Madre Kroukamp and Associates

03/08/2026

1 - 7 August Happy World Breastfeeding Week! Breastfeeding can act as an equaliser in our society and efforts must be made to ensure everyone has access to breastfeeding support and opportunities. There is a popular misconception that breastfeeding is free and easy. In fact, it requires access to trained counsellors and the time to breastfeed (or express milk). It is essential that no-one is left behind especially vulnerable mothers who may need additional support to reduce breastfeeding inequalities. Go to lacsa.org.za to find the right support!

02/08/2026

In this free 90-minute presentation, I demystify popular approaches to newborn positioning and latch by explaining which strategies make early breastfeeding easier, which make it more difficult, and why. Registration required. Watch it here: https://www.lcgb-owl.org/courses/a-history-of-positioning-and-attachment-2

02/08/2026

It’s World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 - 7!

This year’s theme "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works” invites us to bring our energy into creating and supporting lasting change for breastfeeding outcomes.

Together, we can be part of supporting proven interventions such as counselling, education, clinical support, awareness campaigns, legislation, paid maternity leave, and more!

23/05/2026

𝙂𝙚𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜 𝙗𝙮 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙨 𝘼𝘿𝙃𝘿 𝙡𝙮𝙠… 𝙢𝙖𝙖𝙧 𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙮𝙙 𝘼𝘿𝙃𝘿 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙞𝙚

Deur Albie Jordaan

Baie ouers voel vandag bekommerd oor hulle kinders se gedrag. Hulle kind sukkel om stil te sit, vergeet goed, luister nie, raak gou afgelei, voltooi nie take nie, of spring van een ding na die volgende. Dit kan baie soos ADHD lyk.

En soms ís dit ADHD.

Maar nie altyd nie.

Daar is ook kinders wat ADHD-agtige gedrag wys, terwyl die werklike probleem iets anders is. Dit beteken nie die kind is stout, lui of ongehoorsaam nie. Dit beteken ook nie ouers het noodwendig verkeerd grootgemaak nie. Dit beteken net ons moet dieper kyk na wat werklik aangaan.

ADHD is ’n regte neuro-ontwikkelings toestand wat aandag, impulsbeheer en uitvoerende funksies beïnvloed. Maar daar is baie dinge wat presies dieselfde simptome kan veroorsaak.

Een van die grootste oorsake vandag is slaaptekort. Kinders wat te min slaap, lyk dikwels hiperaktief, emosioneel, vergeetagtig en ongefokus. Die brein se vermoë om aandag te beheer en emosies te reguleer verswak wanneer ’n kind moeg is. Baie kinders leef vandag in ’n konstante toestand van oorstimulasie en te min rus.

Selfone en skerms speel hier ’n groot rol. Wanneer ’n kind ure lank op ’n foon, tablet of videospeletjie spandeer, word die brein gewoond aan vinnige stimulasie, kits-vermaak en konstante verandering. Dit maak gewone take soos skoolwerk, lees, luister en konsentreer baie moeiliker.

Die probleem is nie net die inhoud op die skerm nie. Dit is ook wat die skerm aan die brein doen.

Skerms beïnvloed dopamienvlakke, slaapkwaliteit, emosionele regulasie en aandag. Baie kinders slaap later as wat hulle behoort, en selfs dan, kry die brein nie altyd die diep rus wat nodig is vir goeie fokus en emosionele beheer nie.

Dan sien ouers gedrag soos:

• swak konsentrasie
• impulsiewe optrede
• emosionele uitbarstings
• rusteloosheid
• swak geheue
• swak selfbeheer
• uitstelgedrag
• moeite om take klaar te maak

En dit lyk baie soos ADHD.

Angs kan ook soos ADHD lyk. ’n Kind wat bekommerd, gespanne of onseker voel, sukkel dikwels om aandag te gee. Hulle gedagtes hardloop heeltyd. Hulle raak maklik afgelei omdat die brein besig is om gevaar, spanning of verwerping te probeer hanteer.

Trauma en emosionele spanning kan dieselfde doen. Kinders wat deur konflik, harde kritiek, verwerping, chaos of emosionele onsekerheid gaan, leef dikwels in ’n toestand van innerlike alarm. Hulle senuweestelsel bly “aan”. Dit beïnvloed fokus, geheue, emosies en gedrag.

Selfs chroniese stres kan uitvoerende funksies verswak.

Uitvoerende funksies is die brein se “bestuurstelsel”. Dit help ’n kind om:

• vooruit te d**k
• take te beplan
• emosies te beheer
• aandag te rig
• tyd te bestuur
• impulsbeheer toe te pas
• take te voltooi
• georganiseerd te bly

Baie kinders het hulp nodig om hierdie vaardighede te ontwikkel en te oefen. Dit is hoekom lewensafrigting kinders dikwels baie help.

Goeie lewensafrigting fokus nie net op gedrag nie. Dit help kinders om praktiese uitvoerende funksies te fokus, te oefen en te ontwikkel. Kinders leer hoe om hulle emosies te verstaan, hoe om take op te breek, hoe om roetines te bou, hoe om fokus te verbeter en hoe om beter keuses te maak.

Baie kinders het nooit regtig hierdie vaardighede geleer nie.

Hulle het nie noodwendig nóg straf nodig nie. Hulle het begeleiding, oefening, struktuur en ondersteuning nodig.

Wanneer ’n kind leer hoe om sy aandag te bestuur, emosies te herken, doelwitte op te breek en praktiese gewoontes te bou, verander gedrag dikwels dramaties.

Dit beteken nie ADHD bestaan nie. ADHD is werklik en moet ernstig opgeneem word. Maar dit beteken ons moet versigtig wees om nie elke kind wat sukkel met fokus of gedrag onmiddellik in een boksie te plaas nie.

Soms is die probleem nie dat die kind ADHD het nie. Soms is die kind oorlaai, oorstimuleer, moeg, angstig, emosioneel seer of sonder die nodige vaardighede om die moderne wêreld te hanteer.

En dit is hoekom ouers nie net moet vra:
“Wat is fout met my kind?” nie.

Maar eerder:
“Wat probeer my kind se gedrag vir my wys?”

*Albie Jordaan (B. Diac.) is a Christian life and parenting coach who helps parents break unhealthy patterns and discipline their children in a biblical, loving, and effective way.

👉🏻To book personal online sessions go to:
https://www.elcty.co.za/book-sessions/

👉🏻Vir praatjies/werkswinkels en groepsessies:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/188nEDNkf1/

👉🏻For more info or questions:
Whatsapp 067 896 0189

21/02/2026

Most people picture breast milk as something simple.
White. Plain. Just food.

But this is what it looks like inside.

This is a glimpse of the inside of a breast while it is making milk.
Thousands of tiny milk making sacs, each one filling, flowing, responding in real time to a baby’s needs.

Every drop is alive.

Breast milk is not just nutrition.
It is a living, adaptive system.

It changes by the hour.
By the day.
By the age of the baby.

It adjusts for illness.
For growth spurts.
For comfort.
For survival.

Your body reads your baby’s saliva and responds with antibodies.
It knows when your baby is premature.
It knows when your baby is sick.
It knows when your baby just needs closeness.

No lab can recreate this.
No formula can copy this intelligence.
No machine can replace this connection.

This is biology at its most powerful.
This is love in liquid form.
This is the miracle happening quietly inside millions of women every single day.

And if no one has told you lately
Your body is incredible 🤱

Disclaimer- This image is AI just meant to represent what it may look like. Image by Salud Articular

14/02/2026

Teachers Are Human Too 🥺

12/02/2026

When we understand behavior, everything changes.

So often children are labeled as difficult, defiant, or doing things on purpose, when what we are actually seeing is communication. A meltdown is not misbehavior. It is a child whose nervous system is overwhelmed and who does not yet have the skills or capacity to cope in that moment.

Behavior is not the problem. Behavior is the signal.

Behind meltdowns and challenging moments are very real needs: exhaustion, overwhelm, anxiety, a need for connection, unmet needs, or skills that are still developing. When we respond to the need beneath the behavior instead of reacting to the surface, we help children feel safer, calmer, and more capable over time.

This shift does not mean permissive parenting. It means informed parenting. It means leading with curiosity instead of control, and connection instead of fear.

When children feel understood, their nervous systems can settle. When they feel safer, behavior softens. That is how trust is built, skills grow, and regulation develops.

09/02/2026

08/02/2026

Meltdowns and tantrums are not the same — and understanding the difference matters. 💙🧩

A meltdown is not “bad behavior.” It’s a response to overwhelm, stress, or sensory overload.
A tantrum is usually about wanting something.

Not every autistic child has meltdowns.
Not every hard moment is a meltdown.
But every child deserves patience, support, and understanding.

When we learn, we grow.
When we understand, we love better.🩷❤️💙

08/02/2026

Food is often misunderstood.

From the outside, it looks like preference.
Or stubbornness.
Or “being picky.”

But for many autistic people, food is about safety.

Safety means the texture won’t surprise you.
Safety means the taste won’t suddenly change.
Safety means your body doesn’t have to stay on high alert just to eat.

When the world already feels loud, unpredictable, and overwhelming,
safe foods become a place of trust.

Not a battle.
Not a power struggle.
Not something to fix.

Pressure doesn’t build confidence.
Shame doesn’t expand comfort.
Safety does.

When food feels safe, the nervous system can relax.
And when the body feels calm, curiosity can come later.
Growth can come later.
Everything can come later.

So don’t call it picky.
Call it regulation.
Call it trust.
Call it peace.

Because sometimes, a familiar plate of food
isn’t just a meal —
it’s what makes the rest of the day possible. 💛