Parenting & Family

While most parents prefer not to think of their children in potentially life-threatening situations, being prepared and knowing how to respond appropriately in the event of an accident, injury or illness is crucial for the well-being of children. These unexpected events can also place huge financial burdens on families if …

Vacations are time for family members to unwind, reconnect and create lifetime memories away from the pressures of everyday life. However, for divorced families who co-parent, vacations usually need concerted effort for them to become successful. Many divorced families with young children choose to forget about their differences for a …

There are a lot of benefits from putting on a baby registry. You’ll make sure that you get the things that you’ll need the most and you won’t have everybody getting you the same things. For instance, you may have your heart set on some baby baseball toys but don’t …

Few issues vex the parents of babies and toddlers more than their child’s struggles to sleep well.  It’s debilitating for the whole family, and tightly stretches the emotional resources of parents, who are battling the consequences of their own sleep deprivation.  Sleep time is the body’s time not just for …

With the Winter school holidays here, kids and teens now have ample time on their hands to spend online. But regardless of whether they are on social media, gaming, or just browsing the Web, parents need to be aware of the digital dangers that lurk on the web and what …

Independent play is when children play by themselves. It is an important way for your child to learn, gain independence and explore the world around them. Here’s what parents need to know about independent play. What’s So Important About Independent Play? We often wish that our kids would play on …

It’s that time of year again. The kids are on holiday, which means that if they aren’t booked into the school’s holiday programme, they’re going to be home for a few weeks. And they’re going to run out of things to do, leaving them free to get up to mischief. …

Some children seem to be born with healthy self-esteem while others need a bit of encouragement. Your child’s emotional well-being directly influences their physical health. A strong sense of self can help your child to be more resilient emotionally when he encounters obstacles along the way, or when things don’t …

Loving our kids is easy… keeping pain and fever at bay? That’s harder. But here’s the secret: It doesn’t have to be! When your baby or infant has a fever, turn to conveniently packaged Panado® Paediatric Syrup, Peppermint 5 ml Sachets. Parenting is a rollercoaster. One minute you’re pacing from room to …

Recent studies conducted internationally, on over 80 0000 children, have shown that depression and anxiety amongst children and young teenagers has increased by more than 25% since the start of the Covid19 global pandemic – signalling a global health crisis in the youth. Anxiety is a normal human emotion that …

Many parents find their children lagging in focus and mental energy around the end of the second school term.  This may well be exacerbated in 2022, as the first full year after intense COVID disruptions unfolds.  It’s not just the South African winter blues, kids, worldwide, have felt the stresses …

Screens have become ubiquitous among young children, whose often exhausted parents need their child entertained and engaged while they work, go out or take some much-needed me-time. Whereas parents used to lug around huge bags filled with toys in the past, these have now been replaced by bright, responsive and, …

Father’s day is around the corner, and if you’ve not yet decided on what to buy your husband or Dad for father’s day, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few of my top suggestions for last minute Fathers Day gifts. 3 Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts 2022 Mantality Braai …

Online schooling is on the rise in South Africa, and more families are opting for the flexibility and other benefits of at-home learning.  However, it’s important for parents to be mindful of providing a child-friendly workspace that is conducive to learning.  A safe, comfortable and well-organised environment is essential for …

If you want to raise avid readers in your home this post is for you. Plenty of research suggests kids who learn to read books from a young age can enhance their cognitive and verbal abilities. Reading offers an essential relaxing activity for children. It is an excellent way to …

Former secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, once said that “Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realise his or her full potential,’’ yet for millions of South African children, that …

While science has taught us never to underestimate the power of germs, sometimes these microscopic critters are simply too crafty, even for the most stringent germ detective. Is Winter To Blame For Childhood Colds? Welcome to winter – the season of snuggles, bear hugs, hot chocolate, colds, and flu! Of …

A healthy lunchbox with the right foods is crucial for children to have energy to play, concentrate and learn all day. From around the age of three, children start being vocal about their food preferences. Unfortunately, what they want to eat is not always nutritious, which makes a healthy lunchbox …

Most of our children are online every day.  The number of mobile devices in the hands of South African children rises year on year at almost every age point between 8 and 18 years of age.  None of this is surprising; the digital component of all our lives is ever-increasing …

One of the things that I struggle with on a daily basis is feeling overwhelmed with the amount of things that I need to get done in a day. It is not just the amount of things, it is a wide variety of things that I need to keep track …