Kids on the Coast Magazine - Gold Coast - Issue 58. September/October 2015

ISSUE 58 September/October 2015 GOLD COAST

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Âť take me home

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Financially savvy kids

Learning problems

Sex, drugs & teens

Conversations with your son

58 Contents ISSUE

September/October 2015

Navaeh, 7yrs

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FROM THE EDITOR

6

THE SOCIAL GATHERING

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WHAT’S NEWS

10 FEATURE: Raising a financially savvy child 16 CHECK THIS OUT 18 T HE P FILES: Must-have conversations with your son 22 C ALENDAR OF EVENTS: Find out what’s happening on the Coast during September & October 25 SPECIAL FEATURE: For the love of literature 28 EDUCATION: “I’m sorry...your child doesn’t fit the box” 32 WEB WRAP UP 34 BABIES: Mothers’ groups: friends or foes?

36 TEENS: Breaking down barriers: Talking about sex, drugs and alcohol

Necklace from Nest, Eumundi Jumpsuit from Bardot Kids Rollerskates from Caloundra Rollerdrome

40 CONVERSATION: Artist Leonie Rhodes 42 BOOKS – APPS – MOVIES

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: JESSICA JANE SAMMUT, JAMES MCMANIS, BELINDA HOPPER, MICHELLE KENNEDY, PENNY SHIPWAY, SANDRA SMITH, NATASHA HIGGINS 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.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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WELCOME

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

EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Is it just me, or can the responsibilities of parenting feel a little overwhelming at times? From parenting a helpless newborn through to the tricky teen years there are so many ways we can guide our children to become independent and responsible. In this issue you will find insights into just some of the things that are important to share with our children in this parenting journey, including how to be financially savvy from an early age, must-have conversations with boys and talking about sex and drugs with teens.

We have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you our new website and we’d love you to stop by and take a look. Head to www.kidsonthecoast.com.au. It’s visual, it’s interactive and we’re sure you’ll enjoy browsing it as much as we do! There is so much great content to absorb with parenting articles, topical news stories, blog posts and reviews on products, activities, books and more. Browse a little further and you’ll find the ‘Things To Do’ and ‘Local Guide’ sections with plenty of local activities for your family to enjoy.

Don’t forget to head to the ‘Competitions’ page regularly for a chance to win some great prizes.

To celebrate our new website, we have added a new section in the magazine – Web Wrap Up – to highlight the best of our web action right now. Here you'll also find activity review previews and a spotlight on some of our great competitions, so make this page a regular stop each issue...preferably while relaxing with a coffee!

Brisbane - Sunshin

e Coast - Gold Coas

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“ Things to do, places to go!”

Please feel free to contact our team via our website or email and don’t forget to sign up for our What’s On eNews that comes out weekly at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

AVAILABLE

SEPT 11

PRINT EDITOR: Natasha Higgins GROUP EDITOR - DIGITAL: Eva Lewis EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Kerry White ADMIN: admin@mothergoosemedia.com.au SOCIAL MEDIA: Eva Lewis PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Phoebe Browning production@mothergoosemedia.com.au DESIGN: Michelle Craik & Phoebe Browning PRINTING: Print Works, 07 3865 4433 All editorial and advertising in Kids on the Coast and Kids in the City publications are 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 on the Coast is subject to copyright provisions.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Feedback/ comments/suggestions? Send to: publications@ mothergoosemedia.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.

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Happy reading!

Natasha Higgins, Editor

PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston

holi�dauiyde - on the coast

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SEPTEMBER/

OCTOBER 2015

BEHIND THE SCENES … at our Verve Portraits cover shoot

Distributed directly to parenting hotspots across South East Queensland.

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

Separate editions cover Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.

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annon, with Sh Working tographer our pho

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

Striking a roller disco pose!

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WE ARE SOWING THE SEEDS AND GROWING A NEW SCHOOL FOR THE GOLD COAST

Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine

Kids entry is FREE*

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*Kids under 15 FREE entry when accompanied by an adult!

Inspiring garden talks by leading experts More than 40 nurseries with a huge variety of plants for sale daily Landscape show gardens Sustainable organic kitchen garden Have you been searching for a school that ignites a love of learning in your child?

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Free lecture and demonstration program every day Entertainment, scrumptious food and much more...

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We are currently looking for people with patience, understanding and maturity to care for children in need.

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Our carers can be single or partnered, married or unmarried, with or without children, and/or same sex couples. Some have a background in health and caring professions. Some provide short-term care, while others are full-time foster carers.

BECOME A FOSTER CARER www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

If you can share a place in your heart and home we'd like to hear from you.

P: 07 3442 6600 E: seqcarer.recruitment@lwb.org.au www.lwb.org.au/fostercare

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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The social gathering Daily conversation, inspiration and information

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SO MUCH FUN HAS BEEN HAD AROUND SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

Fun at Aussie World

Strawberry Picking at Strawberry Fields

Zoo Keeper for a Day at Australia Zoo

If you’re sharing some happy snaps on Instagram, let us know by using our hashtags!

#kidsinthecitymagazine or #kidsonthecoastmagazine

We had fun at the EKKA too!

DON’T FORGET TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR SCHOOL HOLIDAY EGUIDE IN SEPTEMBER

{Blogger Fast 5} Introducing Lisa Barton-Collins

from Mrs BC’s House of Chaos! www.lisabartoncollins.com

1. Describe your blog in 25 words or less. Mrs BC’s House of Chaos is mostly about healthy dinners for busy families; it’s also about home renovations, organic vegetable gardening and family adventures.

2. The one golden piece of advice I could offer other parents is… Don’t sweat the small stuff. I’ve wasted many, many hours arguing with my children because they weren’t wearing the right coloured socks, or they chose the jumper full of holes, or I didn’t want them to drag a stick home from the park, or a million other things. It’s exhausting being the nagging mum, and it made me feel cranky all the time! The reality is that at the end of the day none of those things matter. As long as they are healthy and well fed and not in danger – what does it matter if they are not dressed in their Sunday best for Grandma’s visit or if your front yard is full of sticks. So I stopped nagging and everyone instantly felt happier, me included!

3. The three things that make me happy are… 1. Having a healthy, happy family. I think everyone can relate to that!

2. Spending time being creative. I think busy mums leave themselves last on the list when it comes to the most precious of all commodities: time. It’s essential to me that I spend a little time just letting my imagination relax and run free – I find it really rejuvenating. 3. You know that moment, when the children are in bed, and the house is clean or at least tidy, and you are sitting on your couch with a cup of tea or glass or wine, enjoying the serenity? Just relishing in the quiet stillness? That moment, right there.

4. The gadget I simply couldn’t live without is… My stove top espresso maker, without a doubt! Two decent cups of coffee a day is all I need, but it has to be espresso. Anything else is just dirty water.

5. I take time to relax by… Walking by the ocean. The smell, sound and just resting my eyes on the ocean in all of its seasons is almost a spiritual thing for me.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

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WE POSED A BIT OF AN ODD QUESTION ON FACEBOOK,

‘HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR ODD SOCKS?’

Here were the responses.

RACHEL – USE THE OLD STYLE NAPPY PINS OR JUST LARGE SAFETY PINS AND CLIP THEM TOGETHER BEFORE WASHING (OR AS SOON AS YOUR CHILD TAKES THEM OFF).

STORM – WE JUST WEAR ODD SOCKS NOW! LOUISE – I SHOVE THE ODD ONES UP THE BACK OF THEIR DRAWER UNTIL THE COMPANION TURNS UP. JADE – JUST PLAIN WHITE SOCKS FOR US SO IT DOESN’T MATTER IF SOME MAGICALLY DISAPPEAR! KAYLENE – SOCK PUPPETS, LOTS OF SOCK PUPPETS!

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR FAMILY FINANCES EGUIDE YET?

Visit our website

It’s full of tips on budgeting, meal planning, saving on utilities and more. Find it online.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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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 publications@mothergoosemedia.com.au

Whats news » Visit our website for more news, www.kidsonthecoast.com.au/news

COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR BIRTH OF NEW PRIVATE MATERNITY WARD There is less than nine months until the Gold Coast's newest

private maternity ward is born, and expectant mothers are booking in now to be the first to use the new facility at the Gold Coast Private Hospital when it opens in March next year.

The Gold Coast Private, which will become the new facility for Allamanda, will herald a new style and standard in maternity care for the city, says general manager David Harper. "The maternity ward at Allamanda saw approximately 20,000 births between 1980 and December 19, 2005, when the last baby was delivered, and we are excited that the Gold Coast Private will welcome literally thousands of new Gold Coast residents into the world over the coming years," he said. "Our facility's gestation period has been much longer than the standard nine months, but its arrival is being greeted with the same level of anticipation and excitement that all expectant parents experience.” The maternity unit will open with 26 ante and postnatal beds, five birthing suites and nine special care cots. Most ante and postnatal rooms will feature double beds and recliners for added comfort and visitors staying overnight. The ward will also include lounge and education areas for mothers and families to meet and learn.

LINDISFARNE STUDENTS ‘DIG DEEP’ AT THE GOLD COAST KOKODA CHALLENGE

Five Lindisfarne students who were selected to participate in the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program have recently completed a gruelling challenge in preparation for a trip to Papua New Guinea. Eirene Donnelly, Jack Jones, Tiffani Seaton, Mia Tarantini and Jade Wardle took part in the 96km Kokoda Challenge through the Gold Coast hinterland on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. In the 32 hours it took the team to complete the challenge, the students travelled across 12 creeks, up summits of 5,000m and along fire trails throughout the mountainous region. The Kokoda Challenge Youth Program is a 12–14 month initiative, allowing each participant to grow and flourish through community service and the development of support networks throughout the community. The culmination of the program involves the participants visiting Papua New Guinea to walk the famous Kokoda Track. One parent said of the group’s achievement: “They had to dig really deep and it was truly remarkable to watch these amazing young adults find the strength that they never knew they had.” The five students are now keenly anticipating the next step in their Kokoda journey which involves training in the hinterland with heavy packs in preparation for their journey to Papua New Guinea. For more details of the program visit www.kokodachallenge.com

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

ROBINA TOWN CENTRE TRANSFORMED INTO CANVAS BY RONE

DID YOU

KNOW In Australia there are almost 100,000 more women than men.

Today’s baby boom is twice as large (exceeding 310,000 annual births) than when the original Baby Boom began in 1946 (fewer than 150,000 births).

IN AUSTRALIA, THE MEDIAN AGE AT WHICH MEN FIRST BECOME A DAD IS 33, AND WHEN WOMEN HAVE THEIR FIRST CHILD IS 30.7 YEARS. GOLD COAST’S FIRST PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD WAS EMPLOYED IN 1935 AT MAIN BEACH BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

CHECK OUT THE LAH-LAH COMPETITION ON OUR WEBSITE

Robina town centre will host a unique art installation created by iconic Australian and internationally renowned street artist RONE. Inspired by the Gold Coast community, RONE'S mural features fresh produce and large washes of vibrant, electric colours. It is a massive 90m wide and 8m high. “This mural is more energised and upbeat than some of my previous work in order to truly reflect the spirit of the Gold Coast community,” said RONE. “The colours are bright, vibrant and impulsive, representing the bold and colourful characters who live in the area, while the fresh botanicals, marked by the cherries and bananas, reflect local provenance.” Robina town centre manager Glen McAnulty said “RONE is one of the world’s most influential street artists, and we’re thrilled to provide the Gold Coast access to such fantastic art. The installation is a subtle hint to the work that’s going on behind the scenes at Robina town centre – while we can’t yet reveal exactly what is being built behind the mural, we can say it is going to be a revolutionary culinary treat for locals and tourists alike.” The installation is located opposite Woolworths in the Food Markets. For more information visit www.robinatowncentre.com.au.

LAH-LAH LIVE IN CONCERT

Fans of the top rating ABC KIDS TV series Lah-Lah’s Adventures will be practicing their dance moves and getting ready to ‘Shake It Like This’ when Lah-Lah Live in Concert comes to Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast in September. Stripy-socked singing sensation Lah-Lah and her Big Live Band featuring Mister Saxophone, Squeezy Sneezy the piano accordion, Tom Tom on drums, Buzz the Bandleader and Lola the Dancing Double Bass will take their award-winning live music experience to Tweed Heads Civic Centre on September 28 and Gold Coast Albert Waterways Community Centre on September 29 for local families to enjoy. Lah-Lah’s Adventures TV series cocreator, producer and director Deb Ryan said that the show provides an invaluable tool for children to appreciate all forms of music and encourages them to play instruments.

Lah-Lah Live In Concert will delight audience and have the whole family up singing and dancing with the band that ‘jams all over the land’. The concert is a spectacularly fun, interactive and educational 45-minute show that will have the kids grinning and shimmying from go to whoa. Get your tickets to these special live shows before they sell out.

To book go to www.lah-lah.com/live-shows www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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FEATURE

Rai$ing a FINANCIALLY savvy child

by Jessica Jane Sammut

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

FEATURE

ADULTHOOD COMES WITH MANY CHALLENGES, WITH FISCAL ONES RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. SO HOW DO WE ENSURE OUR KIDS ARE FINANCIALLY SAVVY AND READY FOR THE BIG WIDE WORLD?

Parents of young children hear it all the time. “Can I have this?” It’s the catchcry of many a young child, and one that sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t depending on the suitability of the item in question, energy level of hit-up parent and cost of the chosen toy/ food/random implement. There it is. The dreaded ‘C’ word. And, whereas in the innocent world of our little cherished bambinos, the word does not exist (or if it does, does not have meaning), in the big wide scary grown-up world, it totally does. In fact, it not only exists, it pretty much goes to the heart of every household decision made, and while we all know that money doesn’t make you happy, a lack of it can certainly make you hapless.

So, when is the moment that we pull our kids aside to lecture them on the value of material things and how to save/spend/invest wisely? And why is it so crucial to our kids’ chances of adult success that we do?

WHY FINANCIAL SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT “Financial literacy is the foundation to a successful and prosperous life,” explains Darren Eising, senior financial planner at Elemental Wealth Management (elementalwealth.com.au).

“Just as with reading and writing, kids need to acquire a solid understanding of the fundamentals of finance, economics and investment in order to do well in life.”

“Financial literacy is defined as the ability to make informed judgements and to make effective decisions regarding the use and management of money (Coben, Dawes & Lee 2005),” adds leading educator Nadia McCallum who was recently awarded The Director General’s Award for Excellence in Service to Public Education and Training. “Given we live in a society where money provides a means to a home, health care, education and food, understanding how to manage money so that those needs are met is paramount.”

“From earning money, to spending money, to borrowing to investing, and even to leaving a legacy, financial understanding is crucial,” adds ‘Australia’s Money Guru’ Michelle House. “It is important kids understand the difference between needs and wants, and the consequences of poor money management.”

WHY LEARNING YOUNG IS BENEFICIAL

“Children who learn about sound money management when they’re young have the opportunity to build habits – like saving and investing – that will stand them in good stead throughout their lives,” explains Lacey Filipich, founder and director of Money School, a financial education program for families (moneyschool.org.au). “These habits, if learned early, become second nature. As children move into adulthood, they then don’t stress about money as much because they are comfortable with it and have a solid plan about how to manage it.”

“Financial awareness teaches kids about concepts such as delayed gratification, fair exchange (the opposite of 'entitlement', a common complaint of today's parents), value of hard work, and planning ahead,” concurs Dr Ash Nayate, clinical paediatric neuropsychologist. “The earlier a child can learn such concepts, the better. Ultimately, they become automatic.”

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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FEATURE

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A PARENT’S ROLE

With the education system not focusing too heavily on financial strategy, responsibility for raising a money-wise child rests almost entirely on parents.

“Research shows time and time again that children learn what to place importance on and to value from what their parents model,” explains Nadia. “If a child sees a parent picking up a book instead of turning on the television, they will be more likely to pick up a book. It is the same with money. If parents talk about money and the reasons for their decisions, children inherently learn and incorporate these values into their own belief system, and instinctively begin to make conscious decisions about how to use money.”

From a development point of view, it’s the consistency of our actions over our words that is key.

“Parents who tell their kids to make smart decisions (and yet themselves do not), send mixed messages, which can be confusing,” confirms Dr Ash. “In fact, not involving children at an early age in appropriate discussions and reasoning around money is the biggest mistake parents can make when teaching kids about money,” warns Darren. “Parents underestimate their children’s abilities to grasp economic concepts, and it is these lessons that become the foundation of their future financial literacy.”

THE MAIN FINANCIAL CONCEPTS CHILDREN SHOULD KNOW

Okay, we get it! Financial acumen is somewhat of a big deal for our growing babies. But, what are the main areas that children should be encouraged to grasp in order to get ahead? Lacey reveals her top five Money School concepts:

1. SAVING What it is: Putting aside a part of a sum of money earned/received and not spending it.

Why it’s important: Savings are the seed of the metaphorical money tree. Without savings, investment cannot occur, and if a setback is experienced (e.g. an accident or loss of job), there is no buffer.

What age: All ages. This can be done with any gifts your child receives, even as an infant. Show them what you do to save, then encourage them to do the same with their pocket money and any income they receive.

How to teach it: Use a bank account or a piggy bank to demonstrate how to save in real terms.

2. PLANNING What it is: Mapping out income and spending. Essentially, this is about understanding cash flow.

Why it’s important: To have control over one’s finances is an essential skill in life.

What age: From early primary school.

WHAT CHILDREN CAN UNDERSTAND

So, what can kids cerebrally understand about the fiscal opportunities of their world? Should we be talking NASDAQ to them, or simply keeping the chat restricted to pocket money terms and conditions?

“From about the ages of three to five, kids start to develop an understanding of the transactional nature of money (that money is exchanged for goods and services),” reveals Dr Ash. “The understanding of the actual value of money however, starts to develop at around the age of seven or so, when kids begin to appreciate abstract concepts (and money is a very abstract concept!). It is then that children can work out the difference in money magnitude, e.g. what can be purchased for $1 versus $2 versus $10. From the age of seven onwards, kids are then able to grasp such notions as delayed gratification and fair exchange, and so have a better appreciation for things like earning money through chores, or putting money in the bank where it can gain interest (i.e. spend now versus save and spend more later).”

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

How to teach it: Include your child in setting and monitoring the family budget.

3. ACTIVE EARNING What it is: Trading time and effort for income, whether it’s a wage, a commission or dividends from an enterprise.

Why it’s important: This teaches delayed gratification and the difference between wants and needs.

What age: From mid to late primary school.

How to teach it: Start with pocket money as an illustrative example. Encourage your child to undertake chores and activities for money. Set a good example by actively earning yourself.

4. INVESTING (FOR PASSIVE EARNING) What it is: Buying assets – things that increase in value and provide extra income.

Why it’s important: Assets generate wealth. This passive income supplements active income and is a valuable revenue stream.

Savings becomes worth less every year (due to inflation) without investment, and the sooner kids understand the quicker they can start to develop a wealth mindset.

What age: From late primary school.

How to teach it: The best way to teach this is by doing it and including children in the process. Paper trading for shares and playing Monopoly are great ways to demonstrate such skills with low risk.

Earning interest on savings is the bare minimum, so get your child to monitor their interest-bearing savings account at the very least.

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FEATURE

5. BORROWING What it is: Leveraging other people’s money (usually the bank’s) to buy bigger assets.

Why it’s important: Debt can be risky, and too many people get their first introduction to debt via a credit card, which they then use to buy consumer goods (this is bad debt). Applied wisely however, debt can be used to generate more growth and passive income than can be achieved with savings alone.

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What age: From late primary school.

How to teach it: Give children a loan from the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’. Ask them to present their case for their loan (as they would do for a bank), charge them interest, and repossess items if payments aren’t made.

HOW TO TURN YOUR CHILD INTO A MONEY MAVEN

Once the concepts have been grasped, the next step is implementing practical approaches on a regular basis that will help create a financially savvy child in the long run.

BE CONSISTENT How: Always pay attention to the importance of money, even when talking about just a few cents. From little things, big things grow…

How this helps: This reinforces consistency and helps build good habits through example. A child is far more likely to copy your actions than what you say if the two aren’t aligned.

TALK ABOUT IT

WHAT PARENTS SAY… AMELIE DROUIN, MUM TO FELIX (9), ANAIS (7) AND MATHILDA (4) “We want our children to know the value of money so that they understand it is important to work hard in life and to not take money for granted. We teach our kids to save via their school banking accounts and how to shop, by comparing different items at different prices across stores. We also encourage them to make money for themselves. We recently let Felix sell some bags of hot chillies he had grown in the garden (he made about $10 in an hour!). Plus, we help the children give to the needy by contributing to the Care program at our church and donating food to St. Vinnie’s. We hope to make them see they are very lucky to have a roof over their heads and food on the table every day.”

ARMAND AGUILLON, DAD TO JEWEL (15) AND IZAAC (3) “It’s so important to raise a financially savvy child, but schools don’t seem to teach this. If kids aren’t going to learn it in school, they need to learn it from us, as parents. We believe the single most important thing a child should be taught about money is to save 10 per cent of their income. Every fortnight, we also play monopoly and include our three-year-old in the game where he can play as the banker and hands out the monies. He also enjoys throwing the dice. Jewel is now at the stage where she knows how to win the game and wins it constantly.”

MELINDA EDWARDS, MUM TO BROOKLYN (4) “I believe it’s never too early to start planting the seed of healthy money habits in a child’s mind. Brooklyn used to ask me for an iPad all the time. I could have easily bought him one, but instead decided to use the situation as the perfect introductory lesson towards money: working hard, cultivating a resourceful mindset and reaching goals. I told him it's the same as anything in life – he can have whatever his little heart desires if he can figure out a way to earn it. From there, we worked out the goal amount he needed to purchase the iPad and brainstormed ways for him to earn the money. I also invested $50. As a result, he has been making and selling rocky road chocolate in his uncle’s bakery and has made approximately $130 profit to date.”

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

How: Include children in financial discussions in a helpful way (no need to let them see you panicking about your mortgage, but instead involve them in looking for ways to bring costs down, for example).

How this helps: This gives children the opportunity to ask questions and to seek to understand. When they ask ‘Why?’, tell them, with a clear explanation.

LEARN TO SAY “NO” How: Don’t give your kids everything. Say no to buying things, and give them the opportunity to earn something they really want.

How this helps: Children need to learn about earning and waiting.

Giving them everything they desire does not help them learn that.

PRACTICE NEGOTIATION How: Encourage them to haggle with you!

How this helps: Adults are often scared to negotiate as they don’t want to seem rude, or they’re afraid they’ll offend someone. You make money on assets when you buy for less than when you sell. Negotiating the best possible price is therefore important, even for simply buying a family home. Start young so kids get comfortable asking for discounts and learning to read people during negotiations.

MAKE IT FUN How: Play Monopoly or other financial buying/selling games.

Adjust the rules if you like to allow for negotiation and borrowing, interest charges, etc.

How this helps: Games are a great way to teach kids about the importance of being financially savvy, connecting on their level.

Just ensure they can relate the lessons they learn to real life.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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• Psychological Assessments • Risk & Behavioural Assessment • Developmental & Adaptive Assessments • In-home Support Packages • School Consultations

Phone:(07) 3341 4619 • www.ylopsychologyclinic.com.au

A referral isn’t needed to see one of our Psychologists, however, Medicare Rebates are available for clients that have a Mental Health Care Plan from their doctor.

BULK BILLING AVAILABLE

Are you concerned about your child’s talking?

Maybe it is time to see a qualified SPEECH PATHOLOGIST for advice?

Zoe treats a range of communication difficulties in children from birth to 8 years, such as late talking, stuttering, speech sound errors or voice difficulties. She also helps families experiencing problems with mealtimes.

Professional rooms centrally located in Benowa.

Please phone or email to schedule an appointment.

CALL: 0421 223 375 | EMAIL: zoe@zwsp.com.au

www.zwsp.com.au

ELEVATE YOUR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! THE INDOOR URBAN TRAMPOLINE PARK WHERE KIDS CAN HAVE FUN AND GET FIT

BRISBANE 40 ENTERPRISE PLACE, TINGALPA GOLD COAST 10 ENERGY CIRCUIT, ROBINA FOR MORE INFO:

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

15

�hi�

CHECK

OUT

Seriously cool products to encourage kids to create, imagine, draw and play!

SWEET DREAMS

Australian kids’ bedding company Sack Me! has invented a new range of cushions and beanbags that the kids will want to gobble up with quirky new designs including donuts, popcorn and bon bons. The fun Krispy Dreme cushion costs $49. Check out the new range available online from mid-September at www.sackme.com.au and through selected stockists nationally.

BLOOMING BRILLIANT

We all love fresh flowers in our home but they never last for long. Or so we thought. Little Blooming Wonder has created a flower display that will last for up to 10 years. Small Chrysanthemum flowers, cut when they are very young and snap frozen to retain their tiny size, colour and freshness, are arranged in vases of different shapes and sizes. Just give them a spray of water once a week. Prices start at $5.

Available from www.olliandash.com.au.

COLOURING IN FOR GROWN-UPS

Here’s the perfect way for busy parents to de-stress at the end of a long day. Explore your natural creativity with some of the most beautiful patterns imaginable in Beautiful Patterns: Creative Colouring for Grown-Ups – however and whenever you feel inspired.

Doodling and colouring have long been known to enhance one's thought processes and provide a relaxing yet highly creative way to free the mind. In this uniquely gorgeous book you'll find over 100 detailed patterns to colour, providing endless entertainment and inspiration for craft projects. RRP $19.95.

Available from online book retailers.

CREATIVE STORY STONES

Help your child’s imagination come to life via sensory play with Creative Story Stones. Each stone has a different picture on it and children can arrange them to create their own stories.

For the younger ones, they can be used as word recognition tools. Recommended for children three years and up. For more information see www.facebook.com/creativestorystones. Available to purchase online from November at www.cuteas.com.au

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

TRANSFORM BORING AFTERNOONS

Hands up if you remember Transformers! Now your kids can create their own metal models of the robot heroes and villains. There are three models available - Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The parts for each one come in a flat sheet of metal which are easily pressed out and assembled by a tab and slot design. Recommended for kids aged 14 years and up. Available at www.coolthings.com.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

17

THE P FILES

MUST-HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR

SON

by James McManis

Psychologist. BA Psych. (Hons). Assoc. MAPS

WE ALL KNOW THE HOLLYWOOD IMAGE OF A PARENT AND A CHILD SITTING DOWN TO HAVE A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. THE TIMING IS PERFECT, THE LOCATION IS QUIET, AND THERE ARE NO DISTRACTIONS UNTIL AFTER THE SCENE IS OVER. THE CHILD LEAVES UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF LIFE, AND THE PARENT LEAVES SATISFIED THEY’VE DONE ALL THEY CAN FOR THEIR CHILD. THE END. SADLY, WE DON’T ALL HAVE A 100-STRONG FILM CREW TO SET THE SCENE, AND NOR DO WE HAVE THE EASE OF A SCRIPT WITH WHICH TO GUIDE THE CONVERSATION. NEVERTHELESS, CONVERSATIONS ARE THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL A PARENT HAS TO INFLUENCE AND SUPPORT THEIR CHILD. YES, THAT IS RIGHT…THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL. Conversations are not lectures. Conversations are not monologues on the pitfalls of life. The origin of the word conversation is from the combination of the two Latin words con ‘with’ and versare ‘to turn’ leading to converse ‘live among, be familiar with’ and to conversation ‘an informal talk between two or more people’. This is important to understand because the power of a conversation is a product of what is said and who it is said with.

Too many boys grow into men who don’t understand their place in the world and how unique and important it is. Your sons are our

18

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

country’s future husbands, fathers, innovators and leaders. Yet, I ask you this: Where will they get their guidance from? Who will answer the questions they have about the world? What will they draw on when things get tough? The answer: They will draw on the conversations they had with you. They will hear that advice as a quiet little voice in the background guiding their decision. They will think back to the times they sat with you, when the world was unknown to them and you were their guide. This is what they will do, but only if you take the time to have the conversation with them – otherwise it will all fall to Google and Siri.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

THE P FILES

So, if you haven’t started conversing, begin now. If you have started, keep going. And make sure you cover the following topics.

CURIOSITY AND EXPLORATION “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Walt Disney

Curiosity drives innovation. Curiosity is the ability to ask why and to question the status quo. Boys and young men need to have the confidence to be curious and explore. Parents need to have the confidence that they will do this safely. When they are small, this safety can be provided through monitoring and supervision.

However, as they get older you are not going to be able to monitor and supervise, you are going to have to rely on their decision making when faced with new opportunities. Parents need to discuss decision making with their sons, what to do when curiosity takes hold, and how to keep your head and respect yourself and your safety. Parents also need to push their sons to experience new things and encourage them to maintain an open mind when encountering something they’re not familiar with.

SEX AND INTIMACY “Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give.”

Bertrand Russell

There are few conversations that make a parent more nervous than having to talk about sex. Such is our society that the end (death) and the beginning (sex) are generally taboo topics, yet inevitable aspects of life we will all encounter. So many boys’ early experiences of sex and self-exploration are accidental and involve bumbling around blindly wondering how it all works.

This can leave young men afraid of, or blasé about, sex and without any understanding of intimacy.

Sadly, general sex education tends to focus on how a sperm and an egg make a human, not how trust and intimacy make for love. Taking the time (and courage) to discuss sex with your son in the context of intimacy, both with himself and others, will provide a great reward for the both of you. It will give him the opportunity to enjoy exploring these two aspects of humanity, and it will give you the chance to guide him, rather than his peers or, worse still, Google.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

FINANCE AND MONEY “Beware of little expenses.

A small leak will sink a great ship.”

Benjamin Franklin

Discuss the value of money and the price of debt. Pocket money is important for a young son’s education about the value of money, as is employment for an older son. Yet all too often parents forget to talk about how to spend that money. Discuss the different ways to use money; spending it recreationally, socially, charitably, or making investments for the future are all diverse ways to use money all yielding different outcomes. All too often recreational spending is the focus, saving up for a toy or piece of electronic equipment. Money is a tool. Discuss how that tool can be used and the benefits of using it in many different ways.

WORK AND ACHIEVEMENT “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Henry Ford

All too often young men want to skip the middle, skip working and go straight to having. The value of an achievement is measured by the journey taken to get there. If the journey is short, the achievement is small, and vice versa. However, modern society is highly focused on outcome, on ‘what is in it for me’, on how quickly can I get it. Sons need to understand the value of hard work and that it is through hard work that anything worthwhile is achieved.

MORALS AND VALUES “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”

Theodore Roosevelt

Education doesn’t stop with textbooks. Educating your son about values and morals gives him a compass with which to make the tricky decisions in life. We all know that many of life’s challenges involve decisions that don’t have a clear ‘right’ answer. For those decisions, we rely on our value system and our morals to guide our understanding of what is the right way to act and what is the right way to treat people in a given situation.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

19

THE P FILES

RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”

Denis Waitley

Independence can come only with responsibility. The two are permanently entwined; foregoing one results in foregoing the other. Having the foundations of character to accept responsibility is essential to future success in life. Being given responsibility is a privilege to be embraced, not a chore to recoil from. Responsibility and independence foster leadership. True leaders have a vision and a conviction. They believe in themselves and what they do. These people forged this self-belief by being tested with responsibility and independence and coming out the other side.

Your son needs to know that the chore list is actually a trust list and leads to an independence list.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

Mahatma Ghandi

AND FINALLY… TELL THEM THEY ARE LOVED “I have a son, who is my heart.

A wonderful young man, daring and loving and strong and kind.”

Maya Angelou

Self-esteem is the most common deficit of modern young men, not confidence and bravado, but genuine self-esteem. Self-esteem comes from a sense that I am loved, lovable and loving. Not because of anything I have done, but simply because I am. Discuss your love with your son and tell them what you love about them.

Be specific, be clear and be firm in your conviction that you adore them. It is also important to be consistent in your love. Love them when they are good and compliant, and love them when they are obnoxious and defiant. Don’t tolerate bad behaviour, but be clear in separating the behaviour from the person. You can love the person and not the behaviour.

Health is so crucial, yet in our youth we never believe that our health may one day leave us. A retired doctor once said to me as he was travelling through the Canadian Rockies, ‘My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. At my age my knees are too weak to traverse the forest path.’ As a result, he was unable to observe the beautiful mountain lake that he had travelled so far to see. Money is useless if you are not healthy enough to enjoy it.

It is also essential for your son to be able to accept love. Regularly expressing your love for him is important, but a conversation about how to accept love and gratitude from others for a job well done is a skill lacking in many young men. Australian men can easily be dismissive of praise, but authentic praise tells someone what they do well and why they are liked. It needs to be accepted. Giving love and accepting love are what makes a loving person; both need to go together.

Good health is more than ‘ripped abdominals’ and ‘pumped pectorals’. Health is balance, health is mobility, health is energy.

Good health is being able to do what you need to do while having enough left over to do what you want to do. Good health is consistency, maintaining healthy routines no matter where you are or what is going on in your life.

These conversations are opportunities. They are about sharing your experience and experiences, successes and failures. They are about building closeness and relationship. They are about identity. These conversations guide your son so he can find himself, find his place in the world and know who he is so he can one day share this with his own family.

James McManis is a psychologist at All Abilities Child & Family Therapy Centre in Noosa & Gympie. All Abilities work with children and adolescents as well as their families/carers to develop skills and facilitate positive change. They work from a developmental model and firmly believe that all individuals, regardless of age or ability, have the capacity to learn new skills and fully engage in everyday life. All Abilities Psychology believe that all clients' needs are unique and individually important, and are committed to meeting those needs by offering individual programs tailored to individual needs. For more information visit www.allabilities.com.au

20

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

ATTENTION PARENTS!!!

WOULD YOU LIKE THESE BENEFITS FOR YOUR CHILD? • Confidence • Staying-Power • Improved Focus • Goal-Setting • Fitness • Concentration • Discipline • Coordination

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* FIRST 30 TO JOIN* GET A FREE MONTH AND A FREE UNIFORM

MATT FIDDES

MARTIAL ARTS

LOCATIONS - BROADBEACH AND SOUTHPORT

1800 840 403 WWW.MATTFIDDES.COM.AU

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

21

d

EVERY SATURDAY Where: Dracula’s Cabaret – Gold Coast Time: Every Saturday at 12 noon Check out the hottest thing in kids’ parties.

Celebrate a birthday or just come for fun!

Details: From $29 per child. Price includes all live entertainment and games, ghost train ride, disco on stage after the show, party food and unlimited soft drinks. www.draculas.com.au

DRAX 4 KIDS

SEPTEMBER 5 & OCTOBER 24

Where: Gold Coast Sailing Club Time: From 9am A perfect introduction to sailing for kids and their parents. Stay on for a BBQ breakfast.

Details: From $20 for 1.5 hour session and basic sail training. www.goldcoastsailingclub.com

DISCOVER SAILING

EVERY SATURDAY

Where: Southport Sharks, Cnr Musgrave and Olsen Aves, Southport Time: 5pm to 7pm Boogie on down to Southport Sharks. Children can join the Laugh Out Loud Crew on the dance floor for a Junior Sharks Kids Disco.

Details: Free www.southportsharks.com.au

JUNIOR SHARKS DISCOS

EVERY SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

FATHER’S DAY

6

SEPTEMBER

PCYC BLUE LIGHT DISCO

SEPTEMBER 11 & OCTOBER 9

Where: Evandale Parklands, Cnr Crombie Ave and Bundall Rd, Bundall Time: 10am – 4pm Uniting the many diverse cultures on the Gold Coast, this fun family-friendly festival is now in its 7th year.

Details: Free. www.goldcoastculturalfestival.org

GOLD COAST MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

R U OK? DAY The R U OK? Foundation aims to inspire all Australians to help reduce suicide rates by reaching out and making contact with others.

On this national day of action, connect with people in your life today and ask ‘Are you okay?’. www.ruokday.com.au

SEPTEMBER 13

SEPTEMBER 10

SURFERS PARADISE KIDS WEEK

Where: Southport Yacht Club, Hollywell Time: 9am – 3pm each day Looking for a fun way to kick off your holidays? Check out this camp with three days of fun and games both on and off the water.

Details: From $210 for ages 7 – 17, any ability. www.southportyachtclub.com.au SEPTEMBER 19 TO 25

SAILING CAMP

SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 2

SEPTEMBER

Where: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Time: 4pm – 9pm With a focus on local and international food as well as crafts.

SANCTUARY MARKETS

FRIDAY NIGHTS

Where: Paradise Point Parklands, Cnr of The Esplanade and Ephraim Island Pde, Paradise Point Time: 8am – 1pm Market showcasing up to 100 fashion, arts and creative stalls as well as live local music and delicious gourmet food. www.thevillagemarketsgc.com.au

THE VILLAGE MARKETS

SEPTEMBER 27 & OCTOBER 25

Where: Burleigh Heads State School, Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads Time: 8.30am – 1pm Market showcasing up to 100 fashion, arts and creative stalls as well as live local music and delicious gourmet food. www.thevillagemarketsgc.com.au

THE VILLAGE MARKETS

SEPTEMBER 6 & 20 / OCTOBER 4 & 18

Where: The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise Time: 4pm – 8pm If you're looking for an unusual gift or one-off piece, the beachfront night markets are your one-stop shop. www.surfersparadise.com/things-to-do/beachfront-markets

BEACHFRONT MARKETS

EVERY WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SUNDAY NIGHT

Where: Sanctuary Cove, Off Mast-Head Way Time: 9am – 1pm A boutique family market providing quality, unique products and services, which are not mass-produced or easily found in shops. www.themummytreemarkets.com.au

THE MUMMY TREE MARKETS

ZERO 2 FIVE MARKET

SEPTEMBER 13 Where: Upper Coomera State College, Upper Coomera Time: 9am – 12pm The ultimate market for your children’s needs with quality pre-loved and new products. www.zero2five.com.au

Visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au for more events

Where: Event Cinemas Relax and catch a movie at the Bring Your Baby sessions. www.eventcinemas.com.au/ EventsPromotions/BringYourBaby

BRING YOUR BABY SESSIONS

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

Where: Westfield Garden City, Upper Mt Gravatt Check out this new simulator ride for kids and adults. You will enjoy the effects and action of this ride like you have never before!

Details: Family $40 www.9dactioncinemas.com.au

9D ACTION CINEMA

DAILY

Where: Chinatown Precinct, Southport, Gold Coast Time: 4pm – 10pm Taste your way through Asia without leaving the Gold Coast.

Chinatown will transform into a vibrant and colourful marketplace as the Asian inspired food market takes over the streets of Southport. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

CHINATOWN STREET MARKETS

SEPTEMBER 5 & OCTOBER 3

Where: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin Time: Daily at 10am, 1:30pm & 4:30pm Blinky Bill and his friends have a new home at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Australia’s favourite koala is bringing the Sanctuary to life with two ‘Wildlife to the Rescue’ shows daily, character appearances and an endof-day parade.

Details: Adults $49. Child $35. Family $133. www.cws.org.au

BLINKY BILL & FRIENDS

EVERY DAY EXCEPT ANZAC DAY & CHRISTMAS DAY

MARKETS

- CALENDAR -

REGULAR EVENTS

Gol

t

s Coa

- on the coast

- in the city

SEPTEMBER/

holid�auyide

OCTOBER 2015

“ Things to do, places to go!”

- Gold Coast

school

hine Coast Brisbane - Suns

World Teachers’ Day is dedicated to recognising the critical importance of quality teachers in the development of quality education.

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

OCTOBER 5

SEPTEMBER 19

Where: Mudgeeraba Time: 9:30am – 10:30am This workshop teaches children aged four and over how to advance from training wheels to two wheels.

Details: Free. Must BYO bike, helmet and be accompanied by an adult. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

TRAINING WHEELS TO TWO WHEELS COURSE

OCTOBER 18

Where: Winders Park, Currumbin Time: 10am – 6pm Over 200 performers will bring Currumbin’s creek-scape to life and you’ll find yourself immersed in a melting pot of creativity, culture and surprise!

Details: Free. BYO spare change for the buskers! www.buskersbythecreek.com.au

BUSKERS BY THE CREEK

OCTOBER 17 AND 18

28 September: Tweed Heads Civic Centre 29 September: Gold Coast Albert Waterways Community Centre

The Arts Centre Gold Coast www.theartscentregc.com.au Where: Southport Sharks, Cnr Musgrave and Olsen Aves, Southport Time: 6pm – 8pm Boogie on down to Southport Sharks! Children can join Laugh Out Loud Crew on the dance floor for this special Halloween Disco.

Details: Free. www.southportsharks.com.au

JUNIOR SHARKS HALLOWEEN DISCO

Sign up at www.kidsonthecoast.com.au for our weekly What’s On guide.

DOWNLOAD FROM OUR WEBSITE ON SEPTEMBER 11

- on the coast

Playhouse, QPAC, South Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD

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

The Arts Centre Gold Coast www.theartscentregc.com.au

PEPPA PIG! BIG SPLASH

OCTOBER 25

LAH-LAH LIVE IN CONCERT

CRANKY BEAR

SEPTEMBER 29 TO OCTOBER 3

SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 2

SEPTEMBER 3 & 4 OCTOBER 31

GOLD COAST 600

SHOWTIME

Check out your local library! Did you know that council libraries have free events, classes, workshops and activities for babies and children? www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

LIBRARY EVENTS

Where: 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami Time: Friday 5pm – 10pm & Saturday 4pm – 10pm Marketta street food market with authentic, traditional, global foods.

Don’t miss the dessert hall, boutique beer, plus wine and cocktail bar.

You can also find fashion, arts, design and homewares. www.miamimarketta.com

MIAMI MARKETTA

EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Where: Cnr of Gooding Dr and Manchester Rd, Carrara Time: 7am – 4pm Every weekend you will find an abundance of activities for the kids in the Family Fun Lane. www.carraramarkets.com.au

CARRARA MARKETS

EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Why not eat on site and enjoy the live local music. www.cws.org.au/sanctuary-markets

Where: Surfers Paradise It’s a super party on the Gold Coast as the V8 Supercars roll back into town – book your tickets now!

Details: Tickets from $70. www.v8supercars.com.au

OCTOBER 23 TO 25

Where: Surfers Paradise Beach, Kirra and Broadbeach Make sure you head to the beach and look up for what is set to be an awe-inspiring weekend of art, which will take every family member back to their childhood.

Details: Free. www.southerngoldcoast.com.au

Where: Gold Coast Circus Arts, 7027 Southport-Nerang Rd, Nerang Holiday fun with a circus twist! Check out the three workshops available: Mega Mix Circus, Flying Trapeze or Advanced Flying Trapeze.

Details: Ages 5 – 15 years. Prices from $30 www.circusarts.com.au

SEPTEMBER 19 TO OCTOBER 4

GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF KITES

SEPTEMBER 26 & 27

Where: Paradise Centre, Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise Time: 11am – 2pm daily Be amazed and thrilled as the greatest creatures ever to walk the earth return before your eyes and come alive! Kids can be a paleontologist for the day and chip away at their very own fossil.

Details: Free. www.paradisecentre.net.au

CIRCUS HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

Where: Tamborine Mountain Showgrounds, Cnr Bartle and Main Western Rds, Tamborine Mountain Time: 10am until late Join in the fun, enter the competitions and check out the fabulous arena events. Taste fantastic Scenic Rim produce and wine, check out fabulous artists and make a scarecrow!

Details: Family $30. Adult $12. Child $5. www.tamborinemountainshow.com

SHOWTIME CARNIVAL ON TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN

BBC EARTH WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

SEPTEMBER 21 TO OCTOBER 4

Where: Dreamworld, Coomera Time: 6:30pm – 10pm Come and experience our biggest party after dark. The whole family will love the ever popular family attractions and music will keep the night pumping and guests dancing in the Main Street.

Details: Adult $39.99. Child $29.99. Family $109.99. www.dreamworld.com.au

SCREAMWORLD

Where: Surfers Paradise Foreshore Minions are coming to Surfers Paradise for Kids Week, a free family-friendly event celebrating all things kids. There'll be heaps of weekend entertainment with shows, kids activities and rides, plus plenty to do all throughout the week with more Minions, more workshops and more everything! See the daily Minions show for free at 11am and 1pm, plus a meet and greet at midday.

Details: Free. www.surfersparadise.com

SEPTEMBER 19

Don’t miss out on any events!

Where: 261 Reedy Creek Rd, Burleigh Waters Time: 11am – 5pm A great day out for the whole family! Join in the fun at this biennial school fete.

Details: Unlimited ride pass $25 when prepurchased or $35 on the day. Single tickets $5. www.marymountspringfete.com.au

MARYMOUNT SPRING FETE

OCTOBER 17

Where: Tamborine Mountain Journey along the Scarecrow trail and enjoy these fun community creations with your family. Check out the website for full programme details.

Details: Free www.tamborinemtncc.org.au

TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN SCARECROW FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 16 TO 18

5

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

OCTOBER

Where: Davenport Park, Jackmans Rd, Bonogin Time: 10am – 3pm With rides, market stalls, delicious food, free interactive activities for the kids and great live entertainment – this is a must attend event!

Details: Free. Email: bonoginvalley@gmail.com

BONOGIN VALLEY COMMUNITY SPRING FAIR

SEPTEMBER 12

Where: 588 Worongary Rd, Gilston Time: 10am – 3pm A fantastic day out of good old-fashioned fun for the whole family. Pony rides, sumo wrestling and plenty of amusement rides to choose from.

Details: Unlimited rides pass from $30, or $5 per ride. www.gilstonss.eq.edu.au

GILSTON STATE SCHOOL FAIR

SEPTEMBER 12

Where: Pacific Pde, Currumbin Experience a wondrous display of over 50 sculptures built by local, national and international artists. Check out the website for information on children’s art workshops. www.swellsculpture.com.au

SWELL SCULPTURE FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 11 TO 20

Where: PCYC Gold Coast, 180 Monaco St, Broadbeach Time: 6:30pm – 9pm Fully supervised, safe and fun evening for prep to 14 years. Includes a free sausage sizzle.

Details: $7. www.goldcoastpcyc.com

Every school holidays we publish a comprehensive activity and event eGuide, covering all of SE Queensland.

Sign up online to be notified when the guide is launched and to receive the link to DOWNLOAD your personal copy.

Where: Mermaid Waters Time: 12:30pm – 2pm This family friendly workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities. Learn some new skills, build your confidence and enjoy your bike again.

Details: Free. Bookings essential. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

GET BACK ON YOUR BIKE

OCTOBER 3

OCTOBER

Where: Kirra Beach, Roughton Park, North Kirra Time: Starts 7.30am. Kids’ wave at 12pm Beach Bash is the sandiest obstacle challenge in Australia with the aim to promote health, fitness and above all fun!

Details: Register now. Adults $69. Kids (5 – 10 years) $20. Juniors (5 – 14 years) $30. Family Pass $177. www.beachbash.com.au

BEACH BASH OBSTACLE CHALLENGE

SEPTEMBER 6

Where: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast Time: 4pm – 10pm Light up the night with your family at this fun run event. With some of Australia’s best DJs and live performers you will be entertained every step of the way.

Details: Runners must be 10 years and over.

Individuals $60. Groups 4+ $50 per person. www.illumirun.com.au

ILLUMI RUN

SEPTEMBER 5

Where: Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Time: 6:30pm Get your tickets now for the biggest ever indoor freestyle FMX and monster truck spectacular including the world’s greatest freestyle monster trucks.

Details: From $30. www.gccec.com.au

FMX AND MONSTER TRUCK SPECTACULAR

SEPTEMBER 5

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM MUDGEERABA AQUATIC CENTRE HOLIDAY PROGRAM is child focused and aims to provide children with stimulating and challenging environment in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

$30 PER DAY Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 3pm Activities include indoor/outdoor games, creative challenges, swimming, arts & crafts The program is run by first aid, blue card and life guard qualified staff who have considerable experience in child supervision.

CALL (07) 5530 5288 www.mudgeerabaaquaticcentre.com.au

Gold Coast Health

Building a healthier community

Oral Health Services for Children and Adolescents

FREE DENTAL CARE ALL AGE GROUPS Is your child eligible?

School Dental Clinics and Mobile Dental Clinics All students in Prep through to Year 10 If your child is not eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, they still receive dental care at no charge until they complete Year 10 at school.

For appointments phone:

1300 300 850

Aged 2 - 17 years: Bulk-billed to Medicare if eligible for Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Aged 0-3 years: Dependants of adults who hold a current concession card, Health Card Card or Pension Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Community Dental Clinics Students who have completed Year 10 at school: Dependants of adults who hold a current concession card, Health Care Card or Pension Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veteran Affairs OR who have their own concession card.

For enquiries in your area phone:

1300 300 850 How do I know if my child is eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule Contact Medicare on 132 010 or look online at myGov If you think your child might be eligible for CDBS and have not been notified by Medicare: contact Centrelink or Medicare to check accuracy of your information.

24

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SPECIAL FEATURE

For the love of

literature

by Belinda Hopper

ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY SAID, “IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO BE INTELLIGENT, READ THEM FAIRY TALES. IF YOU WANT THEM TO BE MORE INTELLIGENT, READ THEM MORE FAIRY TALES.” WHY WOULD ONE OF THE CLEVEREST PEOPLE TO EVER LIVE SUGGEST THAT READING FAIRY TALES – MAGICAL, WHIMSICAL, MADE-UP STORIES – IMPROVES A CHILD’S INTELLIGENCE? IS IT BECAUSE FAIRY TALES ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATIVE THINKING, HELPING CHILDREN IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT BE, RATHER THAN LIMIT THEIR THINKING TO WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THE WORLD? Notice Einstein didn’t say, “Get your children to read fairy tales,” but for parents to read to them? Fifteen-year-old Sarah from the Sunshine Coast explains why. “Some books I would read myself.

Others I just wasn’t interested in when I tried to read them, but I loved them when mum read them to me. I knew by her expression whether something was meant to be funny or serious. She made the story come to life. I didn’t have to do the hard work of reading.

I got to just listen and enjoy the story.”

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On the importance of literature, Sunshine Coast author of 21 children’s books Aleesah Darlison says, “Stories teach children how to deal with real-life issues and feelings as they follow the protagonist’s journey.

Reading enriches children’s lives. Staring at a computer or television reduces their imagination, but a book engages it.” Besides the many ways in which literature enriches your child’s mind, it’s wonderful to end the day snuggled up in bed together sharing spine-tingling adventures or nailbiting mysteries and meeting new ‘friends’ between the pages of a book.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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SPECIAL FEATURE

HOW LITERATURE CHANGES US When someone says a book changed them, they’re not overstating. A study from Emory University1 on the short- and long-term effects of a novel on the brain found that the brain goes through short-term changes during the activity of reading.

The first change is to work out what the language of literature is communicating, then triggering neural activity associated with bodily sensations, placing the reader ‘in the body’ of the protagonist, allowing them to figuratively experience what the character experiences. In the long term, during the process of reflection and comprehension, changes continue in brain connectivity – long after we finish reading.

STORIES TEACH CHILDREN COMPASSION, ENLARGE THEIR WORLD VIEWS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK OUTSIDE THE SELF.

WHAT SHOULD KIDS READ?

Some long-term changes are to do with increased empathy and compassion. A study from York University2 on emotion and narrative fiction found that readers identify strongly with a character and their external experiences, leading to empathy for the character’s plight and internal responses.

Different types of stories appeal to different age brackets. Aleesah says, “Picture books are about exploring the world and dealing with feelings and providing comfort. The 8 to 12 years age bracket brings in elements of escapism and danger. The protagonists are often on an adventure without their parents. There is more at stake, but still within boundaries. Teens are introduced to a harsher world, often dealing with a dystopian, unsettling experience or environment, which the main character struggles to overcome.”

Dr Paul Williams, lecturer in creative writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast and award-winning author of novels for older kids, says, “Stories teach children compassion, enlarge their world views and encourage them to think outside the self.” Just as young readers get to ‘experience’ life in Africa by reading Dr Williams’ books, he says, “My father read Huckleberry Finn to me at 10 years old and I wanted to be Huck Finn, escaping from ’sivilization’ and rafting down the Mississippi.”

Because books have a real impact on our minds, ideas and emotions, parents have to stay in touch with what their children are reading, especially when it comes to advanced readers in the 8 to 12 year age bracket, who are looking for a more challenging read but might not be ready for themes in books for older kids. Aleesah says, “Eight to twelve-year-olds still need to read books with messages of hope and positivity, but the older books sometimes have more destructive, violent, dystopian themes.”

Aleesah believes books are a wonderful resource for teaching and sharing ideas with children. She says, “Books have the ability to help us heal.” This is particularly true of books that teach children how to deal with grief and loss, like Katherine Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia, or how to build a new life, like Patricia MacLachlan’s Sarah, Plain and Tall.

So how do we know what books are age-appropriate? In the last few years Specialist Children’s Booksellers have compiled and published a small booklet called Don’t leave childhood without: a guide to the best books for children. The guide is sold at independent bookstores and contains an overview of the best books for kids, broken down into age categories.

NURTURE THEIR LOVE OF LITERATURE Beloved Australian children’s author Mem Fox believes it is never too early to start reading to your child and that parents should spend “ten wildly happy minutes every single day” reading aloud with their children.

Most libraries have a weekly story time for pre-schoolers: a time of interactive reading and craft, centred on the theme of the week.

While you’re there, encourage your child to select a few books to borrow and return the following story time. This gives children a sense of the communal nature of stories – that they are something we all share.

You can also peruse bookstores together and make a note of titles and authors your child shows interest in. Then tip off grandparents and aunts for gift ideas.

Encourage children from prep to year 9 to participate in the annual statewide Premier’s Reading Challenge. It’s not a competition; it’s designed to encourage kids to engage in reading for pleasure and learning. Children also gain a sense of achievement and improve their literacy skills. Your child’s teacher should know how to sign up for the challenge.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

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SPECIAL FEATURE

TEENS AND LITERATURE

ENCOURAGE WRITING IN TEENS

In the teen years, social media can capture kids’ attention and suck up time they may have spent reading books in earlier years. So how do we ensure that our teens retain their love of reading?

One Brisbane teenage girl wanted a part-time job over the Christmas holidays to earn enough to buy a mobile phone. Her dad preferred she spend the time reading books that would prepare her for adult life. So, they struck a deal: he would pay her to read the books on his list and write a two-page review on each.

By the end of the holidays she would have earned enough to buy the phone she wanted, and he would be satisfied that her time was spent expanding and enriching her mind, and honing her critical thinking and writing skills, ready to start her first year at university.

Journalist and mother of three teenagers Susan Maushart conducted an experiment to unplug her family from all digital devices for three months and wrote about it in her book The Winter of our Disconnect. One result of her experiment was that they all rediscovered their love of reading.

We don’t have to go to the extreme of cutting off the internet altogether. One mummy blogger by the handle ‘Narrowback Slacker’ came up with a ploy to get her young kids to read more – by promising unlimited internet access! One of the things they have to do before gaining access to any ‘glowing screens’ each day is to read a book for 45 minutes. The result is that her kids sometimes get swept up in their books and read for longer before remembering they can now use their screens. Ingenious!

ENCOURAGING KIDS TO WRITE Nurturing a love of literature in children is not just about teaching them to read. It’s also about helping them employ their own imaginations and express their own ideas. Aleesah says it’s important to encourage children to write their own stories and offers the following tips:

Writing for as little as two minutes a day improves physical and mental wellbeing3, and encouraging your teen to write a brief reflection on their day can be a way of clarifying their thoughts and emotions and help them learn to set goals – all important life skills.

BEING A GOOD ROLE MODEL If values are ‘caught, not taught’ then children who see their parents read books are more likely to read books themselves.

Granted, reading is an activity best enjoyed in peace and quiet – which usually means sans children. We don’t always give ourselves permission to sit and read when there’s no end to the washing, but if we make reading a priority in our own lives, the more likely it is our children will become lifelong lovers of literature.

• Start by going for a walk together as walking improves creativity.

• Play with story ideas together and sit with them as they write a list.

• Find funny books to read and notice how pictures add to the telling of the story.

• Let their creative ideas flow and give them time to write them down.

• Encourage them to read or perform their stories for the family, so they see their characters come to life.

• Take them to meet authors so they can be inspired.

• Book them into holiday writing workshops at the library.

• Encourage them to enter their stories into competitions.

Above all, Aleesah says, “Make writing a fun process by getting involved in it with the children.” When kids are bored you could commission them to write a story and pay them an agreed amount per page. Not only will they learn that ideas have value, you will have a treasured memento of your child’s imagination at that age.

References:

THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW. THE MORE THAT YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU’LL GO. DR SEUSS

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1. Berns GS, Blaine K, Prietula MJ & Pye BE. Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain. Brain Connectivity 2013;3(6):590-600. doi: 10.1089/brain.2013.0166 2. Mar RA, Oatley K, Djikic M & Mullin J. Emotion and narrative fiction: Interactive influences before, during, and after reading. Cognition and Emotion 2011;25(5):818-833. doi: 10.1080/02699931.2010.515151 3. Burton CM & King LA. Effects of (very) brief writing on health: the twominute miracle. British Journal of Health Psychology 2008 Feb;13(Pt 1):9-14. doi: 10.1348/135910707X250910

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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EDUCATION

“I’m sorry… your child doesn’t fit the box”

by Michelle Kennedy WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO ENJOY SCHOOL AND FEEL LIKE THEY FIT IN. WE WANT THEM TO DEVELOP GREAT FRIENDSHIPS AND BE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR LEARNING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL IN THE EARLY YEARS FROM AGES FOUR TO EIGHT AS IT SETS THEM UP FOR SUCCESSFUL LEARNING IN THE LATER YEARS OF PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL. For some children though, learning is not a walk in the park, and struggles with schoolwork may lead to a child feeling they don’t belong. Learning problems can develop, which, if left undetected, can also create behavioural and emotional problems.

When a child is not fulfilling their learning potential, their parents may be told their child ‘doesn’t fit the box’, that they just don’t fit with the standard curriculum and teaching methods. As a parent, you know your child and what they are capable of achieving, so it is important that any learning issues are identified early and corrected as soon as possible to minimise disruption to your child’s learning.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LEARNING PROBLEMS? Learning problems generally fall into two categories: 1. More complex problems that require a diagnosis from a professional as they are beyond the expertise of the teacher.

These problems may include visual or auditory issues, sensory processing issues, dyslexia, ADHD or Asperger's syndrome.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

2. Problems that can be addressed within the classroom with elements modified by the teacher to support a child’s learning – changes that parents can help facilitate. This can include the teacher’s teaching style, the child’s learning style and taking regular breaks when learning.

WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO LEARNING PROBLEMS? Within the classroom, there are four key elements to consider which may contribute to learning problems experienced by children: 1.

2.

3.

4.

A child’s learning style Breaks during lessons Interesting content A child’s self esteem

In addition, food can impact greatly on your child's ability to focus and sustain attention while learning.

Even if your child is doing well at school, it can be beneficial to consider each of these elements and rethink your child’s approach to learning.

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EDUCATION

A CHILD'S LEARNING STYLE What does it mean?

Put simply, a child’s learning style refers to the way they learn best.

When children commence school, they can be visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners.

Visual learners prefer to see things when learning something new.

Auditory learners (aural) prefer having things explained to them and will solve problems by talking about them.

Kinesthetic learners prefer to be moving/feeling when learning something new.

Generally, teachers will present content according to their preferred teaching style. This is where problems may occur for children, as the teacher’s teaching style may not suit each child’s learning style. The teacher may stand out the front of the classroom and talk about a new concept, which is great for the aural learner; however, the visual learner who needs diagrams to explain new concepts may lose focus. This problem has been acknowledged by renowned child psychologist Dr. Michael CarrGregg as one of the causes of poor learning in children.

Ideally, teachers need to cater for individual learning styles by using a multisensory approach to teaching. This means presenting content that uses the child’s visual, aural, tactile and kinesthetic senses. It is an effective way for teachers to provide learning experiences inclusive of most children’s learning styles.

How can parents help?

As a parent, you can support your child’s learning at home by being aware of their learning style.

A visual learner prefers information presented to them in a visual way with pictures, three-dimensional models or YouTube clips. An auditory learner generally has a good auditory memory and gains most from discussion, hearing stories and listening to recorded stories. They can dictate a story to you while you write or type it out. A kinesthetic learner prefers to learn by actually doing, to help new information to be retained. Using lots of hands-on activities enables them to ‘feel’ the learning.

A CASE STUDY A 7-year-old child was struggling with spelling. The child was assessed and results indicated there were no complex learning issues. The parents tried various support spelling programs outside of school with little success and consequently the child developed low self-esteem in relation to their spelling capability.

Further investigation showed the child's learning style (aural) was not catered for in support spelling programs (visual focus) which instigated a change of approach. Extra support for spelling changed to include a focus on hearing and repeating sounds and spelling patterns. Once correct spelling was achieved, the spelling pattern was reinforced with additional multisensory activities. A focus on self-esteem was also included in support sessions. The child’s results showed improvements over time, which began to translate to improvements with classroom learning.

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REGULAR BREAKS INCORPORATING MOVEMENT What does it mean?

One of the main things children struggle with is sitting still for extended periods. They lose focus and start to fidget and wriggle or distract other children in the class. They are often told to stop fidgeting and focus on their work. When children start to fidget it often means they need a break and to move around. In a classroom of 25 children, it can be difficult to allow some children to move as it will distract others, however, is there any reason why the whole class can’t have a short break? Most children would benefit from regular movement breaks while learning. Paediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom supports regular breaks for children when learning. She raises concerns that children are often misdiagnosed with ADHD when they actually just need more breaks. She observes that if children are getting fidgety it’s a good sign they need to get up and move. It indicates that children are not getting enough movement throughout the day.

How can parents help?

As a parent, ensure your child is involved in movement-based activities. This may include team or individual sports. If children are fidgeting at home, it means their bodies need to move. Movement helps to switch on the brain, which assists with sustained focus when doing homework. If your child is restless halfway through their homework, allow them a five-minute break.

A CASE STUDY A 9-year-old child was struggling with reading and writing, and a professional assessment had ruled out any learning difficulties.

The child had received additional academic support at school to improve reading fluency and writing structure. There was some improvement, however it was recommended the parents seek academic support outside the school.

The child revealed struggling with sitting still for long periods in the classroom. The child admitted to ‘switching off’ after sitting for a long time, explaining this was a regular occurrence. The child admitted to displaying undesirable behaviour to other children in the classroom due to not understanding the work.

When the focus in the support sessions changed to include regular breaks (which incorporated movement) and a focus on self-esteem, gradual improvements were observed. The child became more engaged in support sessions and was able to sustain attention for longer periods of time. These improvements transferred to the classroom with improved behaviour and consequently better academic outcomes.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

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EDUCATION

CONTENT REFLECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILD What does it mean?

Children learn best when they are engaged in their learning.

This means content needs to be interesting otherwise children become bored in class.

World-renowned neurologist and educator Dr Judy Willis has published many articles and research papers that illustrate how roadblocks in the brain can prevent new learning being stored in children’s long-term memory. Some of these roadblocks occur when the content is taught using the same teaching method or when the children become bored with the content being presented.

How can parents help?

As parents, you understand the interests of your child. When completing homework, vary activities and relate content to the interests of your child.

An example is learning number facts. Automatic recall of number facts assists with calculating more difficult sums in later year levels.

Varying the way these facts are learnt makes the process more interesting and supports them being stored in long-term memory.

The key is to practise the facts in different ways; if the child loses interest, the practice becomes ineffective. Different ways to learn these facts may be using an iPad app or adopt a sporting focus by bouncing a ball while saying the number facts.

It can be challenging for parents to ensure learning remains interesting at home, however it is important to understand extra efforts made at home can benefit children’s learning in the long term.

A CASE STUDY An 8-year-old child was struggling learning their number facts for homework. The parent said they would have arguments about the importance of learning number facts, resulting in tension between parent and child. After discussions with the teacher, they decided to use different methods to assist with keeping the homework interesting. This involved using a different approach each night, such as a mathematics app or including some type of movement while giving oral answers to number facts.

Michelle Kennedy is an Early Years Learning Specialist based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. She holds a Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Bachelor of Education (Early Years) and Masters of Education (Early Years), and has taught at state and private schools in Australia and England.

Michelle works with children who need extra support or extension by using her unique whole child approach to learning, ensuring children reach their full potential.

For further information, visit www.engagedlearners.com.au

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Keeping the child interested kept them focused, which assisted with number facts being remembered. Locking them into the child’s longterm memory allowed for quick recall of number facts when required.

A CHILD'S SELF-ESTEEM What does it mean?

Self-esteem refers to how children feel about themselves.

Young children often have positive self-esteem developed from encouraging comments from their parents.

Author, educator, and parenting and resilience specialist Maggie Dent discusses how children develop a sense of themselves as they progress through primary school according to how others perceive them. They become aware of how their performance compares with other children at school. When they experience repeated failure at school, children begin to lack confidence in

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

their ability and can develop low self-esteem. This impacts on learning and can affect their memory and ability to focus.

Low self-esteem can be a major cause of children’s learning difficulties. In addressing learning difficulties, teachers and parents often focus on academic skills with minimal focus on self-esteem.

Focusing on self-esteem will give children the confidence to attempt something new, ensuring their minds will be open to improving academic skills.

How can parents help?

As parents, it is important to be positive and supportive. When children experience learning difficulties at school they experience failure, which can send negative messages. Parents need to consider the messages they send their child at home.

It is important to highlight a child’s strengths so they experience success as this may not be happening at school. Talk to children about your own strengths and weaknesses. Model to children that making mistakes is okay, as mistakes help us to learn and develop resilience when faced with difficulties.

Ensure you create an environment at home that encourages discussion about problems children may be experiencing. If children feel good about themselves there is a greater chance new learning will be understood and remembered.

A CASE STUDY An 8-year-old child was struggling with mathematics. An external assessment had ruled out any learning difficulties. The child had become anxious about their repeated struggles and expressed feeling embarrassed when others could work out answers to problems.

The parents sought additional academic support outside of school, explaining mathematics never used to be a problem. The child admitted not trying in mathematics as they ‘just didn’t get it anymore’ and didn’t feel good about themselves at school. The child’s low self-esteem was negatively impacting on their ability to learn mathematics concepts.

Support sessions included a focus on self-esteem and developing an ‘I can do’ attitude towards schoolwork. Simple mathematical problems were provided, increasing in difficulty over time to develop resilience when faced with a challenging problem. The child gradually built up self-esteem, which translated to improved marks in mathematics.

It is important to understand your child’s journey through school may come across a few roadblocks. Does this mean they have learning problems? Maybe…however often the roadblocks are a result of what is happening within the walls of the classroom.

Parents need to challenge any generalisation that 'your child doesn’t fit the box' by questioning elements within the classroom that may be contributing to these learning issues and actively support the child’s learning out of school. Being aware of your child’s learning style, ensuring content is interesting and building self-esteem and resilience can ensure your child is given the best possible opportunities during their education journey.

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While these treatment techniques are, in the short term at least, the most effective means of patching over orthodontic problems they do not encourage correct natural facial development and they are subject to limitations as well as health risks. In fact, parents are routinely required to consent to the knowledge our children’s teeth may be damaged during orthodontic treatment. Damage to teeth is cause enough for concern, however perhaps the greatest limiting factor to viable orthodontic treatment is the almost certain post-treatment relapse. Unless our children commit to lifelong maintenance with permanent retainers, the teeth will inevitably return to their previous crowded position. With shortcomings like these, the long-term benefit and viability of these 20th century ways of straightening teeth must be questioned.

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast 14/05/2014 4:43 pm

September/October 2015

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1 OF 3 LUNA BLU NAPPY BAGS

Anyone who knows the Gold Coast will know of Draculas, the famous Cabaret restaurant situated across from Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. But what you may not know is that they now have a meal and show for kids called Drax 4 Kids! We didn’t go along just to do a review. We were very interested to review ‘the scary factor’ so parents could be prepared. >> For the full review head to the 'Reviews' section on our website.

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We went along to Dreamworld to take a look at the new ABC KIDS WORLD (which is fantastic by the way), thinking that we could do a very comprehensive review of everything there is to see at Dreamworld for pre-school kids. One day was a little unrealistic, so we spent two days RUSHING around to try to fit everything in. We review ABC KIDS WORLD, DreamWorks Experience, family rides, animal encounters and rides for the bigger kids. If you’re thinking about buying season passes, then this review is for you. You’ll see how much there is to do for little ones (and big kids too)! >> For the full review head to the 'Reviews' section on our website.

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BABIES

MOTHERS’ GROUPS: FRIENDS OR FOES?

by Penny Shipway WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY, YOUR LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT CEASES. FAST-PACED CAREERS BECOME LABORIOUS FEEDS AND MENIAL HOUSEWORK, CORPORATE SUITS ARE SWAPPED FOR PYJAMAS WHICH ARE SOMETIMES WORN AROUND THE CLOCK, AND FRIDAY NIGHT DRINKS ARE REPLACED WITH LATE-NIGHT MILK PARTIES OF A DIFFERENT KIND. SO WHEN YOU THROW A RANDOM GROUP OF SLEEP-DEPRIVED, FIRST-TIME MUMS TOGETHER IN A ROOM AND FEED THEM CAKE AND TEA, IT’S A WONDER THEY DON’T START A FOOD FIGHT. Mothers’ groups are a lifeline for many people in the early months with a new baby, but just because you all happen to have a new baby does not mean you will automatically click. Some mothers’ groups bond immediately and last a lifetime, while others descend into unhelpful gatherings that are a joy to leave.

Melbourne author and social commentator Monica Dux says mothers’ groups can be an invaluable support system for new mums, but it’s not surprising that many groups fail. “Mothers’ groups are a really difficult place to navigate. Some people do find a place, some don’t,” she says. “They are good in theory, but I don’t think they always work. And the reasons why they don’t work make perfect sense; they are fraught.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

“If you put a group of people with nothing in common – other than that they have procreated – in any social context, it’s going to be complicated. Parents are feeling scared, insecure and frightened. It can spell a social disaster.”

Monica, who has written two popular parenting books, Mothermorphosis and Things I Didn’t Expect (when I was expecting), says during her research she found just how passionate new parents were on this topic, albeit polarised. “I heard a lot of strong language. A lot of people said their mother’s groups were a pack of judgemental b*tches. One lady said it saved her life.”

The mother-of-two says she was most alarmed by the stories she heard of judgement and insecurity.

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BABIES

IF YOU CAN’T FIND SUPPORT IN A MOTHERS’ GROUP, ATTEMPT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME EXPERIENCE, WHETHER THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH KIDS OR THROUGH ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORKS. “One woman was so scared of judgement she put concealer on her baby’s blemishes, and another woman saw a mother run her finger on the coffee table (to show the dust to everyone)...the worst examples of humanity in one room.”

But Monica says for some women the experience can be positive if mums go into the group being open and supportive. “We compare ourselves constantly, but for a lot of mums comparing gives them a chance to see how other women are doing things.

This can be a good thing when you realise you aren’t the only one. If mothers can get past that and not judge each other, then it can be a wonderful support.”

Sunshine Coast early learning teacher and mother-of-two Tania Brown met her two closest friends at her mothers’ group. “Those friendships took over for me outside of my traditional friends, because we were sharing a huge part of our lives,” Tania says.

“There were times when you had showered, and other times you hadn’t, and they would completely understand. Whether it was teething issues or the fact we were all tired, we were all going through the same thing and we could relate to each other.

MOTHERS’ GROUP

SURVIVAL

GUIDE Parenting author Monica Dux’s top 10 tips on navigating mothers’ groups

1. Be open, honest and not afraid to be vulnerable.

The best way to connect is to open yourself up and share your feelings.

2. Don’t judge. Also consider, are people judging you or are you judging yourself?

3. Have empathy, be kind and generous. Walk in with the recognition that everyone is trying their best.

4. Realise there is no wrong or right way of doing things.

5. Realise you are not all the same.

6. Forgive. We are all on the same train.

“It was also important to have friends outside my family, who knew my baby well, and had also bonded with my baby. That way I could call on them if I needed them to step in for me. It’s so important for kids to attach to other adults.”

7. Support each other. You are there to help not hinder.

Tania says the biggest benefit was knowing people with babies the same age, who you could meet at age-appropriate places, whether that be a coffee shop with babies and later, playgrounds.

10. Stay connected. Find a group that suits you.

While mothers’ groups are usually organised by state government health centres, parent groups can come in many different guises such as antenatal and breastfeeding groups, playgroups, music or Gymboree groups, online support groups and meet ups, or simply friends and family who have children and organise one of their own.

When Tania moved from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast two years ago, she remained in touch with her mothers’ group, but made a point of joining as many parent groups as she could to meet likeminded people and stay sane. “I have kept in touch with my original mothers’ group, but it was also important for me to continue to find more similar parent groups when I moved. Otherwise you isolate yourself and that’s when you have problems.”

Brisbane mother Emma Rennick wasn’t so lucky when finding a mothers’ group. Emma joined a group arranged by the midwives at her antenatal class, but what she thought would be a triumph of sisterhood turned out to be like a scene from the movie, Mean Girls.

"Immediately there was competition and conflict," Emma says. "One mother lined all of the babies up and measured them to see which was the biggest, which wasn't very nice for the mother who had a

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8. Don’t feel you have to live up to any standards.

9. If something isn’t working, move on.

35-weeker premmie. Another mother invited some mums to join a cast-off group that was for professionals only, so that meant she outwardly omitted my friend who was a pharmacy assistant. She kept telling everyone loudly that she couldn't relate to anyone if they didn't have a professional white-collar career. I went a few times and then stopped going. It was hideous, worse than high school."

Monica says if a mothers’ group doesn’t suit you, don’t feel defeated as there are other options.

“It’s not that anyone failed; it is really hard. We put so much pressure on mothers that they will become these angelic beings and form a perfect mothers’ group. They may not be your best friends forever, but if it gets you out of the house once a week then that’s great. If it’s not working for you, find a new one.”

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Whether it’s working for you or not, Monica says it’s crucial for new parents to find alternative ways to connect. “If you can’t find support in a mothers’ group, attempt to create a community of women going through the same experience, whether they are friends with kids or through online support networks. If it doesn’t work, find another way to connect. It is crucial to stay connected.”

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

35

TEENS

BREAKING

DOWN BARRIERS

by Sandra Smith

36

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

TEENS

TALKING ABOUT SEX, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WITH YOUR TEEN KEEPING UP OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH TEENAGERS IS A CHALLENGE FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TOPICS LIKE SEX, ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS. IT CAN FEEL AWKWARD AND EMBARRASSING, BUT TEENS LOOK TO THEIR PARENTS FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, THOUGH THEY MAY NOT ADMIT IT. SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO START TALKING, TO BREAK DOWN THE TABOOS AND TO KEEP THE CONVERSATIONS GOING. LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX Sex is a difficult topic for parents to broach with their teenagers.

Though attitudes have changed over time and society is generally more open and permissive, parents may feel uncomfortable talking about sex with their teens – and it’s likely that the young people will feel awkward too.

True Relationships & Reproductive Health (formerly Family Planning Qld) general manager Anthony Walsh says that admitting to those feelings of embarrassment and awkwardness can be a good conversation starter.

“That creates a bond of honesty and respect between the parent and the teenager, so there’s absolutely no harm in saying how you feel about it,” he says. “Remember that despite what they’ll say and how they might react, teenagers actually want to hear from adults about this stuff.”

You can start a conversation by chatting about a current event, a recent documentary or magazine article, or asking what they’ve learnt in sex education at school. Anthony says that teens don’t want ‘the talk’ or a lecture, and sex is a broad area that can’t be limited to just one chat.

“They’re after a conversation, they’re after a discussion, a sharing of ideas. They want to be listened to as well as talked to,” he says.

SAFE SEX

If teenagers are sexually active, parents need to ensure they have a balanced view of healthy sexuality and access to birth control and condoms.

“Don’t wait for kids’ questions. Start the conversations. A lot of parents think they’ve got to wait until their child comes and asks them, and in many cases you’ll wait forever,” Anthony says.

Parents can support their child when they go to their GP for advice or to a service such as True, which offers young people support and consultations for contraception or sexual health checks.

True operates clinics and services in Brisbane and regional Queensland, and has also released a ‘Traffic Lights’ phone app to help parents understand and respond to a child’s sexual behaviour.

SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR OF AUSTRALIAN TEENS According to La Trobe University’s 5th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2013: • 69% of secondary students have experienced some form of sexual activity • 34% of secondary students have experienced sexual intercourse • around 40% of students have experienced oral sex • 59% of sexually active students used a condom the last time they had sex

Parents should think about what young people need to know in order to be safe. If the young person is sexually active, it’s important to make sure that there is consent, that they practise safe sex and that the child is protected from exploitation by an adult.

• the most common forms of contraception among sexually active students are condoms (58%) and/or the contraceptive pill (39%)

Anthony advises parents to consider whether their teenager is in a respectful consenting relationship with a peer of similar age and abilities. Parents also need to ensure that teens understand the implications of being sexually active and how to take steps to protect themselves.

With technology at their fingertips, many teens are posting or sharing sexualised images and material on social media, and they may feel pressured into doing that. Over half of all students had received a sexually explicit text message and just over a quarter of all students had sent a sexually explicit photo of themselves, according to the report.

“They need to understand about consent; they need to understand about safe sex and condom use; they need to understand that it’s okay to talk to someone about their experiences,” says Anthony. “If they’ve experienced unwanted sex, if they’ve experienced unsafe sex, they need to know that it’s important for them to seek help and that their parents will help with that.”

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• 13% of sexually active students reported using no contraception the last time they had sex; while 15% used the withdrawal method.

The media normalises sex, but in a distorted way that doesn’t help young people with their own sexual activity. The report confirms that young people have a poor understanding of chlamydia, hepatitis and human papillomavirus (HPV), though their knowledge of HIV is relatively high.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

37

TEENS

THEY’RE QUITE CLUEY AND THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR WHY THEY ARE DOING IT, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT. WHEN YOU COMMUNICATE OPENLY THEY GET IT.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS Some young people engage in risky, thrill-seeking behaviour and for some teens this may involve alcohol and other drugs.

Substance use may be motivated by curiosity, to feel better or to be accepted by their friends. This is a worrying time for parents.

Lives Lived Well community services manager Suzi Morris says experimentation and wanting to fit in with their peers is normal teenage behaviour. Teens with strong family and social connections will usually leave substances alone after a brief dabble, but those who continue using alcohol and other drugs often don’t have strong role models or positive leadership within their peer group.

“They’re leaning towards a peer group that gives them a sense of identity,” she says. “They feel okay because they feel part of something, even though that something could be quite negative.”

When there is continued use of alcohol or other drugs, Suzi says there is a pattern of behaviour over time that will raise a red flag for parents. This can include heightened emotions and mood swings, being unable to sit still, losing their appetite, avoiding eye contact, struggling at school or becoming secretive.

Parents need to trust their intuition, says Suzi, and be prepared to talk about these issues if they see their children’s behaviour changing or if different friends are on the scene. She advises parents to sit down and have an open discussion with their children.

“They’re quite cluey and they may not understand fully what they are doing or why they are doing it, but they understand when you treat them with respect. When you communicate openly they get it,” she says.

Parents are advised to get as much information as they possibly can about the effects and social harms associated with any kind of drug use, and then to approach the topic in a non-threatening way.

“You need to be gentle and you need to be genuinely concerned, which you would be as a parent, but it’s about nurturing that relationship you have with those kids so that you can get the best out of them and they can get the best out of you,” advises Suzi.

RESOURCES

Lives Lived Well: www.liveslivedwell.org.au Ph: 07 3834 0200 or 1300 727 957 (cost of a local call) Headspace: www.headspace.org.au Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Parentline: www.parentline.com.au.

Ph: 1300 30 1300 Raising Children Network: www.raisingchildren.net.au True Relationships & Reproductive Health: www.true.org.au

38

Alcohol is the primary issue for young people because it’s easily accessible and it’s legal, says Suzi. This is followed by cannabis and then methamphetamine. There has been intense media attention on ice, a potent form of methamphetamine, but Suzi says the media hype is disproportionate to the actual number of ice users in Queensland.

“You’ve got a massive media beat-up which makes it sound like every second kid is affected by methamphetamine, which isn’t quite true,” she says. “Alcohol and cannabis continue to be the lead in consistently creating social harm.”

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

THE STATS ON ALCOHOL USE The 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states that 28% of young Australians aged 12–17 years have tried alcohol, 15% have tried cannabis and almost 3% have tried amphetamines or ecstasy.

Binge drinking is often seen as a rite of passage, but risky drinking can have serious consequences. It can cause health problems, serious injury and even death, or lead to sexual activities which teens later regret.

The report states that those under 15 years of age should abstain from alcohol completely, as they are at the greatest risk of harm.

For those aged 15–17 years, the safest option is to delay the onset of drinking as long as possible.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Parents need to set a good example for their kids, instead of normalising alcohol or illicit drug-taking through their own habits.

When parents drink or smoke, it’s more likely that their teenagers will do the same.

“Parents are our first role model, if you like, and so whatever your behaviour happens to be, eventually the kids in that family will mirror that in some way,” says Suzi. “So if you’re not quite up to scratch as a role model, then that’s what your kids are going to see and they will think that it’s okay.”

According to the NDSHS survey, friends or acquaintances are the most likely sources of alcohol for 12–17 year olds (45%), followed by parents (29%).

Teenagers want their independence and that’s healthy, but parents have a responsibility to keep kids safe. Keeping the lines of communication open is vital, along with setting clear boundaries and monitoring their behaviour. This could include picking them up at night from parties or chatting with the other parent prior to a sleepover.

Suzi says that help and support for drug and alcohol issues is available from organisations like Lives Lived Well and Headspace, where young people can feel safe to say what’s going on in their life without parental consequences.

“It’s a journey and it’s not a quick fix, and I think parents need to understand that there’s not a magic wand that’s going to go ‘bang’ and your kid’s going to be sorted,” says Suzi. “It takes time, so patience is key, and communication, and not just communication but consistency.”

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TALK Parents

Some of the best-loved parenting bloggers in South East Queensland join Kids on the Coast and Kids in the City to discuss the topics that matter to you.

Join the conversation...

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

39

CONVERSATION

Leonie Rhodes MEET ARTIST

LEONIE RHODES IS AN AWARD-WINNING MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST FOR WHOM COLLABORATING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AND MUCH-LOVED PART OF HER WORK. AFTER SPENDING A NUMBER OF YEARS RUNNING AN ART DEPARTMENT IN A CENTRE FOR STREET CHILDREN IN LONDON, LEONIE NOW LIVES AND WORKS LOCALLY ON THE GOLD COAST. Leonie studied fine art sculpture at the Chelsea College of Arts in London and figurative sculpture in the Greek style at the New York Studio School.

Her main practice today is figurative sculpture – making small highly detailed sculptures of people.

She recently won the 2015 Gold Coast Art Prize ‘People’s Choice Award’ for her bronze version of the piece Uncle Jack Charles, Significantly Small, the original of which was shown at the Swell Sculpture festival in Currumbin in 2013.

Leonie joins us to talk about what drives and inspires her as an artist and why she enjoys sharing her artistic passion with local children.

What do you love most about your work as an artist?

One of the most joyful aspects of my practice is to work with young people. I find their uniqueness and ability to be themselves deeply inspiring for my work and my life. I approach my work with them just as I would a collaboration with an adult artist, viewing each of them as a fully-fledged artist in their own right. My personal practice is also often intended to interest children.

What draws you to working with children in your art practice?

I am passionate about the skill and authenticity alive in children’s artwork – something we often lose later in life. I also highly value their practical abilities. Their smaller fingers can produce incredible detail and attention to detail is paramount in my personal practice and well as my public participatory practice.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

Tell us more about your art workshops for children and how you collaborate with children on your installations.

Artistic facilitation forms a significant arm of my practice. I support children and adults to develop as artists. All my workshops are always available to adults, and the ‘little people’ ones are particularly popular. I create installations that allow the children’s work to be viewed as high-level contemporary fine art, rather than just simply ‘craft’ or in a regular ‘school style’ exhibition format.

It’s very important to me to create a spotlight for the individuality and autonomy of each child’s work.

That’s why I mostly work in modelling clay using a traditional non-toxic clay. It allows children to be the sole creator and demonstrate their personal skill and character. Rather than having them all make repeated component parts to form a whole, my focus is on each piece being a complete artwork in itself, which when combined with the others creates an intense and diverse experience of humanness.

Although I also work therapeutically with children and have more free play style workshops, the workshops that go towards the installations are instructional workshops. Children seem to find this really valuable. I have always been very skills hungry and found contemporary art education lacking in practical skills. So I’ve spent my life teaching myself and searching for new skills and teachers. As a practising artist I feel it’s important that I share what I have learnt. I want the children to go home with a new toolbox of practical skills for sculpture that they continue to use at home.

I have designed a workshop in figurative sculpture in which children can create their own sculpture of a little person. I use simple instructions with base shapes and clever tricks and tools to help the children build onto a traditional wood and wire skeleton which I pre-make. This enables the children to get the height and strength they need to achieve a strong form, then this becomes a canvas onto which they can fully express their individuality.

It’s also important to me that the works are longlasting and are eventually taken home and kept as toys or masterpieces.

The installations that result are a combination of hundreds of little people and colourful sculptural forms. From a distance the work looks like abstract sculpture, but as you get closer you realise there are hundreds of tiny sculptures within it. Knowing that their work has a purpose, direction and outcome encourages the children to really go for it.

How long have your been running art workshops and where do you hold them?

I have been running workshops as part of my fine art practice since 2007. I recently did a big season of workshops at ArtPlay in Melbourne. Although I work interstate, I am more often here on the Gold Coast and I run workshops in different locations up and down the coast. I do children’s parties, home visits and festivals as well as weekly sculpture clubs. The best way to keep up with events is through my Facebook page.

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CONVERSATION

What inspires you creatively?

in a therapeutic way with myself, doing mindless abstract expressive drawings. It’s a way of processing ideas and clearing my mind. Rather than being a vocation, my work is my life. So I am always looking at colour and form, and people and feelings, and experiencing them as art.

I am inspired by people. My work is usually about or for people.

I was a stepmum for many years and this brought me incredible joy and a lot of learning, both personal and professional. They are big boys now and we remain very close. They continue to inspire me. In fact, the eldest, Jazic, is my new subject for a coloured bronze. He posed very patiently for me standing up with his guitar in the role of a busker for an urban art project.

What messages do you hope to convey to the children you work with?

In my work with young people, I try to communicate a passion and enthusiasm for uniqueness and diversity. I never say “no” or “that’s wrong”. It’s all positive and explorative. I hope that I can share my skills to make hard looking things feel easy – to convey the excitement and joy that art can create and the change it can bring in one’s self and the world, and to encourage everyone to be themselves. It’s also important to convey that a career as an artist is possible.

The beauty in the world inspires me. I am a committed yogi and mediator and this forms the basis for my art practice. I’m interested in how the body affects creativity. I am passionate about helping others open to their full potential as humans and as artists.

Social justice and environmental and human issues are always central to my drive. In September, I am creating a public participatory artwork for the Swell Sculpture Festival which runs from September 11 to 20 on Currumbin Beach. It’s a little graffiti artist who is spraying a message onto a wall. The wall gets bigger and bigger. The public are invited to graffiti on the wall, so come and have your say! I am encouraging self-expression and political, personal and environmental opinion.

What has been your most rewarding experience professionally?

I find my work with young people to be the most rewarding aspect of my practice. There’s something that happens when I help the children put eyes in their little people. It’s as if they suddenly come alive.

It always brings so much joy to the children and I think this moment is really the most rewarding.

What has been your most life-defining moment?

How would you describe your typical day?

Winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the 2015 Gold Coast Art Prize was a very defining moment for me. I spent hundreds of hours working on finite detail in my sculpture. It’s hard to earn enough to continue at this pace. But I believe in what I do, so to have the value of this intensive work confirmed by the public was a seminal moment for me.

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Images: Daniel Michaud

One of the most wonderful things about being an artist is that your days are never the same. When I am sculpting I have long periods of focus and isolation where I just sculpt, stretch, eat and sleep. In these times I go very quiet. Then in other periods when I’m workshopping it’s the opposite – there’s so much energy and exchange and noise! I love the contrast and wouldn’t want one without the other. I am always drawing and painting. I try to draw every day. I work

Who are your role models?

My role models are both artists and yoga teachers.

I admire people who have discipline and produce lots of work. I love my fellow artists and feel inspired by them every day. It’s important for artists not to compete and to be committed to supporting each other. Together we make the scene and it’s the diversity of that scene that makes it successful. It’s really exciting to be working from the Gold Coast arts community which is thriving and growing so fast. Artists need each other to see alternative perspectives, to truly criticise and share skills. And to simply understand each other when others may not!

What are your plans for the direction of your art practice?

It’s an exciting time for the Gold Coast with the Commonwealth Games fast approaching. I hope to continue to develop my practice. I have more interstate installations ahead. I have a dream of doing an enormous one with thousands of children’s works at Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. In my personal practice, I am exploring the colouring of my bronzes and installing permanent little people in Melbourne and Sydney.

To view more of Leonie’s work, visit www.leonierhodes.com To find out about workshops and events, check in with Leonie on Facebook (Leonie Rhodes Fine Art) or Instagram (Leonie Rhodes), or email her at leonierhodes@leonierhodes.com

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast

41

Books

For our personal reviews of these titles and many others we are sure you will love, head to www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

THE BOY WHO LOVED THE MOON

Rina Alaimo, Exisle Publishing, RRP $22.99 How many parents have whispered in their child's ear "I love you to the moon and back"? The notion of the moon, ethereal and eternal, has long held the imagination of parents and children in its magnetic pull. This stunning adaptation of the beloved The Boy and The Moon – winner of multiple international independent film awards – tells the story of a boy who swims the deepest seas and slays the mightiest dragons to win the moon’s love. Recommended for children aged 3 to 5 years, story-lovers of all ages will be drawn to the timeless beauty of The Boy Who Loved The Moon.

PAN

In cinemas September 24. Rating: TBC The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny – to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

ODDBALL

In cinemas September 17. Rating: G The story of Allan “Swampy” Marsh and his Maremma dog Oddball.

Swampy convinced the local authorities to allow Oddball to protect a colony of Little Penguins on Middle Island from wild cats and dogs.

Oddball succeeds in his campaign and becomes a frontrunner for Maremma dogs used to protect other Australian wildlife.

TOO BUSY SLEEPING

Zanni Louise & Anna Pignataro, Little Hare, RRP $24.95 Eleanor longs to play with her baby brother, but newborn Reuben is always asleep. Will Eleanor wear out with waiting? First-time author Zanni Louise collaborates with award winning illustrator Anna Pignataro to create a warm domestic story of excitement and frustration.

Available in hardcover, Too Busy Sleeping brings a fresh perspective to sibling relationships and will resonate with all families with children.

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apps PLAYLATES

(iPad, iPad Mini) $2.49 Playlates is a new app that encourages parents to explore active, developmental games with their babies in a way that is safe and fun. It is founded on the practices and principles of Pilates, which are extended to appropriately support babies who are just learning to move.

From the age of 8 weeks on you can assist your baby in sitting, rolling over, crawling and standing all the way until they're ready to take their first big steps. Playlates is currently available from the Apple App store and is free to download with five introductory activities. Four further sets of activities are available at $2.49 each.

Meg Nagle, Self-published, RRP $19.99 In this part memoir, part sharing of women’s stories, part research, part boobin’, Meg Nagle covers many topics including how to trust your own instincts, why your breastfed child is waking so frequently, why it’s so important to answer their cries, how to feel more rested, what to do when you are feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, safe co-sleeping and bed sharing guidelines, how to get your baby to take longer naps and some gentle night-weaning tips. An essential read for breastfeeding families! Order from www.amazon.com or from her website www.themilkmeg.com

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE READ MORE reviews www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015

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