Peninsula Kids Spring 2016

ENINSULA KID P S LOVING FAMILY LIFE ON THE PENINSULA

SPRING 2016

FREE

BE BRAVE

SUDO DENIM

MAKING DINNER TIME EASY

Natalie

Bassingthwaighte MUM & ENTREPRENEUR

KIDS FUN FARM!

Spring Festival

17 – 18 SEPTEMBER 2016

Come and celebrate our First Birthday with the grand opening of our Wildlife Park!

LOTS TO SEE AND DO: Peninusla Chrome Bumper Car Display, Sheep Races, Face Painting, Chuck-a-chook, Gumboot Toss,Pimp My Balloons, Scarecrow Stuffing with a full programme of farm activities and shows plus much more!

www.thebiggoose.com.au Open 7 days for School holidays 10am–4pm

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

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

Let us find the perfect time for your FREE introductory lesson

kingswim.com.au Mornington • Frankston • Langwarrin

Cover Photo Amber Mornington Botanical Rose Garden Photography: Cameron McCullough Editor and Publisher Melissa McCullough melissa@mpnews.com.au Creative Director Maria Mirabella maria@mpnews.com.au

Editor

Melissa McCullough

ed’s letter...

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”...

“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...”

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

-Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden Welcome to the spring edition of Peninsula Kids magazine!

Distribution Marilyn Saville marilyn@mpnews.com.au

We nearly made it the entire season without illness, but alas, the last week of August took us down – one and then the other. After a long, soggy winter it’s time to thaw, rejuvenate, and start getting outside again.

General Enquiries info@peninsulakids.com.au

These school holidays there are countless activities and events going on for families.

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.

In Mornington, The Big Goose is holding a Spring Festival on September 17-18. Come and celebrate their first birthday with the grand opening of their wildlife park.

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.

In Pearcedale, Moonlit Sanctuary gets you up close and personal with animals by day and its after dark world-famous lantern tours are sure to delight!

Peninsula Kids is produced quarterly.

15,000 copies distributed between Mordialloc and Portsea.

www.facebook.com/MorningtonPeninsulaKids

Proudly published by

Maria Mirabella

The Mornington Peninsula Hinterland Scarecrow Festival and Trail is in full swing from September 16 – October 3rd with a special Scarecrow Festival Day being held on Saturday 1 October at the Red Hill Recreation Reserve.

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.

Registered address: 2/1 Tyabb Road, Mornington 3931

Creative Director

Distribution

Marilyn Saville

If you’re feeling like getting out on your own to clear your mind, why not try a 5km parkrun which is held at the Hastings Foreshore Reserve every Saturday morning at 8am in all types of weather conditions.

Want to get off the Peninsula? Phillip Island Nature Parks offer a range of activities to get you out into nature. Or dabble in the country goodness and small-town charm of Grantville.

For more information on any of the above mentioned activities, and many more ideas to keep your school holidays and weekends active at home or out and about, flip through the pages of the spring edition of Peninsula Kids magazine…you’re sure to find some great ideas and tips for spring and beyond!!

Advertising

Miriam Doe

BALNARRING 18/3050 FRANKSTON-FLINDERS RD, PH: 5983-5503 MON-FRI 10:00-4:30 SAT 10:00-3:00 DROMANA 3/277 POINT NEPEAN RD, PH: 5987-2286 TUE-SAT 10:00-4:30 SUN 11:00-3:00 s

www.peninsulakids.com.au

5

Contributors

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

DAVID HAWKINS

bigkidlittlekid.net

ERIKA ATWILL

everchangingmum.com.au

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

REBECCA BOWYER

seeingthelighterside.com

MICHAEL GROSE

parentingideas.com.au

wordsmithsworkshops.com.au

MICHELLE MCCULLOUGH

LORRAINE AITKEN

JODI RICHARDSON

MICHELLE HAMER

Family-friendly adventurer

Chief family photographer

drjodirichardson.com.au

Contents

10

70

81

64 60

86

Spotlight

10 Natalie Bassingthwaighte

30 Quiz - What Kind of Mum are You?

Natalie talks to MPK about how she juggles motherhood and an illustrious career.

14

The Daddy (or Mummy) of all Parenting Skills

Techniques from Parenting Ideas Club founder Michael Grose.

42 Young at Heart Playgroup

Take this fun quiz to find out which type of mama you identify most with?

34 Be Brave

Sudo fashion photo shoot.

18 Top 3 Reasons To Try Mindfulness: For the

Children’s Sake and Yours

Be present to your loved ones without distraction.

46 How to Ollie

22 Raising Optimistic Kids

Our children’s reactions are influenced by what we say and how we react to the things that happen to us.

Children’s positive effects on the aged.

Mt Martha siblings are on a roll.

50 Finding a Rainbow Connection

Lilly is one of the 1.2 per cent of gender diverse children in Australia.

24 Is Your Child at Risk Online?

Many of our kids are stumbling onto the wrong kinds of content. www.peninsulakids.com.au

7

Contents

16

Local

Mornington Peninsula Hinterland Scarecrow

Festival and Trail 20 Mornington Peninsula parkrun 62 Dinosaur World 78 Overport Park Playground

Celebrate

66 70

Shopkins Party Ideas for your party

Pregnancy & Baby

74 Attachment Parenting 80 Making Dinner Time Easy

Education

83 Building a Robust Vocabulary in Children 84 Is My Child Ready for School?

112 Book Reviews

Recipes

91

Recipes with Jodie Blight

Health

98 Post Natal Depression 102 The Uninvited Digestive Guest 104 Case Study: Fibromyalgia

Creative

108 Wool Juju Hats 110 Dream Catchers 111 Play-Doh Turns 60!

20

50

96 8

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

In Every

Issue

73 Party Planning 86 Things we Love 106 Ask the Experts 113 Enter to Win

Give your child the

FLYING START they deserve

Whatever you love, wherever you want to go, there’s a special place for you to learn and grow at Toorak College. It is the perfect environment, one that truly values each student and encourages inquiry and curiosity.

Toorak College is a thriving co-educational environment from ELC to Year 4 with a girls’ only approach from Year 5 onwards.

Our Prep and Year 1 places are growing for 2017 and 2018.

Join us now to give your child a flying start to school.

www.toorakcollege.vic.edu.au | Call 9788 7234

Ran primked top seco ary a on Mndary scnd h o Pen rningtoool insu *Bet la * n ter E duca tion

NATA BASSINGTHWAIGHTE BY: MELISSA WALSH

S

he is an actress, singer, author, entrepreneur with her children’s clothing line Chi Khi, prime time tv presenter, three time Logie award nominee, ambassador for Reading Eggs, and mum of two.

Super sweet Natalie Bassingthwaighte talks to Melissa Walsh on how this household name juggles motherhood and an illustrious career.

AS A MUM OF HARPER, 6, AND HENDRIX, 3, HOW DO YOU JUGGLE ALL YOUR DUTIES, ALONG WITH YOUR CAREER, CHILDREN’S CLOTHING LABEL, AND NOW VENTURING BACK INTO ROGUE TRADERS? In the past six months we have made massive changes in our house with the routine before school. Harper started school this year and we found the mornings to be out of control so decided to take the tv out of the lounge room. We were sick of it being on in the morning and found the kids weren’t motivated. We removed the tv, rearranged the space, brought in educational toys and have completely changed the morning routine in that way. Now the four of us (husband Cameron McGlinchey, Natalie, Harper and Hendrix), spend right up till 9am together every morning when we drive or walk Harper to school. We play music, do games or puzzles and it’s a better way to start our day.

THAT SOUNDS AMAZING. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT IDEA? My husband’s brother and wife have grown up kids who are incredible adults and they never had tv in the morning so we decided to give it a go.

HOW DID THE CHILDREN RESPOND TO IT BEING REMOVED? Harper was totally fine with it but Hendrix took a bit longer to get used to it. Being the second child, he had watched more than his older sister had.

When Harper was born we didn’t let her even watch tv till she was three, but you get more relaxed with the second child.

HOW ELSE DO YOU JUGGLE MUM DUTIES AND CAREER? It is hard to juggle at times; I’m not going to lie. But I have an amazing husband who helps out a lot. With our careers we are also lucky as we can pick and choose when and where we work so don’t have a set routine apart from our mornings. We always try to go to the kids activities too but I then do find I stay up often till 11pm working on the computer when the kids are asleep. It’s funny though as, even though I still have a lot on, I am getting more balance in life and learnt to not be as anxious about getting everything done.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

ALIE Mum & Entrepreneur TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN’S CLOTHING LINE, CHI KHI. HOW DID THAT ALL COME ABOUT? I thought of the concept after Hendrix was born, and we have been online for about 15 months now. I always love a challenge and had wanted to start my own business for some time. Both my children have sensitive skin and I wanted to make children’s clothing from bamboo fabric that was soft and durable with an urban, unisex edginess. My daughter would often put on a dress and say it was itching her. I was also sick of buying something and the kids would have grown out of it within weeks.

HOW DOES CHI KHI STAND OUT FROM OTHER BRANDS? It is cool, urban unisex designs in a monochromatic palette made to mix and match from bamboo and cotton, the best fabric for sensitive little ones. I love things to be well made, comfortable and to last, so every Chi Khi Mini piece has taken that into consideration. The love and attention is in the detailing. Every garment has extra length for those growth spurts. Just fold up or scrunch, upside down zips for easy nappy change and our super cute signature eyelash foot grips for those littlies on the move. The bamboo keeps them cool in summer and warm in winter.

YOU HAVE RECENTLY BEEN NAMED THE READING EGGS AMBASSADOR. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT AND WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF CHILDREN’S LITERACY? I love reading and I want my kids to love reading as well. I have a beautiful photo of my husband reading to Harper on a rocking chair when she was much smaller. The look of engagement on her face makes it one of my favourite photos and I know how important it is to do reading with our kids.

Harper always loved books but I found with a second child you don’t have as much time to read so he had missed out a little until we started the Reading Eggs program. Now we devote about 15 minutes every day to the program with both the children and they are getting so much out of it. Harper loves the reward system and the look on Hendrix’s face when he achieves something is absolutely beautiful. As the ambassador it is all about spreading the word and that is so easy to do with a program I am so passionate about.

SO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN’S LIVES SEEMS TO BE IMPORTANT TO YOU, AS YOU ALSO WROTE A BOOK WITH YOUR SISTER TO HELP BOOST TEENS AND PRE-TEENS SELFESTEEM. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? My sister and I both faced challenges at school. She was shyer and I was extraverted but we both found it difficult as most kids do to accept our differences. We wrote the book to help teenagers understand they should embrace their differences, and it is their uniqueness that sets them apart from others. I remember when we showed our older sister, she burst into tears because she thought it was what kids needed.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING WITH YOUR CAREER NOW? We have started doing Rogue Traders gigs again, did the Grand Prix this year at our 10th anniversary of the band, and will be heading to Bondi Beach for another gig later on. We love performing and it’s so much fun getting up on stage singing the old songs. It’s funny because the kids didn’t realise until this year that we even performed in a band.

I also have Brock the telemovie in the pipeline.

FINALLY DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE FOR MUMS ON HANDLING THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHERHOOD? First of all it’s never what you expect. It’s hard and the most important thing is to give yourself a break. We all do our best. It is also extremely important to not judge other mums. We must be supportive of each other. Even though you may work long hours, make the time with your kids quality time. www.peninsulakids.com.au

11

A DAY TRIP TO

GRANTVILLE BY: JACQUI KAVANAGH

P

erhaps you may have driven through Grantville without so much as a second glance as you proceed to better known destinations; like Phillip Island, Inverloch or Wonthaggi.

You may have driven through and noticed how beautiful the scenery is when you come down the hill and see sprawling green fields leading up to glass-like water.

But have you ever stopped to sample the country goodness this delightful town can provide?

Grantville is situated on the Bass Highway, nestled between Pioneer and Coronet Bays. It is a very small town with a population of less than 500. Yet, it has so much to offer.

It is home to Maru Koala and Animal Park, Pirate Mini-Golf and the Annual Pirate Festival.

There is also the Grantville Market, held on the 4th Sunday of every month.

The Grantville Market has over 100 stalls comprising of all that you would expect from a country market. Fresh produce, clothing, secondhand collectables, antiques, books and my personal favourite- a large self-serve lolly truck.

It is held on a large reserve on the foreshore overlooking WesternPort. There is plenty of room to wander the aisles with prams.

Dogs are welcome. It is a lot less crowded than some of the more popular markets.

There’s parking onsite for a gold-coin donation to the local CFA. A personal tip from our most recent experience; when parking on the grassy fields, be sure to avoid the muddiest areas. Twenty minutes of pushing the back of our bogged car, with mud splattering everywhere, was a lesson well learnt!

On a positive side, we did have the pleasure of meeting some elderly locals who had no qualms with getting covered in mud and coming to our assistance. There’s nothing quite like country charm and hospitality! Upon receiving our heart-felt thanks, ‘No worries’ was their parting reply.

After the market, head into the town centre to enjoy lunch. You just may be lucky enough to see a fire engine drive past. We had that fortune 12

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

and my son frantically waved at ‘Fireman Sam’ as they passed. He was treated to friendly waves and a quick blast of the siren. This alone was enough to make his day. However, the truck drove to the end of the street and then turned around, came back to where we were standing and pulled over.

The firemen called out for my son to come and have a closer inspection, even offering him the chance to climb aboard. Unfortunately, he chose that moment to become incredibly shy.

This was such a lovely occurrence, one that would very rarely happen in the busy streets of Melbourne.

You can then make your way to the picnic tables by the beachside. The view is amazing. It is so peaceful, with usually only a few other people either fishing on the pier, or taking their dogs for a walk down the beach path.

You can also visit the Maru Koala Park and attempt a game of minigolf on the Pirate course.

With so many reasons to visit this charming town, it really is a must add to your weekend ‘to-do’ list.

Jacqui Kavanagh is a mum of two delightful angels/devils spawn (depending on the day), and a freelance writer based in bayside Melbourne. To read more about budget conscious, family-friendly things to do around Melbourne, follow her Facebook page and website www.facebook.com/FamilyDayTrippers and www.familydaytrippers.com

Exciting new wildlife show daily at 2.20pm Pat & cuddle up to a koala (3 sessions daily) Hands-on encounters with pythons, dingoes & owls Colourful birds, Tassie devils, lots of other animals!

At night, Moonlit Sanctuary comes alive with world-famous lantern-lit evening tours Night birds are active, gliders swoop around and endangered quolls, pademelons and bettongs forage for food

Learn about our critically endangered animals and their conservation

Bookings required

Cafe and gift shop open daily

City hotel transfers & Private tours available

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

THE DADDY (OR MUMMY) OF ALL PARENTING SKILLS BY: MICHAEL GROSE

T

they get tired. That’s why elite sportspeople keep practising basic skills so that they can still execute them well under pressure and fatigue.

here’s one essential skill that’s absolutely paramount for parent effectiveness but it’s overlooked in most parenting books and articles.

So how can we better manage your reactivity?

That is, the ability to manage your reactivity.

It all starts with our breathing!

Ever had your best parenting intentions hijacked by your emotions?

Do any of these situations sound familiar?

Yep, manage your breathing and you then start to manage your thinking and your feelings.

You know you should stay calm in the face of a young child’s tantrum but you simply blow your top instead.

Breathing is the only visceral or physical process that can change your thinking.

You know you should just let your teenage son’s smart aleck, patiencetesting comments go but you can’t help giving him a piece of your mind instead.

But remembering to take some breaths can be a feat in itself.

You know the best response to low-level, but annoying, sibling bickering is to simply ignore it, but your anger gets the best of you and you yell... just like your kids.

You can learn all the positive parenting strategies you want but none will be effective until you figure out a way to manage and control your emotional reaction to kids’ misbehaviour.

Yes, we get tired but that’s no excuse for our inability to manage our reactions. Tiredness and fatigue reveals our default skill levels.

Sportspeople, like parents, always revert to their base skill levels when 14

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

First, you need to stop yourself from speaking or acting impulsively.

Yes, STOP! Step away from the situation that causes you stress. That step may be tiny – it maybe a look away, a small movement away from a tantrumthrowing child, or a taunting teen. But the movement away can be enough to stop you from reacting and give you the necessary space for you to take some big nasal, belly breaths! It’s the breathing that changes your state. It’s the stopping and breathing that needs to become your default behaviour whenever you experience stress. This not only buys you thinking time, but also helps you change your emotional state enough that you can bring yourself back from the edge of losing your

cool. You can practise this self-management technique at work, in the community, as well as at home.

The ability to manage your reactions is the skill that makes all the other parenting and personal skills happen. It’s the skill that will make you more effective as leader (as the leader in any group is the person who remains calm when a crisis hits); more effective as a manager and more effective in all your relationships including those you have with your kids.

Yet, it’s the skill that few people think about and very few practise.

This technique is just one of the hundreds of both high level and low level skills that are available for you to learn in my online courses, including Parent Well with the Mood Meter, starting November 2016.

Want more ideas to help you raise confident kids and resilient young people?

Subscribe to Happy Kids newsletter, my FREE weekly email parenting guide at parentingideas.com.au. You’ll be so glad you did!

www.peninsulakids.com.au

15

SCARECROW

FESTIVAL & TRAIL BY: KERRY WATSON

A

ppearing like magic just in time for the school holidays, scarecrows pop up in front gardens, shop fronts, mazes and vineyards dotted around the Mornington Peninsula hills.

The scarecrows come in all shapes and sizes and this year they are either traditional or Aussie icon themed art installations made from hay bales, farmyard relics or paper mache’.

It’s all part of the fun of the Mornington Peninsula Hinterland Scarecrow Festival and Trail, on from 16 September to 3 October.

For a free day out with the kids you can drive around the hills and admire the scarecrows which have evolved into a unique community art form.

You can vote for your favourite and play ‘Spot the Scarecrow’ interactive game online. The Scarecrow trail map is also available on the mobile friendly website or you can print it off before you leave home from www.scarecrowfestival.org.au For the first time a special Scarecrow Festival Day will be held on Saturday 1 October at the Red Hill Recreation Reserve from 9am til 3pm, coinciding with the Red Hill market. You can pop in before heading off to see the trail.

Lively country music and hay bales will set the scene for your kids to enjoy free art activities and win some great prizes. There will be a Live Scarecrow Competition’ for your kids to take part in on the day with clothes for dressing up and free face painting on hand to help them.

If you get your kids organised beforehand they can build their own traditional or Aussie icon scarecrow and enter the Children’s Scarecrow Competition. It just needs to be delivered the night before.

All the competition and event details are on the website. www.scarecrowfestival.org.au

BUILDING YOUR SCARECROW

HEAD AND FACE

Scarecrows come in all shapes and sizes. You can build a traditional scarecrow or you can also opt for farm yard art made from materials around your house, a sculpture of paper mache’ or a hay bale scarecrow art installation.

•Plywood, polystyrene, pillow case, old stockings, paper mache, hessian.

Your scarecrow will sit out in the elements so consider wind and the potential of rain when choosing your materials.

•Mark with textas or paint.

CONSIDER USING A WIDE VARIETY OF MATERIALS

•Stuff with straw, soft-toy filling, old stockings •Print out a picture and laminate a well known face.

•Cut out the facial features.

•Frame/Body: wood cross frame, gardens stakes, bamboo poles, chicken wire, Hands and feet: gloves, socks, old stockings hay bales, old clothes, 44 gallon drums. or tights, straw or soft-toy filling.

•Stuffing: straw, insulation, paper, old stockings, old clothing or cloths.

Hair: wig, raffia, straw, wool, strips of fabric, old mop.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

PADUA KINDERGARTEN | A Natural Approach To Early Learning

Mornington 03 59 761022 | www.paduakindergarten.com.au | info@paduakindergarten.com.au

TOP 3 REASONS TO TRY MINDFULNESS: FOR THE CHILDREN’S SAKE AND YOURS BY: KELLIE EDWARDS The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

— Thích Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, author and peace activist.

W

hat does it feel like when you are talking to someone and they check their text messages? Or you try to tell your husband about something the children did today and he starts opening the mail?

Mindfulness helps us focus our attention on one thing or one person without feeling compelled to follow distractions where our wandering mind wants to take us. That is truly being present.

What does our child learn if our attention is on our phone and not on them? That they are not important. What does this do to their development, their chances for happiness and success?

A landmark study in 2010 by Dr Robert Epstein and Shannon Fox found that the most important thing we can do for children is express love and affection by supporting and accepting them, being physically affectionate and spending quality one-on-one time with them. (1) Quality time is attention. Mindfulness helps us train our attention skills so we can give this more easily. We can make choices to prioritize this.

This communicates acceptance and that our children are in fact important. As bestselling author Rick Hanson (Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, Hardwiring Happiness) said in an interview for our mindfulness4mothers program, children benefit from highly attuned, responsive, sensitive, engaged, emotionally positive parenting.

Over the marathon of motherhood, how do you sustain that?

You need to keep resourcing yourself, and mindfulness is a core process for doing that.

Interestingly, the second thing on Epstein and Fox’s list of the most important things we can do for children is: “Stress management: You take steps to reduce stress for yourself and your child, practice relaxation techniques, and promote positive interpretations of events.” All of which are also helped through practicing mindfulness.

Emotions are incredibly contagious. You can probably remember a time when you were stressed and grumpy or frustrated and 18

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

upset.... and all of a sudden, so were your children. This has certainly happened in our house, and it still happens. But now I find there is more often a background or a foundation of calm that stays with me even at these most challenging times — or that I return to far more quickly.

Peace: It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

— Author unknown

This is clearly of great benefit to me, but also to my children because I find myself reacting less and making better choices about how I respond to what’s happening. We are all able to restore calm and connection and get where we need to go more easily.

A nice metaphor is sometimes used to describe what this feel likes: If you take a teaspoon of salt, stir it into a glass of water and take a sip, it’s way too salty to drink. If you take that same teaspoon of salt and stir it into a lake and then take a glass of water from the lake, the salt is dissolved in the vastness of the lake and you can’t taste it at all.

Practicing mindfulness meditation creates a steady, calm space so that what used to overwhelm me is far more manageable. I understand from my own observation that what I am feeling in the moment is like a passing cloud. I don’t have to deny what I am feeling or push it away.

Or feel guilty. I am more accepting that it is normal to experience the full range of emotions in mothering — that if I do get upset or even say something I wish I hadn’t, I am not a “bad mother.” I regain my equilibrium and apologize soon after, and, surprisingly, the children seem to be okay with that. They learn that I am not perfect, which gives them permission not to be either. We are all more resilient. And it passes.

Number three on Epstein and Fox’s list is ‘’Relationship skills: You maintain a positive marital relationship and model effective relationship skills with other people.”

And you guessed it: mindfulness is great for relationships, too.

Indeed, as Dr Craig Hassed says: “The fact that mindfulness is a single skill that has such a profound range of applications suggests that it is an essential part of our human make-up, which can be remembered and adapted and applied in many and various ways.”

Now my time of stillness “on the cushion,” or in my case on the chair, is something I look forward to. Not only because of how I feel, but because it is a pleasure in its own right. And it hasn’t taken me long to get to this point. I’m not perfect about keeping to my daily practice, but I sure notice the difference when I do. I am more forgiving if I stray and, as a result, find it is far more likely that I will come back. I know the more I do it, the better I am. And there are countless opportunities in every day to be mindful in the moment — listening with complete attention when my children tell me something, savoring the warm water in the shower, enjoying my morning coffee and noticing the warm spring breeze.

To hear more from our experts and learn more about how mindfulness can support you in your important role as a mother, register your interest at mindfulness4mothers.com References: 1. Epstein, R., & Fox, S.L. (2010, August). Measuring competencies that predict successful parenting: A preliminary validation study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA. This article originally appeared on The Huffington Post www.huffingtonpost.com

Kellie Edwards is a Psychologist, Mindfulness Teacher and Well-Being Facilitator.

She runs group workshops and individual coaching sessions both online and face to face. These programs integrate mindfulness and self compassion practices with the psychology of flourishing. www.mindfulness4mothers.com www.peninsulakids.com.au

19

Mornington Peninsula

parkrun BY: LORRAINE AITKEN

I

’m proud to share one of our most inclusive community events on the Mornington Peninsula. It’s one that you may not have even of heard of before, one that brings the locals together every Saturday morning to participate in an event that helps keep the community fit, healthy and socially connected. This amazing event is simply known around the world as parkrun.

parkrun is a free 5km timed run that is not a race, nor a competition. It is held in 135 locations across Australia with many more locations across the globe. Here on the Peninsula we are lucky enough to have our very own parkrun which is held at the Hastings Foreshore Reserve every Saturday morning at 8am in all types of weather conditions.

For just over two years now, dedicated volunteers have spent countless Saturday mornings organising, supporting, directing and encouraging the growing number of runners and walkers wanting to enjoy the start of the weekend with a healthy dose of exercise before catching up with new friends at the nearby café.

I started running at the Peninsula parkrun around nine months ago now after being introduced to it by a friend and I have since attended about fifteen events including the Phillip Island and Inverloch parkruns. During this time I have met many interesting people that I now consider to be good friends. What I really enjoy about parkrun is being able to see peoples progress, meet up with friends and to constantly challenge myself to beat my own personal best time, though admittedly it has become a bit of a healthy obsession.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

With four children, I know firsthand that finding time to do things for ourselves can be difficult, especially with the amount of kids sports, weekend work, family commitments, finances and so on but I think it’s really important to have our own outlet, to look after our own health and wellbeing and to actively show our children that we are participating in events that we try and encourage them to do. Better still, it’s completely free and you can get the entire family involved with parkrun by getting the kids, the dog and the grandparents to join you for a lap or two. Everyone is welcome!

Some of the questions I most frequently get asked by friends wanting to try parkrun for the first time are ‘Do I have to be fast? Is everyone super fit? and What if I’m the last person to finish? My answer is that, the person who does finish last gets the loudest cheer. After all, they’ve earnt it; they worked the hardest, been out there the longest and finished with a wonderful volunteer who stays alongside them to the finish. As far as time goes, some people finish in under 20 minutes and some take over an hour, so it all depends on your own personal goals for that run. Last but not least, you don’t need to be fit; you just need to have the courage to attend that very first parkrun and after that I’m sure you’ll be hooked.

The course itself is a flat, well maintained gravel footpath that is roughly a 2.2km long circuit of which you do two laps with a small add on at the start to make it up to 5km in total. With the water on one side of the circuit and a grassy field on the other it really is a nice spot for a flat run.

5km run

it's you against the clock

Every Saturday at 8:00am Fast facts: parkrun is a free, weekly, timed event where everyone and anyone is welcome to participate. It’s you against yourself, not a race. Children are welcome and encouraged however they must be accompanied by an adult for safety reasons. First timers are well taken care of with a special briefing before the start of each event.

minti | munster kids | paper wings | sudo rock your baby | saltwater sandals | plus loads more bentons square shopping centre, shop 21/210 dunns road, mornington 3931, vic PH:(03) 5975 4350 facebook.com/treehouse.rep

instagram.com/treehouse_republic

To be involved you only need to print out your own unique barcode which you get online after registering your details at http://www. parkrun.com.au/morningtonpeninsula/ and then head to Hastings Foreshore Reserve, Marine Parade, Hastings and meet up with all the other runners milling around the parkrun banners under the BBQ shelter before the 8am start. Most importantly, it’s great to remember that parkrun around the world only happens because of the many dedicated volunteers.

Go on, get out there, have some fun, you will love it!

treehouserepublic.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

21

BY: DR JODI RICHARDSON

Y

"

When it comes to raising optimistic kids, we can help them develop healthy thinking habits using the three P’s; permanence, pervasiveness and personalisation.

ou know mum, one person can make a big difference.”

Wise words from an 8 year old.

A pessimist might explain the struggle to make friends at school as personal (I’m boring and unlikable), pervasive (I’m not going to have friends anywhere I go) and permanent (I’m never going to make friends).

This was one of the first things our son said to me after school recently; seemingly prompted by the fundraising efforts of a fellow student who he tells me saved 50 Black Spider Monkeys. How and when, I have no idea. He doesn’t either. But whoever she is, I say “thank-you”.

She not only helped the endangered monkeys, she’s given our son (and hopefully a whole bunch of other kids) a point of view which is priceless.

The understanding that when there’s a problem, the action they take matters. The notion that even though something is upsetting or seems, in kid terms, ‘bad’, that there’s a flip side; giving them a wonderful perspective of hopefulness about the future.

In that moment she imparted to the whole school assembly a sense of optimism.

RAISING

OPTIMISTIC

KIDS

But priceless? Isn’t that a little over the top? Isn’t being optimistic simply about seeing the glass as half-full and looking for the silver linings?

Partly, for sure. But it runs much deeper. Optimism is fundamentally about how we all think about the good and the bad events that happen in our lives. It’s what we say to ourselves, not out loud, but in our heads, about the causes of those events.

Much of the way our children think about the things that happen to them is influenced by what we say and how we, as parents, react to the things that happen to us.

I know right? What we say makes such a difference to how our kids think.

But we don’t always know exactly what to say, that’s the same for all of us. And our kids don’t know that sometimes we’re just one step ahead, or feel heartbroken and almost helpless when they’re having a really hard time of it.

But if we can tune into how they explain why good and bad things happen to them, there’s so much we can do to help them. We can get a bearing on how optimistic they are, and importantly, we can seize opportunities to teach them helpful new ways of explaining the things that happen.

How optimistically our children think matters. Decades of quality scientific research have shown that compared with pessimists, optimists are healthier, do better in school, work and in sport (than their talents might otherwise suggest), and get depressed much less often.

Martin Seligman, one of the founding fathers of positive psychology, writes about developing optimistic thinking in children as a way of immunising them against depression, with the researching showing that optimistic thinking skills can cut their risk of depression in half.

22

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Whereas a sunny little optimist could explain the cause of the same situation in a very different way; impersonal (they haven’t got to know how much fun I am to hang out with yet), specific (recognising that this is an issue at school, but that they have other friends) and changeable (I’ll make friends soon).

There are also going to be countless variations that lie in between these two very different explanations.

So what can we do as parents? Plenty!

Begin by modelling optimistic thinking patterns (out loud) of negative events in your life as being impersonal, specific and temporary where you can. Find and point out the silver lining in events often.

When things go pear shaped for your children, help them to recognise that what happened was not entirely their doing (impersonal), prompt them to see that the setback is only fleeting by helping them to remember past successes (temporary), and remind them of success in other aspects of their life (this challenge is situation specific).

Encourage your children to take risks, try new things and be okay with making mistakes so they have lots of opportunities to overcome them.

Zootopia’s Officer Judy Hopps is an awesome role model for overcoming challenge and ‘Try Everything’ from the movie’s soundtrack is not only fun to sing and dance to, but can be a great source of inspiration.

“More hugs please” is something our kids hear from me every day! Little did I know that as well as showing them how much I love them, it’s giving them a sense of security and trust, hope and optimism. Plus a belief that the world is a good place, which brings me to my last point; mindfulness about what our children see and hear on the news is essential. We don’t want to negate all of our efforts!

Dr Jodi Richardson is a Mornington Peninsula mum of two and is the founder of Happier on Purpose. She applies wellbeing science to help people become happier, healthier and get the most out of life; and helps parents raise children with thinking skills for a flourishing life. You can follow her at www.facebook. com/DrJodiRichardson/ and www.drjodirichardson.com.au Check out Jodi's facebook page for details about the September holiday kids Survivor Camps Jodi is co-leading, as well as the next date for Growing Amazing Women, a wellbeing workshop for teenage girls to foster flourishing physical and mental health.

Life is better live

Turn off the screens and turn up the fun!

FAC and Madotti & Vegas

Magic, Mirth and Mystery

Tuesday 27 September, 11am | Cube 37 A visually stunning, enchanting, dramatic and comical children's show with magic, character and dance. Witness an amazing dreamlike story of a boy who enters another world with tables that levitate, glasses that float, cards that appear from nowhere and an intriguing female magician.

Tickets: Full $15, Family (4) $55

Circus Oz

Circus Oz TWENTYSIXTEEN Saturday 8 October, 1.30pm & 7.30pm; Sunday 9 October, 1.30pm | Theatre

Photograph: Rob Blackburn

TWENTYSIXTEEN is a refreshing cocktail of new and old, innovation and tradition – two hours of high-voltage acrobatics and explosive aerial antics all accompanied by the sensational Circus Oz band. See eight acrobats soaring through the air off a custom designed flying trapeze; nine performers on a single bike; ten scaling the height of two Chinese poles; and then the entire stage filled with flying juggling clubs combined with a fast and furious knockabout.

Tickets: Member $44, Full $49, Conc $46, U16 $17, U30 $30, Family (2 Full + 2 U16) $115

Cut Paper Animation: Workshop

Friday 23 September, 10.30am-1pm or 1.30pm-4pm | Cube 37 Make your own animation while exploring colour, collage and shapes in a workshop run by digital animator and former ACMI program leader, Kate Matthews. Learn about the animation process, create your own paper designs and receive a link to your finished animation that you can later screen to your family and friends.

Cost: $25 | Suitable ages 8-12

03 9784 1060 thefac.com.au

@the_fac | #thefac Frankston Arts Centre is a Business Unit of Frankston City Council

IS YOUR CHILD AT RISK ONLINE? Family Zone reveals worrying research, showing children are seeking out adult websites from a young age, including adult dating app Tinder.

BY: FAMILY ZONE

A

ccording to Australia-wide research by Family Zone, a generation of children is accessing adult content from the age of seven years old, due to unrestricted access to the internet and lack of parental controls.

The research showed that more than half of Australian parents (56%) have no online parental controls in place and more than a quarter have no idea how to protect their children on their digital devices.

Family Zone revealed in the first weeks of launching their new parental control software, children under- 13 years old were not only stumbling upon adult content accidentally, but also actively seeking out adult websites and apps, including popular age restricted dating app Tinder.

The nationwide Family Zone Cyber Safety Report revealed the majority of parents are in the dark about their children’s online activity, with three-quarters (76%) of parents admitting they had no idea if their children have accessed adult content such as pornography or violent clips online.

According to the report, children are starting to spend time online from as young as one years old, with more than half of Aussie kids actively online by the age of seven. As kids start to spend more time online unsupervised, they are stumbling onto the wrong kinds of content with common innocent search terms such as ‘wet and wild’, ‘pussycat’, ‘pussycat dolls’, ‘big girls’ toys’ and ‘big puppies’ leading them to being able to access inappropriate content.

“Parents are often misaligned between what they think their children are doing online versus what their children are really doing online,” said David Kobler, youth expert and Director of Protect Our Kids, facilitators for seminars on sexuality and relationships for students, parents and teachers.

Tim Levy, Family Zone Co-Founder and Managing Director, said he built the Australian company in response to the rapidly evolving digital and social landscape. He wanted to give parents a way to take back control of their children’s online activity.

“Australian parents no longer have to feel helpless or frustrated with their children’s online behaviour and, at times, addictions. Until now, there was no universal control platform which could be applied to every device in and out of the home. Family Zone provides parents with peace of mind and gives them control across mobile phones, tablets, the TV or any device which accesses the internet.

“For parents with teenagers, we encourage an open dialogue about online activity and it’s not about stopping access, but more protecting “Excessive screen time, cyber bullying and highly violent or sexualised them from excessive screen time and disturbing content. Working with content are becoming increasingly worrying issues for Australian our Cyber Experts like David Kobler has revealed that as children get families. As our children are entering their “tween” phase much older, they’re increasingly susceptible to a myriad of online dangers younger, they are frequently stumbling onto the wrong kinds of content, and addictions.” which can be really troubling at a young age.

There are a number of serious online dangers for parents to be aware of and it is really not appropriate and quite concerning for young children to be trying to join online dating apps.

“Much of the inappropriate content that children are accessing is also found within sites like YouTube, where parents think their kids are only accessing safe content. On top of this we know children can spend excessive amounts of time on their digital devices. Short of having a parental software control at home, it’s hard to see how parents are truly aware of what is happening on their kid’s devices.”

Further findings from the Family Zone Cyber Safety Report found that the top concerns for parents with their kids using digital devices are that they are missing out on physical activity, followed by accessing pornography or being targeted by paedophiles.

24

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

“Family Zone has been created by Australian parents, for Australian parents, to help children stay safe online and address the concerns our Cyber Safety Report has unveiled,” concluded Tim Levy.

Family Zone offers a free one-month trial. To trial Family Zone or for more information visit www.familyzone.com According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 2 895 348 children aged between 5 and 15 years old in Australia, as of June.

This number was determined using the following working: Percentage of parents, with kids under 15, who have not implemented parental controls on their devices of children X Number of Children between the age of 5 and 15 years on in Australia = Children who have no parental controls on devices within their home.

H O EA F T F PS H U E N K ID S!

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Receive two kids cuts for the price of one* (aged 3 to 12).

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

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www.peninsulakids.com.au

25

THE CRAZY TRUTH ABOUT

MOTHERS

GROUP

BY: KYLIE KRACKENBACKEN

S

o Mothers Group, what’s that about?! Let’s chuck a bunch of random chicks and babies into the one room for some facilitated workshops with the only common ground being that we all squeezed a baby out at a similar time.

Is Mothers Group painful and awkward? Hell yes! Especially for me because to be honest, I’m a bit of a swear bear and it only gets worse when I’m nervous.

I went along expecting a room filled with Lorna Jane-wearing workout mums (quickly brushes crumbs from hastily scoffed cheesymite scroll from mouth) with their own homemade snacks of hummus and organic raspberries.

Was it like that? Well not really but I felt like the ONLY crazy one in the room. So I tried to keep myself nice, not to lose my cool and scream ‘I made this baby but I don’t know what he wants, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HELP ME!’ Not being very good at not being myself, it all unravelled in a few weeks Firstly when I forgot a teat to feed my baby with (which I laugh about now but at the time it felt like epic mummy fail #115) and was the recipient of sympathetic looks from people in the group, seemingly tinged with relief that it wasn’t them, which naturally made it worse!

The next week I was found by another mum outside the Mothers Group weeping silently behind my sunglasses. Rather than avoiding eye contact and calling a Crisis Assessment Team to come get me, she gave me a hug and said ‘…this week it’s you, next week it will be me and the week after it will be someone else! Don’t stress about it.’

Those words stuck with me and do you know what? She was right; no 26

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

one is crazier than another new mother and no one understands this like another new mother.

They don’t say crap like ‘every moment is precious, they won’t be young for long’ because we are all just trying to get through this moment, this day, this week. I’m sure we would all like to be mindful and appreciate every blessed bloody minute but sometimes babies can be a pain in the backside. They cry, they eat, they crap, they vomit and these moments of banality are interspersed with beautiful smiles and moments that you will remember hopefully when they are smelly, argumentative toddlers and teenagers.

At first the mums in my group were drawn together by our mutual bemusement regarding the odd advice from our Maternal Child and Health Nurse and how she wears the same thing EVERY time we see her.

We laugh about how we are all creating ‘bottom shufflers’ because we are sitting our babies up on the floor and other places that are not our laps, thereby risking having a baby that allegedly becomes a bottom shuffling adult. I’ve never seen one of these bottom shuffling Neanderthal adults but it looks like I’ll have one in my house in about 17 years.

We laugh at the terrible ‘starting solids’ talk we went to that actually shed no light on starting solids whatsoever.

After the facilitated sessions ended, we kept trying to catch up once a week. Some people have disappeared from the group and that’s OK. The rest of us try to make it when we can.

Our Mothers Group has now turned into every cafe owner’s nightmare: a bunch of chicks with babies that shed rusks and dummies at an alarming rate.

For The Love Of God Help Me!

We have whinged together about our kids not sleeping, not eating, vomiting on the carpet. We’ve cried together over the same things, sometimes over coffee and cake, sometimes over a much deserved glass of wine.

The thing I love about my Mothers Group is that everyone is themselves: If they had a crappy week, they tell you.

If they have a question to ask about poo or food or boobs or lady bits, they ask.

If they found a new bib with a force field that repels food from splattering from the highchair onto every surface within a 5 metre radius, they share.

If they are desperate for a bloody drink, they have one without fear of judgement.

I like them because they’re all real people.

The other week we spied another Mothers Group at the next table and we were blown away by how maternal they all looked. They were all holding their cherubs close and looking lovingly into their eyes and pretty much ignoring each other. It looked like they were all trying to ‘out mum’ each other. It was super creepy Stepford Wives stuff.

Meanwhile, back at my Mothers Group, there are kids sitting supported on the table and on laps, surrounded by toys and half-chewed rusks trying to grab nachos and knock over glasses of wine and cups of coffee.

My advice (though remember: advice is crap, especially mine) – if you’re a new Mum, try to connect with other friends that are mums or try to persevere with your Mothers Group.

Awkward, yes, but if you’ve got some good people who are a little bit honest about the ups and downs of raising a bottom shuffling Neanderthal baby, it’s worth persisting because no one knows your special brand of crazy like another mother.

Kylie is a Melbourne based career woman who decided to have a baby with her partner after 16 years together at the ripe old age of 38. She is currently on maternity leave with her gorgeous 8 month old baby. Parenting is a strange, wondrous, hilarious and sometimes horrendous gig and she tells it how she sees it.

OUR MOTHERS GROUP HAS NOW TURNED INTO EVERY CAFE OWNER’S NIGHTMARE:

BUNCH OF CHICKS WITH BABIES THAT SHED RUSKS AND DUMMIES AT AN ALARMING RATE. www.peninsulakids.com.au

27

7

DAILY HABITS

of HIGHLY

28

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

BY: GAVIN SEQUEIRA

T

here are few individuals in this world that accomplish extraordinary things that us mere mortals find hard to comprehend. What is it that makes them so different? After many studies in what drives success, there’s been some key characteristics that show up repeatedly, congruent with all of the great achievers of our time. Based on the research the top seven daily habits of highly successful people are:

1. PLAN EACH DAY WITH PURPOSE AND ACTION Sunday night is often cited as the most dreaded of all, because it means having to face another week, back on the treadmill, spinning that wheel once again. Successful people always plan on making their days different, better, more exciting, more purposeful, more meaningful. Tony Robbins says that action without a higher degree of purpose is otherwise just a waste of time. How much of your life is being designed by you?

2. STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE Successful people seem to thrive when they are stretched. They are the top achievers, the 1 percenters. They are always pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and not prepared to settle. This for most of us means stepping outside our comfort zone and questioning the world around us, looking for opportunities to constantly improve.

Have you been in your comfort zone for too long?

3. WORK IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SMART PEOPLE Some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg all had a great team around them right from the beginning - this was crucial to their success. In a team environment, everyone achieves more – it’s true. Collaboration allows you to refine your thinking and challenge yourself. We become the average of the five closest people we surround ourselves with. Who are you spending most of your time with?

4. TRACK DETAILS BUT FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE Details will always serve you well because it means being able to track results and make improvements based on facts, not guesswork.

However, sometimes we get lost in the ‘doing’ and not enough on ‘building' or 'creating’. We spend too much time IN and not ON our lives and business. If you are not designing and creating a better life for yourself, who will? Never lose sight of the big picture and work hard on your WHY.

5. GET THE JOB DONE It’s human behaviour to procrastinate. The only difference is how much we can control it. Successful people have a laser-like focus when it comes to getting things done. At times they can be obsessed and selfish, making sacrifices most of us would not be prepared to make. This is why they can get more done in a day than some of us can do in a month. Prioritise better, set time aside and leave distractions behind like Facebook, TV, doing the dishes, etc. Focus on an ‘achievement list’, not a ‘to-do list’.

6. NEVER GIVE UP AND REFUSE TO TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER Do you feel at times like the wind has been sucked out of your sails and you are staring down the barrel? When we hit a wall, it’s the end of the road and we tend to give up. Few go past and only the stubborn and dogged amongst us will persevere long enough to climb that mountain. Successful people look to scale these mountains even before they begin. Think of the Wright brothers trying to make humans fly! They were the laughing stock back then. Today we wouldn’t be able to imagine a world without planes. Have you got a dream you want to explore?

7. ALWAYS LOOK TO GROW AND LEARN One of our great capacities as human beings is to learn.

Unfortunately, most of us stop actively learning once our formal education stops. We allow ourselves to remain stagnant in our jobs and family lives. One of my mentors Dale Beaumont once said “If you are not green and growing, you are ripe and rotting”. Elon Musk, founder of Tesla co-founder of PayPal says ‘I think It’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you´re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better”. How much of your week do you dedicate to learning?

So there you have it. Success breeds success. Take these tips and make your life great. Challenge yourself on a daily basis. Never give up and surround yourself with great people who will encourage you to move forward.

Gavin Sequeira is proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Having completed an MBA and a successful corporate career at IBM and Oracle, he successfully made the transition to running several of his own business and has helped many others to do the same. Gavin is an active speaker, coach and author of ‘Break Free From Corporate - Be Your Own Boss’ (available on Amazon) and runs a program designed to help people during their transition. For more information please visit www.breakfreefromcorporate.com or email gavin@breakfreefromcorporate.com

www.peninsulakids.com.au

29

Quiz

1

It is a busy school night. What is for dinner?

A. Tofu stir-fry B. Pizza C. Crockpot meal D. Hotdogs E. Mac and cheese

F. One of your wholesome pre-made meals from the freezer

Your family pet is a: A. Rescue dog or cat

2

What Kind Of Mum Are You BY: CHRISTA MELNYK HINES

AREN’T WE ALL A LITTLE GUILTY OF LABELLING OTHER MUMS? SURE, WE ALL SHARE THE COMMON GOAL OF NURTURING A HAPPY, HEALTHY FAMILY, AND WE MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES TO GET THERE. BUT JUST FOR FUN, HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED WHAT “MUM” CATEGORY YOU MOST LIKELY FALL INTO?

4

Your child has an early morning soccer game. You are most likely to wear: A. Yoga pants and an organic cotton t-shirt.

B. Designer jeans, trendy boots, hip jacket and a cute hat.

C. Comfy jeans and your favourite t-shirt.

D. Team shirt, capris and a great attitude.

E. Oops, forgot to do laundry. Pull on something relatively clean.

F. Soccer causes concussions. My kids don’t play soccer.

5

B. Cat or purse-sized puppy

5. You relax by:

C. Golden retriever or a labrador

A. Making homemade soaps and gardening.

D. A boxer or German shepherd

B. Shopping and a spa day.

E. Dogs, cats, fish, gerbils...we have a houseful

C. Relax? What?

F. Zhu Zhu Pet

D. Cheering on your favourite team.

E. Sleeping in and watching old movies.

Your kids want to go to an amusement park with friends. You:

F. Cleaning and organising.

A. Say okay, but with strict instructions that they are not to eat anything with artificial colours.

6. A vacation for your family looks like:

3

B. Warn them not to ruin those jeans you got them. They cost a fortune.

C. Look online to see if there are any coupon deals.

D. Insist on going, too. You are never too old for roller coasters!

E. Say no problem and offer to drive.

F. Agree, but secretly begin agonizing about the safety of the rides.

A. Camping.

6

B. Relaxing at a beach-side resort.

C. Dreamworld and a full schedule of activities.

D. Wherever my child’s tournament is also being played.

E. A leisurely drive to your destination with stops at historical landmarks and tourist attractions along the way.

F. Family lake house.

continued next page....

30

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

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www.optimafitness.com.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

31

How many extracurricular activities is each of your children in?

A. 0-2 B. 2-3 C. 4-5 D. 6+ E. I don’t have a clue.

Your car:

7 8

A. Has a picture of the earth on it.

B. Is detailed at least once a month.

C. Has your website on the rear windshield.

D. Features decals of your kids’ names and the sports they play.

E. Is littered with crumbs, sippy cups and toys.

F. Is meticulously clean.

Your favourite work-out is:

9

A. Om! Yoga all the way.

B. Tennis.

C. Jazzercize. Group exercise is motivating.

D. Running. Walking is for whiners.

E. Chasing my kids.

F. Weights and cardio with a personal trainer.

Your toddler has a melt-down at the store. You:

10

A. Hand him homemade fruit roll-up you stashed in your purse.

He is quickly appeased.

B. Are surprised. This undesirable behaviour clearly runs on your husband’s side.

C. Take a photo of your screaming tot and post it to Facebook with the breezy status “Another day in paradise!” Your friends quickly commiserate.

D. Annoyed, you pick him up, abandon the cart and flee the store.

12

On the first day of school. You:

A. Sadly drop your child off and start researching how to home school.

B. Skip through the morning routine singing “It’s the most wonderful day of the year!”

C. Post Instagram photos of your kids dressed for the first day in Pinterest-inspired poses.

D. Give your kids a pep talk before dropping them off.

E. Weep at the passing of another summer.

F. Deliver an extra supply of disinfectant wipes to the teacher.

If Most Of

(A) Crunchy Mama

From food to cleansers, you take an all-natural approach to life. You are committed to a healthy lifestyle and to feeding your family wholesome, unprocessed foods. You either belong to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) for locally sourced foods or you grow your own. You typically shop at places like Whole Foods and Sprouts with your cloth bags in hand. If you wear makeup, you keep it simple. You opted for a natural birth with your children, hired a doula and had a birth plan in place when you were pregnant. You have a “breast is best” philosophy for feeding your babies. You may have opted to homeschool your kids.

What Others Admire About You: Your commitment to living a more holistic, simpler life.

(B) Butterfly Mama

E. A llow him to carry on. He’s only embarrassing himself.

F. Get worried and wonder if he is acting out because he is coming down with something.

You organize your family by:

11

A. Using an old-fashioned day-planner.

B. Hiring a virtual assistant.

C. Plugging everything into your smartphone.

D. Recording all activities on the family wall calendar, color-coded according to the family member.

E. Taking a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. It will all work out.

F. Each person has a folder 32

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

You rarely have a hair out of place and other mums are constantly wondering how you manage to look so classy and put together all of the time. You have a quiet confidence and own your fashionable style.

You not only care about how you look, you also have the attitude that self-care is important to being a better mother. Your home further reflects your creativity and is a show stopper that is as comfortable as it is stylish.

Whether you shop at garage sales or high-end department stores, you always know what looks good and your kids generally share your sense of style.

What Others Admire About You: Your charming personality and fashion sense.

Crunchy Mama

Butterfly M

Connected Mama Bear Sports Mama

Free Spirit Mama Freelance writer Christa Melnyk Hines is the mum of two children. Her newest book is “Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World” available at www.christamelnykhines.com

Your Answers Were: (C) Connected Mama

(E) Free Spirit Mama

Social media has created a perfect storm of connection for you. You not only get to chat daily with friends and family from afar, you can share entertaining bits and pieces of your daily life with friends who may be right around the corner. Networking comes with ease and you manage to find friends where ever you go. You frequently organize mothers night outs, get togethers and events. Your smart phone is your favourite device.

Of all the moms listed, you are probably the most sleep deprived. But you thrive on busyness and tend to be exceptionally organized.

You tend to take a go-with-the-flow approach to life and prefer to live for the present. Your favourite outfit is whatever is clean and ready to throw on first thing in the morning. You don’t let a screaming child rush you into decisions you aren’t comfortable with. You aren’t one to hurry to urgent care the minute your child sneezes, falls or nibbles on some sand.

You don’t worry too much about the daily messes and chaos of life. Your attitude is that inconveniences and frustrations will sort themselves out eventually. For now, you say, let’s celebrate the moments and embrace the journey.

What Others Admire About You: Your vast network and your resourcefulness.

(D) Sports Mama You love sports as much as your kids. Your competitive nature can get you a little riled up during games. You push your children to always do their best whether in school, sports or life. You typically wear your hair in a ponytail, sporting a sun visor and a t-shirt that says “Baseball/Soccer/ Football Mum.” You come to games prepared with a cooler full of healthy snacks, bottled water, blankets, an umbrella and a comfortable bleacher chair. Your favourite mode of transportation is your SUV or minivan to accommodate the sports equipment, random water bottles and any team members who need rides. As something of a mother hen, you carry a first-aid kit and can always be depended on to offer praise and encouragement to every player.

What Others Admire About You: Your can-do, up-beat and playful personality.

What Others Admire About You: Your reliable, even-keeled sense of calm.

(F) Mama Bear Committed to the health and wellness of the family, you are an avid reader of medical news and child development books. You tend to worry about your family frequently and pay close attention to any sniffles or complaints of body aches. You frequently evaluate if your kids’ behaviour is due to illness, allergy or some other disorder and you aren’t shy about consulting with the paediatrician. Your kids knew about stranger danger and how germs spread before any other kid on the block. You keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the car, the house and in your purse. You are happiest in a clean, well-organized environment.

What Others Admire About You: Your nurturing, fiercely protective spirit.

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BE BRAVE

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

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YOUNG AT HEART PLAYGROUP BY: MICHELLE MCCULLOUGH

T

o some people, hosting a playgroup at an aged care home might seem like a strange idea, but for Priscilla Woodward it is completely natural.

The busy Seaford mum hosts Young At Heart, an intergenerational playgroup at the Bupa Aged Care in Bonbeach where local parents and their children can spend time with some of the community’s older residents. The fortnightly playgroup gives the home’s residents and local families an opportunity to interact through books, music, play and craft activities.

Priscilla, who is mum to 2-year-old Annika, said the playgroup had been a positive experience for everyone involved.

“Parents have said the playgroup has been positive for both themselves and their children. Some residents and their families have also expressed their gratitude for the playgroup, and adore seeing and interacting with the children.”

“They [the children] enjoy spending time with the residents doing crafty activities or getting imaginative with toys. My daughter loves sitting on their laps and being read to.”

The idea for Young at Heart came from a segment Priscilla saw on Channel Ten’s The Project, which featured Bupa Bellarine, an aged care home in Victoria that had established a playgroup in 2006.

“They had a story about an intergenerational playgroup held at an aged care home. The children had such a positive effect on them.

Suddenly one of the residents' speech was clearer and she could make sentences. And the children were having a lovely time playing and bonding with the residents.”

The story prompted Priscilla to look for a intergenerational playgroup in her area, but unable to find one she decided to start her own. “[It] really spoke to my heart. Seeing the positive impact it had on the residents and children motivated me to start this group. I am passionate about the concept so I knew it needed to become a reality.

“I contacted the general manager at the closest Bupa aged care home to me who was very keen about the idea. We met and discussed our plan to create it. I asked local mums to help with donating toys and sought volunteers to participate. A Facebook group was created to 42

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

keep track of which volunteers were coming to the next playgroup and attendance numbers.”

Bupa Aged Care Bonbeach general manager Sue Bunworth said she was thrilled when Priscilla approached her with the idea of hosting a playgroup at the facility, which is home to 101 residents. “[I] instantly loved it, as I was trying to work out how to get a group of mums with babies and toddlers to visit regularly. I have always encouraged children and animals to be a part of the residents' lives, as it is so good to see their faces light up when the babies are around. Bupa encourages all homes to have contact with as many outside groups as possible, as it helps to enhance the quality of life for our residents. “[It has been] very positive for all. It is also good for the staff; we all have a little giggle at the kids antics. I love it when I see some of the men interact in such a loving gentle manner with the kids. It is great conversation topics for the residents before and after the sessions.

“Priscilla’s commitment and energy has been wonderful. We really appreciate it.”

Bupa Bonbeach resident Babs Simm said she looked forward to the playgroup because it reminded of her of when her own children were babies.

“I love to see the little children and how they react and what toys they go for. Sometimes they come in and they are a little shy but then they come around. We had a very little baby here once and everyone wanted to get their hands on her little baby. They would sit her on their lap, it was great.”

The 89-year-old great-grandmother said the residents “come alive when they see the children. It sparks the memory of when they were young”.

Resident Dawn Waston, who has lived at the home since 2011, agreed that the residents had responded positively to the playgroup.

“It certainly brings some of them out of their rooms. Some of them don’t react much to anything but they enjoy seeing the babies. A lot of them have carried babies around with them and to have a real baby to hold is a gift. You see their faces light up when they see them.”

The 86-year-old also said that Young at Heart provided a way for older people to pass on their knowledge to younger mums, with some of the mothers attending the group asking for advice.

“We can pass on our experiences and hopefully help them.”

Priscilla encouraged others mums to set up their own intergenerational playgroup in their area.

“How wonderful would it be if every aged care home had one.”

Michelle McCullough is a journalist, mum of two, amateur photographer and when she has time, a meerkat enthusiast. She lives in the eastern suburbs and spends her days trying to find new and fun ways to keep her two little monkeys entertained.

[IT HAS BEEN] VERY POSITIVE FOR ALL. IT IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE STAFF,

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Easy

5 STEP PROCESS FOR MUM’S RETURNING TO WORK BY: JANELLE RYAN

S

o you’ve had a baby.....or more......and you felt so blessed you were able to take a break from the workforce to focus on their early years.

But as you wipe away your tears as the youngest excitedly starts school, you know it’s time.

It’s time to return to the workforce. It’s time to get a little bit of your own life back. But the thought of this makes you feel a little nervous and your confidence is a little shaky. You wonder if you still have the drive, the passion and any skills an employer may find of value.

The good news is these thoughts are completely normal. The better news is I have a five steps process to help you take those very first moves.

1. GET CLEAR ON WHY YOU ARE RETURNING TO WORK Are you returning for financial reasons – either of necessity or for some personal independence? Are you excited about the thought of dressing up and being around other adults again? Or something else? Once you are clear on why you are returning to work, move into how you will return to work. Full time or part time? In an office or working from home?

Employee or starting your own home-based business?

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Him, for Her and for the Kids

"Never assume that your ideal role is impossible to find.

Stay open to all possibilities".

2. REASSESS YOUR CAREER OBJECTIVES AND DESIRES

4. CREATE A STRATEGY

What do you wish to achieve, career wise, during this next stage? Is jumping back on the corporate ladder important to you, or would you prefer to find a role that offers flexibility and a great culture rather than challenging projects? Include aspects such as salary and working hours.

What are you willing to accept and what is a deal breaker?

By now you should have a good idea of what type of job you’d like, how much you wish (or need) to make and if it’s home-based or external. Your skills, strengths and passions list may highlight areas you will feel confident and excited about pursuing.

Now it’s time to create a strategy. Your strategy may include actions such as rewriting your resume, attending industry workshops or events; or signing up for an evening or online course to brush up on skills.

If, after moving through this list, the thought of going back to work fills you with confusion or self doubt, find a career or life coach, mentor or call that best friend who is now a CEO to help you.

3. LIST ALL YOUR SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND PASSIONS Grab a piece of paper and list all your skills. List every skill you acquired and developed in your past roles and every skill you’ve acquired since you became a mum! Being a stay-home mum requires patience, time management, negotiation skills and communication skills etc.

Now list all your strengths. All those things you know you’re good at. If you find this challenging ask friends and family to help you. Are you great with bedtime stories because you do all the voices? Are you the main facilitator of family events? Do you manage the household budget?

Now list everything you really love to do. When we love doing something we are usually good at it, which is a great indication that we should be doing more of it.

5. BE OPEN TO ALL POSSIBILITIES Never assume that your ideal role is impossible to find.

Stay open to all possibilities. GOOD LUCK!

Janelle Ryan is a Change Catalyst who helps high achievers get out of their own way, align their actions with their goals and create a life they desire and truly deserve. www.skyhighcoaching.com.au www.facebook.com/skyhighcoaching.com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

45

Brother and sister duo Felix and Ruby Stone might only be teenagers, but they have their sights set on forging a business in the booming skateboard industry.

NOSE

TAIL

46

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Growing up on the Peninsula, they started surfing from an early age and skateboarding soon followed.

Skateboarding is a sport experiencing a rapid surge in popularity.

In Australia since 2005, two skate parks a week have been built.

Their business, MP CREW, teaches young wannabee skaters how to skateboard. They start with the fundamentals and advance to harder tricks.

Group and private lessons are available for students of all ages at most Peninsula skate parks. Classes are designed for beginners, intermediate and advanced and are held after school and on weekends. They also run school holiday programs.

Classes are fun and easy to understand. All techniques learned are a key element in giving kids confidence to be able to skate at local skate parks.

continued next page.....

Begin building speed.

Position your feet as if you are about to jump and get into jumping position.

As you are jumping, your back leg should push down on the back of the board, while the front of the deck continues to lift – roll your front foot against the board so it is touching the grip tape, the back of the board should pop (a pop is where the tail/nose of the board hits the ground) and be going fast enough that it bounces.

Pull your knees towards your chest, your jump and pop together will lift you off the ground, make your board level to the ground while it’s in mid-air and level out your feet, keeping pressure on the board as it begins to fall down.

Try to land both feet at the same time with both feet as close to the trucks as possible.

Bend your knees to absorb the shock when you land.

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47

Alan "Ollie" Gelfand is credited for inventing the rolling Ollie in 1977 as a trick done in pools, and later Rodney Mullen the flatland Ollie in freestyle skating in 1981. Danny Wainwright from England holds the official record for the highest ollie at 44.5 inches, but video footage of a skateboarder named Jose Marabotto from Peru shows Jose ollying a stack of skateboards. Many think that the stack should be over 50 inches, but as the trick is only in a video, it's hard to tell and unofficial. Like most things in skateboarding!

Felix says: “Skate parks can be intimidating places for new skaters but they are built for everyone to use and are a great place to make new friends and learn new skills.

“Besides the physical rewards gained from skateboarding, it also teaches kids to set goals and overcome fears. Skaters are constantly striving to improve their skills and conquer new challenges.”

Ruby says that she became interested in the skating scene because it was a natural progression from surfboard to skateboard.

“I guess I thought that when I can’t surf, I’ll skate, plus I am naturally competitive and if Felix can do it then so can I,” she says.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

“I would love to see more girls get into the sport – a lot of girls feel intimidated going to a predominately male skate park.

“So by learning with other girls at MP Crew they will see it is a great place that is non-threatening, where they meet new friends and build their confidence.”

The MP Crew consists of Felix and Ruby Stone and Bailey Westerly, all Mount Martha locals.

For more information visit wwwmpcrew.com.au

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49

BY: MELISSA WALSH

FINDING A RAINBOW CONNECTION

L

illy is 10 and loves playing cards and learning the keyboard.

She is bright and colourful in her rainbow tights, loves perfume but not makeup. She gets $5 pocket money as long as she does her chores, and usually spends it on lollies. She loves animals so much she has decided to be a vegetarian and is a little girl who knows her own mind. For Lilly and her mum Celeste the past two years has been life-changing as Lilly was born a boy, and is one of the 1.2 per cent of gender diverse children in Australia.

For mum Celeste coming to terms with the authentic gender of her child has been an evolving process, culminating in the founding of Rainbow Connections, a Hastings youth and family group that supports gender diverse children aged under 12.

“It came about gradually over the years with Lilly at first having signs that could be put down to developmental age behaviour. Like other toddlers Lilly, who was a boy at the time, would want to wear princess dresses, crowns and tiaras and makeup. The difference was that once she ended up going to school she still wanted to be a girl and asked people to call her by her preferred name Lilly,” said Celeste. ”By the time she was in year two the intensity of aligning with the female gender was strong and I was at my wits' end. I didn’t know what to do and I lived in fear. My family network is small and my largest support network was my church.

I knew from the sermons at the church that it was going to be difficult. I was not being a supportive parent to her. I would shut her down and wouldn’t even give her the opportunity to say how she was feeling.”

For Lilly her requests were simple. She wanted to be called by her preferred name, be able to use the girls' toilets and stand in the girls' line at school. She wanted to be treated like the gender she felt she was but at only eight years of age it is hard to have a voice so Lilly was ostracised and bullied at school.

“She would say to me ‘Can I wear this dress?’ and I would say ‘No’. She would ask me to call her Lilly and I would say ‘No”. It was an extremely stressful household and I realised I needed to do something so I ended up at a paediatrician who referred me to the Royal Children’s Hospital Gender Clinic which blew me away.

There I sat in a room with 12 parents with the youngest child six and Lilly who was eight and all these parents were saying the same things I was feeling. It was surreal. Michelle Telfar the leading paediatrician at the gender clinic and Campbell Paul the leading psychiatrist, showed us a video on mental health and gender diversity that explained the statistics that 30 per cent of youth under 18 will attempt suicide and 50 per cent will self-harm. When they explained that I realised I had no choice but to support my child. I wanted a live child, not a dead one, and knew that now we had to work out how to navigate through friends and family in this next chapter of our lives.”

That life-altering moment was in November 2014. Celeste cried all the way home, and spent the next week apologising and reconnecting with her child.

“I told her I would support her and never fight her on this. The church offered me prayer to have Satan removed and I denied the offer which basically meant we could no longer go there. That was terrifying knowing that 150 people were out of our lives for good,” she said.

However as one door closes another one opens as Celeste and Lilly soon discovered.

“We did grieve for the old friends we have lost but have gained some wonderful new people in our lives and feel very blessed to be where we are right now,” said Celeste, who eventually started home schooling Lilly after she was subjected to severe bullying. “When she transitioned last year there was a lot of bullying by kids and parents. However we were extremely fortunate to have the Safe Schools Coalition Victoria step in and undertake professional development with the staff. They also asked Lilly what she wanted to get out of this and she said she basically wanted her female gender affirmed. She no longer wanted to get into trouble for being in the girls' line where previously the teacher had refused to let students enter the class if she didn’t go back into the boys' line.”

For Celeste and Lilly, the community uproar became extreme, with ex-communication from their church, poor leadership at the school and parents who didn’t agree approaching the Principal to complain.

“It is a slow process to educate about gender diversity but our kids are always taking the lead. Eventually they get to a point where it is too confusing to live their authentic gender in the home and have to hide their true selves outside to appease neighbours and the community.

Eventually they refuse to do so any more, and with the help of intervention from the Safe Schools Coalition in April last year Lilly was able to start that transition,” said Celeste, who was then continually looking for support groups and education on gender diversity.

“I was trying to find a place we could tap into with people like us. I knew there was nothing on the peninsula apart from Transcend which is based in the city, and a gateway to online support groups. Those online groups were my extra adult at the end of the day to debrief and have someone to listen,” said single mum Celeste. “You need to connect with others who are going through a similar journey. By the time Lilly transitioned I realised we needed a group here. Peninsula Pride for kids over 12 is great but there was nothing for younger kids or their parents.”

That was 12 months ago, and since then Celeste, armed with motherly love and determination, has begun the group Rainbow Connections.

“A friend, Wayne, had been visiting Lilly for positive mental wellbeing while the bullying was taking place, and I spoke to him about my frustration of not having any other avenue to connect with. He said that I should start a group and I laughed and thought ‘who is going to come?’” said Celeste. “Our first group was last September and we had two families. By the end of the year we had four and now we have eight.”

These days the kids and families meet every fortnight for a couple of hours of games and connecting.

“We have families from all over the peninsula and even Patterson Lakes but would like to let other people know about our group, particularly in areas all the way down to Portsea and through Balnarring area,” said Celeste, who says her life has turned around in miraculous ways with Lilly only home schooled one day a week now and having started at a new school where there has been no bullying.

“As the parent of a child who has transitioned, I have had my highs and lows, but when I look at my child’s smile beaming with pure happiness because she no longer feels trapped in the identity she was assigned to, it’s worth it, it’s beautiful,” said Celeste.

To find out more about Rainbow Connections go to the facebook page Rainbow Connections Point of Call. www.peninsulakids.com.au

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a

BY: ERIKA ATWILL

L

Before making the decision to walk away from my career to spend more time with my family, I needed to crunch some serious numbers to figure out how we were going to drop one full time income.

SETTING UP

FAMILY

BUDGET

52

et’s face it, budgeting isn’t much fun. But when you’re living on one income it’s kind of a necessity.

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Living on one income has involved a major change in mindset for our family … and it’s certainly a work in progress. But if there is one thing that living on a single income has taught me, it’s questioning the importance of particular purchases. You really need to want to make it work and setting up a budget is an important part to keeping our spending on track.

Through that process, do you know what I discovered? That there’s actually something quite satisfying about seeing our money trail written down on paper or the screen and realising that maybe it could be done.

On a very basic level it’s about writing down all of your income and all of your expenses and seeing what you have left in the end. If the figure isn’t looking good, then you need to look at where your money is going and either trim back on some of the unnecessary expenses by analysing what you’re willing to let go of to make it all work, or consider ways to bring in some extra money.

YOUR INCOME First of all write down all of your regular income streams. Examples are:

•Wages/salary •Any government benefits •Other regular income, such as freelance work, interest, etc.

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YOUR EXPENSES Then list every expense you regularly need to pay. We factor in everything from regular monthly expenses, like mobile phones and internet costs, to quarterly utility bills and annual insurance premiums, to medical or pharmacy costs, to pet care needs. You need to consider things like:

•Mortgage/rent •Council rates •Electricity •Gas •Water •Home phone •Internet •Mobile phones •Car insurance •Home and contents insurance •Ambulance subscriptions •Other loans/credit cards •Personal savings •Hair and beauty •Medicines/pharmacy •Sports/gym •Pet care (vaccinations, annual registrations, etc) •Children’s sports/activities •Takeaway •Entertainment •Petrol •Road tolls •Car registration •Roadside car care •School fees The best thing is to be totally honest about where your money is going and account for every little thing … if you spend money on beer or wine each month, make sure you include it. If you buy a lot of take away coffees, write it down. The budget will only work for you if you willing to open your eyes and see where you money is actually being spent.

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SURPLUS OR DEFICIT? When this is all done, I tend to scrunch up my eyes and cross my fingers as I scroll down the screen to see whether we are left with a surplus or deficit. Luckily for us it has been a surplus, but when I first started budgeting it was a deficit which meant we needed to explore where we could make cuts in our expenses to turn it around.

Now that we have a surplus, we choose to use this money as optional personal spending money each month (as I already have money allocated in our budget for savings). It tends to be split three ways between myself, my husband and other expenses (like birthday gifts; school expenses, such as excursions, lunch orders; children’s clothing, etc). It’s a choice to use this money each month and whatever is left gets put away as additional savings at the end of each month.

PUTTING ASIDE MONEY FOR FUTURE BILLS AND EXPENSES For me, the key to living well on one income is setting aside money for future bills and expenses in advance. It’s about being prepared for what lies ahead. This became so clear recently when I stopped setting aside this money for several months, then suddenly it seemed as though every bill we could possibly receive needed to be paid all at once – water, rates, electricity, gas, car registration, home insurance … you name it, it came! On top of that, our gas ducted heater broke down right when the weather was starting to cool down and needed to be fixed.

Our budget is set up monthly so I use this pattern to set aside this money, but it can just as easily be worked out for fortnightly or weekly.

For any bills that come up less frequently than that (i.e. quarterly or annually), I set aside money each month to cover the future cost of these expenses. That way I know I will have the money when these expenses come up and don’t need to worry about having to live extremely tightly one month just because a particularly large bill needs to be paid. It makes life a much smoother ride from month to month.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

In the past I have set up my own spreadsheet, but I recently came across a great resource over at the Australian Securities and Investment Commissions’ Money Smart page – it’s a budget template in Excel spreadsheet format which you can download and modify to your needs.

It’s great because all of the Excel coding has been done for you, which makes it nice and easy to input all of your income and expenses and it can work out all of your totals for you, whether it be weekly, fortnightly, monthly or annually. I thought I was in heaven because it saved me so much time working out these sums on the calculator. You can find the budget template and other online tools at www.moneysmart.gov.au/ tools-and-resources/calculators-and-apps/budget-planner I hope this helps you set up your own family budget as a first step for getting your finances on track.

Happy budgeting!

Erika is a Melbourne-based freelance writer, editor and blogger. She is a mum of three children and recently made a major decision to leave work to spend more time with her family. She shares her personal and parenting journey towards a simpler, less stressful lifestyle through her blog Ever-changing Life of a Mum at www. everchangingmum.com.au

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COGNITIVE BIASES

THAT ALL PARENTS SUFFER FROM

BY: REBECCA BOWYER

L

earning about ‘cognitive bias’ is the flavour of the month at the moment. It’s really just a fancy psychological way of explaining why nobody ever seems to ever act rationally.

Like toddlers, for example.

Except that cognitive bias persists throughout life…

To help you understand cognitive bias – and avoid it where desirable – I’ve illustrated 6 cognitive biases that all parents suffer from at some point in the parenting life cycle.

Some biases are actually quite useful and work to your advantage. Others will make your head boil to the point of spontaneous combustion.

ANCHORING BIAS

1

Problem: The first option we are presented with sets our expectations for what is ‘normal’.

Example: You ask your child: ‘What do you want for lunch?’. They reply

‘CHOCOLATE AND DONUTS’. Any attempt to negotiate down to a peanut butter sandwich is guaranteed to be unsuccessful.

Overcoming it: Tell your child: ‘You’re having a kale salad for lunch.’ The Vegemite sandwich and sliced apple which eventually appear will seem like a winning alternative.

AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC

2

Problem: We think the information that we already have is the most important.

Example: Your teenager thinks that getting a tattoo is a great idea and won’t hurt a bit because dreamy Charlie at school told her so and she doesn’t know anyone else with a tattoo.

Overcoming it: Increase her available information by driving her to your local nursing home and asking to speak to an octogenarian with multiple tattoos. The saggier the skin, the better.

continued next page....

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

56

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

About Sparrow Early Learning These might include: • Health, safety, good hygiene and good nutrition • A well-maintained environment and well designed, play spaces for children • An adequate number of staff who are sensitive and responsive to children • Opportunities for active play - especially outdoors • Opportunities for quiet play and rest • Opportunities for developing motor, social, language and cognitive skills through play • Positive interactions with adults • Practices that support positive interaction amongst children • Facilitation of emotional growth • Participation of, support for and communication with parents • Respect for diversity and difference, gender equality and inclusion of children with disabilities • Broad learning and development goals for children, going beyond narrow academic aims like early literacy and numeracy to social, emotional, cultural, artistic and physical goals • An approach that “lets children be children”, which means learning through play and experiencing a wide range of artistic, cultural, cognitive, social and physical activities.

When attending Sparrow Early Learning Centres, your child

will experience a high quality program with caring, qualified

educators and beautiful facilities. Our Educators ensure each

child is nurtured and provided with a unique sense of belonging.

Children are our focus at Sparrow, we are committed to guiding and encouraging each child through their early years to have unique and meaningful experiences.

Every parent deserves peace of mind that quality care and

education is being provided to their child. We are committed

to making every child’s experience at Sparrow Early Learning a

T SPARROW EARLY LEARNING: ABOUT SPARROW EARLY LEARNING:

positive one. We believe in developing effective partnerships

ttending Sparrow Early Learning Centres, your child will experience a high quality program with families that will Centres, ultimately result in positive outcomes When attending Sparrow Early Learning your child will experience a high quality program for ing, qualified educators and beautiful facilities. Our Educators ensure each child is nurtured with caring, qualified educators and beautiful facilities. Our Educators ensure each child is nurtured vided with a unique sense of belonging. Children are our focus at Sparrow, we are committed children.

The Sparrow team are comprised of successful and nd provided with a unique sense of belonging.

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arent deserves peace of mind that quality care and education is being provided to their child.

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We believe in developing effective partnerships with familiesfriends that will ultimately result in positive es for children. The Sparrow team are comprised of successful and experienced early utcomes for children. The Sparrow team are comprised of successful and experienced early od and business professionals.

While there is no single definition of quality in child care, there hildhood and business professionals.

arehigh some overall of child care thatis are identified as may define quality child careelements as an environment in which their child happy, makes Parents may define high quality child care as an environment in which their child is happy, makes and the child has fun. While there is no single definition of quality in child care, there are riends and the childto hasthe fun. well-being While there is noof single definition of quality in child care, there are critical children. verall elements of child care that are identified as critical to the well-being of children. These ome overall elements of child care that are identified as critical to the well-being of children. These clude: might include:

UT SPARROW EARLY LEARNING: Health, safety and good hygiene  Health, safety and good hygiene

Feel free to call one of our services managers to organise a tour:

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Opportunities for quiet play and rest

Wagtail Cottage: Mara Santo (03) 5977 5576

 Opportunities for quiet play and rest Opportunities for developing motor, social, language and cognitive skills through play  Opportunities for developing motor, social, language and cognitive skills through play

y parent deserves peace mind that quality care and education is being provided to their child.

Positive interactions with of adults Childcare & Kindergarten:  Positive interactions with Somerville adults re Practices committed tosupport makingpositive every interaction child’s experience at Sparrow Early Learning a positive one. that amongst children

Hayley Jorgensen (03) 5977 8000

 Practices that support positive interaction amongst children Facilitation of emotional growth

 inFacilitation of effective emotionalpartnerships growth elieve developing with families that will ultimately result in positive Participation of, support for and communication with parents Baxter Alyce Ryan 5971early 1651 mes for Participation children. The team are comprised with of successful and(03) experienced of,Sparrow support for andChildcare: communication parents Respect for diversity and difference, gender equality and inclusion of children with hood andRespect business for professionals. diversity and difference, gender equality and inclusion of children with

All Services: All Services: -Care for Children 6 weeks to School Age -Care for Children 6 weeks to School Age -Nutritious Meals Provided -Nutritious Meals Provided -Nappies Provided -Nappies Provided -Kindergarten Program -Kindergarten Program

1140 Frankston Flinders Road 1140 Frankston Flinders Road Somerville 3912 Somerville 3912 Phone: (03) 5977 5576 Phone: (03) 5977 5576 Open: 7:00am-6:00pm Open: 7:00am-6:00pm wagtail@sparrowearlylearning.com.au wagtail@sparrowearlylearning.com.au

disabilities disabilities Broad learning and development goals for children, going beyond narrow academic aims  early Broad learning and development goals for children, going beyond narrow academic aims literacy numeracy social, cultural,inartistic physical ntslike may define highand quality childtocare as emotional, an environment whichand their child isgoals happy, makes like early literacy and numeracy to social, emotional, cultural, artistic and physical goals s and the childthat has“lets fun.children While be there is no single definition of quality inplay childand care, there are An approach children”, which means learning through  elements An approach that “lets children be children”, which means learning through play and experiencing a wide rangecare of artistic, cultural, cognitive, social and physical activities. overall of child that are identified as critical to the well-being of children. These experiencing a wide range of artistic, cultural, cognitive, social and physical activities.

include:

el free to call one of our services managers to organise a tour: Feel free to call one of our services managers to organise a tour:



Health, safety and good hygiene

agtail Cottage: Mara Santo (03) 5977 5576 Cottage: Mara Santo (03) 5977 5576  Wagtail Good nutrition

1140 Frankston 1140 Frankston Flinders Flinders Road Road

111 Baxter Tooradin Road 111 Baxter Tooradin Road 18-20 Gomms Road 18-20 Gomms Road Baxter 3911 Baxter 3911 Somerville 3912 Somerville 3912 Phone: (03) 5971 1651 Phone: (03) 5977 5576 Phone: (03) 5977 5576 Phone: (03) 5971 1651 Phone: (03) 5977 8000 -Nutritious Meals Provided -Nutritious Meals Provided Phone: (03) 5977 8000  Childcare: Opportunities forRyan active play—especially outdoors Open: 6:30pm-6:00pm axter Alyce (03) 5971 1651 Open: 7:00am-6:00pm Open: 7:00am-6:00pm Open: 6:30pm-6:00pm Open: 6:30am-6:00pm Baxter Childcare: Alyce Ryan (03) 5971 1651 -Nappies Provided -Nappies Provided Open: 6:30am-6:00pm baxter@sparrowearlylearning.com.au  Opportunities -Kindergarten for quiet play and rest wagtail@sparrowearlylearning.com.au wagtail@sparrowearlylearning.com.au baxter@sparrowearlylearning.com.au somerville@sparrowearlylearning.com.au 1140 Frankston Flinder -Kindergarten Program Program somerville@sparrowearlylearning.com.au  Opportunities for developing motor, social, language and cognitive skills through play All Services: Somerville 3912  Positive interactions with adults -Care for Children 6 weeks to School Age Phone: (03) 5977 5  Practices that support positive interaction amongst children -Nutritious Meals Provided



All Services: and well designed, play spaces for children A well-maintained environment

All Services: Somerville omerville Childcare & Kindergarten: Hayley Jorgensen (03) 5977 8000 Somerville 3912 3912 Somerville Hayley (03) 5977 8000 -CareChildcare for6number Children 6School weeks to School Age Jorgensen foradequate Children weeks&toKindergarten: Age  -Care An of staff who are sensitive and responsive to children

BANDWAGON EFFECT

Problem: The more people who believe a thing is true, the more likely it is that others will believe it too.

3

Example: In 2014 millions of children around the world believed that loom bands were a fabulous idea. Mainly because millions of other children told them so.

Overcoming it: Often time will take care of this cognitive bias. As of March

2016, according to a reliable source (a friend of mine) local markets are begging customers to TAKE THE LEFTOVER LOOM BANDS. PLEASE GOD JUST TAKE THEM.

BLIND-SPOT BIAS

Problem: You don’t think you have any biases.

Example: You think you made your own decision to install a state-of-the-art baby

4

video monitor, even though your baby sleeps in the room next to you and the walls are so thin you can hear the baby fart.

Your choice had nothing to do with the fact that everyone in your mother’s group has a baby video monitor and implied that if you don’t get one too, your 6-week-old baby may leap out of the cot.

You made your own decision.

Overcoming it: You don’t need to overcome it. You have no biases. Right?

CHOICE-SUPPORTIVE BIAS

Problem: You believe it’s right because you chose it.

Example: You chose to have children, therefore your children are wonderful,

5

parenting enriches your life and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Even though you say it with a wild look in your twitching eye, speaking at full volume to drown out the baby screaming in the background while shaking a whining toddler off your leg and scratching at a stain on your top from yesterday – peanut butter or excrement? It’s hard to tell when it’s newborn poo.

Overcoming it: Associate only with parents of small children who will support your choice-supportive bias.

CLUSTERING ILLUSION

Problem: You tend to see patterns in random events.

Example: My baby has slept through for two nights in a row! This must mean

6

they will sleep through every single night forever and ever now, even though they haven’t slept through a single night since they were born nine months ago!

Overcoming it: Ask yourself – could there be another reason for this sudden change of events? Eg. Was it a fluke? Perhaps you inadvertently slipped extra phenergan into their evening bottle? Or did you forget to buy a video baby monitor and has your baby finally acted upon their lifelong desire to run off with a circus?

58

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Get social with us!

Summer fun!

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

Show this ad in store to receive a 10% discount storewide or use the code PENINSULAKIDS1 online at the checkout. Valid until 01/12/16.

Your local stores: Mornington 901 Nepean Hwy | Sorrento 131 Ocean Beach Rd Victorian store locations: Fitzroy | Malvern | Cheltenham | Geelong or shop online at www.swimweargalore.com.au

w e i v e R Dad

BY: DAVID HAWKINS

S

o, have you caught ‘em all yet?

As a child of the eighties, I managed to miss out on the phenomena that was the 1998 release of Pokémon, mostly because I was struggling to pass university and impress a girl.

Who am I kidding? Any girl! Luckily my whole family now has the chance to jump on the squillion dollar pop-wagon that is Pokémon GO!

All you need is one smart phone and a free download and BAM, you have just become a Pokémon GO junkie. Everywhere you turn you’ll find cutsey Zubats and Magikarps, and PokéStops (like a 7-11 but without the slushies).

If you haven’t heard of Pokémon GO then I’m assuming you’re actually dead. In fact, I’m not sure that is even an excuse. With more publicity and worldwide ‘buzz’ than any other game ever released, Pokémon GO has thrust every human with a smart phone into the coming realm of Augmented Reality, where gaming merges with your actual world and it will become really difficult to tell your kids, “That’s it. No more videogames!” because you’ll never know when they are playing them.

For those of you who like to pretend you aren’t geeky, Pokémon GO allows you to walk the real streets of your neighbourhood and see 60

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

cartooned ‘pocket monsters” (Pokémon for short) appear on the footpath, in trees, in the grass and even on the shelves of your local supermarket. Flick a PokéBall at the creature to catch it and add it to your collection. Seriously, it is that simple. Which may be why the whole world has had its uni-mind melted by the game.

You’ll also find places of interest in your area, like a park, statue or significant building, that will host a PokéStop where you can get extra PokéBalls and even PokéEggs to hatch. It’s so much Poké that you just might go a-Poké-lyptic!

I am a confessed gamer, so it was a given that I’d get hooked, but my wife, Phenom-A-Mum, now has to be called PokéMum seeing as her collection outstrips mine. Oh yeah... and our 3YO, Little E, loves the game too.

What sets the app apart from all others is the fact that it forces you to get out and about.

No more sitting on the couch. The further you walk, the more places you visit, the quicker you’ll become a Pokéchampion. Plus you are actually seeing where you live, where you play or work or party, as a part of the game.

And this is very cool for the youngsters who feel as if the game is made just for them.

Pokémon GO is a great excuse to get the

family out walking or visiting an old haunt, like the playground or waterfront, and experiencing it in a whole different way. Geek out and exercise at the same time. Never have the kids been so keen to just hang out with their parents, walking a footpath!

I highly recommend giving the game a go, if you haven’t already, to have a bit of silly fun with your children and partner. Yes, you will look like a bit of moron holding your phone out in front of you but no more moronic than the hundreds of people around you doing exactly the same thing. It just might inspire you to go walking each day in the hopes of tracking down a monster you haven’t caught yet. Anyone found a Dragonite yet?

And if you really want to be part of the incrowd, take a trip to the Melbourne Zoo and join all of the other collectors ignoring the animals and trying to catch monsters instead!

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

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Cnr Moorooduc Highway & Bentons Road, Moorooduc VIC Phone: (03) 5978 8500 Fax: (03) 5978 8550 E: santas_place@bigpond.com.au

www.santaspl ace .com.au

www.peninsulakids.com.au

61

DINOSAUR WORLD IN SOMERVILLE

BY: ERICA LOUISE

H

ooray for spring! It’s time to start venturing outdoors to enjoy all the great things the Mornington Peninsula has to offer. One such place that you should add to your visit list this spring is Dinosaur World, a themed tourist attraction in Somerville.

Dinosaur World closes for winter but opens on 1st September each year, just in time for the warmer weather. This prehistoric themed outdoor activity, situated at the rear of the popular Somerville Christmas Tree Farm, is a joy for any dino-loving child. The front shed-like entrance boasts a fearsome prehistoric beast out front, so you can be sure you’ve found the right spot!

You initially walk through an impressive gift shop, but you can save your take-home treats for later; it’s the dinosaurs your kids will want to see. As you enter Dinosaur World’s park, you will follow a path scattered with animatronic dinosaurs big and small. Hear the roar of the dinosaurs and read up on the history of each beast as you walk through the foliage.

After your kids have spotted all the dinosaurs on site, there’s an opportunity for your children to meet "Wilson" the walking dinosaur.

He comes out to play at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm each day.

Then there is "Wilbur", a wee baby raptor who wants to meet your kids for photo opportunities.

Er

ic a

Lo

uis

e

Another extra is the ‘dig and discover’ activity, whereby your kids can work on their palaeontology skills and dig for fossils and chisel away at their found blocks to see what’s inside.

Ph

o to

s:

Although small, there is enough to keep young people interested, so take your time and bring a picnic. There are BBQ’s available as well as tables and umbrellas right next to the children’s dino-themed playground.

Dinosaur World can be found on the corner of Frankston-Flinders and O'Neills Road in Somerville just 5 minutes from Peninsula Link.

For entry prices and opening hours go to: www.dinosaurworld.net.au

62

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Frankston Events 2016–2017

The Mayor’s Family Picnic Sunday 11 September 2016 11am–3pm Monterey Community Park, Monterey Boulevard, Frankston North

Pets’ Day Out

Sunday 9 October 2016 10am–3pm Ballam Park, Frankston

Ventana Street Fiesta Saturday 11 March 2017, 12–8pm Wells Street, Frankston

Frankston’s Christmas Festival of Lights

Saturday 26 November 2016 5–10pm Davey Street, Frankston

The Waterfront Festival

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2017 Saturday 11am–10pm, Sunday 11am–6pm Pier Promenade, Frankston

Party In The Park

Tuesday 4 April 2017, 9.30am–2pm Cruden Farm, Enter via Cranhaven Road, Langwarrin

1300 322 322 frankston.vic.gov.au Frankston Events

Looking for a career in Family Day Care?

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

A Sinamay 6cm round fascinator Pixie Bow on a stretch band $10.00 Lil Miss K www.facebook.com/lilmissksc Rock Your Baby Retro Kitty Dress $54.95 Enchanted Child www.enchantedchild.com.au

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

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

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

Looking for a career in Family Day Care?

For more information check out our website, or Quality Family Day Care service with a Bambini Child Care Services are a High rating of “Exceeding”. phone and talk to one of our friendly staff.

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

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

Le Toy Van Cookie Set $39.95 Enchanted Child www.enchantedchild.com.au

Baby's Skwish toy $34.95 The Toy Workshop thetoyworkshop.com.au

SIMPLE, FUN TOYS TO ENTERTAIN, CHALLENGE & TEACH

03 9813 5680

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

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

03 9813 5680

www.bambini.com.au www.bambini.com.au

64

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

www.kickbrick.com.au

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! Mornington Peninsula’s most popular and largest indoor play centre and cafe. Large regular customer base. Under the stewardship of its current owners, the centre has developed an outstanding reputation for service quality.

• Largest dedicated toddler zone of all play centres on The Peninsula • 90+ seat cafe with plenty of room for prams • Open space for children to run • Solid future party bookings • Scope to extend trading hours, open the centre for even more after-hours functions, introduce additional activities, put your own stamp on the business • An exciting opportunity for someone to walk into a quality business

Peninsula Endermologie is a home-based clinic that offers a safe, affordable and proven solution to cellulite. Endermologie is a 100% natural, scientifically proven and non-invasive treatment to improve circulation (blood & lymphatic), reinvigorate skin tone, reduce cellulite & assist with body re-contouring.

Endermologie is used by almost 200,000 people every day & is considered the number one cellulite treatment worldwide.

It also offers relief of minor muscle aches & DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) as well as circulatory conditions such as fibromyalgia, lymphoedema & scleroderma.

Call now for a free consultation: 0434 946 209 www.peninsulaendermologie.com 120 Humphries Road, Mt Eliza

For confidential discussions

please call 0450 079 482

Make your next party really STAND OUT with one of our stunning lolly buffets

Whether it be for a birthday, christening, corporate function, wedding or any special occasion, make your event something special with our lolly and dessert buffets.

We can complement your theme with colourful satin cloths, moss animals, mirrors, bunting, birdcages, candles and plenty of other items including beautiful, quality apothecary jars, cocktail jars, tiered cake stands, dessert stands and so much more.

Call us for a quote on 59780963 to customise your lolly buffet or visit our website to get some fun ideas www.diylollybuffet.com.au.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

65

Celebrate

Party

66

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

www.peninsulakids.com.au

67

CREDITS Chakoda Design Unique Themed Rentals & Event Design www.chakodadesign.com

Custom Labels www.icustomlabel.com

Ideas for a Shopkins Party * Use characters and their names to label party foods. For example: Miss Twist for liquorice, Kooky Cookie for cookies, Pretz-elle for your bowl of pretzels, Poppy Corn for popcorn, Strawberry Kiss. * Wishes is a birthday cake shaped Shopkin. It’s a great idea for a round cake or a game of ‘pin the candle on Wishes’. * Inexpensive bottles of nail polish with their labels removed can be great party favours.

Just draw Polly Polish’s winking face on with a texta. * There are lots of great Shopkins colouring in pages on line. Print out a few and have a competition. * The main colours in the SHopkins logo are purple, pink, green, yellow and blue. Go with these for streamers and balloons to complete your Shopkins vibe.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

TOURING AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2016

Competitors subject to change. © 2016 Feld Entertainment, Inc.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

71

PENINSULA KIDS

2 FOR 1

LASER TAG OFFER Redeem This Voucher At Reception

25 Oliphant Way, Seaford (03) 8770 3900 www.gravity-zone.com.au

72

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

dz

party

PLANNING

Ingrid’s Face Painting

Let Ingrid’s Face Painting dazzle your guests at your next birthday party or corporate event.

Call 0419 102 911 www.ingridsfacepainting.com

Sweetest Intentions

Kids Ahoy

For quality handmade cakes, for any occasion.

Nicole Badenhop M: 0405 328 695 www.facebook.com/s.intentions Based in Mornington

Childrens Indoor Play Centre Factory 4,1 Watt Road Mornington.

P: 5975 2080 www.kidsahoy.com.au

kidz TOWN

the

NEW

Fashion ROOM

pVENUE arty Melbourne Madness

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

M: 0411 957 185 or www.melbournemadness.net

Kidztown

DISCO ROOM Movie Room

Mini-Tradies

GIRLSTOWN

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

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

2 Sisters Art Anarchy Craft parties and workshops for kids of all ages!

Melissa M: 0425 867 919 www.facebook.com/2sistersartanarchy www.artanarchy.com.au

Your complete guide to party entertainers & suppliers peninsulakids.com.au/parties www.peninsulakids.com.au

73

Pregnancy & Baby

CONS IS LOVI TENT N CARE G RESPOND WITH Y N E S SITIVIT

'AP'

NURT UR TOUC ING H

ATTACHMENT PARENTING WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

FE WITH ED LOVE & RESPE CT

BIRTH & TING PAREN

BY PINKY MCKAY

A

ttachment parenting or ‘AP’ as it’s often referred to by more devout proponents, is a label that can arouse strong emotions and create divisions among mothers. For some, it conjures up visions of latter day hippies with bare bottomed babies strapped to their bodies around the clock and seems too ‘out there’ to contemplate. For others, it can seem like an ideal that would be lovely but is just too hard to live up to in this space age world with so many demands on mothers and not enough loving arms to share the load.

Attachment parenting was given its name by US paediatrician William Sears who is renowned for his advocacy of responsive parenting and support of practices that encourage bonding and attachment such as natural birth, breastfeeding, baby wearing and co-sleeping. The essence of Attachment Parenting is about forming and nurturing strong connections between parents and their children through kindness, respect and dignity. Recommendations are based on the psychology of attachment theory and also recent brain research showing that early responsiveness to infant needs has positive lifelong effects on social and emotional development. And, although parents who practice the philosophy of attachment parenting may also embrace practices such as elimination communication (nappy free babies), cloth nappies and home schooling, these options are personal choices, rather than a prerequisite for bonding with your baby.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

THE PRINCIPLES OF ATTACHMENT PARENTING There is no one-size –fits- all recipe for an attached (or any other) parenting style and there is no perfect score for aspiring attachment parents: having birth interventions or not breastfeeding, for instance, doesn’t exclude you from being a responsive, loving parent. The organisation, Attachment Parenting International (www. attachmentparenting.org), offers eight principles to help parents understand and identify their children’s needs so they can become attuned and respond to their littlies with respect and empathy. These guidelines can be adapted to many family situations and range from preparing for pregnancy, birth and parenting to practising positive, non -violent discipline .

PREPARATION FOR PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND PARENTING Although there is a huge influence to get caught up in the material preparation for parenting – planning the nursery, buying baby gear and cute little clothes – it’s important to prepare physically for pregnancy – eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly and avoid stress when possible -and to educate yourself about birth options and parenting philosophies as well as normal infant development. Explore your own beliefs about parenting and set up support networks so that you and your partner can create a peaceful, welcoming environment for your baby.

FEED WITH LOVE AND RESPECT Feeding babies and children is more than simply providing nutritious food. Whether you are meeting the intense hunger needs of a newborn or sharing family mealtimes, this is a time for loving interaction that strengthens connections between parents and littlies: by respecting

and responding to your baby’s early cues of rooting, grimacing and sucking that show he needs to suck for food or comfort, you will get to know your baby at an intuitive level, without wondering ‘what kind of cry is that?’ Later, this will transfer to offering healthy foods as your baby signals he is ready and, as he grows, encouraging him to follow his own body signals for hunger and thirst.

Attachment Parenting International advises that breast feeding satisfies an infant’s nutritional and emotional needs better than any other method of infant feeding and that nursing is a valuable mothering tool that continues to be normal and important nutritionally, immunologically, and emotionally beyond one year. They also make recommendations for mothers who aren’t breastfeeding to ‘bottle nurse’ by imitating breastfeeding behaviours such as changing sides during feeds and holding your baby while they suck on the bottle or dummy.

RESPOND WITH SENSITIVITY Although there is a lot of pressure to ‘train’ even tiny babies to self soothe or to avoid ‘spoiling’, research shows that baby brains are immature so babies are unable to soothe themselves or to manipulate you. By putting yourself in your baby’s bootees and responding sensitively to his needs, you are teaching him about trust and empathy and laying a foundation for healthy relationships. It is normal for newborns to need almost constant holding but the upside is that, by keeping your baby close, you will become attuned to her early signals.

This will mean less frustration and distress for both of you as your little one feels safe and secure. Creating a strong attachment to your baby means not only meeting his physical needs but also his emotional needs so it’s important to spend time playing and enjoying him too.

ENSURE SAFE SLEEP, PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY Attachment is a 24 hour process that doesn’t shut down when your baby sleeps. Your baby needs to have his needs met responsively at night time just as he does during the day. The easiest way to meet your baby’s night time needs is to share sleep with your baby. This will also support breastfeeding by increasing your milk supply and making night time feeds easier.

You can either ‘co-sleep’ with baby next to your bed (check out the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper) or, as long as you and your partner follow safe sleep guidelines, bed sharing is a lovely way to stay connected with your baby while he or she sleeps.

PROVIDE CONSISTENT LOVING CARE According to Attachment Parenting International, babies and young children have an intense need for the physical presence of a consistent, loving, responsive caregiver: ideally a parent. They advocate creating daily routines that include your baby and avoiding unnecessary or long separations. If neither parent can be a full time carer, it is important to choose a loving, responsive carer who can form a close bond with your child and that you reconnect with cuddles and play after separations from your little one.

USE NURTURING TOUCH Nurturing touch is as important a nutrient for your baby’s wellbeing as food: touch stimulates growth hormones, improves intellectual and motor development, and helps regulate babies’ temperature, heart rate, and sleep/wake patterns. There is also strong evidence that cultures with high rates of physical affection, touch, holding or carrying, rate low in adult physical violence.

You can incorporate loving touch and meet your baby’s need for physical contact, affection, security, stimulation and movement by ‘wearing’ him in a sling or wrap, cuddling skin to skin, bathing together and massaging your baby.

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

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

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HERE AT JUMP!

SOMERVILLE

Australian Mum's attitudes towards experience with breastfeeding and sourcing advice Do mums feel Have you ever or are you currently breastfeeding?

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pressured to breastfeed?

NO

YES

NO 52% 48% • Private, custom built facility, designed to Have or YES 6% you ever 72% create the perfect learn to swim environment are you currently N/A *pregnant with first child 22%* • Maximum of 6 in our parent/child classes breastfeeding?

Why did you Challenges faced by Breastfeeding NO choose to breastfeed?

• Maximum of 4 in our teacher/child classes Top Mums #1 reason were the health benefits for YES 6% Baby & Mum (89.4%) • Maximum of 2 classes running at any one time 72% 1. Too little/ too much milk Followed by..

Classes start from 3 months, and continue 2. Sore Nipples • Facilitates bonding (4.3%) 3. Engorgement and Mastitis *pregnant with first child • Convenience (2.1%) to pre-squad level • Caring, Austswim qualified staff Where do mums turn to for pregnancy, Why do mums Do breastfeeding newborn and baby advice? pump? mums use a • A personalised approach to teaching, focused Top Challenges faced

by Breastfeeding breast pump?

Most popular resources, in order of popularity: • Store milk for NO 1.

Midwife/ Doctor on building a great rapport with your child Mums future use (29.3%) 8%

•

Improve milk supply (21.5%) Include partner in feeding (13.5%)

2. Online Communities/ Websites/ Apps/ Downloadable tools 3. Mum/ friend

1. Too little/ too much milk JUMP! was founded with a specific purpose; to • create a better opportunity for babies, infants and 2.

Sore Nipples YES Why is sourcing information online or 92% children to learn the basics of swimming in a clean, 3. Engorgement and viaMastitis apps so popular? modern and private indoor facility away from #1 benefit of sourcing information online or the crowds of the bigger centres. Combine this via Apps was the ability of having 24/7 access (68%) with small class sizes, warm water and a teaching Why don’t mums breastfeed? by..

Do breastfeeding FollowedWhy do mums program supported by our 3 pillared teaching There are a range of reasons why mums don’t • Having expert advice at your fingertips (9.4%) mums use a pump? breastfeed, the highest rated from the mums philosophy of Prepare, Instruct, Praise, and you see • Connecting with like-minded people (9.2%) YES surveyed are: 48% pump? the removal of many obstacles and what makes • Not enoughbreast milk • Store milk for NO JUMP! so successful. JUMP! Somerville is owned • Health Issues future use (29.3%) and operated by Caz and Evan Russell. Combined• Flat or inverted nipples8% • Improve milk they have over 25 years experience in the aquatic supply (21.5%) industry; from infant, pre school and school aged #medelaAu•#myMedela instruction to national squad level coaching.

Include partner in We are committed and passionate to providing feeding (13.5%) qualityand enjoyable swimming instruction to YES 92% children of all ages and abilities.

About Medela:

Medela provides breastfeeding mums, families and communities with the leading breastfeeding products, expert insights, and ongoing research and education to support the breastfeeding journey. Medela Australia have now launched MyMedela, a personal digital companion, providing practical advice, tips and tricks from experts on pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

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Medela Australia commissioned a survey with over 4000 respondents. The survey was an insight into Australian Mums attitudes towards support networks and sourcing parenting information. © Medela Australia

Why don’t mums breastfeed?

There are a range of reasons why mums don’t breastfeed, the highest rated from the mums YES surveyed are: 48% • Not enough milk • Health Issues • Flat or inverted nipples

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CONTACT US FOR A FREE TRIAL TODAY! Address: 1/50 Guelph Street, Somerville Phone: 5977 8852 Email: somerville@jumpswimschools.com.au Facebook: Jump Swim School Somerville 76

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

#me

Medela Australia commissioned a survey with over 4000 respondents. The survey was an insight into Australian Mums attitudes towards support networks and sourcing parenting information. © Medela Australia

OVERPORT

PARK

PLAYGROUND BY: LORRAINE AITKEN

O

ne playground that has escaped my attention until recently is the newly revamped Overport Park Playground located off Somerset Road, Frankston South.

Admittedly we managed to miss the playground on the first attempt as we thought it was accessible by the carpark adjacent to the ovals on Overport Rd. However, after a short stroll around the back of the ovals and past the tennis courts we came to what appeared to be a dead end with only an old brick driveway entrance, a mature avenue of pine trees and some large gum trees in sight. So, after a quick consult with google maps we found that we were less than 50 metres away from the playground, yet it was still not visible and the children were getting grumpy. So we quickly decided on a change of plan, get back in the car and after making two right hand turns we accessed the playground via the Somerset Rd car park.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Toucan Kiddy Ring $34.95 enchanted child www.enchantedchild.com.au

As it turns out the brick driveway entrance was in fact the remains of an old homestead that was formerly on the park site and yes, embarrassingly, we were only on the wrong side of the driveway entrance. Luckily for us, all was quickly forgotten and the frowns soon turned back upside down as the kids gained sight of the playground.

They raced towards the playground only waiting for us to catch up so that we could open the childproof gate to let them in.

It’s definitely a good sign when my kids run towards the play equipment and not just straight for the swings. The playground design was inspired by the history of the site and has utilised the vertical nature of the surrounds with high platforms and slightly challenging climbs for the younger ones, especially on the taller of the two main play structures.

This has a double slide on one side, a rock climbing wall with assistance ropes, a “fast bumpy slide” on the end, a fire man’s pole, two ladders and a bridge connecting it all. This structure I would say is most suited for ages 4-8 years old.

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The smaller structure consists of wooden stairs, a tunnel, a moving wooden bridge, two slides, a ladder and a small cubby/shop underneath the main platform. In the surrounding playground space there’s a green tractor, a spring rocker in the form of a double yellow buzzy bee and a purple dinosaur, a spinner, monkey bars a metal chain link balance bridge and 4 swings (two of which are for toddlers).

While the playground equipment is fairly standard and not unlike many others on the Peninsula, the park does offer nicely landscaped grounds with deciduous trees in raised timber planter boxes with some rosemary and other herbs planted at the base of the trees. There’s a lovely outlook from the park out towards the bay, nice timber picnic tables that I’m sure will be well utilised in the warmer months for picnics and art activities although they are positioned in the full sun so the nearby shaded bench seating located next to the swings may be the best option on warm days.

Facilities include a small toilet block, a shared sealed car park with the Frankston Theatre Group, a fully enclosed playground with safety gates,

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a leash free area to the side of the playground, two ovals, tennis courts which can be hired by the hour and a bushland area on the eastern side of the reserve that can be accessed by a walking trail from St.Ives Ave. Interestingly, Overport Park playground is not very well advertised and I almost feel a touch of guilt for giving out the local’s ‘secret playground’ because it’s a lovely spot that is well cared for, welcoming and frequented mostly by families within walking distance to the park, however in saying that, the locals we did meet there were lovely and our children were all sharing toys and I’m sure they would want you and your family to enjoy this great playground too.

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Making Dinner Time

EASY BY: EMILY DUPUCHE

F

or many parents the thought of mealtimes with a baby or toddler can be quite overwhelming and for some, it can be a real battle.

A battle with your 8 month old baby is soul destroying as is the worry about food intake and the impact this may have on sleep!

There are some common mistakes that parents seem to make which can all lead to meal times spiraling out of control and, worse still, the creation of a stubborn fussy eater.

Over the years I’ve identified the common mistakes that parents make and have come up with these tips to reclaim meal times and ease the sense of overwhelm. Remember, it’s Mum and Dad who are the bosses.

MEAL PLAN AND FREEZE

•TV always off, no phones, iPads or toys on the table

Meal planning at the start of the week allows you to manage the variety of meals and snacks in your child’s diet. Do one cook up, portion and freeze. This takes the stress and effort out of meal times and you are less likely to be dealing with an overtired child.

•Always sit with your kids regardless of whether you are eating or not These sorts of things are all about setting the foundations for family meal times.

DON’T OFFER CHOICES AND LIMIT SNACKING

DON’T USE SQUEEZE POUCHES

If your child refuses to eat what you serve (always make sure you serve a good variety) then DO NOT bring them anything else. This is teaching them bad habits and setting you up for years of frustration and wasted meals. Children are canny and they quickly learn to play you, holding out for their favourite food. You must be strong and let them know the meal is the meal and there will be nothing else. Kids wont starve themselves; if they are hungry they will eat.

Squeezies are bad no matter how Organic or Natural the ingredients are. To enable them to be shelf stable, they go through a process of extreme heat and pressure to KILL any bacteria. This same process kills the nutritional value. They are high in sugars and use stabilisers to set them. And they taste really foul.

SET MEAL TIME PARAMETERS AND BOUNDARIES Having a set structure around meal-time is really important in developing your child’s confidence and sense of self. Like with most things, kids who know what to expect are happier and more relaxed.

Set some rules around meal times and stick to them. For example; •Meals are always in a high chair 80

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Solids is the time for children to learn to taste, chew and enjoy food.

Squeezies offer no sensory stimulation; babies do not see, smell or touch the food. They are teaching kids that food comes from a packet, not from fresh ingredients lovingly prepared in the kitchen. There is an overwhelming array of these pouches all making nutritional claims such as natural and organic misleading parents into thinking they are healthy.

If you need a convenient readymade solution to meal times, try an allnatural, preservative free range of fresh meals for babies and toddlers such as Fresh Pots. Found at a grocery store near you. www.foodbabieslove.com.au

SERVE DELICIOUS FOOD Babies (and toddlers, in fact all of us) like food with flavour. It is a massive misconception that babies like or need bland food. Cook with flavour and love, and you will be rewarded with a happy eater. Serve bland boring and repetitive food and your child will start to refuse it.

TOO MANY TREATS AND TOO MUCH SUGAR Everyone loves a treat. But they need to be clearly labeled as ‘Sometimes Food’ and not offered every day. Your child will very quickly develop a preference for sweet (or salty) foods that can lead to a lifelong love affair that is difficult to break. Help them by limiting it from the outset. Ways to help avoid too much sugar in every day life:

GIVEAWAY

*Head to page 97 for competition details

•Serve porridge and homemade muesli over packaged cereal products •Only buy natural whole milk yogurt. Skim milk products and kid branded tubs and pouches have enormous amounts of sugar in them •Bake your own muffins and biscuits, controlling the amount of sugar you put in.

•Follow the rule that if it’s in ‘mini packets’ it’s probably got lots of sugar or salt, two nasties for our kids.

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FOLLOWING THESE PRACTICAL TIPS WILL HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD AND KEEP THINGS CALMER FOR YOU. Emily is a Melbourne mum of three and author of the hugely successful Aussie best seller Food Babies Love Guide. She has always loved food & cooking and had great fun introducing her twins to solids. She knew many parents found this phase of parenting challenging and there was a need for a practical and simple guide.

Combining her love of food with practical advice saw the creation of her popular baby food guide. It was then a natural progression to offer a better alternative of convenient food and launch her own range of FRESH Food Babies Love Fresh Pots. www.peninsulakids.com.au

81

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education

BUILDING A ROBUST VOCABULARY IN

BY: SUSAN CAHILL

The how and why!

CHILDREN

Y

our two year old is tired, you are ready for bed yourself, reaching for a bedtime story you ease into a relaxed mode knowing that you are only a short story away from putting your feet up. These next few minutes are the time you can be gently beginning to build your child’s vocabulary.

A great vocabulary is one of the building blocks of reading success. You know as an adult it can define an educated person, allow precision of expression and richness of humour. Building your child’s vocabulary is a gift that you can bestow on your child before they reach school.

Children from homes rich in language have twice the vocabulary of those from language-poor homes by the time they are in their first year at school. It is an amazing fact that children’s vocabularies double between the ages of three and seven. Children with poor vocabularies will often learn to read at a normal rate in the early years of primary school. They often flounder in the middle years as they encounter texts with more complex language and struggle to understand what they read.

Research points to the average two year old having a vocabulary of 300 words, by four years of age this leaps to 5,000 words. This doubles to 10,000 words by the age of eight and doubles again for educated adult native speakers who have a vocabulary of between 20,000 and 35,000 words.

Which brings us back to the bedtime story. Bedtime stories are the best place to find vocabulary to teach your child. Choose one or two words that might be new to your child and as you read the story stop to explain them. The best words will be ones your child will be able to use in their everyday life. If the rabbit nibbled on his carrot explain to your child that nibbled means to take little bites. Then keep reading. The next day, perhaps as your child is slowly eating their breakfast use the word nibbled again.

“You are certainly nibbling at your toast this morning!”

Later in the day you might find a leaf in the garden chewed by caterpillars. Point out the nibbled leaf to your child and ask: “Can we find some more leaves that have been nibbled?”

Research has shown that when words are followed up for three days after they have been introduced the gains are doubled when compared to just talking about them once.

Building your child’s vocabulary is an ongoing activity; when your child is young they will soak up new words quickly. Bedtime stories and building vocabulary should continue for the duration of your child’s time in primary school.

As your child moves to secondary college you can continue to build their vocabulary by presenting your child with unfamiliar vocabulary from other sources such newspaper articles and books they read for themselves. The same basics continue to apply, follow up on the same word for at least three days.

Building a great vocabulary is a lifelong task. Creating a love of words is a gift your child will use forever.

Susan is Vice Principal - Moorooduc Primary school.

IS MY CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL? BY: MANDY WHITWORTH

A typical Prep class can have children whose ages range from four to six years, so how do you know if your child is ready for school?

All parents want to make sure that their child makes a successful start to school, here are

5 things you should consider: 1. Education is about nurturing and developing the whole child.

A young child needs the time to develop, play, create and wonder in a relatively stress-free environment in their early years of life. Prep can be emotionally, physically and mentally demanding even for the most school-ready child.

2. Is school readiness about being able to read, write or count?

No. These abilities are not necessarily a priority for school readiness. You will know when your child is ready to start learning more about numbers, letters and words when they become interested and start asking you questions about each of these things but school readiness is more closely linked to other factors.

84

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

3. Emotional and social maturity is important for school readiness.

When children start school we want them to thrive, flourish and enjoy the challenges they are presented. You can consider your child’s emotional and social maturity, through looking at their ability to: •deal with separation •show initiative •demonstrate interest •play alongside others •concentrate •deal with frustration •follow instructions •express needs •demonstrate self-help skills, and •participate in small groups.

4. Parental expectations.

It is important that parents discuss their expectations for their child’s first year at school.

These thoughts will help you decide whether your child is ready to embark on the start of their official schooling. Parental expectations play a huge role in the success of a child’s journey throughout every year of schooling so make sure that you are on the same page as your school of choice with expectations.

things you should consider 5. There is no long term research that shows disadvantages in either starting school a little older or younger.

The trend of considering if a child has the necessary social and emotional skills to start school is a sensible one; it is a significant shift from the days when it was assumed that all children would be ready at the same time.

Consult your child’s preschool teacher to help you make a more informed and considered decision about whether your child is ready to start school.

Remember, your child is going to be at school for a long time. Make the decision that is right for them to ensure they are given a flying start!

Mandy has been the Head of Wardle House, the Junior School at Toorak College in Mount Eliza, since 2013. Prior to that she was the Deputy and Curriculum leader. Mandy has over 30 years’ experience in various Primary schools, with particular expertise in the early years of schooling.

LEAR RN NM MO ORREE. .

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, WE BELIEVE THAT GREAT EDUCATION IS MORE THAN

AT , WE BELIEVE THAT GREAT EDUCATION IS MORE THAN JUST AN EXCELLENT ACADEMIC PREPARATION FOR THE FUTURE. JUST EXCELLENT ACADEMIC PREPARATION FUTURE. Great AN education builds resilience and resourcefulness – the ability toFOR find aTHE way, to struggle and achieve.

It gives students builds the confidence toand pushresourcefulness their own limits–– the to take on to andfind conquer challenges.

Great education resilience ability a way,new to struggle and achieve.

ItGreat gives education students the confidence to push their own limits – to take on and conquer new challenges. is creative. It is collaborative. It is hard work for just reward. It has balance and perspective, nurtures self-worth and instils desire to contribute make Great education is creative.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

W

e want you and your children to enjoy good quality toys.

Toys that bring back happy childhood memories. Toys like, Spinning Tops, Jack in The Boxes, Kaleidoscopes, Pop Guns, or Just a Bag of Wooden Blocks.

We want your toys to last and to give you smiles and happiness every time you play with them. We hope that some of our toys will encourage Mum and Dad and Nan and Pop to play and laugh together and most of all we hope that you remember where you got your toys and keep coming back for more.

Toys are more than simple amusement, they and the ways that they are used, profoundly influence many aspects of life. Like play itself, toys serve multiple purposes in humans. They provide entertainment while fulfilling an educational role.

Toys enhance cognitive behavior and stimulate creativity. They aid in the development of physical and mental skills which are necessary in later life. Toys positively impact the physical development, cognitive development, emotional development, and social development of children.

Come and visit us at the Toy Workshop in Sorrento and see our wonderful toys. If you’re a visitor to the Mornington Peninsula, we freight Australia-wide with amazing courier fees. We can also arrange to get any products to our other two stores at Hawthorn or Berwick for free pick up as well.

Come and visit us there and enjoy a truly wonderful shopping experience.

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87

Dance

SPARKING

A PASSION FOR

BY: MELISSA WALSH

W

hen Alexandra Dellaportas started dancing at two little did Growing up at home, Alex and her two siblings have been surrounded she know it would culminate into a life-long passion for the by creativity and music. “”Mum is a Salvo so we all grew up around the Salvo music, and then Rosebud dancer, writer and choreographer.

At just 18 years of age, and with a passion for dance, Alex has already started her own dance company on the Mornington Peninsula and is delighted with the reaction she has received.

of course dad with his photography, art, and his music has been a huge inspiration,” said Alex, whose debut into dance started with her Grandma Elaine.

“After doing dance since I was little, I realized there were plenty of great dance schools but no companies so I decided to start Spark Youth Dance Company,” said Alex, who started thinking seriously about it during year 12 last year. “I was very preoccupied with my studies but needed something to take my mind off the ATAR score and pressure so thought of this. I wanted the year to be about something else and so made up the slogan ‘Dance is Life’, realizing that I do have a real passion for it which continued to be inspired when I saw the magical performances of companies like The Australian Ballet.”

“Grandma was determined one of us would be a dancer. She had taken mum to classes when she was young but she wasn’t into it. So she took me. At just two I wasn’t supposed to really join in but I loved it and they let me,” said Alex with a laugh. “Originally that was with Miss Anita’s Ballet School which then became Dwan-A-Dance in Dromana.”

Admitting that she tends to take on a lot of projects, Alex says that the seed was planted last year and all she had to do was wait for the perfect time to set it up.

“I knew that I wanted to do it especially after I’d finished exams and worked at the Cabaret Cathedral over the summer. I loved being around the performers and in that environment and thought ‘I can create this too but for young people,” she said.

So, with the backing of her accountant mum and her artistic and creative dad, Alex worked out a plan.

“Mum was great and helped me figure out costs and the practical side of things so we knew what we would be up for. And dad also continues to help with the photography and creating promo videos.”

Spark Youth Dance Company will be performing a contemporary version of The Nutcracker in September at the Frankston Arts Centre, and rehearsals are well under way.

“I decided to combine my history knowledge with love of dance and created a version of The Nutcracker which is set in WW1. The story is about propaganda, with the father a solider in the war who sends his daughter a doll, the nutcracker, for Christmas. After there is a big explosion hear her house she passes out and has a dream. So it has all the similarities of the original with a different twist,” said Alex, who is incidentally studying dance and history at university this year. “We are still using the Tchaikovsky music of course but adding our own flavour.”

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Seeing The Australian Ballet for the first time in year eight, Alex knew she was hooked.

“It was Romeo and Juliet and I didn’t even know it was possible to have such incredible art in dance. I fell in love with the idea that you can tell a story with your movements. It is a universal thing.”

Now, six years on, Alex not only has her own dance company; she has also managed to get a special guest to be the nutcracker.

“One of the most exciting things is we have professional dancer Daniel Gaudiello, dancing as our nutcracker,” said Alex.

Within 12 months, Alex Dellaportas has created a youth dance company that has 28 dancers and a special guest artist, with a booked venue in September, and all from something that was sparked from her love of dance.

“I love the story telling, and movement is such a human thing as everyone moves. It is such a beautiful thing when you can tell a story without words, and to be able to offer the youth of the Peninsula and surrounds a place to perform is fantastic. As a young person myself I have always wanted a performance opportunity and now I am able to give it to others. I am also hoping it is a stepping stone for young people who may have an interest in choreography, costume and set design and organizing productions. I want it to ‘spark’ the passions of other young people.”

Spark Youth Dance Company Inc is a not for profit dance company, designed by youth for youth under 25. They will be performing The Nutcracker on September 22 and 23 at the Frankston Arts Centre. www.sparkyouthdance.com.au

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During the most precious years when your child learns easily

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

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Recipes

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

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

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

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

www.peninsulakids.com.au

91

Greek Beef and Vegetable Stack

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

2 red capsicums, thick strips 2 yellow capsicums, thick strips 2 red onions, wedges 2 zucchini, thick slices 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved 2 garlic cloves still in skin salt and pepper 1–2 tablespoons olive oil 250 g haloumi, 1 cm thick slices 600 g cooked roast beef, 1 cm thick slices

Sauce

4 tablespoons Greek yoghurt 2 tablespoons mint sauce 1–2 roasted garlic cloves, mashed 1 large handful mint, chopped (optional)

Method 1. Preheat oven to 200C. Coat capsicum, onion, zucchini and tomatoes in olive oil and arrange together with the garlic cloves on a large baking tray (you may need two trays). 2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until tender but not too soft (about 20 minutes). Remove from oven.

3. Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat. Toss haloumi pieces in the oil and cook for 1 minute each side until golden brown.

4. Take the roasted garlic from the oven tray, cut the top off and squeeze out the garlic. Mash it with the back of the knife or chop it and mix with sauce ingredients in a separate bowl. Taste and adjust to your liking.

5. Lay a slice of beef on each plate and arrange vegetables and haloumi in a stack on top.

6. Drizzle with yoghurt sauce.

TIP TO COAT THE VEGETABLES, I LIKE TO PUT THEM IN A PLASTIC BAG WITH THE OIL SO THEY GET COATED EVENLY.

An amazing combination of Mediterranean flavours and vibrant colours. The beef can be heated if you prefer, but it is just as nice cold. The haloumi adds a strong, salty contrast to the soft subtle flavours of the vegetables.

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This is a recipe my husband cooked in his bachelor days and is a bit of fun, but can make a mess of the barbecue. He still loves to cook it now for the kids, even though his bachelor days are long gone. Dial the heat up or down by increasing or decreasing the chilli.

Barbecue Noodles

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

250 g wide egg noodles 2 tablespoons olive oil 20 green prawns, peeled and deveined 1 long red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped (optional) 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ½ tablespoon finely chopped ginger 1 large or 2 small bok choy, chopped 4 spring onions, sliced 50 g snow peas, cut on diagonal 1 red capsicum, sliced 250 g bean shoots 1 handful coriander, chopped

Teriyaki sauce

3 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons mirin 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce 2 cm piece ginger, sliced thickly 1 garlic clove, sliced thickly

Method

1. Cook noodles according to the packet instructions, but remove 2 minutes prior to the required time so they are slightly undercooked (about 6–8 minutes).

2. Combine all teriyaki sauce ingredients in a saucepan, bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove garlic and ginger pieces and allow to cool slightly.

3. On a barbecue hotplate, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and cook prawns with half of the chopped chilli, garlic and ginger for 3–4 minutes until the prawns change colour. Remove from hotplate and set aside.

4. Add another tablespoon of oil to hotplate and cook remaining chilli, garlic and ginger together with chopped bok choy, spring onion, snow peas and capsicum. Cook until vegetables soften. Add cooked noodles with half teriyaki sauce, mixing until heated through.

5. Remove noodles and vegetables from barbecue and toss in a large serving bowl with prawns, remaining teriyaki sauce and bean shoots. Sprinkle with coriander leaves and serve. www.peninsulakids.com.au

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TIP

FOR A REALLY QUICK MEAL, USE A TIN OF TUNA AND ANY EXTRA BEANS FROM SUNDAY’S ROAST.

Tuna Niçoise

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 7 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Serve: 4 Ingredients

400 g tuna steaks 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 eggs 100 g green beans, cut into 2 cm lengths 4 handfuls mixed lettuce 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved 50 g kalamata olives, halved ½ red onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon baby capers 1 handful basil leaves, chopped (optional)

Dressing

½ tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 6 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, crushed salt and pepper

Method 1. Oil the tuna steaks. Barbecue or fry on high for 1 minute each side. Set aside to rest. I prefer the tuna to be rare with a lot of red inside, but cook for longer if you like. It will continue to cook once you remove it from the heat, so don’t overdo it.

2. Boil eggs for 3 minutes until softly boiled. Drain,allow to cool, then peel and quarter. Use the same pot to blanch the beans. Cook beans for 2 minutes in boiling water. Drain and fill pot with cold water (helps to stop the beans cooking). Drain again. If you want to be really tricky, you can throw the beans in the pot with the boiling eggs and cook both at the same time.

3. Thinly slice the tuna across the grain. Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onion, beans and tuna on a large platter.

4. o make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar until combined.

Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour over salad.

5. Top with eggs, capers and chopped basil.

This is one of my favourite summer meals. As a poor student travelling in Europe, I remember sitting in a Paris sidewalk restaurant eating this dish and thinking I was in Heaven. I am not sure if it was the flavours or the ambience, but I absolutely love this salad and I hope you do too. And if you happen to have a leftover roasted garlic bulb, use that in the dressing. Magnifique! Bon appetite.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Moroccan Lamb

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients

½ butternut pumpkin, cubed 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1½ cups chicken stock 6 teaspoons harissa 10 prunes, chopped 1 cup couscous 2 whole roasted red peppers, sliced ½ red onion, finely sliced 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves 400 g cooked lamb, warm 1 handful pine nuts, toasted plain yoghurt to serve (optional) Dressing 3 tablespoons orange juice 6 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons white condiment (white balsamic vinegar)

TIP USING LEFTOVER ROAST PUMPKIN WILL HAVE THIS ON THE TABLE IN TEN MINUTES. + FOR A GLUTEN-FREE OPTION REPLACE COUSCOUS WITH QUINOA.

Method 1. Preheat oven to 200C. Coat pumpkin cubes with oil (I like to put them in a plastic bag with the oil so they get coated evenly), place on a roasting tray and sprinkle with cumin.

Roast for 20 minutes, until brown and cooked through.

2. Boil chicken stock in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add harissa, prunes and couscous. Mix then cover with lid for 5 minutes. If after 5 minutes the couscous is very dry, add a small amount of boiling water and cover for another few minutes.

3. In a salad bowl, mix the dressing ingredients, then add sliced capsicum, red onion, spinach leaves, roast pumpkin and warm lamb. Fluff the couscous with a fork and toss in the bowl with the vegetables and lamb. Mix gently.

4. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and serve topped with a spoonful of plain yoghurt.

Your family and friends will enjoy the amazing flavours in this Moroccan inspired dish. The fruits and spices create a delicious combination that is sweet and tasty but not too spicy. Substitute dried apricots for prunes if you prefer.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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TIP

FOR EXTRA FLAVOUR, TOSS THE FISH CAKES IN SESAME SEEDS BEFORE FRYING.

Fish Cakes

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Serve: 4 Ingredients

½ bunch coriander, stems and leaves ½ tablespoon chopped ginger 2 spring onions, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 lemongrass stem, chopped 3 tablespoons chilli jam or sweet chilli sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce 800 g salmon or firm white fish 100 g green beans, finely chopped coconut oil 2 Lebanese cucumbers, ribbons ½ tablespoon sesame oil or mirin sweet chilli sauce to serve lime wedges to serve

Method 1. Separate coriander leaves and stems and wash well. Retain leaves for serving. Place the ginger, spring onion, coriander stems, garlic and lemongrass in a food processor and blend until ingredients are finely chopped. Add chilli jam and fish sauce and blend again until the mixture becomes a smooth paste. Add the fish and pulse until combined into a fine mince.

2. Stir in green beans and, using a tablespoon to measure, shape fish cakes using wet hands. Heat coconut oil in a frying pan over medium–high heat, then shallow fry in batches, cooking for 2 minutes each side or until cooked through.

3. Remove from frying pan and drain on paper towel.

In a bowl, toss cucumber ribbons with sesame oil or mirin (or a bit of both) and coriander leaves.

4. Serve fish cakes with the cucumber, sweet chilli sauce and wedges of lime.

Just the thought of these Asian inspired fish cakes makes my mouth water. They are so quick and easy to prepare, and served with fresh crisp cucumber make for a delightful summer meal. The kids love them too as they are not too spicy. If you prefer a stronger flavour, add a chopped fresh red chilli. Perfect for party finger food, but make sure you make a lot as they go fast.

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

TIP

KEEP YOUR GINGER IN THE FREEZER TO MAKE GRATING EASY. THIS MEANS YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE FRESH GINGER WHEN YOU NEED IT.

Five-Spice Chicken

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 45minutes Total time: 50 minutes Serve: 4 Ingredients

2 kg chicken drumsticks (10–12) or 4 chicken Marylands Marinade 1 tablespoon five-spice powder 3 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons sesame oil 3 tablespoons dry sherry or Chinese wine 2 garlic cloves, crushed Ÿ tablespoon grated ginger (optional)

Method 1. Preheat oven to 180C. 2. Place all marinade ingredients in a large baking dish and stir to combine. Add the chicken, tossing to coat. If you have time, allow chicken to marinate for 2 hours or more.

3. Place chicken in oven for 45 minutes and cook until the meat starts to pull away from the bone. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

4. This dish is great served with a Simple Green Salad.

This family recipe was a favourite when I was growing up and continues to be a favourite with my children. The marinade only takes a few minutes to put together. If you have the time, prepare ahead and allow the chicken to marinate all day or overnight.

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Health

Post Natal

DEPRESSION BY: JULIE COX

P

ost Natal Depression (PND) effects about 1 in 10 mothers and generally develops after the first 4 weeks of child birth. Regardless of whether you have PDN or not, I’m sure all mums will agree that becoming a parent is overwhelming.

Its the biggest and longest job we will ever do. It can be very daunting when you enter the first stages of it as its a job that comes with no hand book and we only hear about opinions and advice from those that may do things totally differently to us. Then there's opinions from those people we value and the thought of being able to do things as they would may seen impossible to us.

PDN is so common but has been unspoken about until recent yearsalmost like the old ‘sweep under the carpet’ way of dealing with things.

I think now that its more spoken about, it allows more mums to open up and chat about their feeling which helps. Its shows them that they aren’t the only ones feeling this way and that how they are feeling IS recognised. The tools and help they have on offer is outstanding these days and to have all medical and health centres and professionals onboard and on the same page, really speaks volumes as to how far our health system has come.

Entering mother hood brings a huge sense of mixed feelings. The feelings that determine if we have PND are really just magnified feelings of what most women feel when they become a mother. We are allowed to say how we feel and there are reasons behind these feelings, so they shouldn’t be pushed aside. Sometimes having PND 98

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

has actually got nothing to do with your baby; it can be triggered from past experiences you’ve encountered or if your partner suffer depressions If you have no family around for help or even if you have a previous mental health illness. It can even be triggered if you have been trying to have a baby for a long time or because of your financial situation. So many factors can play a part in PND. I have often joked and said to clients before that sleep deprivation was used as a form of torture back in the war days and we enter this new ‘job’ of being a mum with extreme lack of sleep. So of course its going too frazzle us mentally, emotionally and physically. I remember thinking when I was in labour (which is often described as running a marathon and it feels just that!!) that i now have to care for this little human and ensure that she stays alive, healthy and safe, and that I have no idea what I am doing and i just have to ‘wing it’ and do the best I can. Its totally daunting and now that I am a mother myself I can relate to mums out there on any level. Whether it something small or big, we are all relatable and emotions make us relatable.

Its important to remind yourself that you are doing a good job and that sometimes we may need some input in life. When you think about how long life is, going off track to get some input from professionals who have studied for years to help us in these situations really is a healthy thing. If you can be a better version of yourself then why wouldn’t you grab that opportunity? Asking for help from professionals or friends shows strength in you, not weakness.

LUCAS

PND SYMPTOMS: • Low mood. Tends to be worse first thing in the morning.

• Not really enjoying anything. Lack of interest in yourself and your baby.

• Lack of motivation to do anything.

• Often feeling tearful and highly sensitive to emotions.

• Feeling irritable and restless a lot of the time.

• Feelings of guilt, rejection, or not being good enough.

• Poor concentration.

• Feeling unable to cope with anything and the extreme feel of being overwhelmed on a daily basis.

PND TREATMENTS:

The treatment you will receive will depend on the severity of your depression and thoughts but just know that whatever you are feeling, there is help available for you. Its always best to speak with your GP or health nurse so they can professional determine whats best for you.

In extreme cases anti depressants can be prescribed and these generally take between 2-4 weeks to kick in. Social media forums are an amazing support form as well and helps you realise that these feelings you have are common and that you aren’t the only one feeling this way. Talking always helps so whether this be to your GP or family or friends.

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

SPEC IAL I ST

DENTAL CARE TRIC DENTISTS A I ED A P

134 TANTI AVENUE, MORNINGTON 3931

597 5 9334 Dr James Lucas Dr Caroline Howarth Dr Narisha Chawla Dr Daniel Cocker

lucas dental care proudly sponsors polyglot theatre

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99

flynn

BY: MICHELLE HAMER

I

loved Flynn the first moment I saw him.

We got a call earlier that morning to say he’d been born. We had no idea he was coming. His arrival was a complete surprise. My partner and I spent the next few days looking at each other in shock and trying to repeat the facts to ourselves.

He was a grandfather. I was…I had no idea.

Maybe a grandmother by proxy? After all, it was my partner’s daughter who gave birth, not one of my offspring. What was my position here I wondered. How would I fit in to this tiny little person’s life?

And then I met him. And I held him. And I cried at how beautiful and tiny and precious he was, and I knew I was his grandmother and that I would be in his life as much as he would let me as he grew.

He’s almost two-years-old now and the centre of our life on the days he comes to stay. He has a room in our home, drawers full of clothes, toys, books and teddies. There’s a highchair in our kitchen, a car seat in the Jeep and boats in the

bath. I’ve rocked him in the small hours of the morning when his teeth are breaking through, read him endless renditions of Where is the Green Sheep? watched him learn to sit, crawl, walk and now run. I’ve laughed at his antics and watched with wonder as he explores the world around him.

We share no blood at all. He has none of my DNA or features. I always wondered if I could love an adopted child as much as one of my own. And it turns out there’s not much difference in where a child comes from. It is sharing the moments that make up their lives, laughing with them, watching them grow and knowing you’ll always be there for them that makes a family.

I’m so proud to be Flynn’s nanny.

Michelle Hamer is a Mornington Peninsula author and journalist, she runs Wordsmiths Workshops, offering creative writing classes for children. wordsmithsworkshops.com.au

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

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101

THE UNIVITED

DIGESTIVE

GUEST BY: JACQUI KAVANAGH

G

astro. Even as I utter that filthy word, my nostrils are overwhelmed with that particular pungent, vile aroma of human bile; that lingering scent that no matter how many bottles of disinfectant or washing machine cycles, just won’t leave your clothes... or bedding.. or carpet.

Oh the joys of this extremely contagious virus, that slowly sweeps through your household. If you’re lucky, it’s gracious enough to spare one adult at a time; allowing for someone to be in charge of changing bedding multiple times- loading the washing machine at 3am, endlessly emptying vomit buckets and scraping splashbacks off the toilet walls.

Your tummy just churns thinking about it, right?

So what exactly is this horrid, uninvited-invader of your digestive system? And is there anything you can do to prevent it from taking up residency in your house?

There are many causes for glorious gastroenteritis (a short-term illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system) and these can be: viral, bacterial, chemical, parasites or from medication taken.

Whatever way you catch it, it is extremely contagious and you need to be vigilant in hygiene matters, in order not to pass it on to someone in your household.

However, in my experience with children and gastro, it is almost impossible to avoid when you are constantly covered in their vomit and their germy hands wanting to cling to you all night. Seeing your darling so sick, it’s pretty hard not to want to just hold their stinky little bodies until they’re all better.

SOME HANDY TIPS THAT MAY STOP YOU CATCHING IT, OR PASSING IT ON:

For at least 24 hours, Glen 20 will be your best friend. Other allies are anti-bacterial hand-wash, disinfectant detergent for your toilet and floors, re-hydrating drinks and icy-poles, and most importantly – a sturdy, large bucket that most likely won’t leave your side.

Wash your hands. Religiously.

It will usually clear up on its own after around 48 hours. Although, it is important to note that some cases can be more severe and require hospitalisation for intravenous fluid replacement. You may also want to see a doctor if your symptoms are still persisting after 48 hours, as you may need medication to help fight the bug.

Although gastro can strike at any time of the year, it is said to be more predominant during late winter and early spring.

Hopefully, you are lucky this spring, and your house won’t have a visit from this ghastly gastro guest!

102

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Use paper towel instead of sponges to prevent germs hanging around.

Clean the toilet door handles and taps regularly.

If travelling, remember to drink bottled water and clean your teeth with it as well.

DON’T go to work/school/daycare if you are suffering from symptoms.

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103

Case Study: BY: NIAMH HISLOP

S

arah was on her way to pick the kids up from school when her life changed forever. As she slowed her car down to pull out onto a busy street, she was rear-ended and suffered a dramatic and frightening whiplash. Although she was grateful there wasn’t too much damage to the car, Sarah could already feel discomfort in her neck. The next morning she could barely move her head, so after dropping the kids off to school, she visited her GP who gave her a neck brace and prescribed anti-inflammatory painkillers.

Two months later, Sarah still had the worst pain in her neck and shoulders despite taking painkillers every day. Her GP sent her for x-rays and MRIs, which were all clear, so she just tried to cope with the pain, hoping it would ease soon. She began to have problems sleeping, tossing and turning and waking up still feeling completely exhausted. As each day passed, she found herself feeling more and more miserable and somehow the pain had started to spread and now she was feeling achey in her joints as well. She noticed that was having trouble remembering things, which she put down to her sleepless nights.

"AS EACH DAY PASSED, SHE FOUND HERSELF FEELING MORE AND MORE MISERABLE AND SOMEHOW THE PAIN HAD STARTED TO SPREAD..." emotional stress, other autoimmune disorders, bacterial overgrowth, magnesium deficiency, sleep deprivation or other types of stressful or traumatic events could all be causative factors. Fibromyalgia can be also be worsened by external factors, including emotional stress, noise and even changes in weather.

As the weeks rolled into months, Sarah was becoming more and more frustrated and depressed that her health (and sanity, it seemed) was worsening. She had zero energy for the kids and getting them ready for school in the morning was a battle. By the time her husband got home from work, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed. She knew she needed to get some answers so starting exploring her symptoms online. Initially she thought she might have chronic fatigue syndrome, so she went again to see her GP. This time they looked at the combination of symptoms she was experiencing; pain in her neck, shoulders and lower back, aching joints, restless sleep, exhaustion and ‘brain fog’ with the occasional dizzy spell.

Her GP suggested that she may have Fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterised by muscle pain, fatigue, stiffness and tenderness of the joints, muscles and tendons.

Sarah’s GP recommended further blood and allergy tests and advised her to start eating an anti-inflammatory diet, cutting out all grains and dairy and eating fresh, unprocessed foods instead. He also suggested that she avoid any known toxins such as caffeine and alcohol and told her to consider signing up to gym classes to start a gentle exercise regimen. As Sarah seemed to have become quite depressed and was finding it increasingly hard to manage her pain, he urged her to find a knowledgeable massage therapist or try flotation baths.

Fibromyalgia comes from the Latin word for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek words for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Although, the causes of fibromyalgia are not known, researchers have speculated it is associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Factors such as physical trauma, certain infections (hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease),

Sarah was so relieved to finally have some answers and embraced these lifestyle changes wholeheartedly. She cleared all of the junk food out of her pantry, much to her children’s dismay and starting to enjoy cooking simple, fresh meals. She joined a gym and gradually started weight-training and found a local Endermologie therapist to help manage her pain symptoms.

104

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

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 WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterised by muscle pain, fatigue, stiffness and tenderness of the joints, muscles and tendons.

Within three weeks, Sarah’s symptoms and mood had improved beyond all expectation. She felt ‘clearheaded’, her energy increased and her pain was dramatically reduced. After a couple of months Sarah had lost weight and was feeling so much happier. She was no longer too exhausted to deal with the kids and was relishing their family time together again.

Niamh Hislop is a retired nurse with an interest in treating patients with Fibromyalgia, lymphedema and scleroderma using Endermologie massage. You can find her on Facebook: @peninsula.endermologie or here: www.peninsulaendermologie.com

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

13 Beach St Frankston

If you are anyone you know suffers from Fibromyalgia, here are some useful resources: www.emerge.org.au. www.fibromyalgiaforums.org/fibromyalgia-doctors/au/vic/melbourne www.facebook.com/FIBROMYALGIA-SUPPORT-AUSTRALIA-364885047318/

Ph: 9783 4511

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

105

Ask The Experts!

My 9 year old son is starting early orthodontic treatment. Does that mean he may not need to have braces when he is older?

Early treatment is commonly considered a first phase or interceptive orthodontic treatment. It is recommended when there is a moderate crowding or spacing problem, if there is a narrow upper arch, if there is an increased overbite, current thumbsucking habit, or when there is early loss of deciduous (baby) teeth. For example expanding the upper arch when there is a narrow upper arch together with crowding helps create space for the normal eruption of permanent teeth.

A child finishes this phase of treatment when there are still deciduous (baby) teeth remaining. The second phase of orthodontic treatment begins when all permanent teeth have erupted, and this involves the placement of braces.

A child who undergoes early orthodontic treatment will generally require a second phase of orthodontic treatment. Early treatment can convert some severe crowding cases to moderate crowding cases whilst moderate crowding cases can be converted to mild crowding cases where extraction of teeth may not be required.

In rare cases, early treatment can eliminate the need for full braces all together. When a second phase of orthodontic treatment with braces is recommended, then it is easier and in some instances faster.

Therefore the aim of early treatment is to allow permanent teeth to erupt in their normal way, and possibly avoiding the need for a second phase of orthodontic treatment with braces.

An orthodontist has been specifically trained and is the most qualified and experienced person to discuss orthodontic issues regarding your child.

106

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

Dr Andrea Phatouros BDSc (WA), FRACDS,MDSc Specialist Orthodontist Peninsula Orthodontics 134 Tanti Ave Mornington My 3 year old has suffered from eczema and other skin rashes since he was just a small baby, Will eliminating dairy and wheat help?

Some foods have been found to trigger or exacerbate eczema in some cases but it is not quite as simple as the blanket “no wheat, no dairy” philosophy that has been implied in the past.

The health of his skin relies on adequate nutrient absorption through diet and gastrointestinal health as well as the proper elimination of toxins. Children are undergoing a rapid developmental phase at this age, deficiencies are common and he may require additional support in the form of supplements if diet is not keeping up to his high nutritional demands. The life of a 3 year old means not only is he far too busy to sit down and eat a proper meal he is also being exposed to a myriad of different pathogens, chemicals and other irritants.

A good place to start may be keeping a food/symptom diary to see if you can pinpoint some of his individual triggers.

In my experience a more conclusive option is an elimination diet. It is important to note that these diets can be very restrictive and therefore should be conducted under the supervision of a professional that can support and guide you to ensure that your sons’ nutritional needs are being met at the same time as identifying his triggers.

Mrs Tarryn Donnelly Director & Nutritionist BHSc (NutMed) Energie Natural Health

My two year old daughter keeps on getting ear infections. Her hearing seems to be fine after each treatment but I am concerned about any permanent damage that may have occurred. Can ear infections in children lead to permanent hearing loss?

Middle ear infections (otitis media) are quite common in childhood. The infection occurs behind the ear drum and your child may experience general discomfort, irritability, pain and/or discharge in the affected ear, a runny nose, fever or vomiting.

Some ear infections are caused by bacteria, however due to the fact that the condition may improve on its own within 24 to 48 hours, antibiotics are often deferred or not required.

Hearing can transiently be affected during ear infections due to the build-up of fluid within the middle ear.

Sometimes this can result in a ruptured eardrum, which may present with a rush of thick, yellow discharge or blood from the affected ear. This is often very distressing for the child’s parents however the ear drum usually heals completely without any treatment, and permanent damage is rare.

If a child is experiencing multiple ear infections, the child’s GP may refer them on to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for further investigation and/ or surgical intervention (e.g. grommets).

In general, it is quite common for young children to develop multiple ear infections per year, however most children grow out of middle ear complaints and have no permanent hearing loss.

Dr Darren Asuncion Principal GP Surrey Street Family Clinic

My child has teeth that are more prone to tooth decay. What can I do?

Teeth are unique in shape and size.

Unfortunately, some children’s molars are more prone to tooth decay because of the deep pits and grooves some adult and baby molars are genetically characterised with. This can make even the most diligent tooth-brusher more susceptible to dental decay. The good news for us is – there is a way to prevent tooth- decaying bacteria and plaque from sitting in these deep crevices in the teeth – and this is known as fissure sealants! Fissure sealants are a great simple and non-invasive procedure done at the dentist. It is essentially a protective strong coating applied on the molar to fill-in the grooves so that they become smooth and non-plaque retentive.

If we can try to describe it in everyday terms, it is like a very durable ‘nail-polish’ or ‘layer of paint’ for teeth. This way, tooth-decaying bacteria simply slide off the teeth easily when tooth brushing and there are no deep areas in the teeth where plaque can hide.

At your next visit to the dentist, ask about fissure sealants for your child!

Miss Hillary Ho (OHT) Oral Health Therapist Lucas Dental Care

SPECIALIST ORTHODONTISTS INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDED AT 8 - 9 YEARS OF AGE EXPERTISE IN STRAIGHTENING TEETH AND THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF DENTAL DEVELOPMENT AND BITE PROBLEMS NO REFERRAL NECESSARY

DR ANDREW PEPICELLI DR DANIEL SABLE DR ANDREA PHATOUROS DR BRAYDON PATTERSON

134 Tanti Ave Mornington 03 5975 5166 smile@peninsulaortho.com.au www.peninsulaortho.com.au @Peninsula_Ortho

Peninsula Orthodontics

@Peninsula_Ortho

www.peninsulakids.com.au

107

creative

hats

WOOL JUJU YOU’LL NEED: THICK WOOL YARN APPROXIMATELY 1 BALL SCISSORS

1

2

3

4

PAPER PLATE STAPLER HOT GLUE GUN OR DOUBLE-SIDED TAPE POPSICLE STICKS

WHAT TO DO: 1. Cut a line from the outside edge of the plate to middle.

Then cut out 2cm hole in the center of that plate.

2. Cut the yarn approximately 4cm longer than the diameter of the paper plate.

3. To figure out how much yarn you need to cut for the first layer, hold it on top of the circle, spread it out like a fan and see if there are any hollow areas. If so, cut some more until there’s full coverage.

*Tip from the husband – to speed up yarn cutting time wrap the yarn around and around the length of a spiral notebook or piece of cardboard. Then cut through each end and voila!

– two batches of yarn in the correct length.

5

Once you have enough yarn to fill your circle, use a piece of yarn to tie the bundle in the middle.

4. Divide the sides of the first bundle in half so that it’s the shape of an X. Cut a second bundle of yarn into shorter lengths than the first (mine were 8cm shorter) and tie. Place bundle vertically onto the X and tie around the sides of the X shape. Repeat with a third, even shorter layer.

Just make sure that you tie on the third layer horizontally this time so that our plume of yarn is full all the way around.

6

7

5. Now pull the centre of the yarns through the hole on the plate. Slip a popsicle stick, (or two) under the strip of yarn that we used to tie the biggest bundle. Overlap the edges of the poster board to the desired cone shape. Staple in place.

6. Tie a piece of yarn around the sticks to create a loop to hang from.

7. Flip the hat back over and either run a small strip of hot glue around the edge or stick the double-sided tape onto the back and press the yarn down into the desired position.

(If you don’t do this you might have some drooping yarn!)

8. Fluff and straighten the yarn to achieve the look you want.

108

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

7

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一甀爀琀甀爀椀渀最 䌀漀渀ǻ搀攀渀琀 䰀攀愀爀渀攀爀猀

16 SEPTEMBER - 3 OCTOBER (September school holidays)

A fun free day out through the peninsula hinterland – Grab a car load of family or friends and follow the Scarecrow Trail. Admire the ‘Aussie icon’ themed or traditional scarecrows that have become a unique community art form.

Vote for your favourite online or play our ‘Spot the Scarecrow’ interactive online game.

THERE ARE GREAT PRIZES TO BE WON! Details and trail map available online at

www.scarecrowfestival.org.au

SCARECROW FESTIVAL DAY SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER, RED HILL RECREATION RESERVE, COINCIDING WITH THE RED HILL CRAFT MARKET, 9AM-3PM It’s a free day out with lot of children’s art activities, a live scarecrow competition, plenty of children’s scarecrows to admire and music to enjoy.

最攀猀 䘀漀爀 愀 琀栀猀 渀 㘀 洀漀 愀爀猀 礀攀 琀漀 㔀

吀栀爀漀甀最栀 洀甀猀椀挀 愀渀搀 洀漀瘀攀洀攀渀琀 眀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ爀攀氀椀愀渀琀Ⰰ 挀漀渀ǻ搀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 眀攀氀氀ⴀ爀漀甀渀搀攀搀 氀攀愀爀渀攀爀猀⸀

䴀椀渀椀 䴀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀 䌀氀愀猀猀攀猀

뜀 䈀甀椀氀搀 䌀漀渀ǻ搀攀渀挀攀 뜀 一甀爀琀甀爀攀 圀栀漀氀攀 䈀爀愀椀渀 䐀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀洀攀渀琀 뜀 倀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 匀漀挀椀愀氀 䤀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 倀愀爀攀渀琀 愀渀搀 䌀栀椀氀搀 뜀 䄀爀攀 䄀最攀ⴀ匀瀀攀挀椀ǻ挀 琀漀 䌀愀琀攀爀 昀漀爀 䌀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀ᤠ猀 䐀攀瘀攀氀漀瀀洀攀渀琀愀氀 匀琀愀最攀猀 뜀 倀爀漀瘀椀搀攀 䌀氀愀猀猀爀漀漀洀 䔀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 椀渀 倀爀攀瀀愀爀愀琀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 䬀椀渀搀攀爀 愀渀搀 匀挀栀漀漀氀

䴀椀渀椀 䴀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀 䴀琀 䔀氀椀稀愀 㨀 䬀礀氀椀攀 刀攀渀搀氀攀 㨀 㐀 㤀 ㈀ 㐀㤀㔀 㨀 欀礀氀椀攀⸀爀攀渀搀氀攀䀀洀椀渀椀洀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀⸀挀漀洀⸀愀甀 䴀椀渀椀 䴀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀 䰀愀渀最眀愀爀爀椀渀Ⰰ 䈀愀砀琀攀爀 愀渀搀 䘀爀愀渀欀猀琀漀渀 㨀 䬀愀琀攀 䠀漀眀愀爀搀 㨀 㐀 㘀 㘀㈀ ㈀㔀㐀 㨀 欀愀琀攀⸀栀漀眀愀爀搀䀀洀椀渀椀洀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀⸀挀漀洀⸀愀甀

眀眀眀⸀洀椀渀椀洀愀攀猀琀爀漀猀⸀挀漀洀⸀愀甀

www.peninsulakids.com.au

109

DREAM

Catcher

1

2

3

4

4b

5

6

7

YOU’LL NEED:

PAPER PLATE

YARN BEADS FEATHERS

HOLE PUNCH

STICKY TAPE

SCISSORS

WHAT TO DO: 1. Cut the inside part of your paper plate out so that you’re left with a ring.

2. Use the punch to put holes in the ring - spaced apart.

(Note: we didn’t measure perfectly and think it looks great!)

3. Cut a measure of yarn and start from underneath the ring taping the end of the yarn down.

4. Weave the yarn back and forth being careful not to go over the outside of the ring, but keeping the weaves to the inside.

4b. Add a bead very now and then. (Pull yarn tight – but not too tight or the edged of the ring will curl.) When finished weaving, sticky tape end down underneath.

5. If you choose, wrap yarn, (not to tightly), around entire outside of ring affixing ends with sticky tape.

Alternatively, use textas or stickers to decorate the ring.

6. Cut 3 lengths of yarn, make a double knot at the end, and add beads, sequins, feathers or shapes.

7. Sticky tape the three ends to the back of the ring. (Just push the yarn to the side and tape underneath if you’ve wrapped the entire ring.)

8. To hang - add another shorter length of yarn to the top of the dream catcher.

8 110

Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

It’s time to open a can of imagination as Play-Doh celebrates its 60th Anniversary, with celebrations to be held around the world on World Play-Doh Day on September 16th.

Since its 1956 debut, the iconic Play-Doh yellow can has become synonymous with creative play as well as being a fun family favourite!

Now selling into more than 80 countries across the globe with more than 3 billion cans of Play-Doh compound sold, Play-Doh is not only fun but one of the world’s leading toy brands that was included in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998.

In Australia, we have grown to love the Play-Doh brand as it continues to encourage creative, hands-on play and for World Play-Doh Day, Australians are being encouraged to explore what’s possible with Play-Doh.

s Fun Fact

hite. Now ow, and w ll e y , e lu b lors! it all - red, than 50 co urs started le in more b a il

va • Four colo a is und have oh brand oh compo -D y la the Play-D P f o cans n 3 billion ce 1956.

• More tha uashed sin sq d n ts: water, a d ishe ingredien re co e been squ re nd has th h compou • Play-Do s have flour. y-Doh can d la n P a n , o lt li il sa

reach three b mpound to more than co , h 6 5 o 9 -D 1 y ce • Sin ough Pla . That’s en times. been sold ld is ck THREE a b d n a n mpound so o o co m h e o th -D y to ht of all Pla ated weig ses.

• The estim 10,000 brontosauru leaner n a th r ie allpaper c v w s a hea d se ny. inally u ap compa h was orig ti based so a • Play-Do n in in c in C to be used ed by a develop en known e b are s t a a h th d adiness re compoun l h o o o h -D y sc la • P r mote pre f fine moto s that pro lopment o e v activitie e d e y. it th v ati around on and cre focused coordinati e y e d n a h skills,

Play-Doh

It’s easy to be a part of the 60th anniversary celebrations. Fans can follow the Play-Doh brand as it celebrates its 60th anniversary at facebook.com/playdoh, and share their own memories using #PLAYDOH60.

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Within Australia for orders over $150

591 Whitehorse Road Mont Albert Vic

Phone: 1800 333 634 www.windmill.net.au www.peninsulakids.com.au

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Book Reviews

BLUE AND BERTIE

BY KRISTYNA LITTEN, 4+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $14.99 Bertie the giraffe’s life runs on very straight lines. One day, Bertie oversleeps and is left behind by the rest of his herd, and his life begins to take some very unexpected turns... A warm, emotional story.

MIDNIGHT POSSUM

BY SALLY MORGAN, 4+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 Possum loved the deep dark. One night the midnight possum meets a mother who has lost her baby and so he bravely climbs down a chimney, into a house guarded by a dog and a cat, to find the little lost possum.

TAKE TED INSTEAD

BY CASSANDRA WEBB, 5+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 It’s bedtime for one tired little boy. Why should he go to bed when everyone else in the house is still awake? A fun story that shows a young boy’s attachment to the creatures and toys around him.

THE WHOLE CABOODLE

BY LISA SHANAHAN, 4+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 Wakey-wakey peachy pear, my fuzzy-wuzzy grizzly bear, my tootsywootsy fizzyjig, my hurdiegurdie whirligig!

MY MUM’S SPECIAL SECRET

BY SALLY MORGAN 3+yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 My mum tells me her special secret... And baby kookaburra has a secret too. A beautiful book by one of Australia's awardwinning illustrators.

WEIRDO 6 – CRAZY WEIRD!

BY ANH DO, 6-8yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $14.99 WeirDo’s been to the dentist and has come back with braces! What will everyone think of his new look? Can Weir hide his braces from Bella and his friends during their big trip to the Fun Fair? It won’t be easy ... but it will be funny!

STAR OF DELTORA BOOK 3 – THE TOWERS OF ILLICA

BY EMILY RODDA, 8+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $16.99 The Star of Deltora is making for Illica, home of the mysterious Collectors.

Ahead is the most important trade of Britta’s life — her last chance to defeat her rivals and win the Rosalyn Contest.

PINE VALLEY PONIES – THE PONY SHOW

BY KATE WELSHMAN, 6+yrs, Scholastic, p/b, $9.99 It's finally the big day of the Pine Valley Gymkhana!

Maddy and Snowy have never been in a pony competition before, so they're ready to try out all the events, and have a lot of fun, of course!

WITHIN THESE WALLS

BY ROBYN BAVATI, 11+yrs, Scholastic, p/b $16.99 For Miri and her family, life in Warsaw is full of simple joys. The smell of freshly baked challah, the promise of summer holidays, and Fridays when everyone comes together to celebrate the Sabbath.

GEORGE

BY ALEX GINO, 8+ yrs, Scholastic, h/b, $24.99 BE WHO YOU ARE. When people look at George, they think they see a boy.

But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan.

ONE LUCKY PRESCHOOLER & ONE LUCKY SCHOOL AGED READER WILL WIN A SCHOLASTIC PRIZE PACK OF THE REVIEWED BOOKS TO ENTER: www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

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Peninsula Kids – Spring 2016

WIN

GO TO:

www.peninsulakids.com.au/giveaways

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TRI-OMINOS Tri-ominos the much loved three-sided dominoes game! With over 21 million sold world-wide, Tri-ominos is the ultimate game where anyone can win!

Combining strategy with luck, players try to match one side of a Triomino tile that’s on the table to one that you have in your hand. Perfect for traveling, game nights and family gatherings. Suitable for 2-4 players aged 8+. www.crownandandrews.com.au RRP $24.95

SPLIT SECOND Split Second is the perfect quiz game for the whole family! With over 500 simple questions that both young and old can answer, the trick is not about how much you know, but about how quickly you can write the correct answer onto the paddle and flip it to the centre before anyone else. With all players trying to answer as quickly as possible, the difference between winning and losing really is a Split Second! Suitable for 3-6 players aged 8+. www.crownandandrews.com.au RRP $39.95

V-TECH PUSH & PLAY SPINNING TOP! Spin and discover animals, sounds, shapes and numbers with the Push & Play Spinning Top! The press down plunger spins the animals round and round and helps your baby discover cause and effect relationships. The four brightly coloured animals introduce themselves, their sounds and sing a song to baby. Pressing the four light-up shape buttons introduces shapes and numbers. Teaches sensory development, motor skills, and language development. www.vtech.com.au From 6 months RRP $29.95

Play N Wrap The hobby mat for kids.

It’s the clever, play, tidy and store solution for messy hobbies!

Don’t put up with the mess created by toys like Lego, loom bands, toy bricks or puzzles.

Lay out the Play N Wrap when the kids want to play or build, and when they are done, all they have to do is pull up the cord and the mess is gone in seconds.

The mat is now a bag and all the toys are neatly stowed away. Ready for the next play. No ‘precious’ bits can go missing. www.playnwrap.com.au RRP $55.00

PLUM POD PLUM’S BAMBOO POD Plum Pod Plum’s Bamboo Pod combines the unique benefits of both stretch cotton and muslin fabrics to provide baby with a snug fit. Plum’s top panel is made from stretch Cotton Bamboo which secures baby’s arms to prevent self-waking from the startle reflex. The Plum Pod’s soft, breathable Bamboo Muslin gives extra room for baby’s natural leg and hip movement, as recommended

by The International Hip Dysplasia Institute. www.plumcollections.com.au RRP $44.95

WHAT COULD IT BE? This concept book for kids is all about unleashing creativity, thinking outside the square and opening the mind to possibility!

Part picture book, part artistic inspiration, What could It Be? Is an interactive adventure for preprimary school aged children organised into paired double-page spreads. www.whatcoulditbe.ekbooks.com.au RRP $24.99

FRESH PATCH Introducing Fresh Patch, the allnatural pee-pad training solution for pets, which provides busy pet owners a cost-effective & stress-free way to potty train new dogs & cats, with a weekly to fortnightly delivery of fresh, dirt-free grass that’s safe to use at home. www.freshpatch.com.au Small Dogs Patch – Single RRP $33.00

FRESH POTS, BY FOOD BABIES LOVE As Australia’s first range of readily available fresh baby and toddler food – Fresh Pots, By Food Babies Love offers kitchen fresh kids meals in its purest form possible - just as you’d cook at home. The brain child of kids’ food author and mother of 3, Emily Dupuche is leading the charge to change the face of Aussie baby food, one fresh pot at a time! We’re offering one lucky Melbournian reader a week’s supply of nutritious and yummy Fresh Pots (7 meals) delivered for your baby or toddler to enjoy. www. foodbabieslove.com.au RRP $45.15

MAYVER’S Small Australian family company, Mayver’s is on a mission to bring back goodness to kitchen tables with its range of tasty, locally-made pure-state spreads. Mayver’s nut and seed tablespreads are made from nothing but 100 per cent pure, natural wholesome ingredients, simply crushed, blended and bottled.

Mayver’s makes me happy tea towel RRP $19.99 and Nothing But Goodness tote bag RRP $34.99

www.peninsulakids.com.au

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EDITION TO SECURE YOUR PLACE CONTACT MIRIAM DOE 0421 085 974

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