How do we survive the festive season without getting stressed out? - a question to ChatGPT

Karen December 2022

A simple question, and I am sure the Internet is the virtual sphere full of advice. 

Open AI ChatGPT gave me the perfect answer, and I am copying here. Try a few questions yourself. It's fun, and surprisingly very accurate! 

How do we survive the festive season without getting stressed out?

The festive season can be a stressful time for many people, especially with the added pressure of gift-giving, social obligations, and financial concerns. Here are a few tips that may help you navigate the season with less stress:

1. Set realistic expectations: It's important to remember that the holidays don't have to be perfect. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to create the "perfect" holiday experience.
2. Plan ahead: Make a schedule or to-do list and try to stay organized. This can help you stay on top of tasks and reduce stress.
3. Take breaks: Make sure to take breaks and make time for self-care. This can include activities like exercise, meditation, or simply taking a few minutes to relax and unwind.
4. Be mindful of your budget: It's easy to overspend during the holidays, which can lead to financial stress. Make a budget and try to stick to it.
5. Don't overcommit: It's okay to say no to social invitations if you are feeling overwhelmed. It's important to prioritize your own well-being.
6. Seek support: If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to reach out to friends, family, or a mental health professional for support.

Tips for parents for Grade 4 Exams

Miss Fine

We are beginning to breathe. The end of the Grade 4 exams are in sight. Friday will be the last subject. I read my previous posts about Grade 4 exams, and realise we go through the same motions each time. But it gets better!

I was really worried about these last exams. We did not prepare as much as we would love. Notice the "we" as the parents were still greatly involved in the process of learning. We both stepped in, and tried to help. It is not always easy when you try to help, and the recipient of the help knows better most of the times.

Amazingly, Miss Fine found her groove. It helps that she gets to stay at school (we don't have any other choice). She summarizes her subjects at school, and then we are able to check her knowledge at night. We are so impressed with her!
Here I was dreading this week, and when I pick her up I hear that she has gone through her work at least once! *Happy dance!*

I am so proud and so relieved!
Grade 4 was difficult! But she made it!

I have picked up some tips on how to cope as parents when helping a Grade 4 preparing for exams.

6 Tips on how to survive Grade 4 exams 

For parents of Grade 4 learners

• The earlier you start, the better. If you have difficulty in convincing them to start early, don't sweat it. The work can be done in two one day.
• Help, but also take a step away. They are supposed to start doing it on their own.
• Take turns as parents to help. It keeps frustration at bay.
• We set some goals. Do a page, and then we give you something/a surprise to do. Such as exercises, or jumping on the trampoline. (This really worked)
• Pull up your own exam papers for them to complete. It gives you insight in how much they know, and helps them to feel better about an upcoming subject.
• Give the responsibility back to the kid to learn. They may surprise you. 

Well done, Miss Fine!
You are so fine!

Photo at Kwenyani Guest house this past weekend. We attended a wedding in Roodeplaat on Saturday.

Jodene Shaer tips for using Twitter effectively

Notes to increase Twitter success

Jodene Shaer believes that if it was not for Twitter, her career would have not been so successful. As with all social media platforms, Twitter is changing constantly. Business owners and social media users need to be constantly aware of these changes and how to make full use of Twitter.

Jodene Shaer's tips on how to improve Facebook engagement in 2018, as well her tips for Instagram success have already been shared on the blog. She keeps up with the latest developments, and were kind enough to share some of her Twitter tips at the recent MamaMagic New Products Awards.

Jodene Shaer Tips for Instagram success in 2018

MamaMagic Awards at Emoyeni Estate

Jodene Shaer gave interesting tips about social media at the recent MamaMagic New product Awards recently. The post on Facebook tips on how to increase engagement is already live on the blog.The social media sphere is changing constantly, and we have to keep up with constant changing algorithms.

Instagram has BOOMED, and social media influencers and brands cannot ignore this powerful platform. Here's some tips by Jodene Shaer. (I am copying from my cryptic notes)

TIPS ON INSTAGRAM SUCCESS

Instagram tips by Jodene Shaer

1. Use visually strong images.

2. Don't brand the images too heavily. The authenticity of the image is the most important.

3. Always include the event and brand hashtag in Instagram posts.

4. Use at least 15 hashtags in a post. Also use the hashtags with less than 1 million images related to it. Instagram does not give visibility to the higher related hashtags. The smaller rations get better reach.

5. Don't copy and paste your hashtags. It is seen as spam.

6. Tag relevant brands and people in the image.

7. Create Instastories. Use the location tag and the hashtag on the story to increase reach.

8. Follow back to create community.

9. Respond to comments. This is most important. Instagram is all about engagement.

 Thanks, Jodene!


What tips have you picked up about Instagram that we should know for future success?


Related post:

How to improve Facebook engagement in 2018 - Jodene Shaer

How to improve Facebook engagement in 2018 - Jodene Shaer

MamaMagic New Product Awards at Emoyeni Estate

MamaMagic is not only known for the MamaMagic exhibitions throughout the country. It has become a powerful platform partnering with the best products and people - from pregnancy to parenting babies and children. It is a platform to kick start new products and to empower the skill set necessary to drive this innovative growing industry.

Milestones magazine by MamaMagic - New Products Awards event

The MamaMagic New Products Awards Ceremony for 2017 was held at the beautiful Emoyeni Estate last week. It is always exciting to see the products, and meet inspiring people. Last week did not disappoint. Jodene Shaer from Chat Factory was there to get the business owners up to speed with what's happening in the social media sphere. Of course everything has changed again this year, and you can't be doing social media the same as previously!  Jodene has most of the answers for most of the platforms, and we need to know what to do differently this year. Facebook has changed their algorithms considerably. I share some of her insights about FB here!

How to cope with the first day back at school?

Holiday memories

This has been the longest school holidays ever! We did not do all the Johannesburg Staycation Wish-list things we wanted to, but it was awesome taking a break. The children are only going back to school tomorrow. It's already past the half-way mark of January.

We will miss the relaxed days of holidays, and not sticking to a fixed routine. Miss loves going to bed later, and sleeping until the sun is in the 9th hour quadrant already! We also love sleeping later (at least 30 minutes later), and not having to dodge the early morning traffic. Tomorrow it's a thing of the past! "Sigh!"

But, sticking to my "positive" word of the year, I have to grab this year by it's Grade 4 horns. Miss is apprehensive about this year, and after a school meeting with the prospective Grade 4 parents, we are also worried aware of the challenges! (Help!?)

Summer Coughs and Prospan - Giveaway

Prospan Cough Syrup

Is a summer cough normal? 

Apparently, summer comes with it's own challenges. That's why we are still struggling with runny noses and coughing at night. There's nothing more exasperating than those coughs that keeps a Little Miss awake! You would think that the heat and bright summer days would chase away all the bugs and that we would get a breather from the winter. But, no! We are struggling to put her to bed at night...
(Which means we do not get a wind-down time at night before going to bed ourselves! Which means we, the parents, are also more tired that usual!)

Prospan sent me a goody package, as well as the same giveaway package to give to one reader!

Some tips on how to treat a summer cough...

How to make every moment count as a working mother - 5 tips

Being a working mother and juggling the rat race of city life are difficult, and I don't think we can have it all!
I am giving myself some grace as I am getting older and "wiser" (sic! Laughing at myself here!)
I try my best to make the moments count, and I do not beat myself up when I "fail"! I try harder the next time!

But there are definitely some ideas to consider to make moments count! Janice Windt, the managing director of The Working Mothers Expo, suggests 5 ways to make every moment count as a working mother.

1) Prioritise.  
What is most important to you? Do more of that and less of everything else...

2) Clear your diary. 
Just say no. Be on time for the kids. (It definitely goes with priorities and making your children the number 1 priority!)

3) Pause to breathe. 
Do the things that makes you happy, like reading, long baths or time-outs! Whatever!

4) Sing. 
The advice is to sing, even though you are not very good at it! My Little Miss does not appreciate my singing at all, and usually asks me to stop. But maybe it will work for you? ;-)

5) Sign up for the Working Mothers Expo VIP Waiting List and book your diaries for the  Working Mothers Expo, brought to you in partnership with MiWay Life, bringing together everything a working mother needs under one roof at the Sandton Convention Centre.


How do you make the moments count as a working mother?





Read more on this article: 5 Ways to make every moment count as a working mother

The Working Mothers Expo, brought to you in partnership with MiWay Life, brings together everything a working mother needs under one roof on 4-6 November at the Sandton Convention Centre.  Take a step back from your hectic schedule, make some time to reflect, hear an inspiring speaker, indulge in some retail therapy and connect with other working mothers. We would like to create some dedicated time in your schedule that is all about you.

Guidelines on choosing OT Toys and a give-away from Toy Kingdom

I don't know why I was so apprehensive about occupational therapy earlier? We did the school readiness assessments that highlighted some issues that needed to be addressed. I was questioning "How much therapy is needed when there was no need in the first place?" (Ha! Laughing at myself now!) But we did the sessions with Little Miss, until the final OT therapy, and I know we definitely did the right thing! Little Miss is doing very well at school!

Our kids do not get to play as much as they should any more, and they spend far too much time with electronic devices and watching television. A recent research publication in Britain identified that 25% of children aged 2-5 years have smartphones, while 56% are aged 10-13 years. More scary results of studies in the US revealed that over a third of children under the age of 1 year are using smart devices.

I would not mind taking my child for more OT therapy sessions. The OT therapist never used the same OT toy or technique with each session. I was amazed with the variety of toys she had available.

I am extremely pleased to hear that Toy Kingdom places strong importance on using educational toys to help children develop the skills needed to participate in their environment.
Grant Webster, COO of Toy Kingdom, says “Keeping traditional educational toys in the home for playtime is becoming increasingly important in this day and age of electronic devices, so that children can still spend time developing the basic skills associated with play.”

There are different types of toys that can assist in a child’s development at home.


Guidelines of what sorts of toys are suitable to assist in building skills:


Toys that encourage problem solving

Children’s motor and problem solving skills should be encouraged, as it gives them a chance to try and figure things out for themselves.
Examples: Lego and building blocks
Toys that will help build strength in children’s hands. (Prerequisite for writing)
Example play dough scissors.

A ZOOB creation by Little Miss

Smart Logic Game - Anti-Virus

Things that feel ‘weird’
Toys with sticky or slimy surfaces help children to experiment with texture.


Toys that require the use of both hands
Using both hands well can help with colouring, cutting and writing.
Examples: Winds up toys; simply tossing and catching a ball.


Toys that encourage pretend play
Fantasy and play stimulate creativity as well as social skills in children.
Example: Toy Kingdom’s Shopkins range is a perfect set-up for children to play with pretend food and enjoy make-believe scenarios.

Because toys are so expensive, it is definitely a bonus if it addresses developmental needs as well. Even more so when we can strike a balance between screen time and play time with challenging toys!

Play area at Toy Kingdom

One reader can win a Toy Kingdom voucher of R750 to spend on OT toys available at Toy Kingdom in South Africa. There are 12 stores in South Africa already!

I have saved a list of the OT Toys from Ideal Cycle Toys at Toy Kingdom on Google Drive.
It is only a small selection of the OT toys that are available at Toy Kingdom.
Unfortunately this give-away is only open to South African readers.
The Rafflecopter will close at 12 am on 20 April.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

We got R1500 to spend on OT toys. A lovely lady Siza helped us at Toy Kingdom Cresta to select. We selected The Smart Logic Game - Anti-Virus, Zoob building pieces and Grammar Wise. I will do a follow-up with these specific toys, with another give-away next week.

Good luck!

The three most important things to handle a melt-down

It is no secret that Little Miss has really struggled with melt-downs, and we are not out of the woods yet...

Although it is MUCH better!

Her teachers have always said that she is "over-emotional" or most recently that she is a very "sensitive soul". They seem to manage her very well when it gets too much! (So lucky to have such great teachers!) 

We have also learnt to handle it better!

The 3 most important things to handle a melt-down:

1. She is unable to process the situation. She is not naughty! She needs your help and understanding and sympathy! Sit with her when she allows you or calls to you!

2. It is not about you, the adult/parent! She is not trying to defy you! Don't make it about you!

3. Learn her coping mechanisms, but not while the melt-down is in progress. Discuss coping mechanisms such as time-outs/hitting of cushions/screaming. She gets to choose her own coping mechanism for next time!

What coping mechanism can you recommend for that melt-down of tantrum?

The post about the traffic and how to survive it

In February each year we notice a drastic change in our traffic! Maybe it's the universities that are starting with classes, or everybody is back from their holidays? Who knows? But we have to get up earlier to get away earlier!

I spent roughly two to two and half hours each day in traffic. Some days it really gets to me, as I am of the opinion that it impacts on my quality of life!
Maybe it is just a perspective that I should change? (I need to put "perspective change" on the list!)

I am surprised at how bad our manners are in traffic. We all get to deal with examples each day.
Last week I was speechless. I was in a parking mall, and spotted an opening. There were two open parking areas in front of each other. The lady from the other side went in first, and I thought I would give her time to park before I went in from my side. She saw me! She drove through to my side, did not look at me, and walked away! I did hoot and I did shake my hands, but I was only giving myself the "lecture"! (*Speechless!*)

I came to the realization that although I hate the traffic, I have made it better for myself by changing small things. These are the things that I do that keeps me sane!


How to survive the traffic in Gauteng

- Change your perspective about looking at the Traffic as "Bad"! (This needs a bit of mental work from myself!)

- Listen to the radio, a podcast or an audio book.
I personally love the radio, as I get updates on the news, love the music and listen to radio that makes me laugh! I switch constantly between 3 radio stations, at least!

- The Waze app helps to notify of hazards and heavy traffic and it knows of all the side roads to take. How did I do it before this little magician?

- Do not get upset with the taxis. I even give them space when they are near! They have to stop and cut in because they have people to upload and off-load! The other day we also heard on 94.7 that the taxi drivers get a low basic salary, and they have to meet quotas each day! That's why they are speeding, overtaking and ignoring traffic rules! (Not that it should be a reason to ignore traffic rules!)
I noticed that most people don't hoot at them anymore. It's part of South African life!
It really helps to calm the commute when we give them "space"!

- A Drink. I have found Rooibos tea to be very beneficial, but coffee or a smoothie also makes a difference!

- Discussions with passengers. I love talking to my passenger in the afternoon! That's where I learn about her day and also pick up great anecdotes from her perspective. I see it as a great way to connect!



Do you have more coping tips for handling the traffic?


Related posts:

- Traffic and floods - I wish there was an Auntie Traffic

- Practising the finger

A Mom's guide to travel the world with kids - Johannesburg included #Kindle

Around the World with Kids

This very practical guide has been compiled by local moms from  each of the 20 cities.

Guess who contributed to the South African part! This Mom, Karen du Toit!
I have actually forgotten about, but it finally saw the light of day! I was glad to see that the suggestions are still valid, and I have Maropeng included in the list!

The following cities are included: London, Frankfurt, Rome, Zurich, Paris, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Toronto, Mumbai, Delhi, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Wellington, Dubai and of course, Johannesburg!

- This is a  very practical travel guide full of doable recommendations and tips from moms living in the cities!
- It is a great way to introduce your kids to the cities
- It includes tourist favourites in the cities included!

Save-a-Bundle ideas for the New Year

I am re-posting this blog post to help me get into the saving groove for the New Year!

Written By:  Karen du Toit

Brand: Budget Insurance

We are feeling the pinch even more this year!

I do not think it is only us, as I have heard many expressing the same misgivings about the exorbitant nature of this time of the year. We have to survive the festive season, but also be able to cope in the New Year which has its own demands.

• Hubby is still busy getting his business off the ground. 
• The Student is going to do a post-graduate diploma next year, and we do not have the luxury of a bursary any more next year! 
• Little Miss wants to start with music lessons on top of her other extra-murals. 
• We are planning a trip to visit my brother in America in the middle of 2015! We have to start “saving”! My sister believes you just put down the date and make it happen. We have! (Take note, Universe!)

I have compiled a list of things we can do to save-a-bundle this period, but also try to help us get into the groove of the New Year and help us to stick to our New Year resolutions.


13 Save-a-Bundle tips:

    1. Cancel the gym contract

I am very sad about this one, but each month we try our utmost to get to the gym regularly, but each night there is a different reason (excuse). We are weak!

But it is costing us mega bucks when we do not go enough!

We are also cancelling the swimming lessons for Little Miss. We wanted her to be able to swim, and that she can do by now. We carried on with it because she enjoyed it so much, but luckily we could also convince her that she is now going to swim in a cold water pool which is not going to be as pleasant any more. (It worked!)

From now on we will walk/run and make an effort to go to a park/swimming pool! I have also activated my Fitbit again. (I had to replace the battery.) It helps in getting me moving.

     2. Cancel the paid television subscriptions, or scale down the bouquet

I do not have such an issue with this one, as I have been telling Hubby that I do not think it is worth it! We do not have the time to watch everything, but Hubby has always been saying that he still wants to watch that rugby match. (He longs for a time when he was single and could spend a whole weekend parked in front of the TV. Not happening!) It mostly never materialises because something usually happens at exactly the same time the rugby match is on.

       3. Only go to the shops once a week

I have been good with this one already. It helps because when I go to the shops I usually see something that I did not know before the time that I “needed”.

     4. Make our lunches at home

This is a no-brainer, but I tend to make Little Miss an elaborate lunch-box, but do not fix us something. Then we have to buy something at the canteen, or in the shops that is much more expensive. Planning here is the key!

     5. Restaurants

Painful! But we have to scale down considerably! We have to keep it to once-a-month, and not once-a-week.

We also have to have a plan in place for when the load shedding kicks in (it seems it is happening more regularly). We must have something in the “cupboard” and fridge to take out. We have a gas braai (barbecue), and Hubby usually doesn’t need a reason to braai.

     6. Activate all the reward systems possible

Banks and shops give rewards for shopping with them. One of my favourites is Dischem. We also get a R50 discount from Spur every so often. (Of course, from now, we are going to get it less!)

I also love the Edgars’ reward system.

I need to activate a couple of Spar cards, as well as activate my UCounts rewards.

Please let me know of other reward systems?

     7. Insurance

Check all our short term insurance again.

Budget Insurance has online insurance quotes with saving specials which are worth checking out!

     8. Scale down on coffee

I don’t have to go and buy coffee, but make do with the Ricoffy in the office. I have become better at not going to the canteen for my coffee fix, but I need to stop this practice to save a considerable amount in a month!

     9. Vacations/Stay-cations

Stay at the holiday destination (or home) and do not drive around as much. Explore all the opportunities in your immediate location. I will let you know how this one worked out. (*Crying!*)

   10. Cleaning up my budget from supporting representatives from selling products from brochures

It is usually much more expensive as you pay a commission fee on each product as well. From now on I will go and buy in the shops. (Sorry!)

   11. Free Christmas printables 

I saw this on Kidspot, and will definitely do it this year!

The following is available:

• Christmas templates
• Christmas gift list printable
• Printable Christmas budget planner
• Printable Christmas food shopping list
• Printable Christmas tags
• Free printable Christmas tags
• Printable Christmas colouring in tags
• Printable Christmas swing tags

   12. Limit the Christmas gifts budget

Only one toy/gift for the children, limited to a certain amount. The children don’t even question this. Hubby and I have also put a limit on our gifts to each other.

   13. Sign up for free edX or MOOC courses

I want to continue with some studies, but while I am not able to afford post-graduate studies or completing that Masters, I can sign up for free courses to keep me in the loop in my career and professional development.

edX 
MOOC 

This is my list for now. I am making it a work in progress.


Please let me know of other good save-a-bundle ideas?


This is a sponsored post

Save-a-Bundle ideas for the Christmas period and into the New Year

Written By: Karen du Toit

Brand: Budget Insurance

We are feeling the pinch even more this year!

I do not think it is only us, as I have heard many expressing the same misgivings about the exorbitant nature of this time of the year. We have to survive the festive season, but also be able to cope in the New Year which has its own demands.

• Hubby is still busy getting his business off the ground. 
• The Student is going to do a post-graduate diploma next year, and we do not have the luxury of a bursary any more next year! 
• Little Miss wants to start with music lessons on top of her other extra-murals. 
• We are planning a trip to visit my brother in America in the middle of 2015! We have to start “saving”! My sister believes you just put down the date and make it happen. We have! (Take note, Universe!)

I have compiled a list of things we can do to save-a-bundle this period, but also try to help us get into the groove of the New Year and help us to stick to our New Year resolutions.

Humour saves us from a full-blown toddler tantrum

Toddlers and tantrums are synonymous! (Heck, yes!)

And by now we have seen all the types and forms and manifestations of the worst of the worst of tantrums!

It is not a pleasant sight!
It does not help the harmonious atmosphere in any home!
And it is extremely embarrassing when out of the family home!

I don't know of how many times I have put on my straight face walking with a screaming toddler when it doesn't help to talk to her or try to calm her down. She gets even more upset! It only helps to pick her up and walk out of a situation at that point in time!

We as parents know when it is starting to build up to one:
- It starts with a whine...
- It starts with a "NO!"
- It starts with a mouth hanging upside down on the ground...
- It starts with a heap of toddler on the floor...
- It starts with a toddler, and no reason whatsoever (or one that we can fathom!)

We know all the signs of a threatening tantrum!

I have found one thing that works almost all of the times!
Making a toddler joke!

For example: When the Toddler is in the car and we are driving and she starts asking for something:
"I want a sweet from the shop!"
"Yes, we will buy a sweet the next time we are at the shops!"
"I want a sweet... (Repeat 50 times with increase in volume and whine!)
"Yes, we will buy next time!" (Repeat 50 times!)
When the pitch starts to change to tantrum mode, I usually ask her if I must stop on the pavement and get a sweet from the pavement / or from the man walking / or from the trees / or from the sky...
She answers with a laugh: "No, it is not there! We must get it in the shops!"
The joke averts the imminent tantrum, and she starts to focus on something else!
(Repeat)

It has helped me to not become too serious, and it also lightens the mood!

Now I only have to come up with funny creative retorts!
Any ideas?

Baby crib safety - 7 noteworthy tips

I wish I had known all these pointers when we were in the market for baby cribs!

I do get the shivers when I sometimes see how "lucky" we were.

Our child "survived" our parenting, but only from dumb luck.

I saw these tips over at Newborn Care

7 Tips for baby crib safety

1. Avoid SIDS by Eschewing Soft Bedding – The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that new parents eschew all crib bedding apart from a fitted sheet for the first twelve months of their baby’s life. Opting for wearable blankets rather than loose blankets and placing babies on their backs to sleep with no pillows or plush toys can prevent the risk of suffocation. If you do choose to use a blanket in your infant’s crib, the Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests positioning your baby so that her feet are touching the bottom rails of her crib, tucking the blanket in at the bottom and sides of the mattress, and only pulling the blanket up to her chest. Keep in mind that babies can overheat much more easily than adults, and you should use only lightweight blankets to ensure that she stays warm.

2. Make Sure Your Mattress Fits Tightly in the Crib – Your baby’s crib mattress should be firm, not soft, to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and suffocation. It should also fit tightly into the crib to prevent suffocation or entrapment between the mattress and the crib’s sides. Ideally, you should be able to fit no more than two fingers between the side of the mattress and the frame of the crib. The surface of the mattress shouldn’t conform to an adult hand when pressed into the mattress, and it should snap back into place as soon as the hand is removed.

3. Forgo the Antiques – The ornate, antique crib used by three generations of your family might be a beautiful piece of furniture, and every child that used it may have survived their infancy, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a safe choice. In addition to the unlikelihood of slats and bars being properly spaced on very old cribs, they may also feature drop sides, which have been banned, and even a layer or two of lead-based paint. Let good sense trump sentimentality, and choose a new crib that adheres to modern safety standards.

4. If You Do Choose Decorative Bedding, Play it Smart – If you simply can’t bear the idea of skipping the magazine layout-worthy crib bedding to show off Baby’s nursery to the fullest, be smart about your decision and make sure that the fitted sheet is snug, thin, and breathable. When it’s time to put your baby down, be sure to pull every pillow, stuffed toy, comforter and any other soft objects out of the crib first. Parents determined to have a nursery ready for photographs as well as a lowered risk of their baby suffering from SIDS, suffocation, or injury are forced to compromise in just such a manner, but can have the best of both worlds by playing it safe and smart.

5. Do Your Homework About Crib Bumpers – The city of Chicago has banned the sale of crib bumpers altogether, with advocacy groups across the country crying out for similar bans on a national level. Parents are largely divided into two camps these days: pro-bumper and anti-bumper. If you fall into the former, be sure to research the subject thoroughly and apprise yourself of all the risks before tying those bumpers onto Baby’s crib; namely, the risk of suffocation and the impediment of air flow in the crucial area at your baby’s face level on all four sides of her crib. Also, don’t be fooled into thinking that bumpers are safe once the threat of SIDS has largely passed; older babies and young toddlers have been known to use bumpers as a means of climbing out of their cribs, leading to messy falls and giving them access to dangerous situations. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have given crib bumpers a thumbs-down, so it might be wise to think twice before springing for those adorable but potentially-deadly accessories.

6. Do a Recall Check – Before purchasing nursery furniture or bedding, make sure that you check for any recalls; repeat these checks regularly after you’ve made your purchase as well to ensure that safety hazards haven’t been discovered since the last time you looked. The Consumer Product Safety Commission website is a great resource for recall information.

7. Afterwards - Parents should also take care to place cribs away from windows, and to secure blind cords and curtain ties to prevent strangulation.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Tips to improve school projects

We are side-stepping the start of the new term, and rush-hour traffic, and early morning trying-to-get-eyes-open times! We are still on the beach.

And we have a little one not yet into school projects....

But it won't be long before it will be time for us to know where to go for those important school projects. I don't think my saved-up Huisgenoots will do the trick anymore?

You tell me?

Taryn O'Brien from LiveWired send this to me on my email, and I thought it would be a good future refence for myself and those dreaded school projects.

"School projects can place their fair share of stress on children, not to mention parents. The standards set by schools for students to achieve top marks are higher than ever before, and students need to put in a great deal of effort if they want their project to stand out from the crowd.

Luckily, thanks to the internet, software applications, printing services and the likes, it’s relatively simple for children of all ages to produce colourful and creative projects from the comfort of their own homes. In addition, thanks to websites that offer downloadable templates and other tools of technology, costs can be kept to a minimum.

While toddlers and young children are easily distracted, help is at hand for mothers who are seeking activities that are both enjoyable and educational. The Internet provides a wealth of resources for younger children – think colouring templates that can be printed out for children to colour, paint or decorate. Websites such as “Kidopo” and “Twisty Noodle” offer hundreds of templates that are free to download and contain novel ideas such as alphabet pictures for colouring and a host of other concepts that make early learning fun.

There are a number of tools and methods that can be used to enhance the look and feel of projects for older children, adding an extra element of effort, in addition to a more lightheaded approach to the learning process.

To this end, the Kodak Express Store services can be used as to print your creative projects on canvas or textured paper, as well as to add photographs and colour into school projects. User friendly printing kiosks make uploading images for printing easy, which makes turning school projects into creative masterpieces that much easier. For more special projects, Kodak Express Stores even offer brilliant photo-book services that are wonderfully quick and easy to use.

It is also possible to make use of techniques such as scrapbooking, different types of paper and the like to add special points of interest to a project. It’s all about thinking creatively and taking a fresh approach to the usual one dimensional presentations that teachers have grown accustomed to receiving from their students. Ultimately, with a little time and effort, modern technology makes creating colourful and interesting school projects a simple, fun and cost effective process.

About Kodak

As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.To learn more, visit www.kodak.com and follow their blogs and more at www.kodak.com/go/followus."

 

Posted with Blogsy

Tips picked up while camping with a toddler

We went camping for a week during the December holidays. With The Toddler!

There are some tips I have mentally jotted down for myself to remember for next time... I was actually saying that I do not want to go camping very soon, but I looked through our photos again tonight...

I can do it again!

Tips for camping with a toddler:

1. When the first rain drops start to fall, run to the toilets. You may not get another chance for a very long time...

2. Make sure that your tents are not pitched down-hill. Our poor neighbours had a night of horror when all the water flowed into their tent.

3. Use a backpack for the toddler for hiking while it is still possible to carry them. It makes it a lot easier, although it can become quite heavy. We shared the burden (see photo above).

4. Wear the correct shoes at least, and don't forgot the sunscreen. I was amazed to see parents going on a hike with their children while they were running barefoot.

5. Don't pack too many outfits for the toddler. Waste of space... Our toddler kept on wearing her favourite outfits, again and again!

6. Don't sweat the small stuff! Chill!

7. Our toddler does not want to shower! It does not help to try and force it! I heard afterwards of someone making a suggestion of putting a basin on the bottom of the shower and filling it up. (Why did I not think of it?) Swimming also helps!

8. Try not to force the insect issue. The Toddler freaks out when she notices any bugs.
There are a few meanies out there! This spider was working down his catch of the day!

9. Remember to pack some toys, but not too much! Colouring books and stickers went a very long way!

10. Take time to spend in nature with a toddler. Our daughter gets excited now every time she sees a mountain on television. I think we have inspired a mountain climbing spirit in her ;-)

11. Encourage toddlers to make friends with the neighbours. It keeps them busy, and give the parents some breaks. They also teach each other about sharing. Our English neighbour can now say in Afrikaans: "Dit is my beurt" (It is my turn!)

12. The last point as seen on Pinterest: I call it my camping mantra:
"Keep calm and camp on"

Any other tips for making camping a little bit easier?

5 Tips on how to enjoy a childen's party

I do not have a particular fondness going to children's parties, especially those of children (and parents) that I do not know.

It measures just a little bit lower that my pet hate of going to stork parties.

But my little one of three is starting to get invites from day care, and she is starting to understand what a party means. It means that I can't ignore the invites anymore...

Instead of thinking of a survival list,  I thought I would  approach it in a positive manner, and try to get enjoyment out of it as much as possible.
There is a couple of years of parties ahead of us!
I said yes to our first party on Saturday.

5 Tips on how to enjoy a children's party:

1.  Enjoy the fact that your child are enjoying it.

2.  Food. Coffee. (Enough said!)
     Wine.  (Big bonus)

3. See it as an opportunity to check out new party venues. It is very enjoyable to go to places where you don't have to fork out the money.


4. See it as a an opportunity to meet new people. Especially people with children your child's age.

5. Even if you don't connect socially with any of the people there, it can still be an opportunity for  you and Hubby to have a coffee/talk with each other while the little one is occupied with the rest!


Looking forward to our first party already!

Any other suggestions for enjoying a children's party?

How to survive a queue

After my harrowing experience in a queue for the renewal of my driver’s licence on Monday, I have a few notes on how to survive such a queue.

• Never go on a Monday to a government department. (Cat at Juggling Act of Life) Especially not when it is between the weekend and a holiday!
• Do not leave renewals to the last day. Then you don’t have a choice but to stand in the queue.
• Try to go with a partner or accomplice. One starts to queue while the other one is busy finding out how it works. (There are usually no signs, and nobody to direct you to the correct place.)
• Ensure that you have water with you.
• Take food or munchies with you!
• Take enough change with you to use in the vending machines. (Hopefully there are some!)
• Take a hat when you are going to stand for hours in the sun.
• Take a jacket when you stand outside. The wind and shadows can become very cold!
• Make sure you have enough cash with you. Government Departments are not big on card machines.
• Make sure you have enough change for payment. Or else you end up paying more because they don’t have change.
• Take a black pen.
• Take more than one form in case you make a mistake.
• Take something to keep you occupied, such as a book. Smartphones also help.
• Do not take a baby, toddler or children with you.
• Take tissues (also as a back-up when you have to go to the toilets).
• Do not get a cocky attitude with any of the staff working at the government department. You will regret it!
• Smile!