summer 2018/19 - issue forty four
healthy goals for the new year
10 life admin tasks to tackle in January
20 free ways to entertain the kids this school holidays
How to use a paper planner
9 easy eco switches
The lowdown on charitable donations and tax deductions
PLUS...
The unwanted gift dilemma Back to school tips and organisation Fab Summer reads And much more...
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Editor’s letter
Image by Hipster Mum, www.hipstermum.com
W
ow, can you believe that we are in 2019 already? This is a big year for us with my eldest starting big school. It feels like I blinked and the baby who I was just holding in my arms is now this grown up girl with opinions and ideas.
So with a big change coming up for my family this year I have decided to move Kid Magazine to a quarterly publication schedule. You will still receive the same amount of quality content to help you in your mum life but it will now be condensed into four issues per year.
Cover image: Elise Garner, www.lecoco.com.au
On the subject of change and plans for the year ahead, this issue is packed with content to help you nail your goals for 2019 and create your best year yet. But I also wanted to say that you don’t need to buy into the hype of bigger and better and living a perfect life. Life isn’t perfect. It is full of ups and downs, celebrations and disappointments. Some days all you can do is focus on putting one foot in front of the other and that is ok. The best wisdom I have taken on with the clarity that age brings is “you do you”. Keeping up with the Jones’ is so overrated. Enjoy life in the moment and work towards goals that will bring happiness and fulfilment into your life. I hope that 2019 is a magical year for you and your family and I can’t wait to share the ride with you.
Copyright © Kid Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher, Kid Magazine. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions within. Opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. The information within should not be considered as personal advice. Some links contained within may be affiliate links so we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. For all editorial and advertising enquiries please email sara@kidmagazine.com.au
Sara
Editor and Chief Kid sara@kidmagazine.com.au kidmagazine.com.au
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take a peek inside
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06 14 healthy goals for the new year
interiors queen
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08 summer reads
16 10 life admin tasks for january
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mouse house
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your most organised christmas
18 20 free school holiday ideas
organisation goals
12 summer of wine
22 how to use a paper planner charitable donations and tax deductions
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Also... Editor’s Letter Mindful moments Eco switch The unwanted gift dilemma Understanding ADHD A day at the beach Road safety for kids Back to school School hair Primary school reflections
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shop where the cool kids shop
With the plethora of online businesses popping up all over the web, knowing where to shop can be the hardest decision you need to make. We’ve done the leg work for you and tracked down some of the hippest places to shop for you and the kids. Whether you are after funky party supplies, new maternity clothes, a fabulous photographer or toys for the kids, you will find it all plus more in the new Kid Magazine DIrectory. Want to find out how you can join the directory? Email sara@kidmagazine.com.au for the details on our affordable packages.
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How to use a paper planner kidmagazine.com.au 12
Image: DepositPhotos.com/Igishevamaria
Do you want to start next year feeling more organised, more productive and a whole lot calmer? Mim Jenkinson found her life changed in so many ways when she started using a paper planner and now she teaches others how to integrate this old school planning method into their lives. I’ve always loved planning, particularly list-making. Same? Creating a To Do list of everything I needed to get done has kept me organised at school, college and work throughout my whole life. I love the satisfaction of checking everything off as I complete my tasks and I’m motivated to do more to recreate that feeling time and time over. When I was expecting my first baby, I used a planner to journal my symptoms, plan my appointments and make lists of all of the things we needed to do and buy before the baby arrived.
It can be a bit overwhelming to know how to start planning and which one to choose. I can help you! And I want to share my passion for planning with you and how it’s changed my life in so many positive ways. I’ve designed a course with ten short modules on how to use a planner and I know you’ll find them super informative and helpful too.
I also use my planner to stay focused, organised and hitting goals at work.
In the full course, you will learn: • Why I use a paper planner to stay organised • Which one is right for you • When and how to use your planner for ultimate success • All of the different ways you can use your planner to organise your life • How to develop your own planning ‘style’ • Planner must haves and accessories • How to organise (and even decorate!) your planner
My planner keeps almost every aspect of my life in check and as the saying goes, “if it isn’t written down, it isn’t happening”.
I’m confident that you’ll find a passion for planning too – and you’ll also start to feel a lot less overwhelmed and a lot more organised!
I’m not sure whether it’s having kids, being a lot busier or just getting older, but I just can’t retain information the same way as when I was younger. A paper planner is now an essential part of my life.
Are you ready to join me in finding your planning style? You can get the first class in the course for FREE! Sign up here and get started immediately.
I continued planning to organise my new family – I’d really misjudged the leap from only having to keep myself organised to keeping the whole family on track!
Happy Planning! Taking 15 minutes out of my week to plan for the week ahead, decorating my planner, ticking off lists – well, it’s the ultimate therapy for me too. In fact, I would go as far as to say that using my planner is part of my ‘me time’ and self-care for the week.
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It’s doubly beneficial because I love taking the time to plan and using my planner creates even more time for me to do other things! But which planner IS the right one for you? Planning has become quite trendy recently – with more and more people choosing paper planners over digital ones. And there is so much choice out there now when it comes to choosing the right planner for you.
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Mim Jenkinson is a mother of two who believes that being a good enough mum doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. She shares simple solutions to help busy mums get stuff done and have more time to spend with their families, growing their businesses and on themselves.
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summer reads
A selection of fiction to escape into and non-fiction for a thought-provoking holiday read.
1 Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, bookdepository.com 2 The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton, bookdepository.com 3 Fed Up by Gemma Hartley, bookdepository.com 4 Boys Will be Boys by Clementine Ford, bookdepository.com 5 The Cactus by Sarah Haywood, bookdepository.com 6 A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult, bookdepository.com 7 Becoming by Michelle Obama, bookdepository.com 8 The Necessary Marriage by Elisa Lodato, bookdepository.com 9 Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon, bookdepository.com kidmagazine.com.au 14
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MUM MERCH Been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it!
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Summer of Wine Summer has arrived. Whether you need wine for a summer feast or relaxing by the pool on those long balmy days, Suzan Temizer from Three Bids Do Wine has curated the quintessential list of summer wines for easy drinking, with a mix of boutique cellar doors and local bottle shop finds.
Rosé Step aside Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio, Rosé is the queen of summer bringing a refreshing versatility in style from sweet to dry pairing beautifully with summer cuisine like seafood. Opening up a Rosé is simply the best way to crush the summer heat. We embrace the traditional pale and racier Provençal style growing in popularity in Australia.
James and Co Wines 2017 Beechworth Sangiovese Rosé (VIC) $24 A pure, elegant yet vibrant Rosé with hints of strawberries kidmagazine.com.au 18
and cream is still refreshing, and too easy to drink with or without food. It’s effortless and our absolute summer favourite at Three Birds HQ. We recommend grabbing a case of six!
Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills Pinot Rosé (SA) 2018 $18 Pinot is the variety behind many of great Rosé wine. Like the Beechworth, Adelaide Hills has the perfect cool climate to produce the Pinot Rosé. Fresh and lively with lifted strawberry aromas it’s not too sweet with layered savoury finish. This seems to be a favourite with Rosé drinkers and now we know why.
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La Planchelière Cabernet d‘Anjou Rosé (France) $13 This crowd pleaser is typical of a Provençal Rosé with a little sweetness and crisp finish. Easy on the palate and the pocket, making it that great all-rounder when you need to entertain and delight. Need a Rosé with bubbles? We got you covered. The sparkling version is available.
White 1813 Fiano (Hunter Valley) $30 Unlike anything else, the Fiano is imbued with characteristics of hazelnuts, honey and ripe melon with a refreshingly citrus finish. It’s a unique style of white enjoyed by Italians and once you try it, it will be as though you’ve thrown on a head scarf, jumped on a scooter and taken a scenic ride of the Amalfi. This is the Italian seaside in a bottle. Delizioso!
Scarborough Obsessive Chardonnay (Hunter Valley) $40 We love all things chardonnay by this estate, especially the Yellow Label, which is perfect for summer drinking, but for an extra special lunch gathering with servings of salmon, tuna and pork we highly recommend the Obsessive Chardonnay. Deep floral bouquet, buttery nougat with peach, touches of pineapple and caramel. You will have joyful sighs at the table and guests pining for more.
Tamburlaine Organic Wines Reserve Orange Fume Blanc 2017 (Hunter Valley) $33 Not quite a Chardonnay, not quite a Fiano, the Fume Blanc is a bright, elegant sauvignon blanc with more lemon curd than lemon, more tropical fruits than citrus simply with that gorgeous French oak that lingers. It’s like a worldlier, well-travelled, seasoned Sauvignon Blanc that has come home to share stories of abroad. facebook.com/threebirdsdowine
Broke Estate Barbera 2017 (Hunter Valley) $26 If your prefer reds all year round, there is still a way to enjoy during the warmer months. We simply adore the voluptuous and fervid Barbera that pairs with just about everything. Velvety and fruit driven, pop this wine in the fridge and served chilled together with ice cream for a transformative journey from first breath to the last drop. Not a drop less than spectacular!
Sparkling Cave de Lugny Cremant Blanc de Blancs NV 750mL (France) $16 The perfect hack for French champagne. Cremant is the traditional method used outside of the Champagne region but true to the style. Soft, creamy and effervescent, surprisingly complex for its price tag. Add a nip of Chambord liqueur for a little extra drama.
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Australia’s women of wine.. We love all things wine. We are passionate about curating great wine and experiences, and sourcing boutique wines from all over Australia to share as gifts hampers for wine lovers. We work intimately with wineries to expand their business, and bring cellar door events, wine tours, luxury bridal showers, charity wine events, and our wine accessories like our fabulous folding wine tables.
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Healthy Goals For the New Year If improving your health and fitness is on the agenda for the year ahead, Sam Wood shares his tips for sustainable and achievable goal setting. If you are one of these people that has found that New Years Resolution or Goal Setting hasn’t worked terribly well in the past, I’m going to throw you a curve ball. The reason so many resolutions don’t work is we are too focused on unrealistic results and the time frame is simply too long. So, if you’re still with me and nodding along, this is what I want you to do in 2019. Set yourself a 28 day process based goal. When you focus on what you do rather than the results that you get, I promise the results will come. A simple but very effective example would be: Print out a blank calendar for the month and cross out each day that you move your body for at least 15 minutes and ensure that you have at least 20 crosses in the first 28 days of January. 28 days really is the magic number. It’s short enough to stay focused and keep our eye on the prize but long enough to see results. Once you reach the end of your first 28 day block, reward yourself, set a new 28 day goal and go again. You’ll be off to a different but very successful start in 2019.
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Did you know that 196 children have been killed in road accidents since 2014? Or that traffic injury is the biggest killer of children under 15y? Or that if a pedestrian is hit at 60kph there is an 85% chance of death? These are sobering statistics for a parent to read at anytime of the year, but as RenĂŠe Meier explains, around the holiday season when we need to be particularly mindful about road safety and children.
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School is out and there are plenty of kids about! It is no coincidence that the time of year when families are holidaying, celebrating and generally out and about spending time together is the most dangerous. It is also the time of year when we are most distracted. There are people to visit, sights to see and experiences to have. Parents everywhere are herding excited children to and from parks, beaches, shops and homes, often in unfamiliar environments. With so much going on, it can be so easy to lose sight of a small child in the blink of an eye. The family of 4.5 yr old Tom McLaughlin know this harsh reality firsthand. Their young son, who had been taught the importance of road safety, tragically stepped out onto the road in front of a 4wd whilst on a beach holiday with their family. Horrifyingly, Tom died of his injuries at the scene of the accident. The car that struck him was only travelling at 50 kpm. To raise awareness that this tragic accident can happen to anyone, Tom’s parents created the Little Dinosaur Foundation . Each year they campaign to raise the profile of child pedestrian safety.
m A higher likelihood of being distracted and being unaware of imminent danger. These factors raise the risk of an accident occurring quite significantly. Which is why an adult should always accompany and actively supervise children until 8 when they’re anywhere near a road. Other tips to ensure children’s safety whilst near roadways include: m Teach your child to always hold hands with an adult when crossing the road. m Ensure they hold onto your pram, stroller, bag, trolley or a piece of your clothing if your hands are full. m Walk between your child and the edge of the road. m Teach them to minimise distractions near roads, such as putting away devices and taking headphones off so all senses can focus on their surroundings. m Teach them to stop before each driveway to ensure no cars are entering or exiting. m Talk about what different road signs mean, identify safe places to cross together and reinforce the STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, THINK procedure.
Their message is simple: It’s Holiday Time: Slow Down Kids Around
Most importantly, parents need to model good road safety and awareness around children. As with anything, they will learn more from what you do than what you say!
But their campaign is not just directed at drivers. The Little Dinosaur Foundation want parents, children and other road travellers to understand how vulnerable little people are on and around roadways.
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This is because children have physical, perceptual and cognitive limitations around roads. It isn’t until the age of 8 that children start to recognise differing roadways and become more confident in coping with changes in the traffic environment. In fact, until the age of 10, children have: m A limited ability to understand each element of the complex (and constantly changing) road environment m Difficulty determining the origin of sound when a car is approaching m A longer reaction time to sudden changes in the traffic environment or even to a verbal signal such as “Stop!”
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Renée Meier is a freelance writer, aspiring novelist and mother to three rambunctious children. When she’s not being distracted by social media or drinking copious amounts of coffee, Renée can be found wandering along one of her beautiful local beaches with her two dogs. Her lifelong dream is to earn enough money to afford a housekeeper.
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20 FREE ways to entertain the kids this school holidays The school holidays are here and budgets are tight but that doesn’t mean you are in for a holiday soundtrack of “I’m bored!”. Sara Keli has come up with 20 activities you can do with the kids these school holidays that are absolutely free!
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Check your local council Councils often run free activities for kids over the school holidays so check your local council to see what they are offering.
Decorate cupcakes or cookies Lay out the icing and decorations to let them go nuts. They can also help you bake, but depending on their age, may not have the patience to wait until they have cooked and cooled before they can start decorating them!
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Spend the day at the beach Pack some lunch, snacks and water and head to the beach. Pick a beach with a park nearby and your day will be sorted. Don’t forget the hats, sunscreen and a change of clothes for the trip home.
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Pack a picnic lunch Head to the park with your picnic basket and packed lunch. The kids can run around while you enjoy the sunshine!
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Make pizza Making pizza is actually perfect for kids. Once the dough is made (get them to help you with the kneading!) cut off a little bit for them to play with- it’s just like play dough! They also love choosing the toppings for the pizza and are more likely to eat it if they’ve made it themselves.
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Camp out in the backyard If you don’t fancy the idea of heading to a campsite but want to give the kids the experience of camping, try it out in your own backyard. Borrow gear from a friend and enjoy a night under the stars with the kids.
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Have a water fight Turn on the sprinklers, fill the water balloons and prime the water pistols – it’s game on!
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Fly a kite The satisfaction of flying a kite should not be underestimated. If you don’t have a kite you can try making your own first.
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Wear in the new school shoes
Have a family dinner party
Not the most exciting school holiday activity but really important to do. You could even make a game of it by having a daily school shoe running race.
Science experiments It’s amazing what a little bicarb soda and vinegar reaction can do to pique the interest of little minds.
Teach them a handicraft The longer school holidays are the perfect time to pass on a craft skill to your kids. Whether it is sewing, knitting, French knitting, crochet, scrapbooking or something else altogether, they will love spending the time with you.
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Paint a canvas Pick up a big canvas from the craft store and get painting. You could do it all in one day or add a little each day. It will also serve as a beautiful memory of the holidays.
Set up a home bowling alley All you need is a few empty water bottles and a ball plus a hallway and you have your own bowling alley for hours of fun.
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Write a book It could be a book about your school holiday adventures together or something completely fictional. Get them to write and illustrate the book and you could even get a copy printed up as a photo book at the end!
Get dressed up as though you are going out for dinner, turn off the TV, perhaps play some soft music and even light some candles to create a restaurant atmosphere at home. This is not only a cheaper alternative to eating out but it feels special and can be a good intro to restaurant dining for your kids.
Play board games The list wouldn’t be complete without a classic family board games night. Let your competitive streaks shine and battle it out on the game board.
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Run a car wash Washing cars can actually be really fun, especially when you are a kid. Have your family members or neighbours bring their cars around and get the kids to wash them and they can even earn a little bonus pocket money.
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Create your family time wish list for the year A really beautiful thing you can all do as a family is to sit down once a year and decide what you want to do as a family that year. Your list could include dream holiday destinations or local attractions you want to visit together. You might not get to all of them but it gives you some structure for the year with activities that you all want to do. For 21 more school holiday activity ideas visit kidmagazine.com.au/easy-school-holiday-activities
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Do a puzzle Puzzles are so therapeutic. Setting yourself a challenge to complete the whole puzzle in the school holidays will also keep you on track and give the kids a real sense of achievement at the end.
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Make your own obstacle course To create your own Ninja Warrior style obstacle course in the backyard (or even the living room) you can simply use furniture and items from around the house. Mountains of pillows or couch cushions, chairs, stools, stepladders, you are limited only by your imagination. Just remember to be safe! facebook.com/kidmagazine
Sara Keli is the Editor of Kid Magazine. When she isn’t writing, designing or creating, you can find her enjoying the sunshine on her back deck with her two daughters or escaping into a good book.
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