Parenting 101: 9 November 2012

Jenni Johnson, our resident ‘Baby Whisperer’, has been a practicing child-care practitioner for 15 years, and owns a busy ante and post natal clinic in Durban. This week she talks about independence and proper eating, among other things.  

* To encourage independence and self- esteem in your Grade R child, guide them into being able to bath and dry themselves, brush their own hair, choose their own clothes, know their own birthdate and use a knife and fork correctly when eating.

* Children don't perceive food as we as adults do. We know the healthier food choices are the healthier it is for us, for them it’s new taste, texture and smell so let them enjoy the experience and share it with them. Offer encouragement but don't ask your child to eat quicker, or force them to eat.

* If your children are in control of their TV viewing, you may find that the TV is suddenly been watched for longer and being put on sooner than you intended. Take the DSTV card out and don’t put it back in until all chores, homework and tasks have been completed to your satisfaction.  

* Do not confide in your child as though he/she is your peer, regardless of how mature the child appears to be. This is a common mistake made unintentionally by some parents who turn to their child for emotional support. Allow children to be children, and find other adults for companionship and support.

* I teach my clinic parents that the size of the plate your children eat off needs to be no bigger than the size of their hand. Show them how half the plate should be fruit or vegetables and the other half should be one third protein and one third carbohydrate. We should all generally eat less than we do.

* Catch Jenni on-air every day just after 10am with her tip of the day.

At Jenni’s ante and post natal clinic in Durban, parents are taught a system that gives them structure and routine to the baby and childhood years. Jenni has a nursing background. She’s a registered nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and private nurse practitioner.

Jenni’s online clinic, can be accessed online via www.jennisays.com. For appointments, e-mail [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @JenniSays or on Facebook by 'liking' The Berea Baby Clinic.