PENINSULA KIDS SPRING 2019
ENINSULA KID P S LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA
SPRING 2019
FREE
An Interview With
Andy Day 5 Love
Languages for Children
MAKING INFORMED
www.peninsulakids.com.au
Let's get
MESSY!
Colouring Competition www.peninsulakids.com.au
1
Born at The Bays Hospital Trusted by generations for over 80 years The Bays has one of the finest maternity units in the region. Each year we bring around 500 new babies into the world. It's a great start in life for the next generation. When you choose to have your baby with us you'll be taken care of by the finest professionals in the latest facilities. The first days of your baby's life are unforgettable. Spend them at The Bays.
Our Obstetricians Dr Kelly Griffin - (03) 5970 5353 Dr Andrew Griffiths - (03) 5976 5257 Dr Keith How - (03) 5976 6630
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Book your maternity tour on 5976 5262 or online at thebays.com.au The Bays Hospital Vale Street, Mornington VIC 3931 Phone 03 5975 2009 2
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Cover Photo Model: Indigo Location: Mt Martha Photo: Danielle B Photography daniellebphotography.com.au
Editor
Melissa McCullough
ed’s letter...
Welcome to the spring 2019 edition of Peninsula Kids magazine. Congratulations to 5-year-old Kotona, the winner of our LEGO needs heroes colouring in competition. Our judges, aged 7 and 9 thought your drawing was bricktastic! We hope you and your family enjoyed your visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Melbourne.
Editor and Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au
Head to www.melbourne.legolanddiscoverycentre.com.au to find out what’s on in spring.
Design Sam Loverso sam@mpnews.com.au
The colouring in competition in this edition, (page 113), is sponsored by our friends at The Big Goose. Colour in the adorable scene for your chance at a family pass to the farm.
Advertising Miriam Doe 0421 085 974 miriam@mpnews.com.au
Spring baby animals, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Centred around the article ‘5 Reasons to Take Your Children to the Theatre’ by contributor extraordinaire Erica Louise, we are giving away a family pass (4) for a brand-new stage adaptation of the magical Australian classic Possum Magic.
General Enquiries info@peninsulakids.com.au 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.
Joined by an extraordinary creative team, Monkey Baa brings to life the characters, journey and love that has made Possum Magic the most-loved and best-selling Australian picture book of all time.
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.
Based on the book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas and presented by the Frankston Arts Centre and Monkey Baa Theatre Company the show suits ages 3-8. Thursday 10 October, 1:30pm viewing.
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.
Check out this giveaway and oodles of other fun things to win on our Things We Love pages 64-67. Keep calm. Spring is coming.
Peninsula Kids is produced quarterly. 15,000 copies distributed between Mordialloc and Portsea. Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931
Advertising
Miriam Doe
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Proudly published by
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Contents
10
14
18
Spotlight 10 Q&A With Andy Day Erica Louise chats to Andy Day ahead of his Australia tour.
34 Pursuing Perfection Do you still think what you’ve done isn’t ‘good enough’ yet?
14 5 Love Languages for Children Children, like adults, communicate mostly through their actions.
38 Parenting Without the Fight Avoiding self-judgement, and parenting with ease and enjoyment.
18 Costing the Earth Jo & Carl find out 10 eco-friendly ways to save money from local business owners. 20 Seasonal Eating The myriad of benefits that come with eating seasonally. 24 Establishing Good Dietary Habits Food habits and tastebuds develop early in life. 26 I Have Just Separated; What Should I Do Now? 10 Things to keep in mind when you separate. 28 Is Your Child a Hoarder? Many kids, like adults, are ‘clutter blind’.
40 Thanks Coach! The precious skills that only a coach can teach. 42 Smart Tips For a Painless Toddler's First Haircut Avoid the nightmare and check out this smart and efficient list of tips. 44 A Moment in Time Preparing for the time beyond birth can help reduce feeling overwhelmed. 46 Making Sense of Global Issues Rebecca Fraser explains how fiction can help kids understand Earth's threats.
30 Why We Need to Teach Kids About Money 48 Granny's Guide: When Your Child Won't Take Part in Activities Our job as parents is to make sure they’ll be financial responsible. What can you do if your little one resists engagement and prefers to watch? 32 Children and Mobile Devices Some confronting statistics about screen time. www.peninsulakids.com.au
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26 74
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Special thanks go to the gorgeous and talented group of contributors who breathe life into every issue by sharing their best with us.
Pgs10 & 56
ERICA LOUISE
melbourne.kidtown.com.au
Pg20
SHERRIE MILLER
@sherriemillernutrition
Pg48
84 YVETTE O’DOWD
www.facebook.com/groups/ SouthernNaturalParentingNetwork
Contents
Pg18
Local (and not so)
Pregnancy & Baby
58 Let’s Get Messy
94 Breastfeeding Your New Baby When You Have a Toddler, Too!
56 5 Reasons to Take Your Children to the Theatre 60 Puffing Billy Railway 62 Day Tripping - Itinerary Four 68 How to Get the Kids to Bathe Without the Hassle
Celebrate
92 Making Informed Choices
Health
100 Top 5 Tips for Kids Teeth 102 The Benefits of Teaching Yoga & Meditation to Kids 104 Erase Your Spring Flu Woes
54 Spring Days to Celebrate
Creative
70 1000 Books Before School
110 7 Health Benefits of Arts & Crafts Projects for Kids
72 Managing Teen Angst
114 Tissue Paper Bowls
74 How to Turn Anxiety Into Resilience 78 Focusing on Our Schools 82 Tips on Finding Books Your Kids Will Love
Recipes
84 Gluten Free Recipes with Jodie Blight 8
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Pg40
96 Understanding ADHD
50 You Rock at Bayside Rock Climbing
Education
JO & CARL VIOLETA
www.violetafinance.com.au
In Every
Issue 55 Party Planning 66 Things We Love 90 Little Bites 105 Ask the Expert 106 Book Reviews
OLIVIA WILSON
www.the wilsonsofoz.com
Pg44
DEANNE ATKINSON
www.parentwithpassion.com
Pg60
DAVID HAWKINS
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By Erica Louise
Q: Y our TV shows have gone from strength to strength.
We know you best from Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures but you’ve got many more shows to your name. Which adventures are your favourite and why?
A: I prefer the prehistoric adventures because they are more epic! Some of the creatures I’ve been on adventures with are huge and interesting. Plus, everyone is fascinated with dinosaurs - these giant lizards that lived such a long time ago. They’re the most fun and dramatic. I’m quite a dramatic person you see?!
Q: C an you tell us about your journey into TV stardom and how you became a CBeebies presenter?
A: I decided that at 21, I knew what I wanted
to do. I performed when I was younger in drama clubs and that sort of thing. At 18, I performed as a host and character at the Millennium Dome in London, which involved lots of theatrics. I enjoyed performing, so then went to Italy to perform teaching workshops with kids.
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Q: ' Can you tell us about your live show Andy’s Amazing When I returning to England, I realised that Adventures and what we can expect to see? presenting is what I wanted to do. I worked on some sketches with a friend and A: Well it’s going to be the adventure of ended up working with Nick Jnr for a while. a lifetime. There’ll be lots of audience Later, I saw an audition for CBeebies and participation. I’ll be doing things that the went for it! Out of 2,000 applicants, I made audience has not seen me do before... singing, it through to the last 15 people and got the rapping, dancing. Not saying it’s going to be job on CBeebies house presenting in-between great dancing, but there’ll be dancing. It’ll be shows and it went on from there. very inclusive in terms of its style. Games and possibly even prizes to be won. Q: I s there anyone who inspires you in your work either A big spectrum of things going on. There’ll now or in the past? be some new faces and some familiar faces, A: There are lots of people who inspire me both but I don’t want to ruin the experience, you’ll on TV and off TV; sometimes it’s hard to have to come and see it. remember them! I think, though, the sort
of character, personality and humour that Q: You have a one year old daughter, Ruby. Will she be coming with you on tour in Australia? I have mostly comes from my older brother. I’ve always been quite influenced by him. A: Yes, she’ll be coming to Australia and my As kids we used to act out our favourite other half, too. She’ll be my little support/ scenes from movies such as Back To The mascot. She might not be at every show, Future and the Karate Kid. I could probably probably just one or two. continued next page... do the whole script for you if you wanted?! www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Q: With the juggle of your family and all the live shows you’ll
be doing in Australia, will there be any down time for you?
A: Yes! We are going to take a week at the end
of the tour, which I’m excited about. Most of that time will be spent in either Sydney or Melbourne. We haven’t completely decided what we’ll do yet but we’re looking forward to the family time because it’s been a very busy year and will continue to be busy thereafter, so we’re grabbing some time where we can.
IT’S BACK AGAIN
Q: Y ou mention you will be busy, can you tell us about your plans after the Andy’s Amazing Adventures tour?
A: I have a band called Andy and the Odd Socks.
We have a mini tour in October. We’ve also got a CBeebies panto (pantomime) coming up and then I’m performing in another panto at the end of the year. Pantos are very popular in the UK and is something lots of performers do.
Q: (by 5yo Liam) What is your favourite dinosaur and why? A: The Stegosaurus is my favourite.
Aesthetically I love that fact that their plates used to warn off any danger by changing colour. That and the Spinosaurus.
Q: Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures is very popular on ABC KIDS TV; do you film in the Natural History Museum and if so, is that done after hours?
A: We did film that at the National History
Museum. We had one whole morning from 5am to 9am and one evening till 10pm. We filmed all the sequences then and the rest of it is done on the set.
Q: (by 2yo Drew) Are there any secret dinosaurs hiding in real life?
A: T hat would be telling! Listen out for roars. You might find that a dinosaur has snuck through time but I’m very careful not to bring those creatures back with me! That would be a bit crazy Q: (by 2yo Drew) Where we buy a real kip mobile? A: Well they’re not available in the shops but
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maybe I’ll ask Kip to build one? Maybe she’s got one in her cupboard somewhere?
Get your tickets now and join Andy on his first live Australian theatre tour, in what promises to be a show of prehistoric proportions. See Andy’s Amazing Adventures live on stage at the Athenaeum Theatre on 26, 27 and 28 September 2019. For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au. 12
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
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SATURDAY OPEN DAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 10.00 AM - 12.00 PM Please join us to hear more from our Principal and to explore how our school can shape the learning journey of your child. Please register your attendance via our website.
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To book a tailored school tour for your family anytime, or for information on our programs, please call 9788 7702 or email enrolments@pgs.vic.edu.au.
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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5 Love Languages for Children By Dr Brooklyn Storme
A
s a Psychologist, I am blessed to be able to meet children from all kinds of different families and backgrounds. Sometimes parents seek our help to manage their child’s behaviour, especially when unwanted behaviours are having an impact on other siblings, friends or peers and so on.
Despite being able to articulate what they need, children, like adults, communicate mostly through their actions
I remember a time that *Sarah brought her daughter along for counselling. Sarah was concerned because her daughter had been expressing her anger in unhealthy ways. For example, if her daughter asked for a toy when they were shopping and Sarah declined, her daughter would throw herself on the ground, flail her arms and legs and scream really loudly. Sarah had tried everything to change the situation, but it kept happening. It even happened at a neighbour's birthday party. When the children were playing pass-the-parcel and the parcel didn’t land in her daughter’s lap, there were more tears, there was pushing and shoving and eventually, Sarah had to take her daughter home.
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
But what was really going for Sarah? Depending on their age, children all behave differently and as they reach certain developmental milestones, they become more able to express themselves through language. But despite being able to articulate what they need, children, like adults, communicate mostly through their actions.
This is where the 5 Love Languages for children may be of help. If you aren’t familiar with the Love Languages, the general idea is that we each have preferences for how we like to be loved and how we like to give love or show others we care. When I first heard of this idea, it was intriguing and so I reflected on how I like to be loved. I really like it when people tell me I’ve done a good job with something, or that they have noticed or appreciate something that I’ve done. Once I’d thought it about it, I learned more. continued next page...
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1 Words of Praise or Affirmation
4 Gifts or Tokens
Some people feel loved when others give them kind words, acknowledgement and appreciation. For children, this might look like telling them they’ve done a wonderful job, telling them you love them so much, telling them what you admire or respect about them or expressing that you’ve seen how hard they’ve tried with a task.
This one may sound obvious and it’s really about how we give and receive love through objects. For example, you might show your child love by giving them surprises, by buying them something special every now and again for a treat or by doing things like popping a favourite snack in their lunchbox without them knowing! Gifts and tokens can also include things like rewards jars for good behaviour that result in a special outing (for example) when there are a desired number of tokens in the jar.
Children might show you love by simply saying, ‘I love you!’. They might also feel like they are showing you love by giving you compliments or really listening to you when you talk with them.
2 Acts of Service This love language is really about feeling loved (or expressing love) through action – by doing things for others. You might show children that you love them by taking them to basketball three nights a week, by sewing their ballet costumes for the end of year recital, by cooking their favourite dinner or by helping them with their homework. Children might show you love through acts of service like wiping over the bench, putting the washing away, looking after their younger sibling or making you a yummy breakfast on the weekend.
3 Time Spending time together is a great way to give and receive love. You might show the children that you love them by sitting down and watching one of their favourite movies or reading with them. You might give up something you like doing so that you can spend time when your little one needs you. Children can show love by giving you their time too. They might choose to stay home and sit at the kitchen counter to keep you company while you are in the kitchen or they might do things that you like doing, just so that they can be in your company.
Some children love to show their parents and caregivers just how much they care by giving them things that kids can make. Often this can include arts and crafts, drawings, stories, flowers from the garden and hand-made cards. Other children might give the gift of a special recital just for you where they dance and sing. It doesn’t really matter what the gift or token is because it’s the message that’s most important.
5 Affection Hugs and cuddles are lovely way to show children that they are important to you and that you care about them very much. Physical touch can sooth anxieties, help with confidence and foster healthy selfesteem among many other benefits. Some parents really love being affectionate with their children and it’s beautiful to see. Children also enjoy being affectionate with parents. For them, affection can look like hugs and cuddles but it can also mean sitting on Nana’s lap on Sunday afternoon and reading a book, brushing mum’s hair, helping a sibling and comforting others. The interesting thing about the Love Languages is that once we understand how a child likes to give and receive love, we can better accommodate their needs. The Love Languages concept was originally created for couples and has been extended to a number of other areas, such as children. You can take a free quiz to learn more about your own style by visiting www.5lovelanguages.com.
Dr. Brooklyn Storme, PhD is the Director and head psychologist at All Psyched Up, a mindfulness-based allied health practice on the Mornington Peninsula. When she’s not at work, she’s usually teaching Gabe new tricks or spiking up his purple Mohawk. Facebook: allpsychedup Ph: 8765 2434
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
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By Jo & Carl Violeta
T
here’s a common misconception that being environmentally “You’ll be surprised at how affordable your conscious costs a fortune. The opposite can actually be true local farmers market is and just how with plenty of eco and budget-friendly choices being one and the long the fresh produce will last you compared to the supermarkets,” same.
We chatted to eco-friendly business owners Tammy and Sarah (The White Pidgeon Said) and blogger Andrea from Unwasteful to put together 10 eco-friendly ways to save money.
1. Ditch plastic bottled water Bottled water often costs up to $4 per bottle, so at three plastic bottles of water a week, you’re looking at a whopping $624 per year. If you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water, look into investing in a water filter for your tap. Although most plastic bottles can be recycled, some studies estimate that producing and transporting bottled water uses up to 2,000 times the energy required to produce and distribute tap water. Invest in a good quality reusable bottle for when you’re on the go and you’ll never look back.
says Sarah. “Shopping locally and in season also reduces the distance food needs to be transported.”
Andrea suggests slashing your grocery bill by growing your own fruits and veggies.
“Growing your own food is a great way to save money,” she points out “Even 2. Turn off electronics if you have limited When you’re not using an appliance, turn it off at the outlet. Leaving the space, it is possible to grow herbs and room? Switch off the light. If your device is fully charged, unplug it and smaller crops. Swap turn the charger off at the socket. excess produce with These small changes will reduce your carbon footprint, as well as chip family and friends or within a little bit off your electricity bill. the local community.”
3. Use rechargeable batteries You’ll quickly recover the initial outlay and never be caught without batteries again. You won’t have to pay to replace dead batteries and you’ll keep them out of landfill, along with all the packaging.
4. Cycle or walk on your daily commute Beneficial for your wellbeing and savings on transport costs and emissions. What’s not to love?
5. Eat seasonal fruit and vegetables Buying food when it’s at its peak supply usually translates to affordability. 18
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Composting food scraps also reduces waste and helps your beautiful veggie patch to flourish.
6. Air dry your clothes We know this can be difficult in the Winter months but avoid using expensive tumble dryers to dry clothes. Air-drying clothes indoors or outdoors is free and uses less energy. Tammy explains that hanging clothes outside has other benefits. “UV does kill (some) bacteria that it directly contacts. Ensure there are no creases or crevices that the sunlight can’t hit and be sure to only bring them in once completely dry.”
how to save money AND the planet 7. Think before you buy Lowering your consumption for things is one of the most significant ways to reduce your carbon footprint, and of course, save a lot of money. Find out whether you can borrow something rather than buy. Our daughter recently rented a gorgeous dress for her year 12 formal at a fraction of the cost it would’ve cost to buy. And clothes aren’t the only thing you can share around. Street libraries are communitybased book exchanges and several have popped up on the Mornington Peninsula in recent years. The miniature libraries (built using recycled materials) operate on an honesty system allowing people to borrow from the library and donate their pre-loved books. If your child is starting high-school soon, the Sustainable School Shop is a cost-effective, eco-friendly place to source secondhand text books.
8. Make your own cleaning products Commercial cleaning products can be full of toxic ingredients and are usually packaged in plastic. “Research some great DIY recipes for cleaning products and buy the raw ingredients in bulk,” says Sarah “Split the cost with a few friends and spend an afternoon together making them.”
9. Reduce your waste We want to preface this by saying be kind to yourself. No-one expects you to be perfect and although aiming for zero waste would be the ideal, making small changes every day will make a big difference to the environment and your wallet. “Less landfill equals less toxic gas emissions and water pollution, recycling and buying recycled products lessens the need to draw on our Earth’s natural resources,” explains Andrea Roving Refills Frankston is a refill service for, amongst other things, your used shampoo and cleaning product bottles. The best part? You’re refilling them with environmentally-friendly products.
10. Plan out your eco-friendly purchases You don’t have to change everything all at once. “Eco-friendly products are an investment that will soon pay themselves off and start saving you money. Make a list of what changes you want to achieve and, week by week, tick one-off. That way you won’t feel like you are blowing the budget,’ recommends Sarah So, going green and making more environmentally-friendly choices doesn’t need to cost the earth. A few simple practical changes can make a big difference.
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.
www.peninsulakids.com.au
19
Seasonal eating By Sherrie Miller
O
ften, I see on social media, people saying, “Hey supermarkets! Stop selling overseas fruit and veg. Support our farmers and stock Australian grown only!” What they don’t realise is, if you require asparagus in winter, you won’t find an Australian-grown product. It’s not in season. For whatever reason, supermarkets are clearly responding to a demand for certain produce to be available all year round, so they import it when the Australian season ends. As consumers, we shouldn’t be demanding produce all year round, as it doesn’t benefit us. If you see fruit or vegetables from the USA, or Peru or Mexico – it’s because it’s no longer in season here in Australia. So just don’t buy it. continued next page...
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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benefits What are the nally? of eating seaso Freshness and Flavour
Varied Diet for Varied Gut Bacteria
Eating something fresh, crisp and full of flavour is a much more enjoyable experience than eating something that is bland and lacks texture. When something is fresh, we notice how delicious it is, leaving us wanting more. If we eat something that has travelled many miles to get to us or kept in a storage facility for months, it just wont taste the same and puts us off wanting to eat it again. Eating something picked straight off a tree or straight out of the garden bed wins in freshness and flavour, hands down.
Eating seasonally and rotating your fresh produce benefits the microbiome in your gut. Fibre in our fruit and vegetables assist in feeding and strengthening our good gut bacteria, and our gut bacteria may also change as the seasons do. Some bacteria will thrive on raw vegetables that we tend to eat more in summer, whereas in winter certain strains of gut bacteria may benefit from starchy root vegetables.
More Nutrients As soon as produce is picked from its plant, the nutrients within that food immediately begin to break down. All fruit and vegetables obtain their nutrients from the soil that the plant is grown in. The richer and more nutrient-dense the soil, the more nutrient-dense the produce. Hence when growing our own food, it’s always advisable to first prepare and feed the soil to produce the best yielding crop. Eating fruit and vegetables that have travelled long distances and stored for weeks or months before hitting our supermarket shelves, are losing their nutrients daily. Heat, light and oxygen also contribute to the destruction of nutrients. Spinach for instance loses two-thirds of its vitamin C within a week of harvest. In many cases, fruits and vegetables are picked when not ripe in order to survive transportation; therefore the nutrient profile hasn’t reached its full potential as it would at the plant ripening stage. We eat fruit and vegetables for their nutrition, to enhance our health, and you won’t reap those nutrition rewards when they have spent weeks and months getting from farm to table. To get the most out of your fruit and vegetables nutritionally, the best option is to buy locally grown, direct from the farmers. And it helps the farmers financially by taking out the middle-man – the big chain supermarkets. We are so fortunate to live here on the Mornington Peninsula to source locally-grown produce through farm gate sales or local farmers markets.
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A healthy gut influences a healthy immune system and a healthy mind. A healthy gut ultimately ensures that all nutrients from our food get to where they need to go within the body for overall optimal wellbeing.
Save Money When fruit and vegetables are in season, the abundant supply usually drives the price down. Imported produce will come at a higher price. Supermarket buying power may influence cost compared to local farmer prices, but across the board, seasonal produce is more cost effective than non-seasonal.
Mother Nature Just Knows Our body requires different nutrients throughout the seasons and Mother Nature knows it. A proper balance of nutrients all year round is of course necessary for health, but our bodies crave or require various nutrients as we live through the seasons. We tend to desire root vegetables, warming casseroles or a bowl of hot porridge in winter, rather than chugging down a cold green smoothie on a 6-degree morning.
Spring - Fruit
Spring - Vegetables
apple, asparagus, avocado, banana, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherry, cumquat, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi fruit, lemon, lime, loquat, lychee, mandarin, mango, orange, papaya, pineapple, rhubarb, strawberries, starfruit, tangelo, watermelon
artichoke, asian greens, avocado, beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chilli, corn, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, fennel, garlic, ginger, leek, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onion, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, radish, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, spring onion, squash, swede, sweet potato, tomato, turnip, watercress, zucchini
Conversely, we enjoy the cooling elements of cucumber or watermelon during the hot summer months. We know winter to be the season of colds and flu and Vitamin C is an essential nutrient to fight virus infections. Mother Nature provides us with seasonal winter citrus fruits, rich in Vitamin C, because we need to ramp up our intake to fight infections. In summer, being a lot more active and spending more time out in the sun, we lose water and electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, through sweating. We need to replenish out water and electrolyte loss and summer fruits that include berries, mangoes, cherries, watermelon and bananas, are rich in these electrolytes.
Note: Some seasonal fruits and vegetables are available during other seasons because of greenhouse growing. This may affect their nutritional status during non-season growing. Others will be available later in the spring season, and some will only be available early in spring, coming out of the winter season. Sherrie Miller is a qualified Nutritionist with a special interest in gut health. She is passionate about the way in which our digestive health can influence our mental health, skin health and immunity. Sherrie takes the concept of ‘Food is Medicine’ very seriously. You can find out more on instagram @sherriemillernutrition
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By Agata Pedzik
Establishing Good
I
n the winter issue of Peninsula Kids we discussed how children learn through the subconscious mind. This is described by Dr Bruce Lipton, the author of “The Biology of Belief� as early life programming. This learning process happens through observing and copying the behavior of the care givers. The parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers and older siblings are the role models kids follow. It is this early life programming that shapes our unconscious mind which will determine how we perceive life and determine the choices we make. This applies to every aspect of life from building self-esteem to how we manage stress, make decisions and dietary choices. Food habits develop early in life and this should not be ignored. We are what we eat. Every atom that makes up our body comes from the food we ingest and every biochemical reaction that sustains our life depends on the nutrients that come from food. The awareness about healthy food choices and how important diet is to our wellbeing is growing but applying it can be challenging so understanding the subject can help these changes.
There are several reasons why healthy diet is essential for our little ones. Naturally, the fast-growing body needs proper nutrition as the content of food becomes the building blocks for every cell, tissue, organ, and brain development. Taste develops when a child starts to eat solids, so it is important to introduce a toddler to whole, fresh, home-prepared foods because these preferences stay for life.
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Another reason for establishing good dietary habits is that microbiome, formed by strains of probiotic microorganisms in our intestine, develops by three years of age and it very much depends on the diet during this period. A plant-based, fibe-rich diet supports populating the gut with healthy strains of bacteria, while processed foods, high in refined carbohydrates and sugar promote overgrowth of microbes unfavourable to our health. Modern scientific research confirms that our overall health depends on these probiotic micro-organisms which playa major role in our immune system development and function, digestive system efficiency, body composition and shape, neurotransmitters production determining our moods, and even personality traits and supporting many other important functions in the body. Obesity and all related chronic diseases are on the rise in our western society and so are behaviour and mood disorders among all age groups including children and teenagers. It is only wise to prevent the health issues before they develop and a very significant aspect of prevention is ensuring the early life healthy dietary selections as excessive weight in childhood predispose for lifelong struggles with body weight. By serving healthy meals at home children learn what the diet should consist of and they develop tastes and preference for these wholesome foods. Tastes and smells are also connected to emotions
Dietary Habits and we are more likely to reach for foods that we associate with security, comfort, being nurtured and taken care of. If this comfort food in childhood was a fast food or a packet of potato chips or a chocolate bar eaten in front of a TV, this is what we are likely to reach for later in life. In turn, if comfort is associated with sharing a homemade meal with a family, we will follow these patterns. But where do we start? Busy parents can be overwhelmed by professional and parental responsibilities and the information what healthy diet should consist of can be confusing. Here are some practical suggestions to help you make better dietary choices.
carbohydrates from foods such as bakery products, pasta, rice, corn and sweets. Make the diet predominantly plant-based with fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruit, nuts and seeds. If the vegetables are not organically grown, wash them thoroughly under running water to remove any residues of agricultural chemicals. -Chose simple recipes with few ingredients to minimize preparation time. Use spices in cooking to make the dishes interesting; they not only add to the taste but also have many health benefits. Find a number of recipes that will satisfy the taste of everyone in the family and rotate every two to four weeks so there is a variety of flavours and nutrients. If time is an issue, cook for two days. It is better to eat last nights leftovers than an unhealthy takeaway.
-Make it simple as a healthy diet is not rocket science and should be a -Stock the pantry and fridge with healthy, whole foods only; if there natural part of lifestyle rather than an overthought effort. Involve your is no junk food around you can’t reach for it. Avoid children’s exposure child in the whole process from shopping at a local vegetable shop or to advertisements of processed foods and drinks. farmers market, avoiding shops with processed, packaged foods, in choosing healthy recipes and food preparation. Make it an enjoyable -Make children’s lunchboxes interesting and colourful with experience without too much hassle. vegetables and fruit rather than packaged, over-processed products. Fresh fruit is the best way to satisfy their sweet tooth and sweets should -Remember that proteins and fats, minerals, vitamins and only be an occasional treat. phytonutrients from plants are all essential for the structure and function of the body. Simple carbohydrates such as refined grains, starches and sugars are only calories for energy production and are Agata Pedzik (BHSc) is a Life Coach and a practicing Naturopath in Mt Eliza, not needed for body composition. Consume a minimum amount of Surrey Hills and Montrose.
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I have just separated..... When contemplating the path to separation and beyond, there are so many aspects to consider that it can seem overwhelming. Here are 10 things to keep in mind when you separate. By Kate Gordon
1. Remain calm The decisions you make now may have important consequences later. Try not to make decisions in haste. That said, if the safety of you or your children is at risk, do seek immediate assistance from the police. 26
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2. Consider counselling Counselling can help parents to work through parenting issues or other problems resulting from separation. This can be either individual or joint, and may assist the parties to work through the issues in a supportive and non-adversarial environment.
What should I do now? 3. Consider mediation A mediator is a third party who meets with you and your spouse/partner to help find a solution to your dispute. It is good idea to seek legal advice before attending mediation. If you reach an agreement during a mediation session, your lawyer can assist you to formalise the agreement. This way you know that your agreement will be enforceable by the Court.
4. Seek legal advice A family lawyer will be able to give you the information you need to act in your own best interests. Most matters can be settled by negotiation, without the need to go to Court.
7. Seek legal advice about where you can live Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to obtain a Court order that gives you sole use and occupation of your home. If you or your children are not safe in your home, you should consider leaving your home and seeking assistance from the police and a family lawyer. Whether or not you stay in your home will not adversely affect your entitlement to your home. Remember to take your personal papers and important documents (e.g. marriage and birth certificates, passports, registration papers) if you decide to leave your home. If you need to go back to get your personal papers or belongings but are afraid, you can ask the police to accompany you.
Do not rely on the experience of friends and relatives who have had relationship problems. Every situation is unique. Lawyer’s fees vary from firm to firm. Your lawyer must provide you with a costs estimate up-front and provide you with regular cost updates.
5. Keep copies of all documents and letters Keep all records that relate to your financial circumstances and correspondence from your lawyer in a safe place. Take them to work or leave them with someone you trust.
6. Change all your passwords Change your bank PIN numbers, internet and telephone banking passcodes to ensure money cannot be withdrawn from your account. You should also change your email and social media passwords and ensure you have strict privacy settings in place.
This information provides you with a general guide to get you through those first few weeks or months of separation, but do consider seeking legal advice at an early stage to assist with what is typically a difficult and emotional process.
8. If your home is not in your name If ownership of your home (or other property) is not in your name, seek legal advice from a family lawyer about protecting your interest in your home.
9. Change your will
If you have separated from your spouse/partner, you should make a new will as soon as possible.
Separation does not automatically invalidate the provisions of your will that relate to your former spouse/ partner. This means that, in the absence of a new will, your former spouse/partner may be entitled to benefit under your estate even if you do not wish this to occur. Upon divorce, any provision in your Will that relates to your former spouse becomes invalid. You should therefore make a new will.
10. Keep things as civil as possible
It is important to be polite in all communication with your former spouse/partner. Keep things as friendly as possible for the sake of you and your children.
Kate Gordon is a Principal Lawyer at Village Family Lawyers. We provide personalised family law advice and solutions to clients across the Mornington Peninsula, Frankston and Bayside regions. Conveniently located in Mt Eliza, Village Family Lawyers offers a practical and holistic approach to help its clients to move forward after separation. www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au 27
Is Your Child a Hoarder? By Jo Carmichael
Eunique. Many people – adults and kids are ‘clutter blind’ – they verybody’s view and perception of tidiness and organisation is
just don’t ‘see’ the piles of toys, games or clothing strewn around the room as clutter. They just see it as ‘things’.
Many children enjoy collecting things – toy cars, packets of trending toys from the supermarket, or sets of cards. We need to strike a happy balance on where and how much they can keep, fairly neatly, in the family home without encroaching too painfully on other family members’ boundaries. In this article we are not talking about adults or kids who hoard large amounts of often broken or dirty items inside the home in ways that are not conducive to family living. A psychologist who is skilled in dealing with hoarding and the syndrome is the best person to advise us in this instance. Simply throwing hoarders’ things away can be a backward step. The following suggestions are to help the ‘clutter blind’ or messier child to be tidier and organised.
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DECLUTTER & SORT THEIR CLOTHING. Start in their bedroom by showing them the clothes in their cupboard or on the floor. Check to see if the clothes are the right size and if they suit them. Remove any that they have outgrown or dislike and will not wear. If the outgrown clothes are being kept for a younger sibling or relative, or are special occasion clothes, put them up on a higher shelf. Make the lower shelves in their room or area available for their everyday clothing and attire – the less there, the easier it is for them to be put away, and to find. Putting their out-of-season clothing up higher can also help them to have a less cluttered environment in the bedroom, which can set them up for a good start to the day.
DECLUTTER & SORT THEIR TOYS & BOOKS. Again, start in the bedroom, then move onto the play areas or living areas of the house. Give this child, and any others, their own shelf or basket in the family areas to keep their toys in. Remove any items from this ‘clutter blind’ child’s shelf or basket that they no longer like or want. This should leave them only with things that are special to them. Remind them as they are special, they need to be placed back when not in play. Those are the rules. Work together: instead of being the 'enemy' be the helping hand. Rather than getting frustrated with the 'clutter blind', work as a team to help sort through their things together and remind them to put them away. Provide encouragement and reassurance; this will make the decluttering process a positive one not only for now, but into the future as well.
10 May 2019. Revisit the box on that day for a decision, and if the child is no longer fond of it, it can be moved on. If it’s a sentimental item, it could be kept in a ‘keepsakes’ box, but not on the kitchen bench in the way of everyday living.
Decluttering specialist Jo Carmichael takes your home from messy and cluttered, to organised and stylish, whether you’re selling or staying. Jo is a Professional Organiser, who declutters homes in preparation for sale. All Sorted Out works with Real Estate Agents and property Stylists to ensure vendors achieve the maximum price for the sale of their property. www.allsortedout.com.au
Once you have made progress in one room- the bedroom- help them to organise and make a place for their things in other rooms. I often find children are happy to let go of things like dressy clothing that is uncomfortable, while as a parent we are wanting to hang onto it: it was an expensive purchase, they’ll need it later in the year etc. If you can’t remove this item, put it up on a higher shelf out of the way. Learn to strike a happy medium.
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Delegate areas. Help them to keep their things in one specific area delegated to them. Having a space limitation will not only help them understand what they can and cannot fit, it will also help them from over populating ‘off limit’ areas of the home with their stuff. Having delegated areas will also help them and you feel better by knowing they have an area that's all for them.
CREATE A BAG DROP. Make an area to keep their bag, be it for preschool or school. This is where they can park their bag, hat, and those essential items which are used when exiting the house. Make it a tub or basket so things are contained, with less likelihood of being lost. If they drop their bag elsewhere remind them to move it back to its parking spot. Make a similar parking spot for your own bag, to lead by example. Think about it. When decluttering and sorting, if your child is undecided about giving away or keeping an item, give them a ‘think about it’ box. Start with baby steps so you don’t overwhelm them. Place items that they are unsure about into this box, and leave it there for a set time –say 10 days. Put the date on the box:
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Why we need to teach our kids about
By Bryce Holdaway
M
any of us are all-too-familiar with the egg and spoon balancing act of being a parent. At times, it can feel like we missed the memo and all the other mum and dads out there got the “The Secret Formula to Parenting” manual and we didn’t!
Every time we tap and go with no explanation, we teach our kids - who are looking up at us - that a plastic card is what buys us things
The truth is, while being a parent is one of the most rewarding and amazing things you can ever do in life, it’s equally just as hard to figure out if you’re on the right track to raising curious, kind and clever people who’ll grow up to be tomorrow’s contributing members of society.
account to another through online banking, as well as upload our highlights reel so our friends and family can see, not just what we’re up to, but also how our “status” stacks up.
Sure, this digital age has made our lives more connected and convenient, but it has also come at price. The cost? Every time we tap and go with no explanation, we teach our kids — who are looking up at as — that a plastic card is what buys us things. Every time we tell the cashier to “Put it on credit, thanks” we teach our kids — who are really good listeners when they want to be — that they can have whatever they want without first working for it.
Add to the mix that it’s our job as parents, not only to make sure our kids can hold a fork but also that they’ll be financial responsible when we’re And every time we try to “Keep up with the Joneses”, we teach our kids not there to pick up the bill. — who always pay more attention to what we do than what we say — to value materialistic possessions over true, holistic wealth. Where are parents going wrong? The real cost? Our kids are learning our bad money habits. At first glance, the most common reason we avoid teaching our kids But that’s only half of it. In the digital age they’re growing up in, only 8% of all the money around the world is actually physical cash — the rest is digital money. Why’s that significant? Well, unless they’re exposed to physical money on a regular basis, our But a quick lift of the bonnet reveals that the core of the problem has less kids could miss the important lessons about the value of money to do with a desire to teach them and more to do with lack of confidence itself, such as; What is it?; How does it work?; How do we earn it?; Why is it a limited resource?; Why do we make trade-offs with it?; in our ability to manage money ourselves. and so on. The fact is, we have record levels of household debt in Australia, Add to the fact that they are a generation raised on immediate including over $30 billion dollars in credit card debt, and the vast responses and short term gratification, and you gain a greater majority of us hard-working mums and dads will retire on less than we appreciation of the challenges of managing expectations. did when we received our first entry-level pay check. money lessons — everything from the food on their plate to their beloved iPad was paid for with mum and dad’s money, which was made in exchange for mum and dad’s time — seems simple as so much of our energy is consumed in simply just keeping our kids alive and smiling!
In other words: today’s parents, with easy access to credit and a new What can we do to fix it? reliance on paying with plastic, have lost the ability to effectively The fact is most households don’t generate enough money to have it manage their own money. Sadly, while most of us believe that having a all. Education is key — and by education we mean our kids need to “little bit left over each month” means we’re financially ‘okay’, what we’re understand the context, trade-offs and consequences of our decision often doing is modelling an inferior pathway for our kids to follow. making surrounding money. Teaching kids the value of money also means us parents need to understand the difference between what’s How did we get to this point? ‘our money’ and what’s not; i.e. ‘debt/credit’. There’s no doubt about it: “Keeping up with the Joneses” is arguably harder than ever before. At no point in history have we had such a dependence on technology or had our private lives so visible to the outside world as we do today. With one click of a button, our electronic devices can simultaneously transfer invisible money from one invisible 30
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
We get that there’s complexity to each households’ solution, but as parents, we can improve how we manage our own money and open up a transparent dialogue that’s relevant to our kids, which they can comprehend and learn from.
Top 5 tips to teach your kids about money Lead by Example Get your own finances in order by implementing a money management system, so you have a clearer picture and spend within your means
Teach them ‘stuff’ costs money Let kids pay for things. If you’ve got physical cash, help them count out the total and hand it over to the cashier. Explain what’s happening when you use your debit card
Explain opportunity cost “If you buy that Lego kit, you won’t have enough to buy the game console – the trade-off”
Stress the importance of delayed gratification Get them to save up for what they really want so they appreciate it more
Introduce them to compound interest when young Teach your kids that money invested makes more money for you
Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley are two of Australia’s leading finance experts and educators who have most recently co-authored their second #1 Bestselling book, Make Money Simple Again, a no B.S. how-to-guide on their simple but effective 7-step family budgeting system. Find out more at www.tpc.moneysmarts.com.au
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Children & Mobile
Best Parental Control App for iPhone There are actually a couple because the test results change depending on the age of the child in question. For younger kids, the best one available is Mobichip. For kids who are older and in high school and above, the well-known Covenant Eyes comes out on top.
Best Parental Control App for Android The best parental control app for Android is Zift Parental Control with Net Nanny Filter. This has excellent filters and a great overall design. It is also pretty good on the iPhone. For more comprehensive information about internet safety for kids and how to keep them safer online visit www.vpnstreamer.com.au/ internet-safety-for-children 32
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Devices By Peter McBryde
What age should a kid have a phone?
Screen time by the numbers
Television
This can vary because some kids are more developed, and it may be a case of asking if your child actually needs a phone for other things apart from using them for social media or gaming. It is now fact that over 50% of kids under the age of 8 have their own cell phone. In some cases, if kids are not always with parents, then a cell phone is good mobile security.
TV is children’s main form of screen time, accounting for about 60%
The average time kids spend daily on their cell phones is only around two hours. However, when kids use them at meal times or while eating in restaurants then this is a situation of kids using phones too much. The definition of screen time may say a certain amount of time is too much, but when they do interfere with other aspects of family life, it is way too much.
likely to have parents with low levels of education, a TV in their bedroom, and no household rules limiting TV viewing.
How much time is too much?
How much screen time should a child have daily?
The recommendations are still the same at two hours per day, for the age over 5; under this one hour per day is recommended. However, reports are showing that some kids are spending around seven hours per day of screen time. [Source: aifs.gov.au/publications/childrens-screen-time]
Children’s screen time Key findings A majority of Australian children are spending more than the recommended two-hour daily limit for screen time (watching television, on computers and playing electronic games). At 4–5 years old, children average more than two hours screen time per week-day. By 12–13 years old, this increases to more than three hours average per week-day and almost four hours per weekend day. This means that up to 30% of a child’s waking time is spent in front of a screen. The study found that children who engage in physical activities that they enjoy, will tend to also spend less time in front of screens.
of total screen time.
By 13 years of age, the daily average was 150 minutes watching TV compared to 60 minutes on a computer and 45 minutes gaming.
TV viewing is higher on weekends than on weekdays. Children who watch TV for more than two hours a day are more The more TVs there are in a house, the more likely a child is to watch excessive TV.
Around 60% of 4–5 year olds reported having more than two household TVs.
Around 20% of 6–7 year olds have a TV in their bedroom; at 12–13 years old this climbs to 45%.
Electronic games and computers As children get older, their computer and electronic game time increases. The percentage of children spending at least one hour per weekday on a computer or gaming increases from 25% at 6 years of age to 53% by 11 years. This may be due to increased availability of devices, but perhaps also to increased computerbased homework.
Children spend more time on computers and games on the weekend. Boys play more games than girls, with 85% of 12–13 year boys gaming for at least an hour per weekend day, compared to 58% of girls.
From Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, 2015 Report LSAC Annual Statistical Report 2015 chapter— September 2016
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PURSUING PERFECTION By Lynne Cazaly
T
wo parents were chatting about the endless time spent, creating costumes for their daughters for a school event. One said, ‘That’s how I show her I love her; it’s what my mum did for me.’ So here’s the question: are you trying to make the things you do for your children and family better, because you think what you’ve done isn’t ‘good enough’ yet? continued next page...
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We need to talk about the increasing problem of the pursuit of perfect, because ‘not good enough yet’ thoughts have a connection to perfectionism. We’ve been brought up with cultural and social expectations that place value on achievement and excellence. Yet we’re experiencing some of the highest levels of stress, depression, anxiety and other ailments than ever before. What’s the danger with perfectionism? As PhD researchers Thomas Curran and Andrew Hill say, perfectionism is ‘an irrational desire to achieve along with being overly critical of oneself and others.’ They gathered data from over 41,000 people and found that perfectionism is increasing, at alarming levels.
Go for good enough Polly, a mum of teenagers says, ‘Being a good enough parent works for me. I had post-natal depression after my second child, who didn't sleep through the night for years and I was also struck with an autoimmune condition, restricting my abilities to walk, lift and carry things. 'The idea of being 'good enough' served me well at this time. And I’ve continued it as a way of parenting.’
Societal: we perceive that society expects us to reach certain standards
Dr Harriet Braiker, clinical psychologist and author of the book ‘The Disease to Please’ said, 'Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.’ And this is the thing; we need to see when we’re going for something that’s good enough – that will do, practical, it will work - versus the tiring, endless push for perfect. Polly learned, ‘Letting go of perfection helped me achieve more in a manageable way. My children are more self-sufficient too which helps them do well in life.’
Other oriented: we have high standards for others.
What to look out for:
Three types of perfectionism There’s more than one kind of perfectionism: Self-oriented: we set unrealistically high standards for ourselves
All three are increasing, with the second, societal, increasing by 33%.
Don’t get dragged into the expectation game As Alex, mum of two said, 'We already feel guilt for things we haven’t done the way we’d like, so why put more pressure on ourselves from someone else’s standards? I need to make sure my children enjoy, say, a healthy school lunch box. But does it need to include organic carrots grown in our own backyard? Or home-fermented kombucha? Come on, that’s crazy; it’s too much pressure and we’re getting dragged into a competitive game of expectations. You’ve got to live, create your own life, andparent in your own way.'
What is our behaviour teaching our children? Rather than perfect – with no clear standard or positive return – go for ‘good enough’. Author and women’s career coach, Kathy Caprino says perfectionism is a ‘learned, adaptive behaviour in our (own) childhood.’ Parenting is tough at the best of times but we also need to keep in mind how our behaviour – pursuing perfect, not happy with outcomes – influences our child’s values. The recent college admissions scandal in the United States shows how far parents will go to try to create perfect outcomes for children, rather than letting them learn, develop and make decisions for themselves. 36
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
• Notice when perfectionism crops up. It’s a habit built on a lifetime of automatic responses. • Be kinder to yourself, choosing a path of progress – getting things done that are ‘good enough’ - over a path of pursuing perfection which ends in stress and mental health issues. • Help your children identify and achieve ‘good enough’ rather than perfection. What they learn now will have impacts later on in their lives. • If you’re thinking that something isn’t ‘good enough’ yet, check yourself; pause and think what the standard is you’re going for. It likely is already good enough! We can reward our own and our children’s efforts and attitudes over striving for the unreachable perfection. While we know that perfectionism can develop in our childhoods, it can cause more issues later on that we weren’t ever intending. Let’s go for being ‘good enough’ parents right now, rather than the pain of perfection felt later.
Lynne Cazaly is a keynote speaker and adviser on new ways of working. She helps businesses think and work in ways that are more productive, collaborative, creative and effective. She is the author of ‘ish: The Problem with our Pursuit for Perfection and the Life-Changing Practice of Good Enough’ ($24.95). Find out more at www.lynnecazaly.com
We’ve been brought up with cultural and social expectations that place value on achievement and excellence. Yet we’re experiencing some of the highest levels of stress, depression, anxiety and other ailments than ever
before.
P R O U D L Y B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y T H E U N T O L D E V E N T S C O.
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April 2018
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By Sylvia Puentes
H
ow many times have you wondered how to have less of a struggle when it comes to parenting? What if you could be at ease with your children, no matter what’s going on?
As parents we often spend so much time judging ourselves, analyzing every choice we make, seeing where we’ve got things “wrong” and constantly trying to change so that we might become the “perfect” parent.
Invite more intimacy. Gratitude is considered to be one of the five elements of intimacy. The other four are honor, trust, allowance, and vulnerability. What if you could have all of these with your children?
These elements aren’t always what we think they are. Allowance isn’t about granting your children permission for anything and everything, but rather allowing them to be and explore who they are without It seems counterintuitive, but what if you began to search for what’s right judgment. Deciding and defining who or what your children should be also prevents you from truly honouring them. about you as a parent? Have you acknowledged everything you’re already doing that works for you and your family? What if you stopped Vulnerability is about being present when anything shows up for judging yourself? you or your child without worrying if you’re getting it right or wrong. It’s actually a tremendous strength to acknowledge anything that’s Here are my tips to help parents avoid self-judgement and happening for you, whether it is a difficult situation or a tender moment. striving for perfection, and parenting with ease and enjoyment Your children will trust you more when they can experience you and without the fight. without any barrier, and it will teach them by example the power of Increase gratitude. vulnerability and all of the elements of intimacy. When you judge the people in your life, from your partner, to your Ask questions. children, or even the people you work with, you stop seeing them as So often we react to what we assume is an issue, blinded by our filters valuable. If you have gratitude for them instead, you begin to see their and prejudgements of ourselves or our child. Asking questions, whether value in ways you didn’t recognise before. aloud or simply to yourself, can assist in getting better clarity on what What if, even in challenging moments, you increased your gratitude exactly is going on. When we ask a question, one that isn’t based on for your children? It’s impossible to be grateful and angry or upset at judgment or assumption, we gain awareness of a situation and what the same time. With more gratitude, you create more space to respond we can choose to do with it. differently. Showing gratitude towards the people in your life not only One question that’s particularly useful in intense moments is, “What’s alleviates the compulsion to fight; it also generates an atmosphere of right about this that I’m not getting?” Rather than going straight to a more ease and enjoyment for everyone. problem, look at the ways you can turn it into a positive, a teaching
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moment or a means to learn and grow. This stops you from jumping to judgement or giving up, and opens you up to the different choices you have available to you.
Trust yourself. What if you began to ask for what you know would work with your children and family? What if you trusted yourself more and tapped into what you know, rather than constantly turning to experts, family members and friends? This requires a trust of yourself and your awareness. What is it that works for your family that’s different from what anyone else might be doing? It may be totally outside the box. Trust what you know. While seeking advice from others can be helpful, remember that at the end of the day it’s your family.
Include you. Do you have the five elements of intimacy with yourself? What if you trusted and honoured yourself? What if you were grateful for you, had total allowance for you, and were vulnerable with yourself? What would this create for your family? You can’t truly have ease and enjoyment with your family without including yourself in the process. What could you add to your life that would bring you more joy? Including you does not mean you exclude anyone else. It actually creates more space for everyone.
Be willing to outmanipulate. As much as we love our children, we have to be clever and outmanipulate them. Manipulation isn’t an unkindness; it’s just a tool for creating a different possibility. Children are savvy and get to know your special buttons to get what they want. What can you say, be, or do to out create their manipulation? Are you clear on what you truly would like to create with your child?
You can’t truly have ease and enjoyment with your family without including yourself in the process.
Parenting doesn’t have to be a struggle. What if it could be easier than you ever considered? Practice these tips and see what shows up!
Sylvia Puentes is an international speaker, author, empowerment coach, trainer and Being You Adventures Facilitator. She contributes tools and techniques that can transform any area of life. Her work also includes courses in Public Speaking, Leadership and Employee engagement and working with everyone from school kids, to private clients to bilingual employees in large companies. www.beingyouadventures.com
April 2018
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By Olivia Wilson
I
’ve always wanted to enjoy sport, but I’ve never been particularly good at it! I took part because I had to, or because someone else dropped out! I had an awful sports teacher (think Mrs Trunchball) who had exceptionally hairy legs, enormous hands and used to threaten to hang us from the ceiling by our toenails! (True story!) Safe to say she never filled me with enthusiasm! I was always too terrified of letting her down, or worse, making her cross, that I don’t think I ever chose to join a team.
I am thrilled that she has taken to sport, and not just because I was terrible at everything! Mainly it's because this is the first time I have understood what team sport can do for a child’s confidence, selfesteem and general wellbeing. Poppy doesn’t like to be away from my side and suffers with PTSD. It’s been a tough few years for her, for us, for school, for everyone in our lives! However, since joining her first netball team she has crept out of her shell, little by little, and her confidence has blossomed.
Thankfully this hasn’t been the same for my daughter! She is sport mad, and for good reason too!
As clichéd as it sounds, sport has literally changed my girl’s life, and truthfully, that’s due to her coaches. They have loved her, taught her,
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encouraged her, been patient with her, corrected her, believed in her, supported her, praised her, put her in her place, and given her the confidence I think she needs to move further in her life. They have been like another mother, only better!! I underestimated what committing to sport could do: I never considered I would stand, teary on the side-lines as my painfully anxious child elbowed her opponents out of the way so that she could slam the ball toward the goal. I never knew just what an incredible impact the love and dedication of a coach could have on a child’s outlook on life. When we send our children out to play sport, I think we dismiss just what goes into coaching the team. We brush over the fact that these people are volunteers, working to build up our children to be happy, confident, team players. Coaches are so much more than just a coach; they are positive role models for our children. We need to celebrate all team coaches, for taking our children on this magical journey. We need to thank them for getting out there every week in their free time. It’s not about the game, it’s so much more than that. It’s about all the other wonderful things our children gain from playing sport. The friendships that are made in a team will be lifelong, just as the skills they learn will see them through life’s journey. We may struggle to get the children to training after work, we may find it bitterly cold on a Saturday morning, but the coach is always there, ready and waiting!! She plans the games, leads the girls, and guides them for no reward other than awesome results and a huge amount of respect from us all. Thanks to coaches, thousands of children will have a brighter future.
So next time you’re cheering from the side-lines, remember all the little things the coach is adding to your child’s life. All the things that maybe we miss whilst we’re chatting amongst ourselves. Those precious skills that only a coach can teach, all those great life skills our children will rely on forever, and the lessons they will turn to over and over again. As Magic Johnson once said “All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them”; and boy I am one happy Mumma that my girl gets this and more from her coach!
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
Swimming lessons from 6 months of age through to advanced swimmers, with small class sizes and long lanes. Join us at our 33oC Salt Water pool among the tree tops of Mt Martha.
Contact us on 03 5974 3400 to arrange your free trial assessment!
62 Forest Drive Mount Martha www.kiddieswim.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Smart Tips
FOR A PAINLESS TODDLER’S FIRST HAIRCUT
By Sarah Pelham
G
etting your toddler’s first haircut is a really big deal! The parents who’ve already been through this experience know that it’s usually not a smooth one. Little ones are, for some reason, scared when it comes to getting their hair trimmed. To avoid tears, sweat and a real nightmare, we’ve put together a list of smart and efficient tips that anyone can try.
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Use Snacks To Your Advantage Parents should be prepared for a bumpy ride while their toddler is on the chair. Bribing them with snacks and treats can be extremely helpful. A very smart tip is to have loads of snacks with you, and don’t forget to bring their favourites. Kids tend to be very active and move their hands around a lot during a haircut. Giving them snacks will keep their hands busy, and distract them at the same time. It might only last for a few minutes, but it’s still something. Sticky treats such as lollipops and candy can make things very messy, that is why you definitely want to avoid them. There are so many fun options that will make your visit to the hairstylist painless.
Apps Will Do The Job A lot of parents avoid using technology to distract their toddlers, but the first haircut can be an exception. Finding interesting apps on the phone or on your tablet can keep them amused during the whole process. It will save you time and nerves. Yes, staring at a screen is the last thing you want for your young child, but these are urgent times that call for urgent matters. Some of the cool apps you want to consider are Peekaboo Barn, Kapu Bloom Tunes, Bubbles, Endless Alphabet, My Talking Angela and more.
Favourite Toy Every single child has a favourite toy. Make sure to bring it with you when you’re headed for their first haircut. Even if you are doing it at home, having their bear, doll, car, will make them feel more secure and entertained at the same time. If you feel like the old toy won’t do the job, right before going to the hairdresser you can stop by a store and get them something new. It’s all about distractions and helping them forget about what’s happening while they’re on the chair.
The Tub Technique If you want to do the first trim yourself, why not do it in the tub? This is an advice given by experienced parents who’ve already tried it and found it to be very useful. Fill the tub with water, add toys and bubbles. Kids will have so much fun playing they won’t even notice you’re cutting the hair. This is a trick that works wonders for so many parents. You can mix it up with other tips, including adding a tablet with kids shows or a song in the background.
Pick The Right Hairdresser Location One of the things you should definitely use to your advantage is a kid-friendly hairdresser salon. These days there are specialized spots only for the youngsters which will make your whole experience amazing. The fact that they are equipped with cool seats in the shape of cars, planes, or a popular cartoon character is something that is very important for toddlers. Some places don’t even have mirrors right in front of the chair because it can be a triggering factor for the little ones. These salons also feature numerous screens that play children’s shows. Your child will be completely focused on the screens instead of crying their eyes out. Another thing about these specialized hairdressers is that they have so much experience and know exactly what to do.
Conclusion It doesn’t really matter if you’re planning on going to a hairdresser or doing it at home, cutting the hair of your toddler is a wild experience. There isn’t a secret that will help you calm the kids down, or make things easier for you. The golden rule is that you shouldn’t give up; instead experiment with different distraction techniques. If the first on this list is not working, try out the second one. Even mixing them up and using them all during the first visit can be of huge help. The haircut might not be perfect, but things will be much easier the next time.
Sarah Pelham is the Beauty & Wellness Expert for Bookwell.com.au, an online platform for instant bookings for hair, nails, beauty & massage appointments. For nearly four years Sarah has worked closely with hundreds of salon owners within the beauty and wellness industries. She has her finger on the pulse of new trends in this growing market.
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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a Moment in Time By Deanne Atkinson
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Enjoy your children while they are young; they grow up so fast and the time goes in a blink of an eye. W
ho hasn't had this said to them at one stage or another during motherhood? But when your baby is a newborn the days can be long and the nights even longer. How many of us are actually prepared for parenting? There is a huge responsibility that comes with looking after a tiny human being. So much preparation is put into the birth that often postbirth can be overlooked until you are in the thick of it, wondering what to do in the middle of the night with an unsettled baby. You can be overwhelmed with emotions questioning yourself like never before. I recall that the lovely elderly lady across the road told me when my first child was born that babies settle down when they are forty days old. So I ending up counting the days and nights with the belief I would get a full night’s sleep in forty days. Of course forty days came and went without any change. My baby would sleep through the night when he was ready. The next piece of advice was “When babies start to eat solids they are easier.” So, again, there was a cycle of looking forward to the next stage and not focusing on the present. It can become unhealthy to be so focused on what’s coming that you find yourself in survival mode just wishing the days away. The truth is babies change quickly, right before your eyes and the days and nights may feel long now but it is also a precious time and passes very quickly. Often we just need a shift in perspective to help us through. So many new mums feel like they are just on auto pilot, with a life revolving around nappy changing, feeding and sleeping. With changing hormones, emotions can play havoc and often new mothers feel completely overwhelmed
with all the demands. Major anxiety, resentment, sadness or aloneness can creep in. It’s easy to get lost in wishing away the days and moving towards an easier stage in parenting. If you are currently at a stage which feels challenging, try to find something in your day which brings delight, joy or amazement as well. It can be something small or insignificant but may be just what you need to uplift you and keep you present in the moment. For expectant mums and dads it is important to prepare for the time beyond the birth. How are you going to manage with the changes having a baby brings to your life? What support network do you have to call upon? How are you going to parent and do you agree on similar styles of parenting? Are there some issues you need to nut out now whilst life feels calm? There is more and more evidence that preparing for beyond the birth can help reduce feeling overwhelmed and anxious, especially in those first few months. Start with the basics: meal preparation, cleaning and household duties, lowering expectations or getting help to lighten the load. As a couple, have a discussion about how you both want to parent, what values are important to you both. Be open with feelings especially when you are struggling. As any mum with older children will say, the time does pass quickly and children do grow up so fast and time seems to race ahead the older they get. They seem to need you less and are often busy and so preoccupied with friends that perhaps you may even find yourself wishing for a long night of just cuddling them and wishing time would stand still as you soak up each and every moment.
Deanne Atkinson is the Founder of Parent with Passion and has a spiritual approach to parenting. Her Parenting Programs have become very popular and with her latest unique program just for first time pregnant Mums and Dads who want to prepare beyond birth. For more information head to www.parentwithpassion.com you can also join Deanne on Facebook or Instagram
www.peninsulakids.com.au
45
By Rebecca Fraser
N
ow, more than ever before, our world is in trouble. From climate change to deforestation, pollution to bee decolonisation, energy crisis, infectious disease, and beyond, Earth is feeling the impact of global warming and humankind’s irresponsibility on an unprecedented scale.
For adults, predictions for our future feel bleak, so we can only expect that children are experiencing the same sense of fear and helplessness. However, with a generation born into an age where they have always lived with the threat of global warming, many are determined to make change, fight for our planet, and shake up the system. It’s no surprise then, that the popularity of Climate Fiction (commonly abbreviated to Cli Fi) and Eco Fiction is on the rise. With plot lines, characters, and central themes influenced by issues of environment and sustainability, Cli Fi is an important way of communicating climate science through story. Several decades ago, some scenarios in today’s Cli Fi would be pure speculation … today, they’re our reality. Cli Fi and Eco Fiction provide entertaining and thought-provoking vehicles to bring awareness and hope to readers of all ages. While many storylines (especially YA and above) are set in a dystopian world, stories geared at middle grade readerships and below frequently imagine a renewable and sustainable future, bringing hope and positivity to often depressing subject matter. By making sense of global issues through story, fiction can help our kids better understand Earth’s threats, and help navigate their emotional responses to contemporary issues ranging from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the plight of orangutans, to the rising of sea levels, sustainability of resources, and the multitude of widespread issues impacted by climate change.. Thankfully there are many books for young readers that tackle big issues with heart and hope Try some of these titles for starters:
HOW TO BEE by Bren MacDibb In a world without bees, flowers are pollinated by children with feathery wands. Set in a future Australia, where the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is clearly realised, protagonist, Peony, will steal your heart. (Multi award-winner, inspired by the hand-pollinators of Hanyuan County in China's Sichuan province). 46
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How fiction can help kids THE DOG RUNNER by Bren MacDibble After an environmental catastrophe, a red fungus has swept Australia, destroying all grasses. Ella and Emery must escape the city to avoid starvation. But how can two kids travel such big distances across a dry, barren, and dangerous landscape? On a dogsled of course!
BLUEBACK by Tim Winton An emotive tale about Abel, his mother, and a fish. Longboat Bay, where they enjoy a self-sustainable lifestyle is under threat from developers. Abel’s mother lobbies hard to save the bay’s idyllic beauty, marine and fauna sanctuary, and protect her home. This delivers a powerful message about environmental sustainability.
NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Greta Thunberg The history-making, ground-breaking speeches of Greta Thunberg, the young activist who has become the voice of a generation.
THE BIG OLD RAMBUTAN TREE by Kathy Creamer A picture book centred around the unlikely relationship between a Sumatran tiger and an orangutan, desperate to survive the destruction of their rainforest home. Net proceeds go to Orangutan Outreach, protectors of orangutans and their habitat.
THE ANIMALS OF FARTHING WOOD by Colin Dann This classic follows a group of British woodland animals who are forced to flee their homes after developers destroy the wood. Published in 1979, what makes The Animals of Farthing Wood more poignant is some of the animals, such as the red-backed shrike, are now extinct, and others - like the adder, hare and voles - are under threat.
understand Earth’s threats. THE LAST WILD TRILOGY by Piers Torday Set in a world decimated by humans, animals are under threat from red eye disease that is slowly killing them. Main character, Kester, has a gift of communicating with animals and it is his mission to save them.
Rebecca Fraser operates StoryCraft Creative Writing Workshops for aspiring authors of every age and ability. Visit www.storycraftworkshops.com.au
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Granny's Guide
When your child won’t take part in activities By Yvette O’Dowd Photos Penny McKenzie and Natured Kids
I
t’s taken you hours to get organised and get here – and now you child won’t get down off your lap and participate!
Parents invest time and money enrolling their toddlers and preschoolers in organised, educational groups and classes. Playgroups, music groups, sensory play, story-time – millennial children have opportunities to fill every day and more. But what can you do if your little one resists engagement and prefers to watch? Well, firstly, it’s okay by the facilitator and other adults! Relax – its not just you or your child. It is very typical for small children to stay close to their caregiver in any new situation and especially so during the multiple periods of separation anxiety of the first couple of years. Early childhood educators are trained to expect this and would not want you to push your toddler or older child to participate. As for other parents or grandparents, they have likely been in the same situation, or in another activity, and they are on your side! Commonly, it takes a few sessions for children to feel at home in a new space, with new people, new sights and sounds. Anxiety is a normal response and staying close to a trusted adult is a typical response. Allow your child time to become familiar with the space and reassure them verbally and physically. There are other things you can do to help your child feel more comfortable: Arrive early if you can. Walking into an activity which has already
started is stressful for anyone. By arriving early, your child has time to meet the facilitator or teacher, see the space before many adults and children arrive, and experience the space before additional sounds and other stimuli are added. Guided by the leader, find a spot where you can observe others
arriving and talk to your child about what they are seeing: “Here comes a child with a blue shirt like yours”. “That child is sitting on a cushion like we are”. “That person has a baby like your sister”. Gentle observations, with no expectation of response from your child. If they point to something or make a comment, reflect that observation back to them: “Yes – that child has a teddy too”. If they comment on sights or sounds in the space, acknowledge these too: “Yes, the music is playing. It is loud”. “The children are running around. We are sitting down.”. Allow time to just observe. 48
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Participate yourself. Gently sing the welcome song while your child
sits on your lap. Take part in an activity holding your child on your hip or secure in a baby carrier. Talk to your child about what you are doing, what the teacher is doing, and what other families are doing. Allow your child the space to begin participating in any way they
wish. This might be gently bouncing on your lap instead of skipping around in the circle. It might be quietly making the animal sounds while everyone else acts them out more vigorously. Watch for subtle signs your child is engaged: a tapping foot when the music plays; rhythmic movement when others beat the drum; looking in the direction the teacher has indicated the children move to. Observation IS participation, just in a very subtle form. Encourage engagement with small parts of the session that seem
less overwhelming. If everyone is digging for bugs, sit with your child away from the main group and do a little digging yourselves. Watch the parachute go up and down while other children run under it and encourage your child to help you hold the edge. If everyone is painting rainbows, offer a pre-loaded paintbrush with just one colour and focus on that. Remember: process not product is most important. There will be plenty of make and take activities to put on the fridge one day – for now, focus on gentle experiences.
Follow up at home! This is my favourite way to engage reluctant
children. Reproduce some of the activities in the security of home. Sing the songs from class: ask the teacher or Google for the lyrics. Improvise instruments that replicate those used or invest in a couple of inexpensive items like egg shakers or bells. Find some scarves in your wardrobe or op shop. Go digging for bugs in your own garden. Borrow books from the library that have been featured in story-time. Get out some blocks. Water your own garden. Do some simple messy play – outside makes it less stressful for you! Use the sessions you attend as inspiration for play at home. Rather than thinking your child should be learning, consider the classes as lessons for you in playing with your child! If you find your child is still resisting participation a few weeks
into term, then consider other factors. Is it too close to nap time for your child? Are they hungry? Is the space too big or too small for them to feel comfortable? Would an indoor activity or an outdoor one! - suit them better? Are they more interested in building cubbies with sticks than towers with blocks? Dancing rather than singing? Art more than gymnastics? Sometimes it is the case of the right activity at the wrong time or the wrong activity at the right time! So, ask about different session times or explore alternative activities. Smaller groups. Quieter spaces. Different sensory stimulus.
Take a break for a term and try again.
If your toddler is experiencing high separation anxiety right now (getting two-year-old molars; recovering from illness; a new house or sibling or other big changes) it might be case of leave it for now and start over next term. Ask around if friends or family might take over your place in class or ask the teacher if there are families on a waiting list who might love your space! Its okay to revise and revisit activities: remember the activity is for the child. If it isn’t working, then they are not enjoying it or learning. At the end of the day, formal activities are additional to unstructured play at home. Classes and groups are as much about social connection for parents as they are learning opportunities for toddlers. They should be things you want to do, not something you feel you must do. Choose activities you feel comfortable engaging in – your child will pick up on your responses and if you are having fun, then they will start to as well. And before you know it, you will both be eager to get to class and take part in all the fun!
Yvette O’Dowd is not your typical grandmother! This mother of three and Granny of two has been a breastfeeding counsellor for more than 25 years. In 2014, Yvette established the Southern Natural Parenting Network, incorporating South Eastern Babywearing Group. With 8000 members world-wide, the group supports parents interested in breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, babyled weaning and modern cloth nappies – and other aspects of gentle, natural parenting. Yvette has lived in Frankston for 45 years. www.facebook.com/ SouthernNaturalParentingNetwork www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Celebrate
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
April 2018
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Party venue: Bayside Rock Climbing 9 Network Drive Carrum Downs Ph: 9775 1557 www.baysiderock.com.au
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Party bag candy: Sweet 1 Bayside Centre 28 Beach St, Frankston VIC Ph: 9769 6300
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Cake/Edible cake rocks: Nanny/Homemade Paracord keychains with carabiner: amazon.com.au
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Created in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a conglomeration of kindness organizations around the world, this Nov unofficial holiday encourages people to be kind to each other and spread happiness, joy, and peace through kindness.
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Considered to be a virtue, and valued in most societies and religions as an important quality, kindness is the act of being considerate, compassionate and empathetic towards other people and living beings.
Teddy Bear Day
A day to bring out all your teddy bears and thank them for their company, the fun times you have had with them, and for all the days and nights they comforted you. Thought to have been created in the early 20th century, this iconic toy owes its name to American President Theodore Roosevelt, who was lovingly called Teddy by his family and friends.
Sept
The story of why the toy came to be named after him dates back to a hunting trip in 1902 when Roosevelt refused to shoot an injured bear. Rumour has it that in response, Morris Michtom, a candy store owner in New York displayed two stuffed bears made by his wife in his display window and called them Teddy's bear.
Saturday
26 October
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International Coffee Day An unofficial holiday which celebrates one of the most popular beverages in the world - coffee.
The holiday also helps raise awareness about sustainable coffee cultivation and fair trade practices within the coffee industry. Before 2015 the day used to be celebrated on different dates in different countries. Coffee is a drink made from the seeds or berries of the coffee plant. As a beverage, it has been enjoyed by people around the world for many centuries. Historians believe that coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia but was cultivated on a large scale and traded for the first time by the Arabs.
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Looking for the ultimate way to celebrate a special day? Join us at Bayside Rock to celebrate with a Rock Climbing and Caving birthday party! Packages start from only $180. 9 Network Drive Carrum Downs P: 9775 1557 or visit www.baysiderock.com.au
The Ultimate The ultimatekids kids’show! show! Come on an adventure Come on an adventure full ofwith Magic and laughter full of magic and laughter Charlie SillyPants with Charlie and friends!and childcare. and friends.SillyPants Parties, preschool Parties, pre-school and childcare. Ph: 0411 957 185 www.melbournemadness.net p: 0411 957 185 or www.melbournemadness.net
KIDZTOWN PARTY VENUES
Mornington & Seaford
Kidztown
The biggest and most exciting themed kids party venue to hit the Mornington Peninsula. P: 8759 1431 or M: 0403 795 562 www.facebook.com/kidztownmornington
A unique and stylish experience. Hiring out handmade teepee’s,5 metre bell tent and outdoor cinema. Contact Kylie 0437 437 803 www.mydreamyteepee.com.au
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
Simplďż˝ Gorgeouďż˝ Blooms
Advertise on our Party Planning page
Mornington Hotel
Let us take care of your child’s next birthday party at the Mornington Hotel 917 Nepean Hwy Mornington Ph: 5975 2015 www.morningtonhotel.com.au
Simply Gorgeous Blooms
Every Girl Deserves Flowers On Her Birthday. Fun Flower Parties creating posy jars and flower crowns with some fun games and treats. We come to you, set up, have fun and even clean up at the end. Ph: 0447 513 000 www.simplygorgeousblooms.com www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By Erica Louise
#2 #1
An opportunity for your children to see their favourite book come to life
A trip to the theatre can cost less than a family outing to the cinema Live shows tend to be painted with the same theatrical brush. Some might think of trips to the theatre as an exorbitant outing, and that can be true if you choose a Broadway musical performing in the heart of your city. But theatre is far more than Broadway. Try comedies on for size, circus performances, historical plays, tribute acts, pantomime, fringe theatre and small stage productions. It is also worth noting that tickets to performances at regional theatres are far more affordable than their major city cousins. In some cases, a trip to a regional theatre show will cost less than a family outing to the cinema.
Imagine that. Your children’s favourite bedtime book brought to life on the stage in front of their eyes. This is a very special experience for your children who may otherwise only know their favourite characters in paper form: on the pages of a book. Famous books such as Eric Carl’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s Story Treehouse and some of Roald Dahl’s classics are often on the family theatre rounds and are very much loved by children.
#3 Children's theatre is designed for a younger audience Smaller theatre productions are much less intense and often a lot shorter than fanciful big name musical productions. Again, regional theatres offer these styles of intimate shows that are not as overwhelming, nor as lengthy as the performances showing in large multi-level theatres.
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Such shows are therefore a great way to begin your child’s journey into theatre. You can always work your way up to Broadway musicals at a later stage.
#4 Theatre is an all-encompassing sensory experience When your children watch a movie on a big or small screen, they are no doubt enjoying the characters, the storyline or the music of their chosen feature length film, but are they really immersed in the journey? Probably not. There’s a lot to be said for movie productions and indeed this involves a multitude of talent to complete. Theatre experts may argue, however, that the affect of a live performance is far greater on the senses than anything your children will see on a screen. Theatre introduces your children to stage lighting, live music and song, costumes and stage design in way they will never experience when watching stories on a screen. Audiences are taken on a magical sensory journey during a live theatre show: they are more likely to notice a stage actor’s facial expression, the way the stage set adapts, the sparkle in the stage star’s costume or the way the music changes to reflect the mood of the scene. Such sensory sightings complete a story in a way your children cannot possibly experience any other way.
#5
Possum Magic Theatre Family Pass Give Away P.66
Children’s theatre is interactive, informal and fun Don’t worry too much if your children won’t sit still during a theatre production. Youth theatre productions are designed for a child’s enjoyment. The length of live shows created for kids is shorter, often without intervals and many include interactive narratives to involve small members of the audience – which at times call upon everyone to get up on their feet to dance or sing. Theatres hosting children’s productions will understand that there may be more than a handful of little ones who have not experienced live theatre before. Some productions even host sensory-friendly sessions for those children who may find loud noises difficult to process. If your children are not coping too well, there is often the opportunity to leave the theatre and return after a short break; check with the theatre in question before you book tickets if you are unsure.
Erica hails from the United Kingdom, and has been living in Australia for 15 years. She has two sons 5 & 10 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. melbourne.kidtown.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Let's get
MESSY!
By Melissa Walsh Photos Gary Sissons
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laire and Jordan Poutney have no problems with mess. In fact, they encourage it at their activity and fun centre, The Messy Shed in Mornington. The couple have been running the interactive play centre for two and a half years after running a messy shed and café in Tyabb.
Claire, a former school teacher, family day care worker, and mum of three, understood the importance of messy play for kids as part of their developmental growth, but found it was lacking in a lot of places. “I worked as a primary school teacher but wanted to work at home when my children were born so started doing family day care. It was then that sensory play became part of my little one’s day and I realised how important it is to their development,” said Claire. "We started The Messy Shed in Mornington two and a half years ago after wanting a purpose-built facility where children could do messy play and other important activities.”
couple. “In Totsville, children can immerse themselves and their imagination in pretend play while helping them to understand and experience the adult world. Kids can be vets and tend to animals, deliver parcels from our post office, go fishing from our boat, finish building a wall and knock it down with our wrecking ball or board a train to anywhere their imagination takes them, all in a kid-sized environment just for them.” Apart from hours of fun, everything at the messy shed has a purpose for the development of young children.
For Claire and Jordan, the centre came together easily. “We are both very hands on with the business. We do birthday parties, oversee messy play areas and created a fabulous experience area for the children called Totsville,” said the 58
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“In Totsville, role-play helps develop valuable life skills and problem solving. Every hands-on activity will contribute to build kids' independence, self-esteem, and teamwork, all while having fun,” said Claire and Jordan. “The Messy Shed offers 45 minute sensory play sessions that challenge children to think, interact, explore and have fun. We believe in the process and not the end products so don’t expect masterpieces. It’s more about the experience.” At The Messy Shed, each week
the couple run a different theme.
“Whether it's getting muddy and messy with farmyard fun, digging for dinosaurs or painting and washing baby, there's something for everyone to get messy with,” said Claire. Then there’s the play centre with a great range of climbing equipment and activities for children aged six months to 10 years. “Here there is plenty of sliding, climbing and jumping for everyone teaching children about spatial awareness and fine motor skills,” they said. Studies have shown that messy play is one of the best ways for children to learn and develop, yet children in today’s world are less likely to be out climbing trees or getting muddy with water and paint play.
At the messy Shed, Claire and Jordan ensure your children get that experience. “We have all sorts of messy play activities, with paints, mud, fake snow and vertical painting,” said the couple. “It is all about letting the children explore and experiment with raw materials like sand, water and paint. Children’s imaginations can run wild while they play in the mess, yet it also helps them to understand their senses and the world that surrounds them.” Book in for a session or enjoy a Messy Shed, Totsville or Play Centre party, including food, play and exclusive use of the new funky party rooms.
The Messy Shed Factory 4 & 5, 1 Watt Road, Mornington. Phone 5975 2080 www.playatthemessyshed.com.au
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By David Hawkins
F
or the born-and-bred Victorians reading this, riding on a steam train is a classic childhood experience. The Puffing Billy Railway is a Melbourne institution that was first built over 100 years ago and across that time has transported innumerable families through gorgeous scenery at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. For me, an interstate migrant, steam trains are a dream image from watching Thomas the Tank Engine. I had no idea that there was a super amazing choo-choo train, an hours drive from the Peninsula, that whisked you away to that world of the past. Most people have ridden Puffing Billy from the famous station at Belgrave, but fewer know about the most scenic part of the trail; a hillclimbing, bridge-crossing ride from Lakeside to Gembrook. Lakeside, the station within Emerald Lake Park, is a perfect place to begin your family day out. There is a distinct English vibe about the area, with old-fashioned station buildings and tea house, a miniature model railway display and even paddleboats that can be hired to traverse the lake. We arrived an hour before the scheduled train departure so that we could meet up with our friends and spend some time taking in the parkland. Lake Treganowan is picturesque and tranquil. As you wander the pathway, the birdlife comes to check you out; our mini-munchkins loved the ducks that quacked their way up close with swamp hens and speckled wood ducks waddling within inches of us. The laughter of
kookaburras sounded from the treetops overhead. We crossed over the bridge that spans the lake and stopped for a brief picnic-style snack at the public tables. And that is when we heard the old steam whistle peel – toot tooooooooot! We hurried up to the heritage buildings of Lakeside Station and collected our tickets through the grill of the booking office. I was thinking that this all had a Hogwarts Express feel to it when the train pulled in and proved me correct. The rhythmic chug-chug of the pistons soothed the air and pillows of white steamed out, over the platforms and up toward the clouds. The kids made a mad dash along the yellow line on the platform, slightly obscured by the billowing steam, to the smiling driver leaning out of the engine. He invited them inside, one by one, to point and question earnestly about every twist of metal and glow of ember that they could see. The driver was so friendly and patient with the children that they felt safe to be curious. As the conductor waved his flag, we sought out empty seats on the carriages. Now, the carriages are where the Harry Potter connection departs as they are not closed-in compartments but open-sided windows to the world. We all stuck our heads out the side of the train as it chugged its’ way out of Lakeside station and began the 40-minute adventure to Gembrook. The breeze reddened our cheeks and rippled through our hair. Beams of sunlight broke through the leafy canopy of the tall trees and shined through the swirling clouds of steam and smoke. The pulse of the engine rang through the carriages, matching within our own internal rhythm. There is something visceral about riding in a steam train, both exciting and calming. The signs of suburbia fall away and bushland surrounds the parallel sleepers. Each carriage was filled with kids, teens and adults chatting, snapping selfies and closing their eyes as they leaned out into the wind. The whistle sounds as it approaches each curve in the track, the engine turning into its own plume of steam and disappearing momentarily from
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The Lakeside to Gembrook Adventure sight. Passengers were photographing and Instagramming like mad as they tried to capture the beauty of this journey. There are some small shed-like stations along the track to Gembrook and brief emergence into the passing towns, but the main attractions are the three wooden bridges that the train traverses. One of these is the largest on the Puffing Billy line, spanning over 60 metres in length and 15 metres in height; an engineering feat of wood and metal to support the great weight of the train and its passengers. Before long we arrived in the village of Gembrook for lunch and a leg stretch. Gembrook is a quiet little town with a number of dining options available; we decided to bundle all eight of us into the Gembrook Bakery to grab some pies, salad rolls and coffees. Very tasty and affordable. The ladies perused the local Op Shop whilst us dads shepherded the children around the quaint local lolly shop, filling small paper bags with a range of sweets from old fashioned jars. Then, bursting with sugar-fuelled energy, we unleashed the kids onto the trainthemed playground that sits beside the station.
The train’s weekend schedule affords an hour and a half to enjoy Gembrook before hopping back onto Puffing Billy, amidst the sounds and steam, to relax on the return journey. As we chugged back towards Lakeside station, passing once again over the weathered wooden bridges, our kids tumbled from their sugar-high and settled into a sleepy meditation. They sat back onto the padded bench-seats and watched the passing distant hills and clouds. If you have never been for a journey on Puffing Billy, I highly recommend scooping up the family and embarking on a timeless day out. And if you are an experienced Puffing Billy traveller, consider an adventure at the far end of the line, from Lakeside to Gembrook. www.puffingbilly.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-theordinary with their kids.
Every child ist is an art so Pablo Picas
EXHIBITIONS FREE CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY SPACE YOUNG AT ART SESSIONS FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS
mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Exhibition entry: adults $4 concession $2 children under 5 free Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington ph 5950 1580
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Day Tripping - Itinerary Four By Julia Swift
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pring is here! And it’s such a great time to explore our Peninsula – Check out our perfect way to spend a family day out.
This Itinerary is a full day trip to make the most of that beautiful spring weather. We started the day at Rain Hayne and Shine Farmyard at 10am. This rustic working farm has such a range of cute animals. The front paddocks are home to a cheeky donkey, mischievous goats, and cute calves. Take your time hanging out with the goats who love to be fed. In the next paddock we got to pat and cuddle the super adorable new kids and baby lambs. Spring is a perfect time to visit the farm to see plenty of baby animals. If you time it right, you may even get to give one a bottle! Down in the back paddocks we checked out the emus, wallabies and a dingo before heading over to the central barn, on the way passing by chickens, geese, cockatoos and peacocks. In the barn the kids loved cuddling the bunnies, guinea pigs, and even piglets. Be sure to let the kids jump on a pony ride (only $2) – and the whole family can enjoy a tractor ride together.
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Rain Hayne and Shine Farmyard - Pier 10 Winery - Flinders Playground Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
The farm is currently open 10am-4pm. Family entry is a bargain at $40 for 2 adult and 2 kids. Make sure you take cash as no EFTPOS available. We also used our voucher from the Penny Saver for a half price family ticket! Great value. We spent two and a half hours here before heading over to a delicious lunch at Pier 10. Pier 10 is a lovely rustic local winery based in Shoreham. It was started back in 1995, and is still a small family-owned and run vineyard, restaurant and cellar door. It is home to vines of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. As you turn into the driveway you are met by a beautifully presented cottage style kitchen garden, with the blue barn to the right housing the main restaurant and adorable cottage style house on the left housing the cellar door, more dining space and wraparound deck perfect for sitting out on these spring days enjoying a glass of vino. We were greeted by Stuart and his wonderful front-of-house team. Our table overlooked the green vines and grassed area perfect for the kids to run around on while we waited for our meal. And what a meal it was! The a-la-carte menu at the time of our visit featured a huge range of delicious choices! Think pork belly, eye fillets, duck and gnocchi. And mouth watering sweets. We opted for the eye fillet, and gnocchi for our mains and berry crumble and homemade honeycomb for our dessert. Both washed down with a glass of their smooth Pinot Noir. The food was just outstanding and we couldn’t fault it in any way. They also have a kids menu; just ask to see what is on offer for your visit. After our lunch we stepped into the cellar door for a wine tasting. Craig was our super-knowledgeable Sommelier who took us through the Pier 10 wines on offer. He is passionate about all things wine, local and abroad and we could have chatted for ages about wine! It was a great way to cap off our visit there and sample what this winery has to offer, as well as take home a cheeky bottle or two!
Over spring they will also be hosting local live music acts on Sundays 12-3. Pier 10 is open for lunch Thursday – Sunday and dinner Friday and Saturday nights. We farewelled Pier 10 and headed just down the road to Flinders. The town has a great kids' playground and we head there a lot. Set in a large grassy park, the central natural-looking playground is home to swings, slides and climbing equipment. We let the kids run some energy off there before heading just down the road to Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery at Flinders. This working chocolate factory is every kids' (and big kids') dream. With wall-to-wall chocolate and an ice cream case to be amazed by, allow about an hour there. 4 – 5 pm works well with this itinerary. Make sure you try the chocolate samples on offer, or ask the staff to sample any of the 180 varieties on offer. We grabbed the kids a milkshake and hot chocolates for us. Perfect late afternoon treats. Mornington Peninsula chocolaterie is open every day (except Christmas) 9-5. And at time of printing held gourmet tasting sessions every day at 10, 12, 2 and 4. No booking is needed and is only $3 per person. They also offer a great range of chocolate workshops including kids classes. A perfect way to spend a spring day on the Peninsula.
Julia is a flight attendant and local Mornington Peninsula mum of two young kids. Travelling is her passion, and now with the kids it's just a fine balancing act of travelling on age appropriate trips, the whole family can enjoy. Follow Julia’s travel adventures, tips and local findings at www.mumsgottatravel.com or on instagram @mumsgottatravel
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Gator Golf A relaunch of a 90’s classic! Putt the ball into his mouth and watch his tail flip it back to you! Ages: 3 + | Players: 2 – 4 RRP: $29.99 Available now at leading retailers!
Tasti’s new ‘Made Simple’ range
The Game of Things
The wholefood bars, protein bars and bite-sized balls, are made with four core key ingredients, the kind of stuff you’d have in your own pantry – dates, coconut, cocoa powder and nuts or peanut butter – no refined sugar, no nasty additives and preservatives, and all simply pressed together to create a bar or a ball. And they’re vegan too! The Made Simple Balls come in perfect little bags in Berry Cacao and Peanut Butter and Caramel flavours. Mouth-sized balls of tasty goodness that will be perfect for a quick snack on the go or for ‘mummy guilt-free’ kids’ lunchboxes. Available exclusively at Woolworths nationwide. RRP: $5.50
The Game of Things is the “Who-said-what” game with attitude that presents players with provocative topics like “THINGS... you wouldn’t do for a million dollars”, “THINGS... you wish grew on trees”, or “THINGS... your parents forgot to tell you” and asks each player to write down whatever comes to mind. Pick a topic, everyone writes a response, read them out loud and guess who said what. There are no right answers... There are no wrong answers. Just a lot of laughs. You won’t believe the THINGS... you’ll hear! Ages: 14+ | Players: 4+ RRP: $29.99 Available now at leading retailers!
Boom Trix Defy gravity with BoomTrix and let the metal balls go from one trampoline to another. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the boom! Use your creativity and set up a track with towers, power action trampolines and a finish. Make an awesome video with your smartphone and share your track with #BoomtrixChallenge.! For Ages 8+. Starter Multi Ball Set RRP: $49.99 Available exclusively at Australian Geographic! www.boomtrix.com
CocoBare Baby, a brand that naturally cares for little ones, has released a new 300ml range, exclusive to Woolworths, that uses only carefully selected and natural ingredients. Loaded with coconut oil, CocoBare Baby’s formulations will keep baby’s sensitive skin hydrated, moisturised and also help to kill of harmful pathogens during the important first years of their life. Prize pack RRP: $30.00 www.cocobarebaby.com @cocobarebaby
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Build a Bot
Takes robotics and S.T.E.M learning to the next level, giving children the confidence to develop a strong grasp of technology. Watch their world light up with NEW range of Build a Bot Light. Learn about lights, sensors and refraction with light sensor technology and an interactive learning experience. Collect and join multiple bugs together to make a caterpillar for added value and extended play to advance your child’s educational journey. Build a Bot Light range includes: Zebra/Lion RRP: $39.99 | Build a Bot Bugs (series 2) includes: Grasshopper/ Butterfly/ Fire Ant RRP: $19.99. Perfect for children aged 4-12. www.colorific.com.au
Headstart The Spice Tailor
Have launched their BRAND NEW South East Asia range and are giving away a huge Spice Tailor gift pack worth over $150! This gorgeous gift pack will feature some of The Spice Tailor’s original curry sauces, Daals, fast pastes, Biriyani’s and of course their brand new South East Asia Range! The new range includes Thai Massaman Curry, Thai Red and Green Curries and an Indonesian Rendang, all of which are available now in Woolworths nationwide. The range offers Australians harmonious sauces that create restaurant quality dishes and enable people to make and master their own delicious South East Asian food at home with no stress and in no time. The Spice Tailor cannot wait to give away this incredible gift pack that will transport your tastebuds all the way to South East Asia.
Has released their new range of Sesame Street toys In celebration of Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary. Skate Abby features Abby Cadabby having fun on her skateboard. Kids can pose her into different positions on her skateboard so that she can do tricks, and the skateboard is remote controlled so you can watch her actually skate! Abby’s helmut, knee and elbow pads are removable when she isn’t on her skateboard. RRP: $59.00 Available from Big W.
The Wonky Fruit and Vegetables playset Meet Carl Carrot, Peter Pear, Adam Apple, Tammy Tomato Heart and Curly Cucumber. This perfectly imperfect bunch shows kids the beauty and diversity of wonky fruit and veggies. Kids can cut them up with the wooden knife that comes with the playset and then stick them back together. In the playset box, the story of Carl Carrot is included, and it can be used by parents to teach children about wonky fruit and vegetables and food waste. RRP: $50.99 Go to plantoys.com to find where you can purchase a wonky playset nearby.
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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The Collective Probots As innovators in the dairy space, The Collective Oz www.thecollectiveinoz.com.au has already taken the Aussie market by storm with their yoghurt and kefir ranges, but they have now turned their attention to the tummies of Australian kids with the launch of their new probiotic kids range, called Probots.
Rubik’s Race Rubik’s Race is a fun new puzzle game that combines the strategy of the Rubik's Cube with face-to-face play. Shake the Scrambler to create a new Rubik's pattern, then slide the tiles to match the pattern on your board to the one in the Scrambler. The first player to complete the match and slam down the center frame wins! Ages: 8+ | Players: 2 RRP: $29.99 Available now at leading retailers!
Packed full of healthy kefir gut warriors, the Collective Probots come in three delicious, tongue ticklin’, sugar-free flavours; Mango, Strawberry, and Blueberry. Available from Woolworths nationwide RRP: $1.50.
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Give your kids a break from screens these school holidays by unleashing their creative side. Bostik is encouraging kids to get hands on with fun art projects by giving away two exciting prize packs filled with Bostik’s quality range of craft supplies. This is the perfect activity the whole family can get involved in. Get inspired with Bostik’s unique selection of projects and try making your very own superhero, volcano or rocketship. If you can imagine it, Bostik will help you create it! To kickstart your school holiday craft project and find ideas that stick visit www.bostik.com/ideasthatstick Available from Officeworks and leading retailers. Prices may vary.
Googly Eyes Showdown Who will lead the team to victory? Have your team guess the word that you are drawing before the other team guesses theirs! Put on the wacky vision altering glasses and bring on the laughter! Includes 162 challenges divided into 4 themes, with 6 pairs of distorting lenses. Ages: 7+ | Players: 4-16 RRP: $29.99 Available now at leading retailers!
Possum Magic
Super Zings SuperZings are everyday objects brought to life in a comical hero vs. villain theme. There are more than 80 multi-coloured characters to collect, each with a matching rival. All living together in Kaboom City, there are 36 regular characters available in two different colourthemes, plus six Silver and two Gold Rare and One Enigma Super Rare SuperZing. The figures all have their own superpower and profile, use collectible Supercars to get around (eight to collect), and live in Hideouts (eight to collect) which can also be used to launch the characters into the air. For Ages 3+. Original 10 Pack RRP $12.99 Available exclusively at Kmart!
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A brand-new stage adaptation of a magical Australian classic. For more than 30 years, Mem Fox’s Possum Magic has captivated and enchanted young people all over Australia. Joined by an extraordinary creative team, Monkey Baa brings to life the characters, journey and love that has made Possum Magic the most-loved and best-selling Australian picture book of all time. Based on the book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas Presented by: Frankston Arts Centre and Monkey Baa Theatre Company Suits: Ages 3-8 year Session Time: Thursday 10 October, 1.30pm 50 minutes, no interval Family pass (4) RRP: $95.00 www. artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au
New Holland Publishing book pack Aliens & UFO’s By J J Moore
Pan Macmillan book pack Kat Wolf Takes the Case By Lauren St John When a landslide on the Jurassic Coast reveals a rare ‘dragon’ dinosaur, best friends Kat Wolfe and Harper Lamb are thrilled, especially when stars and scientists come flocking to sleepy Bluebell Bay. But after they begin investigating a suspicious death, events spiral quickly out of control for detectives Wolfe and Lamb. Worse still, Kat’s wild cat is in trouble. Can they solve the mystery – and save the cat's life – before it’s too late? Junior fiction. RRP: $14.99 www.panmacmillan.com.au The Astrid Notes By Taryn Bashford Astrid Bell -Dutiful daughter. Classical singer. Secret pop songwriter. And suffering from stage fright. Jacob Skalicky-Trust-fund kid. Indie singer. Immensely gifted performer. And refusing to sing again. Are they polar opposites? In his grief and fury at the world, Jacob certainly thinks so. But when Jacob loses everything and Astrid uncovers a shocking family secret, they may need each other to make sense of their lives. Young adult fiction. RRP: $18.99 www.panmacmillan.com.au
Read on and you will find that there is more and more evidence that crazy critters have been popping up on Earth for thousands of years and governments and scientific bodies take reports of alien sightings very seriously. Giant brains? Greys? Reptoids or Mantids? Let’s hope they come in peace! This Ypung person’s guide might just help you identify an alien or UFO if you come across one. For ages: 12+ years old. New Holland Publishers RRP: $19.99 Available from all good book retailers or online www.newhollandpublishers.com Next Door’s Dog Goes to School By Gina dawson Grace wants to be able to do everything other children do and now that she has Roxie she can. If Grace needs help, Roxie knows exactly what to do. With insightful illustrations and written in a sensitive and friendly style, Next Door’s Dog Goes to School is about understanding the important role of dogs in our society, and how they potentially change people’s lives. For ages: 3+ years old. New Holland Publishers RRP: $16.99 Available from all good book retailers or online www.newhollandpublishers.com
The New Kid book series Very Popular Me is the second hilarious novel in The New Kid series from comedian James O'Loghlin and award-winning cartoonist Matthew Martin. In book #1 Unpopular Me, Sam was faced with the incredibly daunting task of being "the new kid" and was determined to not just fit in, but become THE most popular kid at school. Now, Sam is back and what's more he's finally popular! He owns the school's most wanted marble and kids sit with him at lunch. He has a baby sister on the way, too. But when Sam becomes the teacher's pet his popularity drops faster than a tomato in a lift. Who knew that getting exactly what you wanted could be so painful... RRP: $14.99 www.panmacmillan.com.au
Australia’s Favourite Steam Train
Buy a family fare and up to 4 children travel FREE! Don’t miss out! Book online today DanDenong Ranges
puffingbilly.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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How to Get the Kids to Bathe Without the Hassle By Melissa McCullough Steps 1-10. Take them to Peninsula Hot Springs.........
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ogether we braved the chilly Mornington Peninsula evening, grabbed our robes and bathed outside at Peninsula Hot Springs, the awardwinning holistic wellness destination.
Commence shrieking and squealing. “WE’RE TAKING A BATH OUTSIDE?!?!?”, exclaims my giddy sevenyear-old. Families of all shapes and sizes are welcome at Peninsula Hot Springs’ Bath House bathing area. The Bath House is ideal for social bathing for families and children who are accompanied by adults. And while guests of all ages are welcome to use all of the Bath House experiences prior to 10:00am, after 10:00am the bathing gully and hilltop pool are reserved for guests 16 years and older. Families with children can enjoy plenty of options in the remaining 14 child-friendly thermal pools. Had it been up to my kids, we would have hopped in and out of all 14 pools in 14 minutes. Explaining to Mr. 7 and Ms. Almost10 that the hot springs are a place for relaxation and rejuvenation, (quiet), took several attempts to sink in, but eventually we managed to get them to sit back and truly take in the steamy surrounds. As a family, we watched the sun set over Fingal and the amphitheatre area come to life with charismatic brilliance. Twinkling lights danced in trees as we listened to frogs tell croaky bedtime stories to bathers young and old. I stayed put in the amphitheatre aquatherapy pool because, well, not so game to be cold; the rest of the crew ventured to the ‘Fire & Ice’
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area to experience the large cold plunge pool, an ice cave, and deep freeze chamber. There are many health benefits in moving between hot and cold temperatures including reducing muscle and joint soreness, improving metabolism and improving energy production. More info on these benefits can be found on the Peninsula Hot Springs website. After over two hours of bathing, the kids had had enough. And they were starving. (Mental note for next time: snacks.) If you’ve brought your own food, you’ll find two picnic areas with ample seating and tables from dawn until dusk. If you’d like to have a bite on site there are three different café’s with varying menus and hours of operation, and a coffee hut at the entrance for those after-school drop-off morning bathers. A natural place for families and friends to bathe and relax while connecting with nature, you can immerse yourself in a bathing wonderland with over 50 globally-inspired experiences. Their latest development, the Bath House Amphitheatre, features an open-air stage, Fire and Ice area, Amphitheatre café and more. As for bathing on a crisp evening – it’s simply a must!
For more information or to make a booking call 5950 8777 or use their easy to navigate system online at www.peninsulahotsprings.com Peninsula Hot Springs is located at 140 Springs Lane, Fingal.
perfect for the young and young at heart Little ones absolutely love exploring the hot springs and you’ll love how calm they’ll be after a visit Discover over 50 globally inspired bathing experiences with shallow and cooler pools, baby baths and barrels, a hydrojet pool and bubble couch, all designed specifically for children. Enjoy our two cafés and lush grassed areas with wooden picnic tables to enjoy something to eat in between bathes.
peninsulahotsprings.com 140 Springs Lane, Fingal
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5950 8777
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Open 7am to 10pm daily
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Education
By Kasey Baines Photos Rebekah Alyce Photography
W
hile most toddlers are anxiously awaiting the winter gloom to melt away and for the warm summer days to return, my son Parker savours an excuse to stay wrapped in a blanket and draw closer to reading his 5,000th book. Breaking all known records (with my help, of course), Parker is set to surpass his lofty goal by the end of the year. Parker is participating in the international 1,000 Books Before School Program campaign, which is being promoted by local, state and national libraries. After having read 1,000 books within the first few months, Parker and I decided to just keep reading and see how many times we could complete the challenge. And so here we are, looking forward to Parker’s third birthday approaching in November and hoping to complete the program for the 5th time around.
Some people have asked how many books one would have to read on any given day to meet such high reading numbers. The answer is surprisingly easy: a mere ten to fifteen short picture books a day, about a half hour of reading, is all that it takes. The State Library of Victoria states, “Sharing stories with babies and young children helps develop literacy skills that will prepare them for reading at school. The 1000 Books Before School program is a great way to track your child's reading progress as you work towards building these important skills.” It’s not surprising that Parker’s speech development has fast-tracked. Nor is it a surprise when I hear a new word come from his mouth after having just learned it from a book the evening before. But what is a surprise is how much joy we have found while participating in this reading activity together. Bed time is not a disaster of tears, kicking or screaming. It is the most calm and peaceful time of our day when we can cuddle up together as family, dim the lights and go on storybook adventures. After pouring over tens of thousands of picture book pages, I felt many of my own story plots start to bubble away in my head. Thanks to the recommendation of a Somerville Library staff member, I enrolled in picture book writing courses with the Australian Writers’ Centre and gained the foundation necessary for beginning a new chapter in life as a children’s picture book author and illustrator. It took over 300 hours of work to complete and publish my first picture book called Flowers For Mom, which is based on the theme of kindness. The book has landed in local and national libraries as well as many school and county libraries in California. The shock of becoming a finalist for the National Business Brilliance Awards (Writing Excellence)
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still has not worn off several months later and the sense of pride and achievement has been so unforeseen and overwhelming that I have jumped straight into my second picture book manuscript. As the days grow longer and the sun begins to brighten, Parker is just as excited to lay a quilted picnic blanket over the grass and dive into a book as he is to jump on a flying fox. Our family is grateful for our Mornington Peninsula libraries that have diligently urged children to increase their pre-school reading and we are equally as grateful for the unexpected effect it has had on our adult lives. The timeless author C.S. Lewis said it bes “A children’s story that only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” Here’s to happy readers, children and adults alike.
For further information, please visit kaseybaines.com To register with one of the participating public libraries for the 1,000 Books Before School program go to www.slv.vic.gov.au/live-learn/1000-books-school
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By Kim Norton
A
dolescence is characterised as the transition from childhood to adulthood, a time of rapid growth and development. A time where healthy brain development depends on our teens taking age appropriate risks, trying new activities, making mistakes (and learning from them), developing an identity of self and of the world around them and on our guidance and support.
Letting go can be hard for us (where did that little girl go?) but our teens are relying on us for this guidance. To guide and support them through this time of change that can be confusing and stressful for some whilst others will seem to breeze through it without a care in the world. This of course will put more stress on our teens who are struggling to balance the hormonal shifts, body changes, mood swings, peer pressures, school and family expectations and issues around sex and social media that can occur during this time. (Facebook and Instagram were not around in our day). Our teens still need all the love and support that we have always given them (even when they pretend, they don’t); we just need to adapt our parenting style and to navigate this transitional stage with them.
empathy and planning on both sides.
Kim is the founder of Rainbow Light Therapies and is a Holistic Counsellor specialising in stress and anxiety management for kids, teens and adults. Kim provides a unique, intuitive and individualised therapy approach through individual, small group and family counselling sessions at her studio in Langwarrin. Also working with special needs kids, Kim is an NDIS registered provider and runs workshops for people of all abilities on various topics throughout the year. Please see www.rainbowlighttherapies.com.au for more information. 72
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So, as the parent, what can you do?
Be empathetic Listen to what your teen has to say in full, without interruption, or voicing judgement (this includes body language).
Keep the lines of communication open Don’t minimise what they are saying. Let them know they can come to you with anything they have to say without fear of reprisal. Organise a weekly family dinner and regular outings to stay connected allowing them the time and space to talk.
Loosen the Reigns Let them take age appropriate risks and to make mistakes whilst they are still living with you. Help them to learn how to bounce back (develop resilience) by giving them the management strategies and the room to do so.
Choices and responsibilities Set clear and precise boundaries with realistic expectations and stick to them. Predictability and routine are what they need from you.
What can they do for themselves? (Make sure your teen reads this section: some great tips here for study and exam time also)
Journaling Get it out of your head and put it on paper. Keep a journal beside your bed so you can empty those pesky thoughts into your journal before sleep.
Develop a good bedtime routine Limit the use of electronic equipment before bed and make sure you get enough sleep. Keep phones and other electronic devices out of the bedroom but if that proves too difficult, then at least turn off all notifications so you are not awoken by all the “bleeps”, “streaks” and “flashes”.
Practise gratitude and concentrate on the positive. When you are in a “funk” there is usually on overwhelming urge to escape or to avoid your responsibilities. Try to think of at least one positive in your life right now and concentrate on that. Affirm how you want to feel rather than how you are feeling right now.
Follow a healthy diet and exercise Watch the carbs, coffee and alcohol intake and get onto a good multivitamin from a health food shop (not the lolly variety from the supermarket). Incorporate exercise into your daily schedule even if it is only a 10min yoga video or that short walk to school.
Keep organised and plan ahead
(use visuals)
Colour code your school and study timetables. Schedule all activities in advance making sure to include some time for social activities and exercise.
Communicate Listen to your parents. They are not the enemy and they really do have your best interests at heart but just like you, they might not always show it in the best possible way. They too are learning to navigate this time of change so share your needs and feelings with your parents and remember that they are human, they make mistakes and they have feelings to . Adolescence can be a chaotic time but, it is a time of growth for them and for us, and one that can be managed successfully with a little love, patience,
Great day trip to Queenscliff School Holiday activities Onboard kids playground Kids High Tea Family tickets
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By Melissa Schoorman
M
any children under the age of 15 experience a form of anxiety, children experience anxious emotions that never go away, even once the which can impact their daily lives and activities. Educators are now confronting situation has passed. beginning to look at the possibility of turning some of those known worries “Over time, one-in-four adults will experience an anxiety disorder. Of into stimuli for resilience discussions so that our children can enter the world those, half will have had their first symptoms by the time they are beyond the school gates with confidence. 15-years-old,” says Jodi Richardson and co-author Michael Grose in their According to Dr Jodi Richardson, wellbeing expert and co-author of book. Anxious Kids: How children can turn their anxiety into resilience, the future For many children, anxiety prevents them from building any sort has never been so bright for anxious kids. of sustainable resilience, which is a life skill and vital to overcome
“The mental health landscape, which was once dry and barren, is now green and filled with hope and the promise of recognition; of understanding, of acceptance, empathy and compassion; and rich in resources, support and help.”
unavoidable adversity. Resilience is built by the individual characteristics we are born with such as our genes and personality but also by our environmental factors, including our family, socio-economic status, community and culture.
Anxiety affects everyone at some stage in their lives, whether it is from an early age or in adulthood. Anxiety is caused when we are confronted with situations that make us feel stressed, tense, uncomfortable, angry or frightened. Anxiety triggers the flight-or-fight response in the brain to protect us from danger. It is an emotion that affects an estimated half a million Australian children and eleven million worldwide. Amongst these alarming statistics is the most daunting of facts, that the majority of these
Whilst there are some things we cannot change, such as our biological makeup, there are many things we can adjust. Transforming our anxiety into resilience is something that does not always require help from professionals. It is a skill that can be worked on at home and school, and at times, is as minor as a shift in mindset. Of course though, there are times that anxiety is best dealt with by experts in the field, through a referral from your local general practitioner. continued next page...
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With over 20 years experience, we are committed to continuous quality care and to ensure a full balanced development for each child in our expansive natural learning environment.
Curiosity and wonder lead to a natural desire to learn
Frankston House Sanctuary of Early Learning 1-3 Vera Street Frankston Email: info@frankstonhouse.com.au Phone: 9783 1117
www.frankstonhouse.com.au
Your most precious people are our priority
Mt Eliza House Sanctuary of Early Learning 41 Baden Powell Place Mt Eliza Email: info@mtelizahouse.com.au Phone: 9787 0788
www.mtelizahouse.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Build, strengthen and support growing relationships
Focus on managing emotions
Schools are now dedicating time to wellbeing and mindfulness to ensure students receive a break from the cognitive demands they receive on a daily basis. Meditating for 10 minutes per day is an effective way to harness a positive mindset. For example, at Toorak College Junior School, students have a compulsory wellbeing session at the beginning of each day to help them identify, calibrate and create a positive mindset as they head into a new school day. To further create a sense “Our role isn’t to protect them from life’s hardships, but to steer and guide of harmony in the Junior School, students also have what is called a them, and to help them get back up again when life knocks them down. “Letters of Kindness” letterbox where they write heartwarming messages Remembering this is as much for our own sanity as it is for their resilience,” directed at friends and staff. A selection of these letters are then read says Dr Jodi Richardson. out in assembly to help spread the concepts of kindness and gratitude. The core belief of this practice is that positivity breeds future positivity. Create opportunities for personal growth This can be related to the notion of paying it forward. Personal growth can prosper from a variety of methods, be it investing It is crucial to note that anxiety does not have to impact a child’s life in in travel, sport, music, arts, volunteering or being creative. Children who a negative way. As a parent, you are never alone and it is fundamental experience anxiety can feel hesitant to immerse themselves in opportunities to develop an open dialogue with your child so that they feel supported, that will take them out of their comfort zone. With an element of uncertainty valued and heard. Seeking advice from professionals at your child’s school also provides valuable insight to ensure that your child’s in any opportunity, a child’s anxiety can be heightened. A wave of doubt collective support system is working towards a common goal. Finally, can cloud their vision, resulting in them placing unnecessary expectations we must be reminded that the more our children are exposed to new and pressure on themselves. It is important to get your child participating in and foreign opportunities, the more likely they will take safe risks and be co-curricular activities such as sport or performing arts from a young age open to personal growth. to instil a strong sense of personal growth and resilience. In an environment If you believe your child is suffering from anxiety, no matter how minor, such as sport, they have the opportunity to experience sportsmanship, it is vital to consult with your child’s school and/or your local GP to gain team effort, leadership and endure the emotional rollercoaster that success advice for future steps. and failure ignites. Performing arts is also a great way to boost confidence to perform on stage, to develop coordination and rhythm and to create Miss Melissa Schoorman is the Head of Wardle House, Deputy Principal of Toorak College long lasting friendships. It is vital for children to surround themselves with family and friends with whom they feel comfortable. A positive support network can be the key for children to feel empowered to take risks, explore new opportunities and show confidence. However, there is a fine line between guiding your child away from adversity and protecting them from adversity.
HEXAGONA LS
Fetta & Corn Ta coated in Milk Ch pas ocolate
ES RPRIS GE SU & e it ORAN h W , of Milk
Layers colate with a Dark Cho f Orange hint o
Come and test your tastebuds to their limits at our ‘WEIRD & WONDERFUL’ FLAVOURS WEEK. Visit Chocolate Grove from Mon 30th Sept to Sat 5th Oct and enjoy FREE tastings of 10 amazing ‘WEIRD & WONDERFUL’ chocolate combinations! And enter our FREE DRAW to WIN a *WEIRD & WONDERFUL Voucher worth $100 to choose any of our chocolate products to enjoy! * on any purcahse/ max 1 entry per person
Chocolate Shop & Living History Centre 48-50 Aster Avenue Carrum Downs VIC 3201 Phone: 03 9775 1888 www.chocolategrove.com
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Lemon Myrtle Macadamia - Macadamia Nuts coated in Milk Chocolate with a hint of Lemon Myrtle • Sour Cherries coated in Dark Chocolate
Pork Crackiling coated in Milk Chocolate • Crams - Salt & Vinegar Chips coated in Milk Chocolate • Cocoa Nibs coated in Dark Chocolate
Freeze Dried Strawberries coated in White Chocolate • Golden Honeycomb coated in Milk Chocolate
ADVENTUROUS
MINDS see things differently. They forge new paths, find new perspectives and unearth new possibilities. Adventurous Minds take risks and find solid footing. They test their boundaries, mastering challenges as they grow.
BOOK YOUR PLACE AT ONE OF OUR REGULAR INFORMATION SESSIONS OR CAMPUS TOURS www.woodleigh.school/enrol E A R LY C H I L D H O O D T O Y E A R 12
5971 6100
woodleigh.vic.edu.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Peninsula Grammar The Cat Empire’s trumpet-playing vocalist to perform at Peninsula Grammar Harry James Angus, the firebrand trumpet-playing vocalist from The Cat Empire, is known both for his thrilling live performances and constant musical reinvention. Expect the unexpected and assume you will be highly entertained with whatever it is Harry chooses to deliver when he appears at Peninsula Grammar’s Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday, September 18, at 7pm. Stories little and large have played a crucial role in Harry’s life. The born-andbred Melburnian has been telling them, listening to them and reading them his entire life. And when he performs, he likes to weave his own tales for his audience.
For Harry, music has always been a constant — from his early years as a member of the National Boys’ Choir and forced piano practice as a child to the day he picked up a trumpet as a young schoolboy (because all of the saxophones were taken) and entered the intoxicating world of jazz.
After immersing himself in performing in various school jazz troupes and sneaking into Melbourne’s best live venues, the era of playing in a cafe attached to a furniture store for $70 and free focaccias in his late teens was swiftly exchanged for rapid success in 2001. It was during that year Harry joined forces with five other jazz mates to create the multi-platinum international touring sensation The Cat Empire. Tickets are $38 (including GST) from www.eventbrite.com.au/e/peninsulagrammar-presents-harry-james-angustickets-56406132260 For more information about the Peninsula Grammar concert series, visit http://peninsulagrammarmusic.com/
“These little stories have provided me with hours of entertainment — just me in the lounge room,” Harry said. “Sometimes my long-suffering wife will patiently listen as I stumble through an idea. But usually it’s just me — laughing at my own jokes, lip trembling at my own tragedies, watching the characters come alive — and the whole story just unfurls, eventually, like a patchwork sail.”
20 Wooralla Drive, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930 Phone: 9788 7777 Web: www.peninsulagrammar.vic.edu.au 78
Peninsula Kids – Spring Summer2019 2018/19
Cornish College Education at Cornish is of a different kind When you choose Cornish College, you choose a wealth of educational experiences. From our passionate, experienced staff to the many cocurricular opportunities, Cornish offers education quite like no other. Located on 100 acres of natural parkland, Cornish provides Early Learning to Year 12 students the space to stretch their legs and their curiosity, beyond the classroom walls and into nature’s classroom. Our environment is the key to our vision of educating students for a sustainable future. We are committed to this vision, engaging our students beyond textbooks and encouraging a different way of thinking, one which considers how our decisions impact the world around us. Our motto is Make a Difference. At the heart of this is our dedication to developing independence, compassion and personal excellence amongst our students, ensuring they have the capacity and the desire to make a difference, both locally and globally. “I see a horizon of endless opportunities for this learning community to embrace
the innovation and progressive thinking that has long been our point of difference,” said newly appointed Principal, Nicola Forrest. “At Cornish, we are developing curriculum to educate for a sustainable future with structures that mobilise the attitudes, skills, knowledge and values required for young people to become the best individuals they have the capacity to be” she said. The recently opened Senior Studies Centre is an important new learning environment for our growing school. With a culture grounded in sustainability at all levels, this building will make a huge difference to the learning of our current and future senior students. It provides an environment for powerful learning, suited to the demands for global competencies while maintaining a connection with our beautiful grounds for student wellbeing.
Nicola Forrest - Principal
Come and see why Cornish College is the right choice for your child, at our next campus tour. For more information, contact Admissions admissions@cornishcollege.vic.edu.au or call 9781 9000.
Our VCE program provides choices that respond to student readiness, with opportunities to access VCE subjects over three years, creating space for wellbeing and important cocurricular opportunities.
65 Riverend Rd, Bangholme VIC 3175 Phone: 9781 9000 Web: www.cornishcollege.vic.edu.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Mentone Girls Grammar Quality teaching, a focus on student wellbeing and an inspired curriculum.
We believe children are never too young to be challenged as we help them achieve their goals driven by a genuine love of learning. As an open-entry school, we accept students of all talents and abilities, faiths and cultures. We are consistently ranked among the top schools in Melbourne and our students regularly win prizes for sporting, artistic and academic endeavour. We also have an impressive track record of VCE success and university entry. This is why since 1899, generations of students, staff and parents have been proud to be part of our vibrant learning community. Our beautiful beachfront location has inspired our WAVES priorities. These key principles guide the way we meet the particular learn- ing needs of girls by contributing to their Wellbeing, Achievement, positive Values, Enterprising nature and Success. These priorities contribute to the unique culture
and success of our school, as well as our personalised approach to learning. In our Early Learning Centre (ELC), specialist early childhood teachers recognise the different ages and stages within each class and provide tailored activities so every girl has power over her own learning. We provide a highly developed program of intentional teaching based on the principles of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP) which supports a unique blend of inquiry and play-based learning. We can see the benefits of our education, not only in how ready our girls are to enter Prep, but how advanced their reading and writing skills are, as well as their social and emotional confidence. This is why we are currently rated as “Exceeding National Quality Standards” in the national ELC Frameworks Accreditation. The PYP framework is extended in our Junior School as students develop more complex intellectual, emotional and social skills. They are exposed to a diverse program of inquiry and challenged in many areas from music and STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics), to financial and digital literacy, cultural understanding, leadership and social enterprise. They are encouraged to try new things, takerisks and be bold, tapping into their interests and passions. Teachers develop a rich picture of every student’s learning successes, strengths and challenges, and each girl is supported to grow and develop to her full potential. As a result, our Junior School is recognised as one of the best in the state and consistently ranked well above state and national averages in the NAPLAN literacy and numeracy testing. Most importantly, our students develop confidence, capability and self-worth that are great assets to them in their senior years and beyond.
11 Mentone Parade, Mentone VIC. Phone: 9581 1200 Web: www.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au 80
Peninsula Kids – Spring Summer2019 2018/19
Limited places available for Years 5 & 6 in 2020 Prep 2020 Enrolments Now Open Enquire today www.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au Tel: 03 9581 1200
Empowering Girls OPEN DAY Saturday 26 October 9am – 11.30am
Or book a personal tour anytime with our Admissions Manager. Visit www.mentonegirls.vic.edu.au to schedule a time.
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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By Megan Daley
S
pring is here. As we welcome the warmer weather, open our windows to let in the fresh air and spring clean our homes, it’s a good time to also look at spring-cleaning our kids’ bookshelves.
As a teacher/librarian, my culling skills are well honed, and I regularly go through our home bookshelves and pass on books which we will no longer read – I’d far prefer to see them read and enjoyed by others than sitting gathering dust in my house. I try to involve my children as much as possible in the process, sometimes with success! I will always keep a collection of very special picture books and chapter books from childhood, those ones which hold memories and those which were favourites at each stage of reading development. I still have my favourite books from my own childhood and though I rarely read them, I could never give them away. Once your shelves are culled and cleaned and looking pristine, it’s time to find some more books so that your kids will love to re-stock the shelves. Having books ready and waiting to go on shelves is a sure-fire way to encourage incidental reading at home and ensuring there is always material for bedtime reading.
MEGAN DALEY’S 5 TIPS ON FINDING BOOKS YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE 1. Seek out experts in your local area. We seek out experts for nutrition, exercise and medical advice, it’s the same for reading. Your school teacher/librarian, local public librarian or local bookseller is your best bet. 2. Find advice online. There are lots of children’s and young adult (YA) book blogs these days, including my own www. childrenbooksdaily.com where you will find reviews of the latest books and lists in areas of interest, such as ‘what to read after Harry Potter’, and ‘top twenty horse-themed books’. 3. Curate your social media. Follow children’s and YA authors on social media so that your feed is filled with book inspiration. Many Australian authors are incredibly active on social media and connect with their fans there. Social media also gives you a peek behind the book and this will allow you an insight into whether your child may enjoy the book.
4. Join a book club. I run lots of book clubs for tweens and teens and find them a great way to find out about book choices. You can start your own (I have information on my blog about this) or see if your school, local public library or bookstore runs them for your child’s age group. Book clubs are also a great way to make reading a social occasion for your child. 5. Talk about book choices. Talk with your child about why they have chosen books from their school library, the classroom or the bookstore in order to develop an idea of your child’s reading interests and then keep your eye out for books in that area.
MS Readathon Ambassador Megan Daley, a teacher-librarian, author of ‘Raising Readers’ (2018, UQP) and expert on encouraging children to read shares with us her top tips on finding books your kids will connect with. With the MS Readathon wrapping up, lists of books read being written up and monies now being collected, now is a great time to look at ‘what next’ with reading choices! A record-breaking 16,000 primary and junior high school students across Australia signed up to the MS Readathon this year to raise funds to send people living with multiple sclerosis on special family camps. 82
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Enrol now for 2020
MONTESSORI The world renowned teaching methods of Maria Montessori – Montessori Cycle 1
Fostering creative play Music to inspire and gross motor skills
We are expanding our playground and facility with a dedicated indoor sports and music hall, dedicated arts shed (for mucky play), outside all weather sports court and more natural spaces.
Piccolos
Focus on Education
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 Confidense
118 Overport Road, Frankston South Phone 03 9787 6730 to visit our school
Piccolos beautiful natural learning environment Developing life skills
Email: piccoloschildren@bigpond.com www.piccoloschildren.com.au
Open from 7:30am – 6:30pm, Ages 2.5 - 6 yrs
Montessori
Developing concentration
Long Day Care Integrated Kindergarten Healthy Meals Family rebates and benefits apply
Lasting friendships
Learning to read while learning to write Understanding numeracy
Expression through song and dance
Promoting nature and care for its inhabitants
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Recipes
W FONTS
ith so many of our Peninsula families affected by gluten intolerance and coeliac disease, we have decided to focus on recipes which can be enjoyed by GF and non-GF alike.
Jodie Blight has developed an amazing new App which enables you to scan the recipe from Peninsula Kids Magazine to create a shopping list on your phone. All in the name of making dinner time easier. Endorsed by Coeliac Australia so you have peace of mind that every recipe is 100% gluten free.
GOTHAM
Pacifico
Download the recipeezi Gluten Free App from the App Stores (it’s FREE), use the App to scan the recipe QR code in the magazine and voila, your shopping list awaits!
COLOURS
Even if you are not GF, I promise you will love every recipe.
Download CMYK (print):
recipeeziApp!
CMYK (print): 70 0 30 0
82 85 36 27
CMYK (print): 0 50 99 0
HEX (web): #25bdbd
HEX (web): #41365d
HEX (web): #f6921e
RGB: 65 54 93
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RGB: 37 189 189
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785 84
Peninsula Kids – Winter 2018
Farm Gate Open 7 Days
Muesli Bar Slice
Preheat oven to 160 C. Grease and line a rectangle oven proof dish (16cm x 21cm). In a large bowl, mix together cornflakes, rice puffs, shredded coconut, apricots, cranberries, almonds and choc chips. Toss to make sure everything is mixed through evenly. Add condensed milk and melted coconut oil to the dry ingredients and stir through until it starts to come together. Pour mixture into the prepared dish and press down hard. You can use the back of a spoon, the bottom of a glass or place a small amount of plastic wrap on top and press down with my hands. Cook in oven for 35-40 minutes. When ready, remove from oven and allow to cool in the dish for 10 minutes. Then remove and cool completely before cutting into rectangles. A serrated knife is best o
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1 cup gluten free cornflakes 2 cups gluten free rice puffs 1 cup shredded coconut ½ cup dried apricots, finely diced ½ cup dried cranberries (Craisins) ½ cup slivered or flaked almonds 200g gluten free white or milk choc chips (or a mix of both) 395g sweetened condensed milk (1 tin) ½ cup coconut oil, melted
Spring Open Day! Saturday November 2nd, 11am - 3pm
Vegetable picking, tractor rides and family entertainment!
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785
Farm Gate Open 7 Days www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Sweet Potato Gnocchi
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SERVES
500g sweet potato, peeled 200g goat’s cheese (or ricotta cheese), drained 125g parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup) 1 teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Freshly ground pepper 1-2 cups gluten free plain flour Tomato sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 red onion, finely diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 800g crushed tomatoes (2 tins) salt and pepper 1 handful basil leaves o Preheat oven to 200 C. Cut the sweet potato into wedges and roast on a lined oven tray for 30 minutes until soft and cooked through. While waiting for the sweet potato to bake, make the tomato sauce. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium–high heat and add onion, cooking for a few minutes until softened, then add garlic and cook for a further 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes until sauce thickens. Stir through basil and remove from heat.
When the sweet potato has cooked and cooled a little, mash it with a fork or in a food processor and add to a large bowl, together with goats cheese, parmesan cheese, salt and nutmeg. Stir to combine. Slowly add ½ a cup of flour at a time until you have a soft dough. You may not need all of the flour or you may need more, it depends on the consistency of the sweet potato mix. It should be light, firm and not sticky. When you have the correct consistency, tip the dough out onto a floured board and divide the mixture into 8 portions. Take one portion at a time and roll it between your palms and the board until you have a snake about 2cm in diameter. Sprinkle with more flour if needed, then using a knife, cut the snake into gnocchi size pieces about 2cm each. After a few, this process will become quite quick - cut and flick, cut and flick… If you want to be fancy, you can roll each piece over the tines of a fork. Bring a large pot of water to boil with a teaspoon of salt. Working in batches, boil gnocchi until tender. Its ready when they stop bobbing around in the middle and hang on the surface around the sides, about 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the gnocchi from the surface of the water and transfer to a lined baking tray. Toss gnocchi with tomato sauce and serve with an extra sprinkling of parmesan cheese. *** Tip: If you wish to fry off the gnocchi, allow it to cool completely, before frying in butter or oil over a medium-high heat for a few minutes. Delicious but extra time and pans are needed. Tip: If you have leftover sweet potato mash, just pop it on a tray and in the oven for 20 minutes or so. The mixture needs to have as little liquid as possible. The more liquid, the more flour and the heavier the gnocchi will be. Tip: I prefer to use goat’s cheese but it does have a strong flavour, so use ricotta if you prefer a more subtle flavour. Just need to drain - place ricotta in a sieve lined with paper towel over a large bowl and drain for an hour or so to remove as much liquid as possible. This is not necessary of using goat’s cheese.
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785 86
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Farm Gate Open 7 Days
Satay Sticks
10
10
20
40
PREP
COOK
TOTAL
SERVES MAKES
1 lime, wedges
To make the sauce, heat a frying pan over medium-high heat add red curry paste and cook for 1 min before adding the peanut butter, coconut cream, stock (or water), soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce. Stir to remove lumps of peanut butter. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5-10 mins until thick. Remove from heat and set aside half the mixture for serving as a dipping sauce. Add other half of mixture to a bowl or zip lock bag (when cool) and toss in chicken strips, mixing to combine. Refrigerate for at least an hour or even better, overnight. Pre-heat the barbecue to medium heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and cook for 5-8 minutes until cooked through. If drying out, brush with a little of the marinade. Once cooked, remove from heat and discard the marinade.
1 red chilli, finely chopped (optional)
Serve with reserved satay sauce, sprinkled with coriander and chilli and lime wedges.
2 tablespoons gluten free red curry paste
4 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter 400ml coconut cream (1 tin)
1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce
1 tablespoon gluten free sweet chilli sauce
½ cup gluten free chicken stock or water (if too thick) 600g chicken thighs, sliced
40 bamboo skewers, soaked in water 2 handfuls coriander, chopped
***
Spring Open Day! Saturday November 2nd, 11am - 3pm
Vegetable picking, tractor rides and family entertainment!
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785
Farm Gate Open 7 Days www.peninsulakids.com.au
87
Lamb Kofta
5
5
10
2
PREP
COOK
TOTAL
SERVES
500g lamb mince 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 red onion, finely diced 1 tablespoon mint leaves, chopped 1 tablespoon parsley leaves, chopped ½ teaspoon bi-carb soda 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons ground smoked paprika 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 egg 2 tablespoons olive oil Yoghurt Sauce 4 tablespoons Greek yoghurt 1 handful mint leaves, chopped 1 Lebanese cucumber, grated ½ teaspoon ground cumin salt to taste
Combine lamb, garlic, onion, mint, parsley, bi-carb soda, cumin, coriander, paprika, salt and egg in a bowl and mix together with your hands. Allow to rest in the fridge for half an hour or as long as you can, while you prepare the other ingredients. Moisten your hands with water and divide the mixture into 12, rolling each one into a fat sausage shape. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the Koftas for 10 minutes (2½ mins each side) You may need to cook in 2 batches depending on the size of your pan. Serve with mint yoghurt. Also delicious served with tabouli or garlic spinach and roasted tomatoes.
***
TIP: Make a double batch and freeze half the raw mixture for another day. TIP: 500g is enough for the correct dietary proportions but I always feel I need more because they are so yummy. Cook double quantity and take them for lunch in a gluten free wrap.
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785 88
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
o
TIP: If you prefer, you can bake them in the oven at 180 C for 15-20 minutes (or until the meat is cooked through).
Farm Gate Open 7 Days
Hedgehog Slice
10
5
15
12
PREP
COOK
TOTAL
SERVES
80g butter 395g sweetened condensed milk 120g gluten free dark chocolate, coarsely chopped 160g gluten free scotch finger biscuits, crushed 70g desiccated coconut (1 cup) 100g skinless hazelnuts (1 cup) toasted Icing: 280g gluten free dark chocolate, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Grease and line a 13x28cm loaf tin with baking paper and set aside. Place butter, sweetened condensed milk and 120g dark chocolate into a saucepan and melt over low-medium heat until melted and mixed together (or melt in microwave). Add the crushed biscuits, coconut and chopped hazelnuts and mix together well. Press mixture firmly into the prepared tin, pressing and flattening evenly across the base. In the same saucepan (just wipe out any residual biscuit crumbs with paper towel), melt coconut oil and then add 280g dark chocolate and stir until completely melted. Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the slice and refrigerate until set (2-3 hours). Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
***
Tip: Feel free to switch the hazelnuts for walnuts (which is the traditional nut for a hedgehog) or almonds, or add dried fruit like sultanas or diced apricots.
Spring Open Day! Saturday November 2nd, 11am - 3pm
Vegetable picking, tractor rides and family entertainment!
www.hawkesvegetables.com.au | 661 Boneo Rd, Boneo | Ph 03 5988 6785
Farm Gate Open 7 Days www.peninsulakids.com.au
89
1
little
BITES
FAMILY FRIENDLY CAFES & VENUES
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Conditions apply Not available public holidays
WITH ANY ADULT MAIN MEAL PURCHASED
Mt Mar Martha
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Kid-friendly whole farm experience, nourishing family and friends with the goodness of the farm.
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SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
90 Peninsula Kids Kids – Spring 2019
NEW - MP Kids Magazine_SPRING.indd 90
15/08/2019 3:09:46 PM
Peninsula Kids is showcasing the wonderful places available on the peninsula and Bayside region to take the family out for a stress-free bite to eat! Let our map guide you and your hungry tribe. Here you'll find some of the best affordable cafes, venues and family-friendly places to stop and have a break.
Enjoy!
6
7 Fran ank kston
3
Mt Eliz Eliza
sy while Let the kids play and be noirela x! and you enjoy a coffee
Langwarrin
6
Somerrville Some
Mooroo ooduc duc
10
7
Pea earrcedale
Ty T yabb 227 Cranbourne Road Frankston Open 7 Days 11am - 10pm
Hastings
Bitttern Bit Crib Point
Merrick Merric ks
Balnarring Somerrs Some
8
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Stony Point
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5 days a week
monday to friday
*Buy 1 main meal & receive a kids’ meal free. Exc. Festive days, Weekends & School hols. 614 The Esplanade, Mount Martha I 5975 1555 @thedavahotel www.thedavahotel.com.au
10
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INDOOR PLAY CENTRE and
CAFE
SPECIALISING IN CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES
OPEN FOR DINNER FRIDAY NIGHTS TILL 7pm
222 Marine Parade, Hastings P: 5906 5900 www.kidzshed.com.au
www.peninsulakids.com.au
91
Pregnancy & Baby
MAKING INFORMED
By Yvette Julian-Arndt
T
he definition of a good decision according to Childbirth International is “one that works for the person making the decision at the time the decision was made, the person is able to take responsibility for it and understand the basis on which it was made”.
You may make decisions in a very scientific way, weighing up all the facts and the pros and cons, or you may use your instincts and base it on your emotions and how you feel. There is no right or wrong way however, understanding and working towards an ‘Informed Choice”, a term often used in healthcare, can help you to feel confident that you have made the right one. It is important to remember that though we greatly value a health professional’s incredible knowledge and experience, it is not their job to tell you what to do. It is to give you ALL the information in an unbiased way so that YOU can decide what happens next. No hospital policy, routine procedure or intervention is law. You always have the right to ask questions and/or say no. True informed choice occurs when clients and care providers engage in open, honest communication about the range of options that exist. By using the letters of we can follow a thorough decision making process and feel empowered that we have stayed at the centre of our experiences.
It can be used when making decisions about antenatal screening, pregnancy complications or birth options and planning. It can help you stay in control if things take an unexpected turn in labour or be used if testing and treatment is needed for your baby. And it is also a guide that can be applied to make the best choices for yourself or your child all throughout life.
{ }
INFORMATION
What do I know about the situation, issue or circumstance? Is there a problem? If so, what exactly is it?
{
} NEED MORE
Do I understand what is going on or do I need to ask more questions? If you are having trouble, ask for it to explained again in simpler language. Ask questions like: “Is my baby ok, am I ok?" "What is your policy or usual protocols with this situation?" "What does the latest research or best evidence-based practice suggest?” Think about whether you want or need to do more research or get a second opinion.
{
}
FEELINGS
How do I feel about what I have been told or what is happening? Do I feel calm, panicked, suspicious, annoyed, bullied, confident, listened to or respected?
{
} OPTIONS
ALWAYS find out ALL of your options, not just one. Ask questions like: “What are my options?" "Where can we go from here?" "Is that all of them?" "Are there any alternatives?”
{
} RISKS and BENEFITS
Most importantly you need to find out the risks and benefits for ALL options. You can ask: “What are the risks for me? What are the risks for my baby? What are the benefits of doing what you are suggesting? And what if I decide to wait or do nothing?”
{
}MOMENT ALONE
Next, ask for some time alone to consider your options. Take a few minutes/ hours/days depending on the situation to compose yourself so you can think rationally and clearly. 92
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
LUCAS
}
EVALUATE
Compare the risks and benefits of the different options you have been given or found and consider how comfortable you feel with the different choices. Think about which combination of risks and/or benefits you are leaning towards.
{
} DISCUSS
Talk openly with your partner about your thoughts and feelings or confer with other trusted people.
{
} CONSIDER
Consider any original thoughts or ideals. For example birth preferences or goals. Think about how the different options match with your core beliefs and values.
{
} HOW IMPORTANT NOW
How important are those things now considering the current situation? What is most vital to you right now? How do you think you will feel later with or without these things?
{
DENTAL CARE SPEC IAL I ST
{
TRIC DENTISTS A I ED A P
} OTHER WISHES
Are there some other ways that will still help you honour what you originally wanted. For example what else can still be followed on your birth plan, even if some things can’t? Are there some other ways that will still help you feel like you are on the right path?
{ } INTUITION/INSTINCT What is my gut telling me to do?
{
} CHOICE/COMMUNICATE/CONFIDENCE
Make the final decision about what you will do and communicate this to your care provider explaining why you have chosen the option you have. Always do it with confidence especially if it isn’t what they are suggesting, and back it up with research if you can.
{
}
EMPOWERED
Feel proud and own it! You have taken control of your body, your baby, your parenting journey. Know that whatever path you have decided to take, you have made a voluntary, well-considered decision on the basis of options, accurate information and understanding. This is all going to lead to positive feelings, confidence and have you rocking your role as a parent!
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 The Positive Birth Course in Frankston. Find out more at www.projectbirth.com.au or join her on Facebook and Instagram for more great labour and birth tips.
134 TANTI AVENUE, MORNINGTON 3931
597 5 9334 Dr James Lucas Dr Caroline Howarth Dr Giselle D’Mello
lucas dental care proudly sponsors polyglot theatre
www.peninsulakids.com.au
93
DING
your new baby when you have By Pinky McKay
Pinky's top tips for including your toddler at feeding times
I
magine that your partner has just brought home a new lover and announced that you are all going to live together. It will be fun! You will be best friends! After hearing that your partner loves you and his new lover equally, you are asked to share all your things with this intruder. It also turns out that you won’t be getting as much attention as you used to because the new lover is a bit upset about something. Anyway, you are such a clever person, you can do lots of things by yourself now. Oh, and by the way, you must be gentle with the new lover! Wouldn’t go down too well, would it?
Consider, this could be just how your toddler might feel when you introduce him to a new sibling. Is it any wonder then, that he shows his feelings by becoming clingy or demanding, when you are spending so much time feeding and helping your new baby settle into life on the ‘outside’. Managing feeding times can be especially difficult because it takes so much time in the early days, so here are some tips to make it easier:
Feeding station
Set up a corner for feeding times, with special things to occupy your toddler: snacks, drinks, storybooks, a scrapbook and crayons or a big cardboard box and crayons – your child can hop in the box and colour the ‘walls’. Crayons are a better tactile experience for littlies than textas and they are far less messy (simply remove any crayon marks on walls by wiping with cooking oil or a ‘magic eraser’). Alternatively, a CD or MP3 player with your toddler’s favourite songs.
A boobie box
Pack a box of special things to play with at feed times only (rotate toys/activities). The boobie box goes away when feeds are finished.
Little packages or busy bags
Make up some ‘busy bags’ (great ideas here) to bring out when you need time to care for your baby – put a small ‘surprise’ in paper lunch bags –stickers, a snack pak, matchbox car or simple activities. Give these to your toddler before you have a ‘reaction’ so he feels included, not ‘rewarded’ for meltdowns.
Sit on the floor
Sit with your toddler on the floor or big bed and draw in a large sketch pad or read stories while you feed. This can be a nice snuggly time for everyone. 94
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
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Play ‘Simon Says’ Simple actions can keep that toddler amused and engaged if he’s an active little person
Prepare the night before Set up an activity for your toddler before you go to bed at night, so that when he gets up in the morning, he can start playing and you get a chance to begin your day more peacefully while he is busy – feed the baby, get dressed or make breakfast (however it works out for you). Then, after breakfast, head out for a morning walk. This way, your toddler will run off his energy, you will have spent some time focussing on him while, ideally, the baby snoozes in a sling or pram. Then, when you get home, get out a snack for your toddler and he will be much more content to play quietly and, if you need to resort to a DVD, you won’t feel so bad about using the ‘electronic baby sitter’ while you attend to the baby. Or you could all snuggle together and watch a DVD while you feed your baby.
Feed outside
Everything your baby needs comes from you – your loving touch, your nourishing milk and immune boosting protection against illness. You are giving so much, sometimes you need a boost.
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If the weather is warm enough, sit outside and feed while your toddler ‘paints’ the fence or verandah with a small bucket of water and a wide house paint bush. He will be occupied for a nice time. Or, if you have concrete let him draw with chalks. A sandpit is also a wonderful diversion as well as a healthy sensory activity.
While you’re feeding, tell the baby, (loudly enough to be overheard!) how great it is to have a big brother or sister. When the baby is settled remember that your “big” kid needs mummy time too and enjoy at least one predictable space every day as ‘our special time’ of activities without the baby.
Pinky McKay is an internationally certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and best-selling author of Sleeping Like a Baby, Parenting By Heart and 100 Ways to Calm the Crying (Penguin Random House). She is also the creator of Boobie bikkies all natural and organic health food cookies for breastfeeding mums. www.pinkymckay.com
SPECIAL OFFER! Order Online at www.boobiebikkies.com.au and use coupon code MPK19 at the checkout for free postage! Coupon valid until 30 January 2020. Not valid for samples or subscriptions
www.peninsulakids.com.au
95
Health
By Rebecca Perkins
ADHD
is one of the most common neurological disorders in the world; it is estimated to affect around 1 in 10 people worldwide. Sadly however, it is still one of the most misunderstood disorders in existence.
ADHD is more like a spectrum, more like what Autism is for example. There are in fact many different symptoms and challenges and every child or adult with ADHD will struggle with different symptoms in different ways.
But what is ADHD, and why is it so misunderstood?
In other words you could potentially have four children all with ADHD and each one could have completely different challenges.
Well the first and most important thing to understand about ADHD is that it is real. It is not a social disorder that is brought on by bad parenting, it is not brought on by the school a child went to or the friends they played with. ADHD is a real disorder. Just recently I saw a meme that said ‘I had ADHD until my Dad took off his belt’. It is this misguided stereotype that sadly harms so many children and adults living with ADHD. Not only is ADHD very real, but to those who have it life can be extremely challenging. So it is absolutely crucial that we begin as a society to change this mistaken belief, so that children growing up with ADHD can get the support and understanding they need.
So what exactly is ADHD? The problem with ADHD is that it is not as simple to understand as it’s name (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) leads us to believe. ADHD is much more than a linear disorder that goes from mild to severe, where individuals only have problems with hyperactivity or inattention. 96
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
One child may struggle more with the hyperactive and impulsive side of ADHD; this child may be very fidgety, always on the go and may find sitting still in the classroom or to eat their dinner, for example, really difficult. However, the second child may not have any problem with hyperactivity at all; this child may struggle more with disorganisation. Staying organised with anything from homework to just remembering what they need to be doing and when, could be a huge challenge for this child. So what about child number three; well child number three’s biggest struggle could be anxiety and emotional dys-regulation. Both anxiety and poor emotional regulation are huge challenges for many children with ADHD. And as they progress through childhood and into adulthood, if they don’t get the necessary support this can cause massive problems for them in their life. continued next page.....
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97
Finally child number four, this child is more like me. Their mind is always trying to think of fifteen things at once, jumping from one thought to the next, and really struggle to pay attention to any one thing; they are very easily distracted. Well, this can make life very difficult for a child especially at school.
Hyperactivity Disorder. Well, many individuals with ADHD don’t have hyperactivity at all. This isn’t necessarily always one of the symptoms that children with ADHD struggle with. So the name in itself can be quite misleading.
So we know that ADHD is much more complex than we may think. According to the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) there are three types of ADHD: Inattentive, Hyperactive and Combined, which is a combination of the two.
As ADHD is so very misunderstood, creating awareness of ADHD, it’s true characteristics and how and why individuals with ADHD struggle, will be a huge leap forward in providing a better future for all those living and often struggling with ADHD symptoms.
However, ADHD is much more than those three titles would suggest. And this, along with the name Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, often leads to a great deal more misunderstandings.
There are many symptoms of ADHD that at present are unrecognised by society. Such as:
Let’s look firstly at the name itself. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
• HYPER-FOCUS The ability to focus intensely on something
Attention Deficit. Has someone with ADHD necessarily got an attention deficit? I certainly don’t think I have an attention deficit. I think the problem is exactly the opposite; our attention is on so many different things at once.
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that interests them or captures their attention.
• EMOTIONAL DYS-REGULATION • DIFFICULTY SWITCHING BETWEEN TASKS • DISORGANISATION • ANXIETY • LOW SELF-ESTEEM • FEAR OF BEING JUDGED / NEED TO PLEASE • COMPETITIVENESS • GUILT But as well as these many challenges that those with ADHD face, there are also positive sides to ADHD. Because of their need to please and their competitive spirits they can achieve great things. On top of this, if you know a child with ADHD then you will realize that they can be the kindest, most loving and caring child. Children with ADHD have an incredible ability to empathise with others and will always be the first to comfort and console you when you need a hug.
SEE. PLAY. EAT. SHOP. DO.
Despite their many struggles and challenges, they truly are beautiful people and with the right support and understanding they can become remarkable and achieve great things for their own lives and for the lives of others.
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CARIBBEANGARDENS.COM.AU 9756 5000 1280 FERNTREE GULLY ROAD, SCORESBY VIC 3179
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Rebecca Perkins is the Founder of My Special Child, Rebecca is also a Writer, Presenter and Trainer, as well as being Mum to two boys, one of which has ADHD and is Intellectually Disabled. Rebecca herself also has diagnosed ADHD. Rebecca is currently planning the inaugural Victorian ADHD Conference 2019, aimed at helping parents, carers and educators to provide the best possible future to those with ADHD. www.myspecialchildonline.com Understanding ADHD the DVD is available now.
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR BREAKFAST & COF F EE BET WEEN 9AM -11:30AM 4 LEVELS T ODDLERS AREA T EEN ZONE INT ERACT IVE SCREENS LIQUID F LOOR
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5
Top
tips for
By Dr Giulia D'Anna, founder of iDental
1. Your child’s baby teeth will start to appear, often with the central bottom teeth first, anywhere between 4 months and 10 months. Like every milestone, the age that a child gets their first tooth can vary widely, and there is no need to panic if every other child already seems to have teeth and your child does not. Accept this as a positive delay, as this gives the child a more time before they need to look after their teeth or for decay to develop. As the teeth start to get wobbly and are lost, often parents are concerned that the baby tooth is still present whilst the adult tooth has started to pop through the gum. This is quite common and the best course of action is to see your dentist for assessment. The most common advice I give out is that the baby tooth needs lots of wobbling to encourage its loss. And if the baby tooth persists on being present for longer than 3 months after the adult tooth first shows up, a dentist will need to help out. 2. Children can get decay and this is most commonly associated with diet related issues. Eating lots of sugar without good brushing is a consideration. Additionally, drinking sugary drinks is also best avoided. The best drinks for kids are milk and water. Seems simple and it really is. Avoiding sticky sugar is also a really good tip. The lunch box snack of “roll-ups”, sultanas or lollies are best avoided. These kinds of sugars stick to the teeth for a prolonged period of time, so that the teeth develop decay much more easily. The use of tooth mousse can help to stabilise decay levels and strengthen enamel, and the great thing about this product is that it was developed at the University of Melbourne, right here in Australia. 100
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
Only use toothpaste when your child can reliably spit out. Toothpaste contains fluoride and this is a great thing. However there are a number of concerns that can develop if your child is swallowing excess amounts of toothpaste. Fluoride in the water supply usually sits at a really low concentration of 1 part per million. Adult toothpaste sits at around 1000 parts per million, and child toothpaste has around 200-300 parts per million. Fluoride has been one of the single most beneficial health initiatives in the world, preventing tooth loss significantly since its introduction. However, when your child is growing, fluoride ingestion can cause discolouration of the permanent teeth. This is called Dental Fluorosis. Dental Fluorosis can affect the appearance of teeth, most commonly appearing as white lines/ areas on tooth surfaces. It is caused by a high intake of fluoride from one or more sources during the time when teeth are developing. Almost all Dental Fluorosis in Australia, however, is mild or very mild, does not affect the function of the teeth, and is not of aesthetic concern to those who have it.
4. Get your child’s teeth checked by the dentist early. This is beneficial in a few ways. First of all, the child will see the dental experience as a positive one as little is usually done in the first few visits aside from a general check of the teeth, some teeth counting games and a fun ride in the chair. At iDental, we usually like to play games and give out prizes for having a dental check, which all reinforces this positive behaviour. The second benefit of an early check is to detect developmental problems like tongue or lip tie, which can impair speech, and to screen for decay or potential other dental concerns.
Kids Teeth • Providing Specialist Orthodontic Services to the Mornington Peninsula with three locations in Rosebud, Mount Eliza and Hastings. • The very best in Orthodontic care and technology - clear braces, Invisalign, lingual (hidden) braces. • Treatment provided in a relaxed environment. • Highest quality care provided by our Orthodontist.
NO REFERRAL NEEDED. CONTACT US TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THE SMILE YOU ALWAYS WANTED.
CALL US ON 5. When there is decay, get this fixed. Primary or baby teeth seem like a trial run, and they kind of are. But primary teeth are important for function and speech. Without front teeth, your child will struggle with a lisp which will have an impact on reading and spelling. Without back teeth, nutrition can be a problem. Additionally, with decay, infections can develop easily as the teeth are smaller and less resistant to decay progression. Finally one of the most important reasons to keep baby teeth in position is that they maintain the space we need for the new secondary or permanent teeth to come through in the correct position. When a tooth is lost too early, the spaces normally needed by the permanent teeth close, as the teeth either side of the space drift into this position. This can lead to unnecessary orthodontic problems later on, when the teeth are much more crowded than they might have been by fixing and saving the baby tooth in the first place.
9787 3849
“Lighte enjoy life n up, just , laugh m smile more, ore, and don get so w orked u ’t p about th ings” -Kenneth Branagh
CALL NOW FOR MT ELIZA, ROSEBUD & HASTINGS BOOKINGS
122 Mt Eliza Way, Mt Eliza & 1533 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud West 140 Salmon St, Hastings mteliza@hanksorthodontics.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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The Benefits of Teaching Yoga & Meditation to Kids By Valerie Laycock and Linda Whitehead
L
ife is busy for our children and they are facing challenges that we never had to face. Similarly, as parents, we face obstacles in parenting that generations before us couldn’t fathom, navigating a lan-guage they wouldn’t have understood. “…Ten more minutes on the iPad… you’re not old enough to have your own instagram account… I have to restart the internet to get Netflix working…” We had to wait until Saturday mornings for our screen fix, and even then, only if we were lucky. For our parents, it was a once-a-week Sunday night movie, maybe. And our grandparents? A special occasion or seasonal trip to the cinema.
The accessibility we have to entertainment and information is literally at our fingertips. But with this comes a massive responsibility. The statistics are in. No one can argue the effects that overstimula-tion and screen time have on a child’s mental health. And this is just a portion of a number of stressors that face children today.
If we want to expose our children to the best that life has to offer, if we want to offer them netball, art classes, ballet, soccer, swimming and screen time, then it is not only healthy, it is essential for us to equip our children with the skills to find balance. Exposing our children to yoga and meditation from an early age allows them to integrate this into their daily lives. It doesn’t have to be in a formal class format. It can be as small as closing their eyes to breathe deeply before taking a challenging maths test that they have been stressing over. Yoga and meditation classes are taught in various formats; one- off classes and workshops, weekly classes, or even online. It is highly accessible and is even being incorporated at school into some classrooms.
What is Yoga?
It’s ok to accept that, in this complex and stimulating world that we live in, we need a little help to calm our children and teach them how to retreat to a safe and quiet place.
Yoga is an ancient spiritual and physical practice originating from India. The name Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj”, meaning to merge, unite or attach.
Want numbers?
In yoga classes children can connect with their body in a noncompetitive environment, and under-stand their mind and body better. Yoga incorporates many different poses throughout a class that strengthen muscles as well as will power.
*
75% of mental illness has its onset before age 24
* 1 in 7 Australian children aged 4-17 were assessed for mental illnesses in 2015 * 45% of Australian adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime Yoga and wellbeing teachers believe they can reverse these statistics. By teaching our children the skills of mindfulness and meditation we can provide them with tools to navigate this complex world and hopefully, they will not have to face the same mental health issues as the generations before them. Through movement, meditation, breath work and mindset exercises, yoga teaches children mindfulness, selfawareness, relaxation, respect, and bravery. 102
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Studies have proven that teaching yoga and mediation to kids provide the following benefits: • Lowers stress and anxiety levels • Teaches how to relax and regulate emotions • Clears the mind, thus enhancing awareness and creativity • Guarantees better overall health • Ensures better sleep • Increases confidence • Promotes positive self image
What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is being aware in the present moment. It is being aware with curiosity but without reac-tion or judgement of self or others. There are two parts to mindfulness – the first is being able to fo-cus on one single thing. It’s about noticing when the mind has become distracted and being able to bring it back to focus – a great skill for all of us. The second part is about noticing how you are re-acting to whatever you are noticing – being able to maintain that curiosity without judging yourself. What's the difference between mindfulness and meditation? Meditation is where we formally take time to practice mindfulness which we sometimes refer to as exercise for the mind. Mindfulness is bringing that attitude of paying attention into your daily life. The best part about yoga and meditation is that it is accessible for everyone, and easy to incorpo-rate into your own daily life. Any amount, no matter how small, is beneficial. For more information search for some online tutorials or look for classes in your local area.
Valerie and Linda run Pink Buddha Meditation and Yoga. For more information go to www.pinkbuddha.com.au
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
Pink Buddha based in Mornington, teaches kids yoga and meditation in a fun and engaging environment
pinkbuddha.com.au 0410 867 503
No Referral Necessary
13 Beach St Frankston
Ph: 9783 4511
www.drpeterscottorthodontist.com.au www.facebook.com/drpeterscottorthodontist www.peninsulakids.com.au
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E.R.A.S.E. Your Spring Flu Woes Cold and flu season is still here, and health experts have already tipped 2019 as one of the worst-affected years!*1 To help Aussies get through this season, Nurofen Cold & Flu has launched five simple steps aimed at taking a holistic approach to fighting a cold or flu. Nurofen Cold & Flu research showed almost 60 per cent of Australians are unaware that inflammation is the source of cold and flu symptoms.*2 They worked with a health care expert to create this easy-to-remember five step program for easing your symptoms and getting better, faster this Spring. The common symptoms we can experience during a cold or flu – sore throat, running or blocked nose, headaches and sinus pain – may be triggered by inflammation in your body.*3 Taking an anti-inflammatory as part of a holistic symptom management approach is an effective way to reduce cold and flu symptoms and help you get on with your life. The Nurofen E.R.A.S.E multi-action plan highlights five easy to remember steps to help manage cold and flu symptoms to help get you back to everyday life.
They are:
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
REST UP
EAT HEALTHY sh Eat plenty of fre es bl ta ge ve d an fruit which are full of ls nera vitamins and mi the to help support immune system
Remember that sleep and rest is important to help stay healthy.
*4
S I P WA T E R
Use an anti-inflammatory cold & flu treatment such as Nurofen Cold & Flu to help relieve cold and flu symptoms.
EXERCISE
Staying wellhydrated will keep the kidneys happy to balance electrolytes and filter waste.
(Gently): Walk fo 30 minutes a da r as part of a heal y thy lifestyle.
*5
*6
COLD SYMPTOMS
Nurofen understands the importance of fast and effective relief for cold and flu. For more information, visit: www.nurofen.com.au.
This medicine may not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful. 1 GENERALLY 7-10persist, DAYStalk WITH SYMPTOMS If symptoms to your health professional. Important: Nurofen Cold & Flu contains ibuprofen and phenylephrine. LAST For the relief of symptoms of cold and flu. VARYING OVER THE COURSE OF THE COLD1,2
Australian Influenza Surveillance Report and Activity Updates. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/ internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ cda-surveil-ozflu-flucurr.htm (Accessed 14 June 2019).
*2.Colmar Brunton, June 2019 *3. Eccles R. Lancet Infect Dis 2005; 5(11): 718-25. *4. Hosseini B, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2018;108(1):136-155. *5. MSD Manual. Overview of electrolytes. Available at: https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-au/home/ hormonaland-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-balance/ overview-of-electrolytes (accessed 3 May 2019). *6. Australian Government. 2014. Department of Health. Australia’s Physical Activity & Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for Adults (18-64 years). Available from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing. nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-actguidelines#npa1864(Accessed 30 April 2019) GRAPH: Gwaltney JM, et al., JAMA. 1967;202: 494-500 104
Cold and flu symptoms caused by rhinovirus vary over the course of infection3 Body pains/ General discomfort Feverishness Headache Sneezing Runny nose Nasal congestion Sore throat Cough
70 60 PERCENTAGE (%)
*1. Australian Government. 2019. Department of Health.
50 40 30 20 10 0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
DAYS
Only approximately 25% of cold and flu illnesses are associated with rhinoviruses1.
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019 For the temporary relief of cold and flu symptoms. This medicine may not be right for you. Read the label before purchase. Follow the directions for use. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
\J
Ask The
Expert! "My ten year old has started playing football. How important is it to wear a mouthguard?" Wearing a mouthguard is essential during any sport or activity that can involve contact to the head and mouth. Injuries to the teeth, mouth and jaws are some of the most common injuries that occur on the sporting field and can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss. An effective mouthguard is like wearing a helmet for our teeth and jaws. It acts as a shock absorber protecting the teeth and lower jaw from potentially breaking and also prevents you from accidentally biting your lips, tongue or cheeks. It is just as important to wear a mouthguard when in braces or if you have fixed orthodontic appliances, as mouthguards can not only protect the teeth themselves, but also prevent breakages of the braces and avoid cuts of the lips, cheeks and tongue. A re-mouldable mouthguard can be purchased at most chemists or sporting stores and moulded multiple times at home if necessary to best fit the mouth through dental changes. This form of mouthguard is best suited for people who have braces, orthodontic appliances or are still losing baby teeth. An ideal fitting mouthguard can be made by attending a dentist or orthodontist. This generally involves taking an impression or a 3D scan that can then be designed specifically for the individual. This type of mouthguard is best suited for individuals who have finished with orthodontic treatment or have all of their adult teeth.
Melizza Ferdinands Oral Health Therapist BOH (UniMelb) Peninsula Orthodontics 134 Tanti Ave Mornington
Peninsula Orthodontics loves working with families. Our experienced team will provide you with an individual treatment plan to deliver only exceptional results. Capture that perfect smile you will always treasure. No referral required.
Specialist Orthodontists Dr Andrew Pepicelli Dr Andrea Phatouros
Dr Daniel Sable Dr Adam Leung
5975 5166
134 Tanti Ave Mornington peninsulaortho.com.au smile@peninsulaortho.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Book Reviews
Pre School
$2499
$1699
WE’RE STUCK
BY SUE deGENNAR
3+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 When Turtle races into the lift of Building 24, there is a nod and a blink and a step to the side. A grunt and a sigh and a lean to the right. But what happens when the lift stops moving? Crocodile has a meeting to get to. And Giraffe has a doctor’s appointment. And Turtle really, really needs to get to the shop.
THE WALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOK BY JOHN AGEE
5+yrs, Scholastic, p/b $16.99 There's a wall in the middle of the book, and a young knight is sure that the wall protects his side of the book from the dangers of the other side. Dangers such as an angry tiger and giant rhino, and worst of all an ogre who would gobble him up in a second! But the knight doesn't seem to to notice the crocodile and the growing sea of water that are emerging on his side. When the water's almost over his head and he's calling for help, who will come to his rescue?
$1599
THE BOOK CHOOK
BY AMELIA McINERNEY
4+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $15.99 When Ray realises he is a drawing of a chicken, he panics! Can he hatch a plan to get out of the book? Luckily, his plucky, clucky friend Janine is there to help. A hilarious tale of flying the coop—and discovering home. Of finding out who you are, learning to love who you are and where you are—even if you might have been a bit mistaken on the way.
Early Reader
$1299
COWBOY & BIRDBRAIN
BY ADAM WALLACE
7+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99 Cowboy and Birdbrain are best friends who work for the I.F.F.Y. delivery company. The boss has an urgent job for them: to deliver a package to a ship in the middle of the ocean... but it can't get wet! Also, they can't say the P word... whatever that word may be. Yarrrrrrr.
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
$1599
WEIRDO #12 – HOPPING WEIRD
BY ANH DO
6+yrs, Scholastic, p/b $15.99 Mum’s got a cool new job at the animal hospital... but now Weir’s house is like a ZOO! How can Bella and Weir help look after all the animals AND finish their school project?! It won’t be easy... but it will be FUNNY!
$1499
NINJA KID #3 NINJA SWITCH
BY ANH DO
7+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $14.99 Nelson’s school athletics carnival is on, and just when he needs his ninja powers most... they’ve been swapped with Grandma’s! How can Nelson compete AND battle the bad guy when he runs and jumps like an old lady?!
Win
PRIZE PACK OF THE REVIEWED BOOKS
ONE LUCKY PRESCHOOLER & ONE LUCKY www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways SCHOOL AGED READER WILL
$1799
$1699
$1999
THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT BEARS
3+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $17.99 Trip, Trap, Trip, Trap, Trip, Trap! Three billy goats named Gruff want to cross a bridge to get to where the sweetest grass grows. But under the bridge lives a great ugly troll! Will he gobble them up?
4+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $16.99 Bears are tired. Sick and tired. And just when they are in the middle of something really good–like sleeping, snoozing or napping–too many storybooks mean they have to stop what they are doing–that is–sleeping, and get up and be part of a story. Every story. Well, the bears have had enough. They are going on strike. This hilarious book looks at some alternatives for all the parts bears play in stories. But what sort of animal could be… just right?
BY NICK BLAND
BY LAURA BUNTING
$1299
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL + CD BY P. CRUMBLE
3+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $19.99 On the first day of school, my teacher said to me, “Raise your hand if you have to do a wee.” Starting school has never been more hilarious. Join Australian musical theatre and television actress, Penny McNamee, for some joyful sing-along fun.
$1299
$1299
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO SIMON SIDEBOTTOM 2
BLABBER MOUTH: OOPS I’VE DONE IT AGAIN
PEARL #3 THE PROPER UNICORN
7+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99 SIMON’S STILL HAVING A BAD DAY! It’s the first day back at school and things are going from BAD to EMBARRASSINGLY BAD for Simon Sidebottom. Can things get any worse? Yes! Because YOU get to choose what happens next. Will Simon be undone by Principal Fart-Smells? Will his teacher, Miss Giraffe, meet a ferrety end? Will Simon have his hair vacuumed off by the creepy school cleaner? YOU CHOOSE!
7+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99 Blabbermouth = a person who talks too much = Amelie Anderson. Amelie is a blabbermouth. She’s not a bad kid–she’s just so bubbly that sometimes words fizz right out of her mouth! And then things go wrong. Terribly wrong. But she’s determined to fix all that. It’s time for a reputation make-over!
6+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $12.99 Pearl, Olive and Tweet meet another unicorn! His name is Prince Percy and he is positively perfect in every way! But when mean, smelly gobble-uns take over the pond, can Prince Percy’s perfect magic help them? Or will Pearl’s magic be just what they need?
BY P. CRUMBLE
BY CHRISSIE PERRY
BY SALLY ODGERS
www.peninsulakids.com.au
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School Aged
$1699
$1699
PROMISE
NICE GIRLS DON’T PLAY FOOTY
BY ALEXANDRA ALT
12+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99 At 15, Lene is questioning everything. She is sick of the compulsory League of German Girls meetings, and everyone being made to fight for a final victory that never seems to come. She is in love with Ludwig who lives upstairs and listens to enemy broadcasts. Like Lene, he rejects the war and the endless Nazi indoctrination. But he has caught the attention of his ruthless Hitler Youth squad leader, Kurt. Unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Lene has to watch every step, every word to protect those she loves. When Ludwig is ordered to the Eastern Front, can Lene and Ludwig hold on to their promise to one another and resurface from the darkness of the abyss in post war Berlin?
BY KATHY HELIDONIOTIS
9+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99 More than anything Devi Sharma wants to win the upcoming BollyOz competition for her mum. Then shell be on her way to becoming Bollywoods first ever Australian half-Indian, sort of Kiwi, quarter Scottish, Vaisnavi vegan superstar! Then Devi starts AFL lessons at school and shes surprised to find she has talent...and a feeling she hasnt had in a long time. Can Devi convince her family to let her play AFL when nice girls dont play this football and her mum thinks it will risk her winning BollyOz?
$1699
WINSTON AND THE WONDROUS WOOBA GYMNASTICS CLUB
BY HILARY ROGERS
8+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99 When Winstons new step-sister-to-be Macy moves to Woobawittawoo with her dad, life in their small town quickly turns upside down. Winston is thrilled, but Macy is miserable. Wooba might have the Big Bread, but what use is a crumbling tourist attraction when Macy wants to become an Olympic gymnast? Its up to Winston and his friends to convince Macy to love Wooba as much as they do so they can stay there forever. But how? Could a gymnastics club be the answer to all their problems?
Are you our next Family Day Care educator? GREAT OUTDOOR SEATING AREA A DES WHICH INCLU LE & JUMPING CAST T FOR EN PLAY EQUIPM ER THOSE WARM DAYS
Are you qualified in childcare? Do you love caring for children? Looking for flexible work hours? SPECIALISING IN CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Independently owned & operated, Dedicated toddler area for under 3 years of age, Safe, friendly & healthy environment for children & adults
Extensive menu Yummy home made food Gluten and dairy intolerances catered for OPEN FOR DINNER FRIDAY NIGHTS TILL 7pm 222 Marine Pde, Hastings Ph: 5906 5900 www.kidzshed.com.au
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As an educator with Mornington Peninsula Shire, you’ll provide quality child care for local families with the flexibility to work from home, set your own hours and align with a professional service. For more information:
A Child Safe Organisation 5950 1099 mornpen.vic.gov.au familydaycare@mornpen.vic.gov.au
Win
PRIZE PACK OF THE REVIEWED BOOKS
ONE LUCKY PRESCHOOLER & ONE LUCKY www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways SCHOOL AGED READER WILL
$1499
LIARS #4 LOCKDOWN
BY JACK HEATH
10+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $14.99 ARMED MERCENARIES invade a hospital and start taking hostages. Some school students barricade themselves in a surgical theatre. But the mercenaries are HUNTING an injured man . . . and hes in there with them. Jarli, creator of the Truth app, is one of the students TRAPPED in the hospital. All the phones are jammed. The building is locked down. No help is coming. The mercenaries work for Viper, a ruthless and deadly criminal. Jarli and his friends have outwitted Viper beforecan they do it again? The TRUTH is deadly . . .
SWIMMING CAPABILITY STATISTICS SOURCE: Royal Life Saving Society Australia FORMAL SWIMMING LESSONS STATISTIC SOURCE: American Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2019 SUMMER DROWNINGS SOURCE: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/23197/RLS_NDR2018_ReportLR.pdf
84%
OF 12 YEAR OLD CHILDREN CAN’T TREAD WATER FOR 2 MINUTES
33%
OF 12 YEAR OLD CHILDREN CAN’T SWIM 25M OF SURVIVAL STROKES
51% MORE DROWNINGS IN SUMMER 2019 THAN SUMMER 2018
88%
REDUCTION IN DROWNINGS IF YOU HAVE FORMAL SWIM LESSONS
LEARN FROM THE SURVIVAL SPECIALISTS Paul Sadler Swimland Carrum Downs 149 Hall Rd Carrum Downs (03) 9782 9444 carrumdowns@paulsadlerswimland.com paulsadlerswimland.com.au
$1699
$1699
MY AUSTRALIAN STORY: CASTLE HILL REBELLION
BY CHRISSIE MICHAEL
REBELLION AT EUREKA
BY ALAN TUCKER
9+yrs, Scholastic, p/b $16.99 ‘Do we count you in?’ When Joe is reluctantly dragged into a deadly plot by rebellious convicts at the Castle Hill prison farm on the outskirts of Sydney Town, he quickly realises it does not pay to be their enemy. He has been quietly working out his sentence as a shepherd boy, in the company of his friends, Pat and Kitt–who has set her eye on Joshua Holt, son of the heroic General of Wicklow. But the croppies are hard, tough patriots of Ireland and desperate to revolt and Joe finds himself amidst a desperate bid for freedom in the first convict uprising against the colony of New South Wales.
$4
YO U
RF
8+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99 August 1854: At thirteen, Alf has just finished school and wants to make decisions about his future. But his mum has uprooted their life in Melbourne and insisted he help her set up a store in Ballarat on the goldfields. While Alf’s not sure what he wants to do, he definitely knows he doesn’t want to be a storekeeper for the rest of his life. As Alf makes friends with Peter Lalor and the local diggers, he realises that gold fever is just one of many things ruling life on the goldfields. But how can Alf gain independence from his mother and help his friends? Rebellion is rumbling and is about to shake the goldfields to their core.
SW
IMM NEW ER SG
0O
IRS
TP AY
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ET
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NT
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 21st Sept - 6th Oct 2019 10am - 5pm SHOWTIME Grand Parade at 1pm - Pig Racing daily at 11am Lots of new “Spring” babies to enjoy
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)
(see website rhsfarm.com.au)
490 Stumpy Gully Rd Balnarring Phone 5983 1691 Open 10am - 5pm www.peninsulakids.com.au
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7Health Benefits of Art
Creative
By Annabelle Carter Short
What does your little one enjoy doing the most? Do they like coloring with their crayons, folding papers, making origami shapes or building tiny statues from clay? There is no denying that art and craft activities can be a little messy, but they are indeed worthwhile. Many activities can tap into your child’s artistic potential. Introducing and encouraging art and craft tasks will sow seeds for your child’s health, cognitive, social and physical well-being. Here are the advantages that your kid will enjoy when they engage in these exciting activities.
1 It boosts brain health
2 It promotes stress relief
When your child creates a new piece of craft or art, they are giving their brain a workout, and this has various advantages. Creating art is an activity that prompts communication between the different parts of the brain. Your little one engages the senses of touch, sight, taste, sound, and smell. As they mix the colors, cut the material and squish paint between their fingers, they are drawing from an image of what they want to see. The ability to make connections is known as brain plasticity or neuroplasticity. It is crucial for children because it promotes brain health. Neural connections are necessary for the developmental changes in the brain during the early years.The constant changes are the reason you do not remember much from your first years.
Many people assume that children don’t get stressed, and they rarely consider their feelings. With the increased depression rate, it is crucial to enhance your child’s mental state. The pressure of performing well in school and poor social life can have detrimental effects on a child.
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When a kid is under stress, he or she is bound to suffer some consequences. Lacking sleep and a bad mood are some of the signs of a child who is under pressure. Having an outlet for stress such as art and craft activities can reduce the pressure. By engaging in such crafts, children have an outlet to express their emotions. Art is exciting, which means that your little one will experience decreased cortisol levels.
&Craft Projects for Kids 4 It helps cope with chronic illnesses
If your little one is suffering from a chronic illness, art and craft activities can help them to deal with the disease. On the most basic level, they can use it as a distraction. For the time when they are immersed in painting, drawing or creating any other art, they are distracted and not focusing on the negatives. It can also help them reduce stress levels in the body. It is important because kids with chronic illnesses tend to suffer certain stress levels.
5 It improves memory Another health benefit of art and craft activities is that kids are aware of the various figures and patterns. Tasks such as jewellery making and memorizing complex designs and require enhanced visualization skills and a sharp memory. Therefore, introducing your little one to these fun activities will set him or her for success and fantastic memory enhancement.
6 It improves critical thinking skills Art comes with endless choices and possibilities. Will they paint the grass green or brown? Which animal will they draw? How will they draw the birds in the sky? All these choices inspire kids to think critically and evaluate their decisions. They are free to decide what they want. It will also improve their creativity as they develop new ideas and skills.
7 I t gives them inner peace and understanding of their self worth
Every day is a learning process for your little one. Kids receive new information every day that they should process. Art allows them to handle significant and general events. It provides a safe outlet for emotions. Feelings and ideas can be manipulated as desired and even reduced to a manageable size.
3 It fine tunes motor skills Art and craft tasks usually require a child to use both hands. Therefore it helps them to improve their bilateral coordination and motor skills. For instance, cutting with scissors, drawing dots and tearing papers can enhance dexterity, and children are happy doing them. Enhancing the flexibility and strength of their hands is vital in improving their coordination and motor skills. When there is a seamless integration of the hands and the cognitive system, it develops our manual skills of planning, exploring, acting and learning.
Movement, color, image, and imagination help kids in a multidimensional manner. By making personalized crafts and their own DIY projects, achild will feel valued, special and worthy. When you encourage your child to explore art, you bring them closer to understanding their bodies. You also equip them with safe ways of expressing their imagination. It promotes their overall well-being. Art and craft is a brilliant way of developing the mind and health of your little one. The activities foster attention, imagination, listening and communication. It's time for you to consider encouraging your child to get all messy!
Annabelle Carter Short is a writer and seamstress of more than seven years. When not working, she’s spending time with her family or putting pen to paper for her own personal pursuits. Annabelle enjoys crafting and DIY projects with her two kids. She is passionate about autism and she homeschools her autistic son. She also works with few organizations to provide the best resources for raising and educating a special needs child. www.peninsulakids.com.au
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Providing care from 9.10am - 2.10pm for all ages from 6 weeks to school.
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Running Monday / Wednesday & possible additional days. ENQUIRE TODAY Call Amber today 5911 7147 or email - creche@optimafitness.com.au ( Office hours: 9.10am - 12.10pm ) 112
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Colour me in for your chance to win a family pass to the Big Goose (Valued at $64) Email entries to info@peninsulakids.com.au or PM your artwork to facebook.com/MorningtonPeninsulaKids Winner chosen Sept 29th 2019 - Prize must be collected from Peninsula Kids offices, Mornington
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Tissue Paper Bowls • •
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You’ll need: Tissue paper Balloons Scissors Coffee mug Texta Watered down PVA Brush or foam brush
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How to do it: 1. Inflate the balloon to the desired size. Draw a stop line around the balloon to use as a guide for kids to know where to stop gluing down tissue paper Affix balloon to a mug with masking tape.
5. Continue until the whole surface up to the stop line is covered with tissue and saturated with glue. Once layer is on the dry side start adding additional layers of tissue paper coating each with PVA. The more layers, the stronger the bowl will be. We did six layers.
2. Cut lots of small squares of tissue paper. No need for exactness here!
Allow the tissue paper bowl to fully dry. It should be hard and not pliable. Be patient.
3. Get your watered down PVA ready in a bowl for dipping Just enough so it’s easier to spread.
7. Pop the balloon and carefully peel it from the inside of the bowl. 8. Use scissors to remove excess glue and create a fancy edge on the bowl if you wish.
4. Place a piece of tissue paper over top of the balloon and brush over with PVA.
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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2019
9. Bowl your friends over with your awesome craft skills!
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Present this advertisement in Centre when you sign up for PARC Swim membership and receive your first week FREE*! Bring a friend and when you both sign up for a PARC Swim membership - you'll both receive your first 2 weeks free*.
Call 9781 8444 to join our PARC Swim family today. *Membership T&Cs apply. Offer valid until 15 December 2019. Free week/s offer valid for one child only. Valid for new members only.
parcfrankston Cnr Cranbourne Road and Olive Grove, Frankston info@parcfrankston.com.au | www.parcfrankston.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au
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DISCOVER SPRING AT
BONEO DISCOVERY PARK ART , NATURE AND ADVENTURE
Spring Scavenger Hunt Self guided Spring scavenger hunt through the blooming wetlands and gardens. All entries receive a special prize.
Sand Sculpting It is the last chance to see the incredible Peter Pan sand sculpting exhibition, final day October 7th 2019. New Exhibition Opening December 2019
Adventure Zone Our adventure zone and rides are back this Spring with Bungee Tramps, Rock Wall, Pedal boats, Vintage Carousel and Mini Train. Open weekends and VIC school Holidays
WWW.BONEODISCOVERYPARK.COM.AU (03) 59886385 695 LIMESTONE RD, FINGAL 3939Â