Child (March 2017)

The magazine for parents

CHiLD ISSUE 54, March 2017

A BALANCING ACT: juggling studies and a sport discipline

Food sustainability Fighting obesity Coping with grief Interacting with the elderly Music education

Plus: tips on breastfeeding, time management, crafts and a FREE teabag sample

Cover photo

by Matthew Mirabelli

CHiLD ISSUE 54 March 11, 2017

Contents

Eating with caution

Features 6 Health: Fighting obesity 12 Sustainability: Empowering young consumers 20 Sport: Keeping fit and focused 29 Nurture: Breastfeeding benefits and challenges 32 Society: Interacting with the elderly 34 Psychology: Coping with grief 46 Arts: Learning to play an instrument

Regulars 18 News you can use: Learning maths and language 25 Top Tips: Time management skills 40 Top Tips: Craft ideas 43 Shop Window: The best of goods and services

Correspondence to the editor may be sent to: The Executive Editor, Child Magazine, Allied Newspapers Limited, Strickland House, 341, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211 or send an e-mail to child@timesofmalta.com Executive Editor Stephanie Fsadni Editorial Assistant Lorella Fava Publisher Allied Newspapers Limited Printing Progress Press Limited Production Allied Newspapers Limited Contributors Coryse Borg, Sandy Calleja Portelli, Claire Caruana, Joanne Cocks, Marija Schranz Photography Matthew Mirabelli, Carl Farrugia Design Krista Aquilina Advertising Sales Sandy Harris (tel: 2559 4707; e-mail: sandy.harris@timesofmalta.com).

This publication is being distributed as part of the Times of Malta.

All rights reserved. © 2017 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

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‘There is no sincerer love than the love of food’, wrote George Barnard Shaw. Indeed, we all love food but over the years, we’ve grown aware that not all food is good for us and neither is too much of it. Empowering children to make the right choices from an early age is important on various levels.

Claire Caruana looks into obesity and finds that many factors may be contributing to the alarming figures hitting the headlines.

Learning to read labels is a good starting point and not only to examine the ingredients list. One can understand better whether a product is environmentally-friendly or whether it abides to ethical standards or not… in other words, whether it is sustainable. This is particularly important in an age when millions of people go hungry every day and a lot of food is wasted in rich countries. An EU project is encouraging children to start thinking critically about what they purchase and consume.

Engaging in physical activity is vital to ward off excessive weight and related health problems. Contrary to common perception, taking up a sport could also help kids focus more on their studies as Joanne Cocks finds out when she meets three young athletes.

Speaking of extra-curricular activities, many children may try their hand at playing an instrument. Not everyone is successful but Sandy Calleja Portelli is adamant that all kids benefit from a general music education.

Children may also benefit from interacting with the elderly for a number of reasons and vice versa. Coryse Borg reveals a Valletta 2018 project which is providing a platform where both generations can come together.

Marija Schranz tackles a more delicate subject – coping with grief. She talks to a counselling psychologist who advises that children need a lot of love and support to deal with the loss of loved ones.

This issue also includes tips on breastfeeding, craft ideas which might help you bond more with your children and time management tips. The latter skill is particularly useful for children with busy schedules and it also guarantees success in later life.

early learning centre 193, Merchant Street, Valletta – Tel: 2123 6228 • 61, St Paul Street, Rabat – Tel: 2145 6385 Triq Fortunato Mizzi, Victoria – Tel: 2156 0157

www.elctoysmalta.com

HEALTH

Struggling with weıght

While the problem of excessive weight is always hitting the headlines, the situation does not seem to be improving. Nutritionist Claire Copperstone tells Claire Caruana that many factors contribute to this growing ‘epidemic’ and any campaign should be supported by a myriad efforts.

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HEALTH he struggle with excessive trans fats), sugars and salt, the nutritionist weight in Malta has over rewent on. cent years reached vertigiShe also called for more controlled pornous heights, with the tions to be given to children since the country topping obesity lists Maltese had a tendency to exaggerate and record-high figures. when it came to portion sizes.

Yet, while talk on the issue is frequent, it Asked what could be done to attempt to seems as though little is being done to bring about change and cut down obesity adequately tackle the problem. figures, Dr Copperstone said that there Speaking to Child only days after an EU was more than one way to go about this technical meeting on childhood obesity but everyone needed to put more effort. held in Malta, Malta Nutrition and Obesity “Everyone has a responsibility towards Research Unit coordinator Claire Copperaddressing these issues. Schools normally stone said that childhood obesity is a take on the role as the main educators but “complex, multi-factorial condition” that this is also the parents’ role,” she did not have one single cause. pointed out.

She pointed to an unhealthy diet couHabits being instilled in children while pled with a sedentary lifestyle as the main they were at school needed to be folcauses of obesity in Maltese children but lowed up at home, Ms Copperstone said. also attributed the problem to other facThose caring for children should also tors such as genetics and individual lead by example and make sure they were preferences. providing their children with nutritious “The environment we live in does not food while also ensuring that they led a help either; it offers easy access to healthy lifestyle. unhealthy foods and drinks,” Recent studies on the prevaDr Copperstone said. lence of obesity in adults also “The Ahead of the meeting suggested that the older environment last week, Health Minister generation was not in the Chris Fearne said that 40 clear and many were tipwe live in does per cent of Maltese chilping the scales. not help; it offers dren were overweight A University of Malta easy access to or obese. study which analysed unhealthy foods A study published last the entire adult populaand drinks” year found an epidemic of tion revealed that only a obesity and excess weight third of Maltese adults had among children. Children from normal body weight. all State, Church and independent The researchers found that schools – a total of 41,747 boys and girls seven in 10 adults were either overweight – had their body mass index measured or obese, a figure well above the EU averduring PE lessons. age of 52 per cent – where even that inciAccording to the results, 10,852 childence was of concern. dren were obese, 5,889 of them in primary It was therefore crucial that both those schools and the rest at secondary level. caring for children and the young ones The data also showed that 15 per cent of themselves made healthy and informed all children were overweight, though in decisions when choosing the foods the case of girls in secondary schools, the to consume. rate was even higher, at 16.9 per cent.

“Children also need to be protected According to Dr Copperstone, the probfrom excessive exposure to unhealthy lem was not just a local one, as studies foods and drinks and be supported in all over Europe indicated that their choices throughout their whole life,” childhood obesity was more prevalent in Dr Copperstone pointed out.

Mediterranean countries.

Yet, she also had a stern warning for This suggested that changes needed to those who work with children to not rely be made to children’s diet, in particular solely on educative measures. While processed foods and foods and drinks awareness campaigns were key to changhigh in fat (particularly saturated and/or ing ways, these were not enough.

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HEALTH

Know what you’re eating Studies show that the main dietary culprits of excessive weight and obesity are foods high in saturated and trans fats, sugar and sodium. It’s necessary to limit such foods from a young age because too much weight is unhealthy and is related to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Obesity has also been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

“Knowledge alone, despite being crucial, does not change dietary behaviour. So it is necessary to ensure that the community and the environment is also supportive”

“We know that knowledge alone, despite being crucial, does not change dietary behaviour. So it is necessary to ensure that the community and the environment is also supportive.

“Healthy alternatives need to be made easily available and work needs to be done by the community, and the population as a whole, to create the right environment, with the right foods and drinks available and which are affordable to everyone,” Dr Copperstone iterated.

And while adding that there was no magical or quick solution to the problem, Dr Copperstone added that any campaign needed to be supported by a myriad efforts that looked at the bigger picture and which ultimately motivated and empowered children to make the right choices.

Obesity cost Malta a whopping €24 million last year, a figure that factored in both care and productivity lost as a result of someone being obese.

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Fats

Fats are an essential part of our diet and are important for good health. However, there are different types of fats, with some fats being healthier than others.

Saturated fats Eating foods that contain saturated fats raises the level of the bad (LDL) cholesterol in your blood, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature. These occur naturally in many foods but the majority come from animal sources, including meat and dairy products. These include: fatty beef; lamb; pork; lard and cream; butter; cheese and other dairy products made from whole or reduced-fat (two per cent) milk, including ricotta and yoghurts; coconut milk and cream; baked goods such as pies, pastries, cakes; fried foods such as French fries and burgers; and some plantbased oils, such as palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil.

Unsaturated fats do not solidify at room temperature. There are two main types of unsaturated fats: polyunsaturated fats, which contain omega-3 fats, which are found in fish, especially oily fish, and monounsaturated fats, found in olive and canola oil, avocados and some nuts, such as cashews and almonds. It is important to eat unsaturated fats in small amounts as part of a balanced diet.

These help reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels when they replace saturated fats in the diet.

However, when eaten in large amounts, all fats can contribute to weight gain.

HEALTH

Trans fats There are two broad types of trans fats found in foods: naturally-occurring and artificial trans fats. Naturally-occurring trans fats are produced in the gut of some animals and foods made from these animals (e.g., milk and meat products) may contain small quantities of these fats. Artificial trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.

The primary dietary source for trans fats in processed food is “partially hydrogenated oils”. Look for them on the ingredient list on food packages.

Trans fats are easy to use, inexpensive to produce, last a long time and give foods a desirable taste and texture. Many restaurants and fast-food outlets use trans fats to deep-fry foods because oils with trans fats can be used many times in commercial fryers.

Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It is also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Trans fats can be found in many foods such as: deep fried foods, such as doughnuts, chips and burgers; and baked goods including cakes and muffins, pie crusts, biscuits, pizza, cookies, crackers, margarines and other spreads.

Sugar Children need sugar as they grow up as it gives them energy. But one should not overdose. Besides raising your blood fat, too much sugar can lead to a mouth full of cavities.

Sugar comes in two forms called monosaccharides and disaccharides.

Monosaccharides are simple sugars that include fructose (that is sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, some root vegetables, cane sugar and honey), galactose (a constituent with glucose of lactose) and glucose (occurs naturally in fruit and plant juices). Disaccharides are compound sugars that include lactose (the naturally occurring sugar found in milk), maltose (which is formed during the germination of certain grains, most notably barley which is converted 10 CHiLD MARCH 2017

into malt) and sucrose (which is found in the stems of sugarcane and sugarbeet).

Sugar can be refined or unrefined. Unrefined sugar (such as that found in honey, fruit and agave nectar) retains much of sugar’s natural nutrients, such as calcium, iron and magnesium, whereas refined sugars contain no nutritional value and are extremely processed, in addition to possibly containing harmful chemicals. Beware, that refined sugar may be “hidden” in some unsuspicious products like cereals, yoghurt and ketchup.

Foods high in sugar include: syrups and sweeteners; drink powders and soft drinks; sweets, including chocolate; dried fruit; flours and foods derived from it such as pasta; cookies, cakes and pies; jams, preserves and spreads; some cereals; fruit canned in syrup; sauces and instant gravies; ice cream; yoghurt and milk shakes.

Sodium and salt Sodium and salt are not the same thing. Sodium is a mineral which is an essential nutrient required by the body for maintaining proper blood pressure and for providing channels of nerve signalling.

Salt is a chemical compound, with the most common form being sodium chloride and which occurs naturally as that found in sea water. Different types of salt have different crystal sizes. Rock salt, for instance, has large discrete crystals while common table salt exists as fine crystals.

Besides adding to the calorie intake, over-consumption of sodium and salt can lead to high blood pressure which in turn leads to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Removing sodium intake takes more than just removing the salt shaker from your table, because most of the sodium in the average person’s diet comes from processed and packaged food.

Foods high in sodium and salt include: table salt, baking soda and baking powder; sauces and salad dressings; cured meat and fish; cheese; pickles; instant soups and noodles; roasted and salted nuts and seeds; snacks packets; fast food; canned vegetables.

It is important to read food labels well before buying products, so that you are more aware of what you are consuming. Children are nowadays learning about the importance of a healthy diet from school but then it is up to parents to help them put what they learn into practice. Remember, a little effort will go a long way into ensuring a healthier and better life for you and your family.

SUSTAINABILITY

NURTURING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF THE WORLD The food we eat can have a negative impact on the environment and society. Stephanie Fsadni looks into a European project that encourages children to start thinking critically about what they purchase and consume from their early years.

“As critical consumers, we can demand fairer and more sustainable products on our supermarket shelves by simply deciding to purchase more of certain products”

n the age of globalisation, consumption choices we make may affect not only ourselves but the whole world. To quote sustainable food advocate and educator Anna Lappé: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”

Indeed, there’s increasing concern about food resources and consumption patterns as over 800 million people go hungry everyday while food is wasted more than ever in developed countries.

In the last few decades, there has been an international effort to introduce sustainable agricultural practices. Responsible food production helps protect the diversity of both plants and animals, avoids damaging or wasting natural resources or contributing to climate change, and provides social benefits such as good quality food and safe and healthy products.

Building a critical conscience from an early age is key to reaching these goals, according to EAThink2015, a European project made up of schools and partner organisations from 12 European and two African countries.

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“EAThink 2015 encourages people to start thinking critically about what they purchase and consume from their early years.

For this reason, we offer educators tools that support them in integrating the sustainable food systems discourse within their subject curricula, as well as entertaining hands-on and interactive activities to schools that introduce students to food-related themes,” says Federica di Giulio, project manager at Maltese NGO Kopin.

The project is officially endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Employment in Malta and Kopin collaborated with the Department of Curriculum Management to ensure highquality content that is in line with national educational goals.

EAThink 2015 carries the slogan ‘eat local, think global’. But what does that actually mean?

“The slogan ‘eat local, think global!’ was created together with our partners from across Europe, as we wanted to highlight the importance of purchasing and consuming small-scale farmed and zero-kilometre products,” Ms Di Giulio explains.

SUSTAINABILITY will become more and more available at the expense of unsustainable products.”

During the course of this three-year project, the team at Kopin provided educational resources and organised a number of activities for teachers and students in Maltese schools.

While the teachers benefitted from the provision of training locally and also opportunities for professional development abroad, students were engaged through the Not Just Cheese photo contest, two interactive educational apps, as well as field trips and interactive workshops on global citizenship and food sustainability.

Another highlight of the project has been the travelling Food Cloud Exhibition, which was inspired by an original exhibition hosted during the Milan Expo. The Maltese adaptation was hosted by five different schools in Malta and Gozo between November and December 2016, before being displayed at the University of Malta Library. The structure of the exhibition was made up of wooden trees, mimicking a forest, where a number of symbolic food items were displayed and accompanied by key words and information on issues such as hunger, seeds, food waste and water. Complementary workshops linked to the exhibition were also offered to the hosting schools.

“While keeping a more global outlook, the project explores our individual responsibility as citizens of an interconnected world from an environmental and social justice point of view.”

The starting point is to understand how to read food labels properly and learn how to trace a product’s origin as well as understanding the different components of processed foods.

“Sometimes marketing plays a big role in this: seeing the words ‘natural’ or ‘healthy’ on the packaging instinctively assures us that the product is somehow more genuine than others in the same category. However, this might not necessarily be so,” points out Ms Di Giulio.

“To understand whether a product is really organic, really environmentally-friendly or whether it abides to certain ethical standards or not, one should be able to find a proper certification or statement that officially confirms this.”

Once these mechanisms are clear, then it’s a matter of looking with a more critical eye at what and how one actually buys products.

“The bottom line is that, as critical consumers, we can demand fairer and more sustainable products on our supermarket shelves by simply deciding to purchase more of certain products and in the short- to medium-term these

The travelling Food Cloud Exhibition was inspired by an original exhibition hosted during the Milan Expo.

Some of the educational workshops carried out in schools addressed the topic of ‘food miles’. This is an indication of how much food needs to travel to get to one’s plate, listing all the natural resources, energy and human labour needed to grow, move, store and sell different food products.

“We found that students were not aware that certain foods are not grown or produced locally and in order to get to us these travel a long way before reaching Malta or Europe. This made them aware that a huge amount of resources is needed for food to travel, on top of what was needed to produce it,” says Ms Di Giulio.

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SUSTAINABILITY Purchasing local produce not only helps the environment – thus avoiding transport pollution – but also supports the local small-scale farming scene, which is the prevalent model of agricultural production in Malta.

Besides sustaining the local economy, chances are that local produce is fresher at the time of purchase and that fruits and vegetables are harvested at the proper time and not too early in order for them to mature over the travel period.

“In some cases, certain products cannot be produced locally and so we might also want to look at features other than the distance from the place of production, like whether the product is organically or ethically grown or produced,” continues Ms Di Giulio.

She says that nowadays more and more consumers are demanding to know the source of the food they consume and often opt to buy products carrying specific certifications like the Fair Trade certification – which give a guarantee that certain ethical and environmental standards are respected.

Food waste is another issue the team has been addressing within the project as the responsible use of resources is at the basis of the concept of sustainability.

A statistic published in 2014 by the NSO showed that 22 per cent of food purchased weekly by people in Malta ends up in the waste bin. Moreover, food waste accounts for half of the waste produced by Maltese households. This resulted in the setting up of a working group which launched an action plan on food waste under the auspices of the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change.

“We have provided teachers with a set of lesson plans and resources specifically addressing the causes and consequences of food waste and we tackled the topic during our interactive workshops in primary schools given the particular relevance at national level,” says Ms Di Giulio.

“The lesson plans tackling food waste also include tasks and exercises for students to be able to identify ways to reduce food waste, such as reducing meal portions or use leftover food to create new meals.”

Purchasing local produce supports the local small-scale farming scene.

During the next few months, Kopin will be working closely with schools to establish organic school gardens. This will enable students to experience growing food directly. They will also be organising additional school visits, workshops and other experiential learning activities.

By linking the topics of social justice, workers’ rights and exploitation of land in order to produce food items in high demand with food sustainability, students may start looking at their choices with more care and start purchasing and encourage their families to purchase ethically-grown and produced goods.

The EAThink 2015 project is financially supported by the European Union and co-financed by the Co-financing Fund for Civil Society from the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Civil Liberties and Consumer Affairs in Malta.

To access resources, get updates and news, look up the dedicated Facebook page EAThink 2015 – Malta or visit www.eathink2015.org.

Want to make a difference?

EAThink Malta has recently launched a short video competition for secondary schools, entitled Eat Neat Video Feat, with the deadline for submissions on March 24. Students can get together and shoot a 30-second to one-minute video, without the need for professional equipment, about sustainable agriculture, food waste or sustainable consumption. The winning video will then be produced professionally in Malta and broadcast on national TV and Europe-wide social media. The class of the winning video will also get a chance to go on a field visit to a small-scale farm in Malta.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Resources for teachers

About Kopin Kopin (VO/0200) is a Maltese NGO working for human rights and children’s rights with the aim to empower its beneficiaries as key agents for positive social change.

It is a hybrid, operating in three interconnected fields: international sustainable development cooperation, refugee support and education.

Its team is made up of professionals with diverse backgrounds providing an innovative package of services.

Kopin engages in the arts, supports marginalised communities where other institutions struggle and provides its services in a sustainable way.

It is a main provider of development education in Malta and one of the few Maltese entities focusing on children’s rights across its operations.

For more information, look up the Kopin Malta Facebook page or visit www.kopin.org.

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EAThink 2015 provides the necessary resources for educators to raise awareness about food sustainability. With the support of professional educators, Kopin developed a series of lesson plans for teachers, including resources, assessment tools and links to their specific subject syllabi. The lesson plans (for both primary and secondary levels) touch upon a wide range of topics related to food and sustainability, such as water, food waste, natural resources and organic production.

A number of teachers have been offered training over the past two years on the themes of the project as well as on how to use the resources available and were provided with tools and background documents to familiarise themselves with the different issues related to sustainable food systems.

A teachers’ exchange was held in Dakar, Senegal, last December.

The project also offered selected teachers the opportunity to develop professionally by taking part in events abroad such as an International Conference on Food and Global Citizenship Education held at the Milan Expo in 2015 and a teachers’ exchange held in Dakar, Senegal, in December 2016. Another international seminar for teachers is foreseen for this year in Vienna.

For more information, schools and educators can send an e-mail to eathink@kopin.org.

Download the apps The two educational apps Robin’s Cake and EAThink Game introduce certain topics related to food sustainability and healthy eating in a way that may be enticing to young people.

Robin’s Cake is suitable for a younger audience in the form of a semi-interactive story, in which users follow the adventures of Robin around the city of Eatville in their quest to get all the ingredients to bake the best apple pie ever and throw a party for family and friends. In doing so, Robin meets a number of characters who provide the ingredients needed while explaining the characteristics of free-range eggs, organic apples or Fair Trade sugar, to mention some examples. In the end, the player gets to prepare and bake the cake with grandma.

The EAThink Game presents more interactive features, as players can go through different levels corresponding to the stages of food production, distribution and purchase. Each level

presents different challenges that, once completed, give information about issues such as pesticides, organic production, healthy products and so on. The main goal is to get the iconic hot-air balloon from the home page to fly high, once all levels are completed and all stars are collected.

Through these apps, children get the opportunity to learn while playing and having fun.

So far, Kopin has received very positive reviews from parents whose children have been using them.

Both apps are available free of charge on GooglePlay and the AppStore in English and Maltese, while the desktop version is available, in both languages, for download on the website www.eathink2015.org.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Giving your children a flying start in

language and maths Research suggests that pre-school children can be given a great start in language and maths if their parents interact with them correctly.

tudies show a strong link between gestures, pointmeeting, Dr Rowe said: “There’s this window of opportunity ing at objects and the ability of very young children when children are just getting into their productive commuto pick up vocabulary, say scientists. Relating numnication, 10 months to about 18 months. bers to the real world, for instance by counting “I’m talking about the kind of gestures you see parents oranges, was said to be important for promoting using when interacting with their children, like pointing at understanding of maths. things. You might point and say look at the doggy. That gets Psychologists attending a major scientific meeting in the child engaged and interacting that way.

Boston, US, spelled out what parents have to do to provide “The parents who are gesturing to more things have chilthe springboard that will help their children grow up with dren who are gesturing to more things, and that predicts their good language and maths skills. language ability very strongly later.

For language, the critical time was around the age of one, “We found that even if you look back at kids, as young as before a child had even learned to speak. one, there is a socio-economic gap in children’s use of gesMeredith Rowe, from Harvard University, said there was a ture that predicts their use of vocabulary in kindergarten.” major gap in language achievement between children from A wide range of factors could explain why low-income poorer and better off backgrounds. And the reason more adparents were less likely to use gestures, including lack of convantaged children did better could be traced to gestures. fidence, stress and depression.

When parents backed up their use of words with gesColleague Liz Gunderson, from Temple University, tures, it helped their children link words to objects.

US, found that pre-school interaction had a similar Speaking at the American Association for the impact on maths ability.

“For Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual The key here was to help a child refer numlanguage, the bers to objects they could see and touch, critical time was either around them or in a book. around the age of “If you’re talking about the three chicken one, before a child nuggets on your plate, you can actually see the three chicken nuggets,” said Dr had even learned Gunderson. to speak” “If you’re playing hide and seek and counting to 10, that’s not quite as useful.”

Her team had conducted an experiment involving number books and children aged two-and-a-half to three.

Gunderson said: “What we found from parents is that reading these books about four times a week for a month really substantially boosted children’s number knowledge.

“We saw gains that would be similar to what you would see in three to four months with natural amounts of interaction.

“This really shows that something as simple as reading The key to teaching young children mathematics is to help a child refer numbers to objects they can see number books with your child can really boost their and touch, either around them or in a book. knowledge.”

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SPORT

On your marks Taking up a sport requires commitment and sacrifice but this does not necessarily impinge on academic life. Joanne Cocks meets three young athletes and finds that sport, on the contrary, helps them focus more on their studies and also develop skills they would not otherwise learn at school.

alf-yearly exams are done and dusted. Students and their parents can all breathe a sigh of relief that the tension and juggling of family life and study are finally over.

But now imagine young students who, throughout the year, even during exam time, have to juggle a sport discipline and studies.

Is it possible to give your heart and soul to a sport and still do well at school? Do these young athletes have a life of their own other than their sport discipline? How do they cope?

What are the sacrifices, if any, involved?

Three young athletes and their families share their experience and the secret to having the best of both worlds: good time management.

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Aurora Gafa, 7, triathlete Aurora loves sport. Her father Michael has a background in athletics and, about four years ago, he restarted training on a regular basis.

In fact, Michael is Aurora’s hero and mentor, and she looks up to him.

She started to get involved in sport activities from a very young age. She was three when she got hooked on the idea of attending ballet classes. After a year, she wanted to try gymnastics. She ended up doing both for a year and was chosen to form part of a gymnastics squad. But her parents asked her to make a choice and focus on one activity, and Aurora chose gymnastics.

SPORT “Then about two years ago, we noticed an advert for swimming classes and another one for triathlon and eventually she decided to take a shot at triathlon,” says Michael.

“She was keen to start training a multi-sport. Although it is very challenging, I believe that it is also a learning experience for her as she can work on developing skills on three different sports and in the future she can decide whether to focus on just one sport or continue on all three.”

Aurora trains three to four times a week. Her training regime is equally split between running, cycling and swimming, although at times she takes extra swimming classes.

Her father, a triathlete himself, says: “I believe that of all three disciplines, swimming is the most difficult sport to master as it involves a lot of technique. Leisure swimming is a totally different concept from the type of swimming seen in sports. The difficulty in swimming comes from the fact that you need to properly master breathing, body roll, the stroke which propels you forward and kicking.

Having said this, running and cycling need their skills too but I believe learning them is less difficult.”

Sacrifice is the name of the game. Despite her “It young age, Aurora often wakes up at 5am to is important be at the pool training by 6am, explains her for her to enjoy mother Amanda. sports.

She needs “It’s tough for a kid but at times she loves it her time to develop and feels energised for the rest of the day!” properly and not risk While fully understanding the benefits of burning out early sports, her parents also believe that their children – Aurora has a younger sister who is more in life” into drama than sports – need to focus on their studies and other extra-curricular activities.

In fact, after arriving home from school at around 2.30pm, Aurora has a snack, gets her homework done and then leaves for training when she has a session. She attends Christian doctrine classes and also keeps herself busy with piano lessons. She is currently preparing for her upcoming reality is that it is very difficult to earn a living from being a Grade 2 music theory exam in April and Grade 2 piano pracfull-time sportsman. tice later on this year.

“I do believe, however, that with the right guidance, one Michael admits that such a heavy training schedule also can strike a balance by being successful in both worlds,” composes a challenge on the rest of the family. ments Michael.

“As parents you have to keep up with your full-time job, “At this stage, it is important for her to enjoy sports. She house chores and a myriad of other things. At times, logistics needs her time to develop properly and not risk burning out can be a nightmare and put pressure on everyone at home. early in life. Luckily for us, we are surrounded by people who “However, we try to transmit to Aurora the importance of care for her and constantly give us advice on how to handle enjoying what she is doing. At her age, we do not feel that her. Our hope is that she eventually succeeds and her she has to practise sports for the sake of winning, to be the coaches believe that Aurora is very promising.” best or as an alternative to school. We believe that training In her free time, the girl enjoys playing with her younger helps her develop skills that she would not otherwise learn sister Giulia Francesca, watching TV and playing games on from textbooks or by sitting behind a desk. Being involved in the tablet. so many activities also helps her grasp the concept of “We try to ensure that she leads a kid’s life spiced up with time management.” her love for sports!” Michael adds with a grin.

Michael and Amanda tell the young athlete that her future He looks forward to the day when he will race alongside also depends on being successful at school because the his daughter.

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SPORT

Photos: Matthew Mirabelli

Serenity Foo, 13, gymnast It has been four years since 13-year-old Serenity took up gymnastics, having first practised ballet.

“Gymnastics gives you strength and flexibility.

Working hard every day makes you achieve better results. You also have to practise conditioning to help you in your skills,” says the teenager.

Each training sessions lasts about two-and-ahalf hours. But that is not enough. A room at her home has been converted into a mini-gym where she can practise further.

“I usually wake up at 6.15am to get ready for school. I get back home at 3.45pm, change and go to the gym till 7pm. Once I get home, I eat, change and finish my homework. I go to bed between 9.30 and 10pm.

“When I don’t have practice, I catch up on homework and study.”

Serenity has already taken part in local competitions, placing first in the floors and second on the bars in her level. She sees herself achieving more and hopes to reach the highest level and, possibly, also take part in the Small Nations games.

Her mother Claire is extremely proud of her daughter and her achievements, despite having to be her official taxi driver.

“She does brilliantly at school and gets very good results. Gymnastics helped her become regimental and very organised. Serenity studies throughout the year and not only when it is exam time. It is good that she is taking part in a sport that is so disciplined. It has helped her focus on her schoolwork more and has helped build her character.”

The two have to make sacrifices.

“There are times when it’s a beautiful day and everybody’s going out and we’re stuck inside catching up with homework and study,” Claire says.

Serenity, who has to eat very healthy and get enough sleep, still follows up with other strength exercises at home, including push-ups, sit-ups and hand stands.

She is now looking forward to the next nationals later on in the year.

Her favourite part of training are the exercises on the bars.

“I love the feeling that comes with swinging around on the bars. It’s much more fun than the other disciplines.”

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SPORT

Lisa Cini, 14, swimmer Lisa, 14, does 90 minutes of swimming at least eight times a week.

“This involves a lot of sacrifice not only for me but also for my parents,” she remarks.

“I’ve always wanted to do a sport. I love swimming and it’s very difficult to get me out of the “Swimming water, so taking up swimming as a sport came offers me a break as a very natural selection.”

She explains that swimming is “a very chalfrom my studies lenging sport – against yourself and against and helps me others. You are always trying to improve your “We are all very conscious of the benefits concentrate best time. You never reach your target, cause derived from sports. I run, Sylvana [the wife more” once you do, you try and go one better”. and mother] walks regularly and our son Isaac Lisa started her training in 2010 and has already plays table tennis.” competed in a number of competitions. She is Isaac, who has a heart condition, used to play footeyeing more challenges and would like to form part of the ball until 18 months ago. It was becoming a bit too stressful national team, possibly also representing Malta at the for him and so, together with his parents, he decided to take Olympic Games. on a one-on-one sports – table tennis.

“Being in the water actually relieves my stress. It offers me “He would also have loved to take up billiard but that a break from my studies and helps me concentrate more. means taking him into a bar or club,” says his father.

I also know that I have no time to waste.”

Over the last months, Isaac has improved considerably Her father Mark was concerned that all that practice would thanks to his coach and weekly two-hour training session. He negatively affect her studies and results. is now looking forward to his first tournament.

“She, however, proved me wrong and places among the top But with all their children’s training practices, do the parents in her class. She has also learnt to be very organised,” he says find time for themselves? proudly. “And thanks to Lisa, I have also become more sport “Throughout the week, it’s one big sacrifice where we hardly conscious. I started taking her to swimming practice and dehave any time for ourselves,” Mark and Sylvana reply simultacided that I could utilise that time to do something myself. neously. “We all do this sacrifice together. However, Sunday is I started running and now take part in races. our day as a family. We try and spend it together.”

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TOP TIPS

MANAGING YOUR CHILD’S TIME WISELY Children don’t learn about time management in textbooks but it’s one of those skills that would help them immensely.

As they grow up, they are constantly faced with deadlines and busy schedules, so managing their time properly would help reduce stress for them and their parents! Experts also say that knowing how to manage one’s time is linked to later success in life.

The good news is that time management is a skill that can be taught and learned. Parents and caregivers can help toddlers to teens learn tangible ways to manage their time independently.

Here are some tips: • Teaching time management skills can start from an early age by showing your child that she or he needs to finish a set of tasks on her/his own in a limited time period. An example would be to use words or images to illustrate the tasks one has to carry out as regards personal hygiene before going to bed, like brushing teeth and putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Another option would be to turn a task into a game, for example asking the child to store away his toys by the time a favourite song is over.

• To raise greater awareness of time, you can provide a clock or visual timer for your little ones and help them gauge the time spent on tasks. You can also use a sand timer so the child is able to “see” how much time is left. Use timers for bath time, dressing time or TV time. Set times should be appropriate for the age and ability of the child.

• Older children can create a chart. You can help them build this chart around regular meal times and bedtime. They can then fill in all of their responsibilities, for example doing homework or helping mum lay the table for dinner, and the time at which these tasks should be carried out. When each chore is ready, check them off.

• You can go into more detail with a homework timetable and list projects or assignments to do from Monday to Friday. You can use different colours for different subjects and projects to make the timetable easier to follow. Once a task is completed, put a check mark next to it.

• It’s important to provide a quiet place, free from TV or other distractions, where your children can sit and work without interruption. This will surely help them finish homework or study more quickly and thus have more free time.

• For long-term planning, post-it note calendars can be useful for students to visualise when different assignments are due, as well as to help with breaking assignments down into manageable chunks.

• Coach selfdiscipline. Help children improve self-discipline by giving them the responsibility of managing assignments or parts of a project on their own. If they’re not successful, don’t get angry at them… they should eventually learn from their own mistakes.

• Choose activities wisely. There is no formula to help you find out how many activities a child should be involved in during the week but take stock of your child’s cues.

Let children be children and leave them enough time to play and relax. However, try to limit screen time – be it the use of tablets or TV; it’s better if they spend more time doing more important tasks and other fun and interesting activities, such as reading and drawing or practising a sport.

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NURTURE

TO BREASTFEED OR NOT TO BREASTFEED? This can be quite a daunting decision for a new mother. Lorella Fava learns about the benefits of breastfeeding and its challenges, which are not to be underestimated. Ultimately, however, any decision made should be received with respect and understanding. he choice whether or not to breastfeed is perhaps one of the most personal and delicate decisions a new mother must make. Faced with a colourful array of questions, women often seek refuge online, be it forums or websites, to answer some of the many doubts. This does not necessarily make it any easier, however.

With a lot of contradictory information, not to mention family and friends who feel the need to voice their opinion about how to take care of your child, the decision becomes a daunting one.

Debbie Carrick-Sen, a Florence Nightingale Foundation Professor of Nursing and Midwifery ”Some at the University of Birmingham, reassures all women may mothers that breastfeeding has “overwhelming” choose not to benefits, both for the baby and for the mother. breastfeed Prof. Carrick-Sen maintains that breast milk because they do not want to do has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein and As regards mothers, she explains that so in public” fat – everything a baby needs to grow. It also conbreastfeeding burns extra calories, so it can tains antibodies that help it fight off viruses and help them lose the pregnancy weight faster. It bacteria, as well as asthma and allergies. Breastfed releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the infants are also more likely to gain the right amount of uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reweight as “the baby takes what it needs, when it needs it”. duce uterine bleeding after birth. Breastfeeding also lowers She also claims that babies that are breastfed have inthe risk of breast and ovarian cancer. On another note, breastcreased cognitive development than babies that are bottlefeeding saves a lot of time and money as one does not have fed. However, it is still unclear whether this is directly related to buy and measure formula or warm bottles. It also gives the to nutrients received from the breast milk or whether mothers new mum more time to relax with her newborn. who breastfeed stimulate/educate their child more than Despite the many benefits, however, breastfeeding is defibottle-fed mothers. nitely not without its challenges.

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“For a large number of mothers, breastfeeding is challenging at the beginning. To avoid nipple and breast problems, it is really important that the baby is correctly attached to the breast”.

She says that it would be ideal for the new mother to get help from the midwife and/or a knowledgeable person to help with every feed during the first 24 to 48 hours.

“It’s all about getting through the first 10 to 14 days,” Prof.

Carrick-Sen says.

She encourages mothers not to give up.

“Ninety per cent of mothers who give up before they intended to regret the decision”.

Nonetheless, even if the woman, for some reason, chooses to stop breastfeeding, it is better to breastfeed for a short period than none at all. She may then proceed to add solid food at six months and continue to breastfeed if she desires to keep producing milk.

When it comes to breastfeeding premature babies or twins, the task is, of course, much more challenging. But Prof. Carrick-Sen reassures mothers that it is still possible.

• Breastfeeding is not always easy but correct baby“The sucking reflux develops at 34 weeks of gestation, so to-breast attachment in the first few days will mina baby born after this should be able to be breastfed. Occasionally, they get a bit more tired than term babies and might imise problems. need more frequent, smaller feeds in the first few weeks.”

• If your baby is unsettled or you think your milk supA downside to breastfeeding is that it is very time consumply has reduced, it takes 24 hours for the ing. The commitment, and being ready for feedings every few demand/supply reflux to work. Just keep putting the hours of a newborn’s life, is not feasible for every woman. baby to the breast and supply will increase.

Babies tend to digest formula more slowly than breast • Breastfeeding is a full time job! In the first few milk, so bottle feedings may not be as frequent as breastfeeding sessions. weeks, just focus on you and the baby, rest and Additionally, on a more social level, some have a good fluid intake. Accept help from othwomen may choose not to breastfeed beers to do housework, cooking and shopping. cause they do not want to do so in public. ”Breastfed Although attitudes have changed over the infants are more years, with the practice becoming more likely to gain the common in some coffee shops and restauright amount of weight as the baby rants, breastfeeding in public is still takes what it shunned by many people. needs, when it Prof. Carrick-Sen advices to ignore the needs it” stares and “maintain modesty and exposure

Remember:

of the breast”.

“Wraps and scarfs are useful and can be used in a very creative way,” she suggests.

It is clear that there are many factors to consider when it comes to deciding whether to breastfeed or not. Behind all the research, advantages, disadvantages and opinions, it is important to remember that underneath it all are real families with their own special and unique situations.

So, while no one would argue that if a mother can and wants to breastfeed, she most definitely should, it’s worth noting that there are many other ways to nurture a child and promote longterm health, and regardless of what decision is made, it should be received with respect and understanding.

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SOCIETY Photos: Carl Farrugia

Bridging the gap

What can the elderly ‘give’ to children and vice versa? Coryse Borg finds that the benefits of the elderly and children spending time together are manifold… for both parties.

hildren love spending time with their grandparents Hence, elderly people may act as tutors for the children as and vice versa and it’s not just a matter of affection. they mould their development by example and through careStudies show that both children and grandparents ful and consistent instruction, based on their rich knowledge or elderly in general benefit from their interaction and heaps of experience acquired throughout the years. in multiple ways.

“Kids need to know that there are genuine individuals in Educational psychologist Liana Cortis believes firmly in the the world who have lived their lives overcoming their conpositive outcome of intergenerational relations. straints and struggles with success,” says Ms Cortis, who “It is very important for children to forge good relaworks in a school environment and is also a trainer tionships with the elderly, especially since this prowith adolescents and adults. vides both the elderly and the children with an “Spending time with the elderly will help “With opportunity for growth and a sense of purpose,” them understand that they can cope with the care and Ms Cortis says. whatever life brings along.” attention Children may come across issues and cirIn an age when children attend age-segchildren get from cumstances which they find hard to cope with. regated schools and senior citizens often elderly people, live in housing with other older adults, their confidence however, it is often difficult for these generations to find the space to interact. develops” A Valletta 2018 project called Darba Waħda is trying to bridge that gap by giving the elderly and children the opportunity to learn from each other while spending an enjoyable time together.

“We have an ageing population, therefore it is very important for children to have good relationships with elderly people. The better the relationships children have with elderly people, the higher the chance that Anna Formosa of Darba Waħda (second they also show respect and understanding,” explains from right) during one of the sessions.

Anna Formosa, the driving force behind the project.

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“Elderly people have so much to give… they have wisdom, experience and good advice to impart.”

Through creative activities, children may start to see elderly people in a different light and learn to see beyond the body which may look fragile and weak. They may realise how fascinating they are as they hear their stories and experiences which come out through the context of the project.

Some children may not have grandparents, making this experience unique to them.

“Children learn a lot from elderly people,” Ms Formosa says.

“On top of empathy and compassion, they start to show admiration and respect.

“Elderly With the care and attention children get from elderly people, their confidence people have so develops.” a significant role in the lives of children,” much to give…

Sometimes, elderly people do better at cershe explains. they have wisdom, tain exercises than children. Ms Formosa cites “The project is not a one-way stream experience and a game which involves five pebbles as an exambenefitting children alone. This dynamic good advice to ple. Through body memory, elderly people still where both children and elderly people impart” have dexterity in their hands needed for this game both give and receive is what makes the despite not having played it for many many years, project rich.” while children are usually clumsy at it.

Ms Cortis adds: “A project like Darba Waħda It is one of those moments where the children are usually tries to break down many of the physical and social positively surprised, she reveals. They learn about camabarriers between the generations and provides structured raderie and a positive attitude towards losing a game. activities for seniors and children that offer opportunities for Apart from promoting a healthy sense of community, mutually beneficial learning.”

Darba Waħda is also an opportunity for passing on our “By working together, children and elders facilitate comcultural heritage. munity collaboration, sharing of resources and cooperative “Darba Waħda provides a platform where stories can be critical thinking. All participants gain from each other’s traditold and heard in a creative manner. It is definitely much more tions and stories while learning to value and accept diversity.” fun and effective to learn about our cultural heritage from the Through the creative activities organised by Darba Waħda elderly rather than through textbooks,” Ms Formosa says. (such as drama, arts and crafts, storytelling and games), Ms “It gives the listeners historical context and a personal Cortis concludes, the two generations have the opportunity touch. Being a creative project, we use drama techniques to to relate, share and exchange ideas, learn, create and have bring stories to life as well, so there is that fun factor added fun together. which hopefully embeds itself into the memory bank.”

The benefit is mutual, particularly since elderly people’s The children also bring a lot of positive energy and enthuzest for life is often rekindled by youthful relationships. siasm to the project.

“Children give elderly participants a sense of enthusiasm Darba Waħda is a Valletta 2018 project. For more information, for life and a sense of purpose as valued members of the visit www.facebook.com/DarbaWahda or www.valletta2018.org/events/darba-wahda. community, as it defines a role for them, that of educator and CHiLD MARCH 2017 33

PSYCHOLOGY

COPING WITH GRIEF Marija Schranz looks at death from the point of view of the youngest among us and finds that love and support are key to a successful end story. hen my mother-in-law sadly passed My husband and I decided not to have him attend the away just over a year ago, the primary funeral as we felt he was still too young. I wondered for concern my husband and I shared was a time whether that was the right decision. how to help our then-three-year-old But apparently we were on the right track, according son deal with the situation. to counselling psychologist Stephanie Borg Bartolo. She His grandmother was a key figure in his life. He saw her explains that while activities and rituals help children nearly on a daily basis as she helped us out deal with death, funerals are a different story. tremendously in his first few years. In truth, “They are usually filled with many people who are we were (and still are) lost without her. obviously very emotional. And the presence of So if we, two adults, capable of the coffin, which may seem very big and long “Children expressing our emotions and to a child seated nearby, may be overwhelmshould be at thoughts, were having a tough ing for some,” she says. least five years time dealing with it, let alone a While this is not a case of one-size-fits-all, of age before three-year-old, we thought to Dr Borg Bartolo recommends that children they are taken ourselves. are at least five years of age before they are Children are surprisingly retaken to a funeral. to a funeral” silient; we knew this already but we “Ultimately, however, this is something that realised more and more through this needs to be negotiated with the child, dependmoment of grief. Our son was, in fact, ing on how the parent feels they may handle it. deeply sad but he managed to come to Some children grow up to resent their parents for not alterms with it, even because we found the right language lowing them to attend a funeral, remarking that they to talk about what had happened and which he never got to say goodbye.” could understand.

Studies have shown that children react to grief in a Luckily for us, the topic of focus for that very week at number of ways, depending on their developmental school was the body. So he learnt that our heart is our stage, although all can mourn. engine and our brain our computer. This was how we “One thing to remember is that children, as with many could explain to him, a car enthusiast, that his nanna’s other things, cope differently than us grown-ups. Keep engine had stopped working and that the doctor-mein mind that children move off painful emotions very chanics couldn’t fix it anymore. quickly,” Dr Borg Bartolo says.

He asked many questions – and continues to do so “They could be upset for a few minutes and then run today – but he managed to deal with it, secure in the off and play as though nothing ever happened. This is knowledge that he can talk about his beloved nanna any nothing to be alarmed about as this is how children time he wishes to. process pain.”

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PSYCHOLOGY

School-age children have been known to react with regrescoffin has holes for ‘grandpa to breathe’. We need to give chilsion, denial, anger, aggressive behaviour, feelings of guilt and dren the space to ask questions while at the same time not sadness, withdrawal, sleeping and eating disturbances, disput pressure on ourselves to know all the answers,” she adds. ruptions at school and expressions of wishing to die to be “But neither should we persistently ask them to express reunited with the deceased. themselves.”

Younger kids may be more focused on feelings of insecuAlso very important, given that children can be quite rity rather than about the actual loss of the literal, is to ensure that we do not person. As more concrete understanding use euphemisms to explain the Activities to help a child cope with begins to develop from the age of five deceased’s absence. grief could include lighting a candle or planting a tree. and upwards, children may start to ex“Phrases such as referring to somepress an interest in the how (‘his heart one ‘going to sleep with the angels’ stopped beating’) and in rituals. are very confusing for young chilAdolescents tend to find it easier to dren,” Dr Borg Bartolo underlines. confide in someone outside the family.

“We can also cause unnecessary anxHowever, most of their cohorts would iety or anger. In this case, for examhave had little experience in bereaveple, fear that they too may be taken ment and, therefore, they may end up by the angels during their sleep. feeling even more isolated.

“Children can handle what they So how do we go about helping them know [reality], not what they don’t work through their grief? Letting them exknow,” she states, “although the level press their emotions, whichever way they of detail is then up to the people see fit, is tantamount for Dr Borg Bartolo. involved”.

Some of the younger kids may cry while It is important to ensure clarity in others may ask questions that seem odd order to fully support children. The to grown-ups. finality of death should not be shied “While we might be wondering how to away from. explain cancer, a child might ask if the “Words such as ‘dead’ and ‘not coming back’ ultimately help them to move forward. This “Euphemisms is particularly imporexplaining death tant for children are very confusing under the age of five for young who tend to lack this children” understanding.”

Talking is not, however, the only option here. Dr Borg Bartolo says that sometimes children process things by using projective techniques such as drawing, writing stories and playing. These should be encouraged as, most often, children are resilient and are able to work through everyday issues through play.

“In fact, we use play therapy to help young children,” she continues. “The reason being that children’s brains are not yet fully developed. They also form a very protective coping mechanism that enables them to shut off painful emotions. Therefore, allowing them to work through their issues through play helps them process things through the metaphor of someone else’s story.”

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PSYCHOLOGY

Other activities could include putting together a box full of pictures and memories of the deceased, planting a tree or flower, lighting a candle in the person’s name or even writing a letter.

One can also think outside the box. Just recently, a play hosted by Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta did precisely that. Targeted at the younger members of the audience, Dear Pete tackled the concept of grief from the point of view of a young boy whose mother had just died and whose father was never around. Yet, with the support of the community and of his dog, the protagonist was able to overcome the tragedy that had befallen him.

Every child, however, grieves differently and there are some other important factors to be considered.

“Factors such as the child’s attachment to the person, how emotionally expressive they are and the circumstances of the “If a child death all need to be taken into consideration,” Dr Borg Bartolo exwas with the plains. person when they “For example, if the child was died, they may with the person when they died, develop post-traumatic they may develop post-traumatic stress disorder and stress disorder [PTSD]. This would need to be handled differently could need A handmade card could help and a psychologist may need to express a child’s grief towards professional help get involved to help them process lost family members or friends. to overcome it” the trauma.”

So what are the signs one need to look out for to ensure matters aren’t dewith our son about his grandmother’s death. That volving too much? This is harder when chilway, they too could be there for him if and when needed dren cannot speak fluently or, simply, do not wish to and could understand should any untoward behaviour occur. talk. So we have to really keep our wits about us.

Dr Borg Bartolo concurs that this is, in fact, an important Dr Borg Bartolo points out things to keep in mind. strategy available to parents of school-age children. However, “Subtle changes in behaviour can vary from mood swings she stresses that professional help should be sought if a child to regression such as bed wetting, thumb sucking and appears to be unable to move on with life for a prolonged tantrums, apparent lack of emotion, denial, trouble sleeping, period of time. nightmares and physical complaints such as tummy and Lastly, one should also remember that for a child, as for headaches.” grown-ups at the end of the day, grief is very much depenFurthermore, depending on how the death occurred, the dant not on who has passed away but on the bond they had. situation can complicate itself even further.

“It could even be a pet. If the pet was considered to be a “Some of the warning signs for PTSD, for example, would family member and the attachment was formed, the death of be nightmares, experiencing intrusive thoughts, flashbacks this pet may be just as severe as grieving a human,” she conof the event, being highly anxious and avoiding things that cludes. “It is important to respect anyone’s feelings and never remind the child of the traumatic event. With death, children minimise them.” may also develop separation anxiety, particularly in the case As to my son, he has photo albums full of pictures of him of a parent towards the remaining parent, together with a with his grandmother to remind him of the fun things they developing fear that this parent may also die.” did together in her lifetime and he knows that whenever he Ultimately, support is always vital. In our case, one thing we wants to visit her, he can, just as we did a few days ago when had done was to inform the school staff who had daily contact we left her a handmade card on her grave.

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PSYCHOLOGY

Literature on loss for children A book launched quite recently by Merlin Publishers could help introduce the subject of grief to children.

Titled Il-Qtates ta’ max-Xatt and penned by Clare Azzopardi, the book tells the story of a colony of cats who are fed twice daily by an elderly couple. One fine day, the couple fail to show up and the cats begin to wonder what has happened and how they can cope with the new situation.

Azzopardi explains that while she enjoys writing about the funnier side of life, this book taps into another side of her.

“I’m not always in this whimsical sort of mood. Sadness grabs me too and that’s when I get all dark and glum, melancholic and wistful,” she says.

There is a moment in the book when the immobilisation caused by grief is evocatively expressed.

“Don’t we all grieve? And don’t we all feel helpless and utterly useless when faced with bereavement?” Azzopardi muses.

“Last year, my five-year-old nephew became quite obsessed with the idea of death. He asked nanna whether she will die before his mother and asked his mother what would happen when nanna died. Then one day, he asked me: if nanna dies and mama dies, can I live with you? That’s when I seriously started thinking about this book and the themes of loss and grief.”

The book is strongly aided by Lisa Falzon’s ethereal drawings, which magically encapsulate the feeling of grief, were it to be made tangible.

The old man eventually turns up to explain to the cats that his wife has died and that she is now up in the sky among the stars. The book concludes beautifully, with the cats singing a haunting melody to the woman as they look up at the stars.

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TOP TIPS

CRAFTS TO BRING YOU CLOSER TO YOUR CHILD One of the great things about children is the capacity for imagination they possess. Such imagination is not fuelled by time spent in front of a screen but by handmade crafts. No matter how they end up using the crafts you build together, it is certain they will remember the time you spent building it with them.

The ingredients are things readily available to most parents and used often for craft projects in school activities. You can use recycled items which will cost nothing. The few things that must be bought are inexpensive or items that most households keep readily at hand in any case.

Handprint flowers What you will need: pencils, scissors, coloured cardstock, popsicle sticks, flower pot, dirt or foam cut to fit flower pot This one is used in some kindergarten crafts and is easy to do. Fill the flower pot with dirt or put the cut-out foam in it. Place your child’s hand on the cardstock and trace around it. If you want to make flowers of different sizes, do the same with your own hand. You can use either hand or both if you wish. Next, line up as many different coloured pieces of cardstock as you can cut together and cut out the handprint. Once you have all the handprints cut out of the cardstock, glue a popsicle stick to the base of each hand. You should make sure the stick goes at least halfway into the palm so the flower remains slightly steady. You can also decorate the hand flowers and popsicle sticks if you wish. Finally, place the bottom of each popsicle stick into the dirt (or foam).

Friendship necklaces and bracelets You will need: thick string or yarn, assorted beads, needlepoint needle or paper clip, scissors This is the perfect craft project for girls or boys, if they’re interested in jewellery, older than five. Friendship jewellery can be given to friends at school or church and can also be worn as parent/child jewellery. They are easy to make; the hardest part being threading the string or yarn through the beads. If you do not have a needlepoint needle on hand, you can bend a paperclip to serve the same purpose. It just has to fit through the centre of the bead to make threading easier.

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Choose beads with your child and line them up in whatever order you want. Tie a knot on one end of the string to keep the beads from falling off. It should be a bigger knot than the hole in the beads. Remember to leave enough string outside the knot to fasten the necklace or bracelet. Thread the other end of the string through the beads using a needlepoint needle or paperclip bent to hold the string and fit through the hole in the beads. Put all the beads that have been lain out for one piece of jewellery on the string. Tie the other end of the string in a knot the same size as the first one. Tie the two ends of the string together to fasten the jewellery. Hint: you can use elastic thread if you want to make jewellery that does not have to be fastened.

Cardboard cities You will need: scissors, tape or glue, different-sized cardboard boxes like cereal or cracker boxes, toothpicks, paper, no. 2 pencil A cardboard city can be used in many ways by children and will be fun to help design as a parent. Buildings can be as simple or complex as time and imagination allow. Simple buildings are easily designed by cutting out doors and windows from the boxes while they are still whole. Buildings can be labelled as different businesses

by writing the name of the business on a blank piece of paper and taping or gluing it to the building.

Before cutting out the door, fold out all four tabs where the box has been opened and see how well it balances. If the box is sturdy enough to balance on three tabs, cut off the front tab to make it easier to cut out the door. Use the no. 2 pencil to draw windows and doors on the front of the box below where you plan to tape or glue the business label. Cut out windows by poking the edge of the scissors through the corner of the window and cutting diagonally to the other corner, then cut from the centre diagonally to each of the other corners and fold the flaps out before cutting them off. Although younger children will not be able to help with any of the cutting, they can fold out the flaps and door, and help tape or glue the sign to the box.

For more complex buildings, you can break the box down into flat cardboard and design your own building shapes, putting them together with tape. Use the toothpicks for curtain holders and fold a piece of paper into accordion shape before gluing or taping it to them. Then glue the curtain rods either on the inside of the windows or on the outside, whichever you prefer.

You can even use blank papers for paved roads by drawing dividing lines on them and placing them on the floor in between buildings. If you want to go this far, you can also make small box cars using cardboard from the flap you cut off shaped into wheels and put together with toothpicks. Use smaller boxes to make the bodies of the cars and trucks. If your city needs a jail, you can also use toothpicks for the bars across the windows.

Seascape 3D panorama You will need: empty toilet paper rolls, cardstock in different colours, blue streamers, googly eyes, glue, empty cardboard box, scissors This one may take a little more effort and time but should be just as rewarding.

First have your child colour toilet paper rolls in different colours.

They will be used to make octopi. After all the rolls are coloured, use the scissors to cut about half way up the roll to make eight tentacles. Pull each tentacle out as it is cut.

Then glue two googly eyes to each octopus and draw a smile under them. If you and your child wish, you can also draw other faces on the octopi.

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TOP TIPS

Draw fish shapes on the cardstock and cut them out. Make sure you have different sized fish. Next, unroll the streamer and glue parts of it to the bottom of the cardboard box to make waves. Once the waves are done, you are ready to place the fish and octopi. If you wish, you can also use green streamers to make two different coloured waves.

Paper dolls You will need: paper, scissors, crayons This is one of the easiest crafts you can make and requires little effort. This one may be of little interest to boys but could be adapted to make a string of cars instead (bumper to bumper instead of holding hands).

Using one of the crayons, help your child draw a basic doll shape (or car shape) or use a template which can be printed off the internet. Cut out the initial doll shape, then fold an A4 paper three or four times like an accordion.

Make sure that when folded, the paper is still large enough to fit the doll template.

Line the hand up with the fold in the paper and cut the doll shape out of the folded paper. The result will be a string of dolls holding hands. Then help your child colour in the different dolls’ clothing. You can also use newspapers if you want to make a larger string of dolls and do not care about the print.

Paper airplanes What you will need: paper, scissors, crayons, paperclips Perhaps the easiest craft to make is the paper airplane. Although there are many ways to fold an airplane and you’ll want to experiment to find the one you like best, paper airplanes are simple enough for even a small child to learn how to fold.

First fold the paper in half. You can either fold it lengthwise or widthwise but each type of fold will result in a different flight duration. Next, unfold the paper and bring each corner into the centre rease. The paper should now look like an arrow point. You can repeat this step before folding it in half or just fold it in half as is. After folding the arrow in half along 42 CHiLD MARCH 2017

“Children grow quickly and the time they spend with their parents is remembered well into adulthood”

the crease, the paper should look like a half arrow. Position it so the folded end is on the bottom and the unfolded part is on the top, then make the wings by folding part of the paper back towards the crease. Flip the plane and repeat on the other side. There is no set rule about how big the wings should be but bigger and smaller wings will result in different flight patterns.

Experiment to see which folding method you like best. If you wish to decorate the plane, you can do that either before folding it or afterwards using the crayons. Then after folding, test the plane before cutting flaps into the back end of the wings. Use the paper clip to keep the plane from unfolding during flight but place it closer to the nose to prevent it from affecting the flight pattern too much.

Though you may be overworked or stressed and tired, time is precious now. Children grow quickly and the time they spend with their parents is remembered well into adulthood.

The relationship between parent and child is an important one. It will help determine what kind of person the child develops into. So use these simple crafts to bond with your children now, while they’re still young.

PRODUCTS & SERViCES

SHOPwinDOw

Lupu Lupettu activity books

Escape into relaxation Treatments from the orient, Mediterranean and nordic regions have been harmoniously fused at Myoka Spas to take clients through a journey of relaxation and rejuvenation. Myoka Spas, Malta’s leading five-star spas around the island, offer a wide array of luxury spa and beauty treatments to soothe your senses, unwind and pamper. These include: the Royal Hammam treatments; oriental and holistic therapies; Ayurveda treatments; couple treatments; maternity treatments; envelopments, body scrubs and baths; ultrasound/cavitation for face and body; mesotherapy treatments for face and body; radio frequency for face and body; laser hair removal; semi-permanent make-up; and manicure and pedicure. Together with any of the treatments the guests receive complimentary full day excess to the spa facilities including pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. For more information, call 2788 8408, send an e-mail to salini@myoka.com or visit www.myoka.com.

Revolutionary nappies The latest offering from Pampers is set to revolutionise nappies, babies and their sleep patterns. The new Pampers Baby-Dry are not like any other nappies. Their revolutionary technology helps distribute wetness evenly into three absorbing channels. with the help of an inner layer of Micropearls to absorb and lock away wetness better, these nappies will give your baby up to 12 hours of dryness and a better night sleep. They also ensure that they are less bulky in the morning. in fact, they look so comfortable and dry, they have been recommended by 88 per cent of UK parents.

Do your kids spend weekends plonked on the sofa, and when they are not playing on screens, they just moan that they are bored? Lupu Lupettu comes to the rescue with new activity books. Aimed at children from age four to nine, these activity books contain interactive content such as games, puzzles, quizzes, pictures to colour scribbling, sticking, word-searching and dot-to-dot – all guaranteed to keep creative minds stimulated. These high-quality activity books stand out most for innovative features, play value, fun and maintaining concentration levels. They are most portable and can be completed without constant adult assistance. Lupu is the creation of young French author Orianne Lallemand. Together with illustrator Eléonore Thuillier, stories of Le Loup with his trademark amusing eyes and bushy tail, sprang to life. Merlin Publishers, always on the lookout for books which capture the imagination of children, brought the character to Malta in 2014 and engaged award-winning Maltese author Clare Azzopardi as translator.

Nutrition during breastfeeding A healthy, well-balanced diet is important during breastfeeding. Although a supplement does not replace a well-balanced diet, it can provide some extra insurance on those days when taking care of a new baby keeps one from eating as well as one would like. it is important to choose a multivitamin that is especially formulated for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding that supports the nutritional requirements of a nursing mother adequately. nestlé Materna helps provide the vitamins and minerals one needs during all stages of pregnancy. nestlé Materna also provides both calcium and vitamin D to help meet the nutritional needs while breastfeeding.

Available in pharmacies.

EAThink 2015 – eat local, think global EAThink 2015 is an educational project for primary and secondary schools in Malta and Gozo. The project focuses on food and sustainability as a way to introduce young people to global issues, thus helping them become active world citizens.

Through different activities – ranging from school gardens to interactive games – offered throughout the project, students are given the possibility to learn about their role as citizens of an interconnected world. At the same time, teachers and educators are being provided with educational resources in order to address these topics in the classroom. The project is realised with the support of the European Union and the Ministry of Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties and is endorsed by the Ministry for Education and Employment. EAThink 2015 is implemented in Malta by Kopin (VO/0200), www.kopin.org. For more information, visit www.eathink2015.org or send an e-mail to eathink@kopin.org.

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PROdUCTS & SERVICES

SHOPWIndOW

What’s your cup of tea?

Lion Brand wants to spoil its customers. From the award-winning original back teas, which made Lion a leading household name, the brand has continued to evolve with the times and has created its premium selection of specialty teas.

These include special ranges of black teas, green teas, fruit and herbal infusions.

Why not try one or two? Send an e-mail with your details to info @borgandaquilina.com.mt, stating which sample you would like to receive.

New range of smoothies Plasmon presents a new range of delicious smoothies suitable for children from three years upwards. From passion fruit, strawberries, mangos, apricots and bananas, the x-Kidz smoothies are a yummy blend of healthy fruit. Using only ingredients grown at the Plasmon Oasi, these smoothies are presented in a convenient squeezie pouch that’s perfect for toddlers on-thego. They are ideal to pop in lunchboxes or to enjoy as a fun fruity snack in between meals. new Plasmon x-Kidz are made from 100 per cent fruit with no added sugar and loads of vitamin C goodness. Plasmon X-Kidz multipacks are available in all three fruity flavours.

For more information, call the Plasmon team on 2258 8600 or visit the Facebook page Plasmon (Malta).

Savings plan for your children The Mapfre MSV Child Savings Plan is a flexible way of saving for your little ones in a secure and tax-efficient way. Subject to a minimum of €40 per month, the plan gives you the flexibility to decide on the amount you can afford to save each month and whether to increase or decrease the amounts you save over time.

It also gives you the opportunity to take breaks in paying in if needs be. It is a great way to save any monetary gifts your child receives, since you will be able to make one-off additional payments at any time. Another great benefit is that you will be able to withdraw up to €1,000 each year from your plan. Starting a plan is simple. Remember that when you start saving as early as possible, your money will grow more. It can also make a fantastic gift from loved ones, who will be given a certificate to present to the child. For more information and full terms on the Child Savings Plan, contact Mapfre MSV Life on info@msvlife.com or call Freephone 8007 2220. You can also get in touch with your insurance broker or one of Mapfre MSV’s Tied Insurance intermediaries. Mapfre MSV Life plc is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to carry on long-term business under the Insurance Business Act, 1988. COM MSV 020317.

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Healthy, balanced meals for babies Tiny Taste Buds is an exclusive range of baby foods at Marks and Spencer.

The range provides healthy, balanced meals for each stage of your baby’s weaning. They have been specifically tailored to the nutritional needs of your baby to support its growth and development. Only the highest quality organic ingredients are used from each of the different food groups to help introduce new tastes and textures so that your baby may develop positive eating habits for the future. Tiny Taste Buds products are made from 100 per cent organic ingredients, have no added sugar or additives and are low in salt. Shop the range in store or online via www.winedrop.com for home delivery.

Fortified milk for healthy growth Growing children need lots of energy.

They need vitamins, minerals and proteins to stay strong and healthy. SMA Pro Progress Kids is a fortified milk specifically designed for children between one to four years old. At this age, most toddlers would have established an eating pattern and are able to eat most family foods.

Growing up milk should be given to supplement their diet. One to two beakers of 200ml each are enough to provide the little ones with all the necessary daily nutrients and vitamins to help support normal growth and development of bones. For more information and support, contact Vivian Corporation on 2258 8600 and ask for the SMA Nutrition Team.

ARTS

The joys of music Many parents send their children to music lessons in the hope that they would become the next Mozart or Jimi Hendrix… Not everyone is as musically-inclined but irrespective of their potential to excel in a discipline, all children can benefit from a general music education, says Sandy Calleja Portelli. oday’s children are spoilt for choice in terms of extracurricular activities; they can choose to learn dance, art, participate in a multitude of sports and, of course, learning to play an instrument. In addition to the music programme offered in State schools and the many music teachers giving private tuition, government’s Johann Strauss School of Music in Ħamrun and the Visual and Performing Arts School in Xewkija have made learning music accessible to a greater number of students than ever before.

So what is the point of teaching children music and what should parents’ expectations be? Two music teachers, “Music Mariella Cassar-Cordina and Dorselle Mifsud Bonnici should be first stress the importance of music in a child’s life. and foremost a joy Dr Cassar-Cordina was the Education Officer for and a passion, with Music within the Ministry for Employment and Educaexams and certificates tion until recently when she took charge of the Visual an additional aspect and Performing Arts School. of musical “Music is extremely important and there is some evieducation” dence that babies may react to music they hear while still in their mother’s womb. We also know that babies react to the music they hear around them with some music triggering different emotional reactions. Music education starts informally at home even if parents are unaware of it,” she explains.

Once children enter into formal education, learning music enhances their ability to learn and develop in a number of other areas.

The world of music encompasses a variety of disciplines.

“Music is not just about playing an instrument but includes the theory, composition, performance, listening, appraising and analysis.

Music can be studied both as an artistic discipline in itself and also as a tool to enhance other skills. Learning to play an instrument increases coordination while learning music theory has been found to improve children’s abilities in mathematics and science. So, when

T

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ARTS

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ARTS we talk about music education, we shouldn’t consider music Stressing that music lessons shouldn’t be simply lessons on in isolation,” explains Dr Cassar-Cordina. music history but should instead be creative and include Apart from the academic advantages of learning music, Dr movement, Dr Cassar-Cordina says that the overall feedback Cassar-Cordina points to the personal attitudes, skills from students has been very positive. and characteristics, including teamwork and disciParents, however, are sometimes less enthusiaspline, which are strengthened through music. tic as they may perceive music as being simply “Music is a multilayered discipline and all an artistic subject distracting from the ‘im“Sometimes children can benefit from a general musiportant’ academic learning. we see parents who cal education, irrespective of their poten“In truth, music is as academic as any are trying to live tial to excel in the discipline. Unless other subject and can be studied right through their children, children are exposed to music and up to PhD level – you don’t get any more insisting their child learn to given the freedom to experience it, academic than that,” says Dr Cassarplay an instrument because they have no way to develop a passion Cordina with a laugh. they themselves did not for music,” says Dr Cassar-Cordina.

“Music equips students with a wideChildren attending State schools benranging skill set that will enhance and have the opportunity to efit from one music lesson weekly from enrich their adult life even if they do not play it when they Year 1 to Year 6 while a music general progo on to become musicians.” were young” gramme has been introduced for students in Ms Mifsud-Bonnici is the local representaYears 7 and 8 (formerly known as Form 1 and tive of music and pop and rock for Trinity Col2). These programmes aim to give students the oplege London. portunity to listen to and play music together in a class.

“While some children show a musical aptitude at a very “Not all children have the same exposure to music within young age, others need some encouragement from their partheir families and for some students this would be their first exents but all children benefit from learning music. The trick for posure to orchestral music, choral singing and their first conparents is to find the right balance between encouragement tact with a musical instrument. I always say that learning music and forcefulness. I have had parents bringing four-year olds is a child’s right as it exposes them to so many new opportuto learn an instrument and at that age they are simply too nities and enhances their learning in so many ways,” says young,” she says.

Dr Cassar-Cordina. “Music also gives people another “Learning to play an instrument requires dedication channel for expressing their feelings and I feel strongly and discipline because the student has to practise that when someone has knowledge of music, their every day without fail, so parents should be wary way of thinking is different to those who do not. I think music makes one more flexible and more free-spirited which then extends to life in general.”

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SCIENCE from pushing their children too much. Music should be first and foremost a joy and a passion, with exams and certificates an additional aspect of music education. However, we are now in a situation where most parents are focused solely on the exams insisting that their children sit one exam after another which makes the whole experience stressful rather than fun.

“The emphasis should be on personal enrichment rather than on pursuing musical excellence, so if a child enjoys playing but is not particularly talented, why shouldn’t they learn to play anyway without having to overcome the hurdle of sitting an exam? In reality, if a student only masters the pieces they need to pass their exams but are then not able to play a piece of music for pleasure, they are missing out,” she says.

She advices parents to follow their children’s natural inclinations when it comes to music.

“Sometimes we see parents who are trying to live through their children, insisting their child learn to play an instrument because they themselves did not have the opportunity to play it when they were young or the child wants to play the drums but the parents insist they learn to play the piano instead.”

Considering the millions of children who learn music worldwide, the number of them who make it to the top of the musical arena is miniscule. However, acquiring music skills provides such a multitude of additional benefits to children that music should be an integral part of every child’s life just for the fun of it!

DID YOU KNOW?

MOTHERS AND INFANTS CONNECT THROUGH SONG As one of the first records of human music, infant-directed singing permeates cultural boundaries and parenting traditions, a University of Miami research found.

Unlike other forms of caregiving, the act of mothers singing to infants is a universal behaviour that seemingly withstands the test of time.

On the surface, the exchange between mother and child may seem standard, but to Shannon de l’Etoile, professor of music therapy and associate dean of graduate studies at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, there is much more to the infant-directed song than meets the eye – and ear.

“We know from previous research that infants have the innate ability to process music in a sophisticated manner,” explained Prof. de l’Etoile.

“One of the main goals of the research was to clarify the meaning of infant-directed singing as a human behaviour and as a means to elicit unique behavioral responses from infants.”

Additionally, Prof. de l’Etoile explored the role of infantdirected singing in relation to intricate bond between mother and infant. In an initial study, she filmed 70 infants responding to six different interactions: mother sings an assigned song, a ‘stranger’ singing an assigned “The song, a mother singing a song of choice, a mother tempo and reading a book, a mother playing with a toy, and key certainly the mother and infant listening to recorded music. don’t need to The results were promising but also raised be perfect” additional questions.

“High cognitive scores during infant-directed singing suggested that engagement through song is just as effective as book reading or toy play in maintaining infant attention, and far more effective than listening to recorded music,” said Prof. de l’Etoile. “But what did the infant engagement tell us about the mother’s role during the interaction?” she questioned.

Prof. de l’Etoile continued the study by focusing on the role of the caregiver during infant-directed singing by measuring the make-up of the song and the mother’s voice.

“Findings revealed that when infants were engaged during song, their mother’s instincts are also on high alert,” said Prof. de l’Etoile.

“Intuitively, when infant engagement declined, the mother adjusted her pitch, tempo or key to stimulate and regulate infant response.

Mothers around the world sing to their infants in remarkably similar ways and infants prefer these specialised songs.

“The tempo and key certainly don’t need to be perfect or professional for mothers and infants to interact through song,” said Prof. de l’Etoile.

“In fact, infants may be drawn to the personalised tempo and pitch of their mother, which encourage them to direct their gaze towards and ultimately communicate through this gaze.”

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PRodUCTS & SERVICES

SHOPWIndoW Designed for fun and learning For over 40 years, Early Learning Centre has been creating toys which help children grow into happy, self-confident people. Their toys are aimed to help develop vital skills and help children get off to the best possible start. All toys are designed to instigate children to explore the boundaries of their imaginations and creativity, to make learning fun and help bring out the very best in a child’s talents and potential. ELC works closely with experts, including child psychologists, leading designers, nursery specialists and the real experts, the children themselves. Together they make sure that all ELC toys are top quality, great fun and, above all, absolutely safe. When preseting this advert, you’ll get 10 per cent off your purchase. Valid until March 31. Early Learning Centre shops are found in Rabat, Valletta and Victoria. For more information, visit www.elctoysmalta.com.

Warehouse sale Mamas & Papas is holding a warehouse sale, with up to 80 per cent discount on a wide range of top-quality products including baby wear, maternity wear, furniture, travel, accessories and interiors. The sale is being held at a warehouse at the end of San Ġwakkin Road in Mrieħel. There is directional signage from the Mrieħel bypass and from the Farsons and Fino showrooms when coming from Santa Venera. The sale is open daily from Monday to Friday (9am-5pm) and Saturday (9am2pm). Sale ends until stocks last. Visit the Mamas & Papas Malta Facebook page for more info. For more information, call 2385 9376 or send an email to mpbkara@europharma.com.mt.

Essential nutrients to grow up Cerelac Infant Cereals offer the essential nutrients the infant needs to support healthy growth and development. Cerelac Infant Cereals provide infants who have small stomach capacity with nutrient dense foods, which are enriched with key vitamins and minerals, specially selected to reduce the risk of micro-nutrient deficiencies and thus promote healthy growth and development.

Huggies DryNites Bed Mats drynites Bed Mats with ‘stick and stay put’ are designed for ultimate undercover confidence. Highly absorbent with waterproof backing, the new peel off adhesive back sheet secures the bed mat to a mattress, keeping it in place for great night long protection. drynites Bed Mats are for children who sometimes wet the bed or simply for extra protection. drynites Bed Mats offer the perfect solution for a comfortable night’s sleep.