KIDDO Mag Issue 23

AU T U M N 2022 . # 23

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PARTY PARTY PARTY PA RT Y G U I D E

Could 2022 be the year we finally get to party like it’s 1999 again?

With dancing and—dare we suggest… singing? So far, it’s looking promising. And just in the knick of time too, since our annual KIDDO party issue has just rocked up on the doorstep with a bag of salt and vinegar chips and a boom box on its shoulder, ready for a game of musical chairs.

BRICKMAN about how to make our LEGO builds even better. Our regular VIPs were also invited to the party, with all our usual KIDDO columnists offering their sage advice on parenting, education and family life.

Yep, you guessed it, this mag is full to the brim with wow-worthy decor, imaginative ideas and prep tips from the pros to get your kids’ party started. We chat with friend-of-KIDDO and professional fun-maker Alexis Teasdale and get the downlow on all her top DIY dos and don’ts for partying at your place. We’ve found all the cutest props and photo ops, as well as that all-important round up of the best of the best party venues in Adelaide if you want to outsource your celebration and leave the clean-up to someone else.

We hope you’re ready to party with KIDDO… make sure to save some room for cake!

Charlo+tte Liv

kiddomag.com.au Publisher Charlotte Chambers

Cover Cover Star: Otto

Content Manager Olivia Williams

Party kiddos: Elfie and Celestina

Editor Olivia Williams

Photographer: Kate Dyer @hellourbansafari

Editorial Contributors Rebecca Morse Mark Le Messurier Alexis Teasdale Helen Connolly Amy Nikolovski Jana Rushforth Henry Williams George Archontidis Simon Blacket Dr Daniel De Angelis

The Project Company PO BOX 1083 Glenelg South SA 5045

Sales Katie Brown Katie@kiddomag.com.au Printing Newstyle Printing newstyleprint.com.au

FOLLOW US @kiddomag

Distribution passingout.com.au

LISTEN UP — KIDDO CHATS PODCAST The new year brings with it new podcast episodes! Over the summer, the team got started on season 2 of KIDDO chats and there’s a lot to look forward to in 2022.

In our first episode for the season, we chat with Sean Szeps; a hilarious, clever dad of twins and podcast host based in Sydney, who has flown 43 times and counting with his kids! As restrictions ease and travelling is back on the cards for families, we talk to Sean about his best tips and tricks for flying post-Covid

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with kids and his top road trip hacks.

If you’re nervous about travelling with kiddos, this is the pep-talk you need!

What’s up next? Nabula from Supermarket Swap takes us through how those sneaky little numbers and unrecognisable ingredients on the nutritional panels of the food you buy could be affecting your family. We also chat with one of Australia’s top Obstetricians about the ins and outs of labour pain relief, from laughing gas to epidurals and every option in between.

Prince Alfred College provides a unique learning environment for boys from ELC to Year 12, with programs and approaches that are tailored to their specific needs.

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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

Art Director Caroline Gliddon

While we were at it, we also lived every kids’ dream when we had a chat with the one and only

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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.

Enrolling now for 2023.

Start your journey at pac.edu.au

KIDDO CHATS EPISODES Episode 23: Travelling with kids with Sean Szeps Episode 24: Swap the way you shop with Nabula from Supermarket Swap Listen on your podcast app

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 wilderness.com.au

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Pre-packed, postpartum recovery bags, minus the BS

Enter, Got You; a postpartum, mum-focused brand that offers both pre-packed hospital bags and essentials. This not-so-typical hospital bag is designed to hold your hand through the ups and downs of pregnancy, labour and the fourth trimester. It’s a bag designed to empower, educate and actually deliver the goods, when push comes to shove.

We chat with Jess, the brains behind the brand!

Tell us about where the idea for Got You originated!

At 22, I became a first time mum to my son Charlie. I was laser-focused on what products I needed to get through labour and genuinely thought that once bubs was here I would be back to my old self. Fast forward 5 hours postpartum and I quickly realised that wouldn't be the case. Due to my lack of knowledge I had an awful recovery experience. 3 years later I gave birth to my daughter Mila and this time I was focused on preparing my mind, my home and my hospital bag with everything I needed to combat every issue I had previously and the experience was a world away from my first.

When it was my sister's turn to have a baby, the idea for Got You was really born. I told her I'd make her hospital bag for labour and recovery. I got the best products available at the time and created a pack with sticky

notes attached to each product giving her my honest-to-god truths about labour and recovery plus how to best use each product.

To see her so prepared and confident about her recovery and then absolutely nail it really inspired me to create a brand that could provide this for other women.

When creating Got You it was a priority to me that our bags would deliver not only the products but would also be supportive and informative. I wanted it to feel like a (raw, honest, hilarious) best friend in a bag Your hero product is your not-so-typical hospital bag, tell us about what makes it not-so-typical!

Our bag includes everything mum needs for the best labour, birth and recovery experience possible. Everything from your essential toiletries, to your recovery staples such as a peri bottle and recovery bath salts. One thing we always hear from our customers is 'you've really thought of everything!'. When creating Got You it was a priority to me that our bags would deliver not only the products but would also be supportive and informative. I wanted it to feel like a (raw, honest, hilarious) best friend in a bag. Each of our staple products

within the bag are boxed in packaging that includes information on the product, how to use, fun tips and recovery advice and also QR codes that our customers can scan to learn more on our blog.

Do you have products developed specifically for Got You? We sure did! We had two non-negotiables when it came to our products. Firstly they had to be superior to anything we'd previously used and secondly we did not want to add a hefty mark-up to our bags in order to meet profit margins. I never wanted my customers to pay for the convenience. In order to meet both of these goals we decided to manufacture our own products so we had complete control over product quality and pricing to serve our customers best. This meant endless sample orders, tweaking and re-tweaking designs and tons of feedback until we nailed it. We worked on Got You for almost two entire years before finally launching.

What are your absolute essential MUST HAVE postpartum products included in all Got You hospital bags?

If I had to walk into the labour room with one thing, it would hands down be the Perineal Ice-pack. What I love about these is they can be heated to reduce the risk of tearing during the 'pushing' stage of labour and also used frozen after birth to help with any pain and swelling down there. A close second would be the Peri Bottle, we've nicknamed it our little 'firefighter' for when you pee ha! gotyou.com.au @gotyou.au

CENTENARY | 1922–2022

It’s all in the PREParation At Seymour, if there’s something we know a lot about, it’s how girls learn best.

Our exclusive Prep program for four year old girls has been carefully designed to prepare girls for the start of school.

Prep Information Sessions: Tuesday 17 May at 9.00am or 6.00pm or book a personal tour at a date that suits you. Please register at events@seymour.sa.edu.au /4

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If we mums can agree on anything, it’s that no woman needs to walk (or waddle) into labour and the messy uncertainty of the postpartum weeks feeling underprepared, or overwhelmed.

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Big on colour, Big on FUN! Just when you think Kip&Co couldn't possibly give us anything cooler for our kiddos, they launch a line of backpacks for little people! And… spoiler alert, we LOVE them!

These kids backpacks are not only colourful, they're jam packed with great features, which is no surprise because the team behind Kip&Co are mums and they just GET IT.

kids' books, jumpers and a lunchbox. Kiddos can then take day to night as they double as a weekender, for slumber parties and all those amazing adventures afoot.

When Kip&Co create a kids backpack, they don’t mess around. This will be your kiddo’s ultimate travel buddy, sleepover essential or kindy companion. It’s durable, made to last, full of features and oh-so-very-cool.

All the important must-haves are there; mesh side for a drink bottle, padded inner sleeve for tech, front pocket for snacks and adjustable straps; tick, tick, tick!

Available in three designs, Happy Club, Peace Baby and Go Bananas – we'll take one of each please! RRP $69

Bringing a little bit of joy to the school routine, these handy backpacks can fit

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AROMATHERAPY BLENDS FOR BUBS & BUMPS

Deluxe Adelaide based aromatherapy boutique The Fourth House has released a range of carefully curated oils, diluted specially for our little stars and their big feelings.

kipandco.com.au @kipandco

LITTLE STARS COLLECTION The Little Stars Collection offers six beautiful and carefully curated blends.

These gentle oils are perfect for babies and kids, using organic jojoba oil as the main carrier base. Jojoba oil has calming and moisturising properties and suits even the most sensitive skin.

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MISTS

Belly Rub Ease digestive pain + discomfort

Cloud Nine Encourages sleep + deports monsters

100% clean and chemical free, created and bottled in Adelaide, you won’t find silicones, chemicals, parabens or synthetic colours and fragrances here. What you will find is pure love and intention in every bottle for your precious little stars!

Tooth Fairy Soothe teething pains Bear Hug For comfort, confidence + love

Abracadabra Empower + encourage self-expression

BABY BUMP OIL The newest addition to the collection is a luxe oil blend for mamas during and beyond pregnancy. The blend is for all your baby bumps… that’s belly, boobs and butt!

Cool Juice Cool down tension + tantrums

thefourthhouse.com.au @the_fourth_house_

fresh and delicious eggs from happy, healthy hens

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Your child's first steps to a fulfilling education.

Your baby’s first brave steps.

It’s a celebration and a big day in the family. It’s also a good day to consider the first step in your child’s journey of education.

Chances are you are thinking of an Early Learning Centre and then moving to a primary school and later, a secondary school.

That’s a couple of major disruptions in your child’s formative years; different people and places that can unsettle young minds.

Have you considered a seamless journey on one beautiful campus from ELC to graduation at one of Australia’s leaders in education, Westminster School?

Starting in our ELC guarantees children a place in Reception and then all the way to Year 12. They will progress from stage to stage in a green and spacious school environment (we even have a farm). It’s easily accessible and full of clever ideas to help their growth to young adults.

Westminster has a proud record of graduating students armed not only with knowledge but also great life skills and traits like being kind, grateful, useful and our theme for this year, brave.

If we sound like the school for your child’s journey, take those first brave steps with them and talk with us T: 08 8276 0276.

To learn more visit www.westminster.school

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Making memories from the heart Adelaide business Darne Creations is all about making memories. This stunning range of handcrafted clothes and accessories are designed for creating moments to remember.

Perfect for today’s wardrobe and tomorrow’s memory box, these heirloom pieces are created to be loved for now, then packed away to be loved again by siblings, friends and future generations… and they’re gosh darne adorable.

Behind the memory making, lies a very important message coming straight from the heart of founder and chief crochet creator Sharne and her gorgeous little family. We chat with Sharne about her special occasion creations and the curation of her community.

Tell us about yourself and your family!

My name is Sharne, I'm married to Dan, and last year we gave birth to our first baby Alfie!

Alfie was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when we were 20 weeks pregnant and we were told he would require several open heart surgeries throughout his life. When he was born we were flown to Melbourne (twice!) for him to have his surgery; it was a very long and difficult time for our little family. Alfie has now just had his second open heart surgery and is doing so much better, he turns one in June and we can't quite believe the little miracle that he is.

How did Darne Creations come about?

I have been crocheting since I was 11.

I learnt how because I wanted to make a gift for my newborn cousin. When my son Alfie was born and I went on maternity leave, I realised my true dream and passion was to grow my business into a full time thing. When Alfie was diagnosed with CHD the whole

Sharne, founder of Darne Creations

purpose and mission of Darne Creations really developed into what it is today.

A large part of my community is creating a safe haven and space for heart families to share their stories and ask questions. I have always openly shared Alfie's journey and in turn that has helped lots of other expectant mothers with babies who have CHD prepare for their own child's needs. I believe it's important to nurture, give back and serve my community of new mums, and heart mums.

I really do love my business, and it's so much more than just the products. It is a way of life, and a way of raising awareness for CHD and supporting fellow heart kid families.

What's special about your pieces?

All of the crochet clothing that you see in our boutique is handmade by me. For the larger pieces, like the cardigan they can take up to two days to make… in between running around after a 10 month old!

All of our items are made from yarn I order from Bendigo Woolen Mills, right here in Australia. I love supporting local, so it's a privilege to be able to keep everything 'in house'. darnecreations.com

My Scar Buddies There are a lot of little ones out there who may feel different, or left out because their body looks different to everyone else's. Darne Creations customise special bunny buddies to any scar, to look exactly like your little one.

My Scar Buddies were made to help your little ones embrace their scars, teach them what they went through and help them have a little friend who looks just like them!

Experience Kumon English or Maths over two weeks during May. At Kumon, students begin study at a level that allows them to build confidence from day one.

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Bubs Friendly Pilates

Bubs Friendly Art Class

Co-Working Space

Creche & Play Area

Much More Than A Mums Group Villagehood Australia is a real village of support for Mums in Adelaide...

Scan the QR Code below to learn more and book a Free Trial

Women's Choir

Mummy Steps

villagehoodaustralia.com

Calm Kid Central Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the amount of children struggling with mental health, life and emotional challenges. The Women's and Children's Hospital have had an increasing number of children presenting to their A&E with mental health needs. Calls to the national Kids Helpline 5 to 9 year old contacts have increased by 80%.

Unfortunately, it is not always easy to access mental health support for children. There are long waiting lists for face to face services.

And sometimes families don't always want or need a face to face service.

Calm Kid Central is an online program for 4 to 11 year old children with mental, emotional, social or behavioural health needs – or life challenges. Funded in part

by Adelaide Primary Health Network, it is available FREE for children in metropolitan Adelaide who have a health care card.

If you have a child of this age who gets frustrated easily, finds it hard to follow instructions, worries a lot, finds it hard to make or manage friendships, has been KID D O F EATU RE

Calm Kid Central does three things:

HELPS CHILDREN ‘WITH BIG FEELINGS’ FEEL CALM, CONFIDENT AND CO-OPERATIVE Courses, video lessons, interactive games, activity sheets and posters to teach children to act bravely, behave in positive ways, act confidently, develop good friendships and manage tough life situations.

PROVIDES FAST ACCESS TO A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST ONLINE

through tough life situations or has other emotional, social, behaviour or life challenges, then Calm Kid Central might be able to help your family.

Nearly 5000 families and professionals have signed up for membership to CKC in the last 4 years. 94% of children had significantly less worry, stress, frustration, and problems with co-operation, attention and concentration after 4 months of being part of the CKC program. 97% of parents said they believed Calm Kid Central had been either “quite”, “very” or “extremely helpful” for their family.

Tell our child psychologist panel any concerns/questions you have about your child, or ask any questions without waiting for appointments. We answer within 48 hours.

HELPS PARENTS/ CAREGIVERS FEEL CALMER AND MORE CONFIDENT AND KNOW WHAT TO DO Video lessons, articles & “quick tips” for parents to help feel less stressed about caring for their child with “big feelings”—learn what to say and do.

For more information: calmkidcentral.com and click JOIN NOW. If you have a health care card, use code ADELAIDEMETRO. If you don’t have a health care card, use code FIRSTMONTHFREE to try out for free. /9

Best of care, close to home It’s 8pm, your child has a fever and you just want someone to check them out. But, it’s dark, it’s cold and you’re really not sure whether you want to go to an emergency department. Sound familiar?

The Women’s and Children’s Health Network has your back, providing families with access to specialist paediatric emergency staff from the comfort of your own home.

The Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service is an online video call with highly-skilled emergency doctors and nurses who can assess children with nonlife threatening conditions, saving families a trip to the Emergency Department.

The Network’s Chief Executive Officer, Lindsey Gough, says the service has already been used by thousands of South Australian families.

“We have had overwhelmingly positive feedback from the parents who have used our virtual urgent care service who love the comfort and convenience of being able to have specialist medical advice for their children, without having to come into the Emergency Department,” Ms Gough said.

Dr Benjamin D’Souza is one of the doctors you might come across when you use the service.

“Emergency Departments can be daunting for children and their parents, our Virtual Urgent Care service allows children who are well enough to avoid hospital and receive expert advice no matter where in South Australia they are,” Dr Souza said.

“Our aim is to provide you with the best of care, close to home, whether that be providing advice to treat your child at home, referral to a GP or specialist service, or writing a script to take to your local pharmacy.”

Emergency Departments can be daunting for children and their parents, our Virtual Urgent Care service allows children who are well enough to avoid hospital and receive expert advice no matter where in South Australia they are

Spread the word To make sure all South Australian families hear about this fantastic service, the Hospital Research Foundation Group is sponsoring a new campaign to spread the word.

Teresa’s story

Teresa and her son Jakob are among the almost 4000 families who’ve used the service since it started in August 2021.

Teresa lives in Darwin and Jakob is at boarding school in Adelaide, so when she heard he had broken his finger she was worried that she couldn’t be there to support him.

“When Jakob sent me a text to say that ‘someone will call you’ I assumed that I would just get a phone call. To my surprise, his message had a link for a video call and, before I knew it, I was in a virtual consultation with the treating doctor and Jakob,” Teresa said.

“The Virtual Urgent Care Service provided me with the opportunity to be part of my son’s health care when he is over 3,000 kms away, something I haven’t experienced before.”

THRF Group CEO, Paul Flynn says he’s proud to throw his support behind this service.

“The moment I heard about the Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service,

The Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service is an online video call with highly-skilled emergency doctors and nurses who can assess children with non-life threatening conditions, saving families a trip to the Emergency Department.

I thought every South Australian parent should know they can access this expert medical advice at a time when they need it most,” Mr Flynn said.

“Even if they don’t use it, it’s comforting to know that help is just one click away.”

Parents can access the service by visiting the WCH website, or googling WCH Virtual Urgent Care.

Click on the link to the service and you will be taken to a virtual waiting room and asked a series of questions before speaking directly with a nurse and doctor via a video link.

The WCH team may refer your child to a GP, local pharmacy or for some children an emergency department and the team can coordinate your visit. wch.sa.gov.au/virtualurgentcare

Women’s and Children’s Health Network

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KI D D O F EATU RE

Jakob & Teresa

Kids cuts are a dream!

Sensory friendly styles The team at Dream Cuts want all parents and their children to feel welcome and included, understanding that every child is unique and may have different needs in order to make it the best experience possible.

To better understand children with sensory needs, the friendly team have completed the Autism Friendly Charter, an Autism SA initiative assisting businesses in building understanding, awareness and inclusivity for those on the autism spectrum.

Images: Kate Dyer, Urban Safari

A new kids hair salon has officially opened at Westfield Marion and it’s a certified DREAM for kids and parents alike!

That’s right, the big reveal has been made on Adelaide’s latest and dreamiest space for kiddos to be spruced, spiked, sparkled, styled and all shmicked up and let’s just say, your kids will be on cloud 9 at Dream Cuts!

The Dream Cuts salon uses quiet hair dryers and offers children the use of video games as well as iPads and fidget sensory toys. It’s all about catering to every child and their individual needs, so that everyone leaves with a smile on their face and a fresh new do!

Now can somebody pass the glitter spray…?

From your kiddo’s very first haircut (rewarded with a dreamy custom certificate!) and beyond, the team at Dream Cuts offer fun for the kids and zero stress for mum and dad. Where do we sign up?

Dream Cuts, Shop 1120 (opposite Balfours Kiosk), Westfield Marion, 297 Diagonal Road, Oaklands Park dreamcuts.com.au

Are you planning a pregnancy?

Does your health before pregnancy matter?

How does it affect your baby?

The Begin Better Study is here to find out.

The Begin Better Randomised Controlled Trial is a research study that aims to understand whether improving a woman’s health before pregnancy – by changing behaviours related to physical activity and diet – will improve health outcomes for both mum and baby.

Women above a healthy weight range are at increased risk of some pregnancy complications; including high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and caesarean birth.

Their babies are also at a greater risk of some complications and poorer health throughout their lifetime.

Researchers want to find out whether the best way to reduce the health risks associated with being overweight is to improve a woman’s physical and mental health prior to pregnancy by making positive lifestyle changes.

Participants in the Begin Better Study will be randomly allocated to either the Lifestyle Intervention Group or the Educational Control Group.

KID D O F EATU RE

ALL WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATE WILL RECEIVE: •

Clinic appointments with research staff

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Health recommendations for pregnancy planning with our study Midwife

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Access to the specifically developed study website

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Up to two years of follow up, and if pregnancy occurs in this time, information collected about the pregnancy, birth, and infant development until 18 months of age.

LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION GROUP PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE: •

Counselling from a Dietitian

•

6 months of health coaching

To register your interest or for more information, contact the Begin Better Study team at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. beginbetter@adelaide.edu.au (08) 8161 8427

Alternatively, Scan this code and complete the questionnaire via the website to assess your eligibility and one of the study team will be in touch. / 11

Montessori 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 primary campus in Aldgate and 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, art and physical education. 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.

Images: Kate Dyer

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”.

The Yultiwirra campus Open Day is an excellent way to get to know students and parents already involved with the school as well as meet the teachers and heads of school, principal Cathy France and assistant principal Susan Harris Evans. It also offers a unique chance for parents to experience the community’s sense of collaboration and cooperation.

The Hills Montessori School Open Day will be held on June 7 from 10am–12pm.

OPEN DAY Tuesday 7 June 10am–12pm 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 Please book online here

Open Day bookings are essential.

Phone enquires: 8339 6842 Email: enquiries@montessori.sa.edu.au montessori.sa.edu.au / 12

KI D D O F EATU RE

Ask Amy...

legal advice for the modern family WO R DS —

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WORDS – Dr Daniel De Angelis

Dr De Angelis has been a Specialist Orthodontist in Adelaide for over 20 years. During that time, he’s treated over 10,000 patients – that’s a lot of transformed smiles! Dr De Angelis loves assisting his patients on their orthodontic journey to achieve the smile they’ve always dreamed of.

Time seems to go in the blink of an eye from those newborn sleep deprived days to having the tooth fairy visiting your little one (then having to remember what the current going rate is for the tooth fairy!)

When adult teeth start to appear and your baby seems like a baby no more, you might be wondering – when is the best time to see an orthodontist?

Seeing a Specialist Orthodontist at the age of around 7 years is the ideal time to have your child’s teeth and jaw checked. This is the recommendation outlined by the Australian Society of Orthodontists.

WHY IS IT BEST TO SEE YOU EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER? Early treatment may not be needed at all but if it is, having an orthodontic assessment around the age of 7 years lays the foundation for a healthy and well functioning mouth in adulthood.

Essentially, at that age they are developmentally (mostly) easier to treat.

WHAT IF THEY DON’T HAVE ALL THEIR ADULT TEETH YET? They may not have all their adult teeth yet but at this age correcting a problem before it fully eventuates can often be less complex and invasive than having to treat the problem later on.

SHOULD I JUST WAIT UNTIL THEY’RE A TEENAGER? You could wait until they’re a teenager as well but there is no harm in having an assessment earlier to know what you’re dealing with.

I regularly see children aged 7/8 years for an orthodontic assessment that don’t need treatment or need to be seen until all their adult teeth have erupted. This can be reassuring for the parent to know.

TOP TIPS •

An orthodontic assessment isn’t invasive and there are no needles!

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See your dentist for regular check ups as they can also give advice on how your child’s teeth are progressing

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You don’t need a referral to see us

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Brushing and flossing twice a day (or three if you have braces!) keeps your teeth and gums healthy and strong

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WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE AN ORTHODONTIST?

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 proud mum to 2 year old Niko.

Q & A

Q: What are the top 3 questions you need to ask when separating from your spouse?

Separating from your partner can be a challenging and emotional time, here are some important things to consider.

1. DO I NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND/OR MY CHILDREN?

When it comes to separating from your spouse, the safety of yourself and the safety of your children are of paramount importance.

If you are concerned, it is best to have a clearly thought-out exit plan and inform trusted friends or support persons of your intentions. It may be best to arrange alternative accommodation and physically leave the family home before you inform your spouse of the separation.

Matters relating to property and finances can always wait until after personal safety issues are addressed.

2. DO I NEED TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT MY ASSETS/FINANCIAL POSITION?

If you are leaving the family home, don’t assume that you will be able to return at a later stage to collect belongings. Gather items that are of importance to you before leaving, particularly those that are irreplaceable such as photographs and family heirlooms.

It is always wise to take important legal documents and passports with you as well as retrieving these can otherwise be difficult.

With respect to real property, if there is property that you have an interest in that is not registered in your name, it is imperative to speak to a Solicitor as soon as possible and obtain advice about lodging a caveat over the property, which is essentially flagging your interest. Lodging a caveat will prevent your spouse from being able to deal with the property while the caveat remains on the property. In other words, they won’t be able to sell the property or refinance the mortgage or deal with the property in any similar way.

3. WHAT DO I DO IF I NEED ACCESS TO FUNDS/FINANCIAL SUPPORT AFTER SEPARATION AND MY EX WON’T AGREE? If you have children with your spouse, it will be necessary to apply for child support following separation to determine what you are eligible to receive. You may also be entitled to Centrelink family assistance benefits. You should put your applications in as soon as possible as they can take some time to be processed.

If you are not in receipt of an income other than government benefits and you were previously relying on your partner’s income to support you, you may be entitled to spousal maintenance from them. Applications for spousal maintenance can be made through the family courts in circumstances where one party has a demonstrated need for financial support and the other person has a demonstrated capacity to provide that support.

For all Family Law needs, contact the DBH Family Law Team on 1800 324 324, we offer an obligation free first 30 minute interview.

P.S A gold coin should usually do it for the tooth fairy!

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BMW FULLY ELECTRIC A new era of BMW

It’s natural for parents to worry about the planet our children are going to inherit. A move towards electric vehicles is one way we can help reduce our carbon footprint, and it’s never been so timely with current global conflicts around oil supply.

My 10 year old Frankie and I took the new all-electric BMW iX for a test drive around Glenelg, stopping for coffee, cake and juice at popular local haunt Seafaring Fools.

It became clear when I parked the iX out the front, this vehicle is a head-turner. It has a futuristic BMW kidney grille and the flush handles and frameless doors finished with golden-bronze detail are just a few of its modern design elements.

It’s also a family-friendly ride, with the relaxing lounge seats and charging ports in the rear winning Frankie over immediately.

The interior is pleasing not just for its modern and unique aesthetic, but its sustainability credentials. The floor coverings and mats are made from nylon produced from old fishing nets recovered from the sea and the distinctive and super-comfy seats are treated with olive-leaf extract, just to name a couple of examples.

Say hello to Shy Tech. The BMW iX Shy Tech concept is a hidden world of functionality at your fingertips and blends into the background of the iX until needed. This invisible intelligence can be experienced in many details of the exterior and interior such as the kidney grille which functions as an intelligent surface, invisibly embedded speakers of the audio system, radar functions, state-of-the-art sensor technology and heating elements and haptic controls concealed by open-pore wood trim.

Understandably the most common questions about electric vehicles are around the charging process.

You can explore much further afield than Glenelg with a full charge taking you up to 620kms.* You can get up to 150kms out of a quick 10 minute charge or in under 40 minutes you’ll recharge up to 80%.^ All BMW electric models include the basic charging equipment and a complimentary a 5 year usage subscription to the Chargefox network of public chargers across Australia.

Furthermore, you can explore the installation of a BMW Wallbox for further home charging solutions.

vehicle technology features

The floor coverings and mats are made from nylon produced from old fishing nets recovered from the sea and the distinctive and the supercomfy seats are treated with olive-leaf extract

The iX is equipped with a host of cutting edge technology Heads-Up Display Augmented reality navigation BMW iX Shy Tech Concept Next Generation BMW 8.0 Operating System BMW Curved Display Voice and Gesture controlled Intelligent Digital Assistant

When Frankie finished her green juice, we hopped back into our green car. The iX is just the start of sustainable motoring at BMW. The friendly staff at Glenelg BMW would be more than happy to talk you through it.

X e s r o M Rebecca

141 Brighton Road, Glenelg glenelgbmw.com.au

glenelgbmw

*Electrical consumption and range is based upon the Combined Driving Test Cycle in accordance with ADR 81/02 on purpose built test vehicles and is provided for comparative purposes only. Actual range will vary in real world conditions depending on many factors including traffic conditions, driving habits, prevailing conditions and your vehicle’s equipment, condition and use. ^The values refer to an initial state of charge of 10%.

Images: Duy Location: Seafaring Fools Wall art: Sair Bean

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NE WS

Spotlight Please... it’s Tanya Hennessy

You can’t evaluate creativity, and you can’t control the outcome – so you just have to keep doing what you’re doing.

Stevie’s friend Alex, a young queer kid, be the star of the show. This hilarious new adventure is gloriously warm, funny and relatable, characteristics you could similarly attribute to the author herself.

If Amy Schumer and Rebel Wilson had a love child, you'd get Tanya Hennessy; comedian, radio announcer and social media sensation. Hailing from Newcastle and now living in Sydney, she’s high-energy, warm, loveable, and a hugely successful stand-up comedian, with well over a million followers on social media.

It’s safe to say, the spotlight follows Tanya Hennessy wherever she goes.

Along the way, Tanya has found herself – much to her surprise – being seen as an inspiration to young girls. She’s known as the ‘fun auntie’ to her friends’ kids and is passionate about building self-confidence in girls.

Last year Tanya released Drum Roll Please, It’s Stevie Louise – her breakout junior fiction starring twelve-year-old Stevie, a young female entrepreneur. Stevie is confident on the outside, but inside, she’s a little bit shy.

Drum Roll Please debuted at #8 in Australia and rocketed to bestseller status over the course of 2021, with kids and parents all over the country writing to Tanya and taking selfies with the book. Over three hundred kids even dressed up as Stevie for Book Week!

This year, loveable Stevie is back in Spotlight Please, It’s Stevie Louise! But this time around, Tanya was keen to have

“I love writing for kids,” says Tanya. “I found my voice. Kids will tell you if they hate something: they are super honest. But they read Stevie multiple times, and they each saw themselves in the different characters.

“You never know what people are looking for, when it comes to being creative. You can’t evaluate creativity, and you can’t control the outcome – so you just have to keep doing what you’re doing. Be you, and make things that are authentic to you – that’s what I hope kids take away from this book.”

Spotlight Please…

It’s Stevie Louise published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $14.99

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LEGO WORDS – Liv Williams

Hey LEGO lovers, this one’s for you!

We were all pretty excited at KIDDO HQ when we got the intel that Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught was releasing a new book, The Bricktionary, an indispensable companion to any LEGO collection.

This is absolutely THE most comprehensive A–Z of creative builds and insider tips ever, each carefully selected by Brickman himself.

With The Bricktionary you’ll discover ingenious ideas for your next build, from Aliens to Zebras and everything in between! There’s tips for taking your builds to the next level with expert pro-techniques, and you can even become fluent in LEGO language with a plethora of definitions for those tricky LEGO terms we didn’t realise existed until we all became obsessed with Lego Masters.

We sat down with Brickman and talked all things LEGO and he’s even given us some sneak peek tips from The Bricktionary, so you can make your LEGO builds even better!

Alright, what’s your secret, how did you get SO GOOD at building LEGO? So I found this magic lamp at the beach one day and a genie came out...

Nah! Just kidding! The real answer is practice, years and years of practice!

Maths, I hate to say it, also helps a lot.

We use Geometry and multiplication all the time when we build our models!

Do you have any memories of things you built with LEGO as a kid?

Absolutely! One of the first LEGO sets I ever got was a tiny boat my Grandma got me for 20c! I also loved building LEGO cities and creating LEGO train layouts on the floor.

We use Geometry and multiplication all the time when we build our models!

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Being a Lego Certified Professional sounds like the dream job for so many LEGO loving kiddos out there and you’re the ONLY one in the Southern Hemisphere – what does it take to become one?

To be an LCP, you need to not only be good at LEGO building, but also be able to talk in public and on TV, as well as run a business.

Originally I was the CIO of a media company and was working on LEGO Mindstorms (the robotics in schools program) and was intrigued by the combination of LEGO and technology. I met a few folks who work for LEGO and then started to collaborate on some projects together. They had only recently started up the LEGO Certified Professional program and with no one represented in the Asia-Pacific region, they suggested I put together a business proposal and apply for the program, which I did. That was over 10 years ago now!

INTE RVIE W

PRO TIP If there is a special

day coming up, such as a birthday, holiday, wedding or festival, why not make a decorative gift box with a lid to contain a present? Try to think of something representative If there is a special day coming up, such as a of the special day and build it birthday, holiday, wedding or festival, why not make in colours associated with it.

P RESENT

a decorative gift box with a lid to contain a present?

Try to think of something representative of the special day and build it in colours associated with it. For example, for a person’s birthday, think of their favourite colours and things they like and decorate it to match, or for Christmas you could make it in festive red and green. You can build it as fancy as you like, so if you have any special pieces in transparent or metallic colours you could incorporate those.

TRY THIS! For extra excitement, add a pop-up mechanism to the gift, like the jack-in-the-box on pages 132–133.

What about using a secret locking mechanism with a key (see pages 148–149) so the recipient can keep their treasures in the box afterwards?

Do you have a FAVOURITE build of all time?

My favourite build is still the Colosseum model I built nearly 10 years ago. It taught me so much about building large models.

Getting the oval shape right across the multiple tiers and 2 different sections of the model was the toughest part for sure! Also because of the multiple tiers and ruined modern day sections I had to constantly change how I built the oval.

My favourite LEGO piece is the classic 2x4 (2 studs wide, by 4 studs long) brick.

Biggest LEGO disaster? Have you ever dropped something epic!?

Can you tell us about your newest book The Bricktionary?

I’ve had a few actually! Several years ago, some kids broke into a mall where my giant 4m long LEGO brick firefighting helicopter was on display and tried to fly it around, but ended up smashing it all over the floor! The other big disaster we had was when my favourite model, the Colosseum, came back from an exhibition in South America almost completely destroyed in its box! Luckily, LEGO bricks are awesome and we could rebuild it!

People are always asking me – ‘Where does this LEGO knowledge and skill come from?

How do you know so much about LEGO?’ I guess when you build with LEGO for as long as I have, you pick up lots of cool tricks along the way, so why not share the tips and tricks I’ve learnt over the years with everyone else and explain everything we know about LEGO bricks? And that’s when I got the idea for The Bricktionary! When I was a kid LEGO had these “Idea books” which just showed all sorts of custom models made from combining sets and bricks. I always loved them and that’s kind of what I wanted to do with The Bricktionary too; create an A to Z of LEGO ideas you can use in infinite ways.

It’s a book meant to inspire readers and spark their own creativity!

Do you have a fave LEGO piece?

If so, what is it and why?

My favourite LEGO piece is the classic 2x4 (2 studs wide, by 4 studs long) brick. It’s just so simple, iconic and versatile. Plus it comes in loads of colours which helps!

Images and text from The Bricktionary

by Ryan McNaught, photography by Mark Roper. Murdoch Books RRP $39.99. thebrickman.com

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O PINI O N

WORD ON THE STREET A nudge not a nag to get kids more active quarter of South Australian children and young people report being engaged in an hour of daily exercise making our children some of the least active in the world.

With Helen Connolly Commissioner for Children and Young People Given childhood is the most sensitive period of human development, it is particularly important that physical activity in children and young people be promoted from a young age.

Beyond the clear benefits of regular exercise in developing physical literacy and fitness, we know that keeping children and young people physically active offers long-term prevention of chronic disease.

Many studies also now highlight the clear connection between regular physical activity and mental health and wellbeing.

Experts tell us that even as little as 20 minutes of exercise per day helps children to concentrate and engage better with their learning. It also improves their cognitive performance and helps build their confidence and self-esteem. For children aged 5–17 years the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines recommends an accumulation of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. In Australia, however, research shows that most children and young people do not achieve this minimum level. Currently less than one

Primary-school aged children generally have active days. They play physical games or run around school grounds during recess and lunch, and they’re able to be more active in class time as well. Younger children too, are often encouraged to participate in active, outside play. As kids get older, however, participation in sports and physical activity drops off significantly.

Recess and lunch breaks are more likely to be spent hanging out with friends or engaged in activities that don’t involve physical or sport related activities, and although there are young people who do commit to extracurricular school sport or club activities, the majority do not.

Children and young people require positive encouragement and a gentle nudge toward regular physical activity, ideally from a young age. Positive encouragement from parents is vital to their enjoyment and regular participation in sport and physical activity.

Experts tell us that even as little as 20 minutes of exercise per day helps children to concentrate and engage better with their learning. It also improves their cognitive performance and helps build their confidence and self-esteem.

Young people have told me how much they rely on their parents’ encouragement, positive feedback, and support. They see their parents as a source of inspiration – often choosing sports that follow their

Children and young people link their opportunities to being healthy and staying healthy to the following: •

Friends and sibling influence

•

Parental encouragement

•

Teacher and coach encouragement

•

Time made available in the school day

•

School facilities

•

School sports opportunities

•

The impact of social media and technology

•

Active journeys to school

•

Easy transport options

parents’ example, sharing in a competitive spirit that fuels their own enthusiasm and passion for the benefits they witness regular physical activity can bring.

In addition to the conversations parents have with their children at home, those they have travelling to and from practice, training, and matches, can have a major impact on the level of physical activity children and young people adopt during childhood and into adolescence.

Setting up regular opportunities and an expectation around involvement in sport or other physical activity from a young age, is key to children and young people becoming interested in and continuing with that activity into adulthood, enjoying all the health and wellbeing benefits this can deliver over a lifetime.

Helen Connolly is South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. To find out more about the work of the Commissioner including access to free resources designed specifically for parents and carers visit ccyp.com.au

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O PINIO N

Mental health hygiene for kids

However, by incorporating these mental health hygiene principles into our lives, we give our kids the best chance to soak up these protective patterns. And if by chance, your child experiences a spell of mental health difficulty, this framework should aid their recovery immensely.

Here’s a checklist of mental health hygiene principles.

1.

When the going gets tough, coach your kids to share their thoughts with family and friends. Family and friends are such a blessing because their love reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously or perfectly, not to overthink, and always provide us with a sprinkle of optimism and a sparkle of hope.

2.

WORDS Mark Le Messurier

Can we guarantee against mental health difficulties in our children? Unfortunately, no. Some mental health issues arise from the unexpected twists and turns of life, and associated traumas.

Others are well outside of our control and are heavily influenced by illness, disability, deficits, disorders, loss, conditions and so much more.

“A PROBLEM SHARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED”

GET RID OF HOUSEHOLD DRAMA

Do away with the unnecessary drama that plays out too often, in too many families. Instead, model how we slow down, breathe, and self-regulate our emotions.

Do away with overreacting and becoming too picky, too shouty, too controlling, too dominating, too angry, and too frightening because when we do this, we compromise the wiring up of our children’s brains.

3.

STAY ACTIVE

This can be through organised sport or simply walking and talking with someone most days. Physical activity allows the brain to release endorphins, and these make us feel good.

4.

THE GUT AND BRAIN CONNECTION

Our brain affects our gut health, and our gut affects brain health. There are now strong links between a balanced diet full of vegetables, protein and nutrients and good mental health. There is no specific diet proven to relieve depression, although there is mounting evidence that the Mediterranean diet (consisting of whole foods such as fresh vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, eggs, healthy fats, especially olive oil) is a healthy choice.

5.

BEING MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY CONNECTED

We are learning that those who show better mental health usually have two things in common. Firstly, they have a strong moral compass. They possess a sense of ‘right and wrong’, ‘good and evil’, ‘fair and unfair,’ ‘selfish and generous’ and all the shades of grey in between. Is this something you coach your children to understand? Secondly, they lived with religious, spiritual or faith values.

In fact, having a deep religious or spiritual connection is the single, most powerful force that supports people to recover from upsets, emergencies, and disasters.

6.

SLEEP

Children and teens require 9 to 10 hours sleep each night. When they consistently fall short, a ‘sleep deficit’ results. This causes moodiness, saps energy, clouds learning, impairs remembering, reduces motivation, and as for strong decision-making and concentration, these fly out the window!

7.

COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Those who display cognitive and emotional flexibility do so much better. This is the ability to look at a situation differently, decide to tackle it in an alternate way, even though it feels outside of your comfort zone and may not feel entirely fair. We step away from our fixed self to chance where our best effort takes us!

8.

KINDNESS AND GIVING TO OTHERS

A simple act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone’s day, week, or life perspective. Equally, our kindness to another has a profound effect on our own mental health because connection and contribution leaves us feeling valued and uplifted. The research is clear when we help another, we are the greatest receiver.

9.

GET LOST IN FLOW

Flow is a state of mind in which a person becomes totally absorbed in an activity. Flow is associated with a healthy sense of wellbeing and increased happiness. It occurs when we are fully engaged with our work, with hobbies, in relationships, out on a bushwalk or enjoying your favourite video game for a time. What’s your flow activity? What are each of your children’s flow activities?

10.

HELP YOUR KIDS TO FIND INSPIRING ROLE-MODELS

Just as you surround yourself with people who are good, motivating, and nurturing, we must encourage our children to do the same. Role-models can be sporting stars or wonderful people in your family – even you!

Most of us have interesting or compelling histories. Don’t forget to share them!

11.

FACE YOUR FEARS AND GUIDE YOUR KIDS TO DO THE SAME

When we face our fears, they become less frightening. Every so often, challenge yourself and your children to give something a go that feels slightly outside that natural comfort zone.

Mark is a teacher, counsellor, public speaker, and the author of 16 publications. 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 / 21

THE GIFT TRIAL Did you know that babies born between 32 and 36 weeks gestation make up the largest proportion of early (premature) births?

Did you also know that it is common for mothers who give birth prematurely to have difficulties producing enough breast milk for their baby, especially in the first few weeks after birth?

This is why SAHMRI is collaborating with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, the Women’s and Children’s Health Network and Royal Brisbane Women’s and Children’s Hospital to deliver the GIFT trial. The principal investigator of the study, Associate Professor Alice Rumbold, answered a few questions about the study.

What inspired this research?

When babies born preterm are in hospital, they are often fed infant formula when milk from their own mother is unavailable or in short supply. However, formula can sometimes be harder for babies born preterm to digest, causing vomiting and bloating and a problem known as feed intolerance.

To avoid this, many hospitals in Australia provide what we call ‘donor milk’ to babies born preterm. At present, this is usually only available to babies born very small or very early (before 32 weeks of pregnancy).

What is donor milk?

Donor milk is human milk, donated from another breastfeeding mum, that has been pasteurised (heat-treated) to kill any bacteria and viruses that could be present in the milk. This process ensures the milk can be safely given to any baby.

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KI D D O F EATU RE

What is the GIFT Trial?

The GIFT Trial is studying whether access to donor milk should be expanded to include babies born just a few weeks early, between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. We intend to find out whether giving donor milk instead of formula, when there is not enough mother’s own milk available, reduces episodes of feed intolerance and helps the babies transition to being fed at the breast. We are also studying whether this reduces the time they need to spend in hospital after birth.

How does it work?

We are collaborating with Lifeblood Milk – an initiative of Australian Red Cross Lifeblood that provides donated breast milk to mothers of vulnerable babies who are unable to produce enough of their own milk for their baby. Lifeblood donors go through a strict screening process, similar to the screening done for blood donors, that includes testing for infectious diseases and questions about the donor’s health and lifestyle.

How do you find participants?

We have a very small window of opportunity to enrol participants in the GIFT Trial. Babies must be born at 32–36 weeks gestation, be less than 4 days old and require more milk than the mother is able to produce. So far, we have found that mothers who are given information during preterm labour or prior to delivery have a higher likelihood of enrolling in the study, so we’re trying our best to get the word out there!

Our health care team is based at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and we have nurses onsite to determine if babies are eligible.

We intend to find out whether giving donor milk instead of formula, when there is not enough mother’s own milk available, reduces episodes of feed intolerance and helps the babies transition to being fed at the breast.

Any new mothers who are interested will only be included in the study if the health care team determines that the baby needs more milk than the mother can provide.

If you would like more information on the study, contact: gift@sahmri.com 0459 811 712

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For more information visit www.education.sa.gov.au/preschool-enrolment

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FE ATU RE

COME PARTY WITH US! Whether you’re looking for some DIY inspo for a birthday bash at home, or wanting to outsource your party planning to the pros at one of the many (many…many!) incredible local party venues, this is your go-to guide for everything from party favours to party flavours, and every kid-approved detail in between.

So put on your party hat, grab your dancing shoes and make sure to leave some room for cake!

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F E ATU RE

Let them eat cake!

Cake by How Sweet It Is Cakes

Set aside your spatula for another day and make your little one’s cake dreams come true with a creation from one of Adelaide’s best cake makers!

No eggshell in the batter here; you dream it, they bake it!

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FE ATU RE

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Kee p ca lm & PART Y O N !

Let the good times roll with these divine decos that are sure to make your party pop!

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1. Tropical Leaf Garland Kmart.com.au 2.Flower Headdress merimeri.com 3. Hooray Acrylic Cake Topper merimeri.com 4. Jungle Party plate bigw.com.au 5. Five Piece Dinosaur Garden Stakes Kmart.com.au 6. Panda Face Party Plates Set shop.bambinifashion.com 7. Under the sea fish napkin thepartycupboard.com.au 8. Dinosaur party hats merimeri.com 9. Pink Happy Birthday Fringe Garland merimeri.com 10. Children's Birthday Cake Book 40th Anniversary Edition – AWW target.com.au 11. Oh Baby Boy Shaped Plates spotlightstores.com 12. Robot Piñata merimeri.com

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IS THIS THE BEST PARTY IN THE WORLD?

P A R T Y

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P A R T Y

DIY PARTY AT YOUR PLACE! Professional party prep guru and queen of craft Alexis Teasdale from The Festive Co. has given us her top tips for turning the dial up on your DIY for a party at home!

Sometimes a big vibe can be created by the small details, and of course the occasional outsource to a professional for the WOW pieces.

PARTY FAVOUR FLAVOUR Little decorated cookies are such a sweet (pun intended) take home gift or addition to a party bag. The birthday kid might even help you make them in the lead up! Simple letter cookie cutters are easy to find and if you stick to basic icing and sprinkles, little hands can help without too much fuss or mess.

YAY BALLOONS Don’t underestimate the basics when it comes to party decor. It’s so easy to find these small letter balloons now, they’re even at the supermarket.

Instead of battling to hang them on string or stick to the wall, just add them to balloon or baking sticks and sit them in jars of sprinkles, glitter or even rice!

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PRO F IL E

PIÑATA CAKE This glorious creation was whipped up by Sweet Mama Cakes for my baby shower but would work just as well for a kids birthday bash. I had never seen a piñata cake before then, and they are SO much fun for kids! Simply cut out the middle of your assembled cake layers and fill with lollies before you finish icing and decorating. Then enjoy their reaction!

PARTY HATS Why not have a party hat decorating game at your kids next party? Buy plain party hats and have tubs of all sorts of crafty bits like old lego pieces, lollies, cotton wool, feathers, shells.. anything really! Just make sure the children are big enough to know not to put anything in their mouth as they create!

If you have older children, a low-temp glue gun makes it super easy to keep pieces adhered to a party hat.

JUMBO DAISIES STREAMER WALL Crepe paper streamer walls are easy as pie to whip up and look so gorgeous behind a cake table. Look for sets that include everything you need, from the streamers to tape, string and maybe even balloons, which will save you money.

I made these for my daughters christening.

They were basic cardboard creations with overlapping petals and frayed cardboard centres. I added some wire to the back of them to make it easy to hook onto a screen.

To save some money (because big sheets of cardboard are exxy!) you could use a big roll of white craft paper as the base.

If you can’t find a kit, head to your local party shop and select your streamer colours, some double-sided tape and twine or rope. Then layer the streamers over the rope, holding each piece in place by adding the double sided tape to the inside of the streamer as it touches the rope.

PARTY PLATES I love finding unique party plates to suit whatever theme the kids are having. They can get expensive though, so my trick is to stock up on plain paper plates as a base and have one fancy, themed one sitting at the top when I style a kids table.

For more party ideas: @thefestiveco thefestiveco.com

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FO O D

Peanut Butter & Coconut Blondie

Recipe from Leah Itsines Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes Makes: 8

Ingredients ½ cup plain flour ¼ cup instant oats ½ cup brown sugar ¾–1 cup NUYU Almond milk 1 tbsp coconut flakes ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp baking powder ½ cup runny peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla essence

Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celsius.

2. Add everything into one bowl and using a whisk, combine well. If needing extra milk, add in smaller amounts.

This BLONDIE IS OFF THE CHAIN! Sprinkles because... it’s like a party and also because it’s vegan! This recipe uses NUYU plant based milks (for those of you who can’t have dairy – this range is epic!) They’ve got almond (my fave for everyday type stuff), cashew, macadamia, coconut, pistachio and my new fave coffee order... oat milk! This is an SA brand which is exactly what we need right now so let’s give them some love!

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3. If you want a little extra fun, add some sprinkles to the top of the blondie.

4. Place into a lined baking tin and place into the oven for 20–25 minutes or until cooked through.

5. Allow to cool and slice! Store in fridge.

Hope you LOVE this recipe!

You can find more recipes leahitsines.com.au and @leahitsines

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FE ATU RE

The Beachouse

PARTY VENUES TO KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF

Kids love birthday parties at The Beachouse!

Choose from 3 awesome birthday party packages! All our parties include rides & amusements, an exclusive party host, a reserved table with balloons and a free gift for the birthday child! All you need to do is sit back and relax with a coffee and let us do all the work!

1. Build It Birthdays – from $35pp

Want to make your birthday bash memorable for all the right reasons...and none of the clean up!?

• Perfect for all ages • Choose any 3 activities over 2 hours (waterslides, bumper boats, mini golf, arcade games, carousel, train, dodgems, playcastle) • Free gift for the birthday child 2. Extreme Birthdays – from $38pp • Awesome for ages 6–14

Leave the entertainment to the party pros and outsource your shindig to one of Adelaide’s best kids’ party venues. There are so many options, your biggest issue will be settling on just one!

• Includes 2 hours of waterslides, dodgems, bumper boats, mini golf, carousel, train and arcade games • Free gift for birthday child 3. Kids Birthdays – from $25pp • Great for ages 1–5 years • Includes 1 x playcastle entry, 1x carousel ride, 1 x train ride, 1 x pair of Beachouse socks • Free gift for the birthday child Add some food and party favourites from only $8.00 per child.

Bring your own cake or let us supply a delicious donut tower cake.

To find out more about our party packages and to book your party: thebeachouse.com.au/parties 4 Colley Terrace, Glenelg

Barossa Valley Chocolate Company Head to the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company for a kids party choc-o-block full of fun and yum!

Book your two hour fully hosted birthday party with chocolate workshop, games, activities and lunch in an exclusive party room not accessible to the public.

This collaboration between BVCC chocolatiers and local professional party business, Barossa Fun Factory will see kids unleashing their inner chocolatier, making their own custom chocolate creation using BVCC sustainable Belgian chocolate, which is packaged for each child to take home.

Party goers will also learn about chocolate while getting creative and a little bit messy, as well as picking up real skills used by BVCC chocolatiers including piping, enrobing and moulding.

Kids lunch is included, as well as personalised BVCC Ice Cream Cake!

• • • • •

Dietary options available $55 per child Suitable for children aged 5–14 Min. 8 – Max. 15 children per party Available on weekends, 10.00am – 12.00pm noon

To find out more about parties at BVCC or to book: barossavalleychocolates.com.au enquiries@bvcc.com.au @barossavalleychocolatecompany 64 Burings Rd, Tanunda / 32

Imagination Kidz Your kids' birthday party will be totally awesome and memorable in the exciting Imagination Kidz play centre!

Let Imagination Kidz entertain your party guests and create the special day your child is dreaming of, making things easy for Mum and Dad. With a choice of selected food options, drinks, parents’ platters, good coffee, reserved adult seating and additional extras, it will be fun for kids… and fun for the grown ups too!

Want a private party? You can even hire the entire play centre and enjoy it exclusively, ideal for larger functions and gatherings.

Imagination Kidz parties are suitable for kids aged 1–10, with a soft play toddler area available for kids under 3 years old. Birthday party packages are available to suit all budgets, hosted in private party rooms, with a minimum of 8 children per party on the weekend or during the school holidays.

To find out more or book your party at Imagination Kidz: imaginationkidz.com.au/parties 5/264 Richmond Road, Marleston

LOCAL

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes Serves: 4–6

VE LO

Potato, bacon & corn chowder

FO O D

Method Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, over a medium heat. Add bacon, cook for 5 minutes or until golden. Remove a third of the bacon and set aside to garnish.

Add leeks, celery, garlic and paprika stirring to combine. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes or until leek is soft.

Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 250g smoky bacon, chopped 2 large leeks, washed, trimmed and finely sliced 2 sticks celery, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed ½ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika 1 litre chicken stock 375ml tin evaporated milk 2 bay leaves 600g potato, peeled and chopped into 2cm cubes

Add stock, milk, bay leaves, potato and corn, bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for 25 minutes or until potato is soft.

Using a stick blender, puree half the potato mixture until smooth, before returning to the remaining unblended soup. Add parmesan and season with salt and pepper, stirring to combine.

To serve, divide soup between bowls and garnish with reserved cooked bacon and spring onions.

3 cobs corn, kernals removed ¼ cup finely grated parmesan Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 spring onions, finely sliced

SPUD LITE are available at all good supermarkets. For more recipes head to zerellafresh.com.au @spud.lite

For mums in domestic violence situations For mums who are homeless For mums who are refugees For mums with mental health struggles For mums who are facing adversity For mums who are Indigenous For mums who have financial hardships For mums who struggle with addiction For mums with no support

A charity supporting 1000 SA mums in 2022 who need a village around them.

WILL YOU STAND WITH US 'FOR EVERY MUM'?

Find out how at thevillageco.org / 33

kiddo corner!

WO R DS

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He

nr y

W il lia m s

Resident Kiddo Book Reviewer: Henry Williams, 10 years

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).

Did you know that more than one million animal species make their homes in Australia? Neither did I, but after reading Wild Australian Life I know that and so much more about Australian wildlife. Australia is actually a wildlife wonderland where the world’s deadliest snakes live side by side with hopping mice and powerful kangaroos, and there is so much to learn about!

The author, Leonard Cronin, is a trained biologist and he sure knows his animal facts; one of the things I loved most about this book was just how many new and remarkable things I learned about Aussie animals that I had no idea about.

Did you know flocks of budgies scour the Aussie deserts? Or that there’s an Australian shrimp that can punch so hard that it could shatter aquarium glass? You sure don’t want one of those in your fish tank!

This book will teach you all about the diversity of Aussie wildlife, how animals and insects live their lives and survive in their habitats, from the deepest

Kids Quiz 1. How many colours are there

in the rainbow?

2. What does a thermometer

measure? oceans to the tops of mountains and the harshest deserts.

I can’t review this book without mentioning the illustrator, Chris Nixon, because the book's 64 pages are full of lifelike drawings of every animal and insect you could possibly imagine and that’s pretty impressive! Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a picture book though, this is actually suited to kids aged 6–12 and is like an encyclopedia of the Australian animal kingdom. I even caught my Dad reading it, and Mum said it’s such a pretty book it belongs on a coffee table! So I guess that means it gets the tick of approval from the whole family.

3. What fruit do raisins come from?

4. How many wheels do

tricycles have?

5. Who lives at Number 4

Privet Drive?

6. Where is the Eiffel Tower?

7.

What do Koalas eat?

8. How many Olympic rings

are there?

9.

What’s the closest planet to the sun?

10. How many musicians

are there in a quartet?

Wild Australian Life

by Leonard Cronin T ICEN NIF RRP $29.99 S MAG MAL MAM

Koala

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23 20:00

2021/12/

Answers: 1. Seven, 2. Temperature, 3. Grapes, 4. Three, 5. Harry Potter, 6. Paris, 7. Eucalyptus leaves, 8. Five, 9. Mercury, 10. Four

Henry Reads

8

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A_AU_T

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Meet this month’s doer Meet Amber (she/her), a sixteen-yearold activist from Adelaide who uses her community engagement to stand up for climate action. After attending the International School Strike for Climate protest in September 2019, Amber was empowered by the young people organising it and the impacts they made. She has since been involved in the SS4C movement, taking on liaison and presenting roles.

“Presenting in front of so many people was certainly daunting, and I felt challenged to write in a language that was both inspiring to a crowd and truthful to my own beliefs. I benefited greatly to have this opportunity to plan a larger strike as well as speaking and it has empowered me as a young person to continue to speak up about the misinformation surrounding the Climate Crisis and the immediate need for change.”

Amber’s other work with SS4C has included initiating a Beach Clean-up Day in collaboration with the

/ 34

Semaphore Largs Dunes Group and speaking at Cardjin College about appropriate waste management and understanding carbon footprint. She has met with South Australian Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs to discuss waste management in State schools.

Amber was also involved in the Working Women’s Centre and Youth Affairs Council’s conference about youth representation in decision making for Australia. She has appeared on local media platforms ABC Radio National with Peter Goers and Channel 44 Adelaide and worked with Sydney Boom Squish Theatre Company as part of a production about Young People and the Climate Crisis.

In June 2021, Amber was awarded the Young Achiever of the Year for the South Australian Environment Awards 2021.

“These opportunities have enabled me to gain a deeper understanding not only about the Climate and its impact but also about myself and how I would like to enact meaningful change for the better.”

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?

You can find Amber on Instagram at @_amberbf and @amberbrockfabel

kiddo corner!

George’s Jokes WO R

Give your loved ones a lol with these giggleworthy gags!

DS

What does a cloud wear under his raincoat? Thunderwear.

—

G

eo

rg e

A rc h o n ti d

is

What did one toilet say to the other?

You look a bit flushed.

Why can’t Elsa from Frozen have a balloon?

Because she will “let it go, let it go”.

What musical instrument is found in the bathroom?

A tuba toothpaste.

What do you call a dog magician?

A labracadabrador.

Send your LOLs to hello@kiddomag.com.au

Spot the Difference Find 12 differences in the scenes below:

I LLUSTR ATIONS Jana from @wordfindersclub

Silly Science with Simon DIY Lava Lamps!

Step 2 Add 10 drops of food colouring to the water and gently swirl the bottle to stir. Make sure you choose your favourite colour for this step!

Step 3 Carefully pour all of the oil into the clear bottle. It’s best to do this over the sink, just in case you spill some of the oil.

Step 4 Break one and a half Alka-Seltzer tablets into a few pieces and drop them into the bottle. Watch as the reaction propels the ‘lava’ through your lava lamp – awesome!

WO R DS

Si

—

You can make these liquid lava lamps at home, following a few simple steps! These are super fun to watch and a great way to learn a little bit of science.

Trust me, you’re going to ‘lava’ this experiment!

Step 1 Carefully pour all of the water into the clear bottle.

Items checklist o­ A clear bottle (about 600 mL) o­ 150 mL of water o­ 300 mL of vegetable oil o­ Food colouring o­ Alka-Seltzer tablets

mo

n B la

cket

What's going on? Oil and water don’t mix with each other and form two separate layers when added to the bottle. Because oil is less dense than water, it floats on the top. The Alka-Seltzer tablet falls to the bottom of the bottle and dissolves in the water. This starts a chemical reaction between two ingredients in the tablet (sodium bicarbonate and citric acid), which releases carbon dioxide gas. This gas rises to the surface and takes some water with it. When the gas reaches the surface, it escapes out of the bottle and the water falls back down!

Cleaning up You can reuse your lava lamp a few more times – just add new Alka-Seltzer tablets! When you’re ready to clean up, pour the vegetable oil into a biodegradable bag and place it in the bin.

To see this experiment in action, or to learn more about what's going on, check out the video on the Silly Science with Simon YouTube channel. @sillysciencewithsimon

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BO O K S

well read 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!

BE PLASTIC CLEVER

By Amy and Ella Meek

1

kids

Be Plastic Clever will teach young activists about the dangers of plastic pollution and climate change, but also to help them find their voice. Amy and Ella want their book to help young readers shout about the issues they are passionate about and inspire them to become young activists in their own right.

Famously charming, fabulously dressed, and unapologetically himself – there are so many reasons to want to be more Harry Styles. This book will show you how to channel this once-in-a-generation pop icon.

RRP $14.99 – DK Books

ANNA

By Amy Odell

4

RRP $16.99 – DK Books

adults

Eleanor is happiest when she's left alone to dream up elaborate stories.

Sam is outgoing, fun and popular.

Despite their differences, the sisters have always been there for each other – until everything changes.

RRP $19.99 – Arrow Books

RRP $34.99 – Allen & Unwin

5

6

AGAINST ALL ODDS

By Emily Korir

Born with a fighting spirit, Emily Korir has thrived in the face of challenges she thought she couldn't survive.

Managing Expectations is a memoir-ish, a tell-most, by Minnie Driver: A-list actor, mum, singer and songwriter, exploring her life most extraordinary. With searing honesty and bags of laughs, Minnie Driver tells us how things not working out so often worked out remarkably well, and how reaching for the dream is easily more interesting, expansive, sad and funny than the dream itself coming true.

Refusing to be a victim of circumstance, Emily has transformed her life again and again – overcoming more in decades than many would in a lifetime.

RRP $32.99 – Allen & Unwin SPEAKING IN TONGUES

By Tom Tilley

7

When you no longer believe in eternity, every moment counts – A memoir of breaking free and reinvention

From the outside, Tom Tilley's childhood seemed ordinary. The first son of a pastor, he grew up in a beautiful country town where life revolved around football, his loving family and their Pentecostal faith. But behind church doors, a strictly enforced set of rules included a looming ultimatum: if Tom didn't speak in tongues, he'd go to hell and be outcast from his close-knit, devout community.

RRP $32.99 – Harper Collins / 36

3

THE RUNAWAY’S DIARY

By James Patterson

I'm running away. Not to a place – to a person.

As a child, Anna Wintour was a tomboy with no apparent interest in clothing but, seduced by the miniskirts and bob haircuts of swinging 1960s London, she grew into a fashion-obsessed teenager. Her father, the influential editor of the Evening Standard, loomed large in her life, and once he decided she should become editor in chief of Vogue, she never looked back.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

By Minnie Driver

2

BE MORE HARRY STYLES What would Harry do?

Emily has framed her story in a beautifully raw memoir, Against All Odds. Capturing her challenging birth, community and childhood in Nakuru, her ongoing studies, and her brutal stroke recovery, Emily is the embodiment of true success, supporting and growing two multi-million dollar businesses which she helms.

RRP $29.99 – againstallodds.com.au

ALL INCLUSIVE

AGAINST ALL ODDS From the moment she was born, Emily Korir had to learn how to fight. Her gripping memoir, ‘Against All Odds’ shares an intimate insight into the journey of her life, paying tribute to the battles we fight to be our best selves.

Refusing to be a victim of circumstance, Emily has transformed her life again and again; overcoming more in decades than many would in a lifetime. Her incredible autobiography captures her challenging birth, community and childhood in Kenya, her ongoing studies, and her brutal stroke recovery, painting the picture of how Emily has gone on to become the embodiment of true success, supporting and growing two multi-million dollar businesses which she now helms.

We caught up with Emily to find out more about her extraordinary journey of courage and determination…against all odds.

Tell us about the two incredible women you were raised by and your experience growing up in Nakuru, Kenya?

Ruth Titany, affectionately known as Cucu or Grandmother, was the inspiration who taught me what unconditional love looked like. She was my number one cheerleader and continually reminded me to pursue my passions and make the best of all opportunities.

My mother, Rebecca Titany, had been still-born in a small village in the county of Bomet, Kenya. My late grandmother’s third still-born child, she was also pronounced dead by the midwives who worked at Tenwek Hospital when she had no discernible heartbeat and made no crying sound.

Outside the hospital, Ruth took the ‘lifeless’ body of my mother, placed the baby under a bush and walked away. My greatgrandmother insisted that this child needed a proper burial and went to pick her up, finding her still warm with a faintly beating pulse.

Growing up in the most remote part of SOT in Bomet, mum’s reflection on her childhood was of a beautiful upbringing, even though she grew up in the povertystricken environment that typically exists in so many African villages: the waste, the dirt, and the utter hardship.

When you were 37 your life was changed in the wake of a debilitating stroke. You overcame improbable odds through a year of recovery and intensive physical therapy, how did this change your world?

On June 23, 2012 we shared a beautiful Saturday in Adelaide, preparing to celebrate one of our dear friends at a surprise 40th party, which I had been asked to MC. While mulling over what a pleasant day we all had and anticipating the great night ahead, life as we knew it unraveled quickly.

I experienced a sudden, very sharp headache while walking into the ensuite to shower. I headed back into my room to get my water and some painkillers, but the two tablets

Throw yourself into experiences that will lead you to your purpose and, if you fail, don’t give up, but face life with hope and try again – Emily Korir

I was carrying fell from my hands. I simply picked the tablets up and kept walking, but the tablets fell out of my hands a second time. Again, I picked them up and continued walking. The third time they fell one broke, drawing the attention of my daughter Britney. She offered to pick the tablets up for me, but as she was rising to give me the tablets, my outstretched hand flopped down and my whole body started wobbling. This time it wasn’t tablets that fell to the floor, but me.

My husband hurried in and quickly called the emergency number, asked for help, explained what was happening and that I was fading in and out of consciousness.

Emily with daughter Britney (right), husband Bernard and son Bradley (left)

The stroke brought so much pain to our family but it has also turned out to be a stroke of luck. Throughout the recovery I never wavered. I completed over a year of grueling physical rehabilitation followed by completing a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) majoring in Human Resource Management.

What were your experiences during recovery and how did this open your eyes to wanting to make a change in the disability care sector?

Before my discharge from Hampstead the OT visited our house and recommended we modify it in order for me to be discharged home safely. My husband felt we should rent an accessible house, and move home when I got better. We started to look for an accessible house, but could not find one to rent or buy. Our drive became to make sure people with disabilities have choice when it comes to housing, leading to the birth of BET GROUP GLOBAL. BET was born with a mission to “change the narrative by creating a future where people with disabilities have real choice and access to ALL opportunities”.

BET is a registered NDIS provider, now the fastest growing and most innovative disability housing service provider in South Australia and Victoria. Being CEO of a successful organisation in this sector has enabled me to recognise how every decision I make impacts someone’s life.

Do you have any advice for other women facing adversity based on what you’ve learned from overcoming challenges?

Don’t let anyone else’s perception of you become your reality, only you can stop you.

Getting what you want in life is all about focus. No matter what happens, you must remember why you wanted your goal: it’s your purpose, your passion, your reason for living.

What inspired you to write a memoir about your experiences?

In writing this memoir, one of my motivations has been to challenge you, the reader, to dare to dream.

Throw yourself into experiences that will lead you to your purpose and, if you fail, don’t give up, but face life with hope and try again.

I also wrote these words as a book of lessons for my children. I hope they are inspired to find their own life’s purpose.

Against All Odds, Emily’s raw and gripping memoir, is available to purchase from againstallodds.com.au RRP $29.99 KID D O F E ATU RE

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A L L IN C LUSI VE

Auslan Interpreted Storytime & Toddlertime Onkaparinga libraries will now have Auslan interpreters at selected Storytime and Toddlertime sessions until July, providing a valuable service to young hearing impaired members of the community.

Auslan (Australian sign language) is the sign language of the Australian Deaf community.

It was developed by people who are deaf so that they could communicate with others.

Auslan interpreters will be attending six early childhood literacy sessions across the city libraries this year. These sessions will be recorded and added to the libraries’ online storytime collection.

Woodcroft Library Team Leader, Kathrin Davidson, was delighted to learn funding for the interpreters had been awarded to Onkaparinga Libraries.

“As a public library service we strive to make sure our community has equal and fair access to information, knowledge and services," she said.

"We regularly deliver preschool literacy sessions each week across the city targeted to different age groups including Toddlertime (18 months–3 years) and Storytime (3–5 years)”.

"Having the Auslan interpreters at our Storytime and Toddlertime sessions will provide an opportunity for the Deaf community and the Hard of Hearing community to participate and will provide equal access to literacy and communication for all community members."

Upcoming Auslan Storytime Sessions Seaford Library Monday 16 May, 10:30am Willunga Library Tuesday 21 June, 10am Aldinga Library Monday 18 July, 10am

Storytime and Toddlertime are fun, interactive sessions designed to encourage a love of reading for children using stories, nursery rhymes and activities. These sessions aim to support your child’s early literacy and language development, while introducing them to sign language communication. All children and families are welcome, and bookings are essential. onkaparingacity.com

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME Kaboose is the new social media app offering a safe and engaging online platform for Young Autistic People to connect with their peers through shared special interests.

Kaboose aspires to make the online world safe for everyone’s children by creating a secure place for young people to have meaningful, safe social relationships.

By offering a community that can safely facilitate the building of supportive tribes, kids are able to develop relationships that are meaningful to them.

With over 90% of the world’s population using social media and 570 million people aged 13–24 living with Autism, Kaboose is committed to providing a safe social network for young people to build a supportive tribe.

I SEE YOU, YOU SEE ME

Glenelg Beach for everybody Plans to make Glenelg Beach accessible for everyone have moved forward.

matting was laid out on the sand, providing access across to the water, and beach wheelchairs, beach walkers and the mobi-chair floating wheelchair were available to try.

Detailed concept designs for a disability compliant ramp at the beach will now be drawn up and council will also investigate funding opportunities to purchase a beach mat and beach wheelchairs.

PQSA (Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of South Australia Ltd), the peak community body for people living with spinal cord injury, is supportive of the initiative and has pledged to donate funds to be put towards the cost of equipment required to make the beach accessible.

The State Government has donated $50,000 towards the cost of the project following the highly successful accessible beach day held at Glenelg in January 2022.

As part of the event 50 metres of beach

Glenelg is also officially one of only 16 places across South Australia to have a Changing Places toilet, which provides suitable facilities for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.

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•

Download the Kaboose app on your mobile or tablet

•

Set up your personal account – you’ll be asked to verify your identity first

•

Build your profile, providing info about your special interests, hobbies, location and age

•

You’ll be presented with other people who match your criteria – you then have the choice to add them to your tribe

•

Get chatting!

Download the Kaboose app from Google Play or the App Store today. kaboose.app

A L L INCLUSIVE

PLAY YOUR WAY For some kids, a toy is not just a toy. And for some parents, shopping for a toy is not that simple.

sometimes making products myself. These days it is somewhat easier, as there are some wonderful products readily available.

Michelle, Founder Choose Play Michelle from Choose Play inherently understands this feeling. She’s been that parent standing in the toy aisle, wondering about all the possible reactions her child would have to each toy and having a hard time deciding.

It was moments like these that prompted Michelle to take action to reinvent the experience. Creating play strategies and toy adaptations for her own child ultimately led to Choose Play, an online toy store with a difference.

Choose Play is all about finding fun and engaging play-based solutions to common parenting challenges. Offering educational and sensory toys, therapy bundles and custom teacher toolboxes, Choose Play provides products, ideas and strategies that are perfect for busy families, teachers and allied health professionals.

We talk to Michelle about Choose Play and the importance of choosing the right toy based on the individual needs of your child.

What was your journey towards starting Choose Play?

The journey to Choose Play is a personal one for me. 19 years ago I became a Mother, and within the first year I had embarked on a journey of “early intervention” with my son. At the time I was juggling work, home renovations and daily therapy for my son. My story is not unique.

My health background certainly helped me on my parenting journey, but there is nothing like lived experience, and this is what drives me to share what I’ve learned with others.

Back in the day I had to get very creative,

185549 CHOPL Press Ad 210mm w x 66mm h.indd 1

Choose Play

TOP 3 SENSORY TOYS

Gathering resources, setting up fun and engaging spaces and activities takes time and effort. At Choose Play we can help you get started.

How can Choose Play help families?

We help by delivering low prep, reusable, screen-free, play-based strategies, activity ideas and products to your inbox, social media feed and front door. Whether it’s a resource bundle to support at home therapy, or you’re wanting ideas to manage challenging times of the day, we have something to offer. Our personalised approach starts with listening, and respects your family’s way of doing things.

It’s important to know we don’t diagnose, instead encouraging you to see your family doctor or talk to one of the fantastic allied health professionals in our network if you have any concerns. Where we can be of assistance is in gathering resources, as well as setting up spaces and systems for your child to use ‘at home’, ‘at school’ and ‘on the go’.

1 Hop! 45/55/65 (3 sizes) Perfect for sensory seekers! Can be used indoors, outdoors or in a classroom.

Lalaboom

2

Suitable from 10 months, this open ended sensory toy develops motor skills, problem solving and creativity.

How does your website make it easy to match toys to individual children?

The innovative way we match kids to toys is unique. Our online store is designed so that you can still shop in the traditional way.

For example, if you’re looking for outdoor toys just search ‘outdoor’. However we’re also offering you a new way to shop. By thinking about what your child already likes, their personality and behaviour as well as your goals for them, you can use our filters to find the “just right” toy for your child.

Not finding what you’re looking for? If you have something in mind, or you’re stuck with what to choose, contact us and we’d be more than happy to talk through some options. Custom orders are our specialty!

3 Play Foam Truly genius! This non-toxic, reusable sensory material requires no prep, and allows your little maker to shape and mould just about anything.

chooseplay.com.au info@chooseplay.com.au

39 22/4/22 3:42/pm

THE FIRST-EVER FULLY ELECTRIC BMW iX. The wait is over. The bold new BMW iX has arrived.

Welcome to a new definition of performance: Experience the addictive rush of new driving pleasure.

Explore the thrill of range that pushes envelopes and boundaries.

And, be exhilarated by the quest for sustainable perfection.

Book a test drive today at Glenelg BMW to experience A New Ultimate.

Glenelg BMW | 141 Brighton Road, Glenelg South 5045 Ph (08) 8294 3444 | glenelgbmw.com.au @glenelgbmw

@glenelgbmw