Month: July 2020

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Snuggling up with a story is a special time to spend with your little ones. From ravenous wriggling caterpillars to a big friendly giant, stories have a unique power to inspire childdren’s imaginations. But if you’re finding that reading out aloud is a bit of a chore, here are some tips you can try to make it more exciting.

ALSO SEE: The benefits of reading to your baby

Schedule story time

Many moms, especially working moms, will say they don’t have the time to read to their children, but all you really need is a short window of time. According to some experts, half an hour is ideal, but if you only have 15 minutes, you should use them well. One suggestion is to select what you’re going to read the night before, or in the morning, and to scan the book beforehand so you know what the stories are.

Don’t be shy

If you lack the confidence in your own reading ability, remember your toddler is already your biggest fan. In fact, they really don’t care if you make mistakes or if you mix up a word. Try to see the story as a framework – you’ll quickly catch on that how you fill it out is very much up to you!

Do clown around

Make your story as engaging as possible. Don’t be shy to put on an accent, jump around and be silly. Have fun with the story and your child will too.

Don’t be a “book-tator”

When you’re a mom with a never-ending to-do list, it’s tempting to stick to the script and get it over and done with. Take your cues from your child. Remember, if your child stops you, it’s because there are bits of information he’s trying to grasp.

Do repeat

As much as we all love The Gruffalo, by the time you’ve ventured into the deep dark wood for a third night in a row, you may feel a bit gruff too. It can be tiresome, we know, but bear in mind that repetition is extremely beneficial for your child. The reason he wants to read the same book again and again is because he’s been able to build a relationship with it and a sense that, in future, he can control the way a story goes.

ALSO SEE: Is there a difference between reading paper books vs e-books to your child?

Don’t avoid serious books

Nobody wants to see their child get scared, but telling stories about difficult topics can be a great way to help conquer any fears or uncertainties they have. When you’re reading a story, you have the opportunity to stop and talk to your little one about things taking place within it.

Do cuddle up

One of the most valuable aspects of story telling is the one-on-one bonding time between you and your toddler. The importance is in the contact according to Eric Carle, author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. “Putting your child on your lap and holding the book can be far more nurturing than the act of reading itself.”

3 kiddies books we love!

How Lion Became King of the Animals – And Other Stories from Africa

Collected by Michelle Cooper, illustrated by Chris Venter, Tafelberg

Once upon a time…a mighty Lion was afraid of a toothless ostrich; a lazy hare stole the animals’ water at night; the crocodile and elephant came to blows…little ones will be enthralled by the imaginative stories contained in this anthology of how animals came to be in Africa. It includes the San people of southern Africa’s story of how the stars and Milky Way were formed, as well as tales explaining how hippopotamus came to live in the water, how the jackal got a black mark on his back, and how the dog came to live with man.

I See A Rhinoceros

By Elaine Macdonald, illustrated by Vanessa Mearns, Penguin Random House

All the animals are worried about Rhinoceros. He had turned a deep shade of pink and no-one know why, until they discover that Rhinoceros loves to eat berries, cherries and all kinds of pink food. When the animals persuade Rhinoceros that switching his diet will bring back his natural colour, he realises he is going to have to make some changes in his life. An entertaining story that will have your toddler in giggles but also teaches him that sometimes we have to do things differently because they’re not good for us.

How Many Ways Can You Say Hello

By Refiloe Moahloli, illustrated by Anja Stoeckigt, Penguin Random House

Sara’s first day of school is full of surprises, but the biggest one of all is that there is more than one way to say hello. To find out what they are, she sets off on a journey around the country in a hot air balloon. Your little ones will love meeting all the interesting people Sara meets on her travels and the different ways they greet each other. Best of all, they’ll love that they can colour-in the pictures!

A little boy, who’s beloved dog recently passed away, stunned his family – and the local vet – with his explanation on why dogs live short lives, reminding us just how receptive and resilient our children really are.

In a post which has gone viral on Facebook, the vet shares how he was called on by the dog’s owners, Ron and Lisa, to examine their beloved old Irish Wolf hound named Belker.

After examining the dog, he told the family he couldn’t do anything for him and offered to come and do the euthanasia at their home.

He says in his post that the family thought it would be a good idea for their 6-year-old, Shane, to be present as they felt it would be a valuable life experience for him.

ALSO SEE: How to help your child deal with a pet’s death

The next day, when he arrived, the vet said he was touched when he saw the boy calmly petting his dog for the last time.

He says he wondered whether the boy grasped what was going on and was surprised that he seemed to accept his dog’s passing without any difficulty or confusion.

“We all sat together for a while after Belker’s passing on, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animals’ lives are shorter than human lives.”

Then, out of the blue, the vet shares, the boy who’d sat quietly listening to them, piped up and said he knew why!

“People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

The vet says he’d “never heard a more comforting explanation” and felt compelled to share it on his website. The post has already been shared on Facebook by over 11 000 people.

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We can’t get enough of the #familyband trending on TikTok – be warned – once you watch one video, you’ll want to see all of them!

Some families are really on point with their trumpet skills – others may have to go back to band camp for a little more practice, but it’s a good laugh and lots of fun for everyone.

Here are some of our favourite #familyband videos:

The Skosan’s are in the house!

Mrs SA Finalist, Semone Skosan can add ‘musician’ on her CV right next to mom, fitness enthusiast, beauty queen and TikTok challenge accepter.

The Skosan family did really well here – we love how baby is just chilling on the kitchen floor!

@semoneskosanWe are now available for bookings… ##familyband ##theskosans @courtnallskosan @theskosans

♬ sonido original – grettyoficial

11’th time lucky?

This toddler and her aunt rocks it out in the kitchen! We can’t get enough of her facial expression while hitting the ‘drums’.

@zayaan4after 11 tries this was close enough 😂##familyband ##zayaanvids

♬ sonido original – grettyoficial

They should stop going to band camp!

Mom and dad in this video should’ve been trumpeters! The drumming skills are a bit different in this video – hilarious – you have to see it!

@carmenolympiaMy parents should have been trumpeters 😂 ##familyband ##stayhome ##familythings ##parentsbelike ##mightytrumpet @carmzandlevi

♬ sonido original – grettyoficial

All the cool kids

This is our absolute favourite video – and what looks like the original challenge. Somewhere along the line families started improvising.

We can’t stop giggling every time we see baby with his cool shades just chilling in his walker.

@taylorceleste7##gretychen ##kitchen ##fyp ##foryourpage ##covid19 ##quarantine ##washyourhands

♬ sonido original – grettyoficial

It’s been 126 days since the last time we were able to see our family and friends and give them a hug. We’ve had to give birth to our babies in isolation, have pavement drive-by baby showers and visit granny on Zoom. It’s been a tough couple of months – we’ve been in lockdown longer than we’ve been ‘free’ so far this year and it’s really getting to moms.

ALSO SEE: Moms aren’t coping with the new normal and that’s okay

We asked you what you miss most during the lockdown. This is what you said:

“Going out with my baby. She looks so bored alone with adults in the house.” – Dlamini Vuyisile

Vicky Freeman agrees, saying she misses taking her baby out and catching up with other moms.

“Taking my kids to preschool and seeing those happy faces when they meet their friends, and collecting them after school coming running to me telling me how school was – priceless moments but now…” – Mafusi Mokoena

“Seeing friends and family. Seeing my granny who is 86! She fell during lockdown and cracked her arm but we’re not allowed in where she lives.” – Renée Jansen van Vuuren

“The simplicity of life!!!” – Chanell Janse van Rensburg

“Being able to go to the Zoo.” – Kerry Bennett

“Definitely seeing my sister, she lives in a different province. And also, our family gatherings. I miss my family and would have loved for them to meet my 3-week-old beautiful baby girl.” – Melanie Weideman

“Being able to leave home without worrying that we’ll get sick.” – Liang Tasneem

“Being able to visit my parents in another province and taking my kids to play areas at restaurants.” – San-Marie Jolliffe

“My kids being excited to see me come home after work.” – Lee Heugh

Jean-Mari Redelinghuys says she misses people. She says her child is very introverted because they’re not able to see anyone.