Kids on the Coast Magazine - Gold Coast - Issue 59. November/December 2015.

ISSUE 59 November/December 2015 GOLD COAST

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

thďż˝

spirit of

givinďż˝

The gift of gratitude

Christmas gift guide

Make memories travelling

Earning your mummy stripes

Happy Christmas!

Elliott, 3yrs

Contents November/December 2015

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FROM THE EDITOR

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THE SOCIAL GATHERING

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WHAT’S NEWS

10 FEATURE: Christmas: Inspire your kids with the spirit of giving 14 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 18 THE P FILES: Give your child the ultimate gift – Gratitude

Jacket and T-Shirt from Bardot Kids

22 C ALENDAR OF EVENTS: Find out what’s happening during November & December 24 SPECIAL FEATURE: Travelling with kids: Tips and tricks for your next family adventure 28 EDUCATION: Great Education: Lessons for Australian schools 32 BABIES: Earning your mummy stripes 35 WEB WRAP UP 36 GOOD HEALTH: Speech and language difficulties 40 CONVERSATION: Baker Girl Lou 42 BOOKS – APPS – MOVIES

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: BELINDA HOPPER, DANNIELLE MILLER, LARA CAIN GRAY, MEGAN BLANDFORD, KERRYN ANKER, AMY MCALISTER. 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 | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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“ Things to do, places to go!”

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PUBLISHED BY

Guide

DECEMBER 2015

/ JANUARY 2016

AVAILABLE

NOV 27

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.kidsinthecity.com.au

It’s the lead up to the end of the school year and Christmas…already! I’m not quite sure where the past 12 months have gone, but I always love this time of year planning special Christmas activities and treats, and being a little more present with my daughters over the school holidays.

EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston PRINT EDITOR: Natasha Higgins

What are your plans for the school holidays? Are you heading off on a family trip? If so, you must read our special feature on travelling with kids, which offers heaps of ideas for ensuring your holiday runs smoothly so that everyone has a great time.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Kerry White

Do you get frustrated by the excess at Christmas or worry that your children don’t really understand what Christmas is all about? Maybe you’re guilty like me of buying way too much for your kids for Christmas and are now wondering how to change that without having sad or grumpy little faces on Christmas Day.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Renee Wilson

If that sounds familiar, we have two wonderful articles that will help you start to make some changes. Our feature article looks at inspiring your kids with the spirit of giving and ways your family can help others at Christmas. The premise of this article is summarised perfectly in the following passage: “You may be surprised at how generous-hearted your children are when they learn about the needs of others and are given the opportunity to help. In so doing, we give our kids the change to experience the real joy of Christmas.”

DESIGN: Michelle Craik & Phoebe Browning

There’s also a thought-provoking article about teaching children gratitude and why it can be such a challenge, which is relevant every day of the year, not just at Christmas.

I know I’ve learnt a lot from these stories that I’d like to implement with my family, and I hope you find something that resonates with you too.

Before you turn the page and jump into some reading, just a quick reminder to look at the new Web Wrap Up section for the most loved stories, reviews and competitions on our website over the past couple of months. Be sure to head to our website to check out these and many more – you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find!

We’ve also recently published our Babies eGuide on our website, a valuable resource for mums-to-be and new mums, with lots of informative articles and the lowdown on essential pregnancy and baby products. At the end of November, watch out for the summer school holiday eGuide for hundreds of child- and family-friendly events and activities in South East Queensland.

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 or www.kidsinthecity.com.au.

The Kids team would like to wish you and your family a safe and very happy Christmas. See you again in 2016!

ADMIN: admin@mothergoosemedia.com.au PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Phoebe Browning production@mothergoosemedia.com.au 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.

DISTRIBUTION Distributed directly to parenting hotspots across South East Queensland.

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

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

A separate edition covers the Sunshine Coast.

Natasha Higgins, Editor

BEHIND THE SCENES … at our Verve Portraits cover shoot

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

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

ADVERTISING Call 1300 430 320 or email your Business Development Manager.

BRISBANE Christine - advertising@kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au GOLD COAST Janet - gc@kidsonthecoast.com.au SUNSHINE COAST Tanya - advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au

Lots of giggles from Elliott.

4

with helming it overw watching!

It's a b le p o e pe all thes

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Big cuddles wit h mum after.

- on the coast

- in the city

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

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Are you anxious about braces?

Prevent them now!

Watch our online video presentation to learn how.

Dr John Flutter BDS (London) Dental Surgeon provides a personalised opinion at our free information sessions.

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The best age for assessment is 5 to 7 years.

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FREE one on one consults! www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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The social gathering Daily conversation, inspiration and information

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WE’VE BEEN INSTAGRAMMING!

Lara Cain Gray A regular contributor here at Kids in the City and Kids on the Coast magazine, Lara Cain Gray shares a little about what makes her tick.

Describe your blog in 25 words or less. It’s ‘brain food for the baby brain years’! Mainly I write book reviews for you and your family, and the odd therapeutic rant about mine.

I can't start the day without... Coffee. I’d really love to say ‘yoga’ or ‘the sweet smiles of my children’ but coffee is the first thing on my daily to-do list. The best mornings are the ones when I’m up before anyone else, sipping a long black on the front porch with no one talking to me but the birds.

My favourite easy weeknight meal is...

Scrambled eggs. If I get really excited I might throw in some spinach, mushrooms or tomato and a nice piece of wholegrain toast. Then the kids will drown theirs in tomato sauce until they can no longer taste the vegetables, but, hey, it’s still better than takeaway.

I relax by... Reading. I’ve always been a bookworm, although work and family commitments mean I don’t always get as much time for reading as I used to. That’s really why I started my blog – to remind myself to read.

My next challenge is to.... Learn to speak French! I actually studied French for years at school and university, but it’s amazing how quickly you lose your skills if you don’t keep practising. There are some great apps available now that make it really easy and fun to learn at your own pace.

Fun at the Brisbane Festival

Treasure Hunt at Ipswich Art Gallery

Colouring our spring downloadable

If you’re sharing some happy snaps on Instagram, let us know by using our hashtags and you could feature in the next issue! #kidsinthecitymagazine or #kidsonthecoastmagazine

A QUICK FACEBOOK LESSON TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS ANY OF OUR GREAT ARTICLES, COMPETITIONS AND DEALS!

Come and join our community of over 50,000!

DESKTOP

MOBILE

Navigate to the Kids in the City or Kids on the Coast Facebook page. Hover over ‘liked’ and a dropdown box will appear.

Select ‘See First’ and you’re all set!

Navigate to the Kids in the City or Kids on the Coast Facebook page and click on the three dots. Select ‘Follow’ which will display three options. Select ‘See First’ and you’re done!

TIS THE SEASON TO START SEARCHING PINTEREST FOR CHRISTMAS IDEAS AND WE HAVE A CHRISTMAS BOARD TO GET YOU STARTED! Check out www.pinterest.com/kidsonthecoast/christmas-ideas/

14 EASY CHRISTMAS RECIPES Found on themultitaskingwoman.com

SIGN-UP

15 DIY CHRISTMAS GIFTS TEACHERS WILL LOVE Found on cloudywithachanceofwine.com

to receive our weekly eNews!

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

Join with us online – we are more than a magazine!

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Good advice from The Queensland Museum

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY CHRISTMAS TREES Found on lovelylittlekitchen.com

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 on our website. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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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

ENHANCED ENTERTAINMENT AT SOUTH BANK

South Bank Parklands has undergone some exciting changes, with a weekly live music program and brand new playground now on offer for the community to enjoy. The new $1.7 million Riverside Green playground opened recently, providing a fantastic play space. The playground is a state-of-the-art facility which includes interactive play features such as a towering pink skywalk and a climbable pirate ship.

There have also been new plants and trees added giving the landscape a fresh new look. Australia’s largest free live music program City Sounds is now on every Saturday at South Bank adding to the wonderful vibrancy of the parklands.

DID YOU

KNOW ONE DUNG BEETLE CAN DRAG

1,141 TIMES ITS WEIGHT – THAT'S LIKE A HUMAN PULLING SIX DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES!

SOUTH BANK WAS ONCE A COAL PORT. Today, glaciers cover around 10% of the Earth's total land area.

During the last ice age they covered 32%!

IGA LORD MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Supporting the charity organisation Mater Little Miracles, The IGA Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols at Riverstage is set to be a much-loved free family event. The big stage will come alive on Saturday, December 12, with some of Australia’s most talented singers and entertainers as well as an early visit from Santa. Pre-show entertainment begins at 5.30pm, followed by the Children’s Christmas Spectacular at 6.15pm and the carols concert from 7.15pm.

CAROLS ON THE BEACH

Bring along a picnic, a blanket and enjoy the Christmas spirit and festivities at Carols on the Beach at Surfers Paradise on December 20 at 6.30pm. There will be loads of entertainment and if you’re lucky, an appearance by Santa Claus! Experience the magic of fireworks at the end of the night.

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

CHRISTMAS TREES WERE FIRST DECORATED WITH FOODS SUCH AS APPLES, NUTS AND DATES.

The Gold Coast is home to the

most skate and BMX parks in Australia.

CARE FOR YOUR LOCAL BEACH You can help improve the Gold Coast's beach environment by planting native species, removing invasive weeds and picking up litter at your local beach.

Beach Care is a coastal community engagement initiative facilitated by the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management in partnership with the City of Gold Coast.

The Beach Care program also aims to inspire people of all ages to assist in preserving and regenerating a number of sites along a 40km stretch of coast. For details on locations and dates, visit www.griffith.edu.au

HOW SAFE IS YOUR POOL?

Now is the best time to ensure that your swimming pool or spa are safe. All pools – including spas and some portable pools – must be registered and meet pool safety standard by November 30, 2015. Regional Planning Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said, “Swimming pools should be fun, however, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in Queensland for children under the age of five years. Supervising young children, teaching them to swim and having effective pool fencing can help save lives, which is why pool safety laws were introduced.” All swimming pools in Queensland must be registered with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (www.qbcc.qld.gov.au). Pool owners can also search online to see if their pool or spa is already registered. Once you’ve registered, ensure you check the pool safety guidelines on the QBCC website to see if your pool or spa barriers comply. For more information, visit www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-building-owners/pool-safety

AUSSIE KIDS CHOOSING SCREEN TIME OVER PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The Heart Foundation has released their analysis of the latest Australian Health Survey, which alarmingly reveals up to 80% of Aussie kids are not meeting the national guidelines of at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Instead these children are opting to spend their ‘free time’ watching television and using electronic devices. The Heart Foundation’s ‘Move More, Sit Less’ campaign aims to address the inactivity of not only Aussie kids, but adults too.

CEO of the National Heart Foundation Mary Barry said, “We need to do much more to encourage our children to turn off the TV, put down their phones and tablets, and engage in healthy, vigorous physical activity. Whether this involves kicking a footy, climbing a tree or playing tag in a local park, taking the dog for a regular walk or hitting a cricket ball over the neighbour’s fence, these are all healthy forms of physical activity that we should be encouraging.” www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

It’s all about having fun!

So bring the whole family and

BOUNCE ON IN to Inflatable World It’s not just for the kids - we encourage the BIG kids (adults) to have fun with the young ones also.

Inflatable World Wynnum 242 Preston Road, Wynnum West Tel: (07) 3348 6900 Inflatable World Toombul 137 Bage Street, Nundah Tel: (07) 3266 5699 For more info visit our website or Facebook Pages.

www.inflatableworldoz.com.au/stadiums/wynnum www.inflatableworldoz.com.au/stadiums/toombul

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

Our foster carers receive extensive training, have access to 24 hour support and work closely with our care team to make a difference in the lives of children and young people who need extra support.

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 | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

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

P: 07 3633 1500 E: qldcarers@lwb.org.au www.lwb.org.au/fostercare

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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FEATURE

CHRISTMAS: INSPIRE YOUR KIDS WITH THE

spirit of givin�

by Belinda Hopper IT’S A MAGICAL TIME OF YEAR FOR CHILDREN, COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS WITH ADVENT CALENDARS AND RIPPING OPEN GIFTS EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING. AS PARENTS, WE DELIGHT IN LAVISHING GIFTS ON OUR CHILDREN, BUT AMIDST THE TOYS AND TINSEL AND EXCITEMENT, IT’S EASY FOR KIDS TO THINK THAT CHRISTMAS IS JUST ABOUT RECEIVING ALL THE THINGS THEY’VE EVER WANTED. Somehow, the legend of old Saint Nicholas leaving a candy stick in the shoe of good children and a stick or lump of coal for naughty children has grown into each child leaving a sack under the tree for Santa to stuff full of toys.

Gone are the days of writing a letter to Santa with a simple request and posting it to the North Pole. These days it’s more likely kids will write a list of gift ideas on one of the many Christmas wishlist apps, share it with family and track how many items have been bought and by whom.

Out of interest, can you remember your child’s favourite gift last year?

Can they? Where is it now? What about the ancillary stocking filler gifts they received? Or the gifts from their grandparents, aunts and uncles?

Chances are many of them are already lost, broken or forgotten.

Bah Humbug!

Not that we have to be Ebenezer Scrooge to rethink the culture of Christmas. Whether we observe Christmas for religious reasons or see it as sacred time to share with family and friends, it is worthwhile pausing to consider the values we want to pass on to our children and whether the message of Christmas as a time of peace and goodwill has been swallowed up by the message of excessive consumerism.

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Annie Leonard’s 20-minute animation The Story of Stuff shows how in the materials economy the first world not only keeps their resources for themselves, but also plunders the third world’s resources to meet increasing first world demands for more and more ‘stuff.’ And the real sting is that up to 99 per cent of ‘stuff’ we buy is thrown out within six months.

So how do we teach our children that it is more blessed to give than to receive, while teaching them the real cost of buying unnecessary ‘stuff’? Christmas is an opportunity to recast the idea of ‘giving’ in a less materialistic mould, so that we also teach our children to be responsible citizens of their communities as well as the environment.

A good place to start is by taking a look at the growing list of charities competing for our time and money to provide practical support for people in need; whether for children in foster care or sick in hospital; for those who find themselves homeless or families going without; for the disabled, the disadvantaged, or the elderly.

And that’s just in Queensland! There are also many opportunities to give a little to make a huge difference in the lives of povertystricken families in the developing world.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

�

FEATURE

SO IN THE SPIRIT OF GOODWILL AND GENEROSITY, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR KIDS TO BE OUTWARD-LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS TIME. PUT A SMILE ON THE FACE OF SICK CHILDREN Every Christmas, the Starlight Foundation asks Australians to become Starlight wish granters to help grant once-in-a-lifetime Starlight Wishes for seriously ill children. Christmas is the perfect time to give the gift of joy to sick children and their families, and Starlight Wishes help sick kids and their families dream big and temporarily leave the pain of treatment behind to create fun family memories. The excitement of planning their Starlight Wish brings hope, happiness and increased wellbeing to sick children and their families.

Perhaps your family might decide to help brighten the Christmas of a family facing serious illness by donating, fundraising or buying a virtual gift at www.starlightwish.org.au.

KIDS IN CARE CHRISTMAS APPEAL They say it takes a village to raise a child and this is particularly true for children who, for whatever reason, cannot live with their own families. To make Christmas a special time for the many children in foster care, the Queensland government runs the Kids in Care Christmas Appeal with the support of ABC Radio Queensland. In previous years, over 20,000 new wrapped gifts have been received and distributed to children in care throughout Queensland.

Tune in to your local ABC radio station to find out about your local gift drop locations.

THE SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS APPEAL In the lead up to Christmas, The Salvation Army teams up with the Kmart Wishing Tree to collect around 500,000 toys to give to families in need. Kids can choose a toy (it doesn’t have to be from Kmart, but it has to be new) to leave under the wishing tree. They need to attach half a gift tag from the Wishing Tree, indicating on it the age and gender of who their gift is for. Then they hang the other half of the gift tag on their tree at home. The Salvation Army collects the gifts and oversees their distribution to children in need.

CHRISTMAS FOOD TREATS Together with the Salvos, some schools run a Christmas food drive, where non-perishable food items are collected and made into hampers to be distributed to families in need to help ease the financial burden of providing Christmas treats that many of us take for granted.

You could enquire whether your child’s school participates in the food drive or drop non-perishables off at your local Salvos.

On Christmas Day, the Salvos host a free lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for around 500 people in need.

To find out if you can donate food or offer to help serve on the day, visit www.salvationarmy.org.au/en/get-involved/Christmas.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD It is hard to imagine, but for children who receive a shoebox gift through Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, it is the first gift many have ever received. The idea is that families or school classes decide whether to buy for a boy or girl, and which age bracket, and then fill the box with a range of items such as something to love, something for hygiene, something to play with, something for school, something to wear and something special. Kids are encouraged to place a photo of themselves or their family inside the box so the child receiving the gift can see who sent it to them.

It costs $9 to register each gift box which covers shipping and enables you to track your box so you can discover when and where it is hand delivered to a child – perhaps in Cambodia, Vietnam or another developing country. There are promotional videos on the website showing kids receiving their gifts, which will warm your child’s heart to see. You can also give the gift of time to help out in one of the regional drop off centres where the boxes are collected and processed.

To find out how your school or family can get involved, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.au/campaign/operation-christmas-child

THE SMITH FAMILY TOY AND BOOK APPEAL It’s hard for families at a financial disadvantage to make Christmas a special time for their children. The Smith Family's Toy & Book Appeal provides an opportunity to help bring a smile to a disadvantaged child's face at Christmas.

The Smith Family aims to deliver more than 43,500 new toys and 29,000 new books to children in need around Australia and there are three ways your family could help. You can buy a new toy and book from the Simply Giving website to be delivered directly to The Smith Family. You can make a donation, 100% of which will be used to purchase toys and books within the age/gender categories most in need. Or you can give the gift of your time by registering to collect or buy toys and books on behalf of your workplace, club, school or amongst your neighbours.

By registering at www.thesmithfamily.com.au, you will receive an information pack containing everything you need to know.

A GIFT FROM YOUR SCHOOL FOR A DISABLED CHILD A staggering 28,656 Queenslanders under the age of 25 live with a profound or severe disability. Variety Queensland currently has thousands of dollars worth of outstanding requests for equipment and services from families who have children in need of expensive equipment such as communication devices, visual aids, modified tricycles, electric beds, wheelchairs and walkers. Perhaps you could enquire whether your child’s school could hold a free dress day with a gold coin donation for Variety Queensland so that a disabled child in their community might receive the equipment they so urgently need as a Christmas gift from the school.

Variety Queensland relies on donations for all of their services, programs and equipment. All donations are tax deductible. Find out more at www.givenow.com.au/varietyqueenslandchristmas.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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FEATURE

A LOAN OF LOVE A good number of Aussie kids have enough money sitting idly in their money boxes to help a family in a developing country to start a business. And Christmas is the perfect time to give the gift of opportunity. Kiva is a non-profit organisation with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. By lending as little as $25 for a few months, with the expectation that it will be repaid by the business it helps to set up, your child can keep saving for their special something while they help a family to establish an ongoing source of income, which is surely more satisfying than counting coins in their money box.

Learn more at www.kiva.org.

THE WORLD’S MOST USEFUL GIFT CATALOGUE In the first world, billions of dollars worth of unwanted Christmas gifts are returned to the shops every year. But you can be guaranteed that any gift you purchase from TEAR’s Useful Gift Catalogue will be received with gratitude by someone in the developing world. Be assured that your gift will be absolutely life changing, whether you give the gift of a chicken so a family can sell the eggs or a goat to sell the milk; whether it’s educational equipment or immunisation for a child, a clean water well or flushing toilet for a village; or whether it’s providing training for a midwife or funds for cleft palate corrective surgery. Perhaps your kids might decide that instead of buying each other something they don’t really need, they could pool their money to buy something to meet someone else’s need.

You can check out the range of gifts at www.usefulgifts.org.

ROSIE’S FRIENDS ON THE STREET It’s a shocking statistic that over 40% of those experiencing homelessness in Queensland are 25 or younger. Rosie’s Friends on the Street depends on donations to provide basic necessities to the homeless such as food, clothing, hygiene items and sleeping bags. As a Christmas party activity or end of year break-up, your family, school, neighbourhood or sporting club could hold a sausage sizzle, a car wash or dog wash; get sponsors for a fun run, bike or swim challenge; or hold a school disco, sporting match, trivia night or treasure hunt to raise much needed funds to provide services to the homeless this Christmas. This teaches kids that giving to others is not only worthwhile, it can be a fun activity to share with friends.

For more ideas visit www.rosies.org.au.

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED AT HOW GENEROUS-HEARTED YOUR CHILDREN ARE WHEN THEY LEARN ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AND ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP. CHARITY GIFT WRAPPING At the end of a busy day of Christmas shopping, you can take your gifts to one of Queensland Cancer Council’s gift wrapping booths that pop up around shopping centres in the month of December.

For a gold coin donation for each gift, you can save yourself the trouble of buying paper and wrangling with the sticky tape at home, while supporting research into fighting cancer. The booths are run by volunteers, so if your teenager has some spare time in the holidays, they may like to volunteer for a few hours in one of the booths. They may even learn how to curl a mean ribbon.

THE GIFT OF TIME AND EFFORT It’s easy for the value of a gift to be diminished simply by the sheer number of gifts kids receive at Christmas. So if Santa brings toys, perhaps family members could put a little time and effort into making gifts for one another, to teach kids that meaningful gifts are not necessarily store-bought. Perhaps you could do a Kris Kringle and each make something for the person whose name is pulled out of a hat. It could mean cooking their favourite fudge or making coupons for acts of service to be redeemed throughout the year, such as washing the car, a foot massage, cooking dinner or breakfast in bed.

Senior citizens are easily forgotten in the Christmas rush of parties and shopping. Perhaps your children could bake some shortbread as a gift to your elderly neighbours or their school band could arrange to visit the local nursing home to play some Christmas carols and give the residents a chance to have a singalong. The children will learn how far a small act of kindness can spread the spirit of goodwill.

Each Christmas, the Basket Brigades Program sends gifts, food and even toys to needy families and the homeless. The Basket Brigades need volunteers to sort and pack gift baskets this Christmas season.

So if you and your kids would like to help for a few hours, you can find your closest packing plant in Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast at www.magicmoments.org.au/basket-brigades

So, these are a few ideas to share with your children this Christmas, to help them see the festive season not only as a time of receiving gifts, but also as a time of giving. You may be surprised at how generous-hearted your children are when they learn about the needs of others and are given the opportunity to help. In so doing, we give our kids the chance to experience the real joy of Christmas.

However, if you find that your family is in need of a little support this year, please contact a charity to ask for assistance. Your community wants to share their goodwill, to help make Christmas a special time for you and your children. Because that is the true spirit of Christmas.

12

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

13

Christmas

gift

guide

GIFT IDEAS FOR BABIES, KIDS & PARENTS

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

JELLY SHOES FOR TODDLERS & TWEENS

Wendy & Holly Shoes welcome Miss Wendy Australia children’s jelly shoes! Tweens will love the wedge style in red, cream and silver sparkle (RRP $39.95), while toddlers will love the flashing lights in the soles of the blue, green, pink and silver sparkle Mary Jane ballet flats (RRP $29.95).

Visit www.wendyhollyshoes.com.au to choose your favourite pair.

PERSONALISED TOTE BAGS

Enjoy shopping this Christmas from the amazing collection of personalised gifts at Iddy Biddy Boo. This beautiful tote bag is the pick of the bunch with your child’s name custom printed onto one of over 60 original designs. Beautifully sewn, they are great for books, toys or any other treasures your child likes to carry around.

A unique gift for $39.50 from www.iddybiddyboo.com.au

FAIRY GARDEN MAGIC

Create a magical fairy garden with your family this Christmas.

Nurture the imagination, inspire the heart and create precious memories with the finest fairy garden pieces. Choose the perfect gift from the handpicked range of fairies, miniature accessories, fairy houses and designer kits available at www.gardensparkle.com.au

GARDEN ACTIVITY CUBE

SWINGZ N THINGZ

This huge, highly stimulating and creative wooden learning cube

by EverEarth has a maze, moving beads, shape sorter, abacus, moving cogs, counting blocks from one to ten and many more moving parts – no surface is left empty! RRP $159.

Available online at www.woodenwonderland.com.au

These handmade canvas swings are ideal for kids from six months up to eight years, great for indoors or out. Handmade in Noosa since 1993, the swings are available in a wide range of fadeproof outdoor canvas colours or organic cotton and hemp in earth tones. For $145, purchase the swing including cushion, stainless steel hanging kit, seatbelt, carry bag and FREE DELIVERY Australia wide. www.swingz.com.au

CUDDLY GINGER KID TOYS

Exclusive to The Ginger Factory, the all-new Ginger Boy and Ginger Girl soft toys make the perfect children’s gift idea this Christmas.

Finished in a furry plush fabric, the super soft, loveable Ginger Kid characters are perfect for cuddling. Prices from $6.95.

Visit www.gingerfactory.com.au

HIDE AND SEEK CUBBIES

Children need to escape from the routine and structure of adult environments to allow their imaginations to flourish.

Hide and Seek Cubbies offer the perfect balance of fun, affordability and safety to create and nurture a sense of adventure for your child. Check out their easy-to-assemble designs at www.hideandseekcubbies.com.au.

Contact Annette Heath 0417 005 696

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FESTIVE HAMPERS

THE MAN BOX – GIFTS BUILT FOR EVERY KIND OF MAN

The Hamper Box has the perfect gift for family and friends this festive season. A mixed selection of the best seasonal fruits complemented by Christmas treats is guaranteed to please.

Visit www.thehamperbox.com.au to see the range of great hampers priced between $85 and $145.

Say no to socks this Christmas and choose The Man Box. Filled with lots of awesome manly stuff and with different options available, you’ll find a Man Box that’s perfect for the man in your life. Check out the range at www.themanbox.com.au

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

15

BALANCE BUDDY BALANCE BIKE

Strong, safe and light, Balance Buddy balance bikes are easy for kids to master and have fun riding while learning balance and confidence. The Balance Buddy is the perfect transition to a big bike for kids aged 2 to 5 years. Choose one in your child’s favourite colour for $129 from www.balancebuddy.com.au

RASHOODZ SWIMWEAR FOR BOYZ & GIRLZ

LEARN TO SWIM LIKE A FISH!

SwimFin is a unique swimming aid for anyone aged 2 and above. SwimFin is endorsed by Libby Trickett and supported by The Wiggles! Available in a range of 7 colours for $44.95 from www.swimfin.com.au

CHRISTMAS STOCKING BUNDLES

Looking for unique, quality Christmas gifts for 0-5 year olds?

Then look no further than Inspire Stocking Bundles. All the hard work has been done for you with bundles sorted into age appropriate groups ranging from outdoor to eco to bath time.

All gifts have been chosen by a qualified educator and are from exceptional brands. Watch your little ones eyes light up on Christmas morning! For bundles starting from $19.95 visit www.stockingbundles.com.au

GIVE MOVIES THIS CHRISTMAS

BCC and Event Cinemas have made your Christmas shopping a breeze with a variety of movie gift cards to suit everyone on your list. Movie gift cards are available in values from as little as $15 right up to $1000, allowing lucky recipients to choose the movie they want to see, and redeem the card for delicious food, beverages and more. There is sure to be something to please everyone at BCC and Event Cinemas this festive season. www.eventcinemas.com.au

16

Rashoodz Swimwear has the latest swimwear technology with attachable hats with clips to ensure your child’s head will always be protected from the sun – and they will never lose a swim hat again! For the perfect sun safe gift for a special little someone in your life, visit rashoodz.com.au and choose from a range of striking designs starting at $44.99.

SMART PHONE PENCIL SHARPENER

GIFT IDEAS FOR BABIES, KIDS & PARENTS

GET SET TO GO WILD!

Zoolu is a fun family card game that will entertain all ages with its colourful characters and strategic gameplay. Collect a full set of animal cards to win and 'Go Wild!', with target cards showing the card colour or type to collect and Kaos! cards adding strategy to the game. Developed by an Aussie mum, this take-anywhere card game is available for just $17 from www.zoolugame.com

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Nothing’s cooler in a Christmas stocking than super cool stationery from 2 Kool 4 Skool. Their online store is filled with heaps of unique stationery like these awesome smart phone sharpeners, which look just like a real phone. Available in four cool colours for $4.95 from www.2kool4skool.com.au

CREATIVE, COLOURFUL TOYS & ACTIVITIES

Give the gift of creativity this Christmas! Rainbow Fun loves learning through play and has handpicked the best creative toys and activities for all the kids in your life. Check out the colourful range at www.rainbowfun.com.au. For free delivery on orders over $40, use code KOTC at checkout.

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BRUSH YOUR TEETH WALL STICKERS

Make brushing teeth fun with these wall stickers that are movable and reusable over and over again. Perfect for renters as no adhesive is left behind. RRP$3.99. Ideal stocking fillers.

Choose from hundreds of MOVABLE wall sticker designs for girls, boys and adults. Buy direct from the printer and save with free shipping Australia wide. www.wholesaleprinters.com.au

I'M TOY MELODY MIX MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SET

Share the magic of music with your child with the I'm Toy Melody Mix, a wooden musical activity set with 10 instruments including xylophone, drum, tubular chimes, triangle, cymbal, bells, maracas, castanet, double guiro, pair of rhythm sticks plus 1 striker and 1 scraper. Purchase online for $95 from www.babyvegas.com.au

TOP SHOTS FUN FOR THE FAMILY

Give the ultimate fun gift, a gift voucher to Top Shots Fun Park, starting from just $20 for plenty of family fun! Putt two of Queensland's best 18 hole mini golf courses, climb the Indoor Rock Wall, bounce the Extreme Trampoline, battle the Cannonball Blaster, spray the Blaster Boats and slide the Inflatable Waterslide.

Visit www.topshotsfunpark.com.au

HIMALAYAN SALT LAMPS

Bring the mountains into your home this Christmas with a unique Himalayan Salt Lamp, a great gift idea for the whole family with a range of various benefits to help nurture health and wellbeing.

Choose from a range of styles and sizes starting at $25 from www.inspiremenaturally.com.au

Christmas gift guide

SURFER DUDES

Toss your surfer dude into the surf and they’ll catch a wave all the way back to you! Surfer Dudes are the world’s first self-righting, self-surfing toy with an internal ballast system, hydro-boomerang technology and unsinkable foam board with gnarly graphics.

Collect all six from $19.99 each from Mr Toys Toyworld, Australian Geographic and other online retailers.

CREATIVE STORY STONES

Creative Story Stones will ignite your child’s imagination with over 10 million story variations. Each stone has a different picture for children to create their own stories or use as word recognition tools.

A great gift idea for children 3 years & over, available exclusively at www.cuteas.com.au

MONTHLY ART PACK SUBSCRIPTION

Get them a gift that keeps on giving this Christmas with four different art projects delivered monthly and different themes each month.

Smarty Arty art packs are available for a single child or a family from only $15 per month. Receive a bonus art box with all 6 and 12 month subscriptions. Visit www.smartyarty.com.au/kids-art-subscription

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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THE P FILES

GIVE YOUR CHILD

the ultimate gift – GRATITUDE

by Dannielle Miller ASK ANY PARENT WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILD AND THE ANSWER IS LIKELY TO BE, “I JUST WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY.” WELL, WHAT IF THE RESEARCH CLEARLY SHOWED THERE WAS A WAY IN WHICH YOU COULD NOT ONLY ENSURE YOUR CHILD WAS HAPPY BUT ALSO MORE OPTIMISTIC, FORGIVING, RESILIENT AND ENERGETIC – AND FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE LESS LONELINESS, MATERIALISM AND STRESS? Welcome to the wonderful world of teaching our children to be more thankful.

In recent years there has been a big growth spurt in the field of positive psychology, a discipline that extends psychology beyond the treatment of psychological problems and focuses on helping people to actively thrive. Essentially, it’s the science of how to be happier and have a more positive outlook on life. And when it comes to the research on what drives happiness and a healthy mental attitude, the standout is gratitude.

WE DO NOT ENTER THIS WORLD GRATEFUL But surely being grateful just comes instinctively?

Most children learn to say please and thank you at a fairly early age – though at first they usually need a tireless parent to continually prod, remind and cajole them into it. The thank yous we receive from very small children may sound token or half-hearted, but there’s a good reason for that: in order to feel true gratitude, our brains need to have developed to the point where we are able to recognise when someone has done something to benefit us and can appreciate the positive things in our lives.

Children may begin to be able to say thank you without prompting between the ages of four and six, but they still have a long way to go.

They need to be taught – kindly, gently and gradually – how to be grateful, because just as language and other cognitive skills take time to develop, gratitude is a way of thinking that needs time to grow and be nurtured. What this means is that as we make an effort to cultivate

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

gratitude in our families, we need to have a little (okay, maybe a lot!) of patience, especially with children under the age of seven. By the age of twelve, children generally have the capacity to interpret situations and recognize when someone’s actions warrant their gratitude.

However, we should lay the groundwork for gratitude as early as possible. Psychologists Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono say that by showing a high level of warmth and empathy to children in their early years, while also setting firm boundaries, parents can help put their kids on a path toward gratitude. It also helps to have ongoing conversations with children about their own and other people’s thoughts and feelings because, according to Froh and Bono, “Children’s comprehension of gratitude by age five is stronger if they have a better understanding of emotional and mental states.”

WHY GRATITUDE CAN BE A CHALLENGE Instilling gratitude in children can sometimes feel like an uphill battle given they are growing up in a culture that increasingly seems to forgive narcissism and even reward it if a quick glance at celebrity news websites and reality television is anything to go by.

We need to concentrate on helping our children to build real selfesteem rather than false self-esteem.

Real self-esteem is not something we give to children by telling them they are special. It is something that grows in children as they develop skills and become more competent and confident. It is all about connectedness, compassion and community – an ability to empathise with others. And from that empathy, true gratitude can arise.

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THE P FILES Anyone who’s ever been on the receiving end of a child’s ingratitude knows that one of the most infuriating things about it is their lack of awareness of just how good they’ve got it.

gratitude to others, give our children fun opportunities to express gratitude and prompt them to think about the good things they have and where those things came from.

While it is easy for us as adults to see how absurd it is to be grateful in the midst of plenty, imagine for a moment what it’s like from our children’s point of view. Compared to any previous time in history, children in the developed world are growing up with far more stuff to want, far more channels by which that stuff is marketed and advertised to them, and more disposable income or credit cards in our wallets with which to buy that stuff. Only a few generations ago, at Christmas a child might have been delighted to get a stocking filled with fruits, nuts, sweets and trinkets. Compare that to the vast array of toys, electronics, music, shoes, clothes and so on children are now convinced they need. Oxygen, water, food, shelter, love – these are what we really need. But thanks to sophisticated marketing and advertising, celebrity endorsements, and children’s strong and valid urge to fit in, high-price consumer goods can seem essential to survival.

Our job is not to force our kids to be grateful. It’s to be there to help them find their own way to a place of genuine thankfulness.

Even when children do receive the things they want, it doesn’t necessarily make them happy, because they are living in a state called the ‘abundance paradox’. Sociologist and senior fellow at the University of California Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center Dr Christine Carter says, “Their disappointment when they don’t get what they want is greater than their gratitude when they do get what they want.” This is because gratitude comes much more easily in times of scarcity. Carter uses the example of a child growing up in a home where there isn’t enough to eat. That child is likely to be more grateful and less picky about the food that is on his or her plate compared to a child whose fridge is full of goodies. Similarly, generations ago it would have been easier to please children with gifts because their closets weren’t already stuffed to bursting with consumer goods. Carter says, “Even underprivileged children in the West have more than most children who live in developing nations.”

TEACHING CHILDREN GRATITUDE The good news is that our children don’t need to be born with a particular personality to become grateful. Because a grateful outlook is something that is learned and developed, there is actually a lot we can do to help foster it in our children.

Gratitude researcher Robert Emmons would agree. He believes that thankfulness comes more naturally for children than it does for adults. “As we get older, the give and take of life is driven by expectations around tit-for-tat reciprocity. Kids have a natural affinity to gratitude. They often teach parents as much or more about gratitude than the other way around.”

Children need to develop a meaningful, genuine sense of gratitude over time; we can’t impose it upon them. There is no point nagging.

And though heaven knows we’ve all thought it sometimes, there is no point in dragging out the old “Think about all the children starving in other countries” line. It’s a shortcut to guilt and resentment, not genuine gratitude. The last thing we want is to create robots who express gratitude without really feeling it. Once children are old enough to understand the concept of giving and thankfulness, it’s time to give them the chance to think about it and really mean it when they say thanks.

A far less hair-pully-outy approach is to make gratitude a daily family habit so that over time it becomes a natural part of our children’s makeup. We are more help to our kids when we show

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And that may well be the greatest gift we can give them.

TIPS, HINTS AND PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR RAISING A

grateful child Write thank-you notes

Never underestimate the power of a simple thank you note. After the birthday party sugar high has worn off, involve children in writing thank you notes for the gifts they received. If they’re very young, have them tell you what they want to say and write it for them. It’s also great to get younger kids to draw pictures that convey their thanks.

Start bedtime rituals Like any other important values, gratitude is most effectively developed when it is introduced from an early age as a daily habit, so try and make it just a normal part of life. Try starting a nightly ritual in which you ask your children at bedtime to tell you about their ‘three good things’ from today – for instance, the things that went well for them that day, the things that make them happy and the things that fill them with love. What a great way to enter the land of nod – happy and mindful of all the good in life. This is a tried and true technique, developed and tested by Martin Seligman, widely considered the father of positive psychology.

Design a gratitude board Have children draw or cut out pictures of things they’re grateful for, or write them down on slips of paper. They can then use these to decorate a gratitude corkboard placed in their bedroom or in a shared part of the house, such as the kitchen, so everybody in the family can take part.

Recognise everyday heroes Ask your children to think about who their everyday heroes are and why. Turning our minds to the everyday people who spend their lives making a difference to our lives reminds us of all we have to be grateful for.

Give to the community You probably have some neighbours, friends or family who need a little help – perhaps they are elderly or disabled, are struggling with their health or have a new baby. Children can lighten their burden by helping with gardening, cooking, household chores and running errands.

For teens, community volunteering is a real win-win as not only will it connect them to others and help them appreciate how much good there is in their life, it is also the type of experience highly valued by employers.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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THE P FILES

Teach media literacy Another way to head off materialism is to help your children become savvy media consumers. Help them deconstruct all the advertising and marketing messages that encourage them to want more and more products rather than to feel happy with what they already have. The job of advertisers and marketers is to encourage a sense of dissatisfaction. By questioning the assumptions in ads, you can help your kids see through the gloss.

Donate gifts Especially at Christmas, many stores take up collections for toys to give to children in struggling families. You may want to help your children select toys or other gifts to purchase to give to less fortunate kids.

Create a Christmas gratitude calendar Christmas can seem like a relentlessly materialistic season, with decorations appearing in stores earlier every year and a barrage of ads everywhere you look. One antidote is to make a gratitude calendar, similar to an Advent calendar. For each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas, an Advent calendar has a little door for kids to open to reveal a message, a toy or a chocolate. The gratitude calendar has 24 empty pockets. Each day, children take a small piece of paper, write on it something they’re grateful for and slip it in the pocket. It could be a lot of fun to spend time on Christmas Day reading all the things everyone’s grateful for.

GRATITUDE: A POSITIVE NEW APPROACH TO RAISING THANKFUL KIDS

21-day GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

In recent times families have been doing 21-day gratitude challenges and sharing their experiences online. In their research, Robert Emmons and David McCullough found that 21 days is the optimal length for a gratitude challenge, because it doesn’t get stale or turn into a burden. If you search online, you will find a host of 21-day plans, with different activities each day. Or the members of your family could take a moment at the same time each day for 21 days to name someone or something for which they are thankful from this list, and briefly explain why: Day 1: a friend Day 2: a treasured possession Day 3: a family member Day 4: someone who helped you Day 5: a teacher Day 6: something in nature that makes you happy Day 7: a part of your body that you like Day 8: a talent or skill you have Day 9: a type of food

RRP $16.99 (eBook $8.99)

Day 10: a machine, gadget, or type of technology

Do you ever give in and buy your kids stuff they’ve been nagging you for… only to find that they’re still not satisfied? Do you sometimes worry that children are growing up in a narcissistic and materialistic world? Do you want to teach your children how they can focus more on what they are thankful for, and less on the negative?

Day 11: something good that happened to you

Children are not always very good at saying thank you or feeling grateful.

This is because none of us are born understanding gratitude we have to learn and develop it. The good news? There is actually a lot we can do to help nurture thankfulness in our children and Gratitude is packed with practical, commonsense tips and hints that have been shown to work. It offers a positive new approach to nurturing thankfulness in children by making gratitude an everyday habit of family life.

Instilling gratitude in our children is about so much more than politeness. Gratitude is linked to greater happiness, a more positive outlook on life, stronger social bonds and support networks, and higher achievement. This book shows how fostering gratitude in our children helps them develop the skills they need for fulfilling and successful futures – in their studies, personal lives, and careers.

Day 12: something good that happened to someone else Day 13: a song Day 14: a colour Day 15: a book that means something to you Day 16: a character in a movie or TV show that taught you something Day 17: something you successfully learned how to do Day 18: a sport or other physical activity Day 19: one of the five senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing, taste) Day 20: a pet or a type of animal Day 21: someone or something that makes you laugh Source: Enlighten Education www.enlighteneducation.com

Dannielle Miller is an author, educator and media commentator. Gratitude: A positive new approach to raising thankful kids is her latest title. Dannielle has been named the NSW/ACT Small Business Champion Entrepreneur, received an Australian Leadership Award and was nominated twice for an Australian of the Year Award. The media has named her one of Australia’s emerging leaders (The Australian), one of Sydney’s most influential people (The Sydney Morning Herald) and one of the most inspiring women over 40 (Prevention). She was a finalist for InStyle’s Women of Style Awards in 2014. Visit her website www.danniellemiller.com to read more about her work and purchase her books.

Follow her blog at www.enlighteneducation.edublogs.org

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

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NOVEMBER 12

Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre See the website for more information. www.pacificfair.com.au/be-involved/whats-on

PACIFIC FAIR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR COMPETITION

NOVEMBER 4

Where: Norman Buchan Park, Bardon Time: 10am – 12pm A super energetic workshop aimed at building confidence, self-esteem and a healthy body.

Dress up in capes and then create your own superhero character complete with catchcry and super powers!

Details: Free. For 5 years and over.

Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

SUPERHERO ESCAPADES

NOVEMBER 1

Where: Helensvale Library Time: 10.30am – 12pm Forget convenience foods and make your own healthy treats. Recipes include coconut roughs, strawberry slice and healthy bubble slice. www.moregoldcoast.com.au

SUGAR-FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS

NOVEMBER 13

The Patio opens from November 12 with 14 new restaurants on Level 1, south-west mall.

Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre www.pacificfair.com.au/be-involved/whats-on

PATIO OPENING AT PACIFIC FAIR

NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK

NOVEMBER 9 TO 15 www.recyclingweek.planetark.org

Where: Various locations Enjoy fine food, art displays, kid’s interactive activities, historical evenings and visiting authors. The festival finishes with Lunch on the Lawn on November 15 where there will be food, wine, family fun, market stalls and live music. www.bulimbafestival.com

BULIMBA FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER 9 TO 15

Where: Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson Time: 2pm – 4pm This interactive drama session will see children acting out a range of animals, exploring animal tongue twisters and dancing to some super fun animal songs.

Details: Free. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

ANIMALIA

NOVEMBER 8

Where: IndigiScapes, Capalaba Time: 10am – 11.30am Designed for children aged 8 – 12 years who have an interest in the conservation of their local environment. It is an opportunity to be creative, learn, share, make friends and participate in local community events. www.indigiscapes.redland.qld.gov.au

INDIGIKIDS CLUB

NOVEMBER 1

Where: Evandale Parklands, Bundall Time: 10am – 4pm Come and experience the whole world in one day! This event unites the many diverse cultures that exist on the Gold Coast.

Entertainment includes music, dance and martial arts, with performers from up to 35 different nations, and children's rides and activities. www.goldcoastculturalfestival.org

GOLD COAST MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER 1

Where: Southport Broadwater Parklands A rich cultural experience for the local community with entertainment including Rouge Night, French market, summer fashion parade, a walk of art and cooking demonstrations.

Details: Free. www.bonjourfrenchfestival.com.au

GOLD COAST BONJOUR FRENCH FESTIVAL

BEN & JERRY’S OPENAIR CINEMA

Where: Southbank Parklands, Brisbane Cinema-goers can chill out before their movie with gourmet food cooked fresh on site and frosty beverages from the licensed bar, while relaxing to sounds from the best of the local music scene. Then once the sun sets, the latest and greatest releases light up our cinema under the stars for a truly memorable experience.

Details: Book online. See website for films showing. www.openaircinemas.com.au

NOVEMBER 7 & 8

UNTIL NOVEMBER 15

november

Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre Santa will be at his new Santa’s Pavilion in Centre Court. www.pacificfair.com.au/be-involved/whats-on

SANTA’S PAVILION AT PACIFIC FAIR

NOVEMBER 14 TO DECEMBER 24

Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre Santa’s arrival parade, free craft workshops, meet and greets with Paw Patrol and Dinosaur Train, centre-wide sale and much more. www.pacificfair.com.au/be-involved/whats-on

ALL THAT SPARKLES – VIP CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

NOVEMBER 14 TO 15

Where: William Duncan State School, Highland Park Time: 10am – 3pm A fun day out for all the family with stalls, rides, BBQ, cake stall, art displays, show bags, a cent auction, performances and entertainment plus loads more. www.willduncss.eq.edu.au

WILLIAM DUNCAN STATE SCHOOL COMMUNITY FUN DAY

NOVEMBER 14

Where: Upper Coomera Time: 10am – 12pm Sparky Do Dah’s Natural Adventures provide outdoor play activities that aim to connect kids with the Gold Coast’s natural environment.

Each adventure includes nature-based activities and games including bushwalking and forest adventures.

Details: For children aged 5 to 10 years.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bookings essential. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

SPARKY DO DAH NATURAL ADVENTURE

NOVEMBER 14

Where: Boundary Street, Spring Hill Spring Hill Alive transforms Boundary Street into a celebration of spring, jam-packed with market stalls, live music, street dining and family activities – something for everyone. www.springhillalive.com.au

SPRING HILL ALIVE

NOVEMBER 14

Where: Banyo Library, Vincents Road Time: 11am – 12pm Enjoy a fun Australian Christmas storytime. Share in Wombat’s Christmas adventure and create your own Australian Christmas tree decoration.

Details: Ideal for children aged 4 to 9 years. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

CHRISTMAS WOMBAT

NOVEMBER 23

Where: Yeronga Memorial Park, Yeronga Time: 2pm – 4pm Come and make your own jungle shakers and play some interactive games with a jungle vibe.

Details: $5. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

JUNGLE JAM

NOVEMBER 22

Where: Raymond Park, Kangaroo Point Time: 10am – 12pm Come and create your own circus character complete with wonderful dress-ups and face paint, then put on a creative showcase for family at the end of the session.

Details: Free. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

CREATE-A-CIRCUS

NOVEMBER 22

Where: Kenmore Library and Inala Library Come along and learn how to play classic card and board games. Ideal for the whole family. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

INTERNATIONAL GAMES DAY

NOVEMBER 21

www.un.org

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY

NOVEMBER 20

Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre See the website for more information. www.pacificfair.com.au/be-involved/whats-on

SANTA’S MORNING TEA WITH LITTLE PACCAS KIDS CLUB

NOVEMBER 17

www.panda.org.au

PERINATAL DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AWARENESS WEEK

NOVEMBER 15 TO 21

Where: South Bank Plaza, Stanley Street, South Brisbane Time: Friday 5pm – 9pm / Saturday 10am – 9pm / Sunday 9am – 4pm Arts and crafts, home wares, object design, photography, furniture, food, fashion, jewellery, vintage and pre-loved clothing, unique wares and accessories.www.southbankmarket.com.au

THE COLLECTIVE MARKETS

EVERY WEEKEND

Where: Hamilton Wharf, Northshore, Brisbane Time: Friday & Saturday 4pm – 10pm / Sunday 10am – 3pm Eat Street is a wonderment of the senses from aromatic international cuisines and vibrant textiles to the enchanting sights and sounds of live performers. www.eatstreetmarkets.com

EAT STREET MARKETS

EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

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

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

MIAMI MARKETTA

EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY

Where: Cnr 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 & SUNDAY

Time: 5pm – 10pm If you're looking for an unusual gift or one-off piece, the beachfront night markets are your one-stop shop. www.surfersparadise.com

BEACHFRONT MARKETS

EVERY WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SUNDAY NIGHT

Where: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Time: 10.30 – 3pm A slightly different selection of stall holders specialising in foods more suited to a late breakfast/lunch. Coffee and beverages are also available with live entertainment. www.cws.org.au/sanctuary-markets

SANCTUARY MARKETS

EVERY SUNDAY

Where: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Time: 4pm – 9pm With a focus on local and international food as well as crafts. Why not eat on site and enjoy the live local music. www.cws.org.au/sanctuary-markets

SANCTUARY MARKETS

FRIDAY NIGHTS

Where: Four locations – Powerhouse, Queen Street, Manly and Mitchelton A colourful bustling market selling fresh farm produce and food related items. A feel good grassroots experience with a positive social and community vibe. www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au

JAN POWERS FARMERS MARKET

WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

MARKETS

- CALENDAR -

Where: Marchant Park, Aspley and Dorrington Park, Ashgrove Songs, craft and storytelling all based on festive themes that come together to make this a fun and interactive workshop that will get everyone into the spirit of Christmas!

Details: $5. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au DECEMBER 12

Where: Playground, DJ Sherrington Park, Inala Time: 10am – 12pm Explore the park to seek inspiration from the trees, which is then followed by a card making session using a combination of new and recycled materials with Christmas trees as the focus. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

SUPERHERO ESCAPADES

COAST / KIDS

Coast

IN THE CITY

RY 2016

to do, “ Things to go!” places

KIDS ON THE

/ JANUA DECEMBER 2015

UMMLIEDARY S SCHOOL HO Guide

Brisbane - Suns

hine Coast - Gold

Where: Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach Time: From 3pm www.broadbeachgc.com

Where: Carindale Recreation Reserve, Carindale and Yeronga Memorial Park, Yeronga Go for a nature walk around the park to collect natural materials such a leaves and twigs to create textures on clay. Then make different types of vessels such as bowls or vases, using the items collected during your walk to decorate them.

Details: $5. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

CHRISTMAS CLAY PLAY

DECEMBER 13

Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre The aim of the Special Children's Christmas Party is to provide more than 3,000 children with a day they will never forget. The children come from four major groups: terminally ill, intellectually impaired, physically impaired and the underprivileged who may be suffering from domestic violence or physical abuse. www.specialchildrenschristmasparty.com.au

SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER 13

Where: The Workshops Rail Museum, North Street, North Ipswich Catch the Christmas spirit with a festive return steam train journey. Add museum entry and enjoy a whole day of Christmas activities.

Details: Family $160, Child (under 15) $34, Adult $48. Under 3 free. www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

CHRISTMAS EXPRESS

DECEMBER 13

Where: Central Park, Pacific Pines Time: 5.30pm – 8.30pm Traditional carols, free children's activities and entertainment including magic show, variety of food stalls, visit with Santa and Rudolf, and fireworks. www.facebook.com/pacificpines

Where: Broadwater Parklands Time: 4pm – 10pm Take a relaxing walk under shimmering lights while browsing unique gifts, grab your last minute stocking fillers or just unwind with seasonal entertainment and delectable Yuletide treats at our European style Christmas food court. With free entertainment, Santa arriving in a helicopter, street food and kids activities. www.christmasmarketsgc.com.au

CHRISTMAS MARKETS GC

DECEMBER 18 TO 20

Where: Michelton Library, Heliopolis Parade Time: 3pm – 4pm Enjoy a fun Australian Christmas storytime.

Share in Wombat’s Christmas adventure and create your own Australian Christmas tree decoration.

Details: Ideal for children aged 4 to 9 years.

Bookings required, call 07 3403 7410. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

CHRISTMAS WOMBAT

DECEMBER 17

Where: Garden City Library, Upper Mt Gravatt Miss Mon has written her own Christmas songs and has created some fun and interactive music games so that you can learn them.

Details: For children aged 5 to 12 years.

Bookings required, call 07 3403 7745. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

MISS MON’S CHRISTMAS MUSIC WORKSHOP

DECEMBER 14

Where: Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise Meet Santa and see Cavill Mall light up this Christmas, as the weather warms up for another great Australian Christmas in Surfers Paradise. www.surfersparadise.com

CHRISTMAS IN SURFERS PARADISE

DECEMBER 13 – DECEMBER 24

Where: Colgate Palmolive Park, Arundel Time: 6pm – 9pm Bring a rug or chair, sit back and enjoy some wonderful local performances at this community Christmas event. Preentertainment starts at 6pm with jumping castle, face painting, glow sticks and food stalls. Concert begins at 7pm ending in spectacular fireworks at 9pm and with a special visit from Santa. www.moregoldcoast.com.au

COLGATE PALMOLIVE CAROLS IN THE PARK

DECEMBER 13

Where: The Workshops Rail Museum, North St, North Ipswich Time: 9.30am – 4pm Thomas fun for the whole family! Meet Thomas and the Fat Controller, get busy in the indoor playground and try driving a train on the simulators!

Details: Family $63, Adult $21, Child (3 to 15 years) $12. www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

DECEMBER 26 TO JANUARY 31

CHRISTMAS DAY

DECEMBER 25

Where: Carindale Library and Coopers Plains Library Bring your Christmas cheer for a special Christmas Eve story time with carol singing and Christmas craft. Ideal for the entire family. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 24

Where: Annerley Library, Ipswich Road With help from The Christmas Snow Angel, the children will enjoy solving this Christmas tale and helping Cheeky Monkey catch the very sneaky Frosty Fox! Details: For children 6 years and under.

Booking required, call 07 3403 1735. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

THE FROSTY FOX STRIKES AGAIN!

DECEMBER 22

Where: Surfers Paradise Beach Time: 6.30pm to 8pm Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy an evening of song with the whole family including fireworks! www.surfersparadise.com

CAROLS ON THE BEACH

DECEMBER 20

Where: Southport Yacht Club Time: 4pm – 7.30pm Great family fun day with a visit from Santa and face painting for the kids. Visitors welcome! www.southportyachtclub.com.au/ about/upcoming-event

CAROLS ON THE BROADWATER

DECEMBER 19

DOWNLOAD FROM OUR WEBSITE ON NOVEMBER 27

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.

Visit our website to sign up for our weekly What’s On guide.

Don’t miss out on any events!

BROADBEACH CHRISTMAS CAROLS

DECEMBER 12

Where: Riverstage, Gardens Point Road, Brisbane Time: From 5pm The Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols is a much-loved free family event. Join some of Australia’s most renowned singers and entertainers as they ignite the big stage in this joyous and magical celebration of Christmas. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

LORD MAYOR’S CHRISTMAS CAROLS

DECEMBER 12

Where: Annerley Library, Ipswich Road Time: 10am Enjoy a fun Australian Christmas storytime.

Share in Wombat’s Christmas adventure and create your own Australian Christmas tree decoration.

Details: Ideal for children aged 4 to 9 years.

Bookings required, call 07 3403 1735. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/ libraries

CHRISTMAS WOMBAT

DECEMBER 8

Where: Mowbray Park, East Brisbane Time: 2pm – 4pm A super energetic workshop aimed at building confidence, self-esteem and a healthy body.

Dress up in capes and then create your own superhero character complete with catchcry and super powers!

Details: Free. For 5 years and over. Book online. www.bazilgrumble.com.au

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

CHRISTMAS CRAFT AND GAMES

CHRISTMAS CARD MAKING

DECEMBER 6

DECEMBER 12

DECEMBER 5

DECEMBER

Brisbane Arts Theatre www.artstheatre.com.au DECEMBER 18 & 19

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Brisbane Arts Theatre www.artstheatre.com.au NOVEMBER 20

JUSTINE CLARKE PYJAMA JAM TOUR

- in the city

* 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

- on the coast

Concert Hall, QPAC, South Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Gardens Theatre, QUT www.gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au

NOVEMBER 21 TO DECEMBER 19

UNTIL NOVEMBER 14

SHOWTIME

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

LIBRARY EVENTS

Where: Morningside. 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

NOVEMBER 29

Where: Sacred Heart Primary School, Brighton Rd, Sandgate Time: 2pm – 6pm Retro chic and vintage hip, Billycart Markets are a unique boutique market shopping experience. www.billycartmarkets.com

BILLYCART MARKETS CHRISTMAS TWILIGHT MARKET

NOVEMBER 28

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 MARKET

NOVEMBER 1 & 15 / DECEMBER 6 & 20

SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVELLING WITH KIDS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR YOUR NEXT FAMILY ADVENTURE

by Lara Cain Gray ‘TO TRAVEL IS TO LIVE’ SAID CELEBRATED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON. SEEING NEW PLACES AND TAKING A BREAK FROM ROUTINE INVIGORATES, REFRESHES AND INSPIRES US. OF COURSE, HANS PROBABLY NEVER HAD TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS SCREAMING ‘ARE WE THERE YET?’ IN THE BACK OF HIS HORSE AND CARRIAGE! TRAVEL CAN BE ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES YOU’LL EVER SHARE AS A FAMILY, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE PRETTY CHALLENGING. FAMILY TRAVEL REQUIRES A LOT MORE PLANNING THAT TRAVELLING SOLO, BUT THE REWARDS ARE WELL WORTH THE EFFORT!

WHY SHOULD YOU TRAVEL WITH KIDS? QUALITY TIME It’s a term that’s a little overused, but ‘quality time’ really is invaluable for families with children of any age. Taking a trip together means switching off from work, school and household chores, and just being in each other’s company for a while. You might find time to talk about some of the things that get missed in the daily rush and get to know a little more about what’s important to your kids right now.

NEW EXPERIENCES Travel is also about sharing new experiences with your children.

If you’re travelling far afield, encourage the kids to learn about the local culture, food and language as you do. If you’re staying close to home, keep in mind that even a spot you’ve visited 10 times before will still hold new experiences for growing children. Can they swim further this year than last year? Are there new kinds of shells on the beach?

Caz Makepeace, creator of popular travel blog yTravel, explores the world for a living with her husband and young children. Travelling with kids “helps them become global thinkers”, says Caz. “It fosters a deep curiosity, which I believe is where all innovation starts. We want children growing up to be amazing innovators and open-minded thinkers.”

LIFE SKILLS Taking a trip also comes with a bundle of opportunities for bigger life lessons and skills development. Encourage the kids to help you

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

out with research, planning, budgeting and following maps. Once you’re on the road, there will be learning opportunities around tolerance, sharing, patience and resilience, especially if anything should not go to plan.

In Caz’s experience, spending time discovering new places and stepping away from routine has made her kids more confident, adaptable and willing to try new things. “They learn how to stay connected to awe and wonder,” Caz says. And she believes they will carry a deeper appreciation of the world with them for life as a result of these experiences.

MEMORIES One of the most important reasons to get out and about with your family is that it creates amazing memories! We all remember the family holidays we took as children: from our first time on a plane to the camping trip when it rained or the day we visited a special museum or zoo. These memories become building blocks for the picture we carry through life of our childhood, as well as our experience of parenthood.

Caz and her family are big believers in making the most of every day. yTravel blog is packed with the tips and tricks they’ve learned about travelling safely, on a budget, with the kids – not someday, but today. “Embrace each moment that you have now,” she says.

Whether it’s a major overseas holiday or a weekend at the beach, travelling with your kids is a fantastic way to create and appreciate those extra special family moments.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

SPECIAL FEATURE

TOP TIPS AND ‘MUST-HAVES’ FOR TRAVELLING WITH KIDS Although travelling with kids can be a wonderful experience, it’s important to remember that kids will be kids – and holiday time is no different. They may get sick, they may get bored, and they may not enjoy or appreciate the same activities as you do. Be flexible, have patience and travel slowly is the advice from Caz, and other local families we spoke to agree.

Slowing down the pace of the holiday is key, according to fatherof-two Shane, whose family recently toured Europe together.

“Racing around to see as much as possible with the kids in tow just doesn’t work,” Shane says. “They need some regular time to just be kids – to play at a park or go get an ice cream.”

Brisbane dad Greg travelled to the USA with his young family and recalls getting a lesson in patience when his children were completely underwhelmed by the Grand Canyon. As he and his wife admired the view, the kids saw only “a big hole in the ground”. Kids will always have their own personal list of the things they’ve found amazing on your holiday. It just may not be the same as your list!

So, as much as you may be longing for a dream holiday yourself, remember that your trip needs to be enjoyable for the whole family. Whether it’s a major overseas trip or just a weekend at the beach, finding family-friendly options for accommodation and activities, as well as the big ticket tourist attractions, will probably make your trip easier for everyone.

Here are a few ideas.

ACCOMMODATION > Sleep It’s always tempting to save money on a family holiday by opting for a one-room apartment or smaller sized beach cabin. While you may all physically fit in a smaller space, try to determine whether you’re likely to get a good night’s sleep there. Overtired children (or parents!) can really spoil the next day’s activities. > Security Nothing spoils a holiday like having your cabin broken into or feeling that you can’t allow the kids to safely explore the local area.

While you can’t plan for every eventuality, you can take the time to ask your accommodation about their child-friendly safety features like fencing, balcony structures, pool rules and proximity to main roads or beaches. When it comes to valuables, check whether there are room safes or lockers at reception to avoid leaving things lying around while you’re out sightseeing.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

> Sustenance Do you ever feel as though your children have bottomless pits for stomachs? Well, they are often hungrier than ever when they’re enjoying an active holiday! Choosing an apartment with its own kitchen or opting for camping puts you in better control of your meals. Plan each day’s dinners ahead and pack plenty of healthy snacks that can be grabbed on the way to the pool or tossed into a bag for a bush walk. Be sure you know where the nearest general store is for when you need to refuel. Eating out is fun, of course, and a great way to get to know the local area. Just keep in mind that it can become costly and unhealthy if you’re doing it every day.

TOP TIP: Greg and Shane both suggest advantages to travelling with other families. This provides instant company for the kids, adult conversation for the grown-ups and potential babysitters if you’d like to take turns getting away for dinner or a show.

Just be prepared to compromise on a few activities, give each other space when needed and get in early for tour or restaurant bookings to ensure the whole group can be together.

PACKING Packing for a family holiday can make you feel as though you’re moving house rather than getting away for the weekend. Gone are the days of popping a few things into an overnight bag and heading for the airport. Now you’re considering clothes (for all weather eventualities), toys (some for the pool and others in case it rains), prams, nappies…the list goes on. One good tip is to remember that you’re not (usually) travelling to Timbuktu; there will probably be shops where extra nappies or emergency toys can be purchased, rather than trying to squeeze absolutely everything into your suitcase.

Other smart packing ideas include: • Pack washing powder. Do a quick load during the week rather than packing seven days’ worth of clothing.

• Invest in a travel first aid kit. This helps avoid midnight dashes to the shops and takes up less space in your bag than whole packets of Band-Aids or Panadol.

• Bring your prescriptions. Finding a doctor and then seeing a doctor who’s not familiar with your health history is stressful when you’re away from home. The more information you have to hand, the better.

• With all the gadgets we now rely on, don’t forget your chargers, power boards and adaptors.

TOP TIP: Caz says her must-have item for road trips is scooters for the children. “This will be a life-saver when you want to go for walks and will save your back from months of chiropractic work!” she says.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

25

SPECIAL FEATURE

TRAVELLING To enjoy travelling in a car, train or plane, kids really need to be kept engaged, fed or asleep! Plan ahead to ensure you have a few tricks up your sleeve to alleviate boredom and help everyone feel excited about the journey. Some ideas include: • Choose a flight or set off in the car at a time when the children would normally be asleep. This way they can nap through the most ‘boring’ part of the journey.

• Space out meal breaks. Flights tend to do this for you, but if you’re driving, plan periodic rest stops for food and leg stretching.

TOP TIP: For flights, if you have more than one adult in the group, Greg suggests ordering a special meal (i.e. vegetarian) for one of the parents. Special meals arrive with the kids’ meals, so one adult can eat in peace whilst the other helps the kids.

Afterwards, when the regular meals come out, the other adult also gets to eat with minimal interruption.

• Invest in a map or app that helps kids follow your travel journey.

Some apps include nifty interactive tools that link from the map to local tourist sites or notifications if there is heavy traffic ahead. This way everyone knows exactly how much longer there is to go!

• Speaking of apps, while tablets and game devices can provide excellent entertainment for short periods of your trip, they’re also very stimulating. Consider popping a few audio book versions of the kids’ favourites on their gadgets to keep them occupied, but still relaxed.

• Browse online before you leave for easy travel games. Eye Spy is just the beginning! Consider downloading and laminating a free game of travel bingo or jotting down ideas for travelrelated word games.

TOP TIP: Shane suggests comfortable clothing for the kids and keeping sugar intake to a minimum on long journeys. For entertainment, his family encourages journals where the kids can write or draw about the things they’ve seen that day – or the things they’re looking forward to seeing when they arrive.

IDEAS FOR ENTERTAINMENT EN ROUTE Travel Bingo: www.crayola.com.au Road Trip Word Game: www.crayola.com.au Roald Dahl Audio Book Collection: www.roalddahl.com Bound Round Kids’ Travel App: Visit the iTunes store There’s Nothing Like Australia Travel App: Visit the iTunes store

WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG No matter how much planning and organising you do, there will always be unexpected challenges on a family holiday. Some survival tips include: > Role model patience!

First and foremost, try to keep your cool when inconveniences impact your trip. For minor issues, take the opportunity to show your children that changes of plan are okay and little mishaps are not the end of the world. When it comes to more serious problems, remember that succumbing to road rage or abusing a flight attendant will only cause additional stress for your family, not to mention potentially landing you in legal trouble. > Have a ‘Plan B’ in mind It’s always disappointing if the weather turns nasty or the main attraction in the town is inexplicably closed for maintenance. Try not to hang all your expectations on only one aspect of your trip. For example, track down a list of local museums to visit on a day when it’s too wet for the beach. You never know what you might discover! > Don’t fixate on routines Some parents find it very stressful when their children stray from their usual home routine. It may be worth letting the kids have a little more screen time or stay up an hour later than usual if it helps the holiday run smoothly. Talk to them about the fact that holiday rules are different from home rules, and the usual routines will still apply when your break is over. > Make it special, no matter what Try to make the holiday ‘special’ even if it’s not what you expected.

Grab some popcorn and settle in for a family movie night, or get out and take that bush walk even if it’s raining. Years from now, your family will thank you for funny memories of making the best of a bad situation rather than cancelling the whole trip.

Most importantly, don’t write off the possibility of family travel because it seems all too hard. “My perspective is that parenting is hard regardless of whether you are travelling or not,” says Caz. “The difference is the parts in between. When you're at home you're trying to fit in busy schedules amongst the challenges and ordinary moments. But, when you travel you turn those ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.”

For the latest advice and information about family travel, visit yTravel Blog: www.ytravelblog.com

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

ADVERTISEMENT/LOCAL BUSINESS

Free family fun in Ipswich for the summertime What’s better than a summer holiday? Loads of free family fun that lasts all summer long. Ipswich has plenty of fun family activities and events to keep the kids cool and entertained this summer, without breaking the budget.

Covering a total area of 3,660m2, the new Orion Lagoon in the Robelle Domain parklands at Springfield Central is one of the largest public swimming lagoons in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy a swim with the kids in the main lagoon with a depth up to 1.5m, laze in the shade under the large poolside umbrellas and cook up lunch or dinner in the BBQ gallery. For the smaller kids you can explore the water play areas in the elongated tail of the lagoon including water squirts, stepping stones, water running over rocks and wading areas.

Head further into Robelle Domain and you’ll discover a separate zero-depth water play area with huge tipping bucket, interactive playground, café, 11km of walking and cycling paths, picnic spots, large open play area and a nightly sound and light show.

More water play is on offer at Bob Gamble Park in the River Heart Parklands, situated along the southern bank of the Bremer River in Ipswich Central. The park’s state-of-the-art aquativity zone features stepping stones surrounded by streams of water, a zero-depth water play area and terraces, as well as interactive water pumps, troughs and wheels for imaginative play.

It’s not just wet fun on offer. Bob Gamble Park also offers a discovery forest, fort, spider web style climbing frame, swings, large slide and a 25m flying

fox. Explore the rest of the River Heart Parklands and you’ll find pram-friendly boardwalks along the river’s edge and picnic spots. At night, keep your eyes on the water to see if you can spot Ipswich’s own family of mythical sea creatures – Ippy, Limey and Stoney.

After cooling down with water play, head to Queens Park in Ipswich Central.

This fantastic park, one of the oldest in Queensland, boasts plenty to entertain the family. After the kids go wild in the railway and mining inspired playground, discover the real animals with a visit to Queens Park’s free Ipswich Nature Centre. See wallabies, wombats, emus and bilbies, just to name a few, in authentic habitats and check out the walk-through bird aviary and farm animal nursery. The kids will also love the fun interactive displays in the Environmental Education Centre.

For kids, Ipswich is more than just parks and playgrounds with great family events over the early summer sure to keep them entertained. Check out the Imagine this… exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery (on until 27 November).

This interactive exhibition gives kids the chance to use colourful and creative craft materials to imagine and make something, then take their creation home or display it in the gallery for others to see. From 30 November up until Christmas, there’s an array of impressive light and decoration displays as part of the 2015 Ipswich City Christmas Lights Competition.

FAMILY FUN FOR SUMMER

Discover this and more family fun at www.discoveripswich.com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

27

EDUCATION

GREAT EDUCATION: LESSONS FOR AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS

by Megan Blandford

There is no doubt that education needs to be one of the highest priorities for any nation. While we have a great education system in Australia in many ways, it certainly isn’t perfect, and for Australia to both serve its society and play competitively on the global stage, it’s vital that we aim to be among the top of the world’s education rankings. To do that, and ensure continuous improvement to benefit current and future generations of students, experts say we should look at the bigger picture of what’s working for our global neighbours.

First, we need to understand the data presented to us and be realistic about what we need to improve upon. While the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings and other tests run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that Australia’s placing is dropping, that isn’t the whole story. “When we first started doing the tests in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, there were less countries participating so the field was smaller,” explains Dr Stewart Riddle, senior education lecturer from the University of Southern Queensland. “Back then, Australia came second in literacy in 2002 and by 2012 we’d slipped down to thirteenth, but there are other factors taking place.”

It’s worth noting that the drop in score is minimal. “When we talk about the drop from second to thirteenth, the difference in scores

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

is very slight,” says Riddle. “It’s not that we’re doing worse; it’s that other countries are doing better than they used to.”

With that context in mind, let’s look at where we could improve in order to meet Australia’s stated goal of being in the top five by 2025.

THE BIG DIVIDE Chris Bonner, education expert and author of the book The Stupid Country: How Australia is Dismantling Public Education, says there are many layers to the problems we need to solve in our education system. “The biggest problem in Australia compared with higher achieving countries is the way we organise our schools,” Bonner explains. “PISA tells us something which is really handy to know: countries that don’t do as well tend to divide their kids into schools that are quite advantaged and schools that are disadvantaged. We do a lot of that in Australia, and we’re starting to suffer because of it.”

Such advantages can include more subjects – and therefore opportunities – offered in higher socio-economic areas and the rise of academically selective schools. Even the home environment counts as an educational advantage, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlighting that Queensland children from families with English- speaking, coupled parents who are more highly educated generally perform better at school.

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EDUCATION

The problem with this is the divide it is creating socially, culturally and in education results. “When you start placing your kids into schools that are advantaged or disadvantaged, the disadvantaged ones do noticeably worse,” says Bonner. “There’s no net gain for the country as a whole.”

Riddle adds, “We have a huge proportion of students, around 30%, who do really badly. They’re rural kids, kids in poverty, Indigenous kids, disabled kids and refugee kids. If we focus on trying to help those kids, our overall performance would end up skyrocketing.” In Australia, the access to quality education seems to be based on the luck of the geographical and socio-economic draw in which you are born.

This divide, Bonner argues, is quickly widening. “The gap in Australia between schools that are advantaged and schools that are disadvantaged is increasing; the My School data clearly shows this,” says Bonner. He’s quick to add that this isn’t indicative of the quality of individual schools. “It’s not a gap created by quality or between good schools and bad schools; it’s a gap created because of who the schools enrol.”

To improve on this system, Bonner says we need to learn from our northern American friends. “Canada is a very good example of how we could do better,” he says. Why? Well, Canada is the highest performing English-speaking country on the PISA and has only 6% of its students in private schools (with Catholic schools being part of the non-fee- paying public school system). This system – and certainly other layers within the nation’s education success – creates equality for students. While those from higher socio-economic areas perform on a par with those from Australia, they’re also on equal footing with their fellow Canadian students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Canada isn’t our only strong role model. Europe, too, has some world-class examples of great education systems, and not just in the Scandinavian countries we often hear of. “Poland, for example, abolished all its selective schools in the early 2000s, and their national student achievement levels rose,” says Bonner. The PISA report concurs, stating: “(Poland’s) overall improvement has meant that disadvantaged students have greater chances of being resilient and beating the odds against them.” That’s a powerful motivator for Australia to analyse and consider action towards such a goal.

TOP OF THE SCHOOL CHARTS: ASIA AND SCANDINAVIA There are two geographic areas we are often told to try emulating, due to their consistently high global rankings: Asia and Scandinavia. There are pros and cons to the approaches of each of these regions, though.

“One argument is that we should be looking to Asia, because they’re out performing us on these international tests,” says Riddle.

“But, to generalise, the Chinese and South Korean education systems have large classes with teachers who are authoritarian, students are quiet and do what they are told, and there’s a highly competitive pressure on them to perform.”

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

While the pressure of long hours of schooling followed by daily private tuition in order to fight for the top place obviously breeds results, there are sacrifices. “This authoritarian approach stifles innovation, creativity, problem solving and lateral thinking,” says Riddle, adding that these nations are looking to other countries – like Australia – to find ways to incorporate these skills into their next generations.

It seems that before we convince ourselves to follow other countries’ leads, we need to first decide the cultural statement we want to make towards education. This might mean the high performance of Asian countries is not our best role model.

Turning our heads towards Scandinavian countries offers an entirely different perspective with similarly high results. “For a long time, Finland has been held up as the golden child of education, and what’s interesting is that they do things completely differently,” says Riddle. “They don’t start school until the age of seven and they don’t have centralised testing.” This approach is also vastly different to the Australian system and would require careful analysis before the adoption of any similar practices.

What the top Asian and Scandinavian countries do have in common is the respect and high value held for the teaching profession. “It’s more difficult in Finland to become a teacher than it is to become a medical doctor,” says Riddle.

Bonner adds that some Asian countries are leading in that field too, saying, “In Shangai, China, they do a lot better in the areas of teacher training and teacher development than us.” This in turn helps to create an education system that works for the country and its students.

This level of teacher education and professional respect is, perhaps, a common ground of the top countries that needs to be analysed in our own education system. “We have the opposite to that in Australia; we’ve de-professionalised and demonised the profession,” Riddle argues. “Culturally, we don’t value education in the same way as they do in Scandinavia or south-eastern Asian countries.” Like anything that’s important, this isn’t a quick fix, but is a cultural shift that needs to be led from the top and, as such, will require strong policy change and direction.

Change, of course, is going to take some serious policy overhaul. And while we may not be looking to replicate the specific system of any of our international friends, we could certainly take pieces from some of these high-rating countries and adapt them to our own nation.

Whichever way we go the experts insist it is certainly time for some changes. “We’re continuing with school in the same way that we have for about 600 years and it’s a bit factory-like; kids have to jump through all these hoops,” Bonner says of the current system in Australia.

It isn’t all bad news, however. We’re getting a lot of things right in our school system. Bonner says, “The curriculum, the teaching quality, the way we assess kids and the way we monitor standards; we do all that pretty well in schools.”

Riddle adds, “Let’s not fly into a panic when new data is released.

What the statistics tell us is that overall we have a fairly robust, quality education system.”

But if there’s one thing the education system can learn from itself, it’s that there is always room to learn more and improve.

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

31

BABIES

Earning your

mummy stripes

by Kerryn Anker UNEXPECTED CHANGES TO YOUR BODY AFTER BUB For new mums, information on what to expect when you are expecting normally only extends to your bundle of joy and how you can both navigate through this unfamiliar territory unscathed.

But in the haze of the early days you may stop for a second to look in the mirror, wondering where that radiant pregnancy glow went, why your favourite pair of shoes is now one size too small and why earning your stripes has a different connotation now that your body has been stretched to its limits.

Expectations and preconditioned imagery of what a woman’s body will look like after having a baby don’t always match the reality, from that belly bump that doesn’t seem to want to budge to shedding more hair than the family cat.

Knowledge of what to expect, the longevity of these changes and how to embrace these newfound womanly curves can make the transition into motherhood a little less rocky and the road forward a lot smoother.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Robyn Aldridge says there isn’t a strong focus among expecting mothers to discuss or seek information on the changes that occur to their bodies after birth, with many understandably more focused on the labour.

Dr Aldridge says changes in the size and shape of the abdomen, breasts and shoe size, as well as hair loss and a weak pelvic floor are particularly common occurrences for most women after having a baby.

“It is important for women to expect some or all of these changes and recognise that they are part of the process,” she says.

“It will take time to recover, but if you’re worried about any particular ramifications, it is a good idea to discuss them with your obstetrician at the postnatal visit – usually six weeks after birth.”

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

A LITTLE EXTRA BAGGAGE Feeling like a so-called ‘yummy mummy’ in the early days is a phrase many new mums don’t feel they can relate to. After the abdominal muscles have stretched and strained over the nine-month pregnancy, what’s left for many women is a little extra, unwanted baggage.

Mater Mothers’ Hospital in Brisbane encourages women to move well and get plenty of rest during their pregnancy to help with the recovery of their body post-birth. Reducing excess strain can help protect the tummy and pelvic floor muscles.

Sunshine Coast author and mother-of-two Rebecca Mugridge says adjusting to life as a mum was a challenge in itself, let alone dealing with the visible changes to her body after giving birth to her daughters. “My body was very different and I didn’t feel like myself anymore after putting on more than 30kg during my first pregnancy.

I felt ugly, overweight and extremely stressed,” says Rebecca.

“I had this expectation that my body would bounce back, like the celebrities bodies do. I felt this pressure to look like I did pre-pregnancy and was surprised by the many changes that had happened to my body.”

After feeling like she was trapped within her own house and her own body, Rebecca decided to start walking with her baby in her pram to get some fresh air and a new perspective. Building back up her confidence with each step she was taking, Rebecca used her personal experience of the changes to her post-birth body to write the parenting book, The Pram Diet.

“Even after all the walking there are still saggy bits on my tummy and stretch marks, but I have embraced these changes and have let go of that image I had of my younger self pre-baby,” Rebecca says.

“I became more realistic that, as a mum, I am going to look different and that my tummy is going to be a little saggy from now on.”

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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BABIES

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN In life what goes up, in most cases, has to come down. As a new mum, this isn’t something that you expect to relate to your cup size. With increased levels of hormones pumping through the body during pregnancy, many expecting mums may notice that their breasts have gotten bigger. Despite all the stretching and growing the body goes through during this time, some mums notice that they have a smaller cup size, months after giving birth.

WHEN THE SHOE DOESN’T FIT

• squats (can be onto a chair or with assistance from a Swiss ball)

A big surprise for some new mums after having their baby is the discovery that their favourite pair of heels no longer fit. This is extremely confusing for a sleep-deprived mum who can’t quite work out why all the shoes in her wardrobe have now shrunk.

• any aerobic work such as bike, walking, deep-water running, aqua aerobics, swimming, dancing, jogging or whatever you enjoy

“I knew that sometimes your feet swelled during pregnancy, but I was unaware that your feet can increase in size completely and even become wider,” she says.

“There are all these heels and boots that I can no longer wear. It could be seen as a good excuse to go shoe shopping.”

HAIR LOSS

F rom bump to birth and beyond

- on the coast

- in the city

DOWNLOAD OUR BABIES GUIDE

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au www.kidsinthecity.com.au

During pregnancy, most women are thrilled to witness their hair growing at a rapid rate and, in some cases, becoming thicker. This is caused by an increase in oestrogen levels in the body, which prolong the growing phase of your hair and result in less hair falling out. A pregnant woman will lose less hair on a daily basis compared to what she did beforehand.

However, once bub is born, it is very common for these luscious locks to shed as the hormone levels in the body drop.

Doctors find this to be a real concern for new mums who are fearful of going bald. But they assure new mums that this is a temporary phase and should calm down when bub is around six-months-old.

DON’T FORGET THOSE PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES It’s drilled into you from the start of your pregnancy right through to after bub is born, but those simple pelvic floor exercises you do while brushing your teeth actually make a world of difference.

Exercise physiologist Esme Soan says 50% of women have some degree (symptomatic or asymptomatic) of pelvic organ prolapse postpartum. She says it is very important to do your pelvic floor exercises every day with 92% of mums with stress urinary

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“At the end of pregnancy the weight of the baby on the pelvic floor has been found to be equivalent to a 100kg man standing on a trampoline.

“Many mothers I see are really keen to get back into shape and exercise after having their baby, but steps should be taken to repair and protect the pelvic floor prior to engaging in any high impact or high intensity exercise.”

Rebecca says after making peace with all the changes to her body after giving birth to her two girls, she was shocked to discover after her second pregnancy she could no longer fit into her shoes.

Our guide to

“The pelvic floor is a complex web of muscle, fascia and fibrous tissue. It functions to support the pelvic organs and help control bladder and bowel function,” Esme says.

Writer and mother Jenn Rian has seen the humorous side to the change in her cup size, creating the hashtag #ThingsThatLookLikeMyPostBabyBoobs. Using everyday items and placing them on her chest to illustrate how her body has changed, Jenn has likened her breasts to such things as deflated balloons and bread dough.

Doctors believe that due to the extra weight and increased looseness of joints during pregnancy, the arch of the foot can in fact flatten out.

BABIES

incontinence at 12 weeks postpartum still having issues five years down the track.

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

Esme says five great exercises that are appropriate and pelvic floor safe for pregnancy and postpartum include:

• wall push-ups • side planks • belly breathing – inhale and let your belly expand and pelvic floor relax. Then exhale and gently draw up your pelvic floor and imagine drawing your belly button to your spine to engage your lower abdominals.

Personal trainer and mother-of-two Cassandra Porter runs a ‘me time’ mums fitness class in Brisbane, encouraging women to dedicate some time to themselves, nurturing and empowering their bodies.

Cassandra says the ‘me time’ class is about mums looking after and caring for themselves, while releasing those feel-good endorphins that make you feel calm and relaxed.

“As women, we spend so much time devoted to our children and our family. It’s equally important to look after ourselves as well as feel positive about our bodies,” she says.

“My body went through so many changes after having my two girls, but I acknowledged that it was all part of the process. At the end of the day you have created this amazing human being – that’s what is most important.”

RESOURCES

Dr Robyn Aldridge, obstetrician and gynaecologist (Eve Health): www.evehealth.com.au Mater Mother’s Private Hospital: www.matermothers.org.au Esme Soan, exercise physiologist (Pear Exercise Physiology Pregnancy & Women’s Health): www.pearpregnancy.com.au Rebecca Mugridge, author: www.authorrebeccamugridge.com Cassandra Porter, personal trainer (Positive BODY Personal & Group Training): Email positivebodypt@live.com Raising Children’s Network: www.raisingchildren.net.au Pregnancy, Birth & Baby: www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au | www.kidsinthecity.com.au

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

35

GOOD HEALTH

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES

by Amy McAlister SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY CHILD’S SPEECH? IS MY CHILD’S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AGE APPROPRIATE? THESE ARE OFTEN QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK THEMSELVES. PARENTS OFTEN HEAR THE TERMS ‘SPEECH’ AND ‘LANGUAGE’ IN REFERENCE TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHAT DO THEY MEAN AND IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO CAN HELP PARENTS IDENTIFY WHETHER THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES AND START ADDRESSING THESE. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Speech refers to the sound we use to make words when talking.

Language is what we say, understand, read and write. Language also includes our non-verbal communication such as the use of body language and gesture. Language is further divided into two parts: receptive and expressive language. Receptive language is our comprehension and expressive language is talking.

Babies initially start communicating by crying, smiling, cooing and making eye contact.

While each child’s speech and language develops at a different rate, there are certain milestones that should be reached by a certain age. When these milestones are not met, it can cause concern for parents and could be an indicator that your child may need some extra support. Difficulties in speech and language development can be common, with 20% of four-year-old children having difficulty understanding or using language.

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

From six to nine months of age, babies start experimenting with sounds by babbling.

From 12 months of age, babies begin to use real words.

From two years of age, children start combining words (e.g. “push car”) and should have a vocabulary of approximately 50 words.

At two years, half of their speech should be understood.

From three years, children start to use longer sentences, their vocabulary should now be 200 or more words and their speech should be understood approximately 75% of the time.

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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GOOD HEALTH

Children should be 95-100% intelligible from five years of age.

At this time children start to develop pre-literacy skills (skills that are required for reading and writing) such as awareness of individual sounds, rhyming and syllables.

SCHOOL AGE Speech and language difficulties can affect learning at school.

Children may experience difficulties with their literacy, numeracy or social skills in interacting with their peers. Children with speech or language impairment are six times more likely to have difficulty with reading than children without.

Children who have difficulty in the classroom with following directions or completing their schoolwork may be misinterpreted as having behavioural issues, when in fact they may have language difficulty impacting on their ability to keep up with the school work and their peers. If your child is having difficulty at school, it may be worthwhile having an assessment completed by a speech pathologist.

WHAT MIGHT INDICATE PROBLEMS? ‘Red flags’ are signs that a child might not be developing at an age appropriate level. Some red flags for speech and language issues include: • difficulty playing with peers or toys in the same way other children their age do • difficulty following directions • limited sound use • limited use of words • using gesture more often than words • becoming frustrated by their communication • difficulty being understood by parents and caregivers.

It is common for children to present with some difficulties using sounds. Sounds develop at different ages. Sounds such as /p//b// t//d/ develop earlier and /s//r//v//th/ develop later. Sounds may be left off, added or changed, for example, “bo” for “boat”, “tar” for “car, “wabbit” for “rabbit”. If errors continue past the expected age then your child may have a speech difficulty.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO HELP? There are things parents and caregivers can do to assist a child’s speech and language development.

• Talk to your child often. This will help them learn new words.

• Be at their eye level when you speak so they can see how you say the words.

• Follow their lead and interests.

• Play with your child. Children learn through experience!

• Listen and respond when your child talks.

• Sing songs with your child.

- Use language that is grammatically correct.

• Give your child opportunity to talk and ask questions.

• Model the correct way to say sounds.

• Read books with your child every day.

• Point out words that you see in books and on signs.

WHERE TO FROM HERE? Trust your instincts! If you suspect your child may have difficulties with their speech or language development, discussing your concerns with your child’s general practitioner, paediatrician or teacher is a good place to start.

They may suggest you seek support from a speech pathologist.

A speech pathologist will conduct an assessment, provide individualised therapy and teach parents and caregivers how to facilitate speech and language development at home.

Having your child’s hearing assessed may also be beneficial, even if you think your child’s hearing is fine. It is important to ensure your child hears sounds at a variety of volumes and pitches as even mild hearing impairments can cause speech and language difficulties.

Early intervention is key. If a child needs help with their speech or language development it is important to get assistance as soon as possible. Early speech and language development is important for future success in academic and personal life. The earlier a child receives help, the better their language outcome will be.

CAUSES

USEFUL LINKS

The causes of speech and language impairment are often unknown, however may be attributable to:

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au www.hanen.org

• a child’s environment during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood • family history • hearing impairment or frequent ear infections • developmental disorders • genetic syndromes • neurological disorders.

Amy McAlister is a certified practising Speech Pathologist at Youthrive. Amy has extensive experience in assessing, diagnosing and treating children and adolescents across a range of areas including speech, language, voice and fluency, as well as addressing feeding difficulties.

For more information visit www.youthrive.com.au

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

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As a matter of routine, when accepting an orthodontic treatment plan parents are required to acknowledge their children’s teeth could be damaged. At best, unless they commit to permanent use of a retainer, patients can expect almost definite relapse and worst case scenarios may include enamel damage, root resorption or, in the case of corrective jaw surgery, painful lifelong complications. Unfortunately, while parents are becoming more aware of the risks and limitations of traditional orthodontics and generating impetus towards more stable, less invasive treatments, they are often not being fully informed of all the available options.

Despite the increased recognition regarding the shortcomings of traditional orthodontic treatments and escalating demand for contemporary options, the causes of crooked teeth are often unclear to parents. These causes must be highlighted to parents so they can make an informed decision regarding their children’s oral health and decide which treatment is most suitable. Three in four 21st century children will experience crooked teeth and traditionally, parents, as well as the dental professionals advising them, have attributed this to hereditary factors. However, modern research demonstrates that rather than genetics, the causes of malocclusion (crooked teeth or misaligned jaws) are predominately environmental.

The most current evidence, which is not often presented to parents during orthodontic consultation, reveals the majority of malocclusions are caused by incorrect jaw development. This incorrect development restricts the space available for erupting teeth and prevents them from growing into their ideal natural position. For the best part of the last century, the easiest fix for this

problem has been to extract healthy permanent teeth and then use braces to align the remaining teeth into underdeveloped jaws. For countless orthodontic patients these mechanical, invasive treatments only patch over the symptoms while failing to address the underlying causes of crooked teeth, and relapse is one predictable outcome.

An increasing number of dental professionals are accepting the necessity for new, modern treatment methods, which address the causes rather than the symptoms of malocclusion. These practitioners recognise that in addition to environmental factors, such as the modern diet, inhibited jaw development is being caused by poor myofunctional (lips, cheeks and tongue) habits including thumb sucking, reverse swallowing and mouth breathing. Once the myofunctional causes of crooked teeth have been identified, the potential for healthy, natural growth is unlocked and myofunctional treatment methods, which can produce stable results without invasive techniques, become possible. Additionally, these pre-orthodontic treatment methods can be completed much sooner than, or if necessary even in conjunction with, braces.

However, despite the weight of evidence, increased parental demand for more stable, less invasive treatments and increasing acceptance from dental professionals, many patients remain uninformed of all their options.

This contradicts legal guidelines stipulating health professionals disclose all available treatment options to their patients. Therefore, prior to accepting their child will require traditional invasive orthodontics with questionable long-term benefits, parents should insist they are offered the opportunity to select a modern pre-orthodontic treatment option if available.

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City 14/05/2014 4:43 pm

CONVERSATION

‘Baker Girl Lou’

GOLD COAST MUM LOU DUGGAN, A.K.A. BAKER GIRL LOU, IS MAKING IT EASY FOR PARENTS TO CREATE AN AMAZING CAKE FOR THEIR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY WITH HER ONLINE CAKE KIT COMPANY CAKE 2 THE RESCUE. Since its launch in 2011, Cake 2 The Rescue has helped over 15,000 parents Australia-wide become ‘super bakers’, providing all-inclusive cake kits that make home baking your child’s birthday cake achievable for all.

Lou and her husband Craig have three “seriously noisy” daughters, Abby (15), Emma (12) and Lara (10) and share their home with Lou’s best friend Henry, her beloved seven-year-old Cavi.

Lou joins us for a chat about Cake 2 The Rescue and life in general…

What inspired you to start Cake 2 The Rescue?

When my kids were little I was ‘that’ mum – the one who thought to be a good mum I had to host all birthday parties at home, paint myself green at Halloween and create the ultimate Easter Bonnet

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Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

every year. Needless to say, three times a year I’d be up at 2am trying to create an awesome birthday cake, stressed to the max, four wines in and losing my sanity!

Cake 2 The Rescue was created to put an end to the stress of creating a homemade birthday cake and help every parent to be a superhero in their kid’s eyes.

Have you always enjoyed baking?

I have always loved baking but I’m of the highly creative, low skill set variety! In fact, that is the secret weapon behind the success of Cake 2 The Rescue – if I can bake it, so can you! I’m a material engineer and interior designer by trade which means I’m a mixture of practical and creative brain thrown together, so when it came to baking I

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learned how to create things that looked great in the easiest way possible with no skills necessary. It’s made our DIY cake kits foolproof!

Do you have a favourite cake rescue kit?

They are all my babies, but if forced to choose, Sharky always makes me smile, Dino Bob feels like an old friend and I recently made a Birdhouse that I just love. I can’t believe I’ve released almost 200 designs over the last four years!

You’ve been making quite a name for yourself recently, having been nominated for a number of awards. Please share your recent achievements at the 2015 Ausmumpreneur Awards.

I can’t tell you how proud we were to win Silver in the Customer Service Category. Exceeding customer expectation is my number one goal and to be recognised for that was fantastic. Personally, I was also a finalist in the Rising Star Category. Starting your own business is really tough and when you are also juggling being a mum it’s huge, so to be honoured among so many other amazing mumpreneurs was really emotional for me.

What has been the most rewarding part of your work?

Validation from my customers is the most unexpected and greatest reward I’ve received. I’ve always tended to second guess and doubt myself in life, but now barely a day goes by that a customer doesn’t contact me by email or social media to show me their latest DIY cake kit success and thank me for creating Cake 2 The Rescue.

That’s why I know it’s what I’m meant to be doing. Helping parents become super bakers in their kid’s eyes makes my heart sing.

What is the most fun memory you have of your work?

The day the TODAY show on Channel Nine came to my house to do a segment on Cake 2 The Rescue. It was only six months into the business and we were still operating out of a room at home. We spent the day filming with the crew and at the time we thought we’d hit the big time and the kids were so excited. I still have it taped on my Foxtel box! We were blissfully naïve – little did we know how much hard work it was really going to take to build a business.

What are your future plans?

I still get emails from people every day saying “I can’t believe I’ve only just found you.” When I was little I used to choose my cakes from the pages of the Women’s Weekly and my big vision is that in the future parents all around Australia will ask their kids “What Cake 2 The Rescue cake would you like this year?”

How do you balance family life and work demands?

Badly! Actually, I used to be terrible but I’m getting better. Having your own online business means you can end up working 24/7 if you aren’t careful. My mind is usually going ten to the dozen with work, so my goal this year has been to be present in the moment and ensure my kids have my full attention when we are together.

But practically, having my own business gives me the flexibility I need to be on call at all times. If my kids need me, I can be there at the drop of a hat, and then I can pick up the slack later when everyone is tucked up in bed.

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Louise with her recent awards, being congratulated

by Ros Bates, local MP for Mudgeeraba, and Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim Nicholls.

What do you do to relax?

Eat…it’s a huge problem! Oh, and drink wine! They go hand in hand! I’m an extrovert and so I love being around other people.

Having people over or going out for dinner is my happy place.

Although Netflix is now slowly destroying my social habits – I’ve only been subscribed for eight weeks and I’ve already watched three seasons of House of Cards, seven seasons of Mad Men and now I’m on hooked on Call the Midwife.

What has been your most life-defining moment?

The realisation that the only person in control of my own happiness is me. Then having the courage to make a stand and redefine my life. I was 38 and I wish I’d got there quicker. Please don’t wait as long as I did.

What parenting advice has had the biggest impact on you?

The day I got married my father said to me, “Always admit when you are wrong and never be too quick to say that you were right.”

I’ve learned that rule goes for kids too, especially now that my girls are coming into the teenage years. I believe kids need two things: boundaries and love. But I’ve also found that showing them my vulnerability and admitting when I am wrong has taught them compassion and gained me their love and respect.

How has having children changed your life?

When they were little they were my whole life – I lived for their happiness alone. When they went to school I wondered where my life had gone, I felt lost and wasn’t sure who I was any more.

Cake 2 The Rescue has given me something of my own, a place to stand in the world and a chance to show my girls that anything is possible with hard work and determination. Now I strive to make them proud of me and to be a role model for their lives as they go out into the world.

What life message do you most want your children to learn?

You are perfect just the way you are so just be you; everyone else is taken.

Head over to Cake 2 The Rescue – Do It Yourself Cake Kits (www.cake2therescue.com.au) to select your favourites from Lou's extensive range of cake kits for all occasions.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015 – Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City

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Movies apps

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

SNOOPY AND CHARLIE BROWN: THE PEANUTS MOVIE

In cinemas January 1, 2016. Rating: TBC Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved ‘Peanuts’ gang make their big screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Snoopy, the world’s most loveable beagle – and flying ace – embarks upon his greatest mission as he takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis The Red Baron, while his best pal, Charlie Brown, begins his own epic quest. The Peanuts Movie proves that every underdog has his day.

SCRATCHJR (iPad and Android tablets)

Inspired by the popular Scratch programming language (http:// scratch.mit.edu) used by millions of young people (ages 8 and up) around the world, ScratchJr is an introductory programming language that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games. Children snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Children can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, even insert photos of themselves, then use the programming blocks to make their characters come to life.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2

In cinemas November 26. Rating: TBC The Drac pack is back for an all-new monster comedy adventure!

Everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania. Dracula’s rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening up its doors to human guests. But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. Drac enlists his friends to put Dennis through a ‘monster-in-training’ boot camp, but when Drac’s grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad pays a visit and finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood – and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania – things are going to get batty!

TRY IT YOU’LL LIKE IT: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO RAISING HEALTHY, ADVENTUROUS EATERS

Books

Justine Simard-Lebrun, RRP $24.95 As parents, we want our children to eat nutritious food and learn to make smart food choices. We want happy, relaxed family mealtimes. Try It You’ll Like It is packed with parenting tactics to promote healthy eating and positive mealtime behaviours in children, including trying new foods. If you think your child is a fussy eater, this book will challenge your views and give you the tools and confidence to raise a healthy eater. Author Justine SimardLebrun is the founder of Kids Love Good Food (www.kidslovegoodfood.com.au). As a mother of two and parenting educator with a background in behavioural and nutrition psychology, Justine provides simple, down-to-earth strategies that help parents beat fussy eating and raise children who love good food.

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LONELY PLANET KIDS THE KIDS TRAVEL BOOK RRP $29.99 YOU RULE! RRP $19.99 ADVENTURES AROUND THE GLOBE RRP $16.99

Lonely Planet Kids brings the world to life for young explorers everywhere. With this dedicated children’s imprint, the world’s leading travel publisher is kick-starting the travel bug and showing kids just how amazing our planet can be. Kids aged eight and over can learn how to create their own country with You Rule! and journey through every country in the world and learn thousands of amazing facts on wildlife, how people live, food, sports, festivals and a wide range of other quirky insights via The Travel Book; while younger explorers (three years and over) will discover maps, activities and more than 250 stickers in Adventures Around the Globe.

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE

Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2015

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ADULTS @ KIDS PRICES* All guests $35 - save $14!

Present this voucher upon ticket purchase at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to redeem!

Blinky Bill and friends now call Currumbin Home!

Featuring in 2 shows and making 2 appearances daily, Blinky and his friends provide plenty of fun and smiles to kids of all ages.

www.cws.org.au | 1300 886 511 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, Queensland Only 20 minutes from Surfers Paradise! *Not valid with any other offer. Valid until 31/03/16. Day admission only. Excludes Treetops high ropes course and Segway Safari.

Upgrades for both available at the gate. Open 8am - 5pm daily. Closed Christmas and ANZAC Day. PLU A 11876 CH 11878 CN 214