At The Table - July 2018

AT THE

REAL WOMEN | REAL CONVERSATIONS | REAL ISSUES

THE LEARNING ISSUE JULY 2018

HOW MUCH SCREENTIME? MAKE A

flourless cake

PREPARING YOUR CHILD

fo r w o r k

AS SEEN ON NEW ZEALAND

REAL WOMEN | REAL CONVERSATIONS | REAL ISSUES

contents

Jo in us

JULY 2018

table talk

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PANELLISTS Fiona, Rachel, Shona, Melody, Rachel and Maryellen discuss a range of topics including current events, issues and family life.

6 THE FORGOTTEN INVENTOR Creativity: a talent not contingent on an education.

8 NO SCREEN WILL SCREAM

How smart devices are affecting our children’s brains.

24 THE EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGE

Finding the right age for your child to start school.

28 THE MUM WHO PLAYS

How one mum turned her life around—by throwing stuff away.

32 BOOK CORNER

how-to

11 SLOW COOKING FOR VEGETARIANS

Tips and tricks for using a slow cooker for vegetables.

14 HOME HACKS

Presents, birthdays and more.

18 HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER 22 COOKING WITH GIA & OLIVE Almond chai latte; flourless

22 mug cake; winter oats; dairy-free mayo.

34 SLOW COOKER RECIPE Butter miso mushroom risotto.

wellbeing

12 ASK THE EXPERTS 16 EXERCISE WITH ALISHA Third trimester: On the home stretch.

PLUS healthy recipes, exercise tips, DIY projects and awesome hacks for around the home.

find us on social media @thetabletvshow

#thetabletvshow

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EDITOR Melody Tan

SEND ALL LETTERS AND SUBMISSIONS TO: At The Table magazine PO Box 1115, Wahroonga, NSW 2076 or email editorial@thetabletv.com

PUBLISHER At The Table is a product of

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VOLUME 2 NUMBER 7 The Learning Issue

COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt 150 Fox Valley Road Wahroonga NSW 2076 thetabletv.com

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GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Amuimuia

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July 2018

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editor

ver the past year or so, Elliott’s vocabulary has been growing by leaps and bounds—a normal development phase for most soon-to-be two-year-olds. What’s frustrating, however, is how he seems to effortlessly pick up words I casually mention once without thought, and yet it has been close to a year, and Elliott still hasn’t learned to say the word water despite countless repetitions. Little humans, they’ll do whatever they want—and often contrary to your wishes.

One thing I’m envious about young children, however, is their amazing ability to learn. While I don’t believe the adage “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks” to be true, I also think as we grow older, we somewhat lose the wonder and excitement—that moment when you feel your brain expand—when it comes to learning.

But it’s important that while we wrestle over what our child learns, how we can help them thrive in school and in the future, and even when we should begin their formal learning process, we find some time to acquire new knowledge ourselves, even if it’s something as simple as how to use that old forgotten kitchen appliance: a slow cooker.

So as you read through this month’s At The Table, I hope you learn something new for yourself!

Melody

At The Table goes out and about! We had a busy month in May, promoting the magazine and TV show on the Gold Coast and in Sydney. Pictured here is the team by our booth at the Sydney Adventist Hospital's Teddy Bears Picnic.

Drop us a line and win a gift!

What did we get right? What can we do better? What are the conversations you're having? What are the issues you're facing?

The author of our letter of the month wins a free copy of Reflections, an adult colouring book featuring hand-drawn Bible verses and designs! Write to us at editorial@thetabletv.com.

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social find us @thetabletvshow

WHAT'S ON OUR SHOW THIS MONTH?

Did you know we have a Facebook community where you can join in the conversation on our show segments, magazine articles and much more? Recently, we asked our members: SHOULD WOMEN ASK MEN TO MARRY THEM?

1–7 JULY

• •

Is it better to have children closer in age?

“Teen whisperer” Michael Hawton shares parenting tips.

ANTONIOGUILLEM—GETTY IMAGES

july

GET

from the

8–14 JULY

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Helping children solve real world problems.

Going on a “date” with your child.

15–21 JULY

•

The first aid technique every parent should know.

22–28 JULY

• •

Why are women usually the villains on TV? Psychologist Collett Smart discusses the pros and cons of video games.

29 JULY–4 AUGUST

•

Do you have a child who is paying you back for all the mischief you caused growing up?

9.30 am every Monday and midday every Saturday (Australia)

lical traditions], for the male to “make the first move“. At the same time, women who are more forward can have a stigma associated with them.

Cindi: I asked and he said yes! But then we are not fans of the whole male “headship” thing and I wouldn’t want convention to get in the way of a good thing.

Ella: I would not do that. I believe a man should initiate such things.

Matthew: I think men have a biological instinct to lead the family.

CATCH US AT 4.30 am every Sunday on Channel Ten (Australia)

Hank: I think it is an age-old “tradition” maybe even born from [bib-

youtube.com /thetabletvshow HopeChannel (New Zealand) Check website for times

Content accurate at the time of printing but may be subject to change.

The family in this context doesn’t include any children yet, but does include the female partner. When the man cannot take the lead, it is more likely to lead to conflict within the relationship. So I think men want to be able to take the lead and be the one to propose.

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forgotten

THE INVENTOR

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course due to financial pressures. She took on odd jobs such as babysitting before landing a position as a federal employee, but she continued tinkering in her spare time. The perennial problem was money; filing a patent was, and is, an expensive business. Today, a basic utility patent can cost several hundred dollars. By 1957 Mary had saved enough money to file her first ever patent: a belt for sanitary napkins. It was long before the advent of disposable pads, and women were still using cloth pads and rags during their period. Mary proposed an adjustable belt with an inbuilt, moisture-proof napkin pocket, making it less likely that menstrual blood could leak and stain clothes.

“One day I was contacted by a company that expressed an interest in marketing my idea. I was so jubilant,” she said. “I saw houses, cars and everything about to come my way.”

A company rep drove to Mary’s house in Washington to meet with their prospective client.

“Sorry to say, when they found out I was black, their interest dropped. The representative went back to New York and informed me the company was no longer interested.”

Undeterred, Mary continued inventing for all her adult life.

She eventually filed five patents in total, more than any other African-American woman in history. Again, she continued to draw inspiration from her daily life. When her sister Mildred developed multiple sclerosis and had to get around with a walking frame, Mary patented a serving tray and a soft pocket that could be attached to the frame, allowing Mildred to carry things around with her. She also patented a toilet tissue holder that made sure that the loose end of a roll was always within reach, and a back washer that could be attached to the wall of a shower to help people clean hard-to-reach parts of their back. Mary did not receive any university degree or professional training, and she never became rich from her inventions. But that was incidental; like her father and grandfather before her, she did it out of love for the craft.

Most of all, she believed that anyone could become an inventor as long as they put their mind to it: “Every person is born with a creative mind,” she said. “Everyone has that ability.”

Zing Tsjeng is the UK editor of the website, Broadly, which focuses on women’s issues and has been hailed as the “slickest feminist platform around”.

THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM FORGOTTEN WOMEN: THE SCIENTISTS BY ZING TSJENG. PUBLISHED BY HACHETTE AUSTRALIA RRP $27.99.

SHREYAS KRISHNAN

M

ary Beatrice Davidson Kenner (1912–2006) always had trouble sleeping when she was growing up in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Her mother would leave for work in the morning through the squeaky door at the back of their house and the noise would wake Mary up.

“So I said one day, ‘Mum, don’t you think someone could invent a self-oiling door hinge?’ ” She was only six at the time, but she set about the task with all the seriousness of a born inventor.

“I [hurt] my hands trying to make something that, in my mind, would be good for the door,” she said. “After that I dropped it, but never forgot it.” You could say that skill and ingenuity were in Mary’s blood. Her maternal grandfather had invented a tricolour light signal to guide trains, and her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith, grew up to patent her own family board game and sell it commercially.

Her preacher father, Sidney Nathaniel Davidson, even made a go of transforming the family hobby into a full-time career.

Around 1914, Sidney patented a clothes presser that would fit in a suitcase and press trousers while a traveller was en route to his destination, but he turned down a New York company’s $20,000 offer in favour of attempting to manufacture and sell it himself. The result was a failure: he produced only a single presser, which he sold for the paltry sum of $14. Her father’s experience didn’t put Mary off inventing, and her idea for the door hinge ignited a spark deep inside her. New ideas for inventions would wake her up from sleep. She occupied herself drawing up models and building them.

While other children her age were drawing fanciful aeroplanes and sports cars, Mary was making thoughtful plans for a convertible roof that would go over the folding rumble seat of a car, where backseat passengers were usually exposed to the elements. When she saw water dripping off a closed umbrella and onto the floor, she came up with a sponge tip that would fit on the end and soak up the rainwater. She even drew up plans for a portable ashtray that would attach itself to a cigarette packet. This pragmatic, do-ityourself approach defined her inventions for the rest of her life.

But while her creations were often geared toward sensible solutions for everyday problems, Mary could tell from an early age that she had a skill that not many possessed. When her family moved to Washington DC in 1924, Mary would stalk the halls of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, trying to work out if someone had beaten her to it and filed a patent for an invention first. The 12-year-old didn’t find any that had done so. In 1931 Mary graduated from high school and earned a place at the prestigious Howard University, but was forced to drop out a year-and-a-half into her

By Zing Tsjeng

July 2018

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How much screentime should children have and are educational apps really of much benefit?

NO SCREEN WILL SCREAM

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up to the present day and has become known as the “Flynn Effect”.

“The brain is like a muscle and there is no doubt that it will respond to stimulation,” Professor James said to me. “To give you an illustration, in 1900 no-one drove a car. In 1950 everyone drove a car.

Between 1900 and 1950 the hippocampus grew in size because it’s the map reading part of the brain.

Today, thanks to the automated guidance system, the size of the hippocampus is going down because we are no longer doing the relevant exercise.”

As early as 2008, researchers were discovering the beneficial effects of computer use on the brain. In a ground-breaking study, scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, found that internet use appears to boost brain function. And, according to a Journal of Molecular Psychiatry paper, video game exposure induces structural brain plasticity and improves our performance on attention demanding and perceptual tasks.

But as to whether these brain expansion effects lead to an improvement in complex life skills, such as problem solving and planning, remains open to debate.

“People think that any stimulation of the brain necessarily pays big dividends,” says Professor James. “But it’s not clear if there’s a transfer to more socially significant cognitive skills. The rise of IQ has limited effects when accompanied by the rise of ignorance.”

Research scientist at Harvard University’s Centre on Media and Child Health, Dr David Bickham, has spent more than 20 years exploring how media, as an environmental factor, can influence children’s physical, mental

NAZAR_AB—GETTY IMAGES

M

y three-year-old daughter’s face wavers in shifting patterns of light from the mini iPad held in her hands. As she lies on the couch, with her feet resting on my knees, I watch small twin screens reflected in her eyes, her bright blue irises flaring with each change of scene, the obsidian darkness of her tiny pupils growing and shrinking beneath.

Behind this seemingly calm and peaceful moment, something remarkable is occurring in her brain. Each sight and sound will be converted by specialised receptor cells into nerve impulses. Travelling at speeds in excess of 100 metres per second, they will reach her cerebral cortex through a complex exchange of information through nerve cell synapses.

Since birth, her brain has more than tripled in volume as it constantly builds the new neural circuits needed to process all the new stimuli she is bombarded with. In the first few years of her life, her brain has formed approximately one million new neural connections every second.

Growing up in a small Australian country town in the late ’70s and early ’80s, I was exposed to relatively simple environmental factors. Our black-and-white television was rarely watched; photos took a week to develop; letters were delivered to the mailbox. When I started prep, I couldn’t count beyond 10 or even spell my first name.

In comparison, my daughter knows all the letters of the alphabet thanks to the ABC Kids app. She takes pictures on her iPad, can write her own name and do basic addition and subtraction. So, is she smarter than I was at her age?

The simple answer is yes, according to University of Otago Emeritus Professor James Flynn. Washington DC-born Professor James is a political scientist who became famous in the 1980s for his landmark discovery that, from the 1930s onwards, there have been substantial gains in IQ scores in many parts of the world. This improvement has continued

By Suvi Mahonen

July 2018

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. . . am I going to turn out to be the mother of an internetenhanced genius or smartphoneaddled addict?

US BOoNPAGE 34 o

t t Turn out how d i n i m so to f utter otto b e k ris ma room mush a slow in er. cook

SLOW COOKING for vegetarians Q

By Katy Holder

uite often people think of slow cookers as useful pieces of equipment for cooking tough cuts of meat. However, they are equally fantastic for vegetables, allowing you to cook them gently and slowly until they are wonderfully tender and juicy—or still firm, depending on the desired result.

THE JOY OF PREPPING AND FORGETTING

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Suvi Mahonen is a Surfers Paradise-based writer. Her work has appeared in publications including The Best Australian Stories, The Weekend Australian Magazine and The Huffington Post.

Due to the high water content of vegetables, it’s important not to cook them for hours and hours. So, rather than using the traditional “leave for eight hours while you go to work” approach, many vegetarian slow cooker recipes are cooked for just three or four hours. The beauty of this timeline is that you can do some preparation, throw everything in the slow cooker, do the washing up and then have a few free hours to read stories to your kids, help them with homework, go for a walk, run errands and so on. Best of all, after dinner, there is often only one pot to wash up!

One point to remember when using a slow cooker is that, unlike cooking in an oven or on the stovetop, liquid is unable to evaporate, so it’s important to add much less liquid than you normally would. Don’t worry if when you start your dish it looks dry. By the end of the cooking time, the vegetables will be cooked and (if intended) saucy.

SLOW COOKER TIPS •

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•

COOKING FOR THE FAMILY

GMVOZD—GETTY IMAGES

“We are seeing concerns where devices can blur the boundaries between people’s work life and their personal life,” he told me. “It’s really important that people get sufficient time away from work.

Personal devices can make that difficult.”

So, considering all this conflicting advice, am I going to turn out to be the mother of an internet-enhanced genius or a smartphoneaddled addict? Or will such an artificial distinction soon not exist anymore? These thoughts worry me as I stand up and touch my daughter gently on the cheek.

“It’s bedtime,” I say.

Tears and tantrums follow. As they do virtually every night. Even when I promise to read her The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

It’s time for Plan B. My daughter’s tears abruptly stop when she sees the envelope in my hand. It’s plastered with animal stickers, and her name and address are written on the front in big pink glitter letters.

“What’s that, Mummy?”

“It’s a card,” I say. “It’s for you.”

I give her the envelope and watch as her fingernails frantically pry open the flap. She squeals in delight when she tugs out the card. It’s a cardboard cut-out of a chicken complete with yellow feathers and big black googly eyes.

“Grandma made it,” I say.

My daughter giggles and I smile. Happy, that at least for now, there are still some things that screentime, no matter how smart the device, just can’t beat.

OSCARHDEZ—GETTY IMAGES

and social development. When I spoke to him on the phone from Massachusetts, USA, it was 9 pm local time and his two children, aged three and five, were asleep in bed.

“It’s important to differentiate between general media use—just exposure to devices like tablets—and programs that are specifically designed for education,” he told me. “The evidence shows pretty convincingly that it’s not so much the exposure to a device that makes the difference, but it’s what you do with it and the content you’re exposed to.”

Even with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recent reduction of recommended maximum screen time for children under the age of five to just one hour a day, Dr David, as both a researcher and parent, believes restrictions like these have become a moot point.

“In a world where screen use and technology is so pervasive, time of use starts to be more difficult to measure and less important to make guidelines on,” he said. “The more pertinent question to ask ourselves is: what’s most important developmentally for the kid, and is the kid getting that? And if they are, then I don’t think some screen time is going to hurt.”

Dr David does caution, however, that parents should use media mindfully and it should never replace important parent-child interactions, which are critical for a child’s development.

“I have not seen anything that would convince me that devices are giving a child something which is stimulating them in a way beyond an activity like reading with their parent,” he says. “We really are interpersonal beings and our information comes from our interactions with other people. The parent-child exchange that goes on with shared activities cannot be replicated artificially with a device.”

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists president, Professor Malcolm Hopwood, also warns that while there is no doubt devices have been a wonderful aid to society, there exists a subset of people who have become overly dependent on them.

Slow cookers are often thought of as convenient for the cooler months. However, I like to use them in the warmer months, too, as they don’t heat up the house like a stovetop or oven. Warm salad recipes in particular are great for summer lunches or dinner parties. Get them cooking early on, then concentrate on other aspects of your meal. Leave the salads to cool and then enjoy your feast.

Slow cookers are ideal for cooking healthy meals for your family because you start with predominantly fresh, whole foods and very few nutrients are lost in the cooking process. Slow cookers work differently than, say, boiling vegetables in a saucepan, as they retain all of the vegetables’ natural juices in the sauce, resulting in a richly flavoured, nutrient-dense dish. If you include beans and pulses, there is no need for additional protein.

When cooking pulses and beans, dried and tinned versions work equally well. Just ensure that if you are using dried pulses and beans, you soak and pre-cook as required beforehand.

You can also use a slow cooker to make desserts! When doing so, keep a close eye to ensure your recipe doesn’t overcook, as the slow cooker size can make a difference. Keep watch through the lid, resisting the temptation to keep lifting it up and letting the heat escape. When your dessert is finished, remove the lid quickly so the condensation doesn’t drip onto your delicious dish.

•

Most slow cookers are very simple to operate with low, high and auto settings (or 1, 2 and auto), but read the instruction manual for your particular slow cooker before starting to cook.

Some slow cookers have an insert pan that can be used on a stovetop and then put back to continue cooking. If your slow cooker’s insert pan can be used on the stovetop, then do all the cooking in the pan; if not, use a frying pan. The majority of ceramic insert pans cannot be used on your stovetop and will crack. Refer to the instruction manual to see if yours is suitable.

If you have put your slow cooker’s ceramic insert in the fridge for any reason before cooking, allow it to come to room temperature before starting to cook or it may crack once it starts heating up, due to the sudden change in temperature.

Never cook dried kidney beans and other kidney-shaped beans from raw in a slow cooker because the temperature isn’t high enough to destroy the natural toxins found in these beans. Always soak them overnight and then boil for 10 minutes before adding. It’s fine to add drained and rinsed tinned beans straight into the cooker.

There isn’t much you can’t do in a slow cooker. So dig yours out from the back of your cupboard—or buy one next time you are shopping—and reclaim your precious time!

Katy Holder has been the food director of Family Circle magazine, has written food pages for marie claire magazine for several years and is a working mum of two hungry boys.

THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN BY KATY HOLDER, MURDOCH BOOKS, RRP $29.99.

July 2018

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e h t k as experts

Q My eight-monthold has seven teeth and he has started grinding them—so much so that I can see his jaw going back and forth! Is this bad and what can I do to stop it?

OUR PANEL:

HEATHER WINTER MIDWIFE SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

NEIL GINSBERG PAEDIATRICIAN SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

TRISH GUY NUTRITIONIST SANITARIUM HEALTH & WELLBEING

KAREN HOLFORD FAMILY THERAPIST HEARTWORDS

ANDREW DARON PRATT PENNINGTON KIDS' CHAPLAIN GP SEVENTH-DAY SANCTUARY LIFESTYLE ADVENTIST CHURCH CLINIC

Debbie, via email

PETER WOOD OBSTETRICIANGYNAECOLOGIST SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

Nearly one-third of children grind their teeth, often during their sleep. Called bruxism, this is generally a behavioural pattern rather than a pathological problem. This will often happen in deep phases of sleep and may be aggravated in children where the top and bottom teeth are not properly aligned.

It is not worrying in an eightmonth-old and most babies will grow out of this habit. If it persists, see your GP or dentist for reassurance, and if they are concerned, then a paediatric referral may be needed. —Neil

Q My child’s school has been teaching evolution, causing him to question what we have been teaching him about Creation. Can you suggest anything we can do? Michele, via email As parents, you hold the trump card when it comes to your children. What is taught and lived in the home will significantly outweigh anything taught at school or anywhere else. Here’s how you can leverage this influence: • Teach the Bible well and consistently. Immerse your child in the stories of the Bible on a regular basis.

• Fight for the right relationship with your child. This is only

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built up over time and immersing your child and yourself in diverse experiences.

• Help your child to gain an experience of the awe and wonder of God. Our task is not just to fill their head with biblical truths but to let them experience and encounter all that God is. The key words here are encounter, wonder, awe and mystery.

• Wrestle with the hard questions. Encourage your child to ask the what now, what if and what does this mean type of questions. The secret is not having all the answers but allowing the wrestling to occur in a safe environment and to be OK about that as a parent.

Teaching kids to think does not happen overnight, but it is possible with consistency, the right relationship and determination. —Daron

GETTY IMAGES

Q I’ve been told meal replacement shakes are helpful for losing weight because they are portion-controlled and nutritionally-balanced, while controlling my kilojoule intake.

What do you think? Karen, via email A meal replacement program can be an effective strategy for quickly losing a large amount of weight in a short period of time. It can be useful if you’re overweight by a large amount or if you have other health issues that come along with carrying excess weight (such as diabetes or heart disease) and you’ve tried changing your lifestyle (what you eat and how much you exercise) without success.

The key to weight loss success with meal replacements is working with your GP or an accredited practising dietitian. They will help you work out if a meal replacement program is right for you, and if so, which type, as there are different programs, with higher or lower total energy intakes over the day.

Also, consider that over the long term, meal replacement programs are no more effective than reducing your total food intake for weight loss. This suggests they may be difficult to follow over a longer period of time. While meal replacements are nutritionally balanced in that they provide adequate protein and key vitamins and minerals, none of them are a complete substitute for the abundance of phytonutrients (think antioxidants) and fermentable fibres found naturally in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and wholegrain breads and cereals. —Trish

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS Write to us at: editorial@ thetabletv.com THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR PERSONAL SITUATION. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER THE INFORMATION IS APPROPRIATE TO YOUR NEEDS, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

July 2018

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home HACKS

AS SEEN ON NEW ZEALAND

PROBLEM: LIGHTING ALL CANDLES BEFORE THE MATCH RUNS OUT

SOLUTION: USE A SPAGHETTI STICK AS A MATCH

PROBLEM: SPREADING GERMS WHEN BLOWING OUT CANDLES

SOLUTION: CLAP ON TOP OF THE FLAMES TO EXTINGUISH THEM

Presents, birthdays and more PROBLEM: NOT ENOUGH WRAPPING PAPER

SOLUTION: WRAP DIAGONALLY

PROBLEM: GIFT CARD GETTING LOST

SOLUTION: CREATE A POCKET WITHIN THE WRAPPING PAPER

PROBLEM: NO LUNCHBOX COOLLER

SOLUTION: FREEZE A WET SPONGE IN A ZIPLOCK BAG

MICHELLE

Mum of nine Michelle shares her time-saving projects to bring some sanity back to our lives. Watch how we make these and other hacks on the At The Table TV show.

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IMAGES TAKEN BY KEVIN PATERSON AND ERIC DE MESA

Materials

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EXERCISE

BEING PREGNANT

gym and do a workout, my “something” was a 20-minute brisk walk. I reminded myself that, even if I was super tired, this was good for my body, my baby and my mind, and I could always nap later.

By just doing something during the challenging times, whatever that may be for you, it will make it far easier to keep up an active habit once you do have energy again.

Of course, if you are pregnant, make sure you have your doctor’s approval before embarking on any exercise and, if possible, seek out a trained pre- and post-natal trainer to devise a program that’s appropriate for you.

a h s i l A h t i w

THIRD TRIMESTER:

A

s a women’s fitness and wholistic health coach, I’m often working with busy mums, which has made me wonder, What will I be like when I’m pregnant and when I become a new mum? I can’t say what it’ll be like being a new mum since bub isn’t due until next month, but here’s what my research and personal experience have taught me about having a healthy, enjoyable pregnancy.

IF POSSIBLE, PREPARE YOUR BODY

Although we hadn’t been actively trying to conceive, about six months prior to falling pregnant, we checked in with our health professionals with the purpose of being as healthy as possible before trying to conceive.

In retrospect, I’m really happy we made the decision to be proactive because I believe it has helped prepare my body to grow this little bubba better than if I hadn’t. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to start a family to give yourself a minimum of six months to prepare your body, especially if you’re low on nutrients that are specifically necessary during pregnancy, such as iron, zinc and vitamin B12.

In terms of my fitness, I also made it a priority to exercise regularly and consistently before falling pregnant, so that it would be easier to maintain being active while pregnant. For me, that included three strength workouts and three cardio/high-intensity interval training workouts a week, between 30 and 45 minutes in length.

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SUPPLIED

MOVE, SOMEHOW AND OFTEN

Alisha, At The Table’s resident PT, is due in August.

Strength workouts I did to prepare myself for pregnancy included: DUMBBELL CHEST PRESS

SEATED ROW

GLUTE RAISE

SHOULDER PRESS

SQUAT (GOBLETS)

STEP UPS

A POSITIVE MENTAL STATE

On the home stretch

In general, many women opt for doing light cardio and stretching during pregnancy. While these modes of exercise definitely have their benefits, it is also recommended by leading women’s health physios to include regular strength training and moderate intensity cardio exercise for a well-rounded level of fitness during pregnancy.

This could include regular outdoor brisk walks (enough to raise the heart rate), group fitness classes, weight training and team sports.

This may be easier said than done since being pregnant is often accompanied by being exhausted. Early on, I began reading Erica Willick’s book, Your Fit Pregnancy, which encourages women to try to do “something” most days. So whenever I struggled to get to the

PREPARE YOUR BODY

Understandably, being a first-time mum can freak you out! I’ve already had many moments of worry, stress and fear that I’ve done something wrong, eaten something that could harm the baby or that I’m not going to be a good enough mum. I think it’s normal to have these thoughts, but if we don’t keep them in check, it can be to our detriment.

For me, the underlying factor is whether or not we have come to a place of acceptance, love and strong belief in our personal worth and value. What I mean is, so many of us women allow negative self-talk, along with the opinions of others, to determine how we think about ourselves, and how much value we place on ourselves.

What if we each chose to believe that we were inherently born with unfathomable value and potential? What if we rejected the notion that the negative things that have happened to us have affected our limitless value and potential? What if we didn’t allow our failures or successes to be the determining factors of what we’re worth, but knew instinctively that our worth remains the same no matter how we “perform” in life?

As a Christian, I truly believe every one of us is of infinite value and, therefore, have the right to live believing that! If we believed this about ourselves, we would make the best choices for our health, for our mindset, for our relationships and for our own respect.

So my take home message for you (and me) is to believe that we are truly worthy and to live it. Surround ourselves with those who support us and our values, and treat our bodies as the amazing temples they are, with the wonderful ability to create, grow and bring a beautiful new life into this world, all without us instructing it to!

Cardio workouts included: • 45 minute walk/run intervals (2 minute brisk walk, 1 minute run) • 30 minute treadmill on an incline • 30 minutes on the elliptical machine (2 minutes easy, 1 minute heavy)

ALISHA Ten minutes every day is all you need to start on your journey to become fit and healthy. Watch Unleash Fit Living's Alisha share her workouts on the At The Table TV show.

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HOW TO

PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR A SUCCESSFUL

CAREER

By Rachel Humphries

ASANTOSG—GETTY IMAGES

F

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or young people, the world of work they are soon about to enter can feel a little uncertain—and with good reason. We are facing the birth of the fourth industrial revolution, which will and is bringing to the fore things previously present only in sci-fi movies, namely artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).

According to the World Economic Forum, “Increased automation could eliminate jobs in manufacturing, transport, retail, healthcare and administration. . . . Most children entering primary school today will work in occupations that don’t even exist yet.”

Setting your child up for a happy and successful professional life should take place long before they leave high school.

Spending time and effort to increase your child’s chance of

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lay a solid foundation for your child’s future employment journey, setting your child up for a fulfilling working life.

HELP THEM KNOW WHO THEY ARE While being intellectually capable is certainly a desirable and helpful quality, the first component in making wise career choices is to have a sound understanding of yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and your predominant personality characteristics.

Our self-image and self perception are primarily based on and impacted by the significant people around us. What you say and how you treat your children (in fact, any child!) impacts how they view themselves and the world.

Understanding and being comfortable with who you are gives you the confidence to take healthy risks, to bounce back from failure, to try new things, to keep learning and build resilience. That golden path we want for our kids will have obstacles and challenges. No life is without them. The earlier in life they learn to understand and value themselves, the better equipped they will be to become healthy participants in life.

For example, if you understand you are quite investigative and thrive on exploring the why and how questions, but find yourself in a role where you are required just to be accepting, you will most likely become a frustrated, unhappy person and employee. This can occur even though you may have the correct hard-earned qualifications, required skills and even a strong interest. However, if it doesn’t align with who you are, your daily motivation and drive will be a casualty.

INCREASE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY being one of those fortunate people who look forward to going to work each day is a very astute investment. After all, we spend roughly one-third of our lives at work. Many people have spent unnecessary hours (months and even years) and large amounts of money pursuing a career, only to find out it is the wrong path for them.

As a parent, you want your child’s vocational path to be as smooth as it can be. And there are a lot of things that you can start doing now that will

Being employable is so much more than having a high IQ! Being considered smart is no doubt an asset professionally, but research and experience tell us there is more to a successful career than academic success.

Being able to respond appropriately to life and future professional challenges is something we can teach and foster within our kids from a young age and lends itself brilliantly to being more employable. Obstacles are part of the path. Being able to work around and through them is key, not only to their happiness but success in any career.

A large part of being able to cope with challenges is having self-control. Selfcontrol is being able to manage our behaviours and emotions to reach a longer-term goal.

Karen Young from Hey Sigmund, a psychology news website, says some practical examples of self-control are “delaying gratification, controlling impulses, pushing through frustration, persevering with a challenge, waiting patiently for your turn

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and controlling emotional outbursts. . . . Most children seem to master self-control by the time they are 10 years old.”

One of my favourite studies from the ’60s has brought great laughter (and some concern) when I tried this experiment on my own children. I’m referring to America’s Stanford University “Marshmallow Study”, a comical but effective test of self-control conducted on a group of four-year-olds.

In the study, each child was told they could eat a single marshmallow immediately if they wanted, or if they delayed the instant pleasure and waited 15 minutes, they would be given two marshmallows. Now, bear in mind to a four-yearold, 15 minutes is forever. The kids who managed to succeed in enduring the 15 minutes distracted themselves by looking away, talking or singing to themselves, and using a variety of tactics to help the time pass without constantly focusing on what they couldn’t have. Others call this setting goals or a vision and maintaining a constant focus on it, but it all starts with self-control.

Another favourite study of mine is the Dunedin Study, a research project that has followed the lives of just over 1000 willing participants since their birth in 1972. For the past four decades, New Zealand researchers have studied just about everything with this group, including selfcontrol. Their self-control studies parallel that of the Marshmallow Study, but what really stood out for me was the take-home message: “Follow-up studies over the course of their lives revealed that the children who were able to

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avoid temptation were healthier, had greater success at school and then in their careers, and had stronger relationships.”

Try the Marshmallow Study with your kids at home and see how they go. Remember that self-control can be taught, as can other highly employable and valued traits such as responsibility, integrity and humility.

A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE After a week of karate classes, my young daughter said she already knew what to do and didn’t need to have any more classes. It may have been a cute response from a five-year-old but, as an adult, that same attitude will limit growth.

Never stop learning. Feed that childlike curiosity that can often get lost in a formal school system. Encourage your children to ask questions, to ignore the feeling of appearing stupid or smart, and commit to learning something new all the time. Encourage intergenerational mentoring or interaction. It can create and engender belonging, empowerment and generosity.

It’s that mentoring and looking up to those we admire that can also encour-

age us to never stop learning. That desire to increase in knowledge is also a highly employable trait.

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD OF WORK The final component to helping your child lay a great foundation for a good career is to have a broad understanding of the world of work. It’s like an infant learning how to eat and experiencing how different foods taste and feel for the first time. We don’t know if we like certain foods or textures until we try them.

As your child gets older and enters secondary school education, it would be worthwhile discussing what employment options and realistic opportunities are out there. Most people actually have a fairly narrow understanding of the vast array of career options available. There is a huge amount of information online to explore possible career paths for your child, but it’s even better to talk to people in industries that may interest them.

While your children are young, help them try new things, get away from the screen, go camping, enjoy local plays and theatricals, visit museums, learn about other cultures and help out at a local charity. These are all excellent ways of expanding a young person’s mind and experiences. It broadens their perspective and creates valuable awareness of their interests.

Being aware of their interests will lead naturally to the next step of exploring their passions within the world of work. When your children are in their mid-teens, don’t be afraid to get in touch with employers in the fields that interest your child and see if you can arrange some unpaid “work experience”.

One note of caution: work experience requires specific insurance to cover work health and safety regulations in Australia and New Zealand.

However, most schools that arrange work experience do have insurance coverage, so talk to them.

Remember, this is your child’s journey, not yours. They are their own person with their own set of talents, dreams and passions. Your role as a parent is to facilitate, support and champion them on this journey. Have plenty of discussions over the years as they grow and experience life. Challenge them to think about what they want to get out of life and what they want to give back. What difference do they want to make for others and future generations?

You can always talk to a career counsellor to seek further help for your kids. Loving a career is a major life box that you want your children to tick. Be patient though; getting it right generally takes some time. Each time they explore options, they learn more about themselves and how they fit into the world of work. Think of it like panning for gold. Each time the pan is shaken, the unnecessary stuff falls away, taking you one step closer to the sought after prize.

Rachel is a panellist on At The Table TV show. As a business owner and careers consultant at Career Options, she has been administering careers assessments for the past nine years. She is a mum of three and a wife to a long-suffering and very patient man!

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COOKING with Gia & Olive Almond Chai Latte PREPARATION TIME: 2 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 6 MINUTES SERVES: 2 INGREDIENTS 1½ cups water 1½ cups non-dairy milk 3–4 Medjool dates, pitted 1 rooibos chai tea bag 1 tbsp almond butter

AS SEEN ON

winter oats

2.

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME: OVERNIGHT (SLOW COOKER) 3 MINUTES (PRESSURE COOKER) 20 MINUTES (STOVETOP) SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS 1 cup steel-cut oats 2 cups non-dairy milk 1 cup water 3 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped 2 bananas, peeled and chopped ½ tsp cinnamon

METHOD 1.

Mix all ingredients in your choice of cooking implement.

3.

Slow cooker: Set on low before going to bed. In the morning, stir through and if the ingredients are not quite cooked, turn on high until the consistency thickens.

Pressure cooker: Secure lid, making sure the vent is closed. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.

Turn off and release pressure. Remove lid, stir contents and serve.

Stove: Cover pot with lid and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Remove lid and stir regularly for a further 10 minutes or until oats thicken, adding more water if necessary.

Serve with mixed frozen berries and a little cinnamon.

NEW ZEALAND

METHOD 1.

2.

3.

4.

Add water, milk and dates to a small pot and place on stove on medium–high heat.

Open tea bag and pour in contents. Once water is boiling, transfer to blender.

Add almond butter and blend until smooth.

To serve, pour into mugs through a sieve.

Dairy-free mayo

1 tbsp honey or date puree 1 tsp salt

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 0 MINUTES

METHOD 1.

INGREDIENTS

ITEMS STYLED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY ADAM KAVANAGH

flourless mug cake

22

PREPARATION TIME: 2 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 1 MINUTE SERVES: 2

METHOD 1.

2.

INGREDIENTS 1 medium overripe banana 2 tbsp smooth almond or peanut butter 1 tbsp cocoa powder 2 tbsp dairy- or sugar-free chocolate chips

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July 2018

3.

4.

Oil a microwave- or oven-safe ramekin.

Blend all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a blender until smooth.

Stir through chocolate chips.

Cook in the microwave for one minute.

2 cups firm tofu 5 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp whole grain mustard 1 garlic clove

2.

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth, adding water if mixture is too thick.

Store in fridge for a maximum of 2–3 days.

SOURCE: THE REVIVE CAFÉ COOKBOOK

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THE

Send your child to school too soon and they may not be ready. Send them too late and you may be wasting their potential. Is there in fact a right age?

EDUCATIONAL

By Vania Chew

H

ave you heard of the term “redshirting”? When I first heard it, it conjured up an image of newbie athletes being forced to wear red shirts until they were considered worthy enough to wear the normal team uniform. As it turns out, I was kind of on the right track.

The concept behind redshirting was that some freshman players needed extra time to improve before they were viewed as good enough to play with the rest of the team. Coaches would hold these players back from playing the important games until they were considered ready.

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And yes, these players were distinguished from their peers by the red shirts they wore.

Journalist Malcolm Gladwell wrote about redshirting in his 2008 bestseller, Outliers, in which he examined research that suggested being relatively older in one’s grade actually led to greater success later in life. According to Malcolm, older kids were more likely to dominate in all possible aspects: academically, physically and emotionally.

Malcolm’s research led to the popularisation of “academic redshirting”, the process of encouraging parents to deliberately hold

DGL IMAGES—GETTY IMAGES

ADVANTAGE

their children back from starting school. Academic redshirting was supposed to give children extra time to mature, in the hope they would end up being academically and physically superior when they finally went to kindergarten.

A 2011 study published in the Australian Review of Public Affairs shows that the number of parents choosing to redshirt their children is rising in Australia. The first national estimates taken in 2005 record about one in eight children being held back or delayed from starting school. Ten years later, in 2015, an article in ABC News noted that one child in six is being held back from starting school.

In 2016, just 1391 four-year-olds started kindergarten at New South Wales primary schools, along with more than 53,000 fiveyear-olds and more than 15,000 who were aged six or older. It’s interesting to note boys are more often redshirted than girls, since it’s believed boys need that extra year to mature as they find it harder to sit still and learn sustained motor tasks such as writing.

But does holding a child back really give them the promised academic and other advantages?

My mother was almost three years older than the other children in her grade when she was finally sent to school. It wasn’t redshirting in the traditional sense. She wasn’t held back to give her any type of special advantage. It was simply the consequence of growing up in a large family, in a time and a place where education for females wasn’t a priority.

I still see the pain in her eyes as she tells me what it was like to be bullied by younger peers for being older and to be constantly beaten by her teacher for not knowing what other students had already learned in previous years.

For her, being the oldest in the class wasn’t advantageous in any way—in fact, it was a definite disadvantage. However, she was determined to overcome this obstacle and through hard work, persistence and strength of spirit, eventually did so. But she never forgot what her experience was like. She vowed that if she ever had children, she would make sure they had the opportunity to attend school as early as possible. And that’s why I started kindergarten at four-and-a-half.

From an academic perspective, I seemed ready to go. I’d learned how to read at the age of three—not just words here and there, but fluent sentences and paragraphs. I knew my alphabet and how to count. I had memorised a number of stories and nursery rhymes.

By the time I turned four, I could even write. The word redshirting wasn’t in my mum’s mind, let alone her vocabulary. She didn’t think I needed an extra year at home to prove I could keep up.

From a financial perspective, it also made sense for me to start school early. Although my dad had a full-time job, living in Sydney was expensive (yes, even before the era of smashed avocado!) and my mum was keen to put me in school so that she could go back to work.

And from a social perspective, it even worked out. As an only child, I loved playing with other kids and spending time with them in preschool. In fact, Mum often had to drag me away from preschool at the end of the day—I enjoyed the toys and company so much I didn’t want to leave! Starting school early was the perfect opportunity for me to make new friends.

The initial first day of kindergarten went relatively smoothly.

Parents of kindergarteners were able to spend part of the first day with them to help make the transition easier. Mum spent as much of the first day with me as she could and thought I seemed fine, if a little quieter than usual. It was easy enough to explain: new environment with new people and new circumstances and I was still getting used to it all.

I was only a few weeks into kindergarten when I suddenly refused to keep going. Every morning, my mum would try to drop me off at school, only to be met by plaintive wails.

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I was bored and restless because I had nothing to do . . .

Vania Chew is producer of At The Table TV show and also writes for At The Table magazine.

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academically, that advantage naturally dissipated as my classmates learned how to read and write and do all the other things I could do. And the introduction of new concepts such as fractions and decimals definitely put us on a more even playing field!

So while in my experience, there may not be an advantage in sending me to school early, research has also shown redshirting may not be the answer. When America’s Northwestern University professor Diane Schanzenbach and preschool director Stephanie Larson studied children who had been redshirted, they found that while some children benefitted from being held back, their advantages usually dissipate over time. In their article, “Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?”, published in educational journal Education Next, they even cite research that claims younger students may actually gain more significantly from learning with older students.

Dr Claire Campbell, a lecturer at James Cook University in Queensland, agrees that older children are not necessarily more ready for school than their younger peers, but that doesn’t mean sending them to school at four is the right answer either.

There are many important factors that will influence children’s later success in life such as their dedication, persistence and the effort that they are willing to put in. The age that they first start school is not one of them.

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“I don’t want to go! Why do you have to go to work? Can’t you stay at home and teach me?” I would beg.

I had never been a particularly clingy child and she couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Eventually she pushed me for an explanation. She found out I was being segregated in kindergarten because I already knew what the teacher was teaching the rest of the class. I was bored and restless because I had nothing to do and, because I was segregated from the rest of my class, I didn’t feel as though I belonged with the others.

Mum spoke to my teacher and my principal and asked if I could be moved up to a higher grade. Although they agreed I was certainly ready academically, they had their doubts about how I would adjust socially to such a move.

“She’s already one of the youngest in her class now,” they pointed out. “She’s comfortable enough with the people in this class but it would be very hard for her to adjust to an even older age group.”

Against my mum’s better judgement, she reluctantly agreed to keep me in the same grade with the provision I would have extra work to do to keep me interested and occupied. To this day, I can still remember sitting alone and reading books about Australian mammals while the rest of my class practised the alphabet. And although I was receiving extra work to do, I still felt like I was on my own and different from everyone else.

Mum started school late. I started school early. Is there a right age to send your child to school? I don’t think there is.

Although what my mum taught me initially put me ahead

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I

was struggling. I thought I was the only mum in the world who couldn’t get it together, who wasn’t really enjoying motherhood. I felt terrible. I sat on my couch with a giant pile of washing next to me. Another day had come and gone and I had barely been able to keep up. The days were flying by me, my three kids were all under four years old, but I felt like I had missed what childhood they’d had so far. I was always cleaning up.

When I thought about my days and how I spent my time, all I

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plays

saw were piles of dishes, an endless mountain of washing, picking up toys and books and markers and jackets and shoes and empty water bottles and paper artwork.

I’d thought motherhood was going to mean I’d get to enjoy my kids. I’d chosen to stay at home because I’d felt like this was where I was supposed to be—home with my kids. It had felt right. Yet, I’d never spent time enjoying them. I had to keep moving or the house and the day would collapse. When I did press pause and spend

SUPPLIED

THE M U M O H W

When Allie Casazza started throwing away her children’s toys, her life changed in a completely unexpected way.

some time with my kids, it felt like I had to pay the price: catching up on housework; making up for the time I’d spent living my life.

It’s not that I’m a neat freak (in fact, I’m probably pretty near the opposite). All this work was simply to keep the house functioning. I was that student in school who stays up all night studying and gets a C. That’s how I felt about my life. I was trying so hard! I felt little satisfaction, little joy and every day was a battle for my time that I didn’t want to wake up for.

I asked other mums, friends and people I respected if this was normal, how they managed their homes and kids, and if they felt like they enjoyed it. I was met with a resounding “Oh yeah, I remember those days! That’s motherhood. It’ll be okay and you’ll get through it.”

“Get through it.”

But what if I wanted more than to just survive in my motherhood? That’s what I was doing now.

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After another particularly difficult day, I reflected on how I’d yelled, how I’d been the mum I never wanted to be, how I was counting how many hours I had of peace and quiet before morning came and I had to start over. It wasn’t like I’d had this one really tough day, and tomorrow would be a fresh start and things would get better; I was feeling like this nearly every day. This wasn’t what I wanted and I knew I was called to more than this for my kids’ sake and my own. This wasn’t abundant life, it didn’t feel purposeful. It felt overwhelming and depressing.

I decided I wasn’t going to let this be my life, and this feeling of being overwhelmed and depressed wasn’t going to rule me any longer. What I did next set my life on a new course, and it never went back to the way it was. It changed everything.

I went into the playroom—the room that was the bane of my existence. This was a room full of colourful bins, each bin full of toys. There were toys on the floor, in chests, in boxes, toys everywhere. I would send my kids in here to play and they would come out less than 10 minutes later complaining of boredom. This room was pointless, and I’d had enough.

I started working through the room, making piles: keep, trash, donate. I got rid of every single toy that I felt wasn’t benefitting my kids. If it didn’t cause them to engage in constructive or imaginary play, it wasn’t staying in this house because it wasn’t worth the work it caused me. If I was going to clean up, I would hang on to the things that added to our lives; the things we needed and the things we truly loved.

When I was finished, all that remained were trains and tracks, a couple of dress-up costumes, books and blocks. The boot of my car was overstuffed with toys to take to the op shop; my playroom was purged and I felt lighter.

The next day after breakfast, as usual, I sent them into their playroom to play, curious to see if they would have a meltdown because of what I’d done with their toys. They walked in, looked around, said something along the lines of “Hey! It’s nice and clean, Mummy! Hey! There’s my trains!” and happily started playing.

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I was shocked. I stepped out of the room, made myself a cup of hot chocolate and sat on the couch. To my surprise, my kids played in the room for three hours. Three hours! It wasn’t just that day either. They continued to want to be in their playroom for long amounts of time from then on. They started going outside more often, making up stories together, playing tag and creating art.

I took my purging into other areas of the house—the dishes, the clothes, the drawers and cupboards—and our whole homelife continued to transform. I was spending less than half my time managing my house, I was playing with my kids, I took up homeschooling, my marriage even improved because I wasn’t a cranky maniac anymore. My depression lifted and never came back.

Life felt lighter, intentional and I was no longer “getting through it”. This was abundant life in motherhood; I could feel it.

Today, five years later, we’ve had a fourth baby, moved cross-country to chase our dreams (very easily, because we weren’t tied down by our stuff), I started a business doing what I love and helping other women, and the housework is just a side note in my life. It’s something I have to maintain a little each day in order to serve my family and keep things running smoothly; it does not take up the bulk of my life anymore.

My kids’ imaginations continue to bloom in amazing ways because there are hardly any toys in our house. They create these elaborate stories together and act them out, they get along so

SUPPLIED

To my surprise, my kids played in [their playroom] that day for three hours.

Three hours!

beautifully together, and they prefer to be outside more than anywhere else. I feel like we’re giving them an honest to goodness 1970s childhood, and I love that.

So why did decluttering give me so much freedom? How does losing my stuff have anything to do with my depression and general lack of joy in my motherhood?

Studies show a direct link between the amount of physical possessions in a house and the stress level of the female homeowner. One study done at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, found that the more stuff that was in a woman’s house, the higher her level of stress hormones. This same study also found that women subconsciously relate how happy they are with their homelife and family to how they feel about their homes. So the more clutter and chaos in the home, the less happy the woman is with her family and her life. Bingo.

That’s what was going on with me and I believe it’s the cause of today’s epidemic in mothers. Barely getting by, living in survival mode, feeling like their kids’ childhoods are passing them by even when they’re right there living it with them. Our stuff is literally stealing away our joy and our lives. It’s stealing the most precious thing in the world: motherhood.

Joshua Becker, founder and editor of the Becoming Minimalist website, says, “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of what we most value, and the removal of anything that distracts from it.”

I believe mothers need minimalism more than anyone else.

Minimalism is less cleaning, it’s the joy of always being ready for company to drop by without stressing out, it’s more free time to focus on your priorities, it’s enjoying your home rather than being owned by it, it’s being able to be a mum who plays rather than a mum who’s always cleaning up, it’s being a happier person.

Allie Casazza married her junior high algebra partner and is mum to their four young kids. She is the founder and host of The Purpose Show podcast, and creator of Your Uncluttered Home, an online decluttering course that has earned her national attention for her philosophy of simple motherhood and simple living. Her website and Minimalism Starter Kit can be found on her website, alliecasazza.com.

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Another book in the wake of the highly popular The Very Hungry Caterpillar franchise that is perfect for bedtime reading.

The lift-the-flap element of this board book will entertain children while they learn about different animals and where they settle to go to sleep.

100 FIRST ANIMALS

THE LITTLEST THINGS GIVE THE LOVELIEST HUGS

LESSONS OF A LAC

The first children’s book to be published in English and Chinese simultaneously by an Australian publisher. A celebration of multiculturalism and all things Melbournian.

The rhyming narrative makes counting fun, while highlighting the landmarks of the city.

Parents can have fun here with voices as this story is told entirely through dialogue. The storyline and conversation seem a little random, but have lovely themes of delayed gratification and sharing. There is a fun twist at the end that may elicit some laughter from your little one.

The storyline may not quite make sense for an adult, but there is great wisdom in the narrative, especially for children who have trouble managing their worries and anxieties. The dialogue, set amidst Dr Seuss-style illustrations, has the potential to help children consider a different—calmer—perspective.

OUT OF THE CAGES

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UNMASKED

Compelling and confronting, this novel provides an insight into a life seldom seen and gives voices to women who are seldom heard. The narrative brings the humanity to an issue often told in statistics and inspires you to fight sextrafficking. A novel more suited to older high school students.

If you can look past the fact this is a tale about a couple of overprivileged teenagers holidaying (not backpacking) in Europe, there are some strong lessons on navigating life on the cusp of adulthood. This novel will speak to those who may be seeing the future taking their friends in different directions, and how to accept it.

This is the young adult edition of burns survivor Turia Pitt’s bestselling memoir of the same name. An inspirational read with content that will resonate with teens, on topics such as priorities, finance, family, happiness and giving back. An insightful Q&A at the end of the book.

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Kim Culbertson Walker Books $16.99

WIN

Ideal for your vehicleobsessed little one, this book is filled with brightly illustrated cars, trucks, buses, planes, boats and such. A delightful way to teach children about all the different modes of transportation. You can even sing along to the tune of “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep”!

THE LAST PEACH Gus Gordon Penguin | Viking $24.99

Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt Bloomsbury $14.99

There’s a mix of photos and illustrations in this massive board book filled with, well, 100 animals. Not much of a narrative here, but a great catalogue with categories such as “farm animals”, “runners and jumpers” and “bright colours”. Perfect for building your baby’s vocabulary.

FOUND IN MELBOURNE Joanne O’Callaghan, Kevin Yang & Kori Song Allen & Unwin $24.99

CAR, CAR, TRUCK, JEEP

Dawn Sirett DK $16.99

PRESCHOOL

An incredibly sweet and charming book about a larger-than-life father and his cute little girl. An extension and book version of Instagram sensation Soosh’s drawings that might just bring a little smile and tear to your face as you discover the relationship between father and daughter.

SLEEP TIGHT VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

HIGH SCHOOL

INFANT

DAD BY MY SIDE

Lynn Jenkins & Kirrili Lonergan EK Books $19.99

Turia Pitt Random House $17.99

WIN

Mark Sperring & Maddie Frost Orchard Books $15.99

Extremely cute is probably the best way to describe this book, with its bold and colourful illustrations of animals with large googly eyes.

A nice little rhyming story for bedtime, celebrating the lovely action of cuddles and hugs.

WIN

WIN THESE ! !

S K O BO HOW T U O D FIN E 31 ON PAG July 2018

THETABLETV.COM

33

SLOW COOKER RECIPE

Butter Miso Mushroom Risotto

By Katy Holder

AT THE TABLE MAGAZINE

PREPARATION TIME: 5 MINUTES COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 50 MINUTES SERVES: 4

REAL WOMEN | REAL CONVERSATIONS | REAL ISSUES

INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp sesame oil 300 g sushi rice, rinsed 2 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped 2 spring onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts kept separate 4 tbsp white miso paste 50 g butter 400 g mixed Asian mushrooms, such as shiitake (stems discarded and caps sliced), shimeji and enoki 50 g baby spinach leaves toasted sesame seeds, to serve

F RE E*

Y MONTHL COPY!

METHOD

2.

3.

4.

5.

IMAGES AND RECIPES FROM SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN BY KATY HOLDER, MURDOCH BOOKS, RRP $29.99. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN BENSON.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the rice, garlic and the white parts of the spring onions and stir for 1 minute until the rice grains are well coated.

Transfer to the slow cooker.

Whisk the miso paste with 750 ml of boiling water until dissolved, then pour into the slow cooker.

Cook on high for 1¼ hours, stirring halfway through.

Melt 20 g of the butter in the frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened.

Tip the mushrooms into the slow cooker, along with 185 ml of boiling water. Stir well, then cook for 15 minutes.

Stir in the remaining butter and the spinach leaves, plus another 185 ml of boiling water if needed, and cook for 10–15 minutes until the spinach wilts and the rice is al dente. Check the seasoning.

Scatter with the green parts of the spring onions and the toasted sesame seeds to serve.

FINISHED WITH THIS MAGAZINE? PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS! 34

THETABLETV.COM

July 2018

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