissors. Add googly eyes, a paper beak and legs, and add feathers for the wings. To make the Lamb you will need a white paper plate, cotton balls, grey or black scrapbook paper, googly eyes, craft glue, and scissors. Glue cotton balls to the paper plate until it’s covered. Cut out four strips of scrapbook paper for the legs, an oval for the head, and two little oval ears. Fold the four strips accordion-style and glue to the back of the plate. Glue ears onto the back of the lamb’s head and googly eyes to the front. Glue the lamb’s head onto the cotton ballcovered plate. We hope you and your little ones enjoy making these! Source: www.blog.vickybarone.com. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM PARTY LIFE

Exciting March Events NSA Festival of the Arts When: 4 - 8 March Where: Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The National School of the Arts Festival of the Arts celebrates its 19th annual event this March. The perfect family-friendly entertainment, this is a must-attend for parents and kids with a love of theatre, art and music. Don’t miss out on all the fantastic performances taking place at the National School of the Arts and their sponsor venue, Joburg Theatre. More info and bookings: https://nsafestival.co.za/.

Hobby-X 2020 When: 5 – 8 March Where: Ticketpro Dome, Northumberland Rd & Olievenhout Ave, North Riding Cost: R100 Crafters and hobbyists, it’s that time of year again. Hobby-X makes its return this March, bringing along with it all you could ever need to get creative, from mosaic to paper craft, decoupage, scrapbooking, card-making, journaling, woodwork and so much more! You can also get expert advice from vendors or try your hand at a new hobby craft. This is the 22nd annual Hobby-X event, so be sure not to miss out. For more info visit www.hobby-x.co.za.

Magical Sea and The Wonderland When: 20 – 21 March, 9am – 5pm Where: Fourways at The Canvas, River Sands, 8 Incubation Drive Riverside View Ext 15, Fourways. Cost: R80 for children and R100 for adults. A new fun and interactive exhibition is headed to The Canvas in Fourways. Magical Sea and The Wonderland, presented by Future World Tech, is a must-visit for moms, dads and kids this March. Come on a magical adventure beneath the sea as your drawings of the mighty creatures of the deep come to life right before your eyes! There will also be a ton of activities for young and old. Visit magicseatickets.com.

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