PakMag Mackay – October 2015 Issue 36

ISSUE NO. 36 OCT 2015 MACKAY

! n e e w o l l a Happy H

BALANCING STUDY & KIDS

TAKING CONTROL

ADULT EDUCATION

OF YOUR FACEBOOK

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HELLO

CONTENTS ISSUE NO. 36 OCT 2015

06 Entertainment: Check This Out 08 Feature: Gaining Control Of

Your Facebook

Hello and welcome to the Halloween edition of PakMag.

11 Education: Helping Your Kids

I cannot believe how fast this amazing journey continues to go. In my nearly nine years of publishing we have printed over 1.95 million magazines! Amazing, right!?

15 Mackay Christian College

Cope With Stress

I am so very grateful for all the support we have been shown over this time. It is this support that has seen PakMag go from strength to strength and there is so much more currently in the planning that I hope to be sharing with you very soon.

However, something I am excited about sharing with you now is the upcoming launch of our new national business magazine. If you are in business, check out page 43.

17 Health

We have some great giveaways this month including tickets to our exclusive preview of Hotel Transylvania 2. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page to win.

28 Halloween Jokes & Tips

Wishing you a fabulous second week to the school holidays! Until next time, don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

Bree x

19 Bump & Bub: Gender Predictors 23 What's On 25 Mini Mag 32 Craft Corner: Chilling

Creations For Halloween

34 WIN 36 Celebrate: Tricks, Treats And

Ghoulish Sweets

39 Adult Education: Reading,

BREE JAMES / PAKMAG PUBLISHER

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th July 2015

Writing And Raising Children

41 The Golden Age Of Grandparents 43 What's News In Business 44 Recipes For Snow Princesses 46 Home: Find Your Flooring 48 Snapped

PAKMAG HEAD OFFICE P 4053 3331 E mkysales@pakmag.com.au PO BOX 1922 Mackay Qld 4740 FB www.facebook.com/pakmagmackay T #pakmag PHOTOGRAPHY Ta Da Photography WEB www.tadaphotography.com

50 Daddy Diary

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.

Dashing Designer Sara

Events Extraordinaire Kelly

Darling Designer Clare

Sales Guru Angelina

Grand Poobah Bree

Admin Ace Janelle

Sales Star Cherie

Sales Golden Girl Tammy

Content Captain Jenna

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

5

pakmag

CHECK THIS OUT

ENTERTAINMENT

Global Grooves Festival WHEN: 24 October, 12pm to 8pm WHERE: Queens Parks, East Gordon Street, Mackay MORE INFO: www.mackayecc.com.au Tour the globe at Global Grooves 2015, a one-day free open-air event, celebrating the cultural diversity in the region.

Wander through the Global Village, try your hand at a number of cultural activities in the village workshops, feast on tastes from around the globe or dance away.

McHappy Day – Ronald McDonald House Charity Fundraiser WHEN: 17 October, All day WHERE: All McDonalds across Australia

SANDS Walk to Remember WHEN: 11 October, 10am - 1pm WHERE: Mackay Botanic Gardens MORE INFO: events@sandsqld.org.au 0419 040 256 sandsqld.org.au Join parents who have experienced infant and pregnancy loss and take the steps the babies could not. The event will include a memorial service, a butterfly release and a symbolic walk. Help raise funds for a cuddle cot at Mackay hospital through the bake sale and raffle draws. Pack a picnic lunch & enjoy the beautiful gardens with the butterflies.

MORE INFO: mchappyday@ppr.com.au McHappy Day is the biggest fundraising event on the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) calendar. To show your support, simply visit one of McDonald’s restaurants on Saturday October 17, and make a donation into the donation buckets, buy a Big Mac ($2 from every sale will go to RMHC) or purchase a $1 in cinemas november 2015Hand !

Helping or a pair of $3 Ronald Socks at a McDonald’s restaurant from September 30 - October 17, 2015.

JDRF One Walk to Cure Diabetes WHEN: 25 October 8.00am check-in, 9.00am walk in cinemas november 2015!

PaKMAG Movie Preview - WIN TICKETS WHEN: 1 November, 11.00am WHERE: Mackay North Cinema MORE INFO: www.pakmag.com.au Get reacquainted with Dracula and his Hotel Transylvania in this spooky sequel. This is a great one for kids of all ages and parents will love it too.

For your chance to win keep an eye on the PakMag Facebook page.

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

WHERE: Caneland Park, Mackay MORE INFO: http://walk.jdrf.org. au/#qld Join thousands of others at the world's biggest event for type 1 diabetes and share in activities including a sausage sizzle, raffles, face painting, entertainment and displays from diabetes companies.

The 3km walk starts next to the children's playground at Caneland Park, continues to Ron Camm Bridge, and returns to Caneland Park along the Bluewater Trail.

' WHEN: 9 October, 5.30 - 8.30pm WHERE: Gooseponds, Malcomson Street North Mackay MORE INFO: lightthenight.org.au Light the Night is a free community event to raise awareness and much-needed funds to support those living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.

The highlight is a positive and moving lantern lighting ceremony followed by a sunset walk with specially lit coloured lanterns - white for those who are living or have lived through a blood cancer diagnosis, blue for supporters and members of the community who want to see a world free from blood cancer, and gold to represent friends and family we have lost to blood cancer.

Grand

SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER

PARENTS DAY

CYCLONE SATURDAY WHEN: October 24, 8.00 - 1.00pm WHERE: Caneland Central MORE INFO: mackay.qld.gov.au/emergency Does your family need to learn how to prepare for natural disasters?

Pick up a copy of the Emergency Action Guide, and also go into the draw to win a generator!

Meet Dave Gleeson from The Screaming Jets

Do something special with the kid’s grandparents today, whether it’s a nice lunch out, a visit to a park or a Skype call.

The Screaming Jets need no introduction to Australian rock fans. They have been a permanent force on the live music scene since they burst onto the airwaves in 1989 from their hometown of Newcastle. PakMag was lucky enough to speak to lead singer and self-confessed “rocker through and through” Dave Gleeson about life on (and off) the rockn-roll road.

The Pink Ribbon Charity Fair

Tell us about your family: I have a daughter, Bella, who is 11 and a son, James, who is seven. We live on a 10 acre property in Adelaide Hills with our dogs and sheep.

WHEN: 18 October, 10am – 3pm WHERE: Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour MORE INFO: www.pinkribbonfair.com The Pink Ribbon Charity Fair is a registered Cancer Council Queensland event, raising money and awareness to help conquer cancer. Bring the family down to Mulherin Park where there will be rides for the kids, facepainting and balloons, art and craft stalls, local entertainment, food and businesses on display.

This is a lovely family day out in support of a great cause that touches many families.

The Pink Ribbon Charity Fair is organised by Raelene Wells, who lost her mother to cancer in 2012. This is the third annual Pink Ribbon Charity Fair and the first two fairs received close to $30,000 in total.

Do your kids have their dad’s rock-and-roll genes?

Both of them take drum lessons and both of them have a bit of performer in them. So, yes!

Who is the most inspirational person in your life?

It would have to be my wife and I'm not just saying that because she is right beside me. She works very hard and has been able to keep me on the straight and narrow for a good twenty years now.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

You can’t eat gravy with a fork – my dad was a travelling salesman and those were his parting words.

Name your top five bands of all time: ACDC, The Doors, Kiss, Aerosmith and The Angels

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

7

GAINING CONTROL OF YOUR K O O B E C A F

There is no denying that Facebook is an important tool in our personal and professional lives. Facebook helps keep our friends close and our families closer and an estimated 75 per cent of parents have an active Facebook account.

Liking posts, sharing stories and commenting on statuses are some of the ways many parents engage on Facebook but most mums admit that uploading photos is one of the best ways to make use of Facebook. According to a recent study conducted

by The Parent Zone in the UK, the average number of kiddie photos parents are posting online before their little ones turn five years old is 973. And, while experts do not advise against posting photos or engaging via social media entirely, they do suggest that all Facebook users need to be well aware of just what they are sharing (and with whom).

There are countless news stories circulating about the dangers of Facebook in regards to identity theft and often the issue comes down to your privacy settings. The Parent Zone reveals that “17 per cent of parents have never checked their Facebook privacy settings and almost half (46 per cent) have only checked once or twice, despite the social network being the most common platform for photo sharing”.

If your information, including photos of your children, get into the hands of the wrong people, the consequences can be shocking. So how can you ensure that you have full control of your Facebook? Our PakMag social media team share their tips: 1. GENERAL SAFETY SETTINGS Head to "Settings" and the "Privacy" tab. See what your settings are and edit accordingly.

Go to "Timeline and Tagging". Enable "Review Posts" and the "Review Tags" so that people can't post on your timeline without your approval of each post.

2. CATEGORISING YOUR FRIENDS (BEST DONE ON A PC) To categorise your Facebook friends go to the "Friends" tab on your "Home" page. Click on the dropdown box per friend and categorise them as a "Close Friend", "Acquaintance" or "Add to Another List" that you create.

You can create lists based on people you work with, people in your alumni, people in your mother’s group and much more.

You can also "Restrict" the person so they are your friend on Facebook but they can't see your photos or posts.

Another option is to “unfollow” certain friends and pages. That way you still remain friends but you are not bombarded with their status updates and posts.

3. SECURING YOUR PHOTOS

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

FEATURE

pakmag

Like categorising your friends, you can categorise your photos which is highly recommended for the safety of your family.

Most albums can be customised for viewing in similar categories that you have set up like your friends. (Ie: "Public" can view your photos, Friends, Acquaintances or Family).

We suggest no images of children in your profile and cover pictures. The Profiles Pictures Album has to be a "Public" folder so change or remove photos from this folder if you wish, then change the settings of each album or photo accordingly.

4. VIEWING YOUR ACCOUNT AS A CERTAIN PERSON Sometimes we don't want certain people to see things on our timeline.

You can check to see how they see your timeline and photo albums by using the "View As" feature to see what your timeline looks like to the "Public" or as we like to say - the biggest country on Earth - Facebook. If the security is not tight enough - fix it and view again.

Things to Avoid Sharing on Facebook YOUR PHONE NUMBER

YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS

If you want to include your phone number, make sure you hide it from your profile so only select people can see it.

Going away for the month? Don’t share this on Facebook until you have returned. This simply announces to your friends (and possibly others if you share publicly), that your house is empty.

• Go to Facebook and click on your name at the top of the page. When your profile page loads, click the “Update Info” button in the lower-right corner of your cover image.

• Go to “Contact and Basic Info” in the left column and next to your phone number click the “Edit” link.

Also, avoid status updates claiming “All alone tonight” or “Partner is away for the weekend” as you never know who could get this information.

• Click the “audience selector” icon and change it to “Only me.”

• Facebook is a great place to store family photos and albums from holidays but make sure you have the right settings on the album. “Only Me” or “Family” may better than “Public”.

YOUR HOME ADDRESS

YOUR KIDS IN THE BATH, ON THE POTTY OR NAKED

It’s best to avoid showcasing your home address.

Remove it from your profile as well as any events that you have hosted at your house in the past.

What you may think is a sweet moment in the bath could end up on a child pornography sight. It’s not a nice thing to think about, but it does happen.

• Follow the directions above to get into the “Contact and Basic Info” section of your profile information.

• If you are going to share these photos, make sure you select the appropriate audience.

• Look for “Neighbourhood,” and if there’s an address there, click the “Edit” link next to it and wipe out the information.

GROUP PHOTOS

• Then click “Save Changes.”

YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION Facebook is free, but it still wants your credit card number. Adding your financial information lets you buy gift cards and other products straight through the website but this could be disastrous in the wrong hands.

According to The Parent Zone, “25 per cent of parents confess to never asking the permission of the people in photos before posting them and over half (53 per cent) have uploaded a photo of a child that wasn’t their own.”

• When uploading photos of other children, make sure you have permission from the parents first.

Many parents are not comfortable having their children’s faces on social media.

• Open your Facebook, click the upside-down triangle in the top right corner and choose “Settings.”

• In the left column select “Payments,” and then on the right go the “Account Settings” tab.

• You can see if you have any saved payment information and remove it.

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

9

EDUCATION

pakmag

Helping Your Kids

COPE WITH STRESS

STORY Rowena Prentice I often find myself wishing I was back in childhood, free of stress. But the reality is that childhood can be a very stressful experience. With increasing school demands, countless extra-curricular options and coping with life, more young people are experiencing overwhelming stress, sometimes leading to mental health issues.

Headspace (the National Youth Mental Health Foundation) tells us that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem experienced by young Australians, affecting around one in five females and one in 10 males aged 16-24 years.

About half of people with anxiety experience their first symptoms by age 11. According to BeyondBlue, one in 16 young Australians experience depression. Both anxiety and depression are common results of overwhelming, prolonged stress.

WHAT IS STRESS? Stress itself is not a bad thing. It helps us learn and develop. Essentially, stress becomes a problem when it leads to prolonged distress.

In preschoolers, separation from parents can cause anxiety. As kids get older, academic and social pressures create stress. Too much exposure to 'adult' worries, major changes (like illness, death, separations or moving) and even everyday things like seeing disturbing situations in the media are all common stressors.

Fear, anxiety and worry are normal and often manageable in children; however, extra help may be needed when anxiety seems out of control, stops them participating in activities or prevents them from doing things their peers do easily.

WHAT DOES STRESS LOOK LIKE? While a certain amount of stress is useful, too much can lead to emotional crisis or serious physical illness. Common physical signs include sleeplessness, headaches, stomach aches, diarrhoea/constipation and susceptibility to illness.

You might notice changes in behaviour like 'nervous' habits, fears, difficulty concentrating, excessive shyness, acting out, withdrawal or lying, or a decline in academic ability.

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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pakmag

EDUCATION

HOW CAN YOU HELP? There are many simple things you can do to help reduce stress:

HOW DOES YOUR CHILD COPE WITH STRESS?

PLAY Children learn and make sense of their world through free play. Make sure they're getting as much unstructured, imaginative/creative free play time as possible, with plenty of time spent outdoors.

BREATHE Sounds simple, but learning calming breathing takes practice, and can help reduce the physiological symptoms of anxiety. Help your child to breathe deeply and slowly through mindful breathing or games like blowing feathers or bubbles.

Other useful calming techniques include muscle relaxation and visualisation exercises (there are plenty of these online, or from family/ health services), playing with sand and water, beading and colouring.

COMMUNICATE Include both family sharing and one-on-one time as much as possible. Dinner and bedtime are great opportunities to hear how your child is going. Try to use open-ended questions and simply listen. They're more likely to talk openly if you're accepting and non-judgemental. Sometimes kids just feel better when you're there. When children misbehave, try to understand why they might be behaving that way.

REFLECT Use everyday moments to help children understand their world. The news, TV programs and everyday events in their life are all opportunities to help kids discuss, reflect and make sense of what they see and hear. Let them know it's okay to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and that other people share those feelings.

ENCOURAGE STRUCTURE Structure (like daily routines, family meetings and shared rules) can alleviate stress by helping children know boundaries and expectations. As children get older, they can contribute to how those structures look. You can also help by anticipating potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them.

REST Make sure there's downtime in every day, and set healthy sleep patterns. Sleep can be improved by having regular bedtimes (even weekends), limiting night screen time and having calming activities before bed.

While most parents can support their child to cope well with stress, professional help may be necessary when behavioural or physical signs persist, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or significant problems at school or at home.

More detailed information on reducing your child's risk of depression and anxiety can be found at www.parentingstrategies.net

Tamara A Hogan outlines several different coping methods common in children.

THE ATHLETE (GETS PHYSICAL) Pushes themselves extra hard in their exercise or sport routine.

THE COMEDIAN (USES HUMOUR) Tells jokes or finds the ‘funny’ in the problem.

THE EEYORE (PASSIVELY RESISTS) Disengages and gives up.

THE FAIRY GOD-MOTHER (POSITIVELY REFRAMES) Looks for the positive by reframing the situation.

THE NURSE (HELPS OTHERS) Distracts themselves by rushing to aid others who appear to need their help.

THE TALKER (TURNS TO VENTING) Expresses their negative feelings freely with others.

THE MARTHA STEWART (SOLVES PROBLEMS) Analyses and sources the problem before coming up with several solutions.

THE MASQUERADER (DANCES WITH DENIAL) Avoids the issue altogether by denying the problem exists.

THE MARTYR (BLAMES HIMSELF) Excessively blames themselves for a situation by internalising the issue.

THE TOLERATOR (EMBRACES THE CHANGE AND CHALLENGE) Accepts reality and the stress that comes with it and proactively adapts to new situations.

See www.tamaraliving.com for the full list of “Creative Coping” methods.

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Celebrating Grandparents Day

ADVERTORIAL

pakmag

GRANDPARENT GRATITUDE STORY Dr Craig Murison

“If I knew grandchildren were so great I would have had them first!” - Lois Wyse I am at the stage of my life where I am very much looking forward to being a grandparent. For those of you who may know me – this is not an announcement! While I am excited about becoming a grandparent, I am not putting any pressure on my two children to rush into becoming parents (I want to! But I am not).

The demise of the large family unit, where grandparents, parents and children lived together, and the rise of the nuclear family, has meant the direct contact many grandparents have had with their grandchildren has been greatly reduced. However, it seems to me the role grandparents can play in child rearing has never been more important.

Our society now recognises a wide range of living arrangements as ‘family’. The increase in the divorce rates, alternative partner arrangements, and single parent families are some of the factors which have changed over the years. All of these have an effect on the children involved.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying they are all negative. Not at all. I am just observing that they have an impact on children.

Grandparents often provide a consistency and certainty for

children that busy parents, especially in the midst of changing family circumstances, find more difficult to give.

them something they have learnt at school, and by making it obvious to the child their education matters to them.

More often than not, if children have a question they want to ask, or an issue they need advice for, they are more likely to engage with a significant other in their lives than they are with their parents. In other words, when children feel uncomfortable speaking with their parents about something they will look for someone else they trust. This might be a close friend of the family, an aunt or uncle, or, where they can, a grandparent.

Events such as an annual Grandparents’ Day are one of the ways many schools seek to honour and celebrate the role of Grandparents in children’s lives.

All Grandparents are invited to a special assembly where they are entertained by various performances which showcase the talents of their grandchildren and, where their grandchildren Grandparents are invited to come and spend some time with their primary aged grandchildren in their classrooms. This is often followed by a morning tea where grandparents are served by the students.

Grand

SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER

PARENTS DAY When grandparents engage in the learning experiences of their grandchildren, learning outcomes improve. Engagement doesn’t mean helping with reading at the school, or in the tuckshop (although these are great things to do). Engagement means taking an active interest in what is happening in a child’s learning journey.

Grandparents are very important in the life of a child. I am grateful for all the grandparents who get alongside their grandchildren and encourage them. Grandparents – keep it up!

Grandparents can engage by asking questions about assignments and projects, asking children to teach

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

15

HEALTH

pakmag

HEALTH + Eat more organic. Buy more organic Common catch-crys you might hear every day. But how concerned or convinced are you at making organic produce a priority in your household? Conventional farming uses pesticides and fertilizers made with harmful chemicals which are absorbed and ingested by our bodies and can remain there for a very long time.

The combination of so many chemicals over a long period of time is a real concern and can negatively impact our health, in particular our immune and nervous systems.

Serious health risks such as cancers, Parkinson’s disease, foetal and fertility abnormalities, developmental and neurological issues and chronic fatigue syndrome. Nutrient depleted soils is also often the case resulting in fruit and vegetables devoid of minerals and vitamins, covered in pesticides and fertilizers. Our bodies need real food for fuel, not synthetic chemicals.

Concerns are always expressed that organic food is expensive and not affordable for families. With gradual changes and substitutions you may be surprised at how this is not really the case.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP • Grow your own and swap with friends doing the same.

• Join a community garden project or co-op in your area.

• Visit local markets.

• When you’re not able to buy organic, choose spray-free or no-spray produce. Ask the vendor and get to know your farmers.

• Always soak (apple cider vinegar and water is a good soak option), rinse and scrub any non-organic produce where possible. Norwex chemical-free cleaning have a Fruit and Vegetable Scrub Cloth specifically for this.

+ Managing Sick Children at Home STORY Dr John McIntosh Mackay GP Superclinic / Dr To U (Mackay) House Call Service Every mother knows how difficult it is when your children get sick at home and you need to get them seen by a doctor. Making a GP appointment, getting all the other children ready and then getting into the practice or hospital can be stressful…

Sometimes it can be hard to know if a trip to the doctor is necessary or not. When caring for a sick child at home, here are some tips: KNOW YOUR MEDICINE When managing sick children at home, remember that Paracetamol (Panadol) and Ibuprofen (Nurofen) both work in different ways; so they can both be used at the same time at full doses according to the child’s weight to control fever or pain.

TAKING CARE OF FEVER When struggling with fever, tepid sponging, fanning, removing thick blankets and clothing to allow the heat to escape are all useful as well. The higher the temperature, the more you need to work to keep it controlled.

CONSIDER DR TO U Quality GPs are now able to come and visit you in your home! The Dr To U House Call Service is operated by the Mackay Superclinic group. All you need to do is call 1300 438 377 / 1300 GET DRS and the experienced doctors can visit you after hours in your home, bulk billed.

FRUIT & VEGGIE SCRUB CLOTH RRP $16.25 WEB https://yvetteprice.norwexbiz.com.au This scrub and dry Microfibre cloth removes dirt, pesticides, bacteria and waxy coating using pure water.

The Dr To U House Call Service will also allow you to speak to the doctor if you need advice over the phone.

Run run by locals, for locals Dr Top U is also the only service that provides house calls all through the night to 8am (as is required by Health Act 1973) and the only house call service in Mackay that uses trained GPs with experience in community services.

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

17

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BUMP & BUB

pakmag

Gender

PREDICTORS

HOW TO GUESS YOUR BABY'S SEX

Anxious to know the gender of your baby? Check out some of these old wives tales that suggest you can determine the sex of bub based on your cravings, how you are carrying and even through the chemical reactions between your wee and baking soda.

While there isn’t much scientific proof to these tests, they are fun to do. And, there is a 50 per cent chance that you’re going to get it right: HOW ARE YOU FEELING? • If you’re a nauseous mess, then odds are, it’s a girl.

• If you’re feeling fine, then there’s a higher chance it’s a boy.

WHAT ARE YOU CRAVING? • Sweets? Girl.

• Savoury? Boy. WHAT IS BUB’S HEART RATE? • If your scan reads above 140 bpm, then superstitions suggests girl.

• Anything below 140 bpm and it’s a boy.

HOW ARE YOU CARRYING BUB? • Round, low and mostly in front like a basketball? Then it’s a boy.

• All over, especially in the bum and hips. You have a daughter to thank.

HOW’S YOUR SKIN? • Glowing? Then it’s a boy.

• Covered in acne? Legend says it’s because your little girl is stealing your beauty.

HOW ARE YOU SLEEPING? • Sleeping on the right side? Then you’re having a girl.

• Prefer to sleep on the left? Then it’s a boy.

HOW DOES YOUR WEDDING RING SWING?

WHEN DID YOU OVULATE?

Dangle your wedding ring attached to a piece of string over your belly while lying flat on the bed.

There just may be some truth to this one, which is based on the Shettles theory that male sperm move faster, but do not live as long as female sperm.

• To conceive a boy, couples should have sex as close as possible to ovulation.

• To conceive a girl, couples should have sex two to four days before ovulation.

DOES YOUR WEE FIZZLE?

• If the ring swings back and forth (like a pendulum), then it’s a boy.

• If the ring swings in a circular motion, then it’s a girl.

WHEN WERE YOU BORN? The Mayans determined a baby’s gender by looking at the mother’s age of conception and the year of conception.

Pee in a cup and add a small amount of baking soda.

• If both are even or odd, then it’s a girl.

• If the baking soda fizzles, then it’s a boy.

• If one is even and the other is odd, then it’s a boy.

• If nothing happens, then it’s a girl.

WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR WEE? Cut one red cabbage into chunks and boil for 10 minutes. Head to the toilet and wee in a cup. In a separate cup, mix 1 part urine with 1 part cabbage water.

• If the water turns pink or red, this indicates boy.

• If the water is purple, it’s a girl.

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

19

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The Express and Go Starter Set (RRP $39.99) includes:1x extra slow flow teat, 1x breast pump adapter set, 1x breast milk pouch bottle with slow flow teat and 20x breast milk pouches. This prize also includes an extra 20 breast milk pouches (RRP $19.99) ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

WIN

ATTIPAS TODDLER SHOES RRP $29.95 WEB www.attipas.com.au

THULE URBAN GLIDE RRP $749.00 AVAILABLE AT Baby Bunting, Babies R Us and leading independents retailers.

WEB For your nearest stockist visit www.thule.com The Thule Urban Glide is an all-round sports stroller for the active family. The sleek and lightweight design makes it perfect for jogging on your favourite path and as an everyday stroller. Its Swedish style, quality and functionality will be the envy of Mums and Dads wherever you go.

One of the lightest sport strollers available, the Urban Glide has all the options you and your little one need. Featuring a one-handed folding mechanism, comfy reclinable seat, adjustable handlebar, a lockable front wheel for added stability, large storage compartments and much more.

It comes in Dark Shadow, Mars and Thule Blue.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

WIN

Baby shoe experts Attipas Australia are proud to bring you their feature style for Spring/Summer 2015, Animal Leopard Brown! Featuring cheeky prints for both boys and girls, these gorgeous shoes will finish off any toddler outfit this season. Based on seven years of research, Attipas are award-winning and have been endorsed by Australian podiatrists. Lightweight. Flexible. Convenient. Breathable.

Safe. Attipas shoes are Walking Science.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

WHAT'S ON OCT THURSDAY 1 BLUEWATER LAGOON OPEN 7 DAYS Closes 5.45pm daily River Street, Mackay mackay.qld.gov.au/ bluewaterlagoon 9.00am / Free / Family

Finch Hatton Show Grounds pvcma.com.au 8.30am / Cost / Family HAIR TO THE THRONE FEATURING MARNEY MCQUEEN MECC North Foyer www.mackaytix.com.au 7.30pm / Cost / Adult

"Rob picks 2015 Mackay Eisteddfod on Sunday 4th"

SATURDAY 3

THURSDAY 8

PRCF BIG BREKKIE Masters Mackay www.pinkribbonfair.com 8:30am / Cost / Family

MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDER-ART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

SUNDAY 4

ZUMBA KIDS Reservation Required Bluewater Quay mackay.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Family

HEALTHPOINT CHEMIST GROUP - JUDY & LIZA MECC Plenary Halls www.mackaytix.com.au 11.00am / Cost / Adult

2015 MACKAY EISTEDDFOD Ends 25/10/15 MECC www.mackaytix.com.au Various Times / Cost / Family

OUTDOOR GAMES (Ages 10-25) Sarina Youth Centre mackay.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Kids / Adult

CINDERELLA MOVIE SCREENING Bookings Essential 12 - 18 years Gordon White Library http://bit.ly/1B48nRd 2.00pm / Kids

TUESDAY 6

ORCHID HOUSE Queens Park - Goldsmith St mackay.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Family CREATIVE GENERATION Closed Mondays Ends 18/10/15 McAleese Gallery, Artspace Mackay www.mackay.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Family

FRIDAY 2 PIONEER VALLEY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL & TALENT SEARCH Ends 4 October

UP LATE WITH MYF WARHURST Artspace Mackay www.mackaytix.com.au 7.00pm / Cost / Adult YOGA FIX KIDS (RESERVATION REQUIRED) Bluewater Quay mackay.qld.gov.au 9.00am / Family COSTUME DAY Ages 10 - 25 Sarina Youth Centre mackay.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Kids / Adult

FRIDAY 9 LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION LIGHT THE NIGHT The Gooseponds, Malcomson St www.lightthenight.org.au 5.00pm / Family

MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDER-ART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

COCKTAIL LOUNGE FASHION WEEK MACKAY Harrup Park Country Club www.mackaytix.com.au 7.00pm / Cost / Adult

SATURDAY 10

WEDNESDAY 7

RUNWAY AT THE RUNWAY CQ Rescue Hangar, Mackay Airport www.mackaytix.com.au 6.30pm / Cost / Adult

SENIORS SCREENING THE INTERN Event Cinemas & BCC Cinemas www.eventcinemas.com.au 10.00am / Cost / Adult

Tuesday 13

MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDER-ART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

BMA KIDSPACE Artspace Mackay www.artspacemackay.com.au 10.00am / Free / Family

EMAIL EVENTS TO: PROMOTIONS@PAKMAG.COM.AU

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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WHAT'S ON OCT Tuesday 13

friday 16

MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Francis Of Assisi Home 0488 161 629 9.30am / Cost / Family

wednesday 14 LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Nanyima Aged Care(Marini) 0488 161 629 9.00am / Cost / Family LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Francis Of Assisi Home 0488 161 629 1.30pm / Cost / Family MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

Thursday 15 MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Kerrisdale Gardens 0488 161 629 2.00pm / Cost / Family SYDNEY TRAVELLING FILM FESTIVAL Ends 18 October BCC Cinemas www.eventcinemas.com.au Various Dates / Cost / Adult

SATURDAY 17 KIDS ART CLUB TERM 4 Ends 21/11/15 Artspace Mackay www.artspacemackay.com.au 10.00am / Cost / Kids MCHAPPY DAY McDonalds Restaurants www.mcdonalds.com.au All Day / Family LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Good Shepherd Lodge 0488 161 629 9.30am / Cost / Family

SUNDAY 18

"Teegs picks Sydney Travelling Film Festival on Friday 16th" PINK RIBBON CHARITY FAIR Mulherin Park, Mackay Harbour www.pinkribbonfair.com 10.00am / Cost / Family

MONDAY 19 LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Northview Aged Care 0488 161 629 9.30am / Cost / Family

TUESDAY 20 LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Blue CareHome Field 0488 161 629 9.30am / Cost / Family LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Rest Haven Age Care 0488 161 629 2.00pm / Cost / Family MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDERART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

wednesDAY 21 CHICKS AT THE FLICKS - THE DRESSMAKER Event Cinemas & BCC Cinemas www.eventcinemas.com.au 6.00pm / Cost / Adult

EMAIL EVENTS TO: PROMOTIONS@PAKMAG.COM.AU

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDER-ART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

thursDAY 22 MUMS/DADS & BUBS, KINDER-ART MORNINGS Old Harbour Park, Mulherin Drive, Mackay Harbour 0457 313 826 9.30am / Cost / Family

SATURDAY 24 DR HOOK TIMELESS WORLD TOUR MECC Plenary Halls www.mackaytix.com.au 7.30pm / Cost / Adult GLOBAL GROOVES Queens Park www.mackaytix.com.au 12.00pm / Free / Family CYCLONE SATURDAY Caneland Central www.mackay.qld.gov.au 8.00am / Free / Family GARAGE SALE TRAIL Bowen Showground www.garagesaletrail.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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in cinemas november 2015!

in cinemas november 2015! in cinemas november 2015!

WIN

A FAMILY PASS TO PAKMAG'S MOVIE PREVIEW OF HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 ON 1ST NOV, 2015

SonyPicturesAnimation.com SonyPicturesAnimation.com SonyPicturesAnimation.com

TO ENTER COLOUR IN MAIL TO:

NAME............................................................................................. AGE..............

PAKMAG, COLOUR IN OCT 2015 PO BOX 7433, CAIRNS QLD 4870

PARENT/GUARDIAN...........................................................................................

WIN A FAMILY PASS TO PAKMAG'S MOVIE PREVIEW ON 1ST NOVEMBER, 2015 (COMP CLOSES 31/10/15)

MKY

ADDRESS............................................................................................................. .............................................................................................POSTCODE.............

PHONE.........................................EMAIL..............................................................

in cinemas november 2015!

inin cinemas november 2015! cinemas november 2015!

WIN

A FAMILY PASS TO PAKMAG'S MOVIE PREVIEW OF HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 ON 1ST NOV, 2015

SonyPicturesAnimation.com SonyPicturesAnimation.com SonyPicturesAnimation.com

TO ENTER COLOUR IN MAIL TO:

NAME............................................................................................. AGE..............

PAKMAG, COLOUR IN OCT 2015 PO BOX 7433, CAIRNS QLD 4870

PARENT/GUARDIAN...........................................................................................

WIN A FAMILY PASS TO PAKMAG'S MOVIE PREVIEW ON 1ST NOVEMBER, 2015 (COMP CLOSES 31/10/15)

MKY

ADDRESS............................................................................................................. .............................................................................................POSTCODE.............

PHONE.........................................EMAIL..............................................................

s e k Jo

Written by Lenny Bayer, PakMag's intern extraordinaire.

What is the most important subject a witch learns in school?

What goes round a haunted house and never stops?

Spelling!

A fence!

What room does a ghost not need?

What kind of desserts do ghosts like?

A living room!

I scream!

Why do ghosts make good cheerleaders?

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the ball?

He had no body to dance with!

They have a lot of spirit!

What did the skeleton say to the vampire?

Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school?

You suck!

His heart wasn’t in it!

What do mums dress up as on Halloween?

What is a mummy’s favourite type of music?

Mummies!

Wrap!

Trick or treat

tips

If the front door is closed and the windows are shut, it’s clear that the owner doesn’t want you inside.

Make sure your voice is loud enough for the adult to hear you say, “Thank you!”

Make sure to wear your costume!!

Open for business: Turn on all the lights in your house and on your porch.

Secure all pets in a separate room. You know “little Gizmo” won’t hurt anyone, but the little ones aren’t so sure.

Don’t dress up in a costume yourself.

Children expect to open the door to a friendly adult, not a vampire.

WHAT'S ON OCT

"Scott picks Garage Sale Trail on Saturday 24th"

SATURDAY 24

WEDNESDAY 28

thursday 29

FRIday 30

GARAGE SALE TRAIL Collinsville Community Centre www.garagesaletrail.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Nanyima Aged Care (Marini) 0488 161 629 9.00am / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Good Shepherd Lodge 0488 161 629 9.30am / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Francis Of Assisi Home 0488 161 629 9.00am / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Francis Of Assisi Home 0488 161 629 1.30pm / Cost / Family

MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

LITTLE HIGH FIVES MOTHER'S & BUB'S VISIT TO ELDERLY Kerrisdale Gardens 0488 161 629 2.00pm / Cost / Family

GARAGE SALE TRAIL Proserpine Showground www.garagesaletrail.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family GARAGE SALE TRAIL Whitsunday PCYC www.garagesaletrail.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family

TUESDAY 27 MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

BANGARRAS KINSHIP MECC Auditorium www.mackaytix.com.au 7.30pm / Cost / Adult

ALEX WILLIAMSON - THAT GUY FROM THE INTERNET MECC Auditorium www.mackaytix.com.au 8.30pm / Cost / Adult

MUMS/DADS & KIDS, KIDS-ART AFTERNOONS New Harbour Park, East Point Drive, Mackay Harbour (near the Surf Club) 0457 313 826 3.30pm / Cost / Family

EMAIL EVENTS TO: PROMOTIONS@PAKMAG.COM.AU

REGULAR MARKETS EUNGELLA MARKETS DATE 1st Sunday of the month (Apr to Dec) TIME From 9am LOCATION Eungella Memorial Hall - North Street

MACKAY MARINA MARKETS (Supporting the Mackay Animal Rescue Society)

DATE 3rd Sunday of each month TIME 9am to 1pm LOCATION Mackay Marina

DATE Last Sunday of the month TIME From 8am (Mar to Dec) LOCATION Bruce Highway Sarina

LOCATION Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre

MARIAN MARKETS

SEAFORTH MARKETS

LOCATION Northern Beaches Bowls Club TIME 6pm to 9pm INFO Please visit website for dates and theme www.nbbowls.com.au

DATE 3rd Sunday of the month TIME From 8am LOCATION Holy Rosary Church Anzac Avenue (Excluding May & Dec)

PAXTON'S NIGHT MARKETS DATE 1st Friday every 2nd month TIME From 5pm LOCATION Paxtons Warehouse

SARINA SHOWGROUND MARKET

DATE Every Sunday TIME From 8.30am LOCATION Palm Avenue Seaforth

SHOWGROUND MARKETS DATE Every Saturday TIME From 6.30am LOCATION Milton Street

TROPPO TREASURE MARKET DATE 2nd Sunday of the month TIME From 7.30am to 11.30am

TWILIGHT MARKETS

WALKERSTON COUNTRY DATE 1st Friday of each month TIME From 6pm LOCATION Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Walkerston

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

29

REGULAR EVENTS

MACKAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

MUMS AND BUBS MORNING RIDE A social riding group for Mums with children who are not yet at school Held every Wednesday at the Gooseponds.

Meeting point: Car park at the end of Willis Street, North Mackay Start time: 10am INFO Visit Bicycle Belles Mackay Facebook page for ride details and updates.

MOUNTAIN BIKE (MTB) NIGHT RIDE* Meets every Wednesday to ride the trails – lights on bike and helmets are a must!

Meeting point 1: Corry Cycles, 5 Kay Court, North Mackay at 6pm Meeting point 2: Rowallan Mountain Bike Park, Glendaragh Road, Farleigh at 6:30pm Ability level: intermediate-advanced INFO Visit Corry Cycles Facebook page for ride details and updates *MAD MTB or MTBA membership is required to use the trails.

SATURDAYS

SUNDAYS LAZY RIDERS Held every second Sunday -stay for breakfast after the ride!

Meeting point: Bridges Café, Bluewater Quay Start time: 7am Ability level: beginner-intermediate INFO Visit Corry Cycles Facebook page for ride details and updates SIZZLE'N SAUSAGE SUNDAY SESH* Mountain bikers of all abilities are welcome to come out for a ride, held every Sunday and followed by a sausage sizzle from 8.30am.

Meeting point: Rowallan Mountain Bike Park, Glendaragh Road, Farleigh Start time: From 6am Ability level: beginner-advanced INFO Visit Corry Cycles Facebook page for ride details and updates

WEDNESDAYS BICYCLE BELLES A social riding group just for ladies, held every Wednesday.

Meeting point: Bicycle Connection, 20 Victoria Street, Mackay Start time: 6am Ability level: beginner-intermediate INFO Visit Bicycle Belles Mackay Facebook page for ride details and updates.

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

STORYTIME Storytime is aimed at 2 – 5 year olds and their parents and carers and is held weekly during the school term.

This half hour program of stories, nursery rhymes, finger plays and songs enhances language and literacy development in an interactive, fun-filled environment. The sessions encourage a child’s love of books and promotes the library environment as an exciting place for the whole family.

TIMES AND LOCATIONS Mirani Library Tuesdays 9.30am - 10.00am Walkerston Library Tuesdays 10.30am - 11.00am Gordon White Library Wednesdays 10.30am - 11.00am Fridays 9.30am - 10.00am Sarina Library Wednesdays 10.00am - 11.00am Mackay City Library Thursdays 10.30am - 11.00am Please note that Storytime does not run during the school holidays.

SOCIAL RIDES Meeting point: Metro Café, River Street Start time: 6:30am ABILITY LEVELS Team Caffeine (beginner-intermediate): 15-20km/h Team Tour de Latte (intermediate): 25km/h Team Slipstream (intermediate-advanced): 30km/h Team Titanium (advanced): 35km+/h INFO Visit Rock N Road Cycles Facebook page for ride details and updates.

BABY BOUNCE Please note that Baby Bounce does not run during the school holidays.

Gordon White Library Mondays 9.30am - 10am Mackay City Library Mondays 11am - 11.30am Mirani Library Mondays 9.30am - 10am Sarina Library Tuesdays 9.30am - 10am

THURSDAYS THURSDAY NIGHT SOCIAL RIDE A weekly evening get together for a ride and catch up, on each Thursday.

Meeting point: Metro Café, River Street Start time: 7pm Ability level: beginner-intermediate INFO Visit Bicycle Mackay Facebook page for ride details and updates.

RUNNING GROUPS THE LAYZEE RUNNERS CLUB Every Saturday from 5.45am Meet at the Metro Market Cafe, River Street, Mackay Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30am. Meet at the City Fitness Health Club, Victoria Street.

Cost: Free.

INFO For more details visit www.mackaycitycentre.com.au

ACTIVE IN THE CITY Dog Walking Group: Every Sunday from 7am - 8am at the Bluewater Trail - starting at the Bluewater Quay Zumba: Every Sunday from 9am - 10am at the Bluewater Quay Rock N Road Cycle: Every Saturday from 6.30am at the Metro Market Cafe The LRC Runners Club: Every Saturday from 5.45am at Metro Market Cafe.

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30am at City Fitness Health Club

SOUTHS LEAGUES CLUB MONDAYS 12.30pm Gaming Promotion 6.00pm Members Roast Night in Bistro 6.15pm & 7pm Gaming Promotion 7.30pm FREE Trivia Night 8pm Members Monthly Birthday Draw

HEALTH & HEART WALKING

FRIDAYS 5.00pm TGIFriday Wheel 6.00pm Club Raffles 6.30pm Live Entertainment, Main Bar 8.00pm Gaming Promotions

SATURDAYS 12.30pm Club Raffles 1.45pm Souths Memebrship Draw 2.30pm Gaming Promotion 3pm FREE Sausage Sizzle, Main Bar 6pm Live Entertainment, Main Bar

SUNDAYS 9.00am Souths Sunday Buffet Breakfast in Bistro 1.00pm Club Raffles 1.45pm Souths Membership Draw 2.00pm FREE Texas Hold’em Poler with 888L 6.00pm Club Raffles (Last Sunday Of Each Month) Souths MAJOR Promotion Drawn

MAGPIES SPORTING CLUB MONDAYS Trivia Night: Hosted by Hammo from 4MK Am. Registration from 6:30pm, Starts 7pm.

Free to play, bookings for a table are recommended call 4965 6100.

NORTHERN BEACHES BOWLS CLUB

MACKAY ANIMAL RESCUE SOCIETY

MACKAY DOG WALKERS & SOCIAL GROUP

An initiative of the Heart foundation.

Departs from 2 Tennyson St, Mackay Every Saturday at 6:45am Contact: Heather 4957 7997

THURSDAYS 12.30pm Gaming Promotion 6.00pm Club Raffles 7.45pm Souths Membership Draw 8.00pm Gaming Promotion

Trivia Night: First Thursday of the Month. Trivia Night hosted by Dave Peters from the SEA FM Morning Crew. From 7.00pm.

WALKING GROUPS Every Saturday at 7:45 for an 8am start. Departs from Bluewater Quay INFO For more information visit the Mackay Dog Walkers Facebook page.

WEDNESDAYS 12.30pm Gaming Promotion 12.30pm Souths CASH Bingo 6.00pm Club Raffles 7.30pm Souths CASH Bingo 7.00pm FREE Texas Hold’em Poker with 888L (Register from 6pm) 8.00pm Gaming Promotion

TUESDAYS 6.00pm 10 for $10 Members Meal Deal in the Bistro 12.30pm Gaming Promotion 7.00pm – 8.00pm & 9.00pm (Jackpot Attendance Draw)

Monthly Adoption Day: Last Sunday of the month, 9am to 12pm, Mackay Pet Superstore, Greenfields

BEACONSFIELD STATE SCHOOL TUESDAYS (SCHOOL TERM) LILY PILLY PLAYGROUP 9.30am - 11.30am Contact: lilypillyplaygroup@yahoo.com.au

nQ cAR & tRuck RentAls Explore Mackay and the beautiful Whitsunday’s in a car from NQ Car & Truck Rentals. Our low prices and great service are the reason why we are the first choice of so many visitors to the Mackay and Whitsunday’s area.

Low prices, great service Vehicle hire atthe right Price!

Whether you need a car rental from the Marina or at the Airport, we offer a drop off and pick up service.

1800 Rent A tRuck

cARs • utes • 4WDs • buses • tRucks Phone4953 49532353 2353 Phone Malcomson Street, 64Malcomson Street,MACKAY MACKAY nicole@nqcartruckrentals.com.au tracie@nqcartruckrentals.com.au www.nqcartruckrentals.com.au www.nqcartruckrentals.com.au

pakmag

CRAFT CORNER

CHILLING creations for Get your house ready for Halloween with these easy and fun crafts to do with the kids.

SPOOKY TOILET PAPER ROLL EYES YOU NEED • Large black rubbish bag • Tape • Scissors • Black Sharpie pen HOW TO MAKE

1.

Lay your rubbish bag flat and trim off the sides and bottom so you are left with two big rectangles of plastic

2. Cut each piece into an approximate

square. Fold one of the squares in half diagonally to form a triangle.

3. Fold that triangle in half two more times to narrow it. Use a few pieces of tape to fasten the layers together where the loose folded edges come together. It will help hold the shape together when you're cutting.

4. Use a black Sharpie to sketch some

guides on the plastic: draw a "stem" from the folded point out to the end of your triangle. Then sketch some scallops that come off the stem.

YOU NEED • • • •

Empty toilet paper rolls Glow sticks Duct tape Scissors

HOW TO MAKE

5. With scissors, cut out the negative

1. Cut out eyes from the toilet paper roll 2. Insert a glow stick in each toilet paper

6. Tape several webs together and add

3. Place outside in the trees for a spooky

Thanks to How About Orange http://howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks to Rust and Sunshine: www.rustandsunshine.com

shapes and unfold your web.

extra strips of plastic to connect them if you like.

32

Rubbish Bag Spider Webs

OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

roll and cover the ends with duct tape

glow-in-the-dark surprise for your kids or trick-or-treaters

Halloween monster treat bags YOU NEED • • • • • • •

Brown paper lunch bag Construction paper Glue stick Scissors Black marker Acrylic craft paint Spray glaze or acrylic sealer (optional)

HOW TO MAKE

1.

Ghoulish Lolly Gloves YOU NEED • 1 x disposable latex glove • Assorted lollies • Black ribbon HOW TO MAKE

1.

Fill plastic gloves with an assortment of small lollies and treats. To make the hand shape, include at least 4 round lollies that will fit into the finger sections of the glove

2. Tie the end of the hand shut with a piece of ribbon

3. Add a spider to one of the fingers for an extra scary twist.

4. Place next to the lolly container at the

front door to spook your trick-or-treaters.

Thanks to The Kitchn: www.thekitchn.com

Paint bag whatever colour you like. Stand them up and let them dry. Add another coat and let them dry again.

2. While bag is drying, cut facial features out of

construction paper. You can use your imagination to make some fun eyes, mouths and hair.

3. Cut polka dots, squares, stripes, or any other type of decoration you would like to use for your monster.

4. Using your glue stick, decorate the bag using the stripes, squares, or polka dots. Be sure to cover the entire piece of construction paper with glue before pressing on to the bag so that none of the corners stick up.

5. Fold down the top of the bag so that you don’t accidentally glue your facial features too high.

6. Use a glue stick to put facial features together before

gluing them to the bag. For example, glue the blacks of the eyes to the whites, glue teeth to mouth etc. Next, glue the facial features to the bag. Use a marker to add thin eyebrows.

7. Let everything dry, then if you like, add a coat of sealer spray.

Let dry again and fill with treats. You can punch a hole through the top of the bag and tie with ribbon if you like.

Thanks to Crafts By Amanda: http://craftsbyamanda.com

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33

WIN! WIN

SET OF 4X4 INCH POCKET PRINTS RRP $16 for a set of 24 prints WEB www.pocketprints.com.au

WIN

FIFO DADDY PRINT & ARMY DADDY PRINT RRP from $23.95 Sizes A4-A2 WEB www.bespokemoments.com.au

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play select photos from your phone, Instagram or Facebook then leave the rest to Pocket Prints. They'll print and post them to your door.

A special print for all the amazing FIFO and Army families.

Something to cherish especially during the times Daddy is away. This print can be personalised with your choice of blonde or brown hair, a yellow or orange high vis uniform and even his name personalised on his shirt.

It's time to free your photos from your phone.

Navy and Air Force variations are coming soon.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

ECCO SOFT 7 LADIES LO-TOP SNEAKERS RRP $239.95 WEB http://au.shop.ecco.com/ ECCO Shoes are giving three lucky readers the chance to win a pair of their brand new Soft 7 sneakers in Black! Your new favourite comfortable sneakers, the brand new ECCO Soft 7 Lo-Top is a cool, contemporary long-lace sneaker made from rich full-grain leather for a light and soft feeling, all day long. A soft, comfortable textile lining, ensures a perfect inner climate, and the leather-covered inlay sole with ECFS™ is also removable for the option of extra width.

WIN

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

FIZZY POP DESIGNS A4 UNFRAMED ART PRINT RRP $39.95 WEB www.fizzypopdesigns.com.au Surround yourself with laughter, creativity and all things Fizzy Pop. This is the lively philosophy behind online business Fizzy Pop Designs. Offering colourful imaginative kid’s framed and unframed art prints, they’re on a mission to help turn blah kids bedrooms into happy fun spaces.

WIN 34

OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

With plenty of designs to choose from you can find something that will tie back to the theme of your child’s room or choose a statement print that is truly ‘eye-catching’.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

WIN

SPARROW & B FEATHER CROWN RRP $29.00 WEB www.sparrowandb.com.au Find the Whimsical, Follow your Heart, Embrace the Wild...

Sparrow & B create beautiful costumes for children, which inspire little imaginations around the world. Their entire range is proudly 100 per cent handmade in Melbourne, Australia, and is filled with bright, happy, colourful designs.

Their Feather Crowns are soft & comfortable, and made with a variety of coloured felts. Cute enough to wear everyday, a fun addition to any costume box, or fantastic included as part of room décor.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

WIN

INDIE & SLOAN TEE RRP $29.00 WEB www.indieandsloan.com Indie & Sloan tees are for kids with an adventurous spirit, those who like to stand out and explore and who aren’t afraid to get dirty. Their tees have attitude and a hint of cheek like the kids who wear them Indie & Sloan creates cool tee's for awesome babies , boys and girls. All the tee’s are very soft and durable 100 per cent cotton. Each tee is screen printed with only the best child friendly non-toxic water based ink.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

35

pakmag

CELEBRATE

Tricks, Treats &

GHOULISH SWEETS Halloween PARTY IDEAS If you’ve embraced the American Halloween tradition, then have we got a treat (or trick) for you and your little ones! Go batty with these Halloween ideas.

Decorations Transform your home into the ultimate haunted house with these eerie embellishments.

• White candles with red wax dripping down the sides.

• Orange ‘pumpkin’ paper lanterns with black eyes taped to them .

• Paper plate bats. Paint paper plates black, add black wings, googly eyes and draw a scary face with white pen.

• Paper plate skeletons. Draw and cut out bones, skulls and ribs from white paper plates and combine each body part with zip ties and a hole punch.

• Toilet paper spooky eyes.

• Ghoulish lolly gloves.

• Rubbish bin spider webs.

Sweets and Treats

CHECK OUT PAGE 32 TO DISCOVER HOW TO MAKE SOME OF THESE CHILLING CREATIONS

• Pumpkin biscuits. Get creative with orange icing and green embellishments.

• Scary finger biscuits.

Witch way to the treats? This way!

• White chocolate banana and strawberry ghosts. Dip a banana into melted white chocolate and add chocolate chips for eyes. Place each banana ghost on a paddle pop stick and let cool in the fridge. Repeat the process with strawberries.

• Halloween hot chocolate. With a black icing pen, add eyes and a funny face to your marshmallows before popping them into a cup of hot cocoa.

• Spider cake pops. Add eight legs and black sprinkles for a spine tingling twist on your cake pops.

• Milo mummy balls. Combine two tablespoons of milo, one tin of sweetened condensed milk and one packet of arrowroot biscuits in a food processor. Make balls out of the mixture and let them cool in the fridge. Dip each ball in melted white chocolate and add red sprinkles for the eyes.

• Graveyard chocolate mousse. Combine chocolate mousse with cookie crumble and place in layers in a plastic cup. Top with an arrowroot bickie with RIP written in a black icing pen to create the graveyard look.

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• Frankenstein cake pops. Dip marshmallows in a mixture of melted white chocolate and blended spinach (to create the green colour) and decorate with a black icing pen.

• Guess the Body Part. Blindfold your guests and ask them to dip their fingers into various bowls of different “spooky” things, including spaghetti brains, grape eye balls and jelly guts. Have the guests guess what body part they are touching (and what food it could actually be) .

Ghoulish Games It’s not a Monster Bash without a few freaky games!

Movie Madness

• Mummy Wrap. Divide the kids into teams of two and give each team a roll of toilet paper. Choose some spooky Halloween music and get each team to wrap one team member in as much toilet paper as possible until the music stops.

End the evening with a fangtastic family-friendly Halloween classic that won’t leave the kiddies with nightmares:

• Pin the Wart on the Witch. Test out this hair-raising twist on the classic Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

• Coraline (ages 9 and up).

• Apple Bobbing. Fill a bucket with green food colouring and water and dump apples into the bucket. Tie your guest’s hands behind their back and get them to ‘bob’ for the apples, using only their mouths to grab one.

• Decorate your own Trick or Treat Bag. Pull out the glitter, the texters, the felt, the feathers and anything else you have hidden in your doodle drawers. Help your kids make different scary monsters, pumpkins, bats, witches, ghosts and more.

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (ages 7 and up).

• Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie (aged 3 and up).

• Hocus Pocus (ages 10 and up).

• Corpse Bride (ages 10 and up).

• Casper (ages 6 and up).

• The Worst Witch (ages 6 and up).

• Bedknobs and Broomsticks (ages 7 and up).

• The Witches (ages 8 and up).

• Halloween is Grinch Night (ages 4 and up).

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ADULT EDUCATION

pakmag

Reading, Writing &

RAISING CHILDREN

STORY Jenna Gallina When it comes to adult education, finding the balance between being a parent and being a mum is tricky to say the least, but most multitasking mums would agree that the end result is certainly worth it.

You’ve seen the stock photos of a mum enjoying a coffee while she studies with her children happily sitting beside her. In reality, studying with children, especially young children, isn’t always such a pretty picture.

Returning to school after having children, whether studying online or on campus, can be a daunting and frightening idea.

Plus, tick off each item from your checklist – there is nothing better for your motivation than seeing your list of things-todo diminish.

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

How will I find the time to do everything?

Get all your chores out of the way before you study so you don’t hear the beep beep beep of the washing machine every time you turn a page. Plus, turn your phone off and log out of Facebook!

How will I find the motivation?

THINK OUTSIDE THE TEXTBOOK

Will I even remember how to study?

Taking the plunge and finding out just what you are capable of not only benefits you and proves that yes, you can do it, but it also sets an excellent example for your children. If mummy can do it, then so can they.

Whether you are thinking about enrolling in a program or are currently undergoing an adult education course, keep these tips in mind when juggling learning with little ones.

If you can, purchase a tablet so you can browse through the lecture slides while feeding bub on the lounge or rocking your little one to sleep. You may even be able to get some lectures through audio so you can play them through your phone or iPod while walking the kids to school or on your afternoon stroll to the park.

Top Ten Reasons to Consider Adult Education

Balancing Study with Kids SET A FAMILY STUDY TIME For example, make 4pm every week day family homework time where everyone sits down around the table and studies, reads, draws or does something creative.

KEEP THE KIDS HAPPY Have snacks prepared and some activities that your kids can do with minimal supervision.

One option is to set up four different activities (play dough, blocks, colouring and LEGO, etc.) and set the timer for 15 minutes each. This gives you an hour of study time and the kids get a taste of toy circuit training.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR PRODUCTIVE TIME AKA – their sleep time. This may mean getting up an hour earlier or going to bed an hour later, but it also means you don’t have to sacrifice your family time for study time.

USE VISUAL REMINDERS Make a timetable with study times, project due dates and check-lists for the different things you need to accomplish each week. Use coloured texters for every subject and make your visual board bright and fun. This will make it easier to actually do what you have to do.

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To increase your earning potential To challenge yourself To continue your quest for knowledge To get into something completely new To fulfil a personal goal To start a business To further your current career To meet new people and network To improve your self-esteem To set a good example for your kids

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THE GOLDEN AGE OF

GRANDPARENTS 25 October is Grandparent’s Day. We at PakMag want to wish all the Nanas, Papas, Omas, Opas, Nans, Pops, Marnies, Pas, Babushkas, Dedushkas, Nonas and Nonos around FNQ a happy Grandparent’s Day and a massive thank you for everything you do, not just on Grandparent’s Day, but every day of the year.

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A grandmother is a “little bit parent, a little

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bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.” Author Unknown

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A grandfather “is someone with

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silver in his hair and gold in his heart.” Author Unknown

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Five Tips for Honouring Grandparents 1.

Enjoy a meal out followed by a nature walk.

2.

Create a scrapbook, collage or photo album to give to Grandma and Grandpa as a present.

3.

Play a game with the entire family – charades, Pictionary or Monopoly are fun for adults and children of all ages.

4.

Get your children to create a dance, puppet show or skit to perform for them. Bonus points if you join in on the performance too.

5.

If you’re in different cities, states or countries, plan a Skype session and enjoy afternoon tea together.

1. Jack, Peyton, Tyler & Hudson 2. Grandad, Nan Nan & Isla 3. Tony, Karen, Alex & Rubén 4. Lucas & Grandparents 5. Jade & Nana 6.

Joan, Alan, Reece, Tristan, Ruby, Georgia & Catherine 7. Great Grandfather Neville & Rominy 8. Jacob & Papa 9. Steven, Chloe, Cody, Ethan & Hunter 10. Grandma Nicky, Avara & Stella 11. Nana Erin & Paige 12. Isla & Maria 13. Lara, Maria, Isla, Madi, Jeffrey, Rhys & Ethan 14. Grandfather Barry & Ollie 15. Nana B, Olivia, Natasha & Makayla May www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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WHAT'S NEWS

pakmag

WHAt's NEWS in Business MOB Magazine Launching in Early 2016 MOB Magazine, or Mother - Owner Business is a bi-monthly subscription magazine delivered to your door. cOUrses and MOB Magazine features Finance Tips classes inspirational stories from sales and mums in business as markeTing advice well as tips on juggling Solo-preneurS parenthood and business.

SMe’S digiTal The majority of the Start-upS media sTraTegy magazine will offer tips and news from experts sUBscriBe nOW in business, finance, prinTed Bi-mOnThly laUnching janUary 2016 delivered TO yOUr OFFice law, PR, marketing, digital marketing and sales. Read, reflect and implement the ideas into your business, all for the early bird rate of $6 per edition.

COMING SOON

MUM - OWNER - BUSINESS

Head to www.mobmagazine.com.au to subscribe before the 1st of November to take advantage of this early bird discount.

BIZ: Thankyou Water, Food and Body Care This month we were lucky enough to come across Thankyou, a social enterprise that makes a variety of delicious food, body care and water products that not only smell and taste awesome, but are also making a major impact to those who need it most.

What started as a bottled water company that would exist for the sole purpose of funding safe water projects in developing nations has grown into three products ranges - water, body care and food, that fund safe water access, hygiene and sanitation and food aid respectively.

This is an incredible movement that shows just how far an idea can grow.

In just seven short years, they have given over $3 million to projects across 16 countries, including their first Australian project in Melbourne!

You can support Thankyou, and find out more at www.thankyou.co. Check out their facebook at www.facebook.com/ thankyougroup Their products are available in selected Coles, Woolworths, 7 Eleven, Foodland, IGA, LaManna Direct and Chemmart Pharmacies.

BIZ: LITTLE HIGH FIVES Nothing brightens someone’s day like the sound of a child’s laughter.

This is the beautiful inspiration behind Little High Fives Inc, a non for profit organisation where volunteering mothers visit the elderly in care with their children and babies.

This new program has been created to have the new young generation interact with the elderly with laugh, love and cheer.

If you’re a mum with children under five and would like to take them to visit the lonely socially isolated elderly in age care facilities then Little High Fives is for you.

Contact Founder/Director Khloe Dales at Little High Fives for their full schedule. There are fortnightly visits to Marini Nanyima Age Care, Blue Care Homefield, Sarina Aged Residential Care, Rest Haven Age Care, Good Shepherd Loge, Francis of Assisi and Northview Age Care.

M: 0488161629 W: littlehigh5.com.au E: littlehigh5s@outlook.com.au

Have You Heard: Petit Early Learning Journey iPad Giveaway Marian’s boutique childcare centre has a great offer for anyone looking into progressive, affordable and inspiring long day care. All enrolments in October will be entered in the draw to win one of three iPad Minis.

Petit Early Learning Journey is a long day care focused on the holistic learning and development of children. Their responsibility to ensure creative thought is cultivated, inspired and fortified in the early developmental years is supported by their centres enthralling class environments, interactive play-scapes and passionate educators.

Give the team at Petit Early Learning Journey a call to secure your child’s booking and for your chance to inspire their love of technological learning with this excellent prize.

Call 07 4806-3750, email marian@petitjourney.com.au or visit www.petitjourney.com.au

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Recipes for

S E S S E C N I R P W O SN

It’s been two long years since children around the world were first hit with Frozen fever and, if your kids are anything like my daughter, the end of this winter is nowhere in sight. That’s why we selected these special snow princess snacks from The Snow Princess Cookbook for our recipes this month, perfect for birthday parties, after school snacks, Coronation day perhaps?

e Snowball l t t i L et Bic e w S

kies

wD

Melted Sno

ip with

Magic F r u i t

INGREDIENTS 1 cup butter at room temperature 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup icing sugar HOW TO MAKE Preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius. Line a baking tray with non-stick paper and set aside until ready to use.

Melt butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add flour, sugar, salt and vanilla extract and mix until the dough forms into a ball. Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured work area.

Form dough into 3cm balls and place them 3cm apart on the prepared baking tray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly golden.

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INGREDIENTS 2 cups plain Greek yoghurt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice 4 - 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Assorted seasonal fresh fruit Wooden skewers Rainbow sprinkles HOW TO MAKE

Remove from the oven and let cool for ten minutes then transfer to a wire rack.

To make the melted snow dip, combine all ingredients (except the fruit, sprinkles and skewers) in a mixing bowl.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fill a bowl with powdered sugar and completely coat each ball with icing sugar.

To make the magic fruit wands, place assorted fruits on the wooden skewers.

Serve right away or store in an air tight container for up to one week.

Garnish the dip with sprinkles and serve with your magic fruit wands.

OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

Royal Pr i

ncess

P op

Bake a Sno

n a m w

corn Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1 egg 3/4 cup molasses 3 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons powdered ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 6 inch wood craft sticks (one for each bickie) Coloured fondants (white, orange, turquoise and black) Sugar eyes Small white marshmallows White frosting

1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs at room temperature 1/2 cup coconut oil 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips Freshly popped popcorn Various sprinkles (optional)

HOW TO MAKE

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Like a 12-tin muffin tray with muffin tin paper. Set aside until ready to use.

In a large bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and molasses and mix with an electric mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix completely. Remove the dough from the bowl, shape into a flat disc, cover with plastic wrap and let chill for 2 to 3 hours Remove dough from the refrigerator and let sit for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line 2 cookie sheets with baking paper lightly coated with cooking spray.

Dust work area with flour, roll out the dough to approximately 2 centimetres thick and cut out each bickie.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before decorating.

To decorate, roll out the white fondant and cut into three lopsided circles of various sizes to create the snowman’s head, chest and tummy. Use a small bit of orange fondant for the nose and complete the face with a black fondant mouth and sugar eyes. Complete each snowman with fondant arms and buttons.

ENTER www.pakmag.com.au

Vanilla Butter cream frosting (3 cups icing sugar, ½ cup butter softened, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and ¾ tablespoon whipping cream blended until light and fluffy) HOW TO MAKE

Mix water and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. Let stand for 5 minutes until it forms a gel.

Whisk together flour, sugar and the remaining chia seeds in a large bowl. Add eggs, coconut oil, vanilla extract and chia seed gel. Mix well to combine ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture evenly into prepared muffin tin and bake 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing from the tin.

Make vanilla Butter cream frosting and frost cupcakes with it.

Decorate each cupcake with freshly popped popcorn and sprinkles. Alternatively, you can also try decorating with mini pink marshmallows for a more colourful twist.

The Snow Princess Cookbook is available from www.exislepublishing.com.au and good book stores.

RRP $24.99

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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HOME

FIND YOUR FLOORING We've got it covered

VINYL PLANKING COST Around $38 for supply and $66 installed per square metre WHY IT COULD WORK Vinyl Planking is extremely hard wearing as seen in many cafes, hairdressers and other commercial areas that see a lot of traffic. Sold in either tile or plank form, it is designed to imitate real timber (but a lot cheaper). It is water resistant and easy to install, remove, replace and maintain.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Vinyl Planking is a great DIY product giving a more realistic looking timber floor; however it is more expensive than cushion vinyl.

BAMBOO COST $45 for supply and $80 laid per square metre WHY IT COULD WORK Bamboo is another wood alternative best for areas that are moist and humid. It is extremely durable and a renewable material source making it a very popular option for FNQ homes.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Bamboo is a lot thinner than solid wood and doesn’t have the thermal benefits of timber.

CARPET COST Starting at $20 to supply and $38 to lay per square metre (including a new underlay) WHY IT COULD WORK Carpet is designed for dry areas of the home (bedrooms, living rooms). Typically made out of synthetic (nylon, polyester and polypropylene) or natural materials (wool), carpet comes in many different patterns, colours and styles THINGS TO CONSIDER Carpet is soft, fuzzy and welcoming. It is a cheaper flooring option; however, it is also best left to professionals to install as can be tricky to lay yourself.

TOP TIPS FROM OUR EXPERT Selecting the right colour for you is key. Carpet will still look new in years to come if you pick a suitable colour – going too light in colour will pick up dirt and debris. You may find yourself replacing lighter carpet sooner than darker colours.

Take samples home. The lighting in a shop may be totally different to the lighting in your home

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VINYL COST Around $20 for supply or $35 installed per square metre WHY IT COULD WORK Vinyl is ideal for living areas, kitchens and bathrooms as it is water resistant and inexpensive. Vinyl gives comfort under foot as it is cushioned THINGS TO CONSIDER While the price is right, many people admit that vinyl has an artificial look and feel to it. When first placed, vinyl can be quite soft and can tear when not careful.

TILES COST Starting at $25 per metre square to supply, and $80 installed to lay per square metre WHY IT COULD WORK Tiles are certainly one of the easiest flooring options to clean and keep sanitary. They look great in every room of the house, from the bathrooms to the bedrooms. Tiles come in a number of designs, styles and sizes and are extremely durable.

THINGS TO CONSIDER Tiles are most difficult and expensive to replace if a tile is chipped. Tiles are not the most comfortable to lay on thus having a rug is usually required in living areas.

Get a free Measure & Quote. Contact The Carpet House Floorzone on 07 4957 5933 or come in and see the team and the selection at 225 Shakespeare Street, Mackay.

www.pakmag.com.au OCTOBER 2015

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SNAPPED MACKAY

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5 1. Ally Glenella 2. Amaru John Breen Park 3. Abigail North Mackay 4. Ella Glenalla 5. Amelia John Breen Park 6. April North Mackay 7. Ben Northview Garden Park 8. Kayla Glenella

3 REASONS TO USE PAKMAG:

Mackay's Family Magazine for parents of 'BEANS TO TWEENS'

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1. PakMag prints 10,000 copies every month 2. PakMag distributes to McDonalds, Coles and Healthpoint Chemist in the Mackay Region.

3. PakMag targets parents of 'BEANS TO TWEENS.' CHECK OUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR yOUR BUSiNESS! Call us on 07 4053 3331 or visit www.pakmag.com.au to see how we can help your business in the family market.

Free opportunities exist.

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PHOTOS THANKS TO: CHAMPION PHOTOGRAPHY Email photos, name/s & locations: photos@pakmag.com.au (Deadline 15 OCT for the NOV 2015 Edition)

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9. Keanu North Mackay 10. Daniel Northview Garden Park 11. Kadin Glenella 12. Malachi North Mackay 13. Gemma Glenella 14. Malachi, Sierra, Abigail & April Mackay Chrisitian Family Play Group 15. Sierra and Mum North Mackay 16. Layla Glenella

Daddy Diary The Morning Routine If you have daily arguments with your toddler about the simple things in life, you’re not alone. It’s at least me and you.

A regular one we have is about getting dressed in the morning.

I find I have to be a politician in the morning, judge his mood and try and read what sort of reaction I’m going to get from a simple question.

This is something I’m getting better at as I learn to be a parent. Asking my lad if he’s looking forward to going to kindy that day can get anything from a huge smile, massive YES and a full detailed plan for what he’s going to do and who he wants to play with, to a “No, In don’t wanna go to kindy, I don’t wanna go ANYWHERE this day!”

As I said, I’ve learnt.

So after making him toast or cereal for breakfast, I’ll just ask what he’d like on his Kindy sandwich, and I give him

By Scott Linden 50

OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au

two options. He has to pick one. From then we’re normally on a roll.

The next challenge in the morning is getting dressed.

The request, “Mate, come and get dressed now,” can get a wide variety of responses as well. Some days it’s easy. On other days I have to get him to watch Octonauts and talk to him about Peso while I sneakily change his top. Then there are the days of massive tantrums. Luckily he’s getting older and better.

My latest strategy I came across by accident - reverse psychology. It was a usual day and he was in a good mood. After telling him it was time to get dressed he grabbed his clothes and I said I’d give him a hand, he said, “Don’t worry, I can do it myself”.

I love reverse psychology with kids.

I said to him, “No you don’t, you don’t know how to do get dressed by yourself.”

Then it became a toddler tennis match between yes I do / no you don’t / yes I do… and on it went.

Job done.

The next day, I got smarter again, “I’ll come and help you, but wait for me … yesterday you started getting dressed without me. Don’t start yet, I’ll be there in a second.”

By this stage he was giggling uncontrollably and thought he was playing a trick on Daddy by getting dressed where I couldn’t see him.

Bingo. “Dad, I’m dressed, I didn’t need your help again.”

This has worked four days in a row now. It’s our running joke that he knows we’re doing and he thinks it’s just hilarious.

What’s the bet it all backfires on me tomorrow and I’m back at square one!

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OCTOBER 2015 www.pakmag.com.au