Book review

BOOK REVIEW

Kōwhai and the Giants can be purchased from all good bookstores nationwide.

Be in to win a copy of Kōwhai and the Giants

usually retails for $30.00

We have a copy of this beautifully written and illustrated book to give away

ENTER ONLINE AT parentscentre.org.nz/giveaways

Entries must be received by 5 September 2021. Winners will be published in issue 303.

WINNERS FROM ISSUE 301

Winners of Born to be Me by Eve Charles from issue 301 are Robyn Tyler, Upper Hutt and Kendall Maclennan, Waipukurau

Meet the author: Kate Parker is of Ngāti Maniapoto, English and Greek descent, and grew up roaming the bush and riding horses in Kaeo, Northland. She studied theatre in Melbourne and upon returning to Aotearoa co-founded Red Leap Theatre. Leaving Red Leap in 2015, she now lives and works as an artist in West Auckland with her family.

BOOK REVIEW

Kōwhai and the Giants

Written and illustrated by Kate Parker

A tale of hope and resilience

“Kōwhai first appeared from the golden glow of a beautiful flower… and her voice was the rain and the sea and the cry of a bird.” Follow Kōwhai as she discovers a tiny seed’s hope to build a great forest. Debut children’s author Kate Parker is a visual artist and theatre maker who is inspired to support positive environmental change on our planet. Here she creatively shares her vision of reforesting Aotearoa, one seedling at a time. Kōwhai and the Giants is a bittersweet story about the decimation of Aotearoa’s mighty forests following human habitation. But it is also a story of hope. While Kōwhai may be small and alone, her actions will bring about change and soon she will be joined by others. Kōwhai and the Giants asks the reader to listen with all their senses to their natural surroundings and to discover Kōwhai’s call for themselves. A wise and beautifully told fable, its compelling narrative will kindle a desire to spend time in nature, search for seeds and grow native plants and trees – a hopeful picture of the future for children aged four to ten and their caregivers. “When you go to nature and you take care, you will be reimbursed with energy,” says Kate. “I always felt the presence of beings in the forests where I grew up. Kōwhai represents these beings in some way, committed to the preservation of the natural world. We are all a part of this.” Kate says that we can all be kaitiaki – and that it is in fact our responsibility to be caretakers for our natural surroundings. “When we take this on in any way we can, positive change happens. Even in a city you can support environmental projects. If we can support Aotearoa’s native plant diversity to flourish, then we are supporting so many native birds, insects and fish. This diversity feeds the land and cleanses its waters. It sustains us.”

In the resources section at the back of Kōwhai and the Giants, Parker encourages children to plant native seeds. She includes a link to Forest & Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club – Hakuturi Toa website (www.kcc.org.nz) for inspiring tips.

The unique and intriguing artwork for Kōwhai and the Giants was created from hand-cut paper, placed in a plywood box and lit from behind. It was first exhibited in 2016, at the Arataki Visitor Centre, following Parker’s Auckland Council artist’s residency at Anawhata.

QA Choosing the right daycare

For some of us, at some point on our wonderful and chaotic parenting journey, we either want or need to make the decision to say goodbye to full-time baby wrangling and hello to the juggling act of life as a working parent.

“It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known saying that mums Charlotte and Megan wholeheartedly believe is true. When you make the decision to put your child into childcare outside of your home, you are relying on this village to care for and look after your precious baby as your own.

“Finding the right childcare is one of the most emotional decisions a parent has to make,” says Charlotte.

The busy mums experienced first-hand the struggle to find the very best childcare for their girls. Hours of searching online left the duo feeling overwhelmed with choices and decisions.

“Then came the lightbulb moment and we thought: there must be a better way to do this! A few coffees later, Takes a Village was born,” explains Megan.

Charlotte and Megan adapted their idea and came up with a concept for a website that would make the all-important search for childcare quicker and easier for parents and

caregivers across New Zealand. KiwiParent sat down with the creators of Takes a Village to find out what we need to think about and look for when choosing a childcare provider for our children.

KP: What are some common challenges parents face when choosing a childcare provider?

From our own personal experience as mums, finding childcare for your little ones is tough. With so many choices available and never enough time, it can be incredibly stressful for parents, especially on top of the emotional challenge of having to entrust your child to complete strangers. Probably one of the biggest challenges is just knowing where to start. Often, parents are searching for childcare for the first time, having never set foot in a childcare centre or kindergarten before. You need to scrutinise each individual facility or carer in terms of suitability for your child and your family circumstances. It’s a good idea to talk to people – other parents, teachers, family and even children at the facility you’re looking at – to get a good picture of how it will work for your child.

Anxiety is only natural when you’re leaving your child in the care of other people – and can also make it incredibly challenging.

KP: There are more than 4,000 licensed early childhood education services throughout New Zealand. With so many to choose from, this all-important decision is now even harder for parents to make. What are some of the things parents should consider with childcare?

It’s such a personal decision. What’s important to one family may not be to another.

The options are endless. Do you choose close to work or close to home? Do you choose home-based/ kindergarten/daycare/Playcentre/ kōhanga reo? Do you choose a particular philosophy of care? What opening hours do you need? What experience do the teachers have? Do you choose somewhere that provides food?

We always encourage parents to visit a range of childcare providers. Go and get a feel of the environment with your child, meet the teachers and other children. You can then make an informed decision on whether you feel it will be a good fit for your child and family.

KP: What about the different childcare options for families to consider?

Whether it’s a nanny, Playcentre, daycare, in-home childcare or kindy – all offer quite different options for families of all circumstances.

The first decision to make is whether you want parent/whānau led or teacher led, as each has its distinct differences. For teacher-led providers, at least half of the educators must be fully qualified and the provider must hold an ECE licence. In contrast, parent- or whānau-led care is managed by the parents/whānau and their communities, and will often work on a roster where everyone takes a turn to provide the support required.

Teacher-led

Daycare (education and care services)

Education and care services offer both full-day and session options for parents needing more flexibility, with food often included in the fees. The Ministry of Education’s minimum ratios are 1:5 teachers to children under two years old and 1:10 for children aged over two. Centres can be privately or community owned and generally cater for children from three months up until school age. The Early Childhood Council assists many of these centres nationwide with their Ministry of Education obligations.

Kindergarten or ‘kindy’

Under the administration of a Kindergarten Association, kindies are not-for-profit organisations. They have traditionally been licensed for children between the ages of two and five; however it is becoming more common to also see kindergartens licensed for under-twos. Kindergarten teachers must be qualified and registered

early childhood education teachers. They are predominantly government funded and as a result can be a cost-effective option; however, they will mostly operate inside school hours, not as long as some of the other options.

Parent-led

Te kōhanga reo

Kōhanga reo provide a total immersion environment for te reo Māori – from birth to school age, the language of communication is Māori. Protecting and nurturing te reo Māori and the Māori culture is one of the most important objectives. The daily running is overseen by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board. Parents and whānau are closely involved with the children’s learning programmes and development.

Home-based care

Children are cared for either in their own home or in a carer’s home environment, with up to three other children. Children can attend full- or part-time, depending on the agreement with the carer or organisation. Home-based provider headquarters will manage the relationship and provide support to both parents and carers, with a qualified ECE teacher visiting regularly to ensure a high standard of child wellbeing and learning is maintained.

Playcentres

Catering for children from birth to school age, Playcentres are licensed ECEs that are run co-operatively by parents and whānau. Playcentre creates a sense of belonging and community as families share responsibilities for their centre and have the opportunity to create a village and support network. Playcentre typically runs sessions for a few hours in the morning and requires parents to participate in the supervision of the children, resulting in ratios of 1:5 to 1:3. Playcentres are subsidised by the Ministry of Education and are supported by staff at a national and regional level.

Playgroups

Playgroups are community-based groups run by parent and whānau volunteers, often run from local

community halls or publicly available spaces. Sessions run for up to four hours usually and at least half of parents must be in attendance. Playgroups are not licensed, although can achieve certification to obtain government funding. The Ministry of Education provides ongoing support and training to parents and whānau.

Different learning philosophies

Montessori

Some kindergartens or daycares choose to follow the Montessori philosophy developed by Maria Montessori. Their focus is on a more structured way of learning, rather than free play. The Montessori philosophy is that you are preparing children for school and enhancing their development with support and structure. Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf

This philosophy of education is based on the lectures and writings of Dr Rudolf Steiner. The Steiner approach strives to develop children’s intellectual, artistic and practical skills in an integrated and holistic way. The belief is that children learn themselves, and not through instruction. It is believed that this pedagogy helps children on the autistic spectrum or children who are socially withdrawn and nervous.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information to help you make decisions around childcare, jump online to takesavillage.co.nz. UNICEF has just released a report looking at childcare options worldwide. Read Stuff’s story about how New Zealand rates internationally:

tinyurl.com/672uxtpx

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TIPS

to help parents and children make the transition into childcare

1. Do your research – we hope

Takes a Village will help you with this. Talk to friends and family that have been through the process and can guide you in your choices. 2. Visit in person – Takes a Village is not there to replace the inperson visit. We truly believe it is really important that you get a feel for your child’s new environment. We hope to assist you with making the decision, and making the transition as smooth as possible. Do visit several childcare providers in your area – get a feel for how they compare and where you think your child will be happiest. 3. Be prepared – plan for your child starting. Often childcare providers have waiting lists, so it is good to enquire well in advance of your start date. Attend visits with your child to get them comfortable with their new surroundings. Maybe give yourself a week or so free of too many other work/ life commitments so you can support your child’s first week if at all possible. This will help you by knowing you are available if really needed, and make the whole process that little bit less stressful. The first week might not go totally to plan, but that is okay. It’s a big change for you and baby, but things will get better.

4. Ask for help – there are fantastic organisations such as Parents Centre Aotearoa to support parents with the transition to childcare. They have useful advice to help both you and your child through the process.

5. Do things for you – parenting is hard. There’s no one-size-fitsall manual. So when your child is in care, try to squeeze in a bit of ‘you time’ occasionally to recharge your batteries, knowing your child is safe and well-looked after – even if that means just a quick child-free coffee. Engage with fellow parents at your centre; it is often a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and build longlasting friendships and support networks, for both you and your child.

Q A

Natural support

Homeopathy in pregnancy, birth and beyond

Homeopathy is growing in popularity and is used worldwide by millions of parents. If you’re currently embarking on the rewarding but challenging rollercoaster ride of parenthood – or are a seasoned parent looking for extra support – why not try homeopathy as a safe, sustainable and cost-effective option? KiwiParent chats with the resident homeopath at Naturo Pharm, Liesl Pistorius, to find out what homeopathy is and how it can help you and your family flourish during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Liesl grew up in a home where not a lot of medicine was used. “We’d always opt for a shot of lemon and honey over an antibiotic. I’ve only ever actually had one dose of antibiotics in my life, when I was five, to which I had a reaction, so always looked for alternatives,” she says. As a student Liesl moved to a small coastal town where a local homeopath had a store in the town square. She stopped in there to buy a remedy for a headache and remembers sifting through shelves of interesting little bottles of pills and liquids. “I was fascinated by the process and amazed at how well it worked. It was only when I started studying homeopathy at university that I realised the depth and power of this amazing form of healing.” Pregnancy, childbirth and raising children through the different stages can be a

wonderfully exciting time but also a rollercoaster ride for some parents. There are often emotional, hormonal and physical changes taking place for the women, along with the challenges and stresses that can come up for partners and children through each phase of the journey.

Every parent and child is different. Some may sail through each stage with a child who sleeps well, cuts teeth with no issues and doesn’t suffer with colic, coughs or colds. There are women who don’t suffer with morning sickness and who recover quickly from the birth.

However, on the other side are children that may require more support during the early months and years of infancy with sleep issues, colic, earache, teething and fevers. There are mothers who may feel nauseous and run down during their pregnancy or who are looking for natural support with childbirth. And we can’t forget our birthing partners, who may be experiencing their own stress.

Liesl, can you please start by explaining what homeopathy is?

Although it’s often confused with herbal practice, homeopathy is a unique system that is prepared very differently and uses highly diluted substances that have been energetically potentised. This removes the risks associated with the same substances in their crude form. Homeopathic remedies work on the body’s own healing system, treating the person, not the disease. They don’t try to mask symptoms, but instead support the body’s own natural healing ability, encouraging it naturally to a good health outcome. It’s based on the principle of ‘like treats like’.

Homeopathic remedies have no known side effects or known drug interactions and can be used during pregnancy, childbirth and infancy. The World Health Organization acknowledges homeopathy as a valid form of healthcare and it is widely practised in the UK, Europe, India, the US and many other countries worldwide.

Why might families look into homeopathy?

Often, the wonderful and sometimes overwhelming role of parenthood and the daily stresses make parents investigate how to support themselves and their children in a way that’s natural and sustainable – helping bring balance into their health and wellbeing.

How did homeopathy originate?

While the principles of homeopathy were used by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, it is the German physician Dr Samuel Hahnemann who is credited with discovering homeopathy over 200 years ago. Disillusioned with the harmful medical practices of his time, Hahnemann undertook study and experimentation, which led to the development of modern homeopathy. When Dr Hahnemann found himself querying the action of cinchona (quinine) in the treatment of malaria, he tested the drug on himself and found it produced symptoms very similar to the condition it was being used to treat. From this and other similar evidence, Dr Hahnemann was convinced that substances which brought on symptoms of disease in healthy subjects could be used in minute doses to treat people suffering the effects of the disease itself.

Since Dr Hahnemann’s research, many renowned homeopaths have continued his work and research into homeopathy, bringing the practice successfully into the 21st century.

How has homeopathy helped support your own health and wellbeing? My family and I incorporate homeopathic remedies into our everyday lives. However, around the time I was due to have my second baby was when I was especially thankful for homeopathy!

What are some misconceptions surrounding homeopathy?

One is that it takes a long time to work – but in acute situations, the correctly chosen remedy can bring about change instantly. It also has a very powerful deep-acting effect in chronic disease.

Another is that it is just water and therefore a placebo – but there are many examples of homeopathy being effective in babies and animals, where there can be no placebo effect. We are unable to fully explain how this dynamic medicine works, but clinical history shows that it does.

Who should people talk to and where can they find out more? Firstly, if you’re pregnant, talk to your midwife to see if she has any knowledge in this area or can recommend a homeopath. Naturo Pharm has an 0800 helpline for any questions and general homeopathic support. You can consult with a practising homeopath – find one in your area on the New Zealand Council of Homeopaths’ website:

www.homeopathy.co.nz/find-ahomeopath/

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