Creche january 2014

Crèche FREE

South African

2014 January Issue www. sacreche.co.za

TAKE ONE

My First Day Health focus

Family matters

We delve deeper into the world of germs,

Coping with separating from your child

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Nutrition What you should put in their lunch box.

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Policy & Practice Drafting the Hiv/Aids policy for your creche PG 21

January contents Editor’s note News & Feedback Shopping Events Health focus Family matters

in this issue Development Nature Finance book review Safety The classroom

cover story

Nutrition Community focus Artwork Policy & practice

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Editor’s note South African

welcome

SOUTH AFRICA’S NUMBER ONE EARLY YEARS LEARNING STAGE MAGAZINE

With every passing year your child is growing and you as a parent are growing as well. The magazine is now officially in its second year yippee... we are growing too. We too have made New Year’s resolutions that spilled over from years past and to better summarise this point I will quote a friend’s status on one of the social platforms “my goal for 2014 is to accomplish what I couldn’t accomplish in 2013 of which I should have been done with in 2012 because I promised to do them in 2011 yet planned in 2010”. The moment I saw it I was reminded of the saying that “regret is only seen when looking backwards”. What we couldn’t achieve in the space of 12 months is by no means a reflection of our potential but a challenge to better ourselves. The nicest part about falling is getting up.

There is a full 12 months ahead of us and in this issue there is a full 28 pages ahead for you. The challenges of a first day in school are tackled as well as dealing with anxiety in children. For the first time we talk about HIV/AIDS in our policy page and the importance of having your own policy in crèche.

This is our back to school issue and we have put our best foot forward.

From here we can only soar farther out of sight of our mistakes and regrets in pursuit of the kind of happiness and warmth only derived from that little smile that is now my wallpaper. This is the year to look forward to in anticipation so don’t look back. This is 20-4-me.

February issue

Crèche South African

FREE

2014 February Issue www. sacreche.co.za

Managing Editor: Khutso Ntsoane

Editor: Thando Ncube

Contributors: Grace Seema Thabo Mphela

A C Abraham Lebo Chauke Charlize Grinnell Lerato Molewa Patricia Armstrong Pastor Themba Sibiya Mahlako Phahlele

Layout & design: Llaai Ntsoane Advertising enquiries: sales@sacreche.co.za 084 343 8197

SACrèche Magazine PO Box 4670, Pretoria 0001 www.sacreche.co.za (+27) 11 024 6451

Editorial enquiries: editor@sacreche.co.za

Published by:

Llaai Ntsoane

onesevenone communications (Pty) Ltd

Disclaimer: The SA Crèche is published monthly by onesevenone communications. All reasonable care is taken in the preparation of the magazine contents, but the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors in the contents of this magazine or to any loss or damages however arising from such errors, including loss arising from negligence of our staff.

Reliance based upon the contents of this magazine is at reader’s own risk.

TAKE ONE

Health focus Fighting obesity in children PG

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Family matters Bad language how to respond PG

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Development

Encouraging creativity in kids.

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Safety

Safe children smart parents PG 18

@sacreche @sacreche

News & Feedback Briefly Support to 12 preschools in Bushbuckridge with funding from NDA

Are you a party planner for children’s birthdays, graduations or christenings?

Do you want to increase your business ?

ADVERTISE WITH US HPPSA has since October 2012 worked to improve 20 pre-schools in the area around Casteel in Bushbuckridge.

The program is funded by the National Development Agency (NDA), which is mandated to secure that more children get a proper preschool education. HPPSA already runs POF programs in four of its development projects in Soweto, Limpopo and Eastern Cape. source: www.hpp-sa.org

Two years of compulsory preschool According to the NDP (National Development Plan) that was adopted at Mangaung conference by the ANC, it will be compulsory for children from age five to attend pre-school. This will mean it will takes 14 years to get to finish your formal education. For the plan to succed it will require more 100 000 preschool teachers to be trained before 2016.

Call our sales team for advertisement space similar to this one at best rates

ADVERTISE HERE This could be you

Contact us for me information 073 040 8061 www.sacreche.co.za

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Shopping

Crayola - Crayons 64-Pack with BuiltIn Sharpener Your imagination is as endless as the combinations of color inside this jumbo box of 64 Crayola Crayons. Crayola offers the abc’s of coloring - from apricot peach to brick red to cadet blue. It comes equipped with a built-in pencil sharpener to keep your bold and beautiful colors picture perfect! When you’re using Crayola, your work might not only hang on the refrigerator - it might also hang in a museum!

Dora Backpack with Pocket Make your little explorer’s day perfect with this beautiful backpack featuring Dora The Explorer and her best friend Boots surrounded by butterflies and flowers against a clear blue sky.

Available at ToyRUs. Age 3 - 12

Animal Lunch Cooler If your little one loves animals, this is the perfect lunch box. You can get this little animal soft lunch box in a rabbit, dog, panda, and tiger. The bag is lead free and food safe. It is insulated so it can keep foods cold for a few hours. The handles on it are small so they are perfect for little ones.

Available at Makro stores Ages 3 - 8

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events

CLASS OF 2013 GRADUATIONS

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Health focus www.uskidsmag.com

We share our homes, family, bodies and children with them but we hardly know anything about them except that they are not good. Patricia Armstrong delves deeper into the world of germs, dirt, viruses, the immune system and your preschooler’s constant sniffing.

Story by Patricia Armstrong

Everybody knows that germs can make people sick but what are germs and how can they make children sick? Is there a way that you can prevent your child from getting sick from germs? There are a lot of germs and they spread easily. Playing with toys, a trip to the toilet, playing outside or just touching are all ways your child gets into contact with germs. Some germs are good but mostly are bad and you can be sure that your child gets into frequent contact with all kinds of sickening germs.

We can’t see germs with our own eyes and to demonstrate this to young children I saw this programme on TV that teaches children about how germs are passed around. Lotion was applied to one child’s hands and then glitter. The child was then tickled on the nose with all her friends in class watching she scratched her nose much to their amusement because there was now glitter all over her nose. She tried to wipe it off with a cloth but not all glitter would come off. Only when soap and water was used were her hands free of the glitter. The

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lesson was excellent in teaching children how germs spread; no one wanted to touch the child and risk getting glitter on them too..

Germs are small living organisms that can get people sick. The two most common kinds of germs are bacteria and viruses. Bacteria are very small, live everywhere and eat wherever they live. They cause toxins that result in bad smells so it is important to always wash, in the mouth, hands and body; clean your living space and everything else. Viruses on the other hand need a living host like a person, animal or a plant. They then spread throughout and make the person very sick like flue does or chickenpox. Most, if not all, illnesses start with a single virus that spreads.

Some germs are good germs that the body needs. There are good germs in the stomach that help with digesting foods, there are good germs in our mouths and nose and all over our bodies, there are also good germs on our skin that prevent illnesses. These germs also help

‘The two most common kinds of germs are bacteria and viruses’ with the body’s immune system and strengthen it to enable it to deal with illnesses better and fight off bacteria. Early exposure to germs is important in strengthening the immune system. This has a lasting effect and helps later with allergies and asthma. Scientists have shown that anti bacterial medication and antibiotics given regularly to a child can end up weakening the ability of the immune system to fight off certain infections. The body needs to grow up fighting off illnesses and infections in order to grow stronger. Children who are exposed to illnesses while in crèche suffer a lot less illnesses by the time they get to school than those who were at home. The body adapts and develops antibodies to fight off viruses before they become illnesses.

By no means should you expose your child to unsafe conditions in the name of strengthening the immune system. It is important to always take good care of your child’s health and do what is best using your own discretion but do not overreact. It is important for a preschooler to play in the dirt, that is how they learn and grow up.

Teach your child about germs and how germs spread through the exercise mentioned.

Washing hands with soap should be a habit that they adopt and practice regularly. Your child should brush their teeth two times a day and it is advisable to brush them in the morning and they can brush themselves at night.

Living in a dirty environment breeds germs; your child will always have a runny nose or suffer from this or the other because of their environment. Sing songs on proper toilet use and for tips on proper hand washing see our previous issues. Instead of always going to the doctor, many illnesses can be prevented. Hand washing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of germs and prevent illnesses.

Reach The Sky Soar Above The Rest !

Place your ad here and reach pre-school parents Call us on 084 3438197 www.sacreche.co.za

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Family matters

SEPARATION ANXIETY The comfort of a routine is best appreciated when change is iminent. It is that time of the year again when we get back to life and they go back to creche. Thabo Mphela helps us deal with the tantrums that come as a result of the fear of separation.

The holiday season is over; it is time to get back to our normal lives. Some are lucky and live with their children at home but others are not so lucky and they have to go away. It could be because of work or separation of parents, leaving a child behind is not a nice feeling for any parent but what about the child. His or her behaviour is likely to be affected because of anxiety caused by separation.

The situation is not always this dramatic.

Separation anxiety can be experienced also by children who are going to school for the first time; also those who have already started school but have gotten used to staying at home. Anxiety is felt by everyone irrespective of age.

It is perfectly normal for your child to feel distressed when you say goodbye. They

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have gotten used to waking up next to you every day. Anxiety is a state of nervousness and worry we experience when a situation makes us uncomfortable. Depending on a situation, anxiety can be felt at any time and eventually we deal with it and hopefully forget. It is not always this simple; anxiety can become a serious health issue. Phobias, obsessive-compulsive behaviour, post-traumatic stress disorders and general anxiety disorders are different forms of anxiety. Anxiety can either be a fleeting feeling as a result of a particular situation and once the situation is dealt with then the feeling is quickly forgotten but others are more serious and are considered disorders because are recurring.

Anxiety is a normal part of your child’s emotional and behavioural development. The

up side about separation anxiety is that your baby feels an attachment to you. It might be that your child has not yet developed a sense of individuality which is a gradual process that takes an average of a year to develop. From a year onwards it is perfectly normal for them to get worried when you leave but they soon forget because they know that you will soon come back. From 2 years onwards their sense of independence will be more pronounced and they will separate themselves from you and use “I” whenever they get the chance. Your child’s independence stems from the knowledge that you always have their back. As long as she knows that mom is there or dad is coming back then they will grow more confident by themselves every day.

Separation anxiety along with common fears and social anxiety are some of the most common forms of anxiety for a preschooler. Denial or ridiculing your child’s fears is the worst thing

‘‘obsessive-compulsive behaviour,

post-traumatic stress disorders and general anxiety disorders are different forms of anxiety’’ to do. Acknowledge your child’s fears and assure them that they scare you too. Encourage talking because it lightens the load and your baby will always confide in you. We are too hard on our children, give your child a break please and most of all prepare for the imminent

change. You know school is reopening, you know you have to leave yet the last person to know is the one who needs you the most.

To you, his or her fears may seem extreme but chances are the behaviour is perfectly normal.

Start worrying when there is an interference with her normal life. Seek professional help when she struggles to sleep, won’t play as per normal, losses appetite and shows compulsive behaviour. Otherwise the best remedy for separation anxiety is a tight hug and a sweet reassuring voice.

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Development

does grade R matter?

By 2019 all children in South Africa must complete a year of grade R before they can start school.

With a new curriculum and a new year ahead Lebo Chauke talks the ABC of grade R Grade R could be compulsory in the next few years according to the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga. A policy framework has been signed proposing that all children have to complete a year of grade R before going to grade 1.

This is likely to happen in 2019 and currently the department is working on making sure that all primary schools have an additional grade R class.

Grade R is the foundation phase of the outcomes based education system. It is otherwise known as grade 0 and it is meant to help children make a smooth transition from crèche to school but most importantly grade R is meant to help with school readiness. All grade R classes must follow the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) and all

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teachers in this grade must have a CAPS certificate proving that they are trained to teach grade R. Your child will surely struggle in school if the curriculum is not followed, and catching up can take anything from a month to a lifetime.

Under CAPS, every subject has a single comprehensive and concise policy document outlining exactly what the teachers must teach and assess. First implemented in 2012, CAPS aims to guide teaching and make sure that there is clear guidance on what needs to be taught, how and when it must be taught. The policy document for each subject is on the Department’s website and freely accessible to everyone. It is easier for you as a mother to track your child’s progress and also it will help you carry the lessons on at home.

Grade R is a continuation of the foundation phase that starts with crèche up until grade 3 where it is expected for a child to be able to read 80 to 100 words a minute. Currently only 5% of South African children are able to. A child needs to have a certain level of development before they start with their Grade R. Foundation phase learning is crucial for success at higher grades level. Children need to be able to have a relationship with words and sounds before grade R. They must know colours by name, be able to count up to 60 and above and recite the alphabet, colour properly and cut straight and their speech must be fully developed to enable them to communicate and

‘‘A child who is 4 and a half to 5 and a half is eligible for grade R .’’ argue points. These are but some of the things your child must be equipped with on their first day in grade R. Not to say that these are the benchmarks but you and your child must work towards them this year. The importance of the foundation phase cannot be stressed enough. Children who miss this stage end up struggling in school and most likely drop out and end up as poor adult and parents to poor children who are born in the same poverty thereby repeating the cycle. Most crèches are baby-sitting centres that only mind the child. By the time the child gets to grade R and later school,

they struggle just like all the other children who didn’t even go to crèche. Not to say that any child who does not go to crèche is doomed for life, but crèche is ideal and in the best interest of your child’s future. Some of us did not go to crèche but we turned out relatively fine with an education and a brighter future than those who did go. School for a child without prior learning is going to be difficult and that is a fact.

A child who is 4 and a half to 5 and a half is eligible for grade R. Sometimes children are not ready at that age so it is important for all primary schools to conduct a school readiness assessment in order to determine if a child needs to repeat grade R. It is advantageous that grade R’s are incorporated into Primary Schools because children are then exposed to the school environment and the following year will only be a matter of changing classrooms rather than an introduction of a whole new world which can be a traumatic experience.

Thapelo, a 5 year old grade R pupil who struggles to count further than 29 would like to get to 100 without any help. Even though he can’t remember what comes after 29 his teacher is adamant Thapelo is more than ready for school. By his own admission he knows that “a big 3” comes next but he forgets. Some struggle with colours and other with (the) some things else, for Thapelo and his peers grade R is important to find out whether they are ready for school or not and if not then it is best to re-do grade R.

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Nature

Green Garden Green Crèche

Planning a garden with friends and teachers in crèche can be a lot of fun. Not only is it a good learning activity but the results are even better after some time when you are enjoying your garden’s produce. Everyone at home must use a little space of their yard to plant something. Do the same in crèche – these are some of the things to think about.

den. Look for a place that gets plenty sunlight, has good soil and close to a tap. Avoid places where rain water does not get absorbed into the soil and are always full of puddles. Make sure also that you place your garden away from where people walk or play or you can have a fence around your garden so that people do not walk all over it.

Garden Site.

The first step is to choose where you will start your gar-

Good soil is compost soil.

Farmers use compost soil because it is rich in nutrients

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and helps plants grow. You can make your own compost soil. Ask your teacher to help because you need to dig a hole and dump rubbish into the hole. This hole needs to be dug where your garden will be. Add certain kinds of waste in the bin and avoid others (for a list of what to add visit our facebook page: sacreche). Once the compost soil is rich and fertile, which can take between 2 to 5 weeks, then it is time to start planting.

Team-work.

Everyone must get involved in the project. First you need to decide what is going to grow from your garden. Everyone must have a say on what flowers and vegetables to plant and where to put them in your garden. There can also be groups that are responsible for specific parts of the garden.

Be smart.

Give yourself enough time for the gardening project so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Too many people have started but few finish because gardening needs patience.

Make every activity fun so that you don’t lose interest.

Easy grow. Choose crops that are common. These include spinach, beans, carrots, tomato and pumpkin. In no time lunch will be coming straight from your own garden.

No teachers allowed.

Only have teachers help when it is absolutely necessary.

The garden should belong to the children and the teacher must always remain in the background.

Garden ghosts.

Put a fence around your garden to prevent pests from helping themselves to your plants. Make sure your fresh produce does not disappear bit by bit by placing your garden in a safe spot and letting everyone know about it.

Remember to eat and also share what you are growing in your garden. Follow these steps and create your own private garden at home. http://urbanext.illinois.edu/

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cover story

1st day

getting ready The fears of the first day in creche are felt more by you than they are by your child. Miss Abraham walks us through the proper preparations of your child’s first day at creche.

This is an exciting time but there is also fear mixed with it.

That word again “fear”. Just imagine what is going on in your child’s head when they first walk in to crèche. In all his or her life it has been you, maybe koko, ntate-mogolo and only familiar family faces. The prospect of the first day in crèche is fear filled even to you. There are many things that could go wrong. What if she doesn’t like the crèche? Will the teachers understand your child? Will she think I am never coming back?

Well yes, she will probably think you are deserting her and will not spare a tear just to get her point across. Remember how intimidated you were on your first day at work and multiply it tenfold. Many question marks are probably floating in your head unanswered. The day is finally here to answer, confirm and also ridicule all the fears you have been harbouring inside.

With big stage shows such as music awards, what happens is that they perform a dummy of the show to see how it will look before the show itself. It is called a dress rehearsal. Do the same thing and go with your child to the crèche to familiarise both of you with the environment; the class, the yard, the toilets, the playground and if possible the teachers as well. They will be much more comfortable when you leave them in a place that they have been to before than when it is a completely new environment.

You have finally chosen a crèche that suits you best but have you thought about whether it suits your child? Do not

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make the mistake of taking everything into your own hands. It is not your crèche but your child’s. Take him shopping to get supplies. Do not bulldoze him with your taste and choices, tell him what is needed and let him choose exactly what he likes. My brother’s child spent the first two weeks of crèche in fairy wings. You could tell from the look on her mother’s face that she was troubled by her daughter’s outfit but she let her have her way and little Phumzile did not care for anything else but her wings. Listen to what your child wants, you might not agree with it but if it helps them cope then why not?

The best remedy for uncertainty is proper planning.

Be organised and avoid the last minute rush, you will only make your child anxious. You knew this day was coming since your baby was born. It will be a great help to get the curriculum beforehand and look through it with your child a week before so that

‘‘she will probably think you are deserting her and will not spare a tear just to get her point across. ’’ you familiarise yourselves with what is coming. Find out what your child needs to have and if they allow a toy then it will help to let them take their favourite toy with (provided it is small). Their favourite blanket will offer comfort too, but consider buying a new blanket especially for crèche.

When the day finally arrives you will need to be ready to let go. Brace yourself for a performance of a lifetime if your child has attachment issues. Children probably handle the situation much better than their parents. The start of crèche is an exciting thing for children and you need to let go even when they are crying. Delaying the inevitable is not such a good thing. Do not stay behind and watch over them for a few minutes or hours before you leave. You are not helping the situation; you will be denying your child a chance to socialise. It is natural to want to protect him and hold his hand but avoid it, besides you will get the shock of your life when they walk in and don’t even look back.

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Finance Important facts

Money Lessons To Teach Your Child We are most comfortable with what we are familiar with. For most of us money is a visitor in the house and not a family member. Introduce her to a new best friend... money.

From as young as 3 years old children can understand and on items in the fridge and have him or her buy them with the grasp money concepts like saving and growing money. I am sure by now they probably think that it grows on a tree somewhere but somehow you must cut down that tree idea and start building their money portfolio. Here are 5 rules to use to grow a money savvy preschooler.

Wait before you get it We spoil our children to avoid a scene in the mall. “I don’t want my child growing up like I did” is most parents’ theme song in a shop. Always remember that what you start today will be expected of you tomorrow. Teach them the importance of planning for expenditure. Use the “don’t buy... lay-bye” rule. Before going shopping the both of you draw a list and stick to it.

Play money games Children want to play all the time. Play games involving money. Just be careful not to play gambling games because what you sow you will surely reap. Role play, put price tags

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money you gave them.

Money pays Ask your child to help you with something and in return pay them. Ask them what they are going to do with their money and advise them on how to spend it.

Bank it Keep a piggy bank in the house and collect all coins and drop them in, lead by example. Choose a day and take him along to spend that money. Teach them that money buys big when accumulated overtime. They can get a soccer ball instead of a chocolate.

Speak the language Speak openly about money in the house. How much the crèche fee is and transport is. Avoid attaching monetary value to material things. Let them help you budget. They might not understand now but they will be comfortable with the subject and money will never intimidate them.

book review

Big Book Of Science Things To Make And Do

Make things that fly, fling, spin, swim, whoosh, zoom and discover the surprising science behind them. Big Book of Science things to make and do isn’t just a craft book. All the activities are designed to demonstrate fundamental scientific concepts and bring them to life in an interesting way.

2008 Winner of the Royal Society Prize for Science Books: Junior Prize.

R169,00 (Free shipping) www.starachievers.co.za

Maisy Goes to Preschool ften, a familiar face is all a little one needs to get them to take that first important step inside the preschool classroom. This book features Maisy, the popular character created by Lucy Cousins, as she spends the day painting, playing and making music. This book features a main character who is confident and happy about going to school and sets a good example right from the start.

My First Dat At Nursery School Sometimes you get to preschool and you aren’t sure if you like what you see. That’s what happens to the girl in this offering by Becky Edwards and illustrated by Anthony Flintoft. There’s lots going on in the classroom so she hangs back a bit, but after a while can’t help but get involved with the painting, dancing and singing that the other children are doing. This is a great title for someone who is a little more reluctant, illustrating that it’s OK to be nervous and that preschool will turn out just fine.

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Safety

Thando Ncube doesn’t play with fire and shares basic tips on fire safety in our Early Childhood Development Centres.

Learn about fire because children under 5 years are almost twice more likely to die from a domestic fire than older people.

In November a fire destroyed 100 houses in the Eastern Cape.

Every year it is the same story, road accidents in December and fire during winter, the only difference are the victims.

Having an emergency fire escape plan is essential for the safety of both children and teachers. It is absolutely necessary for all children and staff to be familiar with escape routes and emergency numbers. A fire alarm is absolutely necessary for all Early Childhood Centres. Many poor centres concentrate on immediate matters like feeding the children and leave safety as the last thing to worry about. A fire extinguisher is a must, no excuses, and a bell or whistle must be placed in a general area where children and teachers can reach it.

Save yourself. No Hero.

Children must be taught how to use the alarm and evacuate.

Most people die from smoke rather than fire. Trivial use of the alarm should not go unpunished but always follow the escape route even when alarm is sounded irrespective of whether children were playing with it or it’s raining outside. In cases of fire sound the alarm/ whistle/bell as hard as you can and gather everyone to move calmly to the assembly point.

Fire Drill Every month without fail, practice a fire drill and treat it as a real thing. This is especially important for centres that use candles,

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prima stoves and open fires. These three things are responsible for most if not all domestic fires in the country.

No Obstruction.

Service your fire extinguisher at least once every year. Place them in an easy to reach area and stress the importance of the equipment to children. The first thing that children learn at home is that fire is hot and they won’t play with the equipment if you make it clear. Keep boxes and toys away from extinguishers, the path must be clear.

Fire Kills.

It is that simple. Fire will take your life if you take it for granted. Cook from a separate room that children are absolutely prohibited from entering. Do not use saucers to hold candles rather fill a jam jar with sand and stick it in. Do not leave children alone in a room with an open flame or burning candle. Do not wield hot liquids like tea and porridge over children’s heads. Always keep it simple with fire. Do not misuse heaters and prima stoves; keep them strictly for what they were meant for. It is also important to remember that fire loves curtains, oxygen and stupidity. Always keep low when there is a fire, the air next to the ground is the cleanest.

FIRE TIPS! monthly fire drills * Have Avoid open fires and prima stoves in creche * Always have a separate room for cooking. * Keep matches, * out of kids’ reach.lighters, chemicals, and lit candles heaters and stoves away from beds, curtains, * Keep or anything that may catch fire.

Don’t run electrical wires under rugs or carpets. * Lock matches and lighters in *a high cabinet and never fire extinguishing equipment must be visible to all, *especially children

Missing children

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Nutrition

EASY HEALTHY LUNCH BOX

by Asanda Abraham

Most crèches do not allow children to bring lunch boxes to crèche because food is provided already. It would also not be nice for some children to bring food while others can’t afford.

There is no reason why you should not prepare a healthy lunchbox for after-crèche. A healthy diet is important for optimum development and you don’t have to be out of budget for your child to eat healthy every day.

Carbohydrates – Bread, Rice and Pasta – must comprise half of your child’s diet because they are the main sources of energy and are rich in iron. Choose brown bread and brown rice rather than white rice or white bread. Five servings a day (1 slice = 1 serving) Protein – Meat, Chicken, Fish and eggs – children need protein for growth and they also need it to fight off infection and also help with repairing body tissue. Oily fish such as tuna are important sources of protein and help brain development. Three to four times a week for meat and twice a week for fish Fruits and Vegetables – contain important vitamins and minerals that protect them from cancer and heart disease – Five servings a day Dairy – they are an excellent source of calcium. They also provide good vitamins and minerals. Children need fat for energy so always choose full cream.

s: t n e ri nut

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Chicken Sandwich Kebabs 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4 cube sliced regular raisin bread 1 unpeeled green apple, sliced into wedges 2 celery stalks, cut into bite-sized slices 6 seedless red grapes 2 wooden kebab sticks 2 tbsp lemon juice plus 2 tsp lemon juice for apples

Preparation

Cut each breast into cubes; set aside. Cut each apple into 6 wedges and toss in 2 teaspoons lemon juice.

Stick the chicken and bread onto the stick, alternating apple, celery and grapes.

1 chicken kebab: 237 calories, 6.3 g fat, 58.0 mg calcium, 152 mg sodium, 24.1 g carbs, 1.8 g fibre, 21.9 g protein; excellent source of niacin and vitamin B6; good source of folate and vitamin B12.

Policy & practice

The HIV/AIDS Policy Every crèche school and tertiary institution must have their very own policy on HIV/AIDS. The number of children under 6 years infected and affected by HIV/ AIDS is on the rise every day and so are Early Childhood Development Centres catering for these children. It is in the Bill of Rights that ECD centres must adopt policies and practices to support and develop these children.

Children are singled out as a special group because they cannot protect themselves and often their rights are violated. Children are protected under the South African constitution as well as the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. Those between 05, about 4.5 million children, affected

by HIV/AIDS are especially vulnerable because the success of their survival depends on a favourable and nurturing environment yet they are cared for by unstable and vulnerable families because of HIV/AIDS. The Government has drafted a national policy on the management of HIV/AIDS in ECD centres. It is the responsibility of every crèche to draw up their own policy on HIV/AIDS based on the national policy. A policy is a guideline of action and treatment for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This document must specify in certain terms the rules of the crèche on the treatment of children who are HIV positive and those who come from a family affected by HIV and AIDS. It has to be based on the national policy

and always respect the rights of every child as stated in the Bill of Rights.

The policy must ensure, among other things, the rights of children and teachers are respected, a non discriminatory environment is created and maintained, further HIV/AIDS infection is prevented and those infected are afforded the same rights as other children. All children are equal in the eyes of the law and must also be equal in creche

What to Include in your policy • No child must be denied access to ECD because of their status • Parents and children have a right to keep their status a secret • No child must be treated differently because of their status • No crèche is allowed to test children without the parent’s consent

“The Government has drafted a national policy on the management of HIV/AIDS in ECD centres.” www.sacreche.co.za

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Community focus

Ma’ Mthembu’s

Happy Beginnings

Without fail, every crèche that we go to receives us very warmly and this time we had a song prepared specially for us.A sea of smiles was standing in two lines holding hands to usher us from the gate into the garage turned crèche classrooms with a wall in the middle to separate the two classes.

Staying true to its name Ma’ Mthembu’s Happy Beginnings and its choir of little students made sure that sacreche gets a happy beginning on that day.

The crèche is located in Mamelodi and has been running for 7 years now from very humble beginnings with only 7 children most of whom relatives and neighbours’. The crèche is a garage portioned into 2 classes removed from the principal’s RDP house which she shares with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.There are two swings on the grey patchy lawn behind the classes with a slide attached to a Jungle Jim that was donated by foreign exchange students. The principal and owner of the house Ma’Mthembuover-looks the whole crèche, with the help of two other women. All three women have neither experience nor are qualified ECD practitioners.

The smallest is 8 months with most of the students between

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2 and 5 years old. Four and 5 year olds are grouped in the same class and the rest make up the other class. We got there while the children were having breakfast (white porridge with a slice of buttered brown bread). While we sat in one of the classes talking to the principal the children were outside for their morning exercise which includes stretching, playing catching games with three plastic beach balls and dancing all the while singing songs.

Ma Mthembu explains that ever since she has started operating she has learnt a lot from the children than she could ever teach them and although she does acknowledge the importance of qualified teachers she says that she does not have the capacity nor the finances to pursue short courses but intends sending her staff in the course of the year.

All children come from poor families and that is why the fees are fixed at R100 per head with the exception of children from the same family, whom only pay half of that each.

She works very closely with the local primary school and follows their grade R curriculum. The children get breakfast and lunch, the crèche is open from 6 to 3.

In the classrooom

What to do when your class is a:

Battle ground Twenty young children in the same room with a limited number of toys is fertile ground for a fight. Fighting is one way kids use to show their frustrations. It is understandable once in a while but sometimes it can turn into a habit.

It does not need a professional to know that children model their behaviour on their parents’. What they see at home is acceptable everywhere else according to them and your child is cheeky simply because someone else in the family is exactly the same. It is sometimes difficult for a teacher to get a handle on a class that is rebellious. Temper tantrums, squabbles, scratching, bad language and general bad behaviour needs to be dealt with early on.

Children constantly test limits to see how far they can take it. Boys tend to fight more than girls because their language skills develop later so they can’t express themselves as well as girls and resort to violence.

Be consistent. All punishment should be consistent irrespective. Do not even waste your time in finding out who was wrong because what you will be doing is labelling the bully and the victim and postponing the matter.

Consistency will make sure that everyone feels that they are equal in the classroom.

Make sure that consistency is institutional and not just individual. Punishment should be consistent from one teacher to the next.

Anticipate. There are some situations to be avoided in order to avoid squabbles. Certain situations like a favourite toy that everyone wants or a favourite colour will likely end up in a squabble so avoid those situations as much as possible. Recognise and mitigate

them before they get out of hand.

Ignorance. Some squabbles are just an attention grabbing stunt and its best to ignore them. For parents who are in the company of squabbling children ignoring them is the best possible solution as long as there is nothing alarming about the squabble. In crèche though, use this strategy with caution because there are different personalities and backgrounds involved and you also run the risk of creating an environment where kids know that nothing will happen to them if they behave badly.

Taking turns. Almost all of the fighting in crèche is from material things. Taking turns is an easy way

to end disagreements. Use a timer to make sure that sharing is fair. In everything that usually ends up in squabbles put rules for taking turns and these rules must be used even when you are not there.

Keep calm. Avoid getting caught up in the moment and raising your voice. Shouting does not solve anything beyond the moment.

Children will get used to your shouting and you will have to shout even louder to be taken seriously.

Keep a calm voice during fights and talk calmly. Most teachers and parents are too quick to shout at their children and this must stop.

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Artwork

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