Spring 2017

ENINSULA KID P S LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA

SPRING 2017

FREE

Simon

PRYCE

Wiggles down the aisle with fitness expert

Laura

HANNAFORD

love

things we

Go to peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

NEXT STOP

Spring

ADVENTURE FARM

Join us for lots of fun and games including Face Painting, Chuck a Chook, Scarecrow Stuffing plus a full program of farm activities and shows, baby animals and more!

Open 7 Days for School Holidays

the little things ...like extra nappies and spare goggles, so rushed parents don’t have to worry about anything they may have forgotten. Little things like caring teachers who know when a child needs a little extra attention and welcoming staff that are happy to help when a parent has their hands full of bags, toddlers and towels.

At Kingswim, we know it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Let us find the perfect time for your FREE introductory lesson

* T&Cs apply

kingswim.com.au

Cover Photo Zarli Mornington Railway Photography: Cameron McCullough Editor and Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au

Editor

Melissa McCullough

“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don't deserve it.

I've never done anything for you.”

“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

Creative Director Maria Mirabella maria@mpnews.com.au

― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

Advertising Miriam Doe 0421 085 974 miriam@mpnews.com.au

Greetings from the spring 2017 edition of Peninsula Kids magazine! This is the third spring edition we’ve produced - I can’t believe it! It’s been such a crazy ride from the beginning in 2014.

Our little mag has grown and evolved into something that all of us at MPK are proud of. We’ve made many changes over the years, in hopes of making Peninsula Kids better and more user-friendly for you, or readers, our friends.

Distribution Marilyn Saville marilyn@mpnews.com.au General Enquiries info@peninsulakids.com.au

Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931

Maria Mirabella

My son has made a good friend at kindy this year. His mum, like me, pick up our kinder kids and then hurry over to the primary school to wait for the bell, (if we make it on time), and receive our eldest children.

Disclaimer: The authors and publisher do not assume any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Peninsula Kids is produced quarterly.

15,000 copies distributed between Mordialloc and Portsea.

Creative Director

I’ve have been recently reminded of the importance of friendships and relationships. Of how good it feels to have someone to rely on, seek advice from, have a deep-and-meaningful with (including wine), or just grab a cuddle from.

All material is copyright, and may not be reproduced without the express permission of Mornington Peninsula News Group, or the original copyright holder in the case of contributions. Copyright of contributed material rests with the contributor.

This publication is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

ed’s letter...

As we depart the kinder we say, “See you in a few minutes!” (Knowing that we’ll both be on the same road to the next pick-up point.)

Distribution

Marilyn Saville

When Mr 5 and I arrive at the primary school he eagerly seeks out his friend that he just saw not 10 minutes before. They exchange toothy grins and hug like they haven’t seen each other in an eternity.

Friends.

And like the spring, full of new blooms, the roots have been planted and their friendship will flourish. Both will be tended to, nurtured, fed and sometimes challenged by the elements. But look how beautiful the outcome is with really little effort.

Foster your friendships. Encourage the seedlings you’ve planted. And your table will always be full of wonderful crops and companions.

Happy spring!

www.facebook.com/MorningtonPeninsulaKids

Proudly published by

PS: Things we love to sow in spring: beans, beetroot, bravery, broccoli, capsicum, compassion, cucumber, kindness, lettuce, melons, mindfulness, responsibility, rhubarb, safety, silver beet, sweet corn, sweet potato, tenacity, tomato and zucchini…to name a few. ;)

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Miriam Doe

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Fashion

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Contents 71

10

35 Spotlight 10 Simon and Lauren

PK chats to Simon Pryce and Lauren Hannaford about the

beginning, newlywed life and the future.

32 Peninsula Kids Spring Fashion Shoot

Showcasing fashion from local shops.

20 To Hit or Be Hit?

What if your kid is being bullied? Or worse, IS the bully!

44

I Heart Hemp Foods Consumption of hemp foods have finally been legalised in Australia!

22 Constipation in Children

Continence.org.au addresses the issue.

48 Anxiety and Children

The mental health of our children is more important than ever.

26 How to Deal With a Social Media Obsessed Teen

Decoding your teenage girl.

54 Perfectly Imperfect

It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be shared.

30 5 Ways to Increase Good Feelings in Your Family

Techniques from Parenting Ideas Club founder Michael Grose

56 If I Could Turn Back Time

Mums financial advice to their younger selves.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

7

CONTRIBUTORS Special thanks go to the gorgeous and talented group of contributors who breathe life into every issue by sharing their best with us.

JODI RICHARDSON

drjodirichardson.com.au

JO FORD

bodybump.com.au

97 DAVID HAWKINS bigkidlittlekid.net

100 ERICA LOUISE

Contents

Local (and not so)

16 46 62

Gunnamatta Horse Trails Wild Buggy The Busy Peacock

Celebrate

68 70

Teepee Party Planning your My Dreamy Teepee’s slumber party

Babies Love Sleep and Want to Sleep Top Tips for Amazing Birth Support Is Your Diet Keeping Your Baby Awake?

Getting Attached to Breastfeeding

Education

91

8

Health 98 100 102 104

Did You Know…

Improving Your Posture After Childbirth Are You a Slave to Your Fitness Band?

Head Lice are in the House

REBECCA BOWYER

seeingthelighterside.com

Creative

108 Decoupage Glass 110 Toilet Roll Wreaths

LORRAINE AITKEN

family-friendly adventurer

Pregnancy & Baby

76 78 80 82

86 88

melbourne.kidtown.com.au

Gifted and Talented Children Focusing on Our Schools

Recipes

Recipes with Jodie Blight

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

In Every

Issue 52 75 106 112

Things We Love Party Planning Ask the Experts Book Reviews

MICHAEL GROSE

parentingideas.com.au

YVETTE O’DOWD

bellybelly.com.au/author/yvette-odowd

2019 Scholarships YEAR 4 – YEAR 9 Your daughter’s journey begins here; we prepare our students for their future.

Academic and General Excellence Scholarships are available for girls in 2019.

Apply now.

Go to: www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au/join-toorak/scholarships Applications close: Friday 20 October, 2017

Discover Toorak

Wednesday 18 October, 2017 | Tours at 9:00am and 10:00am Call 9788 7234 to book your tour.

www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au I 9788 7234

MPK CHATTED TO NEWLYWEDS SIMON PRYCE AND LAUREN HANNAFORD, ABOUT FINDING LOVE, LIFE ON THE ROAD, AND THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THEIR COLOURFUL LIVES. How did you both meet each other?

Lauren: We met each other working with The Wiggles. Simon was playing a character called ‘Ringo the Ringmaster’ and I was a gymnast/dancer.

Was it an instant connection or did you take a while before you started dating?

Lauren: We took a while before we started dating. We became good friends first. I would often train in between shows and Simon came up and asked me one day if he could train with me. From there our relationship grew and it has been based around health and fitness, friendship and love ever since.

What did you immediately like about each other?

Simon: What I immediately liked about Lauren was her beautiful smile, great sense of humour and amazing physical prowess, and of course how gorgeous she is.

Lauren: There is something about him that just makes you feel comfortable, safe and happy. And whilst he has such a strong and engaging presence about him, I immediately liked Simon’s kind and gentle nature. Plus he’s a babe, let’s be honest about that one!

How has it been working together with the Wiggles?

Lauren: We had a lot of fun working together with The Wiggles.

We got to spend every day together travelling the world and experiencing new countries and cultures while doing what we love.

& 10

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

How did you both get involved with the Wiggles?

Tell us about your backgrounds.

Lauren: I grew up as an elite gymnast and then went into coaching and personal training, so my role with The Wiggles pretty much came out of left field. Back in 2010, Anthony Wiggle’s children were doing classes at the gym where I was coaching. One day after seeing me work he approached me and asked if I was interested in performing with them, and within the next two days I was in their studios doing an audition and rehearsing for their next DVD and upcoming tour!

I then wasn’t due to start touring with the live shows until later that year, but when a dancer pulled out at the last minute, I found myself doing a very rushed packing job and hopping on a flight the next morning.

It didn’t stop there either as Wiggling became my full time gig for the next 3 and a half years.

Simon: I had worked on and off for The Wiggles over many years doing a lot of backing vocals for them. My background is in TV and musical theatre and I’ve also worked for Opera Australia. I was doing Phantom of the Opera when The Wiggles contacted me and asked if I would be interested in playing the role of King John in a new TV series they were producing called The Kingdom of Paramithi. I said yes, and well - the rest is history.

Tell us about your engagement in Paris. What was that like? Were you nervous Simon? Did you expect him to pop the question Lauren?

Simon: Years earlier, Lauren and I had gone to a place in Paris called Sainte Chapelle and I had thought that would be the perfect place to ask Lauren to marry me. It has some of the most extensive 13th Century stained glass collections anywhere in the world and it’s just beautiful. continued next page.....

www.peninsulakids.com.au

11

They perform orchestral concerts there and I had booked dinner and a concert. I had assumed that the dinner and concert were both in the chapel, but as it turned out dinner was across the road afterwards.

Maybe their website is a little misleading. I had planned to do it after the concert and I wasn’t that nervous, I just felt a bit shy having to do it while there were hundreds of people hanging around after the show had finished. I waited as long as I could and kept pretending to want to take photos waiting for the room to clear. I then found a little quiet corner and proposed there.

The most nerve-wracking part was, earlier in the night when we arrived at Sainte Chapelle. Because of increased security there was an X-ray machine. I had to empty my pockets and of course I had the ring in there.

I had to distract Lauren for as long as I could so she wouldn't see it.

Lauren: Firstly, we love Paris, so Simon couldn’t have picked a better location. Poor Simon was so nervous about it, not nervous about the idea of getting engaged but nervous because he is actually really quite shy - so knowing he had to orchestrate this proposal in a room full of people was pretty nerve wracking for him.

We had talked about marriage for some time so we always knew we wanted to at some point, but I didn’t know it would be this particular occasion. We were trying to get a selfie together after the concert and, if I think about it now, Simon was acting a little out of character but I just thought it was because he was shy about taking a photo while people were still in there.

Can I just say that moment turned into much more than a lousy selfie and I couldn’t have been happier! And yes, he got down on one knee like the true gentleman that he is. Wow this is making me all soppy and emotional reliving those beautiful moments.

Tell us about your wedding day Lauren. Was it everything you had hoped for?

OH MY! It was absolutely everything we hoped for and more. There certainly weren’t enough hours in the day that day. We and our guests just wanted the evening to go on and on and on.

From the moment we woke up to the moment we went to sleep, it was just the most perfect day. Our jaws hurt from smiling and laughing the whole time.

What is it like now being newlyweds and having so much time apart with the touring?

Lauren: It would be wonderful to be able to have more time together as we miss each other so much, but at the same time our time apart doesn’t change our relationship, who we are, or how we feel about each other. We continue to talk and communicate just as we would if we saw each other every day.

We just tend to really cherish and make the most of the time we have together when we do. Basically I don’t let go of Simon when I am near him. I’m like an over-excited golden retriever puppy. continued next page.....

"We all want fitness and health to be easy, so the more accessible it is the easier it is to create a lifestyle from it."

12

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

YEAR 7 - LEARNING IN THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Coeducation and single gender learning.

The very best teachers.

Contact us to hear how your son or daughter can have the best of both worlds in one school.

Visit www.peninsulagrammar.vic.edu.au

Simon, tell us about the upcoming tour, The Big Wiggly Christmas show, and how you got involved with the wiggles? What do you enjoy about being a Wiggle?

The Big Wiggly Christmas Show is our big arena show at the end of the year and it really is a celebration of the year, and of course Christmas.

It is the tour we all look forward to the most; being at home in Australia performing and being home at Christmas time.

This year’s show is jammed packed full of all styles of music, singing and dancing - and of course Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword will all be there. Rumour has it Santa Claus will pop by and say hi as well!

The thing I love the most about being a Wiggle is having the chance to put a smile on children’s faces. In particular, families who might be doing it a little tough with either sickness or children with special needs.

Just having the opportunity to help make a little bit of a difference in a positive way is what I care about the most.

Lauren, tell us about your incredible fitness program FHIT and how it all evolved for you? How did you come up with the concept of the 15 minute workouts and who are they great for?

First of all, I am so excited that FHIT is here and that it is so easily accessible to everyone. We all want fitness and health to be easy, so the more accessible it is the easier it is to create a lifestyle from it.

The concept came when I was touring and had to be able to train anywhere at any time, and get a really great all over body workout using nothing but my own body weight. I started incorporating exercises 14

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

I had always done growing up in the gymnasium as well as morphing some of those techniques into my own exercises so that I could continue to train anywhere.

When I stopped touring I had quite a number of people asking how I stay fit and healthy whilst being so busy all the time. Basically I took everyone’s different concerns along with my own experiences and created these fast and effective 15 minute online workouts. The one thing everyone has in common was that they are time poor… So from that, FHIT was born!

The key for me whilst creating this program was for the workouts to be interactive and encouraging. By creating these online streaming videos, it meant that people could experience the full version of class or personal training style workout in the comfort of their own home or wherever they have the time and space. I could ramble on and on about it because I am so passionate about it, but in a nutshell that was the evolution of FHIT.

What does Christmas day look like for you?

Christmas Day usually starts with a swim in the ocean and then Simon will spend the morning until around lunch time with The Wiggles at the Randwick Children’s Hospital visiting all the children and families in the wards. The children who are in hospital on Christmas Day are usually the ones who are too sick to be able to get home for the day.

Then we will do the rounds and visit both our families. Everyone is now in Sydney so that makes things a little easier.

Christmas and New Year is usually a fairly quiet time for us as it’s a chance for Simon and I to spend time together. Being together is the only present we both need at Christmas time. (ok fine, maybe a new pair of runners as well.

FHIT (Functional High Intensity Training) is available online at www.laurenhannaford.com.au Tickets for The Wiggles' Wiggly Christmas Big Show! national end of year tour are on sale now at www.thewiggles.com.au

ADVENT U RO U S

MINDS are curious and energised. They forge new paths, find new perspectives, unearthing new possibilities along the way.

Unafraid of mistakes and failure, they test their boundaries, find strong footings, and new ways forward.

JOIN OUR LE ARNING

COMMUNIT Y INFORMATION

SESSION

& C AM PU S TOU RS

INFORMATION SESSION TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER – 7:30PM Join our Principal, Jonathan Walter, to hear more about our school.

CAMPUS TOURS Wed 18, Thurs 19 & Fri 20 October BOOK VIA WEBSITE

5971 6100

www.woodleigh.school

GUNNAMATTA

Horse Trails

By Lorraine Aitken

T

he time finally arrived for my 11 year old daughter to experience her very first horse ride … The moment of truth to see if she had outgrown her dreaded horse allergy that has plagued her since her very first encounter with a pony. She’s one of those kids that were fortunate enough to be given her own pony as a toddler (thanks to grandparents who lived on a small farm) but unlucky enough to be severely allergic to them...

What are the chances!

So, with nervous excitement we decided to throw caution to the wind and go the whole hog… We booked a two hour, ocean beach trail ride with Gunnamatta Trail Rides. After all, we figured if we were going test the paediatricians theory of her allergy abating with age, then we might as well do it properly. (I will however note that we did go prepared with antihistamines and a filled script from the doctor for a ‘just in case scenario’ because I’m not totally irresponsible!)

We arrived at 11:30am, greeted by the resident cat ‘Sabrina’ who is supposedly ‘a little bit grumpy’, but I think we all have our off days and who can blame her for just wanting to nap on the couch without interruption. With a mutual understanding we went and checked in at the office, signed some paperwork and were each given a stylish hair net to put on before being fitted with a protective helmet. Riders are each given a different colour helmet cover to represent their level of experience -White for beginners, orange for intermediate and black for experienced. The helmet covers are a great way for the trail guides to quickly identify how much assistance and instruction may be required for each individual rider.

After a brief greeting and introduction we were all allocated with horses to suit our abilities. Once you have been allocated a horse, its name becomes your name for the duration of the ride.

Admittedly it took me a while to get the hang of being called ‘Billie’ and my daughter ‘Sam’. At first when the guide said “who’s with Sam?” I looked around a few times and was thinking ‘gee no one wants this poor kid called Sam’, but as it turned out it was me not claiming my daughter! continued next page.....

16

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Discover our 100-acre classroom Discover Cornish College

Co-educational, independent school, ELC to Year 12.

Located in Bangholme, near Chelsea. www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au

One by one we mounted our horses and adjusted the length of our stirrups accordingly, ready to head out on the trail. We were then given a particular order in which our horses preferred to follow, but still remained in the pairs that we arrived in.

The sandy trail is somewhat narrow in places and offers lots of tempting grass for the horses to snack on along the way. We were assured that the horses were fed several times a day and to avoid letting them snack if possible (and they certainly did look well fed) but some couldn’t resist a sneaky mouthful of lush grass, and required some gentle motivation to keep on moving. After about 40 minutes of walking and trotting we came to the entrance of St Andrews beach. I can’t describe how stunning this stretch of beach is and how amazing it is to be able to ride along it.

For the 3 out of 8 of us who were more experienced riders, we were given the opportunity to go for a good canter along the beach with the lead guide. For me, this was the most incredible experience out of the entire ride. Despite having owned and competed on horses for several years in my teens and early twenties, I had never actually ridden along the beach before.

The freedom of cantering along the beach and into the winter sunshine transported me back to my carefree days before children, work and responsibilities…

O H T F F EA H U P FA E W N S M H FO IL OL R Y E !

My daughter happily survived the experience with little more than a couple of antihistamine tablets, a runny nose, watery red eyes and

EST 2017

Little Beauty IN THE PARK

The EPM is an independent market showcasing Melbourne and the Peninsula’s very best makers, creators, growers and collectors. Over 200 stalls, amazing kids entertainment, live music, craft workshops, gourmet food & local fresh produce!

w e' r e back!

OCTOBER 21 N OV E M B E R 1 8 DECEMBER 16

9AM till 2PM

3rd Saturday of the month from October to April (Santa visits in Dec!)

Emu Plains Reser ve Balnar r ing Racecourse, Coolar t Rd

w w w. e m u p l a i n s m a r k e t . c o m . a u

RE-OPENING OCTOBER 28!

4th Saturday of the month from October to April

NEW TIME:10AM to 3PM Live music plus Faery Emma & Friends

BEAUTY PARK, FRANKSTON (OPPOSITE FRANKSTON FOOTBALL O VAL)

WWW.LITTLEBEAUTYMARKET.COM.AU

BROUGHT YOU TO BY THE UNTOLD EVENTS CO.

18

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

“THAT WAS AWESOME; I GIVE IT THE BIG THUMBS UP”

a beaming smile that couldn’t be wiped from her face. “That was awesome; I give it the big thumbs up” she said … “but next time can I not trot so much mum? My butt is sore!” followed by lots of laughter.

Overall: Riding along the pristine shores of St Andrews ocean beach has to be up there with one of my most enjoyable experiences I’ve had on the Mornington Peninsula…EVER!!

The staff were fantastic, the horses were clearly well cared for and we had the most enjoyable 2 hour ride together.

If you have never been for a ride with Gunnamatta trail rides, then I highly recommend you get online now and book the 2 hour ocean beach ride that’s suitable for beginners to experienced riders aged 10 years plus and costs $140pp.

If you have younger children that you’d love to take along then you can join the 1 hour Bush trail ride. The Bush trail ride is suitable for children aged 6 years plus and costs $70pp.

During the school holidays they also offer a ½ day and full day beginner packages for ages 6-12 years priced from $110 -$155pp up to advanced classes for 13-17 year olds. *Kids must be 6 years or over to participate for insurance purposes.

$25

unlimited Bowling &

Laser tag *Valid during school holidays only Sep 23 - Oct 8. Valid at Strike Bayside only. Walk in only. For children under 15 years and accompanying adults. From open to 5pm everyday during school holidays. Offer is subject to availability.

*Riders must weigh 95kg or under for the health and safety of the horses.

STRIKEBOWLING.COM.AU For more info check out their website www.gunnamatta.com.au Visit them at 150 Sandy Rd, Fingal or call them on ph. 0359886755 www.peninsulakids.com.au

19

Shocked, upset, concerned? No, livid, enraged, sweaty… How could this happen? At this age?! I spent Friday night, drinking wine, mulling it over and getting more and more cross. Saturday morning arrived, I was regretting the wine, and also regretting how horribly I had handled my emotions.

Thinking about a boy hitting a girl was pretty shocking to me, as sexist as that sounds. My daughter comes home, injured, upset, frightened, and I somehow feel the same. Why was she not safe at school? Why didn’t this get stopped before it escalated? Why would a boy attack a girl? I had so many questions, and just like my son, I was ready to pounce, like a lioness protecting her cubs.

Then, I got to thinking about how I would have felt if this was the other way around? How would I react if I had a phone call to say my son had punched someone so hard they had to go and have an x-ray?

Honestly, I think that feeling would far outweigh my frenzied lioness feelings. To learn that your child has shown such aggression toward another student has to be heart-breaking to say the least.

When we send our children out into world, we hope that we have taught them enough to cope in certain situations; how to stand up for themselves in the right way. What we fail to remember is that sometimes they will forget these rules: they’ll lash out, forget to wash their hands or say "Please may I".

TO HIT OR

TO BE HIT?

By Olivia Wilson

I

love a kid with spirit, a kid with guts, one who isn’t afraid to stand up for what’s right. My son is gutsy, knows what’s right and wrong, and VERY often pushes me a little too far with his strength of character. He is loud, brave, a little punchy, energetic, and will always, without fail, step in if he thinks someone is being wronged.

Sometimes however, his protective nature gets the better of him and he takes it too far.

We’ve all been in that nightmare situation, where you turn up to collect your child and you’re told that today your baby has hit someone. Your heart sinks. You’re shocked that your little darling would ever do such a thing; even though you know as well as everyone else that they’re all capable of it.

I remember picking up my son when he was about two and being told he had pinched someone. Was my heart was breaking because I was upset that my child would hurt someone else on purpose, or was I sad for the other mother who had been told her precious child was going home with an injury?

Then my sweet, rather anxious daughter, came home from school last week with a bruise the size and shape of a ten-year-old boys fist.

20

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

This isn’t a reflection on the school, nor is it a reflection on our parenting. Sometimes kids just get it wrong, very wrong. I’ve done my best to teach my children the difference between right and wrong, yet still they hurt each other, shout, and throw tantrums. I couldn’t tell you I’m 100% sure my son would never lash out and hit a girl. Just in the way you couldn’t either.

I don’t condone violent behaviour, but I am willing to stand up for those mothers who try their best, and are still made to feel like they haven’t done enough by the way their children mistakenly react to situations - the mothers who have tried to teach their children to stand up for themselves in a scary world, without being the bad kid. How can we get the balance right? We don’t want to see them hurt, just as much as we don’t want them to be the bad guy.

So, whether your child is the hitter or has been hit is irrelevant.

What’s most important is that they have learnt a valuable lesson.

School is there to help them understand that neither life nor people are perfect. It teaches them that people forget themselves in situations and they get reprimanded for that; that’s how they learn.

Let’s not make everything so black and white. Let’s not blame each other. Let’s show our children that we can look at things from all angles, and maybe this will help them grow up to be even more compassionate, more understanding and more respectful adults.

If you or someone you know is being bullied please use this resource for more information: www.bullyingnoway.gov.au

Olivia is a thirty something British mum of two, living in Melbourne. Having grown up with a father in the army and being moved all over the world, she is a lifelong ‘expat’, and thoroughly enjoys the adventures that come with a fairly nomadic life overseas. Follow her adventures as a 'modern day parent, far from home', and share her family's exploration of Australia at www.thewilsonsofoz.com on Instagram @the_wilsons_of_oz and on Facebook @thewilsonsofoz

PERFORMERS WANTED Summer Holiday Theatre Program

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DON’T MISS OUT ON THE EVENT OF THE YEAR! Register online today:

www.broadwayacademy.com.au or call 0419 322 193

CONSTIPATION in children

CONSTIPATION IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CHILDREN, WITH RECENT RESEARCH REVEALING THAT ABOUT ONE IN THREE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE CONSTIPATION AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CHILDHOOD

By Continence.org.au

C

ontinence nurse advisor with the National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66) and maternal and childcare nurse Janine Armocida said there were no hard and fast rules about how often a child should open their bowels, with much variation in the firmness and frequency of bowel movements in children.

“Some go three times a day and others three times a week.

Whatever the frequency, your child’s stool should come out easily and look like a smooth sausage. Check out the Bristol Stool Chart,” Ms Armocida said.

She said that issues with constipation could start as early as toilet training time, and that problems could also start after a child experienced a particularly painful bowel movement.

Some signs that suggest your child is constipated: Ms Armocida said there were some key signs parents should look out for. The child: resists pooing by adopting postures such as squatting, crossing their legs or refusing to sit on the toilet, has intermittent stomach cramps, loses their appetite, becomes irritable, or develops small tears of the skin at the anus as the result of straining to pass a large stool. Anal fissures cause bleeding and pain when passing a stool.

How are constipation and incontinence linked?

When a child comes to see a continence nurse for day or night time wetting, constipation is one of the first things they are checked for, Ms Armocida said.

“This is because a constantly full bowel puts pressure on the bladder, reducing its capacity to fill and causing other bladder issues.”

Somewhat counterintuitively, long-term constipation was one of the major causes of faecal incontinence (soiling), which affects one in 40 children (SR Ali, 2011), Ms Armocida said.

“This is because hard, dry faeces can cause a blockage, resulting in watery faeces forcing its way around the blockage without the child knowing. Sometimes mistaken for diarrhoea, this is actually constipation with overflow,” she said.

22

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Prevention & management Ms Armocida said most cases of constipation were able to be prevented or managed by adopting a few lifestyle changes. She stressed the importance of establishing a regular morning toileting routine, and of listening and responding to the body’s signals.

1. Make time to establish a regular bowel habit Try to establish a regular bowel-emptying regime. One of the best ways is ask your child to sit on the toilet with their favourite book or device about 20 minutes after a meal and a warm drink. After breakfast is best, because this is when the urge will be strongest. Your child should only have to push gently, and should never have to strain hard to pass a stool.

2. A healthy diet and exercise Ensure a diet with plenty of fibre from a variety of sources and ample fluids (limiting sugary or high-caffeine drinks which can irritate the bladder). Ensure your child has adequate exercise each day.

3. Don’t ignore the urge It’s important your child doesn’t put off going when they feel the urge, because the stool will dry out and get harder as it sits in the rectum, risking a painful experience next time. By establishing a good routine in the morning, there is less risk the child will put off going when they are at school or kinder.

4. Remove frightening or painful associations If a child has chronic constipation, they may require long term laxatives under medical supervision to soften the stool and help make it easier to go to the toilet.

If your child’s is constipated for an extended period of time, see your doctor or contact the free and confidential National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66), which is staffed by continence nurse advisors who can provide advice, information and the location of your closest continence service. Go to continence. org.au for more information.

GARDEN BABIES Fairy Art

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23

HOW TO DEAL

WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA OBSESSED

26

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

TEEN

" THE AVERAGE TEENAG E GIRL SENDS 4050 TEXTS PER MONTH"

By Michelle Mitchell

I

t is rare that I meet a girl who doesn’t have a phone in her hand.

She usually has at least one eye on her online status while she’s talking to me. Some may find this rude, but I personally don’t. I understand why. If teenagers aren’t online they don’t exist, so Schedule Time to Check Accounts they stay connected 24/7. They don’t want to be invisible, just in In the busyness of life parents often forget to keep connected to what case they miss out.

Our daughters have a love - hate relationship with their phones. They can’t live happily with them but they also can’t live without them. They admit to being addicted. In fact, the average teenage girl sends 4050 texts per month. That’s more than six texts per waking hour! It’s also why they need us (rather than want us) involved in their online world.

Without us it’s highly possible they could lose their way.

Mums tell me that although their daughters may not be sending nude images or talking to paedophiles, they are constantly distracted and disengaged. They aren’t paying enough time to their schoolwork, family time or day-to-day jobs. It’s like this generation is in a relationship with their phones instead of being in relationship with the people who love them. They are not present in their actual lives.

Dealing with a social media obsessed teen is tricky. Let’s face it, there are no magic solutions to social media. It’s a real battle for every family. Here are my top six strategies which I find critical for parents of teens under the age of 15 to focus on. If you do nothing else when it comes to social media, these are a must!

Never A Gift If you buy your daughter a mobile phone (or phone plan) as a gift it is really difficult to take that gift back. After all she will argue that a gift is owned by the one who received it! That’s why I suggest that parents own all technology in their home and give their children the privilege of using it if they use it responsibly. If the parent owns technology they are also free to install any safety software they feel necessary.

Crystal Clear Agreements I think it’s ridiculous to have a written agreement for everything that happens in a home. I’m not personally great at keeping checklists on my kids’ chores on whiteboards or charts. I prefer a bit of random chaos. But when it comes to social media a written contract really is essential. Nothing should be left unsaid.

their girls are doing online. They assume all is okay, and sometimes it just isn’t! It’s a good idea to schedule regular times to check teens accounts (and google their name). Installing the right safety software on technology will eliminate the need for you to have their password.

Getting teens passwords is a nightmare!

Set a Shut Down Time The number of girls who sleep with their phones in their bedroom, and even under their pillow, astounds me. Schedule a shut down time and ensure phones are charged in a place where they aren’t accessible.

Our daughters need uninterrupted sleep! I would suggest an 8.30pm shut down time to allow them time to unwind before bed.

Talk About the Elephant in the Room Our daughters do face real challenges online. We know they are there.

They know there are there. We just don’t talk about them very much.

The more we talk about the elephant in the room the more likely we are to save our daughters from danger. Parents I promise you that your girls are looking for an adult to delve straight into their world ‘boots and all’.

The reality is that nothing will test your relationship with your daughter like social media.

Social media gives our teenagers an opportunity to rebel. It ticks all the boxes. It’s an area where teenagers have power over their parents and it is easy for your daughter to exercise that power. That is why no strategy can replace our relationship with our daughters. When it comes to social media, relationship is everything!

Buy A Toolbox Parents have said to me that no matter where they hide their daughter’s phone she always finds it. So, there are times when I’ve suggested it is in everyone’s best interest to buy a toolbox from a hardware store, that has a lock and key. During family times, meal times and homework times the phone goes into the toolbox.

Michelle Mitchell is the founder of Youth Excel. For more great parenting advice, check out Michelle’s new book “Parenting Teenage Girls" (Ark House $24.99), now available at all good book stores. Visit www.michellemitchell.org www.peninsulakids.com.au

27

Understanding

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

By Rebecca Jackson

F

orgiveness is a conscious choice to give up struggling against the past, and to no longer let its actions continue to control, hurt or drain us of our vital energy. The active process of forgiveness is about letting go of our own judgments, blame, anger and resentments. It is the ultimate act of self-love, that frees us from the bond of the past, and the cords that bind us to the very people we often want to forget ever existed.

Although it may seem unbelievable science is providing proof that forgiveness is good for our bodies and our soul. This simple act is one of the most powerful healing and manifestation tools that we have at our disposal. However, we all know that forgiveness is often easier said than done. So how do we navigate this complex space?

Forgiveness Is A Gift You Give Yourself It’s common to resist forgiving out of the belief that forgiveness in some way let’s the other person off the hook. This is not the case at all; forgiveness doesn’t mean that what happened was ok. It definitely doesn’t relinquish the need for the other person to take responsibility for their actions and choices, or mean that person should still be welcome in our life. It simply means that we've made peace with the situation, and we are ready to let it go. When we forgive another, it enables us to wipe the slate clean. It frees up the energies that were blocking us from our true power and opens a doorway to new levels of self-esteem and happiness.

Most of us have not had a lot of practice with this challenging process so I recommend starting slow and building up your 28

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

forgiveness muscle. Journaling is an easy and very effective way to do this. Invest in a forgiveness journal and make a list of who and what you need to forgive. This will give you a realistic look at the emotional pain you are carrying. Start slowly by picking something or somebody easier to forgive. Each day, journal about the incident, person or situation. Forgiveness happens in your heart not your head, so make sure that you express your full emotions around what happened. Letting go of the burden of anger, blame, resentments or grudges may not be easy, but it will be worth it.

Learning From Our Mistakes As humans we make mistakes. We let people down. We hurt people we love. We do bad things, but this doesn’t mean that we are bad. Everyone makes mistakes. There is not a single person on this planet that hasn’t stuffed up in some way. But for some reason, we hold ourselves up to an impossibly high standard and believe that we should be immune to mistakes. Making mistakes is part of our human condition. It’s one of the important and primary ways that we learn. It’s part of our evolutionary process.

Forgiveness will set you free The ability we have to create everything that we desire in our lives is in direct proportion to how completely we have forgiven others and ourselves. When you live your life fuelled by guilt and shame, your decisions and behaviours are directly influenced by this toxicity.

WHEN WE FORGIVE ANOTHER, IT ENABLES US TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN. IT FREES UP

Kids at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery

ALL THE ENERGIES THAT WERE BLOCKING US FROM OUR TRUE AUTHENTIC POWER AND OPENS A DOORWAY TO NEW LEVELS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND HAPPINESS.

• Young at Art for pre-schoolers, $5 The only way to truly create a life that you love is to forgive yourself for not meeting your own expectations. Self-forgiveness allows you to give yourself a break. To be compassionate, kind, and understanding to yourself, you need to know that you have done the best that you could with the knowledge and information you had at the time. A powerful way to do this is to write yourself a forgiveness letter. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to find a quiet space to write a heartfelt letter. Take your time and give yourself the gift of non-judgment. Start with “I’m sorry,” and the rest will flow. You might like to burn your letter when you are done as a symbol of your commitment to let go and move forward.

When you look at what is happening in the world right now, we can see that it’s our inability to forgive and ask for forgiveness that is the cause for many conflicts. We might not be able to change the world but we can be the change we want to see in the world by choosing to forgive ourselves.

• School holiday workshops, from $12 • Free hands-on creative activities • Education programs at the gallery and in schools

Exhibition entry Adults $4 Concession $2 Children under 5 free Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington 5950 1580 mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au

Rebecca Jackson is an empowerment coach and founder of Higher Love Today.

Over the years, she has guided thousands of people, to connect with their true self and unique gifts, as a foundation for living a life of purpose, passion, and prosperity. She is the author of You’re Not Alone: A Practical Guide for The Awakening Soul. To find out more visit rebeccajackson.info

www.peninsulakids.com.au

29

5

WAYS TO INCREASE GOOD FEELINGS IN YOUR FAMILY

By Michael Grose

STRONG FAMILIES THRIVE ON GOOD FEELINGS

T

hat doesn’t mean that such families are devoid of conflict or criticism, but that they are generally pleasant environments to be part of.

One way to increase good feelings in your family is to increase the number of compliments kids hear at home.

As a general rule, the ratio of compliments to criticism should be around five to one. That is, there should be five times more positive, affirming comments than negative comments.

In unhealthy families, this ratio is often reversed. Five negative comments for every one positive comment makes for a pretty toxic environment.

How does your family rate on this scale?

If you think about where your family may be on this scale, be careful about how much weight you put on your children’s comments, especially to each other.

Siblings can be unkind to each other, finding it hard to share a pleasant word, which can skew the positive to negative ratio a lot (and sometimes make family life quite awful for everyone).

However, this can change over time.

30 Peninsula PeninsulaKids Kids––Spring Spring2017 2017

Here are five ideas to help you improve the compliments to criticism ratio in your family: 1. Increase the number of affirmations and compliments you make yourself.

2. Keep a check on your use of ‘good feeling killers’ (and self-esteem killers). Eradicate comments such as: “Typical boy!” “If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a 1,000 times, don’t…” “What a stupid thing to say to your brother/sister!”. Bite your tongue. If you find yourself thinking a criticism, keep it to yourself.

When I was teaching I always tried to follow discipline of a student with a compliment or some positive feedback so that we could maintain a good relationship. Do the same in your family. Follow discipline, a rebuke or a negative comment with a positive act or comment. Then teach your kids to do the same!

Sometimes there can be such a build-up of ill will between siblings that you need find a way for them to let the bad feelings out. One way to do this is let one child vent to you about their sibling. Be warned that you may not like what you hear but a clearing of the air can work wonders to improve the family atmosphere.

Most of these suggestions start with you, the parent. Like everything in family life, whatever you want from your kids, you must take the lead and do first. Remember, five positives to one negative is your aim!

3. Make kids aware of their negative language.

4. Make it a habit to follow a negative with a positive.

5. Let the bad feelings out.

These, along with affectionate phrases and kind remarks, will start to skew the ratio a bit. Aim for a five to one ratio. Not only is this good modelling for your kids, but it will make family life more harmonious.

Yep, five to one is your aim. If you can’t do that, then you can’t expect it of your kids.

Constant criticism harms self-esteem, not to mention family harmony. Use ‘I’ statements to let kids understand the impact their negative talk has on you and others. “When you talk so aggressively I feel quite scared about what you are going to do next.” It’s impossible for kids to disagree with ‘I’ statements.

You’ll find more great ideas to nurture a close, loving family in my book Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent kids.

Get your copy at our online shop. www.parentingideas.com.au/ product/spoonfed-generation www.peninsulakids.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au 31

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27/07/2017 10:33:07 AM

My glow

RECLAIMING

One Mother’s Journey Through Postnatal Anxiety and Depression

By Stefanie Poole

T

he psychiatrist’s words reverberated through my body.

“You have postnatal anxiety and depression,” he said, “but it’s treatable.” Silence filled the office. There I sat, trained in psychology and aware of the symptoms and risk factors yet it took me eight months after the birth of my son to finally seek treatment.

I am not alone. According to PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia), “More than 1 in 7 new mums and up to 1 in 10 new dads experience postnatal depression each year in Australia.”

Upon reflection, my symptoms were there all along. A difficult delivery caused me both physical and emotional pain. What I thought would be short-term “baby blues,” ended up persisting and intensifying.

Every morning I woke to the feeling of dread. I would cry most days, and the slightest things made me irritable. I began to lose my appetite and felt I could not get through the day alone with my son. My anxiety was unbearable. I began to have obsessive thoughts that our house

As I muddled through these emotions, I looked to surround myself with other mums who were traveling a similar path. I searched for local postnatal support groups that had a focus on the mind, body, and spirit but my search came up short. This inspired me to develop Project Afterglow.

Project Afterglow was created to help others find their glow. Afterglow is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as; "A glow remaining where light has disappeared." This resonated with me. Throughout my journey into motherhood, there were many moments when I felt my light and my spirit had disappeared. I knew my glow was still there, and I just needed the support and resources to reignite it.

Project Afterglow Events

PANDA National Helpline: 1300 726 306

Monthly Workshop: Muma Morning, 9:30am-11:00am at the Garden in Frankston. For workshop dates, more information, or questions about Project Afterglow’s services/events, please visit www.projectafterglow.com or email info@projectafterglow.com.

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

Addit ional Supports Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Awareness week (November 12th -18th). Please see the PANDA website www.panda.org.au for ways to get involved in raising awareness!

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was making my son sick and contaminated with harmful substances. I felt like crawling out of my own skin. Not only was I suffering, but my behavior was negatively affecting my husband, son, and extended family. Enough was enough.

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Lifeline: 13 11 14 COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence): 9376 6321 Centre for Perinatal Psychology: 1300 852 660 Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network: antenatalandpostnatalpsychology.com.au Boost Up Blues (Frankston City Council): 9784 1756 Speak to your GP about developing a Mental Health Plan

Project Afterglow provides a safe and empowering space where women and their families can come together to build a community of support. Through monthly workshops, participants can obtain postnatal resources and explore their journey into parenthood.

For me, I took a holistic approach to wellness using a combination of yoga, mindfulness, meditation, healthy eating and conventional medicine. I was also fortunate to have support from family and friends who stuck by me. If you asked me during the thick of it all, I wouldn’t have believed “this too shall pass,” but I can say now there is sunlight after the storm. I may not be able to get back being present in those early days with my son, but I will no longer let the depression and anxiety strip me of experiencing cherished moments.

Let’s unite and share our stories of parenthood; both the rewards AND the challenges. This will help to slowly eliminate the stigma that remains around perinatal mental health. I hope that by sharing my own story, it can help others do the same as they journey on their path towards healing.

In the words of Christiane Northrup, “Every woman who heals herself helps heal all the women who came before her, and all those who come after her.”

It’s time to reclaim our glow and heal together.

“More than new mum1sin 7 and up to 1 new dadsin 10 experience p ostnatal depression e ach year in A ustralia”

Stefanie is passionate about raising awareness around perinatal mental health. Her motherhood journey motivated her to start Project Afterglow to support women and their families in the pre and postnatal period. Stefanie has more than 15 years’ experience working in the mental health and addiction fields both in the USA and Australia. She is a Registered Counsellor (ACA) and has a bachelor’s degree in Counselling Psychology (USA) and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counselling (USA). Stefanie believes knowledge is power and looks forward to providing women and their families with resources and support.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

41

1 SHORT BREAKS ARE CHEAPER It’s a no-brainer, but it’s an obvious one. Fewer nights away means lower accommodation costs,

2 YOU’LL SPEND LESS TIME IN THE CAR Less time umpiring about who’s looking out whose window and who hit who first.

And more time actually enjoying your holiday.

3 PACKING FOR A MINI BREAK IS SIMPLE One night away means one change of clothes (or two for the kids – just in case) and you can skip a lot of the usual essentials, like shampoo and conditioner (they’ll live for just one night).

If you forget junior’s favourite teddy or blanky they’ll live for just one night.

4 PETS WILL LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES If you’ve got kids, chances are you’ve got a family dog or cat as well.

Load up the bowl and chances are they’ll be fine for just one night.

And if not, it’s much easier to find someone to look after Scruffy for ‘just one night’.

5

ADVANTAGES OF TAKING SHORT BREAKS WITH KIDS

By Rebecca Bowyer

I

’m a huge fan of short breaks. Since we became parents I’m an even bigger fan of short breaks with kids! A mini holiday is a fabulous way to escape from the daily grind, get some fresh air and learn new things, all without breaking the bank.

Getting away on a big holiday can be really hard with small children.

Often funds and time are very limited. Plus you virtually need a semitrailer just to carry all the equipment you need with you!

But none of that means we have to stay put in Melbourne. With a little bit of research and dash of good planning, a short break needn’t cost you much more than a day out.

42

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

WORK DOESN’T EVEN HAVE TO KNOW No application for annual leave, no handover to someone else to cover your load while you’re gone.

6 MINI BREAKS CAN BE TAKEN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Avoid the crowds, the hefty surcharges and the relentless pull of organised activities.

7 TAKE SHORTER BREAKS, MORE OFTEN Instead of paying for 14 nights away in January for the family holiday – in peak season – taking a 7 night holiday in January plus 3-4 shorter holidays during the year will make you feel like your next break is just around the corner.

Rebecca Bowyer lives in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne with her long-suffering husband and two young sons, who are both quite delightful, especially when they are smiling or sleeping. For more funny little stories about raising the little people in your life, visit: www.seeingthelighterside.com F: Seeing the Lighter Side

Holiday Fun! From swim lessons to the beach, we have your kids swimwear covered!

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I HEART HEMP FOODS

By Sherrie Miller

I

n March this year, health foodies and natural therapists • All 20 amino acids including the nine essential amino acids. This makes hemp a perfect plant-based protein source. This is great news for rejoiced as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), vegetarians and vegans. the Australian government statutory authority in developing • Two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha- food standards for Australia and New Zealand, legalised the linolenic acid (omega-3). These fatty acid ratios are important consumption of hemp foods. This decision has been waited for reducing inflammation within the body and essential brain food. upon with baited breath, as thousands petitioned and pushed Hemp seeds also contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is for the legal consumption of hemp foods here in Australia, to necessary for hormone health. catch up with the US, Canada and Europe who has consumed hemp foods for years.

• Unhulled hemp seeds contain soluble

and insoluble fibre. Fibre is important Hemp foods include hemp seeds "Hemp seeds have a mild nutty flavour, for overall intestinal health and (also known as hemp hearts), hemp kind of a cross between a pine nut and feeding our precious gut bacteria. oil, hemp protein powder and hemp milk. The reason for the excitement sunflower seed. They have this soft • The minerals manganese, of this landmark decision is because magnesium, phosphorous and calcium hemp is not only a sustainably grown almost creamy-like texture" essential for bone health. Iron for crop, which can grow just about oxygenating blood and zinc for immunity. anywhere without pesticides or fertilizers and uses less water than other • A good source of Vitamin D. Vitamin E and B Vitamins. food source crops, but is also a nutrient-rich food source.

• Hemp seeds are such a versatile staple for your daily diet. Just 3 Hemp seeds come from the plant species Cannabis sativa. This is the same tablespoons a day of hemp seeds will provide all the necessary plant that cannabis (marijuana) comes from however hemp is a different nutrients which they offer, which includes approximately 11g of variety of the same plant species. Up until now, the Australian Government protein and 14g of essential fatty acids. deemed hemp foods not suitable for human consumption due to concerns of the potential effects that comes from THC, the mind-altering chemical HEMP SEEDS – can be sprinkled over fresh fruit and salads, mixed in tetrahydrocannabinol. Much evidence has shown that the hemp plant yoghurt or thrown into a smoothie. You can also blend the hemp seeds with species has little or no THC levels, deeming it safe for consumption and has water to make a delicious, creamy non-dairy milk alternative. no effect on a person’s state of mind or influence on any drug testing.

Hemp seeds have a mild nutty flavour, kind of a cross between a pine nut and sunflower seed. They have this soft almost creamy-like texture. Hemp foods are best kept in the fridge for longer preservation.

Hemp seeds are highly nutritious and contain the following nutrients: 44

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

HEMP PROTEIN POWDER – blend in smoothies or make protein-rich raw sweet treats such as brownies or bliss balls.

HEMP OIL – drizzle hemp oil over a salad, vegetables, rice dishes or blend in smoothies to meet your daily essential fatty acid quota. Do not cook with hemp oil as high heats will damage the oil. Hemp oil can also be used on skin to help with various skin conditions.

"Hemp

Hemp foods are safe for children to eat and a perfect way to meet their protein and fat requirements, especially when faced with fussy eaters or nonmeat eaters. The mild nutty flavour makes them easy to eat on their own, but if a battle is on your hands with your fussy eater, hemp foods can easily be hidden in various foods.

Oil

can also be used on skin to help with various skin conditions"

The finalisation of hemp foods for legal consumption will officially pass through November 12th, 2017. When this happens, we are sure to see many hemp food products hit our supermarket shelves, instead of just in health food stores labelled ‘for cosmetic use only’.

So, get ready to fall in love with hemp foods and enjoy these tiny powerhouse seeds of nutritional goodness!

Sherrie Miller is a holistic nutritionist from The Wellness Seed, with a passion for children’s health, particularly the relationship between their gut and behavioural issues. She passionately educates parents and children through clinic consultations, workshops and presentations, on the necessity of eating quality wholefoods and maintaining good gut health. Sherrie, a mother herself, is determined to plant the seed of good health into our current generation of kids, nourish them with optimum nutrition, and watch them grow into thriving, healthy adults. www.thewellnessseed.com.au

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45

ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS GET YOURSELVES DOWN TO HEATHERTON FOR AN OFF-ROAD DRIVING EXPERIENCE YOU AND YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO LOVE!

By Erica Louise

I

n what is named "Australia's Wildest Driving Experience", Wild Buggy is a muddy track filled with bumps, jumps, bridges, wooden logs, rocks and tyres. Jump on board your very own vehicle and take to the track with your instructor for a fun-filled adrenalin ride in the 'burbs!

Usually such adventures would be reserved for the grown-ups, but not this time. Wild Buggy's minimum age for drivers is just 7 years old. Yes that's right folks; your kids can enjoy a ride of their very own (albeit with a qualified instructor by their side).

We took to the track one Saturday morning and had the best time.

Wild Buggy adventures are booked in blocks of 10, 15 or 20 minute drives, each priced differently. If you don't hold a driving licence, you can still have a go but you'll be co-driving in a dual control buggy, sitting in the passenger seat with a trained instructor. This means your kids can take to the wheel, which pleased Mr.8 no end!

After completing a disclaimer form and watching a brief instructional video, our instructors helped us choose the right sized helmets to wear (over the top of lovely blue hair nets for hygiene purposes!) and we were ready to rumble.

Mr.8 and Dad went first while Mr.3 and I watched on. They both took to the track for 20 minutes; a decent amount of time to get used to the vehicle and circuit. By the final few rounds they were flying! I swear Mr.8's squeals of delight could be heard a kilometre away, particularly through the water puddles and flying down the bridge.

I must be honest with you - I got quite nervous before jumping into the driver's seat myself as I'm not the most confident of drivers at the best of times. After the first few rounds all my fears were out the open window and by the last run I even managed to get airborne over jumps - "go me". I

wasn't particularly good at hitting the breaks at the right time, but it didn't matter because the instructor took care of that so I didn't crash! Buggies don't have power steering so I'd say that's the trickiest part, but it's so much fun. I'd do it again and I know for sure the rest of my family would, too.

Wild Buggy's instructors are passionate about what they do and very friendly. We felt comfortable and safe; useful for the nervous members of the family like me.

If your child enjoys their Wild Buggy experience, consider booking an adventurous party for his or her next birthday party. Wild Buggy parties start from $32 per child and you have access to a party room.

Erica hails from the United Kingdom, and has been living in Australia for 12 years. She has two sons, 3 and 8 years. She writes, edits and runs the social media pages for KidTown Melbourne, a website showcasing all the fun things to do with kids in Melbourne.

D L I W East h t ou S ne r ou in Melb

Y G G BU Go Wild with Wild Buggy in Melbourne South East

Where: 433-453, Boundary Rd, Heatherton VIC Phone: 1300 945 328 Web: wildbuggy.com Costs: From $29 (child) $55 (adult) 46 Peninsula PeninsulaKids Kids––Spring Spring2017 2017

HORRIBLE HOLIDAYS

7-12 years + FAMILY

4+ years + FAMILY

Live Nation Australia

HORRIBLE HISTORIES:

CDP Kids

HORRIBLE HARRIET

THE BEST OF BARMY BRITAIN

based on the books by Leigh Hobbs

Sun 24 Sep, 11am

Tue 26 Sep, 11.30am & 2pm

$34 - $39.20

$17.50 - $25

Meet the most famous, infamous and dangerous characters in British history. Revel in the horrible history with the nasty bits left in!

Join in Harriet’s search for identity and friendship, with songs, laughs, mischievous fun - and not least Mr Chicken himself!

Tickets: 03

9784 1060

thefac.com.au @the_fac #thefac

Principal Theatre Partner

Children’s Theatre Partner

Frankston Arts Centre is a business unit of Frankston City Council

ANXIETY & CHILDREN

By Melissa Walsh

W

e all experience feelings of anxiety from time to time, ranging from mild uneasiness to total panic. But did you know that children often feel it too? When facing challenges like changing schools, friendship issues, or separated families arise, it is a natural reaction to feel nervous or anxious, but what amount of anxiety in children is normal and how do we recognize when this anxiety has become an issue in our child’s life? With 13.9 per cent of children and adolescents aged 4-17 years experiencing a mental disorder between 2013-14, and 6.9 per cent of young Australians experiencing an anxiety disorder in 2015, understanding the mental health of our children is more important than ever.

Peninsula Kids talks to Mr Ian Stapleton, clinical, child and educational psychologist about how parents can recognise anxiety and assist their child through challenging times.

Is anxiety or worry normal?

Psychologists differentiate between the normal fears and worries that all children experience as they grow up and more serious fears and anxieties. These normal fears in young children often revolve around separation from parents, fear of the unknown, fear of animals, fear of the dark and fear reactions to fighting, anger and raised voices. Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat. Whereas anxiety is the reaction we have to all anticipated future threats.

Obviously the two states overlap, but they are also different. Fear causes the release of chemicals in our autonomic nervous system 48

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

that activates our fight or flight response or thoughts of immediate danger and escape behaviour. Anxiety is more associated with being on edge, vigilance and muscle tension in preparation for future danger or as a warning to be more cautious or to avoid situations that are considered potentially threatening. Worry or fearful cognitions tend to underlie all of the anxiety disorders.

Clinical anxiety is different from normal fear or anxiety by being excessive or lasting longer than would be expected by normal child developmental stages. Clinical anxiety is also different from normal fears and worries because it is not transient and can last for several months. Because children suffering from anxiety and fear typically overestimate the danger of situations they avoid, the determination of whether the fear or avoidance is excessive or developmentally inappropriate is usually made by a parent, teacher or clinician.

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children?

There are many signs and symptoms of anxiety in children. Basically they fall into four areas. Firstly, children may exhibit a marked fear or anxiety reaction to a specific object or situation such as an animal or going to the doctor or being separated from a parent. Secondly there is usually persistent and excessive worry about the object or situation.

Thirdly, there is persistent reluctance or refusal by a child to participate in an activity or to avoid an object or activity. Fourthly, there are often continued next page.....

jill: 0425 713 430 • jill.mcpartlane@heydeeho.com • heydeeho.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

49

repeated complaints of physical symptoms, headaches, stomach aches, nausea, vomiting, and behavioural issues such as bedwetting, sleep problems, nightmares and separation anxiety.

When should a parent be concerned about the level of their child’s anxiety?

Most anxiety and fear symptoms are transient and passing. They are also age related and may be family and circumstance related.

The majority of parents will recognise when their child’s worries become excessive or their avoidance behaviour becomes persistent.

Parents particularly need to be watchful following significant periods of change in a family especially following any period of loss or separation of parents, grandparents or pets.

Is anxiety and worry more common in children these days and why?

Anxiety and depression are certainly much more prevalent in children today than they were in the past. Many of the possible reasons for this have been well researched by sociologists and psychologists and may relate to the changing role of children against an evolving sociological backdrop of changing family relationships, parenting styles and aspirational expectations. Other reasons could stem from fears for the future regarding issues seen on television such as the environment and the ever present political debate about issues such as equality, drugs, immigration, terrorism and domestic violence.

children know they can get what they want by doing what you want empowers them to contribute and make choices. Seeking professional help from an experienced child psychologist or child specialist trained in behaviour change is an asset for parents when they feel they are out of their depth. Two or three sessions may make a world of difference in your parenting style.

What should parents do about letting their children watch news and world events?

It is very important for parents to be vigilant when it comes to watching the news or allowing children to be exposed to social media, films and adult conversations. Developmentally young children, even in the teenage years, do not have the intellectual or emotional sophistication to see things with a balanced perspective.

As most parents know children don’t like being told what to do or how to think or feel. Parents need to judge when and how to expose them to adult themes as they mature and show an interest. A trap for children from more protective families is being exposed to inappropriate themes and material when away from home on sleepovers. Thankfully, most children take little interest in inappropriate or adult themes until they are in their latter teenage years. Most involved parents will know when they can open up a dialogue with their developing children to include more adult themes.

With the right treatment and support, children can start feeling better and recover from anxiety.

What can parents do to protect their child?

Resilient children tend to come from families where they contribute according to their abilities and are not “overparented”. The power of positive parenting is an asset for care-givers. Trying to remove the negative reinforcement for negative behaviour helps. That is, letting

www.baysidepsychology.com.au www.youthbeyondblue.com

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Minti Cat Dress $59.95

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Tender Leaf Pram $125.00

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Ollie the Owl Sound and Light Gro Friend $62.95 (rrp $79.95)

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SRC Full Length Recovery Legging $199

PADUA KINDERGARTEN | A Natural Approach To Early Learning

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NANA HUCHY SCARLETT SWAN Head of the Swan Ballet Company, Scarlett is a gifted choreographer, dance and costume designer. An insecure child, Scarlett believed she was a duckling for many years, and this experience as an outside is the secret to her unique story-telling. Famous for risky casting decisions, Scarlett once employed an inexperienced dancer (Sophia the Swan) fresh out of jail in the lead role of Swan Lake. It was a decision she did not regret: the production was met with glowing reviews, and Sophia is now a permanent member of the ensemble.

RRP: $45.00 www.nanahuchy com.au

YETI IN MY SPAGHETTI

1.

2.

3.

love

Hey, get out of my bowl!

Who knew yetis liked spaghetti?!? In the wacky, fun game Yeti In My Spaghetti, noodles are laid across the bowl and Yeti is just sitting there on the noodles. But as you remove the noodles one by one (be careful!), Yeti could fall into the bowl, and that means you lose!

RRP $39.95 and available exclusively at Big W. Suitable For ages 4+. www.crownandandrews.com

things we

Go to peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

STACK & TUMBLE ELEPHANT Stacking is tons of fun with the Stack & Tumble Elephant. Stack the five brightly coloured, textured rings on the elephant's trunk to help build fine motor skills. As each ring is placed on the trunk, the Elephant will introduce colours, numbers and shapes. Or press the music button on the elephant's trunk to hear playful songs. Or push down on his tail and watch him sneeze, sending the rings tumbling off his trunk.

Then play again!

Suitable 6-36 months RRP $29.95 www.leapfrog.com.au

4.

FLOWER FAIRIES

Secret Garden Range

Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies™ have been enchanting children since 1923. The Flower Fairies Secret Garden range includes small and large figurines, fairy and garden decor accessories plus garden kits. RRP varies from $10.95, suitable for ages 6+. Available at all leading retailers. www.crownandandrews.com

5.

SHUFFLE

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

The new generation card games!

A modern, technological twist on classic card games Shuffle is the new range of interactive card games based on family classics! By downloading the relevant app to your phone or tablet, Shuffle can bring a fun new dimension to Twister, bring Chance cards to life in Monopoly, produce or create customised pictures of your friends and family using the Guess Who? imagery. RRP $19.95 each. Age range detailed on individual games. www.shufflecardgames.com

RAINEBEAU LUNCH BOXES

6.

AVANCHY BAMBOO TODDLER PLATE Made from 100% bamboo and ideal for all kids meals, keep the veggies, meat and grains separated! Simple to use, activate the Airtight Lock mechanism by firmly pressing your plate onto a flat surface until you hear all the air come out. Place the easy release tab facing the opposite side of your little one. To release, simply pull the release tab and the suction piece pops off just like magic!

RRP: $35.00 www.thanksmum.com.au

WE’RE NOT YOUR TYPICAL LUNCH BOX! Designed here on the Mornington Peninsula, RAINEBEAU has created a leak-proof bento style lunch box sized for children and adults, made from a durable, BPA Free plastic and silicon seals.

With 4 compartments, holding almost 5 cups of fresh and healthy wrapper free food, they not only promote healthy eating, but are also environmentally friendly! Order yours today at www.rainebeau. com.au RRP: $49.95

7.

SQUAWK The Egg-Sploding Chicken Game!

In the fun new game Squawk, simply spin the spinner to see how many times you can poke the chicken to make her lay an egg. Crack the egg open to see if you've hatched an egg or a chick. The player with the most chicks wins!

RRP $39.95 and suitable for ages 4+ www.crownandandrews.com

9.

10. The Fix It Man It’s handy having a dad who can fix just about anything. A young girl believes her father is the king of fixing things. But following the death of her mother, she discovers that broken hearts are not as easy to repair as damaged toys and cracked teapots.

RRP: $24.99 www.ekbooks.org

11.Our Dog Benji

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PORT-A-BALL Light weight and small enough to fit in your pocket, Port-A-Ball features a specially patented valve which allows instant inflation and deflation. With one large breath of air your Port-A-Ball is ready for use anywhere you go.

Available in 4 awesome colours, it makes an excellent pocket money toy!

RRP $10.95, suitable for ages 5+ Available at all leading retailers www.crownandandrews.com

We all know that dogs will eat anything. We also know that kids’ tastes generally aren’t so wideranging. While ice cream and pizza might be devoured in the blink of an eye, the dreaded ‘green stuff’ (vegetables to the adults) is often pushed to one side of the plate.

The perfect book to encourage fussy eaters to try a few more vegetables!

RRP: $19.99 www. exislepublishing.com.au

12. Polly and Buster

From Sally Rippin, one of Australia’s most beloved and best-selling children’s authors, comes Polly and Buster an enchanting new junior fiction series about the magic of friendship. Exploring themes of prejudice and tolerance, the Polly and Buster series is a classic tale of friendship that will entertain and delight young readers while also helping them make sense of the difficult times society is experiencing today. RRP $19.99 HB, Age 7+ www.pollyandbuster.com

www.peninsulakids.com.au

53

It’s probably worth mentioning here that since adopting the ‘it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be shared’ motto, I’m a proudly reformed perfectionist. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about 100% best effort with everything I do. Well, almost everything; sometimes dinner is toasted sandwiches and baked beans and there’s a mountain of ironing in the laundry; but no longer do I agonise over the little things, the details that don’t actually matter. The meaningless time wasters.

Very, very good is good enough.

PERFECTLY

imperfect

In that moment, just after the paper ball went sliding past me, I handled it very differently than I would have years before. I could have told him that his drawing was wonderful. I could have pointed out all of his clever and artistic drawings in our ‘art gallery’ on the family room wall; all in an attempt to convince him he was wrong about being hopeless at drawing. That his thinking was wrong and I could prove it because I had mountains of evidence to the contrary.

But I didn’t.

I simply asked him a question.

I asked him “Is thinking like that helpful?”

His answer? “No.” I followed by asking “Well, what would be helpful then?”

By Dr Jodi Richardson

A

few years ago I was lying on the floor with our son watching him draw. He was about 6 at the time. He was happy and relaxed for a while, but then he made a mistake. He screwed up the drawing, threw the crunched up ball of paper across the floor and said “I’m hopeless at this.”

I was gobsmacked.

I’d spent the 6 years leading up to that moment peppering his life with conscious comments about making mistakes and how much we learn from them. Talking about my own mistakes and even deliberately making mistakes when we drew together to show him how normal it is, and how to handle it. Despite the fact that he always thought my drawings were A-MAY-ZING as I showed how to put arms on the body of his stick figure people rather than coming out of their heads - I figured I was planting plenty of seeds with him around mistakes, effort, practice and imperfection. Clearly, I had a way to go.

This particular occasion really upset me. In that moment I was taken back to my school days of many a screwed up piece of paper in the corner of my room as I repeatedly started over project covers, headings and posters in a painful and futile pursuit of perfection.

I was upset because I knew what perfectionism had meant for me. The anxiety and the wasted time. Soooo much wasted time. And paper.

In that moment, I was catastrophizing that somehow him screwing up the paper and saying how hopeless he was, was a glimpse into a future for him with perfectionistic tendencies I’d consciously worked to help him avoid.

I really didn’t want that for him, especially knowing that certain types of perfectionism go hand in hand with pathological worry and generalised anxiety disorder.

Oh the benefit of hindsight! It’s clear to me now that I overreacted (albeit in my own head – gotta love that mental chatter!), that all was not lost, that it was just another day in the life of a parent, and another opportunity to impart yet more wisdom!

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

We had a chat and agreed that he could try again, that practicing was helpful, that he would make lots more mistakes and that’s a good thing. That mistakes are the way we learn and that over time he would become better at drawing.

He happily returned to his new picture, reassured, once again, that no-one is born great at anything!

“Is thinking like that helpful?” is a question I use a lot with our kids. It takes away the need to prove right or wrong, and helps them to move on quickly. I use it a lot personally too.

It’s hard to see our kids struggling, especially when they get down on themselves. And it’s natural to want to stop them from suffering and buoy them up with lashings of praise and validation. But is that actually helping them?

If we are constantly praising them three things can happen. One, it loses all it’s meaning; two, they come to expect to be rewarded for every little thing they do and, lastly, their expectations of themselves can rise above their capabilities and they can struggle with the effort required between being a newbie, improving and becoming great at the things they attempt.

Instead, if we can be mindful about praising our kids’ efforts, rewarding progress, encourage learning from mistakes and discourage perfection, we’re setting them up to work for what they want. We’re also creating space and time for them to experience and enjoy a true sense of accomplishment, one that comes from a personal sense of pride.

Over time, they’ll internalise the notion that reward comes from effort and that improvement takes time. Along with this comes the understanding that the road from beginner to great has a few bumps, is anything but straight, and that their accomplishments are worthy of perseverance.

Jodi is a happiness and wellbeing speaker and writer, and is mum to two primary school aged kids who totally light her up. For more great ideas on flourishing mental health for the whole family, subscribe to her newsletter at drjodirichardson.com.au and say hello on facebook.com/DrJodiRichardson Enquiries to jodi@drjodirichardson.com.au

Meet & feed friendly kangaroos and wallabies.

Wombats, Tasmanian Devils, colourful birds, snakes and lizards and many more animals!

Pat & cuddle up to a koala (3 sessions daily), hold a python or play with a dingo in one of our Interactive animal encounters.

Enjoy our wildlife show with owls, dingoes and other animals on stage daily!

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Learn about our critically endangered animals and their conservation.

Enjoy a coffee or light meal in our CafĂŠ or on our new Deck.

Children under 4 free of charge.

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Bookings essential.

MOONLIT SANCTUARY WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARK 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale, Victoria, 3912, Australia. Ph 5978 7935

WWW.MOONLITSANCTUARY.COM.AU

IF I COULD

Turn Back Time

FINANCIAL ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF

By Jo Violeta

I

f you could go back 10 years in time what money advice would you give yourself?...

We asked local mums this hypothetical question. Their answers were insightful, wise and at times quite funny.

What really stood out was the importance they placed on saving money, spending mindfully and entering the property market as soon as possible.

Although we can’t turn back time, we can use the lessons from our past to help us take action today and ensure a brighter financial future.

56 Peninsula PeninsulaKids Kids––Spring Spring2017 2017

Spend Wisely

Action you can take today:

Every 3 minutes Australian Households spend approx. $3,500,000*.

If you are already a homeowner, consider entering the property investment market. We recommend consulting with your Financial Planner, Accountant and Mortgage Broker to help plan your first investment property purchase.

The mums we spoke to would advise their younger selves to rein in their discretionary spending!

In the words of mum of two Therese O’Neil “Don’t spend like you’re a rock star!”

Action you can take today: The first step is to consider whether a purchase is a need or a want.

“Stop buying so much ‘stuff’. Who needs it all anyway? Living simply is so much easier”, says local mum Miriam Doe. We recommend tracking your spending. Write down everything that you spend money on for at least a week. This exercise will help you understand where your money goes, and where to adjust.

Mum of four Kacie Stephens motto is “Op-shop the lot”. In fact, one year she challenged herself to purchase her entire family’s Christmas presents from the Op-Shop.

“Many of the items at the Op-Shop were still brand new. The pre-loved items were in great condition” Kacie explains, “The kids loved their presents, we didn’t feel the financial stress that families often associate with Christmas, the money spent went to a good cause and buying second hand is environmentally sustainable.”

Start Saving According to a poll conducted by MoneySmart, 43% of Australians don’t save.* Many mums wish they had started saving money 10 years ago. If they could turn back time they would start saving consistently.

For first home buyers start by creating a plan:

Research suburbs you would like to buy in

Calculate your borrowing power. An online calculator such as the MFFA Mortgage Calculator will give you a ball-park figure, for a more specific number seek professional advice from a Mortgage Broker

Create a budget factoring in potential mortgage repayments

Use your maximum borrowing power and your potential mortgage repayments to help set your Home-Loan Deposit savings goal.

They say that hindsight is 20/20 and this certainly is the case when it comes to money and finances. If you start working towards achieving your financial dreams and making smarter money decisions today, imagine what life could be like in 10 years’ time… *ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2009-10

Jo and Carl Violeta are self-confessed numbers nerds, parents of an energetic toddler and a super switched-on teenager, and co-founders of the award-winning business, Violeta Finance. They are a husband and wife team who are passionate about empowering their community with financial education, love the odd glass of wine, and get a kick out of helping families achieve their homeownership and financial dreams.

“Save money, don’t worry about take away food and start putting money aside earlier” advises local mum Gina Stillwell.

Action you can take today: Don’t wait another 10 years, start saving today. The key is to be consistent. Even small amounts saved regularly can grow very quickly.

Start by calculating a realistic amount that you can save regularly.

Then set up a direct debit, and pay your savings into a high-interest savings account automatically from every pay.

Spend Less!

Get On The Property Ladder Over the past 10 years the median house price in Melbourne has more than doubled.

For many of the mums we spoke to, their biggest wish is that they had entered the property market earlier.

Mum of two Georgina Ablett would advise her younger self, “As soon as you have any paid work - start saving for a house deposit and get in the market ASAP! Freedom of choice comes sooner if you set yourself up to save funds as soon as you get disposable income and is far easier before you have to parent and adult!” www.peninsulakids.com.au 57

TOO

BUSY to meditate?

By Kellie Edwards

I

am a psychologist, a mindfulness teacher - and a mother of two young girls. This week is the first week i have had space to write anything for a very long time.

Why? Because I am a working mother and my girls have been sick, away from school and needing everything I can give them - and even that was not enough. Oh, and my husband was overseas the whole time too.

Any mother reading this will easily imagine what that has been like - the full range of stress, emotion and potential for overwhelm when an already full schedule has something unpredictable and urgent thrown into the mix. This is the everyday life of a mother.

What has this got to do with meditation? A lot. So many people - mothers and non-mothers - that I see in my private practice or support through my online mindfulness programs have versions of this experience often in their lives. And they look at me and ask how can I meditate with all this going on?

Fully realising the wisdom of the words offered in our interview with Dr Craig Hassed, from Monash University is a good place to start.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

TRY THIS INSTEAD

"If we have a lot on our plate, we need to use our energy and our time simply and as effectively as we can, because if we don’t we will often feel exhausted. If we are doing one thing at a time but we are actually worrying about the other half a dozen things that we’ve still got to do, then we feel like we have done half a dozen days work at the end of the day rather than just one days work."

DR CRAIG HASSED Then what really helps is to guide them in aself compassion practice. It is profoundly soothing and releases the guilt, stress and angst - restoring calm in a few short moments. It can be done at any time of the day - and is especially helpful if you have an underlying meditation habit in place outside of peak times.

"When you close your heart to yourself it’s harder to keep your heart open to your children."

DR KRISTIN NEFF The simplest form of self compassion practice I know - and teach - is breathing kindness. It is fully portable and accesses soothing physical resources like oxytocin, the “feel-good” bonding hormone.

How it is done: Find a comfortable position, sitting, lying, even standing if want to so you can do this anywhere anytime you need to restore calm or connection.

Gently close your eyes and bring your attention to the area of your heart. If you like, you can put your hand over your heart to help. When your mind wanders, just keep bringing your attention gently back to the area of your heart.

Start by noticing the breath as it goes in and out, take deeper breaths, letting out any tension from the day…..then let your breath return to its’ own natural pace, not forced in any way.

As you focus on the area of your heart, direct the breath as if you could breathe in and out of the heart. This helps your mind and energy to stay focused and your respiration and heart rhythms to synchronize.

Adopt a gentle half smile, not strained or forced but just ever so slightly lifting the edges of your mouth.

As you continue to breathe, bring to mind someone that you love very much or even a beloved pet. Think of your feelings of appreciation or care for that person or pet. Allow yourself to be filled with that feeling of appreciation or care. Once you’ve tuned in to that warm feeling, you can sustain it by continuing to tune into the heart, breathing the feelings of warmth and kindness into your heart.

If you find it difficult to generate these feelings of warmth, just set your intention to feel kindness towards yourself and keep breathing that slowly and naturally into your heart area, maybe try putting your hand on your heart again in a gesture of affection and supporting touch while you breathe.

Don’t worry about how often your mind wanders, everyone’s mind wanders and when you notice that it has, gently and tenderly return to those feelings of warmth and kindness and the natural flow of your breathing, resting in the feelings of kindness you are generating When you feel ready, gently open your eyes and savor the gentle stillness of the moment before moving on with your day.

"YOU CAN’T JUST WISH YOURSELF TO BE HAPPY. YOU HAVE TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR IT FROM THE GROUND UP" DR BARBARA FREDRICKSON

ANOTHER HELPFUL OPTION: "Choose one task each day that you can attach mindfulness to."

SARAH NAPTHALI Try tuning in to a routine daily task. This can be a soothing one like taking a shower, really connecting with the warmth of the water and allowing the moment to restore you by staying with it rather than mentally going through your things-to-do list.

Or it could be a neutral task like hanging up the washing, ironing, washing dishes or filing paperwork. Often these less mentally demanding tasks are times when we let our mind wander - but they can also be easy times to practice the skill of mindfulness, gently returning our attention to the task every time it wanders.

"It is an accepting and allowing self awareness that doesn’t shame any part of yourself."

RICK HANSON continued next page.....

www.peninsulakids.com.au

59

When kindness to yourself seems out of reach: There are lots of reasons why this might not be as easy as it sounds. When we are stressed or upset or scared our brain gets stuck in survival mode and we can’t access our caring system - for ourselves or towards others.

Being patient and breathing slowly and deeply to calm our nervous system helps turn off the threat detector in our brain and allows us to reconnect with feelings of calm so we can try breathing kindness again.

We can help this come on faster by placing one or both hands on our chest and breathing in the warmth of that touch. We know from science that this gesture accesses our mammalian caring system and gives us easier access to that bonding hormone, oxytocin.

Sometimes something deeper needs shifting though. Sometimes our own upbringing was unpredictable, harsh, cold, critical or even abusive and this can leave wounds that make accessing that kindness towards ourselves much more difficult. Sometimes for a whole range or reasons, our parents weren’t able to show us the kindness that we needed growing up, which means we don’t have early experiences that make it easy for us to draw on these in our own lives. Often disturbing examples of this stay with us and interfere with daily living. The images, sounds, smells and feelings still seem to be there – they haven’t changed.

"When humans go through adverse situations, when they start healing, they don’t merely come back to the baseline, they actually go beyond - they grow as a result of it."

EMILIA LAHTI

That’s when EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) might help. EMDR reduces the influence of distressing memories (like moments of harsh discipline) freeing us to live our life more fully. It works by rapidly dissolving the vividness and emotional charge of difficult memories, releasing us to get on with living well. EMDR has been shown to produce neurological changes in the brain which resolve frozen memories, relieving present symptoms and making access to our full range of caring emotions, including kindness towards ourselves possible.

A moment of kindness can change your day. Being able to access kindness towards yourself and others throughout your day can transform your life - and the lives of others around you.

"A moment of kindness can change your day. Being able to access kindness towards yourself and others throughout your day can transform your life - and the lives of others around you."

KELLIE EDWARDS

Kellie Edwards is a Psychologist, Mindfulness Teacher and EMDR Facilitator based in Edithvale and Melbourne CBD. She runs group workshops and individual coaching and counselling sessions both online and face to face. These programs integrate mindfulness and self compassion practices with the power of EMDR. You can contact Kellie here: www.mindfulness4mothers.com/contact

Join us for the

ACE-HI OPEN DAY SATURDAY, 7TH OCTOBER 2017 11:00 - 3:00 PM • Sausage sizzle • Slices, sweets & snacks • FREE activities for kids • • • •

Flying Fox Rock Climbing Archery Horse Awareness

SCHOOLS Our Open Day is a great opportunity for teachers to consider Ace-Hi as a great school camp option

Plus

Plus

FREE educational sessions from the Dolphin Research Institute and Indigenous Awareness

by Lionel Lauch

Schools who make a camp booking on the day will receive an educational session for FREE.

ACE-HI

Mornington Peninsula

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Free

ENTRY

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Frankston Events 2017

The Mayor’s Family Picnic

Sunday 10 September 2017 11am–3pm Cruden Farm, Langwarrin (Entry via Cranhaven Road and McClelland Drive)

Pets’ Day Out

Sunday 8 October 2017 10am–3pm Ballam Park, Frankston

Photo by Cam Inniss

Frankston Festival of Rugby Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 October 2017 Gates open at 8am Frankston Park, Plowman Place, Frankston

Seaside Street Food Festival Photo by Steve Brown

Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 October 2017 Refer to website for times Frankston Waterfront, Pier Promenade, Frankston

Frankston’s Christmas Festival of Lights Saturday 25 November 2017 5–10pm Davey Street, Frankston

Sea ‘n’ Sound

Saturday 18 November 2017 Gates open at 2pm Frankston Park, Plowman Place, Frankston

1300 322 322

visitfrankston.com EVERY EVENT

Frankston Events

THE BUSY PEACOCK:

w e vi Re d a D

THERE IS NO SPACE AS SACRED TO TIRED PARENTS OF CHAOS-CREATING, MENTALENERGY-CONSUMING MINI-MES AS THE PARENT-SUPPORTIVE HUNGRY PEACOCK CAFE IN TYABB, SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU ARE ALREADY COMPLETELY AWARE OF IT. WHAT YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IS THE KIDKABOOM-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY ZONE IN THE BARN, RIGHT BESIDE THE COOL CAFE, CALLED THE BUSY PEACOCK.

By David Hawkins

T

he Busy Peacock is a “sensory play space” tailor made for children to get creatively crazy and to be as messy as they please. Located inside the wonderful aesthetic of a vintage barn, the Busy Peacock contains a range of crafty, colourful activities all designed to allow your kids to get wet, painted, sandy and creative in a safe zone. And you can leave the clean-up for the staff!

As soon as you step through the open doorway and into the spacious barn you will feel yourself enveloped by the natural, wooden interior and a sense of being away from the regular hustle-bustle of family life. Simply slip your munchkins into one of the green plastic smocks provided, spin them around ten times and point them at any of the variety of activities to get messy and have fun. I could tell that my monkeys would have fun but I wasn't prepared for just how much they would throw themselves into it.

The available activities change weekly, ensuring that each visit will be a new experience with different sensory-based interactions. Whatever is on offer you can guarantee that it will be tactile, in line with play-based education and has the potential to get seriously messy. When my littl'uns and I attended, the range of play included a water tub full of squishy water-beads and ladles, a big blackboard and chalk, dinosaurs in a land of magic sand, a wall to paint on, windows with squirters and squidgy wipers, a craft table, and a treasure-hunt sand pit.

If your children have attention spans as flea-like as mine then the room full of things to do allows them to change their minds every minute and still not get bored within the 45 minute play session. And no matter 62

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

what they are into, you'll find something that they will enjoy because the activities are all sensory. Does your daughter love to dig A son who can't stop splashing? One twin who colours whilst the other knocks things down? All sorted.

My wee-folk are aged 2 and 4, and they both jumped in feet first (literally) into the sand pit. There was nothing that was too complex for the younger fella nor too simple for the almost-schooler. I think we averaged 5 minutes per play zone before running onto the next, although the trusty old craft table did sink its claws in for a solid 15 minutes due to the inclusion of scissors, glue sticks and foam bits. Even Phenom-A-Mum got crafty at the craft table and made a fishy picture (she may have had more fu than our kids!).

It was a rather freeing experience as a parent to not have to stress out about the munchkins trashing some fancy play area or limit their craziness because of the potential cleaning flood that could occur doing these things at home. The green smocks were a blessing and completely protected my kids' upper clothing, though I was glad that we brought along a change of clothes (as strongly suggested by the Busy Peacock) due to water-logged gumboots and damp tracky-daks.

The Busy Peacock is open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday) and runs two 45-minute play sessions at 9:30am and 11:15am. They recommend booking via their facebook page or contacting their mobile number for busy periods such as weekends and school holidays. You can also book out the playspace for parties of 20 kids or more for $250 (pricing correct at time of publication).

There is always a staff member available but remember that this is not a 'supervised' space and you do need to watch your kids, to ensure that the one and only rule is followed – to not mix the materials between the activities.

And, if you need something extra special to occupy your miniature copies during the school holidays, the Busy Peacock also run guided activities in the adjacent church building. Previous sessions have included cake-pop making, fairy garden construction and creating and using story rocks.

Our 45 minute session flew by too quickly. I believe that my little men could easily have continued playing into a second session, unfortunately we had arrived for the 11:15am time slot with no more on offer. Not only am I certain that we will return for another big play very soon, but the experience has reminded me that I can set up some of these simple activities at home as well... just have to plan for the clean up if I do it there!

If you often find yourself grabbing a cuppa at the cafe next door, it's well worth thinking about heading in a bit earlier to set your kids free to have some messy fun. And if you haven't been to visit this great place before, you might be missing out. www.thehungrypeacock.com.au

David Hawkins is a Peninsula based stay-at-home-dad who realised that he needed to improve his Dadding. So he set himself the simple task of being an Awesome Dad. He now challenges all dads to be awesome dads, by doing something out-of-the-ordinary with their kids.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

63

3.

1.

Hevea Natural Rubber Pacifier $8.95 rrp ($12.95)

Rock your Baby Swimsuit $49.95

2.

CHECK this OUT 1 & 2: www.enchantedchild.com.au 3 & 5: www.babygoodswarehouse.com.au 4: Main Street Eyecare 5975 3235

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

5.

Jellycat Fancy Swan $39.95

Hevea Glass Baby Feeding Bottle with Rubber Cover $38.95 (rrp $55.00)

4.

Catimini Eyewear $250.00

T A L K WITH YOUR

By Daniel Morcombe Foundation

P

arents have an essential role in reinforcing the messages being delivered in the schools. The Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum and other safety curriculum are taught in many schools across Australia. Children are not responsible for their own safety, however, they can learn clear safety messages and skills from programs. Children who receive positive safety messages at school and at home are more likely to develop protective skills and less likely to experience sexual abuse.

CHILDREN

ABOUT BEING

When your child participates in child safety lessons at school it is hoped that they will want to talk about safety issues and ask questions. The following tips can assist you.

1. ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNT ABOUT SAFETY Asking what your child has been learning is a great way to start talking and will help you gauge their understanding. Some lessons include a take home worksheet or postcard with key safety messages. These take homes inform families about what is being discussed in school and sometimes provide prompt discussion suggestions for at home. Finding out what your child knows about safety helps you to build on that knowledge and make it relevant to your home and family. Encourage regular discussions with your child about these safety messages. Child safety is not a one off chat. Show your child that you are interested and comfortable talking with them about safety. Give them opportunities to raise concerns and ask about things that they might be thinking about. Open communication with your child about being safe is a strong protective factor.

All of our videos and activities are avail

DanielMorcombe.co 2. TEACHABLE MOMENTS

SAFE 3. DISCUSS ‘WHAT IFS…’

Whilst you cannot predict when your child may find themselves in an unsafe situation, speaking with them about what they could do in a variety of situations can help them to be prepared. Using ‘What if…’ questions for a range of safety situations is useful. For example, ‘What if…’

Foundatio n Red Safety Mess DVD age

1. Watch

the age

Activity

the Foundati on Red DVD appropria of your group or te to class

2. Following

the DVD, ask children a safety message to write that they down T-Shirt remembe r in the 3. Have children read out class/gro their message up to the 4. Children can then colour in out and the T Shirt, take it home cut it 5. Encourag e children to show their family their T Shirt and talk to about the hey learned safety message today s

• there was a fire in the house?

• they get lost at the local shopping centre?

• they access or get shown ‘rude’ or ‘nude’ pictures online?

• an adult asks them to help search for a lost dog?

•someone they think is cute asks them for a kiss?

able on4.:ANSWERING QUESTIONS

If you are uncomfortable talking about a topic, be honest. Say that you feel embarrassed and that you still want to talk about the topic because it is important. Remember, parents don’t have to know all the answers.

If you are unsure of the answer to a question, be honest and then find out together. What is most important is that your child knows they can approach you if they have a question about safety, relationships and feelings now and always. It is amazing how confident and comfortable you and your child can feel when you talk honestly and openly about how much you care and want to look after each other.

m.au

Often opportunities or ‘teachable moments’ arise in our daily lives that can be used to start a discussion or are useful for considering recognise, react and report strategies. For example:

• a television show about surf lifesavers could lead to a discussion about water safety • using a zebra crossing could lead to a conversation about how to safely cross the road • planning what your child should do if you are late collecting them from the pick-up zone • giving advice on how to answer the phone or front door • a news story about personal safety can be a great way to encourage your child to talk with you including about things that make them scared, worried or embarrassed.

By talking about safety in everyday situations, you will help your child to build knowledge and develop skills to recognise, react and report if they are in an unsafe situation. Sometimes it is good to talk with your child when you are in the car together and when you are being active together. This gives you both a chance to talk in a more relaxed way and make being safe conversations part of normal activities.

If your child does talk to you about a time they have felt unsafe, in particular if they talk about sexual abuse, you can help by not panicking.

Just listen, thank them for telling you and emphasising that they have not done anything wrong. Talk with them about getting help in an appropriate manner and that it is your job to help care for them. For more support call your local children’s department or Parentline on 1300 30 1300.

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation is hosting the annual “Day for Daniel” on Friday October 27. This is the largest child safety awareness day in Australia. Over 1 million people, including 3,000 schools across Australia are expected to participate in 2017.

Foundation Red DVD Safety Message

1. Watch the

Activity

Foundation Red DVD appropriate the age of your to group or class

2. Following

the DVD, ask children to a safety message write down that they remember T-Shirt in the

3. Have children class/group

read out their

message to

the

4. Children

can then colour in the T Shirt, out and take cut it it home

5. Encourage

children to show their T their family Shirt to and talk about the safety messages hey learned today

The theme of the day is Wear Red, Educate and Donate and for the first time - Australia's biggest online child safety lesson. It will be broadcast online by Daniel's parents, Denise and Bruce Morcombe.

All of our videos and activities are available on:

DanielMorcombe.com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

65

Mum's

Fab Five

By Jo Ford and Lauren Williams

E

very mother has a story to tell, and Lauren Williams’ isn’t much different than your or mine or someone else’s…except that her day probably encompasses all of our days combined.

She is mum to five friendly, happy little people aged between 18 months and 13 years who are each individual and delightful.

Life in the Williams’ household can, at times, be described as chaotic, and it certainly is never short of live entertainment. So what does a typical day look like for this Dromana mum?

7.00 AM - I wake up to three alarms and a small foot nestled under my chin. I kick my husband under the doona; he keeps pressing the snooze button rather than getting out of bed. My 18mth old, sandwiched between us, stirs and I realise an extra five minutes of sleep is out of the question. I tell myself every night I’ll go to bed earlier but there is just not enough time and most nights I see the clock strike twelve. Often I’m still sitting on top of a pile of washing that I wish the ‘folding fairies’ would see to.

My husband and I have four girls and one son. My son is the eldest and has started Year 7 this year so he catches the bus and I drive the two older girls to school. (I know if I’m not ready by the time my son leaves at 8.15 am I’m going to be late! This happens more than I’d like to admit but I am trying..… ) I jump in the shower with my 18mth old shadow. Any ‘alone’ time in the bathroom is a distant memory.

8.07 AM - Once my husband has given me a quick kiss goodbye I recite the following, often a bit too loudly! “Has everyone had breakfast, packed their lunch, washed their faces, brushed their teeth, packed everything in their bags and made their beds?” I live in hope that one day I will not have to ask any of these things and magically they will all be ready on time, looking pristine in their uniforms. One day.

8:35 AM - Finally, I manage to get all of the girls in the car. I reverse the car out of the driveway.

8:36 AM - My four-year-old informs me that she isn’t actually wearing any shoes. Back inside I go, looking for where she took her shoes off the day before (would be so much easier if she put her shoes away!) I find the shoes, lock the door and head back to the car. Despite the fact that she has been happily wearing these particular shoes for weeks, today is a different story. “I don’t like those ones; I only wear blue!” I haven’t got time for this but I am in luck as I spy a stash of her shoes under the drivers’ seat (note to self… must clean the car).

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

8.55 AM - I breathe a sigh of relief and quietly smile as I know my clock is 10 minutes fast. Yippee. I’m on time and the girls can go straight to class without going past the office to get a late pass. My ten-year-old and seven-year-old give me a kiss and run into school; they’re also happy that they’re not late.

3.15 PM - My son walks through the door. After a quick chat, I put

8:58 AM - I now drive to kinder where I leave my blue shoe wearing fouryear-old and I go walking with a couple of other kinder mums. I always have to have a snack bag ready for my 18-month-old because she can’t seem to go the whole walk without deciding she’s starving. No snack for her means no walk for me!

Each day is a slightly different version of this. Guitar lessons, piano lessons, tennis, theatre classes, and being on the kinder fundraising committee keep us constantly moving. Life certainly is full on and being a mum to five children is messy, crazy, tiring and at times physically draining. However, I love every second of it. It is pretty awesome to look at your children and realise you are doing a decent job and that they are part of a loving family. I actually always wanted to be the mother of six…….I just have to convince my husband!

9:10 AM - Were at kinder 20 minutes early which is a handy extra 20 minutes to have in case I need to put the final touches on getting The girls dressed. If dressing is complete we have a quick play at the park before going in.

the girls back into the car and head up to school to pick up their big sisters at the 2-minute drive-through zone. Then we go home to prepare dinner before I have to go out again to my son’s basketball game (that I somehow ended up being coach of because I wasn't busy enough!)

12:30 PM - Kinder is finished we go back home for lunch. If my18-monthold has not already fallen asleep in the car, it is her nap time.

1:00 PM - Back home and I start to ‘tidy up’ the house which is no mean feat. I wonder why I bother because it all ends up back on the floor anyway. There is always a dish to wash, a top to clean or a floor to vacuum. The list of jobs with seven people in the house is endless; way too many to list. In the blink of an eye nearly three hours pass.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

67

Celebrate

68

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Teepee

party www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

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Teepee slumber party mydreamyteepee.com.au facebook.com/mydreamyteepee Face Panting facebook.com/faeryemma Dream Catchers facebook.com/paperandclothhandmade Cake leannescakes.com.au

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Planning your my dreamy teepee's slumber Party!

1 : Plan a perfect guest list: Ask Mum and Dad how many people you are allowed to have and include all your BFFs . For younger children don’t have many more than 5 as it can become overwhelming with so many children. Handmade invitations are a totally unique touch - fill the envelope with glitter so your friends get a surprise!!

2: Prep your food! Prep your fave snacks before your guests arrive unless it’s something that you can all bake together - for example DIY cupcakes . Bake the cupcakes and let your friends decorate to their liking.

3: Movie Marathon! In the days before the sleepover ask your guests for their favourite films. Pick three and hire/download the flicks for a mad movie marathon.

4 : Face masks! Spa masks for the girls and monster mud scary masks for the boys. It’s as easy as 1/4 mashed avocado, tablespoon honey and 1/2 banana .

5: Sleep Over Games! Here are a few of our favourite games: M&M Magic, Talent Show and Karaoke.

6: Leave some soft lighting on like the fairy lights on My Dreamy Teepees tents. You may be used to sleeping at home but knowing that each guest can still see their way around a strange house will make them feel more at home .

7: Most importantly have fun!

Mornington Peninsula’s most exciting children’s sleepover/party hire destination.

My Dreamy Teepee creates a unique, stylish and memorable experience for all ages.

teepees

outdoor cinema

We hire out our • handmade tepee’s • five meter bell tent • outdoor cinema.

Each set up is styled beautifully, delivered and thenpacked up, leaving you to just sit back and relax.

Contact Brigitte 0434054651 brigitte@mydreamyteepee.com.au www.mydreamyteepee.com.au

74

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

bell tent

party

PLANNING

PARTIES AT THE BUSY PEACOCK IN TYABB

Invite the whole class for just $250

The Hungry Peacock

The perfect destination for a kids party! We offer The Busy Peacock Shed, a sensory play space and private hall hire in a spacious church.

M: 0416 623 827 thebusypeacock@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/thehungrypeacockthebusypeacock

HIRE ALL DAY FROM $200

JUMP BOUNCE SLIDE

Twilight Teepees

Sleepover/slumber party specialist. We hire individual tents, mattresses, linen, fairy lights, tray tables and various decorative pieces.

Contact 0437 273 616 ​ www.facebook.com/TwilightTeepees/

Melbourne Madness

The ultimate kids’ show! Come on an adventure full of magic and laughter with Charlie SillyPants and friends. Parties, preschool and childcare.

M: 0411 957 185 or www.melbournemadness.net

KIDZTOWN PARTY VENUES

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Kidztown

The biggest and most exciting themed kids party venue to hit the Mornington Peninsula.

P: 5976 4614 or M: 0403 795 562 www.facebook.com/kidztownmornington

Play At The Messy Shed

Need to invite the whole kinder group? Play At The Messy Shed have you covered in the most cost effective way! For bookings email themessyshed@hotmail.com or call 5975 2080

Your complete guide to party entertainers & suppliers peninsulakids.com.au/party-ideas

www.peninsulakids.com.au

75

Pregnancy & Baby

Babies LOVE SLEEP AND WANT TO SLEEP

By Maryanne Sayers

GETTING A BABY TO SLEEP IS THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE FACING NEW PARENTS THESE DAYS. ASK ANY PARENT OF A BABY OR TODDLER IF THEY HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH SLEEP AND THE MAJORITY WILL ANSWER WITH A RESOUNDING “YES WE HAVE !!”. PARENTS EVERYWHERE ARE EXHAUSTED. AND SO TOO ARE THEIR BABIES. ALL CAUGHT IN AN ONGOING, RELENTLESS CYCLE OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION.

WIN

Win a 12month subscription, valued at $199, to Dream Start Baby www.dreamstartbaby. com.au - a first-of-its kind comprehensive online program with educational videos for expectant parents and parents of newborns, that provides the knowledge, understanding and confidence to set up their baby’s sleep, feed and wake cycles from Day One.

TO ENTER:

www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways PeninsulaKids Kids––Spring Spring2017 2017 76 Peninsula

T

he initial elation of a new baby’s arrival can quickly descend into a highly stressful time for everyone involved. Sleep deprivation is a truly hideous cycle to be stuck in and it affects every individual and every relationship in the household.

This has been happening for many, many years now and it’s a problem that continues to get bigger and bigger. It’s a cycle that is being repeated into the next generation of parents.

A huge factor surrounding the struggles for parents is that there is no consistent education or information out there for new parents in regards to baby sleep. Instead there is a plethora of inconsistent approaches / methodologies / advice.

There is no end of conflicting messages and instruction about baby sleep and routines – do this, don’t do that, try this, don’t worry about that. Every which way parents turn, they are being told something different. Honestly, is it any wonder that parents are overwhelmed and confused? And all of this has taken us completely off track and miles away from what is actually a very simple process for our babies - sleep.

Our forebearers in generations long gone had their babies sleeping beautifully. Many would immediately argue that times were much simpler back then. And this is absolutely true. But the needs of their babies were simple in regards to sleep, just as the needs of our babies are simple in regards to sleep. That is one thing that HASN’T changed.

Some of the messages being given to parents of newborns are: 1. Don’t worry about getting your baby into a routine until they are at least 4 to 6 months of age 2. Your baby can’t (and won’t) sleep well until at least 6 months 3. Just go with the flow and feed your baby on demand around the clock if needed 4. You have a new baby? Oh well, get used to being utterly sleep deprived day and night - that's totally normal!

5. Your baby probably just doesn't need much sleep so don't worry about it

It is precisely this sort of information being widely spruiked to parents that has led us to the situation of an entire generation of sleep deprived and utterly exhausted parents and babies. Not only that, sleep deprivation can be a real tipping point for post natal depression, anxiety and relationship tensions and breakdowns between couples.

Here’s the thing. Babies thrive on routine and consistency. From Day One. And with that, comes the need for parents to have an understanding of how to manage their baby's sleep, feed and wake cycles. Sleep is an inherently basic, natural and primal human function and our babies WANT to sleep. In order for them to sleep, we need to be working with them not against them. And this means having everything set up correctly with all the processes, and maintaining that consistently day in day out. And from there everything will flow.

To do this, I have said for years that parents and carers need to be provided with one reliable source of sleep and settling information / education that they can rely on and that they can trust. Going back to basics with it all.

Eliminating all the “layers” and complexities and mis-information about baby sleep and routine that have been added into the mix over the years.

There will always be parents who want and choose to follow their own methods / practices with their baby's sleep / routine....and that's fine.

The majority though, are just so desperately needing and seeking consistent information and guidance without all the mixed messages and conflicting opinions and advice.

Maryanne Sayers is a certified child and maternity consultant (registered with IMPI, the International Maternity and Parenting Institute); who is the co-developer and owner of Dream Start Baby (www.dreamstartbaby.com.au) – a comprehensive educational online resource for expectant and new parents to provide all the knowledge and skills needed to set up healthy sleep habits and routines for newborn babies from day one!

www.peninsulakids.com.au

77

CARE PROVIDER Often problems arise when your beliefs or aspirations for birth don’t match those of your obstetrician, midwife or hospital. Be sure to have discussions early on with your care provider to find out if their philosophies or policies will be conducive to supporting your choices.

Ask lots of questions and find out how much power you will have over your own experience. What are their intervention and C-section rates?

Do they support water birth, breech birth or VBAC? How far will they let you go past your due date? You can even show them your birth plan and see what their reaction is. Are they accepting or making judgements about your wishes? Ask yourself if the person or place make you feel comfortable and at ease. You shouldn’t have to fight for anything you want so it’s important to choose a provider and place of birth that will support you to have the birth that is right for you.

PARTNERS AND HUSBANDS These days it is the woman’s partner or the father-to-be that is the main source of support during labour. This is a big role to play, yet it is truly wonderful when they can play an integral role in the birth of their child.

However, seeing your loved one in pain can be very overwhelming, that is why it is so important that they too are informed and prepared.

Traditionally men are wired to ‘fix’ problems so it is a good idea to let them know it is not their job to take the pain away. Give them a clear role to play and some jobs to do, so they can feel useful and support you effectively.

Top Tips

FOR AMAZING BIRTH SUPPORT!

By Yvette Julian-Arndt

C

hildbirth is one of the biggest events in a woman’s life, so it’s not surprising that the right support is crucial to how the birth plays out and how she ultimately feels about the experience.

When we talk about support in labour and birth we need to address the physical, emotional and psychological aspects. A positive experience transpires when a woman feels informed, safe, listened to, respected, protected, encouraged and in control.

Having a support team that can facilitate these things means you are more likely to follow your birth intentions and reach your birth goals. Choosing incorrectly can leave you feeling vulnerable, anxious or rail-roaded and can make intervention very enticing or lead to your birth experience being dictated by someone else.

There are three fundamental areas to focus on when choosing your support team:....

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Remind them to be the loving and caring partner they already are. Being a reassuring presence, using encouraging words and gentle touch will help you feel safe and secure. If you think they will struggle with knowing what to say to you in labour, have a think about what you might like to hear and give them some suggestions. A birth partner needs to be ready to work hard to meet your needs and not be napping in the corner or looking at their mobile phone. If they have a labour ‘tool kit’, with a variety of comfort techniques along with the ability to recognise when you need active assistance or just moral support, you will be able to surrender knowing that you are well supported.

An effective birth partner also needs to be informed about the process of birth and what to expect at each stage physically and emotionally.

Understanding what is ‘normal’ and what it may be like if things take a different turn, often helps reduce their anxiety so they can remain calm for you.

Finally, having the confidence to advocate for you will come from knowing what you want and what you don’t want, so make sure to research and prepare your birth plan/preferences together.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS Most hospitals allow for two support people, so if a private experience between yourself and your partner is not high on your priority list, you may consider having a second person to support you or act as a backup. Deciding who to choose can be tough, especially when you have friends or family expecting to be there. Often it is a mother, sister or best friend who is invited to attend but it is important to consider how they may behave or react. Will your mother be calming or stressful? Remember stress can derail birth and you don’t want sympathy, you want support. Will you be able to fully let go with your mother-in-law in the room? Will your best friend be supportive of your choices or encourage you to take drugs because she did?

Keep in mind that this will be one of the most significant days of your life, so if you feel your care provider is not fitting the bill, you should consider changing to a different hospital, Obstetrician or maternity care option. If your partner feels apprehensive, attend an independent childbirth education course to gain some knowledge and skills.

Another way to increase your level of support is to hire a professional birth attendant.

The most important thing to remember is that YOU should be the centre of this experience and have every right to make the big call about who cares for you during the birth of your child. Set yourself up so that you are surrounded by those that respect your choices, believe in you, that won’t panic, will provide inspiration and motivation when it gets tough and most of all support you to birth the way that’s right for you.

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127 Mornington - Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 23rd Sept - 8th Oct SHOWTIME At 1pm daily join in the Grand Parade - Children get to parade around the farm leading or cuddling an animal or playing a musical instrument.

SPRING TIME is BABY ANIMAL time Rustic Farm Setting Pony and Horse Rides Free Cuppas & Gas BBQs Special School Holiday Activities Many Animals for “Hands on” Experiences Playground, Picnic Areas (BYO Food) Yvette Julian-Arndt is a mum to two gorgeous boys and with her husband loves living on the Mornington Peninsula. As the owner of Project Birth, she is passionate about educating and inspiring couples for this life changing event and runs childbirth preparation classes based on The Positive Birth Formula. Find out more at www.projectbirth.com.au or join her on Facebook and Instagram for more great labour and birth tips.

(see website rhsfarm.com.au)

490 Stumpy Gully Rd Balnarring Phone 5983 1691 Open 10am - 4pm www.peninsulakids.com.au

79

Diet IS YOUR

KEEPING YOUR BABY AWAKE?

By Pinky McKay

C

ould YOUR diet be contributing to sleepless nights for your baby (and you)? The chances are, if you or your partner suffer from allergies such as eczema, asthma or hay fever, or if there is a family history of allergies, there is a stronger possibility that your baby’s restlessness and poor sleep could be due to food sensitivity or allergies – and he could be reacting to foods passing through your breast milk.

Other foods that may cause allergies are peanuts, eggs, soya products, fish, wheat, citrus and chocolate. However, reactions to foods seem to vary widely among individuals. Some sensitive babies react even to small amounts of certain foods in their mothers’ diets, so allergy symptoms (including frequent night waking), can be alleviated by the elimination of offending foods from the mother’s diet.

The best way to protect your baby from allergies is to breastfeed Food allergies in exclusively breastfed babies are caused by foods exclusively for the first six months. If you are bottle-feeding and that pass into your breast milk, not to your breast-milk itself. Allergies suspect allergies to cow’s milk, consult your doctor. about trying a hypoallergenic formula (these are available on prescription). in infants may cause symptoms including: colic, nausea, vomiting and Food additives are present in ever-increasing numbers in almost all reflux, wheezing and respiratory congestion, dermatitis, eczema, and processed foods and these can dramatically affect sleep patterns various rashes (although other medical causes should be ruled out and behaviour. Some babies and for these symptoms). Because babies children can also become restless after "The best way to protect your baby from may be sensitised to foods in utero, it is eating foods containing salicylates. allergies is to breastfeed exclusively for wise to avoid non-essential foods that These are naturally occurring chemicals are common allergens and eat others the first six months. If you are bottlewhich are found in otherwise healthy in moderation during pregnancy and feeding and suspect allergies to cow’s foods such as broccoli, grapes, apples, for the first year after birth if you are oranges and tomatoes as well as in milk, consult your doctor about trying breastfeeding. The most common culprit some processed foods. a hypoallergenic formula (these are is cow’s milk protein (found in milk, I have seen remarkable changes in available on prescription)" cheese, yoghurt). babies' sleep patterns with simple In one study at a UK sleep clinic, 12 tweaks to either mum or baby’s diets. For instance, a very unsettled 4 per cent of thirteen-month-old infants who presented with persistent week old baby whose mother cut out orange juice, became calm and night-waking for which no other causes were found, were taken off slept soundly within 48 hours! An eight month old who loved broccoli all milk products when cow’s milk intolerance was suspected. In most but was waking up to ten times a night, settled and woke at around 10 of these children, sleep normalised within five weeks, with nightpm and at 5 am (but resettled after a breastfeed), when broccoli was time awakenings falling to nil or once per night. A subsequent milk eliminated. Other babies have slept well after the elimination of grapes challenge (double blind) induced the reappearance of insomnia and berries (also high salicylate foods) from their own and mum’s diets. and, after a year, when the challenge was repeated, all but one child Tracking down offending foods in your child’s or your own diet may reacted as before. take some effort, especially for already exhausted parents, but in the long run it could gain you more sleep. If you think that sleeplessness 80

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Want More Mummy Milk?

I woke up in the middle of the night to find my boobs were trying to take over the world! I actually had to wake little Max to relieve me of some milk...

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Created by Pinky McKay,

may be related to foods in your diet passing through your breastmilk, keep a notepad handy and jot down your baby’s crying times and what you eat to see if they are linked. If there appears to be a ‘cause and effect’ between foods in your diet and your baby’s crying, an inexpensive and simple solution is to eliminate the suspect food for at least a week, preferably two weeks. If your baby’s sleep patterns improve, you can either be thankful and avoid the suspect food, or you can reintroduce a small amount of the food into your diet – if the night-waking or allergy symptoms re-occur, you can be pretty certain you have ‘nailed’ the culprit.

Elimination of foods may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to make a difference to your baby’s behaviour so allergies are difficult to prove or disprove, but if it calms your baby (and you), modifying your diet is a small sacrifice.

Sometimes, sleep will be elusive without major dietary changes but in other cases it will just be a matter of balance, perhaps taking care not to overload on certain foods that seem to affect your child. A good guide to sensible eating is to include a wide variety of foods in as close to their natural state as possible. This means that eating fresh vegetables, whole grains, fish, meats and free-range eggs, and drinking plain milk or water instead of filling your supermarket trolley with frozen chicken nuggets, snack bars, coloured yoghurts and juice boxes, could see you and your little ones all sleeping more soundly. If you find the thought of changing your diet overwhelming, seek help from an appropriate professional such as a dietician.

Pinky McKay is a best-selling author, lactation consultant and mum of five.

Check out Pinky’s Parenting by Heart Mummy Meet-ups – these are free informal meet up groups of mums, babies and small children who share and support gentle parenting.

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81

GETTING

g n i d e e f t s B r ea

ATTACHED TO

By Cameron McCullough

I

t is the one moment each year when women and their supporters gather in solidarity to support breast feeding. The Global Big Latch On was held on 5th August, and the Southern Natural Parenting Network were out in force.

Global Big Latch On saw 49 mothers breastfeed at The Hungry Peacock in Tyabb, and 100 in attendance althogether.

Across the world, they were joined at 725 locations, in 23 countries by 17,790 mothers breastfeeding at once.

The aim of the event is to allow women to gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding. Volunteers from within the community host each location, hosting a Global Big Latch On event creates a lasting support network for the community.

The hall at The Hungry Peacock was filled to near capacity for the event, which was followed by prizes and a raffle for a great local charity supporting families.

The Southern Natural Parenting Network began in early 2014 as a way to connect mothers in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, Mornington Peninsula and Dandenong Ranges. With just one rule “Be Nice”, the online group promised support without judgement for families with a basic focus on babywearing, breastfeeding, baby82

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

led weaning, modern cloth nappies and co-sleeping. These core issues were ones which came up frequently in other online forums, with questions about practical matters often leading to judgmental comments and heated discussions between those with alternate views.

"By starting out with a philosophy of parenting in which these practices are considered normal, a safe space was created where information and resources could be shared without controversy," said Yvette O'Dowd, breastfeeding counsellor and founder of Southern Natural Parenting Network.

"That doesn’t mean alternatives are criticised or that those who practice them are excluded: indeed, there are many who don’t use all or any of these approaches, for all sorts of reasons, and they are just as respected. There is no need to debate, justify, dispute or create conflict – each mother is supported in whatever choices work for her family.

"The group has evolved to become a real community, an actual village, not just an online forum. Grandmothers, fathers, health care providers and allied health professionals as well as others providing services supportive of gentle, natural parenting have come together to share and learn.

Once a month, the group come together for Coffee & Conversation – an informal gathering in Frankston where they can access a natural continued next page.....

Introducing Dr Deepti Rampal

Now Consulting and Operating at Peninsula Private Hospital Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (MBBS, MclinEmbryol, (Monash), FRANZCOG Dr Deepti Rampal is a highly trained board certified Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

Dr Rampal has an additional qualification from the Royal Children’s Hospital: Fellowship in Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology to provide Gynaecological care for girls of paediatric and adolescent age group.

Dr Deepti Rampal is a locally trained O&G specialist who has successfully completed six years of rigorous training at Frankston Hospital and Monash Health. She offers a specialised women’s perspective and understanding to the local community of Frankston, Mornington and the surrounding suburbs.

Dr Deepti Rampal will be available for both Obstetrics and Gynaecology referrals and is looking forward to working with the prestigious GP community offering exceptional care for the women and adolescents.

Areas of expertise • Adult Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pregnancy care: – low risk and high risk pregnancy – Early Pregnancy complications – VBAC – Twins • General and advanced

Gynaecological care Special interest • Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology – Congenital anomalies – Period problems in adolescents – Contraceptive management – Early/Late puberty – PCOS

Contact Details: (03) 9775 8025

info@drdeeptirampal.com.au Areas ofE expertise

W drdeeptirampal.com.au

• Adult Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pregnancy care: – low risk and high risk pregnancy – Early Pregnancy complications – VBAC – Twins • General and advanced Gynaecological care

Special interest • Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology – Congenital anomalies – Period problems in adolescents – Contraceptive management – Early/Late puberty – PCOS

Contact Details PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS Frankston Hospital Royal Children’s Hospital ROOMS DETAILS Peninsula Private Hospital Suite 5, 525 McClelland Dve Frankston VIC 3199 T (03) 9775 8025 F (03) 9775 8531

parenting library cobbled together through donations and op shop discoveries; test out a babywearing learning-library of donated baby carriers, watch parenting videos or just enjoy being in a community of like-minded people.

"We believe mothers and babies need support to breastfeed for as long as they both desire, ideally exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside family foods for two years and beyond, as recommended by the World Health Organisation," said Yvette.

"We respect that most mothers in Australia set out to breastfeed but not all are supported to meet their goals and occasional or routine use of formula alongside - or in place of - breastmilk becomes a reality for many." ""Southern Natural Parenting Network does not set out to alienate or judge mothers who formula feed. Rather, they see their mandate as protecting and promoting their rights to accurate and appropriate breastfeeding support from health professionals and the wider community for their own future children and grandchildren."

The network represents over 6000 mothers on the peninsula.

They can be contacted via Facebook at facebook.com\groups\SouthernNaturalParentingNetwork *** In Australia, the right to breastfeed anywhere, anytime is protected by federal and state anti-discrimination laws. It is illegal to ask a woman to move, cover up or cease feeding her baby in any place she and her baby have the right to be. www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/breastfeeding-and-law/legalright

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

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Now Taking Enrolments For 2018

MO NT E S S O R I The world renowned teaching methods of Maria Montessori – Montessori Cycle 1

Fostering creative play and gross motor skills

Focus on Education

Piccolos

During the most precious years when your child learns easily

Emphasis on Respect

Core values, manners, social and emotional skills

Highlighting the Love of Learning for the Future

By an environment that is stimulating and nurturing

Creating confidence

Developing concentration

24-26 Malcolm Road, 118 Overport Road, Langwarrin Frankston South Phone 03 9787 9494 Phone 03 9787 6730 to visit our school to visit our school altochildren@bigpond.com piccoloschildren@bigpond.com www.altochildren.com.au www.piccoloschildren.com.au

Piccolos beautiful natural learning environment Developing life skills

The Centres are open from 7:30am – 6:30pm Ages 2.5 – 6 yrs

Montessori Long Day Care Integrated Kindergarten Healthy Meals Family rebates and benefits apply

Lasting friendships

Learning to read while learning to write Expression through song and dance

Understanding numeracy Promoting nature and care for its inhabitants

Education

GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN

educational opportunities and quality of teaching available, as well as other chance events in an individual's life.

Using Gagné's approach, around 10-15 per cent of children and young people are considered to have the potential to exhibit high ability in one or more of these areas, with 1-2 per cent having the potential to exhibit exceptional ability in one or more areas.

In general discussion, these two groups of children and young people are broadly referred to as 'gifted' or 'exceptionally gifted' respectively.

Diversity among gifted children

In discussions about gifted children and young people, it should also be recognised that:

By Department of Education and Training • a child or young person can be gifted in one or many domains, physical, mental, or social and emotional ll parents want their children, whatever their level of ability, to • it can also be present in specific cognitive and creative domains, but may not be in all. Such uneven development is referred to as develop into well-balanced and independent people who are able to engage fully in life. For gifted children this often involves asynchronous development • children and young people from all cultural and socioeconomic experiences and activities that may differ from children who are backgrounds can be gifted performing at the expected level for their age.

One widely accepted approach is that of Canadian psychologist Françoys • gifted and talented children and young people can also have a learning and/or a physical disability. For example, they can be vision or hearing Gagné where being 'gifted' can be understood as the potential for high or impaired or be dyslexic. This is called twice-exceptionality exceptional ability, and ‘talent’ as the actual demonstration of outstanding performance and achievement. This potential may be in literacy, numeracy, Gifted children and young people might not be high achievers. They could sport, music, visual or performing arts, a vocational area or leadership. have outstanding potential but can be disengaged and underachieve.

Outstanding performance and achievement (talent) is seen to emerge Regardless of approaches or definitions, for parents and teachers what is from being gifted through a complex developmental process and via a most important is to ensure that all children are supported to reach their number of environmental influences, such as family, social, cultural milieu, full potential.

A

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

For children who have potential for high or exceptional ability this includes the need for early identification and providing the right supports to enable the transformation of their potential into outstanding performance and achievement.

Identification of gifted children Early identification of gifted children and young people is generally accepted as providing the best opportunity to meet their learning needs.

However, evidence of potential for high or exceptional ability can emerge at different ages depending on the child's strengths and interests, and the opportunities in their lives to explore their abilities.

For instance, a teenager with a strong interest in drawing, but with few previous opportunities to develop this ability, may be identified as gifted when he or she starts secondary school. It is the provision at this secondary school of a rich learning program about the arts that enables the student to be identified as gifted.

Parents know their children best You know your child best and should feel confident in being a valuable source of information about their strengths and areas of learning where they need support.

For example, you may find it useful to collate information about advanced abilities across a range of developmental or achievement areas and from all people closely involved with your child to gain a holistic view. For example, some parents keep a diary or journal of observations of advanced development including comments from relevant professionals.

It is also useful to date the early stages of advanced development achieved by a child, such as emergence of speech, love of music, pre-reading, development of numeracy and physical development milestones.

Formal assessment You may wish to seek a formal assessment administered by an educational psychologist, through IQ tests and other forms of 'normed' tests. Importantly, such tests are not designed to identify potential for high ability in areas such as sport, art or music.

If you are considering a formal assessment for your child, you should be aware that there may be a cost involved and that there are a limited number of private educational psychologists providing these tests. You should discuss with your child’s teachers if you feel there would be any benefit in arranging both formal and informal assessments for your child.

THINKING OF CHILDCARE ???

THINK…

QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION IN A RELAXED, SAFE AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT > Family owned and operated

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>Free incursions with specialised teachers introducing science, language, sports, drama and music to all children >Educational programs inspiring young minds

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ABOUT CHILDREN BEING CHILDREN!

Informal vs formal assessment Whether using formal or informal approaches to identification, it is important to understand that the focus of identifying whether a child or young person is gifted is always based on the need to know about, and appropriately support, your child’s learning needs.

There is no point in identifying just for the sake of the label. The best advice is to always speak with your child's teachers and other relevant professionals about what may be most appropriate for your child's circumstances. Taking into account the individual circumstances and needs of your child, combined with discussions with other supports and professionals, should influence which approach is taken.

If you are happy with your child's current learning opportunities and they are also progressing well socially and emotionally, it may be that formal identification is not required. In this instance, it may be in their best interests to continue any current placement and monitor your child's progress and engagement with their learning environment.

© State of Victoria (Department of Education and Training)

info@firstearlylearning.com.au | www.firstearlylearning.com.au Phone - 9783 3390 TOWERHILL ROAD, Frankston South VIC 3199 www.peninsulakids.com.au

87

Cornish College Nature-based learning Learning in nature is remarkably powerful and Cornish College harnesses that power through outdoor education in its 100 Acre classroom.

Children in the Early Learning Centre, throughout primary and into secondary years, regularly access the grounds and wetlands during weekly walks and other outdoor learning opportunities. Their natural sense of inquiry and fascination with their environment leads to endless questions about how their world works and many learning possibilities.

Our passionate and skilled teachers guide the children through these opportunities, helping them to learn more through hands-on experiences.

This outdoor learning extends beyond a deeper understanding of the natural world and into mathematics, language, humanities, arts and sciences.

It is supported by learning in the classroom with a curriculum that develops inquiring, knowledgable and caring young people. This is part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), which ensures academic rigour

and emphasises students’ personal development. The College focuses on international mindedness and developing children as global learners.

The Programme embeds the characteristics of the ‘Learner Profile’ into all aspects of the school day. Students are encouraged to be open-minded, principled and knowledgeable. They develop the confidence to become risk-takers in their learning. They become thinkers and inquirers who communicate effectively. They learn the importance of living a balanced life, caring and learning to be reflective.

As students develop the PYP attitudes they also develop the motivation and purpose to take action. The PYP attitudes help students to learn and make a difference to others and the environment.

Ask the Admissions Team about Prep places by calling 9781 9000 or emailing admissions@cornishcollege.vic.edu.au.

School tours: Twighlight Tour – Thursday 26 October, 6.00pm ELC, Primary and Secondary School Tours – Saturday 18 November, 10.00am

Find out more about outdoor learning, the International Baccalaureate and programs such as Buddy programs, EcoKids, Kitchen Garden and Make a Difference Week at cornishcollege.vic.edu.au.

65 Riverend RoadBangholme VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9781 9000 Web: www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au

John Paul College Creating a Community of Curious Minds‌ John Paul College is a co-educational Catholic Secondary School in Frankston.

The College aims to be a centre of excellence and inspiration within the community; students encouraged to be motivated and passionate about both their learning and their community involvement.

array of sports and can take part in debating, public speaking, community service, youth ministry, social justice, theatre sports, chess club and performing arts activities.

Our first class facilities include a modern and well-appointed Resource Centre and our Food Technology Centre and Science laboratories are state of the art.

Principal, Mr John Visentin, says “John Paul College is a vibrant learning community where each student is supported and challenged to achieve excellence. We offer an education that promotes resilience and faith in action.

We are committed to maintaining high positive expectations and are attentive to the needs, goals and abilities of every student.�

The Ngargee Centre for Performing and Visual Arts is a beautifully appointed space; comprising modern facilities for music, drama, dance, media and fine arts. John Paul College students thrive with the opportunities presented to them within the performing arts. Here they form new friendships, they grow significantly in confidence and they achieve a strong sense of identity and pride.

John Paul College is special because students feel that they are part of a bigger family. Students are encouraged to help and support each other and a sense of belonging and community are integral to the culture of the school.

Social justice initiatives are flourishing through our fundraising efforts and immersion programs to the Philippines and East Timor. Students willingly volunteer on a number of social justice initiatives and we are very proud of our young people who, in their service to others, enrich both their own lives and those around them.

We aim to challenge students; to inspire them to achieve, to be all that they can be and to take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them.

Students can be involved in a whole

We welcome enrolments from students with both Catholic and Non-Catholic backgrounds.

Applications for Year 7, 2019 are now being accepted. Limited vacancies still exist for Year 7 2018.

Come and see for yourself the opportunities on offer at John Paul College. Please ring 9784 0200 to make a tour booking.

The College grounds are large and beautifully landscaped, providing plenty of space for students to learn and play.

161 McMahons Road, Frankston VIC 3199 Phone: 9784 0200 Web: www.jpc.vic.edu.au

Now Registering Family Day Care Educators WHAT IS MINDFUL in your area!

Bambini are an experienced, established and professional Family Day Care service delivering quality care all over Victoria We support Eductors locally to operate their own Family Day Care Business, including a generous start up grant and an incentive referral scheme.

Looking for a career in Family Day Care?

For more information check out our website,or phone and talk to one of our friendly staff.

03 9813 5680

Bambini are registering new educators in the Mornington Peninsula area now!

Bambini Child Care Services are a High Quality Family Day Care service with a rating of “Exceeding”.

We support educators locally to operate their own Family Day Care Business, including a generous start up grant and an incentive referral scheme.

Bambini have a reputation for tailoring support to suit each educator, working together to achieve high outcomes.

For more information check out our website, or phone and talk to one of our friendly staff

www.bambini.com.au 90

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

PARENTING?

By Kristy Kendall

I

t seems that for every generation there is a new parenting trend or approach; in recent times, the term ‘mindful parenting’ has taken hold. So, what is mindful parenting and what does it mean to be mindful?

Buddha’s words of wisdom, “every morning we are born again; what we do today matters most,” symbolises the mindful approach of living in the moment. With increasingly busy lives, we often find ourselves juggling numerous roles and expectations, so the tendency to be constant in our thoughts is low. For example, you may find yourself at an important work meeting while also thinking about what you have to do when you get home. To be mindful means that instead of thinking about what has happened or what’s going to happen, you are completely focused on what is happening right now.

So how does being mindful relate to parenting? As a parent, you want the moments you spend with your children to be special. Practising mindful parenting strives to improve your interaction with your children, so you are 100 percent focused on them rather than thinking about what you’re making for dinner, or how you’re going to find time to walk the dog.

Understanding your child is one of the most important things that you can learn as a parent. Make time to talk to your child and to listen to them.

Ask those questions that will allow them to share their thoughts with you, enabling you to understand them better and their feelings. A positive parent-child relationship provides the framework and support for your child to develop respect and regard for themselves and for others.

Mindful parenting also teaches us to be less reactive to the challenges of parenting. Instead of allowing your emotions to dictate your response to a situation, you are more aware of your thoughts, and able to respond to the situation as a calm and in-control parent.

You can begin to practice more mindful parenting today. As you interact with your child, enjoy the experience, don’t allow outside influences to interrupt your time together. Practicing mindfulness 100 percent of the time is unrealistic, and being a parent is an emotional job, but the rewards of mindfulness are plentiful.

Kristy Kendall is the Principal of Toorak College and has a Masters in Education specialising in developmental psychology. She has authored 9 titles in VCE Psychology and is an advisory board member for online learning tool, Edrolo.

Recipes

Jodie BLIGHT We’re all busy and want quick, healthy and delicious meals but sometimes just don’t have the time.

Summer TABLE will inspire you to put variety and zest back into your mealtimes and with a free APP to create a shopping list on your phone, dinner will be ready in no time! And – you learn how to use leftovers in innovative new ways.

After years working as a company director in the finance industry, starting a family and moving half way around the world, Jodie Blight discovered her passion – creating healthy, easy and delicious family meals. “A fist pump from the kids is as good as a Michelin star in my books.”

To find out more about this revolutionary cookbook, please visit www.hellotable.com.au or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hellotable

A DELIGHTFUL COLLECTION OF COLOURS AND FLAVOURS, IDEAL FOR A COOLER EVENING WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING WARM. IF TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, GRILL THE VEGETABLES INSTEAD OF ROASTING, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEM. COOK FOR 5 MINUTES EACH SIDE.

LAMB AND ROAST RATATOUILLE Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4

100 g baby spinach leaves 600 g cooked lamb (warm), shredded 100 g feta, crumbled 1 handful basil leaves, torn

Ingredients

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 6 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, roasted (see above)

1 large eggplant 1 red capsicum 1 yellow capsicum 1 zucchini 2 red onions, cut into wedges 250 g cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, in skins salt and pepper 92

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Dressing

Method

Preheat oven to 200C. 1. Cut eggplant, capsicum, and zucchini into 2 cm pieces and then toss with onion and tomatoes in olive oil and arrange on

a large baking tray together with garlic cloves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Cook until tender but not too soft (about 20 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on tray.

3. To make dressing, add vinegar, oil and mashed flesh from the roasted garlic cloves in a jar. Shake until ingredients are combined. Taste and adjust to your liking.

4. On a large platter, scatter spinach and then add roasted vegetables. Distribute warm lamb evenly over the top.

5. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently.

6. Sprinkle with feta and basil.

THIS IS MY VERSION OF A SPANISH OMELETTE. NOT ONLY IS IT EASY TO MAKE AND DELICIOUS, IT IS ALSO VERSATILE AND A GREAT STANDBY ANY TIME OF THE DAY. ADD CHOPPED HAM OR SAUSAGE, OR ANY EXTRA COOKED VEGETABLES YOU MAY HAVE IN THE FRIDGE. IF USING ROSEMARY, TRY TO FIND THE SOFTER, WEEPING OR TRAILING ROSEMARY, WHICH IS NOT AS TOUGH AS THE STANDARD SHRUB. SOME COUNCILS GROW THIS ROSEMARY IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUNDABOUTS (HINT HINT).

Ingredients

POTATO AND LEEK FRITTATA Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Total time: 40 minutes Serves: 4

10 eggs ½ cup milk or cream salt and pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 leeks, sliced 200 g cooked potato 3 sprigs thyme 1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped (optional) 50 g parmesan cheese, grated

Method

Preheat oven to 200C. Grease a 20 cm × 20 cm ovenproof dish.

1. Lightly whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a bowl or jug and put aside.

2. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook leek, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until it softens.

3. Combine cooked potato, leek, herbs and most of the cheese in the prepared dish. Pour egg mixture over the top, making sure the vegetables are completely covered. If not, add a few more eggs and mix with a dash of milk. 4. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and cook in oven for 30 minutes. To check if it is ready, give it a wobble or touch the top in the centre of the dish. If not set, give it another 5 minutes and check again.

5. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting. *** Throw in a handful of diced ham for added flavour. www.peninsulakids.com.au

93

THIS GLAZE IS GREAT WITH ANY CUT OF LAMB. TRY CUTLETS OR RACK OF LAMB FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. FEEL FREE TO BRUSH SOME GLAZE ONTO THE LAMB BEFORE COOKING AS WELL. STORE ANY LEFTOVER GLAZE IN THE FRIDGE FOR AN EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK MEAL NEXT TIME. TRY TO AVOID LEANING OVER THE SAUCEPAN OR TAKING A WHIFF WHILE COOKING THE GLAZE – IT IS POTENT.

BALSAMIC GLAZED LAMB Salad

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Serves: 4

250 g cherry tomatoes, halved 1 avocado, diced ½ red onion, finely diced 1 handful basil leaves, chopped

Ingredients

Preheat oven to 200C. 1. To make the glaze, add all glaze ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until mixture reduces to half and thickens (about 10 minutes).

Strain into a jug to remove garlic and rosemary.

2. Preheat barbecue or frying pan over medium–high heat. Rub the lamb with oil, salt and pepper, and cook for 3–4

6–8 lamb fillets 1 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper

Glaze

½ cup red wine ½ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 sprigs rosemary 1 garlic clove, squashed but whole ground black pepper, to taste 94

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Method

minutes in total (or until cooked to your liking) regularly turning. Remove from heat, cover and rest.

3. In a bowl, combine the salad ingredients and then divide among individual plates. Arrange lamb next to salad and drizzle with the glaze.

Drizzle leftover roast lamb with glaze and serve with a Simple Green Salad.

YOU MAY FIND YOU PREFER THIS RECIPE TO FISH AND CHIPS FROM THE SHOP. IT IS QUICKER THAN THE TAKEAWAY VERSION AND SO MUCH HEALTHIER. FLATHEAD TAILS ARE PERFECT FOR KIDS AS THERE ARE NO BONES TO WORRY ABOUT.

CRUMBED FLATHEAD TAILS WITH TARTARE SAUCE Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 4-6 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 cups rye or spelt bread crumbs 4 tablespoons cornflour (or plain flour) 1 egg 8–10 flathead tails 1–2 tablespoons coconut oil lemon wedges

Tartare sauce

1 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon capers 1 tablespoon gherkin, chopped 1 tablespoon white condiment (white balsamic vinegar) 1 lemon, zest (optional) ½ tablespoon lemon juice

Method

1. Place the flour on a dinner plate, whisk the eggs in a wide,

shallow bowl (with a dash of water) and place breadcrumbs on another dinner plate.

2. Coat the pieces of fish in the flour, dip in egg wash and then the breadcrumbs. Gently press down to make sure the crumbs stick.

3. To make the tartare sauce, place the mayonnaise, capers, gherkin, vinegar, lemon zest and lemon juice in a small food processor and blend until combined.

4. Add coconut oil to a large frying pan over medium heat.

Cook fish for 2–3 minutes on each side until the crust is crisp and the fish is cooked through.

Serve with the tartare sauce, a wedge of lemon and Simple Green Salad www.peninsulakids.com.au

95

SCHNITZEL IS AN ALL-TIME FAVOURITE, AND YOU WILL LOVE THIS CRISPY, CHEESY CHICKEN SCHNITZEL. USING FRESH BREADCRUMBS AND COOKING IN COCONUT OIL HELPS TO GIVE IT A CRISPY, CRUNCHY COATING. FOR ADDITIONAL FLAVOURS, TRY ADDING PARSLEY OR THYME TO THE BREADCRUMB MIX BEFORE PROCESSING.

PARMESAN CHICKEN SCHNITZEL Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

400 g chicken breast fillets 6–8 slices spelt or rye bread ½ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated freshly ground pepper ½ cup spelt or plain flour 2 eggs, beaten coconut oil 4 handfuls rocket 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved 1 handful basil leaves, chopped Dressing 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 6 tablespoons olive oil

Method

Preheat oven to 100C 1.Slice the chicken fillets in half horizontally so you have skinny fillets.

2. Lay chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and, using the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound schnitzels to an even thickness (about 1 cm). This makes them quicker to cook, keeping the chicken moist.

96

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

In a food processor, crumb the bread and parmesan. Make them as fine or as chunky as you like. Add lots of freshly ground pepper.

3. Place the flour on a dinner plate.

Whisk the eggs in a wide, shallow bowl, with a tablespoon or two of water (helps to break up egg white and thin mix).

4. Place breadcrumbs on another dinner plate. Coat the chicken pieces in the flour (shake off excess), dip in egg wash and then breadcrumbs. Press down firmly to make sure the crumbs stick.

Place on a clean plate and continue with remaining chicken fillets.

5. Place 1–2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.

6. Cook schnitzels (2 at a time) for 2 minutes on each side until the crust is golden and crisp.

7. Place on a lined tray in warm oven and repeat with remaining schnitzels. You may need to add more coconut oil each time.

8. Assemble the schnitzels on individual plates, top with a handful of rocket and a scoop of tomatoes and sprinkle with basil.

9. Shake vinegar and oil in a jar until combined. Taste and adjust to your liking, then pour dressing over top of rocket

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY MUM USED TO MAKE CREPES AS A SPECIAL DESSERT. THESE DAYS THE TRADITION CONTINUES, WITH MY HUSBAND MAKING CREPES FOR BREAKFAST ON THE WEEKEND. THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO ENJOY THESE FRENCH DELIGHTS – FROM SIMPLE SUGAR AND LEMON JUICE TO MORE ELABORATE CONCOCTIONS..

CREPES Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 (2 per person) Ingredients

2 eggs 1 cup milk 1¼ cup spelt flour (or 1 cup plain flour) oil spray or butter

Topping ideas

Lemon and sugar

Maple syrup and ice-cream Bananas and caramel Strawberries and cream Nutella 1. Lightly beat milk and eggs together. Sift flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle.

Gradually add egg mix and whisk constantly until smooth.

If the mixture is lumpy, use electric beater for 1 minute.

2. If time allows, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Remove batter from fridge and stir.

3. Heat a crepe pan or small frying pan over medium–high heat. Spray a small amount of olive oil or add butter to pan.

4. Add half a soup ladle of batter to the pan. Swirl the pan around until a thin layer of batter covers the bottom.

5. Cook for about 1 minute.

When the bottom of the crepe is cooked, flip using a spatula.

Cook for a further 30 seconds until the other side is cooked.

6. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil until you are

ready to serve.

7. Continue making the rest of the crepes, adding more olive oil or butter between cooking each crepe.

8. Add favourite toppings, fold and serve.

Refrigerating the batter is not essential, but it does allow the gluten to relax and gives you a smoother crepe with a slightly better flavour.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

97

Health

DID YOU

By Protect-a-bed

KNOW..

SWEAT: Humans sweat up to 1L of body fluid per night and lose

millions of skin flakes each night. After 5 years, half the weight of a mattress can be made up of our own body fluids, skin cells, mould and bacteria that seep into our bedding. Yuck!

DUST MITES: Dust mites lurk in an unprotected mattress and

are a major cause of asthma and allergies. As much as 30% of the population are actually allergic to dust mite. (Despite their tiny size, dust mites produce 10-20 waste particles per day!)

INCONTINENCE: If you’ve ever suffered from any form of

urinary incontinence, you’re not alone. Estimates are that 4.6 million Australians suffer from some form of urinary incontinence, so it is not an uncommon concern. Night time accidents are an unspoken issue and cause of stress – but it doesn’t have to be.

SLEEP: We spend 1 third of our life sleeping. New parents lose

between 450-700 hours of sleep in the first year of their child’s life – all parents understand the frustration and loss of sleep that bedwetting can cause for both themselves and their child.

FLAT HEAD SYNDROME, or plagiocephaly,

(pronounced play-gi-o-cef-a-ly) is a condition caused by prolonged sleeping time spent on one side of the baby's head, usually during the first 6 to 9 weeks. Due to soft skull bones, newborn babies’ heads can morph in shape and develop a flat spot on the back or side of the head.

COMMON treatment for Flat Head Syndrome is cranio-reshaping helmet therapy for several months at a time, during which the infant wears a fitted helmet 23 hours per day in an effort to reshape the head. This treatment inhibits cuddling, causes discomfort, and may result in pressure sores, skin infections and ethanol erythema.

46,000 babies in Australia experience Flat Head Syndrome each year.

www.protectabed.com.au www.lifenest.com.au 98

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

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IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE AFTER CHILDBIRTH

By Dell-Maree

NO REFERRAL NEEDED. CONTACT US TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THE SMILE YOU ALWAYS WANTED.

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HAVING KIDS IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER IT CAN ALSO SEND YOU INTO A SLUMP – LITERALLY. ALL THAT LIFTING, CARRYING AND BENDING OVER CAN QUICKLY SEND YOUR POSTURE INTO HUNCHBACK HELL. Fitness expert Dell-Maree Day says correcting your posture isn’t as difficult as you think. The Sydney-based former Pilates instructor is the creator of a unique program called The Invisible Exercise which over a course of 10 weeks shows you how to correctly use all 639 muscles in your body by mastering 10 poses that will realign your body. Here she shares her tips for mums.

1. Stabilise your body after childbirth

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

“Do 10 – 20 minutes a day of my breathing technique, ideally for the first 12 weeks after birth. That will help repair abdominal separation, stabilise your pelvis and strengthen your pelvic floor. If you’re sitting move away from the back to the front half of the chair. Place your feet flat on the floor with a fist sized space between your feet and knees.

"Look straight ahead and sit as tall and relaxed as possible. Already your vertebrae will be stacking themselves up so the natural curves of your spine will have improved. Breathe in through your nose. As you breathe out through your lips think: ‘sternum through towards your spine’. This will prompt your body to retain a new muscle memory. When upright, stand as tall and relaxed, and do the same breathing technique.”

WIN One of two 10-week foundation courses to master the basic techniques of TIE valued at $99 each.

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2. Pick up your child correctly “If your child’s on the floor, bend your knees like a squat keeping your back nice and straight. If picking up a child in a cot after you bend over, stand up relaxed and tall as soon as possible.”

3. Work your glutes and hamstrings “These muscles need to be working well so they support your lower back. Go for power walks and push the pram taking the longest stride you can.”

4. Strengthen your abs whilst breastfeeding Nestle your spine into the back of your chair and sit tall and relaxed.

Don’t hunch over. Do the breathing technique to strengthen your abs at the same time.

Once you start retraining your body correctly your posture will maintain itself naturally. It won’t be something you have to ‘work at’ no matter how much your kids test you!

To learn more about the 10 master postures outlined in Dell-Maree’s The Invisible Exercise program, log onto www.theinvisibleexercise.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

101

ARE YOU A SLAVE TO YOUR

Fitness band?

By Julie Cox

H

aving been in the fitness industry for 17 years it is sad to see the way it’s headed. I understand that trends take over, change is often good, and new ways are developed, but the recent craze with the Fitbit really bugs me. I love that people are wanting to be healthier, watch their food intake, walk more and challenge themselves but that’s about where the love stops for me. The fitness band craze has become an unhealthy numbers game.

The time spent learning how to use the fitness band, keeping them updated and just looking at them takes focus away from us being in tune with our bodies. Instead of eating a certain food and feeling its reaction to our body and system, we quickly update our band to see what it has to say about it! Wouldn’t our time be better spent learning a new exercise or something valuable about nutrition? Many people seem to have lost their way. They focus on how many calories they have eaten or burnt, how many steps they have taken and constantly refer to a technology device to tell us what our bodies should be doing.

Our bodies are the most incredible things we often take for granted, they know what is good for us and what isn’t. They can even recover and repair on their own when we are sick or have trained too hard.

Our bodies’ ability to tell us what’s wrong is phenomenal. We have just lost the communication with it. Ask yourself this – Your Fitbit tells you, you will lose the weight but you don’t. Who do you blame? Can you blame it instead of yourself? Sometimes going back to basics is the key.

Go back to the old-school ways of eating. Eat foods for a purpose.

102 Peninsula PeninsulaKids Kids––Spring Spring2017 2017

"The fitness band craze has become an unhealthy numbers game" IF YOU’RE TIRED, eat healthy energy fuelled carbs.

IF YOU’RE FEELING SLUGGISH,

eat lots of greens to revitalise your system.

IF YOU WANT TO FEEL GOOD,

then move your body and exercise to release some endorphins.

Not long ago I saw an 8 year-old girl doing laps of a football oval. She was walking so fast and looking down. I said hi to her and she looked at me all angry and kept walking. I could tell she was referencing down to her band so I stopped her and asked her what she was doing. She said she gets annoyed because the day before she walked so many steps and today she won’t make the same amount. The only positive I see in this is that she’s outside walking. The negatives are that she’s only doing it because of the Fitbit.

Exercise is therapy for our minds, it is a way to output negative energy from our day (this girl was using it to fill her body with negative energy).

How much healthier for her mind and body would it be for her to get that daily exercise in by playing a game of team netball or riding her bike with kids in her street? Getting angry over not getting to where you where the day before is so bad. Everyone’s day is different and we won’t always beat what we did the day before. That’s completely normal! We have put so much emphasis on the fitness band, we’ve lost the meaning of how great it feels to exercises and take a stroll outside to unwind from a hard day at work or instead of looking at the nice trees around us on our walks we are looking down at a device. It disappoints me the way the fitness industry has headed with this, We have the best tool in our bodies for tracking how we feel and what we should be doing! My advice is to save yourself the money and put the time and money into learning about food and exercise – that’s knowledge that no one can take away from you. It can’t be lost and you can apply it to your day to day lives forever- now that is what I call real value.

Julie is mum to a sassy 2 and a half-year-old girl who keeps her moving. Her passion for mums/women’s fitness has catapulted a career in a range of fields from exercise to eating healthy, supplements, and serving up great lunchbox treats. You can find more about Julie at www.facebook.com/MumsInMotion www.peninsulakids.com.au

103

HEAD

LICE ARE IN THE HOUSE

By Melissa Walsh

M

“

y head’s itchy” are three of the worst words a mum and dad can hear. Experienced parents know they are about to step into a world of pain. Lice treatments, nit combs, hours of pulling out tiny white eggs that refuse to budge from hair shafts, and a wriggling, screaming child who is over their hair being pulled does not make for fun times. That’s not to mention the actual hideous bugs that fall out on the paper towel, sometimes still moving, or the issue of washing every piece of clothing, bedding and cushion cover that your child has been near. Put everything on hold. Head lice are in the house!

For most first time parents, the idea that their beloved child has head lice is hard to believe. First there’s denial, anger, finally acceptance, and then going through the time consuming process of getting rid of the nasty parasites that are feeding on your child’s scalp several times a day.

Once you stop scratching your own head, convinced that you can feel them too, it’s time to decide which treatment to use.

Supermarket aisles have an entire section devoted to head lice treatments. You will know them by the word ‘KILL’ written on many of the boxes. Don’t be mistaken. This is war! There’s treatment that will “kill head lice on contact”, those that “eliminate eggs”, five minute solutions that are “fast and easy to use”, those that paralyse, ban them, break them and send them packing.

Regardless of which treatment you choose, when you are trying to eliminate these insidious bugs from your house, the process is still the same.

Be prepared to give up a day to remove the bugs and eggs, make sure the entire family is treated, and wash everything in sight.

First step is the hair needs to be treated using one of the over the counter treatments or, alternatively, a home remedy.

Nearly all home remedies rely on some method to suffocate the lice, and some parents find them preferable to putting chemicals on 104

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

their child’s head. Some of the natural suffocating and smothering treatments that are used include coating the hair with olive or almond oil, sectioning and removing the stunned lice and eggs one by one, or treating the lice with essential oils like tea tree oil, lavender, or peppermint oil. The trick with this is to test the oil on the back of your child’s hand to make sure there is no allergic reaction.

Another method is using large amounts of conditioner to coat the hair shafts and comb out the nasties.

Once again, with the home remedy or over the counter medicated solutions, the practice is the same.

Firstly, apply lice medication according to label instructions or use natural remedy. Completely coat the hair in the treatment and leave on hair for designated time according to the treatment.

Wash treatment out of hair and then divide hair into small sections to run the nit comb with long metal teeth through. This will catch the lice and some of the eggs on the hair shaft but often you need to go over the hair several times to remove all the eggs. You can also remove the eggs by using your fingers or tweezers. As eggs and lice can be hard to see, it is a good idea to have a torch or magnifying glass to inspect the hair.

After the treatment, change all the clothing that has been worn, wash bedding, pillow cases, sheets and hats. Soak combs, brushes, hair ties and head bands for 20 to 30 minutes in hot water.

Repeat the treatment on day seven and 14.

Head lice are a fact of life and can happen to anyone. They are out there and harder to get rid of than beetroot on a white top. All it takes is one insect to climb on a person’s head and colonization is underway. Female lice lay five to 10 nits (or lice eggs) each day, so a full-blown infestation can happen very quickly.

Once a parent is on a mission, the war on these tenacious pests is under way. Do the treatments, wash the bedlinen, keep your child’s hair tied up and don’t ever let the bugs win.

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We offer services to children and adults, and cover a range of issues. visit shinepsychology.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

105

Ask The Experts!

My 8 year old son has a hole in his baby molar tooth. I have been advised to have the tooth filled, rather than removed.

Is there any point to have a filling if the tooth is going to fall out anyway?

Each baby tooth holds a space in your child’s mouth for an adult tooth to eventually replace it. Removing a baby tooth early can result in unwanted loss of space, which can cause the adult tooth to come through crooked, or not at all. This in turn will increase the chance of an incorrect bite (malocclusion) developing in your child’s mouth. Where possible, avoiding decayed teeth is best, although saving a decayed baby tooth is better than early loss of the tooth. This can prevent these bite problems occurring. If the tooth has been lost early, or your dentist has advised that the baby tooth cannot be saved, then it is best to see an orthodontist. They will decide what needs to be done to hold the space for the adult tooth. This may involve an appliance called a space maintainer.

106

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Sallie Thomas BSc, DipOHT (Hyg) (Melb) Peninsula Orthodontics 134 Tanti Avenue Mornington “My 8-year old son often lies about doing chores. I’ve tried confronting him about it but it’s not working.

What can I do?”

While your son may sometimes want to cooperate, he may also need time and place where he can say that he doesn’t feel like cooperating.

Children lie when they feel that there is no such time or place.

A good first step is to think about the big picture. You may want to take a step back and notice that our own adult standards of truth are also inconsistent at times. You and your son would benefit from a stronger sense of closeness, while at the same time, he needs you to set firm and consistent limits with warmth, rather than parental assertion of authority. Try to say the same thing while being physically close to your son in a calm and warm manner.

Also, if you know the answer

to your question, don’t ask it.

Instead, go to your son and say “I see that you haven’t cleaned up your room” while being close to him and at his eye level. Finally, instead of setting consequences, try and figure out together how the job is going to get done. You will find that sooner or later, your effort to connect will pay off.

Daniela Jensen BSc (Psychology & Early Childhood Studies), MSc (Health Psych), Assoc. MAPS Psychologist Flourishing Minds Is the amount of time a child spends on digital devices causing long term damage to his or her eyes?

Yes, heavy use of digital devices could be causing long-term damage to our eyes, and the blue light they emit could be adding to the problem. A survey has found that nine in 10 optometrists are concerned about the number of people presenting with eye problems, some as young as five years old.

Some children and teenagers are experiencing severe headaches due to overuse of tablets and screen time. Many optometrists are seeing a lot of patients with similar symptoms as the majority of them are using devices like phones, tablets and laptops for many hours a day. In all people from adults to teens and children, a frequent symptom of excessive device use is dry eyes, closely followed by eyestrain and headaches. This is from not only staring at screens for too long but also the blue light they emit. The high energy blue light is right next to the damaging ultraviolet light in the spectrum, and can be particularly damaging if exposed to it for long periods. Adults and children could develop long term eye conditions if we don’t limit our exposure to the blue light through filter apps and protective lenses.

Kay Tyrie Optometrist Main Street Eye Care 57 Main Street, Mornington

Dr Peter A. Scott is a specialist orthodontist offering orthodontic care for children, teens and adults alike in both the Mornington Peninsula and inner Melbourne areas. He is also a consultant orthodontist at the Royal Childrens Hospital.

Specialist Orthodontist Creating Beautiful Smiles On The Peninsula For 30 Years Expertise In Child And Adult Orthodontics Early Assessment Of Dental Development And Facial Growth Ideal Age Of Initial Assessment 7-9 Years Early Intervention Where Appropriate For Best Outcome No Referral Necessary

13 Beach St Frankston

Ph: 9783 4511

www.drpeterscottorthodontist.com.au www.facebook.com/drpeterscottorthodontist www.peninsulakids.com.au

107

creative

DECOUPAGE GLASS noun de·cou·page \ˌdā-(ˌ)kü-ˈpäzh\ the art of decorating surfaces by applying cut-outs (as of paper) and then coating with usually several layers of finish (as lacquer or varnish)

108

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

YOU’LL NEED

Glass jars or bottles

Mod Podge (Matte finish)

Tissue paper

Craft punch/scissors

Paint brush

WHAT TO DO 1.

Start by soaking the labels off of the jars in hot water.

After about 10 minutes of soaking the labels came right off with a little help from a fingernail. Dry the outside of the glass well.

2.

Cut shapes out of tissue paper with craft punch or scissors.

(Often, the tissue paper got stuck in the craft punch, we learned that a swift, hard punch with the paper folded over three or four times helped. We also used scissors for hearts and stars.)

3.

Paint a part of the glass jar with Mod Podge then gently press a tissue paper shape onto it. Paint over the shape.

Repeat until desired amount of glass is covered.

Cover it all if you like!

1.

2.

Tip: The colour from tissue paper does tend to bleed, so don’t paint with a heavy hand. It also folds and creased easily, but still looks fantastic!

4. After a few minutes of drying time, go over the entire surface of the glass with another coat or two of mod podge. (The more coats, the cloudier the glass will get.)

5. Use jars for candles, flowers, and for holding bits and bobs.

What is Mod Podge?

3.

Mod Podge is an all-in-one glue, sealer and finish used to attach paper and fabric to various surfaces.

Don’t have any Mod Podge?

Tip:

MAKE YOUR OWN! Mix 1 cup of PVA glue and 1/3 cup of water until well combined.

5.

Add a few drops of food colouring to the mod podge here and get a cloudy coloured effect on the glass. 4 www.peninsulakids.com.au

109

TOILET ROLL

WREATHS

YOU’LL NEED:

Toilet paper and paper towel rolls (We used around 25 TP rolls for our wreath)

A ruler

Scissors Pencil

Hot glue gun

WHAT TO DO: 1. Flatten down each roll to prepare for cutting. The fold lines create the leaf shape.

2.

Using a ruler, mark 3cm guidelines with a pencil and cut strips. These strips will become the leaves of your wreath.

You will end up with a small strip of cardboard leftover.

Save them for another craft!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

3. Using a small side plate as a template, start arranging the pieces into a wreath shape. Lay a single ring of pieces around the plate to form the wreath's base.

4. Hot glue the pieces together to form a complete the inner circle of leaves. Once this ring is complete you can remove the plate and arrange the rest of the leaves around it.

5. Arrange the leaves one layer at a time. Glue all the pieces in that layer before moving on to the next layer. (We did three layers of leaves.)

6. Leave your wreath plain for all year, or decorate it for a holiday. We did one of our wreaths for a girl’s room and the other for Christmas; it’s coming soon!

BE SURE TO HANG YOUR WREATH INDOORS AS IT IS NOT WATERPROOF 110

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017

Santa Claus is coming to Gembrook Town!

Santa Claus will be jingling all the way to the of the Puffing Billy line for the annual Santa Special train rides this December.

Come and learn how to do cartwheels, walkovers, aerials & flicks.

Climb ropes, swing on bars, balance on beams & have fun on our 12 metre trampoline!

JANUARY

SUMMER HOLIDAY PROGRAM 2017

2, 3, 9 & 10 DECEMBER 2017 Bookings essential! www.puffingbilly.com.au/mpkids Enquiries 03 9757 0700

10th - 25 th FOR A 9am I-N12pm BOOK RIAL

FREE T

6-14 YRS OLD

CALL TO BOOK

0409 709 736

CALL 0409 709 736 EMAIL wildcatsgymnasticsclub@gmail.com

1/24 Carbine Way, Mornington 3931 1/24 Carbine Way Mornington Bev 0409 709 736 ww.wildcatsgymnastics.com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

111

Book Reviews

THE CAT WANTS CUDDLES

BY P. CRUMBLE, 4+yrs, h/b, $16.99 Kevin doesn’t want a pat.

He doesn’t want a tickle.

And he definitely does NOT want a cuddle.

There’s absolutely no way this hilarious cat is going to change his mind about that... Or will he?

MY MEERKAT MUM

BY RUTH PAUL, 2-6yrs, h/b $16.99 From best-selling author Ruth Paul comes this delightful picture book celebrating mothers and their children.

Up. Down. Dig. Play.

Meerkat Mum leads the way.

Snuggle up, little pup, join them in a meerkat day!

BOY

BY PHIL CUMMINGS, 4+yrs, h/b, $24.99 The king’s battles with the dragon were always mighty and loud...CLING CLANG CLONG! ROAR! Boy lived in a silent world and couldn’t hear the fighting. But Boy could see the fear around him...and how everyone would be much happier without it.

THE VERY SLEEPY BEAR

BY NICK BLAND, 3+yrs,h/b, $16.99 On a Jingle Jangle Mountain, as the snow fell on the rocks. A sleepy bear was being followed by a very sneaky fox.

But Bear was in a hurry, he was running very late winter had arrived and it was time to hibernate!

WANT TO BE IN A BOOK

BY NARELLE OLIVER, 4+yrs,p/b, $24.99 Cecil is only a sketch, but he has a name and he wonders if, just maybe, he might be destined for greater things. Cecil’s imagination soars, and then one day he does land in a book–and a new, exciting, even dangerous, adventure begins.

ERIC THE POSTIE

BY MATT SHANKS, 3+yrs, p/b, $16.99 Eric had a dream . . .he knew he could be the best postman ever.

There was one big obstacle–he didn’t have any mail to deliver.

Eric is not going to let that stop him...

An adorable, heartwarming story about chasing your big dreams, no matter how little you are.

THE PERFECT THING

BY SALLY MORGAN, 3+yrs, h/b, $24.99 Lily's grandpa can solve any problem.

He always knows the perfect thing. Grandpa suggests a walk in the park, but Lily has other ideas–and lots of weird and wonderful objections.

But no problem is too great for grandpa–he has weird and wonderful solutions.

Grandpa always knows the perfect thing!

CYCLONE

BY JACKIE FRENCH, 4-7yrs, h/b, $24.99 Pile the presents by the tree Though clouds spiral out at sea.

Wind snarls, skies weep grey But Santa’s sleigh is on its way!

Christmas Eve 1974 is marked indelibly into the Australian psyche as the night tropical cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin.

THE POCKET DOGS AND THE LOST KITTEN

BY MARGARET WILD, 3-7yrs, h/b, $24.99 Biff and Buff love riding in the pockets of Mr Pockets very big coat. They love to have Mr Pockets all to themselves, but when a little lost kitten needs a home they might have to learn about sharing.

ECHIDNA JIM WENT FOR A SWIM

BY PHIL CUMMINGS, 4-7yrs, h/b, $16.99 The animals all had a wonderful time ...until Echidna Jim went for a swim.

It’s a fun day at the beach for all the animals! They splash and surf and paddle and bob. But what will happen when prickly Echidna Jim goes for a swim?

112 Peninsula Kids – Winter 2017

WIN

ONE LUCKY PRESCHOOLER & ONE LUCKY SCHOOL AGED READER WILL

WIN A PRIZE PACK OF THE REVIEWED BOOKS TO ENTER: www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

DIARY OF A MINECRAFT ZOMBIE BOOK #6: Zombie Goes to Camp

BY ZACK ZOMBIE, 8+yrs,p/b, $9.99 Join 12 year old Zombie, as he faces his biggest fears, and tries to survive the next three weeks of terror at Creepaway Camp.

SCI-FI JUNIOR HIGH #1

BY JOHN MARTIN, 8+yrs, p/b $14.99 Kelvin Klosmo isn’t just the new kid at school–he’s the new kid in the galaxy!

Sci-Fi Junior High is an inter-galactic space station with students of all shapes, sizes, smells and slime content.

EPIC FAILS #2: Attack of the Giant Robot Zombie Mermaid

BY MATT COSGROVE, 8+yrs, p/b, $9.99 Once upon a slime covered planet, there lived a robot zombie mermaid who would stop at nothing and sacrifice everything in the hilarious intergalactic quest for her one true love braaaaiiiiiinnnnnnnnssssss.

THE SEVEN SIGNS – BOOK 4: Killswitch

BY MICHAEL ADAMS, 10+rs, p/b, $14.99 The DARE Seven are trapped on a roof, surrounded on all sides by angry, desperate criminals. Nothing could be more dangerous. Even the valiant cops can’t get them out.

But the Seven have an ally. Hope might be on the horizon.

MAY TANG: A NEW AUSTRALIAN

BY KATRINA BEIKOFF, 8+yrs,p/b, $16.99 Born in the Year of the Snake, May Tang is like flowing waterwhen she should have more fire. A dreamer, she will never be sensible and obedient like her elder sister Jie Jie or clever like her brother Peter, studying in Australia.

OUR RACE FOR RECONCILIATION

BY ANITA HEISS, 9+yrs, p/b, $16.99 Mel Gordon loves running, and watching Seinfeld, but mostly she loves Cathy Freeman. It's 2000 and the Olympics are going to be held in Australia. In a year of surprises, Mel finds out that Cathy Freeman is coming to talk to her school. And her family is heading to Sydney!

THE BAD GUYS EPISODE 5: Intergalactic Gas

BY AARON BLABEY, 7+yrs, h/b, $14.99 The bad news? The world is ending. The good news? The Bad Guys are back to save it! Sure, they might have to ‘borrow’ a rocket...And there might be something nasty in one of the spacesuits...And Mr Piranha might have eaten too many bean burritos...But seriously,

DIARY OF A MINECRAFT ZOMBIE BOOK #5: School Daze

BY ZACK ZOMBIE, 8+yrs, p/b, $9.99 Join Zombie on a hilarious adventure as he tries to make it through the last few weeks before Summer Break.

How much trouble can a 12 year old Zombie get into, just to take his mind off of the grueling last few weeks before Summer break?

PIXEL RAIDERS #3: Speed Zone

BY BAJO & HEX, 8+yrs, p/b, $12.99 Welcome to LEVEL 3: Speed Zone A game of racing, power-ups and dodging snarling GATORS... Rip and Mei find themselves driving a REAL car in a land where race tracks appear from nowhere!

TINY TIMMY #5: On Tour

BY TIM CAHILL, 7+yrs, p/b, $12.99 Big news! Tiny Timmy and his team are going on a soccer tour! They’ll be away from home for a whole week, travelling and playing matches. Just like a professional team! What could be better?

www.peninsulakids.com.au 113

edition

SUMMER To advertise with us contact Miriam Doe on 0421 085 974 Download our media kit at www.peninsulakids.com.au/advertise-with-us

www.facebook.com/ morningtonpeninsulakids

DECEMBER 2017

N ES” PE OR O LST W O O CO N THE

“ AT

With 25 years of experience in childcare and kindergarten on the Mornington Peninsula we’re excited to open our BRAND-NEW facility at THE COOLSTORES in Moorooduc.

New Location•Celebrating 25 Years • Innovative Design •Bush Kinder Program •Animals and Activities An innovative inspired design and layout will have children interacting and engaging like never before.

We strive to educate and involve our children as much as possible in all aspects of early learning.

Our BUSH KINDER program will give our children the opportunity to explore the surrounding forests and learn more about their natural environment. We hope to really raise the bar and encourage our children to participate in more activities” Kaye Ellis - Licensee & Owner

For enrolment enquiries please call (03) 5978 0808 The Coolstores 1/475 Mooroduc Hwy MOOROODUC

Main Street 309 Main Street MORNINGTON

Parwan 15 Parwan Crescent MORNINGTON

Eramosa 70 Eramosa Rd West SOMERVILLE