Essential Child Issue 1 by Essential Child

PREGNANCY, INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

AUTUMN 2009 THE WRITE READING STUFF: DEBORAH ABELA SNACK FOODS... UNCOVERED!

MY CHILD’S BEHAVIOUR IS WORRYING ME. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT’S FOR DINNER? BROWN RICE! RESULTS MAY VARY! A SIMPLE GUIDE TO PARENTING GUIDES. CARING FOR YOUR BABY’S TEETH. OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

www.essentialchild.com.au

Parent resources for guiding children’s behaviour by Dr

Louise Porter, child psychologist

Children are people too 4th edition In this book, you will gain skills in acknowledging children’s achievements, without rewarding them and teaching children to consider others. When they lose control of their own behaviour, parents can help them to calm down, without punishing them for becoming upset. Children’s self-esteem and social needs are also discussed. $30 DVD: Guiding children’s behaviour In four chapters, this DVD describes the differences between controlling discipline and a guidance approach, shows how to acknowledge rather than reward children, and how to teach self-control rather than punish children’s thoughtless behaviour. A Q&A section answers parents’ common questions $40

To order go to www.louiseporter.com.au or phone 0417 080 449

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PREGNANCY, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

AUTUMN 2009 THE WRITE READING STUFF: DEBORAH ABELA SNACK FOODS... UNCOVERED!

MY CHILD’S BEHAVIOUR IS WORRYING ME. WHAT CAN I DO? WHAT’S FOR DINNER? BROWN RICE! RESULTS MAY VARY! A SIMPLE GUIDE TO PARENTING GUIDES. CARING FOR YOUR BABY’S TEETH. OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

www.essentialchild.com.au

Essential Child Issue 1, Autumn 2009 Editor Sarah Rogers Early Childhood Consultant Pauline Pryor Layout & Design Sam Pryor Contributing Writer Deb Abela Advertising enquiries: Sarah Rogers, phone 0410 338 201 ads@essentialchild.com.au Contact: phone 02 6656 2109 fax 02 6656 2131 info@essentialchild.com.au PO Box 1587, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450 ABN: 47 491 617 953 Essential Child is published four times a year by Essential Child. No other parties or individuals have any financial interest in this magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Content within this magazine is information only and not necessarily the views of the editor. It does not purport to be a substitute for professional health and parenting advice. Readers are advised to seek a doctor for all medical and health matters. The publisher and authors do not accept any liability whatsoever in respect of an action taken by readers in reliance on the recommendations set out in this magazine. All reasonable efforts have been made to trace copyright holders.

Editor’s Letter. Welcome to the first edition of Essential Child, the Mid-North Coast’s very own free magazine for parents of young children! Our team is very excited about our launch. We are all from Coffs Harbour and have backgrounds in Early Childhood education, journalism, marketing and graphic design. Most importantly, we know what matters to parents because we are all parents ourselves! We were inspired to create Essential Child by our passion for early childhood matters and by the media and resources available to parents in metropolitan areas. We realised that parents in regional areas were missing out on a lot of great writing and information about child care and development, current issues affecting families and resources vital for bringing up children, so we’re committed to bringing these to you. We promise interesting and balanced articles, practical advice and inspiring true-life stories, as well as a few giggles along the way. Published every three months (for now!), Essential Child is free and can be found in many of the places you probably already visit on a regular basis, such as your child’s preschool, your medical centre or favourite children’s retailer. So keep your eye out for us! We would love to hear what you think of the magazine and welcome your suggestions, stories, ideas – anything you would like to share - so please drop us a line at letters@essentialchild.com.au You might even pick up a great prize simply by telling us what you think! (See page 3 for details) I also ask that you support our advertisers who make Essential Child possible. You will find some exclusive offers through out this edition, so be sure to take advantage of those. I hope you enjoy reading the first Essential Child. We look forward to bringing you many more editions. Sarah

Inside this Issue: 2

Letters to the Editor + Team Profiles

Product Reviews + Out of the mouths of babes

4 5

My child’s behaviour is worrying me. What can I do? The Write Reading Stuff. by Deborah Abela

What’s For Dinner? Brown Rice!

Snack Foods... Uncovered! + Caring for your baby’s teeth.

Water The Drink For Children

Passive Smoking How Does It Affect Your Child

Book Reviews + Local Events

Results May Vary! A simple guide to parenting guides.

Balancing Act Kathryn McKinnon of Charlipop Kids tells us what it means to be a ‘mummy-preneur’ essential child

Letters to the Editor

letters@essentialchild.com.au Dear Essential Child, My name is AJ and I am eight months old. I wanted to write to you to tell you about my experiences with water and swimming. With up to 40 degree temperatures this summer, there really has been nothing worth doing except getting in the water and I have loved it! Mum first took me in the pool during mothers group at my friend Charlie’s house. She wasn’t sure if I would like it, but what’s not to like? It was like a giant bath, plus all my friends were there. Fantastic! Since then, we have been to the pool nearly every day! Of course, not all my water experiences have been fun. I was having a wash in the laundry sink a few weeks ago (saves Mum and Dad’s backs!) when I slipped under the water. Daddy grabbed my arm but it slipped and I was under for about two seconds. Mum said it felt like a lifetime, which seems a little dramatic to me. Anyway, Dad pulled me right out of the water and tipped me upside down while Mum whacked my back. I don’t know what they thought they were doing! I was fine! Cold and dizzy from being upside down of course, but otherwise OK. I got back in the sink, gave them both a reassuring smile and got back to the business of sucking on the flannel. My parents can be very strange

Write To Us We’d love to hear your feedback or stories. Please email letters@ essentialchild.com.au or write to: Letters, PO Box 1587, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450

sometimes. The next night when I got in the sink there was a rubber mat under my bum. A bit uncomfortable, but hey, as long as there is a flannel to suck on, I don’t mind what I have to endure. To calm nerves and build confidence (Mum and Dad’s, not mine!), we started swimming lessons today. There were lots of kids in the pool, most of them with their daddies. Mum thinks it’s nice that it’s a ‘Dad’ thing to do, and I think so too. Our instructor, Rosemary, was very nice and liked to have a cuddle, but she also liked to push me and my new friends under the water! It was a bit bewildering, but I didn’t mind it too much. Dad was a bit scared and tried to only pretend to put me under when he thought Rosemary wasn’t looking, but she saw him and made him do it properly. He is such a scaredy-cat, but Rosemary and I made him feel brave and we did it a few times. Mum just sat on the side of the pool, taking 106 photos when she wasn’t covering her eyes during the scary bits. I am off for lunch and a nap now. I am exhausted!! All this swimming really takes it out of you. AJ

The writer of the best letter published in the next issue will receive this beautiful organic Egyptian cotton fruit tote from Bay Bee Bliss, valued at $49. www.baybeebliss.com.au

Dear Essential Child, I had one of those ‘der’ moments recently when I realised a big mistake I made with my daughter’s food. Because I remember being forced to eat my vegetables when I was a child, I was determined not to do this to my children. So when my daughter told me she didn’t like something I would tell her that she didn’t have to eat it, and I didn’t give that food to her again. And guess what? She became a fussy eater. When our son came along and the same thing happened I again said that he didn’t have to eat something he said he didn’t like, but I continued to offer it each time we had it. And ‘der’!. He likes all vegetables, even brussel sprouts! We live and learn! Amanda, Coffs Harbour

Team Profiles Pauline Pauline is an Early Childhood teacher with more than 30 years experience in schools, preschools and childcare centres. During recent years, she gained a masters degree in early childhood education, as well as qualifications and experience in adult training and development. She is passionate about the early years, and she is in her element telling stories to preschoolers. She lives with her husband in Emerald Beach where they raised their two children. They are the proud grandparents of two little girls.

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Sarah Sarah’s background is in writing, communications and marketing. She has a firm grasp of the English language and its uses and can often be found crossing out apostrophes on fruit market signage. Sarah enjoys studying, when she finds the time, and is completing a media communication degree. As a new mum, she is very interested in early childhood matters and is excited to be able to share resources with the parents of the mid-North Coast. Sarah lives with her husband and their ten-month old daughter.

Sam Sam is a talented graphic designer and digital artist who quite simply loves his work. With two bachelor degrees in Fine Art and Visual Communication, Sam has a solid academic background, as well as years of experience in print and web design. Though not normally seen more than a metre from his laptop, Sam managed to go ‘offline’ for 9 months in 2007 to travel the world with his fiancée. They are now the doting parents of a fivemonth old daughter.

Things We Love

Out of the mouths of babes

Cuddledry Baby Towel

Just before Christmas I overheard one of my daughter’s 4 year-old friends say “If you be‘s naughty, god tells Santa”. Kylie, Emerald Beach

We profile some of our favourite products.

In our house, my husband does bath time. Every night, there is a procession of towels strewn across the house. “Where’s Stage Three Towel?” I hear him ask nine month old AJ as they get ready for a bath. She never seems to remember where she left it. Packing for a recent holiday, there was a moment of panic as Stage One Towel could not be located. “Can’t we just use the towels at the hotel?” I asked, thoughtlessly. “No,” came the indignant reply. “We need the one with the hood!” This type of towel mania is the inspiration behind the gorgeous Cuddledry.

When my daughter (5) returned from preschool one day she announced; “When I grow up I’m going to be a teacher at my preschool”. “What a good idea”, I said. “Do you think Melissa and Sue (her teachers) will still be there?” “No” she replied, “They’ll be dead!”

Made from organic, unbleached cotton and bamboo fibre, Cuddledry is a silkysoft, apron-style towel which makes bath time easier by keeping your hands free for bathing your baby, while keeping you dry. Cuddledry fastens around your neck, then when the bath is finished, you simply lift baby out of the bath, hold her against you naturally and wrap the towel around her. There is even a little hood so your baby is cocooned, warm and dry. It took a while to convince Mr Rogers that the Cuddledry could replace his entire towel system, but he gave it a go. The super absorbent fibre meant that they only needed the one towel and AJ was dried snuggling in Daddy’s arms. She loved it, but Mr Rogers was not so easily impressed. He begrudgingly admitted “it’s very soft” but when pushed, he confessed that he would in fact like to use it for his own bath time! If only the hood would fit over his head. Available online and from some retailers, the towel is one of a range of products for babies and children of all ages. Visit www.cuddledry.com.au to check them all out.

YOU COULD WIN! To celebrate the launch of Essential Child, we are excited to offer a fantastic freebie! Our lovely friends at Jujube have given us a beautiful Mel Lim designed wall graphic, ‘Hare Hopping’, valued at approx AU$85, to giveaway to one lucky reader.

BLIK WALL GRAPHICS Blik Wall Graphics, from Jujube, are self-adhesive wall decals that can easily transform the look of a living space or bedroom in minutes. They affix to any smooth, flat surface such as a wall, window, mirror, ceiling, tabletop or floor. Choose your space, plan the design you’d like to make, and literally, just peel and stick. And when you’re tired of your design, say after years, a month, maybe a day - the decals are removable.

Write and tell us on the back of an envelope what you would like to read about in Essential Child and we will put you in the draw to win. Address to , PO Box 1587, Coffs Harbour, 2450 or letters@essentialchild (please enter “Blik Comp” in the email subject). Closes May 30. See the blik wall graphics range at www.jujube.co.nz - a flat fee of NZ$12 postage to Australia applies Please Note: Graphic in photo may use more than one packet.

Son (5), when having fun at the beach with his (quite youthful) grandmother, put his arm around her shoulder and said: “You’re a funny old dear, aren’t you”! When son (4) was heard to use a swear word towards his younger brother, his father suggested he ‘find another word’’. After some thought son asked “Is ‘doomby’ OK?” Dad kept a straight face as he agreed that it was OK. Then son turned to his brother and said crossly, ”You doomby head!” Son (4) had put too much food into his mouth, and started to gag. When I suggested he spit out the food into a proffered tissue, he looked up at me and said: “Thank you for saving my life” Carpentry had been introduced at preschool, with real hammers. One three-year-old announced: “This hammer doesn’t work”. Another preschool quote: Boy (4) asked “Is that the teachers’ toilet?” When told that it was, he replied “I know why you have that one – your bums are too big for these ones!” , pointing to the small children’s toilets. When my daughter saw her friend sucking her hair she warned; “Stop it! You’ll get fur balls!” Send your quotes to letters@essentialchild.com.au

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My child’s behaviour is worrying me. What can I do? U

when you are in a different part of the house.

nderstanding why children behave the way they do can be a baffling part of parenting. When a child misbehaves, parents can feel exasperated, embarrassed, guilty or angry, and unsure of what to do.

• However, you can suggest they do something else until they feel better – this should be something they like to do, and should be not used as punishment, just as time to regain composure. Think of the things you do when you need to calm down – maybe you go for a walk, read a book, pat the dog, talk to someone, have a cry. Children can be helped to identify things they can do that help them. It’s a good idea to talk to children about this when they are not upset.

South Australian child psychologist Dr Louise Porter, in her book ‘Children are People Too: a parent’s guide to young children’s behaviour’, offers some help for parents in understanding what is going on. She offers parents some very practical ideas for helping children learn more acceptable ways of behaving. Porter reminds us that learning acceptable behaviours is a developmental task like any other. Just like learning to walk or read, the process happens gradually, in stages. So we shouldn’t expect children to know ‘the rules’ after one explanation. And just as we wouldn’t punish a toddler for falling over, we don’t need to punish children who make behavioural mistakes. In fact Porter suggests that about three quarters of the disruptive behaviours exhibited by children are a reaction to the methods used by adults to control behaviour! So worrying behaviours could be the result of something you are doing! But don’t despair,things can get better. What parents can do, rather than punish children, is to use their mistakes as an opportunity to teach more appropriate ways of behaving. Sound too hard? Well in reality, Porter’ s suggestions are very simple, and because they are gentle and nurturing, it feels right to use them. The aim is to help children learn better ways of behaving when they are feeling frustrated or angry. Here are the basics: • Be assertive, using three-part statements: I understand that you... but I need... So what can we do about that? o Acknowledge children’s feelings. Let them know you understand how they are feeling by saying something like: “I know you are angry because you wanted to play with that toy,” or “I know that you are having fun doing that”. o Describe the effects of the behaviour on you or others. Eg. “But Jamie is

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• Aim for the child to eventually know that strong emotions don’t last forever, that he will feel better after a while, and that you are there to support him while he recovers. Children don’t automatically know this – they seem to believe when they are sad that they will be sad forever! using that toy now” or “but the baby is asleep and I don’t want to wake her yet.” o State what you want to happen, or solve the problem together. eg. “You can have a turn when Jamie’s finished” or “So I’ll help you find something else to play with until she wakes up” or “So what can we do?” • Soothe children when their behaviour shows that they are overwhelmed with emotion, by nurturing them. Bring him in close to you. Hold your child’s hand, cuddle him, sooth him, let him cry for as long as it takes to feel better, or encourage him to help you do something while he regains his composure. Think of times when you have been upset, and how a hug or a kind word from someone can help, even if they can’t solve your problem. Rather than thinking he is “just attention-seeking’ and then withdrawing our attention, recognise that he may really need some comfort from you to help him recover. • Avoid “time out”. Don’t send him away to recover by himself. Isolating hysterical children can lead to fear, damaged rooms, and lots of noise that causes you more stress. Besides, the child may forget why they are there, and nothing will be learnt. You can’t teach more considerate behaviour

• Use the names of feelings when you are talking to your child or reading books. Ask how they think a character in a book is feeling, and what they think the character could do to feel better. Children can learn to use words rather than actions to explain their feelings. • Be realistic in your expectations. Avoid shopping, for example, when your child is tired or hungry. • Forget about star charts, stickers, and bribes. They just create more work for you. • Avoid empty praise. Just as it would be inappropriate to say “good girl” or “good boy” to a waiter in a restaurant, it is more respectful of children to thank them or simply acknowledge the things your child does that you like. And remember to tell him often how much you love him just for being himself. These strategies really work. Just like in the shampoo commercial, “it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen”, so be patient, and enjoy the results. For more details visit www.louiseporter.com.au [PJP]

The Write Reading Stuff. by Deborah Abela I

have a story to tell.

When my partner and I visit my motherin-law in the country, she always lines me up to speak to the schoolkids about books. The town where she lives has a population of 600 and is five hours from the city, so author visits are a rare thing. I was retelling the story of my first novel, about a young girl who is sent to the country for the school holidays. She is convinced that she’ll be condemned

“Helping kids to become excited about reading is as simple as choosing the right book” to weeks of boredom, dusty paddocks and cow manure. I was playing up my main character’s plight when my partner overheard a boy whisper to his friend, ”I’m never going to the country”. His friend turned to him and said, “You live in the country”. The first boy slapped his forehead, smiled and said, ”Oh yeah”. This is why I love what I do. Story has the ability to lift us out of our world. To take us on a journey. To entertain and amuse us. But we all know it can do much more than that. Part of my job as a kids’ author, as I see it, is to encourage a love of books and reading. Among other things, reading develops kids’ creativity and vocabulary, their ability to grasp concepts and ideas, to interpret the world around them, to have empathy for others and knowledge of human behaviour. Our future leaders are among these little people and it is vital that they are good readers as well as good humans. I believe a love of reading can help achieve this. Reading to kids from a very young age can help foster a child’s confidence, as well as simply being a fun thing to do that helps develop a bond between kids and adults. Stories can help kids deal with problems and fears and help them cope with and understand themselves, others and their place in the world. Kids love a good story, but not every book is for every kid. I work one day a

week in a library at a local public school and I love it. When a child tells me they don’t like to read, I can’t help but take that as a challenge. “You just haven’t found the right book yet,” I tell them. ”Come with me.” I recently met a boy who had been a troubled reader but whose reading had vastly improved with the help of dedicated teachers. He’d fallen into a crowd of kids who didn’t like books. I stopped him in the library one day and asked why he hadn’t borrowed a book yet. He shrugged and said there was nothing for him. “Come with me,” I said and led him to various shelves. He knocked back my suggestions until we found one that he thought seemed okay. He borrowed the book and the next day fronted up at the library, his face almost panicked. “That book. I loved it”, he said. “Are there any more?” I said, “Sure. Come with me.” The trick is to try to find out what interests a child – silly stories, ghost stories, cars, sports, spies – then lead them to a book pitched at their reading level that will delight them. When I search for books for kids, I think carefully about that child, where their interests lie, what makes them laugh, what they find fascinating, what grabs their imagination. I had a wonderful lecturer in teachers’

college who taught us that reading for interest is the key to developing keen readers. It doesn’t matter if it is a car manual, comic or recipe book, each offers an opportunity to create keen readers. I was almost mobbed in the library this week when I unveiled to a group of Year 3 boys the latest graphic novels we had just bought. These boys, some of whom were very reluctant readers, were so excited over these books that told stories with comic-book pictures! Last year, the government began conducting literacy and numeracy tests in schools across the country as part of NAPLAN – the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy – for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Many teachers I spoke to found their students had adequate literacy skills but were lacking in their narrative skills. Kids need to explore writing on all levels, including narrative. It allows kids to find an outlet for selfexpression, to play with words, images and explore what happens to characters facing dilemmas. When I run writing workshops for kids, many of them tell me at the beginning of a session that writing stories is too hard, but soon find they have so much more to say than could fit in one lesson. Deborah Abela is the author of the Max Remy Superspy books and co-author of the Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series.

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What’s For Dinner? Brown Rice!

Brown rice is often overlooked, but its nutty texture makes it the ideal choice for salads and as a side to vegetarian dishes. Brown rice is simply white rice that hasn’t been milled to remove the outer husk, so by retaining the whole grain, you keep the valuable nutrients too. High in protein, fibre, B vitamins and antioxidants, with a low glycaemic index, eating brown rice can help lower your risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Try these delicious recipes and you’ll find brown rice makes a regular appearance on your family’s dinner table.

Salmon fillets with Brown rice, spinach and stir-fried shiitake almond salad * mushrooms and broccolini. This is a special dish with an emphasis on texture. It is very versatile – use any fish you like, cooked in any way (crumbed flathead is a nice variation), and any vegies. It’s nutritious and tasty for the children, while impressive enough to serve the next time you have guests for dinner. Serves 4 4 salmon fillets, skin on 2 eggs 1/2 tbs soy sauce 2 tbs canola oil 6 spring onions, finely sliced on the diagonal 1 tbs shredded ginger 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 300g fresh shiitake mushrooms 4-5 stems of broccolini, trimmed and roughly chopped 2 tbs oyster sauce Cooked brown rice to serve

Method 1. Beat eggs with soy, season with pepper. Heat a non-stick frypan over medium heat, add half the oil and, when hot, pour in eggs, swirling pan to coat base. 2. Cook until omelette is set. Sprinkle with a little spring onion. Slide out onto a board and cool slightly. Roll, then cut into shreds. 3. Return pan to heat, add half remaining oil, ginger and garlic, and fry for 1 minute. 4. Add broccolini, stirfry for a few minutes, then add mushrooms, stir-fry until wilted

1 tbsp butter 1 brown onion, chopped finely 2 tsp ground turmeric 2 tsp ground cumin 1 ½ cups of brown rice 7 cups of water 2 chicken stock cubes, crumbled (or you could replace water and stock cubes with 1L of ready-made chicken stock, with an additional 3 cups of water.) 80g baby spinach, chopped ½ cup green olives, sliced 2 tbsn capers, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 long fresh red chillies, sliced thinly Salt and freshly ground black pepper ½ cup toasted flaked almonds

Method 1. Melt butter in saucepan over med-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes or until soft. Add turmeric and cumin and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in rice. Add water and stock cubes (or liquid stock and water) and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and set aside, covered for 5 minutes. Transfer to colander to cool completely. 2. Place rice in a large bowl. Add spinach, olives, capers, garlic and chillies; stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper. 3. Sprinkle over almonds to serve. Great with fish or lamb cutlets. * Thanks to Real Living magazine for this recipe.

5. Add oyster sauce and stir to combine. 6. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a non-stick frypan until just smoking. Panfry salmon, skin side down first, for 3-4 mins on each side or until just cooked through. 7. Place rice in a serving dish and top with salmon, broccolini, mushrooms and omelette. 8. Garnish with remaining spring onion, and serve with rice.

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We’d love to hear you favourite healthy recipies! Send them to us at letters@essentialchild.com.au

Snack Foods... Uncovered! E

veryday there is a new product on the market targeting children, and often using nutrition claims to try to sell the product. But they are not always as healthy as the manufacturers would like us to believe. Australia’s consumer watchdog Choice has revealed that some popular snack foods can pack in a lot of salt, sugar and fat (including the dangerous, arteryclogging trans fats) despite labels such as “all natural”, “low GI” and “Real fruit”. Choice reports that Nutella, for instance, contains far too much fat and sugar to be considered a good snack food for children. Hazelnuts are well down on the list of ingredients, at only 13%. Tiny Teddy dippers and cheese spreads with flavoured crackers similarly received the ‘thumbs down’. The Go Natural Berry Pieces in Yoghurt that Choice found in the health food aisle were actually more like confectionery, with the main ingredients being sugar and fat. The “real fruit” claimed on the label was made from fruit concentrate and the ‘delicious tangy yoghurt’ was only yoghurt powder, with not a live bacterium in sight, and far from ‘natural’. On the topic of yoghurt, check the sugar content on fruit yoghurts marketed to children. One brand claims ‘only 6gm of sugar’ but the serving size is 60gm. 10% sugar is a very high level!

• Avoid using a bottle as a dummy or pacifier.

Easy ideas • Real, unprocessed cheese with or without wholemeal biscuits or rice crackers • Fresh fruit or fruit salad or a cup of tinned fruit • Dried fruit • Vegetable sticks such as carrot, celery, cucumber, capsicum with or without dip, salsa or hummus • Sandwich (preservative-free bread) with filling such as cheese, peanut butter, vegemite, banana • Slice of raisin bread, fruit loaf or fruit bun • Plain, fruit or pumpkin scones with butter • Pancake or pikelet (add mashed banana to the mixture for a change) • Small can baked beans • A cup of Mini Wheats breakfast cereal or Fruity Bix (avoid sugarladen cereals such as Fruit Loops, Nutrigrain, Coco Pops and Milo cereal) • Half a cooked corn cob

Be wary about muesli bars too – they aren’t as healthy as you might think. They can be loaded with sugar and saturated fat. Choice judged Kellogg’s Nutrigrain bars to be among the worst.

• Corn or rice cakes with peanut butter (check that the label actually lists trans fats as zero), mashed banana, vegemite or cheese

Some natural food colourings can cause problems for sensitive children. Yellow colour tartrazine that is used to colour chips and biscuits can, for instance, affect children who suffer from asthma. So “no artificial colouring” is not a guarantee that the food is good for children.

• Real yoghurt with fruit

What to do?

• Check the labels and watch the ‘serving size’. This varies across products and can disguise how much sugar and fat are actually in the product.

The easiest way to ensure that you are providing nutritious snacks for your children is to avoid highly processed foods. Choose more fruit and vegetables, real fruit with plain yoghurt instead of sugary, flavoured desserts, and real cheese. [PJP]

Caring for your baby’s teeth.

• Half an English muffin

• Buy items such as cheese and yoghurt in bulk and put portions into small containers. You will save money as well as being confident about what your child is actually eating.

Sources: North coast Area Health Service dietician, Choice, 2007

• If your baby needs comforting between regular feedings, at night or during naps, fill a bottle with cool water or give the baby a clean dummy. • Never put sugary products on dummies. • Don’t let babies fall asleep while sucking on bottles filled with milk, juice or sweet liquids. • Begin brushing a baby’s teeth twice a day when the first tooth appears, using either a clean soft cloth or a baby’s toothbrush with a small head and soft, rounded bristles, and plain water. Clean and massage the gums in the areas that remain toothless. • Begin flossing gently when all the baby teeth have appeared, usually by the age of two. • Keep a set of spoons for your baby’s use only. Sharing spoons or tasting your baby’s food with the same spoon can transfer decaycausing bacteria to your child. Wash a dropped dummy under running tap water – don’t clean it in your mouth. • Help your baby develop good eating habits early by choosing sensible nutritious snacks. Avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar. • If the local water supply does not contain fluoride then ask a dentist how children should take it. • Visits to a dentist should start by a child’s first birthday. Source: Dr. Mehri Eshraghi DMD, BDS, DPH

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Water

The Drink For Children By Childcare and Children’s Health

ater, and to a more limited extent, milk, are the only drinks children need to stay hydrated and healthy. Adequate hydration is particularly important in children, who can quickly fall ill when dehydrated.

Why water is best Water is required by all humans to aid digestion and eliminate body waste, to allow the body to regulate its own temperature and to prevent dehydration. Children can be at higher risk of dehydration than adults, in part because they are less effective at perspiring and because their bodies generate more heat during exercise. Children also often ignore or do not notice the warning signs of dehydration (such as headaches, irritability or feeling dizzy or tired). Dehydration in children can rapidly deteriorate into heat exhaustion, heat stroke or more serious illnesses. Children need to be reminded and encouraged to drink adequate amounts of water each day. Milk is also an important drink for children as it supplies a large percentage of children’s daily calcium requirements,but water should be the main source of hydration for children.

$15 Family Portraits

The problem with sweet drinks The term ‘sweet drinks’ includes soft drinks and cordials, flavoured milks, flavoured mineral waters, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juices. With an ever-increasing variety of these drinks available on the market, it is easy for children to be enticed away from the best drink for them – water.

more than six hours, urine that looks darker and smells stronger than usual, a dry, parched mouth and lips and no tears when crying. If children complain of not liking the taste of water, try: • Adding slices of lemon or orange or a sprig of mint to water. • Freezing small pieces of chopped fruit in ice-blocks and adding these to water at snack and mealtimes.

Not only are sweet drinks unnecessary, their consumption can lead to a number of health problems in children, including excess weight gain, tooth decay, diarrhoea, malnutrition and reduced appetite or fussy eating.

If you do chose to include some sweet drinks in your family’s eating plan:

Encouraging water drinking

• Try to choose fruit juices that are 100% juice and contain some fibre.

Children should always have unlimited access to safe drinking water. When children see other family members, particularly their parents drinking water, they are more likely to see water as a normal and acceptable drink. • Teach children to drink before they feel thirsty. By the time a child tells you they are thirsty, they are already partially dehydrated. • Provide water for children to drink before, during and after play, and with all meals and snacks. • Be vigilant for any signs of dehydration. Warning signs include tiredness, dizziness, irritability, not urinating or having a dry nappy for

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• Avoid keeping sweet drinks in the house, water down when offered, and limit to one small glass per day.

This Parent Fact Sheet is available in different community languages and can be downloaded from the Early Childhood Connections website www.ecconnections.com.au Sourced from: Childcare and Children’s Health http://www.rch.org.au/ccch/ resources.cfm?doc_id=10887

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PEST CONTROL Grafton – Coffs Harbour – Dorrigo – Nambucca

Highly qualified professional photographer trained to work with children Opportunity to purchase from obligationfree packages at reduced prices. View your digital images on the day. Reprints and CD also available.

Phone Possums’ Den on 6652 5066 by 15th May to take advantage of this opportunity. All proceeds go to the preschool for toys and equipment . Possums’ Den is a community-based, not-for-profit centre funded by NSW DoCS.

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21/04/2009 10:34:13 PM

Passive Smoking

How Does It Affect Your Child? By Childcare and Children’s Health

assive smoking is the inhalation of environmental tobacco smoke – that is breathing in ‘other peoples’ cigarette smoke. Exposure to passive smoking places children’s health at risk of the following conditions: • Chest infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia • Ear infections • Asthma and more serious attacks of asthma • Irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and airways • A higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) • Dental decay.

What can you do to try to keep your child safe from passive smoking? If you are unable to quit smoking, try to introduce some of the following strategies to reduce harm to your child • Set up a ‘smoke-free’ environment’ in your family home. Make it a rule for yourself and your visitors that everyone smokes outside away from children. • Try not to smoke in front of your child – remember you are your child’s earliest teacher and that your child will copy your behaviour. • Never smoke in the family car. Ask your passengers to do the same. In some Australian states it is now illegal to smoke in a car where children are present.

Two key messages to remember

Children who are exposed to passive smoking also have an increased risk of lung disease, lung cancer and heart disease as adults.

• Every cigarette you smoke is damaging to your child’s health. Giving up cigarettes is one of the best things you as a parent can do for your child’s health and wellbeing.

New research suggests that children are only safe when cared for in completely smoke-free environments, a home with parents who refrain from smoking both inside and outside the family home.

• It is difficult to quit smoking because the nicotine in cigarettes is powerfully addictive. Help is available to address the challenges of quitting, if you make the decision to stop smoking.

Help to STOP smoking is available • Seek help from people experienced in the problems of giving up smoking such as your local doctor, pharmacist, community health nurse or child and family health nurse • Contact your local helpline

QUIT – 13 78 48 • Access help through the internet at: www.smokinghelpline.com.au or www.quit.org.au (Victoria), www.quittas.org.au (Tasmania), www.quitsa.org.au (South Australia), www.quitwa.com (Western Australia), www.quitnow.info.au (Australian Government The National Tobacco Campaign).

Advertise With Us! Advertising in the Essential Child Magazine allows you to get your message out to thousands of families within the Mid-North Coast region. Essential Child offers full page and fractional ads within the magazine and on the back page. We can design an ad for you if needed, we can also help you write copy. For more information you can download our Media Kit from our website www.essentialchild.com.au.

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To contact us directly: E-mail: info@ essentialchild.com.au Call Sarah on: 0410 338 201

Call now to book your ad for the next issue.

essential child

18/04/2009 10:50:05 PM

Book Reviews by Children’s Author, Deborah Abela. Author of Max Remy Superspy, Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) with world famous Johnny Warren and The Remarkable Secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen www.deborahabela.com

Stopwatch, Book 1: The Land of Kur by Sally Morgan and Ambelin, Blaze and Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Walker Books)

The Locket of Dreams by Belinda Murrell (Random House Australia) Age 8+ Fiction

Tom is told by his grandpa not to play with his stopwatch, but the temptation is too great and he is sucked into a world of green monsters called Meedon, small interfering bilby-like creatures and frightening clown-like figures called Mimocks. Tom is taken in by the Meedon and asked to fight various battles on their behalf and discovers that he isn’t the only one in his family to have travelled to these monster-filled lands.

When Sophie falls asleep wearing a locket that belonged to her great, great, great grandmother, Charlotte Mackenzie, she is transported back to 1858. She enters this world as if she were a ghost. Flying over fields, lochs and the beautiful grounds of her ancestors. Sophie watches over Charlotte as a child, spending blissful days with her family, until misfortune strikes twice and a selfish uncle and aunt make a decision that will see Charlotte taken away from everything she ever loved.

This book is fast-paced and entertaining, with very funny moments as Tom navigates his way through this strange new world, relying on his newfound bravery and, surprisingly to him, his grandpa’s wise, old sayings.

This is a well-told story that evokes the rugged beauty of both Scotland and outback Australia in the 1850’s. With each visit to the past, Sophie and the reader are drawn further into the unfolding mystery of Charlotte’s life.

Age 8+ Fiction

The Horrible Science of Everything

Mischief Afoot

by Nick Arnold and Tony De Saulles (Scholastic Books)

Age 8-12

8+ NON FICTION With its eye popping bright green cover, this book will delight the junior scientist. It is packed with fascinating facts about everything from the ‘Brain-Boggling Big Bang’ to ‘Bloodthirsty bugs’ and ‘The Scary Solar System’. For example, the blue whale is the biggest animal that has ever lived and has a heart as heavy as a car and the Australian red back male spider somersaults into the female’s mouth so she can eat him. Every page is filled with cheeky illustrations and crafty takes on science. But there is a sobering thought: the book reminds us that “even after 250 years of scientific sorting, scientists reckon that 97% of all living things are unknown to science!”

essential child

by Moya Simons (Walker Books)

This is the third book in a series about young sleuths who run the Walk Right In Detective Agency. The circus arrives in Milk Bay and when a performer disappears at the same time as the circus’ takings, the young detectives embark on a mission to find out where they’ve both gone. But it’s not a simple case of theft and with the help of a local lawyer, they uncover the truth, as well as solving a few cases on the side. Moya Simons has a lovely voice and her characters are warm and full of energy and daring. The story moves quickly and at 127 pages is a humorous, engaging book for independent readers who like solving mysteries.

Mark your diary! Events on the Mid-North Coast

3 May 10.30am - 3pm Japanese Childrens’ Day Festival 6648 4840 10 May Mothers Day in the Gardens, Botanic Gardens, Coffs Harbour, 6648 4188 15-17 May Coffs Harbour Show, Coffs Harbour Showground, 6648 2883 17 May 11am - 3pm International Family Day, Girl Guide Hall, Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour Last Wednesday of the month 1pm Free lunch time discussions at the Botanic Gardens Cafe. Bring your lunch or buy coffee and cake at the Garden Cafe. Bookings 6648 4896 or 6648 4861 Wednesday May 27th - Mangroves of the Solitary Islands Marine Park Wednesday June 24th - Endangered native plants - Alex Floyd. Wednesday July 29th - Eucalypts Barry Kemp. Sunday May 31st 9am-3pm Emerald Beach Community Fair Beach Reserve, Emerald Beach First Wednesday of each month, starting Wednesday 3rd June 10am Pram Walks at the Botanic Garden. A 10 minute talk for parents with toddlers and babies, then a wander around to enjoy the gardens.

Results May Vary!

A simple guide to parenting guides. O

ne thing that people will always tell you before you have a baby is ‘they don’t come with a manual.’ What they don’t tell you is that the modern baby actually comes with many manuals! A quick search on online bookstore Amazon, finds around 5000 books on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, family health, family relationships, education, and the list goes on. For any expectant mother or father, it seems sensible to pick up one of these tomes, read it end-to-end and then decide how you are going to parent. The problem is that they are all so different in their approach and philosophy, it can be more hindrance than help. A pregnant friend recently told me she had read Robin Barker’s Baby Love, then read Contented Little Baby, by Gina Ford, and was more confused than ever. ‘So do I demand feed or feed to a schedule?’ she asked me. My answer, having gone through the same bafflement eight months ago, ‘it depends on your baby’. Another friend had her second baby three months ago and has learnt how different babies can be. Her firstborn was a very easy baby. She never cried, breastfeeding was a breeze and she was able to settle herself to sleep from birth. When my friend’s son came along, he was a normal, healthy baby, who

cried regularly, suffered from colic and was difficult to settle sometimes. The difference took my friend by surprise, but she was flexible and intuitive, and adjusted her approach to suit her son’s needs. If she had subscribed to a particular parenting model, for example, a strict routine approach, she may very well have made it harder on herself if that approach did not suit her son. The best advice someone gave me was ‘parent the baby you have, not the baby in the book’. This stuck with me, and although it didn’t stop me from running to my trusted ‘bibles’ every time my daughter sneezed, it did help me to recognise when their words of wisdom were relevant to us or not. When my daughter started eating solid foods, I turned to the books for ideas on how to manage this around naps and breastfeeds (there are, after all, only so many hours in the day!). One book warned me to ‘ensure your baby sleeps no later than 7am and then keep her awake for two hours.’ I knew immediately this wouldn’t work for my daughter, who, at six months, had established her own daily rhythm. She woke at 6.30am and would last only an hour before going back to bed. I couldn’t see a reason to force her to change this, simply because one ‘expert’ advised it. Another book which gave rough timelines was a lot more helpful.

What seems to be missing from a lot of the books is encouragement for mothers and fathers to trust their own instincts and judgement. One book I picked up, briefly, even instructed parents not to think or to trust their instincts because it would lead to confusion, yours and the baby’s. Granted, it is difficult to think straight when you are sleep deprived, but our physiological make-up helps us. We are programmed to nurture, so if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. And babies are programmed only to survive, so everything they do is instinctual. If you put down the book, and look at your baby, hold him, talk to him and listen to him, chances are you will be able to work it out together. As babies grow into children, the disparity in parenting styles, and children, does not dissipate. One family’s ‘controlled crying’ is another’s ‘having a grizzle before bed’. While one mother laughs ‘boys will be boys’, the next concerns herself with setting appropriate behavioural boundaries. And for every parenting style, there is a book, with studies and statistics, to support it. So while it is reassuring to have guidelines and advice from other people, ultimately the best parent for your child is you, not the parent in the book. [SJR]

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essential child

23/04/2009 8:59:42 PM

Balancing Act

Kathryn McKinnon of Charlipop Kids tells us what it means to be a ‘mummy-preneur’ W

retail and of course have a passion for fashion!

ith parents increasingly unwilling to put young children into child care so mothers can go back to work, many women are finding that they have what it takes to be self-employed. From hand-making children’s clothes, to online PR consultancy, to professional blogging, women are drawing on their skills and resources to build successful homebased businesses which allow them to be both an available mother and a financial contributor to the household. And the internet seems to be the key to success for many of these ‘mummy-preneurs’.

“Just do it! If you have an idea you believe can work, don’t sit around planning it.” Coffs Harbour resident, Kathryn McKinnon, 33, is a mother of two who took inspiration from other work-athome mothers (known as WAHMs in online circles). Starting off selling clothes on eBay as a hobby, she now single-handedly runs a successful online clothing store, with plans to open her own unique ‘bricks and mortar’ store. EC: Kathryn, you just moved to Coffs, is that right? K: Yes, we moved to Coffs from the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, to join family here. So far, loving it, particularly the storm shows as my husband and I are avid storm watchers. EC: Charlipop Kids seems to be a unique online store concept. Can you tell us about it? K: I am an online retailer of the most delectable children’s clothing, selling designer, preloved and ‘treasures’ (discounted items) all in the one website. Originally 3 stores, we became Charlipop Kids World only recently with a jazzy new website. EC: What inspired you to start Charlipop Kids?

essential child

EC: Tell me about your family. K: I am married to Bryan and have 2 daughters, Charlotte aged 4.5, who attends pre-school this year, and Poppy aged 2.5 who is a stay at home kid with me! Both prove to be invaluable helping in my business, as they’ll both quickly tell me what they love or don’t love (‘eww that’s for boys’), give me business inspiration (‘Mum you should sell clothes for the Mummy’s too’) and help packing (‘help hang Mummy’). It was my daughter’s Charli and Poppy that together formed the name ‘Charlipop Kids’! EC: How do you manage your workload around parenthood?

K: It was actually a current affairs program about other stay-at-home mums who had become business women from their own home. And I figured why not – I could do that! And so I did!

K: Kids needs come first and I make sure there are a certain number of activities I take the children to. Every Friday we go without fail to Tabatinga play centre in Coffs – it gives me one full morning where it is just the girls and I, with no other distractions. I also do the majority of work at nights once the girls are asleep!

EC: How did you get started?

EC: What is your long-term career goal?

K: I started selling preloved clothing on ebay, just for a little bit of extra cash while I was a stay-at-home mum. It was so successful and with ebay costs skyrocketing, I figured I might as well start my own online store. I began buying some stock from a shop that had closed down. This gave me a good sampling of brands particularly designer, and from there I sourced the brands I most wanted to sell in my own store. Little did I know it would grow to be the size it is today with many thousands of clothing items at any one time!

K: I would love to open my own Charlipop Kids store in Coffs Harbour. Not a typical retail more a distribution centre where people can pop in casually to buy clothing as well. But I am first and foremost a Mummy-preneur, so I am sure I will find many business ventures to pursue!

EC: What did you do before Charlipops? Did your past career/s or experience lead you to where you are today? K: I’m a bit of a liquorice allsorts! I am actually a primary school teacher and early on I wanted to be a graphic designer. I have also worked substantially in the photographic industry, in retail and as a nanny. All these experiences have benefited what I do now as running an online business is extremely multifaceted. You need to be able to know how to take good quality photographs, use online multi-media, know about

EC: What’s the number one piece of advice you give to others? K: Just do it! If you have an idea you believe can work, don’t sit around planning it for 12 months because sure as you know, someone else will! EC: Who inspires you the most? K: Actually, other WAHMs because I know first-hand what a huge commitment it is to both work and be a mum at the same time. My Opa was also a source of my inspiration. I loved his ‘I-can-do’ attitude and he helped me believe that ‘I-can-do-to’. You can discover the Charlipop Kids World at www.charlipopkids.com.au.

Possums' Den Preschool Possums’ Den is a small communitybased, not-for-profit early childhood centre specialising in the preschool years (3-6). We have a passion for providing a best-practice program in an attractive caring environment.

Open 8am-6pm Now taking enrolments for 2010 and 2011

8 Earl St, Coffs Harbour Ph: 6652 5066 Come in now to experience the atmosphere of the centre

Home Based childcare! • A safe, secure and stimulating home environment with small groups of up to five children. • Flexible hours matched to individual family needs. • Your child benefits by having the same carer, every day.

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• Mixed ages create a unique learning environment

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