Parenting & Family

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 Whereas parents used to lug around huge bags filled with toys in the past, these have now been replaced by bright, responsive and, …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 …

The best online games for kids will be ones that your kids enjoy, as well as teach them something along the way. While it’s true that screen time must be closely monitored and too much screen time is not good for kids, there are many amazing benefits of playing online …

French is the fifth most spoken language globally, with 280 million speakers. French is one of the official languages of the United Nations and the European Union and is an official language in 29 independent nations. If you want to teach your child the French language to reconnect them with …

Critical thinking is one of the essential life skills parents can teach their young children. It helps them analyse situations in the best possible way and equips them with problem-solving skills. But, what really is critical thinking? Critical thinking is a process by which young children can learn how to …

The weekday challenge is all about finding the balance between our work, school, home and family demands.  Facing severe time constraints and competing agendas, we have to still find the smart ways to help our kids eat well, avoid unnecessary snacking and be as physically active as possible during the …

It’s true: Babies don’t come with manuals. So, if your baby spikes a fever and appears to be in pain, it’s natural for even the calmest of moms and dads to panic. When your baby or infant has pain and fever, turn to recently launched and conveniently packaged  Panado® Paediatric …

Barefoot is best for little feet but there are times where shoes have to be worn for protection. These need to be as natural and simplistic as possible so that toddlers’ feet can do what they are naturally meant to do and develop correctly. John and Nicole van Besouw noticed …

As per reports, newborn babies and toddlers tend to sleep 80% of their time. The amount and quality of sleep influence their cognitive and physical development. That is why using comfortable, yet soft bedding is essential for babies. Even the smallest of noise is a disturbance to the sleep of …

Any parent will tell you that babies use a lot of diapers, especially during the first few weeks after birth. Many parents decide to stockpile nappies before the baby arrives to be prepared. Deciding on how many nappies are needed and what brands to buy can be overwhelming, particularly with …

As a new parent, one of the first important decisions you will have to make is what your baby should wear for their blessing ceremony. Whether your child is a boy or a girl, it’s important to choose something that is comfortable and looks good on your precious little one. …