Sunshine Coast Kids Today Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019-20

Cover Story

PERSONAL TOUCH Tapping into kids' interests On the move

with 16 children!

The key to

surrogacy success Real meaning of SCHOOL

REPORTS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

A Star News Group Publication

About Us Pack plenty into summer WELCOME to the summer edition of Sunshine Coast Kids Today.

Regular editor Melissa Grant is away on maternity leave, having welcomed her second child, Brayden, to the world in September, In her absence, our team of reporters and contributors have put together a collection of stories to both inform and entertain readers.

Rachel Hickingbotham caught up with Australia’s largest family, the Bonells.

There are 16 kids in this Queensland family, ranging in age from 5 to 30.

My grandfather was one of 16, which was not as uncommon in the early part of last century. Half a dozen of them signed up to serve in World War II and, when taking sons-in-law into account, their mother had to worry about the fate of 10 men fighting abroad. Thankfully, most returned.

Jeni and Ray Bonell don’t have that worry, but a recent

decision to call a family meeting to announce a holiday to Port Douglas did require military-type planning and precision. It’s a fascinating read.

Noted author Steve Biddulph looks at the changing face of parenting, in an edition that also includes an insight into how to life with an autistic child and looks at a surrogacy success story.

There are some advice for grandparents charged with looking after the little ones over the school holidays and, handy at this time of year, tips on how to read between the lines of the school report card.

There is also an insight into a ground-breaking approach to learning at St Andrew’s Anglican College, where the kids are encouraged to follow their passions on the path to learning.

Like six-year-old Lucy, who is putting together a plan to help save the koalas.

After the recent fire events in Peregian and across the coast, she was devasted at the thought

of what would happen to her favourite cute and cuddly Australian animal.

Read about her quest in the Education section.

Those looking for something to keep the kids amused over the summer break should flick the pages over to the Enterainment and Calendar pages.

The Little Seed Theatre Company’s troupe of talented performers will stage the much-loved children’s classic Charlotte’s Web at the Eumundi Arts Theatre in January.

We look forward to welcoming Melissa back in the early part of 2020.

Don’t forget to like Sunshine Coast Kids Today on Facebook and Instagram and keep an eye on the website sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au for the latest parenting news and things to do on the Sunshine Coast.

Garry Howe

CONTENTS

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

Sunshine Coast Kids Today c/o Noosa Today 36 Mary Street, Noosaville, Qld, 4566 Online: sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au Facebook.com/SunshineCostKids Today Editorial Narelle Coulter editorial@sunshinecoastkidstoday. com.au Advertising Phill Le Petit Advertising Sales Manager sales@noosatoday.com.au Phone: 0439 377 525 COVER: St Andrews Anglican College is seeing great results from a unique learning initiative that e emb rac the child’s passions. embraces Tur urn to page 10 to find out more.

Turn

SUMMER 2019-20

IT’S YOUR LIFE

HEALTH

KIDS CALENDAR

Australia’s largest family off on a holiday.

Page 3

Self-care is the new parental buzzword - expert Dr Louise Du Chesne unpacks it all.

Page 12

Activities for the family over the summer period.

Page 19

Author and expert Steve Biddulph explains how parenting has changed Page 4 Couple outlines their surrogacy success story.

Page 5

The question a lot of couples grapple with. When should you tell people you’re pregnant?

Page 13

PERSONAL AL TOUCH Tappingg int into interests kids' int intere On the mov move

with w ith 16 chi children!

The key to

surrogacy success Real meani meaning

REALITY BITES

Australian entrepreneur and global CEO of Business Chicks Emma Isaacs does it her way.

Page 6

Olympian Matt Welsh knows his way around a pool - and provides tips on how to keep the kids pool safe this summer.

Page 15

Dealing with the challenges of having an autistic child.

Page 7

ENTERTAINMENT

A few handy hints for the grandparents looking after the kids on school holidays.

Page 14

Cover Story

of SCHOOL REPORTS

We look at The Little Seeds Theatre Company’s production of the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web over January.

Page 16

EDUCATION

BOOKS

An expert unpacks what a child’s school report card really means.

Page 9

The book to get you back into play - and a few reviews.

Page 18

Lucy’s plan to save the koalas provides a unique learning experience at a Sunshine Coast school.

Page 10

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It’s Your Life

On the move with 16 children

By Rachel Hickingbotham TRAVELLING in a group of 21, when 16 of them are your own children is not for the faint-hearted.

Holidays for the Bonell family, Australia's biggest, are usually short, sweet and on a tight budget, however earlier this year, parents Jeni and Ray Bonell surprised their kids with something extra special.

They called a family meeting around the dinner table - "Mum and I have some news", announced Ray "anyone want to guess what it is?".

Understandably, many of the children's guesses were "a new little brother or sister" followed closely by hopes of a pet dog.

"First things first, Mum is not pregnant ... sorry ... and we are most definitely not getting a dog!", Jeni announced in her family YouTube video.

The big news was that the couple had a holiday planned for their children. Everyone was invited including the eldest kids and their new babies.

Before long a total of 21 tickets were booked for Port Douglas with promises of a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.

"For most of us, this is the first time on a plane!", Jeni said.

Jeni Bonell is used to juggling life with her big family.

Her number one tip for travelling with children "is to organise as much a possible before a holiday to make the most of the time away".

For the Bonells this means lists upon lists.

"I am the Queen of Lists", laughs Jeni. "I made lists of all of our bags and what was in each one".

Each suitcase had a matching ribbon tied onto it and was welllabelled and numbered.

"We count the bags as they come off the airport carousel".

Although the Bonell family packed as light as possible, they still had a mountain of luggage.

"I put a limit to 10 bags for the 21 of us. Two whole bags were just our 21 beach towels!", explained Jeni.

When looking for places to stay, Jeni found searching online for accommodation that would house her entire family was very limiting.

"All of the online accommodation companies only allowed her to search for up to 6 children".

That's when booking.com came in.

"Booking.com was able to help us find enough space for us all.

We booked 3 villas with 3 bed-

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Jeni's Big Family Packing Tips

The Bonell Family (with one of their grandchildren) getting ready for their big family holiday.

1. Make Lists Get as organised as possible before you go. Give your kids a list of clothes they will need based on the weather forecast.

2. Plan Outfits Lay out each day's outfit to decide on what you need to take. Take only what you need and do not over pack.

3. Divide and Conquer Pack each child's clothes and one pair of extra shoes into named totes/bags or packing cubes. Then pack them all together into a rolling suitcase. Make sure you include a plastic bag for each child to pack their dirty shoes into.

4. Colour-code and Number Bags Tie a bright ribbon in the same colour onto each of your bags. Number each suitcase and make a note of how many bags you need to count off the carousel.

All 18 members of the Bonell family. 16 children ages 5 to 30.

rooms each".

The holiday involved two buses and one plane ride which sounds simple. Imagine that with a group of 21.

"Everyone had a buddy for the bus rides and the plane, so noone got left behind", explained Jeni.

It's safe to say that no matter how organised you are, life will always throw curve balls. On their day trip to the reef, Jeni said that "9 of us found our sealegs while 13 found sea-sickness bags".

In all of her organising, Jeni admits "I forgot that some of the kids get motion sickness".

Jeni is a caring mum but couldn't help giggling when explaining the crazy sight of her and Ray bouncing around the boat on choppy seas assisting vomiting children.

"Having a big family eliminates your time to sweat the small stuff".

Having a big family like this doesn't happen by accident.

We were fascinated to hear that when Jeni was married at 19, she didn't want kids. Her husband Ray, arguably Australia's most persuasive partner, is one of 6 siblings and had his heart set on lots of children. He inspired his wife to try for one baby and, before long, Jeni was convincing Ray for a third child.

"I agreed to have one, maybe two kids, but it was actually me who asked for number three because I loved being a mum so much," Jeni explained.

"It is not for everyone, but it feels right for us".

Jeni's love of being a mother grew with the birth of each child.

"Each and every child is a gift for us".

Now at aged 50, Jeni and Ray have 16 children ranging from 5 to 30 and are more than happy to welcome more babies in their lives. These days they are fulfilling their craving for baby snuggles as grandparents since their two eldest children have had their first baby each.

"These days we have only 13 of them living at home and counting out that few dinner plates still doesn't feel right".

Jeni admits that all is right in her world when the entire family comes together for a Sunday roast and 21 plus plates are laid out.

The Bonell family shares a big part of their large family logistics on social media including an ongoing series of YouTube videos.

Jeni's inspirational rostering system to get their kids helping in their busy home plus tips on saving money by meal prepping are proving helpful to other families, big and small.

"We do not put up the posts about our lives to get attention,

The Bonell Kids Imagine needing to remember them all in order, not to mention their birthdays!

1. Jesse 2. Brooke 3. Claire 4. Natalie 5. Karl 6. Samuel 7. Cameron 8. Sabrina 9. Tim 10. Brandon 11. Eve 12. Nate 13. Rachel 14. Eric 15. Damian 16. Katelyn

we do it to share and help others. As mothers we should build each other up not pull each other down".

One of the ways Jeni does this is by starting her week by sharing motivational words. Just as she says, her family of 16 did not grow by accident and believes that "people don't succeed by accident either. It takes standards, hard work, dedication, sacrifice and persistence". Her children have learnt this and will carry these lessons throughout their entire lives.

SUMMER 2019/2020 3

It’s Your Life

parenting has changed

How

By Steve Biddulph I’M minding the house of some friends, near the beach in Hobart.

It’s about 7.00 in the morning, and there is only the sound of the waves, and seabird’s cries.

Then suddenly, on the street outside, an an gry male voice rings out. “Get in the car you little shit!�.

I go to the window and can see a dad, huge and red faced, standing beside his SUV, and a small boy five metres away, and backing away further still.

Another child watches on, and I can make out a toddler already strapped into their seat.

My heart is suddenly divided - I know what it feels like to wrangle small children, seatbelts, and cars, and be running late.

But I feel for that little child - especially if this is a dad who regularly talks to his kids in this way.

I know from years of being a therapist that kids take a clear message from what parents say, especially if its accompanied by anger. There are few things more terrifying than an adult, ten times your size and weight, who has clearly lost control.

We’ve come a long way in parenting, in the last 50 years.

When I began working as a family therapist in the 1970’s, the aim was a very simple one.

The parents who came to our clinic often had kids with serious behaviour problems - at school, or when a bit older involving courts and the police.

Almost always, these families had developed a pattern of esca-

lating negativity.

Hitting, hurting, shouting, calling kids terrible names, might get them to comply out of fear, in the moment, but rarely worked for very long. The thing was, these were not bad people, but parents who loved their kids deeply, and wanted them to have happy lives.

But the only tools they knew were negative ones - the same that had been used on them.

We would talk about their own childhoods, as a way of creating empathy for the experience of their children. And begin to nudge into safer, more positive ways to get kids to behave, calm down, and be happy.

My first book The Secret of Happy Children came out of this learning.

Interestingly the country it sold most copies in was Germany where a generation of young parents absolutely rejected the childrearing methods of their past.

Today parents are very different. We show affection and warmth, lots of cuddles and quiet chats, and we let our kids know we love them, and that they are great. When we set boundaries, we are more likely to keep calm.

It doesn’t mean we don’t have stressed out moments, but we understand that often kids are also stressed, or needing something from us that we haven’t taken into account.

We check in with them to help them stay on an even keel, and are open when we have to rush things, so they understand.

Pressure of time is still the thing that can undo us - it is probably

behind 90% of all behaviour problems.

In my talks and books, I help parents to see that the problem of overbusyness isn’t in us, often, but in the crazy way that life expects us to be always on the go.

We live in a society that claims to be family friendly, but is actually the very opposite. It wants us earning and spending, with no time in between.

This month on my facebook community, I shared some news articles about the terrible effects that the government’s ParentsNext program was putting onto families who were in income stressed, especially single parents.

Some terrible stories were shared in the comments section, backing this up.

I believe we have a right to parent, to do it in our own timetable, and not be forced into working - or not working - by outside forces. Kids who are mentally healthy, don’t get into crime or drugs, and are good parents themselves, only happen

World W ld renowned d author th St Steve Bidd Biddulph l h

when their childhoods are safe and slow.

Governments, and employers, really need to really be on the side of parents, which they are not at present. All the same, try not to call your children little shits.

They do take it deeply to heart.

Steve Biddulph’s two books Raising Boys in the 21st Century and Raising Girls in the 21st Century are available in audiobooks for dads who don’t read a lot.

His final round of talks will be in Melbourne and Sydney between August and October.

Visit www.stevebiddulph.com for details.

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It’s Your Life

David, left and wife Lauryn, right, with Jane Caro.

‘Our normal’: surrogacy success

By Danielle Kutchel WHEN David and Lauryn Jordan decided they were ready to have baby, they knew it wouldn’t be an easy journey.

Lauryn was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, a condition that meant she was born without a uterus.

Undaunted, the couple went through two rounds of IVF that resulted in three viable embryos.

The next step was to find a surrogate, so they joined the Australian Surrogacy Community Facebook group to explore their options.

Surrogate Sarah got in touch with them and the trio gradually got to know each other through online messages before finally meeting face to face at the Australian Surrogacy Conference.

“The easiest way to describe it is that it’s like dating, getting to know her, her husband and her kids,” Mr Jordan said.

“We would go to each other’s houses and chat and get to know each other, which was a really valuable and important part of the process.

“You need to lay the foundations and work out each other’s values to see if it’s going to work.”

Legally, the Jordans were unable to openly ask Sarah to be their surrogate; they were therefore overjoyed when she made the offer to them one night in Canberra, where she and her family live.

There were yet more hurdles though, including individual and group counselling sessions,

www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

psychological tests, legal advice and finally a submission to the Patient Review Panel - all part of the surrogacy process.

Once they were given the allclear, the Jordans transferred an embryo to Sarah.

Unfortunately, it miscarried at 10 weeks; but the next embryo was more successful.

The pregnancy was “uneventful”, Mr Jordan said, with everything happening as it should, and the couple made every effort to get to Sarah’s appointments interstate.

“She was so respectful of us too and included us in the milestones like the first kick and how she was feeling,” Mr Jordan added.

The birth earlier this year was “one of the best experiences of my life”, he said. He and Lauryn were allowed in the room with Sarah and her husband in an experience that he will never forget.

Their daughter was born healthy and well and given the name Everlie.

Mr Jordan said Sarah, her husband and her children are considered “part of the family”, and they plan to tell Everlie the “absolute truth” about her birth.

“We described it to Sarah’s kids as ‘Lauryn doesn’t have a house in her tummy’, so we’ll probably go with that,” he said.

The Jordans are one of the families featured on the ABC TV show ‘New Dads’, which is currently available on iView.

Hosted by Jane Caro, the show explores the lives of five Australian men navigating their first year

David Jordan with new daughter, Everlie, who was born via a surrogate.

as new dads. Mr Jordan hopes his segment will challenge the misconceptions and taboo around surrogacy.

“It’s just our normal; it’s how we had to have a baby,” he said.

Since the show first aired on ABC, he has been recognised by people who have told him how much they appreciated the show.

“I went through the drivethrough for coffee and a guy recognised me from TV. He said he really enjoyed the program and found it informative,“ Mr Jordan said.

He and his family have also been featured on the Raise the Bar

Radio podcast, which is available on SoundCloud, to continue to open the conversation about surrogacy.

Little Everlie is now seven months old, and Mr Jordan said fatherhood had been “eye opening“.

“She has started to giggle and laugh, and she’s started to growl at us too. She’s much more aware of her surroundings and if we go out of the room she follows us. When we walk into the room there’s a big smile for us.

“It’s special. She’s growing as she should be.

“It’s awesome being a dad.“

SUMMER 2019/2020 5

It’s Your Life

Winging it her way

By Narelle Coulter IF you are going to literally lose track of a child then Disneyland is a great place to do it.

That’s the tongue-in-cheek advice from Australian entrepreneur and global CEO of Business Chicks, Emma Isaacs.

The mother of five was in Australia earlier this year to speak at a women’s business lunch in Melbourne.

“Yes, I have five lovely little humans waiting for me in LA. It’s a completely crazy life. They are all under 10 years of age.

My youngest turns two next week. We are having a party but nothing is organised but I will get onto that as soon as I arrive home,“ Emma told the audience.

Emma bought Business Chicks 14 years ago when it was on the verge of collapse and has turned it into Australia’s largest networking community for women. The company produces over 100 events annually, publishes a magazine and has a 250K plus social media following.

She employs a team of 40 women spread over three continents and four time zones.

Emma and husband Rowan moved their five children, Milla 10, Honey, 8, Indie, 6, Ryder, 4 and Piper, 2, from Sydney to Los Angeles in a bid to expand the Business Chicks empire into the United States.

Emma spoke candidly about the myth of achieving a perfect work/life balance and gave the largely female audience her take on juggling work and family.

She admitted she regularly fails at both illustrating her point with an anecdote about a family trip to Disneyland during which she lost two of her brood in one day.

“The first time we lost one we

didn’t know for 20 minutes. In a group of 12, five adults and seven kids, you think someone else is always watching,“ she said.

“Suddenly my phone rang and it was a call from Anaheim, California. I thought that’s weird, I’m not going to take that. Next thing I get a text message from Shannon in Guest Relations saying ’I have your daughter, Honey, with me’.

“If you are going to lose a child, lose them at Disneyland.

They are very, very good.“ On another holiday to Hawaii this year she and Rowan forgot how many children they were taking with them.

“The Isaacs en mass are quite a sight. For a start you have five children running in five directions, and we have 4000 suitcases. We’re not the shy and retiring types,“ Emma said.

At a security check the official questioned why the family of seven only had six boarding passes.

“We had forgotten to buy a ticket for our four year old boy.

We didn’t leave him there, that would be weird, but it was definitely one of those Kevin Home Alone moments,“ Emma said, laughing.

Emma gets asked all the time how she juggles her large family and demanding career.

“People see five kids, they see an international business, and see me travelling a lot for my work and think I have all the answers,“ she said.

“I’ve leant a thing or two about trying to balance it all but I certainly do not have the answers. I just try to be the best parent I can when I am home with my kids and try to be the best when I’m working.

“There are lots of weeks when I drink all the kale smoothies and take my make-up off and

go to the kids’ schools for their school concerts. Equally, there are weeks when I work way too much and the kids haven’t brushed their hair in days and the only thing I’ve eaten is the crusts off their grilled cheese sandwiches.

“It ebbs and flows like it does for all of us. I try to bring an awareness to it and be okay with the fact that sometimes I fail at work and I regularly fail as a parent.“ Through her work with Business Chicks and her book, Winging It, Emma said she aims to empower women to take risks and dive in before they are ready.

“I really believe in doing what feels right, not always what we think is right. I am passionate about encouraging women to take on that mindset and give things a go before they are ready.

“Winging it doesn’t mean do whatever you want, but it does mean back yourself and have a quiet confidence and explore the things that scare you. Fear is not a reason why you shouldn’t do something.“ When she’s not working or parenting Emma has a simple wellness routine involving massages, the odd glass of wine and a determination to be mindful in every single moment.

“I don’t do that much exercise.

I mean running after five small children that’s a sport and is better than a treadmill.

“I keep a gratitude journal and try to get a massage when I can. We are very lucky in the US as we have amazing technology and apps. I go to my soothe app and say ’I want a massage’, suddenly there is a knock on the door.

“I have a drink of wine, I am not a great drinker, but I cer-

Entrepreneur and mum of five, Emma Isaacs.

tainly enjoy a glass of wine, and I drink a tonne of water. That’s what I’m capable of right now.“ Emma said she and her family were committed to the US for the foreseeable future despite Business Chicks not growing as successfully as she would like in the US market.

“In lots of ways we were misfits in Australia,“ she said of her herself and Rowan.

“We never kind of fitted in.

America is a very creative place and I am confident we have a future there, even though I am not sure what it is yet.

“All our kids have American accents and the older ones go to school in LA. “(Since we moved) there I wrote a book and had another baby. It has been a really beautiful time to recalibrate, sitting with it, how to fail and being proud of that and working out the next steps forward.“

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It’s Your Life

Dealing with the challenges of having an autistic child

By Sarah Booth IT has been more than a year since Glen and Krystal Barnett raised funds to purchase their six-year-old son, Rhys, a therapy dog.

Rhys, who is on the autism spectrum, can struggle with sensory overload in simulating environments - such as bright, busy shopping centres - and changes to his routine.

While he is yet to be matched with a therapy dog, Mr Barnett said his son had “made really great progress in the last twelve months.”

Mr Barnett lists a number of strategies which have helped including keeping a regular routine and giving Rhys instructions in small blocks (‘get your school bag and then your shoes’), rather than all at once.

The couple, who live towards the east of the Yarra Ranges, also taught Rhys and his sister Aria to “take their three big breaths,” when they are upset.

“It doesn’t always work ... .it takes time, and you’ve got to have patience ... but once it happens it’s so worth it,” Mr Barnett said.

Sometimes it even happens the other way around.

When his children saw their dad crying after a long work week, they told him “daddy it’s okay, take your deep breaths.”

“My kids are amazing ... to have a two-year-old and a sixyear-old do that,” Mr Barnett said.

The parents also encourage their children to have emotions, telling them it’s ok to feel angry or sad, their reaction just shouldn’t upset others.

“We’ve found that has helped

them to understand what they’re feeling, but also to understand how it can affect other people, and then just taking responsibility for their emotions,” Mr Barnett said.

But a recent experience with horse therapy has given them hope about the further benefits a therapy dog could bring for Rhys.

Rhys had to learn to calm down so he could build a relationship with the horse.

“When he finally got to ride the horse, he was so excited, it was a really beautiful moment,” Mr Barnett said.

While they hope Rhys is matched with a dog soon, there is one other thing Mr Barnett would like to change.

The judgement from other parents.

“His tantrums can be quite overwhelming ... and once they

get to a certain point you can’t stop them,” he said.

“There’s been a couple of times where he’s had one in the shopping centre ... and there’s nothing I could do.

“You can see people thinking just pick him up and drag him out, but (they) don’t understand.”

Autism is different for every child, so he said he doesn’t expect parents to actually understand the situation, but “just accept it.”

“You don’t know their family story, what’s going on at home, how their kids behave ... so you can’t judge,” he said.

Next time a parent is struggling with their child, Mr Barnett suggests giving them a smile or offering to help - even if it’s just to carry their bag.

“You don’t need to understand, you just need to accept,” he said.

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Education What your child’s report card really means HAVE you just got your child’s end-of-year school report?

Are you wondering what it actually says about your child’s progress? Chances are you aren’t alone.

Teachers typically use a range of descriptors to describe how your child is tracking academically and some need deciphering.

School report expert Dr Selina Samuels says some terms clearly indicate your child is doing well, while others indicate there are issues that need addressing.

She should know - she proofread end-of-year school reports for several years.

“It was immediately obvious that each teacher had their pet words, phrases or grammatical constructions,” the chief learning officer of Cluey Learning says.

“Even taking into account individual idiosyncrasies, some terms emerge the winners.”

Here, she explains the phrases teachers use in report cards and what they really mean.

Decoding common phrases in school reports ■ Erratic or inconsistent: These words tell parents that little Susan is probably playing to her strengths and ignoring anything not already easy and familiar. It’s also a veiled request to the parents to have a look at the family infrastructure around homework and for more consistency at home.

■ So much potential: If your child’s teacher uses this phrase, then they’re saying your child is bright enough but lazy. If they ‘lack focus’ they aren’t applying themselves. ‘Emerging skills’ tells you there is a glimmer of hope and they haven’t given up on them just yet.

■ Very social, bubbly, or engages enthusiastically in discussion: These terms mean your child is likeable but chatty, and probably distracts the

Discover Flinders

children around them.

■ Independent: Students who are ‘independent’ are probably not good sharers.

■ Good listener: This means your child never asks questions or contributes in class.

■ Knows his/her own mind: Your child may be stubborn and unco-operative.

■ But: If your child’s report card is peppered with positive statements followed by ‘buts’ - such as ‘Samson is a keen student but his efforts are not always rewarded’, chances are his teachers are fond of him but a bit exasperated at the same time (you probably are too).

■ Pleasing: If your child’s work is ‘pleasing’, that probably indicates the teacher is writing report comment number 58 and has run out of new adjectives.

■ She/he is a pleasure to teach: If your child’s teacher says this, chances are it’s true. Teachers do not use that phrase gratuitously.

Phrases that indicate your child is doing well Phrases like ‘sophisticated understanding’ and ‘confident application’ are strong indicators that your child is working at an impressive level. If he or she has a ‘clear understanding’ and their work is ‘effective’, they are noticeably making progress and you have little to be worried about. If skills are ‘secure’ and there is talk of ‘improvement’, everything is going in the right direction.

Comments about your child’s ambition or hunger for learning may also indicate he/she is not being fully extended in class and the teacher wants you to explore opportunities for additional extension.

Phrases that indicate your child may be having difficulties If your child is only able to demonstrate certain skills ‘at times’ or has ‘some or little understanding’,

it is likely he/she needs a fair amount of academic support. If they are passive or quiet, it may be that the teacher is finding it difficult to diagnose levels of knowledge and ability. If your child’s report cards talk a lot about ‘inconsistencies’, particularly between different modes of expression, it’s worth getting more information.

If your child is described as having ‘difficulties adjusting to rules and routines’, this might be the teacher telling you he/ she is naughty, or it may suggest that there is something else going on. Equally, pay attention if the teacher mentions that your child finds it difficult to adjust to changes in routine.

If a teacher describes your child as a ‘perfectionist’, this is not necessarily a good thing. It could be that he/she is so particular about presentation or so frightened of getting something wrong that he/she resists submitting anything for feedback. *The best and worst comments. The best comments are ones specific to your child and show you that the teacher really knows them. The worst are merely generic. Even if you are being told something negative about your child’s academic abilities or behaviour, it is better to hear it so that you can work with the school to provide necessary support.

The worst report comments are jargonistic and procedural - telling you what the class has covered but giving very little information about how your child is progressing. It’s also important to note that report cards are not merely retrospective, but also provide genuine advice about where your child’s focus should lie for the next term or year.

Deciphering letter grade systems While some schools don’t incorporate grades into their formal reports, a five-point letter grade

Report card expert ... Dr Selina Samuels, chief learning officer of Cluey Learning.

system (A-E) is included in the achievement standards of the Australian National Curriculum.

■ A: Awarded for extremely high achievement and is described using words such as ‘sophisticated’ and ‘confident’.

■ B: For work that is ‘effective’ and demonstrates ‘clear understanding’. Students are awarded B grades for work that is capable and secure.

■ C: Awarded where the student ‘is able to’ demonstrate particular skills or where understanding is ‘developing’. Skills may be inconsistent.

■ D: Awarded where the output of the student shows ‘some understanding’ or where the student is only able to demonstrate skills ‘at times’. D grades may indicate that the student has not done much or what they have submitted is incomplete.

■ E: Show the student may have ‘little’ or only ‘rudimentary’ understanding of the concepts covered in the subject. The student may require considerable teacher support to demonstrate any understanding or skills.

A strong start at Flinders helps students develop as confident, capable and engaged learners.

For more information and to book a personalised tour, visit www.mfac.edu.au Stringybark Road, Buderim | 07 5477 3260 | find us on www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

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Discover more about Flinders’ vibrant and caring environment and how we educate for excellence in learning and life.

SUMMER 2019/2020 9

Education

Personalised learning SIX-YEAR-OLD Lucy is putting together a plan to help save the koalas.

She’s so passionate, she has inspired her entire Year 1 class to help her make and design posters to put around her school.

After the recent fire events in Peregian and across the coast, she was devasted at the thought of what would happen to her favourite cute and cuddly Australian animal.

“It made me really sad, seeing them on the news,” she said.

“I saw that lots died and wanted to try and help.”

Back in her classroom at St Andrew’s Anglican College, her teacher had received an email from Lucy’s mum, expressing Lucy’s concern.

Thanks to a unique learning program offered at St Andrew’s and the guidance of her teacher, Lucy was able to take that idea, explore, investigate, research and put her ideas into action and inspire her classmates to do the same.

“I was the focus child that day,” Lucy said.

“So in investigations I got to talk about koalas, and we borrowed books from the library to do research. Then I wanted to make posters.”

Walker Learning at St Andrew’s is an Australian designed teaching and learning pedagogy that authentically personalises learning with the child at the

10 SUMMER 2019/2020

centre, considering each child’s development and personal interests allowing them to learn at their own pace. It is an approach that supports the need for children to be active participants in their learning, which sits alongside formal instruction.

Children’s interests are used not for the interest alone, but as a catalyst for engagement which is then used as a springboard to facilitate further understandings and skill development in all areas of learning including literacy, numeracy, the sciences, the arts, language, cognition, social, psychological and emotional development.

Each morning, four days per week, class begins with tuning, followed by 40 minutes of investigations. Children alternate between the designated roles as the focus child, reporter and photographer which they take very seriously and are always eager to find out what their tasks will be. The focus child works closely with the teacher, where their learning and progress is closely and intimately watched. The reporter and photographer take photos and interview children in the morning activities.

Investigations is a time where the children can follow their own interests, explore, discover, inquire and learn independently.

All classrooms are set up as a welcoming learning environment with intentional learning

spaces designed to promote skills and learning through openended investigations. This is then concluded with reflection time where the children come back together and share their learning.

“At a first glance it is easy to be mistaken and think that the children are having a lovely time doing whatever they want,” Deputy Head of Primary Ms Catherine Green said.

“It’s a time of exploration, moving around across different stimulating environments. They’re pulling apart telephones, setting up Veterinary clinics and day spas, making potions, collaging, recreating the water cycle and engaging in dramatic play.

“Upon closer inspection, it is very easy to see the clear links to the learning intentions, the opportunities for spring boarding to specific subjects for the remainder of the day and the high level of planning and preparation which goes into devising each learning space to cater for the needs of individual children.

“It is amazing to see Walker Learning in action when children are making the most of provocations in certain areas. They may love construction, but this may often mean great links to measurement as well as design and planning. The teachers make the most of the teachable moment and take the learning to the child.”

Children making a mud pies,

setting up a lines of dominoes, playing vets or building a houses out of sticks was once seen as nothing more than imaginative play and making a mess.

Experts across Australia and the world are now singing the praises for play-based education, which tracks with the natural brain development of children.

They have identified that the most important tool for a child’s development and growth is doing what they love doing best - exploring the world as one big playground - taking a handson and often messy approach to learning by discovering and investigating the unlimited environment around them.

At St Andrew’s, the Walker Learning approach enables this in a way, such as with Lucy’s interest in koalas, where both planned and spontaneous learning experiences support children to obtain and construct knowledge through an integrated approach, which provide opportunities to engage, imagine, explore, create and problem solve.

What starts with the child, is explored and guided by the teacher, who aims to build a knowledge and enquiry base around this, provoking thoughtful questions and from this a great deal of learning can be seen in the deep discussion and imaginative work of the play.

www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

y p p a H

ENROL FOR PREP

Prep - Year 12

|

Peregian Springs

www.saac.qld.edu.au www.saac.qld.edu.au Prep - Year 12 | Peregian Springs | 5471 5555 www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

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Walker Learning from Prep to Year 6

at St Andrew’s

SUMMER 2019/2020 11

Health

Self-care for new parents

By Eliza Henry-Jones THE term self-care has tripped into being a buzzword - associated, too often, with things like steamy baths, chocolate and zoning out in front of Netflix. The conversation needs to become more complex, particularly when we’re talking about the self-care needs of new parents.

Dr Louise Du Chesne is a Melbourne based clinical psychologist with a wealth of experience working with new parents.

“Self-care is so important because being a new parent is such a vulnerable time - being a new parent means we haven’t done it before or we haven’t done it with this little being before," Dr Du Chesne said.

Mothers, in particular, are under enormous pressure and are often vulnerable to feelings of being overwhelmed as well as anxiety and depression. The pressure facing new parents can also exacerbate complex issues such as Post-Natal Depression and Post-Natal Anxiety.

“There’s the fantasy of the precious bubble of time after birth,” Dr. Du Chesne said.

“Falling in love, or not falling in love the way that you thought you would. Maybe feeling anxious and terrified of the responsibility.”

So how can new parents begin to take better care of themselves when they’re often overwhelmed, time poor and exhausted?\ “Self kindness,” advises Dr Du Chesne.

"Self kindness can mean different things. It means asking for help, it means speaking kindly to ourselves, it also means learning how to say no. No to advice, no to suggestions. It also means learning to say yes to laughing at ourselves, yes to hanging out with other parents, yes to being in the baby zone and having pyjama days.”

Dr Du Chesne also highlights the importance of letting go of perfectionism, of letting ourselves sit with small things like washing left unfolded and dishes stacked

up on the sink.

“It’s a new relationship with a new baby. We need to give ourselves time to learn the skills.

Emotionally, physically and psychologically the parents and baby have been through enormous transition. Even if you haven’t given birth.”

In the age of social media, perfectionism has become hard to escape. As a parent, it’s too easy to stumble onto Facebook orr Instagram and encounter beautiful, curated images of other parents who seem to be doing it so much better than we are.

It’s important for new parents to adopt the idea of the “good enough parent“ and how that perfect parent - the imagined parent whose standards we feel like we’re constantly falling short of - does not actually exist.

Dr Du Chesne talks about the need for young parents - particularly mothers - to adopt a fiery sort of self-compassion.

“Compassion needs to be fierce and we needs to be our own best ally and supporter,” she said.

“The compassion of being like a warrior where we’re prepared to fight for ourselves and our babies.”

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Health When should you tell people

you’re pregnant?

By Eliza Henry-Jones YOU’RE pregnant. You’re nauseous. You’re inexplicably craving chips with strawberry yoghurt. You’re gazing at your midriff with a sort of morbid fascination – exactly how far can tummy skin stretch? And then a thought pops into your head.

Who should you tell about your pregnancy? And when?

While each trimester has their own difficulties, the first trimester is notorious for exhaustion, dizziness, nausea and huge hormonal changes. There’s also a lot of stigma around those early weeks, when the chance of having a miscarriage is high. You might be terrified and uncertain about your pregnancy or you might be elated. Either way, it’s a lot to keep to yourself.

I found out I was pregnant at about six weeks and promptly told everyone close to me. I felt awful. I was constantly exhausted, dizzy and nauseous. Luckily, I worked from home. If I needed a nap or to curl up in a ball with a ginger tea for a while, I could do so privately and make up the time later. But I kept thinking about all the women out there who have jobs and commitments that don’t offer that flexibility – the women diving out of meetings to vomit and being so tired they need to sleep before they commute home. The women trying to juggle older children and extended families and everything in between.

Telling people was the right choice for me. I figured that if I did have a miscarriage, those were the people I’d want around, supporting me. Quite a few people told me I was “brave” for sharing the news so early; other

people asked me if I was worried about jinxing the pregnancy.

I waited until three months to make announcements on social media. “I waited to tell people,” says Sally. “And when I miscarried, nobody knew except my partner. It was pretty isolating.

My next pregnancy, I told a few close friends and family and I’m glad I did.”

But telling people early certainly doesn’t suit everyone.

“Waiting was the only option for me,” says Anna, who has a five month old. “I have a full-on family and knew straight away that I didn’t want the pressure of people asking me about the pregnancy until I was out of the danger zone.”

Phoebe miscarried at 10

weeks. “I was glad I hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy. I couldn’t have dealt with people coming up and asking about the pregnancy. I told my boss and a couple of friends that I’d miscarried and that was it. I still struggle talking about it.”

Things to consider: ■ How good are you at keeping secrets? Sometimes you might intend to wait but find you just blurt it out!

■ Are you around hazardous things at work? If you are, you’ll probably need to tell your boss and make other arrangements ■ If you tell people you’re pregnant and then have a miscarriage, you’ll have to tell them

about the miscarriage, too.

While you might welcome the support, it can also be traumatic and exhausting having to re-tell the news to different people.- Are you ready for advice and lots of it? Once the news is out, chances are you’ll be inundated with people’s opinions on pregnancy, birth and child raising. While some of this will be very welcome, some of it won’t be.

Some people might keep the news to themselves into the second or even third trimesters. The bottom line is, when and how you share your pregnancy news is a very personal choice. There is no right or wrong decision. Do what feels right for you!

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It’s Your Life

Top tips from Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

It's important everyone is on the same page.

School holiday tips for grandparents

By Danielle Galvin FOR many Australian kids, spending time with their grandparents over the summer school holidays is a rite of passage.

With nearly six weeks off over Christmas and into January, many parents call on their own parents to watch the kids during the week.

It's a chance to spend some quality time together, at the beach, heading to the park for a picnic, or a trip to the movies.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, a government funded website and resource has some tips to make sure families stay harmonious.

One tip includes being upfront about how many hours you can babysit so that everyone is clear on the expectations.

Grandparents Victoria director Anne McLeish agrees and advises grandparents to sit down and have a chat with parents beforehand, to make sure everyone is on the same page.

14 SUMMER 2019/2020

She said a common problem that comes up is who pays for the day's activities, especially when kids have an expectation to be kept busy.

"I'd tell (people) to have a face to face meeting, and sit around a table and even write down what the agreement is," she said.

"So often we find people have different understanding about what the grandparents or parents agreed to do.

"It sounds very formal, but having those points can make things clear to people.

"The thing that needs to be addressed is who pays for what.

"The single most common complaint we have from grandparents is that they pay for far more than what they can actually afford to pay for, particularly over the school holidays when kids want to go to the movies, go out for a picnic or go to McDonald's.

"I'm not accusing parents of deliberately taking advantage, it's another case of it getting lost."

She said another issue that comes up is parents failing to pick up their kids on time.

"Grandparents need to know when they knock off for the night, so to speak," she said.

Ms McLeish also suggested sending lunch boxes for kids lunches and snacks, particularly if your child is a fussy eater.

Another suggestion is being clear about rules, boundaries and how to handle tantrums.

She said in her view the mantra "my house my rules" is a reasonable approach.

But it's also a lovely chance to build a special bond.

Both children and their grandparents relish in that time together, with a chance to make memories together.

"Grandchildren often stimulate the inner child in the grandparents, and it's play that does it," Ms McLeish said.

"Child centred play brings grandparents and grandchildren together."

■ Be upfront about your needs and understand those of the parents so there are no unwelcome surprises or unmet expectations. Setting boundaries around things like the number of hours and days of the week you are available, and the meals you provide can help things run smoothly.

■ All parents will have their own views on things like how much TV time or outside play is best for their child. Finding out what these are and respecting those views from the outset will give your grandchildren a consistent message and avoid potential conflict.

■ If you feel your grandchildren need discipline while in your care, check with their parents first about what they would do.

■ Think about whether you might need to make some changes to your home before children arrive so it's safe for young exploring children.

Make sure things such as dangerous chemicals and sharp or breakable objects are well out of reach.

For more information about how to access support, setting boundaries and maintaining a healthy life balance visit www. pregnancybirthbaby.org. au/grandparents. www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

Reality Bites

Who’s watching your kids?

By Rachel Hickingbotham MATT Welsh is a former world champion swimmer, Olympian and now a Kidsafe campaign ambassador. Most importantly he is the father of 5 young children.

He knows how critical it is to spread the message of safety by the water.

Drowning does not look like drowning. It can be quick and silent and easy to miss by people nearby. Don’t rely on a child to call out for help. In fact, it can take as little as 20 seconds for a child to drown.

“Children drown quickly and silently”, says Matt.

“Together with a compliant pool barrier that is regularly checked and maintained, your home pool defence should also include active adult supervision of children in and around water, water awareness and first aid knowledge to keep your family safe this season."

The Live Saving movement recommends that until your children are 10 years of age and competent swimmers, you must keep your eyes on them at all time. If they under the age of 6, they must be within arm’s reach Even if your children look confident around the water and are having fun with their friends, the danger of drowning never takes a break. When our kids are happy and occupied, do not get distracted by your phone. Your eyes need to stay on your child.

Last year 18 children under 5 died in by drowning in Australia.

“Despite significant reductions in toddler drowning deaths over time, drowning continues to be one of the leading causes of accidental death for Australian children under 5 years of age,” explained Jason Chambers of Kidsafe.

You can prevent children drowning by doing a few simple things:

www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

1. Make sure your pool safety barriers are actually safe If you own a pool or spa, make sure you check your pool barriers this month. Safety fencing is compulsory for all pools, but it is common to overlook the proper maintenance of them.

Evidence suggests that a large number of drowning deaths are the result of barriers that are faulty, or non-compliant with Australian standards.

“Common faults or noncompliance issues include gates and doors that are no longer self-closing or latching, gates that are propped open and climbable objects near the barrier - all of which can provide children with unsupervised access to the water area”, explained Mr Chambers.

Kidsafe has launched the national ‘Safe Barriers Save Lives’ campaign that urges all pool and spa owners to remember to check the safety and compliance of their pool or spa barrier when they change their clocks at the beginning of daylight savings time in early October.

Remember, even though your own children may be competent swimmers, visiting children may not. It is illegal to leave a pool or spa gate propped open and climbable objects must be moved away from the barrier at all times. These include pot plants, eskies, pool pumps, chairs and other furniture.

“There is no better use of 15 minutes of your time than checking the safety of your pool barrier in preparation for the warm summer months ahead”, said Matt Welsh.

2. Temporary pools need fencing too All pools that have a depth as little as 30 centimetres are required to be surrounded by a safety barrier. That means that if you (or Santa) buys your kids a large frame pool or even a smaller

inflatable pool this summer, then you must still ensure it is properly fenced off.

All pools and spas, including all kinds of temporary pools must have a four-sided barrier with no direct access from the house or any other building to the pool.

The barriers must be a minimum of 1.2 metres high. Barrier gates must be self-closing and selflatching.

Manufacturers and retailers of temporary pools assume no responsibility for your family’s safety and may include pool safety notices in their products prompting buyers to follow mandatory legislation.

3. Never stop supervising You can prevent drowning by keeping your eyes on your child.

Use the time to stay present and enjoy the water with your children. Do not be tempted to sit back while your kids are occupied and get distracted by your devices or friends. Put your phone down and watch your kids. “Lifeguards do a great job of keeping our pools safe, but they are not babysitters”, said a Life Saving Victoria spokesperson.

Keep these age guidelines in mind when you take your children to the pool: ■ Babies and toddlers from birth to 5 years old (as well as nonswimmers) must have a parent or guardian in the water at all times within arm’s reach of the child. It is best if you are engaging with your child.

Use this time to play, talk and cuddle them in the water.

■ If your child is aged 6 to 10 years old, a parent or guardian should be close enough to make eye contact with the child and be constantly watching them. If you choose not to be in the water with your children of this age group, make a point to stay

focused on their safety.

■ Children aged 11 to 14, still need an adult regularly checking on their child by physically going to the edge of the pool, spa or beach where they are swimming. Accidents happen in playful games even with older kids.

No matter what their age, keep your child’s swimming ability in mind and be prepared to jump into the water at a moment’s notice. Lifeguards at pools and beaches are an extra precaution but should be relied on to fully supervise your children.

4. Who’s watching the kids?

Pool parties in peoples’ homes are a high-risk place for pool safety.

Pool parties over the summer can be relaxed and enjoyable and with lots of adults around, and it can often seem like there is extra supervision for children. However, these situations can often be the most dangerous.

“Everyone may assume that someone else is watching the kids when in fact, nobody is“, warns Kidsafe.

If you are chatting with friends around the pool, make sure pool safety is a key part of your conversation and everyone is aware that eyes need to be on the kids.

“Nominate ‘designated supervisors’ whose role it is to supervise children in and around the water - that way, there is no confusion as to who is watching the kids.

This role can be shared throughout the day, so everyone gets a chance to relax. You can even use a special hat or wristband so that it is clear who the designated supervisors are."

So, remember, safety first. It’s better to be a pool safety evangelist and relax knowing your kids are safe by the water and your pool is safe for everyone. Check you fencing, keep supervising and enjoy the water this summer.

SUMMER 2019/2020 15

Entertainment

Little Seed Theatre Company is renowned for colourful and lively shows, like this scene from an earlier production.

Spinning a magical web IF Charlotte was writing a review of Little Seed Theatre Company’s latest production, she’d use one word: “Magical”.

In January, Little Seed’s troupe of talented performers will stage the much-loved children’s classic Charlotte’s Web at the Eumundi Arts Theatre.

Written by E. B. White and first published in 1952, Charlotte’s Web tells the story of Wilbur, a livestock pig, and his friendship with barn spider Charlotte.

When Wilbur is soon to become someone’s dinner, Charlotte hatches a plan. A gifted wordsmith, Charlotte weaves messages of praise for Wilbur in her web: “Some Pig”, “Terrific”, “Radiant” and “Humble”. Charlotte’s stroke of genius starts a victorious campaign that saves Wilbur’s life and ends with Some Pig helping

his arachnid friend.

Audiences can expect another high energy and engaging production characteristic of Little Seed, with enchanting costumes and exuberant performances from some of the best young talent on the Sunshine Coast.

“Little Seed is proud to perform rich, full-length versions of plays and musicals that challenge our young performers and delight audiences,” says Creative Director, Johanna Wallace.

“I loved reading Charlotte’s Web when I was a child and Little Seed is thrilled to share this story on stage to inspire a whole new generation of children and their families,” Johanna adds.

Little Seed’s production of Charlotte’s Web follows on from other successful outings at the Eumundi Arts Theatre, most re-

cently Seussical Jnr and Fantastic Mr Fox. The cast of talented actors are complemented by an orchestra of young musicians who have created an original ‘soundscape’ that supports the action on stage.

Don’t miss this outing of family fun at its finest. Charlotte’s Web will be staged on 16 January at 6.30pm, 17 and 18 January at 2pm and 6.30pm, and 19 Janu-

ary at 6.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased online: www.little-seed.com.au

Sleeping Beauty ALL TICKETS

$

16

Jan 4, 11, 18 at 11am & 2pm Jan 5, 12, 19 at 1pm & 4pm BOOK ONLINE noosaartstheatre.org.au or phone 5449 9343

Counter Sales: Tues to Fri 10am to 2pm 163 Weyba Road, Noosaville 12432574-SN49-19

16 SUMMER 2019/2020

www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

Present

Your child’s summer holiday inspiration!

A stage-production supported by live music.

January 16 - 6.30pm 17 - 2pm & 6.30pm 18 - 2pm & 6.30pm 19 - 6.30pm

Eumundi Arts Hall Tickets C - $22.50 A - $27.50

www.little-seed.com.au

little seed C o s t u m e

H i r e

Little Seed now has over 5000 costumes available for hire in our new Noosaville warehouse.

Perfect for corporate, school, theatre and individual costume needs, these former ‘Not Just Dance Wear’ costumes are complimented by the creations of designer Leona Seib for Little Seed Theatre Company.

Opening hours vary so contact Leona to visit us at: 37 Gateway Drive Noosaville.

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www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 17

Books The book to get you

back into play Alice with her children Emily and Tom. Picture: Rob Carew

By Danielle Galvin LIKE many great ideas, Alice Zsembery’s book ‘Real Kids, Real Play’ was born from a gap in the market.

When the Stonnington mum welcomed her second child, she quickly discovered she needed to entertain her 2-year-old son who was climbing the walls as the newborn slept.

And she wanted a way to keep him engaged that didn't involve a screen.

Real Kids, Real Play has more than 150 quick, easy and "oldschool" activities to keep 0-5-yearolds busy and stimulate their creativity.

"I had a 2-year-old boy literally pulling the house apart and I was stuck with what to do with him," she explained.

"Like many parents these days, I bought him everything he could ever want or dream of, under the misconception that would keep him occupied but he wasn't actually engaged or doing any activity.

"It was kind of then that I was looking desperately to find something to keep him entertained.

"All I could find was books on crafts, and my 2-year-old boy was just not interested in doing craft."

In her own words, Alice, a maritime engineer and port planner, is not all that creative.

That's why she needed a resource she could quickly turn to.

What she wanted was a book that had it all - activities using basic household items that could be quickly and easily set up.

"I was looking for a book that had activities I could do at home

with him, it was really simple.

I was surprised I couldn't find it anywhere," she said.

"That was when I really saw a gap for a coffee table book or reference book, where you could be guaranteed you can do the activity and set it up in a few minutes and that it would be engaging.

"It was one of those cases of, it doesn't exist and I believe in it strongly so I thought I'll do it myself."

Alice says it has been a labour of love creating the book. She tried and tested 200 or more activities with her own kids, determined to ensure that the activities met all of her criteria.

"There's so many misconceptions and pressures on modern day parents," she said.

"There's this myth that the more your child has, the better set up they are or that kids need

to entertained constantly or that the best toys are the most fancy.

"Kids need to exercise their own imagination."

The beauty is in the fact that the book is a simple concept - Alice wanted to see a return to the way many of us used to engage in creative, unbridled play.

The book has become a resource for early childhood professionals and has been endorsed

by Maggie Dent.

"There's quite a big market for people like my mum who have to think about entertaining grandkids," she said.

"I get a lot of feedback from people that it's how they used to play when they were little which is really lovely."

The other benefit to the book is the fact it finds ways to reuse and recycle basic items.

Alice is passionate about the fact that parents sometimes put too much pressure on themselves to get their child every toy - and so often young children end up with a room full of toys they never play with.

She believes there's a lot to be said about less is more.

Real Kids, Real Play is available in all good bookstores and online at www.realkidsrealplay. com.au

Children’s books...

Disgusting McGrossface Rove McManus TV personality Rove McManus has ventured into the world of children’s books and the result is a bit, well, disgusting. Rove’s story centres around a creature called Disgusting McGrossface, who reeks because he hasn’t bathed for weeks and has a collection of snot-filled tissues. Kids will love the rhyming text in this tale that spells out all kinds of terrible hygiene habits (some of which your child may have).

They will also enjoy Rove’s colourful and animated illustrations. Who knew the TV host was such a talented illustrator?

Scholastic, RRP $16.99

18 SUMMER 2019/2020

Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas Lucinda Gifford OOPS they did it again - chicks Whitney and Britney have spent another day dozing! The two glamorous chooks snooze from morning until night as they lead a fun, but tiring, secret double life.

Every night they head to Club Sparkles where they perform as Whitney and Britney the Chicken Divas.

The clucky pair live with the elegant Dora von Dooze, who is totally clueless to why the two chicks spend their days dozing.

But will the chicks’ secret unravel when Dora spots some glitter on Whitney’s wing? A fun read for kids aged 3+.

Scholastic, RRP $17.99

Pearl The Brave Unicorn Sally Odgers & Adele K Thomas A CUTE tale about a smart unicorn discovering her magical abilities. Pearl the Unicorn and her Ogre friend, Olive, are throwing a surprise birthday party for their friend Tweet the bird. However, not all goes to plan. First Pearl’s magic delivers a wet birthday cake and froggy balloons. And then Olive is a no-show!

The search for Olive takes Pearl and Tweet to places they have never been. A peanut trail leads the pair to their dear friend, who has unfortunately been abducted by gobble-uns.

Will Olive make it to the party?

Scholastic, RRP $12.99

The Odd 1s Out: How to be cool and other things I definitely learned from growing up

A Flair for Hair

James Rallison EVER feel like the odd one out? Many kids do at some stage - even the ones who become famous! In this hilarious book, YouTube star James Rallison shares his stories of growing up as the ‘odd one out’. During high school, Rallison wasn’t in the cool crowd.

He wasn’t partying or playing footy like his older brother. Instead, he posted comics on the web. Now Rallison is an internet sensation, with his YouTube channel ‘The Odd 1s Out’ amassing over 11 million subscribers. A funny read for tweens and teens about the trials and tribulations of growing up.

Scholastic, RRP $19.99

By Bilyana & Mauro Di Costanzo A FUN book about expressing yourself through hair styles. Each page features an amusing caricature-style illustration of an animal with it’s chosen hairdo, including a camel with buzz cut and a lion with a curling iron. This lovely children’s book is an excellent early reader for both girls and boys due to the high frequency of easy words and rhymes. A Flair for Hair is both an enjoyable and educational book for ages 3+.

New Holland Publishers support the Starlight Children’s Foundation New Holland, RRP $19.99

www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on in summer

1 DECEMBER

19 DECEMBER

DOONAN COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS

KIDS REPTILE SHOW

An evening under the stars whilst singing along to Christmas carols, presented by a host of talented local performers. The kids will love Santa arriving on the convoy of fire engines from the Doonan Rural Fire Brigade.

4pm - 8pm Eumundi Showgrounds Black Stump Road Doonan Renae: 0403 528 721

A fantastic, free opportunity for your children to get involved in a real life reptile show. Children will have the chance to hold and touch native reptiles and learn lots of fascinating facts.

11am - 12:30pm Caloundra RSL 19 West Terrace Caloundra www.caloundrarsl.com.au

SLEEPING BEAUTY PANTOMINE

SHOWCASE & CHRISTMAS PARTY

19 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS COOKIE DECORATING WORKSHOP Your children can decorate eight of their own Christmas themed cookies! Bring a water bottle and clothes that can get messy!

For children aged 5 - 16 years.

Younger children would benefit from parent help.

9am - 10:30am The Cooroy/Pomona Lions Club 2 Mountain Street Pomona thecraftingcircle.com.au

16 DECEMBER 21 DECEMBER - 18 JANUARY

MARINE BIOLOGIST FOR A DAY Suitable for 7-12 year olds, this hands-on program is designed for children with a curiosity about the ocean and marine animals!

Bookings essential.

9am - 2:30pm 176 Ballinger Road Buderim www.oceanlifeeducation.com.au www.sunshinecoastkidstoday.com.au

6pm - 8pm (Screening commences at approximately 6.30pm) Tickle Park, Coolum Beach https://www. coolumbusinessandtourism.com. au/

for children aged over 8 years.

Children will enjoy working with easy to use materials that are also environmentally friendly.

9am - 10:30am 11am - 12:30pm Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden 51 Palm Creek Road Tanawha www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

4 JANUARY ONWARDS

14 DECEMBER

A family-friendly end of year celebration! There’ll be a showcase from students and professional performance groups, nibbles, Santa for the kids and opportunities to take part in some social dancing.

701 David Low Way Mudjimba letsdancelatin.com.au

21 DECEMBER: ELF 28 DECEMBER: FINDING DORY 4 JANUARY: THE GREATEST SHOWMAN 11 JANUARY: CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS 18 JANUARY: PADDINGTON

COOLUM FLICKS IN THE PARK Coolum Business & Tourism is proud to bring Coolum another screening of Flicks in the Park with lots of great movies! Bring along a rug and enjoy a movie under the stars with your family and friends.

Sleeping Beauty is a simple tale, a sleeping Princess, three good fairies, a doting royal nurse, two comic villains and a dashing Prince all combine to make this comic retelling of the story of Sleeping Beauty such a fun time at the theatre this holiday’s.

Playing at the Noosa Arts Theatre this January.

163 Weyba Road, Noosaville, Book online at https://www. noosaartstheatre.org.au/ 10 JANUARY

FIRST NATIONS GAMES DAY All families are welcome to come along to this awesome games day where children will learn about First Nations identity and corroboree empowerment through sports and traditional dance 9am - 12pm Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden 51 Palm Creek Road Tanawha bookings via eventbrite 15 JANUARY

CAT’S CLAW WEAVING WORKSHOP Your children will learn how to weave in this hands-on workshop

21 JANUARY

KIDS SLIME MAKING **use pic 01 here** Your children can have fun and party in their favourite onesie!

Ticket includes slime ingredients, hot chips and a drink. Plus fun games and prizes on offer for the best dressed. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $11.

10:30am - 12:30pm Caloundra RSL 19 West Terrace Caloundra www.caloundrarsl.com.au 1 FEBRUARY - 2 FEBRUARY Join thousands of Queenslanders and special guests for a wonderful weekend of sun, surf & swims on Noosa Main Beach. There are events for the whole family!

Children aged 8 - 16 years can complete in the junior giants section and the 300m dash, where parents and friends can join in.

8am - 6:30pm Saturday 8am - 10:30am Sunday Noosa Heads Beach www.worldseriesswims.com.au/ noosa-summer-swim SUMMER 2019/2020 19

Nick Jr.’s PAW Patrol Activity Craft Village and Meet and Greet!

Join in all the pawesome fun these holidays with a free PAW Patrol craft village, and a meet and greet with Marshall!* Plus, get creative at home and download our colouring competition, a PAW Patrol prize pack is up for grabs!

Dates: Times: Location: Cost:

Mon 13th Jan – Fri 17th Jan 10am – 1pm daily Outside Red Rooster Free

*Meet and Greet sessions with Marshall will be 20 mins on, 20 mins off.

See noosacivic.com.au for full details.

© 2019 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved. PAW Patrol and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Spin Master Ltd. Nickelodeon and all related titles and logosare trademarks.

Big W Woolworths 100 speciality stores 28 Eenie Creek Rd (Cnr Walter Hay Drive) Noosaville Ph 5440 7900

124325750-SG49-19