Westside MamaMag April/May 2020

WESTSIDE

mamamAg Apr/May 2020

fUN Craft, food and fun for kIds at home Coronavirus and kids Hand washing help House-bound fun Not so mumsy Germ gems

free Local fun for the Westside mum 1

INSPIRING LITTLE LEARNERS QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION

• Individualised learning programs • Qualified and experienced educators • Tailored learning and curriculum

for each age

• Safe, exciting and fun learning

environments

• Indoor and outdoor play

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KEILOR DOWNS 7 Copernicus Way Keilor Downs VIC 3038 Ph 03 9366 4380 keilordowns@shel.edu.au

1300 786 794 www.shel.edu.au

TARNEIT 414 Derrimut Road Tarneit VIC 3029 Ph 03 9749 6300 tarneit@shel.edu.au

Let your child’s early learning story begin with us

strange tImes This issue was meant to be about homes and holidays.

Ironic isn’t it as we are now pretty much stuck at home and most holidays we had planned are cancelled or off limits. Instead there’s a lot in this issue about Covid-19 because, as we go to print, it’s hard to think about anything else to be honest. Many of us are calming the fears of our children while worrying about our ageing parents. Many of us are worrying about our jobs or our businesses. We’ve already had weeks of decisions we never thought we’d have to make; whether to leave kids in childcare or school, whether to cancel or continue holidays, and whether that cough means we should be self-isolating. This, along with the waiting for Coronavirus to impact Australia more, has had a huge impact on our mental health. Beyond Blue suggests limiting your media contact, accessing only good quality information, and trying to stay calm and practical. So in this issue we’re aiming to support you in this as best we can. One thing we do know is it is a time to come together and support one another.

We will get through this, how well no one knows. We will holiday again, just when no one knows. Maybe now, with kids at home, is a great time to get out that old atlas or globe or use technology to take a virtual tour of Australia or the world and dream and plan the places you could go after all this settles. We did leave a bit of travel content in this issue. Marcia Leone of Not So Mumsy fame has just released an awesome book on all things motherhood and her travel tips in there were simply too good not to share.

If you’re looking for a distraction perhaps grab the book online for a bit of couch reading. We’ve also included a list of awesome Aussie holiday parks that include fantastic waterparks. Our local tourism industry will need our support again and I felt it was important to give them some love in this trying time.

By the time you read this magazine, who knows what will be happening in our country, but my fingers are crossed we get through this ok. I hope I have provided you with some practical support in this issue that isn’t too overwhelming, as well as some fun for both you and the kids. I’ve spent the last week scrambling to redesign the whole magazine whilst freaking out as to whether there were going to be any places open to even leave them for you to find. Wherever you are, stay strong and make sure you reach out to those around you for both love and support and to make sure they too are ok. Sending you all lots of virtual hugs (since the real ones are off limits) xxx @localmamamag

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

Reduce your risk of Coronavirus

Contents House-bound fun

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Real kids - real play

Not So Mumsy

STAY at home if you feel sick. If you take medication make sure you have enough.

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PHONE your doctor or the hotline - 1800 675 398 if you need medical attention.

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CONTINUE healthy habits: exercise, drink water, get plenty of sleep.

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WEARING a face mask is not necessary if you are well.

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BUY an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60% alcohol.

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Find out more and to check for the latest updates visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

How to discuss Coronavirus

Coronavirus with a baby Prepare and respond

Seating sorted Getting your car seat right

Germ gems Helping your hygiene

How I wash my hands Easy instructions for kids

Covid-19 24 Help stop the spread

Inside Nadia’s castle

COVER your nose and mouth when you sneeze with a tissue or cough/sneeze into your elbow.

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Marica Leone’s travel tips

Speaking to your kids

WASH your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Dry with paper towel then place in the bin.

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If you are concerned, call the Coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398 (24 hours)

Nardia Bartel’s family cubby

Westside park fun

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Our top playground picks

Splash into holidays

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Holiday parks with water play

More than a home

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Investing in your future

Mama can cook

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The feel good family food plan

Turn the page

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Mama’s top book picks

Girls don’t lay bricks

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A young mums story of success

Fun activities

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Keep the kids amused at home

Yum activities

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Keep the hungry kids entertained

Mama you’ve got this Before and after baby

MamaMag Apr/May 2020

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MamaMag is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s West by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au | www.grizzledesign.com.au

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

Editor in Chief/Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi For advertising enquiries contact: Olivia Wilson: olivia@mamamag.com.au For distribution enquiries contact: info@mamamag.com.au Want to write for us or have an article idea? submissions@mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff.

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

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner. Information relating to Coronavirus can change daily so please check government websites for updates (see above).

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House-bound fun How to entertain your energetic pre-schooler around the home

2. Jumpin’ jacks

What a very unique time we have on our hands. And with the uncertainty facing us over the coming weeks, many parents have begun to feel overwhelmed at the looming task of keeping pre-school and early primary kids at home.

• Hop over each line on one leg.

Here are four simple activities to get those bodies moving and squeeze every last morsel of energy out of the kids without destroying your house! And the best news is; they use no more than what you are likely to have on hand (thank goodness, because those shops are just not worth the stress right now).

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Simply find yourself a roll of masking tape and place some lines on the floor for kids to jump over. Different jumping options you can try are: • Hop backwards over them.

• Long jump: How many lines can they jump over in one go?

• Run and jump: Experiment with how much farther they can jump with a running head start.

• Balancing beam: Take the tightrope challenge and try to walk along the line, and then jump to the next one.

1. Scavenger hunt

• Put your feet on one end: How far can you stretch and reach?

Think of everyday items around the house to find. You can draw a picture of each item to find or alternatively, why not do a colour scavenger hunt and get the kids to find items that match.

An old egg carton is a fun container to collect everything in.

For older children, try taping letters or numbers on the floor and stringing a few commands together to test their memory. For example, ‘walk backwards between A and E, and then crab walk from E to D’ etc.

3. Red Light, Green Light or “What’s the Time Mr. Wolf?”

These schoolyard classics work equally well on a porch or in the hallway and are perfect when you have more than 2 kids at home.

For Red Light, Green Light: Player 1 (the person who is ‘IT’) stands approximately 5m away from the others. With their back towards the players, this person yells ‘Green Light’ and the others move forward until player 1 spins around and shouts ‘Red Light’. If player 1 catches anyone moving, they must return back to the starting line. The game progresses with ‘Green Light’ and ‘Red Light’ until someone tags the person who is ‘IT’ without getting caught.

For “What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf”, it’s a similar arrangement with player 1 (the “Wolf”) approximately 5 metres away and with their back turned to the other players. The other players chant “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” and the Wolf says a time, such as, “5 o’clock”. The other players step 5 steps towards the Wolf, counting aloud as they go. The game continues until the Wolf responds, “Dinner Time” and turns on the players. They must run to safety behind the start line without getting tagged by the Wolf.

4. Pantyhose bowling A game that will have everyone in stiches of laughter. Simply place an apple or tennis ball in the leg of a stocking and tie it around your waist. Place some cups on the floor and get those hips swinging to try and knock them down!

Hopefully this list starts to get those creative juices flowing! And a final tip: be sure to let the kids plan and execute the activity… it may never quite end up the way that it was supposed to (in fact, it almost definitely won’t), but by giving them ownership over the direction the activity takes, you are guaranteed to maximise engagement time and creativity.

By Alice Zsembery. Alice is the author of “Real Kids, Real Play”. It provides over 150 activities for pre-schoolers and early primary students to do at home using typical household items.

Real Kids, Real Play is available online in print and eBook at www.realkidsrealplay.com.au, as well as at Big W and all good bookstores.

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not so mumsy There’s a running joke among parents who travel that we don’t go on holidays. We just look after our kids in different cities! And whilst travel is not on the cards right now, why not use this time to plan your next adventure when it’s finally safe to fly again.

for a fast pass), a change room disaster, a spilt drink or a badly timed ‘poonami’ . . . but most of these mini-disasters happen at home, too, so you may as well change up the scenery, right?

Yes, I know what you’re thinking– you can barely survive a trip to the shops with your ‘spirited’ offspring, let alone a longhaul flight in a confined space surrounded by strangers. Then there’s jet lag, new surroundings, language barriers, lack of routine, no backup or chance of a break . . . hang on, why do we do this again?

In all seriousness, the tough bits are usually only a small part of the trip, and with some careful preparation and the right attitude, travelling with tots really can be the time of your life. I would take 100 long-haul flights just to see the delight on my little son’s (Nutella crêpe-stained) face when he saw the Eiffel Tower light up for the first time, and 100 more to see my kids play under a tree in a tiny Greek town that had been on my vision board to visit for years.

Oh yeah, because some of our most treasured memories have been made exploring new countries and cultures. To be fair, some of our most horrendous parenting days have also been on the road (that 26-hour commute from Greece to London, I’m looking at you!), but you can’t have the rainbow without any rain!

Transit days can be hard, but there was also that (one) time where I managed to watch my first entire post-baby movie and had someone bring me a cup of tea—so I’d say it’s worth the gamble.

Of course, every child and every situation is different, but here are some of the things I’ve found most helpful when travelling with children.

p l e h

After travelling to twelve countries and taking more than fifty flights with children between the ages of three months and six years, I can assure you travelling with tots is manageable— most of the time. And even when it’s not, it’s 1000 per cent worth it.

There will most certainly be a point (usually mid long-haul flight) where you’ll curse the idea and promise yourself the next time you share an aircraft with them will be when they’re old enough to share a bottle of shiraz and chuckle along quietly to Love Actually with you.

Then, when you finally get there (or maybe before you leave?), there might be a mega meltdown at customs (highly recommended

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Plan & prepare The first thing to do before you begin planning is to shift your mindset and expectations. I spent many years of my pre-baby life living, working, volunteering and travelling. I was determined to keep that sense of adventure after I had kids (insert eye-roll here), but yep, you guessed it, the reality is it’s a totally different experience.

I can tell you with confidence that a five-day wilderness trek along the Burmese border, eating slugs and camping with hill tribes has got nothing on trying to keep a one-year-old buckled in on a plane when the seatbelt sign is on. You can’t control what may or may not happen, but you can control how you react and how it makes you feel. An open mind and a relaxed attitude are always a good start.

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Keep your itinerary light and loose. The less expectations and pressure you place on yourself and your travelling tot(s), the more flexible you can be in the moment. Plan one activity per day and allow for some downtime and free play in the afternoon. If it’s going to be hot, choose accommodation with access to a pool so the kids can play while you (try to) relax.

Where to go Remember that relaxing beach holiday destination you loved before co-creating?

Yeah, well it’s not going to be so relaxing with tiny human(s) in tow. It may be fun, it may be memorable, but it probably won’t be relaxing.

Chances are you need a holiday after your holiday.

Dinnertime with kids can be overwhelming at the best of times.

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to enjoy delicious cuisine while chasing a toddler and having a baby throw spaghetti in your hair. So unless you want a highly stressful encounter with a side of indigestion, have your family meal at lunchtime when the kids are in better spirits. Lunch menus also tend to be less expensive than the dinner versions, so it’s a win-win.

kids s t h g fli

As long as you know this going in, you can minimise the potential pitfalls by being prepared—whether that means lining up babysitters in advance so you can have a night out, or just a child-free afternoon by the ocean. Do the legwork in advance to ensure the destination or resort is able to accommodate your needs.

Where to stay

As much as I love staying at a hotel or resort, since becoming a second-time parent I now favour self-contained accommodation for longer stays. Particularly for the first few days in a new time zone after a long transit.

We booked into a London hotel after a 30-hour trip from Sydney. The kids’ jet lag was out of sync, which meant the hyper child would keep the sleepy child awake and vice versa. It also meant I didn’t get one wink of sleep for the first five days and was often confined to the bathroom for 4 a.m. ‘game time’ with my then thirteen-month-old baby. Surprisingly, not so much fun, but lesson learned! Separate bedrooms make it easier for the whole family to get maximum sleep.

There is also more room for the kids to play with new toys and games, as well as a kitchen to prepare healthy meals, which saves costs from dining out. There are even specific booking agents that focus on and cater to family homestays all around the world.

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HOT TIP: Dine at noon

Getting there

Whether flying, driving or riding the rail, make it a rule to have no rules on travel days. This is one of the most helpful travel tips I have come across. Your ultimate goal is to arrive at your destination alive and sane, and for many, a relaxed ‘anything goes’ attitude may just help you get there. Screen time, lolly bribes (although too much sugar on a plane can have the opposite effect), little presents—whatever it takes until you arrive at your final destination.

Flying with kids

We all know the anxiety of boarding a plane with tots in tow. I mean, those little buggers are so unpredictable. Even when they are behaving we are in a constant state of anxiety trying to pre-empt what could be touched, thrown, broken, tantrum trigger-worthy or all of the above. It’s also not helpful when you have child-free adults eyeballing you as you board the plane with thirty-five bags, a toddler hanging off your back and a baby in the sling.

When it comes to flying with babies and toddlers, I like to use my general parenting motto: ‘prepare for the worst, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.’

The general consensus is that between the ages of zero to seven months is a great time to fly with babies. The biggest perk of this age is that they don’t move! Stationary babies are easy(ish) babies. They pretty much just eat and sleep— and they fit in the bassinet. The downside is they also cry, which is not so fun. Also a jetlagged baby can be intense—but if you have a non-sleeper it could be a blessing in disguise.

If you have an eight-month-old to a two-yearold child—strap yourself in. This age range is the hardest to fly with. The combination of busy hands, short attention spans, confined spaces, tantrums, wanting to get into everything—did I mention tantrums? And don’t get me started on trying to wrestle a nappy onto a fifteen-month toddler in a tiny wobbly cube while trying not to breathe or touch anything thanks to Mr 22C. The real challenge is that before twelve to eighteen months they may be too young to be distracted by screens—oh the horror! But alas, it can and it will be done. I can assure you we’ve all stared longingly at the emergency exit while trying to restrain a one-year-old thirty minutes into a fifteen-hour flight. We’ve all given the ‘this is literally hell on earth’ nod to other toddler parents on the 357th lap of the plane, but we all agree that it is worth it.

Marcia’s 8 tips for flying with kids: 1. Choose a night flight for a flight that’s more than eight hours.

2. The sling/carrier will become your BFF on board. Especially if your baby is too big for the bassinet.

3. Don’t let crawling babies on the ground.

Once they know they can go down they will want to keep doing it.

4. Pack individual nappy wipes, clothes and sock bundles in separate bags so you are not bent into a pretzel rummaging through your nappy bag.

5. ‘Busy bags!’ Pack a small bag of surprise gifts/ toys for toddlers to unwrap when they become unsettled or bored.

6. iPads are life when it comes to flying with toddlers. Limit screen time the few days before you fly so it’s a novelty.

7. Have that glass of wine/beer/spirits with dinner—and don’t watch the clock countdown.

8. Sunlight and running on some grass is the best cure for jet-lagged kids.

This is an edited extract from Not So Mumsy by Marica Leone, photography

by Carmen Yeates and David Allison.

Murdoch Books RRP $35.00.

SpeakIng to your KIds about the CoronaVIrus Lots of people are pretty fearful right now about the Corona (COVID-19) virus. We are constantly being inundated with information about the virus; whether that be on the news or social media. It’s dominating conversations, or we see the empty shelves at our local supermarket and worry. Many parents are looking for reassurance and strategies to support their children at this time. Although I’m writing in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, these strategies can be applied to any “big” event happening in your community that might impact on you and your child; like natural disasters and other health issues etc.

Don’t avoid discussing it.

This way you get quickly to the crux of what might be bothering them, or what they are focussing on. Just be mindful that if you let them ask questions, be prepared to give them some answers!

Take their lead If your child doesn’t have questions, don’t force it. Let them know that if they do have any questions that they can come to you. And just periodically check in with them or check their behaviour and emotions for any changes…in case they are internalising their worries and not sharing them with you.

Although you might not be having direct conversations with your child about the virus, they will still hear whispers, pick up on your worries, feel or see increased tensions within the community etc. However; it’s important to understand that our children use their imagination to fill in the missing pieces. Also, even if you are avoiding talking about it to protect your child, not talking about an issue can make it feel like it’s something for them to worry about!

They asked a question…how do I answer it?

Consider their developmental level

Kids are egocentric

Based on their developmental level, take their cues before you share. When you do share, be mindful of their developmental level and how much is appropriate to share. Try not to overshare, just enough information so they understand what is going on, but not so much that they become overwhelmed.

Essentially this means our kids are focussed on themselves (by the way this is normal in children). So they might need some reassurance because they are worried about the potential impact on themselves and potentially their immediate family. Try not to get bogged down in statistics like transmission rates, or total infections, instead reassure them that children tend to experience less serious symptoms, and that actually the virus isn’t as common as other things like the flu.

Find out what they already know?

It’s important to see what assumptions or guesses they might have made so you can correct any misunderstandings. You might also get some cues about how they are feeling (nervous, sad, scared etc), which will help you support them and reassure them 12

Invite them to ask questions

Try and give a brief yet honest answer. Just don’t offer too much detail if they haven’t asked about it. If you aren’t sure then it’s ok to tell them that you don’t know, but it’s a great opportunity to get your detective hats on and do a bit of research together and find out.

Just ensure that you use reliable sources like government or international health websites.

What can they control?

Digital detox!

Big events like this can make kids feel pretty out of control because they have no direct impact on the situation or outcome. It’s essential to find things that your child can control, so they feel less afraid. This might be virus specific like teaching and encouraging proper handwashing.

It could also be non-specific to the virus and just a general sense of control. Get them to choose a recipe for dinner, allow them to pick a movie for the family to watch together, give them a say in what clothes they wear for the day. Opportunities for choice and control will be age and developmentally specific, so if your child is old enough you could have this conversation and actually ask them what they control and get them to focus on this.

Of course you want to keep apprised of the latest updates, but it might be feeding into anxiety. Try to avoid giving your child access to social media or news sites without you being present, or if they are older do a bit of a check in after time spent online to debrief about what they saw/heard and if they have any questions.

A digital detox could also be a great opportunity to connect as a family and spend some quality time together!

Manage your own worries Our kids are like little antennas. They are finely attuned to what we are doing and how we are feeling. I’m not saying don’t be worried, because of course the feeling is normal, but certainly try to avoid panicking or avoid your child’s exposure to panicked/stressful environments (where possible). Look after yourself, self-care, do your own research, makes decisions that help you feel in control (it’s not just our kids who need to feel in control of things), talk to a trusted friend or health care provider if you find you are really affected by stress or worries.

Keep to a routine (where possible) This will help you and your child feel calmer and will also help you feel like you are still in charge of certain things. When we have a routine, we feel safe because we know what to expect. So if your daily or usual activities need to change, turn your attention to creating a new routine that mimics the old routine as much as possible. If Monday used to be library day, find some digital books (some libraries do digital loans) or sit somewhere different in your house and read some books together. Did Tuesdays used to be mums and bubs yoga? Get on YouTube and watch a class online. Or, did your child belong to a sporting group? Watch some of their old matches together, or look at videos, do some drills in your backyard, watch YouTube for tutorials on technique etc.

It’s normal.

Reassure your child that any feelings they are having a normal and they are ok. It’s also very natural to want to “fix” things when our kids are distressed, but this isn’t something we adult can individually “fix”. so just spend some time acknowledging how you and your child are feeling. It’s surprising just how impactful it can be for our children (and us) to have someone really hear our emotions, validate them and let them know you are there to support them “I can hear just how worried you are. Its normal, and everybody gets scared sometimes. I’m here if you want to talk or ask me something” While we can’t take this fear away from our kids, we can most definitely reduce their overwhelm and promote their wellbeing. So give these tips a try, every strategy is only a prompt of course, so please ensure that you think about the needs, abilities and preferences of your children and adjust as necessary.

By Rachel Tomlinson. Rachel is a registered psychologist who has worked with adults, families, and children (birth through eighteen years old) in a variety of settings. She is also a mum with a 3 year old daughter! Follow her blog and podcast, Toward Wellbeing at www.towardwellbeing.com

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CoronavIrus wITh a baby What you need to know to prepare and respond

If you have a baby, you may be worried about them catching the coronavirus, particularly after media reports of an Australian infant diagnosed with it.

The good news is, the evidence so far is babies almost never get seriously ill from the coronavirus. And even if infected, they may have no symptoms. However, the coronavirus could affect infants in other ways. For instance, there may be difficulties accessing health care, consumer goods and child care. Thinking about these possibilities now, and preparing for them, can help you manage what may come.

Health care access may be tricky, but there are ways If the coronavirus becomes widespread, the health system will struggle to cope for a while. Up to 20% of people who get COVID-19 need treatment in hospital for up to two weeks or more. Hospitals and general practices may be overwhelmed by people sick with the coronavirus, which may make it difficult to access health care if your baby gets sick for any reason.

Recognising this, the Australian government recently announced special provisions for parents of newborns to be bulk-billed when consulting a doctor or nurse via phone or video call rather than in person.

There are also things you can do to help keep your baby healthy so they don’t need medical treatment. By protecting them, you also protect the people around them who may be more vulnerable to serious illness from the coronavirus.

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Think about hygiene The first thing you can do is to practice good hygiene yourself. This includes frequently washing your hands, avoiding close contact with other people as much as you can, coughing or sneezing into your bent elbow or a tissue, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Because babies put their hands in their mouths no matter what, frequently washing their face and hands and cleaning surfaces and objects they might touch will help protect them from any infection.

How about childcare?

It will come as no surprise to most parents that babies who attend childcare are sick more often. That’s because babies and small children have an immature immune system, are in very close contact with one another, and may end up sharing saliva with one another by mouthing and touching one another and the same toys.

So, if you can, keep your baby away from childcare. However, if you need to use it, when you pick up your baby from childcare, wash their hands and face, change their clothes, then wash your own hands, before scooping them into that big, warm hug.

Make sure vaccinations are up to date Routine vaccination is the safest, most effective way to protect babies and children from illness.

So, keep your child’s vaccinations up-to-date to minimise the chance they’ll need medical attention for something else while the health system is dealing with the coronavirus.

If you’re breastfeeding Breast milk contains many ingredients to help prevent and fight infection. It is recommended babies be fed only breast milk until they are six months old and continue breastfeeding with other foods into their second year of life.

If your baby is under six months and breastfeeding, offering them only breast milk protects them from a range of infections and reduces their need for medical treatment or hospitalisation.

If your baby is breastfeeding and using formula, consider replacing formula feeds with breastfeeds.

If you have stopped breastfeeding altogether, it is possible to start breastfeeding again if you want to (contact the national Breastfeeding Helpline for assistance).

If you have an older baby or toddler who is still breastfeeding, keeping breastfeeding will help protect them from other illnesses until after the coronavirus pandemic has passed.

If you’re using formula It is easy to accidentally introduce germs into bottles while you’re preparing infant formula.

So, because medical care may be hard to access, it is worth taking extra care to prevent this.

Be extra careful about preparing bottles. This means always washing your hands thoroughly with soap, washing bottles thoroughly, sterilising them after every use, and making up formula with hot water.

Remember to cool down the bottle in the fridge, give it a gentle shake, and check it’s not too hot before giving it to your baby.

Shop for supplies, such as nappies Supply chains may be disrupted if lots of people get ill. And you may not be able to shop if you need to self-isolate at home.

It is recommended you have two to three weeks worth of supplies at home to prepare for this possibility. Consider stocking up on nappies for this length of time, or keeping washable (cloth) nappies on hand.

If you are formula feeding, buy enough infant formula for three weeks but check the expiry dates.

What if mum contracts the coronavirus?

Mothers are more at risk of becoming sick from the coronavirus than their babies. And if you’re breastfeeding and you’re infected, it is recommended you continue breastfeeding.

That’s because the virus has not been found in breastmilk. Wearing a mask when you are with your baby (including during feeding), washing hands before and after contact with your baby, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and any feeding equipment will help prevent your baby catching the virus from you. If you are hospitalised or separated from your baby, you can express breastmilk for them.

Think about keeping grandparents safe If you or your partner get ill, someone else may need to help care for the baby or other children. Babies like to share their saliva with their caregivers and they may be infected with the coronavirus but have no symptoms. So they may easily spread the infection to the people looking after them.

Many parents call on grandparents to help with child care. Unfortunately, people over 60 are the most likely to get seriously ill or die from the coronavirus. So, if your standby carers are over 60, now is the time to think about making alternate childcare arrangements. Talk with grandparents about how they can reduce their risk of infection if they need to look after the baby.

By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University and Nina Jane Chad, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. theconversation.com

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seatIng sorted Keeping our little ones safe in the car is one of the most important things we can as a mother, but quite often there is confusion as to what is best practice and what is law when it comes to car seats.

Under current Victorian child restraint road rules, all children under 7 years of age must legally be seated in a correctly fitted child restraint or booster seat.

Correctly fitted and used child car restraints and booster seats play an important part in protecting children from serious injury and death in the event of a crash. However anecdotal evidence suggests 70% of child car restraints are incorrectly installed or used. Child car restraints that are incorrectly fitted pose a serious safety risk to children travelling in those restraints. To ensure that the maximum level of protection is provided, it is important that the restraint they are travelling in is: • The right size for the child • Correctly fitted to the vehicle • Properly adjusted and fastened for the child

Choosing the right seat When considering which restraint to purchase for your child, there are a number of things to consider, including: 18

• Does the restraint comply with Australian Standards? All restraints sold and used in Australia must comply with the Australian Standard. When purchasing your child’s restraint, look for the standard’s sticker on the restraint and wording on the packaging that states it complies with AS/NZS 1754.

• Is the restraint correct for your child’s size?

• How well will the restraint fit into your vehicle?

Which type of restraint do I use for my child’s age?

By law children under 6 months of age MUST: • Use a rearward facing restraint that is properly fitted to the vehicle and adjusted to fit the child’s body correctly.

• Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats.

Best practice recommendation: Infants have relatively large heads and weak necks which put them at particularly high risk of serious injuries. It is best to keep children in their rear facing restraint until they reach the maximum size limit – rear facing restraints provide the required head and neck support that a child needs.

By law children 6 months to 4 years MUST: • Use either a rearward facing restraint OR a forward facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness, that is properly fitted to the vehicle and adjusted to fit the child’s body correctly • Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats.

Best practice recommendation: Keep children in their forward facing restraint with inbuilt harness until they reach the maximum size limit. Just because a child has turned 4 does not mean that they are ready to safely use a booster seat with an adult lap sash seatbelt.

By law children 4 to 7 years of age MUST: • Use either a forward facing child restraint with inbuilt harness OR a booster seat with a properly fasted and adjusted seatbelt.

• Not travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has a back row or rows of seats unless all the other back seats are occupied by children who are also under 7 years of age.

Frequently asked questions: What age can my child travel in the front seat?

The Victorian road rules allow children aged 7 years and over to travel in the front seat.

However, research shows that the injury risk to children aged 12 and under is nearly double in the front seat compared to the back seat.

Kidsafe recommends that all children aged 12 years and younger sit in the back row of seats where possible.

What if my child is too big for the recommended restraint for their age group?

There may be times when a child is too big for the recommended restraint for their age group. If your child has exceeded the maximum size limit of their restraint before the recommended age to graduate them, you should check that there are no other restraints on the market that they can fit in before progressing them to the next stage.

Best practice recommendation: Different models of booster seat accommodate children up to different sizes, and some can fit children up until they can get good seat belt fit. When choosing a booster seat, look for one that will fit your child for as long as possible, especially if your child is tall for their age.

By law children over 7 years of age MUST: • Use either a booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted adult seatbelt OR an adult seat with an adult seatbelt.

Best practice recommendation: Children should continue to use a booster seat as long as possible, until they can fit properly into an adult seat belt. A good adult seat belt fit is generally not achieved before children are approximately 145cm tall, or 11-12 years of age.

Kidsafe will be delivering the statewide ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ program in partnership with Neighbourhood Houses Victoria until June 2023, to provide free child car restraint checks for Victorian families. For more information on child seat www.kidsafevic.com.au What are the laws for child restraints in taxis in Victoria? What about rideshare services?

The Victorian child restraint road rules do not require taxi drivers to provide child restraints or booster seats for customers. However, the road rules do require taxi drivers to ensure there is at least one anchor fitting ready for passengers who wish to supply their own restraint.

Rideshare services like Uber are not exempt from complying with the Victorian child restraint road rules – the same child restraint road rules apply to rideshare services as private cars.

Can I use a restraint bought overseas in Australia?

No. All restraints used in Australia must comply with the Australian Standard (AS 1754). Child restraints purchased overseas (including overseas ISOFIX child restraints) do not meet this standard.

19

GERM GEMS Kids and germs go hand-in-hand. Now, more than ever, the importance of good hygiene for the whole family is imperative.

But how do we get kids to understand the importance of washing their hands?

It can be hard to explain to your little one why we should take certain precautions from things we can’t see. It can be hard for them to understand the concept of germs and viruses, so we’ve put some ideas together for you...

Create a germ character Start by introducing the concept of a germ to your little one with an imaginary thing called Mr Germ. Explain that although he isn’t like a normal friend or a pet who you can see, he is a living thing, just a tiny one that you can only see through a microscope. These tiny creatures can multiply and spread super quickly and they are the bad guys who try to fight the good guys in your body.

After you have covered the basics of germs for kids, Mr Germ will still seem confusing. Why are they the bad? How do they spread? How will they make me sick? How can I stop them?

These are some of the questions your child might ask. That’s why the following ideas can help teach your child the valuable lessons and reasoning behind why Mum and Dad aren’t just telling you to “wash your hands” for fun.

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Glitter germs You know when the kids have been playing with glitter and you find it everywhere.... Glitter spreads like germs from contact so makes a really good example! It’s also really hard to wash off without soap, like germs! So get your child to rub their hands with some of their favourite glitter then let them touch a few surfaces around the house. The glitter will easily spread, which can be used as a great example as to how easy it is for germs to leave traces all around us. Next, get them to wash their hands with just water. Is the glitter all coming off? I doubt it. Now add soap and see how the glitter all washes away, just like the germs will with proper hand washing.

The potato experiment This is a great experiment to see the effect of germs. Wash your hands (but not the kids’) and peel a raw potato and cut it in half. Take one half and get the kids to handle it for a minute.

Then get the kids to wash their hands with soap and water then get them to handle the second potato. Place each potato in its own zip-lock bag and label which one is which.

Place the two bags in a dark cupboard and leave them there for about a week then pull the bags out and compare the two. The unwashed hand potato will be showing signs of mould caused by the germs whilst the clean hands one should look much better. Discuss the results with the kids.

Look at magnified germs online

Make a hand washing chart

It might be a good idea to show your child what actual germs look like. Google an image of a germ under a microscope and show it to them. This will help them put germs into a real-life context and make them want to avoid getting germs in the first place.

Create a chart where you can tick off how many times and where you washed your hands. Stickers, stamps, or letting them add their own ticket are all a fun way to reward them for a job well done. Maybe a treat at the end of the day to reward them for their good hand washing.

Show them how a sneeze or cough can travel through air Mucous droplets from sneezes and coughs can travel quite far and kids need to understand the importance of avoiding this by coughing into their elbow and avoiding germs on their hands.

To demonstrate this take a spray bottle and add some water and some food colouring. Pretend that the water is a sneeze. Spray it over a blank paper or tissue to see how far the coloured water ‘sneeze’ reaches.

Sing a hand washing song Singing a song while washing your hands is a great way to both time kids and also make the task fun. You can try singing the below song to the tune of Row, row, row your boat, or make up your own little ditties! Repeat this several times and it will help drag out the washing time enough to ensure they cover all the dirty spots.

Follow our hand washing chart overleaf to make sure you cover every inch of their hand.

The hand washIng song Wash, wash, wash your hands Wash them nice and clean Scrub them here Scrub them there And scrub them in between (sung to the tune of Row, row, row your boat)

Pin me above the sink!

21

Learn Stuck inside with the kids?

Spend some time learning about musical instruments with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra!

EXPLORE NOW AT

msolearn.com.au Generously supported

by Telematics Trust

The Castle drawbridge is up for now, but we will return. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Website for updates or have a look at our FAQs for more information.

22

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

How I WASH my hands

Use soap

Rub palm to palm

Rub backs of hands

Fingers interlaced

Base of thumbs

Fingernails into palm

Rub wrists

Rinse well

Dry with paper towel and bin

It takes 2O seconds!

Pin me above the sink!

Good hygiene is in your hands.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to prevent passing on germs. Dry your hands.

Together we can help stop the spread and stay healthy.

For more information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) visit health.gov.au

24

Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra

24

covid–19: Identifying the symptoms Symptoms

COVID-19

Cold

Flu

Symptoms range from mild to severe

Gradual onset of symptoms

Abrupt onset of symptoms

Fever

Common

Rare

Common

Cough

Common

Common

Common

Sore Throat

Sometimes

Common

Common

Shortness of Breath

Sometimes

No

No

Fatigue

Sometimes

Sometimes

Common

Aches & Pains

Sometimes

No

Common

Headaches

Sometimes

Common

Common

Runny or Stuffy Nose

Sometimes

Common

Sometimes

Diarrhea

Rare

No

Sometimes, especially for children

Sneezing

No

Common

No

Adapted from material produced by WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Together we can help stop the spread and stay healthy.

For more information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) visit health.gov.au

25

25

InsIde NadIa’s castle Kellie MacPherson, from Castle and Cubby, is always looking for fun projects to collaborate on so when her long-time friend, Melbourne mum and interior designer Nicole Rosenberg, shot her an email saying she wanted to design a cubby for well known Melbourne mum Nadia Bartel, she was only too happy to get involved.

Kellie and Nicole go way back and have been talking forever about collaborating on a Cubby project together. Nicole is the creative mind behind the popular Melbourne design business Liberty Interiors where she creates stylish interior spaces for both adults and kids alike.

Nicole had recently finished styling the interior of Nadia home, including her two beautiful boys’ bedrooms, when she suggested that Nadia utilise the spare space in her St Kilda front yard to build a kids’ play area, a few Pinterest boards later…and look at this result!

Castle and Cubby products have an honest, hand-designed and constructed aesthetic.. it’s their thing and something that is synonymous with their brand. The concept for this project was to elevate that aesthetic into a bespoke cubby with top of the line finishes, materials, and some really exciting custom design elements.

We chat to Nadia about her kids’ fabulous new cubby plus all things motherhood and style.

What’s your favourite thing about being a mum?

The best part about it for me is their innocence and the feeling of love and happiness like no other when I am with them. It’s all the small things, their little chats, watching them learn to smile, giggle, walk and grow into little men.

My boys motivate me to be a better person and they give me perspective and help me slow down and focus on what’s really important.

What influences your style and décor?

I am someone that loves classics and minimal pieces that then have longevity in 26

my wardrobe, I don’t usually like pieces that are trend-driven. So, I tend to mainly stick to neutral tones and lots of black and white and I think that my personal style also reflects the décor I like. I am not someone that is into bold, bright colours in my home.

Why did you choose to work with Nicole from Liberty Interiors?

I absolutely love working with Nicole- she is very talented. I initially got in touch with her for Henley’s nursery as I had spotted her work on Instagram and thought she had such a unique style. We loved working together on that so then worked on other areas in my house.

Nicole then came up with the idea to create a little Castle and Cubby play area in the front yard to utilise the space we had out there.

What was your favourite part about designing the cubby?

It was so fun to pick all the elements with Nicole. She created a Pinterest board with all her ideas which included colours, materials, and overall style. She knows my style so well, so I left it all up to her as she always nails it.

We wanted the cubby to look masculine with a cool barn door. It was really important for Aston to have a little slide and an area for him to serve food and play chef as he loves that kind of play.

Did you have a cubby house growing up?

I did have a cubby, but I don’t remember it being as special as the one we created for the boys. I loved spending time in there playing with my little brother and sister. We loved using it as our little hideaway.

What do your kids like most about the cubby? How do they use it and play with it?

They absolutely love it. Aston loves using the serving area as his own little kitchen. I sit on the outside with Henley and he is in there

preparing us ‘food’ and serving it to us. He also loves the slide and watering his plants using his little watering can. Henley is so obsessed with the slide; he is a little daredevil and he also enjoys playing with the kitchen.

Any ideas for future updates or changes to the cubby?

I think that’s why it’s so great to invest in a cubby like this one, as I can see it really growing with the boys once I make little styling changes. It is perfect for them now, but as they grow it will be just as handy, as it will be there little place to hide out with their friends. I was thinking it would be great to pop in some kind of climbing wall or a swing and also their own mini vegetable patch that they can look after.

Find out more about Castle and Cubby at castleandcubby.com.au You can follow Nadia’s perspective on style, beauty, business and motherhood at chroniclesofnadia.com.au

Finally tell us about raising kids in a digital age. Being a mum who has a huge digital presence, how do you manage your child’s use of tech and ensure that they get quality outdoor play time.

It’s a constant struggle, as I do have to be online so much for my work. I try to restrict the amount of time I am on my emails with the boys around, but sometimes I catch myself doing it so I put my phone away as I don’t want Aston thinking that is the norm. Aston doesn’t have an iPad, which I am trying to hold off on as long as I can, but I do allow him a little TV a day. I always put a timer on, so he knows he only has half an hour and that’s it as that then stops the tantrums. I am also very lucky that both of my boys – especially Aston – are very good at imaginative play. He can do it for hours and he has a real obsession with Lego. Which looks like he is passing onto Henley too.

We’re sure there will be plenty of great imaginative play in this cubby set up!

27

WESTsIde park fun Outdoor play with fresh air. Yes please...

Here’s some of Mama’s top picks in the West.

Footscray

n rve, Melto

Marlo Rese

Bullion

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Skinny Park, Kensingto

Park Playg ro

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Allenby R oad Playg ro

Navan Pa rk, M

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Green Gully Reserve m Sydenha eserve, ge Drv R

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28

, Keilor Downs

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,H ticks The S

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29

Splash Into HolIdays Moving forward, now more than ever, tourism is going to need our support. First we had bush fires getting in the way, now Coronavirus. But let’s look to the flip side when we are ready to have some family fun again. Gone are the days when holiday parks were just a simple spot to park your caravan or tent. These days, holiday parks are outdoing each other with all the bells and whistles. All manner of luxury cabins can be found along with adventure playgrounds, jumping pillows, pedal karts, resort-style pools, toddler pools, and the latest trend‌ water parks and waterslides! Here are our top picks of these new splash zones, all ready for your next holiday adventure.

BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, QLD The new kid on the block, this baby (shown above) only opened in February. A host of waterslides with a combined length of 317m includes towering slides measuring up to 10m tall, making them the highest and longest in any holiday park in the country. Glimpses of nearby Warner Bros. Movie World and the hinterlands of the Gold Coast can also be seen from the peak.

With an emphasis on all-ages fun, this epic water park boasts zones for smaller children alongside ample seating and shaded areas for parents.

There is also a resort-style pool and heated 12 seater spa!

BIG4 Inverloch Holiday Park, VIC The indoor Surfari Splash Zone opened in September 2015 and has quickly cemented this park as a Victorian favourite and its temperaturecontrolled environment means you can use it year round, even in Winter! Among its many features are a giant shark tipping bucket, water slides, cannon guns, fountains, and mini tipping buckets.

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Yarrawonga Holiday Park, VIC On the banks of the Murray River and a stone’s throw from Yarrawonga Weir, this holiday park’s monster on-site splash park and playground is fabulous. It includes 4 waterslides, a beach entry pool that has 8 junior water play items on the outside, a huge tipping bucket and 28 water play activities on the stairs and walkways to the waterslide.

Discovery Parks – Maiden’s Inn, Moama, NSW The mighty Murray River has a place in the heart of so many Melbourne families. This new $1m enormous water park has been designed to look like a paddle steamer, perfect for this location.

The PS James Maiden offers three different slides, a giant tipping bucket and some fun spray zones to navigate through. Maidens Inn also has a great swimming pool, tennis court, playground, barbecue facility, boat ramp and kiosk.

Northstar Holiday Resort, Hastings Point, NSW Located on the Tweed Coast, Northstar’s jewel for kids is Sammy’s, a giant water play area that screams FUN. Surrounded by tropical gardens and shaded areas, Sammy’s has a kids’ aqua playground, lagoon swimming pool, wading pool and two giant super slides. Northstar also has an adults-only pool FYI!

BIG4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park, Tweed Heads, NSW Inspired by the nearby Wollumbin- Mount Warning, this water park is reminiscent of a volcano! The park is set on a private tidal saltwater billabong which makes for further fun water play.

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Discovery Parks – Rockhampton, QLD This $1.6 million waterpark features a large dump bucket, spray zone, three water slides, and a shaded waterplay area for toddlers. A tennis court, kids’ club, playground and bouncing pillow further the fun at this Northern Queensland park.

BIG4 NRMA South West Rocks Holiday Resort, NSW The kids will be kept entertained for hours at the Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Constructed around a genuine reclaimed ship, kids can cool off under the huge tipping bucket and water cannons, and cruise down the three towering slides. The kids can clamber up the rope on to the bow and into the crow’s nest to see land ahoy or avoid the water cannons and swim under the deck to find the pirates hidden treasure. Skull cave is the perfect hiding spot from fellow pirates, mermaids and scallywags.

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut, QLD Everyone has known about this place for years and rightly so. One of the first parks in Australia to have a truly fabulous water park in its grounds.

When you’re not out on the Great Barrier Reef, this Splash Waterpark features a 1200-litre pineapple dumping bucket and plenty of slides and waterspouts decorated with vibrant coral murals. The Sun Lagoon Pool is great too. It’s HOT in Cairns and this is the best place to cool down!

BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort, Whitsundays, QLD This incredible water park has 13 waterslides as well as a tipping bucket, fountains, jets and plenty of fun. There is also a 32m pool which is heated in winter and is the biggest lagoon-style resort pool in Airlie Beach.

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33

more than a home Can you manage an investment portfolio and family? It sounds really hard right? Well that’s what most people think, but my opinion is that we should all be looking at ways to increase our own wealth, particularly as mums.

There are some astounding facts about women retiring with considerably less superannuation than men and the truth is we don’t really know what the future holds and what state our super funds will be in by the time we actually need them. Not to mention we really should all be thinking bigger than expecting the minimal pension that may or may not be available.

There are far too many unknowns and as empowered mums, we are fantastic at juggling multiple things at once, so why not create an investment portfolio and juggle that too?

As a busy mum of three under six myself, I get it. Managing school drop off and picks up’s is hard enough but hear me out. If you are looking at upsizing into a bigger home so that you can fit all the kids toys plus the cubby house, and your two bedroom apartment that was the ‘perfect fit’ for you two years ago is now feeling just a bit too cramped then don’t jump straight to the conclusion to sell it.

34

It might not be that much more to keep your apartment as an investment property and use some of the equity you have in that property to help with buying your dream home.

Do the numbers of course and work out if the rent will cover most of your costs, then add a bit more for unexpected items that might pop up (trust me they will!) and you might find that it’s only a matter of a few hundred dollars a month that you need to keep that apartment as an investment property. Better yet it might pay for itself and be a ‘positively geared investment’ meaning it’s not costing you anything to keep it!

There are tax offsets as well, so speak to your accountant and find out what they might be and how you can claim your interest and other tax deductions.

Once you are in your dream home and the kids are running around the garden playing; your apartment has great tenants helping pay the mortgage down and things are bubbling along nicely, then take a look at your finances and see if you might be in the position to buy another investment. By this stage of the third purchase you would have equity in your home that you live in and your original apartment so you can potentially use this to help springboard you into a third investment property and so on, before you know you could be the proud owner of multiple investment properties!

It’s the same principal that Robert Kyosaki from Rich Dad, Poor Dad uses and many other property investors. (I meet his wife Kim a few years ago and to be honest she makes the decisions in the relationship, including the properties they buy!). It’s amazing how much enjoyment you might get from it, once you start the investing journey and see the portfolio grow you can start reaping the rewards of positive cash flow.

As empowered mums, we are fantastic at juggling multiple things at once, so why not create an investment portfolio and juggle that too?

One of the key things in getting the portfolio running well is a really good property manager.

You need to make sure they are experienced in the industry and have been working in it for at least 5 years. This is such a crucial part of the investment portfolio, if you have a poor performing property manager, chances are you will have a poor performing investment too.

A good property manager will get to know you well and understand what your goals with the properties you have are, what rents you should be getting and most importantly they should be doing regular inspections to make sure you are on top of any maintenance before it becomes

costly and in need of urgent repairs. Being proactive versus reactive will save you time and money in the long run.

Therefore, always chose the property manager carefully, seek recommendations and ask for testimonials from their current clients. This is definitely a job you don’t want to DIY; it might sound easy enough to collect the rent and whatnot but there is much more to it and you don’t want the hassles of the day to day management. You wouldn’t represent yourself in a legal case and the same goes with managing your property, you probably could do it but would you do it well enough and wouldn’t you rather spend more focused time with your family than on the ins and outs of property? I think so, let a property manager do the running around for you and you can simply focus on managing your financial growth!

So, to all the amazing parents out there, give it a try. Start building up the financial future of your family and growing an investment portfolio today!

By Elishah Lusi, Westside mum of three and owner of Direct Property Group, working with families to grow their property portfolio. www.direct.property

35

mama can Cook!

Coconut fish fingers with sweet potato fries Ingredients

800 g sweet potatoes, scrubbed, skin on 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tspn smoked paprika 400g flathead fillets (or any firm white fish) 1 cup fresh wholemeal sourdough breadcrumbs 2 tbsp shredded or desiccated coconut 1/4 cup semolina 1/4 cup plain flour 2 large eggs Salt flakes

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Cut the sweet potatoes into large matchsticks and place in a large bowl. Toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with paprika and freshly ground black pepper. Spread the fries on the tray in a single layer. Bake for about 40 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, or until the fries are browned and cooked through. While the fries are cooking, cut each flathead fillet into three fingers.

Combine the breadcrumbs, coconut and semolina in a shallow bowl.

Season with freshly ground black pepper. Put the flour in another shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs in a third shallow bowl.

Dust the fish in the flour, then dip into the egg, turning to coat. Finally, toss the fish in the breadcrumbs, covering all sides.

Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium–low heat.

Cook the fish, turning, until golden and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes. Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle with a little salt.

Serve immediately with the fish fingers.

Images and text from The Feel-Good Family Food Plan

by Dr Joanna McMillan with Melissa Clark, photography

by Alan Benson. Murdoch Books RRP $35.00

36

Prep 15 min Cook 40 min Serves 4

This recipe makes enough meatballs for two meals for a family of four, so you can serve half now and freeze the rest for another meal with a fresh batch of polenta.

Ricotta zucchini meatballs in tomato sauce Ingredients

500g extra lean beef mince 500g extra lean pork mince 1 large zucchini, grated 150g finely diced mushrooms 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 tbsp salted capers, rinsed and chopped 115g ricotta cheese 2 large eggs 1/2 tspn ground black pepper 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 700ml jar tomato passata Basil leaves, to serve Soft polenta (serves 4) 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup polenta 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Prep 20 min Cook 45 min Serves 8

Method

Add the beef, pork, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, garlic, parsley, capers, ricotta, eggs and pepper to a large bowl. Mix with your hands until well combined. Roll the mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat the oil in a large oven-proof frying pan over medium heat. Gently fry the meatballs in several batches until browned all over, adding a little more oil to cook each batch if necessary.

Return all of the meatballs to the pan and pour in the tomato passata. Half-fill the passata jar with water and shake to loosen the remaining tomato, then pour into the pan. Cover the pan and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until the sauce is rich in colour.

After the meatballs have been cooking for 15 minutes, cook the polenta. Combine 4 cups water and the salt in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Slowly pour in the polenta while whisking to ensure there are no lumps. Simmer the polenta, stirring often, for 15 minutes. Stir in the grated parmesan and the oil.

Serve the polenta immediately, topped with the meatballs and basil leaves.

37

ds

ki

turn the page

Ninja Bandicoots and Turbo-Charged Wombats: Stories from Behind the Scenes at the Zoo by Hazel Flynn Why are 1000 trees needed for every koala in a zoo? How do you check a tree-kangaroo’s pouch for joeys? Why is a wombat’s poo square-shapped?

And how do dogs help look after ‘extinct’ bandicoots?

In these behind-the-scenes stories, you’ll discover what it’s really like to be a zookeeper today and learn fascinating new facts about some of Australia’s most loveable and rare creatures. Real zookeepers share their funny and moving adventures, from looking after an orphaned koala to saving tiny frogs from extinction. And you’ll discover how you can be a hero for animals too!

Published by Piccolo Nero. RRP $19.95

Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu This inspirational collection of stories about how individual people are saving the planet is the ultimate gift for any aspiring climate activist.

When faced with climate change, the biggest threat that our planet has ever confronted, it’s easy to feel as if nothing you do can really make a difference... but this book proves that individual people can change the world. With twenty inspirational stories celebrating the pioneering work of a selection of Earth Heroes from all around the globe, from Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to Yin Yuzhen and Isatou Ceesay, each tale is a beacon of hope in the fight for the future of our planet, proving that one person, no matter how small, can make a difference. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $19.95

How To Make Banana Muffins by Lara Solomon How to Make Banana Muffins is a colourfully presented, easy-tomake-recipe story tailored to toddlers, pre-schoolers and even older kids to encourage their participation in the creative baking process.

By giving children the opportunity to be involved in creating a delicious, healthy snack, Story Antics’ founder and author of How To Make Banana Muffins, Lara Solomon, says parents and caregivers can connect and engage with young children on a sensory level, with the book seeking to further build on the foundational benefits of reading. Available at storyantics.com RRP $19.99

THIS BOOK CAN BE PERSONALISED!

Benny Bintruck by Stephanie Williams Benny Bintruck was inspired by Stephanie’s son Jack who, as a two year old, watched his local garbage truck navigate the skinny lanes of the city, delighting in the spectacle each week.

Benny Bintruck is for all those kids you know who just love a big, loud vehicle! Benny Bintruck is aimed at preschoolers, with appeal for kids aged 2-5 years and beyond. Find at www.bennybintruck.com and other stockists. RRP $24.95.

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ad ul ts The Family Travel Handbook from Lonely Planet Full of practical advice, ideas and inspiration for every type of family, giving you the lowdown on amazing travel experiences around the world – and how to plan and enjoy them with your children.

Every day Lonely Planet writers and staffers share tips and recommendations focused on travel with kids. Collectively they’ve covered thousands of miles with their children, from making the most of a local day trip to biking across continents, from a short trip to another city to relaxing on a farm stay in the middle of the countryside, and from learning to ski to enjoying the spectacle of a Disney cruise. You name it, they’ve probably done it. Now they are sharing the knowledge gained from their experiences with you in this book! www.lonelyplanet.com RRP $29.99

Every Conceivable Way by Despina Meris Every Conceivable Way is an illuminating and poignant look at the strength of human endurance and the lengths one woman would go to become a parent.

Despina Meris’ debut memoir portrays a fascinating, often heartbreaking, journey through miscarriage, IVF and surrogacy, depicting the ultimate wonder and fulfillment a child brings.

In this real-life story that is stranger than fiction, Despina recounts the couple’s nine-year quest to become parents, while uncovering the stigma around the IVF and surrogacy industries and what it’s like to live for years with uncertainty.

With more than 48 million couples worldwide, and one in six couples in Australia and New Zealand alone, experiencing infertility, Despina’s story is a personally relevant topic for a staggering number of people across the globe and one that will stay with you long after the final page.

From Hardie Grant Books RRP $34.99

Parlour Games for Modern Families

by Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras This fun book sets out to revive the tradition of indoor family games: push aside the consoles, turn off the telly, and bring some mental stimulation, silliness and laughter, joy and connection back into your living room.

This book is bursting with games of logic and memory, wordplay, card games, role-play, and rough and tumble. Not a single game requires equipment that you won’t find in your average home: a pack of cards, a dictionary, an hourglass, dice, paper and pen. Adults will delight in the whimsy of memorable games from childhood and will love enthralling the kids when hauling them out of the past. scribepublications.com.au RRP $24.99

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girl’s don’t lay brIcks What I learnt starting a business as a young mum Most women are excited to find out they are pregnant with their first child. That wasn’t the case for me, a 17 year old who had just finished high school. I had 2 years of a bricklaying apprenticeship behind me with full time work brick laying in my immediate future. A baby was not on my agenda.

Maternity leave wasn’t an option, so I soon found myself jobless with a baby on the way.

Things weren’t looking good and it soon got worse. By eighteen years old I was a single parent, unemployed, receiving government benefits and living with my parents.

Reflecting on my situation, I knew if changes weren’t made this could have negative impacts on my son’s upbringing. Having sole financial responsibility of a child weighed heavy on my mind; my choices had brought him into the world so how could I provide a better life for him? The choices I made next would have lasting positive effects on both myself and my baby.

My first step was to gain financial freedom. A casual job working for different promotional agencies in shopping centre’s was the way to go for me. Realising I had quite the talent for working in the events industry I started to ask questions to learn as much as I could about the booking systems, how much they charge, what the shopping centres liked and didn’t like. Then I started to research how to start a company.

I figured at the time that would give me the most flexibility with having a child to also take care of. First I googled as much information I could find about starting a company, I then enrolled into a business course and finally I sat down with an accountant to find out what fees were involved. At the time it cost $1,000 to register a company with ASIC and gain an Australian Company Number and I also needed public liability insurance. It took me quite a few months to save the money needed but I was determined.

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I went on to start an events company which within three years employed over 100 experienced staff running promotional activities for clients such as Westfield, DFO and Mirvac.

While my business was growing, I diversified and built a second company; an aerial dance studio which offered instruction on the latest techniques in aerial yoga, aerial silks, pole dancing and aerial hoops. It created a safe environment for men and women alike, to learn new skills and gain new fitness experiences.

I managed to accomplish all of this by the age of 25.

If I can do all of this with nothing but my parent’s garage, my mobile phone and a basic website then what is stopping you?

Here are some of the steps I took:

Getting yourself on track financially Living off government benefits meant that after all the necessities were paid for I had $16 left each fortnight. Finding consistent work in the promotions and events industry helped ease the financial burden of single parenting. It also started the thought process of what else I could do to better my situation while learning the ins and outs of the company I worked for. My advice is to be realistic in your current financial situation and with your budgeting. Can you afford to remain unemployed or can you upskill in an area you could then grow into a business or career?

Further Education Having found myself interested in how a business operates, I enrolled to study a Diploma of Business. Then came the juggling act all parents experience when they return to work or study. I utilised both childcare services and friends and family to babysit which made completing the Diploma more manageable.

You gain a world of advantage by acquiring additional qualifications in a field that interests you and could further your career. It’s always worth investing in you!

Strive to want more Don’t remain complacent, constantly challenge yourself to do more. Do you have a hobby you could turn into a business? Is there an opportunity to deliver a product currently in high demand? Are there benefits to expanding on your career, personal growth or business?

Surround yourself with like-minded people who have your best interest at heart, these people will encourage you to remain on task and grounded whilst also supporting you.

This girl doesn’t lay bricks anymore, but I certainly could if I wanted to!

Melbourne mum Casey Mackinlay is the author of Girls Don’t Lay Bricks, renowned motivational speaker and director of La Folie, Australia’s first aerial silks competition. For more information visit www.caseymackinlay.com.au

Marketing There were times when I had no money to pay for additional business marketing. This is where going back to basics was a necessity. Utilise free advertising platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to get word of your business and products out there. Make a business page, update it frequently and interact with your client base. As well as these methods, I also walked throughout the neighbourhood dropping flyers into mailboxes. Use a range of advertising materials to ensure you reach the widest range of clientele.

Back yourself I didn’t personally know any business owners, someone who could understand what I was trying to build and accomplish. And without guidance, I made many mistakes along the way. But I learnt from them and as a person, a mother and a businesswoman, I progressed. You too, need to be your number one supporter. If you aspire to accomplish great things, believe in yourself and accept that you may make some very human mistakes (which you will overcome), then what’s stopping you?

Life isn’t about making the right choices it’s about making the best of the choices you have already made. I continually strive to help people be the best version of themselves they can be. If sharing my story just helps one person change their life for the better than it would have been worth it.

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FUN

Stuck at home and need some fun? Mama’s got you covered!

Super cute Easter chicks craft

You’ll need:

What to do:

1 pair of scissors 1 piece of thin cardboard 1 sheet of yellow, orange and white felt 2 small black beads for eyes White, black and yellow cotton A sewing needle Some stuffing to fill the chick

Make the chick templates shown above from the card then transfer the shapes to the felt. Cut out the shapes, then overlay the 2 yellow eggs shapes and the white shell and sew together 3/4 of the way round. Fill with stuffing then close the gap. Sew the wings on by folding the heart shapes slightly. Add bead eyeys with some black sewn eyelashes and an orange nose. Cheep Cheep!

If you can’t get out for felt, print the shapes in colour on paper and simply stitch the paper together!

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Colour in and find the eggs

Find-an Easter-word

Find all the word from the list.

They can turn corners and there will be no spare letters left once finished. Ignore the spaces.

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FUN

Stuck at home and need some fun? Mama’s got you covered!

Colour in the germs!

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YUM

Stuck at home and need some yum? Mama’s got you cooking!

3-ingredient edible playdough Making edible playdough is so much easier than making traditional homemade play dough (no cooking!) and way less messy than making slime. Why not get the big kids to help the little kids make it. You can even add extra things like sprinkles and other cake decorating items you might have hiding in the pantry.

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

Add 8 tablespoons of the corn flour and stir until a thick dough forms. Carefully remove it from the bowl to the counter — the dough may still be warm, so use caution. Knead by hand, adding more corn flour, a teaspoon at the time, if needed (up to 6 more teaspoons), until it’s no longer sticky but still pliable. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

12 large marshmallows (about 2 cups) 2 teaspoons coconut oil 8 to 10 tablespoons of corn flour Optional - food colouring

Place the marshmallows and 2 teaspoons of coconut oil in a large microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave on high until the marshmallows puff up slightly, about 30 seconds. If you’re adding food coloiuring pop that in now and mix well.

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3-ingredient Easter biscuits We love the buttery texture of shortbread and keeping ingredients simple means it’s super easy for the kids to manage, plus you’ve probably already got all these ingredients in your pantry!

INGREDIENTS 250 g butter, softened ½ cup caster sugar 3 cups plain flour

METHOD Preheat your oven to 160°C and line 2 trays with baking paper.

Place the butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on a medium speed for 5-7 mins or until the mixture is light and creamy.

Reduce the speed to slow, and gradually add the flour, half a cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix for a further 30 seconds or until the mixture begins to resemble dough.

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Turn the mixture onto a lightly floured bench and form it into a ball with your hands.

Cut the shortbread dough in half. Wrap one piece in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge until needed.

Roll the dough until it’s approximately 5mm thick and use an 8cm round cutter to shape the biscuits. Cut an Easter or fun shape out of half the buscuits and transfer the cookies to the prepared baking trays. Repeat until you’ve used all the dough including the extra dough in the fridge.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden then carefully remove the shortbread from the oven and allow to cool on the baking trays for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Join two biscuits together with your favourite filling, Nutella, Jam and perhaps some sprinkles or M&M’s tossed in for fun!

Mama, you’ve got this Osho once said, “The moment a child is born the mother is also born”. We love this quote as it talks to the monumental transition of motherhood. It’s such a huge shift isn’t it, and something that you can’t really ever prepare for.

But once you give birth to that little one, the transition really hits.

There is the BB (before baby) you and the AB (after baby) you. You are the same but at the same time, you are completely different. There is a huge shift in your priorities, your time and how you feel as a person. It’s amazing that we put so much time and effort into thinking and planning how we will give birth to this little person and yet we don’t really spend much time learning about how we will actually look after them when they arrive or how our identity is about to shift and how our life is going to completely change.

Looking back, I naively thought my life was going to be pretty much the same except with the addition of a gorgeous little baby. But from the moment I gave birth my life completely changed as I am sure it does for most mamas out there.

I will never forget that moment after a long and hard labour when I was given my beautiful little baby girl. I was completely exhausted, beyond sore and quite frankly a complete mess! I was laying in the birth suite and I had to get up to have a shower so another mum could be given the room. I remember the midwife showering me and holding me up as I couldn’t even stand by myself. My husband was sitting in a chair holding our daughter under a heat lamp, skin to skin trying to keep our little 2kg baby warm, doing his best to stay awake.

The midwife said “OK you can go up to your room now, we need the room”. She grabbed our baby girl, swaddled her and popped her

into the bassinet with wheels. Super slowly and still trembling from giving birth, my husband and I pushed this little bundle to a room in the maternity ward. I climbed into the hospital bed, barely able to sit down from the pain and discomfort of my stitches. The midwife was about to leave when my husband said, “Wait!

Don’t go! What do we do with her?”

It was at that moment that it hit us like a tonne of bricks. We were responsible for this little person for the rest of her life and we didn’t have a clue what we were supposed to do.

Welcome to motherhood. Why had I spent all my time reading and learning about pregnancy and birth? Why hadn’t I been learning how to look after my baby? Why hadn’t I learnt how to be a mum?

I’m sure my story is the story of many mamas out there. The transition is huge and it continues throughout parenthood. As your baby becomes a toddler and your toddler becomes a child and your child becomes a teenager, our role as the mother changes too.

Like all transitions it takes time to get used to and we master the transition as it occurs.

This was one of the reasons we created Mama You’ve Got This as we want to ease the transition for you and provide you with a supportive network and the knowledge you need to be the best mama you can be.

Our classes connect you with other mamas and the very best experts in the business to ensure Mama You’ve Got This!

By Christy Hopwood, Middle Park mama and Cofounder of Mama You’ve Got This pre and post birth classes at every stage of your child’s development presented by Melbourne’s top experts. mamayouvegotthis.com.au

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www.wildaction.com. au

PH 0419 385 245 48

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THE PERFECT WAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR NEXT CHILDREN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!