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You are here: Home / Archives for Family / Parenting

Children, Education, Family, Parenting, Parenting Advice

How to Spark your Child’s Physical and Intellectual Achievement

Do you want your child to develop a strong, agile, and healthy body? Do you wish your child could master the skills needed to excel at a variety of sports? I am sure all parents want their children to experience success and to have fun while they develop fine and gross-motor movements as well as good balance, co-ordination and rhythm. (Unfortunately many sports programmes for young children target one specific set of skills and are competitive and challenging in a way that could warp a child’s self-esteem or emotional development.)

Do you want to raise a creative child? One who can come up with amazing ideas, amuse himself, solve problems and enjoy the magical side of childhood? Of course you do! The problem is that these days it seems like every toy and every children’s programme focuses on education, not creativity.

The good news is that you can foster both the creative spark and the optimum physical development! Start by tweaking your attitude: the strict rules of rugby are great for the Springboks, and statements such as, “No, no, the sun should be yellow,” can either hinder a child’s willingness to participate in sport or halt creative thinking. Encourage participation and creativity by being open-minded and non-judgmental.

Participation in physical activities that are fun and non-threatening and also being involved with stimulating creative activities lets children develop their skills in a way that works for them. Physical and intellectual development are often closely intertwined. Even 6 year-olds can do basic multiplication – they often figure it out on their own through playing games.

Here are ways to spark both the physical and intellectual development of your child:
1. Free play Open up some time for free play – just relax and let your children play as children. Avoid complicated toys; rather, opt for things such as building blocks, dough, a ball, a hoop, a Frisbee, crayons and paper or just kitchen utensils. Free play is about letting children solve their own problems, as opposed to showing them what the answer is.

2. Music – music is fun! Children respond immediately to music. Encourage them to sing, dance and try their hand at various instruments. Dancing or moving to music is great exercise too!

3. Story Telling Every child loves books, and every parent loves a child who reads: they’ll do well in school. But books and stories are also a great source of creative fun. When children learn they have the ability to take stories off the page, they feel empowered to let their own amazing ideas take over. Children of almost any age have the ability to compose their own stories; they just need some encouragement from you.

4. Drawing, Colouring and Crafts Isn’t doing crafts just creative by nature? Not always. Choose hands-on projects that include a component that your child contributes. Sometimes that’s as basic as choosing the colours they wish (No, the sky does not have to be blue!), or doing a project where you don’t have to follow the instructions word-for-word to get a fun result.

5. Outdoor games: With basic equipment and fine weather, your child will enjoy simple physical games! Use a hula hoop, a Frisbee, a skipping rope, a ball balanced on an empty coffee tin to aim at and hit with a pool noodle for a bat. Create a target and let him throw balls of different sizes, shapes and colours. Set up a series of 5 small objects on the lawn about 1,5 meters apart – in a straight line – and a target or goal at the end. Give your child a ball (preferably a small soccer ball), and ask him to control the ball with his feet only, weaving in and out of the line of objects. Once he reaches the last object, he must take aim and kick the ball into the goal.

Every child possesses unique talents and unlimited potential. It is up to us – parents and educators – to identify, nurture and develop those latent talents. However, with such busy lifestyles and demanding careers, parents often do not have the energy, the expertise or the time!

“Beyond Potential” is a group of ex-teachers (and present parents) who understand too well the rigors of modern parenting. They have created an innovative programme with the specific aim to help parents and teachers in their challenging task – to stimulate a child’s imagination & creativity, enhance perceptual, physical and cognitive skills – while the child experiences fun, excitement and discovery!

The Programme is for children aged 2 – 10, and consists of:

  • “Buzzi Brains” = Educational Games, Stories and Discussion, Arts and Crafts, Fun, mind-stretching Activities and Brain Gym.
  • “Buzzi Bodies” = All the skills needed to excel at sport in Primary school. (Soccer, Cricket, Tennis, Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Golf, Rhythmic gymnastics and Athletics.) Develops gross & fine motor movement, balance, locomotion, spatial relationships, co-ordination, rhythm & timing, strength and flexibility.
To find our more about Beyond Potential and other products that they offer click over to their website here.

Disclaimer: The above article was supplied to Super Mom Blog for publication by Beyond Potential.

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Babies, Children, Family, Parenting, Parenting Advice

What is Colic?

What is colic? Well besides for being a nonsensical, immensely frustrating condition that tiny babies suffer from and something sent to test a parents every reserve. Colic is up there with myths and legends and things like UFO’s and Big-foot  and nobody really knows why it happens to seemingly happy babies and although people tell you about it, you can only truly understand it, if happens to you.

Unfortunately doctors don’t know what causes colic, what the disorder is, or how to cure it. It is also uncertain whether colicky babies are in pain but what they do know, is that colic does not indicate the presence of a serious medical problem. It is maintained that a certain amount of crying is normal and healthy for a baby.

Infantile colic is most common in the first few weeks, to four months of a baby’s life; rarely does it endure past six months of age. Paediatricians often use the “Rule of Three” to diagnose colic: “A baby that cries for three or more hours per day, at least three times per week, within a three-month period”. {Wess, et al., “Paroxysmas fussing in infancy.” Pediatrics 1984:74:998.} About 25 percent of babies worldwide meet the official “Rule of Threes” criteria for medical diagnosis of colic.

What are the signs of colic:

Some of the more common signs are – Constant crying, tongue-trusting, irritability, abdominal bloating, frequent yawning, back and neck arching, spitting-up, blueness around the mouth, mottled skin.

Realistically you may spend every waking hour, either in your paediatricians office or on the internet searching for answers, as to what colic is or how to cure it but may never get the satisfactory answers or results you actually want or need. As my paed told me many years ago – “you will have tried every medical potion and in the end your baby will have naturally grown out of that phase of its life”.

What are the potential causes or triggers of colic in a newborn:

  • Newborns have an immature digestive system that has never processed food. The gastrointestinal system is literally just learning to function. Muscles that support digestion have not developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently thought the digestive tract. Additionally, newborns lack the benevolent bacterial flora (probiotics) that develop over time to aid digestion. This explains why almost all infants outgrow colic within the first six months.
  • It is also thought that certain foods eaten by mothers while breastfeeding contain volatile chemicals and allergens that in a small percentage of infants result in colic discomfort and upset a babies digestive system. It is possible that while breastfeeding certain trace elements of cruciferous vegetables and other gas-producing foods may be passed via breast milk to baby and cause gas and bloating.
  • Other factors that can cause colic are: hunger, overfeeding, swallowed air, the ingredients and the reconstitution of formulae could also be an issue.

There are many different trains of though as to what the best cure or remedies are to alleviate colic, so I thought I would share a few of these with you:

  • Mix a small amount of Rooibos (South African tea) with breast or formula milk for the colicky baby.
  • Drink one cup of chamomile tea a day as long as you are breastfeeding your baby. CAUTION: Do not give chamomile to a baby because it can cause an allergic reaction.
  • Other tea remedies for breastfeeding moms to drink,  to alleviate colic symptoms are fennel seed tea and peppermint tea, which help to calm and sooth immature digestive systems and provide some relief from gas and bloating.
  • Products such as Colic Calm Gripe Water, Bennetts Colic Remedy, Colief Infant Drops. {there are many more but these are the ones I know of}
  • Homeopathic remedies such as Mag Phos and Chamomilla/Millefolium drops may help reduce the spasms and cramps.
  • Limiting the amount of stimulation that your baby is exposed to can also reduce the symptoms of colic.
  • Baby massage is also a great way to alleviate colic and reduce pain caused by bloating and it also soothing for your baby and massage can also help them sleep more peacefully. {This was a remedy that I found really worked for me – the pic above is off my youngest enjoying a baby massage!}
  • Chiropractic manipulation is also thought to help relieve colic, this is not something that I ever tried but many moms use this with great results.
  • Changes made to a mothers diet while breastfeeding can also reduce colic symptoms in a baby.
  • The last resort and a sometimes necessary option is medication, which you can obtain with prescription from your doctor or over-the-counter from your pharmacist.
Most importantly is that you seek professional help if the natural remedies do not work for your baby and remember to try one remedy at a time, to establish exactly what works and what does not. Also remember to look after yourself, a frazzled mom or dad is no good to anyone. Have a good support system and seek the help and advice of care givers such as midwives, clinic sisters or other moms that have been through this before – even if it is just to have someone to talk to.

I would love to hear from you – if you have any other colic remedies or would like to share your experience with us, please leave a comment below this post.

Source: Colic Calm, Baby Sense

Images are all property of ©Super Mom Blog please do not copy them or use them without written consent.

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Children, Family, Mothers, Parenting, Reviews and Features

Gembox

 

Today I am introducing you to Gembox by Gemgem. Gembox is a beautiful customised sample box for mom and baby, giving moms access to some of the best of or newly available baby products to trial. The best part is you can try out these products in the comfort of your own home, as Gembox is delivered directly to your door!

Developed with mom’s in mind, each month Gembox curates a themed-box, this month, September, the theme was Pampertime, in addition to your monthly goodies a few luxury pamper products were added to the box! The monthly products selected help address new challenges that mom’s may face and the various developmental stages of their baby.

Gembox source the best possible products available, ranging from independent local manufactures to big brands and products include items that are organic and suitable for sensitive skin.

What can you expect from your monthly Gembox:

  • You will discover 4-5 baby care and mom wellness samples to pamper you and your baby.
  • The personally curated monthly box themes make discovering new products fun.
  • Each month’s selection stays a secret until your box arrives – everybody loves a surprise!

You can subscribe to Gembox on a monthly basis for R99 (including delivery) or buy a three, six or 12-month subscription for at a discounted rate. To find out more about Gembox and how to order click here and you can follow them on Facebook here.

Images: Gembox, Super Mom Blog

If you are interested in your brand or service being feature on Super Mom Blog please email us for a costing and further details.

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Children, Family, Parenting, Parenting Advice

Parenting With Purpose

 

Are you parenting with purpose?

Before I get into more detail let’s look at my parenting journey. I was a fairly young parent starting out, something that I am truly grateful for, but I do realise most have very little control over this. Having a baby, like most other things, came easy to me; no great fuss, we decided we wanted a baby and it pretty much happened instantly. Great you may think but sometimes you get more than you bargain for! I have never been the most patient person and I guess I am rather selfish by nature, so my introduction into parenthood was anything but smooth. In actual fact I fought it all the way but being young it meant that life could still kick the stubbornness out of me. I was gifted with a perfect baby girl who made it her life mission to challenge all the parts of me that needed it.

The early weeks of being a new parent were probably the most difficult adjustment I have had to make in my life. You are thrown into an unknown world with little or no preparation for what you are doing. Normal daily functions become a luxury (even eating a meal is a challenge) and sleep you can forget about completely! It is amazing what sleep deprivation can do to a person. My early days of being a mom are somewhat of a blur. Certain things I think I have chosen to block from my memory but what I can say for sure is that I have grown immensely as a parent and a person since those early days.

We have moved on somewhat since those early days, two children later and hopefully a fair amount wiser! I do feel that it is valuable to take stock and assess how far I have come as a parent and for that matter as a person! So what kind of parent am I? Well I am neither a helicopter parent, who watches their child’s every move, nor am I the standby and watch-it-happen-type. I feel that I am somewhere in the middle. My decision quite a while ago was never to push my children into things they did not want to do. Do not get me wrong, I care very much whether my children succeed or fail but they need to choose what they fail or succeed at. I once made the fatal error of encouraging (ok pushing!) my eldest to take dance lessons, until one day I enquired whether she was enjoying it. Her little face turned to mine with a rather anxious expression “no mom” – when I asked why she was doing dancing if she was not enjoying it, her very innocent but alarming response was “I am doing it for you”!!!

This event was all the wakeup call I needed; my decision from that day forward was to never push my children but rather to encourage them. I see it every day, parents pushing and driving their children to the brink of near exhaustion, trying to be the best at everything. You really have to ask yourself whether it is all worth it? Will it make them better people in the long run? Probably not; very successful possibly, but well-rounded I don’t think so!

So what am I getting at? Well when I started out as a parent I had no idea where I wanted my parenting journey to lead to, but along the way I have come to realise that my duty as a parent is to be an advisor rather than a dictator, which does not come easy to me because I like to be in control. It may not be perfect but I want to let my children experience life for themselves, not some version that I have orchestrated for them.

Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself. ~ Deborah Reber, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

Teaching our children to be independent and stand on their own two feet will better equip them for life once they have to face the big wide world on their own. As parents we need to be on hand and ready to pick up the pieces if necessary but it is by living life that lessons are learned.

Parenting with purpose is something I am very passionate about and while I may not be a professional or do not have all the answers, I do feel that I have knowledge to impart and want to share my insights with you in the hope that it will be of some help in your parenting journey!

I would love hear from you – what has been the hardest part of your parenting journey and what has it taught you?

Too read more of my parenting insights click here

 

 

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Cape Town Lifestyle, Events, Family, Lifestyle, Out & About, Parenting, Parenting Advice

Parenting Hub Breakfast Event

Parenting Hub are hosting a breakfast talk and workshop, on understanding early childhood developmental stages, on the 18th September, from 9-11am. If you would like to book a seat please email Shirley at [email protected]

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Meet Fiona Rossiter

Hi, I am Fiona Rossiter, from Cape Town, the writer and photographer behind Inspired Living SA Blog. If you love good Food and Wine, reading amazing Travel Adventures, keeping Fit and Healthy, as well following Decor Trends – then Inspired Living SA is just the place for you! Read More…

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