Kids in the City Magazine - Brisbane - Issue 06. June/July 2014

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ISSUE 06 June/July/August 2014 BRISBANE

DOWN WITH GI ANXIOUS CHILDREN

ART: MAKING THE MAKING NAPPY REVOLUTION

Being l u f i t Beau PLUS

WHAT'S ON CALENDAR + LOTS MORE

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06 Contents ISSUE

June/July/August 2014

Clothes from Junior Bardot

Lucas, 2

4 6 8

FROM THE EDITOR THE SOCIAL GATHERING WHAT’S NEWS

10 FEATURE: Being Beautiful 14 THE ‘P’ FILES: Managing Anxiety 17 CHECK THIS OUT 18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Find out what’s happening in the City during June & July 20 EDUCATION: Art – Making the making 24 BABIES IN THE CITY: Nappy revolution 28 ONLY NATURAL: Down with GI 32 GOOD HEALTH: Breast Screening 34 REVIEWS

Hugo, 18mths

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: JUSTINE STEWART, DR KELLY BOWERS, KAREN BURTON, RACHEL DOWNIE, NADIA WOODS, KATIE CLIFT COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: VERVE PORTRAITS

Printed with vegetable/soy based inks on paper supplied using pulp sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured to environmentally accredited systems.

WE ENCOURAGE RECYCLING. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin. www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

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mother

WELCOME

mothe

kids on the coast | in th

Jackie, Kellie and Toni at our recent tenth birthday celebrations.

MEDIA PUBLISHED BY Mother Goose Media PTY LTD PO Box 491, Eumundi QLD 4562 PHONE: 1300 430 320 FAX: 07 5442 7253 ABN: 86 473 357 391 WEB: www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Simone Bell EDITOR: Jackie Goldston ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: production@kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN: Michelle Craik & Alana Falk PRINTING: Print Works, 07 3865 4433

It always seems to come as a shock when it starts to get cold. We have been particularly lucky here in Brisbane with what felt like a beautiful long summer this year. Over the past few years I have started packing the kids’ seasonal clothes that I think will fit them the next year into storage; however I always leave bringing out the winter clothes until I really need to and get caught out on the first cold night trying to find something that doesn’t smell dusty! I had promised myself that I would wash the winter clothes early this year and of course that didn’t happen – so I am already planning to be better organised on the return to warm weather… I would love to hear about how you keep your kids’ clothes organised – let me know on Facebook, our website or email.

This issue of Kids in the City magazine covers a diverse range of topics which will hopefully give you something to ponder, may challenge you or maybe even remind you to look after yourself. Our feature article examines what it means to be beautiful: how this impacts a child’s self-esteem and development. We also delve into the importance of art in education and why it does more than stimulate creativity, as well as investigate the different types of childhood anxiety and some strategies to assist parents.

Have you missed an issue of Kids in the City magazine? All of our articles are online and you can comment and discuss the topics on our website or Facebook page. We add topical news stories daily as well as blogs, new articles and movie, product, app and book reviews. Do you have something that you want to share? Please feel free to contact me via Facebook.com/kidsinthecitymagazine, our website or email. Don’t forget to sign up for our What’s On eNews that comes out weekly at www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au.

Jackie Goldston Editor

All editorial and advertising in Kids in the City and Kids in the City publications is published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Kids in the City is subject to copyright provisions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Feedback/comments/suggestions? Send to: editorial@kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au. We aim to reply to all correspondence but don’t guarantee to do so. Letters to the editor may be edited for length or clarity.

DISTRIBUTION Distributed directly to parenting hotspots across South East Queensland.

Kids in the City (Brisbane edition) is a free publication circulating over 20,000 copies from North Lakes to Springwood and covering all suburbs to Jindalee.

Separate editions cover Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Kids on the Coast (Gold Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 18,000 copies from Tweed Heads to Coomera, including Hinterland.

Kids on the Coast (Sunshine Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 20,000 copies from Caloundra to Noosa, including hinterland.

For distribution enquiries phone: 1300 430 320 or email: admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au

ADVERTISING Call 1300 430 320 or email your Sales Account Manager.

BRISBANE Joanne - advertising@kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

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SUNSHINE COAST Renee - advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au GOLD COAST Louisa - gc@kidsonthecoast.com.au

Hugo leads the way!

Lucas ....

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

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The Kids in the City community expands well beyond our magazine. Last month we celebrated our 10th birthday for our Kids on the Coast magazine. Our online community across South East Queensland helped us celebrate through our giant 10 Days competition and received a special VIP invite to our party.

Every day we are having interesting, challenging and sometimes outright silly conversations on Facebook. Our readers can discuss anything from parking experiences at school to recipe ideas or simply share a moment or meme that has made their day special. Check out crafty ideas or party inspiration on Pinterest. Our website is jammed full of articles and blogs, with news and stories added every day. Join with us online – we are more than a magazine!

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

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Whatsnews NEWS DID Stay up to date with your local community news. If you have any unique news that you’d like to share, please contact our editor at editorial@kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

Visit our website for more news, www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au/news

A BIG TICK FOR CHARITY DAYS

Australian children are more exposed to fundraising events than ever before. It starts with the playgroup chocolate drive and continues all the way through to high school with gold coin donations for “free dress” days.

Dr. Elizabeth Celi, psychologist and author believes the charities the school environment provides are a valuable vehicle for teaching day to day life skills. “Engaging your kids’ attention is a challenge at the best of times but if you can do it together around charitable acts, children of all ages will learn discernment, budgeting, reciprocity and humanitarian acts with diligence. All thanks to a tasty chocolate drive!” she said.

LESS ACTIVE CHILDREN NO LONGER KNOW HOW TO ‘PLAY’

YOU

KNOW The Pacific Ocean is not as salty as the Atlantic Ocean ONE 75-WATT BULB GIVES MORE LIGHT THAN THREE 25-WATT LIGHT BULBS.

Twenty thousand men took 22 years to build the Taj Mahal.

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS Accessible and inclusive playgrounds are places where children of all abilities can experience fun and challenging play alongside their friends and family members. There are now 39 accessible and inclusive play facilities and parks across Brisbane. These 'play for all' spaces use a range of natural and built elements to encourage different types of play experiences, such as active, exploratory, social and quiet play. Innovative approaches in the design and construction of these spaces create expanded opportunities for children with a disability. For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

8

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

Community

New research related to children’s physical activity levels suggests that less active children are at greater risk of injury during traditional school yard ‘play’. The research coincides with the recent release of new Australian physical activity guidelines which for the first time included a recommendation that children limit screen time for entertainment purposes to no more than two hours per day. The study examines different measures to reduce the injury risk of children during physical education, ‘play’ and commuting activities. Lead author Professor Evert Verhagen said the researchers decided on this study following a marked increase in arm and wrist fractures among primary school aged children. Read the full news story at kidsonthecoast.com.au and let us know what your experiences have been.

EXPLORE BEYOND Out of the Box is a biennial festival for children 8 years and under, held at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) running from 25 June until 2 July 2014. It is 8 days of cultural activity crafted to celebrate and support learning, play, curiosity and discovery for children and their families as they learn and grow together. Out of the Box acknowledges and celebrates the value and importance of the arts in education and life-learning.

This year the program explores the many relationships children have with living creatures, both real and imaginary, through an artistic program based on the theme human, animal, monster, friend. Out of the Box takes place across the Cultural Precinct, from its hub at QPAC to the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).

Visit www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au for more information.

UNTHINK THE IMPOSSIBLE Unthink the Impossible classes provide fun circus activities for children with disabilities and additional needs, from three to ten years of age. Working closely with occupational and physiotherapists from On Call Children’s Therapy (OCC), Flipside’s professional circus trainers teach a range of circus skills including manipulation, trapeze, tight wire, acrobatics and performance during workshops held at Flipside Circus. The skills taught assist children to improve occupational capabilities in a range of physical and mental areas including rising to a challenge, trust, risk taking, creativity, team work and communication. It’s a real activity with all the social, emotional and physical benefits that align with therapeutic goals group behaviour skills, coordination and gross motor skills and postural control. In 2011 Flipside Circus received a grant to fund research into the benefits of circus for children with additional needs. Families can utilise their therapy funding (e.g. Medicare, private health, government initiatives). For more information contact Fiona Jones on Fiona. jones@occtherapy.com.au or 07 3378 9543. www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

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FEATURE

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

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FEATURE

Being

beautiful

By Karen Burton

Babies are born beautiful. They get smiled at, cooed over and admired pretty much indiscriminately not just by their parents but by everyone they meet.

H

owever, in return, babies are not so even-handed with their affection. By the age of six months, they will spend more time looking at pretty faces than at plain ones, even though at that age a baby is still unable to recognise his or her own face in the mirror. It’s not until the age of two (or toddlerhood) that children understand that their reflection belongs to them. By that time, the wide eyed, cherubic features that brought them so much attention as babies have made way for an elongated, less regular visage with the presence of both teeth and hair adding to the, sometimes messy, picture.

So do they like what they see?

That’s a hard one to answer. What we do know is that adults respond differently to children based on their appearance. And it’s not only strangers who fall into this trap; it’s apparently parents as well.

A minor uproar was caused recently when a Canadian researcher from the University of Alberta discovered that attractive young children are better cared for by their parents. The study tracked families around the supermarket, giving their two to five-yearold children marks out of ten for attractiveness and then scoring parental attention. It was discovered that the least attractive children (boys and girls) were allowed to wander further away from the trolley and were far less likely to be buckled up in the trolley seat. The “gorgeous ones” were kept close at hand and strapped

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in safely. “Attractiveness as a predictor of behaviour, especially parenting behaviour, has been around a long time,” said research team head Dr Andrew Harrell. “Most parents will react to these results with shock and dismay. They’ll say ‘I love all my kids, and I don’t discriminate on the basis of attractiveness.’ The whole point of our research is that they do.”

This is not to say that attractive children are loved more.

Sure, parents and the wider community respond differently to appearance (as they do to other distinctions like age, gender, and race) but we’re talking about supermarket behaviour here, not child abuse. Perhaps the good-looking kids are being wrapped in cotton wool, over-protected, never allowed to fill a bag of mushrooms for mum while she chooses the apples?

Whatever your take on this, it’s hard to resist the obvious point that appearance is a factor for children from a very early age. And if a response to attractiveness is somehow hard-wired into our brains (remember the babies who prefer gazing at beauty) then the current media bombardment only makes it worse.

Images of children – or more accurately of what children should aspire to look like – are everywhere these days. They are on the television of course, but also on the pages of the magazines that younger and younger children are buying and reading, on posters and on food packets.

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

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FEATURE

Music videos and commercials that use attractive, slim models and muscled men to link success and happiness with appearance have been shown to cause body image dissatisfaction in boys and girls.

According to Young Media Australia (YMA), a not-for-profit organisation committed to informing parents and children about media influences, a child’s body image begins to develop from infancy when babies first become aware of what their bodies feel like and what they can do. Caregivers’ reactions to the child’s body and appearance play an important role in shaping how they feel about their bodies through childhood. A gender difference emerges quite early as boys learn to view their bodies as tools to master their environment whereas girls learn that their bodies can be used to attract others.

“As children approach adolescence, they become increasingly aware of what society’s standards are for the ‘ideal body’ and social comparison plays more of a role in their self-perception,” claims a YMA fact sheet on body image. “In the last ten years however, there are many alarming reports of children as young as nine expressing dissatisfaction with their bodies, with one survey reporting 40% of the 9-10 year olds surveyed have tried to lose weight,” it warns. Children in this age group are also accessing beauty treatments like waxing as well as the more controversial plastic surgery to correct perceived failings in their physical appearance.

Media Influence

While television is seen as a major influence, it’s more what children watch, not how much they watch that’s important - although ironically being couch potatoes will take kids’ bodies away from the ‘ideal’ image portrayed on the box. Soap operas and other popular prime-time dramas are a major problem, having been linked with the internalisation of cultural beauty ideals and the drive for thinness in both girls and boys. Music videos and commercials that use attractive, slim models and muscled men to link success and happiness with appearance have been shown to cause body image dissatisfaction in boys and girls.

To counter the media onslaught on children, YMA suggests doing reality checks with your children from time to time while out shopping or in a public place surrounded by real people. Just stop for a moment and ask your kids how many people they can see that actually look like the people they see on television – soap actors, pop stars and the rest. The YMA also suggests that from an early age, parents should do whatever they can to develop self-esteem in their children which isn’t linked to appearance. “Myths that link beauty with happiness and success are mistaken”, the organisation says, “and more than that they are specifically designed this way in order to manipulate the viewer into buying the advertised products.”

Perhaps it’s not all myth. Studies show that there is actually a beauty factor linked to wages which means that tall, slender attractive women and men earn around 5% more than their more average counterparts.

However, whether they get better jobs because they are more attractive, or whether their looks give them higher self esteem (leading to better job success) is up for debate.

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

Self-Esteem – the key to happiness

Psychologists describe it as the experience of being capable of meeting life’s challenges and being worthy of happiness. Put simply, self-esteem is the way we feel about ourselves and how much we value our own worth and importance. Young children typically base their self-esteem on the feedback they receive from others with parents (as usual) having the greatest impact. A typical sevenyear-old will build his or her self-esteem from three separate areas: academic success (intelligence), social acceptance (friends), and physical attributes (looks). As children move into adolescence, parental feedback becomes less important than peer feedback, and some new domains join the old ones in building self-esteem; feeling unique, a sense of integrity, feeling in control of one’s life. During teenage years, the idea of popularity and physical (including athletic) success becomes especially important, but it’s still only one of many areas on which a healthy self-esteem should be based. Bring in the media and society’s emphasis on attractiveness and it’s easy to see why teenagers (and younger children) often get things out of proportion.

It’s sad too, that we tend to dwell on the one area (looks) that is almost certain to decline with age, while ignoring the other areas that are far more likely to increase as we get older.

So what do we do to help the situation? Throwing out the television and removing all mirrors might be one solution (the number of car accidents caused by the removal of the rear view mirror should equal the number prevented as drivers are unable to check their appearance), but we all know that isn’t going to happen. A more realistic approach might be to limit the type of television watched by children (not too many soap operas or commercial channels) while teaching them to be ‘media savvy’ and understand the truth about the images they are seeing. For instance, their favourite sports star or celebrity will probably have had their image digitally enhanced (and we’re not just talking red-eye removal) before ending up on the front cover of their favourite magazine.

The following suggestions might be worth considering too.

•B e a positive role model. Try not to criticise your own appearance in front of your children. If you have issues with the way you look, don’t let on to the kids (and get some assistance to help you with whatever issues you may have).

•P romote good health and nutrition. Kids who have a balanced lifestyle are less likely to become obsessed with their appearance.

•H elp build their self-confidence by encouraging children to get involved in sports, art or music.

•G ive positive feedback, not only about appearance but also about school performance and personality.

•R emind your children that you love and admire them for who they are.

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FEATURE

Send subtle messages to boost self-esteem.

The way you give praise to your children can also send subtle messages to boost self-esteem. Experts believe that descriptive praise (rather than evaluative praise) can help children become independent, creative thinkers and do-ers rather than looking to someone else for approval. Instead of evaluating what your child has done, this kind of praise describes the detail exactly and allows him to recognise the truth and praise himself.

Descriptive praise is harder work - and if it takes too long to come up with something appropriate when a painting is thrust under your nose, then saying “fantastic” is better than saying nothing at all. All praise is good, but descriptive praise is thought to be especially good in building self-esteem. Describing your children’s achievements lets them see their strengths more clearly, makes them feel more powerful and allows them to praise themselves. As they grow up and parental approval becomes less important, the person your child really needs to please is him or herself. And that – if our children could achieve it – would be beautiful indeed.

The good, the bad, and the absolutely gorgeous

If the research is to be believed, exceptionally beautiful children are going to be treated differently throughout their lives by teachers, adults and friends. As parents of a child that continuously turns heads, you may need to prepare your child for this, attempt to explain it, and put everything into a healthy perspective. A very young child might not understand why they are getting a lot of attention for just walking into a room (where other children are basically ignored) and depending on their personality they may not like the extra attention their physical appearance attracts.

The rulebook for developing healthy self-esteem in beautiful children is much the same as it is for everyone else. Physical appearance is still only one of six areas that contribute to a person’s sense of worth – a high score in that department won’t make him or her any happier in the other five.

Situation

Evaluative Praise

Descriptive Praise

Describing appearance

“you look gorgeous”

“that colour really suits you and you’ve chosen matching socks. Well done.

Admiring a picture

“that’s a beautiful painting”

“I like the blue trucks and red cars, they look very bright and cheerful”

Your child shares a toy

“you are so kind”

“Look how happy Katie is now. She didn’t have anything to play with until you gave her that teddy.”

Your child helps with a job

“Wow you’re strong”

“Thanks for your help, those boxes were very heavy”

What do you think?

Has beauty or looks impacted your family? Share with us on the online version of this article at www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au.

Useful Links

The Australian Council on Children and the Media produces a series of fact sheets on making children media savvy.

Go to www.childrenandmedia.org.au/kidzone/kidzone-facts/ The Butterfly Foundation offers advice and support for parents of children with body image problems and eating disorders.

Go to www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

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THE P FILES

ANXIOUS CHILDREN Dealing with your child’s anxiety Dr Kelly Bowers Youthrive Integrated Therapy Services WHAT IS ANXIETY? We hear the term ‘anxiety’ on an almost daily basis. While our awareness of anxiety has certainly improved in recent years, many families are still unsure of what it really means. In simple terms, anxiety means fear. But a fear of what exactly? Many people experience a range of different anxieties, but what is often misunderstood is that all anxieties relate to the same underlying thing – a fear that our most basic needs will not be met.

Food. Shelter. Survival. When we feel that we are under threat, our basic survival instincts kick in. Anxiety in this sense is a good thing as it serves to protect us and motivates us to take action against any potential danger. However, anxiety becomes problematic when we begin to overestimate the likelihood of a threat, or perceive a threat when it may never have actually existed.

Regardless of the source of the anxiety, the symptoms are often the same. These typically include: • physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, increased breathing rate, dizziness, sweating, and nausea • intrusive and persistent thoughts • constant feelings of apprehension and worry.

Anyone who has ever experienced a form of anxiety will testify that these symptoms often cause a lot of distress, and that they can become overwhelming and debilitating if they are allowed to take over.

Anxiety often becomes problematic when it begins impacting on several areas of our children’s lives and stops them from doing things that they enjoy. Unfortunately, symptoms of anxiety may begin to ‘snowball’ as other areas, such as social relationships and academic functioning, begin to be impacted. The good news however, is that there is a high success rate in the treatment of anxiety disorders via psychological intervention. The key is to first of all recognise the symptoms, and then seek support as early as possible.

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

TYPES OF ANXIETY Although reports of prevalence rates vary for each specific type of anxiety, the general finding is that approximately 6–10% of children and adolescents experience some kind of anxiety disorder. Approximately 50% of people who experience one anxiety disorder will also meet the clinical criteria for a second anxiety disorder.

GENERALISED ANXIETY: Children experience multiple nonspecific fears. Fear is not focussed on one particular object, situation or event. Children appear to worry about almost everything and anything.

This may include a fear of worrying about worrying.

SEPARATION ANXIETY: A fear of being separated from a parent or attachment figure. Children who experience separation anxiety often display clingy behaviour and/or refusal to go to school.

SOCIAL ANXIETY: Relates to a fear of being negatively evaluated by others, or of embarrassing oneself in front of other people. Social anxiety has an impact on social functioning and social skills, which may potentially have further impacts in later life (e.g. obtaining employment).

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD): Occurs after the experience of a traumatic event. Trauma is usually perceived as life threatening to the child or others. It includes recurring fearful thoughts and memories after the traumatic event has occurred. Children who experience PTSD often try to avoid situations or events that remind them of the traumatic event.

SPECIFIC PHOBIA: Is a fear about a particular object, event or situation (e.g. fear of spiders, injections, heights, rollercoasters, small spaces). It often includes the overestimation of the likelihood that the particular object will cause harm.

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD): Commonly known for repetitive or compulsive behaviours (e.g. turning a light switch on and off multiple times before leaving a room). These behaviours are often triggered by the intrusive, repetitive and obsessive thought that harm will occur if a particular behaviour is not performed correctly.

PANIC DISORDER: Relates to unexpected panic attacks, which include intense and extreme bouts of anxiety, which occur in short isolated periods. Attacks mainly consist of uncontrollable physical symptoms such as heart palpitations and rapid breathing.

For more information relating to each of these please visit www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety.

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

15

THE P FILES

WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY? Anxiety typically develops based on the outcomes of a past experience. It is important to note here that the type of anxiety that a child experiences can be dependent on the developmental stage during which the child first experienced the threat or harm.

For example, a child who is not held or nurtured during infancy may develop a fear of being separated from their caregiver in later childhood. When thinking about the trigger for anxiety, it is often helpful to think about other events that were happening in your child’s life at the same time that their symptoms first occurred.

TRAUMATIC EVENT: If children experience a traumatic event, whether or not they are physically harmed, it is understandable that they may be fearful of that same event occurring again. Once a traumatic event has occurred, children generally overestimate the likelihood that the event will reoccur.

VICARIOUS TRAUMA: This refers to situations where children may not have experienced the trauma first hand but may have heard stories of harm occurring to other people, like media coverage of natural disasters. Again in these instances, children generally overestimate the likelihood that the event will happen to them.

LIFE TRANSITION: Any type of change can be anxiety provoking; particularly for children. Consistent home and lifestyle routines help kids to feel secure. When this changes, the predictability of their world is challenged. Lifestyle changes such as moving house, changing schools, parental separation, illness or the death of a family member, are all likely to evoke some degree of anxiety within children, as these changes challenge their idea of how their world works. If these changes are perceived to be threatening or dangerous in some way, children are likely to experience anxious symptoms.

LEARNED BEHAVIOUR: While genetics do play a small part in the onset of anxiety, environmental factors and learned behaviours usually have a larger influence in the development of anxious symptoms in children. It is well understood that children learn behaviours from their parents and caregivers – and this includes anxious behaviours.

Children who have a parent or family member who experiences anxiety are more likely to experience anxiety themselves when compared to children who don’t.

Any type of change can be anxiety provoking.

While parents may be able to pin point the situation or event that initially triggered their child’s anxiety, it is commonly reported that their child has gradually started to demonstrate anxious symptoms in areas that are not related to the initial circumstance. This is because anxiety often starts to generalise to other areas of life. Children begin to interpret the potential for danger across multiple situations that may not relate to the situation when the anxiety first developed. It’s important to ensure that anxiety is appropriately managed before it has the opportunity to develop further.

WHAT MAINTAINS ANXIETY?

AVOIDANCE: Avoidance occurs in all anxiety disorders. It makes sense that we want to avoid things that make us feel uncomfortable or uneasy. However, we need to ask ourselves whether it is possible to overcome our fears if we continually avoid them? Parents may unintentionally reinforce their child’s anxiety by promoting or allowing avoidant behaviour. It is unpleasant to see our children experiencing distress, so it is natural for parents to help their children avoid anxiety provoking situations. While this may reduce the anxious symptoms in the short term, this behaviour ultimately reinforces to our children that the situation they were avoiding was indeed threatening.

Similarly, constant or excessive positive reinforcement may also maintain child anxiety by sending the same message. It’s not uncommon for parents and caregivers themselves to become anxious about their child’s anxiety, and thus unintentionally model anxious behaviour.

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

FAMILY LIFE: Disagreement between parents about the best way to manage their child’s anxiety may also create further anxiety for the child. Children may feel guilty or anxious if they believe that their symptoms are the cause of their parent’s conflict. Inconsistencies in parenting styles may result in children receiving mixed messages about how to approach their anxiety. Children thrive on consistent family routines and structures.

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT: Anxiety may also often be reinforced by children’s peers. The impact that anxiety has on social relationships may result in social isolation from others, and/or being bullied by peers. These experiences are likely to further increase the symptoms of anxiety and maintain the belief that their world is not a safe place.

MANAGING YOUR CHILD’S ANXIETY

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP: Psychological interventions have high success rates in treating anxiety disorders. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is recognised as an effective treatment. Families that feel that their child is currently experiencing symptoms of anxiety are encouraged to contact a psychologist for support. A psychologist can be found in your local area on the ‘Find a Psychologist’ website www. psychology.org.au/findapsychologist

EDUCATION: It is often difficult to treat anxiety when the cause or reason for anxious symptoms is not understood. By understanding why particular anxious symptoms occur, children are able to learn appropriate coping skills to overcome those symptoms.

REALISTIC THINKING: In an anxious state our mind can play tricks on us by overestimating the probability of a threat occurring.

By challenging negative and intrusive thoughts, children are able to identify the realistic probabilities of particular threats. By developing realistic thinking styles, children are better able to identify the difference between ‘real dangers’ and ‘false alarms’.

EXPOSURE THERAPY: Avoid avoidance. The best way to overcome anxiety is often for children to do the very thing that they feel anxious about. This helps children to gain first hand evidence that they have overestimated the likelihood of harm occurring. The most successful form of exposure therapy is a graded approach, which means starting with small steps to help develop a sense of success and self-confidence within the anxious child. For example, a child with a fear of dogs may start out by looking at pictures of dogs and holding toy dogs, before being encouraged to actually pat a real dog.

RELAXATION TRAINING: There are many forms of relaxation.

The most commonly known include deep breathing, muscle relaxation strategies, and guided imagery. The benefit of relaxation skills are that they reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, and allow a clearer mind for challenging unhelpful thought patterns.

MODELLING NON-ANXIOUS BEHAVIOUR: This is sometimes easier said than done, particularly if parents experience the same anxiety as their children. Nonetheless, parents who have an understanding of anxiety themselves are often better equipped to demonstrate coping strategies to their children. The rehearsal of coping skills during non-anxious times is often beneficial for both parents and children. Rewarding brave and non-anxious behaviour may also prove beneficial for children who experience anxiety. After being rewarded for their brave behaviour, children are able to build self-confidence and set themselves up for future successes.

Any strategy which is used to help children overcome anxiety is best served in supportive family and school environments. Patience, communication, and the display of empathy and understanding, often help children to feel supported. If a child has confidence in their parents and teachers, then they are much more likely to have confidence in themselves. www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

17

Stick this calendar on your fridge!

Brisbane

CALENDAR

- in the city

Find us on

JUNE 28 TO JULY 13

SNOW4KIDS

JUNE 3 TO 24, EVERY TUESDAY

JUNE

MUMS AND BUBS YOGA

Where: Riverstage, Gardens Pt Rd, Brisbane When: 9am to 4pm daily Join in exciting snowball fights, see the silly Snow Man Show, slide on a snow slope and build your own snow man.

Details: www.snow4kids.com.au

JUNE 13

JUNE 21

ROCK CLIMBING

FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE

Where: Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point When: Two sessions - 5:30pm to 7pm & 7:30pm to 9pm Take your children/teenagers on a thrilling adventure and learn to climb the heights of Kangaroo Point.

Details: $5. Bookings required. Sam Skerman 0403 293 533, email bookings@vertecadventure. com.au. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Where: The Parklands, South Bank and various locations across Brisbane When: 9am until 10pm Plan your day to see as many musical acts as possible around the city as musicians young and old, from all backgrounds, genres and abilities, take part in the largest international live music celebration in the world.

Details: fetedelamusiquebrisbane.com.au

JUNE 28 TO JULY 13

SCIENSENSORY DAY

JUNE 14

JUNE 22

JUNE 30

Where: Sciencentre, Level 1, Corner of Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank When: 2:30pm to 5pm A Sciencentre event for children with autism and sensory processing difficulties, Sciensensory Day will be full of quiet and engaging activities for all ages.

Details: $10 per person (applies to both adults and children). Children under 3 are free. www.sciencentre.qm.qld.gov.au

BEHIND THE SCENES I SPY TOUR

MONSTERS MASQUERADE BALL

GROUP ABSEILING

Where: Queensland Museum, Corner of Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank, South Brisbane When: 11:15am to 12noon From spiders to sea creatures and mammals to masks, what will you spy on one of these Behind the Scenes 'I Spy' Tours? Ages 7+ Details: Adults $15 / Children $10. www.qm.qld.gov.au

Where: Calamvale District Park, 31 Formby Street, Calamvale, Australia When: 10am to 12pm Come dressed in your finest monster gear and make a marvellous monster mask to scare all your friends. After that you will be ready for the monsters ball!

Details: $5. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

Where: Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point When: 3pm to 4:30pm Take a leap off the top of the Kangaroo Point cliffs. Qualified instructors will provide you with safety equipment and instruction.

No experience necessary. Ages 8+ Details: $5. Bookings required Riverlife Adventure Centre 3891 5766

Where: Central Cafe Lawns, Southbank When: 9am to 11am Each class is taught by a qualified instructor and is aimed at strengthening your muscles, helping you relax and allowing you to bond with your child. Bring a towel along to exercise on.

Details: Free. www.visitsouthbank.com.au/ events/mums-and-bubs-yoga JUNE 4

HEIST Where: The Workshops Rail Museum, North Street, North Ipswich Be entertained by tales of theft & intrigue; Play cops & robbers with dress ups; Create your own identikit image of train robbers and your own heist masks & disguises.

Details: www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

JUNE 1

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL'S FREE GREEN HEART FAIR

Where: 7th Brigade Park, Murphy Road, Chermside When: 9am to 2pm Absolutely free entry as well as all free rides, activities, sports, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, bands, kids entertainment, competitions, giveaways and loads more.

Details: FREE. www.facebook.com/greenheartfair JUNE 1 & JULY 6

STEAM TRAIN SUNDAY Where: Departs and returns back at Roma Street station.

When: Depature times: 10:15am & 11:40am (times subject to change) Travel through Brisbane on an historic steam train. Pass through city stations and enjoy river crossings on your journey aboard vintage carriages.

Details: www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au JUNE 2

DINO DISCOVERY Where: Albert Bishop Park, 78 Hendley Avenue, Nundah When: 10am to 12noon Get healthy and active with fun and interactive games with a dinosaur theme!

Children will make their own fossil creation to take home.

Details: $5. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

18

27

Powerhouse Kids

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Wind Tubes

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JUNE 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 & 26

JUNE 14

JUNE 22 & JULY 19

WIND TUBES TODDLER PROGRAM

CLAY CRITTER ADVENTURE WALK

SUPERHERO ESCAPADES

Where: Ipswich Art Gallery, d’Arcy Doyle Place (Nicholas Street) When: 9:15am to 10am Join these enjoyable 45 minute sessions in which toddlers can explore the playful potential of moving air through play, music and movement.

Details: Bookings essential. $5 per child. FREE for accompanying adults and infants under 12 months of age. www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov. au/wind-tubes-toddler-program

Where: Faulkner Park, 183 Leybourne Street, Graceville When: 2pm to 4pm An experienced potter will show you how to make your own cute critters to take home.

Details: $5. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

June 22 - Vic Lucas Park, Quay Street, Bulimba July 19 - Faulkner Park, 183 Leybourne Street, Graceville When: 2pm to 4pm Dress up in capes and design your own mask. Get physical and find your inner hero through creative improvisation and interactive theatre games!

Details: $5. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

JUNE 7 TO 9

BRISBRICKS LEGO FAN EXPO Where: Strathpine Community Centre, 199 Gympie Rd, Strathpine When: June 7 & 9 - 9am to 4pm, June 8 - 10:30am to 5pm With brand new cool displays and a master builders competition, there is something for every age.

Details: Adult: $7, Child (3-15yrs): $3, Under 3yrs FREE. www.brisbricks.org JUNE 13 & JULY 28

INCY WINCY SPIDER June 13 - Wittonga Park, corner Hilder Road and Alutha Road, The Gap July 28 - Les Atkinson Park, 430 Beenleigh Road, Sunnybank When: 10am to 12pm Drama games, creative arts and storytelling come together to create a dynamic and innovative workshop. Ages 2 to 5 years.

Details: $5. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

JUNE 16

HUNGRY, HUNGRY CATERPILLARS Where: Wilson Park, 70 Norman Avenue, Norman Park When: 10am to 12noon Enjoy a story, then get active with a fun food relay and a wiggly caterpillar race!

Details: Free. Bookings required. www.bazilgrumble.com.au JUNE 20-22

PREGNANCY BABIES AND CHILDRENS EXPO Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank When: Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm Australia's biggest parenting event is back in town. Shop and save - discover new products to help you and your toddler.

Expert parenting tips and advice, hot topics talks and entertainment.

Details: Free tickets online or $20 at the door. www.pbcexpo.com.au

JUNE 25 TO JULY 2

OUT OF THE BOX FESTIVAL Where: The Cultural Precinct, QPAC Out of the Box is 8 days of cultural activity crafted to celebrate and support learning, play, curiosity and discovery for children and their families as they learn and grow together.

Details: www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au JUNE 25 TO JULY 4

SONGS OF THE SONAR Where: INVENTory, Level 4, Queensland Museum, Corner of Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank, South Brisbane When: 10:15am, 11:45am, 1:15pm Create your own mysterious glow-in-thedark ocean creature, like a bejewelled ice fish, a snot flower worm, or spikey feathered sea-dragon. Ages 4 to 8 years.

Details: $16.50 per child. Tickets available via Out of the Box, www.outoftheboxfestival. com.au/event/OOTB_Sonar_14.aspx#.

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4&5

JULY JULY 1 TO 5

PLAY-DOH ACTIVITY VILLAGE Where: Toombul, Centre Court When: 10am to 1pm daily Experience the world of Play-doh where imagination is everything!

Details: Free. www.toombulcentre.com.au JULY 1 TO 6

POWERKIDS 2014 Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St, New Farm QLD 4005 When: See website for full details This dynamic six day family festival is a wonderful experience for children aged 0 to 12.

Powerkids encourages interaction and participation with friends, family and holiday carers alongside workshops, free entertainment, live arts, physical and creative community activities.

Details: brisbanepowerhouse.org/festivals/ powerkids-2014

* We publish information based on what is supplied to us - to the best of our knowlege all details are correct at the time of printing, however we do recommend you check event details with the organisers

www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

FROLICKING FAIRIES

JULY 4 & 5

CREATE-A-CIRCUS CIRCUS RIBBON TWIRLS Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm When: 11am to 12pm Make your very own ribbon twirl just like they use at the Olympics, then get active learning all about how to use your ribbon twirl, with a range of exciting tricks and amazing flourishes! Ages 4 to 8 years.

Details: $20. Bookings required, www.bazilgrumble.com JULY 1 & 3

MONSTER PUPPETS Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm When: 1pm to 2pm Make a fantastic origami hand monster puppet and then bring it to life by decorating it with a range of new and recycled materials. Ages 4 to 8 years.

Details: $20. Bookings required, www.bazilgrumble.com JULY 1 & 8

Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm When: July 4 - 1pm to 2pm, July 5 - 11am to 12noon Come and create your own circus character complete with wonderful dress ups and face paint and then put on a creative showcase for parents at the conclusion of the session.

Ages 5 to 10 years.

Details: $20. Bookings required, www.bazilgrumble.com JULY 7 TO 11

Where: 10am to 12noon, Carindale Recreation Rsve, Cadogan & Bedivere St 2pm to 4pm, D.J. Sherrington Park, 601 Blunder Road, Inala This workshop inspires the imagination as children make their own wand, play fairy games, hear fairy stories, sing fairy songs and enjoy creative movement.

Details: $5. Bookings required www.bazilgrumble.com.au JULY 18

NATIONAL PYJAMA DAY Thousands of schools, businesses and groups will be encouraged to stay in their PJs on Friday 18 July to show support for The Pyjama Foundation's work with Australian children in foster care. www.thepyjamafoundation.com/pyjama-day JULY 20

PIRATES WEEK Where: Queensland Maritime Museum When: Each day starts with assembly at 9:45am and concludes at 2:30pm Each day commences with the “Pirates Pantomime” show, then in small groups, the children will be conducted through the 9 activities around the site and on board the HMAS Diamantina.

Details: $ 21 per child and $18 for each additional family child www.maritimemuseum.com.au

ESCAPE THE CROWDS WITH YOUR CHILDREN

JULY 8 TO 12

Where: Brisbane Square Library, 266 George St, Brisbane When: 10am to 12noon Create a puppet of a mythical creature using inspitation from Alison Lester's Magic Beach.

Details: Free. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Where: Calamvale Central Shopping Centre When: 10am to 3pm daily Come along and show your creativity with Sandwizard sand art then take home your masterpiece to show the whole family!

Details: Free. www.calamvalecentral.com.au

SANDWIZARD FUN!

PEAKS TO POINTS FESTIVAL FAMILY DAY Where: Oxley Creek Common The festival kicks off with Family Day at the Oxley Creek Common. Live entertainment, children’s activities, canoeing, displays, workshops, hot and cold food.

Details: Free. www.oxleycreekcatchment.org.au JULY 26

BILLY CART DERBY 2014 Where: Woodhill State School, 6027 Mount Lindesay Highway Along with the Billy Carts racing there are heaps of rides, including a helicopter flight taking in the beautiful Scenic Rim region, market stalls, yummy food and entertainment.

Details: www.facebook.com/ woodhillbillycartderby

JUNE 7

Where: Sacred Heart Primary School, 92 Brighton Road, Sandgate When: 10am to 2pm Billycart Markets is one of Brisbane's most anticipated boutique family markets.

Run every two months, the market is an enchanting day out for the entire family.

Details: Free. www.billycartmarkets.com JUNE 22

THE HANDMADE EXPO MARKET - REDLANDS

MR PEABODY AND SHERMAN DANCE WORKSHOP

Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm When: 11am to 12noon If you love origami but are looking to extend your skills with some contemporary designs then this is the workshop for you!

Ages 4 to 8 years.

Details: $20. Bookings required, www.bazilgrumble.com JULY 4

MINI OLYMPICS Where: Bulimba Memorial Park, Oxford Street, Bulimba When: 10am to 12noon Participants will enjoy a fun adaption of the Olympic Games with games like boffa hockey, earth ball relay, sock wrestling, world surfing, sack and field relay race, egg and spoon race and more. Ages 6+ Details: Free. Bookings required 'Life. Be in it' FunWorks 3822 1111 or 0403 221 676 JULY 4 & 5

JUGGLE-A-RAMA Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm When: Juyl 4 - 11am to 12noon, Juyl 5 - 1pm to 2pm Make your very own set of juggling balls and have a ball learning the basics of juggling and slapstick comedy. Ages 5 to 10 years.

Details: $20. Bookings required, www.bazilgrumble.com

www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

Where: Toombul, Centre Court When: 11am and 1pm daily. Plus, meet and greet at 12pm!

Join Peabody and Sherman and journey through a Dance Workshop from the four corners of the globe!

Details: Free. www.toombulcentre.com.au JULY 9

MULTICULTURAL MADNESS

Where: Carindale Recreation Reserve, Cadogan and Bedivere Streets When: 10am to 12noon This program discovers many different activities like target throwing, balancing, twirling and juggling from all around the world, including Africa, Egypt, Polynesia, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia. Ages 4+ Details: Free. Bookings required, 'Life. Be in it' FunWorks 3822 1111 or 0403 221 676 JULY 9 & 10

FAR OUT FOREST SCHOOL HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Where: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt-Coot-tha Road, Mt Coot-tha When: 10am to 2pm School holiday fun including; Animal Tails show, wearable art, circus school, traditional Aboriginal games, Rapt in Reptiles show, craft nest butterflies, African drumming and lots more. The program will vary each day.

Details: Free. Parking is limited. Catch the free shuttle bus from Toowong Village - runs every 15 minutes. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

VALLEY MARKETS

JUNE 28

THE COLLECTIVE MARKETS (SOUTH BANK MARKETS)

THE HANDMADE EXPO MARKET - IPSWICH Where: The Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Road, Bundamba When: 8am to 2pm Excellence in Making-Baking-Growing. Up to 70 stallholders - why not jump on the Swanbank Steam Train after some lunch and a spot of handmade shopping.

Details: Free entry. Free parking. www.thehandmadeexpo.com.au

Horrible Histories

TICKETS

JULY 8 TO 12

MONSTER ORIGAMI

Where: June 29 - River Park Place, Col Gardner Drive, Morningside. July 19 Everton Park Hotel, Flockton Street When: 9am to 1pm This ‘Family Boutique’ market provides beautiful high quality, unique products and services which are not mass produced or easily found in shops.

Details: www.themummytreemarkets. com.au

Where: Chinatown Mall and Brunswick Street Mall, Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley When: 8am to 4pm Showcasing various stalls selling vintage items, fashion, bric-a-brac, natural organic produce, and an eclectic range of arts and crafts.

Details: Free. Contact 07 3403 3740 EVERY WEEKEND

Where: South Bank Plaza, Stanley Street, South Brisbane When: Saturdays from 10am to 9pm, Sundays from 9am to 4pm The new Collective Markets includes arts and crafts, homewares, object design, photography, furniture, food, fashion, jewellery, vintage and pre-loved clothing, unique wares and accessories.

Details: www.southbankmarket.com.au

Out of the Box Festival

Charlotte's Web

JULY 2

THE MUMMY TREE MARKETS

Where: Capalaba PCYC, Cnr Mt Cotton & Degen Roads When: 9am to 2pm A wonderful indoor market with up to 80 stallholders selling everything handmade, handbaked and handgrown.

A great family day out with something for everyone.

Details: Free entry and Free parking. www.thehandmadeexpo.com.au

Controlled Falling Project

4to7

JUNE 29 & JULY 19

BILLYCART MARKETS

The Amazing Maurice

'What's On' and our newsletter! www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au

JULY 1

MARKETS

JULY 12

SUBSCRIBE to receive our weekly

JUNE 4 TO 7

JUNE 25 TO JULY 2

JULY 4 & 5

CONTROLLED FALLING PROJECT (CIRCUS)

OUT OF THE BOX FESTIVAL

2014 BRISBANE GANG SHOW

The Cultural Precinct, QPAC www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au

University of Queensland www.visitbrisbane.com.au/brisbane/ whats-on/family-friendly/2014brisbane-gang-show

Judith Wright Centre www.judithwrightcentre.com/event/ controlled_falling_project

JULY 4 TO 6

JUNE 7 & 8

CATS

CLOSE-UP MAGIC SHOW WITH JOSH NORBIDO

Brisbane Convention Centre http://premier.ticketek.com.au/ shows/show.aspx?sh=CATS14

Nundah Scout Hall www.mysteriousproductions.com JUNE 7 TO AUGUST 2

CHARLOTTE’S WEB Brisbane Arts Theatre www.artstheatre.com.au/ children-2014 JUNE 13 TO 14

HORRIBLE HISTORIES AWFUL EGYPTIANS

A FAMILY PASS TO THE OUT OF THE BOX FESTIVAL. Enter online www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/ competitions JUNE 28 TO 20

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS TREASURE TROVE

AUGUST 26 TO 30

THE GRUFFALO QUT Gardens Theatre www.gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au/ whatson/2014/gruffalo.jsp SEPTEMBER 23 TO NOVEMBER 8

Lyric Theatre, QPAC www.qpac.com.au

Brisbane Entertainment Centre http://premier.ticketek.com.au/ shows/show.aspx?sh=DISNEYIC14

THE AMAZING MAURICE AND HIS EDUCATED RODENTS

JUNE 16 TO 21

JULY 1 TO 4

Brisbane Arts Theatre www.artstheatre.com.au/ children-2014

THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE QUT Gardens Theatre www.gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au/ whatson/2014/treehouse.jsp

YO GABBA GABBA LIVE! Brisbane Powerhouse www.brisbanepowerhouse.org/ events/2014/07/01/yo-gabbagabba-live/

To see more events visitwww.kidsinthecitymagazine/events Regular weekly events, playgroups, library activities, weekly sporting events, craft classes, Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting times and much more…

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

19

EDUCATION

"EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST. THE PROBLEM IS STAYING AN ARTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP." PABLO PICASSO

MAKING THE MAKING W

By Rachel Downie

hen my son was 3, I found him on the veranda in the throes of building what (he thought) was to become an iconic architectural structure. After surveying the collection of sticks, cardboard, wood glue and various other semi-authorised building materials “borrowed” from my wardrobe, the shed and the old lawnmower, I asked him what he was doing. “Making the making,” he scoffed (with the disapproval and contempt that only 3 year olds can express) and promptly asked me to leave him be because he was busy. So I left, thinking that council approval would need to be sought for the ensuing extension and wondering how on earth my old maternity bras were going to feature!

‘Making the making’ is something that I have specialised in for the past 17 years. You see, I am very luckily, a Visual Art teacher, having taught the subject from Prep to Year 12, in a variety of educational settings, including prison. And in every setting, I have seen Art make confident thinkers out of self-conscious kids and a sense of pride develop in those who have a lack of self-respect because making ‘stuff’, and thinking about making ‘stuff’ with your own hands feels great. Artmaking can not only sometimes reach places other areas of the curriculum can’t, it also helps our kids to invent, innovate and investigate, which are processes that are related to finding solutions for problems in every subject they will undertake.

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

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EDUCATION

"THINK LEFT AND THINK RIGHT AND THINK LOW AND THINK HIGH. OH, THE THINKS YOU CAN THINK UP IF ONLY YOU TRY." DR SEUSS

ARTMAKING?

PROBLEM SOLVING

Given that children develop their capabilities sequentially (from simple to complex abilities) and at their own pace, artmaking can provide them with sensory learning experiences that they are able to master at their own rate. There are not many other areas of the curriculum that are as flexible as this. Kids will use pretty much anything to make art (including maternity bras!) and each material they choose to use, brings with it, its own set of challenges and therefore a different level of skill and thought development.

Artmaking is a special type of problem solving. It is about finding solutions to problems that don’t have simple answers. Making art utilises adaptability and flexibility of thought which are both critical for your child to be a successful life-long learner. And because these types of thought processes are applied to every part of the curriculum, it is very important to nurture artmaking activities both at home as well as in your child’s academic world. Kids who ‘make the making’ are regularly proven to be more adventurous and innovative in their thinking across the board. This is because dealing with ambiguous situations or problems (like making anything one desires from an egg carton!) encourages divergent thinking or ideational fluency.

Remember The Useful Box from Playschool? Egg-carton caterpillars, paper plate masks and doily thingies were more often than not, the highlight of my week (I actually have no idea what we made from doilies but it was fun). The reason for this was because I didn’t have to do it the way everyone else did and I often felt stifled in my creative thinking process in all of my other subject areas. The power in artmaking for me, was not having to proffer the same ‘answer’ as everyone else. This sense of individuality in creative decision making and problem solving, applies to real-world problem solving because it’s not black and white. You see the real world, as in the world after school, does not have standardised answers for everything. How easy would life be if it did? Not to mention boring!

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"HAVE NO FEAR OF PERFECTION, YOU’LL NEVER REACH IT." SALVADOR DALI

Ideational fluency is giving as many responses as you can think of to a particular stimulus. We call it brainstorming. For example, when a group of four year olds were asked what they could make from an egg carton, one boy’s list was: a caterpillar, boobs, pimples, a holder for stuff, rocks and (my personal favourite) a lumpish decoration for Grandma’s special table!

JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

21

EDUCATION

"MANY HIGHLY TALENTED, BRILLIANT, CREATIVE PEOPLE THINK THEY’RE NOT - BECAUSE THE THING THEY WERE GOOD AT AT SCHOOL WASN’T VALUED, OR WAS ACTUALLY STIGMATIZED." SIR KEN ROBINSON Sir Ken Robinson says that the problem with systems of education is that they supress creativity and divergent thinking (click here to watch his TED talk, it’s fabulous! http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY). Creativity is a function of everything we do and instead of promoting creativity, he says that we are educating our children out of it. This is because current education systems place a great deal of emphasis on academic development. As a result, arts programs are being reduced or even eliminated from classrooms because they are not valued as being academic enough, to accommodate more linear teaching methods and Art (the arts) is really anything but. Robinson also says that literacy and creativity should be given equal status in learning because we are in danger of educating our children to be good workers rather than creative thinkers. Unfortunately, my experience as a Visual Art teacher is that parents and colleagues often coach children out of doing Art because they’re not going to be a professional artist. What about learning through enjoyment? What about fun? With this in mind I would ask, why then are students allowed to spend so much time playing say, soccer or netball throughout their schooling, if they’re not going to be a professional sportsperson? You’ll say because it keeps them healthy. Well, expressing creativity keeps people healthy as well: on an emotional level, on a thinking level and on a skill level. Please don’t think I am taking sides, I’m not. I believe in a learning balance and I also believe in individuating each child’s way of learning because they are all so beautifully different. We have to be careful not to divorce our kids from their natural aptitudes through their educational journey, by predetermining the ‘how’ of their learning.

FINDING TIME

"CREATIVITY IS CONTAGIOUS, PASS IT ON." ALBERT EINSTEIN

22

The ‘busy-ness’ of life, financial pressures determining that both parents work, ‘technoplay’ and the omnipresent contemporary pressure to always be doing a plethora of new things, mean that many parents are time poor. They are precluded from finding those valuable moments to delve into their ‘useful boxes’, to make seemingly unimportant stuff with their children. In the classroom, we are seeing an overall decline in some of the abilities that kids are entering school with because of these factors. Some schools report that students are starting without being able to use scissors, glue shapes on a page, kick, throw or catch a ball or even ride a bike. I also see an everincreasing number of students who lack the confidence to begin an artmaking task, because they are so worried about not being able to make it perfectly; and they’re petrified of being wrong because society consistently stigmatizes mistake making. Our society is so perfection orientated that the potential to stifle a child’s creative learning process and confidence in taking a risk to try something new is significant. This is highly detrimental because some very important learning comes from making mistakes as well. Seriously, how can one judge whether or not a pair of egg carton sunglasses are perfect or not!

Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

Kids have an innate high level of creativity because they muse, explore, investigate and experiment naturally, without fear of being judged on the outcome. They do all of this within their physical and conceptual environments and there are things we parents can do, to help foster their creativity and divergent thinking: n Provide an environment to explore without undue restraint. Not only the space your child creates in but also the materials or “stuff” they are allowed to have access to. That is why the concept of a useful box is great; they are allowed access to everything in it but can make their own choices about what they will use. n Please let them own their own ideas. We sometimes selfishly structure their ideas into an adult’s concept of a good idea. Believe it or not, we are mostly less creative than they are, so it is important for you to be able to facilitate their creativity without managing it. n Accept the weird stuff too! Great divergent thinking is sometimes not what we expect. Ask them to explain what they have made, you’ll be entertained; the glitter and baby pooh coloured painting has a fantastical explanation for sure! n Emphasise process (exploring, thinking, doing) rather than the end product. n Your kids learn from watching you. You are valuable resources for facilitating learning, so be creative too; whatever they’re doing, join in but let them lead. n Ask questions at your child’s school. Are Art lessons provided? Does a specialist teach them? How often do they have these lessons?

POSITIVE EXPERIENCE Kids perform well when they are in touch with things that make them feel good and this needs to be applied to their learning world as well. Generating original ideas is the basis of creative potential and the creative process underpins learning in all areas of the curriculum.

Artmaking is “a critical link for students in developing the crucial thinking skills and motivations they need to achieve at higher levels."

(Deasy, & Stevenson, 2002) Having opportunities to develop aesthetic awareness, feelings and discernment through making arty stuff undeniably contributes to the development of your child’s wholeness and potential, as well as their confidence to try new things and challenge assumptions. I like to call it, thinking!

So, what are you waiting for, go on, get out the flour glue, dried pasta, egg cartons, pipe cleaners and doilies and start “making the making”.

You never know, the pasta necklace you have been emotionally bribed to wear to work today, may have fostered the thinking processes in some little being, who is going to discover a way to end child poverty.

Just in case you were wondering, the elastic from my maternity bras ended up being used to make a slingshot. The stick and glue Guggenheim was abandoned in order to do something else of utmost importance!

HAVE YOU DONE SOMETHING QUIRKY OR INTERESTING IN THE NAME OF ART WITH YOUR KIDS? Share with us online at www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au.

Get started with some crafty ideas, visit our Pinterest boards Kids on the Coast/in the City

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

23

BABIES

NAPPY REVOLUTION

By Justine Stewart and Jackie Goldston 3.75 MILLION DISPOSABLE NAPPIES ARE DUMPED EVERY SINGLE DAY IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ALONE. IN AUSTRALIA, MORE THAN ONE BILLION SINGLE-USE NAPPIES FROM DOMESTIC WASTE SYSTEMS ARE DELIVERED TO LANDFILL SITES FOR DISPOSAL EVERY YEAR, AND THEY MAY TAKE UP TO 500 YEARS TO BIODEGRADE. Short of doing away with nappies altogether (and that’s a whole other article - do a Google search on “elimination communication” if you’re curious), the nappy revolution that’s now sweeping, or wiping, the world is just about the biggest thing ever to happen to baby’s bottoms. So if you’re not already up to speed, and can cope with more acronyms than a teenager’s Facebook feed, read on!

Those white towelling squares our mothers used are so last millennium, darling. Modern cloth nappies, or MCNs, feature fitted and elasticised designs, funky patterns and colours, clever fasteners and an assortment of fabrics like wool, hemp, bamboo and microfibre, snuggled inside plush and/or decorative coverings, making them more absorbent, environmentally-friendly, better for baby and so darn cute you won’t want to put pants on the kid (there’s a work-around for winter, look up ‘baby legs’). You can forget about the stinky bucket full of chemicals too because even washing methods have been revamped. And let’s not forget the fact because you’re re-using you’ll save thousands of dollars.

Think of what you could spend that on instead.

Here’s a quick rundown of the different types (and by the way, you might want to sample a few different kinds and brands before you buy in bulk, to find out which one best suits you and your baby):

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

FITTED NAPPIES: Made of an absorbent fabric such as cotton, hemp, or bamboo, these are shaped to fit, hence the name, and are usually self-closing with either snaps or hook-and-loop fastenings (e.g. Velcro).

Usually they are adjustable and so “grow with your baby”. Many have optional extra absorbency pads (sold with the nappy) if needed. They do need a separate waterproof cover - one cover usually lasts the whole day, just make sure you tuck all the nappy in under the cover or moisture can wick out on to baby’s clothes. A benefit of these nappies is that the whole nappy is absorbent making them fantastic for day sleeps, heavy wetters.

ALL-IN-ONES (AIO’S): Similar to fitted nappies, these are shaped and self-fastening and may have room for an extra absorbency pad, but they also have a built-in water-resistant cover - usually one of the newer breathable materials like polyurethane laminate (PUL) or premium quality polar fleece. These are much kinder to babies’ skin than the sweaty PVC covers of days gone by.

POCKET NAPPIES: Similar to the AIO, except that you decide how much absorbency you need - they’re basically a shell including a water-resistant liner, and you insert either pre-made “stuff-ins” or whatever you like that’s absorbent, into the pocket. The main advantage over AIO’s is that they dry faster because they come apart.

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

25

BABIES ALL IN TWOS: This style of nappy has a water proof outer shell & you adjust the absorbency by adding a snap in absorbent liner. The great thing about this style is that you can re-use the shell after the first insert is wet, simply add a new insert and you are ready to go again.

Quick dry, economical and generally the trimmest of all cloth nappies.

ONE SIZE FITS MOST: Probably the most popular modern cloth nappy, these are a fitted nappy which you can use from newborn to toilet training. Simply by adjusting the various ‘snaps’ on the exterior of the nappy you adjust the sizing of the nappy. This multi-fit style of nappy is the most cost effective in the long run as the one nappy will get you through years of nappy changing. They have a waterproof PUL exterior to keep them watertight and typically a microfleece or suede cloth lining so baby can be kept dry as wetness is wicked away from the skin. You adjust the absorbency by adding inserts as required by your baby.

NIGHT NAPPIES: Yes there are specific night nappies designed to get your baby through 12 + hours of sleep without needing a nappy change.

Typically these nappies have extra inbuilt layers to hold larger volumes overnight and the whole nappy is absorbent, making it a great investment for dry night! These do require a waterproof cover and you can either use PUL covers or 100% natural wool covers are the perfect cover for nights as the wool absorbs more moisture and allows better breathability.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WASHING?

Relax, it’s not as hard as you think. Many of us with younger siblings can remember an ever-present open bucket in the corner of the laundry containing a charming cocktail of water, chemicals and stained terry squares - and the ahem...perfume it produced. Those days are gone.

Flush anything solid down the toilet (the special properties of the newer fabrics make this a lot easier) and simply toss nappies into a dry bucket with a tight-fitting lid to keep the smells in. Yep, you read that right. No water, no chemicals (wow, think what you’ll save on bleach and Napisan!).

These days there are flushable baby wipes and flushable liners which you simply place inside the nappy and these are designed to let moisture through but collect solids. Simply pop the soiled liner into the toilet and your nappy into the nappy bucket.

Every two days, do a nappy wash. Give them a pre rinse, then a machine wash with warm water, using low enzyme detergent such as recommended supermarket detergents are Earth Choice, Planet Ark, AWARE, Ecostore and there is even special detergents made for MCNs. Line dry (sunshine is great for nappies) or use a dryer on low temperature, and that’s it. You may be using less water, and certainly less energy and resources, than what disposables take to manufacture and distribute.

Hey, we understand, there are times when it feels like disposables may be the only thing standing between you and a fully-fledged nervous breakdown.

At least you can now buy slightly “eco-friendlier” disposable nappies these days. While it’s doubtful that they’re better for the environment than modern cloth, despite studies which may claim to the contrary (about which debate is continuing) they’re certainly better than traditional disposables.

However, some of the claims of biodegradability need to be carefully considered. According to our information, nappies can only biodegrade properly if they are exposed to sunlight and air - which is not going to happen if they’re wrapped in plastic and disposed of in rubbish landfills - and let’s face it, how many of us compost our nappies?

Choice Magazine makes the following recommendations of what to look for in an environmentally friendly disposable nappy: ü Third party certified by a reputable and independent organisation ü Chlorine free. ü Renewable materials, biodegradable content. ü ‘Ingredients’ noted, so you can avoid substances of concern to you, for example which you’ve discovered your baby’s skin is sensitive to. ü Compostable packaging: look for packaging that’s got ‘recycled content’ and is ‘recyclable’ ü Transport – a less obvious environmental impact. Is it imported which partially negates some of their environmental credentials?

Do the offset the emissions associated with importing the nappies?

BUT AT LEAST THE MANUFACTURERS OF THESE NAPPIES ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. SOME OF THE BETTER BRANDS ON OFFER IN AUSTRALIA ARE: EENEE DESIGNS Endorsed by Compost Australia as the first and only disposable acceptable for commercial composting. Eenee 100% Compostable nappies have won a Keep Australia Beautiful Award for Environmental Innovation. No harmful chemicals. Renewable plant based materials ensure sustainability. Order from www.eenee.com MOLTEX ECO NAPPIES 100% biodegradable outer lining, 40% biodegradable inner lining with 100% FSC certified wood pulp (from responsibly managed forests). Reducing carbon footprint with ‘carbon neutral’s’ Plant-a-Tree program and ‘Trees for Life’ Australian native bushland regeneration program. Order from www.ecodirect.com.au

There are many brands to try in the market now as modern cloth nappies have fast gained popularity. There are a lot of cheap Chinese imports which will not last nor give you the absorbency you need. Go with a trusted, experienced manufacturer and you won’t look back!

BAMBO NATURE NAPPIES The only nappy to have been awarded the Nordic Swan Eco Label, which has assessed the nappy’s environmental impact during its whole life cycle, including the way it’s produced and the way the raw materials are chosen and handled.

Contain no PVC, perfumes, moisturising lotions, optical brighteners or chlorine, reducing the likelihood of allergic reactions or rashes.

Absorbent core of fluff pulp plus 100% biodegradable wheat starch.

Order from www.natureschild.com.au

Tell us about your favourite natural, recyclable, Eco or environmentally friendly nappy on our website or email editorial@kidsonthecoast.com. au and we will add a photo and a website/information to our nappy article! Help us create a fabulous eco nappy resource.

GENTLY HYBRID NAPPIES A tough, reusable and fully washable shell.

Disposable inserts, allowing for the benefits of disposable, without the unnecessary waste. No bleaches or perfumes. Made from bio-plastics and corn starch to aid in biodegradability. Order from www.natureschild.com.au

It’s barely more effort than putting disposables in the bin and buying new ones every week and certainly a lot cheaper! And a lot better for the planet than thousands of nappies ending up in landfill each week.

26

WHAT ABOUT DISPOSABLES?

Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

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DID YOU KNOW? AUSTRALIANS THROW AWAY ABOUT 2.1 BILLION DISPOSABLE NAPPIES EVERY YEAR. Disposable nappies use over 8 times more nonrenewable raw materials (different kinds of plastics made from non-renewable crude oil) and 90 times more renewable materials (paper pulp from wood) than modern cloth nappies.

Specialising in fabulous children's goods, and collectibles!

Bamboo and Hemp do not require chemical pesticides, are quick to grow and can easily be produced on sustainable plantations.

Disposable nappies account for approximately 1/3rd of household rubbish in a family with a child under two years, this has a huge impact on the costs of waste removal and landfill management (which are passed onto us by our local councils).

FOR MORE NAPPY IDEAS, NAPPY BRANDS AND NAPPY INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE. REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE NATURAL, RECYCLABLE, ECO OR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY NAPPY ON OUR WEBSITE OR EMAIL EDITORIAL@ KIDSONTHECOAST.COM.AU AND WE WILL ADD A PHOTO AND A WEBSITE/INFORMATION TO OUR NAPPY ARTICLE!

Many thanks to Baby BeeHinds for assisting with the information for this article. They are a proudly Australian owned, award winning modern cloth nappy manufacturer who have been leading the revolution in MCNs for 10 years. As trusted & highly regarded leader in the industry, they have an excellent range of styles of nappies to suit every need. There is a great range of Trial Pack options available at great prices to get you started on your MCN journey! www.babybeehinds.com.au

We specialize in quality educational, musical and play toys, and unique gifts for children.

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

27

ONLY NATURAL

Down with GI!

By Nadia Woods ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS PARENTS WILL FACE, IS RAISING CHILDREN TO BE FREE FROM THE TRAPS OF SUGAR. NOTICEABLY, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE MY CHILDHOOD, AND SUGAR SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE, IN MOST FOODS, AND UNDER THE DISGUISE OF VARIOUS NAMES/LABELS.

O

ur bodies were never meant to consume such large amounts of sugar, and the consequences of doing so affect the entire body. Excess sugar leads to many poor outcomes, from dental caries, to gut bacteria overgrowth, and of course behaviour and mood imbalances.

WHY IS LOW GI AN IMPORTANT TERM FOR OUR CHILDREN?

Consuming low GI enables the body to stabilise blood sugar levels and insulin production. Did you know that we can train our body’s insulin production and keep it in shape through the food choices we make, and the timing of our meals and snacks? Insulin is a hormone, which ‘responds’ or ‘reacts’ to what we eat, and when we eat. Over eating

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

and excessive consumption of sugar will lead to insulin being less responsive, thereby less effective. Just as relevant, under eating can switch our bodies into starvation mode, reduce our metabolism, and lead to unstabilised blood sugar levels.

It is extremely important, not only for children but us adults as well, is to ensure meals and snacks are timed according to your body’s needs. Hunger, no matter how brief, causes a drop in blood sugar levels, which snow balls by the mid-afternoon. I call this the ‘afternoon blues’. But symptoms can mimic mild anxiety, stress, and behavioural outbursts. As parents, regulating children’s meals and providing low GI diets can dramatically modify many behaviours and encourage relaxed and happy children.

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ONLY NATURAL

OTHER BENEFITS OF A LOW GI DIET

Adopting a low GI diet has been shown in studies to increase the amounts of essential nutrients consumed during the day. The reason for this is that most of the ‘go to’ high GI foods are heavily processed and therefore void of nutrition. When we think carbs, we need to think whole grains and fibre. These foods will regulate our insulin levels, sustain our energy throughout the day, and lower our blood sugar levels. Just as importantly, whole grains and fibre rich foods will provide amazing health benefits based on the minerals and nutrients that they contain.

Consuming brown rice, whole grain breads and pastas, quinoa and whole grain, unprocessed breakfast cereals are essential for maintaining adequate levels of magnesium. Magnesium is required in our bodies for many things, especially for relaxation and a balanced mood.

Another important nutrient found in whole grains is fibre. Fibre is every man, woman and child’s best friend. Yes, without fibre in the diet we all will suffer constipation, haemorrhoids, bloating and digestive discomfort. When it comes to reducing sugar, fibre will regulate insulin and reduce blood sugar levels.

BREAKFAST

Insulin ‘training’ begins from the time you wake up. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Research has shown the consumption of a good breakfast will: • increase the likelihood of meeting nutritional requirements for the day • increase fibre and whole grain intake • improve cognition and memory in children • is associated with a more positive mood • supports physical and mental wellbeing One of the most powerful things you can do to reduce your family’s sugar intake, and regulate mood, behaviour and energy levels is to choose whole grain, sugar free breakfast items. Shockingly, in some brands one cup of breakfast cereal can have up to 19 grams of added sugar!

Instead of reaching for the popular box of children’s cereals, try the following: • make up your own sugar free granola / muesli • buckwheat pancakes • whole grain toast with avocado or egg

World Health Organisation recommended daily limit

tsp

gram sugar

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Once digested, sugars and starches provide 16kj of energy per gram.

The World Health Organisation recommends no more than 10 percent of you daily kj requirements to consist of sugar. For an average person, 40 to 50 grams of sugar (or 10 to 12 teaspoons) per day would be the limit.

One teaspoon of sugar equals 4 grams of sugar, and one can of soft drink contains around 40 grams of sugar.

So determining how much sugar you consume takes a bit of work, especially when consuming processed foods and drinks. Start by being realistic about when and how you put sugar into your body, and allow sugar to enter your children’s diets. Take a stocktake and then you can visualise where to start in revamping your families diet.

A good food detective knows how to read labels and identify hidden sugars. Bread, crackers, dressings and sauces, yogurt and bottled drinks all contain sugar, and you will be amazed by the variations between different brands.

Once you are ready to tackle the issue and reduce your sugar intake, use the following tips for success.

TOP TIPS TO REDUCE SUGAR - FOOD SWAPPING

There are many ways to make nutritional ingredients taste fun and exciting for children. By ‘swapping out’ the high GI ingredients (cane sugar, honey, white processed flour) and ‘swapping in’ the low GI foods (coconut sugar, barley malt, wholemeal flours, quinoa, barley grains, brown rice) we suddenly have done double the work in the one move and are well on our way to being a SUPER PARENT. • coconut sugar (light) brown sugar still can be swapped ¾ cup coconut sugar for one cup sugar in recipes • did you know all recipes will work with reducing the sugar, start experimenting • applesauce or a table spoon of honey is enough to make sweet tasting banana muffins • using very ripe bananas will reduce the need for sugar at all • use sugar free products when choosing cocoa, cooking chocolate, cereals, drinks

As a bonus for your wise food choices, a good breakfast will increase satiety (sense of fullness) throughout the day, which will decrease hunger and over eating.

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HOW MUCH SUGAR CAN WE EAT?

40-50 grams sugar

• muesli and granola do not need sugar and can be sweetened with coconut, goji berries, sultanas or pear. With dried fruit, it only takes a very small amount to dramatically sweeten the dish whilst adding fibre.

• agave, barley malt, rice syrup, maple syrup can be used in cooking and are lower GI to processed sugars and cane sugar. They come with added antioxidants.

• apple sauce (with no added sugar, or home made) can be used instead of a half cup of white sugar in baking recipes.

• processed dates can be swapped ⅔ cup for every cup of sugar • what is Rapadura? This is unrefined cane sugar, which means it retains its vitamins • have you tried this? cut fruit for a fruit salad, and squeeze some lemon over the top. The acidic lemon juice reacts with the fruit sugars and makes the fruit taste sweeter.

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ONLY NATURAL

BE A FOOD DETECTIVE!

Learn to identify hidden sugars on labels. Sugars occur naturally in foods, but are also added a number of times during the canning, processing and packaging of foods, much in the same way as salt is added as a preservative.

Some ingredients to watch out for are (of course sugar), glucose, sucrose, maltose, corn syrup, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, hydrolysed starch, lactose, mannitol, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, galactose, polydextrose, sorbitol, zylitol, maltodextrin, turbinado and honey.

When we read some of those ‘chemical’ sweetener names, it is motivating for some home cooking. Many of these ‘sugars’ or ‘chemicals’ are likely to be causing behavioural changes in your children. One of the best things I did with my son years ago was to experiment with his food. I simply swapped the bought baked goods with home-made ones (yes it was a challenge).

I noticed a dramatic difference to his coping skills when he was tired, or when things didn’t go his way. Generally, he was better able to manage his emotions especially during times of fatigue. Whilst children are individual, and will react or not react to different food additives, being a food detective means investigating and determining what are your child’s food triggers.

One quick strategy I use for food shopping on the run is to look at where sugar sits in the order of ingredients on the label. For instance, if purchasing dark chocolate for cooking and not sure which one is healthier? The higher the cocoa the lower the sugar is a good general rule. Take a couple of dark cooking chocolate packets and compare the ingredients list. You will see some will have sugar as the second or even first ingredient, meaning that sugar is the predominant ingredient in that product. Others may show sugar towards the middle or end. Whilst it isn’t as detailed as reading the quantities it is great for when you are in a hurry or when your little one/s need to be shuttled out of the store.

I must stress, always avoid high fructose corn syrup. Research studies around the world have demonstrated the adverse effects of this additive. This sweetener not only is a high GI food additive, but has been proven to reduce the body’s natural stomach hormone which tells your brain that you are full and to stop eating. This chemical has been therefore linked with obesity and over eating disorders.

TEACH THE VALUE OF PRIVILEGES (OVER EXPECTATIONS) Sugary treats should not be expected, but seen as something to look forward to at special occasions. Set the tone for your children’s education into the world of food. Although young now, repetition and simple education on the facts of sugar will eventually form stable opinions and awareness in the minds of your children. It is amazing how intelligent is the mind of a child! Their young minds are so open to new things. Which is why advertising is so potent for them.

Over the years, children have always fascinated me in how naturally they comprehend things which are good and logical. That includes healthy eating and good nutrition. Your children will love hearing about their body being like a car, and the food is the fuel. Too much bad food causes problems with the car and it can't work as well. If it is normal in their world, if they know that special food is a treat and desert is not for every day, they will keep that for life.

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REVAMP YOUR PANTRY!

Have you ever looked inside your pantry and thought, “what is that?”

Switching to a low sugar or sugar free diet can only be successful if you have done the ground work first. That is, have stocked the pantry with the ‘swap’ list items, quality breakfast foods, ingredients to whip up a last minute batch of home-made healthy snacks or treats, and an emergency quick fix snack.

Yes, all of us need this emergency snack for those low times as a pick me up, or an attack of the sweet tooth. Let’s face it, we all have those moments. My favourite emergency sweet snacks (which are not that sugary and certainly not bad for you) are: • trail mix (made with pepitas, sunflower seeds, raw coconut, raw cacao nibs, and goji berries) • bliss balls (again full of seeds and raw cacao, plus a little barley malt or rice syrup).

Each of these work to appease a sweet tooth whilst providing protein (for blood sugar regulation), minerals (for relaxation), and are very filling in tiny amounts. Which is great.

SET AN EXAMPLE

Again, what is normal and common place to children is what they will adopt. Snack on raw veg yourself if that is something you would love your kids to eat. Give it time and persist because once it has become a habit you will never look back.

Hide away the adult section of your pantry, meaning the really sugary treats such as last Valentine’s Day chocolate boxes and soft drink, and consume these when the kids are in bed. They honestly don’t need to know! And this is one thing you don’t need to share. Yes we may be setting a false example of a parent who never eats bad foods, ever, but I am sure we all do this in other areas. How many of us trick our children into thinking we have never said a bad word in our whole lives!

EASY ACCESS

Make alternatives readily available, and this will create opportunities for children to develop self modified behaviours. When they open the fridge, let them see a ready to go plate of chopped celery, carrots, grated cheese and sultanas.

At the risk of sounding dull, I remember one of my favourite afternoon treats as a child was to eat frozen green peas from a mug. I called them green ice blocks (or was tricked into naming it that). As funny as it seems now, I actually still love green peas! What a great idea it was. Sure, as children we did eat sweet treats, it is comforting to know that we also ate plenty of fibre and nutrient rich vegetables. My introduction into food taught me that consuming fresh vegetables a couple times per day was and is normal. Thanks mum!

DRINK FOR HYDRATION ONLY!

When thirsty, drink water and expect your children to do the same.

‘Fizzy drinks’ are for parties only, and fruit juices should be fresh, void of added sugar and watered down for young ones. Drinking water for hydration is something which must be taught in our younger years.

I see many adults in clinic who, like me have to train themselves to reach for water throughout the day. If this is not something which we grew up doing, it becomes something to master later in life.

What can I do as a parent? Make as much home-made food as possible and never assume food needs to be sweet for children to enjoy it.

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Infinity Offers More Than Just Martial Arts Infinity Martial Arts teaches kids healthy and active habits from a young age, but also give every student invaluable lessons for life!

All instructors at Infinity are full-time professionals that take pride in teaching quality, kid-friendly martial arts that helps tackle self-confidence, bullying and socialisation issues.

The Infinity Martial Arts 5 Lessons for Life 1. Self Discipline: Research shows that children learning the skills of Martial Arts also develop a high level of discipline that stems through to how they focus and behave on a daily basis, in the classroom and at home.

2. Strength: Physical and mental strength can be one of the most valuable components to carry through life. Children are encouraged to push their limits in both areas, which help them to stay fit, positive and on the right track to reaching their full potential in life.

3. Respect: The instructors at Infinity work with the students to help them learn the art of respect, teaching them to behave appropriately and hold a high regard for teachers, parents and other mentors in their lives.

4. Honour: All children will have the opportunity to progress through a coloured belt system. This provides the building blocks for learning how to set and achieve goals. The Honour brings a positive social standing and more importantly improves their overall self-esteem.

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5. Personal Safety: Students are trained to defend themselves against bullies in and out of the schoolyard. They learn non-violent ways to deal with the bully as well as valuable tools to make sure they don’t develop into a bully themselves. If you want to give your child the best start in life, bring them along for a free trial class and let them see what all the fun is about. Infinity has eight locations to choose from in South-East QLD. Call 1300 INFINITY for more details.

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GOOD HEALTH

BE

BREAST AWARE it could save your life

CANCER COUNCIL QUEENSLAND SPOKESPERSON KATIE CLIFT REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE MOST COMMON CANCER DIAGNOSED IN QUEENSLAND WOMEN. When is the last time you checked your breasts?

Before you had children? Last month? Yesterday? For some of us, we can’t even recall the last time we took a few minutes to conduct a personal check for any changes. Yet, early detection remains one of the most important factors in beating breast cancer.

More than 2900 Queenslanders are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Queensland and around 500 die from the disease. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in Queensland women – and it’s the second biggest cancer killer of Queensland women.

It sounds simple and common sense enough – get to know your breasts, and if you notice any changes, make an appointment with your GP straight away.

So why are screening rates for women’s cancers so low? The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest figures show only 6 in 10 women in the target age groups for breast and cervical screening participated in the programs in 2011 or 2012 – similar to the rates in previous years.

While some women are screened privately, these are still alarmingly low figures. Some Queensland women may be missing out on or failing to follow up on reminder notices, or be simply too busy to make it to a scheduled appointment.

An improvement in the uptake of screening for breast cancer in the target age group is crucial – if cancer is found and treated early, there is an increased chance of surviving the disease. #itouchmyselfproject

So, Mums, do all you can to make it to your recommended screenings.

It’s equally important to be breast aware, to familiarise yourself with the normal look and feel of your breasts, and to see a doctor immediately if you notice any unusual breast changes.

In April, Cancer Council joined forces with marketing communications agency JWT Sydney to create a tribute to Chrissy Amphlett – the

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

I Touch Myself Project. Chrissy was passionate about spreading awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and wanted her song ‘I Touch Myself’ to become an anthem for women’s health around the world.

A music video was launched featuring leading female artists Olivia Newton John, Megan Washington, Sarah McLeod, Katie Noonan, Sarah Blasko, Suze DeMarchi, Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, Little Pattie and Connie Mitchell in a tender rendition of Chrissy’s song.

Marking the first anniversary of Chrissy’s passing on 21 April 2014, the campaign asks women to ‘touch themselves’, reminding them to get to know the look and feel of their breasts.

The campaign is supported by a website: itouchmyself.org, and a social media campaign that encourages people to share how they’ve been touched by breast cancer using the hashtag #itouchmyselfproject on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Google+.

Through the combined support of the female vocalists and celebrity ambassadors including Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and RocWiz’s Julia Zemiro, the campaign is set to become a media and social media circuit-breaker.

Our hope is that through campaigns like this, all women would get to know their breasts better, becoming breast aware and participating in recommended screening. Visit the website and social media links to share the anthem and this important reminder with your friends and family.

It’s crucial – even if you’re a busy Mum – to make the time to see your GP and take care of your health. A little bit of inconvenience now could save your life in the future, improving cancer survival rates and enabling less invasive treatment.

Your personal health is too important to ignore. For more information or advice about breast awareness and screening, please visit www.cancerqld.org.au or call our Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.

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GOOD HEALTH

LIFESTYLE

CHOICES SOME RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER ARE NOT EASY TO CHANGE, LIKE BEING FEMALE AND YOUR AGE, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT MAY HELP REDUCE YOUR RISK OF BREAST CANCER.

Maintain a healthy body weight: being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly for women who have been through menopause.

Be physically active: regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. Research suggests that vigorous exercise when you’re young might provide lifelong protection against breast cancer, and that even moderate physical activity as an adult can lower your risk of developing breast cancer.

Limit or avoid drinking alcohol: about 1 in 8 breast cancers may be attributable to alcohol consumption. If you do choose to drink, limit yourself to 1 standard drink a day.

Don’t smoke: there is no clear link between smoking and breast cancer, but toxins from cigarettes have been found in breast cells.

As smoking is a major cause of heart disease, lung cancer and many other cancers, not smoking is always a smart health choice.

BREAST CANCER: WHAT TO DO AT DIFFERENT AGES

25 to 40

40 to 49

50 to 74

75 or over

You know your breasts, but what is ‘your’ normal when it comes to look and feel?

Talk to your doctor and establish if a mammogram is right for you.

You should be having a mammogram every two years.

Call BreastScreen on 13 20 50 to book a free mammogram.

Talk to your doctor to ask if you should continue to have mammograms.

DON’T HESITATE TO SEEK HEALTH ADVICE IF YOU NOTICE ANY CHANGES. If there is a history of cancer in your family, talk to your doctor.

If you are aged between 40 to 49 you are eligible for a free breast screening.

YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS NORMAL WHEN IT COMES TO LOOK AND FEEL, AND DON’T HESITATE TO SEEK HEALTH ADVICE IF YOU NOTICE ANY CHANGES.

30 MINUTES EVERY TWO YEARS CAN OFFER PEACE OF MIND.

Women over 75 may also have free breast screening mammograms as recommended by your doctor.

Get to know your breasts, get to know what is normal when it comes to the look and feel of your breasts and seek health advice if you notice any changes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CANCER COUNCIL HELPLINE 13 11 20 OR CANCERQLD.ORG.AU

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BOOKS, MOVIES, APPS, GAMES

REVIEWS

APPS SLICE LAVA APP (Android USD$2.99, Apple $3.79, Amazon/Kindle Fire USD$2.99) With over 60 fun puzzles, Slice Lava is designed for kids and also challenging for adults! It’s all about maths and testing logic in a fun manner. Learn fraction concepts by slicing shapes. No words. No maths drill. Slice Fractions offers a safe digital environment, without banner advertising or in-app purchases.

For ages 5+

BUG ART (iPad, iPhone, iPod $0.99) Imagine, create, and play with Little Bit Studio’s newest app, Bug Art. Watch your child’s creations coming to life. Uniquely combining the abilities to create and play, Bug Art allows your child to paint, design, and explore in a whimsically styled setting. No third party advertising or in-app purchases. Fun for most ages.

BOOKS THE BOY ON THE PAGE Peter Carnavas, New Frontier Publishing, RRP $24.95 A small boy lands on the page and, quite by accident, discovers the joy and wonder of life. A beautifully illustrated, quirky book that questions our purpose – why are we here? A sweet and positive message is entwined in the developing story. Different meanings will be interpreted by different ages. From 4+

THE ADVENTURES OF SCOOTERBOY AND SKATERGIRL Andy Jones, ABC Books, RRP $12.99 Cool can mean a lot of things. Amazing, wicked, awesome, epic, radical, insane, ridiculously good and, of course – cold! Meet Skatergirl. She has cool hair, she wears cool clothes and she rides a really cool skateboard. Basically, she’s naturally cool.

Meet Scooterboy. He’s … well … let’s just say that being cool does NOT come naturally to him. But when Scooterboy and Skatergirl get together, HILARITY ensues. Cheeky, funny and packed with cartoon-style illustrations and moments that will have you laughing out loud, this collection of short stories from children’s entertainer Andy Jones is perfect for reluctant readers and fans of Andy Griffiths. For ages: 8-12

MOVIES HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 (3D) In Cinemas June 19 The thrilling second chapter of the epic How to Train Your Dragon trilogy returns to the fantastical world of the heroic Viking Hiccup and his faithful dragon Toothless. The inseparable duo must protect the peace –and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. Starring Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson and America Ferrara.

TINKERBELL: THE PIRATE FAIRY In Cinemas June 26 When a misunderstood dust-keeper fairy named Zarina steals Pixie Hollow's all-important Blue Pixie Dust, and flies away to join forces with the pirates of Skull Rock, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends must embark on the adventure of a lifetime to return it to its rightful place. However, in the midst of their pursuit of Zarina, Tink's world is turned upside down. She and her friends find that their respective talents have been switched and they have to race against time to retrieve the Blue Pixie Dust and return home to save Pixie Hollow.

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Kids in the City – JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014

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“Being a father means more to me than my Olympic medals...”

by Samantha Taylor Adam Pine arrives at the light-filled Verve Portraits studio with his wife Sasha and their three lively boys. It is obvious from their smiles and energy, pressed together in a big family huddle, that the family portrait they have come to create will accurately reflect the life they lead together. As part of the session, Verve has requested the family bring in items that represent their lives to give the photographs a special personal touch. It comes as no surprise that the case is full of swimwear, goggles and towels...

It was refreshing to meet Adam Pine, three-time Olympian who says nothing can beat being a dad… I can only imagine what an incredible feeling it must be to represent your country at the Olympics, but Adam Pine waves my comments aside, assuring me that it’s not a patch on the pride he has in his family. Having competed at three Olympic Games and four consecutive Commonwealth Games, Pine has been one of Australia’s longest serving national swimming team members. For Pine though, his sporting achievements, which include Olympic gold and silver medals, have been a sideshow to the most important side of his life, his family.

Proof that behind every great man is a great woman, Pine cites Sasha as the biggest influence in his life and the person that motivated him to keep swimming, “I think that’s one of the reasons why I was able to swim so long… with Sasha and then when the boys started coming along.

You’d have a bad session in the pool or a bad day at work then you’d come home and they’d be all happy. I think that balanced lifestyle really helped me.”. When asked how he would describe himself, Adam is very definite, “I am a family man first and foremost. My wife and boys are my number one priority in whatever I do. I consciously try to do what I can to provide the best for them and everything falls into place behind the scenes really.” And with that Adam rejoins his family to create the family portrait that will hang on the walls of their happy home for decades to come.

Verve Portraits is Australia’s most respected family portrait studio, specialising in pregnancy, baby, family, couple and generational photography. Verve have just opened a studio in Brisbane, 849 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley.

To book or for more information call 1300-0VERVE (83783) or visit verveportraits.com.au

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JUNE / JULY / AUGUST 2014 – Kids in the City

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- in the city

- in the city