Offspring Perth Winter/Spring 2019

WINTER/SPRING 2019

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influencers share Meditation magic

BEING VEGAN

PARENTING

Bold, brave & beautiful life of

Lucy Durack

Self compassion heals

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Baby’s cry signals

contents Winter/Spring 6

8

EDITOR’S NOTE

8 BABY FASHION

ONE WITH NATURE This Spring, let your baby roam in adorable, lightweight outfits where spots and frills will lead the way!

10 GIRLS FASHION

FLOWER POWER!

Girls will bask in the warm spring sun this season as cool and chic meets flower power!

12

BOYS FASHION JOIN THE SAFARI! Let your boys run free this Spring in vivacious bold colours that make every day feel like an adventure!

10

14 MUMS FASHION

PRETTY & FIERCE This Spring, emanate warmth with free-flowing outfits in soft hues of pinks and apricots.

14

16 16 COVER STORY THE BOLD AND BRAVE LIFE OF LUCY DURACK

Darling of the Musicals, Sweetheart of the Screen, hardworking mum and all-round Good Witch, Lucy Durack, shows the value in seeking the support of family, friends and the odd stranger on social media.

22 WELLNESS

WHAT’S UP BUTTERCUP?

Kristin Neff PhD discusses the antidote to harsh self-talk and the benefits of Self-Compassion.

34 SOCIAL TOP INFLUENCERS TO FOLLOW IN WA Here we’ve collected our favourite influencers to follow for your daily dose of motherhood, fashion and travel and lifestyle inspiration.

38 HEALTH PREVENTABLE DISEASES KILL: A CASE FOR VACCINATION Dr Adam Coulson talks vaccination and why you shouldn’t entrust your child’s health to celebrity chefs or footballers’ wives.

28 SPIRITUALITY THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION FOR FAMILIES Meditation is being praised by researchers for its stress-relief and effects on the behaviour and educational performance of children.

30 FOOD

BACK TO OUR ROOTS We examine the health benefits of a vegan diet, as well as some delicious and nutritious vegan recipes.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

30 perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

76 44 42 BABIES

BABIES’ CRY SIGNALS Is he hungry? Tired? Sick? These signals might help you understand the reasons behind why your baby is crying.

44 PARENTING 6 TIPS FOR PARENTING ANXIOUS KIDS

We can’t rid our kids of their anxiety, but we can help them to manage it – here are 6 tips to support you to parent your anxious child.

47 BOOK REVIEW

Our favourite books to tuck into this winter! ` 48 COMMUNITY

A MILE IN MY SHOES The inspiring story of a father whose mission to buy shoes for a little boy in Mexico turned into the journey of a lifetime.

WINTER/SPRING 2019

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WIN

$50,000

MUMPRENEUR PACKAGE

TOP

influencers share Meditation magic

BEING VEGAN

PARENTING

Bold, brave & beautiful life of

Lucy Durack

Self compassion heals

FREE www.offspringmagazine.com.au

#1 AU PA ST RE RA NT LIA ING ’S TIT LE

Baby’s cry signals

01 PER COVER.indd 1

5/8/19 5:01 am

Lucy Durack

54 54 SPIRITUALITY TAKING EMOTIONAL CHARGE Renowned empath and spiritual teacher, Oscar de Souza, speaks to Offspring about the purpose of emotions and building positive relationships.

57 HEALTH ST JOHN OF GOD SLEEP STUDY How to know if your child has a sleep disorder, how much sleep they should be getting, as well as some top tips from Sleep Specialist Dr Annie O’Donnell.

58 TECHNOLOGY

HERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but there are lots of useful apps to make various stages of parenting a bit easier.

We look at some great options – whether you are a new parent or raising teenagers.

ISSUE 32 WINTER/SPRING 2019 Produced and published by Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. ABN: 95 159 474 245 Website www.offspringmagazine.com.au Editorial enquiries editorial@offspringmagazine.com.au Advertising enquiries Phone 02 4326 1178 Mobile 0415 267 414 advertising@offspringmagazine.com.au Subscription enquiries subscription@offspringmagazine.com.au

60 EDUCATION

IF THE SCHOOL FITS Choosing where to send your child to school is a big decision – Claire Armstrong investigates the educational options.

76

SPECIAL FEATURE OFFSPRING PERFORMING ARTS AND SPORTS GUIDE There are many sports and performing arts options for your child to try. We look at the options, so you can make the best decision for your child.

Managing Editor Kate Durack Contributing writers Brooke Evans-Butler, Claire Armstrong, Ann-Marie Bradstreet, Colleen Willis, Kate Durack, Sophie Phoon, Natalie Coppolelli, Gabrielle Platt.

Graphic Designers Naomi O’Bryan, Keely Goodall, Nathalie Berger, Veronica Dahdal Printed by Blue Star Group Cover image: Kurt Sneddon

Offspring magazine is an independent magazine published quarterly by Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. Opinions represented are not necessarily those of the publisher. Offspring magazine contains general information and does not claim to substitute for health or parenting advice. All content is subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced without permission.

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Courage to Lead

Centrally located in Tuart Hill, Servite College is a progressive Catholic secondary school for boys and girls with a rich heritage and diverse community. Servite personalises the learning journey for students by designing unique pathways to success.

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6| Editor’s Note: Winter/Spring 2019

10 years of Offspring

It’s been 10 years since I had the lightbulb moment to start Offspring while meditating, after yet another sleepless night with my 16 month old daughter.

T

he sleep-deprived, random

through our Facebook page

idea to start a magazine

(Offspring Magazine) and by

augmented Offspring’s

joining our newsletter www.

inaugural edition, in Perth with breakfast radio host Lisa Fernandez on the cover.

Four years in, I took the opportunity

offspringmagazine.com.au It’s a delight to have Lucy Durack’s lovely face on this cover. An advocate of Self-

better family relationships and manifest our desires (“Honouring our emotions”).

Children suffering anxiety is a growing condition that is explored in an article based on the book by Michael Grose and Dr Jodi

to expand Offspring, and moved my

Compassion and a hardworking

family to Avoca Beach, a pretty seaside

mum, her positive energy

children can turn their anxiety

town north of Sydney. Two months

shines through.

into resilience.

after arriving my marriage ended, but Offspring kept growing.

I was excited by the opportunity for us to interview

Richardson, Anxious Kids, How

Also on child health, Emergency Hospital Director,

We launched the Sydney edition

the leader in the field of Self

at the end of 2013 and the Melbourne

Compassion, Dr Kristen Neff

edition in 2015.

(“What’s Up Buttercup?”),

“Preventable diseases kill: A case

who has based her academic

for vaccination”.

The digital side has continued to expand during that time with a new

research on Buddhist

website due to go live any day.

principles. I also recommend

To celebrate 10 years, I’d like to

Dr Adam Coulson, urges parents to vaccinate their children in

We provide information on various education options to

her free meditations, which can

consider when choosing a school for

give another Mumpreneur a $50,000

be listened to on Insight Timer. Self

your child (“If the School Fits”) and we

marketing campaign with Offspring.

Compassion is valuable in helping us

explore the benefits of extracurricular

This will include advertising across

be kinder to ourselves and a great skill

activities for a child’s development in

all three of our hard copy and digital

to teach our children.

our Performing Arts and Sports Guide.

publications, online exposure, a Cover

In this issue, we look at the benefits

We only publish Offspring magazine

Story and a photo shoot. The selected

of meditation for families and have

biannually but have lots of content

Mumpreneur will be the Cover model

a piece on the rising health trend

on parenting, families, wellness and

of our next edition.

towards veganism, including some

lifestyle, regularly appearing on our

lunchbox ideas for kids.

website and in our newsletter so please

You can apply for the Mumpreneur marketing package, or to nominate

I interview spiritual healer, teacher

someone whose business you think

and medium, Oscar de Sousa, on how

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might benefit from this opportunity,

honouring our emotions helps us have

Kate Durack

join us there until our next edition

“To celebrate 10 years, I’d like to give another Mumpreneur a $50,000 marketing campaign with Offspring.”

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“Chris and I try to keep really open about communicating how we’re feeling because we’ve both had stints as the main carer.”

Offspring | WINTER 2019 | perth

© KURT SNEDDON

16 | cover story

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

cover story | 17

The bold and brave life

of Lucy Durack

Darling of the Musicals, Sweetheart of the Screen, hardworking mum and all round Good Witch, Lucy Durack, shows the value in seeking the support of family, friends and the odd stranger on social media.

BY ANN MARIE BRADSTREET

W

hen Lucy Durack got her childhood dog, her

hankering for the lead in school musicals, she’s mindful not to

outnumbered dad, on learning it was a girl

narrow down her daughter’s choices and says, “Polly is very keen

had one demand – a tough name. Born and

on singing and dancing, and she’s got a smart little brain, so I want

raised in an unashamedly girly girl house

her to see what other things are out there.”

in Perth with her two sisters and a bitch named Bandit, this Fairy

Lucy, a Helpmann Award winning actress, (she won the

Princess was, as every good tale goes, destined for the stage. With

coveted theatre prize playing Elle Woods in the Australian season

a wicked talent and spellbinding mix of resilience and charm,

of Legally Blonde) has broadened her own horizons. Not confining

Lucy chats to Offspring from

her talents to the stage she has

her home in Melbourne about

a growing number of screen

family and her magically

credits, including cop, Tugger,

crafted career on both stage

on popular Nine Network

and screen.

series Doctor Doctor, and

“Polly wants to be The Fairy

wayward, Roxy, in Network

Queen of the Theatre when

Ten drama Sisters. She’ll

she grows up,” Lucy laughs

soon return to Sydney to

of her daughter. Clearly keen

resume filming, as a judge on

to follow in Mum’s footsteps,

Seven’s revival of family hit,

Polly must have been taking

Australia’s Got Talent (AGT).

note of Lucy’s Glinda during

Mercifully, without hyperemesis

last year’s GFO’s production of

gravidarum, the debilitating

The Wizard of Oz, her four year

morning sickness that plagued

old being no stranger to The

her in early production.

Good Witch.

Polly, imbued in show business from the womb, (she was in

She’s expecting her second child, a baby boy in October and describes her recovery as a

utero during her mother’s reprisal of a fleshed out Glinda, in the

“Miracle,” after suffering from the condition throughout her

smash hit musical, Wicked) will likely be understudying in the

entire pregnancy with Polly which she says, “Was really hard,” a

wings in January when Lucy treads the boards as Princess Fiona in

believable sentiment when considering the first five months were

Shrek the Musical. Although Lucy held similar childhood dreams,

spent on stage. Relieved the symptoms subsided much earlier this

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

18 | cover story

about, because it was just this moment where I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m not alone, and we’re all just trying to figure this out in the middle of the night.’”

When Polly was six weeks old, Lucy auditioned for the role of Sophie in Alison Bell and Sarah Scheller creation, The Let Down, screened on ABC & Netflix. Now in its second series and steadily gaining cult status, the wry triumph peels back child rearing to its bare bones.

Lucy, in a fluster before the audition when the babysitter called

pregnancy and grateful for the solace she sought in a Facebook group of fellow sufferers she says, “It was a really useful group to just connect with complete strangers that were also going through this really terrible time.

“Just having people who are going through exactly the same thing is really

“

in sick, had no choice but to take her newborn with her.

Luckily, the role of Sophie called for a shiny new mum, who almost has it together when encountering an

POLLY IS VERY KEEN ON SINGING AND DANCING, AND SHE’S GOT A SMART LITTLE BRAIN, SO I WANT HER TO SEE WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE OUT THERE.

useful. I found having a Mothers’ Group really helped. I remember once we finished our four weeks, or whatever you do with the nurse , she was like,

”

eclectic mix of characters at Mothers’ Group.

Polly, not only welcome at the audition, scored her first screen credit starring as Sophie’s baby in the pilot episode. Lucy’s agent called saying, “Well, if ever there was an audition where it’s appropriate to bring your baby, this was it.”

Childcare, a tricky balance to strike for most working parents is no different

‘Right it’s now up to you girls to meet on your own’, so I started up

a WhatsApp Group, but I started it in the middle of the night when I was up feeding Polly.

“Polly was born in June, so it was winter, and it was dark and cold, that isolating time when you feel like, you’re the only one in the world awake feeding your baby,” Lucy laughs. “And so, I thought I’ll just add the mums and when they wake up in the morning, they can join, but at around 2am I kept getting this ‘ding ding’. All the mums were up feeding their babies, it was so heartening and it still gives me warm fuzzy feelings to think

for Lucy and her theatre director/choreographer husband, Chris Horsey, who face their own specific challenges piecing together the irregular shapes of their showbiz schedules. Sitting down, at least monthly, with their calendars they nut out the gaps, Lucy says, “As long as we’ve kind of organised the next month or two, and I know in my heart that Polly’s looked after in the best possible way, then I can keep going.”

Lucy says it couldn’t work without Chris and his hands-on approach to fatherhood, “Chris is absolutely brilliant, such an

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

cover story | 19

“

OH MY GOD, I’M NOT ALONE, AND WE’RE ALL JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

”

excellent husband and dad. We don’t live the traditional roles of how we grew up, where our mothers were the main carer. Chris and I split it pretty evenly.” At times, that means either one stepping up to care for Polly while the other works. When schedules collide, they arrange day care, a nanny or call on family. Once, when Chris was choreographing in Paris while Lucy filmed Sisters, they got a live-in au pair. Lucy’s mum is booked in for August.

“Mum’s super helpful. She flies in and saves the day multiple times a year.

She’s brilliant.” Lucy says.

With the long term future often difficult

“

OH, THE WORST THING THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS, I’M NOT GOING TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB, BUT I’M NOT GOING TO DIE.’

to predict Lucy relies on her and Chris talking things through, “Chris and I try to keep really open about communicating how we’re feeling

”

because we’ve both had stints as the main carer. It’s great because we both know how isolating that can be and so we can be a little more open about that. It’s constant negotiation, a jigsaw puzzle that we’re trying to sort out.”

Connecting industry parents who share tips and contacts for juggling parenthood and career through Facebook Group Actor/ Singer/Dancer/Mother also helps Lucy piece the puzzle together.

“It has been an invaluable source, very, very useful. It’s a really great support network and for those really specific questions that come with being a mum, that are coupled with the uncertainty of

performing life. That Facebook Group, on a weekly basis, gives me such help and support, and just makes me feel happy that we’re all there looking after each other.”

Being open to support and asking for help has perhaps enhanced the bold and brave life of Lucy Durack. Suffering stage fright while studying Musical Theatre at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy for Performing Arts), she sought guidance from teachers and read

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER 2019 | Offspring

20 | cover story

books on the fight or flight response.

on stage. Some of the acts are heart

On realising her worst fears would not

wrenching, some hilarious and others

result in being eaten by a wildebeest,

are just ridiculous. So you have this

she overcame the anxiety. Laughing, she

roller coaster of emotions throughout

remembers, “Once I discovered ‘Oh, The

your filming day. I’m really enjoying it

worst thing that is going to happen is, I’m

and I’ve learnt a lot.”

not going to do a very good job, but I’m

Lucy’s next big act will be welcoming

not going to die.’ That really helped me.”

her son and brother for Polly in

Accepting the possibility that, not

October. She says, “Polly is super

doing a very good job, needn’t equal

girly. Everything has to be pink and

disaster has undoubtedly allowed Lucy’s

purple, rainbow and sparkles. I think

talents to flourish and fostered her

having a boy will be really good for our

connections with others through the admirable mix of humility

household, to balance us all out. It will be interesting to see what

and optimism.

personality this little guy will have and who he’ll take after.”

Discussing the bravery of vulnerability, Lucy says, “Even to

The little guy will be around four weeks old when Lucy starts

just reach out and say, ‘I feel like I’m failing,’ and everyone says,

rehearsals for Shrek the Musical, opening at Sydney Lyric Theatre

‘Yep, we all do. Don’t worry,’ can help to know you’re not the only

in January 2020. She says, “Knowing that Shrek is coming up, and

one. I don’t think anyone escapes that feeling, at some point. I love

we as a family will be in Sydney for a few months with a newborn

Brene Brown, and I read a quote from her the other day where she

baby, we’ve got some beautiful nanny contacts from when we lived

says, ‘If we all operate from the perspective that we’re all trying our

there, so I’ve put them in place. I’m pretty excited because I love

hardest, then everyone’s life’s better.’ You know, it’s true. Everyone

Shrek. Now my life is so much about my family, a whole new part of

is trying their hardest, it’s just sometimes things are hard.”

my career that is really family friendly, that I can bring my family

Moments of vulnerability abound in the current season

to, has all of sudden become such a high priority. Knowing

of AGT. Judging for the first time, Lucy has found the experience more emotionally fulfilling than expected and explains, “You’re watching people bare their souls and try things they, maybe, don’t do in their normal lives. It’s their big chance in the spotlight. It can be emotionally draining because you want to give them all your attention, but it’s also emotionally fulfilling and beautiful to watch.

“Every single filming day, probably because I’m pregnant as well, I cried at least once at something beautiful that happened

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

“

that can happen with Shrek, I’m looking forward to it. It’s a really funny, well written show.”

EVEN TO JUST REACH OUT AND SAY, ‘I FEEL LIKE I’M FAILING,’ AND EVERYONE SAYS, ‘YEP, WE ALL DO. DON’T WORRY,’ CAN HELP TO KNOW YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE.

”

Another well written show, however, comes first. Lucy needs to prepare for Bonnie Lythgoe’s panto spectacular, Jack and the Beanstalk, and this Fairy Princess doesn’t fit into any of her clothes. She’s off to buy maternity leggings from Westfield, she’ll probably drive. But perhaps, with a click of the heel or a wave of a wand, she might just fly in a pair of glittering wings, making every day fairy tales

(like only Lucy Durack can) come true… n

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22 | self compassion

What’s up Buttercup?

How being kind to yourself can make you a happier, healthier parent.

Kristin Neff PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Texas and global expert on the academic study of Self Compassion, discusses the antidote to harsh self-talk and how a swathe of worldwide study is proving the benefits of befriending yourself.

BY ANN MARIE BRADSTREET

D

o you have a nickname for yourself? Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way writes about her inner critic she calls Nigel, “He looks down on the rest of me. Nothing is ever good enough for Nigel.”

As a child I heard my mum call herself, Stupid, hyphenated

with Idiot. She called me Darling, like I do with my kids.

Dr Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas thinks I should start calling myself Darling instead of Stupid-Idiot; as a breadth of research indicates I could have better physical health, happier relationships, more motivation, less anxiety and depression and a stronger resilience for coping with stress and trauma.

“But where would we be without Nigel?!” asks the stiff upper lip of our collective Western psyche. “People have false beliefs

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

self compassion | 23

PhD in the examination of children’s moral reasoning when she became interested in Buddhism.

“

It was a difficult time, as she was suffering the break-down of her first marriage and had begun questioning her prospects and self-worth.

OUR SELF-DIALOGUE IS COMMONLY VERY SEVERE, FULL OF ADMONISHMENT AND CRITICISM WHICH QUESTIONS SELF-WORTH AND OFTEN LEADS TO FEELINGS OF ISOLATION, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

”

Through Buddhism, she found relief and noticed that Self Compassion, a central construct of Buddhist Psychology, had never been examined empirically and thus began her passionate devotion both personally and professionally to the practice and study of Self Compassion.

Neff explains that you don’t have to be a Buddhist or spend hours meditating to practice Self Compassion to gain the benefits but there are three components that all need to be practised in order for the concept of Self Compassion to be complete.

The Three Components of Self Compassion

1

MINDFULNESS. Firstly, you must be willing to acknowledge that you are going through difficulty. Often,

during hard times, people are caught up in the narrative and don’t identify their own suffering.

“We can get so lost in the struggle, the storyline, that we have no perspective, we’re trying to fix it, trying to problem solve,

about Self Compassion. They think it’s going to make them weak,

we’re sometimes trying to shove it under the rug, we don’t even

undermine motivation, make them complacent or self-indulgent

look because it’s too hard. And, it actually doesn’t make sense

but once you have the research it shows, well actually, it’s just the

to be supportive of ourselves if we don’t know we’re struggling,”

opposite. It helps people say, ‘Well, maybe I’ll give it go,’’’ says

explains Neff. So, the first step in practising Self Compassion is

Neff, an academic pioneer of the subject who, in 2003, developed

voicing what is going wrong and how that feels so we notice our

a ground-breaking research tool called The Self Compassion

own suffering.

Scale. Designed to evaluate trait levels of Self Compassion within an individual’s thoughts, behaviours and emotions, the scale has since been used in over 2000 studies with the concept continuing to gain mainstream interest.

What is Self Compassion?

“It’s a very simple idea,” says Neff, “It’s a common sense idea, it’s not actually radical. You just ask people to think about how they treat their friends’ struggles or a loved one and the type of things they say to help them in difficult times.”

Our self-dialogue is commonly very severe, full of admonishment and criticism which questions self-worth and often leads to feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression.

Neff has found, being harsh and critical doesn’t motivate but rather undermines motivation. She says, “It just makes sense that you’d want to encourage and support yourself and let the voice inside your head be a friendly and supportive one as opposed to a hostile aggressive one. Once people get that, they make the switch for themselves.”

Neff made the switch during her last year of Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley. She was completing her

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

24 | self compassion

“

2

SELF KINDNESS means responding to yourself during imperfect

SELF COMPASSION IS COMMON SENSE BUT FOR SOME REASON OUR CULTURE DOESN’T ENCOURAGE IT.

times with a kind, internal voice such as, ‘I know you’re feeling scared and overwhelmed right now and this is a difficult time but I’m here for you.’

Placing a hand over the part of your body that is feeling

”

The Best Way to Foster Self Compassion in Children

MODELLING “Is the best way to foster compassion in your children. Model it out loud.

A lot of parents are really careful of what they say to their kids but what they’re modelling is, ‘What??!! I’m so

stressed, stroking your arm or giving yourself an endearing name

stupid, I lost my car keys.’ Children pick up those messages and

can soothe the emotions experienced, not with the intention of

think, oh that’s the way you’re supposed to be,” says Neff.

overcoming them immediately, but rather responding with love and support so the problem becomes less overwhelming and

MIRROR NEURONS The Mirror Neuron System is

easier to bear.

somewhat debated in the field of Neuroscience. Mirror Neurons,

3

special brain cells, which are activated both through action and

COMMON HUMANITY. “Is what distinguishes

observance are said by some neuroscientists to represent, among

the practice between Self Compassion and Self Pity.” By

other things, the capacity for human empathy. Others have

acknowledging everyone has flaws and bad experiences, it allows

challenged the strength of this claim. However, Neff says, “We’re

not only an extension of compassion to oneself but also others,

designed to feel each other’s messages. A huge proportion of the

leading to less feelings of isolation.

brain’s real estate is evolved for feeling others’ emotions.”

“The problem, overall, is most people know logically we are

Neff believes humans do this at a primeval level and thinks what

all imperfect, but emotionally, when a person makes a mistake or

happens internally is just as critical as outward behaviour, in terms

something difficult happens, they react as if something has gone

of what children are capable of picking up on. “We aren’t silos,”

wrong. As if this is not supposed to be happening, if it’s not perfect

she says, “What we cultivate inside impacts others outside.”

then something is terribly amiss, which isn’t true,” says Neff, who believes that within our inherent connectedness, “That all people

SELFISH COMPASSION, Neff believes, is of benefit to

struggle, all people make mistakes, everyone is imperfect,” we are

our children. She explains, a lot of parents think, “‘Oh it’s selfish,

able to accept and cope better with our own failings and be less

I shouldn’t be focussing on myself,’ But what I tell them is, ‘Who

critical of others.

do you want your children to interact with, someone who’s full

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

| 25

Little Land for big imaginations

♫

♫

Little Land is Perth’s newest play space where children can learn through roleplay.

R

ole-play is an important part of child development. It is an effective way for children to make sense of the world around them.

Little Land is Perth’s newest play space where children can

learn through role-play, exploring a scaled-down version of the real world.

Role-play awakens a child’s imagination and builds

Visit www. littleland.fun and book your play session today!

confidence by encouraging friendship through cooperation,

setting and other aspects of life.

At Little Land, children can spend time shopping at the Little Growers’ Market, making coffee at the local cafe, teaching, visiting the doctor or helping with the town’s construction.

Each play stall area has been designed together with

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

paediatric occupational therapists and speech pathologists to offer a creative and educational play experience. Play guides have also been developed to help

listening and taking turns. Role-play can develop and enhance emotional and social skills that will serve children in the school

parents, early childhood educators,

encourage and extend play opportunities.

Play sessions are limited to 30 children, run for 90 minutes and are held at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Little Land offers a space for parents and carers to become completely absorbed in the moment with their child. A place where little people want to be, and big people love to spend time.

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

26 | self compassion

Self Esteem vs Self Compassion Western Culture has become reliant on Self Esteem gauging self-worth. Boosting a child’s Self Esteem requires the child be special or above average, placing others below them. The hierarchal demands of high Self Esteem create a risky, cut-throat validation system which fluctuates at the mercy of achievement. Self Compassion, on the other hand, shows up amid failure and encompasses compassion for others, who also fail, which provides a more constant guard of self-worth, leading to better outcomes for overall wellbeing.

of compassion, kindness and calm, so they get that through their mirror neurons? Or do you want them to interact with someone who’s frustrated and angry?

“My son’s autistic and I talk a lot about him and what a huge difference we’ve made. If he was in a space where he was really anxious and I felt really frustrated and anxious myself, I wouldn’t even say anything but he would ramp up, he would feel my tension. If then, I could just say (and I don’t say it out loud in this case, just to myself ), ‘You know, this is really hard for me, I’m feeling really overwhelmed and I just don’t know what to do.’

“I then try to be kind, supportive and say (to myself ), ‘It’s Okay.

I’m here for you.’ As soon as I’d changed my internal mind-state he would almost always calm down. So, those messages were High Self Esteem can also lead to an over estimation of one’s abilities and reduce the motivation to improve. A 2012 study conducted at University of California, Berkeley, involved students sitting a difficult test they were designed to fail. Two groups were formed, the first being told not to feel alone as others had also found the test hard and they’d do better next time. The second group was told not to worry because they’d got into Berkeley and so, must be really smart. Students were then provided notes with unlimited time to study before taking a second test. Students from the first group, who were encouraged to be Self Compassionate, spent more time studying than the group who had been boosted and were more realistic about what was required to improve.

“You don’t want to hate yourself, you want good Self Esteem, but we can’t always get it right, we can’t always be the better than others. Be a compassionate mess instead,” says Neff.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

received. That’s why I think Self Compassion is one of the biggest gifts we can give children. But we have to be willing to say that it’s hard to be a parent, it is hard, not always, it’s also joyous, but sometimes it’s really hard.”

“So, it’s at those worst of times,” says Neff, “That if we can acknowledge the pain and just give ourselves kindness and support, then the pain won’t overwhelm us. It’ll be more temperate, it won’t last as long, and then we actually learn to cultivate calm, kindness and connectedness in the midst of the worst of times and it helps everyone, yourself and your kids. Self Compassion is common sense, you know, but for some reason our culture doesn’t encourage it.” n

RESOURCES Kristin Neff shares many free resources

on her website selfcompassion.org and has developed an 8-week program to teach Self Compassion skills with colleague Chris Germer. She has also published a book, Self-Compassion. www.offspringmagazine.com.au

| 27

Single use plastics,

WHAT A WASTE!

Face your waste, try to avoid the use of unnecessary plastic.

I

t is all about convenience, getting in and out of the shops as fast as we can. We just grab a tray of pre-packaged produce, no need to select individual items, talk to an assistant or give it much

thought.

Meat, fruit, vegetables, chesses, cakes and biscuits all come on foam or plastic trays wrapped in clear plastic film. Convenience plastics ae also used for straws, coffee cup lids, disposable plates,

How much single use plastic do

cups and cutlery, drink bottles and plastic bags. Much of this

you use? Get a basket and place all

is unnecessary single use plastic. These use a lot of resources,

your single use plastic in to it, over a

energy and effort to produce. Often we only use them for a few

week or the month. You will probably

seconds before we throw them away. Very little of this single use

see it is a lot more than you thought.

plastic is recycled, most ending up in landfill and too much of it

Face your waste, try to avoid the use of

polluting the environment.

unnecessary plastic.

Better to avoid these in the first place. Buy loose and

For more waste saving tips www.faceyourwaste.com.au

unpackaged, use paper bags or even better get a supply of your own reusable produce bags.

Did you know 20% of what you buy gets thrown out?

For ways to reduce your waste, visit

Follow us at

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Face Your Waste

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

28 | meditation

The benefits of meditation for families Have you been hearing people ‘stress’ the benefits of meditation to you? A growing amount of Australian parents are looking to meditation to alleviate stress, whilst research is praising its effects on the behaviour and educational performance of children.

s m u M r o f s t i f bene Meditation helps with memory. Studies have shown that consistent meditation can slow the aging process of the brain.

For mums, multitasking is a way of life.

Meditation aids focus by reducing worrying and restless thoughts.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

Many Australian mums struggle with overwhelming stress and anxiety, regular meditation decreases the volume in the area of the brain that governs fear, anxiety and stress.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

meditation | 29

n o i t a t i d e m n a c how n? benefit childre

Pre-school Aged Children: Meditation grows the place in the brain that affects self-regulation. It helps children manage their impulses. You can try and use meditation methods in your pre-school aged children before and after Time Out.

It makes you happier. A study done on Buddhist monks found that while they were meditating the part of their brain that controls happiness (the prefrontal cortex) was extra active.

Heart disease is the leading killer of Australian women and having high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to a range of complications. There is increasing research that suggests meditation assists with lowering blood pressure.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Primary Aged Children: Schools are increasingly trialling ‘short meditation breaks’ and some are even replacing detention with meditation. Over in the US, a Baltimore school has seen an increase in attendance and a reduction of suspensions after introducing mandatory meditation rather than detention for poorly behaved students.

High School aged children: Meditation can increase student’s performance in school, help with mental health conditions which are increasingly prevalent among high-school aged children such as ADHD, depression and anxiety.

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

30 | mindful eating

Back to our roots

.Kids eating for. .a healthy gut. .and mind.

Veganism is a hotly contested diet and way of life. Many argue that the absence of dairy and meat from a child’s diet is a recipe for disaster, however, science has continually proven the health benefits of a vegan diet, provided it is balanced and well-planned.

BY NATALIE COPPOLELLI

F

How? The livestock industry produces 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in farming, not to mention the global acidification of ocean water, and the impacts of eutrophication which is the build up of nutrients in water bodies that destroys wildlife.

Researchers estimated a vegan world would produce 49 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions from food, 50 per cent less acidification, and would reduce water use by 19 per cent.

ad diets have come and gone but veganism continues

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore says that going

to take over the world as scientific evidence behind

vegan “is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact

the health trend has changed the eating habits of

on planet Earth.”

millions of people. To be vegan is to maintain a diet

!

without the consumption of animal products. This means no meat, dairy, cheese or eggs.

For those who have enjoyed an omnivorous diet throughout their life, eating cake and a hearty steak without a care, this diet may seem extreme and overwhelming.

Why should I eat vegan?

A well-balanced vegan diet has shown to provide health benefits,

NEED TO KNOW

Ensure a balanced diet so that children still receive adequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, iron and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is hard to find in a vegan diet so a B12 supplement is recommended

such as the reduced risk of chronic diseases associated with highsugar and high-preservative diets. This includes:

n Obesity n Coronary artery disease (damage or disease to the heart’s major blood vessels)

n Type 2 diabetes n Hypertension (high blood pressure) Some types of cancer, specifically bowel cancer which can be caused by a high consumption of red or processed meat.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

mindful eating | 31

Can we get all the same nutrients on a vegan diet?

Yes, of course! However, it is recommended that vegans eat legumes and nuts every day to ensure enough daily nutrient intake.

Iron in a vegan diet is surprisingly, not hard to come by. The best sources of iron include cereals fortified with iron such as Weet Bix and All Bran, legumes, tofu, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and dried fruits. The most crucial times for a child

CHICKPEA SWEETCORN. BURGER PATTIES.

raised on a vegan diet is under the age of five, and when girls hit puberty as that is when iron levels drop.

Recipe makes 5 patties.

Ingredients:

1 peeled sweet potato cut into chunks, then steamed VEGAN PROTEIN MUFFINS. 200g (1 cup) fresh (or well drained) corn kernels Recipe makes 10-11 muffins OR 1 cup frozen kernels, thawed Ingredients: 250g (1.5 cups) cooked or tinned chickpeas, rinsed and 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsps ground flaxseed + 5 Tbsps water) drained well 1 1/4 cup dairy-free yoghurt, unsweetened (soy can be used) 2tbs olive or rice bran oil 2 medium (very ripe) bananas 1 peeled white onion, finely diced 2 cups GF rolled oats 1 peeled and crushed garlic clove 1/3 cup vanilla flavoured protein powder 3tbs millet or quinoa flakes Nutritional Booster 3tbs washed parsley, finely chopped 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1/2tsp ground cumin Going vegan 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2tsp paprika “is probably the 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4tsp ground turmeric single biggest way 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1tsp salt or to taste to reduce your 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2tsp ground black pepper Your favourite topping such as berries, granola, impact on planet 2tbs ground flaxseeds + 6tbs water vegan chocolate chips, chopped nuts, seeds, dried Earth.” fruit, rolled oats, crushed cookies

INTERESTING FACT

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Place the cooked sweet potato in a food processor with the well-drained and dried corn and chickpeas.

Blend until the mixture is smooth - with some chunky bits left for texture - and well combined. Keep in the food processor.

Heat some of the oil in a saucepan and sauté the onions and garlic for a few minutes until the onions are translucent.

Method: Preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Lightly grease each slot of a standard muffin tin. Use paper liners to keep the recipe oil-free.

Prepare flax eggs in a small bowl, by mixing together the ground flax and water.

Set aside about 10 minutes. It will thicken up and become gel-like.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly, then add the onions and garlic to the chickpea mixture and pulse briefly in the food processor.

When the flax eggs are ready, add all the ingredients (except the toppings) into a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Scrape down sides as needed.

Transfer the mixture to a large bowl, add the millet/quinoa flakes, parsley, cumin, paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper and mix well. In a small bowl, whisk the ground flaxseeds with the water. Then, using your hands, incorporate the flaxseed mixture into the chickpea mixture until fully combined.

Pour mixture into each slot about 3/4 of the way full. Sprinkle each one with your kids’ favourite toppings. Don’t press the toppings into the batter. It may yield a flatter muffin.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Insert a toothpick in the middle of a muffin or two. If it comes out mostly clean, they are cooked.

Shape everything into 5 evenly sized patties and place on a prepared lined baking sheet. Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan and then pan fry each patty for 2-3 minutes on each side. Once done, transfer the patties back to the lined baking sheet and bake for 25- 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Let muffins cool for 10 minutes in the pan before transferring them to a cooling rack, then cool for another 10-15 minutes. It is normal if the muffins might flatten out a little bit *To avoid the liner sticking to the muffin, let them completely cool before enjoying. If not using liners, gently pop out each muffin with a butter knife.

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perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

32 | mindful eating

Zinc allows for the development of our immune system and so they are vital in a healthy vegan diet. Zinc is commonly found in nuts, miso, tofu, legumes and wholegrain foods. A lack of zinc can make your child more susceptible to disease and illness.

Calcium is needed for a child to build strong bones and teeth.

It can be found in cereals fortified with calcium including Corn Flakes and Raisin Bran, soymilk, Asian green vegetables, almonds and Brazil nuts.

Protein is important for building bones, muscles, repairing skin and blood. It is found in tofu, tempeh, lentils, chickpeas, seeds, oats, soymilk and vegetables such as peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, potatoes and asparagus.

What goes in my child’s vegan lunchbox?

VEGAN CASHEW: CACAO BLISS BALLS: Ingredients: 1 cup of raw cashews 8 pitted dates 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1/2 cup of shredded xunsweetened coconut 2 teaspoons agave syrup Method: Add cashews, dates, cacao powder and vanilla to a food processor and blend. While blending add the agave syrup.

Form the mixture into small balls and then roll them in a bowl with the coconut until coated. Place in fridge until balls are hardened.

Dietitian Amber Sewell-Green, who specialises in plant-based nutrition, suggests:

n Wholegrain wraps with fillings such as hummus, avocado, tofu or tempeh

While ensuring your child is attaining the necessary vitamins and nutrients that are essential for their healthy development, a

n Lentil or quinoa salads n Enchiladas with beany fillings n Homemade bliss balls n Homemade popcorn n Snack packs of crunchy fava beans

vegan diet can be cleansing and even strengthening for a growing child. As a diet that separates itself from preserved meats and cheeses, a vegan diet can reduce the chances of several lifethreatening illnesses while also having a positive impact on the environment. n

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Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

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34 | social

TOP

influencers To follow iN

WA

2,3k Like

2k Comment

I

In recent years we’ve seen the explosion of a brand new profession – social media influencing.

ncreasingly, new mums take to social media as a creative

photos of their kids; they are content creators and successful

outlet while adjusting to motherhood, with some building up

businesswomen, who share advice on pregnancy, style, health,

enough of a following to turn it into a career.

travel and fitness. They have created a community of mums

Marketers and brands know that in 2019 audiences are after

authenticity, so they flock to these mums who are open and honest about their journey through motherhood – the good, the bad and the ‘insta-worthy’.

These Influencer mums do a lot more than just post cute

who can relate to their struggles and learn from their tips and sometimes just share in a laugh.

Here we’ve collected some of our favourite Western Australian Influencers to follow for your daily dose of motherhood, fashion and travel and lifestyle inspiration.

1. @ourmessynest Emma Fletcher is local to Perth, Western Australia and has an interest in sharing local activities for adults and children.

With a keen interest in local events, travel, cooking, beauty, animal conservation and supporting charity organisations, Our Messy Nest is a true lifestyle account. Having recently started her own blog, you’ll find a mix of all these as well as personal pieces both on @ourmessynest and www.ourmessynest.com. au. Staying true to the motivation behind her social media presence, Emma’s five year old son Reed is a constant source of inspiration. Sharing life as a mother, student, blogger and friend is central to the content shared on these platforms.

Emma’s passion for photography has allowed her to connect with other parents to share the ups and downs of parenting, tips on travelling with kids as well as special milestones in her life.

Sharing life as a mother, student, blogger and friend is central to the content shared on these platforms.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

social | 35 3. @lucasgirlslove Casey Lucas of Lucas Girls Love is a happy wife and mother of two young girls, currently saying yes to new adventures and living the little things!

With a career in fashion and styling spanning more than 15 years, Casey enjoys the creative outlet of Instagram influencing, while she raises her beautiful daughters.

Well known for their ‘twinning’ and Mummy & Me outfits, the Lucas Girls have worked with iconic fashion labels such a Auguste the Label, Infamous Swim, Unreal Fur and Lack of Colour to name a few.

Casey feels that life can be crazy enough and not always sunshine and rainbows, so insists on keeping her Instagram positive and ‘light and fluffy’ so that her posts continue to put a smile on her followers faces.

2. @common_wild Landscape Architect Paula Kuka, began drawing illustrations depicting her experience of motherhood while on maternity leave with her second child. What started as a personal project and an alternative to a traditional baby book, quickly gained popularity as other mums loved seeing their own personal experiences mirrored in these relatable, touching and hilarious cartoons.

Paula’s cartoons have resonated with parents, highlighting the fact that it’s not only the humorous parenting moments but also the intensely emotional and frustrating facets of parenthood that appear to be universal. The main goal of the project has evolved over time as she realised the power the images could have in transforming someone’s challenging day. Using humour, honesty, and vulnerability, the drawings let other mums know they aren’t alone. Paula hopes that the project continues to cheer up exhausted parents and provoke conversations about guilt and the pressure mothers feel.

Paula lives in Perth with her Journalist husband, four-yearold son and one-year old daughter and is currently working on publishing a book of her illustrations. You can buy Paula’s illustrations at www.commonwild.com.au www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

36 | social 4. @sugarplumtree_mama Nicole is a 38 year old influencer blessed with three beautiful daughters. Currently, her main occupation is juggling #mumlife and social media, however she also has a Bachelor of Science (Molecular Genetics) and worked as a Medical Scientist for 13 years.

When her eldest daughter was six months old Nicole opened a children’s clothing company, Sugar Plum Tree, which quickly became very popular. Fans went crazy for the bespoke applique pinafores Nicole designed and sewed herself. However after a stressful, yet rewarding eight years, and the arrival of her third little sugarplum, Nicole decided it was time to move on.

With a love and passion for all things creative, she found a new love in product styling and photography, and for the past two years has shared these passions online, where you can see snippets of her life as a Mum to three girls, find out about fun Perth events and things to do, follow their regular travels, and learn about some awesome new products they love and recommend.

Visit Nicole’s website https://sugarplumtreemama. wordpress.com/

5. @storiesofamum Since starting in 2015 as a platform for sharing memories of her firstborn daughter Sophie, Stories of a Mum has blossomed into a social media brand built around beautiful photography, small business promotion and storytelling. Stories of a Mum is an avenue in which to document the good, bad and downright testing days of motherhood as Laura shares her very open and raw journey as a Navy Wife and mother of two little girls. Laura uses her Instagram page to connect with other mothers while drinking wine and eating pizza in her Kmart leggings. If you love honest captions, photos of family home decor, Mum and kid fashion, local Perth child friendly cafes and travel then @ Storiesofamum is the account for you.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

social | 37 6. @_emma.gibb Emma Gibb is a Perth influencer with substance. Just like her insta profile portrays, Emma is a wife, mama and manifester. Happily married with two gorgeous boys, Emma wins more in a month than most people win in a lifetime. We love Emma’s relatable, funny and down to Earth portrayal of motherhood.

We also find her honesty around her mental health struggles inspiring; and love how passionate she is about urging women to get help. Emma loves working in the Perth CBD as a Commercial Property Manager for a top tier agency but when the corporate work day is over and her boys are tucked lovingly in bed, Emma is getting in that side hustle on Insta.

Not only does Emma create content for top brands like Dyson or HelloFresh, she gives intuitive card readings as @ thatgypsymum and promotes her successful online crystal store thatgypsyshop.com.

7. @house.of.cubs Isabel is a Perth blogger and content creator. She is a wife and mother of two boys, Christian, two, and Ethan 6 months.

Her husband, Steve, works FIFO. Isabel lived in Spain until her early teens. She has a degree in commerce and a postgraduate degree in corporate governance and gave up her corporate job to have a family. When Christian was six months old, she started her Instagram page for fun and in the process discovered her creative passion. She has never looked back. @house.of.cubs is a collection of photography and stories about their family life. It showcases motherhood, the joys and challenges of raising a young family as well as curated interiors, fashion, products for mums and kids, and her family’s love of the beach, adventure and travelling.

Isabel has recently finished styling Christian’s big boy room. A space where he can play, explore, learn and get lost in imagination! #kidsroominspiration.

Isabel’s family are soon on a five week adventure to Europe where she will continue to share the joys and craziness of motherhood whilst travelling with a young family. n www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

38 | health

Preventabl

e

diseases

kill: A case for vaccinatio n

Would you let a carpenter operate on your child? (and why you shouldn’t trust your child’s healthcare to celebrity chefs, footballers’ wives & other charlatans).

alive today he could recount how his eldest daughter, Olivia, died

BY DR. ADAM COULSON

than 30 years. The six-year-old unvaccinated boy spent 47 days

BA BM BCH (OXON) FACEM About the author: Dr. Adam Coulson is a Practising Specialist Emergency Physician. He is a father to six children all of whom are vaccinated. The views expressed in this article are those of the author. The names and details of any patients have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.

C

Measles is not benign.

If one of our favourite children’s authors, Roald Dahl, were tragically of measles encephalitis (infection and inflammation of the brain) aged just seven years old in 1962. He was a passionate advocate of vaccination. He had reason to be.

Recently, Oregon State recorded its first case of tetanus in more in Intensive Care. Tetanus is vaccine preventable. I have cared for patients suffering tetanus - an extremely unpleasant and lifethreatening illness.

Australia has seen a surge in self proclaimed “experts and champions” of antivaccination. Many of them have celebrity status. They make false and unsubstantiated claims about vaccination.

Make no mistake, these self-proclaimed experts lack any

hloe was a beautiful infant child. Loved by her doting

formal recognised training or education in health sciences let

parents and grandparents. Chloe took several agonising

alone medicine. They are charlatans and should be called out.

days to die of whooping cough in a modern Intensive

Care Unit in one of Australia’s best children’s hospitals.

Whooping cough is vaccine preventable, Chloe was not vaccinated.

The year was 2004. Her death rocked me. I still see her pretty face.

Would you allow a well-meaning carpenter to operate on your child? After all, they’re good with tools. Would you?

Let’s think about that for a moment.

If your child needed surgery would you entrust their care to a charismatic and charming carpenter who lacked any formal surgical training? Would you?

More than 150 people have recently succumbed to Measles in

Isn’t it reassuring that Australia has a rigorous system of

New York State. The US had eliminated measles in 2000. Measles

surgical training and registration that guarantees the expertise

is vaccine preventable.

and competence of Surgeons?

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

health | 39 So why do intelligent and well-meaning Australian parents entrust their children’s healthcare to untrained professionals?

Footballers’ wives might be good for a bit of lighthearted TV entertainment but would you really turn to them for healthcare advice?

When childhood vaccination was launched in Australia during the last century parents had a lived world experience of the devastation that vaccine preventable diseases caused.

From 1944 to 1954 polio was responsible for more than 1000 deaths in Australia. The reality of this disease was ever present in communities. This devastating illness crippled and killed children.

Its vaccine was welcomed. Many elderly Australians still live with the devastating neuromuscular disability wrought by the polio virus.

Modern Australia, with its public health advances, has seen our communities thankfully grow healthier and safer. The lived world experience of the destructive power of vaccine preventable diseases is no longer in our consciousness.

More than 150 people h ave recently su ccumbed to measles in New York state. The U S had eliminated measles in 2000.

Make no mistake, vaccine preventable diseases kill and are ready to strike the unvaccinated, and the “herd”, if vaccine

viruses and bacteria many of which are largely vaccine preventable.

Think about that for a moment.

Would you want to be the parent that has to bury your child of an entirely vaccine preventable disease?

Would you want to be the parent that has to apologise to

rates continue to decline. Remember that the natural world isn’t

your child for their lifelong disability as the result of a vaccine

all paleo and wholefoods. The natural world is life-threatening

preventable illness?

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perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

40 | health Intelligent, caring and well-meaning Australian

If you have a number of

parents are right to question the healthcare

questions you would like to

their children are offered. So where should

ask your GP about vaccination,

you turn for credible advice to answer your

request a long appointment to

questions on vaccination?

allow you the time to explore

I recommend that your

your issues. Complex

“health home” should be your General Practitioner.

These highly trained doctors have undertaken years of postgraduate medical training to specialise in providing holistic healthcare advice for

Would you want to be the parent that has to apologise t o your child for t heir lifelon g d isability as the resu lt of a vacc ine preventable illness?

the whole family.

Australia has an outstanding system of primary healthcare that allows consumers to choose their own General Practitioner. Take the time to find a GP that you like & trust. Recommendations from friends & family can be a good first step.

The Royal Australian College for General Practitioners also has an informative website that provides advice on finding a GP in your area: https://www.racgp.org.au/information-for-patients/ find-a-gp Many General Practices undergo rigorous accreditation as evidence of their quality. A list of these can be found at: https:// www.agpal.com.au/for-consumers/

questions might require several

consultations.

If your child has complex healthcare needs impacting

on vaccination decisions your GP can refer you to a paediatrician or paediatric immunologist for more specialized advice.

Child health nurses are highly skilled registered nurses with postgraduate training and expertise in child health. They can be an invaluable source of credible advice on the healthcare needs of your child.

Make sure you entrust the healthcare needs of your child to credible health professionals with the appropriate training & qualifications.

You wouldn’t let a carpenter operate on your child? Would you? n

Foster Care

Can you help a vulnerable child in your community?

If you have space in your heart and home for a child, you can become a foster carer.

You can provide care for a weekend, a few weeks, a few months or even years. You choose the period that suits you. We understand every family is different, and we will support you so you can provide the best care possible to a child in need.

Find out more today 1300 791 677

Offspring | SPRING 2019 | perth

mackillop.org.au

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

| 41

Would you know what to do if your child requires First Aid?

B

y doing the St John WA’s Tiny Tot First Aid course, existing or soon to be parents, grandparents and caregivers can gain the confidence they

need to provide the vital First Aid response when the need arises.

Just ask yourself: if your infant or toddler was choking, would you know the quickest and best way to remove the blockage? Or if they stopped breathing, would you know

other illnesses and injuries.

how to give CPR to such a tiny human

Courses are available across the Perth

being until paramedics arrive? How about

metropolitan area, as well as the Goldfields, the

putting an infant into the recovery position?

Seconds are valuable in a First Aid emergency, so every parent or care giver should know what to do. It can be the difference between life and death.

For only $50 and only three and-a-half hours, this course ensures you know how to perform CPR, how to manage choking, anaphylaxis, bleeding and burns, as well as a range of

South West and Wheatbelt locations.

People completing a Tiny Tots First Aid course will receive a St John Accredited certification and there are no pre-learning components.

You can find out more and book by visiting stjohnwa.com. au/TinyTots or calling 9334 1233.

Choking, allergies, asthma… Would you know what to do?

Learn how to help your precious toddler or infant in an emergency with a St John Tiny Tots First Aid course.

Essential for parents, grandparents and carers, you’ll learn skills that can save a life, including CPR and responding to choking, asthma, fever, allergic reactions and more.

10% OFF for all Offspring readers Use discount code: TINYTOTS10

Course Cost: $50 | Duration: 3.5 hours For more information or to make a booking search Tiny Tots First Aid or call us on 9334 1233

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Offer valid until 19 November 2019 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer.

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

42 | baby cry signals

Hush little baby A baby’s cry is their only way of communicating with their parent so knowing their reason for crying is essential!

The sound of a baby’s pained cries can break any parent’s heart. Using our tips and tricks for identifying the reason for your baby’s tears can put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Here is your guide to decoding the five most common baby cries.

HUNGER:

❥ Typically, a low-pitched, rhythmic, repetitive cry.

❥ It’s best to respond quickly so the baby

doesn’t get too worked up and swallow air which can trap gas or cause them to spit up.

Look out for…

❥ Your baby’s sucking reflex will kick in here

so babies may also put their fingers in their mouth or try gnawing at their hand.

UNCOMFORTABLE:

❥ A whiny, nasal, continuous cry usually means your baby is uncomfortable. They’re itchy, wet, cold, or want to be in a different position.

❥ It may also be discomfort so check for a dirty nappy!

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

baby cry signals | 43

GAS:

❥ This cry will come from the lower abdomen and will often see it accompanied by your child pulling their knees up or pushing out with their legs. His body will be uncomfortable because he’s experiencing lower gas and looking for a way to manoeuvre it out.

❥ When your baby is feeling gas in the upper part of his digestive tract, he’ll push his breath out like he’s trying to burp.

SLEEPY:

❥ The cry of a tired baby will be longer and slow. ❥ The cry typically builds in intensity and is

usually a baby’s signal that they want to sleep (in which case, the cry is typically accompanied by yawning, eye-rubs and ear tugs).

HOT TIP!

Try comforting positions such as laying her on her tummy on your forearm or across your knees, supporting her head and rubbing her back.

SICK/COLIC:

❥ Colic often occurs in the late afternoon or evening, and the episodes can last for hours. It typically peaks around six weeks after birth and goes away by the time baby is three to four months old.

❥ Intense wails or screams accompanied

by fidgeting movements can signal the baby is feeling unwell.

❥ A sick baby will typically let out soft whimpers that are weak and nasal sounding.

❥ If you suspect your baby is sick, be on

the lookout for additional symptoms that warrant a doctor’s visit such as fever, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and rashes.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

44 | anxiety in kids

6 tips

.for parenting. anxious kids.

As much as we’d like to, we can’t rid our kids of their anxiety, but we can help them to manage it in ways that enable them to move it from centre stage and get on with living a vibrant, rich and meaningful life.

BY MICHAEL GROSE & DR JODI RICHARDSON

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

anxiety in kids | 45

I

f you’re the parent of an anxious child, you’re most certainly not alone. The number of children experiencing an anxiety disorder is currently estimated at 117 million worldwide. Here in Australia, there’s an average of two anxious kids in every

classroom; and they’re the ones with a diagnosis. Many more

TEACH YOUR ANXIOUS CHILD THAT THE PART OF THEIR BRAIN THAT PROTECTS THEM FROM DANGER IS ALWAYS ON HIGH ALERT.

anxious kids are yet to have their anxiety identified and understood.

Here are six tips to support you to parent your anxious child:

1

Next, talk about the changes that happen in the body to power them up to fight or flee. They can experience an increased heart

Explain anxiety

rate, rapid breathing and an upset stomach. They might even feel

Anxious kids can struggle to explain how they feel and

dizzy, hot, sweaty and panicked. Anxiety effects thinking and

can worry that no one will understand what they’re going

behaviour too.

through. That’s why explaining anxiety is an important step in supporting an anxious child. The knowledge that anxiety is well understood, that other kids experience it and that it’s manageable brings them immediate relief.

2

Respond with empathy In the midst of an anxious moment it’s natural to want to reassure anxious kids they’ve got nothing to worry

about. Reassurance works in the short term but soon wears off

Teach your anxious child that the part of their brain that

and they’re coming back for more. This can become an unhelpful

protects them from danger is always on high alert. Called the amygdala, it’s meant to protect them from genuine danger but for

pattern. Instead, respond with empathy and validation. Use ahhh

anxious kids, it can be almost constantly activated.

statements like “Ahhh, I see you’re feeling really anxious right now, I know how hard this is for you” or “I know you’re feeling really

Explain that when they feel anxious, their amygdala sends signals to their body to fight or flee from the threat, whether the

worried right now, it’s not much fun feeling like that is it?” Anxious

threat is real or imagined.

kids need to know you understand what they’re going through.

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46 | anxiety in kids

3

Show the amygdala they’re safe Once the amygdala senses danger, the cascade of events that follow can’t be stopped. The body and

brain will respond as if the danger is immediate. The only way to help an anxious child to calm their anxious brain is to teach them to show their amygdala they’re safe. This can be done with breathing.

Deep and intentional breathing helps an anxious child to calm their amygdala and will begin to reduce their anxious symptoms. Practice intentional breathing regularly in between anxious times before applying this in the midst of an anxious moment.

4

The antidote to worrying It’s often said that anxiety is distress now about a possible future which is why worrying is so

common among anxious kids. When their minds fastforward to an upcoming event or expectation, their amygdala can respond as if the ‘threat’ to their safety is immediate. The antidote to worrying is mindfulness. Put simply, mindfulness is paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment. It’s a skill that can be learned, it takes time but is a

DEFUSION HELPS KIDS (ALL OF US) TO LOOK AT OUR THOUGHTS BY REMINDING US THAT THE WORDS IN OUR HEADS ARE INDEED JUST WORDS, THOUGHTS THAT COME AND GO, NOT OUR REALITY.

powerful anxiety management strategy.

5

Practice defusing sticky thoughts Anxious thoughts can get stuck and refuse to budge no matter how much attention is paid to them. Defusion is a

strategy that helps anxious kids look at their thoughts rather than run from them. Let’s say your anxious child is worried about an upcoming test. They’re thinking “I’m going to fail the test”. The thought makes them feel awful.

Defusion helps kids (all of us) to look at our thoughts by reminding us that the words in our heads are indeed just words, thoughts that come and go, not our reality. Thoughts can be defused by putting a statement in front of the thought such as: “I notice I’m having the thought that I’m going to fail the test” or by saying the thought in a character voice like Darth Vader or Peppa Pig or singing it to the tune of happy birthday or a nursery rhyme.

Defusion puts distance between anxious kids and their thoughts.

6

Get the fundamentals right Ample sleep, good nutrition and exercise are essential for anxious kids. Support your child to adhere to their

optimal bedtime so they wake naturally around the time of their alarm, reduce their sugar intake to support their gut health and to exercise regularly for optimal mental health.

For more information on anxiety in children read Anxious Kids, How children can turn their anxiety into resilience by MICHAEL GROSE & DR JODI RICHARDSON published by Penguin Life.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

These are some of the many strategies that you can share with your child to support them to recognise their anxiety, understand how it impacts their body and brain, how they can manage their symptoms and, importantly, how they can turn down the volume on their anxiety and live life in full colour. n www.offspringmagazine.com.au

books | 47

Book REVIEW

Here are our top picks for young readers this Winter season.

18 MO+

The Adventures of Twinkle the Unicorn, Splash the Mermaid and Belch the Monster

Author: Rhiannon Fielding Illustrator: Chris Chatterton

Three beautifully illustrated stories follow the enchanting adventures of three adorable protagonists - Splash the Mermaid, Twinkle the Unicorn and Belch the Monster – which will have little ones drift off into a peaceful slumber!

4+ YEARS

Ella and the Ocean Author: Lian Tanner Illustrator: Jonathan Bentley

Join Ella as she helps her farming family find joy in life’s simplicities with a family adventure to the ocean as they are struggling from the drought. Upon returning home from the ocean, life doesn’t seem quite so hard: the land, while still dry, is a beautiful colour, and the birds are singing!

12+ years

promise

Author: Alexandra Alt

Follow teenage lovers Lene and Ludwig as they navigate the complexities of love and war.

As Ludwig is recruited onto the Eastern Front by Nazi Germany, Lene moves to Hanover and the couple becomes estranged, that is, until Lene returns to Germany years later on a quest to find out what happened to her lost love.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

3+ years

The Furfins: Tinytail and the Lost Treasure Author: Alison Ritchie Illustrator: Aless Baylis

Dive into this charming underwater adventure and explore a magical kingdom filled with FurFins and other friendly sea creatures, in the first of a series of collectable, glittery picture books.

7+ years

Ninja Kid 4

Author: Anh Do Illustrator: Jeremy Ley

Nelson is every child’s nerd-to-ninja hero! As he auditions for the circus, Nelson will need to use all of his ninja skills to pull off his greatest escape act yet!

ADULTS

The Art of SelfKindness Author: Rebecca Ray

Reconnect with yourself in an age where social media causes you to lose sight of what is important in life. This book will guide you as you face the world with courage, grace and heart.

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

48 | a mile in my shoes

A mile in my shoes Shoeless, the child’s little feet were torn to shreds by the broken glass and shrapnel covering the garbage dump, until one father’s promise changed his world forever.

BY SOPHIE PHOON

He managed a second glance at his feet, torn to shreds by the sun-scorched earth on which he had spent the last thirteen hours walking barefoot. It was the kind of burnt tarmac that would melt your thongs if you stood on it too long. Not only had his toes fused together, but his feet were all shades of red and blistered.

The worn-out preacher closed his eyes and sat back to let the doctor finish his work, thinking again about the promise he had made…

“Hey mister,” had come a small voice in Spanish, and a hand pulling on his sleeve. “Can I swap my toy for a pair of shoes?”

He was a little boy, maybe seven or eight years old. He was

R

barefoot, amongst the broken glass and scraps of rusted tin, which blanketed the garbage dump where they stood.

ick gritted his teeth as the doctor began to lance his toes apart, one by one.

That old farmer on the side of the road had

warned him. He’d taken one look at Rick’s bare

feet crisping up in the summer sun and said, “Boy, I don’t let my donkey get out on the road in this heat ‘cause it’ll cripple him. I guess that makes you dumber than a jackass.”

It was Day One of ‘The Walk’. Rick was 32 miles in, with 308 miles left to go.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

It was Christmas Day, and Rick and his elves had driven overnight with a carload of toys to reach the northern slums of Mexico. Following a vulture rather than a bright star, they had stumbled upon a dump filled with mountains of garbage that at first glance seemed to move.

But as they got closer, they realised the moving parts were actually people, dozens, if not hundreds, of ‘garbage pickers’ – men, women and children who rummaged through the trash for something to eat, wear or sell.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

a mile in my shoes | 49

The boy stared intently up at him, a shiny green toy truck clutched in his outstretched hands, and at first Rick was surprised – why would any child give up a toy for some shoes? Especially at Christmas! But as he caught a glimpse of the boy’s feet, it made a lot of sense – cut to pieces by the unforgiving terrain, his little feet were bleeding, blistered, swollen and red.

But there had been no shoes left to give him, no money either. So with a broken heart, Rick gave him the only thing he could, “I give you my word – I’ll come back this summer and I’ll bring you some shoes.”

As a high school teacher and a minister, he and his wife could put together the money to buy those shoes, he thought.

But fortune seemed to smile on him just a couple of short weeks later as he drove up to a church where he was booked to speak.

“There were so many Jaguars in the parking lot, you could have filmed a Tarzan movie,” Rick recalls.

Wealthy though they were, those in the congregation were unmoved by his request for funding – just a few pairs of shoes for the boy and his family.

Finally he managed to convince them to sponsor him 10 pairs of shoes for every mile he walked across his home

state of Alabama. There was just one catch – he’d have to do it without any shoes on.

That summer, on the 4th of July, Rick began what he calls his “pilgrimage of a promise”, in honour of his friend down in the dumps in Mexico. He was to walk, barefoot in the middle of summer, 547km from east to west, which is the equivalent of walking across the entire state of Victoria.

“I zigzagged here and there across the blazing hot ground and I remember burning my feet up, thinking what a dumb idea this is.” He laughs. “This was a dumb idea.”

It was at the end of that first day when Rick had to get his doctor to lance his toes apart after they had welded together in the scorching summer heat. They looked every bit as cut up as the feet of his little Mexican friend.

The next morning, Rick awoke to a nation stirred by the amazing story of a preacher walking barefoot across his home state. The story had been picked up by CNN, ESPN, ABC, NBC – pretty much every major news station in the country.

“My goal was to get 3400 pairs of shoes for 340 miles,” Rick says. “I ended up that year with 60,000 pairs of shoes, and we went back to Mexico.”

After finding “the little rascal” and his family, they gave shoes to every child in that garbage dump. Later, Rick’s organisation bought the dump and converted it into an orphanage, which has since been voted the top orphanage in Mexico.

Since that first year, Rick – often accompanied by his beautiful wife, Kim, and now with his shoes on – has diligently walked across one state every year, sometimes more than one if they’re small enough. With the help of charitable organisations

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

50 | a mile in my shoes

like Soles4Souls and Roma Boots, they have raised more than one million pairs of shoes in the last three decades, and the 60-year-old preacher isn’t stopping any time soon.

“There’s still one more kid that needs a pair of shoes.

There’s still one more mother crying because she can’t put shoes on her children’s feet.”

This year he will walk across his 39th and 40th US states.

“I always ask people, how far will you go to keep your word?

So far, I’ve walked roughly 25,000 kilometres to keep mine.”

That’s like walking the entire coastline of Australia almost twice. However, as Rick likes to tell people, you don’t need to walk across the country or even the state to make a difference in your community.

“Just take a step and see where it takes you. You may take a step across the lunchroom and sit down next to the new kid at school. You may take a step at work and talk to somebody that

Rick encourages people to keep their donations local, to give to those who are doing good in their own backyard.

However, if you would like to learn more about the ‘The Walk’ or make a contribution to their amazing work, you can do so at www.harvestevangelism.org.

you can tell is going through a tough time.”

He and his wife, Kim, instil this philosophy of compassionin-action in their four children, RC, Winchester, Elliot and Dreamer, who regularly join them on the walk as well as their biannual trip to Mexico. n

Your dinner party can make wishes come true Join Make-A-Wish’s largest fundraising campaign.

To find out more, head to www.bakeawish.org.au/dinnerparty

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

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Newborn Lifestyle

Maternity

Birth and Families

Fresh 48

Capturing your natural connections and telling your story through beautiful images which allow you to revisit a moment long after its passed

based in Tapping, Perth www.alanaprosperphotography.com.au

52 |

Fraser Suites Perth

Overlooking the Swan River and conveniently located close to the WACA Ground and Optus Stadium, Fraser Suites Perth’s premier location makes it the perfect hotel to enjoy all the entertainment and dining options Perth has to offer.

F

raser Suites Perth offers 236 luxuriously appointed serviced suites in Studio and One Bedroom configurations, complete with all the trimmings of a 5-star hotel complex.

Using a dual key system, these suites can be easily connected to create Two Bedroom apartments, the perfect space for groups and families, making it a great base for exploring everything exploring everything there is to love about Perth.

These serviced apartments and suites encompass sophisticated and modern architecture, designed to provide a warm and comfortable sanctuary from the outside world.

Each room has been optimised to showcase panoramic views through floor to ceiling operable windows that let in an

These serviced apartments and suites encompass sophisticated and modern architecture, designed to provide a warm and comfortable sanctuary from the outside world.

abundance of natural light.

Perfect for short or long stay guests, the One Bedroom and

the thoughtfully designed menus feature locally sourced and

Two Bedroom apartments are a true home away from home

seasonal produce, along with an exciting drinks menu, and kids

with full kitchen facilities, washing machine and dryer, open

under 12 eat free.

plan living and dining, as well as separate bedrooms with plenty of storage. Many of the Two Bedroom apartments feature spacious balconies to enjoy the stunning views of Perth’s city skyline.

Guests of Fraser Suites Perth can enjoy state-of-the-art leisure facilities including a 24-hour fully equipped fitness centre, indoor heated lap pool, jacuzzi and sauna.

Dining is a breeze with 24-hour room service, Heirloom Restaurant and Lobby Bar. Lead by Head Chef Vincy Silveira,

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

The hotel’s city fringe location is situated in the free transit zone, with free busses to the CBD, Elizabeth Quay and Kings Park. It is also located within close proximity to outdoor spaces including Queens Gardens and Langley park, and is only a 15-minute drive to and from Perth Airport.

From the moment you arrive, the team at Fraser Suites Perth go above and beyond the traditional expectation of a hotel, and simply give you more, so you leave feeling refreshed, elated and ready for your next adventure.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Two Bedroom Holiday Special Spoil yourself and the family with a luxurious stay at Fraser Suites Perth in their Two Bedroom Apartment.

INCLUSIONS: • From $370 per night • Luxury overnight accommodation Occupancy 4 (5 with a rollaway bed) The Two Bedroom suites combine a

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One Bedroom apartment with a Studio,

• Free & unlimited Wi-Fi throughout your stay

to create the perfect space for families

• Washer/dryer

and small groups. Each apartment is fully furnished with separate living, dining and bedroom areas.

For more information contact Fraser Suites Perth: e • reservations.perth@frasershospitality.com p • +61 8 9261 0000 Terms and Conditions: Only available when booking direct • Stay dates: 28 Sept 2019 – 13 Oct 2019 and 20 Dec 2019 - 2 Feb 2020 • Subject to availability and peak event dates • Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount

Whilst staying at the hotel, kids under 12 eat free at Heirloom Restaurant & bar.

54 | spirituality

Honouring our emotions Spiritual teacher, healer and medium, Oscar de Sousa, shares why we need to acknowledge and nurture our emotions.

BY KATE DURACK

E

xperiencing emotions is our soul’s purpose, according to spiritual mentor and medium, Oscar de Sousa.

Honouring our emotions can also help us maintain positive relationships and manifest our desires.

We arrive here alone with nothing, and we leave alone with

nothing, except the emotions we acquire, says Oscar de Sousa, speaking from the Spirit Energy Centre on NSW’s Central Coast.

Acknowledging our emotions prevents us from offloading them onto others, especially our children and partners, and subsequently them rippling through society Most excitingly, working with our emotions, rather than ignoring them, helps us manifest what we truly desire.

Despite the importance of valuing our emotions, Western society teaches us to disregard them, and worse, to feel ashamed

Oscar’s been told by his guides, “Emotions are variable frequencies of energy operating simultaneously”, which is why some people can have various emotions at the same time.

Oscar says, “The simplest form to expand the neurological system of the conscious brain to be able to harness, access and be attentive to the energy that resonates within us that’s constantly, forever fluctuating, is to first observe our mind, observe ourselves and not be puppets on a string.”

If we acknowledge our emotions, even understand why we feel

for having them, which is not something we want to be infiltrating

that way, and to honour them, we are less likely to be puppeted

to our children.

by them and lash out at others. Unfortunately, those we love are

The best way we can become attuned to our emotions is to observe ourselves, says Oscar. [Meditation is a great way to develop this skill.]

He says we need to be observant of the emotion that’s resonating within us, rather than being subjected to it controlling us, dominating us, and enticing us to act out.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

often the first to be hit by our emotional releases.

“Instead of articulating what we’re feeling, we’re often being controlled by what they’re feeling,” Oscar says.

Oscar explains a typical household scenario: “The husband (or wife) comes home stressed. They’re going to be communicating on that level of emotion. We’re not usually

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

spirituality | 55

observant and noticing these emotions inside. We don’t decide to calm them down or be attentive to them, so we don’t impose them on our children or each other (we don’t

Men need to start being more intuitive, talking about their emotions, listening to their inner self, not being just driven by the mind.

– Oscar de Sousa

impose them consciously, we don’t even know they’re doing it).

“We get home, our own fuse is already at the end of its tether.

Perhaps we’ve been treated badly at work, there’s traffic, bills, expenses, and then we have to clean, cook, wash up … it’s all

The more we understand our emotions, we’re less likely to be subjugated by them, and will be able to articulate in language by talking about them.

“People don’t want to say to their partner they’re feeling a bit insecure and feel like their energy is no longer connected to

putting you on edge.

“It’s then easy to turn around to your child and say, ‘Turn off that machine!’ or ‘Get off that computer!’

them,” Oscar says.

“Rather than asking questions based on this, such as ‘Do you

“Now, that child foremostly heard “Bang!”.

want to do more things in life without me?’ we tend to brew, be

“Secondly, the words that were spoken.

fearful, and then start to fish … ‘What did you do today? Who

“Months later our child speaks to us that way and we wonder why.

were you with?’ or even go through their phone, which just makes

“We have just been puppeted by our emotions. We are all guilty

people feel violated.

“Emotions people have shouldn’t control their dialect or

of that.

“Everyone gets puppeted, and the problem is we indirectly, and even innocently, jab that pain and stress that we’re feeling onto

behaviour, but moreso be a language to the brain to go this is what’s resonating, let’s attend to it.”

Oscar says it’s even worse for men as they have been conditioned

the other person.

“So, it becomes a virus because that person jabs another person with it and it just swims through society.”

to not feel or show their emotions, “don’t cry, suck it up”. “Poor men innocently have been trapped into a void that is not natural,” he says.

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56 | spirituality

into the future, so naturally start to have those experiences; and it’s a vicious cycle.

When we realise the energy that resonates within us, the energy we’re emitting, the thoughts that carry it, we can stop causing that ripple effect.

Affirmations, prayer, spells, incantations, are effective when we feel the word, when we mean it and we say it with sentiment, says Oscar.

“And women, being intuitive, are hit with a brick wall when they try to broach this. They feel a storm inside, they feel fear, they

Emotions people have shouldn’t control their dialect or behaviour, but moreso be a language to the brain to go this is what’s resonating, let’s attend to it.

– Oscar de Sousa

feel confusion.

“The man’s like, I don’t know what you’re talking about, and it takes a while for them to process.”

Oscar says the consciousness of femininity and the consciousness of masculinity is the concept of Yin and Yang.

We all have that in us, whether we are male or female.

Some are slightly off balance, some have more of either.

“Men need to start being more intuitive, talking about their emotions, listening to their inner self, not being just driven by the mind.

“I can’t say that women now need to start applying the

If we’re panicking on the inside and reading this word, then fear becomes the dominant emotion.

“The key is, when we do feel afraid, we comfort ourselves, ‘It’s ok, I’m afraid,’ that’s ok,” he says.

“Once we acknowledge it, we can move from there but when we’re fighting against it that it’s not going anywhere, so it helps to acknowledge the fear and

where it came from. What experiences have led me to have this fear?

“When we know what caused this, ok it’s failed relationships that make us afraid of falling in love again, for example, it’s not so dominant in our psychology or our energy.”

Oscar advises writing down an affirmation in our own handwriting because our brain will absorb it much better.

We should then read it out aloud at least 20 times with no intention, just so the wording becomes familiar to the brain.

And then our focus can be on feeling each word.

For example, when someone says, “I love you,” it feels different when they really mean it. Quite often we want others to say it,

male consciousness because unfortunately 2000 years of

but we rarely look in the mirror and say it to ourselves, it’s quite

male dominance, a patriarchal system, means women have

confrontational. And it’s the most important thing. n

already had to assimilate the masculine consciousness within themselves. But men are yet to assimilate the feminine consciousness within themselves.”

Not only can honouring our emotions be great in maintaining more harmonious relationships and averting the ‘virus’ of offloading onto others, they can help us manifest what we want in our lives.

The effect of our emotions was explored through water experiments conducted by Japanese author and pseudoscientist, Masuru Emoto, whose work demonstrated how the sentiment of a word, which is energy, can affect the molecular structure of water. Keeping in mind we’re made up of about 78 per cent of water, words said to us can impact us strongly.

“If our thoughts (sentiments) on a piece of paper affects water, imagine we have that thought going over and over in our brain, ‘I’m not good enough, I’m not good enough. Life is shit.

Life is shit,’” says Oscar.

People are not only putting that energy back into their whole water aspect and altering the energy there, they’re emitting it

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sleep | 57

Sleep disorders in children Sleep disorders affect about one third of all school-aged children, but most are easily treated or managed by specialists, such as at the Murdoch Sleep Unit.

L

ack of good quality sleep in children or adolescents may impact growth, school performance, memory, mood and behaviour.

Common disorders seen at the sleep unit:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)  Snoring or breathing difficulties during sleep can be caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which can block oxygen flow.  A surgical procedure performed by an Ear Nose and Throat specialist can remove these.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)  RLS describes discomfort in the legs close to bedtime.  An iron supplement, massage, heat or ice packs may help.

Parasomnias  Parasomnias include sleep walking or talking, nightmares, or sleep terrors.  Common in young children and are generally not a concern unless very disruptive.

Top tips for kids sleep Murdoch Sleep Medicine and Paediatric specialist Dr Annie O’Donnell.

1. Keep regular times for sleeping and waking 2. Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing and calm 3. Make the room dark, cool and quiet 4. Invest in some supportive and comfortable bedding 5. Limit daytime naps for older children 6. Get into the sunlight in the morning 7. No devices within one hour of bedtime 8. Ensure kids are getting plenty of physical activity 9. Avoid stimulants such as sugar before bedtime 10. Don’t let kids go to bed too full or too hungry

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

What is a sleep study?

Clinical Operations Manager from Murdoch Sleep Unit Simon Kemp says a sleep study is an overnight test that continuously monitors your child’s sleep using small sensors.

“The sensors are not invasive and do not hurt your child,” he says.

“There are no needles and no extra medication is given. There is a digital video to increase accuracy of the study by correlating results with images.

“Most people worry that their night’s sleep won’t be the same as at home, but we can usually gather enough sleep data to make a diagnosis.

“Kids are able to bring along toys, pillows or comfort items and one adult must stay with the child for the duration of the evening.

“After settling into a private room, a sleep technician attaches small sensors to the skin of the scalp, face, chest, finger and legs, enabling precise monitoring.

“These are attached to state of the art equipment that monitors a range of functions during sleep including oxygen levels, breathing, brainwave activity, eye and leg movements and heart rate.’

The sleep technologists remain in the Unit throughout the duration of the sleep study and results are then sent to your doctor with a treatment plan. n

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

58 | technology

Here’s an

app

for that!

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but there are lots of useful apps to make various stages of parenting a bit easier. We look at some great options – whether you are a new parent or raising teenagers.

BY BROOKE EVANS-BUTLER

Our top app pick for new parents Feed Baby Are you a sleep-deprived new parent? This app allows you to keep track of your baby’s feeds, nappy changes and routines. It clearly fills a gap – it has been downloaded over one million times.

Go to www.feedbaby.com.au

Our top app pick for toddlers Macleans Nurdle Time Do you struggle to get your young child to brush their teeth?

Our top app pick for pregnancy Sprout Pregnancy Having a baby is such an exciting time, and with great pregnancy apps, you can access daily information about you and

This free app features a catchy song and reward points (so they can ‘buy’ clothes and accessories to personalise their ‘Nurdle’) to encourage your child to brush for the whole recommended two minutes. It features a countdown timer, so your child can see how much longer they have to brush.

Parents will love that it even features some simple tips about

your baby, and access handy tools, including a contraction counter

brushing properly before the start of the song. To download and

for when you go into labour. For details go to www.sprout-apps.

for more details, go to www.macleans.com.au/kids-products/

com/sprout-pregnancy-iphone-app

macleans-app.html

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technology | 59

Our top pick for screen time apps OurPact Managing your child’s screen time on their devices can be a challenge – but OurPact allows parental control so you can block apps you do not want your child to have access and manage the amount of screen time you want your child to have (without having to hide the charger or confiscate the device). For more information go to www.ourpact.com

Our top pick for educational apps ABC Reading Eggs This is a fantastic app that helps your child learn to read. It’s self-paced, fun and suitable for children from 2-years-old. If your child wants something fun but you want to ensure it is educational, this might be a good compromise. For details go to www. readingeggs.com.au/apps

Our top app pick for parents of teens Life360 If you are parenting teenagers and find yourself sending multiple texts to make sure they arrived at school, their friend’s house or their sports training safely, then this app could give peace of mind. Simply save your usual locations and your family or friends in your customised ‘circles’ will be alerted when you arrive at or leave the location. The free app also has a chat function. For more information check out www.life360.com

Our top pick for First Aid apps St John First Responder You might have heard of the First Responder app (which

Our top pick for parenting apps Calm Kids, Connected Parents Parenting expert Maggie Dent has released an app, Calm Kids,

allows people with First Aid qualifications to sign up to be notified when someone has called for an ambulance within 500 metres, so they can respond. But did you know you don’t have to be a ‘First Responder’ to get use from this great app?

The app features First Aid instruction, First Aid tips and

Connected Parents, so you can easily access Maggie’s pearls of

features a handy Triple zero calling feature that sends your GPS

wisdom. The app gives you access to Maggie’s weekly tips, audio,

location so an ambulance can easily locate you. It is a great app

videos and articles to connect stronger with your children. For

for parents who want to be prepared. For details go to www.

details go to www.maggiedent.com/calmkids

stjohnwa.com.au n

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

60 | education

Choosing where to send your child to school is a big decision - so how do you make the right choice for your family?

CLAIRE ARMSTRONG investigates the educational options.

S

chool days make up an enormous part of a child’s life, so you want to set them on the right path with a productive and supportive learning environment. There are many wonderful schools which can make things confusing for parents. Finding the right school for your family involves research and careful consideration. Offspring takes a look at the schooling options to help make your planning a little easier.

Government/Public

The local primary school is the natural choice for many

parents, with some choosing their residence with a school’s proximity in mind. A school close to home can have the key advantage of having friends in the neighbourhood, a guaranteed enrolment acceptance and the ability to walk or ride.

“In 2018 at a primary school level, 70 per cent of all Australian students attend government schools,” Australian Bureau of Statistics Director, Michelle Ducat, says.

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education | 61

If the school fits Natural love of learning at BanSkia Montessori

B

anksia Montessori School runs a quality driven Montessori Program for children aged between three and six years old.

The motto, ‘Happy Hearts, Brilliant Minds’ is reflected in the day to day running of the school.

Maintaining a Montessori philosophy of self-discipline, self-motivation, concentration, empathy, honesty and integrity,

Curiosity starts here For 3-6 year olds Give your child the best start in a small and nurturing environment

Enrol now

the children at Banksia Montessori develop a natural love of learning. The materials within the classroom are carefully structured in a sequence, leading

Phone 92755997 or email info@banksia.wa.edu.au to book a school tour www.banksia.wa.edu.au

the child towards a deep knowledge and a solid foundation for later learning.

Following the Montessori method, the mixed age classroom allows the child to develop academic and social skills at his or her own rate.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

62 | education If you wish to put your child’s name down at a government school outside of your local catchment area (for example one close to your workplace), a place is not guaranteed. You must also consider enrolling subsequent children and hoping for a place, as well as shuttling children to and from school.

Most government schools have minimal fees, while encouraged, these are usually voluntary ranging from $50-$300.

For Amanda Taylor the decision to send her children, Chase (11), Kobe (8) and Emerson (5) to the local public school was an easy one because they live in a great school district.

“Before we went to the school parent feedback helped us know that the school community was positive and wants the kids to strive to do their best in all areas. I think knowing that their academic and sporting needs are being met is important and I have confidence in the teacher’s ability to extend the kids if needed.”

“We plan to send the kids onto the local high school, which is a great school with lots of quality programs and also the same school I attended.”

Independent/Private

If you’re interested in independent or private education, which

covers a range of religious and community schools including Steiner and Montessori, it is vital to start looking early as there are often waiting lists and fees to consider. For parents, the wide range of independent schools means they have more say on the type of education they want for their child.

The Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) currently has 1,123 member schools in Australia (as per 2018 ABS data). The median price of an Australian independent school per student is $5,330 per year.

ISCA Executive Director Barry Wallett says independent

“In 2018 there was a net increase of independent student numbers by over 12,000. These numbers show that parents have strong confidence in independent schools.”

For information on independent schools, visit the Independent Schools Council of Australia website, www.isca.edu.au Montessori Montessori education is growing steadily in Australia. Its philosophy, based around Dr Maria Montessori’s approach, emphasises independence by providing an environment for children to learn at their own pace.

Children are free to choose activities within a prepared

schools represent 14.7 per cent of all Australian school enrolments

environment. This allows children think for themselves and help

and is continuing to grow.

them to develop confidence, concentration, creativity and inner

”Independent schools have been Australia’s fastest growing school sector over the last decade,” he says.

discipline. Classes are grouped in a three year age range.

For more information visit www.montessori.org.au

Libby Oteri chose a two stream Catholic coeducational school to send Frank (8) and Sofia (7).

“We wanted a school that offered pastoral care and a strong sense of community. We also wanted the choice to select the school that felt right for our family. After meeting with the principal we knew the school was the right ‘fit’ for us.”

“We will also make the decision for secondary school on what feels right for Frank and Sofia individually.”

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education | 63 attend an interview and then a preference scheme is in place with

Steiner Steiner, or Waldorf education is based on the methods of Rudolf Steiner aiming to educate artistically and holistically.

A unique feature of Steiner education is the same teacher stays with the class throughout their primary years aimed at creating strong relationships between teacher, student and the student’s family.

The use of electronic media is strongly discouraged and all toys are made from natural materials. While there are fewer Steiner

first round offers given to students of the religion within the parish.

Community/Alternative/Open Learning Another option is community schools, sometimes called alternative or open learning education. The schools act independently and form their own curriculum and ethos and are often small, co-educational, multi-cultural and nondenominational.

schools than Montessori, they are gaining popularity.

For information on Steiner schools visit www.steinereducation. edu.au Religious The majority of religious schools in Australia are Catholic, with the latest ABS data showing one in five Australian students are educated in Catholic schools. However, there are a number of other major religions represented including Anglican, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Islamic, Jewish, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Uniting Church and Presbyterian.

If you want to enrol in a religious school, you must contact the individual school to put in an application and usually pay a small fee. Some schools do not require you to be of the faith to attend. However, you will be asked to

Nurturing Potential

L

earning and care go hand-in-hand

Together, we can lead

at St Stephen’s

School. While teaching and learning are at the forefront of the School’s holistic PK-12 model, students are nurtured throughout their school years, with access to pastoral care, service learning, career and industry opportunities.

As a Christ-centred, student-focused and community-based School, St Stephen’s recognise that success looks different for each individual and can tailor pathways to ensure each student finds their niche.

The School is a solid academic performer, yet the traits students learn such as teamwork, humility, leadership and compassion go beyond the classroom. They are encouraged to imagine, be curious, to question, which fosters transferable skills and a deeper understanding of the modern world.

Find your place in the St Stephen’s community – one that cares for, achieves and celebrates all.

More at www.ststephens.wa.edu.au.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Find your place in a community that cares, achieves and celebrates all.

Call (08) 9243 2100 or visit ststephens.wa.edu.au.

St Stephen’s School SERVE GOD SERVE ONE ANOTHER

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

64 | education

out Things to think ab when doing your research: . If you

 Visit the school and meet the staff nding the ady atte can, speak with parents alre school.

h the out as music or STEM and find us practices and policies on homework, religio bullying.

ilities for  Think about travel and the facuire d. if req before and after school care

fees,  Look at the overall cost includingknow and ps cam uniform, stationary and your budget.

suc  Check out the special programssch ool

HOME SCHOOL

Home based education is another alternative option and not

just for people in remote locations. Other factors such as disability, behavioural issues, gifted children, bullying, cultural or religious beliefs, or lack of confidence in mainstream schooling system can lead families to opt for home schooling.

Home schooling is a growing community in Australia with lots of support available for parents wanting to take the plunge.

Each state and territory in Australia has its own set of legal requirements for registering to home school, some stricter than others. Some parents choose not to register, however this can

, www.

Visit the MySchool website s of file pro a get to u u.a myschool.ed icators. ind nce schools, as well as performa

impact government payments and benefits. n

Bold Park built on Reggio principles

O

ne of the original Reggio Emilia inspired schools in Australia

and a leader in this outstanding educational field for 20 years, Bold Park Community School continues to be celebrated for its progressive and collaborative approach to child-centred education.

Bold Park Community School builds on its Reggio foundations, employing qualified educators for its

Wilderness Playgroup, an Outdoor Provocation Specialist as well as seven Arts Specialists focussing on years 1 through 9, to support and enhance the Nature Pedagogy and Project Based Learning that occurs at the school.

With learning environments that promote reflectivity, ingenuity, imagination and problem solving, Bold Park Community School is a school of choice for a truly holistic education. (Playgroup and PK – Year 12). www.boldpark.com | 08 9387 5050 | registrar@boldpark.com

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

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education | 65

New Hale Junior School best of the best

H

ale School has long held a

own vision and experience on best-

reputation for excellence but the

practice teaching and learning specifically

Junior School redevelopment

for boys, and where they believe

has set a new standard, being described as one of the best, if not the best primary

education will go in the future.

“We always came back to the one

school in the nation. The old Junior

focus, the heart and purpose of what we

School was demolished in stages and the

were trying to achieve: what is best for

brand-new campus unveiled late last year.

our boys?” Mr Cameron said. “How can

The new design and expansion have also

we design and develop an environment

allowed for the addition of Pre-Primary

that will help all boys achieve their

for the very first time, with two classes of

personal best and prepare them for the

excited young boys welcomed this year.

years ahead, as they find their frontier. It

The new single-storey buildings radiate around a central grassed and play area, surrounded by natural bushland, giving the Junior School a ‘village’ feel, separate but connected to the rest of the school.

Head of Junior School, Alex Cameron, said the design was based on the staff’s

really is a utopia for boys to learn.”

CONTACT: Simone Cumming Tel: 08 9347 9782 Mob: 0435 608 755 Email: simonec@hale.wa.edu.au

Pre-Primary is now open!

Early learning at Hale School is tailored to the specific needs of young boys, providing them with opportunities to inspire curiosity, collaboration, critical thinking and wonder.

• Limited student intake allowing teachers to understand and cater for the individual needs of each boy.

Contact the Registrar’s office for application details and to book a tour of our new Junior School: (08) 9347 9733 or email registrar@hale.wa.edu.au

• Foundational literacy and numeracy skills are taught while engaging in play.

• Natural play spaces where boys can discover new challenges and adventures.

• Flexible learning environments where students are encouraged to be engineers of their own learning.

BOOK A TOUR ONLINE www.offspringmagazine.com.au

www.hale.wa.edu.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

66 | education

Study Early Childhood with Stanley College Stanley College offers career options in Early Childhood Education and Care in the 21st Century

BY SHARON MCGREGOR, ANDREA LEAL AND CHANPREET KAUR

E

During the early years children are at a stage where their neural connections are being formed; therefore a supportive and caring environment will make these connections stronger.

arly Childhood has had the spotlight for the last 20 years with myriad of research surrounding why it is important for children and families. In the past, this

field was seen majorly as “babysitting” or “just playing with children”. Nowadays, we have gained more recognition nationally and internationally with the focus being on early childhood education and care.

What is Early Childhood Education?

According to the Australian Early Development Census (2019), the early childhood period is the most critical period in a child’s life as this is where the children begin to learn about their environment and the people around them. The Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University (2007) stated that during the early years, children are at a stage where their neural connections are being formed; therefore a supportive and caring environment will make these

partnered with various centres to provide services and assistance should educators need help in facilitating their programs and activities in the service. A career in early childhood is for someone who is seeking to immerse themselves in a versatile career.

How do I get started?

Stanley College - RTO 51973 | CRICOS Course Provider: 03047E, offers courses that will support you on your new learning journey.

The two main courses we offer are: •C HC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care •C HC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care A Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care will

connections stronger, thus helping the children become

provide you the basic knowledge in childhood development

more successful and competent in their society.

as well as building relationships and care strategies for

Why choose a career in Early Childhood Education and

young children. A Diploma in Early Childhood Education and

Care (ECEC)?

Care will take you to the next step in your career by learning

The early childhood industry is constantly evolving. As our population grows, the demand for the services of the early childhood services also increase. Currently, the government

about management and leadership as well as maintaining a safe working environment for staff and children.

For more information, please contact 08 9227 1797

has put a spotlight on the funding and resources in various

and speak to one of their admissions officers to begin

early childhood programs, including early childhood

your career in Early Childhood Education and Care with

centres. The Department of Communities (2018) has also

Stanley College.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

NURTURE, CARE AND SHAPE

OUR TOMORROW Government Funded Courses (for local students)

Early Childhood Education Courses CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care#^ PIT~ Course Duration: 27 Weeks (Intensive Course) Concession Course Fee*: $737.20 Career Opportunities: Childhood Educator Assistant, Preschool Assistant OPTION 1 CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care#^ PIT~ Pre-requisite entry requirement: Completion of CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care Course Duration: 28 Weeks (Intensive Course) Concession Course Fee*: $1,818.30 OPTION 2: CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care#^ PIT~ Direct Entry NO Pre-requisite Course Duration: 55 Weeks Concession Course Fee*: $2,862.30 Career Opportunities: Childhood Education Manager Outside School Hours Coordinator

For more information, contact us on:

Telephone Email

: 08 9227 1797 : admissions@stanleycollege.edu.au

Click on the QR code for the location of our campuses West Perth Campus

Mirrabooka Campus

Note: ^ Please note course duration does not include any holidays, where your schedule includes a term break/holiday, this time will be added to your overall course duration. # This course includes mandatory Work-Based Training, which is organised by Stanley College * The Student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as Student service and resource fees.

Prices quoted are calculated at the concession rate unless otherwise specified. Eligibility criteria apply. Prices as per the VET Fees and Charges Policy 2019. ~ PIT: Priority Industry Training

68 | education

Casa Mia Montessori educates the whole child Casa Mia Montessori School supports children to be contributing citizens of today’s world.

C

asa Mia recognises that the children are influenced by things around them and interact with everything socially, emotionally, with language, creatively,

physically and mentally. For ease of communication, Casa Mia names this process ‘educating the whole child’. Educating the whole child is necessary to give them the opportunity to reach their full potential. The children, staff and parents of Casa Mia Montessori School work collaboratively to create a dynamic learning environment underpinned by the values of: Individual Responsibility – Always pursue a personal best in all areas, Be truthful, Be fair and just, Strive to be open and accountable, Be consistent and reliable and Keep learning.

Community Spirit – Build a cooperative and supportive school community, Create a stable environment, Celebrate and respect diversity of students, staff and families, Care for the environment in which we live.

Principal, Janet Laing, states, “Our learning program involves the whole community of children, parents and staff. The

Casa Mia Montessori helps children develop a strong sense of self ... essential for developing trust in their own judgement and the confidence to think independently.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

community work together to provide a harmonious, nurturing environment where all students can develop a high degree of integrity, a sense of purposefulness, individual responsibility and a sincere sense of respect and concern for others and the world. We welcome new families to enjoy a tour of our school.”

Casa Mia Montessori helps children develop a strong sense of self which is essential for developing trust in their own judgement and the confidence to think independently. These attributes are essential foundations for successful outcomes in study, work and life.

How does Casa Mia know this?  Their NAPLAN results exceed the national averages  50% of their graduates gain entry into specialist programmes in high school How does Casa Mia achieve this?

•T eaching is tailored for each child—each child has their own individual self-regulated and self-paced learning programme.

Your child learns in a way and at a pace that is matched to them as an individual.

•T he teacher guides and assists each child to ensure that their work complies with the WA curriculum.

•A s the student’s confidence and knowledge develops, individual teaching and mentoring ensures that each student is not only well prepared to meet the WA curriculum, but to exceed it.

To book a school tour telephone 9279 2209 or email admin@casamiamontessori.com.au www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Join Casa Mia Montessori Learning Community 1-12 years

Education in Harmony with Life A playgroup with a difference - a qualified & dedicated guide for parents and children.

Your child can start at 3 years of age, 5 mornings a week.

When your child turns 4, they start the transition process of attending 5 full days.

Natural play spaces to encourage creative learning.

From 3 years of age: a specialist performing arts programme; French programme with native speaking teacher and a specialist sports programme.

Before school care from 8am until school starts.

TO BOOK a SCHOOL TOUR email telephone website

admin@casamiamontessori.wa.edu.au (08) 9279 2209. www.casamiamontessori.wa.edu.au

follow us on

70 | education

Be Inspired.

The International School of Western Australia is a boutique-sized, coeducational, non-denominational, Kindergarten to Year 12 school that offers holistic education to students.

T

his education at The International School of Western

country to country, as well as enabling direct entry into any

Australia (ISWA) is characterised by an experience of

university in Australia and around the world. ISWA is the only

excellence and student voice within an internationally

school in Australia that offers the prestigious US college AP

minded, open-minded and culturally minded community.

program. Also unique to other schools, ISWA offers a careers

At ISWA, there are students from all over the world, as well

counselling program that facilitates global tertiary pathways,

as an increasing number of local families. With many students

helping students gain entry in many prestigious universities

enrolling from all over the state, ISWA is rapidly becoming

both locally and internationally.

the school of choice for local families to provide a holistic

ISWA takes pride in the strong academic results students achieve in an inclusive

education for their child. The school teaches the Australian Curriculum in Years Kindergarten - Year 10 with the International Baccalaureate (IB) pedagogy. For years 11-12, they offer either IB Diploma Program or the

ISWA takes pride in the strong academic results students achieve in an inclusive and encouraging environment.

US Advanced Placement Program pathways.

By offering the International Baccalaureate program in

and encouraging environment.

Furthermore, they place an emphasis on languages and are proud to host an array of bilingual and multilingual students and staff that highlight the value of international, open and cultural

mindedness. As language learning is a focus of the

all year levels from Kindergarten to Year 12, ISWA promotes

school, students graduate with a skill set that is a valuable

inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning which places

asset throughout their lives.

an emphasis on curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and

The growing, energetic, and enthusiastic international

community service. What differentiates ISWA from other

community of students, teachers, and parents all work

schools is their ability to offer students competencies

together to provide a balanced learning environment that

of change readiness and critical and creative thinking.

nurtures inclusivity, inquiry, and responsible risk-taking.

Students look forward to, and recognise, the possible

From informal music education in early childhood through

pathways available through receiving a true international

to the wide variety of co-curricular activities, all school

education, opening them up to a world of opportunities.

endorsed learnings underpin ISWA’s principles in supporting

The academic pathways offered in Years 11 and 12, the IB Diploma Program and the US Advanced Placement

the cognitive and social development of students.

At the International School of Western Australia,

Program (AP), are both locally and internationally accredited

students are inspired to become educated global citizens.

programs that enable students to transition seamlessly from

For more information go to www.iswa.wa.edu.au

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education | 71

Christ Church offers rich early learning His life-long learning journey begins in their Early Learning Community.

S

ituated in Claremont Western Australia, Christ Church Grammar School’s Early Learning Community (ELC) offers a rich educational program specifically designed

for boys between the ages of three and five.

Boys in the ELC engage in learning that promotes resilience, empathy and wellbeing, with enjoyment and engagement significantly influencing how they learn.

Connection with the outdoors and nature is essential during childhood, especially for boys.

Throughout the year, the boys visit ‘nature’s outdoor classroom’ and embrace teachable moments by the banks of

Boys in the ELC engage in learning that promotes resilience, empathy and wellbeing, with enjoyment and engagement significantly influencing how they learn.

the Swan River. In the early years, this is about discovery and exploration that promotes language development and higher order thinking skills as the boys discuss, ask questions and think deeply about these discoveries with teachers and peers.

The ELC program is rich and vibrant and includes specialist programs such as Mandarin, Music, Physical Education, Drama and Dance.

Visit ccgs.wa.edu.au or call Admissions on 9442 1555 for enrolment details.

Pre-Kindergarten to Pre-Primary Igniting a life-long love of learning • Teaching and learning specifically designed for boys • Learning experiences promoting resilience, empathy and wellbeing • Rich academic program • Nature-based learning by the Swan River • Before and after school care available

Visit ccgs.wa.edu.au or contact Admissions on 9442 1555 for enrolment details.

Building good men

www.ccgs.wa.edu.au

CRICOS 00433G

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perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

72 | education

Servite College empowers students to be learning-ready and life-ready Servite College personalises the learning journey for students by designing unique pathways to success.

C

entrally located in Tuart Hill, Servite College is a progressive Catholic secondary school for boys and girls with a rich heritage and diverse community.

At Servite, students are engaged through customised

curriculum content and authentic delivery methods.

Preparing students for their future worlds, the college values highly the skills of curation, critical thinking, collaboration, creation and communication. The Servite Way, a school-wide teaching and learning framework, ensures that learning experiences are aligned

Servite has a core focus on student wellbeing as a foundation for effective learning.

with students’ cognitive, physical, emotional and social development.

Growing Learning Diversity, Gifted and Talented and STEM programs complement a dynamic core curriculum. Beyond

including 26 at Certificate IV level, and 100 per cent of the FlexiTrack pathway cohort attained fast-track direct entry to university.

Servite has a core focus on student

wellbeing as a foundation for effective learning. The college empowers every student to be learning-ready and life-ready, supported by extensive pastoral care programs. Servite is

the classroom, an increasing range of co-curricular programs

proud to also lead in Western Australia by implementing the

provide opportunities for all students, from challenging

Berry Street Educational Model for student care, aligned with

athletic training and sporting competitions, to creative Arts

the college’s responsive and personalised approach to the

initiatives, immersive community service opportunities and

needs of students.

College tours.

Senior students are supported in their transition to a

In providing a contemporary Catholic education, the school seeks to develop each student as a whole person. The

variety of post-school destinations. The university pathway,

college shares in a spiritual life with a clear action focus that

Uni MyWay, provides flexible learning choices through ATAR

nurtures students from all faiths and traditions. With Jesus at

courses and enabling programs, in partnership with Curtin

the centre of the learning community, Servite students join a

and Murdoch universities. Students gain tailored industry

caring environment with a strong understanding of Catholic

exposure and practical experience in the Voc MyWay

ethos.

pathway. Servite College is a leader in Catholic Education in

Shaped by the pioneering tradition of the Servite Friars,

Western Australia in the design and delivery of this package

students learn to be resilient, grounded and to lead with

of tertiary education and industry learning options.

courage. Staff teach and build on the family values of

With the release of the 2018 WACE results the community shared the joy of seeing students exceed their own

hospitality, humility and authenticity.

Everyone is welcome at Servite. The College accepts

expectations. Servite students achieved a record median

enrolment applications for each Year level and regularly offers

ATAR of 86.65, completed 136 industry qualifications

private family tours of the campus in action.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

education | 73

Frayne fosters the future

U

rsula Frayne Catholic College, which celebrates 120 years of Catholic education in 2019, continues to evolve to meet current educational demands. The College’s Mercy core

values of justice, hospitality, excellence, compassion and respect are still practiced daily in the life of the College community.

The College offers a thorough education, where students are supported from Kindergarten right through to Year 12.

Having four sub-schools for Preparatory, Junior, Middle patch is cooked in the kitchen

and Senior schooling years enables each teaching

facilities and the river flows

group to better target educational programs to

from the classroom to the creek

meet the developmental needs of the students.

bed designed for water-based

This begins with the dedicated team of teachers

experiments. Opportunities to question

and Education Assistants in the Preparatory School,

and discover are enabled through sand,

along with Specialist teachers and Support staff, who

water and sensory play, and gross motor

continually strive to make learning fun, meaningful and

skills are further encouraged on the playground

engaging for all students.

On the Balmoral Campus, Kindergarten and Pre-primary students are accommodated in an Early Learning Centre (ELC), purpose-built for their formative years. The ELC blends indoor and outdoor areas, where produce grown in the vegetable

equipment in the nature play area.

For more information about the College visit www.ufcc. wa.edu.au and take the first step towards empowering your child’s life-long learning journey.

Come and discover the Frayne community!

Justice Hospitality

Register for a tour online.

www.ufcc.wa.edu.au

Excellence Compassion Respect

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

K - 6 Campus

7 - 12 Campus

66 Balmoral Street East Victoria Park Perth WA 6101 Tel: 08 9470 0400

15 Duncan Street Victoria Park Perth WA 6100 Tel: 08 9470 0900

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

74 | education

ENRICHED LEARNING AT PADBURY CATHOLIC

P

adbury Catholic Primary School is a co-educational school for students from Pre-Kindy (three year old’s) to Year 6.

They offer a quality Early Childhood Program with a focus

on a play-based learning, providing the right foundation for building creative and active minds, healthy bodies and a happy spirit all in a family friendly, safe and secure environment.

To complement their strong

C

Literacy and Numeracy hildren with excellent literacy skills enjoy school and the learning process more than children who don’t.

Reading for Sure tutoring helps all those students who

teaching and learning programs, the school has a number of specialist learning

find learning to read and gain good literacy difficult. The special

areas including

teaching texts and methods taught by highly trained tutors

Science, History,

quickly make reading easy. One-to-one lessons ensure each child

Music and Sport,

has lessons tailored to their needs.

and offers extensive

This excellent program quickly progresses students who have

extra-curricular

dyslexia or who have struggled with normal reading instruction

opportunities, such as

to be successful readers. Young students introduced to reading

highly successful enrichment

with this program always go on to read significantly above their

programs, robotics, coding and Lego clubs, an instrumental

age.

program and a variety of sporting clubs.

READING | SPELLING | COMPREHENSION | WRITING

PADBURY CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL

Something different that makes a difference for those struggling with phonemic awareness, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.

Are your child’s current poor literacy skills standing in their way?

One-to-one tutoring with our special program will help, and quickly.

Reading for Sure is the something different that your child needs and will really make a difference to their education.

Call 0429161918 www.readingforsure.com.au Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

• • • •

Respect Excellence Sacredness Togetherness

9404 4000 admin@padcath.wa.edu.au www.padcath.wa.edu.au O'Leary Road, Padbury WA 6025 www.offspringmagazine.com.au

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Offspring Performing Arts and Sports guide Whether for participation or for passion, there are many sports and performing arts options for your child to try. We look at the options, so you can make the best decision for your child.

BY BROOKE EVANS-BUTLER Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

offspring performing arts and sports guide | 77

Janine Ripper, Marketing Officer, Act-Belong-Commit, says some of the advantages of children taking part in activities such as performing arts and sports are: ❥ Boosts their mental and physical health and overall wellbeing. ❥ Builds resilience. ❥ Helps them to develop a sense of belonging and connection to others through forming new friendships and feeling a part of something. ❥ Improves confidence and self-esteem. ❥ Adds meaning and purpose to their lives.

If you are worried about not doing enough activities (or doing too much), Janine says there is no ‘ideal’ number of activities for children, “it all depends on the individual child and the family”.

“We highly encourage parents to strive for a sense of balance, especially between structured and unstructured activities, free time and rest.”

!

Remember there are so many activities that your child can try! If none of the featured sports/activities appeal to your child, why not try something a bit different, such as parkour, fencing, breakdancing or archery.

DANCE.

Dance is a popular activity for toddlers

right through to adults, and for good reason. Jerrika Howley, head of the ‘Petite Performers’ and ‘Young Performers’ departments at Brent Street, says there are many advantages of dancing, including social relationships, balance and coordination, as well as confidence, respect, fun, sportsmanship, teamwork and goal setting.

There are many types of dance your child can try, but Jerikka recommends a beginner try ballet and/or jazz. “Ballet is the foundation of dance so all dancers will benefit from ballet training, and the co-ordination of jazz technique is always fun with the upbeat songs,” she says.

Liliana Maddams, principal at LA Talent School, recommends children try out a trial lesson. “Some kids love ballet but some find it a little bit slow,” she says. “Others love hip hop, which is very popular, and they love jazz. The best way to decide is to come along and try a class because every child is so different.”

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perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

78 | offspring performing arts and sports guide

DRAMA

To increase self-esteem or to bring out their inner actor – why not consider a good drama program for your child?

“Although there can be a misconception that a Performing Arts program is all about the performance side of things, it is often more about learning life skills,” says Helen Davey, Executive Principal, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy WA. “Drama in general can help children with confidence, selfesteem, creative thinking, language skills and communication.

MUSIC

The wonderful part about it is that all children have amazing

Whether you take your baby to a music class or encourage your

on which to build these skills. Creative programs can really help

child to learn an instrument – there are a number of options

children to articulate their thoughts, feelings and emotions – to

available to immerse your child in music.

help them find their voices.”

Professor Alan Lourens, head of UWA Conservatorium of

imaginations which can be tapped into and used as a platform

Helen says performing arts programs suit everyone. “All young

Music, recommends children take part in music from a young age.

people enjoy creativity, when presented in the right environment.

“We know that students who take part in musical activity before

Some children come along to classes to increase their confidence

the age of 12 develop very particular pathways in the brain, in a

and self-esteem, while others attend drama classes as a creative

way that no other subject does,” he says. “What they do is connect

outlet, and to improve on their drama skills.”

the right and the left side of the brain very strongly.”

He adds the sociological benefits are also massive. “One of the things about having students take part in music is that it is a social activity,” he says. “They have to learn to work with others in a way that is positive. There is no one trying to stop them from being their best because there is no opposition. For young kids, they are learning things like having to give things back, having to wait their turn, and having to put things in a particular place.”

!

Do you have a shy child? It doesn’t mean they will not love performing arts, according to LA Talent School’s Liliana Maddams. “A lot of the kids come through the door who are really shy,” she says. But within two or three months they are a completely different child; they have so much confidence, they can relate better to others.”

Students who take part in musical activity before the age of 12 develop very particular pathways in the brain, in a way that no other subject does.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

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offspring performing arts and sports guide | 79

MARTIAL ARTS

There are many types of martial arts, including judo, karate, mixed martial arts and more – and they are great not only for fitness, but to learn self-defence and increase confidence.

Celeste Knoester, coach at Kano Judo Schools, says judo and many other martial arts have physical benefits for children, such as improved gross motor coordination, spatial awareness, strength, balance and overall fitness levels. “The aspect that sets martial arts apart from other sports however, is the impact it has on the whole person,” she says. “Children will learn respect, friendship, confidence, emotional and physical self-control, conflict-resolution and self-defence skills.”

There are various martial arts classes, so when choosing a class for your child, Celeste advises to ensure it is something your child enjoys and looks forward to attending every week, while you as the parent feel they are learning something of value.

“Trust your gut as a parent and if you are not comfortable with something being taught, there are plenty other martial art options for you and your child. A good martial art will keep your child active, while building them into the best version of themselves.”

SWIMMING

Swimming is a great bonding activity for parent and baby (and is a perfect way to introduce young children to water). As your child grows, swimming lessons allow them to learn their strokes and develop water safety.

VenuesWest spokesperson and manager of Aquatics and Swim School, Taryn deLestang, says swimming lessons should be appropriate to the developmental age of the child, be fun and engaging, and include safety skills.

“When choosing a swim school parents should look for experienced and competent instructors who can guide your child through the learn-to-swim process in a safe and compassionate environment,” she advises. “It should be a positive experience for children and parents. As with learning any new skill, practice is key and being able to attend classes at a suitable time and location is also a major consideration. If the classes are close to home and at convenient times then you are more likely to be able to commit to regular lessons.”

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perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

80 | offspring performing arts and sports guide

LITTLE ATHLETICS

If you are worried about your child becoming bored with a repetitive activity, why not try Little Athletics?

Little Athletics Australia CEO Martin Stillman, says there are a wide range of events for children from 5 to 15 years of age in Little Athletics including running, jumping, throwing and walking and the events are modified to suit the age, developmental stage and ability of the children.

“Little Athletics promotes that it is important to ‘Be your Best’,” he says. “The emphasis being on fun, participation, performance, technique and getting involved with your family in physical and healthy activity.”

NETBALL

Ball sports are great to promote team work and skills – and with

Regardless of the type of sports your child wants to try out, Celeste Knoester, coach at Kano Judo Schools, offers her advice about making the right decision for your child.

“Find an activity that your child enjoys doing.

Any form of movement or activity that they love doing and is of benefit to their health, should be encouraged,” she says. “We, as adults, know that people have different preferences, and this applies to your child and their chosen form of activity too. There is something out there for everyone, be patient while your child tests the waters, however trying it may be.”

options including netball, basketball, soccer, football and more, there is sure to be a suitable ball sport for your child.

Kobie Combes, Netball WA’s Participation Manager, says Suncorp NetSetGo (Australia’s official netball starter program) is suitable for girls and boys aged 5 to 10.

“One of the biggest advantages of the Suncorp NetSetGO program is the use of modified equipment and rules,” Kobie says.

“This allows the participants fundamental movement and motor skills to develop at an appropriate pace while allowing them to feel success and confident. Suncorp NetSetGO is also a very inclusive program for all boys and girls of all abilities aged 5-10.”

Kobie adds that playing a team sport such as netball from an early age holds many physical and mental advantages including developing self-esteem, teaching leadership skills, improving team building friendships and developing

NetSetGO participants and Jess Anstiss,from West Coast Fever.

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

communication skills. n

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| 81

WAAPA SUMMER SCHOOL 6 – 24 JANUARY, 2020

O

ver the summer young performers of all ages are invited to explore their creativity in WAAPA’s Summer School Holiday Program.

Students from Years 1 to 12 can learn new

music

skills and have fun in an exciting range

theatre

of short courses in drama, jazz, screen

course – this

acting, dance, music theatre and even a

year based on the

Shakespeare intensive.

award-winning Zeussical

WAAPA at Edith Cowan University

the Musical. The all-new Movie Making

offers the most comprehensive range

Magic workshop for Years 9 to 12 inspires

of performing arts courses in Australia.

budding film makers to create their own

With access to WAAPA’s expert staff and

short film from devising their ideas into

outstanding facilities, the Winter School

a script, through filming and onto post-

offers a safe environment that fosters creativity

production.

and discovery.

The Waappettes for primary aged children offers workshops in acting for stage and screen, plus the ever-popular

Secondary school students can enjoy three-day to week-long courses learning about voice, movement, acting technique, improvisation and dance.

SUMMER SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM 6 – 24 JAN 2020

FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DRAMA MINI-WAAPETTES MUSIC THEATRE MINI-WAAPETTES SCREEN ACTING WAAPETTES DRAMA WAAPETTES MUSIC THEATRE WAAPETTES

FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ACTING UP 1 MUSIC THEATRE KICKSTARTER (JUNIOR) DANCE SQUAD THE SHAKESPEARE STUDIO JAZZ MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOL ACTING UP 2 MUSIC THEATRE KICKSTARTER (SENIOR)

CONTACT

SUMMER FILM SCHOOL 2020

SCREEN PERFORMANCE (JUNIOR) SCREEN PERFORMANCE (SENIOR) MOVIE MAKING MAGIC!

*Earlybird pricing closes 10 December, 2019 For further enquiries: Telephone: (61 8) 9370 6775 Email: explore.waapa@ecu.edu.au

waapa.ecu.edu.au/explore www.offspringmagazine.com.au

perth | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | Offspring

82 |

The Australian Ballet School nurtures young talent The Australian Ballet School is Australia’s national centre for elite vocational classical dance training and the school of The Australian Ballet.

T

hrough the (audition-entry) After School Program, Intra/ Interstate & International Training Program and Full-Time Program, the Australian Ballet School’s eight-level training

program produces dancers of the highest calibre for The Australian Ballet as well as world class international companies.

The school aims to nurture young talent so that every provision is made for the best, to be the best – to guide students to develop into well-balanced human beings, with a strong ethical sense – well fed in body, mind and spirit.

Throughout the year, the school also offers a number of open

The school aims to nurture young talent so that every provision is made for the best to be the best – to guide students to develop into wellbalanced human beings. enrolment opportunities for young dance students who would like to experience training with some of Australia’s leading dance teachers.

Early Learning & Boys Program are term-based, regular weekly classes offered at the School’s Southbank studios in Melbourne. Taught by vocationally trained teachers and

featuring live piano accompaniment, the Early Learning Program caters to girls and boys aged 3 to 10, with the Boys Program extending the opportunity for boys aged up to 15yrs to learn from celebrated male classical ballet teachers. No audition is required for either program and enrolment is through the school’s website.

Open Masterclasses are held in major Australian capital cities every year and run for approximately 1.5 hours. These classes offer students aged 9 to 17 years the exclusive opportunity to work with and experience the high level of expertise on offer at Australia’s national centre of excellence in dance training. All students are welcome to enrol, regardless of previous dance experience.

The Australian Ballet School’s annual Summer and Winter Schools attract both national and international students, and offer comprehensive training in classical ballet and other dance styles. Held at The Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre in Melbourne, the artistic faculty for both is drawn from staff of the school as well as guest teachers from The Australian Ballet and the wider dance community.

The Summer School is delivered across two 5-day weeks (3-7 Jan & 8-12 Jan) with four alternate streams (Creative, Open, Boys & Pre-Professional) each stream catering to differing needs of students aged between 6 to 18 years. Winter School is a 3-day workshop open to students aged 9-16.

To learn more about The Australian Ballet School and any of its training programs, please visit www. australianballetschool.com.au

Offspring | WINTER/SPRING 2019 | perth

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National Tour 2019 Auditions & Open Masterclasses Experience The Australian Ballet School’s high level of expertise and work with some of Australia’s leading dance teachers. Auditions are for students aspiring to join our interstate or Melbourne-based programmes. Students who simply love to dance can participate in an Open Masterclass, and no audition is required. Tour schedule and dates are listed below.

Enrol now by visiting australianballetschool.com.au Open Masterclasses

Auditions

Cairns

Sydney

Adelaide

Brisbane

Perth

Cairns

Sunday 14–Monday 15 July Sunday 21 July Tuesday 23–Thursday 25 July

Sunday 7–Wednesday 10 July Thursday 11–Friday 12 July Sunday 14–Monday 15 July Adelaide

Sunday 21 July Perth

Tuesday 23–Thursday 25 July Melbourne

Monday 29–Wednesday 31 July

Follow us Facebook /theaustralianballetschool Instagram @theaustralianballetschool Twitter @austballetschool

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