Casey Cardinia Kids - Winter 2022

WINTER 2022

Together we are better with

STEVE BIDDULPH Berwick family’s

IVF journey The juggle

is real

About Us

Warming up in winter AHH the crisp air of winter has arrived.

As we brace for the rain and winds of winter we realise the cold weather doesn’t mean we need to stay cooped up indoors.

There are many benefits of getting outside and lettings the cold air into your lungs and exploring what the local area has to offer.

Doctors say there are many positives of getting outdoors and breathing in the cold air and getting some sunlight increases circulation, vitamin D and can boost your immune system.

And that’s something all families need as we approach our first winter without a lockdown in some years.

or for those winter rashes, author Charlotte Rassmussen has got you covered with natural remedies.

There are so many great places to explore, restaurants that will warm those winter bellies and places to take the kids to explore.

You’ll love our stories on Berwick mum Beth and her IVF journey and Cranbourne mum Ashley’s aim to get the word out about diabetes.

So rug up and get outside, the kids will love it and you can support so many local businesses who have spent the last few years doing it tough.

I can’t wait to take the kids outside to splash in muddy puddles and play in the rain.

Stay healthy and have fun.

And for those of you wanting to stay inside with the kids, mum Erica Carew has you covered with 365 days of play

Diabetes and motherhood

Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Editorial Melissa Meehan

The world of dance PAGE 18

ACTIVITIES

HEALTH

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You can’t do it alone

Cortisone for sports injuries

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ENTERTAINMENT

Prepare to hit the road

Vision to help kids learn

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A chance at life

Nitty gritty of the titty

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Avoiding winter burns Munch time musings PAGE 6 Beetroot red velvet cakes

Casey Cornucopia overflows PAGE 29 Walhalla Goldfields Railway

Advertising advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

Mandy Clark

DENTAL

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Dental care for all

Action-packed holidays

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Orthodontic experts

FASHION

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.

Billy Lidz Fashion

EDUCATION

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See Amazing initiative

Support for prem appeal

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BOOKS

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Fight VCE stress

Our best playgrounds

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WINTER 2022

Get ready, Mama!

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Finding local schools

Discover new children’s books PAGE 37

Throw out expectations

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New approach to learning

KIDS CALENDAR

International literacy win

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What’s on this winter

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Flying Free through song

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Playground upgrade open

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Minaret marks 30 years

Start with local

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School has much to celebrate

Leap in for a gift

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New space to play and learn

Why not dig in?

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Early learning family focus

School holiday fun

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A nurturing environment

Together we are better with

STEVE BIDDULPH Berwick family’s

IVF journey The juggle

is real

Cover Sienna and Bella Greco take a walk through the rain.

Picture: Rob Carew

PAGE 27 Keeping kids busy

Fun for animal-lovers

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PAGE 14

PARTY TIME

BORN TO PERFORM

Rob Carew Stewart Chambers Gary Sissons

Advertising Manager

PAGES 32-33

PET CORNER

Photography

Paint your own pottery

Play to while winter away

PAGES 10-11

Phone: 5945 0666

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melissa.meehan @starnewsgroup.com.au

Island’s whale of a time

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Casey Cardinia Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Casey Cardinia Kids

CONTENTS IT’S YOUR LIFE

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Games to start the party

Dance’s hidden benefits

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PAGE 18

Party invites get fancy PAGE 17

caseycardiniakids.com.au

facebook.com/caseycardiniakids

instagram.com/caseycardiniakids

It’s Your Life

The juggle is real Ashley with her daughter.

By Casey Neill

Ashley also counted herself lucky to be “in this generation of women who have access to tech and devices that can help monitor my blood sugars more closely”.

FEARS and concerns are often front of mind during pregnancy.

For most, diabetes doesn’t need to be one of them, but it topped the list for Cranbourne mum Ashley Ng.

During pregnancy, she was adjusting to physical and hormonal changes while also managing her food intake.

“We tried as much as we could to plan things ahead so we wouldn’t have any unexpected surprises,” the type one diabetic said.

“Food is the main contributor to fluctuating blood sugars - it was always at the forefront of my mind,” Ashley said.

“It was one of my biggest worries: how was diabetes going to play out.”

“At the start it was actually quite nice.

In the first trimester when everything’s growing and developing, that’s when we often get low blood sugars.

Everyone labelled her daughter, who was 15 months old when we spoke in March, a ‘lockdown baby’.

“But it was planned, in that we’d got married, got a house, and the next logical step was to have kids,” she said.

“I knew my biological clock was ticking, especially with a chronic condition like diabetes.”

She climbed back into bed and lay awake for the next two hours, before getting up to double check those two blue lines had really appeared.

“That’s when I woke my husband up,” she said.

“It’s such a mixed bag of emotions.”

Ashley’s diabetes is atypical, so no one could tell her how pregnancy was going to affect the condition or vice versa.

But she had the support of a health care team, including a referral to a specialist.

“Being an automatic high-risk www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

pregnancy sounds daunting, but it was comforting that extra things were put in place to make sure things were going well,” she said.

“It was a really good safety net for me.

“My first pregnancy was actually really chilled because we were in lockdown most of the time.

“A part of me is still really nervous.

That is probably the biggest thing I’m nervous about,” she said.

Juggling work has also been a challenge, especially when Covid restrictions closed childcare centres.

“I think post-pregnancy was probably where I struggled most.

“You’re expected to work like you don’t have a kid.

Fellow mums with diabetes told Ashley to have snacks on hand and to always sit somewhere low while feeding in case she passed out.Her mum made her a caddy packed with snacks, wipes and nappies to carry around the house.

She’d woken at 4am to use the toilet, so decided to take a test.

Ashley’s second daughter is due in June. She’ll speak to a midwife for advice on preparing for a smoother breastfeeding journey.

“I was keen to go back to work, but I really struggled in terms of trying to balance it all,” she said.

“You can see your blood sugars plummeting as you’re breastfeeding.”

“It wasn’t a surprise, but it was also a surprise and an ‘oh crap’ moment - this is actually happening,” she laughed.

“I chose one day when I was in an OK mood and pushed through it.

Something just clicked for both of us, and we just got it.”

“I could think ‘I’m going to have that ice cream’ and I wouldn’t have to worry so much.

“When you’re trying to breastfeed, it sucks the energy out of you.

Ashley and her husband conceived within a couple of months.

breastfeeding could help with the clog.

Adding to the challenge, her daughter was born with a tongue tie and struggled to latch.

“Breastfeeding was really painful. I wasn’t sure if I was doing something wrong,” Ashley said.

“I ended up exclusively pumping for a little bit because I found it way easier.

“I was working from home. There was no pressure to go anywhere or be super busy.

“There was a lot of pressure from everyone in terms of ‘you really should be just breastfeeding off the boob rather than using a machine’.

“So I think that was a blessing in disguise.”

“I ended up getting mastitis a couple of weeks in. Even the GP said

“You have two jobs.”

And both cause guilt. That built up recently when her husband had to work extra hours.

“It broke me. I had to make an appointment with the GP and make a mental health care plan,” Ashley said.

“The GP said ‘you need to start to let things go, understand that pre-baby you were a high achiever, you were probably a perfectionist, you did a lot of things with your life, but now priorities have changed’.

“It’s about adjusting your expectations.

“But I really don’t want to adjust my expectations. I want to be able to do it all.

“A few friends said to me ‘being able to do everything is a myth, there’s a time and place for everything’.

“Sometimes you have to pause things and come back to them.”

Winter 2022 3

It’s Your Life

We all need each other to feel okay We all need each other to feel okay, writes STEVE BIDDULPH ONE of my biggest heroes is a psychiatrist called Dr. Gabor Mate. He works in Vancouver, Canada, with street people and especially drug addicts. He is well into his 80’s, and on you can find him on YouTube. He looks like a kindly turtle with scrawny neck and big soft eyes. My family tell me I am slowly turning into him!

Gabor had a rough childhood. He was born in Hungary just as the Nazis were invading. And he was Jewish.

Baby Gabor wasn’t sleeping very well, and his mum rang their family paediatrician.

The old doctor told her - yes my dear, (and these words still send a chill down my spine) none of my Jewish babies are sleeping. The message of this story, which he often shares, is that when the parents are worried, then the kids are worried too. To use a not very scientific term - “they pick up on it”.

Coming back to the present day, this puts every one of us who is bringing up children - of any age, into a difficult position. We know, almost instinctively, that our kids really do best if we ourselves are calm and happy. But you can’t fake those things. And all around us are reasons to be very very stressed.

This is not a family friendly world that our politicians or employers have created, and just buying or renting a house and feeding everyone is getting

harder. Every family feels it.

I am hearing this every day from families on my Facebook community for parents of boys. Each month I award a Comment of the Month prize for the best comment, and this month’s was to a nurse and mother, who had three special needs children, and a partner who was on deployment in the army!

She made such great comments about how impossible life was becoming with the dual expectations of school and work. Others were coming onboard, with supportive or agreeing comments.

We couldn’t do much practical, but it was good just to share stories. For a brief half hour, we all felt like we were a tribe, in the same boat, and caring about each other.

Social media is a two edged sword, it can turn nasty in a matter of seconds and leave you feeling worse. But the point is true. We really need connection

every single day with people who have time for us, and listen to us, and don’t shame us for the pain we are in.

the evening is often the only time we have to really be a family, this mini break can get it off to a better start.

So this is the message I want to give you (sorry, it was a slow way to get around to it). - you can’t handle life on your own, we just aren’t made that way. Human beings are needed to make other human beings feel okay. A baby cries and we soothe it. A child comes home from school ratty, and we hug them and let them chill, or sit and listen to what has gone wrong today.

Parents getting back together at the end of a long day might need to stop the headlong rush to make dinner, and first thing have a quiet drink, some nourishing snacks, and just get into rhythm with each other to make the evening go well. Not too much talking.

Not “who had the worst day” competitions. Just smiling at each other and breathing a deep breath in. Since

If you are parenting alone, then a caring friend is absolutely essential. You can feel your body letting go of stress when someone who loves you meets your eye, gives you a hug, is clearly happy to see you. We can do this for each other, we parents. Us oldies with our scrawny necks and big soft eyes can look out for the young struggling parents in our street or family circle.

When parents feel loved, then they can love their children more. Together we make the world get better.

Steve’s new online talk THE FULLY HUMAN PARENT is being offered by Manningham City Council on June 7th - booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/BZAAB

Be prepared before you hit the road THE following is a message from VACC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gwilym:

and a portable phone charger. Take cash, a torch and spare batteries, blankets and water. Carrying jumper leads is also essential.

We are approaching school holiday time and for many families that may mean the first road trip in a long while.

■ Importantly, tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Driving is an economical and fun way to create a memorable holiday but, whether you’re going off-road or glamping, things won’t always turn out how you plan them.

When it comes to road safety, the two most important things you can influence are the condition of your vehicle and your ability to drive it with care and concentration.

So, here are some tips to get you there safely.

■ You should regularly conduct both internal and external visual checks of your vehicle: check whether your seatbelts, lights (including indicators and brake lights) are functioning correctly, and if there is any dangerous body or windscreen damage. Inspect all tyres for wear and ensure they’re inflated to the recommended pressure – that goes 4 Winter 2022

■ There will be lots of people on the roads during the holidays. Be patient, be courteous, and take regular rest breaks.

Make sure you and your family make it to your destination and back safely these school holidays.

Picture: Supplied

for trailers and caravans, too.

■ Before heading off, check you have a roadworthy spare tyre and wheel on board, and you know how to change it.

■ Never change a tyre on the side of the road if there’s traffic close to your vehicle. Call a breakdown service instead.

■ If towing a caravan, trailer or boat, connect it properly, checking all

lights work, and you have correctly positioned the driving mirrors.

■ It is also important to make sure you know how to safely manoeuvre your vehicle and the load behind. If your skills need brushing up, be sure to practice before you leave home.

■ Fill up your tank and carry spare fuel in a safe container if you visit remote areas.

■ Keep a first aid kit in your vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle in optimum condition is a partnership involving you and your local repairer. Keeping your vehicle serviced and maintained by a trusted automotive technician is crucial.

A thorough professional inspection using up-to-date specialist equipment can detect dangerous deficiencies, like worn brake pads and leaking brake lines, degraded suspension components, and misaligned wheels.

Importantly, never stop learning.

Road safety is not everyone else’s responsibility. It is yours. So, make sure you and your vehicle are fit for the road, and that way, we can all have a fun and safe holiday. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Bethany Copeland.

“Each child you’re a slightly better parent, because you’ve got more experience.

“It’s going to be hard to keep up with them when I’m sleep deprived, but I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

So doing the maths, the Copelands still have seven more embryos. What will become of them?

“It’s not a problem I ever thought I’d have,” Beth said.

“Should they have a chance at life?”

She said donating to science wasn’t an option at the moment.

“There’s a lot of ethics around it,” she said.

Then there’s disposal, or donation to a couple unable to conceive.

“I like researching things and trying to see both sides,” Beth said.

“America’s been doing this for longer and stuffed up more things than us.

“It’s like a warning - let’s not do it that way.

“There are people out there that were donor conceived that are pretty angry about the situation.

Bethany with Evan and Elliana.

A chance at life

By Casey Neill

months after Elliana was born. So they’re 19 months apart.

THE IVF pathway to parenthood overcame the Copelands’ unexplained infertility, but created a further challenge they hadn’t expected.

“I thought ‘I’ve got the girl and boy, I should be done, yeah? That was a bit nuts for a moment there’.

Berwick couple Bethany and Stephen are expecting their third child on 7 August.

“I think the fact I was trying so hard to talk myself out of having another one was a sign.”

“Late July would be nice!” Beth laughed.

“I wanted four originally.

“I wanted to have my first at 28.”

But after four years battling unexplained infertility, they turned to IVF and conceived Elliana.

“We got 10 embryos,” Beth said.

“Technically there was nothing wrong with either of us in all the testing.

“Evan came about all by himself, 10 www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

“But I couldn’t squash it.

They tried to conceive naturally.

“But I felt myself starting to get anxious again,” Beth said.

“We decided we may as well go back and do the embryo thing.”

They decided they’d try three transfers.

“If it didn’t work we were going to take it as a sign,” she said.

They were successful on their second attempt.

“I feel older this pregnancy,” Beth said.

“My body is getting sorer a lot faster than it did with the other two.

“It expanded faster. Everyone’s asking ‘when are you due, the next couple of weeks?’.

“The bump is quite big and my back’s already sore.

“If this is a good baby and I forget that, then I wouldn’t be surprised if we have another one.

“I’m going to have to upgrade to the mum wagon, I may as well fill it.

“I’ve accepted the chaos.”

She’s not as scared about going from two to three as she was about one to two.

“I’m already outnumbered, so I’m just going to be more outnumbered,” she laughed.

“A lot were lied to and found out as adults.

“Our clinic reckons they do anonymous only donations and you just have to donate to whoever’s next on the list.

“I’m totally not comfortable with that at all. I want to know about the people.

“Also, I want the option of having a more open donation.

“I don’t want to get involved with parenting. I reckon I could separate myself.

“But I do want the opportunity that if that person wants to know about their full genetic siblings that they could know them.”

The clinic will hold the frozen embryos for 10 years, so the Copelands have another four years to decide their fate.

“I’ve heard of people having them transferred at a time of the month when it’s impossible for them to stick. But what if it did?

“I’ve heard of people getting them made into jewellery.

“It’s a big issue. It’s not simple at all.”

Winter 2022 5

It’s Your Life

Keeping your little one safe from burns and scalds this winter WINTER is here, and the cold weather has definitely set in! It’s the season where a lot of us look towards hot drinks, hot food, a nice warm bath, or cosying up by an open fire to help keep warm and dry. While all of these bring a sense of comfort, they can also pose a risk of burns and scalds, particularly to those who are most vulnerable children.

help you identify and reduce the risks posed by a range of common household burn and scald hazards.

If a burn does occur, it is important to remember to: ■ Remove - remove yourself from danger. Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burn area unless well stuck to the skin ■ Cool - place the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes.

Never use items like ice, oil or butter on a burn as these can make it worse

Common causes of burns and scalds The home is the most common location for childhood burn injuries, with the majority occurring in the kitchen particularly when a child is near someone cooking.

Common burn and scald hazards for children include hot drinks and food, hot water, household heaters and fires, and appliances such as irons and hair straighteners.

It may be surprising, however, items such as treadmills and vehicle exhausts are also common causes of burn and scald injuries.

■ Cover the burn with a clean dressing ■ Seek medical attention if the burn or scald is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or buttocks, is larger than a 20-cent coin or blistered

It’s important to watch kids in the kitchen.

Prevention and treatment There are some practical things we can all do to reduce the risk of burns and scalds, including keeping hot food, drinks and appliances out of children’s

reach and restricting their access to the kitchen when meals are being prepared.

Kidsafe have developed a free Burns Safety Checklist with practical tips to

Research has shown that giving school children an extra five minutes to eat their lunch before play is likely to benefit them in a variety of ways.

For more information about the prevention and correct first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds, please visit https://www.kidsafevic. com.au/home-safety/fire-safety-burnsand-scalds/.

Picture: iStock

Do kids have enough munch time at lunch?

DO kids have enough munch time at lunch time?

Recent research conducted by Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) and School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (SENS) has revealed some interesting information about kids and their lunchtimes.

Most primary-aged kids only receive around 10 minutes to eat their lunch at school, despite the fact that many parents and teachers agree that this is not enough time.

The Deakin University study showed that most parents believed children needed at least 15 minutes to each their lunch before being permitted to go outside to play.

“Our research found that some parents also believe that limiting eating 6 Winter 2022

times influences the types of food their children wanted to take for lunch,” says Dr Melissa Burton from SENS. “For example, with less time to eat, children are more likely to prioritise the most appealing foods in their lunchbox, such as the treats, which are often nutrient poor,” she says.

“These findings not only have implications for children’s health but also their ability to learn, as research tells us that good nutrition is necessary to help children thrive academically.”

Dr Claire Margerison from IPAN said that though research revealed parents reporting their children would be more likely to finish the contents of their lunch box with more time, there are mixed views on whose responsibility it is to encourage healthy eating, among other things.

“About half of the parents and teachers surveyed said only parents and children should choose what food they eat at school, while one quarter of parents and one third of teachers believed that schools should have a responsibility to monitor food brought from home,” says Dr Margerison.

“Criticising individual children’s lunchboxes was generally viewed as inappropriate among both parents and teachers,” she says.

However, the study also showed that parents were open to general suggestions and feedback about the contents of kids’ lunchboxes.

“Many parents thought teachers should eat their own lunch with the children, believing this would be a good opportunity to role model healthy eating to children,” says Dr Margerison.

This sentiment wasn’t as popular with teachers as it was with parents.

“Children spend so much of their time at school, the lines between what is the parent’s responsibility and what is the teacher’s responsibility is often blurred, and these research findings certainly highlight some of those grey areas,” Dr Margerison says.

The study clearly shows that giving children an extra five minutes to eat their lunch will be beneficial and has the potential to increase children’s ability to focus and learn.

“How we find that extra five minutes is what we want to look at next,” says Dr Margerison.

“Do we take it from play time or class time, or could we have an educational lunch and teach about nutrition at the same time?” www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Beetroot Red Velvet Cupcakes

Beetroot is a superfood, according to Lucy.

IF you ask me, beetroots are a proper superfood for kids.

They’re packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, E, C & K, and B vitamins, all of which help kids brains to function optimally and keep their heart and blood vessels happy. If you’re child suffers from low iron – a common condition I see in kids today, especially among picky eaters – then beetroots may help them to beet it (get it?) thanks to the plant-based iron they contain too.

Beetroots are an excellent source of fibre that supports healthy digestion, gut function and elimination. The naturally occurring nitrates in beetroots can help improve the efficiency of our energyproducing cells making them a great energy-boosting food for active kids too.

Beetroots are also considered a ‘good mood food’ because they contain

in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart compounds that help to calm and relax the mind and contribute to a sense of well-being and happiness.

Let’s not forget about the beauty of beetroots ruby red hue either that make for a wonderful sensory experience for kids.

When veggies look this good, there’s no need to hide them and beetroot’s earthy sweetness works perfectly with a hint of chocolate in these cupcakes.

Getting kids involved in the kitchen is fun for all.

Ingredients: Cupcakes: ■ 2 medium beetroots, washed, peeled and grated

Topping: ■ 2 cups thick Greek or coconut yoghurt ■ Zest of 1 lemon

■ 1 cup almond meal

■ 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup

■ ½ cup brown rice flour

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 180’C and line 6 muffin pans with muffin cases or use a silicone muffin pan.

■ 1/3 cup cacao powder ■ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup ■ ¼ cup olive oil ■ 2 free-range eggs ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract ■ ½ tsp cinnamon ■ Pinch of sea salt

Pictures: Studio 74 Photography

2. Add all ingredients to a highpowered blender and process until you have a smooth batter.

3. Divide the mixture evenly between muffin cases and cook for 40-minutes.

4. To make the topping, mix all ingredients together until combined and spread over the top of your cooled cupcakes.

Beetroots are an excellent source of fibre

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 7

It’s Your Life

365 days of play to while the winter away WINTER is upon us.

As the sun shines less and the sky rains more, we may find ourselves spending more time inside as a family trying to entertain children of all different ages.

The stress of entertaining children can seem overwhelming when sending them outdoors is not an option.

Geelong mum Erica Carew says she will not let us return to the lockdown lives we lead in 2020 by turning ourselves inside out trying to find ways to entertain the newborn, the toddler and the primary school student at the same time.

Here are three of my favourite activities and the simple ways to adapt them regardless of whether your children are 3 months, 3 years or even in Grade 3 at school.

Treasure hunts ■ 6 months - Have baby on their tummy or sitting up and place some items close by them. Cover these items with a cloth and help baby to discover what is hiding underneath.

■ 12 months - Place larger and well loved items in easy to see places around the house. Maybe it’s a teddy sitting on a chair at the table, in their bed or in the bath and ask your little one to help you find them.

■ 2 years - Now that your little one is on the move, have them search for well loved and recognised items. Draw or show them pictures of the items you have hidden or items they might find around the house.

From this age you can also start using our treasure hunt printables.

There are a few ways to use these printables.

Print two copies of these images, cut one up and sticky tape or blue tack them to door frames, furniture, walls or even tree trunks outside. Once these images are found you can take them back to ‘home base’ and match them with the second printed copy.

Give your little one a copy of the treasure hunt list and have them go and find the items in the image. We often place the printout in the middle of the floor and then make a circle around using the items we find.

■ 6 years - As our children grow we can begin to involve them in the set up of play activities. Take turns where one of you hides the items and the other has to go and find them.

Another option is to draw a map and have x’s in the spots where the items might be hidden.

Our treasure hunt printables are also perfect for any age.

Obstacle courses The main thing you have to think of is - How can my child move using these obstacles?

Over, under, around and past.

The next question is - How will they move?

Jump, skip, hop, crawl and run In which direction?

Forwards, backwards, in a circle or a straight line.

8 Winter 2022

Make sure you are only providing activities for your children that you know they have the motor skills to participate in and make sure they are safe.

■ 6 months - Carry baby over, under and around obstacles in your house.

Holding them in your arms like they are an aeroplane is another great way for baby to participate in this style of activity and is also great for their neck strength.

■ 12 months - Set up an obstacle course that provides opportunities for them to challenge their bodies abilities and to practise new skills. Have them climb over pillow mountains, crawl under chairs and tables and walk while holding onto tables.

shares a simple way to play for every day of the year. These activities have been created for children 0-6 years of age however many of the activities have the ability to be adapted to be perfect for the whole family.

Many more simple and easy play ideas like these can be found in her book 365 Ways to Play and over on her instagram page @ chroniclesofplay.

Picture: Arm Lee Carlon Photography @myleecarlonphotography

■ 2 years- Set up the course around the house using everyday household items. Crawl under the table, climb over the bed, skip around the laundry basket. Trial it first by showing them how to move around each obstacle.

■ 6 years- Set up an obstacle course as above however this time you can also introduce more language around how they can move through the course. Jump over the pillows like a kangaroo, do the entire course backwards, time how quick each person can make it through the obstacle course and even encourage them to discover new ways of moving around the same objects in your house. They could pretend the floor is lava and they have to get from point A to point B without falling in.

*Painting* ■ 6 months- Slide a piece of paper inside a zip lock bag, add a few drops of paint on to the paper and close the bag. Tape this bag to the floor or high chair and baby can finger paint without the mess.

■ 12 months- FInger painting time.

Tape a piece of paper to the bottom of a plastic tub and add a few drops of different coloured paint. Now they can finger paint and mix up colours without the risk of the paint sliding off the edge of the paper.

■ 2 years- Find different objects that can be used as paint brushes. Forks, foil, cotton wool balls, sticks and bubble wrap all make some really interesting patterns. A great way of using these items is to attach a peg to them and use the peg as the ‘paint brush handle’ ■ 6 years- Recycling and painting into one. Pick a box out of the recycling bin and be inspired. Use some paint, stickers, pom poms and pipe cleaners and turn the simple box into an amazing creation. Is it a castle? Is it a robot? Is it a race car? Your imagination is your only limit!

Erica’s ethos and ideas are not about being grand, they are all about using what we have at home to create fun, play experiences for our children.

Simple little tweaks to each of these activities will hopefully have your children entertained for long periods of time as this wintery weather sets in.

In her book ‘365 Ways to Play’ she www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Berwick Mum Nicky Carroll with twins Riley (left) and Jye (right).

Picture: Supplied

Premmie mum gives thanks

By Eleanor Wilson WHEN Nicky Carroll went on maternity leave at 26 weeks pregnant in August, she thought she would have a few months to prepare before she welcomed her newborn twins.

Instead, just two days into her leave, twins Riley and Jye were born prematurely at Monash Children’s Hospital, each weighing less than one kilogram.

The next 111 days were spent in the neonatal intensive care unit of the hospital, with staff concerned about the health of both babies.

“The first couple of weeks it was really touch and go, Riley was good, but Jye wasn’t too impressed with being out in the outside world so early,” Ms Carroll said.

Born at just over 900 grams, Jye was signed up to a leading program that

uses stem cells from the placenta and cord blood to protect, repair and regenerate vital body tissue.

Thanks to the ground-breaking program, his condition quickly improved, but the health of his twin sister Riley, who wasn’t eligible for the stem cell program due to a lack of sufficient cord blood, began to decline.

“About two weeks after they were born Riley was very unwell, she had NEC which is necrotizing enterocolitis, meaning parts of her bowel basically dies,” Nicky said.

NEC affects roughly one in 1000 premature babies and in Riley’s case, caused her to need a third of her bowel removed.

Now five months, Ms Carroll said the twins are getting healthier and stronger by the day. “[Jye] has done amazing, he’s hitting all his developmental milestone and

isn’t facing any delays,” she beamed.

or paediatric service.

“Riley has improved a lot too, she’s had three surgeries so she’s still playing catch up a bit, but she’s definitely getting there.”

Ms Carroll said the support from Coles makes a world of difference for families with premature babies.

The stem cell program at Monash Children’s Hospital is one of several programs nationwide being supported by a Coles supermarket fundraising initiative to improve the survival rate and quality of life for premature babies.

From Wednesday 30 March until Tuesday 12 April, Coles’ shoppers can buy a $2 donation card at the checkout to support Curing Homesickness, with all funds raised going directly to fund vital projects across the country.

Shoppers can also support the cause by purchasing a jar of Mum’s Sause pasta or pizza sauce throughout the year, with 50 cents of every jar sold going to a children’s hospital foundation

“I don’t think anyone who has a baby thinks they are going to spend time in NICU, and the stem cell program isn’t something everyday families like ours can usually afford,” she said.

“So the Coles fundraiser is such a great support for families with premature babies.”

Curing Homesickness Director Nicola Stokes said funds raised will provide much needed support for sick kids and their families across Australia.

“We believe kids don’t belong in hospital; they belong at home. By purchasing a $2 Curing Homesickness card or a Mum’s Sause pasta or pizza sauce, you’ll be helping to fund vital projects to minimise the amount of time kids spend in hospitals.”

Subject to change following government guidelines.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

www. shoppingonclyde. com.au

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280 BerwickCranbourne Rd, Clyde

Winter 2022 9

It’s Your Life

Our best playgrounds Paddy and Annabel O’Hara explore the PB Ronald Reserve Playground.

PLAYGROUNDS are great places for children to have fun, explore, meet new friends and expel some energy.

These days, playgrounds are more than just slides and swings with many boasting nets, climbing walls, tunnels and other fun adventure equipment.

They can offer hours of entertainment and, best of all, it doesn’t cost a cent.

Families in Casey and Cardinia are spoilt for choice when it comes to playgrounds, with parks constantly popping up in new housing estates and older play equipment undergoing major upgrades.

ALMA TRELOAR PARK HEALESVILLE KOOWEERUP RD, COCKATOO If your child loves to climb, they will love this playground.

The green-themed park features a variety of adventure equipment including rock and climbing walls, pommel walk and nets.

There’s also a ladybug springer, spinner and tractor play unit.

The recently upgraded playground is surrounded by plenty of grass, which is perfect for the kids to run around on or kick a footy.

RAY BASTIN RESERVE NORFOLK DR, NARRE WARREN A space themed playground that is simply out of this world.

This park packs plenty of entertainment for kids of all ages and abilities.

The main play equipment, which is fenced off, features a huge tube slide and rockets to explore.

The play area also features a space control station, moon buggy and swings.

There is also a liberty swing (a swing for children in wheelchairs).

The Ray Bastin Reserve playground has a fun space theme.

Although the main play equipment isn’t covered, there is plenty of shade.

LIVVI’S PLACE PLAYGROUND RESERVE BOLAND DRIVE, LYNDHURST Livvi’s Place is a top place for kids to play. Located at the Marriott Waters Recreation Reserve, the well-shaded playground features a great range of equipment that caters to all abilities.

The reserve also has barbecue, drinking fountain and toilet facilities.

There are a heap of swings including basket swings, a huge slide, sandpit,

With a BMX track and skate park in the reserve, this is a great spot for parents with smaller and older kids.

climbing mound and net and a wheelchair carousel. Kids will especially love the huge double flying fox.

This playground is well thought out with accessible pathways and various play areas. It is also fenced and includes toilet facilities, drinking fountain, barbecue and plenty of places to sit.

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10 Winter 2022

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The huge slide on adventure hill at Casey Fields Regional Playground.

GRAND PRIX PARK SKYLARK BVD, CLYDE NORTH This park is definitely worth making a pit stop at.

Grand Prix Park features its very own racetrack that’s perfect for kids to ride around on their bikes, scooters and rollerblades.

Inspired by the world’s greatest raceways, the track features play towers at the finish line for young racers to hone their skills.

Located in the Berwick Waters Estate, the park also features swings, a tube slide and a zipline.

There are barbecue facilities and plenty of space for a picnic.

Just be sure to keep a close eye on your kids to prevent them from running out onto the track CASEY FIELDS REGIONAL PLAYGROUND BERWICK-CRANBOURNE ROAD, CRANBOURNE EAST Weehee! A huge slide is the focal point of this adventure playground that has equipment for kids big and small.

The big blue slide is on ‘adventure hill’, which also features a bird nest swing and climbing areas.

There is also a large pirate ship play structure and another playground that’s great for younger kids.

The picturesque playground has six-metre high climbing net and rope bridge and climbing mounds and net bridges.

There is also a liberty swing for kids who use wheelchairs, plus a village green community space.

With barbecue and picnic facilities, the playground is a great spot for gatherings.

PB RONALD RESERVE JOHN ST, PAKENHAM This popular timber adventure playground is huge and recently underwent a refurbishment.

The main feature of the upgraded park is ‘The Great Keep’, a brightlycoloured sky tower featuring three enclosed tube slides.

There is also the ‘The Frigate’, some boat-themed play equipment suitable for younger kids.

The scooter track around the perimeter of the playground features signage and cubby houses. It’s the perfect place for kids to ride around on their scooters and trikes.

The playground also features plenty of different swings and inground mini trampolines.

There is some shaded areas as well as drinking fountains and barbecue facilities.

Toilets are a short stroll away and there is also exercise equipment and a skate park nearby.

Off and racing! Part of the track at Grand Prix Park at the Berwick Waters Estate, Clyde North.

LAKESIDE PARK LAKESIDE BVD, PAKENHAM This revamped park features two playgrounds - one for younger kids and another targeted at older children.

The playground for younger kids features low slides, a noughts and crosses game, a tube to crawl through and swings.

The play equipment for older kids boasts a huge tube slide, climbing nets galore and a tyre swing.

Kids can also practice their basketball skills at the park which features a half-court.

The park has barbecue facilities, seating, drinking fountains and some shaded areas.

The playground at Don Jackson Reserve, Pakenham.

ARCADIA ESTATE PLAYGROUND BIGGS DRIVE, OFFICER If you have a little Tarzan, they will love this playground!

The park is full of ropes and nets for them to climb on. Located in a quiet area, the playground also features long slides, swings, ladders, seesaw, sandpit and tunnels.

There are also plenty of park benches to watch from. The playground is surrounded by green grassy areas and spotted with trees, however there isn’t a lot of shade.

DON JACKSON RESERVE PLAYGROUND AHERN ROAD, PAKENHAM Talk about space! This playground is right next to a massive reserve where kids can play footy, soccer and cricket.

And there is a basketball ring, so don’t forget to pack a ball.

The playground was upgraded last year and features a great variety of equipment including five different swings, slides and nets. There’s also a host of fitness equipment.

Arcadia Estate Playground in Officer is full of climbing equipment.

Believing in Children, Young People, Families & Their Future.

The huge tube slide at Berwick Waters Waterside Park.

We urgently need more foster carers, just like you!

In Victoria, the number of children who cannot live safely at home has risen every year over the last 10 years.

Many of the children and young people in our care have suffered abuse, neglect, or trauma and are desperately in need of a safe and nurturing home.

BERWICK WATERS WATERSIDE PARK SPRINGBROOK DRIVE, CLYDE NORTH This is a fantastic park for a picnic or coffee, with plenty of spots to sit while the kids play.

Did you know?

1 in 32 Children across Australia need child protection services

There are a heap of picnic tables under shade, plus a number of benches around the park. The well-shaded playground suits older children and features three slides, including a huge tube slide. There is also a seesaw, netted bridges, basket swing, half basketball court and barbecue facilities.

Over 11,000 Victorian children cannot live safely at home

Over 2,000 children - Which is more than a quarter of Victorian children in care are under five years old

Change the life of a child or young person in your community

Start your foster care journey today!

T 03 9239 1400 W berrystreet.org.au/fostercare

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Winter 2022 11

It’s Your Life

Georgie and Brett Timmins with sons Joshua and William.

Picture: Rob Carew

Throw out your expectations

By Casey Neill GEORGIE and Brett Timmins always wanted to be parents.

When we spoke, their eldest son William had just turned 3 and youngest Joshua was 18 months old.

“I had an idealised perception of what motherhood was going to be like,” Georgie said.

“I thought I’d look into William’s eyes and fall madly in love.

Feeling a pull to return to work as a teacher was another unexpected challenge.

She draws on her experience in the primary school classroom to adapt to their needs more than she likes to admit.

“I always thought I wanted to be a stay at home mum,” teacher Georgie said.

“I am always conscious of wanting to be their mother and not their teacher,” she said.

“Six weeks after having William, I knew I had to get back to work.

“Teaching has taught me the importance of routine.

“My work really is part of my identity and I found that going to work was ‘my time’.

“We try to make sure that the boys have meals at similar times each day, nap at the same time, bath and story time at the end of the day before bed.

“Now the boys are in childcare full time because I’m working in a new role and studying special needs on the side.

“When I reached out to family and friends and told them how I was feeling a couple of weeks postpartum, I found out it was really normal.”

“I have ambition and drive and I want to do well not only for myself, but I want to provide for the children and be a good role model for them.”

“(Teaching has) also taught me to be flexible and adapt to what the kids need.

“I think something I am good at is letting them be in that area of challenge so they have the opportunity to grow.”

“It’s constantly putting out fires,” Georgie laughed.

“But it’s lovely that when William goes in to see his brother at daycare at the end of the day, he’ll run up and give him a big hug and say ‘I love you’.

“They’re the best thing I’ve ever done and I’d do it all over again a million times.

“I actually think that having children unlocks a part of your heart.

“You love your partner but it’s something bigger - you can’t describe it.”

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“It wasn’t the case and it wasn’t instantaneous.

And Brett and Georgie love watching their boys grow together.

12 Winter 2022

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spelling is very rewarding. And the friendly competitive spirit that came out is something we’ve missed in our classrooms.

It’s Your Life

“We’re so proud of our students for all their hard work, and absolutely thrilled for our school community to win Word Mania.

“We can’t wait to continue to benefit from using LiteracyPlanet in the coming year and we’ll be ready to win the 2023 competition.”

The schools competed for a prize pool of $150,000.

LiteracyPlanet chief executive officer Tom Richardson congratulated all the participants.

“Word Mania is first of all about having fun, but it is also about supporting teachers in driving interest, passion and understanding of words and language from their students,“ Mr Richardson said.

Beaconhills College Year 8 students won the Word Mania competition 2022.

“We’re so proud of Word Mania as an initiative that combines interactive gaming, a competitive environment and teamwork to engage students in their classrooms to improve literacy.

International win for our students BEACONHILLS College (Berwick Campus) is one of nine winners of the Word Mania - a competition helping to develop important literacy skills.

Run by LiteracyPlanet, the competition has Australian and New Zealand students in Years 1 to 9 race against the clock to help their school

climb the leaderboard.

Students from 2,607 schools across 68 countries are tasked with dragging and rearranging letter tiles in only three minutes to build as many words as they can from a set of 15 randomly generated letters.

Beaconhills College Berwick Campus

“We have been blown away, dazzled and enthralled by the competition and skill of students all around the world.“ All Word Mania records were broken this year with 4,790,865 games played and 14,372,595 minutes dedicated to developing spelling skills.

head of English and literature Clare Polglase said she was amazed by the school’s response to Word Mania.

“It was truly fantastic to see our students so enthralled with Word Mania,“ she said.

“To see the students having fun and working together while advancing their

A great place to shop

The highest score in a single game achieved 43,496 points and the longest word created was ‘Otorhinolaryngologists’.

The final round of Word Mania was completed from March 30 until April 1.

Winners from across the globe are on display via literacyplanet.com/ blog/2022-word-mania-champscrowned/

Friendly & fabulous

140 Windermere Boulevard, Pakenham

See you soon 12538315-JC11-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 13

It’s Your Life

Park is ready to play Councillor Brett Owen officially opened the new playground on Saturday with his son Max, MP Tien Kieu and Keith Ewenson’s son Andrew and his wife Rachel, Keith’s wifeVal and Keith’s daughter Leslie. Picture: Supplied

A NEW park with play areas specifically designed for younger and older children has officially opened in Upper Beaconsfield.

The Keith Ewenson Park playground has been upgraded and now features a brand-new play space as well as shelter, seating, landscaping and connecting concrete pathways.

The colourful playground also showcases a climbing cube and a rock-climbing wall.

The Victoria Government committed $79,000 towards the project as part of

the Parks Revitalisation Grants Program.

Cardinia Shire Council contributed $105,708.

Beacon Hills Ward councillor Brett Owen attended the official opening of the park on Saturday with Tien Kieu MP, Member for South Eastern Metropolitan.

“Last year, we asked for your feedback and comments on what you would like to see in the new playground design for Keith Ewenson Park,” Cr Owen said.

“We heard you and have designed a

playground that is suitable for children of all ages.

“It is bright and full of areas to explore for the whole family. This upgraded playground and surrounds is a wonderful addition for this local community.”

Keith Ewenson Park was named in 1995 in acknowledgement of Keith’s dedication to his local community.

This involvement included kindergarten and school councils, the hall committee, and the Upper Beaconsfield Association, of which he

was a Life Member.

He served as a councillor on both the former Pakenham and now Cardinia Shire for 27 years, serving as Shire President and Mayor on several occasions.

Keith also served as a Justice of the Peace for 32 years in addition to chairing the Salvation Army Red Shield appeal for three years and many annual general meetings for local associations and organisations.

Keith was awarded the Order of Australia in 2002.

PET CORNER

RSPCA offers winter school holiday fun LEARNING what is involved in having a pony, connecting with Australian wildlife, playing games with pets and farm animals, or meeting a real RSPCA Inspector – these are just some of the experiences your child could enjoy these school holidays as part of RSPCA Victoria’s school holiday program.

Run at RSPCA Burwood East, the program includes a range of fun, engaging and educational opportunities suitable for animal lovers of all ages.

RSPCA Victoria education and training manager Belinda Marchbank said the classes, taught by

animal welfare while nurturing their love of all living creatures,” she said.

“There are also programs that you can do as a family for some special holiday time for adults and kids together.”

Children will have an opportunity to meet RSPCA Victoria’s farm animals and playful pets at its working education barn, right here in Melbourne.

Think horses, cows, sheep, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, rabbits and ever-entertaining guinea pigs.

Special guest animal experts also drop into live sessions.

professional educators at RSPCA Victoria, offer something for any child with an interest in or love of animals.

“After a difficult couple of years for both students and parents, we all need to reconnect,” Ms Marchbank said.

“Our school holiday program offers great variety and choice for kids, providing the opportunity to learn about

“Studies on human-animal interactions show that animals have the potential to promote healthy emotional

Kids can learn about animal welfare while nurturing their love of all living creatures.

Children can meet RSPCA Victoria’s farm animals and playful pets at its working education barn.

development in children in many ways, including alleviating stress and providing emotional support.

community-based charity that works to prevent cruelty to

“We’ve seen this amazing dynamic between children and animals firsthand and believe all children should have access to this experience.

“For those who can’t make a session in person, some of the programs will be offered virtually for those who prefer to participate from the comfort of their home or from regional areas.”

RSPCA Victoria is a non-government,

animals by actively promoting their care and protection.

The education team contributes to prevention strategies by influencing more than 3600 young people each year about the value and importance of animals in our lives.

To find out more about the school holiday program or to book, visit rspcavic.org/services/education-andlearning/holiday-programs.

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Winter 2022 15

BORN TO Perform

The ‘hidden’ benefits of dance

By Carole Levy

Dancing comes naturally to children.

Picture: istock

DANCING comes naturally to kids, from when they first sit up. Just add music and they’ll wriggle and clap while they can’t stand, and launch into all kinds of moves once they can. This is especially true if older kids and parents sing and dance around the littlies.

This expression of joyousness is fantastic in its own right, but it also has the side benefit of helping physical and mental health – recognised by experts for a long time.

To boost those positive effects, it’s worth thinking about enrolling them in a dance class, where they learn dance and lots more. Many dance schools offer a large selection of dance styles, acrobatics, singing and music, among other diverse programs.

There’s more than dance that each child is taught. Well-run classes, tailored for all ages, deliver many other corollary benefits – such as these: 1. Social skills: Many dance schools work towards a yearly performance or show. For a group routine to look its best, children must work together and co-operate.

For children who lack social skills, dance classes teach teamwork, develop trust and co-operation between performers, and help youngsters become confident and make?new friends.

Dance can also help overcome?the fear of performing in front of an audience.

2. Educational benefits: Dancing takes practice, discipline and focus – skills needed in all aspects of life.

Some dance schools have yearly exams, with children required to work through a syllabus and practise hard for months before demonstrating their skills to examiners.

Dance exams can also help students with the discipline needed for their school tests.

3. Physical health: Dancing is a highly physical pursuit, and can increase stamina, strength and flexibility.

It can also improve coordination and balance, correct poor posture and increase cardiovascular health.

There’s a plethora of good dance schools around, so if your little boy or girl loves their music and raps, wriggles or rocks to it, getting them into a dance class can only be a good thing. And you never know – your child might be the next big talent…

Step into the world of dance

By Carole Levy PARENTS, especially if they haven’t been in dance classes themselves, can find it a bit of a challenge finding the right one for their child. And they can inadvertently form unhelpful expectations or not properly consider the whys and hows of it all.

Some of the best dance teachers around offer the following advice to mums and dads who want what’s best for their child when it comes to the world of dance: 1. Do a trial class first ■ This gives parents the chance to observe how the teacher delivers lessons, their communication skills and choice of words. Kids often want to observe a class before they feel comfortable joining in.

■ With a toddler class, it’s often best to simply join in yourself and show the way.

2. Don’t compare your child to others in the class ■ Parents can unintentionally find

themselves comparing their child with others, even from the very first class. They may see their own child listening less, jumping and skipping around haphazardly, and make an assessment that the child isn’t really ‘into it’ or the class isn’t right for them. It can seem a little chaotic but a good teacher has a plan. Kids generally find dancing uninhibitedly comes naturally and it’s actually the best starting point.

3. Don’t opt out of the end-of-year concert ■ Even if you find yourself having to thread and attach a bucketful of beads to a costume or need to reorganise a heavy holiday schedule, the concert offers a chance to put aside personal needs and wants and focus on the kids. Concerts are essentially all about them. They instil confidence, spark joy and nurture crucial presentation skills in the kids, while teachers get

their moment in the sun to show their creativity.

4. Don’t underestimate the value of forming life-long bonds ■ This applies to children and parents. Meeting other mums and dads can open up new social interactions, while kids have the same opportunity. Learning together in a fun environment is a great way for kids to bond. If they continue on with classes as they grow, they share the joys, pains and successes of their dance ‘career’ with? like-minded peers which can cement significant friendships.

The world of dance can open up new social interactions.

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Party Time There are so many classy ways to share your celebrations.

Party invites fit for royalty wedding - glossy and professional.

By Melissa Meehan GONE are the days where mum or dad bought a pad of invitations from the supermarket and carefully wrote the details of their child’s upcoming birthday party on each one.

Nowadays kids are receiving the kinds of birthday invitations fit for a

Many party supply businesses can create custom invites to suit any party theme.

The end results from such businesses are often impressive - you end up with invites you are proud to send out. Not only that, the stylish invites can also be a great keepsake for years to come.

There are also many websites that allow you to copy or purchase a custom made invitation that you can print at home.

All you need to do is think about your theme, have a photo of your little one ready (if you want this on the invite) and provide the usual information of who, how, when and where.

Or you can take the invites down to your local photo printer and print them.

The same goes for birth announcements, christenings and any other event you have planned.

Best of all, you don’t have to write out the party details on a bunch of invites!

Games to get the party started OLD-FASHIONED party games still bring squeals of delight to excited children at a birthday party. Here are a few suggestions for your next party.

the kids sit in a circle and you play some music. When the music stops the child holding the parcel gets to unwrap it and reveal their prize.

Pass the parcel A classic game kids of all ages get excited about. Beforehand, buy a main prize, a few inexpensive toys and a pack of chocolate bars. Using a newspaper, wrap the main prize first.

Then wrap the parcel about a dozen or so times, placing a toy or chocolate bar between each wrapping. To play,

Musical chairs Another easy game involving music!

Set up chairs in a circle (start with one chair less than the number of kids playing). When the music stops, the kids scramble for a seat and the child left standing is out. Take another chair away and repeat until there is only one child left standing!

Pin the tail on the donkey Another simple game for children of all ages. You can buy kits for this game, or you can use a poster of an animal, a pack of stickers/tails and a blindfold. To play, each child is blindfolded and spun around before being directed to the donkey (or other animal) with a tail in their hand. The child who sticks the tail closest to the spot where the tail should be wins!

Egg and spoon race This one is pretty self-explanatory - put

4/1 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren Ph: 8794 9997 | www.paintapot.com.au Follow us on @paint.a.pot and Paint a Pot Narre Warren www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

$229 For Up To 8 Children * $22.50 for each additional child

- a large range of CERAMICS animals/characters to cater for all children to paint as they wish!

RULES

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- a SOFT PLAY area for kids of all ages - a full CAFE with lots of variety for kids and adults to get through a busy art filled day!

- art classes for kids from ages 5-12.

- choose from one of our amazing PARTY PACKAGES and let us do all the work so you and your guests can enjoy yourselves!

Treasure hunt Kids love hunting for treasure! You could buy some inexpensive prizes or confectionary and hide them around your yard. Or you could hide some tokens so that the child who collects the most can exchange them for one main prize.

KIDS PARTY PRICE...

Our child friendly venue offers a range of activities for kids:

Paint a Pot KIDS

each child on a starting line with an egg on the spoon. The first to the finish line with the egg still on their spoon wins the race. Make sure you boil your eggs first to avoid messy clean-ups.

79 Star Crescent Hallam Open 7 Days a Week

SOCKS MUST BE WORN at all times in the Playground. * No food to be brought in to the premises unless for after hours functions.

KIDS SPACE PARTIES INCLUDE... + Colourful Kids Space Party Invites + Entry for 8 children (including birthday child) + Party Room for 1.5 hours + Party Host + Unlimited Play on Party Day

+ Choice of Four Children’s Party Foods + Unlimited Water & Cordial For Children + Return Entry Pass for Birthday Child with Gift + Lolly Bag for Each Child + 2 x Complimentary Adult Drinks

Space for Grown Ups Too! DELICIOUS FOOD OPTIONS and PLENTY OF SEATING! Relax and try our AWESOME COFFEE!

Take the Tour

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Winter 2022 17

It’s Your Life

Leap in for a gift

Start with your local centre AS we start to emerge from lockdowns, masks and the weirdness of the past two years, the friendliness and familiarity of your local centre is a great place to start.

At Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre, the food options are varied and delicious.

DID you know that Lazy Frog Gifts is a stockist of a huge range of beautiful, quality baby products?

With delivery and takeaway options still available, you can now get back to dine-in options too.

Those who have not visited the store in a while will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of beautiful baby gifts, and everyday products in stock.

The wonderful team at Sugarcoat Nails and Beauty are well-equipped to help you feel fabulous for the remainder of sandal season.

TOSHI is just one of the big brand names in-store.

Pizza Fellas has a great range of pizzas and can be ordered online so they are ready for you when you pop in to pick up your dinner!

The Lazy Frog team has just completed unpacking the 2022 autumn/winter collection, which has some beautiful colourways in knitwear, onesies, hats, blankets and plenty more.

The store has also just recently become a stockist of the very popular SMOOSH silicone range.

It is BPA-free and a food-grade silicone which is free from nasties.

Lazy Frog Gifts owner Sharlene.

From their delicious salads to their tasty chicken, Uncle Sam’s Charcoal Chicken is a firm favourite in the neighbourhood for a quick and healthy meal.

Cardinia Lakes Fish and Chippery

Shoppers can easily click and collect or the Lazy Frog team can post items.

Shoppers can even select to have their gifts wrapped and posted directly

Lazy Frog Gifts is located at 109 Main Street, Pakenham (next to the post office).

Their gift range is outstanding as well, and you’ll be able to find the perfect gift, or maybe something extra special for yourself.

Great breakfast and lunch options are on the menu at Urban Hype Cafe.

Come and meet the friendly staff and grab something for lunch or morning tea.

Their coffee is just divine.

Stay up to date by following the centre on their Facebook page.

IF you’ve recently become injured while playing sports and are experiencing pain and swelling, an ultrasound guided cortisone injection might be the most appropriate method of treatment.

Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre.

It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays 9am to 3pm.

For any inquiries, call 5941 2225. The team is more than happy to assist over the phone.

To keep up with all the Lazy Frog new arrivals, follow the store on Facebook and Instagram.

Sports injuries and cortisone Sports injuries can involve any part of your body, but most commonly affect major joints like ankles and elbows or areas that become impacted during contact sports.

What is cortisone?

Sometimes known as a steroid injection, cortisone has been used by orthopaedic professionals since the early 1950s and is considered to be a reliable, safe and effective treatment for a sports injury.

Cortisone is a chemical that is naturally produced by your body’s adrenal gland and released when your body is put under stress.

The cortisone that is injected into the site of a sports injury is synthetically produced to be very similar to your body’s natural product.

The injection serves to reduce inflammation and pain, enabling recovery and the return to your normal activities.

Unlike the illegal steroids you often hear about to enhance sports performance, cortisone is legal and considered safe when administered by a trained professional.

Interestingly, cortisone is not a pain-relieving medication.

BULK BILLING OPEN 7 DAYS

(03) 5922 2072 U2, 1 Stephenson Street PAKENHAM

18 Winter 2022

At Caremore Pharmacies, the staff are dedicated to their customers’ wellbeing and will help you make the right choices about maintaining good health.

There is ample parking at the rear of the shop.

Health

12534756-HC11-22

Wok to Go rounds out the takeaway options with tasty Asian dishes galore to tempt your tastebuds.

to loved ones, thanks to complimentary gift wrapping in-store and online.

Lazy Frog is now online, where shoppers can easily find products from the convenience of home, including other everyday ranges: Ecoya, Tilley, Palm Beach, and Mews Candles and Diffusers, T2, Willow Figurines, Essential Oils, Maine Beach body products, a vegan range of handbags and wallets, Sploshies for the whole family, planters, artificial plants - the list goes on and on.

Low Dose CT, Digital X-ray, Comprehensive Ultrasound Dental X-ray, Dexa or Bone Densitometry, Echocardiogram

has delicious burgers, along with crispy chips and tasty fish for a favourite takeaway option.

However, you will still experience pain relief after receiving it because you might be experiencing pain from inflammation, and the cortisone serves to reduce this symptom.

The positive effects from an ultrasound guided cortisone injection can be noticed within three to four days.

Sometimes, you might experience pain and discomfort directly related to having the injection which can be easily remedied by taking ibuprofen or applying ice to the area.

For the best possible results, you should combine the cortisone injection with rest, appropriately elevating the injured area and not stressing it too much.

You may also receive physical or occupational therapy alongside a cortisone injection to strengthen the area and maximise functionality.

Are there side effects?

Side effects from a cortisone injection are normally manageable.

A cortisone ‘flare’ affects about 2 per cent of patients and happens when the cortisone crystallises and causes more pain and discomfort than before the injection.

The good news is, this side effect is rare and resolves itself quickly.

Whitening of the skin surrounding the injection site or facial flushing is also a potential side effect but is completely harmless.

If you are diabetic, you should discuss this with your medical professional before agreeing to a cortisone injection as the injection can lead to an elevation in blood pressure, presenting risks to a diabetic person.

Can anyone not have cortisone?

You should always speak to your medical professional about your suitability for receiving a cortisone injection. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding or have any pre-existing medical condition, these will need to be declared prior to the injection being administered.

Make an enquiry Bond Radiology can help in numerous ways if you have experienced a sports injury.

Bond Radiology is at Unit 2, 1 Stephenson Street, Pakenham. Call 5922 2072. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 19

Health

Vision to help children learn COULD vision therapy help your child’s learning at school?

The school year is almost half over, and kids have settled back into their school routine after two years of disruptions.

But that can leave some unanswered questions: if your child is having trouble learning how to read, skipping words or generally just losing concentration at school, is that because of the interruptions of the past two years or could it be an undiagnosed vision problem?

There are many factors when it comes to learning, but vision is an important one.

To read and write fluently, the eye movements, eye focussing and eyehand coordination all have to be working smoothly and in conjunction.

Gemma Cowan from Beaconsfield Eyecare is a member of the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists and loves working with kids of all ages.

She prefers to do a thorough eye examination, including tests of eye movements and focusing, but she might also do visual processing tests or spatial awareness checks along with other tests specific to learning.

If an eye condition is diagnosed it doesn’t always mean glasses are required.

“However, there are many more complex aspects of the visual system that can contribute to the child’s ability to learn at school.”

If an eye condition is diagnosed it doesn’t always mean glasses are required.

“Glasses and contact lenses are certainly an important aspect of treating vision in children,” Gemma said.

“But there are other very effective treatment plans that may include vision therapy.”

Vision therapy is a series of specific exercises performed by Gemma in the clinic, with additional exercises for the child to do at home (typically 15 minutes a day for a few months).

If your child is having trouble concentrating at school, reversing letters or skipping words when reading, then Gemma recommends having an initial eye test to see if vision therapy might be beneficial.

For more information, visit Gemma at Beaconsfield Eyecare, 45 Wallace Street Beaconsfield, call 8726 9977 or visit www.beaconsfieldeyecare.com.au.

“Most parents think that if their child can read the eye chart well, their vision is fine,” Gemma said.

2022 Good Vision for Life

OPTOMETRIST GEMMA COWAN • Extensive experience in children’s vision • Behavioural Optometry • Vision Therapy • Myopia Management

Address: 45 Wallace St, Beaconsfield VIC 3807 Phone: (03) 8726 9977 www.beaconsfieldeyecare.com.au

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20 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

DENTAL

A dentist for all The expert team at South East Orthodontics.

GETTING the entire family to visit the dentist can be like pulling teeth.

Kids are afraid the check-up will be painful, and parents are worried it will hurt the wallet.

But Casey Dental Group are committed to providing the highest standard of dental care at affordable prices, offering many specials to help everyone afford their dental treatment.

The trusted group is one of the longest established dental practices in the City of Casey and have recently moved into a new state-of-the-art premise, offering families all their dental needs under one roof.

A caring and professional team of 14 dentists and 22 nursing and support staff aim to provide the best ongoing dental care with services including digital X-rays, laser whitening, implants, ceramic crowns/veneers and all other aspects of general dentistry.

And perhaps the best part is that you don’t have to break the bank to have strong, beautiful, pearly whites.

“Many of our dentists have a particular focus comprehensive orthodontic treatment for children and adults, and we offer family discounts and the options of clear (ceramic) braces,” Dr Jayson McNaughton said.

“We offer flexible payment plans and family discounts as well as bulk billing for the new Child Dental Benefits Scheme. We have a special focus on children’s dentistry with our caring clinicians highly experienced in dealing with patients of all ages.

We provide free check-ups and quotes for all of our dental services for non-insurance patients and have ongoing specials to help patients afford crown/bridgework, porcelain veneers and implants.”

Casey Dental Group are preferred providers for all major health funds including BUPA, Medibank Private, HCF, CBHS, MBF and Australian Unity. We bulk bill the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme and accept the Community Health Emergency/General Vouchers.

Casey Dental Group’s opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am until 6pm, late nights available on Wednesday’s 8am until 9pm and Saturday 8am until 1pm.

Casey Dental Group is located at 236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South. Phone: 9705 1755 Fax: 8790 2327. Website: www. caseydentalgroup.com.au

Orthodontic experts SOUTH East Orthodontics has been servicing Casey for more than 20 years, and is located at a purpose-built practice on Clyde Road.

To ensure the premises are Covid safe, South East Orthodontics sought the advice of Professor Laurie Walsh from Queensland University and Steven Kent from the Doherty Institute. South East Orthodontics offers clinical excellence using the latest orthodontic developments and techniques.

Dr Nishan Fernando Dr Nishan Fernando, from New Zealand, completed a Bachelor of Science in physiology, and Post Graduate Diploma in Science, in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Otago.

His area of research was hypertension, and he published a Poisons Information Monograph for the World Health Organisation. Nishan later completed his Bachelor in Dental Surgery at Hong Kong University.

Nishan was then employed in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Prince Philip Dental Hospital as a House Officer.

He treated complex cases and medically-compromised children, as well as orthodontic patients under the supervision of his orthodontic professor.

He volunteered his time with a cleft lip and palate team which went to Cambodia. Upon returning to New Zealand, he registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and The General Dental Council (UK).

After a few years in private general dental practice, Nishan completed his Doctoral in Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics) at the University of Adelaide.

His area of research involved the investigation of dental, skeletal and facial complex changes with extraction orthodontic therapy, and assessment of the resultant aesthetic changes of the face. Nishan is also a member of the Royal College of Surgeon and the secretary of the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontists.

South East Orthodontics is located at Suite 5, Level 1, 18-24 Clyde Road, Berwick. Call 9330 0702 or visit www. seortho.com.au.

WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week • We BULK BILL for the $1000 Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme • HALF PRICE CROWNS* *after first full priced crown.

• INSURANCE PATIENTS: We Do Not Charge the Gap on Your Health Insurance Claim for Check Ups, Cleans, X-Rays and Sealants*

Dr Kip Homewood and Dr Nishan Fernando make Casey Cardinia Smile

• 24 months interest free on all treatment services • NON INSURANCE PATIENTS: FREE Check Ups! • Government Emergency/General Dental Vouchers accepted • Whitening take home kit only $295

The team at South East Orthodontics who have been proudly supporting and servicing Casey Cardinia for over 20 years

Participating Providers and Dr Jayson McNaughton

Dr Guy Turton

Dr Alina Bratu

Dr Shannon Gune

Dr Harjot Gill

Mr Joseph Hanna

Dr Robert Otken

Dr Deon Nguyen

Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Melanie Cole Dr Rachel Fong Dr Quinn Tao Ms Chrysi Kroone Dr Ragy Labib Dr John Tia

Po un

NEW LOCATION

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Phone: 9705 1755

We offer flexible, interest free payment plans to make orthodontics accessible to everyone.

Narre W a Cranbo rren urne Rd

236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South

Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest technologies including SureSmile, Invisalign, lingual and clear appliances.

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Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

Greaves Rd 12472308-JW51-20

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick Phone: (03) 9330 0702 info@seortho.com.au | www.seortho.com.au

Casey Dental Group is Here!

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Winter 2022 21

It’s Your Life

School holidays at the National Wool Museum VISIT the National Wool Museum this winter and experience award winning galleries, inspiring exhibitions, and fun workshops.

Realm, an imaginative world of play and mystery, is coming to the National Wool Museum for the school holidays. Created by award winning local artist Laura Alice, the space encourages imaginative and creative play.

This stunning interactive experience is filled with magical projections, light play, soundscapes, and illustrations. All young visitors will enjoy giant colouring-in walls, shadows made with recycled materials, mystical animations, and Laura’s illustrations, all bringing moments of joy and storytelling.

Kids and sandpits go hand in hand.

Dig in!

BUILDING a sandpit is almost a parental rite of passage and can bring back long-buried childhood memories Sandpits give kids a chance to play with others, learn to get lost in the moment and connect with nature and the earth. Cognitive development and imagination benefits aside, here are a few tips from Richgro to get the most from your sandpit.

Celebrate the new life each season brings and connect with country through the artwork of Deanne Gilson, Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country. Through her work, Deanne captures the changes throughout the six Wadawurrung seasons by painting her Dja (Country), people, plants and animals. The six seasons artworks capture one being traversed through different layers of country from the

under country to the sky country, all is accepted as being linked as one.

The Bogong Moth Ceremony highlights that country is changing with the environmental changes happening now, with the moth being on the endangered list.

Don’t miss this multi awardwinning gallery On the Land: Our Story Retold, which tells the story of people and places and our impact on the land. Suitable for the entire family, the exhibition is contemporary and interactive, encouraging curiosity about Geelong, environment, farming, the region’s traditional owners and sheep!

The youngest visitors can also experience the collection and exhibitions through the regular Museum Explorer series. Be immersed in the museum experience by taking part in a Mini Maker workshop, enjoy interactive story telling or take part in a sensory play day.

The National Wool Museum is open Daily 10am-3pm. 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong. Visit www.nwm.vic. gov.au.

sandpit, or a simple wooden DIY border would also do the job.

SAND QUALITY It’s important to get washed and soft sand for sandpits, selected from a clean, weed-free environment.

LOCATION Choose a spot in your yard that gets sunlight throughout the day, as rainfall will keep your sand damp without sun exposure.Building under a tree that drops its leaves will lead to extra maintenance.

SEASONAL CONSTRUCTION The past summer was particularly good for plant growth – including weeds - thanks to La Nina’s wet weather patterns. Sand can help keep weeds at bay during summer and even improve soil conditions for some types of plants.

During winter, a sandpit can provide endless hours of entertainment if positioned undercover or in a sunny spot in a container.

BORDER OR CONTAINER Building a border around the sandpit will allow spill-over sand to discreetly fall into mulch as opposed to disturbing your green grass. Use a small clam-shell pool for the flexibility to move the

DRAINAGE If you are using the sand to create a natural pit in your garden, make sure there is plenty of drainage. Choose an area that isn’t too damp underneath or could be affected by heavy rainfall.

Realm by Laura Alice is on display 24 June – 10 July at Geelong’s National Wool Museum.

Picture: Supplied

Enviro Reserve

Quality and care are the hallmarks of a Hillcrest education. All that we do centres on having our students become women and men of vibrant faith, sound character, lifelong learners, and active citizens.

Ms Christine Lucas - Head of Hillcrest Christian College

Equestrian

Primary

Secondary

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE 500 Soldiers Rd, Clyde North registrar@hillcrest.vic.edu.au 03 9702 2144 www.hillcrest.vic.edu.au 12551027-SG24-22

22 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

A new approach to learning DON Bosco Primary School has recognised the impact on the language and social emotional development of students in their first few years of schooling.

Parents and teachers are quite aware that due to remote learning, students in years foundation, one and two have not experienced consistent school in a formal setting and so when creating a learning profile of each learner, the

school needed to change it up.

A research-based approach to teaching phonics and oral language, together with further learning for their teachers and parents and where to go next with the development of personal and social capabilities, became a major focus in term one.

The Little Learners Love Literacy Framework has been carefully embedded across the three levels from

All children are amazing

F-2 and teachers are ecstatic with the early results this has demonstrated in student’s ability to articulate and interact with texts.

Teachers are keen to embark on new learning and use the characters from the Kimochi Social and Emotional Education Framework to teach the same student groups about emotions and the impact that these have on those around us.

Picking up the Keys to Communication

Sesame Workshop has expanded its Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative.

New resources featuring Julia, a 4-year-old Sesame Street Muppet with autism, are designed to help families cope with change during turbulent times.

Exceptional Minds prepares young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation and beyond, and partnered with Sesame Workshop on a new animated video featuring Julia.

She learns how to handle her fear of the dark by drawing what she’s afraid of - helping her brother along the way.

A team of artists on the autism spectrum wrote, produced and animated the video.

New printables and colouring and activity sheets accompany the video, including Good Night routine cards to help children develop a healthy bedtime routine.

Sesame Workshop’s social impact senior vice president Dr Jeanette Betancourt said autistic children and their families were facing unprecedented challenges.

“And Sesame Workshop is here to help kids create healthy routines, develop self-regulation and calming strategies, and build resilience,” she said.

The Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative aims to increase public awareness of autism, foster greater empathy and understanding, and support families with free resources.

It was developed in consultation with more than 250 organisations and experts within the autism community.

With one in 70 Australians diagnosed with autism, this initiative is designed to show that all children - autistic and neurotypical alike - are amazing in their own ways.

Sesame Workshop is the non-profit behind the television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969.

Visit www.sesameworkshop.org for more information.

How do I find my local schools?

THE Victorian government has updated it’s Find My School website as parents look to begin the process of enrolling their children for next year.

The website now reflects 13 new school and campuses set to open in 2023, as well as some small changes to existing school zones.

It allows families to find their designated neighbourhood government school and other nearby government schools, giving families clarity on what their options are when enrolling their children.

Schools can be found by typing in a residential address or searching by school name or school categories like

Don Bosco’s parents have welcomed the new School TV app, which allows the school to share up-to-date research, podcasts and webinars personalised to our community needs.

“We here at Don Bosco cannot wait to share our Kimochi journey with you later in the year,” a school spokesperson said.

Fighting feelings of stress during VCE

By Elle Cecil

A SESAME Street Muppet with autism is helping families create new routines and build flexibility.

will also support their oral language development and how to express themselves in a social situation.

AS many secondary students would be well aware, VCE is a time of stress, uncertainty and hard work. It is important to balance this stress with relief, uncertainty with predictability and hard work with relaxation.

Studies show that small, regular breaks between study sessions can improve mood and productivity. As you approach upcoming SACs and start thinking about the looming exam period, remember that it is not maintainable to be constantly anxious. You should have time to destress and think about something other than exams and study for a while.

Here are some ways to combat feelings of stress during your VCE studies: ■ Positive self-talk: using negative language with yourself is neither beneficial nor deserved. Make an effort to recognise how much work you’re putting in and allow yourself to see how well you’re doing. You have worked hard to get this far, and you need to maintain your health and wellbeing throughout the year.

Try to think of five things that you’re proud of yourself for doing either in or outside of your school life and reiterate that you’re

capable of what you want to achieve. Visualise yourself doing well in your studies and receiving positive news when you receive results or feedback.

■ Use some tangible grounding tools: have a cup of tea, play with your pet or scribble in an adult colouring book. It’s okay to forget about study for a while. In fact, it’s beneficial to spend some time after you study to allow the information to consolidate in your brain, so pick up a book or make yourself a snack and keep your mind occupied for a moment.

■ Move your body: get the blood flowing! Whether you put on your favorite dance playlist and boogie around your room for a while, do some yoga or go for a stroll with a friend, getting active will refresh not only your body but your mind as well. It will also assist in creating and releasing endorphins to improve your mood and relieve feelings of stress.

It’s likely that you’ve heard it plenty of times, but VCE is not the be-all and end-all of life. Despite the outcome you receive on ATAR day, there are always a variety of ways for you to get into your desired career.

Life will go on after high school and it is there to be lived, so make sure you make the most of it. Best of luck to all VCE students this year!

primary, secondary or specialist school.

“We’re making huge progress on our work to open 100 new schools – and with new schools popping up right across the state, we’ve made some small changes to zones to make sure everyone has access to a fantastic local school,” education minister James Merlino said.

“As families begin to consider their children’s enrolments for next year, we’ve made sure they can get all the information on schools in their area in one spot – the Find My School website.”

Families can look up their school zone online at findmyschool.vic.gov.au 12535449-AV11-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 23

Education

Hazel, teacher Monika and Josh.

Hazel enjoys the choir.

Flying Free through song CHILDREN aged 8 to 12 who live with intellectual disability and enjoy music will love Melbourne Youth Chorale’s new ‘Flying Free’ Therapy Choir.

Flying Free draws on the emotional and wellbeing benefits of music and singing while exploring communication and socialisation skills.

Choristers learn through games, songs and other interactive activities.

Director Monika Harris, a registered speech pathologist, believes that “if kids enjoy singing it’s a really good way to enhance their music ability and speech therapy goals – it’s fun for them and they don’t even know they’re in therapy”.

The choir is open to children who are both verbal and non-verbal and no music or singing background is required.

The underpinning value of Melbourne Youth Chorale is that everyone deserves the gift of music.

it’s also the friendships, learning new skills, and most importantly, being yourself”.

Providing a specific choir with a therapy focus enables children to learn music skills at their own pace, thoroughly and without overwhelm, as well as work towards specific learning goals in other areas.

The Flying Free choir is on Wednesday afternoons at Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre. There are no set fees - Melbourne Youth Chorale operates on a ‘donate what you can afford’ basis.

Nicole, a parent of a Flying Free chorister, says “singing isn’t just a tune…

In some circumstances, NDIS funding can be allocated to the Flying Free choir.

FLYING FREE THERAPY CHOIR Children with an intellectual disability aged 8-12 will be enabled and empowered through MYC’s choral and musicianship training program, with a special focus on communication and socialisation.

The Flying Free therapy choir is directed by a registered speech therapist and musician.

Rehearsals on Wednesday after school at Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre For more information call 0490 709 327 www.melbourneyouthcorale.com.au

Empowering Curious Minds Find out how our world-class International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and expert ELC andJunior School staff can help your child flourish in their learning through action in our intimate learningspaces and classes.

Non-Selective | Non-Denominational Small Classes | Co-Educational ELC and Junior School Dedicated Senior Girls and Boys Schools

StMargarets.vic.edu.au 12549688-JW24-22

24 Winter 2022

12495008-DL26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

So much to celebrate NOW in our thirty-third year of existence, we have much to celebrate as a proud school in Victorian public education.

It’s well worth remembering that the Victorian Education Act of 1872 was the first of its kind in the world – a trailblazer, in fact.

Education Week is upon us, as is the celebration of 150 years of public education in Victoria.

Significantly, education was to be free, compulsory, secular and children aged 6 to 15 had to attend school unless they had a reasonable excuse.

The aim being that the whole community would benefit.

Today, so very much has changed, nonetheless, public education remains a vital part of the Victorian community.

Our school, Berwick Lodge Primary School, which opened in 1990, some 140 years later than Victoria’s oldest school, Bacchus Marsh Primary School, is honoured to share the stage of 150 years of public education in Victoria.

If you are looking for a great public school in our wonderful City of Casey, check us out online and better still, come and visit us for a personal tour.

Out of zone enrolments are most welcome.

Henry Grossek, Founding Principal Berwick Lodge Primary School

The College integrates Islamic values and activities into the Victorian curriculum.

Marking 30 years THIS year marks the 30-year anniversary of Minaret College serving the needs of the Muslim community in South-East Melbourne. Founded in 1992, the College is now the school of choice for over 2500 students across three campuses - Springvale, Officer and Doveton. Both Springvale and Officer Campus include an Early Learning Centre as well as Foundation to Year 12. The newest campus in Doveton is dedicated to Primary years.

The vision of Minaret College is to provide an environment where young Muslim students flourish. It is an environment which nurtures students’ identity as Muslims and develops confident, capable young people who are ready to contribute to the broader community.

The College integrates Islamic values and activities into the Victorian curriculum. Alongside numeracy and literacy skills, students also study Quran, Arabic and Islamic studies. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Aspects of faith such as prayer are also part of everyday activities.

With its student-centred approach, Minaret College students are encouraged to act in a way which is congruent with their goals and values and create positive relationships with those around them. Within Primary School, the Leader in Me program focuses on self-awareness and developing simple habits which facilitate personal growth and wellbeing.

Minaret College is a popular choice for local Muslim families looking for a supportive, nurturing environment.

Parents wanting to know more about the College are encouraged to request a tour by calling (03) 9574-0567.

Further information is also available on their Facebook page or website at www.minaret.vic.edu.au

VISIT OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOUR TODAY Our virtual school tour allows you to experience Berwick Lodge Primary School spaces as though you are physically there.

Using emerging technology, we have mapped spaces across the school to create 3D tours and 360-degree walkthroughs.

Immerse yourself in the spaces, move around, explore and look out for LODGIE BEAR along the way.

For more details visit: www.berwicklodgeeps.vic.edu.au Please call for your personal tour. These will commence in Term 2.

Berwick Lodge Primary School welcomes out of neighborhood enrolments.

Kevin Heinze Best School Garden Award 2018 P: 9709 6700 F: 9796 2198 E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Visit our website to check out the virtual tour www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au 12551746-AI24-22

Winter 2022 25

Education

New space to play and learn THE students at St Clare’s are very excited about the recent opening of the new extension to the playground.

The students have been patiently watching the progress of the architecturally-designed playground for more than a year. The new area includes a ropes course, soccer and football field, shade and cover seating areas, passive play spaces and plenty of new grass where students can run.

This area provides a great facility for physical education lessons and opportunities for shared learning experiences in a beautiful outdoor environment. Further developments include an Indigenous garden and outdoor classroom. This is due for completion in the next few months.

St Clare’s students are particularly enjoying exploring the ‘Ninja’ playground and surrounding play areas.

and a strong moral compass.

We encourage active play and healthy bodies; understanding other cultures through learning languages; and the confidence that comes with developing creativity through the performing and visual arts. Student achievement is measured not only by academic growth but by each child’s emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Being part of faith-filled community instils our students with a sense of identity, a feeling of belonging and above all, a powerful sense of self-worth.

At St Clare’s, our aim is to have each child reach their potential; to be a well-rounded individual - within a supportive and caring learning environment.

At St Clare’s we nurture the holistic development of each child.

Visit www.stclaresofficer.catholic. edu.au and take our virtual tour to get a real feel for our school. School tours are also available. Contact 5940 6777 to book a time.

For the St Clare’s family, numeracy and literacy skills are core elements of education; but so is religious education – developing empathy, social justice

For all enquiries or to receive our enrolment documentation, call 5940 6777 or email enrolments@ stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au.

St Clare’

Early learning with a family focus FAMILY comes first at Kool Kidz Childcare.

The centre in Narre Warren is owned by mother and daughter, Janette Karavatis and Maria Dimoulas, who are passionate about looking after families.

Both women love children and realised a long held dream when the doors of Kool Kidz Narre Warren opened in February 2019.

Maria has a degree in early childhood education and a post graduate qualification in teaching children with special needs.

“The standards are so high in terms of the curriculum and the support we receive,” Janette said.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren has capacity for 130 children.

“We are a family run business, looking after your family,” said Janette, who encourages parents to pop in for a tour of the centre.

“Maria and I both love children and, as we have a passion for this area, we want to give our best to the community.”

All rooms have access to spacious outdoor areas and there are dedicated sleep areas and a separate kitchen.

Janette has also worked in childcare for more than a decade.

Janette and Maria looked at various childcare models before settling on Kool Kidz.

The centre caters for children from six weeks to six years.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren is open weekdays from 6.30am to 6.30pm at 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren.

Phone 9705 1532.

Janette, Taylor and Maria from Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

Taking Enrolments for 2022 and 2023

in Officer

Our faith leads to wisdom and courage. ’s and is embedded in the ethos of the school, the curriculum we offer and the

I invite you to visit us at St Clare’s and discover this dynamic learning environment and start the beginning of, what I hope will be, a life-long learning partnership.

School Tours Available

Ph 5940 6777 St Clare’s Primary School Officer Officer 3809 Phone 03 5940 6777 Email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au 26 Winter 2022

Phone 9705 1532 to speak with Janette or Maria to ENROL NOW 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren www.koolkidznarrewarren.com.au

12518747-NG50-21

Kool Kidz Narre Warren is a purpose-built Early Learning, Childcare and Kindergarten facility that provides a safe, fun and exciting environment to explore, learn and grow in for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.

Please contact the school now to make a booking

12548828-HC24-22

CARING & FAMILY FRIENDLY

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

A nurturing environment “IT feels like a community where my child will be nurtured, cared for and known.”

This is what parents and guardians say is their main reason for choosing Lakeside College, according to principal Tom Brennen.

“As a Christian College in the Lutheran tradition, we couldn’t be happier that families are experiencing exactly what we set out to provide,“ he said.

“Education is all about relationships - between teacher and student, family and staff and school and community.

“Lakeside College prioritises these critical relationships as we carry out our service to the local community.“

Highly qualified and committed staff know each child deeply through the intentional pastoral care program and relish in the opportunity to teach students across the school’s different areas.

The college boasts excellent facilities including access to the co-located facilities provided through the Cardinia Cultural Centre, the Toomuc Playing Fields and the Cardinia Life gym.

As an open enrolment Christian college, all families are welcome regardless of their faith tradition.

“As principal, I relish taking families on tours each week on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and at other times as needed - please take me up on the offer,“ Mr Brennen said.

12551172-DL24-22

As a smaller Christian school of 461 students (growing to 650 students) from Years Prep to 12, there is a richness of relationships and attention to individuals that set the college apart from others.

Students are nurtured across the curriculum through innovative learning opportunities in core subjects, a vibrant arts program, technologies and sport.

Prepare yourself with a variety of fun kids activities for the next school holidays!

Picture: iStock

Keep your kids busy WITH the next round of school holidays quickly approaching, many parents and guardians may be scratching their heads trying to think of activities to keep their kids occupied.

Read on to find out a few fun ideas to keep the kids busy in a sustainable way: ■ Make your own backyard games: rather than buying new toys for the holidays, use a few common household items to create some fun games. For example, find empty plastic bottles, paint them white with red stripes and use tennis balls to make your own pin bowling set.

■ Go on an insect scavenger hunt: create a checklist of insect pictures of the bugs and other critters found in your backyard. Go outside with www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

the kids and a magnifying glass and teach them about the little beasties around your home.

■ Build a little veggie garden. Pick up a small garden bed from your local hardware store, along with enough bags of soil, manure and other products to fill it. Plant some easy veggie seedlings and use some icy pole sticks to write the name of the plants in the garden.

Not only will these activities keep your kids entertained and happy for some time over the holidays, they will also benefit the planet!

Empowering each learner to thrive, serve and succeed, inspired by the love of Christ

Enrolling now for 2024 and beyond Limited vacancies in 2023 P: 5941 7544 E: enrolments@lakeside.vic.edu.au W: www.lakeside.vic.edu.au 2 Portobello Rd, Pakenham VIC 3810

On Campus Principal Tours Tuesday 9am Thursday 5pm

Originally published on www.realestateview.com.au Winter 2022 27

Activities See humpback and southern right whales at Phillip Island.

Have a whale of a time on Phillip Island WHAT’S so special about being on Phillip Island during winter?

Witnessing the arrival of humpback and southern right whales into our coastal waters.

Pack up the family and explore the Phillip Island and Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail, featuring some of the finest vantage points in the region.

Grab some warm clothing and a pair of binoculars, head out to one of the fantastic lookouts and trails from Phillip Island to Inverloch, and marvel at the area’s stunning landscapes along the way.

Those wanting to get closer to the

marine giants can join one of the Wildlife Coast Cruises whale and dolphin boat tours that circumnavigate the island in search of whales.

Join in the local celebrations of the arrival of these majestic creatures with a range of special events happening at Island Whale Festival weekend, 1 to 3 July, at various venues across Phillip Island.

Local community and visitors alike have the opportunity to engage with a range of activities that will not only entertain but also allow you to appreciate the wildlife and natural habitats of Phillip Island and the Bass Coast region.

During the festival, choose from various activities and events, including talks, workshops, whale spotting, whale cruises, kids activities and more.

Stay up to date with the latest announcements, including program and booking information, at Islandwhales.com.au and follow @ islandwhales on Facebook and Instagram.

Book your winter whale escape and explore more things to see and do this winter at visitphillipisland.com.au.

Remember to look after the coastal environment by watching out for wildlife on the roads and by keeping to the designated tracks.

Island Whale Festival runs on the first weekend in July.

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Explore the WHALE DISCOVERY TRAIL, iconic bays, headlands and beaches as you go in search for whales from spectacular coastal viewing points or join a Winter Whale Cruise.

Discover special events and the Island Whale Festival weekend July 1-3.

See islandwhales.com.au

28 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Entertainment

Cornucopia set to overflow BUNJIL Place has partnered with Londonbased creative studio Bompas and Parr to present a 24-day mini-festival as part of Casey’s Winter Arts Festival.

From giant sculptures and guided tours to parties and the world’s first edible mist, there’s so much to do at Casey Cornucopia.

The Cornucopia Launch Party will run from 6.30pm to 8pm on Friday 24 June.

Take an exclusive first look at the Plaza’s winter installation - The Cornucopia Garden.

There’ll be local produce and drinks as well as live performances for the whole family to enjoy.

The Cornucopia Garden will be open from 10am to 10pm, Saturday 25 June to Sunday 17 July.

The Plaza will be transformed into an immersive garden abundant with oversized sculptures hidden amongst a swirl of the world’s first edible mist.

Sit down to the Cornucopia Immersive Dinner from 6.30pm to 8.40pm on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 July.

Enjoy an immersive fine dining experience like no other as organisers fuse dining, design and performance against the backdrop of the beautiful Cornucopia Garden.

Multiple times are available for The

Cornucopia Tour from Saturday 25 June to Sunday 10 July, and Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July.

Interested in how things are made?

Join this informative tour looking at the wacky minds and designs of Bompas and Parr as you step behind the curtain of Casey Cornucopia.

There’ll be presentations daily in The Cornucopia Food Hub from Saturday 25 June to Sunday 17 July.

Casey-Cardinia’s rich foodways come to life at this pop-up market stall food hub.

Meet local farmers, growers, artisans, sustainability gurus and artists for daily talks, demonstrations, samples and workshops.

At Art Bites: Bompas and Parr, from 7pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 7 July, spend an evening of delicious food, drinks and conversation with the creators of Casey Cornucopia, Bompas and Parr.

On Thursday 14 July from 6pm to 9pm, check out Night MODE: Abundance Edition.

Explore Bunjil Place after hours through late access to ‘All the things I should have said that I never said’ and Casey Cornucopia, adult art-making, drinks at bar prices, food, new live music, Library programs and book nooks, plus more.

Walhalla Goldfields Railway

Come and experience Walhalla Goldfields Railway SPEND an unforgettable day with the family at Walhalla Goldfields Railway.

Relax and take in the breathtaking views as the train winds its way through the spectacular Stringers Gorge on what is considered one of the country’s most picturesque rail journeys.

Departing the historic Walhalla Station on your one-hour journey you will travel through the station yards with the sheer, stunning cliff face on one side and the winding Stringers Creek on the other side.

Winding through the gorge past Happy Creek Station on your way towards Thomson Station you cross seven bridges which in themselves are a marvel of engineering before reaching the spectacular Thomson River bridge.

Upon arrival at Thomson Station passengers disembark and have the opportunity to peruse the station and surroundings before re-boarding for your return journey.

Huddy enjoys a ride.

See the amazing track work and bridges and chat to our knowledgeable crew along the way.

Make Walhalla Goldfields Railway your next family day out.

For young train buffs, we also offer a Ride in the Cab Experience for a small extra fee.

Trains depart Walhalla at 11am and 1pm Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday weekly, and daily during school holidays.

Get up front and experience a different perspective from the vantage point of the locomotive cab.

Bookings can be made at www. walhallarail.com.au. Call 5165 6280 for more information.

OPEN DAILY DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Trains operate 11am and 1pm Night Trains operating 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th August.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY 12550815-SN24-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 29

Entertainment

Get creative at Robert Gordon ANYONE can get creative at Robert Gordon, with workshops for all ages.

If you’ve never worked with ceramics before you needn’t worry. Friendly staff are on-hand to show you how.

Robert Gordon offers workshops in wheel throwing, hand building and painting your own pottery.

The paint your own pottery workshop is popular with families. All you have to do is choose your pot, decorate with paint and collect your masterpiece 14 days later.

If you’re after something more extensive, you should check out Robert Gordon’s six-week pottery course.

The course covers hand building, wheel throwing, moulding, sculpture and painting in a friendly atmosphere.

The workshops take place in a new studio space at Robert Gordon Pottery factory outlet.

Located in the heart of Pakenham, the outlet is a great place to visit with the family.

Online bookings for the paint your own pottery and workshops are essential.

Call 5941 3302 or visit www. robertgordonaustralia.com.

Robert Gordon is a great place to visit with the family.

12508748-CG38-21

They have a large selection of homewares, baskets and textiles. There’s also the Nancy Eatery, which serves up relaxed, homestyle meals with coffee.

Robert Gordon is located at 114 Mulcahy Road, Pakenham and is open seven days, 9am to 5pm.

30 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Entertainment

Action-packed school holidays THE annual school holiday program at Cardinia Cultural Centre (CCC) has just dropped, and it’s one of their biggest programs so far.

From The Wiggles, Roald Dahl and The Imagination Seekers to puppet shows, there truly is something for everybody.

Take a walk through the gallery as ‘Creature’ transforms the space into the Australian bush using 2D interactive technology. Immerse yourself in the sound of Australian wildlife as the frogs croak and crickets chirp.

Walk through the bush with bouncing kangaroos, buzzing mosquitoes and willy wagtails and pause for just a moment, to see the tree’s sprout and grow up the walls around you.

Meet some of the most unique animals from the bush with Animals of Oz, as they guide you through their fun education program.

See, touch and discover new animals and explore just how beautiful and diverse our animals down-under are.

Enjoy an outing in the theatre with Roald Dahl and The Imagination Seekers and help The Ancient Guild of Taletenders save the stories by bringing them to life.

Be immersed by their interactive performance, games and imagination play, while exploring Roald Dahl’s extraordinary stories, including The BFG and The Twits along the way.

Children and families can also experience a new, immersive show from Polyglot Theatre, where participants are invited to play with shadow, light and sound through projection and body mapping.

What will you discover in this colourful, ever-changing and unexpected world?

Make yourself at home at Cardinia Cultural Centre and enjoy a variety of exciting free and paid activities.

The Wiggles are on their way to Cardinia Cultural Centre.

To find out more about their program and future events, you can visit www. cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au or call their friendly team on 1300 887 624.

o ! n y e r r o f v e e Fun School holiday activities with Cardinia Cultural Centre

Shows include: The Wiggles: Tuesday 28 June Roald Dahl & The Imagination Seekers: Friday 8 July Animals Of Oz: Tuesday 28 June – Sunday 10 July Creature: Saturday 25 June – Sunday 10 July Shadow Play: Tuesday 28 June – Sunday 3 July

For more information and ticket sales, you can visit www.cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au or call our team on 1300 887 624.

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 31

Fashion

Winter warmers FOR the warmest children’s fashion this winter, look no further than Billy Lidz.

After being closed for months due to Covid restrictions, the leading boutique in Berwick is open and filled to the brim with clothing, accessories, shoes, toys and great gifts for Christmas.

Billy Lidz stocks leading Australian designer children’s and baby clothing brands and overseas favourites, including Crywolf, Winter Grown, and Illoura the Label.

They also stock beautiful handknitted dolls from cuddle + kind, a brand that gives 10 meals to children in need for every doll sold.

So support local this Christmas by visiting Billy Lidz at Blackburne Square, Berwick.

You can also check out the range in their online store at www.lovemybillylidz.com.au

Illoura the Label HARVEST 32 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER SEASON IN STORE NOW PLUS GREAT GIFT IDEAS OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm Shop 6, Blackburne Square, Berwick Phone: 9707 5593 12550654-NG24-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 33

DINING OUT

Seniors Menu Only

Our youth trainee team serve gourmet roasted coffee, specialty teas, cakes, slices, salads, pies and more.

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Our boutique providore offers a small selection of corporate gifts and specialty local produce.

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Health

Nitty gritty of the titty

By Casey Neill

appear during the teen years that need to be addressed,” she said.

“I think it’s helpful for all young people to know about boobs, whether they own a pair or not!”

“And boys going through puberty often grow boobs, too!

So Dr Melissa Kang partnered with Yumi Stynes to pen Welcome to Your Boobs.

It’s the third instalment in the ‘Welcome to’ series from the awardwinning duo, following Welcome to Consent and Welcome to Your Period.

Dr Kang responded to hundreds of boob-related questions from teens as the Dolly Doctor for more than 23 years, and from patients in her clinical work.

“Breasts have so much symbolic meaning in our culture - about gender, sex appeal, attractiveness - which can create a lot of layers of anxiety or misunderstanding,” she said.

“They also appear out of nowhere when an adolescent goes through puberty - and that change in one’s body can be enough to generate concerns.”

Dr Kang said breasts also received public attention due to the prevalence of breast cancer.

“This is something I’ve seen plenty of, but is not talked about much.

“It causes no end of distress for some young men.”

health on top half, lift from BGK10 She said understanding was growing about the distress puberty could cause for trans and gender diverse teens, and this was also covered in the book.

Dr Kang hoped the book would alleviate some of the anxiety she’d seen over the years about breast growth and development.

“Breasts are the first sign of puberty in girls and can first appear as young as 8,” she said.

“So this book is aimed at those early adolescents - somewhere between 8 and 10 - right through to a teen who has finished all their growing.”

The book covers the biology of breast development and answers common questions about size, shape, nipples, nipple hair, stretchmarks, tenderness, lumps and more.

There’s also practical information

The book answers many common questions.

about bras, and discussions about boobs as symbols around femininity and sex appeal.

Dr Kang hoped parents would also find the book useful.

“It can help them have conversations with their teens but might also address myths and misunderstandings parents have, too,” she said.

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Books

Turning the tables in the morning

By Casey Neill

special moments in the day, even during challenging times.”

WAKING up her ‘reluctant riser’ daughter every morning inspired author Sharon Giltrow to pen a humorous and heartfelt picture book.

She hopes both parents and children will see themselves in the book’s pages.

She said Get Ready, Mama! also came from her personal experience as a teacher.

“I see parents arriving at school a little frazzled. I can see that they have had a challenging morning,” Sharon said.

“I wanted to write a sympathetic story for them.

“We are not alone in trying to get reluctant risers up, ready for the day and at school on time.

“My favourite line in the book ‘you’re never too late for cuddles’ - will remind parents to take time for those

“Children will think it is funny seeing a parent playing the role of a child and the child playing the role of a parent,” she said.

“As a parent I wish someone would help me get ready for the day.”

Sharon said the book was also filled with heart, thanks to the child and parent bond portrayed through Arielle Li’s illustrations.

“The book also offers a practical tip - The ‘Get Your Mama Ready Pack’,” she said.

“This is a pack that could be kept in the car for those times when a child hasn’t brushed their hair or teeth.

She said the book would also help

Author Sharon Giltrow.

children to develop empathy.

“Children can literally see a child who has swapped places with a parent,” she said.

“Throughout the story there are great opportunities to discuss how the characters are feeling.

“More importantly how the reader would feel if they were trying to get their mama ready for the day.”

Get Ready, Mama! followed Sharon’s debut picture book Bedtime, Daddy.

“I have two more picture books coming out this year and next year,” she said.

“One is about taking a grandma shopping and the other is about taking a grandpa to the beach.

“So, once these books are released my ‘how to’ picture book family will be complete.”

Children’s books...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY From the award-winning author of All the Ways to Be Smart, comes a warm and whimsical guide to negotiating new experiences and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.

I’m not brave enough today.

Maybe next time.

You’re hurting my feelings right now. Want to join in?

A warm and whimsical guide to negotiating life’s little moments and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.

From award-winning and much-loved author Davina Bell and exciting new illustrator, Hilary Jean Tapper. $21.99 Hachette Australia

Bluey: Perfect Based on the hit ABC KIDS TV show!

It’s Father’s Day! As Bluey and Bingo make cards for Dad, will Bluey learn that sometimes perfect doesn’t have to be . . . perfect?

A gorgeous hardback book with a special wipe-clean card for drawing. This will make the perfect Father’s Day gift.

Bluey is an award-winning preschool show about Bluey, a blue heeler pup, and her family. Airing on ABC KIDS, the show has amassed legions of dedicated fans and hugely popular ranges of books, toys, clothes, games and more. $16.99 Penguin

Willa and Woof 1: Mimi is Missing Adventure, imagination and loads of fun.

From the bestselling author of Alice-Miranda comes this humorous and heartfelt series about eight-year-old Willa and her best four-legged friend, Woof!

Willa’s in trouble. Mimi – the famous racing pigeon owned

by Frank, her neighbour and best old-aged friend – is missing. And Willa is pretty sure she’s the one who left the cage door open . . .

She’ll need her most creative ideas (along with the help of Tae, her best same-age friend, and her trusty sidekick Woof, the albino Irish Wolfhound) to track Mimi down before Frank finds out!

Can Willa find Mimi before it’s too late?

Cop and Robber

L PLATERS

A new nailbiter from the bestselling author of Two Wolves.

A must-read guide for parents of teenage girls that explores what our girls need us to know in order to support them through the unprecedented pressures of growing up in today’s world.

If your mum was a cop and your dad was a crim who needed your help to commit a crime, would you do it to save him? At what cost?

Nash Hall’s dad is a criminal who just can’t seem to go straight. He wants Nash to help him commit a robbery. A big one. The trouble is, Nash’s mum is a cop. And the robbery is at Nash’s school. But Dad owes a lot of money to some very dangerous people and if Nash doesn’t help him do the job, it could cost both their lives.

From the bestselling author of Two Wolves, The Fall and Detention. $16.99 Penguin

To support our girls, we need to understand the pressures this generation is under by listening to what worries them and what they need – and journalist and social commentator Madonna King has done just that.

Having consulted 1000 young women, along with parents, senior educators and health care professionals in her research for this book, L Platers delivers the answers we need as parents to help our girls on the road to adulthood. $16.99 Hachette Australia

$12.99 Penguin www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Winter 2022 37

Kids Calendar

What's on this Winter UNTIL 12 JUNE

23 JUNE - 10 JULY

25 JUNE

28 & 30 JUNE, 5 & 7 JULY

TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

WINTER GLOW

FIREFLY NIGHT MARKET

TRASH PUPPETS

Adventure Park Geelong will host a glowing winter wonderland of snow, lights, fire and ice these school holidays.

This fusion of street food, artisan stalls, cultural activities and live performances will run from 4pm to 9pm at Penrose Park, Tarneit.

These free puppet making workshops run from noon to 2.30pm at The Mezz in Prahran.

Toorak Village links the arts with business to exhibit contemporary sculptural works in the shop windows and on the sidewalks of Toorak Road.

Visit www.toorakvillage.com.au/ sculpture for more information.

Entry is free for people under 90cm tall, $29.50 for 90cm to 120cm, and $34.50 for over 120cm.

Visit www.adventurepark.com.au.

There is fun for the whole family with roving performers, interactive art and more.

Visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au for more information.

5 JUNE

They empower children to get creative using clean recycled and reused materials.

They’re recommended for ages 6 to 12 years.

Find more at www.stonnington.vic.gov.au.

COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY Help Melbourne Water and NatureWest to revegetate the reserve next to Skeleton Creek at Hoppers Crossing.

4 JULY

The holes will be dug, the plants will be ready from 9.45am to noon. Wear sturdy shoes and gardening gloves.

Family friendly group The Kazoos brings its dress-up fun to the Knox Community Arts Centre from 11am.

Register via www.wyndham.vic.gov. au/greenlivingseries

Musical comedy Dress Up Box explores character, gender-identity and role play. Children are invited to the stage to select items out of the box. What they choose directs where the show goes next!

THE KAZOOS

25 JUNE 5, 12, 19, 26 & 29 JUNE, 3 & 6 JULY MINIATURE RAILWAY This passenger-carrying miniature railway within the Portarlington Bayside Family Park grounds runs on the first and third Sundays of the month from 11am to 3pm from June to September, plus special school holiday services.

Trains run at frequent intervals, takes about 10 minutes, costs $4 and is free for children aged under 2 years.

ASHBURTON-A-FAIR

25 JUNE - 10 JULY

Ashburton Community Centre will host this free market with fun for all ages from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

LUNA PARK

Visit ashburtoncc.org.au for more information.

Winter school holiday fun at Luna Park will feature heart-pumping thrill rides, family rides, and gentle rides for the little ones. There’s something for everyone.

25 JUNE

Visit lunapark.com.au for all the details.

BANTU AFRICAN FEST

Visit miniaturerailway.com.au for more information.

From noon to 5pm at Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Geelong, enjoy live music, drum and dancing performances, food, market stalls and kids’ entertainment.

18 JUNE

Visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au for more information.

Does your daughter love to sing, dance and perform? The choir offers fun and dynamic classes to transform a love of music into a rich educational experience.

Register at ausgirlschoir.com.au.

Visit www.knox.vic.gov.au for more.

10 JULY WINTER CONCERT SERIES Clayton Theatrette will host free kids’ show Cosmic Cats, a cover band for kids and adults alike, from 2pm to 3pm.

Book at www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/891571.

15 JULY

AUSTRALIAN GIRLS CHOIR OPEN DAY This free event in Balwyn will run from noon to 2.30pm.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for kids and $45 for a family of four.

REGROWTH FESTIVAL

28-30 JUNE, 1 & 2 JULY PLAYABLE STREETS - REFLECTION This interactive installation in Prahran Square features artworks from artists of all ages, as part of the Roola Boola Children’s Arts Festival.

Hills Creative Alliance and the Kalorama Collective will host a Regrowth festival at Kalorama Memorial Reserve, including a smoking ceremony, indigenous dances, children’s activities, and tea and cake, from noon to 8pm.

Find more at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

It runs 10am to 5pm.

Find more at www.stonnington.vic.gov.au.

38 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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Dr Shannon Gune Dr Deon Nguyen Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Rachel Fong Dr Ragy Labib

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Dr Jayson McNaughton Dr Alina Bratu Dr Harjot Gill Dr Robert Otken Dr Guy Turton

Visit our centres in Clyde North, Lyndhurst & Cranbourne

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Professional, Friendly and ALL IN THE LUXURY OF YOUR OWN HOME!

Participating Providers

After School Tuitions NAPLAN Preparation Selective School Entrance / Scholarship Exams Specially tailored VCE coaching Group / Individual Sessions Face to Face Online Sessions

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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• BULK BILLING AVAILABLE for $1000 Medicare Child Dental Benefit Scheme • HALF PRICE CROWNS* after first full priced crown • Health Insurance members can enjoy a GAP FREE appointment for their Check-up, Cleans, X-Rays and Sealants • Up to 24 months Interest free payment plans available • We are only open 8am-9pm on Wednesday • $189 New Patient Deal for Non-Insurance patients which includes Check-up, Clean & X-rays

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR CHILD!

• Room Sprays • Hand & Body Products • Ceramic Oil Burners • Ultrasonic Mist Diffusers • Pillow Mists • Reed Diffuser Refills

matt@airconic.net www.airconic.com.au airconic_air

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www.harmoni.com.au •

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Kids Pamper Parties Mummy & Me Package +

Lic. 53320

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Winter 2022 39

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40 Winter 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au