Family Times - Dunedin - Summer 2016

04

The art of compromise Why it’s so important for kids

06

Getting kids school ready Tips to make sure your child is prepared

New Zealand's leading parenting resource

12

Choosing sunscreen How to best protect your littlies' skin

www.familytimes.co.nz

08

Win Win Win Competitions, giveaways and kids’ games

Win with Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/familytimesnewzealand

ISSN 2324-450X (Print) ISSN 2324-4518 (Online)

DUNEDIN / ISSUE 70 / Summer 2016

DUNEDIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES SUMMER READING PROGRAMME

BOARDING PASS Passenger

Curious Explorer Departure Airport

Pick up your booklet from City Library, Otago Museum or UBS Destination

Reach your reading goal Departure Date

Saturday 17 December 2016 Arrival Date

Tuesday 31 January 2017

You better watch out.

You better not cry.

Santa’s pixies are back in town.

PIXIE TOWN OPENING HOURS

9 – 25 December 2016 • 10am – 12noon • 1pm – 4pm

COME AND VISIT SANTA 10 –11 December, 17 – 24 December • 10am – 12noon • 1pm – 4pm

You can also make something Christmassy or try on the Pixie dressups!

MUSEUM OPENING HOURS

Open 7 days 10am – 5pm 31 Queens Gardens P: 03 477 5052 www.toituosm.com

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CELEBRATe CHINESE NEW YEAR YEAR OF THE ROOSTER

28 JANUARY 2017 FREE ENTRY

DUNEDIN CHINESE GARDEN Cnr Cumberland & Rattray Streets – Otago Settlers Museum) (beside Toitu www.dunedinchinesegarden.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Contents

Summer 2016

0 4 The art of compromise

Why your kids need to learn compromise from an early age.

6 Getting kids school ready

Preparing littlies is key to new challenges.

12 Sunscreen tips

Spray or cream, natural or chemical?

We’ve got family sunscreen tips.

04 Resource information 7 7 10 11 12

School Term Dates Spirit of Christmas Calendar of events Entertainment Help is at hand

Kids’ Time 8 Puzzles and competitions

Welcome! ’m always excited about our December issue. We get to write about Christmas, summer and barbecues in addition to parenting, and it always helps get me in the mood for holiday season. Throw in a few seed lights and some holly, and I’m a happy camper!

I’d like to take a bit of a diversion from my normal editorials this time, though, if you’ll permit. I usually pen my thoughts on Christmas being about family, about our main parenting article and all the exciting competitions we have. This time, however, I’d like to focus on the importance of taking a holiday.

When I say holiday, I don’t necessarily mean booking flights and slipping the family away to an exotic European destination. Of course that’s wonderful if it’s in your budget capabilities, but for many kiwi families, taking a break consists of pitching a tent and enjoying a change of scenery wherever they can.

For some it’s enjoying a home vacation where they get out and explore around their city and surrounding areas on day trips. It all depends on what’s possible for you and your family.

What is important is that you take a break from the mundane, everyday tasks, unplug from the craziness and give yourself a chance to replenish your diminished energies. In a word, rest.

Rest can be an enigma to parents, especially if you’ve got small children who depend on you 24/7. But someone

I

0

reminded me recently how necessary rest is to our ability to function well.

We all know that it’s impossible to look after others if we don’t first look after ourselves, but few of us are good at actually doing that.

Rest isn’t selfish, but it does take some serious planning and vehement guarding to ensure that it happens. Downtime is usually the first thing to go in our busy, over-scheduled lives. But to be better parents, better people, and accomplish our goals, we have to learn that our bodies and souls need rest.

There’s no better time to rest than during summer holidays. I’d like to encourage you to think about how to create a restful holiday for yourself and your family. And while you’re on that break, plan a way to incorporate regular rest into your week when you return to all the craziness.

In the meantime, I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all the staff at Family Times.

Enjoy!

vanessa

06 Tell us on Facebook

12 PUBLISHER Robyn Willis

facebook.com/familytimesnewzealand

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Sally Travis

MEDIA EXECUTIVES Nicky Barnett, Amy Pawson, Lynda Strowger, Gail Cropp

ADVERT PRODUCTION Target Press Production Office

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Corrin Prebble

OFFICE MANAGER Raelyn Hay

EDITOR Vanessa O’Brien

Reach us at: Family Publishers (NZ) P.O. Box 36-004, Christchurch 8146.

Ph 03 355 9186 Freephone 0800 285 510 Mobile 0274 359 414 admin@familytimes.co.nz www.familytimes.co.nz Distribution: Printed and distributed quarterly approximately two weeks before each major school holiday.

12,711 are circulated through early childhood centres, primary and intermediate schools, The Dunedin City Event Shop, selected medical and midwifery premises and McDonalds Restaurants.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not those of the publisher unless indicated otherwise. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the publisher. Family Times is not responsible for unsolicited material.

Family Times is funded and published solely through the support of its advertisers.

They support us, so please support them.

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FEATURE STORY

The art of compromise The ability to compromise is one of the most powerful skills to foster in young children, and they learn it first from parents. ou may remember your first power battle with your child.

Maybe it was over bed time, a cluster bomb of mashed carrots that they launched from their high chair or flatout refusal to wear a green hat because the pink one was in the wash. Whatever it was, a battle of wills begun, and your reaction likely started you on a parenting style that you would unwittingly continue.

Are you the parent who dug their toes in to win, whatever the cost, the parent who capitulated for the sake of peace, or the parent who took a moment to consider whether the battle was an important one in the overall war?

It’s not a perfect analogy, given that setting boundaries for young children is different to parenting an older child, but it may give you an idea about your own approach to compromise.

Y

Parenting style

Your parenting style is likely highly influenced by your own upbringing.

Maybe you had authoritarian parents who believed that their primary job was to bend your will to theirs, or perhaps you had permissive parents who provided few guidelines and rules. Maybe you had authoritative parents who had high

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expectations but provided the emotional support to meet them. Whatever your experience, you’re likely to either unwittingly mirror it or consciously decide to parent differently.

It’s important, every now and then, to think about how you are consciously or unconsciously parenting. If you find

yourself digging a trench around an unimportant issue or avoiding confronting your child, you are teaching them about conflict and compromise.

Kids also learn about how to negotiate and compromise in a relationship through their parents’ relationship with each other.

The Purdue University Provider-Parent

Partnerships Programme advises that if you and your spouse disagree about how to redecorate the house, don’t “start yelling at one another about why wood floors are better than tile and how he just doesn’t get it because he’s closedminded. Instead, show your children that you can disagree respectfully by calmly

FEATURE STORY discussing the pros and cons of your ideas and your concerns with the other’s view of what you want. Then come up with a compromise. Your kids are much more likely to grow up treating others with respect if they see you doing the same thing.”

What is compromise?

Compromise is the ability to make concessions or adjust your position or opinion to reach a settlement or an agreement.

Some parents don’t compromise with their kids, ever. But The Parenting Place presenter and author John Cowan says that you’ve got to be ready to negotiate with kids as they get older.

“As kids move into the school-age years, rules should be negotiable. If your rules are fair, and you are fair, you won’t mind talking about them. The willingness to negotiate comes from being comfortable with your authority, not weakness.”

It is the rule that is being negotiated, not your parental authority, he continued.

“It is insecure parents who shout, “Just do it because I said so!” A good response is always, “Convince me”. If they can actually put together some good reasons why your rules could be modified, then why not agree and modify the rule.”

When not to compromise with your kids

This doesn’t mean that everything is up for negotiation. Sure, changing bedtimes, screen time, a chore schedule or when it’s okay to have friends over is okay, but

values and principles should be taboo.

They may include things such as use of expletives, tell untruths or stealing.

In other words, kids need to learn that compromise and negotiation do not mean surrendering something immeasurably valuable just to obtain peace. The way that you model compromise in your relationship with them will help them to know the value of principles as well as their own value.

“If you find yourself digging a trench around an unimportant issue or avoiding confronting your child, you are teaching them about conflict and compromise.”

Teaching compromise

Kids first learn about compromise and negotiation through play, and it’s often sibling rivalry that starts the ball rolling.

Your kids both want the same toy at the same time. They cannot agree on which movie to watch. You would like your daughter to dress nicely for a fancy restaurant, but she insists on her jeans.

Your son wants to go to the beach, despite the family’s plan for a bike ride.

When you get to the car, both want the front seat.

These are very common struggles, but knowing that doesn’t reduce the stress

you feel. More importantly, you would like your kids to be able to traverse such situations on their own.

Personality has a big part to play in how your kids react to conflicting demands. Perhaps your son is confident and forthright and will argue ‘til the cows come home, and your daughter will give up her toy completely because conflict is uncomfortable for her. Or maybe your daughter is bossy and will tell her brother what game they are going to play and how, and he goes along with it because he’s happy on the path of least resistance.

But kids become adults, and adults need to know how, and when, to compromise. Just think of all the obligatory things you do because you “should,” or how hard you find it to say “no” to someone else’s demands. Or think of the pushy people you despise because they are unbending in their demands.

That’s why teaching a healthy approach to compromise is essential.

1It’s healthy to argue

We often shut kids down from arguing.

Teach kids to argue in a productive way by learning to negotiate their position.

They want to stay up late to watch a show? Let them formulate a solid argument as to why they should be allowed. They need to identify what they want, why they should receive it and what they are willing to give in return. If it’s convincing, be negotiable.

2Win-win

This means that both sides need

to be prepared to give something up in order to achieve what they each want.

Two kids who want the same toy can split the time or play together with the toy, or the child who chooses the movie today has to sit through their sibling’s movie tomorrow. If only one party sacrifices, there will be ongoing hard feelings.

3Empathy

Kids grow up very self-aware, but developing an awareness of the wants and needs of others takes time. When your kids are in an argument, encourage them to stop and think about the other person’s point of view: how does what they want affect the other? How might the other be feeling?

Learning to compromise is a skill that does require practice. Kids need adults to help them remove emotion from a situation so that compromise is possible.

Once helped to see both sides, kids are quick to accept mutual concession and then forgive and forget.

But what about when there is no adult around, when no mediator serves as the facilitator of dialogue? Do kids respond with closed fists or open handshakes? It depends on how well they learned the art of compromise and internalised its importance. It is often the difference between a child who has lots of friends and is the centre of many social circles and the child who is isolated, angry, and lonely. People want to be around others who are friendly and kind, and who make getting along easy. Ones who can compromise tend to be those people.

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GETTING KIDS

school-ready chool is such a big part of a child’s life, and adjusting to a school environment or a new school is a big deal. Some kids will take it in their stride and other kids will be anxious, as with everything in life. Here are some ideas to help make the transition easier:

S 1

Visit the school in advance. If your child is a new entrant, most schools allow pre-entrants to join the new entrants’ class for a few afternoons a week in the lead up to their starting date. This will help your child become comfortable with their new surrounding, their new teacher and their classmates before they start full time.

2

Meet the teacher one-on-one.

Introduce your child and yourself, and spend a few moments getting to know each other. Your child’s teacher is going to be a big part of their life for the next year.

3

Shop for school supplies together.

Paper and pencils, erasers, calculators and crayons. Get a stationery list from your child’s teacher and go on a special shopping trip. Let your child pick some of their own school supplies in honour of this new step in their education.

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Your child may be starting school for the first time, moving on to middle school/intermediate or high school, or may be changing schools. How do you get them ready?

4

Reassure your child. Spend time together talking about what they can expect from school, about what will be expected of them, and about your positive school experiences.

5

Talk with your child about their course choices if they are starting higher level education. These choices have consequences down the track for future careers. Although your child will likely want to make some independent choices, your wisdom and guidance is especially needed to help them keep future options open.

6

Go together to fit-out and purchase a school uniform for your child’s new school, and preferably earlier than later. Having the uniform in their room for a while is a good way for your child to get used to (and build excitement for) the idea of a new school.

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Brainstorm together for ways to help your child build new friendships, especially if they are shy. Teachers of new entrant classes are particularly good at helping your littlie adjust and make new friends, but not necessarily so for older kids. Have a chat with your child’s new teacher if they struggle to be outgoing and make new connections, and ask them to facilitate a little.

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Stick to a solid home routine, especially for the first few months of your child’s new school experience. While everything is changing around them, it’s essential that they feel the comfort, security and constancy of a predictable home environment.

9

Go to your child’s school events, get to know other parents and get involved if time allows. Building relationships with other parents can help your child get to know other kids in their class.

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Be patient: your child will adjust in time. Expect a few ups and downs, and keep conversation open about how things are going.

Spirit of Christmas It’s that time of year to deck the halls and get into all the wonderful festivities that the Christmas season has to offer. Looking for some Christmas activities and events? Here are a few in your area to get you started:

8, 10 & 14 December

● Christmas Carols: Dunedin Harmony Chorus. Their Christmas repertoire is a mix of traditional carols, poignant ballads and swinging seasonal songs—all with that special barbershop sparkle! Visit www. dunedinlibraries.govt.nz for times, dates and libraries.

8 – 22 December

● Moana House Annual Christmas Tree Fundraiser. Wilding Pine Christmas trees priced from $10. Sales run daily, weather can impact availability. Phone: 03-477-0842 or visit Moana House, 401 High Street, Dunedin.

9 – 24 December

● Pixie Town. Free admission to visit Santa each day from 10am – 12pm and 1 – 4pm. From $15 to have a photograph taken. Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin. Visit www.toituosm.com.

9 – 24 December

● Crafty Christmas. Make Christmas cards and decorations from recycled and craft materials. Try on Christmas dress ups and wind down after Christmas

shopping while the children play. From 10am – 5pm. Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin.

Visit www.toituosm.com.

16 December

● Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. City Choir Dunedin and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra are pleased to perform Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, a cycle of cantatas unified by the Christmas story. At 7.30pm.

Dunedin Town Hall. Visit www.citychoirdunedin.org.nz.

17 December

● The Beach Market Dunedin – A Very Merry Christmas. This event hosts more than 60 retail and craft stalls and includes amazing foodies and top notch vintage and second-hand stalls. From 10am – 3pm, Forbury Park Raceway, Victoria Road, St Kilda, Dunedin.

25 December

● Dunedin Community Christmas Dinner.

This free Christmas Day meal at Dunedin Town Hall is hosted by Acts of Kindness Charitable Trust, for people alone on Christmas Day or unable to provide for themselves. Sign up: connectsouth.org.nz.

8 – 24 December

● Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal. Spread Christmas cheer by filling in the details on a Wishing Tree gift tag and attaching it to a new, unwrapped gift. Gifts placed under a Wishing Tree will be distributed by The Salvation Army. At all Kmart stores.

GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

BY GIVING THIS YEAR, AT KMART’S WISHING TREE.

SCHOOL TERM DATES 2017 primary and intermediate school term dates

Term 1, 2017 Between Monday 30 January and Tuesday 7 February to Thursday 13 April Term 2, 2017 Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July Term 3, 2017 Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September Term 4, 2017 Monday 16 October to no later than Wednesday 20 December

2016 - 2017 secondary and composite school term dates Term 1, 2017 Between Monday 30 January and Tuesday 7 February to Thursday 13 April Term 2, 2017 Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July Term 3, 2017 Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September Term 4, 2016 Monday 16 October to no later than Thursday 14 December Remaining public holidays 2016 25 December Christmas Day 26 December Boxing Day

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KIDS' TIME Welcome to Kids’ Time at Family Times.

Enjoy the fun activities and competitions. For competitions, enter online by visiting www.familytimes. co.nz and click on the competitions link.

Looking for some rainy day activities for your children?

Click on the For Kids section on our website for answers and for further activities your children can print out and complete.

36 EVENTS NATIONWIDE

BOXING DAY — 11 FEBRUARY 2017 Interislander Summer Festival offers a great family day at the races with plenty of free kids entertainment, spot prizes and live music. We take care of all the planning so you can just pack a picnic, turn up and enjoy the day — no stress, no worries!

YOUR SPOT NOW! BOOK

theraces.co.nz

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Design competition This edition, we want you to design a monster for us. Design, draw, paint or collage your ultimate monster! When you’re done, send us your picture and be in to win one of five Monster Trucks packs! Monster Trucks is rated G, in cinemas 12 January 2017.

Three entry age groups: preschool (ages 1-4), 5-8, 9-12.

Create your design on an A5 sheet. Post in to PO Box 36 004, Christchurch 8146. Competition closes 29 January 2017.

Congratulations to our design competition winners from our spring issue. They are: 5 to 8-years Stella Sharpe from Heathcote Valley in Christchurch 9 to 12-years Celeste Waterman from Wadestown in Wellington.

Hot Wheels® Sky Shock™ RC

Make it epic with the new Hot Wheels® Sky Shock™ RC and Hot Wheels® Criss Cross Crash™ boosted track set. Perfect for young adrenaline junkies! Mattel is giving four lucky Family Times readers the chance to win 1 x Hot Wheels® Sky Shock™ RC and 1 x Hot Wheels® Criss Cross Crash™ boosted track set. To enter, please visit the competitions page on the Family Times website. Competition closes 29 January 2017.

ZURU Micro Boats speedy prize pack

Get ready for some epic speed boat racing action with ZURU Microboats! Speed through the water in four directions and do 360° doughnut turns. With micro-robotic sensor technology, hit a wall and reverse. Collect them all! We are giving a lucky reader the chance to win one of these: a prize pack (Micro Boat Racing Playset, includes two boats and Micro Boat individual 1pk, assorted selection). To enter, please visit the competitions page on the Family Times website. Competition closes 29 January 2017.

KIDS eat FOR $7 When dining before 7pm over the school holidays.

SING

Illumination Entertainment presents SING, a musical comedy about finding the shining star that lives inside all of us!

To enter to win an amazing prize pack, including movie tickets, please visit the competitions page on the Family Times website. SING is rated G, in cinemas from 9 December 2016. Competition closes 15 December 2016.

WWW.LONESTAR.CO.NZ 484 George Street | 03 474 1955

Ts & Cs: Child must be 12 years and under and ordering from the Kiwi Kids Menu. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Mention this ad to redeem offer.

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COOL ACTIVITIES

Calendar of Events Finally – the premiere season for fun family events is upon us. So check out these great family entertainment ideas as you soak up those summer days, and for more event and entertainment ideas, visit www.familytimes.co.nz and enjoy our large, family-friendly resource.

Now to 29 January

● Gold Trail. Pick up the gold trail at the front counter and discover your way through Otago’s gold mining history this summer. Fun for children of all ages.

Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin. Visit www.toituosm.com.

10 to 11 December

● Dunedin Flute Festival 2016. Calling all flute players! Workshops, flute choir, guest performances. All ages and abilities are welcome. Balmacewen Intermediate, 44 Chapman Street, Wakari, Dunedin. Email: dunedinflutefestival@gmail.com to register.

11 December

● Rasa Show 2016. Want to join a dance class but don’t know where to begin?

Come to the show and be inspired by the students’ hard work, talent and love of dance. Cost $5–$17, 6pm Regent Theatre, 17 The Octagon, Dunedin. Visit www.regenttheatre.co.nz.

14 December

● McDonald’s Super Smash Otago Volts vs Knights. This is cricket on the edge.

Experience the colourful crowds, the fun, the big shots, the family entertainment and the best of summer.

From 5pm–8pm, University Oval, Logan Park Drive, Dunedin. Visit www.supersmash.co.nz.

17 December to 31 January

● Around the World in 80 Books, the Great Reading Expedition. Dunedin Public Libraries are challenging curious young adventurers to join their summer reading expedition and travel to as many new places as they can through the power of books. Dunedin Public Libraries. Visit www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz or email library@dcc.govt.nz.

19 to 23 December

● Makerspace: Guided Activities.

Design a mug, create a trinket box or decorate a glass bottle for only $5 per person. Bookings are essential. Visit otagomuseum.nz for more information and to book a place.

26 December

● Interislander Summer Festival Wingatui Races. Swap high heels and suits for shorts and jandals, gather the kids and come along. Free entry and entertainment for children. Adults $10. From 12pm. Wingatui Racecourse, Gladstone Road North, Mosgiel. Visit www.theraces.co.nz.

19 January

● Wuhan Acrobatic and Cultural Troupe.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of China’s foremost acrobatic troupes performing live. All proceeds go to local organisations. Regent Theatre, 17 The Octagon, Dunedin. Visit www.regenttheatre.co.nz.

28 January

● Chinese New Year. Celebrate the Year of the Rooster with cultural performances, food stalls, dragon parade and dance. Starts 7pm. Fireworks start at 10pm. Gold coin entry. Dunedin Chinese Garden, corner of Rattray and Cumberland Streets. Visit www.dunedinchinesegarden.com.

29 January

● Brighton Gala Day. Enjoy a family day out at the beach-side community just 25 minutes from Dunedin. Includes rides, slides, water park, merry-go-rounds and 120 stalls. From 10am—5pm. Brighton Domain, Brighton Road, Brighton. Visit www.brightongaladay.co.nz.

11 February

● Thieves’ Alley Market Day. Enjoy Dunedin’s biggest market day of the year.

Browse through creative goods, hunt for gifts and goodies from more than 250 stalls. Food and non-stop fun guaranteed.

Octagon and surrounding streets. Visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/events.

12 February

● Alpaca Open Day: Flagstaff Alpacas.

Meet and greet the alpacas. See demonstrations on spinning alpaca fibre plus talks on farming alpacas and the alpaca shop is open. Visit www. flagstaffalpacas.co.nz.

BENNETT SCHOOL

of Ballet and Jazz To instil a love and enjoyment of dance

Principal - Shona Bennett King Edward Court Building, 261-291 Stuart St, Dunedin Phone: 03) 453-0639 bennettballetandjazz@xtra.co.nz www.bennettballetandjazz.co.nz

Tuition available: • 3-4 yrs old Movement classes • 5 yrs and over Classical Ballet and Jazz • Adults Classical Ballet and Jazz

Copyright © 2015 NSC Creative

PERPETUAL GUARDIAN

PLANETARIUM

Opening Saturday 17 December buy tickets at www.otagomuseum.NZ 10 www.familytimes.co.nz

For more event and entertainment ideas, visit www.familytimes.co.nz and enjoy our large, familyfriendly resource.

COOL ACTIVITIES

ENTERTAINMENT Summer is here, and it’s a great time to get out and explore the plethora of exciting events and entertainment destinations around the city. Here are a few ideas to get you started, and we’ve got heaps more at www.familytimes.co.nz. ● Rialto Come to Rialto Cinemas this summer to see Dreamworks’ Trolls, Disney’s Moana and new smash hit, Sing. Get a family pass and save!

studio environment where the creative talents of young and old can be unleashed.

Simply choose your ceramic piece and get painting. Open weekends and school holidays. Visit www.gonepotty.co.nz.

● Megazone Megazone Dunedin is your one-stop shop of fun with laser tag, mini-golf, arcades, pool tables, board games and a cafe. There is something for everyone, big or small. Phone 03-474-9179 or visit megazonedunedin.co.nz.

● Leap Indoor Trampoline Park A great family activity that’s fun for all ages!

Visit www.leapnz.co.nz.

● Dunedin Art Gallery There’s always a lot to do at Dunedin Art Gallery. Bring the kids and come to explore art and culture. Visit dunedin.art. museum for exhibition, workshop and kids’ activity details. ● Combat Zone Paintball Get a group of your friends together and come and blow away the cobwebs at Combat Zone. Visit combatzonepaintball. co.nz. ● Gone Potty Gone Potty provides a fun and entertaining

● Toitū Otago Settlers’ Museum Trace the technological innovation, art, fashion, domestic life and transport of indigenous Maori, the early Chinese, and the following waves of migrant groups at Toitū Otago Settlers’ Museum. Visit www.toituosm.com for details. ● Wal’s Plant and Fun Land Enjoy mini-golf, driving range and ride the mini trains. Plus there are plants, giftware, local fresh produce, The Topiary Café, a barbecue function area and marquee. Phone 03-484-7319, visit www.walsplantland.co.nz.

● Otago Museum Pick up a combo pass to Discovery World Tropical Forest and the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium to enjoy hands-on science, exotic butterflies and a journey through our universe. Visit www.otagomuseum.nz. ● Orokonui Ecosanctury Come and explore the award-winning visitor centre, native New Zealand forest and rare wildlife. Relax over a coffee in the café and enjoy one of the most stunning views in Dunedin. Visit www.orokonui.nz.

Holiday specials

Here are some great holiday ideas designed to keep you and your little ones entertained during the school break. ● M*A*S*H Dunedin central – May be free - full WINZ

subsidy available. Enrol for our exciting holiday programme - “The best fun your kids can have!” Phone 0800-420-520, admin@ mashkids.co.nz, www.mashkids.co.nz. ● Basketball Otago Basketball Otago offers school holiday programmes that include basketball skills and other fun activities. Holiday camps run from 26-27 January and before school programmes start in Term 1. To register, email development@ basketballotago.co.nz or phone 03-456-4063. ● Chipmunks Join us for school holiday fun at Chipmunks Dunedin. We are offering school holiday programmes for children aged between 5 to 11-years-old. Contact Dunedin@chipmunks.co.nz to start planning a fantastic school holiday.

Chipmunks

nd & Café la y la P The perfect place to party and play all day!

• Before and After School Care • School Holiday Programmes • Unlimited Pay and Play • Flexible Birthday Party Packages • We also offer a full café with tasty food and beverage treats

Come play today!

373 Princes Street, Dunedin Phone 03 477 6762 dunedin@chipmunks.co.nz

www.chipmunks.co.nz

www.familytimes.co.nz 11

How to choose your

HELP IS @ HAND

child’s sunscreen Every Kiwi parent knows to “slip, slop, slap,” but how exactly do you choose the best sunscreen for your child? t may sound easy, but a quick trip to the supermarket or pharmacy reveals a mind-boggling plethora of choices: organic or mineral? Waterresistant or sweat-resistant? Lotion or spray? Choosing the right sunscreen for your kids can be tricky, but what you ultimately have to consider in the harsh New Zealand sun is which sunscreen best protects your littlie from UV rays.

A quick guide to this is the sun protection factor (SPF) numbers on the labels of sunscreens. Look for an SPF of 30 or higher to prevent sunburn and tanning, both of which are signs of skin damage. A SPF30 sunscreen filters 96.7% of UV radiation if applied correctly, and an SPF50+ filters 98% of UV radiation if applied correctly, so there’s not a lot of difference in performance, but there can be a difference in price. When it comes to sunscreen, price isn’t always an indication of quality.

Also, check that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays and has AS/NZ 2604 standard on the label.

Sprays are often easier and quicker

I

to apply on wriggling kids than a thick, heavy cream-based sunscreen, but the danger with a spray lies in the fact that it’s hard to tell if you have applied enough or left gaps that will result in angry, red marks in a couple of hours.

Also with sprays, you need to be extra careful if your child is susceptible to allergies. Sprays are easy to breath in, which can irritate the lungs. Also, check to make sure that your sunscreen doesn’t contain PABA, which can cause allergies.

If your child has sensitive skin, look for products with the active ingredient

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titanium dioxide.

The Cancer Society recommends that sunscreen is applied 20-minutes prior to sun exposure to allow time for it to dry and be absorbed into the skin. It will need to be reapplied every two hours when kids are outdoors and sweating or in water. Don’t forget those hard-to-getto-areas like ears, hands, feet, shoulders and behind the neck. Lift up bathing suit straps and apply sunscreen underneath in case the straps shift as your child moves.

Some sunscreens are advertised as water-resistant, but reapply when your child comes out of the water regardless.

Also, always check the expiration date on your sunscreen. Any sunscreen that is past it expiration date, or that you have had for 3-years or longer, needs to be thrown out. Better safe than sorry!

Most importantly, once you have chosen your sunscreen, remember to be a good role model. Consistently wearing sunscreen with SPF 30+ or greater, and limiting your sun exposure, will reduce your risk of skin damage and teach your kids good sun sense.

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12 www.familytimes.co.nz

It pays to check your electricity plan Being on the wrong electricity plan can be expensive - make sure your family is getting the best deal.

There are thousands of things to think about when you’ve got a young family.

It can get a bit overwhelming really childcare, preparing for school, afterschool activities, planning meals, sorting out parental leave… the list goes on.

But there’s one essential component of our everyday lives that should be added to this list, and it’s one that’s often overlooked in the haze: your electricity plan.

It’s not something that immediately springs to mind when preparing for the changes a growing family brings, but it pays to regularly check whether your current electricity plan is the best one for your family as your lifestyle evolves.

Because the way you use your power, and how often, changes dramatically when you have a family (unless you’re planning to raise your kids off the grid!), it’s not until a huge bill lands in your inbox that alarm bells go off - and even then, you might not put it down to being on the wrong electricity plan.

Case in point: at Flick, we recently noticed a customer’s electricity bills suddenly skyrocket. We got in touch and discovered that he and his wife had just had their first baby. Naturally, when the baby came along, their usage increased

significantly - they were using more heating, washing more clothes, and using more appliances during the day.

The Low User plan that worked for them before the baby arrived (when they were both working full time and out of the house during the day) no longer suited their needs. So we helped them switch over to a Standard User plan, subsequently dropping their total per kWh cost by about 19.5 per cent.

They’re now paying about $30 per week less for the same amount of electricity compared to what they would have been paying on their old plan.

Accessing the wholesale cost of power by being a Flick customer, along with switching electricity plans, has saved the family $782.44 since they joined us four months ago. That’s a significant saving for a family that is managing the drop in income and additional costs that come with having a baby!

Here at Flick, we’re all about educating electricity users, no matter who your provider is. Ensuring you’re on the right plan for your situation is an easy way to reduce your power bill, and with most power companies, you can switch plans once every year at no cost.

How can you tell what plan you’re on?

Check your bill. If your daily charge is about $0.30 per day then you’re on a Low User plan. If it’s higher, you’re on a

Standard User plan. If you’re unsure, you should get in touch with your electricity retailer who will be able to help. Don’t be passive. Electricity Authority research found 59% of people felt switching was easy, but the proportion of people who thought it worthwhile to review their current electricity plan was just 37%.

And check out Flick Electric!

If you’d like to know more about us (like the fact that we’re a two-year-old startup, New Zealand’s only consumer trusted power company with a 96% satisfaction rating, that we don’t believe in fixed term contracts, and that our customers benefit from the wholesale price of electricity - woohoo!), visit www.flickelectric.co.nz or check us out on Facebook.

How do you know if you’re on the right plan?

Check this handy table: I live North of Christchurch I live in Christchurch or further South

I use less than 8,000kWH per year

I use more than 8,000kWH per year

Low User

Standard User

I use less than 9,000kWH per year

I use more than 9,000kWH per year

Low User

Standard User

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And if we’re honest, it’ll stay much the same way for the next eighteen years.

(Or twenty-five. Or forty. Who knows?)

Because the more power you use, the bigger difference a fairer, more honest price can make.

At Flick, instead of charging a flat rate we just charge the true wholesale cost of getting power to your house, plus less than a dollar a day.

And in the past year our customers saved on average almost $400! Which would buy enough swimming lessons for months… and months.

So find out how much you’ve got to look forward to - with New Zealand’s Fairest Power Deal.