Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres 3

• How do parents and caregivers find out if the Early Childhood Development (ECD)centre they want to send their child to is accredited?
• Which documents do caregivers need to provide in order for their child to be accepted into an Early Childhood development (ECD)centre?
• What is a means test?

Identifying hearing and eyesight problems 2

• Are there any ‘red flags’ that parents should watch out for in baby’s first year that could indicate their baby’s language is not developing as it should?
• Ear infections can cause hearing loss. What is glue ear?

Bonding with baby 2

• How would one encourage pregnant women and mothers to look after themselves and ensure they stay happy and healthy?
• How can one offer good support to pregnant or new mothers?

Early Childhood Development (ECD) practices 2

• Why is it important to develop a good relationship with your baby and young child?
• What can I, as a parent, do with my baby to stimulate learning and brain development?

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) 4

• What damage does alcohol do to a baby’s brain during pregnancy and how does consuming alcohol affect my baby once he or she is born??
• What is FASD?
• How does one take control of your drinking if you’re pregnant or trying to have a baby?
• Where can I get help to assist me to stop drinking alcohol?

Child Health (Side-by-Side campaign) 13

• What is Side-by-Side?
• What is the goal of Side-by-Side?
• What are the 5 elements of care that the Side-by-Side campaign is built around?
• What is the Road to Health booklet (RTHB)?
• How to connect with Side-by-Side?
• My child will be going to an Early Child Development (ECD) centre, what should I look out for?
• What is important to look out for within the ECD classroom setting?
• What should the discipline policy be at an Early Child Development (ECD) centre?
• What should I look out for in the Play area of an Early Child Development (ECD) centre?
• What are the important things to note around the ablutions (bathroom and toilet area) at an Early Child Development (ECD)?

See all 13 articles

Toddler tantrums 2

• Why do toddler tantrums happen?
• Is there a way you can avoid or prevent a tantrum?

Children with mental disabilities 2

• What are some of the red flags that parents should watch out for in terms of social, mental and emotional development?
• What should caregivers and parents look out for as their child develops to make sure they pick up any delays early enough?

Deworming Myths and Truths 2

• How does a child become infected with worms?
• How does one treat a baby’s worm infection?

Tracking healthy growth 3

• Why should my baby have regular check-ups?
• How does each chart in the Road to Health Booklet (RTHB) work and what does it mean for your baby?
• Why are there other lines on the 3 charts in the Road to Health Booklet (RTHB) and what do they mean?

Measles infection and prevention 11

• What is measles?
• What are the symptoms of measles?
• How does the measles virus spread?
• How long can the virus stay active and when can a person spread the virus?
• Why is it important that all children receive the measles vaccination?
• How can parents protect their children from the measles virus?
• How would parents know if their child is protected against the measles virus?
• How does the measles vaccine work?
• What should parents and caregivers do if they are not sure whether their child is vaccinated or not against measles?
• Could a child still get measles if he/she is fully vaccinated?

See all 11 articles

Positive discipline 2

• What exactly is discipline and why do children need positive discipline?
• What can help parents get onto the road of positive parenting and positive discipline?

Caring for a young child with diarrhoea 2

• Why is diarrhoea so dangerous for babies and young children?
• If a parent or caregiver sees the signs of serious diarrhoea in the baby or young child, what should they do?

Registering birth of baby 2

• Why is it important for a child to have a birth certificate?
• What is the Child Support Grant and how does one apply for it?

Good Hygiene practices in the home 2

• Why is it important for the home to have access to clean water?
• What are some of the key family practices in home health and hygiene that can prevent children and adults from getting sick?

Raising an HIV positive child 2

• What treatment is available for babies and children if they are living with HIV?
• What if the baby or little child doesn’t like the taste and won’t take the medication?

Contraceptives and dual protection methods 3

• What is the right contraception to use after having a baby and when do you need to start using contraception after having a baby?
• Which contraceptives can women use if they are breastfeeding?
• Which contraceptives can’t be used when breastfeeding?

Identifying physical developmental delays 2

• What is meant by a ‘developmental delay’?
• What are the potential causes of developmental delays?

HIV positive and pregnant 2

• How will I know if my baby is HIV positive after being born?
• What are the ways that the baby could contract HIV and what can be done to prevent this?

Caring for a young child with a chest infection 2

• Are there any common home remedies that parents should avoid when baby has a chest infection?
• What should one look out for if you are worried that it may be more than just a cold or flu?

GBV in the home environment 3

• How does one recognise the cycle of violence?Abusive relationships generally follow a cycle of violence and recognising this and knowing what it looks like is the first step in learning how to break and escape the cycle of violence and abus
• What are some of the steps women can take against domestic violence and abuse?
• How does domestic abuse affect unborn children?

Creating a home learning environment 2

• Why is play is important for children as they grow up?
• Do children play as much now as they used to?

Families living with HIV 3

• How should families care for a new baby born to an HIV positive mom?
• What advice is there for families living with HIV?
• Is HIV/AIDS still a disease we must worry about?

Safety in the home 2

• Is there always a risk of drowning, even when children play in shallow water?
• What can we do to avoid choking and suffocating in babies and small children?

Childhood Obesity 2

• What are the dangers of obesity for young children?
• What can parents do to prevent their children becoming overweight and obese?

Creating books and stories at home 2

• What can young children learn from stories and how significant is it in their development?
• What is the best way to tell stories to young children?

Physical development in children 3

• How do children develop physically?
• What is a motor skill?
• What are the differences between gross motor skills and fine motor skills?

Developing literacy in children 2

• How does early literacy develop?
• How can parents help babies and young children develop these early literacy skills?

The role of the caregiver in a baby’s life 2

• What can we do to help children feel safe and secure?
• What is the role of the parent in their child’s early development?

Caring for your child's teeth 2

• Do I need to buy a toothbrush for my baby?
• What is the best way to clean baby’s teeth?

TB - you, your child and your family 2

• what are the symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB) in babies, toddlers and children?
• What does one do if babies and children test positive for TB?

Physical development 2

• What should parents look out for in baby’s physical development in the early weeks and months?
• Do babies and children learn through their senses?

The role of play in your child’s life 2

• Why is play so important?
• What are the benefits for children in playing?

Benefits of breastfeeding 2

• How often should you breastfeed?
• What are the benefits of bonding with your child while breastfeeding?

Safety in and around the home 3

• What are some water safety tips?
• What about other dangers around the house? What should parents look out for?
• What to do when a child is choking?

HIV - you, your child and your family 3

• What is HIV and AIDS?
• Is there a cure for HIV and AIDS?
• How can a HIV positive mother protect her baby from getting HIV when they are breastfeeding?

Maternal mental health 5

• Why do young moms often struggle with emotional stress over this period?
• Why is it a very difficult time for mothers and carers of new babies?
• Why don’t new moms find help maternal depression?
• How can pregnant women and mothers be encouraged to look after themselves and ensure they stay happy and healthy?
• Are there some things you should say to pregnant women and mothers to reassure them?

The role of fathers/partners 2

• Should the newly born baby be left alone exclusively with its mother?
• How can fathers/partners assist when the baby is very little and breastfeeding?

Social and emotional development 2

• What is social and emotional development and why do we link them together?
• What are the developmental milestones for social and emotional development in babies and toddlers?

Benefits of bonding with your baby 3

• Why is bonding with your baby during pregnancy important?
• How can parents-to-be create this bonding space?
• What is the role of older siblings in this bonding period?

Demystifying gender 2

• Do girls and boys think differently?
• Should girls and boys be raised and treated differently?

Parenting support resources 2

• What can friends or family do to support and assist pregnant moms and new mothers?
• Which organisations and services are available to women to support them?

Danger signs and mom’s health during pregnancy 2

• What happens if a pregnant mom has an already existing health condition?
• Which other danger signs should all pregnant women look out for?

Nutrition 3

• Why is good food and nutrition important for children?
• How do you start introducing new foods to your baby?
• Are there special ways to prepare babies’ food?

Absent dads 2

• And what can absent fathers do to support their young children’s development?
• If father and mother qualify for the Child Support Grant, what can dad do to register for this?

Recording development & monitoring growth with the (RTHB) 2

• How does the RTHB help parents with nutrition and growth?
• How is baby’s growth recorded on the RTHB charts and what danger signs should parents watch out for?

Baby’s growth from birth 3

• What is the best way for parents to know if their little ones are growing well?
• Where and how can parents get Road to Health Booklets for their baby?
• How is baby’s growth recorded on the charts and which danger signs should we look out for?

First 1000 days 5

• What are the first 1000 days and why are they so important?
• What happens if you don’t pay attention during these first 1000 days?
• Why are the 1st 1000 days important in terms of bonding?
• Why else it this period important?
• What is happening to the baby during pregnancy?

Immunisations 2

• How will I know when to take my child for their immunizations?
• Why do doctors and nurses need the Road to Health Booklet?

Developmental milestones 5

• How do children develop physically?
• What are some of the other physical milestones a toddler will reach?
• Are toddlers more aware of their surroundings?
• What development will a parent see in the years between 2 and 4?
• Are 3- to 4-year-olds able to tell the difference between what is real and what is only imagination or fantasy?