Stonnington Boroondara Kids Summer 2020 - 2021

SUMMER 2020-21

Midwife’s push for

CALM BIRTHING Sisters share

SURROGACY JOURNEY Kids and

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STONNINGTON BOROONDARA KIDS MAGAZINE www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

About Us

It’s summer time HI everyone!

Welcome to the summer edition of Stonnington Boroondara Kids.

It’s funny and a little overwhelming just how quickly things have picked up in recent weeks, isn’t it?

As it all starts to return to normal, we’re all suddenly so busy again.

Recently, I’ve had two conversations trying to organise to see different groups of friends before Christmas and in both scenarios there’s not a free weekend in sight.

It seems everyone is trying to make up for last time.

This time of year as we know always can get a little hectic, and it can be a little overstimulating for kids, especially the young ones.

As we ease back into it, I’ve adopted a mantra to rush around less and plan my days out with the kids better (ie,

more than one activity/meet-up a day is too much).

Too often the Christmas holidays are a blur of roast dinners, barbecues, gifts, warm nights, late nights and picnics in the park. All the while rushing around and with little down time.

But this year I want to savour those moments and slow down.

I hope our readers can do the same!

This edition has some truly amazing reads.

We’ve got the story of a sister who carried her nephew for nine months find out why she did that in our beautiful spread on surrogacy.

Locally, we’ve got a former paediatric nurse who’s committed to preparing women for birth. A must read for any mum to be!

If you are scratching your head for Christmas gifts, be sure to check out our toy guide.

There are also a heap of awesome toys you can win, including Spin Master prize packs, a Globber Explorer Trike 4in1 and a Barbie Dream House.We’ve spoken to a time management expert who’s written a book, a how-to guide for mums to get more time, and pass on some of the load.

In health and education there’s also plenty to read, including the argument to make childcare free, why kids need career advice in primary school and when you should see a gynaecologist.

We’ve also come up with a list of some of great parenting podcasts and events on the calendar too.

I hope you enjoy this edition, and remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram too!

Happy holidays!

How local group rallies for parents with multiples PAGE 4 Mum’s stroke warning PAGE 4

What you need to know about thermometers PAGE 14

ACTIVITIES Summer drama school PAGE 15

Is your child school ready

Editorial Danielle Galvin danielle.galvin@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Photography Rob Carew

PAGE 24

Cover

REALITY BITES

Asher, 1, pictured at Canterbury Train Station Picture: Rob Carew

Why it’s time to be selfish PAGE 25 Top toilet training tips

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 26

PAGES 6

Our top parenting podcasts

The mum bringing cheer to all

Sister’s selfless act to carry her nephew

PAGE 16

PAGE 27

PAGE 7

Docklands summer spectacular

It’s time for a button battery audit

Steve Biddulph’s latest column

PAGE 17

PAGE 28

PAGE 8

Head to Gumbuya this summer

New dads ‘chronically sleep deprived’

PAGE 18

BOOKS

PAGE 8

Art classes for kids

Tools for a calmer birth

PAGE 18

Inspiring the hero in all of us PAGE 29 Children’s books

How to get your time back

EDUCATION

PAGE 29

PAGE 10

The push for early career education

KIDS CALENDAR

Program to help teen girls flourish

PAGE 19

PAGE 11

The case for free childcare

Decluttering these holidays with kids

PAGE 20

PAGE 11

Siena’s top leaders

Home birth in Covid-19 times

PAGE 21

PAGE 12

Andale School’s different approach

Christmas gift ideas and giveaway

PAGE 22

PAGE 13

Helping anxious kids

HEALTH

Stonnington Boroondara Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108.

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

The brains behind Tiger Tribe

PAGE 9

Stonnington Boroondara Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Advertising Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

CONTENTS IT’S YOUR LIFE

Stonnington Boroondara Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

What’s on this summer PAGE 31

PAGE 23

Reasons to see a gynaecologist PAGE 14

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It’s Your Life

A second family for mums of multiples

By Danielle Galvin FOR any first-time parent, it’s overwhelming to hear people warn you about “what you’re in for”.

Whether it’s sleepless nights, reflux, tantrums - parenthood is a journey you can’t possibly prepare for.

So for parents who have twins or triplets, that moment of being told “there’s more than one heartbeat” must be a daunting - albeit wonderfully joyful and exciting moment. One you’d never forget.

For mum of twin girls, Keren Finn, she remembers connecting with fellow twin mums for the first time, when she was about five months pregnant.

It was the “extra support” she needed from a group who knew what it was like to embark on twin life. Keren is now president of that group, the Camberwell Area Multiple Birth Association.

“It’s a very different thing,” she explained.

“I certainly recall the first time I met some of the other solo parents in CAMBA and they had their babies, toddlers and older kids,” she said.

“Having people going through the same thing with their kids - you tend to bounce off each other, it’s an amazing network.”

“As soon as I saw they were alive and happy, and it’s do-able, that gave me a lot of hope.

The group has had to turn virtual given the Covid-19 lockdowns, however many of the services offered by the club have continued throughout isolation - including premmie packs (boxes of small sized clothing for premature babies), the pillow bank, Chums4Mums program, antenatal sessions. And they remain hopeful that their Christmas party will go ahead.

“The support and community you get from it - it’s like my second family.”

While Keren still connected with the mother’s group through the council, it was incredibly beneficial to connect with other twin parents.

CAMBA gives local parents the chance to support each other through the twin journey.

Such a special bond.

Pre-lockdown, members would meet for a playgroup on a Tuesday and once a month there’s an under-1s and expectant mums meet and greet.

It’s an incredible opportunity for mums who are expecting multiples to get a feel for what they can expect.

Words of advice and wisdom, maybe a few horror stories too!

“They are able to see what’s going on and get that reassurance from other mums that are there,” Keren said.

“That’s an amazing, beautiful cycle to see.”

Each year CAMBA runs a number of

social events for both children and parents.

In the past they’ve visited Hays Paddock, Box Hill Steam Railway as well as other local attractions.

They like to keep it local and support local business too.

The group’s focus is to connect parents - as well as kids.

It’s a way for new parents to know there is support available, you just have to know where to find it.

To find out more, visit https://www. camba.amba.org.au/

Terrifying ordeal prompts mum’s warning WHEN Chantal posted in a Melbourne mums Facebook group about her young son Kit and a terrifying ordeal one Sunday night, she wanted to share a powerful message with other parents.

“Go to your baby if they are crying,” she wrote.

Here, she tells Danielle Galvin about the night Kit, just 14 months at the time, suffered a mini-stroke.

It was back in May when Chantal put Kit to bed, later than usual, after he’d had a late day nap.

It was around 9.45pm when he nodded off, so she left the room to tend to her other children.

“Not long after leaving our son, I heard him cry so like I normally do, I went back to him to cuddle and get back to sleep,” she said.

“However unlike every other night, he had not moved at all.

“Hubby had quickly followed me in and scooped him up and that is when we noticed just how floppy his little body was and he wasn’t calming down.”

Chantal and her husband brought Kit out to the light and called Triple Zero immediately realising it was an emergency situation.

Two Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances were dispatched as well as two ambulances.

By this stage, Chantal had hurriedly packed a bag and the ambulance took them, lights and sirens, off to hospital.

Doctors and nurses took observations and he was monitored closely.

The results, much to their amazement and gratitude, were completely clear.

“He was still laying on his side and he was crying a different cry.

Over the next few days in hospital he had an echocardiogram, ECG and an EEG to rule out epilepsy.

“I laid next to him and pulled him to my chest and I noticed he wasn’t moving.

“I was told we are lucky to have caught it when we did because it just may have saved his life,” Chantal said.

4 SUMMER 2020/2021

“Many parents don’t go in and check on their crying babies, and you just don’t know what could be up and then by morning it’s could be too late.”

According to the Stroke Foundation of Australia, every year about two children in every 100,000 will have a stroke.

On the following Friday they were discharged, with Kit on a blood thinning medication.

Strokes can occur in all age groups - from newborns to older teenagers.

Chantal recalls feeling like something ominous was going to happen that night.

“Even though Kit has a complex medical history I felt parents need to know as with my four other children, cry it out method is not something I will ever endorse.

“Your babies need you, they need your hugs, they need you to protect them, they need to know you have their backs no matter how young they are.

“They do not manipulate you they are not naughty, they are babies using the survival instincts and we need to get back to that as a society.

“You will never regret showing your baby too much love.

“You will regret if you don’t pick up on their cues.

“I wanted others to know this can happen at anytime and you need to respond to your babies as you just never know.”

“I am just so glad our beautiful boy has made a complete recovery and back to his chirpy gorgeous self.”

When Chantal called her Nana from the hospital, something she told her stuck with her.

“She was a nurse herself in a children’s ward and she had told me Kit was very lucky to have two parents who pay attention and know not to wait it out.

“He is a gift to us.

“I would love for this to be in her honour as she passed away from the same thing.”

Her post on social media resonated with other mums.

Many were grateful of her honesty, the reminder of the fragility and unpredictability of life. www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

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SUMMER 2020/2021 5

how their different personalities steered them towards different activities. One of them is a patient detailed person, and the other doesn’t sit still for long and doesn’t really like instructions. So it is important that our products engage kids with differing interests and approaches.

Not every product captivates every child but our range is diverse and we believe there is something within in our range for each and every kid.

How do you feel when you see Tiger Tribe products in stores?

It’s Your Life

Anthony and Naomi built the business from their garage of their home.

A tribe of many HUSBAND and wife duo Anthony and Naomi Green are the brains behind the popular children’s brand, Tiger Tribe.

Established in 2007 from the garage of their family home in the southeast, their vision was to create thoughtful and fun children’s gifts and toys.

Here they chat to Danielle Galvin about the creative process and what the brand means to them and families.

Tell me about the evolution of Tiger Tribe .. what inspired the start of the brand? What was your first product?

What were your backgrounds?

Anthony: Tiger Tribe was founded in 2007. The catalyst for starting the business was pretty simple. Firstly, we wanted to create toys and activity sets that our kids would want to play with.

Products that were engaging, fun and fuelled with imagination.

At the same time we felt there was a big gap in the market for interesting, quality children’s gifts and activity sets at affordable prices. We both decided that it was the right time to launch a children’s brand in the Australian market.

After many months of planning, Naomi and I went on our first sourcing trip to Hong Kong. We discovered many interesting manufacturers — more than we could afford! We selected our five favourite suppliers and then came home and designed a co-ordinated range that we presented at the 2007 Gift Fair in Melbourne.

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Our very first product was a butterfly mobile made from wire, fabric and plastic beads. Our first warehouse was a small shop front around the corner from home. And the office was our garage - under the house. Prior to starting Tiger Tribe I worked in a children’s wholesale accessories business. This experience helped me to understand that there were a lot of independent retailers out there, looking for appealing and affordable children’s products.

Naomi initially studied law, then went back to uni to study a communications degree. In the year before we started, she was busy at home looking after our two small children and working as a freelance editor. Both Naomi and I enjoy the creative aspects of life - so it was a good fit for us to start a business that was all about encouraging imagination and creativity.

Over the years, I’ve bought and received a lot of Tiger Tribe activity sets and kits for my preschool aged daughter who is now 4 years old. What I love about the brand is the fact that the kits are simple, thoughtful but also really affordable and accessible - is that something that’s front of mind for you both?

Naomi: We are so glad that you and your daughter have personally enjoyed our products. And you’ve hit the nail on the head — fundamentally our business has always been driven by a number of key values: ■ Strong design - we believe that design is super important. By designing beautiful gifts and activity sets we can differentiate ourselves in a crowded market.

■ Portable and compact - we work hard to ensure our products meet the lifestyle demands of modern families.

Our activity sets are compact and portable — helping kids create and play at home and when out and about.

■ Abundant content and high play value - we strive to pack in as much as we can into every product. We want TT products to last a long time and so we make them interesting and engaging enough for kids to want to revisit them!

■ Great Value - we like to pack as much content as possible. Most of our sets retail for $20 which we see as a popular present price point.

How do you come up with the ideas for your products (without giving too much

away!) It must take a lot of creativity!

How do you know it will be a hit or a best seller with kids? What sort of things do kids need to feel engaged?

Anthony: Not wanting to take away any of the magic, but that famous quote from Thomas Edison often springs to mind ... genius is 1 per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration! Great ideas are only the beginning, then we have to make them work in a practical, doable way.

The product ideas process is a combination of business driven needs and creative ideas. On the business side we look at opportunities and gaps in our range - in relation to things such as age, price-points, competition and product category.

Naomi: And once we determine areas of new development, the fun stuff begins. All Tiger Tribe products are designed in house, here in Rowville. Our designers really are the heart of our company.

In fact, it’s the thing we love the most about our business - product development, the illustration and design work around product creation. We have regular discussions around the lunch table at work and also set aside time for collaborative design meetings where our team comes together (designers, marketing and sales, customer service).

The design team starts sketching and brainstorming new products about a year out from launch. There are so many steps along the way to getting a new product design delivered. From idea generation, sketching concepts and preliminary designs, prototypes, drafting and testing, sourcing components, manufacture and then shipping! It’s fair to say we feel like proud parents when a new bunch of our products arrive.

Anthony: There is no telling what will be a hit with kids ... if only it was that easy! I think it comes down to a lot of variables. What’s currently on trend? Is it unique? Has it got a lot of play value?

Does it span widely in age appeal?

These attributes contribute to product success. Some of our best-sellers include Beat the Clock, our Outdoor Activity Set - Back to Nature, Unicorn and Friends - Neon Colouring Set and Roly Poly Koala - they are all completely different but each one a bestseller.

Naomi: And when it comes to engaging kids, we learnt a lot from our own two.

As they were growing up, just watching

Anthony: Even after 13 years it still gives us a thrill when retailers tell us that customers come into store looking specifically for our brand. We’ve created something that is available in more than 700 retailers across Australia, including a number of leading retail stores. Tiger Tribe also began exporting about four years ago and we are proud and excited to be available in over 30 countries around the world.

Naomi: And we never stop getting a buzz out of spotting a kid colouring in with a Tiger Tribe set in a cafe, or playing with a magnetic game on a plane or receiving customer feedback about how our products helped a child stay entertained during a hospital stay or how boredom was well and truly busted on a really long road trip!

Do kids get enough of the creative, pretend play these days, in your view?

Anthony: Kids certainly have an enormous amount of digital content to choose from. There are so many cool apps out there. Screen based activities have a place, of course. But there is definitely a groundswell encouraging parents to help their children find alternatives to screen time. So we feel it’s all about keeping the balance right.

Clever apps stimulate the brain in very different ways to old fashioned pen and paper. Drawing, colouring and crafting allow kids to be calm and mindful.

Moreover, this kind of creative play helps kids to discover their imagination and build a sense of confidence and self-sufficiency. All very important skills to develop in our kids.

One of the greatest challenges for parents these days is to manage their child’s screen time. Do you see Tiger Tribe playing a role in that?

Naomi: It’s easy to forget how quickly the challenge of screen time has evolved. When we started Tiger Tribe in 2007 there were not a lot of digital products for kids. The first iPhone was released that same year (2007) and iPads didn’t arrive till 2010. Thirteen years on we’ve watched a technological revolution in the toy market, including games, social media and apps for children. Of course, we understand the lure and attraction of technology through our own kids’ journey (they are now in their final years at high school).

Demand for electronic and screenbased products to entertain and educate kids is strong. But at the same time we’ve always had enormous faith in the fact that parents understand the need to unplug kids. And if anything this need is growing stronger. There must be alternatives to screen time and that is what we have always provided.

Anthony: Quite simply, our products offer an antidote to screen time. We make it easy and fun for children to unplug and engage in creative play.

Our activity sets in particular are all about Portable Play - they are easy to pack, convenient to carry and perfect for families on the go. So instead of reaching into your bag and pulling out a phone or tablet, it’s just as easy to pull out a compact activity set. We recommend creating a new habit with kids by offering them an alternative when you are at a cafe or on a road trip. You might be surprised how much children enjoy ‘old school’ activities using paper and pencils, magnets and imagination.

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

William’s most wonderful start in life William Davey Hansen.

By Danielle Galvin FOR obstetrician of 20 years Dr Samantha Hargreaves, every expectant mother who comes into her care and every birth she is a part of, is memorable, special and unique.

pregnant was too much of a gamble given the cancer was oestrogen sensitive.

With her at nearly every appointment was older sister Fiona - the Melbourne sisters come from a tight knit family.

all three of them, to make sure they all felt their questions were being answered.

Unfortunately, Fiona suffered terrible hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe morning sickness, which plagued her pregnancy.

The moment of a baby’s first breath, the first cry - that first meeting.

“We lost our mum six years ago,” Penny said.

She was admitted to hospital a few times to have fluids, and the sickness didn’t let up the whole time.

Each family beginning their own story.

So much so, that Fiona broached the subject of carrying Penny and her husband Leigh’s baby.

Dr Hargreaves said it was one of the more severe cases she’d seen in recent times.

Out on a walk one day, she raised the idea to be their surrogate, but hastened to add she’d better discuss it with her husband Adam first.

“There wasn’t any self-pity at all,” she said.

But when Fiona Davey, a midwife at the Epworth Freemasons where Dr Hargreaves works, booked an appointment, it was something she will never forget.

Fiona and Dr Hargreaves knew each other well professionally, and she’d also been Fiona’s OB in the past.

In the appointment, Fiona asked Dr Hargreaves about her being a surrogate for younger sister, Penny Hansen.

“I’ve known Fiona for a long time, both professionally and as a patient,” she said.

“When she left, I thought that is the most incredible thing.”

When Penny was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and began treatment, the question of fertility came up early in the piece.

Recently married and eager to start a family, it was suggested she have an egg retrieval and freeze her eggs.

Her doctors were divided but ultimately it was decided that falling

After 18 months of cancer treatment, and numerous medical and legal hoops to jump through after that point, William became the 50th surrogacy conceived through Melbourne IVF. Sharing the news with Fiona’s children that she was carrying Penny’s baby was particularly memorable.

“She wanted me to share the news,” Penny said.

“Her kids have been asking me a long time when are you having kids, when are we going to get a cousin?

“Fi allowed me to share that, they were amazing. Just beautiful.”

Dr Hargreaves said it was a privilege to play a small part in their journey.

In her mind, she was very conscious each time she met with Fiona and Penny, and Penny’s husband, to involve

The day of William’s birth in December 2019 was particularly poignant and beautiful.

Dr Hargreaves recalls an incredible mood in the room.

“Myself and the midwife; we had to keep not looking at each other because we thought we might get a bit teary,” she said.

“It was very unique.

“I don’t think we see many examples of that true, selfless love.”

In her time delivering babies, Dr Hargreaves said it was the first time she’d been a part of a surrogate pregnancy.

“It was a privilege for me to be involved, and the same with all of my staff,” she said.

In the birth suite, Penny said it wasn’t easy to watch her sister in labour.

“It was a hard thing to watch, I kept

Penny and her husband Leigh holding William.

on saying, sorry!” she said.

“She didn’t have any (pain relief) she did that for all three of her children and she was determined to do that again, she knew she could get through it.”

But for Fiona, watching her sister endure her cancer treatment was heartbreaking.

And with labour, she knew there was an end point, and she couldn’t wait for Penny and Leigh to meet their baby boy.

Fiona didn’t always divulge when asked about her pregnancy, if she was ever stopped in the street.

She didn’t want to invite praise, or opinion.

She was just thrilled to be an aunty and get some of those beautiful newborn cuddles.

Penny will be “eternally grateful” for her sister’s gift of carrying William.

Fiona may be something of a reluctant hero, but to her sister Penny, there’s no question.

“She can be a hero to me,” she said.

Aunty Fi’s role in a modern day miracle FOR Epworth Freemasons midwife and mum of three Fiona Davey, she still gets a rush out of every birth she witnesses.

and Leigh’s baby following her sister’s diagnosis, it was very much a selfless act.

Tending to women after they’ve given birth in hospital is special too, and she has plenty of experience and advice to offer, both personally and professionally.

“It came about given Penny’s diagnosis, my concern was her health and I know how much Leigh and Penny wanted a baby,” she explained.

As for pregnancies, it’s fair to say her own have been far from easy.

With her own three kids, she suffered “all the symptoms”, she says with a laugh.

So when she offered to carry Penny

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

“I thought well, I can carry the baby for you and then you can have the family you have always wanted, and your health can be as good as it can be.”

She knows it was the greatest gift to be able to carry Will for her sister and brother-in-law.

“I just knew the outcome at the end of the day - I wasn’t sick, I wasn’t having chemo, I wasn’t battling with my life, I just had to get through a pregnancy,” she said.

“It was an incredible thing to be able to do for them.

“I knew there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel and the light was always going to be much bigger than I could ever have imagined.”

As for the surrogacy process, Fiona admits it was difficult to watch them go through.

Long, intense, confronting and costly, she says.

“It was hard yakka (for them),” she said.

But at the end of the day, William’s story is one of a modern day miracle.

At every opportunity when she was carrying him, Fiona would always digress to Penny if she was asked about her pregnancy.

“It’s always been her story to tell,” she said.

SUMMER 2020/2021 7

It’s Your Life

Dadding around

By Steve Biddulph

worried about being a provider, radiating a feeling of ‘person doing urgent and important things’. And kids pick up on that. If I had that time over again, I would dial it way down, trust that we’d get by, and just plain enjoy life more, and give them more of the feeling that life was fun, at least most of the time.

ONE of the good things about being old is that I can figure out exactly what I should have done 40 years ago, after finally having time to think about it.

We did have lots of fun. My kids had me around a lot more than many dads, and I was affectionate and close to them, but I was still too wound up.

It’s definitely true for fathering - if I could have it over again, I would do it so differently. Although in parenthood this also applies to the last 24 hours too!

Being a man and a dad, there are some key things to remember (and hello to all dads reading this, much love to you).

Almost always, we men are the largest and loudest person in the family.

We don’t think of it that much but it’s a key feature for everyone else, especially the littlies. So a dad often sets the mood in the whole house when he is around.

For good, or for ill.

I am not sure if you remember being a small boy and your dad kind of looming like a mountain wherever he went. So the ‘weather’ on that mountain had a big effect on you.

Sunny was wonderful, stormy was not good.

Luckily my dad was gentle, because he was also huge. I remember being in the bath, and him coming into the

bathroom for a pee - it was like being beside Niagara Falls!

But mostly with dads it’s their voices that kids are aware of. When researching my book Raising Girls, I discovered that some girls have far more acute hearing and they hate it when dad is too loud, and love it when he speaks gently. Our idea of normal sounds like shouting to them, and that sets off their adrenaline.

Being very serious for a moment, somewhere deep down a small child knows that an adult that big could badly hurt them. This only comes into

awareness if they ever see us really out of control, but then that memory remains with them for life. A boy who is hit is three times more likely to hit his wife when he grows up. Luckily people who read magazines about parenthood are generally pretty gentle, but some of us remember being a child in a home like that.

For most of us, it’s just anxiety that we bring too much of into the family environment.

I am pretty sure I spent the years between 28 and 48 - my parenting years - being always that bit too rushed,

So my take home message? You’ll have your own view, but my idea of a wonderful dad is someone who young kids think hasn’t a worry in the world.

He is amiable, slow, takes time with them, listens, and is good fun, while also being clear about boundaries. He is good mates with their mum. Only when they get older do they figure out you did all that other stuff like saving the world.

And be impressed that you never let on!

Steve’s renowned talks on Raising Boys and Raising Girls are now being hosted online. Have a look at his website for more info. www.stevebiddulph.com Steve Biddulph AM, Author - 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys.

Complete Secrets of Happy Children, and The New Manhood

Aussie dads suffering sleep deprivation MANY Australian dads are suffering “pathological sleep deprivation” according to a new comprehensive review of sleep, mental health and wellbeing among new dads.

The review found substantial sleep disruption and sleep complaints among new dads, which can go unrecognised by professionals and impact fathers’ mental health, relationships and workplace safety.

Dr Karen Wynter, from Deakin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, said sleep deprivation and fatigue was clearly interfering with fathers’ psychological wellbeing and daily functioning.

The review included 30 studies from 8 SUMMER 2020/2021

a number of universities.

She said the level of sleep deprivation was “quite concerning”.

“Most fathers are in the clinical range for what doctors would describe as pathological sleep deprivation,” Dr Wynter said.

“Looking at average time spent in bed versus time spent sleeping, studies have even shown that many fathers are in the range for what would be considered a clinical level of insomnia.

“When people are sleep deprived to that degree, their functioning and safety is quite heavily impacted. There’s a real safety implication here for fathers, particularly as we’ve seen this can

impact their safety procedures at work and their psychological wellbeing.”

child, which needs to be explored further.”

Dr Wynter, a founding member of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium, said there was a “significant association” between fatigue and mental health issues as well as some serious implications for relationships.

The results show a need for health professionals to include a father’s sleep concerns in their assessments of family needs and treatment plans, Dr Wynter said.

“The more fatigued the father, the poorer the relationship with their partner,” she said.

“Nobody is actually checking in with the fathers at the moment,” she said.

“Sleep deprivation and fatigue have been shown to lead to poor impulse control, including becoming angry and easily irritable. A big gap in the research at the moment is the impact that poor sleep could have on the relationship between the father and the

“There’s a need for better screening tools, and health professionals need to check in with the father as well as the mother. They have the perfect opportunity to do this when fathers are available at consultations with their partners and infants.” www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Local class for a calm birth Lisa and her family.

By Danielle Galvin FORMER paediatric nurse turned midwife and calm birthing expert Lisa Simpson loves hearing women’s labour and birth stories.

She is incredibly passionate in her belief that every woman deserves a beautiful birth story.

The Glen Iris midwife, who worked as a nurse for 18 years, believes labour is the most intense, craziest ride, but it’s wonderfully transformative and can be beautiful and empowering.

She started up the Breathe and Birth program and classes, which includes hypnobirthing classes and pregnancy support to help women identify what a positive birth means to them, to trust in the process and educating and empowering them.

Hypnobirthing Australia defines hypnobirthing as the natural approach to childbirth; with classes to prepare women with the knowledge, confidence and tools to birth calmly.

The mum of four is open about her journey into hypnobirthing after the birth of her second child.

When Lisa was rushed into theatre for an emergency caesarean with her second, she felt out of control.

“Because I’d had a vaginal birth with my first, I just assumed it would be a vaginal birth again,” she said.

Without a lot of understanding or explanation, it was an experience that she found overwhelming.

“My mindset post that was that I wasn’t actually prepared for that outcome,” she explained.

“I came across hypnobirthing and thought that’s a good way to prepare for whatever happens, whatever twists and turns your labour takes. “(The business) comes from a personal spot - I didn’t want anyone else to feel the way that I did.”

She didn’t feel like a failure - but she felt unprepared for that outcome.

For Lisa, she believes in the power of hypnobirthing in that it helps expectant mums to understand that while we can’t control the process fully, there are things we can control.

“If we end up having a caesar, or the forceps or vacuum, it is not that we

have failed,” she said.

“It’s that we have a little passenger on board who has to work with us, and sometimes they don’t work well together for whatever reason.

“You should know what’s going on before it happens, it shouldn’t be a conversation you have after.”

She wants women to understand what’s happening during labour - even when things don’t go to plan.

“I am not ever getting people up to question their caregivers, but to work with their caregivers,” she said.

It’s an important point that Lisa believes choosing your care, public or private hospital, is critical.

In the program, she discusses pain relief, the pros and cons, as well as using affirmations, music and your support network.

“Whilst it’s a natural approach to childbirth, it’s not natural or nothing,” she said.

“If you’re set on an epidural, when’s a good time to have one.”

At the end of the day, what she wants is for every woman to have a positive experience.

To trust in the process and feel like their voice is being heard.

“It’s such an important day, you can go back to it all the time and remember it,” she said.

Lisa talks a lot about birth preferences, not plans, in the program.

“We want them to head in confident, empowered, and calm,” she said.

“Fear creates tension - fear in labour is the enemy.

“We talk about hormones - so creating lots of oxytocin.

“If you start getting too much adrenaline (so fight or flight) then it’s going to block the oxytocin and it’s going to stall or stop labour.

“I never try and tell people it’s a painless - that’s not true.

“We talk about the functional pain no other pain brings such a beautiful thing to you.

“Mindset and breathing the two biggest things we talk about.”

To find out more, visit https://www. breatheandbirth.com.au/

POWERFUL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT In addition to unshakable confidence, our goal is to develop your child’s character to ensure success in all aspects of life.

There are six chapters in the Gracie Character Development Program: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners, and Caring.

We spend two months on each chapter, and during each class we dedicate a few minutes to discussing the featured character trait and the simple things your child can do to make it part of their everyday lives. The secret to our success lies in a unique point-based reward system that we created to excite kids about making daily progress!

FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GRACIEKIDS.COM

At some point or another, every child will be targeted by a bully. The Gracie Bullyproof objective is to give your child the physical, psychological, and verbal tools to overcome bullies. Our aim is not to encourage confrontation, but rather, to reduce fear and build confidence in order to reduce your child’s risk of being targeted.

TO GET STARTED TODAY EMAIL INFO@GRACIEJIUJITSUBURWOOD.COM.AU

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

0427 220 328

FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO GRACIEKIDS.COM

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Once your child is enrolled in the Gracie Bullyproof program, you qualify for a free subscription to GracieKids.com, our interactive online learning center for Gracie Bullyproof.

With comprehensive videos covering every technique your child learns in class, you and your child can use your online access to review past lessons and learn new techniques – from home!

SUMMER 2020/2021 9

It’s Your Life

Get inspired to put ‘me first’

By Danielle Galvin READING mum of three and time management specialist Kate Christie’s new book, ‘Me First’, it’s impossible to feel anything but inspired.

Inspired to change something in your daily routine, to find time in the day to do something just for you.

It’s a tough ask, to stop taking on the entire domestic load and doing every odd job that needs doing.

As Kate rightly points out, mums everywhere are programmed to put the needs of others first, and to do all of those incidental tasks rather than asking for help.

But, she says, it’s time for change.

“It’s a people pleaser thing we have going on in our brains,” she said.

“No one is giving you a gold star for being busy, or for mother’s guilt.

“There’s so much we need to let go of.”

‘Me First’ is a practical guide for working mums to find that extra time with a few hacks - and it’s all data driven.

Kate Christie is an expert in time management.

She asks her readers to sit down with a whiteboard and nut out where those hours go each day.

“When it comes to your kids - don’t do anything for you kids they can do for themselves,” she explains.

There’s practical exercises and stories from women around the world, and plenty of hilarious tidbits too, like the ridiculous tasks we all take on (ironing underwear, anyone?) that we need to say goodbye to.

“We have to create a sense of independence and an ability for our kids to feel capable and make choices and be involved in chores.

And then there’s some of the powerful ‘stop you in your tracks’ lines that will make every mum reading really think twice.

“One of the real issues I see with women who work, there’s almost a guilt or an overlay of guilt that they have because they work.

“It’s almost like they overcompensate at home and do everything and we have got to stop doing that.”

“Do I want to invest my time - or do I need to decline?” Kate writes.

“Busyness is not a badge of honour.”

It’s simple enough - but Kate says we need to get better at saying ‘no’.

She says, it’s time to be selfish.

In the book, the fictional character Alice is based on women Kate meets all the time.

Just because you gave your children life, that doesn’t mean they are your whole life, she writes.

Alice is first introduced as she sips a glass of wine late one night, preparing herself for a busy, chaotic and anxious day. Jobs to do, children to tend to, a husband trying to engage in conversation and an ever-increasing workload.

“It’s about designing or curating your own life.

We shouldn’t feel obliged to “do it all” just because we work and have guilt about that.

For Kate, Alice is the character who epitomises the selfless, overworked mum.

To find out more or order the book visit timestylers.com/books/

As an example, Kate says teaching kids a few basic things can go a long way.

Fresh & Fruity Family

“Family is a team sport,” she said.

“For too long we have sat in the passenger’s seat and it’s time to get in the driver seat.”

Bold plan to end childhood asthma

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It’s hoped the team will be able to develop an asthma vaccine.

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A team of scientists at a new world-class respiratory research centre, called The Wal-van Respiratory Research Centre, are working on therapies that would function like an asthma vaccine.

“We are looking at training the immune system in young people who are identified as being predisposed to asthma, through genetic or environmental factors.

Centre director Professor Stephen Stick said the development had the potential to save billions of dollars from the national healthcare budget as well as improve the lives of millions of children.

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pursuing a vaccine-like approach to solve this problem,” Professor Stick said.

The therapies would train the immune system and protect the lining of the airways to prevent the development of childhood asthma.

Visit our farm cafe and check out our latest range of Jams, chutneys, preserved fruit & fruit leathers.

Visit our fruit plant nursery located on the farm stocking 100’s of fruiting plants, specialising in dwarf varieties.

AN ambitious venture out of Perth could see the end of childhood asthma.

“Eliminating asthma - which affects around ten per cent of Australian children - will be a key priority for the Wal-yan Respiratory Research Centre, with our researchers

“You can look at it like a switch lever on a train track - if we can train the immune system during the first year of life, a vaccine-like therapy can act as a switch to change the track and instead of following the pathway to asthma, the immune system is re-directed to a healthier outcome.”

The centre is a partnership between the Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and Perth Children’s Hospital.

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

How you can declutter with kids

By Julie Cliff professional organiser

the bench. Make a box out of Lego for the soap.

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

SCHOOL holidays are always a great time to declutter with kids.

Having more time at home and a slower pace to the day (no rushing here or rushing there) seems to make the experience more enjoyable. Here are a few places to start.

CRAFT Get the kids to help you go through their craft and sort it out. Put like items together. Discard paints and glue that have dried up or bits that are broken.

Pass on items they have outgrown.

Everything will be at their fingertips to whip up a masterpiece once it’s all organised.

GAMES CUPBOARD Cluttering the games cupboard is much the same as the craft cupboard.

Climb into the back corner of where the games live, get it all out and get sorting.

You never know what you might find and want to play.

KIDS CLOTHES Check the current size the kids are wearing and go through each category of clothing and check that everything still fits right from their heads (caps,

Get the kids to sort through all sports equipment. I bet they’re forgotten about the things that are in the bottom of the plastic storage tub in the garage or at the back of the cupboard.

KIDS BEDROOM

Pump up basketballs, soccer balls, then clean items and sort them out. Put a collection of items into a bag or a box so it’s easy to grab and take to the park to play.

COMPUTER DESK / GAMING AREA

TOYS

There are ways to involve the kids in decluttering your home.

headbands etc) to their toes (socks and shoes). Have a fashion parade during the process to add a bit of fun.

KIDS BATHROOM Charge the kids with the job of decluttering and organising their own bathroom if they have one. Turn it into a fun game where they display their own items or receive a reward of bath bombs or some other bathroom treat once the job is done. Encourage them to be creative in the way they put things together.

Cover cardboard boxes with their paintings or drawings to use as dividers in cupboards and drawers. Put their toothbrush in a coloured plastic cup on

Which toys have they outgrown? How can you use them in a different way?

Which ones have they not used for a while?

Bundle up some of the toys and store in their room or the garage so that their is less stuff accessible and rotate them regularly.

SET UP A STUDY SPACE Time at home is always a good opportunity to tweak the systems we have in place. If your child does not have a dedicated study space, the holidays are the time to do it.

RUMPUS ROOM Some kids are lucky enough to have a toy room or rumpus room dedicated for their stuff. Challenge them to declutter and organise it and set it up like a shop so that things are neatly displayed. Put

Helping teen girls flourish

By Danielle Galvin AS a former speech pathologist, TEDx speaker and model, Mandy Dante’s set of skills are particularly unique.

But arguably it’s her personal story, growing up in Sydney as a Sri Lankan Australian girl in a largely Caucasian school, coupled with the normal challenges of navigating teenage life, that sparked her passion to find a way to support young women.

She recalls the awkwardness of being a teenage girl in high school, wanting to fit in.

And while she survived those years, she says looking back, she can see she wasn’t necessarily thriving and bottled up a lot of what she was going through.

Reflecting on that time as an adult, she started Flourish Girl, a preventative mental health program aimed at teenage girls, which offers motherdaughter programs to improve communication.

The school program aims to create safe spaces for teenage girls to engage in relatable conversations around comparison, social pressures, body image and perfectionism.

“We start to really ignite those conversations that aren’t being said www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

like items together ensure everything is easy to find. Who knows they may even like to play shops once the job is done.

Take decluttering to a whole new level and undertake a bedroom renovation during the holidays. Make a detailed plan and give it a go.

If your family is anything like mine they have their own desktop computer and another location for their Xbox. Work with the kids to check all cords are being used and neat and tidy (use cable ties or bread ties), discs are in the right cases, all rubbish in the bin, dishes in the dishwasher and then give flat surfaces a good clean.

NEXT STEPS? Choose an area of the house to start to declutter with kids today. To make the process even more fun, put on some music and a timer and get to work.

Julie Cliff is a Professional Organiser at Space and Time, which helps busy mums live easier, less stressful lives through simple and easy to implement organising systems. Sound familiar?

Julie Cliff is a Professional Organiser at Space and Time, which helps busy mums live easier, less stressful lives through simple and easy to implement organising systems. Sound familiar?

Julie would love to hear from you info@spaceandtime.com.au

Mandy Dante uses her platform as a model and her program, Flourish Girl, to try to get teenage girls better support.

and give girls an opportunity to feel safe enough to share some of the things they may be dealing with,” she said.

Through the schools’ program, Mandy has gained invaluable insight into teenage girls through countless conversations with them.

“We have a section in our programs where we ask girls what they really need from their mums - and this is where I get my tips for mums,” she said.

Her tips include spending personal time with your daughter, creating a safe space with no judgement or opinions, open up with your daughter and be empathetic to the huge transition happening in their lives.

“We have this common thread around girls feeling like they are not being heard a lot from mothers but it’s also common with fathers as well,” she said.

“They felt like there was a breakdown in communication and girls not feeling safe enough to share.

“The lens we come from - we are not the parenting experts but we are experts in knowing how to start those conversations.”

She believes there’s a chance for mums to better support their teenage

girls, by showing them they don’t have all of the answers.

daughter. It’s OK not to have the answers all the time.”

“Mums want to rescue them and solve their problems for them,” she said.

She said showing your vulnerability as a parent is a powerful tool.

“The thing is there is no right way to have a conversation with your

To find out more, visit https://www. flourishgirl.org/

SUMMER 2020/2021 11

Reality Bites

Home birth in the face of Covid-19

By Melissa Meehan SITTING in a pool at home with her midwives on the phone telling her not to push just yet wasn’t the way Michelle Wise expected to welcome her baby girl into the world.

But nothing in 2020 has really gone to plan.

Peyton entered the world. Michelle carefully unwrapped the cord from her shoulders and placed her daughter on her chest and describes waiting for that first breath as a little scary.

“It was then I was like, wow, we are really on our own,” she said.

Soon enough Peyton opened her eyes, looked around and made a little squeak.

It was then Michelle knew it would be all OK. Michelle hadn’t always planned on having a home birth.

But the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 and new restrictions across Victoria about only having one support person with you in hospital during the birth led to her decision.

“It was very important for my husband and I to have our doula with us and even though she ended up missing the birth, we really wanted our photographer there too,” she said.

When she first fell pregnant Michelle looked into having a home birth, but after getting a few quotes for a private midwife she didn’t think it was financially viable.

Baby Peyton was born at home.

Michelle and baby Peyton, who arrived on 13 May a healthy 3.8kg.

Especially given she had already given birth to her son in a hospital setting and had a good experience.

Her son Logan was picked up by 4.20pm and by 4.40pm Michelle’s husband Josh started to fill the birthing pool.

But things changed when the pandemic hit and they felt forced to change their model of care to one they thought would be safer, no matter the cost.

Contractions started just before 2pm on the day Peyton was born.

And by 3pm they were getting closer together and more frequent.

“I sent our doula, midwife and photographer messages just to let them know I was thinking we could have a baby later that night or the next day,” she said.

By 5pm he was on the phone to the midwives, who were 40 minutes away, and that’s when Michelle’s body gave an almighty push.

“My body had taken over,” she said.

Pictures: Garry Sissons

She was closely followed by ambulance officers who stayed until the midwives arrived.

“Everything was absolutely perfect,” she said.

“I couldn’t be happier with our decision to have a home birth and the whole experience was so surreal.

“I keep looking at her in disbelief.”

“Mish our doula called an ambulance as it was clear the midwives weren’t going to make it and three strong waves later I yelled out ‘her head is out’.”

The Australian College of Midwives reported a flood of calls relating to home births in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Just minutes after Peyton arrived, so did the photographer who was shocked to see Michelle already holding her baby girl.

ACM CEO Ann Kinnear said, “Home birth is a safe option for a woman, but key to this is that her midwife is practising safely and competently.”

Peninsula perfection MARTHA Bay, a fab community for modern retires from RCA Villages is fast taking shape. The future holds a sophisticated Clubhouse with amazing facilities, a gym, lap pool and lawn bowls green, a communal vegie garden and plenty more.

Martha Bay is right in the heart of Mount Martha, a wonderful base for a family break during the upcoming holiday season, writes Carole Levy.

If plans are afoot to visit grandma and grandpa who have already taken up residence at Martha Bay, families can kick back for a while in the luxe villa which is enticing in itself, but there’s so much to see and do in the wonderful Mornington Peninsula region.

Mount Martha Beach, considered one of the best on the peninsula, is five minutes by car down the road, while Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (where crocodiles and other creatures roam) and Boneo Discovery Park’s mazes, giant games garden, mini golf and jumping castle are both within a 20-minute drive. And the iconic Arthurs Seat chairlift is just 12 SUMMER 2020/2021

15 minutes away. Kids sorted.

Grown-ups have a plethora of choices to make holidays a roaring success, with plenty less than 20 minutes away. There are wineries galore for fun and food in the sun, the nearest Mont Rouge estate (15 minutes) and just a bit further afield, Red Hill Estate and Polperro Winery with others in between. On the trip, check out farm-gate produce.

Mount Martha is home to many eateries. Donato cafe is directly across the road for brekkie and lunch, Milkbar & Co is five minutes away for brunch, while highly regarded Volpino Pizzeria & Wine bar and sophisticated Assaggini Wine Bar & Restaurant are similarly close.

And to scratch the cultural itch, there’s National Trust-managed historic Beleura House & Garden, and amazing Baluk Art Gallery with aboriginal art to explore - both less than 10 minutes afield.

Martha Bay’s lucky residents have these choice on their doorstep yearround, as well as more than 30 towns

Martha Bay’s villas offer a choice of designs to suit.

Pictures: Supplied

spanning Seaford to Portsea, where boutiques and antiques and hot springs beckon. And if they want to head overseas or travel around Australia, they get to return knowing everything is left secure and maintained.

Worth noting: Beautiful villas are available now with a choice of designs to suit.

And RCA Villages has produced a ‘faces from our places’ calendar featuring some beautiful, stereotypedefying images of residents from across their villages. There are 30 to

give away in December - simply fill out the coupon on page 2 to receive yours.

Martha Bay by RCA Villages, 111 Craigie Road, Mount Martha.

Enquiries: 1800 998 990 or www. marthabay.com.au www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Hedbanz.

SmarTrike Trampoline.

Paw Patrol Dino Patroller.

Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage.

Cool Maker Hollywood Hair Studio.

Bosch Deluxe Workbench.

The Globber Explorer Trike 4in1.

UNO. Barbie Dream Camper.

Barbie Dream House.

The hottest toys for Christmas

By Melissa Grant

their perfect home with Barbie Dream House.

COOL MAKER HOLLYWOOD HAIR STUDIO

WHAT are the must-have toys this Christmas?

It’s a question you are probably asking yourself as you scratch your head for gift ideas.

There are so many new toys and games that have been released in time for the festive season, not to mention all the old favourites sitting on retailers’ shelves.

While it’s impossible to feature them all, we’ve put together a list of hot gifts for kids this Christmas.

There are limitless ways to play and explore, from friend sleepovers to birthday parties and backyard BBQs.

This DIY hair studio lets children design, customise and create their own hair extensions. They will love decorating one of the coloured or pattern hair ribbons with marker pens then pressing a button to transform it into a super cute hair extension. The set includes a curling wand, hair rollers and clips, two markers and spray bottle.

Perfect for kids aged 3+. RRP $249 BARBIE DREAM CAMPER Kids can hit the open road and go wherever their imaginations take them, with Barbie Dream Camper. There are multiple transformations and hidden surprises make playtime exciting.

For kids aged 3+. RRP $139

HOT WHEELS ULTIMATE GARAGE The newly released Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is designed to fuel kids’ imaginations.

Take vehicles all the way up in the kid-powered two-car elevator, then race down through the multi-level garage and experiment with dual-play mode for continuous thrills.

For kids aged 5+. RRP $129.99.

HEDBANZ

PAW PATROL DINO PATROLLER Save the day with Dino Patroller, the first motorised Paw Patrol team vehicle. It features room for all six pups, oversized wheels, a projectile launcher and an exclusive Chase and t-rex dinosaur action figure.

UNO

By popular demand, Hedbanz, the classic picture guessing game of “What am I?” returns with all-new picture cards, six themed headbands, and art.

Pick a card, but don’t peek! It’s then a race against the clock to guess what’s on your card, by asking your opponents yes-or-no questions.

RRP $24.99

For ages 8+. RRP $39.99 GLOBBER EXPLORER TRIKE 4IN1 This 4in1 trike can be used from 10 months through to five years. At 10 months, your child can use it in trike mode, Then at 18 months they are ready for the guided trike. By the time they’re 2 it can be switched to training tike mode before being switched to a balance bike.

RRP $299 BOSCH DELUXE WORKBENCH A height-adjustable workbench with a drill press, vice, saw, pliers, hammer, wrench and more. With so many screws, saws, spanners and more to play with, this gift nails it.

For ages 3+. RRP $79

BARBIE DREAM HOUSE

You know this game needs no introduction! Players take turns matching a card in their hand to the card showing on top of the deck by colour or number. Skips, Reverse, Draw Two, Wild and Draw Four Wild cards can deliver opponent-beating moves.

There is also UNO Junior, a simplified version for younger players.

Kids can use their imaginations to set up

UNO RRP $10, UNO Junior RRP $6.99

RRP $169

For kids aged 3+. RRP $109.99

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

SMARTRIKE TRAMPOLINE A ball pit and trampoline that folds small enough to fit just about anywhere.

The SmarTrike Trampoline encourages development and growing with your child from 10 months to five years.

WIN! WIN! WIN! We’re giving away some awesome toys for Christmas.

MATTEL TOYS Up for grabs is one Barbie Dream House ($249), which offers so many options when it comes to imaginative play.

We’re also giving away one Barbie Dream Camper ($139), and the newly released Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage ($129.99)

SPIN MASTER TOYS We’ve got two toy prize packs to give away, each valued at more than $200. Each pack features: Paw Patrol themed vehicle, Bakugan Dragonoid Infinity, Monster Jam 1:64 Basic Playset Season 2, Twisty Petz Beauty, HedBanz and Hatchimals Crystal Flyers.

GLOBBER TRIKE Win a Globber Explorer Trike 4in1 in teal ($299). The all in one tricycle for toddlers aged 10+months and balance bike for kids aged 2-5 years adapts as your child grows.

To put yourself in the running to win one - or all - of these great toys, visit www. stonningtonboroondarakids.com. au/competitions Hurry - entries close Thursday 17 December.

SUMMER 2020/2021 13

Health

Reasons to see a gynaecologist IN Australia, a gynaecologist is a women’s health specialist doctor who has trained for up to six years at medical school, undertaking rotations in general medicine and surgery at hospitals as a junior doctor, and then a further six years in speciality training in obstetrics and gynaecology (managing pregnancies, delivering babies and learning now to manage women’s health conditions). We are well qualified to help out with any issues you have with your reproductive tract, whatever they may be.

Reasons you may need to see us can include: 1. Painful or overly heavy periods. If you are concerned that your periods are heavy, you have large clots or flooding during your period then it is time to seek help. If you are

BUMPS AND

BABIES WITH DR BRONWYN HAMILTON

experiencing pain for more than a day or two and not relieved by simple pain relief medications such as Nurofen and Panadol you should also seek medical review. You would usually see your local doctor (GP) first and they would arrange referral to a gynaecologist if needed.

2. Irregular periods. If you are having

large breaks between your periods (eg skipping a few months at a time), this can be a sign that something isn’t right with your cycles. It can be a sign of things like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disease or other hormonal imbalance issues.

Similarly, bleeding more frequently than once a month is also not normal.

3. Painful intercourse. Pain with intercourse is not normal. Please seek help if you have new or longstanding pain with intercourse as there are many things we can do to help this.

4. Abnormal discharge. No one likes talking about vaginal discharge but it’s a part of everyday life for all women. You will find the days around ovulation (mid cycle) you will have some clear and watery discharge as your estrogen levels

increase. During the one to two weeks leading up to your period this will be thicker and a creamy/white colour. If there are any variations to this like increased odour, itchiness, increased volume or green/grey in colour this could be a sign of infection so go get this checked out!

5. Issues trying to conceive. If you have been trying for a baby for more than six months if over age 35, or 12 months if aged 35 or under then you should be seeing a gynaecologist or fertility specialist. This is particularly important if you are aged over 35 as time is of essence when trying for a baby.

For more information on women’s health visit: https://www.instagram. com/drbronwynhamilton/?hl=en or www.drbronwynhamilton.com.au

What you need to know about thermometers

By Eliza Henry-Jones WHEN your child is sick, often one of the first things you do is reach for a thermometer. With so many thermometers on the market, you may be wondering which one is best to use. From glass and mercury through to smart thermometers with their very own apps, this article has you covered!

Mercury Thermometers You’ve probably heard of (or seen) mercury thermometers, which were invented in the 1700s. These glass contraptions have a thin line of mercury, which expands when heated. Given the toxicity of mercury and the fragility of glass, they’re no longer recommended for measuring body temperature.

Ear Thermometers Ear thermometers rest in the ear in order to measure body temperature.

There’s a bit of controversy about whether they should be used in children under six months. When using an ear thermometer, watch out for a build up of ear wax (which can alter the reading) and be careful of how far you put the reader into the ear canal.

The cost of ear thermometers varies.

For instance, the Omron TH839S Ear Thermometer retails for $59.99, compared with the Safety 1st Easy Read Ear Thermometer, which costs around $24.99.

Forehead (Temporal) Thermometers These thermometers need to be moved across the forehead to get a reading and can be used on children from birth. Although potentially not as accurate as a rectal measurement, they’re far less invasive.

While basic models will set you back about $49.95 (the Oricom IR Thermometer from BubMania), you can purchase smart forehead thermometers which link to your phone or computer, allowing data to be saved for the whole family. For instance, when using the Withings Thermo Smart Temporal Thermometer, 14 SUMMER 2020/2021

Digital thermometers can be used orally.

the measurements will sync automatically with your iPhone or iPad. Based on the age, fever history and symptoms of the person being measured, the Thermo app will even give you health advice. This thermometer is available from the Apple store for $179.99.

Digital Thermometers

Digital thermometers are relatively cheap and can be used rectally, orally and under the arm. Obviously, if you’re planning to take both oral and rectal temperatures, make sure you purchase two thermometers and have them clearly labelled! Digital thermometers can be used under the arm from birth and - like temporal thermometers - are much less invasive

than oral or rectal measurements.

Digital thermometers are the cheapest option - you can purchase a Vicks Insight Thermometer for $21.49 from a chemist.

If you’re unsure about what thermometer might suit you or how to use them effectively, give your family doctor a call! www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Active Kids

Summer classes are on at NIDA THERE’S been a spike in enrolments for children’s summer classes as parents get their young ones ‘back into life’.

While Covid restrictions relax across Melbourne and Victoria, the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)’s Melbourne studio has reopened its doors, welcoming both children and adults to short courses, term classes and school holiday programs.

“Our creative programs for school age children and young people have more enrolments now than they did this time last year,” according to Director of Public Programs, Tricia Ryan.

“After so many months locked down

Get in quick to secure a place for your child over summer in one of the popular courses.

at home, parents are excited to get their kids back into life.

“Our classes for young people have seen a boom in enrolments compared to last year. I think the lockdown and activity restrictions have really helped people evaluate how they spend their time, and whether their children are being given the opportunity to pursue their passions.

Many of Australia’s best artists started their creative journey at one of NIDA’s short courses and holiday programs.

Katherine Langford (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why) and Hunter Page-Lochard (Cleverman) are just two Australian actors who began their creative journeys with NIDA summer holiday programs.

(Crownies, Seven Types of Ambiguity, Alex & Eve) and Jack Ellis (A Place to Call Home, Hollow Hands) are just some of the professionals to have shared their passion and teach NIDA holiday classes for children, young people and adults.

The teaching staff are another drawcard, with many tutors familiar faces on film and in theatres. In the past year, actors Georgia Blizzard (The Singapore Grip), Andrea Demetriades

“There’s lots to choose from, but lock in your NIDA experience now because individual places are strictly limited.”

puzzles and more for children of all ages and stages of development.

for generations, with a new wave of children to enjoy the shop.

months, but we are excited to be back open now in time for Christmas.”

There’s also some JumpKing trampolines on the way in December.

The Christmas catalogue is available on the shop’s website, with a host of products for kids including a nesting xylophone, crane construction set, beautiful wooden dolls pram, games,

Windmill has always had a focus on providing service to its customers offering advice on what to buy and choosing the perfect gift.

There’s no other shop in Melbourne quite like Windmill. The new shop address will be: 593 Whitehorse Rd, Mont Albert, 3147

“People are investing in themselves and investing in their children.”

Enrolments have surged on the back of NIDA’s reputation as a Covid-safe organisation and a long-time education provider in the creative arts.

Tricia has one word of advice for parents this summer about the popular courses.

Explore your child’s creative summer at: nida.edu.au/summer.

New look at Windmill WINDMILL Educational Toys and Equipment will be opening up a new shopfront in January 2021 next door to the current establishment, with a new look for the new year.

It will be a different feel for one of the oldest surviving retail shops in the Mont Albert shopping strip in Whitehorse Road.

There will be a ramp for prams leading up the back, and a beautifully renovated shop.

Jo Richards bought the business from her parents, and this year has certainly thrown a few curve balls her way.

“It’s been a tough year for everyone,” she explained.

“We did click and collect for a few

Windmill has educational toys and so much more in store.

Suppliers of a wide w range of toys and equipment to make this year’s Christmas season a fun and enjoyable time for all!

Many families have been returning

To view the Christmas catalogue, head online to https://www.windmill. net.au/

www.windmill.net.au 12472269-SG51-20

The shop, which opened in 1977, was founded by a civil engineer and his school teacher wife who wanted to provide high quality toys to children with a focus on education.

591-593 Whitehorse Rd Mont Albert, 3127

(03) 98304336 www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

SUMMER 2020/2021 15

Entertainment

Our top parenting podcasts

By Danielle Galvin IF you’re into podcasts, we’ve put together a list for you to sink your teeth into.

Below are a few recommendations, for those times you’re feeling lost and in need of advice, or you’re in the mood for something funny or informative.

I found some of these useful, as an example, when I was struggling with my daughter’s tantrums around the age of 3.

It was a difficult time in parenthood and I sought out advice from some podcasts.

There are so many good ones to choose from, but here are a few of our picks: ■ Parenting in the age of the coronavirus: A new podcast from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. Child health experts discuss the challenges parents are facing, and explore how you can best support yourself and your children so they can continue to

learn, thrive and develop.

■ Mamamia’s Me After You podcast is on my ‘to listen’ list. It poses the question - who am I, after having a baby?

■ Happy Mum Happy Baby - the podcast is from Giovanna Fletcher, UK mum of 3, author, blogger. I’ve been a fan a long time. She always has some great names and talent and some of the podcasts are absolute tearjerkers!

■ Maggie Dent on the ABC - Parental

As Anything - She covers off a lot of different topics. Always a great listen.

■ Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled. Another famed parenting expert. Plenty to sink your teeth into.

■ Kirsten Bell’s Momsplaining: OK, not a podcast but a light hearted little series nonetheless. Always good for a laugh!

■ The Modern Dads: This is a podcast about the dads doing it all ■ The Happy Families podcast with Dr Justin Coulson. Advice, easy to listen to, what’s not to love?

Finding ways to celebrate milestones online

By Danielle Galvin AS party-loving Melburnians, we were forced to get creative when it came to get-togethers, birthday parties, baby showers and celebrations in 2020.

When we couldn’t meet up in person and we had to keep our distance, we found ways to be together virtually.

During the height of the second lockdown, I attended (is that the right word?!) a surprise virtual baby shower on Zoom for a dear friend. It was truly wonderful, and given the difficult year she’d had being pregnant in two restrictive lockdowns, it was lovely and memorable.

Many Melburnians found positive ways to celebrate milestone events - whether that was through virtual discos for kids birthdays, Zoom catch-ups - there were ways to celebrate.

If you’re looking to host a virtual party again in the future (maybe with interstate or overseas family and friends) here’s some ways to make it easy and special!

■ Reach out and find local suppliers - it’s

amazing how many cookie makers, cake bakers, and people there are in every municipality who have come out of the woodwork and who can put together grazing boxes, beautiful sugar cookies and more for whoever you are celebrating.

■ Make it a surprise (if it’s possible) Logistically this might be way too tricky - but it can work! We managed to do it for our friend’s baby shower and she had no idea, it was truly magical to watch her surprise as she saw 30 of her closest friends on a computer screen.

■ If there’s a few of you and you can afford it - band together and get balloons and flowers delivered. Just makes it a nice touch.• You can still play games and involve everyone attending. The group organising this baby shower had arranged for everyone to send their guesses for the baby’s weight, gender, name and had it printed off for the mum-to-be to read on the day.

Similarly, we played fun guessing games with photos of the expectant parents and it was a lovely way to

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16 SUMMER 2020/2021

Melburnians got creative in the face of the pandemic, organising online parties.

break the ice and involve everyone.

■ Get different groups/family members involved - this is important. If you can, get multiple people on the party committee to help get in touch with as many people as possible.

■ If you’re hosting a virtual birthday party - there are some great local businesses who can run virtual trivia

nights, virtual painting classes, and virtual discos. The cost is often pretty low and it is so much fun!

■ Keep it short - most people start to lose focus after an hour or so!

■ Lastly, it doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to be special, memorable and beautiful. Seriously.

Melburnians got creative in the face of the pandemic, organising online parties. www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Entertainment

IMAGINARIA’S a summer spectacular IMAGINARIA will light up The District Docklands this summer, providing the perfect family day out with a magical, immersive play experience to remember.

“We wanted to create a play experience that elevates you out of the digital fog and snaps you into the now - a creative reminder to slow down, be still and connect.”

Combining light, sound, sculpture and scent, IMAGINARIA will amaze and delight people of all ages as Melbourne comes back to life postlockdown.

After checking out IMAGINARIA, enjoy the other family-friendly activities The District Docklands has to offer. Ride the iconic Melbourne Star and see the city from above, take the kids ice skating at O’Brien Icehouse, test your mini-golf skills at GlowGolf, go bowling or play arcade games at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, explore ArtVo’s interactive 3D art or catch a film at Australia’s largest HOYTS complex.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to grab a bite to eat in between all the fun.

Kids will be enthralled by this eclectic future play experience, which celebrates imagination and technology. Inside custom-built structures, fully interactive installations respond to movement as your family walks, slides and glides through the exhibition. There’s something new to discover in each installation - there’s no limit to the imagination as your child interacts with the sculptures and unlocks the magic within.

From a giant inflatable bubble to a futuristic light maze and cosmic abyss, this one-hour play experience is an unforgettable and unique way to spend a day with the family over the school holidays. Leave your shoes at the door and prepare to venture into another dimension - there is plenty of

The District Docklands is the place to be these summer holidays, with the spellbinding IMAGINARIA exhibition and so much more.

Book tickets at Ticketmaster or at the ticket office. space to explore and interact, keeping you and your family COVID-safe while you enjoy all that IMAGINARIA has to offer.

“That feeling of being completely

immersed in creating something has been a refuge that I’ve continuously sought throughout my life,” says IMAGINARIA founder and creative director Nick Ennis.

Imaginaria Is located at The District Docklands, under the Melbourne Star, Waterfront Way, Docklands.

Visit www.imaginarianow.com for more information.

FRPSOLPHQWDU\

12472849-SG51-20

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

SUMMER 2020/2021 17

Entertainment

Summer fun at Gumbuya CELEBRATE summer with your friends and family at Victoria’s home of cool action, loud laughs and wild adventure, Gumbuya World.

Take the plunge on epic water slides, spin out on awesome rides and say hello to Pebble, the park’s newest baby koala!

Throughout the summer, patrons can make the most of Oasis Springs which underwent a $10 million expansion last year. New features include The Break - a massive family wave pool that includes a standalone kids area, and a number of new water slides including the Tiger Snake Tango and Red Belly Racer.

There’s also the 300-metre long Lazy River, and Surf’s Up - an epic wave machine.

Thrillseekers can enjoy unlimited rides all day in Oz Adventure, with the mighty Rebel and the high speed, high altitude Tree Swing.

For little adventurers there is Outback

Explorers, with Dodgem Cars, the Outback Pirate Ship and the Berry Twirl.

Finally, with more than 50 species of animals - including koala joey Pebble - The Wildlife Trail is the perfect destination to spot something furry, featured or fanged.

For an unforgettable experience, visitors can book an Animal Close Encounter.

Tickets will be capped in line with government guidelines. All tickets must be purchased via the website beforehand, with no tickets available at the entrance.

From 11 December, the park is open daily right through to the end of January (excluding Christmas Day).

Gumbuya World is located at 2705 Princes Highway Tynong.

For tickets or more information, including the park’s Covid-safe guidelines, visit https://gumbuya.com. au/

Typhoon Island, one of the many awesome water attractions at Gumbuya World.

Getting kids back into art over the holidays THE Art Factory has reopened and school holiday time is when the studios come alive, with kids buzzing with excitement and eager to get creative.

There’s something on each day over the school holidays, and plenty of options for families wanting to host their child’s birthday party at The Art Factory.

School holidays is when The Art Factory studios come alive.

Your child chooses what they want to create and there’s a range of different activities depending on age and interest.

During these Christmas school holidays, there’s a dynamic program of art and craft workshops available for children aged 4-14, designed with fun in mind.

After a tough year, Ms Roberts says it’s wonderful for children to have an outlet and get back into the activities they love.

There’s workshops including making Christmas slime and wooden tree ornaments, an oil pastels session, as well as a craft construction workshop learning how to make an ‘up house’.

“Artistic activities also offer children an outlet to express their feelings and explore a different world,” she said.

Owner Priti Roberts says children and their families are ready to get back into creating and exploring their own artistic interests.

“This makes them happy and they’ve had a tough year,” she said.

“I just want to take the pressure off,

“It’s also fun and explorational, as well as being educational.”

and let the kids have fun again, with a focus on free play and creativity.”

The Art Factory is Melbourne’s

longest running dedicated art school offering art classes, kids parties and holiday workshops.

To find out more about workshops, art classes or party packages, visit https://www.theartfactory.com.au/ There’s three locations in Malvern, Essendon and Balwyn.

Look What I Made!

Art Class will be the highlight of your child's Week

Kiddy Art for Kids 2-5 yrs After School Art for 5-12 yrs School Holiday Workshops Art Parties for Kids 4-14 yrs Mention this advert for a free trial class Balwyn North 249A Belmore Rd Balwyn North VIC 3104

Malvern 28 Glenferrie Rd Malvern VIC 3144

Essendon 307 Buckley St Aberfeldie VIC 3040

info@theartfactory.com.au www.theartfactory.com.au

0400 468 673 12471817-JW51-20

18 SUMMER 2020/2021

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Education

Getting kids thinking about a range of careers starts earlier than some parents realise.

The push for early career education

By Danielle Galvin A fascinating snapshot of young Australians and their career aspirations has raised the prospect of a formalised career education beginning as early as primary school.

South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly recently released the results of two surveys of young people and children.

In ‘The Job Aspirations of 8-12-yearolds’ thousands of postcards were sent out to school kids asking what they care about, their hopes for the future and early career aspirations.

Their responses are fascinating.

Being a professional athlete was the single most popular choice, although teaching and being a ‘YouTuber’ were also mentioned frequently.

For many children, jobs and careers are generally explored in the senior years of high school.

However children are naturally curious much earlier than that.

“Research has found that a majority of seven year olds can say what they would like to be when they grow up,” Commissioner Connolly said.

“Other research has said that the subjects you enjoy and have an interest in at primary school will probably stay with you and it is unlikely you get turned onto science, technology, engineering and maths out of the blue in high school.

“In primary school, the focus should be on creating more contact with jobs and careers to increase exposure to possibilities and interest in learning areas that relate to their interests and passions.

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

“This contact with the world of work can also help demystify and debunk commonly held misconceptions about the types of jobs available in particular industries, including gender stereotypes.

“While many kids hear that they can do anything they want, if they don’t know what they don’t know, they can limit their dreams from the beginning.”

By way of example, if a child is interested in dinosaurs, it makes sense to introduce them to palaeontology and what that profession entails.

“Or if a 10-year-old wants to be a dolphin trainer get Sea World to run a virtual class,” she said.

“We just need to get students excited about their future and dream big.

“We have often said you ‘can’t be what you can’t see’ but now after COVID-19 there is no excuse for not seeing everything, albeit online.”

Wanda Hayes, the CEO of the Career Development Association of Australia, said children from a very young age form ideas about work roles.

“They start to decide which roles have a connection to them, and which roles don’t,” she explained.

“By the time they have reached high school, most children have internalised some (mostly unconscious) perceptions that some roles are somehow ‘out of reach’ or not appropriate for them - and those jobs are automatically ‘ruled out’ when they are considering their future options.

“Then in upper secondary schooling, the focus of career education is often skewed to be about making decisions (about subjects; about university courses; about future jobs).

“But in fact, career education at school should be about opening young people up to possibilities, not narrowing down their options.

“And the earlier this process starts, the better: get them thinking broadly before they start developing fixed ideas about what is and isn’t possible for them!

“That’s how career education at primary school level can make a real and positive difference.”

There’s also a role for parents to play in all of this too.

“The role for parents is to expose children to opportunities through reading, talking and visiting online museums across the world,” Commissioner Connolly said.

“Whatever it takes to enthuse passion and not cut off possibilities with negative facts.

“If your child says they want to be an astronaut, or an astrologer, or an abalone diver, don’t put up all the reasons why not.”

But the simplest thing parents can do is to let their kids play.

“Play fires up the area of brain responsible for planning skills, organisation, critical thinking, reasoning and understanding,” Commissioner Connolly said.

“Play facilitates the development of confidence, self-identity and independence.

“If we want critical and creative adult thinkers, it is essential that playfulness be embedded in the lives of young people in childhood.

“Parents should support curiosity and fuel wonder in children as there are too many other systems waiting to drill it out of them.

“If you don’t have big dreams and feel invincible as a child, I’m not sure when you will.”

Some of the more noteworthy career aspirations from SA students: ■ Become a palaeontologist and farm succulents and sell stick insects when I grow up 11-year-old ■ Meet Jeffy on Youtube and Be a pet detective - 8-year-old ■ Be a bee keeper with my dad - 10-year-old ■ Be a dolphin trainer when I grow up - 10-year-old ■ Go to markets and sell my scrunchies from my business 12-year-old ■ Build a spider robot - 9-year-old ■ Create a company to help solve environmental issues - 9-yearold ■ Work on a Ferry - 12-year-old

Tips for parents to encourage your young child’s curiosity on future careers from the CDAA: ■ Encourage their natural curiosity and imagination.

■ Avoid the drive to make a decision: asking young children “what they want to be when they grow up” can create a level of anxiety about the need to decide. Instead, ask them about their interests. Notice and remark upon their talents.

Encourage them to explore and play with the idea of using those interests and talents in different kinds of ways and in different kinds of work roles.

■ Most importantly, treat every career idea as if it could be plausible. Our world of work is changing so rapidly there really is no such thing as a “silly idea” when it comes to career options.

Helping your children to explore and evaluate how their ideas might work will always be better than dismissing ideas on their behalf.

SUMMER 2020/2021 19

Education

Free childcare?

By Danielle Galvin WHEN Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in April that his government would roll out a free childcare scheme to keep parents in work amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, families across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief.

For many it took the pressure off and eased some of the financial burden, with the government footing the bill and paying childcare operators directly.

It was also meant to be a lifeline for childcare services, although it was criticised by some.

In mid-July, the scheme was wound back.

Since then, policymakers have been unable to avoid what many have been lobbying for: major reform to Australia’s early education.

made the decision to make childcare free for a period of time, it really did just show overnight that it is possible to do things differently and make change.”

She has been critical of the government snapping back to the old system, and believes there is a case, now more than ever, for a major overhaul.

“Households are going to be squeezed in a way they haven’t been before, the cost of care become even more crippling,” she said.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if more families decide they just can’t afford it.

“That means children miss out on all of the proven benefits of attending high quality early learning.

“And it means if and when jobs become available, if a family doesn’t have care, it’s impossible to take up those opportunities.”

Georgie Dent is the executive director of The Parenthood, and a vocal advocate for reform.

In late July, the Australian Council of Trade Unions released a plan for national economic reconstruction after Covid-19.

“While the case for universal access to high quality early education and childcare has been made for a very long time, this is the first time in Australia’s history that it has really seriously been considered,” she said.

The report stated reconstructing the economy should include a “broader strategy to roll-out high-quality, publicly-funded not-for-profit childcare services”.

“Part of that is obviously because in April, when the federal government

Policy think-thank The Grattan Institute also put forward a case for reform in August. It made a number of

There has been a renewed push for free childcare in Australia since the pandemic.

significant recommendations.

“We recommend the government increase the existing subsidy from 85 per cent to 95 per cent, with a simpler, flatter taper as household incomes increase,” the report read.

Under the institute’s model, 60 per cent of families would pay less than $20 a day per child for childcare.

Ms Dent said women are overrepresented in casual jobs.

“That then makes the ability to take paid work more difficult.

“For families where there isn’t a certainty of shifts, the high out of pocket costs for care are a real barrier.”

But is a taxpayer funded childcare model popular policy?

“We have been tracking public sentiment, it’s roughly two thirds of people think that this is a good idea,” Ms Dent explained.

“There would be people who would say (if you have a child) you have to pay for their education and childcare, but the argument that needs to be made in response is that no one says that about primary school.

“If you’re a millionaire or if you’re unemployed, if you have a child who is 5 there will be a position at primary school, and that will be funded by taxpayers.

“And that is because we recognise as a nation, that investing in children’s education is critical.”

School bank ban BANKS and financial institutions have been banned from delivering banking programs in Victorian schools.

Instead, there will be school-led programs to improve students’ financial skills.

The move comes amid concerns about the quality of school banking programs and tactics used by banks to develop loyalty at an inappropriate age.

There have also been reports about the inappropriate promotion of credit cards.

A strong emphasis on early learning EVERYTHING has its beginnings in its root. Educating children is no exception. With a strong emphasis on early learning because after all it is here that is most important, Smart Reader has been able to see it through many generations of successful adults who have had their early exposure through our proven system. A system that has been around for decades and still continues to evolve with the times.

Let us take you and your child through a solid journey of growth like no other. Years 1 to 6 at school are very important in determining the

20

SUMMER 2020/2021

ability of a child to cope later on in life. And ages 3 to 7 even more so.

There is a saying, “you see the man in a child by the time he is seven”.

With this in mind, let us not delay in giving what the child needed yesterday. Before we know it, 2021 is just weeks away. There is a lot of catching up to do. More now than ever before!

Contact us now on (03)85895479, Smart Reader International Facebook page or email srkyarra@sraus.com to learn more about our English, Mandarin, Mathematics as well as Arts and Crafts program.

Education Minister James Merlino said there is very little evidence to suggest school banking programs teach students lasting habits to improve financial literacy.

“Victorian students deserve high quality financial literacy, free from commercial interests - that’s why we’re banning financial institutions from delivering school banking programs,” Mr Merlino said.

“The Victorian curriculum sets our expectations for financial literacy and that must be our focus. It is time to draw a line under this issue.”

Furthermore, interest rates offered through school banking programs are unfairly low, resulting in students missing out on compounding interest, a key benefit that comes with saving money and banking.

Consumer group CHOICE has been calling for the removal of banking programs in schools, such as the

long-standing Commonwealth Bank Dollarmites program.

“CHOICE has never been able to find any evidence that programs like the Dollarmites have any impact on long-term savings habits,” CHOICE CEO Alan Kirkland said.

“Marketing programs like this have no place in schools. If we want children to develop financial literacy, this should be through evidencebased education, free from advertising. We welcome the Victorian government’s commitment to genuine financial literacy programs.”

CHOICE is now calling on other state and territory governments to follow Victoria’s lead.

Victoria’s ban on banks and financial institutions delivering school banking programs will be introduced from Term 1, 2021.

The state will introduce new teaching resources as well as practical information and tips for students on taxation and how to identify and avoid scams.

These resources will be developed in consultation with financial experts focused on what skills students need.

Financial literacy skills are taught through the Victorian curriculum from Foundation to Year 10 in subjects such as mathematics and economics and business. Students learn about financial decision making, as well as the rights and responsibilities of consumers. www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Education

Building strong leaders at Siena

By Danielle Galvin YEAR 8 students Amy and Melania are learning valuable leadership skills and the power of student voice as part of the Student Representative Council at Siena College in Camberwell.

Student voice, agency and leadership are all important contributors to student empowerment, and are associated with increased levels of student engagement in learning.

Siena College’s student leadership program is one avenue through which this is encouraged, and Melania and Amy are both excellent role models for other students, and play an important role in facilitating student voice among their peers.

“A good leader is someone who works with everyone and they are able to have a balance, understanding everyone, stand on their own two feet,” Amy explains, adding that the SRC acts as a bridge between the students and teachers.

“It’s like being the voice of our year level,” Melania says, “we are there for

opinions and suggestions, which we will push forward to hopefully make a change.”

Both girls spoke of the importance of building connectedness between year levels and feel lucky to have the continuous support of their peers.

Head of Student Formation, Claire Moody, says that both girls were keen participants during the school’s Year 7-9 Pillars Leadership Series last year.

The four-week workshop introduced topics such as working effectively in teams, planning and organisation, public speaking and leading in challenging situations.

As Claire notes, “These are all valuable life skills and we encourage all students from Year 7 upwards to participate and consider applying for a leadership position after completing the course, as the experience gained by these students is so useful both at school and beyond.”

Amy and Melania from Siena.

Open Evening 2021 Tuesday, 9 March

Open Mornings 2021 Friday, 26 March Monday, 26 April Monday, 24 May Friday, 11 June Monday, 9 August Friday, 10 September Monday, 18 October

12471090-SN51-20 www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

SUMMER 2020/2021 21

Education

Andale has a unique approach to education AT ANDALE School, the teaching staff strongly believe that children learn best when they are actively involved in a range of authentic and positive learning experiences.

The school provides a positive learning environment for children who experience language and learning challenges, within a welcoming community that recognises and celebrates their learning achievements.

Researchers from the University of South Australia found that lower light physical activity is related to better numeracy and literacy, and that higher sedentary time is related to better literacy.

“When we talk about what makes up a child’s best day for academic achievement, we have to consider all the different elements of that day - sleep, exercise, activity, rest and play - but of course, within the boundaries of 24 hours,” Dr Dumuid said.

Andale students enjoy a highly individualised curriculum that enables them to develop curiosity, confidence, and the skills to thrive.

Andale student Hugo’s mum says she can’t speak highly enough of the supportive school environment.

A WORLD first study has shown some interesting results about balancing your child’s day for better academic outcomes.

The university’s Dr Dot Dumuid said the findings shows how light physical activity, such as doing chores, sitting at the computer, playing video games, preparing or eating food and general pottering around, can drain time.

With small class sizes, highly skilled staff and integrated specialist support, Andale School is unique in the Melbourne education landscape.

By providing an inclusive, empowering school environment that nurtures individual strengths, Andale students have the very best chance at achieving positive social and educational outcomes.

Chill and succeed

Andale A d l offers ff a different diff learning l i experience. i

“As a parent, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Hugo is living his best life at Andale and he is encouraged to dream big about his future.

The staff would be delighted to share their wonderful school with you.

“He is developing friendships that will last a lifetime, and curiosity and a desire to explore the world as an adult.

Contact the school on 9853 3911 to learn more or to arrange a tour with Principal Justin Walsh.

At Andale School, we provide a positive learning environment for children who experience language and learning challenges, within a welcoming community that recognises and celebrates their learning achievements.

“If a child is spending more time in light physical activity - doing chores, playing computer, or just pottering around - then they have less time for sleep, study and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, all of which are good for academic achievement.”

SMART READER ENGLISH • MANDARIN • MATHEMATICS

andaleschool@andale.vic.edu.au 84 Charles Street, Kew, 3101 | +61 3 9853 3911

22 SUMMER 2020/2021

Education Empowered andale.vic.edu.au

Smart Reader International Facebook page or email srkyarra@sraus.com to learn more about our English, Mandarin, Mathematics as well as Art and Craft program.

99 Whitehorse Road, Deepdene, 3103, Victoria

12471252-JW51-20

Contact us for more information

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Contact us now on (03) 8589 5479,

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Education

Finding a way to teach kids about anxiety Kids can be scared and brave at the same time.

By Danielle Galvin PSYCHOLOGIST Karen Young’s latest book, But We’re Not Lions, aims to teach children about anxiety, being resilient, and courageous in the face of peer pressure.

Dr Young, a well-known public speaker and author, hopes it gives children some helpful strategies to stay true to themselves, even in difficult times, and recognise the emotions and the physical manifestations of anxiety. “It’s a book about social resilience - so it’s basically about bullying without using the word bullying,� she explained. “With But We’re Not Lions what I wanted to do was to find a way to help kids feel powerful, even when someone is trying to take away from that courage and keep doing what they think is right.�

But We’re Not Lions is a beautifully illustrated book which takes readers on a journey with a group of animals, being forced to do something that doesn’t feel right.

Dr Young explains that she isn’t fond of the term ‘bully’ because in her view, it builds a relationship too much. “It lessons our power - you’re doing something and it does hurt me but it doesn’t change me, I am still strong and powerful,� she said. “I feel like the word bully puts other people in a position of power that they don’t deserve.�

Dr Young has also penned Hey Warrior and Hey Awesome, which also deal with the symptoms of anxiety and finding your strengths.

She believes it’s important for children to recognise anxiety.

Karen Young’s latest book.

“We need to normalise it, we need to take the pathology and shame of it away,� she said. “If we are anxious, we are still brave, it has nothing to do with your character or your courage.�

She says it’s imperative to teach children that although anxiety can get in the way of doing things, it’s not a

breakage or a deficiency to feel those feelings. “Whenever you’re anxious you’ve got just as much courage in you,� she said. “One of the things I say to kids is ‘what is the feeling you have before you do something brave - you feel anxious, you feel scared, so they happen together all the time’. “Sometimes anxiety feels so big it’s hard to believe there’s courage there. “If we can get kids understanding this from a young age then we are giving them something valuable. “We don’t get rid of feelings by pretending they don’t exist.�

But We’re Not Lions can be purchased through www.booktopia.com.au For more information on Karen Young, her books and blogs, visit https://www.heysigmund.com

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SUMMER 2020/2021 23

Education

Is your child ‘school ready’?

Experts talk about school readiness, but what does it mean?

By Danielle Galvin

“I used to say to parents, think about the school yard.

AS the end of 2020 nears, many Victorian parents will be readying their child to begin their primary school journey next year.

“You’ve got to feel pretty confident they can fend for themselves there.”

Likewise, she uses the analogy that some babies walk at 10 months, others at 18 months.

Early education experts have long discussed a child’s ‘school readiness’ as their ability to transition into a more formal schooling environment.

“It means their own biological clock kicks in at different times, it’s the same with emotional and social maturity,” she said.

It’s a change from the unstructured play and familiarity of kindergarten or childcare. But it’s not just about whether they can recite their ABCs, easily write their name or rattle off their numbers.

So what does an emotionally immature child look like in a classroom setting?

“A prep teacher would say they often look really young, they still have that baby face,” Ms Walker said.

It’s so much more than just surviving in the classroom.

Your child could be ready academically, but are they ready emotionally?

Do they have the maturity to speak up in class - to ask their teacher a question if they’re lost?

And when there’s limited adult supervision around, can they cope in the playground with new friends and an entirely new dynamic?

Renowned education consultant and expert in the field, Kathy Walker OAM, has authored numerous books on the issue in her long career in early education.

“Essentially, it’s having that developmental maturity particularly in the area of social and emotional,” Ms Walker explained.

“It’s not really about writing and the

24 SUMMER 2020/2021

For some children, another year can be hugely beneficial.

reading, they get that at school.

“Most principals and prep teachers will tell you - it doesn’t matter how smart a child is - you can pick those emotionally immature ones out immediately.

“It’s not that there’s anything wrong with them - they just need another year for their emotional maturity.”

There are a few things that are beneficial for your child to be able to do before they start school, Ms Walker explains.

There should be minimal separation anxiety when you leave them at kinder, they should be able to choose their own

activities without too much guidance from the teacher, they should be able to approach little groups and insert themselves into the play, and more practical things like remembering their kinder bag.

For some parents, it can be confronting when told your child may not be school ready, even if their age permits them start prep the following year.

“And they often appear vague, they can’t follow two or three directions at once, because they are so not coping they are not able to listen and relax.

“They are generally followers rather than leaders.

“You don’t want to send your child off for the next 13 years of schooling hoping that they will just cope.

“You want them to feel really confident and to have as much going for them as possible.”

But it’s important for parents to know that while ‘holding them back’ or ‘repeating’ 4-year-old kinder has negative connotations, it shouldn’t.

Kathy Walker’s books include Ready Set Go - School Readiness and Preparation, Parenting, What’s the Hurry, Play Matters and Engagement Matters.

“I’ve always described it a bonus year,” Ms Walker said.

More info: https://www.penguin. com.au/authors/kathy-walker

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Why it’s time to be a selfish mum

By Melissa Meehan Melissa encourages other mums to build acts of self-care into their routines.

SOMETIMES mums need to be selfish.

They need to go to the toilet by themselves, drink a warm cup of coffee before it goes cold, watch anything other than Bluey or even spend a few minutes alone checking Instagram when they are supposed to be showering.

These things aren’t really selfish - but sometimes mum guilt gets in the way and caring about number one is often forgotten.

That’s why Melissa D’Arcy set up an online support group so that mums from around Victoria, Australia and the world can support each other.

The online group, found on Facebook and Instagram, allows its members to celebrate the wins and share tips and tricks to be #selfishmums.

It all started when Ms D’Arcy went to see the maternal child health nurse for her son’s one-year-old appointment.

“After only a few minutes of chatting, she said to me ‘you’re running on empty, aren’t you?’,” Ms D’Arcy said.

“She was right, I was exhausted and hadn’t been taking any time to look after myself. I thought there must be other mums who are feeling the same way and it would be great to connect.”

And that’s where The Selfish Mums all started.

“The name of the group is meant to be a bit playful because selfish is the last thing most mums are - I’d say most mothers are selfless,” she said.

“More often than not, we put others’ needs above our own and if we never make any time for ourselves that’s when exhaustion and burn out can become an issue.”

The group quickly gained momentum and now boasts more than 300 members.

Ms D’Arcy says it seems that despite the fact it is 2020, there is still a traditional view floating around that motherhood must equate to sacrificing your own identity.

She says it’s time for mums to be more selfish.

“I’d encourage mums to build in small acts of self-care into their daily and weekly routines,” she said.

“I’m not talking about grand activities once in a while but small things done consistently like reading, a hobby, walks or catching up with friends - things that will help you recharge your batteries.

“Self-care isn’t selfish - it’s an act of self-respect.”

Melissa says it’s important to drink your cup of coffee before it goes cold.

“There isn’t as much pressure on men to ‘do it all’ as there is on women,” she said.

“This is evident if you look at the recent situation where we have all been spending most of our time at home due to COVID-19. Women, generally speaking, have picked up more housework and managed the bulk of their children’s home schooling compared with their male counterparts.”

She admits everyone’s situation is different, but for many traditional expectations have continued throughout generations.

And for some, society allows (or expects) men to be more “selfish” than their female partners.

“I’d imagine many dads would love to use parental leave and flexible working arrangements available to them but feel pressure they will be judged as not taking their jobs as seriously if they actually use these entitlements,” she said.

“Both mums and dads need time out for themselves and it’s important to communicate that within your family.

Spending time together as a couple is vital too, although that can be tricky if you have very young children.

“The key is to be flexible - you might not be able to go out for an entire day but even an hour together so you can talk in peace is helpful.”

Balance, she says, is the key.

As well as having confidence in knowing that being “selfish” is OK. And she must be onto something.

It’s also important for mums to have their own goals and dreams, according to Ms D’Arcy, not necessarily connected to their families - learning a language, running your own business, mastering a sport are just some examples.

What started as a group in Geelong, now has members spanning across the globe, with some members in the UK, New Zealand, Canada and the Philippines.

“Mums shouldn’t feel guilty for nurturing their identities outside of motherhood,” she said.

And there are big plans ahead for The Selfish Mums - Ms D’Arcy is already working on a refreshed content plan for the group.

Often when we talk about mums and parenting, dads say they get the raw end of the deal - that the so-called bad dads make the good ones look bad.

But The Selfish Mums isn’t about shaming dads - or telling them to be less selfish, Ms D’Arcy says, it’s allowing mums to step back and see that it is possible. www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Self care isn’t selfish - it’s an act of self respect” - Melissa D’Arcy

And in the near future she’d like to explore supporting other mums on a one-to-one basis.

“I’ve created a free self care step-bystep guide for mums, which will be available on The Selfish Mum blog, launching in June (www. theselfishmum.com.au).”

Melissa D’Arcy says it’s time for mums to be selfish.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

SUMMER 2020/2021 25

Reality Bites

Top tips for toilet training success

By Melissa Grant TOILET training is one of the hardest and messiest - tasks you will go through as a parent.

And many of us are leaving it too late, according to a toilet training expert.

Parents commonly wait until their child is well into their second year of life - or even their third - before they start the process.

However, Tracy Fulwood, the founder of PottyTraining.com.au, says it’s much easier to start toilet training your child before their second birthday.

“If you don’t wait until the terrible twos to start, when they are ready to assert their authority, then they are developing good habits before then,” she explained.

“Parents do need to choose when it’s right for them, but the earlier we can break the bad habit (of wearing nappies) the better.”

Tracy’s own toilet battles with her first child led her to developing her toilet training business.

Her two-and-a-half-year-old would scream that she didn’t want to go to the toilet.

Tracy concedes that initially she did “all the wrong things”.

But when she sat down and devised a toilet system training system, her daughter was toilet trained in three days.

26 SUMMER 2020/2021

Tracy began toilet training her second child at four months of age, by putting him on the potty when it was obvious he needed to do number twos.

She started the process with her third child at two months.

They both were using the toilet independently by 19 months of age.

As Tracy researched toilet training, a theme began to emerge - it’s easier to do it earlier.

“A research project actually showed there was a window of opportunity. It found parents who started at 18 months to 24 months had less problems,” she said.

So why are parents leaving it so long to start?

Tracy says parents are often told to wait for signs of “readiness”, which may never come.

She also says the multi-billion nappy industry has a lot to do with it.

“You speak to many grandparents and they don’t understand why we are having problems. But they started earlier because they didn’t have the convenience of disposable nappies.”

Tracy developed the Know Your Child system to help parents toilet train their children.

Her system has two components - a know your child training module and a toilet game, offering a tailored approach so you can best engage your child.

If you are reading this and think there’s no reason to delay toilet training any

longer, here are Tracy’s tips: KNOW YOUR CHILD’S PERSONALITY Before starting it pays to understand your child’s personality.

The Know Your Child toilet training system identifies four different types of personality - courageous lion, lovable lamb, wise old owl and cheeky monkey.

The courageous lion is the hardest to train, they tend to hold on because they don’t like to feel like they aren’t in control. The lovable lamb is also hard to train as they simply don’t care and are very stubborn. Then there’s the Wise Old Owl who doesn’t like change and will stick to what they know which is the nappy. The cheeky monkey can be inconsistent and the challenge is typically keeping them on the toilet long enough for them to go. Knowing your child’s personality helps you tailor your approach. If you have a strongwilled child you need to give them the feeling of control and ownership.

SIGNS OF READINESS There are definite signs of readiness such as your child telling you about poos, removing or tugging at their nappy, and taking an interest in you going to the toilet. If your child shows these signs of readiness get going.

However, some types of personalities won’t show those signs.

LOSE THE NAPPY You cannot toilet train with a nappy.

We feel wet, cause and effect. While the nappy is there it takes the sensation

away - you are actually making it harder for them to win. If you say ‘do you need to go?’ they don’t know. It’s like saying ‘here is a bike, ride!’ Pull-ups are a marketing tool.

TOILET OR POTTY? The decision to use a toilet or potty is based on age and personality. If you start a bit younger and your child is more petite then a potty is great. The challenge with the potty is that childcare centres don’t accept potties and there is a clean-out process. If your child is nearing two years then going to the toilet makes it easier when you go out. Also, if you have a child who doesn’t like change then transitioning from potty to toilet will be another battle.

HOW LONG TO TRAIN Often parents quit toilet training a day too early. It takes two to five days of concentrated effort versus a very painful effort long-term. So stay home for two to five days to focus on and create this new habit. Exactly how long it takes will depend on your child’s age and their personality.

NIGHT TRAINING Wait until you finish day training before you start night training. Night training is something you can’t do for your child.

There are uncontrollable factors such as heavy wetting, deep sleep and hereditary factors. The key is the bladder brain connection. Parents can make the mistake of waking up their child during the night.

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Reality Bites

Maddie Francis collects donations throughout the year to help families with children in NICU.

The mum bringing cheer to all

By Melissa Meehan

for families spending time in NICU over Christmas.

UNLESS you’ve had a child spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit, you’ll never know the loneliness and worry that comes with it.

“So the idea to start up NICU Cheer started in 2016, and we did our first delivery in 2017,” she said.

Maddie Francis knows that loneliness all too well.

Her son Ashton was born 10 weeks early in 2016.

And while she and husband Aaron were relieved their baby boy was being cared for, they felt very alone.

“It was really scary and we just didn’t get much support while we were in there,” Maddie said.

“We felt very alone, and I sort of wasn’t even made aware that there were Facebook groups and all sorts of things out there until long after we left the hospital.”

She said although family and friends were amazing - preparing meals, doing everything they could - it was so hard to describe the feeling of how traumatic it was to have a baby so early, so little and so sick.

“The first time I saw him was hours after he was born, and he had eight wires coming out of him, it’s a little like a NASA space mission,” she said.

“It was very overwhelming, and it’s so hard to understand unless you’ve had a similar experience.”

“I just thought I would put together a nice little hamper for the parent’s room or one for the staff room - but when I put the call out on Facebook, I got inundated with donations.

“I just really love humanity, sometimes.”

She started with hampers at Mercy Hospital for Women and then it just snowballed.

She now delivers numerous hampers to the NICU wards at the Mercy, Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital and Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s Hospital at Christmas time, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And while she’s yet to get official charity status, the long-term plan is to get deductible gift recipient status which would help more businesses get on board.

“I’m not stopping any time soon, I just love it and we get such beautiful feedback from families and I’ve actually become friends with some of the mothers who received our bags,” she said,

And it didn’t stop when they went home.

Ashton still has some health battles ahead of him and spends a lot of time in hospital.

“When the baby comes home, and you’re waiting for them to roll over or sit up or meet anything - the milestones are very different,” she said.

But Maddie says that’s what keeps the idea of how horrible spending time in hospital with a bay really is fresh in her mind.

So, in what can only be described as inspiring, faced with her son’s own ongoing health battles, Maddie started thinking about how horrible it would be

Ashton, who is now 4, was 10 weeks early, but was allowed to go home after six and a half weeks in NICU.

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Maddie Francis and her son Ashton.

Pictures: Gary Sissons

Within three days, she was used to all

Maddie Francis and her son Ashton.

I just really love humanity, sometimes.” the terminology and acronyms that comes with NICU babies.

“The staff are just amazing, I think nurses are wonderful, but NICU nurses are next level,” she said.

“We love them all.”

departments across two hospitals as we strive to get a diagnosis for his extreme fatigue, and check-ups on his laryngomalacia, subglottic stenosis, brain bleeds, innocent heart murmur and more.

Ashton is attending a specialist daycare where he’s thriving.

But he’s the happiest little boy and enjoys making his mum, dad and sister Lily laugh.

He still has ongoing hospital and specialist visits with multiple

For more about NICU Cheer or how to help go to www.nicucheer.com.au

SUMMER 2020/2021 27

Reality Bites

Recognising bullying and Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood’s approach It’s the perfect place to develop your child’s self-confidence.

BULLYING is described as a series of repeated intentionally cruel incidents, involving the same children, in the same bully and victim roles, according to experts.

Police in Belleville in Ontario Canada have an in-depth description on their website about what constitutes bullying.

“The bully may be bigger, tougher, physically stronger or be able to intimidate others or have the power to exclude others from their social group,” the website reads.

“The intention of bullying is to put the victim in distress in some way. Bullies seek power. “Bullying may not look

exactly the same everywhere, but it has the same devastating effect on everyone.”

teaches children how to defuse confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression.

That’s where Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood comes in, to teach children the skills to recognise, share and manage in the moment.

“We will teach your child to use verbal assertiveness to deter bullies and several non-violent self-defence techniques to stay safe if physically assaulted,” Robbie Singh, head instructor at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood, said.

Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with violent punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, but in the Gracie Bullyproof program, they take a different approach.

All the techniques are purely defensive and utilise no strikes.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu’s Bullyproof program

“Importantly, we don’t teach how to punch or kick, since this often does more harm than good.

“Instead, we use leverage-based control holds to neutralise threats without violence.

“Numerous school districts have embraced the defensive nature of the Gracie Bullyproof techniques as a reasonable, nonviolent response to bullying and some even host Gracie Bullyproof classes on campus!

“The bottom line is: we will prepare your child to defend themselves against bullies without turning them into one.”

If you’re interested in instilling your child with unshakable confidence while reinforcing positive values and good character, the Gracie Bullyproof program is for you.

Visit https://graciejiujitsuburwood. com.au/ for more information.

Time for a button battery audit PARENTS are being urged to conduct regular button battery audits of items in their homes.

talking books, musical cards, flashing novelty items, hearing aids and flameless candles.

It’s estimated 20 children each week present to emergency departments across Australia due to button battery related injuries - a horrifying statistic.

“If swallowed, a button battery can become stuck in a child’s throat where saliva immediately triggers an electrical current,” he said.

Tragically, two Australian children have died due to button battery related injuries; four-year-old Summer Steer in 2013 and 14-month-old Isabella Rees in 2015, who both ingested button batteries from unidentified sources.

“This causes a chemical reaction that can burn through the oesophagus in as little as two hours, causing severe life-threatening injuries and in some cases death.

Children who survive can be left with permanent injuries, face countless painful surgeries and a lengthy recovery process.

Jason Chambers, General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, emphasised the danger of the tiny buttons.

They can be found in many toys, remote controls, calculators, bathroom or kitchen scales, car keys, watches, 28 SUMMER 2020/2021

“With so many common products using button batteries, one of the major dangers is that a child can swallow a battery without anyone hearing, seeing or knowing.”

Isabella’s mum, Allison Rees, has established ‘Bella’s Footprints’, a foundation with the aim of raising awareness of the dangers posed by button batteries.

“Keep sharing your knowledge of

They are everywhere in various household items.

button battery dangers and tell as many people as you can, because the more awareness and the more education, the more lives we can save,” she said.

“It’s too late for Bella, but it’s not too late for everyone else. It is our hope that no other family ever has to endure the pain and suffering of losing a precious child in such a horrific way.” www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Books

Inspiring the hero in all of us

By Danielle Galvin

message, anyone can save the day.

REUBEN Cullen certainly goes against the grain when it comes to children’s authors.

It also talks about the values Reuben was seeking in his own life: to be ambitious, healthy, reliable, selfless, caring, honest, confident, determined and happy.

He’s probably an unlikely character to write for young children, being a tradie and openly talking about his former battles with addiction, but that’s part of the magic of his story, and his new book, A Hero Born.

It’s a self-published book he wrote to help him believe in himself again.

“One day I just had an idea of writing a story, and being your own hero.

“And I thought it was best targeted to kids given that they are really into superheroes.

“Being your own hero is probably pretty important and it was what I was struggling with at the time, a bit of self-belief.”

The book follows the story of a caped hero and an everyday hero, with the

His book is a message of self-love and awareness, simply, he wants children to be their own heroes.

“I have had some people say to me (after writing A Hero Born) you have always had a way with words.

“I didn’t really use poetry as a way to express myself until my early 20s and probably my mid-teens, more so when I had my battles with drug addiction I used it as a way to express myself.”

Coming up with the story came naturally to him, once he’d established the message and the characters.

The book is also dedicated to Kasey, the daughter of a woman he was in a long-term relationship with.

It’s a deeply personal book, in that sense.

Street artist Michael Glenda, a father of three, illustrated the book.

“The message is that definitely no one is too old to know they can be their own hero.

“I wrote it with the intentions of wanting to believe in myself and like myself again.

“Kasey was a big reason I wanted to write the book.

“I wanted to one day have something to show her and hopefully read to her. I just hope kids can learn to be the best person for themselves from reading the book - if I can just help one child not go through what I did then I’ll be happy.”

And while the book is suited for children of any age, he said the message starts to ring true between that 4-9 age bracket.

“When I’m writing, I’m not afraid to express myself and say how I am feeling.

“Giving people the power to be self-aware is good, to learn to know yourself is really important I believe.”

A Hero Born is Reuben’s first children’s book.

There’s a mirror in the book at the end, with a powerful thought to end on.

“I remember (Kasey) used to love looking at herself in the mirror.

“It’s got a mirror on the last page, so the last page reads ‘when I look in the mirror what I want to see the best version of myself, so my hero is really me’.”

To find out more and order the book, visit https://reubencullenkids.com/

Children’s books...

My Dad’s A Tradie Missy and Beefy Illustrated by Ogilvie The perfect book for a child with a father who is a tradie!

It follows the adventures of Australian bull terrier Missy and her little brother Beefy, an Australian bulldog. Their dad is a tradie. It’s also Beefy’s dream to be a tradie.

The pair visit worksites with their dad. Beefy is constantly asking ‘Are you a tradie like my dad?’

They meet all sorts of tradies including a tiler, electrician, foreman, plumber and painter.

While Missy is pretty well behaved on worksites, Beefy tends to find himself in trouble!

The characters are based on two real life dogs who live north of Sydney. A fun read for young kids.

New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99

Have You Seen A Tree for Me?

Powman: Find The Courage Within

Sarah Eccleston,

Dave Pow Tabain and Nadia Worland, illustrated by Shane Ogilvie

Illustrated by Jenni Goodman A beautiful children’s book that highlights the modern dangers koalas are facing in the wild.

It’s a timely title given Australia’s koala population has drastically declined following the devastating 2019/20 bushfire season.

Author Sarah Eccleston has been a koala specialist at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast for nearly 22 years.

The book is inspired by her special bond with a three-yearold koala named Enzo, who resides at the sanctuary.

A great way for kids to learn about the dangers koalas face in the wild, from loss of habitat to domestic animals.

New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Motivational speaker Dave Pow Tabain has teamed up with special needs consultant Nadia Worland for this empowering children’s book.

The book helps equip young children to cope with their anxiety. It also encourages them not to be fearful of seeing a school counsellor.

A young boy suffering anxiety around an upcoming maths test in the central character in this inspiring read.

With the counsellor’s help, the boy comes up with the perfect POW plan to control his anxiety and ace his maths test.

The book also features a helpful list of tips for kids to deal with anxiety.

New Holland Publishers, RRP $14.99

We Are All Kind P Crumble and Jonathon Bentley A follow up to the bestselling children’s book We Are All Equal, this cute title explores the many simple ways we can show kindness.

The text is beautiful. One passage reads: “We are all kind. You walk lonely miles.

Life is much better when somebody smiles.”

The text is accompanied by illustrations by award-winning illustrator Jonathan Bentley.

This beautiful book teaches children the importance of being kind to others. It shows how they can offer a hand, make amends, solve a problem, heal hurt, love and share a laugh.

A lovely read for children aged 4+.

Scholastic Australia, RRP $19.99

The Bad Guys Episode 12: The One?!

Aaron Blabey The Bad Guys are back for another enthralling instalment.

For those unfamiliar, The Bad Guys are a crew of animals who sound, look and smell like bad guys but are on a mission to do good.

The book is in a format similar to a comic book, with black and white illustrations and fun text.

In Episode 12, something is up with Snake. He has terrifying powers and evil allies.

Meanwhile, Agent Fox has suddenly become very mysterious.

A great read for children aged 7+ transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

A movie-adaption of the series is due for release in 2021.

Scholastic Australia, RRP $15.99

SUMMER 2020/2021 29

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60 Schoolhouse Rd, Woori Yallock 3139

Essendon 307 Buckley St Aberfeldie VIC 3040

12473816-CG51-20

We have U Pick Fruit ALL Year

12473797-SG51-20

www.raynersorchard.com.au

0400 468 673

12473814-JW51-20

in Melbourne 14 December-23 January nida.edu.au/summer

12473806-CG51-20

NIDA OPEN SHORT COURSES FOR ALL AGES

Friday, 26 March Monday, 26 April Monday, 24 May Friday, 11 June Monday, 9 August Friday, 10 September Monday, 18 October

info@theartfactory.com.au www.theartfactory.com.au

201811124811-DJ48-18

12473759-SG51-20

A place where learning is always an adventure!

591-593 Whitehorse Rd Mont Albert, 3127

30 SUMMER 2020/2021

12473743-SG51-20

(03) 98304336 www.windmill.net.au

Limited places for 2021. Enrol today!

Niño ELA Malvern East Niño ELA Elsternwick 11-15 Chadstone Road 31 Nepean Hwy 9086 4800 9132 5045

ninoela.com.au

0427 220 328 12472037-DL51-20

12473755-NG51-20

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on this Summer

Join in online for a beautiful evening of carols, celebrations, and fireworks.

Visit carolsnorthbalwyn.org.au for details.

13 DECEMBER

your own home or gather with friends and family at one of our outdoor screening locations. If restrictions allow this concert will be streamed on a big screen in Prahran Square and Central Park.

7:30pm-9pm

Make sure you are hungry as there will be at least eight varieties of fruit to try on every tour at Rayner’s Orchard, where you’ll be guided through the orchard with lots of fruit and interesting and entertaining facts along the way.

Book your U-Pick tractor tour Online at www.raynersorchard.com.au or call 59647654 Open 7 days 9am-4pm.

Closed Christmas Day. Rayner’s Orchard is located at 60 Schoolhouse Road Woori Yallock

This Christmas, shop lovingly handmade art and design across two iconic Melbourne locations.

The stately gardens at Como House on Sunday 13 December and the sprawling lawns at Rippon Lea Estate on Sunday 20 December will be a sea of marquees hosting over 100 local makers, crafters and growers showcasing goods for you to treasure.

Bring the family and enjoy a unique market atmosphere.

Entry to the market is a gold coin donation.

10.30am-3.30pm

Running until mid-2021 DAILY

Pick up the Gruffalo Trail 2 throughout all 14 acres of Rippon Lea Estate.

Daily 10am-4pm, Rippon Lea Estate More information: https://www. ripponleaestate.com.au/event/gruffalotrail-rippon-lea/

12 DECEMBER CAROLS IN THE CLOUD A very special online only broadcast event, hosted by the North Balwyn Interchurch Council. www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au

CHRISTMAS IN CAMBERWELL Wave to Santa and share your Christmas wishes as he spins around Camberwell Junction in a Harley Davison sidecar while roving street performers spread Christmas cheer.

For more information visit Camberwell Shopping.

Journey through the winding paths and gardens into a deep dark wood, and spot your favourite characters using the new augmented reality app.

The new interactive trail is included with entry, along with all the photo opportunities you can snag.

19 DECEMBER

Look at the store windows to play Where’s Rudolf? for a chance to win $500 Camberwell gift card.

THE GRUFFALO TRAIL 2

Camberwell Junction, 11am-2pm

UNTIL 22 DECEMBER 13 DECEMBER STONNINGTON CAROLS Streaming the Christmas spirit right to your home.

Hosted by the one and only Rhonda Burchmore and featuring Bonnie Anderson, Alinta Chidzey, Zahra Newaman and big band jazz ensemble The Jack Earle Big Band. This event will have you swinging and singing along with Christmas classics.

Enjoy the concert from the comfort of

UNTIL 25 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS PROJECTIONS Princes Bridge, St Kilda Rd

CHRISTMAS MAKERS’ MARKET AT COMO HOUSE DAILY U-PICK TRACTOR FRUIT TASTING ADVENTURE

Watch it here https://www. artscentremelbourne.com.au/ community/content-hub/together-withyou/videos/a-simple-space

A SIMPLE SPACE (ONLINE VIDEO) Seven acrobats push their physical limits without reserve.

Recommended for all ages, presented

by Arts Centre Melbourne and Gravity & Other Myths.

Stunning and joyous for kids and adults alike, A Simple Space is stripped back circus at its very best.

A Simple Space delights audiences with non-stop feats of exhilarating acrobatic ability. Feel the heat, hear every breath, and be immersed in every moment.

Melbourne’s famous Christmas projections return. Stroll Swanston Street to see animations at State Library Victoria and gorgeous static displays light up Melbourne Town Hall and Princes Bridge. The projections at State Library Victoria feature a thank you tribute to some of Melbourne’s COVID-19 heroes. It will have you feeling all the emotions. Visit all three sites for the ultimate Melbourne Christmas experience.

Projections run every night 9pm to 11pm.

CHRISTMAS SQUARE, FED SQUARE The hub of the Christmas Festival, Christmas Square is a lush wonderland of festive cheer. See the 16m giant Christmas tree, Santa’s Workshop and enough sparkling lights to compete with the stars themselves.

It’s Melbourne’s official Christmas destination, open until Christmas Day.

RUNNING UNTIL 21 JANUARY IMAGINARIA, THE DISTRICT DOCKLANDS Located in the heart of Melbourne, Imaginaria is a new form of immersive play.

An hour long walk-through experience where imagination and technology collide to create a visually stunning audiovisual play experience from the future.

Visit imaginarianow.com

SUMMER 2020/2021 31

in Melbourne 14 December–23 January

nida.edu.au/summer 12470024-SG51-20

32 SUMMER 2020/2021

www.stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au