events-and-blog

Saturday Yoga Class for Kids in Panorama

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:53:05 +0100

Saturday Yoga

Holistic Kids will be presenting a Kids Yoga class at the Karen Freeman Dance Studio in Panorama for children 3 to 6 years of age two Saturday mornings a month.

Yoga is a natural form of exercise for children because they are supple and aware of their bodies. It is a creative and expressive way for children to exercise. The Holistic Kids yoga programme incorporates traditional yoga movements in a playful and fun way that children enjoy. Please note that there are NO religious or spiritual connotations in the Holistic Kids yoga programme.

Why choose yoga as an extra-mural activity for your child?

The Holistic Kids yoga programme is specifically age related and focuses on strengthening core muscles, crossing the midline of the body and teaching good breathing techniques.

Benefits of yoga for children:

Body confidence

Strengthens and improves core muscles and muscle tone

Stimulates the circulatory, nervous, digestive and immune systems of the body

Teaches good breathing techniques

Fun form of exercise

Stimulates left and right brain functioning

Crosses the midline of the body

Increases concentration and attention span

Recommended for children who:

Have low muscle tone

Are anxious and nervous

Have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD

Kids who just want to have fun!

Cost: R45 per child per lesson

Timetable

Month, Dates and Times 9:15 - 10:15	Cost
September 10 & 24	R90
October 15 & 29	R90
November 12 & 26	R90
December 10	R45

Holistic Kids programme running at Montessori @ Home in Paarl

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:47:31 +0100

Holistic Kids will be running their Happy Holistic Kids programme at the Montessorie @ Home Pre-School in Paarl on the 15th of July. The cost is R375 per person. For more details or to book please email Charne at charnedk@mweb.co.za or phone on 08246679.

How to stimulate the left brain and brain gym for ADD and ADHD

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:44:45 +0100

Stimulating the left brain and Brain Gym for ADD and ADHD

Compiled by Charné de Klerk

The left side of the brain is often described as the ‘thinking’ side of the brain. It is were we think in words and put thoughts together in sequential patterns. Children with ADD and ADHD are encouraged to stimulate this part of their brain, as it is thought to be weaker. By stimulating the left side of the brain, children perform better at school and learn how to engage the ‘thinking’ side of their brain. Below is a list of left-brain characteristics and activities to help support and stimulate the left side of the brain.

Characteristics of the left-brain:

Think in words
Linear processing
Excels at analysis
Sequential
Convergent
Intellectual
Objective
Rational
Goal-oriented
Explicit
Factual
Structured
Consistent
Detail

Activities to simulate the left-brain:

Solving crosswords or word search puzzles
Performing learned tasks

· Language usage, both comprehensive and expressive

Problem solving
Recalling complex narratives
Researching a topic and compiling feedback
Reading a book and writing a book report
Projects involving keeping track of time and factual events
A trip to the library and looking for books on the child’s favourite subject
Debates in the class room or at home on the child’s favourite subject or topic

Brain Gym for ADD and ADHD

Brain gym is a series of movements and exercises that aim to strengthen the neurological links between all the parts of the brain. It also helps to activate all the senses. Below are some popular brain gym exercises that you can do at home or in the classroom.

While performing these exercises it is important to breathe calmly, deeply and rhythmically as this fills the body with oxygen and has a relaxing effect.

Brain buttons

Stand upright and place one hand on the navel. Use the index finger and thumb of the other hand to massage the two hollows under the collarbones gently. Breathe in and look to the right. Breathe out and look to the left. Repeat three times swap hands and repeat.

Earth buttons

Stand upright and place one hand on the navel. Bend the index finger of the other and place it in the hollow of the chin. Breathe in and look up. Breathe out and look down. Repeat three times. Swap hands and repeat.

Arm activation

Hold one arm up, straight up past your ear. Bend the other arm behind the head and hold the elbow of the straight arm in the hand behind your head. The arms should put pressure on one another. First press the one arm forwards, backwards, to the left and to the right while the bent arm provides resistance. Now swap the arms and repeat.

Neck rolling

Stand upright with your eyes closed. Roll the head forwards to the right until the right ear is directly above the right shoulder. Now roll the head forward towards the left until the left ear is above the left shoulder. Imagine that your head is heavy. Keep the neck and shoulders relaxed.

Bibliography and references:

How to cope with ADHD a South African guide for parents, teachers and therapists. By Helena Bester ISBN0798146451

Low muscle tone and Yoga

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:15:05 +0100

Yoga and low muscle tone in children

Yoga is a natural form of exercise for children because they are supple and aware of their bodies. It is a creative and expressive way for children to exercise using all the muscle of the body to stretch, bend and twist.

The Holistic Kids programme incorporates traditional yoga poses in a playful and fun way that children enjoy, with no religious connotations or aspects. The programme is purely based on yoga poses and the benefits they have for the body and the muscles involved. Yoga poses furthermore stimulate the circulatory, nervous, digestive and immune systems of the body and teaches good breathing techniques filling a child’s growing body with fresh oxygen.

Core muscles and Yoga

Yoga poses strengthen the core muscles of the body, which are vital for children with low muscle tone. The yoga poses also create mind-body awareness, which also encourage children with low muscle tone to use muscles that are weak. During yoga children are taught how to breathe correctly and this in turn also feeds the muscles with oxygen, therefore strengthening and energising the muscles of the body.

Benefits of yoga for children with low muscle tone:

Body confidence
Strengthens and improves muscle tone
Strengthens core muscles
Stimulates the circulatory, nervous, digestive and immune systems of the body
Teaches good breathing techniques
Fun form of exercise
Increases concentration and attention span
Good indoor winter activity

Therapy Dough for children with ADD and ADHD

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:11:01 +0100

Therapy Dough for children with ADD or ADHD

Children with ADD or ADHD tend to be restless and fiddle with either their fingers or something from their environment. They tend to tap their feet, drum their fingers or even wring their hands in an attempt to wake up their brain. Sadly this fiddling can be distracting not only for a teacher but also the other children in the class and often tends to land the child in trouble.

It is recommended that children with ADD or ADHD be given a small amount of Therapy Dough to ‘fiddle’ with as the essential oils help to ‘wake up’ the brain and stimulate the nervous system of the body. Added to this, the medium of dough is quiet and not distracting to class mates. The use of a ‘fiddle’ toy helps the child to sit still and concentrate for longer periods. I would recommend that teachers monitor children with ADD or ADHD in their classes and the moment that they start to fiddle and become distracted, they are given a small piece of dough to fiddle with. The amount of dough should not be big enough for the child to mould into an object, as this too can then become a distraction rather than an aid. The action of giving a child Therapy Dough to fiddle with also has a positive impact on the child’s self esteem, as they are not being punished but rather rewarded for needing to fiddle.

Bibliography: The concentration clinic: ADHD and learning by Jane Jarvis, Educational Psychologist

Supporting a child's immune system the Holistic Way

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:36:44 +0100

Supporting a child’s immune system the holistic way by Charne de Klerk from Holistic Kids

A child’s immune system is there first defence against illness and disease and it should therefore be protected, supported and cleansed to keep it healthy. By having a health immune system a child’s chances of becoming ill are lessened and the less ill your child is the stronger their immune system becomes. This can either become a very healthy cycle OR it can work in reverse and the more often your child is ill the more their immune system becomes less efficient.

As parents we have the best intentions of wanting to keep our children healthy but often only think of their state of health when it becomes compromised. Here are some easy to implement immune boosting tips that will help keep your family healthy the holistic way.

Increase your family’s intake of fresh fruit and vegetables to five portions a day per family member.
Add pulses and wholegrains to meals to promote energy levels.
Reduce animal fat intake and reduce dairy products as they stimulate mucus production.
Limit sugar and processed foods to a once a week treat and cut out foods that contain colorants and caffeine as they put the immune system under strain.
Have a central point in your home were you have a jug of clean water and glasses readily available for your children to help themselves to a drink of water when they are thirsty.
If your child will only drink juice either dilute it with water or encourage them to drink 100% pure cranberry or mixed berry juice, as it is high in vitamin C.

· Give a good multivitamin and mineral supplement daily that contains zinc.

Add garlic and parsley to your family meals as they boost the immune system and contain Vitamin C and antioxidant.
Make breakfast an easy meal by making a infection/immune boosting smoothy from apples, cranberries, citrus fruit, figs, peaches, plumbs, grapes, raspberries and strawberries

Yogakids Workshop

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:15:19 +0100

Charne from Holistic Kids will be presenting a Yogakids workshop on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st of October 2010.

This workshop teaches parents, fitness instructors and teachers how to present yoga to children. The workshop covers safe poses that can be done by children from the age of two years and up, meditation and the benefits of yoga for children.

The cost of the workshop includes Yogakids manual, practical session and a certificate of attendance.

Time - 9:00am till 14:00pm (both days)

Venue: Discovery Day Care Monte Vista

Cost of the workshop: R600

Bookings close on the 9th of October 2010, to register please complete the booking form attached and email back to charnedk@mweb.co.za

Tip of the week

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:50:26 +0100

Use pure good quality olive oil to clean cuts, scrapes and nappy rash as it is a natural antiseptic and has healing qualities.

Tip of the week

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:50:58 +0100

Boost your child’s concentration and memory by giving them a
supplement that contains omega 3, 6 and 9.

The happy baby talk

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:11:04 +0100

Holistic Kids & The Kangaroo Baby and Immunization Clinic Presents: The Happy Baby Talk on the 7th of August 2010

Charne de Klerk - The Happy Holistic Baby
Deana de Villiers - What is Baby Love and how can it help your family?
Sr. Joanne Lord - What you need to know about immunizing your baby

Venue: The Kangaroo Baby and Immunization Clinic 28 Olienhout Avenue Plattekloof

Cost: R80 per person; Time: 9:30 am

The ticket price includes three informative 30 min talks, a goodie bag filled with information and giveaways, tea/coffee and a sweet treat. We regret there are no children allowed at the talk

RSVP: 3 August please email Charne on charnedk@mweb.co.za or phone 082 4667925 to book your place, please note that there are only 8 seats available.

events-and-blog

Saturday Yoga Class for Kids in Panorama

Holistic Kids programme running at Montessori @ Home in Paarl

How to stimulate the left brain and brain gym for ADD and ADHD

Stimulating the left brain and Brain Gym for ADD and ADHD

Compiled by Charné de Klerk

Brain Gym for ADD and ADHD

Low muscle tone and Yoga

Therapy Dough for children with ADD and ADHD

Supporting a child's immune system the Holistic Way

· Give a good multivitamin and mineral supplement daily that contains zinc.

Yogakids Workshop

Tip of the week

Tip of the week

Boost your child’s concentration and memory by giving them asupplement that contains omega 3, 6 and 9.

The happy baby talk

Boost your child’s concentration and memory by giving them a
supplement that contains omega 3, 6 and 9.