Peninsula Kids Winter 2015 by Peninsula Kids

ENINSULA KID P S LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA

Winter 2015

FREE

Brodie

Harper

MODEL MOTHER

giveaways $350 WORTH OF PRODUCTS

PROFILE MUMMIES AND BABIES IN NEED

UNDER THE SEA PARTY

Limited places are now available at Mt Eliza

Book a tour today

• Nutritious, yummy meals all provided • Government funded kindergarten program • Privately owned and family operated since 1996

1305 Nepean Hwy, Mt Eliza. To book a tour, call Nicole on 9775 4999 or visit platypusjunction.com.au/mtelizatour

IEZZI H430 MPK

Our ELC with TLC currently has a limited number of places available from 3 months to kindergarten. We’re open every day except Public Holidays – from 7am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

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3(1,168/$ .,'6 LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA

Winter 2015

FREE

Brodie

Harper

MODEL MOTHER

giveaways $350 WORTH OF PRODUCTS

PROFILE MUMMIES AND BABIES IN NEED

UNDER THE SEA PARTY

Cover Photo Stella at Commonfolk Coffee Company Editor and Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au

Editor

Melissa McCullough

Creative Director Maria Mirabella maria@mpnews.com.au

ed’s letter...

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

Content Director Anna Brown anna@peninsulakids.com.au

― Edith Sitwell

Advertising Miriam Doe 0421 085 974 miriam@mpnews.com.au

A big thank you to the team at MPK for all of their efforts getting this edition across the line and onto the streets. I know it’s cold and wet out there. I know we’d all rather be tucked up under our doonas. Neither rain nor wind, nor sleet nor hail, these clever chicks never ever fail.

Distribution Marilyn Saville distribution@peninsulakids.com.au

Umm…who would have thought that 8:45am on a Saturday morning in the middle of an Auskick oval could be so cold? I did not. Thanks be to the coffee truck and sausage sizzle stand.

General Enquiries info@peninsulakids.com.au All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor. Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Creative Director

Maria Mirabella

Seriously, I can’t complain.

Distribution

Marilyn Saville

I am ﬁlled with pride and joy each week while watching my little girl run around trying her hardest at kicking, hand-balling, weaving and keeping her hair out of her face. I also love seeing the connections that all of these munchkins make with one another. Kids of different ages and from different schools…strangers each week when they’re assigned a new group…snickering together while waiting in line for their turn and then teaming up to work as one to get that ball between the posts….(well, anywhere near the posts, really.) It’s amazing how children have no reservations. They reach out to one another to lend a hand getting up after falling, or a pat on the back when a kick is missed. They high-ﬁve the other team for “winning”. They cheer for everyone. They’re ALL like that. They’re born that way.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. Peninsula Kids is produced quarterly. 15,000 copies distributed between Mordialloc and Portsea.

And as I leave that chilly oval with a tantruming toddler tucked under one arm, and a tomato sauce smile from my girl, I’m thankful for winter, my family and friends, and plenty of marshmallows for hot chocolate at home.

Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931

Enjoy yourselves this school holidays. And try to keep warm!

Content Director

Anna Brown

Advertising www.facebook.com/MorningtonPeninsulaKids

Proudly published by

Miriam Doe

ALSO OPENING SOON IN DROMANA!

for the babies and kids in store & online! www.enchantedchild.com.au / ph (03) 5983 5503 Facebook /theenchantedchild Instagram @the_enchanted_child

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Contributors

Special thanks go to the gorgeous and talented group of contributors who breathe life into every issue by sharing their best with us.

Lorraine Aitken Family-friendly adventurer

Stacey Anderson Little Things in Common littlethingsincommon.com.au

David Hawkins www.bigkidlittlekid.net

Michelle McCullough Chief family photographer

Rebecca Stephens Seeing the Lighter Side of Parenting rebeccastephens.com.au

Jo Ford www.bodybump.com.au

Jane Flynn Almost Jane almostjane.com.au

ENINSULA KID P S If you would like to advertise in our next edition

please contact miriam on 0421 085 974 or email miriam@mpnews.com.au

Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

Contents 81

47 Spotlight 10

Model Mother Brodie Harper talks about motherhood and her personal journey with infertility.

Teach Your Kids to Shrug A different approach to schoolyard taunts.

Warning Alert The scary world of the fake proďŹ le.

Let Them Be Free Peninsula Kids fashion photo shoot.

Strong Female Characters For Young Girls Their importance in a world of Kardashians and empty celebrity.

The Tantrum Effect Why they happen and how to stop them.

Travelling With Kids Surviving plane travel the easy way.

Mount Donna Buang Get into the snow.

Winter Health Hazards at Home Simple tips to keep you safe at home this winter.

Life on Sesame Street With Abby Cadabby and Elmo. www.peninsulakids.com.au

........Contents 17

25 Local Bicentennial Park Horseback Winery Tours Keeping Fit Over the Winter Months Mummies & Babies in Need

16 70 93 95

Health 72 74 76 77

Celebrate Under the sea party Ideas for your own under the sea party Let’s go ﬁshing with Charlie Sillypants Sea turtle cupcakes with Sweets For Tilly Under the sea colouring fun

38 42 43 44 46

Pregnancy & Baby Ways to Cope With a Clingy Toddler Bump Your Body Into Shape Is Your Toddler Ready For Toilet Teaching? Postnatal Depression

50 52 54 62

Recipes Recipes with Peta Lee

63 8

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Bug Busters Ask the Experts The Spectacular Season of Salt Helping Children With Autism Funding

Creative 82 84

Making a Mud Kitchen Box Maze Dadtivity

Education 88 90 96

Toy Libraries 10 Ways For Working Parents to Help Out in the Classroom Book Reviews

In Every Issue 45 47 97

Party Planning Things We Love Giveaways

Laying the foundations Toorak Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Junior School, Wardle House, is so much more than a kindergarten and primary school. The girls and boys ďŹ nd their place in a small nurturing environment, allowing quality teachers to know and respect each child as an individual learner.

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Open Mornings

Students at Toorak College begin their learning journey from the three year old program transitioning to Prep. Toorak College embraces the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Head of Wardle House, Mandy Whitworth explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The program is designed to encourage exploration, investigation and play both indoors and outdoors.â&#x20AC;?

Wednesday 14 October

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are specially created spaces for reading, writing, art, construction, imaginative play, science and technology encouraging children to be active learners. We understand that children are active investigators seeking ways to make meaning of their world,â&#x20AC;? continues Mrs Whitworth.

Wednesday 5 August

Tours from 9:00am with last tour at 10:00am Call Enrolments on 9788 7234 to talk about Toorak Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs or visit www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au

Toorak College offers its early learners: â&#x20AC;˘ Access to state-of-the-art facilities and specialist teachers â&#x20AC;˘ Action based learning through the Perceptual Motor Program in the dance studio â&#x20AC;˘ The opportunity to develop a love of literature in the Wardle House Library â&#x20AC;˘ An array of instruments in the specially designed music centre â&#x20AC;˘ A variety of art techniques in the art studio â&#x20AC;˘ A sense of belonging through the Buddy Program with older students â&#x20AC;˘ Participation in the garden project Toorak College, where your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future begins.

Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza, Vic, 3930 Phone: 9788 7200 | www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

Kids practise on their siblings Socially savvy kids know that some negative peer comments directed at them need to be ignored. That is quite a skill. Ignoring comments and choosing your arguments is something many kids learn in their battles with siblings. Those noisy sibling skirmishes that annoy the hell out parents actually toughen kids up for the less than pleasant social interactions that happen in the schoolyard. Interestingly, my boyhood mate Terry was the youngest of four brothers. I guess he would have perfected the art of shrugging out of sheer necessity. So, if you have a sensitive child who wears his or her heart on their sleeve, or child who reacts impulsively to both taunts and witticisms alike, you may wish to introduce the art of shrugging into their repertoire of responses. By Michael Grose

Kids can practise shrugging in front of the mirror so that they can see what it looks like. There are four ingredients to a good shrug: 1. A ‘whatever’ look, 2. A shrug of the shoulders,

It was so irritating, yet so effective! I’m talking about my boyhood mate Terry’s habit of shrugging his shoulders whenever anyone teased him or tried to persuade him to their way of thinking. ‘Hey Terry, you’re a **&&&E@@! Shrug! ‘Hey Terry, everyone says your……..*&&TR!” Shrug! ‘Hey Terry, I’m going to tell on you!’ Shrug! His nonchalance used to drive everyone nuts! So much so, that he was rarely targetted for teasing despite the fact that he wasn’t sporty, wasn’t cool and he was late maturing, all of which back then (and is still the case now) put a boy in the “to be picked on” category. I thought of Terry recently when I was coaching a young person about how to respond to some schoolyard taunts. This young person wore his heart on his sleeve, taking taunts and even witticisms too seriously for his own good. Unfortunately, some of his so-called mates used to enjoy seeing him become angry. The best way to break this toxic cycle of taunt-react-taunt was for him to change his reaction. Hence we did some coaching in the art of shrugging, where my young charge shrugged his shoulders, as if to say “Whatever!” and walk away at the ﬁrst sign of taunt. He was channelling Terry so well that his nonchalance began to irritate me. Some things can’t be ignored Don’t get me wrong! Kids should not and cannot ignore all negative comments directed at them. There are times when they need to stand up and be counted. Not necessarily in an aggressive way, but kids do need to be assertive from time to time. Sticking for a friend; rescuing someone who is being taunted or even looking for a sibling’s best interests at schools are times when a child needs to stand up and be counted.

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

3. Accompanied by a simple, non-combative, non-sarcastic line such as “You may be right!”, “Whatever!”, “I hadn’t thought of that!” 4. Followed by a break of eye contact indicating they are in control. A word of warning If you teach your kids to shrug, you need to be prepared for them to use this shrugging technique against you when you direct some criticism or constructive feedback their way. If they do, you’ll ﬁnd out how damn infuriating nonchalance (even when it’s fake) can be! Oh, and you’ll be seeing a child or young person who is exercising a degree of personal power, that when smartly used will increase their overall social effectiveness.

Michael Grose is the author of eight books and director of Parentingideas, a leader in parenting education. You will get more great ideas to help you raise happy, confident kids when subscribing to Happy Kids, his free weekly parenting guide at www.parentingideas.com.au/ParentingIdeas-Newsletter.html. You’ll also get a fantastic Kids Responsibilities & Chores Guide when you subscribe.

WARNING

ALERT!

ILE’!

PROF SCARY WORLD OF THE ‘FAKE

By Luisa Szczudlo

Let this be a warning to all parents! So I’m in this wonderful Facebook group of amazing mums. Originally a group from one of those baby forums. Some of the mums migrated off to create a Facebook group after we found some mothers on the forum hid behind anonymous usernames and seemed to get off on judging others. It started with a few dozen and grew to a couple of hundred like-minded mummies. I joined this group when I was about 10 weeks pregnant. It has been with me through pregnancy and into new motherhood. Full of some really wonderful women from all walks of life, ages, races, first time mums, those with several older children. I love getting all the different perspectives and having a non-judgmental sounding board. They have supported me through sleepless nights to introducing solids. Celebrated milestones and commiserated the rough days. However, a few days ago our group discovered we had been infiltrated! It appeared there were several ‘mothers’ who were not who they seemed! At least five to six active members on the group turned out to be one (maybe two) crazy woman who had nothing better to do than spend their day managing multiple Facebook profiles to join an online mothers group. We had shared photos and personal detailed with these women(woman). Scarier still they had shared a plethora of photos of their babies with us. Whose babies were they? The poor mothers whose babies photos were used to propagate fake profiles! These profiles aren’t always overtly fake. It took us a good six months to work out something wasn’t right. The seemed like real people with real normal baby issues. They weren’t nasty fakes, they didn’t troll the group but they did have all sorts of dramas that at times consumed the group’s attention. It seems fake profiles aren’t just limited to criminals and paedophiles, there are crazy people out their stealing our profiles, our photos and claiming our babies as their own!

Here are just some of her personalities: 1. Mother of six-month-old triplets with another on the way. Twenty-three-year-old mother of naturally conceived triplets and another due in December. We followed this woman’s journey as a mother of

triplets, marvelling at how she did it! ‘Super mum’ we called her as she baked Valentine’s cookies for her husband. Feeling dreadful for her as she leaves her local mothers group struggling to keep up with her three babies. Mourning the loss of one of her twin fetuses while celebrating her new pregnancy. Complete with multiple pictures and elaborate stories of life with three babies. 2. Mother Of A six-Month-OLD Girl And Older Boy. A circus performer (not sure why that didn’t tip us off, but they are real people too), she travelled with her partner and children around the country with a travelling circus. She was the one in the end that made us guess something wasn’t right. We followed her difficulties making friends as she wasn’t in the same place for long. She organised meet ups with other members and pulled out at the last minute. She was a really active member of the group. We relied on her for information on another (probably fake) mum who had suffered a horrible personal tragedy. We got ‘suss’ when she introduced a new member using the same name as another fake profile. 3. Mother of a six-month-old boy and a toddler with down syndrome. She came and went from the group. We felt angry and disappointed and she told us of the discrimination her down syndrome daughter faced. Then her new son suffered seizures and she went offline while she was ‘at the hospital’ unsure of what was happening. We sought updates, hoping we could help in some way. Her profile seemed to appear and disappear. Not that this should be a red flag; I know plenty of people who leave Facebook only to return weeks later. The tip-off here was when the circus mum introduced a new member, her ‘friend’, a few months later by the same name with similar profile. 4. The teen mother with a six-month-old baby and rocky relationship. A 17-year-old-girl with a six-month-old baby girl. She was disowned by her family when she fell pregnant and moved in with her boyfriend who later proposed only to be caught cheating a few weeks later. She was then out on the street. The group banded together to try and get some support for the ‘poor girl’ in the form of gift vouchers she could spend on what she needed (I told you, its a really supportive group!). She was originally introduced as the cousin of the mother of triplets only to be later mentioned as only being an ‘acquaintance’.

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5. Mother of six-month-old boy and toddler girl. Appeared with the same name as the mother of the girl with down syndrome. She was the newest of the fake profiles from what I could tell. Vouched for by the circus mum she was my first tip-off that something was a little off. We quickly uncovered the network of fakes. Like I said, for months and months we chatted with these women, shared photos of our babies, took their advice and gave advice of our own. We had been sucked into their dramas, pitied them, felt excited for them, identified with them. Needless to say many of us where shocked when it all came out that there were some fakes among us! Our wonderful admins then went on a cleansing blitz. But how do you feel truly safe after you’ve been violated? Those of us who shared photos and details of our baby’s lives thinking it was safe to do so in our closed group. Suddenly we felt scared that our babies photos had been stolen by this crazy woman and used for her own twisted reasons. This isn’t the first time this had happened. In my local mothers Facebook group, there had been concerns raised on several occasions of a woman going around with photos of babies she claimed as her own. She didn’t just do this on Facebook, but approached people in real life using baby photos of local mother’s children claiming they were hers. So the questions. Should we all stop sharing pictures of our babies? Or should we just be selective on what information we give out? Should we stop using online communities altogether? What were the real purposes of these women? Why would someone what to join a mothers group and interact in such a way? What do they achieve? I have enough trouble managing my own profile let alone multiple fake ones. Please mums and dads, keep an eye out for strange interactions online. People aren’t always who they appear!

Lu is the face behind Looking For Mama Me. A wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister and so much more. Recently moving across the country with her family, she is a new mum to six-month-old Elena and she is learning to navigate life as a mother in a new city. Having left her job writing policy as a public servant when becoming a mother, Lu is pursuing her passions in art, history and culture while writing about motherhood and the things that inspire her. Not afraid to talk about tough issues, Lu blogs about family, home, and life as a mother while trying to discover what’s next for her. www.lookingformamame.blogspot.com.au

Dear Winter, By Joy Adan

Dear Winter, You suck. My two-year-old is sick, and I know it’s your fault. I don’t know what you’re playing at, but all I know is that every week, for as long as I can remember, Mr Two has come down with some new illness, and that this is all your doing because everyone knows the worst viruses come loitering whenever you’re in town. Last week it was conjunctivitis. Seriously man, what is up with conjunctivitis? He’s gross and sticky, and he leaves his mess everywhere. And just as conjunctivitis walked out the door, another bloody fever came strolling in last night. At 2am, of all times. Who in their right mind pays a visit at two-bloody-AM? I had just fallen asleep and he came knocking and woke up the whole damn house like it was party time. No one in this house wants to party at 2am, ok? I thought I made it pretty clear when we kicked the last fever out three weeks ago that we don’t want any of them under this roof anymore. We don’t like boogers or any of the sooky symptoms that your virus friends bring with them either. They’re a horrible influence and turn Mr Two into a cranky pants. They keep him up at night and make him annoyingly demanding. Why can’t you get better friends, winter? Why do you always have to come here with bitterly freezing mornings, windy nights and insufferable cold? Some of my friends love you and try to convince me you’re all about warm cuddles, snuggly blankets and hot chocolate. That’s bullsh**. You’ve seduced them! But I know your tricks, and I’m no fool. I see the influence you’ve had on my baby boy and he is not a better person when you’re around. He’s almost always sick and inconsolable! Sure he wants hugs and cuddles, but that’s only because your friends make him feel horrible first. And because of you I feel horrible too! My lips are chapped, my skin is dry and my hands feel like they’re going to fall off. And worst of all – YOU STOLE SLEEP FROM ME. Sleep is my best friend, and you stole her. Urgh. What type of cruel season are you, winter? Why can’t you be more like your friend spring? He’s all bright, happy and full of life. I’m getting tired of all your sickly friends, winter. Either trade them in for better ones or GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD WHERE YOU BELONG. Thanks, A Very Tired (and slightly delirious) Mum

Joy is a wife, mum and freelance writer and editor. The Mama Minute is a blog about the fun, weird, emotional and entertaining moments that come with motherhood and marriage, and things that make taking care of yourself and your family that little bit easier. www.themamaminute.com

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

By Alison Laverty

Have we Evolved into a Disconnected Society? Isn’t it amazing how our human race has evolved. During days when we were younger, everything was so different in the way we communicated by phone or writing letters. I still get excited when I get a card in the mail but it happens because technology has changed the way we communicate. How fantastic is that? I am now able to speak to all my relatives around the world in an instant as well as see them online. That is such an amazing feeling for me. But … do you remember those days when we had to wait for a week just to hear some news from overseas or pay a hand and a foot just to make an overseas call. It is truly incredible how we as humans have evolved. Having a mobile back then was a luxury but now we can’t do without one. Or can we? It is also very interesting to see my son get so excited to go to the mailbox because he gets a birthday card from overseas. But when it comes via email, its not as fun because he says he can’t touch it or feel it on a screen. Wow! I ﬁnd that so amazing. With all the technology that is at our doorstep, it becomes more and more important for us to be consciously aware about how we connect with the people around us and especially with our kids. I can see how disconnected we are; that it just makes no sense why we succumb to this without giving reverence to the people around us. With or without technology in hand, are we becoming unconscious and disconnected, showing little or no respect to the ones around us. I have seen many kids become so disconnected with all the electronic gadgets that rent spaces in their mind. This has been my own challenge with my kids. But you know what, I am so glad that they are not disconnected and I can still have a decent conversation with my eight year old. Although sometimes this involves discussing about Minecraft.

But … recently, it has been about different topics. “Look mummy, it’s a beautiful sunset! I can see it because of the colours in the sky.” My son made this comment. It was so great to hear him say it because it showed his connection to nature and the use of his instinct. He did not see the sunset but he noticed the sky and acknowledged its beauty. ~ Excerpt from my debut book “The Human Touch”. But then again, sometimes it involves listening to the sound of the wind howling or how fortunate we are to see the deep crimson skies at sunset and how there are so many stars at night and that there are so many planets in space that have not been discovered. I really love these little conversations because as much as we have evolved, some things still remain the same. A good conversation and connecting to my eight year old and three year old. I hope that you experience this with your kids because it is a priceless moment!

Alison Laverty is Portuguese, originally from Singapore. With over 20 years’ experience in corporate, Alison chose to start a business that would give a personal and meaningful touch to her community. Currently writing her debut book “The Human Touch”, a story about connections. Connect with her via Facebook at Alison Laverty.

By Lorraine Aitken

Bicentennial Park in Scotch Parade Chelsea is a place that locals know and love and a playground that Peninsula residents flock to when they want to go a bit further than their local playgrounds. The park is affectionately known as Mount Chelsea thanks to the mound that houses the star attraction of the park – the dual mound slides. Entering the park through the childproof gates gives you access to this children’s wonderland with beautiful sculptures and a Smurf village surrounded by shelters and BBQ’s filled with families celebrating birthdays. Play equipment includes the popular basket swing, hammock, express train, rowing boat, Tinkerbelle sandpit, shaded sandpit, monkey bars, spiral slide, mound slides, wooden climbing frames, Smurf village with a music hut, story hut and a play hut complete with a mooing cow perfect for photos, a Liberty swing for children with a disability, sculptural gardens and an array of other equipment. Adjacent to the playground you will find an exercise station for the over 12’s, a large grass reserve to play soccer and footy on, a skatepark and walking and cycling trails with access to the netball centre.

Overall, Bicentennial Park has a fantastic range of play equipment that children actually enjoy playing on. The park is well maintained, has plenty of off-street car parking and the BBQ and seating areas are plentiful. I feel some big deciduous trees would add to the atmosphere and shade the main play spaces in summer while providing winter sunshine. Due to the size of the playground and the mound in the middle it can be difﬁcult to keep track of curious toddlers but overall it’s a play space that parents will enjoy taking their children to and a place that children will want to return to. Some reviews of Bicentennial Park include “arguably the best park in S M Melbourne”, “A brilliant park”, “Best park in Melbourne for young ones”. on nes”. So next time you’re passing through the area why not take a detour d and see what all the fuss is about. Who knows, it may just bec come your new favourite playground. become

fter a recent trip to the circus with my family I was amused to watch and identify the similarities to life as a parent. The circus has changed from its original Barnum style show of yesteryear. Animal activists and human rights lawyers have assisted to eliminate the great lion tamer and freak show aspect. No parades of wild beasts and bearded women, no death defying classic Houdini manoeuvres or cannonball ﬂyers. However, there is still an atmosphere of wonder, excitement, intrigue and terror all rolled into one. There are now smaller numbers of performers who complete many different tasks to keep the show on the road. One moment it is their time in the spotlight and the next they are cleaning up after another performer or attempting crowd control. Life now as a parent has evolved with the years too. Women are no longer just creating and managing their home life and raising children. The feminist movement of the 60’s and 70’s ensured women now have the freedom to choose a relatively equal existence in the workplace and also have a family, pets and a white picket fence (perhaps paid for by the woman) to top it all off. Men are no longer stereotyped as the sole bread winner and are often sighted helping out around the home, (not just mowing lawns), and sometimes are the main carer for their own children. Sounds quite perfect, doesn’t it? This is where the show begins…

The ringmaster role is shared between the parents. Who is actually running the show is always up for debate. Every parent knows the feeling of the tightrope walker as they are about to take that first step onto the thin rope (sometimes with and sometimes without a safety net) when that first baby comes along. With time, practice and confidence we can eventually walk the tightrope, (some choose to run it) carrying heavy items, doing cartwheels and leaping into to the air, (some more graceful than others but always with the occasional wobble). Eventually it can be done with eyes closed or what I like to call – in sleep deprived autopilot mode. We all perform amazing acrobatic feats and magic tricks. We’re here one minute, the next moment we are gone and sometimes the children attempt this trick too. We can achieve miraculous deeds in the time the three-year-old is in kinder for two hours – coffee with a friend, food shopping, a quick vac of the floorboards, toilet stop and

ROLL UP, ROLL UP By Anna Grigg

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

get back in time for pickup looking relaxed and in control (one of the biggest illusions we attempt to pull off on a daily basis) and all with a toddler in tow. Just don’t look too closely as the waxing and hairdresser appointment may have been delayed a little too long and may cause flashbacks to the circus freaks of the past if noticed. Then there is the juggling act, whether it be of balls, batons, flaming hoops, hats, knives, rings or my personal favourite – plates (the ones that break when dropped). Like the court jesters from medieval times we become experts at entertaining while keeping it all spinning at once. First the family plate, then the work plate. The social life plate gets a good spin at first but is often seen wobbling dangerously. The community involvement plate begins at kinder and gets another spin at school and then is followed by the kids extra-curricular activity plates (can be many in number). The personal health and fitness/hobby plate is often disregarded but we continually attempt to get it slowly up and running and when it falls and breaks we usually grab a different plate until we find the one that we can keep spinning without dropping all the others. Sometimes some of us are lucky enough to have different people step in to spin some of the plates for a while but usually the solo spotlight is on us. We continually misguidedly anticipate school holidays so we can catch a few plates and rest them for a while but it seems as soon as a plate gets rested, another such as the “playdate” plate and “family getaway” plate replaces it immediately. Ahhh! Exhausted yet? Last but certainly not least – bring in the clowns. Humour is one of the greatest gifts and skills you can utilise to achieve much and overcome fears and tragedy. There is no circus without the fun, silliness and laughter that only the clowns can provide. The ability to laugh at a cream pie in the face or a water squirt from a lapel flower is a great asset when parenting. The clowns are used as an interlude during the show to break up the other acts and to reduce any tension or distress caused by other performers. So, as the show comes to an end, we have attempted much, felt many emotions, worn different outfits, learned a lot, loved greatly and made many mistakes but I think the most important thing to remember is to never give up on spinning those plates as you may eventually make it. Never hesitate to step in and spin the wobbling plate of another performer. Laugh, smile, grin, chortle and don’t stop having fun. After all, the circus will eventually move on leaving a big empty paddock.

to the greatest show on earth..

Parenthood

B mor ook 3 or e a n d f u l l d ay rece s i v e 25

KIDS & TEEN PROGRAMS

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Safe? At all times programs are run only by experienced, qualified Adult staff - all of which hold a current First Aid Certificate and Working With Children check.

Get them out n’ about with our Kids or Teen Program! Available as Half Day or Full Day, our programs run every weekend and every day during school holidays, when we also have special extended programs that run over 5 or 10 days - come join in the fun!

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Participants are individually fitted with certified helmets and initial riding is undertaken in our secure fenced arenas.

KIDS PROGRAM

TEEN PROGRAM

6-12 yrs | Beginner suitable

13-18 yrs | Beginner suitable

$110 Half Day $155 Full Day

$150 Half Day $210 Full Day

- Gymkhana games

- Basic Horsemanship skills

- Paint Your Pony

- Equine health and care

Plenty of fresh air & horse hair!

- Trail Treasure Hunt

- Groom & saddle a horse

- Riding Lessons

- Trotting & Cantering

- Horse Care

- Beach Rides

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These programs are the prefect way to engage children and young adults in outdoor activities that are both physically and mentally active. (We promise they’ll sleep well after)

Active?

Fun? Our main focus is providing the most positive and memorable experience possible so that means LOADS of fun!

Educational? Definitely (just don’t tell them that!) These programs are a fantastic platform for self development - ideal for gaining confidence and building on communication and social skills.

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

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By Rebecca Stephens

Son #1 (aged 3.5 years) has recently caught on to our society’s strange way of attaching value to things and activities. He knows that if he gives a yellow coin and a silver coin to the people in the tent out the front of Bunnings he will receive a sausage in bread with sauce in return. He knows that we don’t eat mangoes every day because they are too expensive, but that he is rarely refused a banana or an apple. He accepts (albeit begrudgingly) that Mummy and Daddy have to go to work to earn money so that we can pay for things like food and electricity so we can turn lights on and watch television (he has his priorities). The other day he started putting all this together and became a little worried: Son #1 Are houses ‘pensive? Me: Yes. Son #1 Is ‘lectricity ‘pensive? Me: Not as expensive as houses, but yes, it is reasonably expensive. Son #1 Are they not going to turn our lights off? Me: No, honey, why would they turn our lights off? Son #1 Do we have ‘nough money to pay for our ‘lectricity? Me: Yes, sweetheart, we have enough money. When I was seventeen I decided that I would be earning “enough” when I could afford to pay my bills and buy a new book every time I finished one (I was a voracious reader so this seemed fairly ambitious). I achieved this goal by the time I was in third year university, working two part-time jobs and living at home. Obviously my bills have increased over the years with a marriage, mortgage and two kids, but I’ve always been fortunate enough to maintain a sufficient income to pass the New Book Test. And yet. I have morning tea with a friend whose household income is nearly three times that of mine and I wonder, do I have enough? Do I need more? I have a passing chat with someone who has four children and a household income barely more than a third of mine and I think, don’t be so greedy, you have plenty. I read about the extreme poverty, war and violence suffered in so many parts of the world and I scold myself, first world problems. And yet. I want the best for my boys but, apart from the intangible and invaluable love and support of their family and friends, I haven’t figured out what “the best” means in material terms. Sometimes I think it means a private school education, an inner city house, educational overseas holidays, music lessons and trips to the museum/ theatre/zoo. Then I worry that maybe a privileged life will rob them of the resilience and appreciation of hard-won achievement which is born of financial struggle. That a cushioned existence may blind them to the many layers which make up our society and wider world. Of course, there is the minor issue of available revenue. In order to a achieve a level of financial privilege which would see the boys living a cushioned life of inner city luxury, I would have to do one of four things: 1 Inherit a very substantial sum; or 2 Commence a successful life of crime; or 3 Win the lottery; or 28

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

4 Get a job which pays a whole lot more than my current one. Being a fairly risk-averse and law-abiding citizen, I’ll opt out of Option Two. As far as I am aware the odds of Option One are zero and Option Three’s likelihood is cuddling up very closely with Option One. That leaves us with Option Four. So. I could work full-time and work my way up to a job which pays a whole lot more money and requires me to be in the office seventy hours a week. I could pay a cleaner to clean the house and a nanny to keep the boys. Of course, then I would wonder what the point of having children was if I never saw them and they were raised by somebody else. Is that the best for them? Then again, if I ride that train of thought all the way to the end of the line, maybe ‘the best’ for the boys is that I stay home with them full-time and give them my full attention. I don’t consider that to be the ideal option for my family for a number of reasons (but that’s a whole other blog). The thing is, I actually enjoy my job. I think it is worthwhile, interesting and intellectually stimulating. I enjoy the balance that working part-time gives me between professional, personal and parental fulfillment (not to mention the comfortable balance it provides to my bank account). I don’t want to do another job just because it earns me more money. Does that make me a bad parent? Should I seek to earn more money so that we have “enough“? It’s an argument that sends me around in circles and I don’t have a clear answer. What I do have is the choice to keep my heart and head firmly in the present, which is where small children always live. I can choose to make a few decisions to keep our future options open, like keeping my foot in the door of a professional career by working, at least, part-time, and putting the boys’ names down for a couple of select private schools, should that be the right choice when the time comes. I can also make the choice not to worry about it so much and be oh-sovery-grateful for what we have now. I can choose to stop looking over the fence where the grass will always seem greener (and also in need of constant mowing). I can live my life for myself and my family, together making the choices along the way that are right for us and crossing my fingers that we don’t get side-swiped by circumstances beyond our control and wind up struggling to afford the basics in life. Money can’t buy love (or happy, well-adjusted children), but at the same time, love won’t pay the rent (or the mortgage, food, clothing and utilities bills). How much is enough? Perhaps a more useful question is: At what point during the inevitable trade between time and money do we decide that time becomes more valuable than money, that children are not forever, and that all the money in the world cannot buy back their childhood?

Rebecca Stephens lives in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne with her longsuffering husband and two young sons (aged four and two) who are both quite delightful, especially when they are smiling or sleeping. For more funny little stories about raising little people, visit www.rebeccastephens.com.au or look up www.facebook.com/SeeingtheLighterSideofParenting.

DAD ZONE STAY AT

HOME DAD SOAP OPERA

I’m sure to cop some colourful comments for saying this, but ABC2 is a life saver! It’s my saviour whenever Little E goes completely toddler-mental and I’m pretty sure that I’d never get dinner cooked if it wasn’t for that amazing station. The only downside is that these twelve-minute toddler-mind-muddlers have become my sole source of dramatic entertainment. I fear that I have begun reading between the lines a little more than is necessary and developed my own form of Stay-At-Home-Dad soap operas. Here’s an insight into the workings of a brain that has been melted by gratuitous lashings of ABC4kids. I hope you make it out the other side intact.

PEPPA PIG

(AKA. THE YOUNG & THE PORKINESS) I think that Mummy Pig is having an affair. There’s a deﬁnite awkwardness between the parent pigs but Daddy seems to be blithely unaware. Mummy Pig puts Daddy Pig down every chance she gets, constantly reminding the piglets how utterly useless he is, and setting up grounds for her divorce and custody case with the teeny pigs as key witnesses. But who is her elusive beau? Probably not Mr Fox; he’s a bit too smarmy. And Dr Brown Bear seems too busy. Mr Zebra is probably the kind of quadruped who’s into stamp collecting and pulling the wings off butterﬂies; not affair material. And then there’s Mr Bull. He’s always saying how much he likes to bump and bang. Crude masculinity or subtle foreplay? You decide.

Fireman Sam

(Aka. Days Of Our Pontypandy) So. That Norman kid. Almost burns the town down a hundred times, puts people in mortal danger on a daily basis and is as annoying as all get out. Why does nobody ever punish that darn kid? It’s because he’s Princess Diana’s illegitimate third child. Seriously, look carefully; he’s the spitting image of Prince Harry and doesn’t look anything like mum (read: adopted). Picture it now - it’s 1994 and Diana, emotionally torn from finding out that her husband is having an affair with a woman not even half as hot as herself, visits Wales on a Royal Tour of fire stations. She sees Fireman Sam in action, surrounded by bumbling idiots and glowing even more heroically because of it. Boom, bang, quickie in the fire truck and on her way back to Windsor Castle.

LAH-LAH’S ADVENTURES (AKA. HOME & NEXT DOOR)

Lah-Lah lives in a house by herself. The guys in the ‘band’ live in a place next door, share-house style. Isn’t that weird? Why does LahLah get her own residence, unless... that’s it! This show is a toddler version of The Bachelorette. I’ve gotta say that the producers could have dug a little deeper through the man-pool to ﬁnd her suitors. Half the guys are mute and very poor mime impersonators. Buzz the Band Leader struggles to ﬁnd both of his shoes on a good day. No wonder she always goes on group dates with them, just to avoid the awkwardness of small-talk and the fear of a goodnight proposition. It does look like the budget for the series has suffered. No more limousine and helicopter rides. Nope, it’s a bus ticket for this bunch. And who needs mountain-top three-course extravaganzas when a cheese sarnie down at the park rotunda will do just as well? I wonder who they’ll try to match up for season two? Maybe Justine Clarke is up for grabs...

HOOPLA DOOPLA! (AKA. THE FLYING ACROBATS) It’s taken some dedicated viewing to see past the flips and hula-hoops but I’ve finally worked out the intricate relationship puzzle that is Hoopla Doopla. Everything starts with Squidgie. She had a fancy for the postman, Zap, but his eyes are only for Mimi and her hot buns. Unfortunately Mimi is clearly into Ziggy because of his magic fingers, but he is constantly sniffing the flowers in Squidgie’s garden (not a euphemism but feel free to go there). In desperation Squidgie threw herself at Jango (I actually saw this in an episode. Granted, it looked like acrobatics but we know the truth) to make Zap jealous but only succeeded in discovering how filthy Jango is. He’s a street cleaner and sleeps in his cleaning cart. Filthy. So everyone is in love with someone else and no one is getting whom they want. Except Bop. He’s occupied with his own tools. And that’s what happens when a dad watches too much toddler TV.

David Hawkins is a Mornington Peninsula based stay-at-home dad who realised that he needed to improve his Dadding. So he set himself the simple task of being an Awesome Dad. He now challenges all dads to be Awesome Dads by doing something out of the ordinary with their kids every month, via his blog at bigkidlittlekid.net

Ten years later and Pontypandy have to tiptoe around Norman, in fear of invoking the wrath of England. The Welsh have always had it hard.

www.peninsulakids.com.au l kd

IN A WORLD OF KARDASHIANS AND EMPTY CELEBRITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS

s l r i G g n u For Yo By Lorraine Campbell

In the age of social media, the world is awash with the cult of empty celebrity. Young girls are encouraged to be self-obsessed, materialistic and egotistical. Young teens are pressured into becoming obsessed with their looks. Into believing that having a boyfriend is the most important thing a girl can have. And girls are sexualised at such an early age now. They’re no longer allowed to be just kids.

The internet, TV and magazines constantly send out the message that physical appearance is more important than character. That it’s better to be famous than smart. Reality television gives socialites like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton the opportunity to become icons. They’re not famous for a particular talent or achievement. They’re worshipped simply because they’re famous. Is this what we want our young girls to aim for? It has never been more important for young girls to have strong female characters in fiction. To show them what they are really capable of. Young readers are particularly impressionable. Something about a particular character you’ve loved as a child will have rubbed off on you or inspired you in some way. And our teenage years are when we experience everything on a much higher emotional level. When we experience our most intense emotions. A time when we are most open to be influenced by what we read in books and see in the movies. It’s great that a lot of popular fiction today features characters like Katniss – The Hunger Games – and Tris – Divergent (I just wish she had kept the name Beatrice!) and Tally – Uglies. These girls live in a dystopian world of the future. They take on the roles usually assigned to male characters. They’re tough, powerful and proactive. They fight and they even kill. I love that they are defined by their personality rather than their looks, or their relationships with the male characters. But when I talk about “strong” female characters, I don’t mean strong in sense of physical prowess or power. She doesn’t have to wield a weapon, or engage in death-defying feats, or be every bit as good as a male. I mean strong as in interesting, or complex, or well-written. I’m talking about characters who exhibit great resilience and courage in the face of adversity. Girls who are brave, resourceful and complex, without being ruthless killers. Whose depth of conviction is never allowed to be undermined by any romantic involvement. In narrative terms, the capacity of someone to act independently, to make their own free choices, is far more important than “strength.” It’s what determines whether a character is truly believable. The setting for my novel Resisting the Enemy is one of recent history. A time when the whole world was at war. The main protagonist, Valli, is a young woman who finds herself living in chaotic and

30 Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

dangerous times. Like all those living in Germanoccupied France, she has three choices. To do nothing and try to stay safe; to collaborate; or to actively resist. She chooses to join The Resistance. I was interested in exploring what might motivate a young woman to live dangerously, rather than submit to a brutal, oppressive régime. A young woman who comes from a rather privileged background, who is attractive, intelligent – why would such a person choose to live dangerously? To risk her life every day by doing what she does. And how far would she be willing to go for her beliefs? Above all, I wanted to show young people being put into difﬁcult circumstances and how they become heroic. And how, when needed, we all have the potential for that in us. We must remember that inside every young girl there is a hero.

Lorraine Campbell is a licensed shorthand writer and has worked for seventeen years as a court reporter with the Victorian Government Reporting Service, providing verbatim transcripts of court proceedings. She is currently working for a freelance transcript provider. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Monash University, majoring in Philosophy and English Literature, and has studied German and French for a number of years. A resident of Melbourne’s Bayside, Lorraine adores the opera and is an avid moviegoer. She also likes to keep fit and runs every morning along the beach and in the local parks.

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Lorraine Campbell is the Author of the new book, In Mortal Danger (Palmer Higgs $24.95), – a YA historical fiction novel about The French Resistance. This is the second book in the series, following the release of Resisting the Enemy, last year. To learn more visit: www.lorrainecampbell.com.au

Opening Hours Monday to Friday 6:30am-6:30pm

239 High Street, Hastings Ph (03) 5979 2831 www.peninsulakids.com.au

By Dr Jesse Blackadder

s a kid I was an animal lover. You know the type. The ones who drag home abandoned kittens, hatchlings fallen from nests, birds with broken wings, even halfdead lizards.

Nowadays, I see kids like me when I visit schools. Their hands shoot up in the air if I ask if anyone wants to be a vet when they grow up. They’re not the only kids who love animals, but their passion is palpable. As an animal loving kid I pestered my parents for pets – puppies, kittens, ducklings, budgies, mice and, of course, a pony. I guess my parents thought that pets would teach me care and responsibility, which they did (though I never did get a pony). But I wonder now if I didn’t learn more important lessons from the wild and wounded creatures I brought home, hoping to heal them and release them. They weren’t endangered native mammals. I suspect most of them were pigeons and only a few survived. I had enthusiasm but little knowledge, and if it wasn’t for a nearby vet who gave advice over the phone, probably none of them would have made it. Through those creatures – tiny and insignificant as they may have been – I learned that loving an animal doesn’t always mean taming it and making it a pet. I learned to love the wildness of those creatures, and let them go when the time came. So when I read that the little prince chose not to tame the beautiful fox, it struck a chord of memory. All this came back to me when I sat down to write Dexter The Courageous Koala, a story about 13-year-old Ashley, a city kid who’s desperate for a puppy of her own, and what happens when she misses out on a puppy and instead becomes caught up in rescuing an injured mother koala and her young joey ‘Dexter’. In reality, few kids will be rescuing injured native wildlife – such as koalas, kangaroos, possums or bats –and there aren’t many chances for kids to learn about these creatures outside of zoos. It doesn’t seem right somehow – these are the creatures that live wild in Australia, and their survival in the future may rest on people’s care and concern – their willingness to take action to protect these creatures and their homes. But stories shouldn’t preach. So rather than telling kids what they “ought” to know about koalas and the threats facing them, I threw my young heroine right in the middle of a difficult koala rescue so she could learn about courage, loving an animal, and the importance of NOT always taming it. Through the storyy Ashley learns to love young Dexter and ultimately let him be free. And along the way, young readers ccan absorb a bit about the perils facing koalas – and what to do if they find injured native creatures – without feeling like it’s a lesson on the environment. The storyy came out of my own delight in seeing wild koalas. In the past few years I’ve been lucky enough tto see them in my garden in northern NSW. Our favourite koala, “Elsie”, had symptoms of chlamydia, chlamyd ia, a d disease that eventually killed her. Through trying to rescue Elsie I learned about Friends of the Ko Koala oala an and their amazing work trying to save injured and diseased koalas like Elsie. I discove discovered ered th that caring for injured or orphaned native creatures (not only koalas) is a tough job. It many hours, days and weeks of sometimes round the clock care, and it can often end in tears. takes ma any ho joy But the jo oy that carers feel when their charges survive and go back to the wild is inspiring. So – if yo you’d ou’d lik like to share a different kind of Australian animal story with the animal kid in your life, The Courageous Koala might be the one for you. At the very least check out the Australian Dexter Th he Cou Museum’s spoof page on “Drop Bears”: carnivorous marsupials that kill by jumping from above and Museum’ ’s spoo biting thee neck of their intended prey, including humans. (www.australianmuseum.net.au/drop-bear). As far as I can see, no one has been able to tame one. (www.au ustralia Top five tips on involving kids in caring for native creatures: •Do yo you ou hav have pet dogs and cats? Keep them inside at night, put bells on your cat’s collar collar, r, and keep your dog on a leash if wildlife is about. •NEVER pick up an injured wild creature before checking with an adult. You might get hurt, •NEVER and so o migh might the animal. •If it’s ssafe, m move the animal away from danger and into a quiet, dark environment such a cardboard cardb board box with a small towel inside. Don’t offer food or water. •Write down where you found the creature – it should be released back in the same area. •W • •K Kno now the nu •Know number of the nearest wildlife rescue service. You can also take native creatures to o th thee neare nearest vet for help (for no charge). •R Remem Re •Remember - only licensed carers can look after native wildlife. But everyone can keep an eeyee o ou out for creatures that need help.

Dr Jesse B D Blackadder is an Australian author fascinated by landscapes, adventurous women, an nimals and very cold places. She wanted to be a vet from the age of five, but ended up ni animals becoming be eco coming an author instead and has published award-winning books for adults and children. www.jesseblackadder.com www. w w.jesseb www.peninsulakids.com.au

T H E TA N T R U M E F F E C T Why they happen and how to stop them By Ashley Trexler

I caught myself doing it again just the other night. Standing over my two-and-a half-year- old daughter I demanded she brush her teeth and get ready for bed – now. Are you kidding me?! I know better. Ordering a toddler around, especially at the end of the day, is a recipe for disaster. You know what’s coming, right? I got The Look. The Look is an attitude – a glint in my daughter’s eye, a sudden hardness in her stance – that makes me want to run and hide, preferably under the bedcovers. Why? Because The Look comes before The Tantrum. The Look forces your hand, and makes you demand, plead, cajole, and maybe even bribe your child in an effort to stop the coming storm. Nothing helps. Bedtime will be a battle. The shopping trip will have to be cut short. The nice dinner will end. Tantrums never happen at a mutually convenient time. Hunger, anger, or disappointment – I used to believe the reasons didn’t matter; that once The Look made its debut, a tantrum was unavoidable. By then, you have two choices: follow through with your demand (ensuring a tantrum), or cave (reinforcing inappropriate behavior). If any of this sounds familiar, here’s some great news: I discovered an alternative that works…if you remember to use it. The standoff between my daughter and I didn’t end the way you might think. There were no threats, tears, forced teeth brushing, or shrieking toddlers. Before she could open her mouth to verbalize her anger, I jumped in – with a rephrased request: “I’m sorry. Would you like to brush your teeth or use the potty, ﬁrst? Your choice.” She thought about it, and headed for the potty. Crisis averted. My daughter wanted a say in the matter. That’s all. Yes, it is possible to stop a temper tantrum in its tracks. Is a tantrum a reaction, or a valid need? The key to stopping tantrums is to understand why they’re happening. Tantrums are a physical manifestation of an unmet emotional need. Typically one of the following: – a need for empathy – a need for control – a need for environmental change (overstimulated, bored, tired, fearful) As parents, it’s not our duty to meet every single demand of our children. That would be exhausting, impractical, and result in an army of terrifying toddlers. It is our job to empathize with their emotions, foster independence, and know when our child has had enough. Toddlers can’t differentiate between large and small problems because every problem is a large one at this age. If we can anticipate and respect our child’s emotional needs, the result will be a calmer, healthier, happier child – and (mostly) tantrum free household. I promise. You can’t stop every tantrum, but you can head most of them off, by addressing your child’s unspoken needs. “Traditional” may work, but not for long. We’ve all done it. (Well, most of us, anyway). Tried the traditional, timetested methods of halting tantrums. Our parents always say that it worked with us, right? Plus, you don’t want to spoil your child, by caving into their demands all the time. Your tried bribery, promising your child a sweet, or a fun activity, in exchange for behaving. You try to only bribe occasionally, when it’s really important that your child behaves. The problem is bribery escalates; it’s a lollipop today, and an xBox tomorrow. Human beings are wired to always ask for more, and your child is no different. Bribery also teaches your child that they control you, and your actions, so it’s not a very healthy option. What about time-outs, and talk-it-outs? Making a toddler “think about what they’ve done” is impossible, because they’re not developmentally ready to process abstract thought. Toddlers understand cause and effect. Do this, that happens. Time-outs, used properly, are a useful tool for overstimulated children 34

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

to calm down, but not to eliminate tantrums stemming from unmet needs. Have you tried using a toddler’s most hated word? “No.” You hold your ground and let your child pitch their ﬁt, to prove you’re stronger than them. If your older child is planning tantrums to get what they want this technique is useful and often necessary. Toddlers, however, aren’t planning anything. They react and live in the moment. Holding your ground is simply forcing your toddler to “break” ﬁrst – to give up. It’s not the gentlest parenting technique. So now that we know all the methods that don’t work with toddlers, let’s talk about the ones that do work. The four strategies that stop a tantrum in its tracks Okay, so what does stop a temper tantrum? There are four effective methods designed to stop temper tantrums, before they start. It may not stop every single one, but incorporating these methods into your parenting habits will eliminate the majority of tantrums.

1. Display Empathy You may not understand why your child is heartbroken over the split banana peel (yes, it happens), but you can still offer your empathy. Empathise by calmly saying, “I understand.” Meet your toddler’s need for reassurance that their feelings are valid, and real. Explain you understand they’re upset, disappointed, or hurt. Empathise with your child’s feelings. Let them feel, and don’t rush to distract or repair.

2. Enforce Strict Boundaries One of my favorite exercises for parents struggling with behavior issues is to write down the basic “house rules.” List the rules you refuse to break. TV off during dinner, appropriate dress for church, clean up work before choosing another activity, consistent bedtime, no food in the car seat. Build a “cage,” and within it, set your children free. Work hard to say yes, inside your family’s personal boundaries. It’s freeing, fun, and offers your child some much needed independence.

3. Give Up Control I’m all for appropriate dress, but does it really matter if your child wears rain boots on a sunny day? Or clashing colors? Or no socks? We hear it all the time – choose your battles. Except it’s not a battle; it’s about respecting your child’s individuality. What you want is not what they want, and honouring their preferences is important. It teaches self control, discipline, and cause and effect. Really, is it crucial your child brush their teeth prior to using the potty? Which brings us to the last method.

4. Offer a Choice This is so important. I wish parents received a reminder text, every day. Strive to create independence and autonomy in your children. Children need to make decisions. They want to help, and to be independent. It’s how children learn, grow, and succeed. You can turn anything into a choice. Taking too long to get out of the car? Would you like to use your own feet, or shall I carry you? Don’t want them to devour a whole bag of candy? Ask if they want three pieces, or seven. Teach them, through action, to be conscious of the decisions they make every day. That said, limits are important. Toddlers can handle two options, and preschoolers maybe three. Any more, and they will quickly become overwhelmed. Averting temper tantrums requires a change in thought, not just action. Take a moment, and think about what you can do to allow your child more autonomy in their lives. Make sure your children knows you understand how they feel. You may not always agree, but you can always relate.

Ashley Trexler is known for debunking popular parenting advice that doesn’t work, and passionately believes that successful parenting requires letting kids be, well, kids. She warmly invites you to come check her out at LiesAboutParenting.com. This article was originally published on Bombarded Mum.

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y kids have taken over 20 flights in their lifetime with many more on the horizon. We have made it a habit to travel on a plane at least twice a year since they were a few months old. I admit that we have been blessed with two kids who seem to enjoy flight and so far (touch wood) our flights have been largely free of child created drama even when we missed our flight in Perth and that time when we were repeatedly pushed off the flights back to Sydney (five hours later we boarded).

packed a new loom band kit which required a lot if assistance. My tip is to ﬁnd kits that require little assistance so you can rest as well. For our next trip I have procured:

So what’s our secret? I can’t just rely on my hope that they will be calm throughout the ﬂight so I always come prepared with a little kit of goodies that I can pull out as needed. “T” thinks my kit is a little over the top, but I think it’s partly due to this kit that our ﬂights are so great. Want to know what’s inside?

DK Lego sticker books. These offer hours of concentration and I buy one for each kidlet each time we travel. These are in every kit we create

Mini Playdoh tubs (3) Djeco Craft Kits Mini Mae Reusable Fabric Dress Up Doll Stickers

New Smiggle pencils Word search book

CHEWABLE SUCKERS I like to prepare for ascent and descent. As babies this wasn’tt necessary as I would just breastfeed as the plane took off. These esee skins days I pack Hubba Bubba (3 packets in various ﬂavors), redskins ast the t and lollypops and tell the kids “let’s see who can make this last longest”. The competition element seems to prolong their sucking and sore ears are averted. It’s the only time I provide ck sugar during the ﬂight to avoid sugar-highs. Just in case I pack some eucalyptus drenched hankies to smell.

CARDS/ELECTRONICS Most long haul flights have entertainment embedded into the he nd back of seats. These offer a plethora of TV shows, movies and even gaming options. Some flights offer inflight entertainment nt through your own tablet if you download their app. Make suree you have done your research and know what is on offer. I also o add a few new movies to the kids iPads and some new apps. s. They are a great backup. Make sure you have headphones tha that at work on planes too.

ACTIVITIES Miss N is not easily distracted by electronics so I need items to keep her hands busy. Craft seems to work well. On our last trip ip I

G N I L L E TRAV KIDS WITHPlane Travel ing ay Surviv W y s a The E

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

PILLOWS We didn’t invest in these until our ﬂight back from Perth earlier this year. Why didn’t we do this earlier? They supported our little ones head when sleeping upright and were a godsend. I thought the blow up type would be better for storage but they aren’t as comfy. The Neck Squidgy by Annabel Trends is one of my favourites.

WET ONES Always have a pack on hand. They clean up almost any mess, perfect for trips to the airplane toilet and are also great for refreshing your face.

EQUIPMENT FREE GAMES I-spy, animal mineral vegetable etc are all great time savers. My top game at the moment is Scattergories. I’ve basically taken our board game and converted it into an easy accessible travel version. Want more? Head to Journeys of the Fabulist for a comprehensive roundup of travel games Above all, keep calm. An easy going attitude will serve you well on long trips. Don’t freak out when your kids cry. Try diversion ﬁrst, it often works. Get out of your seat and go for a walk with them to the toilet and back again.

Leah ia the founder of The Kid Bucket List - Travelling with Kids – Adventures Every Day of the Year. Her philosophy is that every child deserves a bucket list, and it makes you think about what you want to do with your children and helps you to find adventures where you don’t expect. www.kidbucketlist.com.au

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Ideas for Under the Sea Party * Use cookie cutters to make sea shaped sandwiches, cheese, veggies and fruit. Think starfish, dolphins, pearls, scallop shells... * Twirl green streamers and stick onto walls to create seaweed decorations. * Use a clam shell plastic pool for photo ops, to store drinks on ice, or an indoor kinetic sand pit. * Gummy snakes make great sea snakes. * Blow up white and/or blue balloons and attach them in a stream to fishing wire or streamers. Then hang from ceiling to create under the sea bubbles. * Shell pasta makes for a great pasta salad. Grate in some carrot, zucchini or cheese or use bean sprouts to add seaweed to your salad. * Make ham and cheese croissant sandwiches and add two toothpicks with olives attached for cutie crab snacks kids will love. * Add a couple of drops of blue or green food colouring to lemonade or mineral water to make drinks look like they have come from the sea.

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s t n a p y l l i s e i l Char By Melissa Walsh

From children’s parties to event entertainment you need look no further than Melbourne Madness, with professional children’s entertainer, Charlie Sillypants. Whether it’s a private birthday party, or any special occasion where you want your child to feel spoilt, Charlie will take them on a hilarious journey with imaginative and unique characters who specialise in the art of fun. “I absolutely love what we do and performing for children is my passion,” says peninsula born, Charlie. “The reason I started this business is I wanted to make children’s parties a special event for each individual child, and each show is individually designed for the birthday child. After working in the children’s entertainment industry for 15 years, I could see this specialised party ﬁeld Use QR code or go to www.melbournemadness.net to see Charlie perform this trick live.

was lacking and the feedback I get from parents and kids is amazing.” Charlie’s show is ideal for birthday parties and special occasions, and Charlie has been gracing stages all over the peninsula, performing at Cruden Farm for the Day in the Park and at peninsula kindergartens and preschools. “My show is all about magic, pantomime, adventure and interacting with the children, taking them on an adventure to magic land with their own personalised story,” says Charlie, whose excitement and enthusiasm for his work is palpable. “It is seriously the best job in the world, seeing the children laugh and be happy is the best reward you can get.”

Check out Charlie Sillypants on www.melbournemadness.net or the Charlie Sillypants facebook page. Phone 0411 957 185.

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By Melissa Walsh

Sea Turtle Cupcakes

As Sweet As You Get When Jacqueline and her two daughters, Nancy and Rachel became obsessed with baking the perfect macaron several years ago, little did they know it would soon turn into a thriving family business, but sure enough Sweets for Tilly was born. Sweets for Tilly is a family run business by Jacqueline and her daughters, based in the Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne and the Macedon Ranges who have baked for many years, creating beautiful handmade treats. Starting a baking business had been a lifelong dream for the girls, and as a family with the gift of baking and flare for and creativity. “The name of the business was inspired in honour of our late grandma, Mathilde, which is the French version of the name Matilda, which can also be known as Tilly,” says Rachel and Nancy. “Many may know that the art of baking macarons can be very tricky to say the least, and we started off with an agenda of making the tastiest macaron.” Now Sweets for Tilly’s macaron signature flavours include salted caramel, berry burst (chocolate with a berry surprise), and a very special Mauritian vanilla tea flavour. All the macarons are handmade and gluten free, with new flavours being created to suit each season. “We love to make use of local and seasonal produce. The strawberry jam in our strawberries and cream macaron is made from strawberries from Sunny Ridge in Main Ridge,” says the girls. The Mauritian vanilla tea flavour pays homage to their island heritage, with Jacqueline moving here with her husband many years ago to start a family and settle in Australia. More than 40 years later, both Nancy and Rachel have families of their own finally and decided to take the leap and begin a baking business to turn their dream into a reality.

Ingredients CUPCAKES BUTTERCREAM FROSTING (WE MADE OUR OWN HOWEVER YOU CAN BUY THIS FROM THE BAKING SECTION IN MOST SUPERMARKETS) VARIOUS LOLLIES FOR THE TURTLE SHAPE SPEARMINT LEAVES STRAWBERRIES & CREAM M&M’S RASPBERRY SHAPED LOLLIES 1. Have your cupcakes ready and completely cooled. 2. Use a ﬂat knife to ice the cupcakes with buttercream frosting 3. Cut the spearmint leaves to create the legs of the turtle 4. Gently push the spearmint leaves into the frosting 5. Add the strawberries and cream into the centre of the cupcake for the turtle’s shell. Or for an M&M body, follow the above steps up to step 4. 6. Arrange the M&M’s onto the cupcake into three rows of three, with the ﬁnal row as a row of two

Sweets for Tilly bake macarons, biscuits, sweets and special occasion cakes all handmade and baked with love.

To order, you an email hello@sweetsfortilly.com.au or phone Nancy on 0439 286 690, or Rachel on 0402 452 515.

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

* 3

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The biggest and most exciting themed kids’ party venue to hit the Mornington Peninsula. www.facebook.com/kidztownmornington Call 5976 4614 or 0403 795 562

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Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

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Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

Pregnancy & Baby

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Oh give me patience when wee hands Tug at me with their small demands. And give me gentle and smiling eyes. Keep my lips from hasty replies. And let not weariness, confusion or noise Obscure my vision from life’s ﬂeeting joys. So when, in years to come my house is still No bitter memories its rooms may ﬁll. -Author Unknown

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WAYS TO COPE WITH A CLINGY TODDLER

esterday, I felt rather helpless.

I had my one-year-old daughter feeling very out of sorts from morning until night. She grizzled and raged and wanted nothing more than to be held. Sometimes she didn’t want to be held either in a frustrating play of toddler independence versus dependence. To make it all worse, she refused to breastfeed too which was perceived by me as some kind of really painful statement. Of course it wasn’t at all, but crazy child behaviour is a ripe breeding ground for crazy adult thoughts.

their babes at kinder and school drop-offs: You know, the ones whose child throws the mega-tanty while Mum or Dad try to depart with dignity? My kids, though having their natural and predictable, shortlived blocks of clinginess, were always so conﬁdent and independent by that stage; they were always the ones who trotted off from me without a second glance. Though I have deﬁnitely felt sorry for the numerous struggling pairs I’ve witnessed, I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel just the tiniest tinge of envy at them too; a wow, your child really wants to be with you kind of envy.

This went on all the very long day.

Maybe I have that child now.

If I tried to resume housework, attend to something on the computer or make any kind movement to do anything whatsoever, there was more outrage in an instant.

I though long and wondered at the source of Celeste’s heightened behaviour before it occurred to me in a ﬂash of brilliance: My 12-yearold son is away on camp this week. My toddler adores her big brother and they are unusually close.

And so we struggled on together, facing each woe-ﬁlled long minute as it ticked by. Finally by the evening, she calmed down somewhat, perhaps with exhaustion. Eventually she breastfed, (and fed she did), until she could stay awake no more. What a relief. What. A. Day. On my parenting journey to date, all of my kids have displayed varying degrees of clinginess. It was fairly apparent in all of them as babies and rose and fell again at different ages throughout their childhoods. By far the clingiest to date is my youngest, 23-month-old Celeste. I have to admit to being one of those mums who always secretly and longingly looked towards those parents who struggled to separate from

Celeste was simply missing him and she was probably worried that Mum might suddenly vanish too. It must be so hard for little people to remain anxiety-free when there is so much happening around them which they do not yet understand. Everyone makes decisions on their behalf: What to eat, when to eat, when to sleep and where to go. Naturally, very young children seek the familiar in their daily trails and the comfort of those that protect and nurture: their parents and usually, Mum in particular. So how can I build a clingy, anxiety-ridden toddler into a conﬁdent child? I am by no means an expert but I have been putting a few tips to the test.

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

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To date, I have been practising simply giving-in to the behaviour. This at first glance sounds like a total parenting cop-out but hear me out because it’s a tactic that works for us. When my baby feels anxious and hangs from my leg, stomps her foot and seems overly terrified, to me that’s the cue to stop what I am doing and sit with her. Usually a hug on my lap and a few quiet minutes together is all that it takes to turn the situation from a meltdown into melted chocolate. My toddler will naturally pull away from me when she feels she has had her needs met. It’s a sweet way of taking time out and I have to admit, the break together has benefits for me too as I feel more relaxed for it as well. For times when you know you are leaving your little one, it’s imperative to make your departure known to your anxious child and then keep the actual goodbye moment short and sweet. You should always tell your child that you are going and that you will be back again soon. Sneaking off unannounced can potentially breed distrust in your babe who may respond by increasing the clinginess in future. Once you’ve said your goodbyes and reassured your child you will return - go fast and do not be tempted to return and comfort your child as this can prolong the anxiety and tantrum. Let the caregiver do the soothing in your absence. It’s a hard one but the experts say it’s the right path to take. Another important consideration is following a routine. Most people, regardless of age, like to know what’s coming next in life and toddlers have this desire amplified. By following a routine each day you can help to cement confidence and security into little minds. We have a routine in place daily. However, I definitely notice the clinginess heightens when there are changes or stress involved, particularly on my part. If I am rushing about, this switches on the clingy reaction in my toddler. I am trying hard to avoid this for both our sakes and it’s difficult

to say the least. Allowing your child to play independently and uninterrupted can work wonders for opening their little minds to the possibility of learning the skill of independence. Alone time is imperative for aiding your child to develop their imagination and personal sense of security in themselves. By constantly reminding him or her of your presence, you can make a rod for your back. Finally, giving your toddler lots of together time can give them further conﬁdence and emotional security. Much of my weekday routine is spent ferrying kids from point A to point B and my little one is shufﬂed about without much one on one as a result. Together time needn’t be a hindrance to your day either. Think of ways to get bubba involved in your chores so that he or she will feel important and special. Just today, Celeste was unhappy about me hanging the washing and wanted me to carry her while I did so. Not possible! I plopped my tub of pegs in front of her and she proceeded to cheer up and hand out my pegs as they were required. Happy! Happy! In baby steps we’ll get there I am sure but for now, I am treasuring these special motherhood moments, even when they are so trying. It won’t last forever and all too soon I know I will miss these special times in my daughter’s young life.

Jody is a mum of six young kids and blogs about parenting, food, product reviews and Melbourne events at www.sixlittlehearts.com. Follow her journey at www.facebook.com/sixlittlehearts

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HOW DID BODYBUMP START?

By Jo Ford

bod

y into

p ha

Brighton, UK, 2001 The last thing I felt like doing on a cold November night was to rug up and head out to a pregnancy yoga class in a town over forty minutes away. The class was pretty dull in retrospect but I was the first of my friends to get pregnant and I desperately needed to talk about the changes going on inside my mind and body to other pregnant women. Women on the same journey. Women that understood. Fourteen years ago there wasn’t much on offer in terms of pregnancy exercise classes so I grasped this opportunity every Wednesday night; in rain, hail or snow. I have been a teacher for two decades and in that time I have observed children gain weight. As a PE teacher in particular, I have watched a handful of ‘larger’ kids jogging around the field, increase to two handfuls and this trend is growing at an exponential rate. My husband, Jolyon Ford, obstetrician at The Bays Hospital in Mornington and Frankston Hospital, is witnessing a similar story with his patients. Current figures from the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, estimate that fifty-two per cent of all Australian women fall into the overweight or obese category. Women aged between 25 - 35, essentially the main childbearing years, come in at 35% and sadly that percentage is advancing. As mothers we are influential role models to our children. If kids see their parents leading sedentary lifestyles and consuming energy-rich foods (the root causes of weight gain), they are more inclined to follow suit and adopt a similar pattern with their own food choices and attitudes to exercise. Armed with this knowledge, we decided to help promote health and fitness among the children and patients we both see. Every week I teach boxing and the essentials of exercise and good nutrition to school children. In addition to that, I run Bodybump exercise classes for pre and postnatal women, in a gym environment and in the pool. I’m hoping to offer yoga and Pilates too at some stage so that Bodybump offers a whole menu of healthy options for the pregnancy population of the Peninsula. Jolyon informs his pregnant and postnatal patients about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle during this important life-stage as it also benefits him as their care provider. A healthier patient usually has a healthier outcome. According to the University of Adelaide, mums who consume too much junk food during their pregnancy may program their kids to crave the same sorts of foods. Research in rats found that rodents who ate fatty and sugary foods before conception, during pregnancy and while breast feeding, had offspring that preferred the same treats; they had a definite ‘taste’ for the high caloric, sweet and fatty foods. They were double the size of the baby rats that were exposed to good nutrition. It’s the same for our own species. “The increasing prevalence of obesity among pregnant women has led to the establishment of an intergenerational cycle of obesity and metabolic disease. We are seeing heavier mothers giving birth to heavier infants who go on to be fatter and less metabolically healthy later in life,” says Adelaide University researcher, Dr Beverly Muhlhausler. 52

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

I have always enjoyed exercise. At school I was the sports captain and played county level netball and hockey as well as being a state sprinter and javelin thrower. As I got older my zest for team sports dwindled and my passion for gym-based fitness grew. I have always loved the feeling of being fit and healthy and wanted to pass this onto others, so I became a personal trainer. I decided to further my skill set to specialise in pregnant and postnatal women, with a special interest in pelvic floor exercises. This was largely due to Jolyon’s job of course, and my own experiences when I was pregnant. I also chatted to the other local obstetricians on the peninsula and they encouraged me to start Bodybump so that they could offer the service to the women in their care. Kelly Griffin, obstetrician at the Bays Hospital and Monash Medical Centre is an advocate for keeping active during pregnancy. Not only does she recommend Bodybump to her patients but she came along when pregnant with her second child Lucy and (during her busy schedule) has attended a few classes during her ongoing third pregnancy.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF OBESITY IN PREGNANCY? There are increased complications of labour and delivery for mothers carrying excess weight during their pregnancy. According the the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, ‘Maternal obesity has been found to slow cervical dilation and increase the risk of prolonged labour. Obese pregnant women have higher rates of medical interventions around labour and birth. These include higher rates of induction for prolonged pregnancy and higher rates of caesarean section as a result of failure to progress in labour.’ In addition, obese women have a higher risk of developing complications in their pregnancy such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY? Most pregnant women that exercise feel an improvement in their physical and mental wellbeing. Exercise helps many women adjust to the physical changes that occur in pregnancy. It may relieve tiredness, lower back pain and reduce swelling of the feet and ankles as well as reducing varicose veins. Exercise improves muscle tone, strength and endurance. It makes it easier to carry the weight gained in pregnancy and helps prepare you for the physical challenges of labour. For many participants, exercise promotes a sense of wellbeing and staying fit can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. It improves sleep too. Lots of the women text me after aqua and say they have not slept as well in a long time or that the water has helped to sooth aches and pains, particularly back ache. For many women, the pregnancy ‘float’ at the end of the session is one of the only opportunities to take weight off the feet. Using noodles to assist buoyancy, you float in the pool, hands cradling your bump to soft music. “It’s such a calm way to end the class and I love feeling my baby move too,” says Jess. “It is also great just being in the pool with lots of other pregnant women, especially as we have the pool to ourselves.” Limiting excessive weight gain in pregnancy helps women to return to their pre-baby weight more easily. It also reduces the risk of developing gestational diabetes. (The only way I could alleviate the morning sickness in my own pregnancy was to indulge in a couple of huge butter-laden croissants, dripping with molten cheese. Hello gestational diabetes. It was far from fun; pricking my finger and testing my blood sugar levels throughout the day.) Aside from the obvious health benefits of attending pregnancy exercise classes, it is also a bonus to meet other expectant mums in a fun and friendly environment. Quite a bit of social engineering goes on from my part during the classes. I know that many of the girls want to meet

mums close to their due date or that live nearby, so I pair or group girls accordingly. I get a lot of calls from women that are relocating to the peninsula and are keen to get to know other mums-to-be. Nothing pleases me more than to see friendships blossoming, both during pregnancy and then when their babies are born. I often stop at a local cafe for a coffee and will see new mums that I have trained with their new babies. The fact that some of the mums met each other at Bodybump is truly thrilling and I am always delighted to see them.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS? For the majority of women, recreational exercise is beneficial during pregnancy. A GP or healthcare provider will be able to ascertain whether exercise may be inappropriate and will be able to sign a medical clearance form. Some women with high risk pregnancies may be advised to avoid certain activities. For many active women it’s perfectly fine to continue to exercise if they have been doing so already. Of course this is not the time to achieve any personal bests but if you love attending a spin or yoga class then you can continue to do so while pregnant. You should be able to hold a conversation during any exercise and if you are huffing and puffing then you need to pull back; it’s your body’s way of telling you to leave some in reserve for the baby. At Bodybump we use both the talk test and the ‘Borg Rate of Perceived Exertion’. This is a numbered scale that allows self-assessment in terms of how strenuously you are exercising. This enables you to increase or decrease the intensity of your workout during your pregnancy. During the first 12 weeks you should try not to over exert yourself or raise your body temperature too much as this may affect the baby’s development. If you a regular kick boxer, squash player or judo enthusiast it might be a time to take a break. Any contact sport that carries a risk of a hit in the abdomen is best avoided. Scuba diving is also a no no. The baby has no

protection against decompression sickness and gas embolism under water. If you feel the need to get into the water then a pregnancy aqua class is a much better option! Due to a women’s centre of gravity changing, you should avoid exercises where there is a risk of falling or losing your balance, such as horse riding, downhill skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, gymnastics and road cycling. Your joints are less stable and your centre of gravity is altered. Falling over is pretty horrible at the best of times but when pregnant the consequences can be far more severe. Dads need to get on board too. It’s not just expectant mothers who need to watch what they eat. Male rats at the University of Adelaide showed that the offspring of fathers who lost weight and exercised before conceiving had healthier development than those that did not. “We know that male obesity has an adverse impact on sperm health and fertility, but this is the ﬁrst time we have shown that the weight and metabolic state of the male impacts embryo and foetal health,” says senior researcher Dr Michelle Lane. “Men who want to father healthy children should increase their exercise levels and lose weight,” she adds. While Bodybump classes do not extend to dads, they do offer safe and suitable classes for all new mums, and mums-to-be. Give it a go for yourself and for your baby. www.bodybump.com.au www.facebook.com/Bodybump

Jo Ford divides her time between running Bodybump (pregnancy and post-natal aqua and fitness classes), teaching at Toorak College and bringing up two gorgeous girls, Lily and Rose. In her (limited) spare time, you’ll find her at the gym, practising what she preaches. www.bodybump.com.au

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Is your toddler ready for toilet TEACHING?

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â&#x20AC;˘He can tell you before he needs to go. On average, toddlers reach this stage between two and three years. â&#x20AC;˘She can control her urges to go so that she is able to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hold onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; until she gets to the toilet. â&#x20AC;˘As well as being physically ready to control their bladder and bowels, your child needs to be emotionally ready for toilet learning: regressive stages are normal for toddlers as they work out their place in an ever-changing world and how much they can control it (or not). This can make some little ones want to cling to the security of things they feel comfortable with, and that can include nappies. If you feel worried that your child is lagging behind, please be reassured that this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a reďŹ&#x201A;ection of your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intelligence or a sign that he is

lazy or dirty, any more than it is due to neglect on your part. Toilet readiness is linked to nervous system development and how your child receives and interprets his body’s messages. While most children show signs that they are ready for toilet learning by the age of three, at least 15 per cent aren’t ready by that age and a small number haven’t mastered the process by the age of four years.

Is he ready yet? Your child is generally physically and emotionally ready for toilet learning when: •He asserts his independence in other areas by telling you, ‘Me do it!’ and ‘All by myself!’ •She can pull her pants up and down. •He can sit on a potty without help. •She knows what ‘wee’ and ‘poo’ are and can tell you. •He is curious about what you are doing in the loo (yes, you need to talk about wees and poos, too!) •Her nappy is dry for longer periods (at least two hours), showing that she has a good bladder capacity and is developing control. •She can follow simple instructions – so she can understand what you want her to do. •He is aware of ‘weeing’ and ‘pooing’. Some little ones get a faraway look as they stop what they are doing to fill their pants; others may wander off into a corner to poo – as though they need a little privacy to concentrate. •She may tell you that her nappy is dirty or wet after she has finished and wants it changed. Then (the final step in readiness), when she is aware that she is about to wee or poo before it happens, you can explain to her that she can use the potty instead of a nappy. Even if your toddler is showing signs that he is ready to be encouraged out of nappies, please be mindful that if he is out of sorts or is experiencing a major upheaval, it is best for you as well as your child to wait a little longer.

Teaching your toddler to use the potty

Your toddler isn’t being ‘naughty’ if he wets his pants after managing a few dry days or even a few dry weeks. So please relax and try to see toilet learning in a similar light. Remember, it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

Toddler tactics to encourage fuss-free toileting: •When your toddler is able to tell you he is wetting or soiling his nappy, suggest, ‘You can wee or poo on the potty or toilet (if you have a child seat), like Mummy and Daddy.’ You might even like to take him to help you choose a potty. Be sure to leave the potty where he has easy access to it and you can keep an eye on him – perhaps in the bathroom with the door open or in the playroom. And dress your toddler in clothes that are easy to remove. •Buy your little one some fabulous undies – show them to her and tell her that when she can pee in the toilet she will be really big, then she can wear knickers just like Mummy or her big siblings (and whoever else seems impressive to her, but please don’t shame her by comparing her to her peers). Then, put the undies in the cupboard (there is no pressure) until she decides she wants to try going to the toilet. •Some parents ﬁnd it helps to show their child what to do by using a peeing doll or favourite toy to demonstrate; others simply let their child follow them around – they will anyway, so you may as well make the most of this and tell them what you are doing on the toilet. •You may be happy to clear your diary and stay close to home as you make a concerted, consistent effort at encouraging toilet skills for a few days or longer, or the very thought of being stuck at home could send you potty yourself. If staying home and totally focusing isn’t your style, you have to keep to a schedule for older children, or you work all week outside the home, you can take a slightly slower approach by having the potty around (even perhaps taking it out with you) and waiting for your child to lead the way. •If your child is in childcare, discuss what you are doing regarding toilet learning with his carers. They may even have a few good practical tips for you. After all, they will have been through this with lots of other children.

If you have waited until your child is ready, teaching him to use the potty is really quite simple, in theory at least. There will be setbacks along the way (so take wipes and clean clothes when you go out with your toddler as he is learning), but if you take the approach that potty learning is a bit like any other stage of development, you will get things into a better perspective when you have a puddle (or worse). After all, when he learnt to walk, you didn’t expect your child to do this without an occasional trip or fall. And you didn’t scold him if he fell over, did you?

Pinky McKay is an internationally certified lactation consultant, certified infant massage instructor and author of Sleeping Like a Baby, 100 Ways to Calm the Crying and Parenting By Heart. In her baby massage DVD, Pinky shows parents how to give their baby a full body massage, a mini-massage (for when you are in a hurry) and specific stroke to help with colic and tummy discomfort. For more great tactics to help you get through the terrific toddler stage, see Pinky’s book Toddler Tactics . If you are time poor and enjoy listening as you multi task, check out the audio book version of Toddler Tactics.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

Mount

Donna Buang in the Snow By Lorraine Aitken

To look at the amazement on our children’s faces as they saw snow falling for the very first time is something that’s difficult to describe. The smiles on their faces and the delight they displayed was contagious especially so when our oldest described it as being Christmas. They ran, laughed, made igloos, had giant snow ball fights and raced each other on toboggans until they were soaked through and totally worn out but begging to go back for more. Luckily for us, Mount Donna Buang is located just out of Warburton and is the closet place to visit snow from the Peninsula (except on the rare occasion it snows on Mount Dandenong). It’s a fantastic spot to visit and I couldn’t recommend it more as a day trip from the peninsula. I love the fact it’s not a big ski resort and everyone can access it for free and nobody cares about what they’re wearing. I don’t know about you but I find that so refreshing. Off course, with Mount Donna Buang not being a commercial resort you won’t find ski hire shops, cafes and accommodation but not to worry, the pretty town of Warburton is just below the mountain and makes for a beautiful place to stop in at one of the many cafes or even a stroll along the river to feed the ducks. Facilities on the mountain are pretty good considering there is no entry fee. You will find three toboggan runs, a large snow play area at the summit, two picnic shelters with wood fire heaters (which have been a very welcome relief from the cold in the past and also a great place to chat with the locals), toilets, plenty of parking both on the upper and lower levels, picnic tables and BBQ’s if you have the foresight of taking your own food along. When there is snow on the mountain there is a toboggan hire truck that charges around $10 and also a hot food van selling hot chips, jam doughnuts and drinks. If you would like to purchase a toboggan you will find them at True Value Hardware in Warburton and also a hardware store in Yarra Junction and Launching Place for around $60. To make the trip enjoyable I suggest taking a change of clothes for everyone and to dress in layers including a beanie, gloves, waterproof pants, jackets and boots. By dressing in layers you can keep warm when it’s cold and take things off as you warm up without needing to go back to the car to get changed. Try and pack plenty of food and drinks for the drive as the kids will burn a lot of energy in the snow. A thermos for making hot milo may be appreciated. As far as safety goes, take your time driving up and down the mountain as road conditions can change quickly and although snow chains aren’t mandatory on Mt Donna Buang it can still be slippery. Naturally, snow falls can be unpredictable and Mount Donna Buang is lower than the big alpine resorts at 1250 metres above sea level so timing is everything if you intend to be there when the snow is falling. We usually keep an eye on the weather radar to check what height snow will be falling so we can organize a day trip. Otherwise you can also find snow updates by visiting www.warburtoninfo.com which is regularly updated. www.peninsulakids.com.au

WINTER HEALTH

hazards at home

KEEPING WARM AND SAFE DURING COLDER MONTHS OF THE YEAR ALSO MEANS BEING ALERT FOR INDOOR HEALTH HAZARDS. THESE SIMPLE TIPS SHOULD HELP TO KEEP YOU SAFE AT HOME THIS WINTER. WINTER INJURIES AND RISKS Winter products such as hot water bottles, electric blankets and heaters can cause injuries such as burns . Other winter risks come from faulty electrical products which can overheat, give you an electric shock and could potentially cause a ﬁre.

FIRE SAFETY About half of all fires in the home start in the kitchen, and more than 40% of all deaths from fire happen during winter. Here are a few tips to keep you and your home fire safe: •Install smoke alarms throughout your home and test them monthly. Change the batteries every year, perhaps on a memorable date such as the beginning of daylight saving. •Where possible, make sure you and your family know more than one safe way out of every room in your home. •Have a written home fire escape plan and practice it regularly. •Keep curtains, tablecloths and bedding away from portable heaters. •Keep wet clothes at least one metre from heaters or fireplaces, and never place clothes or towels on your heater. •Clean the lint filter every time you use a clothes dryer. Because lint that has built up can catch fire. •Never use your gas oven or stove as a room heater.

painted or treated with copper chrome arsenate (CCA) or creosote-treated timber (such as railway sleepers).

HEATERS No matter what type of heater you have, you should check it is safe to use every winter. Always check your gas heater is working correctly and service it using a licensed gas fitter according to the manufacturers instructions. Signs something is wrong include difficulty lighting it, yellow flames, unusual smells or noisy or inoperable fans. Electric heaters should be checked for obvious damage such as rusted reflectors (especially on older heaters). The power cord should also be checked for any damage. An electrician or service technician should do any repairs. Don’t leave portable heaters in places where people or pets could knock them over. Gas heaters produce heat when they burn gas fuel. This also produces air pollutants and water vapour. If your gas heater doesn’t have a flue, service it regularly and make sure the room is well ventilated. A flued gas heater vents air pollutants and water vapour outside the home through a chimney or flue, while an unflued gas heater releases them directly into the home. Never use an unflued gas heater in a bedroom, bathroom or other small rooms with no permanent ventilation because harmful toxic gases can build up inside.

•Use just one appliance per power point and switch them off when you’re not using them. Heaters consume a lot of power and may overload the supply which can cause a ﬁre.

PORTABLE OUTDOOR GAS HEATERS

•Never leave burning candles or any open ﬂame unattended.

Portable outdoor gas heaters can cause ﬁres if they are incorrectly stored, not properly maintained or placed too close to overhead coverings such as awnings or to other ﬂammable materials.

•Store matches and lighters in a safe place out of reach of young children. •Always keep children away from open heat sources such as fireplaces and gas stoves, and remember that even clothing with a ‘low fire danger’ label can still catch fire. •Make sure children know that if their clothes catch on fire, they mustn’t run away – this only makes the fire burn hotter and faster. Instead, tell them to: •STOP immediately where they are •DROP quickly to ground and cover their face with their hands •ROLL over and over to put out the flames. Every state and territory fire authority has resources to help children understand what to do in the case of a fire such as ‘get down low and go, go, go’.

FIREPLACES If you have a ﬁreplace in your home then make sure the chimney is clean and not blocked. Always place a screen in front of a ﬁreplace when it’s being used, and never burn rubbish such as plastics or foam, wood that is 58

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Never use a gas heater designed or marketed for outdoor use inside your home.

Outdoor heaters need regular safety checks and should be serviced every two years. Warning signs it’s not working well include gas ﬂames and radiant panels that burn yellow or produce soot. If you detect a gas leak from your portable outdoor gas heater, turn it off at the cylinder if safe to do so and call your local ﬁre station.

ELECTRIC BLANKETS Check your electric blanket is in good condition and hasn’t been recalled by checking the Recalls Australia website. About 400,000 potentially faulty electric blankets were recalled in 2012. Faulty electric blankets can overheat, cause an electric shock, spark and potentially cause a fire. You should always roll your blanket up to store it because folding it can damage element wires inside the blanket. When you take it out of storage and use it for the first time, lay it flat on the bed and check for hot spots as it heats up.

HOT WATER BOTTLES Use warm, but not boiling, water to ﬁll your hot water bottle and examine it for leaks before you use it. Replace it as soon as it starts to look cracked or worn or every two years. Remember – the rubber can perish from the inside so you may not be able to see if it’s worn out. Hot water bottles can cause burns if you place them directly on your skin so make sure they are wrapped in a towel or fabric cover.

HEAT PACKS Heat packs are usually fabric bags filled with wheat or some other grain which are heated in a microwave before they are used to warm parts of the body. Caution is needed when using heat packs as they can cause burns or fires related to: •being heated and placed on or in bedding •being heated in the microwave for longer than the time specified by the manufacturer •being reheated before they have cooled properly

have a written home fire escape plan and practice it regularly

•being old and the ﬁlling has dried out and become combustible.

FIRST AID FOR BURNS Burns can be caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, gases, friction and radiation (including sunlight). The aim of ﬁrst aid for burns is to stop the burning process, cool the burn (for pain relief) and cover the burn.

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID STEPS •Immediately cool the burn with running water for at least 20 minutes. •Remove constrictive clothing and objects such as rings, watches or other jewellery not stuck to the skin. •Cover the burnt area with a wet, clean (lint or ﬂuff free) cloth, or a nonstick dressing or plastic cling wrap. •If possible, elevate burnt limb to minimise swelling. •Keep the person covered where possible so they don’t get cold. •Call for help.

CALL TRIPLE ZERO (000) FOR AN AMBULANCE IF: •Person has breathing difﬁculties, hoarse voice, facial burns or singeing to eyebrows or eye lashes. •Burn was caused by electricity. •If the area of the burn covers a large an area larger than the hand of the affected person. •Involves; hands, face or genitalia. •Pain is not controlled. •Person is a child, is elderly, is pregnant, or has other injuries or a chronic illness.

Sources: Agency for Clinical Innovation (Clinical Practice Guidelines: Burn Patient Management - PDF document), Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC’s tips to keep you safe this winter, Urgent warning on heater fire risks), Australian Resuscitation Council (Australian Resuscitation Council guideline 9.1.3 - Burns - PDF document), Department of Health Victoria (Gas heaters (unflued), Wood heaters), Fire & Rescue NSW (Home Fire Safety, Portable outdoor gas heaters, Winter fire safety checklist, Seniors fire safety factsheet), Government of South Australia (Fire risk from heaters, clothes dryers and electric blankets), NHS Choices, UK (Burns and scalds Treatment), NSW Health (Unflued gas heaters), Therapeutic Goods Administration (Winter warning - correct and safe use of heat packs), Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (Blazer’s Fire Safety Tips), St John Ambulance Australia (Homepage, burns and scalds fact sheet)

As originally published on the healthdirect website and reprinted with permission. For 24hr trusted health information and advice, try the healthdirect Symptom Checker at www.healthdirect.gov.au or speak to a registered nurse on 1800 022 222.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

the Mess

“COME IN” SHE SAID, “DON’T MIND THE MESS” AS I STEP OVER THE THRESHOLD TO HER HOME, DRAWING MY ATTENTION TO THE SUGGESTINGLY UNKEMPT SURROUNDINGS. MY EYES FLICK OVER EVERY SURFACE AS WE PROCEED DEEPER INTO THE HOUSE. By Hayley Chetwynd

hough I’m not exactly sure what mess she is referring to. The haphazardly arranged toys that are within the conﬁnes of the baby mat, or the two mugs on the bench next to the kettle - clean and ready for expected company. Even the beds were made in the bedrooms we drifted past.

No piles of washing all over the couch with not-so-fifty-shades underwear and holey socks flauntingly visible, forgotten to be tucked deep into the mountain. Kitchen sink empty of breakfast bowls, no dried weet-bix or puffed up rice bubbles lingering on the table - or under the chairs. Either her children slept in their clothes the night before, or it is their pyjamas I can hear in the washing machine quietly swishing away. The floors look clean enough to follow the three second rule {for dropped food}, curtains open and windows barely visible - not a smeared hand print or dried up cascading dribble to be seen. I think to myself, if this is classed as messy then my house belongs on Hoarding - Buried Alive. Knowing that as I closed the front door to take the minions to school, I was closing the door on pyjamas left on bedroom floors, breakfast bowls unrinsed and stacked next to the sink, with the dishwasher clean but not yet emptied from the night before. Wet bed sheets and quilts stripped and fermenting in the dirty laundry basket, the washing machine silent. The evidence of packing lunches on the kitchen bench remains and while the dining table is wiped of any solid food matter, cloudy streaks are easily seen and rice bubbles litter Will and Blake’s chairs. Our floors, not fit for the three second rule, but clean enough for Clay to escape my hip on. With that one careless statement, perhaps meant to clear her of any responsibility for a missed mirror streak or mote of dust I may see, but not notice - evaporating from my mind faster than a shopping list. The standard is set. The precedent of expectation which goes both ways. Weeks later I open our front door to welcome her into our home. With a smile I say “Hi! Come in, don’t mind the mess, we’ve been so busy the last few days I’ve not had a chance to clean properly.” A partial truth. We walk down the hallway, past bedrooms and lounge rooms - doors wide open to welcome inspection. Small talk is made while we make our way to the kitchen, where two mugs await next to the kettle and a plate of {store bought} goodies already set out. What she doesn’t know is that I ran around like a blue-arsed fly the night before - cleaning toilets, wiping toothpaste off mirrors and polishing windows until I could see my reflection. Washing piles thrown hastily

into cupboards, floors swept and quickly mopped. That morning the kids were dropped off at school looking irritated and harassed - because I spent the previous two hours acting like a drill sergeant. Make your bed! Put your pyjamas in the wash! Whose breakfast bowl is on the table still? Put it in the sink! Rooms tidy! Brush your teeth, make sure you rinse the bathroom sink after! Instead of walking each minion to their class, I kiss them goodbye and head back to the car before the morning bell has even rung. Eager to gain an extra ten minutes to ensure everything is looking as clean and display home’esque as possible. Not a rice bubble in sight. ‘Super Housewife’ badge on. This became the norm. Doug always knew when I had plans to catch up with someone the next day because the night before instead of sitting next to him on the couch, I would be mopping and folding as much of our Mount Washmore as I could before tiredness set in. Then a few months ago I called enough. Our house is our home, not an open door display house. I was sick of the falseness, the illusion, the expectation. I wanted to look forward to catching up with friends, not feeling annoyed that I had to sacrifice my quiet evening to make sure every surface was free of minion prints and milk spots. If a friend knocked unexpectedly on our door I didn’t want to chat at the front door to hide the lunch dishes in the sink, the unfolded washing dominating the couch, unmade beds and the dozens of shoes almost certainly to be scattered through various rooms. I also do not want other women to feel the same way. Now I’ll still say “come in, don’t mind the mess.” But you will now see exactly what mess I am excusing. Whether it be the crumbs on the bench, the dining table I’m wiping down before we sit, the glass door opaque with hundreds of hand prints or the baby toys and action figurines that lay abandoned on the floor. The real mess. Pop over for a cuppa, come for the company. You’re welcome any time, just mind the washing.

Hayley is Mum to five soccer crazy sons and one cartwheeling, hand standing daughter. She has been married to Doug, a keen fisherman and long standing supporter (sufferer) of her baby addiction, for the last 14 years. Hayley can often be found at the kitchen bench making sandwiches or eating chocolate. Much of her life revolves around words - encouraging her many minions to use them, reading them on the couch late at night, or writing them over at her blog www.houseofmanyminions.blogspot.com

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POSTNATAL DEPRESSION

By Melissa Kent

WHAT IS THIS BEAST AND WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Becoming a mother is a time of intense, overwhelming joy, right? Where every new mum is perfectly groomed, perfectly poised, smiling, and happy, happy, happy? I remember sitting with my eight-week-old baby in my rocking chair, rocking back and forth, wishing, hoping and praying he would just go to sleep. I was exhausted beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I was most definitely not joyful, well groomed, poised or smiling. I was sad, scared, exhausted, wearing tracksuit pants and crying. He was my first baby. I was a capable, intelligent woman – a psychologist, no less, who was usually in control and on top of her game. So why was I so sad and scared? This sense of shame added to my feelings of hopelessness. This continued until he was about five months old. I didn’t feel this way every single day, but I felt it on more days than I didn’t. Then something clicked. Perhaps what I was experiencing was beyond the usual adjustment difficulties that come with a new baby. Perhaps I needed to admit I was struggling and seek help. So I did. I was diagnosed with postnatal depression, often abbreviated to PND. I’m not going to say it was easy, but I recovered. Support, medication, awareness – they all helped. I began to actually see the sunshine through the clouds. And most importantly, I began enjoying my baby on more days than I didn’t. He is now an amazing, thoughtful, caring, intelligent seven-year-old boy who I love more than life itself. And he has a sister – a cheeky, energetic, intelligent, empathic four-year-old rainbow. I had a recurrence of PND after her birth. But I was prepared – I knew the signs and what I had to do. I recovered much quicker and had mechanisms in place to minimise my relapse. What is this beast we call PND? For 15-20% of women, it’s a beast that invades their minds, their emotions, their thoughts, their behaviour, their family and their community. PND can mean different things to different mums, but it usually includes feelings of depression, anxiety, sadness and difficulty coping that last for more than two weeks. These feelings appear either suddenly or gradually, within the first twelve months after having a baby.

So what should you do? As a mum, I can tell you what worked for me, and I recommend all mums do, even if they’re not experiencing symptoms as severe as PND: •support, support, support. Get a good support network of like-minded mums around you. Check with your local council for a mothers’ group, or ﬁnd out where your local ABA playgroup meets. Go there, even though it will feel like

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

So how d oy with PND ou know you’re de ? Some o f the featu aling •Sleep disturba re s include nce unr baby ’s : elated to sleep

– wa your time, or not bein nting to sleep •Appe all the g a b le to s tite d the time isturbance – w leep anting •Persis , or not being able to to eat all tent cr y in •Feelin g , of ten g for no r eason •Irrita unable to cope bility •Anxie ty •Nega tive obs essive th •Fear of b oughts •Conce eing alone ntration difficult These sh ies ould pe rsist, on not, for more da two we eks. ys than

the last thing you want to actually do. Go. You will feel better. •See your GP. GPs are trained to assess PND and will know where to refer you for treatment. Form a relationship with your GP as they can also be a strong source of social support. If your GP isn’t supportive enough, ﬁnd one who is. •Vsit your local Maternal and Child Health Nurse. Again, they can be a strong source of social support and will know of local groups and activities in your area that could be helpful for you. •Get out of the house and be around other people. You don’t even need to be interacting with them, just be around them. Local libraries were great for that. •Try and be kind to yourself. Book a massage. Get your nails done. Do something just for you each week. •Tell people how they can help. Most people want to help you, but they don’t understand what’s wrong or don’t know how to help – telling them will help you and them. If someone asks how they can help, don’t pretend you can do it all on your own. Accept their offers of help and get them doing tasks that you can’t manage – cooking a meal, doing your washing, getting your groceries. As a psychologist, I can tell you what works for recovery from PND: •Consider medication. Your GP will be able to discuss your options with you. If you take medication, it doesn’t mean you’ll be on it for the rest of your life. Anti-depressant medication is not “addictive” either, as is often thought, so when you’ve recovered and you can cease your medication, you can do so quite easily under medical supervision. •Get therapy. There are biological, psychological and social factors to PND. Psychological factors can include personality type, perceptions and expectations of motherhood, perfectionism, unresolved trauma and others. Working with a skilled psychologist can help address these factors while the medication is also doing its thing. It is also a great source of support during the tough days. I can’t promise you it will be easy, but I can promise you motherhood will be totally worth it. Big hugs to you, mamas. You’re doing the best you can. If you need help to do even better, consider seeing your GP and a psychologist.

Melissa is a mum of two who is also a survivor of PND. She has her own psychology practice in Armadale, Melbourne, and has a special interest in helping mums who are having difficulty adjusting to their new role as a parent. Find her on the web – www.melissakentpsychology.com.au

Recipes

s e p i ec

Peta is a mum of three boys. Peta LOVES cooking! If she isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t running madly after the kiddies she is cooking for her Cooking and Thermomix blog www.trtlmt.com.au as well as The 4 Blades Magazine which she is co owner of. Peta loves cooking things from scratch, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow a particular food style and believes in everything in moderation. Except lollies. 600kg of lollies in one sitting is perfectly acceptable!

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n chicke i e v o l esnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t t min Who do se are a grea or The inger kievs? erfect for f p option party food.

Ingredients Butter: 120g unsalted butter, cubed 2 garlic cloves, peeled 8 sprigs of parsley Salt to taste Breadcrumbs: 3 slices day old bread, I like to use Turkish bread for a really nice crunch Salt and pepper, to taste 1/2 tsp dried garlic powder, optional Chicken: 600g chicken breast or thigh, roughly chopped Salt and pepper, a pinch of each

Mini Chicken Kiev Balls

Makes: 16-20 balls Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10-30 minutes Method:

Assembly:

Butter:

No need to clean bowl after crumbs.

Place garlic and parsley into a food processor. Process on high for a few seconds. Scrape down sides.

Place chicken and seasonings into processor.

Add cubed butter and salt. Process on high for 15 seconds until well combined.

Shape a small amount of chicken around each ball of butter. Ensure the ball is completely covered in chicken mince.

Place on baking paper and roll into 16-20 small balls about the size of a marble.

Roll into breadcrumbs.

Place into fridge to harden. (Any remaining butter can be frozen.) Breadcrumbs: No need to clean the food processor from the butter. Place all breadcrumb ingredients and process on high until a coarse crumb consistency is achieved. Any leftover unused breadcrumbs (that havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t touched chicken) can be frozen.

Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

Process on high until minced. This will only take a few seconds.

Cooking in the airfryer: Drizzle each ball with a little olive oil. Cook for 12 minutes at 200 degrees. Cooking in the oven: Bake for 30 minutes at 180 degrees. Shallow fry: Cook over medium to hot heat in 1cm of oil, turning often, for 4 minutes each side or until cooked.

Tuna Vol au Vents

Makes: 8 large Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Ingredients:

Method:

8 large vol au vent cases

Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with paper.

425g tuna

Place cases onto paper.

Kernals from one cob of corn

Add butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Melt.

400g milk

Add ďŹ&#x201A;our and stir to combine. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.

50g butter

Add 50mls of milk. Whisk to form a thick paste.

50g plain flour

Add remaining milk, 100ml at a time, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.

1 tsp garlic powder

Add garlic powder, dried onions ďŹ&#x201A;akes, corn and nutmeg.

1 Tbsp dried onion flakes

Whisk constantly to avoid lumps or burning. Do not boil.

Pinch of nutmeg

Whisk until it thickens, about 4-8 minutes.

1 Tbsp chopped parsley

Once thickened, add parsley and tuna.

1 Tbsp chives, for garnish

Pour into cases and spoon mixture into Vol au Vents. Bake for 15 minutes or until tuna mixture is hot and cases are warmed through. Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve with salad or steamed vegetables.

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Puttanesca Meatballs on Zoodles/Pasta Serves: 4-6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10-30 minutes Method:

Ingredients: Meatballs:

50mls water

Place mince, onion ďŹ&#x201A;akes, garlic powder and parsley into a large bowl.

500g beef mince

100g sundried tomatoes, diced

Combine well with hands or spoon.

1 Tbsp dried onion flakes

10 small pitted olives of choice

Using wet hands, shape into 20 meatballs ready for the below steps.

1 tsp dried garlic powder

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Add onion, garlic and oil to a large frying pan. Cook over medium heat.

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Sauce:

1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped

Add remaining sauce ingredients (excluding onion and garlic mix) into a food processor. Process on high until a smooth sauce is formed.

1 onion, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

Add to onion mixture in frying pan.

2 garlic cloves, crushed

Zoodles/Pasta:

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 zucchinis or 400g pasta, cooked according to packet directions

Carefully place meatballs into the sauce and cook for 18-20 minutes over a medium heat until cooked through.

800g fresh tomatoes, small dice

Meanwhile, using a zoodle maker, cut your zucchini into long strips similar to spaghetti. Alternatively, use a knife and julienne the zucchinis or cook pasta according to packet directions. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, place the zoodles into a bowl of hot water for a few minutes to soften. Serve cooked meatballs over zoodles.

Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

ious soft ic l e d a e r a e Thes chboxes! n u l r o f t c e f biscuit per

Choc Chickpea Biscuits Makes: 24 biscuits Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Ingredients:

Method:

45g oats

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

80g sugar of choice

Place oats into a food processor.

400g tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (this will weigh 250g once drained)

Blitz for 20 seconds.

40-50g cocoa or cacao, depending on how

Blitz for 30 seconds. This will be a wet mix but will be able to be formed into balls.

strong you like it

Roll balls and place onto a lined baking tray.

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand and sprinkle with 100s and 1000s.

1 teaspoon baking powder

Bake for 10-15 minutes.

100g butter

Allow to cool and keep in an airtight container.

Add remaining ingredients.

100s & 1000s to sprinkle on top

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Healthy Choc Pops Makes: approximately 420g Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 410g box of rice bubbles or puffed rice 3 Tbsp cacao powder 4 Tbsp maple syrup or honey 4 Tbsp coconut oil

Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line two large baking dishes with baking paper. Place maple syrup and coconut oil into a large bowl and microwave on medium for 30 seconds until coconut oil has melted. Add cacao powder. Whisk mixture to combine well. Add rice bubbles. Stir to combine well. Spread mixture over the two large baking trays. Bake for 15-20 minutes, stirring often to dry the choc pops. Cool and store in an airtight container in the pantry.

can make a u o y n e h w Why bu y me with a o h t a n io s r healthy ve redients! g in f o l u f d han

The road to loving my Thermo Mixer Visit www.trtlmt.com.au for

Recipes, Menu and Lunchbox Planners, Meal Plans, Lunchbox Show & Tell, Back to School Guides, Discounts and so much more! The everyday thermomixer resource for everyday families! 68

Peninsula Kids â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Winter 2015

Honey Jumbles Makes: 20 biscuits Preparation time: 1 hour 20 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Ingredients:

Method:

60g butter

Add butter, golden syrup and honey to a large saucepan over medium heat.

Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly golden.

Cook, stirring regularly until melted. This may take up to 10 minutes.

Place egg white into a clean, medium sized bowl.

Remove from heat. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Add 170g of the icing sugar.

Add the remaining ingredients to bowl.

Whisk until combined.

Mix until just combined and a sticky dough forms.

Add more icing sugar if it is still runny and not holding its shape nicely on a jumble.

100g honey 70g golden syrup 170g plain flour 60g self raising flour ½ tsp bi-carb soda 1 tsp nutmeg

½ tsp ground cloves

Remove the dough from the saucepan and allow the dough to rest for 45-60 minutes to cool. I let it cool on a silicone, non stick, baking mat. Note: This is a sticky dough. It will ﬁrm up upon standing.

Icing:

Wash saucepan immediately as mixture is very sticky.

1 egg white, from a small egg

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

170-200g icing sugar, depending on the size of your egg white

Roll the dough into 20 small log shapes, approximately the size of an adult thumb.

1 tsp lemon juice

Press down slightly.

½ -1 tsp ginger, to suit tastes 1 tsp cinnamon

Allow to cool. Whisk until egg white is frothy.

Ice half biscuits with the white icing. Place a drop of pink food colouring into the icing mixture in the bowl. Whisk until combined. Ice remaining biscuits with the pink icing Allow icing to set. Store in airtight container.

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By Lorraine Aitken

hen I was asked if I would like to go horse riding with the Horseback Winery Tours I jumped at the opportunity. Not because I love wine, I don’t even drink it, but the idea of getting back in the saddle after many years of being away from horse riding was like a chance to reconnect with my childhood and spend some time with these wonderful creatures in the stunning surrounds of Red Hill.

On arrival guests are welcomed into the reception area where friendly staff members match you with a suitable horse depending on your experience and weight. From here guests are directed to the ﬁtting area for a helmet and a Driza-Bone jacket if the weather is inclement. After selecting the right helmet you can relax in the waiting lounge overlooking the indoor arena with tea/coffee while ﬁnal preparations are carried out by staff members. Our two guides for the day cheerily introduced themselves and directed us through the stables and out to the mounting yards where our horses awaited us. After a short demonstration by the guides on the correct technique to safely mount, we were given individual information on the selected horse’s temperament and what we could expect from them out on the trail. I must say that the staff did a fantastic

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

job at matching the right horses with the right riders as all 12 of us on the trail ride didn’t encounter any compatibility issues. Out on the road we were asked to stay in a single file behind the lead guide for safety reasons while the second guide continuously worked her way up through the group to make sure everyone was okay and to also to offer her knowledge on riding techniques. Following the meandering trails along the roadside gives you a good opportunity to take in the countryside at a slower pace and also take a glimpse at some of the peninsula’s best rural holiday homes. I particularly enjoyed riding down through the olive grove at our first stop at ‘Green Olive’. Here the smell of the café was divine and the warmth inviting. We had the opportunity to sample most of the ‘Green Olive’ range before one of the staff members came over to talk about their wine varieties and offer tastings. Back on the trail it was time for a short trot down the road to our second destination ‘Mock Red Hill’, an apple orchard that has been in the same family since 1895 and certified biodynamic in 1974. Here we were welcomed by the granddaughter of the original owner. Our three hour discovery trail ride went by all too quickly and before we knew it we were heading back through the equestrian centre gates

at the top of the hill overlooking the spectacular property that recently underwent an eight million dollar transformation. Obviously this is no ordinary trail riding centre, the horses are kept in a state of the art facility and their wellbeing and the rider’s safety is at the forefront of Horseback Winery Tours having been recently awarded accreditation by Horse Safe Australia. Overall, I think the three hour Discovery Rides are the perfect introduction for anyone that is nervous around horses, a beginner rider or anyone that likes to go at a pace that allows you to take in the scenery. As an experienced rider I really enjoyed the tour despite only short periods of trotting. I met some lovely people, discovered some brilliant local produce and had a fantastic little companion called Mr Pickles. Next time however I would book an ‘Experienced Adventure Ride’ so we could pick the pace up a little and discover more of the local trails. As far as price goes the three hour tour is $170 and the Adventure rides are from $250. It does sound like a lot of money but having owned horses myself I can say that it’s a very cheap alternative. If you are looking for an enjoyable day out in the country then Horseback Winery Tours comes highly recommended.

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During winter, buy frozen berries, defrost and serve on cereal or mixed through warm, low fat custard. Add yellow and orange fruit and vegetables to the plate, including pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, red capsicum, rockmelon, pawpaw, pineapple, apricot and mango. These foods are rich in vitamin A and carotenoids which are important for maintaining the health of the membranes that block bacteria from entering the body. Other ideas include making a big pot of pumpkin soup, roasting whole sweet potatoes or grating carrot on their sandwiches.

Health It’s that time of year when the cold weather can wreak havoc with your child’s immune system. A healthy diet ﬁlled with powerhouse foods such as vegetables, fruits, lean meats and herbs could be all that’s needed to prevent the winter blues and help little ones stay energised, healthy and alert this winter.

BUSTERS

If your child’s diet is not quite up to scratch he may lack the key vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed for a strong immune system. Encouraging your child to consume a varied diet with foods containing immune boosting properties may help him ﬁght nasty colds and infections that come his way.

***

TUMMY BUGS

24/7

A bout of diarrhoea or gastroenteritis is no fun for any little one and the symptoms of By Kate DiPrima diarrhoea may last longer without a few dietary modifications. Diarrhoea burns the A varied diet including a variety of fruits and vegetables and enough lining of the intestine temporarily reducing the body’s ability to digest protein rich foods such as eggs, lean red meat, poultry, fish and legumes lactose (the sugar found in milk). Remove dairy milk, custard, ice cream is the aim. However, there are some foods with the X-factor that are and some children’s yoghurt (unless they contain a live culture) for at packed with immune-boosting phytochemicals. Add these to the plate to least a few days until the diarrhoea stops. You can replace them with give extra immune-boosting clout. soy milk based products which are lactose free. Most adult yoghurts have a culture added which helps to breakdown the lactose before it is GREEN NOSES purchased, so look for live cultures on the label. Green mucus is a sign there is a bacterial infection which little bodies need to fight. Blueberries, strawberries and other berries which are rich in antioxidants and have an ability to fight bacteria that cause infections.

WHAT IS COLIC? •Colic is a recognised medical term for excessive, ive, frequent crying in infants who appear to be otherwise rwise healthy and well fed. •Medical practitioners do not deﬁnitively understand nd or agree upon the cause of colic but there is research to support a number of contributing factors – including oververstimulation, food intolerances, over feeding, digestive tract ract immaturity and intestinal gas, (to name but a few). •There is also information which suggests that a burp or a bowel movement can end a colicky attack, further supporting the theory that intestinal gas is a contributing factor. •One of the most common contributing factors is still believed to be gastrointestinal discomfort and there is information which suggests intestinal gas and internalised air to be a cause based on symptoms where babies’ belliess often look swollen, feel hard and make a rumbling sound.

This article was produced by closer to nature® to celebrate the launch of the advanced comfort™ range of bottles and teats providing a new comfort for baby and parents. Advanced comfort™ is available exclusively at Babies R Us. Prices start at $9.99 for teats and $14.99 for bottles. Bottles are available in packs of 1, 2 and 6. Teats come in medium and fast flow rates to suit baby’s age. For more information visit: closertonaturebaby.com.au

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

COUGHS, COLDS AND FEVER “Feed a fever, starve a cold” or is it “Starve a fever, stuff a cold”? You

Hint & Tips For Helping Ease Colic Hints Baby! our Ba Your Y In Yo that will deﬁnitely help to ease colic in your There’s nnothing tha are some things that might help: But here a baby. B he-count preparation like Infacol™, Colief™ •over-the-counter •over-th water. or gripee water breastfe breastfeeding, taking care to let your baby drain the •If b breast, before offering her the other one. le bre whole

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hear this common ‘cold’ myth both ways, however science has proved that you neither starve nor stuff either. Drown both colds and fevers in plenty of fluids including water, soups, broths and fresh fruits and vegetables so little ones don’t get dehydrated. As for feeding and starving, colds and fevers often suppress kid’s appetites so the aim is to make every bite count. Lean red meat is a great source of iron, zinc and protein, and provides key nutrients needed to maintain a strong immune system. Meats, chicken, fish, eggs and legumes all provide the building blocks for muscles and repair especially when feverish. An increase in body temperature uses more kilojoules in the day and kids often lose weight when they have a fever. Serve toast fingers with baked beans, avocado or an egg. You can blend up a soup with savoury mince packed with powerhouse vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, baby spinach, peas and corn. If your child turns up his nose at something savoury try serving some brightly coloured (higher levels of antioxidants) chopped fruits with yoghurt containing the lactobacillus culture, a strong immune enhancing bacteria.

QUEASINESS This is a tough one as there are so many reasons why children feel sick in the tummy. Generally they feel much better after vomiting and it is just a matter of trying to keep their fluids up between vomiting episodes. However, if he is not physically sick and may be feeling nauseous due to things such as mucus in the belly then ginger may help. Along with its immune boosting properties, this herb may help relieve nausea. Add a small amount of fresh ginger to meat and vegetables dishes such as finely chopped stir-fries and stews or for a sweet option, bake into muffins, scones or biscuits such as gingerbread men. It will at least put a smile on his face!

WHEEZING AND ASTHMA Another myth is that drinking milk produces more mucus when you have a cold. Studies to date have still not proven this. However we do know that milk and milk-based products stick to the mucus in the nose and throat making it thicker and therefore making it appear that there is more. This can also make it harder to breathe for little ones with a cold, so temporarily removing milky products may give some relief. What we do know is that there are some foods that contain preservatives numbered 220-228, the sulphite family, that can irritate the breathing in some children with asthma. These preservatives are commonly found in many dried fruits, juices and preserved meats such as sausages. Just read the label to identify if the preservative is present.

HEALTH BOOSTERS Children generally bounce back quickly after a cold, cough, fever or infection however their little systems usually take a battering making them more susceptible for another infection to invade, especially in the winter months. Using garlic which is rich in allicin, an antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial agent can give immune systems a huge boost to ﬁght the next round of nasties that comes along. Garlic is nature’s little natural medicine which not only tastes great but does wonders for our health. Add it to dinner meals such as pastas and rice dishes, and include it when cooking rissoles or ﬁsh patties, or send little ones off with crackers and homemade hommus packed with protein and plenty of garlic. Kate Di Prima is a practicing dietitian and adult and infant nutritionist. Kate is passionate about the health of children and is a member of the Little Tummy Tucker team. Read more of her great articles at www.littletummytucker.com.au

Peninsula Speech Pathology Services

Our team of specialised therapists work with you and your child to give them a voice. We are registered with Medicare Private Health Funds and are members of the Better Start and Helping Children with Autism Provider Panels.

Speech, Fluency, Language, Social, Feeding, Literacy

t: 59751500 Mornington Mt Eliza Frankston School Visits www.peninsulaspeech.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

Ask the Experts! My son is eight years old. After visiting our dentist recently, he recommended we seek the advice of a specialist orthodontist. I feel it is too soon. Isn’t he too young to commence orthodontic treatment? What is the optimum age to have a consultation and commence treatment? This is a great question that is asked often by many parents. Timing is a very important factor in early orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic problems your child may be facing is usually evident by the age of seven – this is the age when most children’s first adult molars have already erupted and their upper adult incisors have started to erupt. The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends that children be seen at this age so that an evaluation can be made as to whether they will need orthodontic treatment in the future; and, if not, the orthodontist can monitor the eruption of the child’s permanent teeth as they grow. There are many benefits to seeking an assessment for early orthodontic treatment and these include: 1. Addressing thumbsucking or finger sucking habits. 2. Maintaining space for erupting permanent teeth if a baby tooth has been lost early. 3. Addressing protrusive upper teeth which may reduce the risk of trauma and even helping with self esteem and confidence. 4. Guiding the growth of your child’s jaw. 5. Guiding the eruption of permanent teeth if they appear impacted. 6. Reducing a traumatic bite when lower teeth bite into the upper gum. At your child’s initial orthodontic consultation, an assessment will be made based on how your child is biting; how many adult and baby teeth are present and if they are crowded or impacted. A discussion with you and your child will then be made recommending whether your child requires orthodontic treatment now or later. Another important factor that is taken to consideration is whether your child is

74 Peninsula Kids K – Wi Winter t 2015

mature enough to cooperate with treatment. Apart from the above beneﬁts, early treatment can also make further orthodontic treatment less complicated and of a shorter duration, if required. And in some cases, later treatment may not even be needed. Dr. Andrea Phatouros BDSc (WA), PracCDS MDSc (Ortho) Peninsula Orthodontics (Mornington)

I want to avoid MSG, can I be sure products labelled as ‘No Added MSG’ are actually that? Unfortunately the answer to this is no. This is usually a very misleading statement to consumers. What this means is the manufacturer has not added the additive 621 (Monosodium Glutamate) to the product, it however does not mean there are not other flavour enhancers that have the same or similar health effects to MSG, or that MSG is not in the ingredients in another form. Due to the fact consumers are becoming more aware of products containing flavour enhancers especially 621 (Monosodium Glutamate) or MSG, manufacturers have had to start using products that give them the same effects as MSG but are not readily recognisable to the average consumer. One of the more popular ones is Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, sounds healthy doesn’t it? It is far from healthy and contains high levels of glutamates which are what we are trying to avoid with MSG. It is also in yeast extract which is used in many flavoured potato chips and yes, the popular spread most of us grew up on. These glutamates are often also found in ingredients such as malt extract or natural flavouring. So next time you are looking for MSG free products look for those that do not contain Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP) or yeast extract and you will be a step close to eliminating MSG from your diet. Karen Cardy Owner, Healthy Angels - Foster a Positive Start.

My child’s teacher is concerned that my daughter might have some auditory processing problems. I don’t know what this means. What should I do? Put simply, auditory processing is broadly “What

we do with what we hear”. There are three steps required to understand language: Hearing - We have to be able to hear the sounds and words. Listening - Actively paying attention to what is being said or heard. Processing - What we do with this information. If there is a breakdown in either hearing or listening, processing will be affected. A true auditory processing disorder refers to a primary difficulty with the processing of auditory information. Auditory processing also encompasses a range of listening, attention and memory skills: •Selective attention: Focusing attention on a particular task while ignoring other or others (for example focusing on what the teacher is saying while effectively ignoring distractions such as other children talking or environmental noises) •Divided attention: Focusing on two types of information presented at the same time (for example multitasking in the classroom including LOOK, LISTEN and DO, such as write, touch, etc, at the same time.) •Short term auditory memory: The ability to retain and recall information •Functional/Working memory: The ability to temporarily retain information in order to work through it. In the classroom auditory difficulties can present as difficulty paying attention, poor listening skills, trouble remembering spoken information and carry out complex multi-step instructions, delayed response when providing answers, restricted prereading skills such as identifying sounds in words and poor reading and spelling skills There are many facets to auditory processing so a thorough assessment is important. Sometimes this includes one professional but other times a combination of a speech pathologist, audiologist and psychologist. Depending on the results recommendations are made for the classroom and a program to target specific skills are put in place. Megan Ingram Owner and principal speech pathologist, Peninsula Speech Pathology Services.

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THE SPECTACULAR SEASON OF

SALT

A LOOK INSIDE THE WORLD OF SALT THERAPY

By Melissa Walsh

Ever since the healing atmosphere of salt caves was discovered centuries ago, there has been an unwavering curiosity about the beneﬁts of salt therapies. Even in medieval times, monks would take the sick down into the salt caves to breathe air ﬁlled with salt particles.

“The kids love coming here, and playing in the salt room. We put movies on and have toys there for them,” says Lois. “The best part is seeing the improvement in them in a fairly short amount of time. The kids room is like a playroom and the kids don’t even realise they are having salt therapy.”

Hundreds of years later, salt therapy is being regarded as a wonderful complementary treatment for a multitude of ailments. Even our footballers are using it as part of their sports recovery program.

Salt therapy is a medically proven natural therapy that is designed to relieve congestion, inﬂammation and allergies of the airways and skin, working in conjunction with prescribed medication.

Parents and children are discovering the beneﬁts of this natural therapy as well, with our very own Salts of The Earth now open in Frankston.

“Salt therapy is not an alternative therapy, but a complementary one. It is designed to relieve the symptoms of your condition, allowing for easier management and increasing the effectiveness of prescribed medication,” says Cathy.

Owners, Ken and Cathy opened Salts of The Earth last year, after Ken’s personal experience with the miraculous effects of salt therapy. “Ken had been struck down with a cough for a year, and nothing would help it. He tried courses of antibiotics and then heard about salt therapy. It took away the cough completely and we were both hooked,” says Cathy, who also works in the centre. “We have been amazed at the results we have seen already and the children love it.” The staff at Salts of the Earth are bright and bubbly, and love their work, none more so than centre manager, Lois Greig, who has special treats of lollies and popcorn for the kids.

k c e Ch ou t ! e s e th

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Salts of the Earth has three separate rooms, an adult’s room, children’s room, and private room, and will relieve everything from asthma, hay fever, and bronchitis, to eczema, chest infection, cystic ﬁbrosis, and even snoring. Salts of the Earth is at 241a Beach St, Frankston. Phone 9789 8552. www.saltsoftheearth.com.au

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HELPING CHILDREN WITH AUTISM FUNDING

What next?? Wh

A s soon as Milla was diagnosed with Autism, we were handed the paper work to apply for “Helping Children with Autism” (HCWA) funding. This provides $12,000 to children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder to use on selected therapies and resources, until the age of seven. $12,000. That’s a lot right? It’s also one hell of a responsibility to hand to parents, still shell shocked from an ASD diagnosis. Although you are technically assigned an ‘Autism Advisor’, who talks you through the funding, and what it can be used for, at the end of the day, you are left sitting with access to $12,000 to spend on therapies for your newly diagnosed child, and more often than not, absolutely no idea where to even start. I firmly believe that each family should be assigned a caseworker, someone who you can meet with on a regular basis, who can get to know your child, and their needs, and talk you through the best options of therapy that will suit your particular child’s specific requirements. Until this happens, families are essentially left to fly blind, trying to figure out a system they have been thrown in to while still wrapping their heads around the fact their child has been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Milla was diagnosed with ASD just after her second birthday. A little over two years later we have spent all of our funding, and learnt a lot of lessons. I hope that by sharing what we have learnt along the way, other families can make a bit more sense of a system that can be easily overwhelming at a time when people are at their most vulnerable.

By Jane Flynn

shock of receiving a diagnosis wears off is - YOU know your child best, and you have to advocate for them and their needs. I wasted literally thousands of dollars on a therapy that wasn’t working for Milla. We also wasted a lot of money on ‘social skills’ classes. Milla was only two when we started, the youngest child in the group, and really was far too young to get anything out of them. Again though, in that initial panic at the start, I just jumped on whatever was suggested. I think my one major piece of advice when it comes to choosing a therapist/therapy is there is no rush. Once you receive a diagnosis of ASD, you feel like suddenly life is out of your control, and the only way to can control it again, is by taking action. You’re given what seems like a huge amount of money, and told to go off and ‘ﬁx’ your child. The thing is, you need to give yourself time to actually absorb what is happening. To get your head around the fact that life for your child, and your family, is going to be a little bit different to how you had imagined it. •Take the time to read up on ASD, and different types of therapies. •Make a list of particular issues your child is having right at this moment and prioritise what is most pressing; what is affecting their quality of life the most? This will keep changing as time goes on, new issues will

CHOOSSING TYPES OF THERAPY AND A THERAPIST Take some time and do a bit of research. Don’t be afraid to ‘shop around’ for therapists that suit your child and their needs. I think I went in to a bit of a panic, and just threw Milla in to everything; speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills classes, whatever was offered. I just went through the nearest early intervention centre to us, and with the therapists they offered. I didn’t have enough of an understanding at that point, of what Milla’s speciﬁc needs were. We spent 12 months seeing an OT fortnightly, who, although lovely, wasn’t addressing Milla’s immediate issues. The thing I really regret is not trusting my own instincts, once I realised that she wasn’t working out for Milla. I was afraid to hurt her feelings, and felt awkward about ‘breaking up with her’. I know that probably sounds insane; but those ﬁrst 12 months after diagnosis are an extremely vulnerable time. You feel like you have literally been thrown in to the deep end, and your therapists are the ones holding your head above water. Something you come to realise though, once the

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arise, priorities will change. Try not to think too far into the future. •Try and ﬁnd information on what services are available in your area. Find out if there are support groups locally, or hop on Facebook and search for local online groups. Ask questions - what therapists do people recommend? Remembering of course, what works for one child may not work for yours. •Don’t be afraid to ‘trial’ different therapists. Walk in to your ﬁrst session with the list you made of the most pressing issues your child has currently, so you can start working on objectives and goals right from the start. Trust your instincts. If you don’t feel it is working for your child, then keep looking. Don’t do what I did, and keep forking out $150 a session for something you know is not addressing your child’s needs.

RESOURCES The funding money can also be used to buy resources that may help your ASD child, as recommended by your therapists. Again, I stress, WAIT. Wait until you are settled in with the right therapist. Wait until you have developed clear objectives about what you want to achieve, and how a particular resource can help you reach that objective. It is so easy to get swept up in the moment. Case in point- barely had the ink dried on the official ‘diagnosis’ paperwork, and we were encouraged to buy an iPad for Milla, who was two at the time. Don’t get me wrong, there is a whole stack of research supporting the benefits of iPads for children on the spectrum. Do I think every child with ASD *needs* an iPad? No. Milla loves her iPad, and now that she is a bit older it is a great distraction for her when she is feeling over stimulated. However, if we had of waited a little longer, and really got a clear picture of Milla’s needs, an iPod would have been far more beneficial. As time went on, it became clear that Milla had some fairly serious sensory processing issues; and an iPod and a set of really good headphones would have been a massive help to her when out and about, particularly when it came to walking (my only mode of transport!) along busy, noisy main roads. In my opinion, and others may disagree, resources should only be purchased when there is a direct link between a particular item, and an objective within therapy. I know we spent far too much money on resources that, although Milla loved playing with them, didn’t directly assist her with a given behaviour/issue. Also be aware that different therapists/early intervention centres have different policies around purchasing resources with your funding money. Most will charge an admin fee, which can be anywhere from $5 to $200. Unfortunately I was charged the $200 fee, not having a clue that this was not necessarily a ‘standard’ amount. Again, do your research!

a certain brand, which was one of the most expensive on the market. We ended up just buying her a cheaper trampoline for Christmas, out of our own pocket. Obviously nowhere near as fancy, but still does the exact same job. (Therapy wise for Milla, it was about sensory seeking, and burning off some of that energy that causes her to be constantly moving, wriggling, ﬁdgeting).

THE BIIGGER PICTURE Right at the start I mentioned just focusing on the ‘now’, and not thinking too far in to the future, one step at a time kind of thing. I think this is crucial for that first year post diagnosis. There is so much information to absorb, so many issues to get your head around. That first year is for families to find their feet again. Generally, (and unfortunately) it takes about 12 months for a place to come up within the government funded Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS). Once you are linked in with a service through ECIS, I would take the opportunity to reassess what you can do with your funding, and what you should start thinking about looking forward. There are many ‘School Readiness’ programs run by different services, that vary in price, but can cost up to, and over $1000. Again it’s about doing your research, but it’s something definitely worth thinking about, and ensuring you have funding left over to pay for one of these programs. A lot of therapists are happy to take a break, once you are set up with activities and exercises to carry out at home, and just stay in touch via email, and touching base in person every few months or so. We have found we dip in and out of therapy with Milla, depending on her needs. So we might have an intensive few months of OT every fortnight, then once we’ve developed some strategies to use at home, we have a break for a bit, and focus on another area (speech, psych etc) Or if we are having a smooth patch, just focus on the therapy we receive via ECIS, and day to day skills through childcare, pre-school and play dates. It is seriously amazing how fast the funding, which seems like such a huge amount, can be chewed up in such a short time.

I’m Jane, and I am finding my way from dysfunction, to becoming a domestic goddess . . . or at least a wife, mother and woman I can be proud of. I am a stay at home mum to an adorable and high spirited little lady living on the Spectrum. You can read more of Jane’s stories at www.almostjane.com.au or follow my daily journey at www.facebook.com/almostjane.

Some places also only let you buy select products from certain suppliers, whereas other services allow you to go out and source your own resources (within your own price range) and they will reimburse you once you present the receipt. This is deﬁnitely a better way to go, in my opinion. We were offered the option of buying a trampoline for Milla, however we had to buy

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All Year Round 78

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

O SF JOIN U

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LIFE ON SESAME STREET WITH

ABBY CADABBY & ELMO

What did you like about Austr Australia when you visited here? Abby: ““II remember when I vis visited sited Australi Australia, how magical all the animals are. I lloved oved the wombats and how some of the birds had very log beaks. The cchildren hildren of Australia are so lucky to have such wonderful wildlife and they sshould hould take care of them. theem. I wonder if I could ﬁt into a kangaroo pouch, tthat hat would be fun.” You have lots of visitors on Se Sesame Street. Who do you remember from Australia? Abby: A bby: “We met Naomi Watts and her husband and they were so nice to uus. s. And Hugh Jackmann was lovely, very very tall.”

By Melissa l Walsh lh

THIS YEAR, THE FEATHERED AND FURRY FRIENDS AT SESAME STREET ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 45TH ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA. SESAME STREET’S VERY OWN FAIRY, ABBY CADABBY, AND LOVEABLE ELMO TELL PENINSULA KIDS ABOUT LIFE ON SESAME STREET AND THEIR ADVENTURES VISITING AUSTRALIA. ABBY CADABBY IS THE MAGICAL FAIRY ON SESAME STREET, BUT SAYS THAT MAGIC CAN BE FOUND EVERYWHERE.

Elmo: E lmo: “Hugh Jackmann was very nnice and very talented. I think he might have a good career in television or movies.” You also met the boys from One Direction. What were they like? Abby and Elmo: “The boys from One Direction came to visit and they were very nice. We sang a song about the letter U and it was so much fun.” When was your last visit to Australia? Abby: “Mine was about two or three years ago I think. I remember that lots of people were watching this cooking show and they were down to the last few people and they made this yummy birds nest dessert with lots of sugar and chocolate. Everyone we went to visit made us yummy food.” Speaking of food, what is your favorite food Abby and Elmo? Abby: “Mine is popcorn. Its so amazing and magical how it pops. I also love corn on the cob.” Elmo: “I like wasabi it’s my favorite, it’s so spicy and I like the taste of it with lots of different things or just by itself.” Abby: “The ﬁrst time Elmo had wasabi it was sitting right next to the playdough so maybe that’s why.” What would you like to tell the children of Australia? Abby: “I would like to tell them how magical the animals are. I’m a fairy and so I notice cool things like the wombats and nature coz I spend a lot of time in the forest and in the trees. And all the beautiful marine life too. You are very lucky to have them there they are so beautiful and so magical.”

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

What’s it like living on Sesame Street? Elmo: “Its wonderful as all my family and friends are there.” Abby: “There’s always someone to talk to as well and fun things to do. One of the things we’ve been doing is a lot of chalk art. Somebody starts a drawing and leaves the chalk there for another person to keep going with. And it becomes a beautiful mural. We also have lots of fun picnics and singing and dancing, and story time where you can make up your own story.” Who are your favorite friends on Sesame Street? Abby: “Well Elmo and I play a lot together but I also like to hang out with my girls and do girly things, and have lots of fun fairy time.” Elmo: “Yeah and Elmo loves hanging out with cookie monster too.” What’s Oscar the Grouch like and is he really as grumpy as he seems? Elmo: “Here’s a little secret about Oscar that people don’t know. He has a heart of gold. Everyone thinks his grouchy but you see him do a little smile and you know he’s not.” Abby: “Yeah and if he really was grouchy he would ignore people rather than put his nose into their business and he wouldn’t care but he does.” Could you live anywhere else except Sesame Street? Elmo: “Well travelling is good fun but it’s always nice to come home so I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” Abby: “Yeah I agree. I love going to other places, seeing different customs and cultures, like I love the works of art like the aboriginal art with all the beautiful patterns that have all these little dots on them. It’s really magical and beautiful but I like going home to Sesame Street too.” A lot of children have trouble going to sleep at night. Do you have any advice for them? Elmo: “If you wake up you can get a drink of water or get your mummy and daddy to read you a story at bedtime to get you off to sleep.” How do you stay asleep when travelling to different places? Elmo: “We don’t get jetlag and we are excited all the time. We get tired sometimes but then we go to sleep easily when we are very tired.” Abby: “Yep fairies get tired sometimes too and then we go to sleep easily. We got new pajamas from Peter Alexander and they are wonderful to sleep in. All our friends on Sesame Street got them and they are very comfortable.” Abby, how do the other Muppets react to your magic? Have you ever had any funny things happen?

Have you been to the Furchester Hotel recently Elmo or Abby?

Abby: “It is so funny because Tally and I had a play date and I didn’t bring my wand and he was like “Where’s your wand?” coz he thought we were going to do magic. But I said to him look around, there’s magic everywhere. The world is ﬁlled with magic. We looked around and saw tape is magical and staplers, magical and magnets, magical.

Elmo: “Elmo was there last year and it has everything you could want. There’s a bowling alley, a pool, a jacuzzi. Elmo went to sort out the keys, make the beds and Cookie Monster was meant to be helping me. His job was to do the dining room and customer service. Although he does make a mess sometimes he means well.”

“Sometimes my magic doesn’t go so well, there have been incidents. I accidentally turned Tally into a pumpkin one time and Elmo got my wand and everybody couldn’t stop singing.”

Abby: “I haven’t been there yet but want to visit because I know a lot of fairies in England.”

How do you stay so happy Abby? Do you ever feel sad?

What new things are in store for the 45th season on Sesame Street?

Elmo: “Elmo’s daddy taught him to have positive thinking and that is good.” Abby: “When I went through a tough time a little while ago I realized we have all sorts of feelings and you don’t have to feel happy all the time. I realized you can’t feel sad for too long when you are surrounded by family and friends who love you.”

Abby: “We have lots of fun things happening and fun people to see. Sometimes I feel star-struck but everybody is so nice and they love coming to visit us on Sesame Street. On the new season we will have lots of fun people around and lots of songs and dancing. I really, really like to sing and dance.”

www.peninsulakids.com.au

creative

Making a Mud Kitchen

By Jan White

Guidelines for Crea Creating a Mud Kitchen There is little more important in o our physical world than earth and water things, especially when they interact. Mixing and they are truly intriguing things natural materials has a foundational role soil, water and a range of other nat in early childhood which has deep iimportance and endless possibilities learning.The breadth and depth of what for well-being, development and lea children is truly remarkable. these experiences offer young child quite different to a soil digging patch, Mud kitchens provide something q whilst also being much more easily managed. A mud kitchen includes domestic corner and cooking from indoor elements of the much-loved domes enriched through the special nature of being play, which are then hugely enriche outside. Mud kitchens work well all year round, and need to be seen as a off co continuous provision outside. core element nt o cont n inuous provisi

Mud kitchens do not need to be fancy or cost much. There is nothing to beat the simplicity and character of creating your own unique kitchen from scrounged, begged and discovered items. And remember, the best mud kitchens are made in collaboration with the children who will be using them. CHOOSE THE PLACE The kitchen ne need needs edss a handy and ample supply of the basic materials of sand and/ Offering behaviour or mud. Offeri riinngg bboth othh pr ot provides contrast in colour, texture and mixing behaviou possibilities imaginations. Being sand area â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and many more po poss ssib ibilitie iess fo forr im imagi inat atio ions ns.. Be B ing situated near the sa and n are or mud patch may give the kitchen more context and meaning, but big pots of these access. th heesse basic materials will also be fine, preferably at floor level for ease of access A water su supply upp pplyy is essential, but it does not need to be in the kitchen or even close-by, clos osee-by by, as children child dreen love to fill containers both large and small to transport across a ross to the kitchen for use. Make su ac sure re hhowever owev ow ever er that there are several types of collecting containers for this activity and an ample (preferably running) wate water source, such as an outdoor tap tap, p, water butt or a large container of water. Plant material ingredient mate tteer al is also an important ingr teri red e ient of a good mud kitchen. Lots of robust, pickable pick ckkab a le plants plaant nts spread around the whole outdoor space are ideal.

Mud kitchens that have walls, fences or other vertical surfaces on one or two sides then have potential for hanging pots and utensils on them or for installing shelving, making it feel more kitchen-like and better to use. A corner also creates room-like enclosure that feels cosy and safe, which research suggests is good at generating dramatic play in young children.

This content and photos are reproduced with permission from the MuddyFaces free resources. The document was written by Jan White (www.janwhitenaturalplay.wordpress.com) and produced by Muddyfaces www.muddyfaces.co.uk Visit these sites for more great resources.

Make the space Kitchens can be all sizes, but the size will influence the feel of the place and, therefore, probably the kind of activity that takes place. Room for several children to work alongside or in collaboration seems important. Large, open-plan kitchens may well generate more boisterous themes and actions. A choice of both large and small nook-like kitchens would be ideal in a group setting.

Enclosure from fences and walls or by installing low level boundaries such as wicker fencing (so that children can see over but the space feels enclosed by them) can create a good mud kitchen feel. A roof is not necessary as this would prevent the elements being part of the stimulus and range of experiences. Some kitchens that are in the middle of an open sand/digging area work fine too, but perhaps have less sense of being a special place. In creating some sense of enclosure, it’s important not to separate the kitchen from the rest of the outdoor space. It needs to be easy to get in and out and to see in and out, and it needs to interact with whatever else is going on outdoors. Working surfaces are a crucial element.These need to be at the right height for the children and to provide enough space to work at, with all the mess that creative kitchen work entails. Shelving and cupboards add much to the feeling and functionality of the kitchen. It’s really helpful if each pot and utensil stands out by itself (compared to the jumble of a box full of stuff), and is easy to get at.

Hooks on walls or the front edge of shelves (beware that hooks are not at eye-poking height). Baskets to separate types of utensil can be useful. Finally, consider where all the old mixed material is going to go after use!

find what you need The best mud kitchens, and those which have the most atmosphere and character, are made from found, gathered and donated items – especially when these come from the children’s own families. It’s important not to spend much money – what matters to children is that these things come from the real human world, to combine with the stuff of the real physical world. Handwashing is important after playing in this way, so routines and expectations must be agreed with the children, set up to work easily and adhered to, to embed hand-washing as habitual. The best first stage to this is to establish the routine that children wash up the pots they have used in a large bowl of warm, soapy water!

Fit It Out!

- An old cup board or tw o; a dresser - Work top w is perfect! ith plenty of surface to w - Something ork at. to be the co oker in prete can be effect n d play (an o ive, a very sa olld d microwav tisfying doo buttons to p e r to open and ush). close, and - Shelving ab ove / behind the wo one side. orrk k surface, or a tall cupboa rd to - A good bas ic selection of pots and bakeware et p ans, jugs an c, And a coll d funnels, ection n of Kitch - Plenty of b he en n Utensils. owls and co n tainerrss,, agai ones and a fe n a range of w special on the common es such as je - Supplies of lly moulds or natural mat ice-cube tray erials in that stay atta n small con s. tainers and/o ched are idea r jars (lids l as th - Enhancem hey do not ge ents for suit t lo lost st). ) able occa colourings, assiio ons, on s such as a essences, her se lection of fo bs and spices mixing, and od , chalk for gr ‘special’ ingr in ding and ed ie nts to add th to potions an e finall magic d spells. al touches - A big wash ing up bowl, es pecially one very helpfu sunk into th l as part of th e worktop, is e play an i nd for wash ing up afterw ardss..

By David Hawkins

So. Winter is here. What are you going to do with the kids now that they’re trapped inside and going mental? It turns out that tying them to the washing machine and putting it on spin cycle for six hours is frowned upon (at least, that’s what the police told me). We’re going to need to get a little DAD-CRAFTY!

tool (hole punch & cardboard saw), hinges and connectors. The big upside to these plastic kits is that they can be reused, which allows me to pretend to be an environmental superhero. Plus, ripping apart all of that packing tape when you’re tidying up is just exhausting.

I’ve got some big cardboard boxes and a whole lot of parent-needs-downtime enthusiasm! Let’s whip them into an awesome CARDBOARD BOX MAZE for the munchkins to lose their minds in.

Here are a few builder’s tips to get you cardboard constructing:

Grab these:

• Put the boxes on their side. Join the open bottom of one box to the open top of another. This limits the amount of cutting you need to do and is, well, easier. • Put in at least one corner. A straight tube of cardboard is only fun for so long, but a corner means that hide and seek will make its DIY debut. • Grab a box cutter. An easy way to make a corner is to cut a doorway into the side of one of the boxes and then jam the open end of another box up to it. Instant corner. • Install some light wells. If your box maze becomes quite long it’s also going to get pretty dark on the inside. Fix this by creating peaked roofs. Just join two adjoining box ﬂaps into an A-shape. • Create a Jack-In-The-Box lookout spot. Turn one of your boxes the right

• As many large cardboard boxes as you can find • A couple of rolls of packing tape OR • Makedo ‘Make Anything’ kit I’ve got no blueprint or instruction guide for you here because it’s a go nuts approach that will create the best play-maze. We’re all about connecting the boxes and seeing how many interesting hidey-holes or pop-up areas you can make. Packing tape works the best, as it’s super strong and will battle valiantly against your childrens’ rough and tumble playing. But you can also use a pre-fab construction kit like I did. It comes with a plastic, safe-around-minors

Dance has an enormous amount of beneﬁts to children’s health. It improves your child’s co-ordination, creates lasting friendships in new surroundings and all while boosting conﬁdence, developing motor skills, creating a love of music and most importantly it gives a glow and happiness to our students. DanceStruck has been a part of the dance community for over 20 years teaching the international Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Our teachers are recognised industry professionals and we would love to see you at one of our classes for a FREE trial session!

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

way up so that the open end is on top. Cut a door into one side and join to your maze. This becomes an open-topped place where the kids can pop-up or look around from. • Windows are great for scaring the kids. Although your light wells will provide enough illumination, cut some small windows into the sides of some of the boxes. Sure, it’s cute as all get out when their little cherub faces peek out cheekily, but that’s nothing on how much fun it is to reach in suddenly and grab them. Terriﬁed toddler screams! He he.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

By Helen Carmody

IN PRAISE OF A SLOW CHILDHOOD The slow movement is a whole new way of thinking and acting in response to the ever increasing pace of busy life. It began with the slow food movement that seeks to recapture the lost art of growing and producing food that is cooked with love and care to be enjoyed by friends and family around a table together. Carl Honoré’s 2004 book, In Praise of Slowness, sparked whole new interest in slowing down our lives to connect with each other and savour life through a more mindful approach. There is also a lot to be gained from slowing down the frenetic lives of young children, allowing them time to grow, develop and learn in an unhurried way. Today young children from as young as six months old can spend much of their time travelling from one activity and class to another all aimed at ultimately providing them with the best possible advantages to succeed in later life.

ORDERS

By Stacey Anderson

When you have a baby, everyone gives you advice. Every single day. Even the checkout operator at Coles gives me a serve about what I should and should not be doing to raise my little ones because of course she knows me and my family better than anyone. My favourite from her: “If you want your baby to sleep through the night it’s easy. Just shut the door and walk away.” Nice. Most often, the advice isn’t well received. This is mostly because no one actually knows you or your parenting style or your baby better than you. So it often comes across as patronizing, condescending or simply not relevent. Except for yesterday. Yesterday I had my 6 week post partum appointment with my GP and FINALLY I got some brilliant advice that I think applies to most mums, so I thought I’d share it with you. Here’s what she sad..... Stacey Anderson is the founder of “Little Things in Common”, an online community where you can meet other parents and carers, and discuss all the little things you have in common. www.littlethingsincommon.com.au 86

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Consumerism has crept into the lives of the very young to the point that when you ask a four-year-old what they would like to be when they grow up, it is not uncommon to be told “famous”. Childhood is an inherently valuable stage in a child’ life and not one that is just a preparation for the future. Parenting is tough and every parent today is bombarded with advice and pressure from all angles. Perhaps its time to slow down and have the conﬁdence to do what works best for you and your children. Children thrive, when they are safe, loved and given the time to be themselves.

There is a lot to to be said for nurturing a young child’s development through time to play, time to experiment, to discover, to persist and time to understand their own strengths and talents. The over organised life deprives young children of the chance to learn about themselves and ultimately develop the self esteem so important for later success. Most of all children need time to work out who they want to be rather than who we want them to be. Carl Honoré states that slow parenting is not about

DOCTOR’S

living life at a snail pace but rather regaining balance and quality. He urges parents to enjoy childhood as a journey ﬁlled with fun, love and discovery rather than means to an end. Parenting less can actually help young children thrive.

Helen has been Principal of Toorak College since 2012. Prior to that she was the Head of Learning and Teaching, and Head of the Preparatory School at Kambala in Sydney. Helen began her teaching career in preschool and primary schools and has worked in educational environments from early childhood to year 12.

1 Make a point to laugh every day. If it doesn’t happen naturally, you’ll have to seek it out. Listen to your favourite podcast or watch an episode of your favourite TV show Just make sure you laugh out loud every day. 2 Talk to friends. Good friends. Not those unhelpful friends that make you feel bad about yourself or want to tell you how great their kids are. In fact, talk to your friends who don’t have kids. 3 Go for walks. 4 Eat a LOT of GOOD food all day and night. 5 It looks like you’ve fully healed, which is great. But feel free to tell your husband that you haven’t so he’s not looking for anything for a while.

I PROMISE IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER AND MIGHT EVEN GET YOUR BABY TO SLEEP. 6 Listen to music. Especially when you can’t get your baby to sleep. Go for a walk with the pram and put your headphones in for some background music. Or even better, crank up your favourite song, put your baby in a carrier and DANCE around the living room. They’re both things I love doing with my older child too.

education

Mornington 03 59 761022 | www.paduakindergarten.com.au | info@paduakindergarten.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

TOY

LIBRARY

Children learn through play, its nature’s way of making it fun! It therefore follows logic that toys are children’s tools of the trade. But how do you decide which toys are right for your child? How do you choose something that will keep them occupied and not be discarded after ﬁve minutes of play? And how do you keep up with their rapid rates of development and forever changing interests? Life with three young boys is busy, and comes with lots of toys, clutter and play! Joining a Toy Library towards the end of my eldest son’s ﬁrst year of life was one of the best decisions we made. It has meant that we have been able to access and use a range of toys which has suited each stage of development and play, and try toys when interests and topics have sparked. It means that the push along mower my middle son enjoyed has been used, then returned as the interest waned, no longer cluttering our small house.

TOP REASONS TO JOIN YOUR LOCAL TOY LI BRARY

Save money Access a large variety of toys Great for the environment Avoid storage issues for larg er toys Borrow toys suited to you r child’s current developm ent and interests Try toys before making pur chase decisions for birthda ys etc Many toy libraries hire out ‘party packs’ Meet other young familie s Be a part of your commu nity Story provided by Jude Par

k, Mornington Toy Library .

We also have access to a range of toys for all of their areas of development and interests; imaginative toys for dramatic play, ride-ons and slides, puzzles, dress-ups and water tables, just to name a few. Our toy library membership always proves very useful when we have mother’s group at our house or other friends over to play. For a recent 3rd birthday we borrowed a number of toys to set up for the children to use during the party. We had the ‘roller coaster’, baby play garden, a number of ride-on cars and even additional small tables and chairs. Some toy libraries also offer jumping castle hire. So as we move into the wetter weather, why not consider joining your local Toy Library to engage your child in some fabulous play.

Looking to register with a high quality Family Day Care Service? Bambini are registering new educators in the Frankston and surrounding areas now! Bambini Child Care Services are a High Quality Family Day Care service with a rating of “Exceeding”. Operating on the Mornington Peninsula, we support educators locally to operate their own Family Day Care Business, including a generous start up grant and an incentive referral scheme. Bambini have a reputation for tailoring support to suit each educator, working together to achieve high outcomes. For more information check out our website, or phone and talk to one of our friendly staff.

( ;3(5,(1&( 7+( ',))(5(1&( $7 %/8(%,5' 0251,1*721 Bluebird -ORNINGTON believes in making a difference. Our privately owned and operated centre offers quality care and education from birth to school age at affordable rates. Our skilled educators and premium facilities aim to meet the needs of every child.

Government Approved Kindergarten program with University qualiﬁed teachers focused on preparing your child for school and beyond.

03 9813 5680

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Phone www.bluebirdelc.com

The world renowned teaching methods of Maria Montessori – Montessori Cycle 1 Fostering creative play and gross motor skills

Focus on Education

Piccolos

During the most precious years when your child learns easily

Emphasis on Respect

Core values, manners, social and emotional skills

Highlighting the Love of Learning for the Future By an environment that is stimulating and nurturing

24-26 Malcolm Road, 118 Overport Road, Langwarrin Frankston South Phone 03 9787 9494 Phone 03 9787 6730 to visit our school to visit our school altochildren@bigpond.com piccoloschildren@bigpond.com www.altochildren.com.au www.piccoloschildren.com.au Creating FRQ¿GHQFH

Developing concentration

The Centres are open from 7:30am – 6:30pm Ages 2.5 – 6 yrs

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Piccolos beautiful natural learning environment Developing life skills

Lasting friendships

Learning to read while learning to write Understanding numeracy

Expression through song and dance

Promoting nature and care for its inhabitants

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AT THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR (PARTICULARLY IN RECEPTION/PREP/KINDERGARTEN – WHATEVER YOU CALL THE FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL IN YOUR STATE) PARENTS ARE ALWAYS EAGERLY ASKING HOW THEY CAN ASSIST IN THE CLASSROOM. MANY DUTIES SUCH AS WORKING WITH CHILDREN, OR HELPING IN THE CANTEEN/ OFFICE/LIBRARY HAPPEN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, WHICH OFTEN WORKING MUMS CANNOT DO. BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN BE INVOLVED OUT OF SCHOOL (OR WORK) HOURS.

COLLECT RECYCLABLE AND CRAFT ITEMS TO DONATE TO THE CLASSROOM Ask the teacher if they have a ‘making box’, or if there is anything particular that they need (bottle top lids are great for alphabet letters, various cardboard boxes and tubes are great for design and technology, I use meat trays or other plastic containers for paint).

ATTEND EXCURSIONS Try and ﬁnd out when excursions (and other signiﬁcant events) are booked for and organise a day off so that you can attend. Even if you can’t assist in the classroom on a weekly basis, most working mums can book the odd annual leave day to help out on a class excursion. Believe me – one teacher with 28 children at the zoo is impossible! The more parent helpers – the better!

By Lauren Hunt

CUTTING OUT, LAMINATING, GLUING, SORTING AND OTHER GENERAL LESSON PREPARATION These are quite tedious jobs for the teacher to do, so an extra pair of hands cutting out pictures, shapes, templates or art work is a huge help. And don’t feel that you need to take the whole pile! Even just a few make a big difference.

CONTACTING READERS/BOOKS

WAYS

If the school purchases brand new take home readers, chances are they’ll want them to be contacted to keep them in good condition – this is another really useful job you can do from home. You could also offer to mend any damaged readers or books once a term.

FOR WORKING PARENTS TO HELP OUT IN THE CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEACHER

FIND OUT IF THE SCHOOL OR CLASS HAS A WEBSITE OR BLOG

If you aren’t able to regularly see the teacher before or after school due to your work hours, ﬁnd out their best mode of communication – email, notes in the student diary or phone calls.

We had one this year for Reception and it worked really well. It was a chance for parents to see photos of what the children had been doing at school.

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS Some schools will have evening events scheduled such as parent information nights/interviews, twilight picnics, or Christmas concerts which are other important dates to have in your diary and will keep you in the loop of what’s happening at the school.

BE ORGANISED! There are so many things that happen in a school term – dress up days, special lunch orders, library day, PE day, etc. Keep a schedule, whiteboard or calendar somewhere in your home where you’ll be able to keep track of them all. If you aren’t going to be in the classroom week to week you many not see reminders for such things on the whiteboard, windows or notice boards.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ‘PARENTS AND FRIEND COMMITTEE’ This role will probably only require you to attend a meeting once a term in the evening. You may also be able to become involved with fundraising, barbeques, etc as well as discussing important school issues that affect your child.

SHARE YOUR INTERESTS WITH THE TEACHER If you have a special skills eg cooking or music, organise a mutually convenient time for you to contribute to the class. Or you may have some ‘themed’ resources at home that you would like to lend (eg some interesting sea shells for an ‘Under the Sea’ unit).

Finally, I thought I might mention, if you are able to do the morning drop off before work or the afternoon pick up after work – here are some other ways you might be able to assist in the classroom…Sharpening pencils, cleaning tables, listening to children read take down/put up art work and I’m sure there are many more suggestions that your child’s class teacher can give you.

WE HEART PARENT HELPERS! BEST OF LUCK!

Lauren Hunt has been an Early Childhood Teacher for the past 10 years and lives in Adelaide, South Australia. Now working part time teaching children in their first year of school, she is also mum to a two year old daughter. Lauren blogs at www.teachertypes.com, a place where you will find a multitude of activity ideas for little ones. This article appeared first on www.workingmumscollective.com. Pop in and visit for more fantastic tips for working mums.

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Want to know what’s on for families?

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Hot Arts

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Performances Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts 5+ years | Family (4) $75 the eggscellent adventures of Stripey the emu chick 3-8 years | Family (4) $75 ATA Allstars Ballet Revolución 10+ years | Family (4) $260

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Classes & Workshops Hot Arts for Cool Kids Jungle Safari 4-12 years | $15 First child Michael Jackson Tribute Dance Class 6-12 years | $25 Circus Master Class: Silks / Aerials 8+ years | $30

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Enquiries:

Frankston Arts Centre is a Business Unit of Frankston City Council

www.peninsulakids.com.au

# valuechildhood

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Let’s face it, keeping fit over the winter months takes a lot more dedication and motivation than when the days are long and sunny. With the combination of having young children/ babies, work and all of our other responsibilities it’s easy to let things slide over the winter months especially, but with a little bit of forward planning and goal setting you will be a happier healthier version of yourself and you might even find the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I personally find the benefits of exercising to be significant both for physical fitness and mental clarity. It makes me feel fantastic and I couldn’t imagine not being in the great outdoors running along coastal trails, up mountains or through national parks. Luckily for us on the Mornington Peninsula we are surrounded by beautiful scenery, national parks and beaches that are just waiting for our footprints to be left in the sand. With some great local fun runs/walks coming up now is the perfect time to start training and doing something for yourself that will benefit and inspire your family. Who hasn’t said “I’m going to get fit, run a marathon” or be healthier in general? Whatever your goals are now is the time to do it.

Fit

KEEPING

OVER THE WINTER MONTHS By Lorraine Aitken

Some simple ways of ﬁtting exercise into your busy schedules can be er/ / as easy as run/walking laps of the oval when the kids are at soccer/ aps ps footy practice, using the time kids are in swim lessons to do a few laps yourself, meeting friends for a walk or run instead of a coffee, getting ng up half an hour earlier and doing a workout at home in front of the TV as well as incidental exercise such as walking the kids to school, taking stairs and all the usual things that keep you moving.

On average the department of health recommend adults aged 18-64 years old accumulate 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity each week. When breaking the ﬁgures down over the week its equivalent to walking between 30 – 60 minutes 5 days per week or running 15-30 minutes 5 days a week. Children however need 60 minutes of vigorous activity everyday so getting out there with the kids is a great idea. At the moment the Peninsula is full of personal trainers, gyms and boot camp training which have their place but if you have children and are on a budget then there’s nothing better than just grabbing the pram out of the garage for young children or the bikes/scooters for older children and walk/running 20 minutes on most days and gradually working up from here over the weeks and months. Exercising with your children is not only a fun way to keep ﬁt but it’s also a good way to stay connected with them by having one on one time without distractions. Over time you may want to challenge yourself a little further and take part in the Mornington Peninsula Park Run held at the Hastings foreshore every Saturday at 8am. Park Run is a timed 5 km off road run that is aimed at beating your own P.B (personal best) time. It’s a great way to push your own limits and to stay motivated during the cooler months. Park run is free to participate in and you simply need to register online and print out the barcode to take along on the morning.

Some events to aim for on the peninsula include: * Devilbend Fun Run is on 9th August 2015 and offers three options with a 5, 10 and 21km event as well as sack races for under 10 year olds. More information can be found at www.devilbend.com *Mornington Running Festival on the 5th and 6th of September which is a supporter for Beyond Blue and includes a 1, 5, 10 + 21km option as well as a primary school challenge. For more info visit: www.morningtonrunningfestival.com * If you want a bit more of a challenge then try out Muddy Hell 2015 on the 4th of July @ Peninsula Obstacle Course which has a 7km course with 50 obstacles to conquer and also a kid’s challenge. For more info visit www.muddyhell.com.au * For something more serious there is the 30/50 Team Challenge scheduled for August 2015 after a year’s break due to the Hooded Plover’s breeding season. The challenge sees individuals and teams run entirely on trails and ocean beaches over 30 or 50kms within the Mornington Peninsula National Park. At the time of writing no date has been confirmed except that it will be in August. Keep an eye on the 30/50 Team Challenge Facebook page for updates. Tomorrow is today, so it’s time to start making small changes to be a healthier, happier version of yourself and setting some achievable goals that you and your family can enjoy together. Please remember to visit your health care provider if you have any health concerns before starting any vigorous exercise.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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10 MINUTES FOR ME

By Erika Atwill

Ten minutes a day. That’s what I have decided to give to myself. It might not sound like much, but I know those precious minutes are going to be the best thing for me. Last week, I started on this journey by downloading some lovely meditations created especially for mums and reconnecting with myself for just a few minutes before the craziness of school pick up and activities.

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I was amazed how I felt afterwards. My children greeted a calm and centred mum who was ready to listen to their stories and enjoy the rest of the day with them. I couldn’t believe the difference as some days I am just so tired by the afternoon. On the weekend, I was ever so tired after making dinner and cleaning up. I told my girls I just needed 10 minutes, so I sat down, popped in my ear phones and listened to another meditation. I felt refocused and so much better afterwards, ready to tackle the evening ahead. Some days I feel that everyone wants – and gets – a little piece of me, everyone except me.

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Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

I spend time with my girls, talk with them about their days, help them with their homework, ferry them to and from after school activities. I keep the house clean and tidy, wash our family’s clothes, make dinner. I try to ensure my husband and I have some time to ourselves to nurture our relationship. In a few short weeks we’ll be adding another little girl to our family so in the back of my mind I know my time will be spread even thinner. Don’t get me wrong, I love every minute I spend with my family. The decision I made over six months ago to leave my work to focus on my family has been the best decision I ever made. I feel ever so lucky to be in this position. So sometimes having these thoughts actually makes me feel a little selﬁsh and guilty. Yes, I have my blog to keep my writing and creativity ﬂowing – I totally love it and am grateful

for this opportunity. But still the question comes up in my mind – what do I do to nurture and truly connect with me? So for just 10 minutes a day I’m going to give myself that time. It might not seem like much but it’s the opportunity to embrace a few moments of today, reconnect and give myself the attention I deserve. Whether it be through a short guided meditation and relaxation; sitting down and enjoying a cup of tea or coffee without interruption; a short sequence of yoga poses; soaking my feet in the foot spa and enjoying the warmth and relief; going for a short walk around the block and taking in the fresh air and sunshine; reading a book and noticing the turn of each page; writing in my gratitude journal; even just moisturising my hands or body and savouring the touch and breathing in the fragrance. Some time to enjoy the simple things. No rushing. No over-thinking. Just being. In time, I hope to increase this time by heading back to my hatha yoga class, enjoying some more exercise, reading, writing, or whatever it may be. But for now it’s 10 minutes a day. Just for me. What do you do just for you?

I’m Erika, a proud red-head and mum to three beautiful children and a crazy chocolate labrador! I recently made a major decision to leave my full-time job to spend more time with my family. Welcome to my blog where I share my personal and parenting journey as I experience life with a new set of expectations and hope to connect with other parents along the way. I hope you can join me at www. everchangingmum.com.au

S E I M M MU When she donated her son’s leftover newborn nappies to a local charity, Langwarrin mum Donna Cartwright had no idea where it would lead her. Thanks to that simple act of kindness the busy mum of Molly (6) and Bailey (2) is now the donations and volunteer co-ordinator of Mums Supporting Families In Need (MSFIN) which provides quality secondhand goods to families undergoing hardship. Founded in 2012, MSFIN is a not-for-profit charity which relies on donations to provide cots, prams, car seats, clothing, linen, toys, toiletries and food to more than 30 agencies who support families in need throughout Victoria. To date it is estimated that the peninsula-based charity has provided more than $350,000 in aid to Australian families. For Donna, joining the MSFIN family has given her a “real sense of purpose and value”. “That might sound cheesy, but I came on board when my two-year-old son was newborn, and I felt like I had nothing to contribute to society. MSFIN gave me something meaningful to do. We don’t meet the recipients of our aid in general, so we do what we do without looking for the thanks. Also from an organisation viewpoint, I love that MSFIN doesn’t let red tape affect our assistance. We have rules, but we bend them when we need to, and I think that is so important in an organisation such as ours. “We only work with agencies, never directly to the public. We leave the assessments to the professionals, as we are not social workers. That way, the requests are genuine, and we just provide the material aid. “We’re just a group of mums trying to make a difference. We are all volunteers who give our absolute heart and soul to this amazing cause. Also, due to needing to comply with current Australian safety standards, we often have to say ‘no, thank you’ to items we’re in need of. This isn’t because we’re being fussy: it’s because every child deserves complete safety, and we have insurance requirements we must adhere to, to maintain quality control.” Donna, who also works part-time as a bookkeeper and is studying part time to be a primary school teacher, said the charity supports agencies who deal with people undergoing a wide-range of issues. These include domestic violence situations, at-risk pregnancies, drug and alcohol addictions, those who are homeless or in insecure accommodation, refugees and new migrants, foster agencies, families with children who have additional needs as well as those suffering a severe financial crisis. “A few orders I have always remembered included a request for a young refugee child who needed clothing as he had been accepted into his first kinder program. I’m not sure why that has stuck with me, but I can just imagine a proud little man, beginning to adapt to his new and safe environment. [Another was] a family who were working with DHS to get custody of their child back who required everything to support that child for the next three years. We have [also] been asked on a few

D E E N N I S E I B A B By Michelle

McCulloug

CALL FOR

HELP

If you’ve got a shed full of old prams, clothes or linen that are in desperate need of some love and attention then why not consider donating them to Mums Supporting Families In Need? Here are the Top ﬁve things on the charity’s waitlist right now. Please note all items must be in good condition and adhere to Australian safety standards.

COTS SINGLE AND DOUBLE PRAMS CAR SEATS CHILDREN’S CLOTHING FROM SIZE FIVE UPWARDS NON-PERISHABLE FOOD

occasions for items like sporting equipment such as a bike to support parents reconnecting with their children when they have fled domestic violence. The requests are always so humble. We are never asked for anything that’s not something most us take for granted.” When asked what her proudest moment was, Donna said it was successfully getting the organisation’s food pantry of the ground. “People can wait for toys, books and linen. They can’t wait for food if they’re hungry now.” However, the biggest issue for the group was maintaining their levels of stock as their waitlist increases, Donna said. To help keep MSFIN going the group are always on the lookout for volunteers for their Seaford warehouse, and donations of good-quality and safe items that can help families in need. “People should get involved because we offer flexible and friendly volunteering opportunities, with no commitment required. It is a wonderful opportunity to give back to your community, and donating your unwanted items is a wonderful feeling.” For more information on Mum’s Supporting Families In Need check out their website at www.msfin.org.au or search for Mummies and Babies in Need on Facebook.

Michelle McCullough is a journalist, mum of two, amateur photographer and, when she has time, a meerkat enthusiast. She lives in the eastern suburbs and spends her days trying to find new and fun ways to keep her two little monkeys entertained. www.peninsulakids.com.au

Books

Reviews False Note by Susannah McFarlane, 8+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99 When priceless violins are stolen, SHINE suspects evil agency SHADOW is orchestrating something big. Special Agent EJ12 and the STAR team must work in concert to ﬁnd out what. But that’s the easy part – as EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything – so why is doing her school project so hard? Book 19 in Australia’s most popular adventure series for young girls, EJ12 Girl Hero.

Little Barry Bilby had a fly upon his nose + CD by Colin Buchanan, 3+yrs, Scholastic, h/c, $19.99 Poor little Barry Bilby and all his Aussie animal friends are being irritated by bizzy buzzy bush bugs! What can they do to stop the itchy twitchy teasers? Find out while singing along to the tune of Little Peter Rabbit with the bonus CD performed by Colin Buchanan.

Me and Moo

Wheelnuts! Space Mash

by P. Crumble, 4+yrs, Scholastic, h/c, $24.99

by Knife & Packer, 7+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99

Moo lives under my bed, and at night he eats Mum’s ﬂowers from the backyard. Meet me and Moo. Sometimes new friends can be found in the most unexpected places . . .

Buckle up for Wheelnuts! the craziest race on Earth! A face paced, hilarious story featuring zanny characters and outrageous racetracks. The bright, appealing and funny full-colour illustrations throughout help appeal make it a perfect book for the reluctant reader. Includes super-fun poster racing game to enjoy after 96pages of reading are conquered!

A funny tale of an unlikely friendship between a young boy and a cow. Perfect for children making their own discoveries about how fun friends can be and beautifully illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom.

Our Love Grows

My Holocaust Story: Hanna

Dear Mum, I Love You

by Anna Pignataro, 3+yrs, Scholastic, h/c, $16.99

by Goldie Alexander, 11+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99

by Ed Allen, 4+yrs, Scholastic, h/c, $16.99

Pip is an adorable, roly-poly little panda, who is playful and curious. His Mama explains to him how he will grow, just like the world around them. You will fall in love with this beautiful story and this adorable new panda pair from one of my favourite children’s authors, Anna Pignataro.

Hanna Kaminsky loves gymnastics, her best friend Eva, Elza’s chicken soup with dumplings and reading. But in September 1939 the happy life that Hanna has always known disappears. Marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, this story introduces the Holocaust and its importance and impact to young readers.

Dear Mum, Ever since I could walk, my favourite place in the whole wide world has been anywhere you are. I love you.

Peninsula Kids – Winter 2015

Open the real letters and lift the ﬂaps to read all the cute letters written to these animal mums. Kids can write their own ‘Dear Mum’ note on the blank letter and envelope inside.

Kerenza: A New Australian by R. Hawke, 8+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $15.99 Kerenza isn’t sure about leaving her village in Cornwall and taking a ship to Australia, but she can be brave for her da’s sake. Where he sees a farm, she and her mam see endless bush and ﬂies – millions of them – and hard work from dawn to dusk. It’s almost too much to bear, but the Mallee has its own beauty, and family and new-found friends might just make it her home.

Ella and Olivia: Spelling Superstar by Yvette Poshoglian, 5+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $7.99 Ella and Olivia are sisters. Ella is seven years old. Olivia is ﬁve-and-a-half years old. They live with their mum and dad and little brother Max. Ella is excited to be going on her favourite TV show – can Olivia help her being a spelling superstar? Perfectly pitched to the 5+ reader with large font and lots of sweet illustrations.

Spirit Animals: The Evertree

Those Pesky Rabbits

by Marie Lu, 8-12yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99

by Ciara Flood, 3+yrs, Koala Books for Scholastic, h/c, $24.99

Conor, Abeke, Meilin and Rollan were once ordinary kids. Then they discovered that they had spirit animals – wise and powerful partners who granted them with amazing gifts, and a legendary responsibility. Together, the team had journeyed across Erdas, racing to stop a merciless foe. Now that journey is about to end. They must reach a place forgotten by time or the whole world will shatter.

All Mr Bear wants is to be left alone, but his rabbit neighbours just don’t get it! They keep on asking annoying things like can they borrow honey, or does he want to swap books. When grumpy refusals don’t work, he decides to scare away those pesky rabbits. Can kindness make Mr Bear see it’s time for a change?

One lucky reader will win a prize pack of all the reviewed books valued at more than $150. To enter, visit www. peninsulakids. com.au/ giveaways

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Go to w www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways to WIN one of these fabulous prizes. www.peninsulakids.com.au

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