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Winter Issue 2022
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome
A
t times the ride is gentle, and the changes are gradual and satisfying to see. At others, the ups and downs of parenting can take your breath away.
One minute the little ducks are all in a row – everyone’s dressed, the bags are packed, no one’s crying, no one’s coughing… Then suddenly, this happy harmony shatters: there’s yelling, toys being thrown, food on the floor, or someone vomits. The behavioural changes, the relationship dynamics, the moments of joy and then absolute chaos make for quite a ride. For many, this school term, illness and isolation have made it even more brutal – the daily upheavals even harder to cope with. In our winter edition, we feature some amazing people – leaders in their different fields, who are also parents. People who’re inspiring but also really relatable. As they talk about the work they do, they often chat about their kids and the
challenges they face as parents – striving, as we all are, to do our best in circumstances that aren’t always easy. We talk to gynaecologist-obstetrician and social-media straight-talker Dr Danielle Jones about maternal health matters and moving her family to New Zealand. We chat with Dr Nina Hood about the literacy problem we have in this country and with Kasey Edwards about raising girls who like themselves. We also speak with two parents whose children are starring in Showbiz Christchurch’s production, Matilda, and to Gemma McCaw about raising a family and staying grounded. I hope you enjoy reading this issue and that it brings you a few moments of calm and inspiration during the crazy ride that is parenthood.
Kate Barber / Editor kate@familytimes.co.nz @familytimesnewzealand
Winter / 2022
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Contents Features
4
9
What it’s like when your child’s starring in Matilda
10
“Mama Doctor Jones” on maternal health and moving to NZ
12
The literacy problem: is your child falling behind?
14
The benefits of outdoor play, even when it’s cold
15
Transported back in time at Ferrymead
18
Raising girls who like themselves
20
A taste of Taranaki
22
Discover Queenstown
26
Managing your photos
27
Resene DIY – reviving old frames
30
Gemma McCaw – raising daughters and staying grounded
Winter / 2022
30 Regulars 3
Welcome note
6
Books, beats & podcasts
8
We love…
16
Calendar of events & attractions
23
Food
24
Kiwi kids
25
Time for an experiment
28
Fun zone
29
Giveaways
10
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20 Make sure you LIKE our social pages to stay up-to-date with happenings and advice, and for plenty of chances to WIN! @familytimesnewzealand
familytimes.co.nz is delighted to be a long-term sponsor of The Canterbury Special Children’s Christmas Party, an event that has been giving underprivileged and special needs children the opportunity to celebrate Christmas. PUBLISHER Filly Farm Publishing Sonia Speedy sonia@familytimes.co.nz 021 024 58141 EDITOR Kate Barber kate@familytimes.co.nz SUBEDITOR Kathy Catton kathy@familytimes.co.nz ADVERTISING Sonia Speedy sonia@familytimes.co.nz 021 024 58141 DESIGN & PRODUCTION Rachel Brodrick rachel@familytimes.co.nz
ALL SEVEN HARRY POTTER BOOKS IN SEVENTY HILARIOUS MINUTES! “THE SINGLE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE SEEN IN AGES…YOU’RE GONNA LOVE THIS SHOW”
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Toronto Star
GENERAL ENQUIRIES hello@familytimes.co.nz
CENTREPOINT THEATRE AND POTTED PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
CONTRIBUTORS Crissi Blair Michelle Buckley Kasey Edwards Claudia Gunn Donna Hay Dr Nina Hood Dr Danielle Jones Chris Luck Gemma McCaw Rob Naysmith Megan Platt Sonia Speedy Nathan Wallis Stacey Wesley PRINT Blueprint, Christchurch
2 - 30 July 2022
Family Times is published quarterly and is a registered trademark. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained herein. The reader of this publication assumes all responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional. Family Times asserts copyright on all material published within Family Times and none of it shall be reproduced, wholly or in part, without the prior written consent of this publisher. Family Times reserves the right to edit or abridge all letters or other material, whether solicited or otherwise, prior to publication.
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Orthodontic treatment is performed by Grahame Dutton who is a General Dentist with a special interest in Orthodontics.
A GIFT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME I can’t count the number of times in my career I’ve heard from my adult patients: “If only I’d had braces as a teenager”. Either orthodontics wasn’t available to them, or they and/or their parents, decided against braces, or the cost was prohibitive. But as they have gone into adulthood they have regretted that decision and had to live with consequences to their oral health, their chewing function and the appearance of their smile.
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during the adolescent growth spurt, however, there are some conditions that may be best treated when the child is as young as nine years old. A healthy mouth is a great asset, not just medically but also socially and professionally. If your child needs invisalign, you could be giving them a gift that lasts a free consult today.
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5
BOOKS, BEATS + PODS
BOOKS
Books, books, wonderful books! CRISSI BLAIR picks out the best reads for different ages and interests.
THE LIGHTHOUSE PRINCESS
Top Pick
Susan Wardell
AMORANGI AND MILLIE’S TRIP THROUGH TIME
Illus. Rose Northey
Lauren Keenan
Penguin Books $19.99
Huia $26
A modern fairy-tale about an independent lighthouse-keeping princess who fishes off the balcony. Poetic text is matched with magical award-winning illustrations. Full of warmth and the celebration of friendship.
ARMADILLO ANTICS
Amorangi and Millie are out with their mum when she disappears... into the past. They must go on their own journey, back through the generations of their family tree, collecting objects in order to rescue their mum. Will they make it? Along the way they find out about New Zealand’s history and see how things change over time.
Bill Martin Jr &
Suitable for ages 9-14
Suitable for ages 4-8
Michael Sampson Bateman Books $24.99
Suitable for ages 4-8
MASHER Fifi Colston Penguin Books $16.99
Freddie loves to do arts and crafts and when a teacher assigns a project to make a glove puppet using papier-mâché, he’s full of enthusiasm. But when he includes ashes from the recently deceased dog-next-door, strange things start to happen. There are many laughs, but also much to think about, including family, friendship and self-esteem. Suitable for ages 8-12
WIN! 6
Winter / 2022
We have ONE copy of each of Amorangi and Millie’s Trip through Time, Why is that Spider Dancing? and A Cluster of Stars. A Cluster of Stories. Matariki Around the World to give away. Follow us for your chance to win @familytimesnewzealand.
CLAUDIA GUNN from Kiwi Kids Music shares fresh new tunes for children.
FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER Simon Stanley
simonstanleysays.com This single and book from Simon Stanley is a dreamy trip down a lazy river, winding up with two tired kids, ready for bed.
MATARIKI PARTY Jellybean Queen
linktr.ee/ jellybeanqueensongs Welcome friends and whānau to celebrate Matariki.
WHY IS THAT SPIDER DANCING?
Illus. Nathalie Beauvois
If you loved Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Can You See? you’ll enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of this gloriously illustrated story all about this extraordinary creature – the armadillo. The collage illustrations are textured and full of life, with handy facts to finish.
BEATS
Sirvid
IT’S FUN BEING FRIENDS WITH YOU
Te Papa Press $29.99
Em and Me Music
Simon Pollard & Phil
There are spiders all around us, but what do you know about them? Written by a spider biologist and Te Papa’s arachnid expert, and full of amazing close-up photos, diagrams and well-researched, entertaining text. Find out about the different arachnid species unique to Aotearoa, from the backyard to the mountains and even living underwater! You’ll be enthralled. Suitable for ages 8+
A CLUSTER OF STARS. A CLUSTER OF STORIES. MATARIKI AROUND THE WORLD Rangi Matamua & Miriama Kamo Illus. Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
songwhip.com/ emandme/its-funbeing-friends-with-you A new song about hanging out with your friend. Featuring Emery and her best friend, Alice Hughson.
PODS
CLAUDIA GUNN
for podcasts.
shares her top picks THE BEST OF STORYTIME (NZ) storytime.rnz.co.nz
This RNZ podcast is a lovely way to discover a wide variety of fun, safe and appropriate kids content, with a mix of children’s stories and songs from New Zealand.
Scholastic $34.99
EAR SNACKS
A beautiful hardback treasure about Matariki in New Zealand, and different cultures and countries around the world where the Matariki constellation or Pleiades is sometimes known by different names. Eighteen stories: nine about the Māori Matariki stars, and others from the Pacific Islands to the Americas, Europe and Africa. Beautiful illustrations capture the magic of Matariki across diverse cultures.
Andrew and Polly (USA)
andrewandpolly.com/ earsnacks Andrew and Polly make a delightful pod covering music, science, art and culture in a fun-filled, family-friendly way. They are kids’ musicians too, so it always sounds incredible.
Protect them for life. Immunise. COVID-19 vaccinations are available for tamariki aged 5-11. To make a booking for your whānau or find a walk-in centre visit BookMyVaccine.nz or call 0800 28 29 26.
Winter / 2022
7
WE LOVE…
Things we’re
buzzing about From gaming to the science of light
Flower Power Design and create your own winter garden in a box. Take it home and plant it in spring to enjoy your flowers all summer. Available Mon 11 July to Fri 22 July. Bookings essential.
Otago Museum has four new, free exhibitions on now! From gaming to the science of light, families will love these interactive displays especially for children, and of course, there is New Zealand’s biggest science centre here, too! Come and visit us on your next trip to Dunedin.
northlands.co.nz
otagomuseum.nz
Get glowing this Matariki The MATARIKI GLOW SHOW is back with an
CHRISTCHURCH’S COOLEST WINTER BIRTHDAYS
all-new, giant-scale puppet show. These
Igloo 360 provides fully furnished and
magical glow-in-the-dark characters are
heated movie night igloos to enjoy with
getting ready to celebrate with you at 40
family or friends. All packages include a
theatres around Aotearoa, alongside the
fully equipped movie screen and projector
first-ever nationwide Matariki holiday!
with Disney and Netflix, cosy beanbags and blankets, hot chocolate, popcorn and
glowshow.co.nz/bookings
A Midsummer Night’s Dream!
marshmallows. Everything you need to celebrate your birthday in style. igloo360.co.nz
11-13 August
With live music and circus acrobatics, this will be everything you had hoped for, and all performed for you under the beautiful Isaac Theatre Royal dome – an incredible Shakespearience for you all! ticketek.co.nz
Health-plus oats Warm up this winter with Harraways NEW health-plus rolled oats in three delicious flavours: Blackcurrent Spiced Apple with iron & zinc; Raspberry & Coconut with less sugar and Strawberry Cream sachets with less sugar. Available in supermarkets nationwide. harraways.co.nz
8
Winter / 2022
LOCAL LEGENDS
A CHAT WITH THE PARENTS OF Matilda Showbiz Christchurch’s show Matilda is set to open on Friday 16 September, after a five-month delay because of Covid, and the passion and enthusiasm are as strong as ever. But it’s not just the children who’re buzzing: a year after auditions, parents will finally get to see their kids shine on stage.
W
e chatted with MEGAN PLATT, whose daughter
Martha (10) is playing Lavendar (who drops the newt in Trunchbull’s jug), and ROB NAYSMITH, whose son Flynn (13) is playing Bruce (who eats the chocolate cake), about this amazing opportunity.
Has Matilda taken over your lives? ROB: It is busy, because there are other
children who have other interests – my daughter (Briah) is training for gymnastics three to four days a week, too. It’s the same with parents who have kids who play a lot of sport.
MEGAN: I think when you have kids in
this age group you do feel like you’re a taxi driver – but it’s a privilege being a taxi driver. Yes, Matilda has become our life for an extended time now, but it’s great!
What have your children gained from this experience?
MEGAN: Absolutely! And adaptability –
especially as we have navigated Covid.
TICKETEK.CO.NZ
BOOK
ROB: Kids have to have passion and be
intrinsically motivated. The balance is that they have to show that they want to do the dance, drama and the music because you don’t get to perform at this level without training and hard work. If they don’t want to do it, there’s no point pushing them. MEGAN: Martha knows her own mind
– we definitely don’t push her to do this. After her singing teacher said, “you really should audition”, she presented a slide show on why she should be allowed to, and convinced us that it was just for the experience, and then she got in! I’ve had a background in directing and choreography, and her dad’s had a background in singing, music and TV work, but she has always said this is her thing!
It must be wonderful seeing (and sharing) their passion.
MEGAN: We both love what both our kids are doing (Megan’s son Lachlan is a talented blues guitarist). Watching your children do something they excel at is the best part of being a parent. ROB: Back in 1989, I was one of the boys in Oliver, and it’s great to see Flynn get the
Megan & Martha Platt , Flynn & Rob
Naysmith
same satisfaction and excitement out of it that I had. When we drive to rehearsals, we sing pretty much from Lincoln to town. Having something you can connect with your kids through is really valuable. If you can key into something they are interested in and find a way of motivating them, then it’s a great thing. MEGAN: And let them lead, and jump on board whatever they’re interested in.
The kids will have made some great friendships.
MEGAN: I think one of the amazing things for us has been the awesome community of like-minded children. ROB: Yeah, they’re a really cool bunch of kids. They’re all incredibly talented, and they all look out for one another.
For more information and ticket sales, visit showbiz.org.nz
FOLLOW US for your chance to WIN a family pass to Matilda – The Musical @familytimesnewzealand.
WIN!
ROB: The number of benefits far outweigh the time it takes up. They’re working with industry professionals who’re at the top of their game, and the amount of education they’re getting – around etiquette, singing, drama, dancing, commitment, focus...
How much do you need to push your kids to perform at this level?
DON’T MISS OUT! The
season of
NOW DIRECTED BY
STEPHEN ROBERTSON MUSICAL DIRECTION BY
RICHARD MARRETT
16 SEPT – 2 OCT 2022 ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL Winter / 2022
9
BUMP TO BUNDLE
From the US to NZ with four kids & a career Dr DANIELLE JONES is
a gynaecologist and obstetrician, world traveller and mother of four: twin girls (9) and two boys (5 and 3). Across various social media platforms, “Mama Doctor Jones” discusses pregnancy, parenting and all matters gynaecological. We spoke with Danielle about her passion for maternal health, and on moving the family from Texas to Invercargill at the end of last year to take up a job at Southland Hospital.
What made you want to bring the family to New Zealand?
The very first trip we took after we got married was to the North Island. Then we went to the South Island in 2018 with our three eldest children, and we fell in love! In 2019 our plan was to do a sabbatical year. We sold our house, gave everything we owned away and bought one-way tickets to start a trek around the world. Then Covid happened. I started doing locums, and for 18 months we lived a nomadic life. We needed to figure out what we wanted to do next, so I started applying for jobs in New Zealand.
How’s it been for the kids?
Before the move here, we had lived in 17 different houses over 18 months – it was chaos constantly. The kids were excited to have a house to stay in for a while and decorate their rooms. We have felt incredibly taken in by the community here.
What do you think about NZ’s maternal healthcare system? Patients get very personalised, one-onone care that’s not available in the US, as obstetricians see almost every patient 10 Winter / 2022
Danielle and Donnie with twins Amelia and Reese (9), and boys Milo (5) and Pax (3) © Brogan Campbell - KiwiCaptures.co.nz
here. (At home, I’d have about 20 patients a month and I might get to deliver some of them and not others.) Midwives going into people’s homes and seeing them after delivery and checking in on breastfeeding, for instance – I think it’s very valuable. On the other hand, I feel like it’s an unsustainable system. Midwives, and it may be different in other parts of the country, but here they are so incredibly stretched. I can’t imagine working like they work – they are basically on call for their patients all the time.
What are you most passionate about in maternal health? While I absolutely feel like the most important thing is making sure both the patient and the baby are healthy, I also think there is space we can give to the
emotional and connectivity side to having a baby. I try to really listen to my patients and to at least make something about the experience a little easier.
How can we support the emotional experience during a caesarean?
We have started doing ‘direct to the chest’ deliveries in caesareans, where the midwife will put on sterile gloves and take the baby directly from me before we cut the cord and put it on mum’s chest, and then we can do delayed cord clamping while baby is still attached and while mum’s holding her baby. I experienced this with the delivery of my fourth baby. I don’t think my first two births were negative experiences, just different – my twins were premature, so I didn’t expect to hold them immediately,
BUMP TO BUNDLE
Dr Danielle Jones (OBGYN) works at Southland Hospital, and discusses women’s health, pregnancy and parenting across her social media platforms. @mamadoctorjones
Danielle and her fourth baby, Pax, experiencing skin-to-skin time in the OR
and my son was an emergency, so I was just happy he was alive. But in a more controlled situation, I was able to make a request and have it met. That’s my goal for talking about this online – it’s not so much to tell people you should have this and your doctor’s terrible for not offering it – but you can advocate for yourself for these things.
How impactful is Covid during pregnancy?
Certainly Covid is worse during pregnancy than when you’re not pregnant – increasing the risk to both the person who has Covid and to the foetus they’re carrying. The vaccine is safe in pregnancy, and I would highly recommend getting the vaccine while pregnant. I say that from the position of having taken care of people in the States during the height of the pandemic. I have never seen the amount of devastation to the degree that I did in such a short span of time as when Delta hit, and no one was fully vaccinated.
What’s your most important advice for women?
I’d encourage everyone to learn as much as they can about the processes because the more you know, the more you know to ask questions. I want people to find their voice and be comfortable talking to their doctor or their midwife.
SLEEP SAFE, MY BABY SIDS and Kids New Zealand is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. The organisation delivers on its vision through world-class research, evidence-based education and bereavement support, and advocacy.
Remind everyone who cares for your child: + Sleep baby on their back + Keep head and face uncovered + Keep baby smoke-free before and after birth + Safe sleeping environment night and day + Sleep baby in a safe cot in parents’ room. SIDS and Kids provides a range of safe sleeping education and support services as well as a national 24-hour sudden infant death helpline. 0800 164 455 / sidsandkids.org.nz
Winter / 2022
11
CLASS OF THEIR OWN
Is your child falling behind with their reading and writing? Education Hub founder Dr NINA HOOD discusses the decline in literacy achievement in New Zealand and encourages parents and caregivers to seek help if they’re concerned. By Kate Barber
L
atest literacy statistics from NZQA’s National Monitoring Assessment team suggest a significant chunk of New Zealand students are failing to meet the expected curriculum level as they move into the upper years at primary school – with significant implications for their progress in other subjects, and for their learning at secondary school and beyond. While 63 per cent of students are at or above the expected curriculum level in both reading and writing at Year 4, these figures slip significantly by Year 8, with 56 per cent of students at or above the expected curriculum level in reading and only 35 per cent meeting this standard in writing. Within this, Nina explains there are substantial differences – with NZ European and Asian students outperforming Māori and Pacifica students, and girls outperforming boys.
Why are they slipping?
“Around Years 3 and 4, students are moving beyond the foundational literacy skills, and reading for comprehension, making inferences and reading across the curriculum,” Nina says. “Students who didn’t build the necessary foundational skills by this time, who can’t decode and who don’t have the vocabulary or broader background knowledge, start slipping.” As Nina says, developing foundational literacy skills requires both “explicit, systematic phonics instruction as well as rich language opportunities across the curriculum to build their vocabulary and understanding.” While she says that “effective pedagogy is not taking place in all schools,” she emphasises that students falling behind is not the fault of any one teacher or school, but a systemic issue.
Early literacy skills start at home
Nina stresses that the development of early literacy and oral language skills is built up in families. She emphasises the importance of playing with young children and talking to them about what they’re doing, singing and making up rhymes, and reading to them in an interactive way. “We want kids to think that reading is a wonderful thing. 12 Winter / 2022
“Reading for pleasure at home has a massive impact,” she adds. “If young people see parents and significant adults in their lives reading for pleasure, they are far more likely to read.”
If you’re concerned
It’s vital that parents and caregivers ask about their child’s progress at school: where they might be struggling and what the next steps are, Nina says. “If you don’t understand something in the school report, arrange a time to ask the teacher. It’s not a case of having one meeting with the teacher, but rather checking in regularly about your child’s progress.” Experienced primary school teacher Chris Luck says that “teachers genuinely believe that engaging with whānau is an important factor in ensuring early literacy success. “We want parents to understand where their children are at, what their strengths are and what areas they’re struggling with. We want parents to be involved in their children’s learning and to have conversations around getting extra support if they need it. This may start with arranging to chat with the teacher, the earlier the better, formulating a plan, and having regular check-ins, so everyone is on the same page.” If they’re struggling, the earlier you intervene, the better, Nina says. She adds that tutoring 1:1 is incredibly effective, provided that it meets the child’s specific learning needs – whether they have an issue with decoding or an issue with comprehension, for instance. Dr Nina Hood is the founder of The Education Hub, a notfor-profit with a mission to bridge the gap between research and practice in education, and is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland. She is the author of the recently released report Now I don’t know my ABC, which examines the state of literacy among young people in New Zealand.
CLASS OF THEIR OWN
L iteracy learning at home from NumberWorks’nWords shares tips for promoting reading and supporting learning at home. MICHELLE BUCKLEY
+ Have books, magazines, newspapers
available and on hand to read. Find a genre or series of books to hook your kids in.
+ Encourage 20-30 minutes of reading
a night for enjoyment, for our upper primary students and high school students. For our lower primary students, read nightly, either a book sent home from school or books they have at home. Read aloud together and make it fun!
+ For our reluctant readers, get them
reading anything they are interested in: sports magazines, gaming magazines or content, comics, news from around the world, Guinness Book of Records, Minecraft books. Anything is better than nothing!
+ When out and about, read signs,
A BETTER START In response to the 20-year decline in literacy achievement, the Better Start Literacy programme was launched this year to help ensure all teachers use approaches to teaching literacy that are proven to work. The programme emphasises structured teaching of phonological awareness skills, quality story-books and fun game-based activities to boost letter-sound knowledge, as well as resources to support parents and families to get involved. betterstartapproach.com
packaging, billboards, timetables for buses, ferries, planes etc.
+ Get into the routine of visiting
the library.
GRANDPARENTS
RAISING GRANDCHILDREN
Are you raising your grandchild or someone else’s child full-time? Are you stressed? Do you feel isolated, unsupported or at times feel like you are struggling to fulfil your caregiver role? Do you have questions on how to ensure your tamariki and rangatahi thrive and regain normality whilst in your care? Do you need access to support with
NumberWorks’nWords offers a literacy programme that suits all learners, from reluctant readers and writers to students who love English and need extending. The programme encompasses a raft of skills necessary to succeed in the classroom and in life, from reading and comprehension to language skills (spelling and grammar) and writing for Years 1-11. Within this, the programme is tailored to focus on developing the particular skills an individual struggles with, like comprehension. Confidence is key to boosting academic results. By working with families and schools, NumberWorks’nWords helps learners develop the skills and the confidence they need to achieve, while promoting an enjoyment for reading and learning generally. numberworksnwords.com
their physical and emotional wellbeing, or with behavioural challenges? If yes, you are not alone. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ (GRG) supports over 5800 member families nationwide to raise resilient and healthy children. GRG provides information, support, advocacy services and traumainformed caregiver education workshops designed to help empower you and reduce stress in your lives. Call 0800 GRANDS (0800 472637) and join GRG today. office@grg.org.nz / 09 418 3753 / grg.org.nz
Winter / 2022
13
OUT AND ABOUT
GO OUTSIDE
and play
WITH MORE COLD WEATHER AHEAD OF US, OUR KIDS NEED TO SOAK UP AS MUCH SUNSHINE (AND VITAMIN D) AS THEY CAN. BUT THERE ARE CLEAR BENEFITS TO OUTDOOR ADVENTURES EVEN WHEN THE SUN ISN’T SHINING.
For their health and wellbeing, kids need to play and get physical outside – even when it’s wet and cold. By Kate Barber
E
xercising and exploring outdoors is crucial for children’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual development. Children test and extend their physical capabilities, burn off energy, learn about the world around them, and build relationships with others. Getting outside regularly, including when it’s wet and cold, also helps reinforce those dispositions like resilience, determination and curiosity. It certainly challenges the idea that “you can’t play outside when it’s raining”, and boosts kids’ self-belief and sense of adventure. Sometimes kids just need to get outside and be wild – especially if they’ve been spending more time indoors because of the weather. Lots of kids love a little roughhousing with friends and family, and neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis says that as long as it’s not violent or destructive, rough
and tumble play is normal and beneficial for their moods and development. In addition to burning off energy, roughhousing can help build relationships and teach boundaries. With bodies that are growing fast, rough and tumble play supports kids to develop proprioception, that is, their sense of their own body in space, he says.
For little ones, nothing beats jumping in muddy puddles.
Our cultural assumptions around gender inform how we socialise children and how we view rough and tumble play. There are plenty of kids, both boys and girls, who are drawn to this kind of play.
Make a dam across a river
As our young children encounter more formal schooling, and spend more time indoors on screens, we need to give them more opportunities to play and get physical. This could mean encouraging wild, noisy, boisterous play outside in the wet and cold.
to the crashing waves,
Of course, puddles and trees struggle to compete with screens, which give kids instant hits of dopamine. Closing the iPad and opening the doors can spark tantrums in youngsters. Nathan says, “It’s important to ritualise time outside” – to make it a regular part of the day and week – and by doing so, start to embed a new attitude towards outdoor adventures and play for everyone in the family.
Explore a Kiwi Guardian
her Better toget
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IDEAS FOR ALL-WEATHER ADVENTURES
or a hut in the forest. Go down to the beach at night-time to listen or at dawn to watch the sunrise. The best time to see Matariki is just before the sunrise.
site. Kids can follow a map to find the guardian post and then claim a special certificate and Kiwi Guardian medal. doc.govt.nz/ kiwiguardians
OUT AND ABOUT
Fantastic fun at Ferrymead
D
uring these July school holidays, Ferrymead Heritage Park celebrates the playful side of our history with two exhibitions that are sure to elicit excitement and possibly nostalgia. Along with the Edwardian Township and tram rides that Ferrymead is famous for, this term break visitors are invited to solve the Great Hay’s Mystery and check out a colourful showcase of Kiwiana.
Edwardian children
The Edwardian Township at Ferrymead transports visitors back in time. Children are invited to dress up in Edwardian garb and embrace the experiences (and chores) of their colonial ancestors. Lighting the coal range and drying clothes with the mangle has never been so much fun! To book for the Edwardian experience, email education@ferrymead.org.nz.
Kiwiana showcase
Ferrymead is excited to showcase Kiwiana in all its glory during these July school holidays. Think pavlovas, Christmas at the beach, Footrot Flats, buzzy bees, jandals – all the aspects (and yummy kai) that we Kiwis claim as our own.
The Great Hay’s Trail
Anyone remember the iconic Hay’s rooftop playground? With trick mirrors, slides, a miniature train and merry-goround, it was wondrous. If you grew up in Christchurch in the 1980s or earlier, indulge the nostalgia as you introduce your kids to the magic of the Hay’s rooftop – now at Ferrymead! For those too young to remember, ask your parents about their memories, and invite them on the Great Hay’s Trail too. Whether it’s donning an Edwardian bonnet, baking biscuits, riding the tram, checking out the fire engines or sliding down the Hay’s stegosaurus, little moments in our history come alive for kids and adults at Ferrymead Heritage Park. ferrymead.org.nz
FERRYMEAD HERITAGE PARK
CUI
July
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS EXPLORE EXPERIENCE ENJOY
TRAMS TB AKI NG TOYS & GA MES Kiw ian a
BIS
THE
GREA
T HA
Weekdays
10.30 to 3.00pm
YS TR
AIL
Winter / 2022
15
16 Winter / 2022
NanoFestival 2022 NanoFest is a long weekend jam-
14-17 July
otagomuseum.nz
Otago Museum has four new free exhibitions on now! From gaming to the science of light, families will love these interactive displays especially for children. Plus, there’s NZ’s biggest science centre there, too! Come and visit us on your next trip to Dunedin.
From gaming to the science of light, Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street
DUNEDIN
What’s on
Winter Fireworks Spectacular – delivering a cracker fireworks
Winter Fireworks Spectacular New Brighton Pier
9 July, 7-7.30pm
glowshow.co.nz/bookings
Kids Go FREE is back at the Christchurch Gondola for KidsFest, with up to three children free per
Christchurch Gondola
9-24 July
oranawildlifepark.co.nz
christchurchadventurepark.com
The Christchurch Adventure Park is offering a one-day mountain bike programme, geared towards developing skills and boosting confidence in a fun, supportive environment. Suitable for children 7-12 years, and catering for beginners through to experienced riders.
Christchurch Adventure Park 225 Worsleys Road, Cracroft
13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 & 27 July
communityfocustrust@gmail.com
Another new show of incredible illusions from award-winning magician, Elgregoe. Bookings essential.
Magic Show – Illusionz Empower Church, 140 Springfield Road
12 July, 10-11am
11-13 August
canterburymuseum.com/whatson/dinosaur-revolution-secretsof-survival
Get to grips with the dinosaurs’ latest look in an international touring exhibition featuring skeletons, fossils and life-sized animatronic dinosaurs! Admission charges apply, family passes available.
Dinosaur rEvolution: Secrets of Survival Canterbury Museum
Until 24 October
Given current circumstances, please confirm with event organisers that events are going ahead. If you have an event you’d like to add to our spring calendar, email sonia@familytimes.co.nz.
The July school holidays are the perfect time to visit Orana Wildlife Park because kids get in free! Two children (5-14 years) enter free with each paying adult when presenting this listing. Valid 9-24 July 2022. Cannot be combined with other deals.
Kids go free at Orana Park 793 McLeans Island Road
Get Glowing this Matariki Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street
The MATARIKI GLOW SHOW is back with an all-new, giant-scale puppet show. These magical glow-inthe-dark characters are getting ready to celebrate with you at 40 theatres around Aotearoa, alongside the firstever nationwide Matariki holiday!
9-24 July
8 July, 10am and 11am
this winter
Winter school holidays can be a challenge, but there’s plenty of fantastic events to get you all out of the house and enjoying Aotearoa.
Pull me out and pin me up
EVENT CALENDAR
Winter / 2022
17
Two kids cruise for free with Black Cat Cruises in Akaroa
Encounter Hector’s dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, coastal birds and more. If you don’t see any Hector’s dolphins, you can cruise again for free. These school holidays two kids cruise for FREE per full paying adult.
blackcat.co.nz
Nowhere else in the country will you find such a wide range of New Zealand wildlife so close to you. This July, buy entry tickets online and receive a 30% discount when you use the promo code ‘thankyouchch’.
willowbank.co.nz
9-24 July
ferrymead.org.nz
Children are invited to embrace the experience of being an Edwardian child – dressing up, lighting the coal range and washing the clothes. To book, email education@ferrymead.org.nz. Plus, visit an array of amusements from the iconic Hay’s Rooftop Playground, and enjoy the colourful Kiwiana on show these holidays.
Family fun at Ferrymead Ferrymead Heritage Park, 50 Ferrymead Park Drive
northlands.co.nz
Design and create your own winter garden in a box. Take it home and plant it in spring to enjoy your flowers all summer. Bookings essential.
Flower Power at Northlands Northlands Mall
11-22 July
malthouse.co.nz
Can Sherlock Holmes solve the puzzle of the cake crumbs?
Sherlock Holmes - The Cake Crumb Caper, Malthouse Theatre, 71 Colombo Street
9-24 July (Saturdays and Sundays only, 11am and 1pm)
christchurchattractions.nz
ccc.govt.nz
July school holidays
paying adult. Use the promo code KIDSFEST22 to book your free child tickets online at:
display set to modern Kiwi classics. Enjoy kai from the local vendors onsite then watch the sky light up.
Great Midwinter Sale at Willowbank, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Rd
July 2022
courttheatre.org.nz
Potted Potter Court Theatre, Bernard Street Potted Potter takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into 70 hilarious minutes. Even if you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. Perfect for ages 6+.
2-30 July
CHRISTCHURCH
scifest.org.nz
packed with workshops, talks, and entertaining things to do for all ages. Many events are free or entry by donation. Check out the programme at scifest.org.nz and book now!
canterburyrams.basketball
Inspire your budding basketballer with this exciting doubleheader, with Mainland Pouakai playing at 5pm, and the Rams at 7:30pm.
Canterbury Rams and Mainland Pouakai Doubleheader, Christchurch Arena, 55 Jack Hinton Drive
23 July
riccartonplayers.co.nz
A traditional re-telling of this enchanting children’s classic.
Charlotte’s Web Rangi Ruru Drama Theatre, 16 Merivale Lane
15-23 July
christchurchattractions.nz
Jump on board the Christchurch Tram to experience the new extended route and explore the central city! With free entry for kids, all-day passes and 18 stops at family-friendly spots, it’s a great day out for families. Grab a Tram Safari map during KidsFest – see the KidsFest website for details!
Christchurch Tram
Showbiz.org.nz/ matilda-the-musical
Featuring an all-local cast, including some of New Zealand’s most talented child performers, Matilda will be THE show to see in Christchurch 2022!
Matilda – The Musical Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street
16 Sept - 2 Oct
ticketek.co.nz
Top Pick
With live music and circus acrobatics, this will be everything you hoped for, and all performed for you under the beautiful ITR dome – an incredible Shakespearience for you all!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street
TWEENS AND TEENS
Girls who like themselves
Researcher, writer and mum of two girls, KASEY EDWARDS explains that girls need to “have a power perspective” in order to thrive, and explains why praise can be problematic. By Kate Barber
K
asey and husband, Dr Christopher Scanlan, have written their tenth book together – Raising Girls Who Like Themselves in a world that tells them they’re flawed, driven by their aspirations for their own daughters. The pair outline the necessary characteristics of girls who like themselves and explain how parents can help instil and protect these. The first “foundational pillar” (of the seven they discuss in the book) is “having a power perspective,” which means that “she gets to decide if she’s okay, and she doesn’t give this power away,” says Kasey. Around the age of 10, girls become super aware of others’ perspectives, desperate to be validated and accepted, says Kasey. We tend to blame social media for our daughters’ preoccupation with fitting in and being liked, but Kasey says we set young people up for this from a very young age. “Every time we tell a girl to wear something else or force a girl to kiss their grandmother, we send a message that our opinions matter more.”
WIN!
18 Winter / 2022
Instilling a power perspective in girls means recognising that praise can be problematic. “Whenever they seek praise from us, we are telling them that our opinions are more valid than their own.” When we praise her for achieving a particular grade, for achieving the most goals in her netball game, for how she looks, Kasey says that we sew the seeds of insecurity because we send the message that her value is contingent on achieving a certain result, being better than someone else, or looking a certain way. As Kasey says, we can still praise, but “focus on the process, something she can replicate, rather than the result: ‘Wow, you worked really hard’ instead of, ‘Good work getting an A’. Focus on the process of learning – the marks take care of themselves.” Kasey says the book “aims to make parents’ lives easier” and that “everything in the book has been tested by their own complicated, imperfect family”.
We have ONE copy of Raising Girls Who Like Themselves to give away. FOLLOW US for your chance to win @familytimesnewzealand. Raising Girls Who Like Themselves by Kasey Edwards and Dr Christopher Scanlan. Penguin Life. RRP $40.
A new coaching initiative aimed at young female riders has taken off at the Christchurch Adventure Park.
TEAM KOHINE TAKES OFF
W
hether you’re an experienced mountain biker or keen to get your young charges hooked on the thrill of riding, the Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP) has trails to suit all ages and abilities. What’s more, CAP offers a range of coaching clinics during term time, along with school holiday programmes. Developed in response to the underrepresentation of young women in mountain biking, Team Kōhine is the latest offering at CAP. The all-girls initiative aims to provide a fun space for young women (aged 11-15) to ride together, hone skills, develop confidence and grow friendships. “It’s also about supporting young women to be comfortable in their own skin, while providing opportunities for leadership and teamwork,” says lead coach Robin Pieper. There are currently two “teams”: an advanced group focused on high-level riding and tackling some of the most challenging routes, and an intermediate group focused on gaining confidence and nailing the fundamentals. Within each “team”, girls mentor and learn from each other. While each session has a particular skills focus, from cornering and braking to jumping and technical terrain, play is a crucial aspect, and the girls have plenty of time riding together and practising their skills on the hillside. Robin says, “The enthusiasm each of these girls has for the sport is infectious – the laughter echoes across the Park.” Team Kōhine provides young women with a fun, safe outlet to challenge themselves physically, while expanding their social network. “The interest and response has been overwhelming,” says Robin.
christchurchadventurepark.com
Facial Beauty and A Smile to share – “The Non-Surgical, Non-Extraction way” Before
PAGE HEADER INVISALIGN
INVISALIGN
2020
2021
“We want to bring balance and facial symmetry to your child’s smile and face —helping them look and feel their best.”- Says Dr. Sachdev of Smilesville Dental
After
Early intervention Dentofacial Orthopaedics is based on treatment at a younger age. It works by guiding and developing the growth of the muscles, teeth and bone into the ideal shape and their relationship with each other in a “non-surgical, non-extraction” way, creating stable bites using postural changes. This treatment focuses on creating room to accommodate all the adult teeth, alleviate crowding and produce a more balanced facial profile. Guiding the growth of the jaws helps address and prevent overcrowded teeth and poor biting relationships between the upper and lower jaws. Normally this treatment can be done without the need for jaw surgery and without the need for tooth extractions. Dentofacial Orthopedic treatment not only creates a full profile and a wide natural smile, a more open airway (addressing breathing problems such as asthma, mouth breathing, snoring and sleep apnoea) but also promotes the healthy positioning of the jaw joints (TMJs).
Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient
Before
After
Early intervention allows focus on the growth, development and wellbeing of our younger patients along with straightening teeth before permanent teeth are set, thereby creating balance and facial symmetry. By using early orthodontics our goal is to maintain or provide space for permanent teeth so they grow in straight. This minimises the need for more extensive and painful intervention later. “We believe 6-8 years of age is the best time
to assess if your child would benefit from this treatment.”
If a child missed this age then get our free assessment immediately as earlier is still better than later in general.
Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient
Before
Smilesville offers the revolutionary Invisalign teeth straightening option of realigning teeth without the use of metal as it is a major advancement in the field of Orthodontics due to its invisible nature, hygiene maintenance, accuracy, design control and reliability of results. Smilesville offers Invisalign for kids, pre-teens, teens and adults. “We believe in minimally
After
invasive dentistry and Invisalign is the least invasive procedure for straightening teeth and getting an amazing Smile.” says Dr. Sachdev of Smilesville Dental Its major advantage is no wires to trap food and no manipulating toothbrushes around fixed wires, so it helps the wearer to maintain a high level of dental hygiene. Smilesville Dental was the first Invisalign platinum provider from Christchurch (and the whole of the South Island) and has more than 14 years Invisalign experience.
Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient
What Smilesville patients are saying
Smilesville Dental exclusively offers expert advice and treatments in advanced cosmetic dentistry, Smile design and full mouth reconstruction, implants, Invisalign and Orthodontics to give you an amazing Smile not only to Smile … but to Smile with Confidence.
Grant: “Competent , professional care with a laugh and a smile. Ruchika
looks after myself and two of my children. She is great with the kids, especially my youngest who can be a testing patient.”
Talk to the friendly staff at Smilesville Dental to transform your child’s face, jaws, teeth and life! Call 0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474)
Ruth: “Very happy with the good care taken of my children during their
orthodontics. Some nervous moments as the treatment involved an ‘ugly duckling’ phase but as a result they have fabulous smiles and we are all very pleased. Rusheka is very patient with people and accommodating and I recommend coming when your children are as young as 8 to be able to take advantage of the most options for their treatment.”
GET A FREE CONSULTATION NOW and see how Smilesville Dental can transform your child’s face, jaws, teeth and potentially lifestyle going forward!
Rachele:
“I have been with Smilesville Dental for the last 10 years. We are now up to child number 4 for orthodontic treatment. Ruchika and Sam have been amazing over this time. My husband and I also attend the clinic. Dentists are not my favourite place but this is the best pain free, friendly and quick service. I highly recommend Ruchika and her team.”
Call 0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474)
Leaders in Appearance dentistry • Orthodontics for adults, youth and children • Invisalign – The Invisible way to straighten teeth - First Ever Platinum Provider of the South Island treating with Invisalign for 14 years + • Free dental treatment for 13-18yr olds (OHSA conditions apply)
• Extreme Dental makeovers • Whitening • General Dental and complete Hygiene services • Implants • A specialist referral might be required in some cases • Best price Guaranteed
Shop 201, Westfield Riccarton Mall 131 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch
Located above ASB bank (best access via Lift in Farmers store)
0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474)
smilesville.co.nz Winter / 2022
19
GREAT OUTDOORS
Taranaki Maunga
Hillsborough Hideaway Luge
New Plymouth Coastal Walkway
TIME TO TAKE THE KIDS TO
Taranaki
A short 90-minute direct flight from Christchurch, you’ll find New Plymouth, Taranaki – the perfect holiday destination for the whole family.
F
amilies can get active along the awardwinning Coastal Walkway, a promenade extending 12.7km, with sculptures, cafés and playgrounds dotted along the way. Or, if you’re in the mood for speed and competition, head to Hillsborough Hideaway to take on the downhill luge course or Bathurst-themed mini-putt. Explore nature’s playground on Taranaki Maunga. Kids will be enchanted by the magical Goblin Forest, and delighted with the crystal-clear waters of Wilkies Pools, a series of natural plunge pools sculpted by lava flow over 20,000 years ago. If you’re looking for a family challenge for fit legs, try the 2-3-hour trek to the Pouakai Tarn. While there’s no shortage of sunny days in Taranaki – the sunniest region in New Zealand – sometimes a day indoors is needed. Take the
20 Winter / 2022
family to Bowlarama for ten-pin bowling, laser tag, arcade games and an 18-hole black light mini-putt course. Fun Ho! Toy Museum displays toys from the decades with live demonstrations of the toys being made. See the past revealed through the lifesize and scale model displays at Tawhiti Museum, and be enthralled by the underground boat ride at Traders & Whalers. Satisfy those hunger pangs at Marble’s Buffet, a firm family favourite, or head to Deluxe Diner for one of their famous freakazoid milkshakes. Upside Down Eatery has a relaxed ambience, or for a meal with a view, try Mountain Restaurant atop Taranaki Maunga. Discover all there is to see, do, eat and experience at taranaki.co.nz/visit
GREAT OUTDOORS
FUN and FREE in TARANAKI Accommodation, travel, food, excursions and extra ice creams… family holidays can be expensive. That’s why Taranaki was such a revelation for our family. We did something super fun every day, without spending a cent on entertaining the kids. Here’s what we did, so you can check it out too. By Sonia Speedy
BROOKLANDS ZOO DAWSON FALLS
We had an entertaining morning checking out capuchin monkeys, meerkats, parrots, kune kune pigs, alpacas, otters and capybaras (amongst other creatures) at Brooklands Zoo. Amazing value for the $0 price tag. What’s more, there’s a playground and you can buy coffee, too.
About an hour south of New Plymouth in the Egmont National Park is Dawson Falls or Te Rere o Noke. At the end of a short bushwalk is the 18-metre high waterfall. Also tucked in the bush is one of New Zealand’s oldest operational power generators, which had our kids asking plenty of questions and Dad busy explaining how it all worked.
PUKE ARIKI
Just waiting to swallow up the kids for a few hours is New Plymouth’s museum, Puke Ariki. Our girls were in a frenzy
THE WATERFRONT
rushing around the
Pack the bikes! We
‘Reef Alive!’ exhibition,
didn’t and regretted it.
spending ages playing on
The Coastal Walkway
the life-size boat.
hands-on exhibitions. They loved the ongoing
follows the sea edge along almost the entire
PUKEITI
length of New Plymouth.
About half an hour out of town is the Pukeiti Botanical
What impressed us was
Gardens, home to one of the world’s biggest
Kawaroa Park which
collections of exotic plants. The real headliner for us
has two big slides that
was the Kids Treehouse Trail. The kids followed the
look like they’re going
map completing fun nature-based tasks as they went.
to shoot your children
Open every day and totally free!
straight out into the sea.
DESTINATION AOTEAROA
CHRISTCHURCH TRAM Hop on board the Christchurch Tram to experience the new extended route and explore the central city! Kids go free on the heritage tramcars with a paying adult. There are plenty of family-friendly spots along the circuit – including Tūranga, Canterbury Museum and the Margaret Mahy Playground – making this an ideal activity for families to enjoy. Tickets are valid for hop-on, hop-off travel for one day to explore the 18 stops en route, with a yearly pass also available for frequent visitors. The Christchurch Tram is a fantastic option for both Canterbury locals and visitors to see the exciting changes in the central city. christchurchattractions.nz
HANMER SPRINGS ATTRACTIONS Get ready for action-packed fun at Hanmer Springs Attractions! There’s a great range of exciting and familyfriendly activities to suit all ages, including jet boating, river rafting, off-road buggy adventures and paintball, as well as quad biking, clay bird shooting and bungy jumping for adults. We are the only jet boat operator in Hurunui to be awarded a Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award, and we hold an Adventure Mark – both awarded by independent safety auditors. Find us above the Waiau River, only 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. There’s a viewing platform, on-site café and plenty of parking. See our website for great school holiday deals! hanmerspringsattractions.nz
Winter / 2022
21
GREAT OUTDOORS
IN THE MIDST OF A WINTER WONDERLAND
W
hether you’re planning the ultimate family adventure or a much-needed “escape” from daily demands and routines (and kids…), LQ Queenstown by Wyndham offers a range of contemporary rooms, modern amenities and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
Discovering Queenstown
Q
There’s an adventure playground of epic proportions down south, and our family recently discovered it. By Kate Barber
ueenstown is world-renowned for its adventure sports, yet our family hadn’t visited before.
While the girls are a bit young (and my threshold for thrills too low) for some of the extreme offerings like bungy jumping, quad biking, or paragliding, the area provides exciting experiences for all ages, and we had a blast! The gondola + chairlift + luge was a highlight. Ascending Bob’s Peak with the TSS Earnslaw gliding across Lake Wakatipu below and paragliders hovering alongside is a dream, while riding the luge is a real thrill and well worth getting the unlimited pass. We checked out the Time Tripper experience under the wharf – the girls were enthralled watching the enormous eels, trout and salmon. We also treated ourselves to ice-creams from Patagonia – because who can resist choosing your own ice-cream + coating + dipping? And we tucked into an enormous and delicious Ferg Burger and didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day. Puzzling World in Wanaka, with its head-spinning illusion rooms and maze, was another highlight – although our youngest had to “cheat” her way out of the maze (with me) and get hot chips. Then it was onto Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, which is not just for petrol heads or dads. The girls and I loved it! The go-carting was a blast. Riding tandem with my seven-year-old, it wasn’t until we clipped a corner that I realised she was steering as well, which she loved! The Highland’s ‘Loo with a View’ also appealed... With winter upon us, Queenstown is a magical place to hit the slopes, with ski fields to cater to every family group. We missed the snow this time but very much look forward to visiting again. 22 Winter / 2022
Positioned at the base of The Remarkables mountain range and overlooking the Kawarau River, the hotel celebrates the unparalleled beauty of its alpine surrounds, while offering guests a launching pad from which to explore all the activities the area has to offer. Located in Frankton, a short drive from the centre of Queenstown, LQ by Wyndham is a three-minute drive from the airport and the Remarkables Park town centre, which hosts a range of shops and restaurants as well as a pharmacy and supermarket. All guests have free unlimited Wi-Fi, 24-hour access to the hotel’s gym, and free on-site parking. With tasty food, great coffee, and an atmosphere that’s cosy and cool, The Original Eatery by Frank’s is worth checking out. If you’re keen to have a lie-in, you can pre-order a tasty, packed breakfast from Frank’s Pantry – the croissants with raspberry jam are melt-in-the-mouth scrumptious. On the ground floor, the independently owned Frank’s Market has a range of gourmet food and beverages, and barista coffee – let’s not forget that! With easy self-checkout for guests, it’s exciting to sneak down to this luxury market for your Duck Island “salted caramel” ice-cream or for a bottle of Roaring Meg Pinot Noir. The contemporary LQ by Wyndham sits in the midst of a winter wonderland that promises next-level excitement and adventure. Must be time to plan that escape. lqqueenstown.co.nz
FOOD
Better than take-out: CHICKEN AND CHIPOTLE TACOS
A DELICIOUS OPTION FOR FAMILY DINNER THAT THE KIDS WILL LOVE PREPARING, SHARING AND TUCKING INTO SERVES 4
Ingredients 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 red onion, peeled and sliced pinch of sea salt flakes 500 g lean chicken mince 1 x 400 g can black beans, rinsed and drained ¼ cup (60g) chipotle chillies in adobo sauce, chopped (a little kick) 1½ tsp sweet smoked paprika 12 small flour tortillas, lightly toasted store-bought tomato salsa, avocado salsa and coriander (cilantro) leaves, to serve (optional)
Method
Place the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the onion and salt and cook, stirring with a spatula for 3-5 minutes, until the onion is soft. Add the chicken mince and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is browned and cooked through, breaking up any lumps with your spatula as you cook. Add the black beans, chipotle chillies and paprika and cook for another 2 minutes. Divide the chicken mixture between the tortillas. Top with the tomato salsa, avocado salsa and coriander, then roll up to enclose the filling and dig in!
WIN! We have ONE copy of Basics to Brilliance to give away. FOLLOW US for your chance to win Recipe extracted from Basics to Brilliance Kids by Donna Hay. Published by HarperCollins, RRP $49.99.
@familytimesnewzealand.
Winter / 2022 23
KIWI KIDS
GET YOUR GLOW ON! Let your children enjoy the joys of glow after dark with Resene FX Nightlight, a waterborne glow-inthe-dark paint designed to shine after the lights have gone out. Glow in the dark by night, pale yellow by day. Simply apply 2-3 coats over a white basecoat, such as Resene Lumbersider, for optimum effect. Available from Resene ColorShops and selected resellers. resene.com/colorshops
MAKE A SPLASH Perfect for little hands, this compact, convenient and collapsible little pocket rocket BLUNT Metro umbrella is a winner for winter. With safety features including the patented BLUNT tips to eliminate sharp edges and a 360° spinning canopy to avoid damage when knocked or dropped, the Metro is perfectly sized to give kids coverage while not taking up too much space. bluntumbrellas.com
On the
bright side
Bird watching
Lively and whimsical, these baby mobiles celebrate our precious native birds, and will send little dreamers flying to far off places. Made using 100% New Zealand wool, choose from the piwakawaka, kotare, kea or tui. New designs out each month, including exotic and magical creatures. tiktakdesignco.com
LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE Kids will love snuggling up under this eye-catching Sunrise Quilt Cover, as they envision the fun that tomorrow will bring. Pair with a Sunrise Cushion and Harlequin Check Mustard Organic Sheet Set for a look that’s striking and warm. adairs.co.nz
HELP IS AT HAND GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN 0800 GRANDS (0800 472 637) grg.org.nz
SIDS AND KIDS 0800 164 455 | sidsandkids.org.nz
PARENT HELPLINE 0800 568 856 | parenthelp.org.nz
PERINATAL WELLBEING CANTERBURY perinatalwellbeing.org.nz
24 Winter / 2022
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
This is one of Otago Museum’s favourite science crafts. We hope you enjoy making it at home too!
HOMEMADE for little hands! LAVA LAMP WHAT YOU NEED
THE SCIENCE
+ A large glass jar
Water (as well as food colouring) and oil do not mix. This is because water is a polar molecule, with a positive charge one end and a negative charge the other. Water molecules stick together because the positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another.
+ Water + Food colouring, whichever colours, and as many as you like!
+ Vegetable oil (like canola, sunflower or soy) + A tablet of Alka-Seltzer, Berocca, or another kind of effervescent tablet (Alka-Seltzer works best)
INSTRUCTIONS Fill your jar with oil almost to the top, add a small amount of water to the jar, maybe just 3cm of water. Put a few drops of food colouring into the jar too. Now add your Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the fun!
An oil molecule is non-polar. Its charge is evenly balanced. This means oil molecules are more attracted to other oil molecules, and water molecules are more attracted to other water molecules, so the oil and water will not mix. Otago Museum has four new free exhibitions on now! One of these exhibitions shows the science of light and nanotechnology, especially for children. If you want to discover more amazing science, come and visit us and take a look in New Zealand’s biggest science centre while you are here. otagomuseum.nz
Christchurch’s Favourite Family PIZZA Restaurant
2 Waterman Place, Ferrymead
376 4900
pizzarepublic.co.nz
Winter / 2022 25
GET CRAFTY
Photographic MEMORIES With a phone bursting with family photos, mother of four STACEY WESLEY explores ways to manage the plethora of pics and celebrate the memories.
A
nyone else have a phone bulging at the seams full of photos that you never do anything with? Plus the “quality” ones on the expensive camera? Children love looking back at photos from when they were little. It triggers special memories and invites engaging chats. Here’s some creative ways to bring that nearly full storage on your phone to life.
PRINT YOUR PICS! Elsie, Stacey (author), Ruby, Ivy, Emerson and Blain
CAPTURE THAT PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENT So how do you avoid 700 photos of the same shot? If you’re trying to get a good photo of the small people, don’t bother busting your butt trying to line them up. Gather them together and then start chatting to them. Crack a joke, wait until they’re engaged with each other and then call out. Then click a couple of times, giving yourself a delete option. Natural always looks best when it comes to photos of children, so don’t shout “cheese!” There will almost always be the sibling that pulls a face, but who cares. As adults, we fondly remember and joke about those childhood days. 26 Winter / 2022
There are amazing apps now like Printicular and Fotofinish where you send photos straight from your phone and collect them the next day from your local Warehouse Stationery or get them posted. Done! Or some pharmacies or stores have the machines where you upload your images, and pop back in an hour to collect. There are also options to get photos printed onto mugs, posters, canvases and more.
SUPER SIMPLE PHOTO BOOK
Buy a cheap blank scrapbook. Get your child to help you cover with magazine cuttings or their own drawings. And then let them stick in some favourite snaps. Write a wee story and add a date beside each photo. These don’t take up much space on the shelf but offer hours of couch perusing. You could make a yearly one as a family, either online, or, if you’d rather avoid the glue stick – at sites like Snapfish or Photobox.
CLASSIC MONTAGE WALL
Source some funky frames, either new or secondhand. They quite often look better if they don’t match. You could always paint them to spruce them up. Fill with favourite memories. Consider printing some in black and white amidst the colour. Often black and white photos look crisper, especially closeups of people.
THE LEFTOVERS
If you print a pile and have leftovers, find a box that allows you to create a mini filing system where you can separate them and label or date them. Then it’s easy to flick back through if you’re on the hunt for something. Or just chuck them in without a filing system – the kids will love rifling through the box and selecting pics to adorn their own stories, posters and cards.
GET CRAFTY
Revive old frames and display those family snaps in style. By Kate Barber
F rame worthy YOU’LL NEED + Old picture frames of varying sizes and shapes. They’re a dime a dozen from the secondhand store – we got a box of 12 for $4.
+ Resene testpots. Choose 3 or 4 shades of the same colour to create an ombré effect.
+ Paintbrushes and an old cloth
INSTRUCTIONS 1. In 3 or 4 rows, arrange the frames how you want them to look on the wall. It’s a good idea to take a photo of the plan so you can refer to it once you start painting. We did four rows of 3-4 frames per row. 2. Carefully remove glass and backing and keep these aside – we put ours in numbered boxes so we could reacquaint glass and frame at a later stage. 3. One row at a time, start painting your Resene basecoats. For the top row, use the lightest shade. Progress row by row, with the darkest shade for the bottom row.
Resene Pale Leaf Resene Caper Resene Dingley Resene Clover
MIX IT UP Play with different painting techniques to combine different shades on a single frame. + For clean lines using more than one shade on a frame, use
masking tape.
+ For a more relaxed, multi-tonal look, paint a solid colour,
then sponge on other shades.
+ Try painting a solid basecoat, then flicking on the other
shades with an old toothbrush.
+ If you have an old frame with a pattern on it, try
sandpapering some of it off, then painting lightly across it for a distressed, layered look. We did this with one frame, and applied two shades of paint to it, then smudged the edges with an old cloth.
5. Find space to lay them all out and put in your photos.
For all your DIY projects, big or small, visit your nearest Resene ColorShop.
6. Hang on the wall.
resene.co.nz/colorshops
4. Wait to dry, then paint second coats. Leave overnight.
For this look, we used:
BEFORE
Winter / 2022 27
FUN ZONE
KIDS’ time
GET READY FOR MISCHIEF, MAYHEM, ACTION AND ADVENTURE PLUS KUNG-FU IN Minions: The Rise of Gru – IN CINEMAS FROM JUNE 30. WORD SEARCH Can you help the Minions find all 15 hidden words or phrases below by searching forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally!
BANANA STUART BOB GOGGLES OTTO DUNGAREES DAVE
We have 3 Minions: The Rise of Gru prize packs to give away. Prize packs include: a double movie pass, kid’s backpack, puffy stickers, notebook. FOLLOW US for your chance to win @familytimesnewzealand.
YELLOW BELLO SUPERVILLAIN KEVIN PAPOY CARL
GRU MINIONS BANANA STUART BOB GOGGLES OTTO DUNGAREES DAVE YELLOW BELLO ANSWERS SUPERVILLAIN KEVIN PAPOY CARL GRU MINIONS BANANA STUART BOB GOGGLES OTTO DUNGAREES DAVE YELLOW BELLO SUPERVILLAIN KEVIN PAPOY CARL
MINIONS
Y E L L O W S I M C S WM E A KQZ B TABSU L KE V I N A S V I T E UMH F D L I O N F T T DOOC S I MK I J V K SUHGQA PRUNBY L L V DAV E EDDRL J I B LRS GRBS SU I TR L JO I HE OT T BANANA V I LNE L P APM I GS TCCAOCSG ERNOCARGF P L S B FG T SUPERV I L L A I NTO ZDRDAE KE E BABANG REGE SEOBR F AK L JO O A N E Q S AMK E S J Y ON B BO B BON F G P A P O YW
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Y E L L O W S I M C S WM E A KQZ B TABSU L KE V I N A S V I T E UMH F D L I O N F T T DOOC S I MK I J V K SUHGQA PRUNBY L L V DAV E EDDRL J I B LRS GRBS SU I TR L JO I HE OT T BANANA V I LNE L P APM I GS TCCAOCSG ERNOCARGF P L S B FG T SUPERV I L L A I NTO ZDRDAE KE E BABANG REGE SEOBR F AK L JO O A N E Q S AMK E S J Y ON B BO B BON F G P A P O YW
GRU
DOT-TO-DOT Can you reveal the image below by joining the dots? Starting from 1, draw a line to the next number and so forth until the image is revealed. 45
46
47 48
44
29
28 27
31 25
33
21
17
72
65 74 75
64 63
76
62
78
60
37
57
59
79
58
80
16 14
73
77
61
56
19
15
55
34
36
22
20 18
54
35
24
23
71 66
53
38
32
70
51 52
39
26
69
67
50 42 41 40
30
68
49
43
81
13
82
12 10
84
11
86 9
7
88
6
8 5
3 4
28 Winter / 2022
2
1
87
83 85
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Co. Choose your
Winter / 2022 29
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Gemma McCaw: raising daughters & staying grounded We chat with former New Zealand Black Stick, women’s wellness advocate and mother GEMMA MCCAW about kids, family and coping with challenges.
Tell us about your delightful daughters.
Our 3-year-old Charlotte is a real character. She makes me laugh every day and teaches us patience with her multiple outfit changes that happen every day. She loves reading books, especially fairytales and never misses an opportunity to dress-up as her favourite characters, Rapunzel and Elsa. We do a lot of walks and bike rides, which she enjoys, especially when it ends up with a trip to the park. I love that she also enjoys playing with her baby sister Gracie, apart from when she takes her toys. Grace (11 months) has the most enormous, cheekiest grin, and her giggle makes our hearts melt. She’s really engaged with us all now with plenty of pointing, clapping, saying ‘Da-da’ and ‘Ma-Ma’. She has a toy bunny which she sleeps with and adores, almost as much as she loves smooshing blueberries into her face! She has a pram which she loves pushing around inside, and she’s just started standing and walking around furniture, so I think her first steps are imminent. She’s also a bit of a water baby and loves a splash in the bath. She absolutely adores her big sister, and puts up with getting her hair brushed and styled, and the big bear hugs.
What do you enjoy doing as a family?
We are definitely ‘active relaxers’, so both girls have been out and about from a young age. We love taking family bike rides to our local parks. I have a seat for Grace on my bike, and Rich has a shotgun seat for Charlotte. We also do plenty of walks together, especially around our beautiful local, Hagley Park. I’m originally from Mount Maunganui so we’ve been taking the girls to the beach since they were little, and they’ve been up the Mount a lot in the front pack, and with a few bribes and some carrying by Dad, Charlotte now walks up too. During the week, you’ll generally see us out and about for early morning coffee and fluffy dates with friends. We try and get away for weekends when we can, especially if we can time it around an adventure race for Rich and me, and we always make sure my mum is there to help too.
What do you think are the big challenges facing families these days?
I think the biggest issue we’re all facing is that we are more isolated than ever. It feels like a never-ending list of competing demands around work, family and life in general 30 Winter / 2022
and it can be really hard to get the balance right. We are often hyper-connected in a tech sense, but I worry that this is often at the expense of good, meaningful connections in person. We have become so reliant on technology and are contactable almost 24/7. This constant state of ‘busy’ and juggling multiple things means it’s harder than ever to disconnect properly so that we can genuinely connect with each other and be in the moment.
How do you cope with the hard parts to being a mum?
It’s true when they say being a mum is the most challenging yet most rewarding job in the world, and I definitely have some days that are harder than others. For me, two crucial things are sleep and exercise, which are also the most challenging to get. I can handle almost any challenge during my day if I’ve had a reasonable sleep – sleep deprivation impacts your ability to self-regulate and everything seems harder. The better we all sleep, the better we all show up, and that impacts everything else. The other thing is exercise. I know just 20 minutes can change the course of my day, but having two kids makes it even harder, so I have to prioritise it each day. Like any parent, I really struggle seeing my babies sick and try to wrap them up in cuddles and love. Of course, there’s also the adjustment to having much less time for yourself when you’re a parent but I try to remember that they’re not little forever and to make the most of the small moments because they’re actually the big ones.
LITTLE EXPLORERS LOVE THE
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT... From Penguin s, petting Huskies , the Storm Dome and best of all the Hagglu nd ride. A great adventu re for the whole family.
THE STAFF WERE GREAT, THE EXHIBITIONS WERE REALLY WELL SET OUT, MY SON LOVED THE PENGUINS. It was a gre at exp erie nce for our two chil dre n! & us. We love d it .
SO KID-FRIENDLY! GR8 EXPERIENCE FOR ALL ACTUALLY! A MUST DO!
Full of interest ing exhibits and activitie s and new experie nces and easily fill in 2 hours or more. A great day for kids and adults.
GREAT FUN FOR KIDS AND FAMILY. I ENJ OY SPEC IALLY THE SNOW STORM AND 4D XPERIENCE.
ICEBERG.CO.NZ Winter / 2022
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