Offspring Sydney Autumn 2015

Autumn 2015

Australia’s favourite family lifestyle magazine

JULIETTE WRIGHT

ON GIVING AND KIDS

Being a good School Mum

Performing Arts Special feature FREE

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Aust #1 Pa ralia’s rentin Title g

Vegie Vitality:

Tips for your kids

NE W WO EB F SI FS LI TE PR VE N IN ! OW G

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR LOCAL HERO

recipe

GREEK LAMB SALAD PREP: 15mins plus 2 hours marinating COOK: 35mins SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS 1.25kg Australian lamb leg roast 2 tbsp lemon juice 1/3 cup olive oil 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano 1 small clove garlic, crushed 1/4 cup Greek yoghurt 1/2 hydro butter lettuce 2 vine ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives 1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced thinly

METHOD 1. Place the lamb in a deep non-metallic tray. Combine lemon juice, oil, oregano, salt and cracked pepper and pour over lamb, turning to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight if time permits.

2. Combine the garlic with the yoghurt along with Âź cup water. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

3. Heat a hooded barbeque grill plate to high. Cook lamb, turning for 10 minutes.

4. Place the lamb on the shelf above the direct heat of the barbeque plate, then close the hood and continue cooking for a further 25-30 minutes. Remove and rest.

5. Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, olives and cucumber.

Divide between plates and top with some sliced lamb. Drizzle with dressing and serve.

For more recipes, visit iga.com.au/easter

contents

autumn

6

EDITOR’S NOTE

8

THE CONTRIBUTORS

KIDS FASHION 10 CUDDLY & WARM SOPHISTICATED TINY TOTS

Autumn style for babies 12

LITTLE MISS NYC Autumn fashion for girls

14

DAPPER MINI MEN Autumn fashion for boys

20

MUM’S FASHION 16 MINIMALIST ‘THE NEW NEUTRALS’

Autumn 15 fashion for mums 18 THAT 70’S VIBE

Autumn 15 trend to try

28

18

FEATURE ARTICLE 20 GIVIT THE MOST 2015 Australian of the Year Local Hero and Mum of two, Juliette Wright, chats to Offspring.

FUNNY MUMMY 26 SCHOOL’S OUT!

Ari takes inspiration from her own childhood when planning school holidays for her child.

38

REAL LIFE 28 AIDING AIDAN Research is needed to help two-year-old Aidan who is living with a little-known illness for which there is no cure.

FAMILY 34 MONEY TALKS Paul Clitheroe discusses financial planning in happy relationships, and on what to do when love has flown out the window.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

HEALTH

DAD’S WORLD

38 A HEALTHY START Optimal health of both parents in the preconception period can affect fertility and the outcome in trying to conceive for couples.

44 CLUTTERPHOBIA Gary shares his joy in maintaining an organised household.

INTERNET PICKS 40 Our selection of websites offering great products for your family

PREGNANCY & BIRTH 46 BRINGING ON BABY Natural labour induction techniques for getting into labour

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

3

50 66 58 79

48 DIARY OF A CAESAR Real mum, Shannon, shares what it’s like to give birth by caesarean section.

HOME DECOR 54 NURSERY FURNITURE &

ACCESSORIES

Transform your new additions space with style!

EARLY CHILDHOOD DAD’S WORLD 56 47

LEARNING THE ART OF A SOFTER SIDE SELF-CONTROL Gary checks his hormone levels Ngala lets us on some as he comes toin terms with his self-regulation tips. feminine side on a recent selfimprovement mission.

EDUCATION FAMILIES 66 HOW TO BE A GOOD ‘SCHOOL MUM’ THE DONATION OF LIFE H Aere some tips feware of the faces andon ways to be stories behind gamete donation involved in their child’s education in Australia. beyond the school ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’.

EARLY CHILDHOOD 48

SPECIAL FEATURE 52 SLEEP CONVERSATIONS 68

Why sleep is so important two FOR THE LOVE OF THEforGAME to three year olds, and how you What sport is best for your child? can make the bedtime-sleep process easier.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

75 VEGIE VITALITY PARENTING Dietitian Kate Bullen suggests ways 54 LEARN TO SAY NO we can incorporate more Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has called vegetables into our family’s diet. on parents to find a backbone to prevent a generation of totally 82 DIRECTORY indulged youngsters Autumn 2015

Australia’s favourite family lifestyle magazine

JULIETTE WRIGHT

ON GIVING AND KIDS

Being a good School Mum

Performing Arts Special feature FREE

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Juliette Wright Melissa Doyle

Aust #1 Pa ralia’s rent Title ing

Vegie Vitality:

Tips for your kids

NE W WO EB F S FS LI ITE PR VE N IN ! OW G

AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR LOCAL HERO

TRAVEL 73

68 73

FOOD AND NUTRITION 79

SWEET AS SUGAR With the average Australian eating 42kg of added sugar every year we need to be much more conscious of much sugar our families are really consuming.

82

PARTY DIRECTORY

SPECIAL FEATURE 58

PREPARING FOR YOUR BABY Our handy checklist will help you prepare for the arrival of your special little bundle.

ISSUE 21 AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE 19 SPRING 2014

Produced and published by Produced and published by Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. ABN: 95 159 474 245 ABN: 95 159 474 245 Website Website www.offspringmagazine.com.au www.offspringmagazine.com.au Editorial enquiries Editorial enquiries editorial@offspringmagazine.com.au editorial@offspringmagazine.com.au Advertisingenquiries enquiries Advertising Phone 02 4326 1178 Phone 02 4326 1178 Mobile0415 0415 Mobile 267267 414414 advertising@offspringmagazine.com.au advertising@offspringmagazine.com.au Subscriptionenquiries enquiries Subscription subscription@offspringmagazine.com.au subscription@offspringmagazine.com.au

GETAWAY GUIDE Here are some tempting ideas of places to explore and relax for you and your family.

Managing Editor Managing Editor Kate Durack Kate Durack Contributing writers Contributing writers Ari Chavez, Gary Ausbruch, Kate Bullen, Colleen Willis, Ari Chavez, Gary Ausbruch, Kate Bullen, Colleen Willis, Ngala Parenting Education Team, Brooke Evans-Butler, Ngala Parenting Education Team, Brooke Evans-Butler, Nicole Cox, Elise Papamihail, Claire Armstrong, Chris Nicole Cox. Pritchard, Gabrielle Targett.

Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Steven Lillywhite, Nicole Aspinall, Sarah King Steven Lillywhite, Anna Drake and Anjie Rivero Printed by Printed by Offset Alpine Printing Offset Alpine Printing

Distribution copies distributed in Sydney (50,000(50,000 copies) copies) and Perthand (30,000 copies) by paid Distribution80,000 80,000 copies distributed in Sydney Perth (30,000 copies) by paid Also available online via www.offspringmagazine.com.au subscriptions and forfor freefree at selected locations.

Also available online via www.offspringmagazine.com. subscriptions and at selected locations. au Offspring magazine is an magazine published quarterly

by Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. Opinions represented Offspring magazine is independent an independent magazine published quarterly

by Offspring Magazine Pty Ltd. Opinionsare represented not those of the publisher.

Offspring Offspring magazine contains general information does not claim substitute for to substitute arenecessarily not necessarily those of the publisher. magazine contains generaland information andto does not claim health or parenting advice.

All content is subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced without permission. for health or parenting advice. All content is subject to copyright, and may not be reproduced without permission.

44

Offspring || autumn spring 2014 | perth Offspring 2015 | sydney

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Perinatal Depression & Anxiety

Specialist Mother-Baby Unit

Happy 5th Birthday!

This edition marks our 5th Anniversary here at Offspring!

Specialist Mother-Baby Unit I

The only Unit in NSW offering admission for mothers with postnatal depression and their babies.

Optimising care for mother, partner & baby.

Providing holistic, team-based care by perinatal mental health experts.

To make a referral phone 02 9715 9200 Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence

www.beatbabyblues.com.au

6

Offspring | summer 2015 | sydney

06 EDITORS NOTE SYDNEY.indd 6

launched our Perth print edition with 30,000 magazines in March 2010 from the (dis)comfort of our onebedroom rental, with a patient, breastfeeding 18 month old daughter at foot. Those early advertising sales phone calls were a challenge…trying to retain a sense of professionalism over the muffled sounds of a hungry toddler demanding ‘more boob’.

Since then we have launched Offspring Sydney with 50,000 copies per edition, making Offspring the largest gloss parenting/family lifestyle magazine in Australia; plus a new website. We’re also excited to be launching Offspring Melbourne next issue and a Brisbane edition later this year.

But, I need to confess, it hasn’t all been a box of fluffy ducks.

Just like most working mothers, I am also victim to the perils of trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to manage it all well.

The guilt, the conflict of demands and loyalties, the stress.

The guilt. Oh, the guilt. The days when you think ‘Why bother?’ The Mother’s Days you can’t spend with your own mother due to a work deadline and the ‘Harmony’ Days you don’t make to your child’s school event, only to learn later they picnicked with a friend’s family instead. The divided loyalties and the relentless burden of feeling like you’re not actually making any of it work.

But I do love my Third Child, Offspring. I love that we have the opportunity to raise awareness about important issues and share heartfelt stories of real parents who are making a difference. Like our Autumn Cover Story about Juliette Wright, who is this year’s Australian of the Year Local Hero.

She’s an everyday mum of two who is doing amazing work for her community and the country. She’s proof that even a busy mum can do extraordinary things without the benefit of wealth or power.

And then there’s “Aiding Aidan” (p. 28), a gut-wrenching piece about a two year old boy who has a terminal disease for which there is no cure. Please support Aidan’s mum’s High Tea in May: The Green Tea for Mitochondrial Disease, greenteaformito.com.au Another worthwhile initiative mentioned in this edition is MOPS – Mothers of PreSchoolers, a fantastic not-for-profit group to connect mums and give them a break from the kids, which also provides forums that focus on the whole woman – mind, body and spirit.

So thank you for your support of Offspring as a reader. And thank you to everyone who has supported the start up years in creating our magazine and website. I’m confident we will give you even more quality, entertaining and valuable information over the next five years! I’d love for you to visit our new website, join our newsletter group and connect with us on Facebook.

KATE DURACK EDITOR

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

23/03/2015 9:29 am

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our contributors

ARI CHÁVEZ COLUMNIST has had work published in Australia, England, Japan and Singapore. She has a delightful toddler, Gabriel, who was born with coffee in his veins. She is currently completing her first novel as part of a PhD project.

GARY AUSBRUCH ACCOUNTANT/COLUMNIST is financial controller for a Perth-based mining company.

He has had columns published on the challenging subject of the lighter side of accountancy, and has written for SBS TV. He is married to Sue and has two young children, Ella and Sebastian.

NICOLE COX JOURNALIST has worked in print and online media for 15 years in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Now she has the most adventurous job of her life - mum to energetic toddler, Matteo. Nicole says the flexibility of freelance journalism allows her to combine her two loves, motherhood and writing.

CLAIRE ARMSTRONG JOURNALIST of eight years across a range of publications and mother of two beautiful girls. She has a passion for all things parenting and a love of sharing stories about the parenthood journey.

ELISE PAPAMIHAIL FASHION & STYLE is Mummy to Chloé and Olivia and is a passionate stylist and fashion writer, embracing the latest trends without compromising on timeless style.

With a particular eye for detail, Elise enjoys inspiring other women with a fresh concept of style that is practical, sophisticated and a little bit edgy.

DEVON PLUMLEY MIDWIFE believes her work is most satisfying when she can empower a woman and her partner to birth their baby naturally; and the new little human being thanks his mummy with a squeal!

KATE BULLEN DIETITIAN runs www.dietitianonline.com. au and is mum to three young children. Kate has translated her love of all things online to providing expert nutrition coaching online – it works well for anyone who is busy! Kate’s passion lies in making healthy eating simple and enjoyable.

BROOKE EVANS-BUTLER JOURNALIST has written for home improvement, bridal and women’s lifestyle publications, but says Offspring enables her to combine writing with her new favourite hobby, being a mum to her boys Caleb and Jonah.

LETITIA ROWLANDS JOURNALIST Letitia worked for daily newspapers for 20 years covering a wide variety of topics but since becoming a mother five years ago, her writing has focussed on family and parenting topics. Letitia lives in Sydney with her husband and two young sons Hugo and Jasper and enjoys a freelance career writing for magazines and websites.

JANE MILLINGTON INTERIOR DESIGNER has over 14 years experience in all facets of the design industry including Interior Design, Styling, Sales & Marketing.

As owner of Happy Go Lucky www.happygoluckykids. com.au and mother of two children, Samson and Liv, Jane specialises in children’s bedrooms and nurseries.

COLLEEN WILLIS TRAVEL WRITER has roamed the world for many years on her own and with her husband and daughter, Rebekah. During this time, Colleen has been a teacher and an award-winning recipient of Flight Centre both in Australia and overseas.

Colleen will guide you through family travel the way she knows best!

ZOE DELEUIL JOURNALIST is mother to Tilo, two, and has another one due in October. She says that writing for Offspring is ideal for a novice parent as it involves learning more about many aspects of parenting, from choosing the right school to essential buys for newborns.”

8

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

By Elise Papamihail

Love from Australia $88.87 Baby blues from Baobab

Pale pinks from Seed Chambray denim and tan from Seed

Cuddly & Warm SOPHISTICATED

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Autumn style for babies With dapper denim and cuddly overcoats, ruffled skirts and prep-style jumpers, autumn 15 style for babies is adorably sophisticated.

For those special occasions, baby boys have never looked more cute than in a crisp shirt, jeans and brogues.

For the little ladies, soft chambray denim is delightful paired with luxe knitted booties and overcoats.

Armani Baby $163.91

Seed $39.95

Cuddly neutral tones in baby onesies by Little Me

Warm and pretty knitted beanies from Pumpkin Patch

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Peekaboo greys for boys at Pumpkin Patch 10

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Denim and colour from Seed

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Taking cues from the recent New York Fashion Week, let your little lady shine in pretty denim paired with neutral tones and pastel pinks.

Autumn 15 is all about childhood memories having fun and playing dress-ups in a stylish way. Pearl bows and gold bangles finish off every look.

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Warm and pretty knitted beanies from Pumpkin Patch

Cotton on kids $34.95

Little Leona $49.95

Witchery $79.95 Pumpkin Patch $49.99 12

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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www.offspringmagazine.com.au

By Elise Papamihail

Little boys with biker charm from Pumpkin Patch

Cool and calm in Baobab designs

Dapper and dashing little men from Bardot Jnr

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Cotton on kids $34.95

Autumn 15 brings a dashing and dapper feel to style for little boys with a grungy edge. Gorgeous plaid paired with sneakers and textured pants are a perfect match. Neutral tones of grey, beige and tan contrast so well with black and denim.

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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By Elise Papamihail

Fashion blogger @figtny

Instagram @collagevintage

Fashion blogger @ thelittlemagpie

Fashion blogger @thelittlemagpie

MINIMALIST ‘THE NEW NEUTRALS’ Boost the life of your existing wardrobe by adding neutral trend pieces in the season’s must-have earthy tones of biscotti and stone.

In every style devotees’s lookbook, earthy colours are in full force this autumn. Camel tones in luxury leather bags, belts and shoes

Blogger and stylist Brooke Testoni wears Oskar the Label coat vest available at www.oskarthelabel.com

set off a sophisticated finish and a Manhattan vibe with long coats and vests, an effortless addition to everyday staples. Stone trench

coats paired back with denim and soft-toned kicks exude casual stylish

comfort. It’s worth investing in these timeless coloured pieces that will take you through to other seasons too.

GET THE LOOK 1

2

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6

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4

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

16 Minimalism fashion_sydney.indd 16

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By Elise Papamihail

Autumn style takes a step back to the 70’s with influences of Boho chic, masculine lines and contrasts of bold and earthy colours. Oversized proportions in flared pants, wide leg culottes and fur vests make a statement.

Working a 70’s trend into everyday styling is as simple as

adding a trend piece to your existing wardrobe. Think blouses, fringing, an abundance of layered Bohemian neckpieces,

fedora hats and platform heels. Exaggerate looks by adding bags with a pop of block colour and psychedelic patterns.

Colour blocking at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC. Instagram @ mbfashionweek

Nonny wears outfit by House of Skye.

Image credit: Hannah Jones @ Keeper Creative.

Model: Nonny Mulholland.

Stylist: Elise Papamihail.

1

Models in 70’s sophistication at Ralph Lauren Milan Fashion Week from the fall 15 collection. Instagram @ralphlauren

GET THE LOOK

2

3

4

5

6

7 8

1. VIKTORIA AND WOODS cape $229.00 2. RIVER ISLAND denim jeans $84 3. M N G bag $79.95 via theiconic.com.au 4. BY WISTERIA via etsy.com necklace $48 5. WITCHERY pants $199.95 6. ROLAND MOURET sunglasses $447.35 via netaporter 7. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN clutch $530 via netaporter 8. WITTNER boots $269.95 18

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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22/03/2015 5:32 pm

Australia’s favourite family lifestyle magazine is now online!

Brand New for 2015!

Come celebrate with us as we launch the new look for Offspring Magazine online!

www.offspringmagazine.com.au Sign up for regular updates and promos with our FREE newsletter!

• Read our latest edition online.

• Stay up-to-date with the latest in important parenting information and enetertaining and inspiring stories of real parents from the Offspring website.

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Are you a business looking to reach a wider audience?

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Australia’s favourite family lifestyle magazine

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22/03/2015 11:34 pm

givit the most

BY NICOLE COX

2015 Australian of the Year Local Hero and Mum of two, Juliette Wright, explains why ‘thank yous’ are the impetus behind GIVIT and the currency in which she thrives.

F

or Juliette Wright, the thank-yous come thick and fast. Day in, day out. Email, snail mail, greeting cards, phone calls.

And the joy, happiness and fulfilment they

bring is what makes this Queensland mother-of-two’s job one of the most rewarding on offer. She is helping change lives for the better – and having a real impact on impoverished, vulnerable and marginalised Australians.

“The first day of kindergarten and wow, my son looks like a million bucks in his new school shoes,” Juliette reads. “Thanks heaps to the kind person who bought him his shiny shoes.

“When I was growing up I never had any shoes, only ones with scratches and holes which I tried to cover up with the teacher’s sticky tape.

“My son looked as good as the rest of the kids with his new shoes. Thank you again for your wonderful work.”

It’s these simple thank-you gestures that tug at her heartstrings and have driven the 41-year-old to turn the humble act of Giving into an incredible mass outpouring of community generosity across our nation. That she has earned deserved kudos and was named the 2015 Australian Local Hero at January’s prestigious Australian of the Year Awards is just a bonus.

“For everyone else in the world, their currency is money. But my currency is thank-yous because that’s how we all survive. At GIVIT we thrive on them,” Juliette tells Offspring.

20

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

Since 2010 has facilitated the contribution of more than 145,000 items, including during devastating storms, cyclones, floods, to victims of crime and people who have literally lost everything in house fires.

It was 2010 when Juliette launched GIVIT – Goods for Good Causes – an online platform that links charities with their communities. Charities, including domestic violence shelters, homeless networks, child safety groups and at-risk youth agencies, can list the urgent needs of their clients and individuals wanting to donate can advertise specific items they have to give.

“Charities get authenticated and then they can go into a virtual warehouse where they put in their postcode, how far they’re willing to travel and a search word. All the items within their area field that have been pledged by local donors come up,” Juliette explains.

“Or, if they can’t find what they need for their clients, they do a new request and that goes onto our urgentlyneeded list which goes into a postcode related email…

And if there are no registered charities in your area, you only receive postal goods.”

In the first year, the website assisted in 3000 donations and since 2010 has facilitated the contribution of more than 145,000 items, including during devastating storms, cyclones, floods, to victims of crime and people who have literally lost everything in house fires.

In 2011, GIVIT became the Queensland Government’s official donation website when flooding wreaked havoc on the state. There were 1.8 million hits on the website, which resulted in 33,500 items being matched to needy recipients in a three-week period.

Donations in the aftermath of natural disasters span from safety gear in the initial days to the need for care packages and toiletries and later, building goods such as doors, window panes, bricks and paint as communities start to rebuild. Furniture and whitegoods are also donated.

It was after the birth of Juliette’s second child, Hudson, six years ago, that she realised the need for individualised and targeted donations to charities.

After enduring placenta accreta during pregnancy – a condition where the placenta abnormally attaches too deeply to the uterine sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

21

wall – and the rapid associated weight gain

children were homeless was because their

in Hudson after birth, Juliette contacted

father had lost his job and if we got him a

local charities looking to donate Top Brand

pair of boots, he would be able to get work

children’s clothing he had outgrown.

on the roads.

“Hudson had actually put on so much

“It was then I realised that a pair of boots

weight that he went from 000 clothes to 0

can actually pull a family out of poverty.

size clothing in about six weeks,” Juliette

How could we have guessed that a charity

recounts. “So, I had all these beautiful

for children needed closed-toe work boots?

clothes – Sprout, Calvin Klein and Ralph

There’s no way we could do that so I saw

Lauren that Hudson – could never wear.

the gap for GIVIT.

“Someone had put a severed pig head in our local charity bin and I thought I’m not putting them in the donation bin because

“I realised that there is no way for a charity to tell you daily what they need for their clients. There’s no advertising

that’s disgusting and these clothes are way

agency list or anything like that. And

too valuable... So I thought I’d ring charities

secondly, we’re really bad at guessing

in Brisbane and drop them off but none of the charities

what charities need and we’re always

wanted them – not one charity. I asked them what they

going to be bad at it because what they

did need and I think that’s when GIVIT was really born.

“I realised that one charity needed new undies.

I rang another charity and they said they needed

need is random and weird and different absolutely every single day.”

Australian Council of Social Services

tampons. I rang a charity for children and they

research shows that almost 14 per cent of

needed closed-toe work boots and I was like: ‘What

Australians are living below the poverty

for?’ and the woman told me that the reason the

line, with single adults earning just $400 a week and a family of four surviving on $841 a week.

In addition, one in six Australian children are living in poverty, a statistic that devastates Juliette.

“That’s really, really difficult to swallow in this day and age,” she says. “It’s like there’s a hidden poverty but it’s also a quiet poverty because people can go about their daily lives and not be aware.

“So I decided to start a GIVIT website. I didn’t know if anyone was going to donate and I was pretty terrified that no one would donate.”

I rang a charity for children and they needed closed-toe work boots and I was like: ‘what for?’ and the woman told me that the reason the children are homeless was because their father had lost his job and if we got him a pair of boots, he would be able to get work on the roads.

22

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

One in six Australian children are living in poverty.

But within two hours a microwave had been pledged to a man whose wife had recently died.

“He couldn’t cook hot meals so without a microwave all he was going to have was toast,” Juliette says. “It was a really lifechanging item for him because the charity could cook meals, put them in the freezer and he could have nutritious meals.”

Soon after, the second item was donated – a bicycle with a baby carriage that enabled a

Australian Council of Social Services research shows that almost 14 per cent of Australians are living below the poverty line, with single adults earning just $400 a week and a family of four surviving on $841 a week.

homeless mother to take her child to daycare and get herself a part-time job.

In an unusual case, a West Australian charity

“I decided at that point not to judge any more. We have to

requested a boxing bag in a desperate bid to

trust the charities because the charities are the ones in the room...

avert further assaults on a young mother whose

Charities don’t abuse the system because they are social workers

children had been attacking her.

who just want the best for their clients and we trust them.”

“Two weeks later, it was donated and we got

In the five years since its inception, GIVIT has grown to

feedback from the charity that once the mother had

have a presence in every Australian state, with more than 1000

received that boxing bag, the children were using it

frontline charities now supported by the model. In Queensland,

and they had not hit her once,” Juliette says.

646 charities are registered to the GIVIT site, with more than 100

“So, what I deemed as a non-essential item for me was an absolutely life-saving item for her because her children were violent and aggressive.

in each New South Wales and Victoria and 77 West Australian groups have joined the movement.

The overwhelming popularity of GIVIT has also spawned

They had been abused and she was getting

GIVIT Kids – a program to “breed philanthropists and givers” and

abused by them.

engage youngsters in the joy of giving. sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

23

“The GIVIT Kids website is about engaging them in giving, no matter what they want to give,” Juliette says. “But also allowing them to donate the stuff that they no longer need around the house, the beautiful items that they no longer require, to a child who doesn’t have what they need – the school recorders or the shiny black shoes that they bought in October and didn’t need in January.

“It’s about teaching them how to contribute in ways that you don’t need money.”

The program also includes specialist education, which has been adopted in the Queensland schools’ civic and citizenship curriculum and is now an approved teaching resource for Years 3, 5 and 6.

“The funny thing about the GIVIT model is that I really want to help impoverished people all the time but when I actually go to a homeless shelter sometimes I spend the whole next day crying in bed because it really upsets me,” Juliette says.

“If I go to an injecting user service and I see people and their young children, I don’t

Image credit: Brendan J Doyle @ Broken Yellow

I launched through Facebook only having 10 charities on board and now I’ve got 1000 charities on board and we’ve donated 145,000 items. And it’s all because of me and that first addiction when I dropped off the new undies at that charity and they looked at me like I was Santa Claus.

recover like everybody else.

I take that really personally.

I can’t handle it so I think the GIVIT model really works for people like me. It’s enabling charities who are the social workers to do all the great work and we make sure they get everything they need.

STATE-BYSTATE: THE NUMBER OF CHARITIES SUPPORTED

BY GIVIT Queensland: 646 New South Wales: 113 Victoria: 108 Western Australia: 77 South Australia: 13 Northern Territory: 8 Australian Capital Territory: 6 Tasmania: 4

“I remember I went to Grantham after the floods and I was crying for the whole three days later. I was still working but was rendered hopeless in meetings so I’d have to work from home.”

Juliette says she is humbled at GIVIT’s success and honoured that her initiative is connecting communities and improving the lives of society’s most needy.

“I launched through Facebook only having 10 charities on board and now I’ve got 1000 charities on board and we’ve donated 145,000 items,” she says.

“And it’s all because of me and that first addiction when I dropped off the new undies at that charity and they looked at me like I was Santa Claus. No one’s ever done that before and it just made me feel like I was really connected to my community.” } www.givit.org.au } www.givitkids.org.au

24

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

78

Offspring | autumn 2015 | perth

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

FUNNY MUMMY with Ari Chávez

School’s Out! Ari takes inspiration from her own childhood when planning school holidays for her child.

O

so we had to hang around the local pool for about five hours by the time we got through everyone. In between lessons my mother, who engineered the annual Swimming Lesson Bonanza, would instruct us to do about a million more laps for ‘practise’, while she leisurely swam about seven lanes away from us pretending, I see in retrospect, that we didn’t belong to her.

kay, so now that I’m a mother, I can see the flawed and horrible logic that is the summer School Holidays.

SO LONG! Why so long? And why so sunny? Not only

Anyway, all that lapping took us through to about 2pm every day, and after five hours of swimming in waters that felt sub-Arctic, we had a lot of our collective Energizer Bunny burnt out of us. Basically

do the weeks last forever, each day seems like about ten days because

that meant we were too tired to whinge and fight at the level we were

the sun never goes down so you can’t do the old, it’s-dark-now-so-go-

accustomed to. Plus, we were starving.

to-bed-and-leave-me-in-peace trick until about 9.00pm. Gruesome.

My mother is a wily woman, non? She was deliberately, and

Badly planned. Too hot. Whoever decides on these things needs a

delightedly, onto something and, now that I am a harried veteran of

couple of mothers on the committee to arrange things properly.

School Hols myself, I can see she utilised this strategy shamelessly

When I was a kid, I loved Summer Hols, even though they mostly consisted of going to swimming lessons. I mean, there were a LOT

throughout my childhood.

Summer hols meant overdosing on swimming lessons and Old

of lessons and they kinda sucked. We didn’t get merit certificates for

Boilers brandishing megaphones but I think our winter holidays were

putting our heads under the water, or anything like that. No, me and

worse. In winter, we’d take a trip down to Bluff Knoll and have to

my three siblings used to front up to the fifty metre non-solar-heated

climb the mountain pretty much constantly. Once was never enough.

pool and some Old Boiler would make us fling ourselves into the lap-

I, personally, do not understand the point of mountain climbing.

lane and bitch at us about our stroke. Every. Single. Day. I joke not.

I know there is a point and people feel all I’ve-Conquered-The-

The only day we didn’t go was Sunday, and that’s because we had to

Mountain kind of thing when they’ve slogged up the rock face

go to church. My folks liked structure.

and are standing at the top, but I am quite happy for the mountain

All of us kids were at different swimming levels and each lesson 26

lasted about an hour – no pithy 25 minutes in a heated pool for us –

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

to conquer me. The mountain can win and I am MORE THAN www.offspringmagazine.com.au

OKAY with that. There. I said it. Go mountain. Victory is yours.

Unfortunately, my folks are conquering types so I have actually conquered Bluff Knoll – miserably and without grace – more times than I care to recall. Sorry ‘bout that mountain. Won’t happen again.

If we didn’t climb the mountain, we’d go on long bush walks – like six hours or something – with an apple and a vegemite roll for sustenance, and only one another for company. I am not sure why.

My parents thought this kind of thing was Fun With A Capital F. I mean, they really dug stumbling along some bush track for hours playing ‘I Spy’ for kicks. There’s only so many times you can Spy a Tree, if you know what I’m saying.

And being winter it rained quite a bit. Basically it rained whenever we had to do a Challenging Outdoor Activity, which was every day.

It did not matter if there were fecking hail stones the size of golf balls – we still went mountain climbing or roaming around in the wilderness. My mother packed an odd assortment of raincoats for such weather and flung them happily at us, along with random toobig gumboots, and off we went.

We did complain to our parents, of course. I might have, ahem, complained more than anyone else but they took precisely zero notice and we still had to do these God-awful Extreme Sport like holidays, except we didn’t look cool like they do in Extreme Sport commercials, we just looked random and mis-matched, dodging hailstones in our weird raincoats.

This School Hols we had a few weeks of the child bouncing-off-the-walls and me and the other half were starting to get a bit desperate and tetchy.

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So anyway, this School Hols we had a few weeks of the child bouncing-off-the-walls and me and the other half were starting to get a bit desperate and tetchy. The days were sunny and hot and, above all, long. So, so long.

“I have the solution,” I said, one morning after trying and failing to persuade the child to bounce on the trampoline in the broiling son without Mummy.

The other half raised an eyebrow.

characters, listen to stories and sing and dance with your favourite Play School friends. Jemima, Big Ted, Listle Ted & Humpty can’t wait to see you there.

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“He needs to know how to swim better than he does,” I gabbled.

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EVERY DAY for the rest of the holidays RIGHT NOW.” I grabbed my phone and started dialling swim schools and, gosh darn it, I did not stop dialling until someone told me they would take him the very next day. Huzzah!

And so he went. And he put his head under the water and blew

www.kidspromotions.com.au Phone us on 1300 788 028 or 03 9793 6300

bubbles and stuff. And he got a merit certificate and a colouring in book and lots of high fives. Unfortunately, it seems Old Boilers are now extinct, but he still got tired-ish. Sort of.

Next hols, I’ve decided that we’re off to Bluff Knoll. I plan to nominate myself for tea duty, while my husband and son conquer the

Tel: 03 9739 6300 • www.kidspromotions.com.au • www.abc.net.au/playschool © Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2015.

mountain. www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

27

Real Life

aiding

Aidan Research is needed to help two-year-old Aidan who is living with a little-known illness for which there is no cure

A

idan Loden excitedly splashes around in the bath putting his toy boat around the tub, amid squeals of laughter and joy.

Like many toddlers, water is one of his favourite

BY NICOLE COX

play things and the nightly bathtime ritual, one of his happiest moments of the day. Even the tickle of running water on his hands makes him giggle.

At just two and a half years old, his super cheeky grin, wispy blonde hair and bright blue eyes beset a picture of innocence and childhood fun.

But behind this façade is heartbreak and anguish. These are ultimately some of the most precious memories his family will one day hold dear.

Aidan is living with a little-known illness called a mitochondrial

His parents, Fiona Elmer and Dan Loden, have been dealt

chain respiratory disorder. It is an elusive condition for which there

an unimaginable blow. The sprightly, energetic little boy they

is no cure and a condition that is

hoped to rear into a man and share in his many firsts and special

expected to abruptly end his

milestones is likely to succumb to his condition by his early

short life in a most untimely

teens, leaving shattered dreams.

and catastrophic way.

According to the Australian Mitochondrial Disease Association, one in 5000 people live with a life-threatening form of mitochondrial disease. In conditions like Aidan’s, 50 per cent of children die before the age of three and for those who survive, most don’t make it into adolescence.

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell that provide our bodies with more than 90 per cent of the energy it needs to sustain life. The disease presents when cells are unable to produce enough energy for the body to function properly, resulting in cell death, organ dysfunction and system failure. It can affect different organs depending on where the cell abnormalities lie.

The foundation says there are at least 100 known types of mitochondrial disease with new presentations emerging regularly.

Right from the beginning, I knew there was something not right, but as a first-time mum, you are kind of assured that it’s a feeding issue, it’s this or it’s that.

28

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

It was a revolving door of hospital visits. By the time he turned two, Aidan had been admitted to hospital nine times.

“Right from the beginning, I knew there was something not right, but as a first-time mum, you are kind of assured that it’s a feeding issue, it’s this or it’s that,” Fiona says.

“The strange thing was that Aidan’s early newborn screening showed up an abnormality that he may have a metabolic condition. At the time they told me that it had no clinical significance.

“But over time I knew. He was my kid and I watched him more than any other kid. Over time I knew that he wasn’t playing with toys

As a mum, you think about all those hopes and dreams you had. You fall in love with this little baby so much and I think for us, it’s absolute heartache. the same way other kids were and his speech, the babbling sounds weren’t there. He wouldn’t always respond to his name.

“I did actually take him into emergency a couple of times and was told, look, he’s got gastro or a chest infection. I was trying to tell them that even the daycare people were saying he was really lethargic, but I didn’t get a lot of traction.”

An early assessment confirmed Fiona’s fears when staff at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital told her Aidan’s development was six Photos: Nadine Richards www.whatilove.photos

“As a mum, you think about all those hopes and dreams you had.

You fall in love with this little baby so much and I think for us, it’s absolute heartache,” Fiona tells Offspring in an emotional interview.

“I describe it to my friends like the Everready battery ad and Aidan is like at the end bit of that ad. I’m working off an eight volt car battery

months behind other children his age and referred the family to a team of metabolic disorders experts.

Get Organised label everything!

and he’s working off a DD battery, slowly losing power.

“It’s your worst nightmare really. There’s very little that you can do.

“I remember one time we were in hospital and there was a little girl in because she had extremely bad eczema and her mum was complaining because she had to be in there for five days to do these wraps to clear up her skin. I was just beside myself thinking: ‘If I could just wrap my little boy for five days and he’d be alright…I just wish I could’.”

Mitochondrial disease primarily affects children but is often difficult to diagnose with many symptoms initially masquerading as common ailments.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, irritable bowel, visual and hearing problems and unexplained heart, liver and kidneys conditions.

Seizures, diabetes, developmental delays, loss of motor control and muscle weakness are also key signs to an onset of the disease.

From the day Aidan was born in August 2012, his parents held niggling concerns that something was amiss. He was admitted to hospital three weeks after birth for “failing to thrive”, but doctors passed the issue off as breastfeeding troubles. Then there was jaundice, a suspected food allergy, overwhelming lethargy, extreme tiredness and diagnoses of gastroenteritis and chest infections over several months which medicos

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all put down to Aidan being a difficult, susceptible and sickly baby. www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

29

Three days later Aidan started vomiting profusely, had rapid breathing and couldn’t sit up by himself. What transpired was an agonising 48 hours, ventilated, on life support. When he woke he was listless, floppy and could not lift his head.

“That was probably the most horrific time of my life other than when we got the final diagnosis because they told us things like they expected he would have brain abnormalities and were preparing us for bad news,” Fiona says.

But remarkably a gamut of tests and a MRI came back normal, completely surprising medics.

However, Aidan’s biochemical signatures were unlike anything they had ever seen before and it was not until doctors sent tests to the Netherlands that it uncovered a rare mitochondrial defect, which was diagnosed in October last year.

“Everyone was pretty shocked because it wasn’t what we were expecting and unfortunately for Aidan, there is no cure currently. So, in terms of prognosis, what we read about it is that it is extremely difficult to tell. The stats are that 50 per cent of children don’t make it past the age of “All the normal tests that they did to show up all these diseases

three and most really don’t make it to their teens.

that seemed to fit Aidan, didn’t give us a confirmation. They did

“The thing with this illness is that it’s a very complex diagnosis.

genetic testing…and they all came up negative so they were all

Doctors really struggle to diagnose these sorts of things and the

scratching their heads not really knowing exactly what was going on

only way they’ve been able to do that is look for some sort of

until November 2013 when he got a cold and stopped eating.”

genetic mutation.

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE

THE FACTS

n Mitochondria are the power houses of bodily cells providing more than 90 per cent of the energy needed to sustain life.

Mitochondrial disease is the reduced ability of the mitochondria to produce this energy. It is a debilitating and potentially fatal disease. n

n One in 5000 people live with a life-threatening form of mitochondrial disease.

OK because he’s going to be able to do all this

Real Life

other stuff and so what if he’s not going to be the world’s greatest basketball player.

“And then as it’s progressed, there have been times when I’ve thought he’s going to be OK because that’s what I really wanted to believe. To the point when we got his diagnosis and we realised that unfortunately, things aren’t going to be OK.”

There is not universal treatment or cure.

n

There are at least 100 known types of mitochondrial disease with new presentations of the disease appearing regularly.

Aidan’s parents hope they can stave off progression of

n

the illness with physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, a calorie-controlled, balanced diet and vitamin and

Source: Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

mineral supplements.

Experts say doing nothing can worsen the symptoms of

“The good news for Aidan is that he’s very atypical

mitochondrial disease, increase the level of disability and

currently, so a lot of these kids when they get their first real viral infection their bodies don’t cope and they end up having some sort of respiratory failure.”

dependency, and lead to a more grim prognosis.

“I’ve really struggled to find answers as to how long Aidan may have,” Fiona says. “Doctors have been really unwilling to

Fiona said she had been buoyed after initially being told by

talk to us about prognosis at all. I think the issue is that they don’t

doctors that it was likely Aidan would “catch up” developmentally

understand this enough at all and if he contracts something like

by the age of five, but his low muscle tone meant he would struggle

chickenpox, it’s unclear how his body will deal with that and what

to play sport.

“You make these kinds of deals with yourself,” Fiona says. “At first you want this beautiful baby and you have all these hopes and dreams and then you realise that some of them aren’t going to be possible, so you come to the conclusion that it’s

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

repercussions of that will be and if it starts a

I keep thinking with Aidan that we have a real chance to find a cure.

rapid progression of the disease.

“But his doctors are incredibly hopeful.

They just keep telling me that they don’t know a lot about these things and there aren’t many children that they see with this condition so

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

31

maybe Aidan just won’t fit the mould and will buck

Real Life

“There’s no real great spin to put on it. This is me and a group of mums

the trend - and that’s what

trying to raise awareness. The sooner

you’ve got to keep hoping.”

you can help control these conditions

But for now his parents are

with a calorie-controlled, high-

focusing on celebrating even the

protein diet, physiotherapy and other

smallest of milestones.

therapies the better quality of life you

While Aidan is yet to walk or talk

can give them for longer.

fluently, his parents say they have

“I want to give confidence to

seen a marked improvement in his

other mums out there. If they’re

fine motor skills including feeding

unsure about something and they’re

himself finger food and learning baby

being told it’s OK, then it’s OK for

sign language, which he uses to sign

them to question that. Sometimes

a handful of words so his is better

mums can be overly cautious, but it

understood.

can only be a good thing with something like this.” *A group of Perth mothers has organised a parent-driven

Fiona says she hopes Aidan’s case will form the basis for new procedures whereby abnormalities detected in newborn screening

fundraiser event called The Green Tea for Mitochondrial

tests paired with other clinical evidence such as poor feeding and

Disease to raise money for research into the condition. The

baby floppiness will force doctors to screen for mitochondrial

high-tea event will be held at Caversham House on May 3,

disease early.

with all money raised being channeled to the Australian

“We want to raise awareness about this disease and also funding

Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to improve clinical practice, therapy and research towards a treatment and cure.

for research to give hope to future generations.”

“As a mum, it’s just awful to sit there and not do anything. I keep thinking with Aidan that we have a real chance to find a cure. It may

FIND OUT MORE

be too late for him because Australia really isn’t at the forefront of

Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation | admf.org.au

this sort of research.

The Green Tea for Mitochondrial Disease | greenteaformito.com.au

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www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

33

!

T I R E V GET O

y e n o m t u o b a lk a t o t e d u r t ’ n s i It

By Chris Pritchard

Sex and money were taboo subjects, never to be raised at the dinner table, when Paul Clitheroe was a kid. But at other times the British-born financial guru’s father, a doctor, couldn’t curb his enthusiasm for watching canny investments grow.

“S

omething must have rubbed

His latest book, Money, Marriage and

off,” laughs Clitheroe,

Divorce, recently hit bookstores. Written

“because when I was about

in conversational style, its emphasis is on

to finish university one of my best mates

financial planning in happy relationships

pointed out an advertisement for an

- and on what to do when love has flown

investment-related job and said ‘Go

advice. “When I was a boy it was often the

ahead! Apply for it! You’re always talking

case that the husband earned the family income while the wife was responsible

about money! You’ll be hired!” The young man, poised to become a familiar face on television and voice on radio, took what turned out to be savvy advice. He got the job. “But,” he adds, “it still worries me that my university mate regarded me as a natural for the job. To this day I really hope I wasn’t known behind my back as a ‘money bore’.”

If you cling to outdated notions that discussing finance is vulgar, you should ‘get over it’… relationships where people don’t talk about money are often doomed to fail.

for raising the children and caring for the home. Wives were often proud of their lack of understanding of - or interest in - a family’s financial arrangements.

“These days society is very different.

Women commonly prefer to have their own accounts and to preserve their financial independence. Young people have numerous financial and other

A few years later Clitheroe and three

products available to them – so making the

campus friends launched an advisory firm called Ipac. It was destined to succeed and

out the window. “My publishers initially

right choices is difficult and mistakes can

still thrives. Clitheroe remains involved in

wanted to call it The Divorce Handbook but

be expensive.

day-to-day activities and helped it expand

I wouldn’t agree because it’s broader than

from its Sydney base to become a national

that,” he confides.

organisation. Before long, Clitheroe

34

than three decades of dispensing financial

Times have changed, agrees Clitheroe

became one of the nation’s most respected

who turns 60 this year. He’s noticed a

advisors on money matters.

dramatic shift in attitudes during more

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

“My next book may well be aimed at the young - helping them negotiate their way through the maze of promoted products in order to select what’s best for them.”

Mind you, Clitheroe isn’t 100 per cent www.offspringmagazine.com.au

MONEY TALK$

PLANNING IS VITAL GOAL Goals are essential. Set a goal: buying property or a car, paying for an education, taking a world trip, whatever and plan how you’ll reach this goal.

PLAN Agree on a plan (for instance, saving a certain amount each week) with the aim of reaching your goal by an agreed date.

If you don’t make them, (financial decisions) others will make your choices for you later on - usually lawyers. sure there will be another book. “My wife

Even then there may be strong

BUDGET Everyone must have a budget - and stick to it. If you don’t set limits on what you spend on various outgoings any plan becomes meaningless and you’ll never reach your goal.

keeps sighing ‘Stop writing bloody books’

resistance to discussing the subject

and suggests that with three healthy,

from one or other party. Consequently,

DECIDE

happy adult children we should travel

twosomes drift apart thanks to the

more. But the trouble is I keep thinking of

unspoken presence of the fiscal fiend

ideas for another book and my publisher

(particularly when “money problems”

gives me the go-ahead”.

need to be battled). Some financial

In a relationship, agree early on as to who pays what.

If expenses come out of individual accounts - rather than joint accounts - a simple example could be that one pays rent while the other buys food. But both parties must consider such arrangements to be fair. Agreements should factor if one is a high-income earner and the other is, say, a struggling student.

Anchoring Clitheroe’s advice is the mantra: “It’s not rude to talk about money”. If you cling to outdated notions

analysts describe this phenomenon as an until-debt-do-us-part syndrome.

In these situations, one partner

that discussing finance is vulgar, you

continues resisting discussion of financial

should “get over it”. In fact, he believes

topics or arranging to see a financial

“relationships where people don’t ta lk

planner (who should be chosen only

about money are often doomed to fail”.

after careful research, possibly including

That said, he concedes that money

discussions with people whose opinions

may not be the easiest subject to raise. His

are respected) - and perhaps even

advice to anyone frustrated by an inability

physically walks away when money-

to talk about money: “Open a bottle of

related matters are raised.

wine and enjoy a romantic dinner. During

Lack of communication on fiscal

the meal, steer the conversation gently

issues before couples split, says Clitheroe,

towards money matters”.

can lead to acrimonious last-minute

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Source: Paul Clitheroe Money, Marriage and Divorce,

by Paul Clitheroe, Published by Penguin, RRP $19.99

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

35

PARENTING

Open a bottle of wine and enjoy a romantic dinner. During the meal, steer the conversation gently towards money matters.

agreements that others should decide about financial carve-ups. “If the couple had discussed financial matters openly and planned together their relationship may well have survived.

“Instead, they reach the end of the line.

The relationship if finished. Perhaps there’s divorce. And it’s all because they didn’t discuss money.”

Couples should make financial decisions early in their relationships. “If you don’t make them,” warns Clitheroe, “others will make your choices for you later on - usually lawyers. You’ll be forced, at some point, to talk about money - and you’ll pay for doing so.”

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23/03/2015 2:49 am

78

Offspring | autumn 2015 | perth

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HEALTH

Setting the foundation of evidence-based nutritional and herbal medicine support is the key goal of fertility naturopath and medical herbalist Shannon Burford, who delights in the successes of couples coming to his aptly named clinic, Cura Integrative Medicine based in the leafy suburb of Claremont, seeking assistance to fall pregnant.

I

n a society facing a rising rate of health problems regarding fertility, pregnancy, birth and children’s health with one in six couples being infertile; one woman in five suffering miscarriage; one baby in 10 born prematurely;

one child in 10 suffering a learning or behavioural problem; and one baby in 30 born with a congenital defect, Shannon’s work bringing future parents to optimal health to maximise their baby’s chances of the healthiest possible start in life is crucial.

“I place a great deal of importance on preconception care for at least three months before couples even begin trying to conceive. It is essential that you have all the nutrients to conceive and most importantly you have enough nutrients to nourish the growing foetus and deliver a healthy baby,” he says.

“The preconception period is important in allowing both parents to achieve optimal health. It

Naturopathy holds the core philosophy that the body can heal itself and everyone is an individual.

One size does not fit everyone!

would be ideal to allow six months, especially if the mother has recently come off the pill and needs to re-establish her cycles, but some clients aren’t keen to wait that long, which I understand as many turn to naturopathy after they have exhausted conventional avenues.”

Embarking on Shannon’s preconception care involves a detox to clean up any heavy metals or toxicity to get the body, eggs, sperm and uterus

primed for pregnancy.

“The body is naturally detoxing every day to get rid of waste, so we are just assisting and encouraging that process 38

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

HEALTH

Whether you are considering taking the plunge to try and conceive or about to embark on the daunting road to IVF, the successful outcome depends heavily on the health of both parents in the preconception period.

By Claire Armstrong

and restoring the body’s vital minerals and identifying any

Shannon explores his patient’s health like an iceberg, depicted

excesses or deficiencies and stabilising them to provide the

by a small visible peak, yet the greater story lies beneath the

optimal environment for the development of a healthy baby,” he

surface, hidden in diet, environment and toxicity within.

explains.

His diagnostic process calls for blood, saliva, stool and hair

“Naturopathy holds the core philosophy that the body can

mineral analysis as required, as well as diet, sleep, energy and

heal itself and everyone is an individual. One size does not fit

behavioural discussions to get the full picture on a patient’s

everyone! A tailored diet and certain herbs is preferred over a

health.

multi-vitamin approach in any circumstance but never more

He is a strong advocate for hair mineral analysis, a simple yet

essential than in the pre-conception period and throughout pregnancy.”

Over a pot of freshly brewed herbal tea, Shannon explains there is a strong relationship between good food and fertility to which couples, yes both parties, need to understand the impact of what they put into their bodies and how that flows on to conception.

I aim to eat as pure as possible, organic where I can to obtain the best quality. If the food comes from a box, I would say don’t eat it.

“You have no doubt heard people say ‘wholefood, wholefood, eat more wholefood because it is healthier’, right? Why exactly?

It is all about the full package,” he says.

“With processing comes removal of the valuable nutrients.

There is a growing awareness that nutrition is a huge contributor to health and fertility too.

“During pregnancy your nutritional requirements multiply, so eating correctly is essential. Although remember, what you need is nutrients for two and not kilojoules for two.”

And yes, he does practice what he preaches.

“I aim to eat as pure as possible, organic where I can to obtain the best quality. If the food comes from a box, I would say don’t eat it.” www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

39

PARENTING HEALTH vital test to give a clear picture

gastrointestinal upset, anxiety and

of a patient’s internal health.

many other physical, psychological

The test involves cutting a

and behavioural symptoms.

collection of hair from the back

“Most people know how to

of the head and sending it off

reduce stress in their life, they

for analysis. The results reveal

are just looking for someone to

any excess or deficiency of vital

remind them and guide them and

nutrient minerals. It can also

sometimes they just need some

identify over-exposure to heavy

herbs and nutritional advice to

metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic or aluminium. Thus a tailored treatment can be developed to restore a healthy internal balance.

“By incorporating herbal medicine, nutritional support, dietary improvements, lifestyle modifications and pathology assessment, a couple can drastically improve their chance of conceiving a healthy, happy baby,” he says.

Yet sometimes our physical ailments are the result of mental anguish and anyone who has ever ridden the emotional

During preconception and pregnancy eat more of: hole and unrefined foods - vegetables, fruit, W whole grains, legumes and calcium rich foods. oods rich in Omega3 fatty acids, antioxidants and F those containing probiotics.

Buy organic, in season and unprocessed to reduce exposure to chemicals.

appreciate the mental battle it presents. Shannon agrees that

Eat healthy snacks - nuts, yogurt, avocado, hummus, vegetable sticks and fruit.

stress is a huge factor in conception and infertility. He remarks

Drink plenty of filtered water - aim for 2 litres a day.

roller-coaster of hope and disappointment of infertility would

that stress flows on to poor sleep quality, poor diet choices,

40

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HEALTH

Two to tango

empower and energise them to make positive changes,” he says.

“I have found that when a patient isn’t stressed they can get pregnant.”

Shannon says while a diverse range of couples can benefit from a naturopathic approach to fertility management age is also a factor.

“The amount of females trying to

Obviously women are in the spotlight when it comes to fertility and pregnancy but with men contributing half of the genetic material they also have an important role. Some tips that can be followed by both the parents during the preconception period include: •

Detoxification of the body is essential to reduce the toxins.

•

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

•

Reduce the consumption of sugar, alcohol and caffeine.

conceive over the age of 40 continues to grow and that brings its own complications for infertility,” he admits.

•

Keep active. Yoga or tai chi are great, gentle exercises.

with naturopathy care.

And the benefits of naturopathy don’t end at conception. Once pregnant, Shannon helps nurture the mother and growing baby by supporting any pregnancy ailments such as morning sickness, which he suggests is often a resulting Vitamin B6 deficiency and unstable blood sugar levels.

“I go on the journey of pregnancy with my patients, then when the baby

“Naturopathy has amazing repercussions

is born they will become my patient

but it is not a magical cure.”

so I can support them on the path for a healthy life.”

While every case has individual issues and there are no guarantees, there is growing evidence to

And how did he come to specialise in fertility?

support naturopathic success. Shannon points to the Foresight

“My own children inspired me to pursue the fertility and

study (UK, 2010) which found that of the 367 couples assessed,

pregnancy avenue of naturopathy after I was able to see firsthand

89 per cent gave birth to a healthy baby, including 81 per cent of

the difference preconception care and nutrition can have on

those who were previously considered infertile, within two years

creating healthy babies,” he says.

of naturopathic treatment. Many of the couples involved had been

“It is incredibly rewarding to support someone through

through multiple failed IVF treatments. The study also showed

infertility to the birth of their baby. Fertility work is incredibly

a doubling of the success rate of IVF treatments when combined

uplifting.”

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

41

INTERNET PICKS

Our internet picks SHOPPING online is fun and convenient. Now there is fantastic range of fashion items and great buys for the family. However, looking for good-quality sites can be overwhelming with such a large number from which to choose.

Finding your way around can be daunting! We’ve provided a few good Australian sites, which offer a great range of stylish, beautiful and practical items to help point you in the right direction.

www.tooshcoosh.com.au Toosh Coosh offers a range of unique mealtime products that provide practical solutions to improve the quality of mealtimes for mums, dads and little ones. The Toosh Coosh – Big Kids Booster seat gives just the right amount of height and comfort for kids 3yrs plus so they can sit up at the table just like an adult and Toddler Trays with a clever food catcher contains the mess, the spills and, most importantly your stress levels.

Toosh Coosh makes meal times good clean fun!

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vShop online at www.alabouroflove.com.au or contact Gabrielle Targett on 0418 336 362 or via email at info@alabouroflove.com.au

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Divided into labeled sections, the Yumbox has been designed with dietary guidelines in mind to help parents pack correct portion sizes and ensure nutritional balance. A tight seal between the tray and silicone lid makes Yumbox leakproof even when packing wet foods like yoghurt, dips and sauces.

The Original six section Yumbox tray is now even better! Based on customer feedback the tray has been redesigned to fit more food in the same compact box. With this new tray and the popular Panino option for sandwiches there is a Yumbox for everyone.

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www.offspringmagazine.com.au

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

42

23/03/2015 3:34 am

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

43

DAD’S WORLD

with Gary Ausbruch

Clutterphobia Gary shares his joy in maintaining an organised household.

I

As I neared my destination, The Omnipotent One saw me and with the tiniest movement of a facial muscle, gave me the look that I knew meant, “Don’t let everyone else know how weird you are”. But it was too late. Within the blink of an eye,

looked at my watch, anxiously. Still too early. I’d have to wait

I had stacked all the presents in a neat pile on the side of the

another five minutes, minimum. I shifted in my seat and looked

room and filled a garbage bag full of used gift wrap, ribbon and

around at the others. It was a joyous occasion; one of my kids’

ripped envelope. Maybe even the odd birthday card too, but who

birthdays, with the extended family gathered in our living room as the presents were opened. There were smiles and laughter and

cares about birthday cards anyway.

It was like I’d become The Flash. But instead of

conversations and everyone was enjoying the happy spirit that

using my superpower to fight crime, I use it to

accompanies getting together to celebrate a loved one’s special day.

de-clutter.

But I couldn’t relax. I slapped down hard on my thigh to stop

Aunts and uncles looked at me strangely

the continuous tap-tap-tapping of my foot on the floor. I checked

as I sat back down with the giddy feeling of

the watch again. It was as if time had stood still. I couldn’t take it

satisfaction mixed with shame, like an addict

anymore. I got up and nonchalantly started to walk towards the

would have after getting a long-needed hit. But

kitchen, but quickly detoured around the back of the couch.

I can’t help it. Because my need to de-clutter can be so strong, it physically distresses me to be in a room with, well, crap everywhere.

At least in my own home I can do something about it and only look half loony. The temptation to de-clutter someone else’s house is one I have been forced to resist on many occasions. Going to the homes of people who fill their places with knick-knacks or ornaments – bless them, they may be perfectly nice people – but let’s just say I’d rather catch up with them at a café.

My need for order even extends beyond the physical. When I see a computer desktop that has a screen full of files, it freaks me out. Mine basically has nothing besides the recycle bin; and even that I’ve tried to delete (unsuccessfully, in

Aunts and uncles looked at me strangely as I sat back down with the giddy feeling of satisfaction mixed with shame, like an addict would have after getting a longneeded hit.

case you’re interested).

The same goes with email inboxes. I can’t stand having to watch someone search their 5,000 email strong inbox to attempt to find an email from 2009. The process of deleting or filing emails gives me immense pleasure.

As you would imagine, enduring the baby-to-toddler phase was doubly hard for me given the additional amounts of stuff that goes with having young children. Not only did I have to cope with the usual child-rearing challenges most people would attest to, I had to 44

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

put up with nightmarish amounts of clutter. A sea of plastic toys on the living room floor. A menagerie of soft animals in my bedroom.

A forest of cuppies and bottles and breast pump paraphernalia in the kitchen. Oh, the pain!

Nowadays in our house, unnecessary things get put into neat piles to be put away – hopefully swiftly – by their owner, or better still, I throw them out. This may have resulted in the odd required item being discarded prematurely, but on balance, this system works quite well to keep a lid on my urges on a day-to-day basis.

But in terms of a de-cluttering special occasion, nothing beats the verge collection day. For me, it’s akin to looking forward to your birthday as a child; that special day that’s circled in red in the calendar, months in advance. Holidays are planned around the verge collection day, checklists are drawn up to make sure nothing is missed, and you just can’t beat the feeling of looking out your front window to see a massive pile of your stuff about to be removed from your life forever.

But prior to your stuff being officially removed by the Council contractors, the hoarders go through it, finding things to clutter up their own houses. And to those people, I politely decline any future invitation to your home and instead propose we meet in a café.

Otherwise, things might get weird.

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45

g n i g Brin on

y b Ba Natural labour induction techniques for getting into labour

T

he time leading up to your baby’s

Date of Delivery) gets pushed aside and

potentially have another 10-14 days in

birth-day can be an incredibly

suggestions of being ‘late’ and ‘overdue’

which to go into labour spontaneously.”

stressful time for pregnant women,

start to be the dominating thoughts and

“Unfortunately women can be their

often because they have external pressure

messages women receive. This can be a

own worst enemy, become impatient and

on them from family, friends and care

reason, according to Gabrielle, for many

demand an induction.”

providers to have their baby on or before

women being booked for an induction.

the date that seems to be seen as the date they should have their baby.

“What women have to understand is

“I know from being pregnant three times that the final weeks of pregnancy can

that this date is just an estimate, give or

be very tiring, hot, heavy and frustrating,

take two weeks,” says Gabrielle. “Providing

involving lots of waiting around and

and Educator, Gabrielle Targett, says

there are no medical problems with

not getting any sleep. However, it is not

unfortunately the EDD (Estimated

Mum or Bubs, a pregnant woman could

forever. Patience is a virtue and one of the

Pregnancy and Childbirth Doula

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46

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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Gabrielle suggests the following natural labour inducing techniques to be used every second day from 39 weeks onwards: 1. Acupressure and/or Acupuncture points: There are specific points around the feet and lower legs that when pushed or stimulated with an acupuncture needle, can get a woman cramping and contracting in her uterus. Discuss this with your pregnancy health care provider or see a qualified acupuncturist or acupressure professional to discuss the pros and cons of this possible natural form of induction.

2. Sex, sex and more sex with the big ‘O’ from both parties: Semen is a natural prostaglandin that can help efface and thin out the cervix. In pregnant women, sex with orgasm releases huge amounts of oxytocin and endorphins that assist a woman to relax and feel calm, and focused on labour.

3. Exercises to move baby into Optimum Foetal Position (OFP): It’s about getting baby into a favourable position by doing exercise every day, leaning forward and avoiding reclining from 30 weeks, to get baby’s spine to the front of your body.

4. Listening to hypnosis for birth scripts: Practicing daily to calm your mind can assist women to focus within and remain relaxed. It will keep any anxiety and fear at bay and help in her preparation to remain calm, regardless of the imminent estimated date.

5. Ball time: Sitting on a fitball daily and rotating your hips will assist your baby to move down and engage in preparation for labour.

PLEASE ALWAYS SEE YOUR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.

first lessons you need as a parent, maybe

and into ‘labour’ naturally by using very

this is how as mothers we need to gain this

basic techniques.

Gabrielle says often pregnant women

lesson?

“What women really need to know about having an induction to begin labour, is that it can and often does lead to a ‘Cascade of Intervention’, often resulting in a caesarean

responsibility to ensure women are giving informed consent to Induction of Labour, that is, that they understand the pros and cons of all

It really is in a woman’s best interest to mentally and physically prepare for labour her body along into labour.

Gabrielle feels it is the medical staff ’s

who to see to get help and give up.

and do everything she can to move

as an outcome.” both the woman’s and

just don’t know what to do, where to go or

A Labour of Love was created 16 years ago by Gabrielle Targett to assist couples/women to create empowered pregnancy and birthing experiences – naturally!

aspects of an induction. She believes it’s all about informed choice.

“What women don’t realise is that they can actually get their body ‘warming up’ www.offspringmagazine.com.au

“If there is no medical necessity, a woman should try to avoid a hospital based induction as it can push her body so much harder than a spontaneous labour.”

“It’s all about choice

really.”

For a free Birth Plan Template or the ‘Cascade of Intervention’ PDF printout go to www.alabouroflove.com.au to contact info@alabouroflove.com.au sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

47

Diary

Real Life

of a Caesar

Offspring Reader, Shannon Meyerkort, shares what it’s like to give birth by caesarean section.

8.00am: Despite already having breakfast, I decide to eat again. I am supposed to fast for six hours before my 3pm Caesar. Asking a pregnant woman to abstain from food for this long is rather cruel. I was told to have something ‘light’ – apparently the Anaesthetists don’t like it when their Caesar patients eat Whoppers just before surgery.

11.00pm: I am restless, bored and hungry. I also miss my two other girls, Alexis (5) and Emilie (2) who are with their grandparents. I envy women who go into natural

pile of hair that I frantically try to clean away before my

labour: they have the element of surprise. I have known

husband returns.

since Week 24 the exact time and date of my baby’s birth,

3.00pm: After being delayed (emergency twins), I am

but these last few hours are the most excruciating.

wheeled out of pre-op and into theatre. I sit on the cold

1.00pm: At the hospital we are shown to a room. My

metal table, and am acutely aware of my bottom being

husband flicks on the TV and I lie on the bed, pretending

exposed to everyone. The Anaesthetist talks me through

I am not nervous. A nurse asks if I have been shaved. My

each step so there are no nasty surprises. She asks me to

husband discreetly leaves the room. I remove my knickers

bend forward, an impossible task with a belly as large as

and pull up the sheet while the nurse fusses around with

mine. And then the numbness starts in my toes, not near

an electric shaver.

A screen is erected across my chest, so we can’t see the blood and gore of the surgery.

I had considered going for a bikini wax but was told attempting a wax at 38 weeks was a ‘very bad idea’...

Something about extra blood flow to the area and looking like I attempted it myself with a lawn-mower.

I stare at the ceiling and politely respond to her cheerful questions. She leaves me with a wet towel and a

my bottom as you’d expect. My legs feel heavy and I begin to topple onto the floor, but am caught by a nurse who lifts my legs onto the table. I feel exposed and try to adjust my gown but there is little point.

us blue 2.15pm: I am given an enormo k and requires gown that gapes at the bac how to tie. My three people to figure out dark blue scrubs husband is given a pair of and a showerto wear over his clothes p a photo of cap to cover his hair. I sna lks alongside my him. Camera in hand, he wa -op. bed as I am pushed to pre

A screen is erected across my chest, so we can’t see the blood and gore of the surgery. My husband sits near my head: his primary job now is to hold my hand. Watching the reflection in the overhead lights I realise they have opened my legs and are inserting a catheter. I feel embarrassed and hope my husband isn’t watching. There are eleven people in the room: my husband and myself, five doctors - my obstetrician, the anaesthetist, their

any pain, I will experience strong pulling and pressure. I just nod, I want to get started. A nurse asks if we want her to take pictures with our camera, and my husband hands it over. It’s not until a few days later I realise how graphic the pictures are.

3.40pm: When they make the incision, they also break my waters. I don’t actually notice the warm water gush over my legs. A good reason for everyone to wear rubber shoes I suppose. I feel intense pressure as they reach in to grab the baby. It’s very uncomfortable. I don’t realise I am holding my breath until I hear a cry, and suddenly the curtain is being lowered and the doctor is lifting my baby girl so I can see her.

My new daughter is brought to me for

assistants and a paediatrician – and four nurses. Everyone is in a fine mood, chatting and relaxed. I just want it to be over.

And I wish I was wearing knickers.

My obstetrician comes around to our side of the curtain and tells me what will happen. It will take five minutes to remove the baby and another 25 minutes to sew up afterwards. Although the epidural means I will not feel

My husband is asked to cu t the cord, but really he is just trimming it. I find it difficult not to cry; I am so happy, yet desperate to hold my chi ld. The baby is wiped and has another set of observations before being wrapped and handed to me for my first cuddle. She is trying to open her eyes.

The nurse keeps snapping pictures of us.

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

49

Real Life

50

a quick kiss and then taken by the paediatrician to be

will stay in place until I am up and walking. In Recovery, my

checked and weighed. She weighs 3.2kg and is 48cm long

husband stares at the little bundle in his arms and I snap

but we haven’t decided on a name yet. The obstetrician

photos of them. The midwife then asks if I am ready to

is reaching inside me and removing the placenta before

attempt a breastfeed. I can’t stop looking at her little face.

beginning the tedious task of sewing up seven different

[Later] The first night is exhausting, despite the baby

layers of muscle, skin and fat.

sleeping for most of it. I am unable to move my legs.

4.15pm: The curtain comes down and the doctor tells me

A nurse offers me a sponge bath. Again, my husband

he is finished. I am now wearing compression stockings to

discreetly leaves the room. I may have no dignity left, but at

reduce the chance of blood clots. The catheter and epidural

least I am no longer covered in blood and goo.

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

I find it difficult not to cry; I am so happy, yet desperate to hold my child.

Photo of Shannon’s daughters by www.dilkarraphotography.com .au

It is frustrating being stuck in bed. On the plus side, I don’t have to change the first meconium nappy, which – judging by the look on my husband’s face – was pretty horrific. Baby still doesn’t have a name.

A nurse asks if I have ‘passed flatus’. It takes me a while to realise she’s asking if I have farted. They need to check that the bowel has not been damaged by surgery. It’s the first and last time you are happy to fart in public. I have sandwiches for dinner, and then I eat my husband’s.

[The next morning] The epidural has worn off overnight and I attempt a shower. Slowly. I’m on an assortment of pain relief but I feel sluggish and very sore. I quickly get used to pulling down my knickers for complete strangers: the Caesar scar is constantly checked. It’s very

If you’d like to read more from Shannon Meyerkort you can follow her blog Relentles s at www.frommumtome.blogsp ot.com

small considering how large the baby was, maybe only 10cm.

I am determined that we name our baby before she meets

long as I am careful I am able to do pretty much everything.

her older sisters. We decide on Mia-Rose Kelley, a mix of

It will be a couple of weeks until I am strong enough to drive,

family names.

but I have no desire to be anywhere other than with my three

[A few days later] I am released from hospital on nothing

little girls. Our family is now complete.

stronger than paracetamol and anti-inflammatories. As

Let the fun begin

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51 Offspring | spring 2012

PREGNANCY & BIRTH

Tips for expressing

milk

“I have to go back to work earlier than expected but I want to keep on breastfeeding. I’ve bought a double breastpump so I can express as much milk as possible, but I’m not sure about how regularly I should pump or what the best way to store the milk is?”

F

DEFROSTING AND HEATING You should leave frozen milk in the fridge to defrost slowly and then at room temperature just long enough to take the edge of the coolness off. A bottle warmer can be used or cup of warm

resh breast milk is best; this is breastmilk that has been expressed

water, but you should never heat milk in a microwave as it can

within four hours. But you might want to build up a supply for

create hot spots which can be dangerous for Baby.

when you are not around.

If expressed milk isn’t being given to your baby straight away, it should

EXPRESSING YOUR MILK

be stored in the fridge. You can store it at the bottom of the fridge for

The amount of milk you will need to express will depend on how

three to five days at about four degrees, although hospital guidelines

much you are going to be away from your baby. If you are going

do vary. It is important not to store breastmilk in the door of the fridge

back to work full time, you will need to start to build up a supply

as the temperature doesn’t remain constant as you open and close the

from around six weeks before you go back to work. For part time

door. If you are only expressing small amounts at a time, then you can

work you will need less and therefore not need to express as

add expressed milk together throughout the day, but you make sure you

much. Begin by pumping once a day, preferably in the morning

place each bottle in the fridge as soon as you’ve produced it – don’t leave

when your supply is greater, and then increase if necessary.

it on the side. If you want to store milk longer than five days, then it is

If space is limited in the freezer, bags are easier to store than

important to freeze your milk.

bottles. Remember to label them and use in date order. When away from your baby, you should try to express at around the

FREEZING YOUR MILK

same time you would normally be feeding.

Breastmilk can be stored in a freezer for: n

Up to 6 months at -19 degrees Celsius

FEEDING YOUR EXPRESSED MILK

n

Up to 12 months at -18 degrees Celsius

Experts recommend that you feed your baby through a

Here are some tips and facts that will help you know how best to store and give expressed milk: n

When breastmilk is frozen it expands and so a container should never be

filled more than three quarters full. n

You need to put the date on all your expressed breastmilk and use it in

chronological order, oldest milk first. n

Occasionally, frozen breastmilk can give off a strange, soapy, smell –

small cup or through a bottle. Whilst getting used to this new way of feeding your baby may take in more air than when breastfeeding, so you may need to wind your baby during the feed as well as afterwards. You will need to take the time for your baby to get used to it. You might find that it’s easier for your partner or child minder to do the initial feeds so that your baby does not smell you and want to breastfeed.

breastmilk is easily digested and this is due to an enzyme called lipase. If lipase is quite active (this varies from woman to woman), the milk will take on a strange smell, which is harmless to babies but which may vary the taste.

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

Material provided by Medela www.medela.com www.offspringmagazine.com.au

Easter Holidays and Babywearing

perfect companions!

Sometimes there just isn’t enough room in the family car for all of those things you need on your holiday.

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55

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Learning the art of self-control

By Stephanie Fairbairn, Parent Educator at Ngala

Self regulation is achieved through a nurturing relationship with caring adults, most often parents.

S

elf regulation is a lifelong learning process, and starts

a calming response which helps them bring their emotions back

from the very first days when, as babies, we needed help

into balance. With time, babies build on this external calming and

regulating or adjusting our sleep patterns, hunger and even

develop their own internal mechanisms to regulate. Consistency

body temperature.

By responding promptly and sensitively to a baby’s needs, a

and repetition from caring adults are the keys to strengthening connections in the brain so that over time self regulation develops.

baby learns that their needs will be met (most of the time) and this builds a bond of trust which forms the foundation for the development of self regulation.

Parenting is challenging because the everyday tasks take so much time – so much patience and SO much self-control on our part - this is the investment we make now to pass on these skills to our children for later.

As parents we may expect a lot of from our baby, especially in the sleep department. But, in fact, learning that elusive ‘self settling’ part of self regulation begins with small steps such as a baby looking away when they need a break from too much stimulation, or sucking their thumb when they start feeling tired.

These are the first steps towards developing their own responses to managing their feelings and behaviour.

Babies need a lot of help from caring adults to achieve selfregulation, so when you pick your baby up to give them a cuddle

to encourage healthy self-regulation and control: Set clear, short, instructions and boundaries.

Reflect back the child’s feelings so they can label their emotions.

Play games that encourage patience and attention like card games, matching pairs and hide and seek.

Foster ‘sharing’ by using the phrase ‘taking turns’ – this is more meaningful language for this age.

Remember parents and other carers are the biggest source of behaviour modelling for kids!

For more information on Ngala’s Parenting workshops go to www.ngala.com.au

after a door slams and scares them, you are providing them with 56

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50-51 Self Regulation.indd 56

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

23/03/2015 4:29 am

regulation involves your spirited toddler watching intently at everything you do.

Toddlers take on board how you act as role models. So if there is a tendency for you to fly into a rage with other motorists on a regular basis there is a good chance this behaviour

Consistency and repetition from caring adults are the keys to strengthening connections in the brain so that over time selfregulation develops.

will be echoed by your toddler!

We can’t be ”the ‘model parent’ every

hitting, screaming and lashing out.

“Oh dear, Matilda has knocked your blocks, I can see you are angry. You spent a long time making it and now you are upset.

It is very frustrating to have your game interrupted. Let’s take your things up to the table and Matilda can watch from the floor.”

As children develop the skill to name their feelings they begin to transition from

minute of every day, but it is inevitable that our body language,

‘physically acting out’ behaviours, to having the internal dialogue

tone and verbal response to everyday events paint a clear picture

to manage their emotions before they become physical. This takes

to our children of how to respond to life. Everyday activities you

a lot of practice and time.

do around or with your child like working on a puzzle until it

EARLY CHILDHOOD

The next stage of developing self

Similarly, if we lose our temper more quickly than normal we

is finished, persisting with cleaning the stain off the carpet, or

should follow that up with an explanation when we are calmer.

waiting in line at the supermarket without losing it all convey to

“Mum shouted and got angry because I was feeling frustrated we

your child how they are expected to behave …you don’t need to say

took so long to get home and I am so tired today, maybe next time

a thing – your actions speak louder than words.

we are running late I can count to five before I feel frustrated.”

Resolving an out-of-control situation like this does not diminish your authority as a parent. Some parents will worry that apologising or correcting their own behaviour weakens their

Everyday experiences which may not be helpful to your child developing self reg ulation include: • Never having to wait for birt hdays or Christmas for the next present this may lead to difficulties in impulse con trol.

•

•

Having a constant stream of snacks with no expectation that they wait for the next mealtime – they may have a hard time managing hunger signals or app etite.

parenting position. This is not the case and helps to teach another valuable life lesson – resolving conflict and offering an apology when we are in the wrong.

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All of these childhood lessons are sometimes hard at the time: we may feel like giving up at the checkout and buying them the lolly because they are building up to a tantrum, but ask yourself, what learning opportunity have we just missed if we do so?

Parenting is challenging because the everyday tasks take so much time – so much patience and SO much self control on our part – this is the investment we make now to pass on these skills to our children for later.

Children need a lot of positive modeling, but as they become more competent with language and have more vocabulary, we can reflect their and our emotional states with explanations. So when Baby Sister knocks over Big Sister’s tower of blocks again and she shoves her out of the way and starts whining we step into the war zone and start by understanding the toddler’s emotional state:

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50-51 Self Regulation.indd 57

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

57

23/03/2015 4:41 am

SPECIAL FEATURE

Lights, camera, action

BY CLAIRE ARMSTRONG

Most children delight in taking part in some sort of performing art, whether it is dance, drama or music, Finding a teacher but did you know it is good for Word-of-mouth is always a great way to start looking for a teacher is any art form. Check with your child’s their wellbeing? And there is plenty primary school to see if they offer a music program.

Check the qualifications of the teachers and find out you can do to harbour your child’s costs, expectations and ensure they match your child’s desires, some will be more casual and others will enthusiasm without the need to expect participation in examinations and recitals. Ask for a free trial class and the ability to hire instruments enrol them in formal classes.

T

before committing.

he driving force behind many parent’s desire to encourage

Bring it into your home:

their offspring in performing arts isn’t to create starlets of

• Have the radio or CD playing during the day instead of the TV. It will encourage you and your child to sing and dance along.

the future or precocious brats, it is about stimulating the

body and mind and the wrath of emotional, social and educational paybacks including: Confidence – Performing in front of an audience whether it be parents or peers will help a child get comfortable stepping out

• Construct your own musical instruments such as shakers, drums and cymbals from pots and pans, household and craft items

of their comfort zone, allow them to make mistakes and learn from them and give them a voice to speak up for themselves.

Team work - Through the arts, children work together,

Concentration - The ability to listen, retain and contribute involves a great deal of focus. The ability to concentrate for

share responsibility as well as accept responsibility, problem solve,

extended periods in an artistic setting will not only assist when it

experience empathy for others and learn to compromise to achieve

comes to school work, it will also encourage creative thinking and

a common goal. By learning collaboration kids begin to see their

help a child be able to think on their feet and ‘outside of the box’.

contributions have value even if they don’t have the biggest role. It is also a great way to make new friends with similar interests.

Perseverance – Learning an instrument or dance requires

The link between performing arts and improved educational performance is astounding, dating as far back as ancient Greek philosopher Plato who said, “I would teach children music,

practice, patience and persistence. On the journey to success children

physics and philosophy; but more importantly music for in the

learn that receiving constructive feedback is a regular part of any

patterns of music and all the arts are the keys to learning.”

arts instruction with a goal to improve skills, not personal attacks, which will prove a vital skill in later life. Once completed, the sense of

With so many benefits, how can we most effectively engage our children in these activities?

accomplishment will drive perseverance in the next endeavour.

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

SPECIAL FEATURE

Dance D

ance is active and a great way to improve fitness, body awareness,

motor skills, strength, posture and flexibility.

“Dance, laughter and exercise trigger the release of endorphins which help reduce stress, prevent illness and relieve pain. It is proven that people who exercise are happier, and that goes for children as well,” former fitness instructor and founder of the Happy Feet Fitness program Donna McColl told Offspring.

Her program delivered primarily through child care facilities to around

solving and critical thinking to developing resilience and empathy

10,000, 2-5 year olds in Western Australia, Victoria,

for others. Another wonderful attribute of dance is its suitability to

Queensland and launching into New South Wales this

a wide range of ages, interests and abilities. Many dance schools

year, was designed to entertain and inspire kids to make

offer classes from toddlers to adults.

positive, healthy choices for themselves through dance,

“Dance can cross all social and cultural barriers,” McColl says.

puppetry, magic and song.

Dance classes focused on enjoyment and movement are perfect

“There is nothing more important than our

for younger children where technique, routines and costumes are

children’s health, well-being and happiness. Nothing

not so important. For older children looking for more structure

more valuable than their sense of spirit.” McColl says.

and the opportunity to become involved in concerts, there are so

Dancing has recognised social and psychological advantages to a child’s development from problem

many options including: ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, acrobatics, cheerleading and hip hop.

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59

SPECIAL FEATURE

Drama D

rama puts children in exciting, funny, thought-provoking and interesting circumstances to expand their view of the world

and the people within it. It is not just limited to stage shows but encompasses circus acts, illusions, puppetry and theatre sports.

“Not every child that takes drama will become a famous actor, but they will walk away with the tools to speak in public and speak up for themselves. They don’t have to be the best, they just have to be involved,” Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (APACA) Executive Director Bronwyn Edinger says.

There is a healing power in

Talk to your child about their interests, visit a few studios and observe a class or two and ask about trial options. Local dance schools will often advertise in parenting and local papers or can be

drama. Edinger describes the success of an initiative by the Bell

found online listed according to locality.

Bring it into your home: • Your little one doesn’t need to attend a formal dance class to start moving, there are plenty of free online tutorials to follow, computer games specifically designed to get you dancing in your lounge room. Or just put on some music and jump around!

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60

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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Manager, of providing theatrical opportunities to those of social and geographic disadvantage, including remote indigenous communities and juvenile detention facilities, who would otherwise not experience the power and magic of Shakespeare or live theatre.

“The programs, like drama itself, are designed to develop life skills including decision-making, empathy, conflict resolution and self-confidence. After taking part in the program there is a notable improvement in behaviour and school attendance, interest in education and feelings of self worth,” Edinger says.

Drama, like dance, is suitable to a range of ages and abilities from three years through to adults. Many primary and high schools offer a drama program and some local youth centres provide opportunities to be involved in regular theatrical productions. Otherwise, ask for recommendations of a good drama club.

Bring it into your home: • Set up a box of dress-ups and props to help children create imaginative scenarios, include a large sheet to use as the stage curtain.

• Create your very own sock puppets.

• Instead of simply reading a story with

Not keen on the spotlight?

Performing isn’t for everyone so don’t push too hard, there are other ways to expose your child to the wonders of the art form: • A trip to the circus - there is nothing quite as awe inspiring as aerial acrobatics.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Shakespeare theatre company, of which she is a former General

• A dance performance - seeing classical ballet at the theatre or a local dance school’s concert is a lively and colourful experience.

• A balloon twisting, puppet or magic show; the illusions will captivate your child’s imagination and open them to the possibilities within performing arts.

Activities like these are easy to create at home and occasionally local councils and libraries run demonstrations or workshops.

• A concert - there are many touring music acts specifically designed for young ones especially around school holiday times.

• Local community events - whether it is the local choir, carolling, a drama production or a idol contest there are often opportunities to see an array of performances in your own community.

your child, why not role play and act it out?

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61

SPECIAL FEATURE

Music R

esearch indicates that the earlier music is included in a child’s development, the better.

This does not need to be limited to structured lessons. You can sing with your child at home, play music and expose your child to live performances.

Music educator and conductor Richard Gill believes physical education and arts education should book-end the Australian curriculum, with music being at the forefront, as early as possible in the life of a child.

“The impact this type of education would have on children, with respect to creative thinking, imaginative problem solving, resulting in classrooms full of engaged and interested minds with the capacity to think, perceive, analyse and act upon ideas, would turn the educational decline on its head,” he said during a speech to the Collegiate of Specialist Music Educators.

Vicki King, Artistic Director at the Australian School of Performing Arts, says, “The educational value placed on music and song seems less of a priority

years. Life seems so much busier, plus lots of people don’t have the

in Australian schools compared to some European countries, which

confidence to sing even if it is at home with their child.

is a great shame. And sadly, parent’s singing to their children from infancy appears to have also declined somewhat in the past 20

“You don’t need to be a wonderful singer or musician to share music with a child, unstructured musical play is so important because

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that is where children’s inspiration will come to life because they aren’t having to sit and learn the notes, they are simply enjoying the experience.”

Your child doesn’t have to be a prodigal musician to get involved either, King suggests a group participation activity such as a choir or a band is a great place to start a child as it removes the pressure and stresses associated with solo performances.

“For many of our senior students the Australian Girls Choir provide a beacon of light in their otherwise chaotic lives. A place to park their brain for a while and ignore homework and the politics of home and school life. Music gives them enormous

Most formal music lessons start between the ages of five to nine, group classes are recommended for younger children. The Forte School of Music gives these ages and instruments as a guide:

SPECIAL FEATURE

Choosing an instrument

• The piano is highly recommended as a child’s first instrument, it can be played as soon as a child can reach the keys and has enough strength to press them down. Recommended age: 5+ • The recorder is a common choice in a school setting.

It is cheap, children can play it easily and it provides a good introduction to making music.

Recommended age: 5+ • Stringed instruments often come in smaller sizes specifically for kids. Some children can handle a violin from the age of four. Recommended age: 5+ (violin); 9+ (viola and cello) • Other wind and brass instruments should not be attempted before your child’s permanent teeth come in because of the pressure on the teeth when they are played, the actual size of the instrument, the lip strength required and the “puff” needed to make a noise. Recommended age: 8+ (flute, clarinet); 9+ (saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn) • Drum and guitars tend to be a big favourite among kids. Recommended age: 7+ • Singing is something that can be enjoyed at all ages, but it is best not to start learning formally until 9+ years.

stress relief, comradery and confidence,” King told Offspring.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

63

SPECIAL FEATURE

Vibrant theatre at Monkey Baa M

Excellence at Academy of Performing Arts

T

he dream begins here. The Academy of Performing Arts Macarthur is a centre of enjoyment and excellence where students gain a love and appreciation of the performing arts.

At their new, fully-equipped studios located in the Macarthur region, the Academy uses innovative new programs provided by qualified, caring teachers and offers classes in Dance, Singing and Theatre for pre-schoolers to professional level, six days per week.

With the philosophy – ‘students learn best when they enjoy what they do’ – a unique and friendly atmosphere emanates at The Academy of Performing Arts.

Call The Academy today to discuss your little star’s Performing Arts classes: 02 4647 0255 or info@ apamacarthur.com.au

onkey Baa Theatre Company was established a little over 18 years ago and is a national leader in creating outstanding theatre for young people that is relevant, vibrant, thought-provoking and imaginative.

Through innovative and dynamic adaptations of Australian Stories, the company has not only entertained but engaged young audiences and those young at heart.

From silly tales, like The Bugalugs Bum Thief (on show 7- 24 April), to tackling serious issues, Monkey Baa Theatre Company, takes young people on a journey, to discover and connect, inspire the power of imagination and develop a greater understanding of their peers and the world in which they live.

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Although they are one of the largest agencies in the Australian market they pride themselves on their personable management style, offering both clients and members a friendly and individualised experience.

Parents considering introducing their child to the exciting world of entertainment can contact the agency to book in a free information session on 1300 888 611 or via www.bettina.com.au

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

65

How to be a good

’ m u M l o o h c ‘S

By Brooke Evans-Butler

It’s natural to worry when your child starts school. Will they make friends?

Will they be happy? Will they settle in? But are you also worried about your new role as a ‘School Mum’?

I

t is something many of us don’t realise until our child starts school…there is more to being a School Mum than dropping your child off in the morning and picking them up in the

afternoon. Many parents want to be involved in their child’s education but are not sure what to do. For working mums, this can be extra challenging. We look at some easy ways to be helpful and involved.

Effective communication with the teacher and the school is so important, especially if you are a working mum. Even if you drop your child off at school every day, catching the teacher in between other parents wanting to discuss their children can be difficult, so emailing the teacher to arrange a meeting if you have anything important to discuss, or just a quick note to update the teacher on anything regarding your child is a good idea.

Ensure you are contactable. Make sure your contact details are up-to-date. Check your mobile phone periodically during the day or provide a phone number where you can be reached in case your child is sick or injured or if the school needs to contact you.

Make sure you check your child’s bag for newsletters or communication notes regarding any special days, excursions, incursions, assemblies or sports carnivals.

Check early in the year with the teacher about any important school events – such as sports carnivals, assemblies or Mother’s Day morning teas. If possible, organise Leave in advance so you can attend these events. If there are events held on the weekend or After Hours, make the effort to go.

Stay in-the-loop. Some children will tell you every small detail regarding their day. However, with some, getting details about their day will be like getting blood out of stone.

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Online community A School Mums Facebook group can be an effective way to keep involved and up to date with what is happening at your child’s school. It can be a great way for mums to remind others about the upcoming sports carnival, check what time the assembly starts, ask advice about costume or uniform requirements on special days or even to ask if someone can take a photo of your child if you are going to miss a merit award or special assembly.

If you have a child who says ‘I don’t remember’ when you ask about their day, it might be worth contacting the teacher. Ask if they can give you a heads-up about any special themes in the classroom for the term, or any notable activities that will be occurring so you can ask your child specific questions to prompt conversation about their day.

Help out. Assisting as a parent helper in the classroom is a great way to see what your child’s school day is like. So if you can get a morning off work, or get someone to babysit younger children, it is a worthwhile task. However, if you cannot get the time to assist in the classroom there are other

NOTE: A school Facebook group is not for bullying, complaining about the teacher or the school or discussing anything else inappropriate. However, a well-managed group like this can be a handy and supportive tool.

things you can do – volunteer to do some things after hours or on the weekend, such as doing the class washing or making playdough.

Make an effort to meet the other school mums. If you are not there for school drop-off and pick-up, suggest a class meet up at a local park or play centre so you can put some faces to names.

www.offspringmagazine.com.au

sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

67

SPECIAL FEATURE

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME There are so many reasons parents want their children to take part in a sport – after all, being physically active is important as part of a healthy lifestyle and of course it is fun!

So what sport is best for your child? We look into some popular options to help you make the decision.

BY BROOKE EVANS-BUTLER

SWIMMING

I

t is an exercise that is good for all ages and provides a workout for the whole body - and with our hot summers

and access to indoor swimming pools year-round - swimming is a wonderful sport to consider for your child.

Swimming lessons can teach children how to swim and about water safety (although it is important to note swimming lessons do not replace the need for parents and carers to always supervise children around water).

Most swim schools will start lessons for babies from six months of age, although, you can introduce your baby to the water earlier through some post natal physiotherapy programs, which include activities for mums and bubs.

Swimming can also be a good option for busy families as there are various ways to participate. You can enrol your child for lessons through private lessons at a swim school or at a local pool or leisure centre held after school, on weekends or in

CALISTHENICS

the evening. Many schools run swimming lessons at the local pool (or at the school if they have a pool), or many swim schools offer vacation swimming programs during the school holidays.

Another option if you want your child to

I

f you have an energetic

little performer on your hands, try out calisthenics.

This colourful and exciting sport

have fun, learn about water safety and be

combines gymnastics, ballet, folk

active is the Surf Lifesaving Nipper program.

dance, jazz ballet, apparatus, figure

The program is aimed at children from five

marching, mime and singing. Like

to 13 years old and is offered at surf lifesaving clubs around Australia.

dancing, children are able to take part in concerts and competitions

For details go to www.sls.com.au 68

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

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Many sporting organisations offer a free trial so you can see if the sport will be a good fit for your child

SPECIAL FEATURE

TIP

TIP

If your child is passionate about a sport, it is wonderful to get involved as well. You don’t have to play the sport to be able to support your child – but put in the effort to be interested. Learn the rules of the sport (you might be able to offer assistance keeping score or assisting the coach/trainer). Also help your child practice – whether you are throwing a ball in the backyard or cheering as they show you a new skill, parent encouragement is very important.

MARTIAL ARTS

I

t’s easy to see why many parents enrol their children into some

which is a wonderful opportunity to work hard towards

form of martial arts – not only is it fun and good exercise - it

a goal and take part in the excitement of putting on a

develops self-esteem, confidence and respect and teaches safety

performance. Children can participate from around

skills.

the age of four years old – right into adulthood.

For more information contact the

Some parents will find the life skills that children learn through martial arts very appealing – and some kids just love it for the fun!

Australian Calisthenic Association

Contact your local martial arts centre to see what programs they

www.calisthenicsaustralia.org

offer for children. Many offer programs for children as young as

GYMNASTICS

G

three years old.

Check out: Kanga Karate, www.kangakarate.com Australian Martial Arts and Fitness Academy, www.

ymnastics helps develop coordination, confidence, posture,

australianmartialarts.com.au

agility and strength and is a great boredom buster!

KMA Champion Martial Arts, www.maritalartsforlife.com.au

Gymnastics Australia offers a ‘KinderGym’ program for young

children, right up to programs for adults, including trampoline gymnastics (now, how much fun does that sound!). Check out Gymnastics Australia www.gymnastics.org.au Another great option to consider is Jungle Gym – a fantastic

ATHLETICS

I

f your child has lots of energy to burn, Little Athletics might be the perfect choice! A modified athletic program for children,

facility in Perth offering fun classes to introduce your child to

more than 100,000 children participate in Little Athletics across

gymnastics from the age of three years – such as jumping on

Australia. Suitable for children aged five to 15, children get the

trampolines, swinging on Tarzan ropes and more through their

opportunity to try sprints, hurdles, relays, shot put, javelin, high

age-appropriate and fun obstacle course.

jump, long jump and more. Little Athletics encourages children of

Contacts: Jungle Gym, www.junglegym.com.au Gymnastics Australia, www.gymnastics.org.au www.offspringmagazine.com.au

various abilities to come and achieve their personal best.

Check out www.littleathletics.com.au sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

69

SPECIAL FEATURE

MULTI-SPORTS

NETBALL

M

ulti-sport exercise programs offer exercise programs for young children that enable them to get a taste of

various sports in a fun and age-appropriate way.

N

etball is a non-contact team sport, suitable for children from age five up to adults. Although very popular with

Jungle Sports NSW have various programs –

girls, boys are welcome and encouraged to play as well.

Your child might be shooting goals or playing in

from Jungle Cubs for toddlers, which focusses

an attack or defence role depending on their

on developing coordination and ball skills and

position. Netball is a great game to encourage

for older children- Jungle Soccer, Jungle Rugby

team work and fitness.

and Jungle Multi-Sports, which gives kids a

Go to Netball Australia, www.netball.

taste of a different sport each week, including

com.au for more information.

rugby, AFL, soccer, cricket, basketball, netball,

BASKETBALL

hockey and more! Sports are held indoors, so the kids can participate year round.

B

asketball is a wonderful

For details go to www.junglesports.com.au Ready Steady Go Kids is a preschool sport and

way for children to learn

exercise program, suitable for children from

ball skills and to burn off

two and a half to six years old. Children are

some energy! As an indoor

introduced to soccer, tennis, basketball,

sport, basketball can be

hockey, golf, AFL, rugby, athletics, cricket

played year-round and

and T-ball – so there is little chance they

children of all abilities are

will get bored! The program is held

encouraged. ‘Aussie Hoops’ is a

indoors so children can take part year-

IP T

round, and there are many locations

Get a basketball hoop and ball for your own backyard – and encourage them to shoot some hoops in their own backyard.

throughout the country.

For details go to www.readysteadygokids.com.au

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SPECIAL FEATURE

THE MANY BENEFITS We all know there are many health benefits for children who are physically active – their risk of obesity and associated health problems is reduced, they learn better and they are able to concentrate more. But there are many more pluses for a child taking part in sport including: l Learning how to follow instructions l Being part of a team l Learning how to share and take turns l Learning the importance of practicing something program to introduce children from 5 years old

FOR BABY

to basketball in a fun, modified program.

Go to Basketball NSW for details, www.nswbasketball.net.au

SOCCER

I

f your child loves kicking a ball around the backyard, soccer might be a perfect fit. With the approach ‘Play not Push’, Little

Kickers offers four fun modified programs, suitable for children aged from just 18 months up to seven years.

Although soccer classes are not offered for a small baby, there are many options to introduce your baby to the joys of being active and healthy from a young age. Consider the following: l Mums and bubs yoga l Mums and bubs swimming l Pram walking groups l GymbaROO BabyROO program

For details go to www.littlekickers.com.au

GymbaROO Research shows brain development in early years lays foundation for future learning Modern life bypasses many natural developmental activities associated with optimizing the brain’s capability. GymbaROO is a FUN way to help you nurture the ‘natural’ stages to maximize future learning potential.

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71

SPECIAL FEATURE

AFL

I

f your child is a Sydney Swans fan, they have probably asked to play football. However, before your hair starts to turn

grey thinking about the rough and tumble; check out NAB AFL Auskick. The program introduces boys and girls to Australian Football and aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

For details go to www.aflauskick.com.au

TAKING PART

Taking part in a sport is a great way to get active as part of a healthy lifestyle. Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines recommend: l For children aged 2 to 4 – at least three hours of physical activity per day. l For children aged 5 to 12 – at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. l For children and young people aged 12 to 18 – at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day.

Are your children getting the required amount of physical activity each day? If not, taking part in a sport is a great start.

CRICKET

T

here is a reason cricket is known as a ‘gentleman’s game’ – it highly focusses on the importance of

teamwork and sportsmanship, as well as physical activity, so is a great sport for boys and girls try.

A great introduction to the game is through the MILOin2CRICKET program, which introduces girls and boys from five to eight years old to the game of cricket.

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ANZ Tennis Hot Shots is played at more than 2000 venues around Australia.

SPECIAL FEATURE

FACT

TENNIS

I

f you have a budding tennis player on your hands, ANZ

Tennis Hot Shots is a great way to introduce them to tennis, with a modified game using lighter racquets on a smaller court.

For more information go to www.hotshots.tennis.com.au

There is also the option of joining a local club to play club cricket. Local cricket clubs can become like a family and a child may continue playing at their local club into adulthood.

Indoor cricket is also an option, which is a fun, shorter version of the outdoor game, which uses a softer ball suitable for the indoor court.

AT HOME

Remember to try out some modified versions of sports in your own backyard! Get outside with the family and try: l One-on-one basketball l Backyard cricket l Totem tennis

To find out more go to www.playcricket.com.au

Bali Baby Hire provides a wide range of baby equipment and related services to assist with all your needs for traveling to Bali with babies and young children.

Stocking only high quality brand named products that are clean, safe and comfortable. Bali Baby Hire will make life as easy for you on your holiday in Bali just as it would be in your home.

10% discount on hire items ✔ car seats for Offspring ✔ strollers readers ✔ prams ✔ high chairs ✔ bathtubs ✔ safety bed rails ✔ safety gates ✔ play pens ✔ baby monitors ✔ fun toys and much more Baby sitting, VIP fast track airport service, transfers and tours with car seats fitted also available.

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

73

SPECIAL FEATURE

Fun and learning at GymbaROO Gage-appropriate sessions for babies as young as six weeks up ymbaROO is a parent/child education program which offers

to children aged five, enabling parents to be actively involved in their child’s development.

Children learn more in their first few years that at any other time of their lives. Research has shown that appropriate learning experiences and stimulating activities in these early years can have a positive impact on a child’s entire life. What more, as parents could we possibly ask for?

Above all, GymbaROO is lots of fun. Both children and parents love it. It is very rewarding being actively involved with your child’s development. You will watch them brighten with excitement and participate with enthusiasm, and help them experience the pure joy of learning.

GymbaROO was awarded The Australian Small Business award in December for excellence in Customer Service.

For more information visit www.gymbaroo.com.au

First Aid for You at Home and on the go K

eep a well-stocked first aid kit in the home AND in the car.

Both kits should have child-friendly antiseptic cream for the kids, as most regular brands may be too strong on little skin. It’s also good to have some “character” and waterproof Band-Aids in there as they’re great distraction therapy and will have the child focusing on something other than the injury.

In the kits, have a list of numbers and any allergies your family has. If possible, laminate the sheet so it’s reasonably waterproof.

Nappy bags are must in first aid kits, for any rubbish removal and for when people are feeling like they may throw-up.

If you or the person you’re treating are burnt, instantly cool the burn with gently flowing cold water for up to 20 minutes – or if it’s a child, for a long as is possible.

Visit: www.firstaidforyou.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstaidforyou

GymbaROO Research shows brain development in early years lays foundation for future learning Modern life bypasses many natural developmental activities associated with optimizing the brain’s capability. GymbaROO is a FUN way to help you nurture the ‘natural’ stages to maximize future learning potential.

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Our 2 hour essential First Aid for families course is perfect for parents, grandparents, friends, carers and relatives.

We come to you, 7 days a week, and run sessions for groups of 6 or more.

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Offspring | autumn 2015 | perth

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FOOD & NUTRITION

What would you choose – a plate of fresh, crisp vegetables or a hamburger from a big multinational?

Research shows that for people who eat enough vegetables it has become a habit.

Vegie Vitality

BY KATE BULLEN

I

t’s the food choices we make for ourselves and our children that become lifelong habits.

I think we all agree that eating vegetables is important for our

health. Some vegetables are an ‘acquired’ taste, so I hope to provide some tips which will help you acquire this all-important taste.

According to research from peer-reviewed scientific journals, the top three reasons for people not eating enough vegetables are: 1. Storage – not enough space to keep vegetables in the fridge or cupboard, and vegetables going off and needing to be thrown out.

2. Purchase – frustration with the price and quality of vegetables.

3. Preparation – unsure how to prepare vegetables for eating, or in a way that the taste is appealing.

With this in mind, here are five tips to increase vegetable consumption in your household:

1. Vegetables as an entrée My children currently have a love of raw baby carrots – washed, but not peeled.

Sometimes it’s all about finding the novelty in food. I will often serve up a plate of raw and steamed vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, tomato, capsicum, mushroom, broccoli and beans

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sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

77

FOOD & NUTRITION

Autumn In-Season Vegetables • Beans • Beetroot • Broccoli • Cabbage • Capsicums • Carrots

• Cauliflower • Celery • Cucumber • Eggplant • Kale • Lettuce

• Mushrooms • Radish • Silverbeet, • Onions spinach • Parsnips • Swede • Peas • Sweetcorn • Potatoes kin • Pump

• Sweet potatoes • Tomatoes • Turnip • Zucchini

ing. and can be easily lost during cook Water-soluble vitamins are delicate how on tips few a are vegetables, but here Eating raw is an option for many es: to keep the nutrients in your vegetabl y instead of peeling. Potatoes and bab ible poss r l Scrub vegetables whereve carrots are good examples. es instead of boiling them. l Steam or microwave vegetabl l

Try stir-frying vegetables.

and offer this as the entrée before the rest of their dinner is

2. Vegetables throughout the day

served. This entrée plate of vegetables can be prepared earlier in the day. Another bonus is that it gives parents a bit more time to prepare the main meal.

Vegetable soup is another great entrée as we head into the cooler months and can double as a great lunch the next day.

A tasting plate as a snack is a great way to offer some extra

Mix it up with pumpkin, tomato, carrot or potato and leek soup.

vegetables. Carrots, cucumber and mushroom are some great

Pureed soups work well with children as the texture of lumpy

vegetables to offer alongside cheese, fruit and some wholegrain

soups can be too much.

bread or pasta.

Get Organised label everything!

3. Get the children involved Asking your children what they would like for dinner is a bit like asking if they are ready to go to bed – the answer is probably not going to be what you want to hear. But if you sit down and share with them some of your favourite cookbooks and ask them to choose some new meals to try, then they are more likely to be accepting of new food. When choosing the meals, get the children to include the vegetables that will be with or in the meal.

Another option is to take your children shopping and get them to choose a new vegetable that they would like to try. I know shopping with children can be like torture, so if you have multiple children, consider using this as an opportunity for oneon-one time.

4. Ask your children about vegetables.

Name labels for everything that leaves the house will help kids take better care of their belongings and make you feel very organised.

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The answers might surprise you! I asked my eight and five year old two questions – l

Why are vegetables important?

l

What are your favourite vegetables?

I loved their answers and it was a great conversation starter

about the importance of healthy eating.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

PUMPKIN SOUP Ingredients: l

2 T olive oil

l

1 onion, diced

l

½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground cumin

l l

Pepper to taste

l

700g pumpkin, peeled and dice d 1 carrot, washed and diced

l l l

½ sweet potato, peeled & dice d 500g chicken stock

Method: 1. Heat oil in a large sauc epan over low heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add spices and cook , stirring for 30 seconds. Add pumpkin, carr ot, sweet potato and stock and bring to the boil. 2. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool slightly then blend to smooth puree.

5. Role modelling

snack, think about vegetables!

If you are looking for another reason to increase your family’s vegetable intake, then there are very good environmental reasons - especially if you can improve your storage and

We know that parents who eat a healthy diet are more likely to

preparation of vegetables as there will likely be less wastage.

have children who eat healthily. To add to this, research shows

That is a win for everyone.

that women are more likely to eat more vegetables than men.

Kate Bullen is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and

This makes it even more important that we mums eat vegetables

Mum to three young kids. For more advice from Kate visit

in front of and with our children. So next time you go to grab a

www.dietitianonline.com.au

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79

d e k c a p n o i Act

n u f y l i m fa U B A LI AT CL

G G N A UB C

The entertainment and activities offered at Canggu Club (only 10 minutes from Seminyak) are good, healthy fun, ideally designed for the whole family.

C

anggu Club Bali is an amazing experience for kids and parents alike. The challenge is fitting in the benefits of what the facility has

to offer in just one day!

The whole family can get active with loads of fun activities; or the kids can be left to burn off some energy while Mum relaxes in the Body Temple Spa

Possibly the most exciting part of the centre is Bali’s newest water park – Splash!

outdoor space with mini basketball and air hockey and movies. It caters for children aged 2 to 12.

The Fitness Centre includes a large, air conditioned Gymnasium with new cardio and

and Dad works out in the gym, or has a quiet beer in

fitness machines, free weights and stretching areas

the Club House or poolside.

easily accommodating for 60 persons exercising

The kids can be safely and happily entertained in the Cubby House Kids Club while Mum indulges in some scrumptious “Me” time in the new Body

at the same time, a studio that’s used for Cardio, Strength, Body & Mind Group Classes, a Cycle Studio and a Boxing & TRX Studio.

A great way to start the day can be with some Bounce

Temple Spa and Hair Salon.

Trampolining which is loads of fun, for adults and children. It’s a

Take advantage of the Play Date

fantastic workout and a great activity to enjoy with your children.

Pampering Package and receive

The centre is very clean, safe and well-managed.

two hours free at Cubby House

Upstairs is the Strike 10 Pin Bowling centre, with an air-

when you book a 60 minute

conditioned restaurant and sports bar (complete with pool tables)

Themae Massage.

to sit and enjoy some refreshments amid the 10 Pin Bowling

Incorporating a lovely,

experience. Anyone aged three and above is able to be involved.

relaxing ambience, impeccable

Strike also hosts themed nights, birthday parties, corporate events

service and specially-

and bucks parties.

formulated massage, the Spa

And possibly the most exciting part of the centre is Bali’s newest

utilises facial and beauty treatments that are designed to have you

water park – Splash – which includes brand new, fun and age-

feeling relaxed, energised and rejuvenated.

specific water rides for the whole family.

Parents can relax knowing their children are cared for in a

Entry for the day is Rp300,000 for adults and Rp180,000 for

safe, fun environment in the Cubby House Kids Club, with loads

kids. Bounce Trampoline Centre, Strike 10 Pin Bowling, Body

of activities, two outdoor areas and a great range of toys, dress-

Temple Spa and Cubby House Kids Club are charged separately.

ups, Lego, books and more for the littlies while older children are 80

entertained with MAC computers, games, their own

Offspring | autumn 2015 | sydney

80 Canggu travel_sydney.indd 80

For more information visit www.cangguclub.com www.offspringmagazine.com.au

23/03/2015 5:51 am

y l i m a F fun IKKO N D A T GRAN

BALI

The Grand Nikko hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali, is a stunning hotel to stay with families.

I

f your family is looking for a relaxing, yet luxurious,

although there is a very large day bed

break away where you have everything you need at

and roller bed so children can stay

your fingertips for a fun-filled and enjoyable holiday,

too.

the Grand Nikko Bali is a great choice.

The Villas include 24hour butler

Beachfront on a secluded strip of clean sand and

service, complimentary drinks, a la

water in Nusa Dua, this hotel offers a range of quality

carte breakfast, high tea and cocktail

accommodation for different budgets from

period, daily.

the standard hotel types, to family rooms

The hotel is very well facilitated for

ideally suited to parents with kids in tow,

families with a Jungle Camp kids club

suites for a little more space and luxury, or privacy and pure indulgence with the range of villas.

With interconnecting rooms, the Family Rooms are ideal for parents who’d like the option of separation from the children at

The villas really are spectacular – total opulence for couples wanting some romance and privacy, although there is a very large day bed and roller bed so children can stay too.

times such as to stay up later watching a

which is open until late to take advantage of child-free meals out as a couple, a spot of tennis (there three lit-covered courts), to have a workout in the fitness centre or be pampered in the Day Spa. The Jungle Camp is well-resourced with great play areas both outside and

movie in their own room without disturbing the littlies, yet still

inside, including a trampoline, climbing wall, playground and

close by to enjoy time together.

sandpit, and two levels inside with games, dress ups, DVDs, toys

The Family Rooms are tailored to families, featuring large

and lots of great books. It also offers a wide variety of daily, fun,

LCD TVs in each room, a wide range of satellite channels,

structured activities including competitions, cooking and arts and

X-Boxes, books and goody bags for the children. The children

crafts.

even receive their own sets of mini thongs and T-Shirts!

These rooms are situated close to the pools. And the pools

The Grand Nikko is large enough to get lost in, yet still warm and friendly, with approachable staff and a very relaxed

are magnificent! There are four in total including a children’s

atmosphere. It has eight eateries - including a beachside

paddling pool and a lagoon on a man-made sandy beach, that all

restaurant, a brasserie, Japanese restaurant, Italian restaurant and

connect via a stream which is fun to explore as it weaves under

more – and 24 hour room service.

bridges, through a cave, past the outdoor spa and into the exit point of the huge 30 metre water slide and swim-up bar area.

The Villas all include their own private pools and wonderful outdoor bar and relaxation area. The villas really are spectacular – total opulence for couples wanting some romance and privacy, www.offspringmagazine.com.au

81 Nikko Bali travel.indd 81

It also offers babysitting, money changing, secretarial services, a 24-hour clinic and a shuttle service to the nearby shopping mecca, Bali Collection. It is situated near several golf clubs and near popular surfing spots and water activity regions.

For more information visit www.grandnikkobali.com sydney | autumn 2015 | Offspring

81

23/03/2015 5:53 am

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