Parenting August 2016

complimentary AUGUST 2016

PARENTS AGAINST SUGAR

ELECTRONIC DEVICES & CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT

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TIPS TO AVOID DROWNING

WHAT IS YOUR PARENTING STYLE?

COUPLES WHO SWEAT TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER

Parenting today • JULY 2016

CREDITS PUBLISHER M. ANTHONY SHAW EDITOR TYSON HENRY ADVERTISING MANAGER PAULETTE JONES EDITORIAL TEAM LYLE JONES, TYSON HENRY, NICK NUNES

CONTENTS

PHOTOGRAPHY KHALIL GOODMAN

Clean Homes, Healthy Families 4

WRITERS DANIELLE BUSHELLE-ELCOCK, CAMILE ALLEYNE, ROSEMARIE LAYNE, SUZANNE DOTTIN-HINKSON AND DR. ALANNA MYERS ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES YVETTE BERRY TEL: (246) 430-5521 Email: yvetteberry@nationnews.com

Home Schooling 6 Electronic Devices & Children’s Development 8 Reasons Why Couples Who Sweat Together, Stay Together 12 What Is Your Parenting Style? 14

DANIELLE BECKFORD TEL: (246) 430-5495 Email: daniellebeckford@nationnews.com

Parents Against Sugar

STEPHANIE BARNETT TEL: (246) 430-5515

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Tips To Avoid Drowning 18

Email: stephaniebarnett@nationnews.com

How To Keep Your Dog Cool For The Summer 20

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR WENDEY DELANEY – TEL: 430-5517 CIRCULATION MANAGER EDMUND HOLDER – TEL: 430-5500

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CIRCULATION ADRIAN BOWEN – TEL: 430-5501 DESIGN AND LAYOUT IMAGEWORX / Brian O’Neale – TEL: 430-5419/5557 PRINTERS PRINTWEB CARIBBEAN LTD. (246) 434-6719

EDITOR’S NOTE “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”

– James Baldwin (1924-1987) With summer in full swing, we have a wonderful issue for you. It’s time for you to find creative and safe ways for your children to unplug from technology, teach them to grow more independent and enjoy the outdoors now that they have a break from the pressures of everyday school.

In this issue of Parenting Today, we have a nice mix of stories that are replete with ideas for keeping your children active, both physically and mentally. We take a

look at this often unexplored field to better understand how parents can tailor their approaches while at the same time find appropriate ways to grow and change, and raise healthy and well-adjusted children.

Summer seems so long at the start of it, but we’re already starting to see the back-to-school signs.

Make sure you don’t miss the chance to spend some valuable time with your family, before the hustle and bustle of 1st term resumes. However you choose to spend your summer, we hope that it is a fun and safe one!

Until next time,

Parenting Today is produced by The Nation Publishing Co. Limited; a subsidiary of The Nation Corporation, which is a member of the One Caribbean Media Limited (OCM) group of companies. For general info email: parentingtoday@nationnews.com Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this magazine is accurate, however, The Nation Publishing Co. Limited cannot be held responsible for any consequences that may arise from any errors or omissions. This publication cannot be copied in whole or in part without the explicit permission of the Publisher. ©2015 NATION PUBLISHING CO. LIMITED

Parenting today • JULY 2016

Clean Homes, Healthy Families

by Danielle Bushelle-Elcock

Properly store foods in airtight containers.

Keep trash bins covered at all times; emptying and cleaning regularly.

Clean floors, counters, tables frequently to prevent food buildup.

Vacuum, sweep and mop often to eliminate vermin and their eggs.

Please note that measures you take on your own should not replace professional services in the case of an infestation; it is imperative that you seek professional services.

Improve Air Quality Reduce dust, moulds and chemical pollutants in the home.

Dust regularly using microfiber cloths.

Clean your floors regularly. If there is carpet in the home, vacuum at least twice a week.

Mopping with just water rids the home of dust and allergens left behind from sweeping.

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Remember to cleanse your cleaning equipment to increase service life and prevent recontamination of your space.

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aintaining a clean home with a busy schedule can be a balancing act. However, a safe, clean home (environment) may mean the difference between a healthy, happy family and a breeding ground for colds, flus and much worse. In order to safeguard your family and achieve an overall healthy home, here are a few tips that you can utilize to maintain a clean home.

Reduce Pest Infestations Pests such as ants, cockroaches and mice need food, water and shelter to survive. An unclean home may very well be providing these ideal conditions which, in turn, can result in a pest infestation. In order to ensure that your home keeps free from pests: • Strive to keep the home clutter free, to diminish potential habitats.

Parenting today • JULY 2016

Preventing moisture accumulation will diminish the development of mould. Mould is a fungus that can produce substances that lead to allergic reactions in both adults and children.

These include sneezing, coughing, itchy, red, watery eyes and skin irritations. Severe reactions include fever and difficulty breathing.

Dehumidify the home by using exhaust fans.

Remember to open your windows whilst you cook, use the dishwasher or shower.

Consult a professional to rectify leaky plumbing.

Make your home a no smoking zone.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of hazardous chemicals that can cause respiratory infections and have been linked to some cancers.

Synthetic fragrances in air fresheners can emit materials such as phthalates, which can alter hormonal levels. Indoor plants such as aloe, snake plant and golden gothos have been proven to remove some

of these deleterious chemicals. A clean home generally smells better than covering up odor.

Do you prefer scented rooms? Try using essential oils of lemon, lavender or peppermint.

Good Hygiene

It has been said that good hygiene habits reduce the risk of infections and some diseases. It is substantiated that good home hygiene habits play a critical role in the fight against infectious diseases. Battling the spread of infectious diseases in the home involves focusing on germ hot spots and eliminating these wherever possible.

Let us consider the bathroom and kitchen as these hot spots.

The bathroom should be cleaned at least once per week using an antibacterial agent.

Kitchens are generally the most frequently used rooms in the house. How often you clean it depends on how often you use it. Always follow the directions on approved cleaners. A good rule of thumb to remember is to clean as you go.

Cleaning can be a huge undertaking, but it can be achieved with good planning and a systematic approach. Remember to keep in mind the resulting benefits.

Danielle Bushelle-Elcock is the owner of Absolute Clean, a Barbados-based cleaning company offering customizable cleaning solutions for the home.

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

Home Schooling

by Camille Alleyne

sacrifice has borne fruit in ways not limited to academics.

They have seen Najidah develop keen critical thinking skills, and become confident, well adapted and socially responsible. Most importantly, they have seen her grow in her own relationship with God. The couple reminisced about the journey they have taken so far and have agreed to share their views with us regarding the pros and cons of home schooling.

The pros of home schooling Flexibility Karl and Margaret based their home schooling technique on Deuteronomy 11:18, 19, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds… Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”. Home schoolers have the privilege of learning in a classroom, in a park, on a patio, while getting dressed or driving in a car.

The learning experience is not limited to a particular location.

Tailor-made schedules Home schoolers can formulate their own schedules according to the family’s culture. For example, Najidah would start school early in the morning and continue even while her mother was preparing breakfast. This would allow them to be finished even before regular school ended. Doctors’ appointments and family errands are then able to be facilitated without reducing the hours of instruction.

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n Barbados, educating children at home is not something new, but it has become more prevalent over the years.

Home schooling is a term that describes the type of education children receive when they are taught by parents, guardians or tutors at home rather than in formal private and public school settings.

The Ministry of Education makes it clear that it is the duty of parents to ensure that every child of compulsory school age receives full-time education according to his age and ability in traditional school or in a manner that is satisfactory to the Minister. Parents and guardians who desire to home school must, therefore, apply for and be granted exemption from compulsory attendance for their children by the Ministry of Education. Reasons for exemption are outlined in SECTION 42 of the Barbados’ Education (Amendment) Act, 2015 – 11.

The Austins have been home schooling their daughter, Najidah, for 8 of her 11 years, and recently, she was awarded a place at Harrison College after sitting the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination. Karl and Margaret are pleased that the hardwork and Parenting today • JULY 2016

Freedom to choose a curriculum The Austins chose a curriculum based on Najidah’s learning style but they ensured that the content encompassed the local school curriculum. Home schoolers can choose from a variety of curricula that are visual, aural, physical, logical, social and solitary. Margaret found that networking with other homeschool families locally and from around the world gave her helpful tips and advice regarding curricula and other areas. She also discovered excellent ideas, teaching aids, lessons, and test papers online to assist her with the task at hand.

Individual attention The one-on-one tutoring or small group sessions which home schooling affords, allows home educators to better observe each child.

This dynamic caused the Austins to identify and focus on areas in which Najidah had difficulties. At the same time, they were able to quicken the pace when she grasped the information easily.

Positive socialization The Austin’s agree that good manners, social responsibility and respect are some of the social skills that are best taught at home. In the case of healthy social interaction, they have seen it develop naturally as their daughter associates with people of all ages on a daily basis. Church and extra curricula activities create additional opportunities.

Opportunity to save Karl pointed out that since there is no need for school uniforms and petty fees; and because travelling to and from school is not necessary, the home school family can save money in these areas.

The cons associated with teaching your child at home Extensive preparation The research necessary for successful home schooling is extensive. Margaret knows this too well as she was the one to research and coordinate the many elements of home schooling - the curriculum, lesson plans, regular testing, transcripts and so on.

Substantial investment of time and effort Home school parents must have immense capacity to mentally and physically cope with amount of time and interaction with their own children.

Parental conflict If only one parent is on board with the idea of homeschooling and bears the brunt of the responsibility, it will impact on the quality of home schooling.

Exclusion from certain activities and competitions Karl lamented that there was no opportunity for his athletic

daughter to participate in most school based competitions and activities such as The National Primary Schools Athletics Championship (NAPSAC).

Misconceptions Karl and Margaret agree that home schooling is often misunderstood. Misconceptions are mainly related to these three questions: •Will the child be properly socialized?

•Are parents equipped to teach their children?

•Are you as a parent or guardian capable of homeschooling in the high school years?

According to successful homeschoolers here and abroad, the answer to all of the above is, “yes”. Yet, because of the general lack of knowledge regarding homeschooling, much pressure is placed on homeschool practitioners to conform to traditional norms.

Home schooling can be expensive Extracurricular activities are an added expense for the home school family unlike their counterparts who are often able to benefit from music, sports, drama, debating and other pursuits at school, free of cost. All books, equipment and materials have to be funded by homeschoolers, and when parents integrate tutors to assist, it can be quite costly.

Single salary household Unless the home school teacher works from home, the family will have to survive on one salary.

WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS As you can see, home schooling is a viable option to traditional schooling. However, many factors must be taken into consideration in order for this type of education to be successful.

Parenting today • JULY 2016

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Electronic devices & children’s development

constantly texting and sharing photos and videos with their peers.

However, as challenging as it is, as responsible parents you need to put your foot down to limit screen time to protect your children’s mental and physical development.

by Rosemarie Layne

Obesity: Sitting in front of a television or computer is a “sedentary behaviour,” so doesn’t burn much energy.

Children often use a device for four to six hours a day, which translates to a lot of sitting. This means that fewer children are getting the necessary physical activity to keep them active and healthy.

Sleep loss: Screen use also affects sleep. A US study in the in 2014 showed a connection between “excessive screen time and shorter sleep” patterns, “predictive of behavioural and social problems, poorer academic performance, and health conditions such as obesity.”

Hand pain: Texting and gaming on phones wreaks havoc on hands. A 2015 study in the Muscle & Nerve journal found that college students with heavy phone usage showed more impaired hand function, thumb pain and repetitive-strain injuries than students who used phones less.

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Headaches: A recent study published in the Journal of Neurology and Psychology showed the incidence of headaches was higher, longer and more frequent among people using phones for long periods than people with lower phone usage.

The mental effects of phone dependency are an even more serious cause for concern.

uring the summer holidays – throughout the year - a great number of children are enthralled with some type of electronic device, and so spend a lot of time staring at a screen.

This is, understandably, a perennial battle between parents and offspring. From as young as infancy our children are exposed to these ubiquitous devices with mesmerising games, while the older ones are

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

Obsessive behaviour Apparently, the more adolescents use social media, the more stressed they are. This is bourne out by a recent CNN recent study of how young teens use social media. Child clinical psychologist, Marion Underwood, who co-authored the study says, “This is an age group that has a lot of anxiety about how they fit in” and rank among their peers.

“There is fear in putting yourself out there on social media…they “hope for lots of likes and comments and affirmations, [but] there is always the chance that someone could say something mean.”

Underwood surmises that adolescents are “addicted to the peer connection and

affirmation they’re able to get via social media”, keeping abreast with what others are doing, how many people like what they post or follow or un-follow them daily.

Negative influences Furthermore, there seems to be a link between increased exposure to television or personal electronic devices and children’s views on junk food, alcohol and tobacco use and aggressive behaviour.

Foods in commercials targetted at children usually have a high sugar fat or salt content, and video games and movies, sadly, often glorify violence.

Attention disorders A big concern about smart phones is that they can cause attention problems.

Among younger age groups parents’ own phone use can contribute to this. A small study in 2105 showed that when parents stop focusing on a baby in favour of their phone, the baby may mimic that behaviour by playing with toys (or screens) for only a short period of time.

Another study showed that people of all ages who have heavy internet and phone use are more prone to brain fog impeded concentration, forgetfulness, poor spatial awareness and errors - regardless of whether they are using a phone at the time. These “cognitive failures” induced by include missed appointments, not noticing road signs, daydreaming during conversations and forgetting why they moved from one area of the house to another.

For children under two, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no screen time at all, and for older children, only an hour or two a day. However, the organisation is revising those guidelines and is expected to issue more conservative ones by October 2016.

How to reduce your child’s screen time David Hill, chairman of the AAP Council on Communications and Media and member of the Children, Adolescents and Media Leadership Working Group offers some tips to help parents reduce the time their children spend on screens.

Unplug by example Parents, demonstrate mindfulness by putting down phones during meals or whenever your children need attention.

Praise “offline” behaviour Validate your children and express interest

Parenting today • JULY 2016

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when you see them riding a bicycle, colouring or engaged in any other offline activity. These interactions will heighten their awareness of the joys of the “real” world, and in so doing, they will also be pleased that they gain your attention.

Set limits and keep them When determining boundaries, ask your children what they think is fair - even if you don’t actually use their suggestions, since this helps them feel important and gives them an opportunity for input. If the rules are broken, enforce the stipulated punishment (performing additional chores, removal of the device etc.) and STICK to it.

Cut TV time Don’t keep televisions in children’s bedrooms, and don’t allow viewing at during meal time or homework. Don’t keep the TV on

for background noise. If you plan to watch a show, decide on this in advance, and turn off the TV when it’s finished.

Monitor closely The CNN study revealed that parents who made an effort to closely watch their child’s social media accounts had a tremendous effect on their child’s psychological well-being. While most parents “underestimated the amount of fighting taking place over social media”, one expert believed that parental monitoring “effectively erased” the negative effects of children’s online conflicts.

*Rosemarie Layne is a holder of an Associate Degree in Mass Communication and is a certified Early Childhood Educator. She is also a private language tutor, teaching children and adults.

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

Reasons Why Couples Who Sweat Together,

Stay Together

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In fact, working out together can: Increase your happiness with your relationship. Lab studies show that after jointly participating in an exciting physical challenge or activity, couples report feeling more satisfied with their relationships and more in love with their partner. Exercise is a perfect example of the type of invigorating activity that can have these positive effects. It’s the physiological arousal, rather than the novelty or challenge of the activity that drives romantic attraction. This suggests that sharing a fitness goal (such as training for a 5K), taking regular runs together, ballroom dancing, or having a date night at the gym can boost the quality of your romantic relationship.

Improve the efficiency of your workouts. A longstanding concept in social psychology is that the mere presence of someone else affects your ability to do an activity. Even if you already feel competent doing a particular exercise, bringing along your romantic partner may be a fantastic way to boost your energy output. Your partner’s presence will also improve your speed, without you necessarily being aware of their influence. On the other hand, if you are just beginning to learn a new routine, it’s better to stick to trying it solo for the time being. In these cases, your partner’s presence may interfere with your ability to complete a challenging task. Take some time to master the exercise, and then bring your partner along for a performance boost.

Make your partner fall in love with you. Exercise induces the symptoms of physiological arousal— sweaty hands, a racing pulse, shortness of breath.

These symptoms mirror, in many ways, the thrill of romantic attraction. Interestingly, people can easily mistake the two and misattribute physical arousal for romantic attraction. Use this phenomenon to your advantage by inviting your romantic interest to workout with you.

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esearch finds surprising benefits from exercising together.

Every day across the island, individuals are hitting health clubs, unrolling yoga mats, pounding the pavement, and signing on to new fitness challenges.

If this sounds like you, have you ever considered how physical fitness can benefit not only your own health and well-being, but that of your romantic relationship? Why not grab your partner’s hand and invite him or her to be your workout partner as well?

A growing body of evidence suggests that couples who sweat together really do stay together.

Parenting today • JULY 2016

Help you achieve your fitness goals. When partners care about fitness—their own and their partner’s—it becomes easier to achieve fitness goals. A recent study of heterosexual couples showed that average-weight husbands who care about fitness engage in more physical activity when their wives offer more supportive healthrelated comments. Sharing in the ups and downs of a daily morning walk, a tough bike ride, or a strenuous Zumba class, can provide the perfect context for such comments. One cautionary note: Don’t rely too heavily (or exclusively) on your partner when it comes to your own fitness goals. “Outsourcing” the mental effort required to complete fitness goals can reduce your own effort.

Make your partner fall in love with you. Exercise induces the symptoms of physiological arousal—sweaty hands, a racing pulse, shortness of breath.

Increase your emotional bond. When you work out together, you create a context in which you can coordinate your actions.

For example, you might lift weights in rhythm with your partner, match your own walking or running pace with his or hers, or toss medicine balls back and forth. Such behavior creates nonverbal matching, or mimicry, which benefits you both. Nonverbal mimicry helps people feel emotionally attuned with one another; and those who experience or engage in it tend to report greater feelings of having “bonded” with their partner. Exercising together provides an opportunity to create such connection, benefiting both your health and your relationship.

Fitness can be about you, or it can be about you and your partner, so why not share this aspect of your lives, either regularly or occasionally, and discover how doing so might give your relationship a new dimension and new life.

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

What is your parenting style?

A closer look at the way parents discipline their children

by Suzanne Dottin-Hinkson

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According to developmental psychologists, research suggests that there are four basic parenting styles.

They range from the very controlling parent, to one that neglects or is uninvolved with their child. As you read further, you may be able to identify with one or more of these parenting styles. Note which category you may fall under. They are: 1: The Authoritarian parent. - Authoritarian parents are highly demanding and directive, but not responsive.

They are obedience and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed without explanation.

These parents provide well-ordered and structured environments with clearly stated rules. Children from these homes are well-behaved and perform well in school, but may exhibit poor social skills, lower selfesteem and higher levels of depression.

2: The Authoritative parent. - Authoritative parents are both demanding and responsive. They monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. And their children are socially competent with little to no behavioural problems.

3: The Indulgent (Permissive) parent. - Indulgent parents are more responsive than they are demanding. They are non-traditional and lenient, do not require mature behaviour, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation. Such children perform poorer in school but have lower levels of depression.

4: The Uninvolved parent. - Uninvolved parents are low in both responsiveness and demandingness. In extreme cases, this parenting style might encompass both rejecting-neglecting and neglectful parents. These children exhibit bad behaviour with poor social skills.

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he job of parenting is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding tasks on this earth, and yet it does not receive the degree of respect and attention that it deserves. Most people model what their parents did as a guide to how they raise their own children. However the crucial question is: did their parent or guardian do a great job at raising

them?

Raising a child in this modern era requires much prayer, attention, love, care, discipline, self-sacrifice and a lot of patience. (And again I say patience). These qualities cause many to question their own style of parenting.

Parenting today • JULY 2016

Research reports based on interviews concluded that the authoritative style was most preferred, because it created a balance between insisting that your child obeyed the rules along with being responsive to their emotional needs. “It balances high parental responsiveness and demandingness with the recognition of child autonomy, which are important components of good parenting.”

I often find it ironic that in other professions like medicine, engineering, teaching or accounting in order to become qualified one must attend classes, sit examinations and receive certification. So why is it not mandatory for people to become trained before taking on

the responsibility of parenting? You need a driver’s license before you can drive, right? Perhaps young adults should be trained in parenting. The point I am making is that oftentimes people become parents without any practical skills or training, and sadly, parents are expected to know what they are doing.

Traditionally, in the Caribbean, parents believed in strict discipline. They would say, “If you spare the rod, you will spoil the child.” While this may be true, some extreme individuals went on to use more than just the rod. They used the “cou-cou stick”, heavy belts, the clothes line, or even pieces of furniture. Basically, old-fashioned parents used any harm-inflicting device that was within their reach at the time the punishment was given.

There are also those who teach their child to “do as I say, but not as I do.” This is confusing to the child, since the parent may behave one way but insist that their child acts differently. Then there are those who believe that “children should be seen and not heard.” This method limits self-expression, and children in this type of family often lack confidence and self-esteem. As a result, these children may be as silent as lambs in the presence of their parents but talk excessively in their absence.

Generally, these punitive methods create fear in children and they have detrimental long-term effects. Oftentimes, the child develops painful psychological, physical and emotional scars that are deeply rooted. And the child also resorts to violence as a way to solve problems.

I truly hope that this information will guide both new parents as well as the more seasoned parents. In fact, if you think that you have made a lot of mistakes, it is never too late to become a better parent. In essence, the overall goal is to raise children in a loving, nurturing and spiritual environment, so that they will blossom into healthy, happy and successful adults.

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

Parents Against Sugar Healthy Ice Cream

sounding ingredients while ignoring the fine-print on the back label.

Ice cream is one such example. Even the kinds of ice cream and sorbets that advertise themselves as “light” or “low-fat” still contain many artificial colourants, flavours, and other chemicals, not to mention a high amount of fat and sugar. Every day, more parents are becoming aware of the negative health effects that can be caused by eating too many processed foods. Many have started to replace those foods with healthier alternatives prepared at home, from juices to cakes and beyond. Some companies have been working to make this process easier and give control back to consumers.

KitchenAid, for example, recently released a product that allows users to make their own non-dairy vegan ice cream. The machine, which attaches to the company’s culinary centre stand mixer, has become very popular and is part of the healthy living movement that is spreading through the region.

Below, check out a delicious and healthy recipe idea for vegan ice cream. Creamy, rich, and best of all, guilt-free, this ice cream is fun to make for the whole family!

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Healthy Ice Cream for the Whole Family!

Ingredients: 1 can of full-fat coconut milk ¼ cup of maple syrup, coconut sugar, or honey (for non-vegans) 1/3 of a tablespoon (1 teaspoon) of salt 1 tablespoon of cornstarch 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

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besity—especially childhood obesity—has become the public health issue of the 21st century. In the Caribbean alone, a 2014 study showed that more than 30% of children were overweight or obese.

Today, many of the most popular foods contain high quantities of fat, sugar, and artificial colouring, among other chemicals. Sometimes, we don’t know exactly what we’re giving to our children, causing them harm without any awareness or intention on our part. Oftentimes, a parent might be encouraged by a product that advertises its fruit content, when in reality the product actually contains an unhealthily high amount of added sugars, colouring and flavouring. It is easy to be drawn into purchasing products based on claims of healthyParenting today • JULY 2016

Directions: • At least 24 hours in advance, put the ice- cream making attachment in the freezer. The colder the bowl, the creamier the ice cream will be.

• Shake the can of coconut milk well before opening, as its components tend to separate after sitting undisturbed for a while.

• Pour half of the coconut milk into a pot and add the salt and your sweetener of choice.

Reserve the other half of the coconut milk for later.

• Heat up the coconut milk mixture on

medium, stirring regularly for 1-2 minutes, or until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved.

• Use a whisk to mix the corn starch with the remaining half of the coconut milk from before until uniform.

• Add this mix to the pot and stir constantly. Heat up the mixture until firm and thick, but make sure not to let it boil. Finally, add the vanilla and put the mixture in the mould, placing it into the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours until it freezes.

• Once it’s ready, add the mix to the icecream making attachment until it takes on a smooth and creamy texture for approximately 20 minutes.

• Transfer the ice cream to a plastic container and leave it in the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours.

• Take it out of the freezer and enjoy with your favourite toppings!

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

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Tips To Avoid Drowning

Lifeguards are trained to spot swimmers on the verge of drowning and act quickly to save lives. Certified lifeguards also know how to perform CPR, which means that they have the potential to save a swimmer’s life even in the dangerous situation that they lose consciousness in the water.

However, lifeguards should be treated like a fire extinguisher – critical if needed, but one should do everything possible to avoid having to use one. Take all safety measures you would take even if the lifeguard was not there.

Use Certified Flotation Devices Life jackets and other flotation devices can keep their wearer afloat in the water even if they are unconscious or unable to swim, making them a valuable aid in and around the water.

Do not rely on “water wings”, foam noodles, and other pool toys to keep you afloat — these are not designed to keep persons who can’t swim, or weak swimmers from going under. Even if you are a strong swimmer, wear your life jacket in boating and jet-skiing situations. In the event of a capsize, for instance, if you are struck unconscious, the lifeguard can save your life.

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Recognize and avoid strong currents.

If you have done most of your swimming in manmade pools, it’s easy to forget that bodies are often subject to the forces of natural currents. If these currents are strong enough, they can pose serious dangers, especially to weak or inexperienced swimmers. Particularly dangerous are “rip currents,” strong, fast currents that occur near to shore and can pull swimmers out to sea. If you’re at the beach, be ready to spot these common rip current warning signs:

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he idyllic image of a Caribbean beach involves placid, clear waters gently lapping against a palm-lined shore, but while you can find plenty of calm beaches in the Caribbean, playing in the water always carries a risk of drowning. As experienced swimmers on our beaches can tell you, even the calmest waters can also have rough surf. The danger of drowning also rises when storms are nearby. To prevent tragedy, follow these tips.

Pick Swimming Sites With Lifeguards The safest choice when selecting swimming sites are ones that have life guards on-duty. Certified lifeguards are your greatest friends of all when you’re swimming — the presence of lifeguards at swimming site has been shown to have a serious, proven effect on drowning prevention.

A beach with lifeguard supervision takes measures to head off hazards, such as knowing where dangerous undertows are, and have the authority to prohibit children playing around in an unsafe manner.

Parenting today • JULY 2016

A narrow channel of particularly choppy water Water with a noticeably different colour than the water around it.

Irregular wave patterns A line of debris or seaweed moving steadily out to sea.

Know Who Is Most At Risk On the individual level, a person’s swimming ability and the conditions they’re swimming in usually determine whether or not a person is at risk for drowning. When dealing with very large numbers of people, however, it’s possible to observe certain demographic trends with regards to drowning rates — essentially, certain types of people are more likely to drown than others.

Below are just a few different types of people that, statistically, are more prone to drowning than the baseline average rate: Children: Very young children (ages 1-5) are especially susceptible to drowning. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death worldwide for children under the age of 5.

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Parenting today • JULY 2016

How to keep your dog ‘cool for the summer’ 20

once per day and refilled whenever it is getting very low or empty. This is especially important during the warmer months because water does not only perform a hydrating function but also a cooling function, of course more so during the warmer months of the year. This part is straightforward enough. To keep them cool during the “summer” months of the year, water may need to be changed more often, such as a couple times per day.

It must also be kept in a cool easily accessible place for the animal at all times. This is to keep the animal hydrated and is especially important to keep dogs cool because dogs do not sweat as humans do. The way that dogs lose heat is mainly through panting and convection. As you can imagine, panting while cooling the dog down can also make his mouth and overall body water be lost quickly due to the consistent quick movement of air over a moist body area. In addition, water can be used by spraying a gentle mist with a garden hose to mimic sweat and promote evaporative cooling as human sweat does. A wading pool can also help once the water is kept cool and in the shade. This is mainly because dogs love to dip their paw pads in cool water because a lot of cooling occurs through the paw pads as they are one of the few places on a dog that contain sweat glands.

Cooling equipment

M

ost Barbadians agree that it is already getting significantly warmer here than it was even a month ago. Most of us have been turning on our fans at night to compensate, and our air-conditioning units in the car and at work. Our pet friends do not have the same luxuries at times that we do and appreciate and require us as owners to keep them cool so that they do not suffer from the effects of heat stress or heat stroke.

Our canine companions will be used as the main example because after all they helped to inspire the saying: ‘the dog days of summer’. So here are some ways we can help keep our furry friends cool in these approaching ‘summer’ or warmer months.

Adequate amounts of cool water available at all times.

It is necessary that all animals have access to clean, cool water at all times throughout the day. As per usual, their water should be changed at least Parenting today • JULY 2016

For Purchase Air conditioning units are one of the best ways to keep a dog cool. There is also cooling equipment online available made especially for dogs though.

These include self-cooling water bowls for dogs, pet water bottles, cool vests, cool booties, freezable chew toys, cooling beds, cooling blankets and cooling vests.

Do it Yourself A lot of this equipment can be easily improvised by the owner on a hot day, such as freezing water in pep bottles, Ziploc bags or otherwise sturdy plastic bags, and wrapping them in a couple layers of towel for your dog to rest on.

Shade This refers to any cool shelter protected from the sun, that also enables a good breeze to travel through. It should preferably be cooler than outside and large enough for your dog to comfortably fit inside and go to sleep in, and have cool flooring.

Remembering to take certain precautions

cool, in the shade, and do not allow them to exert themselves in any way.

Also, avoid exercising your dog in hot weather.

These include: Not leaving your pet in a hot car even if it is for a short period or is in the shade. All scenarios which involve leaving the dog in a car are dangerous and the dog should be left at a cool comfortable place, with his owner, or another experienced handler instead.

Not muzzling your dog at all unless it is a special structured muzzle which allows the dog to pant and even then, you only want to keep it on for only a few minutes at a time.

Avoid tying your dog out on hot concrete, asphalt or in direct sunlight for any period of time without having easily accessible and readily available shelter that they could use.

Keep senior pets or those with predisposing conditions

Signs of Heat Stress and Heat Stroke and What to Do Signs of heat stress and the more severe heat stroke may include but are not limited to: panting, dehydration, increased body temperature, drooling, prostration, incoordination, awkward movements, rapid heart beat, vomiting blood, black and tarry stools. If untreated, these symptoms lead to seizures and then death. Dogs found in a hot environment and exhibiting these symptoms are likely to be suffering from heat stroke and should be taken to the

veterinarian immediately. While carrying the dog to the vet you can cool him down by making sure that the transport vehicle is cool and by placing cool wet towels around the neck, under the forelimbs and in the groin area. Cooling too rapidly with ice packs could actually make things worse, so be wary of that. If your dog is not fussy or too aggressive with a rectal thermometer and you know this for sure, then check their temperature every five minutes until it comes back down to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 39 degrees Celsius. At this point, stop cooling immediately, dry the dog off and wrap him in a towel to make sure that his temperature does not now go too low. Afterwards, still make sure that he goes to the veterinarian just in case any other complications arose that he needs to be treated for.

If you know it is a hot day, or you go to check your animals and it is hot where they are and they are showing one or any of the signs mentioned above, move accordingly. If it is particularly severe, owners are encouraged to seek veterinary help for their pet immediately. As we know, the information provided in these articles are general guidelines and each animal is different so it is best to always consult with a veterinarian familiar with your animal’s particular case, with respect to each of the guidelines provided above. Always feel free to ask your veterinarian any questions concerning your animal that you may have!

By Dr. Alanna Myers, D.V.M. (Veterinarian).The Merck Veterinary Home Manual Drs. Foster and Smith The Merck Veterinary Manual Parenting today • JULY 2016

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Full family feel at Divi

by Camille Alleyne

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Divi Southwinds Beach Resort – a 16.5 acre, 133-room haven with two pools, a restaurant, children’s playground and all kinds of sports and activities. It was evident when speaking with Alvin Jemmott, General Manager, that people are at the heart of Divi. Management and staff demonstrate a warmth amongst each other and with the visitors who stay there. Mr Jemmott emphasised that every guest is treasured; and the locals they accommodate are just as important as anyone else.

With affordable staycations available all year round, the entire family can afford to experience Divi hospitality.

All suites are self-maintained with the convenience of a full kitchen equipped with a full size fridge, stove, toaster oven, convection oven or microwave.

Common Entrance participants have always been welcomed at Southwinds for an afternoon of fun after the rigours of examination day; and if you are one for pool parties, between April and November is the ideal time to book.

Pureocean Restaurant is just as heavenly as the sound of its name. The kitchen is run by top class chefs who co-ordinate creative meals that every family will enjoy. With a menu that can hold its own on the international scene, each meal is bursting with Bajan flavour.

Service at Divi Southwinds goes beyond the quality of rooms, food and activities. Mr Jemmott strongly believes that the hotel has an ongoing responsibility to our society. As a result, the management has made it a priority to mentor young Barbadians.

“Parenting,” according to Mr Jemmott, “is the responsibility of all of us. Our youth is our future. When Barbados excels, we at Divi feel that we have contributed to its success.”

Every year, the resort opens its doors to groups of interns from institutions such as St George Secondary, Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, and Supreme Counselling for Personal Development, in addition to the University of the West Indies and the Hospitality Institute. Mr Jemmott and other senior managers, take time to talk with them about life.

Some of them have subsequently found permanent employment with the hotel.

The Education Assistance Programme is another successful undertaking by Divi, offering up to 75per cent of the cost of studies for employees who wish to further their education. Many have benefited from this scheme including talented chef, Stephanie Sayers, a member of the 2015 gold medal National Culinary Team of the Taste of the Caribbean competition. Stephanie is currently studying for her Masters in Culinary Art in the United States.

Another of Divi’s numerous bright sparks is Elvis Watkins who as a kitchen steward, was encouraged to pursue studies in cooking as he showed keen interest in this area. Completing a Certificate in Cooking with excellent grades, he is now a commis cook.

With so much to offer, Divi has wooed so many over the years. If you have not experienced Divi Southwinds, now is the time to book a suite, an event, or an activity and create a lifetime of memories.

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