Family Times - Christchurch - Spring 2015 by Twenty Seven Publishers

Overweight but under nourished. Read more on page 28

The art of follow through The benefits of positive, enforceable statements

Help – I hate my teacher!

How to manage child-teacher clashes

New Zealand's leading parenting resource

Win Win Win

Competitions, giveaways and kids’ games

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Birthdays

Great theme ideas and delicious party treats

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ISSN 2324-450X (Print) ISSN 2324-4518 (Online)

CHRISTCHURCH / ISSUE 79 / Spring 2015

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*September 26 – October 11, 2015

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inside this issue

Contents 6

4 Kids say the darndest things

We’ve got a few funnies from your littlies to tickle your sense of humour.

5 Dads and daughters

How to build this special bond.

30 Mums in business

Fashion designer Kelly Coe talks about being a working mum.

Kids’ corner 10 Family budget

What your kids should and shouldn’t know.

11 Family pet

6 The art of follow through

How to choose statements that you can enforce.

8 Help – I hate my teacher

How to positively resolve child-teacher conflict.

9 Educational apps

Are your kids learning or just playing games?

Chinchilla or gorilla? Find out which pet would suit your family.

12 Little Gems

We interview three kiwi authoresses about parenting tips from around the world.

13 Fight allergies nature’s way

The answer to a sneeze-free spring could be in our food.

21 Recycled container veggie garden

A step-by-step guide to build your own.

New theme ideas and delicious party recipes.

22 Birthdays

24 Words of Wisdom

Parenting expert Diane Levy answers your parenting questions.

25 Weaning

Great tips on when and how to wean your baby or toddler.

27 Family camping

What you need to know to plan your summer getaway.

14 Kids’ corner

Competitions, games and reviews.

Resource information 16 Calendar of events 18 Holiday programmes 19 Entertainment 20 Going places 24 Help is at Hand 26 After school care 26 School Term Dates

About Us Publisher Robyn Willis Design & Production Moody Shokry Advert Production Target Press Production Office Editor Vanessa O’Brien Contributing writers Preteen Eva-Maria Advice Diane Levy

Food Anna Bordignon, from Munch Cooking Games Tim Driver from Comics Compulsion Digital Manager Kate Gorman Media Executives Amie Palmer, Sonia McManus, Alice Andersen, Nicky Barnett, Olwyn Knowler. Office Manager Raelyn Hay Executive Assistant Jackie Pithie Reach us at:

Family Publishers (NZ) P.O. Box 36-004, Christchurch 8146. Ph 03 355 9186 Freephone 0800 285 510 Mobile 0274 359 414 admin@familytimes.co.nz www.familytimes.co.nz Distribution: Printed and distributed quarterly approximately two weeks before each major school holiday. 41,547 are distributed through early childhood centres, primary and intermediate schools, Christchurch City Council offices, recreational facilities, libraries and service centres, selected medical and midwifery premises and McDonalds restaurants.The opinions expressed in this publication are not those of the publisher unless indicated otherwise. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the expressed written permission of the publisher. Family Times is not responsible for unsolicited material. Family Times is funded and published solely through the support of its advertisers. They support us, please support them. www.familytimes.co.nz

From the editor Kids say the

darndest things

I don’t know about you, but to me it’s seemed like a long, cold winter in New Zealand this year.

Just when you’re not expecting the curtain back and one of them looked at our son, looked at me and said “Whose baby it, kids say the funniest things! is that?” We all absolutely peed ourselves! We asked our Family Times Debbie Snell: Pregnant with my second son, my oldest (4-years-old at the Facebook members what time) and I went for a scan and the lady their kids have cracked them tells him all about where baby is and about amniotic fluid etc. He looks at her and says, up with. We’re still laughing. “But how does mum do his washing when Here’s a snapshot: he’s in there?” Leanne Wilson: Mummy, you know Dairne Woods: One day I was

e’re not yet quite ready to get rid of our scarves and gloves here in Christchurch, but there is a feeling of spring to the air with hints of blossom and daffodils starting to show. Cold though it’s been, undoubtedly one of the highlights of my winter was attending the Baby & Child show in July. Members of our Family Times team braved the wintery weekend blast and set up a booth in the warm confines of Pioneer Stadium in order to have a chat with our readers (and potential readers) about this magazine that we are so passionate about. It was a complete privilege to meet so many mums, dads and kids that love Family Times, and to hear your thoughts, ideas and comments about what we do and how we could do it better. You let us have cuddles with your babies, talk shop about parenting and put a face to the multitude of readers who help make Family Times a success. So thank-you for coming to talk with us! One of the things that became very clear to us is that our readers would like to access more of our content online, as well as in print. We’ve been working hard at streamlining our online content, and encourage you to visit us at www.familytimes.co.nz for the latest in parenting articles, recipes, competitions, family entertainment ideas and events that are specific to your area, and much more. Also, check us out on Facebook and become

how the tooth fairy takes your little teeth and then you get big ones? Yes dear. You’ve got a big bottom, haven’t you Mum? Yeessssss. Did the tooth fairy take your little one away?

a part of our fast growing, interactive online parenting forum with lots of up-to-themoment parenting info. Getting back to the issue at hand, we’ve got plenty to keep the pages turning. In our main feature article we look at the art of follow through. Almost every parent is guilty at some stage of threatening an unrealistic punishment to their children in moments of frustration. But experts say there could be a better, more effective and less stressful way to encourage obedience and avoid a battle of wills at the same time. Interested? We were too! Read more on page six. Of course we’ve got plenty of other parenting features, birthday theme ideas, competitions, giveaways, family entertainment ideas and much more. Enjoy!

Jo Bell: If Santa doesn’t bring me

everything in my letter to him I will push him back up the chimney.

Karen Schou: I took my daughter to Wellington Zoo and we were looking at the lions. My 3-year-old said “Mum, Mum, look: there are penguins at the zoo.” I said, “No, there are no penguins at this zoo.” “Yes there are: they are walking down the path.” I looked around and there were three nuns walking along! Rochelle and Dan: My son

(2-years-old) looked outside and the wind was blowing the trees. He says, “Look mum! The trees are dancing.”

Stacey Weaver: I was in hospital

with our newborn son - just a couple of hours old - and my mum brought all of my younger sisters in (much younger!) to meet their nephew. They walked into the room, pulled

searching for the TV remote to no avail. My then 5-year-old son said, “It’s okay Mummy: there are some magical buttons on the side of the TV that make it work too!”

Allira Bowman: When my boys were about 2-years and 4-years we were going through a phase of playing Cat Stevens in the car. They loved his songs. One day my then 4-year-old asked how they taught him to sing. It took me a while to realise what he meant. When I broke the news to them that Cat wasn’t an actual cat, they both burst into tears!

Danielle Hide: Master 4: “Dad, you’re the best dad in the world.” Dad says, “What about Mum? Is she the best mum in the world?” Master 4: “No, she’s the craziest!”

Karena Wilson: Just the other day my Master 3 came up to me and said, “Mum, it’s not me, it’s you.” I said “pardon?” and he responded again with “it’s not me, it’s you.” I asked him if he was breaking up with me, and he said “Yes, now come and play mum!” If you’d like to share the funny things your child says, email editor@ familytimes.co.nz.

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Dads and daughters “I think it’s about love and attention. Men “I have spoken to a lot of tend to communicate quite authoritatively fathers and we agree; we are – state facts and rules – and I find it’s better just to explore things with them. That comes far more vulnerable to our from a coaching background and counselling girls than we are to our boys. background.” This is the number one agony Tips for being a great dad of being a girl’s dad.” John to your daughter Cowan, The Parenting Place. We’ve got a few ideas to help dads build a

amish Webb, a life coach and counsellor at Father & Child Trust in Christchurch, is a self-confessed modern, liberal dad. He believes in parenting plans and treating his two girls – aged 15 and 10-years – no differently than his 11-year-old son. However, he says treating them equally doesn’t necessarily mean treating them the same. “I’m very aware of the need for equality, and that one is not more important than the other, so I focus on that. But there is a difference – feeling more protective of a daughter.” Hamish says there are lots of socially constructed gender identity issues, and that society has an expectation of what boys and girls do. But when it comes to spending time with his kids, the activities depend on what they are interested in, not whether they are male or female. He plays Xbox games with his son and used to go to taikwondo with his daughter. “I guess that’s a male-dominated thing, and that’s a bit unusual, but we did it together.” The thing about dads and parenting is that men are far less likely to seek help, said Hamish. But when they do, he has one key principle when it comes to daughters: asking questions rather than telling them what to do.

better and more meaningful relationship with their daughter:

1 Do her hair

Start from a young age, when her hair only just fits into a “Pebbles” top knot. Make an effort to learn plaits, braiding, buns, pigtails and whatever wild and wonderful style she may have in mind. If you feel a bit self-conscious and not very blokey, make it into a competition with her Mum.

2 Play sports with her

Don’t accept “throwing like a girl” or half attempts on her behalf. Teach her how to do a real push-up and how to play sport competitively. This doesn’t just teach physical toughness, but also mental stamina. It’s not about teaching her to be masculine, but helping her to become a strong woman in the future.

3 Proximity doesn’t equal presence

Your daughter couldn’t care less about your Twitter feed, your emails, your fantasy football team, or your group texts. She cares about spending time with you. Playing with you. Being with you. So be present, don’t just be “there.”

4 Take her on dates

Don’t feel like you have to do it every week. Even once every few months is better than not at all. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. It could be going for a walk, a short bike ride or a trip to the ice cream store. Open doors for her, look her in the eye and talk with her, and make her feel special. You’re teaching her how a man should treat a woman.

Have a you heart warming dads & daughters story to share.

5 Compliment her

This is not just about appearance. The way that you compliment her shows her what you value, so choose your compliments carefully. Praise academic, sporting, artistic and musical efforts as well as her character – her kindness, thoughtfulness, and honesty. And of course she should know her dad thinks she’s the prettiest girl in the world.

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feature story

Discipline - the art of follow-through “If you don’t do the dishes right now, you can forget about pocket money for the rest of the year.” Many parents throw out these kinds of broad statements in moments of sheer frustration, in the hope that the threatened punitive action will somehow kick-start their rebellious child into compliance. But often the resulting battle of wills ends with no winners, because kids are smarter at playing this game than adults realise. A lot smarter, according to The Parenting Place creative producer John Cowan. “Your kids know that you will never carry it out, so it is useless as a penalty. Just go for as few rules as you can live with, but make sure you enforce them consistently. Never make a rule you wouldn’t get out of the shower to enforce.” If you follow through with your child nine times out of 10, you didn’t win nine rounds, experts say. You lost 10 rounds, because now your child knows that this is a game they can win, and how to wear you down. So the age-old question remains: how can you get your kids to obey you?

– including our kids – will do. And we look very silly when we can’t get our kids to do what we say. What enforceable statements do is take the onus off the parent and put it onto the child, by having the parent say what they

“If your rules are fair, and you are fair, you won’t mind talking about them.” will allow.

For example:

 I give treats to kids who protect their teeth by brushing.

 Breakfast is served until 7:30. Get all you need to hold you till lunch.

 My car is leaving at 8am.  I’ll listen as soon as your voice is as calm

as mine. Therefore, kids essentially get to choose how they behave, and the results of their choices are their responsibility. If they don’t get up in time for breakfast, they will go hungry until lunch. If they’re not ready by 8am, they will have to find their own way to school. They can’t blame you for being the mean parent – they made a choice, and they bear the consequences. What enforceable statements also do is make Enforceable statements the child feel like they have a choice and it’s The Love and Logic philosophy founded by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D, argues that not a dictatorship. After all, nobody likes being told what to do or being controlled. parenting is a lot more fun and rewarding – instead of stressful and chaotic – if parents use However, Cowan says enforceable statements are not infallible. enforceable statements rather than threats. “I like the intention behind enforceable It’s based on the principle that if we’re really honest, we can’t control what another person statements, and they are fine in maintaining

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good order with kids who are pretty compliant anyway. The problem would be when kids do not comply. Looking at the breakfast example, I can imagine kids who would be happy to score a victory over you by saying, “Okay” and then not have breakfast. They know that you are more concerned about their nutrition than they are! Similarly, “My car is leaving at 8am.” What are you going to do when you get to your child’s music lessons without your child? Yes, I like enforceable statements, but they do have to be tuned into the personality of your child.”

Enforceable statements: 1 Aim to word all they say in positive

ways even when the situation might typically be considered negative.

Provide choices without any sense of coercion. Coercion often leads to resistance, while less pressure will often lead to cooperative solutions.

Calm discipline

What enforceable statements also do is to set limits on children’s behaviour by providing stability and security in the form of consequences. Consequences, says Cowan, are not what you do to your children, but rather what they automatically bring upon themselves if they do certain things. And that’s what separates

feature story consequences from threats. “Maybe it is a difference in degree. I am thinking it is the difference between a high voltage electric fence and a hand-rail on a balcony. Threats are intended to create a sense of fear whereas the knowledge that an action (or inaction) will result in a consequence shouldn’t frighten a child. Also, a threat is a person-to-person thing whereas a consequence is an impersonal, automatic thing. It is not you-versus-your-child, it is more your child-versus-the-rule.” Consequences don’t need to be harsh penalties, but they do need to be rock solid. They can be natural or logical – i.e. if your child breaks a toy, the natural consequence is that they don’t get to play with that toy anymore. A logical consequence if they carelessly break a toy is that they don’t get to play with any more toys until tomorrow. Children learn the results of poor choices when consequences are consistent. And, as Cowan says, it can help parents learn not to discipline in anger. “My anger never seems to work – anger never delivers the results I want it to. Very seldom, after telling my kids off, do they come back to me and say, “Thank you for that telling off, Dad. That’s just what we needed to correct us and set us back on to the straight path.” If I use anger in my voice, then it doesn’t matter how right I am and how wrong they are, they won’t be getting the point.”

A collaborative approach

It can take a lot of work to relearn the parenting habits of a lifetime. The way that your parents disciplined you likely impacts on your parenting style too, and your own natural reactions can be tough to tame. However, one thing that parenting experts

seem to agree on is that the old “dictatorial” method seldom works. In fact, Cowan says that rules without reason lead to rebellion. So the old adage “Because I said so,” doesn’t really fly with kids today. A more collaborative and reasonable approach to discipline is effective though, according to Cowan. “As kids become capable of understanding them, we should give the reasons for the limits we set for them – they are to keep them safe, or to keep harmony in the home.” Cowan advocates that rules should be negotiable as kids move into the schoolage years. If your rules are fair, and you are fair, you won’t mind talking about them. If your child can articulate a good case for changing a rule, your willingness to listen and be flexible isn’t a sign of weakness or lost authority, but of strength and confidence as a parent.

“Consequences don’t need to be harsh penalties, but they do need to be rock solid.”

Discipline in context

The most important thing to remember, says Cowan, is that good, healthy discipline comes from a place of a loving relationship between parent and child. “Discipline is everything you do as a parent, not just those interactions you have when your children are misbehaving. For discipline to actually be a loving, constructive thing, without shouting, force or fluster, then we need to build a whole scaffold of parenting practices because good discipline only really works in a context of loving relationship.”

Tips on enforceable statements

1 Make them very measurable and clear For example, “I pay $1 a bag for leaves put into rubbish bags to my satisfaction.” 2 Only give options you’re willing to live with Don’t say, “I’ll feed you tomorrow if you finish your supper tonight.” Both you and your child know you won’t follow through with this threat. 3 Positive statements and rewards, not threats For example, “I read bedtime stories to kids who treat me with kindness during the day.” Compare the tone of that to, “I’m not reading to you because you were so rude to me earlier.” 4 Be gutsy As a parent, you need to be willing and courageous enough to actually enforce what you say. If a parent says, “We will stay here at the playground as long as you exhibit a pleasant attitude,” then the parent must be willing to actually leave a minute later and head home with screaming child in tow. Think longterm: consistency in your enforcement

will make them think twice before disobeying the next time. 5 No empty threats If you make an empty threat that you don’t intend to enforce, the child will quickly figure that out — and leave you helpless forever! Most of us have seen a parent say to their child in the middle of the mall, “Come over here right now or I’m going to leave without you.” This is a statement the parent has no intention of enforcing. Not only does this undermine the parent’s authority, it also undermines a young child’s basic trust and security. 6 Prepare in advance For many parents, using enforceable statements is a complete change of mindset, and it’s easy to revert to established patterns in moments of frustration. It’s much easier to combat this if you prepare statements for common scenarios in advance. When you come across a situation that’s new, take a moment to breathe and consider your response before speaking.

How do you manage discipline in your family?

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Help - my child hates his teacher! Your child is with his teacher six hours a day for 10-months of the year, so it’s important not to underestimate the impact of a child-teacher conflict.

teacher yell at everyone, or just your child? It can take a while for your child to adjust to a new teacher’s ways of doing things, and they may not realise the part they played in the situation.

3 Don’t act in anger

n fact, a negative child-teacher relationship can stunt your child’s education and even impact on their future thirst for learning. But a child-teacher conflict can also be a great tool to teach your child about managing relationships and coming up with positive solutions. Here are some tips on what to do when your child hates his teacher:

1 Take it seriously

What may seem like a small thing to you can seem like an insurmountable obstacle to your child. It’s tempting to tell your child that everything will be better tomorrow and brush off the incident that is worrying them, but you run the risk of making them think that their feelings aren’t important to you. They may not confide in you the next time.

4 Check the facts

2 Listen “A child-teacher conflict can be a great tool to teach your child about managing relationships...”

Ask open-ended questions to figure out what is really going on. Maybe the teacher raised their voice to them – what happened before they yelled? Does the

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When something – or someone – is hurting your child, all of your parental intuition kicks in. It can be very difficult to control your own feelings when you believe that someone is being mean to your child. Just remember – as much as you love your child, at this stage you have only heard half of the story. Being defensive can make you shut off to hearing the other side and may actually make things worse for your child. Keep an open mind at this point because as a parent, it may not be easy to tell when your child is just venting or when there are legitimate issues that need addressing.

Kids speak in hyperbole and also in code. To get beyond the confusion, parents need to get to the hard facts and probe the specific sources of the complaint. If your child says that his teacher gives him too much homework, check the workload yourself: How much does the teacher assign? Look at your child’s assignments and class notes and see exactly what he has to do each night. If your child says that the teacher is too strict, check the rules yourself. Evaluate whether or not the rules sound severe to you and ask your child how the teacher enforces them.

5 Talk to the teacher

Now that you’re calm and you’ve checked the facts, open a conversation with the

teacher casually; perhaps when you collect your child from school. Generally, effective educators value constructive feedback from parents and welcome the chance to speak to you about your child. It’s a good idea to speak one-on-one with the teacher about your concerns first, and to reach an understanding with them about the situation. Then bring in your child so that they feel confident that the situation is being resolved without fear of a backlash. It could be as simple as a personality clash. Overly regimental teachers often clash with highly active kids who struggle to remain attentive, and children who are highly structured may find it challenging with a teacher who goes with the flow. Some kids need more encouragement and some need a greater challenge. Opening that conversation with the

teacher, and involving your child in the conversation, may help to bridge the gap.

6 Removing your child is a last resort

Watching your child go through a tough time can bring out your protective instincts and may even make you want to remove your child from the classroom. This should be an absolute last resort saved for cases when you fear that safety is an issue or that there is ongoing prejudice. Rescuing children from a difficult situation can teach them that if they don’t like the person in authority, they don’t have to stick it out. We’ve got education covered Our latest articles include Reengaging Kids in Maths and The Cost of a Free Education. Just search the titles at www.familytimes.co.nz.

A guide to kids’ educational apps Are your kids really learning, or just playing games? Plenty of app designers pedal their wares as educational in order to access the golden family market. After all, parents are more willing to pay for apps that make their kids smarter than they are for mind-numbing game apps.

“Merely tapping a finger or swiping a screen does not count as the kind of minds-on activity that supports learning.” But not every app that purports to be educational actually is according to Swinburne University of Technology’s Babylab researcher Jordy Kaufman. “With the introduction of the iPad only five years ago, the market has been flooded with thousands of apps for young children labelled “educational”,” Kaufman said. “Until now, it has been difficult to determine whether or not these apps have any educational value.” The Australian led, international research team at Babylab have drawn on decades of scientific research about how children learn best to in order to determine the four pillars of learning that make an app educational. Their research has been published as an

evidence-based guide to help parents, educators and app designers assess the educational impact of apps for children. Dr Kaufman said to be considered educational, apps must encourage active, engaged, meaningful and socially interactive learning.

Active learning

For an app to promote active learning, it requires the use of mental effort. Merely tapping a finger or swiping a screen does not count as the kind of minds-on activity that supports learning. “A good example of a storybook app that encourages mental activity is one that might ask children to choose among story characters or objects that enhance the storyline,” Dr Kaufman said.

Engaged learning

For a child to be engaged, he or she needs to stay on task. On-screen animations and sound effects can distract the child from meeting learning goals. “Adding all sorts of crazy animations, stickerlike rewards, and other bells and whistles really does not do anything to foster learning,” Dr Kaufman said. “Apps should engage children through intrinsic motivation to learn – by giving children new information – rather than through external rewards, such as giving out virtual stickers.”

Meaningful learning

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knowledge will lead to greater retention and understanding. “A number of apps on the marketplace require shallow memorisation, such as an app that asks a child to touch a triangle and then applauds the child for doing so,” Dr Kaufman said. “Compare this to an app that explains and demonstrates that a triangle has three sides, then asks the child to “find the triangles” in an everyday, meaningful scene.”

Social interaction

App design can incorporate social interaction by involving more than two users to engage in face-to-face interactions around the screen, such as competing in a game, or by asking users to engage in mediated interactions through technologies such as Facetime. Dr Kaufman believes that while the next generation of apps will be able to reach their potential as effective and engaging educational tools, they cannot replace learning that occurs in the “real world” of the classroom.

Dr Kaufman’s top five educational apps:

1. Busy Shapes (7 Academy) 2. Toca Band (Toca Boca) 3. Loopimal (Yatatoy) 4. Jack and the Bean Stalk (Nosy Crow) 5. Shiny Party - Shapes and Colors (Shiny Things) 6. Photos Dr Kaufman includes photos because he believes that one of the best digital experiences he has seen involves very young children examining family photos with a parent or sibling who talks to the child about what they are seeing. “Digital experiences don’t need to be solitary experiences. Learning is most likely to occur when there is a social element to it and photos can provide that social element.” We’ve got technology covered For more, search technology online at www. familytimes.co.nz.

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Family budget – what your kids should know There’s a meme doing the social 1 How much you pay for media rounds that says, “My where you live greatest childhood memory is The cost of your home is typically the largest chunk out of your budget. Letting not paying bills.”

ost adults can relate to that. But on the other hand, experts say ignorance isn’t necessarily bliss when it comes to the family budget. In fact, protecting your kids from your financial ups and downs does little to prepare them for the future. 2 There’s a lot to be gained by your children seeing your struggle and effort to organise your home finances. These are real things, and real issues that kids need to experience in order to become more sensitive to how money is spent, what things cost, and that money doesn’t grow on trees. That’s not to say that you want your kids to take on an undue sense of responsibility or to worry about where you are going to live. But including them on the basic workings of your budget can prepare them for the future so that they don’t flounder when they start getting a pay cheque of their own. Of course, it’s all age related: a budget conversation with a 5-year-old is going to be very different than that with a 10-yearold; the first being very generalised and the latter more specific. But by the time they are 3 teenagers, they should have a pretty clear understanding of what it takes to pay for your style of living, as well as what it would take for you to have a higher or lower cost of living.

How much you pay for utilities

“There’s a lot to be gained by your children seeing your struggle and effort to organise your home finances.”

How much food costs in your home Take the kids with you on a grocery shop so that they can see how much things cost on average per week.

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A good family budget takes into consideration that “extras” pop up on a regular basis. Letting your kids know how much it costs you and how much you have to budget each week to make it happen, can help quell any sense of entitlement and encourage appreciation.

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4 How much you spend in general on vacations, holidays, and birthdays.

One of the greatest things that you can teach your kids is how to save, and to watch those savings grow. Make a family savings goal – i.e. maybe to buy a new television – and work together as a family to achieve it. Forgo little extras and put that money into your savings, and encourage your kids to put a part of their pocket money into it too.

6 How much you make gross and net, and what you pay in tax

Nothing is surer in life than death and taxes – so teach your kids about how much of your money goes on tax, and what your taxes pay for.

Other things to talk with your kids about include the costs of entertainment, transportation, insurance, clothing, and extra-curricular activities. Kids are great visual learners, so consider putting your family budget into a pie graph so that they can see which necessities make up the biggest chunk. Then break it down into their world: If they receive a weekly allowance, carve it up into the same percentages on the pie chart, i.e. if they receive $10 a week, perhaps $3 - $4 of that would go on housing, and $1 on food. Happy budgeting! Want more feature articles on family finance? Search “finance” on www.familytimes.co.nz.

Trustees Executors – there for generations From first smiles to first homes, parents have always done what they can to care for their children. Having a valid will that reflects your wishes is the best way to make sure your children are cared for. A will formally sets out what happens to the things you own and people you care for after your death. A will is also the best place to appoint guardians for your children. On the death of a parent, the family should not be left guessing what that person would have wanted to happen. For some families the choice is obvious; for others it is less clear. A guardian ensures your children are raised according to your wishes. So whether you are preparing them for their first day at school, or giving them a hard time about cleaning their room, make sure

your children’s future is in good hands with Trustees Executors. Protecting yourself also helps to protect your family; appointing an attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is advisable. An EPA legally allows someone else to act on your behalf if you’re ever unable to through illness, age or accident - someone you trust to deal with financial matters and to ensure all your requirements can be tended to, giving you the security that you still have control of your life. If you lose mental capacity without an EPA, dealing with your matters can become increasingly difficult, adding emotional and financial stress to your loved ones. Contact us today on 0800-878-783 or privatewealth@trustees.co.nz.

What pet should my family get? Big or small, hairy or scaly, noisy or quiet, indoors or out – there are some big decisions to be made when thinking about which pet best suits your family.

ets – as their owners would say – quickly become another member of the family. For many kids, the family pet is their best friend – a companion who not only provides unconditional love, but who also teaches them about friendship, responsibility, loyalty and empathy. But before you jump off the deep end and add a pet member to your family, you need to consider what kind of animal will best fit in with you. Here are some things to weigh up:

1 Who is looking after the pet? Is one particular child pushing for a pet? If so, are they old enough and responsible enough to look after a pet, or will you – the parent – end up having to take over?

2 How much will it cost? The purchase price is just the beginning – there will be ongoing upkeep such as food, litter, and vet bills. The type of pet you choose will determine the cost.

3 Your living situation How much space you have may determine the type of pet you can get. A dog, for exam-

ADHD – is the answer in our food?

The University of Canterbury has a study investigating the effect of micronutrients on ADHD in children, and is recruiting for this study now. Do you know of a child who:  Is aged 7 to 12-years  Has trouble with inattention, hyperac tivity or impulsivity (an existing diag nosis of ADHD is not necessary).  Is not currently taking psychiatric medication  Is in Christchurch or able to travel for appointments They could take part in an exciting research study using a vitamin-mineral formula to treat ADHD. Read more about clinical psychologist Dr Julia Rucklidge and her study online at www.familytimes.co.nz – search ADHD.

ple, needs plenty of running space, and a fullyfenced and secure section. A fish does not. Next you need to decide which animal fits the maintenance level you and your family can handle.

1 Lowest maintenance pets These are pets like fish, lizards and turtles. Your time commitment to these animals will probably be about 15 minutes a day for feeding and about an hour a week to clean tanks or cages. One thing to remember though: these animals aren’t cuddly or affectionate, so while they may be fun to watch and a good way to learn about animals, they may not give you the close relationship you want.

2 Low maintenance pets This category includes many family-favourite pets such as cats, small birds, rabbits and rodents (i.e. guinea pigs, gerbils hamsters, mice and rats.) These pets require 15 to 30 minutes a day of feeding and weekly cage or litter box cleaning.

3 Medium maintenance pets Medium maintenance pets are dogs. Dogs require much more attention and time than cats or gerbils. They need to be exercised and fed daily, and groomed regularly. Dogs may also have to get training or obedience lessons, and need way more human interaction than other animals. Expect to spend an hour or two every day taking care of your canine pal.

4 High maintenance pets Think horses, large birds like parrots, and exotic animals like llamas or pigs. These animals require a lot more care, attention, time, and money. They also need a lot of space, so unless you live in a zoo or on a large farm, high maintenance pets probably aren’t for you! Once you’ve weighed up your options, all that’s left to do is to choose a fitting name for your new pet.

The Breeze Walking Festival The Breeze Walking Festival returns in 2015, putting a spring in the step of walkers from all over Canterbury. Running from Saturday 26 September – Saturday 10 October, the festival includes 37 free walks over 16 days. These walks cater to people from all walks of life: from childfriendly jaunts to more challenging treks for the experienced walker. The walks take in areas within Christchurch city, the Port Hills, and parts of the Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts, including coastlines, forests, ridgelines, river ways,

wetlands, gardens and city streets. Make the most of the school holidays and shake your tail feather as you skip, walk, hop and stomp your way around Travis Wetland to find Perky the Pukeko and friends on the Pukeko Stomp. Or for adventurers and explorers, scout out hidden delights in the part treasure hunt, part orienteering All Right? Amble. Both are fun, family friendly walks with a difference. A full schedule of events can be found at walkingfestival.co.nz.

26 September – 10 October walkingfestival.co.nz

The Breeze

Walking Festival Put some spring in your step!

Featuring the Pūkeko stomp – shake your tail feathers as you skip, walk, hop and stomp your way around Travis Wetland to find Perky the Pūkeko and friends! Wednesday 7 October 10.30am – 12noon www.familytimes.co.nz

3 Kiwi mums kick-start global mothering tips There’s a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. After the births of their second children closely together, Aucklanders Bridget Fogarty and Jane Langley began to wonder what would happen if that were a global village.

hat’s how the book “Little Gems: Marvels and musings on motherhood from around the world,” came about, said Bridget. “We wanted to create a book that wasn’t just advice and was quite reassuring for mothers and universalised the experience. We found that a lot of the baby books around were quite prescriptive and we wanted to reassure mums that there are lots of different ways to bring up babies.” Bridget describes the book as “a literary version of a coffee group,” with motherhood treasures, customs, folklore and practices from more than 50 different cultures. “I’ve had an underlying feeling for a while that sometimes modern parents over-complicate things and we forget that people having been having babies since day dot all over the world and in different cultures.” When the idea was conceived three years ago, former English teacher Bridget began the process of researching books, texts and anthropological studies on how various

cultures raise their children. She scoured the internet and talked to different cultural and ethnic groups inside New Zealand in order to check and double check her facts. At the same time Jane, a freelance copywriter, began taking the “little gems” and translating them into engaging prose. Jane and Bridget’s friendship has long been a creative one. Growing up in Christchurch, they spent many a long Saturday afternoon of their childhood together making up games, little businesses and radio shows. So collaborating on a book was a natural progression, Bridget said. Then in early 2014 they added another friend into the mix – graphic designer and illustrator Becky Ollivier – who created the illustrations and layout. From there, they started talking to publishers, Bridget said. “We played with different titles and avenues and we decided that the best way to realise the project that we wanted to realise – without a publisher’s intervention – was to self-publish.” They turned to Kickstarter, a global, webbased, crowd-funding platform for creative projects. It took nine months to launch the campaign, with each of them balancing jobs and families, but in the end it was successful. Two-hundred-and-seven backers pledged NZD$13,505 to bring the book to life. It was printed in China and finally launched in Ponsonby on 19 July 2015. “It’s very light-hearted, lot’s of quirky little facts, and celebratory,” Bridget said. “It’s not

Splash into Spring at Selwyn Aquatic Centre

Whether it’s for fun with the family, swimming lessons or relaxation – come in and make the most of our heated pools and enjoy the warm indoor environment. Bring the kids down for fun in the Leisure Pool, Lazy River and Toddler area, or try out the inflatables on Sundays between 2pm and 4pm. Open 6am-9pm Monday to Friday and 8am-8pm Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. 71 Broadlands Drive, Rolleston 7643. Contact (03) 347 2734. www.selwyn.govt.nz/sac

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about modern parenting practices, but about tradition.” Some pearls of wisdom include tips on inducing labour, making labour go more smoothly, choosing a baby name, and settling into motherhood: “In Guatemala, you can bring on labour by making this delightful concoction: boil one purple onion in a pot of beer. Drink the cooled broth. (Shudder.)” “Incredible but true: a blindfolded woman has the ability to recognise her own baby from a line-up of other babies by scent alone.” Then there’s Bridget’s favourite: “In the hunter/gatherer Ache tribe of Paraguay, mothers sleep sitting hunched

Little Gems: Marvels and Musings on Motherhood from Around the World Little Gems is a whimsical look at how mothers around the world raise their babies. With plenty of tips and humorous interludes, it makes a great gift for mumsto-be. It’s written and illustrated by three Kiwi mums - Jane Langley, Bridget Fogarty and Becky Ollivier. First edition hardback copies are available from littlegemsbook. bigcartel.com. Family Times has three copies to give away to our readers. Enter at www.familytimes.co.nz. Entries close 17 October 2015.

over with their newborns in their laps to protect the baby from danger for the first year of life. And you thought your bed was uncomfortable.” The trio is keeping mum about any future projects, with their hands full selling their first title.

win win win

Fighting allergies with food fish early in life may even be less likely to It’s coming into that season have allergies later. again, when spring’s fresh Aim for one or two servings of fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel per week. airborne pollen causes sniffly noses and watering eyes. 2 Garlic

ut before you head to the pharmacy for a quick-fix, consider preventative action using nature’s super foods to fight allergies before they start. And when all else fails, nature also provides some natural remedies that are gentle on wee immune systems.

How can foods fight allergies?

When allergens—pollen, grasses, dust mites or moulds—find their way into your nose, your body goes into attack mode if it’s hypersensitive, or allergic. Immune cells release histamines, the chemicals responsible for most of your allergy symptoms. These kick-start inflammation that’s intended to keep the allergens from travelling into the body. The inflammation makes sinuses and nasal passages swell and eyes itch. Histamines also stimulate the nasal passages to release fluids, resulting in a runny nose and itchy throat, and cause sneezing; another attempt to send the allergens packing. Many of the foods that may help reduce allergies work by reducing inflammation or calming the immune system. Here are a few to try:

1 Salmon and other fatty fish

Make fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel your first line of dietary defence against allergies. They contain generous amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help minimise inflammation, a direct cause of most allergy symptoms. Several studies suggest that kids who start eating

Yes – garlic is a bit smelly. But in the case of hay fever, it supports the immune system with its rich store of antioxidants. Researchers have identified a link between a higher intake of certain antioxidants and a lower incidence of hay fever.

“Many of the foods that may help reduce allergies work by reducing inflammation or calming the immune system.”

3 Onion

Much like garlic, we sometimes steer away from onions because of their potency. But this humble bulb packs a hefty dose of quercetin, an antioxidant that can help reduce inflammation and may help prevent the release of histamine. Other good sources of quercetin are apples with skin, berries, red grapes and black tea.

4 Yogurt with live cultures

The live beneficial bacteria found in yogurt and other fermented products like kefir help stimulate the body to produce certain white blood cells and antibodies as well as various growth factors that are important for keeping the body from overreacting to allergens. An Italian study found that when

volunteers who regularly had bouts of hay fever ate two cups (500 ml) of yogurt daily for four months, they had half the histamine levels in their blood and fewer hay fever symptoms than those who drank the same amount of skim milk daily.

5 Almonds, wheat germ, leafy greens

In one German study of 1700 adults with and without hay fever, those who ate foods rich in vitamin E (the equivalent of 10 to 13 ml per day) had a 30 percent lower incidence of hay fever than those who ate diets low in the vitamin. Good sources of vitamin E include leafy greens, whole grains, nuts and avocados.

More health articles online ADHD – is the answer in our food? Dr Julie Rucklidge reports on research done on the relationship between nutrients and mental illness

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support services

Words of Wisdom with Diane Levy We are moving overseas to my husband’s home country in a few months, for a period of two years. Our son, who is four-years-old, and naturally quite reserved and cautious, is sometimes excited but sometimes gets quite upset and worried about the move. He knows that they speak another language over there and he and I will have to learn it better. He has started crying at kindy drop-offs and swimming lessons etc, things he usually loves. What else can we do to support him and help him feel more confident about the move?

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Three starting comments: Although we, as adults, may think in terms of two years as a relatively short time, for a four-year-old that is half his lifetime – in other words – forever. The thought of eventually coming home is no comfort whatsoever. Secondly, as you so wisely say, he is naturally cautious so there is no way that a move like

this can be “sold” to him as a good thing. Thirdly, notice that he cries when there are small transitions. He feels as if anything could disappear at any time.

So let’s do three things:

  

Have empathy for his situation. Anchor his New Zealand memories. Give him visual information about where he is going. Trying to counter his worries with enthusiasm about the good things rarely works for the cautious, reserved child. Instead, when he raises things to which you don’t know the answer, empathise with his situation – “It is really hard for you when Mum and Dad don’t have clear answers. These are things we will eventually know that answers to – but not now.” I would recommend that you set up three books that will help him know his concerns

Sometimes you need some Angel Fund information or an answer to Wahine Putea Help is A Women’s Savings and a curly question. Why not @ hand Loan Fund. Don’t let money hold pick up the phone and call back. Save with the the relative support agency? you Angel Fund and build You’ll find professional caring a nest egg. Wanting to step ahead in small business, education or training? No interest people ready to assist you. loans to $500 available to women on low Christchurch Resettlement Services.

incomes. Text or phone 022 412 6435, email angelfund@gmail.com

Free social services for people from refugee Women’s Centre and migrant backgrounds. Interpreters are A safe women-only space run by women for women. provided. Phone: 03-335 0311 We provide: Information and resources, Free legal Catholic Social Services advice, Free counselling, Courses Parenting and family support programmes & Drop-in 10 am-2 pm, Monday to Friday open to all, free of charge. Contact us: Usual office hours with late night on 03-371 7414 or 022-105 5308 Tuesdays ‘till 6.30pm by appointment. Email: support@womenscentre.co.nz 336 Cashel Street, P O Box 4237, www.womenscentre.co.nz Christchurch. Phone: 03-379 0012

are being taken seriously and should also give him something to “hang on to” in an unpredictable world. Firstly, set up a special little notebook of questions: i.e. “That’s a good question. Let’s write it in your book and as soon as we know the answer, we can write that down too.” Secondly, set up his New Zealand book. It should have pictures of his New Zealand home, the rooms that are important to him, his family, his friends, his teachers, his activities, things that he has to leave behind – all preferably with him in it and/or his favourite comfort toy or both. You will know best the one or two sentence comment that should accompany each picture. This helps make his current life real and not subject to disappearing. Thirdly, a book entitled “(His name’s) big adventure.” This is the book that you start to put in pictures with comments of anything you are finding out ahead. The aim is to have some things that when he sees them in real life, he will feel like he knew that would be happening. If you are able to, get any pictures to do with the flights or the airports, who you will meet when you arrive, any pictures to do with where you will be staying initially and anything to do with his new environment (playgrounds, teachers, friends, food, where Dad will work etc.) At the back of the book,

why not start a vocabulary list of words and phrases he might like to know and learn – his choice. As you travel and settle, keep adding to the book. Expect to read the books many, many times to him – and, no doubt, he will start to read the books to others. It is a way of anchoring him to his New Zealand home and help him transition to his new home. Bon voyage Submit your parenting questions and concerns to family therapist, counsellor, parenting coach and speaker Diane Levy. Email us at editor@familytimes.co.nz. Get an order form for Diane’s popular books via www.familytimes.co.nz. For more advice from Diane Levy, check out www.familytimes.co.nz.

Parent Helpline 0800 568 865 Available from 9am‐11pm 7 days a week

New Orthodontist for Chch Christchurch Orthodontics are proud

Dr Christine Bailey

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to welcome Orthodontist Dr Christine Bailey to the practice. Chrissy, is excited to be back in her home town, and invites your inquiry. Providing treatment options for all ages including Invisalign clear aligners and clear braces to ﬁt your individual needs and desired results. Our vision is to provide excellence in both orthodontic treatment and service Branch practice in Rangiora.

Christchurch Orthodontics Ltd Dr Russell Lovatt & Dr Christine Bailey 157 Fendalton Road, Christchurch Ph: 962 0334 Email: info@chchortho.co.nz

We listen!

For all paren�ng issues from those every‐ day situa�ons to the most serious issue of child abuse. Professional and skilled Telephone Support Workers are there to help you and oﬀer:  A listening ear  Immediate support  Prac�cal strategies  Referral to other services in your area

E‐mail: parenthelp@xtra.co.nz www.parenthelp.org.nz

baby & toddler

It’s time to wean If you are a breastfeeding mother, you may have mixed emotions about weaning. Some mothers long for the independence of not being tied to regular breastfeeds, and others mourn the loss of the special closeness of breastfeeding. Yet others are required to give up breastfeeding suddenly for medical reasons and need to quickly deal with the changes that brings. But however you look at it, weaning is a new and different stage of your relationship with your baby.

When to start weaning Most experts agree that breastfeeding should continue for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby. Breastfeeding is a two-way street, and the end of the street is ideally when either mother or child is ready to initiate change. The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond. However, a mother may be influenced by a return to work, the demands of other children, or simply a feeling that the time is right to wean. A baby may start to lose interest in nursing as solid foods are introduced. Either way, it’s a very personal decision between mother and baby.

How to wean La Leche League (LLL), an international organisation that supports breastfeeding mothers, recommends that weaning is implemented gradually. How you manage the

change depends on the age of your child. To wean a baby under one year, LLL recommends substituting your baby’s least favourite feed first, and replacing it with a bottle feed. If your baby won’t accept the bottle from you, see if he will do it for Dad or Grandma. Let your baby have a few days (or weeks preferably) between each time you substitute a breastfeeding session with a bottle. You can express a little milk for your own comfort if necessary, but just enough to reduce the pressure. This way, your body will get the signal to make less milk over time. If your baby is more than a year, you may not need to use a bottle at all; you may be able to substitute a cup of water, juice, or cow’s milk. Once again, they may not take it from you, but they may take it from another family member. Perhaps Dad or another relative can take baby to the kitchen for breakfast, and this can become special one-on-one time – it may even allow you a sleep in! It may require changing some habits, such as snuggling in your nursing chair, or relying on breastfeeding to encourage sleep. For a while, you may need to replace this with pushing the pram around the block, or a quick drive in the car to lead your child to nod-nod land.

Sudden withdrawal Going “cold turkey” can be a very stressful way to end the breastfeeding relationship. It can lead to breast infections, and concerns about your child’s nutrition and food intake as they fight the sudden change. There are some situations when it is necessary to stop breastfeeding immediately for medical reasons. In this case, speak with your doctor or a lactation specialist about the

best way to manage the situation for you and your baby.

Weaning tips • • •

• •

Engage your child in a fun play activity or an outing during times when you would usually nurse. Avoid sitting in your usual nursing spots or wearing your usual nursing clothes. Delay weaning if your child is trying to adapt to some other change. Trying to wean when your little one is just beginning childcare or during teething might not be a good idea. Try changing your daily routine so that you’re otherwise engaged during breastfeeding times. Enlist your partner’s help to provide a distraction at a typical nursing time.

and finally, after the pain of labour, your precious little one looks up at you in wonder and expectation. What do you feel in that moment? Read more online: search the title at www.familytimes.co.nz.

Pebbles Montessori Preschool Pebbles Montessori Cashmere is about to open its doors at 26 Colombo Street on Monday 28 September 2015. After a complete refurbishment, the new centre is ready for action with two beautifully prepared inside classrooms and an exciting, creative outside environment. Pebbles will open every day from 8am5.30pm and is licensed for 30 children aged 0 to 6-years. The trained and experienced team of teachers embrace the Montessori philosophy with higher teacher ratios than Ministry requirements. Enrolments are now being taken.

Related article that you may be interested in: Bonding with your baby You’ve been waiting nine months for this little bundle of joy to come into your life,

“When young bears go to bed, a few SleepDrops before the story is read”

Always read the label and take as directed.

CALL NOW to talk to our Naturopaths about helping your child get a great nights sleep and receive a free information booklet.

Breastfeeding support in many ways Meet breastfeeding mothers ContaCt a trained breastfeeding counsellor Read a book from our library BRowse our website Join and receive aroha magazine Buy books and leaflets donate to help La Leche League help more mums like you.

0800 345 999

Pegasus Health’s Partnership Community Workers work in collaboration with general practices with the goal of ensuring identified target populations, specifically Maori, Pacific, and low income people in Canterbury are accessing the primary health care that they need. They are based in community locations. PCWS focus on assisting people to enrol with a general practice, or who are enrolled but are not attending health care visits as often as they need to.

www.sleepdrops.co.nz

PCWs...

> Assist people to attend appointments > Support people with other needs that impact on their health > Help people navigate and link with the supports and resources they need > Provide cultural support and interpreter services

For more information visit www.pegasus.org.nz Contacts: Joy Olson 022 657 3258 or Melissa McCreanor P: 021 868-491 or 353-9924 www.familytimes.co.nz

KIDS' TIME Welcome to Kids’ Time at Family Times. Enjoy the fun activities and competitions. For competitions, enter online by visiting www.familytimes.co.nz and click on the competitions link. Looking for some rainy day activities for your children? Click on the For Kids section on our website for answers and for further activities your children can print out and complete.

Kids' Spot The Difference SHARK HU NT Can you spot 10 differences?

Play Football these holidays. Every day from 9am to 3pm. Outdoor and indoor locations available. Online registration. FOR MORE INFO VISIT

mainlandfootball.co.nz Desig n com petition This issue we would love you to draw what spring means to you - maybe it’s spring flowers or baby animals. Then tell us all about it. Send us your picture (either via post or email) and you will be in to win a wonderful Crayola prize pack for creative kiwi kids. There are three entry age groups: 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Don’t forget to write your name, age, description and postal address (so we can send you your prize if you win!) Post to PO Box 36 004 Christchurch 8146 or email jackie@familytimes.co.nz.Entries close 7 October 2015. A huge congratulations to the winners of our last issue’s design competition. Age 9 to 12 - years

Imagination’s Secrets by Anaiyah WilliamsAnesi (12) “I have drawn you my favourite winter scene from my favourite place, also known as my “imagination.”” Age 5 to 8-years Connor Mears (5) “This is a picture of me and my friend Clevelyn running in the rain at Playcentre. We wear our gumboots and sometimes rain coats when we go in the rain. It’s lots of fun!” Age 1 to 4-years Theodore Streikier (4) Visit www.familytimes.co.nz to view the winning entries.

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Win with Lone Star! The Lone Star is famous for providing quality with quantity, using only the best and freshest local produce. It’s not only the size of the meals that is memorable- the service too, is legendary. Your meals are served with a genuine smile in generous portions. There are now 26 Lone Stars throughout New Zealand so there’s bound to be one near you. Lone Star is giving our readers the opportunity to win one of five $50 vouchers. Enter online at www.familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 7 October 2015.

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Sweet Scoop Introducing Sweet Scoop – the hottest new sweet station to hit supermarket shelves, delivering an unforgettable sweet experience that will take you back to yesteryear! Sweet Scoop gives you the power to pick and choose which sweets you like – pick a little or a lot, the choice is completely yours. You can find Sweet Scoop in leading New World and Pak’N’Save supermarkets nationwide. For more information visit Sweet Scoop on Facebook. We have 10 prize packs to be won, and each contains $50 of sweets! To enter to win visit www.familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 7 October 2015.

There’s Always Something New

Crossword ACROSS 1. Wooden dolls with strings on their arms and legs 4. Type of hat, baseball ... 6. Saying, ‘... a silly question, get a silly answer’ 8. Rhyming sentence, ‘the cat sat on the ...’ 9. Building where a family lives 11. Opposite of old 13. Bright points of light in the night sky 16. Rome is the capital of this country 18. Soup can 19. Bath or pool that has heated bubbly water 20. This clips an item to a clothesline 21. Sport with the positions Wing Attack and Goal Shooter

DOWN

Word List

2. Head of the government, ... Minister 3. Containing nothing 5. In the past, a long time ... 7. Our star 10. Knight’s title 12. In and ... 14. Pointed end of a pen 15. Begin 16. The Taj Mahal and Ganges River are in this country 17. When you’re sleepy you might ... down for a nap

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win win win Paper Planes Paper Planes is a magical new film from writer/director Robert Connolly. Twelve-year-old Dylan lives with his father in the West Australian outback. One day at school Dylan discovers he is extremely good at making and flying paper planes. While attempting to refine and develop his newly realised ability, Dylan finds himself caught up in the world of competitive paper-plane making, leading to new friendships, new rivalries and new revelations about his own family. Family Times has 15 copies of this new release DVD to give away. To enter visit www.familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 7 October 2015.

win win win A montrous taste sensation! Pow! A new range of delicious and nutritious bite-sized rice cakes add an almighty flavour punch to the snack aisles this September. Gluten free and containing no artificial colours, SunRice Mini Bites are available in three flavours: Creepy Cheese, Devilish Chicken and Scary Salt & Vinegar. To celebrate the arrival of the SunRice Mini Bites range in selected supermarkets nationwide, we have the full range of SunRice Mini Bites to give away along with a Mini Monster school bag and lunchbox and a magnetic Mini Monster photo frame for your best monster pose, valued at more than $120. We have four packs to give away! To enter visit www. familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 7 October 2015. www.familytimes.co.nz

cool activities

Calendar of Events

Come to Manderley Festival, 7-8 November for live entertainment, 140 stalls, craft, food and wine. Gates open at 10am. Visit www.manderley.co.nz for details.

It’s time to put away the winter Peterborough Street, 10am-4pm. Visit www. facebook.com/artscentralchristchurch. woollies and get excited about Every Saturday all that the new season has New Brighton Seaside Market. to offer. For more event and Come down to the seaside and enjoy live and great stalls. New Brighton entertainment ideas, visit www. entertainment Mall, 10am-2pm. Visit www.facebook.com/ familytimes.co.nz and enjoy our NBCommunityMarket. large, family-friendly resource. Every Sunday

Markets 3 October

Mum’s Market. Pre-owned toys, books and kitchenware. At 130 Ferry Road. From 10am. Contact Mei Staples at ferrybbq@gmail.com to book a stall. Phone 03-377-8853.

4 October and 1 November

Shabby Chic Market Day. Vintage items, linens, clothes, collectables, retro items and Devonshire teas in the courtyard. At 21 Connal Street, Woolston from 11am – 3pm. Visit www.facebook.com/Shabby-ChicMarket-Day.

Opawa Farmers’ Market. The best selection of local produce in Christchurch. At 275 Fifield Terrace, 9am-12pm. Visit www. facebook.com/pages/OpawaSt-MartinsFarmers-Market.

Every Sunday

Downtown Farmers Market. A new and dynamic weekend farmers’ market established in central Christchurch at The Commons, 70 Kilmore Street, 9.30am2.30pm. Visit www.facebook.com/ downtownfarmersmarketnz.

Events 27 August – 20 September

Christchurch Arts Festival. Celebrating and embracing Christchurch’s new energy and profile, the 2015 Christchurch Arts Market on the Front Lawn. Come, enjoy and market with a difference! At 280 Hasketts Festival brings life back to the Central City. Road, Yaldhurst, 10am-2pm. Contact Anna or Various venues. Visit www.artsfestival.co.nz. Wendy on 03-342-9900.

18 October

20 October

Soroptimist Craft Fair and Market Day. Craft fair and market day in Rangiora. At Ashley Street, 10am-5pm. Contact Lois Bennett on 03-313-6490.

7 November

Emmanuel Christian School Country Christmas Fair. Stalls: craft, white elephant, food, sweets, cakes and entertainment for the whole family. From 10am-2pm. Contact Jeanette on 021-154-8009.

Every Saturday

Lincoln Farmers’ and Craft Market Genuine farmers’ and craft market selling locally grown fruit/veggies, artisan baking and hand-crafted gifts. On green beside Hillyers Café, Gerald Street, Lincoln. From 10am1pm. Visit www.facebook.com/lincolnmarket.

Every Saturday

Kaiapoi Farmers’ Market. Kaiapoi Farmers’ Market has fresh vegetables, fruit, freerange eggs and crafts on offer. At Morgan Williams Reserve, 9am-12pm. Visit www. kaiapoifarmersmarket.co.nz.

Every Saturday 18

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Arts Central Craft and Food Market. A new arts/craft and ethnic food market, 100

cool activities Every Sunday in September

Imagination Station. Whether you are a beginner or have done stop-motion before, come along to this session to develop your stop-motion skills! Imagination Station, 113 Worcester Street, City. Visit imaginationstation.org.nz.

15-17 September

Koru Games. The Koru Games is a South Island Year 7 and 8 multi-day sports tournament hosted by Selwyn Sports Trust in the Selwyn District. Various times and locations. Visit www.facebook.com/ KoruGames.

16-19 September

Band of Magicians. Enter the world of mind-bending illusions and astounding artistry with the Band of Magicians: the world’s first magic super-group! Isaac Theatre Royal. Visit www.isaactheatreroyal.co.nz.

26 September – 10 October

The Breeze Walking Festival. This festival encourages people from Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn to get together and walk. Various locations. Visit www.ccc.govt. nz.

26-27 September

Woodend Spring Flower Show plus daffodil magic. See the best daffodils in New Zealand. Displays, Devonshire teas, barbecue, craft market and more! Woodend Community Centre. Gold Coin Donation. Visit www.woodend.co.nz.

26-27 September

A Gypsy Extravaganza. A unique style of market stalls, arts and craft, food, musical entertainment and kids’ shows. Richmond Village Green, Stanmore Road, Richmond, 9am5pm. Contact gypsyextravaganza@gmail.com.

26-27 September

Women’s Lifestyle Expo. The Christchurch Women’s Lifestyle Expo is a two-day event

for women of all ages. Horncastle Arena, 10am-5pm. Adults $10, children under 12 free. Visit www.expos.co.nz.

3 October

Seftonian Battle-Sports. Seftonian Battle-Sports is a community event involving medieval swordplay on a neo-Gothic “live action” battle-field. Gold coin donation. From 4pm-6pm, Dudley Park, Rangiora. Contact Leon on 021-059-8052.

4-10 October

Discovery for Teens. A seven-day residential programme for 14 to 18-year-olds. Discovery activity-based experiences are fun, positive and high-energy and explore how to be successful in all areas of life. At St Andrews College. Visit www.discoveryforteens.org.nz.

10 October

St Barnabas Fair. Be early for white elephant bargains, book stall specials, live music, children’s games, handicrafts, Bozo the clown and delicious food. At St Barnabas Anglican Church, 9am-1pm. Phone 03-351-7064. Gordon Scout Hall 50th Anniversary Fayre. Sideshows, raffles, live entertainment, delicious food and a family competition awaits. From 11am-3pm, Burnside playground, Burnside Park. Contact gordonscoutgroup@gmail.com.

See New Zealand’s only gorillas at Orana Wildlife Park. outdoor exhibition of its kind in the South Island; 7219, email southernballet@xtra.co.nz. sculpture, painting, ceramics, glass and jewellery Tickets: adults $15, children $12.50. for sale. At Flaxmere Garden, Hawarden. Visit 7 November www.artinagarden.co.nz for more. Hororata Highland Games. Join us to celebrate the fifth birthday of the 31 October Hororata Highland Games, Canterbury’s Big Science Day. Science Alive! hosts own Scottish festival. Hororata Domain, Big Science Day, an all-day science and Hororata Road, 9am-4.30pm. Visit www. technology event for people of all ages. hororatahighlandgames.org.nz. Cathedral Square, 10am-4pm. Free. Visit www.bigscienceday.co.nz.

17 October

31 October – 1 November

10 October

The Busk-a-Thon. In support of local charity Home & Family, performers from around Christchurch will participate in The Busk-aThon: 24 hours of busking across 24 venues. Visit www.buskathon2015.com for more information.

22-26 October

Halloween Dance Extravaganza. Join us, if you dare, for the weird and wonderful world of Halloween...you are sure to be thrilled by the Southern Ballet’s jazz companies and senior ballet company. Further details at www.southernballet.co.nz. Venue and booking office: Southern Ballet Theatre, 108 Carlyle Street, Sydenham, phone 03-379-

7 November

Spring Fair. Come and join us for an oldfashioned, traditional carnival fair! Rudolf Steiner School, 19 Ombersley Terrace, Opawa, 10am-3pm. Contact steinerfairstalls@ gmail.com or text 021-133-4075.

7-8 November

Manderley Home & Garden Festival. Featuring 140 stalls that offer food, drink

Big Band Festival. Featuring big bands from around New Zealand – concerts, workshops and more. Various locations. Visit www. bigbandfest.org.nz for details.

29 October – 1 November

Art in a Garden. Considered the best indoor/

www.familytimes.co.nz

cool activities and original quality items for your home and garden. From 10am-4pm, 3875 Christchurch Akaroa Road, Little River. Admission $15, under 12’s free. Visit www.manderley.co.nz.

11-13 November

Canterbury A&P Show 2015. Country’s coming to town! A&P Showgrounds, Curletts Road, Christchurch, 9am-5pm. Visit www. theshow.co.nz.

28 November

EVolocity. New Zealand’s only electric motorsport event – racing, cutting edge sustainability and technology for the whole family. From 9am-4.30pm, Mike Pero Motorsport Park, 107 Hasketts Road, Templeton, Christchurch. Phone 03-366-1741.

28 November and 29 November

Swan Lake. The Imperial Russian Ballet Company presents Swan Lake at the Isaac Theatre Royal. Various session times. Adult $95. Children $55. Visit www.russianballet.co.nz.

Holiday programmes Looking for something fun, educational or adventurous for your kids during these school holidays? Check out some of the great programmes available in the following listings: Go Potty Ceramic Studio Get creative at Go Potty Ceramic Studio with holiday sessions at 10am or 12.30pm every day from Monday 5 to Friday 9 October. Bookings essential, email gopottynz@gmail. com or phone 03-332-2361.

Mainland Football

Have a ball: join one of Mainland Football’s action-packed programmes for some outdoors or indoors fun in Term 4.

M*A*S*H

Get out and explore the Waimakariri District.

Various programmes around Christchurch, Timaru/Temuka and North Canterbury.

M*A*S*H My After School Headquarters, or M*A*S*H as it is known, is one of the largest providers of out-of-school-programmes in Canterbury. With programmes in Pegasus, two in Timaru, Temuka, Dunedin and seven in Christchurch, there is bound to be a M*A*S*H programme near you. M*A*S*H prides itself on providing professional, semi-structured programmes in a safe, welcoming, inclusive and nurturing environment with well-planned activities and plenty of opportunities for supervised free play.

WINZ subsidy available. “The best fun your kids can have.” Phone 0800-420-520, admin@ mashkids.co.nz, www.mashkids.co.nz.

CASPA

After school programmes run from the end of the school day until 6pm Monday – Friday and holiday programmes run from 7am – 6pm depending on the location. All M*A*S*H programmes are WINZ, CYFs and OSCAR approved, which enables caregivers to access the WINZ subsidy. For more information and a list of locations check out www.mashkids.co.nz or call M*A*S*H on 0800-420-520; they’d love to talk to you. M*A*S*H – “The best fun your kids can have.”

CASPA offers a holiday programme experience that your five to 14-year-olds will enjoy; our programmes are designed to be fun and educational. For peace of mind, call CASPA on 03-349-9260.

Science Alive

Science Alive! runs fantastic school holiday programmes throughout the year – teaching your kids through doing. Visit www. sciencealive.co.nz for more info.

Busy Bumbles

Busy Bumbles is an award winning OSCAR programme, which offers a stimulating, OnTrack is a recipe for academic success. Tutors, mentors, and motivational speakers are combined with outdoor adventure activities, great food and loads of camping fun to give students every support - and every reason - to achieve great results.

TEXT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO 027 239 7690 FOR MORE INFO

ENROLMENTS OPEN NOW, SPACES AVAILABLE IN ALL PROGRAMMES

CYF’S ACCREDITED

LOTS OF FUN ACTIVITIES AND GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES MSD APPROVED

www.kidsbase.co.nz 20

www.familytimes.co.nz

Enrol Now

LOCATIONS ACROSS CHRISTCHURCH AND RANGIORA WINZ SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE

SHARP Trust provides quality, Christian outof-school care for children aged 5 to 14-years in the South West of Christchurch. The afterschool, holiday and music programmes are high quality, low cost and heaps of fun. Enrol now at www.sharp.org.nz or phone 03-338-0673.

Kings Swim School

Learn to swim with the experts at Kings Swim School: book now for school holiday programmes and enjoy new, reduced class sizes. Phone 03-341-7579 or visit www.swimkings.co.nz.

OnTrack study camps are a recent initiative that has been piloted at Living Springs, at the head of the Lyttelton harbour. The camps give NCEA students a unique opportunity to study in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere. Recreation activities, group challenges, specialist tutors and motivational speakers are also a part of the mix. Living Springs runs three weekend study camps throughout the year and a week-long camp in October to prepare students for external assessment. For further information email wendy@ livingsprings.co.nz or visit www. livingsprings.co.nz.

October 4-9

School Holidays

South West Christchurch

Develop the confidence, motivation and skills to achieve your academic goals and fulfil your potential in an inspiring environment.

www.livingsprings.co.nz email: info@livingsprings.co.nz

After School

With an emphasis on confidence, Portfolio Modelling workshops also cover presentation, makeup/skincare, photo shoot, deportment and more! Call now to make a booking.

Living Springs

check out our page

Before School

Portfolio Modelling

Four camps a year - four opportunities to get ahead with school work and have fun at the same time.

Don’t wait until the end of the school year to cram in some last minute study. Take the next step now. Book your place at OnTrack and secure your future.

Do you want a Fun, Safe and Caring environment for your child?

quality programme for children. See www. busybumbles.co.nz for more information.

cool activities

Entertainment Spring is here, and it’s a great Velocity Karts Velocity Karts’ blokart landsailing and time to get out and explore hire - two choices of outrageous the plethora of exciting events driftkart family fun on three wheels. Phone 03-388and entertainment destinations 8222 or 027-835-6248. around the city. Here are a Visit Waimakariri Over 650 events annually, walking and few ideas to get you started, tracks, beaches, parks and rivers; and we’ve got heaps more at cycling families find something for everyone to enjoy www.familytimes.co.nz. in the Waimakariri. Orana Wildlife Park Experience up-close animal encounters at Orana Wildlife Park. See New Zealand’s only gorillas, hand feed giraffe, see kiwi, lions and much more.

Science Alive

Science Alive! presents an all-day, free science and technology extravaganza, suitable for all ages. Come along to the Big Science Day at Science Alive, Saturday 31 October, 10am – 4pm, Cathedral Square.

Antarctic Centre

A unique Antarctic experience for all, with snow and ice, an Antarctic storm, exciting Hagglund ride, 4D Extreme simulated cruise and the penguin encounter. Visit www. iceberg.co.nz.

Mirror Magic at Canterbury Museum

Hands-on scientific exploration of the crazy back-to-front, upside-down world of reflections and reflected light. Toured by Te Manawa Museum. From 12 September - 8 November.

Air Force Museum

Children’s birthday parties at the Air Force Museum - we take care of everything with fun, fully hosted activities, catering and even goodie bags!

Holiday specials

Here are some great holiday ideas designed to keep you and your little ones entertained during the school break. Northlands Shopping Centre

Join the banana loving Minions at The Minions Musical Experience! Monday 5 – Friday 9 October at Northlands. Find out more at northlands.co.nz.

Black Cat Cruises

Kids cruise for free with Black Cat Cruises Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise these holidays. One child per one full-paying adult. Phone 0800-436-574 or visit www.blackcat. co.nz for more information.

Orana Wildlife Park

These holidays, our promotion is that kids enter for half price! Up to four children (5 to 14-years) can enter at half price ($4.75) with each paying adult. Please present our ad to gain the discount.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Get into the outdoors with The Breeze Walking Festival.

Canterbury Swim School Canterbury Swim School - Christchurch’s leading swim school - is located at the Waitaha Aquatic Centre just off Buchanans Road in the Hornby/Yaldhurst area. Since opening in July 2013, the centre has been a welcome addition to the community. Although privately owned, public swimming is available. The centre offers two pools; the 25m, sixlane lap pool, which is a purpose-built training pool, is proving increasingly popular with triathletes, masters, lunchtime swimmers and in fact, anyone wanting to get some laps under their belt and keep fit. Also available is a 10m, four-lane teaching pool specifically designed for learning to swim. Its balmy 32 degree temperature has seen it also become a popular hydrotherapy option for many adults.

The Canterbury Swim School staff, led by owners Huia Mikara and Jenny Jones, is highly skilled and trained. Swim lessons at the school are in great demand, with programmes uniquely designed by Huia and Jenny based on their combined 46-plus years of experience. Their programmes promote parent involvement in the water, as well as offer accelerated learning and proven results in an active, fun environment. With spring and warmer weather on its way, now is the perfect time to book into either the school’s term lessons or holiday programme. Canterbury Swim School caters for all your swimming needs and also offers an extensive range of competitively priced, quality swimwear, caps, and goggles. Call now on 03-260-2220 to book your space.

Visit Willowbank’s Big 5; the tuatara, the kiwi, the cheeky kea, the mighty takahe and the very rare kaka. Visit www.willowbank.co.nz.

Aikido Shinryukan Canterbury

Aikido Shinryukan Canterbury (ASC) is turning 25! ASC runs five classes a week for kids 5 to 12-years-old, focusing on building confidence and physicality in a controlled, non-competitive environment. Aikido helps with agility, strength and building a sense of responsibility for others. As part of its 25-years celebrations, ASC is running a special seminar for kids’ aikido taught by highly-graded instructor Brent Beaumont, a sixth degree black belt from Auckland. For details phone Andrew on 021-343-672.

SHINRYUKAN phone

Training 7 days a week Classes for Kids aged 5–12 yrs at Burnside & Linwood

383-4843

www.christchurchaikido.co.nz

www.familytimes.co.nz

cool activities The Breeze Walking Festival

Put a spring in your step with The Breeze Walking Festival 26 September - 10 October 2015. Thirty-seven fun, free walks across Canterbury for all ages and interests.

Antarctic Centre

Daily programmes throughout the school holidays for children 6 to 12-years. Details and bookings at www.iceberg.co.nz

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

It’s spring festival at Willowbank – lamb feeding, sheep shearing, baby animals and lots of games. Come and join the fun.

Christchurch Gondola

Perfect family holiday entertainment at the Christchurch Gondola: great views, Red Rock Café, Time Tunnel and walking trails. Visit www.welcomeaboard.co.nz.

Aladdin

Canterbury Children’s Theatre presents Aladdin at the Malthouse Theatre, 71 Colombo Street, 26 September – 11 October, 11am and 1pm. Come and see the magical tale of Aladdin, genie and the princess.

Little Red Riding Hood

Come and help save Little Red Riding Hood from the Big Bad Wolf! From 30 September - 10 October, Court Theatre, bookings at www.courttheatre.org.nz.

win win win Wi ll o w b an k fam i ly pass! Spring has finallysprung and Willowbank is getting all festive about it. Come to Willowbank these school holidays and enjoy the Spring Festival. There are lots of baby animals, lamb feeding, sheep shearing/games and entertainment to keep you and the family well occupied and with a real spring in your step. Visit www.willowbank.co.nz. We have four family passes to give away. Competition closes 7 October 2015. Enter online at www.familytimes.co.nz.

Visit & Experience

Parliament

Going places You might be surprised by all the free (or low-cost,) family fun there is to be had in and around Christchurch. From walks and parks to museums and galleries, there’s plenty to do in the Garden City. We’re featuring a few ideas each issue to get you going places in Christchurch.

Recreation Hagley Park walks Spring is the perfect time to explore Hagley Park in all its glory. Enjoy the scent of the season and the show of colour with spring bulbs. There is a network of tracks linking North Hagley, South Hagley and the Botanic Gardens at its heart.

North Hagley Starting from the Armagh Street car park, and finishing at the same point, this 4km stroll will take you a leisurely 1.5 hours. You’ll follow the Avon River upstream to Carlton Corner and its grove of maritime pines, then head down Harper Avenue and its boulevard of Yoshino cherry blossom and bluebells. Continue along Deans Avenue before heading east, taking the walkway beneath the Oriental plane trees back to Victoria Lake. Suitable for buggies. For a shorter journey (1 hour), take South Hagley Park starting at the oval car park on Riccarton Avenue. You’ll see spring daffodils en masse under the deciduous European trees.

Heathcote River cycle track Looking for family cycle adventure? There’s a great track from Pioneer Stadium on Lyttelton Street, which makes its way along the Heathcote River and finishes on Ferry

Enjoy Hagley Park. Photo credit: Christchurch City Council city promotions - www.findchch.com. Road in Ferrymead. Total distance 14.8km. Note: Use the footbridge between Gould and Bamford Street. Take the unsealed path from Rutherford Street to the Ferrymead Bridge. You will need to be on the north side of the river at Rutherford Street to cross under Tunnel Road.

Museums/public libraries/galleries Thornycroft Torpedo Boat Museum Housed in the category 1 powder magazine building (1874) at Magazine Bay, Lyttelton, this museum primarily exhibits the remains of Thornycroft torpedo boat number 168. This is one of four torpedo boats purchased by the New Zealand Government in 1883 in response to the possibility of an invasion by Russian forces. Magazine Bay is situated within a former five acre military reserve, which was gazetted in 1885 at the time of Russian expansionist threats in the Pacific. The museum has a 36-minute documentary film available on request. Adult $2, child $0.50. Email lyttinfo@ihug.co.nz or phone 03-328-9093.

Picnic spots, reserves, play areas There are more than 280 parks with playgrounds in Christchurch – it’s not called the Garden City for no reason! Here are a few to check out:

Broadhaven Reserve Playground

A sports park with multi-play structure, swings, block wall and goal posts. Area of park: 4ha. Perimeter of park: 979m. Forest Drive, Parklands. Take a free tour with a professional tour guide who will show you the historic buildings, stunning art collection and talk you through the parliamentary process. Parliament Tours run daily, private and art focused tours for groups are run on request and need to be booked in advance.

For bookings and tour information: P: 04 817 9503 E: tour.desk@parliament.govt.nz www.parliament.nz

www.familytimes.co.nz

Campion Reserve A local park with a multi-play structure and swing. Area of park: 3504sqm. Perimeter of park: 252m. Lakeview Place, Halswell.

Holliss Reserve

New Brighton. To find a park or playground in your area, visit www.ccc.govt.nz.

Beaches We’re not quite into beach season yet, but there is still fun to be had at the beach on a sunny spring day.

Sumner Sumner is a great swimming beach (when it’s warm enough!) and also a great place for icecream shops, cafes, and restaurants close to the beach. Go for a stroll ocean-front from Cave Rock to Scarborough and its paddling pool/playground.

New Brighton New Brighton beach is a great place for strolling, fishing or watching surfers. Nearby is the fantastic New Brighton Library where you can grab a book and a cushion and make the most of the seaside view. There are also children’s play areas, shops, and cafes. Marine Parade, Christchurch.

Southshore Spit If you haven’t been to Southshore Spit, it is a must to check out the important roosting grounds of many wading birds. You can look out over to Sumner and the wide Pacific Ocean, and build a sandcastle. Rocking Horse Road, Christchurch.

Swimming pools It’s true: we’ve lost a few pools in Christchurch since the earthquakes. But we’ve still got some great facilities to enjoy. Here are a few indoor pools to check out:

Jellie Park Jellie Park is one of Christchurch’s biggest and best sporting and recreation facilities. Indoor facilities include an eight-lane, 25m recreation pool, an eight-lane, 25m sport pool, a teaching pool, toddler pool and spa. Phone 03-941-6888 for bookings or enquiries.

Pioneer

A local park with block wall, multi-play structure, hoop, swings and a basketball halfcourt. Area of park: 1ha. Perimeter of park: 478m. Holliss Avenue, Cashmere.

Indoor pools include a five-lane, 25m pool, a four lane, 16m teaching pool, a 20m x 20m wave pool, lazy river, bubble pit and fountains, spa, sauna and steam room. At 75 Lyttelton Street, Spreydon, phone 03-9416888 for bookings or enquiries.

New Brighton Playground

Graham Condon

A regional park with multi-play structure, obstacles, paddling pool, slides, swing. Also has basketball half-court and toilets. Area of park: 2ha. Perimeter of park: 1km. Marine Parade,

Indoor facilities include eight-lane, 25m pool, toddler pool with fountains, spa, and 4m teaching pool. At 3 Sisson Drive, Papanui. Phone 03-941-6888 for bookings or enquiries.

gardening

vege patch

How to make a

recycled container veggie garden Growing some veg is a great way to get you and the kids outside and supplement your diet with tasty, healthy food. But what do you do if you don’t have the time or space to make and maintain a big veggie patch? Just about anything can be used to grow veg in. As long as it holds soil and has some drainage, it can be used or recycled to grow plants. But there are some things to remember before you get started to ensure you get a bumper crop… •

Plants in containers can dry out very quickly. In hot weather, your containers need watering every day. If you’re planning on going away for a few days, move your plants into a shady spot and give them a good soaking before you go.

•

It pays to fertilise your veggies regularly. A dose of liquid fertiliser once a week when they’re well established will do wonders. You can grow many veggies in surprisingly small spaces, but some crops like tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage or eggplant need more soil to grow in. Work on 10 litres of soil per plant (about a bucketful) to give them enough space and nutrients to grow throughout the season. Sun is the key. Crops that need to ripen like tomatoes, peppers or strawberries need as much sun as possible to develop.

Top veggies for container gardening ✓ POTATOES Potatoes will grow quite happily in a fabric re-usable shopping bag. Nothing beats home grown new potatoes for Christmas. ✓ TOMATOES Home grown tomatoes are a taste sensation. Smaller, cherry tomatoes ripen faster and are more prolific than larger varieties. They grow brilliantly in an old bucket. Just make sure the bucket has some drainage holes in the bottom.

✓ STRAWBERRIES The taste of summer! Given regular fertiliser and watering, strawberries can be grown in a section of old guttering. If you want something a bit more flash, staple some weed matting on to the back of an old pallet and plant your strawberries in the gaps between the slats.

✓ SPRING ONIONS Spring onions don’t take up a lot of space and will keep growing if you trim off and use the green leaves. ✓ ZUCCHINI Zucchini plants can grow quite large but they are prolific. Just a couple of plants will easily provide enough fruit for a family over the summer. And you can eat the flowers too!

✓ LETTUCE Salad leaves are incredibly easy to grow from seed. Best grown in a long trough or even in ✓ BEANS an old soda bottle cut in half lengthways. Keep sowing new crops regularly to ensure you have a Like tomatoes, climbing beans or peas will need some support as they grow. If you don’t have never ending supply. the space, try dwarf varieties that stay small but still produce heaps of beans. Keep picking them regularly and the plant will keep producing more all summer.

Front Panel

Tui gardening pack Introduce your children to the wonder of “growing your own” from seed using Tui Seed Raising Mix, specially blended to provide ideal conditions for germinating seeds and seedling establishment. Encourage children to help plant yummy veggies and bright flowers with the Joseph Bentley hand trowel and fork. Help your children learn about New Zealand’s wildlife by creating your very own bird café in your garden with our Bumble Bee fun feeder and Tui Fun Feeder Wild Bird Seed Mix. Tui has one pack to give away to one of our lucky families, so you can get gardening with the kids this season! To enter, visit www.familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 9 October 2015.

win win win

Prebbleton Childcare 'the next best place to home'

Prebbleton Nursery, Prebbleton Preschool and Prebbleton Kindergarten are located in the heart of the Prebbleton community, only a 7 minute drive from the communities of Halswell, Hornby, Wigram, Lincoln & Templeton. We offer afforable and flexible quality care & education to children ages zero to five.

six weeks FREE care & education

Up to 50 hours per week on the presentation of this voucher. Saving you up to $1620 on a full time enrolment.

20 Hours FREE

for all children ages 3, 4 & 5 (ongoing)

Phone 349 9970 prebbletonchildcare@xtra.co.nz www.prebbletonchildcare.co.nz www.familytimes.co.nz

parties parties

Birthday party

themes

T heme: Rainbow

: Sienna Kinch, Birthday child 5-years- old Kinch Mum: Angela “We d the theme? ire sp What in theme sy ea an be ld thought it wou things tions to make with lots of op s of the ur lo by using co ourselves just rainbow.” ? put together Was it easy to painted on ow inb ra a d “Everyone ha sy using e quick and ea their face, mad ake” so “c ty paint beau a rainbow face e. ip sw e it’s done in on d jelly rainbow-layere “Food was fun: llies lo d it kebabs an and cookies, fru lour ful co r he ot g on am layered in jars a me was “taste things. A fun ga yone er ev aw str a rainbow” - using e skittles and mov had to suck up another then to sh di e on them from eat them.”

We’re always looking for new and exciting ideas for kids’ birthday parties, and this time we thought we’d ask you – our readers – what some of your kids’ biggest birthday hits have been. Here are a couple of ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

T heme: Wild Wild

Bir thday ch ild: Noah Fa lconer, 3-years- old Mum: Trud y Renner Fa lconer What inspir ed the them e? “The inspirat ion was Woo dy from Toy St or y, which he was right into at the time.” Was it easy to put toge ther? “I kept an ey e out at op sh ops and on Trad eMe for mon ths for the prop s, as I couldn ’t find a lot of cow boy-themed part y supplies in th e regular sh ops. I had signs m ade saying “H all of Fame,” an d we made up “wanted” po sters for ever yone who at tended . Food was co rn chips and sa lsa, hot dogs , and baked beans. A cowboy bo ot pinata and ca ke finished it off. We all dr essed up in Wild West theme. ”

West

Related article that you may be interested in: Keeping up with Jones’ There is no end to how much you can spend on a child’s birthday, all to keep up with the Jones’. But you can still have a great party without all the drama.

MISH LED

Wire Seed & Fairy Light Strings www.mish.co.nz FT_SPRING 15.indd 4

www.familytimes.co.nz

28/08/15 9:17 am

parties

HEALTHY PARTY FOOD

that is fun?

Over at Munch, we have loads of recipes tested fun by parents and kids alike that are healthy, fun number of and delicious! A big part of that isis aa number healthy party food recipes that kids will love. Each time one of of our our Munch Munchmums mumshas hasaa party, we add to to our our growing growingMunch Munchrecipe recipe index. We only only add add recipes recipesthat thatour ourkids kidswill will love, and many many of of our our recipes recipeshave haveno noartificial artificial colouring and no no sugar. sugar. Why not try using using beetroot beetrootjuice juiceto tocolour colour party water pink pink or or spinach spinachfor forgreen? green?You Youcan can also use beetroot beetroot juice juice to to make makepink pinkicing. icing. Check out our great great (and (andhealthy!) healthy!)party partyfood food sugar-free cupcakes Our recipes recipe sugar-free cupcakes.below. Our recipes come cometraditional from traditional recipes that as from recipes that we allwe ateallasate kids, kids,we buthave we have adapted so they fit our but adapted themthem so they fit our Munch way way of of doing doing things. things. We also also believe We believe that that we we should shouldbe beconscious conscious of the environment, and kids’ parties of the environment, and kids’ partiescan cancreate create lot of of after-party after-party rubbish. aa lot rubbish. So Sowhy whynot notthink think about using using reusable about reusable plates, plates,or oratatleast leastbio bio degradable plates, degradable plates, and and ifif you youare aregoing goingto togive give out party party bags out bags how how about aboutjust justgiving givingaaslice sliceofof cake and and some cake some stickers? stickers? Enjoy the the party! Enjoy party!

Kids’ party food must be fun, but must it be unhealthy? The short answer is, “no.”

G lute n Fr e e Food & All e rgy Sho w

Photo by Munch Mum Melissa Jacks

Gluten Free Food & Allergy Show showcases products and solutions for allergy and intolerance issues. Includes free seminars and cooking demos. From 10am–5pm, 31 October – 1 November at Pioneer Rec & Sport Centre, Spreydon. Visit www.glutenallergy.co.nz. Family Times has three family passes of three tickets to give away. To enter please visit www.familytimes.co.nz. Competition closes 7 October 2015.

Ingredients ½ cup vegetable oil 1 tsp almond essence ½ cup Natvia Baking Mix 2 Eggs 1 cup flour 3 tsp baking powder ½ cup milk Method 1. Mix oil, almond and Natvia until light and fluffy. 2. Add eggs one at a time. 3. Sift flour and baking powder, fold into mix. 4. Stir in milk. 5. Bake at 190° for 15 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Icing 2 sachets of sugar-free instant pudding mix (any flavour) 1 cup skim milk 3 cups of cream

Caesars Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Using electric mixer at low speed, mix until pudding is dissolved. Increase speed and whip until it is spreading consistency.

Go Potty Ceramic Studio

PRING 15.indd 5

win win win

Sugarfree cupcake recipe

By Anna Bordignon from Munch: www.munchnz.co.nz. For more great recipes, search the food section in our online feature articles library – www.familytimes.co.nz.

Looking for a fun and creative birthday party experience that’s as relaxing as it is different? Then book your child’s next birthday with Go Potty Ceramic Studio, where each guest paints a piece of pottery to create their very own masterpiece to be treasured forever. We have four great new

parties

party packages to choose from; either paint in the studio or at a venue of your choice and let us take care of the rest. For further information, email gopottynz@gmail.com, call 03-332-2361, visit www.gopotty.co.nz or www.facebook.com/gopotty.

Come along and bring the whole family and your friends to Caesars. Caesars is a great place for the whole family with affordable, quality food, a great environment and friendly staff. Menus suit most tastes and budgets including glutenfree and vegetarian choices. Children enjoy the play rooms, the children’s menu and the colouring competition, while parents enjoy their drinks and meals in proximity. The “families’ favourite” restaurant is ideal for birthday parties and functions of up to 200 guests. Caesars offers special menus and promotions throughout the week. Check out our promotions page on the website www.caesars.co.nz. On Mondays and Tuesdays, kids dine free. Get a free combo meal from the children’s menu with any main from Caesars main-fare ala-carte menu ($20 or more) – conditions apply. On Wednesdays, $20 grill-on-therocks all day.For more details, check out www.caesars.co.nz.

Kids Dine Free Mon & Tues*

$10 Lunch Menu Daily* Open Daily from 11am, Dinner from 4pm 548 Main North Road, Northwood Supa Centa, Belfast, Christchurch Phone 323 5420 | www.caesars.co.nz

Wed $20 Grill on the Rocks all day*

28/08/15 9:18

* Conditions Apply

www.familytimes.co.nz

Game On Tim Driver from Comics Compulsion tips off Family Times on the latest and greatest kids’ board games.

n today’s electronic world, it’s always a challenge to have some quality time with your children away from the gaming and television screen. One of the best ways to have some fun with your kids is with board games: not just the ordinary games that we have grown up with, but great family strategy games. Today there are a huge amount of American and European board games available - many of them winners of the major international game awards. These games feature fascinating and engaging game play, high quality components and some truly stunning artwork. They are strategic, educational, and fun to play. Here are a few of the latest and greatest out:

Castle Panic

Small World

Instead of playing against each other, how about playing a game in which you either win or lose together? In Castle Panic, you work with your friends to defend your castle against the horde, or the monsters tear down your walls and destroy the precious castle towers. Castle Panic is a cooperative, light strategy game for 1-6 players aged 10 and up. Players must work together to defend their castle, in the centre of the board, from monsters that attack out of the forest, at the edges of the board. Players trade cards, hit and slay monsters, and plan strategies together to keep their castle towers intact. The players either win or lose together, but only the player with the most victory points is declared the Master Slayer. Players must balance the survival of the group with their own desire to win.

If you’re into an empire building game, try Small World. It’s a zany, light-hearted civilisation game in which 2-5 players vie for conquest and control of a board that is simply too small to accommodate them all! Picking the right combination of fantasy races and unique special powers, players must rush to expand their empires - often at the expense of weaker neighbours. Yet they must also know when to push their own over-extended civilization into decline and ride a new one to victory. About 60 minutes playing time.

features incredibly simple rules that create dynamic and exciting player interactions. In the Batman version, you have to take back the streets of Gotham City! The most notorious villains in Gotham City have escaped Arkham Asylum and it’s up to the Dark Knight to round them up and return them to their padded cells.

After school care Looking for a great programme or activity to keep your kids occupied after school hours? Look no further – we’ve got some great options for you here, and at www.familytimes.co.nz. CASPA

Love Letter: Batman Edition This is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 players. Earn Batman tokens by eliminating opponents and winning each round. It’s a new spin on the original Love Letter, designed by Seiji Kanai. The game

CASPA offers a before and after-school programme experience that your five to 13-year-olds will enjoy. Our programmes are designed to be fun and educational. For peace of mind, call CASPA on 03-3499260. visit. Phone 03-382-0503.

2015/2016 primary and intermediate school term dates Term 4, 2015

SCHOOL TERM DATES

Monday 12 October to no later than Friday 18 December

Term 1, 2016

Between Monday 1 February and Friday 5 February to Friday 15 April

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER

Term 2, 2016

Monday 2 May to Friday 8 July

Term 3, 2016 Join us these school holidays for two weeks of full-on fun including crafts, games and entertainment. Grab a Monty Passport while you’re there, collect all the stamps between 28 September – 9 October and score yourself a free gift*. Plus, join us for a jump on Springfree trampolines. To find out about all of the above and even more fantastic events and competitions, sign up to the Westfield Kids Club online.

Monday 25 July to Friday 23 September

MONTY’S HANGING AROUND THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 10.30am – 2.30pm weekdays.

2015 and 2016 secondary and composite school term dates Term 4, 2015

Monday 12 October to no later than Wednesday 16 December

Term 1, 2016

Between Monday 1 February and Friday 5 February to Friday 15 April

*Terms and conditions apply. See westfield.co.nz/riccarton for more details.

Term 2, 2016

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

MAKE YOUR OWN BIRDHOUSE

MAKE YOUR OWN PEANUTS JIGSAW

Put together then paint your own Peanuts birdhouse and make a home for all the birds in your garden.

To celebrate the release of the Snoopy & Charlie Brown movie, choose your favourite scene and make your very own jigsaw. Not only will you get to colour it in any way you like, you’ll also be able to take it home to play with again and again.

10.30am – 2.30pm weekdays. Bookings will be taken on the day in Centre Court.

Monday 2 May to Friday 8 July

Term 3, 2016

Monday 25 July to Friday 23 September

Remaining public holidays 2015 4 October 25 December 26 December

Labour Day Christmas Day Boxing Day

10.30am – 2.30pm weekdays. Bookings will be taken on the day in Centre Court.

WESTFIELD KIDS RICCARTON

www.familytimes.co.nz