Jo’s activity boxes Review

For all those moms who tear their hair out trying to figure out what to do all day with their kids, or who are worried they not giving there little ones the stimulation they need,  here is a solution to your problem.

Jo’s activity box from Mothers and miracles, Durban North.  Each box is designed for a certain age group, jam packed with educational and development activities for your little one to do.

Jodi is passionate about early childhood development and offers support to parents when it comes to helping their children reach their milestones in fun and creative ways. The Jo’s activity boxes are a home stimulation program that is catered to suit all types whether you’re a working mom, stay at home mom or a nanny. The best thing for me is that you’re not tied into a monthly subscription. When you and your little one are ready to move to the next level all you do is place your order.

Jo’s activities box is a great concept as each active will keep him/her hooked for days! These play- based activities help in the basic development of habits and overall skill development of your child.

Each box comes with:

• Age appropriate actives
• Manual

Box ranges:

• 0-6 months
• 6-15 months
• 15-24 months
• 2-5 years

I lucky that Jodi was kind enough to send me the 6-15 month box for my little one to try out. At first, when I opened the box… it was filled with goodies, excited I took a breath and started reading through the manual and sorting through all the activities. It didn’t take me long as it was actually really simple and I like how many of the activities are similar to the Montessori curriculum.
My daughter cherished our activity time and eagerly waited for each day for her stimulation time, were she was engaged and kept stimulated with each activity. This is a great thing for me as she’s a super busy bee.

Prices are: R250 – R300 per box,all prices excl. delivery.
Visit the Mothers and miracles DBN blog to learn more, about Mothers and miracles Durban North classes.
You can phone Jodi on 084 516 1357 or you can e-mail her at jodi@letni.co.za . Also visit their Facebook page for all the latest updates and specials.

Groovy motherhood
http://grooveymotherhood.blogspot.co.za

WHY SWIMMING IS AN IMPORTANT LIFE SKILL:

Swimming is not only a matter of safety, but also a great way to stimulate physical co-ordination, concentration and intelligence – all the while making your child happier, healthier and more self-confident.  Little one’s learn to swim at their own pace and not being pushed into something that they are not ready for, so, enjoy the journey – it’s not a race!

Did you know?

·         Babies less than one year old accept the water more readily than other children.

·         Fear of water is acquired as children grow older; the longer a child is kept away from water, the more likely the child will develop aqua-phobia.

·         Babies can exercise more muscles in the water, they are less restricted by gravity and their ability to sit or stand.  This increased strength often manifests itself in early acquisition of physical skills like walking.

·         Swimming improves a baby’s cardiovascular fitness.  Although babies are limited in how much they can improve their endurance, swimming does have a beneficial effect.

·         Early mastery of water movements gives children a head start in learning basic swimming skills.

·         Water helps improve co-ordination and balance by forcing babies to move bi-laterally to maintain their equilibrium.

·         Warm water combined with gently exercise relaxes and stimulates babies’ appetites.  They usually eat and sleep better on swimming days.

·         Doctors often recommend swimming as the exercise of choice for asthmatics.  Swimming causes less wheezing than other forms of exercise.

·         As babies learn how to manoeuvre in the water on their own, independence and self-confidence blossoms.

·         Learning to swim is not only a fun, healthy activity but a safety measure as well.

Kensington Swimming Academy

Bed Time Drama!

I have heard so many parents complain about the issue of sleep time for their little ones and not knowing what to do!  As we all know the importance of sleep for little ones cannot be underestimated.  The quality and how much sleep they get has an impact on their overall development as well as their emotional and behavioural functioning. 

It is said that children between 1 – 2 years should get 11-14 hours and children between 3 – 5 years old should get 10-13 hours of sleep a night.  But what do you do when they absolutely refuse and bedtime becomes a dreaded, exhausting and emotional fight between you and your little one!

Listed below are some tips and guidelines for bedtime routine.  (even though you may know it – a  reminder or a nudge is always a good thing)

-           Establish a routine.  Consistency, routine and structure is what is required in order for a routine to work!  Consistency is the key word here – even if you are tired, not in the mood, had a bad day or YOU just need a break from the routine….don’t do it!!

-          The sameness provides a sense of safety and security for your child.  It allows them to know what to expect and what is expected of them.  This reduces the need to discuss, negotiate, beg, whine and plead – you are teaching them to follow rules!

-          Create a bedtime routine (about 30 mins) this should include the same steps every day in the same order:

1. Bath time          2.  Brush Teeth              3.  Put on PJ’S

4.  Read books        5.  Go to bed.

THE DON’TS: 1. No TV before bed. 2. They don’t decide WHEN they are tired or WHERE they want to sleep e.g. on the couch, your bed, etc. 3.  Rocking, feeding or lying down with your child – otherwise YOU will become required for them to go to sleep!

Encourage your child to use a “transitional object” (toy animal, blanket, etc) which will help to comfort and relax them.

Good night and good luck!!

What to expect in our sessions

Food for Thought                      News and views that aims to empower the
                                                     mother/caregiver

Gift of the Gab                           Reading and language development

Wired for Thought                    Intellectual and cognitive activities

Toy Time                                    Free play with fun educational toys

Take Note                                  Music and movement (including rhythm and
                                                    sing- along)

Making Sense of my World     Sensory and tactile activities, including art
                                                   exploration

Step-by-Step                            Fine, gross motor and spatial awareness

Time-out                                   Tea time for Moms and outdoor play for their
                                                   Miracles