Innholdsfortegnelse for DRUM Supermom i DRUM Supermom

MOTHERHOOD! It’s the most beautiful, and baffling, experience in the world, isn’t it? Children are a gift, they’re little miracles entrusted to us, and most of the time, bringing them up is wonderful, rewarding and a source of great happiness. But as we all know, it’s not the easiest job in the world. And as the saying, goes,“It takes a village to raise a child”. So welcome to the DRUM Supermom village! We’d love to be part of your community as you experience the highs and lows of parenting your children. For that reason, we’ve selected stories to inform and inspire you, and to give you ideas, tips and tried-and-tested remedies to make your parenting journey more interesting and rewarding – and most of all, help your children reach their…

ALL PARENTS have had times where they worry about their child’s honesty – whether it’s an imaginative fib (“I just jumped two metres high!”) or a troubling lie (“it was Thulile who made the mess, not me!”). Call them untruths, falsehoods or exaggerations – we do feel unsettled when we catch our kids lying, even if they’re still too young to understand the difference between reality and a fib. But the truth is that all kids lie – and it’s a habit that can spin out of control so it’s necessary to curb it from an early age. WHY CHILDREN LIE Small children don’t always know the difference between fantasy and reality, or they might not realise that lying is unacceptable. But older children, who understand right from wrong, usually…

THEY’RE USUALLY thought of as tedious and a punishment of sorts, but chores can actually help our children develop and become resilient. And weary parents shouldn’t just relent and do everything themselves to get it out of the way, experts say – we’d be doing our kids a disservice. Apart from the fact that we’d raise spoilt brats (and get no respite as busy parents!), there are many reasons to let children do more chores around the house. Easier said than done? Not necessarily. Those in the know believe with the right guidance it needn’t be a headache. Giving children age-appropriate tasks, enough time and motivation can make chores a pleasure. WHY KIDS SHOULD HELP AROUND THE HOUSE If we teach our children from an early age to help with…

▪ Show your kids that you like reading too. You don’t always have to read a book: Take your favourite magazine, look at the pictures and talk about what you see. ▪ Make reading with your children something you yourself look forward to. Start a bedtime ritual from a young age and books will become part of their lives. ▪ Find a special place in the house to read a book for as much time as your child can handle. ▪ Visit a public library regularly and make the trip an outing your child can look forward to. Encourage older kids to pick their own books and talk to them about the kind of books they enjoy. ▪ Ask gogo to join in the fun and also read to the…

▪ Learn how to implement parental control settings on devices. Most gadgets have how-to guides online. Otherwise attend a computer class or ask at the store from which you bought the device. ▪ Find a balance between screen time and activities such as sport and socialising. Don’t allow more than two hours of screen time a day. This includes TV, games, smartphones, tablets and computers. This limit excludes screen time for educational purposes, such as doing online research for a school project. ▪ Devices must be switched off at least an hour before bedtime. The visual stimulation from electronic devices can inhibit sleep. ▪ Ban devices from the dinner table. Rather use this time to connect with your kids. ▪ Keep tabs on what’s downloaded. Have one app store account…

WET-DRY-TRY Age 3 and up Cost R70 Available on iPad More info hwtears.com/hwt/ online-tools How it works Children learn and practise how to correctly write numbers as well as capital and lowercase letters on the screen. XANDER Age 3 and up Cost Free Available Android and iOS More information xander.co.za How it works This is a truly African app that is available in English, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Sotho, Shona, Afrikaans and even Swahili. By playing games, young children learn how to draw, and recognise and pronounce letters, words, numbers, shapes and colours. The app also helps kids learn another African language. TOCA LAB Age 5 and up Cost R40 Available Android and iOS How it works It’s a fun science app that introduces young kids to the periodic table of…

SOUTH AFRICAN children are among the fattest in the world. A 2013 study by the Human Resources Council – called the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey – showed that 22 % of children aged between two and five were overweight or obese. This news is worrying for Midrand mother Lindiwe Nambitha, who is finally facing the fact that her “big” baby Zanele has grown into an overweight five-yearold. Lindiwe also accepts it’s her responsibility to help her child lose weight. “I didn’t want to deprive her of things I didn’t have while growing up, and I guess I also used food to comfort her after my divorce from her dad,” she confides. Zanele’s weight – and health – is indeed in her mom’s hands. It is our…

DID YOU  know that one in three South African adults suffers from high blood pressure? And that we as moms can help change that frightening statistic by simply teaching our kids to eat less salt? That’s because too much salt in our diet contributes to high blood pressure, which in turn can cause dangerous illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. South Africans consume two to three times more salt than the recommended adult daily intake of 5 grams (1 teaspoon). Research shows that salt-loving kids turn into salt-loving adults, and that we can reduce the amount of salt South Africans eat by limiting the amount of salt our kids get to consume. But how do we do that? Let’s look at it age by age. BABIES: NO SALT AT…

Understanding your medical aid benefits will reduce out-of-pocket expenses and the stress related to unpaid claims. Here are some tips: To avoid surprises, always know how much of the doctor’s fee your medical aid is prepared to pay. That way you can either visit doctors who charge within that rate or be aware of how much you’ll have to add yourself if the doctor charges more than the medical aid rate. Many private doctors prefer you to pay them directly after the visit and leave it to you to claim back the money from the medical aid. Find out if this is the case, and negotiate with your doctor if need be. Some doctors may even offer a discount for cash payment. Find out which network of doctors your medical…

HERE’S AN interesting fact: children who are socially active don’t only grow up to be more compassionate and caring adults – they also tend to do better at school, stay away from drugs and alcohol, and become successful, creative adults. So if kids can learn to be generous and kind, the pay-off is huge – for the people who’s life they make a little better, as well as for themselves. Here’s how to get them started from a young age. RAISING AN EMPATHETIC CHILD ▪ Caring for others starts at home. Take your child’s emotions seriously. If your son cries, don’t tell him not to be a crybaby – rather say: “I can see you’re upset. What has happened?” Treating children with compassion turns them into compassionate people. ▪ Talk…

2-3 Two to three years ▪ Put away their toys. ▪ Pack their books on shelves. ▪ Put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket. ▪ Put refuse in the rubbish bin. ▪ Fold their facecloth. ▪ Lay the table. ▪ Fetch their nappies. ▪ Wipe surfaces. 4-5 Four to five years ▪ Feed pets. ▪ Make their beds. ▪ Tidy their rooms. ▪ Water plants. ▪ Prepare easy snacks. ▪ Dry and put away dishes. 6-7 Six to seven years ▪ Pick up refuse in and around the house. ▪ Fold towels. ▪ Unpack the dishwasher. ▪ Fold socks. ▪ Weed the garden. ▪ Peel potatoes and carrots. ▪ Make salad. ▪ Replace empty toilet rolls. 8-9 Eight to nine years ▪ Pack the dishwasher. ▪ Hang up washing…

Educational psychologist Ken Resnick believes parents or caregivers play a crucial role in guiding a child to adulthood. In Parenting Decoded – Disciplining Kids in the Digital Age (R200, Kwarts Publishers), he gives great advice on how to manage kids calmly and effectively through his SmartChoiceParenting programme. From basic disciplining techniques to dealing with learning problems and severe behavioural issues, the programme is enjoying great success. GIVEAWAY: Two lucky readers can each win a copy of Parenting Decoded. To stand a chance of winning, SMS the answer followed by your name and town or city to 34683 * by 24 May 2017. Question: What is the name of Ken Resnick’s parenting programme? Each SMS costs R1,50. You must be the registered user of the cellphone or must have the owner’s…

▪ Explain to your children that you work to earn money and every cent is precious. ▪ Get them to set goals and chart them. They can decorate their chart by, for example, making a drawing to depict the goal, using a magazine picture or taking photos. This way their goal is at the top of their mind and they can check their progress. ▪ If your child wants a new toy car, suggest they save up for it (they can even make a chart). Once they have enough money, take them shopping and let them pay for the item themselves. They’ll probably take better care of it and appreciate it far more than if it were handed to them. ▪ Use every opportunity to explain the concept of using…

Here are a few ideas to make reading fun for children of various ages and get them to evenutally read for pleasure on their own. Baby to three years 0-3 Read a little at a time, but often. Books with pictures and words to learn the names for things and also nursery rhymes are useful in helping children make associations. Find books made from cardboard, cloth or plastic (which can even be read in the bath).Touching different textures is especially good for your baby’s development. Read the words to your child, talk about what’s in the pictures and name some of the objects and colours. Remember to make lots of interesting sounds too – for example, mooing when you look at a picture of a cow. Encourage your child to…

JUST LIKE their parents, kids also have a job: to play as much as possible. Playing develops children’s physicial, mental and emotional skills, and it’s so much fun that they don’t even realise they’re learning. Here are some delightful games to play with your children or when friends come over. 1 BINGO WITH PICS Take nine family photographs and arrange them in rows of three each. Give each child nine playing cards. When you call “Sister!” or “Gogo!” they cover the appropriate photograph with one of the cards. The winner is the child who completes the row first. GET SMART This game improves memory and teaches kids who’s who in their extended family. 2 MEMORY GAME The children sit in a circle. The first child says, “I packed a fork…

KIDS OFTEN don’t like eating fruit or veggies, which could mean they don’t get enough minerals and vitamins their bodies need to grow. The answer is to prepare food that looks attractive and is fun to eat. Our easy, wholesome dishes show you how. MINI TUNA AND VEGGIE PIZZAS PREPARATIONTIME: 10 MIN GRILLINGTIME: 5 MIN MAKES 8 PIZZAS 8 slices brown or wholewheat bread 30 ml (2 tbsp) mayonnaise 30 ml (2 tbsp) sweet chilli sauce or tomato sauce 8 slices Cheddar cheese 1 punnet (250 g) broccoli, chopped 3 carrots, peeled, halved and thinly sliced 3 baby marrows, peeled and sliced 2 cans (170 g each) shredded tuna in brine, drained 125 ml (½ cup) halved baby tomatoes grated Cheddar cheese for topping freshly ground black pepper (optional) 1…

Flatten two slices of bread with a rolling pin and spread with peanut butter and jam. Roll the bread up like a Swiss roll and cut into pieces. Add a piece of fruit or yoghurt and include water. Optional alternatives include a boiled egg or yoghurt. Spread mayonnaise on two slices of bread. Add slices of ham or chicken; add lettuce, fruit and a milk or yoghurt drink. Optional alternatives include a slice of cheese, raw veggies, yoghurt or peanuts and raisins. Mix tuna with mayonnaise and spread on two slices of bread. Add lettuce. Include yoghurt or cheese, fruit and a milk drink or fruit juice.…

1 SERVE HEALTHY FOOD AT HOME This will take commitment and planning. Sit down over the weekend and plan what meals you’re going to make during the next week. Buy the ingredients beforehand instead of just serving what’s quick and easy. Think of the composition of the plate – have small portions of meat and starch such as potatoes or samp and include more vegetables. Resist buying prepared meals or fast food as these are often high in fat and sugar. 2 PACK HEALTHY LUNCHBOXES A healthy lunchbox can include a sandwich made up of wholegrain slices of bread with beef or chicken, lowfat yoghurt, plus fruit and veggies such as an apple, grapes, carrot sticks or cherry tomatoes. Try to replace fruit juices with water. If your child doesn’t…

WHILEWE expect children to sit still while learning, too much sitting – in cars and in front of computer or TV screens – can be harmful. Whether we’re young or old, our body needs to move. People tend to think that children should sit quietly while learning, but research has shown that children who move, learn better and are happier! WHY KIDS SHOULD MOVE Children need movement to develop physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually. Movement also balances their brain so they can calmly follow instructions and focus on what is important. Your child’s brain and body are still developing so they need more regular and intense movement than you as an adult. Several problems, some even life-threatening, can develop if children don’t move enough. A lack of activity can hamper…

▪ Talking or joking about suicide. ▪ Depression and feelings of hopelessness. ▪ Preparing for death, such as giving away their favourite things. ▪ Self-criticism and listening to negative things that people say about them. ▪ Changes in personality. ▪ Loss of interest in their appearance, and a drop in personal hygiene. ▪ Risk-taking behaviour, such as drinking and driving and having unprotected sex. ▪ Excessive feelings of guilt, self-blame and failure. ▪ Writing poems, essays or SMSes about death, or painting images of death. Contact Sadag on 011-262-6396 or 0800- 567-567, SMS 31393 or visit www.sadag.co.za for more info or help.…

MOMMY, my finger is bleeding!” “I’ve been stung by a bee!” “I’ve cut my foot on a piece of glass!” If you’ve been in any of these situations you’ve probably found that you’re either out of plasters and cotton wool, or that the antiseptic solution bottle is empty or the contents have expired. If you have kids, ensure that your firstaid kit is always stocked so that you can deal with small, and big, mishaps that happen in and around your home. And if you’re travelling during the December holiday, be sure to take a first-aid kit with you. A third of all injuries happen at home, says Linda Buys, a qualified nursing sister and author of The Illustrated South African First Aid Manual. “Most of these injuries can be…

1 MARSHMALLOW BUNNIES YOU NEED › 1 candy-coated egg › 1 mini white marshmallow › pink butter icing › 1 very small red sweetie for the tongue (for example, thin slice of a red jellybean) › 2 googly eyes › 1 pink marshmallow › 2 mini pink marshmallows › pink craft paper (20 x 130 mm) › sticky tape › scissors HOW TO MAKE IT 1 Cut 2 slices from 1 mini white marshmallow and stick them to the middle of the egg for the cheeks.The cut sides are sticky enough to adhere to the egg. 2 Dab a little pink icing in the centre, above the cheeks, for the nose. 3 Stick the little red tongue in place. 4 Stick on googly eyes with a little butter icing. 5…

1 VOLCANIC ERUPTION YOU NEED › 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda › dishwashing liquid › food colouring › 1 cup vinegar › plastic bottle STEP 1 Put bicarbonate of soda and a generous squirt of dishwashing liquid in a small, transparent bottle. STEP 2 Put the bottle in the centre of a large roasting pan or basin. Mix 10 or more drops food colouring with the vinegar. STEP 3 Pour the mixture into the bottle. The concoction will foam and spurt out of the bottle. When the show is over you can set it off again by adding a tablespoon or more bicarb and vinegar to the bottle. GETSMARTWhen bicarb and vinegar mix, a chemical reaction results that produces carbon dioxide. Dishwashing liquid causes the mixture to foam and the…

1 SAYTHANK YOU ▪ Bake cookies and take them to your nearest police or fire station. The people on duty would appreciate the thought and your child can meet a few of his heroes and see the fire engines close up. MORE IDEAS ▪ Encourage kids to draw pictures of firemen or policemen in action to put up on the wall. ▪ They could write a prayer or poem for them on a pretty piece of paper and frame it. ▪ Give them a fire engine/police van or fireman or policeman built with Lego or ordinary blocks. ▪ Let kids glue old fireman or policeman toys on a piece of painted cardboard to make an artwork they can give away. 2 LEARNING TO GIVE ▪ Kids under 10 are too…

If you’ve lost your temper and became too angry or even hit your child: ▪ Admit why you reacted with anger (whether it’s a result of stress or frustration). ▪ Acknowledge how you think it made your child feel (for example, belittled, afraid, confused or angry). ▪ Tell your child what they did to make you respond this way, and what you would like them to do differently in the future to help prevent you from reacting this way again. Also explain ways in which you will try to control your own anger in the future.…

ONE OF the best ways to make sure your kids do well at school is to read aloud to them from an early age. Start when they are very young. They will love the warmth, love and security of nestling on your lap while you’re sharing this pleasant activity. It not only strengthens your relationship with your child – they’ll also remember the happy and safe feeling of reading with you and it will boost their confidence and instil in them a love of books. Experts agree that reading is a brain booster and the seeds of a future good vocabulary will be planted from an early age. Of course, this also applies to older children who can understand language and interpret pictures. Even if your kids have learnt to…

EVERY SO often you hear adults reminisce about a time before tablets, smartphones and Wi-Fi. There’s a nostalgic walk down memory lane, remembering homework sessions without Google. This conversation usually starts when a tech-savvy toddler shows dazzling ability with a smartphone or tablet. Or sometimes it’s provoked by a teen glued to a smartphone or a preteen who constantly plays PC games. While these preoccupations cause justifiable concern among some parents, others are starting to realise these gadgets are of vital importance to their kids’ future. In fact, embracing technology is essential for the new generation, often referred to as the iGeneration or Generation Z, experts say. These kids, mostly born after 1994, don’t know of a world without Google, Facebook, YouTube or computers. They can’t imagine a world where…

WORKSHEETCLOUD.COM Cost R120 (registration fee), thereafter R60 a month Available on mobile devices (iOS and Android), and on computers as a web app Grades covered 1 to 12 More info worksheetcloud.com How it works This study aid from Learning Lab Apps provides learners with downloadable and printable worksheets based on the CAPS curriculum, which is followed by South African state schools and some private schools. The app provides exercises and tests that can help with revision and exam preparations. It offers materials for primary school English, Afrikaans, maths, science, social science and life skills. For high school learners, there’s maths, as well as Afrikaans, English and natural and social sciences for Grade 8. The app provides primary school learners with access to more than 100 worksheets in their grade. These…

TUNA BURGER These tuna patties are full of flavour and keep for up to two days in the refrigerator. PREPARATIONTIME: 5 MIN COOKINGTIME: 5 MIN SERVES 4 › 2 tins (170 g each) canned tuna › 10 ml (2 tsp) Dijon mustard › 2 slices of bread, crumbed › ¼ lemon zest, grated › handful parsley, chopped › salt and black pepper to taste › 1 egg › 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil › 4 mini buns, lettuce, cucumber and grated carrot to serve 1 Drain the tuna and reserve 15 ml (1 tbsp) of the water. 2 In a medium bowl, mix together the tuna, mustard, bread, lemon zest, water and parsley. Season with salt and pepper according to taste. Mix in the egg. 3 Divide the mixture…

▪ If your children leave home without eating breakfast, pack dry cereal in a small container for them to enjoy as a snack before school starts. Add some raisins for variety. ▪ Use salt sparingly and lean meat (meat with very little fat) where possible. Remove the skin from chicken to reduce the fat. ▪ If you add tomato to sandwiches, put the tomato between fillings and not directly on the bread. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy. ▪ When using avocado, apple or banana, drizzle with a little lemon juice to prevent the fruit from discolouring. ▪ Cutting sandwiches into interesting shapes (such as a star, animal or circle) will make it more attractive to some children.…

The Birth to 20 Plus study by The Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU) at Wits shows that the appeal of convenience food and access to more pocket money among Soweto adolescents between the ages of 13-17 makes unhealthy food easily accessible. Eating habits in childhood set up the habits children will follow into adulthood, the study warns. Fewer take lunchboxes to school as it’s seen as “not cool” and more buy fast food from vendors and fast food outlets. Boys consume fast food eight times per week on average, while girls are not far behind at seven times per week. As girls enter their teens they are less physically active and involved in sports than boys and are more likely to become overweight adults. The most popular food…

FINDING A meaningful job that is exciting as well as stimulating is the ideal for all of us – and as parents we can do a lot to help our children achieve this aim. Step one is that you may have to lighten up about your child’s school report card, say experts. The fact is that not all children are academically inclined and there is a great need for non-academic jobs out there. Of course, a good report might help a child get into university but that shouldn’t be the one and only focus. The world needs electricians, plumbers and nurses as much as it needs doctors, lawyers and engineers, so perhaps it’s time to look at the bigger picture. Instead of focusing only on academic success, you should try to…

WHEN VISITING the doctor, it’s not your job to be an expert when discussing your health or that of your baby. That’s what the doctor is there for. But it does help if you have a plan before you go – including a list of everything you want to discuss, especially if you’re taking your baby for a routine check-up. Medical practices are often described as sausage machines, where consultations are so quick that you’re out of the door before you’ve had time to process what the doctor has been telling you. That should not happen, and you should never feel rushed when meeting with your doctor, says Dr Tiny Mhinga, who has a practice in Sandton, north of Johannesburg. A standard consultation lasts about 15 minutes. Most doctors don’t…

1 ANTISEPTIC OINTMENT These could be Savlon, Dettol or Betadine. You can also use liquid Savlon or Dettol diluted in water to clean wounds. Anthisan is an antihistamine cream that will take the itch and pain out of bee stings and spider bites. 2 PACKETS OF PLASTERS Ideal for minor scratches and wounds such as small cuts, blisters or where a thorn has been removed. 3 GAUZE & BANDAGES Place gauze over open wounds. Rolls of plaster and bandages will cover wounds and keep the gauze in place. 4 COTTON WOOL Use to clean wounds. You can also use a cotton ear bud dipped in an antiseptic to clean around wounds. 5 A PAIR OF SCISSORS Use them to cut bandages and tweezers to remove splinters. 6 DISPOSABLE GLOVES Use…

DECORATED EGGS White candy-coated eggs could be painted in a variety of colours with food colouring diluted in water or with special colouring mixed with oil that is available at baking supply shops. HEALTHY SNACK Turn hard-boiled eggs into bunnies with shredded cabbage for tails, cheese discs for eyes, carrot sticks for ears and sugar-snap peas for the snouts. HOMEMADE SERVIETTE RINGS Cut a toilet or roller towel tube into rings about 3 cm wide. Paint the rings and leave to dry. For each one, cut a star shape about 5 cm long from cardboard and paint it. Glue a star to each serviette ring. COOKIES Mix a batch of cookie dough in a flavour of your choice. Roll out the dough and cut out special shapes. Bake in the…

TIP: Spread a blanket on the lounge floor and use it as a stage. The kids can play their chosen instrument, from drums to a recorder. Even the youngest ones can take part in the concert, using saucepans, wooden spoons and rattles. 1 RATTLE Put dried beans in an empty tin or jar. Close it tightly – dried beans are associated with the risk of choking. 2 CYMBALS 1 Tie ribbon or pieces of string to saucepan handles. 2 Bang the lids together to play. 3 COMBWHISTLE 1 Fold a piece of tissue paper over the teeth of a comb. 2 Hum with your lips against the tissue paper. 4 TAMBOURINE 1 Glue two paper plates together with the undersides facing outwards. Punch a few holes around the edge. 2…