PakMag Australia – Apr 2018 Issue 32

ISSUE: APR 2018

32

AUSTRALIA

HOME: BUDGET FRIENDLY & BEAUTIFUL ARE YOU ADDICTED TO TECH?

CREATE & CELEBRATE

MAKE YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER CYBER SAFETY

SHARE THE DREAM: GC2018

FREE www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 1

Welcome

CONTENTS 5

The Thing Is with Bree James

Happy Easter!

6

Feature: Make Your

Hello and welcome to our Easter edition of PakMag!

Money Go Further

9

Share The Dream: GC2018

13 Are You Addicted to Tech?

17 Bump, Bub and Beyond:

Premature Birth

18 Bump, Bub and

Beyond: WIN

21 Health 22 Home with Caro and Kingi:

Budget-Friendly and

Beautiful: Peg Board

Technology is something that is close to my heart; I see how the world is changing and how we can embrace the digital advances that will be integral parts of our futures. But I also know that there are some pitfalls to our new reliance on tech, and this month we take a closer look. Our story on page 13 will give you an insight into tech addiction and what you can do about it, and our feature on page 27 provides tools for parents to keep their kids safe online.

I’ve also been learning a lot from our experts and our “Stop Wasting Money” piece on page 6 was inspired by what we’ve learned from our finance expert, Kelly Wealth Services.

I hope you have a great month, and until next time, don’t forget to tell them you read it in PakMag.

24 Home: Book Nook 27 Cyber Safety 31 Healthy Recipes

Bree James Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief

32 Celebrate:

Contact Us: p 4053 3331 f 4053 3350 e admin@grandpublishing.com.au a Po Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 fb facebook.com/pakmagaustralia t #pakmag

Create and Celebrate!

Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Operations Manager Rose Foster Production Manager Janelle May

Graphic Designers Clare Winter Sara Williams Marketing to Families Experts Lisa Gillman Dan Kendrick Sub-Editor Kate Moloney

Accounts Trent Stievano Supply & Distribution Manager Gleisy Meireles Media Interns Monique Saggers Kalisha Fitsch

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole without the expressed permission of the editor. Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advised to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. The expressions expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th July 2018

www.pakmag.com.au www.pakmag.com.au| March | April 2018 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is...

STORY Bree James

At the beginning of the year I made a commitment to myself to slow down just a little. Don’t get me wrong, I love my fast paced life, but I felt like life was going way too fast for me to make time to notice if I was enjoying it or not. Every minute of every day was so busy and full, there was no time to ponder, reflect, or even have a meaningful conversation with anyone but my own internal dialog. Everything was always a rush.

As the universe would have it, I had an accident in January resulting in my having to have knee surgery.

So, for the past three months, I have had copious amounts of time to do loads of pondering and reflecting, and I certainly have not been able to rush!

The thing is we all need to take time to reflect and take things slow sometimes and be more grateful.

Hurting my leg has given me a great lesson in being grateful for what I have. These past few weeks I’ve realised I have been focusing on what I don’t have instead of what I do have and it’s a very easy trap for us all to fall in to. Hobbling around, my thoughts can’t stop with “I wish I had two working legs again”, “I wish I could get my own cup of tea”, “I wish I could put my own pants on”, instead of being grateful for having my health, having family and friends who are helping me daily, and having an amazing team who are taking care of the office.

Anyway, it got me thinking, why did I always look in the mirror wishing that my leg was skinnier, stronger, more toned, or less hairy? Why wasn’t I satisfied? Why did I wish I had a new one back then? Right now, I’d give

anything to have my old pre-accident leg back, and it goes to show that we often don’t appreciate what we’ve got until it’s gone. Even the simple things in life we take for granted like having two imperfect, old, but functioning legs.

Many of us live a very blessed life that we aren’t grateful enough for it. It’s so easy to go to the negative and think that life is hard, life is unfair and life is not where we want it to be when we are ‘wanting’ all the time.

Being in hospital, being in pain, being dependent on others, and sitting on my couch has not been good for my mojo. But it was in these moments where I sat, helpless and observed my world, that the reality of how good my life actually is set in. I have a safe place to live, I have family and friends that love me, good health albeit a sore leg, and clean water and food. This is all that really matters, and I am truly grateful for this.

Anything above these basic needs really is a bonus, and we need to control our ‘wanting’ for more.

Life is a lot happier when we stop the ‘wanting’ cycle, and move to a place of satisfied and grateful. This is a place where we are satisfied and grateful with our home, car, body, lifestyle, work, relationships and ourselves. It’s going to take some time, but this is my aim, to stop the wanting, and be more satisfied and grateful with what I have and not take it for granted.

I hope you will join me.

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Feature

Make your money go further STORY Bree James

6 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

Feature

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want more money. Whether it’s to have the ability to buy more things for themselves, for their family or for others, or to grow a business, or even to give away, most of us want to have more money in our pockets.

There are only a few ways to get more money; earn it, be given it or win it. For most of us, the likelihood is that you will have resigned yourself to the fact that you are going to have to earn it through working and investing. Some of us may throw a Lotto ticket on every now and then in the hope that we can win it, but you are probably just as likely to win money as you are to be given money, particularly these days with our grandparents spending their retirement funds. Unless of course, one of those emails from overseas, where an unknown billionaire has left us in their will, comes true…

Ok, let’s stop dreaming.

What about saving it? What if you could save thousands of dollars per year instead of trying to earn more? Isn’t it smarter to make our dollar go further than trying to get more dollars? If you can do both that is even better of course!

To give you a hand, here are seven ways to save money or to stop wasting it, if that motivates you more: 1. Have a budget.

Most of us shiver at the thought of having the constraints of a budget, but I am sorry to tell you, sister (or brother), that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. The way to reach your goal is to have goals in the first place; so work out what you are earning and spending. There are many apps that can help you with a budget, or why not go one step further and visit Kelly Wealth to get your ‘financial world’ under control with the Myprosperity app?

2. Bank fees.

Many of us waste a heap of money on bank fees, such as credit card fees, ATM fees, dishonoured payment fees and loan fees. Check out what you are spending on fees; avoid ATMs, pay off your credit card in full every month (don’t fall into the trap of just paying the minimum amount) and make sure there is always enough cash in your account to pay direct debits. And of course, go and see the bank or your mortgage specialist regarding your loans, you could save thousands by reconsolidating these.

3. Overindulging.

This is a big one. One of the biggest holes in people’s wallets is caused by lazy spending; buying coffee or water, buying lunch, eating out, driving unnecessarily and impulse purchases. All these little things add up.

If you spend $5.00 on coffee four days a week that is $1,040.00 a year on coffee, add a $15.00 meal three times a week, and that’s another $2,340.00 on top; nearly a family holiday. If you buy your two kids a $2.00 matchbox car each every week, that’s over $200.00

a year which could have been better invested in their bank account.

Think of your spending like a leaking tap. It doesn’t seem like much at first, but over a year it can add up to a huge unnecessary expense. So, make your own coffee at home or work, take a water bottle everywhere, take lunch, cook at home more often or have picnics, batch your car trips and watch those sneaky ‘presents’ you gift your kids.

4. Superannuation.

If you haven’t sorted your super, talk to someone and get it done. They can easily search and find all your missing accounts and consolidate it, and whilst they are at it, get them to check that it is geared properly and that you aren’t paying for insurances and fees that are unnecessary.

5. Subscriptions and memberships.

Do you need pay TV? Do you use that gym membership?

Do you actually use that App or software? Do you read that subscription? Have a look at all of these things and do a cull or put some on hold. You may be surprised by some of the ones you have actually forgotten about.

6. Groceries.

We waste so much money on food that goes in the bin.

Never go food shopping hungry or without a shopping list. Always have a meal plan for the week and buy to that plan. Eat meat-free a couple of times a week; it’s great for your health and it can save you some money too. For example, making your meal meat-free twice a week will save your family approximately $1,500.00 a year (based on meat costing an average of $15.00 per meal).

7. Insurances.

Insurances certainly aren’t going down, so, you always need to question your insurer when your premium goes up and shop around and work out ways to save. Maybe you could increase your excess or decrease the insured value (be careful here though, no one wants to be underinsured).

It may not seem like a lot, but if you saved $500.00 on each of these seven points, that’s $3,500.00 back in your pocket. Sure, there are plenty of ways to earn some extra dollars, and we encourage you to do that too. But fix the leaks first and then get a good budget in play, because what tends to happen when we earn more money is we spend more money. Our cost of living actually goes up, and we are in fact worse off than before.

Good luck, and don’t forget to talk to your kids about saving and why as a family you need to save money and not waste the resources you have invested in… like the milk in their cereal bowls!

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Feature

SHARE THE DREAM: GC2018 STORY Rose Foster The long-awaited Commonwealth Games take place this month and Australia is abuzz with excitement for the 12-day schedule of sporting events and celebration.

Here’s our top tips on how your family can get involved in the Commonwealth Games: Teach them About the Commonwealth.

From the 4th to 15th April, the Gold Coast will play host to athletes from 70 nations competing in 275 events across 18 different sports. Not only that, host cities including Cairns and Townsville will hold some of the qualifying rounds for basketball and an exciting and plentiful program of events for the public too - check out our school holiday guide for more information on the events in your area.

What a great opportunity to sneak in a geography and history lesson with your children. See how many countries they can name that are part of the Commonwealth. There is a total of 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the nations are spread across every continent and ocean and make up to 30 per cent of the world’s population. The Commonwealth is composed of a rich variety of faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions, from Asia to Africa and beyond.

Not only are the games themselves really exciting but they provide a unique opportunity for families to get involved and embrace GC2018. The Gold Coast has never seen an event of this magnitude, so making sure you make the most of it will ensure that you and your children don’t take it for granted.

During the Commonwealth Games have a fun pop quiz and see how many countries your children can name; see if they can remember how the Commonwealth came to be and if they can remember who got the most medals? There are many more interesting facts about our Commonwealth too; it’s always fun to teach children

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Feature

about the Royal Family and that age-old trivia question, “Who’s Australia’s head of state?”

Learn the History of the Games.

The Commonwealth Games have been held every four years since 1930, except for in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. Did you know that this years Games will make Australia the nation that has hosted the most number of Games? It is the 5th Games to be hosted in Australia, with them previously being staged in Sydney (1938), Perth (1962), Brisbane (1982) and Melbourne (2006).

Colour the Flag.

Another great way to give your children a fun learning experience is to draw the flags from all of the Commonwealth nations. Head to www.pakmag.com.au for a free printable of flag templates for your children to colour in during the games. Not only will it keep them entertained for a few hours, they will also learn a lot whilst doing it.

Share the True Meaning Behind the Commonwealth Games.

Share with your children that the Games are about more than just competing. Discuss with them that the Games are often referred to as the ‘friendly games’, as they bring together members of the Commonwealth of Nations to compete on a level playing field in a spirit of friendship and fair play. That they aim to unite the Commonwealth family through sport.

Get Familiar with Borobi and the Games’ Motto.

Every Commonwealth Games has a motto and the 2018 Gold Coast’s Games official motto is ‘Share the Dream’ and the mascot is Borobi. You may already be familiar with the blue koala mascot who has been gracing our screens in various locations around Australia, but why not purchase your own Borobi online so you and your children can have a momento of the Games?

Learn a New Sport.

There are 18 different sports with 275 events which take place during the Commonwealth Games, and we guarantee that at least one of them will be new to your children. Take the time to watch a new sport together, learn the rules and get to know the athletes. Check out the schedule online, pick a sport together and watch it from start to finish (obviously when you can!). It not only acts as a great educational activity for the whole family but despite which sport you choose, we bet you’ll be screaming at the tv with excitement in no time!

Get Outdoors.

With all the learning going on in the first few ideas, why not let the new-found knowledge inspire you to get outdoors? Find your local basketball courts, volleyball courts or parklands to try out a sport you’ve learned

10 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

as a family. If your chosen sport is water based, head to your local pool to try diving (where permitted) or race the length of the pool in your own head-to-head swimming race Host a Family Sports Day. Keep the competitive spirit alive with your own family sports day. It’s a great way to have fun as a family, bring out some friendly competitiveness and create long lasting memories (or even a new tradition). Some of the sports in the Commonwealth Games may be difficult to do in your own back yard (and some, like Boxing, may not be advisable amongst family!), so why not make the events fun or silly. Try sack races, egg and spoon races or crazy obstacle courses.

Commonwealth Craft.

As well as colouring in flags, there are many crafty ideas that your family can do during the Commonwealth Games. Why not make paper medals, create your own Borobi sculpture or make your own gymnastic ribbon to follow along with the rhythmic gymnastics.

Get Cooking.

Embrace the Commonwealth Nations by cooking a national dish – you could make a rule that every time a country wins a medal, you could cook something from that country. Try a Kenyan stew, Jamaican jerk chicken, haggis from Scotland, poutine from Canada, or a national dish from one of the other 67 countries.

Host a Ceremony Party.

One of the most enthralling parts of the Games are the opening and closing ceremonies, so why not throw a sports themed party, filled with snacks from around the globe, sporty décor and you could even play Commonwealth bingo. To play, give each family member a normal bingo sheet but instead of numbers, use flags or country names, as the teams come out, mark them off – whoever gets a line first wins the first prize, and whoever gets a full house first, wins the second prize.

Take the Family to a Game.

Lucky for us, Cairns and Townsville will play host to the preliminary rounds of basketball, so why not catch a game? Head to www.gc2018.com to grab yourself some tickets.

Share the Dream.

Whatever you and your family get up to this Commonwealth Games, we encourage you to embrace the motto of “Share the Dream” and share your experience with friends, family and with PakMag. We’d love to see what you’re getting up to so use #PakmagRepost on Instagram (if you use Facebook, make sure your post is set to public) so we can share your images and videos on our social channels.

Parenting

Are you addicted to Tech?

STORY Bree James In a world where we are more connected than ever, we are also more disconnected than ever. Look around you; there are people with their faces in devices everywhere you go. People are having romantic candlelit dinners, but their phones burn brighter than the candle. Parents are watching their child’s performance through their video screen trying to capture the moment instead of really watching it.

Food is going cold whilst we try to get the perfect shot.

We all do or have done it.

The world’s brands and tech creators spend literally billions of dollars trying to get your attention, and we spend countless hours online for the same reason, to get attention. We are the ‘Attention Generation’.

Whether it be positive or negative, we are all fighting for attention; every single one of us, every single day, especially our kids. As parents, we need to be role models on how to get positive attention, and how to give people the attention they deserve when they are in front of us. It’s not an easy task.

Why do we need to do this?

Two reasons really. As I said above, we need to teach ourselves and our children how to be present with those around us, and secondly, to teach our children to have self-control on what they give attention to because the consequences can be dire. Too many children are becoming depressed, too many children are harming themselves, and too many lives are being lost. We all need to do something.

Studies have shown, that spending too much time on technology is not good for your focus or your mental health. Hundreds of clinical studies show that screens increase depression, anxiety and aggression. On the positive, Ford's 2014 consumer survey reports that 62 per cent of adults felt better about themselves after getting positive reactions to what they shared on social media. But what about when we post something and get no reaction or negative reactions?

Notifications, responses and rewards are ruling our lives because this attention is addictive. Gaming creators call this the "compulsion loop".

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Parenting

The science behind it?

9. You look at your phone whilst driving.

Every time someone reacts to something you have done online, or you react positively to something someone else has done online, you get a dopamine hit. Dopamine is an addictive pleasure chemical in our brains that is released from doing things we enjoy; it’s like a hug for the brain. Who doesn’t want more pleasure chemicals and hugs?

10. You look at your device whilst watching a movie.

The negative though is that the opposite also occurs if we don’t get the attention we desire: •• Decreased self-esteem, eating disorders and body dysmorphia.

•• Anxiety.

•• Depression and depressive symptoms.

•• Feeling a lack of connection.

•• Feelings of inferiority.

•• Deterioration in concentration and other symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

What can we do?

If you feel any of the above, i.e. have the focus of a hyperactive toddler or a 90-year-old with dementia, or find that you are snapping at people because they are interrupting your device time; it’s probably a pretty good indication that you need to take action.

Here are 12 signs that you have an addiction to your device: 1. It’s the first thing and or last thing you do every day.

2. Your device is never out of reach; you check it for no real reason.

3. You take your phone to the toilet.

4. You use your phone in social settings.

5. If you are bored, you pick up a device.

6. You get fidgety if you don’t have a device.

7. You use your device more or the same amount on holidays.

8. You think you hear your phone even though you haven’t.

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11. Getting interrupted when using your device causes frustration.

12. You have trouble with empathy after being on technology.

Are you nodding your head and holding your breath thinking, “Oh crap, I do this”? You are not alone, and most of us are unaware that we have a problem.

Do you think you are suffering from Nomophobia, the fear of not being able to use your device, fear of having no internet connection, a flat battery or worse, losing your phone?

Here are some simple habits to try, to lead by example and reconnect with the world around you: 1. Have designated times that you use social media; log out of it to ensure you don’t get hypnotised by notifications.

2. Turn notifications off on your emails and apps.

3. Have times when you turn the mobile data on your phone off; so, it’s just a phone.

4. Have a ‘no screens’ rule at the dinner table, in bedrooms, and whilst doing family activities.

5. Have a rule that when with company, there are no screens.

6. On holidays, detox from tech and get offline; it’s the best time to do so, your brain and your family will thank you for it.

7. Have a screen free day each week.

8. Put your phone away when you get home.

9. Do not use tech until you have exercised in the morning; tech is your reward.

10. Limit your use of screen time when your kids are around. Set a good example.

In the end, only you can decide if your use of technology is impacting you, your family, and your relationships.

Sure, there are a lot of great things about technology, but think about it like chocolate, it’s got its place, but we shouldn’t eat it all day long.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

What Can be Done about the Increasing Premature Birth Rate?

STORY Rose Foster With the number of medical advances in our world, it’s hard to believe that we would ever go backwards in this ever-developing area of medicine. But the steady increase of preterm births in developed countries shows that although we are making waves in curing diseases and developing new medicines, one of life’s most natural processes is becoming more and more complex.

But why? Well, there are two main culprits; lifestyle and age.

Many women are waiting until later in life to start a family, with the average age of first time mothers now sitting at 30. When compared with the age of first time mothers forty years ago, which was 25, it’s clear to see the difference. With increased age comes increased risk of preterm birth, so it’s easy to understand how the correlation between older mothers and a higher rate of preterm birth are linked.

Lifestyle is another huge factor when it comes to premature birth. Rising obesity rates combined with the social aspect of our lives often bringing smoking and drinking into the mix is creating a less favourable environment for our unborn babies than ever before.

That said, these aren’t the only two reasons that a baby may be born prematurely, a number of reasons factor into this. However, when we highlight age and lifestyle as the major factors attributing to the increased risk of premature birth, it can help in identifying a solution to the problem.

So, what can be done to stop preterm birth? Well, one thing we can’t change is age, and we certainly wouldn’t suggest that considering having a baby earlier than you’re ready as a solution. But we can definitely change our lifestyle, even if it is just when we’re preparing for a baby and during pregnancy.

Here’s some things that you can do to reduce your risk of preterm birth: •• Get prenatal care as soon as you know you’re pregnant. By visiting your GP or chosen obstetrician early, your doctor will be able to advise you about care options available to you, talk to you about any risks you may face and give you a plan for a healthy pregnancy. If you’re planning on getting pregnant, seeing your GP in advance will also help you create a healthy start to your pregnancy when you do conceive.

•• Stop smoking. We all know that smoking during pregnancy is bad for your baby, but it’s also important to stop smoking before you get pregnant.

•• Start exercising NOW! Just as stopping smoking prior to getting pregnant is important, so too is exercising.

Getting yourself to a healthy weight before getting pregnant helps reduce a number of risks and means you can continue exercising and keeping fit throughout your pregnancy. Starting to exercise during pregnancy is not recommended so do it in advance for the best results.

•• Get your health in check! If you’ve been battling illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression or other chronic issues, it is vital that you get these under control before getting pregnant.

All in all, the key is to provide the best start for your baby, and that’s what all parents want. There are no sure-fire ways to avoid preterm birth, or any pregnancy related issues for that matter, but by starting off on the right foot and ensuring you have done all you can to reduce risks, you’ll not only have peace of mind, but you’ll also have a higher chance of having a smooth pregnancy and birth.

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Bump, Bub and Beyond

BUMP, BUB AND BEYOND Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au for your chance to win!

Olivia Children’s Leather Backpack RRP $149.00, www.cocoroseinteriors.com.au Chic, cute and classy. Our high quality, handmade children’s leather Olivia backpack is a must have for every busy little child.

Perfect for all adventures and playdates, each leather backpack has one large pocket to collect the day’s treasures along the way. Also a top handle to hang the leather backpack when the day is done.

With adjustable straps and high quality craftsmanship, your child’s leather backpack will ensure all their essentials are there with them for years to come.

Grapple RRP $24.95, www.jellystonedesigns.com.au The perfect solution to keeping toys off the floor and in your little one’s hands where they belong! The Grapple™ suctions to any smooth surface and can be attached to up to three toys, working perfectly on highchairs, prams and tables. The innovative design is safe, easy to use, and easy to clean!

18 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel RRP $40.00, www.chillytowel.com.au Keep your kiddies cool with the Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel Duo Pack. Unique hyperevaporative fibre cools to 30° below average body temperature. Perfect for overheating, sports, outdoors, fevers and hot weather.

The Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel is dry to touch and doesnt saturate clothing or bed sheets. It stays chilled for hours, is re-usable, machine washable and is easy to activate.

Maintain adult supervision at all times - for 2+ years.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Top tips for mums from mums

WHY won’t Why WON’T baby BABY feed?

FEED?

STORY Kate Moloney

It’s easy to blame yourself if your baby is struggling to feed. But it’s important to note that feeding and swallowing disorders are quite common and definitely not your fault!

It is true that many first-time mums instantly turn to books, websites and advice as their ‘go to’ resource for information. Yet, ask any ‘experienced’ mum, and she will tell you that she’s learnt that it’s important to trust your ‘gut instinct’.

BabyLove Nappies recently commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 mothers of children aged from one month to three years asking these mums to think about everything they’d learnt as a parent and to nominate what their top tip for a first-time mum would be.

Here are the top 12 tips that these experienced mothers offered up: 1. Listen to your instincts; no one knows your baby as well as you do.

2. Relax, don’t stress the small stuff and go with the flow.

3. Enjoy every moment with your baby because it is over in a flash.

4. Don’t worry about what other people think.

5. Do what is right for you and your family.

6. Everything is going to be okay, hang in there and take it a day at a time.

7. Every child is different; what works for one may not work for another.

8. Ask health experts for advice and consult with other mums; seek and listen to advice.

9. Be patient.

10. Rest when you can; sleep when the baby sleeps.

11. Be kind and gentle to yourself.

12. Ask for help and don’t be afraid to do so.

STORY Kalisha Fitsch

So, what causes feeding and swallowing disorders?

There are many possible causes for these issues, including nervous system disorders, stomach problems, autism, sensory issues or having breathing problems such as asthma. Infants who have trouble feeding or swallowing may cry when feeding, refuse to eat or drink, only eat food of certain textures, take a long time to eat or vomit regularly. These issues may cause dehydration, poor nutrition, and food or liquid to go into the airway.

What can you do? If your baby is having trouble feeding or swallowing, take them to your GP to discuss your concerns. Consider a speech pathologist who will look at how your child moves their mouth and tongue, how your child behaves during meals and how they eat or pick up items of food. Working together with a specialist, such as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, dietitian, nutritionist or developmental specialist for feeding treatment will greatly benefit your baby.

It’s not an uncommon issue. According to the Birth Injury Guide organisation, 25 per cent of babies are affected by some sort of feeding problem, while the percentage is a little higher for infants with a neurodevelopmental disability.

For some little ones, refusing to eat certain foods and being picky is a temporary issue and often resolves itself as they grow up, but if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to consult your GP or a specialist.

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Health

HEALTH How To Use Mind Hacks To Lose Weight

Classroom bugs, Part 2

STORY Michele Connolly, Author of How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life.

In the March edition, we discussed how the classroom is not only a breeding ground for fertile imaginations but also for school bugs. Preventing children from catching infections at school isn’t really possible, but if parents are able to spot symptoms, they may be able to manage the illness and potentially stop them from spreading the bugs further.

I could never do diets. I don’t like salad, and I’m not the kind of person who can eat what someone tells me to when they say I should. But I managed to lose weight in my own special way. Not by following a fad diet but by developing a series of mind tricks like these: Treat your body like an exclusive club.

Imagine you’re the bouncer and the people lining up are foods. Healthy foods go right in. But foods high in fat or sugar; only admit the ones you truly love. Before you lift the red velvet rope on your body, ask yourself if this food deserves a place inside?

If you can take it or leave it, always leave it.

Make this your mantra. As with life, you can’t have everything, but you can have what you want most. Think about which treats you adore and let yourself enjoy them when you really want them. But be honest about treats that are eaten out of habit or simply because they’re there.

Remember, there’ll always be another waffle.

This is a key mindset shift. If you’ve ordered a dessert that’s not hitting the spot or your fries are soggy, push the plate away. Just because you’ve given in to a craving doesn’t mean you must finish everything. If it’s not great, don’t finish it.

STORY Dr Nicole Higgins, Health on Central

This month we look at number three on our top five list of common classroom bugs: Head lice (aka Nits) Head lice are not dangerous; just annoying. They always seem to get found just as you are about to walk out the door to school. Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the scalp.

They lay their eggs (nits) near the base of the hair shaft. Head lice spread quickly at school because kids often work and play closely and share personal items. Head lice don’t fly or jump; they can only crawl from head to head.

Some suggestions to reduce the chance of catching head lice include: •• Not sharing hairbrushes, hair ties, hats or any other hair accessories.

How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life

•• Keeping long hair tied up. Plaits are the best way to keep hair under control at school.

RRP $19.95 www.micheleconnolly.com

It is a lucky parent that escapes having to deal with head lice. If you do find yourself with a case of the dreaded head lice, pop into your local chemist to get a head lice treatment solution.

For your chance to win a copy of How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life, visit www.pakmag.com.au

•• Checking your child’s head regularly for evidence of nits or lice.

Being in a classroom, your child is likely to get sick more often until they build up their immunity. If you are concerned with their health, your family GP is always there to help.

www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 21

Home

BUDGET- FRIENDLY AND BEAUTIFUL: PEG BOARD With the Block’s Caro and Kingi Who doesn’t love peg board? They’re easy to set up, they look amazing and are a beautiful decorative focal point. On top of that, they are incredibly versatile and can be of use in any room of the house. If you’re tired of the mess and unorganised clutter in your home than it’s time to embrace the pegboard!

In the Living Room.

Display sentimental items and your favourite home decorations in a whole new way with the flexibility of stepped shelves allowing for the display of items of varying sizes. Make your house feel like a home with all your memories beautifully displayed, and when you feel like a change, you can do just that, without damaging the walls.

items all cleverly displayed on a pegboard within easy reach. Add a splash of colour with small potted fresh herbs.

In the Study.

A pegboard above a desk is great for providing fantastic storage that will leave you with room to move on your desk. Hang up file holders and some baskets to hold the smaller items such as pens, sticky notes and chargers for electronic devices. The beauty is that if your storage needs change, you just change the pegboard to suit.

In the Garage.

Make a creative statement and make your cooking easier with useful items, like measuring cups and spoons, seasoning shakers or other regularly used

Whether it’s primarily for practical or decorative purposes, a pegboard will make a world of difference in your home, and you will love the versatility that it offers.

www. inspiredbycharm.com

In the Kitchen.

Industrial strength pegboards can turn a disorganised garage into a haven with simple storage shelves and hooks that will allow you to reclaim the space for the car.

www.annesage.com/blog www. estliving.com

www.vintagerevivals.com

22 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

Instagram: thekmartdiaries

FINISHING TOUCHES 1

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1. Hell Yeah Framed Print - RRP $29.95 - www.ellej.com.au 2. Tee Pee Wooden Shelf in Pink - RRP $15.00 - www.ellej.com.au 3. On My Mind Harmony Earth Blocks, Wooden Story - RRP $39.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 4. Down to the Woods Blackboard Shield Medium - RRP $15.50 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 5. Middle of Nowhere Bella Brass Mirror - RRP $395.00 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 6. Zakkia Holey Vessel Brass - RRP $35.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 7. Ice Cream Light in White - RRP $10.00 - www.ellej.com.au 8. Ostheimer Elephant Trumpeting Small - RRP $24.99 - www.playmackay.com.au

Home

BOOK NOOK Create a magical reading place for your child with a nook full of comfy pillows, stuffed animals, perhaps a desk, and of course, many creative storage spaces for their treasured favourite books. Watch as their imaginations soar in this, their very own, special place.

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Instagram: lalalovesdecor

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Instagram: roomor_

1. Ruby Red Shoes Goes To Paris and Ruby Red Goes To London Hardcover Books - RRP $19.95ea - www.ellej.com.au 2. Petilou Woodland Book by Le Toy Van RRP $19.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 3. Grid Cotton Cushion Cover by Cream Empire - RRP $55.00 $27.50 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 4. Bride & Wolfe Circle Shelf - RRP $375.00 $187.50 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 5. Bear Cushion by Homely Creatures - RRP $58.00 $29.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 6. Knitted Mountain Cushion by Homely Creatures - RRP $95.00 $47.50 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 7. Down To The Woods Arrow Small - RRP $31.50 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au

24 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

Parenting

Cyber Safety: A Guide to Keeping Your Kids Safe Online STORY Rose Foster It’s an undeniable fact that our world is changing; as our digital evolution gains speed, our lives as we knew them 20 years ago are no more. For many, making comparisons between old and new is a daily occurrence and in recognising the differences between now and then, an unsettling feeling can often ensue.

This is particularly the case with parenting. Our children don’t have the luxury of knowing what life once was, they only know what ‘is’, and for the most part it’s a digital world.

technology; staying safe on social media is just one of those challenges. When it comes to our children, their want to be popular, their need to be in the loop and their desire to connect with peers are not new traits, but their outlet for these needs are. Social media provides a platform for young people to have all their needs met, but on a larger scale than ever before. But the anonymity, ease of access and privacy from parents’ eyes has also given way to a string of unhealthy habits, hidden dangers and even mental health issues that are difficult for parents to identify.

Change is scary, it’s in our nature to be wary of it.

But embracing and adapting is the only way to move forward to live happy and prosperous lives in the now.

Juxtaposed with the positives of the way technology is improving our lives though, are the dangers our new world poses. As with life 20 years ago, teaching our children how to navigate the world and stay safe is still an integral part of parenting, it’s how and what we teach that may have changed slightly.

We take a look at the most popular social media platforms and their ugly sides to give you an insight into how you can keep your kids safe online.

We, in essence, learn how to raise (or not raise) our children from our own parents and first-hand experience, we instinctively recite instructions that our parents recited to us: “Don’t touch, that’s hot”, “Don’t talk to strangers”, “Don’t drink at the party”. But when we need to discuss dangers that were not present when we were young, where do we start?

The broad term “cyber safety” encompasses a myriad of challenges that present themselves as a result of

Musical.ly What is it: A free app for 13+ years where users create videos of them lip-syncing or dancing to music. Users can also live stream to their friends and followers.

What are the dangers: The app defaults to a ‘public’ setting meaning that strangers can contact your children directly via the messaging function, and ‘follow’ your child’s profile (giving them access to any videos they post). When users ‘Go Live’, their content is shared to whoever wants to view it, even if the app is set to ‘private’. On the other side of this, children can easily then see content generated by other users which may be inappropriate for them to see; content isn’t curated and can potentially contain pornographic, violent or disturbing content.

www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 27

Parenting

Snapchat What is it: An app designed for sharing quick snaps or videos which are deleted automatically within 10 seconds. Story features allow users to share videos which can be viewed for 24 hours.

What are the dangers: Snapchat provides a false sense of security for users who think their content will only last a short time. In reality, it can last a lifetime; ‘snaps’ can easily be saved by those who view them.

Furthermore, the app’s functionality allows users to easily edit images making it a breading-ground for cyber bullies who can edit and caption images in an unpleasant way.

Instagram What is it: A photo sharing app in which users create a profile of images from their life. Users can both ‘be followed’ and ‘follow’ others; more followers mean more eyes on your photos and in fact, it’s a goal of users to build their following.

What are the dangers: Aside from the fact that users have access to millions of photos, (some of which are inappropriate for young eyes) kids can be contacted by strangers and bullies, the main reason that this app is dangerous for teens is the unrealistic portrayal of the lives of their peers, and the effect on self-confidence, self-worth and self-belief. With teens constantly being presented with images of their favourite celebrities, friends and acquaintances (which usually show them doing something amazing or have been edited to make them look prettier or skinner), this app is renowned for giving teens (and many adults), a feeling of inadequacy which can lead to anxiety or even depression.

Sarahah What is it: An anonymous messaging app where users can ‘provide feedback’ on friends and colleagues, which links to users Snapchat accounts.

What are the dangers: Essentially, this app is a bully’s playground. They can anonymously send messages to their peers which are often cruel or hurtful to the recipient. In light of the recent death of Amy “Dolly” Everett who took her life after being bullied online, this app has been dropped from both the App Store and Google Play store but there are still a range of apps that do the same thing that may become as popular as this app.

Aside from the specific issues of the individual platforms, no matter what social media platform your children use, there are always certain dangers that can be present. Usually, the opportunity for bullying, the ease of being contacted by unsavoury characters and an addiction to the dopamine hit that comes with being ‘liked’ or ‘followed’ are the main culprits across the board, so knowing how to deal with the basics, at least, is extremely important.

What can parents do?

Parenting can be a difficult feat at the best of times, which is only made more challenging with the rise of social media. Teenagers’ ability to keep things from their parents and make questionable decisions are heightened. All parents can do is be aware of the dangers, discuss issues with their children, and equip children with the tools they need to deal with their lives on social media.

•• Talk to your kids about the danger. Discuss online stranger danger and what they should do if they receive unsolicited messages from people they don’t know.

•• Discourage online relationships. Some children may seek to talk to strangers online, so discuss the dangers of doing this and how people are not always who they say they are.

•• Talk about gratification. Being ‘liked’ online is not real life, so talk to your children about the fact that they should not take things to heart should they receive fewer likes than their peers, and how they shouldn’t go out of their way to do things just to be ‘liked’.

•• Talk about bullying. Many children keep bullying quiet and suffer in silence, which makes it nearly impossible for parents to identify if something is awry. Regardless of whether you think this is happening or not, discuss the dangers of online bullying with your children, encourage them to communicate with you if they are feeling attacked and give them some tips on what to do if this is happening to them.

•• Check privacy settings on all apps. As a rule, you should have a good look at all apps that are downloaded onto your child’s device. Even some games have an in-built messaging feature.

•• Remove phones from bedrooms. This may be a harsh measure but a rule of ‘no phones in the bedroom’ gives your child a break from the dangers that their phone may hold.

To help you more easily navigate the world of social media and keep your kids safe online, we’ve teamed up with Horizons 21 who are offering Pakmag readers the change to win a Cyber Safety Course.

Horizons 21 redefine social media and technology for you and equip you with the basic knowledge to start a meaningful conversation with your kids. For more information about courses visit www.horizons-21.com For your chance to win a Cyber safety course valued at $190.00 visit www.pakmag.com.au

28 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

Recipes

HEALTHY RECIPES

Nourish Bowl Serves 1-2 Recipe by Melissa Wallace @wholesomedaily

Banana Flour Pancakes Recipe by Lilian Dikmans from @liliandikmans Ingredients 1 cup green banana flour ½ cup buckwheat flour 1 tsp gluten free baking powder 4 large eggs 2 x 20ml tbsp rice malt syrup 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ½ cup unsweetened almond milk coconut oil for frying

Ingredients 250g soaked and cooked lentils 1 large purple sweet potato 2 carrots cut into chunks ½ cup cooked red rice 2 spring onion, chopped Beetroot hommus 3 medium beets 1 tsp olive oil ¼ cup tahini ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ½ tsp salt 1 tbs maple syrup

Topping Ideas Berries Natural yoghurt Coconut icecream Cacao nibs Nut butter Tahini caramel sauce (tahini and rice malt syrup) Raw chocolate sauce (coconut oil + cacao powder + rice malt syrup)

Method Preheat oven to 180 degees C Add sweet potatoes, carrot and any other vegetables to taste and roast approx. 40 minutes or until baked and tender.

To make the hommus: Peel the beets and cut them into quarters. Toss them with olive oil then wrap them in foil.

Place wrapped beets on a baking tray and roast them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced with a knife. Unwrap the beets and let them cool.

Once cooled put them in your food processor or high powered blender. Add tahini, maple syrup, lemon juice and sea salt and process until smooth.

To serve put roasted vegetables into a bowl with greens of your choice. Mix through cooked red rice and lentils and serve with beetroot hummus dressing.

Method Mix the banana flour, buckwheat flour and baking powder together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Lightly whisk the eggs with a spoon and then add the rice malt syrup and vanilla extract. Beat everything together until well combined and then add the almond milk to thin out the mixture slightly.

Heat some coconut oil in a frypan over medium heat.

Pour some batter into the pan and fry on both sides until golden. The pancakes should be ready to flip when small bubbles start to appear on the surface of the pancake. Keep them smallish to make them easier to flip.

Serve with your desired toppings. Any left over pancakes will keep in the fridge for the next day.

Recipes bought to you by The Source Bulk Foods. You can pick up quality, fresh ingredients for these recipes from The Source Bulk Foods.

www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 31

Celebrate

CREATE AND CELEBRATE! CELEBRATE What’s better than a party? An ‘Arty Party’, of course! Ignite the creativity within your guests with crafty party games, favours and homemade decorations that will have them a gasp. Break out the glitter and let your creative juices flow. Getting crafty is cheaper, more fun and easier than you’d think!

Get egg-cited!

Lay out some fake craft eggs and a variety of paints for your party guests and let them design their own creature eggs. For younger kids, stencils may be helpful. Who knows what will hatch? Bird, dinosaur or perhaps a make-believe creature. Let their imagination run wild.

Cupcake perfection.

Present your budding Picasso party guests with (clean) paint palettes filled with an array of sprinkles and other edible cake decorations and let your artists go

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wild on an iced cupcake! This is very cost-effective and fun, and the kids will love eating their own creation. Just be prepared to clean up the mess!

Homemade decorations.

You don’t need to be a crafting wizard to make amazing decorations.

Break out the watercolour paints and a large sheet of paper and create a poster for the birthday girl or boy, or make bunting out of colourful pompoms and brightly-coloured paper cut into ice cream cone shapes. Voila! Adorable decorations with minimal effort. Plus, chances are, you may already have these items around the house.

Getting arty is fun! With colourful decorations and crafty activities, this party will be sure to be one that your little artists will remember plus they’ll love taking home something they made themselves!

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32 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au

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1. www.blog.amyatlas.com 2. www.thehandmadehome.net 3. Custom Birthday Cake. The possibilities are endless with Cakes Annietime - www.cakesannietime.com.au 4. Egg Painting 5. DIY Pom Pom Tassel - www.fun365.orientaltrading.com 6. Wooden Dinosaur Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug - RRP $29.95 - www.playmackay.com. au 7. Wooden Friendship Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug - RRP $ 29.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 8. www.sofestive.com 9. Streamer Pop in Unicorn - RRP $11.95 - www.prettylittlesomething.com.au 10. Rainbow Unicorn - RRP $39.95 - www.gardensparkle.com.au 11. 12 Inch Paper Roll RRP $16.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 12. www.jenloveskev.com