Kids on the Coast Magazine - Sunshine Coast - Issue 54 by Shore Media

plus Holidays, Parties, What's on Calendar and Lots more!

Contents JanuaryFebruary2013

4 4 7 8 16 18

From the Editor The Power of the Positive CHECK THIS OUT: New, fun and funky things FEATURE: The Adoption Journey NEW TO THE COAST THE ‘P’ FILES: Is Emotional Intelligence more

important than Self Esteem? 26 EDUCATION: Classroom Calming: Bringing meditation to schools 36 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Find out what’s happening on the Coast

BABIES ON THE COAST: Signs to take seriously: serious health problems in newborn babies ONLY NATURAL: Recycling: Engaging the environmental custodians of the future

50 IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU! 56 GOOD HEALTH: Autism 62 LET’S CELEBRATE: Slumber Party Politics 64 HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Sydney Family Escape 74 REVIEWS

during January and February

Editorial contributions for Issue 54: Sandra Smith, Dr. Julian Paxton, Belinda Hopper, Janet Sparrow, Deborah Whiteoak, Aleney De Winter, Chaley-Ann Scott

COVER: Photography - Kimberley Pederson. Outfit courtesy of Evolve, Peregian Beach and Appleseed Lane, Caloundra. A very special thank you to our cover star Nelson.

Kids on the Coast magazine is printed with vegetable/soy based inks on paper supplied using pulp sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured to environmentally accredited systems. Kids on the Coast encourages recycling. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

PUBLISHED BY: THINGS 4 KIDS PTY LTD. PO Box 491, Eumundi QLD 4562 PHONE: 1300 430 320 FAX: 07 5471 2372 WEB: www.kidsonthecoast.com.au ABN: 86 473 357 391. All editorial and advertising in Kids on the Coast is published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Kids on the Coast is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Feedback/comments/suggestions? Send to: editorial@kidsonthecoast.com.au. We aim to reply to all correspondence but don’t guarantee to do so. Letters to the editor may be edited for length or clarity. PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Simone Bell EDITOR: Jackie Goldston EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Sandra Smith, ChaleyAnn Scott, Jackie Goldston, Gary Hands, Dr Sarah Lantz, Aleney de Winter ADVERTISING: For advertising enquiries please phone 1300 430 320 or email: advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY: Speak with your advertising coordinator or email: advertising@ kidsonthecoast.com.au Production Department: Email: production@kidsonthecoast.com.au ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger DISTRIBUTION: Kids on the Coast (Sunshine Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 20,000 copies from Caloundra to Noosa and through the hinterland. Separate edition covers the Gold Coast. For distribution enquiries please phone: 1300 430 320 or email: admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kimberley Pederson & Alana Falk january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

13 for 20

Welcome to

kidsonthecoast Did you make a New Year’s resolution? As always, I resolved not to make a resolution… With nearly 50% of us making one on the night and the majority giving up before the end of February I decided that I wanted to make 2013 about being positive. I have no specific resolution other than to look at things in a more positive manner. So with this in mind, the Kids on the Coast team have kicked off a positive start to the New Year right here on this page! In this edition we are also exploring the importance of self-esteem and emotional intelligence and how the two interplay and yet are so very different in the roles they play in our children’s development. We discover the benefits of mediation for children and how this can be integrated into a school situation as well as examine the benefits of teaching our children about recycling and the impacts of how environmental and nature-based activities during childhood can shape future environmental attitudes and behaviours. Our feature story this edition talks to couples who have chosen for various reasons to adopt and share their amazing and worthwhile experiences, despite the unexpected twists and turns along the way.

PowerofthePositive

The KOTC team are starting the New Year on a positive note and sharing words that have inspired them:

“I am” and “I can”: are some of the most powerful words, for what you put after them can shape your reality and influence the choices your children make.” Adapted by Jackie, Editor

“You will always be your child’s favourite toy” shared by Kimberley, Designer

"I am an idealist I don't know where I am going but I am on my way"

I would love to hear what you think of our magazine. All of our articles are online and you can comment and discuss the topics on our website. Please feel free to contact me via Facebook.com/ kidsonthecoast, our website or email. And of course, keep an eye out for the stories, reviews, news and competitions that are added almost daily to our website!

Jackie Goldston Editor

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

shared by Louisa, Advertising

There is no way to be a perfect mother.... but a million ways to be a good one. shared by Toni, Publisher

“Each day is a gift. Don’t send it back unopened” shared by Alana, Designer

“This year I am focusing on fun. Fun for me and fun for my kids. I am sure that life was meant to be full of fun!” shared by Renee, Advertising

“Sometimes what you want isn’t what you get, but in the end, what you get is so much better” shared by Kellie, Admin

“Motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you are not sure what the right thing is yourself, and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong” shared by Simone, Associate Publisher

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Whatsnews

Stay up to date with your local community news. If you have any unique news that you’d like to share, please contact our editor on editorial@kidsonthecoast.com.au

Gallery of Modern Art:

for Kids

Kids’ APT7 at GOMA in the Art Gallery in Brisbane features 13 interactive art works by exhibiting artists especially for children and families. There is something to delight the senses and inspire the minds of all children. From mask making and recycling to animation, the new exhibition offers a rich participatory experience and is curated to provide meaningful insights into contemporary art created across Asia, Australia and the Pacific region. Acting Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek explained “Kids’ APT gives young audiences and families access to contemporary art in an educational and fun way, and this year, through Kids’ APT on Tour, children in 80 regional centres will also experience the terrific APT7 artist projects”. Entry to GOMA is free.

Bravehearts

Give your child a head start to their education by enrolling them in a Queensland Government-approved kindergarten program. Children’s entertainer Jay Laga’aia is supporting the Queensland Government’s commitment to ensuring all four year olds across the state have greater access to a government-approved kindergarten program. They’ll be taught by qualified early childhood teachers in the year before Prep for at least 600 hours a year, usually 15 hours a week for 40 weeks. Children who take part in a quality kindergarten program are better prepared for school thanks to the learning opportunities, experiences and friendships they enjoy at kindy. Fees apply and are set by individual services. For more information about kindergarten visit: www.qld.gov.au/kindy or call 1800 4 KINDY (1800 454 639).

child safety initiative to reach all Aussie kids

Did you know?

rabbits like licorice? the average person falls asleep in 7 minutes? the Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters?

National child protection advocate Bravehearts has launched a breakthrough safety initiative as it seeks to educate all Australian kids about the dangers of sexual assault. The Ditto in a Box education pack teaches personal safety skills and underpins children’s instinctive understandings and feelings around their personal safety in a way that is non-confronting, safe and highly effective. Stephens College at Coomera became the first school in Australia to implement the education pack into its program with the assistance of Rob Molhoek, Assistant Minister for Child Safety and Member for Southport; and Detective Superintendent Cameron Harsley, Child Safety Director at Queensland Police Service. Developed to complement the Personal and Social Capability Criteria of the Australian National Curriculum Version 3.0, it is focused on providing children with protective factors to build resiliency and empower them when faced with unsafe situations. For more information visit www.bravehearts.org.au.

Targeting Salt A new Australian study has found that targeting salt intake may be a better way to head off the obesity epidemic in kids and prevent them from reaching for a sugary drink in the first place. "In addition to the known benefits of lowering blood pressure, salt reduction strategies may be useful in childhood obesity prevention efforts," concluded the researchers from the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research at Deakin University in Sydney. The researchers tracked the eating and drinking habits of 4,200 Australian kids who were between 2 and 16 years old. They found kids who took in the most salt through their diets also took in the most sugary drinks in the study.

Enrol your child now for kindy!

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

26th January

Express your national pride and celebrate Australia Day Thousands of people are expected to join in Sunshine Coast Council’s Australia Day community party at Kings Beach on 26 January to celebrate Aussie-style. A great day of family fun is planned from 7am to 2pm with entertainment to suit all tastes and ages along with BBQ’s, busking and games. This free public event is a great way to celebrate safely and responsibly and will be an alcohol and glass free event. Take advantage of the special event free parking at both the Transit Centre in Cooma Terrace and in Queen Street near the Caloundra High School. A free shuttle bus will run continually from 9am until 3pm with stops at the Transit Centre, Kings Beach Amphitheatre and Queen Street (in front of high school). For more information on Australia Day events, car parking visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Checkthisout 2

3 4

6 1. Lotta: Space edition: Developed for 5-10 year old kids with 60 pages of art, craft, cooking, play and activities inspired by stars, planets, rockets, aliens and astronauts. RRP $10 from www.lottamagazine.com or selected retailers 2. Smooze!: Yum! Escape the heat with a 100 per cent natural Smooze Fruit Ice. Box of 10 / RRP $6.49 from supermarkets/ independent grocers 3. OTI month, shopping and meal planner: From the desk to the kitchen, keep organised with the simple, yet smart planners. From $9.95 at www.oti.net.au and selected retailers 4. ArtRooms: ArtRooms takes that amazing collection of your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drawings, scribbles and paintings and turns them into a collaged masterpiece. From $200 at www.artrooms.com.au 5. Stichtagram Pillow: Design your own Instagram throw pillow, great quality with a beautifully soft textured black denim envelope closure-style back. USD$68 from www.stitchtagram.com 6. Hair Chalk: The coloured chalk hair sticks easily rubs onto your hair and best of all it washes out with your next shampoo. From $8.95 http:www.hairchalk.com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

january / february 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kids on the Coast

Feature

the adoption journey Welcoming a new child into the family is a joyful time for adoptive parents, but it often comes after a long and difficult adoption journey. Couples who choose the adoption pathway say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all worthwhile in the end, despite the unexpected twists and turns along the way.

by Sandra Smith

strong relationship is vital for couples considering adoption, because they go through a rigorous process that includes background and medical checks, assessments and social worker visits.

and many expenses when the adoptee is born overseas. There are also increasingly stringent guidelines to protect children and their families against the risks of illegal or irregular intercountry adoptions.

Adoption provides permanent care for children who are unable to live with their birth families, so there is a trail of paperwork and a list of criteria to be met. Applicants can expect long wait times

Adoption trends In 2010-11 there were 384 finalised adoptions across Australia, the lowest annual number on record, according to an Australian Institute of

Health and Welfare (AIHW) report. This is a decrease of 96% since 1971-72, when 9,798 adoptions were recorded. These figures reflect the decline in the number of children who need adoption and are legally able to be adopted. Increased social support for young single mums, as well as declining birth rates, more effective birth control and alternative legal orders have all contributed to the reduccontinued on next page...

Kids on the Coast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January / february 2013

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The driving force for Candice is her son, 5 year old Kwan. Kwan was adopted from Korea when he was 9 months old. Like all working mums, Candice has to juggle her time between work commitments and being a single mum. She finds time management to be the key and lives by the advice she gives her clients ….surround yourself with a good team. Garland Waddington focusses on each client’s specific needs to provide high quality family and relationship law advice, in a manner which is sensitive, realistic, timely and cost effective. Please contact Candice Rosborough, family law solicitor, for your initial 30 minute FREE consultation. Phone 5443 4866 or email crosborough@gwlaw.com.au

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Feature

tion in the number of Australian adoptions. This means there are now fewer children requiring adoptive placements than couples seeking to adopt a child. In Queensland, adoption has steadily declined in recent years and in 2010-11 there were just 40 adoptions, consisting of 35 children from overseas and five local children. This is a significant reduction from the early 1970’s when there 1,458 annual adoptions in Queensland. Intercountry adoption numbers have fluctuated over the last two decades, and have been the most common type of adoption in Australia since 1999-00, however, these figures are also declining steadily, due to economic and social changes that allow children to remain with their birth family or be adopted in their country of origin. This decline has made it much more difficult for prospective adoptive parents, who now face long wait times and complex procedures. For intercountry adoptions, the wait times depend on where the adoptive families live and which country they choose to adopt from. While some families may move through the process quickly, the average wait is four to seven years and may take up to twelve years. The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (DCCSDS) states that in Australia the adoption timeframes depend on matching a couple’s capabilities to the needs of a child. The wait time for intercountry adoptions is determined by the overseas agency that accepts a couple’s file, and the Australian government is unable to have any influence on these timeframes. Some overseas partner countries also have specific eligibility criteria regarding the adoptive parents’ age and marital status, as well as infertility requirements or restrictions on family size.

Rianne and her family

“You don’t think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and then you get the photo and all the work was worth it,”

continued on next page...

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• Large play structure • On-site cafe • Free wi-fi Bring your SockS

Opening hours: Mon - Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am – 4pm Website: www.skidaddle.com.au Email: info@skidaddle.com.au Twitter: @skidaddle_kids Facebook: skidaddlekids

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

5438 2412

KOTC Competitions don’t miss out

on your chance to win some fabulous prizes! visit our page to see our new competitions www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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The child care centre in Buderim that has the best interests of your children at heart We are a well-established family owned and operated centre, centrally located providing care to children in a happy learning environment, where each child has the opportunity to reach their full potential, promoting the love of self; love of others; and the love of learning. at Gumnuts We oFFer: • Positive play based learning environments • Approved Government funded Kindergarten Program • High quality care from long serving qualified & dedicated staff for children from 6 weeks to school age openinG hours: Monday - Friday 6.30am - 6.30pm

Let our family help look after yours! For more information about joining the Gumnuts community in 2013 please contact: Gumnuts ChildCare 58 - 60 Buderim Pines Drive,Buderim QLD 4556 t: 07 5476 9022 e: info@gumnutschildcare.com.au W: www.gumnutschildcare.com.au

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Feature

“We don’t see race, we don’t see colour, we see our children playing happily,” Rianne and her family “Overseas programs increasingly seek adoptive placements for older children, sibling groups and/ or children with highly complex medical, social and behavioural needs,” the department spokesperson advises. “This has meant significant waiting times for couples who are approved to adopt a child from overseas.”

The adoption journey Queensland mum Rianne Muller and her husband decided to adopt a child after trying unsuccessfully to have a baby for several years. They applied for an intercountry adoption in 2004 and received the news that a child was allocated three years later. They travelled to South Korea to adopt baby Jack when he was seven months old. “It’s a tough process. You don’t think there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and then you get the photo and all the work was worth it,” Rianne says. The adoption journey was long and arduous, with a lot of paperwork and regular assessments and interviews to ensure that their circumstances hadn’t changed. Despite the difficulties, Rianne says it is a rewarding experience if applicants can stick it out. She and her husband have never looked back and they would do it all over again. “We had issues getting Jack, but I wouldn’t trade those issues because I’ve got my son. He’s everything to us, so we’re very, very happy,” she says.

“I didn’t adopt to rescue a child. My husband and I wanted a family, so we worked very hard and we jumped through every hoop. The end result is we now have a family.” Prospective adoptive parents need to make informed and educated decisions about their future family life, so it’s vital to research adoption as much as possible. Rianne recommends visiting relevant websites, joining an adoption support group and immersing yourself in the culture that your child is coming from. For the past two years, Rianne has been the membership secretary for the International Adoptive Families of Queensland (IAFQ), a volunteer organisation that assists and supports existing and future adoptive families. There are about 250 member families in IAFQ, which has support groups in most Queensland regions and hosts regular multicultural activities, including picnics and camps. Rianne says being part of the IAFQ network is worthwhile for participating families, who can share their experiences with others and meet children from a range of countries. Most IAFQ member families have adopted children from other countries; however, some members have adopted local children.

“When we get together, we’ve got children from all over the world and they all get together and they are just kids. We don’t see race, we don’t see colour, we see our children playing happily,” she says. “It’s very important for children to know they are not alone. There are other adoptees who are in the same boat, and we want to make sure they are going to be friends and they’re going to talk to each other.”

Intercountry adoption programs The Federal Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) is responsible under the Hague Convention for managing Australia’s intercountry adoptions, which generally only take place when there is an established inter-country adoption program with another country. Australia closed its intercountry adoption program with Ethiopia in June 2012, following several years of issues including long waits and uncertainty for Australian prospective adoptive parents. Attorney-General Nicola Roxon advised that the decision was made after considering the sustainability of the program and the best interests of Ethiopian children. “Unfortunately, the adoption environment in Ethiopia has become increasingly unpredictable, continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Feature

complex and uncertain, leaving many prospective Australian parents in limbo for years,” Ms Roxon said after announcing the closure. “The government has concluded that this uncertainty, combined with obstacles to operating the program in a sustainable and ethical way into the future, means the program needs to be closed.” Queensland currently participates in active intercountry adoption programs with Chile, China, Colombia, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Adoption programs with Fiji and India are on hold. A Department of Communities spokesperson confirmed that intercountry adoption programs are controlled by participating countries and are subject to change. “Factors that influence the status of a program can include the number of children in need of adoption, the number of applications received across the world, resource and infrastructure limitations within countries of origin and a range of social, political and cultural considerations within the country of origin,” the spokesperson advises. “Changes include increases in the fees couples seeking to adopt a child are required to pay, lengthening timeframes for the allocation of a child, changing criteria that couples have to meet to be eligible and change to the status of a program, such as a program may be suspended or may close.” Adoptive mum Rianne says that some people are hurt by policy changes that are beyond their control. After applying for a second child, Rianne’s file was ready to be sent over to South Korea when the age limit for adoptive parents was suddenly reduced. She was “heartbroken” when she received a phone call on her birthday advising that she was ineligible.

country, some families choose to adopt a local child. Sunshine Coast mum Chrissie has adopted two locally born children, both of whom are still under five. Chrissie’s four-year-old daughter was adopted in 2009 and her second child, now one year old, was welcomed into the family in 2012. Chrissie and her husband were lucky to have a relatively short wait for both their children; they waited a year for their eldest and just six months for their youngest daughter. She attributes the short wait to fate and being in the right place at the right time. “I’m just so blessed that I was placed with children in the first place, especially if you go a second time,” she says. “The greatest thing is just being a mum and having a family, watching them grow and develop.” In Queensland, the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (DCCSDS) administers the Adoption Act 2009 under the principle that the wellbeing and best interests of an adopted child, both through childhood and the rest of his or her life, are paramount. When an adoption order is granted, the legal rights and responsibilities are transferred from the birth parents to the adoptive parents, thus, adoption is a life-changing experience for everyone involved—the birth family, the child and the adoptive parents. Most local adoptions are now “open”, so the birth parents, the child and the adoptive parents all know each other, exchange information and have contact with one another. This is a major change from past practices where adoptions were closed and identities remained hidden. Chrissie does not have open adoption agreements in place yet for her children, but she says it’s possible in the future.

Answering the difficult questions The secrecy and shame surrounding adoption is long-gone, but misconceptions about adoption have endured in the wider community. Adoptive families find that people ask intrusive questions about their children’s background and visible differences in appearance, without any respect for their privacy. This is challenging for adoptees, who have been separated from their birth families and may be dealing with that loss. Parents need to work through any issues that arise with their children in an honest and open way, and turn to support services when necessary. Chrissie often fields probing personal questions about why she chose to adopt, how much it cost and why her daughter was put up for adoption. “I just ignore or brush over those kinds of questions and people quickly get the message of what’s appropriate and what’s inappropriate,” she explains. Chrissie wants her daughters to feel comfortable and proud of their adoption, so she wrote a children’s book, Mimo’s Answers, to help address the difficult questions about adoption. “The book, specifically, was written for my little ones, and I then just put it out to the adoption world,” she says. “My little one knows that she grew in my heart and not in my tummy...she knows the real basics.” Mimo’s Answers gives children the language to talk about adoption, so they are equipped with responses when issues relating to their adoption come up, says Chrissie. To order the book, contact Chrissie at: chrissy_zaremba@bigpond.com.

Adoption costs The government fee for a local adoption is $554 as at 1 July 2012, however, intercountry adoption fees include $3,985 for assessment and a further $1,708 for post-placement supervision. Extra costs for overseas adoption vary depending on the child’s country of origin, but expenses include international airfares and accommodation, medical, legal and visa fees, and donations. Rianne estimates the overall cost of adopting a child from overseas would now be between $20,000 and $50,000. “It’s an awful lot of money, but that’s where the commitment comes in,” she says.

Local adoption While the majority of adoptions are now inter-

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

Information and Support Services For more information, visit the following websites: • Attorney-General’s Department: www.ag.gov.au • Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services: www.communities.qld.gov.au Support services for people affected by adoption include: • International Adoptive Families of Queensland (IAFQ): www.iafq.org.au • Jigsaw Queensland Inc: www.jigsawqueensland.com • Post Adoption Support Queensland (PASQ): www.benevolent.org.au/connect/the-impact--of--adoption

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How do you know if your child is ready for school? The transition from home, day care, kindergarten or pre-prep to school is a major milestone for any family. How can you be assured that your child is ready?

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

NEW TO THE COAST New to the Coast shares exciting new changes and products by local businesses that cater to Sunshine Coast parents and families. We think local kids and parents deserve just as much choice, style, fun, innovation and value for money as those living anywhere else. So if you agree, please join us in helping these new ventures to get off the ground by taking a look at what they’ve got to offer. And if you’ve got a new business you want to spread the word on, let us know!

Mr Fixitfast

Jason Tait from Mr Fixitfast Property Maintenance is fast becoming the Coast’s most popular handyman. With a background in building design and more than 20 year’s experience in Home and Building maintenance, Jason has built a reputation for fixing almost anything, fast! Get ready for summer… Jason has also just introduced new services in supply and installation of shade sails & shade umbrellas; a perfect solution for decks, carports, kids playgrounds & pools. So if you’re needing some shade this summer or just some help around the house with things like home repairs, retaining walls, fencing, pressure cleaning, garden edging or mowing – then give Jason a call on 0435 735 733 or email jason@mrfixitfast.com.au

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Cannot hear and sequence sounds in words Make inconsistent spelling errors cannot retain and use spelling they have previously learnt by rote write random strings of letters, often the correct letters but wrong order have poor self-belief and self-esteem in their ability to spell and complete written work • poor attention skills It is also for parents who feel like they are ‘beating their heads against a brick wall’ and who want a simple, applicable, successful strategy.

Empowering YOU and YOUR CHILD

There are two kinds of spellers; those who access the correct part of their brain and those who don’t. WHAT IS ‘EYE CAN SPELL’? ‘Eye Can Spell’ is an exciting, ground-breaking programme developed by Jen Fraser, Paediatric Speech Pathologist, that simply teaches children to access the correct part of their brain to spell. By using ‘Eye can Spell’ you motivate and empower your child by teaching them how to learn to spell. The programme rapidly builds capability, not just short term memory of spelling. It is an easy, effective method proven to not only improve spelling ability but to significantly improve confidence, self-esteem and other related skills such as reading. WHO BENEFITS FROM ‘EYE CAN SPELL’? ‘Eye Can Spell’ has been successfully learnt by children who; • Have auditory processing difficulties

Kids on tHe Coast – January / february 2013

HOW TO LEARN ‘EYE CAN SPELL’? 1. Attend a 90 minute parent training workshop and learn how to teach your child to spell successfully. Immediate results are seen; 2. Get excited! If necessary you can attend follow-up individual sessions to ‘tweak’ and consolidate the strategy with your child. Jen shares “My purpose is to educate, guide and empower children, their families and teachers by nurturing, leading and laughing. My vision is to help create a world of respect and genuine acceptance which allows personal alignment and freedom to Be, Do and Have. I am committed to being respectful, confident and positive and I apply these values to all professional encounters.” Jen Fraser has 20 years’ experience as a Paediatric Speech Pathologist on the Sunshine Coast, working with children who have communication and ‘learning difficulties’ Jen Fraser is registered with all major private health funds. Speech Pathology is covered by the ‘extras’ component of private health fund policies. It is recommended that you contact your health fund to clarify your rebate. www.eyecanspell.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Gluten free choices

Kids Gluten Free is a one stop, kid’s health shop. From pasta, flours, cereals, lollies to ready meals, premixes and drinks, they have the perfect solutions for holidays, parties and sleepovers as well as your everyday kid’s lunch boxes. With over 300 gluten free products, including healthy, organic no nasty’s choices, Kids Gluten Free is the one stop store for all your child’s meals. Online store opens Jan 18th www.kidsglutenfree.com.au

Gumnuts Childcare Centre

Gumnuts Childcare, a well – established long day care service in Buderim is now delivering an approved Kindergarten Program. The program is delivered by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. The Kindergarten program is designed to help children develop early literacy and numeracy understandings and communication skills. Teachers build strong trusting relationships with all children and develop an understanding of individuals. They then create appropriate learning opportunities to best meet children’s individual needs. Assisting children to develop a love of learning and be better prepared to start school. All families are able to claim government rebates direct through the centre, with health care card families able to apply for additional subsidies. Gumnuts childcare offer the Kindergarten program Monday – Friday, minimum enrolment is two days. www.gumnutschildcare.com.au

Pretty Lunches!

Little Prints, Big Memories

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Little Prints design personalised fingerprint jewellery, individually hand-crafted in solid silver, capturing your child's first impressions. Their range includes fingerprint jewellery, handprint and footprint jewellery, pet prints and little pictures where they capture your child's artwork and preserve it in solid silver. Place your order on-line, take the imprints with the impression kit you receive, follow the instructions then return to them. Your finished jewellery will be dispatched within 4 weeks. Little Prints jewellery makes an ideal gift to celebrate the birth of a child or any other special occasion, such as Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and birthdays. If you have an idea of something special you would like, they will work with you to create that special keepsake. www.littleprints.com.au Ph: 07 5474 1127 www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Life with a fussy toddler is a battle at eating time, as parents think up creative ways to entice their children to eat nutritious food. “Presentation is the key” says Mandy from Bento Mama. “Our products are designed to make food look exciting”. From sandwich stamps and cute shape cutters, to gorgeous baby animal cups, and unique food dividers, Bento Mama products will entice the fussiest eaters! www.bentomama.com.au

The ladies from A Darling Affair are bringing another one of a kind event to the Sunshine Coast – The Celebration Fair - a celebration of all things “party”. If you are planning a soiree’, shindig, or any kind of special occasion, The Celebration Fair will have everything that you need to make it a memorable affair. Come along and experience an event as colourful and spectacular as you might hope your own special occasion might be. The Celebration Fair will be held at Lake Kawana Community Centre on March 16th 2013 from 10am to 3pm. An event like no other, the fair promises a lineup of fabulous party suppliers, live entertainment, activities, giveaways, and DIY styling workshops. Everything you need to plan your party with FLAIR! www.adarlingaffair.com january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

T he P Files

Is Emotional Intelligence more important than Self-Esteem? By Belinda Hopper Asked what they hope for their child, most parents say they just want for them to be happy. It’s only in the fine print that we add, and healthy and smart and sociable and confident, and successful. But perhaps these things are more related than we think?

appiness is an elusive, unquantifiable goal. However, links have been made between high emotional intelligence, high self-esteem and greater levels of happiness and feelings of wellbeing. There is also a proven correlation between perceived parental love and happiness. Since the ‘60s, when psychologist Dr Stanley Coopersmith asserted, “ability and academic performance are significantly associated with feelings of personal worth,” the focus of child development landed squarely on the importance of

building up self-esteem and has gained traction in both parenting and education circles. The idea is to build up a child’s self-esteem by mastering skills and gaining knowledge, which attracts praise, which makes a child feel good, happy, and confident within their self. Boosting your child’s IQ has become big business, with education-based games and books and toys and flash cards and CDs and DVDs aimed at turning your child into a little Einstein, to give them an academic advantage and therefore boost their self-esteem.

Building blocks of self-esteem The Australian Raising Children Network gives these age-related milestones in self-esteem development: Babies don’t have a sense of themselves or self-esteem. They learn that they are loved and lovable because of the love and nurturing they receive. Toddlers still don’t fully understand themselves; that their body and mind belong to them. Learning new skills adds to their sense of ability and who continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

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PH: 07 5448 1536 Email: pettina@integratedlife.com.au www.integratedlife.com.au january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

T he P Files

they are. When they say ‘no’, they learn that they are a separate person, but they see themselves through their parents’ eyes. If parents show and tell them that they are special and lovable, they will develop self-esteem. If they get messages that they are not lovable or are a nuisance, they will not easily develop self-esteem. Preschoolers, by age 3, have learned that their bodies and minds are their own. They are more confident with time away from their main caregiver as they have an inner sense of self. They learn their self-esteem by comparing themselves with others. For many Primary school-age children, self-esteem tends to fall due to coping with new expectations, children and rules. Self-esteem in these years is about how well children manage their learning, sport, friends, and appearance. Stresses such as parents fighting, having trouble with schoolwork, being bullied or not having friends, can all affect their self-esteem. By High School, peers challenge parental influence. A study from the University of the Pacific, on the impact of self-esteem and emotional intelligence on risky behavior in teens and young adults, found that emotional intelligence and self-respect helps kids reduce their likelihood of performing risky behaviour, whereas self-esteem significantly increases the likelihood of risky behaviour.

The importance of Self-Esteem There is sound reasoning behind the self-esteem movement, as research has proven that self-esteem is vitally important for a person to become a well-adjusted and high-functioning adult. A person’s self-esteem is heavily dependent upon how they are treated by their parents as children. And a healthy self-esteem is proven to play a crucial role in academic success. Inversely, low self-esteem has been linked to

emotional instability, anti-social behavior, poor academic performance and depression. Yet, new research has shown that an over-inflated selfesteem also leads to emotional instability, antisocial behavior and depression. Interestingly, Professor Nicholas Emler argues from his research that whereas those with low self-esteem pose a danger only to themselves, those with high self-esteem pose a danger to society, as they are more likely to indulge in behaviour with negative effects on others. It seems then, that we need to be aiming for the goldilocks band, where a child’s self-esteem is not too low and not too high, but just right, in order to ensure their emotional intelligence and therefore their ability to integrate well, socially.

The side-affects of overinflation Australian social commentator, Hugh Mackay, fears we could be making the transition into adult life harder for our children, by focusing on building up their self-esteem. He says, ''There's a lot of life that's just a hard grind. If we overemphasise self-esteem in kids, inevitably when they reach adulthood, early adulthood, even adolescence, they're going to find it very hard to cope with disappointment and failure.'' Professor Helen McGrath, senior lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University, goes further, suggesting wider social ramifications of inflated self-esteem, "Parents and teachers always have the best interests of children at the heart of what they do and their involvement in the 'self-esteem movement' has reflected that. However, although well-intentioned, this movement is now seen by many researchers to have contributed to a stronger sense of entitlement and, in some cases, higher levels of narcissism." Even more concerning, McGrath says, “New international studies were showing kids with

inflated self-esteem were more likely to be ringleaders in bullying”.

Too much of a good thing How do we cross the line from healthy self-esteem to an over-inflated self-esteem? Lisa Firestone, author of The Self Under Siege, thinks it happens when we get carried away with praise, saying: "Studies have shown that children offered compliments for skills they haven't mastered or talents they do not possess are left feeling as if they'd received no praise at all, often even emptier and less secure," she wrote in Psychology Today. "Only children praised for real accomplishments were able to build self-esteem. The others were left to develop something far less desirable — narcissism." Dr Jennifer Crocker, who has worked on a series of self-esteem studies at the University of Michigan, critiques the self-esteem movement from another angle, identifying the core problem as being that it bases self-esteem not on the self, but on external things. Crocker‘s research found that, “students who based their self-worth on external sources: including appearance, approval from others and even their academic performance, reported more stress, anger, academic problems, relationship conflicts, and had higher levels of drug and alcohol use and symptoms of eating disorders.” Because the resulting behaviours of inflated selfesteem lead to actions lacking in self-respect, it is worth examining the difference.

Shifting our focus McGrath says we need to place more emphasis on self-respect than self-esteem. "We can work with parents to change their focus slightly and identify self-respect as a more useful goal rather than self-esteem," she says. "People who have self-respect have sound values that they continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

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T he P Files

use as a 'moral map' to treat others respectfully. They consider themselves equal to other people (neither inferior or superior) and work hard to try and achieve their goals. They are resilient, accept themselves as imperfect and continue to be self-accepting in spite of mistakes or failures. Although they enjoy receiving positive feedback, they are not dependent on it to feel okay." Some experts are concerned that while we have been busy building up our children’s self-esteem, we have hindered their emotional wellbeing. This is because emotional intelligence is not only about taking a measure of our own emotions and learning to respond appropriately to the circumstances in which we find ourselves, but it is also about learning to read others and respond appropriately to them. In contrast, self-esteem is focused purely on the self.

EQ and self-esteem: what’s the connection? Since the ‘90s, Emotional Intelligence has become the measuring stick to assess adaptability, resilience and social aptitude. Experts now suggest we focus less on our child’s IQ and achievements, and focus more on their EQ (emotional quotient), because it is important to teach children how to feel and to talk about and respond appropriately to their emotions, as well as teach them how to think. According to research conducted at Armidale University, higher emotional intelligence is associated with better psychological functioning and greater wellbeing. It is also associated with less depression, greater optimism, the ability to repair moods, characteristic positive mood and high self-esteem, (opposed to inflated self-esteem). High emotional intelligence is proven to have a positive impact on a child’s choices both socially and individually. McGrath says studies show that children with high self-respect and emotional intelligence “are more likely to help tackle the

problem of bullying, as it builds an ability to empathise with others”.

So how do we develop emotional intelligence?

The function of emotional intelligence

Psychologist, Dr Laura Markham, says there are five practical ways we can show love and nurture emotional intelligence in our children:

According to Dr Jeanne Segal and Melinda Smith, in their article on raising emotional intelligence, it builds five key skills: • The ability to quickly reduce stress. • The ability to recognize and manage your emotions. • The ability to connect with others using nonverbal communication. • The ability to use humour and play to deal with challenges, and • The ability to resolve conflicts positively and with confidence. While these skills are needed for all of life, the grounding for them needs to be established in the young years. Studies indicate that a greater perceived parental love is associated with higher emotional intelligence, with particular emphasis on the amount of love and warmth received from the mother. So the more love we show to our children, the greater their levels of emotional intelligence.

• Acknowledge your child’s perspective and empathize. Feeling understood helps soothe your child’s feelings and helps them self-reflect on emotional triggers. It also helps them develop empathy for others. • Allow expression of emotions, including disappointment and anger. Accepting your child’s emotional response helps them understand that we all experience the full range of human emotions. • Listen to their feelings. When we teach children to express their emotions in an appropriate way, it helps them to avoid tantrums now and repressed anger later on. • Teach problem solving. After children have learnt to express their feelings and they feel understood, it’s time to empower them by helping them find constructive solutions to their problems.

What should we avoid? Psychologist, Dr Randall Grayson, says it is important to understand the parental responses that hinder a child in developing an emotional intelligence. He says parents should avoid: • Dismissing their child’s emotions as unimportant • Ignoring their child’s feelings • Encouraging their child to stop expressing their negative feelings • Distracting their child as a means of shutting down their emotional response • Not teaching problem-solving skills • Focusing on getting over the emotion, instead of understanding the meaning of the emotion • Trivializing the problem so you can move on.

• Play it out. Emotionally healthy kids learn to understand and control their emotions through play. Sometimes role-playing out emotional responses with your child allows them to resolve their issue, in order to move on. According to Crocker, the paradox of parenting is that if we want our children to be happy, with a healthy self-esteem and high emotional intelligence, we need to take the focus away from building their self-esteem and shift it to a wider, communal focus that contributes to others. She says, “It’s about having a goal that is bigger than the self.”

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Meet Alex Breckell - Instructor at Infinity Martial Arts in Maroochydore

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is renowned as being an extremely natural sport/ martial art for children to learn. How do you teach something that looks so complex to 4-year olds? The important thing to remember is that the essence of BJJ is simple and effective movements, using good leverage and angles. These are principles that repeat themselves over and over in nature, down to the very structure of our muscles and bones. The techniques prove themselves again and again and allow a massive amount of variety in application and learning. By stripping the techniques to their core principles and movements, we can preserve the essence of the technique to ensure even a four year old can understand and learn. Because our classes are focused to specific age groups, we can strip or build the complexity of the techniques while still preserving the core movements. Fitness is obviously a great outcome from training in martial arts, and everybody reads about how it helps with kids discipline and self-defence, but how do you teach discipline? Discipline is always a difficult subject to teach in isolation, as everyone has different ideas as to what is required and expected of 'discipline'. Similar to the concept of 'honour', discipline is something that comes around as a by-product of good training. The kids learn self-control and discipline by understanding that through the techniques, they get better; in order to get better, they must concentrate and do their best. We find this is one area of training that transfers very easily to other aspects of the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, because the lesson learned is that effort has a direct positive correlation to reward. What are the kids learning in the classes? The kids learn a Martial Arts system based on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but also incorporating techniques and principles from other martial arts such www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

as Karate, Tae-Kwon-Do, Boxing, Thai Kick Boxing, Judo, Submission Wrestling and MMA Do your junior students train for competition or self-defence? Most of our kids train for self-defence and it is important that the kids in our programs are confident, experienced and intelligent enough to handle any bad situations they may find themselves in. We find that familiarizing the kids with a competitive atmosphere brings out these qualities and of course if they want to pursue competition we allow many opportunities for them to get that gold. What results can kids expect from training? Every child will get different results from their training, and at different rates, but some of the more common results we see include a greater awareness of ones balance, coordination, and strength on the physical side, plus better concentration skills, increased desire for learning and a deeper awareness of their environment. Then of course there is commonly a big improvement with many social skills required for a class environment. How long have you been training and teaching martial arts? I began martial arts at the age of 10, a friend and I decided to give Tae-Kwon-do a try after watching a Bruce Lee film, and immediately fell in love with it. Since then martial arts have been the focus of my life, with many hours and dollars spent on films, books, magazines and most importantly, classes. I received a Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do at the age of 14 and then began to explore other philosophies and styles. After forays into various styles of Kung Fu, Karate, Kick Boxing and even Ninjitsu, I discovered Infinity Martial Arts, then just a small club run out of the Kawana Hall. I found a similar attitude to training in the Instructor, Chad Wright, and have stuck with them ever since. I received my Black Belt in Infinityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freestyle self-

defence system when I was 18 from Chad and our current Head instructor, Neil Owen. I began teaching Martial Arts in 2008 as an Assistant Instructor and couldn't get enough. Two years later I began teaching full time at our Ipswich academy and in 2011 was proud to open my own academy under the Infinity banner in Maroochydore. What makes Infinity unique? To find a club that has full time instructors, full time premises, and a professional network of support is a rare thing in the Martial Arts industry, and that is why Infinity stands out. It has always been our goal to deliver the best Martial Art instruction in Australia, and to develop skills in the kids that can cross over into other areas of their lives. Knowing how to punch and kick, control and manipulate an opponent is a common aspect of Martial Arts, but we believe that the knowledge of the technique is not enough, one must know when and why to apply this knowledge. We go beyond the techniques to use Martial Arts as a vehicle for selfdevelopment. What are your goals for 2013? Any new years resolutions for Infinity and the Maroochydore club? This past year Infinity has gone from strength to strength and I would love to see that trend continue into the New Year. The club can only get stronger and better when the members improve and it is this symbiotic relationship that pushes us to greater and greater heights. I will be focusing more on my own competition, reaching the level that I am at has taken some work, but to remain as one of the best in Australia, I must continue to strive for perfection. The achievements of my students, young and old, is my greatest motivation and few things inspire me more than their achievements, so ensuring their growth and development will remain at the top of my list for 2013. Infinity Martial Arts has academies in Maroochydore, Noosa and Currimundi. You can contact them on 1300 853 161 january / february 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kids on the Coast

Education

Classroom Calming: Bringing Meditation to Schools By Chaley-Ann Scott Heralded as a new educational approach, students at schools across the country are trying hard to be in the present moment. This is what is known as mindfulness training, a form of meditation in which stress-reducing techniques drawn from Buddhist meditation are wedged between reading and spelling tests.

t turns out that stress creates a big barrier to learning, according to cognitive scientists (and, frankly, common sense). So instead, some schools are beginning to promote ‘social and emotional learning’ (or SEL). Programs involve both primary and high school children being taught to follow their breath with "mindfulness" exercises, which are basically scaled-down, kid-tailored versions of meditation.

Meditation, while common in hospitals, corporations, professional sports and even prisons, is relatively new in the education of children. Growing ever-popular in America, a small but growing number of schools across Australia are slowly embracing the concept. The techniques, among them focused breathing and concentrating on a single object, are loosely adapted from the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, the molecular biologist who pioneered the secular use of mindfulness at the

University of Massachusetts in 1979 to help medical patients cope with chronic pain, anxiety and depression.

So what exactly is involved? Programs vary, but mostly the aims are to develop what is called "non-judgmental awareness," to begin teaching a child to stay with a thought or feeling while resisting the urge to run away from it (a hard task for an adult – let alone a child). Students continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

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Caloundra City Private School Our focus is your child

Small enough for individual attention, large enough for peace of mind. Caloundra City Private School is an award winning Kindergarten to Year 12 co-educational and nondenominational school set in beautiful grounds at Pelican Waters. The School was recently named in the top 10% of Queensland schools and one of the top 20% Australian schools based on 2011 NAPLAN results. CC19238A

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Education

are also taught strategies for "deferred gratification" and "self-regulation" — the psychological terms being used to replace more old-fashioned words like self-control and patience. This occurs, anatomically speaking, in the prefrontal cortex, which is the last portion of the brain to fully develop in humans and often not until well into one's 20s. Every day students will perform simple exercises, such as ‘magic penny’ or ‘butterfly breathing’. Basically students calm themselves with simple breathing exercises or through concentration exercises like listening to a bell chime until they can’t hear it anymore.

Exercises in the Classroom The three meditation-based exercises are typical of those used in participating schools today. They give students a creative tool which most of them have never used before. I. Meditation Before Writing. Meditation is a sophisticated practice which requires a long time to master. The better title for this exercise may be “quiet concentration” or “pure thinking.” Exercise: Provide an in-class assignment; it could be a simple description (“What would the ideal classroom look like?”), or a more philosophical question (“What is the right way to

"Stress creates a big barrier to learning. So instead, some schools are beginning to promote 'social and emotional' learning (or SEL)." discipline young children?”). It could also be a memory question (“What is your earliest memory?”). The question can be tailored to current class work.

to develop, but the students are asked to tell the rest of the class what their fence/field/body of water looked like, what they did while they were walking.

Turn the lights off, ask them to silence their electronic devices, tell them to get comfortable, and announce that the meditation will last five minutes.

The dazzling array of different experiences speaks for itself in demonstrating that no two minds think alike. The point can be underlined by noting that their imaginings proceeded from different experiences and expectations, and that this diversity should be assumed in every area of the human experience.

When the five minutes are up, give them time to write a paragraph on the assigned subject. You could then ask them to read the paragraphs aloud, but that is not required. Ask them to share their reactions to the meditation process. It’s a simple exercise, but provides a memorable and often empowering experience for the students. II. Guided Meditation. One of the pitfalls of learning is the frequent assumption by students that their view of the world is universally held, such as, “Everyone serves turkey at Christmas,” or “Everyone loves their parents.” Exercise: Ask students to close their eyes. Ask them to breathe comfortably in and out, and then instruct them to relax their feet, ankles, knees, hips, stomach, throat, eyes, etc. Then they are guided in a meditation where they imagine a place. It takes time for images and impressions

III. Talking Stick: This exercise is based on tribal ceremonies to resolve differences and hash through issues. It can be used in any discipline to dig deep into a specific area of inquiry. It is nonthreatening, egalitarian, and always interesting. Exercise: The teacher must find a “talking stick” of some sort, which is simply an interesting stick. The role of the teacher is to guide the discussion and regulate the timing. The students should understand clearly the issue they are to address. Instruct them to give complete attention to the person holding the Talking Stick – no laughter, no commentary, no questions. Students self-regulate the length of their comments so each participant has time to speak, but the teacher should be ready to cut off a time-hog. The teacher will also judge how long the sharing continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Education

should go on, giving each student a chance to speak the same number of times. The class sits in a circle and the Talking Stick is placed in the middle. The group sits in silence until someone is moved to pick up the stick and share a thought about the subject at hand. He or she speaks for as long as necessary to express his or her thought and then passes the stick to the left. The next person speaks, and passes it to the left, and so on. Students who can’t think of anything to say can pass it without speaking, but the teacher should come back to them later.

Schools using meditation At Hawthorn's Erasmus School of Primary Education in Victoria, the students sit down twice a day to meditate for ten minutes. The students, parents, and teachers all feel that children are far happier, more relaxed, confident and far less stressed and anxious. Promotions Manager, Ms Brewster says, "By the time they get to grade 5 and 6, they are very connected as a group. They are very bright, very fresh looking - that is what strikes you when you see them. ” Hunter Adams, 10, defined mindfulness as “not hitting someone in the mouth.” “He didn’t know what to do with his energy or how to cope when dealing with frustration with a peer,’ his mother, Patricia Adams, said at a session for parents. “But one day after school he told me, ‘I’m just taking a moment.’ If it works in a child’s mind — with so much going on — there must be something to it.” At Maharishi School, in Reservoir, transcendental meditation is helping to eliminate stress and fatigue and induce deep rest. The older students have sessions twice a day, and their younger schoolmates do walking meditation. Principal Frances Clarke says the benefits are profound. "A lot of children come from other schools, particularly boys, because they are struggling in schools due to bullying and they just turn around so quickly," she says.

What are the benefits? Adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a consultant to the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals (VASSP), is an enthusiastic ambassador of the existing MindMatters program - a "whole-school" approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention in high schools, which includes using meditation in the classroom. "It's absolutely superb. What I am finding, though, is it's very much bound by how enthusiastic a teacher is and it doesn't seem to have the leadership," Dr Carr-Gregg says. "I'm not convinced many schools understand how important that material is."

Dr Carr-Gregg says the need to deal with stress and anxiety in children has never been greater. While youth suicide numbers are declining, more children are suffering from anxiety and depression, often related to the way they relate to their peers. Figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show youth suicide numbers dropped from 508 in 1997 to 290 in 2003. Dr Carr-Gregg attributes the decline to school programs such as MindMatters and services such as Kids Help Line and Lifeline. The USA is leading the way with this approach and a recent study of teenagers by Kaiser Permanente in San Jose, California, found that meditation techniques helped improve mood disorders, depression, and self-harming behaviours like anorexia and bulimia.

1. Relaxing the Body Some stretching or yoga exercises is recommended. After the yoga exercises, have your child tense and relax each body part, starting with the toes and ending with the top of the head. 2. Deep Breathing i. Get your child to sit cross legged on cushions, left palm over the right palm ii. Keep the back straight and also relaxed as that will allow a natural flow of energy up and down the spine. iii. Have your children close their eyes iv. Practise deep breathing for a few moments a. Breathe in to a count of three, hold the breath and breathe out to a count of three;

Can I do it at home? These meditations are commonly used in the classroom but can be used at home. They included five steps: 1. Relaxing the body 2. Deep breathing 3. Concentration of the mind 4. Expansion of the mind 5. Productive activity

b. As they breathe, you let your child know they are breathing in fresh energy, love, joy and peace. They are entering and spreading throughout their body; c. As they breathe out, let your child imagine any negative feelings — sadness, boredom, anger or tiredness — coming out through their nose and leaving their body and disappearing continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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It’s time to enrol for 2013. Goodstart is a not–for–profit early learning provider that reinvests all earnings back into its centres for the benefit of every child. Drop in for a chat with your local Sunshine Coast Goodstart Centre Director, or call 1800 222 543, to discuss your child’s early learning and care needs.

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Caloundra City Private School Give your child the Star Treatment at the new City Stars Kindergarten! Our brand new state-of-the-art Kindergarten at Caloundra City Private School is now open. This fully air-conditioned, eco-friendly kindergarten is now open and the children love it. City Stars Kindergarten is open to all children 4 years of age by 30 June 2012. Classes are strictly limited to 24 students with individual needs catered for by a qualified teacher and assistant ensuring your child has every opportunity to thrive. Students will enjoy the future of learning with iPads too. CC19238

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Pelican Waters Boulevard, Pelican Waters january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Education

5. Productive activity Guide your child to bring their attention slowly back to their body. Feeling all your body parts and slowly wriggling their fingers and toes. Rotating their head. When they are ready, get them to slowly open their eyes. It is now time for the fifth step: grounding the newfound energy, wisdom, insights and heightened awareness into some useful and productive activity. Direct your child to channel this newly focused energy and creativity into dance, art, story writing, music, sharing, discussion, creative communication, awareness game or academic work.

The tone of voice to use

The students, parents, and teachers all feel that children are far happier, more relaxed, confident and far less stressed and anxious. 3. Concentration of the Mind This step is focusing the mind at one point. Encourage your child to visualise a point on their upper lip and concentrate on that point. Draw all the energy and attention into that point while staying very relaxed. Let any stray thoughts or memories pass through, always gently drawing the attention back to the point. 4. Expansion of the Mind Once your child’s emotions and minds are quiet,

they are ready for the fourth step: true meditation – turning inside for their own answers and wisdom. Guide your child to expand their imagination and awareness through guided imagery. By using guided imagery, the child will learn to see themselves on a movie screen in their minds as a caring, loving, patient etc. person. This will aid them to perform better as a human being as their thoughts are slowly being transformed into wholesome and positive ones.

Please remember that when you are speaking, you will do so in a very slow, relaxed voice, pausing to let the scene sink in, so that your child, whose eyes are closed and who is focusing inward, can easily visualise and feel the scene. The way you use your voice is very important. You will find it best to drop your voice by a few tones, speaking more and more and more slowly, with a soothing quality.

But does it really work or is it just a ‘fad’? As we have seen, one side says the benefits to children are huge, leading them to have a wellfunctioning "executive function" which is now seen as a net benefit for all concerned — and good for long-term health, too, studies now suggest. The other side says it is just a ‘new-age’ way to get children to be easier to deal with for teachers – to pacify them, and ‘dumb them down’ in order to turn them into polite creatures ready to learn. They argue that the real focus should be on progressive educational reform – creating a more child-led approach to education that inspires a true love of learning, ultimately reducing anxiety and stress. Whatever your position, as Camille Hopkins, the Principal of Kaiser Permanente pointed out whilst using the program, “meditation in the classroom can’t do it all”. Visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au for a comprehensive back to school guide.

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Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

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january / february 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kids on the Coast

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In most cases if the eye condition is detected early enough, exercises can be given to avoid it developing into a vision problem at school. In some cases vision problems exhibit themselves in children who have short attention spans but often are undetected by the parents or carers.

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Calisthenics is one of the fastest growing artistic sports – unique to Australia. Calisthenics can be categorised as sport and art. As a sport it encourages physical development, coordination, self-discipline and team spirit. As an Art it develops an appreciation of music and rhythm, the beauty of line and the excitement of presenting on stage. The word calisthenics comes from the Greek words ‘kallos’ for beauty and ‘thenos’ for strength. Indeed, the components of the sport aim at achieving those physical attributes, but the sport also influences the emotional and social development of girls and boys through friendship and teamwork. Calisthenics, as we know it today, involves a team of pupils learning routines choreographed to music, each of about three to four minutes duration, and presenting those routines at competitions. Pupils learn approximately six routines concurrently throughout a year and this is where the diversity of the sport is seen. Calisthenics participants perform a number of different items at each competition. Depending on the age group, participants may rehearse and perform figure march, free exercises, folk dance, rhythmic, action song, calisthenic revue or use clubs or rods. There are different levels of Calisthenics; some clubs have non-competitive classes, performing only at their annual concert. Other teams compete during the year at a number of competitions, performing on stage in costumes. Queensland also has a State Representative Team that competes at the Australian National Championships. Calisthenics classes and teams are broken up into the age groups and start from the age of 3 years through to Masters age groups. With Affordable IVF there is no need to wait

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Calendar

January 2013 5 January

QAGOMA Kids APT7 on Tour

Visit our website for more events! www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery 10.00 am - 1.00 pm Children and families are invited to participate in Kids’ APT7 on Tour, an exciting holiday program of artist projects and activities developed by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art’s (QAGOMA) Children’s Art Centre. Experience the diverse contemporary art styles of artists from across the Asia Pacific region, through drawing activities, multimedia interactives and animation. Come along and join the fun! Cost: Free event, no bookings required https://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-apt7

8 – 18 January

Painted Digging Sticks

Children create their own stick art after exploring techniques used to decorate the traditional digging sticks of the Warlpiri people. 1.30 pm to 3pm 8 to 12 yrs http://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-summer-artscool

13 January

14 January

Tangled Tales: Coloured Rice Collage

Where:Noosa Regional Gallery 11.00 am - 2.00 pm Children and families are invited to participate in Kids’ APT7 on Tour, an exciting holiday program of artist projects and activities developed by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art’s (QAGOMA) Children’s Art Centre. Experience the diverse contemporary art styles of artists from across the Asia Pacific region, through drawing activities, multimedia interactives and animation. Come along and join the fun! Cost: Free event, no bookings required https://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-apt7

16 Jan

Bush Bowls

Where: NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY Decorate a palm frond dish using Yulyurlu Lorna Fencer Napurrurla’s colour palette and painting technique. 10.30am to 12pm 4 to 7 years

Become a Colourist

Yulyurlu Lorna Fencer Napurrurla is a renowned colourist famed vibrant colour palette. Children will emulate her colours through mixing their own and applying to canvas. 1.30 pm to 3pm 8 to 12 yrs $15 Bookings and pre-payment essential http://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-summer-artscool

Where: Cooroy Library Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm Description: Make your own stop motion movies using plasticine, figurines, Lego and your imagination. Your final product will be burned to a DVD to share with your friends and family. For ages 10+. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Where: NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY Inspired by the paintings of Yulyurlu Lorna Fencer Napurrurla, children will create a fabric piece suitable for framing or as a cushion cover. 10.30am to 12pm 5 to 7 years

QAGOMA Kids APT7 on Tour

Where: Riverwalk Stage Time: 11am and 1pm, daily Description: Join us for the live Bananas in Pyjamas stage show with a meet and greet afterwards at 12 noon. Cost: FREE Contact: Customer Service Centre ph. 5443 4133 or visit www.sunshineplaza.com for more details

7 January

'Untangled Tales' Ani-Movie Workshop

Yam Print Art

Where: Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha Botanic Gardens, Palm Creek Rd, Tanawha Time: Various times as per program Description: An exciting series of workshops for children which looks at the wildlife of backyards and the bushland gardens. From live bugs to birds these workshops will lead children on a trail of discovery through our natural environment to create individual artworks. Bookings are essential for these popular workshops and can be made online at www. community.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/events.

14 January – 18 January

A calendar of regular weekly events is available online. For details of playgroups, library activities, weekly sporting events, craft classes, Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting times and much more, visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

9 Jan

Backyard Biodiversity

Bananas in Pyjamas live stage show

Sunshine Coast 2013

Where: Cooroy Library Time: 10:00am – 11:00am Let your imagination run wild and create your very own masterpiece with coloured rice. For ages 5+. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

15 January

Softies workshop

Where: Cooroy Library Time: 10:00am – 12 noon Make unique, soft and huggable toys to take with you anywhere. For ages 10+. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

17 January

Sheet Murals

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre Time: 3:00 – 4:00pm Create your very own abstract masterpiece using a sheet and a spray bottle. For ages 5+. Cost: Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Kids on the Coast – January / february 2013

8 January

Story Maps/ Triptych Naïve painting

Where: CALOUNDRA REGIONAL GALLERY When: 10.30am to 12pm for 5 to 7 years and 1.30 to 3pm for 8 to 12 yrs Inspired by the simplistic naïve images of John Murray’s work, children will map out a personal story using bright, bold colours. http://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-summer-artscool

10 Jan

Metamorphoses drawing and collage Where: NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY Using images of yams and other vegetables inspired by the yam dreaming stories, children will transform the vegetables into human and animal forms. 10.30am to 12pm 5 to 7 years

Bush Bowls

Children will explore Yulyurlu Lorna Fencer Napurrurla’s colour palette and painting technique to decorate a palm frond dish. 1.30 pm to 3pm 8 to 12 yrs http://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage. cfm?code=kids-summer-artscool

Colourful Naïve Still Life Inspired by the colourful work of Reuben Drake, children will paint a colourful still life of flowers and everyday household objects. 1.30 pm to 3pm 8 to 12 yrs http://galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ sitePage.cfm?code=kids-summer-artscool

Where: Lake Kawana Community Centre, 114 Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina Time: 10am to 12pm or 1pm to 3pm Learn or improve your skills in trapeze, lyra, tissu, acrobats, tumbling, juggling and hula hoops in this 3-day circus workshop. Showcase your circus skills in a performance for family and friends on the final day. Recommended for ages 6+ - $150 per child www.scvenuesandevents.com.au to book or call 07 5413 1400.

16 January

Where: The Ginger Factory, Pioneer Rd, Yandina, Sunshine Coast. The Ginger Flower & Food Festival is perfect for all ages and is a true celebration of Queensland’s subtropical lifestyle, filled with loads of entertainment, glorious food and of course…amazing flowers! Cost: Free admission. Further information: www.gingerfactory.com.au

CALOUNDRA REGIONAL GALLERY Inspired by the endearing sculptures of artist Peter Rowe, children will make clay animals using coil and pinch clay techniques. 10.30am to 12pm 5 to 7 years

14 January - 16 January

16 January

Jumpin @ The J

Where: Kenilworth Library Time: 2:00 -3:30pm (6-12yrs) (6-12yrs) Children’s school holiday art class specially developed to complement the current exhibition: Morocco – A Creative Journey. Learn to draw still life using a variety of art media and creative techniques. $15.00, bookings and pre payment essential. Further information: 54549050

18 - 20 January

11 Jan

Clay Creatures

Flipside Circus Workshops

Summer ArtScool

Ginger Flower & Food Festival

8 January

Feelie Goop

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre Time: 10:00 – 11:00am Description: Is it liquid or solid? Experiment and play with fun Feelie Goop. For ages 6+. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Where: The J Noosa Time: 9am / 10am / 11am / 12pm School Holiday Fun! Unlimited rides on five jumping castles for one whole hour! Parent or Guardian FREE! www.thej.com.au

21– 25 January

ABC for Kids Zone

Where: Riverwalk Stage Time: 11am to 2pm, daily A place where you can decorate your very own eco bag, watch ABC DVD’s and read colourful books during the school holidays. Cost: FREE Contact: Customer Service Centre ph. 5443 4133 or visit www.sunshineplaza.com for more details

21 January

Paint your own TShirt

Where: Cooroy Library Time: 10:00am – 11:00am Design and paint your own 'Untangled Tales' themed T-shirt. Bring your own T-shirt or use one of ours. For ages 5-12yrs. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Jan - February 22 January

No Sew Dolls

Where: Cooroy Library Time: 10:00am – 11:30am Huggable dolls and puppies made from old stretchy socks or stockings. Please bring a selection of socks or stockings to use. For ages 10+. Free, Bookings Essential 1300 LIBRARY (1300 542 7279) or online at www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

22nd and 23rd January

6 February

Time for Tots

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre Time: 9:30am Storytelling tour and an exhibition related art activity at the Butter Factory. Booking not required. Further information: 5454 9050

16 February

Get Creative

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre Time: 10:00 – 12noon Free children’s art activities based on the current exhibition. Third Saturday of each month. Booking not required. Further information: 5454 9050

6 –16 February

9 February

Second Life Artist in Residence

Where: Mystery Island Kids Club, Maroochy RSL Time: from 7.00pm Let’s Party Atlantis Style! Take part in our musical statues competition, underwater crafts and fishy activities with prizes to be won Cost: Entry into Mystery Island - $2.50 junior cadets, $4.50 visitors Contact: ph: 5443 2211 www.maroochyrsl.com.au/mystery-island Facebook/MysteryIslandKidsClub

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm each day Visitors to the gallery will meet artist in residence Mary Elizabeth Barron and learn a traditional coiling technique to create a textile coil from recycled fabric that will then be incorporated into a community artwork by joining them together in a long thread. This activity may appeal to home school families and class visits. Group bookings are necessary. Further information: 5454 9050

22 February

Every Wednesday & Saturday Where: Memorial Drive, Eumundi When: Wed 8am – 1:30pm & Sat 7am – 2pm You’ll find original artworks, sculptures, furniture, handmade toys, homewares, and skincare, as well as cutting edge fashion and jewellery by local designers, all guided by our ethos of “we make it, bake it, grow it, sew it”. www.eumundimarkets.com.au

Big Pineapple Growers & Artisans Market Every Saturday Where: Big Pineapple, Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye When: 6.30am - 12noon The biggest all weather market with Fresh fruit and veges plus an array of art, amazing food, clothing and more. http://www.bigpineapple.com.au/saturday-growers-markets/

Caloundra Country & Farmers Market

Every Sunday Where: Arthur Street, Caloundra When: 7am to 12 noon All your Fresh Fruit & Veg. Flowers & Plants. Fresh Seafood, plus Hand-made Clothes, Craft, Tools, Books & Collectables. Car Boot Sales and new stall holders welcome Details: Ph 0401 482 949

Sunny Coast Baby and Kids Market February 18 Where: Nambour PCYC When: 8am – 12noon Pre-loved handmade clothes for under-fives. Cost: Entry $2 http://sunnycoastbabykidsmarket.com.au/

International CHD Awareness Day

HeartKids aims to raise awareness for all aspects of children's heart disease. They support children with heart diseases, as well as their families, including those who have lost young children. Heart Kids works towards reducing both the incidence and the mortality rates of childhood heart disease. www.heartkids.org.au

February 23

Ocean Disco

Celebrate summer and ditch your usual work or school attire for your favourite board shorts and help raise vital funds for Surf Life Saving. It's open to all ages and a great way for you to support your local volunteer surf lifesavers. Email: boardiesday@lifesaving.com.au www.boardiesday.com.au/

Eumundi Markets

14 February

Under The Sea party

Boardies Day

Markets

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Where: Kings Beach Time: 7am – 2pm A great day of family fun with entertainment to suit all tastes and ages along with BBQ’s, busking and games. This free public event is a great way to celebrate safely and responsibly and will be an alcohol and glass free event. Cost: Free Contact: http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Where: Mystery Island Kids Club, Maroochy RSL Time: from 7.00pm Where did Nemo go, I think he’s lost again, please hurry to our anemone and help us all find him! Dory, Marlin, Squirt, Bruce and Nemo, invite you to join our Ocean Disco Cost: Entry into Mystery Island - $2.50 junior cadets, $4.50 visitors Contact: ph: 5443 2211 www.maroochyrsl.com.au/mystery-island Facebook/MysteryIslandKidsClub

Regular events winn w wi win inn n iin ing ng n g me medi med m ed da

28 January

Celebrate Australia Day

Where: Lake Kawana Community Centre, 114 Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina Time: 10am or 2pm classes Learn all the tricks and tips to easily play the Didjeridu, Australia’s iconic indigenous musical instrument with renowned teacher and player Scotty "Vibemason" Estrich. Learn easy ways to start playing the didjeridu, and then build some great tones and sounds. Use your creative skills to create your own song. Recommended for ages 6+ Cost: $10 per child www.scvenuesandevents.com.au to book or call 07 5413 1400.

February Australia day holiday

26 January

Learn to Play Didjeridu

Salt Caves

With sessions running twice a week, kids can reap the benefits of Salt Therapy whilst enjoying activities and story time in the caves with one of the Salt Caves staff. Giving you time to relax in the Caves café! Sessions run on Mondays at 10am and Thursdays at 4pm and are available for children aged 2-10 years at $20 per child.

* We publish information based on what is supplied to us - to the best of our knowlege all details are correct at the time of printing, however we do recommend you check event details with the organisers

tickets

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show

6 & 7 January Brisbane Entertainment Centre http://premier.ticketek.com.au

Get Creative Third Saturday of the Month Where: The Butter Factory Arts Centre, Cooroy When: 10am to 12 noon These fun, free, family events will be held on the third Saturday of every month. Enjoy the current exhibition, create a piece with a family member and enjoy the local food on offer. Cost: FREE. No bookings required. Details: P: 5454 9050

Hairy Maclary and Friends

Storytime, where learning is fun! Mondays Where: Anglican Church of Noosa, Bicentennial Drive, Sunshine Beach When: 8:45am to11am, Mondays By making learning fun, kids learn about letters and words through play and have a great time doing it! Cost: FREE, community based program for zero to five year olds Details: P: Simon Keith on 0427 197 206 W: visit storytime.org.au

Sunshine Coast Youth Theatre Summer Camps

Mini Steam Train Rides 4th Sunday of every month Where: 1 Florence Street, Nambour When: 10am to 3pm Ride-on 5” and 7¼” gauge Miniature Railway Model Live Steam and Diesel Locomotives. Tea, Coffee and Drinks available. Bring a picnic and stay for the day. Cost: From $3 Details: P: 5450 8340 W: www.scrms.org.au Storytelling Every week Where: Sunshine Coast Libraries When: Various times - see website for details Storytelling sessions for pre-schoolers, babies and parents occur weekly at every library across the Sunshine Coast and are free! Cost: FREE Details: P: 1300 LIBRARY http://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Swampy Gym

Where: Buderim Pool When: Wed 11am to 12noon & Thurs 2pm to 3pm Bring your baby for an hour of watery fun with swim toys, small inflatables, kickboards and music. Friendly, qualified instructors are on hand to give advice and tips. Cost: $6 for the first child and $3 for any subsequent children in the family. Newborns to five years all welcome! Details: 07 5445 6685

9 to 19 January 2013 QPAC, South Bank, Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

21 - 24 January The J Noosa www.scvenuesandevents.com.au

Icehouse 26 January The Events Centre www.scvenuesandevents.com.au Driving Miss Daisy 3 to 24 February Playhouse, QPAC, South Bank, Brisbane www.qpac.com.au Legally Blonde The Musical

From 12 March Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Bank, Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

The Big Pineapple Music Festival 20 April The Big Pineapple www.bigpineapplemusicfestival.com

january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

NOW OPEN! SAVE AT LEAST 10% WHEN YOU BOOK TICKETS ONLINE AT UNDERWATERWORLD.COM.AU

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Kids Culture - Unique Health & Wellbeing Event Take part in the Sunshine Coast’s unique and comprehensive Health and Wellbeing event for parents and children - Sat 4th & Sun 5th May 2013. 9.304pm. The main event the Conscious Life Festival is a 2 day event which will promote health & wellbeing, sustainable living, lifestyle & environment, sacred art & music, awareness & education. Kids Culture is a unique health and wellbeing event with a designated area specifically for Children and parents, offering free workshops & healing, Activities, seminars for the adults as well as exhibitors and products that enhance children's health & wellbeing, as well as promoting conscious parenting. Set in a tranquil & idyllic setting surrounded by nature within Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast. www.consciouslifefestival.com.au

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january / february 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Babies

signs to take seriously: serious health problems in newborn babies

by Dr Julian Paxton

or parents, especially first time parents, there are few more exciting, and sometimes daunting, moments than taking baby home. Most babies make the transition smoothly, but occasionally babies become unwell. It is always challenging for parents to distinguish between normal and minor baby ailments, and signs of serious illness. Babies leaving hospital have generally been examined by a doctor trained in newborn health. The recommended standard is two such examinations before discharge. These checks are extremely important and rule out many problems which could make a baby unwell further down the track. Whether breast or bottle fed, all parents should leave hospital confident their baby is feeding well, and have reliable telephone support available, should they have concerns. It is important that families with newborn babies have a family GP, and access to their advice and

assistance should they be concerned. It is worthwhile establishing a strong relationship with your GP before baby is born.

brothers and sisters, either at school or in day care. This is sometimes called the â&#x20AC;&#x153;second child syndromeâ&#x20AC;?.

As a parent you will learn to know your child, and will be able to detect quite subtle alterations in behaviour which may hint that baby is becoming unwell. Of course, most of these changes won't be an indication of serious illness but if symptoms are deteriorating or sustained, seek help through your doctor or your local hospital emergency department. Parental instincts are strong and usually reliable. If you are concerned, seek help.

More serious infections can occur, and can be difficult to distinguish from minor infection in the early stages of illness. To confirm fever reliably and safely, every family needs a thermometer. The most reliable way to check for a temperature is with a digital thermometer, placed in the armpit and held there for around a minute. A temperature of above 37.5 C represents a fever. Seek help.

There are a number of symptoms a baby can develop which raise concern about possible serious illness.

Much less common is a low temperature; a temperature of under 36.0 C may also be of concern.

Fever:

Vomiting:

Fever in babies almost always means infection. The most common infections are viral infections, particularly the common cold. Babies are more susceptible to viral infections if they have older

Most babies vomit, and often healthy babies vomit or spill quite frequently. If baby is settled and gaining weight, their vomiting is unlikely to be any concern. continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; January / February 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Babies Vomiting bile is uncommon but can be a sign of a blocked bowel. Bile in the vomit looks bright yellow or green. If this problem is present seek help urgently. Vomiting blood is common in breast fed babies and often comes from cracked nipples. While this is of obvious concern to mum, it generally isn't a problem for baby. Of course, if baby otherwise seems unwell, seek help. Occasionally babies regurgitate frequently, and are very unsettled and distressed. This may be a sign of GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), a problem which generally responds well to medical treatment. Less common is pyloric stenosis, a condition in which the outlet from the stomach becomes thickened and progressively blocked. This illness generally occurs around 6 weeks of age, and these babies vomit with increasing frequency and volume, with their vomiting becoming very forceful or “projectile”. Surgical treatment is very successful.

Poor feeding: Babies are voracious feeders. As a rough guide, healthy babies double their weight in their first 4-5 months, and such rapid weight gain requires sustained, frequent feeding. Milk in, urine out; high fluid intake means high output, so most babies wet nappies at least 6 times per day. It is very sensible to have your baby weighed at regular intervals; good weight gain confirms good intake of milk. When babies become unwell, they often start feeding poorly and this change can happen suddenly. With decreased milk intake, nappies become wet less often and wet nappies are not so heavy, meaning urine volume is less. So if baby is much less interested in feeding, and passing less urine, this may be a warning sign. Seek medical help.

Alertness or Irritability: If a baby is suddenly less alert, floppy, uninterested in feeding, displaying less spontaneous movement and becomes difficult to rouse, this may be a sign of serious illness.

bilirubin. Jaundice is very common in newborn babies and sometimes needs treatment in the first days of life, before discharge from hospital.

problems in young babies and may need medical attention but these issues do not require immediate attention.

Jaundice sometimes persists or appears after discharge. Most often this problem is innocent, and associated with breast feeding (“breast milk jaundice”). Another common cause is poor intake of milk, and poor weight gain.

Deep red or purple spots, appearing suddenly, that don't disappear with pressure may mean meningococcal infection. Don't mess around. Seek help urgently.

There are serious but much less common causes of persistent jaundice in babies, so if baby at 3-4 weeks of age has persistent jaundice, seek medical advice.

If skin is very pale, mottled, or blue and baby displays other signs mentioned above, seek help. It is difficult to determine colour in a dark room – if worried, turn on the light!

Breathing difficulty:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):

Minor concerns about breathing are common. Babies with narrow nostrils need to breathe through their noses when feeding. These babies are often “snuffly”, but if they are feeding well this is probably of no concern.

The term SIDS strikes fear into the hearts of most parents. There are no “warning signs”, but it is important that SIDS awareness remains high and parents are aware of proven methods to minimize risk.

Period breathing is an irregular breathing pattern seen in healthy babies when asleep. These children have erratic breathing patterns, panting, pausing, and sighing. This pattern is normal and is not of any concern if baby doesn't display any other sign of illness.

The good news is that the rate of SIDS has reduced by over 80% in the last 20 years, primarily due to the promotion of safe sleeping practices in babies. Follow the check list below to protect your baby:

Many babies also have a “rattle” in their throats, especially when lying asleep on their backs; this can occasionally lead to choking spells but is rarely of concern. Sustained rapid breathing is a sign of breathing difficulty; more than 60 breaths in a minute makes serious illness more likely. If unsure, count how many times baby breathes in a minute using a watch or timer. When babies have serious breathing difficulty their breast bone (sternum) and ribs often suck in markedly with each breath, and the nostrils may flare. A grunting noise with each breath is also a reliable sign of breathing difficulty. Illnesses like croup and bronchiolitis are common, caused by viral infection, and more frequent in the winter months. They can present with fever, breathing difficulty, noisy breathing and poor feeding. Seek help.

• Babies must sleep on their backs. Some babies may seem to sleep more comfortably on their tummy or side, but these postures increase the risk of SIDS alarmingly – don't do it!! • Use bedding that minimizes the risk of babies face being accidentally covered. Accidental smothering with a sheet or blanket over the face is a common finding in SIDS cases. • Don't smoke, and certainly don't smoke around children. • Room sharing with parents (not with other children) for the first 6-12 months reduces SIDS risk. • Make sure cots and mattresses are safe. • Sleeping with baby in bed (or on the couch) is unsafe.

Finally: Serious illness can affect babies but these illnesses are uncommon. Parents of new babies are prone to worry but don't let this spoil your enjoyment of parenting. The problems described above may suggest serious illness in a baby. If you are worried, seek help.

Similarly, a baby who is uncharacteristically agitated, irritable and unsettled may be significantly unwell.

Skin Rashes:

Jaundice:

Many babies develop pimply spots on their face, and upper chest in the first few weeks. Often called neonatal acne, this condition is common and settles; it is not a cause of concern.

Jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the skin, caused by the accumulation of a chemical called

Nappy rashes and eczema are also common

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

Dr Julian Paxton is a specialist Paediatrician at Sunshine Coast Paediatrics

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

January / February 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kids on the Coast

Only Natural

Recycling: Engaging the environmental custodians of the future By Janet Sparrow, Manager of Recycling Programs at Planet Ark

If you are like 90% of Australians, chances are you recycle most of the packaging you use at home. In all likelihood there’s not an aluminium can or milk carton heading from your house to landfill, which is a huge change from the situation just 20 years ago.

ut a new report from Planet Ark, titled Second Nature: Recycling in Australia, shows that Aussie households and businesses are still sending almost 22 million tonnes of waste to landfill each year, which is the equivalent of 416 Sydney Harbour Bridges. Sending this much material to landfill represents an enormous waste of resources and shifts the problems of dealing with its consequences from our generation to our children’s generation. As an example, the food and garden cuttings you send to landfill today could still be producing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, when your kids have their own children. So, as the environmental custodians of the future, how do you engage your kids to look after the environment? Reducing waste in the first place and then recycling what’s unavoidable are both

relatively easy actions you and your children can take now to preserve valuable resources and prevent future issues. There is evidence that environmental and naturebased activities during childhood can shape future environmental attitudes and behaviours. When children recognise themselves as being part of nature, they develop a sense of ecological self. The stronger this self-perception as part of nature, the more likely a child is to care about and to protect the environment.

Recycling at Home Since kerbside recycling for packaging took off in the early 1990s, Australians have embraced it with a passion. However, much of what is sent to landfill from Australian homes is organic material, including

food scraps, garden cuttings, timber and paper. When organic material breaks down without oxygen, like in a landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. The average Australian household generates almost a tonne of food waste each year, most of which can be avoided. There is room for improvement in Aussie homes when it comes to recycling packaging but more so when it comes to complicated items like printer cartridges, batteries, mobile phones and big electronics like TVs and computers. Recycling has significant range of environmental benefits - for example, making an aluminium can from recycled material uses only 5% of the energy used to make one from virgin materials and making paper from recycled stock uses around half as much water. continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Every family deserves food grown with integrity and with appropriate labelling certification to support its origin. Gary Hands, Organic Farmer at Kookaburra Organics shares, “We need to have confidence in the food chain from farmer to plate. Organic food is grown naturally and tastes the way it used to. Do you remember grandfathers’ veggie patch- the taste sensations when a carrot was a carrot, full of genuine flavour? It has been my experience with children who don’t like vegetables, soon crave them once they have the opportunity to experience the flavour of real, organic vegetables. Children have a clean palate and sensitive awareness towards things which are good for them.” Kookaburra Organics delivers reasonably priced, organic produce from the paddock to Sunshine Coast homes and cafés. Order yours today at www.kookaburraorganics.com

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TODAY

TOMORROW

January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Only Natural

What you and your kids can do at home: • Reduce food waste by making a meal plan and shopping list, and buying to the list. Financially and environmentally it's better to buy more later if you need it, than to waste what you have too much of. Ask the kids to help decide what goes on the menu that week, and make other meals with your leftovers. • Look critically at products when shopping and question whether or not they’re sensibly packaged or over-packaged. Simple and single materials, like plastic or glass yoghurt tubs, recycle better than combined materials like plastic tubs wrapped in a cardboard sleeve. • If you find items in the supermarket with excess packaging (and it annoys you as much as it does us) call the Packaging Line on 1300 30 80 30 and make a complaint. They pass your complaint on to the manufacturer, who must respond within 20 working days. • Set up a worm farm or compost at home. Kids love the responsibility of caring for these additions to the family and your plants will love the natural fertiliser that is produced. • Set your family a challenge – see how much

...environmental and naturebased activities during childhood can shape future environmental attitudes and behaviours. you can reduce your household rubbish bin by composting food scraps, recycling cartons, cans and paper products, and making purchasing decisions that involve less packaging. The volume of your normal household rubbish should shrink dramatically! • Then look for recycled products such as exercise books, pens, office paper and toilet paper to purchase. We need to buy the outputs of recycling to make the whole cycle economically viable and send the right signal to manufacturers. • Australia lags well behind Europe, Japan and most of the US in battery recycling. Recently ALDI Supermarkets and Battery World stores have set up collection points, so get in the habit of using them. Better still, from an environmental and budgetary point of view, use rechargeables.

get you started. http://recyclingweek.planetark. org/kids-teachers/kids.cfm • Aluminium cans and drink containers are common at sporting events, as well as picnics and barbeques. If you're out and about and can’t find a public place recycling bin, remember to take your cans and drink containers home with you to be recycled. • Over the festive season, check out Planet Ark’s 12 Do’s of Christmas tips for a greener Christmas and New Year. Visit: http://12dos.planetark.org/ • To find local options for the items that don’t go in the kerbside bin, check out Planet Ark’s handy Recyclingnearyou.com.au website or hotline on 1300 733 712. Engage the kids by getting them to do some of the searching for you.

Recycling at School • Instead of buying birthday or Christmas cards and wrapping paper, get your kids to have a go at making some from cereal boxes, old ribbons and odds and ends that will otherwise be thrown out. It will keep them occupied for an afternoon and save you money! Planet Ark even has a Recycled Arts and Crafts Guide to

Many schools embrace sustainability programs that help engage the students, such as composting food scraps in a worm farm or compost, the results of which go back on the school’s garden to help the plants grow. This cyclical and handson example of the benefits of recycling is a great lesson for kids to understand. continued on next page...

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Taste the difference If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural spring water a habit in your life. It won’t take long for you to feel the benefits. It is such a low cost investment for your long term health. Montville Mist Springwater is collected from a natural spring, feeding “The Narrows” Obi Obi Gorge National Park, here in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Recent scientific analysis of the Montville Mist Spring verifies that this source continues to provide the finest springwater.

• Fluoride free, Chlorine free and Preservative free • 600ml, 1.5L, 11 Litre and 15 Litre bottled spring water • Coolers, bench top dispensers, cups & accessories available (Servicing Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast)

If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, make drinking enough natural spring water a habit in your life. It won’t take long for you to feel the benefits.

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The team at Montville Mist Springwater are passionate about giving people a choice to stay hydrated with chemical free water. The spring water is naturally alkaline with a pH ranging 7.1 – 7.8 (pH above 7 is considered pure). A pH below 7 is acidic. The springs rise to the surface naturally and are fed by gravity to the bottling facility. No preservatives or fluoride are added to offer a chemical free healthy alternative to rain, tap and filtered waters. You will know that you are getting value for money when you compare the options. Their main focus is to offer a friendly and reliable service delivering a premium product at an affordable price so everyone can enjoy the benefits of drinking quality spring water. Our health is truly dependent on the quality and quantity of the water we drink. Montville Mist Springwater are one of the last remaining locally owned natural spring water companies on the Sunshine Coast. It is essential to know where your water comes from and what your family are drinking. www.montvillemist.com.au Ph: (07) 5478 5690 January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Only Natural

Over the last two years during National Recycling Week in November, Planet Ark has provided schools with the Tetra Pak Schools Recycle Right Challenge suite of activities, lesson plans and event ideas for teachers to highlight the concepts and importance of recycling. The Challenge gives teachers a wide range of fun and interactive recycling-themed activities, lessons, supporting resources and event ideas that have been developed specifically for Australian schools and students. Recycling can be used to teach students about the environment, resource management, maths, science and even geography.

the school has recycling bins and a sustainability program. • If you have time, volunteer to help out with setting up a compost bay or a school garden. Often, all an enthusiastic teacher needs is a little support from a parent or two. • Every day can be “Nude Food Day”! Choose healthy lunches and snacks for your children that can go straight into their lunch boxes, without any packaging.

Recycling at Work:

During the Challenge, schools have engaged their students in a diverse range of activities, including using recyclable materials for games, reusing material in art and craft classes, setting up worm farms, making recycling videos, and even visiting local waste and recycling facilities to see how it all works.

Chances are, if you’ve read as far as this you’re probably one of the more active recyclers on the Coast but how do you do at work? The next step that Aussies need to do is bring our good habits into the workplace, extend our good habits to a broader range of products and materials, and review our attitudes about waste and consumption so that we can live in better balance with the natural environment.

“Nude food” days are also a popular way of encouraging students, and parents, to think about the amount of packaging used to wrap and store food for lunch.

Recycling at work often involves fewer material types, but higher volumes of them, so it can be really easy to recycle at work once the systems are in place.

What you and your kids can do at school:

What you can do at work:

• Encourage the school to get involved in teaching the kids about recycling and reuse. Ask if

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

• If you already have a recycling service, ensure there’s a recycling bin in the staff kitchen for empty milk and juice cartons, cans, paper and other recyclables. Encourage your colleagues to use the right bin for their items. • Check out Planet Ark’s BusinessRecycling. com.au website for case studies, free signage, a comprehensive listing of recyclers and more – all designed to make recycling at work easy. Incorporating some of these ideas into your daily life, at home, school or work, doesn’t take much effort, but it’s another step in the right direction towards a greener future for our kids. About the author: Janet is Planet Ark’s recycling guru. Janet has been working in the environmental and waste management sector for the last eight years, and she currently manages Planet Ark’s suite of recycling programs and initiatives. These include the well-known ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ program, National Recycling Week, and the RecyclingNearYou and BusinessRecycling websites. With a Masters of Environmental Management, Janet has previously worked in NSW state and local government, in the university sector in the Philippines, and she is the current Vice Chair of the NSW Waste Educators Working Group.

• If your workplace doesn’t have a recycling service, speak with your building or property manager, and offer to help arrange one. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Blue Sky Science is taking off in 2013! Tracey O’Connell, the owner of Sunshine Coast business Blue Sky Science, has recently made a very big decision. “I’ve quit my day job so that I can devote myself full time to Blue Sky Science! It’s really scary and really exciting”, she said. Blue Sky Science has heaps of school holiday activities happening around the Coast over summer. Book the kids in for a chance to try making lava lamps, blowing giant bubbles and bubbles inside bubbles, walking in a vat of oobleck and, of course, kids always love making their own squidgy goo to take home. And when school goes back, the kids can continue the fun at one of Blue Sky Science’s new after-school science clubs. You can get details and book tickets for all Blue Sky Science events at www. blueskyscience.com.au The (blue) sky’s the limit for this local sciencepreneur! to a kids’ science workshop Come ese SCHOOL HOLI DAYS th

BOOK YOUR SCIENCE BIRTHDAY PARTY NOW! NEW in 2013: After-school science clubs are a great way for kids to explore the FUN side of science!

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

It's all

You

ABOUT

Funny Facts 8000+ App This free Android app helps pass the time quickly as well as filling your head with all sorts of facts you didn’t know that you didn’t know. With over 8000 facts to go through you will never get bored again!

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Do you want NO sliding makeup this summer?

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Use a primer as they hold makeup in place.

NEARLY 50% OF MUMS PLANNED TO DITCH UNIFORM SHOPPING WITH KIDS FOR ONLINE ALTERNATIVE – do you have this option? Share your uniform shopping story with us on Facebook (Source: Stubbies survey)

Cirque Du Soleil Worlds Away 3D Rated: TBC In cinemas February 21 Until now, audiences could only experience Cirque du Soleil by their live performances. By using the most advanced 3D techniques, you will now soar with the aerialists, leap with the acrobats and plunge into the water. You will experience points-of-views previously reserved for Cirque performers. Be guided through the amazing visuals of the Cirque du Soleil shows connected by an original narrative: a love story of two aerialists who are separated and must find each other again in the world of Cirque du Soleil.

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

A girls guide to buying a bike With the Moololaba triathlon just around the corner, New Year’s resolutions being set and cycling growing in popularity, there are more women out on the roads training. But when you’re new to the sport of cycling, how do you know what type of bike you’re looking for? Where do you go? What do you ask? Visit our website to find out, with expert advice from Catherine Thiele of www.ironchicks.com.au

Psychology researchers at the University of Sydney have revealed that around 50% of people in Australia made a New Year’s Resolution this year… did you? We would love to hear on Facebook or our website. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Are you looking to re-enter the workforce in 2013 but require a position that offers a flexible work/family balance? The Chefs Toolbox are looking for consultants to showcase their quality range of cookware. You don’t need any experience, other than a great personality. Be your own boss and reap the rewards. Low start up cost, reputable direct selling company, no false promises.

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

It's all

You

ABOUT Escape to Brisbane

Brisbane has never been hotter than right now with a seductive calendar of events, activities and festivals arriving in the river city just in time for summer. Until January 31, 2013 take advantage of Accor Brisbane’s summer accommodation rates which include breakfast from $199 at Novotel, from $179 at Mercure and from $139 at Ibis. Novotel Brisbane is also offering free Wi Fi right through the summer holidays. Visit www.accorhotels.com.au and for ideas of things to do in Brisbane check out www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/article/ escape-to-brisbane

Berry Keeper® Password & Data Vault App (iPod, iPad and iPhone) Free from iTunes Keeper® is a secure, simple way to store and access your passwords and private information - anywhere, anytime. With Keeper’s military-grade encryption, it promises that you can trust that no one else will have access to your most important information.

Parents receive 1 out of every 5 Valentines each Valentine’s Day!

Balayage?

The go-to for modern, chic hair, balayage creates depth and dimension, and leaves you with a sun-kissed finish. It’s a freehand technique where the colour is applied by hand rather than using the traditional foiling or cap highlighting techniques. You can achieve many different effects from soft, natural highlights to something strong and defined. And it is low maintenance too.

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

Mint Fizzle

Mocktail A refreshing mocktail to enjoy by the pool? Yes please!

Ingredients (serves 6): • 2 large limes, quartered; • 1/2 bunch mint leaves; • 8 strawberries, quartered; • ½ cup white sugar, dissolved in ½ cup hot water; • 4 cups cold soda water; • ice cubes.

Method: Squeeze the lime into a sturdy glass jug. Put the juiced limes into the jug along with the mint, strawberries, and sugared water. Crush the fruits together with a muddler/ potato masher to release the juices from the strawberries and the oil from the mint leaves. Stir in the soda water until everything is well mixed. Pour into the glasses over ice cubes to serve. (For those who want an alcoholic version – add a shot of vodka!)

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

GymbaROO KindyROO and

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Australian program for children between 6 wks & 4 yrs old GymbaROO is designed and taught by professionally qualified instructors

Classes held at the Goodlife Community Centre, Buderim on Wed, Thurs, & Fri!!

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dirtgirlworld live show

See your favorite dirtgirl live on stage with ken the weevil! Date: Monday 14th – Friday 18th January Time: 11am & 1pm Meet & Greet: 12 noon Where: Noosa Civic Shopping Food Court Cost: Free! Plus children can enjoy the thrills of the Bungy Trampoline and Children’s Train Ride in Centre now.

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Educate your KIDS about the DANGERS of ASBESTOS. Unfortunately there is currently over two million cubic metres of asbestos in public buildings, the majority being in schools and public housing. In a recent media release, Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg said “Asbestos exposure in schools has been going on for a very long time and it is really frightening for parents because there is no way of telling (whether) your child has inhaled asbestos fibres if the circumstances occur where they may become airborne,” he told reporters. There is no known safe level of exposure to Asbestos; one fibre could literally be a killer. The Australia-wide “Asbestos Awareness” week took place from Nov 26-30th 2012, helping to ensure that we need to remain conscious of the ever-present dangers Asbestos and Asbestos Containing Materials

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

(ACM) are still playing within our community. With figures that continually rival 50% of the national road toll an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Australians will be diagnosed with Asbestos related disease over the next 20 years! The vast majority of Asbestos related disease is terminal and usually results in death very quickly after diagnosis. The biggest threat to the future health and safety of the Australian public is our “DIY” attitude. It is for this reason Australians and indeed the next generation need to be re-educated on the very real threat that is Asbestos and why it still exists and can continue to cause harm. Not just in the past but right now! You can call SAFE Asbestos Management today for a quote or FREE confidential advice on 1300 425 433 or email office@safeasbestos.com.au

January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Are your kids driving you bonkers? Sick of scouring books and websites for answers? Well Hot 91.1 is here to help. Send us your kiddie conundrums and our very own Todd and Sami along with Jan from Settle Petal could be be coming to your rescue. Find out more about Settle Petal at www.settlepetal. com. If you’ve got a parenting question you’d like answered email it now to breakfast@hot91.com.au ‘My boy is two and keeps wearing girls dresses, what should I do?’

SAMI

Look, I am going to be drawn and quartered for saying this, but I honestly believe little boys are attracted to things such as cars and little girls are attracted to dolls and barbies. I know. I know. It is wrong to say it out loud. Heaven forbid printing such a sexist line of thought. However it is my belief as I have just seen it in real life so many times when boys naturally start throwing and kicking things and girls nurture things. I do think there are some exceptions to the rule and I think dress ups is one of them. I think all little minds are creative and express this in the form of dress ups. My big brother used to love wearing our mum’s necklaces as a child. He is now a towering man who works in the coal mines; drives a ute; and loves beer. You cannot get more of a stereotype for ‘masculinity’ than my gorgeous brother. A little bit of Liberace and Lycra never hurt any little soul, I say. I bet the boys of One Direction used to dress up in crazy costume clothes and put hairspray in their long locks and sing in front of the mirror. Look at them now. Girls around the world love them and they are millionaires. And imagine what Hugh Jackman must have got up to as a toddler. He would have been belting out cabaret style nursery rhymes while dressed in sparkles and tiaras I bet! So I would not stress. Just get lots of photographs for your boy’s twenty first birthday party of him in hot pink hot pants! Worst case scenario you will have the Hugh Jackman of the future as your son! However if he starts sniffing around your bras then it may be a different story! You may have two sons one day who are married to each other and I think that is pretty cool!

TODD

What’s a cross dresser’s fave party mantra? To eat, drink and be Mary! Not sure just coz your wee kiddy is frocking up from time to time that there’s any need to panic! It’s when the lippy clashes with the shoes

and handbag that you panic! I’m happy to admit I’m all over this like Clive Palmer on a 2 piece Feed. I’ve done it and continue to do it, usually for a laugh, sometimes for comfort, but mostly for the sheer fun of it! In all seriousness us lads have been donning women’s clothing for centuries and the tougher the better, think channel 9’s Footy Show. Fatty in a frock, now that’s entertainment! Some of the greatest movies ever made feature men in women’s clothing. There’s Mrs Doubtfire, a fam fave, if you wanna go old skool there’s TOOTSIE and let’s not forget Martin Lawrence going under cover as a fat woman in Big Momma’s House. The first two weren’t too bad but the third was to cinema what chocolate eclairs are to diets! But I digress...in a nutshell...try to see the humorous side to the kids curiosity and if he wants to wear an LBD around the house, then tell him to “go for it tiger!” Especially if he’s got the pins to pull it off!

JAN

Your two year old boy wearing girls dresses - why would you need to do anything special? Wearing girls’ dresses does not make him a deviant or a male with homosexual tendencies. The clothes he wears won’t change what he is on the inside that’s already there. It is important to allow your son to role play and live in an imaginary world – that is how a two year old learns about life and how he fits in. You can’t fight who he is - let him discover it for himself and the earlier the better. If he

wears a superman cape it doesn’t mean he will grow up to be superman or when he plays with your hair it doesn’t mean he will become a hairdresser. My son and his mate loved dressing in his sister’s pink tulle tutu, accessorized with high-heels and glammed up with lipstick. If you could see him now at 19 years old you would clearly see that dressing in girls’ clothes has had no feminine effects on him what-so-ever. Avoid making a big deal of what he wants to wear – that gives the situation unnecessary attention. Give casual comments like ‘mummy used to wear a dress like that’. It’s funny how we never worry as much when our daughters want to wear their brother’s shorts!

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Restoring your confidence with bladder control Dr Petra Ladwig from Suncoast Women’s Centre understands the problems most women face after giving birth. One of the most embarrassing side effects is often incontinence which can occur due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. A lot of women simply put up with this as the natural course of being a woman after child birth but this need not be the case. If addressed early these problems can be managed, improved and even cured by something as simple and painless as sitting in a chair, fully clothed for 20 minutes! The pelvic floor controls your urinary, bowel and sexual functions yet these muscles are your most neglected. The new ‘Wave Brilliance’ Magnetic Pelvic Floor Stimulation chair (magnetic chair) uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve impulses which rapidly flex and tighten your pelvic floor muscles. This is the equivalent of approximately 200 pelvic floor contractions every minute at 20 times greater the intensity than the patient can do themselves! It is the ideal way to kick start or regenerate the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles to restore strength, endurance and continence. Treatments are tailored to individual patients but a typical therapy program consists of two 20 minute treatments per week for eight weeks. Of course children are most welcome to attend with you and can simply sit and play whilst you undergo your treatment. For more information about the new Wave Brilliance magnetic chair treatment phone the Suncoast Women’s Centre on 5437 7244 or visit Suite 5, 5 Innovation Parkway, Birtinya (Kawana). Medicare rebates available. January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

GOOD health

Autism Imagine waking up in a foreign country. You don’t have a passport, you’re unable to speak the language and you have no way of easily communicating with the people around you. Now imagine they all have a different set of social cues, rules and etiquette. To varying degrees, this can help explain how a child with autism experiences their surroundings every day. By Deborah Whiteoak, AEIOU Foundation

hildren with autism have difficulties with communication, social interaction, fine and gross motor skills, repetitive behaviour and routines and may also experience sensory issues. As a result, they have to work harder to achieve the milestones many others take for granted.

AEIOU Foundation CEO Alan Smith explains autism isn’t rare. It affects more than 1 in 160 people in Australia, and up to one in 88 internationally. This makes autism more prevalent than childhood cancer, diabetes and HIV infection combined, and twice as prevalent as cerebral palsy. “Every person with autism is different, but many families can relate to the analogy of living inside a bubble, being separated by the world by an invisible barrier. AEIOU aims to break that bubble, by providing a full-time and part-time early intervention program which follows the 2012 Australian Good Practice Guidelines,” Mr Smith says. AEIOU Foundation’s program is unique and has emerged as one of Australia’s leading services for children aged 2 ½ to 6 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). “The Foundation is now in its seventh year of operations and provides vital support to more than 200 children and their families across Queensland every year.” AEIOU operates nine centres, in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Bundaberg and Hervey

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

Bay. “We opened our centre at Sippy Downs in 2011, and it is unique because it is inclusive, providing an autism specific program as well as early years learning and child care for children who do not have autism,” Mr Smith said. “Children with autism learn, think and process their environment differently. They may have trouble with processing and distinguishing different noises around them, and sudden noises, bright lights or changes to a routine can be overwhelming.” Mr Smith says many don’t realise how brave children with autism are, striving each day to understand and overcome fears of experiences or environments that can be frightening to them. “It can be something as simple as being afraid to have a haircut, go to the dentist, have a bath, or eating certain foods. The problem worsens when that child can’t express their feelings, or understand what’s happening around them. Teaching children to communicate is therefore integral to the program, whether that’s through sign, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), language or another method.” Mr Smith explains autism affects the whole family, with social, financial, vocational and sibling disadvantages a real issue. “At AEIOU, we try to support families during this crucial time of diagnosis and early intervention, but we also know that

autism is a lifelong condition and families need access to resources and support throughout their entire journey,” Mr Smith said. Each child is unique, and so is each family’s experience. Tuesday 2 April 2012 marks International Autism Awareness Day (http://www.autismawareness. com.au ), with the entire month of April dedicated to awareness activities. AEIOU will join the global ‘Light it up Blue’ campaign and is hosting a special family carnival, ‘Bubble Day’ in Brisbane to help raise funds and awareness for children with ASD. For information about how you can join the event, or for details about the AEIOU program go to www.aeiou.org.au. More information will also be available about events on the Sunshine Coast on the Kids on the Coast website and in the March/ April edition of the magazine.

Autism Services on the Sunshine Coast include: Sunshine Coast Autism Aspergers Network: www.scaan.net/ Phone: 5446 3790 ASD Care: www.asdcare.com.au Phone: 0437 433 369 PASSIONATE MINDS: www.passionateminds.com.au Phone: 0419 708 559 www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Awareness, support and education Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) is life-long and affect's as many as 1 in 100 people. Individuals experience difficulties with sensory issues, social interaction, impaired communication and quite often feel they are different.

‘Autism’ Studies program at Griffith University. She is currently collaborating with best-selling author of ‘Aspergirls’ Rudy Simone and they will be copresenting together in Australia, in 2013.

It can be a challenge to know where to start when looking for help about an Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). What do I do first? Who do I ask for help? Will my doctor understand me? Why does my family not understand me? These are just some of the many questions that so often arise when an ASC is suspected or diagnosed.

Tania divides her time between private practice, Doctoral studies, and facilitating and presenting workshops and/or professional trainings. She is available for educational workshops to provide in depth information on how schools, aides and staff can better understand ASC’s and provide strategies to implement with helping the child in the school environment.

Awareness, support and education from families, support services, schools and health professionals all have a major impact in improving the lives and well-being for those on the Autism Spectrum. It is with this collaboration of essential services that Tania Marshall, Paul Kay, Barbara Cook and Janelle Cole have become united in improving awareness and services here on the Sunshine Coast.

The team of the Sunshine Coast Autism Aspergers Network (SCAAN), consisting of co-founders, Paul Kay and Barbara Cook, Tania Marshall and Janelle Cole, are dedicated to providing quality online information and support to everyone connected with an ASC.

Tania Marshall, psychologist and Autism Specialist of the Sunshine Coast Centre for Autism, provides the highest quality services for children, teens, adults and families with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Sensory Issues and related conditions. Tania provides assessment, diagnosis and evidence based interventions for all ages, from children right through to adults. Tania’s specialist area is in girls and women on the Autism Spectrum and the unique challenges that face them. Many girls and women are misdiagnosed and Tania’s primary interest is to address the masked and hidden difficulties that go undetected and under the radar, leaving women and girls to struggle with life, whilst appearing to fit in with society. Tania is currently working on her Doctoral/PhD, specialising in women and girls, through the new

SCAAN was created and founded by Aspie’s Paul Kay and Barbara Cook after Paul received his diagnosis for Aspergers Syndrome four years ago and not knowing where to find local information or who to connect to for support in the local area. SCAAN’s online ‘one stop shop’ of services provides information on local ASC friendly health professionals, support services, intervention programs, education and schools, factsheets, events and workshops, support groups, research studies, book reviews, movie lists and much more. Our philosophy is life has many hurdles to overcome and we want to make it just that little bit easier by working together with everyone to give a big helping hand to the Autism community.

Tania Marshall M.Sc.(App.Psych), B.A.(Psych)

Psychologist and Autism Specialist

Providing assessment, diagnosis and evidence based interventions for children, teens and adults on the Autistic Spectrum. SCAAN provides information on local services & support for the Sunshine Coast Autism Community. We provide information on: ASC friendly health professionals, support services, intervention programs, education and schools, factsheets, events and workshops, support groups, research studies, book reviews and much more.

For enquiries please contact Barb on 5446 3790 www.centreforautism.com.au www.scaan.com.au admin@centreforautism.com.au www.facebook.com/SunshineCoastCentreForAutism

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

info@scaan.com.au www.facebook.com/SunshineCoastAutismAspergersNetwork January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Autism: Early Signs By Autism Awareness (www.autismawareness.com.au)

Autism usually manifests in the first year of life; its onset is not later than 3 years. Listed below are some of the things to watch for as a child grows. These developmental landmarks may be used as a guide to gauge a child's development. If there are any concerns about a child's development or if there is a loss of any skills at any age talk to a doctor as soon as possible. Expected developmental milestones

Speak to your doctor if:

By end of 12 months

• Watches faces intently, responds to other people's expressions of emotion

• Does not pay attention to or frightened of new faces

• Smiles, imitates some facial expressions, follows moving object with eyes

• Does not smile, does not follow moving object with eyes

• Begins to babble, imitates sounds and words, brings hand to mouth

• Does not babble, laugh and has difficulty bringing objects to the mouth

• Has single words like "dada", repeats sounds or gestures for attention

• Has no words

• Turns head toward direction of sound, responds to own name

• Does not turn head to locate sounds and appears not to respond to loud noises

• Pushes down on legs when feet placed on a firm surface; raises head and chest when lying on stomach

• Does not push down on legs when feet placed on a firm surface

• Smiles at mother or primary care-givers voice, prefers them over all others

• Does not show affection to primary care-giver, dislikes being cuddled

• Can sit up without assistance, can pull self up to stand, walks holding on to furniture

• Does not crawl, cannot stand when supported

• Waves 'bye-bye' and points to objects

• Does not use gestures such as waving or pointing

By 24 months

• Walks alone, with support can negotiate stairs • Cannot walk by 18 months or walks only on his and furniture, carries and pulls toys while walking toes, cannot push a wheeled toy • Has several single words by 15 to 18 months; uses simple phrases by 24 months

• Does not speak; does not imitate actions, cannot follow simple instructions

• Imitates behaviour of others, excited about company of other children

• Does not appear to know the function of a common household object such as a telephone by 15 months

By 36 months

• Uses 4-5 word sentences, understands most sentences and instructions

• Very limited speech, does not use short phrases, has difficulty in understanding simple instructions

• Imitates adults and playmates, expresses affection openly, separates easily from parents

• Has little interest in other children, has difficulty separating from mother or primary care-giver

• Sorts objects by shape and colour

• Difficulty in manipulating small objects

• Plays make believe

• Has little interest in 'make-believe' play

• Climbs well, runs, kicks a ball, negotiates stairs unaided

• Frequently falls, has difficulty with stairs

The information contained in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for individual professional advice from your doctor or qualified health care provider.

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Expect life-changing results with the Core Strength Fitness Kids Program More than your typical gym, Core Strength Fitness offers not only the chance to get fit and healthy, but the support of a community of like-minded people and families. “As the parents of three beautiful girls, we know first-hand the issues families face in todays world” shared Brenden, owner and instructor at Core Strength Fitness. “The kids program at CSF is more than just a sport, kids activity or even any other martial arts program in Queensland. The objective of the kids program is to lead your child to discover their true potential, physically, mentally and emotionally” Kids are faced with many challenges in this day and age - unhealthy food, sex and violence on TV, drugs in schools, bullies, gangs, and predators on the internet. The rise of parents who work away from home, and broken marriages also have an effect on children. These challenges have proven kids to be lacking in confidence, focus and self-discipline. The unique curriculum at Core Strength Fitness has been developed with the above in mind. The integration of traditional martial arts and training combined with a personal development philosophy guarantees to bring real, lasting improvements in life’s key areas, helping your child be the best they can be. Behavioural problems seem to be on the rise, with parents looking for alternative treatment options. The CSF program helps children learn self-control, by teaching and training them to control their impulses and learn how to behave appropriately, lowering whinging, crying, fighting and temper tantrums. The program also dramatically improves focus and attention span on things other than video games! Recent testimonials have proven that

after only a few lessons, parents have seen a dramatic improvement in their child’s behaviour. Another challenge that parents face is the growing obesity epidemic. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 kids are above their ideal weight. Not only does obesity pose a health risk, it also begins the vicious cycle of bullying and low self-esteem. The CSF program offers even the most non-athletic kids a chance to build their self-esteem in a fun, non-competitive environment. Fitness levels improve significantly through the CSF complete workout along with strength, co-ordination, endurance and agility. Brenden says “If the foundation of self-esteem and respect is there, the rest follows. Your child won’t even realize it’s a workout, or the core areas that are being improved because they are having so much fun and leave their session with a sense of pride” First and foremost, children are taught respect – both for themselves and for those around them. Each session begins and ends with a handshake and greeting to the instructor and fellow students. Throughout the session, adults and students work together with encouragement to complete drills and bring out the best in each other. Learning to respect others means that each child feels at equal level with their peers, in turn building self-esteem. The general life skills taught within the Core Strength Fitness Kids Program are skills that will carry on from childhood to adulthood. Phone 1300 CSF CSF, email INFO@CORESTRENGTHFITNESS.COM.AU or drop in and visit the centre at 11/100 SUGAR RD MAROOCHYDORE 4558

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

LETS celebrate

Slumber party politics

With some parents banning sleepovers altogether, how do you go about having a “safe” slumber party? By Jackie Goldston

here are many things to consider, the first being at what age are you comfortable to host a sleepover party? This is something that you need to decide for yourself; however our Facebook readers all seemed to agree that younger than 7 years old is too young and that it becomes more challenging over the age of 14. Some tips to help make a slumber party run smoother include:

3. Keep it to a single sex party – don’t make it any harder than it needs to be!

phones, iPods and agree if they are allowed or need to be handed over on arrival

4. Have a contact number for the parents for the actual night of the party (not just a home number in case they are going out, for example to dinner)

9. Set clear rules: include no nastiness or straight home. If a child misbehaves repeatedly, their parents will be called and they will be asked to go home.

5. Don’t use bunk beds; look at mattresses on the ground if possible.

10.Have a comprehensive first aid kit to hand – just in case.

6. Agree on a bedtime well before the party starts. 1. Make sure you know the parents of all of the children coming to the party. 2. Discuss with your child each of the children they want to invite and keep it small.

7. Ensure you have plenty of DVDs/ movies available suitable for the age group

11. Do not drink any alcohol and don’t try and be a kid yourself – it is important to remain the responsible adult at all times.

8. Check with the other parents and establish your comfort with internet access, mobile

12.Ensure you are well rested as it is unlikely you will get much sleep on the night.

Do you have any advice? Share with us on our website or Facebook.

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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holidays

By Jackie Goldston

Sydney Family Escape A holiday in Sydney is a fantastic adventure for families with children of all ages. With so much to do, see and explore, you can spend weeks and still have so much more in your bucket list for future visits.

rom surfing to horse riding, kayaking to wildlife parks and aquariums, it’s all there in Sydney. Keeping the kids entertained is not hard to do. Keep an eye out for the second part of our holiday feature on Sydney later in 2013 and of course make sure you visit our website for more information and ideas for exploring Sydney.

Kids in the House: Opera House What trip to Sydney would be complete without a trip to the Sydney Opera House. No longer just for adults, the Opera House now hosts Kids at the House, a year-long program of theatre, music, puppetry, dance and creative play for children aged 2 – 15 years. Highlights for 2012 include The Cat in the Hat (January), Babies Proms, the long-running music concerts for toddlers (March):

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

Meeting Mozart, Swing Baby, Swing!, Ole! and The Nutcracker; as well as Wulamanayuwi and the Seven Pamanui, which uses the language and rhyme of the Tiwi Islands to tell the story of a young girl and her experiences with the spiritbeings of a mystical, Dreamtime land. Want to see more of the Opera House? Don't miss the adventure of a special kids discovery tour available every school holidays and discover a House of fun, magic and history - go underneath the sails, watch clips from the favourite Kids at the House shows, uncover the story behind the building's creation and explore the theatres where the magic happens. For more information on the other events during 2013 visit the Kids on the Coast website or www.sydneyoperahouse.com .

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Take your kids on a journey of discovery through 14 themed areas at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium including the Shark Walk, the Tropical Bay of Rays, Discovery Rockpool, Mangrove Swamps, South Coast Shipwreck and the new ocean tunnel walk-through, Shark Valley. Both kids and parents alike will have the chance to face their fear on the new Shark Walk and walk over a huge variety of sharks, before journeying deep under the sea and exploring the depths of Shark Valley – home to a giant whale skeleton and the tumbled-down ruins of an ancient Lost City temple. The new Dugong Island is home to 2 of only 6 dugongs on display in the whole world. Dugongs are truly one of the oceans’ most unique and mystical animals – you can see the male dugong ‘Pig’ and female

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Babies learn to Swim three only in a class Mums and babies are taught aqua life skills in a warm private environment. An easy monthly payment system, continuous program and a free make up system is provided. Air conditioned waiting room / heated change rooms Babies - Toddlers Pre school - School age

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Camps every school holidays with full accommodation & adult supervision Ages 6 to teens Beginners welcome Childcare rebate

7 DAY CAMPS 5 – 12 Jan 12 – 19 Jan 19 – 26 Jan 30 March - 6 April 6 - 13 April DAY TRIPS AVAILABLE IN THE HOLIDAYS

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A fun introduction to Dance for Pre-Schoolers • Mummy and Me 2-3.5yrs • Kinderballet 3.5-8yrs • Tinies Jazz and Tap 3.5-5yrs • Junior Jazz and Tap 5-8yrs After-school Preppies programs available.

Mon: Peregian Beach Tues: Bokarina Wed and Thurs: Maroochydore Sat: Maroochydore Fun & imaginative classes No uniforms/costumes to make or buy Limited class sizes Affordably Priced Make-up classes available

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January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Photo: Ethan Rohloff Photo: James Horan

Photo: James Horan

‘Wuru’ from both above and below in Dugong Island. For more info visit www.sydneyaquarium. com.au or call 8251 7800

Cockatoo Island Cockatoo Island is a heritage-listed island in the middle of beautiful Sydney Harbour. Hop on a ferry and explore the island for the day or stay overnight in the campground or holiday houses. It was recently added to the World Heritage List as part of 11 convict sites, and is Sydney's largest island, located by ferry from Circular Quay. Unique remnants of the island's history include solitary prison cells, hand carved silos, a guardhouse and convict workshops. The island was also an industrial school, a reformatory and one of Australia's biggest shipyards. Cockatoo Island is open to the public daily, offering major events, exhibitions, accommodation, tours, barbecues, picnic areas, a waterfront bar and licensed kiosk. Visitor Centre open from 10am - 4pm. Open public holidays and for more information: www. cockatooisland.gov.au

Maritime Museum Located at the northern end of Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum is a distinctive indoor/outdoor attraction and great days entertainment for the whole family. Enter the awesome world of underwater warfare aboard the submarine (you can actually explore it!); wander around the last of the big gun destroyers; marvel at Spirit of Australia the fastest boat in the

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

world or HMB Endeavour, Captain Cook's vessel of discovery and visit James Craig the 1874 Tall Ship (when in port). At weekends and school holidays, there's a fantastic program of activities and hands-on fun for kids of all ages. Open from 9:30am to 5pm daily (9:30am to 6pm daily in January). For more information: www.anmm.gov.au

Powerhouse Museum The Powerhouse Museum is located in Ultimo near Darling Harbour, Sydney. Its unique and diverse collection spans history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration. With an ever-changing program of temporary displays complementing a range of permanent exhibitions. Learning and creativity are a strong focus of the Museum. Exhibitions and programs are based on the ideas and technologies that have changed our world, and the stories of the people who create and inspire them. Zero Gravity Space Lab is often a favourite with the kids. Find out what it is like to live and work in the weightless environment of space, how astronauts eat, sleep and go to the bathroom – as well as experience the illusion of weightlessness. The original Powerhouse presents a magnificent backdrop to the Museum's vast and diverse collection - from planes, trains and steam engines to fashion, furniture, design and technological and scientific innovations with something for all ages.

For more information visit www.powerhousemuseum.com

Explore the Inner West Catch the light rail from Darling Harbour or the city and enjoy a picnic at Bicentennial Park looking back across at the city, Anzac and Harbour Bridges. It is a huge park with shaded BBQ areas, bike paths, boardwalks and two excellent children’s playgrounds. If you are feeling energetic, you can then walk up the Glebe Point Road to the heart of Glebe and enjoy the eclectic cafes, boutiques and some of the best book shops in Sydney. If you are there on a Saturday, make sure you visit Glebe Markets, one of Sydney's most established and well known Saturday markets, which has always had an alternative character and style (10am – 4pm; www.glebemarkets.com.au). While you are visiting the Inner West, why not pop over to Leichhardt and check out the Italian heart of Sydney. Leichhardt offers nearly 100 Italian restaurants and cafes to choose from (with most on Norton Street), some fantastic coffee houses and some excellent boutique shopping. The area is very family friendly with almost all of the restaurants welcoming children. For more ideas of where to visit in Sydney make sure you visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au. We would also love to hear about your favourite holiday destinations!

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Big Chill in store for Paradise Resort! PLANET CHILL is coming to Australia’s premier family accommodation provider – Paradise Resort – making it the only resort in the southern hemisphere with its very own permanent ice skating rink.

“In addition to the ice skating rink section we’ve designed an area called the ‘Chill Zone’ which is aimed at teenagers with game tables such as air hockey, foos ball and snowboarding among other things.”

Set to open in early 2013 the family ice skating rink attraction will only be accessible to guests staying at the Resort and is sure to both thrill and chill the whole family.

PLANET CHILL will be accessible to kids aged 3 years and up with three x 2 hourly sessions per day, with additional sessions dedicated just for teens.

Paradise Resort General Manager, David Brook, said that PLANET CHILL will add a new dimension for families holidaying on the Gold Coast. “We’ve been working on adding to our family holiday offer, after the installation of the Zone for Kids Waterpark last year, PLANET CHILL was the next step in family friendly experiences, right outside the hotel room door.” Mr Brook believes the novelty of an ice themed attraction, metres from the beach and in a location renowned for its tropical location will be a real hit. “The installation of an all-weather attraction also lends itself to family fun, year round, whatever the weather and catering to kids big and small.”

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Entry will be $20 per person, which includes skate and helmet hire. A maximum 60 people will be allowed on the ice at any one time. Right now, you can take advantage of this great offer! Stay at Australia’s favourite family resort from as little as $155 per night. Packages include accommodation in a Resort Room for 2 Adults and up to 2 Children (0-12 years), one free session in the fully supervised Zone 4 Kids Club per child per day plus unlimited use of the giant Zone 4 Kids Water Park. Book before 31 January 2013 for travel until 30 June 2013. Seasonal surcharges and conditions apply. Other room types available for an additional fee. Visit www.paradiseresort.com.au or phone 1800 074 111 for info and bookings.

January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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PARENTville By Aleney de Winter

School of afterthought “Mama, mama! Why aren’t you awake?”

What an excellent question, son. Let me see, perhaps it is because it’s not even 5am yet! I roll over and groan something unintelligible, and quite probably impolite, to my beloved firstborn. “GET. UP. MAMA! You need to make Quesidillas. Now!”

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Of course I do. How stupid of me. What else would I be doing this fine morning, darling child? I mean, it’s not like sleeping isn’t on the cards. In fact, slumber seems such a self-indulgent and frankly mundane alternative to slaving away in a kitchen pre dawn. Actually, while I’m there why don’t I toss together a quick soufflé? Or perhaps sir would prefer a nice medium-rare sirloin? Sadly, given my fondness for it, sarcasm is wasted on a pre-schooler and patience is unheard of. Ergo, I find myself being dragged from the warmth of my cosy doona and marched into the kitchen by a tiny tyrant. The reason behind this early morning menu madness is that my son’s preschool is hosting a multi-cultural food week to celebrate and share the cultural backgrounds of its students. To assist in the festivities, parents have been asked to contribute a dish from their families’ culture, along with an explanation of how, where and why it is eaten. As a parent I’m all about the importance of teaching unity and diversity so this is something that I, of course, think is utterly fabulous. But! And there’s always one of those, isn’t there? My family background (besides a long lost Grecian and a token Kiwi here and there) is Australian as far back as the convict ships and a loaf of stolen bread is probably not of high appeal to either the school or the tiny tummies waiting to be fed. My husband, on the other hand, is a five millionth generation Englishman who virtually has chips and battered spam in his DNA. Needless to say I felt that as parents we had little to contribute to this multi-cultural cuisine off. My son, who was terribly excited by the prospect of contributing to the festivities, had other ideas. A boy who leans towards the exotic in his food preferences he agreed that British or Aussie cuisine was off the menu. However, unbeknownst to me, he also took it upon his small self to take a straw poll of his pre-school friends on what country they’d like him to bring a plate from instead. He then dutifully informed his teachers that I’d assented to this. It would however appear that our “agreement” was by osmosis, as telling me was only an afterthought, and then only after an off the cuff comment by his teacher the night before it was due to be delivered. So that is how, for the purpose of this exercise, our family has come to be Mexican and why I find myself in the kitchen before sunrise being hurried along by a diminutive dictator as I whip together a swimming pool size tub of guacamole and thirty chicken quesadillas to go. THIRTY. And he is counting. Ay, caramba! Kiddie catering duties complete and both children breakfasted, clothed and generally organised we head to pre-school where my darling offspring proudly announces, “I made Quesidillas! They’re from Mexico. I’ve never ever been to Mexico. That’s my mum’s fault!” Motherhood is so rewarding.

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

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Hockey for the family Nambour Blue Demons Hockey Club has been a strong sporting club since its inception in 1977. They are fortunate to have their own club house and training fields with lights at Petrie Park in Nambour. Hockey is a fantastic sport and they are very proud to promote a very friendly, family orientated club. Often juniors play their game on Saturday morning and then it’s their turn to sit on the sideline and watch Mum or Dad play. The coaches encourage their teams to enjoy their game in an atmosphere that develops not only excellent physical skills but social skills essential for life. Nambour Blue Demons Hockey Club are always looking for people from 5yrs to seniors to come and experience what they know and love. Check them out at www.nambourhockey.com

Nambour Blue Demons Hockey Club is looking for players! Boys and Girls 5yrs to 17yrs. Men and Women 18 yrs to never to old. Coaches welcome.

At DanceEdge we have classes for everyone! From the serious dancer to those just wanting to have fun. Classes range from 3 yrs through to adults.

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Come and play a great sport and join a fantastic family club. www.nambourhockey.com nambourhockey@gmail.com January / February 2013 – Kids on the Coast

Books APPS Movies

Reviews Do your ears hang low

BOOKS

Sung by The Topp Twins, Pictures by Jenny Cooper, Scholastic NZ, RRP $16.99 A sweet mouse dances its’ way through this fun-filled, whimsical rhyme with engaging illustrations and a bonus CD featuring The Topp Twins. The book will have children wagging their ears to and fro and coming back for more! Chosen by Freya (4) for girls and boys from 0 – 6 years.

Wish You Were Here: Sunshine Coast by Frank Scrivano & Leroy Sams, Hulabalula RRP $24.95 The durable, large format, beautiful picture book features no text and instead focuses on highly detailed, multilayered illustrations in various Sunshine Coast locations. Rather than dictating the story, the Wish You Were Here picture book concept encourages the reader to create their own narratives and follow the characters within each double page spread through a range of iconic Sunshine Coast environments. Suitable for Boys and girls of all ages from www.hulabalula.com.au

BOOKS MOVIES: FOR ADULTS

MOVIES: FOR TEENS Beautiful Creatures Rated: TBC In Cinemas February 14 Supernatural teen romance based on the best-selling fantasy novel, co-starring Oscar veterans Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons and Viola Davis. Set in the gothic American South, the film tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers: Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), who longs to escape his small town, and Lena (Alice Englert), a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark, black magic secrets about their respective families and their town. The book is the first of the Caster Chronicles series, named by MTV News as one of 2010's 'series to watch'.

WEBSITE

Minimohs.com.au MiniMoh’s Online Marketplace is a purpose-built online marketplace for babies’, children’s and mums’ clothing and products that are handmade, new or pre-loved. MiniMoh’s is a collective consisting of independent shop owners, designers and small business entrepreneurs showcasing their goods. It offers a great opportunity for many work-at-home mums to utilise this new avenue to earn a living.

The Impossible Rated: TBC In Cinemas: January 24 An affecting and powerful natural disaster drama starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor, based on the true story of one family’s harrowing experience of the Indian Ocean tsunami that struck on Boxing Day 2004 and ultimately claimed 230,000 lives. From the director of The Orphanage.

Kid’s (AND ADULT'S) App

Angry Birds Star Wars (Free on Android; iPad/ iPod/ iPhone $0.99) I am sorry. I wasn’t going to review this app – but in the end I felt that I had to as it is so much fun for Star Wars fans and Angry Bird fans alike. It is very well done and like all Angry Bird apps, does involve problem solving and patience. Rated 4+

To see more visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au 70

Kids on the Coast – January / February 2013

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