Family Friendly

I always thought that Christmas was a kids thing. That is until I started looking for a Santa hat for our youngest’s end of year jamboree. But the world appears to have gone crazy and the only furry red snow hats I could find were the sort you end up with at the office party where everyone is too drunk to realise how inappropriate they are.. I trudged from Ackerman’s to the Crazy Store, CNA, Pick and Pay and ended up at the Toy Factory which didn’t have Santa’s suits for anything or anyone. I don’ know if that shows that they are more attuned to what the little people really want to wear or not but I was certainly not spreading any Christmas cheer in my futile quest.

I briefly thought about setting up another site I will never finish but thought better of it given the economic meltdown we are facing.

This idea is one that was put forward after the Mayor asked could be done for Do It Day.

The objective is to get as many children as possible to clean up the town and fill black bags. The bags are donated by the municipality. Each school will clean up in their area and then count the bags they fill. John and Stephen Langlands from sanitation and cleanliness at the municipality will arrange collection of the bags and officiate the count. We will then cover the event in the press in the following week and announce how many bags were collected and ask the public and the businesses to sponsor a bag for R10. We have Oakhill School, Knysna High School, Hornlee School, the Christian School all getting geared up to help CLEAN UP Knysna! The idea is that business/individuals sponsor each bag collected by the children and all the proceeds go to the children in our locality that cannot afford school fees or lunches! We are also arranging that food is delivered to the Chris Nissan School on Friday morning to ensure that the children are fed before they set off to collect rubbish and clean up! Any help is most welcome at this stage.

COME ON LETS GET OUR CHILDREN EDUCATED!!!

FROM 9 - 11AM on FRIDAY 19th at the KNYSNA PRIMARY SCHOOL FIELDS

PLEDGE OR PARTICIPATE!!!

LETS DO IT

Jane van Velsen

0833042690
0443841025

Are seat belts in cars children friendly?

On Friday we took the boys to the Scarab Market as Richelle and Nidhi from the Drum Cafe are organising a drumming circle specifically for kids. Owen took cover behind the fish pond and Jono behind his younger brother who had zero qualms about getting into the rhythm of things. However all it took was a steady beat to get the elder boys joining in and I hope its something that will grow and get the support it needs. We have been looking for something like this for awhile now and like many things in the area I cant understand why more people don’t do more, particularly when it comes to the kids.

Want to come back to this one childdevelopmentblog.info

Birthday parties are an all important part of what Mum and Dad face as part of the challenge to bring up an enlightened and well balanced family and I thought I would turn the internet for a bit of inspiration. I soon got lost and it was not long before puppets and ventriloquists in South Africa took me to site featuring Conrad Koch. Another act that caught my eye was the magician and illusionist Vicus who performs his unique brand of radical magic in South Africa as well as on cruise ships, the States, Europe, Scandanavia, SE Asia and the Far East.

But still no closer to a two year olds birthday party.

That flu eventually hit us all and required three or four courses on antibiotics to put it down. Fortunately we had a brief respite over the holidays. But that was short lived as David once again, picked up the tummy bug that was doing the rounds during holiday care. And we are now trying to shake off the flu that’s not quite flu and which we pass from one to other without it actually developing into anything we can nail down.

David has just started in Joey’s class at the Knysna Montessori and brought back the first bug of the new year. He started waking in the night with a sore throat and blocked nose but not the raging flu and temperature we are used to. This developed into a slight cough which we are treating with Ibumol. Its a combination of a cough syrup and paracetamol for the sore throat. But he hates grape flavour and and this turns into a battle of wills with much gnashing of little teeth and blood curdling screams. He is however much more partial to the “delicious cherry flavour” of the Sinu-med and he gets that just before bed to clear the nose.

 The now 1 year old Adventure land is a welcomed source of entertainment for the whole family.  They have some amazing slides for the brave and even the not so brave.  There are quad bikes that one can hire to go on the fun trail that meandering through a part of the forest.  With good braai facilities, tables, benches and large umbrellas it makes for a great venue to spend a day out in the sun with friends and family. 

Its a great venue for children’s parties and I’ve seen that it could make a lovely venue for an outdoor party for the adults too.  Just imagine an evening party nestled in the forest with some ambient lights some music and a big pool to socialise in or next to.  Bring in some caterers and voila - a party to be spoken about for a while.  This will need to be a special arrangement as the park isn’t normally open after sundown.

My child had his party at Adventure land and its still the most spoken about party amongst the kids (almost a year later).  The service and assistance is outstanding and the pricing is reasonable. 

Wild Waters Fun Park in Plettenberg Bay is another fun outing with a couple of slides, pools, putt-putt, trampolines and restaurant.  Many children’s and adults parties are held there.  A day time or evening party isn’t hard to arrange thanks to the restaurant and the friendly staff/management of the park.  If you wish to fit in a little exercise while the others go wet and wild - there is a gym right at the park.  A mini ride-on steam train choo-choo’s past the park for the little steam enthusiasts.

for a delightful day in with some of the cutest animals there’s the Harkerville Wolf Sanctuary and Touch Farm.  Have a cuppa, a picnic or just a stroll around the farm.  Many shrills of delight are given up as the kids feed the animals and exciting “Cool, look at the wolves!”.  Boredom is not an option with all of that and a play area for the kids is on site.  Kids parties are welcomed there.

The Knysna Elephant Park is a place of awe, learning and fun.  Also a great venue for a kids party with a difference.  The Knysna Elephant Park is not just about entertainment but preservation of these dear creatures that are close to extinction.

Another party venue with a difference or just an exciting day out is the Birds of Eden and Monkey Land.  Be sure to save a few bucks and buy the combo ticket.  Birds of Eden offers a perfect facility for outdoor parties either kids or “not too noisy” party for the adults.  Although I wouldn’t recommend a party at Monkey Land, its fun to stroll through the forest and seeing the mischievous monkeys at play.

Birds of Eden and Monkey Land are enclosed areas where you walk amongst the animals.  The layout is spectacular!  Birds of Eden and Monkey Land have little restaurants/cafes and curio shops.  Do remember that the animals are friendly but shouldn’t be fed (even if they try to help themselves to what you’re munching). 

One can find out more about these and many more family and party friendly venues in the garden route at the tourist offices; should you prefre do it the easier way just click on the links offered on this website.

Its nice to see that Brenton is back to what it was. We haven’t been here for awhile. Everything changed soon after they completed the work on the storm water outlet and the sand shifted leaving us with a nasty drop off where there had been a gently sloping beach before. However its all back, that is except for the municipal sort collecting “parking fees”. Another reminder its “the season” again.

Despite this the boys had fun and it was difficult to get them out of the water and into the car for the ride home.