IssUe 36 JAN/FEB 2o10
FReE!!
laces to do, p for things g verythin the to go, e on arents kids & p shine Coast Sun
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Trials of new Australians The vaccination
dilemma Family holidays afloat
COMBATING
THE
BULLY
Teaching kids about money
Plus reviews, events and innovative products
GINGER FLOWER + FOOD FESTIVAL Healthy Plants, Healthy Bodies
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JANUARY 21–24
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Meet Australia’s favourite gardening celebrities Thousands of exotic plants for sale On the spot expert advice
Floral art demos and displays Gourmet cooking demos Book a special cooking class* with an award winning chef
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Join us for a range of guest speakers covering topics as diverse as: Joint health Cold & flu Brain food - eating for stress Healthy hearts! Pre-conception health and pregnancy
Diabetes
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Pioneer Road, Yandina 1800 067 686 * Admission to Ginger Flower Festival is free. For cooking school classes bookings are essential and a ticket price applies.
CONTeNTS January/February 2010 26
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FEATURE Proud diversity or assimilation?
Welcome to
Kids on the Coast
3
WELCOME
4
CHECK THIS OUT
30 THE “P” FILES Teaching kids to handle money
New and innovative ideas in parenting
5
Summertime water babies
WHAT’S NEWS
37 HEALTH
13 NEW TO THE COAST
Kids and stress
14 EDUCATION Schoolyard bullies and how to handle them
20 SPECIAL FEATURE
The Kids on the Coast guide to Jan/Feb
Sarah Pye, Editor www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
26 PARENT PROFILE T erri Irwin talks about single parenthood in the spotlight
24
Anniversaries – as a family affair Holidays afloat
24 WHAT’S ON CALENDAR
It’s not all fun and games though – soon the kids head back to the classroom and for many it’s their first time in uniform. For some of you it’s a time to revisit your thoughts on childhood vaccination, and prepare yourself for potential playground bullies. For others, new Australians, the challenges are even greater, as you adapt to a culture different from your own. As Australia Day approaches I wish to say welcome to all those new citizens who have chosen Australia as their country. It’s something I did 13 years ago, and I haven’t regretted it one bit!
38 LET’S CELEBRATE 40 HAPPY HOLIDAYS
The vaccination debate
The tree is packed away, the bank balance is suffering and your precious family time is dwindling before the start of the school year. Now’s the time to put your worries aside and enjoy the last free days of summer. The sun is scorching and the water is just the place to be, so we talk about holidays afloat and teaching the children to swim.
34 BABIES ON THE COAST
43 PARENTVILLE When your birthday pales in significance
44 KIDS ON THE COAST DIRECTORY 46 REVIEWS AND COMPETITIONS
READ MORE ONLINE! om.au www.kidsonthecoast.c
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PUBLISHED BY: THINGS 4 KIDS PTY LTD. PO Box 491, Eumundi QLD 4562 PHONE: 1300 430 320 FAX: 07 5476 6037 WEB: www.kidsonthecoast.com.au ABN: 86 473 357 391. All editorial in Kids on the Coast has been written in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors. 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 EDITOR: Sarah Pye EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Maxine Arthur, Louise Duggan, Madonna Hirning, Cindy Mayes, Dr Roger Morris, Jane O’Hara, Sandra Smith, Justine Stewart, Sue Timms, Brooke Tunbridge. ADVERTISING: For advertising enquiries please phone Tanya Ryan on 07 5442 8679 or email: advertising@kidsonthecoast. com.au PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Terri Sanderson, production@kidsonthecoast.com.au ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger DISTRIBUTION: Kids on the Coast (Sunshine Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 15,000 copies from Caloundra to Noosa and through the hinterland. A separate edition covers the Gold Coast. For distribution enquiries please phone: 07 5442 8679 or email: admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au FRONT COVER: Simone Bell GRAPHIC DESIGN: Michelle Craik
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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K C e CH
THIS OUT
Play to learn
I have been awed by the success of online maths program Mathletics. My daughter can’t stop playing and, unlike other electronic games, she’s learning heaps. The Intrepica online literacy program has the same effect. It is engaging, fun and addictive, but most importantly, your child learns while they play the 10,000 activities. As they succeed, they earn currency that lets them purchase items in the shop. Subscriptions for home use start at $19 a month. Visit: www.intrepica.com.au
Sock it to them
What is it with babies and socks? The more you put them on the more you lose… until now. This new innovative product fits over your baby’s socks and they can’t get it off, no matter how hard they try…it’s virtually child proof! Imagine being able to find matching socks again! RRP: $10. Available at www.littlebarebear.com.au
our guide to interesting & essential bits & pieces Going up in the world
Going out to eat or visiting a friend’s house with toddlers can be a challenge at dinner time. We’ve all tried to prop kids up on pillows so they can reach the table, but that drama is a thing of the past with the Kaboost. Its adjustable legs fit to all chairs in seconds and raise the height to that of a high chair. It even stays attached when you move the chair and holds up to 140kg. Available with or without a handy carry-bag. RRP: $50. Available at Bubs Baby Shops: Noosa 5449 0035 and Kawana 5493 1122.
Food at your fingertips
The transition from milk to solids can be daunting, but the Wean Machine takes a lot of the hassles away. This compact unit acts as a masher and bowl in one. It includes a cover to avoid messy left-overs and a built-in spoon. Now you can feed your baby fresh food anywhere! RRP: $40. Available at www.urbanbaby.com.au
Unleash creativity
Run out of places to decorate? Why not let the kids attack the windows? These window markers from Crayola are washable, yet stick well to glass, making almost every surface in your house a blank canvas. Even better, you can easily remove their creations when you’ve had enough. Also available in crayons. RRP: $10. Available at most toy shops.
Sleep on the run
Visiting relatives? Going camping? Have more kids than the usual hotel room accommodates? There’s not need to worry when you have this blow-up travel bed. Designed especially for kids, they won’t fall out and you can even fold the sheets in under the mattress. It comes with its own pump, is covered with a soft material, is made of child-safe materials and folds away for travel. It is suitable for kids from age two and up to a maximum of 70kg. This bed is new to Australia and only available online at www.urbanbaby.com.au
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
Back to school in style
Eco meets style with this great looking lunch box. The PVC cover is easy to keep clean while the sectioned plastic box interior makes plastic wrapping and Alfoil a thing of the past. It even comes with a name tag and the top of the box is attached to the bottom with a lanyard so it’s less able to get lost in the playground. RRP: $50. Available in a rang of cool designs at www.ubeautkidz.com.au
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
S ' WHAT
NeWS LET’S DANCE!
Dancing is the second most popular organised arts activity for children aged 5-17 years, coming in just behind playing a musical instrument. The Australian Bureau of Statistics says 14% of Australian school children (around 390,400 Aussie kids) participate in dance classes. If dancing takes your fancy, check out Bokarina’s new dance studio called DanceEdge which specialises in classical ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, acrobatics, vocal and Latin. Call 0401 046 882.
Ad images under review Sexualised images of children and women may become harder to place in advertisements from next year if a review by the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) decides to toughen existing codes. ASB board member Gary Rice, a Noosa unit accommodation manager, said restraining some advertisers was very hard because they cleverly manipulated codes. “I am continually concerned about the degree to which advertisers push the limits,” he said.
SEAL SHOW A BIG BREAK FOR LOCAL KIDS UnderWater World announces a new seal show which launches over the holidays, with local kids in the spotlight as the entertaining narrators. The show, which promotes the importance of environmental conservation from a seal’s perspective, runs daily until January 17. Beating over 200 hopefuls, the leading roles were awarded to gifted young locals Jayda Schatto, Saskia Tomlins, Tymi Teata, Harrison Buckland Crook and Keeley Young. For more details, call UnderWater World on 5458 6280.
BAMBOOZLED BY TECHNOLOGY? If you’re one of the many parents trying to keep up with the latest in new video games, text-messaging, digital media and social media like Facebook, you’re not alone. A free e-book has been prepared by American researchers about how online communication affects children and their families. To download Hanging out, messing around, and geeking out, visit www.mitpress.mit.edu
Australians fear for the environment and their children A new research study on consumer attitudes towards global warming and environmental policy has revealed 94% of Australians are concerned about how the future of the environment will impact on their children. Over half of the 1,800 people surveyed believed creating a better world for our children was the most compelling reason to make personal change in environmental practices. Only 1.5% of respondents believed there wasn’t a problem. Ten North Shore families are trying to prove the Sunshine Coast doesn’t need desalination with The Great Water Challenge. Their goal is to reduce per person usage below 200 litres a day. Download a fact sheet at: www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
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Immanuel Lutheran College recently received an Australian Award for Teaching Excellence from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard. Teacher Mrs Judy Harris was highly commended for her role in the youth literary festival, Voices on the Coast, and was presented with $15,000 prize money to attract renowned authors, poets and illustrators to the 2010 event.
s e i n o m e r e C g n i m a Baby N
Kathy Young CMC
Di
s c o u nt
Save money by shopping wherever you see the logo displayed, and mentioning “Kids on the Coast” for special offers and discounts!
Reader discounts available at these places:
LOCAL SCHOOL WINS NATIONAL TEACHING AWARD
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Ceremonies can include siblings, and family or friends to help celebrate this special occasion. At your home or any location.
Call 0415 278 765 www.kathyyoungcelebrant.com Email: kathyyoungcelebrant@yahoo.com.au Weddings, renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies and house/boat blessings.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
FEATURE
Culture
Proud diversity or assimilation?
by Sandra Smith
Shion’s lunchbox is lovingly packed with rice balls, baked egg rolls, cherry tomatoes and her favourite dessert, adzuki bean jelly. It’s a typical Japanese lunchbox, but sandwiches and a piece of fruit are the norm at Shion’s Nambour kindergarten. When Shion begins to eat the red adzuki bean jelly at lunchtime, her friend tells her it’s disgusting. He says it’s “yuk”, leaving five-year-old Shion confused and uncomfortable. She talks to her teacher afterwards and that night she tells her mum, Mie Suzuki, all about the incident. “I got a little bit upset, and even when I think about it, it makes me really emotional inside,” Mie says.
juniorUWW23123
Shion’s experience confirms what Mie has heard from local Japanese mums – their children feel embarrassed about traditional Japanese food. They hide it in their schoolbags and refuse to eat it in public.
Get your photo taken with som e new friends.
Come and make some new friends this summer. More fins, flippers, fangs and fun than ever.
Skip the queue, buy tickets at
www.underwaterworld.com.au The Wharf, Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Ph: 5458 6280. Open every day from 9am, except Christmas Day.
The Up Close and Spineless Photography Exhibition is on exclusive loan from the Australian Museum.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Food is just one of many issues that Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have to deal with on a daily basis. As well as the obvious differences, like language, food, race and religion, there are also subtle differences in attitudes, values and social etiquette that can be difficult for immigrants to deal with. Mie Suzuki, who came to the Sunshine Coast from Japan in 2004 with her husband David, says it wasn’t easy adjusting to the Australian way of life, and she admits that there is some conflict between her beliefs and Australian customs. When Mie was younger, she wanted to become “Western style” but she now has two daughters – Shion, aged six and Mizuka, aged three, and she feels it’s important to keep her Japanese culture alive. “I am pure Japanese and my beliefs…are based on Japanese beliefs,” she says. Many new immigrants struggle to adapt to the new culture when they first arrive in Australia. They may be separated from families and friends, have little personal support and they may find it hard to access support services and build up social networks. Nambour Community Centre multicultural worker Naomi Wiley says it is difficult for migrants to build social connections and young mothers may feel especially lonely, as they find it hard to get out and meet people. Naomi encourages people to access the Family Support Program, a Sunshine Coast home-visiting service set up to help vulnerable families. Most community centres in South-East Queensland host regular coffee mornings and dinners as a way of meeting new people and connecting to the community, and through these first steps, isolation and loneliness can slowly dissipate. Mie now works proactively to bridge the cultural divide. She volunteers at her daughter’s school, teaching Year 1 students “very basic and easy Japanese language” mixed with “cultural play”. Traditional Japanese games, songs and folk stories are popular with the children, and Mie also teaches origami, the art of paper folding. “It’s good for even young children to experience – it’s got a mathematical aspect to it, so it’s very good brain exercise,”she laughs.
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• Helps families stay together with advice about relationships and information to access other services • Strengthens family relationships by providing information and referrals to other services, and involving children, grandparents, extended family members where appropriate For information and free advice contact the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321 between 8am-8pm Monday to Friday. Or visit the Sunshine Coast Family Relationship Centre at 43-45 Primary School Court, Maroochydore, phone 5452 9700. It’s located close to the Sunshine Plaza shopping complex and public transport, with car parking available nearby.
Alternatively, visit your local Community Hub Caloundra Community Centre, Phone: 5491 4511 Coolum Community Centre, Phone: 5471 6655 Cooroy Family Support Centre, Phone: 5447 7747 Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, Phone: 5499 9345
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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FEATURE The Japanese school system is quite different from the Australian system, and Mie’s daughters, Shion and Mizuka, travel to Japan for two months each year to attend a Japanese school. Mie wants to “build up the foundation” of Japanese culture, and she hopes to continue this until both the girls are in Year 6. Mie admits that the annual trip to Japan is hard for her daughters, because they are travelling between two cultures and they have to re-adjust to different environments and different people, but she feels that the experience makes them stronger. Young people, such as Shion and Mizuka, from diverse ethnic backgrounds, often feel as though they are caught between two cultures with differing standards and values, and Sunshine Coast psychologist Ian Johnson says it is hard for children to adjust. They feel a sense of loyalty to their parents and to their family’s culture, but they also want to be accepted by their Australian peers. When children from culturally diverse backgrounds embrace Australian customs (the music, books, slang and clothing), Ian says they are trying to work out “if they have allegiances to their family and their original culture, or to their peers and their new country”. Seeing their children engage in culturally inappropriate activities is challenging for parents, but Ian says they have to remember that their children are not necessarily abandoning their heritage. He advises parents to focus on the core family values and to have open communication and healthy relationships with their children. “Children need to develop a sense of tolerance for their parents, as well as parents develop a sense of tolerance for their children,” he says. “Just because their parents are different to their friend’s parents, it doesn’t mean they are not as competent as parents.”
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
More than 200 diverse cultural groups call Queensland home. The Multicultural Affairs Queensland report in October 2009 reports one in six Queenslanders was born overseas, and overseas migration is the main contributor to Queensland’s population growth. Without immigration our economy would suffer. Many skilled migrants come from India and travel to Australia to take up professional positions where there is a skills shortage. Sujini Damodaran, for instance, arrived in Australia 18 months ago with her baby, Nijhit Arun. She came to join her husband, Dr Arun Bojarajan, who works as a paediatrician at Nambour General Hospital. Sujini and her family hope to settle permanently in Australia, and they will apply for Australian citizenship when the required residency period has been served. “We like it here,” she says. “We are a bit comfortable now, we are almost settling.” The family’s support network has grown slowly and Sujini says they now have many friends, including both Indian and Australian families. “We didn’t know anyone when we came here. It was only the job,” she explains. “My husband got a few friends in the hospital, and then me too, at the Nambour Community Centre, and slowly the network is growing.” Sujini finds that Australian and Indian parenting practices are quite different in relation to feeding, potty training and the use of nappies. Most young Indian children are spoon-fed until they are about four years old which caused problems when Sujini’s son started attending an Australian child care centre. “When he is going to day care, he wants someone to spoon-feed him at the day care,” she says. “It was a bit hard for him to get used to the system here.”
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Indian children don’t have any kind of potty training and they start using the toilet at four or five years old. There is also no culture of using nappies, and Sujini explains that toddlers and young children just wear underwear and “then they try to pass sometimes”. These practices are typical for most Indians, where several generations live together and the older generation provides care and support for the children. “We have a joint family system of living, where the grandparents live with the family, and then they are happy to feed and look after the children,” Sujini says. The Australian nuclear family unit is a structure that does not exist in Indian society. Sujini and her husband miss their parents and their extended families and she admits that she feels lonely sometimes. “But we have come here for my husband’s career, so we have to sacrifice something,” she says.
Language is another integral aspect of cultural identity and Sujini feels it’s important for her son to learn the Tamil language spoken by his relatives in South India, so he can communicate with them on family visits. “We want our son to learn English as well as our mother tongue,” she says. “If he is not able to communicate then he has to be silent for the whole month if we are going to stay there.” Nearly half of all Queensland’s migrants are from a country where English is not the main language. About 303,160 people or 7.8% of Queensland’s population speak a language other than English at home, and about 48,000 Queenslanders, or 1.2%, do not speak English at all or do not speak it well. Regional Queensland doesn’t provide as wide a range of resources and facilities as Brisbane. Festivals and celebrations are an important part of Indian culture, and Sujini and her family often travel to Brisbane to attend the Hindu temple and meet up with other Indian families. “We are very happy for that,” she says.
Community worker Naomi says it’s a problem “not having extended family around to offer child care support”. Many immigrant families are reluctant to leave their children in child care in Australia as it is unfamiliar, and some families, like Sujini’s, are accessing mainstream child care services for the first time.
While it’s vital for immigrants to keep their own cultural identity alive, psychologist Ian Johnson believes that immigrants also need to make an effort to “assimilate within the main society”, rather than just mixing with people from their own ethnic background. He encourages immigrants to join community organisations. “It’s important that they try and expand their horizons, just like us,” Ian says. “That way they actually enrich the organisation as well, because they have so much to offer.”
The Inclusion Support Agency has been set up across regional Queensland to help families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds adjust to child care centres. The agency works collaboratively with families and support networks to create an inclusive and comfortable environment for all children and their families.
Like Mie, Sujini has been pro-active in her community involvement. She completed a work placement at the Nambour Community Centre and she is now volunteering there for two days a week in office administration. The work experience will help Sujini find future employment, as she now has Australian experience and referees.
ALL-IN-ONE KINDY SHEETS Everything attached - top, bottom sheet and pillow slip rolls down into bag Fits standard kindy mats and beds
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Active music-making La di dah offers a play-based developmental music program. The themed activities promote musical development and also literacy, numeracy and social skills. Classes are limited to 10 children per class and parents/carers are actively encouraged to participate making it a fun family activity! Classes are aimed at different developmental stages and use singing, games, balls, books, puppets, percussion instruments and a wide range of other resources. Classes are available each week day in various locations. Spaces are now available including a new venue in Caloundra starting in February. Turn your child on to the enjoyment of music with no obligation by signing up for a free trial class! Phone 3285 1628 or visit: www.ladidahmusic.com.au
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• Singing, rhythm games, movement and playing percussion instruments • 45 minute sessions • Child-centred, multi-sensory approach to music education • Based on Kodaly principles • Suitable for children from 1 to 5 years of age. Holiday musical fun days - January 18 to 22, 2010
Lea rn the bas ic ele me nts of mu sic in an enj oya ble , experiential an d sti mu lating wa y!
Phone for a free trial session 07 3285 1628 or email sally@ladidahmusic.com.au www.ladidahmusic.com.au JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
11
FEATURE Can you pass the Australian Citizenship Practice Test? 1.
What do we remember on Anzac Day? a) The landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli b) The arrival of the first free settlers from Britain c) The landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove
2.
What are the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag? a) Blue, white and green b) Black, red and yellow c) Green, white and black
3.
What official symbol of Australia identifies Commonwealth property? a) Australia’s national flower b) The national anthem c) Commonwealth Coat of Arms
4.
Which of these is an example of freedom of speech? a) Newspapers can write about any topic b) Men and women are treated equally in a court of law c) Australians are free not to follow a religion
5.
Which of these is an example of equality in Australia? a) Everyone belongs to the same political party b) Everyone follows the same religion c) Men and women have the same rights
Correct answers: 1. a, 2. b, 3. c, 4. a, 5. c
The days of the White Australia policy are long-gone yet many of us find ourselves wishing immigrants would simply break off cultural ties and assimilate. Our evolving culture would be the poorer without their input, however. Imagine Australian cuisine without Pizza, pad Thai, dim sims or rice crackers! Community support and acceptance can make a world of difference, so this Australia Day, why not play host to a new Australian family or take a fresh sushi platter or a fragrant curry to share with friends? While you’re eating, remember the cultural origins of this delicious food and celebrate our diversity.
Multicultural Support Services Sunshine Coast Nambour Community Centre Inc. Phone: 5441 4724 or visit: www.mcw.ncc@flexinet.com.au Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Inc. Phone: 5443 6697 or visit: www.maroochync.scc-cooperative.org Multilinc (Multicultural information) www.sunshinecoastcis.qld.gov.au/multilinc.html Inclusion Support Agency Sunshine Coast (Child care support) Phone: 5478 9200 Sunshine Coast Migrant Education Unit. Phone: 5450 4111 Brisbane Multicultural Development Association. Phone: 3337 5400 or visit: www.mdainc.org.au Multilink Community Services Inc. Phone: 3808 4463 or visit: www.multilink.org.au
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
NeW
TO THE COAST
a Kids on the Coast advertising feature
‘New to the Coast’ is a way in which Kids on the Coast can support new 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!
Balancing motherhood Life as a parent can be stressful and many of us put ourselves at the bottom of the priority list. Yin Health is a holistic wellness centre for women which helps you restore balance, emotionally and spiritually. “Our philosophy is based on the belief that through self-discovery, every woman holds the key to optimising and maintaining her own wellbeing”, owner Tsu Shan Chambers says. Choose from a range of holistic healing techniques including personal development coaching, yoga, aura cleansing, Chakra analysis, past life meditation and Tarot readings. While you regain your balance, Yin Health offers a Mother’s Group the first Friday of every month and a crèche so your baby is welcome (bookings are required). Yin Health is located in Bli Bli. Phone: 5450 8333 or visit www.yinhealth.com.au
Holistic Healing | Yin Yoga | Pre and Post-Natal Yoga | Mother’s Group & Education
Specialised to support women’s unique physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Healing therapies include: Spiritual Counselling and Personal Development, Emotional/Mental/Aura Cleansing Techniques, Chakra analysis and balance. Voice Dialogue, Past-life and guided meditation and Tarot readings. Find balanced, complimentary information to make informed choices about your own health. * Creche available – Bookings Required
51 Atkinson Road, BLI BLI
Phone 07 5450 8333 www.yinhealth.com.au
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The art of delegation Oh, how I would love to have more time for those things I enjoy, and less time slaving over a vacuum cleaner. If someone asked me what I wanted for my birthday the response would be instantaneous: “A cleaner”, I would shout! Imagine my surprise then, to find that Style Marshall only charges $35 per hour (with a two hour minimum) to take away the tedium of keeping up with the mess my kids seem to leave behind. That seems like such a small price to pay for sanity. What’s more, they bring their own cleaning supplies with them and that alone is destined to save on groceries. Owner Natasha Marshall says she chooses to use sustainable products that are safe for the environment and kids and pets. “We use citrus products made from natural renewable resources, biodegradable cleaners and micro fibre cleaning cloths rather than paper towels,” she explains. “We even bring our own high powered Wertheim Vacuum cleaner with Hepa filtration. It boasts that the air is cleaner coming out than it was going in!” All Natasha’s team members hold current police certificates and sign confidentially agreements so you can rest assured your home (and your secrets) are safe. “Our mission is to provide a reliable high quality dependable cleaning service to the residents of the Sunshine Coast,” she says. “The friendly cooperative staff and smiles you will receive are free of charge!” So why not delegate those jobs you slave over in favour of spending quality time with the kids this summer? Phone Natasha on 0449 697 161.
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
DISCOVER HOW FABULOUS IT FEELS TO COME
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education Leave ME
Handling schoolyard bullies by Maxine Arthur
Your child storms through the door declaring he is never going back to school because he is sick of being “picked on” and he “hates” someone at school. When he runs out of steam, the tears start. The desire to protect your child kicks in, along with a few memories of schoolyard bullies from your own school days. The temptation to confront your child’s tormentor immediately is strong, but is this in your child’s best interests? Bullying is a problem as old as mankind, and bullying behaviour occurs across all age groups, in many workplaces and in many social relationships. But, as with all human behaviours, learning how to relate to others begins early in life. A belief in the
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unique and valuable contribution of every person to society needs to be modelled by adults and explicitly taught, first in the home and later reinforced at school and in the wider community. Everyone has the right to be safe, respected and included in our society, coupled with the responsibility to respect the rights of others. Bullying is not about the occasional quarrel or fight between children of the same age, it’s a power struggle and it happens just as much between adults and children as peers. A child may be bullied because of his ethnicity, ability or disability, body size, physical appearance, sexuality or for no apparent reason at all. The Australian Government’s National Crime Prevention Guide for Parents says bullying commonly begins when a child is “picked on” and not supported by others. It will continue if the children doing the bullying have little or no sympathy for the child they are hurting and if nobody stops them. In extreme cases, however, it can be dangerous to intervene and it is suggested that children are taught to inform an adult rather than try to stop the behaviour. A 2009 Australian study of school bullying found that more than one in four students in Years 4-9 are being bullied every few weeks or more at school. Hurtful teasing and hurtful lies told about them are the most frequent bullying behaviours. Much of the bullying is covert – verbal, or via text messaging and internet social networking sites. This type of bullying is much harder for schools to detect or deal with than the overt physical bullying that many adults remember from their own school days, but bullying hurts, whether it is physical or psychological. Far too many children have suffered bullying for years, feeling powerless to stop it and brushed off with advice from parents and teachers such as “It’s just part of growing up”, “Toughen up!” and “Just stand up to the bullies”. Bullying should never be trivialised because it can have serious long-term consequences. Eight years after he dropped out of school, 23-year-old Russell Garrard of Sippy Downs is still haunted by the bullying he experienced at three Brisbane state schools, beginning in Year 1. “Basically the bullying I experienced has destroyed my life,” he says. “I have no successful friendships or ability to relate to others socially, I am nervous whenever I am meeting new people I don’t know or don’t know very well, I’m on a constant state of alert which leads to extreme exhaustion throughout the day, and it’s extremely mentally draining as well. “Not to mention the fact that I was so suicidal due to the bullying and trauma that I was forced out of school in the middle of Year 10, leading to employers just binning my resume whenever I apply for a job I know I can successfully do.” Russell has no idea why he was the target of a “constant barrage” of bullying, both physical and psychological. He sued the state government for post-traumatic stress resulting from the schoolyard bullying and won an out-of-court settlement. But that doesn’t erase the cumulative trauma of his childhood at the hands of school bullies. “I would sooner walk into a room full of tigers than a room full of people,” Russell says. In the past, the courts have ruled that the standard of care owed by a teacher to a student is the same as the standard of care owed by a parent to a child. Schools are now encouraging students, teachers, carers and parents to recognise bullying behaviours and work together to help children who bully and children who are being bullied to learn to live and play together in positive ways. Like many schools, Matthew Flinders Anglican School at Buderim has an anti bullying policy which sends a clear message that bullying will not be tolerated. The policy defines what bullying is, and the rights and responsibilities of students, staff and parents in relation to the issue. It has two aspects – prevention and management. When incidents of bullying occur, as they do in all schools from time to time, there is a clear management plan that is based on counselling the student engaging in bullying behaviour to reflect on their actions. In cases of severe or repeated bullying the school may institute a range of punitive measures including suspension.
SUNCOAST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT WITH VALUES BUILT IN
Principal Anthony Vincent says the anti-bullying policy empowers students and holds all in the school community accountable for promoting a safe school environment “Bullying is present in all schools. The best way is to confront and deal with it and be ready when issues arise,” he says. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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ADVERTISEMENT/LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE
Give your child the best start at Immanuel Lutheran College Immanuel Lutheran College can give your child the best start to their education. Located in Buderim and with 30 years experience producing exceptional graduates, Immanuel is investing $3.5 million in a new Early Learning Precinct, complementing outstanding facilities which are already recognised across the Coast. Immanuel prides itself on delivering a rich and diverse program for youngest learners, right through to senior secondary students. With a strong focus on pastoral care, the staff believes in nurturing each child to encourage his or her individual talents and abilities so that they produce exceptional well rounded members of society.
“In an ideal environment, learning comes naturally and these facilities will provide our students with an even greater opportunity to flourish,” Mr Bliss says. Major features of the Early Learning Precinct include: • Three Prep classrooms • Three rooms in the Early Learning Centre catering for 2 ½ – 5 year olds • Two best practice experiential play spaces • A parent meeting space • Flexibility to cater for various age groups
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
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education Bystander behaviour has been found to have a significant effect on promoting or discouraging bullying. Anthony said that students who observed bullying behaviour are encouraged to use strategies such as saying, “Stop it. Don’t do it”. He says the ‘don’t dob’ culture is changing though boys are still less likely than girls to report being bullied. The school anti-bullying policy has an emphasis on helping students who engage in bullying behaviour to make better choices. “That’s what we are about. We are helping them to become more thoughtful and to reflect on their behaviour,” he says.
What can parents do to help a child being bullied? 1. If your child says they are being bullied listen carefully and sensitively. Gently encourage them to tell you what has upset them. 2. If you suspect your child is being bullied find opportunities to open up discussion. Use a television show or a book example to ask “What do you think of this?” and “Has this ever happened to you?” or a real life experience of someone in the family and how they dealt with it. 3. Let them know you are pleased they have told you, you believe them, it is not their fault and you are sorry they have been hurt. 4. Remind them that everyone has the right to feel safe, respected and included. 5. Take the problem seriously but don’t overreact. Don’t take any action until you really know what is going on. 6. When you have a clear picture of what is happening talk with your child about how they have tried to handle the situation. Only then, offer to work through some strategies with your child. (See the High Five strategy)
Life Education Australia believes prevention is better than cure. Since 1979 it has been providing programs in state primary schools aimed at giving children the skills to confidently make sound decisions in social situations.
7. Strategies help your child build resilience and empower them to take action to stop the bullying. Help your child with a positive plan of action and don’t buy into the ‘victim mentality’.
Life Education Queensland educator on the Sunshine Coast Shirley-Anne Blunt says that the issue of bullying is part of the senior primary program, starting in Year 4. The aim is to empower children by equipping them with strategies to deal with bullying and to help them build a support network they can turn to for help. “We work to build their self-esteem and self-confidence, to see bullying is not okay and they don’t have to put up with it,” Shirley says.
8. If the bullying is physical or the strategies aren’t helping, encourage your child to tell their teacher about the bullying. Check with the school that your child has spoken to a staff member.
With internal and external programs such as these, the good news is support for children has improved since you were in school. Whether your child is suffering a bully, or IS a bully, the help is there to turn the situation around.
9. If the bullying continues, approach the school for help in resolving the problem. Resist the urge to contact other students or their parents. Ask the Principal about the school’s policy and practice on bullying and work with the school to ensure your child’s safety and well-being. 10. If the bullying is happening on the way to school, arrange for your child to travel with older children or take them yourself until the issue is resolved.
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education
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What can you do if your child is bullying? 1. Parents can be bullies too: Ensure that you are modelling tolerant, nonaggressive behaviour yourself. 2. Take it seriously. Young people who bully others often get into serious trouble later on. Work with the school to help your child learn better ways of relating to other children. 3. Keep the lines of communication open. Try to work out why the child is bullying. Do they feel hurt or powerless themselves? Do they lack the social skills to get on with others? 4. Challenge any excuses for the bullying behaviour. Don’t accept “It was only a bit of fun”. 5. Try to get your child to see the impact on the bullied child. 6. Encourage your child to develop their own moral code. Teach them to treat others as they want to be treated. 7. Use non-violent consequences such as loss of video game privileges in line with the seriousness of the incident. Do not resort to physical punishment as this may reinforce the behaviour. Limit exposure to violence in the media.
The “High Five” strategy for dealing with bullies
8. Reinforce your love for your child by giving time and lots of hugs!
1. Talk in a friendly way. Stay calm and give a light-hearted response.
Need to know more?
2. Talk firmly. No smiling and a straightforward request to stop the behaviour. 3. Ignore the bully. Don’t give the reaction they are looking for, usually fear. 4. Walk away. Walk with or to other students and ‘buddy up’. 5. Report it to someone from your support network.
18
KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
Strategies to deal with bullies: www.breakthroughbullying.com.au Australian schools national website on bullying: www.bullyingnoway.com.au Tips for building resilience in children: www.apahelpcenter.org Practical advice for parents on bullying: www.eduweb.vic.gov.au Help for your child: www.kidshelp.com.au
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Ready for Prep? by Anita Corney With only a few weeks to go until your child starts Prep, you may be wondering if there’s anything more you can do to make sure your child is truly ready for their first day at school. The Pre-Prep staff at New Leaf Early Learning Centre have put together a few tips for the holidays to help ease the transition from home or daycare to school: 1. Talk to your child about how fun school is. Don’t refer to school negatively or use it when disciplining your child, eg. ‘Your teacher won’t let you do that when you go to school’ 2. Allocate daily ‘concentration time’ for your child to play independently with puzzles, construction or board games. Stretch the sessions to 15 or 20 minutes if possible. Limit television watching to ‘after school’ hours. 3. Encourage your child to dress, undress and go to the toilet by themselves, and praise their efforts. 4. Include your child when shopping for new school items such as bags, shoes and lunch boxes. While you are at the shops, ‘people spot’ other children buying items for school so that they are aware they are not the only one going off to school for the first time. 5. Ensure your child is confident separating from you. When they visit a friend or relative, arrange to pick them up at school pick-up time. Show them the clock and where the hands will be at the time you are due. Whatever you do, don’t be late! Finally, make sure you pack a camera and plenty of tissues for that first drop-off day! Good luck! Anita Corney is Director of the Pre-Prep Wing at New Leaf Early Learning Centre in Forest Glen. New Leaf’s Pre-Prep program is delivered by Bachelor-qualified teachers specialising in Early Childhood, assisted by qualified teaching assistants. New Leaf was recently accredited as ‘High Quality’ across all areas of the validation process with the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC).
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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SPECIAL
FEATURE
Pro-vax Anti-vax
vs.
to jab or not to jab, that is the question.
by Justine Stewart
Some parenting decisions are easier than others. The easy ones include what colour to use in the nursery…and…uh….well, that’s about the only easy one, actually. Others can be more complicated, especially when you feel bombarded by wildly conflicting viewpoints. Recently, the issue of child immunisation has been in the news, with a measles outbreak on the Sunshine Coast, and the death, from whooping cough, of a young baby in Lismore. Most Australian parents (on average, 93%) choose to vaccinate their children.* However, in certain areas, these rates are much lower. Recent reports have estimated that only around 70% of children are fully vaccinated in areas such as Northern NSW and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. * Due to space restrictions, references for this article [and additional material] will be available online at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
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ANTI-VACCINATION
PRO-VACCINATION
“Vaccinations are dangerous; doctors, pharmaceutical companies and governments are more interested in profits than health; vaccinations do little or nothing to change rates of disease.”
“Not vaccinating is dangerous; doctors, pharmaceutical companies and governments are trustworthy (and/or all alternative health practitioners are quacks who are only interested in profits); low vaccination rates will increase the incidence of diseases.”
MORE EXTREME VERSION
MORE EXTREME VERSION
“Anyone who vaccinates their children is one of the ignorant `sheeple’, blindly going along with what they are told, thereby increasing the risk of diseases mutating and multiplying!”
“Anyone who doesn’t vaccinate their children is an ignorant conspiracy nut who increases the risk of others dying!”
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So, let’s pretend the pro vs. anti-vaccination argument breaks out at your next family barbecue. You might hear something like this (which, by the way, are pretty much the same arguments you’d have heard 150 years ago):
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Just short of actual fisti-cuffs, they turn to you and ask: “What do you think?” You can see the problem here. All the above arguments are over-simplified, overly emotive, and offer no room for any discussion. By seeking out the most controversial and conflicting opinions, then publishing the comments offered by the most ardent defenders of either viewpoint, many media outlets also tend encourage this `all or nothing’ mentality.
State of confusion The internet, while a wonderful tool, can also encourage this kind of extreme thinking. There is a mountain of contradictory information to wade through, much of it involving the kind of scientific language you normally wouldn’t find outside of a university. Doing your own research is great, but you have to admit there’s a certain arrogance in thinking that internet access, a good brain and a medical dictionary is equivalent to having a degree in, say, microbiology. As you leap from one perspective to another and back again, it’s tempting to just go with whoever sounds the most persuasive. Looking for the truth? Good luck. Assertions, graphs and statistics are thrown around like coins by a drunken sailor, sometimes with equal care as to their aim. It’s a shame they don’t come with warnings: “May be out-of-date, missing vital information, or selectively scaled, edited or interpreted to reinforce a certain viewpoint”. If in doubt, get a maths-savvy friend to help you check them out. Websites or organisations might claim to be “pro-informed-choice” or “information sites” although they clearly represent only one side of the discussion. Lumping all vaccines and diseases in together is certainly convenient, but it can be frustrating to those who are seeking accurate information.
It all adds up! Then there is the psychological phenomenon called ‘confirmation bias’. Basically this means that each one of us is more likely to notice, remember, and put more faith in, information that agrees with what we already think. Conversely, we tend to forget, disregard, or not even notice information that contradicts our established opinion. If it’s hard for you to be open-minded, imagine someone who’s spent years with their
feet very firmly in one camp or another suddenly switching sides! No wonder noone wants to admit that a particular point made by the ‘others’ could be correct.
Examples of flaws in the standard arguments For example, arguing that pharmaceutical companies are above reproach, or that assurances of safety should never be questioned, is a bit rich when one considers the history of drugs such as Thalidomide and Vioxx. On the other hand, unless you’re prepared to deliberately or accidentally overlook a vast amount of evidence, it’s hard to seriously argue that vaccination does nothing to confer immunity or lower the rate of disease. In some cases, research studies are quoted, along with assertions that they support a particular argument, but if you actually go and read the original study (or studies) you may find otherwise. Both sides of the debate are keen on calling into question others’ motivations. Sometimes, however, it’s not as simple as the frequent call to ‘follow the money’. Reputations, subtle indirect pressures, and emotional factors also come into play. How many doctors, media organisations, and government bodies have links to pharmaceutical companies? Are any anti-vaccinationists connected to compensation law firms?
And it’s all so scary! As one anonymous commentator said, “it’s much easier to frighten than to educate”. Making a decision based on fear is NOT the best way to arrive at a clear-headed judgement on an important topic. Yet you don’t have to look far to find both anti and
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21
SPECIAL
FEATURE pro-vax information which focuses heavily on horrifying examples of children who have suffered death or disability as a result of either diseases or vaccination reactions.
But what about…..? Meanwhile, back at the barbecue, your anti-vax sister-in-law is now yelling that most kids wouldn’t get so sick if they didn’t eat so much junk food. Your cousin, who’s a pro-vax GP and father-of-four, screams that of course good nutrition and healthy habits are important, but they can’t provide the immune system with an antibody ‘test run’ the way a vaccine can. She says her kids are homoeopathically immunised; he whips out a piece of paper and reads: “Both the British and Australian Homeopathic practitioners’ administrative bodies state that homeopathic prophylaxis shouldn’t be considered an alternative to immunisation.” “This never would have happened in my day,” whispers your mother, “We respected the medical profession. I still remember when polio crippled little Mary down the street – they had to close the swimming pool. And all those people having chest x-rays for tuberculosis….” Some people say that vaccinations have become a victim of their own success – making childhood diseases so uncommon that we’ve become blasé about the risks. Others say we’ve become ‘vax-happy’, wanting to vaccinate for too many things, and cramming too many vaccinations into a shorter time frame. (Although most doctors assert that if a child’s immune system wasn’t designed to cope with multiple challenges simultaneously, babies and 11/8/09 children would be unable to survive in a PureSpiritPressAd.pdf 8:45:54 AM world full of people, dust, dirt and bacteria.)
Weighing up the facts: • Is the source credible? For example, is it based on reputable, peerreviewed studies? (More than just one or two?) Is it up-to-date? Is there an alternative explanation to the one given? • Do you understand the information? Need to know more about what peerreviewed actually means? Who can you ask for help? • Is it widely supported, or do the same names and references keep popping up as the only ones with this viewpoint? • When you check out the original studies or sources, do they agree? • Is the provider of the information trying to advertise or sell anything? Do they have an emotional or psychological bias? Does this have any bearing on the credibility of the information? • Does the provider of the information have any other vested interest (obvious or hidden)?
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Personal decision or not? Now your sister-in-law is saying her choice not to immunise is a personal one, while your GP cousin says she’s a free-loader, taking advantage of herd immunity. Yep, you can forget going to bed early, because they’ll be going round in circles for hours. Whether you’re pro- or anti-vax, you would most likely agree that the rate at which a disease spreads, and is passed on within a community, will rise or fall depending on the number of people who can mount a sufficient immune response. No vaccine is 100% effective. Like it or not, most childhood disease vaccines `work’ (are effective in creating an immune response) on about 70% - 80% of those immunised. Immunity may be incomplete, and `wear off’ over time. That’s why an immunised person can still get the disease, although usually a milder version. Within each community, there may be some people who can’t, or choose not to, be immunised (including pregnant women and babies). So diseases can be spread by either immunised or non-immunised people, depending on the disease, the level of exposure, whether a vaccine (if given) worked, and how long ago it was given, and individual response. Air and motor vehicle travel provide the means for diseases to be introduced within hours to a new population. The statistical reality is that the greater number of people in a community who’ve recently been immunised, the harder it is for a disease to spread.
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As the controversy deepens and continues, realistic and frank discussions are hard to come by. Here are a couple of things worth remembering: • The actual chances of your child suffering as a result of your decision to either vaccinate, or not vaccinate, for childhood diseases, are quite low. • Diseases can sometimes cause lifelong effects and/or deaths, and vaccinations sometimes cause serious adverse reactions. Any of these things is tragic for all the families involved, and should not be discounted by either side. Whether you do, or don’t vaccinate, each choice involves a level of risk. Assess it realistically. And remember, just because you agree with something someone says, you don’t have to agree with everything.
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Special Events CalendaR 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
JANUARY
January 1-31
January 2-30
Where/when: The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich. All day Thomas fans can get up close to the famous blue engine and meet The Fat Controller in person. Cost: adults $18.50, children $10, family $55 Details: www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au
Where/when: Every Thursday evening, Wednesday and Saturday days, Eumundi 45 minute workshops for children up to age 12. Activities range from button jewellery, to collage and painting of ceramics. Children under five must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $20 Details: Spaces are limited, so book in at the market tent (below the market office)
Thomas the Tank Engine comes to visit
Crafty kids workshops at Eumundi markets
To win one of two family passes courtesy of the Workshops Rail Museum visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
To win one of three workshop passes visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
January 8-9 and January 15-16
January 6
Harry Potter and Obnoxious Voice
Learn to juggle Where/when: Coolum library. 10am Kids need to release a little pent up holiday energy? Take them along to the library to learn the greatest trick of all… juggling! Suitable for ages from 10 up, but bookings essential. Cost: Free Details: www.kidsatsunshinecoastlibraries. wetpaint.com
January 8
January 9-24
Where/when: Caloundra Boardwalk, Bulcock Beach. 4pm There’s no need to leave the beach at dusk any more with a new market set to liven Caloundra nights. Browse a diverse range of craft, produce and food stalls while enjoying a wide range of local artists. Cost: Free Details: www.caloundratourism.com.au
Where/when: Noosa Arts Theatre, Noosaville. Saturday at 11am and 2pm. Sundays at 2pm and 5pm This family favourite pantomime is particularly suited for ages from 3-10. Join in the hilarity of the ugly sisters and triumph with Cinderella when she meets her prince. Cost: All tickets $10 Details: www.noosaartstheatre.org.au
Friday evening Markets
Where/when: The J at Noosa In this spoof, Harry is once again locked in his room and at Hogwarts things are weirder than ever. Snape is furious at Ron’s spilled potion. Hagrid doesn’t think Harry’s ‘hearing voices’ thing is funny. Dumbledore has lost his meal ticket and Malfoy has a new mission. Running time 50 minutes. Cost: $12 Details: 5455 4455 or visit www.thej.com.au
Cinderella
To win a family pass for Saturday January 9 at 2pm visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
January 11
January 11-14
January 12 and 19
January 13
January 13
Where/when: Maroochy library, Sixth Avenue, Maroochydore. 10am Learn how to keep your pet happy and healthy with Vet Amanda from the Chancellor Park Clinic. Suitable for all ages, but bookings essential. Cost: Free Details: www.kidsatsunshinecoastlibraries. wetpaint.com
Where/when: Siena Catholic College, Sippy Downs. 9am-4pm Kids will love expanding their creativity with performance and visual arts workshops, film making, clay play, learning acting techniques and much more. Cost: Age 7-12 $100, age 13-17 $130 Details: 0418 795 186
Where/when: Twig and Grace, Cooroy. 10.30-11.30am Seven to 12 year olds use mixed media to paint and collage great works of art with artist Froyle Neideck! The emphasis is on self expression and all materials are included. January 12 the theme is ‘in the forest’. On January 19 it’s ‘sea creatures’. Cost: $25 Details: www.froyleart.com
Where/when: Mia Cucina, Project Avenue, Noosaville 10am-11.30am and 1.30pm-3pm These cooking classes are a great opportunity for budding chefs to learn about good food and healthy eating habits. Fun and educational. Cost: $30 per class Details: www.miacucinanoosa.com.au
Where/when: Nambour library. 10am Kids need to release a little pent up holiday energy? Take them along to the library to learn the basics of African drumming! Suitable for all ages, but bookings essential. Cost: Free Details: www.kidsatsunshinecoastlibraries. wetpaint.com
Pet Pep
Solarcoaster Arts Jam
Kids Art Club
Pasta making class
To win a free ticket to one of the workshops visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Where kids create and learn
To win one of two vouchers for mini masters chef classes valued at $30 each visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Kids drumming
Baby & Kids Market January 4th–7th:
Kids Club Activity Centre, 10am to 2pm daily, with exciting new activities each day.
January 8th:
Cookie Decorating with Civic Chef Dan.
January 11th-15th:
Old MacDonalds Farm, 10am to 3pm daily. PLUS guest appearances from Wallum Froglet All Kids Club Activities are FREE for children to participate and they get to take home their special creations. See you there!
Over 70 stalls • Quality preloved • Gorgeous new baby + kids gear • Never pay retail price again!
Saturday 6 February 2010
Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsman’s Parade, Bokarina
28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville Open 7 days Ph 5440 7900 noosacivic.com.au 24
KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
From 9am to 12noon. Book a stall and have some fun!
www.babykidsmarket.com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
JAN-FeB
Special Events CalendaR January 14
January 16
January 21
Where/when: Mia Cucina, Project Avenue, Noosaville 10am-11.30am and 1.30pm-3pm A great opportunity for budding chefs to learn about good food and healthy eating habits. Fun and educational. Suitable for 5-7 year olds. Cost: $30 per class Details: www.miacucinanoosa.com.au
Where/when: Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, 10.30am-2.30pm As part of the Queensland Art Gallery’s sixth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT6), a program of artist-developed activities for children and families will be available as part of this very special tour. Cost: Free Details: www.sunshinecoast.qld. gov.au/caloundragallery
Where/when: Mia Cucina, Project Avenue, Noosaville 10am-11.30am and 1.30pm-3pm A great opportunity for budding chefs to learn about good food and healthy eating habits. Fun and educational. Cost: $30 per class Details: www.miacucinanoosa.com.au
January 26
January 26
Piccolo Italiano cooking classes
To win one of two vouchers for mini masters chef classes valued at $30 each visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
January 22
Cookie monster cooking classes
Queensland Art Gallery Kids APT6 on tour
Family fun day at Aussie World
January 21-24
Pizza perfecto cooking classes
Ginger flower festival
To win one of two vouchers for mini masters chef classes valued at $30 each visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Australia Day at Australia Zoo
Where/when: Aussie World, Bruce Highway. Open 9am Aussie World is just the place to celebrate Australia Day. The infamous Australia Day Dunny Races are held in front of the Ettamogah Pub and are free to watch. All other races and games are for the kids and take place inside Aussie World. Cost: Entry from $10 for a Relax Pass Details: 5494 5444 or www.aussieworld.com.au
Where/when: Australia Zoo, Beerwah. All day The true blue himself John Williamson will help celebrate Australia Day and Summer Down Under. There will also be 14 wildlife shows and plenty of activities for the kids. Cost: Regular admission prices Details: www.australiazoo.com.au
February 6-7
February 7
February 20
Where/when: Alexandra Headlands. All day This series features Australia’s top Ironmen and Ironwomen competitors, battling it out for cash and prizes. Competitors will be pushed to the limits, with the cutthroat racing designed to test their ability as well as create exciting racing for those watching. Cost: Free to watch Details: www.slsa.com.au
Where/when: Woorim Park, Golden Beach, Caloundra Categories include 7-9 years and 10-11 years. There’s even a First Timers Kook Kid category. If your child is new to triathlon, or is a little unsure of competing against competitive kids, this is the category for them. After a couple of races they will be ready to progress into their own age category. Cost: Around $35-$70 for kids Contact: 3868 2444
Where/when: Nambour Showgrounds. 6pm-9.30pm Last year’s event sold out, so if bull riding is your thing, get your tickets early to see the country’s leading bull and bronc riders. There’ll be plenty of thrills and spills and a great band after the show if you can keep the kids awake. Cost: Adults $20, kids under 12 free Details: 5441 2766
Caloundra Triathlon
The Sunshine Coast Rodeo
SUPERVISED
KIDS
CLUB
February 5
February 6
Where/when: The J at Noosa, 6pm-8pm The first Friday of each month heralds this rhythm pumping event for 8-12 year olds. Tickets are available at the door. Cost: $6 Details: 5455 4455 or visit www.thej.com.au
Where/when: Caloundra Regional Gallery, Caloundra This monthly event has generated quite a following. Kids of all ages are welcome to visit for the whole session or just pop in and see what’s going on. The art making activity varies each month so call ahead for specifics. Cost: Free Details: www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/ caloundragallery
Green Zone Disco at The J
Where/when: Mia Cucina, Project Avenue, Noosaville 10am-11.30am and 1.30pm-3pm These cooking classes are a great opportunity for budding chefs to learn about good food and healthy eating habits. Classes are both fun and educational. Suitable for 5-7 year olds. Cost: $30 per class Details: www.miacucinanoosa.com.au
Kellogg’s Ironman and Ironwoman series
Where/when: The Ginger Factory, Yandina The 14th annual festival boasts amazing blooms, cooking demonstrations and gardening advice. Although special kids’ activities are slim, the cane train, Overboard ride, tropical gardens and delicious ice creams are sure to keep the kids amused. Cost: Free Details: www.gingerfactory.com.au
Kids Club Art Zone
February 20-21
List your event for FREE!
Surf Kayaking World Cup round 1 Where/when: From Kings Beach to Point Cartwright. All day The World Cup of Surf Kayaking, Round 1 comes to The Sunshine Coast for the first time. Watch these extreme local and international surfers get REAL air and pull the biggest manoeuvres on a wave. Cost: Free to watch Details: surfkayaking.com.au
Preference is given to community and non-profit organisations and businesses which support Kids on the Coast. Email your details to events@ kidsonthecoast.com.au as far in advance as you can! We publish information based on what is supplied to us - to the best of our knowledge all details were correct at time of printing, however we do recommend you check event details with the organisers.
FREE OPEN DAY! Wednesday, 13th JANUARY 2010
2nd January 2010
Superstar Disco 9th January 2010
Movie Marathon 15th January 2010
Beach Party
23rd January 2010
Singstar Talent Quest For more FREE holiday fun activities visit www.maroochyrsl.com.au or ask your Mystery Island Team
Want some fun? Want to get fit? Have you been looking for something fun, sporty and social for the whole family? Cooroy Gymnastics Club is holding a FREE OPEN DAY on Wednesday, 13th January 2010 at the club between 8-12noon. So come along and try out the equipment and meet our friendly coaching team.
Classes for ages 1
• Kindergym • Gym Fun • Teen Fitness Classes • Boys and Girls Team Classes • Trampoline Classes
Maroochy RSL Club, Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore
Phone 5443 2211 | www.maroochyrsl.com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Through to Adults
• Men’s Artistic Gymnastics • Women’s Artistic Gymnastics • Gym in Schools • School Holiday Program • Adult Classes
The Cooroy Gymnastics Club, Sporting Complex Mary River Road, Cooroy, 4563
5442 5800 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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PARENT
profile
Terri Irwin shares her thoughts on mothering
Single
parenthood in the spotlight
by Madonna Hirning The name Terri Irwin for most of us brings to mind the strong-minded woman who is the driving force of Australia Zoo – Queensland’s number one tourist attraction and a constant crusader for conservation. The Irwin name has long been famous around the world and synonymous with the much-loved Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. Terri was cast further into the spotlight three years ago after enduring the tragic loss of her husband Steve, who, whilst being a passionate conservationist was also a devoted husband and father to Bindi and Bob. Terri answers our questions on the hardest job of all – mothering. Along with the usual challenges Terri faces the additional pressure of parenting in the spotlight under constant public scrutiny and balancing Bindi and Bob’s experiences as children with their public roles. Terri says time spent with her children is what helps her most to meet the balance of home and work life and keeps her focussed on the most important things.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
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How do you juggle work and home life? I feel that work and home life is not so much a juggle, but more of a challenge to balance. I’m so lucky because I work where I live – wildlife conservation is not just a job for me, it is my life. So work and home blend very naturally. The secret to finding a balance is to prioritise, and I always schedule time for my family. I always make sure we have enough down time together to enjoy each other’s company and to bond and grow. We always base our holidays around wildlife experiences, and we’re very lucky that we can do that.
Does it make family life harder when you are in the spotlight? I don’t know if it is harder, but it is certainly different. Because we are so passionate about encouraging everyone to get involved in conservation, it is an opportunity – not a sacrifice – to stop and talk to people about what we are trying to achieve. We really enjoy talking about wildlife conservation, and sharing our passion with others. It is very difficult to take Bindi and Robert to a public area because more people know who we are.
How do you cope with being a single parent in the spotlight? I have learned that taking care of yourself physically enables you to cope better mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I love to work out, often with Bindi, as it helps to keep me fit and focused, and ready for whatever challenges I face next. I also got to join Robert for his first mixed martial arts lesson in the Dojo. He was great and I was really proud. But through everything, throughout the growth of Australia Zoo and the travelling that we do for conservation, Bindi and Robert have always come first.
What has been your biggest parenting challenge and why? My biggest challenge has been keeping the commitment to always travel with my children. I won’t go anywhere overnight without Bindi and Robert, so as a family we travel all over the world together. I feel that it is a choice that I make to take my kids with me, and it is important to always have me there as a consistent element for them.
“…taking care of yourself physically enables you to cope better mentally, spiritually and emotionally.” What piece of advice your parents gave to you has been the most useful in family life? My mother always set a good example – she always took the time to really teach us. I could read by the time I was five years old. My Mum was very patient and taught me that mothering means dedicating your time to your children. I was also blessed to have the best dad in the world. He really believed that I could do anything that I set my mind to. I often thought, “I’m not sure that I can do this, but if Dad thinks I can do this, then I can.”
What advice would you share with our readers about parenting? I have a few pieces of parenting gold that I would like to share, that I have found to be so important and effective. The first is that you need to set borders or boundaries; kids can only be well adjusted and polite if they know their boundaries. Also, choose your battles – don’t make a big deal about everything, but always pick up on it and follow through if you have asked them not to do something. Reward good behaviour, and take time out for your kids. Being with my kids on a daily basis is so important for me and for them.
Are your kids needing more room? Do you need your own space?
Call Dad today!
Call Michael Knights your local Family Relocation Specialist Free Real Estate advice – Selling – Buying Helping families move around the coast
Michael Knights mon - fri 9.30am – 4.30pm
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0409 018 778 michaelknights@remaxproperty.com.au
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
27
PARENT
profile
What is your favourite way to relax as a family? What do YOU like to do to relax when you aren’t working? I enjoy training on my own some days. It’s a good chance to clear my head and focus on the challenge at hand. Other days it’s great to have the company of friends, family and a terrific coach to encourage you to achieve more. As a family, we love visiting our conservation properties, in particular the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York. We spend a month on the Reserve every year for our annual crocodile research trip. It really is like walking into the Secret Garden. It has rare birds and animals, including the Palm Cockatoo, Australia’s largest snake, the scrub python, the cuscus, frogs, endangered sawfish and the Wenlock River, which has the highest biodiversity of fish in Australia and Queensland’s biggest population of saltwater crocodiles. The Reserve truly is a special place – it is a living tribute to Steve, and a place that we love to visit.
Why is the Sunshine Coast a good place to bring up kids, and where are your favourite places to go as a family? I feel very lucky to live on the Sunshine Coast. What a beautiful place. There is this laidback lifestyle, and I love the friendliness of the people. It’s great for families too, because its intimate, there are not a huge number of people and it’s not frantically busy, but there are great family activities available right here. When I’m at home, a lot of my time is taken up at Australia Zoo, and I am just extraordinarily lucky, because everyday is just a blast!
Tell us about your favourite family holiday. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit so many wonderful places around the world, but one of my favourite places is Tasmania. It has the most spectacular wilderness, and the wildlife is so amazing. The weather is so diverse, but I love it in the winter; it’s so fun to cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the fire. Tasmania is like the Garden of Eden.
A few of Terri’s favourite things: Favourite restaurant – Lyn’s Place in Minyama is one of my favourite restaurants. The rhubarb crumble is “to die for!” Favourite beach – we have been to beaches all over the world, but we love to play on the Sunshine Coast’s beaches – they are beautiful. Favourite food – I’m really lucky when it comes to food, because I love everything. But the most difficult thing for me to give up is chocolate, so I usually allow myself a little bit every day so I don’t go crazy and down an entire mud cake in the one hit! Special family activity – Bindi, Robert and I love to cook pancakes together. It’s a special treat that we do occasionally. We all have a job to do, and then we all enjoy the end result.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
“More than anything, I want my children to feel fulfilled and happy with whatever direction they choose to take” Could you describe the qualities you love the most about your children’s personalities and how they are different from each other? Bindi and Robert are both so passionate about wildlife – Steve shines through in them both. Bindi has the same heart as Steve. She is caring and sensitive about wildlife or people who need help. Robert is a chip off the old block. He has inherited Steve’s way of speaking and his mannerisms, and is tough and fearless. He has a natural curiosity about wildlife and has Steve’s sixth sense that tells him when an animal is about.
Tell us about a specific moment with each of your children when they have made you proud. Bindi and Robert make me proud everyday. Just recently they were awarded the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Biggest Greenies. They accepted this award together and dedicated it to Steve and the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve. This was a very proud moment for me. I am so lucky to have the best kids in the world.
What would you most like your kids to do when they grow up/ do you want them to follow in your footsteps? More than anything, I want my children to feel fulfilled and happy with whatever direction they choose to take. Given their surroundings and the environment in which they have been raised, I’m very confident that they will continue in conservation, just like their dad.
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Sue Inglis 0408 393 965
Workshops for childcare centre staff and Families - Learn how to integrate the new Early Years Learning Framework into your centre. Our consultants are trained to guide centre staff to understand curriculum through workshops and mentoring. We offer workshops to share with families the value of emergent curriculum for their children. Workshops are also offered for family day care and Outside School Hours Care centres. Workshops specialising in behaviour, literacy and environment are also offered. In Centre and In Home consultancy - Centre staff and individual families can be supported to build children’s behaviour skills through consultations in centres or in homes. For more information on workshops or consultations please call Sue on 0408 393 965.
and Term 2 Bookings for Term 1 en tak ng bei w no
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Donna Farman 0414 674 674
Resiliency building workshops for children - 10 week resiliency program, endorsed by the World Health Organisation. They give children the ‘life long’ skills to be able to cope with life’s challenges, to change thoughts into positives, to understand feelings, to develop positive friendships and more. Age grouping 4-7 years and 7-12 years. Parenting Workshops - 2 hours a week for 4 weeks. A comprehensive look at children’s behaviours and how parents can promote resilient, happy and confident children. The workshops are for parents who want to understand their children and bring out the best in them by focussing on strengths and positive strategies. In-home consultancy - Our consultants come to you, to work with your family and their individual needs. Children’s behaviours of all kinds are considered and practical strategies are suggested to encourage positive and strength based learning and development. Follow up visits can be arranged or one off visits are available.
WORKSHOPS Sunshine Coast Building Resilience Workshops for children Ages: 4-7 years and 7-12 years And 4 week Parenting Workshops on Building Confident and resilient children
For more information or private consultation please call Donna on 0414 674 674
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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THE ‘P’ Files
Kids
m
and
ney
Balancing saving and spending
by Jane O’Hare
The New Year is here again. Many of us have spent more than we planned to over Christmas, and will be facing a lean January. If you are anything like me, it’s hard to resist with ‘buy now pay later’ marketing ploys, percent off sales and vouchers. Of course, we all love a bargain but where do we draw the line between what we need and what we want? How do we give our children advice about money, saving and spending in our consumer-driven world? When it comes to kids and money, the questions are endless. Do we give them pocket money? Make them earn it? Or indulge them in a way we weren’t as children? At what age should they get a bank account and start having to pay for things themselves? Should we tell them about the never ending bills, costs involved with their education and interests, or should they be blissfully ignorant of all money worries?
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
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Pocket Money
Advanced Wealth Creations financial advisor Rick Gardner believes children need to be taught about money just as they are taught maths and English. He says they should be encouraged to, “work to earn”. Rick thinks chore charts are a great idea so children are given set tasks like making their bed, and if the chores are not done they don’t get paid. Along with the chore charts he suggests goal charts. These are designed to encourage the children to save for a specific item or holiday. They can record the money saved and work out how much more they need to buy that coveted item.
“…it is important children grasp the concepts of earning money, and the value of things…”
While parents may be the regular givers of pocket money it is often the grandparents who are over generous. I spoke to a group of Year 4 students who have received birthday and Christmas gifts from grandparents of between $100 and $200. These are large amounts of money for nine year olds whose concept of numbers does not extend beyond hundreds. Among the Year 4 students, the range of payments for work varied enormously. One child got $4 for cleaning the bathroom and bedroom, while others received $5 for making the bed, and $10 for washing the car. It is good to work out a suitable amount remembering as they get older, and the chores get more complex, the amount earned will also increase.
Banking
Rick is in favour of children having bank accounts in primary school. He says it is never too young to start saving and tells of first home buyers coming to him for advice with their Commonwealth bank, Dollarmite account, in excess of $60,000. The Dollarmites Club is for children under 10. St George has a similar system with the Happy Dragon Club for children under 13. Each has a website with puzzles and games to encourage children to save. Visit www.determinedtobedifferent.com.au or www.stgeorge.com.au
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
31
THE ‘P’ Files
Understanding how to budget
The use of credit cards, Rick advises, is best left for teenagers. Before relying on plastic, they need to be taught about interest, minimum payments and consequences. The same applies with phones and he sees a lot of 19 year olds with a debt of up to $50,000 because they did not understand the mobile phone plan, or how interest works. Rick suggests that primary school age children should only have cash when shopping. At that age, a cash card or credit card gives a false sense of having money. The child carefully carrying the $10 in a wallet should be more aware of how much money is spent when handing over the money to buy something. Don’t, however, make the mistake I did when one Christmas I gave my son $20 to buy presents and he put it down in the toy section to look at something and then lost the whole $20. I learnt the hard way too. Why not start early? Encourage children to work out the change for tuck shop, or when buying an ice cream and make money transactions a part of everyday life. Rick suggests it is important children grasp the concepts of earning money, and the value of things, so they understand that expenses need to be less than income. Children need to understand that when parents purchase and hear the question from the cashier, “Would you like to take out cash with that?” and the parents reply, “Yes please, one hundred dollars,” that the children understand this money is coming out of their bank account and is not a gift from the store. ADVERTISEMENT/LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE
Holiday fun and child care spaces available in Yandina Local child care group Coolabah Early Childhood Development Centres still have placements available in each of the age groups for 2010, but spaces are filling fast.
Enrol now for 2010
The Centre’s Support Manager Melanie Crawford says the centres are looking better than ever and 2010 is set to be a great year. She encourages parents to call for a tour of the facilities which also runs a pre-prep program for ages 4-5 years and helps in the transition to primary school. “We even offer a free trial day for your child so you can see how they interact and can be comfortable with your choice,” Melanie says. During the remainder of the school holidays, until January 25, Coolabah Early Childhood Development Centres are running a fun and exciting Holiday Club program. Designed for children from 6-12 years, the program gives parents a well deserved break and provides fun activities and excursions to keep the kids entertained. “It’s all about getting children out and about during their break from school,” Melanie says. Places are still available during January and bookings are now being accepted for the Easter school holidays. Coolabah Early Childhood Development Centres offer two separately licensed age-specific facilities at Low Street and Steven Street, Yandina. They are open five days a week from 6am to 6pm. To enrol call Centre One on 5472 7000 or Centre Two on 5472 8011 or visit www.earlylearnignservices.com.au
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
Early Learning Services Limited Our centres offer the following: - Care for ages 6 weeks to 6 years - Open long day care hours of 6am – 6pm - Courtesy bus service offering pick up and drop off to home, school and work - Qualified and caring staff offering development programs based on children’s strengths, abilities and choice - ACTIVE Prep Program for ages 4-5 years with curriculum and ongoing projects aimed at preparing children for school and the years ahead, with uniform - Before & After School Care for ages 6–12 years - Holiday Care for ages 6–12 years
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“It is good for children to learn that they can’t have everything they want." Preparing for the future With four sections and a see-through cover, this money box helps teach kids about dividing their income. They are available through www.kidsmoney.com.au. Boxes are labelled ‘giving’ for charity, ‘living’ for expenses, ‘saving’ when they want something special and ‘wealthing’ for long term savings. (The last two are screwed down to avoid temptation!). RRP: $35. Financial advisor Greg Smith has also written a series of wonderful books that enforce the concepts.
Paying the bills
Rick suggests that parents do not use the negative statement, “We can’t afford it!” It is better to explain why. So if you are going on holidays say ”We can’t afford to buy that now because we are saving to go on holidays next week.” It is a good idea to remind children that bills have to be paid and measuring bills over time can help instil conservation of the environment too. Instead of nagging kids not to leave lights on, or use too much water, why not show them the bill and make it a game to reduce the next one? (You can even build in a financial incentive if they manage to cut the costs!) ADVERTISEMENT/LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE
Keep your resolutions At this time of year, women all over Australia set themselves the New Year’s resolution to get into shape. Almost as many ‘fall off the wagon’ a couple of months later. So what is the key to success? Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs realises getting fit without a little help is an uphill battle and their teams in Caloundra and Maroochydore are there to help get you through the challenges. The clubs have fully qualified trainers on hand to help you set and achieve your goals.
Some parents like to plan ahead for their children’s education and needs. “The prepared parents start with babies, booking them into schools, establishing an education trust fund that requires both parents to sign if money is taken out, and establishing a savings schedule,” Rick says. “These can be tax effective which is an added incentive. “People should aim to save 10% of their income.” Not an easy task as we are so keen to spend, but perhaps leading by example and instilling this in your children will begin good habits that may last a lifetime. It is good for children to learn that they can’t have everything they want. Teaching children to enjoy what they have, value what they have worked to achieve, and accept that they can’t have something just because they want it contributes to a better understanding of the value of money. Teach your children good money skills as they grow and you will be giving them a really good start to becoming financially independent when they leave home. Rick says, “At the end of the day our children grow into adults and 99.9% of the time they have to earn their living, so I don’t see why they shouldn’t have to start earning for what they want when they are young.”
JOIN FOR FOX SAKE
Let’s face it, getting fit is about balancing the calories and nutrition going in with the energy going out and exercise alone is not going to have as rapid results as a holistic approach. With this in mind, Fernwood Women’s Health Clubs have food and nutrition coaches too. Your membership includes an introduction to personal training, a session with a nutrition expert and an ongoing personalised program to suit your needs. Fernwood is just for women and child minding is provided, so you can rest assured your child is occupied and happy while you concentrate on your goals. Fernwood is so committed to helping you keep your resolution, they have waived their joining fee at the club this month and the first 50 members during January will also receive a starter pack valued at $80. Now if that’s not an incentive to beat the odds this year, I don’t know what is! For more information phone: 1300 fernwood or visit: www.fernwoodfitness.com.au
It’s time for the foxiest resolution you’ll make all year with our ‘no more excuses’ offer. Find your inner fox for a new fit and feisty you.
No Joining Fee – Save $99* *Offer Valid Jan 4 – Feb 28 2010. Applies to 12 month memberships only. Not available with any other offer.
Caloundra & Maroochydore Call 1300 FERNWOOD www.fernwoodfitness.com.au Australian owned & operated franchise
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
33
BABIES ON
the coast Why should they start swimming early?
by Sue Timms
ater
s e i b a B
From tiny newborns to strapping great teenagers, most kids love swimming. Teaching your baby to swim can be incredibly rewarding: not only are you boosting their confidence, it’s great exercise, supports a healthy lifestyle, and is also one of the best ways of spending some fun, quality time together.
All babies are born with a natural affinity to water however, as time passes this confidence can decrease and between 10 and 15 months babies can develop a fear of water, if not already regularly exposed to it. The sooner your baby is introduced to water the less likely they are to develop any fear of it in the future.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
One child under 5 drowns every week What happens next is up to you! • A further 3 children will be hospitilised, some permanently brain damaged. • Where a gate or fence may fail the Pool Safety Net is your ultimate defence and peace of mind. • 62% of 4 year olds can climb a fence in under 12 seconds. • Easily removed and replaced by adults in approximately 3 minutes • 100% success rate over 30 years worldwide
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Bath time is a great time to start familiarising your baby with the aquatic environment and prepare them for future lessons. The primary focus is to ensure your baby is happy in water, that they gradually become accustomed to feeling the water on their face and feeling the support that the water gives. Swim instructors suggest you make bath time fun. Gently splash water over your baby’s body, lay them on their back and move them gently through the water. When you move your baby to a big bath, use enough water so they can float. Support your baby on their front and back and very gently manipulate their arms and legs in a swimming motion. When laying them on their tummy, support their head underneath the chin so that their face and mouth don’t fall forwards into the water. Learn to swim program coordinator Angela Hall recommends using cue words during bath time. “Try saying, ‘(your babys name), ready, go!’ when you pour water over their face,” she says. “Babies have a reflex action, so will automatically hold their breath when water hits their face. In the future, these words will be used to help your baby hold their breath underwater.”
Swimming benefits your baby’s physical and emotional development The first year of your baby’s life is crucial in terms of development because their brain grows more rapidly than at any other time. Regular exercise plays a vital role in this, with every movement they make helping to strengthen their brain for new learning. Uniquely, swimming provides the perfect exercise as water allows your baby’s muscles to move freely without constraints of gravity which means that they can develop actions they wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to experience on land.
Leading Infants’ Swim School on the Sunshine Coast
Gina Baruch Austswim Reg. Q4268
• Specialising in babies from 6 weeks old and children up to age 5 • Survival and swimming skills • Heated Pool 21 Banksia Avenue, COOLUM BEACH Email: ginaswaterbabies@bigpond.com
w nd ol ne e a n in e ng po l A tyl io nc mi hoo m t es a ie swi Sc lif nov r sc our Swim in ate for yland w ater hap M
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Baby swim classes provide your little one with a gentle, yet complete, physical work-out which will strengthen their heart, lungs and respiratory system aiding the development of the brain. They will learn to respond to commands which can make them sharper mentally thereby increasing levels of awareness and understanding.
What to expect during baby classes Most swim schools start taking babies for lessons from six months of age. When you join you will find that classes follow a clear and progressive structure and will also involve some underwater work as and when your baby is ready. Underwater work allows your baby the experience of swimming completely independently, however, in all classes the overall emphasis is on parents and their babies having fun and no baby is ever forced to do anything against their clear wishes. Swimming lessons are often a baby’s first social experience out of the home that involves their peers. During class time they learn to relate and interact with each other and look forward to seeing their classmates each week. Lessons are fun, socially stimulating and an excellent way to bond with your child. An added bonus is that regular swimming often improves eating and sleeping patterns! Not only can early swimming be life enhancing, it can also be lifesaving. The younger your child is when they begin their swimming adventure the sooner they will be able to build a foundation for the eventual ability to perform ageappropriate safety skills. From an early age, babies are taught how to turn around if they fall into the water and reach for and hold onto the side until help arrives. These basic water safety skills are practised and reinforced in every baby swim class.
A word about flotation aids A wide range of flotation aids are available, from arm bands and swim seats to float suits and float jackets. These help build toddlers’ and young children’s confidence
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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BABIES ON
the coast in the water but Angela warns against over-using them: “Flotation aids are fine, however they can give parents a false sense of their child’s ability in the water so it is essential to do some work without them,” she says. “like supporting your child under his arms, on his front or back – so he doesn’t become reliant on them.”
Your first trip to baby classes For most parents the first trip to swimming lessons can be fraught with uncertainty so it’s a good idea to take your baby to the pool on several occasions prior to enrolling them for lessons. This will familiarise them with the new, possibly noisy and definitely splashy, environment and will also give you a chance to chat to the teacher and have a quick peek at any baby lessons that might be underway. For your first baby class Angela suggests: • Two towels – one for yourself and one for baby • Waterproof nappies • Appropriate dry clothing for after the lesson • Food – swimming makes babies hungry so be prepared for a feed immediately after the lesson • Nappy bag, friend, partner or relative with a camera and an attitude of fun! Teaching your baby to swim is a subtle, long term process which requires sensitivity and skill on behalf of both the parent and the swim school. A cooperative partnership between parent, child and teacher is key to creating the kind of harmonious relationship necessary to gently and playfully guide your baby on their learn-to-swim journey.
How to teach your baby to swim by Douglas Doman If you prefer to teach your baby yourself, this book is a clear, easy-to-follow guide. Divided into eight chapters, it is illustrated with photographs and includes wonderful techniques like walking backwards holding your baby to create a current, or how to use your shower to introduce babies to hold their breath. RRP: $29.95
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A safer summer As the summer hots up, Australian kids long for nothing more than cooling off in the water. It’s a time when parents of non swimmers become more vigilant and swim schools around the country amp up their educational efforts. One such school is Mountain Creek Aquatic Complex. Its sucessful swimming program has eased the worry of many anxious parents and instilled a love of water in just as many kids. Mountain Creek Aquatic Complex conducts lessons for all ages. Their teachers are professionly trained, qualified Austswim instructors and classes are held in pools that are heated all year, so you child doesn’t have to stop learning during colder months. Manager Genevieve King says the baby classes focus on water safety, survival skills and making your baby feel comfortable in the water. “Our aim is to show parents and carers how to correctly hold their infant so they always feel relaxed in the water,” she says. As babies grow and become more confident, the team’s aquatic education adapts to their needs. ”All students at Mountain Creek Aquatic Complex are valued and able to learn at their own pace,” Genevieve says. “We conduct our aquatic program in a fun, educational way.” Teachers focus on increasing each child’s confidence, developing trust, helping parents understand water safety and building swimming skills. They also see the value of group interaction and the expansive facilities mean parents and children can stay for a play and a cuppa after their lesson. Mountain Creek Aquatic Complex is currently accepting placements for Term 1, but don’t delay because places fill fast. Phone: 5457 8399
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
health
good
DR. ROGER MORRIS www.doc4kidz.com.au Dr. Roger Morris is a General Practitioner in Maroochydore, who has a special interest in Child and Adolescent Health
Kids and stress
Recent research conducted in Australia through the federal Department of Housing, Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs showed that highly stressed working mothers are risking their own health and also the emotional development of their children. The study suggested that children of highly stressed working mothers have poorer emotional and social outcomes. This is also affected by parenting style, which can deteriorate when parents are themselves under stress. Stability within family units is vital and the mental health of parents also has an impact on children’s ability to cope, as does the quality of the parents’ relationship. If parents are supportive of each other, share similar values and expectations about their children, and communicate well with each other, these are protective factors for the children.
In past decades, psychologists believed that psychological resilience in children to various forms of stress was somehow inborn. But more recent evidence shows that psychological and emotional resilience can be taught, enabling even the most vulnerable children to learn how to deal with life’s stresses. Research indicates that good early relationships with caregivers can help make children more stressresistant, and the earlier that resilience-building is started the better. Building up children’s tolerance for dealing with life’s ups and downs and changes in mood helps them develop a stronger sense of identity and self-esteem.
What makes kids more resilient?
Parents can help their children build resilience and develop healthy self-esteem by giving them a sense of being valued and respected. Children need to be listened to and encouraged to express difficulties they might be having. Children also need to have parents that are able to spend quality time with them to help their child maintain a sense of self-esteem even in the face of stressful experiences. Talking to children about stress is very important and it is also important to help children to understand that all people have strengths and weaknesses. Some psychologists suggest bedtime is a good opportunity to bring up positive events in a child’s day. Focusing on positive events during the child’s day is correlated with an increase in happiness.
• A relationship with a caring adult who is not a parent or sibling
• The ability to name and manage their own emotions, and develop empathy for others • Healthy self-esteem • The opportunity to feel valued, respected and listened to • The ability to organise themselves and set goals • A feeling of belonging at school • Positive community involvement: e.g. sport, art, drama, youth groups • Positive attitude Sources: http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2008/01/29/2148045.htm http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/stress-affects-mums-kids/story-e6frf7l6-1225806345495
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE FROM YOUR PHYSICIAN OR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
Learn how to reach for the stars Can your kid…
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Our services include • Women’s Health - advice on family planning, Maroochydore menopause, sexual health, yearly check ups 50 Second Avenue including pap smears and breast examinations Maroochydore • Men’s Health - prostate checks, vasectomies and lifestyle counseling • Children’s health – immunizations and baby care • Prenatal and pregnancy care FEMALE AND • Complimentary and nutritional Close to Chemist MALE DOCTORS and vitamin therapies AVAILABLE • Skin Cancer checks Cosmetic • Travel Medicine Injections Clinic • Management of chronic disease NOW OPEN • Minor surgical procedures UT • Allergy Clinics ASK US ABO Training • Dive medicals ited First Aid
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by Louise Duggan
Wedding anniversaries are usually considered to be a celebration of love between two people, an opportunity to call in the babysitter and escape the family home for a romantic dinner for two. But if babysitters are few and far between in your house, or you just don’t have the time to spare between school runs and extra-curricular activities, maybe it’s time to consider involving the kids in your anniversary celebrations. Kids love to hear about how you met, when you got married, when they were born and can’t help giggling at the thought of you kissing! Moreover, ask either of my young daughters who they are going to marry when they grow up and without hesitation they would both answer “Daddy”, so they might as well get involved now! My kids love playing weddings. On several occasions I’ve been coaxed into walking through the house in my wedding gown, to the glorious sound of my delighted girls humming “dum dum da dum, dum dum da dum”. Holding my train, they guide me eagerly to Daddy, located in front of the TV watching the cricket and glow with elation when he tells me how beautiful I look. I must admit, it’s a very romantic scene if you are prepared to overlook the fact that my undies are hanging out of the back of my unzipped dress which, 12 years after its first outing, is now unfortunately at least two sizes too small.
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Anniversaries as a family affair
But if the thought of slipping on your wedding gown and parading through the lounge room is a bit much for you, here are a few less embarrassing ideas on how to celebrate your anniversary as a family and share your love for each other with your children. One of the hardest things for young children to grasp is the concept of time. I remember telling our girls that their daddy and I had been married for 12 years. My five-year-old’s jaw dropped in amazement, “Wow that is like, soooo long! That even must have been before the dinosaurs were born!” On our last anniversary, my husband came up with a great idea to overcome this by creating an album documenting each year of our relationship. He dedicated one page to each year, filling it with a picture and words which best represented that year. Rummaging through old boxes of photos and recounting the memories each hold is a wonderful way to bring your family together and when it comes to presenting them, my nine-year-old can whip up a PowerPoint presentation with revolving pictures, sound effects and a rainbow colour scheme faster than I can make a cup of tea. So it’s a win win result all round. Another great way to mark the occasion with photographs is to have new family photos taken. If the idea of posing for a serious portrait is not for you, why not head for the outdoors? Professional family photographs have come a long way www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
for fun, fantasy and laughter and most photographers are happy to escape the confines of the studio. Why not relocate the studio to your favourite seaside getaway, a local park or a location that holds special memories for your family? Escaping for a romantic dinner on your anniversary takes a lot of beating, but if you don’t have a babysitter on hand why not bring the restaurant to you? Kids love getting their hands dirty in the kitchen and love role playing even more. While older children will soon get wrapped up in the planning of such an event, smaller children may need more guidance if you are to stand any chance of eating at all! Start by planning a menu that they are capable of making or at least serving themselves. If that means vegemite crackers followed by icecream and sprinkles in a fancy bowl so be it, you can always order in pizza after they head off to bed. Once you have agreed on the menu it’s time to set the table. Let their imaginations run wild when it comes to decorating the table with balloons, streamers, flowers from the garden and home-made menus. Add a few candles and a full wine glass to finish the look and you’re all set! Then sit back and enjoy the delight in your children’s faces as they serve dinner.
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A great game to play round the table after dinner is the “I love you because...” game. We often play this game in our own home when we feel the children have been fighting too much and it always leaves everyone feeling warm and fuzzy. It goes like this. The first person works their way round the table telling each person in turn why they love them, starting with the sentence “I love you because....” Each person completes the task until everybody has complimented everyone else and everyone is glowing with happiness, mutual love and appreciation! Play equipment and age appropriate toys for babies and kids up to 10 years
Now that you are all sufficiently mushy, why not finish off your in-home date night with a movie. Whether you have a professional wedding video or a range of home movies, kids love watching old movies, especially of themselves. It’s another great way to relive old memories and cement the very roots of your family bond. At a time in our lives when our children seem to borrow every moment of it, we often neglect to honour that one special day where it all began. So why not make your next anniversary a celebration for the whole family. It will ensure your anniversary receives the attention it deserves while tightening the bonds between you, your children and your family as a whole. Not to mention having a whole lot of fun, with laughter, memories and perhaps even a few happy tears thrown in for good luck.
HAVE YOUR SAY, COMMENT AT www.kidsonthecoast. com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
Parents can take a break with delicious coffee, tea, cakes, light meals Healthy food choices for the kids too
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E: pandasplayland@bigpond.com JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
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holidays
HAPPY
Holidays afloat Travel the world without unpacking! by Sarah Pye
You are lulled to sleep by the gentle slap of water on the hull. The occasional stretching anchor line propels marauding pirates into your dreams. You wake when a single sunbeam flickers below your eyelids then dances away as your floating home swings five degrees. The kids are laughing around the saloon table and you stumble into the small bathroom feeling like the large version of Alice in Wonderland. Excitement for the upcoming day travels through your limbs. Will you catch the biggest flathead in the river? Land like an alien in a welcoming new culture? Swim with schools of Picasso-esque fish? We all know the challenges of holidays with kids: their routines are interrupted which can lead to grumpy travel companions; they always want to eat outside of regular resort meal times; the cost of feeding the whole family can break the bank; by the time you arrive home you have lost half your luggage through constant packing and unpacking; travelling between destinations is a test of endurance. Many of these challenges can be overcome with a holiday afloat. There are many ways to experience life on the water and we have chosen to focus on three: exploring new lands on a cruise liner, sailing through tropical waters in a family bareboat or plying calm waterways on a houseboat.
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Fully catered escape Cruising has long been considered an activity suitable only after you have let your hair go grey and chucked in your job. The truth is, however, some of the same reasons that cruises suit seniors also make it a great option for families. Cruises offer the chance for exploration in a safe environment, package rates that allow you to budget before you even leave home and enough entertainment to keep the kids amused while you travel. Leah Squires from BYO Kids has taken her family on numerous cruises and says there are a range of ages onboard and they offer kids’ clubs for children from toddlers to teens. “There are many organised activities for kids like mini golf, remote control car races and competitions,” she says. “Some cruises, like Disney cruises, are designed especially for families, but during school holidays cruise liners tend to tailor activities more to children.” Leah suggests the most family friendly routes are those in the Pacific that visit Noumea, Vanuatu, Fiji and smaller Pacific Islands. “These islands are English speaking, safe and very friendly for shore excursions,” she explains.
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
phone: 02 66874864 sales: www.babeefree.com.au
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Did you know…On the P&O Pacific Sun: • 80 tonnes of food and drink are consumed on each cruise • There are 72 chefs, cooks and bakers • They produce 8600 meals each day • Food is delivered by 96 waiters • 123,000 plates, 10,000 glasses and 125,000 pieces of cutlery are washed each day • Luckily they have 29 dishwashing machines “Another favourite would be a Mediterranean Cruise and these start around $1190 per person with kids cruising free.” I know many mums will agree that a real holiday is one where you don’t do ANY cooking, and cruises cater for this desire too. Besides these obvious benefits, there’s also the convenience of unpacking once and still being able to visit numerous destinations and that, when you travel with kids, can be a godsend. Sail away to tropical islands While cruises suit many families they certainly aren’t for everyone. Some of us prefer a little more adventure and a bareboat delivers. Of course, it’s essential that you know how to sail before you cast off the dock lines and rummage around for a chart, but even if you need to brush up rusty skills, it’s possible to take along a sail guide to show you the ropes. Sailing is one of my personal passions and I spent the majority of my youth sailing through the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Australian waters – including eight years skippering boats in the Whitsundays. Each of these destinations comes with its own advantages. The ‘Med’, while relatively crowded, offers old-world style, different cultures and stunning scenery. Picture escaping to tropical palm-lined islands with English-speaking locals and easy sailin. The British Virgin Islands are certainly my favourite option…
but they’re a long way from here. Weighing up all the pros and cons, you really can’t beat the Whitsundays, right on our doorstep. Sailing distances (and initial travel distances) are short, the backup services are second to none and the 74 Whitsunday Islands offer a wealth of experiences for the whole family. Having said that, bareboat sailing is great with a baby and wonderful when the kids are comfortable swimmers, but that bit in between can be a little uncomfortable in such close proximity to the water. Queensland Yacht Charters owner Suzette Pelt says babies sleep well on boats. “But the moment they are crawling or climbing, you’ll not have a moment’s relaxation.” While adult life vests are provided, I suggest you take along your own for kids, so you make sure they fit. Suzette says she would prefer a sailing holiday over a resort any day. “It’s like having your own private holiday home, transport, adventure, sightseeing and restaurant all rolled into one perfect floating holiday resort,” she says, and I tend to agree. One of the big advantages is the cost: bareboating is not particularly expensive when you take into account the per person rates at a resort. All the costs are paid up front so you aren’t constantly digging into your wallet and a provisioning service is available with special children’s food options so, although you have to do your own cooking, you don’t even have to do the shopping. The biggest drawback is that basic boating experience is essential on a bareboat. Let’s face it, you are entrusted with a vessel worth a couple of hundred thousand dollars and the less experienced you are, the more stressful this responsibility will be, so pretending you are more experienced than you are doesn’t really serve you well. If bareboating is your dream, but you aren’t confident about your skills, Suzette suggests doing a competent crew sailing course together as a family. “Then everyone gets a turn on the helm and kids love nothing more than driving a dinghy around the anchorage and exploring with you,” Suzette says.
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www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010 – KiDs on tHe CoAst
41
holidays
HAPPY
QYC (and many other bareboat companies) send out extensive pre charter preparation materials including an interactive DVD, safety manual and planning chart so you can sit around the coffee table with the kids and plan your escape well ahead. Once you arrive, there’s another 3-4 hours of practical boat and navigational briefings to familiarise you with the boat and area. Before too long you are setting course for destinations like the fjord-like Nara Inlet, the deserted reef at Border Island or famous Whitehaven Beach (from the Qantas ads!). Each day, in the morning and again in the afternoon, QYC contacts each vessel and offers destination advice. This is something you won’t find anywhere else in the world and it’s a real confidence boost. Messing about in a houseboat So, what do you do if you want the freedom of a bareboat, but you don’t have enough experience to skipper your own sailing boat? Perhaps houseboats are for you. Within only a couple of hour’s drive of where you are right now, it’s possible to escape on a houseboat up the Noosa River, explore the Great Sandy Strait or meander through the Broadwater. We might not have the offshore islands like they do in the Whitsundays, but we certainly boast plenty of calm water passages where you can get away from civilisation without much effort at all. Best of all, no special license is needed, so this type of escape suits even the novice boaties. Starting at Noosa Marina Tewantin, Noosa Leisuretime Houseboats offers small cabin cruisers that suit a family of five or larger flat bottom vessels with room for up to 12. The former is easy to drive but boat-like in scale. The latter is more spacious with regular size furniture, all the mod cons in the galley and a huge sundeck with barbecue designed for lounging. Distances are short through winding mangrove-lined estuaries and steering is easy because speeds are relatively slow. Once you’ve anchored safely in glue-like mud, it’s safe to swim right from the boat and, if you head upstream to Lake Cootharaba,
the crowds thin and wildlife increases. Why not plan to be anchored at Boreen Point on a Sunday and wander up to the historic Apollonian Hotel for their Sunday spit roast? Further north, the Great Sandy Strait (between Fraser Island and the mainland) is an unspoilt cruising ground inhabited by dolphins, rays and even the occasional dugong. The western side of Fraser is less explored than the east and offers quiet anchorages and wonderful sunsets over ‘Australia’. Luxury Afloat houseboats offer vessels that suit eight or 10. They give a detailed briefing and call twice a day to check on your progress. Travel the other direction and the Gold Coast Broadwater, while a little busier, offers similar topography. Secluded bays, pumping for yabbies or exploring striking sand dunes are all on the itinerary. If you need a night of civilisation, you can even arrive at Couran Cove by boat, tie up at the Marina and take advantage of the resort’s delights! Broadwater houseboats and Coomera Houseboat Holidays recently joined forces and offer a range of vessels suiting families of 4-12. Whether you choose calm waters close by or explore the world on a liner, Ratty (from the classic tale the Wind in the Willows) perhaps put it best. “There’s nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . . half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats,” he said. For more information: BYO Kids: 1300BYOKIDS or visit www.byokids.com.au; P&O Cruises: www.pocruises.com.au; Disney Cruises: www.disneycruise.disney.go.com; Queensland Yacht Charters: 4946 7400 or visit www.yachtcharters.com.au; Noosa Leisuretime: 1300 853 787 or visit www.noosaleisurtime.com.au; Lifestyle Holidays and Luxury Afloat Houseboats: 5486 4864 or www.luxuryafloat.com.au; Coomera Houseboat Holidays: 5502 6200 or www.coomerahouseboats.com.au
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Yearning for some quality family time? In our overly hectic lives, we often yearn to slow down, reconnect with the kids and live a life less complicated. Especially in summer when the beaches are packed with tourists and the crowds are unrelenting. It might not be possible to run for the hills permanently, but at Cedar Glen Farmstay it’s possible to escape for a little while. Cedar Glen has been in the Stephen’s family since 1882. Located at the foot of World Heritage Lamington National Park, this spectacular 1050 acre property is home to beef cattle, Arabian horses, milking cows, sheep, pigs and poultry. With private swimming holes, shady 100-year-old trees and cool summer breezes, Spring and Summer are great times to visit. Imagine the kids’ excitement as they get to feed the animals twice daily, or try their hand at milking the house cow each morning. A real highlight of Cedar Glen is the activities they have to offer. Don’t miss the opportunity to embark on a horse ride through some of South East Qld’s most spectacular country – riders of all ages and experience are catered for. You can also learn how to throw a returning boomerang and crack the Australian stock whip while enjoying a cup of billy tea and freshly made damper. Guests can stay in the stately 1901 homestead, or choose one of three historic cottages which have been renovated to maintain the charm and authenticity of a bygone era. All buildings are surrounded by wide breezy verandas perfect for a summer siesta. Mums in particular will love the optional fully catered holiday. Imagine leaving even the cooking behind! If watching Discovery channel is the closest you’ve been to nature in a while, do something for yourself and the kids, and visit Cedar Glen Farmstay.
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* Complementary bottle of locally produced red or white wine for mum and dad to enjoy during the stay (approx $26 value) plus Complimentary Cedar Glen water bottle for all children - great for school. (Retail $9.95 each).
www.kidsonthecoast.com.au
PARENT
Spiderman cake raised its ugly head), at which my hero-obsessed son, for the first day in months, blatantly REFUSED to wear any super-themed attire. That’s right – at his themed birthday party.
ville
by Jenny Wynter
Kids on the Coast welcomes Jenny to the team. She is a comedian who has recently moved to the Sunshine Coast with her husband and three small children. Visit: www.jennywynter.com
What happened to birthdays? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high hopes for my 30th birthday. Not that I expected to unveil a carved statue of myself in the middle of a tequila-spraying fountain while seven maids-a-milking sang the anthem from Fame, but to me, the 30th was a landmark that demanded at least a solid commitment to some sort of buffet.
Then there was the extravaganza of ridiculousness that was my firstborn daughter’s first birthday. I stopped short of inviting every person we’ve ever been introduced to, but not by much. We opted for a ‘bring out your inner child!’ theme, which, while seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. It basically entailed nobody, except for yours truly, embracing the idea by dressing up in kids’ clothes, complete with a (gulp) bib. I know: stunning display of creative genius if ever there was one. Oh yes. Let’s not forget the wonder that was Little Mister’s second affair. It all seemed so simple. Fruit kebabs. Check. Chocolate muffins. Check. Nudie run. Hang on, nudie run? That’s right. My son, done with the fun, frivolities and formalities decided to add his own twist on pass the parcel, appearing in complete undress – and various fractions thereof – for the remainder of the day, much to the amusement, and hastened departure, of many of the invited. Are you feeling a theme here?
Instead, there I sat, cucumber sandwiches in hand, week-old bubba number three on my lap – and while this exceptionally beautiful bundle of gorgeousness was indeed a present on which I could never put a price, I couldn’t help but marvel over what this scene represented. That is, that since having children in my life, wildly elaborate birthday fuss has been exclusively reserved for them.
Yet when it comes to the hubby and my birthdays, our celebrations these days are not only superhero, inner child and (thankfully) nudie-run free, they are, well, barely celebrations at all. We have gifts of course: perhaps a breakfast in bed, singing, cake and perhaps a greater commitment to not burning the dinner, but it’s about there that the party ends. There was a year when my poor hubby awoke to realise, horrified, that he’d actually forgotten my birthday completely. Fleeing to the car in a mad dash to make amends, he returned some twenty minutes later with, da da da da, a bag of Hungry Jacks. Yes, you read that right. Hungry Jacks. Be still my beating arteries.
Now, I should preface this by admitting that party organiser extraordinaire I am not. Far from it and I have photos to prove it. Just ask anybody who attended Mister Five’s third birthday affair, in which my well-intentioned home-designed cake covered in Spidermen climbing to the top of a chocolate mountain collapsed in on itself and looked suspiciously more like Spidermen climbing an enormous pile of...well, you fill in the blanks. But the point is, when it comes to our kids’ birthdays, there is always effort.
As I find myself sometimes struggling to make an effort to keep some semblance of the old me alive in the throes of the wonderful, messy chaos that has become our life with children, I wonder if there may be something to the symbolism of our post-parental birthday celebration quashing. After all, it’s the one day of the year that’s special simply because you are who you are, parent or not. Perhaps it’s time to reclaim the day. Silly? Maybe. But what’s wrong with that? We’ve got the whole other 364 to be sensible.
Oh the effort. There was the Superhero party (at which the now infamous
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DIRECTORY Cafe
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KiDs on tHe CoAst – JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2010
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DIRECTORY
this direct ory IS ONLINE AT www.kidson thecoast.com .au
Psychologists
Kay Manning Psychology For All Your Child’s Learning Needs
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Restaurants Est 1995
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Health Holistic Healing | Yin Yoga | Pre and Post-Natal Yoga Mother’s Group & Education | Creche
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Medical Practitioners
The Esplanade, Mooloolaba ph: 5478 3199 www.augellos.com.au
Tanya Ryan on 07 5442 8679 or email: advertising@ kidsonthecoast.com.au
Skin & Personal Care
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WS e i REV
Ghost hunter Michelle Paver A fascination with the Stone Age prompted Michelle Paver to create the bestselling series Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. This is the sixth and final book in the series which began with Wolf Brother. It features Torak, a hunter gatherer whose story is wrapped in a world which existed over 6,000 years ago. This is Torak’s last adventure, which takes him up into the mountains to find the Mountain of Ghosts. Along with his friends, Torak faces terrifying dangers as they all finally fulfil their destiny. Ghost Hunter brings Torak’s story to a nail-biting finish.
Fox and fine feathers Narelle Oliver Brisbane-based author and illustrator, Narelle Oliver, finds her inspiration in her own backyard where birds and wildlife abound. This book is set in the Border Ranges, an area which supports an abundance of wildlife including over 170 species of birds, many threatened. The story features four bird characters who would only be found together in this unique location, along with a villain, the fox. It’s a simple, environmental story told in a gentle manner, and highlighted by Narelle Oliver’s superb linocut illustrations.
Where the wild things are Maurice Sendak First published in 1963, Where The Wild Things Are has become a worldwide children’s classic. One evening, wearing a wolf costume, Max is playing around the house, and is sent to his room for making mischief. In his bedroom a wild forest and sea grow out of his imagination, and Max sails to the land of the Wild Things. This timeless children’s picture book, with Sendak’s fabulous illustrations, has now been made into a feature film.
The world according to kids Sally Collings This heart-warming book makes a wonderful gift for grandparents or carers. It opens your eyes to a child’s view of life and it’s jam-packed with ‘kidisms’ like “People die but TV goes on forever,” or (a good one for New Year’s) “Can’t they turn the fireworks to mute?” With delightful black and white illustrations it posed questions like “where did the dinosaurs go?” or “What is the sun made of?”The answers will bring a smile to your face.
My Sister has a big black beard Duncan Ball This is a collection of quirky verses from Australian-based author Duncan Ball, who is well known for his Selby and Emily Eyefinger series of books. The poems will appeal to a child’s wicked sense of humour. For example, “My sister has a big black beard, my brother needs a bra.... My mother is a baritone and loves to smoke cigars...” Young readers will have fun whilst appreciating the poetic form.
website
www.savvymama.com.au Gold Coast mum Keeley O’Connor has created a wonderful resource for parents with information on fashion, food, travel, innovative products and a weekly newsletter highlighting kid-friendly events and things to do. The more information we all have, the better, so Kids on the Coast congratulates Keeley for her ingenuity!
www.discovermaroochy.com.au
website
Are family and friends visiting for the holidays? Are you worried about them outstaying their welcome? Putting them up in their own apartment might just give you the space you need, and them the holiday they deserve and some Sunshine Coast holiday accommodation options offer local discounts.
COMPS
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