Monday, 17 August 2026

Parents said extracurriculars have become a major strain: swimming, tutoring, music, horse riding and coding can cost thousands a month, forcing families to drop activities or sacrifice essentials.

Listeners pushed back on the idea that every child needs expensive programmes, saying simple options like bicycles, surfboards, Lego and neighbourhood sport can still teach responsibility and imagination.

An art therapist urged caregivers of grieving children to use direct language about death, keep routines steady, avoid forcing conversation, and seek registered support such as play or art therapy.

The Garden Route was pitched as a top-class road trip, with PE to George or Mossel Bay in about seven days, plus stops for whale watching, kayaking, markets, forests and hidden local cafes.

Dr Chris Smith explained that behaviour is shaped by both genetics and upbringing, that dogs and wild canines adapt differently, and that insects like dung beetles navigate by stars while ants use scents and step counting.