BabyGym Institute International

AFRIKAANSE TAALDAG! 🇿🇦

Ons het ’n bietjie laat geslaap hiermee, maar ons moes darem iets doen om ons pragtige taal vandag te vier.

Hier is vier Afrikaanse stories wat jy sommer via die QR-kode kan ervaar. 📖✨

Is dit professioneel opgeneem? O nee!!
Is dit uit die hart uit? O ja!!

Waar was ons boekies al besonder handig?

• Binne die geskenkpapier by ’n babatee.
• In bekommerde ouerhande langs ’n hospitaalbed.
• In ’n geskenkpakkie vir ’n eerste verjaardag.

Maar die heel meeste?

Op ’n vliegtuig, op pad oor die water, waar gesinne met jong kinders so verlang na Afrikaans. ✈️🌍🇿🇦

Dít maak ons harte vol.

Geniet dit! ❤️

https://babygym.co.za/shop/

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For our English friends, keep heart!
A teeny-tiny little story has made its way onto our pages this week. It has already been sent to our illustrator, and the magic is unfolding as we speak…

Watch this space...

BUILDING A FIRM FOUNDATION

Developing the brain is much like building a house. The entire house is already part of the plan, but it is built in a specific sequence, from the bottom up.

Over the years, Dr Melodie de Jager developed the De Jager Model of Development, which emphasises that physical development is a major developmental priority during the first year of life. She describes physical development as the foundation of the house — the foundation upon which the integrity of the entire structure is built.

As BabyGym Instructors, we are passionate about equipping parents, educators and professionals with an understanding of how massage and playful activities at home can soothe the nervous system, stimulate the senses, strengthen muscles and support the integration of primitive reflexes. In this way, babies don’t simply reach physical milestones such as rolling, sitting, crawling and walking; they are also laying the neurological foundations for the developmental milestones that follow.

In other words, we help build an exceptionally firm foundation for the emotional, social and cognitive development that lies ahead for many years to come.

When the body and brain work together as a team, children are better equipped to thrive academically, in sports and in cultural activities. Most importantly, they are free to enjoy their childhood to the fullest.

Our five-week programme for babies from 6 weeks to 14 months is called BabyGym Firm Foundation — and now you know why!

In Afrikaans, the title translates as BabaGim 2: Ferm Grondslag, because we are laying the foundation for a child’s entire future.

https://babygym.co.za/

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5-STAR CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Thank you for your feedback.

We’re delighted that you found BabyGym to be a stimulating and enjoyable bonding and learning experience!
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Would you like to join BabyGym 2 Firm Foundations?
Find an Instructor near you:

https://babygym.co.za/instructor_list/

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!

"A strong woman doesn’t only overcome challenges, she transforms them into stepping stones for those who follow."

https://babygym.co.za/

We would like to add...

"A happy child is one who can work through hard things, because they never worked through them alone, and in the process, they learnt that words like "hard" means you are living an honest life shared with real people."

https://babygym.co.za/

NOW ON TAKEALOT

Exciting news! Our books are now available on Takealot!

This is the perfect opportunity to spend your eBucks or Discovery Miles and get your hands on our wide range of books designed to support parenting, development and learning.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or therapist, there's something for every stage of a child's developmental journey.

Start building your collection today and invest in knowledge that makes a difference!

Happy reading! 📖✨

Place your order, here:

https://www.takealot.com/seller/babygym?sellers=29897295

Skin-to-skin care isn't just for babies, it supports mom too.

A new 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that kangaroo mother care (prolonged skin-to-skin contact, often paired with breastfeeding) was associated with a significant reduction in postpartum depressive symptoms.

While skin-to-skin isn't a replacement for mental health care when it's needed, it's a simple, low-cost, evidence-based practice that may benefit both parent and baby.

The greatest effects were seen among parents of preterm infants, but the overall findings reinforce what we've long known: nurturing the parent-infant connection matters.

Skin-to-skin contact isn't only for releasing the placenta or the first couple days. This contact is beneficial long term.

📖 Read the study: Impact of kangaroo mother care on maternal postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials (Pediatric Research, 2026).

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-026-05157-3?fbclid=IwdGRleATec0JwZG9mBWZkaWQWUL1jbNp2o9mgjchSZ68gSfkqV6Oq52V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5VGMEYZdsUJQ0WWabH36bCwNaZCCBPRFVZGyhkM7R7B8axqN3cQWi-L803YA_aem_0HVZArAbckML08v9j4LNlQ&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv1_a1demo0jt7repd

BabyGym and a rare form of Down Syndrome known as Mosaicism

I remember so clearly the day I first heard that my baby daughter might have Down syndrome. She was four months old, and I innocently asked the clinic nurse why her little tongue was constantly protruding from her mouth. The nurse took the opportunity to suggest that we should perhaps consider having her tested.

My world fell apart in that moment because I could immediately see that she might be right. The tests were done and came back negative, but the doctor explained that she could possibly have a rare form of Down syndrome known as mosaicism.

Regardless of the diagnosis, I knew that I simply had to face the challenges that lay before us. God had entrusted her to me for a reason, and I resolved to do everything within my power to help her reach her full potential. I read everything I could get my hands on, and eventually I discovered an incredible programme called BabyGym, which I would love to tell you about.

Read the full story here:

https://babygym.co.za/2026/08/04/babybym-and-a-rare-form-of-down-syndrome-known-as-mosaicism/

BabaGim en ’n seldsame vorm van Down se sindroom bekend as mosaïsisme

Ek onthou so duidelik die dag toe ek vir die eerste keer gehoor het my babadogtertjie het miskien Down se sindroom. Sy was 4 maande oud en ek het ewe onskuldig vir die klinieksuster gevra waarom haar tongetjie gedurig uit haar mondjie hang. Die suster het van die geleentheid gebruik gemaak om vir my te sê ons met dit miskien oorweeg om haar te laat toets. My lewe het net daar uitmekaargeval, want ek kon onmiddellik sien sy het ’n punt beet. Die toetse is gedoen en dit was negatief, maar die dokter het gesê sy het moontlik ’n seldsame vorm van Down se sindroom bekend as mosaïsisme. Hoe ook al, ek het geweet ek moes eenvoudig die simptome van die probleem wat my in die gesig gestaar het, die hoof bied. God het haar met ’n rede vir my gegee en ek het besluit om alles in my vermoë te doen om haar te help om haar volle potensiaal te bereik. Ek het alles gelees waarop ek my hande kon lê en het uiteindelik afgekom op ’n wonderlike program, BabaGim, waarvan ek jou graag meer wil vertel.

Lees die volledige storie hier:

https://babygym.co.za/2026/08/04/babagim-en-n-seldsame-vorm-van-down-se-sindroom-bekend-as-mosaisisme/

BABYGYM DEVELOPMENTAL Q&A

Question:
"Is home or school the best place for my young child, and at what age should they ideally join preschool?"

Answer:
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether a child should stay at home during the first few years of life or attend preschool. The most important question is not where a child spends these early years, but how they experience them.

The first six years of life represent a period of extraordinary brain development. During this time, a child's brain is shaped by loving relationships, responsive interactions, rich sensory experiences, purposeful movement, nutritious food, adequate rest, and abundant opportunities to observe and imitate trusted role models.

If a child remains at home with a parent or caregiver who is emotionally available, actively engaged, and intentional about supporting development through play and everyday experiences, the home can provide an exceptional environment in which to build a strong foundation while the immune system continues to mature in familiar surroundings.

At the same time, a high-quality preschool with small class sizes can be an excellent choice for families with working parents, provided it offers warm, consistent relationships, low levels of stress, ample opportunities for movement and free play, and developmentally appropriate experiences rather than a strong emphasis on formal academic instruction.

According to the Triune Brain theory, children generally become more socially ready to wait, share, and take turns between the ages of three and four. Whereas younger toddlers typically engage in solitary and parallel play, children of this age begin to seek greater interaction with their peers through cooperative play, imaginative play, and simple competitive games. As their social brain matures, meaningful interaction with a wider circle of children becomes increasingly beneficial.

From four to six years of age, the emphasis gradually shifts towards building the bridges between concrete and abstract learning. During this stage, it becomes increasingly important for the child to learn from a literate adult who enjoys reading aloud and shares an enthusiasm for the world of language, numbers, and symbols. Such an environment nurtures curiosity, strengthens early literacy and numeracy, and helps children transition from hands-on experiences to more abstract thinking.

From BabyGym's perspective, the goal is never to accelerate learning, but to establish a firm foundation for lifelong development. Before children are expected to sit still, read, write, or perform academically, they need well-integrated sensory systems, strong muscles, mature movement patterns, emotional security, and abundant opportunities to move, play, and explore.

Ultimately, parents should choose the environment that best supports both their family's circumstances and their child's developmental needs. Whether a child spends these formative years at home or in preschool, children flourish when they feel emotionally secure and are free to move, explore, converse, reason and discover the joy of learning.

https://babygym.co.za/