Sydney MamaMag Feb/Mar 2021

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back to school Summer loving had me a blast, summer loving happened so fast. So, so fast. Why does this happen every year?

Just when we’re finally starting to relax it’s time to go back to work, the kids have started school and it’s like Summer never even happened! We had a pretty great Summer though, me and my two awesome kids.

December was spent celebrating my big boy finishing primary school (again how did that happen?) with a wonderful school graduation night that we’d spent all year worried we’d not get to attend due to Covid.

Then came the arrival of two very cute rescue kittens into our home (#adorable) followed by time spent with friends and catching up with family for a gorgeous Christmas day lunch.

And here we are, it’s February already. I’ve got great hopes and plans for 2021, the first one being ‘stay out of lockdown’ and ‘no homeschooling’!! It’s going to be an exciting year at MamaMag as we grow our audience of wonderful Sydney families and get to bring you even more great content to nurture, entertain and support you through motherhood and quite frankly I can’t wait.

If you’ve got some nuggets of inspiration or knowledge you’d love to share with our audience, by all means get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. We love getting mums involved in MamaMag and being a part of the MamaMag fun and my journey to support you. Stay safe.

Sarah Cavalier Support and Fun for the Everyday Mum Editor - MamaMag - @thecavaliermama MamaMag is designed and published bi-monthly free for Sydney mums, families and carers.

Publisher: Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550.

PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries contact: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@mamamag.com.au

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Support and Fun for the Everyday Mum

MamaMag give thanks to our 2021 Proud Partner

Support and Fun for the Everyday Mum

Support and Fun for the Sydney mum

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Contents Getting candid with Candice We chat to Candice Warner

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Crafty fun DIY glue gem key chains

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The hands on dad Tips for the first time father

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30 years of Wiggly fun The Wiggles celebrate a milestone

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Maths learning is child’s play Maths for kids of all ages

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Why talking about school is hard ‘How was school’ is a big question

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Shops where the heart is Why you should shop and local love

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Into the wild Finding wild animals near you

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WIN 1 of 20 $100 vouchers from

The airfryer express 22 Airfried food from The Lunchbox Dad Unlock hidden savings 8 tips how to save in 2021

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On the shelf Our top book picks

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Half-arsed parenting New book by Susie O’Brien

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‘Ten-age’ friendships Tackling ten-agers

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Anything gluten-free Recipes from Becky Excell

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Are you a Naplan fan?

Love or hate the standardised testing

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The future of education How the system needs to adapt

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Entries are open to Australian residents only.

Competition starts Feb 1st 12.01am and closes March 31st 2020 at 11.59pm.

Visit www.mamamag.com.au/competitions for full terms and conditions.

Enter at www.mamamag.com.au/smiggle

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.

Some featured books contain affiliate links. If you purchase using these links there is no extra cost to you but MamaMag earn a small commission that helps us continue to provide MamaMag as a FREE resource to you.

MamaMag Feb/Mar 2021

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GETTING CANDID WITH CANDICE Life in 2020 was pretty crazy for most. Lockdowns, home schooling, a stint on SAS Australia perhaps? All in a day’s work for popular media personality Candice Warner! Did you catch her on your TV screen?

We chatted to the mum of three to find out how she and her husband cricketing star David Warner juggled it all, and how she made sure her girls’ learning thrived throughout 2020 when she was both home and away.

So, Candice we’re all about mums and their kids at MamaMag! Tell us a bit about your girls.

Were you concerned about their educational development missing time in the classroom?

So, Ivy is six – she’s going into Year 1 this year, Indi is five and about to start kindy, and Isla is just 18 months old. My oldest two share the competitive nature of myself and David and they’re already cricket fans! They’re great kids who like to bat balls with him in the backyard.

As it was Ivy’s first time going to school, I was slightly apprehensive as to what the year would bring. However, once we got into a routine it was fine. I’d organise the day like I imagined school would be run. In the morning we’d do something educational such as the app and reading books, then a craft. After lunch we’d do sporty stuff. In fact, because Ivy really engaged with the ABC Reading Eggs app during this time, once classrooms resumed, she went back with increased confidence in reading. So it increased her love of school.

How did you manage juggling home schooling with one at day care, one in school and a toddler on the side?

It was challenging but I had to make it work.

Particularly Ivy who’d started kindy and was learning to read and write – I tried to give her as much attention as I could. However, a few years ago she and Indi started doing an app called ABC Reading Eggs so that made my job as mum and make-shift teacher easier. It gave me peace of mind that she was doing something educational whilst having fun.

So, what were some of the benefits you’ve found from the girls using the app?

So, as it teaches reading skills such as phonics through animated games and songs, they love it when they finish a game and a character called Sam the Ant comes on. They’ll sing along with him and like the reward of extra games It gives them a sense of accomplishment and that’s exciting for them.

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When do you think you’ll get little Isla into ABC Reading Eggs?

Probably in six months’ time when she’s two.

She sees her sisters having fun with it and is already curious as to what they’re doing. By then I’ll be able to spend quality time with her to teach her how to use it.

In August you left your family for two weeks to go on SAS Australia - surely the most physically and mentally taxing reality show we’ve ever seen on our screens!

What were your initial thoughts about getting involved?

Right from the start I wanted to take part. They showed me episodes of SAS UK so I knew it was going to be incredibly arduous. But as a former Ironwoman I wanted to physically challenge

myself and show my kids what you can achieve with hard work and honesty.

However, I wondered how we’d cope as a family with me being away. I’d never spent more than one night away from my girls. But due to COVID, it actually worked out well. Ordinarily David would have been on a cricket tour, but he was able to spend 11 of my days away at home with the girls. After that my mum stepped in. Knowing the girls would have one parent around made my decision easier.

What was the hardest part of SAS Australia besides missing your family?

Just the toll on your body. It was brutal, even worse than it looked like on the show. There wasn’t much eating involved – thin porridge for breakfast, a scoop of soup for lunch and some lentils and chicken at night. I went from 60kg to 55kg in just 12 days.

Physically the hike in the snow, where I had to pull a sled behind me that weighed as much as me, was very tough. We’d shiver all day and that takes up a lot of energy. You could never switch off and relax when burning so many calories. At night they’d turn the lights off at 10pm but often they’d have us up again to do something else.

You never knew what was coming.

clothes with all this time to think. I’d start missing my family and questioning what I was doing. I had to remind myself the reasons for being there.

Just talking about this is starting to give me flashbacks! However ultimately it was awesome.

How did the girls manage while you were away?

They were good although they missed me.

When they video called and asked when I was coming home and said they were proud of me it made me really emotional. David was great – it was his first time being on his own with the girls for so long. He’s very hands on when he’s here so he was really good with their routines. However, he did say to me afterwards, “Wow it really is a lot of work doing this every day!”

And finally, what’s your favourite part of being a mother?

I love how they think you’re their world. They run to you after day care or school with such joy.

Plus I love seeing my girls achieve things, such as walking for the first time, smiling, reading a book from start to finish. It’s incredibly rewarding.

Visit ABC Reading Eggs to sign up for a free 30-day trial. readingeggs.com.au

Mentally the hardest thing was the vehicle rides. It’d take an hour and a half to get to some locations. You’d be in the van shivering in wet

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DIY Glue gem Key ChaIns

Lunchbox packed, tick

Activity steps:

School bag ready, tick.

1. Fill your silicone mould approximately half way with the Clear Gorilla Glue

Hang on, which school bag is mine?

Why not make your school bag stand out from the crowd with your very own homemade glitter key chain. The kids will be proud to have made these sparkling gems themselves and they make great gifts for family and friends too.

What you need: • Clear Gorilla Glue 51ml • Silicone moulds • Key chains • Glitter/beads etc 8

2. Sprinkle in colourful beads and glitter 3. Lightly stir in the decorative elements with an icy pole stick before filling the rest of the mould with glue. (If you want to make a key chain, pop one in now) 4. Set the mould aside and allow to dry for at least 48 hours before removing your gem.

5. Trim off any excess glue and you’re done!

the hands on dad “You’re going to be a dad!” Words that can strike fear amongst even the toughest of men.

Sometimes the overwhelm can outweigh the delight in that moment, but breathe, you’re going to be awesome!

With so much information to take in, and seemingly very little hands on help you can give, it’s natural to wonder how on earth you can properly prepare for fatherhood?

Whilst your other half spends hours trawling baby websites, buying umpteen books about pregnancy diets, labour and breastfeeding, it’s no surprise you feel a little left out. Remember though, the role of a father starts the second you find out you’re going to be a dad, so put your comfiest shoes on because you’re about to embark on one heck of a journey!

Reality check More often than not, until your baby is placed in your arms, it’s hard to imagine what fatherhood will look and feel like. You don’t get the heartburn, you miss out on the cravings and you spend 9 months mostly sitting on the sidelines. However, times are a changin’ and we’re here to show you how Minbie is bringing Dads out of the shadows and into the thick of it.

Put your best foot forward A great way to begin your journey into fatherhood is to help prepare for the imminent arrival. Getting the nursery kitted out with the essentials, building all the self-assembly furniture that keeps arriving on the doorstep, and making sure that your family has all the breastfeeding support they need from the very start.

The delivery room Warning!! After months of waiting patiently, dads can then go on to be overlooked in the delivery room. It’s important to remember, as well as being there for much needed support,

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you play an incredibly important role in helping your family begin their breastfeeding journey from that very first feed. Taking the lead and being prepared with a well thought out hospital bag when your other half goes into labour will be a task you’ll win some serious brownie points for. One thing you mustn’t leave at home are some newborn bottles and teats. Adding these to the bag will ensure you’re #1 Dad even before those tiny little cries are heard!

“Bottles??” I hear you cry There are many reasons why your baby may need to be given a bottle in hospital and sharing the load with a breast milk bottle will not only give you a chance to feed and bond with your precious new baby, it will also reduce the confusion when switching from breast to bottle and back to breast.

Coping with feelings of inadequacy Yup! Father’s often find themselves having to find ways to cope with feelings of inadequacy.

It’s a given that breastfeeding will create a special relationship between the mother and your baby, so it’s completely natural if you start to feel left out. When given the opportunity to help bottle feed you don’t have to feel useless or miss out on bonding time. You don’t have to miss out on important couple time or worry that your partner is having to go on a work trip. We have helped hundreds of thousands of fathers find their feet from the outset of their fatherhood journey and Minbie is here to support you too! You’ve got this dad!

UK Research tells us that fathers who play, feed, and interact with their babies from day one, not only boost their child’s physical and mental development but also suffer with less stress.

Top Jobs for new Dads Hospital bag packer: Make it your job throughout pregnancy to research and pack the ultimate hospital bag. Ordering something like Minbie’s Complete Package early on will also enable your family to begin their breastfeeding journey in the very best way possible! Having everything to hand in the hospital bag including your steriliser and breast pump means you can relax knowing everything is covered, but it’s probably best to double check the contents of the hospital bag with mama before you set off, just in case!

Becoming a hands-on dad means you have given your family the best support from the start line. By introducing Minbie teats when a bottle is needed, you protect your baby’s inborn breastfeeding technique, which is best for their fledgling digestion and to avoid nipple confusion. Minbie is here to help you become the dad you always dreamed you’d be.

Check out the complete Minbie range of bottles, teats, pumps and sterilisers, to help support your family through breast and bottle feeding, at minbie.com.au

Hospital Gatekeeper: Make sure that only the people who have been asked to visit get through the doors. Mum and baby may not want streams of visitors coming, so it’s crucial to take note of when mum needs some quiet time and reassure visitors that they will get to see the new arrival, just not right now.

Chief Communicator: Whilst you may feel a little left out at times (*totally natural), it’s really important you make sure your other half is being heard and that you truly listen to what is needed from you. Communicating your feelings as well as understanding hers will make those early days easier and strengthen your bond. Remember, this is life changing for both of you, and effective communication is key to nailing it!

Mr Supportive: Back scratcher, foot massager, snack deliverer, pillow plumper, great listener, meal preparer, bottle washer, nappy changer, burper (the baby, not you)…. whatever you need to do to maintain a supportive net around your family during these early days of breastfeeding, just get it done. If your baby has established a great breast milk bottle feeding routine you will get to sideline the foot massages, let mum catch up on all that much needed sleep and have even more precious feeding moments of your own.

Hands on helper: Arrange the shopping delivery, fill the car up with fuel, order that UV steriliser you keep looking at online (it’s awesome).

Getting the small things done will save time and make life run a little smoother, making certain those first few months don’t turn into a hectic blur.

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3o years OF wIggly FUN For nearly three decades, The Wiggles, the world’s most popular children’s entertainment group have educated, entertained and enriched the lives of millions of pre-schoolers (and their parents) all over the globe.

10 Fun Facts about The Wiggles:

Today generations of fans that grew up watching are sharing their love of The Wiggles with their own children.

2. Kylie Minogue was made an honorary “Pink Wiggle” in 2009.

The Wiggles and their songs are referenced in dozens of TV shows and movies, while The Wiggles brand has adorned nearly every product imaginable for children from sheets to shoes to clothes and beyond. Having sold over 30 million DVDs and CDs, and 8 million books globally, The Wiggles continue to dominate the preschool entertainment scene. Their annual live shows continue to sell out to audiences on three separate continents, their videos are seen in over 190 countries around the world, and in an age where digital streaming dominates entertainment platforms, The Wiggles’ have now achieved over 2 billion streams in the last two years alone. Along with original Wiggle and founder Anthony Field (The Blue Wiggle); Emma Watkins (The Yellow Wiggle), Lachy Gillespie (The Purple Wiggle), Simon Pryce (The Red Wiggle) and their Wiggly friends are poised to remain generational favourites for at least another 30 years to come!

In 2019, The Wiggles played a total of 335 shows around the world, selling over 450,000 tickets. Parents can not wait to get Wiggles tickets for their children. The Wiggles end-ofyear arena tour saw ticket presales of 101,112 tickets within 24 hours.

The Wiggles YouTube channel has had explosive growth in the past few years, with increased subscribers, views and watch time spanning across 227 territories. The channel has accumulated over 1.4 million subscribers and over 1.6 billion views!

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1. Before founding The Wiggles in 1991, Anthony (Blue Wiggle) was a preschool teacher. During the 1980s, he was the guitarist in the Aussie rock band “The Cockroaches,” who were a gold- and platinum-selling band, with a top 10 single, “She’s the One.”

3. Anthony, Greg and Murray met while studying Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University.

4. Anthony and Jeff were in a pub rock band called The Cockroaches in the 1980s.

5. Anthony can play a slew of instruments including the tin whistle, didgeridoo and bagpipes.

6. The Wiggles sold out 12 straight shows at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

7. Greg owns the fourth biggest collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia in the world.

8. Prior to becoming the Red Wiggle, Simon had a successful career in musical theatre.

He played the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera” that toured throughout Asia for five years.

9. Lachy (Purple Wiggle) has always had a love of musical theatre and has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. This is an exclusive performing arts college with such graduates as Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger, Tim Minchin and Frances O’Connor.

10. When Emma (Yellow Wiggle) was nine years old, she appeared alongside her sister as an audience member in The Wiggles’ firstever live video, “Wiggledance,” in 1997.

Emma Watkins: What do you like most about being a Wiggle?

Anthony Field: What will the future bring for The Wiggles?

Having the opportunity to be the first female Wiggle is such an exciting adventure after watching The Wiggles all through my childhood. The popularity of my character is indeed a wonderful thrill and a big responsibility. Children are coming to the show dressed in hair bows, bow ties, yellow ballet tutus and bows on their shoes; it is quite “bowtiful” to see!

We will continue to make new and interesting content, that ignites all areas of a child’s development. Through music and dance, we hope to guide children as they learn selfexpression and develop emotional confidence.

Lachy Gillespie: What do you like most about being a Wiggle?

There are so many wonderful parts, but most of all, it is that children have accepted and fallen in love with the new generation of The Wiggles. The Wiggles have been an Australian icon for 30 years and to be able to tour all over Australia and all over the world performing for children is an absolute dream come true. For a performer, children and their families are the most wonderful audience.

Simon Pryce: What do you like most about being a Wiggle?

There are so many wonderful things about being one of The Wiggles, but by far the most rewarding part of the job for me is having the opportunity to meet children and families all over the world. To know that you are putting a smile on someone’s face and are having a positive influence in children’s and families lives is an incredible feeling.

We’ve introduced and entertained a new generation of children in Australia, New Zealand and North America but we want to reach so many more countries. So that’s a great challenge ahead of us, but we feel if we have the right partners, we know that children right around the world, will be engaged by The Wiggles music, characters and stories.

Our dream has been to share music, fun and laughter with children everywhere – and this is what we strive to do, each and every day.

To celebrate 30 years of educating and entertaining children across world the Wiggles are launching a brand-new single, We’re All Fruit Salad, a fun celebration of diversity, inclusion, and reflection, delivering a message of unity, respect, appreciation and acceptance. The song is performed with a number of special guest artists.

The Wiggles are kicking off a year of fun activities and events for the 30th including new music releases, new and exclusive content on FTA, STV, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, special events, concert tours and collaborations across fashion and lifestyle brands.

MATHS LEARNING IS CHILD’S PLAY Play is at the centre of young children’s worlds. Children bring their imagination and knowledge to each play experience. When we watch young children play, at a surface level we notice that they are having fun as they use different play items, exploring and discovering new ideas. Looking deeper we begin to see that there is a whole lot more going on.

Through their everyday play children are involved in early mathematical learning. The education programs in early learning centres and kindergartens help to extend children’s maths learning through play. Educators are guided by the early education theories of Piaget and Vygotsky, and the contemporary Early Years Learning Framework for Australia which endorses a play based, hands-on approach to learning, along with intentional teaching methods.

Babies Babies are involved in early maths learning when they are playing with objects they can grasp and move, including stacking rings, soft blocks, putting items inside each other, seeing themselves and objects reflected in mirrors.

These experiences help to shape their early understandings of size and position. Early maths concepts are introduced and repeated when educators sing nursery rhymes with children, accompanied by simple hand actions.

Twinkle, twinkle little star includes concepts of little, up, above and high. Baa baa black sheep introduces numbers and capacity – ‘3 bags full’.

While very young children are not yet formally understanding these concepts, their play, language and actions with educators supports the development of early maths skills.

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2-3 years Children from 2-3 years of age enjoy sensory play with sand and water where early maths understandings continue to develop with filling and emptying, estimating quantity, becoming familiar with heavy and light, awareness of what full, half-full or empty means. Educators will set up a variety of play areas that support early maths learning with blocks, Duplo, magnets and other constructing activities. Children are invited to play with and manipulate these 3-dimensional objects, to connect, build, pull apart and discover new ways to reconstruct them. As they play, children are developing their understanding about weight, balance and counterbalance, length, spaces, shapes, and measurement. They extend their learning of mathematical concepts such as bigger, smaller, higher, lower, more, fewer, longer and shorter, as well as recognising and naming shapes. Jigsaw puzzles are a favourite activity for many children and as they progress from simple to more difficult puzzles, children demonstrate their growing ability for problem solving and an understanding of shapes, patterns, estimating and positioning.

3-5 years Children aged 3-5 years showcase their mathematical knowledge and skills through more complex games such as Uno or Snap, dominoes and board games using counters and dice. Early learning programs encourage children to try new activities as well as return to familiar activities, which gives children important opportunities to practice, embed and extend their maths learning.

The possibilities for maths learning can be seen in many other play areas in early learning settings. Play activities including small animal figures, car and transport vehicles, and natural objects such as shells, gumnuts, or small stones encourage children to compare, match and sort items. Children may do this spontaneously as part of their play and educators will also intentionally support them to explore similar and different characteristics of the play items, sorting them by colour, texture, size or weight.

Using descriptive language helps children understand and name the characteristics – e.g. smooth pebble, rough shell, blue car, little pig.

This leads to deeper knowledge of ordering, sequences and patterns. Children readily cue into sequences and reveal their sequencing knowledge – just try skipping a page in their favourite story! They are quick to remind us that we’ve missed a section. Children know there is an order to the story and about turning pages in sequence.

Of course, learning about numbers is a big part of early maths education. Counting activities help to build children’s knowledge about number patterns and sequences. Also reading and telling stories with numbers and ordering supports maths learning, for example The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Three Billy Goat Gruff, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, 10 Little Fingers and10 Little Toes. Hands-on play with calculators, computer keyboards, dice, hopscotch are just a few of the experiences that can support number recognition.

Early learning services, inspired by the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, are a wonderful setting for developing children’s mathematical learning through play and encouraging their confidence and motivation as learners.

By Sabina Klepp, Program Practice Partner Story House Early Learning. www.shel.edu.au Reference: Knaus, M; Maths is All Around You; Teaching Solutions 2013, Albert Park, Victoria

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Why talkIng about school Is hard ‘How was school?’ is a big question.

To answer, your child has to sum up a whole day, and that’s hard for children (and even adults!) to do.

A child might really want to say, ‘My day was so jam-packed with ideas and classes and social stuff that I don’t know where to start’.

So it’s easier just to say ‘OK’.

Some children feel their school experiences are private, so they might not want to share them.

This is a normal part of school-age development as children start to shape their own identities and social worlds. But your child still needs to know you’re there when she’s ready to talk.

Why talking about school is important Talking with your child about the school day shows you’re interested in what’s going on in his life. This interest boosts his mental health, happiness and wellbeing. It can also have a very positive effect on your child’s behaviour and achievement. It shows your child that you value school and education, which encourages him to value it too.

Talking together about school also helps you get to know more about what’s expected of your child at school, how she learns and how she handles challenges. It can help you understand when she’s feeling less interested in school or having problems.

When you’re in touch with your child’s feelings about school, you’re more likely to see problems before they get too big. This way you can work on overcoming challenges together.

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And talking about school issues – like school projects or friendship problems – is also a great chance for you to express your family values about things like teamwork, respect for self and others, friendships, relationships, problemsolving and so on.

Strategies for talking about school with your child Your child will probably be tired and hungry or thinking about other things when she first gets home. So easing the transition from school or after-school activities to home can help your child feel more like talking.

It’s best to avoid asking him lots of questions straight away. You can just let your child know that you’re glad to see him, and talk about nonschool topics for a while. Younger children will probably also like unpacking their bags and going through any notes before you ask about school.

Saving questions about homework for later on can also take the pressure off!

Every afternoon or evening will be different.

Even if your child usually likes to share her day with you, there’ll be days when she doesn’t want to talk. Sometimes it’s a matter of sensing her mood and picking the right moment. Some days there might not be a right moment at all, and that’s OK. Simple, positive and specific questions about parts of the day can get your child talking. For example: • What’s the news from school today?

• What was fun?

Your child’s behaviour and communication style might seem to change overnight when she starts school. Suddenly everything’s ‘awesome’, or she’s rolling her eyes at everything you say.

She’s learning all kinds of new things from her friends and teachers, so this is part of her developing a unique identity.

Ideas for talking about school with secondary school children

• Who did you hang out with today?

As your child develops into the teenage years, he might want more privacy and time to himself, which can make it harder to talk about school. But this isn’t the end of your warm, close relationship – it’s just that getting some distance from you is how your child becomes a more independent individual.

• What subjects did you do today?

Stay connected

• What projects are you working on at the moment?

Staying connected to your child can help you balance respect for her independence and privacy with your need to keep in touch with her life.

• What did you like best at school today?

• What does your classroom look like at the moment?

When you ask your child about his day, try to use open-ended questions. For example, you could ask questions like, ‘What did you do in class after recess?’ or ‘What topics are you working on in science at the moment?’ Questions like these invite answers that are longer than just ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘OK’.

Tips for talking about school with primary school children These tips can help you get a conversation going: • Make time to talk. This can often be when you’re doing something with your child. For example, your child might like to talk when you’re walking the dog or preparing dinner together.

• Give your child your full attention if she wants to talk with you about her day.

• Take seriously whatever your child tells you.

For example, you can say things like, ‘That’s really interesting. Then what happened?’ or ‘And how do you feel about that?’

• When you talk about the school and teachers with or in front of your child, use respectful language. For example, ‘I can see that’s frustrating, but Ms Adams is your teacher and you need to speak respectfully to her’.

Ask about links between schoolwork and future plans At this age, your child might be more open to talking about the links between his schoolwork and what he wants to do when he’s finished school.

For example, ‘How’s the webpage you were designing in information technology coming along? Are you still thinking you might want to get into web design after school?’

Look out for signs of problems Even if you usually have a good relationship with your child, she might not always tell you when she’s having a tough time. If she’s upset or nervous about discussing school or refuses to answer a question, there might be a bigger problem.

Stay calm around tricky topics Conversations with your teenage child about school might bring up tricky topics. Try to stay calm – this is a great chance for you to be supportive and show your child that you value his honesty.

From Raising Children. raisingchildren.net.au provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts. raisingchildren.net.au 17

love local

SHOP WHERE THE HEART IS There is a wealth of reasons to continue to support local business but here are our top five!

1. Your spend boosts the local economy

It is well-known that what goes around comes around. This is very much the case for local business. By choosing to spend your money locally, you are directly helping to change the lives of so many local business owners who are currently doing it tough.

By spending locally, you are also ensuring that your money goes into the pockets of locals which is then likely to be re-spent locally – a term that has been referred to as the ‘boomerang dollar’. The boomerang dollar ensures that your community thrives and becomes a better place to live and work.

Choosing to spend with local business owners means they can also continue to employ and look after their staff, particularly local young people. These employees also then spend locally, ensuring even more of a cash injection into the local economy.

2. You get personalised service and feel valued Remember when you used to drive into a service station and someone would fill up your car? Nothing beats the personal touch. Small businesses can offer a personalised service not always found through larger chains.

The relationship built between a local business owner and its customers goes a lot further than just the initial purchase. Small business owners pride themselves on getting to know their ‘regulars’ and nothing beats walking into a business and being greeted by your name, or having them remember what your ‘usual’ is.

3. Choosing to shop local helps support your community Your choice to shop local allows businesses to invest in their local communities. They regularly 18

sponsor local sports clubs, donate their goods and services to local schools, kinders, charities and community groups, as well as donate their time to help local causes. Without the support of traders, these types of organisations might also struggle to survive.

4. Improves the community care factor By keeping local business and retail precincts alive, it means that local areas can support and care for marginalised groups in our community, such as the elderly, lower socio-economic groups and those with mental health issues.

Many local businesses go above and beyond to help support the mental and physical health of these community members. Initiatives include food banks, clothing drives, employment and training opportunities and many other community schemes. This ‘pay it forward’ mentality from local businesses goes a long way to supporting these groups.

5. Good for the environment and your health Shopping locally has many health and environmental benefits. By shopping local, you are ultimately reducing your carbon footprint by reducing travel times or doing away with them completely if you choose to walk to your local shopping precinct.

Further, many local businesses have developed an ethos around locally-sourced products.

Not only does this support local producers or manufacturers, and therefore the local economy, but it has a direct knock-on effect to the reduction in transportation and storage.

Shopping locally also gives people that ‘feelgood’ factor. Knowing that you are supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, plus helping them support their families, en-courages people to come back for more.

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wild

Into the wIld

In collaboration with World Animal Protection, travel blogging duo Jarryd and Alesha of NOMADasaurus have put together their tips for seeing animals in the wild, and keeping them safe in the process.

Here is their list of do’s and don’ts for encountering wild animals.

Do’s

Don’ts

• When you spot an animal in the wild, make sure you and your children keep your distance. Even the cutest animal can be dangerous if it feels scared or threatened, or it might leave its environment and young ones if you get too close.

• Don’t feed any wild animals. Different animals may have very strict diets, and even something that is completely harmless to us can make a creature very sick.

• When you approach any animal in a controlled environment where it is allowed to do so, like at a reputable sanctuary, walk up to it very slowly and in a calm way.

Don’t make any sudden movements or noises or you may spook it.

• Do take a few minutes to watch the animal going about its life. Take note of the way it moves, its behaviour, how it plays or interacts with other creatures and the way it eats. Every animal is special and by simply observing carefully, you and your kids will have a newfound appreciation for them.

• Find out as much information as you can about each animal and share that knowledge with your kids. Talk about the importance of conservation so that your children can enjoy these creatures for many years to come.

• Do seek out ethical wildlife activities in the wild rather than in zoos.

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• Don’t sign up for any activities or attractions that have you or your kids interact with wildlife in an unnatural environment. Some examples of that are feeding and swimming with dolphins, elephant riding, big cat petting or visiting crocodile farms.

• Don’t touch any wild animals, particularly in the sea. Many marine animals have protective membranes over their skin that protects them from bacteria, and the natural oils in our hands can remove this, leaving them open to infection.

By Jarryd and Alesha of NOMADasaurus, www.nomadasaurus.com

Top 4 locations for family-friendly wildlife encounters To help you be an animal-friendly traveller, World Animal Protection has pulled together their top picks for places you are likely to see Australian animals in the wild in NSW. Kangaroos at Murramarang National Park: Kangaroos are fairly common to see. But if you want to see a large population in a picturesque location, Pebbly Beach on the south coast of New South Wales is the place to go. The eastern grey kangaroos who live here are quite happy to be admired and photographed from a distance.

Wombats in Kangaroo Valley: Just two hours south of Sydney, Bendeela in Kangaroo Valley is the ideal place to see wombats. Set up camp at the Bendeela Recreation Area and wait for dusk, when the wombats – nocturnal creatures – are known to come out from their burrows and graze on the grass of the campground.

Grey nurse sharks at Seal Rocks: Grey nurse sharks are fierce looking with twisted teeth, but relatively harmless. The Fish Rock Dive off Seal Rocks, on the NSW mid-north coast is one of the few locations along the east coast to reliably see grey nurse sharks. In one underwater channel running beside the submerged boulders, it is not uncommon to see 50 or 60 grey nurse sharks. Although currents are a factor, this is a fairly safe encounter with sharks.

Platypuses at Bombala: The Bombala region in the Snowy Mountains is known as Platypus Country. Its pristine rivers and streams are home to high numbers of platypuses.

Just out of the town is Bombala Platypus Reserve, where a raised platform makes it easier to see the platypuses down below when they emerge in the early morning and late afternoon. Platypuses can stay underwater for up to 14 minutes – so be patient and quiet as you watch.

For more details visit www.worldanimalprotection.org.au 21

all aboard

THE AIR FRYER EXPRESS Howdy! My name is George, and I’m also known as the School Lunchbox Dad … Google it! My first book, Lunchbox Express, was pretty good. Good enough for my publisher to say to me ‘Hey George, we know how much you love your air fryer and how popular your recipes are … we think it’s time you created your own George-style air fryer book.’ And so here we are, giving you a sneak peak of my new book Air Fryer Express.

For those who don’t know me yet, I’m an Aussie dad who loves rocking out to Pearl Jam, writing my own music and poetry, and also having fun in the kitchen. I love creating healthy and creative meals for my daughters, Anela and Kiara, and I’m a very hands-on dad.

I’ve been married for almost 20 years to a complete stunner named Marina.

I took over cooking and lunch-making duties for my girls a few years ago and ever since I have been looking for ways to make lunches fun, healthy, simple and quick! When I first started making school lunches, I would fire up the oven each morning just to bake a few pastries or scrolls. The girls loved the food I was making, but I had to look for a faster solution. Then, there it was, like a shining light from the heavens … the air fryer! It was a lot more economical, required no preheating and cooked food in half the time. I was instantly inspired when I unwrapped my first air fryer.

It was so easy! Just plug in and play.

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For example, when I was growing up, my mum would make baklava and it would take the whole day. Now I can make it in a fraction of that time. My wife and I both work full time, so we need to save as much time as possible. I think of air fryers as smart devices. Like smart phones, they make life easier and help us to get things done quickly.

A lot of the recipes in this book are very important to me. For example, the gevrek recipe was my grandfather’s special recipe.

He was a baker (maybe that’s where I get my passion for cooking?) and the recipe was sent to me from my aunties in Macedonia. I used to eat many of these dishes as a kid and they fill my soul. My mum got more satisfaction from my sister and me eating her food than anything else and that’s exactly how it is for me today with my girls. I get to express my love for them in the form of a beautiful dinner or a colourful and healthy school lunchbox.

I’m so excited to share these lunchbox ideas with you because I have worked really hard developing recipes that I know you are going to absolutely love.

It was a revelation when I discovered how much time I could save in the mornings using the air fryer. Pizza scrolls only took 8 minutes to cook compared to 25 minutes in the oven (including preheating time). That’s a 17-minute difference! I could have my breakfast and espresso, as well as make my wife a singleorigin fi ltered coffee in the time I had saved.

When you are a busy parent or carer, time is of the essence.

I’m no chef, I’m just a hard-working dad with a passion for creating simple and healthy food and a mission to inspire people everywhere to make life a little more magical for their kids. With this book, I hope to make it easy for you to use your air fryer to whip up delicious, creative food for your family. Follow these recipes and you’ll be a kitchen rock star with loads more spare time to spend with the ones you love!

The air fryer also gave me the opportunity to recreate some classic dishes that would usually take hours to cook in a regular oven.

x George Georgievski

Lunchbox Dad pizza scrolls Makes 10 I’ve been making these scrolls for the past few years. They’re super popular with my girls and they fi t really snugly in their school lunchboxes. You can’t go wrong with pizza! What kid doesn’t like pizza?

Ingredients: 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry, just thawed 3 tablespoons tomato paste Small handful of basil leaves (optional) ½ cup grated mozzarella Method: Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut each pastry sheet into five even strips. Grab a teaspoon and put a dollop of tomato

paste in the centre of each pastry strip. Use the back of the spoon to evenly spread the paste over the strips, but avoid getting too close to the edges.

At this point you can add the basil leaves or skip them and go straight for the mozzarella.

Sprinkle the mozzarella along the centre of each pastry strip, again avoiding the edges.

Now for the folding and rolling.

Don’t stress, it’s easier than it sounds. Fold the pastry strips in half lengthways, to enclose the ingredients. Don’t worry if some of the grated mozzarella falls out – it’s all good as we’re not on MasterChef. Roll up the strips until you have created ten of the best ever pizza scrolls.

Line the base of your air fryer with baking paper and pop the scrolls in. Cook on 180°C for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

Allow the pizza scrolls to cool, then pack into lunchboxes or put them in an airtight container in the freezer where they will keep for up to 2 months.

You can make vegan pizza scrolls by using non-dairy cheese. I’ve made them a few times and they’re pretty dang good, so for any lactoseintolerant little peeps this is a genuinely awesome lunchbox addition, after-school snack or even dinner.

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Puff daddy dawgs Makes: 12

To serve:

Okay, so I’m gangsta … I thought you should know that. I don’t make these ‘dawgs’ for the lunchbox as I don’t like the girls eating processed meat too often, but they are great for parties (and not just kids’ parties – these bad boys are the ultimate finger food for adults!). I blew my own mind the first time I made them as not only are they inexpensive, but they look amazing and taste incredible.

Tomato sauce and mustard Method: Parboil the mini frankfurts – whatever the packet says, just cook them for half the amount of time. So, if it says boil the mini frankfurts for 6 minutes, boil them for 3 minutes. (I worked that out without a calculator.)

Rose-vanilla bath melts Ingredients: 12 mini frankfurts 2 sheets of frozen puff pastry, just thawed 6 slices of cheddar, cut in half 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

While the frankfurts are boiling away, grab your pastry sheets and cut them in half, then cut each half into thirds so you have twelve rectangles.

Place half a slice of cheddar and a mini frankfurt at the base of one of the pastry rectangles, then roll it up and secure the pastry, preferably with the

join at the top. Now make the rest of the dawgs with the remaining pastry, cheddar and frankfurts. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops with the beaten egg and sprinkle over the sesame seeds.

Line the base of your air fryer with baking paper and pop the dawgs straight in. Cook on 175°C for 10 minutes or until they are puffed and golden.

Meanwhile, grab a platter and a couple of small serving bowls. Fill one bowl with tomato sauce and the other with mustard – the kids will be dipping their Puff Daddy dawgs into them. Arrange the dawgs on the platter, grab a handful of napkins and party on!

Air Fryer Express by George Georgievski, Published by Plum, RRP $26.99, Photography by Nikole Ramsay

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Crazy noodle veggies This idea came to me after I watched a TV commercial of a kid eating soggy noodles with over-cooked vegetables.

I thought, what?! Kids want crunchy, not sloppy! So this recipe was born. Intrigued?

Good, read on. The idea is to use the air fryer in a nonconventional way to add crunch to delicious veggies.

Because why not?

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 packet of 2-minute noodles 2 small carrots, quartered lengthways 2 broccoli florets 1 small zucchini, quartered lengthways 1 small eggplant, quartered lengthways 1 small red capsicum, quartered lengthways 1 teaspoon salt flakes 1 tablespoon olive oil

To serve (optional): Tomato sauce Natural yoghurt Your favourite spicy dipping sauce Method: Firstly, pop the 2-minute noodles (don’t break them up) in a heatproof bowl and pour in enough boiling water to just cover them. Set aside for 1 minute only. Do not add any of the additives from the packet.

Parboil the veggies in a saucepan of boiling water for 3 minutes, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the salt and olive oil and toss to combine.

Drain the noodles and return them to the heatproof bowl.

Pick up a long strand of noodles and wrap it around one of the vegetable pieces, almost like the ancient Egyptians did with their

mummies. Repeat until the veggie piece is nicely covered in noodles, then set aside and do the same thing for the remaining vegetables and noodles.

Line the base of your air fryer with baking paper and pop the noodle-wrapped veggies in. Cook on 175°C for 5 minutes. We want to give the veggies colour and crunch to encourage our little humans to eat them.

Allow the crazy noodle veggies to cool a little before you feed the troops. Serve with a sprinkle of salt and bowls of tomato sauce or natural yoghurt for dipping, if you like.

If adults are going to be eating these too, you could also serve them with a spicy dipping sauce, such as Vietnamese nuoc mam.

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8 TIPS TO UNLOCK HIDDEN SAVINGS IN 2O21 With around three quarters (73 per cent) of Australian households in debt, many incomes negatively impacted by the recession, and rates for essential services such as household energy increasing, the idea of building up savings might seem an impossible task for many. To help find ‘hidden’ savings after a difficult year consider implementing the following tips and tricks which accumulate thousands in saving by the end of the financial year.

I recommend you set a budget every year to give you a clear picture of your personal expenses against your income for the year ahead. Your budget should be a ‘live’ document that you update when any aspect of your expenses or incomes changes. In doing so, you can potentially find thousands of dollars each year. Beyond the budget, you could look at finding hidden savings within each of your essential bills, and use tried-and-proven tactics for paying down debt. Try starting with reviewing the following eight areas of your finances to avoid paying thousands more this year:

1. Revise direct debit subscriptions and cancel ones you no longer need.

Automatic direct debits from credit cards can be a real money trap. They are easy to set – and equally as easy to forget. If you want to find some savings in this area, start by going through your credit card statements and identifying all direct debits. Gauge whether you could downgrade some subscriptions, cancel others you no longer use, or take a break from some services you don’t need over the holiday period, for instance. If you sign up for a free trial subscription you don’t want to continue with, set a reminder to cancel it before the first payment is processed.

26

2. Check your phone plan for hidden or expired add-ons.

Check it every few months to ensure you are not being overcharged for expired or additional features. For instance, if you use less than half of your data allowance each month, if your contract allows for it, reduce your base plan.

Phone plan contracts also include or add a monthly fee to pay off the handset. Recently, my two-year mobile contract ended, which I was paying $125 per month for the base plan and handset. I moved to a reduced $45 per month base plan instead, which meant I’m saving $80 a month due to my phone already being paid off.

3. Create your 2021 household or personal budget now.

Start the new year firmly in control of your finances by creating a 2021 budget ASAP. Start by analysing your 2020 spend to gauge your essential fixed monthly and one-off expenses and minimum discretionary spending against all income. Plan for additional travel and meal expenses in 2021 if you are heading back into the workplace early in the year. The budget will show you the amount of additional income available to you each month. Now interstate borders are open and regional travel is freely encouraged, work out if you can afford a local holiday by creating a ‘travel’ fund in your budget planner.

4. Use your 2021 budget to lock in your saving commitments.

Once you have a realistic yearly budget, commit to putting away a fixed proportion of your available additional income each month. A good idea is to add a ‘savings’ row in your budget spreadsheet – this tactic can psychologically trick you into viewing this row item like an essential expense.

5. Factor the income tax cuts into your 2021 savings.

With the new income tax cut introduced last year, you will bring home a little more in your pay. Rather than using it for discretionary spending, I recommend putting it towards your savings.

6. Pay down debts with the highest interest first.

Paying off debts that incur the highest interest first could save you hundreds a year. This means you will be paying off pay day loans (if applicable) first, then your credit cards and store cards before you put additional payments on your personal loans and, lastly, your mortgage.

7. Consider consolidating your debts if you have several loans.

There are two options to consolidating your debts if you have several outstanding loans.

If you cannot pay off your credit card within a reasonable timeframe, consider refinancing

your home loan and merging your credit card and personal loans into your mortgage. This move will reduce your credit card interest from around 20 per cent to two-to-three per cent on your mortgage. If you don’t have a mortgage, consider rolling your debts into a zero per cent interest rate credit card through a balance transfer. Money.com.au offers debt consolidation loans to simplify your repayments and reduce interest costs.

8. Remove irrelevant items from your health cover.

If you have private health insurance, review whether you still need any extras in your policy – such as pregnancy cover – or whether your family circumstances have changed and you no longer need your partner or adult child on the policy. Removing these will reduce your premium.

By Helen Baker, Licensed financial adviser and spokesperson at money.com.au

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Join the NSW Youth Advisory Council 2021 Have your voice heard and represent the children and young people of NSW

Apply before 14 March, 2021 via: acyp.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC) plays an important role in advising the NSW Government on subjects relevant to young people across the state.

The 12 positions of the council are open to young people from diverse locations, life experiences and backgrounds between 12 and 24 years of age living in NSW.

Learn more online at: acyp.nsw.gov.au

Feel free to contact the ofďŹ ce on (02) 9248 0970 or acyp@acyp.nsw.gov.au

on the shelf

kids

Elvis Eager and the Golden Egg Monty’s Island 3 by Emily Rodda Monty lives on a perfect island in the middle of a magical sea. Sometimes the sea throws up something interesting … and a golden egg might be his most amazing find yet! But when a pair of flying monsters and a mysterious explorer arrive, it seems the egg is about to hatch into a very big problem.

Can Monty find a way to solve it? With a more sophisticated plot structure, a lengthier chapter book (think one chapter every evening), and simpler words, readers of Monty’s Island won’t feel daunted – they’ll feel encouraged.

Ages 6-8. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $14.99

Hugo’s runaway legs by Alys Jackson and Leigh Brown Hugo’s legs have run away, they simply didn’t want to stay at home where they just lay about. Hugo’s legs just wanted out!

When Hugo Holt’s legs decide to take the bus and run away - he sets off to find a new pair of legs that are fast enough to catch them. Will he catch his runaway legs and will they agree to come back?

Ages 3-9. Published by Larrikin House RRP: $24.99

Siblings by Dr Kimberley O’Brien and Rocio Bonilla Having a sibling can be a challenge! The new title by Quirky Kid is a witty and imaginative picture book about the ups and downs of brothers and sisters.

With the help of a playful design and inspiring illustrations by Rocio Bonilla, Siblings! presents two sides of the same story so sibling learns to appreciate each others qualities and quirks. Perhaps siblings aren’t so bad after all?

Ages 4-10. Published by Quirky Kid. RRP $25.99

An Amazing Australian Road Trip by Jackie Hosking Hop in for the rollicking, rhyming Australian road trip of a lifetime.

We’re travelling from Melbourne on a birthday trip west, our aunty is sixty and we’re off on a quest visiting every state and territory of Australia, looking for the perfect picnic spot and experiencing all the landscapes, climates and wonders that Australia has to offer along the way. Each page has exuberant and dynamic artwork along with fun facts about the iconic locations and landmarks they visit, from Ningaloo Reef to Uluru, the Australian War Memorial to Coober Pedy and more.

Ages 5+. Published by Walker Books Australia RRP $24.99

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t(w)een ROBOFIGHT: E-BOY 2 by Anh Do Last week Ethan was just a teenage kid, lying in hospital with a brain tumour.

Now, Ethan has the superhuman power to hack any computer system with his mind, and he’s on the hunt for Gemini, the deadly assassin. The Robofight Games might be the perfect cover. An electrifying second installment from Anh Do, who has sold 2.5 million copies across his Wolf Girl, WeirDo, Ninja Kid and Hot Dog! series.

Ages 10-15. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $15.99

The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes Nine is an orphan pickpocket determined to escape her life in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures. When she steals a house-shaped ornament from a mysterious woman’s purse, she knocks on its tiny door and watches it grow into a huge, higgledy-piggeldy house. Inside she finds a host of magical and brilliantly funny characters, including Flabberghast – a young wizard who’s particularly competitive at hopscotch – and a hideous troll housekeeper who’s emotionally attached to his feather duster. They have been placed under an extraordinary spell, which they are desperate for Nine to break. If she can, maybe they can offer her a new life in return…

Ages 8+. Published by Walker Books. RRP $14.99.

Robin Hood 2: Piracy, Paintballs & Zebras by Robert Muchamore Robin and Marion are back! Second in the brand-new, action packed series from international bestseller Robert Muchamore.

When Clare Gisborne and Little John return to school after the Locksley Riot, there’s rebellion in the air and Robin Hood’s name graffitied on every wall. Power dynamics are shifting—now, instead of being a feared bully, the daughter of Locksley’s most hated criminal finds herself shunned by classmates and pelted with yoghurt and rotting fruit.

Ages 10-14. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $14.99

BE MORE VEGAN - The young person’s guide to going (a bit more) plant-based! by Niki Webster Are your kids interested in becoming vegan? Whether you’re ready to commit to a fully plant-based lifestyle or you’d just like to add a few meatfree dishes to your weekly meal plan, this is the ideal guide. It explains the reasons behind going vegan, including environmental, health and animal welfare benefits, in clear and simple language that helps young people make up their own minds. It answers all the nagging questions about nutrition and ethics, as well as the best vegan ingredients, substitutions and food hacks.

Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $24.99

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At Home Within by Meredith Gaston

adults

After a particularly tumultuous year, At Home Within assists us to explore pathways to peace, balance and contentment in our daily life. Feeling at home within ourselves involves caring for ourselves in loving, thoughtful and joyous ways; noticing, honouring and meeting our unique needs.

In this beautiful book, Meredith will show you how to nurture your inner world with kindness and compassion. The affirmations and inspirations in these ten chapters will assist you to create positive change within. As you change within, your perceptions of the world around you will transform in a positive way too. Published by Hardie Grant. RRP $22.99

50 Risks to Take With Your Kids by Daisy Turnbull A guide for parents and carers to nurture resilience and independence in kids as they learn to take their own risks. For anyone who wants to combat helicopter parenting and a bubble-wrapped generation, Daisy Turnbull offers an easy-to-use framework with simple, practical challenges for children aged up to 10 years old.

Peppered with Daisy’s own experiences in teaching, wellbeing and parenting, this warm and funny book is about teaching kids to recognise and assess risks themselves, and readying them to take on life and all that it brings.

Published by Hardie Grant. Out Feb 17th. RRP $24.99.

The Women and the Girls by Laura Bloom It’s 1977, and warm, bohemian Libby - stay-at-home mother, genius entertainer and gifted cook - is lonely. When she meets Carol, who has recently emigrated from London with her controlling husband and is feeling adrift, and Anna, who loves her career but not her marriage, the women form an unexpected bond.

Their husbands aren’t happy about it, and neither are their daughters.

Set against a backdrop of inner-city grunge and 70s glamour, far-out parties and ABBA songs, The Women and The Girls is a funny, questioning and moving novel about love, friendship, work, family, and freedom.

Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $29.99

How to Raise a Man by Megan De Beyer How can we raise boys to become good men? How can mothers, in particular, help their sons to walk through the world as considerate adults? In this era of #metoo, it’s evident that something is going wrong with the way men progress from childhood into adulthood, and few realise how critical the role of the purposeful and emotionally empowered mother is in a boy’s journey to maturity.

Teenagers need centred adults to guide them. If you are confused or irritated by your pre-teen or teenage son, or feel bewildered and hurt by his behaviour, this book will guide you to a clear understanding of teenagers in general and teenage boys in particular. Published by Hachette Australia. RRP $32.99

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Half arsed paren Parenting sure isn’t what it used to be. When I was growing up in the 70s, kids were freerange, like the underarm hair. Babies spent hours in the backyard, gazing at the clouds from their wooden gaols. Toddlers tottered around shopping centres on leashes like dogs.

Mums switched to menthol cigarettes when they were pregnant, and dads dipped their baby’s dummies in whiskey to help them sleep through the night.

By the 80s, parents continued to walk the fine line between neglect and indifference.

Kids had latchkeys and let themselves in after school, rolled around unsecured in the back seats of cars and sat in the car park of the local pub. Their parents, who were inside drinking, occasionally brought them out packets of chips and lemonade. (Okay, that might have just been my sister and me.)

In the 90s, mobile phones made their debut.

But they weren’t smart, nor were most parents, who didn’t yet have Google to help them with their kids’ homework. Back then, peanut-butter sandwiches were still sold in tuckshops, kids had lemonade stands without needing council permits, and internet connections dropped out when you picked up the landline.

Things have improved. These days kids wear seatbelts, nuts are banned in schools and babies don’t wake up with hangovers, but it’s harder than ever to be a parent. Now lunchbox food has to be nude, Baa Baa is a rainbow sheep and we’re meant to ask permission from a baby before changing its nappy. Children used to be seen and not heard, now they’re noisy and everywhere. Kids today – even the bratty ones – are indulged and adored. ‘Look, he spoke a word. Whip out your iPhone and record it for posterity.’ ‘Look, he’s preciously pooing. Film it for his 21st.’ ‘Look, she finished last in a 50 metre walking race. Better give her a medal.’

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I’ve been a parent for 16 years now, but I’ve got more questions than ever. How can my elder son get an A in trigonometry but still think ‘verse’ is a verb? (As in, ‘Will the Sydney Swans verse Geelong today?’) And how does my 14-year-old know the difference between an infusion and a reduction, thanks to TV cooking shows, but not know how to grill us sausages for dinner? And why did they spend their time in Covid lockdown killing each other on video games instead of nurturing a sourdough starter like the kids of my Instagram friends?

It’s time to do things differently and embrace the half-arsed approach to raising kids that served our parents so well. We need to stop being hyper-parents, helicopter parents or hands-on parents and instead become halfarsed parents.

Half-arsed parenting is about doing half as much and knowing it is still more than enough.

It’s not an invitation to give up and do a bad job across the board. It doesn’t mean giving kids less love, empathy or protection. It means releasing yourself from other people’s standards, expectations and rules.

Half-arsed parents know that when it comes to raising kids, you don’t have to be perfect. Know your limits and set the bar low enough so you succeed. Near-enough is usually good enough.

It’s okay that your child’s first word was Bluey or Elsa rather than Mama or Dadda. Because here’s the truth: No one cares as much as you about the way you’re bringing up your kids. They may act as if they do, but they don’t. Trust me.

This means it’s okay to fake it until you make it.

And if you don’t make it, no one will notice. The celebrities pretending to be perfect are faking it too. They spend their days posting inspirational phrases like ‘Be the best you #glow, #bless’ but only get out of bed thanks to a generous slug of vodka in their green goddess breakfast

parenting ntIng smoothie. I am not green or a goddess. I once tried to drink hot water with lemon and it looked like a giant cup of wee. I also made a kale smoothie and it tasted like grass-clippings.

Half-arsed parents know the kids will be all right, like they always are. What’s important is that mums and dads are all right too.

Half-arsed parenting is also about getting back to basics.

Whatever happened to toasted sandwiches for dinner? Kids sharing bedrooms and bathrooms?

Making meals with what you’ve got, not what you buy from the organic market or get delivered via an app? That’s how it was when we were young and we turned out okay, didn’t we? (Yes, except for our record-high anxiety rates and inexplicable love of reality TV dating shows.)

Parents don’t need more thrusting: it’s how we got into this mess in the first place. Halfarsed parents love their kids, but find raising them harder than it should be, mainly due to the interference of others. Mums and dads already know the answers and should trust their instincts to get it right. We should not be shamed for using cling wrap on school sandwiches, letting our kids read Thomas the Tank Engine even though there are no female lead characters, or neglecting them during home schooling so we could get some work done.

As a result of all this pressure and guilt, parents feel compelled to be more invested in their kids’ lives than ever before. It’s not just about protecting kids from unseen and often nonexistent dangers, but caring about every grade, interaction and conversation. This means attending every sporting match, manipulating every friendship and orchestrating all aspects of school life.

This is an ed ited extrac t from The half-arsed Secret of Parenting

by D published

by Murdoch r Susie O’Brien, Books. RRP $32.99.

This book is for paren ts , grandparen friends and ts, family mem bers trying keep them to sane. It’s fo r th mums wh e stay-at-h o consider ome a trip to th be special e doctor to ‘me time’ an d think wand through a supermarke ering t without ki better than ds is therapy. It’ s fo mums hop r the work ing ing the bla ck rings un eyes are la der their st night’s m ake-up rath their midd er than le-aged m ummy face the dads w . It’s for ho work th eir arses o and then g ff all day et frowned at by their because th bosses ey leave o n time to g kids from ch et their ildcare. It’s also for the and pops w nannas ondering w here everyo manners h ne’s ave gone!

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’ten-age‘ FRIENDSHIPS At ten, we know how girls are pigeonholing themselves into what they think they should be. Whether they see themselves as academic or not, whether they are interested in boys, puberty is a reality, friendship fights are underway, and the influence of social media is impacting.

With heightened pressure from what they see in the media, in movies and on TV, our girls are leaving childhood behind well before they hit their teens. Not surprisingly, emotions can be heightened and relationships can be fraught. So many parents struggle to understand the pressures our girls are under and how to deal with their emotional volatility.

Aisha just wants one good friend at school, someone to sit with and talk to at lunch. ‘I find it hard to make friends because I am so worried about if they like me or not,’ she says. Francesca is equally anxious. ‘I’m hard to talk to,’ she says.

Mei can identify. For her, finding and keeping friends is the toughest part about being ten.

‘Some of them turn out to be using you,’ she says. ‘Real friends are hard to discover.’

These concerns can often be exacerbated when girls move from their primary school to a middle or senior school at around this age. ‘I find it hard to meet anyone because I am new and everyone has known each other for a long time,’ says Ruby. ‘I feel like I don’t fit in.’

Aanya’s concern is slightly different. ‘It’s easy to make friends but hard to find the perfect friend for life,’ she says. Lily doesn’t want to stand out.

‘I like to stick in a big group at my school, and at home I never go out and play with others because of my anxiety.’

Why is friendship so difficult to navigate at ten?

Why do so many of our girls not know how to make friends, or keep friends? Why do they want to find that best friend for life, at ten, and change so much of who they are, simply to fit in? How do we teach them not to exclude 36

others, and to value kindness and forgiveness when one of their peers makes a mistake? And why is there so much drama – with girls and not boys – around friendship?

Those questions didn’t begin as mine, and if there was a single issue that sat above others, where both girls and their parents struggled, this is it. ‘Why do some girls become so unkind and nasty?’ one mother asks.

Another has a story to tell: ‘Last year my daughter learnt the hard way that if you behave badly towards a friend and hurt their feelings then they may just walk away from the friendship instead of finding ways of forgiveness. The other parents told their daughter to walk away because “a good friend wouldn’t behave that way” and that there would be no forgiveness for the mistake my daughter made. I found there is a lot of information available about walking away but not much about forgiveness and how it can play a role in healing friendships for our girls.’

A third mother says, ‘All she wants is to be loved, and I believe it’s why she gets so frustrated and upset, because it doesn’t come easily to her and she assumes reasons, like she has hairier legs or isn’t pretty.’

And this from a fourth mother: ‘She is very worried and concerned about what others think, but I also think she is fairly intolerant of things herself and she is slow to forgive and forget.’

From a fifth mother: ‘She loves the idea of having friends but struggles to cross over from “being friendly” to actually being real friends.’

The problem for girls is not in recognising the attributes of a good friend but in cultivating and keeping friendships.

The girls themselves put kindness as the number one characteristic they want in a ten-year-old buddy.

That is to be celebrated. So too is the fact that they put ‘being funny’ strongly in second place. Together, those two qualities were

mentioned by more than half of all ten-year-olds.

The third most common attribute ten-year-old girls nominate in a good friendship is wanting someone who is ‘not a bully’, or ‘doesn’t share rude things about you even if they’re made up’, or ‘keeps a secret’, or ‘doesn’t spread rumours’.

Put those concerns under one umbrella and you have something close to what author and teens educator Rebecca Sparrow calls ‘drama cyclones’.

Sparrow says she spends weeks each year with this cohort, teaching them how to weather friendship storms. A few years ago she would have given the same talk to Year 9 girls.

Avoiding those drama cyclones should sit at the top of any friendship tips list we give our girls. So should an understanding of the fact that friendships are developed over time, and that we don’t ‘own’ friends. Girls need to be encouraged to allow peers to move between groups, and to have the courage to do that themselves. We as parents don’t befriend every person we meet, and girls need to understand that. They don’t need to be friends with everyone in their cohort, but they need be friendly – and understand that difference. Along the way, they will make mistakes and need reminding that the kindness and forgiveness they seek in others ought to reside in them too.

“Real friends are hard to discover” “I find it hard to make friends because I am so worried about if they like me or not”

Principal Toni Riordan says the reason why the age of ten is so significant for friendships is that, up until that age, a girl’s world has largely revolved around her home, her parents, her siblings and her pets. But at ten she becomes more outwardlooking, and ‘friendships really start to count’. Girls are looking for others who will match the love they have for family, and tensions will inevitably arise.

‘Fitting in’ is the verb I most frequently heard during this project, and friendship is the challenge tenyear-olds nominate as their most difficult.

This is an edited extract from Ten-ager by Madonna King. Ten-ager takes our girls’ dreams and worries, wants and fears and puts them to the experts, in the hope it helps parents guide their daughter into adolescence. It gives our daughters a voice, to tell what they want us to know.

Published by Hachette Australia, RRP $32.99.

Out now at all good book stores.

37

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ANYTHING GLUTEN-FREE Most people have a bucket list of things to do before they die. But not me. I have a bucket list of 100 things that I wish were gluten-free.

Freshly baked bread, Chinese takeaway, fried jam doughnuts, homemade pastry, fresh pasta, classic cakes, bakery-style cookies, noncardboard-tasting pizza...

Sorry, I’ve just realized that I’m just literally listing foods that I can’t eat. But, if you’re gluten-free yourself (or you know someone who is) I bet you’ll totally understand why I often get lost in my bucket list. That’s because, when you’re gluten-free, all your favourite food instantly gets put on the list of things you used to eat. But do you forget about them and get on with your life?

Of course not!

Instead, you gaze through the window of every bakery you pass, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a lamp post. You might occasionally catch yourself day-dreaming about when you last ate a real jam doughnut*.

You’re probably also filled with food envy whenever a fast-food ad comes on TV, uttering, ‘I wish I could eat that’ for the millionth time.

Being gluten-free made me realize that, when you’re told you can’t eat something, you only crave eating it ten times more. But there was one big problem with my gluten-free bucket list: I was probably never going to be able to eat any of the things on it ever again. After all, most things are utterly impossible to make glutenfree, right? And if they’re not impossible, a ‘gluten-free version’ always tastes and/or looks worse – agreed?

Well, I’ve got a little news-flash for you that took me years to realize: it’s not true. And I totally understand if you’re filled with scepticism upon reading that. When I first became gluten-free twelve years ago I wouldn’t have believed me either. But honestly, through years of travelling to gluten-free bakeries across the world and creating/ sharing my own recipes online, I’ve discovered this: You can make anything gluten-free 40

So, no – nothing needs to taste any different or look any worse either. Nor do you need tons of strange, unobtainable ingredients or a top secret blend of gluten-free flour. I actually use a simple commercial gluten-free flour blend (if needed) for nearly every recipe in this book.

So what’s the big secret then?

Well, in the early years of being gluten-free, I’d naively try to replace wheat flour with glutenfree flour when following a recipe. Or even worse, I’d just skip those gluten-containing ingredients entirely. Not surprisingly, I’d always end up wondering where it all went wrong and with a big mess to clear up. But of course that didn’t work! That’s like reading a book, but removing the main character. Yes, you can still kind of follow the story, but the ending is probably going to be a big, confused mess.

To truly get that happy ending, a gluten-free recipe needs to be its own unique story from start to finish.

That’s the secret!

Most of my recipes can easily be made dairyfree or lactose-free with simple swaps and lots are easy to make vegan/veggie too. Plus, there are loads of recipes that are low FODMAP, which is handy if you suffer from IBS like I do.

So remember my bucket list of all the things I thought I’d never be able to eat again? Yep, I did it – I finally made them all gluten-free with zero compromise.

Now I can make them whenever I want, and so can you. But if you still believe it’s impossible to make anything gluten-free without compromise, that’s OK. Because once you take a bite of something you haven’t eaten in years and it tastes even better than you remember… you’ll be so happy that you won’t even mind me saying: Told you so!

Beer battered fish and chips Serves: 2 Time: 45min Ingredients: 1.5 litres vegetable oil 4 medium potatoes 6 tbsp gluten-free plain (all-purpose) flour 2 white fish fillets, skinless (I recommend cod or haddock) For the batter: ¾ cup gluten-free plain (all-purpose) flour 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder 1 tsp salt 150ml gluten-free beer or carbonated water Method: Heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until it reaches

170°C, making sure the pan is not more than half full, as the oil will bubble up when cooking.

to the dry batter ingredients and whisk until consistent (it’s important not to add this any sooner or it will lose its fizz).

Combine the dry batter ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Dredge your fish fillets in the batter mixture, then carefully lower each fillet, one at a time, into the oil. Cook for 7–8 minutes until the batter is golden and crispy, bearing in mind that using carbonated water makes it a little lighter in colour. Remove from the oil and place onto the wire rack set over a baking tray to drain.

Peel and cut the potatoes into 1cm thick chip shapes then pat dry with some kitchen paper.

On a large plate spread the flour out. Place fish fillets on the plate and dust until lightly coated.

Once your oil is hot, add your chips and cook for 8 minutes, then remove them from the oil with a slotted spoon and place onto a wire rack set over a baking tray to drain.

Make sure your oil is still at 170°C then add your glutenfree beer or carbonated water

Lastly, add your chips back intot he hot oil and cook for around 3–4 minutes until golden. Allow to drain once more on the wire rack before serving with tartare sauce and mushy peas.

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Mini chicken, leek and bacon pies Serves: 2 | Time: 45min Ingredients: 1 quantity of gluten-free shortcrust pastry chilled for 25 minutes 1 egg, beaten Handful of poppy seeds (optional) For the filling: 250g boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets 100g diced smoked streaky bacon 90g leek, chopped 2 tbsp gluten-free plain (all-purpose) flour 400ml gluten-free chicken stock Sprig of fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 tbsp double (heavy) cream Salt and pepper

and fry until the fat begins to brown, then add the leek and chicken. Fry for 3–4 minutes until the chicken is sealed.

12cm pastry circle. Transfer this to a pie dish and gently push the pastry in leaving a little overhang. Trim off any excess.

Add in flour and mix until evenly coated, then add the stock and rosemary, and season with salt and pepper.

Form the leftover pastry scraps back into a ball and re-roll out to a 3mmin thickness. Place your second pie dish face down onto the rolled-out pastry and trace around it with a knife to create a lid. Repeat with the other half of your dough and second pie dish.

Rose-vanilla bath melts

Method: Cut the chicken into 2cm strips. Place a large pan over a medium heat, add bacon

Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes or until the gravy has thickened. Remove from the heat and, after 5 minutes, stir in the cream and leave to cool.

Preheat oven to 200°C fan/ 220°C. Remove pastry from the fridge. Don’t handle your dough excessively as this will warm it up and make it more fragile. Cut the ball of pastry in half and lightly flour your rolling pin. On a sheet of nonstick baking parchment, roll out one portion of the dough to a 3mm thickness.

For a 10cm pie dish, cut out a

Divide your pie filling between the pie dishes and brush the overhang with egg. Place your pastry lids on top and pinch the edges together.

Brush each pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with poppy seeds.

Lastly, make a small hole in the very middle or each lid with a sharp knife. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes until golden, then serve with mashed potato, veggies and my lazy glutenfree gravy.

This is an edited extract from How to Make Anything Gluten Free by Becky Excell published

by Quadrille RRP $39.99 and is available in stores nationally from 17 February 2021.

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Pop tarts Makes: 5 | Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 1 quantity of gluten-free shortcrust pastry, chilled for 25 minutes Gluten-free plain (all-purpose) flour, for dusting 1 egg, beaten with 2 tsp milk For the jam filling: 150g / ½ cup raspberry jam 1 tbsp cornflour 1 tsp lemon juice For the icing: 1½ cups icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Multi-coloured sprinkles (ensure gluten-free) Method: Preheat your oven to 160°C fan /180°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

In a small bowl, mix the jam, cornflour and lemon juice until well combined. Set aside.

Remove your pastry from the fridge. Lightly flour your rolling pin. On a sheet of non-stick baking paper, roll out the dough to a rectangle, 2mm thick. Cut as many 10 x 7.5cm rectangles out of your pastry as you can. Use a knife to gently place them to one side.

Re-roll your pastry scraps to cut out more rectangles.

Brush around the border of half of your rectangles with some beaten egg mixture, then add a tablespoon of your jam mix and spread, leaving a 1.5cm clear border around the edge. Using a fork, prick some holes in the remaining rectangles (which will allow steam to escape when baking).

Place these rectangle lids on top of the ones with jam on and gently press the edges down so they stick together.

Then, using a fork, press down on the edges all the way around to crimp together.

Transfer to the baking tray, brush the top of each pop tart with a little more beaten egg and bake in the oven for 20–22 minutes until golden.

Remove from the oven and carefully transfer to a wire rack and allow to fully cool.

For the icing, grab a mediumsized mixing bowl and add your icing sugar and vanilla.

Mix together, gradually adding a few teaspoons of water and mixing until it reaches a smooth, slightly thick and spreadable consistency. If your icing is too thin, it’ll dribble off the pop tart!

Once the pop tarts have fully cooled, spoon a dollop of the icing onto the centre of each and neatly spread up to the crimped edge. Add a few sprinkles and repeat until you’ve decorated all of your pop tarts.

Allow to set and enjoy!

43

are you a naplan fan?

2020 was a year of schools closing and a rapid switch to online learning. It was also a year with no NAPLAN. The cancellation of the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy due to COVID marked the first interruption of the annual testing cycle since 2008.

NAPLAN is a standardised test, conducted yearly for students across the country in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It has been used by teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community to see how children are progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy — and over time.

After the changes COVID brought to education, policymakers have an opportunity to rethink our national “high-stakes” testing system that focuses on literacy and numeracy skills. It often leads teachers to “teach to the test”, rather than ensuring students leave school with a wellrounded set of skills.

NAPLAN scores are used to gauge the quality of schools. But the overemphasis on only literacy and numeracy scores stands in the way of providing a more holistic education. We need a system that delivers confident citizens and creative problem solvers. And that means re-evaluating what we mean by a good quality school.

A history of NAPLAN and My School Over a decade ago, Australian leaders envisioned a national system that assesses school quality. In 2010, led by Education Minister Julia Gillard, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) launched the My School website.

The move was influenced by countries such as the US and UK, which employ formal and non-formal school rankings to show the quality of schools. My School did this by reporting NAPLAN data, accompanied by up-to-date information such as schools’ missions and finances.

44

Julia Gillard still stands behind her controversial decision, while acknowledging the system’s serious problems. These include its overemphasis on the test, rather than a focus on the processes of learning and inquiry.

Research shows the “teach to the test” approach can narrow the curriculum focus and make it harder to cater for students’ various needs. It can limit opportunities for students to engage with the materials in ways that develop their learning and critical thinking skills.

A change to the My School website While educators lamented the negative impacts of NAPLAN, parents have constantly complained the My School system left them confused, feeling as if they were sitting in a test themselves. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) commissioned a review of NAPLAN. The very long review process consisted of public submissions, focus groups and interviews with stakeholders, parents and unions. The resulting report showed a relatively unified confusion around the purpose of NAPLAN and My School.

It also showed concerns about displaying test scores alongside the school’s socioeconomic index. This amplified the fact students in the most disadvantaged areas were substantially more likely to score below the national minimum standard for each of the test’s three domains than those in more advantaged areas.

ACARA simplified the website, noting the changes agreed to by education ministers after the review’s report came out.

Before, it compared a school’s NAPLAN result against the average result of 60 similar schools.

Now, a school’s results are benchmarked against the average NAPLAN score of all students across the country with a similar background.

The website seeks to provide a greater focus on student progress (using NAPLAN results), rather than on statistical comparisons. So, before entering My School, the user must accept a list of terms, which acknowledge:

The framework explores what many would agree are crucial aspects of education.

Aside from literacy and numeracy scores, they include:

The content on this site about the performance of a school on any indicator including the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests is only one aspect of the information that should be taken into consideration when looking at a school’s profile.

• physical and emotional safety

This statement is followed by another about the importance of speaking to “teachers and principals to get an understanding of what each school offers”. Both of these suggest there has to be more to a national system to provide meaningful information that supports transparency and accountability of Australian schools.

• social and emotional health

This notion is clearly reflected in other Australian education policies, including in the report from the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools (also known as Gonski 2.0). The report urges the education system to be more creative in the curriculum, assessment and reporting.

How can the system be improved?

It would be foolish to say there is an easy silver bullet assessment solution. But it may be worthwhile to consider some international initiatives.

All 50 US states have established educational measurement systems based on standardised testing. These have been heavily criticised for hurting schools and students. Criticisms include concerns over widespread cheating issues and schools’ inflating test scores to create the illusion of improved equity and school quality.

• student-teacher relationships • a sense of belonging • student engagement and achievement • problem solving • relationships between the family and school • cultural responsiveness • community involvement.

These are measured through the use of tools such as administrative data and student and teacher surveys.

Research on pilots of such a framework show a less deterministic relationship between school quality and students’ socio-economic status.

Standardised tests can be useful for educators and policymakers who seek to track some student progress and allocate resources. But these tools are limited in what they tell us and can be misleading.

Creating a new schooling framework that has a less deterministic relationship between school quality and students’ socio-economic status will be challenging. But it is possible and worthwhile in the long run.

By Ilana Finefter-Rosenbluh, Lecturer, Monash University Faculty of Education. This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

US scholars lamented the nation’s “testing charade” and its measuring too little about schools and too much about families and neighbourhoods. They sought to look beyond a single test, suggesting a novel assessment framework that paints a more nuanced picture of schooling.

45

the Future of Educ The world of work has changed dramatically in the 21st century and as parents, we are preparing our children for a job market we may never previously have imagined. Add the repercussions of COVID-19 to the mix, and it is clear that the education system needs to adapt.

There is one thing we know for sure: resilient children who are able to adjust to shifting circumstances are the ones who will thrive.

After a year filled with remote learning and makeshift at-home classrooms, it’s clear that the future generation needs to develop skills beyond the standard smarts needed to pass tests and score well in exams. Children quietly sitting in rows at desks while the teacher occupies them with facts and worksheets is not going to prepare them for the future - whatever it might hold.

Going beyond academic learning We’re all familiar with our little ones’ individuality, curiosity and unique skills, and yet standardised testing, exams and traditional teaching methods are still very much the norm in Australia. Of course, knowledge is important, but the role of a school to serve its learners goes far beyond just academic learning. What should be considered is how school systems are designed and who they serve best - the adults or the students themselves?

Students are not empty vessels to be filled up with knowledge from the teacher, but individuals with experiences, interests and skills. Only by providing students with student-centred learning experiences that link not just to the ‘real world’ but their world can we stimulate their curiosity and need to know more.

Every student has the right to be actively engaged in learning that is meaningful and authentic and that develops the key skills that 46

really matter for success in life. Just as someone can get better at maths or gymnastics, so too can children become better collaborators, communicators, creative and critical thinkers and become more resilient self-starters.

Education needs to adapt Our kids are being left behind. Education needs to adapt to a fast-paced world, and teachers have incredibly difficult jobs. They now wear so many more hats than teachers did a decade or so ago, including to teach life skills, increase reporting, monitor student wellbeing, and expectations of ‘deeper learning’ in the classroom. So the support and further training they receive needs to go beyond course material and compliance: we need to continue to teach the teachers.

What is needed is an evidence-based model with proven results for developing student outcomes.

Putting more pressure on teachers and principals to drive change, without offering strong support, is going to see not only school staff but also students suffer.

What’s the answer? Problems.

The answer is actually problems – problem based learning (PBL) to be exact.

Problem based learning is a pedagogy in which the teacher starts the lesson with a real-world problem, ideally authentic to a student’s life.

After the problem is explained to the students, the teacher does not teach, they in fact let

catIon the students grapple with the problem for approximately 15 minutes. The only tool the teacher is armed with is guided questions that are asked in an interactive way that will guide them through the process of not only solving the problem but learning the principles that lead to the solution.

This is the type of thinking needed in real life, and therefore the thinking that should be used in their education. Especially as we navigate the challenges of a post-COVID world.

By encouraging schools to grow students’ critical and creative thinking, collaboration, communication and resilience skills, we can start to better equip our children with the skills they really need to learn. By engaging children in real-world problems and giving them a voice when it comes to their learning, we’re able to empower them not just today, but into a more certain future.

By Emily Liccioni, School Development Coach, New Tech Network Australia. New Tech Network Australia partners with schools to update their teaching and learning for the modern world. New Tech Network Australia works with schools across NSW, Victoria and Queensland at every grade level to redesign the learning experience for students. https://www.ntnau.org/

47

DCS_00160 Dec 2020

Be COVID safe. Check in everyone, every time.

Why check in?

Contact tracing helps stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Let’s help NSW Health contact tracers by checking in wherever we can, so they can get in touch quickly and easily, if necessary.

This business is required to use the NSW Government QR Code to record contact details for all customers.

How to check in It’s easy to check in with the Service NSW COVID Safe Check-in tool.

Start by scanning the NSW Government QR code with your smartphone camera or QR Code reader app and encouraging everyone you’re with to do the same.