Expert help with the hardest job in the world advertising

BEING a parent is often referred to as being one of the hardest jobs in the world. Children bring joy and excite ment, but they also come with a big learning curve for parents.

To offer some practical insights, we’ve spoken to people with expertise in helping you make the most of these busy years.

Putting fun into oral treatments

Breathe Sleep Grow

How you breathe is critical to your overall health.

At Happy Faces we aim to help everyone breathe well. We do this by assessing the airways, correcting habits and dysfunctions and working with other health professionals where needed.

At Happy Faces we can assess a child’s growth and development to ensure the muscles of the face and jaw are working properly to facilitate ideal growth.

Too many people don’t get enough good quality sleep. Poor sleep effects our health, our quality of life and can even effect the whole family. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy is a proven way to improve sleep quality through reduce snoring and sleep apnea.

Happy Faces Orofacial Myology Fraser ACT

Call Jaimee on 0472 775 058 info@happyfacesom.com.au

Did you know that how you breath, sleep, chew and swallow effects how the face and jaws grow?

Giving kids a head start on their schooling

KIDSTART Southside Education and Activity Centre understands that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for development, says owner Kristen O’Connor.

“Kidstart offers classes for children from five months to five years of age to develop them socially, physically, emotionally and intellectually,” she says.

Operating since 1996 and located in Wanniassa, Kristen says Kidstart offers three distinct and age-appropriate programs to ignite a love of learning.

The first program is for children under the age of three, to attend with an adult, and introduces them to music, stories and stimulating equipment.

The second program is a “Pre-Preschool” program for three and four-year-olds to attend by

Robyn takes art classes to the kids

ARTKIDS CEO and mother of two, Robyn Thurecht says she provides an alternative to the standard after-school care program with structured art classes for children that focus on developing skills across a range of mediums.

“We work onsite or in nearby community halls so parents don’t have to leave work to take their kids to another location,” she says. The program is “for families who value art and drawing but don’t necessarily have the time or skills to share with their children at home”.

themselves before starting preschool.

“It has been amazing to see 21 years’ worth of kids and their families growing, loving, enjoying and benefit ting from the program,” says Kristen.

The third program is Preschool PLUS. It’s designed for children to be involved alongside Preschool. The program is centred on phonics based literacy.

“We are passionate about developing a love of learning in each and every child.

“By allowing them to thrive in an educational setting and experience the joy in exploring and achieving, we hope learning will be a lifelong passion for all our Kidstart kids.”

Kidstart Southside Education and Activity Centre, 65 Sternberg Crescent, Wanniassa. For enrolment enquiries visit kidstart.com.au

While pursuing visual arts at university as a mature-age student, Robyn decided she would teach the art class she wanted as a child.

“One of my favourite childhood photos – in that lovely sepia-toned ‘70s colour – is me aged four or five, in my painting smock made by my crafty mother, standing in front of a painting easel, brush in hand.

“For every child artist we teach each week, there is at least one frustrated parent who, like me, would have loved to attend a class like this when they were

NORTHSIDE Community Service has a strong focus on community engagement, hosting a diverse range of programs and events, says community development officer Lisa Navarro-Bustos.

The Service has recently been utilising the new community hub space in Margaret Hendry School, Taylor, for its early-childhood nature program.

“This space is great for families that are new to Taylor and looking for a community connection,” Lisa says.

In conjunction with Belconnen Arts Centre, the Northside Community Service will host a sports and wellbeing summer expo, with a variety of local sports and recreational groups, at the Amaroo

Playing Fields from 3.30pm on February 10.

“With this event, we want to boost children’s participation in sports and recreation,” says Lisa.

“This is a come-and-try event where children will be able to get a taster for many different sports.

“Families are also able to register their child into their favourite sport at the event.

“Whether they’re into team sports, fitness classes, meditation or the great outdoors, there will be something on offer to deepen a connection to the region.”

Northside Community Service, 2 Rosevear Place, Dickson. Call 6171 8000, or visit northside.asn.au