parenting today august 2012
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Parenting Today is a family focused magazine dedicated to sharing content which speaks to the key developmental stages of Babies, Toddlers and Children.TRANSCRIPT
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
2
Parenting Today is produced by The Nation Publishing Co. Limited; a subsidiary of The Nation Corporation, which is a member
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Every eff ort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this magazine is accurate, however,
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C R E D I T S
E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
VIVIAN-ANNE GITTENS
LYLE JONES
PAULETTE JONES
CHERYL HAREWOOD, LYLE JONES, DAWN MORGAN, APRILLE THOMAS
INSIGHT DIGITAL
CHERITH PEDERSON, DAVID W. HINKSON
FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CARIBBEAN CHILDREN
RANDY PHILLIPS – IMAGEWORX
KELLY JOHNALLY TEL: (246) 430-5515Email: [email protected]
YVETTE BERRYTEL: (246) 430-5521Email: [email protected]
WENDEY DELANEY – TEL: 430-5517
EDMUND HOLDER – TEL: 430-5500
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PRINTWEB CARIBBEAN LTD. (246) 434-6719
Publisher
Editor
Advertising Manager
Editorial Team
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Printers
Summer is a wonderful time for the young ones. The long
holiday, enjoyable camps, and the opportunity to vacation
with their mummies and daddies doing fun stuff , make it all
the more exciting.
The end of summer brings a period of transition for many
parents and children: the fi rst day of nursery, kindergarten,
primary and secondary school.
The period of adjustment can be a trying time, but as you
read the pages of this issue of Parenting Today you will fi nd
valuable advice from experts presented in an informative and
entertaining manner.
Leading off with the journey that prepares you for parting
with your baby to rejoin the world of work, we will share tips
on choosing a nursery, provide insights on what to expect as
the child develops, and more.
A child’s hearing is more sensitive than many realize, read
on to fi nd out why, and how to protect it.
To ensure they have a balanced, healthy diet, review our
suggestions for making veggies fun and more appealing to
children.
In keeping with the fun of the summer look out for the
creative party suggestions, and tap into your child’s creativity
with a visit to our craft corner.
With the increasing stress on the total development of the
children passing through the education system, our focus
on extra-curricular activities, their value and maintaining a
balance is both timely and instructive.
It is with special thanks that we acknowledge our valued
contributors and advertisers, without whom compiling a
package such as this would have been impossible.
As our readers, your opinion is important. We welcome
your suggestions on what you’d like to see in future editions
of Parenting Today, as we seek to inform, educate and
entertain you. Lyle JonesEDITOR
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
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Contents6 Parting With Your Joy
10 Ready–Set–Go
12 Safeguard Your Child’s Hearing
14 Paving The Road To Success
In Secondary School
16 Doctor Q&A
18 Unlocking Their Full Potential
22 Healthy Hair is Good Hair
24 Healthy, Fun Foods
26 Birthday Party Ideas
28 Back-to-School Craft
32 Happy Children are Healthy
Children
ON THE COVER: ZAHRA AND HANNA ASHBY
COVER PHOTO BY INSIGHT DIGITAL
ISSUE #2 AUGUST 2012
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
PARTING WITH YOUR JOYStory by Aprille Thomas
After the big day
has passed and
you’ve brought
your baby home and spent
weeks, months, or even
years bonding with them,
it’s time for the next big
day — leaving them. Some
parents won’t be able or
will choose not to stay home and raise their children, and so it
becomes necessary to fi nd someone who can. This can be a
diffi cult transition for children and parents alike; but the truth
is that children are always transitioning, and it’s at these times
that they most need the love and support of their parents.
Director of Parent Education for Development in Barbados
(PAREDOS), Marcia Graham, is an authority on the subject
and advises that parents develop the mindset that they have
to concern themselves with transitions every year, and be
right there for their children, “Transitioning means that you
have to spend extra time with the child.”
The earlier, the better. Children who spend more time at home with their parents may have a harder time leaving them than those whose ties are severed early.
Day care
One of the biggest changes for parents is leaving their
children and going back to work. Particularly because choosing
the right day care centre for children isn’t as easy as looking in
the telephone book or going to the one nearest to you. Rather,
Marcia off ers some guidelines for parents:
• The earlier, the better. Children who spend more time at
home with their parents may have a harder time leaving
them than those whose ties are severed early.
• Parents should be abreast of the developmental
expectations of their child at that age. Day care providers
should be able to provide you with information in the form
of literature; as well as tell you when your child reaches
certain goals.
• The day care environment should be clean, light and airy.
It should resemble the cleanliness standards at your own
home.
• The staff at the day care should be caring, loving,
encouraging and embracing. They should off er daily
feedback during pick ups, about your child’s habits and
behaviours — eating, sleeping and so on. This is especially
important for children who cannot yet speak.
• You need to fi nd out if it’s a provider who will call you
during the day regarding any unusual behavior your child
may exhibit. Providers should be open to communication.
• Parents should ensure that they have a physical copy of
the provider’s policies and practices.
• Some day care centres will only allow healthy meals,
snacks and beverages. You should know what your day
care’s position is on the matter.
STARTEARLY
7
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
Kidsin the
Make sure that when you get home, your house is calm and empty because you will be tired and want some time to relax. Keep visitors to a minimum; . . .
Primary school
By the time children reach the age of four, they are a lot
more developed and independent. Marcia reminds parents
that at this time, children who attended day care would also
have had their relationships with their ‘aunties’ broken, and
would need lots of support from their parents to help them
understand the big change. She advises that parents also
spend time doing research before choosing a school and
off ers the following tips:
• Thoroughly research the school: alumni, teaching
methods and types of communication. You should
even fi nd out about the non-teaching staff because
they are the ones who will have contact with your
children before school, during lunch, when they’re
sick, and so on.
• Find out what kind of curriculum is off ered. What kind
of subjects will they be exposed to?
• Also be abreast of the milestones expected at this
age, so that if you fi nd that your children aren’t
reaching them, you can discuss it with their teachers.
• Find out about extra-curricular programmes that
are off ered, for example, swimming, Cub Scouts,
educational tours, and Brownies.
• Once you decide on a school, you should take your
child there and allow them to spend time in the new
school. It is important for parents to be positive about
the school, because children will pick up on this.
• Before the school year begins, parents can do a few
trial runs to the school so that you can be familiar
with the time it will take, and maybe even learn a few
‘back roads’ in the process.
• When school begins, parents should ensure that they
get involved with the Parent Teachers’ Association
(PTA), which will give you closer access to the school.
Participation is also advised, so that you will have the
ability to infl uence policies.
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
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A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
With your little ones undergoing such huge changes to their daily routines and socializing with others, it is expected that you may experience changes in their attitudes, language, and behaviours.
Children should be taught to say, “No, I don’t like that,”
in response to any verbal or physical abuse from other
students, rather than being taught to return the abuse. If
your child comes home with a complaint about another child,
Marcia suggests that parents fi rst ask questions rather than
immediately complaining to the teacher. Children should be
encouraged to take matters to the teacher before parents
get involved. “Schools must have systems in place to resolve
confl ict and teachers should be trained in confl ict solving.”
If the matter isn’t resolved at the teacher’s level, it should
then be taken to a senior teacher or the principal.
Learning at home
With your little ones undergoing such huge changes to
their daily routines and socializing with others, it is expected
that you may experience changes in their attitudes, language,
and behaviours. As parents, it is your duty to be aware of
any such changes and be ready to communicate with your
children about them.
Marcia advises that parents teach their children about the
socialization process, “They have to learn to get along with
children who are diff erent.”
Parents need to work with their young ones at home, just as
much as teachers work with them at school, or more. Home is
the place where children should develop a high self-esteem
and a strong sense of character. These lessons fall squarely
on the shoulders of parents and can only be taught through
listening and talking to your children.
Time management is extremely
important, especially for busy,
working parents. You need to
allocate enough time for work,
rest and recreation. If you have the
resources, you should also look
to solicit help from family, friends
or professionals. You may not be
good at mathematics or science,
but you may have a friend who
studied science at school. Raising
a child can be a collective eff ort.
Confl ict resolution
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
10
EDUCATION TODAY
All athletes, and those who follow athletics, know the excitement of watching well-prepared runners take off for the fi nish line. A good education is much like a race to the fi nish line and in the same way
requires preparation and hard work during the school years, to ensure good academic and social outcomes.
Many factors contribute to children’s readiness for the offi cial start of the race — Grade One. There are also many commonly held beliefs and misconceptions about what children should be able to do upon entering Grade 1.
We know that many children drop out of the race before reaching the end, and are left under-equipped for their tasks as parents, workers, citizens.
What we know about readiness – Preschool environmentsThe preschool environments should help develop listening and
comprehension, fi ne motor and other reading and writing readiness skills, and encourage children’s love of learning. Studies however indicate a general belief among pre-primary teachers/caregivers and parents that children at the end of their preschool experience should have “academic” readiness skills, that is, be able to write, read, recognize the sight and sounds of the alphabet, spell some words, and solve some math problems.
Studies in the region, however, contradict this belief.
Parent and teacher expectationsOther readiness expectations, especially of parents, were that children should
demonstrate basic social courtesies and respect for others, and display self-help skills such as dressing and feeding themselves, going to the bathroom independently, and taking care of their environments.
Gender differencesStudies suggest it is at the primary level, not before, that boys begin to drop
behind the performance of girls quite signifi cantly.
Studies of early childhood environments suggest that boys may derive greater benefi t than girls from more active, learner-centred environments, as the research literature suggests that girls will adapt to and learn more easily in most settings than will boys.
Factors that contribute to children’s readiness for Grade OneThese factors include:• The quality of child interactions within the family, with parents, siblings,
and other caregivers• The security and quality of the child’s learning environments the
environments the home, the day care centre, the preschool, and the community around him or her
• The availability of learning materials• The quality of the teaching/caregiving personnel and environments• The pupil to teacher ratio• The social and economic conditions of the child’s family and
neighbourhoodMany preschool personnel and parents believe that making preschool
more like formal “academic” school will better prepare children for primary school achievement. The results of several studies contradict this belief. The active-learning approaches of Grade One teachers with early childhood training seem to produce overall better student performance and maintain gender equity more ably than the primary trained teachers and traditional primary settings.
Both teachers and parents see children themselves as being responsible for their lack of readiness skills on entering Grade One. It was however shown that teacher preparation and the quality, quantity and variety of learning materials are critical elements in readying children for primary schooling.
The preschool settings in which teachers were better trained and used more active learner-centred approaches resulted in higher levels of child competencies.
READY–SET–GO!
In keeping with the research fi ndings on readiness for Grade One and in a bid to build a fi rm foundation for our children’s future growth and learning, the following are recommended:1. Develop and strengthen public and parent education to
address the false premise that mimicking formal “academic” school will better prepare children for primary school achievement.
2. Provide support and incentives to schools and training institutions to embrace and promote teaching strategies and learning environments which will promote children’s school readiness, especially cognitive, social, emotional and physical readiness for primary school, fostering a love of learning in the process.
3. Implement strategic public education and communication campaigns to raise the image and importance of the early
childhood practitioner.4. Establish incentives (for example scholarships, time release)
to boost enrollment for studies leading to higher qualifi cations in early childhood education.
5. Set higher prerequisite qualifi cations for practitioners in pre-primary institutions.
6. Review and revise teacher training and classroom curricula to include, without bias, the different learning styles and needs of both girls and boys.
7. Ensure that parenting education strategies also address, without bias, the different learning styles and needs of both girls and boys.
8. Equip primary school principals with the evidence and strategies to improve primary competence by utilizing early childhood approaches in early primary years.
RECO
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Submitted by the Foundation for the Development of Caribbean Children
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
12
Paving the roadto success in secondary school
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
TRANSFORMING ANEW
Congratulations, your child will be amongst several
entering secondary school this September.
Transitions can be nerve-racking, but with due care
it can be made as smooth as possible.
1: The 11-Plus is only a snapshot
With your child entering Secondary school, it is easy to
start typecasting his or her future solely based on results. As
parents we must always focus on our children’s education
as a lifelong process. The 11-Plus exam is only a snapshot
of their potential. Learning is a lifelong commitment, a
perspective often forgotten in the sheer panic or jubilation
over exam results. Our duty is to steer their course towards
a thirst for knowledge and a commitment to learning, which
will prepare them for a knowledge driven society.
Futurist educators predict students of tomorrow will need
to be extremely self-motivated to keep their skills current.
In a highly competitive job market, lifelong learning and
retraining will be the norm. Those parents who provide
wholesome enriching educational experiences for their
children, will undoubtedly place them well ahead of the
game.
2: Reassurance boosts self confi dence
Let’s start at this point, part of providing an enriching
experience is to understand how your child develops.
Children in this age group have increasing abilities to reason
things out, think abstractly about the pros and cons of a
situation, as well as refl ect on themselves. If your children
did not achieve the “desired” results, then constantly
reprimanding or withdrawing your aff ection as parents, will
only serve to alienate them. Allowing them to wallow will also
be detrimental in the long run. It’s now time to put the results
behind you, and refocus your energy on the emotional and
perhaps educational support your children will need.
They are well aware of what the results mean, so putting
them at risk for low self worth, poor self esteem and feelings
of inferiority will inadvertently do more harm than good.
Your children need you now more than ever, not only to
navigate the Secondary school transition, but to also tame
the adolescent beast snapping at their heels.
Choose to reassure. Work on their academic diffi culties
constructively, especially if they have suff ered a tremendous
blow to their self-confi dence.
3: You will both be transformed
So with the exam behind us, we begin to breathe a little
easier…. Well prepare yourself! You are just about to slide
down the slippery slope of adolescence. It won’t be so
bad you think.... Perhaps, however, your pre-teen is about
to experience a tremendous amount of transformation:
psychologically, emotionally, and hormonally. Adolescence
brings many serious changes in the way they think, behave
and feel. Your style of parenting will also need to be tweaked
in step with these changes.
Some balance needs to be struck between fostering their
independence and setting fi rm boundaries; giving warmth
and aff ection without smothering; and most of all, providing
Story by Cherith Pederson
THE BIGSTEP
13
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
guidance without stifl ing initiative. Children of parents whose
“parenting style” is warm, supportive, responsive, yet fl exible,
tend to fare better. Your role is to help shape their development
by providing positive support and good communication.
Parents who are overly controlling and rigid are not meeting the
developing needs of their teenagers, and in fact undermining
their ability to make decisions on their own.
4: Joining the PTA will enrich your child’s education
In these developing years, children will need a school
environment that is safe and allows their to refi ne the skills
they will need to achieve their full potential. Building a good
relationship with the school and teachers is essential for the
next critical years of their school life. Entering Secondary school
means a larger school, more teachers, new classmates, new
rules and invariably more demands on your child. Studies show
that students who have good relationships with their teachers
tend to be more successful in school.
Research also points to high parental involvement as a
good cushion for the transition. In other words, parents should
prioritize getting involved in school activities, and the Parent
Teachers’ Association, since it will determine how well their
children thrive in their new school environment. Furthermore,
such high visibility in the school will gain the respect of staff .
5: Good friendships help
Another relationship that deserves some attention is your
child’s relationship with peers. Children who keep strong bonds
with friends from their primary school, as well as make friends
at their new school, are much more successful at transitioning.
Good friendships are a comfort and a buff er in times of change.
If children have trouble making friends, participation in extra
curricular activities is an easy way to meet those with like
interests. Extra-curricular activities are also an integral part of
enriching your child’s education. It helps to build character and
provide learning experiences outside the classroom. Children
involved in extra-curricular activities begin to apply knowledge
gained in the classroom, and build connections with peers that
are benefi cial.
6: You still need to keep them on track
Given the increasing academic demands of Secondary school,
your 11-year-olds will still need you to keep them on track as they
transition. You may need to guide them to make a schedule that
balances schoolwork, social life and extracurricular activities.
You will have to monitor that homework is completed, their
grades are as expected, and that their relationships are positive.
This lays the foundation for them to strive for the same balance
in the future.
Education should provide quality experiences that lead
children to feel hopeful and positive about their future. Therefore,
preserving their sense of well-being, control and optimism while
in school are paramount to them achieving success in life.
Fun tip: Decorate and create a portfolio/folder with your child.
This is a good exercise in helping you to document and save
memorabilia from their time in secondary school.
Children who keep strong bonds with friends from their primary school, as well as make friends at their new school, are much more successful at transitioning.
“Cherith Pedersen is an expert in clinical counselling and expressive arts therapy, with years of teaching experience.
She runs a counselling agency which works in collaboration with PAREDOS,
Supreme Counselling for Personal Development and the National Council on Substance Abuse.”
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
14
CHILDREN’S HEALTH TODAY
LLet’s face it: we live in a noisy world! Increased traffi c
on the road; construction projects; our heavy use of
cell phones, iPods and other personal entertainment
devices; not to mention a growing number of public
entertainment “hot spots” in action all year round, mean that
our ears are facing much more stress than in years gone
by. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are still
developing and are therefore much more sensitive to over-
stimulation of any of their senses.
Barbadian ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, Marquis
Dowell, says there are relatively few congenital issues that
can lead to hearing defects in young children. Premature
birth is one factor, if the child is born at a time when the inner
and middle ear are not yet fully developed. If the mother
has contracted rubella during pregnancy, or has used any
medication not recommended for use at that time, it could
also result in hearing defi ciencies or other health problems in
the child. Another factor that can lead to hearing loss is a lack
of oxygen at birth.
The Oto Acoustics Emissions (OAE) screening test
is recommended early in a child’s life, and is normally
administered a few weeks after birth. It is aimed at determining
whether the auditory pathway (outer/inner/middle ear) is in
good shape. In it, a signal is used to stimulate the ear, and the
results are measured via a computer. If anything abnormal is
noted, the doctor will take a closer look at the ear to identify
the cause and recommend solutions.
One challenge parents face on occasion is wax buildup,
which is sometimes hereditary in nature. According to Dr
Dowell, ear wax is one of the natural methods the ear uses to
protect itself, and generally speaking, it dissipates on its own.
In the case of a buildup, he says it is best to visit a general
practitioner or ENT specialist to have it removed. He advises
against inserting cotton swabs or any other foreign object
into the ear to clear the excess wax, since it could lead to
infections owing to the thin, sensitive skin within the ear canal.
With that in mind also, he says using syringes to inject a
mixture of water and peroxide into the ears to clear excessive
wax was even more troublesome. In his words, “Water and
the ears don’t mix very well, since the ear is essentially a
closed cavity with one entrance and one exit. Because of this,
and the thin skin, any water that settles there can easily be
colonized by fungi and bacteria already present there.”
In terms of day-to-day protection, the specialist says
that, to his knowledge, there are no specifi c items we can
introduce into our diets to enhance our hearing, and adds that
most hearing problems come about because of prolonged
exposure to noise above 90 decibels.
Safeguard your child's hearingStory by David W. Hinkson | Photos by Insight Digital
. . . cell phones, iPods and other personal entertainment devices have become items many of us cannot live without; not to mention a growing number of public entertainment “hot spots” in action all year round, mean that our ears are facing much more stress than in years gone by.
CAN YOU HEAR ME
NOW?
Here are some recommendations:* Avoid standing near to speakers, horns, or any other sources
of loud noise when attending concerts, street parades or sports
tournaments. Bear in mind that even if children fall asleep during
the event, the noise can still have an adverse eff ect on their
hearing. If possible, bring along ear muff s or other devices to
protect their ears.
* Monitor your child’s use of headphones and ear buds when
using iPods, MP3 players and other such devices. If you can hear
their music while standing next to them, it is too loud. In terms of
general hygiene and protecting the ear from possible infections,
clean the headphones and ear buds on a regular basis.
* Read the labels/instructions on children’s toys for warnings about
noise levels. Bear in mind that children have shorter arms and
often hold things close to their ears. You can also reduce the
noise levels by placing clear tape over the microphone part of the
toys, and encourage children to take breaks when they play with
noisy toys.
* When travelling on an aircraft, middle ear infl ammation is a
common problem that can lead to ear infections, and children with
colds are especially vulnerable. If your child has a cold and it’s not
practical to cancel your travel plans, use decongestants and nose
drops as these can alleviate any potential hearing challenges.
These few simple measures will help ensure that your child’s hearing
remains in good health, even as our world gets louder every day.
David Hinkson is an experienced journalist and the proud daddy of a
two-year-old girl.”
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
16
WHAT'SUP DOC?
HEALTH TODAY
Q How often should I feed my baby? She’s just six weeks
but has quite an appetite. Left to her she would want to
feed every half hour to 45 minutes. Is that normal, or
could something be wrong with her metabolic rate?
A Babies generally feed very often, especially when they are
exclusively breast fed. In the fi rst few weeks in particular
they breast feed almost every hour for more than half an
hour per feed and so it often seems as though they are
always breast feeding. As they get older and mom’s milk
becomes richer, the feeding frequency should reduce and
the duration of the feeds much shorter so breast-feeding
becomes a little less tedious.
Q My seven-week-old son is often constipated. He’s still
exclusively on breast milk, and I maintain a well balanced
diet. Is it possible that I’m missing something in my diet
that’s causing the problem?
A This is a common question asked by parents and I believe
that parents think their babies are constipated if more than
two days have passed and they have not passed stool or if
they seem to be straining while passing stool. Constipation
by defi nition means that they are not passing stool for at
least fi ve to seven days and the stool is hard like pellets.
Many babies will not pass stool even if they are breast
feeding exclusively for three to four days and when they
do, they tend to pass a huge load. This is perfectly normal.
Straining is expected whenever a baby is passing stool
because they have to use their abdominal muscles (which
in utero were not being used) to do this and like any muscle
that has never really been used before, a little bit of work is
necessary for them to develop.
Q We decided against having our son circumcised,
however it is diffi cult cleaning the head of his penis
as the foreskin is rather tight at this stage – he’s fi ve
months – and we don’t to risk causing serious damage
by forcing it, since it hurts him when we try to. Is there
anything we can do to make the process less painful?
A The foreskin up to three years of age should be quite tight.
Cleaning of the head of the penis is done by the foreskin. If
you try and pull the foreskin back, you run the risk of tearing
it and once this happens, scar tissue may form which may
then cause the foreskin to tighten over the penis and this
can only be released by circumcision.
The recommendation is therefore to leave the foreskin
alone, it will clean the head of the penis. By about three
years of age, the foreskin should start becoming a bit looser
but still not fully retractable. Usually by six to seven years,
then the foreskin fully retracts. All of this should happen
without our intervention.
When parents choose to circumcise their male babies, then
of course they have to undertake the responsibility of the
foreskin which has been removed and so they then have to
clean the head of the penis.
In those few boys who reach the age of six or seven years.
and the foreskin is not retracting, they will then have to be
circumcised.
Q How do I tell when my child is running a fever? From birth
his temperature has always seemed high to me, but his
doctor said children normally have higher temperatures
than adults. Are there any other symptoms that I should
look for to confi rm when high is too high?
A Children can “feel” warm but that does not necessarily
mean they have a fever and the only way of knowing is
to measure their temperature with a thermometer this way
you are measuring their “core” temperature. There are
many methods of measuring their temperature: the oral,
rectal, ear and underarm methods are all acceptable. Most
electronic thermometers when set appropriately will also
alarm if the temperature is elevated.
Fever is part of your child’s normal immune response to an
infection. However, it is concerning in certain cases:
When your child is under two months of age
When your child has had a fever for over 72 hours.
When the fever is not responding to treatment, for example,
the correct dose of paracetamol or ibuprofen for his or her
weight, not necessarily age.(parents remember, medication
may take up to one to two hours to bring a fever down)
When the fever is associated with other concerning
symptoms like excessive irritability, drowsiness, a rash
which does not disappear when you press on it, intolerance
to light (even when the fever has broken) and in babies,
when the soft spot (fontanelle) feels tense (when they are
not crying and are in the upright position). In these cases, it
is wise to seek early advice.
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
Unlocking their full potential
18
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TODAY
It may well be considered a balancing act – school work
versus extra-curricular activities – but both are vital to
your child’s character building, physical, social, mental
and spiritual development. In fact, those otherwise fun
activities can sometimes be the launch pad for your child’s
future career.
Joan was just nine years old when she joined the
Literature Team at her primary school. She began writing
short stories from those already in her grammar book,
before moving on to writing poetry. By the time she reached
secondary school, she was immersed in English Literature
and English Language projects. Soon after, she initiated
the birth of a school newspaper with the help of her class
teacher. It became a success! By Class Three, Joan had
already shared short stories with the local newspaper.
When she left school at the age of 18, she applied to the
media house that had published her work, and landed
a job as a cub reporter. All this evolved because of her
decision to get involved in an extra-curricular activity.
Allowing your child to participate in an extra-curricular
activity can and will also play a key role in that child’s
college admissions process. Admissions offi cers at highly
selective international colleges will tell you that over 40
per cent of applicants are
academically qualifi ed to get
in, but since they all cannot,
they look for details beyond
strong academic work to
create the class. This is
where extra-curricular
activities come into play.
The key to choosing
extra-curricular activities for your child is to discover the
things about which he or she is most passionate. It is also
important that they stay consistent. It is not unusual for
children to fi nd their love for an extra-curricular activity at
such places as summer camp or vacation Bible school.
They may display a deeper involvement in a particular
activity, or establish a new interest.
A student’s choice of extra-curricular activity is
infl uenced by several factors, the three most important
being interest, fun and time availability. However, an
important factor to note, is that it is possible to have too
many activities. If these activities interfere with your child’s
academic work, it may be necessary for him or her to reduce
the number of activities in which he or she is involved.
Story by Cheryl Harewood
The key to choosing extra-curricular activities for your child is to discover the things about which he or she is most passionate. It is also important that they stay consistent.
FIND YOUR PASSION
Role for extra–curricular activity to play
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
20
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TODAY
MAINTAINING A BALANCEWhile there may be positive aspects
to involving your children in organized
activities, it can sometimes be diffi cult for
them to fi nd the balance between keeping
on top of homework and aiming to be the
next big cricket star of their community.
HERE ARE SOME POINTS
TO CONSIDER:
SET HOMEWORK TIME EARLY
Have your children complete
homework the minute they get
home, if practice for their
extra-curricular activity takes
place after school.
DON’T OVER-CROWD THEIR SCHEDULEDon’t over-crowd their scheduleSports, music and other activities take up a lot of time with practice often occurring after or before school and competitions taking place on weekends. Make sure your child is not enrolled in so many activities at a time, that he or she does not have adequate time for homework, rest or spontaneous play.
CREATE A REWARD SYSTEM
If children are eff ectively balancing school and
a sports, they are working hard! It is therefore
alright to reward them for their eff orts. That
way they’ll know that hard work pays off .
Striking a balance between schoolwork and
extra-curricular development opportunities
can be especially diffi cult if your child is
enjoying the activity more than schoolwork.
That’s why you must always stress that school
still comes fi rst.BE INVOLVEDBe involved with your child’s schoolwork and activities.
Maintain contact with teachers and coaches so you
know when it’s time to focus more on schoolwork and
less on optional activities.
CREATE A SCHEDULE
Sit with your child and create a
schedule to make both of you happy.
Let it include fun time, school time
and sport time.
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
22
BEAUTY TODAY
After the summer-long fuss about shopping for school
uniforms and supplies has subsided, parents are
often exhausted. And even with the alleviation of the
pressure to get that new pink backpack or the fuzzy pencil
case she had to have, the stress continues for the parents of
young girls. ‘What am I going to do with her hair?’ might be the
question on everyone’s lips.
Whether you choose to leave your daughter’s hair natural
or to use a chemical treatment, we want to make sure that
you are fully equipped with information on how to care for her
hair type. Karolynn Browne has had years of experience in
the cosmetology fi eld and off ers hair tips to Parenting Today.
NATURAL HAIR
• Hair follicles need to be clean and unclogged in order for
hair to grow. Therefore hair should be washed regularly
(every two weeks) with detangling, moisturizing shampoo,
and nourishing, moisturizing conditioner. On top of this,
a weekly wash with just conditioner should be done, also
known as a co-wash. For particularly thick or coarse hair,
when wet you should section and detangle it with a wide
tooth comb and a leave-in conditioner.
• Air dry in sections or use hooded dryers for optimum
results. If you’re in a hurry, only blow-dry after fi rst towel-
drying at least 70 percent of the water out of the hair.
• The key to healthy hair is moisture. Use creamy
moisturizers fi rst, then oil the hair and scalp after to seal
in the moisture. You should pay special attention to your
daughter’s hairline when moisturizing.
CHEMICAL TREATMENTS (RELAXERS AND TEXTURIZERS)
• Hold off chemical treatments until your daughter’s hair
is literally ‘old enough’ to handle it. Not doing so could
result in permanent damage to your child’s scalp and hair.
Her hairline or ‘baby hair’ should be strong and free from
damage, especially if she may have had tight cornrows or
hairclips in those areas.
• All girls should visit a hair care professional for their fi rst
chemical treatment, in order to have their hair analyzed
and to discuss the best treatment options. Discuss your
child’s current hair products and activity schedule with
the professional to determine the best hair regimen for
your little girl.
• Relax hair NO less than every eight to 10 weeks with
either mild or regular strength relaxer (not super, coarse
or extra coarse)
• Co-wash (wash with just conditioner, no shampoo) weekly
• Have hair treated every two weeks
• Constantly moisturize the hair
• Cover the hair nightly
GENERAL TIPS
Other general tips she off ers for natural hair are to treat it
monthly with a protein conditioner; trim the ends every six
months; and cover your daughter’s head with a silk or satin
scarf or doo-rag before bed. As it pertains to styling, you
should make sure your daughter’s hair is never cornrowed
tightly, and try to avoid constantly using styles that would put
a strain on the hairline.
Story by Aprille Thomas | Photo by Insight Digital
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Healthy, fun f ods24
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
NUTRITION TODAY
Story by Dawn Morgan | Photos by Insight Digital
BLEND vegetables with fruit (the fruit taste dominates) to make
cool smoothies in nifty colours, even adding natural food
colouring for more eye appeal.
HIDE the veggies where you can. Boiled and mashed spinach
can be added to meatloaf or meatballs or hamburger patties.
Use mashed pumpkin with cheese for a zesty pizza topping. Red
beans or lentils and purees of carrots, green beans or spinach
can be used in tomato sauces with pasta, including lasagne.
Mash pumpkin or squash, or puree other veggies and add to
cake, cupcake and muffi n mixtures, (they don’t need to know)
plus fresh or dried fruit which can also be used to decorate.
FUN FOOD times can be created with some imagination. Have
GIANT snacks of whole “baby” carrots, broccoli “trees”, whole
cherry tomatoes, Brussels sprouts “whole cabbages” and whole
small sausages. Add food colouring to some foods to make them
unusual. Serve peanut butter in 1-1/2 to 2-inch pieces of celery
and place a few raisins on top, and tell them its “ants on a log”.
Green colouring makes the storybook treat of “green eggs and
ham”.
YES! THE WORDS “healthy and fun” do belong together, but young children can be turned off by “its good for you”
lectures. You’ll get more cooperation if you concentrate on good taste and attractive colours and textures.
Here are tips to help parents get children (and adults) to eat more veggies and fruit.
SMOTHER veggies with grated cheese to gain
acceptance at fi rst, then reduce the cheese. Make
individual small bowls of mashed sweet potato or
breadfruit with grated cheese mixed in and sprinkled on
top. Let them try it without confessing what it is, they will
think its white potato at fi rst.
MODEL for them by eating the same foods you want
them to eat! Have fun with eating with fi ngers and
making yummy noises and chill about the mess. That’s
what easy to wipe tabletops and counters are for, plastic
mats and plastic table covers, or craft aprons or wearing
kitchen cloths tied around necks.
BUY SMART by planning menus and meals while
being fl exible to purchasing what is fresh and in season
(hopefully cheaper). Limit the junk foods and sugary
carbonated drinks you bring home. How can you
complain about the kids eating overly salted, oily and
high-sugar snacks and cereals if you are the person
bringing it home! Pic
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Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
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26
Invitations: ‘Golden Tickets’ can be printed and cut
at home on gold-coloured copy paper, or ordered from
a professional ticket-printing company. They should read
something like ‘Congratulations, you’ve made it through to
Hollywood for ____’s Idol Party’.
Dress code: Have the guests come in their best celebrity
outfi t.
Decorations/Set up: You’ll need a stage, judges’ table
and chairs for the audience. You can improvise with the
stage by just designating an area of your house and
hanging a large black sheet on the wall, decorating it with
glitter and tinsel to mimic a stage. If your budget will allow,
you can go the extra mile by hiring a lighting company to
make your stage come to life. For the outside décor, you
can purchase red felt to lead up to your door, and rent
gold posts with red ropes to off er ‘crowd control’.
Activities: Everyone will be either a performer, judge or
audience member. Have family members greet the stars
as they come up the red carpet, and give some of them
recorders and video cameras to interview the celebrities.
For the show, all you need is a radio or computer with CDs
or mp3s to play the songs the little performers choose.
Backstage, have the performers rotate between ‘hair’,
‘make-up’ and ‘accessories’ which you can have family
members do. Of course to go over the top you can hire
professionals.
Food: Since you’re doing so much in every other aspect
of the party, you can go simple with the food. Pizza,
chips and dip should do it for these celebrities. Give the
celebrities fun coloured plastic goblets for their juices and
sodas and they’ll defi nitely feel like they’re getting the star
treatment.
Cake: Your star’s cake should be as glamorous as she
is on the day! Some ideas for
cakes include a microphone
cake, a star-shaped cake, or
a cake with a picture of her
favourite Hollywood celebrity.
Memorabilia: Have guests
decorate plain picture
frames (that you can choose
to buy or make with lolly
sticks, for example) with stars
and glitter. When you print
the pictures from the party,
you can place them in the
frame and give them to each
guest.
Birthday Party Ideas
PARTYS TODAY
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
Story by Aprille Thomas
Everyone will be either a performer, judge or audience member. Have family members greet the stars as they come up the red carpet, and give some of them recorders and video cameras to interview the celebrities.
American Idol party (GIRLS)
STAR FORONE NIGHT
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
Dr. Seuss Party
(GENDER NEUTRAL)
Invitations: Like the Cat in the Hat, the invitations
should be quirky. There’s a lot of Disney clip art
online that you can choose from to make and print
your own invitations. Word play would bring the
theme home for these invitations. For example,
‘Would you, could you, come to my party’ and ‘___-
I-Am is turning two.’
Dress code: Ask parents to bring their children
in crazy outfi ts or onesies, mimicking Thing 1 and
Thing 2. You can also buy or make outrageous hats
beforehand, for each guest.
Decorations/Set up: Your set up should be fun
and colourful and you can make several signs or
posters with cute little rhymes such as, ‘I like cake
here, I like cake there, I like cake and ice-cream
everywhere’. You should also have lots of balloons.
Activities: Since these children are younger, the
activities will be less structured. You can purchase
several Cat in the Hat colouring and activity books,
or print sheets that you fi nd online. You can also
set up your own home theatre to show Cat in the
Hat movies or episodes. If you’re going to have any
older children in attendance, you can choose to buy
a Cat in the Hat board game to entertain them.
Food: It goes without question that you should
have a brunch menu, with none other than eggs
and ham (you can opt to use food colouring for
the eggs and ham, but not if you have very picky
children). You can have funny names for regular
juices like ‘Mean Green Juice’ or ‘Mink Pink Drink’.
Oddly shaped, decorated cookies will also sit well
with the little ones.
Cake: A zany striped cake would only be fi tting,
with your child’s name in a scribbled handwriting.
Memorabilia: A simple option would be to just
place favours in loot bags, with each guest’s name
enhanced with an adjective beginning with the fi rst
letter of their name. So for example, Danielle’s bag
would read, ‘Dancing Danielle’. A way to go over
the top would be to give a small fi sh to each guest—
one fi sh, two fi sh, red fi sh, blue fi sh.
Avengers Party (BOYS)
Invitations: You can make these yourself with cardboard and
markers. Cut stars out of the cardboard, covering them with white paper.
On the front, use words from the comics like ‘POW’, ‘ZAP’ or ‘BIF’; that
will defi nitely get their attention. On the back, start with an epic, urgent
message, like ‘Urgently calling all superheroes…’
Dress code: There are several printable superhero masks that you
can get online, and have the guests decorate at the party.
Decorations: You can string up store bought American fl ags, plastic
shields and hammers, in addition to the usual Avengers tablecloths,
plates, cups and napkins.
Activities: A spin on the popular party game, you can play ‘pin the
cape on the superhero’. Also, to give the young children the opportunity
to practise their superhero powers, you can orchestrate games of hide
and seek and treasure hunt. Races to test speed and agility will end the
arguments about who’s the fastest superhero. Lastly, set up a tug-of-
war to determine if any other heroes can take on Hulk’s strength. For
any younger children that might be there, you can also get printouts of
Avengers colouring books and pages.
Food: Keeping the world in check is sure to work up an appetite.
Superhero cupcakes, Hulk green Jello and tiny sandwiches should do.
Blue, green and red popsicles would be ideal if it’s a hot day.
Cake: The cake should be the simplest part of the day: whatever
superhero your son loves the most. If he can’t decide, do them all!
Memorabilia: Avengers loot bags can be fi lled with sweets, candies
and other tasty treats to keep these young heroes energized and ready
to save the world!
Ask parents to bring their children in crazy outfi ts or
onesies, mimicking Thing 1 and Thing 2. You can also
buy or make outrageous hats beforehand, for each guest.
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
27
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
LEARNING TODAY
28
Children learn to count – at least to 10 – using
their fi ngers, from an early age. Then they learn
if you have two oranges and you add four it
makes six, and if you take away one, it leaves fi ve. Later
on they learn fractions beginning with basic halves and
quarters.
While all of this is going on, they are going around
with parents who they observe spending money, and
they often hear parents discussing money, but the very
young really don’t grasp the value of money.
Parents can do a lot to educate them about the
purchasing power of money when they are present in
the supermarket and stores. It just takes a little time, and
it gives a wider understanding of arithmetic than they
get in the classrooms.
Give them examples such as:
One orange costs $1, so if we buy fi ve, how much
would we have to pay?
If two apples cost $1, how much are we paying for
one?
Carrots are a low price this week, so I can buy two
packs; but beets are expensive so I won’t buy any.
If we cut the cake in half, then cut the halves in half,
how many pieces do we get?
These little snippets teach them to shop wisely.
When they get to the primary school age, they can
be coached to take the book you are buying for them
to the cashier, with the responsibility of counting the
change and making sure it is correct. Of course, you will
be watching their movements but this starts the process
of greater independence with cash transactions, rather
than if you never involve them and just continue to do all
the paying yourself.
You could also use the system of giving them pocket
money on a daily or weekly
basis, then questioning
them about their purchases,
to further encourage them
to think of money value and
spending. A similar process
can be applied to giving
them spending money at
fairs and then asking them
to account for what they
bought and the change
they have.
Apples and oranges
One orange costs $1, so if we buy fi ve, how much would we have to pay?If two apples cost $1, how much are we paying for one?
Story by Dawn Morgan
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
5 X 1 =
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
30
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
CRAFT TODAY
BACK TOSCHOOL
CRAFTStory by Aprille Thomas
What you’ll need:3 toilet paper rolls
1 regular cereal box or 1 pasta box
Sheets of blank A4 paper
Piece of cardboard
Glue
Stapling machine
Scissors
Old magazines
Desktop organizer:Cut the piece of cardboard down to a size
that will fi t comfortably on your desk. (You
can choose to leave the edges straight,
or round them.) Completely cover the
cardboard using randomly cut pieces of
old magazine pages to create a colourful,
collage eff ect. This will be your base.
Cut a slant in each of the toilet paper rolls
so that there’s a semi-circular opening on
one side. This will be the front of the pencil
holder. Cut one of the three toilet paper
rolls in half. Use cut, old magazine pages to
cover the toilet paper rolls entirely. Glue the
three rolls onto the cardboard, arranging the
taller ones at the back and the shorter one
at the front, in the middle.
Cut sheets of blank A4 paper to a size that
will fi t onto your cardboard base. (You can
choose to round the edges, or leave them
straight.) Stack the papers together and
staple them. Glue the last paper in the stack
to the cardboard, and you’re done!
Here you have a colourful, personalized
desktop organizer that stores pens and
pencils and has a cute notepad for making
notes.
Paper holder:For this you can choose to use a regular
sized cereal box or a pasta box if the cereal
box is too big for your desk.
Cut off the top of the box. Then cut an
opening at the front of the box in the shape
of a fl at bottom ‘V’.
Tear pages out of old magazines and cut
them in diff erent shapes and sizes. Glue the
cut pages to the box haphazardly to create
a colourful collage eff ect.
Now your child has a colourful place to
store loose papers from school!
30
Story by Aprille Thomas
Tear pages out of old
magazines and cut them
in diff erent shapes and
sizes. Glue the cut pages
to the box haphazardly to
create a colourful
collage eff ect.
Tear pages
magazines and
in diff erent sh
sizes. Glue the
to the box haph
create a c
collage eff
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
From the age of three months children are accepted into
the Parents Education for Development in Barbados
(PAREDOS) programme. The Bertie Graham Early
Childhood Stimulation Center off ers full nursery and
day care services until children are ready for primary school.
PAREDOS has been in operation for 12 years and word of their
unique programme is spreading. This year they are off ering three
preschool classes to accommodate everyone. A full complement
staff of 17 workers, along with two supervisors, will ensure that your
child is well taken care of as you go back to work.
Director of PAREDOS, Marcia Graham, says that it is common now
for children to come into the programme when they’re just three
months old and stay until four years old.
“Parents and children get accustomed to and are comfortable
with the PAREDOS schedule so they stay until primary school age.”
Marcia added that their unique programme is what she thinks
draws parents to PAREDOS, as well as their track record for success.
“Early stimulation is extremely important.”
“Children who come through our programme are confi dent
and articulate. They are taught feeling words and can
explain what they’re feeling, as well as concepts, which will
give them an easy transition into doing things at school,
like writing.”
Marcia describes PAREDOS as a happy, friendly and stress
free environment. Children are never ‘shushed’, rather, they are
encouraged to communicate. The fl oor is cleaned regularly so
that babies who can’t yet walk, can crawl around, aiding in the
development of their large muscles. Children are introduced to
structure with the PAREDOS routine of assembly, lunch, a teaching
session, and circle time – which is very interactive. Overall, the key
focus at PAREDOS is well-rounded development.
“We have access to the best park in Barbados. Children must go
outside every day and they can climb, jump, hop and skip around to
develop their large muscles.”
This is all part of PAREDOS’ play approach to learning, where
having fun is highly integrated into the learning process.
“We are also focused on sensory development, so we have
activities for their fi ne motor skills like art, painting, crayons, and
sand and water play… We try to keep them happy, yet disciplined.”
Other activities at PAREDOS include language development,
counting and mathematics, science, health, cooking, drama, music
and the teaching of values. They also help the children to understand
the concept of God and His love. An integrated approach is taken
to teaching, where several lessons are taught based on one topic.
At PAREDOS they also make sure that what’s learnt in the
classroom can be applied to external environments. The children
are therefore taken on tours where they can see shapes, colours
and numbers in the real world and parents are always invited to
attend.
“We also bring in resource persons (usually parents) like fi remen,
police and paramedics to teach them about emergencies.”
Parents are kept abreast of their children’s progress and lessons.
“We have an open door policy and we encourage parents to call
and come and ask questions about their children”
Parents benefi t from the PAREDOS environment as well. “We
bring parents together from all cross-sections in our Parent
Teachers’ Association’s activities and they become a family,
supporting each other. They are encouraged to get involved in
our parenting classes and counseling services which are free and
confi dential. Parent education is extremely important, that is why
PAREDOS was birthed.”
An eff ort is also made at PAREDOS to assist parents who might
not be able to aff ord their services, through scholarships.
The teachers are constantly learning as well. Every month at
Paredos there’s a staff meeting which heavily incorporates training
as it relates to child development.
Every July, PAREDOS celebrates the children who are advancing
to primary school with their First Milestone ceremony. “We honour
and highlight the skills and activities of our children. Every child is a
gem and has something interesting to off er.”
ADVERTORIAL
Fun colours and shapes
are helpful in developing fi ne motor
skills.
32
Parenting today · AUGUST 2012
HAPPY CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY CHILDREN
Tel: 427-0212 • Email:[email protected]