Sydney MamaMag Oct/Nov

SYDNEY

mamamAg Oct/Nov 2020

WIN 1 OF 5 $1OO FEATHER & NOISE GIFT VOUCHERS Fabulous fashion A hero born Eat for your skin Polished women Hack your happiness

free Local fun for the Sydney mum 1

QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION

GROWTH THROUGH EDUCATION AND CARE LET YOUR CHILD’S EARLY LEARNING STORY BEGIN WITH US

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• Qualified and

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• Indoor and outdoor

play based experiences

• Safe and fun learning environments

ALEXANDRIA 4b Huntley Street Alexandria NSW 2015 Ph 02 8004 7445 alexandria@shel.edu.au

MIRANDA 108 Parraweena Road Miranda NSW 2228 Ph 02 9526 5922 miranda@shel.edu.au

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“MY GRANDMA HAD IT, MY MUM HAD IT, I’M AFRAID I MIGHT GET IT” ALICE, 9 - DAUGHTER

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Are we there yet?

I remember back in March, when the government locked us down for those first few weeks, thinking “gosh, I hope this doesn’t last too long”. My head wanted it to be over ASAP but my heart knew, based on the reports I was getting from my step mum in Italy, that this pesky virus was not going to go lightly. Whilst working from home has become normal, it wasn’t until last night when I was going through my phone looking for images to include on this page, that it dawned upon me just how long it had been and that I had no recent images of my kids.

We simply haven’t done anything photo worthy.

In the last two months since I’ve chatted to you it hasn’t been all doom and gloom (although I do live in Melbourne so we’ve been stuck at home 23hrs a day!).

We celebrated our last family iso-birthday, mine, with lots of flowers, cake, Gorman and sushi, and I was lucky enough to get a glorious warm sunny day of which I spent my ‘hour out’ enjoying walking the dog. Dog walking has now become dog running as I realise just how much I’ve let myself go in iso with the dreaded corona-curves taking shape. I’ve cut back on all the nasties and taken on a really clean eating plan, added in running 3 times a week and just made sure to give myself some self-love. I’d down 6kg already and my energy and mental health is the best it’s been all year.

We chat all things beauty and fashion this issue and it’s a great time to think about your health and maybe treat yourself to some new self-care routines, be it exercise, skin care or just a new outfit for when we finally drag ourselves out of the active wear! Have a think about YOU mama. You deserve it. It’s been a hell of a year!

And if you’ve got some ideas for MamaMag, things you’d like to see in here, awesome mums we should interview, get in touch via my Insta below. I’d love to hear from you! xxx Sarah Cavalier Editor - MamaMag @thecavaliermama

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Local fun for the Sydney mum

WIN

Contents Eat for your skin

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Jessica Sepel shares her tips

Polished women

8

Two mums supporting the Polished Man campaign

You beauty

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Our top picks of Aussie beauty products

Parklife 14 The fab new Shannon Reserve, Surry Hills

Love a mother

16

We meet Vanessa Rowed from Awakind

The value of play

18

The Australian Toy Association

Sydney’s fashion mamas

20

Meet some of our favourite local designers

Mama can cook

22

Natural delights from Maddy Dixon’s new book

Time for family fun

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There is so much on offer at Paradise Resort

Existing in iso

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Rebecca Klodinsky from IIXIIST

Everyday style

30

Stay creative with 6 great tips

Do it for Deyaan

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Get involved in Saffron Day

Making good citizens

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WIN 1 of 5 Feather & Noise $100 Gift Vouchers Entries are open to VIC & NSW residents only.

Competition starts Oct 1st 12.01am and closes Nov 30th 2020 at 11.59pm.

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

www.mamamag.com.au/featherandnoise

Nik Robinson (and kids’) recycled glasess

Ready, set, winners

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MamaMag is designed and published free for mums and families by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

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

The 2020 Ausmumpreneur winners

All eyes on you Should kids wear sunglasses?

Hack your happiness

40

Bring more happiness into your day

Grab a little quiet time

42

Why it’s important to consume collage

Turn the page

45

New book picks for kids and adults

Subscribe to MamaMag

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Get MamaMag delivered straight to your inbox

Partnering with parents

50

The importance in early learning

Swim safe

52

Tips to keep kids safe this Summer

A hero born

54

Reuben Cullen’s new book

The rise of allergies A dad and doctor’s story

MamaMag Oct/Nov 2020

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Sydney MamaMag is FRE bi-monthly mag for Sydney mums and families.

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

Click to Subscribe and get MamaMag straight to your inbox The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff.

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers.

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

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EAT FOR YOUR SKIN As a nutritionist, I’ve always believed in the powerful connection between our skin’s health and our gut health. Your digestion plays an important role in the appearance of your skin.

You see, you’re not what you eat; you’re what you digest and absorb. The gut is the cornerstone of good health. In fact, it’s where 70 to 80 per cent of the immune system lies.

When your gut is functioning optimally, you will notice better energy, skin, mood and immune function. It is really important to take care of your gut health.

On the flipside, if your digestive system is sluggish, you may experience constipation, diarrhea, bloating, hormonal imbalance, skin issues and more. Yes, it’s true that what’s happening on the inside will be reflected on the outside.

Here is a short summary to help you understand why digestion plays a key role in your skin’s health: Helps you absorb nutrients: The absorption of nutrients is an essential factor in maintaining healthy skin. If your gut isn’t functioning optimally, it can’t absorb the vital nutrients your skin needs to thrive.

Clears toxic build up: The gut helps to eliminate toxins, so if your digestive system is compromised, you may not be eliminating toxins as effectively. A poorly functioning gut can re-absorb these toxins, which can show up in your skin – leading to blemishes, pimples, acne and other common skin conditions.

Reduces inflammation: If your gut flora is imbalanced (officially called dysbiosis), it can cause leaky gut and inflammation.

This can lead to an immune reaction in the body, which results in redness, swelling and breakouts of the skin. There’s research that shows how our gut microbiome is linked to acne. A study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that a disrupted gut barrier is linked to inflammation, which can influence acne.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to boost your gut health and thereby improve your skin and complexion.

Here are a few tips to help you: Eat real food I simply can’t emphasize this enough.

Stick to good-quality proteins, healthy fats, plenty of greens, veggies, nuts, seeds and pulses. Eliminate processed, packaged and convenience foods, and steer clear of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Optimise digestive enzymes Having good amounts of hydrochloric acid in the stomach helps to break down food, thereby aiding digestion. I recommend sipping on two litres of water with a dash of apple cider vinegar throughout the day.

Supplement To support your gut, I recommend taking a probiotic under the guidance of a medical practitioner. I also recommend trying our Skin + Digestion.

Enjoy probiotic-rich foods Fermented foods, such as kombucha, sauerkraut and kefir, are great for the gut and reduce inflammation, support digestion and enhance metabolism.

Stay hydrated Each day, aim to drink two litres of water.

This can be aided by enjoying some herbal tea and putting two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into your water bottle to sip throughout the day.

Eat healthy fats Foods that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are the building blocks of cell membranes, which means they’re essential for healthy skin. Foods such as oily fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, eggs and olive oil have fatty acids that nourish the skin and are important for a radiant, soft complexion.

By Jessica Sepel, founder of JSHealth.

You can find plenty more informative articles, nutrition guides and also get access to a nutritionist in your pocket with the JSHealth App. You can download the app on iTunes. jessicasepel.com

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PolIshed women It shouldn’t hurt to be a child, but unfortunately for some, it does.

Devastating facts show that one child dies every 5 minutes as a result of violence. Due to the current climate, many families are forced to stay home and sadly, as a direct result of this, the number of family violence cases has doubled. Heartbreaking for all to comprehend, but the reason that Polished Man exists.

Getting behind this initiative is a bunch of wonderful Australian men and women showing their support to help end violence against children. Two of these lovely people are none other than the queen of confidence, presenter and mum of four, Emmylou MacCarthy and the self-confessed fun mum and prankster wife, most recently spotted on Big Brother, Zoe George.

Emmylou, firstly tell us a bit about yourself and your gorgeous family.

My partner Aaron and I have three kids and our two beautiful cavoodles! Aaron (or affectionately known as Alove to my community) is a full-time dad while I work fulltime, which isn’t always seen as conventional but it works for us. The most important thing is that our kids are happy and the house is harmonious, so we consider ourselves very fortunate to have found a routine that suits everyone.

I’m in my fourth year of being an Executive Producer of my TV series, Emmylou Loves and I’ve also just celebrated a second year of being the director of my company Elephant Dinner.

What inspired you to get involved in the Polished Man campaign this year?

For me, it’s important to get as many people talking about the issue of violence against children as possible. Whether it’s high profile people in my network or smaller, close-knit communities around me. It’s vital to start the conversation 8

and I want to facilitate that as much as possible. The more we talk about it, the more we are standing up and saying that violence against children is unacceptable. The Polished Man campaign shines a spotlight onto the cause and I am so inspired by the work being done to raise money that I was delighted to return to the team this year.

Painting a fingernail blue is certainly far from some of the crazy fashion stunts you’ve pulled to promote confidence. What’s the wildest thing you’ve done?

If I had to guess, I’d say you’re probably talking about the time I stood in the middle of Bourke Street in pink lingerie, right?! To some people I guess that was seen as pretty wild, but for me it was more about art. I view these types of photo shoots through a lens of fashion and beauty, and see myself as someone who is creating something inspiring. Not everyone will love it! But that’s the whole point. I’m trying to get a conversation going.

I guess you could also say my skydiving days were pretty wild, considering that I regularly jumped out of a planes, sometimes in the nude!

Obviously being a mum makes this cause especially relevant to you. What’s your favourite thing about being a parent?

Wow. That’s tough to answer! I guess it’s learning how to see the world through their eyes. Kids are so innocent, and I love the way they can look at an “adult” problem and simplify it. I have learnt so much about myself by listening to my kids. It’s just an honour to bear witness to how they live their lives every day.

In this issue we’re talking all things fashion and beauty. Tell us a little bit about running your own fashion label.

It’s hard! Full stop! I probably see my label as something more along the lines of merchandise for my community rather than a being a fully fledged “fashion label”. I’m learning that it takes a lot of patience, particularly in the current climate. It’s also about putting your ego aside and listening to your loyal customers. I have so many brands that I look up to, and as much as I’d love to follow in their footsteps and create a range of exclusive prints or send models down a runway, I’ve learnt that for now I really need to listen to my customer. It’s about delivering what they want. In saying that, I’m also excited to be investing in some exclusive prints this season.

What are your everyday go-to beauty products that you can’t live without?

Firstly, I will never be without a good cleanser.

It’s also vital to wear sunscreen and to make sure it’s the right type for your face. Sure, you can buy products to help correct inflammation, oil production and hydration levels, but once you’ve got sun damaged skin it’s very hard to reverse!

I love a mix of high-end and supermarket products and it’s all about shopping around for your skin type and combining that with wherever your budget is at.

And finally, what fabulous new things can we expect from Emmylou moving forward?

I really think that the way this year has gone, it’s important for me to understand the landscape a bit more before I commit to projects in 2021.

At the end of this year I will sit back and take stock, and try to understand what my community looks like and what the world around me looks like. That way I will be able to create satisfying and fulfilling projects in the future. I’ve got my cooking show in the works and my cookbook coming out at the end of October. So for now, I’m just happy to see how these play out and then focus on getting my family settled into the new normal.

Zoe, you’re known online as the subtle mummy, but the truth is you’re anything but! Tell us about your little family and your role as a fun mum.

I’m a mum of two, Ari is 6 and Ambrosia is 4.

Then there’s the star of the show, my husband Robert, who is quite often the brunt of my pranks and makes for a lot of entertainment.

I love being silly and fun and I can’t imagine changing any time soon. It’s what people love about me most.

How have the recent Coronavirus lockdowns been for your family?

The recent restrictions weren’t that bad for us actually. I loosened the reigns a lot and Rob took over Ari’s schooling as they wake up and head straight to the study leaving Ambrosia and myself to hang out all day while I get my work done sporadically too. The first round I was hovering over him and I couldn’t get anything done for myself. It wasn’t fun.

We all miss our friends and family though and poor little Ambrosia has missed a lot of her kinder experience.

You’re known to be quite the prankster, especially to your husband. What’s the funniest trick you’ve played on him lately?

I think the hot chilli sauce never gets old. I just have to space them out so he keeps falling for them. Oh and we mustn’t forget the air horn I bought. That was so fun to scare him with.

In this issue of MamaMag we’re talking all things fashion and beauty. What are your favourite local fashion brands and go-to beauty products?

What inspired you to get involved in the Polished Man campaign?

I’ve always just donated in the past but this year I was asked to be an ambassador and I think it’s a great cause. We need to be using our platforms to support charities when we can.

You spent quite a bit of time away from your two kids while filming Big Brother in Sydney.

What was the hardest part of being away from them?

This is easy! The support, the cuddles and even just hearing their little voices. It really is a pressure cooker in there and when I didn’t feel supported, or I’d had a squabble, I found myself wondering if it was worth it. In the real world they support me unconditionally and I know no matter who has upset me, those two are so in tune with me and my emotions.

They come and give cuddles and it makes everything more bearable. Same with Rob, and not having them there to support me when I was feeling down was really tough. I remember saying to producers one time when I was upset “why am I here? When I have real people in the real world who love and support me unconditionally”.

What was the most rewarding part of being a part of the show?

The accomplishments!! Being selected, winning two challenges in a row (and knowing I could’ve had the last one too). Making new friends. We became like a little family in there, a dysfunctional one, but definitely a bond that won’t be broken.

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Gosh, fashion and beauty are my jam! I could go on forever. Even though fashion for me at the moment is loungewear and pjs I have something really exciting planned with TSID, so you will have to keep your eyes peeled for that.

Also a fellow mummy blogger of mine Cat Sanz has been encouraging everyone to “wear their wardrobe” so I’ve been doing that. Basically you find something you haven’t worn in ages and make it work.

Beauty, I would have to say the derma razor has been my best friend with my IPL clinic shut at the moment. It de-fluffs you and is like a mini facial all in one. I’m obsessed with Dokimon moisturiser and I’d say my makeup is an even split between a Greek brand called Erre Due and the MCO beauty range I’ve just started working with. They’ve really surprised me with their products.

And finally what can we expect next from Zoe George, the subtle mummy?

Zoe always has something up her sleeve.

However it is all TOP SECRET. I’m always scared of things falling through so I don’t share too much until it’s finished. There are three very exciting projects though and all so completely different. As well as lots more pranks. You’ll have to follow my socials and see. (@thesubtlemummy).

This October will see the sixth year of the social impact mission to reduce violence against children. Raising over $6 million to date for trauma prevention and recovery programs for children at risk of violence.

Find out more at polishedman.com

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You know Mama is all about local!

So here are some home-grown Aussie beauty goodies that we are loving right now.

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Parklife Shannon Reserve, Surry HIlls Young children in Surry Hills have a new place to climb, swing and slide with the well-loved playground at Shannon Reserve on Crown Street open again following an upgrade.

Incorporating feedback from local primary school students, community members and a playground consultant, the reimagined City of Sydney space encourages children to be more active and interact with nature.

Designed for children aged six months to eight years, the playground is home to a new play structure, swing set and nature play area.

New equipment includes: • climbing platforms with ropes, ladders, steps and slides • a ‘wobbly’ bridge, net and poles • a cubby house and speaking tubes • three swings • a nature play area with timber ramp and stepping stones for balancing and climbing.

The reserve is home to the popular Surry Hills markets and a real social hub for the community.

Council worked with local students to come up with creative new ideas for the playground.

They said they like lots of different experiences on the play equipment and the chance to engage with nature, animals, friends and family.

New seats, a water station and a low fence around the play space have been installed while paths along the edge of the reserve make the most of the open green lawns.

The playground also features more shade and a new accessible entry point from Crown Street.

The play areas contain inclusive elements so children of all abilities can enjoy the reserve.

The space complements other local play areas for young children to teenagers, including Ward Park, Arthur Street Park, Moore Park West and the new Wimbo Park.

Celebrate

24 October – 1 November 2020

Supported by:

IDE GU OG D

2020 Theme: Children have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others.

LOVE A MOTHER Meet Sydney mum and sleepwear/bedding brand Awakind’s founder Vanessa Rowed. Awakind is a social enterprise that donates 100% of all profits of their children’s sleepwear to fund life changing projects helping less fortunate children. Providing more than a roof over their heads, these projects give kids a place to play, grow, sleep and dream.

Tell us a bit about the purpose of Awakind and how it came about?

You’re obviously a mum, tell us a bit about your family life.

Awakind was built out of a deep belief that we should all do our bit to build a better world.

Even before I became a mum, exposure to homeless kids has always made my heart cry. Then as a mother I had a heightened awareness of the fragility of childhood and I had a burning desire to help more kids who aren’t afforded the same safety and comfort as my own.

I have a wonderfully supportive husband and two beautiful kids, Isaac who is nine and Piper who is five. Both my kids are interested and engaged in the business and it’s been a great thing to focus on as a family. They give me feedback on the designs, the podcast and they are interested in learning more about the children we support. They are a little sick of being my models, but nothing a good chocolate can’t sort out!

As a marketer I had paid close attention to the rise of social enterprises like Thankyou and was always a supporter of these brands. When I was challenged to find sleepwear that I felt matched my family ethos, I started to think about how I could put my design skills and marketing skills to work to solve for an issue that was so close to my heart.

Awakind is not your day job.

Where would we find you 9-5 and how you juggle the two?

I head up the marketing team of one of Australia’s biggest retailers, BWS, so you will find me doing this 9-5 and all other hours. I love marketing, so I love what I do and spending time after hours, weekends, mornings and nights doing marketing for BWS or for Awakind is always fun and enjoyable. Juggling both can be a challenge, but I’m lucky to have a great team at the office and a small but supportive team for Awakind.

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What’s a standard day in the life of Vanessa look like I’m not a morning person so I tend to drag myself out of bed just in time for a quick shower, cup of tea, say goodbye to my son as he heads off for school and join a morning conference call. My morning conference calls (now that we are all working from home) are often interrupted by my daughter wanting to show me the shapes of her cereal, or her latest outfit for the day! She then goes off to pre-school and I continue with work meetings throughout the day. I’ll try to get out at some stage for a quick walk with the dog and make a few calls, but often I’m glued to my chair.

At around 4pm the kids return home and I retreat into my study to try and get the last few conference calls done for the day. This is never an easy task with the kids constant interruptions! We do dinner, homework and bath time for the kids and once they go to bed I log back on and work on Awakind. I’m a night owl, so I am sometimes still working till very late, but because I’m usually in the zone I don’t even notice the time!

How do you decide which charities to support with Awakind’s profits?

The first two charities were easy. A friend of mine has been fundraising for them for many years and I’ve been wanting to support them more and more, so this gave me an opportunity to do so. I’ve also been to these two orphanages so I know and trust the people running them. As I scale up the business I’m now working with a number of Australian organisations to establish a local partnership as well. Ensuring that the money raised goes directly to supporting the children is my number one criteria when selecting charity partners.

What made you choose sleepwear?

I really struggled to find kids sleepwear that was good quality, affordable and stylish. I was frustrated that all the options seemed to be so full of gender stereotypes, especially the colours and patterns. I was perplexed that kids fashion had evolved so much yet kids sleepwear was all the same. When doing my research I found that active wear and sleepwear were the two highest growing categories in apparel which cemented the opportunity for me.

We’re talking all things fashion and beauty this issue. What Sydney (or Aussie) brands are you loving for both you and the kids right now?

I just can’t get enough of Millk and LullabyClub.

And what beauty must haves are in your handbag right now?

Ok, so this is a random one, and only one that the mums would understand. My absolute must have is Lansinoh… yes that’s right nipple cream! It’s 100% lanolin and I discovered it when I had my kids. I use it as lip balm because I’ve got very sensitive skin and get allergies to a lot of the cosmetic products. It’s all natural and it’s the thickest, most moisturising lip balm. The only watch out is you don’t want to leave it lying around the office!!!

What are your favourite spots to hang out with the family?

We just love to go to Bathers Pavilion at Balmoral for breakfast at their bistro, followed by a walk along the beach. It reminds me why I love living in Sydney!

And finally, where can we find your fabulous Awakind products.

On our website at www.awakind.co

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the value of Play Toys are a vital part of play as they spark ideas and inspire children to play and learn.

The Value of Play is an important message from the Australian Toy Association and its members as it supports children’s social, emotional and intellectual development.

In 2003 the original Value of Play Campaign was developed in the UK to encourage and promote the benefits of play for children. They associated play with cognitive development, fitness, confidence, abilities, imagination and much more.

The Australian Toy Association (ATA) in partnership and through the licensing of the Genius of Play program from the US Toy Association, relaunched its own Value of Play in 2019 for Australian Families and included a new look, standalone website as well as social media sites.

The ATA believes play is serious business and we are equally committed to promoting safe, educational and most importantly, fun play opportunities among children of all ages.

“Without play we believe that kids may not learn the skills they need for a happy and capable adult hood�

This resource has been widely accepted throughout Australia and in recent times, the Value of Play website has seen a large increase in traffic, especially during both the initial COVID-19 national lockdown and more recently the Victorian lockdown imposed over the past few months We are immensely pleased that families were able to use this resource at a time when children were unable to socialise with friends both at school and other activities but on the upside, could spend more time interacting with family.

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The parental role in encouraging and supporting play and helping children develop strong social and emotional skills is now well recognised. The Value of Play has been of enormous assistance in achieving balance and offering ideas to assist children make sense of what is going on in their world while continuing to enjoy a laugh and quality time as a family.

Parents can assist children by looking for ways to make play part of each day. Play can be educational, it can be creative, it can be musical, or it can be active. But first and foremost, play is fun.

Creative play allows children to express themselves. This could be by drawing, painting, singing, playing music, making a cubby under the kitchen table, building sandcastles at the beach or constructing things out of recycled boxes and cartons and a roll of tape.

Dramatic play is where children designate roles or act out situations, they may see in daily life such as playing doctors and nurses with their teddies or dolls. This may extend to imaginary play where children pretend, they are fairies, dragons or astronauts in space.

Active play includes anything that gets us moving. Active play is dancing around the living room, throwing a ball, riding a bike, climbing trees, playing at the playground, or a game of organised sport.

There is no age limit on play. When children are engaged in play with their parents, grandparents or other carers they feel safe and loved and all will enjoy the experience and the joy of play. Let the children take the lead and make the rules and decisions about play and observe, listen and remain open-minded. You will see how children use their creativity and imagination to invent games and play with toys in new ways.

They love to draw, create and build things, they also love to hear stories and read together and talk about what may happen next. Around this age children start to play together and may organise games amongst themselves. This is important for communication with others and developing empathy. Put together a collection of dress ups with old clothes and other props for them to play with. Set out a board game to play with friends and family.

For your babies, you are the best toy. Talk to them, sing with them, dance around the living room, play peekaboo, read together. Choose toys that respond when your baby interacts with them such as rattles, squeaky toys or shakers. Make sure these are safe for babies with no small or loose parts. Choosing the right toys for your child is essential.

Just as play can mean different things to different people, the types of toys that will inspire play is limitless.

The safety of any product for children is of the upmost importance for the industry and we continue to voice that through our communications.

For Toddlers, understand they are interested in how things work. They will explore any object within reach, banging, shaking and dropping them to see what happens. They enjoy interactive play such as puzzles or scooping and pouring toys for the bath or sandpit. They will have fun stacking and kicking over blocks or soft bricks Pre-schoolers also love to know how things work and how to solve problems and predict what happens.

From 6 months to 2 years: kids love building blocks. stacking and nesting toys, books, mirrors, musical toys and rattles.

From 2 to 6 years: Dolls and figurines, play dough, art supplies including old cardboard boxes and glue. Natural materials including leaves, sticks and flowers, puzzles, balls, bikes and scooters. Bucket and spade for the sandpit.

6 to 12 years: Bikes and scooters, skipping ropes, playing cards and board games. Sports equipment For Families: Traditional board games and card games, books, musical instruments or a karaoke set or a frisbee, footy or soccer ball to kick in the backyard or local oval.

Play is an important part of a child’s early development. Playing helps young children’s brains to develop and for their language and communication skills to mature. We know from studies that free play is important.

The Value Of Play website offers guidance to parents and professionals on all matters, including fun play ideas for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. www.valueofplay.com.au You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

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SYDNEY’S FASHION MAMAS In 2020 online shopping has never been stronger and this year ‘loving local’ has never been so important. So let’s get behind these local fashion brands run by awesome Sydney mums...

Activewear - P.E Nation An absolute Sydney success, P.E Nation, bearing the initials of the cult activewear brand’s co-founder Pip Edwards, gives a nostalgic nod to old school athletics with a fashion-forward approach to sport luxe design. Pip and her co-founder Claire Tregoning, are both Sydney mums and started the biz when they couldn’t find ‘athleisure’ styles that fit the criteria of cool clothing you can move in. The duo, who originally met while designing for Sass & Bide, are now famous for their signature colour-blocked aesthetics, technical fabrications and geometric design lines. P.E Nation produces funky performancedriven lifestyle apparel for today’s fast paced urban lifestyle.

Cute sweaters - Castle & Things Castle & Things, by the lovely Rachel Castle, is a brand that’ll definitely brighten up your life! They love having fun and you can tell! Rachel has a deep love of words and flowers and hearts and spots and sunshine and sausage dogs and all the colours of the rainbow!!

So, if you’re keen on grabbing glorious art, beautiful bedlinen and the cutest mums and bubs sweaters to make you belly laugh, grab your wallet and go.

Perfect party - Little Party Dress Little Party Dress is an absolute must for those of you who love pretty prints and great cuts at affordable prices which are guaranteed to make youlook and feel fabulous. Think bold prints, added sleeves, elastic waists and… POCKETS! Yay! This fun, affordable brand is run

by Kel who tweaks designs to create what we all love. We’re crushing on the new beautiful Adeline collection, perfect for Mama’s to be, and breast feeding friendly too! Winning!

Amazing prints - Zonkt If you had to imagine stunning bright and bold prints this is the brand you’d be picturing. Kim Spiteri is the queen at the helm of the Zonkt️ brand and as a textile pattern designers she is proud to be *ditching the ordinary* and operating a little differently to most brands. True slow, sustainable fashion, all completely handmade and printed in Australia. Kim is passionate about being a sustainably conscious brand, providing designs that encourage you to Ditch the Ordinary! These high waist leggings made from recycled materials have made us swoon!!

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Funky fun - Confetti Rebels Confetti Rebels is brave, funky, and beautifully colourful with a hint of feminism. Sydney mum Amy, also known as “the pocket rocket“, is behind this brand that thrives off respect, kindness and LOTS of colour! All products are designed in Australia by Amy and are jam packed with totally relatable slogans such as “Tired mums club’, ‘No bad vibes’ and ‘I am not a shit mum.’ WORD!

Easy mumwear - Vine Apparel Sydney mum and Vine Apparel owner Shelley is dedicated to making style effortless by taking the thinking out of getting dressed. If you have a mum tum, or a tummy of any kind, you’ve got to try their panel jeans. They feature a thick band around the top, instead of a normal fly, and they are so unbelievably comfy.

Shelley’s gorgeous easy to wear collections include a range of fabulous bump and breastfeeding friendly dresses as well which we just adore!

For the boys - Tom & Teddy Inspired by their fond memories of the sand and surf Michelle L’Huillier and Jelle de Jong, former residents of Clovelly, created Tom & Teddy. This vibrant beachwear collection for big guys and their little nippers is as cute as can be!! Tom & Teddy is all about friendship, shared experiences and that special bond between father and son. It captures the spirit of the great Australian outdoors and the perfect summer’s day by the water. Heavenly!

Quick drying, salt water and chlorine resistant and terrific prints, surely, it’s time to get the men in your life some new swimmers!!! *Hint Light blue, berry lobster for the win!

Handbag heaven - Ace + Jet Founded in Sydney, by Lisa a mum of two, Ace + Jet is a brand built from humble beginnings. The name was inspired by her two gorgeous sons and was created with a vision to create functional, classic and affordable handmade pieces that couldn’t be found in Australia. This stunning, conscious brand focusses on creating beautiful pieces that are hand made with skill and passion.

We adore this Heather rattan and leather clutch, perfect for the upsoming summer days!

Jewellery love - Uberkate Uberkate is a family affair with mum Kate Sutton and her husband both involved. These gorgeous love birds have a son and a daughter who was her initial biz-inspiration. After travelling the world for work, with a baby girl at home, Kate made her first set of Ubercircles stamped with her daughter’s name which she held close every time they were apart. She started making them in her Sydney studio in 2003 and from this simple emotional design a global wave in personalised jewellery was born along with their signature range of unique gemstones. Her rings are simply to die for and you can check them out in person at her Willoughby store.

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mama can Cook!

The kitchen can be used for more than just cooking food. It’s time to run a bath and take a moment out with these gorgeous natural recipes.

Rose-vanilla bath melts These bath melts give you a nourishing alternative to conventional body moisturisers, and they smell divine. You’ll get 10 bath melts from this recipe, so if you prefer less, then just halve the amounts.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons dried rose petals 1 vanilla bean (chopped into small sections) ½ cup shea butter 2 drops rose essential oil To make: Grind the rose petals and vanilla bean together in a mortar and pestle to create a fine powder. Alternatively, you could use a coffee grinder.

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Melt the shea butter in a saucepan over a very low heat while stirring in the rose and vanilla powder.

Remove from the heat as soon as it’s melted and combined, and stir in the rose essential oil.

Pour into small silicone moulds and let them set in the fridge or freezer. Once set, remove from the moulds and store in a container in your fridge.

To use: Place one bath melt in the water as the tub is filling up. Feel free to rub the bath melt over your body if it hasn’t melted by the time you get in the bath.

Use as often as you’d like.

Ultimate flower bath salts For an instant detox that also helps with water retention I’ll always vouch for the benefits of a Himalayan salt bath. It has a wonderful detoxing effect on the body and skin.

I must say, though, it can get a little boring.

That’s why this recipe calls for flowers. It totally transforms the experience and makes me feel a bit like a fairy goddess, if I’m being honest. You need a lot of salt to really get the benefits here – this recipe makes enough for just one bath – so I recommend shopping at a bulk ingredient or health store, where you can pick things up relatively cheaply. As for the flowers, you can use fresh or dried, or a combination of both. This is my favourite thing to do with a bunch of flowers that aren’t quite good enough to sit in a vase anymore.

To make: If you’re using dried flowers, mix the salt and flowers together with your hands, bruising the flowers and allowing the salt to be infused by their aroma. Add the mixture to the bath as you fill it.

If you’re using fresh flowers, add the salt to the bath as you are filling it and sprinkle the flowers on top of the water after it’s filled.

To use: Hop in your bath and enjoy for at least 20 minutes.

Use as often as you’d like.

Ingredients

3½ cups pink Himalayan salt 1 cup marigold petals 1 cup rose petals 1 cup lavender flowers Option: If you have any favourite fragrant flowers, you can add them too!

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This is an edited extract from The Botanical Beauty Hunter by Maddy Dixon, published by Hardie Grant Books.

Berry enzyme mask For an extra exfoliating boost.

I’m always using berries for beauty. Not only are they great for our health and full of vitamin C, strawberries even whiten our teeth! I also love recipes that use up food that is no longer fresh enough to eat, as I hate waste.

The alpha-hydroxy acids in berries help exfoliate dead dry skin off your face, and the lactic acid in yoghurt supercharges this effect – you can use coconut or soy yoghurt for a vegan option. Lavender oil is really soothing for the skin, that’s why I added it here – and, of course, it smells heavenly.

Ingredients

½ cup organic yoghurt or coconut yoghurt or soy yoghurt ¼ cup blueberries ¼ cup raspberries 1 drop lavender essential oil To make: Blitz the yoghurt and berries together in a blender until the berries have broken down completely.

Pour the mixture into a bowl, add the lavender essential oil and stir to combine.

To use: Apply the mask to a clean face, neck and décolletage and leave on for 10 minutes.

If you notice a little tingling, that’s OK – it is the alpha-hydroxy acids working their magic.

Use once or twice a week.

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Mental Health Month is run by WayAhead - Mental Health Association NSW and supported by NSW Health

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tIMe for famIly fun WHEN THE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED GRAB YOUR SUITCASE AND HEAD TO PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST FOR A FUN FAMILY HOLIDAY. Voted best Family Resort in Australia for the past 9 years, it’s often described as a mini theme park or a cruise ship on land and over the past few months the resort has undergone a major renovation taking it from Best Family Resort in Australia to even better!

And whilst we know there are plenty of reasons you deserve a holiday right now here’s 10 reasons (and many more) to start you off…

1. BUCKET LOADS OF FUN Our central resort area is a giant water playground featuring a lagoon pool, two heated spas and TWO enormous waterparks topped with a bucket that empties over guests in one enormous splash.

2. WHERE KIDS RULE Paradise Resort is the only resort in the country with a Kids’ Club that is available to children 0-12years of age, is open daily and offers every child up to 4 hours of fully supervised FUN every day of their stay FREE of charge when you book direct.

3. RESIDENT ROCKSTAR’S Keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready for our resident mascots Captain, Cleo, Astro and Dusty making special appearances throughout your stay and joining in the many activities.

4. DAILY ENTERTAINMENT With an extensive activities and entertainment program catering from young children through to Mum and Dad there’s no need to leave the Resort.

5. THEMED ROOMS Popular Junior and King Bunkhouse rooms feature brightly painted bunk beds, additional TV for the kids, gaming console, microwave and much more, all designed with family comfort top of mind.

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6. ENDLESS ADVENTURES With a nine-metre rock climbing wall, indoor jungle gym, outdoor adventure playground and onsite ice-skating rink there is something for everyone.

7. FREE TIME FOR PARENTS Book the kids in to a Kids’ Club session and take a ‘guilt-free’ break relaxing in the new adults only pool, bar and lounge set to open early 2021 and exclusive for mums and dads to enjoy some ‘me’ time. Did someone say cocktails?

8. WE’LL DO THE COOKING Catering to even the fussiest of eaters the range of brand new bar and dining outlets including Penguins family restaurant, Jerrys Burger Bar, Debs Pizza Shack and the Poolside Café and Bar open daily.

9. FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE Plans can change so no matter the reason, simply let us know and you can change your dates or cancel up until 7 days prior to your arrival for the smallest of fees.

10. PAY OFF YOUR HOLIDAY You only need to pay a one night deposit when you book and then just like a lay-buy you can choose when you pay off your holiday with easy, interest free repayments via direct deposit or credit card any time prior to your arrival or the final balance being due.

NO ONE STAY AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST IS THE SAME AS THE NEXT, MAKING IT A PLACE TO VISIT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. How many more excuses do you need?

Secure your dates NOW with rooms starting from $169 per night for a limited time, travel on selected dates until 16 Dec 2021.

Visit www.paradiseresort.com.au or call 07 5691 0000. *Conditions apply Advertisement for

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EXISTING IN ISO Like many before her mum Rebecca Klodinsky started a business after finding a gap in the market. When she saw her sister trying on expensive swimwear she’d saved up for she she thought surely there must have been thousands of other girls who were faced with the struggle of a hefty price tag when shopping for quality.

So she started her own swimwear brand. seven years later this little business has grown into a $7M bikini empire called IIXIIST, and to top it all off she’s been running it from the AFL lockdown hub on the Gold Coast as she supports her partner, Geelong’s Lachie Henderson.

First of all you’re a mum, that’s why you’re here! Tell us about your little son.

My son is my world; he’s two-and-half years old and my sidekick in life, we’re a team. I made the deision when he was born that I wanted to keep him as private and as close to me as possible as opposed to over-sharing on social media, particulary when I have a business that requires myself to be an open book and transparent with my own life – professionally and personally. There’s no secrets in my work or day-to-day life, but when it comes to him, that’s where I draw the line.

Every mother is different, there’s no right or wrong. What works for me, works for me and that’s all that matters at the end of the day! I couldn’t imagine going through life without feeling the spectrum of emotion motherhood brings.

How has it been managing a toddler and a multi-million dollar business all within the confines of the AFL hub?

It has been an interesting addition to the rollercoaster of 2020, that’s for sure. If one thing’s certain, there’s no be all and end all of how-to-manage-the-juggle handbook you can read to navigate a situation like this. It has been a matter of sink or swim, adjusting to a “new normal”, creating a new routine and finding a new happy middle ground.

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My days start well before sunrise in order to have some “me time”. I have always been a big believer in regular exercise; it’s so imperative for a healthy mind and body. They have a great gym inside the hub thankfully!! Then throughout the day I’m in back-to-back zoom meetings, overseeing celebrity and stylist requests, managing photoshoots, people and expectations, all while taking regular breaks to spend time with my son.

What was hub-life like? Surely it wasn’t all WAGS and smiles around the pool.

Definitely not!! I am head down and working throughtout the day, which is just what needs to happen at the moment.

From rebranding my label from Frankii Swim to IIXIIST, and then the bittersweet timing of launching as COVID-19 hit, navigating the crippling economy as businesses around me collapse, transitioning to working remotely and raising my toddler as a single mum with a partner whoes AFL schedule is in a league of its own… it’s safe to say life is insanity.

So unfortunately I can’t report it being glamorous!! Unless you find daily health checks and a strict no-entry-no-exit policy appealing.

Everyone kind of sticks to their own inside the hub – we all have lives we’re trying to manage from the confines of a hotel.

When you’re not stuck in AFL lockdown, what your typical day look like?

I’ve worked hard to build my brand to the point where I don’t have to be in an office 9-5 and can work remotely, which is my saving grace being a mum.

My days always begin early, working out and setting my agenda for the day. I’m extremely hands-on in every part of my business: photoshoots and content, website analytics and financials. But my son comes first so if he needs me then what I’m doing will pause.

No one will ever remember the business meetings I missed, but my son will remember the precious moments I was there for.

You’ve had a few business-hurdles along the way. What happened there?

After a few years of behind the scenes back and forth legal issues with another company holding a similar name to Frankii, I was sick of existing in a flooded industry of brands that all sounds the same. When I launched Frankii in 2012, the name was quirky – we were a free standing ‘Frankii’. Fast forward 8 years and the name was popping up everywhere. It was time to step out again and shake things up.

This is when IIXIIST was born; a new name with depth and edge, and a representation of the brand’s evolution, never afraid to stand out or take a leap. Misspelled on purpose, the name questions how we all exist and is a reminder that things are ever-changing.

You’ve seen exceptional business growth, no doubt helped by a few celebs picking up on the brand. An Insta post from Kim Kardashian or Kylie Jenner helps! How did that happen?

I’m proud to say that I’ve never once paid for a celebrity endorsement; these have always been 100% organic, which is a HUGE testament to how we’re doing as a brand. We get requests from the talents’ stylists all the time, we see the emails and get back to them, it’s that simple. What really makes me happy is when the requests are accompanied by screenshots from our Instagram. When the first KKW request came through I remember thinking ‘wow, that’s really cool – Kim was on my Instagram page’!

adopt a new voice and not push sales on our audience. We stripped back the business facade and really amped up the human element behind IIXIIST. This issue is about fashion and beauty. What Australian fashion brands are you loving right now (not swimwear of course)?

LOVING (and have always loved) Jack + Jac. I dress very minimal yet opt for premium labels for quality and longevity. I love the basics they produce and their materials are divine. I’m also a fan of P.E. Nation; their parkas and hoodies are my go-to after a good reformer session And finally what can we expect this Summer and beyond from IIXIIST. Textures applied to really feminine swimsuits.

We have ditched patterns, hardware and prints and have refocused on beautiful, luxurious textures. This season will be our very first 100% sustainable line made using recycled oceanwaste and recycled plastic bottles. At the end of September we’re also launching the very first IIXIIST loungewear collection - again made from ethical material in child-free labour conditions, this range is 100% Australian based.

Responsibility never felt so comfy!

Check out Rebecca’s range at iixiist.com

Once they wear the bikini we see it either on the fan pages, paparazzi shots or they post to their own feed themselves. Once the brand starts getting credited it spreads like wildfire and we sell out with backorders online for sometimes months.

How has Covid-19 affected the brand (besides locking you up in QLD!)?

The world is completely different now. How people spend, how people communicate, how people translate information; and the retail industry is no exception. I am lucky we’ve been able to weather the storm and see this through.

Many swimwear brands and businesses haven’t been as fortunate.. As soon as the lockdowns started I knew I had to change. We edited our marketing campaigns instantly and our social media messaging shifted too. We had to 29

everyday style Since I had my son (who is 3 in October) my style has become more and more about comfort and being casual.

With this in mind I thought I would share with you a few ways I am elevating my everyday look right now. These are the simplest things that I find give me an extra boost day-to-day and ensure I stay creative with my style.

It doesn’t come as a surprise to any mums for me to say so when our typical mornings leave us with very little time to get ourselves ready before we take on our day.

1. Create a morning routine - Set up

Being in iso for such an extended period of time has made me realise and reflect on my personal style and the impact it can have on me. I know I’m not alone when I say that it has become harder and harder to want to look and feel your absolute best when the truth is we are spending so much at home and rarely stepping out of the house. So why bother?

One thing is for sure that for me comfort comes above everything else, but it shouldn’t at the expense of looking put together.

There is so much more behind getting dressed every day and the impact it can have on you.

So when I’m feeling like I don’t want to get ready in the morning, I remind myself, WHY I am showing up today.

No matter what season you are in your motherhood, first and foremost give yourself some grace but also remind yourself that you are so much more and deserve so much more.

Every woman has a purpose to show up for.

So remind yourself every day WHY you are showing up.

You are not JUST at home and looking after your children, you are raising the next generation.

You are not JUST going to work or working from home, you are providing for your family.

You are not JUST getting dressed for your partner, you are cultivating a relationship.

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some time to get ready before the kids get up.

Think about what your ideal morning would look like and how you want to feel each day.

2. Add some colour - If you haven’t heard about “dopamine dressing” it’s meant to help boost your mood with the colours you wear.

So think about colours or patterns that make you feel good and bring you joy.

3. Add one extra detail -

Add a pop of lippy or gloss, some blush on your cheeks, putt on some jewellery, curl or straighten your hair - take your pick! Try each day to add one detail that makes you feel more pulled together.

4. Experiment - Fashion is meant to be

fun and creative! Now is the perfect time to try on new outfit combinations you may have been lacking in confidence to wear in normal circumstances. You may surprise yourself what combos you end up with!

5. Wear things differently - Scrunch up your sleeves, do a Full tuck, Half / French Tuck, Knot your top, put a layer on, mix some textures or patterns. It will lift up your outfit instantly!

6. Accessorise - It’s tempting to leave your accessories off as nobody is around to admire them BUT I find accessories are often the thing that personalises an outfit and makes it unique.

By Eliana Colimodio, Personal Stylist, Style By Eliana. www.stylebyeliana.com

Don’t stress.

We’ll handle the mess.

Between working from home, remote learning and spending quality time with the kids, you don’t need to worry about a messy house. Book a regular weekly or fortnightly clean to keep your home looking pristine.

Your trusted, local team of expert cleaners for home or office.

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Ph 1300 771 446 www.grizzledesign.com.au Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag

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DO IT FOR DEYAAN THIS SAFFRON DAY The Udani family from Western Sydney have been through an unimaginable tragedy, but are now re-telling their experience in the hope of helping others.

Mili and Rupesh decided to create Saffron Day in memory of Deyaan and to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. Saffron symbolises courage and strength, qualities seen in little Deyaan. Orange was also Deyaan’s favourite colour.

Rupesh and Mili’s son Deyaan was a bright seven-year-old boy with an infectious smile.

He was a kind-hearted, beautiful boy and was always willing to help others.

A pinch of Saffron goes a long way, as does the generous gift of organ donation.

On a family holiday to India in 2016, he suddenly passed away from an unexpected brain haemorrhage on the day they were expected to fly home. Rupesh and Mili couldn’t believe it when the doctors told them that Deyaan was brain dead.

Mili and Rupesh ask everyone to get involved in Saffron Day by:

Not long before the trip, Deyaan and his older sister Naisha had learnt about organ and tissue donation at school. They had told their parents they wanted to be organ donors one day to help save the lives of others.

• Wearing orange on Thursday 22 October, and encouraging your school or workplace to do the same. Share your photos on social media with the hashtags #SaffronDay #doitforDeyaan

Little did Deyaan’s mum and dad know that just a few months later they would be faced with this very decision to donate his organs.

• Registering as a donor at donatelife.gov.au/saffronday

In that awful moment Rupesh and Mili remembered that conversation they’d had with Deyaan. Deyaan was gone but there was one thing left they could do for him. Their decision to honour Deyaan’s wish saved four lives.

“Who was to know that months later we would be faced with the decision of whether to donate Deyaan’s organs. It was our worst nightmare. But when the time came to make the decision to switch off life support, we knew that there was one thing that we could still do for Deyaan. A tragedy took Deyaan from us, but if our circumstances were different and Deyaan required a life-saving transplant, we would do anything we could to make it happen,” recalls Deyaan’s mum, Mili.

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In Australia, there are 1,700 people waiting for a life-saving transplant. Despite the majority of Australians saying they support organ donation, only 1 in 3 are registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

• Starting a conversation with your family and friends about organ and tissue donation and encouraging them to register too.

To learn more about Deyaan’s story, visit saffronday.org

22 Oct 2020

Saffron Day honours the life of little Deyaan Udani, a bright seven year old boy with an infectious smile, who tragically passed away in 2016.

Deyaan’s parents’ decision to donate his organs meant that four lives were saved as a result of this incredible gift. #doitforDeyaan on 22 October 2020

STEP 1

Do it for Deyaan – register your decision to save lives as an organ & tissue donor at saffronday.org.

STEP 2

Wear something orange and/or use the merchandise provided, take a photo and post on social media with the hashtags #SaffronDay #doitforDeyaan.

STEP 3

Encourage family & friends to do the same.

The significance of Saffron Saffron symbolises courage and strength, qualities seen in little Deyaan. Saffron is especially important to the Udani family as orange was Deyaan’s favourite colour.

MAKING GOOD CITIZENS 2.5 years ago, Sydney dad Nik Robinson took a massive gamble and started a plastic recycling idea with his two kids, Harry and Archie, and successfully invented a way to turn a discarded 600ml single-use plastic bottle into a pair of sunglasses. Yep, 1 bottle = 1 pair of sunnies. No screws, no metal parts, just one recycled bottle (except the lenses) aptly named Good Citizens!

And what’s even cooler is they also make the cases and cleaning cloths out of 100% recycled bottle plastic too which is all processed in Australia. Plus the frames are made right here in Sydney.

We chat to Nik about this awesome adventure and what it means to have his kids involved

First of all, tell us a little bit about you, your wife and the kids.

Tell us about the kids involvement and what it means to them.

My wife, Jocelyne, and I both grew up in the UK but we’ve both been here for 20 odd years so we feel very at home in Australia now. We live in Sydney with our two boys aged eight and nine. My wife has a public relations background and I’ve had a few careers - radio presenter, creative director and head of content for an entertainment company. Before this, neither of us had any experience in retail, manufacturing, recycling, plastic polymers or creating transparent supply chains, so it’s been a steep learning curve.

The kids have been brilliant at keeping things simple. We adults can over complicate everything. We scribbled down four guiding principles. Every decision gets run through the filter of these principles together with our very simple purpose - to untrash the planet. We ask ourselves, “Will this action untrash the planet quicker?” If so, it’s usually a yes. For example, when we designed the dispatch box for the glasses, we designed two. One was simple and cost 65c, the other was a fancier one that cost $2.80. The kids decided to go with the simple box and use the money we saved to pull plastic waste out of the ocean. We call it the unfancy box.

How did the idea for making recycled glasses come about?

The kids were learning about plastic waste at school and they came home upset that the world was drowning in plastic waste. As a family we’d often talk about the issue and wondered what could we do to help.

After we agreed that we’d do something, I spent every day for a solid four months researching.

Plastic bottles are an incredible menace when discarded thoughtlessly. Over 500 billion are made every year and only 7-9% are recycled; the rest end up in landfill and the ocean.

We took a 600ml PET bottle and studied it, weighed it and explored products we thought could be made from that bottle. Glasses won.

The plastic of one 600ml bottle makes two arms, the frame front and the hinges.

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What sort of impact has Good Citizens had so far on the environment?

So far, we’ve prevented over 5,000 bottles from going to landfill and we’ve pulled 1.35 tons of plastic off beaches and out of the ocean. Our story has been told in publications around the world and we estimate over 16 million people have seen it. This starts a conversation about how trash can be turned into something good and stylish and it makes people think twice about buying a bottle in the first place.

The glasses are designed to last forever by offering replacement parts. How does this work?

The design of the hinge makes the glasses modular which means every frame part can be replaced and fixed in seconds. For the first year we’ll replace any part for free (apart from the lenses) and we’ll recycle the old parts.

Will you be expanding Good Citizens’ product offering moving forward?

We never set out to make sunglasses, we set out to untrash the planet. Sunglasses are just the beginning.

That said, we have so many ideas we’d like to execute in the eyewear space before we develop more products. So, watch this space!

The boys specifically wanted a business that meant you spend more time together. But when it’s not business time where would we find you hanging out as a family on the weekend?

To be honest, the business has consumed a lot of our time as a family. When other kids were being homeschooled in lockdown, ours were helping with assembly and dispatch, so it has felt like a 24/7 idea. We try to make it fun though. We are a very normal and rather boring family most of the time! On the weekend you’ll usually find us at the boys’ soccer games or exploring the parks and beaches around us.

What was your biggest challenge starting with Good Citizens?

Something like this had never been done before to this level so we faced many challenges. Keeping to 100% recycled was particularly tricky especially when everyone was advising us to add another material to make it work. But we were determined to stick with 100%.

Finding a manufacturer in Sydney that was up for the challenge. Keeping mentally strong when we faced issues every day was really hard. I’ll be honest, I cried a number of times from the sheer stress of it all.

Biggest reward?

We’ve been lucky as there have been a few. Selfridges in London giving us an entire window next to Prada and winning a Best in Class and a Gold at the Good Design Awards are definitely up there. But seeing people walking around in our sunnies and receiving emails from customers telling us how good they feel walking around in our glasses, nothing beats that!

Favourite thing about being a dad?

I get to influence how my kids see the world and teach them fun honest lessons.

And finally, where can we grab ourselves some Good Citizens?

Online at goodcitizens.com.au, at the MCA Shop in Sydney and in Selfridges stores across the UK. 35

READY, SET, WINners MamaMag were thrilled to be the Diamond sponsor of this year’s AusMumpreneur Awards in NSW. There were so many fantastic entries from amazing mums across the state who are doing fabulous things in business.

This year’s top gong, The NSW AusMumpreneur of the Year Award, went to not just one clever mum, but five! Belinda, Jade, Glenda, Priscilla and Natalie are the founders of READY SET DANCE and we caught up with them to hear their story…

Congratulations girls, tell us about how READY SET DANCE started.

READY SET DANCE was created in 2014 by partnership of 5 of Sydney’s most successful dance studio owners (us!). The program was originally created as a solution for our studios. There was a huge gap in the market for preschool dance. Existing programs were generally outdated, girl focussed and reliant on the magic of the studio owner. We were inspired to create a fun and fresh genderneutral combo class utilising our vast combined experience as dance educators. Fast-forward 6 years and today our preschool dance program is licensed to 234 dance studios in Australia and NZ with 15,000 preschoolers participating weekly!

You’re obviously all mums! Tell us about each of your families…

Between the five of us we have 8 kids of very different ages. Belinda has a 10 year old daughter, Priscilla has a 6 and 9 year old daughters and Jade has an 11 year old daughter. Natalie’s children are all grown up, with one doing the HSC and the other at Uni. In Glenda’s case her daughter has been living in America for the past eight years as the dance captain for Britney Spears.

What makes READY SET DANCE stand out from other programs?

Our magic ingredient was investing in over 100 original pieces of music combining choreography and musical cues. This 36

investment in intellectual property has become a powerful tool for expansion into other areas like TV. Following the popularity of the program we entered into a joint venture with Nickelodeon to transform the program into a TV show which launched in January 2018 on Nick Jr, made much more possible by the fact we owned our own music. The READY SET DANCE TV show has now been rolled out in 125 countries around the world, dubbed in 20 different languages and has recently been picked up by Channel 10. This global TV success has opened the door to exciting opportunities to expand the program into International markets in 2020 and develop further segments of the ANZ business including merchandising and live shows.

What do you wish you knew before you started your business?

At our first AusMumpreneur conference the incredible speakers from B Box emphasised the importance of protecting intellectual property. We were very focused on protecting our multiple trademarks from the beginning of our business. Our golden goose is our original music and brand. What we wish we were more informed about was the process and costs associated in protecting these marks globally.

The TV show fast-tracked our brand awareness in multiple markets and we felt hurried to make a decision weighing up brand exposure and commercial risk. We were unaware that the trademarking costs would be ongoing in each market as the registration goes through each stage of filing. If we had a better estimate of these costs from the beginning our trademark decisions would have been different and more staggered as required.

What has been your greatest challenge in business, especially this year?

The idea of teaching preschoolers online when the world shut down due to COVID was daunting for our licensees. We pivoted our program and created online training

solutions for our studios. The social interaction this provided offered a sense of routine and normality for kids and a sense of worth and contribution for our teachers during this challenging time.

In lockdown we focused on other segments of the business that could thrive at a time when everyone was at home. The new YouTube content we created and promoted, provided a support Dance@home option, as well as hit the targets needed to monetize our channel.

What have been your top 3 greatest achievements this year?

1. TV SUCCESS - Very few TV programs that are locally produced reach the next stage of airing globally. This has been achieved by a strong focus on making the cast as diverse as possible.

2. DANCE CLASS ACCESSIBILITY – In order to make our dance class accessible for all preschoolers we have worked with special needs consultants, increased boys participation by 20% and adapted guidelines like uniform policies to create a gender neutral delivery.

3. DIVERSIFYING INCOME STREAMS - The Introduction of our eStore has been an integral part of our financial success over the last 12 months enabling us to reach our customers directly. The dance@home merchandise pack created during lockdown became our top seller but also expanded our customer database.

When you’re not busy running your studios and growing your

dance empire, what are you up to on the weekend with the kids?

Belinda, Priscilla and Jade love to take the young ones to musicals and concerts like Jojo Siwa. In honesty though they usually have the best time when we are rehearsing for our TV show and they spend the day building forts and making craft together in a spare studio or office.

Coffee: We have to do a shout out to our office local, ‘Left Bower’ who have the best coffee and conversation.

Playground: Our kids are growing out of the playground age group now but they love to attend holiday workshops together at Spoil Me Kids Day Spa in Sutherland.

Date night: One thing we have enjoyed this year is getting home delivery with our hubbies from some of the top local restaurants. We actually ordered amazing seafood platters from Sea Level to the awards night for Mumpreneur on Zoom and Nat is a big fan of the home delivery Apple Martini too.

Local fashion: We have to leave this one to our resident fashion guru of the office – Glenda.

She definitely knows her way around Miranda Westfield. She can look equally amazing in designer clothes from shops like Sass and Bide or everyday casual wear from Uniqlo.

You can find a local dance class near you at www.readyset.dance and catch their TV show on Nick Jr every morning on 8.30am and 10am EST. As well as 10 PEACH and 10 SHAKE! 37

all eyes on you Whilst it is second nature to throw a pair of sunnies on when we leave the house, how often do you stop and consider the eyes of your children?

Children’s eyes are particularly sensitive, and what we now know is that too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation in childhood can cause short and long-term eye damage. By ‘Slapping’ on a broad-brimmed hat it can reduce UV rays reaching your eyes by up to 50%, but if you ‘slide’ on a pair of sunglasses as well you can reduce the UV rays by up to 98%.

If your child is complaining about the brightness of the sun, or the sun glare is affecting their participation in sports or other outside activities, they could be experiencing eye damage.

Short term effects of UV radiation include: mild eye irritation, photokeratitis (excessive exposure to UV and painful to the eyes), acute photo keratopathy (akin to sunburn of the cornea), inflammation, excessive blinking and photophobia (difficulty looking at strong light).

If any of those symptoms are ignored, longterm problems could occur including cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium (an overgrowth of the conjunctiva on to the cornea) or climatic droplet keratopathy (or cloudiness of the cornea). The good news is that simply wearing sunglasses can help prevent these conditions.

When should children wear sunglasses?

The intensity of UV radiation varies across the year. It can pass through clouds and be reflected off buildings, asphalt, concrete, water, sand and snow. UV radiation can peak during school hours, and on a regular school day, children’s eyes can be exposed to UV radiation for up to two hours or more. When the UV level reaches three or above, the Victorian Government recommends a number of sun 38

protection measures should be put in place.

This is generally from September through until the end of April each year.

Which sunglasses do I buy?

We recommend sunglasses that: • are category 3 and meet the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067.1:2016.

• are wrap-around and close-fitting sunglasses; these reduce peripheral UV exposure.

• have lenses that are made of a polycarbonate material. These are impact-resistant, making them a better choice for active kids.

• are not toy or cheap fashion sunglasses as they will not meet the Australian Standards.

Five tips for getting your kids to wear sunglasses 1. Wear sunglasses yourself. Model the behaviour you want to see in your children.

Remember even on overcast days, UV rays can still cause damage.

2. Choose wrap-around, close-fitting sunglasses. They’re suitable for active kids as they don’t fall off.

3. Choose polycarbonate lenses as these are very impact-resistant, making them a better choice for your kids!

4. Talk to your children about eye health; UV radiation cannot be seen or felt. Let them know sunglasses aren’t just a fashion accessory.

5. Allow kids to pick the colour. They are more likely to wear the sunglasses if they are involved in the decision-making!

Always remember that a combination of sun protection measures is best. SLIP on sun protective clothing, SLOP on broad spectrum sunscreen, SLAP on a broad-brim hat, SEEK shade and SLIDE on sunglasses.

By Sunnies4kids founder, Nathan Gilliland and mum of two active kids, Kellie Floyd.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST DANCE CLASS FOR PRESCHOOLERS WINNER OF BEST PRODUCT & CUSTOMER SERVICE

AS SEEN ON

OVE R 2 LOC 35 ATIO NS

A ONE HOUR COMBO CLASS OF JAZZ, TAP, HIP HOP, SINGING, MUSIC AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN!

www.readyset.dance © 2019 Boom Gate Enterprises Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved

hack your happIness 5 ways to bring more happiness into your day, in less than an hour.

2020 has left many of us feeling afraid. Afraid of slowing down, afraid of keeping up, afraid of holding on and afraid of letting go. The way we live our lives and plan for the future has been rocked to the core destabilising our foundations and making uncertainty and disruption our new companions. There’s an internal battle going on. Do you feel it? That resistance between unrealistic expectations of what you should be doing (based on the way life used to be) and creating the space to adapt to whatever this new normal is.

The struggle is real, many of us have deprioritised our happiness at the expense of productivity. Happiness Poverty is alive and well. It’s the state of having an insufficient amount of joy in our lives. According to happiness researcher Shawn Accor the more positive we are the more intelligent, creative and effective we become. The fact is that enhanced productivity is a by-product of happiness. Our brains operate more effectively when we create the space for joy and do it often.

According to the research undertaken by Happiness Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky 50 per cent of your happiness is genetically determined which means it’s fixed, you are born with it, 10 per cent relates to your circumstances, and the remaining 40 per cent?

Well that’s up to you!

This is where the concept of hacking happiness comes in. When we hack happiness, we give ourselves permission to let go of the preconceived notion of happiness being an end goal (e.g. When I have that thing I will be happy.) Instead we embrace happiness as a way of being, it’s a practice. It’s allowing ourselves the opportunity to experiment daily with simple hacks that enable us to amplify our happy moments. Let’s take a look at some of my personal favourites, all of which take less than 15 minutes but deliver lasting impact: 40

1. Dabble in rose, bud, thorn: I love to do this with my 10-year-old son. Each day over dinner we share a rose: something that bought us joy today, a bud: something we are looking forward to, and a thorn: something that wasn’t so great today. It’s a beautiful way to make the practice of gratitude a focus. Equally there’s no reason you can’t enjoy this practice alone.

2. Do something brave: Give yourself permission to believe in yourself through the practice of micro bravery.

Resilience is born out of leaning into fear and experience tells me micro bravery is one of the best ways to build it. Micro bravery is doing small things each day that make you feel uncomfortable. It can be as simple as having a difficult conversation, signing up for an online class to learn something you know nothing about or sharing something that makes you feel a little vulnerable with someone else. Small acts of bravery practiced over time build the courage and confidence to lean into bigger acts of bravery enabling you to unlock potential and possibility you never imagined.

3. Remove the word busy from your vocabulary: A psychologist once said to me “a busy mind will go to anxiety it’s just a matter of time. Busy perpetuates busy and the feeling of being stuck on a hamster wheel running a million miles an hour”. I made a choice a few years back to remove the word from my vocabulary and the impact on not only my mindset but on the conversations, I have is huge! When people now ask me how I am I share I’m “positively engaged”. It keeps me accountable to ensuring that I spend my days positively engaged as opposed to busy and cultivates some curious conversations.

4. Gift yourself the start of the day: Give yourself permission to gift yourself the start of the day. This one may feel the hardest because so many of us are programmed to believe that if we finish all the stuff on our to do list we will have time for joy at the end of the day. So, we start the day doing…checking email, sorting kids, looking at social media…

Try getting up just 15 minutes earlier each week day (you will need to also practice going to bed a little earlier for this to be sustainable).

This is your sacred time so don’t check your phone, don’t go near it, instead gift yourself the start of the day by doing one small intentional thing that sets the tone for the type of day you want to have. It must be something that brings you joy…journal, read, write, move (do a short yoga practice or walk around the block).

Whatever works for you. This is by far the single thing that brings me the most joy. Words cannot explain what a treat this can feel like especially if the rest of the world is still asleep.

5. Ground yourself: Grounding is quite simply physically connecting yourself to the earth. Take off your shoes and walk on the grass, touch a tree.

Whilst a relatively new area of science there is emerging evidence that connecting physically with nature helps us sleep better, can reduce pain and bring more joy.

Penny Locaso is the world’s first Happiness Hacker on a mission to teach 10 million humans how to intentionally adapt in order to future proof happiness. She is the author of Hacking Happiness (Wiley $29.95).

Visit www.hackinghappy.co

A psychologist once said to me “a busy mind will go to anxiety it’s just a matter of time. Busy perpetuates busy and the feeling of being stuck on a hamster wheel running a million miles an hour”.

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GRAB A LITTLE QUIET TIME

All in the name of anti-ageing

In your 30’s, 40’s or 50’s and starting to notice the effects of ageing? Skin looking a little dry, and a little more dull and drab, and you can’t get that dewy plumpness back? Your hair doesn’t grow as much, or it’s starting to get thinner, or you’ve noticed your first grey hairs? Your nails are weaker and even splitting more? Your joints ache and you don’t recover as well after a big night or a busy week, and your skin doesn’t heal as quickly, yet you just don’t seem to have that glowy, dewy, supple skin anymore no matter what products you slather on your face!

We are all getting older, and the effects of ageing start to creep up on us pretty quickly!!

No matter if you’re in your 30’s, or your late 40’s, you’ll no doubt start to see changes happening… and this is due to the ageing process and the depletion of natural collagen production in your body, which starts to deplete by 1% to 2% per year from your mid20s. So by the time you’re in your mid 30’s, you have potentially lost nearly 10-15% natural collagen production, so imagine in your 40’s and into your 50’s, where this number climbs to around 35-40% - no wonder these things start to deplete, and you’re not as happy looking in the mirror...

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Yes, this is the ageing process, but it’s also about the natural collagen depletion your body is going through!

Collagen is like the ‘glue’ that holds everything together in our bodies, it’s important in creating stronger joint and tendon health, assisting improved gut health and digestion, promoting smoother, enhanced skin that has that supple elasticity and looks more hydrated with improved texture, and of course thicker hair, faster growing, stronger nails, and better overall beauty from within.

But how do you take collagen?

Well, it’s all about ingestion – you need to consume collagen to get the benefits of the peptides. The trick with collagen is that you need to consume it regularly, consistently, as it needs to build up in your system, especially considering your skin has a 28 day cycle…. so you may not start to see results immediately.

Initially, you’ll start to see improved nail strength and faster growing nails, even your toenails start to grow – this is the sign that you’re drinking it consistently! Then you’ll start to feel thicker newer hair growth, and then lastly your skin will start to improve, with less bumps, a more hydrated, elastic smoothness and the diminished appearance of fine lines and a much better, smoother texture that you’ll be impressed with. But it’s all about consistency.

The results are all dependent upon your age, how much UV exposure you’ve had, your sugar intake, smoking and the environmental pollutants you’ve been exposed to, and of course your consistency in taking collagen, as every body is different, but with regularly and consistently drinking our collagen beauty teas, you’ll start to see results and that fear of ageing should diminish!

There is much science behind hydrolyzed collagen peptides showing results can start in as little as 8 to 10 weeks, however, as every person is different, some may see results after 4 weeks, and many may not see results until much later.

If you want to support your body, and feel and look better, along with regular exercise, drinking lots of water and having great nights’ sleep, collagen may be the perfect addition to your daily routine. 35% of people take supplements, and collagen is now the number two supplement in the USA in 2020 - that’s quite telling that women are discovering this supplement as we all want to look and feel our best!

With our crazy lives getting faster and faster, with more and more to do, it’s no wonder that women the world over are discovering the power of collagen, and when mixed with the ancient remedial benefits of drinking tea – well, you seriously need to take just a little five minutes of some quiet time to pamper your skin and have a break - after all, you deserve it!

By Sam Arcadipane, the Founder of Fusspot Collagen Beauty Teas. Sam has left corporate life to pursue her own business and dream of giving mums and women something just for them – a little time out with a cup of tea that is also great for your skin! You can find out about the powerful benefits of each blend on www.fusspottea.com

Most women are “super-beings”, making very little time for themselves… being super-mums doing everything from running businesses, working from home as well as home-schooling, fitting in friends and family, running households and chores, organising the family, as well as doing admin, cooking, cleaning and sending that board report in on time.

So why not make a little time each day for a little quiet luxury, with a delicious hot cup of collagen beauty tea that will not only give you five minutes of peace, but will assist your skin, help get your glow back, and support your overall wellbeing all at the same time!!!

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turn the page

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Bandits by Sha’an d’Anthes Fern lives in a colourless, lifeless city and has only ever seen trees as pictures in her books. Fern is told that the bandits who come in the middle of the night to steal from the city dwellers are bad guys, but when she follows them back to their home she discovers a land of colour, life, friendship and a future she believes in.

Bandits is an adventure story that can be a jumping off point for parents to talk about more complex topics like friendship, the environment, urbanisation, prejudice and diversity. Sha’an d’Anthes is an author and illustrator from Sydney. Her work is vibrant, playful and curious; delighting children and adults alike.

For children aged 4+. Published by hachette.com.au RRP $24.99.

Back to Sleep by Zoë Foster Blake A warm and funny bedtime story where it’s the parents who won’t go to sleep. Back to Sleep is a reflection of Zoë’s much-loved brand and profile, told with an authenticity and humour born of experience.

Poor Finn is looking forward to drifting off to sleep in his cosy warm bed, when Mummy appears wanting a drink. Finn resettles her and has just fallen asleep, when he’s woken again . . . this time by Daddy, who’s had a bad dream. And so it goes. Just when Finn has one parent back to sleep, the other wakes up! When will these two sleep through the night?

Published by Penguin Books $19.95

Poppy Picker by Stella Stamatakis When Poppy Picker keeps putting her finger up her nose, we know it won’t end well. Her parents are disgusted, her teachers’ upset, and her friends grossed out. She’s been warned about the Booger Monster many times.

But will she listen before it’s too late?

Poppy Picker was inspired by author Stella’s own story of losing part of her finger as a young child. In the classroom as a primary school teacher Stella created many tales to engage her students as to how and why her finger was missing. “My students would shriek in delight and horror as I would embellish the story of the booger monster and how he bit my finger off. www.stellastamatakis.com RRP from $16.95

The Ee in the Deep Blue Sea by Judith Barker This is the story of the ee. A curious sound as you can see. The EE in the Deep Blue Sea is a fun. Australian-themed phoneme story that teaches young readers about the vowel sound ee and where they can find it in different words. The book explores many undersea and reef environments and introduces children to twenty of the creatures that live there.

Published by Woodslane RRP $16.99 45

The Polar Bear in Sydney Harbour by Beck & Robin Feiner A polar bear in Sydney Harbour? When Hannah spots a polar bear in Sydney Harbour, she knows something isn’t right ... But even worse, none of the adults seem to notice him at all. Can Hannah help her new friend find his way back home?

From the creators of If I Was Prime Minister comes an empowering and inspiring new picture book about standing tall and shining bright.

Published by Harper Collins RRP $24.99.

Aunty’s Wedding by Miranda Tapsell and Joshua Tyler Everyone on the island is getting ready for Aunty’s wedding. Maningawu wears her best hat and I wear a wurrijinga in my hair. We all dress up, but I still don’t understand. Why do people have a wedding?

A warm family story that celebrates love and culture from actor, activist, writer and Australian sweetheart, Miranda Tapsell, and Joshua Tyler, cowriter of Top End Wedding, lushly illustrated by Samantha Fry. www.stellastamatakis.com RRP $24.95

HOWL by Kat Patrick Maggie has had a very bad day. First of all, the sun was the wrong shape, in a sky that was too blue. The spaghetti was too long, and her pyjamas were the wrong kind of pyjama. Then Maggie begins to have wolfish thoughts...

Howl is a masterfully told and exquisitely drawn story of a young girl’s way of expressing and resolving big feelings.

Available from Scribble Kids Books RRP $24.99.

Vote 4 Me by Krys Saclier The students of Mount Mayhem primary school are fed up. Their uniform is hideous, the tuckshop sells only healthy food, and the sports cupboard is empty. It’s time to find a leader who will speak on their behalf. But who will it be? They need an election!

Fortunately Ms Sparks is an expert on preferential voting. Voting has never been so much fun. Australia’s preferential voting system explained!

Key curriculum topic covered in the most delightful way. Excellent teacher support material and classroom activities available for download.

Published by Wild Dog Books RRP $24.95

Poopy Pants and Potty Rants by Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas ‘Hey there, kiddo! The time is right for you. ‘You’re going to learn the big-kid way to do a wee and poo!’ After an amazing AFL career, Daisy retired at the end of 2019 and can now most often be found singing along to Frozen with his daughter, Tilly. Poopy Pants is a hilarious look at the hits and misses of toilet training, focusing on the delightful bond between a father and a daughter. With relatable gems like ‘this time it must be true!’, a reward chart and 120 stickers inside, this is a warm-hearted, funny celebration of parenting and potty training.

Published by Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin RRP $19.95 46

How to break up with friends by Dr Hannah Korrel We all have that one friend. The one who expects the world, but never remembers your birthday. The one who ditches your dinner plans when you’re already halfway to the restaurant.

Why do we keep these people in our lives? How do we go about getting rid of these crappy companions?

ad ul ts

This is the no-bullshit, essential guide for anyone devoting their precious time and energy into maintaining friendships with toxic friends. Dr Hannah Korrel will help you to identify the bad friends in your life, understand what true friendship should look like, learn how to attract the best people, and become the best friend you can be yourself.

Published by Impact Press $24.99

Paul Jennings Untwisted, by Paul Jennings In the telling of his own tale, children’s author and screenwriter Paul Jennings demonstrates how seemingly small events can combine into a compelling drama. As if assembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle he puts together fragments, memories and anecdotes to reveal the portrait of a complex and weathered soul.

The accounts of the trials and joys of turning his stories into episodes of the television program Round The Twist will be of special interest to the millions of fans of this series. Untwisted is revealing, moving and very funny.

Paul Jennings has crafted perhaps his most masterful story yet ... the story of his life.

Published by Allen and Unwin RRP $34.99

My Year of Living Mindfully by Shannon Harvey From the director of the internationally acclaimed documentary of the same name, MY YEAR OF LIVING MINDFULLY is a book filled with compelling stories, groundbreaking science, and unexpected insights that go to the heart of what it means to be human in the twenty-first century.

In the midst of a global mental health crisis, millions of people have turned to mindfulness. But does it actually work? In a world-first experiment, journalist Shannon Harvey recruited a team of scientists to put mindful meditation to the test. But what began as a year-long self-experiment soon became a life-changing experience.

Published by Hatchette RRP from $15.99.

The Music Advantage: How learning music helps your child’s brain and wellbeing by Anita Collins As a ground-breaking music educator and popular expert on ABC TV and radio, Dr Anita Collins draws on the latest neurological research to reveal the extraordinary benefits of learning music, from newborns to teenagers.

With practical strategies and real examples from home and school, The Music Advantage shows how parents and teachers can use music to improve reading skills, create focus, enhance memory and assist with behavioural habits in children.

Published by Allen and Unwin RRP $32.99 47

Create an artwork to show how you are keeping safely connected with your family, friends and community during this time. Artworks can include drawings, paintings, photographs, digital illustrations or videos.

Age group catergories: Under 5, 6-11, 12-18

The competition is open to all children and young people up to the age of 18 living in NSW. It’s not about being a good artist, it’s about finding inspiration and sharing your voice through art.

For more information and to enter visit: www.digitallunchbreak.nsw.gov.au

Entries close Friday 9 October 2020.

There will be 9 winners (3 from each age group.)

Winners will recieve receive a prize from a $1050 prize pool.

Go directly to the entry page via: bit.ly/ART20CW

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PARTNERING WITH PARENTS IN EARLY LEARNING Take a look inside any children’s service and you will see children actively playing, interacting, exploring and learning, guided by qualified educators. Children’s services plan and provide play-based programs to support children’s development and learning. The educators draw on a range of information including essential documents such as The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) and the National

50

Quality Framework (NQF) to provide stimulating programs that extend each child’s learning.

However, their first and most important source of information is each child’s family.

Families hold crucial knowledge about their children, their culture and community. This wisdom is acknowledged in the guiding principles of the NQF which states “…families are children’s first and most influential teachers” (ACECQA 2020). Children’s services are motivated to collaborate with families to gain a richer understanding of each child and their family context and to effectively support children’s learning and development.

Partnering with parents Children’s services strive to develop strong partnerships with families, recognising that parents are valued partners in their child’s learning and within the service. Each family is welcomed into the service and information sharing already begins with the enrolment enquiry. It continues during the child’s and family’s orientation and commencement and develops throughout their time with the service. The collaboration methods will change and grow along with the child’s development and the family’s expectations and involvement.

Collaboration and conversations Any time is a great time for parents to share information with the service about their child. This often happens through informal conversations such as during drop off and pick up times, where information is exchanged about the child’s home life, interests, learning, sleep patterns and routines. Face to face meetings with educators can be opportunities to discuss goals for the child, developmental progress and strategies to support learning.

Every service appreciates parents’ ideas and will have different ways for families to contribute feedback and be connected with the service. For example, parents can add suggestions to the learning program through digital platforms or writing in the program document or a feedback book in their child’s room. There are opportunities to be part of philosophy and policy reviews. Involvement in the children’s program by parents and extended family can range from joining in on excursions to sharing skills such as gardening, languages, cooking, carpentry, cultural traditions, etc.

When parents partner with their child’s service and share insights about their child and family there are significant benefits for children, families and the service.

Getting to know you Partnerships with parents helps educators gain a deeper understanding of the child, their family relationships, their routines, development, behaviour patterns, key settling strategies, home language, culture and play preferences. The educators use this

information to provide learning programs that build on children’s individual interests and abilities.

Belonging and identity Really knowing each child is crucial for educators to create programs that continue to respond to children’s needs and nurture their sense of belonging and identity. This reflects the intent of the EYLF in fostering children’s identity, wellbeing and confidence as learners, now and into the future.

Consistency works Information sharing supports parents and educators to work together on consistent approaches for children, including for example calming strategies, established routines and behaviour support. Consistency helps children navigate the expectations of home and child care and feel a sense of trust and security in the familiar practices. Building a trusting partnership with the service can help parents to feel confident in sharing information about any changes to family circumstances. The service can tailor the education and care strategies to meet the child’s and family’s changing needs, whether short or long term.

Quality matters All children’s services have a quality improvement plan which guides continuous improvement for the whole service. The quality improvement plan relies on different voices to assess the service and prioritise improvements. Parents can offer feedback and ideas which will bring unique insights and perspectives to the quality improvement plan, leading to higher quality programs for children.

The saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ becomes a reality through meaningful partnerships between families and early years services. Take up opportunities to connect and collaborate with your children’s service – you will be welcomed!

By Sabina Klepp – Education Practice Partner Story House Early Learning www.shel.edu.au

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SWIM SAFE

Tips to help keep kids safe in and around the water in Sydney this Summer

In Australia we have access to a wonderful variety of water environments for our recreational activities. These include the ocean, rivers, lakes, creeks, pools and spas. These environments, however, can be dangerous to children. Tragically, children represent the most vulnerable group in relation to drowning, particularly those under 5 years of age.

On rivers and lakes

Most water-related accidents can be avoided by following a few simple safety tips.

• Avoid swimming near boat ramps or in boating areas.

In and around public pools and spas

Fishing and boating

• All gates to swimming pool areas should always be kept closed.

• Always choose a safe spot for kids to fish.

• Keep older children in sight at all times.

Public pool areas can be very busy. Younger children should be within arm’s reach.

• Be careful not to stand on an overhanging bank.

• Check the current before letting children enter the water.

• Do not let children dive into a river or a lake.

• Enter cold water slowly.

• Ensure children wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

• Check that any fishing equipment is suitable for the child’s age and size.

• Be aware toys and other floating devices can obscure your view.

• If children are in a boat ensure they wear a life jacket at all times.

• If you leave the pool or water area, even for a moment, take the children with you.

• Life jackets should be fastened correctly and be appropriate for the child’s size and weight.

• Always check the temperature of the spa before children get in.

• Children should not put their head under the water in a spa as this could increase the risk of entrapment in the suction outlets.

• The life jacket should keep the child’s head above the water and the child’s chin or ears should not slip through the neck of the life jacket.

• Tie your child’s hair back in pools and spas to avoid entrapment.

• Give children appropriate tasks on boats to get them involved and teach them skills.

• Set safety rules for children on and around boats.

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Camping and caravanning • Many campgrounds are located near natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and creeks.

• Campgrounds may even feature man-made swimming pools and water parks. However, even a little water can pose a safety hazard.

• Set the campsite or caravan as far away from the water as possible.

• Ensure there is adult supervision. Resist the temptation to allow children to run freely.

• Check water conditions regularly as these can change quickly, particularly after rain.

At the beach • Always swim with children at a beach supervised by lifeguards or patrolled by lifesavers.

• Swim between the red and yellow flags.

They mark the safest areas to swim. If you are unsure of conditions, ask a lifesaver before letting children in the water.

• Keep an eye on the weather, waves and currents.

• Take children to the rock pool to swim, paddle or just explore. Rock pools provide an enclosed, shallow area away from the surf.

Supervision

• Children of school age should be taught about water safety and how to swim.

• It is recommended that younger children should also be taught water skills, however this does not replace adult supervision.

First aid Always supervise children when they are in or around the water. Read and obey all safety signs. Check for hazards in any new environments. But most importantly adults should have current first aid training.

Training is available from: • St Johns Ambulance • Royal Life Saving • Australian Red Cross • other registered first aid training organisations.

Safety tips for keeping kids safe provided

by Kidsafe New South Wales Inc. kidsafensw.org For more information you can also visit: mynrma.com.au royallifesaving.com.au kidshealth.schn.health.nsw.gov.au watersafety.nsw.gov.au www.spasa.com.au

• Supervise young children at all times when they are in or around the water.

• Always stay within arm’s reach if your child is under 5.

• Designate an adult to be responsible for supervising children near water.

• Use a system such as a hat or armband to identify the supervising adult.

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a hero born Meet Reuben Cullen. By day you’ll find him in his high-vis working in electrical, but as soon it’s time to knock off you’ll catch him at home writing poetry, working on his next children’s book or hanging out with mates having a laugh.

Reuben Cullen’s spiky bleached hair and funloving grin are the first things you notice about him. Even before he speaks you know this down-to-earth construction worker is not your average children’s book author. But life hasn’t always been laughs for Reuben who has faced challenging life experiences with addiction and recovery as well as losing contact with a child he considered his daughter.

“During the day you can find me in my high-vis vest working in demolition, but once I clock-off you’ll catch me writing poetry and stories – always with music on,” At his darkest point Reuben’s relationship fell apart and his drug addiction spiralled out of control which ultimately contributed to the loss of contact with his ex-partner’s daughter Kasey, who he had raised as his own daughter from the age of 1 to 8.

Reuben not only lost the ability to read and write but loosing contact with the little girl he taught to read, write and ride a bike was equally heartbreaking. Thankfully he realised that ultimately only he could bring himself out of his situation, and he had to step up and be his own hero. Today his aim is to inspire and empower children to also be their own heroes.

With his love of writing helping him heal, Reuben has recently launched his first book, A Hero Born, that he hopes will pass on a message of self-love, confidence and self54

esteem to children across Australia – all things he was struggling with himself while writing the book during his recovery from addiction.

During the dark period of his addiction, he became incapable of doing what he loves most; writing. This for him was the turning point that inspired him to turn his life around and became the motivation for him to write A Hero Born.

“Working hard on the book gave me an outlet again and made me accountable for something in my life that I was interested in. I found it helped me with removing the drugs from my life.”

It might seem strange for a recovering addict to write a children’s book, but Reuben had a deeply personal reason to want to share his story of empowerment with younger audiences. Naturally this book is dedicated to Kasey Jane, the young girl Reuben loved and helped raise from the age of one when he was in a long-term relationship with Kasey’s mum.

“Kasey was a big reason I wanted to write the book. I wanted to one day have something to show her and hopefully read to her. I just hope kids can learn to be the best person for themselves from reading the book – if I can just help one child not go through what I did then I’ll be happy.”

More than 6% of Australians aged over 14 years have used amphetamines, including Ice, one or more times in their lifetime, and 2.4% of 12 to 17-year-olds have tried amphetamines.

Reuben’s own experiences taught him that you need to start young in sharing messages of selfesteem and resilience to help adolescents avoid the same destructive path he went down.

Others agree and see the power in someone with Reuben’s reallife experiences sharing a genuine, educational and inspiring story of hope with Australian children.

Reuben’s words have been brought to life by vibrant and imaginative illustrations from Michael Glenda, a father of three, and a well-known street and tattoo artist.

The book follows the parallel adventures of both a caped hero and an everyday hero to prove that anyone can save the day. The motivational messages throughout the story encourage children to be ambitious, healthy, reliable, selfless, caring, honest, confident, determined and happy.

“A Hero Born is about a child looking up at a hero and talking about the traits and values of a hero, but by the end he realises he is his own hero through simply acting out these values himself. My journey has taught me the importance of believing in yourself.”

Reuben wants to inspire kids all over the world, and to help them understand just how special and important each of them is. His writing is carefully considered in order to surprise and educate children in a fun and meaningful way. He would love to share his stories with children to help them develop the tools to live a positive and happy life.

A Hero Born is available from reubencullenkids.com RRP $24.99 55

The rise of allergies It was a Saturday afternoon and my wife Cindy and I were at a Chinese yum-cha restaurant with our extended family, including our six-monthold daughter Olivia. The dumplings had all been devoured and it was time for dessert. One of the delicacies at the yum-cha restaurant was an egg tart. We fed a bit of one to Olivia. We were introducing her to a range of solid foods at the time and thought nothing of giving her a piece. But just a few minutes later my motherin-law noticed a new rash over Olivia’s lips.

The rash then spread all over her face, and she started to become wheezy. She looked quite uncomfortable, and I thought that she might be in pain. We all rushed over to her— myself, Cindy, my brother-in-law, his girlfriend and both grandparents. The waitresses even came over to see what was going on. In the middle of the cacophony, I heard a voice yell out: ‘Is there an EpiPen®?’ That panic-stricken voice was mine.

I am a qualified medical specialist, but in this situation I was absolutely powerless. I had no access to any medical resources, and there was no EpiPen® in the restaurant. For a few terrifying moments, I watched as my daughter’s reaction escalated, my own heart pounding as my worst fears as a parent were realised.

We rushed her into the car to take her to the nearby hospital, but mercifully her reaction began to subside. As we drove, she did not become

Allergic diseases are increasing on an unprecedented scale in both developed and developing countries around the world.

According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), almost 20 per cent of the Australian population has an allergic disease. That’s almost one in five people— a staggering figure.

One in nine Australians— or an estimated 2.7 million people— had asthma in 2017–18. Nearly one in five Australians— or approximately 56

short of breath nor did her face swell up. When we got to the emergency department, Olivia was assessed as stable and discharged with advice to follow up with an allergy specialist.

Without a doubt, this was one of the most harrowing and distressing events in my life to date. You may also have experienced such an event too. Your child may have a severe allergy or a mild one. Maybe you have an allergy yourself and are concerned about your kids’ risk of developing one. Perhaps you are planning a family, pregnant or hoping to expand your family, and you are aware of the increasing rate of allergies and want to know what you can do to reduce the likelihood that your baby will have one. Whatever the case may be, as a doctor and a parent I can sympathise with the feelings of fear, anxiety and disempowerment that you are probably feeling in the face of the scourge of allergies. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone. I’ve written this book to provide you with an arsenal of information about the practical things that you can do during pregnancy and birth, and on into your baby’s infancy and early childhood, to help prevent allergies developing.

A new wave of science has brought fresh understanding about the link between allergies and the gut that every parent concerned about allergies should know about.

Dr Vincent Ho 4.5 million people— suffered from hay fever (allergic rhinoconjunctivitis) in 2014–15. Eczema occurs in around 20 per cent of babies, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide.

We also know that it’s kids who are experiencing the most severe allergies. In Australia, for young children aged between zero and four years of age, there was a 5.5-fold increase in anaphylaxis from 1994 to 2005. Food allergy is rampant and affects around 10 per cent of babies up to twelve months old.

In fact, Australia has the highest rate of confirmed food allergy in the world. The HealthNuts study assessed over 5000 infants and in 2011 found that 9 per cent of one-yearold Australian babies had an egg allergy. The good news is that 80 per cent of babies will outgrow their egg allergy within a few years.

Even those who suffer from severe reactions are still likely to outgrow an egg allergy, with only a very small proportion keeping the allergy for life. A peanut allergy, on the other hand, is almost the opposite— only 20 per cent of children grow out of their allergy.

The allergy problem is only going to get worse. ASCIA predicts that by 2050, the number of Australians affected by allergic diseases will be an astounding 7.7 million.

From my own experience on the ground, I know that the situation is bad. Waiting times for allergy clinics at public hospitals have blown out to many months, and even in the private sector there are huge waiting lists for testing, diagnosis and treatment.

Many of my immunology colleagues have told me that they already have enough work to keep them going until retirement, as there is no shortage of children needing testing and ongoing management. Many of these children will become adults with chronic allergies.

What causes allergies?

Are we just not dirty enough anymore?

I feel pretty lucky to have had no allergies or major medical issues in my life so far. My mum often reminds me that when I was a toddler I was always playing around in the dirt in our backyard. Apparently I even used to eat ants.

Mum believes that contact with ‘dirt and bugs made you strong’, and I’ve always wondered if there might be some truth to that.

Scientists have proposed the hygiene hypothesis as a way to explain the rising prevalence of allergic diseases. This is the theory that early-childhood exposure to particular microbes (germs) protects kids against the development of allergic diseases.

Lifestyle changes in industrialised countries— more sterile urban environments; more time spent indoors— have resulted in less exposure to microbes, especially for children. This has meant fewer infections, but it is also associated with a rise in allergies.

In other words, we’re not being exposed to the kind of bacteria that we once were, so our bodies aren’t learning how to fight certain diseases. It seems like my mum was right— playing in the dirt as a kid is good for you.

The story of the hygiene hypothesis is a fascinating one.

In 1989, Professor David Strachan, a London epidemiologist (a scientist who studies diseases within specific populations of people), published the results of a survey of more than 17,000 British children exploring the increased incidence of hay fever in post-war Britain. A curious pattern emerged in the data: the more elder siblings a child had, the less likely he or she was to develop eczema by the age of one and hay fever by the age of 23.

Professor Strachan believed the older children were passing some protective effect on to their younger siblings, and that this special protective effect was exposure to microbes. This earlychildhood exposure to particular microbes affected the development of the younger siblings’ immune systems, which protected them against allergies.

The catchy title of Professor Strachan’s paper was ‘Hay fever, hygiene, and household size’.

Funnily enough, the word ‘hygiene’ was only used in the title of the paper and nowhere else in the text. Despite this, the media and scientific community zeroed in on the idea that we’re simply not dirty enough anymore. But how exactly does this work? And why are some microbes ‘good’ for us but not others?

This is an edited extract from The Healthy Baby Gut Guide by Dr Vincent Ho, Allen and Unwin, RRP $29.99, available now.

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