Knox Monash Kids Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019/20

Keeping calm

at Christmas

All aboard Puffing Billy www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

magazine

for families SUMMER 2019/2020 1

About Us

A magazine designed for families WELCOME to the first edition of Knox Monash Kids magazine.

line to every joke, get the words wrong and think dabbing is cool!"

Knox Monash Kids is designed for busy families who want information at their fingertips on things to do and places to go in their local area. The magazine is also packed with stories about everything from health and education, to new book releases, advice from parenting experts and, most importantly, stories about families just like yours.

I am honoured to launch this inaugural edition in the absence of regular editor Melissa Grant who is on maternity leave spending precious time with her new baby boy.

Knox Monash Kids joins a stable of six other kid focused magazines produced by the Mail News Group and its sister company, Star News Group.

The magazine is written and edited by mums. Writer Rachel Hickingbotham is a busy mother of three, who juggles her writing commitments with bringing up her children aged 15, 11 and 7.

Rachel says the greatest pleasure of motherhood is free hugs and "them loving me even when I forget the punch

I too am a mum. My daughter is 11 and finishing her last year at primary school (where do the years go?) and my son is 7. Like most mums, I am constantly trying to juggle the responsibilities of work and family life, while trying to enjoy these precious years as my children grow and mature.

I have thoroughly enjoyed stepping into Melissa’s shoes and pulling together this special summer launch edition. I think we have an interesting mix of articles, highlighting the joys and challenges of parenthood. I hope you agree.

Knox/ Monash area over summer. I know my diary is already full of holiday activities I want to share with my family and friends. In this edition we have some great ideas for things to see and do over the summer months. Make sure you keep this edition handy as the long weeks of the school holidays unfold as you never know when you need some inspiration to get out and about and explore our fantastic region.

Knox Monash Kids magazine is a Mail News Group publication.

Remember to follow us on Facebook and keep an eye for regular posts on our website.

Editorial

Wishing all our readers a merry Christmas with loved ones and a happy and safe new year.

Cover Graham Knight (train driver) with David and Rachel Green and their kids Lucas, Levi and Elias. Picture: Stewart Chambers

BOOKS

Swim World

Kids books

PAGE 3

PAGE 7

PAGE 29

Dad’s birthday surprise

The Knox School

PAGE 4

PAGE 20

KIDS CALENDAR

Steve Biddulph on slow childhoods

How to read school reports

PAGE 6

PAGE 21

Australia’s largest family on the move

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11 Keep calm at Christmas PAGES 12 - 13 The joys of festive giving PAGE 14

PAGE 9 Waverley Gardens PAGE 22

All aboard Puffing Billy

Party Time

magazine

for families

PAGE 24 www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Young mums go into business PAGE 23

PAGE 16

Summer pool safety tips

Mumpreneur Emma Isaacs

PAGE 25

PAGE 17

Talking about the birds and the bees

HEALTH

PAGE 26

knoxmonashkids.com.au

at Christmas

All aboard Puffing Billy

Support for young people in Knox

PAGE 19

Keeping calm

PAGE 5

PAGE 15

When to tell people you’re expecting

Summer events calendar

Caribbean Market

REALITY BITES

PAGE 18

SUMMER 2019/20

PAGE 31

Teen gift ideas

Self-care tips for new mums

Advertising

Published by Mail News Group Pty Ltd ACN 99 006 310 498. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Mail News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

EDUCATION

Letters to my children

Melissa Grant melissa.dorries@starnewsgroup. com.au Phone: 5945 0648

Phone: 5957 3700

There is so much happening in the

Charity helping mums in need

PAGE 10

244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic 3777 Phone: 5957 3700 Fax: 5957 3777

kerri.shinkfield@mailnewsgroup.com.au

IT’S YOUR LIFE

One family’s surrogacy journey

Knox Monash Kids

Kerri Shinkfield Acting editor,

CONTENTS

PAGE 8

Knox Monash will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

SUMMER 2019/2020 1

Gardening with kids PAGE 27 Holiday advice for grandparents PAGE 28

facebook.com/knoxmonashkids

instagram.com/knoxmonash_kids

It’s Your Life

From left, Khoa Tran, Siva Raman, Susan Wixted, Jessica Macpherson (CEO), Stephane Cooper, Zoe Smith working on rejuvinating car seats.

Help another family

this Christmas

By Rachel Hickingbotham

DONATE TIME

TEN years ago, a group of mums were visiting their local Maternal and Child Health Centre on Chapel Street, St Kilda and noticed baby goods stacked high in the photocopying room that had been kindly donated by local parents.

Give a little time or give a lot. St Kilda Mums has made volunteering easy for busy people wanting to lend a hand.

You can even book a volunteer session for you and your children. Bring your kids into help out with a staff member over the school holidays.

One of the mums, who is now the CEO, Jessica Macpherson, saw that help was needed to get the generous donations to families who needed them.

She volunteered to sort, launder and package the preloved items.

Year 9 students and older can attend with their classmates and teacher.

During special sessions, they will learn about the need for safe prams and warm clothing. They also learn about some of the causes of disadvantage of the people St Kilda Mums help. Students assist with cleaning and safety checking items such as prams, highchairs and car seats. They also help sorting and packing clothing and toys as well as preparing special toiletry packs for mums and babies.

“What started as small seed of community goodwill has grown rapidly over the past decade. St Kilda Mums quickly grew from a weekly working bee held in my living room to a thriving operation, consisting of over 3,000 volunteers today”, said Jessica, Earlier this year, St Kilda Mums moved its headquarters to Clayton after outgrowing the space in St Kilda. The new Clayton premises is three times bigger which allows the charity to support more families than ever before.

Last year alone, the organisation rehomed more than 59,000 nursery items to 20,400 babies and children.

This is a staggering $7.3 million worth of goods.

St Kilda Mums is now striving to support more than 5,000 families in need by the end of January and is asking Melbourne families to get behind the drive.

There are three ways you can support a family in need this Christmas: DONATE MONEY For $126, St Kilda Mums provides everything a family needs to welcome their baby home from the hospital. They

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

DONATE GOODS From left, Greg Saggus, Jason Cowlishaw and Jessica Macpherson (CEO) clean and check high chairs.

can achieve this generous package due to donations or good, financial support and incredible volunteer contribution and a lot of hard work. The bundle of goods is dependent on what the family needs but could include a cot, pram, car seat, bouncer, breast pump, change mat, toiletries, nappies, wipes, clothing and linen, books, toys and any other essentials from an extensive list.

Consider chatting with your kids this year about donating some money as a family and choosing something specific to donate. You can choose items from the St Kilda Mums website such as a years’ worth of good quality clothes for $56 or a new cot, mattress and bedding for $217.

Some things are best given brand new, like underwear. Next time you are stocking up for your kids, consider grabbing some extra undies for a child in need. St Kilda Mums are always in great need of new underwear and socks up to a child’s size 12. The also have the constant need for newborn nappies and baby wipes.

If your child would like to choose some of their belongings to donate, encourage them to choose good quality, gently used items that they themselves would be happy to receive.

“The presentation of the goods is very important, we only want to rehome items that we would be comfortable receiving for our own children”, said Jessica. This has become a key value at St Kilda Mums.

Jessica suggest the following ideas for kids who want to donate: ■ Mindfully choose books and toys: Pick items that are still usable. Make sure books are not ripped and toys are working and clean.

■ Check jigsaw puzzles: Go through puzzles before they are donated and make sure all the pieces are intact.

Then wrap it up in a ribbon with a note saying that the puzzle has been checked.

■ Go through stationary: Children can sort through coloured pencils they no longer need, sharpen them and bundle them into a colour collection for another child. Consider filling a pencil case with toddler scissors they have outgrown and other surplus items from their school year.

A kind note with your donation is also a thoughtful touch.

The theme of this year’s Christmas appeal at St Kilda Mums is 'Share the Joy'.

“The important work being done by St Kilda Mums does not stop at this time of year. If anything, it’s busier than usual. However, the funding we need to continue helping families in need sometimes runs very low which is why we need the community’s support”, said Jessica.

“Making a monetary donation that will provide essential nursery equipment, given with a message of support, will bring so much relief to families in crisis at this time of year.

Sadly, it may be the only gift they receive."

Please go to www.stkildamums.org for more information or to make a donation.

SUMMER 2019/2020 3

It’s Your Life Baby Wyatt.

A speedy birthday

present for Dad Emily and Patrick with Baby Wyatt and Jaxon.

By Rachel Hickingbotham ON Patrick Egan’s birthday he was helping his heavily pregnant partner get to the car when she suddenly stopped.

“If I get in the car, I am going to have him in the car”, she exclaimed.

Emily Skoda’s quick decision to ditch her hospital birth plan and head back inside was a wise move. Even though she could feel her baby’s head on its way, she was calm enough to ask Pat to call their childbirth attendant (doula) who immediately suggested they call an ambulance.

'No'. I knew it would make it more painful and possibly make the birth more difficult”, said Emily.

She knew her body and her birthing ability well.

“It was happening so fast, there wasn’t a whole lot of time for worrying about anything except focusing on what I was doing.

Emily birthed their healthy little boy after only one hour of active labour, a total of 2.5 hours from start to finish. Not into a birth pool in hospital as hoped, but in the hallway of their home.

“Although Pat was on the phone to 000, there is still no-one to guide you or tell you what to do. So I felt I had to listen to my body as there was no-one there to guide me.

Once their little boy arrived, they both laughed with joy, relief and disbelief.

“There wasn’t any time to worry about anything; the minute I had a worry in my head, he was out and started crying straight away“.

“Not where I would have chosen!” laughs Emily “But that’s where I got into a comfortable position and stayed!”.

“From the time he rang the ambulance to the time they arrived, was seven minutes. And he was born before that”.

With only her partner as her support and her mother on the sidelines, Emily had no choice but to birth her baby without any trained medical help.

Emily had called her parents earlier in the evening to come and watch two-year-old son, Jaxon.

Pat received the greatest gift a dad could want, a baby son born right into his hands.

“Even then I thought I might be cutting it fine. I just thought I had time until, and suddenly I didn’t have ANY time!”.

“Pat ’caught’ Wyatt himself, and on his own birthday, hence Wyatt’s middle name Patrick. Wyatt and Pat now share the same birthday. Wyatt’s older brother Jaxon has the middle name David, named after Pat’s, deceased older brother. So, Wyatt and Jaxon’s middle names come from the two brothers.

Pat stayed on the phone to Triple Zero operators during the speedy birth. He was advised to encourage her to move to her bed and lay on her back so that Pat had a clear view of their baby coming and to also stall the labour until the ambulance arrived.

“Shocked, I responded with a firm

4 SUMMER 2019/2020

but I also knew I could do it to.

When asked whether the experience felt scary at all, Emily replied “It wasn’t scary. I had a very natural birth with Jaxon. I knew things could go wrong,

According to Emily’s mum, Pat was “really, really calm”.

“He was calm because he knew I knew what I was doing”, explained Emily.

Sometimes second babies are quicker to arrive than their siblings. Jaxon’s labour was six hours, fast for a first birth, but Emily never expected her swift birth experience.

“I did not think it was possible to be THAT fast!”

Like her first baby, Emily wanted a very natural birth, “and I got it! Just not as planned!”.

Emily had also not planned to have her mother with her but said “it was really nice that she got to witness the birth in the end”.

Since his dramatic birth, baby Wyatt has proven to be a trooper. He stayed

overnight in hospital with a virus at four days old and tolerates the attention from his overly loving big brother who is ready to play with his new sibling.

“The hardest part is trying to make sure he is gentle enough. He is always trying to give him kisses and trying to lay on him! “.

As any mum knows, asking if a newborn is “good” is too much pressure to for a tiny new human who is only just discovering hunger pains and dirty nappies. However, Emily is pleased; “He’s pretty calm, although he does like his awake time up until midnight or 1am sometimes, but at least he’s not screaming”.

I would imagine Wyatt’s birth story will be one that is shared many times as he grows up. He might even be proud to know that he has joined the BBA Club - babies ’born before arrival’. Although, I am not sure that is an actual cardcarrying club.

Emily laughed as she explained that one staff member at The Angliss said if she was to have another baby “the minute I sneezed I would have to come to hospital!”

Of course, one of the most dim-witted questions you can ask a mother with a newborn is “do you think you will have any more children”. So, of course I asked and of course Emily groaned at me, “Oh! I don’t think so...!”.

Sorry Emily, dumb question.

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Entertainment

More than just a market FOR more than 53 years, Caribbean Park has been home to an iconic community market set on 300 acres of parkland in Scoresby.

everything from fresh produce to homewares and accessories. It’s a wonderful activity to wander around and find treasures.

Once a market with just a handful of traders, today it has grown into a bustling undercover market with over 1,000 stall sites inside a huge pavilion plus a further 1,000 square metre area for outdoor stalls. Here you’ll find

Caribbean is not only home to Australia’s largest and best-loved community market, it's also a fun and affordable family day out with an on-site cafe, train ride, mini golf, jungle safari, chairlift and extensive

playgrounds. When you get hungry you can head to Street Food area, cafe or use the barbecues in the picnic area.

Caribbean Gardens and Market provides additional entertainment during the school holidays including car shows and various activities for the kids.

Keep an eye out for special market events like Babes To Kids, Twilight at Caribbean and extra activities over

Easter, Christmas and school holidays.

Caribbean Market and Gardens are open on Wednesday from 8:30am to 3:00pm and Sunday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

For details on upcoming activities check the website www. caribbeangardens.com.au or the Caribbean Gardens and Market Facebook page.

ENJOY YOUR DAY AT CARIBBEAN MARKET

BABES TO KIDS MARKET ONCE A MONTH 4$)00- )0-*%": '6/ 4&& 5)& WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

1280 FERNTREE GULLY ROAD, SCORESBY, VIC 3179 12430744-SN50-19

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 5

It’s Your Life

World renowned author Steve Biddulph

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.

How parenting has changed

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 angry 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.

6 SUMMER 2019/2020

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 escalating negativity.

Hitting, hurting, shouting, calling kids

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.

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

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 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.

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Education

Not your average swimming lessons AT SwimWorld Glen Waverley, you can be assured they are just as serious about swimming and survival as they are about fun and motivation. Their mission is to teach your child to ‘Swim, Survive, and Enjoy the Water’.

SwimWorld has been operating exclusively as a swim school for almost 50 years, teaching hundreds of children to swim; from babies to adults. All ability levels and learning styles are catered for.

SwimWorld is unique in that it focusses on teaching students to hone each skill before progressing to the next level. Class sizes are small with 2 swim coaches in the pool with groups no larger than 6. Being a dedicated swim school, there is also no distraction of public swimming, congestion and the noise that goes with public

DON’T LET YOUR CHILD BECOME A TRAGIC STATISTIC THIS SUMMER.

swimming centres.

All the staff makes sure they get to know the students and their families.

Parents and caregivers are kept informed as to the progress of their children during the class by dedicated deck supervisors. The school prides itself on the intensive attention it can give to each student. The staff guide their students through each of the levels.

Babies can start as early as 4 months old in the Tiny Tots classes and can then progress right up to 3 years of age, when they officially graduate to join the bigger kids and participate independently from their parent or caregiver. SwimWorld teaches both adults and children as every person should enjoy acquiring a value life lesson such as learning to swim and survive.

Survival is the main component of every swimming lesson Above all, children should never swim alone. Parents should remember to pay more attention to their children than their phone, especially at pools where life-saving staff are not on hand.

Ensuring your child can swim gives peace of mind when children are swimming with friends at a local public pool or at a friend’s house. Swimming lessons not only equips kids for safe water play but also gives them the survival skills they may need one day.

Swimming should be a priority all year round. When your child attends swimming lessons at SwimWorld, they will stay warm even on the coldest winter days. The pool stays a toasty 32 degrees all year round and even the ambient temperature is a comfortable

For the Best Lesson in Life...

ensure your child Learns to Swim and Learns to Survive

24 degrees poolside.

Life is busy for us all, but it is important to overlook our kids’ swimming lessons. Swim lessons may not always be a preferred subject, but it is definitely an important one.

Term 4 classes run right up until December 22 and Term 1 starts back on Monday 20 January. The Summer Intensive Program is a great way for kids to get a boost in their swim skills and is also a great way to kick start the new year. The next intensive program runs from January 13- 17, 2020.

Be a winner this coming year and ensure that you give your precious child one of the best lessons in life ... Learning to Swim and Learning to Survive with your local expert, SwimWorld Glen Waverley.

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www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 7

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.

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

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".

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.

For the Bonells this means lists upon lists.

2. Plan Outfits

"I am the Queen of Lists", laughs Jeni.

"I made lists of all of our bags and what was in each one".

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

Each suitcase had a matching ribbon tied onto it and was well-labelled and numbered.

3. Divide and Conquer

"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 bedrooms 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 no-one 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 sea-legs 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

8 SUMMER 2019/2020

Jeni's Big Family Packing Tips

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

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

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.

children have had their first baby each.

4. Colour-code and Number Bags

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

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.

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, 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.

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

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Jesse Brooke Claire Natalie Karl Samuel Cameron Sabrina Tim Brandon Eve Nate Rachel Eric Damian Katelyn

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Entertainment

All aboard for a summer train ride STEP back in time at Australia’s favourite steam train, Puffing Billy, located in the Dandenong Ranges.

Puffing Billy is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world and operates every day of the year, except Christmas Day, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers.

The excitement begins from the moment you arrive at the station with the sight of the historic locomotives, the smell of the steam and the sound of the train’s whistle.

the Belgrave township.

After boarding, Puffing Billy chugs away while you and your family take in the spectacular scenery of the beautiful Sherbrooke Forest, a superb temperate rainforest with native ‘Mountain Ash’ trees. Within minutes, you will cross Puffing Billy’s most famous landmark - the iconic Monbulk Creek trestle bridge.

Start at Lakeside (Emerald Lake Park)

The railway was built in 1900 to serve the local communities that lived in the hills, carrying anything from passengers to timber, livestock, potatoes and plants.

Escape the crowds and enjoy a family outing aboard Puffing Billy from Lakeside (Emerald Lake Park) to Gembrook.

Today, Puffing Billy Railway is a major tourist attraction and invites visitors to come and experience a century old tradition. Ride in the open sides carriages as the historic steam trains continue to run on their original mountain track between Belgrave and Gembrook, in the natural surrounds of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges.

Emerald Lake Park is the perfect spot to enjoy for families before or after their journey, and offers BBQ facilities and picnic tables, playground facilities, a wading pool and paddle boats for hire.

Start at Belgrave

Once your journey is underway, Puffing Billy skirts the unspoilt Wright State Forest and as the train climbs towards Gembrook, there are spectacular views of rolling farmlands and distant mountain ranges.

Belgrave Station is the headquarters of the railway and only a short walk from

For more information go to www. puffingbilly.com.au

Train driver Graham Knight invites everyone aboard.

Puffing Billy is one of Victoria's iconic tourist attractions.

Australia’s Favourite Steam Train

Save 10% off Family Fares Travel Lakeside to Gembrook Use promo code KNOX to redeem online* Book Online Today

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www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 9

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

10 SUMMER 2019/2020

surrogacy process.

Once they were given the all-clear, 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 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.

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

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

conversation about surrogacy.

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

“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.

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

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

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

“It’s awesome being a dad.“

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Letters filled with love

By Narelle Coulter EACH January I sit down and write a letter to my children.

My daughter is 11 and my son 7.

The letters are not for them now.

When I am finished writing, I seal the pages in an envelope, write the child’s name on the front, date it and then pop it in a special box kept on the top shelf of the wardrobe in my bedroom.

On their 21st birthdays I will open the box and give them 21 letters, one for each year of their life.

In this digital age, childhood is documented and recorded like never before.

milestones like birthdays, christenings and first days at school, but also ordinary, every day moments.

they made about the world around them and tell stories that illustrate who they are.

what they like to wear as those things change as surely as their bodies change and grow.

Images of our children are not only filed away in albums the old-fashioned way, but posted on social media, mounted on canvas, printed onto calendars and mugs and distributed by email and text to family and friends.

I always write in pen on nice note paper. It’s much easier on a computer.

However, I want my handwriting to be a connection to me from the past.

In one letter I remind my son about that how when watching Play School he would call out to me to guess which window the presenters were going to look through that day.

I do that with my children too.

But I didn’t want pictures and video to be the only record of their formative years.

The letters started from a deeper desire to capture not only what they look like, say and do, but who they are as individuals.

Photographs, some of them taken professionally, start when baby is still in the womb.

Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. Each year I try to capture what each child is like at a particular age.

When he or she emerges, cameras and smart phones are constantly at hand ready to record not only

I write to them about their likes and dislikes, new skills they mastered that year, funny things they said, discoveries

In my son’s letter last year I wrote about his first year at school. How proud I was to see him eagerly hoist his enormous school bag on his back and eagerly follow his sister through the school gate as a proper school boy.

In my daughter’s letter I wrote about her maturing social relationships, her generosity and her role as a problem solver and healer among her friendship group.

I also wrote about how perplexed she was by the changing relationships between boys and girls as she approached those critical pubity years.

I write about the games they like to play, the television shows they watch,

Both my children are born in January so it is the perfect time to write about the year that has gone, who they are at the age they are about to leave behind.

In some letters I include important family milestones. In 2014 their father and I separated and later divorced. In the letters that year I explain why the marriage failed from my point of view.

Children can’t possibly understand the reasons a marriage falls apart.

Hopefully, as adults, they will.

Ultimately, I hope my gift will be one of the most special they ever receive.

A humble collection of love letters from the past.

12431934-LB50-19

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 11

It’s Your Life

Top tips for a

calm Christmas CHRISTMAS is coming. Are you feeling calm or frazzled? We are here to help!

Our range of Kids magazines are written entirely by mothers. Our writing team comprises busy working mums with kids aged zero to 15.

We work while our kids are at school, kinder, daycare or with family. We work when they can often when the kids are in bed and sometimes late into the night. We know what it’s like to juggle.

12 SUMMER 2019/2020

Christmas is no exception.

HOME

for new gifts”, suggests Amy.

So, as we round the corner into the silly season, we called upon our mum-writers to share their tips for a calm Christmas. We also turned to Amy Revell, Melbourne mum, professional organiser and podcaster for expert calm home advice. Amy runs an online de-cluttering course called, “Head, Heart & Home” which inspired us for this article.

Let’s start at home, for if your home is a mess your mind will be too. Our home expert, Amy Revell shared some ideas of how to give our homes a quick calming make-over before school breaks up.

“This is a great activity to do with your children in December is to do a thorough declutter of their toys. Use the opportunity when you know they’re likely to receive new toys for Christmas to work with them to donate and declutter toys they no longer love and play with. Clear out space so that after Christmas when it’s time to put new toys away you actually have space to fit them and find a home for everything”.

1. Declutter toys “If you have time before Christmas, sit with your kids and go through their toy collection. Anything they no longer used can be given away to make space

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2. Clear out hard rubbish

HEAD

HEART

4. Make a gift stash

Amy: Go around the main living and entertaining areas in your home and declutter the obvious un-wanted, un-needed and broken items in your house. Anything that cannot be donated can be discarded. Tip: do it right away; don’t leave bags of rubbish at your front door or clogging up your car.

Get your mental load organised. Crack out your calendar and face the reality of your time.

Gives should come from the heart, not just from your head and purse. If you can set aside to give your gift giving some extra thought, you will find the joy of giving that is so easily lost in all the haze of frantic shopping.

Eliza: Why not cook up a batch of marmalade, lemon butter, jam or applesauce with your kids? Or maybe a fruitcake, shortbread or a gingerbread house? This won’t do for “big” presents, but for smaller gifts, a little hamper of homemade deliciousness is perfect.

“Whether your council picks up from your house or you need to visit the tip, I recommend you plan to do a hard rubbish removal at the beginning of December. This is a great chance to get rid of any big items that have broken throughout the year. Have a look in the house and outside in the garden and you might be surprised how much you can clear out. Go into the Christmas season feeling good knowing all your hard rubbish has been taken care of,” suggests Amy.

Rachel: At this time of the year, you can almost start treating your calendar like another family member. Give it lots of attention by checking in every couple of days. You can plan some things weeks in advance, but make sure the little things like gifts, food platters and Christmas clothes are organised at least a day in advance from an event. Try and make it a goal to avoid the lastminute dash to the shops or frantically searching for a santa hat.

3. Donate to others

2. Be realistic

Consider not selling your gently loved toys and usable household goods and donating instead. Drop these off to a charity organisation near you and they could have a second life with another family this Christmas. Important: remember to actually drop donations off as soon as possible and do not leave them in the back of your car until New Year!

There is no room for perfectionism at Christmas, or any time of the year in fact. Saying no and “sorry, but we already have enough on our calendar this week”, is not only OK, but healthy for you and your family.

4. Make stations Rachel: Set up a “wrapping station” before Christmas every year. Other than paper, ribbon and labels, ensure to include scissors and sticky tape and remind other family members to keep everything together. The wrapping station could just be a big plastic tub in the corner of your living room or a designated shelf in a cupboard. “Teach your family where the station to ensure anyone can find the materials they need”, suggests Rachel.

Eliza: I have a separate set of cutlery, plates and glasses that I have ready to go for entertaining. “This saves madly clawing through the dishwasher at the last minute, looking for extra forks or knives”. I also scan or print out my go-to recipes and have them in a file so I can get straight into cooking”.

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

If you haven’t started filling your diaries in detail, now is the time to get organised.

1. Make friends with your calendar

Our home expert, Amy says “Kids are particularly tired during December with all the additional childcare and school activities so it’s OK to pop into an event rather than be the first to arrive and the last to leave. It’s even OK to pass on an event that you know will have a negative flow on effect to your family routine and capacity”.

Eliza: To-do lists are my favourite things for juggling work, home and parenting.

I break things down into a “daily” list and a “running” list - of things I need to get done less urgently.

“When things are hectic, I try to set aside an afternoon where I’ll batch cook a whole lot of healthy meals and freeze them in individual portion sizes (including extra-small ones for the baby!). At the moment our freezer is full of green minestrone, vegetable lasagne and dahl”, says Eliza.

1. Create a gift list Amy: Before you buy any more gifts this year, take a moment to write down who you intend to buy for and if you’ve already bought items, write these down too. “It’s easy to overspend at Christmas when you forget you bought something and buy another gift for the same person. Keeping a list will keep you on budget and help you feel organised”, explains Amy. 2. Go Christmas List Shopping Rachel: Take your kids to two or three shops that sell things that you know they like and get them to wander around and look at everything. We call this “Christmas List Shopping”. Once they show you what they like, you can take a photo and make a note of the price.

Use this time to help your kids to understand how many gifts is appropriate to ask Santa for and if you think what they have chosen fits with Santa’s budget. When you get home, help them to write a letter to Santa, take a photo of it and post it. You can post it directly into any Australia Post box.

“They may even get a reply, not from Santa himself, but from the friendly elves at the post office”, says Rachel.

I also have an emergency stash of generic presents (such as chocolate, tea and wine) that I can pull out to avoid that awkward someone-has-given-yousomething-but-you-don’t-have-anythingfor-them moments.

Contributors: ■ Amy Revell, mum of 2, professional organiser and owner of The Art of Decluttering course and podcasts: www.artofdecluttering.com.au ■ Rachel Hickingbotham, mum of 3, writer - Casey Cardinia Kids & Knox Monash Kids.

■ Eliza Henry-Jones, mum of 1, writer - Yarra Ranges Kids & Geelong Coast Kids.

3. Buy experiences Amy: This year get creative in your gift giving and think about moving away from physical gifts to giving experiences. We often do this for adults, but it’s fantastic for kids too. Think movie tickets, play centre passes, local theatre group ticket, theme park voucher, lessons for a hobby (craft, music, theatre, sport), there are so many great experiences for kids that will get them active, creative and learning new things. See our article in this magazine on Giving the Gift of Experiences.

SUMMER 2019/2020 13

It’s Your Life

More giving, less receiving

By Rachel Hickingbotham “REMEMBER that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more” - H. Jackson Brown Jr. Is giving is better than receiving?

Adults might say yes, but I wonder what our kids would say? Sadly, our guess is that most kids would disagree.

But it’s not their fault. Perhaps it is because they have not experienced the joy that comes with giving.

If the happiest people in the world are givers, then logically we should give our kids the opportunity to

experience giving to others.

be spent pondering over.

At Christmas time there is an abundance of receiving for most children. Gifts are usually not in short supply. So much so that sometimes children get so much that they lose sight of the thought and money that has gone into the gifts they receive.

We suggest that you try and get the obligations out of the way so that you can make time to immerse yourself in the good parts of the festive season. Buy your presents, wrap them and tuck them away. Stock up on party food and drinks in the fridge and get all your Christmas break ups locked into your calendar. Then set all that stuff aside, collect your kids from the last day of school for the year and help them to fix their focus on GIVING.

As parents, Christmas can feel like a barrage of spending obligations and some days it feels like money is gushing outwards quicker than it is flowing inwards. Combine that with the end of year wrap up that seems to take weeks and we can begin to lose sight of some of the essence of what Christmas could

Giving does not need to cost a cent.

You could take your kids to visit a sick or elderly relative. Spend time with

grandparents helping them to put up their Christmas tree. Have a baking day making shortbread, mince pies and other treats and drop them in to friends and neighbours.

Help them to understand that every year there are children who don’t get the chance to write their letter to Santa and maybe they miss out on gifts. It may be unimaginable for them that children in their own city could wake up on Christmas morning without excitement and without presents. Take them shopping, but not for themselves.

Get them to choose gifts that they would love themselves and donate it to a child their own age.

Where to donate this Christmas DONATION DROP OFF LOCATIONS

BORONIA

RAY WHITE REAL ESTATE

OAKLEIGH

136 Boronia Rd, Boronia

Bayswater, Ferntree Gully, Rowville, Wantirna

Monash-Oakleigh Community Support and Information Service

Mon-Thurs 10am-3pm

BAYSWATER

25 Downing Street, Oakleigh.

10am-3.30pm

DONATIONS Accepted up until Friday December 13th

Knox Infolink

Please donate toys & gifts for children ages 0-16 and gift vouchers for teenagers.

Also consider donating some non-perishable groceries and festive food

BENDIGO BANKS Boronia, Ferntree Gully BARRY PLANT REAL ESTATE Boronia, Wantirna EASTER REGIONAL LIBRARIES Boronia, Bayswater, Knox, Ferntree Gully, Rowville

14 SUMMER 2019/2020

Bayswater Amcal Chemist ROWVILLE The Hub 16 Kingsley Close, Rowville Drop off in mornings from 1st -12th December

MT WAVERLEY Monash-Waverley Community Information & Support Rear of Mt Waverley Community Centre 47 Miller Cres, Mt Waverley.

9.30-3.30pm www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

It’s Your Life

The gift of memories

By Rachel Hickingbotham

Gumbuya Park at Tynong): this is a great way to cater for all levels of bravery with the range of water slides and other rides at these summer-friendly water parks.

THERE comes a time as a parent of a teen (or tween) when toys no longer feature on the letter to Santa and wish lists include expensive items such as gaming consoles or bikes. This can make teens difficult to buy for, but consider embracing this problem as an opportunity. Giving your time, attention and creating memories is a gift that is worth much more than the cost of the experience.

■ Indoor Skydiving (try Essendon): a great way to experience skydiving without jumping out of a plane!

■ Escape room experiences: you can find many of these all over Melbourne now at varying levels of difficulty ■ Drive a car under-age (Sandown): treat your teen to a driving experience before they even get their learner’s permit.

We’ve compiled some ideas for parents and relatives of teens and tweens who are stuck for ideas.

Consider giving something meaningful instead of cash or gift vouchers.

Granted, most kids love to spend, but the sentiment of giving is sometimes lost as soon as the cash is tucked into their pocket, spent and forgotten.

3. STYLISH GIFTS

Remember, Christmas doesn’t have to come from a store. In fact it is more meaningful when it comes from the heart.

Here are some teen and tweenapproved “experience gift” ideas you might like to consider this Christmas: 1. BUCKET LIST GIFTS Take your young person to try something they have always wanted to do. Depending of you budget, you could consider:

■ Explore art in many styles from graffiti spotting down Melbourne laneways to art galleries or exhibitions

■ Swim with the dolphins (try Sorrento) - and maybe some seals as well.

2. ADRENALINE GIFTS

■ Up close and personal animal encounters (try Werribee Zoo or Healesville Sanctuary) ■ Take them on a ride on a tricky Mountain Bike track they love or always wanted to try ■ If they are a foodie, visit funky inner-city cafe, a sushi train restaurant or book a cooking class for you both ■ Behind-the-scenes tours are available at the MCG

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

If the teen in your life is brave and likes challenge (or likes to think they do), consider these teen-approved adventure gifts like: ■ Swim with Sharks (City): 14 years olds and over can swim with sharks and stingrays at the Melbourne Aquarium ■ A Jet Boat ride (try St Kilda or Phillip Island): just like the shot-over jets in New Zealand, you can now experience these exhilarating rides in Melbourne

■ The Edge at Eureka Tower (City): this is a glass box jutting off the side of Eureka Tower that goes clear so that you can see all the way to street below. Once your teen is over their nerves, it makes for excellent bragging rights. They even take your photo inside for proof.

■ High Ropes Courses (try Belgrave or Lorne): from tweens to adults, these are both challenging and fun ■ The Melbourne Eye (Docklands): this Ferris wheel may seem sedate and boring, but we can assure you it is not. Plus, it gives great Instagramworthy material for your teen. Make sure they take their device.

■ Water park fun (try Geelong or

Most young people have some aspect of their appearance they love. Maybe they don’t give a toss about their hair, but they might be dying for a pair of cool shoes or a new piece of clothing.

Perhaps they have been waiting for the green light from mum and dad to get their hair dyed or their ears pierced.

Consider being the relative that gives this memorable gift. Depending on your budget, consider a trip to get your nails, hair or shopping spree. Follow it up with a treat of their choosing at a cafe nearby. Ask them questions and listen to their answers.

4. GROUP GIFTS Perhaps you have 2 grand kids or 3 nieces. Give the gift of a group trip.

Perhaps take them all out for a day together. Consider a festival, stage show, the ballet, music concert, cooking classes or even group surfing lessons.

5. BIG MEMORY GIFTS Forget present all together this year and take all of your kids or grand kids for weekend in the city or by the beach with all the bells and whistles. Choose a day of sightseeing with their choice of lunch or room service and a movie marathon back at your accommodation.

SUMMER 2019/2020 15

It’s Your Life

Young people get a fast break THE vibrant Knox City Council Leisure and Youth Services team offers some excellent programs for young people in our community. Below we feature three of their popular and successful programs.

Young Sporting Leaders’ Program This program is a personal and leadership development opportunity designed for young women aged 15 to 18. The purpose of the Young Sporting Leaders’ Program is to recognise the potential of young women within their sporting clubs. A key focus is to reduce the drop off rates of young women in sporting clubs as well as working towards higher female representation in club leadership positions.

This program was inspired by the partnership between Knox City Council and the Melbourne Boomers women’s basketball team. In this year’s program, participants took part in basketball and coaching activities provided by Boomer players.

The program participants represented a variety of different sporting clubs and codes and were nominated by their clubs to take part in the two-day program. The young women participated in a number of leadership sessions, delivered by Knox City Council Youth Services staff, SALT (Sport & Life Training) and Headspace.

Some of the topics included: becoming a woman of influence, effective communication and managing our mental health.

Knox Night Owls The Knox Night Owl Program began as a weekly basketball clinic, designed to let young people in Knox engage in sport and physical activity in a positive, fun and safe environment. After some early success the program expanded and now includes a rotating roster of activities, including basketball, netball, soccer, street dance and more. In addition to the sporting activities, the free program incorporates healthy meals, personal development and

life-skills workshops, where young people from the local area have the opportunity to meet and build friendships, gain new skills and grow their confidence.

In addition to the social and physical benefits, participants also have the chance to build relationships with adult mentors in the area. They can connect with the youth workers supporting the program anyone who needs a little

extra help or may be facing challenges in their family, school or social life can access additional resources or services to support them.

diverse group of participants who are getting active, building friendships and learning valuable life skills along the way.

The Night Owl Program allows young people in Knox to connect in a safe, inclusive environment while having a lot of fun participating in sport and physical activity. With more than 30 young people registered this term, the program is seeing an increasingly

For more information about either of these programs for 2020, visit the Knox City Council Youth Services page at hwww.knox.vic.gov.au/youth or email the team - youth@knox.vic.gov.au

Knox supports young parents FOR the past 13 years, Knox City Council Youth Services has run its highly beneficial Young Parents Group for people under the age of 25 with a baby under 12 months old.

The program is aimed to empower young people to develop their personal and parenting skills. The Young Parents Group provides increased access to services, individual support and referrals to other supports when needed. The group meets weekly and is an opportunity for young people to connect with other parents in similar circumstances.

Maternal Child Health Centre staff visit the group to monitor mother and baby health and offer support. Young parents also learn about mental health, healthy relationships, sexual health, parenting and coping skills. Participants have also had practical lessons in budgeting, first-aid, craft, cooking and baby massage. In addition to this, the 16 SUMMER 2019/2020

“Being able to have other mums to socialise with that are similar in age group. It has been super helpful in feeling like you’re not alone. The workers are super supportive and nonjudgmental. The programs such as Baby First Aid have been super informative”.

parents have enjoyed group excursions to the pool, library and a farm with their babies.

The program aims to enhance young people’s parenting skills and encourage peer support and connections to their community. Group members often report building strong relationships with each other.

“I think if you’re a mum or a parent in general you should really look for a group that is inclusive of all backgrounds and social status. It is important as a parent to have a support group and this is what we have in the Young Parents Group”, said one participant from the current group.

If you are a young parent, you can register for the Young Parents Group by asking your Maternal Health Nurse at your first visit. You can join the Young Parents Group instead of (or as well as) a general Mothers Group run by the Maternal Health Nurse.

Below are some comments from the current Young Parents Group: “The group has helped a lot. I’ve met many new friends where I can get advice or if I need help with anything” “It’s a great opportunity just to get out of the house and have like-minded people in similar situations to socialise with and confide in”.

“It has made me more confident and reduced my anxiety”.

“The group helps me by getting me out of the house and interacting with other adults and good for my daughter to be with other babies. Getting out of the house is good for my mental health”. “{The group has} given me the chance to not feel isolated and make friends who are supportive and friendly.

The MCH nurse coming to visit and other experiences were amazing”.

“It’s helped a lot; it’s been good to always have something to look forward to every week. It’s also made me feel good that my daughter is getting out and meeting other bubs like herself of a similar age”. www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Entrepreneur and mum of five, Emma Isaacs.

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

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

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 certainly 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.“

SUMMER 2019/2020 17

Health

Self-care for new parents

By Eliza Henry-Jones

issues such as Post-Natal Depression and Post-Natal Anxiety.

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.

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

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

“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?\

with small things like washing left unfolded and dishes stacked up on the sink.

“It’s a new relationship with a new o 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.”

"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.”

In the age of social media, perfectionism has become hard to escape. As a parent, it’s too easy to stumble onto Facebook or Instagram and encounter beautiful, curated e 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.

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

Dr Du Chesne also highlights the importance of letting go of perfectionism, of letting ourselves sit

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

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

“Self kindness,” advises Dr Du Chesne.

Should you enforce ‘No Vax, No visit’?

By Danielle Galvin THERE’S a trend among expectant parents taking to social media to tell their family and friends to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations or stay away from their newborn baby in those first few precious weeks of life.

It’s called the “No Vax, No Visit” campaign.

For many parents, it can be a minefield telling family members and close friends to steer clear if they haven’t had their whooping cough booster or recent flu jab.

The trend is cause for concern for Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician Dr Margie Danchin, who specialises in immunisation.

Dr Margie Danchin wants to educate women about maternal vaccinations.

She believes it’s time to give the control back to mums-to-be, and get the facts straight.

control over protecting her infant, whereas you don’t have control over the people around you,” she said.

“It’s quite concerning really - I think it’s creating hysteria where hysteria doesn’t need to be,” she said.

“And we also know from all the cocooning data - cocooning is the grandparents, dads, and all the visitors getting vaccinated, we know that this is not nearly as effective as maternal vaccinations.

“The first thing we want to do is reassure new mums that we are listening and we are not judging them (but) No Vax No Visit is not something I support.

“We know that the best thing a pregnant woman can do to protect her infant is maternal immunisation.”

But in an age of vaccine hesitation, of horror flu seasons, and confronting messaging about the dangers of the likes of preventable diseases such as measles, how do new parents know what to do?

Dr Danchin says the pertussis vaccine is 91 per cent effective in the first 3-6 months of life against the baby getting whooping cough. Likewise, for pregnant women who have the flu shot, it’s 90 per cent effective in protecting those babies from needing to be admitted to hospital even if they do catch it.

“So you’re talking about very effective vaccines where the mother has 18 SUMMER 2019/2020

but we know in certain regions it’s much higher and the problem is in your area you don’t know how high vaccine hesitancy is,” she said.

In her view, it’s misguided to try and avoid going out in public with your newborn before the first round of vaccinations at 6 weeks.

“But the reality is the minute you leave hospital you’re going to go to the cafe, or library or the supermarket - how are you going to control all those people?

“There’s a risk there for post-natal depression and isolation, a lack of engagement, self worth plummeting because they are isolated,” she said.

“What I’ve been saying is that we need to help mums understand how effective maternal vaccination is and that it’s safe and effective.

“I think the message is giving the control back to the parents - particularly the mother - so that they can control direct protection to their infant.”

“But also if they are concerned about friends or family members visiting their newborn, if they don’t have any respiratory symptoms so if they have no cough or cold or runny nose, the chance of them transmitting something to the infant has got to be close to zero.”

Part of the problem is the mixed messages many receive about maternal vaccination. Obestricians, GPs and midwives aren’t always well-versed at being able to answer questions from parents about the risks of preventable diseases, disease transmission and vaccine refusal.

Dr Danchin believes the ‘No Vax, No Visit’ policy can create unnecessary conflict and stress.

She’s fielding more and more questions from concerned parents to be.

“It’s a really common question especially as we know there are more parents with concerns about vaccinations we don’t really have data to suggest vaccine refusal is on the rise,

“I think we have a really big job as paediatricians and vaccine experts in helping OBs and GPs, midwives communicate the facts clearly and consistently, it is something we are really struggling with,” she said.

She said it’s important for health care providers to be able to communicate about the facts.

Dr Danchin and others in her field have developed a new website and resources to be launched in 2020 to give health care providers and pregnant women the key facts about maternal immunisation.

She’s hoping it will clear up some of the misinformation around vaccines and newborns, particularly for parents who find themselves confused and unsure of what to do.

She said it was advisable that anyone with a cold or cough, or any other virus, should steer clear of a newborn baby.

“The problem is you don’t have someone (being) the voice of reason,” she sad.

“I want to reassure pregnant women they can control this - they don’t need to choose a No Vax, No Visit punitive policy,” she said. www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Health

When should you tell people you‘re

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

pregnant?

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!

Baby bundles for new parents FIRST-TIME parents can expect to receive a special package when their little bundle of joy arrives.

The State Government has begun distributing free ’baby bundles’ that include essentials to help guide mums and dads through the first few months and years of their firstborn’s life.

Valued at $150, the bundle comes with a teething ring, nappy bag, safe sleeping bag, a cotton wrap, first aid kit, baby sunhat, toothbrush and a grow suit. www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

They also include four picture books

by Victorian authors: Baby Days by Nicola Philp, Ten Little Owls by Renee Treml, Puddle Hunters by Kirsty Murray and Karen Blair, and Gumtree Buddies, a soft pram book produced

by Tiger Tribe.

A booklet developed in collaboration with Raising Children Network provides vital information on child health, safety and learning and emergency contacts.

The State Government funded

bundles are designed to assist first-time parents build safe sleeping practices and support their child’s learning and development through regular reading and playtime.

youngest Victorians have everything

Around 35,000 new parents will receive the bundles each year at all Victorian maternity hospitals.

help they need, we’re also giving

“Bringing your bundle of joy home for the first time is life changing but we also know it can be challenging. We are making this precious moment that little bit easier and ensuring our

their big break.

they need to thrive,” Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

“Not only are we giving parents the some of Victoria’s emerging authors

“Reading with children is one of the most powerful things families can do to help their kids get the best start in life.”

SUMMER 2019/2020 19

Education

A sense of wonder “IF you want to witness a natural display of a sense of wonder, just observe a child. A child’s whole world is viewed through the eyes of wonder and excitement. A child has no judgements of why things are so, but rather a child is in awe of life and views life through innocence, purity and curiosity" - Mary Paleologos, Huffington Post.

Every day, The Knox School Early Learning (ELC) students experience a sense of wonder through a myriad of engaging and purposeful activities carefully considered and often studentdirected. Many of these opportunities are play-based, allowing students to learn through discovery, experimentation, improvisation and imagination. During these formative years, the ELC also supports students in gaining the building blocks that ready them for the transition into the more formal prep schooling environment.

There is a focus on early Literacy and Numeracy concepts, as well as developing skills around critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.

The learning program in the ELC allows for the expression of personality and uniqueness; enhances curiosity and creativity; enables connections to be made between prior experiences and new learning; assists children to develop relationships and concepts; and stimulates a sense of wellbeing.

These early years of learning and development are so special. At The Knox School Early Learning staff try to embrace children’s sense of wonder at every opportunity and try to always leave room to explore the magical things that come along.

Tours of The Knox School’s Early Learning Centre are held regularly through the year. Visit the website for more details.

FILL THEIR DAYS WITH WONDER! Limited places available in our

To enrol, please contact the College on 9760 4900 Albert Ave, Boronia VIC 3155 P 03 9760 4900 E boronia.k12@edumail.vic.gov.au www.boroniak-12.vic.edu.au

The Knox School Proudly Learning Together 12430318-SN50-19

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Visit our Early Learning Centre in 2020 CO-EDUCATIONAL | ELC TO VCE

220 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South 8805 3800 www.knox.vic.edu.au

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EARLY LEARNING CENTRE FOR 2020

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Education What your child’s

report card really means

HAVE you just got your child’s end-ofyear 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 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

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

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

grades into their formal reports, a five-point letter grade 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.

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.

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www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 21

Entertainment

Free festive activities WAVERLEY Gardens Shopping Centre is getting into the Christmas spirit with a range of free activities for the whole family, while also supporting families in need; partnering for the third consecutive year with non-for-profit organisation, Very Special Kids.

Last year, Waverley Gardens was elated to raise over $1,500 through various channels for Very Special Kids, to support over 900 families across Victoria and contributing to the $8.5 million it takes for the charity to operate each year.

This Christmas at Waverley Gardens, Santa Claus will be in his workshop, located opposite Coles, ready for ‘Santa Snaps’ with the whole family, including all-new fur-baby friendly ‘Pet Pics’; whether pets of Waverley Gardens have two legs, four legs or no legs, they can have a photo with Santa.

In addition to the popular ‘Santa Snaps’, the shopping centre will be running complimentary Christmas Kids activities and play host to various musical performances from local schools, community groups, and students from Waverley Gardens’ Alpha Omega Education.

The centre will be introducing its Christmas Funpix in the lead up to the

25th, opposite Woolworths. Each week will see a different Christmas design for shoppers to take their own snaps and give the illusion they are part of a fun 3D image.

“We are so excited for Christmas this year at Waverley Gardens. In addition to our popular festive activities, we have introduced a range of new pop-ups, including our Christmas Funpix and Pet Pics, and can’t wait to see the response from our customers. We want everyone, young or old, to see that Waverley Gardens is a great place to shop, eat and play this Christmas,” said Cassandra Chatfield, Centre Marketing Manager.

“We are also very honoured to be working with Very Special Kids for another Christmas - they are an

amazing organisation and the work they do for the children and their families is very humbling.” continued Chatfield.

For last minute Christmas shoppers, a gift-wrapping station will be at the centre from 16th December until 23rd December. Shoppers will not only save e themselves the headache of last-minute wrapping at home, they’ll also be supporting a great cause, with 100 percent of donations collected going towards Very Special Kids.

For more information and trading hours, please visit www. waverleygardens.com.au

B i your pets ffor a fur-baby Bring f b b friendly f i dl pet pic i at Waverley Gardens.

A classic day out

LOW IMPACT PAINTBALL SUITABLE FOR KIDS 8 YEARS AND OVER IS AVAILABLE

$29.50pp

Includes s PAINTBALLS s ,OW IMPACT PUMP ACTION s PAINTBALL MARKER s 0AINTBALL GOGGLES s /VERALLS 6EST Bookings essential

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3 Locations -Ballan, Cockatoo, Coldstream Book online at www.paintballgames.com.au

suburbs, Ballan combines acres of bush scrub 40 minutes from northwest suburbs and the purpose built paintballing facility in Coldstream, which is surrounded by bushland, is only 30 minutes from the eastern suburbs.

In a world where children are increasingly indoors and in front of screens, getting out into nature and being physically active has never been more critical. Being active and outdoors has been shown to have a positive impact across emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing for people of all ages.

Aside from being great fun, PaintballGames gives young people the opportunity to develop skills related to coordination, strength, stamina, agility, strategic thinking, communication and teamwork. It gives young people the chance to get in amongst the trees; to get dirty and sweaty and use their bodies. It gives them the chance to fall down and then to get back up again.

PaintballGames will give your child the chance to build resilience, to develop self-confidence and discover a side to themselves – delightfully paint splattered – that they may not have seen before.

Established in 1988, PaintballGames has been serving up the best paintball experience to Melbourne for over a generation. Paintballing is a real classic day out and something that the whole family can enjoy, including children over the age of eight years.

Paintball Games 1800 813 395

IN amongst the eucalyptus, you prowl from tree shadow to tree shadow. You can smell dirt. Your breath is held. Your heart is pounding a bit too fast. You hear a branch crack and fling yourself to the ground – but it’s too late. You’ve been hit and you’re now splattered with green paint.

Each of PaintballGames’s three venues is situated in unique landscapes within an easy commute from Melbourne. Cockatoo is set in dense rain forest 50 minutes from the eastern

Bookings are essential: (03) 9777 0613 https://www.paintballgames.com.au/ www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Reality Bites The mums have learnt valuable business skills in the program.

Photos: Kate Dyer

The range is called Mummafly.

Young mums start new skincare range A group of young mothers have launched a range of handmade natural skincare products through the Swinburne Young Mums program at the Croydon campus.

The micro business, Mummafly, is the culmination of hard work from the mothers involved in the program who are aged between 15-22.

The program provides a supportive environment for the mums offers vocational qualifications to help them finish their secondary education.

The students secured funding from a government community grant, Pick My Project and decided to create Mummafly.

Project coordinator Anthea Riskas said it was an exciting project to watch grow.

"It's been exciting to watch the students' confidence, teamwork and enthusiasm grow each week," she said.

"They are incredibly invested and

proud of what they have created with Mummafly, and so they should be."

The Young Mums hope the proceeds will help them continue Mummafly in 2020 and beyond, while some students are now inspired to run their own businesses one day.

Young mum Sarah, who joined the program following the birth of her son earlier this year, said she hopes to start her own business one day.

Kids just want to have fun

"Mummafly has been a great insight into business management," she said.

The range includes lip balm, lip scrub, body lotion, salt body scrub, shower oil and aromatherapy oil roller blends.

It uses calming essential oils such as lavender, clary sage and cedar wood, and invigorating essential oils like tangerine and spearmint.

To see more, visit the online store https://mummaflyskincare.com/ 12430933-FA50-19

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 23

Party Time

Born to party!

REPTILE ENCOUNTERS Why not do something a little bit out of the box for your child’s next birthday party? Kids are usually pretty excited come birthday time, however if they know there’s going to reptiles coming this goes to a whole new level!

Parties are typically a stressful time for the parents; I mean, who really wants 20 terrors tearing around their home, jumping on the furniture and climbing on the railings? Reptile Encounters have recently built an exciting party space perfect for hosting kids birthday parties. So, for parents who are hesitant to have those kids running around the house, we now have the perfect alternative.

Your children will never forget their Retile Encounters Birthday Party. We are sure they will love Connie the Barking Owl, Charlie the Saltwater crocodile, Victor the carpet python, Pano the Yellow Spotted monitor as well as many other native animals that make up our family.

Gymnastics Parties are perfect for kids aged 5-12 and are affordably priced at $20/head for a minimum of 10 children. Room hire is an extra $45. As a special offer for readers of this magazine: mention this ad and the birthday child is FREE! For bookings call our friendly team on 9758-1089.

Call our hotline 1300 4 CROCS for more information or visit www. reptileencounters.com.au

Knox Gymnastics also offer fun school holiday programs over summer and all school holiday breaks as well as Kindergym, recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics and adult classes throughout the term.

KNOX GYMNASTICS A Knox Gymnastics Party is actionpacked and extremely fun. Your birthday child and their friends will enjoy a full hour and a half of activities guided by qualified coaches, followed by 30 minutes in the party room for food and cake and to sing the obligatory “Happy Birthday” Think foam pit, trampolines, balancing beams, monkey bars, obstacle courses and much more.

Reptile parties are a unique idea for kid’s birthdays. Not only will the children experience something different, but they are guaranteed to be entertained. Imagine getting to hold a crocodile or snake on your birthday and get up close to a range of native fauna.

Parents can sit back while a trained wildlife professional keeps their kids engaged and entertained for an entire hour.

You will have heaps of space in the kitchen to set up party food and birthday cake. All parties are selfcatered so you can provide any type of food your child wishes. The kitchen is fully equipped with a full-size fridge and freezer, microwave, pie-warmer, urn and stereo for music.

Josh from Reptile Encounters has been providing these parties for over 12 years. “It’s great to see the kids really engaging with our wonderful animals because they are the wildlife ambassadors of the future“, says Josh.

PAINTBALLGAMES In amongst the eucalyptus, you prowl from tree shadow to tree shadow. You can smell dirt. Your breath is held. Your heart is pounding a bit too fast. You hear a branch crack and fling yourself to the ground - but it’s too late. You’ve been hit and you’re now splattered with green paint.

In a world where children are increasingly indoors and in front of screens, getting out into nature and being physically active has never been more critical. Being active and outdoors has been shown to have a positive impact across emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing for people of all ages.

Established in 1988, PaintballGames

Each of PaintballGames’s three venues is situated in unique landscapes within an easy commute from Melbourne. Cockatoo is set in dense rain forest 50 minutes from the eastern suburbs, Ballan combines acres of bush scrub 40 minutes from northwest suburbs and the purpose-built paintballing facility in Coldstream, which is surrounded by bushland, is only 30 minutes from the eastern suburbs.

Aside from being great fun, PaintballGames gives young people the opportunity to develop skills related to coordination, strength, stamina, agility, strategic thinking, communication and teamwork. It gives young people the chance to get in amongst the trees; to get dirty and sweaty and use their bodies. It gives them the chance to fall down and then to get back up again.

PaintballGames will give your child the chance to build resilience, to develop self-confidence and discover a side to themselves - delightfully paint splattered - that they may not have seen before.

Bookings are essential: (03) 9777 0613 or www.paintballgames.com.au

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Parties run on Sundays during the school term with more times available over the school holidays. Choose from 3 time slots: 10-12pm, 12.30-2.30pm or 3-5pm.

Visit www. knoxgymnastics.org.au for more information.

has been serving up the best paintball experience to Melbourne for over a generation. Paintballing is a real classic day out and something that the whole family can enjoy, including children over the age of eight years.

CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH A PARTY AT THE GYM

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Mention this ad and birthday child is FREE Lots of fun and structured activities in the gym with a qualified coach

Cost is $20 per head, minimum 10 $45 party room hire fee BYO food, cake and drink Sunday only 3 time slots; 10-12pm, 12.30-2.30pm, 3-5pm

Three Locations: Ballan, Cockatoo, Coldstream Low Impact Paintball suitable for Kids 8 years & up available.

Knox Gymnastics also offer; holiday programs, Kindergym, recreational gymnastics, competitive gymnastics and adult classes

Book a fun party for your friends or team today

Ph: 1800 813 395 Book online at www.paintballgames.com.au

4 Mossfield Ave, Ferntree Gully | For Bookings Contact: 9758 1089

y t r a p o t ready feature please call Kerri on 0425 831 151 or 5957 3708

24 SUMMER 2019/2020

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To advertise in the next

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www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Reality Bites

Who’s watching your kids?

By Rachel Hickingbotham

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

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.

1. Make sure your pool safety barriers are actually safe

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.

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

“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."

Live Saving Victoria 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, General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria.

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

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.

“Common faults or non-compliance 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:

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.

■ Babies and toddlers from birth to 5 years old (as well as non-swimmers) 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.

“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."

■ 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

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 25

Reality Bites

Talking about the ‘birds and the bees’

By Melissa Grant

and that they are aware of the consequences."

TALKING to your child about sex and reproduction can be pretty awkward.

But what if your child isn't asking questions about the body and sex as they get older?

Their questions may make you feel uncomfortable, or you might think it's time to 'have the chat' but don't know how to start it.

But there are things you can do to make those 'birds and the bees' talks less difficult.

First of all, it's important to understand most parents find these conversations tough.

Relationships Australia Victoria senior clinician, Jayne Ferguson, says even experts find it difficult to talk to their kids about how babies are made.

"It's an anxiety provoking conversation, even for experts," she said.

"Even the term the birds and the bees - it's almost our embarrassed way of saying 'let's talk about sex'.

"I have kids and I do feel anxious, because kids can ask the most candid and unexpected questions."

Those questions may also begin earlier than you anticipate. Many pre-school aged children will ask questions about their body parts and may even ask what sex is.

Ms Ferguson says it's best to be open and honest, while giving age appropriate answers.

"A five-year-old might ask 'what is sex?'

"You can say 'that's a good question, how did you hear about that?'

"Maybe they caught a glimpse of a TV show sex scene or someone at kinder said 'my parents have sex'."

Asking what prompted the question can help you answer it.

When it comes to making babies, all small children really need to know is that when two people love each other they get their bodies together.

Ms Ferguson says you may also want to explain that there are other ways to conceive a baby, such as IVF. What you shouldn't do is make your child feel bad for asking a question or avoid answering it.

"The minute we close down those conversations they become shameful," Ms Ferguson said.

"What we do know is that when kids aren't given the right information they will go searching for it, particularly if they are in their teenage years."

They may type their unanswered questions into an internet search engine, a move bound to yield x-rated results you'd prefer them not to see.

If your teen is asking questions about sex, then it's important to have a conversation about contraception.

"If that's something happening in their peer group you need to be giving cautionary information," Ms Ferguson said.

"They need to understand the consequences. The message needs to be that when they are asked to do it, it needs to be something they want to do

Well, it's up to you to bring it up.

Relying on sex ed is never a good idea, Ms Ferguson says, as kids can be dismissive of information they learn in the classroom.

So how do you broach the topic of baby making?

"If you are watching TV or visiting a baby in hospital, it may be appropriate to have a conversation," Ms Ferguson suggests.

"Tell your child about their own birth story - as long as you say it with love, kids are more likely to be interested if it's about them."

There's also nothing wrong with giving your child a book explaining where babies come from.

Once you get the conversation started, it's important to keep it going.

That's because there are many topics to cover, including changes to the body during puberty and body safety.

As a parent, remember you probably know how much information your son or daughter is ready to digest.

"You're much more likely to know what your child will understand," Ms Ferguson explains.

"There are no golden rules or specific times about when to have these conversations.

"Some parents will find it trickier than others, but you should always have open and honest conversations with your children."

TIPS FOR PARENTS ■ Use appropriate terminology.

Referring to the reproductive organs as vaginas and penises from the get-go, makes later conversations easier.

■ Honesty is the best policy.

Always be open and honest when your child asks a question about sex or the body. If you aren't sure how to answer, say it's an interesting question and you'll get back to them.

■ Be guided by what your child says and give factual information.

■ Provide age appropriate answers. For children up to five years, for instance, it's appropriate to talk about bodies and how they work.

■ Make body safety part of the conversation. Talk about inappropriate touching and what to do if it happens.

■ Explain that explicit online content is a crime. Your child needs to know that posting 'nudes' can have serious consequences, including criminal convictions.

Explaining how babies are made can be awkward.

26 SUMMER 2019/2020

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Reality Bites

Gardening over summer with your kids

By Eliza Henry-Jones THOSE summer holidays are stretching ahead. Lots of family gatherings, beach trips, mosquito bites, sunburn and icy pole fingers.

Summer is also prime gardening season and you might be surprised at what you can grow! You don't need a giant backyard (although, that definitely doesn't hurt).

Gardening has been linked to improved mental health, immunity and mood. Getting your kids involved in gardening is a great move for the entire family.

It can be daunting working out Ask yourself (or your kids!) what do your kids love eating? Strawberries? Lettuce?

Carrots? That can be a great place to start on your gardening journey.

What you can plant over summer around Melbourne: Amaranth, Basil Beans, Beetroo, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussel's Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive Fennel, Kohl Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Mustard, Greens, Okra,

Onion, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Shallot, Siverbeet, Squash, Sunflower, Swede, Sweet Corn, Tomato, Turnip, Watermelon What you need: ■ Seeds or seedlings Seeds can be purchased online through places such as The Diggers Club and Backyard Seeds. Generally, local nurseries will also have a selection. You may prefer to start with seedlings rather than growing seeds from scratch.

Seedlings can be purchased from local nurseries and local farmer's markets.

■ Punnets Some seeds require being started in punnets rather than sowing directly in the garden. For these seeds, you'll need punnets and somewhere sunny and warm. Punnets can me made using things like toilet paper rolls, empty milk cartons and even rolled up newspaper.

You can also purchase them at nurseries and hardware stores.

■ Good soil Start seeds in seed raising mix. This will give you the best germination rate.

Make sure beds (or pots!) have lots of

rotted organic matter and give well-rotted them a dig over to loosen up the soil and prepare the bed.

■ Mulch Mulching will help keep weeds at bay and also plant beds moist and this means less need for watering. There are lots of options for mulch! Consider the "miles" involved in getting mulch to your garden. While sugar can mulch is popular, it all has to be transported down from Queensland. Straw or pea straw is also a good option. Some people will even lay newspaper or cardboard down around their plants.

■ Watering can/hose A hose or watering can will help you keep those seedlings hydrated. Be careful watering seedlings when they're very young as it's easy to damage them with too much water pressure. For the same reason, try not to water seeds after planting until they've germinated moisten soil when you plant them and then cover them so they stay moist.

■ Gardening gloves Gardening gloves are a must especially for children! Most potting mixes advise avoiding contact with bare skin and there are all sorts of

garden creepy crawlies in the garden.

■ Trowel You'll need a trowel for preparing beds for your seedlings and even digging up weeds. Trowels are inexpensive and a very handy and versatile gardening too.

Top tips Start small. If you're new to growing things focus on a few plants and see how you go before investing in more.

Follow growing instructions on seed packets or pot labels. If something says grow in winter, chances are it's not going to thrive in summer One of the most eco-friendly ways to deal with slugs and snails in the garden is to head out with torches on a wet night. Pick slugs and snails off plants and either squash them or put them in a bottle full of water with the lid on.

Did you know?

If you save the root section (and about 2cm above) of a spring onion and leave in water, the top will grow back!

Early summer is not too late to grow tomatoes! Pick up a plant from your local nursery, add lots of well-rotted manure or compost to the bed (or pot) and enjoy those delicious fruits.

What breeds of dogs are best for families?

TRYING to decide on what sort of dog might suit your family best can be a daunting prospect. Temperament, longevity, energy levels and even things like shedding, herding instincts and tendency to bark are all issues that need to be considered.

Lorraine Van Orsouw knows all about dogs. She is a sought after dog trainer, canine expert and tertiary educator and - lucky for locals - is based in the Dandenong Ranges. Lorraine gives us the scoop on popular breeds and what to think about when considering whether they'll be a good fit for you and your family.

All dogs have their own unique personalities and needs. It's easy to get caught up in fad breeds without really understanding the intrinsic differences between them. "Genetics, prior learning and the environment all play a part in your pet's behaviour," Lorraine explains.

"Some are more placid than others.

Before acquiring a pet it is important to research the origins and purpose of the breed to see if it will be suitable for your family and lifestyle and the time you have to train them."

Working dogs This includes breeds such as Border Collies, Kelpies, Australian Shepherds and Australian Cattle Dogs. Working dogs were all originally bred to work livestock. "They love having a job to do and can develop behaviour problems if their needs are not met," Lorraine explains. "They have a tendency to nip and can get very excited by the movement and squealing of younger children." www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Larger breeds This includes breeds such as Rottweiler, Mastiffs and Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

"They can get along well with children and be protective of their family," says Lorraine. "But supervision and good training is vital."

Small breeds This includes popular breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pugs, Poodles and French Bulldogs. "They love human company - it's what they were

bred for," says Lorraine. "Cavaliers are very popular as they are very gentle and sweet natured. This doesn't mean that they should be treated like a toy either!"

Lorraine also points out that children lack spatial awareness. "Many of the smaller breeds can learn that growling and snapping can make things go away. It works well for them and they learn they can get away with the behaviour because they are small and not considered dangerous," Lorraine

explains. "But is this is still a behaviour that should be addressed by separation and giving the dog some space."

Do you have friends with pets and a similar lifestyle to you? Ask them about what sort of dog they have and how the dog fits in. Spend time with their dogs take them for walks, find out about any challenging behaviours and, if possible, even have them spend some time at your house to give you a sense of how that type of dog might fit in with your life.

SUMMER 2019/2020 27

It’s Your Life

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.

28 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.

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.

"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.

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

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

"Child centred play brings grandparents and grandchildren together."

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.

Top tips from Pregnancy, Birth and Baby ■ 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.knoxmonashkids.com.au

Books The book to get you

back into play

By Danielle Galvin

and my 2-year-old boy was just not interested in doing craft."

LIKE many great ideas, Alice Zsembery's book 'Real Kids, Real Play' was born from a gap in the market.

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

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.

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

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 "old-school" activities to keep 0-5-year-olds 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,

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

Alice with her children Emily and Tom.

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.

Picture: Rob Carew

"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

Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas

Pearl The Brave Unicorn

Rove McManus

Lucinda Gifford

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?

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+.

Sally Odgers & Adele K Thomas

Scholastic, RRP $16.99

Scholastic, RRP $17.99

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 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.

A Flair for Hair

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

Scholastic, RRP $19.99 www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

SUMMER 2019/2020 29

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Kids Calendar

What’s on

this summer

3, 10 & 17 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS

in our diverse community to come together to enjoy the spirit of Christmas and celebrate community life at its best.

Fusion Youth and Community Centre, Oakleigh

For more information visit: www.knox.vic.gov.au/carols

Three exciting and festive Christmas workshops to get the children right into the Christmas spirit.

Market Stalls, Food Trucks, Inflatables, Animal Farm, Second Hand Books, Henna Tattoos and more. Come and enjoy with the Bayswater South Primary School Community.

Market! Santa will of course be visiting and there will be a lovely range of stalls to grab high quality Christmas presents and food for Christmas dinner.

For more information visit: www.mulgravefarmersmarket.com.au

13 DECEMBER 29 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH

Tuesday 3 - Christmas baking

MOUNT WAVERLEY VILLAGE CAROLS

KNOX FESTIVAL

Tuesday 10 - Christmas decorations and card making

Mount Waverley Community Centre, Mount Waverley. 6.30pm - 8pm

Wally Tew Reserve, Brennock Park Drive, Ferntree Gully. 10am-5pm

Tuesday 17 - DIY Christmas gift making for children to give to someone special.

This is a community carol singing event organised by the Mount Waverley/ Chadstone InterChurch Council in conjunction with Monash Council. The Monash Chorale, school choirs and other vocalists and choirs will sing Christmas music and the audience is encouraged to join the fun!

Free community event - Celebrating diversity and community life in Knox

$8 per session or $20 for all.

Booking essential - contact oakleigh.centre@fusion.org.au to book.

6 DECEMBER CAROLS IN THE PARK

8 DECEMBER MONASH CAROLS

BY CANDLELIGHT Jells Park, Wheelers Hill. 4pm - 10pm

Warrawee Park, Oakleigh. 6pm - 9pm

Main concert starts at 8pm.

Community carol singing with local school’s choirs joining with adult choir and bands and other sundry entertainment including Santa visit.

Once again hosted by the ever-popular Pete Smith, the Monash Carols will feature an amazing line-up of soloists plus the Monash University Chorale and the Monash Carols by Candlelight Band (comprising members from Monash Concert Band and Oakleigh Band, under the musical direction of Bob Moody and Chris McGillen).

For more information visit: www.monash.vic.gov.au.

Hosted by the Oakleigh, Clayton & Huntingdale Rotary Clubs.

For more information visit: www.rotaryoch.org.au

For more information visit: mtwaverleychadstonechurches.org.au

For more information visit: www.knox.vic.gov.au/knoxfestival

6 & 17 MARCH RAISING BOYS/RAISING GIRLS WITH STEVE BIDDULPH Come and hear Steve’s world famous talk, covering boys of all ages. How to raise sons who are kind, confident, and safe. Boys and school, housework, so much more.

On Monday 16 March 2020 at 7pm, Manningham Function Centre, Doncaster.

11 DECEMBER

MULGRAVE FARMERS CHRISTMAS MARKET

The following night, hear Steve’s powerful, funny and moving talk to help you raise your daughter to be wise, warm, and strong. The five stages of girlhood. The importance of dads. The special role of aunties.

Main concert starts at 8pm.

WEIHNACHTSMARKT (Christmas Market)

Corner Jacksons & Wellington Roads, Mulgrave. 8am - 1pm

On Tuesday 17 March 2020 at 7pm at the same location.

Knox Carols by Candlelight is a FREE event that warmly welcomes everyone

Bayswater South Primary School.

4pm-8pm

Join us for this special Christmas edition of our weekly Mulgrave Farmers

Visit https://www.stevebiddulph.com for more information

7 DECEMBER KNOX CAROLS BY CANDELIGHT Wally Tew Reserve, Brenock Park Drive, Ferntree Gully. 4pm - 10pm

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au

22 DECEMBER

SUMMER 2019/2020 31

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Whether they have 2 legs, 4 legs or no legs, bring them in for a photo with Santa.

Christmas Funpix

Help support Very Special Kids

Each week we’re having a different Christmas photo station in centre. The fun designs will make it look like you’re part of a 3D image!

Volunteers from Very Special Kids will be in centre wrapping presents for a gold coin donation.

All proceeds go towards supporting families of children suffering from life-threatening conditions.

For more information on the wonderful work they do, visit www.vsk.org.au

For full details on all the activities happening this Christmas at Waverley Gardens, visit www.waverleygardens.com.au

Get a FREE photo with Santa* Redeem this voucher at Waverley Gardens’ Santa Snaps between 23 November 2019 23 December 2019 for a free 6”x8” photo print. *Terms and conditions may apply. For full details and for Santa Snap hours, visit www.waverleygardens.com.au

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Cnr Police & Jacksons Road, Mulgrave | (03) 9547 6088 12430321-FA50-19

32 SUMMER 2019/2020

www.knoxmonashkids.com.au