Geelong Coast Kids Winter 2019

FREE WINTER 2019

A Zoos Victoria annual family pass Pinky’s Boobie Bikkies + more

Footy, fatherhood with

Tom Hawkins on the A Star N News Group Publication bl

Austin’s winery

Nickelodeon

TAKES OVER Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

MON 01 - FRI 05 JULY

MON 08 - FRI 12 JULY

11am to 2pm daily centrewide

11am to 2pm daily centrewide

PAW Patrol scooter safety track (near Target) Mini movie game zone (near Target) Gadget machine touch screen (near Target) Shimmer & Shine glamour zone (near Target) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles statue display (near Goldmark) Nickelodeon character photo opportunity (near Kmart)* Collectable badge making (near Coffee Hit)

PAW Patrol scooter safety track (near Target) Mini movie game zone (near Target) Gadget machine touch screen (near Target) Shimmer & Shine glamour zone (near Target) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles statue display (near Goldmark) Nickelodeon character photo opportunity (near Kmart)* Collectable badge making (near Coffee Hit)

*Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles appearing Mon + Wed + Fri. Dora the Explorer appearing Tue + Thu. Character appearance times are detailed on www.waurnpondssc.com.au and at photobooth near Kmart

*PAW Patrol appearing Mon + Wed + Fri. Shimmer & Shine appearing Tue + Thu. Character appearance times are detailed on www.waurnpondssc.com.au and at photobooth near Kmart.

© 2019 Viacom International Inc.

© 2019 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. All Rights Reserved. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V.

WaurnPondsSC

© 2019 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. © 2019 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, Shimmer and shine and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

www.waurnpondssc.com.au 12418185-SN24-19

2 WINTER 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Winter

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS At Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre

WIN SHOWBAGS WIN A HOLIDAY

KIDS APPEAL GEELONG

MON 01 - FRI 12 JULY

MON 01 - FRI 12 JULY

Mon to Fri only: 11am to 2pm daily

Mon to Fri only: 10am to 2pm daily

10 Nickelodeon Showbags per day up for grabs (valued at $25 each).* Enter to win a family holiday to Nickelodeon Land at Sea World on the Gold Coast including flights, accommodation and park entry How to Enter 1) Visit the Nickelodeon character photo booth near Kmart (Mon to Fri: 11am to 2pm daily) 2) Have your photo taken with your favourite Nickelodeon character 3) Post your photo to Facebook or Instagram using #wpsctakeover AND tagging @waurnpondssc and @nickelodeon_au

NICKELODEON COLLECTABLE BADGE MAKING For a gold coin donation, make your collectable Nickelodeon character badge. There are different badges to make every day!

Gold coin donations from this activity support the Kids Appeal Geelong, raising funds for a new kids rehabilitation centre.

*Terms & Conditions apply. Competition runs Mon 01 to Fri 12 July, open Mon – Fri each week between 11am & 2pm daily.

See www.waurnpondssc.com.au for details.

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

WINTER 2019 3

about us . . .

Shake off the winter chills WELL hello there!

Welcome to Geelong Coast Kids winter edition. Don't you just shudder a little when you hear that word 'winter'?

Part of me wants to start kicking and screaming, but then I have to consciously stop and find the upside well, we finally get to light the fire, eat more soup, bring out the slow cooker and snuggle into bed with the electric blanket and flannelette PJs ... and it makes us really appreciate our summer!

There is so much inspiration in this edition ...

I caught up with Belinda Austin, co-owner of Austin's Wines and daughter of Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook. Belinda bravely opens up about her battles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post natal depression - and how by opening up and asking for help, her life turned around.

We chat to superstar Cat Tom Hawkins about his promotion to daddy of two and how it's just starting to sink in for his two-year-old daughter that he's a bit of a name in the footy world. Tom shares some great advice on getting young kids into footy.

We really do have a tight knit community in Geelong and that is so evident when you look into the work of charities like Geelong Mums. Read all

about the amazing volunteers down there combined with all our generous locals who donate. Last financial year, they managed to support a whopping 6000 babies and children.

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Colourful author Pinky McKay shares her parenting secrets (after raising five of her own). You may also know her as the producer of the famous 'Booby Bikkies', which is a brand that supports women and mothers.

Geelong Coast Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Geelong Coast Kids 1st Floor, 78 Moorabool St, Geelong, Vic 3220 Phone: 5249 6700 Fax: 5249 6799

And I'm sure you've all heard of the books Raising Boys and Raising Girls by world-renowned author Steve Biddulph.

Well Steve has written a piece just for us that I'm in desperate need of - and it's on raising girls. My daughter just turned 12 but I can feel those teenage hormones kicking in already. Wish me luck!

We've also got plenty of giveaways in this edition. You could win a Zoos Victoria annual family pass, some of Pinky McKay's famous Boobie Bikkies or a Midwife Mumma pregnancy guide.

Thanks again for joining us. Don't forget to keep in touch through our Facebook and Instagram. We love hearing what our local parents are up to, so let us know if you have anything you'd like to share.

Managing Editor Tony Galpin editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au Phone: 5249 6700 Advertising Heidi Shaw advertising@geelongcoastkids.com.au Phone: 5249 6708

Have kids Make Coffee Forget you made it Drink it cold Cheers!

Creative Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Oh, and have you got this recipe for Iced Coffee by Toni Hammer?

FREE WINTER 2019

contents IT'S YOUR LIFE

HEALTH

Tom Hawkins on footy and fatherhood

Eye Gallery launches kids club

PAGE 5

PAGE 17

The real purpose of parenting

Teens and teeth whitening

PAGE 6

PAGE 17

Geelong Mums helping families in need PAGE 7 Steve Biddulph on raising girls PAGE 8 Keeping your kids safe online PAGE 9 Angie's catch-up with Belinda Austin PAGE 10-12 The benefits of playgroups PAGE 14 Finding your local playgroup PAGE 14

RECIPES Simple recipes for healthy kids PAGE 15

Arty Party a unique way to celebrate

A Zoos Victoria annual family pass Pinky’s Boobie Bikkies + more

PAGE 22 Homework - do we need it?

PAGE 24 Finding your school zone

Footy, fatherhood with

Tom Hawkins on the

PAGE 24

PREGNANCY + BABY Testing reveals best nappies PAGE 18 Surviving an unsettled newborn PAGE 18 Midwife guidance at touch of a button

ENTERTAINMENT

Austin’s winery

Food and loads of fun PAGE 25 Waurn Ponds raising money for kids

COVER: Delilah and Spencer Austin on their family's winery.

Picture: Louisa Jones

PAGE 25

PAGE 19

BOOKS

Mum's identical, fraternal twins

The changing face of Australian families

PAGE 20

PAGE 26

Massage in the delivery room

Children's books

PAGE 20

PAGE 26

Pinky McKay on supporting breastfeeding mums

A Star News N Group G Publication P bl

KIDS CALENDAR

PAGE 21

What's on this winter

Midwife Mumma on honesty

PAGE 27

PAGE 21

ACTIVE KIDS A dynamic winter at Live Wire Park PAGE 16

EDUCATION School's life community PAGE 22

4 WINTER 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

your life It’s

Geelong power forward Tom Hawkins Picture: AFL Media

I certainly think completing a pre-season would have been easier than carrying a baby y

‘‘

Post match... Tom Hawkins with wife Emma and daughter Arabella.

Picture: AFL Media/Michael Willson Tom Hawkins says his eldest daughter, Arabella, is starting to understand he play s for the Cats.

Picture: AFL Media

Tom Hawkins on fatherhood and footy IT'S shaping up as a big year for Geelong star Tom Hawkins. The power forward kicked the 500th goal of his career in round one - the same week he welcomed his second child. Here, he tells Kids reporter Melissa Grant about being a parent of two little girls, his wife's tough pregnancy and getting kids involved in footy.

Congratulations on the recent arrival of your second daughter, Primrose Grace.

How is your new addition going?

Thank-you! It's a significantly busier household. Emma and I very much enjoying being parents of two beautiful little girls.

Primrose arrived just before the first game of the season - that must have been a crazy time. Would you have missed the match to be at the birth? www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

It was a crazy few months.

Unfortunately Emma had a really tough pregnancy. I certainly think completing a pre-season would have been easier than carrying a baby. If Emma went into labour on game day I would definitely have missed and been at the birth. However our obstetrician was a Geelong supporter and didn't want me to miss a game so he induced Emma.

Emma and yourself have been pretty open about parenthood on social media. To share or not to share is a question many parents grapple with.

Has it been a positive experience for you so far?

So far it has been positive. Being parents has been the best thing we've done, however it is bloody hard work at times. Social media gives you a platform to create conversations about different parenting techniques if you do choose.

Your father, uncles and grandfather all

played for the Geelong Football Club.

Footy is obviously in the blood. Has your two-year-old daughter Arabella shown any interest in footy yet?

I'm happy to say Belle (Arabella) and Mimi (Primrose) are Geelong supporters.

We've made an effort not to push football, however Belle is showing a keen interest. She's just starting to understand that dad plays for the Cats.

She gets a little crazy. It's giving our families a lot of joy to watch!

What's the best way children can get involved in the game at grassroots level and why is it important for kids to be involved in grassroots sports at such a young age?

I played Auskick. And I still believe it's the best place to start. Kids get so much out of learning and playing our great game. It's good for their health, social skills, discipline and above all it's fun.

What are the benefits of the Auskick program?

That Auskick is an affordable and available program for kids who are starting out their footy journey. And with the revolutionised Auskick program, it takes a modern approach to coaching and ensures kids experience fun, active play that just happens to be footy.

What do you love most about Auskick?

I just loved playing with my friends.

And I loved the challenge of trying to be the best at kicking, handballing, bouncing and marking. I was (and still am) very competitive.

What would be your advice to a child who has their heart set on playing AFL or AFLW? Enjoy it. And if you have your heart set on playing like I did, work hard to be the best player you can be.

WINTER 2019 5

your life It’s

real purpose The

of parenting

By Dr Maxine Thérèse NO parent is perfect, and the harder we try to reach perfection in parenting the more stress and imbalance we create for our children and also in ourselves.

There are stresses in every family, and as children grow, they will inevitably experience difficulties, no matter how much we try to guard them from such things.

In my work with families, I see many adults vow to be a better parent than their parents were - in a way they are rejecting their parents because of the difficulties they faced in childhood.

Early life creates certain imprints and sets up particular patterns of behaviour.

These imprints and patterning do not go away and are still present for many in adulthood.

We may have learnt to adapt, outgrow, or even reject emotional difficulties and important feelings from childhood but if they remain unprocessed, we leave the task of resolution and healing to our children.

If we are to parent better, we need to begin to see that the real purpose of parenting is to grow with our children.

My research has revealed that the models of human growth have limited the ways we understand children and consequently the way we parent.

Parent and child actually grow together, because as the child is growing the adult revisits their own childhood through each age and stage.

As a parent raises their children, their childhood memories and experiences spontaneously resurface to be reviewed.

So, if your child struggles with

Did you know that Childosophy offers behaviour and therapeutic support under the NDIS for eligible families in Geelong?

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If your child has been diagnosed with Autism, Asperger's or another developmental delay we may be able to assist.

6 WINTER 2019

For more info: www.childosophy.com/ndischildosophy

something you feel they should improve or overcome, this is a wonderful opportunity to consciously revisit your own past challenges, support your own unhealed past and help your children to have their needs met at the same time.

For example, we might recognise that a child experiencing anxiety needs to be soothed in order to feel safe and secure to transition in its own time.

Yet, many parents find soothing or managing an anxious child difficult.

The difficulty is not because the child's anxiety is unmanageable, but because the adult is spontaneously activating a stress response in their body to the anxiety.

This reactivation occurs in adults who as children may have been told to 'toughen up' or 'get over it' or to 'stop crying like a baby' and could not process their feelings of anxiety.

If feelings are not acknowledged, or parents cannot hold the space for the child's feelings, the child receives a message that expressing feelings is a bad thing and will learn to avoid or adapt when anxious feelings arise.

So, we can see that if an adult has not learnt how to deal with and feel their anxiety (The Need to be Safe and Secure) the anxiety will circulate until the feeling can be felt and sometimes this can literally take generations.

Because childhood challenges often lay dormant until we become parents, our children offer us an opportunity as they grow to revisit our past struggles as they are facing life's challenges and learn to grow emotionally with them.

Rather than instructing them and telling them how to feel, we can return to our own feeling nature. Supporting a child to have their feelings validated and their needs met requires parents to

work through their unhealed and unprocessed feelings from childhood.

When your child is experiencing any pattern of behaviour that triggers you, take a moment after the situation settles to reflect on the following questions: ■ What would I have needed as a child to overcome a similar situation?

■ Do I try to fix my child without asking them what they need?

■ Do I have an inner resistance to the situation faced by my child?

■ Do I have a similar pattern of behaviour to my child (anxiety for example)?

■ Do I know where this pattern comes from in me?

These questions are designed to support you to move away from deflecting, denying or overlooking your child's signal of need when they present in their behaviours.

From this position, rather than perceiving your child's behaviour as a problem that makes you feel bad or that you need to fix, you will begin to see that the real purpose of parenting is an opportunity. An opportunity to re-parent those unhealed and unmet needs in you, as you grow together and support your child to move through life with more emotional ease.

The example in this article - Anxiety, is tied to the Need to be Safe and Secure, the 1st of 7 Foundational Needs.

The Foundational Needs Model of Dr. Maxine Thérèse is outlined in her book -The Push for a Child Philosophy; What Children Really Need you to Know.

There is much more detail about Dr Therese's work and the Childosophy clinical practice here in Geelong at www.childosphy.com www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

your life It’s

Geelong Mums

a great help to local families

Emma Hayward and Kate Brady in the Geelong Mums warehouse.

SIX years ago, five Geelong mums were trying to figure out what they would do with their cots, prams and car seats once their kids had outgrown them.

They wanted to get the essential items to families in need - but how would they make that happen?

The mums also knew many other parents who would love to make similar donations.

So the group began collecting pre-loved baby and children's items from local homes. They also tracked down families doing it tough who would appreciate being gifted the donations.

That's how Geelong Mums was born.

Throughout the first year, the mums operated entirely from their own homes and a small shed, helping nearly 300 families along the way.

Fast forward to 2019 and Geelong Mums has two warehouses, seven staff members and more than 750 volunteers.

Importantly, the not-for-profit organisation is helping an incredible amount of families in need.

Last financial year alone, Geelong Mums supported over 6000 babies and children.

Teamwork coordinator Kelly Suvoltos says the generosity of the Geelong community has been truly amazing.

"We have these massive big trolleys - we probably average 8-10 that we fill with donations each day," she said.

"We can put a callout on a Friday, then on Saturday morning we have people dropping off those items."

The donations consist of nursery equipment, clothing, books and toys for babies and school-aged children.

The items are generally dropped off at the organisation's warehouses on Balliang Street, South Geelong, where they are sorted and prepared for distribution.

Social workers, support workers, and child and maternal health workers come and collect the donated items for distribution.

Bags of clothing are even wrapped for recipient families.

"Last year we gave out 4500 bags of clothing," Kelly said.

"We wrap up the bags of clothes to make them look like a present, so it's something they (the recipient) can feel good about.

"A social worker recently told us www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Geelong Mums Teamwork coordinator Kelly Suvoltos.

about a boy, aged 6 or 7, who had never been given a present before and he did a little fashion parade of everything that was in there."

Geelong Mums also relies on financial donations to enable them to help families and cover running costs.

For the past four years, the organisation has held an annual Mother's Day luncheon which has raised hundreds of thousands.

This year, the ladies lunch at Mt Duneed Estate Winery - which featured auctions and raffles - raised an incredible $107,000.

Kate McLennan addresses the crowd at the Geelong Mums fundraiser, held on the Friday before Mother's Day.

"It means a lot for this place - that sort of money goes a long way," Kelly said.

"Cots and car seats are purchased with that money ... if we don't have those things being donated we purchase those."

Geelong Mums helps families doing it tough in a variety of situations, including those experiencing domestic violence, parents suffering financial hardship and refugees. They also assist foster and kinship carers.

Deirdre Mackechnine and Kate Betts at the Geelong Mums fundraiser in May.

Bernadette Sandwith prepares some clothes for donation.

Kelly says the organisation can even assist in emergencies at short-notice.

"It could be a mother escaping a domestic violence situation and they've been left with nothing," she said.

"They can take a bag of clothes and sheets to put on the bed that night.

Because we have stock on standby we can respond quickly in emergency situations."

If you donate items to Geelong Mums, you can rest assured they will go to families who really need them.

Also, donating to the organisation is easy. You simply need to take your items to the charity's headquarters at 110 Balliang Street, Geelong South during opening hours. They are open for donations 9am-3pm on weekdays and 9.30am-11.30am on Saturdays.

Items that can be donated include baby towels, activity mats or baby gyms, art and craft materials, baths, blankets, books, clothing from birth to size 16, cot linen and blankets, games, nappies and toiletries.

Cots must be no older than 10 years old, and car seats must have been newly purchased within the past eight years. There are also mandatory safety standards for prams and strollers.

For a full list of items that can be donated, visit https://www.geelongmums.org/ Information about financial donations can also be found at the website.

Some of the Geelong Mums team ... Judy Long, Penny Lancaster, Emma Hayward, Kelly Suvoltos, Geraldine Niven, April Scala, Margaret Burke, Varie Neal and Elise Perry.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

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By Melissa Grant

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your life It’s

Raising a daughter makes you want to change the world

By Steve Biddulph IT'S an interesting time to be a parent.

We are learning that every boy and girl is on a gender continuum, and it's important to let them be just who they are, and never put kids into boxes.

At the same time there are differences, for most kids most of the time. The average girl develops far quicker than the average boy, even in the womb, and there are parts of their brains that are 20 months ahead by age five. They take to school much better, they start puberty a couple of years sooner, and are more likely to go to university.

But its far from being a girls' world.

Part of the problem is that girls have greater awareness of other people, their feelings and responses. You'd think that was a plus, but in the craziness of the modern world, that can take its toll.

Girls are twice as likely as boys to get anxious or depressed. One girl in five will be on stress medication during her teens. As many as one in three have self-harmed, and suicide is going up.

We have a mental health crisis in girlhood.

To make your daughter strong, you have to change things around.

Protective factors are the ones that allow her to grow at her own pace, and not be pressured into conforming. Despite 60 years of feminism, girls are being ever more told how to look and behave because social media, and in fact almost every media blasts them with pressure to look good, be seductive, be tame (though it's framed as wildness), drink this, eat this, wear this.

Advertisers know that if they can make a girl anxious, they can sell her anything.

What helps? It's all in the way of life we create for our children (and the same goes for boys too). Lots of nature plenty of peace, a rhythm to our lives that has big spaces doing nothing.

Having plenty of plants, animals and open space. Few screens, the least possible TV, loads of books, stories, and being physical and free.

Parents who have plenty of time to just chat. A dad who clearly lets her know she is more special to him than life itself, who talks to her about everything, asks her opinion, has fun and spends time.

She needs role models of different kinds, so that from toddlerhood she can admire and emulate that gutsy auntie, that oh-so-unconventional family friend.

So when a boy in the playground runs

over and bellows "you're fat" she can rise to her full height, tilt her head, and reply "I love my body. Race you to the fence", because she's heard an adult say that, and liked the feeling.

Stay away from shopping malls, diets, talk of weight or looks, clothes beyond what keeps you colourful and warm and yourself. Op shops are good for this. Be outdoors, make and do things with your hands, don't take school marks too seriously, but take learning very seriously. If your family really has bad signs of stress (and the kids are usually the first to show this), consider having a year off and drive round the country as a family. The modern human world is crazy and we ought only to dip into it sparingly.

Making strong women is fun, and slow, and joyous, and it will make you want to change your life too.

owns her body and what happens to it, and that its a joyful thing.

1. A secure and loving start (parents who take time and are safe and peaceful for her).

8. Backbone - being able to endure, persist, hold to her principles, and sees you doing that too.

2. Time to be a child - being messy, wild, and in nature a lot. And not rushed to grow up too soon.

9. Feminism - knowing that the problems of her and her friends are part of a big picture of women fighting for respect and equality.

She's not alone.

4. The respect and love of a dad (or substitute dad figure) who lets her know she is special

10. Spirit - feeling connected to the universe, to nature, and to life, part of something larger that carries her through life.

5. Spark - an interest, hobby or activity that captures her spirit and engages her in the larger world

Steve Biddulph AM, Author - 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys.

6. Aunties - yes, someone you can talk to other than mum, who shows a different way to be female

Complete Secrets of Happy Children, and The New Manhood.

Visit www.stevebiddulph.com for details.

7. A happy sexuality - knowing she

8 WINTER 2019

Steve Biddulph wrote Raising Girls in 2012 and Ten Things Girls Need Most in 2017. www.stevebiddulph.com

Ten things girls need most (from Steve's book of the same name!)

3. Friendship skills - learning by discussion with you how to navigate their tricky social world

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World renowned author Steve Biddulph

Raising teenage girls to be the women we want them to be.

Picture: Rob Carew

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

your life It’s

How to keep your kids

safe online Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

THE internet can be a dangerous place, especially for children.

With the threat of exposure to pornography, violence, cyber bullying and predators, it's no wonder parents are fearful of what their teens - and even younger kids - are getting up to online.

However, with the internet so ingrained in our daily lives it's impossible to keep our children out of this virtual playground - so how do we keep them safe?

As the country's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant is responsible for promoting online safety for all Australians.

She tells Kids reporter Melissa Grant what parents can do to protect their children online.

How early should parents educate their children about cyber safety and what should the message be?

With our research showing 81% of parents have given their pre-schooler access to an internet-connect device, good digital habits should be encouraged from the get-go. It is never too early to get involved with your kids' online lives or to start the chat about using the same positive manners and behaviours they would use offline.

The reality is that sometimes things go wrong online. But by having the chat before anything negative happens and letting them know they can come to you for help if they or a friend experience something they feel uncomfortable about, is one of the best ways to encourage open dialogue about what they might be experiencing online.

At eSafety, we know it can be tricky talking about sensitive issues in a way that doesn't alarm children or give them more information than they need, so we've developed age-appropriate conversation starters to help parents take the plunge (www.esafety.gov.au/ parents/skills-advice/hard-to-haveconversations).

How important is it for households to invest in filtering software? What are the best filters to keep children safe from offensive and illegal content?

While there really is no substitute for being actively engaged in your children's online lives, technology tools can help.

Filtering technology is improving and over the past year we have seen a range of device level controls being launched on iPhones, iPads and Android devices. There are a range of filtering software products available on the market, which can be a helpful way to block sites known to host offensive material. eSafety supports the operation of safety programs such as the Family www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Friendly Filter Scheme that allows Australians to inexpensively obtain protection from offensive and illegal content for their home network and family devices. These accredited filters have gone through rigorous independent testing to ensure they meet certain criteria including effectiveness, ease of use and configurability.

Parental controls on devices, gaming consoles or streaming services can be another way to block or limit your child's access to certain content. Using safe search settings on search engines can also help limit your child's access to inappropriate material.

What is the best way for parents to monitor their child's internet activities?

We encourage parents to use a range of protective strategies - which may include parental controls and filters - to monitor their child's internet activities and minimise online risks. But be aware not to 'set and forget', as tech savvy kids can find ways to circumvent technological protections or may be accessing online content from a friend's home or device.

Beyond these technological protections, there really is no substitute for active engagement in your children's online lives. Speak to them about potential risks and help them develop good cyber judgement and resilience for when they do come across inappropriate content. Most importantly, let them know you'll be there to support them if anything goes wrong online.

Statistics show one in five young Australians has been cyber bullied.

What should parents do if they discover their child is a victim?

As parents, our first instinct may be to ban our children from social media, disable the Wi-Fi or turn off the data access. But it's important to remember cyber bullying is a social and behavioural issue playing out in a technological sphere and not caused by technology itself. This is why we encourage parents and educators to focus on building positive behaviours and skills in young people, including developing the 4 Rs for the digital age: respect, responsibility, reasoning and resilience. These valuable social and emotional skills will not only help guide more positive experiences online, but also offline.

If you discover your child is being cyber bullied, there are four simple steps that can help minimise the harm: report the cyber bullying to the social media service where it is occurring; collect evidence of the cyber bullying material; if the material is not removed within 48 hours, make a report to eSafety; block the offending user.

Most importantly, remain calm, listen to your child without judgement, and let them know you will be there to support them through this.

Research also shows that one in four teens has been contacted by a stranger online. If this happens, what should a

parent do? At what stage should authorities be contacted?

harmful consequences for their wellbeing and future relationships.

Young people need to be aware that not everyone they engage with online is who they say they are, and they may not always have the best intentions.

Parents can play an important role in helping young people handle these risks and explore safely online by talking to them early and often.

It's encouraging to see from our research that more parents want to take responsibility for this issue, but we know they need some help starting the 'porn chat', which is where those conversation starters at our website.

Here's some things you can do to help:

Our research shows the most common negative online experience reported by young people is unwanted contact, experienced by one in three teens. One in four teens have also been socially excluded or had threats and abuse directed to them online. These kinds of negative experiences can potentially have devastating impacts on a young person affecting their emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing.

■ Ensure your child's social media accounts are not publicly available, help them with adjusting privacy settings and establish rules around what types of content they should share online.

■ Encourage your child to delete contacts they don't know or talk to from their friend or follower lists on social media.

■ Encourage your child to delete friend or follow requests from people they don't know. A good tip is to get them to check whether new requests share mutual friends. If they feel unsure about someone, encourage them to delete the request.

■ Let your child know they can talk to you at any time if they receive any contact that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable - and there are steps you can take together.

■ If your child receives any unwanted contact from someone they know or a stranger, encourage them to report and block this person on the site or service used to contact them. Our eSafety Guide has online safety information and direct reporting links for different apps, games and social media services.

■ If the contact persists, or they feel they are in physical danger, contact your local police.

With the amount of pornography online, children are bound to be exposed to it. The topic of pornography can be awkward to talk about - how early should parents be raising it with their children?

Absolutely - when it comes to our kids being exposed to online pornography, unfortunately it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'. Parents are right to be concerned about this issue, so they should be proactive and take steps to help minimise the risks of exposure and potential long-term impacts of online pornography.

Understandably, many parents report feeling embarrassed talking to their kids about porn. But these conversations are important because allowing children to think things like violent porn are normal can have

What are the most common negative experiences teens can have online?

Reassuringly, our research also showed us that 66% of young people were able to reflect on their experience in a positive way and learn from their negative online encounters. And 40% became more aware of online risks, while 33% became more aware of who their real friends were, and 23% learnt to use the internet in a more balanced way.

What are the key things parents should be telling their teenagers about the online world to help keep them safe?

As parents and carers, we know our children better than anyone and have the best opportunity to support and guide them to have safer online experiences. The best way to help guide them on this journey is to be open, supportive and actively engaged in their online lives.

As teens develop their independence it can become harder for parents to enforce rules about their technology use. However, if these are introduced from a younger age, it can be easier to adapt and grow trust between you both.

Rather than telling, it's more about doing. It's not only important for parents to regularly engage with what they're child is doing online and set ageappropriate rules, they also need to be modelling responsible behaviour in their own technology use. This can be as simple as asking your child's permission before sharing a photo of them.

Respectful communication, responsible use of technology, the resilience to withstand harmful conduct or contact online, and the ability to reason and critically evaluate online content - these are the behaviours and skills that will help prepare young people for the range of different experiences they may encounter online.

WINTER 2019 9

your life It’s

The Austin family - Scott, Belinda and children Delilah and Spencer.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Belinda Austin opens up about family, wine and tough times

By Angie Hilton

Family is a priority for Belinda Austin, who has encountered some challenges in her jour ney as a mum.

BELINDA Austin is refreshingly honest. You know when someone is so honest that it makes you sit up in your seat and really listen.

Her life is an open book. She's been through some really tough times and come out the other side, so she is passionate about reaching out to others.

With two beautiful children and a third on the way, Belle and husband Scott Austin are secondgeneration owners of local wines Austins Wines and 6ft6.

As the daughter of esteemed Geelong Football Club CEO Brian Cook, Belinda has the same fire in her belly for work and a desire to make a difference.

Tell us about your births ...

Spencer: Well, I had been practicing

10 WINTER 2019

hypno-birthing in the lead up. I thought some meditation, a great relaxation music playlist and soothing essential oils would all help in my planned water birth. Well, as soon as I went into labour I was like turn off the music and that oil ... and I certainly didn't laze around in a bath! I laboured for 24 hours before finally having an epidural. After that it was another seven hours. I had a forceps delivery. Spencer was healthy but it was a pretty daunting experience for my first time.

Delilah: Delilah was the complete opposite. She was a big baby as I had gestational diabetes, so I had to be induced. This time I had the epidural straight up so there was minimal pain. It was a great experience.

Baby 3 (aka Gremlin): I'm booked in for an induction. I don't have any expectations but I just try to control what I can. I'm not anxious about the birth. Because my actual pregnancies are so hard with extreme morning sickness, gestational diabetes and pelvis instability, once I've had the baby I get all my energy back. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Belinda Austin Age: 35 Hubby: Scott Austin Profession: Co-owner and head of marketing at Austin's Wines & 6ft6 Children: Spencer, 5; Delilah, 3; and baby 3 (due August) Describe your hubby and children using three words for each ...

• Scott: Calm, thoughtful, handsome • Spencer: Sensitive, active, kind • Delilah: Feisty, funny, cuddly, independent • Baby 3 (AKA Gremlin): Intuitive, strong, mover What is your life motto?

Drink the wine, eat the cheese and buy the shoes

How do you and Scott find working as a team?

We are actually a great team. We have a daggy name - 'Scobelle'. At work he's the level-headed one who knows his numbers. I'm the creative one with a million ideas and naturally little regard for numbers or expenditure.

Thankfully, we strengthen each other and we actually get along well considering we live and work together.

At home we are a team - I'm definitely the organiser, diary management and on top of school, parties, etc. But he is the ultimate kitchen cleaner, washing man and the fun parent who keeps the kids active.

How do you find juggling motherhood with work?

I must say I love working. I love having daily goals to meet, and I'm very social so I love being around people. However, I've accepted that my career won't officially start until after 40.

I still work hard now but I know that mentally I can't be in two places at once. I'm a firm believer that work/life balance is a myth. I believe there are times when work is a priority and other times family is.

What would you ideally love to do after 40 when career becomes the main focus?

Aside from working with Scott, I would also love to work on some personal projects that mean a lot to me.

One is raising money for Friedreich's ataxia. My 34-year-old cousin had the rare disease and passed away this week. She had a major stroke, which is a complication of the FA disease. I feel like I won't stop raising money until they find a cure. The other cause I'd like to raise awareness and funds for is domestic abuse.

How are you feeling about life with Baby 3 (Gremlin)?

Scott's true strength and support really shone through after I had Spencer and I got diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (following a previous relationship) and also post natal depression.

I remember being in the car one day and I said to Scott 'I think I'm not well'.

He said, 'It's normal to feel a bit unsure when you have a new baby'. And I said, 'no, I'm thinking you and Spencer are better off without me'. That's when I knew I was at my lowest. I actually convinced they'd be better off without me. I remember lying in bed shaking and Scott would just hold me.

We were living with Scott's parents at the time. His mum Pam was basically there to help raise Spencer. She would come in each morning, pick him up out of my arms and take him for me for three hours.

It was 12 months before I actually started to feel like Spencer was my own child. I loved him, I was fiercely protective of him and I cuddled him, but I felt disconnected as a parent - like I was outside my own body. We are so close now thankfully.

It was such a dark time, but there were certainly positives that came from it. Like learning to ask for help and creating a community of people who helped raise Spencer. Scott's mum Pam now has a relationship with Spencer that I can't even put into words. It's just so special.

When I fell pregnant with Delilah, I got counselling early to avoid any triggers. But I was fine. I didn't get any PND or anxiety. I approached parenting Delilah in a very different way. I was much more instinctive - I fed when she was hungry and held her till she slept. I was starting to be a parent in my own way.

Delilah is now really independent. She loves a cuddle but loves to do her own thing.

What would you say to your 16-year-old self?

Not to compare yourself to other people, embrace who you are and love the body you are in

Six months after Delilah, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is a thyroid illness that makes you very tired, have sore muscles and gain weight. I put on about 25kgs within three months! So now my biggest trigger is 'how's my health going to go?' I'm no longer concerned about PND as I've done so much work on myself psychologically.

Favourite book?

I read a lot for pleasure. A recent favourite is The Rosie Effect. For business, Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur

My goodness! You've really been dealt some challenges. What do you feel like the life lesson has been throughout all of this?

Quirky habit?

Scott says I shake my leg when I'm thinking about something and my safe driving (I've never had a speeding fine)

I have learnt how strong I am and that I can get through anything. I've learnt to accept my limitations. When we start to think we have to be able to do it all to perfection, we lose out because we don't let people into our lives. I love the village approach. The pressure on mums to do it all these days is ridiculous.

Favourite movie?

Mary Poppins, Sound of Music and Beaches

What's your favourite way to spend a child-free day?

Sleep in, followed by lazy breakfast at a cafe, then a massage and facial, finished off with a catch-up with the girls over wine and cheese.

Is there anything you do now to prevent mental and physical health challenges?

Well, recently I accidentally booked into a 'silent' retreat called Nirvana Wellness Retreat. It was a 10-day detox but I didn't read that five days of that were meant to be silent (laughs).

I didn't think I'd survive! We meditated six hours a day - lying, walking and sitting, doing it in blocks of two hours at a time. Believe it or not, I made it and after five days I felt absolutely incredible. I was so grounded and peaceful. It really taught how to connect with myself and knowing the power is within me - not externally. It also taught me to think before I speak.

Continued on page 12 Belinda Austin is due to give birth to baby number 3 in August.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

WINTER 2019 11

What did you learn from the way your parents raised you that you wanted to pass on to your children?

Mum and dad separated when I was fairly young, but they have both been wonderful parents. Mum was just so dedicated and reliable - physically and emotionally. I remember special moments like when she would take us for hot chocolates after school. Mum and I really became best friends from when I was about 18. We tell each other everything.

Dad has always been so loving. I've always been his little princess. We have a remarkable relationship, which I feel really proud of. We also tell each other everything ... probably too much sometimes (laughs).

Your dad has a pretty incredible reputation in the AFL and especially in this town. Are you proud of his achievements?

He is an amazing man in so many ways, but I think his greatest achievement is being our father and being there for us no matter what.

Obviously his work has always had demands, but no matter what he's been there for us. I know he made career decisions that cost him financially just so he could always be near us.

Just recently I put it out there that I wasn't coping with this pregnancy and he just dropped everything, came and picked up Spencer and took him for the night. They got up in the morning and went for a sunrise walk together on the beach. I love the thought of him creating memories like this with his grandson.

What's one of your best parenting memories?

I was watching a TV show with Spencer about families and there was a focus on the different mothers in the show. Spencer looked at me, gave me a hug and said "mum, stay just as you are, I don't want mums like this... I just want you".

Would you say Scott is your rock?

Absolutely. He is just so stable all the time. He's beyond supportive and does so much for all the family. One thing I love about him the most is that he just has a bloody good time. We have a lot of fun together. He's an excellent dad - really hands on. I love watching them play.

What's the future of Austins Wines?

Well we're proud to say 6ft6 is in over 2000 stores Australia wide and we have the fifth highest selling pinot noir and pinot gris in Victoria. We grow 90 per cent of our grapes on site and also make the wine on site. We now sell into the USA and China as well.

Our focus is to try to get a cellar door built over the next year. It'll be very family oriented. We want a small animal farm and we want to make it somewhere you can bring a picnic rug and just hang out. We love how wines bring people together.

In the meantime, people can still come out on the first Saturday of each month between 11am and 3pm. We do tastings and sales, so if you come out, make sure you say hi! www.austinsandco.com.au Well Belinda, I want to say thanks for your honesty and vulnerability. I hope it encourages others to start speaking up and reaching out if they're in the same position.

My absolute pleasure.

Delilah and big brother Spencer on the family's winery.

Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue support service line 1300 22 46 36

Three-year-old Delilah Austin.

12 WINTER 2019

Five-year-old Spencer Austin. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

12415850-RC24-19

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

WINTER 2019 13

Find your local

your life It’s

playgroup

socialise, play and learn at playgroup

FINDING a place where your child can socialise, play and learn before starting school is not always an easy task.

There are many different settings and businesses screaming for your attention.

But one alternative you could think about is joining a playgroup.

Melissa Meehan spoke to Playgroups Victoria CEO Danny Schwarz about what playgroup is and why you should join one.

What is playgroup?

Playgroups bring young children, parents, families and communities together to learn and develop through informal play activities and social interaction.

It's here to help families to have fun, relax and to build friendships that last beyond playgroup. Playgroups work best when they are inclusive of all, creating an open, welcoming and friendly environment for all children and their families, no matter their circumstances, backgrounds or cultural identity.

Why should you join playgroup?

Playgroup is fun! At playgroup you get to meet other people going through similar experiences, ease the isolation that can come with caring for young children and find out about local community, health and support services. It allows families to enjoy this precious time with their kids while they develop and grow. It also provides reprieve from the daily grind. Parents - you can have a cup of tea and unwind while your children play in a safe space.

What are the benefits of playgroup?

There is significant evidence about the benefits of playgroup and it continues to build. Vital development occurs in the first five years of life, and the first year is especially critical.

The neurons in the brain are connecting, laying the foundations for the year to come. The social, emotional, physical and intellectual development that occurs through the play and interaction at playgroup is great for the mind and body. Knowledge builds and skills are refined. Children learn social skills and language skills. It readies children for the next step into kinder and prep.

Playgroup is not just about the kids, 14 WINTER 2019

it's also about parents are carers. Their job is one of the best in the world, but raising children is not always easy.

Playgroup is here to lighten the load.

You can connect with other people in the same stage of life as you. At playgroup you can share, have a coffee, relax in a safe environment. It helps to reduce isolation you may feel and discuss things of interest to you.

Playgroup also provides you will access to local services you may need.

Does it help kids socialise and learn through play?

Playgroup is all about socialisation, creativity, imagination, sharing, reading, learning, outdoor play, self-expression and fun. We know that play helps children to learn and so we encourage lots of it, in a variety of ways. Playgroup Victoria has a monthly calendar of different themes: Healthy Habits, Creative Play, Active Play, Music Month, Science Month, Letters and Numbers month, and so forth. With this we provide members with an activity booklet to make the most of all wonderful things activities and events happening, plus homemade and simple things to do. It does not have to be whizz-bang to be good for us. Playing in the garden is one of the best things to do. Playgroup encourages families to explore different topics, bond over shared interests, learn new things together, discover amazing things about the world around us.

Why is this so important?

Learning through play is the most human thing we do. Children are particularly good at it. They are curious and eager. They want to be part of the fun and they desire more information - so they go out and get it, often without the inhibitions of adults. While playing, they explore, they alert their senses to feel, smell, observe and listen. They collect subtleties while at play. This is how they make sense of the world when they do not yet have the words or ability to express it as they would like. As Albert Einstein said, "Play is the highest form of research". Play allows children to study, investigate, communicate, bond, show love and distress - and truly, it is fun which also makes it memorable.

Can parents attend or can they drop their kids off?

Playgroup is a time for parents, carers and kids to come together. In the early stages of a child's life, their parents are their first educators. Right down to facial expressions, voice and scent, there is a profound link and this is where children

first begin to learn, with the comfort of their parents close by. This support at playgroup gives children an extra confidence boost to explore and play.

Some children are very young who attend playgroup and it is essential for their parents to accompany them.

Are there playgroups with facilitators?

Some playgroups are run by facilitators while others are run by supported playgroup leaders, volunteers or parents. Playgroups can be run anywhere but are commonly held in halls, schools and community centres.

Increasingly, nature playgroups are run in the great outdoors.

What are the differences between structured playgroups and those run by parents?

Structured playgroups usually have a routine: an activity, snack time, free play, story time and a song. Parent-run playgroups are more flexible and may have different activities, nature play or outings. All playgroups are unique and the members of that group are free to make it whatever they would like it to be.

What age can kids join playgroup?

Any children aged 0-5 can join playgroup. We have baby playgroups sprouting up, that your Maternal Child Health nurse can usually direct you to, or at least that can guide you in the right direction to playgroup. Depending on your area, you can find something to suit you. Often, it is good to have a range of ages at playgroup, so that they can learn from one another. If older children are bounding ahead, activities or an older aged playgroup can be a better fit for them.

Is it a good introduction to learning away from home? A lead in to kinder?

Playgroup is a great introduction to a child's education journey. It prepares them for kinder and prep in a range of different ways.

How many children across Victoria are enrolled in playgroup?

There are around 10,000 Playgroup Victoria Members and around 40,000 children attending playgroup each week.

What if there isn't a playgroup in my area?

Visit our Find a Playgroup page and search your area. From here you can extend your search to surrounding areas. If you are having difficulty, feel free to call our membership team and they will assist you in finding a group: 1800 171 882 (within Victoria) or (03) 9388 1599 (outside Victoria)

All Saints Playgroup, Newtown www.allsaints.net.au, j.stubbings@bigpond.com Armstrong Creek Community Playgroup janelleol@hotmail.com Barwon Heads Bop Bop Playgroup Bop Bop Karrong Centre on (03) 5272 5999 Bell Post Hill Playgroup Inc, Hamlyn Heights 0418365903 Belmont Community Playgroup ksuggett@gmail.com Belmont Uniting Playgroup 0410 655 150 Bupa Treasures Playgroup, Bupa Ballarine Lakes Jannie.Piercy@bupacare.com.au Clifton Springs Playgroup Inc, Drysdale Community Church kimboss2000@hotmail.com Cloverdale Playgroup, Cloverdale Community Centre www.cloverdalecommunitycentre. com/contact_us.php admin@ cloverdalecommunitycentre.org.au Drumcondra-Geelong West Playgroup geelongwestplaygroup@gmail.com kazammi@gmail.com Flinders Avenue Playgroup, Lara Hall wickskiri@gmail.com Grovedale Community Playgroup fweight@geelongcity.vic.gov.au Kardinia Pre-Kinder Playgroup Bell Post Hill playgroups@kardiniachurch.com Kardinia Pre-Kinder Playgroup Grovedale larissa.taylor@kardiniachurch.com Kirralee Playgroup, Newcomb kirralee.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au Leopold Playgroup Incorporated www.facebook.com/LeopoldPlaygroup leopoldplaygroup@live.com.au Little Foxes Nature Playgroup, Fyansford & You Yangs michelle@thefoxguild.com thefoxguild.com Little Possums Community Playgroup, Corio 03 5224 9791 Newtown Playgroup Inc www.newtownplaygroup.org.au members@newtownplaygroup.org.au Ocean Grove Boorai Playgroup booraiwednesdayplaygroup@ hotmail.com Ocean Grove Playgroup Inc. leahcole_06@yahoo.com.au Roam, Play, Wild Playgroup, Leopold https://www.facebook.com/ roamplaywild/ roamplaywild@gmail.com Roslyn Playgroup Inc, Highton www.roslynplaygroup.com.au roslynplaygroup@ymail.com Ruthven Playgroups Inc, Newtown ruthvenplaygroup@gmail.com South Barwon Community Centre Playgroup, Belmont www.sbcc.org.au/playgroup 0352438388, info@sbcc.org.au St Anthony's Playgroup, Lara charmas12@hotmail.com St Leonards Playgroup playgroupstleonards@gmail.com St Lukes Playgroup Highton kr.klan@bigpond.net.au www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Boosting your basics Simple recipes for healthy kids

WHETHER it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, every meal is an opportunity to introduce your children to the joy of eating, help them discover new tastes and textures, and boost their nutritional intake.

of recipes and mealtime advice to provide inspiration and ideas for family-friendly food that's healthy, simple to prepare and packed full of flavour.

Following on from their highly successful debut cookbook, the hugely popular One Handed Cooks (Allie Gaunt, Jessica Beaton and Sarah Buckle) have created a new collection

■ Introduce solids, textured meals and finger foods to babies in ways that encourage mindful eating and food acceptance

The book aims to help parents:

■ Make every meal count by

maximising the nutritional content of favourite home-cooked meals, snacks and sweet foods using easy swaps and additions, to support your child's growth and development

■ Use daily structure, mealtime routines and pre-meal sensory-based activities to reduce anxiety around eating and instead encourage discovery and enjoyment

■ Manage and move on from common fussy eating behaviours, including food jags and food refusal

■ Adapt a single meal to suit the whole family - baby, toddler and adult

■ Create happy family mealtimes that nurture positive associations with food

CHOC CRUNCH MUESLI

METHOD

NO-BEEF BURGERS

MAKES 5 cups (500 g)

1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced) and line a baking tray with baking paper.

MAKES 8 small burgers

2 Place the cacao, maple syrup and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the cacao has dissolved and the mixture is evenly combined, then set aside to cool.

■ 2 tablespoons olive oil

3 In a large bowl, combine the oats, puffed rice, coconut, seeds and macadamias and stir to combine.

Add the melted chocolate mixture and stir to coat.

■ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 Place the mixture on the prepared tray and spread evenly. Bake for 5 minutes, give the pan a shake, and bake for a further 20 minutes, checking at 3-minute intervals, 3 or until toasted to o your liking. Allow y tto cool and stir tthrough the dates.

SServe with milk or Greek-style G yoghurt. y

■ 400 g tin brown lentils, drained and rinsed

PREP TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes ■ ¼ cup (25 g) cacao powder ■ ¼ cup (60 ml) pure maple syrup ■ ¼ cup (60 ml) coconut or macadamia oil ■ 1¼ cups (110 g) rolled oats ■ 2 cups (70 g) puffed rice or Rice Bubbles ■ ¾ cup (60 g) shredded coconut ■ ½ cup (80 g) mixed seeds, such as pepitas, sunflower seeds, chia seeds ■ ½ cup (70 g) roughly chopped macadamias ■ 4 medjool dates (80 g), pitted and chopped milk or plain Greek-style yoghurt, to serve

B BOOST YOUR BASICS: Seeds, nuts, cacao powder and oats all contribute to an impressive list of valuable nutrients and antioxidants that you wouldn't expect to see in a chocolate muesli.

STORAGE: Keep in an airtight jar for 10 days.

There's something about chocolate cereal that takes you straight back to the holiday mornings of your childhood. But what if it didn't have to be something to be eaten only on special occasions? Thankfully, our chocolate muesli is healthy enough that it can be enjoyed every day - by adults or kids! www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

ALLERGIES/ INTOLERANCES: Gluten/wheat: use quinoa, quinoa flakes or buckwheat flakes instead of the oats as a gluten-free option and rye or barley flakes as a wheat-free alternative to the oats. Nuts: replace the macadamia oil with coconut oil, and the macadamias with extra seeds or simply omit. Dairy: use dairy-free milk, and instead of the yoghurt, serve with a dairy-free alternative such as coconut yoghurt.

PREP TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 16 minutes ■ 1 carrot, peeled, coarsely grated ■ 1 brown onion, finely chopped ■ 1 clove garlic, finely chopped ■ 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup ■ 1 egg, lightly beaten ■ ¾ cup (60 g) rolled oats ■ ¾ cup (55 g) fresh multigrain breadcrumbs

■ 1 small handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped ■ Pinch of salt and pepper ■ 8 small multigrain bread rolls, to serve ■ 1 cup (40 g) baby spinach leaves, to serve ■ Fried onion, ½ cup grated cheese, tomato sauce or favourite toppings, to serve Always on the hunt for that elusive no-beef burger recipe? We think this one fits the bill. So easy to make, these burgers hold together beautifully and when topped with your favourite sauces and fried onion, there will be no holding back!

METHOD

■ Cater to common allergies and intolerences (such as dairy, gluten and wheat) with simple substitutions that don't compromise on nutrition

pan over medium-low heat. Add the patties and cook for 3 minutes each side, or until golden brown.

Drain on a paper towel and continue with remaining mixture.

4 Serve on bread rolls with baby spinach, fried onion, grated cheese and tomato sauce or other toppings of your choice.

BOOST YOUR BASICS: Some young children find a loaded burger literally too hard to wrap their head (or mouth!) around. Try mixing up the way you serve it: some may like it in a soft bun, while others prefer it chopped into fingers between 2 slices of bread - or simply just slice the patty and offer as finger food.

STORAGE: Store cooked patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To freeze, you can either flash freeze before or after cooking.

Store with baking paper dividing each patty in a freezer-proof bag for up to 2 months.

ALLERGIES/INTOLERANCES: Gluten/wheat: use gluten- or wheat-free breadcrumbs and bread rolls, use quinoa flakes instead of rolled oats, use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce or omit. Dairy: omit the cheese. Egg: omit the egg or substitute a 'chia egg' NOTE: Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, so choose a vegan version or substitute with g soy sauce for a vegan alternative.

1 Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a non-stick frying pan over rrot medium heat. Add the carrot and onion and fry for 5 he minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and fry for a further 2 minutes. Add the maple syrup and cook for 3 minutes or until slightly m caramelised. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir through the Worcestershire sauce and egg until well combined. e, 2 Combine the onion mixture, rolled oats, breadcrumbs, lentils and parsley in a food processor and season e with salt and pepper. Pulse the mixture until it just comes together, being careful not to over-process and turn it to mush. Use a ¼ measuring cup to scoop and shape the mixture into patties.

3 Heat the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying WINTER 2019 15

Active Kids

There are thrilling experiences for the whole family to enjoy at Live Wire Park.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Live Wire Park is nestled among the towering Otway treetops.

Visit Live Wire Park for a dynamic winter workout WARM up thi this winter i t att A Australia's t li ' mostt electrifying adventure attraction, Live Wire Park.

With the world's most extreme zipline and electrifying obstacles course for kids, there are plenty of experiences sure to get the blood pumping throughout the colder months.

Located less than one kilometre from Lorne's main beach and nestled among the towering Otway treetops, Live Wire Park offers a unique and fun day out for families.

There are a range of experiences for kids aged 6+ and adults.

weigh i h 30kg-120kg 30k 120k to t test t t their th i rope climbing skills on the Short Circuit.

which for hi h is i famous f f its it chocolate h l t brownies.

Featuring 53 mid-air obstacles, suspended bridges, tree-scaling activities, an electrifying Tarzan swing and a supercharged 10-metre QuickJump bungee, the Super Circuit is designed to test endurance, agility and problem-solving skills.

Adrenaline junkies will get a real thrill on the Shockwave Zip Coaster - the second longest and most extreme zip coaster in the world.

Live Wire Park is a family-owned business, run by locals who are passionate about the environment

Kids and adults must be at least 135cm tall and weigh 30kg-120kg to tackle the Super Circuit, which spans over an incredible 1.2 hectares.

The Short Circuit is aimed at smaller rope climbers (aged 6+) and features 26 hair-raising activities for kids to overcome and finish with a sense of achievement.

Children must be at least 110cm and

You'll feel like you are flying as you're strapped into the paragliding harness on the zip coaster, which stretches 525 metres and boasts twists and turns charged by the sheer force of gravity.

Live Wire Park also features climbing walls, slacklines and cubby houses, ensuring hours of endless fun for kids.

During the school holidays, parents can also warm up with an organic coffee from horse float cafe Lil Tinka,

It is the first completely off-grid elevated adventure park in Australia.

The park is powered by solar, and all water on site is collected, used and treated to reduce waste and optimise the use of natural resources.

Live Wire Park is located at 180 Erskine Falls Road, Lorne and is open daily from 8.45am-5pm (excluding Christmas Day).

For more information, visit livewirepark.com.au 12409019-CG13-19

Teens and adults will love the Super Circuit, a two-hour experience which

challenges even the h ll th mostt seasoned d high ropes lovers.

online bookings recommended: livewirepark.com.au

Experience nature supercharged at Live wire Park in Lorne, just off Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Offering electrifying outdoor experiences for all ages, we are home to Australia’s most extreme zipline.

180 Erskine Falls Road Lorne VIC 3232 Australia 16 WINTER 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Eye Gallery launches kids club

KIDS under the age of five don't complain of vision problems because they don't realise that it's not normal.

If left untreated, these kids will miss out on much of the fun of learning and may never reach their potential - all for the sake of a simple eye test and a pair of very funky glasses!

In Australia, undetected vision problems are estimated to affect approximately one in four Australian children - or 600,000 nationally.

According to international studies, these vision problems can impact a child's ability to succeed in school and their behaviour.

Most of a child's learning is done with their eyes - whether it's reading, writing, whiteboard work, computers, art, playtime or sports. The ability to use the eyes together, to focus appropriately, and to move the eyes when needed are essential to development and the ability to learn.

According to the experts, a child who avoids reading or writing has lower than expected comprehension or a short attention span, can often be incorrectly suspected of dyslexia or attention deficits whereas the real problem is with their vision - and often that vision problem can be easily managed by your/our optometrist.

Regular testing We encourage parents to bring their

Kids glasses are funky. children in for regular testing. Most optometrists would agree that a child's vision should be tested before they start school to check stereo acuity, colour vision, tracking, teaming and focusing.

Then, at 7-8 years of age, they should be checked to ensure visual efficiencies such as their ability to change focus, track words and sentences and to screen for visual information processing ability.

Further checks should be made

Teens and teeth

By Melissa B M li G Grantt

The Eye Gallery's Mandy Lovett. before entering high school and again at Year 11, when the workload significantly intensifies. Children who need vision correction should have their eyes tested annually as their vision can change quickly and often, and these changes may go unnoticed.

Frame choices While some young children dislike the idea of wearing glasses, once they experience visual clarity they quickly

change their mind - and fortunately there are so many choices nowadays.

At Eye Gallery, we want to look after your child's eye health and this has led us to launch our Eye Gallery Kids Club at Highton. We want your child to feel part of the Eye Gallery family.

The Eye Gallery is located at 89 Barrabool Rd, Highton. For more information, phone 5243 5600 or email info@eyegallery.net.au

whitening

whitening agent to penetrate.

Side effects PERFECT white smiles greet us every time we open a magazine, turn on the TV or log onto social media.

The selfie phenomenon is also driving people to look as beautiful as they can be - and that includes having a set of pearly whites.

So it's hardly surprising that more and more teenagers are demanding teeth whitening.

But do they really need it? And is it safe?

Peter Alldritt, a distinguished member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), says there are a range of things to consider before a teen whitens their teeth.

It's important for them to understand teeth whitening probably won't deliver dramatic results.

"They haven't been exposed to lots of tea and coffee and certainly not to cigarettes and red wine (I hope), so the results of teeth whitening might not be very spectacular in many teenagers," Dr Alldritt said.

Unfortunately however, through no fault of their own, some teens do have yellow teeth and have actually been teased.

Dr Alldritt says there isn't a particular age at which it's safe to whiten teeth.

But he recommends waiting until adult teeth are in place and have erupted completely, and for any orthodontic treatments to be completed.

There is also a risk that the pulp chamber (nerve space) will be much bigger, making it easier for the www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Teens considering whitening need consider the following side effects: tooth sensitivity, gum irritation and multicoloured teeth.

Dr Alldritt says teeth can become sensitive to cold drinks and even breathing in cold air, while gums can be irritated or ulcerated from the bleaching agent.

Multi-coloured teeth can also be a huge problem when using DIY kits.

Avoid DIY Whitening Teens may think DIY kits are a good option, especially with so many celebrities endorsing them on Instagram.

But these kits are extremely risky.

Selfie generation... the rise of social media is fuelling the desire for perfect white smiles.

First of all, the concentration of whitening agent (hydrogen peroxide) may be unknown.

"It may be too weak to be effective - a waste of time and money," Dr Alldritt said.

"Or, it may be too strong, causing much greater risk of side effects sensitivity, gum ulceration or burning of the gums."

Some products also use alternative whitening products, usually combined with citric acid, which can erode tooth enamel.

Teeth whitening is a popular dental procedure.

There is a real risk the product will ooze onto the gums due to the absence of a custom made try to hold the bleaching agent in place.

may cause ulceration to the oesophagus and irritation to the stomach," Dr Alldritt said.

"There is also a greater risk of swallowing the bleaching gel which

A final word of advice - consult your dentist first.

"They can discuss the options, advise whether your teenager is a suitable candidate for teeth whitening, and also supervise the process so that you get the best possible results."

WINTER 2019 17

Pregnancy

B Baby

Testing reveals best quality nappies

By Melissa Grant

How to survive an

unsettled newborn

TOP 10 DISPOSABLE NAPPIES IN THE CHOICE TESTS: ■ Pampers Baby Dry Size 3 (52 cents per nappy): 95% ■ Aldi Mamia Crawler (17 cents per nappy): 92% ■ Pampers Premium Protection New Baby Size 2 Nappy (57 cents per nappy): 91%

An osteopath’s perspective

by Dr Carrie Nisbet

■ Huggies Ultimate Newborn Size 1 (28 cents per nappy): 90%

AS a dedicated osteopath in Geelong and a mum of three boys under the age of two (including twins), I've developed a passion for treating mums and babies.

That passion drove me to follow my heart and open Bump & Bub Health Hub. Osteopaths have five years of university training. Our strength is our case history taking - we're always asking "why is this baby uncomfortable?" This helps establish the root cause so we're not just treating the symptoms.

I've become very attuned with looking at pregnancy and birth from the baby's point of view. A baby's position in utero can place some strain on their little body.

I also recognise that forces on a baby's body during labour, especially if there are interventions such as induction, forceps and ventouse suction, may cause some tightness in their connective tissues.

Here are my top three tips for surviving an unsettled newborn: 1. Have your baby checked and treated after birth by an osteopath with additional paediatrics training.

I see a lot of babies experiencing the following: trouble latching/ sucking on the breast and bottle, a head turning preference (which may interfere with their ability to feed comfortably) and irritability lying on their back in the car/ pram/cot. I also see babies with excessive wind and abdominal

■ Rascal+ Friends Infant Size 2 (29 cents per nappy): 90% ■ Aldi Mamia Newborn (14 cents per nappy): 89% ■ Baby Solutions Nappies for Crawlers (19 cents per nappy): 88% ■ Huggies Ultimate Size 3 (42 cents per nappy): 88% ■ Simply Snookums Small (29 cents per nappy): 88% ■ CUB Newborn Size 1 (17 cents per nappy): 87% 12418919-SN25-19

BUYING expensive disposable nappies doesn't guarantee quality, new testing shows.

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has tested 56 nappy products, with cheaper brands among those given top scores.

CHOICE tested 23 new formulations of nappies, including Huggies which has recently been at the centre of a consumer controversy with parents claiming some products have caused adverse reactions.

Scores for each disposable nappy were calculated by testing absorbency, leakage, rewetting and velcro strength.

The top rated product was Pampers Baby Dry Size 3 (which cost 52 cents per nappy), with an overall CHOICE score of 95%.

However Aldi Mamia Crawler nappies, which cost just 17 cents per nappy, came in second with a rating of 92%.

CHOICE Managing Editor Margaret Rafferty said the tests showed buying more expensive nappies didn't always pay.

"We found that paying more doesn't necessarily equal better quality, with some ALDI brands beating the scores of brands more than twice the price," she said.

"As for the Huggies brand at the centre of recent controversy, they did drop in our recent tests from 86 to 73%, mainly due to losing score in our leakage test."

Some Australian parents have claimed the new range of Huggies nappies have caused severe skin problems for their children. The Ultra Dry range was investigated by the Queensland Office of

Fair Trading, which found the range was within safe tolerances for all aspects they were tested for.

When deciding what nappies to use, Ms Rafferty said parents should consider the cost in the long-run.

She also said cloth nappies, currently used by only around 1 in 10 parents, should be considered as an alternative.

"Given that on average your child will go through around 6000 nappies before they graduate to undies, it's a good idea to put some thought into which option is best in the long run."

Dr. Brigid Sandell and Dr. Carrie Nisbet

Have your newborns checked by one of our experienced osteopaths

discomfort. Osteopaths use gentle hands-on techniques to release tightness in the body. Correct winding techniques help ease sore tummies. Tummy time and gentle exercises also help promote head and neck movement.

2. Don't overstimulate your baby.

They're experiencing everything for the first time and their nervous system isn't mature enough to deal with loud noises, people in their face, and being constantly passed around. Read your baby's cues. If they start to disengage, lose eye contact and become unsettled, try and recreate the environment of the womb so they feel safe - a warm, dark quiet room, swaddling and cuddles on the chest. This will help regulate their nervous system and promote calm.

3. Stimulate the vagus nerve through social engagement. In stressful situations, this nerve works hard to regulate and calm down digestion, heart rate and breathing. We have direct access to stimulating the vagus nerve through social engagement. Skin on skin contact, gazing into their eyes, gentle singing and humming, smiling facial expressions and rocking them stimulate the vagus nerve, which calms them down.

Osteopaths have techniques aimed at freeing up restrictions around the vagus nerve which may also help.

If you have any questions, email carrie@bumpandbub.com.au .

If you're interested in seeing if osteopathy can help your baby, make a booking at www. bumpandbub.com.au

s LATCHING & FEEDING DIFFICULTY s HEAD TURNING PREFERENCE s IRRITABILITY LYING ON THEIR BACK s ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT s SUPPORT PRE AND POST TONGUE TIE RELEASE

www.bumpandbub.com.au 162 Bellerine St, Geelong T: 0448 504245 18 WINTER 2019

12418375-SN23-19

Book online now.

HICAPS claims on the spot for eligible health funds.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Pregnancy

B Baby

Midwife guidance at the touch of a button NEW parents are exposed to an enormous amount of information from different sources throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond.

With family and friends offering advice with the best of intentions based on their own experiences and the internet providing limitless content based on popular search topics, it's easy to see how parents can become overwhelmed and confused.

It's not uncommon for parents to search for answers on the internet or seek guidance from someone close to them, but unless the information is coming from an expert like a midwife, how can we be sure that it is accurate and safe for our babies?

Hospital midwives are a trusted source for mums during their pregnancy, birth and those early days in hospital. It can be daunting for a new parent to leave the care and comfort of a hospital to start their life with their newborn which is perfectly understandable given how much they have had to learn in those first few days.

Epworth Maternity have created a video educational series to support new parents parents.

To help ease the transition from hospital to home, Epworth Maternity have created a video educational series to support new parents.

videos which cover everyday newborn topics like feeding, nappy changing, bathing, dressing and swaddling, plus topics for mums like self-care, exercise, nutrition and partner support.

The learning videos were produced with decades of clinical midwifery expertise as well as practical knowledge based advice. The series is broken down into individual two minute

Epworth Geelong Maternity Nurse Unit Manager Hayley Carter spoke about the important role of a midwife in guiding new parents in the parenting roles.

"Our families often comment that they wish they could take a midwife home with them," she said.

our parents need it."

"This video series offers the next best thing, providing an extension of our care from hospital into the home.

The video series is accessible for maternity patients on their point of care device when staying at Epworth Geelong and available to view online once they are at home.

"We know that parents rely heavily on the internet for information, tips and advice and this new video series offers expert guidance anywhere at any time

The Epworth Maternity video series is available online by visiting epworthgeelong.org.au/our-services/ maternity

Epworth Geelong Maternity

The perfect place for life’s moments

P PI PI207 1_GEE _GE _GEE_0519 GEE_0 _0519 0519 5

With expert obstetricians and midwives to support you through every phase leading to a beautiful new life.

epworthgeelong.org.au | Maternity services 03 5271 8322 Enter from Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds (next to Deakin University) 12418790-SN24-19

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

WINTER 2019 19

Pregnancy

B Baby

Mum wouldn't change a thing about her

identical, fraternal twins

By Melissa Meehan WHEN Rhiannon McLachlan first found out she was pregnant her partner Tem joked that it could be twins.

But it soon became a reality when a dating scan revealed the pair were set to grow their family by two.

"The sonographer says 'I've got news for you' and I say 'it's twins isn't it?'," Rhiannon says with a smile.

"And I just started crying - I was thinking 'I don't know how to look after one baby, how will I look after two?'"

But on the way home the couple started to think about all the positives about having twins.

They knew they wanted to kids and this meant Rhiannon could return to netball and work quicker, go on holidays sooner.

But the avid netballer says she couldn't imagine life being any other way.

Summer and Scarlett are now 22 months old and Rhiannon loves being a twin mum.

Summer (left) and Scarlet with Mum Rhiannon.

The duo are fraternal twins, but identical at the same time - given the medical term of dichorionic diamniotic DC/DA.

said that if they were both girls there was a chance they could be identical," she said.

"Basically they had their own separate housing when I was pregnant, so appeared fraternal - but they came from the same egg," she said.

"They had their own sac and placenta, but in the end the placenta's fused together."

"But there wasn't a test available when I was pregnant to find it out so I had to wait until they were born and that test confirmed it."

Luckily for Rhiannon her pregnancy was straight forward.

It's a startling statistic that 30 percent of so-called fraternal twins are actually identical - just like the Olsen twins.

She had no morning sickness whatsoever and worked up until the day she was induced.

"It wasn't a surprise for me, because mum knew about it and all the research

She planning on breastfeeding them but it didn't work out.

What your birth

"Its definitely easier now - when they are babies the challenge is trying to hold two crying babies at once, which is hard," she said.

to get their daughters involved in show business, but a friend tagged them in a casting callout on social media and it went from there.

"I cried a lot during the first six to 12 weeks.

"They were the right age, Caucasian and the same sex - they didn't ask for identical twins," Rhiannon said.

"I had all these ideas about not wanting to form bad habits - but I should have just not worried about that."

The girls are about to make their big screen debut, starring in Judy and Punch movie to be released later this year.

Rhiannon and Tem had no real plans

and the nurturing touch of a birth partner can be extremely comforting.

As the labour progresses, and things start to get real and the baby is just about to arrive, the mum can seek support from her birth partner, knowing that they are equipped to get them through.

EACH pregnancy, labour, birth and child is unique and different.

Almost every mum-to-be experiences a birth partner who feels overwhelmed, lost or confused as to how to provide appropriate support and care during pregnancy, and often doesn't want to think about labour and childbirth.

When a birth partner is supporting the labouring mum with massage, she will feel more relaxed and have an easier labour and birth.

And if the birth partner is feeling overwhelmed, this can only mean that mum is feeling isolated and unsupported as well.

Partner massage is a great way for couples to feel connected and empowered during pregnancy and it is a vital part of managing the stages of labour.

20 WINTER 2019

A dark comedy, Rhiannon laughs that it's probably not one she would let the girls watch until they are older - but enjoyed the experience.

partner can do in the delivery room

By Laura Calderone, perinatal massage specialist

Many birth partners may not have even thought about the labour and childbirth process. Blinkers on.

Ignorance is bliss. But birth is inevitable.

Waters will break. Labour will start. And your loved one will experience an exquisite surge of pain as the contractions start. The birth partner will feel lost - unless they are prepared to deal with this situation.

"So I sent a photo and they contacted me within a day and we met the director shortly after."

Partner massage empowers mums and birth partners by teaching them the skills to provide nurturing and loving touch during the first stages of labour.

Massage during the first stage of labour provides birth partners with the ability to support the labouring mum cope with contractions.

In the massage industry, these techniques are called 'contraction distraction'. These techniques help the labouring mum cope with the surge of each contraction, and the birth partner can find a way to manage feelings of anxiety and apprehension by taking a hands-on approach to labour.

Continuing massage at hospital can also help the mum feel grounded and supported. Often the transition from home to hospital (or other birthing place) alters the flow of contractions.

Massage is a great way for mum and birth partner to connect and support each other through this phase.

Despite all the attention being on her, a labouring mum can feel extremely isolated in the birthing suite. The sterile hospital setting can be overwhelming,

Throughout pregnancy, most mums have been poked and prodded with medical tools and feel as if their bodies are not their own. And when labour starts, mums can feel isolated and alone. With massage in labour, mums and birth partners will feel supported every step of the way.

To learn more about how massage can support your pregnancy and labour, contact Laura Calderone on 0407512009 or visit http:// lauracalderonemassage.com for more information. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Pregnancy

B Baby

Guiding mums on their

breastfeeding journey

By Melissa Meehan

often other medical professions are working with outdated information.

COLOURFUL author Pinky McKay demands attention when she walks into a room.

"It's not life or death if the baby has one bottle of formula - but often the mum just needs to have something to eat and drink and have a lie down."

Her bright pink hair might stand out from miles away but she's Australia's most recognised breastfeeding expert and best-selling author of four books.

Her gentle approach and quick wit make for great reading - but her real passion is to see mums happy.

"There's a lot of noise out there - but I take more of a holistic approach and if mums want support I am happy to provide it," says the lactation consultant.

"What we do know is that mums are doing their best, and I want to let them know that breast is normal and I want to support people that want to breastfeed."

Pinky said stress often limits the hormones that produce milk and mums often need gentle support without being "bulldozed".

"If the mum wants to do it (breastfeed) she doesn't need to be told not to do it," she said.

"Every woman is different, every baby is different and every birth is different - it takes a while for things to work out."

You may also know Pinky as the producer of the famous 'Boobie Bikkies', a brand that supports breastfeeding mothers.

And that doesn't mean that mums with little supply or other issues that affect their ability to breastfeed are failing their babies - it just means that there may be another approach.

After seeing far too many exhausted and stressed mothers who don't have time to have a shower let alone bake some lactation cookies, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Pinky said she recently assisted a mum who had glandular tissue and was never going to have a full supply of breast milk and helped her use donor milk.

"A friend said to me that I should make them - new mums don't have the chance to," she said.

"I'm here to help the people who want to do it," she said.

"I see all the hard stuff and I think it would be fabulous if lactation consultants were on Medicare because

Mums want not a pretend

"I was in Sydney at the time and came back to Melbourne and the rest is history."

Go to www.pinkymckay.com.au for more information on breastfeeding or to find where you can buy one of Pinky's books.

GIVEAWAY: PINKY McKay is giving five lucky readers a copy of her book and some Boobie Bikkies.

For your chance to WIN, visit geelongcoastkids.com.au/competitions and click on Pinky McKay.

honesty,

perfect life

By Melissa Meehan

questions day in and day out," she said.

AMELIA Lamont is a midwife and sleep consultant whose own kids had moments when they refused to sleep.

"So I thought 'what better way of putting together all the information, in my own honest words and how I speak, than to do a book?'

Armed with all the tricks of the trade, she couldn't get her son Alfie to sleep when he was three months old and her second child wasn't much better.

"So I wrote my preggy guide and then all these mums asked me when I was writing a book on birth - so I'm doing that now."

"I'm a sleep consultant and my daughter Essie is the worst sleeper," she laughs.

She has plans to grow the series too, covering birth, birth classes, postpartum and the fourth trimester.

"I just say it how it is."

It's that honesty that has seen her grow her Instagram following to 38,500.

Better known as The Midwife Mumma, Amelia maintains she herself is the worst sleeper out of anyone.

Her mind doesn't stop and when she does finally lie down, she puts her phone down, gets an idea and picks it back up again.

So it's no surprise that as well as working as a midwife, a sleep consultant and running a successful blog - she added author to her many talents.

"I was getting regular messages from mums and pregnant women and found that I was answering the same www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Breastfeeding expert and author Pinky McKay.

"I think mums on social media are desperate and tired and want someone to relate to, and I think that's why I have such a loyal following - it has been organically grown and I'm my authentic self," she said.

"I'm the same on my Instagram stories as I am in real life and people seem to respect that."

While most people portray the perfect life on Instagram, Amelia celebrates the highs but doesn't hide the lows.

"People don't tell you the truth on Instagram or often in real life when it comes to parenting," she said.

"I'm a midwife and I know all the settling techniques but even today Essie

Midwife Mumma Amelia Lamont tells it how it is on Instagram.

Picture: Rob Carew is such a little turd and she can be up until 10 at night.

"I'm a sleep consultant and I've been through it - and it's nice to be able to tell people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I've been there."

Not academically minded at school, Amelia always wanted to have kids and worked full-time as soon as she finished high school.

But with so much focus on kids and babies - she thought there was more she could do.

So she applied to become a midwife.

"And it's been the best thing ever," she said.

"It was an intense course but look at where it has brought me six years on."

THE MIDWIFE MUMMA'S PREGNANCY GUIDE includes: ■ Week to week of pregnancy from conception to birth

■ Info on your first GP visit to health professionals you may see throughout your pregnancy ■ Public vs private ■ General pregnancy info from her point of view ■ Things that no one tells you about your pregnancy & loads more Go to www.themidwifemumma.com. au to buy your copy.

GIVEAWAY The Midwife Mumma is giving five lucky readers a copy of her Pregnancy Guide.

For the chance to WIN your very own copy, visit geelongcoastkids. com.au/competitions and click on Midwife Mumma.

WINTER 2019 21

Education

School's life community

By Geelong Baptist College principals Judy Sobey and Neil Wetmore WHEN you enrol your child at Geelong Baptist College they become part of a community that spans your child's entire education, from foundation to year 12.

Their seamless transition is partly due to our positive learning environment and high behaviour expectations and standards.

Our extensive grounds enable our primary and secondary students to socialise and learn from each other.

Our role as teachers is to guide students to be responsible, confident, respectful and reliable young adults and we understand all too well the importance of these qualities being established in the early years and fostered throughout their schooling.

Collaborative activities across the school are important for students to learn how to live well in the community.

Opportunities for students to participate across primary and secondary include drama performances, excursions, SRC involvement and Anzac Day and graduation assemblies.

Many families enrol their children at Geelong Baptist College because they are looking for a seamless transition and consistent behaviour management.

Our discipline policy is based on the cornerstones of justice, acceptance,

learning and safety, and students find themselves secure in the knowledge that they are in a safe and consistent environment, conducive to learning.

Starting high school can be quite daunting for adolescents, so we have a very seamless transition when children go from year 6 to year 7, with some staff teaching across both the primary and secondary areas.

Geelong Baptist College focuses on fostering self-worth and ensuring that each child can reach their full potential.

The college provides academic, creative, artistic and sporting opportunities for each of its unique students.

We are a growing independent school offering a vast array of pathways leading to a variety of careers.

Our staff and chaplain are always there for the students. We underpin our values by teaching using a biblical lens and by encouraging our students to see the goodness in the world, through eyes of awe and wonder.

We know our students very well and we value the individuality and uniqueness of each child.

As a consequence, we are committed to assisting and guiding every child to reach their individual goals and full potential.

Our vast private bus fleet, comprising of five top quality buses, covers all areas from Point Cook to the Bellarine

Geelong Baptist College focuses on ensuring each child reaches their full potential.

Peninsula and into the hinterland reaching as far as Teesdale, Lethbridge, Bannockburn, Little River and the surrounds.

We would be delighted to meet you and encourage you to visit Geelong Baptist College at Lovely Banks in order to get a sense of who we are and what we have to offer the Geelong community.

Geelong Baptist College teachers guide students to be responsible, confident, respectful and reliable young adults.

ARTY PARTIES

ArtyParty

a unique way to celebrate ARTY YP Party t iis th the new and d unique i party option for kids and adults in the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Geelong region.

With two hours of non-stop fun and music, Arty Party lets your child celebrate their special day the artistic way.

Arty Party is also a great way to celebrate an adult's birthday or a special event whether it's a corporate gathering or hen's party.

Art Classes: Kids 6 - 12yrs Teenagers Year 7 - VCE, Adults s 3CHOOL (OLIDAY 7ORKSHOPS s $ISABILITY 7ELCOME &OR FURTHER INFORMATION CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE

Ph: 0437 582 772 22 WINTER 2019

To top it off, each guest at the Arty Party gets to take home their very own masterpiece, helping them to remember your special day.

You can find suggestions for an activity with all materials supplied listed on the art'sKool website.

12416670-CG23-19

WWW ARTSKOOL COM AU %VERIST 2OAD /CEAN 'ROVE

Guests do two hours in-studio activity creating and celebrating your event.

So celebrate your event, your group or your child's special day a different way this year by booking an Arty Party.

It' greatt for f all ll ages because b It's everyone has an artist inside!

Here's what you need to know about Arty Party: â– When: Fridays after 4pm.

Saturdays at 10am or 1pm.

Sundays at 10am or 1pm or call. â– Where: art'sKool Studio, 1/20 Everist Road, Ocean Grove, Victoria. â– Catering: BYO party food and cake. Catering can be provided on request, and we will do the clean up! â– Invitations: Invitations can be provided on request. art'sKool also runs holiday, term, and weekend art and pottery classes and workshops for kids, teens and adults.

Call Kaz on 0437 582772 to discuss your ideas, or visit www.artskool. com.au to register your event.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

CARE CHALLENGE ACHIEVEMENT

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

WINTER 2019 23

Education

Homework in primary schools -

do we need it?

By Danielle Galvin

they come home and sit down again.

IN a changing digitised world, one education expert believes it's time to shake-up the traditional approach to homework and get with the times.

"It ties in with some research, some years ago, that showed homework, particularly in primary schools, was really a waste of time. It was a construct that parents wanted, it was a way of keeping kids quiet and under the thumb.

Dr Ian Lillico has been working as a teacher, deputy principal and principal for 31 years in Western Australia.

He believes there's a different approach to learning, homework and after hours activities that many schools have adopted, and parents should consider.

It's called the homework grid.

Dr Lillico spells out the approach by way of example.

He believes sending children to their rooms to study, revise and complete daily projects or tasks isn't doing our kids any favours.

Different "cells" represent a different task - so daily tasks, which could be counted as homework, doing a chore around the house, discussing bills or helping a parent with the shopping, taking part in an activity outside, or even meditation.

He believes a major factor in children leading sedentary lifestyles is the fact that they spend hours of a night time locked up in their rooms, either completing homework tasks for the next day at school, or in front of a screen.

"Everything in our schools has changed," he said.

"I suppose we as teachers and parents expect kids to do the old analogue form of learning, which is copying things out and so on.

"The other reason for a change in homework is that kids are already very sedentary and we've got to make sure we keep them moving and active because they are sitting down at home, they are being driven to school, and then they sit down at school and then

"But it wasn't really successful in making them productive."

While he doesn't believe in ditching homework all together, he says there are ways that it can be redefined.

Some ideas include getting kids to read to their parents, playing a game with an adult, or doing something creative.

"Traditional homework still has some role in areas where you've got this assignment due in in a week's time," he said.

Sending children to their rooms to study isn't doing them any favours, an expert says.

"When that happens they can that fit that in with sporting connections, family things, it allows kids to manage their time within that week or within that fortnight.

kids are very happy to sit behind a console or a screen."

"When we've got this traditional homework - which is - you have to have this done by tomorrow, we don't know what the home situation is like.

It's about getting kids to contribute in a small and meaningful way at home, get talking to their parents again, as well as revising and learning some key principles like learning to read and times tables.

"We know homes have changed dramatically. We don't want to impose a regime of homework that really is about 30 or 40 years old where we don't use it as well these days.

"There has been a massive change in our society, in technology and a massive reduction in children being active, in climbing trees and all those types things.

"We have to be aware they already spend a fair amount of time sitting down when they are at home, we have got to get them moving, get them active, and get them talking with adults and with other people.

"And at the moment, as we know,

He says the idea of the homework grid is to marry up the school's approach to homework, as well as family life.

"The types of jobs they will be doing are very different - we have to give them those skills to think on their feet and be interpersonal with other people, to know how to provide themselves some leisure some physical activity and communicate with adults.

"Writing things in a book or memorising things doesn't do that."

There's also merit in encouraging the two-way dialogue with parents and children.

As we know, with parents leading increasingly busy, hectic lives, that communication can be lost. And it's

something all parents have to work at, putting the phone down, switching off from work and commitments, and engaging with your child.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading child psychologist, has spoken about the need for parents to engage with their children for just eight minutes a day.

Dr Lillico agrees. He believes many kids would be lucky to get eight minutes of their parent's time and undivided attention each day.

"We want (parents) to spend time with their kids by going out and playing, doing chores together or doing activity with their child," he said.

"When they are sitting there doing something complex (like homework) something they should really be doing in the classroom, it's not actually giving the parent and child the opportunity to interact positively.

"I find a number of researchers, like myself, are finding the interaction between parents and child sometimes is zero in a 24-hour period."

An easier way to find local schools

IT is now easier for parents to find out what school zone they live in thanks to the launch of a new interactive website.

The state government has created a simple and clear website so, for the first time, Victorian parents can enter their home address online and see their local school zone.

A number of anomalies in school zoning have also been addressed.

Previously, some homes were excluded from a school zone, and in some cases, school boundaries overlapped.

The Find My School website also includes zones for the new schools 24 WINTER 2019

opening in 2020.

The website allows parents to search for their closest school as well as find other nearby government schools.

Schools can be found by typing in a residential address or suburb, or searching by school name or categories such as primary, secondary, or specialist school.

The new website aims to provide parents with clarity and consistency on what their government school options are.

Parents can look up school zones online at: www.findmyschool.vic.gov. au www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Entertainment

Food,

glorious food and loads of fun

THE Central Geelong Kids Fun Guide is your guide to what's happening in Central Geelong these school holidays.

The Food and Fun themed Kids Fun Guide includes over 100 sessions of activities to keep the kids busy this winter. Activities include a Totally Unreal virtual reality experience, gardening activities, fun crafts, and visual arts.

During the second week of school holidays, Central Geelong has teamed up with sister event Taste of Central Geelong food festival so that your tiny chefs can try their hand at pizza making, a Sri Lankan cooking class, cupcake decorating, making beeswax sandwich wraps, and loads more yummy activities.

Highlights of the program include: Totally unreal - virtual reality experience Where: 111-113 Lt Malop St (next door to Toyworld), Geelong Week 1: Monday 1 July - Friday 5 July, 10am - 2pm Week 2: Monday 8 July - Friday 12 July, 10am - 2pm Bookings: Not required (drop-in activity) Experience the magic of virtual reality. Ride the VR Candy Coaster, go to Ocean Rift (the world's first VR aquatic safari park) or try out VR Wing-suit Flying. There's something for everyone to enjoy.

Geelong Cats player and 2019 ambassador for the Central Geelong Kids Fun Program Rhys Stanley is excited about the food-themed Central Geelong Kids Fun Program.

Children will receive a morning tea pack and a two for one carousel ride voucher. For children aged 3-8 years.

Build your own taco

Cupcake decorating

Session 1: 11am-11.45am Session 2: 3pm-3.45pm

Biscuits with Bronte @ The Carousel

Where: Waterfront Kitchen, Deakin University, Western Beach Rd

Where: The Carousel, 1 Eastern Beach Rd

When: Monday 8 July, 10.30-11.30am

When: Wednesday 10 July, 9.30am 10.15am Bookings: Open 19 June at centralgeelong.com.au/events/114453 Bronte Stead will read from his book 'The Broken Horse'.

Cost: $5 per cupcake Bookings (preferred): Open 5 June at 5227 8641 or wfkitchen@deakin.edu.au Kids can be their own MasterChef and decorate their very own cupcake that looks as good as it tastes.

Where: Mojo Mama, 54 Moorabool St When: Thursday 11 July

Cost: $15 Bookings (essential): Open 5 June at eat@mojomama.com.au or 5298 2748 Build your very own taco creation at Mojo Mama and enjoy a fun family day in Central Geelong. Each child will make two tacos and can eat their creation.

The Central Geelong Kids Fun Guide

will be released on Wednesday 12 June at centralgeelong.com.au/schoolholiday. Online bookings via the website will open on Wednesday 19 June at 12pm.

Register at www.centralgeelong. com.au/school-holiday to automatically receive a copy of the Kids Fun Guide prior to each school holidays. You will be notified by email when it's ready to download.

The Tastes of Central Geelong program will be released on Wednesday 5 June at www.centralgeelong.com.au/tastes.

Waurn Ponds set to raise

$12,000 for Kids Appeal Geelong WAURN Ponds Shopping Centre are proud supporters of the Barwon Health Foundation Kids Appeal, raising money for a new Geelong rehabilitation centre for children and youth.

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre has raised $7,674.90 from recent in-centre events - the inaugural Easter Egg Scramble and 'get your Easter face on' face painting activities alone raised $2,483.

With three upcoming fundraisers, the partners are on track to raise well over $12,000.

Barwon Health Foundation Kids Appeal Ambassador Keisha recently visited the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre team to thank them for their support.

Five-year-old Keisha has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy but is achieving amazing things thanks to the help of a dedicated team of doctors and therapists.

Her family are big supporters of the appeal and say that having a new centre for kids just like Keisha will be amazing for families in the Geelong region. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre Marketing Manager Danni Unsworth said the centre was ecstatic to deliver nearly $8000 in funds for the Kids Rehabilitation public project this financial year.

"The partnership to date is incredibly rewarding with Barwon Health Foundation volunteers sparing their time to encourage public support during key in-centre events and activities," Ms Unsworth said.

"Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre shopper generosity has been positively outstanding and we can't thank our customers enough for supporting our fundraising efforts."

In July, Waurn Ponds will offer a range of free Nickelodeon themed activities alongside a gold coin donation for collectable badge making.

The Kids Appeal Geelong has raised $1.5 million to date of the $3 million needed to build the state-of-the-art centre.

The centre will include two rehab gyms, therapy kitchen, private consulting rooms as well as an outdoor therapy playground.

Celebrating the Easter events fundraising effort at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

WINTER 2019 25

books

Book celebrates the

changing face of Australian families

By Danielle Galvin

- we all have a place we belong."

THESE days, Australian families look very different from the traditional, nuclear family unit of decades gone by.

That's partly why author Tenielle Stoltenkamp felt it was time to do justice, in the form of a children's book, to the diverse, blended, co-parenting, single parent families and others who may not always be depicted in the pages of kids books.

Growing up, she was an only child with a single mum, with half siblings and step families.

Her new book, 'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family', depicts a more modern, changing world where families differ greatly.

"The reaction has been mostly positive. We've had so many people say 'finally - this is my story' or 'this is the book my family has been looking for'," she said."Other people may feel challenged by the notion that we're looking beyond just 'traditional' families in this book. This isn't the case at all.

"We're celebrating and depicting all families and embracing the reality that every family is a little different, but we are ultimately one big family after all."

Stoltenkamp hopes the messaging in 'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family' is clear to young readers.

"Our aim is for every child to see their own family on the pages of this book and to know that - even though every family looks and does things differently

It's this sense of belonging that's an important thread in the book.

Children are often very accepting by their nature, but may have questions about the make-up of a family that looks completely different to their own.

"How we, as adults, respond to these questions can shape their view on diversity," Stoltenkamp said.

"Whatever the makeup of a family unit, diversity is something we can all embrace and celebrate."

Talented artist and illustrator Go Suga is behind the breathtaking imagery in the book.

He wanted to bring it to life as well as breaking down the status quo of the traditional family structure.

Stoltenkamp said the style of the illustrations was incredibly important to complement the narrative.

"It was a tough brief for an illustrator - we were basically asking them to avoid as many stereotypes as possible, remove elements of race and gender, and ensure the counting element of the book was clear," she said.

"Go's unique aesthetic was perfect for the complexity of the task and his personal ethos and passion aligned with the vision of the book.

"Our goal was for every child to see themselves and their family represented on the pages of the book."

Stoltenkamp's vision is that the book will be read as a family, or even in

Children's author Tenielle Stoltenkamp classrooms across the country.

unique traditions and cultures together."

"I like to imagine kids connecting over the similarities and shared interests between families, or learning about

'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family' is available at www.myfamilythebook.com

Children’s books..

A Boy and a Dog

Mum for Sale

We're Stuck!

Boss Girl

Cowboy & Birdbrain

Shae Millward, illustrated by Jenni Goodman

Zanni Louise, Illustrated by Philip Bunting

Sue deGennaro

Hilary Rogers

ERROL, the lovable little penguin returns with a cheeky tale. It's a tale that many children will relate to - it's about being annoyed when your mum won't get off the phone!

GIRLS will love Boss Girl, the second book in the Girltopia trilogy by Melbourne based author Hilary Rogers. In the follow up to successful Girltopia, a city becomes gripped by a strange virus that only affects males. As the race heats up to find a cure for the virus, Clare and her best friend Arabella have to keep a big secret.

Things get really complicated when Clara starts getting messages from a group called The Girlhoods. Who can Clara trust? Who must she protect?

Adam Wallace, illustrated by James Hart

A BEAUTIFUL story about a chance meeting that turns into a special friendship between a lonely boy and a lonely dog.

EVERY morning in Building 24, on the busy side of town, a group of animals share a lift but never really talk to each other.

Before meeting, both feel totally alone and misunderstood. Together, the boy and dog discover true friendship and happiness.

But will their adventure be over when the dog's owner finally comes forward?

A heartwarming tale that explores the connection between animals and children.

With rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations, A Boy and a Dog is a joy to read to young kids.

New Holland Publishers, $16.99 26 WINTER 2019

After being ignored by his mother while she's talking on the phone to a friend about what happened to the Fryer family at Ice Mart, little Errol decides it's time to put his mum up for sale!

With fun illustrations by the talented Philip Bunting, this is a cute little read for kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

Then one day the lights go out in the lift and they get stuck inside.

Poor little Turtle bursts into tears and reveals it's his birthday. Fortunately, the resourceful animals surprise little Turtle with a celebration of sorts before the firefighters arrive.

A lovely story about making friends from the award-winning author and illustrator, Sue deGennaro, that's perfect for kids aged 3+.

A thrilling read for kids aged 11+.

YOU know you're in for a wacky read when the cover warns 'We deliver F.A.R.T.S!' and this book doesn't disappoint. Mind you, F.A.R.T.S actually stands for Fast and Reliable Tracking Service as the main characters - Cowboy and Birdbrain - work for the I.F.F.Y delivery company where they deliver POOP (Parcels Or Other Packages). Hilarity ensues when they are given a package to deliver along with three rules, including do NOT say the P word. What could the P word be? For kids aged 7+.

Scholastic, RRP $14.99

Scholastic, $12.99

Scholastic, RRP $24.99 www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Calendar

What's on this

winter

7-10 JUNE

NATIONAL CELTIC FESTIVAL This event is regarded as the country's premier Celtic festival, attracting more than 15,000 people each year.

The event runs at Portarlington over the June long weekend, from 7-10 June.

It's held at various venues within the town, including community halls and spaces, the hotel, restaurants, cafes and churches.

Marquees are also set up on the foreshore.

22 JUNE GEELONG DOLL TEDDY SHOW

& CRAFT

The annual Quota Doll Teddy & Craft Show is on again.

mini movie game zone, gadget machine touch screen, Shimmer & Shine glamour zone and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles display.

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre Weekdays only, 11am - 2pm

10am-4.30pm Adult $10, child $4 and concession $7

10 JULY

28 JUNE - 14 JULY

BISCUITS WITH BRONTE THE CAROUSEL

WINTER WONDERLAND ICE SKATING FUN

Skating sessions run for 45 minutes.

Queenscliffe Bricks features awesome LEGO creations and models where kids can enjoy master classes, enter competitions and make some great creations.

This event is organised by the Rotary Club of Queenscliffe with all proceeds going to Rotary projects.

Location: Point Lonsdale Primary School Hall, Bowen Road Point, Point Lonsdale Saturday 8 June 2019, 9am-4.30pm, Sunday 9 June 2019, 9am-3pm Cost: Free and ticketed areas (LEGO play areas are free, display areas are ticketed). Adult $10, Child (age 4-14) $6, Under 4s free.

20 JUNE SKATE NIGHT AT THE PARK Informal tuition from COGG youth development staff. A skateboard only event for ages 6 and above. Entry free.

The Park, 402 Thomson Road, North Geelong, 6pm -9pm www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

A festival of food, flavours and fun that showcases the fabulous cafes and restaurants of Central Geelong.

For more information, visit centralgeelong.com.au/tastes

Where: The Carousel, 1 Eastern Beach Rd

1 - 12 JULY

For more details, including session times and ticketing, visit the Queenscliff Harbour website.

WIN AT NICKELODEON PHOTO BOOTH

1 - 12 JULY

Visit the Nickelodeon Photo Booth at Waurn Ponds over the school holidays.

TOTALLY UNREAL - VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE Experience the magic of virtual reality.

Ride the VR Candy Coaster, go to Ocean Rift (the world's first VR aquatic safari park) or try out VR Wing-suit Flying. There's something for everyone to enjoy.

Where: 111-113 Lt Malop St (next door to Toyworld), Geelong Week 1: Monday 1 July - Friday 5 July, 10am - 2pm

Post a photo to Facebook or Instagram using #wpsctakeover and tagging @waurnpondssc and @ nickelodeon_au for your chance to win a family holiday to Nickelodeon Land at Sea World on the Gold Coast or 1 of 100 Nickelodeon Showbags.

For full details of characters, appearance times and terms and conditions, visit www.waurnpondssc. com.au Photo booth near Kmart on weekdays only, 11am - 2pm

Week 2: Monday 8 July - Friday 12 July, 10am - 2pm

1-12 JULY

Bookings: Not required (drop-in activity)

COLLECTABLE BADGE MAKING

1 - 12 JULY NICKELODEON ACTIVITIES AT WAURN PONDS Nickelodeon will takes over Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre these school holidays with heaps of fun activities and Nickelodeon character appearances over two fun weeks. Kids will be able to enjoy a Paw Patrol scooter safety track,

@

Bronte Stead will read from his book 'The Broken Horse'. Children will receive a morning tea pack and a two for one carousel ride voucher. For children aged 3-8 years.

Housed within a giant marquee, the rink and toboggan run is available for day and evening seasons.

QUEENSCLIFFE BRICKS

TASTES OF GEELONG

Sample gourmet food and drink, learn tricks of the trade from local chefs, wine and dine, and participate in food themed events.

This year's event will be held at a new venue - the Masonic Centre, 25 Regent Street, Belmont.The event will raise funds for the Andrew Love Wellness Centre. It will feature 40 stallholders, catering and raffles.

Strap on your skates for some ice-skating fun and tobogganing at Queenscliff Harbour's Winter Wonderland.

8-9 JUNE

5 - 28 JULY

When: Wednesday 10 July, 9.30am - 10.15am Bookings: Open 19 June at centralgeelong.com.au/events/114453

17 AUGUST GEELONG BABY AND CHILDREN ' S MARKET Featuring over 50 stalls, this is a great family day out. Pick up some bargains from stallholders selling clothes, shoes, toys, prams, cots, car seats, highchairs and more.

There's coffee, a sausage sizzle and jumping castle on site.

Entry $3 for adults, children free 9am-1pm at Barwon Valley Activity Centre. 1 Barwon Heads Road

Nickelodeon Collectable Badge Making sessions will be held at Waurn Ponds over the winter school holidays. For a gold coin donation, kids can make a collectable Nickelodeon character badge. There are different badges to make every day. Gold coin donations from this badge making activity will go to the Kids Appeal Geelong, which is raising funds for a new kids rehabilitation centre.

Weekdays only, 10am - 2pm WINTER 2019 27

INTRODUCING

eyegallery

Kids Club

Professional Optometry - Stylish Designer Glasses Bulk Billed Eye Tests - Claim Health Fund In-store

Dedicated Eye Care Professionals for the whole Family 89 Barrabool Road, Highton VIC 3216 Australia - 5243 5600 - 20 Malop Street, Geelong VIC 3220 Australia 5222 1260 12419881-CLG24-19

28 WINTER 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au