Eastside MamaMag Jun/Jul 2019

EASTSIDE

mamaMAG June/Jul 2019

WIN 1 of 2 money can’t buy dIsney on Ice experIences MamaMag’s 5th b’day Discover DUPLO Perfect presents Toy library fun The big sisters

free Local fun for the Eastside mum 1

THE ULTIMATE E C N IE R E P X E Y A D H T BIR MAKE IT ONE TO REMEMBER

Choose a party full of epic action, awesome adventure & your fave party food...all led by a dedicated party host!

BOUNCE

CLIMB

5 ADVENTURES TO CHOOSE FROM

Whether they’re mad for bouncing, climbing or flying, we’ve got a party for adventurers of every age!

WE’LL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING

From invitations to action-packed entertainment, delicious catering and the post-party clean up, we’ve got you covered.

You’re free to enjoy the party!

FLY

THIS AD WHEN * MAMAG OR MENTION FFEE CARD! USE PROMO CODE MA CO 0 $1 EE FR A E OR SC TO Y RT PA A YOU BOOK

KIDS ZONE

Under 5 yrs

It’s easy to check availability and book online or give us a call, we’re here to help!

BOOK ONLINE latitudeair.com CALL US 1300 123 528

590 Waterdale Rd, Heidelberg 3081 15 minutes from Eastlink Bulleen Rd exit

*Offer is valid on future party bookings, deposit paid between 1/6/19 - 31/7/19. See latitudeair.com for Terms & Conditions.

happy bIrthday People say getting a puppy is like having another child (both things I wasn’t planning on doing). I tell you what, they were not wrong, except at least babies only poo in one spot, their nappy. And they don’t chew on your shoes, or your ankles, or... practically everything. My daughter has been desperate for a puppy for years. I had said she could have one when she started school so we could walk it to school (she’s now half way through grade three!). Well it seems I couldn’t drag it out any longer, especially when I started getting little letters about her wish for a puppy for her birthday tucked under my pillow!

So Mama caved, a big cave as her birthday isn’t till the end of July! Let me introduce you to the newest member of the MamaMag team, Marley the Jug! (That’s a Jack Russell cross Pug if you’re not sure.) She is completely adorable and completely crazy, and she makes a fabulous office companion and a great excuse to work from home as well!

So, besides the birthday puppy, it’s birthday time all round.

Can you believe MamaMag has hit the big FIVE? She’s practically ready to graduate from kinder to school! I know I say this every year, but time flies when you’re having fun.

It seems like yesterday I was producing my first 5,000 little mags for the families of Bayside and now I’m creating mags for mums right across Melbourne and printing 10 times that amount across our four publications.

Now, it wouldn’t be a party without presents, right? But not for us, for you! We’ve partnered with some of our favourite businesses across the East and Melbourne to bring you the ultimate “Year of Fun”. A family pass to use at least every month for the next year! We’ve gotten to know so many fabulous businesses over the last five years, so it’s great to be able to share their fun with you.

And speaking of fun, make sure you enter the Disney on Ice competition too and your kids could be part of the show going out on the ice rink in the special show-cart!

You can’t even buy that experience, it’s a mama-special!

So happy birthday to us, and my two July-baby kids! >> Make sure you all pop a champers for us in celebration!

XOX Sarah Cavalier @sarahcavalier77 @localmamamag

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Local fun for everyone • Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside

WIN

Contents Time to party

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Toy library party fun

Parklife 8 Eltham North Adventure Playground

Year of fun

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MamaMag’s 5th birthday giveaway

Discover Duplo

©Disney. All Rights Reserved.

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Farm fun in their 50th year

The big sisters

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Helping raise happy girls

Present perfection

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Top gifts from our favourite toy brands

We love a mother

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Melissa Blumenthal from Interaxcity

Commute friendly snacks

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Keeping kids in cars happy

Mama can cook

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World famous Aussie Tanina Holder

Turn the page

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Mama’s top book picks

Nurture creativity

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au

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12,500 copies per issue distributed bi-monthly across Melbourne’s East with 50,000 copies in total across all four MamaMag areas: Bayside • Eastside • Northside • Westside.

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Fun in the snow

Colour to WIN

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Win Mt Buller lift tickets

Winter woofers

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Keeping your pets warm

Entertain without pain or strain 46 Tanina’s top party hosting tips

MamaMag June/July 2019

Check out the fun at www.DisneyOnIce.com.au

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Keeps kids’ photos safe online

Outside adventure

You must have two children aged between 4-10 years old available for the cart ride.

Tickets are valid to the Disney On Ice celebrates Mickey and Friends show on Monday 9th July 2019 - 10am performance at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne only. Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes June 27th 2019 at 11.59pm. Entries and prizes are not transferrable or redeemable for cash.

Visit mamamag.com.au for full terms & conditions. Tickets available through Ticketek.

MamaMag® is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s East by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd

Great local party ideas

Born digital

Two lucky winners will receive 4 A Reserve tickets, a ride in the cart during the show for two children (aged 4-10 years) plus two Disney On Ice merchandise bags!

Enter at www.mamamag.com.au/disneyonice

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Early childhood importance

The perfect party

1 of 2 Disney On Ice celebrates Mickey and Friends experiences!

Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au Eastside Editor: Kara Wilson Eastside Advertising Manager: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au Melbourne-wide Key Account Manager: Clare Betts: clare@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff.

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers.Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

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TIME TO PARTY So you’ve decided to host a kid’s birthday party yourself.

A courageous decision! The invitations have gone out, plans for a cake are underway and now you’re left with the question of how to entertain a bunch of little rascals who will most likely be revved up on cordial and fairy bread and need some fun.

active and amused for hours? And toy libraries across Melbourne hire these party packs to members and non-members at a range of affordable prices (well under $100)!

You want to keep them happy without breaking the bank. You want to keep them happy without having your house destroyed.

Most party packs include mini roller coasters - a perennial favourite which the kids will be talking about for weeks. Create some oldfashioned fun with a games set – remember having egg and spoon or sack races? Even the adults will want to have a crack at Giant Jenga, hula hoops and bocce. Twister, anyone? You could add on additional outdoor games like croquet or mini golf, or cater for younger bubs with a small ball pit.

Mama and papas, may I introduce…the toy library party pack.

You might have passed your local toy library (there are more than 100 across Victoria). You may even be a member. But did you know toy libraries offer packages of party-minded toys and games, just perfect for keeping youngsters

Toy libraries have it all. Swing sets, rockers, Cozy Coupe cars. Tunnels, parachutes, climbing frames.

In short, everything you need to build a playground in your yard. They include larger games and toys which encourage kids to have fun together and enjoy active play.

On a sunny day (sure you might have to wait a bit for a guaranteed one of those!), a water play table is perfect for some splashy fun.

Party packs offer an easy and affordable option to help make kids’ parties less stressful (you’re going to have enough on your hands without worrying about the entertainment).

If you do feel like going all out, some toy libraries offer a bouncy castle. For families in smaller homes, games and ride-ons are a great option.

Having a themed party?

Toy libraries can help. How about a dinosaur treasure hunt, or borrow some jungle animals to keep your little monkeys playing. Builders’ sets, princess paraphernalia – let your imagination take over.

Why not borrow some musical instruments and let the kids form their own band? For older kids, “old school” board games like Pictionary, Charades or Cluedo offer fun teambased entertainment, or borrow some sports equipment and set up your own mini Olympics!

Toy libraries can even help out when it’s time to sit down and cut the cake, offering child-sized tables and chairs for hire.

And if you’re going to a child’s party, why not consider a toy library gift certificate as a thoughtful present that will keep giving long after the party is over? (Note that members are usually required to volunteer a few hours of their time each year to help keep the toy library running.)

Toy libraries offer children access to hundreds of toys, carefully chosen by staff and volunteers to fire the imagination and encourage development of important skills like fine motor, literacy and numeracy.

Borrowing toys means kids are less likely to get bored (it’s like their birthday comes every few weeks!) and is a great way to teach them about sharing, recycling and looking after things.

Check out your nearest toy library online or drop in during opening hours, and get this party started.

By Pia Akerman Lower. Pia loves a good kids’ party and is on the management committee of her local Community Toy Library.

Find your closest toy library at toylibraries.org.au

Some great local Eastside Toy Libraries are: Box Hill Area Toy Library Corner Station Street and Riversdale Road, Box Hill South Canterbury and Area Toy Library 190a Canterbury Road, Canterbury

Nunawading Toy Library 19 Norma Road, Forest Hill Pied Piper Toy Library 6 Lexia Street, Ashburton

Kew Toy Library 152 Pakington Street, Kew

Richmond Toy Library Corner Church and Charlotte Streets, Richmond

Manningham Toy Library 109 Swanston Street, Lower Templestowe

Stonnington Toy Library 1 Winter Street, Malvern

Maroondah Toy Library 35-39 Tortice Drive, Ringwood North

Warrandyte Toy Library 184 Research-Warrandyte Road, North Warrandyte

Monash Area Toy Libraries: 6 Herriotts Boulevard, Glen Waverley Cnr Germain Street and Huntingdale Road, Huntingdale, 36 Burton Street, Chadstone Maygrove Way, Mulgrave

Knox & District Toy Library 11-13 Gerda Street, Scoresby

Parklife Eltham north adventure playground This beauty opened late last year, after fire sadly destroyed the original playground in December 2017. But a new play space has risen from the ashes, with its fiery bright slides, and has become one of the best play spaces in outer North/East.

Built similar, but bigger, than the original playground, the main feature is the huge wooden play space. It’s undercover, in a shed like shelter, providing brilliant year-round fun.

Follow the stairs and bridges, climb to vast heights, scale the cargo nets and even play hide and seek. Whilst the structure is quite high, is really well enclosed for safe exploring.

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Other great features include a massive sandpit with built in diggers, a fun tractor to ride, heaps of swings of all kinds including a liberty swing, a fantastic flying fox, climbing wall and even a fitness centre to keep mum busy! Follow the natural rocks and paths down to the cute and colourful cubbies by the veggie garden, each one a shop including a general store, post office or ice cream shop.

Brand new toilets, BBQ area and sheltered seating are provided making this a one-stopshop for endless fun.

The Parade, off Wattletree Rd, Eltham North.

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It’s our birthday, but you get the presents!

One lucky winner will receive a family pass* to every single one of these great places!

Enter at www.mamamag.com.au/birthday

*Or equivalent. Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes July 31st 2019 at 11.59pm.

Prizes are not redeemable for cash and will be issued as vouchers valid for 12 months from date of issue. Additional venue terms and conditions are outlined in our full terms & conditions which can be viewed at mamamag.com.au/yearoffuntandc.

dIscover duplo Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, LEGO® DUPLO is so much more than just a toy!

DUPLO was launched in 1969, 11 years after traditional interlocking LEGO bricks and the same year the first person set foot on the moon! You can decide which was the bigger moment for mankind, although could Apollo 11 be dismantled and rebuilt into a racing car?!

DUPLO products are carefully designed for fun, in the heart and hands of every small child, and are used to inspire and help toddlers unlock their full potential through creative, playful experiences.

A 50th birthday means ‘party time’ and lucky Melbourne kids are getting ALL the fun! The new DUPLO Farm Adventure at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has recently launched and it’s super-fun! This new soft play zone for toddlers and pre-schoolers has been designed specifically to inspire interactive social play, support development and encourage kids to have fun!

Behind the giant barn doors, children can explore a multi-level farmhouse where they can build with thousands of DUPLO pieces and climb, crawl, slide and swing. And no farm would be complete without animals! DUPLO Farm Adventure will surprise and delight the smallest of farmers with life-size DUPLO animals. Kids will love climbing on the cow, calf, goat, pig, chicken and hare, which even come to life with animal noises.

The urge to play is nature’s way of helping us make sense of the world.

Through play we come to know what it means to belong, to be loved, and feel happiness.

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From birth to the age of four, children undergo intense neurological transformation. The most rapid period of learning and development a human being will ever experience takes place in those four years, and by the end, a ‘blueprint’ has been drawn for the adults they will become.

That’s why all LEGO DUPLO products are carefully designed to inspire and help toddlers unlock their full potential through creative, playful experiences that will further shape their future.

Did you know the name DUPLO derives from the Latin word ‘duplex’ meaning double?

To take kids’ DUPLO experience to the next level, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre also runs DUPLO Kids Club on weekdays. The interactive workshops take place inside the DUPLO Farm Adventure zone and are hosted by experienced team members who teach young children about numbers, letters, colours and animals through games, building challenges and storytelling.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre also has 15 different LEGO experiences with LEGO themed rides, a 4D Cinema, a Melbourne miniland and thousands of bricks to build with. It is ideal for families with children aged 2-10 years who enjoy the fun and creativity of LEGO. And if you’re looking for a special way to celebrate your child’s birthday, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is a venue like no other offering a range of birthday packages complete with private party rooms.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is a great choice for those looking to create and share new experiences with family and friends. Find out more at LEGOLANDDiscoveryCentre.com.au

Six reasons LEGO DUPLO is perfect for kids aged 2-5: 1. Learning as child’s play. LEGO DUPLO may benefit your child’s motor, language, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Every time children build, they’re potentially developing coordination, communication and confidence through constructive play – and that’s just the beginning! Exploratory play through LEGO DUPLO may cultivate imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills. And with so much possibility, children become part of the action they’ve constructed, exploring emotion and adventure through pretend play.

2. Safe play is the best play. Since 1958, LEGO bricks have been providing generations of young innovators with high-quality play products that parents can depend on. The LEGO Group knows even the smallest hands love building big dreams, so LEGO DUPLO bricks are designed to be twice the size of standard LEGO bricks for safe and accessible fun.

3. Creativity is constructed. Young minds require tools that can keep up with active imaginations, and so LEGO DUPLO blocks can be easily transformed from beautiful butterflies and exotic zoo animals to wheeled wonders and whatever else the wildest imaginations come up with. If they can dream it, they can build it!

4. Fun comes in infinite forms. Whether a child is constructing a masterpiece through solo play or collaborating on a brilliant build with family and friends, the fun never ends! With LEGO DUPLO, each new build produces a fresh and fun play experience for builders of all ages.

5. LEGO DUPLO lasts. In fact, it lasts so long that you can pass it down from older sibling to younger sibling and even from parent to child – without worrying about the bricks breaking or wearing out.

6. Sharing and caring. With plenty of pieces for friends and so many ways to share in the fun, LEGO DUPLO can bolster social development through the process of creative collaboration and team construction. With friendships built one brick at a time, more hands mean more fun!

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lovely locals

BEAUTIFUL BALWYN 1.

Little Creatures Play Space & Party Venue For some serious play

This adorable, imaginatively-designed venue is perfectly suited for the under 5s. A safe, relaxed atmosphere with numerous play and learning spaces, and with loads of opportunity for creative role-play. Free activities most weekdays, like art and craft, yoga, science, music, and storytelling.

It’s the ideal venue for unique and memorable children’s parties on weekends as well - with full access to their wonderful, themed play spaces! 323 Whitehorse Rd, www.little-creatures.com.au

Fizz Kidz - For creative, easy, and fabulous parties Book a party at their exclusive venue or they can come to you. Think glitter, sparkles, mess, science and fun...kids can make their very own strawberry lip balm, perfume, slime, rainbow bath salts, bubbling lava lamps, and so much more! They not only have your party needs covered, they also offer holiday programs, and an after school science program.

184 Whitehorse Rd, www.fizzkidz.com.au

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iSmile Studio - For your child’s dental health

3.

After all the talk of parties in this issue, it’s only fitting that we mention dental health. The friendly staff here specialise in children’s dentistry and know how to make your little one’s first experience a positive one.

Interestingly, they also work with sleep specialists that diagnose and treat sleep apnoea in kids, if you suspect enlarged tonsils or adenoids could be impacting your kid’s sleep.

1/92 Balwyn Road, www.ismilestudio.com.au/ismile-kids

Extraordinary Kids -

For confidence-building through performing arts

4.

Singing, dance, drama, and improv all in one session, plus no dance shoes, sequins, or make-up necessary. Run by husband and wife (and parents to two kids) team, who are experienced professionals, the focus is on variety, inclusion, low cost and fuss without expensive uniforms.

Deepdene Uniting Church, 958 Burke Rd, www.extraordinarykids.com.au

Light Space Yoga - For relaxation after all the partying Throwing kids parties is exhausting (even if you outsourced the job!).

Make some time to unwind either with or without the kids. There’s no need to book, just show up 10 minutes before one of the classes in this lovely light-filled studio. They offer Vinyasa Flow, Slow Flow, Basics, Meditation and Yin yoga, as well as Prenatal, Mums & Bubs, and Kids Yoga classes. Grab yourself an unlimited membership and head to this little sanctuary as often as you can.

Level 1, 346 Belmore Road, Balwyn www.lightspaceyoga.com.au 12

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THE BIG SISTERS’ top three secrets to raising happy girls Raising girls has never been an easy feat. Today more than ever young girls can be vulnerable in a world where there are more issues and pressures they need to consider and be aware of.

As parents, you want to be able to provide all the tools and knowledge you can to assist your daughter in making the best decisions for her happiness, safety and wellbeing. It is our duty to provide unconditional

love and a safe space for our girls to discover who they are, make and learn from mistakes, and flourish as young women.

The Big Sister Experience facilitate school workshops and have worked with countless teen and pre-teen girls, and their families. These are their 3 tips for raising happy, resilient and compassionate girls.

1. Trust and share reasons for rules For most of us, we can remember our teenage years. A period of uncertainty where we tried our best to fit in, whilst also learning who we were and what we wanted for ourselves. Very few people like rules – but even less people like rules that we don’t understand.

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries, but be clear and communicate the reason for setting them.

Not only does this make your intentions and motivations unambiguous, but it also opens up an expectation of communication and talking things through.

Not all conversations will be pleasant, in fact, some might be downright awkward. But leading by example in this regard will teach your daughter valuable communication and listening skills, and will result in a higher likelihood of her following your expectations as she understands the reasons why these expectations have been set.

If boundaries or rules are disrespected and disregarded, have clear repercussions in place, and follow through. We see the results in children as young as preschool who are threatened with consequences if they don’t follow rules, yet are allowed to get away with their behaviour when repercussions are not implemented. This problem is magnified as children grow, so it is imperative to set the expectations early on.

2. Teach a gratitude mindset There have been many studies done in recent years to show the positive health benefits of practicing gratitude. The key here is focusing on what you have instead of what you don’t.

As parents it can be overwhelming to deal with the emotional rollercoaster ride of raising young girls. Know that you are not alone, and the problems and issues you are facing are the problems and issues facing countless parents in your position. Reach out and ask for help if needed, and share support to others as well.

We strongly believe that parents do what they believe is right and best for their child.

So communicate the reasoning behind your expectations with your girls. Encourage recognising the positive and the learning in every situation. And practice judgement free, unconditional love for your child, the phases

Focusing your energy on the positives can be taught from an early age, but it’s never too late to refocus. Even adults who keep a gratitude diary of three things per day develop an overall more positive disposition after 21 days. If writing seems like a chore, why not have a dinner conversation about the ‘best bit’ of the day or the ‘top 3’ things that happened in the past 24 hours? Encourage gratitude for ‘moments’ and ‘people’ instead of ‘things,’ and you will usually find that even on the bad days there is often things to be thankful for.

3. Allow mistakes and respect her choices It can often be easy, as an adult with years of experience, to see how certain situations can produce specific, often undesired, outcomes.

Recent studies have shown that a teenager’s frontal lobe, the area that is responsible for making decisions and weighing and judging action and situations, is actually the last part of the brain to fully develop. This means that it’s not so much what teenagers do think about, but more about what they don’t think about.

It is vital that as well as guiding and encouraging open communication, you allow your girls to make their own mistakes and learn through their own life lessons. This can be difficult for parents to watch, but it’s so important for us all to experience the failures, hurts and tests in life.

Ensure you are having conversations with your girls about the lessons they can take from each situation. Remind them that both the good and bad times will pass, and assure them that it’s never too late to do better, to try again, or to make changes.

she is going through, and the mistakes she is making. These small suggestions can make massive changes in your girls’ lives if practiced regularly, increasing the likelihood of your girl growing into a confident, communicative and compassionate young woman.

The Big Sisters are a Melbourne based project founded by two sisters teaching life education programs to young girls and their families via school workshops and webinars. bigsisterexp.com @bigsisterexperience You can download their free eBook on raising happy girls here mailchi.mp/8e6483551d5c/parentebook 15

present perfectIon Check out what’s hot from some of our favourite toy retailers!

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6 7 9 1. 3 Pack Treasure X: Quest For Dragons Gold Treasure Set: Join the quest to discover the Dragon’s gold with this treasure set. Buried inside a dragon’s lair is an exclusive legendary golden dragon and it’s guaranteed golden treasure waiting to be found. But also within lies other great discoveries!

Let your kids break open and discover all new treasure hunters and mini beasts who became trapped on their quest for gold! Ages 5+ RRP 39.

Available at Kmart and other leading toy retailers.

2. Ty Beenie Boo Fashions: Taking Beenie Boos to a whole new level, you can now get your favourite glitter eyed friends as accessories. Sequin slides RRP $29.99, slippers RRP $29.99 and fashion purses $34.99 to suit each little girl! Available from NewsXpress and Toyworld.

3. Smiggle Fluffy Sand: If you love goo and you love the beach then this fluffy sand is perfect for you!

The sand-like texture can be stretched and moulded.

Each bucket contains approximately 300g. $9.95. www.smiggle.com.au

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4. Mighty Beanz™ 8 Beanz Slam Pack: Mighty Beanz - The collectable Beanz that come alive! Slam the top of the Bean Pod and be amazed as the Bean Pod expands and bursts open! Inside you will find 8 Mighty Beanz and one Collector’s Guide! There are 120 Mighty Beans to collect in Series 1. Look for Rare, Ultra Rare, Super Rare, Mighty Rare Beanz!

Maybe you will find a Limited Edition Golden Hero Mighty Bean! Ages 5+. RRP $15. Available at Big W, Target and other leading toy retailers.

5. Cabbage Patch Kids Lots of Licks 14-inch Kids: Celebrate 35 years with Cabbage Patch Kids! Each Kid comes with a fun fashion and lollipop that interacts with Lots-of-Licks Adoptimals plus official adoption papers with a unique name & birthday! RRP $79 Available from Mr Toys Toyworld.

6. Peppa’s Secret Surprise: Unbox Peppa Pig party fun with Peppa’s Secret Surprise! Unwrap the brightly coloured box, to find secret drawers with 6 surprises inside! Each box includes a figure with glittery party dress, party hat, large party accessory, present, gift box and stickers or gems! There’s lots of different options to collect! Who will you find inside your Secret Surprise? RRP $20.00. Available from Big W and Target.

7. Power Action Pikachu: This plush toy has action sensor technology and comes with over 15 responses and is motion activated. With its lights and sound interactions, this will soon become their favourite toy. Suitable for ages 3 and over. RRP $59. Available from Big W. 8. VTECH Secret Safe Diary Selfie Music: This electronic diary features a colour screen and front and back camera that will make your diary and personal organiser really stand out. You can load your favourite songs to listen to on your diary or enjoy the built-in songs. There are 20 different activities that include three virtual pets for you to look after, lots of great games that cover words, maths, logic and much much more. RRP $69.95. 6-11 years Available from Big W. 9. TNT: HOWDY PARTNER! Did you hear the Gold Rush is back? Blast the cards then go for the gold!

With real plunger action and 25 rock/ nugget shaped ‘blast cards’ that fly through the air, TNT is fun for all the family! For kids 6+ to adults. RRP $29 from Big W and Toyworld.

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1 10. Monster Mash: Monster Mash is a race to see who can catch the most monsters! Simply press down on the monster maker and search for the matching monster card. But you’d better be quick!

Thwack to capture your monster, whoever catches five monsters first wins! Ages 4+ RRP $25 from Big W and Toyworld.

11. VTECH Magical Lights Unicorn: Go on an enchanted adventure with Starshine the Bright Lights Unicorn. Place the seven charms on any of the three magic hearts to see her horn light up and hear colours, objects and phrases in English or Spanish. Use the charms to answer quiz questions or add sound effects to create your own special song. Squeeze the unicorn’s tail to see her beautiful wings flap and hear whimsical phrases and sound effects that encourage imaginative play. Starshine’s majestic hooves feature wheels so you can push her as you head off on your next adventure! 1.5-4 years RRP $39.95 Available from Target.

12. Smiggle sleepy sprouts: While we sleep our magical minds are at play. Whatever you dream to achieve we’ll be here each step of the way! So whether it takes a second or even a little while chase those dreams that make you smile. 5 different

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sprouts to collect each with a unique scent! Sleepy Sprouts pencil case $19.95 and keyring $14.95. www.smiggle.com.au 13. Leapfrog Shapes & Sharing Picnic Basket: This LeapFrog Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket Set is a space for fun, learning and sharing! The Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket helps little learners explore shapes, colours, manners and more! Over 30 audio responses encourage pretend play, and the 14-piece set helps children build motor skills as they sort, match, stack, empty and fill. 6 months +. RRP $34.95. Available from Big W and Target 14. Smiggle Squishie pens: Our favourite squishies now come in a pen with 6 awesome characters to collect! $7.95. www.smiggle.com.au 15. Shake Off: Shake Off is a hilarious new active game for young and old alike! Take the Shake Off challenge and prove who is the best at shaking their butt! Simply clip on your shaker, connect to your opponents and then it’s ready, set, shake! Try not to be last! The slowest player gets the flick! Ages 5+ RRP $25 from Big W and Toyworld.

16. Globber FLOW 2-wheel foldable scooter: The perfect choice for children to transition to their first 2-wheel scooter. Adjustable features, robust design and new folding system. FLOW scooters offer maximum sturdiness, comfort and practicality for tomorrow’s teenager. Ages 6+. RRP $160 www.globber.com.au 17. Cry Babies Magic Tears: Based on the YouTube sensation, unbox the mystery bottle house to unveil the cutest little cry baby magic tears that comes with 6 fun accessories: a bottle, a bow, a dummy, a chair, and 2 accessories unique to each doll! Open the final compartment to see if they have any surprise glitter accessories, exclusive to only a few bottle houses! Fill the bottle with water to feed your magic tears, watch as they cry real tears when you squeeze their bellies. RRP $19.95 from Big W, Target and Toyworld.

18. Teamsterz Micro Motorz: Get ready to drift and race your friends with Micro Motorz, the hottest new collectible car range. Each Micro Motorz is a micro-size drifting car that comes with a cool unboxing experience. Tear the wrapper off and find three inter-connected packs - kids then twist and snap off the first pack to find a tuning tool that works with the car. For 3 to 8-year olds. RRP $12.95 from Big W, Toyworld, Kidstuff, NewsXpress and other leading independent toy stores.

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Open 7 Days

we love a mother Melissa Blumenthal, from Hawthorn, is the clever mama behind the East’s hottest new destination for kids, Interaxcity Children’s Museum in Malvern.

Interaxcity is designed to foster creativity, curiosity and learning through imaginative play. Set amidst a scaled-down, indoor “mini-city”, Interaxcity is a place where kids are the community heroes and can take on any role from a postie, pilot, chef, mechanic and so much more.

Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your family.

Right now Interaxcity is my newest “baby” but I am a very proud mama of 3 girls aged 5, 7 and 12 plus a “pawrent” of Cody, a super cute miniature groodle. Lucky for my hubby, Cody helps even up the testosterone in our household.

What were you doing before Interaxcity?

My background is in advertising, strategic marketing and consumer research where I was lucky enough to gain exposure to so many iconic Australian and international household brands such as Cadbury, L’Oreal, Heinz, Sorbent, TAC & Wolf Blass.

How did the idea for Interaxcity come about?

The light bulb moment happened whilst holidaying overseas when we stumbled across a number of different children’s museums in the USA. There was nothing like it back home.

My eldest daughter (who was four at the time) was so engrossed with exhibits and didn’t stop talking about it for weeks afterwards. It was clear then that Melbourne really needed its own children’s museum to create that sort of longlasting magic for all Melburnians.

At what point did you decide it was time to quit your day job and work on Interaxcity full time?

Although Interaxcity has been a work-inprogress for around 8 years now, it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my third 20

daughter that I finally decided it was time to really pursue this crazy little idea properly and bring Interaxcity to life. Its been a full-time undertaking for quite a while now.

Tell us a bit about what kids can expect at Interaxcity.

Unlike a regular museum, a children’s museum is a space where kids are allowed (and are actually encouraged) to touch and engage with all the exhibits. At Interaxcity, we chosen to set our museum up against the backdrop of a minicity complete with its own airport, construction site, florist, house, medical centre, post office, restaurant, service station and supermarket.

We invite all kids to be community heroes of the city and to use their imagination as they take on whatever role they wish, from a builder to a pilot or the owner of the local flower shop.

Within the purpose-built city, children can explore and engage in hands-on exhibits with their caregivers, stimulating creativity, curiosity and learning through imaginative play.

We run four 90-minute sessions MondaySaturday, plus parties and private events on Sundays. We have found kids are having so much fun, that there’s no stopping for snack breaks and the only tears we see is when it’s time to leave! It has been a blast to see the smiles on so many faces.

How did you go about creating a children’s museum from scratch?

It’s been a true labour of love, blood, sweat and tears! It’s not like you can buy a children’s museum exhibit off the shelf!! We had heaps of fun sourcing items from all over.

Australia Post was extremely supportive and helped us with the authentic mailbox that has been a huge hit with our community heroes.

Our aeroplane features a genuine set of Qantas economy seats from a 737 and even the bench in our park is from the grounds of Toyota’s old car factory. Most of the other items had to be hand-crafted to be just the right height for kids.

What’s your favourite part about living in the East?

We love the accessibility. There are so many great parks, café’s, restaurants and shopping precincts….and of course you can’t go past the friendly neighbourhood vibe.

What’s your fave thing about being a mum?

If I had to choose one, I would say being loved and being there for my girls, hubby and furbaby through all the highs, lows and obstacles life has to offer and navigating them together, creating stronger bonds and connections.

Where do you love to hang out as a family?

We’re often scooting or riding along Gardiner’s Creek trail, visiting our local parks (so Cody and the girls can burn off energy) or stopping for breakky at many of the great local cafes. Our favourites haunts are the Foodstore Cafe and Bakers Wife.

And finally, care to share with us a funny parenting story?

As all mamas would agree, the first weeks of a newborn’s life are challenging and getting out of the house and getting anywhere on time is almost impossible. When my first daughter was born, we had a 6 week check up with the Pediatrician and I was so excited that for once, the stars aligned and my baby daughter had woken, fed and we could get out the house in time for our appointment. I was super proud of this accomplishment and feeling so chuffed I went to get her out of the car seat. Her pure white jumpsuit had turned mustard….yup it was a complete [poo] explosion and I had no idea where to start. We did eventually get to the appointment after a massive clean-up, another feed and nappy change later!

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Commute-frIendly Snacks Commuting to and from childcare and school can be a challenge on the best of days, as many parents tell Kellie Connor, the Centre Manager at Guardian Childcare & Education, South Melbourne.

Chunky fresh fruit salad: Serve this in a spillproof snack container. Make it extra fun at home by serving the salad in an ice cream cone (line the cone with cupcake paper to stop it from going soggy).

When faced with a tired and hungry child it can become more than a little difficult, so we like to offer fruit near the door so little ones can grab something for their journey home.

Raisin bread or a date scone: Spread with a little margarine or butter.

If you’re looking for things to carry with you for the commute, there are a number of factors one must consider when choosing the right snacks: • Is it nutritious?

• Will it ruin their appetite for dinner?

• Is it going to be smeared or splattered all over the car/bus/train?

To help keep the belly rumbles at bay, Vanessa Schuldt, Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) at Nutrition Speak, recommends the following tasty and nutritious snacks for the commute – that won’t ruin their appetites!

Plain popcorn: It’s an awesome ‘wholegrain’ snack with a high fibre and antioxidant content.

Home-made trail pack: Combine a mix of sultanas, mixed nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds and popcorn. Keep them fresh and portable in a zip-lock bag.

Fresh fruit: Think portable fruits that are easy to eat like mandarin segments, grapes, bananas, apple slices, rockmelon chunks, cherry tomatoes, blueberries etc.

Home-made mini berry muffins: Make these with wholemeal flour, wrap individually and freeze for future snacking.

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Reduced-fat fruit yoghurt: Choose a yoghurt in a squeeze tube to reduce mess. Reusable squeeze tubes are even better.

Vegetables: Choose easy to eat and transport veggies like carrot sticks, celery sticks, capsicum slices, green beans, grape tomatoes and serve with a healthy dip like hummus or tzatziki.

Corn on the cob: Corn leftover from last night’s dinner makes for a tasty snack the next day.

High-fibre breakfast cereal buds/bites eg.

Sultana Bran or Fruity Bites: Great to eat even without milk. Keep fresh in a zip lock bag.

Wholemeal crackers: Serve with cream cheese and pickled gherkins.

Rye or chia mountain bread with avocado: Assemble this before you leave work/home.

Rice cakes: Smear this with a little peanut butter or Vegemite.

Note: A child’s ability to grind food with their teeth and is limited until they are at least four years old, which puts babies at risk of choking.

Some foods that pose the greatest choking risk for babies and toddlers include raw apple pieces, grapes, raw carrots, celery, raw peas, dried fruits, nuts and seeds (including popcorn kernels). So please take your child’s developmental readiness and skills into account before offering any new food and always supervise your child as they eat.

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mama can Cook!

Floral bouquet chocolate bark Ingredients

Method

500g white chocolate, broken into pieces

Place the white chocolate into a heatproof plastic bowl and melt on high in the microwave for one minute. Remove from the microwave and determine if it needs more time. This amount of chocolate will probably take a few minutes, but don’t over do it. Once the centre has started to melt, stir vigorously to melt the surrounding chocolate. Return to the microwave in short bursts until fully melted.

3-5 drops gel colour suitable for chocolate (we used ruby pink) 1 handful ruby chocolate buttons Assorted edible flowers, dried or fresh, petals separated Few micro mint leaves Colourful sprinkles of choice

Meanwhile line a large flat baking tray with either a silicone mat or baking paper. Divide the melted chocolate into two batches and colour one of them, stirring vigorously to combine.

Spread the white chocolate onto one end of the prepared tray.

Place the coloured chocolate on the other end and swirl them together. Tap the tray gently on the bench to level the chocolate then go to town with all the decorations. Start with the ruby buttons, and finish with the sprinkles. Refrigerate to set and then chop into pieces and wrap for gifting.

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Get the party started with these tasty treats from Tanina!

Perfect pea puree crostini Ingredients

Method

150g frozen peas

Place all ingredients into a small saucepan and cook for a few minutes until the cream is just hot and the peas are bright green. Use a stick blender to puree until smooth.

40ml cream 40g unsalted butter 1 Pinch salt flakes 1 baguette, sliced 1-2 garlic cloves Hot grill pan with extra virgin olive oil as needed 80g blue cheese or brie or more as needed

Serve on grilled toast, that you have rubbed with a garlic clove prior to toasting. Top with soft cheese of choice and thyme sprigs.

We suggest a soft blue or a brie both work really well with the sweetness of the peas.

Fresh thyme sprigs

Recipes by Tenina Holder.

Bestselling cookbook author and recipe developer Tenina has spent over a decade teaching keen home cooks how to dominate their kitchen.

Once dubbed the Thermomix Queen by Delicious.com, and formerly Thermomix Australia’s first official ‘Recipe Developer’, Tenina has since embarked on a journey to spread her love of food and bold flavours across the world to cooks of all ages and abilities – Thermomix-user or not!

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turn the page Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer Whether we share a toy or include someone in a game, all acts of kindness – no matter how big or small – make the world a better place.

Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have, and in Kindness Makes Us Strong, Sophie Beer introduces us to a bunch of cute kids doing just that.

Published by Hardie Grant.

Once by Kate Forsyth Once. A long time ago. My grandmother’s grandmother travelled far, far across the seas. Over the rim of the world to where the stars were new.

Kate Forsyth’s new picture book recounts the epic history of her ancestry — a dynasty of women who were storytellers and trailblazers linked through stories. Stories link us to other humans, both those that came before us and those who follow us. Telling our own story is a crucial way to understand our own lives, and to grow towards compassion and empathy.

Available from all good bookstores or online at www.wombatbooks.com.au.

Claris: Fashion Show Fiasco: The Chicest Mouse in Paris

by Megan Hess ‘But oh no!’ Claris cried, and her heart gave a tug. Madame’s invitation was still on the rug! Without it she would be declined at the door. She’d miss out on Chanel, and perhaps even more ...

When Claris’s family leaves behind their invite to Paris Fashion Week, this brave little mouse has only one choice: an exciting dash through the streets of Paris in a race against the clock! The best-selling Claris series follows an adorable mouse who moves to Paris to follow her fashion dreams, for fans of Eloise and Olivia. Destined to delight fashion-obsessed readers of all ages!

Published by Hardie Grant.

Love Your Body by Jessica Sanders Your body is strong. Your body is your own. Your body can do amazing things! At a time when young girls are bombarded with unrealistic body images and expectations about beauty, Love Your Body encourages young girls to admire and celebrate their bodies for the amazing things they can do, and to help girls see that they are so much more than their bodies, seeking to normalise diverse body types and teach self care.

For girls aged 8-10 as well as an incredible resource for mothers teachers and health professionals. Published by Five Mile Press.

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“I like playing with my friends, we share our toys and do drawings.”

Levon, 3 Year Old Kindergarten

3 Year Old Kindergarten

Start your St Michael’s journey

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Co-educational | K–12 | St Kilda | 8530 3310

Apply today: stmichaels.vic.edu.au/enrolments

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SNOWSPORTS SALE Ex rental snow gear

The affordable way to take your family to the snow this winter Save heaps of money and beat the rental queues

Ashburton Scout Hall, 337 High Street, Ashburton During the winter school holidays

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HERE JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Hatchimals Craft Village is coming!

Monday 1st to Friday 5th July 11am - 2pm, near Target Kids get to join in the FREE craft activities and meet with Draggle daily.

For more details, head to the Waverley Gardens website.

HATCHIMALS™ & © Spin Master Ltd, used under license.

| Cnr Police & Jacksons Road, Mulgrave | (03) 9547 6088

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Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

Only 3 hours from Melbourne

For full details:

Mt Buller Kids Stay Free In June and September, up to 2 kids (under the age of 15) can stay free of charge when accompanied by two sharing adults

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outsIde adventure Remember how your mum used to flip off the TV and shoo you into the backyard to ‘go outside and play in the fresh air’? Turns out Mum was right.

Fast forward a decade or so and we are spending more time inside, much more time glued to screens of different sizes and everyone seems to agree this is leading to stressed and depressed kids.

If you are looking for fun ways to keep your kids active and happy during the colder months there are lots of good reasons to plan a day (or more) in the snow!

Unplug

Skiing and snowboarding are also great opportunities for your kids to experience the challenge and satisfaction that comes with mastering a new physical skill. There is a lot to be said for kids having the chance to try, to fall, to get up and try again and feel the pleasure of achieving that first run on their own, that first turn and stop and then the sheer delight of being better at something than Mum or Dad! With safety gear, helmets and great ski instructors you can give your kids a chance to take some risks and enjoy the rewards.

Present

There is nothing like fresh snow and the promise of snowball fights to get kids off the iPad and out the door. You’d be amazed how quickly kids will stop nagging you about Minecraft when there is an igloo to build with friends or skiing to do; and the best part is you have pink-cheeked, tired and happy kids at the end of the day.

Give your kids the present of being present.

There is nothing quite like having to focus 100% on a physical challenge like skiing or boarding to sharpen the mind and clear out all other distractions. Combined with the exhilaration of sliding on snow it’s a great way to blow off the cobwebs and leave distractions and worries behind.

Nature is the best classroom and the mountains are a magical place to learn for kids of all ages.

Where do snowflakes come from? How do I stop on skis? Where do the wombats go when it snows? What is the weather today? Does water take longer to boil at altitude? Being in an environment so different to the everyday stimulates young minds and makes learning new things fun. Even Ski School doesn’t feel like ‘real’ school. Kids embrace the challenge of learning to ski and snowboard and instructors are experts at making learning feel like play.

There is a tonne of evidence that active kids are smarter kids, and much happier than their couch-bound counterparts. So log off, put the screens down and get the family up into the mountains this winter.

Connect Snow brings out the kid in everyone and it’s hard not to smile at strangers up on the slopes.

Must be something to do with wearing bobbly hats and falling in snow that breaks down the social barriers! Snow time is a chance to really connect as a family, spend time on the slopes together, toast marshmallows and slow down the pace. Build a snowman. Play jenga. Really talk.

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Brave and Bold

Just 3 hours from Melbourne Mt Buller has “Kids Stay Free” accommodation deals and more.

Plan & book a winter escape at mtbuller.com.au”

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nurture creatIvIty Early Childhood is a time for wonder, imagination and possibility. Young children love nothing more than to be given the freedom and permission to create and construct with materials that inspire and spark imagination.

As educators, our role is to provide opportunities for our youngest learners to find their own way of expressing themselves.

We want children to experience a sense of wonder and delight in making their own discoveries. So often, we make assumptions about what children already know, what they can and can’t do. We limit their potential and their capacity to grow and learn, when we make these assumptions.

Creativity is in all of our children and in all that they do and all that they say. There is no right or wrong way for a child to be creative.

Opportunities that celebrate a child’s individuality and uniqueness, are an integral part of developing creativity and imagination. Focusing less on the end product, and more on the process, builds self-esteem, and deepens a child’s understanding of themselves and their learning.

Creativity can be fostered through the arts and drama, through literacy and numeracy and science. The way in which educators can nurture a child’s creativity is by offering children time, space and open-ended resources that can be used in a range of ways, for a range of purposes. Inviting children to explore

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techniques that they may not have used before, is another way of inviting new understanding and new ways of thinking.

Painting, drawing, sculpting, modelling and constructing, are just some of the ways to enrich a child’s creativity. Music, dancing and rhyme offers artistic expression for those children who enjoy the delights of rhythm and sound. Clay is another wonderful way to foster creativity, imagination and problem solving in young children. It offers the opportunity to build fine motor skills, sensory development, language development and general wellbeing.

“The image of the child as a competent learner from birth drives professionals to provide a safe and stimulating environment, and encourage children to expand their capacities and deepen their knowledge and understandings of the world” (VEYLDF, 2016) Nature provides our biggest opportunity to be creative as we explore with our senses each and every day. Providing children with the freedom to be creative, to experiment with colour, shape, pattern or design, and time in the natural world, jumping, climbing, digging, sifting and sorting, all contribute to them becoming confident, self-assured, creative, life-long learners.

Seeing children as capable and competent first and foremost, provides a platform for growth and development far beyond what we can often imagine them learning.

By Anna Tibb, Kindergarten Director, Preshil Preshil.vic.edu.au

PRESHIL THE PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE

At Preshil children are provided with an education that inspires independent thinking and creativity in all areas of life. Students are supported to challenge ideas, think critically, make ethical judgements and set their own goals. At our core remains an unshakeable commitment to encouraging all children to set and achieve their own goals and to be respected as individuals in their own right.

Preshil’s teaching approach is informed by current theory and research.

The relationships between students and their teachers are sincere, respectful and focused on achieving outstanding learning outcomes. Whilst remaining academically rigorous, Preshil continues as a school that places kindness, compassion and social relationships at the centre of its operations.

Kindergarten and Primary School Open Morning Friday 2 August, 9.30am

Kindergarten Tours Tuesday 4 June, Friday 14 June & Tuesday 19 July, 9.30am

Bookings: preshil.vic.edu.au/register-attendance Arlington, Kindergarten Blackhall Kalimna, and Primary Campus Secondary Campus 395 Barkers Road Kew 12-26 Sackville Street Kew T: (03) 9817 6135 W: preshil.vic.edu.au E: preshil@preshil.vic.edu.au

COURAGE TO QUESTION

*Preshil is an authorised World School for the Middle Years and Diploma Programmes and holds candidacy for the Primary Years Programme

the Perfect Party No matter what style of party your child wants, the East has you covered!

Climbing - Latitude 590 Waterdale Road, Heidelberg www.latitudeair.com Climb, bounce, and fly! Latitude has everything! Rock climbing, trampolines and The Grid, an obstacle course high in the sky.

Choose from four high intensity, fun-filled activities. For little ones aged 18 months - 5 years, they have a dedicated Kids Zone with multi-level soft play zone, mini trampolines and foam pit.

Ice Skating - O’Brien Icehouse 105 Pearl River Road, Docklands. obrienicehouse.com.au While a cold reception is rarely a good thing, ice skating at O’Brien Icehouse is a fun, healthy, magical experience that every child is guaranteed to love whether they’ve skated before or not. Their party hosts will fit children into skates, get them comfortable and confident on the ice and serve your party food and cake!

Animals - Wild Action The zoo that comes to you www.wildaction.com.au Imagine having a live koala, endangered owl, salt-water crocodile, baby kangaroo, green-tree frog, gecko, goanna-lizard, bearded dragon, stumpy-tailed lizard, tawny frogmouth, python snakes, and vibrantly coloured birds inhabiting your house or party venue! All animals are hand-reared at Chris Humfrey’s private zoo in Mt Macedon.

Inflatables - Inflatable World Doncaster, Knox and Ringwood. www.inflatableworldoz.com.au Inflatable World parties combine fun, sport and physical activity all in the one safe environment. Kids can run, jump and play around with their friends on the Inflatables and play against their friends on the brand new courts in a variety of sports. Packages include catered and self-catered options with café and bar facilities available.

Art fun - The Art Factory 28 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern & 249A Belmore Rd Balwyn North www.theartfactory.com.au The Art Factory is a vibrant art studio where you will find a fantastic range of activities to inspire kids aged 4+ through to some sophisticated crafts for teens. The kids will all have fun creating a masterpiece that they will be thrilled to take home at the end of the party.

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Party room - Carnival for Kids 9 Yertchuk Ave, Ashwood. www.carnivalforkids.com.au Cat knows how to throw a party! Inside her freshly renovated party space are bright, colourful and themed instagramable walls with fun neon lights throughout the venue, fluro stools and natural dining tables. Did we mention the greenery hanging from the ceiling? She also has a new Kew location opening in August!

Indoor adventure - RushHQ 39 South Corporate Ave, Rowville. www.rushhq.com.au RushHQ has six amazing worlds from rock climbing, trampolining, obstacle courses, jump n slam, dodge ball and a kids inflatable area. Their 1hr parties include 30 mins access to trampolines, ropes course and rock-climbing and 30 mins in your own party room, or book a mid-week 2hr party after 5pm.

Themed parties - Fairy Cool Parties 119 Bulleen Road, Balwyn North. fairycoolparties.com.au Enjoy your child’s party without the clean up, with exclusive use of Natalie’s fully catered, and stunning party venue! Her hosted parties themes include Character, Disco, Glamour, Pamper or Cupcake Decorating! There is also a red carpet, disco ball, disco lights, microphones, TV, face painting/make up station and plus lots more!

Trampolining - Bounce 2 Weir Street, Glen Iris and 22 Joseph Street, Blackburn North. www.bounceinc.com.au An action-packed trampoline adventure. Whether they’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced, kids love learning tricks or just having a go at something new. All party packages include 60 minutes of greestyle fun, 15 minutes of tailored activities and games and 30 minutes access to your own party room. Delicious food options will feed the crew and official BOUNCE grip socks for everyone.

Playcentre fun - Crocs Knox, Carnegie and Ringwood* www.crocsplaycentre.com.au Kids will be entertained by the fabulous play area, multi-level ball battle zone, slam dunk basketball room, bike lanes with ride-ons, giant speed slide and toddler play area. Kids parties will include a dedicated party host in a themed party room. *Ringwood temporarily closed, check website for updates.

High tea with your dolls - Florrie 1152 High Street, Armadale. florrie.com.au Florrie is home to their famous 18” prestige dolls, matching doll and child clothing and fun accessories. Enjoy a high tea celebration with your friends and dolls in the Florrie party room. Parties run on weekends for an hour and fifteen minutes and include high tea, a craft activity and fun and balloons!

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Gift baskets for any occasion Fast delivery across Melbourne www.marvelloushampers.com.au info@marvelloushampers.com.au Ph: 0456 965 060

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Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

ILD H C Y A D H THE BIRT

S E T A K S EATS & *

E E R F R FO ty y Par irthda use B r u o Yo Book ’Brien Iceh at O

ENJOY

E

MUST US

ODE PROMO C

G19 MAMAMA

Party host, private party room, food and drinks, private skating lesson, and unlimited skating after the party.

For more information, call 03 8631 3913 or visit: obrienicehouse.com.au *Book your birthday party at O’Brien Icehouse in 2019. Booking must be confirmed with a deposit paid by 31 December 2019. Minimum spend of $320 required per booking.

105 Pearl River Rd Docklands 3008

Our party venue.

PARTIES

the perfect birthday party for your child We make it easy for you and your child. So sit back and relax, we provide amazing party entertainment that your child will never forget, at our venue or your home.

Our spacious venue can cater for up to 35 children and is versatile enough to work with any theme, to help bring your party to life. We have a seating area for adults to sit around the outside of the entertainment area.

Our entertainers come to you!

We offer Disco, Character and Glamour parties!

We can host in your home, local park or venue of choice (restaurant, community centre etc).

Our trained hosts will bring everything needed along with a load of enthusiasm and energy!

119 Bulleen Rd, Balwyn North | 0408 566 267 | info@fairycoolparties.com.au | fairycoolparties.com.au Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag

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King Valley Balloon Festival Queen’s Birthday weekend 7-10 June 2019 Come and watch the balloons lift off, light up, and maybe even go up in a flight over the majestic King Valley wine region.

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Born dIgItal: How to deal wIth chIldren’s photos onlIne We all love sharing photos of our kids online, but aren’t we ignoring their right to privacy? Here’s how parents can strike a balance.

Proud parents beam over their newborn announcing the baby’s name, date of birth and weight. Friends and relatives gush over the new addition in comments and emojis. It’s a Facebook post that hardly seems original in this day and age – and is possibly the first step towards building this child’s digital footprint.

It’s near impossible for a modern family to avoid having photos of their children online.

Even if you’re personally not much of a sharer, others, like proud grandparents, might be. And many schools today share photos online to communicate with parents or promote the school’s programs and student achievements.

Although children today are ‘born digital’, it’s worth considering that in many ways exposure in the online world presents more of a risk than in the physical one. As parents, you’re responsible for protecting them until they are old enough to make their own decisions about their online presence.

Why having photos of your children online is a risk According to research conducted by cybersecurity company McAfee, 30% of Australian parents use social media to post a photo or video of their child at least once a week, with 12% posting at least once a day. This was despite 71% understanding that the image might end up in the wrong hands.

A 2017 University of Florida study found that “when children appear in Facebook photos, 45.2% of the posts also mention the child’s first

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name, and 6.2% reference the child’s date of birth”. On Instagram, it was worse: 63% of parents referenced their child’s first name in at least one photo in their stream and 27% of parents mentioned their child’s date of birth. Almost one in five shared both pieces of information!

But what’s the big deal if we share photos from little Jamie’s birthday party? The reality is that having images and identifying details can be used for a number of activities that put your child at risk, from paedophilia and stalking, to cyberbullying, identity theft and even kidnapping.

And that’s just the start. A bigger issue is that once the images are published, you can quickly lose control over who has access to them Practising privacy Abstaining from posting photos is the most privacy you can give your children, but we recognise that it is not the most realistic. So what can you do to ensure better privacy practices?

Attain consent Check with other parents before posting and sharing images of their children. You might be fine with your child’s photo being posted, but the parents of their friend who is next to them in the photo might not be.

Select the shots Develop criteria of what you deem ‘appropriate’ and carefully select the shots to share. For example, you may wish to avoid full-frontal face shots, swimwear, and nudity.

Exclude details Make sure the images do not contain personal details of your child, including their name (if they are wearing a nametag, blur it out), location (no photos outside a recognisable home or school) and identifiable uniform. Do

not share their date of birth. It’s tempting to announce the arrival of a newborn, but hold off and then post a less precise caption: “We welcome the latest member of our family born a few days ago…”

Scrub the metadata Digital photos, especially those created on smartphones, often contain metadata that records the time, date and GPS coordinates of where the photo was taken. Be mindful that you may be unwittingly sharing this data when you share the photo.

There are different tools you can use to wipe the data, or you can develop a habit of creating a screenshot of the image and share the screenshot instead. This also makes the image low-resolution, reducing the risk of someone tampering with it.

Create a circle of trust Only share images of your children with people you know and trust – don’t forget check your social media permissions and privacy settings.

You should also communicate your concerns to people in this circle to ensure they understand the risks and are less likely to expose the images to outsiders.

Be in control Every parent has the right to determine how their child’s photo is used, and every child has the right to safety and digital privacy. So, make sure your school obtains specific consent for the ways your child’s photo will be shared. If you’re happy for your child’s photo to be in the yearbook but not on their social media channels or website, then they are required to comply with those boundaries. Remember to S.N.A.P.: Check if your School Now Asks Parents before sharing.

Privacy, once lost, is incredibly hard to regain.

If you have a privacy-first mentality when dealing with your children’s digital footprint, it can reduce a lot of the risks associated with sharing their image and set them up for a healthier relationship with technology when they are old enough to protect themselves.

By Tammy Anson, a mum and Communications Officer at child image protection and photo storage solution, pixevety. pixevety.com

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ENTERTAIN WITHOUT STRAIN OR PAIN Do children’s parties throw you into a flurry of overachieving cake-must-be-tallerthan-the-child, or princess-castles-madeentirely-from-balloons, kind of mum crazy?

Do adult gatherings send you into a spin of self doubt and criticism followed by sudden frantic cleaning of the bathroom grout with a toothbrush? You are probably not alone. Here are a few of my tips to help you overcome undue entertaining anxiety and turn yourself into a very chilled host who doesn’t sweat anything, and who actually enjoys the time with her guests.

at home) with a variety of crackers, meats, cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables and other easy finger foods.

Organise not agonise:

Compromise don’t criticise;

My best tip is to get your menu organised in advance.

Bring all your favourite cookbooks out, and your past issues of foodie mags or line up your favourite recipe sites and start to write some lists. It’s old fashioned. But it works.

Once the menu is sorted and you are officially starving from all of those beautiful pictures, make a list of pantry items that you can purchase now. Go shopping! Put them away and you have a big part of the pain eliminated.

Inspiration not perspiration; Think about what works best for your family, it will probably work best for your guests as well. If you are famous for your secret salad dressing, or mind blowing chocolate dessert, go with your strengths and put what you are best at on the menu. Don’t try new stuff, tried and true always wins the race.

Graze and amaze.

Another stress-free option is a grazing table.

It caters for a wide variety of dietary requirements and still provides a lot of choice for those grazing. Think dips ( so easy to make

46 46

Dealing with cleaning; Be a selective cleaner. There is no need to wash all the windows just to have a few people around. Clean one bathroom for guest use, wipe benches and pick stuff up off the floor, but save the mopping for after they leave! No one is down checking for water marks on your floor, and you know you can always shut doors, am I right?

People are coming over to your home because you kindly invited them and because they want to see you. They will not be judging you on your decor or your ability to have a trained pet/ child behave well. Your party is not the perfect Pinterest board, it is real life, so scale back on your self critique and enjoy your friends’ company!

Chilled not stirred; Most of all, remember it is supposed to be fun.

Entertaining in fact. They don’t call it that for nothing. So have a drink early on…(not too early and not more than one!) so that you are in the zone when everyone arrives.

Get your signature cocktail or mocktail recipe down pat and whip it up while everyone is getting acquainted.

Chill. Relax. Impress. Entertain. You can do it.

Party hearty!

By Tenina Holder. Tenina is an Aussie wife and mum and more recently grandmother. She is the premium go to source for all thermomix expertise and of course fresh and easy recipes that work.

Tenina.com @cooking_with_tenina

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