South Africa

Swimming at the hotel

We have just returned from a fantastic trip to South Africa and I wanted to write about all the great places we managed to see in our short visit. 

Our first stay was in Rosebank, Johannesburg. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which was a wonderful setting complete with restaurant/bar and swimming pool. All the facilities were great for a family of four with two young kids. Next to the hotel is a complete mall, strip mall and many restaurants where we found food the boys would eat and supermarkets to stock up on things for our day trips.

Spotting snakes

Close to the lemur

Our first outing was to the Monte Casino Bird Park where we met friends and explored a vast park which housed birds, snacks, bats and lemurs among others. 

The boys had a great time and used up all their energy ready for a good nights rest! 

There is a show in the middle of the afternoon where they display some of the birds who have been rescued and rehabilitated but unable to return to the wild. There is also the option to feed the ducks and other animals.

Day two took us to the Johannesburg Zoo. This is an enormous park and involves lots of walking so I advise a stroller for young kids. There were plenty of baby animals on our visit including a pack of tiger cubs all rolling around and a mother and baby chimpanzee which were just the other side of the glass. We liked how the enclosure seemed spacious and the animals were alert and healthy looking.

On our third day we visited the science museum Sci-Bono in Johannesburg center. This was a fantastic day out for me and the boys as everything was hands on and informative. There are three levels of exhibits including an area for free Lego play and exploration and a building site for the children to play at construction. The bonus on the day we went was free entry and a dinosaur display where the boys could activate the dinosaur roar and movement!

On the third evening we moved to another city, Pretoria where we stayed with friends.

The fourth day we went to sun city. This is a huge complex with water park, play areas, amusement parks, casinos and other attractions such as safari trips. We spent the day in the Sun city complex then at 5pm we set off on our Safari. The safari takes place in the Pilanesberg national Park which is home to the big five and many other animals. The day we went we were fortunate to see lions, cheetahs, wilder beast, wart hog, rhinos, elephants and spring bucks. They do not guarantee any sightings as the animals inside the park are 100% wild. The scenery around the park at sunset is stunning too so even if you don't see many animals it's a beautiful trip. 

Our next outing was to the Irene Dairy Farm. We had a delicious breakfast, fed the calves and played on tractors and in parks. This is a safe place to let the kids run off some energy and get some delicious treats in the shop for dessert!

Our final trip was to the Cradle Of Human Kind. This is a full day of activities where you visit the caves where some of the first human remains have been discovered. The caves remain a site of excavation so new discoveries are possible every day. There is also an interactive museum explaining all about evolution of humankind which includes a boat ride. Our youngest son really did not enjoy the ride but the oldest asked to go a second time so off he went with his dad while me and the little man got some well deserved food! The museum was a lot of fun and great for the boys as they could touch everything! 
 









One other place which my husband managed to visit (the rest of us passed on this experience as the boys are too young still) was the Apartheid Museum. He said its a must for all adults visiting South Africa to understand the sad history and current inequalities that are present in this wonderful country. We both came away with a new sense of this inequality and will strive to educate our children so that the future generations do not have to suffer any segregation. It became so apparent to us how much white privilege really exists in our world and how each and every one of us should be aware and fighting for equality for our children.

This was a once in a lifetime trip for us and we certainly filled our days with experiences. We would love to return someday when the boys are older so any other suggestions, please let us know in the comments below.

Here are a couple things we picked up on our trip (and now found similar products on amazon). These are affiliate links to help fund our next trip! Thanks for all your support.

To my youngest son on the eve of his third birthday

To my youngest son on the eve of his third birthday.

Tomorrow you will be three, and buried deep among all the excitement, presents, party preparation and pure hyper-ness, lies a small feeling of sadness. 

It's tiny and it's all mine. 

But when I wake up tomorrow I will no longer be a mother to a baby. When we get up, you will be three.

For me that means no more nappies, day time naps or two year old tantrums (which, lets face it, are much more acceptable than the ones that are on their way)!

Tomorrow I will have two boys and the baby phase will really be over. (Yes, I know it's a long time since you were a baby, but I could almost convince myself you still squeezed into the baby category while you were two)!

Now don't get me wrong, I am equally excited about your day and I will be jumping alongside you all the way. I am looking forward to the next stage.

But, just for tonight, and quietly to myself, I will wallow in your two year old-ness and tomorrow we begin a new adventure together.  

Christmas inspiration!

Christmas is sneaking up on us and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of our best buys to give you some inspiration. 

(This post may contain affiliate links)

Having two boys close in age means they generally play with the same toys and it's easy to build up a good collection of certain toys. They do of course have their personal preferences but all big stuff happily gets shared (and fought over)!

I think our best big toy has to be Duplo and Lego. Over the years we have built up a great collection of Duplo and have just begun on original Lego. Our best ever Duplo kit has been one which contains a whale with a huge mouth which both boys walk around stuffing with other Duplo pieces! This kit comes with loads of pieces and worth the price!

We love all construction toys so here are a few others we have gathered over the past years. Geomags are small rod and ball magnetic pieces which strongly join to make spectacular structures. Magformers are also magnetic and always join so there is no frustration! Lego is always a firm favorite and this bumper pack of bricks is a good starter pack. Build a car is a fun way to combine their need to build with their love of vehicles. 

      


We have had two climbing frames for the boys. The first we got when the youngest had just started walking and was the perfect size for him to start climbing while his brother could go up, down and under. The bonus of this slide is the little hidey place underneath. The boys have had so many picnics under there!  The second climbing frame is a recent addition to our garden environment and incorporates monkey bars, a dome shape and a top area to hang off! Now they are both confident climbers, this is the perfect addition for them and the bonus to this equipment is when you throw a blanket over it they have an igloo to play in!!!

For all train fans, this London set is perfect. Our eldest son was never much into trains but the youngest just loves this set. He enjoys all the vehicles that come with it and the millennium wheel that spins round!
This set is compatible with all major wooden train makers and comes with loads of pieces a three carriage underground train and a city of London bus!



For our family books are an important part of daily life and a must for birthdays and Christmas. We like to give a good range of topics, authors and genres but here are a few of our favorites.
               


This is just a brief list of all our favs at the moment. We are always on the lookout for new and exciting toys (especially if they aid learning) and any book recommendations would be gratefully received so just leave your suggestion in the comments below! 
For another great site to find loads of xmas ideas visit 4mysunshine.com We are part of the startup of this site and our book is already up there so do check it out and upvote 'Purposeful Play'!

How do I stop breastfeeding?

Over the last couple of weeks I have been asked a few times about this so decided to write down all my tips on how I stopped breastfeeding both boys.

The first point was that the decision was made and made by me. In the first instance with my oldest son it was a case of necessity because he had a mouthful of teeth at eight months and was doing a lot of damage. It was no longer pleasurable to feed him and I had been to the doctor twice with severe bites!!! With my youngest son it was my choice at around nine months as I was comfortable that he was well nourished with food and it just seemed like the right moment for us to stop. This post is not going to tell you when you should stop as that is a personal decision. What I want to offer here is the how to stop.

So the decision is made but how do you go about finishing breastfeeding?

The first step for us was having an established routine. I fed both boys from birth and started to introduce solids between 4-6 months, gradually increasing the quantity of food and amount of times they ate. This was a very slow process and by eight months they were both on a routine that looked something like this:

6am Breastfed
7am porridge with stewed apple
9.30am fruit and milk (from a cup - either breast milk or formula)
11.30 lunch - veggies, meat, rice etc
2pm friut and milk
4.30 tea - similar foods to lunch time
6.30 breastfed before bed
If they woke in the night (eldest did but the youngest didn't) they breastfed 

Once we were on this schedule it was easy to reduce down and feed them with formula and by one year they both drank cow's milk from a cup. We were able to completely eradicate bottles after their first birthdays using beakers rather than bottles.

To switch the boys from breastfeeding to food was a slow process that happened over four months but this gradual approach naturally decreased my milk production allowing the transition to be more favorable! I always tried to offer food when they were not desperate for food and I avoided breastfeeding them immediately after food so they didn't associate eating with breastfeeding. 

But what about the poor mum whose breasts swell and can become pretty uncomfortable. Yes it happened to me! When they were so full it was painful I would feed or express the milk to empty them. This may seem crazy but at least you get comfortable! Straight after emptying them I would use ice packs to help prevent the production and easy any discomfort. Once that was done I could continue on the routine and repeat these steps when necessary. In one week there was so little milk left I had no cause for concern and was done with breastfeeding.

If you have any specific questions, please ask in the comments or pop over to facebook and ask directly there. And if you have any other helpful tips to share please feel free to comment.

Questions, questions, questions

If your children have reached the question asking age, you know how exhausting it can be! But it is also a time where you see their little minds racing and their desire to understand the world at its most heightened. I'm LOVING this stage!

Both boys have recently got into asking questions. At 4 the oldest is asking some pretty hefty ones including "How did people come to Earth after the dinosaurs died?" and "Where is Heaven?" These are definitely not easy to answer but slowly we are working our way through encyclopedias and YouTube videos to find the answers he needs!

Inspired by his older brother, our 2 1/2 year old is also beginning to ask questions. For his age we are quite surprised by their complexity. His include "How do you make pasta?" (which led us to try out some home made pasta). "Where does water come from?" (here, he didn't want the answer 'the tap' he was looking for the real source of water. And "Why does wee wee come out of my body?"

So why do kids ask so many questions?

Most children have a 'why' phase. This usually starts as a way to engage adults and the why continues because each why is responded to with a new piece of information. For example "Lets go to the park" 

"why?"

"So we can run around and go on the climbing frame"

"why?"

"Because exercise is good for us"

"Why?"

And so on!!!

The next stage is the deep questioning and this usually starts when the child is around 4 and can understand complex ideas and will not settle for quick answers. This moment is when a child is really discovering their world and understanding it on a new level. The more information you can provide the more they are able to contain. We are using many resources to help our sons understand the complexity of life including good old Google! Our preference is the many encyclopedias that are available to children (affiliate links below to several we have used with the boys).

Please leave a comment of the best questions you have been asked by your young children :)

Pencil grip

Today a quick post on pencil grip as it is something that we have been working on a lot lately after our eldest son picked up a few bad habits!

Why is pencil grip important?
When a child achieves the tripod grip they are able to control the pencil fully and begin the journey of writing with more ease and control.

There are three stages of pencil grip. First a small baby or child begins with a fist grip holding the pencil with all their fingers. They are able to make large up and down movements and practice pressure.

Next comes the four point grip and many children get stuck on this grip (even to adulthood). This is when a child holds the pencil between four fingers (not the little finger). They have more control and begin to draw circles, curved lines and zigzags.

The third and final grip is the tripod grip. This is the standard adult grip using the thumb, index and middle fingers. In my opinion the transition to this grip is the most complicated and often a child will resort back to the four point grip if they do not receive enough orientation. 

How can you help your child to reach each grip?
Normally the fist and four finger grip come very naturally to babies and young children. The tripod grip may also come without any adult intervention as it has (so far at least) with our youngest son. But to encourage this grip it is important for a child to see their parents writing and holding a pencil. Make a game of it by counting how many fingers can touch the pencil and if an extra one touches any time make a funny noise (this helped our son to become aware of his grip very quickly and with lots of giggles)! We try not to go on about the grip continuously each time, but at the beginning of any writing or drawing session quickly mention it in a fun way to make sure the right fingers get on that pencil!

There are several products that can help a child that may be struggling with the tripod grip (affiliate links below). We have used the pencils and they really helped us.

Apps for fun and learning

Our kids are growing up in a moment of heightened technology where information is everywhere and they will have to be computer literate on top of every other skill. In our home we recognize this importance but also limit it's effect on our, still young, sons. We have a hard rule that TV time is only for 30 minutes or so per day and only at the end of the day when we are all tired and it's dark outside! An alternative to TV time is now App time. There are some great free or low cost apps that can really help children to consolidate skills they have learnt or work on new ones. Both boys enjoy the apps we hand pick for them and so far it has been a very positive addition to our learning environment.

Maths apps: We are using three apps and the boys decide which they prefer each day although Maths 3-5 is a strong favorite lately. Maths 3-5, Maths 4-6 and Toddler Numbers
(all the apps will be listed at the bottom of this post with affiliate links).

We use DinoChess to play (or learn to play) chess. This is a lot of fun and as it is self learning (the pieces cannot move to other squares) they are gaining the basic rules of chess :)

For coding we use Lightbot Hour and Kodable. We also have ScrathJr but it is more game than coding.

We use Eggy words for reading. This is a sight word app and both boys enjoy catching eggs and splatting them too!

Our little treasure is My Incredible Body. A sure favorite and one that always ends app time on a high!

We also have BrainPop Jr as it often has interesting videos (a free video is released every Monday).

App time has proven to be a rich experience so we hope you like our list and if you have any suggestions, please let us know below.

Play or Learn?

Lately my Facebook feed has been inundated with pictures and articles about children not being taught, schools that let children spend the day outside and people who insist learning is for school! Well, I would like to say, there is no need to choose play over learning or vise versa. You don't need to worry that you are or are not teaching your child to learn (everything they do is a form or learning). And really every parent is doing their best so lets just get along!

In this post I wanted to state that we are teaching the boys many things but that doesn't mean they don't play ALL day long. The learning part is not the concern of the child but the concern of the parent. Let me elaborate. If I want my child to learn to draw, I will provide lots of drawing opportunities - different paper, pencils, canvases etc but they will draw or use these materials when they choose to, not a set time or by force, and to them this is a fun play activity, yet to me it is a goal we are reaching.

So, my boys are learning to read, learning maths, beginning with concepts then addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and algebra (then mummy is a bit limited so I will have to re-learn some things). They are leaning a third language and how to play the piano and swim. We are learning lots of science concepts and they already have a good basis in geography which we are gradually expanding and basics in history are coming together.

This list may look crazy to you but to the boys they just play. The rest is for me and my husband. So how do we do it? 

Reading: This is explained in depth in another post Learning to Read but basically fun games with letters and words and plenty of reading together - most of you probably already do this and if you think about it your goal will be for your child to read!

Cuisenaire rods

Maths: This is done through play with our number rods. They make lines and see how many smaller rods make a bigger rod. The parent aspect is reading the manual and knowing how to direct play so they get the information needed. But these rods are very self instructive and any play with them helps to physically put maths concepts into perspective. The way we describe things also helps here and with the right language choices, maths terms become part of their vocabulary. The boys also enjoy activity books so we choose math related books. 

Languages: The boys are being brought up bilingually (English and Portuguese) but this sometimes triggers interest in other languages. We have friends in Spain and the boys speak to them often via Skype. This contact has sparked an interest in our eldest son to learn Spanish. This is simply done by watching cartoons in Spanish instead of English or Portuguese. If his interest continues and he wants lessons when he's older then he will at least have a basis to go on.

Piano: This also came from the boys. My husband plays the piano and I would like to and we have a keyboard at home. We leave it set up in the living room and the boys have access to it all the time. For Christmas we got some basic first learning piano books both for myself to learn and for them too if they choose this. Most days they play on the keyboard and lately the big boy has asked to play from the book. He has seen me using the book to practice and often wants to join in. The youngest is learning the notes and enjoys playing the demos!

Swimming: This is also a subject which has it's own post Learning to swim. This is an activity which, living on an island and close to the sea, has great importance to us. We have never paid for swimming lessons for the boys but they are very confident in the water and can both swim unaided (youngest for a few kicks, eldest 10 meters or so), enough to save themselves should an accident occur. This has been one of our favorite learning activities this summer and we have been to the pool a few times each week practicing our water skills!

Science: Like math, science is all around us. We love science! Especially messy, explosive and hands on science. Here is our post on several of our experiments and there are several videos of these experiments on our Youtube channel. The more hands on the science the more the boys enjoy it. We try to do some kind of experiment each day and watch documentaries on how things are made as well as any cartoons we find about science.

Geography: As we are quite an international family the boys have relations and friends scattered all around the world. We have a map up in their room and they often pause to look at it and discuss who lives where. If we hears of people travelling we usually check the map to see where the place is. The big guy is doing a project on Egypt at nursery so we have located it on our map and stared to discuss the languages spoken there, cultures and climate.

History: This comes up most days in the conversations we have from when they were young (their own history), to what happened when dinosaurs were alive and hundreds of things in between. We use a children's encyclopedia to explain many things and YouTube often has child friendly videos about other subjects.


Our days are packed with fun, play and learning as i'm sure the majority of your days are too. My aim with this post was to share the secret that play versus learning is only a concern for adults. In my experience, children love learning. They are naturally curious, ask an endless stream of questions just waiting to soak up information. I do not intend to suggest sitting a child down to 'work' on something that doesn't interest them but to encourage their curiosity and offer them many opportunities. Never miss a minute, these years are too precious. We would love to hear all you play and learning experiences - we are always on the lookout for new things to try!

(This post contains affiliate links to help us to continue our educational journey-thank you for all your support).