Kid Magazine Issue Twenty Eight by Kid Magazine

april/may2016 - issue twenty eight

al ughcover dis dulge in Travel friendly fashion for the kids Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day gift ideas

Over $1,100 in prizes to be won Taking your life from busy to balanced How to break up with late night snacking The 5 mistakes to avoid when travelling with kids Handling night terrors in your kids

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Editor’s letter

Image by Elise Garner, lecoco.com.au

hi!

Cover image: Photography by Elise Garner lecoco.com.au Check out the rest of the shoot on page 8

am always telling people that Little Miss has such a good immune system, “she hardly ever gets sick”, I say. But I think I have put a curse on my little girl! Over the last five weeks she has had four different viruses and, as I type this letter at my desk late at night, I can hear the tell tale signs of another cold coming on. In those moments of motherhood, the ones full of snotty noses and calling your own mum at 9am because you are down to the last five nappies in the house after a horrific night, it is so hard to see the light. You are exhausted and emotional, maybe even a little bit sick yourself and you wonder why you even do this everyday. But then there are the moments in between, and those beautiful moments mostly outweigh the ones you would rather forget. Cuddles in bed on a Saturday morning when you have all had a sleep in, the first time they say “I love you”, asking about their day at school and actually getting an answer or hearing the non-stop chatter (seriously, she never stops!) in the back seat of the car as you drive out for the day. It’s Mother’s Day next month and no matter what is happening at that time for you, take some time to reflect on those beautiful moments with your family. In fact, try and do this every day. Each night write down one thing you are grateful for. It won’t take long before you realise just how lucky you are. Until next issue, you can find us at www.kidmagazine.com.au for more of the things you love.

Sara

Editor and Chief Kid sara@kidmagazine.com.au kidmagazine.com.au

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Sports Applique T-shirt, $34.50, www.bodenclothing.com.au; Kids Puffer Jacket, $49.95, www.bonds.com.au; Ollie Slim Leg Jean, $36.95, www.cottononkids.com.au Life through the lens of our Editor and Chief Kid, Sara. Join us at instagram.com/kidmagazineau

Keep up to date with our Facebook posts, full of fashion tips, latest articles, competitions and interviews. Follow us at facebook.com/kidmagazine

INSIDE

08 34 The world is your oyster

from busy to balanced

26 kid friendly canberra

5 mistakes to avoid when travelling with kids

mummy pig

if you go down to the woods today...

travelling with kids during the school term

motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day gift ideas

night terrors: A trifle terrifying

PLUS...

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter

behind the blog mum with wings

Giveaways 6 New Kids on the Block 28

5 ways to break up with late night snacking

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Kid Magazine Loves 64

4I Healthy Diet Recipes 76 Never miss an issue! Subscribe at kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe

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giveaways

To enter visit www.kidmagazine.com.au/win Competitions close Tuesday, 31 maY 2016 at midnight AEST. Full competition terms & conditions at www.kidmagazine.com.au/terms--conditions

A Little Innoscents Signature Scents prize pack valued at over $100

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The world is your oyster Photography by Elise Garner lecoco.com.au

Paint Me Happy Sweat Top, $32.95, www.tinytribe.com.au

Rory Reverse Pullover, $29.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Black/white stripe harem pant, $59.95, alfieapparel.com; Toddler Trase Fern Green Sneaker, $49.95, www.dcshoes.com.au Magic Lover Knit Cardigan, $59.99, www.roxyaustralia.com.au; Jade Jegging, $32.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Jefferson Iridescent Snapper Red / Shell White, $69.99, www.primerpacific.com.au; Boris the Bus Trunki, $79.95, www.davidjones.com.au

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Magic Lover Knit Cardigan, $59.99, www.roxyaustralia.com.au; Squigy in Stripy Pink, $21.95, www.annabeltrends.com

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Paint Me Happy Sweat Top, $32.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Squigy in Stripy Pink, $21.95, www.annabeltrends.com

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Paint Me Happy Sweat Top, $32.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Limited Edition Low Slung Legging, $19.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Miller Mescal Green / Glow, $64.99, www.primerpacific.com.au; Pilot Mirror Small Sunglasses, $16.95, www.sunnies.com.au; SOOKIbaby Backpack, $32.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Zoo Owl Travel Blanket, $36.95, www.thestorknest.com.au Rory Reverse Pullover, $29.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Black/white stripe harem pant, $59.95, alfieapparel.com; Toddler Trase Fern Green Sneaker, $49.95, www.dcshoes.com.au; Mikey Clear Blue Sunglasses, $16.95, www.sunnies.com.au

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Sports Applique T-shirt, $34.50, www.bodenclothing.com.au; Kids Puffer Jacket, $49.95, www.bonds.com.au; Ollie Slim Leg Jean, $36.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Jaxton Run Inf, $139.95, www.clarks.com.au; Barrel Tote, $24.95, www.cottononkids.com.au Magic Lover Knit Cardigan, $59.99, www.roxyaustralia.com.au; Jade Jegging, $32.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Jefferson Iridescent Snapper Red / Shell White, $69.99, www.primerpacific.com.au; Kit Purple Sunglasses, $16.95, www.sunnies.com.au; Squigy in Stripy Pink, $21.95, www.annabeltrends.com Att-It-Dude Raglan Sleeve Tee, $24.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Karl Jacket, $4.4.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Trenti Trackpant, $16.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Dylan Sneaker, $49.95, www.clarks.com.au

5 Mistakes To Avoid When Travelling With Kids Christine Knight, Freelance Writer and Blogger When is comes to mistakes when travelling, I’ve made more than my share. Travelling with kids can be some of the most amazing experiences for both you and your children, but it can also be stressful and tiring. I hope you can learn from my five biggest mistakes to make your next trip a roaring success. Planning too much When you’re visiting somewhere exciting, of course you want to see and do everything (or perhaps that’s just me!). When you’re travelling with small children, however, activity plans need to be adjusted significantly. The added stress of flights or car trips plus the excitement of it all makes kids even more tired than usual, so my biggest learning is to plan to do less. I suggest scheduling one thing each day, even if that one thing is relatively small, like a cafe or park you want to find, and leaving plenty of time to recuperate each afternoon and evening in preparation for the next day. We like to stay at hotels with pools, where possible, so we can spend afternoons quietly at the hotel, or we have some TV/iPad time for everyone to recharge. If you badly want to see a huge amount of things I’d suggest adding more days to this leg of the trip and cutting them out of other parts rather than trying to squish in everything. Moving too often Some kids, like mine, don’t cope well with quickly moving to various locations. Mine likes to get a feeling for each place and the accommodation, and slowly acclimatise. When we have tried to visit too many locations like we used to do in our pre-child days, our daughter was miserable at the constant upheaval. While some kids don’t mind and are happy to go with the flow, if yours is more like mine, then I’d suggest spending longer in single locations rather than trying to hop quickly from one to the next.

kit can take up half a suitcase with all of the “just in case” items that never get used. By all means pack medical supplies, but reduce and compact them as much as possible. Packing too little Often on our travels I need to find stores to buy things like more undies and socks for my daughter. Kids’ things you can never have too many of: undies, socks, lightweight dresses/tees/shorts/skirts/leggings. The key is lightweight material that can be hand washed in a sink and will dry quickly overnight. If you’re going anywhere beachy or that has a pool, bring two swimsuits, a rashie for sun protection, sunscreen, water shoes like Natives and two hats - one will always end up drenched, so consider either very lightweight cotton hats, or a water hat. The Cancer Council stores usually stock both. Scrimping when not needed I’ve learned the hard way that when travelling with small children it’s often worthwhile to pay a bit extra for convenience. When we were travelling kid-free, we would go incredibly out of our way to cut costs, like catch public transport instead of taxis with our suitcases, or stay in very cheap hotels a bit far out of the main part of town, thinking “Who cares where we stay, we will hardly be in the room!”. When you add small children to the mix, those little things like dragging four suitcases onto a train after a 12-hour flight plus a stroller, car seat and child, or spending every evening squashed into tiny, noisy hotel room can make you extra tired, super fast, and also kind of ruin the mood on the holiday. We prefer to spend a bit more to make it less tiring, and go to less places (or choose more budget destinations) to compensate for the additional costs.

Packing too much I often forget that you really can buy the majority of stuff that you need everywhere and pack things that never get used. Things to pack less of: any clothes made from heavy materials (they take too long to dry), shoes (I take one pair of sneakers and one pair of sandals when we do our summer travels), toys (take as few as possible!) and “accessories” that really we can all do without. My medical

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END Christine Knight is a Sydneybased writer. Her blog, Adventure, Baby!, is a guide to navigating the world and parenthood. Follow her travel, food and parenting adventures over Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

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new kids on the block

Calling all rockstar parents! The Bugaboo by Diesel Rock Collection has landed and it is uber cool. Your sleepless nights and rocker days may have shifted but it doesn’t mean you can’t embrace your inner daring side! The Bugaboo Bee3 by Diesel comes with black anodised chassis, Diesel wheelcaps and many rock inspired details. www.bugaboo.com/au

A combination of Xylitol and saline solution, the Xlear Kid’s Nasal Sinus Care Spray gently cleans away built up mucus, moisturises and soothes sinus passages, makes breathing easier and can be used safely for babies and children. Made from simple and natural ingredients (purified water, xylitol, saline and grapefruit seed extract) Xlear comes in an easy-to-use bottle with child friendly packaging. www.sweetlife.com.au

Always looking for your keys in the morning? Kids have a tendency for hiding your things? Perhaps you need a Bluetooth tracker from Laser? Using a simple and free app you can locate your items with the tracker attached. At only $19.95 that isn’t a high price for peace of mind! Available in four funky colours. www.laserco.com.au

If bedtime at your house involves reading book after book after book then there is a brand new subscription service perfect for you. Nouk subscriptions deliver two age appropriate books to your kids each month with a focus on Australian authors, new authors and new releases that have just hit the market. Starting at $25 per month for a 12 month subscription. www.nouk.com.au

Following on from the launch of the Macabella Crunch is the Macabella Choc’Macadamia Spread in Velvet, a delightful spread set to reinvigorate your mornings! The first of it’s kind in Australia, Macabella is a macadamia nut infused chocolate spread made with superior ingredients. Available for $4.99 from Woolworths stores nationally. www.macabella.com

Designed to be exceptionally easy to set-up and use, Baby Watch is the refreshed Uniden baby monitor with two-inone functionality. With a pan and tilt camera to allow you to pan, tilt and zoom the camera remotely, it is equipped with a built-in nightlight and microphone plus a walkie talkie function. www.uniden.com.au

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After many requests for an adult version of their popular girl’s cape, the team at eeni meeni miini moh have launched just that – a soft 100% cooton single jersey gauge knit cape with a cowl neckline and rib sleeve cuff. It is available in two colours – noir and grey marle – for $139.95. It is limited edition though so you will need to get in quick! www.eenimeeni.com

Baby safety experts, Dreambaby have launched a new range of Strollerbuddy Stroller Clips made from sturdy, nontoxic materials in a range of bright and fun colours! They are the must have accessory for keeping toys, blankets and all that other baby “stuff” attached and secure on the pram while out and about. www.dreambaby.com.au

The humble heat pack has had a sporty makeover with the invention of Pocketballs, reusable pocket-sized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of novel sport themes including football, soccer, golf, cricket, tennis, basketball and the magic eight ball. Perfect for small aches and pains, providing up to an hour of deep soothing heat. www.take5energize.com.au

A new Australian made, 100% cotton kidswear range has hit the market and it is super funky! For kids age 3-7 years old, Minimnt is a cute range of harem pants, dresses, skirts, tees, jumpers, overalls and more in uber cool designs designed to let kids be kids! With crocodiles, stripes, crosses, sharks and boomerangs as feature prints the range is adorable and fun! www.minimnt.com.au

A gorgeous new capsule range has launched as a collaboration from divine girls clothing label Oobi. With 100% cotton embroidered dresses, fur lined vests, magical accessories, golden stars and pom poms with Sprinkles the Unicorn as the star of the range! Pieces are priced from $14.95 for a headscarf through to $69.95 for a hand-embroidered dress. oobi.com.au

Combining the unique benefits of both stretch cotton and muslin fabrics, the new Bamboo Pod from Plum provides baby with a snug fit over the arms and generous space for the legs and hips. The top panel keeps babies arms secure to prevent self-waking while the soft, breathable Bamboo Muslin gives extra room for baby’s natural leg movement. Perfect for arms down swaddling with a simple zip. www.plumcollections.com.au

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Travelling with kids during the school term Lauren Hunt, Teacher Types

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As a teacher, I’m always restricted to times of year when my family and I can travel (don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about the 12 weeks holidays a year!). But travelling in the school holidays often means that flights & accommodation are more expensive, theme parks are busier and everything books up quickly. Many families choose to travel in the school term, for these a number of other reasons (such as parent’s annual leave opportunities). So, if you’re planning a family holiday during the school term, there are probably some things to consider. Firstly check with the school. Depending on the length of the holiday, there may be paper work (such as an exemption form) you need to fill in and be approved by the Principal. Schools diligently keep track of student absences so this is important. Next, speak to your child’s teacher and give them plenty of notice. They may be able to put together some holiday homework sheets or special tasks for your child if you wish, especially if there in an area that your child may be struggling in. They can also fill you in on what topics, assessment or units of work your child may miss out on. That way, you can fill the gaps while you’re away (for example, in Maths the class may be learning ‘half past’ when telling the time). You could also purchase an activity book suited for their age and ability level from the shop for them to work on (newsagents are a great place to look for these). I always suggest that children keep a journal of their holiday including maps, brochures, photographs and pictures of the places they visit. Choose some special stationery and notebook for them to record what they get up to each day. This will be such a special keepsake to look back on in years to come. To extend your child further, you can correct any misspelt words as they write and create their own holiday spelling list to learn - even test them at the end of the holiday if they love a challenge! If your child has a regular sight word or spelling word list, keep up with these while you’re away. Doing some of these homework tasks on long flights can also help to keep the kids occupied if you try and make it fun! Incidental learning can occur on your family holiday in a variety of ways, especially if you’re on a long road trip. Play I-spy, count and tally the number of red cars you see, guess the number mum/dad is thinking of (and answer their guesses with higher/lower), or create your own family spelling bee competition! Look for interesting number plates you can create words out of, figure out the three digit numbers (or add the numbers together). Another great maths idea is to choose a ‘number of the day’ – and each day your child can record as much as

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they know about that number (e.g. write it, draw it, tally it, make a sum, draw the dice pattern, write the number word…) READ! If you only do one aspect of homework on the trip - make it this one. Daily reading is so important for children to continue to improve, no matter what their age. Keep up the reading routine at night, read on the plane, in the car, at restaurants, whenever you get the chance. Ask the school if you can borrow a selection of readers at your child’s level, check out the library or bring some favourites from home. It’s no surprise that on a holiday there’s bound to be some screen time on various devices. So why not download some brand new educational apps for the kids to play rather than watching movie after movie. One final thought, don’t put too much pressure on yourself or the kids. Your holiday is meant to be a fun and relaxing time for the whole family - so be sure that homework doesn’t create any stress. I have memories of being in Year 8 on a family holiday in Queensland and my Dad was trying to explain algebra to me – and I just wasn’t getting it! It was so frustrating for us both!! Just do what you can, put in some effort, take cues from your child, and enjoy having that extra time to spend with them. They will learn so much from the travel experience itself as they explore new places, cultures and food. Your children will certainly have plenty of stories to share with their classmates when they return.

END

Lauren is an Early Childhood Teacher, currently on maternity leave whist juggling a new baby boy and an energetic three year old daughter. She is passionate about play-based learning and inspiring parents and educators of young children.

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BEHIND THE BLOG Mum with Wings

She is a flight attendant, a mum, a blogger and clearly one busy lady. Over at Mum with Wings, Jade shares travel tips, destination reviews and snippets about her hometown, the Mornington Peninsula. I chatted to Jade about all things Mum with Wings and travelling with kids.

audience. I recently did a live periscope for QANTAS via twitter. That was insane global interaction with thousands tuning in from all over the world. The best part is when I get a message from someone who I have helped and they have had a good flight after following some of my tips. That is really rewarding.

Tell us a bit about Mum with Wings I started Mum with Wings as a way to share my family travel knowledge (I’ve been an international flight attendant for over 10 years) and family fun ideas here in Melbourne and on the Mornington Peninsula. I want to give parents the confidence to travel with their children and share my ideas to get out and have fun as a family.

Why do you love blogging? I studied media and communications at RMIT before I started flying 10 years ago. I’ve always loved writing but only when it’s under my terms and not taken too seriously. Blogging is a great creative outlet. I enjoy photography too, but again nothing too technical. Has to be fun!

When you aren’t blogging, what are you doing? I love spending time at Mornington Peninsula beaches, wineries and national parks. Usually I’m doing a school run!

What advice would you give to other mums thinking of starting a blog? Just start. I do wish I had started sooner, but it was never going to happen when I had babies. My children are 3 and 6 now and go to kinder and school so I do have a little more freedom and time on my hands.

How do you manage the balance between being a mum, blogger, wife? With the blog, I don’t put too much pressure on myself and I just do what I can when I can. I would love to be posting more. I find instagram a great and quick way to connect and I update my instagram daily with tips and inspo. The kids love getting involved and they even say “mum this would be a great photo for the blog “. What has been your biggest blogging achievement? I think writing a blog post for Expedia really opened up Mum with Wings to a wider

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What impact has blogging had on your life? It has given me the opportunity to share my family travel knowledge with a wide audience and help a lot of people. I want to help as many families as possible. My blog is very new. I only started posting on instagram 11 months ago. Maybe 9 months ago I did my first blog post. I’m not sure what impact. I guess a great side of blogging is that my family has been invited to events and given media passes for some great things. It’s great my children can enjoy this perk. What is your favourite quote/mantra? “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark” Do you and your family have any favourite destinations? It’s hard to pick a favourite, We have loved Amsterdam, Hawaii, Laos, Bangkok, France, Singapore, London, Bali, Los Angeles. Can’t pick a favourite as they all have their contrasting qualities. What are your top five travel tips for parents wanting to travel with their kids? 1. Plan ahead. Once you are in the air your resources are limited. Think about what your child might need during the flight including snacks and toys. 2. Read my blog which is bursting with tips also my facebook page and instagram. www.mumwithwings. com.au

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3. Stay hydrated and keep your kids hydrated. Flying is so dehydrating. Make sure your kids are hydrated before, during and after air travel. 4. Load up the iPad with your kids favourite shows and games. There are some great entertainment options onboard most airlines but having your own is very handy for waiting in the terminal etc. 5. Little ears can be very sensitive to changes in pressure on take off and landing. Make sure your child is sucking or chewing during this time to avoid any pain in ears. I always gave my babies milk on take off and landing. Where is your next family holiday destination? I am so excited to be a bridesmaid in in the French countryside in a few months time. Hopefully I will take the kids on an Asian adventure before then. I really want to go back to Sri Lanka soon What is next for Mum with Wings? I don’t have a business plan as such. I am very relaxed. I don’t even schedule my posts I just post what I like when I like keeping in mind events and seasons. I think I’ve got a good foundation on my social media to develop the blog further. I’m really happy with how things have taken off (all pun intended) and I hope to keep sharing my adventures and giving families the confidence to travel and fun ideas to get out and about in Melbourne and on the Mornington Peninsula.

END

KiSarad Kelifriendly Canberra , Kid Magazine Editor

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National Arboretum

I personally think Canberra gets a bad wrap. It’s a beautiful city. Hot and dry in the summer, a sight to see with all the beautiful leaves in autumn, crisp and cool in winter and abundant in tulips in spring. It is a young city with so much to offer. We make several trips to Canberra a year. I must admit that it is because my best friend now calls Canberra home but on our regular trips I have fallen in love with our nation’s capital. While our mini breaks pre-kids were full of eating and drinking out, late nights and lazy afternoons, the last couple of years we have had the opportunity to explore a different side of Canberra, through the eyes of a child. Here are five of my favourite kid friendly destinations in Canberra. National Arboretum Built on a former pine plantation devastated by the 2003 Canberra bushfires, the National Arboretum is a stunning sight to see. Over 44,000 trees from over 100 countries are growing across the 250 hectare site. But the real highlight of the Arboretum, if you are a kid that is, is the Pod Playground. With something for every age, exploring Pod Playground is an exciting adventure. With swings and cubby houses, ladders and slides the playground is bursting with the laughter and energy of excited little ones. Entry: free Hours: 6am – 8:30pm every day during Daylight Savings Time and 7am – 5:30pm during Non-daylight Savings Time) www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

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Questacon

Questacon I was sceptical of how much a two-year-old would enjoy a visit to Questacon but after three hours of non-stop action I was convinced. We sent the majority of our time at Mini Q, the 0-6 area within the centre. Water play, rockets, a veterinary surgery, mechanic, bakery and more. Everything to appeal to little imaginations and learning minds. And to my surprise, on wandering through the other exhibitions there was a lot to see and do, even for a toddler. Interactive displays and machines, lots of moving parts and opportunities for discovery. Little Miss was intrigued with the current spiders exhibition as we wandered around spotting spiders hiding throughout. Entry: $23 for adult, $17.50 for children 4-16 (under 4 is free entry) or $70 for a family (2 adults + 3 children) Hours: 9am – 5pm everyday www.questacon.edu.au Play Up at Old Parliament House I have always loved visiting Old Parliament House. There is so much history in that building and the exhibitions are always really interesting. But walking a two-year-old around isn’t so fun, aside from getting cute pictures of her sitting on chairs in the Senate. But there is something really exciting at Old Parliament House – Play Up! It is 3 rooms full of fun and games, all with a bigger message about our rights, freedom and history. With craft, books, blocks, giant cushions and a huge cubby house complete with kitchen there is so much to do an explore at Play Up. If I lived in Canberra I think I would be there every week. It was relaxed, comfortable and peaceful! Entry: $2 for adults, $1 for children or $5 for a family Hours: 9am – 5pm daily moadoph.gov.au

Play

y Up

Boundless

National Zoo & Aquarium

A couple of notes about Canberra that are relevant for visitors:

Located on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin at Kings Park is Canberra’s first all abilities playground, Boundless. The playground caters to kids with vision, hearing and mobility impairments as well as children with spectrum disorders. It is a truly inclusive space and so much fun! There are all the regular things you would find at any park alongside specially adapted equipment to ensure children of all abilities can enjoy the experience. What a wonderful place for children to just come together and be kids! Entry: free Hours: 8am – 8pm every day www.boundlesscanberra.org.au National Zoo & Aquarium Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! With so many things to see at the National Zoo & Aquarium, it is an animal lovers paradise. Make sure you pack sunscreen, hats, water etc. as it is quite open around the enclosures with some shady spots you can stop and rest. Also wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty as a lot of the ground covering is dirt. Quite close to the centre of Canberra, the zoo is certainly a popular attraction, judging by the crowds. There is an impressive collection of animals with everything from lions to meerkats, penguins, giraffes and bears. Definitely worth setting a day aside so you can tour the animals and get to some of the shows run throughout the day at the various animal enclosures. Entry: $40 for adults, $23 for kids 4-15 (under 4 is gold coin entry), $33 for seniors and students, $110 for a family Hours: 9:30am – 5pm daily www.nationalzoo.com.au

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• Much of the parking at the various attractions is metered, usually at around $2.50 per hour. The meters do take credit card but just factor parking costs into your budget. • In my experience many of the cafés, particularly around the Kingston and Manuka area, don’t have high chairs for kids. For older kids this is fine but for younger kids and babies it is something to be aware of! • Accommodation is plentiful in Canberra. We prefer to stay in serviced apartments as we have a kitchen and usually a separate bedroom so we aren’t sitting on the bathroom floor while trying to get Little Miss to sleep. On our most recent stay we stayed at East hotel (easthotel. com.au) located in Kingston. They have a special apartment known as the Kids Cubby complete with bunk beds, play table, Xbox 360 and more. Canberra is such a beautiful city filled with so much to see and do. Enjoy your trip!

END

Sara is the Editor and Chief Kid at Kid Magazine. When she isn’t writing, designing, creating and blogging, she is out and about in Sydney with her family or spending time in her kitchen where she loves to cook!

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If you go down to the woods today... Photography by Elise Garner lecoco.com.au

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night terrors: A trifle terrifying Renée meier, Née Say

Renée Meier is a freelance writer, aspiring novelist and mother to three rambunctious children. When she’s not being distracted by social media or drinking copious amounts of coffee, Renée can be found wandering along one of her beautiful local beaches with her two dogs. Her lifelong dream is to earn enough money to afford a housekeeper. Renée blogs about all these things at Née Say (neesayer.com).

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I heard a thud against the wall and a high-pitched wail. Racing down the hallway, I burst into my two year old’s room to find him sitting bolt upright in bed. I went to comfort him, thinking he’d just had a bad dream but he continued to cry inconsolably. Suddenly, he struggled out of my arms and scrambled out of bed. He began to wander the room, still crying but somewhat vacant-eyed. It was then that I realised that he wasn’t really awake.

Generally occurring in children between the ages of eighteen months and six years, causes of night terrors vary but it is believed there is a genetic component. If there is a family history of sleep disturbances including teeth grinding, sleep walking or talking and sleep paralysis, the likelihood of night terrors is increased. Other causal factors can include over tiredness, stress or illness. Obviously, trying to negate these causes to reduce the risk of night terrors is optimal but not always possible.

The first time your child experiences a night terror can literally be terrifying. As a first time mum I had never heard of night terrors before and I briefly wondered if my son had suddenly become possessed!

Each of my three children experienced night terrors to differing degrees before growing out of them. Two had only a few episodes, however my middle son had regular night terrors for over a year which coincided with the onset of childhood asthma and a series of upper respiratory infections at around the age of two. While exhausting and upsetting for me at the time, he is now a great sleeper (touch wood!) with no recollection of being the subject of nightly angst for that stage of his development.

More severe than a nightmare, a night terror is usually characterised by crying, screaming, thrashing or flailing about. Your child may appear awake and may even speak, but will be non-responsive to your attempts to calm them. Trying to rouse your child is ineffective and can actually aggravate the situation. The best thing to do if your child experiences a night terror is to ensure they cannot harm themselves. Keep your child’s bedroom floor clear of hazards and stay close on hand until the episode passes, which may be as long as 40 minutes. Then gently guide them back to bed and they should resume normal sleep.

The good news on night terrors is that children who experience them will outgrow them in their own time. Keep in mind that they are a normal occurrence with no long term negative effects for your child. However, if you do have concerns about your child’s sleep hygiene or nocturnal behaviours, be sure to follow up with a health professional.

While upsetting for parents to see their child in such a state, unlike nightmares children will have no recollection of their night terror. This is due to the phase of sleep the night terror occurs, which is the first few hours of very deep sleep. Often episodes occur at a similar time each night.

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5 ways to break up with late night snacking Stacey Clare, A Healthy Mum Do you often find yourself mentally rifling through the cupboards for something sweet, mid-dinner? Do your late night pantry rendezvous kind of, like really, affect your sleep? Is it not a good night of TV unless you’re munching away on something sweet? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, know you’re not alone. Nope, this health coach (that’s me, Stace) who chats about healthy eating, takes snaps of kale and runs most mornings has been there. And by been there, I mean that was me for a good 10 years. There are some really simple ways to snap yourself out of the habit though and trust me when I say you’ll feel and sleep so much better for it. Try a few of these: 1. Eat a decent meal – One thing that annoys me more than bad-tasting cake is the competitiveness to have a tiny dinner meal. Eating 3 mouthfuls of salad, a ¼ chicken breast and a spoonful of rice ain’t going to fill you up, girlfriend. Cut down on the snacking and allow your main meals to fill you up. Not only is it more satisfying and easier to manage when you’re busy, it gives your body time to digest your food and turn on the ‘I’m hungry switch’ when it needs more. 2. Pop some good fats on your fork – I’m not the only one spruiking the philosophy that good fats are good for you so feel free to read oodles of research in your own time. Or, just try it. Add a ¼ of an avocado to your meal, top your veggies with a great quality butter or a healthy lashing of olive oil. I’m a big fan of adding nuts and seeds to my meals also – I adore the crunch and the fat really fills me up. 3. Fill up your glass – Yep, that old chestnut, ‘drink more water’. Annoyingly, it’s true. When we’re dehydrated our body can sometimes mix up the messages and we eat in order to ‘fill the gap’. Help it out, have a big drink of water or a nice hot tea to help it along. Re-evaluate your hunger in 10 minutes time. 4. Change your location – When you really want to stop snacking and reap the benefits, mixing things up can be great. So turn the telly off, go and lie in bed and read your

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book. Or, put your phone away (in another room so you have to get up) and run a bath. When we stop doing the ‘exact’ same thing every night, it’s a lot easier to create change. 5. Don’t buy it – Harsh, but fair. If you don’t have chocolate, crackers or any of your typical go-to snacks, how will you eat them? That’s the way I run it in our place. If we want something so badly, then we have to get dressed, walk or go in the car to buy it and then come back. I can remember once in the last 6 months hubby has done that. For me, I’m happy with a carrot and peanut butter on the end if I really-really need something. Give it a go and be sure to celebrate each time you win the pesky late-night snacking war. For me, I kept a tally and when I hit 3 weeks in a row I booked a massage and facial. Pure bliss and made all the better by achieving something that mattered to me.

END

Stacey Clare is a healthy mum to two young boys and an accredited health and nutrition coach to the masses. She spends her days running after her busy babes who always seem to be getting in to something. Her nights are spent cooking for her website or helping other mummas on their own family’s health journey in her health coaching services. Her food philosophy is all about simple, easy-to-cook food the whole family wants to eat. Yep, same food for the 9 month old and 35 year old, because really who has time to cook multiple meals? You can visit Stace’s website here to check out all her recipes, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram or grab a copy of her lunchbox eBook which is packed full of healthy recipes that can be stored in the freezer.

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Kid Magazine Loves

I Piccolini boutique stocks a beautifully curated range of clothing for kids newborn – 5. Sign up to the newsletter to get 10% off your next purchase on brands including Plum, Milk & Masuki, Little Alannah May, French Soda and Wilson & Frenchy. Plus for every order in April, $5 will be donated to Love Your Sister. www.ipiccolini.com.au

Ever since the Hip Kids play food sets came into our home that is all Little Miss has wanted to play with. While I prepare dinner she sits on the floor and cuts and stirs her own “betables” and has fun creating weird and wacky fruits by sticking different pieces together. High quality toys that will last and the kids love! www.hipkids.com.au

Sapling Child has had a makeover with a range of design improvements to their ever popular collection. From flatstitched seams to back-leg pleats and silk-screened labels, the improvements put babies’ needs at the forefront and cement the attention to detail and superior quality they are known for. www.saplingchild.com

With five herbal tissanes in their range, Mama Body Tea is about supporting mums-to-be, mums and little bubs to make this most joyous of time that much more pleasant. With blends to support morning sickness, milk production and colic, the teas are organic and hand-blended in Melbourne and can be purchased online. www.mamabodytea.com.au

Brand new to Wolfie & Teddie are the Muma and Me jumpers featuring super cute, irresistible taglines. The jumpers compliment the existing range of eco friendly bamboo cotton babysuits, t-shirts and jumpers as well as the charming prints for mums and bubs. www.wolfieandteddie.com

Have you ever made the mistake of marking your kids height on a wall at home, only to move or have to paint? What you need is a canvas height chart from Alma Custom Designs. A classic height chart to act as a keepsake or conversation piece in your home (wherever that is) for years to come. almacustomdesigns.com

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Lightweight, quick drying, extra absorbent, ultra soft and compact are the new microfibre towels from Wovii. They take up less room in your linen closet, won’t weigh down your beach bag and encourage independence in your kids as they can easily dry themselves. Available in three sizes and eight vibrant colours. wovii.com

Introducing the new MILO Champions Band, a health & fitness tracker designed to encourage youngsters to get active. Research commissioned by MILO reveals that almost half (49%) of Australian parents find it difficult to keep track of children’s nutritional intake and 77% of parents are concerned that their child may not be getting enough daily exercise. The bands are available from Woolworths now. www.milo.com.au

Opulence, elegance and vintage charm come together with the new velvet range from Incy Interiors. With bedheads, ottomans and settee, the collection is plush and pretty. In shade of sorbet pink, navy and teal the pieces are contemporary meets classic perfect for the modern day home. www.incyinteriors.com.au

Bring relief to those sore little gums with an adorable playmate in the form of Chewy the hippo teether. What I really love about Chewy is that he comes with a Velcro strap so you can attach him to the pram so he won’t get lost. Suitable from birth and BPA and phthalate free. www.cheekychompersaustralia.com

Starlight Day needs your help to raise $1.3 million to support more than 33,000 seriously ill children and their families around Australia. Whether you don the purple and yellow to hit the streets to sell merchandise on Friday, 6 May or host a Star-BQ throughout May at your school or community group. www.starlight.org.au

New to the Wall Sticker Company is the Colourful Divide mural, designed by Kids by Karuskopt – children’s wallpaper that merge with current home trends. Simply peel and stick – no glue and screws required! Installation is easy and so is removal making it landlord friendly. BPA and PVC free and Australian made. www.thewallstickercompany.com.au

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With the plethora of online businesses popping up all over the web, knowing where to shop can be the hardest decision you need to make. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done the leg work for you and tracked down some of the hippest places to shop for you and the kids. Whether you are after funky party supplies, new maternity clothes, a fabulous photographer or toys for the kids, you will find it all plus more in the new Kid Magazine DIrectory. Want to find out how you can join the directory? Email sara@kidmagazine.com.au for the details on our affordable packages.

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From busy to balanced Amanda Lecaude, Organising You Is it a myth that we can achieve balance in life? Can we move from busy to balanced?

Here are 7 tips that might assist you to be more in balance more often:

These days when you ask someone “how are you?” the standard answer has become ‘I’m busy’! I know I am often guilty of saying this and have been trying very hard in recent times to not inflict the business of my life at times onto others. What about you - do you find yourself saying this too?

1. Learn to say no and don’t be afraid to - you often don’t need to give people excuses for not taking on that extra responsibility at work or baking for the school fete. If you find this hard to do then start small with family and friends by saying no to little things.

We all wear many hats and for some it can be a constant juggle between all of the different ones – mum, wife, business woman, business owner, friend, daughter, student, cleaner, cook and the list goes on. Sometimes things fall into sync with each other and we feel more balance where as at other times it seems that there are not enough hours in the day to possibly achieve what we need to get done. So you might ask how does one achieve balance in our life? Ellen Faye, a professional organising colleague, based in the US, has an interesting theory that warrants some thought when it comes to trying to achieve balance. Her philosophy is that “life balance is so elusive so why not go for peace and harmony instead”. So why does life balance seem to be so elusive to us? The answer to this Ellen says is that it’s imaginary! No one is ever in equal balance so achieving balance all the time is a bit of a myth. Another way of looking at it Ellen explains is that ‘Life is more like a symphony where different parts are louder than others at different times, but when listening to it as a whole it is harmonic and beautiful’. Ellen also asks the question of whether it would be possible if you gave yourself permission to live in harmony and not strive for the perfect balance all the time? This is some great food for thought and perhaps rather than trying to find that balance as is often talked about we should recognise that each day, month or week is never going to be the same and that is okay! Enjoy the times when your life does appear to be more in balance and perhaps when it isn’t just recognise it for what it is knowing that it won’t always be that way!

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2. Things don’t have to be perfect – sometimes just getting something done is enough rather than waiting until it is perfect. Unfortunately we often cling to the notion that we can do it all perfectly and the truth is that some things just don’t have to be perfect. 3. Let the little things go – these are usually the things that take energy and as another colleague of mine has referred to recently ask yourself – will this actually matter in 2 or 5 years time? More often than not the answer is no so why let it take time and worry you! 4. Make time for yourself and have your nonnegotiables - what is important to you? This could be exercise, sleeping, taking a bath, reading a good book – for me it is my weekly gym sessions (usually 3-5 a week). I am a much better person all round when I actually get to do this and it keeps all my other hats in balance too even when I am really busy. So make sure you know what yours are and schedule time for them. 5. Take short breaks – we all need to recharge from time to time and sometimes just having a small break can be enough – grab a coffee, sit in the sun or even go for a quick walk. 6. Delegate responsibilities to others – chores are not just women’s work—they’re everyone’s work! Don’t try and be super woman and do it all yourself even though sometimes it might be easier. Giving your kids a schedule of daily chores won’t just lighten your load, it will also teach them a valuable lesson about the importance of everyone doing their part.

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7. Make things easier with a bit of planning and preparation – you can use lists to assist you with what you need to get done on a daily or weekly basis. Weekly meal planning can also assist rather than getting to that time of the day and then realising I now need to cook something for dinner and you may not have what you need. Prepare what you can the night before work or school so that it is less you need to do the following morning. So which of these 7 are you going to try an implement in your life? Please don’t try and tackle all 7 at once but start with one or two and then over time implement others. You are more likely to have success this way rather than striving to achieve them all in one go. Also remember the next time you find yourself answering to someone ‘I’m busy’ perhaps make an effort and find something different to respond with and that is a touch more positive! It could just be ‘I am well thanks what about you?’. Good luck but remember balance will be there some days and not others! For more information or if you would like some assistance with getting closer to a more balanced life then please get in touch to see how I can assist you or your family.

END

Amanda Lecaude is professional organiser who loves being able to help people – her clients – get organised. She see’s the difference it makes in their everyday lives, particularly families, just to have a way to create some TIME, SPACE and BALANCE! She also very passionate about equipping school students with organising skills for life to maximise greater results primarily in secondary school and limit the overwhelm and frustration for both them and their parents. This is the focus of her new business Organising Students which she launched in 2015. Get in touch 0409 967 166 amanda@organisingyou.com.au

Mummy Pig Samantha Bond, Writer When you’re planning a family, everyone will tell you to enjoy life BC (before children) because once they come along EVERYTHING changes. If you’re like me, you probably indulged them with a condescending smile and agreed, just to shut them up. I mean, purlease! They’re obviously hapless, incapable parents, not doing it right. Laughing at me yet? Then you’re obviously one of these “hapless” parents. So of course I was served-up a good-sized meal of hardto-digest reality once bubba number one came along. Dang went my sleep — even before the baby arrived! That’s right, at around 30 weeks, I developed what one girlfriend has dubbed “pregsomnia”. Despite nightly (and daily) exhaustion, I’d go to bed tired, feel the gentle tug of sleep, only to witness it drift away and sit smugly on the other side of the room laughing at me. After an hour, maybe two of lying beside my snoring husband, resisting the urge to smother him with a pillow, I’d pick up my book (it was Marian Keyes during the first pregnancy, nothing else would do) and read ‘til around 3am. Then, sometimes if I was lucky, I’d drift off...until about five or six am! Then I’d get up, go to work on three hours of sleep and disappear into the car park at lunch to take a thirty minute kip on my backseat. Once my baby girl made her entrance to the world, I actually got more sleep than I had while pregnant. An average six hours of broken sleep in a twenty-four-hour period was heaven compared to two to three. But then Emily displayed immediate and intense attachment to me kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 70

(yes lovely, we were both besotted by one another) but I could not put her down. No matter what I did, or whose “expert” advice I followed, this child would not sleep unless I was holding her. It was the ten seasons of Friends (thank-god for Phoebe and her quirky take on life at 3am) and countless other shows that prevented me falling asleep on my baby. But after about six months, I began to get the hang of this mummy thing. Emily started sleeping through, my pre-pregnancy body began reappearing, date-nights with hubby were on again and basically I adjusted to a new kind of normal. It wasn’t so hard. What were all these mum’s complaining about?

Now, one thing I need to stop and mention here is that with my first baby, no matter how tired or time poor I was, I never left the house without make-up. Okay, react away—I’m silly, vain, self-obsessed? Yep, probably all of those things. But here’s the short version of a long story. As a young child, I was bullied from day one of school until year three when my parents transferred me to another school. I wasn’t so much bullied at the second school as ostracised. I didn’t fit in, I wasn’t good enough,

no-one liked me. And yes, you guessed it, it was all related to my appearance. Fast forward to age fifteen, I lost a dramatic amount of weight, started wearing make-up and my life changed overnight. Suddenly I had friends, people no longer teased me, even boys were interested. I vowed I’d never be “ugly” again. And yes, that was a long time ago, and I’ve even had therapy. But the thing about an experience that shapes your perception of yourself is that being able to identify it, to understand it even, doesn’t necessarily make it go away. So while I was aware that the need to wear make-up every time I left the house was “silly”, the unbearable discomfort I experienced was too much — I had to put some one. No-one was going to see me “ugly”. So again fast forward to when Emily is two years old. Time to start planning for the second baby — we’d always intended for Emily to have a sibling, and it might take a while to get pregnant. Nup. Bullseye first time. I was five weeks pregnant at Emily’s second birthday. This time, the pregsomnia kicked in at around 28 weeks. So bad was it that my hubby moved into the spare room during the last few weeks so I wouldn’t keep him awake (he was possibly onto my pillow-smothering urges, too). And trust me, getting through the day on 2-3 hours of sleep with a two-year-old is way hard. Some standards began to slip; I even occasionally went to my Body Balance class sans make-up. Gasp.

So here’s the point of my long-winded story. Baby boy began swimming lessons the other day. I’ve had Emily in swimming for years, but because I wanted back-to-back classes, we had to change days and hence ended up with a new instructor. A young, buff, male instructor. The sort who was pretty enough to make me both blush and then feel embarrassed about the blush because to him, I must look like an old hag nearing his own mum’s age. These thoughts were going through my head when my little darling took it upon herself to start referring to me as “Mummy Pig” (she is a die-hard Peppa Pig fan). The instructor did his best to hide his amusement at the make-up free, slightly piggy-shaped mum’s (still haven’t quite lost that baby weight) embarrassment. But here’s the amazing part: I accepted it. I am “Mummy Pig”. I’m no longer the self-conscious young woman scared of not having your approval. While I’ll still put effort into my appearance to go to work or a legitimate social engagement, I don’t need to try so damned hard all the time. I have two beautiful little souls who don’t give a cr*p what I look like, they just love me with all their hearts and the feeling is more than mutual. I’m enough the way I am and if buff young men are amused at the hapless Mummy Pig, so be it. They’ll be hapless, beer-bellied dad’s themselves one day if they’re lucky. Oink.

END

Baby boy entered the world and again there was much love, but this one was/is a screamer. Wants his mum. Nothing else will do. Can scream for up to four hours if mum is not made available to him. Mum again prisoner to the feeding chair, this time with the two-year-old sitting at her feet watching Frozen on repeat. Let’s just say that I could write a dissertation on Anna and Elsa, and thank-god Disney employ good writers or, as a writer, I’d have gone bonkers by now. And yes, more standards have slipped. I’ve started going to the supermarket (and anywhere else locally) in house clothes bare-faced.

Samantha Bond is a reformed corporate lawyer, now writer and public servant. Her creative work has been published in numerous literary journals, anthologies and magazines. She has an Advanced Diploma of Professional Writing, winning the award for Highest Overall Achievement for her graduating class of 2014 and now tutors in that course. As a reviewer for Indaily and Glam Adelaide, Samantha has had over 200 articles published. Samantha also does freelance corporate writing work, as well as creative writing mentoring and if you’d like her services, she’s contactable through her website (www.samanthastaceybond.com). Finally, Samantha is a busy mum of two littlies, is an unapologetic chocolate addict, believes that Buffy would so slay Edward (which perhaps shows her age) and is a writers’ festival groupie.

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China Blue print LUX fleece collar gown, $52.95 magnolialounge.com.au Soludos Original Canvas Dali Black, $59.95 styletread.com.au

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Mary Kay Sheer Dimensions powder, $4 www.marykay.com.a

18K Gold Hardener, $16.95 www.au.sallyhansen.com

Heavenly Himalayan Bath Salt, $25 littleinnoscents.com.au Brow Zings, $55 www.myer.com.au/benefit/

Glamour Mama

If beauty is more your thing, then check out these fab beauty buys to help you relax, unwind and look and feel your best!

Tranquility Essential Oil Blend, $20 littleinnoscents.com.au

Body Beautiful Oil, $59.95 www.vanessamegan.com

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100% Natural Jojoba Lip Balm, $14.95 www.thejojobacompany.com.au

Coco Body Nourish Me oil, $20 cocobodyco.com.au

Extra Moisturising Hand Cream, $12.99 www.ecostore.com.au

Skinny French Onion Dip

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Rainbow Nachos

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4 Ingredients Healthy Diet Available May 2016 www.4ingredients.com.au Rainbow Nachos

Raw Chocolate Brownies

Serves 4

Serves 16

Ingredients 500g beef mince (5% fat) 30g taco seasoning 3 x 140g capsicums, cut into wedges 1 small avocado (180g), smashed

Ingredients 2 cups (170g) almond meal 1/2 cup (60g) raw cacao powder 1/2 cup (130g) peanut butter 1/4 cup (80g) raw honey

Method In a non-stick frying pan, cook the mince, stirring to break it up, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup (60ml) water and stir to combine. Cook for a further 5 minutes to thicken the sauce. Once cooked, place the mince in the centre of a plate, stud the capsicum wedges around the outside and top with the avocado smash. Serve immediately.

Method Line an 8 x 4-inch (17 x 11cm) loaf pan with baking paper. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients plus a pinch of Celtic sea salt and stir well. Press the mixture into the prepared pan and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Slice to serve.

Skinny French Onion Dip Serves 8 Ingredients 1 tablespoon (20g) butter 4 medium onions (120g each), peeled and sliced 1 tablespoon (20ml) Worcestershire sauce 2 cups (500g) natural Greek yoghurt Method In a large non-stick frying pan melt the butter over a medium-high heat. Add the onions, and a generous pinch of sea salt, tossing to coat well.

Cook stirring frequently, until the onions caramelize into a deep brown color, 10 minutes (add a splash of water towards the end if the onions begin to burn). When the onions are done, turn off the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely. Add the yoghurt and stir to combine. Stir in several turns of freshly ground black pepper. Taste for sea salt. Optional: Add 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves for 15 calories once the onions are done. Serve with fresh vegetable sticks for dipping: 240g celery for 36 calories and 3 medium carrots (140g each) for 134 calories.