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Be Inspired, Children, Family, Fitness, Lifestyle, Reviews and Features

Flexi-bar

 

The Flexi-bar is a revolutionary fitness tool from Germany, which activates both voluntary and involuntary muscles in a shorter space of time. The Flexi-Bar was originally developed by physiotherapists in Germany and was designed for rehabilitation purposes. The tool assists with injury prevention and faster injury rehabilitation.

Due to our modern-day lifestyle, our children spend far too much time indoors and not enough time engaging in physical activities such as climbing trees, playing on jungle gyms and riding bikes. This type of inactive lifestyle has led to an increase in the under development of children’s muscles and co-ordination skills.

The Flexi-Bar, available from Flexi-Sports SA, is a great tool for introducing the concepts of core conditioning and dynamic torso stability to children, as well as being an entertaining and stress relieving way to exercise. The Flexi-Bar is a proven therapy for mending and preventing back pain, therefore training with the bars will result in strong healthy backs and better circulation for the learners and this will lead to more effective working.

According to ADHASA, ADHD is believed to affect 10% of the South Africa population, and is prevalent in every ethnic and socio-economic cluster. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is believed to affect 8-12% of school-aged children worldwide.

Children suffering from ADD and ADHD can benefit from using the Flexi-bar, as it helps improve concentration, blood flow, oxygen intake and co-ordination. The Flexi-Bar engages muscle inter-play and improves intra and inter-muscle coordination.

Traditional gym work-outs are not enough to combat ADD and ADHD in children as the training only encourages muscles to work in isolation as opposed to interplaying and working together.

The Flexi-Bar uses vibration training to create muscle tone and strength.  As you swing a Flexi-Bar, vibrations pass through your body. These signals tell the muscles they are being pushed away from their centre and they must automatically contract to bring themselves back. The deep core muscles are involuntary, thus they are notoriously difficult to target and strengthen effectively. This is why 80% of the population suffers from back pain at some stage of their lives.

The Flexi-Bar can be used off the sports field and in the classroom by remedial departments and results in improved concentration, blood flow, oxygen intake, coordination, as well as right and left side brain stimulation.

Many schools in South Africa have joined the likes of some of the world’s top sporting teams such as Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Newcastle FC and a host of Olympic gold medallists, in choosing the Flexi-Bar tool to add to their existing sports-specific programme.

To order your Flexi-Bar and enquire about Flexi-Bar training sessions please visit www.flexi-sports.co.za  or call 021 683 9981. You can also follow Flexi-Bar on Facebook.

We are giving away a Kids Flexi-Bar, valued at R900, to one lucky reader. All you need to do is “like”  Super Mom Blog on Facebook and “like” Flexi-bar on Facebook. Please leave a comment on this blog, below the post, stating that you have completed the above, along with your details in the comment section below this post (please include your email address).

 

Competition Details:

  • This giveaway will run from Friday 20th July 2012, until the 27th July 2012. The winner will then be randomly selected and announced on my blog on the 28th July. The winners will also be notified via email that they have won.
  • The winner will receive 1 Kids Flexi-bar to the value of R900.
  • Please leave a comment on this blog, below the post, stating that you have completed the above; along with your details in the comment section below this post (please include your email address). If you do not complete this step your entry will not be valid.
  • Conditions of entry: Anyone may enter this giveaway but please advised that Flex-bar is situated in South Africa and the prize will only be shipped within South Africa.  The prize may not be exchanged for cash. 

This competition is closed

Children, Competitions, Family, Lifestyle, Parenting

Sleep Wizz Competition


I am sure as moms you have tried it all when it comes to soothing your baby, either trying to get them to sleep or simply calming a cranky baby. I found one thing that always worked for me when trying to calm my girls was music. I played music for them long before they were born and have very vivid memories of lagging a CD player everywhere we went, so that they would not be without their music!

Needless to say technology has moved on somewhat since then and Majors for minors have recently released a collection of music apps called Sleep Wizzz. These amazing apps are on hand no matter where you are: in the car, out at friends or travelling the world!

Sleep Wizzz is a collection of 3 apps designed to help the parent in forming a progressive calming environment to stimulate the baby or infant to a state of calm and eventually sleep. The music is designed with a specific tempo to echo the rhythm in the brain and the frequencies are in line with those of the sounds of the ocean or pink noise.”

The three apps are called Bedtime, Playtime and Storytime.

Bedtime

Playtime

Storytime

 

To find out more about the Sleep Wizz Apps you can pop over to their website or email them at [email protected]. You can also follow Majors for Minors of Facebook. Here are the links to the Products on iTunes: Bedtime, Playtime and Storytime.

Super Mom Blog love these apps so much that we are running a competition where 5 lucky winners can each receive a full download of the Sleep Wizzz app collection for iPhone/iPad.

All you have to do is answer one simple question:
Q: How many apps make up the Sleep Wizzz collection?

Please leave a comment on this blog, below the post, with your answer. Do not forget to also leave your details in the comment section (please include your email address). If you do not complete this step your entry will not be valid. Please tweet the competition to friends and family – win super sleep apps with @supermomsablog and @majorsforminors 

Competition Details:

  • The Sleep Wizz Competition will run from Wednesday the 11th July 2012, until midnight on the 25th July 2012. The winner/s will then be randomly selected and announced on my blog on the 26th July. The winner/s will also be notified by email that they have won.
  • Conditions of entry: Anyone may enter this giveaway but they will need to have an iPhone/iPad to be able to download the apps. The prize may not be exchanged for cash. Any person/s that have won a competition on Super Mom Blog in the last 3 months are not eligible for entry.
  • Winners will be sent redeemable coupons via email to access the full collection.

 

Be Inspired, Children, Family, Food, Healthy Eating, Kids Food, Reviews and Features

Fruit Pack

Today I am reviewing a great product for kids called Fruit Pack. As moms it can be a struggle to always have a healthy snack on hand where ever you go and Fruit Pack provides a solution to this dilemma. Fruit Pack is a new healthy fruit snack for children on-the-go, conveniently packaged in a fun, easy-to-use squeezable and resealable pouch. Made from 100% natural fruit with no added sugar, Fruit Pack contains no colourants, no flavourants and no preservatives.

Whether you’re travelling or at home, Fruit Pack’s healthy and delicious flavours can be enjoyed anywhere and make it easier for us parents to feed our kids better food when we’re out and about. Pouches are strong enough to be tossed into a handbag and compact enough to fit inside a pocket or lunchbox. Just twist off the cap and squeeze!


The packs are suitable for kids from the age of 10 months and there are three flavours to choose from. Each flavour has it very own personalised animal character, so not only are the packs nutritious but they are also fun. The flavours are Awesome Apple {Gina the Giraffe}, Strawberry & Banana {Mani the Monkey} and Apple & Pear {Eli the Elephant}.

So if you are looking for a convenient healthy alternative snack to pack in your bag for the little ones, for those unexpected moments or something extra to add to your kids lunch box, Fruit Pack is definitely something you should try. A great suggestion was to place the packs in the freezer, especially in summer so the contents will remain chilled and be a great refreshing alternative to Ice Lollies {less messy too} or fruit juice. Or my husbands idea was to use them when he goes on long cycles to replace electrolytes! Who said you needed to be a kid to enjoy Fruit Pack!

 

Cape Town Lifestyle, Children, Entertainment, Family, Kids Activities, Lifestyle

V&A Waterfront Kids Holiday Program

The midyear holidays will soon be upon us and if you are not jetting off to some faraway destination you will most definitely be interested the fantastic indoor children’s programme that the V & A Waterfront is offering.

From June 24 until July 15, a combination of free and affordable activities will be on the go daily from 10am until 5pm, for children aged four to nine years.

Barrow Court, in the heart of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre and adjacent to children’s retailers, is where pint-sized food lovers and blossoming eco artists should go to have a blast starting from July 3. The Waterfront’s Kids Ahoy play zone is offering one hour workshops, at R50 per child, where your littlies will be introduced to the fun side of food, arts and crafts.

Activities such as pancake decorating, craft making and even Mini Master Chef challenges, where children will learn how to make their own mystery main meal with pre-cooked ingredients or decorate desserts with filling, icing and fresh fruit, will entertain and delight while giving mom and dad an hour of their own time,” said Chantelle Cole, V&A Waterfront Executive Manager of Strategic Marketing. “At 4pm each day, there will be free puppet shows and an opportunity to meet Sam the Two Ocean Aquarium’s penguin mascot”.

From July 3 in the Red Shed, alongside the Cape Town Fish Market and Ster-Kinekor, kids will be entertained by qualified child minders with age appropriate toys and games for R30 an hour for up to two hours, freeing up parents to do their shopping or have a relaxed meal.

In the Craft Market, adjacent to the Two Oceans Aquarium, a one hour craft market, at R50 per child, will be hosted twice daily; parents are welcome to join in the fun. Plant Craft Mania at 1pm, will see children potting, planting, painting, platting, pressing, decorating and doing creative recycling, while animal craft creations at 3pm will spoil pets back at home with specially decorated drinking bowls and homemade bird feeders.

Children can make friends with ducklings, piglets, chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits at the Craft Market’s Petting Farm from 10.30am until 4.30pm daily. Entrance is R20 for all ages.

Children can also enter our ‘Mouse Explores the Waterfront’ colouring-in competition by collecting a sheet from Barrow Court, and completing it either at home or while at the V&A Waterfront and enter before July 22 to win great prizes such as a birthday party at the Two Oceans Aquarium valued at R 1 650, Happy Hopper Memberships or a Mini Master Chef DIY Cooking Hamper valued at R 500”, said Cole.

Space for all activities is limited and bookings can be made at the Waterfront Information Kiosk from June 23.

Other family friendly activities include favourites such as the Wheel of Excellence, the Jolly Roger pirate boat, Scratch Patch and cave golf.

To find out more about this amazing V&A Waterfront Kids Holiday Program visit their website – here.

Be Inspired, Charity, Children, Family, Life, Lifestyle, Out & About

Believe in Zero

There are many campaigns worldwide which focus on the wellbeing of children but one that touched my heart recently is the UNICEF “Believe in Zero” campaign. As a South African and a mother I feel that this is a message that needs to be heard by everyone, whether you are a parent or not! This is my chance to get the word out there and use my blog to support this cause and “Lead SA” for our children.

UNICEF is calling on all South Africans to unite behind the goal of zero violence against children. In the run up to Child Protection Week (28 May- 3 June), its newly launched ‘Believe in Zero’ campaign highlights the role that everyone – not only the authorities – has to play in the protection of children.

South Africa’s levels of violence against children are among the highest in the world. Tens of thousands of children are victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation every year – and offenders often go unpunished,” says Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative.

Statistics from the South African Police Service confirm there were more than 54,000 reported crimes against children in 2010/2011; however, crimes against children are grossly underreported and the real figure is much higher.

Sexual offences make up about half of that figure, while around 30 per cent of these victims are under the age of 10 years. Research has shown that in most abuse cases, the offenders are known to the children.

UNICEF Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka has added her voice to the Believe in Zero campaign: Child protection starts with every one of us, as individuals – no matter who we are and where we live.”

UNICEF is driving the Believe in Zero initiative online. You can support the campaign and express your support on a specially designed Facebook app, here you can upload photos or videos, post messages and join UNICEF in the goal of zero child abuse.

Among those people who share their views through the app, one passionate supporter will be given the chance to take a field trip with UNICEF to see first-hand how the organisation works with partners – and children themselves – towards the fulfilment of child rights.

To find out more about Believe in Zero, or participate in the campaign, visit www.unicef.org.za or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: UNICEF

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