KIDDO ISSUE 7

FREE

DEC ­— FEB 2019 . #07

KIDDOMAG.COM. AU

Summer love with Coco & Shy DIY Christmas decorations with BLIP

N E U RO P L ASTI C IT Y Reflections from a Neuroscience Mumma

R E B E C CA M O R S E Gets Rollercoaster Ready

IVF A journey to fer tility

Publisher Charlotte Chambers

Blink and it's Christmas, sneeze and it's 2019!

Staff Writer Gemma Easton

Editorial Contributors Rebecca Morse Danielle Symes Olivia Williams Jake Dean Symon Jarowyj Matilda Schwarz Saskia Webb Annabel Hartnett Miriam Weir Ella James Astrid Myers Helen Connolly Cassandra Kerr Lucy Budzynska Alyssa Fletcher Dr. Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino Annetta Koutsouridis Jess Zarnow

Just like that we are saying goodbye to another year, a few more greys, a few more lines, but richer for such an incredible year doing what we love.

Sub Editor Cassandra Kerr

PHOTO— @deeshepherd

This issue is jam packed like a lunchbox on the first day back at school. We chat to Dr. Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino (a mumma and Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience at The University of Adelaide) about her journey to put her study into practice with her first born and beyond (take notes). We also chat to the one and only… drum roll please… Kaz Cooke who has finally released her second and long awaited book on Babies and Toddlers - YES we have toddlers in the mix (insert pray EMOJI)!

Our go-to KIDDO gal Rebecca Morse talks about her journey into insanity… I mean breakfast radio (HIT 107 starts in 2019… stay

tuned) and Jess shares her emotional journey through IVF (we have everything crossed for you JESS). We also chat to eco friendly and sustainable swimwear designer Susi Benger from Coco & Shy about her new range and her how little Lilou has influenced her decision to start creating swimwear for big and little people.

Thanks again to our KIDDO team (all conveniently listed to the right), clients, family and friends for an awesome 2018! We look forward to connecting with you all in 2019, have a safe and relaxing holiday with the ones you love!

X CC

Art Director Serrin Ainslie

serrinainslie.com

Photography Meaghan Coles

nowandthenphotography.com.au

Nick Lawrence

nicklawrencephoto.com

Dee Shepherd

deeshepherd.com.au

Sales Gemma Easton

Printing

graphicprint.com.au

Distribution

↓

PUBLISHER'S PICKS

passingout.com.au

KIDDO Mag is a team ef fort and if you have any suggestions or questions, make contact!

We would love to hear from you. hello@kiddomag.com.au

The Project Company PO BOX 1083 Glenelg South SA 5045 Cover photo: Dee Shepherd Model: Frankie Shepherd Wearing: Coco & Shy

⸺ WATCH Home Alone (because Christmas) ⸺ HEAR Neneh Cherry - Natural Skin Deep ⸺ LISTEN OPRAH’S - Super Soul Conversations ⸺ DO Adelaide French Festival JAN 11 - 13 ⸺ READ Stand Up, Stand Out! 

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst all care is taken, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

#ichoosesa /2

kiddomag.com.au

REVIE WS

Has someone close to you just had a baby? Before you make a time to say hi, make a time to get a whooping cough vaccination. If you’re not keen for a shot, no worries - see the little one in six weeks once they’ve been vaccinated.

Get vaccinated today at your local National Pharmacies, no appointment necessary.

/3 NP_007546

What's on!

EVE NTS

DECE M B E R - APRI L

December - April

7 December - 6 January 2019

13 January

Pick your own Strawberries at Beerenberg Beerenberg Farm, Mount Barker Road beerenberg.com.au

Lot Fourteen Art of Christmas North Terrace (Former RAH site) renewalsa.sa.gov.au

Tour Down Under - Family Day Adelaide City tourdownunder.com.au

23 November - 16 December

25 November - 25 December

1 December

American Express Open-air Cinemas Adelaide Riverbank openaircinemas.com.au/adelaide/

Burnside Village Christmas Burnside Village burnsidevillage.com.au

Lighting of the Christmas Tree Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga cityofadelaide.com.au

26 December - 28 January

14 December

15 December

Colossal Creatures Adelaide ZOO adelaidezoo.com.au

Christmas Proms 2018 Adelaide Festival Centre adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

QBE Carols by Candlelight Adelaide Riverbank adelaidecarols.com.au

16 December

17 - 20 December

17 December - 25 January

Gilles at the Grounds Adelaide Showgrounds, Brick Dairy gillesatthegrounds.com.au

NPSP School Holiday Program City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters npsp.sa.gov.au

Zoocation Care School Holiday Program Adelaide Zoo adelaidezoo.com.au

19 - 23 December

26 December

12 - 13 January

Christmas Wreath Workshop Myer Centre Adelaide myercentreadelaideshopping.com.au

Adelaide Galvanising Boxing Day Races Morphettville Racecourse stablestars.com.au

Delphi Bank Semaphore Greek Festival Esplanade, Semaphore semaphoregreekfestival.com.au

11 - 13 January 2019

16 - 20 January 2019

17 January 2019

Adelaide French Festival Multiple Locations adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

Sarah and Duck Adelaide Festival Centre adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

Unley Gourmet Gala King William Road unley.sa.gov.au

For more events, reviews and competitions head to kiddomag.com.au /4

Adelaide Festival Centre presents REVIE WS

16-20 JAN Dunstan Playhouse 131 246

.net.au

/5

N E WS

NE W ZOO!

Feeding the goats and patting the alpacas just got a whole lot more exciting!

The Adelaide Zoo has released new plans for a Variety Children’s Zoo. Quokkas, critically-endangered bettongs, goats and many more of the zoos beloved animals will make the trot to the new and improved Variety Children’s Zoo, which will commence construction in early 2019.

The sensory experience of being able to touch, feel and feed the animals will be even more thrilling for little people than before. The $1.1 million plans include an interactive, immersive precinct connected to everyones favourite Nature’s Playground.

Variety Children’s Zoo will create ooh’s and ahh’s for years to come with its feature two-level elements, balance beams and ladders for goats, climbing branches for quokkas, a dedicated presentation area for keepers to give educational talks,

and aerial walkways connecting the new children’s zoo to Nature’s Playground.

Zoos SA Chief Executive Elaine Bensted says the new Variety Children’s Zoo will help encourage and develop the next generation of conservationists, no matter their ability.

“Our vision for the Variety Children’s Zoo is to help kids get hands on as they learn and connect with wildlife, and in doing so develop a strong passion for conservation,” Ms Bensted says.

Construction for the Variety Children’s Zoo will commence in early 2019. adelaidezoo.com.au

W I N! Want your face to be part of the new Zoo? A larger-than-life art installation will take centre stage in the new zoo area and, for just $50, people can purchase a tile with their photo to remain in the Variety Children’s Zoo forever.

KIDDO has two Family Prize Packs to giveaway to ‘Be the Face of the New Variety Children’s Zoo’ For more information, and to enter, head online to kiddomag.com.au

@zoossa

Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy How Can we Help?

Our experienced therapists are equipped to help you in many areas of your child’s development including speech, language, literacy, stuttering, social skills, school readiness, pencil skills, fine motor and gross motor development, organisation and planning, self care, sensory processing and behaviour.

1/199 Sturt Road Seacombe Gardens SA 5047

/6

P 7228 6825 E. info@spotpaediatrics.com.au @spotpaediatrics

spotpaediatrics.com.au

Ooh La La!

N E WS

Slip on your finest berets les enfants, Adelaide French Festival is returning in 2019 with a program ready to tempt and tantalise all palettes. Sumptuous food and wine, worldclass theatre, workshops, free family activities and crepes lots of crepes will be on the agenda this 11 – 13 January 2019.

KIDDO is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a silent disco in the WOMADelaide 2019 KidZone! We are so excited that we can just about feel the twinkle in our toes already! If you are a family of music lovers make your way to the first ever KIDDO Silent Disco and do-si-do your partner, mum, dad, daughter, son grandma, grandpa, cousin or caregiver.

This year the French Festival program features two world premieres, 15 Australian premieres, 67 international artists and 60 Australian artists.

The 2019 festival will focus on the beautiful French region of Brittany, with a range of musicians, artists, designers and chefs showcasing the regions rich and unique culture and connections to the sea.

For those who are yet to experience the sights, sounds and delights of WOMADelaide, it is a four-day festival of music, arts and dance held annually in Adelaide’s Botanic Park during the Adelaide Festival. The WOMADelaide program features around 600 artists from 30 countries making it one of Australia’s largest cultural festivals.

We spoke to Adelaide French Festival, Creative Director Rebecca Pearce to see what’s in store for families and more!

The festival has long been known for it’s family friendly environment and sparkling children’s program. Kids under 12 are even admitted free! Each year the WOMADelaide KidZone is packed to the brim with children’s arts activities and performances.

What makes French Festival a family festival?

The program features free family activities and workshops, together with beautiful family shows from France. The festival has a fun, accessible and diverse program of French events and activities, there really is something for everyone.

What are the most exciting events on for kids?

There are loads of workshops across the weekend, from discovering your inner chef and learning how to whip up French treats with Le Cordon Bleu, to creating your own flower crown, or witness the outrageous bespoke hair sculptures by French hair wizard Mystérieuses Coiffures, to experiencing the wonder of Company Non Nova’s L’apres midi d’un foehn.

What free events are on offer?

There are so many free activities and events on offer, embrace your inner artist with Little Picassos workshops, or build your own cardboard empire with Boxwars.

Why is it important for children to engage in cultural events like French Festival?

This year KIDDO will be hosting a silent disco in the KidZone. Come along and bust a move in our shaded dance area! The KidZone program will also feature favourites like Nylon Zoo, as well as immersive activities, interactive experiences, science discoveries, story telling, dress-ups, face painting, bouncy things and much more! Prams are welcome and baby-changing facilities are provided.

The wider musical line-up also includes The Original Gypsies (France), featuring key founding members of legendary 80s group, The Gipsy Kings.

Other acts include Tkay Maizda, John Butler Trio, Amjad Ali Khan with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, The Bamboos and many, many more!

Pack the picnic rug and prepare for a weekend of global artistic exploration and culture for kiddos great and small.

Fri 8 – Sun 11 March Kids under 12 FREE Tickets are now on sale through womadelaide.com.auia

It’s a great way to discover and learn a culture through fun workshops, games and activities. What better way to discover French culture than through a festival, and with the whole family.

For more information and to view the festival program: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au @adlfrenchfest Fatoumata Diawara

John Butler

Christmas

at Burnside Village Santa

Visit Santa in the Fashion Mall every day until Christmas Eve.

Trading hours

There’s more time to shop with extended trading hours, plus Burnside Village will be open on Boxing Day.

Christmas Winter Wonderland

From 14th to 23rd December enjoy kids Christmas activities at the Winter Wonderland in the Fashion Mall.

For more details visit burnsidevillage.com.au

/7

N E WS

Boxing Day Family Fun at Morphettville Having fun on Boxing Day at Morphettville is something the whole family can bet on and this year is bigger than ever!

After all the Christmas organisation and planning, Boxing Day is a day where you want to sit back and relax. Morphettville is taking on all the hard work and planning for you by entertaining the kids all day, while you enjoy some trackside fun too.

There are so many free activities available for young and old that your kids wont know which way to turn. With multiple play areas and a myriad of food and beverage offerings, everyone will be happy!

The kiddos will be star struck with a live stage performance from the Nickelodeon phenomenon, Paw Patrol! Join Ryder, Chase and Marshall as they dance, sing and bring their adventures to life.

Iconic children’s entertainer, Peter Combe and his ‘Belly Flop in a Pizza Band’ will also dazzle the children with his hits ‘Mr Clicketty Cane’, ‘Spaghetti Bolognese’, ‘Juicy, Juicy Green Grass’ and ‘Newspaper Mama’.

For the young fashionistas SAJC will also host a junior ‘Fashions on the Field’ competition, so be sure to get your children ‘race ready’.

If that’s not already enough, did we also mention pony rides? Stable Stars will host a FREE kids club zone for children to enjoy. You will find pony rides with Archie and his friends, life-size games, dress ups, a colouring-in area, and a Stable Stars passport activity booklet with prizes to be won.

Ohh and don’t think that the ‘big kids’ have been forgotten… A super screen showing live coverage of the Boxing Day Ashes Test match will be setup next to the home straight so you don’t miss any of the action. A number of delicious food trucks will also be on site to tantalise the tastebuds!

This year SAJC are also introducing a family picnic package - featuring a reserved, shaded picnic space next to the track, bottle of wine, antipasto box and two fruit boxes for just $60!

Don’t horse around on Boxing Day, put Morphettville in your calendar for a daytime event where the whole family can come together and enjoy themselves trackside! @morphettville_racecourse morphettville.com.au

This summer, join us at little picassos for

ART CAMP & HOLIDAY CLASSES Daily Christmas Art Classes, Summer Art Camp, and Summer Sessions. One, two and three hour classes, half and full day workshops, as well as 3 Day Summer Art Camps, all offering a wide range of Art experiences for children from 2 - 16 years.

Immerse your little artist in drawing, painting, printmaking, design, construction, clay & ceramics, sculpture, textiles and more. Purpose built studios at GLENELG and HYDEPARK To look at the detailed program : www.littlepicassos.com.au/school-holiday-and-artcamp/

littlepicassos.com.au

/8

Santa Shops SA Santa Claus is making a list and checking it twice, to make sure that he supports local makers and designers this Christmas.

N E WS

#ichoosesa

3 2 4

1

6

8

5

7

We took a peek inside Santa’s sack for some giftspo and to see what great local goodies he will be leaving under the Christmas tree this year.

1. Short Sleeve Romper @whalesandwombats 2. Eco Crayons @ecocrayons 3. Felt Garden Set @chooksheddesigns 4. Leather Booties @lapitofootwear 5. T-shirt @numbers.and.letters 6. Merry Christmoose Card @wordfindersclub 7. Teether @gummybeads 8. Play Pouch @playpouch_kids

nd local this Chr small a istm p o h as S

Illustrated papergoods, pillow pals, pins and prints.

Shop at www.wordfinders.club

Continuity of care for the whole child From birth to late adolescence; with you for as long as you need us.

• For concerns about your child’s health, development or behaviour • For specialist care for newborns in hospital and for all young people • NDIS registered allied health & NDIS pre planning assistance • ASD Assessments • Referrals targeted to your child’s needs

Our team at Paediatrics at Burnside offers General Paediatricians and Allied Health Providers Paediatrics at Burnside P 8332 3778 F 83323978 pab.healthcare (Burnside Hospital 120 Kensington Road) Toorak Gardens (SA 5065)

/9

O PI N I O N

Grab the popcorn folks, this could get interesting.

I am about to embark on an experiment of personal endurance.

Or stupidity. Or both. I have a lot on my plate, as my mother would say. And I’m going to bite off more than I can chew from that buffet-sized meal and chew hard for a bit. From next year I’m going to add a breakfast radio gig on hit107 to my schedule.

WORDS— Rebecca Morse @rebeccamorse10

As a mother of three, I figure I already have proven qualifications for the sleep deprivation. It will be like having a newborn again, navigating that fog of fatigue. And women are the queens of multi-tasking right? So how hard could it be?

Well, we had a run of radio rehearsals recently and to be honest, things could have gone better.

In my defence, the degree of difficulty was high.

Turns out my husband wrote down Run the New York Marathon twice on his bucket list and his second crack just happened to coincide with my first week of 4am alarms.

ANDREW 'COSI' COSTE LLO AND R E B E CCA M O RS E

Nice one Jimbo.

So, I was faced with a perfect storm of new job / solo parenting / limited sleep. I figured I had just enough mental and physical strength to survive the week if everything went to plan.

NARRATOR: Everything did not go to plan.

You know what starting a new job is like? When you don’t know how anything works? I couldn’t even decipher the elevator system on day one. I asked a bemused businessman how to get to level 13 when the key pad only went to 9.

Soooo it turns out you need to press the 1. And then the 3. I wanted to say sorry Mr Bemused Businessman but I HAVE A LOT ON MY PLATE RIGHT NOW. As well as learning a confusing new elevator, I need to return Frankie’s swimming permission slip today because it’s overdue and I have to stop at the supermarket on the way to school because it was Milla’s birthday on the weekend and she wants a packet of Freddos to share with the class in lieu of homemade cupcakes, also Grace has just been dumped by her boyfriend and I’m managing her emotional wellbeing the best I can without catastrophizing the break up. / 10

Oh, and my husband is running his second midlife crisis marathon. In New-York-freaking-City.

But I didn’t say that of course. I just pressed the 1 and the 3 and was on my way, hoping to never set eyes on Mr Bemused Businessman ever again.

Let’s just say by the end of the week I was in the foetal position.

But, the truth of the matter is, I have no idea how I’m going to do it. There will be plenty of routine-tweaking in the first twelve months to try to get the balance right. Maybe I’ll fail. There’ll no doubt be those who experience a sense of schadenfreude if I do.

So why am I doing this then, you may ask?

Well after 20 years earning my stripes in the media industry, here was an opportunity that may not present itself again. An opportunity to challenge myself in radio, a medium that I have always loved. To pursue new skills and experiences.

And an opportunity to try to make a dent on the mortgage and get ahead. Is it unusual for a woman to admit she wants to secure her family’s financial future? As far as we’ve come, I feel like this may still be slightly taboo.

I’m going to say no to the superfluous stuff, my downtime with my family and my friends will be precious and prioritised.

But if you never try something for fear of failing, would you ever achieve anything of worth?

Tune in from Jan 2019.

REVIE WS

/ 11

o pi nion

My kids are becoming numb to Christmas…

WORDS — Danielle Symes @danielle_symes daniellesymes.com

Stop the HOARD and ignite the BORED Incase you weren’t aware it is only a few weeks till Christmas. My local Woolies is resembling the Magic Cave and Harpers kindy creations are coming back substantially more glittery and festive. Christmas has never lost its sparkle for me, not even as a kid when I saw a doll in my mums closet only to discover that same doll in my Christmas sack a few weeks later. I’ve carried that enthusiastic spirit into my adult years and I am the type to get as much longevity out of my Christmas decorations as possible, hanging them promptly on the day of the Christmas Pageant and not removing them until well after New Years. I watch Love Actually annually, I take great pride in my gift wrapping abilities and now that I have kids you betcha I’ve taken on every tradition known to Pinterest. I. Love. Christmas. I love it! BUT!

 In recent years, amongst the egg nog and the Michael Bublé, I have noticed a certain trend and it’s one that is hard to miss…and I mean this literally because you genuinely can’t miss the growing pile of toys and colour that slowly takes over the lounge room floor come Christmas morning.

When we first had Harper he was only about 4 months old for his first Christmas and he received the equivalent to the 3rd and 4th aisle of Toys R Us. He had only just started to hold his own head up and he had already been given his first bike! I remember coming home after visiting both mine and Brad’s families for the day and feared opening our car boot.

Genuine fear of being buried alive by plastic, but also the fear of not knowing where the hell I was going to put all this stuff! I think it’s after your kids first Christmas that most parents realise they have to sacrifice an entire area of their house and ‘the office’ is officially renamed ‘the toy room.’ Don’t be fooled though… that room doesn’t actually get played in, the toys are not concealed neatly to that room. God no!

They are taken out daily and strewn across the house and it is then your job to pack everything away at the end of every night…. Or you just learn to incorporate bright yellow, blue and red into your decor.

Over the years I have slowly built up the balls to ask both sides of the family to limit their toy buying intake and they always agree at the time but come Christmas all that goes out the window as 87 different presents are hastily ripped open and thrown / 12

to the wayside resembling that scene in Willy Wonka where Veruca Salt’s factory workers are trying to find her a golden ticket. And that for me is the bigger issue at hand here. It’s not so much the excessive toy buying, I get that people love to buy gifts, I do too! For me, it is witnessing my 5 year old go from gift to gift, barely taking in what he has just unwrapped as he moves from one to the next. We have always taught our son to be grateful and to say thank you for any gifts he gets but I can’t help but feel like the excessiveness is creating a numbness.

I remember as a little kid you would go see Santa and there was always one gift in particular that you really really wanted that you would ask for.

Your mum would stand nearby taking notes and hit up the late night shopping a few weeks later.

Come Christmas Day there was that hope, that longing for the thing you asked Santa for, and the ecstasy that followed when you ripped off one tiny corner of the wrapping paper and saw that it was the Baby Alive doll packaging was a happiness you would then hold onto for weeks! I played with that leaky doll that wee’d itself for hours on end and she wasn’t discarded after a few weeks.

 Back then we got one gift that we genuinely wanted and we treasured it. Yes, we would get other small gifts in our Santa sack but that one big ticket item was not trumped and overlooked a few weeks later… or worse yet, that day.

I think one of the biggest issues is that everything is so cheap these days it’s hard not to think absolutely nothing of buying a whopping big truck that only cost $12 at Kmart. And then because it was only $12 you think ‘well that wasn’t much, I should get something else to go with it….’ Before you know it your trolley is full, you’ve barely broken a fifty and it only dawns on you that you possibly went overboard when you have to wrap everyone of those damn gifts.

So, this year my husband and I came up with a resolution, a new tradition that we hope sticks because otherwise the only other option is to sell our house and find a bigger one to store all the crap we are accumulating… which may become an expensive habit as the years go on.

Our plan to: Stop the HOARD and ignite the BORED! 1

e have asked our family members members W to all go in on one big gift. This includes both sides of the family so everyone might only have to contribute $10-$20 but all together it is enough to buy the kids one decent gift that they will actually want. For Harper this year he really wanted a sewing machine so that will be the gift he gets from the grandparents, aunties and uncles.

2

For our parent friends we have suggested taking their kids to an op shop and choosing a second hand gift. You can find some really great books, board games and toys and in turn this keeps cost down for your friends, it stops more plastic being discarded into landfill and it usually means the gift is a bit more thoughtful too…especially if you let the kids choose it.

3

From Santa we have asked Harper to write a ‘wish list’ and we will include 1 of those gifts from Santa and the rest of the sack will be made up with little things like chocolates, stationery, dolls clothes and books. Harper is really into his reading and artwork so I know that sounds super boring for some kids but he absolutely froths on a new pencil set.

For Charlie we will probably just throw in a spatula and a set of keys because that’s all that kid plays with.

4 From us we will give him something that he

needs and will benefit from. He starts school next year so we are going to set up a desk in his toy room and deck it out with art supplies and sewing equipment. It will be his own little space where he can create free from his little sisters destroying hands and will be ready to go for the start of school next year when he brings back homework to do.

I don’t want it to sound like I am trying to take away from the magic of Christmas with these ‘rules’, in fact I hope it does the exact opposite by teaching our kids that Christmas Day is not just a day where you get inundated with presents. Come Christmas morning we will still have all our little traditions such as checking if Rudolph ate his carrot or whether the magic jelly beans we planted the night before have sprouted into candy canes yet; and it’s those things that I hope they get excited by and remember for years to come. Our hope is that we create an attitude of less wanting and more appreciating… and it would just be a bonus if our kids then carried that attitude on for the other 364 days of the year too.

BOOK YOU

R

FREE

TRIAL *

22 LOCATIONS AROUND ADELAIDE SOCCER FUN FOR GIRLS & BOYS AGED 2 TO 12!

TERM 1, 2018 PROGRAM

STARTING FROM 17th FEB CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

South Australian Museum

Family Membership Join today!

Become a Family Member and receive a world of endless benefits

Grasshopper Soccer is a fun, non competitive way for your child to make a start in developing social and soccer skills. We offer programs available on weekends all year round, in line with school terms. Grasshopper Soccer provides a great opportunity to Children takeskills their and enjoy our fun-based games. make new friends, learn new first kicks in soccer!

They’ll be introduced to shooting, dribbling, goal keeping and more! Children get to play lots of fun, skill based games.

Grasshoppers get introduced to the Pint Size 1v1 Big Game!

The ultimate challenge for young soccer players! They’ll learn the rules of the Grasshopper Soccer Big Game and develop their skills in passing, dribbling, shooting and more!

50 minute classes $120 for 8 weeks

INTRO 60 mins $130

This program focuses on skill development and team work in preparation for club soccer. Children will enjoy all the favourite soccer based games, fine tune their skills as well as play the Grasshopper Soccer Big Game!

A program to suit everyone, boys & girls aged 2-12!

A great introduction to Soccer! Children work with their parents to learn new soccer skills and develop their motor skills! Lots of fun games in a non-competitive environment

35 minute classes $115 for 8 weeks

MICRO 75 mins $140

75 minute classes $140 for 8 weeks

for 8 weeks

Intro to Micro Mite-E Soccer Pint Size Soccer (5-6yo) (2-3yo) (4-5yo) 0422 721 181 grasshoppersoccer.com.au

Micro (6-8yo)

Micro Plus (8-12yo)

www.grasshoppersoccer.com.au ...we also do birthday parties! *If joining, first session is incorporated into term fee. No cost if you do not to sign up after first session

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FESTIVE NIGHTS Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga 15 – 23 December, from 4pm Kids activities, entertainment, Virtual Reality games, food, live music and movies plus see Rudolph and Santa’s Sleigh made out of LEGO® bricks.

cityofadelaide.com.au/christmas

LEGO is a trademark of The LEGO Group. © 2018 The LEGO Group. This project is not affiliated or endorsed by the LEGO Group.

Contact the Membership Team on 0438 117 500 or join online www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/membership

G I F TS

Gift Giving Made Easy

1

WAS $16.95 NOW $10.95

3

4 2

1 WAS $35.99 NOW $24.99

5

Christmas time at Harbour Town means great brands and even better savings. With over 150 designer and specialty shops all in one place, and now with a free Drop & Shop Nanny service, you can power through your Christmas list for the whole family with ease.

8

6

harbourtownadelaide.com.au @harbourtownadelaide

7

9

12

10

WAS $89.00 NOW $63.00

11

1. Hamilton Short Sleeve Rashie (girls), COTTON ON KIDS $19.99 2. Pippa Bikini Bottom, COTTON ON KIDS $12.99 3. Hat, Ollie’s Place was $15.95 NOW $10.95 4. Sunsuit, OLLIE’S PLACE was $35.99 NOW $24.99 5. Pink Allstar, CONVERSE $60.00 6. Sequin Diary Pink, SMIGGLE $26.95 7. Spring Drink Bottle (stripe), COTTON ON KIDS $12.99 8. Ombre Glitter Backpack, STRANDBAGS was $34.99 NOW $24.50 9. Sunnylife Rainbow Lie On Float, MINIMAX was $79.95 NOW $63.95 10. Pink Gingham Hat, SEED was $24.95 NOW $16.95 11. Floral Carry on Suitcase, STRANDBAGS was $89.99 NOW $63.00 12. Mr Men Little Miss Pyjama Set, PETER ALEXANDER was $59.95 NOW $49.00

KIDDO FEATURE / 14

G IFTS

14

15

13

18

19

16

17

22

20

23

21

26

WAS $59.95 NOW $39.00

24 24

WAS $70.00 NOW $35.00

13. Backpack, CONVERSE $45.00 14. Blue Trucker Cap, ADIDAS was $25.00 NOW $17.00 15. Wahu Beach Ball, SPORTSPOWER $19.99 16. Sequin Diary Blue, SMIGGLE $26.95 17.

Spring Drink Bottle (dinosaur), COTTON ON KIDS $12.99 18. Rash Vest (boys), COTTON ON KIDS $19.99 19. Go Anywhere Speaker - Black, SMIGGLE $39.95 20. Collectable Eraser Box Set, SMIGGLE $12.95 21. Murphy Swim Short, COTTON ON KIDS $19.99 22. Light Time Watch, SMIGGLE $36.95 23. Elves Behavin’ Badly, NEDS $10.00 24. Grey + White Pin Stripe Shorts and Braces Set, OLLIE’S PLACE $29.99 25. Natural/Blue Sneaker, CONVERSE was $70.00 NOW $35.00 26. Mr Men Pyjama Set, PETER ALEXANDER was $59.95 NOW $39.00 — ALL AVAILABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST!

KIDDO FEATURE / 15

F E ATURE

Parental Guidance As the adage goes, parenting doesn’t come with a manual - but Kaz Cooke’s new book Babies & Toddlers comes pretty close to it. The follow up to her ubiquitous 90’s book Up The Duff with its iconic animated cover, Babies & Toddlers is a meticulously researched, yet friendly and easy to read guide covering everything from the first few days with your new baby to how to look after a toddler with gastro.

WORDS — Miriam Weir

A highly respected and award winning writer, Kaz has consulted over 30 medical experts and specialists to incorporate only the most accurate and up to date information in Babies & Toddlers.

This attention to detail has been a real labour of love over the past few years, especially given it’s an update of her original book Kidwrangling which was first written when her own daughter was five, some 15 years ago.

Not just the title has changed since then.

Medically speaking there have been advances and changes to what we know about paediatric health, but also the advent of the internet has brought with it an avalanche of information that can both overwhelm and confuse a new parent during an incredibly exhausting and vulnerable point in their lives. Babies & Toddlers outlines the essential information while also expertly navigating the plethora of new parenting trends to contend with - “the way-bonkers stuff,”as Kaz likes to call it.

“I wanted the book to be almost like a secret thing that people could have at home and be the kind friend that you can get all the information you need from and you know it’s the right information, you know you can trust it,” explains Kaz. This information overload, much of it opiniondressed-as-fact, often espoused by some parenting websites, forums, bloggers and Instagrammers is rife. And, while not all opinions / 16

dished out either on the internet or from well-meaning relatives are harmful, they are sometimes misguided at best and dangerous at worst. All in all, it seems there’s never been a more complex and confusing time to be a parent.

“I also think that there’s just so much perfectionism that is being encouraged by Instagram...it’s not real, it’s a constructed story for social media. It’s fun to look at, but it’s often not at all helpful for you as a parent, and that’s why I wanted to provide an alternative,” she says.

“Use the internet for connection, but don’t use it for information. Use it to make connections with other parents, but don’t use it to tell you what to do,” she adds, especially when it comes to medical and health related issues.

Impartial and factual, Babies & Toddlers is designed almost as a reference book, with a special focus on a comprehensive index and a wealth of up to date resources a parent might need to access. Her guiding principle in structuring the book was ensuring it was easy to get the information you might need fast sometimes in the middle of the night - keeping it jargon-free and easy to understand.

“I wanted [the book] to be - more than anything else - reassuring, because it’s giving people the buffet or smorgasbord of suggestions.

Very often, individual people can say ‘try this thing because it worked for me’, but there’s never a guarantee that it will work for you. Plus, what worked for your first child might not work for the second - so parents deserve not a hard and fast theory.... people need enough choices to find what works for them,” says Kaz. Sprinkled with humour and her trademark cartoons, Babies & Toddlers manages to cut through all the noise and get back to the essentials, providing clear and concise information backed up by experts and packaged up in an accessible read that enables parents to make their own decisions.

“It’s very clearly outlined that these are the services you ring for medical information and these are the services for counselling. It’s actually really important to know whether you’re ringing the maternal healthcare nurse or someone who’s going to speak to you about how you’re feeling and refer you, when you might need to know really quickly if you need to take your infant to hospital,” explains Kaz. A lighthearted read, anchored by facts, Babies & Toddlers is an essential read for any parent to be, instilling confidence and providing connections to good sources of information so that parents and carers don’t feel isolated.

BABIES & TODDLERS Penguin

Now on sale at all good book stores $39.99

KAZ COOKE (David Johns Photography)

You set your goals, we help you reach them.

As a Registered NDIS Provider, we match staff to your child’s needs and implement services quickly.

Experience the HenderCare difference.

LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT NURSING & COMPLEX CARE HOUSEHOLD TASKS COMMUNITY SUPPORT

PERSONAL CARE AND MUCH MORE

1300 764 433 I hendercare.com.au

Find the

f t i t h g ri for your y l i fam At Goodstart we know that one size doesn’t fit all families. Our not-for-profit early learning centres offer play-based learning programs tailored to each child’s stage of development from six weeks of age to school aged children.

We’ve introduced flexible nine, 10 and 12 hour sessions to make the most of the Child Care Subsidy, making quality early learning more accessible and affordable than ever. Enquire now for 2019.

With nearly 50 locations in South Australia, there’s a Goodstart centre near you.

Book a tour!

1800 222 543

goodstart sa

REVI E WS

Your Christmas Hit-list @Myer Adelaide And, just like that, Christmas is around the corner! Between vacation planning, work Christmas parties and school holidays, organising your list of gifts can be a last minute struggle.

Not to mention the task of getting people something they actually want….

We have done the work for you with this ultimate Christmas gift guide. The Myer Centre Adelaide is making the gift of giving a whole lot easier. With over 80 specialty retailers under the one roof, you can get all of your gifts in an easy one-stop-shop!

Him

/ 18 KIDDO FEATURE / 18

1. Wireless Speaker, UE BOOM, Rebel Sport, $199.00 2.

Body Spray, Lush, $27.95 3. Travel Set, Mon purse, Myer, $99.00 4. Hair Texture Paste, Bed Head, Priceline, $19.99 5. Drone, DJI Mavic Air, Australian Geographic, $1289.99

Her

1. Fitness Tracker, Garmin Vivomove HR, Rebel Sport, $299.00 2. Leather Pouch, Mon Purse, Myer, $79.00 3. Heels, Nine West, $159.95 4. Rose Gold Electric Toothbrush Set, PHILIPS, Priceline, $369.00 5. Satin Scarf, Rubi, $9.99 6. Instant Digital Camera, Polaroid, Australian Geographic, $199.95 7. Cap, New York Yankees, USG, $39.99

REVIE WS

Girl

1. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, $90.00 2. Singlet, Tilii, Myer, $29.95 3. Tea Set, Make Me Iconic, Toyworld, $59.99 4. Slides, Roxy, $29.99, Rebel Sport 5. Skirt, Seed, Myer, $39.95 6. Athletic Set, Roxy, JR's Surf and Ski, $59.99

Pet

1. Pet Oil, Aesop, Myer, $39.00 2. Pet Bandana, Fuzzyard, Myer $9.95 3. Pet Cookbook, Myer, $29.99 4. Teether, Kong Puppy, Toucan Pet Centre, $26.50

Boy

1. Cruiser Skateboard, GLOBE, JR's Surf and Ski, $229.99 2. T-Shirt, Seed, Myer, $29.95 3. Storm Trooper Robot, UBTech, Australian Geographic, $499.95 4. Backpack, Herschel, JR's Surf and Ski, $139.99 5. Shorts, Milkshake, Myer, $24.95 6. Sneakers, Vans Old Skool, Platypus Shoes, $79.99 7. My First Pop-Up Dinosaurs, Australian Geographic, $19.99

STORE DIRECTORY GROUND

Australian Geographic Sunglass Hut Platypus Shoes Rubi Nine West Lush LOWER GROUND

Priceline

UPPER GROUND

JR’s Surf and Ski USG Rebel Sport Myer Toyworld

@myercentreade myercentreadelaideshopping.com.au

19 KIDDO FEATURE // 19

REVI H E ALTH E WS

IVF and Me. My journey to fertility WORDS— Jess Zanrow

It’s been 8 rounds of IVF, and in just a few weeks, I’ll be approaching my 9th.

Am I exhausted - yes. Do I feel like a chicken forever popping out eggs - definitely yes. But, am I used to being disappointed again and again after recurrent losses and failing implants - sadly yes.

Every miscarriage or implant failure gets me down whether you are going through IVF or you are having issues falling pregnant, it just sucks. Infertility just fucking sucks.

Regular doctor’s appointments, changes in hormone medications, crying for no reason and trying to explain why you’re crying without sounding like a complete nut, these things happen, and they take their toll.

About 2 years ago when I first started our IVF journey I read an article online about another woman’s IVF experience. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but later down the track, those words were invaluable.

I’m no IVF expert, but the main ones that stuck with me were to surround yourself with supportive people, don’t play the blame game, trust your gut and practice self care.

I always knew I had an awesome tribe of both women and men around me, but really realised how lucky I was when I started embarking on this new path. We talk about my growing ‘follies’, my uterus lining, ultrasounds and countless needles in my podgy belly and there is never a grimace or sigh.

Even from the lads. I’ve found that being honest and open about what I’m going through has brought up a lot of questions, and that people have been really interested and intrigued about the whole process.

I totally get that talking openly about it is not for everyone, and that it’s a very private matter, but I must admit it’s really helped me this time around.

I’ve found myself a ‘folly cheer squad’.

Blaming your partner, or yourself, is a very easy thing to do. My man is a bit older than me, so it would be easier to say that it may have been his swimmers / 20

that were letting us down. When we kicked off our IVF journey I was 26, and as the doctor said ‘it was the perfect time to have a baby’. But age doesn’t mean a thing. Fast forward almost 2 years, countless blood tests, biopsies and genetic testing and we’ve realised that my lady bits, or ‘oven’ as I like to call it, is very much the problem. Now, at 29, you’d never think you’d have a problem falling pregnant, but here we are. With a higher amount of natural killer cells, surgery for endometriosis and adenonyosis and some immune issues, I refer to my bits as the ‘killer vagina’ at times, as we think it may like to kill off the embryo we put in.

Thanks vagina.

After 5 rounds of IVF at a clinic I won’t speak of, as well as 2 loads of eggs being taken, I now understand how important it is to TRUST YOUR GUT. It’s hard to compare an experience when you’ve never been through the process before, but if you feel like you know something’s not right, question it. I can’t stress enough that if you have questions, ask them. Don’t let people make you feel stupid - no question is a stupid question. I’ve now found a wonderful clinic and a doctor who is the perfect fit for us. Each visit I bring a list of questions, and whether they are stupid ‘googling European IVF methods at 2am questions’ or suggestions from my acupuncturist, she answers them with honesty and compassion - and most importantly, without making me feel like a complete idiot.

And lastly, self care. 5 years ago I would have rolled my eyes at someone preaching self care.

But, here I am. The eye roller is preaching; how ironic. I always like to do fun, feel good stuff on the reg but it never used to be built into my routine. But when you’re taking over 14 tablets a day and feel like you’re menopausal at 28, sometimes you just need to love yourself.

Everyone has different things that make them tick, and sometimes it’s the simple things that are the best. I find great pleasure sipping the perfect decaf coffee (yes, decaf!), going for long walks,

blogging or just talking non-IVF-stuff with my friends.

At home I diffuse essential oils, again a new thing for me but I’m now obsessed and it shakes the bad vibes. I’ve also been known to spend a small fortune on underwear, because let’s face it, sticking pessaries up your vag 3 times a day is the best way to take all sexiness away from your life. Bonds lace undies are the best solution, they’re comfortable, a higher cut to hide my estrogen patches and do good things for your ass. Double win. Find what you love and do it.

Or, if it’s expensive, find a cheaper option; I’d love to fly to Bali every cycle but let’s be honest, this IVF biz is costly as hell. Most of all, love yourself. Because going through all this shit is going to make you one hell of a stronger woman.

Beginners tips on IVF • Find a doctor that you feel comfortable around.

• Ask your doctors and nurses questions- lots of them!

JESS Z AR N OW

• Reward yourself daily when going through treatment- I hate needles so after daily injections I did something special for me.

• Try and pre plan the financial side of things. It’s expensive and looking at the price of a cycle can be stressful enough, so speak to your clinic about payment and gap options.

• Get your head around medicare- speak with the finance department of your clinic, they are generally Medicare gurus.

• Surround yourself with supportive people- this is a full on time and you’ll need all the love you can get.

• Shop around- there are so many clinics around, so be sure to look at success rates, their doctors, prices and payment options.

The Commissioner for Children and Young People's Annual Report The top ten things I did last year.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1,419 conversations with children and young people in Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Clare and Burra asking what children and young people want me to focus on.

356 young people encouraged to complete a ballot paper in a mock State election to give practical skills in voting.

300 conversations with children and young people living in the Riverland, Murray Bridge, Adelaide Hills, Yorke Peninsula and Ceduna asking them about their hopes and dreams.

283 conversations children and young people on how to prevent bullying.

78 schools visited to listen to children and young people.

30 speeches made to help adults understand how the world is for children and young people.

26 letters to decision makers explaining how to make new laws and policies focused on children and young people and suggesting new ways to include children and young people.

21 children and young people made recommendations on how to make the family law system more child friendly.

8 pre-school and child care centres visited.

5 top things children and young people told me.

• Keep listening to us • Help poor kids, so no one misses out • Help everyone get an education • Help stop bullying • Provide more opportunities for children and young people

Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People. *Thank you to our friends at Carclew who worked with young illustrators to creatively interpret our annual report.

REVI O PI NEI O WS N

Reflections from a Neuroscience Mumma During these periods, brain cells, called neurons, in the brain regions responsible for particular behaviours form connections with one another called synapses. Mirroring the critical periods, this process first occurs in parts of the brain responsible for sensory functions, such as seeing and hearing, followed by areas important for language comprehension and production, and, finally, regions of the brain critical for higher cognitive functions, such as the prefrontal cortex.

The formation of these synapses, as well as the later pruning away of unused connections in order to make the brain function more efficiently, is dependent upon the specific experiences that we have during these critical periods of time.

WORDS —Dr Lyndsey Collins-Praino, Senior Lecturer, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide

W

hen my son Alexander was born in July of 2017, like any new mum, I was both desperately sleep deprived and equally desperate to make sure that my precious new bubba was healthy, happy and developing well. I Googled incessantly, read all the books (cheers, Kaz Cooke, for helping me learn to laugh at my own craziness) and drove friends and family up the wall with constant questions.

“Lynds, aren’t you supposed to, you know, know about this developmental stuff?” my long-suffering best friend finally asked me.

You see, in addition to being the mum to the world’s most adorable little boy (my completely unbiased opinion, of course), I also happen to be a neuroscientist. And in my post-baby haze, I had completely lost sight of how much neuroscience can teach us about child development and parenting.

One of the most amazing aspects of the developing brain of a child is how plastic they are- meaning that our brain function can change depending on the experiences that we have. In other words, there are a number of key windows of time when development happens in the brain regions responsible for particular functions.

These periods of time are called critical periods and they represent when experience is likely to have the maximal effect for a child acquiring a particular skill or behaviour. In infancy, there is a critical period for the development of sensory functions, such as vision. As our children age into toddlerhood and early childhood, they enter the height of the critical period for motor and language development. Finally, as they continue to grow into later childhood and adolescence, they reach the height of the critical period for the development of higher cognitive functions, such as reasoning and planning. / 22

Intriguingly, once these critical periods end, the core parts of a behaviour or skill are, for the most part, unaffected by subsequent experiences.

Meaning that if our children are not exposed to appropriate stimuli during these critical periods, the behaviour may not develop normally and it may be difficult, or even impossible, to later remedy this, since the brain circuits that underlie these behaviours become less plastic.

Let’s take the example of language. In order for normal language production and comprehension to develop, we need to have exposure to language from birth. So when you coo at your precious bubbas and encourage them to babble back, you’re doing more than interacting with them – you’re actually modelling language for them and helping them to develop the brain circuits that are important for this function. The brain circuits responsible for language appear to change rapidly during early life, with some researchers suggesting that the critical period for language development is the first 8-12 years of a child’s life.

This was disturbingly shown by the case of a little girl named Genie, an American child born in 1957. Genie was a victim of severe neglect and social isolation until she was 13 years old.

During the first 13 years of her life, she was locked alone in a dark room, was not spoken to and was discouraged from making noise. As a consequence, she never acquired language.

When she was finally removed from the home, despite intensive training, she was unable to fully acquire a language. While she became quite good at nonverbal communication, acquired a significant vocabulary and learned to string two or three words together, she was unable to advance beyond this or use language in a meaningful way.

While Genie’s case is extreme (and terrible), it still has given us great insights into the development of language and there are a number of lessons that parents can take from this. First, it is important to engage in conversation with your children from their very first days. Tell them about your day. Go for a walk and describe what you see along the way, pointing out the objects as you name them. Have a “conversation” and leave a pause where you are expecting your child’s response. All of these are powerful ways to encourage the development of the language circuits of the brain.

Perhaps as importantly, put down the tablet and turn off the television. The Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years stress that there should be no time in front of a screen for young children.

What’s wrong with a bit of screen time? Well, firstly, there are no proven benefits of media exposure for infants and toddlers. In fact, research looking at TV exposure has shown that early screen exposure can lead to language delays.

Even high levels of exposure to background TV can negatively affect language use and acquisition, as well as attention and other aspects of cognitive function. When children are in front of a screen, they are not engaging either in face-to-face interaction, which minimises critical exposure to language and social skills, or in play, a key way that children learn. And more concerningly, we still don’t fully understand what effects the bright, flashing lights or noise of a screen can have on developing visual and hearing circuits.

Just like with language, parents can also learn lessons from the other critical periods. For example, during infancy, it is important to surround children with bold, bright colours and other visual stimuli, in order to encourage maximal development of vision.

Similar lessons apply to the other sensory systems as well (and, really, who doesn’t want to do anything possible to create a less fussy eater as a toddler?!).

And when it comes to cognitive development, exposure is also key. Children need to regularly engage in imaginative play, encouraging their abilities for problem solving and abstract thinking.

And consider leaving electronic toys off your Christmas list this year. A recent article in JAMA Pediatrics reported that infants who played with electronic toys that produced lights, sounds or songs had a decreased quantity and quality of language compared to children who played with either books or traditional toys, such as a wooden puzzle or rubber blocks. So next time you find yourself wondering about your own precious bubba’s development, take a lesson from neuroscience and maximise the plasticity of those brain circuits!

REVIE PRO FIL WS E

Just Keep Swimming: Balancing Babies and Creative Practice WORDS —Alyssa Fletcher PHOTOS — Dee Shepherd & Meaghan Coles

Adelaide swimsuit designer Susi Benger knows that the birth of your first child is a life-changer. But, to her surprise, welcoming baby Lilou brought a fresh perspective to her creative practice, with bolder colours, fun designs and the hugely-popular matching mums-andbubs swimear. Previously Estive swim, she’s now rebranded as Coco and Shy to launch the SS18/19 collection of pieces in navy, clay, peach, and teal tones, with functional and gorgeous summer apparel like the market-ready round straw tote basket. Kiddo caught up with Susi to get the low-down on balancing babies and creative practice.

/ 23

PRO F I LE

What inspires the design of your swimsuits?

I love simple, classic silhouettes that are timeless and easy to wear. Lately, I’ve found myself inspired by tailored styles and the challenge for me has been how to translate it to swimwear to create a tailored fit that is comfortable and functional. The design is also inspired by wanting to create less wastage in the cutting process by using offcuts—the introduction of baby styles has helped to use some of those pieces.

We use Italian-made, recycled, nylon lycra which is super soft, long-lasting and is made from post-consumer plastic waste, including fishing nets collected from the ocean. I love working with this fabric, especially, because it’s helping to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans.

The silhouettes are super simple and made to last, with an emphasis on fit and wearability.

Each collection is unique, and pieces are made in small numbers by me, so you know it’s been ethically made.

DESIGNER —SUSI B E NG E R

PHOTO— Meaghan Coles

Why did you choose to rebrand as Coco and Shy? Meeting [now eighteen-month old] Lilou inspired me in a shift towards slightly more colourful and playful designs that are fun yet simple and easy to wear, especially with the introduction of more baby and kids styles and accessories.

What is the role of sustainability in your manufacturing process?

Huge! I’m always looking for ways to use recycled materials and limit the amount of waste in the manufacturing process by keeping all fabric offcuts to recycle as inners for cushions, doing smaller runs, and creating more via made to order. Even small things like using thread with recyclable spools and business cards and marketing materials made from recycled t-shirts.

To me, sustainability means making quality pieces that last, being mindful in the manufacturing process and using resources we already have.

“Each collection is unique, and pieces are made in small numbers by me, so you know it’s been ethically made.”

/ 24

PHOTO— @deeshepherd

“To me, sustainability means making quality pieces that last, being mindful in the manufacturing process and using resources we already have.”

PRO FIL E

How do you juggle motherhood and creative practice?

With lots of support from my friends and partner!

Finding time can be really tricky, although I have definitely found that since having Lilou I’ve actually become better at managing my time. I can get a lot more done than I used to! Especially now that I don't have time to spend hours doing “research” on the internet or revising that pattern for the millionth time, it has really helped me to appreciate the time I have to create and to make the most of it.

“To me, sustainability means making quality pieces that last, being mindful in the manufacturing process and using resources we already have.”

“The biggest challenge for me is the sleep deprivation… It’s still a work in progress, although I think I’ve learned how to relax into it a bit more and go with the flow.”

What are the challenges?

The biggest challenge for me is the sleep deprivation. I don't think anything could have prepared me for it! Making business decisions after only a few hours sleep was a little daunting, and also finding the energy to work. It’s still a work in progress, although I think I’ve learned how to relax into it a bit more and go with the flow—coffee and good friends have definitely helped!

PHOTO— @deeshepherd

What is your advice for new parents seeking to explore a creative practice?

Go for it! You might find you’ll be surprised with how inspired you feel, and how much you can achieve. Especially if you’re kind to yourself, take your time and keep your expectations in check.

Having a good support group of friends and family happy to take bubba for walks can be a huge help, too!

“Since having Lilou I’ve actually become better at managing my time. I can get a lot more done than I used to!”

@cocoandshy website coming soon / 25

H E ALTH

H E A LTH

This Summer Don't Forget The...

As summer approaches, forget about swimsuit anxiety, nothing brings on panic faster than trying to prepare for every possible situation that can arise on a day at the beach with children.

Hot sand, too much sun, wind, hungry, thirsty... you get the idea.

What sets out to be a perfect day at the beach can end up with everyone retreating back to the car and heading for the relative sand-free calm of home. But having a well-stocked bag for a day at the beach can alleviate all (okay, most) things that stand in the way of a fun day on the coast.

In everyday life, a mother’s handbag is like a scene from Mary Poppins. A random assortment of items both useful (and not) that can solve almost any situation. So, how do we create the same effectiveness in a beach bag?

At National Pharmacies, we’re parents, so we understand what’s needed to turn testing moments into happy ones. That’s why we’ve put together the products that we think are all worth some space in that massive beach sack.

Sunscreen It’s an obvious one. But what’s worth noting is how much sunscreen formulas have changed. There are now more options available that can make tackling the regular sunscreen application to an impatient, wet, sandy child, far less stressful. Come and see our helpful staff and we’ll make sure you’re armed with what you need for your next beach adventure.

Talcum Powder It’s a little-known fact that before getting back into the car, one of the best ways to remove sticky sand off little people is with talcum powder. Don’t knock it until you try it, a small container of inexpensive talc will soon be your beach #lifehack.

Vaseline / Zinc cream If your children can’t get enough of the ocean, then the combination of salt water and bathers, boardshorts or rashies, can make chaffing a painful reality. It sounds strange, but Vaseline or zinc cream applied in those areas before the day begins can provide a barrier that will stop the problem before it begins.

/26 26 / KIDDO FEATURE

Children’s Pain Relief It’s little surprise that the combination of lots of running around, maybe not drinking enough water and high glare can bring on a headache. And if some time under the umbrella and a big dose of water doesn’t do the trick, having some handy pain relief can be a big help. Pain relief for children now comes in so many different formulas but our friendly staff can help make sure you have something that will suit everyone’s needs.

Lip Balm / Zinc Lips are easily burnt and need protection so a tube of lip balm will prevent sunburn and also windburn. Another great option for kids that are reluctant to put on ‘lipstick’ is coloured zinc, which is fun and also a great way for you to know they have it on!

Hydralyte Sachets of hydralyte are a smart way to keep little people hydrated – without them even realising. Sachets come in a range of great flavours and are easy to put into a bag and be added to drink bottles on the go. And before you head to the beach, consider putting some of the ready made Hydralyte icy poles in the freezer - perfect for giving the kids an extra hit of hydration when you get back home – added bonus, it’ll feel like a treat.

So, there you have it! Our list of the obvious and not so obvious inclusions in a beach bag to help make beach life a breeze.

We’ll now leave it up to you to collect the bathers, the rashies, the boogie boards, the hats, the thongs, the sunglasses, the snacks, the lunch, the goggles, the bucket, the spade, the sun shelter…..

And enjoy summer with a little wisdom from National Pharmacies

Did you know that we offer capsule and carseat fitting with a trained installation professional?

We also have a long and short term hire service for capsules, carseats, basinettes and more!

With over 1500 products now instore and online finding the perfect products for your baby just became a whole lot easier.

F

SA P R O U D LY NED W O A M I LY

R AT E AND OPE

ADELAIDE’S BEST RANGE OF NURSERY FURNITURE, COME AND SEE THE TEAM AT B A B Y J U N C T I O N BEFORE YOU GO ANYWHERE ELSE.

D

P R A M S • C A R S E AT S • C A P S U L E S • H I G H C H A I R S • C O T S • B A S I N E T T E S • F U R N I T U R E • N U R S ERY PACK AG E S • B E D D I N G • FEED IN G • C A R R I E R S • TOYS • D É CO R A N D M O R E ...

365 Magill Rd, St Morris SA 5069 (08) 8361 2200 babyjunction.com.au → @baby.junction

Mitcham : Unley : Goodwood : Cumberland Park : Malvern ++

New 2019 classes enrolling now after school & weekend theatre classes for 5-25 year olds info@sayarts.com.au / 0400 202 399

www.sayarts.com.au

REVI E WS

Janine Boyd

PEE WEE PICASSOS Vibrant canvases fill the walls and paint in every colour of the rainbow is smeared in all directions as the joyous children of Little Picassos undertake their morning class with Janine Boyd, the studios founder.

W O R D S — Gemma Easton P H O T O S — Meaghan Coles

Where do you run your classes?

We have weekly classes across our Glenelg, Hyde Park and Woodcroft studios, as well as delivering programs into schools, kindergartens and ELC’s, and running visual art events. During the school holidays we run extended classes, art camps, community events and engage large numbers of children throughout the state, both in the city and regional areas.

How do your classes help young children develop confidence?

With humble beginnings at Holdfast Bay Community Centre, Little Picassos began with an intimate class of 8 Pre-school children. After friends and family caught wind, they are now 400 strong and hold weekly sessions across their Glenelg, Hyde Park and Woodcroft studios.

We chatted to Janine Boyd, to find out more about Little Picassos and what they offer: What sparked the inspiration for Little Picassos?

I had worked as an Art Specialist in independent schools for a number of years, creating and developing successful formulas and inspirational art programs. I loved teaching art, especially to young children. I was one of the first in South Australia to establish specialist art programs for children under 6 years in Primary Schools, realising how important the understanding of line and shape were in early learning for literacy and numeracy development. I could also see there was a gap in the market for quality art classes outside of the school environment, that covered all elements of the art curriculum, not just drawing and painting. / 28

Founder, Janine Boyd, has a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts with 20 years teaching experience as an art specialist in many South Australian Independent and State Schools, developing her own programmes and dynamic teaching style. Janine, as well as managing/teaching at Little Picassos, creates Artist in Schools programmes for SA, runs Training Workshops for Primary School and ELC staff on teaching for the ‘Creative Child’ and writes curriculum documents based with Visual Art Education.

Art is an amazing thing for children to be engaged in. It is a great emotional release. They can express themselves, reflect on their thoughts, feelings and the world around them. They can test out ideas, take risks. The great thing in art is there is no right or wrong, just differences, and at Little Picassos we encourage differences, encourage children to share how they perceive something to be. This celebration of the individual child builds self-esteem, and confidence, the self-belief that what they do, see, and feel, is worthwhile and great.

Art also has a finished piece to share with others, to show, display and discuss. Parents proudly show off their children’s creations and that in itself lets the child know that they and their efforts and worthy and valued.

What age groups do you offer your classes to?

Our classes start with our Pee Wee Picassos from two and a half years of age, and pre-schoolers up to 5 years. Once school age, we move into several different groups for all ages and skill levels through to 18 years. We also run special event weekend sessions for families to come together, parent and child, grandparents or family groups so that everyone can be involved in creating together.

What do you have planned for Little Picassos in the future?

We are looking to open a few more studios in new locations in 2019. We have loved running our Summer and Winter Art Camps and plan to build on those to offer more specialist art skill camps, as well as extend our clay workshops and build on the classes offered in those areas as well. There are lots of exciting plans on the drawing board (literally) and we cant wait to share them with you.

For more information about upcoming holiday classes: littlepicassos.com.au @littlepicassosadelaide LOCATIONS: Glenelg 1/686 Anzac Hwy, Glenelg, SA 5045

Hyde Park Rear of 330 Unley Road, Hyde Park, 5061 (shop 8)

Woodcroft Room 6, Woodcroft/ Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre, 175-183 Bains Road, Morphett Vale, 5162

H E A LT H

Preparing for birth A first time mums’ experience with hypnobirthing W O R D S — Lucy Budzynska P H O T O S —Nick Lawrence

H

ypno-what? When I first heard of hypnobirthing I assumed it was some weird hippy thing I wouldn’t be able to take seriously. Of course I turned to the source of all knowledge - YouTube - to research, I stumbled across a mum I could relate to telling her positive story about hypnobirthing. I was intrigued. After falling into a long YouTube hole, including the weird and the hippy, I came out the other end determined to try hypnobirthing myself.

This led me to My Private Midwife. I am a university educated wanna-be health professional, so I wanted the course I did to be evidenced based and not too much of the fluffy stuff. Kate Bergamasco of My Private Midwife is a University of South Australia tutor and facilitator, a midwife and has a Masters of Nursing, so I knew I was in the right hands. But, don't worry, you don’t need a degree in health to understand her course, she just knows her stuff and is easily and willingly able to back it up with evidence.

What is hypnobirthing, you're probably wondering. Well Kate describes it as “a type of childbirth education class which promotes birth as a normal function for women.

Classes empower parents with knowledge and confidence in the woman’s ability to birth.”

Hypnobirthing uses education about the birth process, along with breathing techniques, scripts and hypnosis, affirmations and massage to help women calmly through labour. For me, I found the education, breathing techniques, affirmations and massage to be the most helpful. Knowing my breath and keeping calm was the healthiest thing for my baby was instrumental in me staying focused on breathing through each ‘surge’.

L U CY B U D Z Y N S K A

I love hypnobirthing and will tell anyone who will listen to me. I love it because it empowered me.

It informed my choices and helped me and my husband stand up for them during labour. But to be honest, it was my husband who stood up for me in labour, I was more like "yeah whatever, get out of my face", and so it empowered my husband too. Kate says, “[partners] help care providers understand what the birthing mother needs to achieve her calm positive birth.” My husband knew all the jargon and he was on the ball the whole time. He could, and did, liaise with doctors and midwives throughout the whole process. This was the biggest benefit for us, it helped him know what to do during labour.

whole process. I didn't end up having to have the oxytocin drip and started labour after one lot of gels and my waters being broken. This may or may not have been because of hypnobirthing, but I would say it definitely helped. Especially when “hypnobirthing parents are calm and confident, they are conditioned to release endorphins and other natural hormones to help them cope with this very normal function,” says Kate.

In the end, I managed to birth my beautiful, big (3.8 kg!!) baby daughter pain medication free.

It was a fast and intense labour. I stayed calm for almost the whole time, with one minor freak out, which was quickly calmed by my prepared husband. Hypnobirthing enabled me to trust my body and my baby. I was able to work with my surges and breathe my baby out. I have never felt as strong and capable as I did delivering my daughter.

If you’re a soon-to-be mama, research hypnobirthing and better yet, book in with Kate at My Private Midwife. She “work[s] with parents to achieve the calm positive and supported experience that every parent should have.”

Hypnobirthing empowered me through the most unknown and vulnerable time of my life, and I will always be thankful to Kate for that.

5 tips for hypnobirthing 1. Find a course that suits you, with an instructor you get along with

My labour plan before taking the hypnobirthing course was 'no intervention unless medically necessary' in bold and underlined.

After my hypnobirthing course it was more like 'no intervention unless medically necessary and I'll be ok if interventions are necessary.' And in my case they were. My baby did not want to come out and I was induced 10 days over her due date. Hypnobirthing helped me to understand what was happening during the induction and it helped me to stay calm and positive through the

2. Recruit a supportive birth partner and get them to come along to classes with you 3. Practice your scripts and breathing with your birth partner 4. Listen to your positive birth affirmations 5. Let go and trust your body and your baby

M Y P R I VAT E M I D W I F E . C O M . A U / 29

O PI N I O N

Listening to kids, it’s the law!

— Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People - December 2018

WORDS— Cassandra Kerr

As SA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People I think I have hands down, the best job. I get to listen to kids across our beautiful state from the city to small country towns and hear their amazing insights into what is happening in their lives and the wisdom of the solutions they have to things that perhaps aren’t working so well.

Every day is different but a typical week involves having conversations with children, writing speeches, presenting at conferences, letter writing, meetings and speaking with my staff and administration.

Since taking up the position in 2017 I have focused on getting out and meeting as many of our children and young people as I can.

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recognises that all children and young people have rights and should respect the rights of others. It is one of my favourites as it highlights children have the right to have a say in their own lives.

I take this seriously and make every effort to listen to as many young people as possible. I meet them in settings they are most comfortable in, where they feel they can share their views and thoughts honestly and openly. I also try to reach those who may not always get a say or who are not used to having their voices heard due to their personal situations or geographical locations.

Whilst I’m obviously not the only person who regularly consults directly with children, it’s fair to say that I’m the only person with a law that says I should. When young children ask me why I go out and / 30

talk to them, I tell them it’s not only because I like doing it but because they are my boss so I need to ask them what they need. This usually leads to requests for later bed time or no chores, but it does make them think about my role.

Meeting face-to-face and listening is an important part of what I do, it’s what SA children said they wanted their Commissioner to do; take them seriously, stand up for them and educate adults about their rights and needs. The general consensus is that they’re happy, active and feel respected by adults, they value learning, their family, pets, friends and participating in their communities. However, the main struggles facing young people in this state, centre around mental health concerns, not feeling included, financially secure or prepared for the future.

Helen Connolly became South Australia’s first Commissioner for Children and Young People in April 2017. Throughout her career, Helen has taken an active advocacy role on the main policy issues that impact the wellbeing of Australian families and children, with a strong focus on early intervention and prevention strategies. Helen lives in Adelaide and has five adult children.

Listening Tour) they wanted me to do something about it. Next year I will embark on a major study and report into what children think about poverty – again, the direction my work takes has been informed and influenced by children.

I will be reporting back to the children of SA in my annual report.

I’m sending a poster report to all schools in SA, so they know what I’ve been doing in their name.

Parents and caregivers have a huge part to play in raising strong, resilient children and this starts by being present and listening. A consistent takeaway from my interactions is that family relationships have enormous impact on their lives; they want parents to listen, be role models, talk to them, show interest in their lives and realise that life is different for kids today.

My vision is for SA to be a place where the wellbeing and development of our children is a community priority with their best interests front and centre in our thoughts and actions. SA children have informed my strategic agenda for the next four years, they are the reason I have completed a report into bullying which came about because children told me (on my

If you’re a child, young person or parent and there’s something you think I should be doing to make things better for the lives of kids in SA, please get in touch!

CommissionerCYP@sa.gov.au

REVIE WS

CHASE & MARSHALL FROM NICKELODEON’S PAW PATROL

© 2018 Spin Master PAW Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved. PAW Patrol and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Spin Master Ltd. Nickelodeon and all related titles and logos are trademarks.

/ 31

REVI E WS

Lattes and little ones W O R D S — L U CY B U D Z Y N S K A P H O T O S — N I C K L AW R E N C E

At last the North Eastern suburbs have their own neighbourhood retreat boasting excellent coffee and great atmosphere. Locals Kristy Cox and Adrienne Martin have recently opened the doors of their Dernancourt coffee-shop-cumphotography-studio, with a focus on parents, caregivers and their little ones. This is the first venture of its kind for the duo, their backgrounds are far from hospitality, but you can’t tell from visiting Bean + Stork Studio as they’re nailing it.

Bean + Stork Studio is a modern and simply designed space with functionality in mind. The fit out, by Danika at Design Studio, makes for the perfect atmosphere to enjoy your coffee and brunch. The shop design features predominately white and grey, paired neatly with natural wood and a touch of greenery. The ceiling has been custom designed to absorb most of the noise, so you won’t have to yell over the kids here.

KRIST Y COX AND ADRIENNE MARTIN

The small menu consists of very simple, but delicious food. On offer is an all-day breakfast consisting of sourdough toast and eggs with your choice of sides, ham and cheese croissants and gourmet toasties. There is a real focus on supporting their local community, with produce sourced from the Barossa Valley, bread from local bakery Rustico, and coffee beans from Athelstone based Mighty Mighty Coffee Roasters.

Owner Kristy knows all too well the struggle of managing baby and toddler allergies and so their menu caters for all. They are allergy and intolerance friendly. Plus, they cater to vegetarians and vegans too. You can finally get a coconut latte in the North East.

Feel free to linger all morning and enjoy a second - or third - cup of coffee, there are no judgements here, mama.

If you suddenly find it’s the afternoon, lucky for you, the place is licensed and it’s always a perfect time for wine.

Bean + Stork Studio is available for sole use on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for private functions. The space has been created so it can accommodate all sorts of events from baby showers, to birthdays and christening parties.

They offer a clean and bespoke child-focused play space so you can enjoy some relaxation time while the little ones have a play. There is a small wooden slide, teepee and more. The finer details, like low hanging clouds to help make little people feel more secure, are what make this space great. Another unique aspect is babies have also been considered in the play space, with soft mats and a gorgeous Bella Buttercup mobile to keep the very little among us happy and occupied. / 32

The studio part of the name refers to Kristy’s very own photography studio. Bean + Stork Studio has been cleverly designed to allow a small studio to fit within the space. Keep an eye on their social media because Kristy will offer fortnightly mini drop-in sessions to get up-to-date photos of your little ones without the drama.

Being a parent or caregiver of young children can be challenging to get out and about, but Bean + Stork Studio make it easy. There is no need to stress about noise, mess, feeding or nappy changes, they have you covered. Come, breathe a sigh of relief and relax. And if you’re not toting a baby and a nappy bag, don’t stress, all are welcome here.

3/831 Lower North East Rd, Dernancourt SA 5075 Monday, Wednesday – Friday 8am to 3pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am to 1pm B E A N STO R KST U D I O.CO M . AU @ B E A N S TA L K S T U D I O

FO O D

FO O D

Annabel Bower graduated from the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland seventeen years ago.

Annabel has since worked in events and catering and her present focus is on recipe development and food styling.

As a mum of three (soon to be 4) and a passionate foodie, Annabel spends most of her time in the kitchen! Her favourite people to cook for are friends and family and even though like all children her kids won’t eat everything she cooks, she is determined to keep trying and happily share a few of her failsafe, crowd-pleasing recipes with you!

You can follow Annabel @foodbyannabel foodbyannabel.com.au

Gingerbread R E C I P E & P H O T O S —A N N A B E L B O W E R

Method Ingredients Makes 20 Cookies

• 125 grams soft butter • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar • 1/2 cup golden syrup • 1 egg, separated • 2+1/2 cups plain flour • 1-2 teaspoons ground ginger • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon cocoa (optional) • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda • 1 cup of sifted icing sugar • food colouring and decorations

1. Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.

Add golden syrup and egg yolk (reserve the egg white for icing) and beat to combine.

2. Sift flour with spices and bicarbonate of soda.

Add to butter mixture, beat on a slow speed until combined.

3. Turn out onto baking paper which has been sprinkled with flour. Roll dough out to 1cm thickness, sprinkling with flour as you roll.

4. Cut into shapes and transfer to a lined baking tray. Pop in fridge for 10 minutes before baking at 180°C for 8-10 minutes.

5. Combine icing sugar with egg white to form a paste, add colouring if you like. Transfer to a piping bag and start decorating! Add sprinkles, lollies, cachous or candy canes.

6. The cookies keep well in a dry, airtight container so they make lovely Christmas gifts, class presents or even Christmas decorations if tied up with ribbon.

*For crispy cookies roll the dough thinner, for softer chewy cookies cook for less time. / 33

DIY

Modern Festive Ornaments

YO U WI LL N E E D

By Blip Art School You will need: • • • • • • • •

• • • • •

Balls of yarn Fork Scissors Craft glue Cardboard Acrylic paint Paint brush Clear baubles (You should be able to find these at a craft shop or variety store!)

Paint pens Styrofoam ball Matches or toothpicks Sequins Pins (Make sure you get some with big enough heads so they don’ t fall through the sequins!)

Blip Art School was founded by local creatives Ella James and Astrid Myers.

Their classes provide students with unique, exciting activities designed to help them develop their creativity in a fun, social environment. Join them for a spectacular set of Christmas themed classes at 19 on Green, Bowden! For more info and bookings head to their website: www.blipartschool.com

TIP: Try using a smaller sized Christmas tree so you don’t spend the next 10 years making your decorations!

Ours is a 3ft tiny tree and we love it!

Pom Pom Garland:

 1. Wrap the wool around your fork, keeping it as tight as possible  2. Tie a knot in the middle.  3. Cut each side down the middle and you have a pom pom! You will need to give them a little haircut to even out the sides.  4. Repeat steps 1-3 until you have enough pom poms to fill your garland! Glue them all to a long piece of yarn.

Cardboard Ornaments:

 1. Cut some groovy shapes out of cardboard.  2. Paint your shapes!  3. Glue them together and glue a piece of yarn on as a hanger.  4. Make some friends for your ornament!

Sun Tree Topper:

 1. Poke your matchsticks into your styrofoam ball around the circumference.  2. Stick the pins through the sequins.  3. Repeat step 2 a million times until your sun looks like this!

Now it’s time to decorate your tree! And don’t forget to share your creations with us on social media, tag @blipartschool and @kiddomag and hashtag blipxkiddo! / 34

Dad Words Hey, pal! Here are some cool stats re: the next month. 1) Australians spent $22 billion last Christmas, according to a survey by finder.com.au (that’s $1,178 each). 2) Oft-cited University of Scranton research suggests only eight per cent of us will actually achieve our New Year’s resolutions. So, here’s your gentle reminder not to get sucked-in to putting yourself in financial strife over a holiday (ASIC’s MoneySmart website has good tips on how to save pennies this Chrimbo) and don’t be so hard on yourself or set unrealistic/vague goals from January 1.

Happy holidays and catch ya in 2019, rad dads!

READ: SIDEWAYS – By Rex Pickett

Ever seen a movie that’s better than the book? Me neither, until I recently read this buddy road trip yarn by Rex Pickett, which was made into a cracking Oscarwinning comedy/drama in 2004. Sideways follows depressed teacher and failed writer Miles and his best mate Jack, a mildly-successful actor who’s about to get married, as they go on a last hurrah jaunt through Southern Californian wine country. Hijinks ensue, but there’s heart and sadness behind the boozing and comedy of errors. Yeah, it’s strange I’m plugging the book when it’s not as good as the movie, but if you haven’t seen the latter it’s still definitely worth picking up a paperback and throwing it in your carry-on or car before your next trip.

Available from Dymocks, $35.99

READ: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! – By Dr. Seuss

The kids will be exposed to countless Christmas books this month – most of ’em terrible – but Dr Seuss’s classic is the only one they need. A rite of passage for any self-respecting kid, the book tells the story of a scowling, cave-dwelling creature who attempts to put an end to Christmas in the town of Whoville by stealing all the inhabitants’ presents, food and other Chrissie paraphernalia.

If the kids haven’t given it a spin, shame – head to the library or shops now. Just don’t be tempted into buying the piles of plastic toys on the adjacent shelves – the book’s an indictment on the rampant commercialisation of Christmas.

Mum Words

Brace your-elf people, its Christmas! If I’ve learnt nothing else in the six years I’ve been a parent through the festive season, it’s that nothing keeps the magic of Christmas alive like meticulously chronicling the movements of a lifeless, plastic-faced, vacant-eyed, omnipresent stuffed elf around your home on social media. Nothing says “living my best life” like a little bit of elf theatre performed for your facebook friends children. If you happen to have any spare time these holidays while you’re not setting up elaborate elf tablescapes complete with slow cooker marshmallow bubble bath made out of your own blood sweat and self-loathing, here are my recommendations on how you might kill some hours.

LISTEN: The Teacher’s Pet podcast

Confession: the only thing I’ve read in the last couple of months is the Kmart catalogue. I can feel my brain cells evaporating. You know what they say; reading improves your spelling, vocabulary, grammatical proficiency and the stuff what we need to be learned about in our brain minds. … … IT’S BEGINNNINNNNNG! Anyyyhoo. What I have been getting into, is listening to true crime podcasts in bed. What better time to listen to the nitty gritty details of someone getting away with a heinous murder than whilst lying in the total darkness, your husband on night shift, and only a hairbrush and the whiff of an unwashed sports bra for protection. For my first foray into the world of podcasts, I delved into The Teacher’s Pet. This series, produced by The Australian, is focused on the unsolved disappearance of Sydney mother Lyn Dawson, whose husband Chris has been long suspected of murdering her, before moving one of his 16-year-old students, with whom he was having an affair, into their home. I know. Right?? Quite a cracker of a podcast to whet your appetite for true crime analyses, and in particular how such a systematic failure of the justice system can have even occurred.

The Teacher’s Pet podcast available from the App store

WATCH: Younger

Holy binge alert Batman, mama has a new day job. And by day job, I mean… opportunity to watch three years of television in two weeks. Younger has been streaming on Stan since 2013 [at which point I didn’t even know Stan existed!!

Available from Dymocks, $12.99

WATCH: Pipe Masters

The final leg of the World Surf League Men’s Championship Tour is here and it’ll be a cracker, with Aussie Julian Wilson still in the world title race at Earth’s most terrifying wave. Only three gents can win it (the Women’s will have already been decided by the time you read this) – perennial teen heart-throb Wilson, from the Sunshine Coast, and Brazilian powerhouses Gabriel Medina and Filipe Toledo. Ice man Medina is the one to beat, holding a handy points lead, but Wilson’s the only one that’s won the prestigious comp before. Sink into the groove on your couch and prepare for fireworks when the waiting period begins on December 8.

REVIE WS

Who is this Stan you speak of?]… but on the up side, this means there are now literally five seasons available for me [and YOU] to watch from start to finish, portioned out in binge-worthy bite size 20-minute episodes.

The premise is thus; Liza Miller is a 41-year-old, recently divorced mother raising a teenager. Having been out of the workplace for almost two decades, when attempting to follow her own ambitions from college and get a job in publishing, she discovers that the industry is only looking to hire 26-year-old millennials [and here I am staring uncomfortably into my future]. Liza gives herself a makeover, buys some crop tops and applies for jobs pretending she’s a 20-something recent college graduate. Ultimately the ruse is a success and Liza becomes an assistant at Empirical Press, with the series following her day-to-day, juggling being a 41 year old mother, life with a millennial boyfriend, and pulling off the charade as her ‘younger’ workplace alter ego.

5 seasons available on Stan

worldsurfleague.com

DO: Staycation DO: Women’s Big Bash League

Now that the Australian men’s cricket team has imploded, you’ll need something else to do this summer. Thankfully, the Women’s Big Bash League kicked off this month and there are five home games for the Adelaide Strikers, with the first happening on Friday December 21 against the Melbourne Stars at Karen Rolton Oval. Head along to see stars such as captain and run machine Suzie Bates, leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and all-rounder Sophie Devine; see if they can improve on their maiden finals appearance last summer. Carn Strikers! adelaidestrikers.com.au/fixtures

W O R D S — J A K E D E A N Jake Dean is a writer, surfer and bibliophile who’s counting down the days to take his eleven-month-old boy, Koa, for his first wave.

T W IT TE R ― @JA K E J D E A N

You know what I need more of in my life? Five-star hotels. This month I rectified this glaring oversight and treated myself to a little “staycation” in the Adelaide CBD, availing myself of the facilities at the Pullman in Hindmarsh Square. I swam, I steam roomed, I had cocktails at the bar, I stayed up watching the American Music Awards from the comfort of a plush bed with 174 pillows and crisp white linen sheets that I didn’t launder myself! I didn’t use the kettle because I read somewhere once that people use hotel kettles to boil their underwear clean. THE HORROR! Anyway, sometimes a mum just has to take some time out for herself, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! Book it in ladies! pullmanhotels.com.au

W O R D S — L I V W I L L I A M S Olivia Williams is a twin mum + 1, wordsmith, competitive coffee drinker and professional reality TV enthusiast. Her favourite party trick is not going. You can also find her at eeniemeeniemineymum.com I N S TA G R A M ― @ E E N I E M E E N I E M I N E Y M U M

/ 35

REV I E WS

Big Kids Books

BODY IMAGE WARRIOR

BY CHELSEA BONNER

$32.99 Murdoch Books (Feb release)

SO H E RE I AM

BY ANNA RUSSELL

$39.99 White Lion Publishing (Feb release)

TH E PARE NTING PROJ ECT

THE BOOK OF DANIE L

BY AMY ALAMAR AND KRISTINE SCHLICHTING

BY JEFF APTER

$29.99 Fairwinds press

$32.99 Allen & Unwin

NO-WASTE KITCH E N GARDE N ING KATIE ELZER-PETERS

$26.99 Fairwinds Press

BARE MINIMUM

BY JAMES BREAK WELL

$19.99 Allen & Unwin

Little Kids Books

SPIKE: TH E H E DGE HOG WHO LOST H IS PRICKLES

BY JEANNE WILLIS

$14.99 Noisy Crow

SE E ING STARS

BY SAR A GILLINGHAM

$34.95 Phaidon Ages 10 +

SPACE ATL AS

BY TOM JACKSON

$24.99 QED

Ages 3 - 7

Ages 5 - 10

/ 36

A YEAR OF NATU RE POE MS

BY JOSEPH COELHO

ZE LDA STITCH TE RM T WO: TOO M UCH WITCH

BY NICKI GREENBERG

FARM (AN IMAL FAM ILIES)

BY JANE ORMES

$22.99 Wide-Eyed Editions

$14.99 Allen & Unwin

$12.99 Nosy Crow

Ages 5 - 10

Ages 8 – 10

Ages 0 - 4

CL ASSIFIE DS

Classifieds

Are you a local business with a small budget but a big message?

Get in contact to find out about our affordable advertising packages hello@kiddomag.com.au

Advertise here! hello@kiddomag.com.au

Drop & Shop Adelaide’s creative hub for pre-school children 253A Magill Road Maylands, SA

Extra School Holiday Hours available

Book online harbourtownadelaide.com.au Located Southern Entrance

www.kidandhub.com.au Professional Child Carers

St Peter’s

St Peter’s Woodlands, Glenelg.

See first-hand why SPW is a leader in early learning and primary education.

Woodlands

Attend a Principal’s Tour or book a personal tour.

TAKE A TOUR

Help us build

a

new wildVariety

Children’s Zoo

Call 8295 4317 or visit spw.sa.edu.au

Buy your child a Variety Children’s Zoo Founding Membership and they will receive five years Zoos SA membership for the price of three.

OR Be the face of the children’s zoo – your photo could be on an artwork installation at the new Variety Children’s Zoo. With your support, we can build the wildest children’s zoo imaginable!

Visit zoossa.com.au/childrens-zoo

/ 37

REVI E WS

Summer Reading WONDERSTRUCK By Brian Selznick

Ben lives in the 1970s in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota. He is deaf in one ear, he has never met his dad, and his mum has recently died. When he goes back to his mum’s house, he finds a bookmark, which has a date and an address on it, and it makes him think he might be able to find his dad.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow

By Ruth Lauren

Ben’s story is told in writing, and alongside this is Rose’s story, told in gorgeous black-and-white drawings. Rose lives in the 1920s, is also deaf, and is stuck in her house all the time. She spends her days making paper models of buildings. Her mother is a glamorous movie-star and her dad is a doctor, and they never have time for her. To feel close to her mother, she keeps a scrapbook with articles and pictures. One day, she decides to leave home to live with her brother Walter in New York and finally begins to find happiness.

When Valor is sentenced to life in the Tyur’ma prison for attempting to kill Prince Anatol, her plan to rescue her sister was coming together.

After being locked in prison, she intends to breakout with her twin sister, Sasha, although nobody has escaped from Tyur’ma in over three hundred years. It will be one of the toughest tests of her life and Valor will need all her strength, courage and determination if her and her sister are to survive. If they fail, they will face a fate worse than any prison. Will she rescue them?

My favourite characters in the book were Valor and her sister Sasha. I enjoyed them because of their strong bond and relationship, and the way they did anything to be with each other.

As the two stories unfold, they become entwined into one tale, linking the past and present in a surprising way. This is a really clever part of the book, and made it unique and exciting.

The book highlights the power of family bonds and how far families will go to be together and support each other. The risks and adventures the twins go through will captivate you from the first page.

Wonderstruck is a beautiful, complex story. I liked it because the mix between words and pictures kept me interested, and the stories had lots of similarities. This is a long book, but I read it quickly because I didn’t want to put it down, and I wanted to find out what happened to Ben and Rose.

I would recommend Wonderstruck to anyone who likes Whimsy & Woe, Scarlet & Ivy, and the Stella Montgomery Intrigues, and everyone who wants a good read.

If you like reading ‘Prisoner of Ice and Snow’, then you may also enjoy reading the second book in the series titled ‘Seeker of the Crown’.

I would rate this book 10/10

I would rate this book 9.5/10

WORDS — S A S K I A W E B B WA R Z

WORDS — M AT I L DA S C H WA R Z

How did you meet each other?

Sarah – What are you grateful for?

Sarah: I went out to test the snow’s crunch...

Duck: What are you grateful for?

Narrator: Good crunch that year.

Sarah: Mmm (Sarah nods) then I sat on my bench and Duck was there.

Duck: agg-gag-gag... Ack!

Duck: Ack-ag-ack.

Duck: Ag!

Sarah: He fell on his bottom! (Sarah giggles)

Q&A

Sarah and Duck Fly South!

QUACK QUACK! The much loved BBC series 'Sarah & Duck' are flying south for their first visit to the Adelaide Festival Centre.

KIDDO managed to get an exclusive with Sarah and Duck for the inside scoop ahead of their January performance!

Sarah: Duck is grateful for toys.

Narrator: Any toy in particular?

Sarah: All the toys!

Duck we know you are an excellent flyer, have you ever been on an aeroplane before?

You will be performing right next to the river Torrens where we have a large population of Ducks, do you think you might have a swim between your shows?

Duck: Agag-ag...quack, ack ack.

Ag-ag-Quack? Ack-ack-quack!!

Duck: ... (Duck runs off quacking and flapping)

Sarah: (translating) Nope.

Narrator: Where’s he off to!?

Narrator: Sarah...is that really all he said?

Sarah: Think he’s going for a swim in the river Tr..ins?

Sarah: Uh-huh.

Narrator: Torrens.

Duck: Ack (Duck nodding)

Sarah: Yes, there.

Narrator: Oh, fair enough.

Narrator: I suppose that’s a...yes.

Do you ever get nervous in front of a big crowd? And, if yes, what do you do to calm yourself?

What are you most looking forward to seeing in Adelaide?

Duck: Ack!?

Join Sarah & Duck, and a host of your favourite friends, including The Ribbon Sisters, The Shallots, Flamingo & John and Umbrella, as they plan a birthday party for Scarf Lady in their garden. Told through a fantastic blend of puppetry, storytelling and music, come to Sarah & Duck’s Big Top Birthday to take your little ducklings on a magical adventure.

Sarah: Errrm... cherry tomatoes!

They are small and red and good.

Sarah: Sometimes... I just go for a sit and think.

Duck: Quack!

Narrator: The art gallery of South Australia.

Sarah: Ooh, yus! Maybe Moon has a picture there!?

Sarah: ...and Duck sits on my head, to help me think better thoughts.

Duck: Ack!!

Duck: Ag (Duck nods proudly)

Sarah: Come on Duck, lets go!

Narrator: I don’t see why not.

Tickets available: adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au @adelaidefescent

/ 38

KI DS

Kids LOLs Christmas is a time for cheer so enjoy some LOL’s on us!

How do you know Santa Claus is What do you call an old good at karate? snowman?

He has a black belt!

Water!

What did Mrs. Claus say to Santa Claus when she looked up in the sky?

What Christmas carol is a favourite of parents?

Silent Night!

Looks like rain, dear!

What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?

What is Santa’s dog called?

Santa Paws!

Claustrophobia!

How does a snowman lose weight?

Why did the turkey cross the road?

He waits for the weather to get warmer!

Because he wasn't chicken!

11 words

G W J V T R E E Q F X I C R E I N D E E R C V H Q E H G Y J L G A I C W S A N T A V B R N R T F X T N Q E T O G K Q L I G H T S Z L P Z S T O C K I N G S G I N G E R B R E A D D E C O R A T I O N S Words: tree, reindeer, santa, lights, stockings, gingerbread, decorations, giving, wreath, elves, carols

Find 11 differences in the scene below.

Santa Hat

Santa Hat

Peaks

Peaks

mas Tree Christ

Forest

mas Tree Christ

Forest

Pudding

Pudding

Mountain

Mountain

North

Pole

Gingerbread Cabins

South

Cabins

Bauble Lake

Pole

Gingerbread Bauble Lake

MAP OF

MAP OF

Differences: bobble missing on Santa hat, stockings added, missing snowflake, extra pudding mountain, blue and white striped candy cane, South pole, moose added, road, tree missing decorations, pink baubles in lake, no pink icing on gingerbread cabin.

There’s something for everyone this Christmas at the NEW Dymocks, Hyde Park 147 King William Rd, Unley SA 5061 (08) 8271 8514 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

/ 39

26 Dec – 28 Jan rld of o w ic r o t is h e r p Step into a aurs s o in d ic n o r t a gigantic anim Zoo. e id la e d A t a s t c and inse . u for more details .a m o .c o o ez d ai el Visit ad