Family Times Winter 2021

We’ve Got Parenting Covered

Wi nter I s sue 2 021

FREE! =take me home

Maybe Baby The emotional impact of fertility treatments

Nathan Wallis talks toddler

POWER STRUGGLES

Sci-fest

THE LOWDOWN ON DUNEDIN'S FAB SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Take your kids to see the world’s rarest & smallest dolphins these school holidays. Board the big Black Cat catamaran and explore Akaroa Harbour. See dolphins, penguins and seals in majestic surroundings.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome

I

don’t know about you, but I have always found the winter school break more than a little daunting. When the weather is not on your side, keeping children occupied and happy can feel like a bit of an uphill battle. But as we put together the winter issue of the magazine, I began to feel heartened.

To start with, our cover story showcases the International Science Festival held in Dunedin. The festival is stacked with fabulous exhibits and activities, so a trip south would be an excellent option for families.

Here in Christchurch, we have KidsFest happening and a whole raft of brilliant kids’ programmes and events scheduled during the holidays. Pull out our What’s On calendar and stick it on the fridge. I know my family finds it inspirational when we’re racking our brains for things to do.

We also called on Nathan Wallis to advise on two issues that frequently come up for families. Firstly, in Kate Barber’s article on page 10, Nathan advises on how to stay in control when your toddler is losing it. Nathan also has some guidance for parents when trying to decide which (and how many) extra-curricular activities are suitable for their children in The extra-curricular balancing act on page 14.

We have had some challenges with the weather in Canterbury, and so my hope is that we can all look forward to a more settled time and some family fun during the school break.

Mā te wā

Anna Scaife / Editor anna@27publishers.co.nz @familytimesnewzealand

Winter / 2021

3

Contents

22 16

FEATURES 10

The battle for control

11

Maybe Baby

12

Looking after Mum: Maternal mental health

28

Terrific two days

3

Welcome Note

13

Delivered with love

29

Explore Ōtautahi

5​

Help is at hand

14

The extra-curricular balancing act

30

Holiday here

6

Books and Beats

15

Tutoring – Four benefits of 1:1 learning

31

Destination Aotearoa

8

We love...

16

Finding their superpower

32

Dunedin Sci-fest

20​

What’s On Christchurch

17

School stress: How to help your teen take the angst out of education

38

In the spotlight: Kimberly Andrews

24

Kiwi kids

18

Emilie’s adventures

35

Giveaways

19

Make a green gecko

36

Funzone

22

Owl hands on deck

37

Christchurch Marketplace

23

Picking your moment

25

Working from home with a family?

26

The acid test

REGULARS

18

PLUS, make sure you LIKE our social pages to stay up-to-date with happenings and advice, and for plenty of chances to WIN! familytimesnewzealand

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Winter / 2021

CONTENTS

Help is at hand

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

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Rachel Brodrick designer@27publishers.co.nz

EDITOR Anna Scaife anna@27publishers.co.nz

CONTRIBUTORS Craig Fortune Crissi Blair Grahame Dutton Kate Barber Nathan Wallis Laura Tretheway Erin Harrison Victoria Bruce

GENERAL ENQUIRIES hello@27publishers.co.nz

SUBEDITOR Kathy Catton kathy@27publishers.co.nz ADVERTISING Caroline Martin caroline@27publishers.co.nz 029 121 1115

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.

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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 first and third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

We are a charitable trust supporting grandparents and whānau 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

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Winter / 2021

5

BOOKS AND BEATS

Books

Books, books, wonderful books!

CRISSI BLAIR picks out the best pages for all ages.

The Last Bear

TOP PICK

By Hannah Gold Illus. Levi Pinfold

My Elephant is Blue

HarperCollins $22.99

By Melinda Szymanik Illus. Vasanti Unka

Picture Puffin $19.99 A book about big, heavy feelings. Imagine waking up with the weight of a big blue elephant on your chest. Everyone has suggestions to help – research, an elephant specialist, some tasty treats, and eventually a short walk helps, and soon a picnic. A story of kindness and empathy and ways to deal with the blues, with quirky illustrations depicting emotions through colour.

April and her dad are alone on Bear Island in the Arctic. April is sure she has spotted a polar bear, where there are supposed to be none. They meet one endless summer night. He’s starving and, due to climate change, is unable to get home.

April begins a rescue mission while her grieving father hides in his scientific research. A moving illustrated story of the bond between animal and child, and a battle cry for the environment.

Suitable for ages 8+ My Name is Henry Fanshaw: The true story of New Zealand’s bomber squadron

Suitable for ages 3+ Kei te aha ngā kararehe? What are the animals doing?

By Te Ataakura Pewhairangi

Massey University Press $22.99 A lovely board book for those learning to read te reo Māori, illustrated with beautiful photographs of a mum and her three children with farm animals. The simple phrases describe what the animals are doing. Kei te aha te punua kau? / What is the calf doing? Kei te inu te punua kau. / The calf is drinking. A word list and reo tips complete the package. Also available in Māori only.

By Gillian Torckler Illus. Adele Jackson

Bateman Books $24.99 Henry B. (for Bear) Fanshaw is the mascot of the No.75 Squadron in the RNZAF. Henry tells stories of the experiences of his squadron during World War 2 – dangerous missions and great bravery, all as seen through Henry’s eyes. Lots of extra information is included at the back, and the illustrations with their details, multiple formats, speech bubbles and atmospheric colouring will have you reading again and again.

Suitable for ages 6+ Fossils from Lost Worlds

Suitable for ages 1-7

By Hélène Rajcak & Damien Laverdunt

Windows

By Patrick Guest Illus. Jonathan Bentle

A beautifully illustrated picture book for our time, about children from different parts of the world during lockdown, and how people connect with their communities from behind the safety of their windows. There is music from balconies, creative cloud watching, teddies and rainbows in windows, and an awesome dancing Pop. Lively illustrations and rhyming text make this a joyful read.

For dinosaur-lovers everywhere, this largeformat book uses detailed illustrations, comics and concise but easy-to-read facts, to answer questions about dinosaurs. Read about the scientists and fossil researchers, and how our understanding of these creatures and the earth has changed over time. From a table of the geological periods, important discoveries and people, and a timeline of paleontology from the 5th century to 2017. Open at any page for a complete piece of the picture.

Suitable for ages 3-8

Suitable for ages 7+

Little Hare $28

6

Gecko Press $39.99

Win!

Winter / 2021

We have ONE copy each of My Elephant is Blue and Fossils from Lost Worlds to give away. Follow us for your chance to win @familytimesnewzealand

Music for

LITTLE EARS

By Kiwi Kids Music Library Song Angelfish Kids

Single cutt.ly/angelfishkids Angelfish Kids’ new song will make kids of all ages want to sing, dance and visit their local library!

Hits 4 Kids (International version) Hey DUBY

Album dubytime.com A unique album full of fun radio-friendly educational pop and rap storytelling songs for young children.

The Octopus Song Chris Lam Sam

Music Video chrislamsam.com/octo Chris Lam Sam’s new silly music video promises to have your little ones giggling in 27 seconds flat!

Try it and see!

I Feel Excited Music with Michal

Single musicwithmichal.com This EXCITING new song and video helps children understand and embrace their emotions.

Matariki JellyBean Queen

Single Released on June 11th Matariki is sung by 49 ‘JellyBeans’ (singing students) from Avonhead School in Christchurch to celebrate Matariki.

kiwikidsmusic.co.nz

Join the Kiwi Conservation Club Connect kids to nature Explore, have fun and help nature through special events, activities and KCC’s magazine, Wild Things.

Find out more kcc.org.nz

THE COURT THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF

Music and Lyrics by

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i & Mark Mancina Book Adapted by

Susan Soon He Stanton

Your child may see well – we assess HOW they see

Music and Orchestrations Adapted and Arranged by

Ian Weinberger

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Based on the 2016 Disney film Moana

Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia)

®

10 - 24 JULY All tickets $20

IN COLLABORATION WITH

IN COLLABORATION WITH

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SHOW SPONSOR

Winter / 2021

7

WE LOVE…

Things we’re

buzzing about Kiwiana Fun: July School Holidays Visit Ferrymead these July school holidays for an action-packed, Kiwiana experience.

From biscuit making, toys and games, trams, and so much more, make Ferrymead a must these school holidays. Normal admissions apply.

10-24 July 10am to 2pm

From + For Nature

Tumbleweed tees creates beautiful lowimpact, ethical products inspired by Aotearoa's biodiversity. All design work is done in-house and printed to order, so there's no waste. PLUS for every adult t-shirt sold, $5 goes to specific conservation groups around NZ.

ferrymead.org.nz

tumbleweedtees.co.nz

Wonderland Glow Show!

This innovative, glow-in-the-dark stage show with giant puppets is a magical experience, a fusion of science and the arts, designed to intrigue tamariki around Aotearoa.

10 September, Isaac Theatre Royal glowshow.co.nz

GALILEO: SCIENTIST, ASTRONOMER, VISIONARY Kids can experiment with scales, clocks, pendulums and telescopes and learn about the father of modern science at this special exhibition from Italy. On at Canterbury Museum until 25 October. canterburymuseum.com

Matariki at Northlands Celebrate the Māori New Year, with our star trail scavenger hunt and storytime sessions.

Available 2 – 11 July. northlands.co.nz

BAREFOOT KIDS BOX (FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES) One-of-a-kind subscription box designed to help raise kind, caring, open-minded, global citizens who can think critically and creatively. The perfect gift for a baby shower, birthday or special occasion. barefootkids.co.nz/barefootkidsbox

8

Winter / 2021

Roll out of bed and ride the slopes, Literally!

Stay and ski in Selwyn. Six fields all within two hours of Christchurch.

Porters Alpine Resort, Broken River, Mt Olympus, Cheeseman, Craigieburn and Temple Basin give you the choice of ski experiences.

From challenging off-piste to gentle learners slopes; chair lifts, T-bar or the legendary nutcracker will get you to your favourite run.

All Selwyn fields have on mountain accommodation with great cafes and mountain bars. Wake up after a night of star gazing, put on your skis and head straight to the fields.

No queues, plenty of parking, great skiing.

For opening days visit selwyn.nz for further information.

Follow

Selwyn NZ Share

selwyn.nz Winter / 2021

9

POSITIVE PARENTING

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 xfactoreducation

T he battle for control

shares his thoughts on why we get so cross with our kids and why we need to work hard at being responsive rather than controlling, especially in moments of stress. By KATE BARBER

NATHAN WALLIS

W

e love them so much. But there are times when we all get angry and ‘lose it’ with our kids. Our intelligent, understanding adult brains shut down, and our emotional brains fire up, and just as our children do when they’re stressed and upset, we have meltdowns.

And, as with our kids, it tends to happen when we feel like we don’t have control.

Then, when all is calm, the waves of parental regret and guilt roll in.

Nathan Wallis reminds us that powering over our kids to get them to do what we want them to, through threatening or bribing or screaming at them, is damaging to their developing brains. It certainly isn’t good for our relationships with our kids or for their future relationships with others.

It’s one thing to say that we shouldn’t be controlling. The reality is that we make countless decisions for our kids every day, and the younger they are, the more we do this.

But, as Nathan says, our kids have an inherent need to be self-determining – over what they wear, what they eat, whatever. They’re little humans, after all.

As adults, we operate in our frontal cortexes, or procedural brains, 90 per cent of the time, says Nathan. We are thinking things through,

10 Winter / 2021

getting stuff done, and we like to be in control of our days, which means our kids’ days, too.

Whereas children, and adolescents too, operate in their limbic systems 90 per cent of the time, which means they are driven principally by their feelings. Even when we explain, every morning, that they need to put on their uniforms, they often quite simply don’t want to – chances are they have other (better) things they’d like to be doing.

Therein lies the rub: our kids’ ideas and plans don’t usually line up with ours, which is why, so often, we find ourselves battling for control.

As Nathan says, being a parent, you’re in control a lot of the time, but you also need to be responsive to your kids – because they also want and need some control. This means being flexible, listening to them, occasionally putting your own checklist aside and doing something they want to do, even though it will disrupt your schedule.

“Brick-wall parenting leads to anxiety and aggression in our kids,” says Nathan. When we refuse to listen to what they want, when we always say no, we deny them self-agency. It’s a parenting quagmire: the more we try to control them, the more resistance and rebellion we tend to get, which so often results in us ‘losing it’.

The challenge for us is being aware of how our brains are coping (or not) in the moment. In

response to a surge of stress and anger, Nathan talks about the 6-4-6 strategy, where you breathe in for 6, out for 4 and then in again for 6, allowing you to oxygenate your frontal cortex.

“Doing this exercise can turn a really nasty, angry response into, ‘I need some space’,” he says.

He also encourages parents to work out a coping ritual that works for them, like walking away and putting on the washing; giving yourself a ‘time out’ can be enough to help you hold it together.

It can be incredibly difficult to ‘change the record’ of our responses, especially if our own parents often got angry with us. As parents, we need to practise a lot.

What’s imperative is that, “following a rupture, we repair our relationship,” says Nathan. When you’re both calm, you’ll be able to see what they were so desperately trying to achieve and to understand the stressful dynamic that caused you to get so angry. It’s then that you need to restore the relationship – by apologising for your outburst, by having a cuddle on the couch, by reading a book together.

“You don’t need to be a perfect parent or even a great parent to gain all the benefits for your child as talked about in child development literature,” says Nathan. “The literature uses the term ‘good enough’ parent – so don’t be too hard on yourself.”

BUMP TO BUNDLE

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

+

Sleep baby in a 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

Maybe Baby In her newly published book Maybe Baby, SUE SAUNDERS shares her insights, experience and practical help for those navigating assisted fertility.

A

uthor and counsellor Sue Saunders experienced infertility trauma herself, which drew her to working as a counsellor at a fertility clinic for almost 20 years. She was inspired to write this new guide on coping with infertility when one of her clients remarked that she couldn’t find any books on the subject.

Sue says, “My client told me she never intended to come to counselling, but she couldn’t find any reading on the subject to help her with the emotional side of treatment. She told me I would have to write the book.”

The difficulties often extend to the wider family. Parents and siblings may not know how to talk about the issues or not want to announce their own pregnancies or milestones for fear of upsetting their loved ones. In these instances, Maybe Baby can be an excellent resource for those with family members or friends who are experiencing infertility or undergoing treatment.

The book’s structure works through a series of scenario-based stories under each topic, and each chapter ends with practical suggestions under the headings, Things to think about and Things that can be helpful.

Maybe Baby covers a broad range of topics from exploring treatment options such as IVF, donors and surrogacy, to gay couples or single women navigating the various ways to become a parent and the emotional journey that comes with all of these scenarios.

HOW TO HELP

“I really wanted to write a book that would be useful. That people could dip into when they need it. Around 25 per cent of people dealing with fertility problems seek counselling, so there’s that other 75 per cent out there who may be looking for information and support. It’s not meant to replace counselling, but to stand alongside it,” says Sue.

2. New Zealanders are very focused on being child-centric. When you’re socialising, try to talk about various topics and avoid a lot of talk about children.

Sue says that experiencing grief is extremely common and particularly when peers are beginning to have children. This is when friends and families celebrate gender reveals, christenings, baby showers, or naming ceremonies. It’s these rituals that can be incredibly difficult for those who are struggling to become parents.

1. Think carefully before asking people when they are going to have children. This question is always asked with good intentions, but it can be very painful for some people to answer.

3. If you have a friend struggling with these issues, try to think about activities that will enhance their wellbeing. Perhaps go for a walk with them or take them out for coffee.

4. There’ll be times when people don’t want to talk, so let them know you won’t keep asking, but you are always available if they do want to share.

Winter / 2021

11

TEN TINY TOES

LOOKING AFTER MUM:

Maternal mental health Sometimes motherhood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so how can we help new mums? LAURA TRETHEWAY offers some practical suggestions.

W

e spend so much time preparing for the birth of our babies, but it’s often the first few months after delivery – the so-called ‘fourth trimester’ – that turns out to be the most difficult. Parenthood comes with a series of major adjustments, both physical and psychological, so it’d be surprising if new mums didn’t feel overwhelmed!

How to help Mum Sometimes it’s hard to know how to help, so we’ve gathered a few fool-proof options… +

Surprise her with sleep: looking after bub for a few hours while she gets some shut-eye can make a world of difference!

+

Give her home a spruce up: it’s so much easier to cocoon with your new baby when your environment is cosy. Giving the gift of a cleaning service, or chipping in to tidy up is a wonderful gift.

Here in Aotearoa, one in seven women experience a perinatal mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, either during pregnancy or postpartum. We need to open up about the struggles of motherhood – especially because maternal suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in New Zealand.

+

Drop off some kai: it’s always a treat to have dinner ready to heat and eat, or a special batch of homemade slices to get you through those sleepless nights.

Knowing all of this, it can be hard to know what to do – or how to help. It tends to bring up feelings of guilt, but it’s essential for new mums to prioritise self-care. The old adage is true: you can’t look after someone else unless you’re looking after yourself. The better you feel, the more you’ll enjoy being a parent, so taking care of your mental and physical health, and your relationships with whānau is vital. Whether that means going for a walk with a friend, taking a bath, or watching The Bachelor, take time out for yourself and don’t feel guilty about it.

+

Book in a catch-up: it isn’t just the baby who needs love and attention – mum does too!

+

Remind her you’re thinking of her: it’s easy to doubt yourself in the early days of motherhood – so sending a quick text saying ‘you’re doing great’ can mean a lot.

+

DIY date-night: book yourself in as babysitter and give mum a night off to go out with her partner, friend or just have a night to herself.

+

Pop around to help out: it’s the little things that make a big difference, like bringing over a coffee or taking five minutes to load up the dishwasher while you’re visiting – she’ll love you for it.

The team at Baby Bonding have heard it all, with many women reporting that they find the first few months with a newborn much more challenging than birth.

Traditional antenatal classes focus on bubs and their birth – but not on the journey mothers go through in becoming a parent. Baby Bonding host workshops focusing on the transition into motherhood and the mental-emotional journey women go through in the fourth trimester.

For new parents, it’s important to take the pressure off and not expect too much of yourself. Becoming a mum brings massive change, but the most important thing is connecting with your new baby – not feeling like a super mum. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, because you’re not alone if you’re feeling like it’s all a bit much.

Being a mother is an incredible journey, but it’s also really hard – and it’s about time we acknowledged that. babybonding.nz

12 Winter / 2021

TEN TINY TOES

New parents will love you for delivering them fresh meals by Angel Delivery.

Delivered with love B

ecoming a parent for the first time is a big deal.

Life gets turned on its head for a bit, and sometimes we don’t know which way is up. It’s the basics that sometimes get forgotten about.

So how about sending freshly made food to new parents? As Grace Kreft, from Angel Delivery, says, “The last thing they need is flowers – that’s just another thing to have to keep alive!”

If you lived close by and had time, it’d be easy to drop off a lasagne or call in to help out with vacuuming, but with many of us living some distance from our families or being uber-busy with work and family commitments ourselves, it’s fantastic to know Angel Delivery can deliver fresh meal care packages anywhere in New Zealand.

Each delivery is packed with big hearty family meals, handmade by chefs in Wellington, who use real homestyle ingredients. It’s the ultimate comfort food, delivered to the door. Plus, there are sides, desserts, treats and cookies on offer, too, as well as hand-knitted baby booties to complete the package offering.

Operating for over ten years, Angel Delivery was founded by paediatric nurse, Rebecca. Since then, she has grown the business, and the company is now known as New Zealand’s trusted experts in chilled food delivery. As Grace says, “Food is love, and our freshly made food packages can help you show your love during life’s meaningful moments – whether that’s a time of great need or times of celebration and happiness.” angeldelivery.co.nz

Winter / 2021

13

LITTLE WONDERS

The extra-curricular

balancing act

We talk to NATHAN WALLIS about balancing your aspirations with your child’s interests so that activities outside of school are enriching and enjoyable. By KATE BARBER

W

ith an abundance of options out there, it can be difficult to decide what activities to sign our kids up for. Before sorting out their after-school schedules, it’s worth thinking about the purpose of extra-curricular pursuits – what we want our kids to get out of them long-term.

The school curriculum has its limitations. As Nathan Wallis says, there are incredible neurological advantages for children who, from a young age, learn a second language or learn a musical instrument.

Yet schools don’t always capitalise on this advantage by offering these, let alone making them compulsory.

With its focus on academic achievement, the curriculum doesn’t cater to all children equally.

Some, like the more right-brained children who love dance and movement, for instance, may miss out on opportunities to have their strengths nurtured, says Nathan.

learn the drums, for instance, it is important they commit to the process for an agreed period of time – especially if you’re going out and buying them a new drum kit, Nathan says.

By sticking at their instrument for a year, by earning pocket money to buy a new bike, by mucking out the pony’s paddock, children gain so much more than the skills directly related to their chosen activity.

With so many possibilities to explore, there is the risk of overscheduling our kids, leading to stress and anxiety. After a day at school, sometimes what our kids really need is downtime. If they’re under the age of eight, they certainly need free play opportunities and not too many structured activities, which will overload them. “Childhood has to be more chill than stress,” says Nathan.

Whether it’s piano, musical theatre, first aid or football, there are so many different learning experiences out there to challenge and inspire kids. Parents can choose activities that play to their child’s specific strengths and passions or pick ones that present unfamiliar challenges to grow new skills.

Extra-curricular activities provide the opportunity for children to have a more balanced curriculum.

As Nathan says, “Every child should have the opportunity to flourish in whatever pursuits match their strengths and passions.”

As for the optimal age for your child to start an activity, there are bursts of brain development around the age of eight, meaning that children will pick up skills quicker. However, as Nathan says, “No age is too young if they enjoy it”.

We need to balance our aspirations for our child/ren alongside their interests and passions, he says. While thinking about what we want for our kids, we also need to listen to their preferences, and this means not forcing them into an activity we are passionate about if they really don’t want to do it.

Take Tiger Woods, who started imitating his father’s golf swing at the age of six months, and at age two putted with Bob Hope on The Mike Douglas Show. Tiger learnt the skills of the game, but more than that, he learnt to love golf, says Nathan, and it was this passion that drove his success.

There is this push and pull: allowing children to pursue their interests and also helping them to build dispositions such as patience, perseverance and commitment. If they say they want to

Children won’t commit, and they won’t excel ultimately, if they do not enjoy it. “What’s important is that you teach children to love what they do.”

14 Winter / 2021

POSITIVE PARENTING

TUTORING Four benefits of 1:1 learning Students enjoy learning when they have the support they need inside and outside the classroom. But it can be difficult for teachers to meet each student’s needs in a classroom setting. This is where tutoring can help.

T

utoring provides young learners with individual attention and support, where a teacher may not. Tutoring can help strengthen skills, challenge young learners, boost confidence, and build essential learning habits.

1. TUTORING IS TAILORED TO EACH STUDENT’S LEARNING STYLE

Every child has their own learning style. A key benefit of tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords is that we tailor the learning for your child. In a tutoring session, tutors can understand a child’s learning needs and adapt their teaching style to best suit the student. You may find that your child is behind or maybe even ahead of their peers, and so tutoring can offer personalised programmes to suit their unique and specific academic needs.

2. ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT

One-on-one time with the tutor gives your child individualised attention that they wouldn’t usually get in a classroom, and it allows them to learn at their own pace. Your child may experience the feeling of not keeping up with their peers or

lack the confidence to raise their hand to answer questions, which can negatively impact their learning progress. They may simply need extra time to work and learn at their own pace. This can help your child develop a positive attitude towards their learning and feel more confident.

3. IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Each child faces different challenges in school. If you think that your child has come across certain obstacles within their learning, tutoring may come in handy. In a tutoring environment, tutors can help your child overcome specific learning barriers by individually targeting whichever aspect of learning they are struggling with.

For example, your child may be struggling in particular areas of maths, such as addition or subtraction – tutoring can help them overcome those difficulties.

4. CONSISTENT AND DIRECT FEEDBACK

In comparison to a classroom setting, tutoring can guarantee consistent, direct and personalised feedback on your child’s academic performance.

Tutoring enables your child to receive one-

on-one attention from their tutor, making it easy to assess their strengths and weaknesses and where there is room for improvement. At NumberWorks’nWords, parent reporting is an integral part of our tutoring programmes. We provide regular and detailed updates about each child’s progress, allowing parents to be involved in their child’s academic success and goal-setting.

This is important for young learners and their academic performance, as it fosters growth and boosts confidence.

Tutoring is, without a doubt, beneficial for young learners. If your child requires additional support with their learning, or needs an individualised learning programme tailored to them, get in touch! Our tuition model helps young learners reach their full potential and boosts confidence by providing them with the necessary resources and skills to excel in their learning.

To learn more about English and maths tuition with NumberWorks’nWords, contact your local centre, or book a free assessment today! numberworksnwords.com/nz/

Winter / 2021

15

CLASS OF THEIR OWN

Finding their superpower G

uy Pope-Mayell, his wife Suzanne, and Lorna Timms started the Dyslexia Foundation because in 2006, dyslexia was not officially recognised.

The process is simple, involving a 15-minute discovery call and three one-hour sessions, and the results so far have been exciting.

Guy says, “I spoke to a young guy who had always wanted to be in the army, but he needed to pass the aptitude test. Within a school “The Minister of Education at the time said on TV that dyslexia environment, as a person with dyslexia, he would have been doesn’t exist. That grated with us because that had not been our entitled to a writer/reader or other support, but in this case, there experience with our own family. So initially, we decided to form is no provision for neurodivergent candidates. He sat the test, and the foundation to have dyslexia officially acknowledged. The he failed. After that, he went through our journey from there has been one of advocacy Belief Change programme. All he did was and struggle – with some progress and some attend those sessions to help him with lack of progress. The journey continues,” In 2006, GUY POPE-MAYELL limiting beliefs, and the next time he sat says Guy. the test, he passed. It changed his whole co-founded the Dyslexia Initially the foundation’s work centred life trajectory.”

Foundation of New around education. The group provided For families affected by dyslexia, Guy professional development for schools and Zealand to advocate for says the most important thing is to take ran awareness weeks. They also ventured children and adults with responsibility rather than wait for the into justice, helping to raise the youth court system to change. dyslexia.

The foundation age from 16 to 17 and above.

continues to seek ways “There has been great progress in the Increasingly, the foundation noted that by education system, but the reality is the to provide support, and far the most disabling aspect of dyslexia was struggle of navigating education is still the formation of limiting beliefs caused by its latest initiative focuses traumatic and can lead to all sorts of issues. years of running into obstacles within the on building self-esteem.

My advice is to tackle it as things come education system. "Beliefs such as 'I am lazy', up, think what’s the one thing I can do 'I'm not intelligent', 'I'm the odd one out' now to help. Maybe that’s a tutor or a become ingrained," says Guy. "These beliefs change of school.

But because the landscape is changing all the have a lasting impact on both the sufferer and their family, with time, it’s best to take it one step at a time.” widespread effects on relationships."

For families who wish to access the Belief Change programme, the To combat the disabling effects of low self-esteem and limiting first step is to register on the foundation’s website. The cost for the beliefs, the foundation launched The Family Journey Belief Change three sessions is $595, and Guy says this is an investment in your programme. Families can now access a service tailored to those family’s future as the results can be life-changing. with dyslexia and designed to retrain the brain to stop limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. dyslexiafoundation.org.nz 16 Winter / 2021

TWEENS AND TEENS

School stress :

HOW TO HELP YOUR TEEN TAKE THE ANGST OUT OF EDUCATION From exams to assignments and the pressure to get the right grades for tertiary study, school is stressful for teenagers. ERIN HARRISON went looking for ways you can help your teen find a balance.

Here are five simple, practical ways you can support your teen throughout the school year.

1. LISTEN

Active listening is a valuable tool to have up your sleeve when met with an anxious teen. When they need your help, try to switch off parent mode and let them vent, without offering advice, ideas or opinions. Giving them your full attention will help them feel heard and validated by you. Asking relevant questions will also encourage them to talk longer.

2. ENCOURAGE GOOD LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Just like us, stressed teens can benefit from switching off devices and ensuring they get enough sleep. Of course, this is often easier said than done, but if you can model healthy behaviour and put in place some habits at home, they are more likely to follow your lead. Get out with them for some exercise, offer (mostly) healthy meals and snacks, and see if you can join in on anything they enjoy doing. You could also look into practising mindfulness and meditation together.

3. SHARE SOME REAL-WORLD TRUTHS

Although it may go against everything you’re supposed to do as a parent, why not let your teen in on the secret that school isn’t the be-all and end-all. Academia doesn’t suit everyone, and there can be many pathways to an

exciting and fulfilling career. This approach is not about discouraging kids from doing well at school but rather reassuring them that not being top of the class is not the end of the world.

4. SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEM

This might be a tricky one but try to get some one-on-one time with your teen. Look for an activity that you both enjoy and use it as an opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Rather than trying to guess what they’d like to do (and maybe missing the mark), why not ask them if there’s anywhere they want to go or a new hobby they’d like to try.

5. HELP THEM GET ORGANISED

Remember that your teen may not have learnt skills like prioritisation and organisation. You can help by working together to make a to-do list, mark assignments on a wall planner and get involved (as much as they will let you) with sorting out their school schedule. This can help clarify what’s most important and minimise overwhelm if they can see when things are due and how much time they need to allocate to each task. Try to quickly check in with your teen each day to find out what went well and anything that’s coming up that they are worried about.

TOP DOG THEATRE & ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL

present william shakespeare

ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL

Winter / 2021

17

ACTIVE KIDS

Emilie’s adventures

Keen trampers VICTORIA and EMILIE are on a mission to explore the wide variety of beautiful tracks and huts throughout the South Island. Recently, the pair set their sights on the Angelus Hut in the Nelson Lakes region and shared their story with us.

“

I want to be the leader!” Miss Six announced, pushing past me in her determination to be in front. Momentarily off balance with my heavy pack, I narrowly avoided twisting an ankle on the sharp rocks and silently swore while cracking a bright smile.

“Good for you, sweetheart!” Better to let her set the pace while the enthusiasm is still flowing strong, I thought, as I tightened the waist strap on my tramping pack, pulled my neck warmer over my nose and followed her along the ridgeline.

It was Boxing Day, and we had just gained around 600 metres elevation while slogging up the side of Pourangahau/Mount Robert on our way to Angelus Hut. Situated on the shores of a small alpine tarn, the hut is perched some 1650 metres high on the Travers Range between Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa in Nelson Lakes National Park. Tramping blogs accurately describe the three-kilometre climb up the Pinchgut Track from the Mount Robert car park as “unrelenting,” and I would wholeheartedly agree. However, my company was cheerful, and the views were spectacular.

We stopped for a quick snack and to catch our breath at the Relax Shelter, adding windproof layers and sun protection to protect us on the remaining nine kilometres of exposed ridgeline before we dropped down to Lake Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus.

My stomach was a mixture of nerves and excitement as I surveyed the vast open space around us. I had watched the Mountain Safety Council’s route video several times, checked the latest weather reports, spoken to the DOC staff at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre and secured my personal locator beacon. However, I knew nothing was certain in this unpredictable alpine environment. The spring weather was restless and volatile, and I didn’t want to get caught out on the tops with a six-year-old on day one of a multi-day tramp in Nelson Lakes National Park. I tried to swallow my nerves, remain

18 Winter / 2021

calm and confident, assess the risks, and tell myself, Hey Mama, you got this.

Miss Six wanted to chat. “Mummy, tell me a story,” she demanded as we picked our way up a particularly rocky section of the ridgeline, the sunlight glinting off her caramel and golden curls. I began a story about a family of rock goblins who spent their days moving rocks around the mountaintops and tidying up after storms. One day a particularly nasty storm swept over and blew the rock goblins down the mountain. They sheltered from the wind and snow in a kākāpō’s burrow, making friends with the mother bird and her chick. In the morning, when all was calm, they dug their way out of the burrow and skipped across the snow, checking that all the birds and animals were safe and gathering seeds and berries for the mummy kākāpō to eat. I’m sure anyone with a science background will pick me up on numerous factual inaccuracies. Still, we liked these adventure stories of caring for the environment, and I have a repertoire of characters up my sleeve for long walks like these.

By now, the western side of Mount Robert sloped away steeply on one side of us, while tiny alpine tarns sparkled on the eastern side a few hundred metres below. “It looks like a mermaid’s pool!” my daughter exclaimed, waving her tramping pole. A tiny clump of bright green moss was a fairy’s carpet. I love seeing the magic of the world through her eyes.

“We’re on top of the world now, Mummy,” my daughter told me, squeezing my hand. “We can float on the clouds!” When I’d first showed her photos of the hut on the DOC website, nestled on the shores of Lake Angelus and surrounded by rugged mountains, she had agreed that she also wanted to visit “Angela’s Hut”. Now here we were, on our summer school holidays, 1400 metres in the clouds, the only two tiny humans as far as our eyes could see.

ACTIVE KIDS

18

Make a

green gecko with Margaret Tolland

You need n Paper you can see through – but not too thin n A pencil for scoring (pressing a line into the paper to make it easier to fold) n Coloured pencils, pens, or paints

1 2 3 4

Trace this gecko onto paper.

Colour it, giving it scales and patterns.

Check out the green geckos Margaret made!

Use your pencil to score over the dotted lines.

Fold along the scored lines and pinch the folds, so your gecko is threedimensional.

Did you know?

Geckos have special feet for climbing walls and trees. They can even walk upside down!

Why not stick your green gecko on a wall or ceiling?

Green Gecko Day at Zealandia Saturday 11 April 2015

Tautuku Gecko

Are you in Wellington? Then come along to Zealandia – meet geckos, tuatara, and Margaret!

(Entry is free for kids.)

And watch out for this beautiful new book by Margaret and her friend Gay Hay. If you’re lucky, you may spot

©Carey Knox

a Tautuku gecko hiding under some tree bark. We don’t know a lot about them as they are difficult to find in their dense forest home.

We do know that these endangered natives of Aotearoa munch on insects and nectar from flowers and fruit. Some of them even have blue eyes! These gorgeous geckos can also be called blue-eyed geckos.

Kiwi Kids GETTING INVOLVED F or over 30 years, Forest & Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club | Hakuturi Toa (KCC) has been connecting Kiwi kids to New Zealand’s amazing wildlife and wild places.

KCC now has over 5,000 members throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Members have the opportunity to go on KCC Adventures. Volunteer coordinators arrange outings and meet-ups for members to explore their local beaches, forests and everywhere in between. Some clubs also get involved in local conservation projects like tree planting, creating lizard gardens or making nesting boxes for little blue penguins. kcc.org.nz

Winter / 2021

19

Meet Orana Wildlife Park’s stunning new tigers! An Annual Pass, enabling you to visit every day for 12 months, is the best value way to regularly visit the zoo.

Orana Wildlife Park 793 McLeans Island Road

Daily 10am - 5pm

scifest.org.nz

A celebration of all things science for all ages. Dunedin comes alive this July.

New Zealand International Science Festival, Dunedin, NZ

8 - 18 July

CHRISTCHURCH

courttheatre.org.nz

Watch the world of Moana be brought to life by young, local performers in The Court Theatre’s production of Disney’s Moana JR. Featuring all your favourite songs from the movie!

Disney’s Moana

10 - 24 July

TOP PICK

KidsFest

10 - 25 July

Proudly produced by Christchurch City Council, Matariki Fireworks Spectacular will deliver a cracker pyrotechnic display set to sweet-as Kiwi hits.

Matariki Fireworks Spectacular New Brighton Pier

17 July 3pm

Magical winter memories

bachcare.co.nz

Visit bachcare.co.nz to explore holiday homes near NZ’s best ski fields.

There’s snow place like home!

Make magical winter memories these school holidays with a snowbound stay at a cosy cabin or modern ski lodge (or even a converted train carriage!).

Winter school holidays

Gardening and nature-themed activities for preschoolers every Monday during term time. Meet at the Botanic Gardens kiosk.

Bot tots

10 - 11.30am Mondays

glowshow.co.nz

This innovative, glow-in-the-dark stage show with giant puppets is a magical experience designed to intrigue tamariki around Aotearoa.

Wonderland Glow Show Isaac Theatre Royal

10 Sept 10am, 11.30am

william shakespeare

present

ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL

&

ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL

otautahirollers.co.nz

School of Skate: Learn to skate, for kids aged between 4 and 17.

Ōtautahi Junior Skating Programme, Celebration Centre, 81 Bickerton St, Christchurch

Every Friday 5 - 6pm

Book your summer break

bachcare.co.nz

topdogtheatre.com TOP DOG THEATRE

Visit bachcare.co.nz and filter by beachfront or lakeside homes to find your perfect stay, this one is property ID 5107.

Don’t miss out! Avoid last-minute holiday stress by locking in a family-size bach at your favourite summer spot today.

Book early for the sun

Hester Ullyart and Will Alexander head up an incredible cast for one of Shakespeare’s funniest comedies. Set around 1990, this show is full of fun, excitement, song and dance – and always expect the unexpected.

Top Dog Theatre presents Twelfth Night, Isaac Theatre Royal

Kids’ School Holiday Painting Fun and creativity! A range of creative classes will be held in the dedicated studio located at Level 1, 1 Hereford Street at The Arts Centre.

12 - 14 August

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

Various dates from 14 - 18 July

this winter

10 July 6 - 7.30pm

What’s on

Winter school holidays can be a challenge, but there’s plenty of fantastic events in the mix to get you all out of the house and enjoying Ōtautahi.

We’ve got you sorted with this calendar full of events.

Pull me out and pin me up

CHRISTCHURCH EVENT CALENDAR

bachcare.co.nz

Making family holidays easier since 2004

ccc.govt.nz

Rush, jump, slip, slide, biff and bash your way through our inflatable obstacle course. Our big inflatable course will be at Graham Condon Recreation and Sports Centre for the kids on the last Sunday of every month.

Weka Pass Railway Waipara Glenmark Station, 113 Glenmark Drive

wekapassrailway.co.nz

Inflatable Fun, Graham Condon Pool, 3 Sisson Drive, Papanui

Last Sunday of every month 12.30 - 2pm

astro.nz

Christchurch Astro Tours are proud to introduce you to the southern night sky.

Operating from Springston Community Centre, they start the night with a short talk, before showcasing the highlights of the evening with a sky tour.

Christchurch Astro Tours 11 Leeston Rd, Springston

Fridays - Sundays

christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania is free to the public and runs for two years, with multiple change-outs adding new works and perspectives. It is accompanied by a catalogue (available from the Gallery’s Design Store) and an exciting programme of talks, a children’s activity trail, making workshops, artist interventions, a family fun day.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

Until March 2022

selwyn.govt.nz

This is an easy track to a bird hide, where you can view abundant birdlife. A great walk for children and families.

Harts Creek Sneak

Anytime

Rest and recharge!

bachcare.co.nz

Search for property ID 1062811 on bachcare.co.nz to soak in this gorgeous Akaroa view.

Need to rest and recharge?

Treat yourself to some time for two (or just for you) at a romantic holiday home.

Romantic getaway

christchurchattractions.nz

ferrymead.org.nz

Stroll through the village of Moorhouse as you enjoy the Ferrymead Night Market.

International foods, craft beers and ciders, not to mention the array of stallholders.

Trams and trains operating, making it a great family evening out. $2 admission, Tram and Train rides additional.

Ferrymead Heritage Park 50 Ferrymead Park Drive

7 August 4 - 8pm

ymcachch.org.nz

This camp is a great way to gain skills and confidence in skiing and snowboarding and make new friends.

YMCA Ski Camp

July holidays

wordchristchurch.co.nz

For KidsFest, WORD Christchurch is stoked to be bringing Canterbury kids a super-fun event with none other than the co-creator of the mega-selling Treehouse stories, Andy Griffiths!

Andy Griffiths

Take a train ride on one of the public operating days, on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, and most public holidays.

canterburymuseum.com

Canterbury Museum’s annual family favourite returns! Bring a torch and search the galleries for clues that will help you crack Galileo’s code and discover his secret new invention.

Night at the Museum: The Galileo Code

13 - 15 July 6 - 8pm

christchurchattractions.nz

Kids go free at the Christchurch Gondola these winter school holidays! Up to three children free per paying adult. Use the promo code KIDSFEST2021 to book online.

Kids Go Free at the Christchurch Gondola

10 - 25 July 2021

kidsfest.co.nz

Looking for some family fun these winter school holidays? Jump into KidsFest 2021.

Free entry for kids on the Christchurch Tram Up to three children go free on the hop-on hop-off Christchurch Tram with a paying adult. Offer valid year-round.

Daily

blackcat.co.nz

Two children free per paying adult during KidsFest.

Kids Cruise Free, Black Cat Nature Cruises

10 - 25 July

oranawildlifepark.co.nz

Kim Free @ OWP

GET CRAFTY

Owl hands on deck !

The creative kids from the BUTTERFLY ROOM at MINERVA HOUSE preschool got messy with Resene paints, creating a wise owl to watch over their favourite play area.

E

veryone got their hands dirty creating this fabulous work of art that doubles as an outdoor blackboard for the kids to draw on and practise writing their letters.

Deciding on the owl design, the teachers put out the call to families to donate a suitable piece of timber to use. Harley’s dad, Mike, came through with a large sheet of ply, and Bailey from The Sign Ace cut out the design.

The children were each given a turn to apply the primer and base coats, and then they donned their smocks and used their brushes to splatter the bright colours. That was everyone’s favourite bit!

ka pai!

MATERIALS USED: Because the owl will be living outside, the kids first painted their sheet of plywood using Resene Lumbersider waterborne low sheen paint so their work of art will last the distance in the winter weather.

THE OWL’S TUMMY:

Resene FX Blackboard Paint

BASECOAT

Resene Half Black White

BACKGROUND

Well done, Minerva House kids (and grown-ups).

Your owl looks fantastic.

Resene Extraterrestrial

SPLATTERS

Resene Testpots in Resene Tree Frog, Resene Fountain Blue, Resene Wonderland, Resene Glamour Puss, Resene Poppy, Resene Daredevil, Resene Southern Cross and Resene Rose Gold.

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

22 Winter / 2021

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Picking your moment We asked the experts at DUXTON DENTAL

when is the ideal time to have your kids’ teeth checked by the orthodontist.

P

arents often ask us at Duxton Dental, “Should we get our kids’ teeth straightened now at aged eight to eleven, or wait? I’d heard that it’s best to wait until they are teenagers to have braces because they have stopped growing by then.”

We explain that from the age of eight to eleven is actually the ideal time to have an initial orthodontic assessment. This is because some things are best to know early. For instance, are there any missing permanent teeth, or are there any conditions that could be affecting normal facial development?

THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCLUDE: 1. Cross bites. This is when teeth are on the wrong side of each other. Left untreated, teeth can be damaged and growth affected.

2. Narrow upper arches. This can stop the lower arches from coming forward and developing properly, which can lead to front teeth being pushed forward.

3. Crowding or spacing. This can lead to premature wearing down of the adult teeth.

4. Prominent front teeth. Where the lower lip doesn’t protect the upper front teeth when the lips are relaxed, so when running around at home or the playground, the teeth can be at higher risk of traumatic injuries.

5. Upper or lower jaws out of alignment. In some cases, leaving this untreated could result in facial asymmetry or a missed opportunity to correct a facial imbalance like a recessive chin.

6. Cosmetic or self-esteem issues relating to an upset smile. Generally, we only treat at this age if there is something that is affecting normal function and preventing normal growth and development, but occasionally, crooked teeth can insight teasing, and this could warrant early treatment.

So with many practices providing free orthodontic screening, why not get your young ones checked out, just in case.

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.

Winter / 2021

23

KIWI KIDS

Pooh and friends Wander into the Hundred Acre Wood with Adairs Kids and Winnie the Pooh’s first ever collaboration! The adventures of everyone’s favourite bear and his pals are brought to life with adorable illustrations across a new range for the nursery and kids’ bedroom. adairs.co.nz

KIWI KIDS’ OUTDOOR PLAY 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

JUSTICE LEAGUE Inspire your little ones to dream of big adventures with their favourite superheroes in comic-style prints and bright colours. Shop the entire action-packed collection of bedlinen and home accessories in-store and online at Adairs. adairs.co.nz

Kiwi kids

WONDERFUL WALLPAPERS

Local

24 Winter / 2021

Fire up your children’s imaginations and bring out the best in their sleeping and play spaces with the Resene Boys & Girls Wallpaper Collection, featuring many of the most popular children’s themes. Combine with painted features and fun accessories for rooms that will inspire your children to dream. Remember to paint your ceiling and walls first, so you don’t drip paint on your new wallpaper. View the full range of wallpapers at your Resene ColorShop. resene.co.nz/colorshops

AFTER-SCHOOL CARE

WORKING FROM HOME with a family?

Managing your workload and enjoying relaxed family time is challenging when you work from home. Enrolling your kids in a holiday or after school care programme could be the help you need.

O

ver the last 12 months, the workplace landscape has dramatically shifted, and a large number of employees now find themselves working from home at the kitchen table.

Are you one of the ‘lucky’ ones? Do you get to work from home now? If you are, and you have children, and it’s working for you, then woohoo! But, if you are, and you have children, and it’s not, then that can be pretty challenging! There’s not only the pressure of work and meeting your targets but also your wee cherubs at you because they’re hungry, or thirsty, or want you to play with them or feel that you are ignoring them (darn work).

So what do you do? Do you turn on the TV for the day or plug them into a tablet?

What if there was a place where they could go, either after school or in the school holidays, where they were entertained and occupied in a fun, safe and affordable way?

You’d then want to know that such a place had awesome staff who interacted with your children and had a good laugh or two as well.

If that’s what you want for your children, instead of getting square eyes from the TV or overuse syndrome on their thumbs from their devices, then you need to look at MASH. At MASH, your children will get to take part in fantastic, planned on-site activities, free afternoon tea (if enrolled after 3pm) and go on fantastic excursions in the holidays.

Quote this code when you book your holiday programme or after school care and receive our special Family Times discounted rate.

FAMILYT

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!

Winter / 2021

25

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Frank is getting ready to test some grapes!

T he acid test

Do you know that you can make your own acidity test from cabbage?! This is one of our favourite experiments to do at Tūhura Science Centre at Otago Museum. Here is how you can do it at home!

You can film yourself doing this experiment and share it with us by tagging us at @otagomuseum.

We would love to see how your lunch tested!

WHAT YOU NEED

WHAT TO DO

+ Red cabbage

Take four large red cabbage leaves and boil them in water for approximately 10 minutes until the water is a purple colour. Wait until the water has cooled down, discard (or eat!) the leaves and pour the water into a jug.

+ Water + Vinegar + Baking Soda

otagomuseum.nz

+ Foods to test

pH Scale for Red Cabbage Solution pHpH

00

22

44

66

88

10 14 10 12 14

pH SCALE FOR RED CABBAGE SOLUTION COLOUR colour red red

26 Winter / 2021

Iight dark purple aqua green blue aqua purple blue green yellow yellow pink purple pink purple

Now take two clear glasses. Put vinegar in one and baking soda (around a teaspoon) mixed with water in the other. Take a couple of spoonfuls of the cabbage water and add them to each of the glasses.

The acidic (vinegar) glass will go pink, and the basic (baking soda) glass will go blue. Use the pH scale to help you test other food too. What colour does your sandwich go? What about biscuits? You can test your whole lunchbox. Frank is getting ready to test some grapes in this picture!

Facial Beauty and A Smile to share – “The Non-Surgical, Non-Extraction way” Before

INVISALIGN

“We want to bring balance and facial symmetry to your child’s smile and face —helping them look and feel their best.”- Says Dr. Sachdev of Smilesville Dental

After

Early intervention Dentofacial Orthopaedics is based on treatment at a younger age. It works by guiding and developing the growth of the muscles, teeth and bone into the ideal shape and their relationship with each other in a “non-surgical, non-extraction” way, creating stable bites using postural changes. This treatment focuses on creating room to accommodate all the adult teeth, alleviate crowding and produce a more balanced facial profile.

Guiding the growth of the jaws helps address and prevent overcrowded teeth and poor biting relationships between the upper and lower jaws.

Normally this treatment can be done without the need for jaw surgery and without the need for tooth extractions. Dentifacial Orthopedic treatment not only creates a full profile and a wide natural smile, a more open airway (addressing breathing problems such as asthma, mouth breathing, snoring and sleep apnoea) but also promotes the healthy positioning of the jaw joints (TMJs).

Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient

Before

After

Early intervention allows to focus on the growth, development and wellbeing of our younger patients along with straightening teeth before permanent teeth are set thereby bringing balance and facial symmetry. By using early orthodontics our goal is to maintain or provide space for permanent teeth so they grow in straight. This minimises the need for more extensive and painful intervention later. “We believe 6-8 years of age is the best time

to assess if your child would benefit from this treatment.”

Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient

Before

If a child missed this age then get our free assessment immediately as earlier is still better than later in general.

After

Smilesville offers the revolutionary Invisalign teeth straightening option of realigning teeth without the use of metal is a major advancement in the field of Orthodontics due to its Invisible nature. An option now available for kids, pre-teens, teens and adults. “We believe in minimally invasive

dentistry and Invisalign is the least invasive procedure to straightening teeth and getting an amazing Smile.” says Dr. Sachdev of Smilesville Dental

It’s major advantage is no wires to trap food, no manipulating toothbrushes around fixed wires, it helps the wearer to maintain a high level of dental hygiene.

Smilesville Dental was the first Invisalign platinum provider from Christchurch (and the whole of the South Island) having more than 13 years Invisalign experience.

Face & smile improvement of a Smilesville patient

What Smilesville patients are saying

Smilesville Dental exclusively offers expert advise and treatments in advanced cosmetic dentistry, Smile design and full mouth reconstruction, Implants, Invisalign and Orthodontics to give you an amazing Smile not only to Smile … but to Smile with Confidence.

Grant: “Competent , professional care with a laugh and a smile. Ruchika

looks after myself and two of my children. She is great with the kids, especially my youngest who can be a testing patient.”

Roll out of bed and ride the slopes, Literally!

Ruth: “Very happy with the good care taken of my children during their

Talk to the friendly staff at Smilesville Dental to transform your child’s face, jaws, teeth and life!

Call 0800 INVISIBLE (0800 468 474)

orthodontics. Some nervous moments as the treatment involved an ‘ugly duckling’ phase but as a result they have fabulous smiles and we are all very pleased. Rusheka is very patient with people and accommodating and I recommend coming when your children are as young as 8 to be able to take advantage of the most options for their treatment.”

Rachele:

“I have been with Smilesville Dental for the last 10 years. We are now 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.”

Stay and ski in Selwyn. Six fields all within two hours of Christchurch.

GET A FREE CONSULTATION NOW and see how Smilesville Dental can transform your child’s face, jaws, teeth and potentially lifestyle going forward!

Call 0800 INVISIBLE

Porters Alpine Resort, Broken River, Mt Olympus, Cheeseman, Craigieburn and Temple Basin give you the choice of ski experiences.

(0800 468 474) From challenging off-piste to gentle learners slopes; chair lifts, T-bar or the legendary nutcracker will get you to your favourite run.

Leaders in Appearance dentistry

All Selwyn fields have on mountain accommodation with great cafes and mountain bars. Wake up after a night of star gazing, put on • Orthodontics for adults, youth • Extreme Dental makeovers your skis and head straight to the fields.

No queues, plenty of parking,

and children • Invisalign – The Invisible way great skiing. to straighten teeth - First Ever Platinum Provider of the South Island treating with Invisalign for 13 years + • Free dental treatment for 13-18yr olds (OHSA conditions apply)

• Whitening • General Dental and complete Hygiene services • Implants • A specialist referral might be required in some cases • Best price Guaranteed

For opening days visit selwyn.nz for further information.

Follow

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

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

selwyn.nz Selwyn 0800 NZ INVISIBLE Share (0800 468 474) smilesville.co.nz Winter / 2021

27

OUT AND ABOUT

Terrific two days Rotorua can create the perfect winter family getaway destination. Here are some great ideas for a fun two-day escape.

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

Check into your accommodation (we suggest booking the family studio unit at Aura Accommodation, conveniently located along the edge of town, or All Seasons Holiday Park, which was voted New Zealand’s Most Hospitable Holiday Park) and leave the baggage behind, both literally and metaphorically. You’re on Rotorua time now, which means fun, nature, hot pools and more.

Eggs bene, Belgium waffles, big Kiwi breakfasts and more from Arts Village Café (also known as AVC) will start your day right.

While you wait for brekky to be served, send the kids out the back to run around the lush lawns while you peruse the artcovered walls.

Grab your swim gear and head to ZORB to zoom down the side of Mt Ngongotaha in a clear, giant, inflated ball. ZORB balls can fit up to three people, and you’ve got four tracks to try!

Head down the road a bit to Skyline Rotorua, where a gondola ride takes you up the side of Mt Ngongotaha so you and the family can race downhill on a Rotorua invention called the Luge.

There’s also the Skyswing, Zoom Ziplines, Jelly Belly Museum and more. Fill hungry tummies up there at the Market Kitchen Café or the awardwinning buffet at Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar.

Visit with us in Rotorua, where winter feels good!

There’s no need to leave the city to check out a natural boiling, bubbling and steaming geothermal park. Just a few minutes’ drive from the city centre, you’ll find Te Puia or Whakarewarewa Māori Village – where the earth is alive with energy and the air is filled with story and lore!

When it comes time for dinner, there’s a high chance you’ll find something for everyone in one spot called Eat Streat. This covered, colourful, and thermally heated dining block offers about a dozen eateries, plus the best ice-cream parlour in New Zealand, Lady Janes!

28 Winter / 2021

Head over to Rotorua Duck Tours for a super-fun, familyfriendly tour via New Zealand’s only World War II amphibian vehicle that takes you over land and splashing down into lakes to see and learn about some of Rotorua’s most spectacular scenery. Duck Tours’ guides have a certain knack for making history and geography fun, too, keeping everyone entertained.

If cruising on the water whets your appetite for getting in the water, this is where your togs will be in play again at Polynesian Spa. Here, in the centre of town, several hot pools await, including a family pool where the kids can make a splash of their own.

Visiting the beautiful Whakarewarewa Forest is a must-do. Also known as “the Redwoods”, this 55,000-hectare public park is known for the network of world-class walking and mountain biking tracks among magnificent, towering Californian redwoods (as tall as 75 metres!) and other species. rotoruanz.com/with-us

OUT AND ABOUT

Otautahi

EXPLORE

Explore Ōtautahi: an exciting, innovative and vibrant city centre, a place of urban regeneration. Here you will discover the THC Group’s newest jewel, the Christchurch City Hotel.

N

estled amongst the many new iconic bars, restaurants and retail laneways, Christchurch City Hotel is only a short two-minute walk to the Riverside Market, Cashel and High Streets, and The Crossing.

Opening July 2021, this quality new build has been architecturally designed to the highest exacting standards. All 46 rooms feature contemporary, modern furnishings, plush bedding, air conditioning, work desks, tea and coffee facilities, smart televisions and all the modern comforts you would expect.

For those guests keen to get out and explore Christchurch, you will love the many accessible options available to you. Whatever your preferred mode of transport is, be it by foot, e-scooter, e-bike or vehicle, we can arrange this for you. Valet parking is also available.

Experience Christchurch city views from our skyline rooftop bar, where you can relax and

enjoy a North Canterbury wine or antipasto platter while taking in the city lights over Cathedral Square. The rooftop bar is due to open in October 2021.

The Christchurch City Hotel offers a relaxed, modern, urban environment to explore Christchurch. For those looking to venture further afield, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Casino and Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre are all within a one-kilometre radius. You really will be at the centre of it all here at the Christchurch City Hotel.

For all our great offers and specials visit our THC Group Hotels websites. Book now to enjoy our early bird ski sale in Queenstown, a family escape in Christchurch, and a winter family fun package to check out the sights and sounds of the stunning Marlborough Sounds.

Opening Special $129*

Stay with us and stroll through the central city, explore the urban laneways, restaurants, cafés or simply enjoy a bit of retail therapy with a shopping spree!

Includes one night’s accommodation in a studio room.

BOOK NOW Call:

0800 842 843

Email: reservations@thcgroup.co.nz christchurchcityhotel.co.nz

Ts&Cs Booking must be direct with the property SALE PERIOD:

10 June - 30 August 2021

TRAVEL PERIOD: 12 July - 30 August 2021

Total hospitality experts. At your service.

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HOLIDAY HOLIDAY HOLIDAY ATAT HOME HOME ATDEALS HOME DEALSDEALS Phone Phone 0800 Phone 0800 842 842 0800 843 843 842 Email Email 843 reservations@thcgroup.co.nz Email reservations@thcgroup.co.nz reservations@thcgroup.co.nz

EXPLORE

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with the T H C G RO U P

BOOK NOW Call 0800 842 843 Email reservations@thcgroup.co.nz

Winter / 2021

29

OUT AND ABOUT

Holiday here Enjoy a fabulous family retreat on New Zealand shores with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

H

olidaying within Aotearoa just got a lot sweeter with Wyndham Hotel & Resorts Holiday Here special for Wyndham Rewards members. For a limited time, save up to 25%* on the best available rate and get 3,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points at participating hotels by Wyndham in Asia Pacific. Book direct by 28 August 2021 and complete your stay by 30 August 2021.

Members can also take advantage of the stay two consecutive nights offer, where you can earn 6,500 bonus points. This offer runs from 16 June through to 6 September. For every two-night stay, members can gain 6,500 bonus points, on top of the points earned for their stays, enough for a future free night at thousands of hotels by Wyndham!

Holidaying looks a little different right now, but that doesn’t mean your family can’t enjoy a little luxury and the total relaxation of a hotel stay. Choose a local location, or take your family somewhere new and see for yourself the exceptional service provided hotels by Wyndham while earning reward points towards your next holiday.

Book now and escape to a relaxing stay-cay nearby and create wonderful memories with the people you love. Explore hidden gems, go on a food hunt, or simply enjoy the time together.

30 Winter / 2021

*Membership to Wyndham Rewards is free; visit wyndhamrewards.com for more details and terms and conditions.

WINTER HOLIDAY

inspiration SNOW STAY-CAY

Get amongst the snow and adventure activities on a fabulous Queenstown winter break. Ski, snowboard, jet boat, and explore the great outdoors.

BIG CITY EXPERIENCE A family expedition to Auckland has something for everyone. You’ll enjoy a huge range of family activities, shopping and dining in the big smoke.

OUT AND ABOUT

Destination AOTEAROA

HANMER SPRINGS ATTRACTIONS

Get ready for action-packed fun at Hanmer Springs Attractions!

There’s a great range of exciting and family-friendly activities to suit all ages, including jet boating, river rafting, canoeing, off-road buggy adventures and paintball (as well as quad biking, clay bird shooting and bungy jumping for adults). Our customers’ health and safety are at the centre of what we do: Hanmer Springs Attractions is the only jet boat operator in Hurunui to be awarded a Qualmark Silver award and holds an AdventureMark, both awarded by independent safety auditors.

The company’s base is situated above the picturesque Waiau River and includes a viewing platform, an onsite café, plus plenty of parking. Only 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch, it’s the perfect option for your next family adventure! hanmerspringsattractions.nz

CHRISTCHURCH TRAM Hop on board the Christchurch Tram to explore what the central city has to offer! Kids go free on the heritage tramcars with a paying adult.

There are plenty of family-friendly spots along the route – including Tūranga and Margaret Mahy Playground – making this an ideal activity for families to enjoy.

Tickets are valid for hop-on hop-off travel for a day to explore the 17 stops en route, with a yearly pass also available for those who are frequent visitors.

The Christchurch Tram is a fantastic option for Christchurch locals and visitors to see the exciting changes in the central city. christchurchattractions.nz

©Cardrona Alpine Resort

L AKESIDE SKI HOLIDAY What is it that makes Edgewater – Lake Wanaka so appealing for family holidays? Is it the unbeatable lake-edge location…..it is the only accommodation in Wanaka situated right on the edge of the lake! Or perhaps the easy access to the nearby Wanaka ski areas of Cardrona, Treble Cone and Nordic skiing at the SnowfarmNZ? Edgewater’s spacious, comfortable family-friendly one and two bedroom apartments make the ideal base to enjoy a ski holiday.

At the end of a day on the slopes return to a roaring open fire with great apre ski atmosphere in the Wineglass Café or soak achy legs in the spa pool or steam it up in the sauna. Spend your family holiday lakeside at Edgewater.

0800 108 311 / edgewater.co.nz

DUSKY DOLPHINS ON DISPLAY Kaikōura is a unique and exciting place for a relaxing and refreshing break with the family, and watching Kaikōura’s dusky dolphins has a uniqueness all of its own.

Swimming with the dusky dolphins is a unique and sought-after activity, often described as a life-changing experience; creating special and heart-warming memories. These dolphins are found in pods allyear-round along the coast.

Not everyone decides that swimming is for them, so watching the dolphins, and the people swimming with them, is magical in itself.

The acrobatic displays of the dusky dolphins will captivate your heart and put a smile on your face. dolphinencounter.co.nz

Winter / 2021

31

VISIT DUNEDIN

Dunedin Sci-fest

What do the moon, running with dinosaurs, and explosive science have in common?

They’re all part of this year’s New Zealand International Science Festival!

T

he festival is thrilled to be launching its largest and most dynamic festival to date. Usually a biennial event, participants are in for a rare treat as the festival is set to run for a second consecutive year throughout the city of Dunedin this July school holidays, with over 150 events in the pipeline.

An up-close experience with the Curiosity Rover, mathematicians with geometric papercraft, and ecologists with an indoor forest are just some of the fantastic experiences included in the 2021 Science Festival line-up.

In lieu of international guests, the festival director, Dan Hendra, says he is electrified to present an artwork by British artist Luke Jerram, renowned worldwide for his sculptures, large installations, and live artwork. “To bring a global artwork of this calibre to Dunedin as part of the festival is just brilliant, as it’s such an out of this world spectacle to see,” says Dan. Presented in the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s Hanover Hall, Our Moon: Then, Now and Beyond is a way to experience Earth’s moon like never before. A fourmetre diameter sphere featuring a high-resolution image of the moon’s surface and illuminated from within will be suspended from the ceiling of the 100-year-old church.

Back by popular demand, the festival is building a PopUp Virtual Reality and Gaming Centre dedicated to some of the latest virtual reality experiences from around the globe. Walk on the moon, kayak the Grand Canyon or run amongst dinosaurs! This is an immersive experience like no other, with the latest headsets on offer to play, engage and discover new worlds.

32 Winter / 2021

To accompany the virtual reality experiences, the festival has partnered with CODE and the local gaming industry to showcase the incredible work being done in Dunedin.

Popular science communicator Amadeo returns with another big science adventure at the Teachers’ College Auditorium. The Big Science Show was a standout at the 2020 Festival, and the team are excited for what they have in store for this year. With all the serious fun of previous shows plus many new wow-factor experiments, expect to go through an explosive journey with Amadeo, all in the name of science.

Maths Craft is coming to the New Zealand International Science Festival for the first time this year.

Imagination Playground is a kids’ building and engineering experience, where participants are encouraged to build whatever structure their mind can muster with giant blue building blocks. Imagination Playground will form part of the Science Festival Trail, a chain of activities available within a 10-minute walk of the Octagon.

The University of Otago’s Dunedin Study exhibition ‘Slice of Life’, launched at Toitū in 2018 with rave reviews, and which has been on the road ever since returns home and will join in the 2021 Festival’s line-up. The exhibition will be held at the old Smith’s City building in South Dunedin and runs from the beginning of June.

The festival is made possible thanks to major long-term partners, the Dunedin City Council, the University of Otago, and the Otago Community Trust.

The New Zealand International Science Festival runs from 8th to 18th July in various locations around Dunedin. scifest.org.nz

VISIT DUNEDIN

VISIT THE

albatross

A firm favourite with families, the Royal Albatross Centre on the Otago Peninsula is the only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross in the world.

©Chris McCormack

T

he Royal Albatross Centre is a twitcher’s paradise, and perhaps surprisingly to some, it has been a firm favourite for the everyday Kiwi too! Since COVID, the centre has been inundated with support from our domestic travellers.

Although we are looking forward to wowing international travellers again, it has been so satisfying to show off our spot of paradise to our own people!

The Royal Albatross Centre is home to many species, most famously, of course, is the Northern Royal Albatross with its threemetre wingspan. The centre offers guided tours to an exclusive

observatory for visitors interested in contributing to the ongoing success of the colony and to the Otago Peninsula Trust, which the centre is run by. Tours offer a unique insight into the lifecycle of our Toroa (Albatross) and, depending on when you visit, visitors may be privileged enough to see weighty chicks, impressive fly-bys and comedic socialising!

Bookings are advised, especially for the school holiday deals. Come and see what all the fuss is about! We would love to see you too! albatross.org.nz

TŪHURA Science Centre, Otago Museum Make sure Otago Museum is in the plan on your next trip to Dunedin!

The biggest science centre in New Zealand is at Otago Museum. There is a Tropical Forest with hundreds of exotic butterflies, an indoor waterfall, and many other rainforest creatures. Kept to the humidity and warmth of a tropical rainforest, it’s the hottest place in Dunedin!

There is also a three-storey indoor slide, a bike-riding skeleton, and 43 other hands-on interactives to awaken wonder, curiosity and reveal the science in everything that surrounds us. You can grab a combo deal and combine your science centre experience with a show in the only 3D planetarium in Australasia. Live shows are running daily where you go on a journey to the stars, with some explosive science thrown in. otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/do/tuhura

Winter / 2021

33

FOOD

Tempeh and mushroom burgers with smashed avocado

INGREDIENTS SERVES 4, GLUTEN-FREE | VEGAN

YUM!

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 onion, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 250g button mushrooms, trimmed and finely chopped 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon paprika 250g packet tempeh, roughly chopped 30g (¼ cup) gluten-free breadcrumbs fine salt and freshly ground black pepper olive oil, to cook 4 gluten-free burger buns, sliced in half 1 large ripe avocado, smashed in a bowl with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper good-quality mayonnaise (vegan or regular), pesto, lettuce or micro greens, sliced red onion and tomato relish, to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

+ Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and onion and cook, stirring often, for 4–5 minutes or until tender and golden. Add garlic, finely chopped mushroom and thyme and cook, stirring often, for a good 5–8 minutes or more, until the mushrooms have released their juices and these have evaporated, so that the mushrooms are almost dry, tender and golden (this is important because you don’t want any excess moisture or your patties won’t hold together). Add paprika and cook for a further 20–30 seconds. + Transfer to a food processor, add tempeh and breadcrumbs and pulse until finely ground.

Season with salt and pepper. Shape into 4 large patties, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 days if preparing ahead of time. If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the tempeh, add onion mixture and breadcrumbs then, using your hands, scrunch everything together until it holds its shape. + Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add a splash of olive oil and cook the patties for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until golden.

Recipes extracted from Every Day by Emma Galloway published by HarperCollins NZ, RRP $60

+ Grill buns on the cut side until golden. Spread a little mayonnaise and pesto onto the base of each burger bun, then add a patty, a few micro greens or lettuce, some onion slices or Quick Pickled Red Onion. Top with smashed avocado and spread a little relish on the cut side of the top bun and place over.

Note: The patties can be frozen for up to 3 months – just defrost in the fridge overnight before using.

34 Winter / 2021

GIVEAWAYS

Scholastic Books Win a fab prize pack of great reads from Scholastic including four fun picture books for little readers.

Family Pass to SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium Discover Shark Life these school holidays! Guests will learn the true nature of this magnificent marine species through a series of exciting myth-busting interactives as they immerse themselves in the lives of sharks.

Court Theatre Family Pass Watch the world of Moana brought to life by young, local performers in The Court Theatre’s production of Disney’s Moana JR. Featuring all your favourite songs from the movie!

Be in to

Osmo games Win a brand new Osmo Math Wizard game! Boost your little one's confidence in the classroom with this super fun, educational game for iPads or Fire tablets.

Prize pack includes three games + Osmo base (winners choose between Amazing Airships or World Games).

Win!

Follow us for your chance to win: @familytimesnewzealand

Huggies Introducing Huggies® Nappy Pants with new SlimFLEX technology that are now 25% thinner and 70% more flexible, allowing bubs to move more freely. Go in the draw to win a Huggies® SlimFLEX prize pack worth $100!

Go into the draw to win a Space Jam: A New Legacy double movie pass AND a Space Jam: A New Legacy 90 mm Lebron James figurine.

3

Win 1 of 3 new Zuru prize packs Pack Inclusion: 1 x Poppy the Booty Shakin’ Pug 3 x Mini Toys Series 1 Wave 2 1 x Pet Shop Surprise

4

Mr Men

To celebrate Mr. Men and Little Miss’ 50th anniversary, we have 4 prize packs to giveaway, valued at $25.00 each. They include a copy of the very special 50th Anniversary Edition of Mr Men: Mr. Tickle book, a copy of Mr Mischief, and a copy of Mr Strong.

Winter / 2021

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

Space Jam: A New Legacy

35

FUN ZONE

time KIDS’ COLORING PAGES

Play Ball Maze Find the correct path to help Bugs score a basket for the Tune Squad.

ACTIVITIES AND COLOURING IN FOR ALL AGES

DESIGN YOUR OWN TEAM JERSEY Draw and color to design your own jersey.

CHRISTCHURCH M A RK ETPL ACE

PLAY & STAY* 1st Monday of every month from 1 - 3pm Pebbles Preschool 48 Nayland St, Sumner 03 3265063 *All under 2 year olds welcome

pebblespreschool.nz Locations in Sumner and Cashmere

36 Winter / 2021

FUN ZONE

LEARN HOW TO DRAW BUGS BUNNY Follow the steps to draw your own Bugs Bunny!

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DRAW HERE

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Winter / 2021

37

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Kimberly Andrews

Creativity with creatures Artist and scientist KIMBERLY ANDREWS is the author and illustrator of the much-loved picture book Puffin the Architect. Her cast of creature characters is now growing with the release of her latest book Moose the Pilot. We caught up with Kimberly to talk about her work.

You moved from illustrating other people’s books to writing your own. Have you always been a writer, or is that something new you have developed?

I had always wanted to write and illustrate my own books, but I began getting paid commission work illustrating other authors’ books first. I did have experience in writing, just in a different field – scientific writing for my Master’s thesis and academic papers. This writing style and experience set me up surprisingly well for picture books – you need to be very careful about word choice and be as succinct as possible.

How has your training in biology and geology and your work experience influenced your illustration work?

My scientific background influences so much of what I do as an illustrator and author. Having a knowledge of the natural world gives a depth to my illustrations – from the type of rocks to the forms of the mountains. Even though my animal characters are very much anthropomorphised, having drawn and studied birds and other species for such a long time, my characters have a recognisable grounding in reality. I also think that my studies instilled in me a level of self-motivation and organisation that has really helped with the tight deadlines.

Who is your favourite of each of your characters? Does anyone have a special place in your heart?

Haha, that is too hard as I really do love them all.

If I were really pushed, I would have to say Puffin

38 Winter / 2021

has a very special place in my heart, as she has really introduced me to all these amazing new characters and allowed me to explore her world for a living!

Can you tell us a bit about your new book Moose the Pilot?

Moose is a loveable bush pilot who spends his day helping out by delivering parcels and gear.

We follow along on an exceptionally busy day for Moose. Just as one delivery is made, his radio blasts into life and we are taken to a new corner of the world of Puffin the Architect (there is a detailed map in the book, so you know where you are!). It is a book full of adventure, planes and friends!

Kids LOVE animals, and it’s clear that you do, too. Does that passion for wildlife come from childhood?

I absolutely do have a passion for wildlife, and yes, I suppose it came from childhood, as I really don’t remember not being passionate about wildlife! I grew up in the Canadian Rockies, with grizzly bears, deer, squirrels, eagles and moose as neighbours! Moving to New Zealand (still as a child) further solidified my love of nature, with the lush forests and truly unique birdlife. I am sure that both my studies of the natural world and my animal-centred picture books stem from this early exposure.

How has being a parent shaped the stories you have written for children?

Has it changed your approach?

I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to publish before I had kids. Now that I have young kids,

I am constantly exposed to picture books, and I wonder if I might have felt too intimidated by the beautiful books out there. I believe I write and illustrate what I (as an adult and as a kid) want to see in a book, rather than creating for a particular age range.

What is your favourite thing about your work in children’s fiction?

I love the world I get to create and that children and parents, can inhabit. I know the impact that my favourite books made on me as a kid, so if I could have that effect on someone else’s childhood, that would be an honour.

Your business, Tumbleweed Tees, contributes money to conservation initiatives. What has inspired your personal conservation efforts?

My inspiration comes from a love of the outsdoors, hiking and observing the amazing biodiversity we have here in NZ. At Tumbleweed Tees, we say we are From + For Nature – our designs are inspired by nature, and our purpose is to celebrate nature and promote and fund conservation efforts.

What’s next for you? Do you have any exciting projects on the go?

Ooooh… I am not sure what I am and am not allowed to talk about, but I will say that I am currently working on the next installment in this series of Puffin’s world! I’m in the very early stages right now, and it is exciting and daunting! kimberly-andrews.com

Winter / 2021

39

When you build with us... it feels like family.

Jennian is owned by Kiwi families. We build homes for families and we treat people like family. So when you build with Jennian, it feels like family.

We’re also New Zealand’s most awarded group builder.

Innovative designs along with quality workmanship results in homes built to award winning standards.

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Our brand NEW, affordable house plans are perfect for families. Contact us to find out more!

Jennian Homes Canterbury 212 Main South Road, Hornby P 03 741 1436 E canterbury@jennian.co.nz jennian.co.nz 40 Winter / 2021