KidsLife Magazine October 2013

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October 2013

ENROLMENTS

2014

WATER SAFETY WEEKS MAIN EVENT ‘SPLASHFEST’ WAS HELD AT THE DARWIN WATERFRONT WHICH OFFERED A VARIETY OF FREE ACTIVITIES, WATER GAMES, WATER SLIDES, CRAFTS, BALLOON TWISTING, LIFESAVING DEMONSTRATIONS, AND A VISIT BY BOOF THE BARRA. THERE WERE ALSO DISPLAYS STALLS FROM THE WATER SAFETY UNIT, ROYAL LIFE SAVING NT, WATER POLICE, SURF LIFE SAVING, MARINE SAFETY BRANCH, PARKS AND WILDLIFE, KIDSAFE NT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY CENTRE AND SWIMMING NT WHERE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED ON WATER SAFETY MATTERS. THE DAY ATTRACTED APPROXIMATELY 2000 PEOPLE AND WAS A DAY ENJOYED BY ALL.

right “Providing you with the y” child care for your famil Territory Child Care Group (TCCG) is the approved provider of Darwin Family Day Care, Murraya Children’s Centre, Bees Creek Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and The Parenting Puzzle.

TCCG believes that children are filled with creative potential that blossoms at an early age. We are a collaboration of services that are available in Darwin, Palmerston and Rural Areas with an innovative faculty that promises meaningful partnerships with children, families and our community. At TCCG the child is viewed as a strong, influential and rich in potential; driven by the power of wanting to strive, grow and learn, through the nurturing and guidance of our educators who take this ambition towards growth seriously. TCCG educators encourage children in their quest to learn about themselves and the world around them through discovery, exploration and trial and error.

Territory Child Care Group is a community based, not-for-profit organisation that has been providing child care for Territory families since 1977 and further, is

the largest provider of quality child care and education in the Northern Territory.

Our faculty consists of educators, parents and members of the community. The core elements of TCCG are aligned with the National Quality Framework (NQF).

According to the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority:

“The National Quality Framework aims to raise quality and drive continuous improvement and consistency in education and care services and school age care...”

ACECQA 3:2011).

Our Ongoing Mission We strive to enrich our families, our partners, and our people by supporting the highest standard of education and care for children through professional development, resources, recognition and advocacy.

Murraya Children’s Centre

Darwin Family Day Care

Murraya Children’s Centre is an innovative early learning centre catering for children from 2-5 years old. Murraya Children’s Centre also incorporates a morning pre-school session on site with a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.

Darwin Family Day Care (DFDC) is a professional home0based early childhood education and care service. DFDC Educators offer flexible, quality, small group education and care for children in their own home.

What can we offer?

• Highly experienced & trained child care professionals • Large Natural outdoor environment • Long Day Care from 7:00am – 6:00pm

What can we offer?

• Experienced & highly trained child care provider • Accredited, fully licensed and monitored service • Small group education and care

45 Malak Cres, Malak NT 0812 PO Box 43120, Casuarina NT 0811 Ph (08) 8920 0600 | F (08) 8920 0622 E info@daycaredarwin.com.au W www.territorychildcare.org.au

Bees Creek Outside School Hours Care Bees Creek Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) and vacation Program offers care for children after school and during holidays. Bees Creek OSHC provides a safe, caring environment suitable for children currently attending primary school. Bees Creek OSHC provides a range of active, stimulating and restful activities.

What can we offer?

• Exciting excursions and incursions • Highly experiences & trained child care professionals • Large outdoor / indoor environment

Movie Under the Stars Waterfront

The Lion King

WHAT's ON Play School Live in Concert Sunday, 27th October & Monday, 28th October 2013 Play School is synonymous with creativity, learning and above all, fun!

Filled with fun songs to sing and dance along with, this show has been specially designed to stimulate imaginations, build creativity and develop kids' sense of play.

The play takes place at the Darwin Entertainment Centre at 10am and 12pm on both days with an entry fee of $19.80.

For bookings and further information please visit www. yourcentre.com.au

Saturday, 5th October 2013 Bring along a picnic rug and relax on Darwin’s Waterfront lawn under the stars with family and friends.

There are dinner specials available from local businesses or bring along a homemade picnic. This event is free of charge and starts at 7pm. Movie goers are encouraged to arrive at 6.30pm to secure a spot on the lawns and are reminded to park in the Kitchener Drive Multi-Storey Car Park free for the first 2 hours, then $2 for 3 hours and just $4 for 4 hours. Alternatively parking is available in the city with a short walk option across the Smith Street Sky Bridge to Darwin Waterfront.

Halloween @ KJS Are you looking for a safe, friendly, fun, place for your family to enjoy together, look no further… KJS Entertainment offers all of this and more! With an Indoor Playground, Toddler area, Laser Tag arena and Café all under the one roof we offer “fun for everyone” 0-100yrs.

We are celebrating our 1st Birthday in October and as part of our birthday celebrations we are hosting a massive all out Halloween weekend running from Thursday 31st Oct – Saturday 2nd Nov..… .why not come in and take a tour of our Haunted Cave! Book your Halloween themed party during our Halloween weekend and receive 1 free game of Laser Tag for you and your party guests. Follow us on facebook to keep up to date with our special offers and upcoming events.

The Café offers a wide variety of hot & cold food and drink options including a salad bar. We have great coffee and reasonable prices.

Our themed party packages are very popular and affordable, no shopping, no cooking, and best of all no cleaning, we do it all for you. You just turn up on party day with your cake!

Our versatile and spacious venue is also a great place for your next School Formal, Christmas Function or Sporting Presentation contact us for a quote today!

Tunes &Tales Fun in the Parks

for children 1-5yrs Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 2013

Say goodbye to quiet libraries - this is when things get noisy! Tunes and Tales is an interactive, fun and engaging story-time session suitable for children up to 5 years of age.

Tunes and Tales are held at the Palmerston City Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10.00-10:45am.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For further information please call (08) 8935 9999 or visit www.cityofpalmerston.com.au

Wednesday, 2nd of October and Friday, 5th October 2013

The City of Darwin’s Fun in the Parks program provides a range of free activities for primary school aged children between 10.00am - 12.30pm on Wednesday at Yanula Park in Anula and on Friday at Darwin’s Civic Park. The Darwin City Council provides activities, cold drinking water and sunscreen.

The activities include juggling, hulahoops, puppet making and shows.

Parent attendance and participation is welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the Council’s Family & Children’s Services Coordinator on 08 8930 0561 for booking availability.

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KJS ENTERTAINMENT IS A WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY VENUE Darwin’s new and leading Family fun and entertainment venue for all ages

0 to 100!

Malak Shopping Centre, 16 Malak Cres, Malak NT 0812 Ph 8927 1133 | F 8927 1135 E admin@kjsentertainment.com.au

www.kjsentertainment.com.au www.facebook.com/kjsdarwin

OCTOBER

2013

Enrolments!

Check! (the new school year is just around the corner)

by Jessica Kent

Pay electricity bill. Check.

Help Jasmine with her science project.

Check.

Fill in 2014 enrolment forms. Not yet.

If your child’s enrolment has been sitting in the

consider ‘your child’s characteristics, personality,

‘too hard’ basket since July then perhaps it’s

strengths, needs and interests.’ For example, if

time to take it out and sit it high on your list of

your child is easily distracted in the classroom

priorities. Choosing a school may be one of the

then smaller class sizes are going to be your main

most important decisions you make on behalf

concern.

of your child but if you don’t act now then you

Alawa Primary School Principal, Mrs Thorpe,

might not get your first preference.

believes there is no such thing as the “right”

At this time of the year schools in the Top End are

school. The onus instead is on the parents to

playing a numbers game where they are adding

have a working partnership with their child’s

up next year’s student enrolments so that they

school. Successful education greatly depends

can staff their classes accordingly. It is important

on a parent’s ability to ‘encourage their child to

not to leave this decision to the last minute

read at home, make sure they are fed, implement

because there might not be any vacancies left.

appropriate behavioral strategies and make sure

‘If your child is enrolling in preschool or starting

their child is regularly attending school,’ She said.

at a new school then it is best to start the

By going to the My School website (myschool.

application process in June.’

edu.au) you can access the profile of most of

For some, the decision may be as simple as

the schools in Darwin. It allows you to research

choosing the school closest to home. For others,

information regarding a school’s finances,

the process might require further reflection.

enrolment and how it stacks up against similar

According to the Raising Children Network,

schools in literacy and numeracy over the past

when you are evaluating your choice of schools

five years.

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2013

How to prepare your child

for their first day at school?

by Nadia Ozdemir Visit the school or kindergarten beforehand.

Most schools and kindergartens encourage the student and parents to attend the place before the term starts. This way, the child and parents can both become familiar with the location, layout and look of the school. Look for such areas as the classroom, bathroom and cafeteria. This will be a good visual reassurance for your child and will help you to discuss questions about the classroom, lunch area and grounds with your child in advance.

Meet the teacher. If possible, try to meet the teacher in advance also. That way, both you and your child will feel comfortable with knowing her or him before class commences.

Recognising a familiar face immediately upon the first day of class can ease the anxiety a child may feel in a completely new situation.

Be organised. Early habits last. From the start, it is really important to get into a routine of being organised, both for you and for your child. Together, pack the backpack with

the school items, select the outfit to wear or lay out the uniform. In the morning, it is beneficial to start preparing lunches together as early on as possible. That way, your child can learn how to make healthy lunches and will eventually evolve into packing his or her own lunch down the track.

Reassure your child. Spend time together before school commences talking about school, about your own love of learning and about the friendships that develop at school.

Boost your child's confidence by telling positive experiences and of all the things your child will enjoy about school.

Be supportive but also learn to let go. On the first day, give plenty of hugs and reassurance but also be stable and let go. If you have done a good job beforehand of emphasising all the positives of attending school and you have involved your child in all the preparations, this should be an exciting and fun opportunity for your child and he or she should feel more willing to attend.

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OCTOBER

2013

SUPERMARKET SHOPPING

by Dr Jack Stephane

with kids It’s part of a Mum’s weekly routine; but so often one that you don’t look forward to doing with your toddler or even school age children. Here are some helpful hints that hopefully will turn what can be a nightmare into a dream.

Make a shopping list. This saves you time and also you don’t forget major items. www. kidspot.com has a great shopping list that you can either down load or edit for your weekly shopping. “Meal Planning.”

Make sure that your little one is rested and not tired and that the kids have had a snack before shopping; they will be less tempted to start grabbing at chips, etc. you go through the aisles.

Let your children know of the type of behaviour that you expect: walking next to you; holding onto the trolley and helping Mummy if she asks to get an item for her.

Engage your children; ask an older child to get the cereal box for you and any other unbreakable items.

If your child has reached his limit and has become frustrated and un cooperative; it’s time to call it a day, rather that you becoming

angry and more frustrated.

How often have you heard a Mum yell out down the supermarket aisle, “Melissa, this is your last warning!”

“Jake, just wait ‘til your Dad gets home!”

Meanwhile the child is blissfully running off looking for the aisle with lollies. Again try to avoid the chips and lollies aisle.

Finally the ‘check-out’. Again engage your kids; ask them to help you unpack your trolley. If your son brings up a toy that he’s just spotted, quietly say, “No, not this week Sammy. When we get home we’ll put it on your Wish List.” Sweets are either side of you as you check out to temp you and your kids.

Be firm. Don’t give in; as I have said before, ‘Don’t engage’; otherwise you will have a battle on your hands.

Thank your children for cooperating and being helpful with the supermarket shopping.

It can be a dream and not a nightmare; but it’s up to you.

‘Til next month be kind to yourself and each other.

Best wishes, Dr Jack

C HALLE N G I N G STU D E NTS TO B E CO N N E CTE D G LO BAL C ITI Z E N S Rosebery Middle School offers a contemporary and innovative curriculum designed to enhance student engagement and support a sense of community and identity.

Science Project Rock Climbing Outdoor Education

Sporting Carnival

Performing Arts

Contact: Rosebery Middle School Phone: 0889305200 Email: admin.rms@ntschools.net Website: http://roseberymiddle.nt.edu.au

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Healthy Lunchbox Ideas for Kids Stuck for healthy lunch box ideas? There are lots of food choices available for lunch boxes. However, sometimes it can be difficult to decide which foods are healthy choices. Therefore, we’ve put together a range of nourishing, simple and fun lunch box suggestions that your kids won’t say ‘no’ to!

• Fruit – best choices is fresh fruit. Dried fruit is sticky and high in sugar, so have it occasionally. Best left out of the lunch box are dried fruit bars which are very high in sugar, low in fibre and stick to children’s teeth causing tooth decay.

• Vegetables – try vegetable sticks with dip or a small container with mixed vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, capsicum and cucumber.

• Dairy - include a small drink of milk (freeze overnight) wrapped in a cloth in the lunch box. Best left out of the lunch box are ‘dairy desserts’ and flavoured milks and yoghurts, which are high in sugar. Better option: Make

your own fruit yoghurt with fresh fruit and plain yoghurt • Dips, cheese and biscuits – pre-packaged or your own homemade versions of cheese and crackers are fine. Children enjoy mini packaged cheeses. Avoid sweet dips and chocolate spreads. ‘Oven-baked’ savoury biscuits are just as high in salt and fat as chips and are best avoided.

• Vary the fillings – fillings can include vegemite or other yeast extract, natural peanut butter, cheese (try different types), tuna, egg, sliced cold meats, baked beans, grated carrot and lettuce, chopped roast meat with pickles or chutney, and avocado.

by Nadia Ozdemir Avoid chocolate spreads, jams and honey, and fatty meats like salami.

• Homemade Muffins and cakes – try making your own muffins and cakes as a great way to include more fruit and vegetables. Examples include carrot, zucchini, banana or pumpkin.

Donuts and creamy cakes are best offered only at birthdays and special occasions.

• Muesli and ‘breakfast’ bars – almost all ‘bars’ are too high in sugar to include regularly.

Try to avoid muesli bars and chocolate bars in lunch boxes. These are expensive and usually stuck together with fats and sugars.

Again, it’s best to make your own healthy version.

A: Cnr Parer Drive and Trower Road Moil NT 0810 T: 08 89837300 W: www.casuarinaseniorcollege.com.au

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Happy, safe, contented, loved children will generally behave. If you are not happy with your child’s behaviour first ask yourself if it is just annoying but normal mistakes that children make due to their age and their lack of skills or that they lack the maturity to manage their own emotions.

Stressors are often the trigger for the poor behaviour. By stressors I mean that the child is tired, not eating well, sick or unhappy. Is your home environment contributing? Is there too much happening at home and a lack of calm due to stressed, tired, worried parents. Or is the behaviour a reflection of your behaviour. If you swear it is likely that your children will too. If there is violence and angry adults around children, it is likely the children will follow that example.

If you need help to know what to do there a range of options available

to parents today. The number of opinions can be a problem and conflicting advice can be confusing.

So to begin you need to reflect on opinions of others to see if they support your values and beliefs. Then ask yourself do I need to change my belief system?

Look around at what other help is available, your peers, neighbours, your child’s teacher, books, magazines, google ‘children’s behaviour’ and community workshops, psychologists and paediatricians via your GP. You might also think about what your mum, gran, aunties did and ask them for their advice. If you find that their belief system is no longer relevant to today’s child you can move on, but maybe they know more than you think.

Check out my website: www.stopwaitgo.com.au

‘Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun’ Pablo Picasso

Creative Kids One of the most challenging things I come across when teaching art to children, is developing their understanding of abstract design. If you hand a piece of paper and some paints to a young child, they will almost always paint an object that they, at least, can identify and give a name to. As children get older, they often get stuck in this rut of feeling that everything they make or draw has to represent something tangible and this often continues through to adulthood where some people think that for art to be ‘good’ it has to look exactly like its subject.

This is why it is essential to help children develop a sound understanding of concepts such as line, form, shape, design, texture and scale. There are many ways you can do this: • Create a cubist self-portrait. Draw and colour a portrait, cut it up and reassemble it to make a cubist style self-portrait in the style of Picasso.

• Take a walk and look for interesting patterns, shapes, textures, lines in the environment.

Record them in your sketch book.

• Begin to look around you for interesting objects you could use to make a sculpture.

Just about anything in our immediate environment can be used to make an interesting sculpture. I particularly enjoy using every day, recyclable objects such as paper plates and cups as they provide a great opportunity for repetition and they’re easy to join and cheap to buy. Their simple structure, encourages us to look beyond function and focus on form. Organic objects found outside like sticks and leaves can also make great sculpting materials.

• Create a Matisse inspired collage. Paint some sheets of plain white paper blue, red and yellow and then cut out some interesting shapes. Arrange them on another sheet of white paper and glue down.

• Read art books and visit galleries! This is where you will really begin to see what is possible!

Until next time, SEE, MAKE, DO!

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by Cathy Huggett

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Melbourne Cup @ SKYCITY

Spring Racing Luncheon Beachside Pavilion 11.30am - 3pm

$155 includes 3 course lunch & 3 hour beverage package PLUS fashions on the field judging, fashion parades & lucky door prizes

AFTER PARTY IN LOTUS WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT FROM 3PM to book, contact SKYCITY Box office on 8943 8922 or boxoffice@SKYCITYDARWIN.COM.AU or book lunch in one of our restaurants with the big race SHOWN LIVE to book, contact restaurant reservations on 8943 8940

132 October 2013 | DarwinLife Magazine