Play Sense

🅝🅔🅦 🅔🅧🅟🅔🅡🅘🅔🅝🅒🅔🅢

Holidays offer opportunities for new experiences – whether it is a distant holiday destination so your little one can experience the beach for the first time or an outing to Butterfly world, the aquarium or a hike in a backpack. Make time during your leave and family visit to schedule some new outings.

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𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅜🅐🅚🅘🅝🅖 🅜🅔🅜🅞🅡🅘🅔🅢 🅣🅞 🅣🅡🅔🅐🅢🅤🅡🅔

Having a little one is a real gift in life. It is to be treasured and guarded. One day your precious little being will outgrow your home and become their own person, but they will take three things with them wherever they go:

❤ A sense of how loved and valued they are as a person

❤ Your family values

❤ A sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves

These three things form the safe space from which they will weather life’s storms. More than anything these are the three anchor points you want to give your child. Simple practices and rituals will seal your family into the heart of your child. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅.

1. 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕤

Holidays are a wonderful time to create unwavering family rituals that take on meaning and create memories. Decorating the Christmas tree, making a gingerbread house, going to see an annual show, or visiting a favourite place are some great ideas. Rituals make memories that your little one will learn to associate with this happy time of year.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅜🅐🅝🅐🅖🅘🅝🅖 🅞🅥🅔🅡🅢🅣🅘🅜🅤🅛🅐🅣🅘🅞🅝 & ⓂⒺⓁⓉⒹⓄⓌⓃⓈ

If you just spend time walking around a mall at 3pm on the 22nd of December, you will suffer sensory overload. The smell of different foods, the bright lights of the Christmas decorations, bustling crowds and Boney M playing across the sound systems are enough to push anyone over the edge. On a sensory level your baby will also find the busy-ness of the festive season overwhelming.

- Watch for your little ones signals that they’ve had enough; these include rubbing their face and eyes, looking away, starting to moan and nagging in older toddlers.

- Remember that sleep is the best way to combat o#littleadventurers

- Limit the amount of handling and stimulation your baby must endure at social events, particularly for young babies.

A few meltdowns (at least) are inevitable while you’re out and about. Try to be patient and remember that tantrums are often a case of overwhelm. Be sure to schedule in some downtime in between all the busy-ness.

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𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅗🅔🅐🅛🅣🅗🅨 🅢🅝🅐🅒🅚🅘🅝🅖 🍉🥭

A hungry baby/toddler is a miserable baby/toddler. In all the rush and socialisation of the holidays, don’t feel like the worst mother if you forget a mealtime or a feed sneaks up on you and you find yourself unprepared.

𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅:

🍉 Steer clear of sugary sweets and foods completely until your baby is at least a year – try for longer if this is your first child.

🍉 A good idea is to keep a stash of healthy snacks in a Tupperware in your baby bag for emergencies. Good snacks for older babies and toddlers include mango strips, organic biltong, finger biscuits and rice cakes.

🍉 If your baby is weaning, make a big batch of healthy home cooked veggies and a chicken stew that you purée. Portion into ice trays and freeze. Pack 3 – 6 frozen cubes in a sealed container that can defrost slowly while you travel.

🍉 If you are travelling with a toddler, have a few simple orders you can ask the kitchen to make like: a simple toasted cheese sandwich, noodles, or fish fingers. Most restaurants will be willing to accommodate you.

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𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅖🅞, 🅖🅞, 🅖🅞! 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨’𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘 👇👇👇

Holidays with little ones are demanding work – full of laughter, fun and wonder but they can be busy and enough to wear out even the most energetic parents.

𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:

👉 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Have some days of go-go-go but leave some days for downtime and relaxation. Make a point of trying to get regular, good quality sleep.

👉 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 – try to avoid the temptation of sugary treats and alcohol – both spike your sugar levels and leave you feeling depleted a few hours later.

👉 Put your whole family on a supplement or tonic to 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 is sustained over the busy holidays.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

Side view...other side view...and then front view 🤣🤣🤣

🅛🅔🅣’🅢 🅔🅧🅟🅛🅞🅡🅔: 🅞🅤🅣🅘🅝🅖🅢 ☀️ tips for a fun and happy outing 👇👇

Outings, especially in summer, are usually exciting – your baby’s first trip to the beach or visiting the aquarium with your toddler can make the most precious memories. But if you’re unprepared, outings can also be disappointing and frustrating.

𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:

☀️ Dress your little one in 100% cotton if possible. A rule of thumb is that your baby or toddler will be comfortable in one layer more than you are wearing but on a really hot day, your baby can frolic in only a nappy, as long as their tender skin is out of the sun!

☀️ Make sure your nappy bag is always packed with the essentials and “ready to go”. During the warmer months sunscreen and a hat should be permanent fixtures!

☀️ Plan your outing for a time when your little one is happy and rested. Select places that are baby and child friendly – restaurants that have quiet corners to feed in peace and shops with baby parking bays are a bonus.

Remember that the best fun is free! The outings little ones enjoy most are often in nature. The fresh air and peaceful surroundings are a fantastic way to enjoy a calm outing so head to the beach, go on a hike or a picnic at a dam and explore the wonders of nature with your little one.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

FREESTATE 👉 Are you looking for a Play School for your child for 2023? 𝟮 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄:
- Click on the link in our bio (https://bit.ly/3Fho3nJ)
- Click on "Find a playgroup in your area"

combines an award-winning play-based program, with a unique microschool model to give toddlers the best start to their learning journey. Our innovative program uses play to develop the super skills that children need to thrive. Join Play Sense and watch your toddler flourish.

WESTERN CAPE 👉 Are you looking for a Play School for your child for 2023? 𝟮 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄:
- Click on the link in our bio (https://bit.ly/3Fho3nJ)
- Click on "Find a playgroup in your area"

combines an award-winning play-based program, with a unique microschool model to give toddlers the best start to their learning journey. Our innovative program uses play to develop the super skills that children need to thrive. Join Play Sense and watch your toddler flourish.

🅢🅛🅔🅔🅟🅘🅝🅖 🅘🅝 🅝🅔🅦 🅔🅝🅥🅘🅡🅞🅝🅜🅔🅝🅣

Going away for a few days or weeks can be a fabulous time to unwind but for babies and toddlers, it can mean a huge disruption to their sleeping pattern. A strange environment can unsettle little ones and the inevitable lack of sleep can make them grumpy during the day.

Use the following tips to ease your baby into the new sleep environment:

ℕ𝔸ℙ𝕋𝕀𝕄𝔼

Remember day sleeps! A well-rested baby or toddler is much better equipped to deal with excitement, stimulation, and disruptions to routine. Make sure that no matter where you are and what is going on, your baby or toddler can sleep when they need to.

If you are going out during the day to a party or shopping, plan to have at least one of your little one’s sleeps at ‘home.’ Choose the sleep closest to midday (between 11 and 2) as this is generally the best sleep of the day.

If you are expecting a late night out that you want your baby/toddler to enjoy with the family, let them have a late afternoon nap and don’t wake them from it.

Thereafter, stick to their approximate awake times. For example, if you have a nine-month-old whose awake time is 2 and a half hours and you know that they will be awake as late as 8pm that evening, let them sleep as late as 5:30 that afternoon so they will be pleasant company for the evening’s outing.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

GAUTENG 👉 Are you looking for a Play School for your child for 2023? 𝟮 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄:
- Click on the link in our bio (https://bit.ly/3Fho3nJ)
- Click on "Find a playgroup in your area"

combines an award-winning play-based program, with a unique microschool model to give toddlers the best start to their learning journey. Our innovative program uses play to develop the super skills that children need to thrive. Join Play Sense and watch your toddler flourish.

🚗....🚗...🚗... Even if you aren’t going away during the festive season, most families are likely to take a few day trips and spend more time in the car. Here are some handy tips to make travel as smooth as possible:

BY CAR

🚗 If your road trip is long, take frequent breaks that coincide with your little one’s awake time. Drive while they are asleep as far as possible or shortly after waking when they are content to sit in their car seat.

🚗 Pack a small sized suitcase with a variety of toys that require focus and take time – 2 books, play dough, 2 imaginary play toys like a car, dolly, etc.

🚗 Little tummies need sustenance – pack a few healthy snacks to have on hand for your little one when they need it.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅔🅐🅢🅨 🅣🅡🅐🅥🅔🅛 ✈️✈️ Here are some handy tips to make travel as smooth as possible 👇👇

BY PLANE ✈️✈️✈️

Travel with a baby carrier that you can use in the front for babies and on your back for toddlers. Traveling with a baby or toddler can be stressful as you are generally confined to a space and time schedule that you have little control over. A good idea if you are flying is to use a sling or carrier as this can be used to create a quiet, comforting space where your baby can sleep and feed without being disturbed too much.

As far as possible, try to schedule your transit time during your baby’s sleep time. It’s not always possible but a two-hour flight is the perfect length for the midday sleep. Book an overnight flight if you’re travelling internationally so your baby or toddler can sleep the whole way over.

While you might be trying to line up your little one’s nap times with transit times, delays are inevitable. Don’t try to keep your baby or toddler awake especially for the flight. An overtired little one is more likely to fuss on the plane than fall asleep easily.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅟🅐🅒🅚🅘🅝🅖 for your holiday trip 👉 Baby carriers are also so handy on trips – it's much easier to navigate airports, walks on the beach or tourist-y things than trying to use a pram. 💛💛💛

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🅟🅐🅒🅚🅘🅝🅖 - Sleep is so important but also one of the things that can slip on holiday and disrupt your little one’s routine. Be sure to pack your baby/toddler’s sleep paraphernalia – a familiar camp cot (if driving); a familiar fitted sheet; doodoo blanky or soft toy - it’s worth remembering when you want to settle your little one in an unfamiliar space.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄

🧳 If you’re a parent, you are no stranger to packing. It’s not practical (or possible) to ‘travel light’ when you have a baby or toddler in tow but there are some things you can do to lighten your load.

👉 You will need numerous changes of clothes for all four seasons, depending on where you’re travelling to and the season. But you don’t need to pack two weeks' worth of nappies, wet wipes or formula. Have some available for your transit and to see you through a couple of days but unless you’re going somewhere very remote – stock up when you get to your destination.

⁉️ Make sure to follow us daily - we will be sharing the most amazing

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟! 🎅🎄


👉 You will need numerous changes of clothes for all four seasons, depending on where you’re traveling to and the season. But you don’t need to pack two weeks' worth of nappies, wet wipes or formula. Have some available for your transit and to see you through a couple of days but unless you’re going somewhere very remote – stock up when you get to your destination. adventures