KIDDO Mag Issue 25

This

What with torrential rain, severe weather warnings and a distinct lack of sunshiney days in the lead up to December! We’re all ready to hit the beach or the pool here at KIDDO HQ and remind ourselves what it feels like to pull on a pair of shorts.

In the meantime, we’ve been pulling together what is often our fave issue of the year—our summer special—complete with some dreamy travel inspo and tips from the free-spirited Mish and Kirk who have just embarked on their greatest adventure yet…parenthood! We also chat with Kate Ritchie about how to make everyday feel a little bit extraordinary with your kiddos (and how her new book might help!), and dive into the world of hypnobirthing with midwife and childbirth educator Hannah Willsmore - with no swinging watches in sight!

Of course, along for the ride we have our much-loved regular contributors; Rebecca Morse gives us an insight into how to construct the perfect christmas list with the help of her daughter Frankie, Georgie Thomas talks to us about how summer shines its damaging rays on diet culture, and Mark Le Messurier hits us with some big facts about how to model consistency and persistence to our growing kids. As always, we wish you a safe and special silly season and thank you for joining us through the pages of KIDDO for another incredible year. The best is yet to come!

Publisher

Charlotte Chambers

Content Manager Olivia Williams

Editor Olivia Williams

Editorial Contributors

Rebecca Morse

Mark Le Messurier

Hannah Willsmore

Helen Connolly

Amy Nikolovski

Lucy Budzynski

Georgie Thomas

Jana Rushforth Henry Williams George Archontidis

Tiny Hearts Education

Art Director+ Designer Serrin Ainslie Bec Bendle Sales Katie Brown katie@kiddomag.com.au

Printing Finsbury Green Distribution passingout.com.au Cover Cover star Mish & Kirk Ryan-Welsh

Photographer Kirk Ryan-Welsh

TC Media Pty Ltd

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.

KIDDO Mag is a team effort and if you have any suggestions or questions, make contact! We would love to hear from you. hello@kiddomag.com.au

Over the last few months we’ve had some eye opening conversations on KIDDO chats, and learned so much about how to cope when life throws unexpected circumstances your way.

We chatted with Ella Stratton about The HAS Foundation; named after her beautiful boy Hunter Alfred Stratton, the HAS Foundation provides ongoing support to children with lifelimiting illnesses and their families. Ella and her foundation have been providing love, support and much needed funds to families for the past almost 5 years and her work is nothing short of totally inspiring and moving.

We also welcomed Dino Mennillo to the podcast, Occupational Therapist and the Clinical Director of the OTFC group; the longest standing private occupational therapy clinic in South Australia. Dino has worked with children for over 20 years and has a background in child and adolescent mental health, and continues to practise as a clinician at OTFC, along with training and supporting the clinical team. We talk about how to navigate initial disability diagnoses and how to put a framework in place to support your child and the whole family moving forward.

SHE WILL

Every girl is on her own quest to discover who she is and what her future holds.

A world leader in girls’ education, Wilderness develops strong, resilient and confident women. At Wilderness, she will.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT EACH GIRL’S JOURNEY FROM ELC TO YEAR 12 TODAY

The Art of Parker

Parker Thredgold may only be nine years of age, but she’s an old hand when it comes to painting, having been working the brushes since she was a tender two years old. And we’re not talking about the type of artwork that sits on the benchtop for a few days before making its way into the recycle bin (sorry kids!); Parker has an eye for colour and a passion for painting, and this pint size entrepreneur has even started selling her work!

Parker has been one of the youngest stall holders at Artisan Markets, having set up shop at the KIDDO Markets and the Victor Harbor Market, as well as starting up an Instagram account to support online sales.

Parker’s mum, Rhiannon, continues to be amazed by the time and effort Parker puts into her art.

“I’m amazed by her talent.

The fact that it also makes her extremely happy is the icing on the cake. I wanted to nurture her passion and when the opportunity arose for her to have her own stall at the KIDDO market, we thought why not try to sell some of her paintings?”

The response to Parker’s art was incredible and that’s where it all began and The Art of Parker was born!

Inspired by nature, Parker focuses on abstract art and sells framed originals that would look at home next to any Kandinksy or Pollock in your hallway gallery.

Using some of the profits from her painting sales, Parker recently purchased an iPad and Apple Pencil and is excited to dabble in the world of digital art.

“I don’t have a favourite artist at the moment” Parker told us “but I enjoy going to the art gallery and seeing all the different paintings”.

We think Parker will probably end up having one or two in the gallery herself one day!

ortc Clothing Co. junior range has arrived

ortc just got a whole lot cuter, with the junior range finally here! Now the whole family can match in ortc classics and swimwear, just in time for summer.

Specialising in classic prints as well as heritage and collegiate inspired branding, ortc has released a range for kids and it just does not get cuter.

Match with your mini in ortc

With a collection of ‘match with your mini’ sets for adults and kids, as well as junior swim, crews and sweats, the sellout range launched in early October. Adelaide brand, ortc Clothing Co. was brought to life by best mates Charlie Hender and Will Swale in 2016, who from a young age acquired a love for the fashion industry and timeless design.

Their admiration for quality, timeless fashion quickly turned into a promising business prospect with a clear vision and concept – to create sophisticated, everlasting lifestyle pieces that can be enjoyed by their friends and fathers.

We love that the team is branching out and creating threads for the whole fam, and can’t wait for a summer matching with our minis in ortc.

@theartofparker

Sober-curious?

Instead of reaching for the sparkling rosé, I now have another option to celebrate the holidays, and it’s non-alcoholic drinks. Forget the juice and soft drinks - I am talking actually tastes like the real-thing non-alcoholic drinks.

The best part is no one has asked me if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant. They’re basically a shield from idiotic questions! No one can tell your drink has no alcohol in it. What’s more, this is the cure for the FOMO you might get from turning down a glass of bubbles. The whole experience, from perusing the aisles to popping the cork, is kept intact…yet without the alcohol.

There are obvious health benefits too. I now enjoy the holidays with zero alcohol-related headaches and fatigue, I get to drive home without any worry, and I wake up refreshed and hydrated ready to parent my children.

To get some of the best South Australian options for summer we spoke with Lisa Fraser of the brand-new ANA Drinks on Hutt Street. Below are her top picks for sober-curious parents or parents-to-be.

Lisa says, “For the sober curious, the products that are out there now are very good. Take your time to sample and try things over the coming months to figure out what you like. At ANA Drinks we have over 120 products in beers, wines & spirits to choose from. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with what’s out there!”

The holiday season is knocking at our door. For some of us, that means a rollercoaster of having one too many drinks and suffering the consequences over and over. At least this was me and it made parenting small children really tough. I got to the point where enough was enough and I decided to give up alcohol indefinitely - what I have started calling, sober-curious.

LISA’S TOP PICKS:

Artisan Distillers (SA), The Pretender Non-Alc Gin - vibrant citrus notes RRP $38.00

Barossa Wine Cartel (SA), No, No Rosé - sweet rosé, notes of lime throughout RRP $25.00

Polka (SA), Lilly Pilly Sparkling - delicious and slightly sweet bubbles RRP $19.99

Even if you’re giving up alcohol for now, forever or just while you grow and feed babies. We now have tasty options to fill the bubbles void these holidays and beyond.

ANA Drinks - Stands for Australian Non Alcoholic Shop 1 / 206-208 Hutt Street, Adelaide anadrinks.com

@aus_non_alc

WORDS: Lucy Budsynski

A Ministry of Mercy Education Ltd 53 Wakefield St, Adelaide

A vibrant ELC to Year 12 College for girls in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD

Inspiring Passion & Purpose

Learn more at sac.sa.edu.au

Christmas with Mrs Claus

The tree is up, the stockings are hung… it’s our favourite festive time of year! We sat down for a chat with Mrs Claus about her favourite Christmas traditions.

What Christmas tradition do you and Santa enjoy this time of year?

A tradition we look forward to every year is decorating the Christmas tree. I usually bake a fresh batch of gingerbread for the occasion and Santa and I wear matching Christmas sweaters, which were kindly knitted for us by Mistletoe the Elf. We listen to our favourite festive tunes - Michael Bublé for me and Mariah for Santa - and dance around the Christmas tree whilst placing decorations. Santa always pops the gold star at the top!

Mrs Claus’ favourite festive recipes

Mrs Claus has made a collection of four recipe cards of her favourites to make during the festive season, even sharing the recipe for Santa’s favourite gingerbread! Perfect to bake and leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve, or even pop in a jar as a lovely gift for family and

Recipes include:

Holly jolly hot chocolate

Santa’s favourite gingerbread Magical reindeer food  North Pole playdough

For Mrs Claus’ recipes: northpolepost.co

What is your favourite Christmas movie? Goodness, there are so many good ones! I would have to say my favourite is Elf. I just laugh the whole way through and it makes me feel so Christmassy. Though this year I am looking forward to watching The Santa Clauses, and a cheesy Christmas romcom on Netflix!

Any tips for kiddos on what food to leave out for Santa? As you know, Santa has a sweet tooth, so anything from gingerbread, choc chip cookies or mince tarts are sure to be a hit on Christmas Eve. Oftentimes, Santa will pop an extra biscuit or cookie in his coat pocket and bring it home for me to try. I’ve asked him to get the recipe for a delicious shortbread a family from Adelaide made last year!

Can you share any of your ‘must-have’ products from the North Pole Post shop this year?

I’m excited to share my range of exclusive Christmas pins, earrings and chocolate stencils this year.

I’ve really enjoyed spending my mornings making and creating in my studio, which overlooks the Candy Cane Forest here at the North Pole. You’ll also find everything you need to sprinkle magic in your December First or Christmas Eve box this year including custom enamel mugs, festive dominoes, sparkling custom decorations, believe bells, magical keys, and of course our bestselling Santa letters too!

northpolepost.co

Across Adelaide, there’s excitement in the air. Secret wish-lists are being written and re-written and written again. Plans are being made, presents are being dreamt about, and anticipation is building once more for South Australia’s most loved interactive and awe-inspiring Christmas extravaganza – Santa’s Wonderland at the Adelaide Showground.

Now in its 7th year, the Jubilee Pavilion plays host again to the annual Christmas spectacle, which has become an unmissable tradition for South Australian families. Against a dazzling backdrop of twinkling lights, giant Christmas decorations and all of your favourite Christmas characters who are waiting to welcome all the little ‘believers’ to the Adelaide HQ of Santa, Mrs Christmas and the Snow Queen!

Mischievous elves are joined by jolly reindeers to entertain visitors from all ages from the very young to the young-at-heart, as well as over 12 family favourite rides, a Christmas activity trail and live entertainment – all included in the entry price – which makes Santa’s Wonderland the coolest ticket in town every December.

As is customary, Santa’s Wonderland is themed into three zones.

Traditional Christmas Land transporting little visitors to the wonders of Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere, complete with giant Christmas trees and nutcracker dolls, oversized sleighs and gilded reindeers. There’s Mrs Christmas enchanting children with stories of the festive season, and cheeky elves and noble reindeer to help little ones pen a letter to send by Express Santa Post to the North Pole.

The glistening Ice Wonderland, presents plenty of activities to burn off the excited energy, including the enormous 8 metre toboggan slide, an ice rink with helpful skating elves, and of course, the glamorous Snow Queen atop her breathtaking white sleigh. Then wander through the ‘wilds’ of the North Pole with polar bears and arctic foxes, before towering Christmas trees and decorations

and fun life sized selfie stops, making a wonderful setting for photos to capture the memories.

Finally, head to Candyland and the sweet, sweet memories that await. From the family fun zone and delicious treats by some of the state's favourite producers, to the jumping castle and rides, and taking time out to decorate a personal bauble for your tree at home, and then the main attraction – the grand Wonderland stage featuring colourful live entertainment, a highlight for all the lovers of Christmas, because it’s here they get to finally see the jolly old fellow we’ve all been waiting 12 months to see, the one and only, Santa Claus!

santaswonderland.com.au

History Trust of South Australia

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S HISTORY FESTIVAL

Make a breakthrough at AFL Max

AUSTRALIA’S FIRST MENTAL HEALTH CAMP FOR KIDS

The Breakthrough Foundation and AFL Max’s James Podsiadly have partnered to create Australia’s first overnight mental health camp for kids. The unique program, a 24hr camp set at AFL Max, sees students work their way through AFL Max’s Four Quarters of mental health, combining theoretical and practical learning utilising Max’s state-of-the-art and fun facility.

MENTAL

HEALTH AWARENESS

AT AFL MAX

The overnight camp at AFL Max aims to maximise mental health awareness through fun, conversation and learning. Designed for students in years 5-8, Camp Breakthrough is centered around empowering students to care for their own mental health and learning how to recognise and support it in others.

“We know that 50% of diagnosable mental illness onsets between the ages of 11 and 14. This camp offers a space for students to learn and understand mental health in its various forms and hopefully arm them with the knowledge and skills they need to help navigate it themselves and support others,” said John Mannion, Executive Director Breakthrough Foundation.

James Podsiadly, ex-AFL player, coach and AFL Max CEO says Camp Breakthrough was created to help share the load with schools and teachers.

“We know there is a lot of pressure on schools, teachers and curriculums to cover it all when it comes to wellbeing and mental health. The camp exists to bolster students’ learning and understanding in this space, beyond the typical classroom setting”

“Max’s facilities also allow the kids to enjoy themselves. It is all about active learning and having fun together – we find students resonate best with this approach, particularly when it comes to such important life learning” said Podsiadly.

WHAT CAN KIDS EXPECT AT CAMP BREAKTHROUGH?

The 24hr camp, set at AFL Max, sees the students work their way through AFL Max’s Four Quarters of mental health, combining theoretical and practical learning utilising Max’s state-of-the-art and fun facility.

Q1: Recognise – What is and isn’t mental health and wellbeing.

Q2: Self – Caring for my mental health by staying healthy.

Q3: Awareness – Develop a better awareness within ourselves.

Q4: Together – How to be there for others.

Students finish the first day with dinner at AFL Max, followed by a movie on the big screen as they tuck into their sleeping bags on the indoor field for the night.

At the conclusion of the visit, the program encourages students to work with their families on integrating what they learnt into their daily home lives.

Camp Breakthrough has also received a $150k grant over the next three years from Variety – the Children’s Charity of South Australia, which will enable disadvantaged schools and students to access the unique camp.

Joining AFL Max’s popular suite of camps and education offerings, it is expected Camp Breakthrough will quickly become one of the most popular overnight camps for South Australian schools.

To learn more about Camp Breakthrough: aflmax.com.au/camp-max

“This camp offers a space for students to learn and understand mental health in its various forms and hopefully arm them with the knowledge and skills they need to help navigate it themselves and support others.”

Wild adventure

WITH MISH AND KIRK

“Jiah is already the best little travel buddy, and we love seeing the world through his eyes, where tiny flowers, trees, and birds excite him more than toys when we’re on an adventure!”

Meet Mish and Kirk Ryan-Welsh. Wanderers, dreamers, creators, life-lovers.

After travelling the world as a couple, the free-spirited pair has made a cosy home in Adelaide with their beautiful baby boy Jiah, sharing their journey as they navigate parenthood in South Australia and beyond.

With a love of travel, local hotspots, nature, unique destinations, and good food, Mish and Kirk use their platform to share their family adventures, sandy sunsets by the ocean, fashion (mum life…but make it stylish!) and of course, the wild ride that is life as new parents.

Their unique and trending boho style has also been the inspiration behind their two successful businesses. Wild Throw Co. interiors offers a collection of versatile, 100% natural, designer throws made for the slow days, cosy nights, picnic soirees, from bed to beach to wild adventure. The pair also capture love in all its splendour via their photography and videography venture, Wild Boho Weddings. Mish and Kirk have created a warm and welcoming community, and it’s all too easy to get utterly lost in the beauty of their dreamy feed.

We chat with Mish and Kirk about their world-wanderings, settling down with a new bub and their priceless tips for travelling with a baby!

Tell us a little about yourselves and your growing family.

Kirk and I have been together for almost eight years, and married for almost four. We spent the first few years of our relationship travelling the world, which is how we discovered our love for photography. Four years ago, we returned to South Australia where I’m originally from, and bought a home together—boy it feels good going to sleep in the same bed every night now! We recently started up our photography business, and more recently welcomed our baby boy Jiah into the world. He turns one in November, but it feels like just yesterday that we were bringing him home.

How are you finding navigating new parenthood together?

It has been SO MUCH fun, every month is so different from the last, just when we think we have him all worked out, Jiah has learnt something new, which is just the best. We’re so grateful to be able to run our businesses from home, which means we can spend these early years with our boy and also share this journey as parents together. It has meant that we’re always on the same page (which I think is just so important) and we’re able to be present for Jiah too.

You have used your platform to share your love of travel and your experiences jet setting across the world. How has life changed since you’ve had little Jiah?

For us, our lifestyle hasn’t changed too drastically with Jiah! He’s already the best little travel buddy, and we love seeing the world through his eyes, where tiny flowers, trees, and birds excite him more than toys when we’re on an adventure! The biggest difference we’ve found is the pace of which we now travel. Previously we would cram so much into one day, but with Jiah, we have been forced to take things a lot slower to allow for naps, feeds etc, and it’s actually been a really nice change! We’re yet to venture overseas, but we have an exciting trip in the works for early next year to one of our favourite places in the world that we can’t wait to show Jiah.

Tell us about some of your family adventures since Jiah was born, any fave family spots to hit with a bub?

We’ve travelled a lot within SA with Jiah since he was born, and stayed at lots of family friendly Airbnb’s!

 Brooklyn Farm Stay is an Airbnb on a property in Myponga and they have the cutest little farm animals, alpacas and goats; we can’t wait to take Jiah there when he’s a bit older.

 Beach Huts Middleton are also a favourite spot of ours, colourful beautiful beach huts that have full kitchen facilities, on-site restaurant, tennis courts, and a short walk to the beach.

 Kangaroo Island! Jiah’s first boat ride was here.

We’ve also taken Jiah to Sydney and Queensland to meet Kirk’s family who live over there, and most recently, Hamilton Island, which we also found really family friendly.

Do you have some favourite SA holiday destinations you can share with us?

We love Port Elliott and Middleton, there are so many cute Airbnb’s and gorgeous beaches. Of course you also can’t go wrong anywhere along the Fleurieu Peninsula. There are lots of cafes, wineries, and you can always guarantee to find a spot on the beach to yourself. Robe is also one of our favourite seaside towns.

You have two successful businesses Wild Throw Co. and Wild Boho Weddings, can you tell us a bit about them?

Wild Boho Weddings was born four years ago! We transitioned our love for photography/ videography into capturing people’s special days, in a really natural way. We take bookings here in South Australia from September through to May, and then have a few months each year to travel, and lay low.

Wild Throw Co. is Mish’s baby! We launched just over two years ago, where we have designed a collection of throw rugs to be used from bed to beach. They are all made from 100% cotton, and ethically handcrafted in India. Both of these businesses have allowed us to live a really balanced and flexible lifestyle.

Finish these sentences:

We can’t live without... Some time outdoors every day, even if it’s just in our backyard! And our incredibly supportive family who are absolutely obsessed with Jiah (and Jiah is obsessed with them too!) and will help out at the drop of a hat whenever we need, or just because.

Our morning starts with... Coffee (for mum), and Sesame Street (for Jiah).

Parenting is... tricky, forever changing, but the very best and most rewarding privilege in the world.

What are your favourite things to do in Adelaide as a family?

 Sitting on the beach, watching the sunset over the ocean with hot chips or a pizza!

 Taking a little road trip down the coast.

 Brunch + coffee at one of our favourite cafes.

 Going for walks along the esplanade, or a visit to the playground (Jiah loves a good swing).

Mish and Kirk’s top tips for travelling with a baby

Babies are SO adaptable! We have found it really easy to travel with Jiah, as he’s so fascinated by new places, which exhausts him, and means that he sleeps so, so well.



Don’t try and cram too much into one day, slow travel is the way to go.

 Invest in a comfy baby carrier.



Don’t think too much about maintaining their usual routine at home if it’s impacting your travels, they’ll return to it once you’re back!

 Pack something they love, whether it be a favourite teddy, book, or toysomething that’s familiar to them.

 Start somewhere local/close by, for a bit of a test of what you do/don’t need to pack.

Follow Mish & Kirk’s adventures on Instagram: @mishandkirk @wildthrow.co

“We have an exciting trip in the works for early next year to one of our favourite places in the world that we can’t wait to show Jiah.”

Where Christmas Begins!

Every year in South Australia, people drown in tragic—yet preventable— circumstances. At Blue Dolphin, we are committed to supporting and spreading the important message about water safety and drowning prevention.

CHILDREN DROWN WITHOUT A SOUND

At Blue Dolphin Swim Centre safety is 100% at the heart of what we do. We teach kids to enter the water, turn around, get to the side and climb out. In this way, even very small children can take control of their body in the water and in turn, their own survival.

Blue Dolphin programs are designed to teach children to swim efficiently while incrementally teaching all water safety skills. It’s the preparation for drowning risk mitigation!

The Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2022 results state: Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, 339 people lost their lives to drowning with an estimated further 686 people experiencing a non-fatal drowning incident. This equated to a 15% increase in drownings over 12 months.

For a nation surrounded by water our mantra needs to be zero drownings. This increase is unacceptable and must be addressed by all.

As we approach the summer season and restrictions become a thing of the past, holidays in and around waterways will present increased drowning risks and the water safety message needs to be firmly adopted. This will give the greatest protection and minimise the risk of drowning.

Swimming is a life skill and any drowning death is one too many. Blue Dolphin Swim Centre places great emphasis on how important this life skill is for people of all ages…to be able to swim!

BLUE DOLPHIN

SAFETY

TIPS FOR DROWNING PREVENTION

Blue Dolphin Swim Centre promotes drowning prevention by teaching children to be safer in and around the water. Here are some tips we want to shout from the rooftops;  Reduce the risk by investing in formal lessons  Consider an additional boost to your children’s education through vacswim programs  Adult supervision is vital. Know who is supervising your child, eliminate distractions (mobile phones etc), keep within arm’s reach, and always be prepared

Ensure you have your pool area secured by regulation fencing and remove items children can use to climb

Have an emergency plan and discuss it with your family, consider investing in CPR training 

Talk to your children about water safety, bath time is a perfect time for this conversation. Always remind your children about their responsibility to safety around water.

5 Glory Ct, Happy Valley bluedolphinswim.com.au @bluedolphinswimcentre

EDGE EXPANDS, BRINGING QUALITY EARLY LEARNING TO SA

Edge’s inquiry-based philosophy and playbased learning curriculum is also embedded in their South Australia centres, where children are provided access to modern resources, equipment, and books.

One of Australia’s fastest growing and most reputable early childhood education groups, Edge Early Learning, has expanded into South Australia, with the acquisition of 17 centres in the past 12 months.

Renowned for their quality care and education, Edge is a privately owned and operated early learning company that delivers programs from 6-weeks to preschool age, enabling children to discover their potential and start school with a love of learning.

Having established themselves in South East Queensland in 2017, the South Australian acquisition signalled a milestone for Edge who now has more than 50 centres across three states, including Queensland, SA and ACT. With plans to revolutionise early childhood education, Edge has acquired centres in suburban communities and developing areas across the the state in both metro and regional locations.

Edge Early Learning Chief Executive Officer, Annie Bryce, believes Edge’s recognised brand of early learning services will enhance the current offering while meeting the growing demand for access to quality care in South Australia.

“We have built a reputable educational practice in the early learning space on the East Coast and had been looking to take Edge to areas that are seeking quality childcare and education,” she said. “I know how difficult it can be for families to find the right early learning environments for their young ones, but our role is to meet the needs of each family and ensure parents are closely involved with their child’s learning experience.”

Each location has been rebranded and updated with high-quality early learning resources, which include modern learning facilities and spacious outdoor play areas that allow children to run, climb, and play whilst developing their gross motor skills and building confidence.

Some locations, including Brahma Lodge and Aldinga Beach, will undergo a full renovation to meet Edge’s standards of state-of-the-art learning environments.

With the backing of a passionate team of experienced educators, Edge Early Learning’s educational programs support and enhance learning milestones and journeys across all areas of development through its four pillars, education, wellbeing, relationships, and sustainability.

“We create a sense of community to give children the best opportunity to develop new skills and learn about the world around us with our inquiry based learning curriculum,” Annie said.

“Learning occurs naturally when teachable moments are captured and that is why our skilled educators implement this approach to encourage children to be curious and active learners.”

“We encourage children to explore new ideas and learn through play, as we cater to children from 6 weeks to school age and focus on preparing them for older years, socially, emotionally, and developmentally.”

“Our South Australian centres are infused with our philosophy, bespoke learning surrounds and teaching methods to ensure that our children have access to safe and inspiring environments, create meaning about the world around us, experience new understandings, and develop a love of learning.”

Being sustainable is front of mind for Edge, who have implemented daily practices inside and outside the classroom to be more sustainable and are passionate about teaching children the importance of sustainability and taking care of the environment.

Each Edge centre is moving towards solar power, uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, biodegradable bamboo nappies and wipes, and recycling stations; with most South Australian locations also having vegetable gardens and centre pets such as rabbits and chickens.

Some of the ways Edge implements sustainability practices is by having recycling stations within each classroom so children can learn and practice how to recycle different types of waste. Outdoors, children are taught about the natural environment by learning about native flora and fauna and are involved in tending to the vegetable garden and animals.

“Some of our sustainable practices that the children love is learning how to make recycled paper, propagate plants and tend to our onsite vegetable gardens.”

Good nutrition is essential for a child’s health, growth and development, and is why all South Australian centres have in-house chef who produces a new, seasonal menu every week and provides fresh meals daily.

Catering to all dietary requirements, children enjoy vast variety of meals, salads, soups, mains and desserts. Some of the children’s favourites are focaccias, pin-wheels, chicken curry, spaghetti and meat balls, and burgers that the children get to construct themselves.

“We place a high importance on serving children nutritional and well-balanced meals that are diverse in flavour in cuisine,” Annie said.

“Mealtimes are designed to be social, so the children eat together at tables in each of the centre’s dining areas. We find this helps encourage socialisation and positive eating habits.”

Edge Early Learning is known for its state-ofthe-art early learning centres that support the needs of the community and offer added conveniences to families, while being committed to delivering an exceptional experience where children can discover their potential and start school with a love of learning.

Edge provides quality education and care for children aged from 6-weeks to preschool by instilling a love for learning through playbased experiences.

Edge is currently taking enrolments for 2023.

To find out more about Edge Early Learning and book a centre tour: edgeearlylearning.com.au

“We take a lot of pride in educating children on sustainably. Practising sustainability in a child’s early years empowers them to construct knowledge, explore values and develop an appreciation of the environment and its relationship to their world.”

Finish this sentence

An extraordinary day for me is… Not being dictated to by an alarm or schedule. One spent with people who I love and who love me back unconditionally. Oh, and eating lots of yummy food for the soul.

Make every day feel a little extraordinary

There is so much to do every day, but there’s always room to play.

Beloved Aussie actor, radio host and author Kate Ritchie has created the ultimate collection of recipes, activities and ideas for families. By celebrating the wonder of nature, the power of creativity and the pure joy of playing together, this book shows how easy it is to make every day feel a little extraordinary.

We chat with Kate about the inspiration behind Everyday Play, and her favourite family activities.

 We love ‘Everyday Play – easy ideas for extraordinary days’! Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for creating a book centred around making every day feel a little extraordinary?

My daughter Mae seems to be my inspiration for everything these days. It began with my first book I Just Couldn’t Wait To Meet You, continued with my second It’s Not Scribble To Me and has now seen us create Everyday Play together. You can see so much of her input as you flick through the pages of Everyday Play. From the photographs right through to the artwork.

I wanted to create a book that could be used as a gentle guide for being creative and to encourage downtime as well. I know, as a mother, that we get so much from both and it is important to remember that. Just being together, taking a bath or breathing in the seasons can be as extraordinary as cutting, pasting, drawing and cooking. They are all part of the big picture but we certainly can’t do them all at once!

 It can be easy to let the sometimes mundanity of parenting take over and not see the joy in the little things through the mountain of washing and the everyday to-do list. You’ve written three books now, each in one way or another related back to the joy and excitement you have had in becoming a mum. How has having a daughter changed how you view the world around you?

Children, I feel, are a good reminder to take pleasure in the most simple of tasks. For me my daughter has taught me (and continues to teach me) that being present is a real gift, if you can manage it. You’re right. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by all the things we ‘must do’ or must ’tick off our list’ but there is real joy in not doing much at all and that is when I feel the greatest connection with her and feel the most at ease.

Don’t get me wrong this is not something I have yet mastered (being comfortable doing nothing) but when I do, I can see the benefits for us as a family. The other thing she has taught me is to remember to be kind to myself and to try speaking to myself the way I would want people to speak to her. Now and in the future.

We love to cook. I have always loved being in the kitchen and entertaining. It’s one of the ways I show love and I am so pleased that has been something Mae has taken to.

When it comes to specific activities from the book my favourites would have to be Letters of Love and Thanks on page 56 which encourages little ones to write little notes of appreciation to the people they love every now and then, Birdwatching on page 32 (yes, I am a daggy bird fan!) and on page 128 I even shared a recipe that was gifted to me by the woman who cooked all the food we ate on the set of Home and Away.

Even after all these years I still have the recipe for the Summer Bay Diner Muffins scrawled on the back of a script. I thought it was too good not to share. With Carol’s permission, of course!

Everyday Play is published by Penguin, RRP $27.99

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of Everyday Play by Kate Ritchie

“Just being together, taking a bath or breathing in the seasons can be as extraordinary as cutting, pasting, drawing and cooking.”

 What’s your absolute favourite activity from the book that you love to do with your family?

Do you remember writing a letter to Santa as a child?

You’d make a list of the presents you were after, in the hope that you’d managed to crack the Nice List. You’d add an altruistic one on the end, like world peace, to get you over the line because you’d recently had a fight with your sister over a Barbie which may have pushed you into Naughty List territory.

Barbies were always on the list, and the odd Ken to make the role play interesting.

One year it was a Cabbage Patch doll, cassettes to play in my pink Sony Walkman, a Pool Pony and a crimper.

I would have been happy if Santa delivered just one or two of these, especially if one of them was the Cabbage Patch doll as all the cool girls in my class had one.

(Santa did deliver. The name on her birth certificate was Katrine Barbara but I changed it to Natalie after my favourite on Young Talent Time.)

Gift vouchers did not yet exist, the closest thing being some cash in an envelope from your grandparents to accompany the perfumed drawer liners and embroidered hankies.

And to make sure Santa was clear on his instructions you’d head down to the Magic Cave to whisper it in his ear. On his lap! Oblivious to the concept of a global pandemic which would require your as yet unborn offspring to sit 1.5 metres from the jolly fellow.

Fast forward to that generation and my eleven year old Frankie just delivered her Christmas wish list.

Via a PowerPoint presentation. She summoned us to sit down in the lounge room and, using a wooden spoon as a pointer, talked us through her aesthetically-pleasing slides.

I was stunned and impressed in equal measures.

On the list, a zodiac necklace, PJs, jeans, an age-inappropriate crop top and one of those ridiculous two litre drink bottles that takes up an entire school bag and requires two hands to lift to your mouth.

She had priced up each item with the budgetfriendly disclaimer that we could find it at a cheaper price if we shopped around. Her penultimate slide was the tally of all of her desired gifts.

The final slide?

A picture of the Nintendo Switch her older sister had received a couple of yuletides ago with a price tag that exceeded the sum total of her items.

Smart kid. If only she dedicated this amount of time and energy to her Maths homework.

Word soon spread among her friendship group of her special talent. Soon she was constructing wish list presentations for her whole gang.

If she’d come up with the idea of the accessible graphic design app that she used to create her presentation she’d be on the Young Rich List and able to afford everything on her list for every student in her school.

While her resourcefulness is admirable, the materialism worries me, and yes I know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. (Speaking of Apple, she also wants a new phone case).

What we coveted as kids was based on what we saw that others had at school or what we’d circled in the Toy World catalogue. Now it’s based on a shameless shopping “haul” that’s been posted on Tik Tok or Instagram.

My beauty routine consisted of Clearasil and a dab of Rose Musk perfume from the Body Shop, now the teens are all about Drunk Elephant and Sol de Janeiro and I’m finding myself raiding my daughters’ beauty stashes instead of the other way around.

She’s not completely selfish, along with the Christmas wish list she’s compiled for herself, Frankie has put the call out to the rest of the family for their requests.

She’ll have her Christmas shopping done before I’ve even started mine. I work well under pressure. If I’m not stalking someone for their car park at Marion during a 24 hour shopping marathon it’s just not Christmas.

So what’s on my list?

I tell you what, I’ve been influenced by my 11 year old. The kid has taste. I might just buy two of everything on her list. And world peace. Because I really want to be on the Nice List.

“Fast forward to that generation and my eleven year old Frankie just delivered her Christmas wish list. Via a PowerPoint presentation.”

Award winning journalist Rebecca Morse is co-host of SAFM’s breakfast show.

Frozen goods that won t melt your savings

What are our young kiddos eating?

Researchers at SAHMRI have just published new findings from the first ever Australiawide study on feeding practices and dietary intakes in young children. The Australian Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (OzFITS) surveyed 1140 parents with children aged 0-24 months.

In this study, researchers compared feeding practices to current guidelines, and for the first time, food and nutrient intake data are available for this important age group.

Results

We found high breastfeeding rates, with over 40% of toddlers still breastfeeding.

Most infants started solid foods at around 6 months, which is in line with recommendations.

Recommendations

Of concern, 9 out of 10 toddlers consumed discretionary foods. Discretionary foods are calorie dense but low in nutrition. Some examples include sweet biscuits, processed meats, confectionary, and potato chips. Because young children have high nutrient and low energy requirements, it is recommended that discretionary foods are not included in their diets. Offer less milk and breastmilk as your baby gets older and eats more food.

Iron is an important nutrient for growth and brain development. Include an iron-rich food at each meal such as red meat, iron-fortified cereals, legumes, or leafy green vegetables.

Eat some fruit (not too much).

Teach your young child to eat more vegetables - they can be offered as meals or snacks.

Offer healthy snack foods.

Offer family foods from the five food groups, consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

Less than 1/3 of toddlers consumed the recommended serving of cereals and grains.

The amount of meats and alternatives eaten by the children in our study was below the recommended intake. We also found that over 90% of infants aged 6-12 months and 25% of toddlers did not consume enough iron.

Two out of three toddlers did not eat the minimum recommended serving of vegetables.

For more information, contact a member of our team at swk@sahmri.com or on (08) 8128 4436.

If you are interested in our other pregnancy research or would like to be involved in a study, scan the QR code to see what studies we are currently recruiting for!

What does wellbeing mean to kids?

Wellbeing is a word that has different meanings to different audiences. Young people understand it to be a measure of their mental and physical health. Adults use it as a measure and indicator of impact. Kids, however, find wellbeing to be an ‘adulty’ term that is a bit confusing, particularly when used together with health. They would rather adults use simple words like friendship, belonging and happiness. When children tell me what having wellbeing means to them, they say it is having those things which make them feel personally happy. They add that activities can make them happy, but that mostly they’re happiest when they’re with their family, friends, and pets. They identified happiness as an emotion they felt at certain moments and around certain things and that it wasn’t possible to be happy all of the time.

Using their definition of wellbeing means placing our collective efforts on providing children with those things that make them feel they belong, support them to find and nurture friendships and relationships, and enable them to become involved in activities which make them feel happy and confident about themselves and their abilities.

Children begin to experience what thriving feels like when they’re consistently given all the things they need to survive; good food, affection, friendship, a home, connections across the community, and opportunities to feel valued by adults. When one, or a combination of these things is in short supply, they can begin to doubt their place in the world and become fearful and insecure.

When children are experiencing a positive sense of wellbeing they can take in more information, form their own opinions, develop good practices, and over time learn how to successfully maintain their own mental, emotional, social, and physical health and wellbeing on their own. In other words, succeed on the journey from childhood to adulthood.

The indicators we use to determine their level of wellbeing are a combination of their physical health and safety, their mental health and emotional development, their education and learning, and their relationships and social behaviours. As a society, we use the wellbeing of our children as a measure of our success as adults. Are our children thriving or just surviving?

While we might understand wellbeing to be a term that is all encompassing, it is crucial that when we create policies, processes and frameworks designed to support children, that we include language that they can understand.

To find out more about the work of the Commissioner including access to free resources designed specifically for parents and carers:

ccyp.com.au | @ccyp_sa

Outdoor adventures are calling! The wonderful wilderness awaits for the next-gen of young explorers. Whether camping in the wild or the backyard, the new Homecamp x Kip&Co Kids collection is here to help make the best of memories with your crew!

The Homecamp x Kip&Co A-Frame Kids tent combines Homecamp’s know-how, with Kip&Co’s signature bright, bold and beautiful prints to create the ultimate kid tent.

The tent is super easy to set up, featuring two doors, internal mesh doors to keep the bugs away, a sewn-in floor, and two stash pockets so kids can keep their bits and pieces on hand.

Inspire the little ones to get outside and practice their camping skills in these vibrant additions to your camping setup – perfect for backyard fun or family camping adventures.

The perfect gift for the little adventurers in your life. Happy campers here we come!

kipandco.com.au @kipandco

IMAGES: Homecamp

With Helen Connolly Commissioner for Children and Young People

Kids find wellbeing to be an ‘adulty’ term that is a bit confusing. They would rather adults use simple words like friendship, belonging and happiness

Montessori Preschool makes sense!

The Hills Montessori School has been operating in the Adelaide Hills for over forty years, fostering the curiosity of children in their educational programs. Located in a bush setting with two campuses - the preschool and primary campus in Aldgate and the middle school campus in Stirling. The Hills Montessori School offers an education based on the Montessori philosophy of respect for self, others and the environment by fostering a love of learning and commitment to community.

Of particular interest is The Hills Montessori Preschool, a unique program designed for families looking for a school that will give their child a quality start to their learning, in a nurturing environment. The curriculum has an emphasis on early literacy and numeracy skills, as well as experiences in geography, history, biology and art. Specialist staff take students in key learning areas such as Music, Physical Education, Library and Indonesian. The Preschool’s ‘practical life curriculum’ helps children develop concentration and independence in activities such as food preparation, cleaning and looking after the natural world.

Students have access to a beautifully renovated outdoor bush play area with places to climb and explore, or for quieter time children can enjoy calming nooks and peaceful seating areas, meander through the native gardens, play chefs in the mud kitchen or retreat to the tee pee cubby area.

When students reach the age of 4.5 years, they are invited to join the Extended Day program. This is an extension of the Preschool program and is focused on promoting collaboration between teachers, families and students to facilitate a smooth transition from Preschool to Primary School. The Hills Montessori School offers Reception intakes each term, so transition

activities between the Preschool and Cycle 1 Primary (Reception/ Year 1) happen regularly. Principal Cathy France said: “The move from Preschool to Primary School can be an exciting time for children, but it can also be a daunting experience with challenges presented not only in the changing physical environment but also in their academic, social and emotional experiences. The Extended Day Program is excellent preparation for the child prior to starting the Primary Program which can have lasting effects on their learning and development”.

A private tour with one of the heads of school, principal Cathy France or assistant principal Susan Harris Evans, is an excellent way to see first-hand the opportunities provided by the Preschool environment.

Explore our programs:

Early Learning Infant Program caters for 0 to 3 years

Transition Program is designed for children 2¾ to 3 years of age. This is a four-week program that supports the child as they prepare for Preschool life

Preschool Program caters for students aged 3 to 5 years of age

Extended Day Program for children aged 4.5 years as they prepare for Primary School

Primary Program – Reception to Year 6 Our Reception classes have continual student enrolment at the beginning of each term throughout the year

Before and After School is available through our OSHC program for all students in the Preschool and Primary school aged 3 to 12 years along with Vacation Care every holiday period

Phone enquires: 8339 6842

Email: enquiries@montessori.sa.edu.au montessori.sa.edu.au

Images: Kate Dyer

Book your private tour of the Preschool, while also exploring our other programs

Let them be little!

MINI MAD THINGS

What’s the rush to grow up?

There’s a whole world of magic and inspiration out there for our little people to explore. Imagination, creativity, and most importantly play!

If you’re looking to help your kiddos delve into the deep recesses of their creative, imaginative brains and wade through what they might find there, you’ve come to the right place. Mini Mad Things is the mecca for all things creative for kids. Through their range of craft activities, eco-friendly art supplies, creative books and DIY ideas, you can embark on your own creative journey, the only limitation is your own imagination. If you can dream it, you might just be able to do it... with an old cardboard box and some basic craft supplies if you ask Mini Mad Things.

We find out who’s behind the crafty fun by having a chat with Mum, designer, craft enthusiast and creative brain behind Mini Mad Things, Eleanor Ford.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR TALENT FOR MAKING THINGS? HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN CRAFTY?

Yes, if I had to describe myself in one word, I would say I am a maker.

I grew up in a house where we made things. We learnt to sew and to knit; to saw, hammer and build. My mum baked bread every day and we grew vegetables. We learnt to fix broken things. We were resourceful. All of these skills made me who I am and ignited my love for craft. This passion for making is something I would like to pass on to my children and to others; it is the reason that I began Mini Mad Things.

WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?

The inspiration for my children's craft kits and the craft projects we make at home comes from my children. I follow their interests, I am constantly amazed by their creativity and ideas.

“Creativity is a way of thinking. Creativity is problem solving. Creativity is trying, failing and trying again. Creativity is having the confidence to approach the world in a new way. It can be applied in all facets of life from science to gardening; cooking to technology. Creativity is everywhere.”

a child approaching an art or craft project there is something much less intimidating about repurposing an old cardboard box than facing a pristine piece of paper, freeing your little ones to just be creative rather than worry about getting it right.”

Your child may not become an artist (or they might!) but that is not the point. Creativity is so much more. Creativity is a way of thinking. Creativity is problem solving. Creativity is trying, failing and trying again. Creativity is having the confidence to approach the world in a new way. It can be applied in all facets of life from science to gardening; cooking to technology. Creativity is everywhere.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CRAFT PROJECT EVER THAT YOU’VE CREATED?

There is no right or wrong when it comes to creativity!

As a passionate maker of things, a love of creativity is something I want to share with my children and others. I have found that one simple thing you can do at home to encourage creativity is to make a dedicated space to create. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive, it could be just a shelf or small table with easily accessible, organised art and craft supplies. Then allow children the freedom to create and explore their own ideas without judgement. Another great trick to keep your children engaged and exploring their creativity is to rotate the materials available to them and keep it fresh. Adding in simple items like masking tape, glues, wooden sticks, yarn or elastic bands as well as rotating the type of paper and colouring materials available can spark a new idea and expand their creative exploration. For older children, occasionally introducing a new technique or more specialist art supply will help them to broaden their skills and gain confidence in their growing creativity abilities. You could try introducing sewing, printmaking or beading techniques. When working with cardboard, introducing cutting with a craft knife or using a hot glue gun (with the appropriate level of adult supervision) can open up a world of possibilities. Using these new skills, children will be able to fulfil their own creative ideas and gain satisfaction from having made their vision a reality.

I think my favourite craft project ever is the 'Art House' project from my book Adventures in Cardboard. I created a large cardboard box cubby house then I invited my children and their friends to create 'art bricks' which then adorned the outside of the cubby. Nearly 3 years later, we still have the cubby and my daughter plays in it regularly!

SPEAKING OF, WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR BOOK 'ADVENTURES IN CARDBOARD' AND ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN BE CREATED WITH THE HUMBLE CARDBOARD BOX. THIS IS ALSO SUCH A SUSTAINABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO ENCOURAGE PLAY IN OUR KIDDOS! TELL US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ECO FRIENDLY FOR MINI MAD THINGS.

When I created my book Adventures in cardboard, I wanted to share craft ideas that were not only accessible for everyone to make but also considered our environment, so cardboard boxes seemed a great resource to use. In a world of finite resources and growing consumption we aim to encourage the creative use of simple recycled materials, like the humble cardboard box, to create play. Encouraging our little ones to repurpose what they already have is not only great for our planet, it also requires creative thinking to see new possibilities beyond the original purpose, helping our children become the resourceful inventors of the future.

As a family we are moving towards a more sustainable life. We are not dropping ‘off the grid’ just yet but we are on a journey, learning more about how we can continue to lessen our impact on the world and change our habits for the long term. We aim to buy less, make more and re-use what we already have. We are not perfect but we are committed to making change.

We love reusing our household recycling, not only does it teach resourcefulness, it is also free!

For a child approaching an art or craft project there is something much less intimidating about repurposing an old cardboard box than facing a pristine piece of paper, freeing your little ones to just be creative rather than worry about getting it right.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN THE PIPELINE FOR THE FUTURE OF MINI MAD THINGS?

More craft kits for kids and on our website we will be soon stocking a range of art and craft books for teens and adults. Creativity is not just for the little ones!

“For

WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE INTO THEIR IMAGINATION AND FIND THEIR CREATIVITY?

Tips for more ecofriendly crafting

As with most things, with crafting there is always an element of wastage. Here are a few simple tips to lessen your environmental impact when making with your little ones at home:

RAID THE RECYCLING

Rather than buying new cardboard or other materials, use what you already have. Cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, egg cartons, bottle tops and other packaging make excellent crafting materials.

USE NATURAL MATERIALS

Go on a treasure hunt for natural materials. Sticks, pine cones, seedpods, feathers and leaves all make excellent additions to your craft supplies. We also love using natural craft materials like wooden components and beads, raffia, cotton or wool.

AVOID PLASTIC

Avoid adding plastic like foam or plastic sticky tape to your craft projects. Use paper sticky tape instead, this can be recycled along with your other paper and cardboard. Avoid micro-plastics like glitter, there are some great eco-friendly glitters available now if you need a little sparkle!

MIX YOUR OWN PAINT COLOURS

Try to avoid using lots of single use plastic bottles when buying paint. If buying premixed poster paints, you could buy primary colours in bulk and mix your own colour variations, storing any excess in jars to use later. Another alternative is to buy natural paint pigment powders and mix your own paints.

SHOP SECOND HAND

You can often find interesting items for crafting in your local second hand shop. Look out for fabrics, yarn, wooden building blocks, glass jars to store materials and trays to use as paint pallets.

BUY IN BULK

Buy glue and other craft supplies in bulk to lessen the amount of packaging used.

REUSE or RECYCLE

Reuse your old art & craft projects, if you can’t reuse them then break down the parts and recycle the materials.

TOP 3 MINI MAD THINGS CRAFT PROJECTS TO DO AT HOME WITH KIDS

MONO-PRINTING

A simple process, making it perfect for kids. Each time a print is revealed it’s exciting for everyone because it’s always completely unique.

MAGIC WANDS

Making magic nature wands is a super fun activity and a winner with the kids every time! It's so much fun for the kids to make a wand that they can then play with, be careful though, you may just be turned into a frog!

RAINBOW BIRDS

The simplicity of this project is what makes it just so wonderful. Little ones will have so much fun flying these birds around the house after making them. They also make lovely mobiles; hang one or even a flock of birds flying across your room!

Our children are under construction

When I present workshops to parents and educators, I often show an image of a building ‘under construction’. This is a visible reminder that our children; their brains, bodies, and spirit are in a precious process of construction. Their brains, quite invisibly, are undergoing a profound 30-year wire up.

Our children are genuinely naïve, experimenting, participating, and preparing for life. And as they learn and gather experience, they are bound to make poor judgments from time to time. It is what young inexperienced human beings do. You did it. I did it. We swung between being unbearable to virtuous in our search for identity, independence, and purpose. Developmentally, at every age, there is a clumsy and vital tension between our children seeking greater autonomy and living within thoughtful limits we have created. Our mission is to support them to learn through every interaction, observation, success, and mistake, in a shame-free, fully supported environment.

Consequently, this is the perfect time to treat children with a deep reverence around consistency and persistence.

PERSISTENCE

A while back, I had a consultation with two parents about their sons. They had three boys aged 12, 13 and 15 years. The eldest boy frequently punched his brothers hard in the stomach to wind them. He thought it was funny because it got a big reaction as they doubled over and dropped to the floor. Mum did not think it was funny. Dad was unsure whether it was a problem. Mum was a school principal who worked enormous hours and Dad worked from home, part-time, and was mostly at home. I cut to the chase and explained family was the place where each person’s safety must be guaranteed, and this was dad’s job.

“Well, how do you expect me to do that? I haven’t got eyes in the back of my head!” he countered.

I agreed, and suggested he follow up every time there was a punching incident with a private conversation with the perpetrator as well as supporting the unsuspecting victim.

“Seriously? Every time? I’ve got better things to do than pander to this. It’s just a phase!” He complained, rolling his eyes, then shooting his wife a dark stare.

I boldly pushed on to where no other man had ever been with this father. “Yes, every time! And these private conversations must be private, must take no longer than two minutes, must start by you telling your son you love him, must reaffirm your family values and what you want, and you must stay gentle, connected, and good humoured!”

“How long for?” he asked.

“Ideally, forever. But if you’re up for it, let’s give it a red-hot go for six weeks.” I urged.

Unbelievably, he returned in six weeks. I opened the door to one of the best greetings I have ever received.

“I did it,” he said, “I did exactly what you asked, over and over, and for the last fortnight we have been free of punching. You know, I grew up in a tough part of Glasgow. I can remember coming home to brag to dad about a fight I’d had as a kid and older. It was all around getting his approval. If he thought I'd done well there’d be a smirk of approval on his face. If I hadn’t won, then he’d send me back again to square up. I think it got into my DNA and messed up my thinking. It was pretty dysfunctional.”

This amazing man’s love for his boys carried his heart and soul into this experiment. He persisted for the boys, for his wife and for his family. I know that his resolve saved much more than he will ever know.

CONSISTENCY

We use language that is constructive, helpful, and connecting.

We give poised responses - a thoughtful beautiful blend of kindness, attachment, strength, and leadership.

We acknowledge the behaviours we value - carefully placed praise is the strongest shaper of desirable behaviours.

We notice their stressors and cocreate opportunities for them to achieve greater success.

We teach new skills so they can function more effectively, everywhere.

Remember, every day is a new day, and with it, comes the opportunity to restart a promise you’ve made to yourself even though it may have fallen short the day, or days, before. New days invite our hopes and wishes to become real. Please persist!

Mark is a teacher, counsellor, public speaker, and the author of 17 publications, with a new parenting book just around the corner. He works in private practice in Adelaide as a mentor to children and adolescents, and as a coach to parents. Mark is the recipient of SA Senior Australian of the Year 2022.

marklemessurier.com.au whatsthebuzz.net.au

WORDS: Mark Le Messurier

How do we model and build these important foundations?

Developmentally, at every age, there is a clumsy and vital tension between our children seeking greater autonomy and living within thoughtful limits we have created.

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AND ORTHODONTICS

WORDS: Dr Daniel De Angelis

DOES PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVER ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?

Yes! Many health insurers cover part of your orthodontic treatment under ‘extras’ cover. You’ll also be claim some of the cost of the X-rays needed at your initial consultation under general dental cover

WHAT IF I CHOOSE NOT TO SEE A SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIST FOR MY OR MY KIDDO’S ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?

Some health funds don’t cover orthodontics unless the treatment is being delivered by a Specialist Orthodontist. Keep this in mind when choosing your orthodontic provider.

HOW MUCH CAN I CLAIM?

All extras have a limit on how much you can claim – an annual limit over a 12 month period or a lifetime limit. Lifetime limit is the maximum amount you can claim throughout your lifetime. In most cases, orthodontics carries lifetime limits.

WHAT’S MY LIFETIME LIMIT?

Most health funds offer between $1,400 to $3,000 in lifetime orthodontic cover.

HOW DO I CLAIM?

We have HICAPS terminals available at our three clinics (Modbury, West Lakes and St Peters) where you will be able to claim at the time of your consultation.

WHAT IS MY BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY?

Some health funds don’t pay benefits until treatment has commenced. For clear aligner treatment, you will most likely be eligible for your benefits once you have received your first set of aligners which can take up to 8 weeks to be manufactured and delivered.

IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD?

Extras cover typically includes a 12 month waiting period if you are new to private health insurance. If you’ve been with your health fund for a while a waiting period may not apply.

WHAT AM I COVERED FOR?

We encourage our patients to check what benefits and rebates they are entitled to directly with their health fund. Due to privacy, only your health fund will be able to give you this information so we recommend giving them a call.

133 TOC (133 862)

transformorthocare.com.au

@transformorthodonticcare

Ask Amy...

AmyNik

Amy Nikolovski is the Managing Partner of DBH Lawyers, former President of the SA Law Society and a leading lawyer across her field of expertise. Amy is a staunch advocate for women in business in all aspects of her professional life. Amy is also a proud mum to Niko and Amelia.

The Federal Government recently announced an extension of their paid parental leave policy, but who can access paid parental leave, and what are your rights?

Working parents of children born or adopted are eligible to receive 18 weeks (which will change to 26 weeks from 1 July 2023 in line with the Federal Government’s recent announcement).

Currently the primary carer of a newborn or recently adopted child is entitled to 18 weeks of Paid Parental Leave (PPL) at the National Minimum Wage (as of 1 July 2022 the minimum wage was $812.60 per week). All workers may be eligible (causal, seasonal, full-time, part-time, contract and self-employed workers)

There are eligibility requirements which include:

 The individual claiming the PPL was not working during the period of leave,  was earning a taxable income of $150,000 or less in the financial year immediately prior to the leave  was working 10 of the 13 months prior to the birth or adoption of the child  was working a minimum of 330 hours in the 10-month period prior to the birth

 you must live in Australia, and either be an Australian citizen, a permanent visa holder, a special category visa holder, or in some circumstances a temporary visa holder (i.e., partner provisional visa or temporary protection visa)

In addition to PPL, Dad and Partner Pay is also available, where fathers and partners of a newly born or adopted child can receive up to two weeks pay at minimum wage (the same eligibility conditions as above apply).

If you are lucky enough to have employer funded parental leave, that leave entitlement is in addition to what is received from the Federal Government.

What happens to my job?

If you are a permanent employee and you have been with your employer for 12 months or more, your employer is required to allow you 12 months of unpaid leave and to “hold your job”. You can also request another 12 months of unpaid leave and request flexibility upon your return to work.

Your employer is required to put you back into employment in the same role as you were prior to taking leave (after the initial 12-month period) but does not have to guarantee your role if you seek the further 12 months or flexible working arrangements if they cannot accommodate the request for reasonable business reasons. Those reasons must be stated in writing.

What

if my employer does not offer me employment or the job

I am given is different from the one I left?

Changes to roles do happen, if the job no longer exists (genuinely redundant) then the employee needs to be offered a job of a similar nature and appropriately aligned with the skill set when they return to work.

If an employer does not provide an alternative or a role to a worker returning from parental leave, then the worker may have an action of Constructive Dismissal, Unfair Dismissal or Adverse Action Claim against your employer.

If, however, you were on a fixed term contract, your employer is not required to offer you employment if the contract ends during the period of leave, nor are they obligated to extend the contract on your return to work.

One of the most common questions we get is – is orthodontics covered by private health insurance? Here are the top things you need to know when it comes to private health insurance and orthodontics.

Supporting your fertility journey

at Bayside Pharmacy

With three expert pharmacists on hand and a combined experience of over 25 years, you can book an appointment with one of the IVF specialist pharmacists and receive customised advice. Whether it’s demonstrating how to administer your medications or just helping you feel confident in all aspects of your treatment, you can discuss your journey privately and feel supported by professionals along the way.

As well as the provision of fertility medications, Bayside Pharmacy also has a full range of vitamin supplements. Some of these can be difficult to source from traditional pharmacies, but at Bayside, the team can compound these for you on site to try to help improve your chances of success in your fertility treatment.

Beginning your fertility journey comes with a mixture of emotions and often an overload of information. The team at Bayside Pharmacy can provide the right fertility medication for you and help you sort through the complicated science. Through working with leading fertility clinics, the team have accumulated a wealth of knowledge to help you in starting your family.

IVF is an overwhelming and emotional journey, and that’s why over and above the services provided around medications, Bayside Pharmacy also offers an after hours emergency service for any concerns you may have, or to supply you with ‘trigger’ medication at short notice, giving you peace of mind and confidence.

What is a compounding chemist?

Compounding is the science of preparing personalised medications. Compounded medications are prepared specifically for a patient based on their doctor’s prescription. A doctor will specify the exact quantities of medicines to be mixed and incorporated into the final product.

The laboratory at Bayside Pharmacy uses the latest technology to deliver the highest quality product.

Most custom compound items can usually be supplied within 24-48 hours and you will receive an SMS when your item is ready for collection. It’s that simple!

Corner of Jetty & Brighton Road, Brighton Rd, Glenelg baysidepharmacy.com.au

Empowering young women from Reception to Year 12 in the heart of Adelaide for over 150 years.

Before school care available from 6:45 am.

Now offering playgroup for children aged 0 - 5 years.

3 TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW HEADING INTO SUMMER

FROM TINY HEARTS EDUCATION

As temperatures increase, so does the need for safety precautions for our kiddos throughout the season. The team at Tiny Hearts Education has given us their top tips for heading into summer with babies and kids, so you can enjoy the weather without the worry!

1. SPRAYING WATER FROM THE HOSE DIRECTLY ON SOMEONE BEFORE LETTING IT RUN COOL FIRST CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BURNS

The water inside a garden hose can heat up quickly to between 55-60 degrees in the summer sun when not running. It takes just ONE SECOND to cause full-thickness burns at 60 degrees and TEN SECONDS at 55 degrees.

So remember, when you're outside with your little ones and are planning to use the sprinkler or hose to cool off, run the water on the grass until the water runs cold before spraying yourself or your bub.

2. COVERING YOUR PRAM WITH A BLANKET DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE PRAM

As the weather heats up, prams can become as dangerous as hot cars.

Our natural instinct is to cover our pram to minimise the sun, but this can reduce airflow and increase the temperature in the pram underneath the blanket, quickly making it too hot for bub.

3. SUNSCREEN + PREVENTING SUNBURN

Your little one has delicate and sensitive skin that burns quickly + easily. The more sun exposure at an early age, the greater the chance of skin cancer later in life.

So to protect our young babies best, we would do all of these things first:

 Cover as much skin as possible with lightweight clothes or a wrap

 Wear a wide-brimmed hat that covers the face, ears + back of the neck

 Use baby sunnies for their little eyes  Seek out and stay in the shade

For little ones, the last line of defence is sunscreen. The Australasian College of Dermatologists doesn't recommend sunscreen use on bubs under 6m because their skin is highly absorbent.

Always apply sunscreen:  20 minutes before sun exposure, again 30 minutes later and repeat every 2 hours (regardless of package instructions, particularly if swimming) 

Generously - most people use too little When choosing a sunscreen for older bubs, kiddos and yourselves, look for a sunscreen that is:  SPF 30 or higher [50+ is the best] 

Water-resistant and broad spectrumoffers the best protection 

Must be TGA approved - if the website doesn't say 'TGA approved’: followed by a number, do not buy it  Developed explicitly for little ones; they will be less harsh

We hope this helps you prepare for summer, armed with the info to advocate for and treat your precious Tiny Heart.

Helping you feel prepared for parenthood is what Tiny Hearts is all about. For more life-saving info, book into the Tiny Hearts Education Baby + Child First Aid course and let the team teach you everything they know, empowering you to face parenthood without fear.

tinyheartseducation.com @tinyheartseducation

From little things, big things GROW

Whether it’s ballet or hip hop, musical theatre or jazz, acro, tap or contemporary, Inlight delivers professional dance education with a difference.

Shining a light on each student so they radiate from within, the nurturing studio environment of Inlight sets it apart from the rest. With a focus on offering fun, kindness, friendship building, personal development and of course dance technique and skills, the positive environment of Inlight means young dancers are supported in a warm, welcoming and inclusive dance school.

Inlight offers classes across a range of levels, from beginner (from 3 years old), junior, intermediate and advanced, for both boys and girls. Private lessons are also available to enhance and build on specific goals and techniques in a personalised environment.

Free 15 minute mindfulness and meditation classes are offered at Inlight 3 times per week to all age groups to encourage students to take a step back, focus inwards and just breathe.

Highly experienced teachers

The Inlight faculty comprise a terrific mix of highly accomplished and accredited industry leaders in their field and zestful young teachers and performers with their fingers on the pulse.

University lecturers, school teachers, University graduates in dance and music theatre, SACE curriculum writers, Ausdance board members, industry choreographers and performers all form the group of experienced teachers at Inlight.

Inlight is overseen by Director, Martine Quigley, who trained at Broadway Dance Centre and Sydney Dance Company and has an extensive resume of performing, choreographing and educating dancers globally. This includes an impressive resume of experience including The Late Show with David Letterman, Madonna, Janet Jackson and Kelly Clarkson to name a few.

Guest dancers and choreographers also regularly provide tuition, master classes and Pro-Styles sessions throughout the year.

One step further

Inlight is offering a FREE trial session for all ages if you mention KIDDO mag!

To book your trial please email info@inlightdance.com

Examinations can be studied and taken for those students wishing to expand on their dancing. All students will also receive internal assessments to keep them on track.

State competitions are offered for students who are ready to take their dance to the next level.

Professional studio facilities

The professional studio facilities at Inlight include sprung floors, mirrors, barres, sound systems, acro mats, dance equipment, and television monitors.

building

development

& skill development

WHAT IS "NUDO"

Pronunciation: /nu.do/ A nautical term for a looping piece of a long, flexible material.

NUDO SUITS

For every adventure

big and small

Best enjoyed on salty days, in muddy puddles, exploring waterfalls, swimming lessons and sprinkler kissed lawns… Fun times are often cut short when little ones get too cold to play. The Aussie designed Nudo Suit allows your little one to have fun, no matter what the weather conditions; because jumping in muddy puddles and dancing in the rain is just as important as staying sun smart and learning to swim! Whether you’re taking your baby for their first dip in the ocean, teaching your toddler to ride waves, making friends at swimming lessons or just playing with a sprinkler at home, Nudo Suits are made for any adventure BIG and small. Designed to maintain a healthy body temperature, in Nudo your

kiddos can keep playing, no matter what the day is looking like outside.

Made for babies as young as 6 months old and ranging up to toddlers aged 3 years, this is your answer to the perfect baby and toddler wetsuit, keeping your little one sunsafe and warmer for longer, without compromising on

@nudo.suits nudosuits.com

WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDER?

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) causes difficulties with speaking and understanding language. DLD can last a lifetime, but help is available.

The speechie team at SPOT Paediatrics are experts in treatment and therapy plans for children with developmental delays and disorders, including speech disorders, language disorders, and literacy difficulties. We find out more from SPOT Paediatrics about DLD, how it presents, and what therapy options are available.

PEOPLE WITH

DLD MAY

HAVE

CHILDREN WITH DLD WILL OFTEN HAVE CHALLENGES WITH THEIR GRAMMAR SKILLS, INCLUDING DIFFICULTIES WITH  Getting words into the right order (e.g., Me ball kick)  Plurals (e.g., Mouses have pink footses)  Leaving out ‘function’ words like “the”, “a” and “to” (e.g., Want toy)  Forming questions correctly  Describing people, things or ideas in detail  Using complex sentences, such as sentences containing words like “because”, “although”, “if” and “when”

THE ROLE OF A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

CHILDREN WITH DLD

Children with DLD are more likely to require clear teaching and support at school, and may require modifications to the curriculum or their learning space, and additional support from professionals such as speech pathologists and tutors. They are also more likely to have difficulty developing and maintaining friendships.

Although children with DLD may have challenges in some areas of their learning, they may have strengths in other areas such as art, sports or music. Focussing on the child’s strengths can support their mental health and their confidence, and provide them with opportunities to feel successful and engage in a variety of social interactions.

With the right supports that help to meet these areas of strength and address areas of need, children with DLD can lead successful lives.

HOW IS DLD DIAGNOSED?

DIFFICULTY IN

THE FOLLOWING AREAS.  Using words to express their ideas  Saying words in the right order, having conversations or telling a story  Understanding words, following instructions or answering questions  Remembering what someone has said  Paying attention  Reading and writing  Difficulties with grammar

Speech pathologists can work with families to evaluate a child’s language skills and assess whether they may have DLD. They can then support the child to develop their language skills through speech therapy sessions. An important part of helping children with DLD to participate and be successful with their learning, is for speech pathologists to work with families and teachers to make the child’s environment more accessible. This can include changing the way that we give children instructions, and presenting information to the child in a particular way that supports them to understand the task.

DLD is diagnosed by a speech pathologist, however a person with DLD may need additional support from other health professionals.

The therapist will routinely assess language skills and developmental history will be important and a hearing and vision test may also be required.

If you have concerns about your child’s language development, see your GP, paediatrician, child health service or a speech pathologist.

SPOT Paediatrics, Level 1/360 Brighton Rd, Hove spotpaediatrics.com.au

Scan the QR code to sign up.

Body Image Rewritten

If that’s you too, I need to tell you, it’s not normal. Living like that is not normal; dieting every summer? Not normal. Not enjoying life events because you are so concerned about your body? Not normal. I wish someone told me that earlier because the scary thing is that diet culture has normalised this behaviour in today's society.

So let’s practice something new this summer. Let’s focus on that negative voice that slaps you in the face before summer hits.

We have to first recognise that voice is not who we are meant to be. We did not pop out into this world thinking we were sh*t, we have been conditioned to believe that way.

Instead of starting a diet, let’s learn how to be more intuitive with our food and trust our bodies. Instead of exercising to punish yourself, focus on what feels good and do that instead. A walk down the beach with friends and a coffee is something I do all the time.

And so it begins......

As someone who used to work in the diet culture industry, I know what’s coming in the next few weeks. Brace yourselves. This is time for diet culture to shine.

New diets, new gym challenges, new weight loss tablets that miraculously help you lose 5kgs in 2 seconds to get you ready for summer.

Diet culture is a clever little thing, it knows all your triggers and knows when to pounce.

Summer used to be so triggering for me. The thought of wearing bathers, going to the beach, wearing shorts etc used to make my sphincter tighten and my anxiety heighten.

My mind was so focused on my body and how I looked that I rarely enjoyed any event. I would feel so anxious going into anything social that I would quickly down a couple glasses just to make the anxiety go away.

So start calling BS on diet culture. Tell it you’re not falling for it this season. You’re done with it and that negative voice too.

Buy clothes that FEEL comfortable, no matter what the size and when you look at yourself in the mirror, compliment yourself even if it feels weird AF at the beginning.

We need to change how we talk to ourselves. Give yourself the pep talk you would give your best friend before you walk into an event. Remind yourself, you don’t need to change for anyone, the RIGHT people will love you for you.

Practice confidence even if it feels weird.

Know how powerful your mind is, it got you here so it can get you out too.

Choose to be different this summer. Life is too short not to think you are brilliant and it sure as hell is too short to let diet culture win.

You can do this and I’m right here with you!

Love, Georgie

“Diet culture is a clever little thing, it knows all your triggers and knows when to pounce.”

“Summer is coming and that doesn’t mean you need to start a diet”

WORDS: Georgie Thomas

@bodyimagerewritten

SUMMER BERRY ETON MESS

from Sprout

This festive eton mess is a crowd-pleasing dessert for any Christmas table or summer celebration.

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

1 egg white

2 tablespoons caster sugar

⅔ cup thickened cream

2 tablespoons icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla bean extract

½ cup reduced-fat Greek yoghurt

½ cup frozen raspberries, defrosted

1 punnet of raspberries

1 punnet of blueberries

1 punnet of blackberries

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 100°C (fan-forced). Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Whisk egg white in a large bowl until firm peaks form. Gradually pour in caster sugar, continuing to whisk until meringue is stiff and glossy. Transfer to a piping bag. Pipe 20 cent coin size rounds onto the prepared baking tray. Bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and leave the door ajar until meringues have cooled.

Meanwhile, whisk cream, icing sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold through yoghurt.

Mash defrosted raspberries to a thick sauce consistency with a fork.

To serve, break up three quarters of the meringues with clean hands and fold through cream mixture. Divide between serving bowls. Spoon over raspberry sauce and gently swirl into cream mixture below. Top with fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and remaining meringues.

For more recipes from Sprout: sprout.edu.au @sproutadl

Hypnobirthing

Hannah Willsmore is a Registered Midwife, Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator based in Adelaide. With her background working as a Midwife in multiple hospitals over the past decade she knows the 'ins-and-outs' of the maternity system here in Australia, and is all about helping women to achieve a positive pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience.

She has a passion for education and holistic, evidence based care, and strives to support women to achieve a positive transition to motherhood. She currently offers a variety of midwifery and lactation services as well as her hypnobirthing courses, and is host of the podcast ‘Changing Birth’.

As midwife and childbirth educator I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of women as they gave birth to their babies. I truly have the best job in the world and am so lucky that I get to work with families during such an exciting time in their lives. It was really by chance that I came across hypnobirthing, but I am so grateful that I did!

Almost a decade ago I was working a night shift on the labour ward and was caring for a woman who was using hypnobirthing. I had never experienced hypnobirthing before, and prior to this shift thought that it all sounded a bit hippy and too good to be true - how wrong I was! The woman I was caring for used many different tools in labour and birthed her baby calmly with no medical intervention or medications, she didn't even look like she was in labour! Her partner was so supportive, and seemed to know exactly what to say and what to do to help. I left this shift on an absolute high, and couldn't believe birth could be like this. This had absolutely piqued my interest in hypnobirthing, and I wanted to help more women have a birth like this. I decided to complete my hypnobirthing training and have been teaching hypnobirthing to women and their birth partners for the past 8 years. I've worked with over 750 families as they prepare for their birth and get to hear the magic of hypnobirthing every day in the birth stories from my clients.

This year I got to put the techniques into practice myself as I gave birth to my first baby Archie. I had an incredible birth which truly was the best day of my life. I practised the hypnobirthing techniques with my partner in the lead up to my birth, and then used them throughout labour. My labour was quick, free of medical intervention or drugs, and I birthed my big 5kg baby completely naturally. Hypnobirthing played a huge role in the safe arrival of our baby boy and achieving the birth that we desired. This has made me even more excited to continue sharing hypnobirthing with families as I now know firsthand the impact it can have.

Hypnobirthing essentially means the use of hypnosis during birth. Self-hypnosis is a fantastic technique to help us stay calm in labour. There are many different options for learning hypnobirthing, including group courses, books, or sessions with a hypnotherapist. The antenatal course I have created combines self hypnosis, active birth techniques, and all of the little tips and tricks I use as a midwife to help my clients have a positive birth. Women and their birth partners complete the course during

pregnancy and then use the techniques during their labour and birth.

The hypnosis that we use in the course is all selfhypnosis and very similar to a meditative or deeply relaxed state of mind. In this relaxed state our brain waves slow down, moving from beta and alpha states to theta. In the theta brainwave state bodily sensations are less intense, it is easier to handle difficult situations and we feel calmer overall. There are no swinging watches here, and I promise that the hypnosis that we use isn't scary or like anything you may have seen on TV! You’re not asleep or in a trance during your birth, and are still able to make decisions and have discussions with your partner/ care provider. The reason I love self-hypnosis and find it so effective with my clients is because it allows us to get into that focussed, calm state more easily, and also to be able to maintain this mindset in different scenarios. It is also fantastic for helping to release and let go of negative thought patterns that can impact our birth experience. Often what we hear about birth and see in movies can be quite scary, so it is really normal to have some fears or worries about birth. I love seeing my clients go from fearful to excited about their birth. Many midwives and obstetricians often suggest hypnobirthing to their clients because they see the positive impact that it can have.

Everyone can use Hypnobirthing, and we know that everyone does have that ability to enter a hypnotic state. For some this is easier than others, but it all comes down to practice. During the course it is always emphasised how important practice is in really becoming comfortable with the hypnosis techniques. By practising the techniques during pregnancy we can create new neural pathways in our brain through repetition. This then means that the techniques are familiar and easy to use in labour. This is a key part of hypnobirthing and why I recommend beginning a course from 20 weeks of pregnancy so there is ample time to practice.

WORDS: Hannah Willsmore, Registered Midwife, Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator

“It is fantastic for helping to release and let go of negative thought patterns that can impact our birth experience.”

What does a hypnobirthing course entail?

In most hypnobirthing programs you will also learn a variety of other tools in addition to hypnosis. In my courses I teach breathing, visualisation, massage, acupressure, mindset strategies, yoga, active birth techniques and much more. These techniques are all evidence based techniques and help you work with your body during labour, rather than against it. We focus on techniques that help your body to release endorphins because they provide natural pain relief in our body and can decrease the discomfort that we feel during labour. We also use the techniques to help stay calm and keep adrenaline levels low. This is important because when our body secretes high levels of adrenaline this can actually slow down the birth process. We want to reduce any fear, stress or anxiety around birth during our pregnancy so that we can keep adrenaline low during the birth. Often we just think of hypnobirthing as a way to work with the pain/intensity of birth, but one of the biggest benefits I see is how it can help support our physiology and the birth process.

A hypnobirthing course also provides information on the physiology of birth including what your hormones are doing, the different stages of labour and what exactly is happening during a contraction.

We cover the practicalities such as signs that labour is starting, when you may want to consider heading into hospital and how to write a birth plan. I always say that it is hard to relax and work with your body when you don’t know what to expect or what is really happening. Teaching the physiology of birth is one of my favourite parts of the course.

Birth partners also learn how they can support you during labour. They learn exactly what to expect, their role and what they can do to help. So many partners feel unsure about how to help their partner in labour, and often become overwhelmed by the intensity which is why this is such a big focus of the course. Many partners become raving hypnobirthing fans after their birth which is so lovely.

What are some myths surrounding hypnobirthing?

A common misconception I hear is that hypnobirthing is just for women wanting a 'drug free' or 'natural' birth. For many women coming to my courses this may be the case, and the techniques are fantastic for those wanting to avoid medical pain relief, but they can also be used by women who may choose an epidural, induction or caesarean birth. I focus on preparing families for all births so that no matter what path their birth may take, they have techniques and knowledge to make it a positive experience.

I have specific modules on induction of labour and caesarean births in my hypnobirthing course as we know that for some women this is the best option. During a caesarean birth women can use techniques like breathing, relaxation audio and partner touch to stay calm during the procedure. They may also like to consider options such as having skin to skin with baby or photos taken to help create a more positive experience.

I am passionate about families understanding their options and choices so that they can make decisions that align with their values and the type of birth experience that they are working towards. This is of course different for everyone and one of my favourite parts of this work is really getting to know a couple and how they would like to bring their baby into the world. Hypnobirthing isn't 'one size fits all' and I believe that anyone can use hypnobirthing no matter what journey their birth takes.

Birth truly doesn’t have to be scary! It is the day that our baby is born – it should be a positive experience that we can look back on with happiness. Unfortunately for many women this is not the case – birth trauma is on the rise, and this is something I hope to impact with my hypnobirthing courses.

I absolutely love that Hypnobirthing is growing in popularity and more families are hearing about the benefits. The vast majority of my clients have come from recommendations from family or friends which I think shows just how powerful it is. With the right knowledge, tools and support, birth really can be an empowering and positive experience.

Hannah offers a variety of options for learning hypnobirthing for your birth.

For more information: hannahwillsmore.com @hannahwillsmoremidwife

“You’re not asleep or in a trance during your birth, and are still able to make decisions and have discussions with your partner/care provider.”

“We focus on techniques that help your body to release endorphins because they provide natural pain relief in our body and can decrease the discomfort that we feel during labour.”

“Often we just think of hypnobirthing as a way to work with the pain/intensity of birth, but one of the biggest benefits I see is how it can help support our physiology and the birth process.”

Images: Ashlyn Cooper from Focused on Love Birth Photography

Nothing beats a home cooked meal; except one that’s made by someone else! Victoria Braithwaite from The Family Cook doesn’t underestimate the impact food can make on someone’s day, it’s why she founded The Family Cook.

As Adelaide’s very own ready-to-eat meal delivery service, the team behind The Family Cook want to make eating well accessible to everyone. Providing nutritious, wholesome, nurturing meals made with premium local South Australian produce, delivered direct to your home; meals that are restaurant quality but that also taste like something someone who loves you would make you. We think that’s pretty special.

We talk to Victoria about The Family Cook, how it all started and how the team find the balance between kid-food and grown-up-food.

Talk to us about The Family Cook. What prompted you to start the business?

For me, helping people is what it is all about. We have forged relationships with our customers with young families and are generally dealing with the hustle of family life. We all know what it was like when we had our newborn and someone brings around a meal so you don't need to worry about dinner. It's like you've won the lottery! It's really special to help families put a wholesome meal on the table when it's so easy to reach for unhealthy takeaway when you are tired and time poor. It's a guilt free, hassle free dinner!

What was the first dish you made for The Family Cook and why did you choose it?

The first dish I made was Osso Bucco, one of my favourites that my mum used to make us. It was delicious but I hadn't really considered the practical side of boxing up marrow bones from a packaging point of view. So that was the first and last time I did that! From there I moved onto kid friendly dishes like Mexican Beef Bowl, Sticky Chicken, Spaghetti Meatballs and Thai Green Chicken Curry. It has taken a long time to find the balance of meals that satisfy both kids and parents!

Beef

Pumpkin

How do you choose the meals you put on your menu now when looking to find the balance between kid-friendly and adultfriendly?

Each week I have a meeting with my Head Chef and we choose meals for the fresh menu for the week ahead that is ideally balanced with free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, pork, Australian fish, vegetarian, pasta and rice dishes.

How has the business changed since 2017 when you started out?

Back in the very beginning I would have to do the shopping in the morning after school drop-off, the cooking while the kids were at school, pack up everything from the kitchen I was hiring and deliver in the afternoon. It was pretty hectic. As the business grew, I was able to grow my very beautiful, amazing and talented team, headed up by Head Chef, Louise Del Vecchio who has come from an Italian restaurant background. It was really lovely to share recipes and grow the business with Louise and the team. We now have a wonderful team of 10.

You’re a proud NDIS provider, talk to us about this development and how it can help families.

I am so proud of this! It took a lot of time and work to become a registered NDIS provider but it was all worth it. It means we are able to help people with a disability enjoy premium meals that are subsidised by the government. The thrill we get when people try our ready-made meals for the first time and can taste the quality and difference is so exciting. It may seem so simple, a meal... however it has the power to really make a positive impact in someone's life. Not just for their health but wellbeing but also enjoyment and quality of life.

What foundations have you built The Family Cook on? Quality is so important to us and is the foundation of The Family Cook. We love to cook with free-range chicken and eggs, grassfed beef and Australian fish, the freshest locally sourced vegetables and herbs. While it is often challenging to produce premium meals due to the cost of ingredients we have never wavered from this. Something that is also really important to us is our relationship with our customers and ensuring they receive a personable service and a unique experience. We are always available to talk about their needs on the phone and not simply an online service.

How can people order your meals and are they available in any stores?

You can order directly online by visiting thefamilycook.com.au or calling us on 7095 2222. Alternatively, you can find our meals at Adelaide's finest supermarkets, Frewville Foodland & Pasadena and Metro Fresh, North Adelaide.

Fried rice with honey soy chicken

Country roast chicken Chicken mignon with creamy mash and vegetables

Beef ragu

lasagne served with greens

Nurturing chicken & vegetable soup

ravioli with a creamy sage sauce.

“It's really special to help families put a wholesome meal on the table when it's so easy to reach for unhealthy takeaway when you are tired and time poor. It's a guilt free, hassle free dinner!”

TOPPING

POTATO BAKE

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fanforced). Lightly grease a 1.5 litre baking dish with butter.

Using a mandolin or sharp knife, slice potatoes with skins on 1-2mm thick. Place in a medium mixing bowl and cover with boiling water, allow to stand for 5 minutes. Drain well.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add bacon and cook for 4 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside until required.

Combine cream, milk, garlic, nutmeg and bay leaves together in a medium saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally until mixture comes to the boil. Add drained sliced potatoes, stirring until well coated and cook for 10 minutes or until potato is just tender, stirring mixture often to prevent the bottom sticking. Remove bay leaves, then add two thirds of the cooked bacon, parmesan, chives and season with salt and pepper, stirring gently to combine.

For the topping, combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, chives and remaining bacon in a small mixing bowl, stirring to combine.

Carefully pour potato mixture into prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle over the topping mixture. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until top is golden and potato is cooked through.

Henry Reads

Hi, I’m Henry. I love reading (I always have a book in my hand, except when I’m eating dinner but that’s only because my mum won’t let me!), playing Minecraft and cricket. I have a twin sister and a little sister who drive me kinda crazy but I love them anyway (shhh...don’t tell them that).

This was hard for me to believe, but The Swiss Family Robinson book I am reviewing in this issue was actually first published in 1812. If my maths is correct, that’s over 200 years ago! I would never have imagined I’d enjoy a book written before they had iPads or Minecraft but as it turned out, I really did!

This book was recommended to me by my Grandpa as one he really liked when he was a kid. I wasn’t convinced straight away that I would like something that was so old, but I’m always open to trying new books so I gave it a shot.

It’s an adventure about a Swiss family who are shipwrecked on a tropical island. They make a life on the island, first building a home in a treehouse and then settling over time in more permanent houses and creating a community for themselves. The book tells of how the family survive for a number of years on their own and how they manage to build a life for themselves on

the island, even meeting another person who’d been shipwrecked there, and finding ways to educate the children and keep everyone fed and happy for many years.

Part of the reason I enjoyed the book so much was the opportunity to learn about how a family might survive if they were truly shipwrecked on a deserted island. Within the storyline, there were a lot of lessons about natural history and science and I liked that I was able to learn about things I’m interested in while also being involved in the story. The book was really unlike anything I’d ever read before, and I’d recommend that other people give it a go too!

The Swiss Family Robinson

RRP $34.99

Meet this month’s doer

Meet Eliza Mortimer Royle, a 21-year-old youth mental health advocate from the western suburbs of Adelaide.

Eliza has a deep passion for youth mental health, which stems from her lived experience of grappling with anxiety and depression throughout high school. Since starting university in 2019 (studying psychology) Eliza has sought out opportunities to give back to the mental health community in and around Adelaide, as she found this community and the services available to her were so vital when she was younger. As a result of her experience and studies, Eliza has volunteered and worked in a variety of roles in Adelaide’s youth mental health space. This has included volunteering with headspace; an organisation she accessed throughout her teenage years. More recently, Eliza has been both working and volunteering with the non-profit Australian preventative mental health organisation batyr, which delivers fun, educational programs about mental health to young people in high schools, universities and

workplaces. These programs are delivered by young people, for young people, with a focus on platforming Australian youth with lived experience of mental ill-health. Eliza’s main gig with batyr is to run these programs as a facilitator, which is always exciting. “I get to get out there and connect with loads of young people. No two programs that I facilitate are ever exactly the same - it’s a ton of fun!”

“I’d like to think of myself as someone who is constantly looking for more ways to collaborate with and work towards prioritising the voices of young people who have lived experience of mental health. In my day-to-day life, this includes advocating for myself. As someone who is living with anxiety this means committing to honouring my mental health needs in the way I approach both my work and studies. I think I’m most proud of myself for doing this – it can take a lot to be someone who talks the talk about making space for the voices and needs of people with lived experience of mental ill-health. But I know it can be even more challenging to simultaneously walk that walk in your own life and live by those values if you don’t have support from others.”

Kids Quiz

1. How many summer months are there? 2. What vitamin do we get from the sun? 3. If someone has hayfever, what are they allergic to? 4. I scream, you scream, we all scream for…? 5. What does SPF stand for? 6. Which unlikely Disney character from Frozen loves summer? 7. What month does Summer begin? 8. What date is Christmas Day? 9. What is the name of Santa’s red nosed Reindeer?

10. What season is Christmas in America?

To find out more on what Eliza is up to, feel free to follow her on LinkedIn or Instagram @eliza.moroy!

Follow @getaaroundit_sa on Instagram to see what other young South Australians are up to in their own backyards, or DM to submit a candidate.

Why not nominate yourself, or another young person you know who you think would make a great addition to the Get Around It Showcase of young South Australian Thinkers, Makers and Doers?

Resident Kiddo Book Reviewer: Henry Williams, 10 years

What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.

What does a triceratops sit on? Its tricera-bottom.

What do you call an alligator who solves mysteries? An investigator.

How do you make an octopus laugh? With ten-tickles. Why can’t a leopard hide? Because he’s always spotted!

well read

Tweens

By Michelle Mitchell

‘A book full of wisdom, compassion and guidance that I believe will help families, schools and communities everywhere take better care of our tweens.’ Maggie Dent, best selling parenting author and host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything.

If your child is between the ages of nine and twelve, you are in the throes of the ‘between’ years. Not quite a child and not yet a teenager, tweens embody a very specific stage of development that once understood will revolutionise the way you parent, educate and support those in your care.

$35.00 Penguin Life

Uncultured

By Daniella Mestyanek Young

In the vein of Tara Westover's Educated, Daniella Mestyanek's memoir is a searing and powerful testament to a woman's ability to transform the circumstances of her life through inner strength and resilience. Behind the tall, foreboding gates of a commune in Brazil, Daniella Mestyanek Young was raised in the religious cult the Children of God, also known as The Family. Beholden to The Family's strict rules, Daniella suffered physical, emotional, and sexual abuse-masked as godly discipline and divine love-and was forbidden from getting a traditional education. $32.99 Allen

And Unwin

Simply Vegan Baking

By Freya Cox

Vegan baking needn't be difficult or boring - it can be simple and delicious! Freya's mission is to show that it's just as delicious, if not more so, than 'regular' baking and, when all the ingredients are available from your local supermarket, there's no reason not to give it a try. Anyone who's new to baking or to veganism will find these recipes reassuringly familiar and be amazed that they're so effortlessly vegan. $39.99 Murdoch Books

The Joy of Saying No

By Natalie Lue

No is not a dirty word. Follow author Natalie Lue’s six-step plan to find your no so you can create healthier boundaries and reconnect with your values and authentic self. Are you still playing a role you learned in childhood to please others, such as the Good Girl/Boy, the Overachiever, or the Helper? Though these kinds of roles may have gained us attention and affection, they prohibited us from becoming our true selves.

People-pleasing, putting others ahead of ourselves to avoid something negative or to get something we want or need, runs rampant in our society. Saying yes when we should say no leaves us stuck in frustrating patterns.

$32.99 Harper Horizon

Nowhere Girl

By Magali Le Huche

A coming-of-age story that explores adolescence, failure…and the Beatles. This is the story of a girl growing up in the 1990s – a middle-schooler who finds herself lost in the gulf between childhood and adolescence, developing paralyzing fears of failure, school, other people, and her own changing body. Along the way, she becomes obsessed with the Beatles… which might be just what she needs to find her way back to being okay. Yeah yeah yeah!

$29.99

Hardie Grant Publishing

Thrifty Gardening

By Country Women's Association of Victoria Inc.

Money-saving tips and know-how for a flourishing garden. Hints, tips and know-how for wouldbe green fingers from the trusted and authoritative CWA of Victoria Inc. Lift your gardening game and save money with the help of the Country Women's Association of Victoria's trusted resident green thumbs. Thrifty Gardening shows you how to get the most from your edible or ornamental garden, season by season. From how to grow from seed, what to plant and sow when, which garden tasks to do when, it's all here. Armed with this compact reference, you'll be ready when the right moment comes to encourage healthy growth by pruning, mulching, weeding, seeding, feeding or cropping. $24.99 Murdoch Books

The Lego Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World’s Imagination

By Jens Andersen

The extraordinary inside story of LEGO, based on unprecedented access to the company’s archives and rare interviews with the founding family that still owns the company.

‘This book tells the story of how my family built the LEGO brand.” Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, former President/ CEO of the LEGO Group and 3rd generation owner’. $34.99 Mariner

An Illustrated History Of Ghosts

By Adam Allsuch Boardman

A bump in the night, the crack of floorboards and the uneasy coldness of a room… Signs we might attribute to a ghostly presence. Through the decades, investigators and mediums have dedicated themselves to the task of reaching through the veil and contacting the other side. Whether ghosts are the souls of the dead, windows in time or interdimensional beings, cultures through the ages have responded with fear and fascination to their horrific haunts and eerie appearances. This illustrative study will take you through the history and culture of ghosts. $41.99 Walker Books

From fiction to non fiction, from adult titles to kids' picks, from hot new releases to under-the-radar gems, these are the 2022 books our nightstands right now!

OTFC

AYRES SENSORY INTEGRATION ®

Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound, smell, taste and the pull of gravity. The process of the brain organising and interpreting this information is called Sensory Integration.

OUR SUPERPOWERS ARE PEOPLE, PURPOSE, AND PASSION

We are not only the longest standing, private paediatric occupational therapy clinic in South Australia, but we are innovators in our sector, providing world-class clinical spaces specifically designed to challenge your child in just the right way to achieve positive outcomes.

We provide a rigorous and thorough occupational therapy assessment that looks at the developmental and functional needs of the individual. The assessment process uses detailed information from parents, educators, and relevant health professionals to make informed and holistic goals that help the client reach their full potential.

We have developed purpose-built clinic facilities because we believe this provides the opportunity for the most efficient and effective therapy. We specialise in Ayres Sensory Integration® which requires post graduate certification and we certainly love what we do. We get to “hang out” and “play” with young people to improve their skills and remediate their deficits and through a neurodevelopmental approach that has a strong scientific base. We have an awesome team where culture has been carefully nurtured to ensure we attract like-minded people to collaborate and bring to life possibilities for our clients.

Our success is based on a rigorous data-driven decision-making framework that is client-centric. This means we can continually grow our service offering to meet the needs of those who want a therapeutic approach that works. Our service extends beyond the clinic to the community, with initiatives such as CampEVOLVE® and groupbased therapy supporting additional social and emotional development related goals imperative for client empowerment and independence.

Sensory Integration provides a crucial foundation for later, more complex learning and behaviour. For most children, Sensory Integration develops in the course of ordinary childhood activities. Motor planning ability is a natural outcome of this process, as is the ability to adapt to incoming sensations. For some children, Sensory Integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. When this process is disordered, a number of problems in learning, development and behaviour may become evident.

Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) therapy is based on the work of A. Jean Ayres (Occupational Therapist and Psychologist), that is entrenched in neurodevelopment. ASI® Therapy is designed to help those with sensory processing difficulties, give meaning to what is experienced by sifting through information and organising it to aid focus. At OTFC, we have adopted the evidence-based ASI® therapy framework to ensure that our services are goal oriented and outcome driven. All OTFC Therapists deliver Occupational Therapy with the ASI® Fidelity Measures in mind; ongoing professional development is consistently targeted towards a therapeutic approach that adheres to guidelines of best Occupational Therapy practice.

Whilst we use ASI® Therapy as our foundation when delivering services, all OTFC Therapists consistently aim to support the development and independence for our clients, using only evidencebased research. This may require the adoption of additional Occupational Therapy frameworks and compensatory strategies should it be necessary.

Not all children with learning, developmental or behavioural problems have underlying sensory integration difficulties. There are certain indicators, however, that can signal a parent that such difficulties may be present

IN YOUNG

maintaining attention, learning.

OTFC Adelaide | Parkside | Mile End South New sites in 2023 Riverland | Angle Vale otfcgroup.com.au

1. CHRISTMAS TREE

Standing up tall on one foot, try to balance. Once you can do this for a minute, try to rest the leg off the floor on the other leg’s knee. Once this becomes easier try and hold your hands above your head.

This activity is great to develop balance, core stability and postural strength.

2. CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Baking Christmas cookies is a great activity to work on functional skills in the kitchen, following the steps of a recipe and measuring ingredients.

Recipes where you have to knead the dough with your hands, and then roll out with a roller provide the opportunity to develop tactile input to the hands and bilateral coordination with rolling. Bilateral coordination is also developed through one hand holding the bowl while the other hand mixes with the spoon.

Encouraging decorating the cookies with small decorations (i.e. M&M minis, icing pens etc) encourages pincer grasp and fine motor skills.

3. HELP SANTA FIND HIS WAY

Sometimes it can be difficult for Santa to find his way through your house at night in the dark with all the furniture in the way. Find out how this might feel for Santa by playing this fun game.

Setting up objects around the room (i.e. pillows, chairs etc.), get a friend or family member to try and direct you to the Christmas tree without touching the objects in the way. The catch is, you have to wear a blindfold, so you will have to listen carefully as you can’t see.

This game is a great way to develop body awareness, balance without vision, left and right discrimination and following verbal instructions.

NOTE: if you don’t have a blindfold; scarfs and headbands work well.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

Autism inclusion

The Department for Education South Australia has announced a $28.8 million investment to appoint an Autism Inclusion Teacher in every public primary school (including reception to year 12 schools) from 2023, and an increase the number of autism-qualified staff in preschools.

The government has also committed to work with providers, including Autism SA, to offer early intervention services in children’s centres, develop a state autism strategy and invest $50 million for 100 additional speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and counsellors.

Autism Inclusion Teachers in public primary schools will:  drive improved practise relating to autism that works for the school

 provide support to fellow teachers on how to best support and educate students with autism

This is one of several initiatives being implemented to improve support for children and students with autism, with these roles ready for Term 1, 2023.

Appointing an Autism Inclusion Teacher in every primary school will support children and young people with autism to have the best start to their schooling. The department will monitor the outcomes of the Autism Inclusion Teacher initiative to inform any future expansion of the role, including for high schools.

This investment comes after the Australian first appointment of a government Minister for autism in 2022 as a step towards great inclusion.

Emily Bourke has been appointed assistant minister for autism in a bid to ensure people with the neurological condition are better represented.

Premier Peter Malinauskas says he has heard from many South Australians that the time has come for a dedicated effort from government to make autism a priority.

“We have made major commitments with the aim of implementing a whole-ofgovernment autism inclusion strategy, starting with our schools.” he said.

Autism SA has welcomed the move as a major step towards greater community inclusion.

“We know the prevalence of autism is growing each year, and therefore so must the actions and support taken to ensure inclusion at every stage of life,” chief executive Helen Graham said.

“This includes raising the wider understanding of autism across schools and the community.

“We know that through greater awareness and understanding of autism, in every life setting, we are able to better bring about change that is inclusive for autistic individuals to live the life of their choosing.”

An estimated 200,000 Australians are autistic, with autism the largest primary disability group served by the NDIS.

For more information: education.sa.gov.au

Assistant Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke and Hannah McMillan

5 books for kids who think differently!

These picture books will help neurotypical readers (both young and old) understand how neurodiverse minds work.

JUST ASK! BE DIFFERENT, BE BRAVE, BE YOU Sonia Sotomayor

Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful.

In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges–and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we’re not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask. RRP $29.99

THE GIRL WHO THOUGHT IN PICTURES: THE STORY OF DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN Julia Finley Mosca

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe!

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin is the first book in a brand new educational series about the inspirational lives of amazing scientists. In addition to the illustrated rhyming tale, you’ll find a complete biography, fun facts, a colorful timeline of events, and even a note from Temple herself! RRP $17.99

DON’T HUG DOUG. HE DOESN’T LIKE IT Carrie Finison

Doug doesn’t like hugs. He thinks hugs are too squeezy, too squashy, too squooshy, too smooshy. He doesn’t like hello hugs or goodbye hugs, game-winning home run hugs or dropped ice cream cone hugs, and he definitely doesn’t like birthday hugs. He’d much rather give a high five–or a low five, a side five, a double five, or a spinny five. Yup, some people love hugs; other people don’t. So how can you tell if someone likes hugs or not? There’s only one way to find out: Ask! Because everybody gets to decide for themselves whether they want a hug or not. RRP $14.99

Make brushing your teeth fun!

This sensory toothbrush is designed to make brushing easier for youngsters who are unable to handle a traditional single-headed toothbrush or who have motor skills and coordination problems.

The U-brush head cleans all sides of your child's teeth at once encouraging good brushing habits.

RRP $29.99 sensoryspace.com.au

ALL MY STRIPES

Zane the zebra feels different from the rest of his classmates. He worries that all they notice about him is his “autism stripe.” With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes — the unique strengths that make him who he is! RRP $29.25

THE BOY WITH BIG, BIG FEELINGS Britney Winn Lee

Meet a boy with feelings so big that they glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. When a loud truck drives by, he cries. When he hears a joke, he bursts with joy. When his loved ones are having a hard day, he feels their emotions as if they were his own. The boy tries to cope by stuffing down his feelings, but with a little help and artistic inspiration, the boy realises his feelings are something to be celebrated. The Boy with Big, Big Feelings is relatable for any child, but especially for children experiencing anxiety and extreme emotions, or who have been diagnosed with autism or as a Highly Sensitive Person. RRP $34.99

Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer