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SOUTH AFRICAN

health development safety nutrition

July 2019 Issue 53 www.sacrèche.co.za

SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

FREE

World Ranger Day Celebrate 100 Minutes This Mandela Day

Ways To Avoid Causing Fires Are You Blocking His Development? When They Come Home Ill From Crèche

BIRTHDAY wo r ld ISSUE 2019

we celebrate our 7th year issue.

RAN G DAY ER

ENCOURAGING BLACK GIRLS TO DO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & MATHEMATICS

IF MORE YOUNG BLACK GIRLS SEE WOMEN TEACHING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS, IT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO STUDY THIS SUBJECTS.

TEACH

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CONTENTS HEALTH Illnesses to expect when they come back from crèche

FAMILY MATTERS Your guide to travelling with toddlers

CLASSROOM Celebrate 100 minutes this Mandela Day

POLICY & PRACTICE Annual ANC PLAY Conference

DEVELOPMENT Are you blocking his development?

NATURE Celebrating World ranger day

COVER Our 7th year Celebration issue

FINANCE Setting up a trust account for your children

SAFETY 12 ways to avoid causing fires

THE MANAGER Interviewing for a crèche teacher position

NUTRITION Veggie nuggets are fun for snack & meal

BOOKWORM 2019 book list

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EDITOR’S NOTE Managing Editor Khutso Hunadi Ntsoane Editor Basetsana Legodi Associate Editor Thandi Mokwena Layout & Design Llaai Ntsoane Advertising & Business Development Thando Ncube Office Secretary Asanda Abraham Contributors Lebogang Seema Nondumiso Nkuna Dee Nkosi Tinyiko Maluleke Thato Zwane Published by

onesevenone communications

171 Block K Soshanguve, 0152

SOSHANGUVE TOWNSHIP

Ph: 081 548 1331 sacrèche@gmail.com www.sacrèche.co.za

Printer onesevenone communications The articles contained herein are intended for informational purposes only. They are not to replace the attention or advice of medical and education specialists. Anyone embarking on dietary, medicine, learning and financial advice prescribed in this magazine should first consult with a care professional. The SA Crèche magazine takes no responsibility

Editor Basetsana Legodi

At times we bring children into a world that is not conducive for their proper development. When raising a child, money is not the most important thing. A child needs love and attention to have a healthy childhood. The problem in our country is that children are being born into dysfunctional families where the mother and father have unresolved issues that spill into the baby’s upbringing. Fathers are generally not interested in being in their children’s lives and mothers actively exclude fathers. Parents are using children to fight over battles that started long before the child was conceived or born. The emotional wellbeing of young parents is often ignored. This means that children are being raised by people who are emotionally unfit. These parents make decisions about their child’s life based on how they feel about the other parent and not on what is best for the child at the time. We need to talk about the mental fitness of parents before we can explore optimum ECD. The parent is the child’s first teacher and it is important that they are mentally and emotionally fit. Seven years ago we realised that there is a big gap in ECD and addressing important issues that affect children. We came up with a magazine that will inform and educate our readers so that they can raise healthy children for the future of our great country. Happy 7th birthday SACrèche magazine.

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SOUTH AFRICAN

August 2019 Issue 54 www.sacrèche.co.za

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health development safety nutrition

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SOUTH AFRICA’S LEADING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE

FREE Money saving tips for parents

fundraising ideas for your crèche

Follow our tips on your way to financial succes.

Helping Your Child Learn to Read

The best way to teach a child to read is by making it enjoyable.

GIRL

Immunization childcare requirements

What is hand, foot and mouth disease

POWER empowerings the girl child

news and feedback

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Parents urged to check registration of ECD Centres The Gauteng Department of Social Development has urged parents to check the legitimacy of an ECD Centre prior to enrolling their children. This comes after a number of incidents occurred in various ECD centres that were not registered. Most recently in Westdene Johannesburg, two toddlers died allegedly after swallowing rat poison. Investigations are still ongoing.

Grow ECD calls on public to support early education this Mandela Day

Gauteng Education Department puts focus on early chid development.

MEC Panyaza Lesufi

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi intends to prioritise ECD Centres by moving them from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Education.

In the lead up to Mandela Day on Thursday, 18 July 2019, Grow Educare Centres invites individuals and companies to partner with them and other ECDs in different capacities to bring about sustainable change. “We represent 30 Educare Centres across under-resourced communities in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg; all of which are independently owned and working in partnership with us to achieve a fivestar ECD rating,” says Tracey Chambers, CEO of Grow. The Nelson Mandela Foundation also recently announced that its strategy for the next ten years of Mandela Day will focus on policy change, with ECD taking centre stage. ECD is NPO Atleha Champions Club, a child’s crucial development phase between birth and when Sharon Dikeledi Ranoto has going to school. During this phase, children learn foundaorganised activities aimed at tional cognitive abilities, attitudes, and skills in preparation for helping teachers understand primary school and the rest of their life. their role in education at foundation phase. Fifty-three nursPresident Cyril Ramaphosa, in his 2019 State of the Nation ery school educators attended Address, said that he wants to see all South African children a workshop for ECD educators receive at least two years of Early Childhood Development and crèche owners at Tembisa (ECD) before they begin Grade 1. This commitment to early covering environmental awareeducation for the country’s children could radically change ness for their ECDs. South Africa’s prospects for education and economic growth. WWhttps://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/783/192979.html

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shopping

EDITOR’S PICK

DIFFERENT PRODUCTS COME THROUGH TO LEBOGANG FOR REVIEW, THIS IS HER FAVOURITE PICK FOR OUR BIRTHDAY MONTH

1. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel 2. LEGO Super Heroes Mr. Freeze Batcycle Battle

3. Despicable Me 3 Mel Plush Toy 44cm 4. My 1st Bean Bag Sheep Plush Support Chair for Kids 5. Braun

- Digital Stick Thermometer

3 5

health focus

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Thato Zwane

Illnesses to expects when they come back from crèche

To put your mind at ease you should know that your little one’s immune system is working hard trying to solve the problem too.

here is nothing more disturbing than what your child comes home with when they start attending crèche. You will feel like they were healthy until they started interacting with other children. This is common, you are not the only one dealing with this problem. Your little one’s first 12 months at daycare will come with many incidents of the common cold. So you will have to deal with the runny nose, runny tummy and fever. What is the cause of this? At the top of the list, the cause is all the germs they are constantly interacting with. They are in an environment with other kids all day every day. There are viruses that are constantly being transferred, while the children are playing and learning. They are coughing and sneezing while sharing food and toys with one another. So they are also going to be passing those germs around in that manner. Before you know it, they all have the bug and they need it treated before it becomes worse. There are number of illnesses you should expect

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to come across when your little one attends crèche. Other than the common cold, you can expect: Pink eye, Gastroenteritis or stomach flu, Hand, foot and mouth disease. You need to monitor your child for these illnesses, because there is no way you can keep them away from germs. What should you do about this? ● Wash your little ones hands as soon as they walk through the door. They had a lot of interacting with germs and you need to ensure they don’t come into the house with them. ● Bath and change their clothes when they get home. You don’t want germs to stay on the body. If you let that happen then the virus will grow and you will all get ill. ● Cook a nutritious meal. Nothing fights germs off better than eating enough nutrients and vitamins. That means tons of veggies in their diet. They help build your immunity and can do the same for your little one. ● Give them food that is high in zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D and protein. ● You can get your little one vitamin boosts for children. ● You shouldn’t quarantine your little one by keeping them away from germs or crèche. This is still good for them, they need that exposure to strengthen their immunity. These infections will help them get tougher and become more germ resistant. ● Inspect the crèche’s menu as well, your child should be fed healthy food at crèche as well to help with immunity.

done, the lesser the germsand thus less sickness overall. ● Ensure that anyone who prepares children’s meals or snacks, also practices regular hand washing. Teachers who educate and interact with children all day need to practise regular hand washing. ● There should also be a policy in place that clearly states how teachers need to conduct themselves should they contract an illness. The teachers should know it and abide by it to avoid infecting children. ● Also ensure that your daycare serves food that isn’t just filling, but healthy and nutritious to help them fight off germs. This is very important, review the menu if this is not the case. It can be real daunting to watch your child get ill. It is an unbearable experience for many parents, to put your mind at ease you should know that your little one’s immune system is working hard trying to solve the problem too. Children at that age are always putting their hands in their mouths, you should try to discourage your little one against doing this. Because their hands are everywhere, from the floor to their little noses.

What can the Crèche do about this? ● Crèches should keep a clean environment. Wipe all the surfaces and disinfect all the toys, before and after the children use them. ● Include it in your policy that if a child is too sick they need to remain at home. To avoid infecting other children. ● Wash children’s hands. Teach them to wash up before and after meals. The more this is

family

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Your guide to travelling with toddlers. Tinyiko Maluleke Booking ahead is the right way to start any vacation or trip. Making your bookings ahead of time means you are also planning ahead of time. Travelling with children is not easy, for you to be happy you need to keep them happy. You will need to learn some critical management skills overnight, you need to keep them safe, well fed and entertained while you ensure that they are healthy and safe. This seems almost impossible, but many have done it; why can’t you? You can’t hold off on family trips and fun because you are waiting for them to get older. Here are some hacks and tips to help you get through the trip and have fun! First thing is first, booking ahead is the right way to start any vacation or trip. Which makes the possibility of forgetting things less likely. With kids around, somethings fall through the cracks. So doing your planning and preparations earlier on, gives you time to go over everything and check what you might have forgotten. You need to make a list, even if you had a super mind before the children, you will need a list now. This must include everything you need to take with, and the date of your excursion and anything else you might need to remember. At toddler stage, some children are potty training. This can be tough to manage while you are on the road, in between stops and public transport. So that little one who is still learning, will need to be

in pull-ups. They can be taken off easily and put on with the same effort. You don’t have to put the training aside, you just make it so their little accidents are manageable. You don’t want to be peed on in the taxi because they forgot to tell you they need to go to the toilet. Always have the right gear for the occasion and always have extra clothes. Children get dirty and they could soil themselves anytime. You want to be ready, a wet child is an irritable one and that could start off your trip on a bad note. You also must pack the correct gear for the activities involved in the trip. This could be swimming, hiking, or just a walkabout. You must bear the weather in mind, because it can become unpredictable. Even when on the road or at a different place, have a routine. You don’t want cranky, irritable children the whole way. Feed them before you leave, and have a time for snacks. Tell them when they are going to eat and when they are getting snacks. You must also be careful with drinks, because you need to know when you are stopping for toilet breaks. So have a system that is fair for the kids and that you can manage. You will need road trip or travelling entertainment. Kids have short attention spans and they get bored, so you need stuff that will occupy their

The point is to be able to know where they, are even when you don’t see them. 8

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MAKE

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minds while you are on the road. Bring with you toys that they love and music if you are traveling in your own car or transport. Some parents will even suggest downloading apps that can entertain them too. Filled with songs and games that kids enjoy. This can save you a lot of crying and whining on the way. Then there is the issue of safety, being able to locate your child no matter where they wander off to. With younger children it is as easy as putting a leash on them. But the older kids like to move around and do their own sightseeing. There wristbands that you can get that beep, and then you can follow it to the location of your little one. For the much older children, you can use an app to

track their phones. The point is to be able to know where they are even when you don’t see them. There are also other things you must include, like not wandering off alone and speaking to strangers. Your children need to know this and practise it, otherwise they can’t be left alone. You can have a marvelous trip if you take all these into account.

Two Years Of Compulsory ECD Before Grade 1

development

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Are You Blocking His Development?

Nondumiso Nkuna

e worry about the wellbeing of our children, it’s what we do, we are parents. I don’t think we can help it. How are you not to worry when you have experienced the world? Naturally, we try to protect our offspring from anything that could hurt them. It only becomes an issue when our worrying stops the child from being a child. Meaning we become so protective and so afraid for them that we pass those feelings on to them, this can hinder their development. It could stop them from reaching certain milestones because they are too afraid, afraid of living. Experts suggest that risk-taking is a natural part of a child’s development. They are meant to try to reach for things that are too high or take leaps that end up bruising them. This is how they learn to thrive in the world, however your reaction as a parent is the defining factor. By this, we mean that if you stop your child or scold them for trying things and getting hurt then you are hindering their development. This is not something we want to hear as parents, because protecting our children from harm is instinctive! However letting them move at their own will, even if they get hurt is a necessity. For instance when young children learn to walk, they are constantly falling over, they get hurt and pretty soon they are back on their feet again, only this time they try to take it a step further. They hang on to you, other people and objects such as tables and chairs to keep them from falling. Sometimes, they try to stand up without holding on to anything, they even try to move without holding

onto anything. While this may seem dangerous and scary for the parent watching, it is important that they do this on their own. That is how they learn, that is how they become stronger and eventually learn to walk independently without anyone’s help. Children who take risks become less fearful, and more independent adults. The risk-taking gives them the preparation they need to succeed at bigger life challenges. If you caught them every time they fell, or hung on to them so that they wouldn’t move, you would be slowing their progress down. This means that it would take them a little longer to reach certain milestones. Here are some of the qualities that hinder a child’s progress: • Anxiety Anxiousness: Being overly afraid for your child is not healthy for your child. Anxiety causes us to act out the fear in front of our children, this in turn makes them just as afraid because mommy or daddy is scared. He is going to grow up scared of everything and eventually remain under your care because he is still looking to you for protection as his parent. If a child is anxious you must understand that he didn’t develop those feelings on his own, he has been watching you for years and adopted those feelings from you. • Over-protectiveness Wanting to protect our children is normal, in fact they need protection sometimes. Over-protection means doing too much, protecting them from the

Children who take risks become less fearful, and more independent adults.

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Parenting is not the easiest jobs in the world, it is hard to not transfer our feelings of fear on to our children.

things they need to help them grow. This means protecting them from falling while they are learning to walk, or biting their tongue while learning to speak. Over-protectiveness is a natural development from anxiety. An anxious parent will seek to protect their child even from the things that encourage growth. • Not letting them be themselves While doing all this protection we are limiting our children from being themselves. It means with all the good intentions, we are stripping our kids of their identities. They will not be able to reach their full potential While you may not think this is a problem right now, as they get older they begin to suffer. • Interfering If you as a parent are constantly interfering in your child’s things, then you are going to mess with their self-esteem in the long run. Your child will feel as if they are not capable of doing anything on their own. They will lack independence, and rely on you for everything. Your relationship with your child will be an unhealthy one. Parenting is not the easiest job in the world, it is hard to not transfer our feelings of fear on to our children. What we can really do is try to be more aware of how we treat them, and try not to make anything they do about us. Being aware of how we treat them, might help us recognise whether we are helping or whether we are hindering their developmental progress. Another thing is to speak to other parents about some of these issues, it helps a great deal if you can speak to someone who has had a similar experience. They might be able to give you some helpful tips!

nature

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WORLD RANGER DAY Thato Zwane

The skin of an elephant is thick and rough but it is also very sensitive; so sensitive that an elephant can feel a fly land on its skin.

orld Ranger Day is celebrated on the 31st of July each year. This day is meant to keep the spirit of all the Rangers who demised while doing on duty. These are the people who are trusted to keep natural areas such as parks and animals safe. They are the go-to guys for safari tours, this is one of the most honourable careers. Children need to know that all the parks and reserves they visit have caretakers. Organising a commemoration activity is a great way to teach them about this profession. What is usually done on the day, is people attend or host events dedicated to the work of Rangers. There are also posters that you can get put up in your class rooms. Most people take pictures with the posters as well, and post the pictures on a

site dedicated to them. Your mission is a little different, you are responsible for teaching children about their amazing work. There are a couple of things you could do to help your learners understand a bit more about this profession. ● One of the best ways to teach them, is to have an actual Ranger come to class. This person can come and tell them about the work they do and how they became one. ● The other option is to organise a class trip to a nearby park, where they can see true rangers in their element. ● You can show a video in class about the work that rangers do. You can find one that is animated and explains things to them in a way they understand. You can look for

Poppy the Park Ranger on You Tube. It might not be easy getting in contact with a ranger that can come speak to the children. That’s okay, there is plenty of information you can get on them over the internet and other organisations. There are pictures that you can download, to show them as well. This part of the lesson is important because you need to expose children to people who care for the environment and nature daily. By doing this, you are creating healthy habits that children can grow with and continue. Another tip you can implement is to have some of your classes outside. For the children to experience and appreciate nature more. We all know that experience is the best teacher. By taking the children to learn outside, you will be giving them the following: ● You will be improving their mental state and overall health. Taking in fresh air is important, as well as running around the outdoors. ● Learning that nature around them is alive, this will make them more aware of it. Not just animals, plants as well. ● Nature has a way of making social issues disappear. When they are outside, they

will be in a neutral area that means no competition or struggle. They need to experience this sometime in the day. ● You are giving them their own experience. They see the plants, grass and soil on their own. They know how it looks, feels and smells. ● They can explore whatever they want and follow their own curiosity. This is important for their relationship with nature. You want them to feel free and make up their own minds about it. ● Nature inspires creativity. There are many options and tools for children to play with. Sticks, stones, leaves, soil, water and much more. Your role is to keep them curious and constantly wanting to learn more about nature. This way they will understand when the time comes to preserve and protect it. You can’t call someone to speak to them about nature if they haven’t developed an appreciation and an understanding of it. This is how they will come to understand the importance of the work rangers do.

cover story

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Tinyiko Maluleke

crèche is celebrating a milestone year. We are turning 7 with this issue. The number 7 is a very interesting number. It is the number of completeness and perfection. In Christianity, God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. July of 2012 we embarked on a journey that has taken us very far and 7 years later here we are with another issue of SAcrèche. Just like a normal healthy 7 year old, we are growing and experiencing developmental milestones that are guiding our journey of growth. These milestones are what tell us that we are on the right track and are not falling behind in our development

Motor Development Physical development of a child helps them better explore the world around them so that they can develop mentally. SAcrèche has gone from a concept to a magazine that comprehensively covers ECD issues. We have grown into a physical product that enables us to reach communities and explore new spaces for ECD development in the country. Language and Cognition SAcrèche is now a publication that is launching editions that are written in our indigenous languages for those parents who are more comfortable with their mother tongue. Children learn best when using their home languages and this

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Thank You to everyone who has helped us in making our magazine what it is today

is something that we have covered throughout our 7 year existence. We are developing a space that will allow optimum development for your little ones. Asking questions Children are naturally inquisitive, most times they are irritating with their never ending “why”. Every day we strive to ask relevant questions within the ECD sector in order to enlighten our readers but also in the hope of finding new and better ways of raising our children. SAcrèche has already started embarking on a mission to bring relevant stakeholders together to ensure that each household, crèche, clinic and school receives a copy of our magazine. Social and Emotional Awareness A child will, when they are 7 years old, have a better sense of self. After 7 years of life, your child will understand themselves better and who they are. SAcrèche now understands itself better as 7 year old. Our experience in the industry has allowed us to better understand what it means to publish a one of a kind publication that is aimed at eradicating poverty through ECD We have always regarded ourselves the same as the children we help develop. This approach to our model helps us stay in touch with what truly makes our publication unique. SAcrèche has come a long way to be what it is today 7 years later. Our team has always been dedicated to producing a high quality magazine that is solely aimed at helping our children reach their potential through information and education. The most important people in our endeavour

are the caregivers, nannies and child minders, crèche owners, non-profit entities and obviously parents. Our website has all the past issues and we also have copies distributed in strategic areas for young mothers’ benefit. We believe that this year is the year where everything comes together. Where we can set our sights on new milestones in line with our growth and development. Throughout the years the magazine has covered topics that are relevant to ECD. Our subjects are relevant to young black parents who are active in the development of their children. Our magazine is a tool to help those parents. It is also a tool for everyone who is in the ECD industry. We have grown tremendously and are aware of what we stand for and stand by. In pursuit of our goals as a magazine, every day we strive to be perfect with every issue. A special “Thank You” to everyone who has helped us in making our magazine what it is today: the writers and different contributors, our partners, the editors and lay out artists, the children and ECD practitioners. We appreciate you our readers and hope you will be with us as we move on to bigger things. We have completed our first 7 years. We can only get better from here. Happy Birthday SAcrèche

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ECD under spending is costing the country.

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crèche profile

LIGHT MY WAY Multi-child care centre Lebogang Seema

e know that finding the perfect preschool for our kiddos can be tough. You have so many options to consider when it comes to living in the Soshanguve and The Light my way Curriculum is definitely one to consider. A retired nurse, and educator Mma Temba founded the center at her house after seeing the need for quality early child development in the area. The aim of Light my way schooling is to educate the whole child, “head, heart, and hands”.

Light my way multi child care center is dedicated to providing the best in innovative education to inspire and empower our learners to engage curiosity, express creativity, act with compassion, and lead with courage.

The Light my way Curriculum emphasizes the whole child, matches specific stages of child development, integrates the arts throughout the curriculum, and includes developing multiple intelligences through a comprehensive system of education. The government and various national associations regulate Light my way programs, and a school is affiliated with the local organization and registered with the relevant government authority. Teachers have receive special training tand continue to attend workshops to further their learning and skills in the classroom.

Established: 2013 Registration: Department of Social service NPO 11-080 Chidren: 22 Teachers: 6 Area: Soshanguve Address: 353 Block K Contact:012 797 2597 Fee: R550

finance

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Setting up a trust account for your children. You must be very careful about who you leave in charge of managing the trust for the children in your absence. Nondumiso Nkuna

e all, as parents, struggle with the fact that one day we won’t be there for our children. It is a difficult fact to swallow for every parent but the good news is that now is the best time to make sure that your precious child can continue to live a comfortable life even after you are gone. How many times have we heard stories of children fighting over their parents’ assets? Maybe it is happening to somebody you know. There are things like pensions, savings accounts, Wills and other investment facilities available to make sure your child’s future is catered for. There is also a Trust Fund account. Many young parents don’t think of a trust because they simply do not know and this has the potential of putting their children at risk of losing their inheritance.

Why a Trust Fund? A trust is a great way to save assets for your children until they are old enough to claim

them. It is also a good way of making certain that they are in-charge of their inheritance and not someone else who wants to benefit through them.

What is a Trust Fund? A trust fund is a legal agreement that clearly states how assets in the trust will be managed. A trust fund account holds and manages assets for another individual. The trust can contain cash, stocks, bonds, property and other financial assets. When opening a trust for your children you stipulate how you want the assets to be managed. This can include living allowances, educational expenses and other things you deem important for your children. There are three key parties in a trust. - You, the grantor who goes to any financial institution to open a trust account - Beneficiary who will receive the assets in the trust - Trustee, a financial institution that is charged with managing the assets in the trust.

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Generational Wealth Young parents are gradually acquiring assets and can benefit greatly from setting up trusts. For business minded people, this is how you ensure that the business continues to run even after you are long gone. You give your children guidelines while you are around and you teach them what you can. You then nominate them as beneficiaries of the trust, they need to continue this through to your grandchildren. This must continue to generate wealth for the family and all those who are beneficiaries. You can leave all these assets and businesses under the trust, stating who gets what.

How do you set up a trust? ● You need to first decide on the custodian or trustee. This is the person you trust to distribute everything to your children when the time comes. You should clearly stipulate the conditions of the trust and especially factor in what happens if your children are still minors. ● You have to decide at what age your children qualify to receive their inheritance. ● This is where you actually compile the documents, you will need the assistance of a lawyer. The trustee should guide you through this process. ● The last step is to place your assets or wealth into the trust. A living trust lets you control the assets for as long as you live. Setting up a trust is one of the best things you could do for your family. You can enjoy your life knowing that should something happen, your children are set. Start talking to your lawyer and empower yourself and your family. Be prepared for all eventualities. Don’t wait until it is too late.

safety

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How to avoid causing fires Have the numbers of the fire brigade and other emergency services on an area that all members of the family can see. Lesogo Mabina

JAN H ANDERSEN / SHUTTERSTOCK

t is that time of the year when everyone is looking for the next warm spot. So we are using paraffin stoves, gas heaters, electric heaters and open fires. All these things keep us from feeling cold and catching colds, but it can all go bad. Every year you hear about homes that have burnt down in winter because of a fire that broke out because of these devices we use to keep us warm. What is sad is that most of these fires occur in informal settlements, usually because of the use of paraffin and candles.

There are about 1.6 million people every year that get burnt or suffer some form of injury related to fire. This is according to a Medical Research Council report. It gets worse, 1300 of children die because of these fires, usually under the age of three. When dealing with fire we should exercise caution and keep them far away from children. The best solution would be to stop using them, but we need heat and we need to provide food for our families. Here are some safety tips to help prevent emergencies.

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1. Paraffin stove 8. Cigarettes Donâ€™t take your eyes off the paraffin stove until Cigarette buds are also another thing that should be you are finished with your cooking. This stove kept away from the children. Cigarettes should be can fall down and spill the paraffin inside and kept far away from anything that is flammable, so cause a blaze in your house. they should be discarded further away. 2. Curtains 9. Education When you are using it to cook, place it far away You should educate your children about fire safety. from a window with a curtain. You should also This is important for situations they may find themplace candles away from such areas. The curselves in, when you are not around. tain can catch the flame and things could go bad from there. The whole house could burn down. Fire safety tips for children 3. Candles Put out all fires and candles before you go to 1. Children should be taught to never bed or fall asleep. This is very dangerous, rathplay with lighter, matches, candles or anyer sleep in the darkness to wake up well in the thing else that may cause a fire. morning. You do not need to fall asleep with a 2. You need to set up an escape plan candle on, the same goes for your little ones. that you teach to the children in case a fire breaks out. You should include that they 4. Water bucket will not have a lot of time, so upon practisAlways keep a bucket that is filled with waing the escape plan they need to be timed. ter ready in a convenient spot. This is to help you distinguish any fire that could break out in 3. Children should be taught to not time. disturb you while you are cooking or using anything that requires fire. No distractions 5. Soil & sand or you might burn your house down. Paraffin fires require a little more than water to go out. You will need soil or sand to put those Coaching your children gives them a betflames out completely. ter chance to survive, no matter where they are. You might have to teach them for 6. Stay away a while before they fully understand, be Teach your children to stay away from fire. patient and work on it until they all know They should also stay away from the paraffin and practise what to do. Fire should not be stove and candles, especially when they are on. Should there be a fire breakout at home, taken lightly and should be used cautiously they need to tell you right away. if lives are to be preserved. It is not just about your house, other homes could get 7. Faulty connections burned as well. Have the numbers of the When the children go out to play, they should fire brigade and other emergency services steer clear of faulty connections. These can on an area that all members of the family also cause fire danger and electrocute them. can see. They need to play far away from these and they should not touch them either.

Early Child Development (ECD) encompasses physical, socio- emotional, cognitive and motor development between 0-8 years of age.

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Books to Read I Love My Hair! Natasha Anastasia Tarpley

A young African-American girl describes the different, wonderful ways she can wear her hair, in an empowering board book that encourages African-American children to not only feel good about their special hair, but to also feel proud of their heritage.

A Mother for Choco Keiko Kasza

Choco was a little bird who lived all alone. He wished he had a mother, but who could his mother be? “Just right for the preschool group or beginning reader”.--Kirkus Reviews, pointer review. “Young listeners will be charmed by the book’s humor, warmth, and surprise ending”.-

A Blessing from Above Edge, Elizabeth (ILT)

Every night before she goes to sleep, a kangaroo prays under the stars for a baby to love and hold. One day, as she rests under a tree, a baby bird falls out of its crowded nest--plop!--right into her pouch! “Now, every night before they fall asleep, Momma-Roo and Little One thank God for all their blessings . . .

We Belong Together Todd Parr

In a kid-friendly, accessible way, bestselling author/illustrator Todd Parr explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family, and approaches this challenging subject with humor and sensitivity through his bold and colorful illustrations.

bookworm

Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word.

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classroom

MANDELA DAY Our hero would be a 100 years old this year, so the nation is doing 100 minutes instead of 67.

Nondumiso Nkuna

othing like the lessons of the father of the nation, to teach the children to help care for others. On this day, you teach the most important lesson of all, selflessness. Everyone will be teaming up with organisations to head to disadvantaged places to help them. On this day anything is possible, from building a house to helping someone paint an old age home. Your crèche can take part in some of these activities, as an organisation. You can include the children and the parents of the children too. Our hero would be a 100 years old this year, so the nation is doing 100 minutes instead of 67. That means there is more time to lend a hand to others who need it. Children need to be exposed to selfless acts early on in life. So that they can pay it forward as they grow older. They also need to learn about other children and how they live. It will be good for them to learn about different circumstances, and that other people need help sometimes. While this is a day mostly dedicated to charity, you can also take the opportunity to teach them about why we do this on the 18 of July annually. Have a specific section dedicated to knowledge about Madiba himself. You can start from knowledge about what he did for the country as a whole. This is not so much a selfless act but a necessary one that they need to be familiar with for the future. Have a specific area in the classroom where the children can drop the toys, blankets and older clothing. You can have a donations box that is clearly marked for all the kids. This makes it easier for them to put things in that they bring in

from home. Remember to make this process easy for them. Make sure they understand what they are doing and why, so that this act is engraved in their little minds. The more acts of this kind they participate in the more they will be used to helping others. This should be the norm in your crèche especially during this time of the year. As the children get older they can be taken on trips to meet and see some of the children they are helping.

ACTIVITIES •

•

You can ask that children bring older toys that they no longer play with, so that you can donate them to children that don’t have them. This could teach the children empathy and allow them to think of others, not just themselves. You could ask them to also bring in some blankets that they used when they were younger. To also donate and share with other children that need them now, because it is so cold. The same goes for all the clothing that they may have that no longer fits. You can ask for it from the parents in the monthly newsletter to ensure that you have them ready before. Another way to get the children involved, is by asking them to draw pictures for other children. This picture may be given to other sick children in hospitals, or orphanages. Something to bring light and laughter to other children, the aim is to cheer them up. They can include little messages on the pictures as well.

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policy and practice

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Annual African National Congress PLAY Conference Dee Nkosi

he ANC held their 5th national policy conference not so long ago, and this was where the future of Early Childhood Development (ECD) was discussed. The then minister Angie Motshekga, who was also the master of ceremonies, gave an interesting speech regarding what the government hopes to achieve with ECD and education as whole. We are going to share with you some of the aspects of the speech. Introducing PLAY as a form of learning

PLAY stands for Powerful Learning Around You, it is an in-service training programme course and it exists to compliment formal training. You complete the training at your own pace and during times that work best for you. The course only requires 2 dedicated hours a week from you and it is designed for practitioners, teachers, childminders, day mothers, playgroup facilitators or anyone who implements programmes for babies and young children in South Africa. The theory here is that children

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PLAY stands for Powerful Learning Around You, it is an inservice training programme course and it exists to compliment formal training. You complete the training at your own pace and during times that work best for you. will learn more naturally if the lessons come that Early Childhood Development be moved in the form of play. from the Department of Social DevelopThe government seeks to implement the Na- ment to the Department of Basic Education. tional Curriculum Framework in ECD centres, There was no indication of whether or not the and it requires play to be the main method proposal was approved, it was merely a sugfor teaching and learning. This means reach- gestion that was made and we shall wait to ing out to all ECD centres to encourage them hear what the decision will be. to teach children through well-structured play. This way they will learn naturally efWhat we hope for is information on what fortlessly. would change, should ECD be moved from the current department to the Basic EducaMoving from 20th century way of learning to tion department. This is also because ECD is 21st century opportunities already facing many challenges such as: 21st century opportunities are about 4 critical areas namely: Collaboration and teamwork, • Lack of budget to train practitioners. Creativity and imagination, Critical thinking • Poorly-qualified practitioners espe and Communication. These are known as cially in most community based cen the 4Cs. The minister also mentioned that tres. today’s way of learning and doing is more • Lack of basic resources digital, and the old ways of teaching no • Poor inter-departmental collaboration longer fit-in with the digital space. • Poor community mobilisation, educa tion and involvement The objectives of the PLAY Conference: • To make play a national commitment, If ECD moves, will it make solving some of that ensures that play is an important its problems easier? While the DBE is re part of children’s learning. sponsible for Curriculum Development (na• To prepare children for 21st century tional curriculum framework for children from opportunities. birth to 4 years old was developed in 2014) • Bringing together science, technology and Human Resource Development (service and policy and practice to advance training of practitioners), will it have enough children’s learning further. capacity to bring change to ECD in South • Giving support to ECD practitioners Africa? These are all questions that every in using PLAY-based learning the way parent should be asking right now. they know how. ECD to move from Social Development to Basic Education The policy conference has recommended

the manager

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Interviewing for a crèche teacher position Dee Nkosi

y the time you reach the interview stage, you’ll have vetted your Crèche Teacher candidates for your must-have requirements. These typically include a teaching license, a degree in early childhood education or child development and proven work experience as a crèche teacher. These interview questions are designed to help you evaluate what’s not on their resumes. Use these interviews to learn more about a candidate’s classroom management skills, ability to communicate with parents, and creativity in regards to designing interactive, fun and age-appropriate learning experiences. The Crèche Teacher you hire must be able to speak at length about lesson plans they’ve implemented, teaching strategies they’ve used, and the progress of their students. They should also be able to talk about their teaching methodologies and how they keep up with the field of early childhood education. Look for candidates who are patient, adaptable, imaginative and energetic. Top candidates will have done their homework. Listen closely to see if the approaches they talk about are suited to the families served by your school, or if the education goals they describe match the goals of your curriculum.

This crèche Teacher interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.

Operational and Situational questions • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What teaching experiences have been important and relevant for you? How do you stay updated on news and innovations in the field of education? How would you help parents prepare themselves and their child for crèche? What family information is important for crèche teachers to know? Given our community’s demographics, how would you communicate with families? Describe the most difficult parent you’ve ever had to deal with. What tips or tricks do you have for establishing a homework routine? What do you know about our curriculum? How do you handle different learning styles in the classroom? Describe a time another teacher used one of your teaching strategies or ideas. Describe a lesson plan that you successfully implemented. What should your students have mastered by the end of the year? How do you handle difficult students? What would you do if you caught one of your students cheating on a test? What would you do if one of your students got hurt on a school trip? What is most rewarding to you about being a crèche teacher?

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nutrition

Veggie Nuggets are fun for snacks or meals. Asanda Abraham

These Veggie Nuggets are healthy, kid friendly, and simple to make. Perfect for lunch boxes and snacks. These Veggie Nuggets hit that trifeca of kidfriendliness. Because sometimes veggies can be a hard sell with the younger set. I’m not a fan of “hiding” veggies in other foods as the sole way of serving them–I think fresh veggies should be fixtures on the table too. But I AM a fan of trying all kinds of spins on preparing them.

Ingredients

1 cup shredded carrots 3 cups broccoli florets 1 garlic clove 2 eggs 1 1/4 cups seasoned breadcrumbs divided 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon canola oil

Instructions

1. Shred carrots (I use food processor’ for shredding the carrots. 2. Steam broccoli in the microwave for two minutes or until tender. 3. Place shredded carrots, steamed broccoli, garlic, eggs, 1 cup of the breadcrumbs, cheese, onion powder, and black pepper in food processor and pulse for 15 seconds or until well combined. Mixture should form easily into a ball. If it’s too crumbly, add water one teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency. 4. Form mixture into balls, about a tablespoon each (I use a cookie scoop). You should get about 25 nuggets. Flatten slightly into round discs about 1/2-inch thick. 5. Place remaining 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each veggie nuggets with breadcrumbs. 6. Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat until it sizzles when sprinkled with water droplets. 7. Arrange nuggets in skillet and cook about 4 minutes each side, or until golden brown and crispy. 8. Serve with honey-mustard sauce, ketchup, or other favorite dip.

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Artwork

Name: Age:

Cut, colour and send &WIN! to: sacrĂ¨che@gmail.com or 171 K Soshanguve 0152

90% OF

A CHILDâ€™S DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS BEFORE AGE 5.

SMOKING KILLS

DONT SMOKE NEAR KIDS