Family Times - Dunedin - Autumn 2014

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Mature mums

The pros and cons of starting a family later in life

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Parents doing too much Drop the drama and simplify parenthood

A news magazine and online resource for families

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ISSN 2324-4526 (Print) ISSN 2324-4534 (Online)

DUNEDIN / ISSUE 59 / Autumn 2014

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CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY – Otago Settlers Museum are celebrating DANZ Dunedin and Toitu International Dance Day (29 April) and Dunedin’s cultural diversity with workshops, demonstrations and dancing fun for families, children and dance teachers.

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From the editor Contents T his edition marks five years since I took up the role of editor at Family Times.

During this period we’ve covered a plethora of parenting topics, from dealing with head lice and beating holiday boredom through to sibling rivalry and parenting through separation. Still, every edition I find myself learning something new.

One topic that we haven’t covered – until now – is the overwhelming trend for women to have their first babies at a later age in life.

My mother was 18 when she gave birth to her first child – my sister – and 21 when she had me. And it was perfectly normal at the time. Today, in most of Western societies, this would be looked down on.

Developments in the equality of women in education and in the workforce have seen a growing number of women pursue careers that only 30 years ago were mainly in the male domain. While in previous generations women were scorned as spinsters if they weren’t married and having children by their mid twenties, women today are increasingly expected to have an education, a career, to travel and fully experience life before settling down to have a family.

The result is a growing number of first time mums in the 35 to 40-year-old bracket, and in the 40-plus bracket.

There are some great benefits to this: a lot of women report feeling more settled and ready to make the sacrifices needed for motherhood. But on the downside, women in this age group often struggle with fertility, with increased complications in pregnancy, and with an increased rate of miscarriages.

Simply put, a women’s body is at its best age for pregnancy when she is in her twenties, yet more and more women are putting the

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biological clock on hold until 30-plus.

This edition we talk with former Prime News anchor Suzy Clarkson about her experience becoming a first-time mum in her late thirties, and the birth of her second son when she was in her 40s. We also speak with inspirational mum Jacquie Dale from Hamilton, who fell pregnant with twin boys at the age of 46!

We’ve got lots of other great features to sink your teeth into this issue, plus entertainment ideas, competitions and giveaways galore.

Don’t forget to check us out at www. familytimes.co.nz for ongoing competitions, feature articles and podcasts.

Enjoy!

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Features

10 The vege patch

4 Mature mums

11 Preteen corner

Former Prime News anchor Suzy Clarkson talks about motherhood in her 40s.

6 Parents doing too much

Tips on how to prepare your kids for stress-free exams.

Communicate with your baby and toddler through baby sign language.

9 Words of Wisdom

Eva Maria talks about encouraging good study habits in your preteens.

8 Baby sign

Autumn in the garden with Alan Jones.

14 How much sleep does your child need?

Life coach Karen Riley asks parents, “what’s the rush?”

7 How to beat test anxiety

Kids have different sleep needs at different ages.

15 To vaccinate or not?

Be informed about protecting your kids.

Delicious birthday treats and fun theme parties.

17 Birthdays

Comment

Diane Levy dishes out advice.

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10 Kids’ view

We ask kids about their study habits.

Resource information 8 12 13 16

Help is at Hand Calendar of events Entertainment Top reads

“Children, community, whãnau and fun...learning for life” We proudly offer: • 100% registered teachers • Safe & educational environments • Excellent child/teacher ratios • 20 ECE hours We are a ed parent-govern NOW TAKING t not-for-profi ENROLMENTS community centre.

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feature story

Tackling motherhood later in life More than 2500 New Zealand women age 40-plus gave birth in 2011, and 11,000 women aged 35-49 gave birth in the same period, according to the Perinatal Mortality Review Committee report.

Across the Tasman, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that there are now more first-time mothers over the age of 40 than ever before. In fact, 10-years ago, 3838 more babies were born to teenagers than to women aged 40-plus. Now the older category exceeds the younger by 1854 births each year.

So the statistics clearly show that more and more Western women are leaving motherhood until later in life. One of those women is New Zealand television personality Suzy Clarkson. She was 39-years-old when she fell pregnant for the first time.

“My relationship status was that I didn’t meet my husband until I was 36, and I wasn’t ready to have a baby before that. I had it on my mind that I wanted kids, but I was doing Prime Television, then a travel programme at the time, and it just didn’t transpire that way for me.”

Auckland-based Clarkson considers herself lucky that she fell pregnant almost

immediately, without any intervention.

“I was thrilled. Although, until you have the baby in your arms you don’t understand what it means. There’s this momentary shock with elation, and it’s a real rollercoaster for the first six months. There’s the tiredness mixed in with excitement.”

“It was really scary because my first two children were natural births, full term with no difficulties. Your body when you are older is not the same as when you are younger.”

Career and family Clarkson, like many other women today, put her career first until she was at a place in life when she was ready to think about having a family. She believes that many women do the same, to their detriment.

“I think they are not actually consciously thinking about it at all. A lot of them are probably high achievers who think, “I’ll have kids when I’m ready, like any other project in life.” They’re achievement focused. By the time they think about it, they are 38-40 and have to enlist help to get pregnant.”

Forty-nine-year-old Jacquie Dale from Hamilton has a slightly different story. She had two daughters when she was in her twenties,

A new Hellers CoCktAil sAusAge rAnge for tHe wHole fAmily.

"Suzy Clarkson with husband Tim, and sons Ben and Toby" but when she remarried in her forties, she and her husband Tim decided to try for round two.

“We thought it would be nice, but we didn’t think it would happen at our age,” said Dale.

Hence the state of shock when a scan showed that not only was she pregnant, but identical twins were on the way.

“We didn’t talk to each other the whole way driving back from the scan. I guess the whole thing about having twins is, I didn’t know if we

could cope.”

Pros and cons of pregnancy at an older age Dale was 46 when she fell pregnant with identical twin boys Toby and Finn, now aged 3. She was also shocked at the terminology that health professionals used to describe her condition – a geriatric pregnancy. She was automatically classed as a high-risk pregnancy.

There were more doctor and midwife

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feature story

appointments, and due to complications she ended up delivering the twins at 29-weeks.

“They were in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit): Toby for six months, and Finn came home after two or three months.

“It was really scary because my first two children were natural births, full term with no difficulties. Your body when you are older is not the same as when you are younger.”

Clarkson agreed. “Being an older mum does put you at an increased risk for diabetes and having high blood pressure. But all the research points towards and says that if you keep fit and active and healthy, that it gives a much better start to life for your baby.”

That’s something that Clarkson is very passionate about; so much so that she’s just written and released a book about it – Fit For Birth and Beyond, The Guide for Women Over 35. In it, she diaries each trimester of her second pregnancy at the age of 44.

“Keeping fit doesn’t have to be expensive or at the gym. It’s core fitness, back strength and abdominal strength that you really need as an older mum.”

“My relationship status was that I didn’t meet my husband until I was 36, and I wasn’t ready to have a baby before that.”

Fighting fertility Many women who leave pregnancy until later in life aren’t as lucky as Clarkson or Dale. But Clarkson admits she was lulled into a false

sense of security about her fertility by the ease with which she fell pregnant with son Ben the first time. The second time around was not such smooth sailing.

“There were lots of starts and stops and miscarriages and IVF. Toby’s a miracle baby, the last of the last of the last embryos,” she said.

Science just doesn’t equate with the trend of more and more women over 40 starting families, or having a second or third child, said Clarkson.

“Some people just don’t manage it because they left it too late.”

Then, the desperation to have a baby can lead down many paths to disappointment. Wellmeaning friends and family dish out advice, and you can spend a lot of time and energy on the false hope of the latest fad intended to boost your chances of conception.

Clarkson says that if she could do it all again, she wouldn’t change her decision to wait for parenthood, but she would freeze her eggs at the age of 25. Dealing with 43-yeaar-old eggs and trying to get pregnant was no picnic.

But, she says, there are some advantages to being an older mum. Although your body no longer has the natural resilience of youth, you are usually more financially stable, settled in life and ready to make the sacrifices.

Dale also says that she wouldn’t change a thing, and that maturity makes a huge difference to parenthood. “It was an extreme kind of case, but the twins are keeping me young. They’re awesome. Really, I don’t think your age makes a huge difference, and I would say to women thinking about pregnancy later in life to go for it.”

Tips for mature mums Excerpt from Fit For Birth and Beyond – The Guide For Women Over 35, RRP $34.99.

Recent studies of regular exercise during pregnancy reveal: • No increase: early pregnancy loss, late pregnancy complications, abnormal foetal growth or adverse neonatal outcomes.

• No link or association between pregnant women exercising and miscarriage, congenital malformations, ectopic pregnancies, pre-term rupture of membranes, placenta insufficiency, retarded intrauterine growth, or unexplained foetal deaths.

• Fewer medical interventions during labour and delivery, and in some case shorter labour times.

• Decreased rates of postpartum depression.

• Enhancement of the baby’s birth weight.

• Maintenance and improvement of the mother’s heart and blood vessels.

• Improved strength for regular lifting and carrying required with a newborn.

• Stronger back muscles to counteract the pull and strain on your back and ligaments, as your centre of gravity shifts.

• Better posture, which prevents or

• • • • • • •

• •

alleviates some of the niggling complaints associated with pregnancy, particularly back pain.

Better awareness of the pelvic floor muscle exercise, helping prevent incontinence postpartum.

Improved positive mental attitude, helping the mother accept her changing body shape, and promoting selfesteem and confidence.

Increased resistance to fatigue.

Better quality sleep and better ability to deal with insomnia.

Smaller gain of extra body fat – outside of normal weight gain during pregnancy of 10-15 kilograms.

Faster recuperation after labour, and a more rapid return to pre pregnancy fitness, body shape and a healthy weight.

Reduced chances of gestational diabetes, which affects 5% of pregnant women, resulting from the effects of hormones but which usually subsides after delivery (if you do have gestational diabetes, exercise helps improve your blood sugar levels).

Reduced varicose veins and swelling of the feet and ankles.

Improved calcium uptake by the body, which helps prevent future osteoporosis.

For more on parenting, visit us online at www.familytimes.co.nz.

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20/03/14 12:28 PM

What’s the rush?

Are you too busy – spending your days rushing from one activity to another? Do you feel pressured to live up to other people’s expectations or your own self-imposed standards?

Would you like to step off the “wheel,” find breathing space and simplify your life?

Christchurch-based parent educator and author Karyn Riley looks at ways to achieve more by doing less, relieve pressure, find balance and simply enjoy life as a parent.

As life seems increasingly busy, with quality family time and finances sometimes stretched to breaking point, parents can feel like they are on a treadmill day in, day out. Unrealistic expectations of “doing it all” often lead to increased pressure on individuals and families.

It can be hard to know how to break the cycle and regain a sense of control in your life.

Parents are commonly juggling careers, household chores, family schedules, school and sports commitments, maintaining relationships on top of finding time for themselves, quality time with children, or time simply to unwind, think and plan for the future.

The term “helicopter parent” is often used to describe modern-day over-parenting. In previous generations, children were expected to play outside, learn by trial and error, and take ownership and responsibility for themselves.

Nowadays, many parents experience some form of external or internal pressure or expectation to do things “right”: using “correct” parenting techniques; hosting the “best” birthday parties; enrolling kids in music lessons, sport or other classes; keeping up with the latest technology, gadgets or

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fashion; or competing with other parents.

The resulting pressure can be daunting, overwhelming and endless, with children (and adults) often ending up tired, scratchy and over-scheduled.

Parents’ time, energy and patience is already stretched from the demands of work and family life. Parents find themselves not only managing their own time and priorities, but those of their children as well.

Many parents are in danger of becoming exhausted, overwhelmed and burdened with guilt simply because they have forgotten how to live life by their own personal values and guidelines.

Simplify Children don’t want or need too many activities. What they thrive on is quality time with their parents. Aim to keep things simple, achievable and realistic. This relieves stress, pressure and feeling overwhelmed, and supports a well-balanced life. Children and adults value time to play, imagine and be themselves, without structured activities everyday. We can all benefit from taking time out to slow down, relax and simply enjoy life as a family.

Prioritise Being over-committed is counter-productive.

Prioritise daily, focusing on and completing one thing at a time. Anything else you achieve is a bonus. Identify your priorities by asking: “What is the single most important thing

I must do today?” This alleviates feeling overwhelmed, out of control and under pressure to get everything done.

Boundaries Establish strong, healthy and consistent boundaries. Clarify your personal and family values: what’s important to you, what’s acceptable and what isn’t? Don’t be influenced or pressured by others – learn to say “No” without guilt or explanation.

Go easy on yourself, taking one day at a time. Avoid any additional or unnecessary commitments during challenging or stressful times. Have an “at home” or “down” day if you’ve had a busy week, sleepless nights or are finding it difficult to cope.

Common sense Ask yourself: “What is the worst thing that can happen if I don’t...enrol the children in extra-curricular activities/pay for expensive items/get involved in every opportunity available?” Trust your intuition and common sense.

Avoid comparisons to other parents who appear to have and do it all. There is no such thing as the perfect parent. Do what works for you and your family.

Support systems Don’t try to be “super-Mum” – this will only result in guilt, stress, resentment and burnout. Establish a strong support network.

Learn to ask for and accept assistance or delegate where possible. Talk with a friend, family member or trained professional – remember you are not alone.

Remain calm Rushing around leading a hectic, busy, stressful life often results in chaos, feeling overwhelmed

or unable to cope. If you’re stressed-out, exhausted, angry or frustrated, it’s important to try to remain calm and in-control.

Practise slow, deep breathing or use similar relaxation techniques and coping mechanisms, or take some time out to unwind. Keeping a clear head, speaking calmly or using distraction can help overcome a difficult situation.

As a busy parent, juggling various roles and responsibilities, simplifying your life and focusing on what’s truly important allows you to have more time and energy, ensuring a stress-free, well-balanced family environment and a sense of calm and control in your life.

Karyn Riley is a time management and life balance coach, author of “How to Keep the YOU in Mum”, inspirational speaker, writer and mother of two. For more information visit www.rileylife.co.nz For more on parenting, visit us online at www.familytimes.co.nz.

Test angst – help your kids beat exam stress Preparation is the key to beating test butterflies, experts say.

Test anxiety can be a real problem if you’re kids are so stressed out over a test that they can’t get past the nervousness to focus on the exam questions and do their best work.

However, if they feel ready to meet the challenge, they can keep test anxiety at a manageable level.

Stress is a physiological response that is tied into our fight or flight mechanisms. A child under stress therefore, is much less likely to be capable of performing well. Stress can cause the brain to get out of sync and have to work harder to process information and achieve results. It can also make your child more vulnerable to illnesses and other negative effects.

You can strengthen your child’s body against stress response if you: * Make sure that your child is getting a proper night’s rest. * Make sure that your child eats healthily. * Make sure that your child gets the right amount of exercise.

However, the best way to help your child cope with test anxiety is to teach them to be well prepared for tests and to focus on the positive. The first will give them the skills to navigate the test questions themselves while the second will have a powerful effect on the mind’s response to stress.

Start by making sure that your child is regularly studying and doing their homework. Make

sure that they understand their work long before a test looms on the horizon.

When a test does come up, make sure they have studied for it long before cramming becomes necessary. Then, on the night before, have your child put the books down and focus on something fun and relaxing instead.

Teach your child to interrupt negative thoughts about their test performance and replace them with positive, affirmative thoughts.

Use a little stress to your advantage

Stress is your body’s warning mechanism — it’s a signal that helps you prepare for something important that’s about to happen. So teach your child to use it to their advantage: Instead of reacting to the stress by dreading, complaining, or fretting about the test, teach them that stress is a reminder to study well in advance of a test.

Ask for help

Although a little test anxiety can be a good thing, an overdose of it is another story entirely. If sitting for a test gets your child so stressed out that their mind goes blank and causes them to miss answers that they know, then their level of test anxiety probably needs some attention.

Be prepared

Good study habits and skills are so important, and no amount of cramming or studying the night before a test can take the place of the deeper level of learning that happens over time with regular study.

Many kids find that their test anxiety is reduced when they start to study better or more regularly. It makes sense — the more they know the material, the more confident they’ll feel. Having confidence going into a test means you expect to do well.

When you expect to do well, you’ll be able to relax into a test after the normal first-moment jitters pass.

Accept mistakes

Another thing you can do is to teach your child to keep mistakes in perspective —refer to mistakes as “learning opportunities.”

Everything takes time and practice, and learning to beat test anxiety is no different.

Although it won’t go away overnight, helping your child with test anxiety will help them learn the valuable skill of stress management, which is useful in many other life circumstances.

For more on education, visit us online at www.familytimes.co.nz and check out our wealth of education feature articles.

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Baby sign What if our babies could somehow tell us what they’re thinking about, what they want, and what distresses them?

tiredness, pain or need of a nappy change, baby sign language creates a direct form of communication that removes the mystery.

“Definitely, one of the biggest things that people notice is the reduction of tantrums,” said Holt.

“One of the biggest reasons for a tantrum is “I’m not making myself understood and I’m obyn Holt, national coordinator for Baby frustrated.”

Talk in New Zealand, says they can.

When they have the signing tools, they can be Holt heard about baby sign language through understood.” an advertisement and decided to go along to A baby can usually begin to understand and a workshop. use sign between the ages of 6-months and “Sign language is something that’s always 12 to 13-months, dependent on the child’s interested me, and I thought, hey, it could developmental schedule set up by the brain. be really cool to try this with a baby because At that stage developmentally, the brain we are always guessing all the time what they works out how to move the hand, and the actually want. Let’s give it a go.” child starts to play with their hands more and Holt started signing to her baby son Benjamin, more. now 12, and within two weeks he started to It’s during this time that parents can begin to sign the sign for milk. She has since used baby teach baby sign: use the sign for milk while sign with her two younger sons Dominic, 8, feeding, and also talk about milk, so that the and Matthew, 3. child begins to make the link in their brain.

Baby sign language is nothing new: the Then begin to add other signs i.e. food, sick practice (which is based on a simplified or pain. version of adult sign language) has been out “I know of one parent and their child was in America for more than 30 years. But it is signing the sign for hurt by their mouth, and enjoying a resurgence in New Zealand. she realised they were teething. It makes life The concept behind baby sign is that so much easier,” said Holt. babies and toddlers do have the ability to Nowadays it also possible to get flash cards, communicate their needs and wants if they picture books, videos, and even apps to help are given the right tools to do so. Although the teaching process. many mothers develop an intuition about The amount of signs that your child will learn whether their baby’s cry is from hunger, depends on their developmental schedule,

and also your input as a parent. Some kids will learn about 10 signs, and others will learn 80-120 signs.

Holt knows of some toddlers who use more than 300 signs.

The key criticism that is aimed at baby sign language is that is slows down a child’s need to talk and use language. Holt says that’s simply not true.

“The only downside is that often they will start talking earlier and you can’t keep them quiet, and usually if a child is signing and not talking at an age that they should be, there are underling issues.”

OTAGO PAEDIATRICS

Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September

R

Dr Andrew Kelly CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN

Regular private clinics held in Dunedin, Queenstown and Cromwell.

• Minimal waiting times • Infants and Children of all ages seen for the range of Child Health and Development issues Contact Mornington Health Centre, Dunedin 03-466 5011 www.mhc.co.nz

For more articles about babies and toddlers, check out www.familytimes. co.nz, and for tips on settling your baby, www.familytimes.co.nz/settling-baby

2014/2015 primary and intermediate school term dates Term 2, 2014

Monday 5 May to Friday 4 July

Term 3, 2014

Term 4, 2014

Monday 13 October to no later than Friday 19 December

Term 1, 2015

Between Monday 2 February and Thursday 5 February to Thursday 2 April

2013 and 2014 secondary and composite school term dates Term 2, 2014

Monday 5 May to Friday 4 July

Sometimes you need some information or an answer to a curly question. Why not pick up the phone and call the relative support agency?

You’ll find professional caring people ready to assist you.

Alcohol and drug Concerned about your own or someone else’s problems with alcohol or other drugs? Call the Alcohol Drug Helpline today for free, confidential, friendly professional advice. 0800 787 797 www. alcoholdrughelp.org.nz

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options and plans for debt repayment.

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Dunedin Community Childcare

Dunedin Community Childcare homebased educators, visiting teachers and children spent a sunny morning at Woodhaugh Gardens recently.

The children enjoyed the water, challenged their physical skills and discovered the natural environment.

The wider world of the community is an integral part of our home-based curriculum, where experiences extend children’s active investigation, thinking, reasoning and love of the outdoors.

Term 3, 2014 Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September

Term 4, 2014

Monday 13 October to Tuesday 16 December

SCHOOL TERM DATES

Term 1, 2015

Between Monday 2 February and Thursday 5 February to Thursday 2 April

Remaining public holidays 2013 18 April 21 April 25 April 1 June 27 October 25 December 26 December

Good Friday Easter Monday Anzac Day Queen’s birthday Labour Day Christmas Day Boxing Day

Help is @ hand

Disability Information Service Free disability & health related information

Supplying daily living aids and incontinence products.

Phone: 03-471 6152 or 0800-693 342 Email:dis.dn@xtra.co.nz | www.disabilityinfo.co.nz

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Phone: 03-477 2055

FREE COURSES • Writing family Stories • Spelling for Living • Speaking confidently • One-on-one targeted work place literacy

Words of wisdom with Diane Levy lost weight.” No wonder your daughter has become very self-conscious!

Protecting our children in this bodyconscious, weight-and image-obsessed society is getting more and more difficult.

Hopefully in her media studies at school she is already being made aware that almost all images that we see in magazines, billboards and advertisements are Photoshopped and if we all had the long, slender necks so lovingly portrayed, they would not be capable of holding our heads upright!

Avoid, where possible, any comments (praise, reassurance or criticism) about her looks and body size and focus instead on all her other

My daughter is fine with using the potty and toilet for “number ones,” but having issues with “number twos.” She really does not want to do it and makes a huge fuss and screams. Any tips how to manage this?

Your daughter is struggling to make the leap from pooing in her pull-ups to pooing in the toilet. If we can just break the leap into smaller manageable steps, she will be able to poo in the toilet when her body needs to.

Step 1: Have her in undies and let her know that whenever her body needs to poo you will help her into a pull-up or she can go and put one on herself. Let her go off and poo wherever she likes and then you will be happy to change her.

Stay at this – and each – step until it is easy for her.

Win a copy of Stories for 7 Year Olds

Step 2: When she needs to poo, you/

she puts on the pull-up and, instead of going to her favourite hiding place, she goes to the room where the toilet is.

Step 3: Pull-up on, go to the room where the toilet is, poo sitting on the toilet with the pull-up on.

Step 4: One day, your daughter will

triumphantly call you to show you that she has pooed in the toilet.

This gentle four-step process allows her to learn and get competent at a pace that she can manage.

My 14-year-old daughter has become very self-conscious lately in regards to how she looks and her size when in fact she is very slim and attractive. I am concerned that

this will deeply affect her self-esteem.

What can I do?

The nightmare situation facing us all is that we are constantly bombarded in all media with images of impossibly-slender Photoshoppped models, “weight-watching” of all celebrities, endless diets, dire warnings about an obesity epidemic and a bizarre societal permission to greet people with an apparently praiseworthy comment, “Hello! You look as if you have

If you need help...

SuperGrans are mature volunteers who offer one-on one life and home skills mentoring to families and individuals in need of assistance. They provide a caring, confidential, free, non-judgemental service that supports and encourages client independence by learning new ways to work and gaining the ability and confidence to cope with everyday problems. Skills passed on include menu planning, budget shopping/cooking, knitting, sewing, mending, gardening and establishing household routines.

Phone 03-474-0582 for further information or email supergrans. dunedin@xtra.co.nz.

NEED A CAR SEAT? Our registered child restraint technicians will assist you with choosing the most appropriate car seat for your child and with installing the car seat in your vehicle.

The definition of “beautiful” does not require the word “skinny.”

2

The scales can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity.

That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent purpose, life force, possibility, strength or love.

Submit your parenting questions and concerns to family therapist, counsellor, parenting coach and speaker Diane Levy. This is a regular column, so get those questions flowing! Email us at admin@ familytimes.co.nz. Get an order form for Diane’s popular books via www.familytimes.co.nz.

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WIN!

NEW RELEASE MOVIES

WEEKLY MOVIES 735 Great King St, North Dunedin Ph: 03-477-3435

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SUPERGRANS is a free, confidential and non-judgemental service.

SUPERGRANS share their life skills with families in need.

SUPERGRANS are mature people who work on a volunteer basis because they care.

Contact Marie Sutherland Phone: 03-474 0582

E-mail: supergrans.dunedin@xtra.co.nz

FREE Services

to Families • Parent Education • Well Child Assessments • Family Support Services • Car Seat Services • Playgroups & Coffee Groups

Civic Video North Dunedin has merged into United Video Dunedin North – all memberships transferred.

GREEN ISLAND SCHOOL 3 Howden Street, Green Island

Proud of over 160 years of excellent education for students aged 5 to 13 years Green Island: Respecting Our Past, Building Our Future.

How can we benefit your child?

Our school will provide the best possible education for your child according to their individual needs and abilities, by giving them the encouragement and learning opportunities which help them to succeed and achieve to their personal best.

We promote Values education and practice Manaakitanga Focus on Numeracy,Literacy and Physical Activity.

We have a range of infant capsules, child and booster seats for sale or hire.

111 Hillside Road, South Dunedin Phone: 03-455-9934 OPEN: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 9am-3pm, Thurs: 9am-5.30pm, Sat: 10am-12pm

1

Stories For 7 Year Olds is a little more adventurous, with the stories often about getting out there and doing exciting things. The stories are about exploring and things — like best friends, monsters, climbing trees, pasta, kapa haka, snorkelling, wetas, whales, skating and much more!

Some on New Zealand’s best authors.

We have 10 of these to give away.

Enter online at www.familytimes.co.nz or write your name and address on the back of an envelope or postcard and send to: Stories for 6 Year Olds, PO Box 36 004, Christchurch, to reach us by 4 May 2014. Check out our website for more fantastic competitions.

$1 MON $2 EVERYDAY (OR 5 FOR $6)

SuperGrans

wonderful attributes that have nothing to do with weight or appearance.

Two lovely sayings I have come across lately:

A well-resourced school with a large playground and library, and 8 classrooms all featuring up-to-date resources and equipment.

Phone Plunket Area Office: 03-474-0490 Plunket Line: 0800-933-922 24 HOURS www.plunket.org.nz

Your child will develop goal setting, study skills, responsibility, self-esteem, time management and will be safe, be respectful and be responsible.

Little Learners, a class held Tuesday afternoons for 4½ year-olds is designed to make the transition to school easier.

For more information please contact Steve Hayward - Principal Phone 488-2314 or email: secretary@greenisland.school.nz www.familytimes.co.nz

9

Autumn in The Vege Patch I hope you all enjoyed the Christmas break with all those new potatoes, strawberries and peas etc.

What a great time of the year it is to be eating the results of all our efforts - the excess given to friends , family and into the freezer or preserving jars to enjoy later.

This year we introduced a Seeds 4 Schools programme with 95 children from Leeston and Southbridge taking part. Seeds were donated by the Ellesmere Lions club and prizes provided by McDonalds of Riccarton.

What a wonderful time the 10 judges had visiting the children’s gardens before Christmas and all were thrilled with the standards the kids achieved. The programme was such a success it will run again this year and we look forward to seeing more enthusiastic children take part.

As autumn looms, let’s talk about your winter garden. Now you should have broccoli, silverbeet, cauliflower and kale planted in colder areas. In areas not subject to constant winter frosts, you can plant beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and parsley.

Keep the soil up around the leeks as they grow for the best tall, white leeks. Once you have planted the winter crops there will be empty spaces in your vege plot so dig in well-rotted stable or farm manure if available, or other fertiliser together with your own compost from the summer lawn clippings etc that we spoke of in my earlier columns .

Eloisa Fox, age 10

I actually quite like tests – they can make you nervous but if you channel the nervousness you can enjoy it. If I get too stressed and can’t think during a test sometimes I pinch myself to help me snap out of it. I study a lot before tests and I answer the easy questions first so I can spend more time answering the harder ones. I think tests challenge the students; instead of cruising along, tests give you some excitement or distress.

Xavier Charters, age 10

Use green manure when a crop is planted, to dig in later. Blue lupins or oats mixed with mustard seed work very well, fixing nitrogen in the soil and helping with the aeration of heavier soils; dig them in about two months after sowing.

Once you have sorted out the garden you can sit back and enjoy your winter crops as hot soups or in casseroles on cold days.

When you look at the prices of vegetables in the supermarket during winter, you will be pleased at the amount of money saved and of course yours were grown right here.

When the winter days are bleak, get excited about spring, look through seed catalogues and start planning!

Happy gardening.

Jonsey

By Alan Jones (Jonesy), 2010 New Zealand Gardener of the Year. Jonesy looks after Leeston Consolidated School’s veggie gardens and keeps school parents up-to-date with tips for home gardens.

Welcoming, fun, safe and spacious indoor/outdoor learning environment with stimulating semi-structured sessions

20 hours ECE including under 3’s y Free pre-entr ion ss se playgroup ren ild ch d for enrolle

Tests are something we all have to deal with.

This issue, students from Opoho School told us how they feel about tests and how they manage test stress in their lives.

ith r round w Open yea ernoon and aft ssions morning, ull day se f e c a p s limited Qualified, registere d and dedicated teaching team

I enjoy tests: I feel happy when I get the chance to do a test.

I don’t usually do much to prepare for tests and I always do very well. If I know I have a test coming up I just feel fine and relaxed, and I don’t really think about it. If I don’t do well on a test I don’t worry about it but I do think, “All that hard work for nothing!”

Ollie Flanagan, age 10

I sometimes get a bit worried about tests – I don’t really enjoy them. It depends on the test. I don’t mind spelling tests but others can make me really nervous. You want to get everything right and sometimes I worry if I don’t do well. I don’t study for tests. I haven’t tried anything to help me feel better when I’m stressed about tests. They are good though, they show the teachers what you can do.

Gabby Liddell, age 10

When I think about tests, I think of me getting the answers wrong and I get stressed. The night before a test I go to bed really early because I worry and I can’t get to sleep. Dad helps by talking to me about funny things to make me not worried.

If I’m feeling stressed, laughing and having fun helps me feel better. If I could find the person who created tests I would say “No more tests!”

It’s easy to win fantastic prizes with Family Times. Just fill in the entry form and post it to us by the due date, or enter online at www. familytimes.co.nz.

WIN, WIN,

WIN!

WIN, WIN,

WIN!

Contact Details: Phone: Centre Manager, Toni on 489 6666 Address: 13 Cemetery Road, East Taieri, Mosgiel Email: easttaieripreschool@xtra.co.nz

www.easttaieripreschool.co.nz

BEST VALUE FAMILy PASSES

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10

RIALTO CINEMAS - 11 MORAy PLACE - 474 2200 - BOOK ONLINE - www.rialto.co.nz www.familytimes.co.nz

Win a birth-to-potty pack of cloth nappies No need to worry about buying more sizes as your baby grows: this birth-topotty pack contains all of the cloth nappies that you will need to take your baby from birth to potty training. It includes flushable liners, snappi nappy fasteners and cotton booster pads for use at night or times when your baby needs a little bit more absorption. Save money and the environment at http://nappyneedz.com and ecobots.co.nz.

We have one of these packs to give away valued at more than $520.

It’s an all-out LEGO® City High Speed Police Chase to catch the crooks with the stolen money on their motorbikes!

Make sure the policeman is quick enough in the police car before slapping the handcuffs on them before they get away.

Includes three mini-figures with assorted accessories: two crooks and a policeman.

RRP $29.99.

We have 20 x LEGO® City High Speed Police Chase sets to give away.

Study tips for preteens

Design your own birthday cake. What would it look like? Send us your picture, and a brief description, and be in to win an amazing $50 prize pack from Crayola!

Three entry age groups: preschool (age 1-4), 5-8, 9-12.

Create your design on an A5 sheet or download the template and entry form from www.familytimes.co.nz. Post in to PO Box 36 004, Christchurch 8146. Entries close on May 4, 2014.

Congratulations to our ‘What is your favourite activity to do with your family in summer?’ competition winners from our last issue. They are: 1- 4 Lucie Cairney

" I like to draw. This is a beautiful colourful flower"

A

preteen girl I once knew was really struggling at school. Her parents had sent her to me to coach because they felt she was spending a lot of time “studying” that didn’t reflect in her marks at school. It got so bad that they actually thought she was selfharming, or skiving off with friends when she said she was studying. It turned out to be that the reason was the simple fact that she didn’t have the study skills she needed. So here are some fool proof tips to help your preteen do well in their study, homework and exams.

1. Start a routine

5 - 8 Rui - Yi Ong

" I like to go to the beach. We play in the water with the balls"

It sounds obvious, but many young people lack structure. They know they have school between certain hours, but their time management skills outside of this lacks. Sit down and agree with them on a time they can dedicate to study and make sure they stick to it.

2. Use colour

Buy them some coloured pens and coloured paper. Encourage them to use these as tools to help with study when they need to remember specific facts and formulas, because use of colour helps memory retention.

3. Eat popcorn and dark chocolate

9 - 12 Luke Miller

"In the light blue skies and the crystal clear water. I like to go fishing at the river mouth and build sand castles with my family"

WIN, WIN,

WIN!

Muppets: Most Wanted– In Cinemas April 10 - prize packs 1 x Double pass to the movie 1 x T-shirt 1 x Eight colour pen 1 x Sticker Sheet 1 x Door Tag (set ) 1 x Notepad We have five prize packs to give away.

Competition closes April 15, 2014.

Not the buttered stuff, but just straight popcorn is actually really good for you (it does come from a vegetable, right?). Dark chocolate has also been found to be an energy and concentration stimulant. Get your preteen to opt for these as study snacks along with other vegetables and fruit, rather than fatty fast food or chips.

4. Understand the question

Many youth fail school assignments simply because they do not understand the question that is being asked. Instead, they spend their effort going on a tangent about something irrelevant. Especially with essays, sit down with your preteen to dissect the question being asked, and make sure they understand it.

5. Know your burger

Like a good burger, essays must have a structure; go over the beginning, middle and conclusion structure with your preteen. Make sure this structure is engrained in their brain because this will be useful for them way past the time they leave school.

6. Listen to baroque music

If your preteen finds it hard to study without music, suggest they listen to Baroque music; it has the same rhythm as the human heartbeat and helps with concentration, relaxation and memory retention.

By Eva Maria Eva-Maria is a 23-year-old on a mission to help improve 10,000,000 adult-teenager relationships around the world. She is the author of the bestselling You Shut Up! and sequel Shush, You!.

She travels throughout New Zealand, Australia and Russia coaching families, running workshops and speaking at conferences and events about the importance of intergenerational relationships and youth in the workforce, offering understanding from “the other side.” www.eva-maria.co.nz.

WIN, WIN,

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Win ZingBokashi® 2 x 15 litre bucket sets and 2 bags of Compost-Zing Recycling kitchen and garden waste has never been easier, and with the help of ZingBokashi® NZ Ltd and its range of environmentally friendly products, it’s easy to make a sustainable difference to your local environment - at home, at work and at play.

We have 4 sets to give away.

Just tick the things you want to win Autumn 2014

   

ZingBokashi® Muppets: Most Wanted Birth-to-potty pack LEGO® City High Speed Police Chase

Name Address City Phone

To be in the draw to win, enter online at www.familytimes.co.nz or write your name and address on the back of an envelope or postcard and send to: Dunedin Competition, PO Box 36 004, Christchurch to reach us by May 4th 2014, unless stated otherwise. Only one entry per household.

littlewonderschildcare.co.nz www.familytimes.co.nz

11

cool activities

Calendar of Events to reception and receive a mini Easter Wrap the family up nice and sheet egg. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 10am-4:30 warm and head out to enjoy pm, free. some gorgeous autumn 19 - 20 April days at the following family- Blowups. Using the origami papers provided in Playspace, create a blow-up origami shape. friendly events. For more Instructions are provided. Dunedin Public Art event and entertainment Gallery, 10am-4.30pm, free. ideas, visit www.familytimes.

19 - 27 April co.nz and enjoy our large, Playhouse Theatre. The amazing Advenfamily-friendly resource. tures of Captain Telepathic – daily 11am and 2pm. Phone bookings 03-477-6544.

13 April

The Big Get Together 2014. Get set for a day jam-packed with fun and excitement.

Free festival featuring electrifying entertainment, awesome live acts and great food.

Otago Museum, 11am-4pm.

17 April - 5 May

CD Cover Design Competition. Utilise the image provided to create a CD cover and enter to win a great prize – plus, a colouring competition for younger visitors. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 10am-4:30 pm, free.

18 - 21 April

Gypsy Fair Original. Happy Easter Dunedin and Otago, the popular and famous Gypsy Fair returns with crafts, jewellery, rides, delicious food and all-day music performances.

The Oval, 9am-5pm.

19 - 21 April

Easter Art Walk. Take a stroll around the gallery’s exhibitions and, using the sheets provided, learn a little about Easter. Return your

20 April

Fun bubble-blowing competition. Blow the biggest bubble and be in to win a giant pack of balloons. Octagon if fine weather, gallery foyer if not. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 3pm, free.

22 - 26 April and 28 April 2 May Splash Fest. Platform diving, inflatable fun

plus snorkelling and kayaking with Swimsation swim school. Moana Pool, 10.30am-3pm, regular pool entry charges apply for all activities.

25 April

Anzac Day Service. Remember and celebrate our heroes at the ANZAC day dawn service. Queen’s Garden Cenotaph, 6am.

Poppy Making. Using the materials provided in Playspace, make an ANZAC Day poppy for the magnetic wall or to take home. Everyone is invited to take part. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 10am-4.30pm, free.

LEGO fun, coming to Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Image courtesy of Collection Queensland Art Gallery.

2 - 3 May

The Star Regent 24 Hour Booksale. Grab a bargain or 10 at this Dunedin favourite. Regent Theatre, Octagon, noon till noon.

10 May

The Children’s Room Story-time Train

to Port Chalmers. Accompany the little booklovers in your life on a special ride with a train-load of storytellers. Cost $15 per adult/ May 3 child, under 2s free, book at www.ticketdiLego Architect. Centuri Chan, expert LEGO builder, comes to us from Christchurch rect.co.nz or visit www.dunedinwritersfestiwith some of his delightful creations. Dunedin val.co.nz.

Public Art Gallery, 3pm-4pm.

14 - 17 May

May 4 Lego! Dr Christoph Bartneck from HITLab, University of Canterbury, whose specialist area is the LEGO minifigures, will talk to us about LEGO. In conjunction with Olafur Eliasson’s interactive exhibition. Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 3pm - 4pm.

Beauty and the Beast. Disney’s marvellous musical is brought to life on stage with two hours of beautiful singing, drama and dance proudly presented by Bayfield High School.

Westpac Mayfair Theatre, 7pm. For bookings phone 03-455-0113.

Aiming High New Zealand An invitation to all girls aged 5 to 18...

St Brigid’s School 57 Bayfield Road, Andersons Bay, Dunedin For more information contact Chris Hogue Phone/Fax: 03-454 3477 Email: office@stbrigidsdn.school.nz www.stbrigidsdn.school.nz

Come join the fun & friendship at any of our nationwide locations.

www.girlsbrigade.org.nz E-mail: info@girlsbrigade.org.nz

Discover the Otago Museum 419 Great King Street, Dunedin | Open 7 days, 9am–5pm | www.otagomuseum.govt.nz

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www.familytimes.co.nz

12

cool activities

Entertainment 60s dance. Email the studio director today Need a fun activity to beat rasa@e3.net.nz. the autumn blues? The Megazone Entertainment weather may be cooling Centre down, but there’s still plenty A fantastic venue for your next group event an excellent place for fun family activities! of fun to be had at a plethora and Megazone offers laser tag, mini golf, pool, of events and entertainment arcade and a cafe. Phone 03-474-9179 to learn more. destinations around the city. Here are a few ideas to The Kitchen Cooking Classes The Kitchen Cooking Classes are creating get you started, and we’ve independent and confident kids and young Megazone is an exciting and immersive sci-fi adults in kitchens around Dunedin. Check got heaps more at www. experience for all ages. out birthday party options too at www. familytimes.co.nz.

Playhouse Theatre thekitchencookingclasses.co.nz.

Chipmunks

Unlimited play for unlimited fun…Chipmunks Dunedin is the perfect place to party and play all day. Open daily from 9.30am and the cafe offers a delicious menu. Visit www. chipmunks.co.nz or phone 03-477-6762.

Edgar Centre

The Edgar Centre is a great place for families to come and play some sport together. Open seven days, phone 03-456-1200.

Rialto Cinemas

Entertain the kids these school holidays by taking them to Rialto Cinemas to catch the latest movies including The Lego Movie and The Amazing Spiderman 2. Book online, www.rialto.co.nz.

RASA School of Dance

It is not too late to enrol in a dance class for 2014. RASA offers hip hop, breakdance, Bollywood, jazz, contemporary, tap and over

Dunedin Chinese Gardens

Learn about the Great Wall of China and grow the great wall of friendship by adding a brick dedicated to your best friend. Plus, a hunt and quiz around the garden with prizes.

From 19 April-4 May. Phone 03-477-3248.

Holiday specials

The amazing Adventures of Captain Telepathic – on Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 April, daily 11am and 2pm. Phone bookings 03-477-6544.

Otago Museum

No matter the weather, Otago Museum is always the hottest place in town! Enjoy a spectacular live butterfly experience and meet other tropical creatures in their natural paradise.

Here are some great holiday Activate Music Academy Looking for something to do this school ideas designed to keep you Register for the holiday immersion and your little ones entertained holidays? project at Activate! Visit www.activatemusic. during the school break. co.nz or email office@activatemusic.co.nz for Splash Fest at Moana Pool

Platform diving, inflatable fun plus snorkelling and kayaking with Swimsation Swim School.

From 22 - 26 April and 28 April - 2 May, Moana Pool, Dunedin, 10.30am-3pm, regular pool entry charges apply.

Family Fun at...

• Mini Golf • Mini trains running every 2nd Sunday 1 Sept to 30 June • Topiary Café 03-489 1990

ange NEW Driving R OPEN NOW! arties For birthday p gs in and group book please call

Wal’s Plant Land,

9 03 484 731 Bush Road, Mosgiel

more information.

Playball Dunedin

Enrol now for Dunedin’s most exciting holiday programme for 5 to 12-year-olds. Sports clinics, trip days, arts and crafts, and loads of fun. Email coachliam@playball.co.nz.

Tropical Forest at Otago Museum - always the hottest place in town!

Chipmunks Playland and Cafe

Chipmunks Playland and Cafe is Dunedin’s number one stop for children’s entertainment, with a cafe and indoor playground for children aged from 0 to 11-years-old.

Sweeping tube slides, ball pits, inflatable slide and an 8 cannon ball blaster keep everyone entertained for hours. For preschoolers there’s a pirate ship with a slide into a ball pit.

Chipmunks is open seven days, supervises before and after school care including transport, has school holiday programmes, and is the perfect birthday party venue.

Let the fun begin.

Help your child reach their potential “I left New Zealand for a year in Chile a naïve, 16 year-old and returned an independent, determined young adult.” – Sarah.

• Birthday parties • Before school care • After school care • Fundraisers • Drop-off service • Holiday programmes • Private functions • Charlie’s Café

OPEN 7 DAYS

Find out more about AFS Student Exchanges call Hedi 0800 600 300

373 Princes Street Dunedin. Ph: 03 477 6762

www.afs.org.nz

Become an Active Family!

Do you want to:

pBe inspired to get your family more active? pLearn new healthy meal recipes? pGet tips to encourage your kids to eat fruit

and veggies? p Learn fun and free games to play with your kids? pGet help with shopping on a budget? pMeet other families and have fun together!

For more information, contact Liz Wilson at Sport Otago on 03 474 6416.

e h t r o F e t a m ulti ut! o y a d

11 Christie St, GREEN ISLAND

PH: 03-488 4448

www.combatzonepaintball.co.nz

Megazone has just replaced the old Laserforce with a brand new state of the art laser tag system!

170 fREDERICK sT Dunedin

Book now on

474 9179 Facebook.com/megazonedunedin Laser Tag

Mini Golf

Pool

Acrade

Cafe

www.familytimes.co.nz

13

How much sleep

does your child need?

Sleep and newborns (1 to 2-months)

For newborns, sleep during the early months occurs around the clock and the sleep-wake cycle interacts with the need to be fed, changed and nurtured. Newborns sleep a total of 10.5 to 18 hours a day on an irregular schedule with periods of one to three hours spent awake. The sleep period may last a few minutes to several hours. During sleep, they are often active, twitching their arms and legs, smiling, sucking and generally appearing restless.

Newborns express their need to sleep in different ways. Some fuss, cry, rub their eyes or indicate this need with individual gestures.

It is best to put babies to bed when they are sleepy, but not asleep. They are more likely to fall asleep quickly and eventually learn how to get themselves to sleep.

Sleep and infants (3 to 11-months)

By six months of age, night-time feedings are usually not necessary and many infants sleep through the night; 70-80 percent will do so by 9-months-of-age. Infants typically sleep 9 to 12-hours during the night and take 30-minute to 2-hour naps, one to four times a day – fewer as they reach age one.

When infants are put to bed drowsy but not asleep, they are more likely to become “self- soothers” which enables them to fall asleep independently at bedtime and put themselves back to sleep during the night.

Those who have become accustomed to

parental assistance at bedtime often become “signallers” and cry for their parents to help them return to sleep during the night.

Sleep tips for infants

• Develop regular daytime and bedtime schedules.

• Create a consistent and enjoyable bedtime routine.

• Establish a regular “sleep friendly”

environment.

• Encourage baby to fall asleep independently and to become a “selfsoother.”

Sleep and toddlers (1 to 3-years)

Toddlers need about 12 to 14-hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. When they reach about 18-months-of-age their naptimes will decrease to once a day lasting about 1 to 3-hours. Naps should not occur too close to bedtime as they may delay sleep at night.

Many toddlers experience sleep problems including resisting going to bed and night-time awakenings. Nighttimes fears and nightmares are also common.

Many factors can lead to sleep problems.

Toddlers’ drive for independence and an increase in their motor, cognitive and social abilities can interfere with sleep.

Sleep tips for toddlers:

• Maintain a daily sleep schedule and consistent bedtime routine.

• Make the bedroom environment the same every night and throughout the night.

• Set limits that are consistent, communicated and enforced. Encourage

BE CALM

use of a security object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.

“It is best to put babies to bed when they are sleepy, but not asleep.”

Sleep and preschoolers (3 to 5-years)

Preschoolers typically sleep 11 to 13-hours each night and most do not nap after five years of age. As with toddlers, difficulty falling asleep and waking up during the night are common.

Sleep tips for preschoolers

• Maintain a regular and consistent sleep schedule.

• Have a relaxing bedtime routine that ends in the room where the child sleeps.

• Child should sleep in the same sleeping environment every night, in a room that is cool, quiet and dark – and without a TV.

Sleep and school-aged children (5 to 12-years)

Children aged 5 to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep. At the same time, there is an increasing demand on their time from school (e.g., homework), sports and other extracurricular

A natural alternative for your child

and social activities. In addition, schoolaged children become more interested in TV, computers, the media and Internet as well as caffeine products – all of which can lead to difficulty falling asleep, nightmares and disruptions to their sleep. In particular, watching TV close to bedtime has been associated with bedtime resistance, difficulty falling asleep, anxiety around sleep and sleeping fewer hours.

Sleep tips for school-aged children

• Teach school-aged children about healthy sleep habits.

Kids love the strawberry taste of these easily absorbed Kidz Minerals. Kidz Minerals offer a natural solution for a variety of childhood ailments from colds and coughs to irritability and anxiety.

The range of six Kidz Minerals are combinations of Schuessler Tissue Salts specially formulated for children and infants. They’re available from health food stores and selected pharmacies.

For more information, visit www. martinandpleasance.com.

• Continue to emphasise need for regular and consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine.

• Make child’s bedroom conducive to sleep – dark, cool and quiet.

• Keep TV and computers out of the bedroom.

• Avoid caffeine.

For more parenting tips, visit our parenting articles feature section on www.familytimes.co.nz.

Is your child...

• Irritable?

• Over-excitable?

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Vaccinations The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that vaccination prevents between 2- 3 million deaths worldwide each year.

A

nd as Immunisation Awareness Week kicks off in the last week of April, WHO is reminding parents to make sure that their kids are up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Immunisation Advisory Centre spokesperson Theo Brandt says that New Zealand has a lot to celebrate in Immunisation Week.

“Ninety percent of eight-month-old babies have received their first three lots of immunisations, helping protect them against seven nasty diseases.”

However, Brandt said that some older age groups were less protected, and the current wave of measles cases showed the need for all family members to consider immunisation.

But No Forced Vaccines – an association of individuals concerned about ethics and maintaining the fundamental human right for parents to make the health care choices they deem appropriate for their children – says that Kiwi parents need to be made aware of all the issues surrounding vaccination, not just the potential benefits.

“Making a free and informed decision about any medical treatment, including vaccination, is a basic human right,” spokesperson Katherine Smith said in a recent media release.

Another organisation, WAVES nz, does not advise people not to vaccinate, but facilitates an informed decision making process by provided resources for parents such as its online presence, referrals to other relevant websites, and book recommendations.

However, the majority of its members have made the personal decision not to vaccinate.

That’s not a course that is recommended by the WHO or New Zealand’s Ministry of Health. During Immunisation Awareness Week, WHO is encouraging people around the world to find out what vaccines are available, to check their vaccination status, and to get the vaccines that they need. WHO says that one in every five children are not vaccinated, and a lack of knowledge about vaccination on behalf of adults is the reason.

Brandt said the safety of vaccines was well understood. “There are common risks like a sore arm or general grumpiness, but these all pass with time. The risks of diseases are often ignored as they are not so often seen – but even so, three children in New Zealand lost

Conectus & The Immunisation Advisory Centre

With autumn here, now is a good time to consider immunisation against influenza.

It is free for pregnant women and other groups who may be at greater risk of complications from the flu. Check out fightflu.co.nz for more information or call the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800-466-863.

their lives to whopping cough in the past few years, and many more were hospitalised.

New Zealand’s Ministry of health has an immunisation schedule available on its website, ranging from six-weeks-old to 65-years.

We’ve got health covered at www. familytimes.co.nz. Want to know how to handle headlice? Visit www.familytimes. co.nz/handling-head-lice.

Giving children the best start Barnardos has been nurturing and educating Kiwi children for more than 40 years. During that time, we’ve learned lots about the services New Zealanders want for their children. Under the Barnardos KidStart Childcare brand, we offer a unique service that provides a choice of homebased or centre-based care within the Barnardos tradition of quality services for children and their whanau.

Early learning centres We have 28 centres across the country, all offering a quality early childhood experience in which children learn, play and grow.

Home-based care Our trained educators provide quality childcare in their own homes for hundreds of families across the country.

Do you enjoy working with children?

If so, being a Barnardos KidStart Childcare

home-based educator might just be the best job in the world! Our educators care for children under five in their own homes, helping them develop as happy, confident learners.

No day as an educator is ever the same, and every minute is rewarding as you help children learn and grow. Expect laughter and lots of fun. Plus, Barnardos provides full training and support, and there’s the opportunity to interact with other educators and children through playgroups and outings.

More and more parents are seeking childcare that’s like a home away from home, where their child can form a strong bond with their caregiver and get lots of one-onone attention.

To find out more about becoming a Barnardos KidStart Childcare educator, phone 0800 4 BARNARDOS (0800-422762), email kidstart@barnardos.org.nz or visit www.barnardos.org.nz/childcare.

Free relationship and parenting counselling services At the Kowhai Centre, our second-year counselling degree students are supported by lecturers and experienced counsellors to provide you with a free service which is professional, respectful and accessible.

Breastfeeding support in many ways

Family challenges > Relationships Parenting > Grief and loss > Stress Self-esteem > Family challenges Planning and goal setting > Life changes Phone 03 479 6198 (please leave a message) Email Kowhai.Centre@op.ac.nz

www.op.ac.nz/ kowhai-centre

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.

CONTACT US: (03) 476 6579 or 467 5599 EMAIL: help@lalecheleague.org.nz facebook.com/LLLNZ lalecheleague.org.nz

Support and information for families raising a child with a disability or health impairment • • • • •

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Contact Parent to Parent Otago 0508 236 236 parent2parent.org.nz otago@parent2parent.org.nz www.familytimes.co.nz

15

TOP READS

Crissi Blair lives with her family in west Auckland and spends her time reading and writing, mostly about children’s books. Crissi organised the Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children’s Writers and Illustrators for three years and publishes the useful guide New Zealand Children’s Books in Print which is updated every year. Visit www.silvertone.co.nz for more information.

Picture Books Jim’s Letters

Glyn Harper Illustrations by Jenny Cooper Puffin, hardback $25 This story is based on letters written by and to Anzac soldiers during the First World War. It is told in the form of correspondence between two brothers - Tom, home on the farm, and Jim, in Egypt then Gallipoli, from December 1914 until Jim’s death in August 1915. With letters in envelopes and depictions of life at home and at war, this is a beautifully-made book. Ages 7 to 14-years.

Mr Miniscule and the Whale

Julian Tuwim English translator Antonia Lloyd-Jones Illustrator Bohdan Butenko Book Island, hardback $25, paperback $18 Published in Polish in 1956, this timeless tale, told in rhyme, is about Mr Miniscule, so tiny that his boat is a walnut shell and oars are cut from a matchstick. He is bold and adventurous, setting off to find a whale but all he can see is a big blue island… or is it? Line drawings with touches of yellow and blue capture the big adventure perfectly. Ages 3 to 8-years

Mrs. Mo’s Monster

Paul Beavis Gecko Press, Hardback $34.99, Paperback $19.99 There’s a knock at Mrs Mo’s front door and in runs a monster “looking for something to CRUNCH, MUNCH, AND CHEW. (That’s what monster do.)” The scratchy line drawings with brilliant colours and scrawling text capture the monster perfectly as Mrs Mo patiently encourages him to discover better behaviour and new things he can do. Kids will love the wild monster and perhaps want to learn to do what he does too. Ages 3 plus.

Junior Fiction Tinklers Three: A Very Good Idea

A.K.A. Peabrain

Fortunately, the Milk…

Stephan Fastis Walker Books, hardback, $19.99 Timmy Failure (11) declares himself the CEO of his own detective agency, with his sidekick, polar bear Total (company named Total Failure).

His nemesis is the too perfect Corrina Corrina who poaches (and solves) his cases. He narrates his own story, complete with drawings and handwritten notes. His justification of every move and decision he makes is hilarious and you can’t help willing him to finally succeed.

M.C. Badger Illustrations Leigh Brown Hardie Grant Egmont, paperback $14.99 The three Tinkler children live in an apartment on the 33rd floor without their parents who are away being circus performers. Marcus, Mila and Turtle seem to do just fine on their own, with a very Pippi Longstocking outlook on how things should be done.

In this book they decide to go all the way from their apartment to the town clock tower without touching the ground. First in a great series. Ages 6 to 8-years.

Janet Pates Illustrated by Gary Wood JP Books, paperback, $18.99 Peter needs money for a school trip but Dad is unemployed and money is tight, so Peter and his mate Shorty decide they’ll get holiday jobs to pay for it. It’s not that easy though, especially when Peter does things, like losing a mouse in his auntie’s handbag, which cost him money instead of earning it. But a lucky find might be just the thing.

A humorous family story for ages 7 to 11-years.

Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Chris Riddell Bloomsbury, Hardback $22.99 Mum’s away and Dad is looking after the kids, but he’s forgotten to buy milk for breakfast. He heads out to the shop, and is gone for a very long time. When he finally returns he tells a highly unlikely story about all the amazing things that happened to him – revolving around Professor Steg the time-travelling dinosaur, pirates, jewels and much more.

Zany illustrations add pizzazz to this very imaginative story. Ages 6 to 11-years.

www.penguins.co.nz Waterfront Road Oamaru • P: +64 3 433 1195 www.familytimes.co.nz

Counting By 7s

Holly Goldberg Sloan Penguin, hardback, $33.50 Willow Chance is a home-schooled genius with an obsession for nature, medical conditions, and counting by 7s.

When she goes to public school, keen to join school life, she just doesn’t fit in, ending up with the school counsellor, suspected of cheating.

Here she finally connects with a couple of other outliers; Vietnamese siblings.

When Willow’s adoptive parents are killed she is thrown into an unpredictable world, transforming everyone involved into an eclectic family group. A quirky and delightful read.

Be Captivated by Nature at Oamaru’ s Blue Penguin Colony!

16

Intermediate Fiction

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

Dappled Annie and the Tigrish

Mary McCallum Illustrations by Annie Hayward Gecko Press, paperback, $19.99 Annie (9) plays in the hot summer weather while her father is out working on the lighthouse. She recognises faces in the hedge and spots a nest of tiny fantails. When an earthquake strikes and terrible winds blow the fantails away, with Mr and Mrs Hedge in hot pursuit, Annie simply must go to the rescue, aided by little brother Robbie and the wonderfully mysterious tigrish. A fanciful and charming tale. Ages 8-plus.what’s happening. Ages 9 to 13-years.

Knowledge books Everything You Need to Know About Animals

Nicola Davies Kingfisher, paperback, $19 A great non-fiction book for young children interested in the natural world, encompassing a wide range of animals from the tiniest sea creature to the biggest elephant.

It’s arranged in five sections, all with glorious colour illustrations and easy-to-follow text, fact boxes, features and internet links. Specialist vocabulary is featured and kids will enjoy the creativity challenges not often included in information books. Ages 5-plus.

In the Garden: Explore & Discover the New Zealand Backyard Gillian Candler Illustrator Ned Barraud Craig Potton Publishing, paperback $19.99 Find out about the flora and fauna that’s in a New Zealand garden. We see different areas of garden and what is found there in the day and night time. There are close-up views and lots of interesting and intriguing facts.

There are sections about bees, wasps and flies; butterflies and moths; snails and spiders; lizards, mammals and birds.

Aimed at children from preschoolers up and illustrated in painterly style.

Does My Goldfish Know Who I Am?

Gemma Elwin Harris Illustrator Andy Smith Faber and Faber, hardback $29.99 Why do cats always land on their feet?

Is silence a sound?

Do cows and sheep have accents?

Three-hundredplus questions from primary school children with answers from experts in their field such as Bear Grylls, David Attenborough, Paul McCartney and Tony Robinson. There are quizzes and favourite facts’ sections, brief biographies of the experts and an index. An entertaining and informative read. Also in paperback titled Why Can’t I Tickle Myself?

See penguins up close in their burrows during the day … and arriving onshore at night.

Open Daily 10am until 1 hour after dusk (We are also open Christmas, ANZAC and Good Friday night for evening viewings)

Birthday themes for older kids choose which challenge they sign up for. and marbles. Each child has to use only their Birthday themes for little feet to retrieve as many marbles as they can 6 The winners are those over the finish line kids are easy – pirates, super in 60 seconds. first. heroes, fairies and princesses.

Master Chef The Amazing Race This one is a little tougher to pull off, But what about older kids?

Capture the adventure of a whirlwind around- especially with just a single home kitchen. the-world race with an Amazing RaceWe’ve got a few party ideas For the sake of space, limit the party to about themed party. This will be a very active and eight kids, split into teams of two, ready for for them based on popular participative party, where everybody gets a the cook-off! shot at the title. This party takes quite a bit of television shows: 1 Upon arrival, greet you little master chefs

Fear Factor

Find out who the ultimate Fear Factor champion is at your child’s adventure-themed party. Who’s willing to put it all on the line to take out the title?

Frogs’ eggs

Make up a batch of tapioca pudding with a few drops of green food dye, and give each child a spoon. The child who eats the most spoons of “frogs eggs” is the winner.

Cow part identification

You’ll be surprised at how many cow parts you can buy at the supermarket – tongue, liver, stomach. Get as many as you can and put them in individual plastic zip-lock bags. The winner is the child who correctly identifies the most cow parts.

Iced marbles

Fill a child’s paddling pool with cold water, ice,

organising, but is sure to be a hit with slightly older kids.

1 Workout your location – whether it’s your backyard or the local park. Decide where the clue points and challenges will be located and organise an adult to monitor each one.

2 Print out your clues in Amazing Race style, and pair the kids up into teams of two with matching bandanas.

3 Give the kids the first clue, and send them on their way.

4 Some cool challenges (road blocks) can be: an egg-and-spoon circuit; polystyrene cups full of lollies or jelly set out on a table, with a special marking on the inside to match the child’s clue. The child then must eat everything in that cup to progress. Use local landmarks for challenges – like counting the number of bricks on the first line of your patio. Assemble a puzzle.

Include a quick-fire geography quiz.

5 Don’t forget detours, when kids get to

with their own apron and chef hat. Have coloured fabric pens on hand for decorating and autographs.

2 Make a small recipe handbook for the participants, so that they can choose which recipe they want to make, and take the recipes home with them afterwards.

3 Alternatively, for a simpler party, try the mystery box challenge. Put together boxes with mystery ingredients and let the kids’ creativity loose. Great things to include are mini meringues, chocolate mousse, sponge cake, different flavours of ice cream, banana, crushed nuts, cream, cherries, mint, berries, and of course, chocolate. Set a time limit – i.e.

20 minutes – and the best creation wins.

Remember, presentation is key!

4 Another great Master Chef challenge is cupcakes – you can either pre-bake the cup cakes and have decoration as the whole challenge, or start from scratch and have the kids bake the cup cakes. Bon appetite!

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4 Party packages to choose from to suit any budget Hosted Party - Your choice of sports/activities $10 per child (min 8 children, 60 mins) Bouncy Castle Party - Your choice of castle from $150 Bike Course - Obstacle course for bikes/scooters From $15 + $2.50 per child Host Your Own - From $2.50 per child for 1 hour court hire

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17

market place

Popular family walk to Tunnel Beach T

he “scary” tunnel portal to a beautiful little Otago beach is a highlight of this short coastal walk (one hour return, 2km) and one of Dunedin’s most popular tracks for families.

On the way to Tunnel Beach you get great views of the battered Dunedin coastline and its spectacular eroding sandstone cliffs.

From the start of the track, you can see a massive sea arch formed in a headland that juts from the coast. One day this will collapse and leave a tower of rock (stack). Stacks that used to be part of the coastline now stand offshore. Salt -tolerant plants such as glasswort grow on the headland.

From the car park, it’s a steady downhill walk to the tunnel which was dug by John Cargill, the son of one of Dunedin’s co-founders, Captain William Cargill, who farmed in the

area. He built the tunnel in the 1870s to give his family exclusive access to their own private beach. The beach is ideal for picnicking, especially at low tide when rocks are exposed, but is not recommended for swimming.

The tunnel has 72 concrete steps and is dimly lit with natural light. Take a torch and be careful as it drops steeply. You emerge to a surging bay with boulders and shallow caves that are worth exploring. Look for fossils and shell fragments in the sandstone surrounding the beach.

The 150m uphill climb back to the car park is a bit of a grind but benches are provided for breaks to admire the view and take photos of the carved coastline of arches, sea stacks and sandstone cliffs.

Take care not to walk too close to cliff edges as they are soft and slabs can break off without warning. The walk crosses private

Tunnel Beach headland. Photo: J Barkla.

Chef

Parenting

Free relationship and parenting counselling services At the Kowhai Centre, our second-year counselling degree students are supported by lecturers and experienced counsellors to provide you with a free service which is professional, respectful and accessible.

Family challenges > Relationships Parenting > Grief and loss > Stress Self-esteem > Family challenges Planning and goal setting > Life changes Phone 03 479 6198 (please leave a message) Email Kowhai.Centre@op.ac.nz

www.op.ac.nz/ kowhai-centre 18

www.familytimes.co.nz

land so keep to the gravelled track and don’t disturb stock. Dogs are allowed on a lead.

the end of Tunnel Beach Road.

For more information visit www.doc.govt.nz.

From Dunedin, follow State Highway 1 to Green Island, then take Brighton Road to just before Waldronville and turn onto Blackhead Road. It’s about 3km to Tunnel Beach Road, right off Blackhead Road. The car park is at

Check out our travel section at www. familytimes.co.nz for more great destination ideas, as well as essential family air travel tips - www.familytimes.co.nz/ top-tips-air-travel-kids/#.Ux1reYVTEUY – and more!

How to get there:

Breakfast is sustaining and important “We are what we eat,” and children who consume a balanced and sustaining breakfast that maintains normal blood sugar levels are likely to have a more successful day.

Consumption of carbohydrate provides glucose for the body to convert into energy.

Carbohydrates can be measured by how quickly the energy is absorbed into the body: white sugar (glucose) is quickly absorbed providing a fast glycemic response. Oats (complex carbohydrate) are slowly absorbed providing a medium to low glycemic response.

Over consumption of carbohydrates causes high blood sugar levels with the excess energy stored as fat and a long term pattern that may lead to type 2 diabetes.

We all need carbohydrates and we need to stay aware of fast and slow glycemic response to maintain even blood sugar levels through the day.

• Eat more whole grains, porridge oats, low sugar muesli, eggs with wholemeal toast.

• Drink water to help obtain the benefits of a diet higher in fibre (wholegrains).

• Stay active – 20 minutes of exercise.

• Maintain regular meals including sustaining carbohydrates such as oats, barley, brown rice, pasta and wholemeal bread.

Here is a recipe for a smoothie this is easy to make. The oats provide a source of slow release energy - a perfect breakfast for children and teens.

www.familytimes.co.nz

19

Daddy says I’m still beautiful.

Make sure you have working smoke alarms.

Before it’s too late.

Smoke alarms save lives. fire.org.nz The New Zealand Fire Service recommends long-life photoelectric smoke alarms.

20

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