Stonnington Boroondara Kids Spring 2021

SPRING 2021

Great prizes in our

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY Saving Hawthorn’s

ROCKET PARK The influence of

BIRTH ORDER www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 1

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About Us

It’s our third birthday!

HI everyone!

Welcome to the spring edition of Stonnington Boroondara Kids Today.

We are super excited about this edition because it’s our third birthday! To celebrate this big milestone we’re giving away a heap of cool prizes including an afternoon tea with Wedgewood at The Langham, a construction toy set from Windmill, a Ninja Parc birthday party for 10 kids, Steve Biddulph books and vouchers from Dymocks Camberwell.

Check out the full list of prizes on page 7 We’re also pumped about this issue because there is so much great reading including advice from parenting experts, inspiring stories about families and stories on local organisations doing great things.

There’s a nice feature on Girl Guides

Kew, a group that’s been part of the community for 90 years! We also caught up with the Boroondara Family Network (BFN), a free community service that helps mothers who may be isolated from traditional support, caring for multiples, or struggling with postnatal depression or other stresses.

Another major part of the community is Hawthorn’s ‘Rocket’ playground, which is here to stay after residents got fired up about plans to remove the local landmark. You can read about the playground’s future on page 5.

In this edition, you’ll also find a few familiar faces. We caught up with health expert Sam Wood as well as motherhood bloggers Olivia White (House of White) and Anna Du Rieu (The Not So Perfect Mum).

How many children do you have? Do you have two kids who are so different you sometimes wonder how it is possible that they share the same gene pool?

The reason for these stark differences is birth order, according to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose. Check out the full story about how birth order can affect one’s personality and disposition on page 4.

We hope you enjoy your special birthday edition. From our dedicated team, a big thanks to all our valued readers and the businesses who have supported us over the last three years.

Take care,

Rocket to remain a landmark PAGE 5 Steve Biddulph on teaching inner-peace PAGE 6 Pandemic having a huge impact on youth

Photography Rob Carew

When nothing is everything

Steps to good communication

PAGE 14

PAGE 28

Lockdown silver lining for precinct

Unlocking literacy at Andale school

PAGE 14

PAGE 28

Helping kids reconnect after Covid-19

Bush school at Preshil

PAGE 15

PAGE 29

Invest in play

PARTY TIME

PAGE 16 More women giving birth later in life

Explaining the pandemic to kids

ACTIVITIES

PAGE 7

PAGE 17

BUGS Gymnastics

All the way from Italy with love

Get creative at NIDA in spring

PAGE 31

PAGE 8

PAGE 17

How to detect hearing loss in children

Freedom in planning with kids

RECIPES

PAGE 8

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PAGE 9 Helping mums across the state PAGE 10 New characters join children’s book series PAGE 10 Service helps new parents PAGE 11 Mates make fun educational videos for kids PAGE 11 Deciphering a child’s dreams PAGE 12 Welcome to Dymocks Camberwell PAGE 12 Kiids in the dark on social media PAGE 13 Windmill toys continue to serve the community PAGE 13

SPRING 2021

Kids in the Kitchen PAGE 32

HEALTH Tips for parenting when sick

Great prizes in our

REALITY BITES

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

Inside Olivia’s House of White

PAGE 20

Saving Hawthorn’s

PAGE 33

ROCKET PARK

Researchers probe genetic link to SIDS Goodbye is the hardest word

PAGE 20

The influence of

BIRTH ORDER

PAGE 34

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 1

Young kids at risk eating nuts Bringing Frankie to life

PAGE 21 Benefits of orthodontics during adolescence PAGE 21

Cover Austin, Harley and Mikayla at Outer Circle Linear Park, Deepdene.

Picture: Rob Carew

PAGE 35 Beloved pooch is top dog at kindergarten PAGE 35

EDUCATION

The not so perfect mum

The ins and outs of childcare

PAGE 36

PAGE 22

BOOKS

Building resilience in young children PAGE 22

A wild way to read PAGE 37

Giving children the best start PAGE 23

Children’s books PAGE 37

Journey of discovery PAGE 25

KIDS CALENDAR

Preparing your child for prep

What’s on this spring

PAGE 27

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stonningtonboroondarakids.com.au www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au w ww www ww w w..St Sto St on onn nn nniing in ngtto ng ton on o nB Bor Bo orro o oo oon ondar on da da arra aKi aK K Kiids dss..com co c om o m.au ..a au au

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.

PAGE 31

Guiding girls for 90 years

Advice on teens, tattoos and piercings

Advertising Clare Vane-Tempest clare.vane-tempest@starnewsgroup. com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Advertising Manager Mandy Clark

Funtastic party food

PAGE 16

PAGE 9

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

Phone: 5945 0666

PAGE 6

Family dinner time with Sam Wood

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

melissa.grant@starnewsgroup.com.au

Why birth order matters PAGE 4

Stonnington Boroondara Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Editorial Melissa Grant

CONTENTS IT’S YOUR LIFE

TODAY

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instagram.com/stonningtonboroondarakids SPRING SP SSPR PR P RIN IING NG N G2 20 2021 02 21 1 3

It’s Your Life

Why birth order matters

By Melissa Grant

just two children.

PARENTS often struggle to work out why their children are completely different.

Grose said the Prince Harry Effect is stronger when both children are the same gender.

He described Harry and older brother William as the ‘poster kids’ for the first-born and later-born positions.

They may have one child who is outgoing and playful, and another who is uptight and anxious. This is despite the children belonging to the same gene pool and being raised in the same environment.

The reason for these stark differences is birth order, according to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose.

He believes that in this era of small, planned families that birth order is more relevant than ever.

To better understand the power of birth order, Grose has written a timely update to his bestselling book titled Why First-borns Rule the World and Laterborns Want to Change it.

The size of families has changed since the original book was published in 2003.

Twenty years ago, the mean number of children in a family was three. That number is now two.

“Nothing has changed about birth order but the context has changed,” Grose explained.

“Around 60 per cent of families with kids under 15 are two kid families.”

The biggest impact of shrinking families has been the disappearance of the middle child. Traditionally there have been three birth order positions.

When Grose wrote the first edition the second child was often the middle child, but now they are often the youngest.

“There’s a fair bit of cynicism.

However, my point is that birth order is not just a neat set of numbers, it’s more a pattern,” Grose told Kids Today.

“Once you start to understand the rules, it starts to make sense in a family.

4 SPRING 2021

“William is your typical first-born.

First-borns are the family conservatives... they are the rule makers and the rule followers.

Prince William is your typical first-born, according to birth order expert Michael Grose.

Prince Harry is a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of just two children.

I like to call it a family constellation.

studies on birth order on a range of families, and each member’s likely personality and disposition.

“It’s often something parents don’t take enough notice of.

“It explains why kids often fight, why they compete and why two children with the same parents, same gene pool, two years apart - why they can be chalk and cheese.

“It’s about finding their niche.”

First-borns tend to be goal-setters, high achievers, perfectionists, responsible, rule keepers, determined, conscientious and detail people.

Second and middle children tend to be flexible, diplomatic, peacemakers, free spirits, generous, open-minded, sociable and competitive.

Youngest children are often risk takers, persistent, outgoing, charmers, ideas people, creative and challengers of authority.

There are variables that can impact birth order position within a family, including age gaps between children, genders and cultural expectations.

In some families, children may ‘leapfrog’ an older sibling to climb up the birth order chain.

In his book, Grose analyses the latest

The updated edition features new information including the demise of the middle child, the Prince Harry effect and the problem with first-borns.

THE DEMISE OF THE MIDDLE CHILD With most families consisting of two children, the amount of middle children has declined.

This has impacted the birth order positions.

Traditionally there have been three birth order positions - the first-born, middle child and youngest child. The second-born child was often the middle child.

However, now the second-born child is often the youngest.

Grose writes that later-borns have a tendency to borrow personality traits from the second, middle and youngest positions.

THE PRINCE HARRY EFFECT Prince Harry is a prime example of a modern birth order position. He’s a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of

“Then you have the second one. The second kids will be what the first one isn’t. You can’t have two responsible kids in the family, you can’t have two academic stars.”

He adds that younger kids don’t follow the rules in the family.

“Harry has broken all the rules, gotten married outside the typical family sphere,” he said.

THE PROBLEM WITH FIRST BORNS Every family, regardless of size, has a first-born.

So given that family sizes are shrinking, there are many more first-borns than middle and youngest children.

Grose said this has implications.

For example, there are more perfectionist kids in classrooms than ever before. There are also more anxious children as first-borns live with greater anxiety-inducing parental pressure and have a propensity for perfectionism.

There are also more only children who, Grose says, tend to have first-born characteristics that are exaggerated because they’ve never been ‘dethroned’ by a younger sibling.

Why First-borns Rule the World and Later-borns Want to Change It, Michael Grose, Penguin Life, RRP $34.99

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Hawthorn’s ‘Rocket’ playground located at Central Gardens.

Rocket to remain a landmark

By Melissa Meehan HAWTHORN’S ‘Rocket’ playground is here to stay after residents got fired up about plans to remove the local landmark.

The rocket ship piece of the playground, located at the Central Gardens, will be saved and the play area will be redeveloped for another generation of children to enjoy.

Boroondara Council initially found the playground rocket to be unsafe and made plans to remove it.

But the community made clear their desire to retain the 1960s rocket.

A heritage study also found the rocket is of local heritage, being the last of its kind operating as playground equipment in Victoria.

The rocket will be removed temporarily while works are conducted on the rocket ship to ensure it meets safety regulations.

Those works will include installation of new concrete footings, replacement of all rubber surfacing, adding a new side ladder for better access, increasing standing space, modifying the gaps between some of the metal bars and increasing internal circular openings between each platform.

These works will minimise the risk of injury or fall, prevent limb entrapments and improve access to children. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Modifications will not impact the well-known attributes of the rocket, or its local heritage value.

The new playground design, which is available for the community to view, centres around the rocket and utilises the theme of space exploration to create a playful narrative.

A petition to save the rocket park, on change.org, received more than 11,000 signatures.

“Council was delighted with the feedback received from the Boroondara community and beyond, feedback which influenced not only the retention and upgrading of the rocket, but a whole new playground design, now based on a lunar theme,” Glenferrie Ward Councillor Wes Gault said.

“While many councils in Victoria have destroyed these rockets or removed them from playgrounds, the City of Boroondara has found a way to keep its rocket for many generations of children to enjoy. The new play area to be provided will improve access for children and carers from many abilities.

“We believe we need to provide more exercise and play options in our open spaces for everybody to enjoy.

“Like many that have come before, I am looking forward to seeing more generations of children make memories to last a lifetime in this fun and exciting new playground.”

The rocket ship piece of the playground, located at the Central Gardens, will be saved.

Pictures: Rob Carew SPRING 2021 5

It’s Your Life

Teaching inner-peace comes naturally THERE is a wild creature in you that knows how to parent, writes STEVE BIDDULPH A MUM is sitting, holding her baby. She is peaceful, and the baby is gazing up at her and making little noises of pleasure. Their eyes are gazing happily at each other.

Then the mum frowns. Instantly, the baby’s face crumples and they start to whimper.

If mum doesn’t smile again quickly it will turn into full on distressed crying.

This could be anywhere in the world, but it’s actually happening in a psychology laboratory and the baby has tiny wires attached to its head don’t worry, they are only sensors taped on, like one of those meditation apps.

But what the neuroscientists are noticing from behind their one-way mirrors will knock their socks off, and echo around the world of child development research.

What they could see on their computer screens was that the baby’s brain reacted to the mother’s change of expression in a less than a hundredth of a second. It’s as if the two human beings, parent and child, were really one creature, utterly attuned.

This is the way that we now understand how the brains of small children are shaped for good mental health - not that mum never frowns, but that by that loving interaction, children getting distressed by the natural events of life many times a day, and mum or dad being close at hand and soothing them. They learn that comfort is possible

and they can ‘down regulate’ their emotions by sharing them.

is what helps children grow their mental health.

Mum is cool with it! It’s also been discovered in the adult world too that post traumatic stress after terrible events is much worse if there is nobody nearby who is caring and understanding. Being able to cry, shudder and shake, and tell our story until our brain knows it is just a story now, something that happened, in the past and not still hanging around. It was terrible, but it is over.

So we have to learn that skill and the way to do it is surprising. We have to tune in to our own body first, before we can tune in to our child. It’s as if we have a wild creature, a panther, a brown bear (or in my case probably a twitchy nervous hamster) down inside our body. If we tune into the sensations down in our body, especially the middle of our torso, literally our gut feelings, we will instantly know if we are calm or in turmoil, and begin automatically to settle down. Then and only then, can we really be with our child fully. Let me just say that again - to be with our children, we first have to be with ourselves. It takes just a few seconds, a couple of breaths, a dropping of the shoulders, and perhaps some letting go

Babies and children do not care if they live in a mansion or a tin shed. But they are acutely aware of the emotions of the people around them.

And if those are seriously and long-term stressed, then it’s very hard for children to relax, learn and grow.

Mum or dad being absolutely present

of the headlong rush that our life so easily becomes. And a step into the quiet fountain of sweetness that is the ‘now’. That’s where your child is, waiting for you to show up!

Your mind settles, and then it can settle theirs. And this really matters.

Long after you are gone, when they are living their lives far in the future, they will think of you and smile. You taught them what peace feels like.

Steve Biddulph’s new book is Fully Human – a new way of using your mind, published by Pan Macmillan. www.stevebiddulph.com Steve Biddulph AM Author – 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys.

Complete Secrets of Happy Children, The New Manhood and Fully Human

Pandemic having huge impact on our youth YOUNG Australians have been more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than any other age group, early evidence suggests.

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found, that compared to older age groups, young people experienced higher rates of psychological distress, job loss, and educational disruption during the pandemic.

6 SPRING 2021

The report, Australia’s youth, brings together data about young people (aged 12–24) and their experiences of school and higher education, mental health and wellbeing, employment, living circumstances, and personal relationships.

“Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical period in a person’s life.

Young people often experience rapid

physical, social and emotional changes in a time where they are transitioning from dependence to independence,” institute spokesperson Sally Mills says.

“This is a time when young people are finishing school, pursuing further training and education, entering the workforce, moving out of the family home, and forming relationships.”

And while data suggests that some

outcomes for young people have returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, Ms Mills said this is not always the case.

“For example, in April 2021 the average level of psychological distress among young people was below what it was in April 2020, but still higher than in February 2017,” she said.

“Ongoing monitoring is needed to fully understand the longer term impact of the pandemic.” www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

WIN a Ninja Parc birthday party for 10 kids. Valued at $350 Our fully-organised birthday parties are bursting with action and fun.

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WIN an Iringo Motorcycle Construction set - by Windmill The Iringo Motorcycle is a fantastic construction set with 131 pieces that allow children to build a wide range of transforming models such as vehicles, animals and almost anything they can imagine. Valued at $$69.95 Iringo is made in Korea where it is very popular with children aged 4 to 9 years old.

There are 9 different shaped pieces that simply click together.

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WIN afternoon tea with WEDGEWOOD at The Langham The Langham and Wedgwood have collaborated to launch the bespoke version of the afternoon tradition – “The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood” in the Aria bar & Lounge.

Serving Wedgwood specialty teas in tailor-made “Langham Rose” Wedgwood tea ware with special menus created by the hotel's pastry chefs.

Check it out : langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/melbourne

WIN an Inchargebox to create healthy screen time limits New Girl Guide Claudia, 6, shows off the candle she lit after learning for the first time how to light a match by herself.

Guiding girls for 90 years

By Melissa Meehan

Your Daydreamy booxie includes: Seriously delicious handmade chocolate from Only Mine 150g freshly roasted single origin organic coffee beans 1x Calm and Stormy sparkling water can to keep you hydrated A book of your preferred genre One of our signature bookmarks A card with your personalised message

WIN a selection of 3 books from author Steve Biddulph AM Steve Biddulph AM is one of the world’s best known parent educators.

And they’ve done it from St Hilary’s Church in John Street, Kew for as long as anyone can remember.

A psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach.

His books, including The Secret of Happy Children, Raising Boys, The New Manhood and now 10 Things Girls Need Most are in four million homes.

The three prize books are Raising Boys, Raising Girls and Fully Human.

Kew Leader Lauren Wheatley said going to Guides, and taking her young daughter along, is the highlight of her week.

Check out Steve's books: stevebiddulph.com/Site_1/Home.html

WIN one of five $20 Gift Vouchers from Dymocks Camberwell

“It’s a really fun way to learn team work and leadership skills,” she said.

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

WIN a Daydreamy booxie valued at $85 delivered Australia wide

Contact us: 76 Highbury Road, Burwood. P: 03 9888 7095 W: bugsgymnastics.com

That’s 90 years of teaching girls teamwork, leadership and traditional life skills - while having lots of fun.

With the world the way it is now with

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BUGS Gymnastics has been providing recreational gymnastics classes to the local community for more than 30 years.

BUGS Gymnastics hosts a popular birthday party program throughout the year.

Birthday parties at BUGS Gymnastics are designed for children currently enrolled in primary school (aged 5-10 years) and do not require participants to have previous gymnastics experience.

It’s been part of the community for 90 years.

“Basically we’re trying to develop those skills for people to be good citizens and leaders in their community,” she said.

The winner can choose any colour 6USB box of their choice - RRP $199 Free Shipping Australia

WIN a one month kinder Gymnastics membership

Girl Guides Kew, in particular, is a local institution.

Lauren says the girls enjoy getting together, particularly with other kids they may not see at their own school – essentially widening their world.

Available with 6 or 12usb ports, perfect for smartphones, tablets, gaming remotes and more!

Delivered Australia wide. Check it out at booxies.com/products/daydreamy

LIVES may be getting busier and technology is creeping into our world more and more, but the Girl Guides have stood the test of time.

“Things that they may not learn in everyday life, like lighting a match, or working through an obstacle course.”

StĝŋĀƤńī Žǣ

inchargebox is the world’s first multi award winning lockable tech charging station here to help people create healthy screen time boundaries, deal with the tech clutter locking and storing it all in one convenient location.

A bushwalk the Girl Guides went on in Studley Park earlier this year, to see the flying foxes.

technology it’s great that Guides is still a part of that conversation.

“To be fair, we’re not as popular as we once were but I think it’s more to do with the sheer diversity of things that kids can do these days,” she said.

“At Guides they can be doing yoga class one week and putting up tents another. It’s the variety that makes us stand out and make us a bit different.”

The Dymocks Camberwell team is excited to be opening at a new location in the Camberwell shopping precinct.

You’ll find their new store at 208 - 210 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East (a few doors down from the iconic Rivoli Cinemas).

The Dymocks Camberwell family is thrilled to return to their home base, with a great new store location, offering the same service you love and know.

Phone: 03 9882 0032 Email: camberwell@dymocks.com.au

To )28)6 either scan the 56 '3() or visit WXSRRMRKXSRFSVSSRHEVEOMHW GSQ EY GSQTIXMXMSRW 'PMGO SR SYV VH &MVXLHE] WIGXMSR and select the competitions you would like to enter.

You must also like us on Facebook to WIN! www.facebook.com/StonningtonBoroondaraKids

SCAN the QR CODE

12509736-CG37-21

SPRING 2021 7

It’s Your Life

Adriana Saraga and Peter O’Brien with children Ava, 2, and Joey, 9 months.

Picture: Rob Carew

All the way from Italy with love

By Melissa Meehan

But after afte af ter a long lon lo ng chat cha hatt with her mum, Adriana knew it was meant to be.

see her family but keeps kee eeps in in touch to h regularly.

is nine-monthsAva and Joey, who is old, will learn to speak Italian too.

A SUMMER fling turned into life and babies on the other side of the globe for Adriana Saraga.

So she made the almost 15,000km journey knowing no one but Peter.

Adriana, who has recently been granted her permanent visa, says Australia is where she plans to raise the kids.

Adriana already speaks to Ava in Italian when they are alone, but in English when Peter is around because he doesn’t understand Italian.

“For us, we plan to stay here – there are more opportunities for the whole family here,” she said.

“There are a few words she can swap easily between Italian and English. She knows she needs to speak Italian when on phone with Nonna and when she talks to my brother,” she said.

Adriana from Andezeno in north west Italy, met her now partner Peter when he visited her small village to attend a friend’s wedding.

The groom was Adriana’s cousin.

She was one of few people who spoke English, albeit self-taught from watching Disney movies.

They fell in love, she moved to Australia and now the Melbourne couple have two young children together.

“It was supposed to be a summer adventure kind of thing,” she laughs.

“Before we knew we were in a little bit of trouble because we fell in love straight away.”

In the month before she left, she spent weeks on YouTube to try and learn more about Australia.

“It was scary at first, but it’s great,” she said.

“He’s an amazing person. It’s been really hard with Covid-19 not seeing my family and he’s been so understanding.”

Her mum was lucky enough to visit and offer support after the birth of their first child, Ava – who is now two.

“As much as I love my family and my country, this is the place for us.”

There are some very big and some other subtle differences about growing up in Italy compared to Australia.

But she couldn’t bear to be there for the actual birth.

For instance, Adriana grew up surrounded by a huge family by Australian standards.

“She thought she couldn’t handle seeing me in pain, but it was great to have her here,” Adriana said.

She was the eldest of more than 20 cousins, so had a lot of practice babysitting.

Sadly, due to Covid-19 and border restrictions Adriana hasn’t been able to

In her village, made up of only 2000 people, everyone knew each other.

“And the way she says words in Italian - there’s a little bit of an accent, which is the cutest thing.”

For now, while the borders are closed, she’ll have to rely on video calls and her small Australian village, made up of friends from her mother’s group, organised by her local council.

“They have been fantastic, we still catch up now and it’s been such a great support for me. Some really great girls and friendships.”

How to detect hearing loss in children

By Carole Levy

within the next two weeks to confirm results.

BACK in the day, mums and their newborns remained in hospital for at least a week but nowadays it’s more like two days and they’re sent home.

While lots of new mums are dying to take their bubs home, it can mean that the baby’s hearing screening doesn’t happen.

Experienced audiologist from Active Audiology, Marina Opacak, explains what parents should look for in detecting potential deafness in babies and children up to school age.

The neo-natal hearing screen is generally done in the first days, when electrodes are placed on the baby’s forehead, shoulders and neck and sounds are played through speakers.

The technique measures auditory nerve activity and is known as Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR).

If the baby ‘fails’ the AABR test, another screening will be carried out 8 SPRING 2021

“The main thing to notice in a baby up to six months old is that loud or unexpected noises don’t cause a startled response, or they may appear generally less alert,” Marina says.

“After six months, a baby with possible hearing issues won’t turn to a sound source. At 12 months, they won’t be saying “mumma” or “dadda” - a speech delay can be another sign in babies and toddlers.”

Most parents will be questioning their child’s hearing ability well before

the three-year-old mark. At this age, children can be examined via Play Audiometry at an audiology clinic.

Headphones will be placed on the child, with various noises played through the speakers that correspond to the game being played and elicit a response.”

Marina notes that hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent, can develop after an initial neo-natal screening.

“In children older than three, warning signs can include having iPad and TV volume too high, asking often for words to be repeated, and not responding to being called.

“By school age, it may be a teacher who first detects problems, with students unable to hear from the back of the

classroom, or certain behavioural issues arise or schoolwork is in decline.”

Temporary deafness can be caused by a build-up of wax in the ear or an infection, which can be attended to by a GP. Sometimes, grommets are recommended to drain fluid from the ears; this is a job for an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Babies and children with permanent deafness will be referred to Hearing Australia, with a hearing aid or other amplification system potentially fitted, and supports put in place.

Marina concludes with: “It’s important to diagnose hearing loss as early as possible since it can have a big impact on a child’s development, especially in the areas of language, communication and thinking.” www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Family dinner time with Sam Wood

Sam Wood loves whipping up nutritious family-friendly meals.

SAM WOOD is a dad and one of Australia’s top health and fitness experts. He’s founder of online training, nutrition and mindfulness platform 28 by Sam Wood and resides in Melbourne with his partner Snezana, whom he met on The Bachelor, and children Charlie, 2, Willow, 3 and Eve, 16. Here, Sam talks about the art of cooking nutritious dinners the whole family will enjoy.

The whole dinner routine can be a struggle in many households. In your household, who decides what’s for dinner and who cooks it?

Like in many households, the kids are asked first about what’s for dinner and parents second, but Snez and I will cook Mondays to Thursdays and usually treat the family to a takeaway on the Friday. We love cooking outdoors, so over the weekend we try to get the BBQ going or have little picnics in the garden.

With three children at different ages and taking into account your own meal

preferences, how do you decide what to cook for dinner?

We have a really good weekly dinner time routine down, which helps the kids know what to expect when it comes to dinner. Every single dinner will include protein, good fats and good carbs.

When the kids’ food is a bit too plain for our liking, we like to add different spices to mix the flavour up. For us, it’s all about eating real food, lots of vegetables and making sure it tastes great. We have lots of our favourite 28 meals on rotation.

What are your family’s favourite

weeknight dinners that are quick and nutritious?

Our favourite, fuss-free weeknight dinner has to be my Tofu or Chicken Satay Skewers, made with Mayver’s Peanut Butter (Sam is a Mayver’s ambassador). It’s delicious, nutritious and fun for the kids, to both cook and eat! Other crowd pleasers include my butter chicken from the 28 program, which is another big hit with the family.

at the supermarket and let them choose a new food, like fruit, vegetables and nuts, that they’ve never tried before. In the kitchen, let them take the reins on age-appropriate tasks such as cracking the eggs, stirring the ingredients or chopping the vegetables. Once you give them a sous chef title, they’re more likely to become invested in the process of cooking and so the colour, texture and taste of more nutritious foods becomes an easier sell.

What are your tips for getting your children to try new foods?

If your child is a fussy eater, get them involved in preparing their meals. Start

Sam often shares family-friendly recipe ideas on his Instagram account.

You can find him by searching Sam James Wood.

Advice for parents on teens, tattoos and piercings BEING a teenager is hard.

respect their opinion.

You’re not really a child, but you aren’t yet an adult.

But it’s also important to share your thoughts too, in a calm matter.

But you are trying to find your place in the world. Set yourself apart from others and make your mark.

The parenting website says, for example you could say, ‘I don’t like the idea of you getting a tattoo at 16 because you might decide you don’t like it in five years time. And then it’ll be difficult and cost you a lot of money to get rid of it’.

So what do you do when your teen wants piercings or a tattoo?

Raisingchildren.net.au suggests talking to your child first.

Find out the reasons why they want the piercing or tattoo. Do they want to make a fashion statement? Are they copying their friends?

Listen to their point of view, ask them why it’s important to them and try to www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Teenagers may want a tattoo to make a fashion statement.

But you can get a piercing under the age of 16 if you have permission from a parent or guardian.

And if all else fails – look for a compromise.

Youth Law Australia says you need to be 18 to get a tattoo or body mark in Victoria.

If your child wants a very visible or very large tattoo or body-piercing that you don’t want them to get, you might compromise on its size or location.

It’s against the law for someone to tattoo you or make a body mark on you even if you have your parent’s permission.

Another option might be delaying the tattoo or body-piercing until your child is older. For example, you might offer to pay for it for your child’s 18th

birthday, if they still want one.

Government website Youth Central states when you do finally turn 18 and can be legally tattooed it’s important to do the following: 1. Do your research 2. Don’t follow the trends 3. Consider the long-term 4. Find a reputable tattoo shop 5. Respect your tattoo artist 6. Take care of your new tattoo SPRING 2021 9

It’s Your Life

Workers at St Kilda Mums sort through donated items.

Rochelle Cannington with clothing and linen bundles.

Rochelle Cannington with clothing and linen bundles.

Helping mums across the state

By Melissa Meehan

spokesperson Rochelle Cannington told Kids Today.

IT all started as a stack of baby goods dumped in a photocopying room at a maternal health service in Chapel Street, Prahran.

“So even though we are called St Kilda Mums, the name really comes from where it all started.”

Those who benefit from the donations are put forward to St Kilda mums from social workers and maternal health care workers.

Local mum Jessie McPherson was told by her maternal health nurse that the donated goods were really needed in the community, but staff just didn’t have the time to clean them up and pass them on.

So Jessie took matters into her own hands.

She started a Facebook page, hundreds of items were left on her front porch and St Kilda Mums was born.

But don’t be fooled by the name, St Kilda Mums helps families across the state.

Their head office and main warehouse is now located in Clayton after outgrowing their previous home in

“We leave it up to the experts, they come to us with referrals and requests from their clients,” she said.

Volunteer Avril with some donations.

St Kilda, and they have warehouses in Geelong and Ballarat - under the names Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums, respectively.

They now help 20,000 babies and children each year.

“We distribute across Victoria, even in the far corners of the state,”

St Kilda mums offers 66 products for those who need them.

But the hottest item, according to Rochelle, is prams.

“We can never ever get enough of them. We’re really fortunate to be able to get quite a bit about our stock donated, so last year 98 per cent of the things that we gave out were donations,” she said.

“But it’ll be a bit different this year

because we couldn’t open due to the pandemic, we had to stop getting goods donations in for a little while.

“We did have to purchase a few more cots and prams and car seats than we usually would like in this current financial year but it was kind of out of our hands at the end.”

But despite the pandemic, the need does not end with big ticket items always needed, as well as linen and clothing.

The best way to donate is to get in touch with St Kilda Mums though their website www.stkildamums.org and make an appointment to drop off at their warehouses in Clayton, Geelong or Ballarat.

There are often local collection points too.

It’s the perfect way to move on your no longer needed baby things – especially after doing a spring clean.

New characters join children’s book series

By Carole Levy

The books are launching in September.

DID you know that a Mr Men and Little Miss book still sells every 2.5 seconds worldwide? Now two more books are joining the 90-strong line-up.

IN THE BEGINNING “What does a tickle look like?” asked Adam, the young son of Roger Hargreaves. So Mr Hargreaves drew Adam a picture, creating Mr Tickle, which became the first book published in 1971. It went on to sell a million copies in just three years.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Roger Hargreaves book series, a global public vote to name new members - attracting more than 77,000 entries – has determined that Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave will join the family.

Mr Calm has a very peaceful and easy-going outlook on life. He lives in the moment, loves rock climbing, and his relaxed and tolerant perspective means that he is a calming influence and a wise head.

Little Miss Brave stands up for what she believes in. She is not afraid to speak out and is fearless when championing things close to her heart, including her friends. Her bravery is an inner strength and confidence which enables her to try new things, challenge expectations, and inspire others to be 10 SPRING 2021

Adam is now creative director, following the death of his father.

Mr Calm.

Little Miss Brave.

the best they can be.

“It’s great to see these two new characters join the diverse set of personalities of the Mr Men/Little Miss family – calmness and bravery are two very welcome additions,” he says. “It’s been a fantastic way to celebrate our 50th birthday year.”

Alastair McHarrie, Sanrio licensing director, says that having Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave join the much-loved family of characters reflects the current consumer mood and the world we’re living in.

“Mr Calm was one of my favourites,” he says, “so I’m delighted to be able to share this story. It’s amazing to see people are still connecting to the books after 50 years – and here’s to Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave leading the way in shaping the brand’s personality for the next 50!”

The new books will be available on pre-order via the official MrMen.com website, and in all good bookstores from September, 2021. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Service helps new parents Boroondara Family Network (BFN) volunteers have been helping new mums in Boroondara for more than two decades.

By Melissa Grant IF you are a new parent living in Boroondara and feel isolated and overwhelmed, you are not alone.

The good news is that there is help at hand.

The Boroondara Family Network (BFN) is a free community service that helps mothers, of all cultural backgrounds, who may be isolated from traditional support, caring for multiples, or struggling with postnatal depression or other stresses.

Its volunteers provide friendship and support with parenting, giving advice and helping with problems which can arise when a new baby arrives. They also help parents access local child care, education, health and social services.

BFN was established on 22 March 2000, after a psychologist working in Hawthorn, who was a Rotarian, saw the need for mums to have help in the home.

Dianne Sides has been with the organisation since its inception - she has been coordinator, a committee member and is now the chairperson.

She says the service has helped hundreds of Boroondara mums to become confident parents over the past two decades.

by maternal and child health nurses and Camcare, a community organisation based in Camberwell.

Some mums are referred by GPs, family members or themselves.

Dianne said the service has received about 50 referrals each year since it began.

The service trains volunteers who provide in-home support to families with children under the age of six.

“We have about one a week almost, and that’s been ongoing right through the time we’ve been working,” she said.

“We visit the home. It’s not about babysitting or housekeeping, it’s about supporting the mother with her parenting,” Dianne explained.

BFN generally has around 30 volunteers on its books. These volunteers are trained to help new parents and typically visit a client for three hours a week, usually in a single block.

“In Boroondara there are a lot of isolated mums. It could be a mum who doesn’t have access to her own mum.

She might be a refugee or a mum who has moved here from the country to work.

“They will still see the maternal child and health nurse. We are just another voice.”

Mums are typically referred to BFN

assistance to find connections within the community.

“If a mum has a bit of depression, the volunteers can help get them going to music groups and playgroups or community groups with other mums. It’s about helping them find resources.

When you are a new mum you often don’t have time to find these things,” Dianne said.

Covid has made things difficult for the service. At times, home visits have been impossible due to restrictions, however volunteers have been busy providing support over the phone.

“However, if it’s a multiple birth or if there are other issues, we might put two volunteers with the client,” Dianne added.

BFN relies on funding via government grants, Boroondara rotary clubs and the City of Boroondara. Due to funding arrangements, the service is only able to help mums who live in the Boroondara council area.

Some new parents just need help until their baby settles into a routine.

Some simply need assurance that they’re doing a good job. Some need

BFN is always looking for committee members and volunteers. If you are interested, contact the coordinator at bfncoord@gmail.com

Mates make fun educational videos for kids form of tears so we went back to the drawing board and started to put some more animations in and make it a bit more fun.”

By Melissa Grant FINDING Australian-made videos for kids on YouTube can be pretty difficult.

The pair initially put Captain Bobbo on YouTube as it was the easiest way for their families to view the videos.

Father-of-two Rob Hobson was growing tired of his son watching clips of one particular American children’s entertainer when he and mate Anthony Carroll started making their own YouTube educational series for kids.

At the time Rob was working away from his kids for extended periods, while Anthony - who spent his childhood in Sassafras, Pakenham, Caulfield and Sandringham - was locked out of Melbourne and unable to visit his niece and nephew.

The series, Captain Bobbo Educational Adventures for Kids, is distinctly Australian with backgrounds of beaches and appearances from native animals.

When the Captain Bobbo videos were made available publicly at the start of this year, parents started sending in videos of their kids requesting challenges.

Rob is Captain Bobbo, a fun-loving captain who goes on educational adventures throughout Bobbo Land (Western Australia) with his pirate friend Captain Crabclaw, played by Anthony.

The pair have created entertaining videos covering fire safety, colours, counting, phonetics, excavators and bicycles.

Filming is a fun outlet for the pair, who actually work as fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) miners in the Pilbara.

They originally created Captain Bobbo as a way to connect FIFO workers to their families during last year’s Covid lockdowns.

Rob said it all started when he bought one of Anthony’s video cameras.

“He (Anthony) would come to work with these amazing travel videos - they had waterfalls, tropical islands and that sort of stuff,” he said.

“I would think his videos are amazing but I could do so much better because www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

In a little over six months, the pair had clocked up more than 23,000 views on YouTube.

Rob Hobson and Anthony Carroll are the brains behind Captain Bobbo, a YouTube series for kids.

my life is way cooler - I go to these awesome places, I go skateboarding, surfboarding.

“I was really proud of the videos I was making. I showed Anthony and said ‘look what I’ve done’.

At this point, Anthony interjects.

“I said ‘they are terrible… wrong camera angle, shaky footage, you’re filming your feet again, the lighting is wrong’.

“So I came in and was like, ‘right we can dress these, make them a little better’. And I was thinking maybe I can hijack the videos and we can make them for my niece and nephew as well.

“It was roughly around the same time that lockdown was starting to happen… and then it evolved into putting on funny hats and Rob put on a jacket and we started making characters from it.”

However, their videos weren’t exactly an instant hit.

Anthony said his nephew and niece, who live near Beaumaris, weren’t huge fans to begin with.

“I remember the first time I showed my niece and the first intro of the episode - she started profusely crying and told me to turn it off,” he said.

“It was constructive criticism in the

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

“So many parents and grandparents have said they don’t have to watch a certain American kids YouTube show!”

Rob said.

Anthony added: “There is a lack of Australian YouTube videos for kids.

Some families say their kids are speaking with an American tone or using Americanised language.”

Rob said his sons had been “semiencouraging”, particularly his five-yearold.

“He pretends not to enjoy them, but he does ask to watch them!

“He thinks it’s normal - he asked me if all dads make videos for their kids!”

SPRING 2021 11

It’s Your Life

Deciphering a child’s dreams

By Melissa Meehan

of a pet or parent, grandparent or even having a new sibling.

THE saying goes, if you have big dreams you will grow into them.

Monsters are a common theme that young children tend to dream about, according to Rose, who says the subconscious mind creates these images.

But what is a dream without understanding what it is all about?

Best-selling author of Dreams, Rose Inserra helps to unlock the mysteries of your dreams and the messages they hold for adults and children alike.

The mother and grandmother says for many children nightmares can start from the time they turn three.

“Because before three, they can’t really separate themselves from anything, but as they grow up they can, and they understand who they are and they start to have dreams or nightmares,” she said.

“At around seven, the nightmares tend to sort of phase away, they’re not as prevalent as they are.”

These bad dreams or nightmares can be triggered by stress of starting a new school, a new place to live, debt, death

“For them, it’s anxiety and so monsters, whatever monster they come up with is their anxiety, or their fear or something,” she said.

“So that’s, that’s your first major dream that they have.”

Another popular dream is flying.

Rose says fantasy dreams are really good for children to experience. It shows that they have a happy and healthy imagination, and that they are able to overcome new experiences.

Some older kids have dreams of chaos and disorder when there’s instability in their lives.

And that’s telling us they need support or grounding, which is why they feel like they’re going to fall into an Alice in Wonderland sort of thing.

Rose Inserra is the author of the recent book Dreams by Rockpool Publishing.

“So if your child keeps having those dreams, they need you to give them more support and make them feel more comfortable,” she said.

No matter the dream, Rose says it’s important to have discussions with your child about what they are dreaming about – so that you can gain an insight into how they are feeling.

“We need to say to them, okay, tell me a little bit more about your dream,” she said.

“Tell me what happened. How did you feel about that, and who was in your dream.

“And talk to them, say, how we get this right, let’s change the ending to that dream.”

Rose says you can use the same trick with nightmares, especially if they are recurring.

“The next time the kids or any of us go to bed, change the ending,” she said.

“So you change the ending up, so you know last time the tiger was chasing you, what if the tiger wants to go and have a drink at that light behind you, he wasn’t coming for you.

“It makes a difference.”

Rose Inserra is the author of the recent book Dreams by Rockpool Publishing.

Drawing on her experience as an author and researcher, she has written over 60 children’s books and her books are published and marketed internationally.

Rose is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dream.

Welcome to Dymocks Camberwell THE Dymocks Camberwell team is excited to be opening at a new location in the Camberwell shopping precinct.

You’ll find their new store at 208 210 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East (a few doors down from the iconic Rivoli Cinemas).

208 - 210 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East (near Rivoli Cinemas) Dymocks Camberwell has a great range of books, including bestsellers, new release fiction, biographies and memoirs, cookbooks, children’s titles and more.

Our passionate team look forward to helping you find your next good read.

Phone: 03 9882 0032 Email: camberwell@dymocks.com.au 12 SPRING 2021

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The Dymocks Camberwell family is thrilled to return to their home base, with a great new store location, offering the same service you love and know.

Henk, Roxanne, Kat and the whole Dymocks Camberwell team look forward to bringing you a great range of books, including bestsellers, new release fiction, biographies and memoirs, cookbooks, children’s titles and more.

They’ll also have an assortment of gifts, stationery, games and puzzles – the perfect accompaniment to a good read.

As many of you already know, Dymocks Camberwell has been family-owned and operated for more than 21 years.

The team is passionate about helping you to find the latest books, whether you’re in search of a great gift or a hard-to-find read.

And they’re looking forward to getting back to doing what they love most – seeing customers again and bringing you the best in books, puzzles,

Roxanne and Henk of Dymocks Camberwell.

games, and so much more.

The Dymocks Camberwell team would like to thank you for continuing to support them while they found a new home.

They forward to seeing you in-store again soon. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Kids in the dark on social media

By Melissa Grant DOES your child know what they’ve signed up for on social media, gaming and messaging services?

Chances are they are probably clueless, with a new report finding popular sites like Tik Tok and Snapchat have such confusing terms of use that you need a university degree to understand them.

This means the majority of teens don’t know how their data will be collected and stored.

The Reset Australia report found the terms and conditions of nine of 10 surveyed apps would take, on average, one hour and 46 minutes to read. That’s despite children as young as 13 being allowed to use them.

“Tik Tok’s terms and conditions run the length of two novels, or about six hours of reading at a university level. If all two billion people who use TikTok read the full terms and conditions, it would take 1.24 million years of effort,” Reset

Australia’s Children’s Data Policy Director Farthing said.

Working with YouGov, the data protection lobby group polled 400 teens aged 16 and 17. They found only seven per cent of the teens surveyed were confident they understood the terms and conditions they had accepted, and only four per cent read them all the time.

Reasons for not reading the terms and conditions included that they were too long, there were too many documents, they were presented in ways difficult to read and that you’ve got no choice anyway so why bother.

“These apps are designed to be easy for young people to use, but when it comes to disclosing how data will be collected and stored, suddenly they become very difficult to understand,” Dr Farthing said.

Facebook and Instagram recently moved to restrict advertising targeted at underage users, after Reset Australia revealed underage users were being profiled on age-inappropriate interests such as smoking and alcohol, and then

selling access to the profiles to advertisers for direct, targeted advertising.

“We’ll only allow advertisers to target ads to people under 18 (or older in certain countries) based on their age, gender and location. This means that previously available targeting options, like those based on interests or on their activity on other apps and websites, will no longer be available to advertisers.

These changes will be global and apply to Instagram, Facebook and Messenger,” a Facebook statement said.

However, Reset Australia is concerned the social media giant could keep the profiling for its own purposes and says this underscores the need for oversight about how platforms collect and use young people’s data.

They want to see a federal regulatory code governing how children and young people’s data is collected and used.

A spokesperson from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) said a review of the Privacy Act by the Attorney-General’s Department

offered an opportunity to address concerns about children’s personal data.

“We believe some high-risk activities should be considered for prohibition, such as profiling, tracking or behaviour monitoring of children, or direct advertising targeted at children,” the spokesperson said.

The federal government is also drafting legislation to enable the ‘Online Privacy Code’, which will apply to social media and other online platforms.

The code is expected to have specific rules to protect the personal information of children and vulnerable groups.

The OAIC encourages parents to help educate children about making good decisions online and limiting privacy risks. The commissioner suggests parents talk to their children about their digital footprint, developing good password practices, safe and smart device use, tailoring and regularly review privacy settings and being aware of online advertising.

Windmill toys continue to serve community an educational benefit across many categories including science, construction, literacy and numeracy aids, board games and puzzles. They have an excellent range of art and craft materials perfect for that surprise last minute online home-schooling task such as coloured cardboard construction paper pad, chalk, and pipe cleaners. They also have lots of outdoor playthings including micro scooters.

SNAP lockdowns have been like groundhog day for many people including those in retail. Small business owners face uncertainty of what the future holds for them. For those people with families the main concern is for the well-being, happiness, and education of their children.

Established in 1977, Windmill has always aimed to provide quality educational toys to parents and educators. Their wide range of products include toys in leading brands and Australian made products for children of all ages starting from newborns.

One of their favourite brands is Hape. Hape is an award-winning German toy company that

Windmill is soldiering on.

endeavours to provide toys from sustainable materials that bring happiness to children across the world.

This includes donating toys to children in poverty-stricken areas.

Hape manufacture many quality toys including: The Hape Rotating Music box makes a great gift for a newborn baby and Hape Early Melodies Pound N Tap Bench that has

been a very popular one-year-old toy at Windmill.

Tomy is a popular brand from Japan that makes some really great toys for younger children including the Hide and Squeak Eggs for six-months old and the Push and Go Car, Plane, and Truck.

Windmill aims to provide toys with

Last but not least Windmill has a good range of Australian made products including fabulous wooden tables and chairs, walker wagons and doll houses.

Windmill really tries to provide something for every child to keep them happy, busy, and enjoying life. They will keep trying to meet their customer’s needs and if they don’t have the exact thing, you were after they might be able to suggest a better alternative.

12506273-CG37-21

Faced with the changes to operation and a vision of getting back to a normal future, Windmill are taking the gamble of ordering in products that people want to give their children during this time. It’s a risk but Windmill are soldiering on.

Visit Windmill in-store, order online, or by phone. Click and collect available.

• • • •

Australian made • STEM Robotics Outdoor Play • Art & Craft Science kits • Puzzles Games & much more.

www.windmill.net.au

593 Whitehorse Rd, Mont Albert (03) 9830 4336 www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 13

It’s Your Life

When nothing is everything EVERY year there are many stories of serious unintentional childhood injuries and deaths in the news. When we read these, we all hope that it won’t happen to us, to our friends or to our families.

Ash and Matt never thought it would be them. Never thought they would lose their son Hunter just after he reached his 2nd birthday. Never thought they would be picking out an outfit for their little boy to wear, one last time. But it has now been 12 months since Hunter drowned in a dam.

Twelve months since the day they had to say goodbye.

“It’s hard to come to terms that our son Hunter isn’t here with us. My heart breaks more every day waking up without him. It’s hard to even contemplate ever celebrating anything without him,” explained Ash. Sadly, Ash and Matt aren’t alone. In 2020, 32 Victorian families lost their little

one due to an unintentional injury that’s almost one child every 11 days.

In response to the significant increase in injury related deaths, Kidsafe Victoria have launched a new community awareness campaign - ‘Nothing is Everything’. The campaign highlights the world which Kidsafe is trying to create – a world where nothing bad happens to kids - by providing a reminder of the little things that we can all do to help reduce the risk of unintentional injuries.

As part of the campaign, Kidsafe Victoria have developed an injury prevention kit for parents and carers, providing links to a range of free resources and practical advice. They are encouraging all families to download and utilise resources such as their home and farm safety checklists, to help ensure that ‘nothing happens’.

Because when nothing happens,

Hunter’s parents Matt and Ash (centre) with Kidsafe Victoria CEO Melanie Courtney (left) and Kidsafe Victoria president Erica Edmands (right). Ash and Matt were among the 32 Victorian families who lost their little one due to an unintentional injury in 2020.

children aren’t admitted to hospital due to serious injury. When nothing happens, children don’t have to live with the lasting impacts from preventable injuries. When nothing happens, parents don’t have to deal with a lifetime of loss.

When it comes to our children, when nothing happens, there’s everything to celebrate. And that’s down to all of us.

Together, we can keep kids safe.

To find out more about the ‘Nothing is Everything’ campaign or access the campaign resources, please visit www. kidsafevic.com.au/about/nothing-iseverything/

Hunter’s parents Ash and Matt.

Lockdown silver lining for precinct

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THE many lockdowns Victorians faced over the past 18 months had an enormous impact on local shopping areas like Camberwell Junction, according to Camberwell Traders Association Manager Kerry Daly.

Community is at the heart of everything we do – many of our traders are family-run businesses or provide the services that families need.

In celebrating Stonnington Boroondara Kids, we celebrate our local community

Camberwell Shopping | Burke Road & The Junction

camberwellshopping.com.au

14 SPRING 2021

She said travel agents and gyms were the hardest hit, while businesses were able to offer online or click and collect arrangements and restaurants offer takeaway.

“However, the silver lining for the Camberwell shopping precinct was that many locals rediscovered local shopping,” Kerry explained.

“Wrapped up in scarves and coats they marched along Burke Road and through the streets and laneways of the junction during their limited hours of outdoor activity, taking the time to browse the windows of their favourite chain stores or gather around cafe windows as they waited for takeaway coffees.

“It was a chance to chat with neighbours about how lucky they were to have access to so many essential services nearby.

“Many found new businesses they hadn’t noticed before and vowed to come back to support them once the doors opened again and the local traders were very appreciative of the community’s support.”

The Camberwell Junction shopping precinct has over 400 retail businesses with a mix of big brands and family-run franchises. It also has

During lockdowns many locals have discovered the beautiful takeaway coffee available at Camberwell Junction.

all the services families need including the major banks, doctors, dentists, accountants, healthcare providers, plus the things we all love, like hair and beauty salons, a multitude of cafes and restaurants, a fresh food market, cinemas, boutique fashion stores as well as Coles, Woolies, Aldi and KMart.

To find out all about this busy shopping and business hub check out CamberwellShopping.com.au and subscribe to receive their monthly newsletter.

“You will be first to know about the community events, special offers, promotions and regular competitions, including the Spring promotion, with a chance to win $1000 to spend anywhere in the Camberwell Junction precinct,” Kerry added. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Helping kids reconnect after Covid-19 AFTER spending almost six of the last 18 months in and out of lockdown, it’s no surprise that some children and teens are less enthusiastic about extracurricular activities.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood understands the lockdowns have affected everyone differently and is approaching the return to face-to-face classes with compassion.

Those youths who have become

more withdrawn are invited to take private lessons, or come to class early to spend time with their instructors in a bid to reconnect after some time away.

“Lockdown has affected everyone differently, and we tried to keep the connections going through online classes,” Robbie Singh, head instructor at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood, said.

“But for some, who were already burnt out with online classes, they didn’t

want to then do their extracurricular activities over the screen too.

“They are the ones we are spending extra time with to reengage and connect.”

Robbie says they have also given parents terminology to use to help their kids get excited about activities outside school again.

“Sometimes with sports, parents focus

on things they missed,” Robbie said.

“But the way to help them re-engage is to focus on the positives, things like you looked like you had a lot of fun, you laughed a lot.”

If you’re interested learning more, visit https://graciejiujitsuburwood.com. au/ for more information.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Burwood is located at 2/5-13 Sinnott St, Burwood

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 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!

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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.

SPRING 2021 15

It’s Your Life

Invest in play

More women giving birth later in life

MY Playroom is your one-stop local toy shop.

ONE quarter of women who give birth in Australia are aged 35 or older, new research reveals.

From high quality open-ended toys and learning resources to cool furniture, My Playroom has everything you need for your playroom at home.

And around 29 per cent of these women in this age bracket are giving birth for the first time.

The statistics are included in the Older mothers in Australia 2019 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

And your playroom is something worth investing in.

“There’s absolutely value in every kind of play,” said My Playroom owner Christina You. “Children can’t grow interested in what they haven’t been exposed to.”

My Playroom stocks magnetic tiles and open-ended toys including wooden blocks, marble runs and construction sets.

“Products in this selection tend to be a go-to toy for children,” Christina said.

“Each day, they will spend hours playing with well-designed, high quality, open-ended toys. They are great value for money as they last for years and are often suitable for siblings of different ages to play with.”

You will also find a wide selection of wooden toys, including non-toxic premium German brands and handmade Australian bespoke brands.

Located in Canterbury, the store also has a wealth of learning resources. Most staff are qualified early childhood educators, so they can recommend age-appropriate resources to help with

Some of the great toys and learning resources at My Playroom.

your child’s fine motor skills, sensory development and hand-eye coordination.

There’s also children’s books and storytelling puppet sets to help your child progress their language and reading skills.

If you are interested in Montessori, My Playroom has you covered. They stock the Montessori Practical Life range and are an exclusive retailer for EDU FUN’s Montessori Furniture collection.

You’ll find My Playroom at 118 Maling Rd, Canterbury. For more information, visit https://www. myplayroom.com.au

The report shows that the number of babies born to older mothers is increasing. In 2019, there were more than 76,000 babies born to mothers aged 35 or over, compared to almost 69,000 in 2009 and 42,000 births in 1999.

“The average age of all women giving birth in Australia has been rising, including for first-time mothers.

The average maternal age has increased from 27.1 years in 1979 to 30.8 years in 2019 for all mothers,” said AIHW spokesperson Ms. Bernice Cropper.

Since 1999 the rate of women aged 40-44 giving birth has almost doubled, with 15.5 mothers per 1000 in 2019 compared with 8.4 mothers per 1000 women in 1999.

The rate almost quadrupled among women aged 45-49, with 1.1 mothers per 1000 women in 2019 compared with 0.3 mothers in 1999.

Ms Cropper says there can be advantages to giving birth later in the

life and the majority of older mothers will have uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy babies.

“However, women who give birth later in life are more at risk of complications, such as gestational diabetes during pregnancy and birth,” she said.

“Other complications include increased risk of gestational hypertension, pre-term birth and low birthweight babies. This is particularly seen for women giving birth for the first-time.”

Older mothers were less likely than younger mothers to smoke, and the majority received antenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. They were are also more likely to live in major cities and less likely to live in low socioeconomic areas.

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It’s Your Life

Explaining lockdowns WHILE we’ve been living in a pandemic for almost 18 months, children begin to notice changes at different ages.

Raisingchildren.net.au says children will cope better if they have accurate, age-appropriate information about Covid-19, physical distancing and self-isolation.

The government funded website says the following tips can help: 1. Make time to talk about Covid-19, physical distancing and selfisolation Find the right time to talk with your child. This might be around the dinner table, at bath time, or at bedtime. When your child is ready to talk, try to give your child your full attention.

2. Use a calm and reassuring tone If you use a calm, reassuring tone when you talk with your child about this situation, it can help your child feel safe and secure.

You might be feeling stressed or upset about the situation – that’s natural. If you can, try to take a few deep breaths before you talk. This can help you feel calmer.

3. Find out what your child knows about physical distancing and self-isolation It’s a good idea to start by asking your child what they know about the

situation and whether they have any questions. For example: “You might have noticed that mum is working at home now. Do you know why that is?”

Spring is the time for children to discover the world of storytelling at NIDA Open and NIDA Open Online.

Get creative at NIDA in spring

“You won’t be going to school for a while, but some of your friends are still going. Do you understand why?”

“We can’t go to swimming lessons at the moment. Do you know why?”

4. Explain physical distancing and self-isolation in a way your child understands This is about sticking to the facts, focusing on the positives, reassuring your child that this situation won’t last forever, and explaining what your family can do to help. For example: “Covid-19 is a virus that makes people sick, a bit like when you get a nasty cold. It gets in your spit and snot, so it spreads easily if you sneeze or cough.”

“Physical distancing means staying at home as much as we can.

We can go out for a walk, if we stay a long way from other people – as far as the length of your bed.”

5. Tune into your child’s feelings about physical distancing and self-isolation Some children might be OK with staying at home all the time. But some might be frightened, worried or upset.

SPRING means creative action as children discover the world of storytelling at NIDA Open and NIDA Open Online. The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is Australia’s leading performing arts educator and is ranked in the world’s top 25 drama schools. NIDA acting graduates include TV and film stars like Cate Blanchett and Sarah Snook, Miranda Tapsell and Rob Collins.

NIDA’s methods are based on ‘learning by doing’ which means that all children receive specialist tuition with a practical focus, led by actors and creatives who are active now in the theatre, television and film industry.

Being brave, tackling the unexpected with fun and confidence are just some of the outcomes parents and children learn from creative classes. Spring holiday and term classes invite children to take command of their vocal and physical

expression with fun classes in drama, singing and acting, musical theatre and creative play from age 4 up.

The demands of online schooling and the pressure to engage socially in a digital world can be challenging. That is why NIDA Open have created an online experience that is practical, engaging, fun and safe for young participants.

NIDA Open online courses offer creative development at home in online classrooms, ‘face-to-face’ via Zoom supported by a variety of digital learning resources. To maximise learning outcomes, the number of participants per course is limited.

Spring holiday and term classes are held at NIDA’s Melbourne Southbank studios and other venues.

To book, visit open.nida.edu.au/ melbourne or call 1300 450 417.

Unleash your creative spirit!

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www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 17

It’s Your Life

Getting your kids involved in planning is all it takes for them to take ownership, Nicole says.

Freedom in planning with kids

By Melissa Meehan WITH five kids, Surrey Hills mum Nicole Avery has to be organised.

Her kids range from 12 to 22-yearsold – her youngest started high school this year and her eldest began his first post-graduate job.

Planning was not always something she’d been good at or focused on, she still doesn’t claim to be an expert.

She’s just had a lot of practice.

She’s been working online, working with Planning with Kids since 2008.

“I had four kids at the time and kind of wanted to go back into the workforce in some way and it was about my own life. So it was a really easy choice for me to blog about it,” she told Kids Today.

“I probably was a more traditional mummy blogger at first – but sharing photos of the kids wasn’t my thing. I’m pretty private, so what I wanted to do was answer the questions that people asked of me in real life.

“How are you so organised?”

She always had menu plans and that kind of thing so thought she would share what she knew.

Because, she figured, it could help other parents.

“One of the things when you’ve had a few kids that you get better at, is self practice,” she said.

“I’m pretty process orientated, but wasn’t always natural that way, but I did get to the point with my second child, where I worked out okay, I am going to step out of the workforce and I’m going to be at home full-time now,” she said.

“I can’t just be in this chaos thinking about what we’re having for dinner every night, you know like a baby crying on the hip and a toddler hanging off my legs.

18 SPRING 2021

Nicole Avery is a mum of five.

Nicole Avery says it’s important to have structure.

“I was floundering a bit and it felt harder than it should be.”

But just because you have a plan doesn’t mean your life revolves around it, according to Nicole.

And that’s where it started.

Nicole worked out if she could plan out five or six meals a week that would make meal time easier.

And it did.

“That was sort of like that clicking moment where I had all the skills I used in the workforce – but I wasn’t bringing that home,” she said.

“And I worked out that work things ran so much smoother and my work life would have been so much less stressful when I was really organised with it, home life is the same.”

“People automatically associate plan with being quite restrictive and very prescribed and that you’re quite confined,” she said.

“I actually found it gave me more freedom.”

If she had already prepared the meals for the week and was out late one night - she knew she could change up the meal plan.

And if it was too late, she could swap in takeaway night and cook that meal on Friday.

“I was able to say to my husband, here is the shopping list, could you please go and shop for it – the fact it was in an actual list form and not in my brain meant I could get some extra help,” she said.

“I found my life became easier and easier, and I became happier.”

It was the same for after school activities and sports.

When Nicole took it out of her brain and put it into a shared online calendar that her husband could see it made life much simpler.

And that mindset is applicable to doing the washing, vacuuming.

For Nicole, planning actually ended up giving her more freedom.

These are just some of the tips you can read about in Nicole’s book Planning with Kids, or learn in her online course.

Stepping out of the chaos and having a plan made life with kids much easier.

She also found that the more she had organised, the more she could delegate.

Find out more at www.planningwithkids.com www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

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SPRING 2021 19

Health

Trying to parent while you’re sick can be an absolute nightmare.

Tips for parenting when sick

By Melissa Grant

Here are Edwina’s top tips to help you survive parenting while sick:

THERE’S nothing fun about being sick.

But feeling under the weather when you are a parent is the stuff nightmares are made of, especially if the kids are at home all day.

Do Less: Practice the same compassion for yourself as you would for others. There is no shame in slowing down and resting.

All you want to do is crawl back into bed. Meanwhile, all your kids want to do is run around, make a lot of mess and eat snacks.

Ask for help: Although it isn’t always possible, asking for help from a loved one or a childminder is a great way to ensure you have enough time to rest.

Sadly you can’t take a sick day (wouldn’t that be amazing). So how are you going to survive until you are feeling better?

Self-care: Whether it’s finding time for a bath or getting outside for some Vitamin D, making time for yourself and listening to what your body needs is really important.

There are things you can do to help ease the load even if you can’t get a babysitter, according to midwife and Philips Avent ambassador Edwina Sharrock.

Easy meals: Whether it’s ordering groceries to be delivered, getting takeaway or having eggs on toast for dinner, as long as the kids are fed and happy, that’s all that matters.

“Unfortunately, calling in sick isn’t an option when you are a parent,” she said.

Cancel plans: From after school swimming lessons to gymnastics, we’re always running around after our kids however prioritising your health is far more important. Cancelling plans every once in a while so that you can properly rest won’t harm your child’s development.

“We often pressure ourselves to constantly be on the go and to be the best version of ourselves for our kids.

“But, it’s important to take care of ourselves.”

Movie day: Everyone has different rules on screen time, however popping on a movie so you can relax on the couch when you’re sick is nothing to feel guilty about.

and organise for someone to look after your children.”

Telehealth: Getting out of the house to go to the doctor can be tough when you have kids to care for. Fortunately, there is a variety of medical services now easily available online through Telehealth.

“Your baby won’t catch most common illnesses like colds, flu, stomach bugs, fever and mastitis through breastmilk. In fact, it contains protective antibodies,” she said.

The last thing you want to do while you are feeling like death warmed up is to pass on your illness to your children or partner.

Edwina says the best way to prevent your illness spreading is to practice good hygiene by regularly washing your hands and coughing/sneezing into tissues or on your elbow. It’s also a good idea to educate your kids.

“Teaching your children good hygiene practices and explaining why they are important is an essential part of keeping your whole family healthy and well,” Edwina said.

“If you are really unwell, quarantine yourself in a separate room of the house

If you’re breastfeeding, Edwina said it is generally safe to keep doing so when you’re sick.

However, she said that breastfeeding while sick can be tiring so it is a good idea to get extra help to allow time to rest after feeding. It’s also important to stay hydrated.

“Even if you can’t stomach much food, your body will continue to supply milk if you are keeping up your fluids.”

Edwina also recommended using a breast pump so you can express in advance and let someone else take the night feeding shift.

“Even if you’re really unwell and cannot manage to breastfeed your baby, your body will still be producing milk so breast pumping is a great way to manage your milk supply in the meantime,” she added.

Researchers probe role of genetics in SIDS GENETICS could hold the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Researchers are investigating the role of genetics in the devastating condition, which claims the lives of around 100 babies in Australia each year.

A state-of-the-art ‘genetic biobank’ has been developed by researchers at the University of South Australia.

The biobank comprises DNA from 25 babies who have died from SIDS in South Australia.

SIDS is the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an apparently well baby, despite clinical 20 SPRING 2021

investigations, including autopsy.

The genetic biobank is the only of its kind in the southern hemisphere and one of only a few that exist in the world.

It was supported by funding from River’s Gift, an organisation established

by Geelong couple Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton following the death of their 4-month-old baby, River, to SIDS in 2011.

River’s Gift evolved from a pledge to Stamp Out SIDS and ensure that no other parent would endure the pain and suffering of the unexpected and unexplained loss of their child.

Molecular biologist and Head of

genetics at the Australian Centre for Precision Health, UniSA’s Professor Leanne Dibbens, says the biobank will provide unprecedented opportunities to examine genetic factors that have contributed to SIDS. “Within Australia and internationally, research into SIDS is not as active as it once was,” Prof Dibbens says.

“This is mainly due to successful education campaigns such as ‘safe sleeping’ of infants, which has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS. Yet, every year in Australia, about 100 babies still die from SIDS and we don’t know why.”

Prof Dibbens said the genetic biobank

would allow researchers to analyse DNA from SIDS babies to look for genetic causes of the condition.

“By finding these, we will be able to test babies at birth to identify those who are at risk, with these babies being closely monitored in their first year of life,” she explained.

The groundbreaking research will also help identify mechanisms involved in causing death from SIDS so that future work can stop SIDS from occurring.

“Every baby’s life is precious. This research will help protect all babies and families from suffering the heartache of SIDS,” Prof Dibbens said. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Health

Young kids at risk eating nuts peanuts and tree nuts can pose to young children.

A JUMP in the number of young children choking on peanuts or tree nuts has prompted a safety warning for parents from doctors at the Epworth Centre for Paediatric Allergies.

Her two-year-old daughter Jordyn reached for some cashew nuts that other family members were eating, at their family home in 2019.

Over a 10 year period, this study looked at 200 admissions to the Royal Children’s Hospital where children were diagnosed with foreign body aspiration, which means they had nuts, other food or other objects stuck in their airways. Of those children, 28 were admitted to intensive care.

“I was making a cup of coffee when I turned and noticed that Jordyn had a mouth full of nuts,” Mrs Kablyakis said.

“As I told Jordyn to take some out, she was startled and gasped, inhaling some nuts into her airway instead of swallowing them.”

Researchers found almonds, pistachios, walnuts, cashews and peanuts were among the most common nuts involved. Larger pieces within crunchy peanut butter also lodged in some young children’s airways.

Epworth consultant allergist and immunologist Dr John Ainsworth said there has been a spike in peanut and tree nut aspirations since 2015.

Since 2015, parents have been strongly encouraged to safely introduce their children to peanut and other potentially allergenic foods such as egg, dairy and wheat in the first year, to hopefully prevent the development of food allergies.

Researcher and Royal Children’s

A life-threatening emergency quickly developed with Jordyn unable to breathe properly and becoming unconscious.

It was only the work of paramedics called to the scene that kept Jordyn alive until she reached hospital.

Epworth consultant allergist and immunologist Dr John Ainsworth said there has been a spike in peanut and tree nut aspirations since 2015.

Hospital surgeon, Dr James Leung, said young children can inhale nuts, food and other objects into their airway and this can quickly become life threatening.

“A child having a foreign body like a peanut in their airway is a surgical emergency,” Dr Leung said.

“Nuts caught in the airway can cause inflammation and are hard to spot on an X-ray. They can lead to other complications including pneumonia or permanent damage to the respiratory tract.”

Armstrong Creek mum Rose Kabylakis knows only too well the risks

The toddler was later flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital for treatment where she was put into an induced coma for almost a week. She has since made a full recovery.

This research project was jointly funded by the Australian Food Allergy Foundation and Epworth Medical Foundation and is done on collaboration with Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Benefits of orthodontics during adolescence ■ Improves confidence

ORTHODONTIC treatments are dental procedures that help correct crooked teeth and bite problems.

Having crooked teeth can give a teen insecurities. With proper orthodontic treatment, your child will be less self-conscious.

The optimal time to start orthodontic treatment is between 12 and 18 years of age, as this is when growth is taking place.

■ Can improve speech If the teeth or jaw is not aligned correctly, your teen may suffer slurring, lisping, and mispronounce ‘s’ and ‘t’.

Modern Orthodontics encourages parents to have their adolescents seen by the practice’s experienced team of orthodontists.

Here are the benefits of starting orthodontic treatment at this time: ■ Preventing serious dental problems An orthodontist can detect first signs of a problem in the teeth, mouth and jaw.

■ Lowers the risk of tooth decay and gum disease The friendly team at Modern Orthodontics.

Early detection can prevent complications and more intensive treatment down the track.

There’s a higher risk of tooth decay when the teeth are crooked as there are a lot of places that can’t easily be reached when brushing and flossing. Misaligned teeth can also cause gum disease, tooth wear, jaw pain and bad breath.

■ Reduces risk from trauma A large overbite and protruding teeth increases the risk of dental trauma.

■ Improves digestion A child can chew better with properly aligned teeth - and food is digested better when it is broken down into smaller pieces.

■ Instils good oral hygiene habits Orthodontic treatment during adolescence means your child will have to strictly follow a routine to ensure success.

Modern Orthodontics is located at 1 Leonard St, Burwood. Call 1300 367 678 or visit https://www. modernorthodontics.com.au

• Future-proof your smile • Specialist orthodontic treatment for straight teeth • Free In-person and Virtual Consultations • Multilingual orthodontist and staff • Highly experienced team • State-of-the-art treatment rooms • Bespoke treatment plans

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Preston 3072 SPRING 2021 21

Education

The ins and outs of child care

By Melissa Grant

work weekdays, want structure and are happy for their child to play and socialise with lots of other kids.

MANY Australian families use child care.

If you are after long-day care, or think you may use it, it pays to put your child’s name down on waiting lists to ensure you can get the days you are after, and to apply for the Child Care Subsidy as soon as possible.

Child care provides opportunities for children’s development and social engagement, while allowing parents to engage in paid work.

It encourages play, can help children socialise with others their own age, foster independence and ease the transition into full-time school.

While the number of children in child care dropped last year as Covid hit, attendance rates are pretty much back to normal.

Child care options in Australia include centre-based care, home-based care and family day care.

In fact, the number of parents using child care services has mostly returned to pre Covid-19 rates despite parents having better access to working from home arrangements, according to a Family Studies (AIFS) report.

In 2017 there were around three in five children aged 0-4 (59 per cent or 925,000 children) attending some form of child care, according to Australia’s Children Report 2020.

It was estimated that 72 per cent of kids aged two were in child care.

Home-based care is when a relative, usually a grandparent, a friend, babysitter or nanny cares for your child at your family home.

Family day care is care provided by an approved carer in their home.

Centre-based care includes long day care, kindergartens/preschools and occasional care. In Victoria,

Child care provides opportunities for children to engage with other children the same age.

kindergarten programs are offered at child care centres and standalone kindergarten centres.

you require each week, your family values, the cost and what you want your child to experience.

What type of child care you choose will depend on how many hours of care

Long day care at child care centres, for example, typically suit parents who

“Many parents initially withdrew their children from childcare in response to a range of factors, including parental job losses, increased rates of working at home, and financial and health concerns,” lead researcher Dr Jennifer Baxter said.

“Parents deciding to return to using formal child care reflects the important role that child care services have in contributing to children’s wellbeing and development and supporting parents’ employment.”

Building resilience in young children ALL children will experience obstacles and challenges as part of their everyday lives. Resilience is the ability to bounce back when these challenges or setbacks occur.

Young children build resilience over time, with experience and when surrounded by positive relationships.

Sarah Bethune, Head of Early Learning at St Catherine’s School, Toorak, says healthy ways to build resilience include: ■ Encourage independence: Encourage your child to solve problems for themselves. Ask questions and bounce the problem back to your child, then brainstorm solutions together.

■ Identify, acknowledge and manage emotions: Help your child identify and manage their emotions. For example, “It’s okay to be sad because we can’t visit grandma.

What could you do to tell grandma how much you miss her?”

■ Promote a ‘can do’ attitude: Encourage your child to have a go or try again when they think they cannot do something or when things do not work out.

■ Embrace mistakes: It is important children understand mistakes are how we learn. This should be role modelled to promote a growth mindset.

■ Promote healthy risk taking: Young children need to experience a

healthy level of risk. This might include a new activity, interacting with new people, or trying new play equipment at the playground.

■ Promote optimism: Optimism and resiliency go hand in hand. Your conversations and questions can help support the child to see the positives in situations.

■ Encourage problem solving skills: Rather than providing solutions to your child’s problems, ask them what they could do if they encounter the same problem again.

■ Role model resilience: Role model how you respond to challenges.

When your child sees you positively adapt, they learn they can do the same.

Educators can support resiliency in children.

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www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Education

Giving children the best start THE early years are critical to a child’s development and through Niño Early Learning Adventures’ unique, educational and inspirational experiences every child is provided with the best start in life.

programs, led by Bachelor Qualified teachers, take place in a long-day care setting. Complementing the programs are specialist classes, including physical education, Spanish language, yoga and music.

Niño Early Learning Adventures’ carefully curated holistic curriculum brings together flexible indoor and outdoor learning environments, nutritional education and ageappropriate enhancement programs, making its early learning pathway offerings unique.

An Infant Specialist Program at the centres, led by an in-house infant specialised practitioner, sees educators and families learn the skills required to enhance the sleep and the settling of children. Niño ELA also use a primary caregiving model in their nurseries, allowing each child to develop a nurturing relationship with a primary educator so they can develop a sense of trust, security and safety.

Underpinned by the Positive Education Framework, the curriculum gives every child the opportunity to have meaningful learning experiences that incorporate their emerging interests to help them reach their full potential.

“The focus across our centres is to help children to develop skills that strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance resilience, promote mindfulness and enjoy a healthy lifestyle,” said company manager Melinda Ackerman.

“Our mantra at Niño ELA is ‘fresh, healthy food, every day’,” said Melinda.

Every child at Niño Early Learning Adventures is provided with the best start to their education.

“At Niño ELA, we value and welcome family involvement. Through a continual awareness of your child’s needs, abilities and talents, our approach is to see children graduate from their Niño ELA experience as confident, robust and adventurous individuals,” said Melinda.

Niño Early Learning Adventures’ programs are specially designed for each developmental stage of learning.

The ‘Small Steps, Big Footprints’ program carefully nurtures children as they make the transition between infancy and toddlerhood.

The 3 and 4 year old kindergarten

A seasonal nutritionally balanced menu is developed by nutritional ambassador, Dr Lauren Burns and cooked onsite daily by chefs. The children are empowered to self-serve, allowing them to have autonomy and serve themselves, fostering socialisation, sharing and turn-taking.

Niño Early Learning Adventures has centres across Melbourne to cater for the growing communities. Enrolments are now taking place. For more information, visit ninoela.com.au

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Working together with families, educators create individual learning programs that consider interests, physical, personal, social and emotional wellbeing as well as cognitive aspects of learning.

It goes without saying that nutrition is important.

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 23

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A Xavier education can take you there.

BOOK A TOUR xavier.vic.edu.au/ourtours

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Education

Early learners can freely explore at Discovery Bay ELC.

classroom, providing opportunities to enhance children’s learning in these fields.

Passionate educators guide each child on their learning journey.

Pictures: Rob Carew

Journey of discovery DISCOVER a unique world of learning at Discovery Bay Early Learning and Kindergarten - Balwyn.

opportunities which early learners can freely explore and be guided by their own interests and abilities.

During spring, families are invited to join a ‘Discovery Journey’ at the centre to get a first-hand look at the exceptional facilities and learn about the flexible programs on offer.

Passionate educators support and guide each individual child’s development under the Montessori philosophy, an innovative learning approach that encourages independence through self-direction.

It’s an opportunity to discover the centre’s philosophy, implementation of the Montessori approach and integrated STEM-based learning.

Catering for children aged 18 months to six years, the centre offers a holistic environment enriched with

“What makes Discovery Bay ELC such a special learning environment are the dedicated and passionate educators that support and guide each individual child in their development,” centre manager Sarah Power said.

Another strength is the centre’s exceptional facilities.

“Our learning spaces are purpose built to meet the needs of all the children. The Montessori prepared classrooms and outdoor spaces guide their learning and exploration,” Ms Power said.

“The environment is set up for children to take out materials that are of interest to them, and they are given an opportunity to work at their own pace, rather than in a group setting.”

STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) has been incorporated into the 4-year-old

“STEM jobs are projected to grow in the future. At Discovery Bay our focus is on quality education that prepares children for school - and for life,” Ms Power said.

Discovery Bay ELC is currently accepting enrolments for their approved and funded 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs for 2022.

Want to discover more?

Families are invited to join a Discovery Tour.

The centre is currently in the process of organising dates for these tours to occur.

Bookings are essential and density limits will apply. Dates are subject to government guidelines and all directives must be followed.

To secure your spot, or for more information, call 7018 9585 or email balwyn@discoverybayelc.com.au You’ll find Discovery Bay ELC at 317-321 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn and online at https://discoverybayelc.com. au/

Discover your World, Own your Destiny What sets us apart from any other early learning centre?

Discovery Bay ELC Balwyn is committed to providing children with quality education and care during their early years learning journey.

We provide an environment inspired by the Montessori Method. Enhancing the child’s independence and capability to lead their own learning.

Join our Montessori Program Where education meets fun!

OPEN NOW 317-321 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn VIC 3103 http://discoverybayelc.com.au www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

We cater for the ages of 18 months – 6 years 7am – 6:30pm 50 weeks of the year excluding public holidays

BOOK A TOUR NOW!

(03) 7018 9585 SPRING 2021 25 12496128-JW23-21

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t n e d u t s 1 : s r e h c a e t t is l ia c e p s 0 1 l ia t n e t o p l l u f ir e h t g in h c a e r s l ir g = Sacré Cœur prides itself on providing a world of care for all our students from Prep - Year 12. In the primary years, each student has support from a team of ten specialist teachers, including their dedicated class teacher. Consequently, each girl is known and feels free to explore her natural curiosity.

Our supportive approach fosters confidence and trust in our young girls, and our new fee schedule means that Prep-Year 2 is more accessible than ever.

Join us for a school tour and discover how your daughter can reach her full potential.

26 SPRING 2021

Cour age X kindness = the Sacre Coeur way Prep to VCE. Enrol now for 2022 and beyond.

Book a School Tour at sac.vic.edu.au

Sacré Cœur www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Education

Preparing your child for prep A child’s first day at school is a unique milestone in a parent’s journey. It’s a time of excitement for what lies ahead, sometimes tinged with worry or a hint of sadness about separation and the transition to this new phase of life.

to arrive knowing the whole alphabet, being able to recognise their own names can be helpful. A child feels a sense of pride when they spot their name on a book, jumper or locker, and this encourages independence.

As parents we want our children to thrive, so how can we best prepare them for starting school?

“The children who settle the most quickly are the ones who are feeling, ‘oh, this is my place, and I’m in charge here and I can do some things for myself” said Ms Hogan. “Having them feeling capable and self-sufficient is key.”

Many parents focus on academics, especially early literacy and numeracy.

But while familiarity with letters and numbers can be advantageous, Sacré Coeur Head of Junior School Janine Hogan says these are rarely the keys to successful early schooling.

“Socialisation is what matters,” said Ms Hogan.

“It’s about feeling happy in one’s own skin and being able to engage with others and in activities outside of the family environment.

“The more comfortable a student is operating as part of a larger group, the more they’re open to play and learning.

And play-based learning is what it’s all about.”

So while there’s no need for students

The school transition can be easy for some and more difficult for others, and there are many things parents and educators can do to make the process as seamless as possible. Establishing routines in this new environment builds predictability and gives children a sense of security and control, which can help an unsettled child adjust.

Schools like Sacré Coeur communicate regularly with parents and welcome them on-site to make individual plans to support children, and educators ensure there are interesting, hands-on activities for students to engage with as soon as they

Socialisation is what matters when preparing a child for prep, Sacré Coeur’s Head of Junior School Janine Hogan says.

arrive each morning.

Ms Hogan says students become primed to learn once they begin to feel like the school is theirs to explore.

In terms of encouraging literacy development, reading to a child regularly is perhaps the single best thing a parent can do. Not only does it stimulate imagination, it instills a sense of wonder around books and stories, and these determine the way young children engage with literacy tasks at school.

“Their rate of progress is extraordinary,” she said. “It’s fascinating to see and hear your young child learn to sound words out, to write initial letters in the phase of role play writing and then begin to space letters apart to represent words.”

“It’s really special to be part of it. To be reading with your child at home and to witness them gradually seeing themselves as a reader is quite amazing.”

Igniting her possibility ENROLMENTS FOR YEAR 7 2023

NOW OPEN

www.siena.vic.edu.au www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

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To learn more, visit: SPRING 2021 27

Education

Steps to good communication THE first contact with your child’s teacher can be the most important, according to the Child Development Institute.

2. Plan: Write down questions, clarify them and prioritise importance.

Succinct information will assist the teacher to give clear responses.

And during the first week can be the optimum time to build a rapport.

3. Always restate your purpose for the conference right at the start – stay on topic.

In the first week, it’s likely the teacher knows little about your child and you’re in a position to provide helpful information. Don’t feel you’re intruding or asking for special treatment – you’re just showing a concern your child gets a good education.

After six weeks or so, even if you feel your child is doing well, you might like to set up a conference, which should always be at a time to suit the teacher.

Questions can include: ■ Is my child able to get along with others?

■ Can my child participate well in group activities?

■ What can I do to encourage or help my child learn to read?

Effective communication with a teacher will reap many benefits. If you want to discuss a problem or concern, here are some guidelines to get good outcomes: 1. Identify the reason for the conference in initial contact to alleviate any imagined fears on the teacher’s part and so they can have relevant information to hand.

4. Show a positive attitude. Be aware of tone of voice, facial expressions and body language.

5. Remain open, even if the teacher tells you something negative about your child’s behaviour or attitude.

Antagonism can kill a conference stone dead.

6. Be sure discussions are led with the sole aim of increasing your child’s growth.

7. If your child has difficulties, make sure the teacher doesn’t just point out the problem without providing ideas for eliminating or reducing it.

8. Clarify and summarise as you go, so you both know what’s been meant and can agree about any conclusions.

9. Make sure you alert the teacher to any educational jargon you don’t understand and seek clarification.

10. Try to keep the time to 30 minutes or less.

Effective communication with a teacher will reap many benefits for your child.

Picture: iStock

Unlocking literacy at Andale School “WE really struggled to make progress with Grace’s reading,” explains Donna, a parent from Andale School.

“We spent hundreds of hours practicing sight words, running backwards and forwards to speech therapy and completing additional worksheets, but nothing seemed to stick. However, since the introduction of a new literacy approach at Andale, we’ve seen Grace’s reading improve in leaps and bounds.”

“In 2019, Andale School undertook a comprehensive review of their literacy curriculum and introduced Macquarie University’s MultiLit program. A comprehensive, evidence-based program that focuses on explicit and systematic teaching of decoding skills,” explains speech pathologist Heather Roper.

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.

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

28 SPRING 2021

Education Empowered andale.vic.edu.au

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Contact us for more information

“Even within a small specialist school like Andale, our students vary widely in their reading skills.

Students who need additional reading support now have four MultiLit sessions per week. In combination with our other teaching strategies, like the widespread use of decodable readers, we’ve seen significant literacy progress for our students.

“Decodable books focus on a specific sound or phonetic code that a student is learning and gradually incorporates an increasing number of

Each student at Andale School has an individual learning plan.

irregular sight words.”

Andale’s parents have noticed the shift, and Donna is delighted.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen great progress in Grace’s literacy. She can read independently, and the books she brings home engage her and reinforce what she is learning at Andale. Her confidence has improved and she now loves reading.”

Andale School is a specialist primary school in Kew, for students experiencing language and learning difficulties. With only three classes and a maximum student capacity of 32, each student has an individual learning plan tailored to their unique learning needs. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Education

Bush School at Preshil WITH spring in the air, the children at Preshil are ready to see how their bush classroom, which they call ‘The Pines’, is flourishing.

Each week the children in the Preshil Kindergarten and their friends in the Prep class gather together in The Pines for their Bush School morning. They always begin by sharing an Acknowledgement of Country.

“We Acknowledge the People of the Kulin Nation.

“Together we touch the ground of the land.

“We reach for the sky that covers the land.

“We cover our hearts to take care of the land.”

A typical Bush School morning will include water play, searching for creatures, climbing the old pine tree stumps and the peppercorn trees, and making potions and creations. Many mornings the fire will be lit, damper or potatoes cooked, or chai tea brewed for sharing.

This spring is different as over the winter months the children worked with the team from CERES to return a portion of the bush classroom to Indigenous habitat as part of the Boroondara Schools for Wildlife Project.

Preshil is committed to the enduring concept of Indigenous custodianship. For many years the children from kindergarten through to Grades 3 and 4 have been engaged in bush school programs in which they spend time in the bush classroom, or as they reach Grades 1 and 2, spend time once a week in local bush lands or coastal parks.

These excursions are always framed with an acknowledgement of Country to support an emerging understanding of the history all around us in Naarm.

The Boroondara Schools for Wildlife Project is important in that the children can now take action to support their care of Country at their school. This important action is providing the children with a lived experience of custodianship - linking their care for the bush classroom to the larger idea of Care for Country.

A campfire is often lit as part of a typical Bush School morning at Preshil.

BE PART OF OUR PRESHIL COMMUNITY Limited spaces available for 'The Fives' Prep in 2022 Preshil delivers an uncompromising education with a focus on each student: their wellbeing, strengths, passions and future aspirations.

Preshil continues to offer a truly progressive educational experience:

âÖÙʨ٠Üܯÿ ¯ ¿â ÙÅ â¯ÿ Kinder & Primary: 395 Barkers Road Kew VIC 3101 Secondary: 12-26 Sackville Street Kew VIC 3101

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, learning through inquiry.

A curriculum that develops confidence, agency, empathy and self-regulation.

Learning free from comparison with peers.

Conceptual Playworlds.

An environment which is beautiful, a space where children can imagine, create and play.

PRESHIL.VIC.EDU.AU 03 9817 6135 REGISTRAR@PRESHIL.VIC.EDU.AU

12506293-HC37-21

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 29

Education

An exciting new centre NESTLED within the leafy surrounds of Deepdene, Bambini is pleased to welcome Deepdene ELC to the Bambini family.

Architecturally designed with generous play spaces, Deepdene ELC offers an abundance of natural light and opportunity for play-based exploration for children of all ages.

Mirroring a methodology for learning with unique and sustainable resources that encourage a sense of selfawareness and community engagement, their rooms are open plan and inviting.

The Deepdene Early Learning Centre.

From an interactive communal kitchen to an indigenous exploration garden, their primary focus is your child and their journey of self-discovery across the foundations years of development.

As a child care provider with over 14 years experience in the industry, Bambini prides itself on drawing inspiration from the Reggio Emilia Approach, together with strong local community engagement and family relationships.

Deepdene Early Learning coordinator Kathryn Simmons.

Pictures: Rob Carew

They invite you to discover this

The nursery at Deepdene Early Learning.

exciting new experience that is Deepdene Early Learning.

To enquire, call 1300 945 745.

Explore, Create, Ignite Our new purpose-built service offers education and care for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

12509405-AV37-21

Your child’s learning journey awaits

ENQUIRE NOW Please call 1300 945 745 964-968 Bourke Road Deepdene Email: enquiries@bambinielc.com.au www.bambinielc.com.au 30 SPRING 2021

early learning centre

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Party Time

Funtastic food to get your party started Ice cream cone cakes

Ice cream cone cakes are fun to make with the kids.

THIS is such a fun and exciting treat to make and eat! It’s also a wonderful activity to do with children of all ages, especially when it comes to decorating the ice cream cones at the very end there’s no end to how creative and inventive you can be with decorations.

Makes 12

sugar, cocoa and whisk well to combine. Then add the egg, melted butter, olive oil, milk and mix well with a spatula or wooden spoon, until well combined. Finally gently fold in the boiling water and mix until a velvety and glossy mixture is formed.

WITH OLIVIA C ENEA-BRAIN

Ingredients ■ 12 pieces of flat bottom ice cream cone shells ■ Sprinkles of choice ■ Chocolates/lollies/fruit for decorations Cake batter: ■ 1½ cup self raising flour ■ 1 cup raw sugar ■ ½ cup olive oil ■ ½ cup melted butter

Cream cheese frosting: ■ ½ cup Bulla thickened cream ■ 225 grams full cream Philadelphia Cream Cheese ■ 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar ■ ¼ teaspoon salt ■ 2 cups powdered sugar Method 1. Set oven to 180C, fan forced.

■ ¾ cup full cream milk

2. Line a 12 portioned cupcake tin with cupcake cups and place an ice cream cone in each cupcake cup.

They’re now ready to be filled.

■ ¾ cup boiling water

3. In a large bowl, place the flour,

■ 1 whole egg ■ ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4. Using a teaspoon or piping bag, fill each cone to ¾ full of batter.

5. Bake cones standing in the muffin tin, for 20-30 minutes, until a skewer poked in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

6. Remove from the oven and gently place each cone standing, on a drying rack straight away so that the cones don’t moisten in the tin portions.

7. While the cakes cool, the cream cheese frosting can be prepared.

8. In a medium bowl; place cream cheese, salt and vanilla sugar. Using an electric beater, mix the ingredients on medium to high for approximately 2 minutes and add the thickened cream and mix well for another 2

minutes. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well in-between. Repeat this process until all powdered sugar has been added. This will take about 8-10 minutes.

9. Prepare a piping bag with an attached tip of your choice, fill the bag with the frosting.

10. Once the ice cream cones are cooled completely, pipe soft serve style swirls on the cake, making it look like ice cream. Decorate as you wish.

Pictured is glazed cherries, sprinkles, Cadbury marble chocolate and a strawberry.

Enjoy.

Notes: Experiment with different flavour combinations of cake batter and frosting. Boxed cake mix is also suitable for this; no change in cooking time.

Olivia C Enea-Brain is a Melbourne mum of two with a passion for making cooking fun

ActivITIES

BUGS Gymnastics

BUGS gymnastics offers a Kindergym program for children walking to 5 years old - this is for children to develop their motor skills, social skills, self esteem and confidence.

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BUGS Gymnastics has been providing recreational gymnastics classes to the local community for more than 30 years. They also offer advanced classes for Intermediate and Squad levels.

BUGS gymnastics runs an over 55s ‘Fitter For Life’ fitness program to improve mobility, strength, balance, coordination and flexibility in a fun and social welcoming environment.

BUGS focus is to provide a safe, friendly and inclusive environment for children to develop basic gymnastics skills, offering programs to suit children of all ages and abilities, and to encourage a healthy attitude towards participating in physical activity. www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 31

Recipes

Creating a love of cooking

By Melissa Grant

snacks for kids, Well Fed Kitchen.

TEACHING your children to cook can serve up many benefits.

In her practice, she gives parents advice on a range of food-related issues, including fussy eating, reflux, constipation, eczema, allergies, and mood and behavioural issues.

It gets them tasting different foods, teaches them how to follow directions and even helps with their maths.

Most importantly, it helps set them up for a healthy future and positive life-long relationship with food.

That’s why we’re excited to welcome paediatric nutritionist Lucy Stewart as our new expert contributor.

Each edition, Lucy’s Kids in the Kitchen column will bring you a simple and nutritious recipe that you can cook in the kitchen with your children.

“It will be nourishing for them, they can help make it in the kitchen and we will always try to squeeze in extra veggies where we can,” Lucy said.

Lucy lives with her husband Matt and son Otis, 5. She also shares her time with step-daughters Faith, 15, and Daisy, 12.

This edition, Lucy shares a kidfriendly recipe for pumpkin maple bread. We hope you enjoy cooking it!

“It made me realise how critical it was to set up our children for life by eating the right food.

Pumpkin contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help keep the immune system strong, and the eyes, heart and skin healthy. Pumpkin seeds are also a rich source of zinc that’s essential for growth, wound healing, immune function and perception of

taste (low zinc can contribute to fussy eating).

It’s an easy recipe to make with the kids - just a bit of whisking, sifting and stirring, pop it in the oven and, in about an hour, you’ll have a house smelling of fragrant spices and a delicious bread to enjoy for afternoon tea. There are options in the recipe to make it gluten and dairy free too, if you wish.

She advises parents to get their children involved in cooking family meals by writing shopping lists, going to the supermarket, washing and chopping vegetables and helping in the kitchen.

Lucy currently works as a clinical nutritionist, as a recipe developer and has just launched a range of nourishing

“When I was pregnant with my son I was learning about the importance of the first 1000 days of life.

IF your kids love banana bread, they’ll love this spiced pumpkin and maple bread.

One of the greatest things you can teach your children, Lucy says, is the ability to cook so they don’t rely on convenience and takeaway foods when they are older.

“I knew that was the direction I wanted to take my practice in - babies and kids nutrition.”

“I came from a 15-year career in TV PR (public relations). I’ve always loved food, I’ve always cooked,” she explained.

Spiced pumpkin and maple bread

“It affects our kids’ sleep, their learning and their behaviour, it affects everything,” she said.

“Kids who have invested their time in something are much more likely to try and eat it. It will be messy, yes, but you will be surprised that a child who is happy to chop up the capsicum will eat it at the table.

“You also need to set a good example - you can’t expect your child to eat well if you don’t.”

Another important thing is to cook easy recipes.

“I love cooking really simple food,” she said.

“When you have kids, dinner at the end of the day has to be quick, it has to be easy. It has to be really simple, nourishing food that the whole family is going to eat.”

Her career in nutrition began in 2015 when she was pregnant with Otis.

Our new expert contributor Lucy Stewart.

Diet, she says, has a huge impact on our children’s health and wellbeing, both now and in the future.

Directions ■ Preheat oven at 165C and line and grease a loaf tin

i th in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart

Makes: 1 loaf Prep time: 15-minutes Cook time: 1 hour Ingredients ■ 1 cup mashed pumpkin ■ 2 free range eggs, at room temperature ■ 1 ¾ cups gluten free or wholemeal flour ■ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup ■ 1/3 cup coconut oil or butter, melted ■ ¼ plant-based mylk or milk of choice ■ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ■ ½ tsp ground ginger ■ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ■ ¼ tsp ground cloves

■ In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut oil and pure maple syrup ■ Add the eggs and whisk until combined ■ Add mashed pumpkin, mylk, spices, baking soda, vanilla and salt, and whisk to combine ■ Sift in the flour, and using a wooden spoon, mix until just combined ■ Gently fold in chopped dates ■ Pour the batter into your greased loaf tin and sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top ■ Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean ■ Allow the bread cool in the loaf tin for 10 minutes, then gently transfer to rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing ■ Enjoy warm, with butter and a drizzle of honey. Individual slices can be stored in the freezer and reheated in the toaster

■ 1 tsp baking soda ■ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ■ ½ tsp sea salt Lucy Stewart and her son Otis cooking the spiced pumpkin and maple bread together.

Picture: Studio 74 Photography 32 SPRING 2021

■ 6 pitted Medjool dates, chopped ■ ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, to decorate

Lucy Stewart is a mum who is nutritionist specialising in babies and kids health, and a recipe developer.

You can find more of her recipes at https://lucystewartnutrition.com www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Inside Olivia’s House of White Motherhood and lifestyle blogger OLIVIA WHITE is honest, daring and ambitious. She’s experienced and achieved incredible things since starting her popular blog House of White. The Victorian mother-of-two has amassed more than 150,000 followers on Instagram where she shares the raw and sometimes unglamorous realities of parenting. Here, Kids Today editor MELISSA GRANT speaks to the digital creator about birthing, her journey on social media and what she’s learned about motherhood.

Olivia White with her daughters Annabelle and Theodora.

First things first, how did House of White start?

I started it not long after I had Annabelle. My background was in PR (public relations). I had previously worked for Racing Victoria - I ran their fashion blog for fashions on the field and stuff like that. And I’ve always been a keen photographer. So I sort of decided I would start something while I was on maternity leave, with no real intention of it being anything. It was a blog before it was an Instagram. It naturally progressed and grew from there.

You have two beautiful girls, Annabelle (7) and Theodora (5). Tell us about their births.

They were two very different birth experiences. Annabelle was an emergency cesarean. I went in to be induced on her due date because I was starting to get what’s called PUPPPS my skin started to get really hot and itchy. I was in the public system - the care that they had at the time was pro-natural birth. I went in on a Friday night to be induced. I had the gel. I started getting contractions but nothing too much. They applied the gel again on Saturday morning. And again on Saturday evening. So the whole time I was labouring. On Sunday morning it still hadn’t really progressed, so they decided to break my waters and put me on the drip. They usually say that when you have the drip it will be a maximum of a few hours. But at 10 o’clock that night I was still on the drip.

I had an epidural, thankfully because they were really intense contractions.

In the space of about 12 hours of being on the drip, I had only progressed to like 4cm. So then they made the decision to do a cesarean. In the space of about 10 minutes from them deciding they were going to do that to actually getting wheeled down there, her heart rate dropped. They didn’t even have time to give me a spinal (block) - they just topped up the epidural. It was all a blur because I had been in labour for three days. It would have been maybe five minutes before midnight that I had her. She was so high and so stuck that I remember the anesthetist coming over the top of me and having to actually push down to get her out. She had already started www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

screaming before they got her out.

After that it was all such a blur … I was so exhausted. They took her to the special care nursery because I couldn’t stay awake. I pretty much lost consciousness. Then the next day I was demanding to leave - I didn’t want to be in a hospital anymore. Overall that experience definitely wasn’t what I expected. I think because they allowed me to go for so long, it was a really long recovery as well which sucked because I felt I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t hold her. I couldn’t have those moments because I was so exhausted emotionally, physically.

But then when I had Ted (Theodora), I put my foot down - I wasn’t prepared to go through that again. I elected to have a planned cesarean. I pretty much went in at 8 o’clock and had a baby by 8.15. It was a much better experience, it was much better for my recovery. It was much better for my mental health.

After you had Teddy, you posted a picture of your raw c-section scar. Why did you think it was important to post that picture?

It was probably about a year later that I posted it. It was a photo I took to send to a girlfriend. Most of my friends don’t have kids and the girlfriend who I sent it to didn’t. I sent it to show her that it (c-section) isn’t the easy way out. Even when it is a planned cesarean you still can’t get up and walk for at least 12 hours or until the next day. You’ve basically had layers and layers of flesh, muscle and organs moved out of the way. I think because I elected to have the caesar that second time, I did cop a bit of judgment. And subsequently having a profile on social media you always get those questions - do you regret not trying to have a vaginal birth? How do you feel that you’ve never birthed a baby properly, was something that was said to me. I was like, well there’s not really a proper way. It was a way to connect with those people who have experienced the same thing. It’s not necessarily easier.

You share some incredibly raw moments of your life. How important is it to be honest on Instagram, a medium

Pictures: Sarah Harris Photography

where it’s easy to fake perfection?

I definitely think that in the space that I’m in, and obviously having respect for the audience that I have, which is largely women and mums, is that we already have so many pressures that we put on ourselves, that society puts on us, expectations and all that stuff. It is an effort to fake perfection, to act like everything is fine when it’s not. I’ve always shown the raw side of life, even sharing my recent surgery, including the actual procedure. And I wanted to give a real-time experience to my audience, and not just the highlight reel.

You have done some pretty cool posts and you’ve had some good partnerships over time. You’ve done posts on Disney, 6ft6 Wine and Woolworths - it must be a lot of fun doing that?

I count my blessings everyday that I have been able to turn something that was essentially a hobby and a means to help me with my own mental health into a full-time job that allows me to be at home with my kids, provide income for my family and, on top of that - the cherry on the cake - is that we have these amazing opportunities that are real once in a lifetime sorts of things that a lot of people wouldn’t get the opportunity to do. I grew up with a single mum and even though we didn’t have much money, I never knew or felt like that because we had such a rich life growing up, rich full of experience. We travelled - it wasn’t always international, it could have been just a couple of kilometres down the road, but I feel my mum did whatever she could to create opportunity and experience.

And I feel that’s exactly what I’m doing now for my own children.

Your husband Jeremy is featured in quite a few of your posts. How did you meet?

We’ve been together for 16 years, nearly 17 years now. We actually met when I was underage and had a fake ID, getting into a nightclub at 3 o’clock in the morning on King Street. It’s definitely one to tell the grandkids! I definitely did not tell my mum that for like 10 years!

Motherhood is a fun and challenging journey. What have you learned so far?

As time goes on, when you are in the thick of it with babies and newborns and

Olivia with her girls Annabelle and Theodora.

all of that haze that comes with it, people say to you ‘enjoy these moments, they go past before you know it in a blink of an eye, don’t wish it away’. I’m like ‘please shut up!’ But now I am that mum.

Now Annabelle and Teddy are in school I’m the one telling everyone ‘it goes past so quickly, in the blink of an eye they’re not babies anymore’. The one thing I’ve learnt is that no one knows - nobody has all the answers. You can buy all the books, read all the blogs, and follow all the people on Instagram, but there will never be two alike journeys. So while I think it’s fantastic that more people are becoming more honest and sharing online, and showing the realities of real motherhood, you still have to take everything with a grain of salt and understand that no one else that no one else’s experiences or journeys are going to be collectively the same as yours. You just need to be a lot easier on yourself and have that understanding that what’s happening to you isn’t the same thing that’s happening to someone else, or how you feel or react to something isn’t going to be the same as someone else does. Just as all children are different, we learn differently, grow differently.

That’s the understanding that I finally came to one day - the switch kind of flicked for me.

Check out Olivia on Instagram @ houseofwhite_ and online at https:// houseofwhite.com.au SPRING 2021 33

Reality Bites

Katrina with her kids Eva and Billie.

Picture: Rob Carew

Goodbye is the hardest word

By Melissa Meehan NO parent should have to say goodbye to their child.

But Katrina Jenkinson has had to say goodbye four times.

She’s lucky enough to have two healthy daughters, Ava and Billie.

baby,” Katrina said.

“It wasn’t worth living for us if we didn’t have one.”

Katrina said she just needed to be pregnant. It was the only thing that helped her survive.

She became pregnant 12 weeks later.

But that doesn’t take away the sadness of her losses.

“I think I just existed for nine months - I just sat there and waited, and waited,” she said.

The 35-year-old Melbourne mum her husband, Brad, started trying for a baby as soon as they got married.

“We had genetic testing done, so we knew we were all clear – but it was a long pregnancy.”

They were excited to find out they were expecting their first in 2014.

And so, by miracle, Eva was born on the night before what would have been Hamish’s first birthday.

“The 12 week scan was perfect, but the 20 week scan showed an obstruction in the bowel of the baby,” Katrina told Kids Today.

“They did a heap of testing and said he’d be transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital when he was born and have surgery to remove it and he’d be home with us four weeks later.”

Hamish was delivered at 37 weeks.

He was transferred straight to hospital as planned when he was six days old, they did his surgery as planned, but after six weeks nothing had changed.

“He wasn’t getting any better,” Katrina said.

“So they did another surgery to find out what was going on.

“But the surgeon came out half way during his operation and said there was absolutely nothing he could do because his obstructions were there again and assumed it was genetic.”

Hamish passed away the next day.

He was just six weeks old.

His death destroyed both Katrina and Brad.

Their eldest son had suffered from a really rare genetic condition called TTC7.

It causes bowel obstructions.

“After we had his funeral, all we could think about was having another 34 SPRING 2021

She’s now five years old, healthy and not a carrier of the genetic condition that claimed the life of her brother.

That condition is so rare that there are only two other families in Australia with it. Years went by and while so grateful for having Ava in their lives, Katrina and Brad decided to try for their third baby in 2018.

They were over the moon to find out they were pregnant with twins.

But genetic testing found that one of the twins was found to have the condition.

The decision was made to end Sadie’s life at 16 weeks to save the life of their daughter Billie, who is now two.

“I’ve always tried to prepare myself and think of ways to get through especially waiting for these results, but at the time when you’re told, you just get destroyed, absolutely distraught and it’s just so hard to get through,” Katrina said.

“But at that time I was lucky enough to have one healthy twin to focus on, but there was a big risk of losing her as well so it was a very stressful time and there’s just nothing you can do to get through it really you just have to actually just push on.”

Katrina carried Sadie and Billie before giving birth to both of them at 35 weeks.

“I think the processing came later on, which I thought would happen at the time but so much is happening,” Katrina said.

“When you deliver a baby and there’s so much excitement, so much joy from yourself and your family.

“And I think it came, you know, a few days later. That’s when it really hit me that I lost her because there was so much to do with that, you know, signing paperwork for her and all these things realising you’ve just got the one.”

Obviously so grateful to have Billie, Katrina said it was a really hard time.

“I cried. I felt so much pain throughout my body all of the times that I received bad news or a loss, it was just really hard to pick myself up out of that dark place,” she said.

“But you’ve got this baby that is relying on you. They are the ones to keep you going.”

The plan was always to have three living children.

So Katrina and Brad tried for another.

They became pregnant during the 2020 lockdown but kept the news to themselves.

The scans were perfect, so perfect in fact that the head of obstetrics made a special visit to tell Katrina how perfect her baby was looking.

“We did the testing, and I think that was probably the rudest shock I’ve ever received in my life and she was actually affected by the gene,” she said.

“So, last year in lockdown, you know, all by myself, no partner allowed in the hospital, basically, I had to go and have Stella at 16 weeks.”

The pandemic made the situation so much worse. She couldn’t have Brad’s support in hospital and couldn’t even go an d have coffee with a friend to debrief afterwards.

“That was probably the worst I was last year I think in June, it was the lowest I’ve ever felt,” she said.

“And probably because of the lockdown to I guess it was just a big shock.”

Katrina then started to work on herself.

She knew she needed to get into a positive mindset if they were to try again. They tried again and she became pregnant in December 2020.

And in February this year they got the news that the baby was affected with the condition again.

And she had to have Quinn at 16 weeks.

“It was still overwhelming, but I think that I had worked on myself so much, I had come a long way because I used to think this was happening for a reason,” she said.

“That I had done something wrong, so I was being punished. But now I know that it is not true. And these things just happen.

“So I think I was able to handle it a little better.”

Katrina and her family remember Hamish, Sadie, Stella and Quinn on a daily basis.

“We celebrate their birthdays, especially Hamish, because he was here and he lived and we have all of his stuff still,’ she said.

“And we love to take part in Run for the Kids and the Good Friday Appeal.

“We love raising money, because we feel something good is coming out of our heartache.”

They also have a garden at home that’s dedicated to the children who aren’t here.

There’s a plaque with their names and it’s a spot they can go to think about them.

“It has been such a rollercoaster, I feel like I have literally cried for six years,” she said.

“I’m hoping for some light at the end of this tunnel.” www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Bringing Frankie to life

By Danielle Galvin

bring Frank, a French bulldog/pug cross, to life on the pages of the book.

BOROONDARA based illustrator Marjory Gardner has an incredible eye for detail.

“I first had to work out what Frankie was going to look like, because he’s the main character. And then I added all the little details I know children love to spot when they are reading a picture book for the first, or the fiftieth time. It’s the beetles, the butterflies, the toys and the details that truly bring ‘Frankie goes to Kindergarten’ to life.”

In her latest book, ‘Frankie Goes to Kindergarten’, there are some wonderfully minute details she’s included, all for the benefit of her young readers.

She illustrated the book last year, written by educators Peta Baxter and Connie Hemmens, and featuring a real life kindergarten therapy dog, Frank.

It took roughly four-and-a-half months to illustrate, and the process was somewhat painstaking as she hand draws, colouring in the drawings with textas and then pencils.

Drawing traditionally is almost a lost art form, as many book illustrators these days use digital platforms.

“It was a really enjoyable project to work on over lockdown,” she explained.

“I wanted the book to appeal to children, teachers and parents.”

As soon as she got the brief from publisher Paul Collins of ‘Ford Street Publishing’, Marjory’s creative mind started imagining how she could

All up Marjory estimates she’s illustrated 200 or so books.

Most of her work has been for educational publishers, but she especially loves illustrating picture books.

Marjory also loves presenting drawing workshops to schools and early learning centres and talking to kids about the process of illustrating a book.

It’s an eye-opening experience for children to see how her illustrations develop from rough sketches to vibrant, bright characters and objects on the pages of her books.

She’s always amazed at the little details young children like to pick out.

“They are watching and learning all the time.”

Marjory also likes to encourage kids

Marjory hard at work in her studio.

to have confidence in their drawing, encouraging them to have fun with colour, pattern and detail.

“A lot of children lose confidence, even at kindy level. I try and get them to draw BIG. If they’re hesitant about their drawings they’ll draw small. And I encourage them not to copy. For example, instead of drawing The

Simpsons, I suggest they draw their own characters: The Sampson’s!”

She’s constantly amazed at the wonderful creations they come up with.

‘Frankie goes to Kindergarten’ is available online and in book stores.

You can contact Marjory by email (marjoryg@bigpond.net.au) or through her website: www.marjorygardner.com

Unique pooch is top dog at kindergarten

By Danielle Galvin

“Everyone just fell instantly in love with Frank so we asked our manager if we could keep bringing him and did a risk assessment and taught the children about hygiene with dogs and how to be gentle with dogs and where to pat them,” Peta said.

FRANK the kindy dog is an especially unique pooch.

It’s fair to say C&K Walkerston Community Kindergarten near Mackay, Queensland, wouldn’t be the same without him.

“And the rest is history…he has been our beloved kindy dog for the last three years now and kindy would not be the same without him.”

And now, Frank has a book written about him too, called ‘Frankie goes to kindergarten’.

Now, Frank comes to kindy a few times a week, happily greets each child and family when they arrive for the day, and he knows where to go and get his toys from his basket in the office.

Director of the kindergarten, Peta Baxter, says there’s a few other kindy dogs in their region, but it’s still quite rare to have a dog in a kindy class.

“Frank was never supposed to be a kindy dog. He was the screensaver on my laptop at kindy and the children would always ask me about him,” she explained.

He likes to sit with the kids and play with his toys while they play with theirs.

“They would ask what his name is, does he live with you? How old is he?

“They brush him and they even dress him up in home corner and thread necklaces for him too out of beads,” Peta said.

“They just really loved looking at this one photo of him and they asked if I could bring him in for show and tell one day as we sometimes have pets for show and tell and they really wanted to meet him.

“So I brought him in for show and tell one day.”

Peta thought he might get a bit excited with the kids, but she was surprised at how much he naturally fitted in, and how calm and cool he was.

“He stayed with the class, he didn’t www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

The kids also bathe him, learning about responsibilities and caring for animals.

Kindy wouldn’t be the same without Frank.

just go off and do his own thing in the playground.

“He sat with the children at group time, joined them in home corner and in the sandpit.

“We were just blown away at how he suddenly just became another member of our class.”

The kids were equally as excited as Frank, they’d all gone home that night to tell their parents about meeting Frank.

“They draw him pictures and he loves to sit with them and help calm them at group times.

“Children who are having separation anxiety from families seem to gravitate towards Frank and he cheers them up.

“If a child is ever crying, he goes over to check on them, he gets very concerned when a child starts to cry.

“He basically brings a whole lot of happiness to our children, staff, families and the wider community.”

Together with fellow educator Connie Hemmens, Peta came up with the idea to write a book about Frank, and it’s very true to form.

Melbourne-based illustrator Marjory Gardner brought Frank to life in the pages of the book with her incredible, beautiful drawings.

“They are just so colourful and detailed and she got some of her inspiration from photos of our Kindy and Frank’s Instagram page.

“The blue couch is just like our blue couch here and we also have chickens and mice and fish just like in the illustrations.

“Marjory is amazing and we got so lucky to have her as our illustrator.

“Connie and I have always wanted to write a book that is all about the fun things there are to do at kindy and also one that shows the families leaving in the morning but most importantly, returning at the end of the day after all the fun and learning.

“We have really noticed more and more as the years go by, more children are struggling with separation anxiety and we had the idea that we could help them before they even start kindy by writing a book that shows them how fun kindy is.

“When Frank came along, we realised we had the perfect character for a book of this nature so we wrote a book all about Frank and his day at kindy.”

SPRING 2021 35

Reality Bites

‘The not so perfect mum’ Anna with children Rachel, 18 months, Dominic, 5, and Reuben, 3.

Pictures: Rob Carew

Anna with baby Rachel and some sensory learning boxes.

The not so perfect mum

By Melissa Meehan

“It was hilarious. We couldn’t believe it.”

ANNA Du Rieu is not your average influencer.

The Melbourne mum of three actually tells it how it is and gives a warts and all view into the world of parenting.

“I run a blog, obviously, that is an honest parenting blog, and it shows my everyday life,” she told Kids Today.

“It’s none of these organised messfree, clean floors kind of gig, it’s the mayhem of every day, which I think is why I have such a following, because it is so brutally honest.”

The self-proclaimed “hot mess” uses her aptly named Instagram page @ thenotsoperfectmum, to share her experiences with her almost 60,000 followers.

She’s got followers from all around Australia, but the majority are from Victoria.

Anna is a typical modern-age stay at home mum, she works from home and looks after her three kids, Dominic, 5, Reuben, 3, and eight-month-old Rachel.

She runs a business creating sensory kits for kids, which she started two years ago after posting some of the activities she was doing with her own kids online.

“Everyone used to ask what I was doing, where I saw stuff from, and then a few people were asking me to make them for them and I said, ‘absolutely I can make them for you’,” she said.

“And I realised there was a business there - there was nothing similar on the market at that time here or overseas.”

She and her husband Joseph even joked that she might get 10 orders a month and she could just buy a little extra when she made stuff for her own kids.

They assumed it would be a hobby.

She set up the website and shared the post on her Instagram.

“It went nuts, like actually gangbusters from the moment we launched. Within 15 minutes of me launching the post on Instagram I had 17 subscription models already purchased,” she said.

36 SPRING 2021

And it hasn’t stopped since.

It’s a lot of work, especially juggling three kids.

And, thanks to Covid-19 (and Anna’s propensity to be a bit of a control freak) she no longer can rely on staff.

On the flip side, Covid-19 resulting in a huge increase in sales.

“Every time Australia got locked down, it was just madness. I can’t remember the exact figures, Joseph said it was something like four or five times what I would usually get in a month in a day,” she said.

“People were locked in their houses and needed something to stimulate the kids.”

While she worked in real estate before having kids, Anna has no real teaching background but was able to bounce her ideas off her best friend (who is a teacher) as well as pick the brains of family members.

“My step mum was a teacher, my mum, my mother-in-law, and my Auntie, are both heavily involved in child education,” she said.

“My grandmother and my Nana actually brought in the Montessori School in South Australia.

“And the Montessori school logo that’s my brother’s hands.”

She plans to go back and do some further study as her passion grows.

But it hasn’t been an easy ride.

“I was working until like three or 4am in the morning and then the kids would wake up at six,” she said.

“Joseph would ask what time I came to bed and I wouldn’t have.”

But she has worked at finding a better balance.

“It was really overwhelming but it was also, for me, having been a mum and going from a pretty corporate position where I was organising people’s lives. I was used to always been busy so I kind of missed that, and really stimulated me and I actually found that I became a better mum because I had a distraction from cleaning nappies and

Parents Anna and Joseph with children Dominic, 5, Rachel, 18 months and Reuben, 3.

doing the dishwasher,” she said.

“I had my own thing and I could work from home and it just worked. It’s definitely not for everyone because it’s, it’s a lot like you don’t sleep and your house is always full of stock.”

And that’s all part of her charm.

Anna’s followers can resonate with the fact that her house isn’t always clean, that she’s exhausted and trying to balance a billion things - just like most other mums.

It’s quite the departure from your more well-known mummy bloggers - and it’s on purpose.

“If you’re a first time mum, it’s quite isolating actually seeing all these people like absolutely killing it and having babies and sleep, and all that stuff,” she said.

page solely to balance the negative and fake things out there.

And that’s where the name @ thenotsoperfect mum came from.

She started with a small following, but it soon grew into something much bigger.

At the start she shared everything, but as it grew she became more mindful of her influence and other people’s headspace.

“I try not to let that stuff impact what I’m sharing but say for example, you know, like I’m really careful about not sharing any of the kids in like a private environment so like I would never show them with no clothes on, or if it’s an intimate moment like they’re having a breakdown or something like that,” she said.

“He used to not sleep longer than 40 minutes for the first hour. I think it was like 10 months of his life. It was horrible.”

“I need to respect my children’s boundaries and their life, and I would hate for them to turn around when they’re 15 and be like, why the hell did you show that.”

She took him to sleep school and found it traumatic.

It also opens her up to others providing commentary on her life.

“I read a post by quite a well-known media person who had pretty much said that if you went to sleep school you were a s#!@ mum,” Anna said.

Some accuse her of favouring her youngest, Rachel, although as the boys get older Anna is making a conscious effort not to have the camera constantly in their faces.

“I actually started my account, because Dominic was the worst sleeper.

“So I commented, I really like following this account but I don’t think its fair to say that someone is a crap mum because they want their kids to sleep - sleep deprivation is actually a form of torture.

“I thought I was super chill, very measured - but she and her minions came after me and I thought this isn’t fair.”

So Anna started her own Instagram

“Next year when Dom goes to school, he’ll go off the blog, even more because I need to respect that I don’t want people knowing where he goes to school,” she said.

“I try not to let those comments change my content because if what I’m posting isn’t authentic then people pick up on it straight away.

“It’s my life and it can be messy.” www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Books

A wild way to read

By Melissa Grant IF your child is obsessed with animals, then the new interactive book by Australian zoologist and TV presenter Chris Humfrey is a must-have.

Dubbed as Australia’s own Doctor Dolittle, Chris is a leading expert on native creatures big and small.

His book, Awesome Australian Animals, offers amazing insights into a number of species through quirky facts (such as koalas poop 200 times a day) and QR codes linking to fun educational videos.

Small children will love the wealth of exciting and funny photos, primary school kids can read at their own pace, and older children can dive into deeper levels of intriguing detail.

Profiled animals include the koala, lace monitor, giant burrowing cockroach, saltwater crocodile, shingleback and jungle carpet python.

Awesome Australian Animals is the latest venture from the lifelong conservationist and animal welfare crusader.

Chris has an animal sanctuary, Wild Action Zoo, in the Macedon Ranges, which houses many rare native species including penguins, tiger quolls, snakes and even blue-ringed octopus.

He lives in a house designed for people and animals, which he describes as “unusual”.

blue-tongued lizard to give birth. I watched the whole process, it was awesome!”

“Currently, I have two joey kangaroos sleeping on my couch, two parrots walking over my laptop, 55 critically endangered mountain pygmy possums in my laundry/wine cellar, two black-headed pythons on the lounge room floor, two sheep sitting on the back veranda, two possums in the garage, an Eastern quoll and a koala and an owl in the garage. It’s bedlam!” he said.

Amazingly, Chris still has some animal friends from his childhood, including Freddo the green tree frog which he found sticking to a urinal at a public toilet block.

Chris’s passion for animals big and small stems from his childhood. He grew up in the foothills of Mount Dandenong, with his family’s backyard bordering onto the bush.

“I spent most of my youth jumping the backyard fence and exploring and interacting with local wildlife,” he said.

“I would spend the day chasing lizards, snakes, and frogs and only came home for dinner. I had hundreds of pets with which I lovingly shared my life.

“My mum helped me rescue and rehabilitate possums and injured birds and my dad built me a purpose-built insulated reptile house.

“I vividly remember sleeping outside in the reptile shed, waiting for my

Chris is “super pumped” about his new book, which took him almost a year to put together. He had to write the text, film the clips and take the photos.

Chris Humfrey loves all creatures big and small.

Chris believes kids are the key to saving Australia’s precious wildlife and, through his book, aims to empower a young army of animal allies.

“We must teach children the importance of protecting all creatures, not just their favourites,” he said.

“I hope that my enthusiasm and passion for all things wild is contagious, and rubs off on the reader.”

Chris Humfrey’s Awesome Australian Animals, Reed New Holland, an imprint of New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99, available from all good book retailers or online, www.newhollandpublishers.com

Children’s books...

Chatterpuss

Backyard Birdies

Josh Pyke, illustrated by Daron Parton

Andy Geppert

THIS fun picture book from singer songwriter Josh Pyke is about a cat who just loves to chat. The problem is her friend Glen the Hen just wants some peace and quiet. Chatterpuss’s incessant chatter is a problem in class and during games of hide and seek. One day Glen cracks it - but just as he begins to enjoy some quiet time a bully emerges and he discovers that having a loud friend can be helpful!

With rhyming text and colourful illustrations, this book is great for kids aged 3+ Scholastic Australia, RRP $17.99

THIS new title is somewhat of a factual introduction to Australia’s most common backyard birds for kids who are ‘birdie’ obsessed.

The book even features the giant inflatable swan commonly found in backyard pools!

Also kookaburras don’t actually laugh at everyone’s jokes. And why are common pigeons common?

The book was born after the author found himself attaching personalities to each bird he and his young daughter saw in their backyard.

An entertaining read full of personality and humour plus a host of bright and bold illustrations.

Hachette Australia, RRP $19.99

www.StonningtonBoroondaraKids.com.au

Meet Ella Spotty Puppy Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald ELLA from the best-selling Ella and Olivia franchise has her own series! Meet Ella is a series of books based on Ella during her first years at school. The first instalment, Spotty Puppy, is a cute read about six-year-old Ella trying to reunite a lost pup with its owner even though she really wants to keep him. The second instalment, New Teacher, has also been released.

With simple vocabulary and a large to read font, the series is perfect for kids aged 5+.

Scholastic Australia, RRP $7.99

Skin Deep

Bella the Brave

Hayley Lawrence A compelling novel that follows the journey of a young girl named Scarlett who is badly burnt in an accident, and must come to terms with her new appearance and physical limitations.

Scarlett is desperate to escape the modern world for the desolate and isolated Matilda Mountain. However, in the wilderness she ends up finding unexpected friends who challenge her ideas about perfection and her place in the world.

This insightful book gently explores relevant themes for tweens and teens including trauma, beauty, self-worth, family and friendship.

Rebel Wilson Illustrated by Annabel Tempest Aussie movie star Rebel Wilson is releasing a picture book series to inspire young kids.

Bella the Brave stems from Rebel’s journey from shy girl in Sydney’s western suburbs to international movie star.

Bella is a girl who has much to say but is too shy. But when Bella’s mum brings her to the local choir it may just be her time to shine.

Rebel says the stories in her series are picked from personal experiences where she learned valuable life lessons.

For kids aged 11+.

Bella the Brave is due for release on October 27.

Scholastic Australia, RRP

Hachette Australia, RRP $19.99

$15.99 SPRING 2021 37

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Kids Calendar

What's on this spring

Abbotsford, Convent and Wesley College (St Kilda Rd).

For more information, visit open.nida. edu.au/melbourne

Kids will learn how to work with ink on paper using a pastel spring-time pallet to create collage work to be hung on the wall at home. All materials provided.

Cost $25 10.30am-12pm. More information at https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/

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11-26 SEPTEMBER

BOROONDARA YOUTH COOKING CLASS

VICTORIA NATURE FESTIVAL

A cooking class for kids aged 10-15 years.

The Nature Festival returns for its second year.

Featuring more than 80 events and experiences, the festival is full of creative ways to connect with nature.

You can get out and explore the wonders of Victoria’s nature or you can connect from your own home with live-streamed events and immersive videos.

Go on a bush walk, learn from Traditional Owners about Caring for Country and join exciting panel events.

Each event and experience will comply with Covid Safe settings. All events will be hosted on the Victoria Together platform.

More info: https://www.together.vic. gov.au/victoria-nature-festival

Light snacks will be provided, but it’s bring your own lunch.

UNTIL 17 OCTOBER

29 SEPTEMBER

Discover the creativity and innovation of almost 100 years of Disney Animation in ACMI’s latest Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition

YOUTH TIE DYING WORKSHOP

8.30am-1.30pm, Albert Park Lake For tickets and more info, visit https://www.walkforprems.org.au/ events/5/walk-together-melbourne

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ALL SPRING

SPRING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Starting from Monday 20 September at NIDA Melbourne (Southbank),

There will be a free live children’s entertainment show before the walk around the lake, plus a variety of food vans on site.

Light snacks will be provided, but it’s bring your own lunch.

30 SEPTEMBER

SPRINGTIME BOTANICALS

Coco’s Lunch are coming to Hawthorn!

Renowned for their award-winning songs, brilliant harmonies and live performances for kids, the group of five women inspire young audiences to shuffle, clap, surf, snap their rat traps and sing in all kinds of creative ways.

An ink-painting workshop for kids aged 5 to 12 years that’s inspired by spring.

11.30am-12.20pm, Hawthorn Arts Centre. Tickets are $20.

21 SEPTEMBER

Enjoy a great family day out at Melbourne’s flagship Walk for Prems event at Albert Park Lake.

A tie dying class for kids/teens aged between 10 and 18 years. Materials and tunes provided. Participants just need to bring along an article that they want to upcycle.

Tickets $17-$26.

Unleash your child’s creative spirit with NIDA during the spring holidays. There are courses available for grades Prep-12 in acting, audition preparation, musical theatre, film making, improvisation and writing.

WALK FOR PREMS

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DISNEY - THE ART OF ANIMATION

This exhibition contains original sketches and rare artworks from 1928 to the present day. See over 500 artworks from your favourite animations, and step inside a scene from the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

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The Shrine of Remembrance is offering a free self-guided program for families with primary school-aged children.

There are four different activity cards that provide a starting point for fresh perspectives of the Shrine. Kids are asked to consider and conjure their creative responses to a range of questions related to different aspects of the Shrine.

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