Family Times Autumn 2020

We’ve Got Parenting Covered

Autumn Issue 2020

FREE! =take me home

Mr Wonky Donkey Craig Smith In the spotlight

Girl Guiding

Be your LIFE'S GUIDE

GREAT OPTIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

Education

FIND A FRIEND at

Willowbank

From Monday 6 to Sunday 26 April, upload a photo of your new-found animal friend on facebook or instagram and add the hashtag #foundafriendatwillowbank to WIN! Terms & conditions apply.

See www.willowbank.co.nz for details.

QUAIL ISLAND

EASTER

EGG HUNT Take the family or gather up some friends this Easter for a fun-filled day on Quail Island. Search the island for coloured tokens and exchange for scrumptious Easter eggs*.

On your journey you may also discover ship wrecks, native birds, volcanic cliffs and caves!

5 MOST LIKED PHOTOS WIN A PRIZE! WHERE

Quail Island, 15 minutes from Lyttelton

WHEN

Friday April 10 – Monday April 13

TIME

Lyttelton to Quail Island 10.30am – 1pm, 11.30am – 2pm 12.30 – 3pm HUNT FOR THE

GOLDEN EGG

TO WIN A GIANT

EASTER EGG!

kids

$ 15 (5-15 YEARS) adults

*Maximum of 3 Easter eggs per person applies

Don’t miss out!

Book online toDay www.blackcat.co.nz or call 0800 436 574 2

Autumn / 2020

$30

CRUISES LYTTELTON & AKAROA

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome

Time, it’s all relative, right?

One person’s version of time could be completely different from another’s. For someone waiting for a loved one to return – time drags, but for another who’s working to a deadline – time disappears.

This year I’ve been working on my use of the word ‘busy’. I just don’t like the word; I don’t like what it connotes; I don’t want to be it, and I don’t want people thinking that I am.

So, I guess, I’m looking for a happy medium with my relationship with ‘time’: one that I can enjoy, or endure in certain circumstances for that matter, in equal measures.

Chatting with Craig Smith (page 46) brought back a heap of memories, as I remember interviewing him ten years ago about his little-known book The Wonky Donkey. (The interview is still on YouTube for your viewing pleasure.) What struck me was his top parenting tip: “find more time”.

I haven’t stopped thinking of these three little words. It’s a bit easier for me, as we’ve chosen to have only one child, but many of you will think it’s impossible because your days are incredibly full as it is.

In spring through to autumn, my time is very restricted, for I not only edit this wonderful magazine, but I’m also a marriage celebrant. My husband is my absolute backbone during these times,

and assumes one hundred per cent responsibility of our family and household, without being given a list. I know, lucky, aren’t I? It’s just how our family works. But of course, I always think I’m missing out on fun family times. But, taking a step back and looking at it from the outside, through my working on Saturdays, it’s actually a beautiful bonding time for the two of them.

I know some of you will relate, as you, too, will have to work on the weekends, and during times when family and friends generally catch up, so it’s taking ‘time’ in other ways that will see your relationship grow with your child.

For me, it’s helping out on school trips and in my son’s class when I can, which means I would have to get up before 5am to get ahead on work for the day. It’s the daily ritual of getting a drink or an ice-block as soon as we get home from the school pick-up, heading straight out to the swing-seat to relax and talk about our day, or it’s “chat time, mum” during my son’s bath time.

It’s these little moments that really build on my relationship with my son; moments I love and will truly value for years to come.

Kineta

Kineta Booker / Editor kineta@27publishers.co.nz

@familytimesnewzealand

Unlimited rides for a year

great value

Autumn / 2020

3

Contents FEATURES 6 6

What makes a great family?

Grandparents raising grandchildren

11​ Healthy homes

37 43 46

12​ Fertility options for same-sex couples 13 14 17 18 20 21 21 22 28 29 30 31 34 35

Duxton Dental: teeth and tech Caring for your baby with Down Syndrome Dyslexia explained

Nathan Wallis: love bombs

Boosting children’s confidence

15 15 16

Food: bolognese four ways

In the spotlight: Craig Smith Raising curious learners at Bottle Lake Preschool

Fostering growth at Kindercare Play together at Playcentre

Tutoring: want to learn English?

33

Tough love

32

Get Crafty: hidden surprises

33

Professional after-school care

Girl Guides: a new way for girls to explore 38 Creative Arts: Chisnallwood Music Programme 39 39

REGULARS 3​

Welcome Note

5​

Help is at hand

8​

Books and Beats

10​

We love...

24​

What’s On Christchurch

26

What’s On Dunedin

Exploring robotics

40​

Fun Zone

STEAM at Selwyn House

42

Giveaways

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

44

Christchurch Marketplace

TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

How low is too low?

Bully prevention for all ages

The Portage: It’s all about the getaway

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

32

Kids spaces

14

Science is everywhere!

New tech career

Pregnant? Why not try osteopathy?

Positive sleep tips for bedtime anxiety Sleep safe, my baby

PLUS, make sure you LIKE our Facebook page

to stay up-to-date with happenings and advice, and for plenty of chances to WIN! familytimesnewzealand

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

4

Autumn / 2020

CONTENTS

familytimes.co.nz is delighted to be a long-term sponsor of The Canterbury Special Children’s Christmas Party, an event that has been giving underprivileged and special needs children the opportunity to celebrate Christmas.

PUBLISHER Twenty Seven Publishers Ltd Lisa Phelan lisa@27publishers.co.nz 021 782 228 EDITOR Kineta Booker kineta@27publishers.co.nz SUBEDITOR Kathy Catton kathy@27publishers.co.nz DESIGN & PRODUCTION Rachel Brodrick designer@27publishers.co.nz ADVERTISING Caroline Martin caroline@27publishers.co.nz 029 121 1115

GENERAL ENQUIRIES hello@27publishers.co.nz CONTRIBUTORS Alix Ramousse, Austen Booker, Carla McNeil, Claire Gullidge, Craig Fortune, Craig Smith, Crissi Blair, Emma Taurua, Grahame Dutton, Hannah Molloy, Helen Hodgkinson, Ivan Leary, Jaimie Bloch, Jennifer Shepherd, Judith Bell, Kate Barber, Kelly Eden, Dr Kirsten Wooff, Lauren Saker, Margret Free, Nathan Wallis, Paul Naidu, Rachel Cone, Dr Sarah Wakeman, Suzy Cato, Therese Pieterse, Vicki Edwards-Brown PRINT Blueprint, Christchurch

Family Times is published quarterly and is a registered trademark. While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter contained herein. The reader of this publication assumes all responsibility for the use of these materials and information. Any perceived slight of any person or organisation is completely unintentional. Family Times asserts copyright on all material published within Family Times and none of it shall be reproduced, wholly or in part, without the prior written consent of this publisher. Family Times reserves the right to edit or abridge all letters or other material, whether solicited or otherwise, prior to publication.

familytimesnewzealand

@familytimesnewzealand

Help is at hand Sometimes you need some information or an answer to a curly question – all you need to do is pick up the phone and ask for help.

After Hours Counselling Services Providing counselling and relationship services.

027 694 5275 afterhours-counselling services.co.nz

Canterbury Speakeasy A stuttering support group who meets at the University Speech Disorders Unit every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren We are a charitable trust supporting grandparents and whanau kin carers who have children in their full time care.

0800 GRANDS (0800 472 637) grg.org.nz

Christchurch Resettlement Services Free social services for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Interpreters are provided.

03 349 7171

03 335 0311 | crs.org.nz

SIDS and Kids

Parent Helpline

Dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children; and supporting bereaved families.

0800 164 455 sidsandkids.org.nz

For all parenting issues, from those everyday situations to the most serious issue of child abuse.

0800 568 856 parenthelp.org.nz

ISSN NO. 2324-450X

Autumn / 2020

5

POSITIVE PARENTING

Grandparents or foster parents, tiny one-parent families or huge extended families — it doesn’t matter what your family looks like.

What counts is the culture you create, writes KELLY EDEN.

T

What makes a great family?

he way you respect, love, and care for each other can be displayed in many ways, such as showing kindness or encouraging each other’s strengths. Here are three ideas for creating a positive family culture.

1. RESPONDING TO BIDS

Frequently responding to each other’s emotional bids is vital for building a strong family.

Emotional bids are little moments where we try to connect with each other. They are the moments when you point to something funny, or your child says, “Look at this!”; when you lean in for a cuddle or smile at your loved one.

Those moments of connection are essential for healthy relationships. When we respond to them — smile back, accept the hug, laugh at the joke they shared — we’re saying, “You’re important to me. I like being with you. I care about what you care about.”

Great families make the most of the little moments.

GRANDPARENTS raising grandchildren 6

Autumn / 2020

2. CELEBRATING WELL

How we celebrate has been shown in psychology studies to make a significant impact on relationships.

Imagine your teenage child arrives home from school and tells you he or she did well on their assignment. You can choose to respond to this good news in four ways: + “Well done, that’s great!” This response is fine, but it has no impact on your relationship.

It doesn’t make it any better or worse. + “Oh, that’s nice, can you bring in the washing please?” Family life is busy and sometimes that means we’re distracted. Unfortunately, if we give too many distracted responses like this, our relationships start to suffer. + “That’s a surprise! I didn’t think you’d worked hard enough to get a good mark.” Obviously, this type of response is going to impact negatively on your relationship. Criticism is always unhelpful in communication. + “Wow! I knew you could do it. Let’s celebrate.

Did they write any comments?” Getting your

loved one to give you details about their success helps them enjoy it more. Celebrating with a nice dinner or by doing something together reinforces that you value them. It has a massive impact on your relationship.

Great families celebrate each other and lift each other up.

3. TOUCH

The importance of touch is often underestimated.

Children especially need healthy touch to develop well. Touch helps us develop a strong sense of love, attachment and connection.

It’s easy to become very independent in our society, doing our own thing off in different spaces. Even ten minutes a day of focused time and loving touch can make a big difference to family life. Family members will be calmer and feel more secure, bonded, and connected to each other when there are moments of physical touch.

Great families create a culture where everyone feels loved, heard, and valued. Whatever your family looks like, how you treat each other is what matters the most.

Are you a grandparent raising your grandchild full-time or a whānau caregiver raising someone else’s child? You are not alone. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust New Zealand supports over 5,200 families nationwide. Membership is free, and you can access a wide range of services. These services include our free helpline, access to direct support, information, advice, and advocacy help from our team of experienced advocates, and our bi-monthly newsletter. We also provide trauma-informed care workshops, uniquely designed for the grandparent or whanau-caregiver.

0800 GRANDS (0800 472 637) / grg.org.nz

Be a Rangi Girl For a Day Experience Rangi Ruru day for current Year 6 & 7 students

We are warmly inviting current Year 6 & 7 girls and families, to experience Rangi Ruru for a day. Students will be given the opportunity to spend a day in our current Year 7 classes, experiencing the unique learning environment, specialists academic staff and world class facilities.

Families will also be invited to share afternoon tea with our staff and other families after the school day has finished.

Wednesday 17 June 8.30am – 3.00pm (students) 3.00pm – 3.30pm (students and parents)

Rangi. Be you. Belong.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact enrolments@rangiruru.school.nz or call 03 983 3726 Autumn / 2020

7

BOOKS AND BEATS

Books

Books, books, wonderful books!

CRISSI BLAIR picks out the best pages for all ages.

SUZY CATO from Kiwi Kids Music

Here in the Real World

By Sara Pennypacker

Kath Bee’s Single and Tees

By Clotilde Perrin

HarperCollins $16.99

EP

This large-scale treasure reveals a strange house full of surprises, from the hallway to the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom and everywhere in between. Who lives here?

A peculiar bird creature… an ogre… a witch?

Open the windows, look into the pop-ups and see what is hiding in the cupboards, lurking in the drawers. The illustrations are dark and atmospheric with hidden surprises and so much to see on every page.

Ware (11) looks forward to his holidays until his busy parents sign him up for a holiday camp. He hates it and hides, discovering a wrecked church and a new friend – Jolene, a tough cookie who is building a garden in the wreckage. These two misfits work to build their dream, though it seems always under threat. A tale of self-discovery, endeavour and friendship.

Suitable for ages 9-12

Suitable for ages 6-10

The First Doolally Daft Blinkin’ Bonkers Book

Te Haerenga (The Journey)

By Ainsley Waite

By Sharon Holt

EduMaxi $24.99 Travel to special parts of New Zealand with a cute kiwi backpacker, and find out what there is to see, including Waitomo with its glow worms, Taihape’s giant gumboot, Hokitika has beautiful pounamu, and finally, our kiwi goes home to Otorohanga Kiwi House. Learn some reo and how to pronounce the place names correctly.

The story is set to music (included on CD) with an English translation and useful teaching notes.

Part of a great series and a fun way to learn te reo.

Upstart Press $16.99 This is a collection of jokes, many of which will be well known to adults, but with some newbies too, and all will bring many laughs to young readers. It pops with glossy colour and creative lettering, the font often reflecting the meaning of the word. Each joke occupies a whole spread with an occasional drawing added. Guess the drawing for this joke: Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill?

To get to the bottom!

Suitable for ages 4-8

Suitable for ages 3-10

TOP PICK

Wheels

By Sally Sutton Illus. Brian Lovelock

Walker Books $27.99 A rhyming celebration of all things wheels with a chorus begging to be joined in on by young readers. Start with the tyre-print end-papers and finish with the parts of a wheel, and in between join a family as they identify the different vehicles in their neighbourhood, like the school bus, a motorbike, and the rubbish truck, until finally, we see the kids on their own wheels – a scooter and bikes. The illustrations have all the right vehicular details and lots of momentum.

Suitable for ages 2-7

Win! Autumn / 2020

By

The House of Madame M Gecko Press $38.00

8

Music for little ears

Taking the Lead: How Jacinda Ardern Wowed the World

By David Hill Illus. Phoebe Morris

Penguin Random House $25.00 Hardback Read about the young girl who grew up to become our Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern.

Even when she was young, she wanted to help people. She was a hard worker and never let obstacles get in her way. Find out about her rise in the Labour Party, her family, and the important things she has done since becoming Prime Minister.

Suitable for ages 4-10

kathbee.nz Kath Bee believes children have the power to achieve anything they want to and that’s the message in her song, Magic in Me, sung by 9-year-old Mika Elley. Music video out now!

Chris Sanders EP angelstar.co.nz Chris Sanders shares his songs from the musical stage show Who Wants to be a Superhero; designed to educate and inspire Kiwi kids to find the hero inside, should an emergency happen.

Music with Michal Book & Song musicwithmichal.com Seagull Song by Music with Michal is a favourite among children (and parents!) and is now available as a book with hilarious illustrations by Andy Knopp.

Stretch your wings, warm up your vocal cords, and get ready to sing along.

Loopy Tunes Book & Song loopytunespreschool music.com Loopy Tunes Preschool Music have released their second bilingual children’s book, Te Waiata Koa/The Happy Song, based on one of their original tunes. This song is used in their weekly sing-a-long mat time sessions, in Christchurch.

Kiwi Kids Music Spotify Kiwi Kids Music has curated a number of fabulous Playlists for you and your little one. Head to Spotify to find Playlists jam-packed full of aroha and fun and loads of simple superb songs by your favourite Kiwi artists. Mat Time is just one of them. kiwikidsmusic.co.nz

We have ONE copy each of The House of Madame M, The First Doo-lally Daft Blinkin’ Bonkers Book and Taking the Lead to giveaway. As well as TWO Kath Bee’s Single and Tees T-shirt packages, TWO x EP-downloads of Who Wants to be a Superhero, ONE copy of Seagull Song book and TWO copies of Te Waiata Koa/The Happy Song. To enter, visit familytimes.co.nz

Your child may see well – we assess HOW they see ®

®

®

®

Showbiz Christchurch PRESENTS

THE

SEASON OF

Lerner and Loewe's

WRITTEN BY DAN BAIN

A musical to delight the whole family When pompous professor Henry Higgins bets a friend he can transform Cockney flower seller Eliza Doolittle into a proper English society lady, sparks fly.

Family Group Packages available

$10 PER

TICKET

APRIL

But who really will be transforming whom? at the

For more info showbiz.org.nz/mfl

BOOK NOW:

15-25

0800 842 538

Isaac Theatre Royal

3-18 April

BOOK NOW AT COURTTHEATRE.ORG.NZ PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

SEASON SPONSOR

CORE FUNDER

SHOW SPONSOR

SUPPORTED BY

ticketek.co.nz/showbiz Autumn / 2020

9

WE LOVE...

Things we’re

buzzing about There’s nothing but fruit in here

For 33 years, Annies have been keeping kiwi kids fueled. This month the company launches its natural new look and Fruit Jerky, Fruit Strips and Fruit Flats. They’re vegan, allergy-friendly and made with nothing but fruit! annies.co.nz

Zealandia’s top fossil Canterbury Museum has created a cool set of collectable cards to go with its exhibition Squawkzilla and the Giants. Visit the exhibition and complete an activity sheet to earn a pack.

There are 31 cards to collect, each featuring a different animal from ancient New Zealand. canterburymuseum.com

Denim & Diamonds Mufti-Day Dig out your denim, put on some sparkle and get your school involved with the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre Mufti-Day. Talk to Tanya for more information 03 329 9832 or check out our website

MATARIKI GLOW-SHOW

littlegems.org.nz

Wowing tamariki nationwide, this giant scale glow-in-the-dark puppet extravaganza is back with an ALL-NEW MATARIKI 2020 SHOW! Join us for a journey across the Pacific Ocean with the Matariki wishing star, Hiwa-i-te-rangi. Touring nationwide May to July, including school holidays. glowshow.co.nz

Stay and play getaway

The Portage, a THC Group hotel, offers one of the best outdoor settings in New Zealand, whether it be for hiking, biking or kayaking with wildlife in abundance. PLUS the hotel is in the sunniest region of New Zealand! Partnering with Sea Kayak Adventures, the staff at the hotel can’t wait to welcome you during your next stay at The Portage. nzseakayaking.co.nz

Denim & Diamonds Mufti-Day, Northlands always has cool, free fun activities during the school holidays that are worth checking out. These holidays are 2020 no exception, 28th May Northlands events

with games, puzzles and giveaways to keep minds busy. To keep up to Dig out your denim, put on some sparkle and date on what’s on, check out the eventsget page online. involved with the Cholmondeley Children’s northlands.co.nz

10 Autumn / 2020

Centre ‘Denim & Diamonds’ Mufti-Day.

Cholmondeley believes there is a diamond within all of us. So, please help us to bring out the inner sparkle in every precious Canterbury child – our Little Gems.

LIVING WELL

Healthy homes As we move towards autumn, many of us are starting to think about home heating.

RACHAEL CONE , Director of Total Realty, discusses the changes to the Healthy Homes Standards that are affecting landlords and tenants alike.

T

he Healthy Homes Standards, first and foremost, will make it easier for tenants to keep their homes warm and dry.

The government estimated that about 200,000 families were living in rental homes that did not have ceiling or underfloor insulation. Research has shown a link between cold, damp and mouldy homes and poor health outcomes, including increased risk for asthma and respiratory infections. From 1 July 2019, it became compulsory to have ceiling and underfloor insulation in all rental homes, where it was reasonably practicable to install.

Additionally, landlords must now sign a statement that they intend to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards in any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement.

Landlords will have until 1 July 2021, to ensure their rental properties comply with the standards, which cover heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage. For more info on each standard visit tenancy.govt.nz or hud.govt.nz.

The public response to the standards has been mixed. Some feel it is a positive move that will be beneficial for the wellbeing of all tenants and particularly young and vulnerable children, while others argue that the extra cost involved may flow on to the tenant with some estimating rents to rise. Others believe that investors will look to off-load their rental properties rather than spend the money needed to comply with the standards. To date, we have not seen many investors exiting the market, except for a few before the 2019 insulation requirements. Interestingly, for 2020 we are

actually seeing a significant increase in the number of investors purchasing property in the South Island.

At Total Realty, we are reminding our buyers who are set to become landlords to make sure they are up to date with the changes that are coming and particularly when they are buying a rental property. It’s vital to look for what has already been done and what will still need to be improved to comply with the standards.

It is also very worthwhile noting that homeowners themselves are being offered assistance with the cost of home heating, insulation and ventilation products and installation. They may be eligible to have up to $6,000 (including GST) applied to their rates, making it more affordable to look after the health and wellbeing of their family while also making a wise investment into their home. The full amount plus interest will be paid back via their rates bills over nine years. For more info visit ecan.govt.nz.

Whether you are a tenant, landlord, or living in your own home, it is crucial to keep up to date with these changes and knowledgeable of what assistance is available to you.

Keep warm as we head into our colder months and don’t forget with Total Realty’s fairer commission rate you will be able to hold onto your hard-earned money – spending it on what matters most to you and your family. totalrealty.co.nz

*

totalrealty.co.nz

Autumn / 2020

11

BUMP TO BUNDLE

FERTILITY OPTIONS FOR

same−sex couples

talks with DR SARAH WAKEMAN about options for Kiwi same-sex couples wanting to start a family.

KELLY EDEN

If you’re a same-sex couple starting to think about having a family, there are a few options available in New Zealand. Adoption is rare, so the best chance of having a child may be sperm or egg donation, but couples need to plan ahead.

“There is around a two-year waiting list for sperm donation from a clinic donor and even with a known donor the wait time is around six months,” says Dr Sarah Wakeman.

Whether a friend is donating or a clinic donor, the process for sperm donation in New Zealand is thorough. The donor has blood tests for infectious diseases, a medical appointment, and counselling before they are approved. The sperm also needs to be frozen and quarantined for testing. This takes between 4-6 months.

Currently, there are not enough donors to meet the need, which makes planning even more necessary.

Before you look for a sperm donor, it’s essential to understand the law around sperm donation in New Zealand.

“According to the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, donors have to be identifiable,” says Dr Wakeman. “The child can access the sperm donor’s information at some point if they choose to. It’s not anonymous.”

Sperm donors are not legal parents — they don’t have any responsibility financially or otherwise for the child — but the child can find out who they are.

If you’re a woman waiting for sperm donation, there are things you can do to increase your fertility. When you stop smoking, reduce alcohol, ensure your weight is at a healthy level, eat well and exercise, you increase your chances of having a successful pregnancy. It’s also recommended that women take folic acid and iodine one month before insemination.

You can choose to use a donation from someone you know or a clinic donor. With a clinic donor, you are provided with some basic non-identifiable information to help you make a selection, for example, age, appearance such as skin and hair colour, job, interests, personality, racial background, health information, and what they are good at.

Even if you are over forty, where the chance of getting pregnant is lowered, there is a possibility of both sperm and egg donation.

However, both sperm and egg donation are limited in New Zealand.

“There’s always a shortage of egg donors,” says Dr Wakeman.

Dr Wakeman says all couples, as well as single women, are welcome to come and discuss fertility options with the team at Fertility Associates. fertilityassociates.co.nz

Over 20,000 babies have been born with our help – so if you’ve been trying and have questions or concerns about your fertility, talk to one of our all-women team of specialist fertility trained doctors.

Book your free nurse phone consultation at 0800 255 522 or fertilityassociates.co.nz

12 Autumn / 2020

POSITIVE PARENTING

Teeth and TECH GRAHAME DUTTON,

from Duxton Dental, takes a look at some of the advances in dental care over the last 20 years.

A

t Duxton Dental we have been looking after children’s, teens’ and adults’ teeth for more than twenty years, in fact, I’m off to my thirty-year reunion in Dunedin in a couple of months.

We have invested heavily over that time in education and technology, to allow us to best care for our dental community.

We have utilised digital X-rays and jaw scans, sandblasters for micro-abrasion and fillings, as well as electronic injections using the revolutionary ‘Wand’ with singletooth numbing. We have complemented our clinical work with ozone to kill decay, Carifree anti-decay mouthwashes, BLIS probiotics for gum disease, bad breath and decay in children’s teeth. Lasers are routinely used for decay detection and the treatment of soft tissue issues.

More recently our advances have been in 3D-printing and uber-accurate dental scanners which have allowed us to expand from standard metal braces to Invisalign invisible braces for arch development and tooth movement in children and teens.

We are excited to now offer Dental Monitoring — an app you use on your smartphone to follow your progress during orthodontic treatment.

The software, which uses AI (artificial intelligence), allows you to scan your mouth at home to determine what has changed since your last scan. This helps significantly in checking that your treatment is tracking correctly, by picking up immediately if there is a problem or whether you are ready to go onto the next step. It also checks one hundred other parameters such as cleaning, broken teeth and disease processes.

One of the great things is that we can monitor progress from a distance. This is fantastic as a number of our patients are from out of town, and the app can reduce the number of visits to Duxton Dental, as we track you remotely.

So, if you want to come and see our latest technological addition, make an appointment for a free orthodontic consultation — we recommend a first assessment as early as 7-8 years old.

03 348 5488 / duxtondental.co.nz

FREE ORTHODONTIC CONSULT COME SEE US SO WE CAN START DEVELOPING YOUR CHILD'S BEAUTIFUL SMILE

“The aligners are wonderful and have helped me so much.

I wonder what I would have looked like in the future if I hadn’t had them.

Everyone at Duxton Dental is so friendly and it’s a fun place to visit.”

Orthodontic treatment is performed by Grahame Dutton who is a General Dentist with a special interest in Orthodontics.

Autumn / 2020

13

TEN TINY TOES

explores some of the issues faced by parents and what support and resources are available for parents of babies with Down Syndrome.

KELLY EDEN

CARING FOR YOUR BABY WITH

I

Down Syndrome

n New Zealand every week one or more babies are born with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is a lifelong condition that causes delays in learning and development. If your baby has Down Syndrome, learning how to care for your child may take a bit of extra effort, but there’s no need to learn alone.

but remember they often take a deficit model — looking at what might possibly go wrong for your child. That’s one reason why gathering a community around you is essential. Meeting children and families who are doing well will give you a more balanced view of life with Down Syndrome.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Children with Down Syndrome often have several physical challenges. One of these is learning to use and coordinate the mouth, tongue, and vocal cords. Speech, chewing, feeding, and swallowing can be taught with the help of a speech therapist. For under-twos, the Ministry of Health provides speech therapy through their Early Intervention Team. Once children are at school, there is also funding for speech therapy through the Ministry. For some children between two and five, parents will need to apply for private speech funding. Upside Downs Education Trust is Auckland-based but provides speech funding for families in every region.

The Champion Centre in Christchurch is another early intervention service your doctor can refer your baby or preschool child to. Up north, the Wellington Early Intervention Trust (WEIT) provide music therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and early intervention services for preschool children with special needs.

Medical professionals are there to help with physical and related health issues for your baby

14 Autumn / 2020

It is not only important for you as a parent to seek out a supportive community, but your child will benefit long-term. Children with Down Syndrome can have trouble making and maintaining friendships beyond the primary school years, and a solid support group will provide them with long-term connections.

A Down Syndrome group also provides much needed emotional support for you as a parent.

Many parents feel guilty about being sad that their child has Down Syndrome. It’s healthy and understandable to grieve when you discover your child has special needs. The future may be different than you imagined or hoped for, and it’s okay to express the complex emotions around that.

Your beautiful baby will have their own personality, specific needs, and temperament.

These are not universal for children with Down Syndrome. Every baby is unique. The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association can also provide support as you learn about your little one. nzdsa.org.nz

The Christchurch Special Needs Library provides a valuable and unique service to the community by lending learning, recreational and therapeutic items.

The library has excellent resources for children and adults, available for monthly hire, plus an annual fee.

“We have over 4,000 items and are constantly updating our range available for hire,” said liaison Chris Murray. “The resources are used to stimulate, educate and develop clients to their full potential.”

Opening hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-4.30pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.

The library is happy to provide interesting, informative speakers for groups and professionals.

For more information on this service, please phone Charlotte Ganderton at the library on 03 332 0731. specialneedslibrary.co.nz

LITTLE WONDERS

EARLY

Childhood Education

When it comes to Early Childhood Education, it's not one size fits all for every family. You may want to attend with your child, or perhaps you're a working parent so having a professional educator to care for your child is what suits your family dynamic the best. Here are three of our favourite options for under fives.

BOTTLE LAKE PRESCHOOL

Kindercare

Supporting families to raise curious and engaged learners is the ethos at Bottle Lake Preschool.

Fostering children’s growth and development is what Kindercare does best.

I

n the early years, young children develop many skills and habits that prepare them for school. Two of these essential habits are curiosity and engagement.

Children who are curious about the world are on the right path for school. Curious learners ask questions, explore, experiment, and try to understand the world. It’s also vital for children to engage in play actively. Play is the way young children learn about the world, themselves, and how to work with others. They are learning rapidly and plenty of time and opportunities to play — alone and with others — is what they need.

Karen and her staff at Bottle Lake Preschool understand the importance of play and experience for children’s learning. The teachers facilitate experiences where children can show curiosity and take charge of their own learning. They believe in allowing children to be leaders in their play. When children are allowed to show leadership, they feel empowered and are more likely to get involved and stay focused.

“Children are the reason we are all teachers,” says Karen. “It is an honour to be part of the children’s lives while they are at Bottle Lake.”

ABOUT BOTTLE LAKE PRESCHOOL

C

hildren’s growth and development is best nurtured through loving relationships and in an environment where they feel safe, secure, valued, happy, and like they belong – then learning happens naturally. When our children are free to play and explore, alongside responsive, caring adults, we’re supporting and encouraging the development of their social and emotional skills.

Since 1972, the Kindercare team have been fostering strong, trusted partnerships with families, because we believe this is key to providing our children with the best early care and learning. We want to get to know your child and what makes them unique. Their personality, their interests, and how they respond to the world is crucial to us because when children feel seen, respected, and loved, they can reach their full potential.

Spending the day with your little one is a privilege. We love seeing how much they change and grow through their preschool years. It’s an extraordinary time to be part of. Each day is another opportunity for fun, discoveries, and sharing the celebration of their incredible milestones with our families.

Bottle Lake Preschool is a large, privately-owned early childhood centre in Parklands. The well-equipped centre — consisting of a nursery, preschool, and kindergarten— has three playgrounds and extensive resources so that children from baby to school-age can learn and explore at their own pace.

At Kindercare, we believe children matter. The early years set children up for life. That’s why our teachers are committed to building secure, loving attachments and providing exceptional care and learning experiences for each child entrusted to our Kindercare family.

03 387 0684 / kidsandco.nz/preschools/bottle-lake/

kindercare.co.nz

Autumn / 2020

15

LITTLE WONDERS

Play together at

Playcentre

Playcentre is a parent cooperative that offers parents and caregivers the opportunity to be involved with their child’s learning.

A

t Playcentre, adults play alongside their children.

A child-centred programme based on your child’s fascinations, strengths, and interests allows you to encourage children as they interact with others. You will meet other parents and educators and become part of a fun, vibrant village where community and a sense of belonging are at the heart of everything we do.

AND GOOD FOR YOU…

Mums, dads, and all whānau, including grandparents, aunties and uncles, and other caregivers are welcome to attend Playcentre with the children.

+ A free education programme to develop parenting skills and understand how children learn and develop.

GOOD FOR YOUR CHILD:

+ Opportunities to take on new responsibilities and learn new skills.

+ A child-centred programme based on the individual child’s fascinations, strengths and interests. + A high adult to child ratio. + A wide variety of quality play and learning resources and experiences. + Caters for age ranges from 0 – 6, so that the whole family can come to Playcentre together.

+ Support as a parent.

+ Involvement in your child’s early childhood education. + Confidence in yourself and your parenting. + Friendship with other parents and caregivers.

+ Whānau social occasions.

+ A sense of community and belonging.

As one mother says, “I played and learnt alongside my kids until they went to school. The friendships we made as a family is priceless. Playcentre was our village. I didn’t just watch them grow; I grew with them”.

+ A safe and secure environment.

Every Playcentre offers three free visits, so come along for a visit and see what we’re all about. We have over 420 centres throughout New Zealand, so there is sure to be one near you.

+ Positive and sustained interactions with other adults.

playcentre.org.nz

16 Autumn / 2020

STARTING SCHOOL

Dyslexia explained We take a closer look at what support is available for school-aged children with dyslexia from Learning Matters.

W

hile at kindy, a four-year-old drew a freehand diagram of how he wished to organise the playground. The layout was specific and to scale. His teachers, suitably impressed, were very excited for his pending entry to school. Armed with a giant smile and supportive family, his school days began. Year One ended and (not for lack of trying) he hadn’t learned to read.

This continued for the next four years. At ten years of age, he was diagnosed as a bright dyslexic.

Finally, he and his family had some insight and understanding as to why he had such great difficulty learning to read, write and spell. But, ten years old is too late. Five whole years of schooling had conditioned him to believe he was dumb, unable to learn and that he would never learn to read.

This story is not unique by any means. With proper support, children with dyslexia can be empowered to understand how they learn best.

Dyslexia affects around 1 in 10 New Zealanders.

It is an often-misunderstood term for reading problems. The word dyslexia is made up of two different parts: dys meaning ‘not’ or ‘difficult’,

and lexia meaning ‘words’, ‘reading’, or ‘language’.

So quite literally, dyslexia means difficulty with words (Catts & Kamhi, 2005). Signs of dyslexia often show up when a child begins to learn and use written language. A child with dyslexia will have trouble learning to read, spell, and write. They may also have difficulty in other areas of language, mathematics, motor skills, concentration, and memory. It has a significant impact on a child’s schooling and self-esteem.

If your child has dyslexia, they need support from people who understand current research and evidence-based practices. At Learning Matters, our professional educators are all trained in multisensory structured literacy instruction. Learning Matters is also an accredited organisation with the New Zealand Teachers Council. We assess learners to identify their strengths and challenges. From there, an education plan is developed to support your child to maximise their learning. We work with children from age four through to adults. learningmatters.co.nz

2020 ready

20 OFF SITEWIDE! %

Use code: FAMILYTIMES20 Offer valid until 31st May, 2020.

stuckonyou.nz

Autumn / 2020

17

A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

NATHAN WALLIS

provides a ‘cheat sheet’ for connecting with your child and improving that vital attachment – with profound benefits for your relationship and for their brain.

By

KATE BARBER.

Right- brain date T

he message from the experts is consistent and clear: loving, empathic, responsive relationships grow our children’s brains. Not only will our kids trust in their connection with us and look to us for love and guidance when they need it, but they will also have more complex brains on the strength of our relationships with them.

Nathan explains that the left hemisphere of the brain is procedural, and the right is emotional. “We live in a left-brain world,” he says. This is a world dictated by daily routines and demands. “Our right brains are about the big picture, our gut feelings, our relationships,” he says. “For a child to have a sense of belonging and a strong attachment to us, it’s about connecting with their right brain.”

We know that connecting with our little ones is the key to healthy brain development. We also know that there are kids out there who’re missing out on the benefits of a secure attachment, which is contributing to higher-than-ever rates of anxiety and depression.

However, it is not always easy to find time and energy to hang out and play with our kids. Simply, to be with them.

This is where Nathan’s ‘cheat sheet’ for improving your attachment comes in.

18 Autumn / 2020

LOVE BOMBING

Psychologist Oliver James came up with the concept of ‘love bombing’ your children as a means of “resetting their emotional thermostats” and strengthening the parent-child relationship. It corresponds with Nathan’s idea of having ‘right-brain dates’ with your child or children – as an achievable way of nurturing their right (emotional) brains and, essentially, improving your relationships with them.

Love bombing involves spending 10-15 minutes each week with each of your children – just you and them. Simple. The key, says Nathan, is that it must be predictable; it occurs at the same time each week and isn’t postponed or cancelled.

Vital for calming the brain stem, “predictability goes to the heart of the human brain,” he says, “creating a condition where parents are most connected to their child’s emotional brain.” By having this special time every Thursday afternoon, for instance, you’re making this time meaningful for your child – something they can look forward to and plan for, that they enjoy and trust in.

Nathan says it’s about throwing off your parenting hat and “be[ing] the fun uncle or auntie! Stop parenting in the traditional sense of telling them what to do,” he says, “and

A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

Nathan urges parents to get their heads around the fact that, as your connection improves, your child will be less likely to have tantrums or to act out. do whatever they want to do. Of course, there are limits – like if it’s potentially dangerous or harmful. But if it’s not hurting you, then do it,” he urges. “If your kid wants you to lie back and pretend to be a baby and let them feed you,” he says, “then do it.”

But what if they want to play on their Playstation or phone?

Perhaps surprisingly, Nathan tells parents to, “Let them. Sit with them and watch, and learn about the characters and game, and don’t check your phone.”

“The point is that they’re in charge,” he stresses, adding that kids tend to request time on their Playstation or phone for the first couple of weeks, “to test you”: will they really let me do what I want to do? By the third week, he says, they’ll likely want to do something that reverses the power dynamic, like making you pretend to be a baby, he says. By the fourth week, they’ll be starting to trust in (and enjoy) this time with you and will think about what you can do together.

“Many parents think quality time is the same as teaching your child,” says Nathan. “But, if you want to strengthen your attachment, then the opposite is true.” It’s not about optimising what your child learns when you are together, he says; it’s about giving your child the reins and being fully present.

Nathan says that love bombing works well with three-year-olds and older, and is extraordinarily powerful with teenagers. Younger than three, children tend to need more grown-up input into their play options and supporting them as they play.

For parents with a young child who is having massive tantrums or who is particularly whiney or clingy, an older child who is having anger outbursts at home or school, or a teenager who’s withdrawing, Nathan’s advice is to work on your attachment.

It’s a simple message, yet for many of us, it conflicts with deeply ingrained, traditional (punitive) approaches to dealing with challenging behaviour.

As Nathan says, this “intense love period” creates a closer relationship between child and parent, and makes the child want to connect – during this time and, importantly, at other times.

Equally, he says, parents love the feeling of closeness they get, as their children start to open up about their lives. “Parents think that their kids will tell them stuff, but they won’t,” says Nathan.

“They need a safe space where they feel listened to,” he adds. When his own kids were young, Nathan allowed them to speak freely with him when he was working in the garage. While these chats lacked the element of predictability (same time each week), and his kids weren’t in charge of what went on, the arrangement offered his kids a space for being totally open and honest – outside the usual parent-child (power) dynamic.

The point is that, as kids begin to trust this special time they share with Mum or Dad each week, they start to open up more and more.

We would all agree that our kids are the most important things in our lives, but our actions don’t always reflect that, says Nathan.

So often our cell phones seem to be the most important thing. “It’s about showing our kids that they are most important, and leaving our partner to deal with distractions.”

“During this time, you’re getting into their world, and focusing on the relationship, and not on control,” says Nathan, adding that “it takes discipline” to ignore distractions and to refrain from trying to teach them anything.

In presentations across the country and overseas, neuroscience presenter Nathan Wallis provides an informative narrative on the different stages of children’s neurological development and offers valuable advice for parents and educators. facebook.com/nathanwallis

HOW IT WORKS

Nathan urges parents to get their heads around the fact that, as your connection improves, your child will be less likely to have tantrums or to act out – because they will want to connect with you.

Parenting in this busy, often stressful “left-brain world”, Nathan says “we need to target this more”. That’s because, by regularly, meaningfully connecting with our kids’ emotional brains, by giving them our undivided attention for as little as ten minutes a week, they will feel safe and secure, valued and important – with profound benefits for their developing brains and for our relationship with them.

LOVE BOMBING BASICS -

It must be predictable – at the same time each week.

-

The child is in charge: get into their world and don’t use this time to direct or correct them.

-

It takes discipline: let your partner deal with distractions and do not check your phone.

xfactoreducation

Unlocking every boy’s potential You are invited to attend the Medbury School Open Day to discover what makes a Medbury education unique.

To register online visit Enrolment at medbury.school.nz

The Open Day is on Tuesday 5 May 2020 from 9.00am to 10.45am. The Headmaster will speak at 10.15am.

Academic, Boarding and Music Scholarships are available for 2021.

OPEN DAY Autumn / 2020

19

A CLASS OF THEIR OWN

Could your child ’s confidence

DO WITH A boost this school year?

Is your child anxious about the challenges ahead in this new school year?

Building their learning confidence is the key to them succeeding.

N

umberWorks’nWords are the English and Maths tuition experts, and over the past 34 years their tuition programmes have proven to be effective, boosting student’s confidence and results. We believe it’s the personalised approach that really makes a difference.

All our new students are given a free assessment and intro lesson, where we identify their specific areas of need. We then tailor a tuition programme for each individual, set goals in consultation with parents, and provide regular feedback on progress. It’s this personalised and targeted approach that bridges the gaps and builds up student confidence and self-belief.

20 Autumn / 2020

“We cater for students of all abilities from New Entrant to Year 11 — no matter whether your child is struggling to keep up, or racing to get ahead, we can tailor a tuition programme to meet their needs. We use only qualified tutors and teach to the school curriculum,” says Ivan Leary from NumberWorks, Cashmere.

If your child is struggling, even just a little, the problem is likely to magnify as the year rolls on. For an expert opinion on how your child is doing, book a free no-obligation assessment and intro lesson at NumberWorks’nWords. numberworks.com

TWEENS AND TEENS

How low

provides us with some insights into what constitutes typical teenage ‘moodiness’ and when we need to take matters more seriously.

DR KIRSTEN WOOFF

IS TOO LOW?

P

arents often ask me, “Is my teenager just being moody, or is there something more serious happening?” Teenagers I work with also doubt their ability to differentiate between feeling really low and “being dramatic”.

Stereotypically, teenagers are well-known for their moodiness and tendency to keep their feelings private.

So how low is too low for a teenager’s mood?

Here are some signs for young people and their parents to look out for.

1. INTENSITY AND DURATION

The longer and more intense a low or irritable mood lasts for, and the less responsive a young person’s mood is to positive events, the more likely it is depression. If a young person presents as miserable or withdrawn for most days, all day and across several situations for more than two weeks, there is probably a need to seek professional help.

2. IMPACT ON DAILY LIVING

When a young person starts to struggle in areas of their life, such as schoolwork, peer friendships, family life, and leisure activities, it is likely that their mood is impacting on them significantly.

This may look like: + Withdrawal and school refusal: A teenager may withdraw from social activities and refuse to go to school more than a few times. + Lack of enjoyment and connection: You may notice that they don’t enjoy their leisure activities like they used to. You may notice that they don’t laugh or smile like before and their ‘spark’ has gone, especially when doing hobbies that they used to love. + Fatigue and lack of energy: A teenager may struggle to get out of bed, struggle to get through the day, and not feel refreshed no matter how much sleep they get. + Pessimistic views: You may hear an increase in negative views the young person has

of themselves, others, or their school and community. For example, “no one likes me”, “there’s no point”, “I can’t do anything right”.

Some young people with depression may have difficulty making decisions.

3. CONFLICT

Parenting is a tough job!

4. UNHEALTHY ATTEMPTS AT COPING

Feeling helpless and trapped? Find support and loving solutions with Toughlove New Zealand.

Although some parent-child conflict in adolescence is normal, verbal or physical aggression is not, and can be a sign that the young person is struggling with their emotions.

Another sign that a young person may need a space to talk to someone independent is if you notice an increase in risky behaviour such as trying to cope through drug or alcohol use or through self-injury.

5. SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

If a young person verbalises that they wish to end their life or, if you see signs of unhealthy attempts at coping, it is vital that they are formally assessed by a professional.* Teenagers often don’t want to (or know how to) talk to their parents, and sometimes the best they can give is a shrug. Parents who have come to see me who weren’t sure how serious their child’s mood difficulties were have found a professional opinion reassuring, or found it helpful to have guidance on how to best support their child. If your child displays some of these signs, they could benefit from having an independent space to talk and to find some strategies to help them cope with their current difficulties and enhance their future resilience. Research suggests that early intervention has a better prognosis for treatment.

If you want an extra opinion on how your teenager is doing, get in touch today.

Teenage years can be tricky. Your child may have a changed self-esteem level, he or she may seem unfocused, confused around identity, or just plain lost. Understanding what your teen is feeling or experiencing, we, as parents or caregivers, have an essential role to play when it comes to reaching out to them.

Toughlove® New Zealand is a not-forprofit organisation, offering support programmes for parents dealing with unacceptable adolescent behaviour. The organisation provides a framework for working through issues, one step at a time, with the encouragement and support of other parents who understand you. You are not alone!

We’re not about punishing kids, but about providing loving solutions that teach self-responsibility while optimising boundaries and connection.

Offering weekly structured support, parents can share stories with other parents on the same journey.

*If a young person’s safety is imminently at risk, take them to the nearest Emergency Department or call the Crisis Mental Health Team through your local District Health Board.

Our programmes have been running in Aotearoa for over three decades with groups throughout the country.

Thousands of parents and their teens have benefited from our programmes.

resiliencepsychology.co.nz

toughlove.co.nz

Autumn / 2020

21

TUTORING

Happy learners at English Language Partners

Want to learn English?

E

Find out how you can learn English for work and everyday life with English Language Partners New Zealand.

nglish Language Partners offer a variety of free and low-cost English courses to help migrants and refugees learn English and settle into New Zealand successfully.

Classes focus on practical English for everyday life in New Zealand and cater for English levels from beginner to upper-intermediate.

Learners can practise English in a safe environment with supportive, qualified teachers. Class times are flexible and range from 2 to 20 hours per week.

English Language Groups are community-based classes focused on functional Kiwi English for life in New Zealand: conversation, idioms, emergency calls, doctor visits, talking to your child’s teacher, understanding bus timetables and more.

English Language Partners also offer free one-to-one home tutoring where trained volunteers meet with learners, generally at the learners’ homes, to assist them with their English.

There are also some free work-related courses on offer: English for Employees: a flexible programme for people who are working and want to improve their English for the workplace, up to four hours per week, offered at times that suit the learners’ working life.

Work Talk: for job seekers, is an intensive four-week course covering all aspects of applying for jobs in New Zealand. Learners must be confident users of English (intermediate level or above). englishlanguage.org.nz

Learn English with us English for everyday life | English for work Beginner to intermediate levels · Small, part time classes In your neighbourhood

Get in touch with your nearest centre Dunedin Phone 03 455 5266 Email dunedin@englishlanguage.org.nz Level 1, 103 Macandrew Road, South Dunedin Christchurch Phone 03 377 3141 Email christchurch@englishlanguage.org.nz Unit 4, 473 Brougham Street, Waltham Web www.englishlanguage.org.nz

22 Autumn / 2020

Creating balanced face shapes Attractive smiles everyday!

GET A FREE WHAT SMILESVILLE PATIENTS ARE SAYING CONSULTATION NOW Cassy: “I’ve been coming here to see Ruchika since I was 17. I absolutely adore Talk to the friendly staff how friendly and gentle she is and her expertise in her field is phenomenal. She was able to adjust my jaw shape to assist with over crowding and straightened at Smilesville Dental to my teeth without requiring any extraction despite other dentists saying transform your child’s face, extraction was inevitable. I always feel at ease with Ruchika and would highly recommend her to anyone. Thanks for giving me a smile I can finally be proud of.” jaws, teeth and life! Call 0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474) Rachele: “I have been with Smilesville Dental for the last 10 years. We are now

Smilesville Patient underwent Invisalign Teen

Q:

up to child number 4 for orthodontic treatment. Ruchika and Sam have been amazing over this time. My husband and I also attend the clinic. Dentists are not my favourite place but this is the best pain free, friendly and quick service. I highly recommend Ruchika and her team.”

Why is it important for my 6 year old to see a dentist, is that not too young?

Dr. Ruchika Sachdev of Smilesville Dental says - “If the muscles are out of balance – the teeth, jaws, face and smile will be affected. This in turn affects breathing, facial appearance, teeth and it’s function, gum health, confidence to smile, self esteem and overall well being.”

Dr. Sachdev and her team at Smilesville Dental are known for providing a unique type of treatment with Braces, Invisalign or a combination that not only works to give you straight teeth but also corrects the underlying causes of abnormal development creating well balanced faces and attractive smiles.

AFTER

BEFORE Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient

0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474)

AFTER

Q: What affects my children’s teeth?

BEFORE

The age of starting depends on various factors but can be as early as 6 yrs in some case. A check at 6 yrs of age with Dr. Sachdev - a functional dentist having experience in orthodontics for Children can help identify future action with minimum intervention. An early intervention ( preventative approach) allows to focus on the growth, development and wellbeing of younger patients along with straightening teeth thereby bringing Facial Balance& Symmetry. By way of this early approach, Dr. Sachdev’s goal is to provide and maintain space for permanent teeth so they naturally fall into their allocated space in a “non-surgical, non-extraction way.” This minimises the need for more extensive and painful intervention later, at the same time brings facial balance and symmetry to the child’s face and smile - helping them look and feel their best. Hence it may be the perfect time for children to start treatment as early as possible.

Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient

do I know if my children or Q: How I need treatment?

•

If you are unsure of whether or not you require treatment, take a look in the mirror and answer these questions:

•

Do your top front teeth stick out (bucked teeth)?

•

Is there a visible space between your bottom and top teeth when you bite together (open bite)?

•

Do your top teeth cover more than 25 percent of your bottom teeth when you bite together (overbite or deep bite)?

•

Are your bottom teeth in front of your top teeth (under bite)?

•

Do any of your teeth overlap (crowding)?

•

Do the centres of your top and bottom teeth line up (midline)?

•

Do you accidentally bite your cheek or tongue a lot?

•

Are your teeth wearing unevenly?

•

Are there gaps or spaces between your teeth?

•

Do you have breathing issues, jaw pain, sleeping problems and other related issues?

Leaders in appearance dentistry

• Orthodontics for adults, youth and children

Island treating with Invisalign for 12 years +

• Invisalign – The Invisible way to straighten teeth - First Ever Platinum Provider of the South

• Free dental treatment for 13-18yr olds (OHSA conditions apply)

Shop 201, Westfield Riccarton Mall, 131 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch

Located above ASB bank (best access via Lift in Farmers store)

• Extreme Dental makeovers • Whitening • General Dental and complete

Hygiene services • Implants • Best price Guaranteed

smilesville.co.nz Autumn / 2020

23

showbiz.org.nz

Pompous linguistics professor Henry Higgins wagers he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a street-smart girl from the Eastend gutters, into a proper Edwardian society lady. But who will be transforming whom?

My Fair Lady, Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street

3-18 April

canterburymuseum.com/whats-on/ slice-of-life

Learn how New Zealanders’ changing lifestyles have affected our health in this popular touring exhibition about the internationally significant Dunedin Study.

Kids can undertake some of the Dunedin Study tests and take away a replica Assessment Star Card with their results.

Slice of Life: The World Famous Dunedin Study, Canterbury Museum

Until 27 April

CHRISTCHURCH

christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Te Wheke is free to the public, with multiple change-outs adding new works and perspectives. It is accompanied by a catalogue and an exciting programme of talks, a children’s activity trail, making workshops, artist interventions, a family fun day and a not-to-be-missed performance by the acclaimed Pacific Sisters collective.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

From 10 April

willowbank.co.nz

Upload a photo to Facebook or Instagram of your new-found animal friend at Willowbank, and add the hashtag #foundafriendatwillowbank to WIN! T&Cs apply.

Find a friend at Willowbank, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Road

6-28 April

wekapassrailway.co.nz

A morning for all levels of walkers and runners, get out there, compete and breathe in the fresh forest air with your family and friends.

Take a train ride on one of the public operating days, on the first and third Sunday of each month and most public holidays. Perfect for a break on a trip to Hanmer Springs, Kaikōura or while visiting the Waipara wine region.

Elements Nature Based Play, Westmorland, Marshland and Rolleston sites

14-24 April

ferrymead.org.nz

Black Cat Cruises, Akaroa Harbour Wharf

Join the magical Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise. Spot a Hector’s dolphin or cruise again for free. Make the most of the Family Pass, second child cruises for free when

Welcoming all ages and abilities for a

ASB Christchurch Marathon, Christchurch Town Hall, 86 Kilmore St

31 May, 8am

armageddonexpo.com

Stay tuned for further event announcements by joining the Christchurch Armageddon Expo 2020 Facebook event.

Come and experience what it was like in Edwardian times at Ferrymead this Easter.

Sample some food, see the fashion of the time, be entertained and be surrounded by Edwardian culture.

Christchurch Armageddon Expo 2020, Horncastle Arena, Jack Hinton Drive

30 May-1 June

Mother’s Day!

10 May

artscentre.org.nz

This is a hands-on workshop and children may get a bit dirty. An adult must accompany children.

Try your hand at digging, sorting and analysing artefacts from Christchurch over 120 years ago. Learn how archaeologists work out how people used to live.

Archaeologist for a day, The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 2 Worcester Boulevard

Featuring celebrity guests, pop culture merchandise, interactive gaming displays and more.

15-25

April

courttheatre.org.nz

From Fighting Worms to Bloodsucker Bats, the animals of The Ferocious Animals Petting Zoo are adorable – and deadly! Professor Crouton travels the world trying to catch them all for his new zoo, but he must be doing something wrong because they won’t stop biting him!

The Ferocious Animals Petting Zoo, Court Theatre, Addington

22-24 April, 10-12pm

Edwardian Fete, Ferrymead Heritage Park, 50 Ferrymead Park Drive

12 and 13 April

malthouse.co.nz

A funny and sweet twist to the classic rag to riches story, and where things aren’t what they seem. A happy ending guaranteed, at Canterbury Children’s Theatre.

Cinderella and the Hairy Godmother, The Malthouse

11-27 April

forestrunfest.co.nz

Forest Run Fest Autumn Edition, Bottle Lake Forest Park, Waitikiri Drive, Burwood, Christchurch

Weka Pass Railway, Waipara Glenmark Station, 113 Glenmark Drive

15-25 April

If you have an event you’d like to add to our winter calendar, email kineta@27publishers.co.nz.

11 April, 8am

this autumn

5 and 19 April

What’s on

Brimming with fun and excitement, the season delivers a range of activities to keep the kids entertained through the school holidays, and beyond.

Pull me out and pin me up

CHRISTCHURCH EVENT CALENDAR

courttheatre.org.nz

A previous highlight on the KidsFest calendar, The Early Early Late Show is now being performed on the first Sunday of every month, bringing the fun and chaos of Scared Scriptless to an all-ages audience. $13

The Early Early Late Show, Court Theatre, Addington

5 April, 4pm

ticketek.co.nz

Soak up the exciting atmosphere as the Crusaders take on the Blues (3 April, 7.05pm), Jaguares (24 April, 7.05pm) at home.

Crusaders Rugby, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

3 and 24 April

3-18

April

artscentre.org.nz

Express your creativity these school holidays with activities for children and families, many of which are FREE! Events include arts, crafts, dance, fudgemaking, music, archaeological fun, films at Lumière Cinemas and Springfree trampolining at The Arts Centre Mākete.

School holidays at The Arts Centre, The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, 2 Worcester Boulevard

10-27 April

TOP PICK

Easter!

10-13 April

facebook.com/NBSeasideMarket

Head to the seaside and enjoy live entertainment, great food, fresh produce, arts, crafts, jewellery and more. There’s also a bouncy castle and free face-painting for the littlies.

New Brighton Seaside Market, New Brighton Pedestrian Mall, Brighton Mall

Saturday mornings, 10am-2pm

14-24

April

facebook.com/elementsprogrammes

Have your children get active and imaginative in the great outdoors. Think huts, ropes, tools, water play, mud and paint! Knights & Castles, Elemental Colours, Friends in the Wild, Heroes in the Wild are all programmes on offer.

15-17

April

livingsprings.co.nz/camp/kids-camp

This April, campers will get to choose what happens. Play field games or enjoy a campfire? Climb trees or play archery tag?

Almost everything will be their choice!

Living Springs Kids Camp: Choose your own adventure, Living Springs, Allandale

15-17 April

blackcat.co.nz/specials

two full-price adult tickets and one fullprice child ticket are purchased.

ticketek.co.nz

Come and celebrate Matariki with a giant scale puppet show of magical glow-in-the-dark characters from Māori myth and legend! This innovative, cutting edge concept features 40+ glowin-the-dark puppets under UV lights in a black box theatre environment.

Matariki Glow Show! Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester St

2 July, 10am

cso.co.nz

Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, this epic film is sheer movie magic 65 million years in the making. Now audiences can experience Jurassic Park as never before: projected in HD with the full Christchurch Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ iconic score live to picture.

Benjamin Northey - Chief Conductor

CSO Presents: Jurassic Park - Film with Live Orchestra, Christchurch Town Hall, 86 Kilmore St

6 June, 7.30pm

christchurchmarathon.co.nz

With a Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and Kids’ Mara’Fun, there is something for everyone.

flat, fast and scenic tour around iconic Christchurch landmarks such as the Christchurch Town Hall, Hagley Park, the Avon River and the Red Zone.

DUNEDIN

What ’s on Dunedin APRIL

APRIL

11-26

WANT TO BE AN ACE PLANT DETECTIVE?

ToP PICK

Bring your children to the Castle during the school holidays and find the hidden clues using the native plant map.

This challenge isn’t just for children; how about giving it a go yourself? larnachcastle.co.nz

A R AILY GOOD DAY OUT! Take a journey on Dunedin’s iconic Taieri Gorge Railway.

LUNCHTIME SCIENCE DEMOS

Enjoy stunning scenery, fascinating history, local wildlife and exciting tunnels and viaducts.

Come and see some science demonstrations, live in action at the Meridian Mall. Bought to you by the team from Otago Museum.

Trains depart daily. dunedinrailways.co.nz

meridianmall.co.nz

HAVE YOU BEEN TO TŪHURA OTAGO COMMUNITY TRUST SCIENCE CENTRE AT OTAGO MUSEUM? You’ll find hours of hands-on fun science to fill in the school holiday hours, from tropical butterflies to a three-storey slide!

26 Autumn / 2020

RIALTO CINEMAS Rialto Cinemas has the cheapest family passes in town these

Use the code OM030620 to get $10 off an annual pass so you can come back again and again!

Offer available 21 March to 30 June 2020.

school holidays – no limit on the

otagomuseum.nz

rialto.co.nz

number of kids you bring!

DUNEDIN

Cobb & Co Located in the historic Dunedin Railway Station, a stop-off at Cobb & Co. is a must! You and yours will be made to feel like part of the Cobb family.

For the young or young-at-heart, we have menus for toddlers through to two and three-course set menus for our valued seniors. We also have our renowned kids’ mocktail drinks menu… did someone say Traffic Light?!

20

APRIL

APRIL

17-23

cobb.co.nz

KIWI KIDS WILD MUSIC

Suzy Cato is our festival guest, she has called on local musicians and storytellers to help her share a morning of song and story, for little ones, at Toitū. Join us for a morning of interactive fun. toituosm.com

MEET THE ROYALS! Holiday Special Albatross Express.

Imagine viewing a huge Royal Albatross with a three-metre wingspan? Giant fluffy chicks awaiting their parental feeding? Teenage hijinks?

The Royal Albatross Colony on Otago Peninsula is the only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross in the world!

NZ FESTIVAL OF NATURE Check out the programme online to experience the New Zealand Festival of Nature — ‘Rewild Dunedin’. To ‘rewild’ is to restore natural habitats and native species to Dunedin, enhancing our position as wildlife capital of Aotearoa. wilddunedin.nz

albatross.org.nz

OROKONUI POP-UP FOREST

Planning your child’s birthday party?

Discover the Orokonui Pop-Up forest in the Hanover wing at Meridian Mall.

Megazone is the best place in town to host a party, with unique activities and games, a private party room, and guaranteed fun. They’ll make your child’s day memorable, and even clean up all the mess.

With daily family activities, learning about our native species and how to care for them. meridianmall.co.nz

Planning a birthday party for your children is a big job, so let Megazone take care of it for you.

APRIL

14-17

megazonedunedin.co.nz

L arnach castle

BEST VALUE FAMILY PASSES AT THE BEST CINEMA IN TOWN!

2D FAMILY PASSES* $29 1 ADULT, 2 KIDS $39 2 ADULTS, 2 KIDS

Regular Private Clinics held in Dunedin and Cromwell

*CONDITIONS APPLY

#

2 SMALL POPCORNS

FOR $5 ANYTIME!

Present this voucher at Rialto Cinemas to purchase two small popcorns for only $5 - save $4!

Limit one per customer. Valid until 1 July 2020.

Visit New Zealand’s Castle mhc.co.nz/Services/Paediatrician

www.larnachcastle.co.nz Autumn / 2020

27

GET CRAFTY

Hidden surprises

There’s a painted rock revival roaring through communities right now. Family Times didn’t want to miss out, so we’ve painted and hidden some ourselves, to brighten up the day of others.

Made by AUSTEN BOOKER .

With Resene’s wide range of colourful paints, there’s no limit to what masterpiece you and your children can dream up with a paintbrush.

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

Rocks — small enough for little hands

1. Find some nice flat stones and give them a good wash and leave them to dry in the sun.

Any Resene testpots, but we chose Resene Colour Me Pink, Resene Gold Mine, Resene Cabaret, Resene Blue Gem, Resene Moody Blue, Resene Tory Blue, Resene Havelock Blue, Resene Hullabaloo, Resene Keppel, Resene Japanese Laurel, Resene Bright Red, Resene Black, Resene FX Fluoro paints An assortment of Resene paint brushes

2. Get creative with your paintbrushes!

3. Once the rocks are dry, turn them over and put a little message on the back for the person who finds the rock.

4. Go out with an adult to a local playground or domain and hide some rocks for other children to find!

5. Have fun!

ROCK ETIQUETTE: if you find a rock, it’s yours! You might want to re-hide it somewhere else, or

For all your DIY projects, big or small, visit your nearest Resene ColorShop. resene.co.nz/colorshops

28 Autumn / 2020

TIP

you might love it so much that you want to take it home. Either is fine, but it’s always lovely to keep circulating rocks you create, so there are always enough hidden gems out there for other children to find!

ACTIVE KIDS

PROFESSIONAL The team at MASH knows exactly what it takes to make after-school care the best it could possibly be.

after- school care P

arenting is a balancing act, and after school is possibly the trickiest juggle for any working family. Yes, you could constantly rely on other parents or family members to pick up and care for your child, but it’s more important to save those friendships and relationships for times you really need it.

That’s why highly reputable organisations, such as MASH, were created to carry the weight of working parents in the afterschool rush, and there’s a lot to be said about the value of formal care, as it’s structured, professional, reliable and consistent.

MASH, which stands for My After School Headquarters, has various locations throughout the South Island, with lots of different programmes for children to enjoy. And the great thing is, it can be just one hour of after-school care, or right up until 6 pm.

MASH founder and director Craig Fortune and his team view the end of each school day as a fantastic opportunity for kids to have fun.

“Children who have spent hours in a classroom need a meaningful transition from school to after school – that’s why we make sure after school doesn’t feel like they’re back in class,” says Craig.

MASH programmes aren’t babysitting services, but they do provide professional, well-planned and value-added childcare environments where tamariki are safe, have a great deal of fun and have an opportunity to engage in new and varied experiences.

The superhero teachers at MASH are passionate about making a positive difference in children’s lives and pride themselves on providing the best possible environments for tamariki.

“As a parent myself, I understand that there can certainly be some stress and even little feelings of guilt at having to have your children in out of school programmes, so it’s hugely important to us to provide programmes that children love attending,” Craig says.

And the most convenient thing for parents is, other than knowing that your children are well looked after, you can book everything online! An OSCAR subsidy is also available through WINZ. mashkids.co.nz

WITH THE FULL WINZ SUBSIDY, OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMME COULD COST YOU AS LITTLE AS $2.04 PER DAY.

AND OUR HOLIDAY PROGRAMME COULD BE ABSOLUTELY FREE! WE HAVE PROGRAMMES ACROSS THE SOUTH ISLAND, CHECK OUR WEBSITE

FOR YOUR NEAREST MASH!

Autumn / 2020

29

ACTIVE KIDS

A new way for

NEW ZEALAND GIRLS TO EXPLORE

Family life is busy and getting your children to after-school activities is a challenge.

KELLY EDEN spoke with JULIE MCCLOY and SOPHIE HARLAND of GirlGuiding NZ about how their new Explore programme makes it easier for all New Zealand girls to get involved.

A

s we head into a new decade, it’s time for a fresh approach to enrichment activities for our kids. GirlGuidingNZ is leading the way. With an exciting range of STEAM experiments, hands-on creative projects, and outdoor experiences, their new Explore programme delivers enriching after-school fun straight to you!

“We wanted to be responsive to the changing demographic of the New Zealand family, heading into 2020,” says Sophie Harland, Development Manager for Explore.

GirlGuiding NZ has been around under one name or another since 1908, but many families are no longer able to commit to weekly meetings.

Others live too far away from a GirlGuiding Unit.

With the wait-list bursting with girls wanting to be involved, they decided to make their programmes more widely available to all New Zealand girls and remove boundaries.

Explore, a Guiding programme delivered online to any device was created to make this vision possible.

“We believe we are the first in the world to offer an online delivery model of the programme,” says Sophie. “The programme can even be accessed by New Zealand girls living overseas.”

30 Autumn / 2020

Julie McCloy, Communications and Marketing Manager of GirlGuidingNZ, says that although Explore is delivered online, the activities are very hands-on. “It’s not about kids being in front of a screen,” Julie explains. “They will definitely be going out and getting their hands dirty in the real world.”

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH EXPLORE

GirlGuidingNZ wants girls to take the lead and have a choice in their activities. When you sign up for a 90-day subscription with Explore your daughter will be given a number of fun options to choose from. These include popular outdoor activities and STEAM hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths done in fun, engaging ways.

As a parent, you can easily navigate the activity choices and select the duration of the activity, whether it needs adult supervision, or is indoors or outdoors. Once you find one that suits you and your child, many of the supplies needed can be found in your GirlGuidingNZ resource box (delivered as part of the programme) or around the home. “We built the programme so that it doesn’t require a lot of resources to complete,”

says Sophie Harland. “It’s based not only on the girl’s experience, but also the parents’ experience.”

After completing their activity, the girls can upload photos, videos, or text their Guiding Leader through a secure site. Girls also earn badges for their sash, both digital and physical.

As part of the Explore programme, girls are invited to attend regional events and camps.

They can also come along to one-day Discovery events run by the national office. These are based around popular themes, such as animals.

Explore will be released in stages. The Pippins programme (5- to 6-year-olds) was released in January and Brownies (for 7- to 9-and-ahalf-year-olds) will follow in June. The 90-day subscription is $28 per month for three months, plus $7.99 for shipping ($94.99 total).

Alternatively, $25 Activity Bundles (released for Pippin-aged girls in April and Brownie-aged girls in July) will be soon available as great holiday boredom busters. These are a one-off purchase and a great way to experience, or add to, your daughter’s Guiding. girlguidingnz.org.nz

CREATIVE ARTS

THE CHISNALLWOOD

Music Programme

Every day of the week, the Chisnallwood music department is filled with the sound of students participating in music. Rock bands, jazz bands, choir, computer music, beatboxing and orchestra are a few of the opportunities students have to learn and participate in music.

T

he 10- to 13-year-old age is a vital time for learning and social development. Our students discover many things about themselves through music, and we give them the tools and experience to take them beyond their expectations. They get to serve the community through performance as well as form lifelong friendships.

Other highlights included playing in the opening weekend of the Town Hall re-opening, the extravaganza of Strum Strike Blow (1,400 ukulele, marimba and recorders all playing together), Christchurch Big Band Festival, Secondary Schools’ Orchestra Festival, Voices Christchurch Music Festival, St Patrick’s Day, NZ Music Month and Tūranga library performances.

We provide 16 specialist teachers, and 250 students are currently learning violin, flute, keyboard/piano, drums, guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, vocals, beatboxing, bagpipes, Scottish drumming and cello.

Chisnallwood students have music opportunities that will prepare them well for high school and life-long learning. It’s a great age for our learners to discover what they can do with music, to give them the tools and experience to take it to levels that may even surprise themselves and to form long-lasting musical friendships.

Music groups include orchestra, jazz bands, Irish, choir, marimba, rock, Tangata Beats and ukulele bands plus computer music, sound technology and music theory club.

We started our year with the jazz band performing at Children’s Day and the wonderful Robert Koffie Fugah teaching the whole school African drumming in March.

2019 jazz band highlights included representing New Zealand in a music festival in Shanghai and achieving silver and bronze awards at JazzQuest. One rock band made Rockquest regional finals, and another placed third in Bandquest NZ national finals.

Students get to participate in a high level of many different music groups, on a range of instruments, and playing different styles, to cater for a diverse community. They are exposed to a variety of genres, theory and computer technology.

We aim to remove barriers to learning, including cost and availability of instruments, and provide specialist teachers enabling students to learn whatever instruments they choose. chisnallwood.school.nz

Autumn / 2020

31

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

SCIENCE IS

everywhere!

Science is all around us, and it is fantastic! Otago Museum’s science team loves showing children how fun science can be. Here’s a favourite Science Show Offs that you can do with your favourite adult to learn about physics.

Take an effervescent tablet container and make it aerodynamic!

Cut three triangular fins that have a right angle, so that the long edge can be stuck against the tube, while the short bottom edge is flat to the ground. Each triangle should be about 5 cm high and 2 cm wide. Stick the fins to the bottom of the container (not the end with the lid) using sticky tape.

Then make a cone for the other end of the tube.

You can make the cone from a circle (about 5 cm in diameter) cut from cardboard. Mark the centre of the circle with a dot. Cut from the edge to the dot. Take the two sides of your cut and bring them together until they overlap, making a cone.

Keep making the cone smaller until it fits the top of your tube, like a hat! Fix the seam with tape

Take one effervescent tablet and break it into four pieces (you will only need one piece for each launch). Put a tablespoon of water into the empty ‘rocket’, put in the piece of the tablet, and quickly put the lid on.

pressure in the closed tube. When the pressure gets great enough to pop the lid, it pushes down on the ground, which results in an upwards push on the tube, launching the rocket! This is Newton’s third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Put your rocket into a large empty container, so that all the fizzy water doesn’t spill everywhere, and get ready for it to launch. Your rocket will zoom upwards like a real spaceship, so be careful of people, pets, and Mum’s best vase! (It takes 10 to 30 seconds for the launch to happen.)

Newton’s laws apply to every movement we see around us, from jumping to driving! You can see Newton’s third law of motion in action when you are rowing in a boat. You use your paddle to move the water backwards, and as a result, your boat moves forward.

But how does it work?

Science is everywhere! Take a look at our website for more fun experiments and demos.

and then tape the cone onto the enclosed end of the tube (not the end with the lid).

The chemical reaction of the tablet with water releases carbon dioxide gas, which builds up

NEW TECH CAREER IN LESS THAN A YEAR

T

eo had always been attracted to a career in tech but as a busy working mum, never thought she would have enough time to try it. The fact that SHIFT offered school-friendly hours and a mix of practical learning and industry project work, to develop current tech skills and gain valuable industry experience, played a large part in Teo’s decision to enrol.

Teo started at SHIFT in Christchurch in February last year, having previously worked as a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) Operator and in Commercial Sales Support for two years. “In just a couple of months, I managed to learn basic programming, AGILE, project management, how to build a small web app and databases.” Teo says, “I built the right industry skills, and I also interacted with the Christchurch tech sector through the many networking events that SHIFT provided.”

During SHIFT, Teo’s project work included developing two web apps, one for a game development company and one for the national youth mentoring organisation, Big Brothers Big Sisters. Teo went on to complete her 200-hour industry placement with Orion Health, where she is now employed full-time as a Software Engineer.

otagomuseum.nz/scienceshowoffs

SHIFT to a tech career.

“I went from zero programming skills to full-time software engineer in less than one year; SHIFT helped me achieve what I thought was just a dream!”

Teo Bucutea 2019 SHIFT Graduate

G R A D UAT E

PROGRAMME

The future is tech.

Be part of it.

0800 990 024 info@signal.ac.nz signal.ac.nz

“SHIFT got me from a zero programming background to full-time graduate Software Engineer in less than one year. It helped me achieve what I thought was just a dream!”

SHIFT is offered in Christchurch and Dunedin and has very high employment rates for graduates. If you want to find out more about making a change in career and adding tech to your current skills, pop along to our next Tech Careers & Pizza Night. Register through signal.ac.nz/shift, or talk to the friendly team at SIGNAL on 0800 99 00 24.

32 Autumn / 2020

In conjunction with:

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Exploring Robotics

Robotics provide an opportunity for both boys and girls to engage with maths and science in a way they’ll love! KELLY EDEN takes a closer look at how to get them started.

What do we mean by ‘robotics’?

Robotics mixes science, mechanics, and engineering to create machines that can copy human actions. Once limited to mechanical arms that did one basic task, robotics is a rapidly expanding field!

But what makes a robot? Robots have three aspects: mechanical parts, electronic parts, and at least some computer programming. If our children are interested in robotics, we can encourage them to create and explore projects in any or all of these three areas.

Thinking like a creator

Robotics is part of ‘maker culture’, an extension of DIY where people are encouraged to play around with technology. Remember Tinkerbell? That’s kind of the idea here. Maker culture can be a great place to start with kids.

Instead of just playing with toys and gadgets, you can encourage your children to tinker and create their own.

Young children are natural makers! Playing and creating is the way they learn.

Projects for the three areas of robotics: 1. Mechanical projects: great for little makers and designers! Build a rubber-band helicopter, a straw rocket, or a wobblebot made from cardboard, corks and a tiny motor.

STEAM at

SELWYN HOUSE “As a future-focused independent school for girls, Selwyn House takes pride

2. Electronic projects: simple circuits are fun to explore with kids. Brainbox kits teach circuits in an easy way for younger children, or you can pop to the electronics store and create your own from scratch.

Light up a cardboard doll’s house, make a wire maze, or LED jewellery!

in the quality of educational

gender stereotypes in

Makerspaces.com, for example, has several cheap electronic and robotics ideas for kids to make. DIY.org is another excellent, child-friendly site with projects for kids who are interested in robotics and making, but there is a yearly subscription cost. Pinterest is also a good source of free ideas!

programmes it offers, particularly those related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM). Girls can face a headwind of negative these subjects.

We believe it is one of the missions of the school to equip our students with

Start with what you have around the house. Pull apart an old gadget or electrical appliance (safely!) and then make something creative from the parts. There are plenty of kits to use too, such as Meccano inventor sets and Sphero littleBits electronic building blocks. There are also more advanced projects such as LEGO’s Mindstorms for older children.

3. Coding: there are many online games and apps which teach children to code. Code.org has a variety of levels covered. Scratch.mit.edu is fantastic for primary-aged children.

in STEAM subjects so

Making doesn’t need to be expensive, though. Mostly it’s about using what you have available, recycling, repurposing, and experimenting. Your local electronics store has cheap motors, wires and bulbs etc to make simple projects for under ten dollars.

If your child is interested in robotics, there are plenty of opportunities available for exploration. Don’t forget to get online and get inspired by imaginative, creative robotics designers too. There are artists, scientists, musicians, and explorers doing amazing things with robots!

and Technology Teacher

passion, skills and knowledge that they are principled, knowledgeable and engaged citizens within society,” said Simon Christie, Science at Selwyn House School. selwynhouse.school.nz

OPEN DAY MONDAY 11 MAY 9AM TO NOON 122 MERIVALE LANE To register your interest phone: (03) 355 7299 or email: office@selhouse.school.nz SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR 2021. APPLICATIONS CLOSE 4PM, FRIDAY 15 MAY 2020.

W W W.SELW YNHOUSE.SCHOOL.NZ

An International Baccalaureate School Autumn / 2020

33

KIDS SPACES

Room to play

The Loft Bunk is a very popular option for bedrooms with limited space. Allowing for a play area underneath or another bed, shelving or a desk. Very strong NZ-Made construction, available in wood stain or painted colours. bestfurniture.co.nz

KIWI KIDS' OUTDOOR PL AY Encourage active imaginative play in your own backyard. Choose a beautiful wooden playground kitset to suit your family. Designed and engineered for ages 3-11, this is a wonderful gift for the whole whānau. Give the gift of play… outdoors…naturally! kiwiplay.co.nz

Creating

great spaces for kids

WALLACE COTTON COT SETS Available in Flossie or Woodland print, Wallace Cotton's Cot range is made from the softest cotton and features cot quilts, sheets and more. wallacecotton.com

BOLD KIDS' LIVING SPACES Dress up your kids' playspaces with the latest wallpapers from the Resene SmallTalk Wallpaper Collection. Complement your favourite wallpaper with your choice of Resene paint colours. Check out the huge range of wallpaper options at your local Resene ColorShop. resene.co.nz/colorshops or view a taste of the latest collections online at resene.co.nz/wallpaper

34 Autumn / 2020

POSITIVE PARENTING

Bully prevention for all ages VICKI EDWARDS-BROWN,

mum of two teens and founder of Be The Change NZ – a charity that helps prevent bullying — looks at what we can do to support our children in the face of this unwanted behaviour.

“M

ummy, Noah is bullying me!” But is he really being a bully? The word ‘bully’ is used a lot these days, so let’s be clear: bullying is any unwanted, intentional behaviour that is repeated. It involves an imbalance of power and is hurtful. It can be physical, verbal, social or cyber.

So, as parents, what can you do to help stop this? First of all, we need to start creating a culture in which bullying is as unacceptable as child abuse. Children are less likely to bully and be bullied when they develop social and emotional skills such as conflict management, the ability to feel and show empathy and the skills to stand up for themselves and others effectively.

Here are a few ideas to ponder upon: 1. Role model respectful, caring behaviour – teach values that emphasise appreciation of differences, such as race, religion, sex.

2. Acknowledge your child’s issues – it may not be that big a deal that your daughter’s Van Gogh was ruined again by her classmate, but if you do poo-poo it, she will stop talking to you about it. Open communication is vital.

3. And likewise, don’t ignore or encourage bullying behaviour in your child by laughing. Explain that it is (to quote Super Nanny in a very posh accent), “unacceptable”.

4. Talk openly about bullying from as early as they can talk, so if it does happen, your child won’t be embarrassed to ask for help.

5. Focus on expanding your vocabulary when it comes to discussing emotions. The more words children have to explain their feelings, the easier it can be for them to communicate and work through them.

And as they grow older they can become powerful upstanders (someone who stands up in defence of others), so empower them by creating opportunities for them to be kind to others by giving or helping people – take them with you when you collect for a charity, ask them to help bring hand-picked flowers to a friend, suggest they draw a picture on a get-well card. bethechangenz.org

Autumn / 2020

35

Stay and Play Getaway Base yourself at The Portage and experience a little taste of everything Marlborough has to offer. The Portage is the perfect destination for families or couples to simply getaway. Whether you want to explore nature, enjoy a winery tour in Picton, cruise the Marlborough Sounds, walk or cycle New Zealand’s famous Queen Charlotte Track, experience a wildlife eco-tour, sea kayak, fish or sail on Kenepuru Sound.

Your dining options range from the slightly more formal setting of The Portage Restaurant & Bar to the laid-back Snapper Bar and Eatery on the beachfront. Both venues offer outside seating and have spectacular views of the famous sunken valleys and lush rainforests of the Marlborough Sounds.

BOOK NOW $99* per night

The Portage Hotel’s central location in Marlborough makes it an easy reach from Christchurch- being only 15 minutes from Picton by ferry, or 1.25 hours by road. Blenheim Airport is a 25-minute car trip from Picton and has multiple flights arriving daily from major cities, including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Standard Room for family or group of up to 4 guests.

The Portage is your Marlborough accommodation base for exploring the magic of the Marlborough Sounds. Book your next stay and use the code “FAMILY TIMES” to receive our special offer. Tell us your favourite adventure activity when you make a reservation and we’ll arrange it for you.

Children under 12 eat free (breakfast and dinner from children’s menu) with accompanying adult.

*Terms & Conditions. Additional charge will apply $40 for additional person or 5th guest. Rate includes departure clean only. Valid for all direct bookings. Subject to availability from 1 May 2020 – 30 September 2020. Booking must be made directly with hotel using code FAMILYTIMES at time of booking.

Book Now! $99* per night Phone (03) 573 4309 reservations@theportage.co.nz www.theportage.co.nz 36 Autumn / 2020

Includes complimentary upgrade to best available room.

Complimentary drink on arrival.

DESTINATION

It ’s all about the getaway Base yourself at The Portage, a THC Group hotel, and experience a little taste of everything Marlborough has to offer.

T

he Portage is the perfect year-round destination for families or couples to enjoy the outdoors and get away. Whether you want to explore nature, enjoy a winery tour in Picton, cruise the Marlborough Sounds, walk or cycle New Zealand’s famous Queen Charlotte Track, experience a wildlife eco-tour, sea kayak, fish or sail on Kenepuru Sound, we’ve got you covered.

With 1,500 kilometres of coastline in the Marlborough Sounds, there are plenty of opportunities to escape from the hustle and bustle and explore this wondrous area of New Zealand. Discover the perfect place to relax and recharge with uninterrupted views from your balcony to the beautiful bays and native bush-clad hills.

There is no shortage of activities at The Portage — walking, tramping, kayaking (hired from Picton), fishing or just relaxing.

Wine, water and wilderness are all on your doorstep. For families and couples, this idyllic location allows you so many options to spend time together in one of New Zealand’s most wondrous places.

Walk the Queen Charlotte Track, and you will be rewarded with stunning views of Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds and encounters with native birds such as the fantail and weka. The Portage is a short walk from the track.

Dining options range from the slightly more formal setting of The Portage Restaurant and Bar to the laidback Snapper Bar and Eatery on the beachfront. Both venues offer outside seating and have spectacular views of the famous sunken valleys and lush rainforests of the Marlborough Sounds. For parents, take some time out and relax, take in the sights and sounds while you enjoy our selection of local Marlborough wines on offer. For children, we have a range of free games and activities available from reception.

THC The Portage is your Marlborough accommodation base for exploring the magic of the Marlborough Sounds.

Book your next stay directly with us and use the code “FAMILY TIMES ” to receive our special rate when booking.

Tell us your favourite adventure activity when you make a reservation, and we’ll arrange it for you.

Win!

$2,000 VOUCHER

To be used on accommodation, food and beverage at The Portage.

Valid for 12 months Ts and Cs apply.

To enter, visit familytimes.co.nz/thcportage-competition/

theportage.co.nz

Autumn / 2020

37

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Pregnant?

WHY NOT TRY OSTEOPATHY? Lower back pain and general muscular discomfort can all be features of pregnancy. So, why not try osteopathy to help with joint or ligamentous pain, writes ALIX RAMOUSSE – osteopath specialising in paeditrics and obstetrics at Halswell Road Clinic.

W

ith many discomforts and few solutions during this period, osteopathy proves to be a lifesaver for many, to relieve the inevitable annoyances that the body undergoes, to optimise the smooth progress of pregnancy and childbirth.

A visit to an osteopath does not replace a medical consultation, but it can effectively relieve several common health problems during pregnancy.

As all mothers will say, pregnancy causes many body changes, and also causes a lot of inconveniences. For example, lower back pain, sciatica, gastric reflux, constipation, reduced circulation, sleep disorders. These symptoms are, unfortunately, all too common for many pregnant women.

Pregnancy means the majority of drugs are a ‘no-go’. Expectant mothers tend to accept these inconveniences, but osteopathy can help relieve them. Thanks to a particularly gentle, global and comprehensive approach to the body, the osteopath rebalances the body to improve the mobility of structures and improve blood circulation to organs.

Osteopaths adapt their techniques to the patient's conditions and can safely treat a pregnant woman throughout her pregnancy.

Consult an osteopath during your pregnancy for less pain, better sleep, a more flexible pelvis, facilitating smoother labour, delivery and postpartum recovery!

WHEN TO SEE AN OSTEOPATH?

Expectant mothers can consult an osteopath from the first months of pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy, the uterus becomes larger, and the ligaments begin to tighten. The first inconveniences sometimes only happen around the second trimester, but it is always better to prevent rather than cure. By optimising the balance of your body, you optimise the smooth running of your pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery. Depending on your symptoms and the examination, your osteopath will tell you whether it is better to come back to see them or not. Please note, an osteopathic session does not replace your follow-up appointments with your midwife.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR BABY?

Osteopathy has no direct impact on the baby and always acts without constraint or pressure on the baby. The osteopath works on structures such as bones and ligaments but does not affect your child.

When a baby is breech, for instance, the osteopath will not try to turn it. The osteopath’s job is to

Osteopathy, for a healthier you Healthier, happier people leading fuller, more active lives.

Book an appointment today and get the help you need.

Follow Us

CLINIC

195 Wairakei Road tel 3518262 wairakei@osteopath.net.nz osteopathiccare.org

38 Autumn / 2020

64 Halswell Road tel 3224506 admin@osteopath.net.nz osteopaths.nz

236 Springfield Road tel 3556166 reception@osteopath.net.nz osteopath.net.nz

balance your body by freeing up the pelvis and diaphragm. This way, the baby has more room and can finally turn around freely if possible.

WHO TO TURN TO FOR HELP?

Some osteopaths specialise in osteopathic treatment for babies and pregnant women. They are particularly experienced in working with expectant mothers. However, not all osteopaths are necessarily trained to work in the field.

The easiest way is to seek advice from your usual osteopath. If you have not consulted an osteopath before, your midwife, your doctor, your gynaecologist, your pharmacist, or google may be able to suggest someone.

AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Osteopathy is also a great help for the mother after childbirth, whether the birth took place with or without medical interventions, such as an episiotomy, an epidural, forceps, or a caesarean. Under these conditions, and even in the conditions of a so-called natural and “easy” delivery, the tissues of the pregnant woman have undergone a certain level of stress which it is preferable to correct without delay to avoid possible problems and boost recovery. osteopath.net.nz

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Sleep safe, MY BABY SIDS and Kids New Zealand is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. The organisation delivers on its vision through world class research, evidence-based education and bereavement support, and advocacy.

Remind everyone who cares for your child: + Sleep baby on their back + Keep head and face uncovered + Keep baby smoke-free before and after birth + Safe sleeping environment night and day

POSITIVE sleep tips

for bedtime anxiety

+ Sleep baby in safe cot in parents’ room SIDS and Kids provides a range of safe sleeping education and support services as well as a national 24-hour sudden infant death helpline 0800 164 455 sidsandkids.org.nz

According to new research from Signify, a whopping 83 per cent of New Zealand children are suffering from bedtime anxiety and sleeping issues. Clinical psychologist and behaviour expert, JAIMIE BLOCH, shares some advice for parents.

W

e all know how important sleep is and how it’s difficult to function when you haven’t had enough, so how do you know if your child has sleep anxiety and what can you do to help them sleep soundly?

THE SIGNS YOUR CHILD HAS BEDTIME ANXIETY

Jaimie says to take notice of children who become regularly stressed at bedtime and struggle to fall asleep, as well as if they are frequently waking throughout the night. She says it’s good to ask your child’s teacher if they are noticing whether your child is sleepy and distracted during the day.

“Other signs may be, finding it hard to rise in the morning, having a short fuse and being unusually unmotivated or restless,” says Jaimie.

HELP YOUR CHILD TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU

Your child needs to know they can talk to you about any concerns. “A great way to help your child open up about any specific worries is what I like to call ‘over-communicating’”, says Jaimie.

“For older kids, you may want to say something like ‘I feel like something is happening, and I have noticed bedtime is hard for you.’ For younger children, you can use a book to communicate and discuss different worries that are normal for children to have, especially at night.”

ENCOURAGE RELAXATION BEFORE BEDTIME

Your child needs to be able to wind down in their bedroom.

“Meditation and calming music can be beneficial for some. Remember different children find different things relaxing, so it is important you find these things and trial them together with your child,” advises Jaimie.

“The use of security items, such as a snuggly toy, can be part of your child’s sleep routine.

This may be a special teddy, blanket or even pillow. Security items help children feel soothed, connected and calm. It will also signal to your child that it’s time for bed.”

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

For parents with children suffering from sleeping issues, it is vital to establish a regular sleep routine. As Jaimie explains, it will allow your child to develop the optimum circadian rhythm, which is the body’s natural sleep, wake and rest cycle.

SET THE SCENE

Use gentle lighting in the home. Light filtering into our eyes is what helps set off specific chemicals in our bodies that trigger the sleep/ wake cycle, and can be negatively affected by harsh lighting.

KEEP CALM AND BE PATIENT

When your child refuses bedtime it can be frustrating, but it’s important to make sure you remain neutral and relaxed. “Use simple words and non-verbal cues to direct your child back to bed or back to engaging in the calming activities.

When we get frustrated and raise our voice or have anxious and annoyed energy, our children can pick up on these cues.”

WHEN TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

If you are worried about your child’s bedtime routine, it is best to consult your GP or another health professional, like a psychologist. Other signs it may be time to consult a health professional are: + When there is an observable and persistent change in your child’s mood or personality + When your child is very rigid in their thinking and not open to experimentation + When they become overly withdrawn or avoidant + When they are more reactive or sensitive than normal + Being mean and nasty to others, and this is out of character.

Autumn / 2020

39

FUN ZONE

KIDS’ time

ACTIVITIES AND COLOURING IN FOR ALL AGES IN CINEMAS APRIL 2 Suitable for general audiences.

Dot-to-Dot Go dot-to-dot to finish Tiny Diamond’s hair!

IN CINEMAS APRIL 2

IN CINEMAS APRIL 2

Suitable for general audiences.

Suitable for general audiences.

A-Maze-Ing Journey

FIND FOURTEEN

Help Poppy get to Sheila B!

Look forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally to find the word below 14 times.

BEAT FINISH

40 Autumn / 2020

FUN ZONE

IN CINEMAS APRIL 2 Suitable for general audiences.

WHICH PATH? Which path leads Poppy to Barb?

Your Answer

Te Iwi o Matariki

the 9 stars of Matariki Autumn / 2020

41

GIVEAWAYS

6

Batman Action Figures Create your own epic superhero and supervillain adventures with the Batman 30 cm Action Figures!

The detailed comic styling brings your favourite hero to life!

OPPO smartphone!

Trolls World Tour movie pack

Paving the way in a new decade of smartphones, the OPPO’s A5 2020 combines the latest tech with superb photography features. The A5 2020 sports a massive 5,000 mAh battery, offering 19-hour battery life, from morning to night.

You could win the OPPO A5 2020 in Mirror Black or Dazzling White.

Enter to WIN an awesome movie pack and enjoy the happiest movie ever – Trolls World Tour – in cinemas 2 April.

Ahhh product kits

Create joyful bath time moments with Ahhh’s vibrant, handcrafted hair care and soap bars. Each kit includes shampoo and conditioner bars for kids, along with vibrant, delicious-smelling soap bars.

Win! 2

Cosy cot sheet sets

Create a soft and cosy sleep space for your little one with Wallace Cotton's Autumn Cot range. Lovely Flannel Sheet Sets designed with love and care to ensure that your bundle of joy enjoys the comfort of quality bed linen.

Spend a day with your family at Orana Wildlife Park – New Zealand’s only open-range zoo.

Simply head to our website: familytimes.co.nz

Family passes

3

Orana Wildlife Park family day pass

Win a family pass to The Ferocious Animals Petting Zoo, a magical play for kids, running at The Court Theatre from 15-25 April.

4

Hit the road for a roller-coaster life of adventure, family, unexpected surprises, and pets! In this game, players can make their own exciting choices as they move through the twists and turns of life.

Players can adopt pets in this version of The Game of Life game.

Unwrap, peel and reveal each capsule to find a sassy member of the Unicorn Squad.

Unbox, build, and battle all-new 5 Surprise Dino Strike!

Pets Alive Boppi the Booty Shakin’ Llama has had a fresh new makeover! 3 NEW epic songs, NEW dance moves, and NEW rainbow fur!

42 Autumn / 2020

Game of Life with Pets

2

Awesomely fun prize packs Each of these awesome packs includes a Rainbow Boppi; TWO Surprise Dino; and TWO Surprise Unicorn Squad!

Terms and conditions can be found at familytimes.co.nz

3

Be in to

Bolognese FOUR WAYS Recipe by

HAYLEY

"This recipe has been a lifesaver for our family. As a time-poor mum of three kids under four, I always turn to this recipe to get vegetables secretly into their tummies, while ensuring we don’t end up with the same meal every night. It’s taken me a while to perfect, but now it’s quick and easy. I hope your family will love it as much as mine!"

WHAT YOU NEED

WHAT TO DO

2 tablespoons oil

1. Finely dice the eggplant, capsicum, mushrooms and onions - the smaller you chop them, the less likely the kids will notice them and pick them out! Grate the carrots and zucchini.

1 kg minced beef or pork 3 carrots 1 large zucchini 1 cup mushrooms 2 capsicums (any colour you like) 1 eggplant 2 onions 6 cloves garlic, crushed 1 ⁄2 cup tomato paste 1 large jar pasta sauce of your choice (bolognese works well) 3 x 400g tins crushed tomatoes 1 tablespoon dried basil 1 tablespoon dried oregano

TIP: This recipe can be made vegetarian by omitting the meat.

It is also great for freezing.

One Mother to Another EATS is a collation of recipes from household names, chefs and everyday mums designed to fund the ongoing support of mums and carers in hospital with sick children. onemothertoanother.org.nz

D O O F Y BAB NO WITH D ADDE R? SUGA

2. Heat the oil in an extra-large frying pan, then add the onions and cook until tender. Add the garlic and fry for one minute.

3. Add the mince and cook, stirring regularly, until almost cooked through.

4. Add tomato paste and cook for one minute, before adding salt to taste.

5. Add all the vegetables, pasta sauce and tins of tomatoes. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are soft, then add the basil and oregano and simmer with the lid off, until the desired consistency is reached. The sauce is now ready to be used for your favourite dish.

Spaghetti: Use a vegetable spiral cutter to make vegetable pasta with carrot and zucchini. Cook with boiling water until tender and serve with the sauce. Alternatively, cook regular spaghetti as per packet instructions.

Nachos: Pile the sauce on top of corn chips with some mixed beans and grated cheese, and place in a hot oven until the cheese melts. Top with sour cream.

Developed with nutritionists, Countdown’s Own Smiling Tums baby food range is sweetened naturally with fruit and veges. There’s a flavour for every mealtime - perfect for busy parents on the go.

Enchiladas: Fill wraps with the sauce mixture and roll into logs. Place in a baking dish, cover with a jar of salsa, top with grated cheese and warm in the oven until the cheese is golden brown.

Lasagne: Place between sheets of pasta with béchamel sauce. Top with grated cheese and warm in the oven until the cheese is golden brown and the lasagne sheets are cooked.

Autumn / 2020

43

CHRISTCHURCH M A RK ETPL ACE

FASHION

FOOD

ENTERTAINMENT

Darling.......have you heard about the Edwardian Fete

FREE HOUR S

CULTURE Do go on !

EDWARDIAN FETE 12th I 13th April

https://www.ferrymead.org.nz/

that stimulate ACCEPT • Activities • Exciting & LEARN • educational Highly professional teachers PLAY • Assists individual development Childcare subsidy HAPPY • may be available • 20 ECE hours ACHIEVE available

CUSHION THEATRE AT THE

Early Childhood Educational Centre

Ph 385 6319

MALTHOUSE

11TH TO 27TH APRIL 2020

CALL AND SEE US TO ENROL

BOOKINGS AT

45 Randall St, Richmond (Close to The Palms)

www.malthouse.co.nz

Rangiora New Life School Rangiora New Life School

A Christian Integrated Area School for A Christian for New Integrated Entrants toArea YearSchool 13 New Entrants to Year 13 www.rnls.school.nz www.rnls.school.nz

Stimulation Challenge Early Learning Skills Language Development Co-ordination Sight & Hearing

Congratulations to our RNLS Quality education with a 2020 Headfuture!

Students! bright Enrolment for 2021 2021 Enrolment applications applications for onwards are welcome. welcome. onwards are admin@rnls.school.nz admin@rnls.school.nz Stephen Principal Stephen Walters, Walters, Principal

WINNIE BAGOES

HOURS Tues & Thur 10am - 4.30pm Sat 10am - 2pm 109 Huxley Street Christchurch Tel: 03 332 0733

specialneedslibrary.co.nz

Winnies Ferrymead is your local family friendly restaurant. The perfect place for family dinners, birthday parties and functions. With a great kids’ menu, amazing pizzas, bar and friendly staff, it is the place to bring your family.

Christchurch’s favourite

2 Waterman Place Ferrymead

family restaurant

03 376 4900

winniebagoes.co.nz

P 03 388 4199

chisnallwood.school.nz

E info@chisnallwood.school.nz

Nikki Bell PL ACEN TA ENCA P SUL AT I ON BENEFI TS:

CE P PLLAA C E NNT TA A EN E N C CAAPP SS U U LL AAT TI OI N O N

“Mother earths gift for postpartum wellness.”

Increased release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to normal size and encourages bonding with the infant Increase in CRH, a stress-reducing hormone A decrease in post-partum depression levels Restoration of iron levels in the blood Increase in milk production 43 002277 66 4 3 44444477

P LL A AC CE EN N TT A AL L II F FE EF P FO OR RC CE E@ @G GM MA A II L L .. C CO OM M P LL A AC CE EN NT TA AL L II F P FE EF FO OR RC CE E .. C CO OM M

44 Autumn / 2020

F O L LO W

U S

@ P L AC EN TA L I F EF O R C E

CHRISTCHURCH M A RK ETPL ACE

Parenting Helpline

5-15yrs

Term 2 starts 28 April Free trial class!

support, advice and practical strategies anonymous, non-judgemental, confidential

Call 0800 568 856 9am - 11pm Monday to Sunday

Canvas Bag Drama School 3 Locations: Merivale / South Brighton / Halswell info@canvasbag.nz • 021 222 7273 • canvasbag.nz

WaiSwim is an award winning quality swim school. Lessons are available for children aged 6 months through to adults.

New Zealand

An invitation

Dudley Park Aquatic Centre 47 Church Street, Rangiora

to all girls aged 5 to 18

Kaiapoi Aquatic Centre 9 Cass Street, Kaiapoi

Come join the fun and friendship at any of our nationwide locations

girlsbrigade.nz

0800 WaiSwim

E-mail: info@girlsbrigade.org.nz

find your groove in a fun supportive environment

C l a s s e s ava i l a b l e at :

Papanui | Sumner/Ferrymead | Halswell/Selwyn

contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop, preschool Preschool through to advanced Annual recitals and performances Optional exams and medal tests Enhance your confidence and co-ordination Make life long friendships anna lee Registered teacher (RAD, NZAMD, JDNZ)

03 354 6228

annaleeschoolofdance.co.nz

0274 836 265 office@annaleeschoolofdance.co.nz

Autumn / 2020

45

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Hee Haw with

Mr Wonky Donkey

author of the runaway best-seller The Wonky Donkey, chats with KINETA BOOKER about life as a parent in Queenstown while being an internationally-acclaimed musician.

CRAIG SMITH,

You wrote Wonky Donkey long before you were a parent. What inspired you to get into kids music?

I was a full-time musician. Then I would get stuck inside on a rainy day with nieces and nephews, so I started playing fun kids/family music for amusement. That’s how it started.

How different is life for you now that you’re a parent?

When I have my daughter, it tends to be all-consuming. I can’t tour right now like I used to, but I’m trying to convert that non-touring time into creative time and also, of course, special one-on-one time with her.

Do you try your new music out on your daughter to get honest feedback?

What sort of Dad are you?

My daughter’s mum and I separated about two years ago, so while she is with me, I do it all. I pick her up and drop her off to school. I make breakfast, lunch and dinner. Read her stories at night and go on adventures with her when she’s not at school. I paraglide a lot and have my tandem license. I’ve flown with her several times, and she loves it!

The thing that you enjoy most about everyday life with your little family?

possible, take it. Having time to do what you want with your children is the most precious time, time you can’t reclaim. However you do it, find more time.

How do you juggle being a working Dad?

It’s hard, but I’m in the fortunate position that I can slow my touring down to be with my daughter more. The flip side is I have much more time to be creative because I’m touring less.

Seeing my daughter’s confidence grow, seeing her smile, laugh and learn.

What surprised you most when you became a parent?

The Wonky Donkey is the international bestselling picture book phenomenon

All the time. And it helps — my own in-house market research unit!

Cliché I know but, you hear about what unconditional love is, but to experience it was beautiful and surprising.

Your favourite family tradition?

What’s your top parenting tip?

Its bestselling sequel, The Dinky Donkey,

We have a family log cabin down south that we go to for fishing, hunting, trekking, kayaking, sitting around fires and relaxing. I love family time down there. We’ve had it in our family since I was my daughter’s age.

46 Autumn / 2020

In this day and age, it’s hard, but try and give yourself as much time to do what you need to do with your kids. If that means sacrificing money (spending less time at work) to gain more time, you may pay things off slower but if that’s

written by singer/ songwriter Craig Smith and illustrated by Katz Cowley. was published in November 2019, and in November 2020, The Grinny Granny Donkey will be published simultaneously in New Zealand and Australia by Scholastic.

imagination

GO!

Free fun these school holidays at Northlands

Autumn / 2020

47

48 Autumn / 2020