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Choosing the right school for your child and other parenting headaches
I grew up in (what our brown people lovingly refer to as) the hood, in Port Elizabeth. You know… the type of suburb where all the kids in the neighborhood would play with each other, in the street, literally, because we didn’t have big yards or grassy side walks. It was a time of unsolicited nicknames (because we all knew a “China” or “Blou” or “Koppe”) and anyone’s parent was allowed to give you a group spanking if you misbehaved.
Back then, the unspoken rule was that when your time for schooling came, you would attend one of the public schools in the area. I mean, my parents probably knew exactly which primary school and high school I would attend before I hit five years old. There were only so many to choose from in our neighborhood.
Sure, some of our more fancier friends were carted to and from the “white areas”, attending posh schools with exorbitant school fees that our parents could not afford. They wore blazers and hats and sometimes spoke in accents and had derby days and cool extra mural activities.
The rest of us would walk to and from our public school (mostly in groups), stopping to buy 20 cent packets of “samoosa leaves”, “bompies” and “wind chips” along the way. We probably didn’t have the same opportunities as our fancier friends but I must say, my years at public school was pretty legit. I made great friends, had excellent teachers, participated in all the activities (seriously… ALL) and even entered my high school’s beauty pageant (no jokes). I would say that I had a well-rounded schooling experience.
This week, while Hubstopher and I were chatting about finding the right school for our little girl, all of these thoughts popped into my head, you guys. I mean, we want to give our kids the best life possible.
We want them to have the best birthday parties, and get them the best equipment for that hobby that they love. We want them to make really good friends who will stick with them through the bad stuff. We want our kids to find the job of their dreams and hey, eventually meet the one who will want to make them happy for life.
And, as we were chatting about all of this, I realized that schooling plays a big role in how it all turns out. I want my kids to have the same amazing experiences I had, when I was at school. And hey, I’m not naive, I know that we can’t control everything and that a lot of it depends on the child’s attitude. And anyways, sometimes you have a really stinky schooling experience, but still end up with a great life. I know. But still.If the little bit that I can do includes finding the right school for her, then I will darn well make sure I do the best job doing so.
And so the investigation starts, as I hop from one school website to another, trying to find the school that will fit our needs. Things that come into play are:
1. Location – Is the school in close vicinity to our jobs or home? What will transportation needs be like?
2. Aftercare facility – Are there aftercare facilities close by, that won’t cost, you know, the same price as your mortgage per month.
3. Affordability – This is a big one. I often talk about how school fees x 4 is the mood kill in our marriage. Okay, that’s me being dramatic. But seriously guys, if we’re wanting to add one more kid to the mix, we need to consider how much we’re willing to spend on school fees and aftercare fees. Also, some schools have really unnecessary extra expenses that I just can do without, thanks.
4. Extra-murals – My girl child is going to be a total replica of me… I can feel it! Kyle isn’t really one for extra murals, but this girl of mine will probably do as much as possible, and I love that! So we’re also looking for a school that is rich in extra-murals, artsy and cultural activities.
5. Values and school culture– Since we are Christian, our first prize would be a school with strong Christian values and beliefs.
6. Academics – Besides for having great teachers, the ideal school will also have a lot of support structures in place. Class size is also important and would play a big role in whether we sign up or not.
7. The fluffy stuff – Other little things that I would look out for is to find out which school her friends are going to. I mean, it wouldn’t entirely change my mind, but it is an important factor, in my opinion. I love chatting to other moms, with kids in grade 1, to find out what their experience has been like at the school that their kid attends.
We’ve narrowed it down to 3 schools and will be applying to all of them. But boy, has it been a trip! I’m telling you guys, parenting is a headache. The best kind! I mean, if you consider the fact that your decisions will kinda impact the type of grown up your child becomes, suddenly choosing a school is more than just a “which one is more popular” and “which one is more impressive” game. Right?
Anyways, after all of that monologue-ing, I would like to hear from you guys. What type of factors did you consider, when you were choosing a primary school for your little one? Share your advice in the comments section below.
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When is cow’s milk safe for my toddler?
My bully beef baby boy is growing so well, you guys! His budding personality and infectious giggles are the highlight of our day (Kari included!) and we love watching him grow into a real little boy. On his first birthday, I had begun to wean him off formula, introducing a growth milk slowly. My wallet enjoyed the relief! My Hubstopher appreciated the efficiency behind simply pouring, versus the mind-numbing time suck that comes preparing formula bottles in the middle of the night.
And then, the unthinkable happened. It was 11pm, on a Sunday night, and we had run out of growth milk. I don’t know, somewhere along the line, my spreadsheet brain forgot that we needed to stock up! Aaack! The shock! The horror! I knew that baby boy would be waking up soon, for his feed, and I had to make a plan quick!Enter: cow’s milk.
I must admit, I was going against what I thought was my better judgement. But I had no other choice. I decided to give the kid cow’s milk, hoping that his digestive tract wouldn’t, you know, explode on me. And guess what, you guys, he loved it. Granted, I had to mix a little bit of his growth milk with the cow’s milk (for the taste). But ever since that day, he exclusively drinks cow’s milk and his tummy has yet to show me the middle finger.
So, in true spreadsheet style, I decided to Google cow’s milk and whether I’m being the worst parent in the world, for giving a 14 month old milk from the udder of an animal. (So dramatic). Here’s what I found, you guys:
1. It’s high in protein and salt Cow’s milk has a high content of protein and salt, making it unsafe for infants under the 12 month mark to consume. It’s just not as easy for them to digest. But once your kid has had that first birthday, their digestive systems are mature enough to digest animal milk proteins.
2. Milk allergy is a real thing
Food allergy’s occur when your immune system tries to protect you against something that you may have eaten. Because your body is trying to work this foreign matter out, you are left with symptoms, which we would then recognize to be an allergy. Introducing your baby, too early, to cow’s milk could cause damage to the digestive system, resulting in milk allergy. Should you introduce cow’s milk to your toddler, and it doesn’t agree with them, the following are symptoms of a milk allergy: wind, bloating, diarrhea, stomach rumblings and aches, rashes around the mouth and chin, itchiness and swelling, vomiting and nausea.
3. Cow’s milk is amazing
Cow’s milk is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D, which helps to build strong teeth and bones, and is crucial for bone growth. Milk also provides protein and carbohydrates, giving your toddler all the energy he needs (you know, to jump on your couches and write on your walls with permanent marker…kidding!) Introducing cow’s milk to your child’s diet, as early as 12 months old is a great idea! This will set him up for a lower risk of stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and hip fractures later in life.
4. What about fat-free and low-fat milk?
Whole milks are preferred, when it comes to your toddler, unless a doctor has recommended a low-fat milk due to high risk for obesity. Kids need a higher fat content of whole milk, anyways, to help them maintain their normal weight gain. Whole milks also assist the body in the absorption of vitamins A and D.
5. Is there such a thing as “too much milk”?
Yes, yes there is. Giving your child more than 4 cups of milk a day may affect their diet, since the milk will keep them full. If your toddler is thirsty, offer water, but since your toddler should be eating soft foods by now, try not to offer a milk bottle too often. This is one of the reasons why I loved the switch! My kid wasn’t eating solids as often as I would have liked and it was because the growth milk (and formula) sustained him and acted as a meal replacement.
References:
Parent 24
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Stay At Home Mom For What?!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but the past few days of “back to school” has me shooketh. It seems especially treacherous this time around- and this is coming from a mother who has lived through 12 “back to school” January’s.
Mornings are a hectic affair, with a whole bunch of kids and a husband to herd out the door, so that we can make drop off on time. I’m exhausted by the time I get to work… and then I have to remove my mommy hat, for my account manager hat… and actually focus on the work at hand. It’s not always that easy, you guys. Sometimes it’s so hard to keep all those balls in the air (when you’re not even in the mood to juggle, in the first place!).
Home time comprises of a very tired mommy loving on the kids, helping with homework, hearing endless stories of what everyone did for the day, combined with cooking, tidying up, bath time, doing dishes, bla bla bla (and the beat goes on.) Fall into bed at 10pm, wake up, repeat.
How do we do it ladies?
I’ve been reflecting on the beauty of yesteryear. My granny and her mom, and her mom (probably), were stay at home mothers. And while the idea of women staying home, to clean and cook, may seem like a terribly flawed way to live (because career and what not), I can’t help but secretly admire how those ladies managed to pull it off.
Being a “stay at home mother” is no small job. And they did it with joy (for the most part) and so effortlessly. And, more than that, they actually got it right to run a whole household on one salary! How the heck? I can’t even imagine how we would pull that off.
So it got me thinking, you guys: are we living super elaborate lives? I mean, how did those moms get it right to provide for their family, without a second income? Are the schools we’re choosing too expensive? Is our lifestyle too extravagant? Or is the cost of living just too high?
Next thought: we put so much value on our careers and, you know, climbing the corporate ladder and all of that. What if all I want to do is make sure my kids are healthy and happy, without being so drained at 8pm, that I can’t even spend five minutes with my husband, before falling asleep in mid-sentence.
I must admit, guys, I always wondered how on earth you could give up your career (and a steady income, yo) to stay at home whole day. But I get it now. Choosing to be a stay at home mom has nothing to do with copping out of work life. It’s more than just a having the ability to sleep in till 10am and wear pajamas whole day, while binge watching Greys Anatomy. (As delightful as that sounds.)
For me, right now, it’s about being able to make sure that I can sufficiently be all that my family needs me to be – without losing my mind! I so desperately want to make sure that I’m doing this #momlife thing right, and sometimes it’s difficult to be all things to everyone, while still making sure that I am healthy myself.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on being a stay at home mother. Do you feel that there are better ways to spend your time? Are you a stay at home mom? How do you manage to run a whole household on one salary? Do you regret giving up your job, to be home with the kids?
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Should we be raising more racially aware kids?
You may or may not be familiar with the story of a school in the North West, that left parents fuming after a picture circulated showing that the black learners were sitting separately from the white learners in the class.
A mother of one of the black grade R learners, from Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke, reported a case of racism, after she had received a pic in the class’s Whatsapp group, showing the obvious separation between the black and white children.
The teacher had explained to one of the black parents (upon drop off) that she was planning to rotate them during the course of the day, since they were still easing into this whole “big school” thing. (You’ll find a link to the video of the parent explaining this here.) During the course of the day other pics were sent to the Whatsapp group showing how this rotation happened.
Social media was ablaze with people sharing their thoughts and opinions on this disgusting event. The Department of Education got involved, the teacher was suspended and I believe the Principals job is on the line too. I mean, rightly so… right? This is obvious racism, right?But, Pam, I’ve got questions.
And it has a lot more to do with my parenting and a lot less to do with whether or not the teacher was racist. Hear me out:
Should we be forcing our children to have friends from different races?
The teacher assumed that kids naturally gravitate towards what is familiar to them, especially in a new setting. The “familiar” in this case is skin color and language. I kinda get it, because I’ve had colored friends who attended “mixed race” schools but found themselves hanging out with other colored kids on their first day at school. So if the teacher is right, are we saying that our children are racist, because they naturally gravitate towards someone who reminds them of themselves? Is this something we should be addressing?
Or do you find that your children does not see color? Should we be working towards a South Africa where our children don’t see color, or where our kids are mindful and respectful of each persons cultural differences?
Parents, do you actively ensure that your young child has friends from all race groups? Is this something we should be taking more seriously? I mean, come on, we want to raise kind, smart and well adjusted little South Africans, who are free of this negative spirit of Apartheid. But I’m wondering if we should be forcing our kids to be friends with Sipho AND Johan just because we want them to appear to be racially inclusive. Or would that be harmful?
Should we even be making our children aware of things like skin color, or do we want them to remain innocent to the whole race debacle?
I can’t guarantee you that my four year old is going to enter a new classroom, on her first day at “big school”, and pick a seat in between a white child and an Indian child, you know, just to make sure that there is enough racial representation around her.
I wasn’t there (and neither were you) so we don’t know if the teacher was being racist. (i.e. Racist: a person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another.)
But I do know that the treacherous era of Apartheid broken us so much that we shouldn’t even be toying around with concepts like “segregation” and “exclusion”. And we definitely should not be crying “racist” so easily, especially if we don’t have all the facts. And especially not if its’a teaching moment for our kids!
I’m not saying don’t call the obvious racism out… heck no, Hector, you definitely need to! Our country depends on it! But because of our people’s difficult past, using the word “racist” is such a big deal now. It kinda makes us point fingers at each other again.
And when it comes to the way we raise our kids, you guys, we play a big role in the future of our country and how inclusive it will be. So this is where you come in, Mom. I want to know if you think that we should be raising kids who are color blind or should we be making our children aware that we are all different colors, but we’re the same inside. (Was that a bit gross? Hahaha)
I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Please do drop me a comment below.
Disclaimer: Comments will be mildly moderated, you know, just in case.
EDITED: I’ve changed some of the info I shared about the case, on the 18/1/2019, after someone pointed out that my information was incorrect.
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Moms, have you heard about the ‘Fiver Party’ trend?
What if I told you that “no gift parties” are the new in thing? Yes, I’m being serious. Okay, let’s start at the beginning. Hands up, if you’ve been to more kid’s parties in one year, than you’ve been to actual, grown up parties. In fact, taking your children to birthday parties is high up on the list of standard “things to do when you’re a parent”. But the thing is this, guys, it can get quite pricey if you’re attending copious amounts of birthday parties on the regular!
Well, one genius mom came up with the “Fiver Party” concept and it’s now trending in America and Canada.
A Fiver Party is basically a birthday party where all guests are encouraged to bring money ($5) towards a big ticket present that the birthday boy/girl’s parents would buy. Yes, you heard me Margaret. Instead of trekking to the shops to find that reasonably priced (but it doesn’t look too cheap, ya know?) gift, you can literally chuck some cash into a cute birthday card and take that along with you to the party.
Moms, all around the world, have expressed mixed emotions with regards to this concept. I mean, think about it. How would you feel about taking a R50 note to a birthday party, instead of a gift? Some are calling it tacky. Other’s say that it just doesn’t feel right to go with nothing but the cash. Other moms include cute stickers or a sweet treat, with the moola…. just so that it doesn’t feel empty.
But the vast majority love the idea! In fact, many of them are choosing to have Fiver Parties for their own kids! They say that their children have way too many toys already and it’s a brilliant idea to be able to put all the cash together to buy one big ticket item that the child really wants.
I have mixed emotions about it though. I mean, for starters, some moms just feel awkward about asking guests to bring money to their kid’s birthday party. But also, I really love the intention that goes behind every little birthday gift. My one friend made the cutest little bow-bedecked socks for Kari’s birthday last year. Another friend knew that she loves tutu skirts, and that’s what they got her. Kari was over the moon! Another friend gifted her with awesome reading books, that we’re still using today. I’m a sentimental at heart and I love that we can use these things and know that they were gifted with love.
BUT I’m not totally opposed to a Fiver Party. I love the convenience. It’s money smart (especially if the child is a bit older and is willing to save or invest the cash into something worthwhile). It’s also a great way to ensure that your kid isn’t focused on getting as much as possible… nipping that materialistic spirit in the bud. Besides who wants piles and piles of unused toys in their house, right? Your Fiver Party can even fund an experience (a trip to a cool destination or maybe an adventure that your child has always wanted to try).
Anyways, here’s where you come in, friends. What do you think about the Fiver Party concept? Let me know in the comments section below.
If you’re keen to host a Fiver Party, but not sure how to ask your guests for cash instead of a gift, you can use one of the samples below:
Sample 1
This is a NO GIFTS party, since we’re trying to help (NAME) focus on the joy of spending time with friends, rather than on receiving gifts. For those who would still like to bless (NAME) you’re welcome to gift him with no more than R50 that he can put towards something special he’s saving for.
Sample 2
Please note that gifts are not required. If you would like to give one, you are welcome to help (NAME) buy that big gift that he has his eye on. You can pop your card and cash gift into the gift box at the party.
Sample 3
This is a NO GIFTS party. Instead, (NAME) is proud to be able to raise money for his favorite charity. (NAME) will use half of the money collected to buy a small gift for himself and then donate the rest to (CHARITY NAME).
Sample 4
(NAME) is having a fiver party! She is saving for a (BIG TICKET GIFT) so if you choose to bring a gift, she would appreciate a R50 in a card.
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5 easy ways to be healthier
This year I vowed to take my health seriously – seriouslier? more seriously? – I want to be healthier, okay? But I knew that I needed a “5 easy ways to be healthier … without really trying very hard …” kind of list, because, let’s face it, another fad diet was not going to cut it for me.
I’m just going to say it: I’m not the healthiest person on the planet. I mean, I’m not proud of it. Don’t look at me like that Dr Phil, I know that I have problems. I love food, okay? Geeez give a woman a break!
So yes, If I have to force myself into a eating routine of sorts, I would fail immediately. Immediately.
Instead of trying to guilt myself into eating better, I decided to work on making little changes, over longer period of time. I mean, the key word is consistency. I figured that if I change small things, over a longer period, I will see results.
So here are my five easy ways to be healthier. You can applaud me for my “geniosity” at the end of the post.
1. Substitute my favorite drink for waterI’m a coffee fiend. I love me some java! But I knew that going cold turkey on it would basically cause my body to point and laugh at me. So, instead of deciding to not have coffee anymore, I resolved to rather have a whole glass of water before my coffee.
This means: if I usually have six cups of coffee per day, I would now also have six whole glasses of water, that I would consume before the coffee. You could literally do this with whatever drink you consume the most of.
The pay off is that usually, after the glass of water, I’m not really in the mood for the cup of coffee anymore. Am I not a genius?! Somebody call Kris Jenner, I think I need a manager!
2. Take the stairs
I’m a lifts and elevator kind of girl.
Whaaat, don’t look at me like that Jessica. I don’t like to physically exert myself. But the thing is this, guys, your body needs you to do some sort of movement, in order for it to stay in prime condition.
I knew that waking up at 5am to go to the gym is not “my thing” for many reasons (main reason: children, second reason: lazy). So, instead, I am now walking around more, taking the stairs when I can and basically trying to get as many steps in, per day. You can actually download an app on your phone, that helps to monitor how many steps you take per day. This is a cool way to motivate you to reach that daily goal.
3. I don’t do bread
I love bread, you guys. Like, A LOT. Like, if I were a teenager, bread would be my secret crush that I just can’t stop thinking about. Yes, it’s that bad.
But I realized that a lot of my bloatedness is due to my heavy consumption of bread. My body is just not happy when I’ve consumed copious amounts of carbs.
So, instead of telling myself that I cant eat all the carbohydrates in the world ever again, I’m just not eating bread anymore. So that means I might still have a little pasta now and then, and you’ll probably find me dunking my chip in your tomato sauce here and there. But I draw the line when it comes to actual breads. They are not my friend.
4. More fruits and veggiesVeggies are boring, right? But I feel like this is one of those duh moments, because (duhhh) everyone knows that consuming more fruits and veggies is what one does when you want to be healthy.
Well, guys don’t be shocked, but I’m not a fan of either. I wouldn’t normally go out of my way to pack fruits or veggies into my lunchbox. So, instead of forcing myself to do this, I try to keep some fruit in my draw at work, so that it’s on hand and readily available when I want to snack. I’m more likely to consume fruits and veggies when it’s easily accessible. I’m also learning how to make more yummy, veggie-laden foods, because who said that veggies are boring? (Me, I literally said that a minute ago).
5. Batch cooking
Okay so batch cooking is another clever way to prep healthy food, for the week ahead. The many perks include not having to cook during the week AND you get to pre-plan healthier meals.
I also found a bunch of really great ways to add more veggies to your meals. Yep, a lot of them involve hiding the vegetables away because my kids will start an actual riot if I present them a dish with too much green stuff in it. Also, you could totally make your batches big enough to have a serving of last night’s leftovers for lunch the next day. This should totes make you a bit more intentional with what you put into your body (and that of your family, yo). Spreadsheet brain is loving it!
So those are my five (very clever, highly genius) ways that I plan to be more healthier this year. Do you have any similar (health) tricks up your sleeve? Share them with me in the comments section below.
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5 Tips for a Fun Family Game Night with Uber Eats
So if you have as many children as I do, you pretty much run out of ideas on how to keep them all happy at the same time. I mean, they don’t all have the same taste in movies, or food and believe me when I say, they don’t find the same things entertaining. Luckily for me, with Uber Eats on my side, I am able to cater to a variety of tastes, while saving some time to spend on deciding which fun games I can play (and win at!) on a family game night.
We love family game night! I usually throw one of these in the mix when I feel that we need some unscheduled family time. A family game night is a great way to bond with your kids and, if you pick the right games, everyone is bound to have fun! Here are some of my (tried and tested) tips for a fun family game night:
Each one pick oneA clever way to get a nice mix of games and activities, for the entire family to enjoy, is to have each member of the family suggest at least one or two games they would like to play. The result: a bullet proof, hodge-podge of interesting games, as recommended by the players themselves. It’s genius, really. Less brain work for you and a lot more (guaranteed) fun for them!
Mix it up
Instead of creating set teams for the whole night, why not mix it up and create new teams with each game. This will encourage team spirit and a chance for everyone to bond with – well – everyone else. Also, I’m the “Obnoxious Police” and I don’t allow obnoxious boasting to put a damper on our game night. It’s a teaching moment, you guys… teach your children to encourage each other!
Set the rules
So once we have a list of games, I make sure to have the rules for all games, displayed visibly for all to see. The “rules chart” is as detailed as possible, so that if a dispute arises, the “rules chart” will offer a resolution. But hey, conflict management is important and family game night is a great way to help your family figure out how to resolve conflicts without, you know, someone being grounded FOR LIFE. (That’s just one example, but you get the jist.)
Prizes are importantOkay, this statement is not true. Prizes aren’t important. Spending time together is. But prizes sure do make things a lot more exciting! Our games night prizes are made up of sweet treats and trinkets bought at the R10 store. Hint: you want to wrap them up in impressive looking boxes, to create an air of excitement. We also have a super cool floating trophy that I made using a large tin and foil. How impressive am I?
No hard work
I’m a firm believer that a happy mama is a mama who doesn’t have to wash the dishes. Well, something along those lines. So my ideal family game night will include ordering in food via Uber Eats. The cool thing is that the app has partnered with all our favourite restaurants and for a fee of R10 per delivery, we can order in everyone’s favourite meals and we don’t even need to leave home. Or wash the dishes afterwards. Did you know that Uber Eats has hundreds of restaurants to choose from? The app is so simple, even my kids know how to use it – provided they are supervised by me or hubby. It also allows you to track your food in real time, from the restaurant straight to your door! How cool is that? Oh and did I mention that the delivery fee is ONLY R10?! Double score!
And that’s that, friends! What do you think? Will you be throwing a family game night anytime soon? Have you tried out Uber Eats yet? Let me know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with Uber Eats
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Cookie Creative makes cookie decorating festive this Christmas! {Giveaway!}
When it comes to being the mom of a kid (so yeah, basically all of us) there’s literally only so much we can do before we start feeling like we know all the words to Moana. They say no man is an island (“the island gives us what we neeeed”) and all of that, and so I always welcome fresh ideas and interesting activities that will encourage some creativity and quality time with my little ones. So I was so chuffed when Cookie Creative sent Kari and I a christmas cookie decorating kit. Ahhh, finally, a crafty project that I can eat! Winning already!
Cookie Creative is the brain child of Rowena, founder and owner, who has been baking for more than 30 years, you guys! That’s 30 years of cookies and cakes. Let me just leave that thought right here. (hmmm caaaake)Cookie Creative supplies moms and aspiring cookie decorators with themed packs, icing and basically all that you would need to get your cookie decorating skills on! I mean, how brilliant is a cookie decorating birthday party? Rowena can even put together cookie decorating gift boxes (party packs, yo!) for your guests. I love how creative and fresh this idea is.
The kit we received is called the ‘Ice Your Own Christmas Cookie Kit” and it costs a low R150 … and man, it’s worth every cent! The kit contains:12 Un-iced Gingerbread Cookies (Tree, Snowflake, Star, Stocking, Snowman, Sleigh, Baubles, Christmas Pudding, Present, Gingerbread Man and Holly Leaf )
4 Royal Icing Bags (Red, White, Green and Black)
2 Tubs of Sprinkles.
Karicurls thoroughly enjoyed trying out every single thing (yes, I meant she licked everything first) and we both had our hand at icing the cookies. The Christmas 2018 kits are so cute, friends! I mean you can even order edible gift tags (R120), edible Christmas cracker place names – love! (R80) and even Christmas cookie gift boxes that contain beautifully decorated cookies.If you’re looking for a fun activity for the kids to do on Christmas eve or Christmas morning, do check out the Cookie Creative website for fun ideas. (BTW, everything on this site is SO Instagram worthy… do it for the gram!)
WIN a COOKIE CREATIVE cookie decorating kit!
Want to win a Cookie Creative cookie decorating kit? To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 21 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
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Three cool things to do with your family in Port Elizabeth
If you’re planning a visit to Port Elizabeth (now known as Nelson Mandela Bay) this holiday, firstly, you clearly have excellent taste. I mean, besides for the exquisite beaches, amazing nature reserves and friendly locals, Port Elizabeth also offers visitors a chance to get to know the city’s history. There’s something for everyone! Check out these three cool things to do with your family in Port Elizabeth:
The Beach
Always the beach. Whether you’re looking for a safe place to sun tan, or a shady area near the waves, to watch your kids play around in the sand, the beaches in Port Elizabeth are the perfect place to park your umbrella. The coastal region of Nelson Mandela Bay offers you 40kms of beautiful, golden beach! Kings Beach extends from the harbor wall to Humewood and is ideal for swimming and body surfing. Hobie Beach, which is in the vicinity of the Boardwalk and Shark Rock Pier, is a hot spot for volleyball enthusiasts and is the venue for the annual “Splash Festival”.
The History
My family and I are a sucker for a good adventure. We have spent countless hours exploring Port Elizabeth’s rich cultural heritage sites, such as the Fort Frederick, South End Museum and the Donkin Heritage Trail. The Donkin Reserve and Lighthouse building are famous monuments, and we’ve spent many a school history tour learning about these attractions and how they’ve played an integral party of the establishment of our city. But my most favorite monument of all has to be the Campanile. This historical building, erected to commemorate the landing of the 1820 Settlers, is situated at the entrance to the railway station and docks in Strand Street. It is 50m high and has a climb of 204 steps! The magnificent view of the harbor, once you’ve reached the top is priceless!
The Wildlife
While residing in Port Elizabeth is not exactly deemed as “outback living” we have our fair share of wildlife and nature. On the outskirts of Nelson Mandela Bay, you’ll be pleased to find an array of hot spots that showcase the natural beauty that the Eastern Cape has to offer. Some of these include Van Staden’s Wild Flower Reserve, Settler’s Park, Maitlands Nature Reserve, Baviaanskloof Wildnerness Area and Groendal Wilderness. You are also spoilt for choice, if gaming is your thing. Nelson Mandela Bay boasts an amazing selection of stunning game reserves and game drives that might bring you face to face with a member of the Big 7! For more, check out Addo Elephant National Park, Kragga Kamma Game Park and the Seaview Predator Park.
But hey, don’t take my word for it! You should totally give our friendly city a go, this coming Summer season! For more information do check out the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism website, where you can find more deets on a NMBT pass card that will give you free access and many great discounts to many of these attractions!Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with SA-Venues.com.
All pics used in this post were borrowed from the NMBT website.
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Fun games to play on a road trip with kids
With the school holidays looming, a scenic road trip could be a cool way to keep your young ones entertained. I know, a road trip can seem pretty daunting when you combine the compact space of a back seat with your kid’s extremely large levels of energy. But do not fret, dear friend! Fellow mommy blogger, Amelia, of Suddenly a Mom, has shared some cool road-trip games with us!
Fun road trip games for kids
We’re getting ready for an eight-hour road trip in December, when we head on our annual family camping trip to Yellow Sands, which is just outside East London. With a talkative 10-year old that loves telling the same jokes and expecting the same enthusiasm from us every time we hear it.So, I’ve become the mom that gives her earphones and an iPad and lets her watch movies while I convince myself that they’re educational. But, this year, we’re going to play some games along the way so that we can all pass the time with no mention of “What goes tick-tock-bow-wow?” (It’s a watchdog, by the way).
I Spy
How to play it: Say, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with {choose a letter}” and the rest of the family have to guess what you’ve seen. If your kids are younger, you can choose a colour, rather than a letter.
Why we love it: It helps with her spelling and passes the time really well (especially as you get more creative with the things you can actually see).
Licence Plate Maths
How to play it: Using only the numbers on the licence plate of the car in front of you, try to add, subtract, multiply and divide to get to a certain number (10, 15, 24, whatever). The person that gets the closest to the goal numebr is the winner of each round.
Why we love it: It’s so helpful with maths and out-of-the-box thinking, and it changes all the time (every time a different car is in front of you). I even play this on my own. I’m not ashamed.
Memory Games
How to play it: Start with, “I went to the corner café and I bought a {name one thing that you bought}”. Then, the next person needs to repeat the whole phrase and what you bought, and add another item to the list. Every person that follows needs to repeat the list in the correct order. So, you’ll end up with something like, “I went to the corner café and I bought a coconut, a bottle of water, a puppy, an exhaust pipe, a hotdog, a hairdryer, and balloons.”
Why we love it: It’s really fun hearing what random thing each person would add to the list and coming up with ways to remember them.
Twenty Questions
How to play it: One of you has to decide on a person or thing. The rest of the car can only ask 20 questions to figure out what person or thing you’re thinking of. To add to the intrigue, you can only answer the questions with “yes” or “no”.
Why we love it: It keeps us busy for AGES and it’s fun figuring out the riddle and strategising your questions.
Find the Car
How to play it: Choose one car make (BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, etc…) and keep on the lookout for it on the road. The person that spots the most cars of that make is the winner.
Why we love it: It’s great for a tween that is learning to read and for little ones that can identify the badges. It’s also fun to yell, “TOYOTA” in the accent of your choice. You just did it, didn’t you?
Would You Rather
How to play it: One person asks, “Would you rather…” and comes up with two hypothetical situations. Everyone in the car has to say which they would rather do or be and why. For example, “Would you rather be painted blue for the rest of your life, or only be able to see the colour blue?”
Why we love it: It gets bizarre and hilarious, but also makes us think.
Name Game
How to play it: The first person comes up with the name of an animal, country, colour, food, etc… Then, the next person has to name another thing (in the same category) that starts with the last letter of the one before it. So, for example, if we choose “country” as our category, I could say, “Denmark”, and the person following me would have to come up with a country that starts with the letter “K”.
Why we love it: This game is just the right combination of educational and fun.
Comment below if you have other great ideas for car games to play on long road trips.
Guest post by Amelia Meyer
Amelia is a freelance writer, wife and mom. She is based on the gorgeous Garden Route and blogs at Suddenly a Mom when she’s not ear-deep in projects for clients. She is also an owner, copywriter and editor at Voxate.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoxateWritingEditing/
Twitter: @mieliepip
