Kids on the Coast Magazine - Gold Coast - Issue 12

IssUe 12 DEC 07 / JAN 08

FReE!!

things to do, places to go, everything for kids & parents on the Gold Coast

Everyday

Miracles A special Christmas feature

PINK Vs. BLUE Should you treat girls and boys differently?

ALL THAT GLITTERS - Fun festive crafts ARE YOU A MOTHER’S

GROUP DROP-OUT?

THE MULTI-AGE

CLASSROOM

How does it work?

IT’S OUR 2nd

BIRTHDAY!

Save $$$ with our special Birthday Offers (see p. 17 & 18)

PLUS Babies on the Coast, the Parent’s Choice Directory, Calendar of Events and lots more!

Get your confidence back

Get back into the workforce

Get the job you want!

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We offer flexible learning in your own home, in your own time, through self paced units either face to face, by correspondence or occasional seminars - your choice!

Training courses offered: Certificate II in Business Certificate II in Information Technology Certificate II in Hospitality Operations Certificate II in Retail Operations You will not be required to pay for anything.

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Our business is to take the puzzle out of training

PO Box 660 Mudgeeraba Qld 4213 Phone: 07 5559 0166 Email: training@jigsawsmt.com Web: www.jigsawsmt.com

issue 12 CONTENTS 3

WELCOME

4

WHAT’S NEWS

5

COMMUNITY NEWS

6 FEATURE Everyday Miracles: Painful Situations, Positive Outcomes

9

CHECK THIS OUT Take a look at what’s new and recommended

10 NEW TO THE COAST What’s just launched locally

12 THE “P” FILES Sugar & Spice or Slugs & Snails?

(Are girls and boys really that different?)

17 HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDS ON THE COAST! 19 MUM’S THE WORD Louise Duggan feels the pressure of mother-guilt

20 BABIES ON THE COAST Colic, Schmolic!

22 WHAT’S ON CALENDAR Your Kids on the Coast guide to December/January

24 KIDS PLAY Christmas gifts to make

26 EDUCATION All In Together - inside the multi-age classroom

30 GOOD HEALTH 31 MODERN MAMA

welcome

to Kids on the Coast Happy Birthday! Wow, two years on the Gold Coast already - how time flies!

We’ve got LOTS of stuff here for you including several in-depth articles (yes, we know, we’re not your average free magazine OR parenting magazine - because we understand you’ve got a brain!!) On the more light-hearted side, there are cute Christmas crafts to make, cool new products and services on offer, a reader’s report on their visit to the REAL Santa Claus, and our calendar guide to what’s on over the next couple of months.

And as our birthday present to you, we’ve teamed up with our wonderful advertisers to bring you a stack of fantastic offers, so make the most of them and you’ll not only be doing your budget a favour, you’ll also be helping support the companies who support Kids on the Coast!

We also want to give a big hip-hip-hooray to our wonderful new Gold Coast distributors, (see photo) Sally Gorringe and the team from Motivated Mums. This terrific group of local women have a letterbox / distribution business with a difference, as they give the “personal touch” to their work (and it’s a great way to make money while you exercise)!

Check them out at www.motivatedmums.com.au and say “hi” if you see them dropping off Kids on the Coast!

Phew! After all that, I’ll keep the next bit brief: It’s time for me to bow out of my role as Editor of Kids on the Coast…but I’ll still be writing the odd article here and there. To my friend and Publisher, Toni Eggleston, thank you for letting me join you on this incredible adventure; we’ve worked, strained, celebrated, grieved, eaten…I was going to say drunk but we haven’t really done that, we’re always too busy…and made our kids watch videos together while we argue over the next issue. It’s been quite a ride!

At the beginning of this year, I gave 12 months’ notice of my resignation, so it’s not like a sudden decision or anything, but still it feels a bit strange to be saying goodbye. The great news is we have a fabulous new Editor-in-Waiting, Kim Robins, as well as a wonderful team who will no doubt take the magazine on to greater heights. I know there are lots of readers and advertisers who’ve been with us since our first issue, and also lots who’ve joined us along the way. In the immortal words of Jeff Fenech, I love youse all!!

Until next time - happy parenting

Mother’s Group Dropout

Justine Stewart

32 LET’S PARTY

PS - All the best for Christmas and special prayers and best wishes to Michelle (our designer) and Alison (one of our writers) and their families for their new arrivals due any minute now!

34 HAPPY HOLIDAYS 35 REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS 36 PARENT’S CHOICE PROGRAMME 42 COMMUNITY DIRECTORY

PUBLISHED BY: THINGS 4 KIDS PTY LTD 101 Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD 4562 PH: 5442 8679 FAX: 5442 8709 ABN: 86 473 357 391

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Kim Robins

All editorial in Kids on the Coast has been written in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors. 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.

ADVERTISING: For advertising enquiries call Tanya Ryan on (07) 5442 8679 or email gc@kidsonthecoast.com.au

Feedback/comments/suggestions?

Send to: editorial@kidsonthecoast.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: Kids on the Coast (Gold Coast edition) is a free publication circulating from Coomera to Coolangatta.

(A separate edition covers the Sunshine Coast). For distribution enquiries, please email admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au or call 5442 8679

PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston

FRONT COVER: Megan Slade Photography

EDITOR: Justine Stewart

GRAPHIC DESIGN: Michelle Craik

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Karen Burton, Jennifer Cochrane, Louise Duggan, Madonna Hirning, Cindy Mayes, Dr Roger Morris, Alison Rodriguez

Parent’s Choice Supplier Programme Coordinator: Fiona Gordon (pc@kidsonthecoast.com.au) ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger

WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR FAMILY? The Parents’ Choice Directory (p.36) HELPS YOU TO FIND BUSINESSES AND SERVICES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED BY LOCAL PARENTS, FOR LOCAL PARENTS. Don’t forget to support those businesses listed and tell them you saw their ad in Kids on the Coast!

To recommend a business, call our office on (07) 5442 8679 DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

3

WHAT’S

news SORRY, WRONG BABY

When a Czech Republic family whose child bore little resemblance to either parent decided to have a DNA test performed, their worst fears were confirmed. The child had no biological links to either parent, and police are now investigating how the baby was accidentally mixed up with one of the other five infants born at the town hospital on the same day. The parents are demanding their real baby back, financial reimbursement equivalent to $580,700AUS and access to the baby who they had been raising as their own.

‘BINDEEZ’ MAY REPLACE RECALLED BEADS

Thousands of consumers have applied to have their money refunded or safe replacements given to them following the recall of ‘Bindeez Beads’, the 2007 “Toy of the Year” which ended up being the disaster of year. Several children were hospitalised after swallowing the beads, which were accidentally coated with a toxic chemical at the point of manufacture in China. Creators Moose Enterprises have advised parents to immediately remove the product from their children and seek urgent medical attention if the product is swallowed. Refunds can be arranged by calling the recall information line on 1800 303 895 or visiting www.bindeezrecall.com

SMOKING & SIDS

A new British study says nine out of 10 mothers whose babies died of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) were smokers. Scientists are working on the theory that exposure to smoke during pregnancy or just after birth has an effect on brain chemicals, increasing the risk of SIDS. The study’s co-author, Bristol University’s Peter Blair, says: “We think that if all parents stopped smoking tomorrow more than 60%of SIDS deaths would be prevented”.

OUR MUMS GOT MORE SLEEP

A new survey has shown today’s mums survive on an average of just 3.5 hours sleep or less a night for the first four months of their newborn’s life, whereas their own mothers luxuriated in about six hours sleep a night! Possible reasons cited

by Mother & Baby magazine include changing attitudes to child rearing, the use of baby monitors, and cot mattresses fitted with alarms that alert parents if the baby gets too hot or cold.

FISH STILL GETS THE NOD

Experts now say pregnant and breast-feeding women should eat at least 340 grams of fish and other seafood each week, because the benefits for infant brain development outweigh any worries about mercury contamination. The Lancet medical journal found that children whose mothers ate fish and other seafood regularly while pregnant were smarter and had better developmental skills than those who didn’t. Studies show that most pregnant women in Australia are unlikely to eat so much mercury-containing fish that their unborn babies are at risk.

However some fish are more likely to contain mercury than others, so to be on the safe side, avoid or limit consumption of shark (flake) ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughie (sea perch), ling and fresh southern bluefin tuna. Tinned tuna is okay, and fresh and tinned salmon are fine - stay away from the smoked salmon though, as it’s a listeria risk.

MILLIONS OF MOTHERS DIE… DOES ANYONE CARE? You won’t see this on the 6 o’clock news. A new United Nations report has found that every year, over 570,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth, and that hardly any reduction has been made to this figure in the last fifteen years. For every 100,000 births in developing countries, a whopping 450 women die (compared to 9 in developed countries). But governments have always got money for weapons…

CAUTION ON HOLIDAY BUNKS The Qld Office of Fair Trading has advised parents to be vigilant if their children are sleeping in bunk beds in holiday units or homes, especially if the bunks are not fitted with the required safety rails. Serious injuries, fractures, concussion and at least one death have all been recorded over recent years in Queensland as a result of falls or children becoming stuck in gaps in bed frames. For information about Queensland’s safety standards for bunk beds, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.

For the

BIRTHDAY

SAVINGS

Coupon promotion

SEE P.18

4

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Great discounts are available from these advertisers: AbraKIDazzle Contours Defence Fit DJP Photography Drax 4 Kids Jumping J Jays Little Icons MikyB Peppertown Gold Coast Stuck on You Three Little Wishes Thumbprints

news

COMMUNITY

STRUGGLING WITH FINANCES THIS CHRISTMAS? “Interest rate rises may be the start of a domino effect that could filter down and disrupt things like family life, relationships and in some people could trigger depression,” says Pam Mason, manager of Lifeline Gold Coast’s counselling services.

“Many don’t think that counselling is for them or that the issues they are facing are important, but if they’re affecting your life then coming in for a chat may just be the thing to relieve that unnecessary strain,” said Ms Mason.

Lifeline Gold Coast’s counselling services are free of charge (with donations very welcome). To make an appointment phone 5539 9922. Counselling is available in Broadbeach, Nerang, Tweed Heads, Labrador, Coomera and Beaudesert. Lifeline’s 24 hour telephone counselling is available on 13 11 14.

NEW PARENTING RESOURCE NOW AVAILABLE Renowned Sunshine Coast Clinical Psychologist Dr. Robi Sonderegger has just launched an innovative series of CD’s aimed at strengthening families, and making the hardest job in the world (parenting) less stressful and more fun!

The three CD sets (93% Stress Free Parenting; Dads & Lads – turning everyday boys into exceptional young men; and Childhood Emotional Resiliency – addressing childhood anxiety) offer a fresh and entertaining approach to strengthening families, inspiring Dads to become better fathers, and raising emotionally confident children. Rather than the same old “reward/punishment’ style of behaviour management, Dr Sonderegger (usually referred to simply as Dr. Robi) inspires parents to be the best they can be, with a team-focussed, positive approach.

“Parents are sick and tired of hearing the same old parenting strategies that often don’t work, and they’re fed up of hearing professionals tell them how they screw up their kids lives,” he says.

In addition to his popular local seminars, Dr. Robi is also known for taking on the “impossible”: rehabilitating tens of thousands of child victims of war in Uganda and Zambia. For more information, go to www.familychallenge.com.au or phone (07) 5478 0202.

CHILDBIRTH CHOICES SEMINAR Don’t want to just rock up at the hospital? Find out more about where you can give birth, ask questions and make informed decisions about different birthing options at this independent non-profit seminar run by the Childbirth Education Association. To be held early February, dates and venues TBA. For updates check www.ceabrisbane. asn.au, call Shay on 0424 884 918 or email childbirth_choices@ceabrisbane.asn.au

EVERY KID SHOULD GET A CHRISTMAS PRESENT …but for some families who’ve had it tough this year due to ill health or just plain bad luck, whether or not they’ll be smiling this Christmas all depends on you. Australia’s largest Christmas gift donation effort, The Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, is proudly celebrating it’s 20th year, having collected literally millions of gifts for Australians who would normally go without. Simply leave a gift in front of the tree located at your nearest Kmart store, and you’ll be helping The Salvation Army, The Smith Family, and The Brotherhood of St Laurence to help families in need in our community.

WRAP UP SOME GOOD FEELINGS Volunteer gift wrappers are needed for Lifeline’s Christmas gift wrapping service, which raises vital funds for the organisation’s Hand of Life Program. Gift wrapping stalls will be located at Harbour Town, The Pines, Q Super Centre and The Oasis shopping centres, offering a service that many shoppers appreciate during the busy Christmas period, and all for a great cause. If you’ve got a few hours and would like to experience that warm fuzzy feeling inside, phone 5539 9922 or email Kirsti.judd@lccq.org.au. Flexible shifts are available to suit anybody’s schedule, and it’s even more fun if you do with friends!

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DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

5

FEATURE

It’s a funny thing about Christmas. On the one hand, we’re encouraged to spend a lot of time thinking about what we WANT, focussing on material possessions and usually getting pretty stressed out in the process. But it’s also the time of year that we tune into a special spirit of love. And besides the call for peace on earth, there’s another important message in the Christmas story - about hope. About holding on through dark days and difficult times, when the road is rough and there’s no room at the inn…because who knows what joyous experiences we may be part of, further down life’s path.

When Tim Ahmed, 46, began his working life as a cabling technician, he never thought he’d end up working with seriously ill kids and enrolling to study nursing.

Yet that’s exactly where he finds himself today - and he couldn’t be happier.

EVERY DAY

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Tim says he never would have ended up at Zoe’s Place if not for a serious fall in 2000 which left him unable to work for seven months, during which time he did some volunteer work helping out at a disability services centre. He says after his first day he came home and thought “I’m not going back there - it’s too much for me!” But despite his initial misgivings, he soon found himself getting more and more involved in the lives of those he was helping, and eventually decided to make a radical career change.

Tim says working with seriously ill and disabled children can be emotionally confronting: “There was one boy, he looked exactly like my son - and this kid,

6"B6O">C< ;JC ;DG @>9H (and you’ll love it too!)

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Tim works as a respite carer at Zoe’s Place, a unique purpose-built centre dedicated to assisting the families of children with a life-threatening illnesses and conditions.

Around 150 families, including many from the Gold Coast, are able to access support services such as respite care, palliative, end-of-life care, and counselling through the centre, which is based in Brisbane. Demand for services is growing, with more facilities planned as soon as funds can be raised.

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

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no matter what happens, he would always be smiling at you - and I would be driving him somewhere and I would have to stop the van, because I would be crying thinking `he could be my son,’, but you know, this kid would just keep smiling at me, and it gave me a lot of encouragement.”

Although the circumstances which lead families and children to spending time at Zoe’s Place may be difficult, Tim says he looks forward to coming to work each day and has fun playing with the kids.

“You have your sad days, but it all balances out,” he says. “I do feel like I’m doing something worthwhile - I’m doing something good.”

(Queensland Homicide Support Victims Group). It has produced thousands of personal safety DVD’s for kids, is the major sponsor of an educational Puppet Show (currently in production) to be shown in Queensland primary schools, and runs regular events throughout the year such as the Walk for Daniel, Ride for Daniel, and a new addition Rock for Daniel. These help generate public awareness and fulfil Bruce and Denise Morecombe’s request that people come together to enjoy each other’s company in an atmosphere of fun and happiness that honours Daniel’s name and celebrates his life.

For more info go to www.danielmorcombe.com.au

Zoe’s Place is a registered charity, and is funded through the generosity of community donations, corporate support, charitable foundation grants, special events and limited government funding.

Ph: 07 3376 6655. Website: www.zoesplace.com.au

Denise and Bruce Morecombe need no introduction to most Queensland parents.

This December marks four years since the heartbreaking unsolved disappearance of their son Daniel Morecombe. And yet this inspirational family have done so much more than just “survive”; they have shown strength and courage that is now an inspiration to others in establishing The Daniel Morecombe Foundation, a source of community support and education that has continued to grow.

The Foundation has been formed to honour Daniel and keep his innocence alive, to continue the search for Daniel, to increase child safety awareness, to thank the community and to help and support children who are victims of crime. The Foundation provides financial support to child victims of crime through Laurel House and Laurel Place (established sexual abuse counselling facilities); and the QHSVG

Every parent treasures their child’s special milestones - even more so when their children need a bit of extra help to get there. For Mums like Helen Steinhardt, whose son has Autism, seeing your child finally master a task like tying his shoelaces or carry on a conversation is enough to bring tears of joy, knowing all the obstacles that have been overcome.

“My son has taught me patience, to look outside the square, and to appreciate the gains no matter how small they are,” says Helen, whose youngest son Ben was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three, two years after she had first noticed he was not reaching expected developmental milestones.

Fifteen years later, the Steinhardt family are still on an adventurous and challenging pathway, involving enormous emotional, personal and financial upheaval - including moving hundreds of kilometres to be closer to therapy services. But all of this has also brought the family closer together, as they strive to understand and support one another.

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7

FEATURE

EVERY DAY

Miracles

Ben has learned to speak well and is now in his second year of high school, although he still has to constantly battle his disorder, especially in social situations.

He loves sport, whether as a spectator or as a participant, including golf, tennis, and all codes of football. His favourite sport is basketball, which he plays one night a week in the local community competition, as well as training twice a week, both with his local club and with Gold Coast Recreation and Sport, who provide recreational opportunities for people with a disability. Ben was recently selected for the Queensland Under 16 Special Olympics Basketball team to complete in Canberra in April 2008.

“He was so excited when he received his letter informing him of his selection – he rang me at work, he rang his father and even grandma to spread the news! Of course I was equally excited and proud,” says Helen.

People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, (which encompasses Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified), have a brain dysfunction which makes it incredibly difficult to make sense of input from the outside world. This leads to problems with communication, behaviour and social interaction. Ironically, many are very able in other areas, and can often behave entirely appropriately at certain times. Because of this, their outbursts of fear, frustration and confusion may be labelled as “spoilt”, “naughty”, “selfish”, or “bad”. The condition affects an estimated 1 in 160 people, and is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. It may be much more severe in some people than others. However, some individuals with ASD show remarkable improvement throughout their lives with correct and early intervention.

“Ben was fortunate to spend just over two years at Autism Queensland’s Sunnybank Therapy and Education Centre in his early schooling years, and we’ve spent a lot of time and devotion following through with therapy,” says Helen.

8

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Understanding and support, both practical and emotional, is vital to families dealing with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. As well as being an award-winning Special Education teacher, Helen Steinhardt’s experiences as a parent have inspired her to work as a volunteer secretary/co-ordinator with self-help charity Autism Gold Coast Inc. AGC provides vital support to over 500 Gold Coast families through email chat groups, monthly meetings, discussion groups, community picnics and fundays, a resource library, newsletters, guest speakers, and links to other support services, therapy sessions and organisations.

“It’s great to have members respond with their own experiences to help other members, as we are all `walking in the same shoes’ and can learn so much from each other,” says Helen.

Autism Gold Coast also encourages all of us to support and understand people with ASD in our local community: at work, school, shopping, play and in our neighbourhood.

AGC Inc. receives no government funding and lacks basic and important resources such as a building to call home, administration staff and in-house therapists. As well as the time commitment, the burden of day-to-day costs such as phone calls and photocopying is borne by parent volunteers. Fundraising can barely cover items such as Public Liability Insurance, community events, and special programmes such as therapy and counselling which may be financially out of reach of most families. Businesses or individuals wanting to partner or volunteer with Autism Gold Coast are more than welcome to phone (07) 5559 1747 (please leave a message if unattended) or email: goldcoastsg@autismqld.com.au

CHECK THIS OUT!

our guide to interesting & essential bits & pieces GO WITH

THE FLO

Not only does this nifty little gadget turn your bathroom tap into a gentle waterfall, you can add shampoo to the dispenser to make hairwashing a dream. It also makes fantastic bubble baths and protects little heads from bumping on the tap. The “Flo” is $39.95 and is made

by Boon, whose stylish and innovative baby products have taken the US by storm.

Available at Target and specialty baby stores. For stockists call (03) 8558 2000.

BEACH BABIES

Roll on summer! Get the kids set up with the Sunny Kids Beach Seat, with foam arm and neck rests and light-weight aluminium frame covered in durable outdoor fabric (RRP $34.95); the Sunny Beach Sounds water-and-sand-resistant AM/FM radio and speaker dock for your iPod, MP3, Discman or Walkman (RRP $39.95); and the Sunny Mini Duffel bag with adjustable straps, cotton cord and secure pockets, in water resistant PVC-coated nylon. (RRP $29.95).

Available from Pillow Talk.

STICK ‘EM UP

The coolest blackboards around are these simple stick-ons that can be easily stuck on, removed and re-arranged to suit. They’re part of a huge range of stick-ons in funky designs and motifs by WallCandy see the range at Cocoon Petite Living (Paddington, Brisbane) or order online from www.urbanbaby.com.au

BUBBLE-LICIOUS Everyone knows bubbles look amazing, but how about this for a whole new sensation? New Bubblemania Smellems are scrumptious-smelling bubbles that come in Chocolate Chip, Strawberries & Cream, Bubblegum Blast, Lemon & Lime Twist, Tropical Punch and Banana Split. Packaged in cute themed bottles from as little as $1.99 RRP for a 100ml bottle, you’ll find them in major retailers and good toy stores.

READY, AIM…WIDDLE! If you’ve ever scrubbed the toilet floor, wall and seat lid, or worse, sat on a wet spot, then you’ll love this! Invented by an Aussie mum, the Wee Target sticks to the inside of the toilet to give little boys something to aim for. When the wee hits it, the heat-sensitive black ink ‘disappears’ to reveal a fun picture underneath (you can choose from several different designs).

Flushing the toilet turns it black again, ready for next time. Wee Targets cost $10.95 and last for about three months.

Available online at www.weetarget.com.au

SIMPLE SCIENCE

The Lab In A Bag range from Colorific allows kids to experiment with lotions, potions and magical solutions to create bubbling blobs, quicksand, tie-dyed slime and lots more. There are three different Lab In A Bag kits to choose from, RRP $24.99 each from all leading toy and gift retailers.

FASTER

PASTA

Perfect for fussy or messy eaters, the Kitchen Craft Twirling Spaghetti Fork is a battery-operated utensil which gently rotates to, well, wind the pasta onto the fork, of course. The fork head removes for easy cleaning. Available in three different colour combinations, RRP $19.95 from House.

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

9

A KIDS ON THE COAST ADVERTISING FEATURE

NEW TO THE

coast

Memories to last a lifetime…

‘New to the Coast’ is a way in which Kids on the Coast can support new businesses that cater to Gold Coast parents and families. We think local kids and parents deserve just as much choice, style, fun, innovation and value for money as those living anywhere else. So if you agree, please join us in helping these new ventures to get off the ground by taking a look at what they’ve got to offer.

Every parent knows the feeling – that incredible surge of emotion you get when looking at your tiny new baby’s gorgeous little fingers and toes. So quick – before they grow up – capture every cute little dimple and crease to remember forever.

Using safe, natural, non-toxic products, Melissa from Little Icons 3-D Castings can create beautiful exact sculptures of your child’s hands and feet – hand gilded in Gold, Silver or Copper (or a variety of other stunning finishes).

Melissa has over six years of experience and can help you to choose from a wide range of frames, matt colours and designs available to suit you and your child’s personality’s.

Why not get big brother’s or sister’s hands or feet done at the same time to create a priceless family heirloom?

Capture the beauty and innocence …of your newborn baby with Luxury 3-Dimensional Castings of your Baby’s Hands & Feet Hand gilded in Gold, Silver or Copper Also available in Metallic Baby Pink/Blue, Crystal Clear or Mother-of-Pearl Glaze

Wide range of frames and designs - see our website for ideas at www.littleicons.com.au

And if you’ve got a new business you want to spread the word on, let us know!

Call Melissa on (07) 5519 3070 or (0424) 440 726

GIFT VOUCHERS

AVAILABLE Lay-by’s welcome

New studio brings family love to `Life’ For families who want something more than the standard “kiddies’ portrait”, the brand new Life Photographic Studios at Burleigh offers an elegant, relaxing environment which brings together a team of some of Australia’s top family photography studio specialists, at an affordable price.

“Our photographs give children a wonderful sense of the love that is felt for them,” says Brendan Riley, Managing Director of Life Photographic Studios. “They strengthen the family unit through the positive visual messages they portray.”

Brendan’s experience in children’s photography has seen his other business, The Too Cute Photo Co., become Australasia’s largest photographers of children in kindergartens and childcare centres. “Parents frequently call us to compliment us on our kindy photos, and for many years have been asking if we have studios that provide maternity, baby, children, couples and family portraiture,” says Brendan.

“We’ve now been able to create the ideal set-up at our family-friendly Burleigh studio, designed and decorated to emulate a stylish 1900’s Parisian salon. Andrew Thurtell, one of Queensland’s most awarded photographers, runs the operation and takes brilliant shots. We’re also lucky to have Lara Pape and Chris Reed, who would be at home in the country’s best commercial studios. And our studio manager Melissa Cowell and her assistant Shae Turnor are highly skilled and credentialed make-up* artists, so you can see why everyone looks so good in the photos,” he adds.

“We’ve thought about what Mums want - taking timeless images of their beautiful children and loved ones; making it fun for the children, painless for the Dads, and a rewarding and stress-free experience for everyone,” says Brendan. *Life Photographic Studios uses and sells the world-famous Napoleon Perdis cosmetics, through a special arrangement with Napoleon Perdis himself.

See inside back cover for Life’s special offer to Kids on the Coast readers.

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10

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Party fun, minus the stress When one or both parents work, planning and organising your child’s birthday party can take up time you just don’t have. That’s where Triscina James, aka “Trixy” from “Trixy’s Party Designs”, comes in. You invite the guests and buy the food and drink, and she does the rest.

“I want parents to feel at ease and relaxed, and be able to enjoy the day without running around having to do everything,” says Trixy. As well as organising a theme, games, prizes, activities, music, decorations, entertainment and more, Trixy’s Party Designs can even provide a deluxe package which means you don’t even have to serve the food or clean up afterwards!

A qualified childcare worker with over 17 years’ experience, Triscina says her three beautiful children are her proudest achievements, but she obviously has a genuine love for all children. “I really enjoy putting smiles on children’s faces,” she says.

“As a mother, I understand the importance of our children’s happiness, but I also understand how much time and energy is consumed by preparing and planning your child’s birthday. It’s an important day not just for the birthday boy or girl, but for the whole family.”

“I’d love to share your special occasion by providing a great party with lots of fun and laughter for the kids and a lovely day for parents and families,” Trixy says. “Relaxed families are happy families, and that’s a great thing to be part of,” she adds.

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Swimmers, sunglasses, and gifts are also available - and the prices are a pleasant surprise! Shop online now at www.childrensweardirect.com.au shorts, tops, Basic rompers, booties, dresses, ers, swimmers, pants, overalls, jumpsuits, jump little outfits, for sunglasses, gifts, and gorgeous from newborn both boys and girls, with sizing quantity of stock babies to toddler. PLUS a small available up to 6 years.

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“To find out how easy it is to advertise with us, and the great features we have coming up which may suit your business, give me a call on (07) 5442 8679 or 0407 216 291, or drop me an email at gc@kidsonthecoast.com.au” DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

11

THE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Files

By Jennifer Cochrane

?

From little princesses to tomboys, shy and quiet bookworms to born performers, sport stars to electronic wizards, every child is different. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to say that all girls will be one way and all boys will be another, there are typical differences between the sexes that are worthwhile understanding.

Prior to the mid-1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, everyone was taught from an early age that girls were all sugar and spice, and boys are only interested in snails and puppy dog tails. Parents would actively discourage girls from, say, wanting to follow a â&#x20AC;&#x153;maleâ&#x20AC;? career path, such as becoming a doctor or police â&#x20AC;&#x153;manâ&#x20AC;?; and heaven help the little boy who liked to play with dolls and soft toys.

Then, as the equal rights movement took off, it was popular to think that girls and boys were exactly the same, and it was said that different behaviours and preferences only occurred because social pressure (not to mention toy manufacturers) pushed children and adults into assuming stereotypical gender roles.

Since then, the science of gender differences has exploded and we now know that, even in an age of non-discrimination, gender differences are real. Parenting educator Michael Grose says gender is in the genes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deny gender. A certain amount of it is socialisation and a certain amount is hard-wiring,â&#x20AC;? he says.

Unless we want to revert back to the days when boys and girls were limited to â&#x20AC;&#x153;appropriateâ&#x20AC;? play, ideas and careers, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to be aware of how we may be passing on our own ideas without even knowing it. Home and parents are the strongest influence on gender role development, although a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment is

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“Understanding how girls and boys are typically different, how they learn and express themselves is very helpful in meeting parenting challenges.”

Kathleen’s children demonstrate a fundamental difference between girls and boys.

Relationships are the most important thing for girls and action is the most important thing for boys. rife with classic male and female stereotypes, through nursery rhymes, television, books, schools, and friendships.

Even though mums and dads make biscuits with their sons and play cricket in the backyard with their daughters, we still give subtle messages about gender and what is acceptable for boys and girls. Parents’ attitudes towards their children have a big impact on the child’s growing sense of who they are, and in some ways that’s not a bad thing. But it’s also important to allow children to express themselves and discover what they like and don’t like on their own, regardless of gender.

“Often kids will be led by certain interests if we allow them to follow what it is they want to do,” Michael says.

Parents Larry and Julie describe their eight year old son, Saxon, as a gentle and sensitive boy.

“Saxon is very happy to play with his big sister and hold her baby dolls while she is busy getting ready to bath the “baby”, but his passion is for swords,” says Julie.

“He found a toy sword while we were shopping and was immediately captivated.

His interest, and collection, has grown with time,” she adds.

Even at this age, children are very aware that society has “rules” about what boys and girls do. Saxon, who loves “bling” and has an earring, recently asked Julie if it is OK for boys to get their belly button pierced!

As other mums like Kathleen know, sons and daughters can be very different from the start.

“Within three weeks of beginning kindergarten, my three-year-old daughter knew the names of all of her classmates, who their mums were, and that two of the children were cousins. A year ahead in preschool, my son was not really sure he knew everyone, but he delighted in having someone to dig holes with and kick balls to,” says Kathleen.

In her article “The difference between raising boys and girls”, clinical psychologist Dr Robin Alter says: “Boys respect action and not words. Maybe it’s because they’re not as good with the words as the girls are. Maybe it’s because actions simply speak louder and more clearly. For whatever reason, if we want to have their respect, we have to do what they respect and act more clearly so they get the message. Girls do respect the words because through words we express our relationship with others.”

Understanding how girls and boys are typically different, how they learn and express themselves is very helpful in meeting parenting challenges. For example, girls may use their verbal skills to defend themselves and argue their case, but in the end, they will comply because relationships are so important. Explaining the error of his ways to your son will likely make little impact. Combining the talking with some action will achieve better results.

These differences are the result of a complex interplay between hormones, brain chemistry and other physiological factors. For example, testosterone is why men are strong, love to race fast cars, and enjoy competitive sport. As early as 6 - 7 weeks after conception, male embryos get a big dose of this hormone. When testosterone floods the male brain at puberty, boys become distinctly better at geometry and all kinds of engineering skills.

As the brain grows, oestrogen helps the nerve cells connect together, and as girls have more oestrogen, their nerve cells are better connected. Also, the isthmus – a bridge that unites the two sides of the brain – is 10% thicker in women. This may be why girls find it easier than boys to absorb certain information. The amygdala (an almond sized group of cells on each side of the brain), which is responsible for memories related to strong emotions, also reacts markedly differently in males and females.

Michael says even the timing of brain development is different for boys and girls in the first five years of life. “Boys in these years develop spatial, gross motor, and visual skills. Girls develop verbal, social, and fine motor skills,” he says.

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

13

THE ‘P’ Files

?

This development has particular impact on school readiness and success in the early years from kindy to grade two.

One parent, Lauren, says she’s observed first hand how these differences can mean that girls sail through kindy while boys struggle.

“I was helping out at the pre-school one day when a craft activity was set up. The little girls flocked around the table and produced beautifully coloured pictures, then, to my surprise, turned them and wrote their names on the back. At that time, my son’s favourite colour was brown, he hated colouring-in and could barely write his name - but he was building the most amazing constructions out of blocks and engineering dams in the sandpit. Unfortunately, many (female) teachers seem to heap praise on the girls and subtly disapprove of the boys’ activities, which tend to be messy, noisy and not as `useful’.”

If boys choose to play with building blocks instead of colouring in at kindy they can miss out on opportunities to develop the fine motor skills necessary for writing. This leads to more problems at school.

“So much of their early work at school seems to involve colouring nowadays, but for little boys who are not interested in colour, or in sitting still, this can be very difficult,” Lauren says.

“Meanwhile my two-year-old daughter will already happily occupy herself with pencils and paper,” she adds. “Maybe it’s just personality, and has nothing to do with being a boy or a girl, but I can’t help thinking otherwise.”

Michael Grose says it is kids who are out step with their “genital” gender that parents may find most difficult to understand (which makes it even harder for the children themselves). One in 700 people have gender identity disorder, where they feel and identify themselves as members of the opposite sex. For example, girls who have gender identity disorder will insist they are boys, play and dress like boys, and can be convinced they will eventually grow a penis. Evidence suggests that brain and hormonal factors may be playing a significant part in such a situation, and simply trying to make these children ignore their feelings is not the answer. Allowing them to pursue their interests, even though they may not be “typical”, is crucial to their selfesteem. Consulting with your doctor and doing your own research is also a good idea.

“It is common knowledge that boys lead the way in all the wrong statistics, including; problematic behaviours, learning difficulties and health problems,” says Michael.

“Boys are often more boisterous. It takes longer for boys to grow into their selfesteem,” he adds.

Boys with lots of energy are likely to become frustrated, hyperactive and inattentive when they have to sit still in the classroom.

“They want to appear to be as competent as the girls are in the classroom and they often overcompensate with acting out. Boys need structure to learn. They need assistance with getting organised. Girls will naturally do things like being able to organise their belongings at school,” he says.

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Boys

Girls

Are bounced more as infants

Are cooed to more as infants

Are drawn to the action of a mobile

Are drawn more to human faces Are caressed more

Develop the left side of their brain faster than girls: visual-spatial-logical skills, perceptual skills, better at math, problem solving, building and figuring out puzzles

Develop right side of brain faster than boys: leads to talking, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading earlier, better memory

Are live-action oriented, have immense energy

Are more process-oriented

Rarely make eye contact with each other show a lot of interest in each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys and accomplishments

Make eye contact with each other and they make concessions just to be together

Talk about things and activities and form friendships around interests

Talk about other people sharing wishes and secrets in order to bond friendships

Action is the most important thing

Relationships are the most important thing

Boys who act like girls are reprimanded (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cryâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a sissyâ&#x20AC;?)

Girls who act as tomboys are accepted, or encouraged

Also boys

Also girls

â&#x20AC;˘ get away with more aggressive antisocial behaviour in school and home

â&#x20AC;˘ hear better than boys (about 17% as children and 20% as adults)

â&#x20AC;˘ are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADD and four times more likely to be prescribed Ritalin

â&#x20AC;˘ see more colour and texture â&#x20AC;˘ are outnumbered by boys 3-1 in Computer Science Classes and 2-1 in Physics

â&#x20AC;˘ are five times more likely to have a speech/language disorder

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15

THE ‘P’ Files

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School research shows girls were seen to have a “better attitude” to work than boys. Girls are very keen on presentation and getting work finished on time. Girls generally reach puberty earlier, tend to be more mature, and are ready to take positions on leadership roles at a much younger age than the boys.

Of course there are some areas in which all kids are definitely the same. Providing love, warmth, and guidance underpinned by understanding and support (rather than inconsistent or angry “discipline by punishment”) are key factors for every child.

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•N ext time you say…”that’s a boys’/girls’ game” or “boys/girls don’t play with xyz” stop and ask yourself if that is the life message you want your child to carry with them.

• Girls are often judged by how they look. How often do we greet a little girl with comments like “what a pretty dress!”? Be aware of how you speak about clothing and presentation and apply the same standards to both boys and girls.

• Try to make the same decisions for both sexes. For example, research shows that sons are allowed to work outside the home at a younger age than girls. Girls do more housework than boys, sending the message that the home is a woman’s domain and teaching boys a “learned helplessness.”

• Provide boys with the space to be active and give them ways to channel their energy (and prove their masculinity in the teenage years) in productive and safe ways.

• Be ready to support girls when difficulties arise in their friendships, help them to learn how to be a good friend.

• Nurture positive body image, self-esteem, and healthy habits. Mothers, especially for your daughters; fathers, especially for your sons.

Boys respond to action and words “go in one ear and out the other.” Think about reinforcing your words with stickers, charts and rewards for good behaviour like bike rides in the park. If you want to have a conversation with your son, try going for a walk while you chat.

• Boys are often encouraged to control their emotions “don’t cry…be tough”.

Teach both boys and girls how to name, acknowledge and express their feelings.

• Approval is really important to boys, especially from their fathers.

• Girls are pressured to conform and are often over-protected. Give them lots of experiences and opportunities to show them their individuality is important.

MORE INFO / FURTHER READING For information about Michael Grose’s Parent Coaching programs and advice about raising confident kids and resilient teenagers visit parentingideas.com.au Other popular books include: Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different - And How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men by Steve Biddulph. HarperCollins Publishers.

Raising Girls: Why Girls Are Different - and How to Help Them Grow Up Happy and Strong by Gisela Preuschoff. HarperCollins Publishers.

Boys and Girls Learn Differently: a guide for teachers and parents

by Michael Gurian. John Wiley and Son.

16

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

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MUM’s THE

by Louise Duggan

word

No pressure…

Since the moment I discovered I was pregnant with my first child, I’ve been terrified by the thought of stuffing up my kids! While fellow mothers-to-be feared the agony of delivering a baby with a head the size of a small watermelon, I obsessed over the possibility of raising a child who blossomed into a serial killer…

Desperate to be the best parents possible, we struggle to live up to our own unrealistic expectations, pressurised daily by well-meaning talk show hosts and celebrity psychologists. In a society where all conceivable mother/child interactions have been labelled, their cause and effect identified and the likely consequences placed on every mother’s conscience, it’s hardly surprising that guilt and failure are often considered the cancers of motherhood; “Hi, my name is Lou and I’m a Helicopter Mum.” In the early years, we seem more concerned with our peers’ opinions of our mothering skills than our children’s. After 5 devoted years raising my first child, I had developed a somewhat biased opinion of her skill set. I remember bragging to her new prep teacher that she could already add and subtract, proud of OUR accomplishment. I was devastated when she scornfully retorted: “From my observations, I suggest you forget math and worry more about teaching your child

to catch a ball and handle a pair of scissors properly!” She might as well have tattooed “Failed Mother” across my forehead!

At 7, my daughter has developed an ability to express her own feelings more rationally, and consequently, it is now her opinion that matters most to me. Now, if I react unfairly or say something hurtful, the look of devastation on her face fills me with guilt… and the fear of long-term emotional scarring leads to panic-induced premonitions of a 15 year old girl, screaming “I hate you Mum!” as she slams the door and jumps into her boyfriend’s car, his “Don’t come knockin’ if this wagon’s rockin’” sticker mocking me as he screeches out of the driveway, taking my baby girl with him!

I recognise that there have been times when I’ve excessively scorned my daughter, shamed and belittled her, doubted and even compared her. It’s usually the result of my exhaustion, frustration or anger, but occasionally with little justification at all. But the majority of the time, I praise and encourage her, strived to create lasting memories, try to be her friend and hope she will remain mine. “Promise to be my friend even when your friends are teenage mother-haters?” I joke. “Yes Mum! Pinkie Promise” she always replies. I often wonder which moments she will remember with joy and which incidents she will throw back in my face in years to come, as I do to my mum. Will the scales balance in my favour when she is grown and ready to judge? All I can do is be myself and hope that one day she will take me in her arms, squeeze me tight and whisper “You did good, Mum!”

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DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

19

BABIES ON

the coast

Welcome to the section for all things baby and maternity related!

“COLIC”OR NOT?

by Justine Stewart

When our babies are frequently crying and we feel powerless to help, and we’re swamped by mountains of conflicting theories masquerading as unquestionably proven information, it’s no wonder many of us end up anxious and depressed!

“Colic” used to have a very specific meaning - abdominal pain - and still does in other fields of medicine. But the current thinking seems to be that babies either don’t feel abdominal pain or it’s not what’s causing them to cry, so most health professionals now use “infant colic” to simply refer to a pattern of extended, unexplained crying in an otherwise healthy baby. (This can be quite confusing if you also have information from a book or health practitioner who is still using the “abdominal pain” definition of colic.)

All babies cry, but the “Unexplained Crying” kind of “colic” is the extreme end of normal crying behaviour, occurring in about 20% of babies, affecting boys and girls equally, and usually starting at around two to four weeks of age and continuing up until about three months, occasionally longer. It’s generally defined as when a baby cries for longer than three hours every day, for more than three days per week, and the baby is otherwise healthy, well-fed, and has been thoroughly examined by a doctor to rule out any serious health problem. (Note - in around 5% of cases, there ARE definite health problems, so don’t feel bad about asking to have everything properly checked out.)

The important thing to remember is that the crying WILL END, and that it doesn’t seem to do the baby any harm. The parents, on the other hand, may be severely affected, and, not surprisingly, will do just about anything to try to stop the baby crying.

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Tactics may include changes in diet or routine, an increase in fresh air or certain herbal teas, massage, “gripe water”, slings, dummies, different bottles, soy formula, white noise, rocking, cuddling, bathing, etc. While most of them seem to work at one time or another, or for one baby or another, there’s no definite, universal answer to the problem. Colic tends to stop rather suddenly once babies hit a certain age. Many parents keep trying different approaches until the colic coincidentally resolves itself, at which point they presume that the last thing they tried was “the” magic cure. (And that it will work for everyone else.)

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

What if your baby is not suffering from this “modern” definition of colic, but seems to be having very definite abdominal pain? Your baby may not cry for hours on end, they may just cry when they have a pain in the stomach. All I can say is, good luck. It’s very out-of-fashion in many health circles to believe this even exists - one of Australia’s most popular baby “experts”, author Robin Barker, said in one of her books that babies don’t actually feel pain from trapped abdominal gas, they’re just “not used to the sensation”. Yeah, right!

In an effort to reduce the risk of “Shaken Baby Syndrome”, a Canadian researcher who has studied extended crying has come to the conclusion that it’s a normal part of brain development for many babies. Ronald G. Barr calls these few months the “Period of PURPLE crying”: • P: Peaks around two months • U: Unpredictable, often happening for no apparent reason • R: Resistant to soothing • P: Pain-like expression on the baby’s face, without any apparent source of pain.

• L: Long bouts, lasting 30 to 40 minutes or more • E: E vening crying is common -- what many parents know as the “witching hour” is now a scientifically proven fact Carrying, comforting, walking or talking can reduce crying by 50 per cent. But if you can’t take it, put the baby down and take a break. And never shake a baby.

Extended crying may tip mums or dads “over the edge”, and you may accidentally harm the baby or yourself. Make sure you and your partner both agree that if you feel overwhelmed or frustrated and think you may shake or harm the baby, you’ll lie him or her down in the cot and LEAVE until you feel calmer. Go outside, take some deep breaths, and call a friend or a support line to get help. (See the Community Directory, p.42 at the back of this issue.)

What else can you do, once any serious health problem has been ruled out? One, some, or all of these may work for you…but if not, just keep repeating “it won’t last forever”.

• F amily history of lactose intolerance? Try eliminating cow’s milk from your diet if you’re breastfeeding. You may also want to eliminate cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts and parsnip, beans, onions, garlic, apricots, melon, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol.

• Ask your chemist, naturopath or doctor about a suitable “pro-biotic” (eg Lactobacillus reuteri) supplement.

• If you’re bottle-feeding, try switching to soya-based formula. (Or to another type of formula).

• If you’re breastfeeding, talk to a lactation consultant about attachment and feeding.

• Feed baby in a different position, burp them frequently (especially if bottle-fed), use a bottle designed to reduce “colic”.

• Try “colic drops” or “gripe water”, chamomile tea, or herbal or homeopathic remedies; or have your doctor prescribe dimethicone (eg Infacol) or simethicone.

None of these have been proven to be effective but they may work for you.

• Bathe baby in warm water or take them into the shower with you.

• Massage their hands, feet and tummy in a clockwise motion with warm oil.

(Or rub their back anti-clockwise).

• Ask your chemist or check the internet for special wedge-shaped foam pillows which keep baby upright while resting or sleeping - especially good after a feed if baby seems to have reflux.

• Try the “cuddle cure” or the “Five S’s” - Swaddling, placing the baby on their Side or Stomach (but don’t put them this way to sleep), Swinging the baby, for example in a sling or baby swing, making a Shhh sound in the baby’s ear (or putting them near the dishwasher or dryer or playing a “white noise” cd), and giving the baby something to Suck on.

TERRY WHITE CHEMISTS ROBINA Caring for you Introducing

Del Knight Child Health Nurse Registered Nurse/Midwife Includes 10 years on the Gold Coast and working in Pharmacies & Child Health Clinics.

Over 30 years of experience

Robina Town Centre Ph: 5578 9099 Terry White Chemists® is a registered trademark of Symbion Pharmacy Services Pty Ltd, ABN 25 000 875 034. Proprietor: F. Uccellini

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

21

22

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

WONDERING WHY THERE ARE HARDLY ANY REGULAR EVENTS? Many playgroups, council events, library activities etc are not run during school holidays. Most will resume in late January / early February.

Fit Mums ‘n’ Bubs Fitness program for mums with babies Mon & Wed 9am Pacific Pine 10.45am Broadbeach Waters Jo 0412 190 893 Mummylicious Fitness for mums with babies Mon, Wed & Fri 8.30 to 9.30am Broadwater Labrador Christine 0409 470 484

WEDNESDAY

Australian Breastfeeding Association GC Central 15 Jan 10am-12 noon Picnic and Play, Justin Park, Burleigh Heads 5 Feb 10am-12 noon, All about the ABA, Burleigh Waters Community Centre 19 Feb 10am-12 noon, New Mums surviving the first 6 weeks, Burleigh Waters Community Centre Contact Shona 55228380 or Karin 55304423 www.abagoldcoast.com

TUESDAY

ABA (Australian Breastfeeding Association) GC South 2nd Mon Banora Point Salvation Army Centre, Woodlands Dr. Elissa 5598 5355 or Joanne 5522 5014 Breastpump hire Joanne 5522 5014 For topics & info www.abagoldcoast.com Fit Mums ‘n’ Bubs Fitness program for mums with babies Mon & Wed 9am, Pacific Pines 10.45am Broadbeach Waters Jo 0412 190 893 Mummylicious Fitness for mums with babies, Mon, Wed & Fri 8.30 to 9.30am, Broadwater Labrador, Christine 0409 470 484

MONDAY

Email your details to events@kidsonthecoast. com.au

Preference is given to community and nonprofit organisations and businesses which support Kids on the Coast.

FREE!

List yo u r event

Calendar of Events

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

Mummylicious Fitness for mums with babies Mon, Wed & Fri 8.30 to 9.30am Broadwater Labrador Christine 0409 470 484

FRIDAY

Australian Breastfeeding Association GC North 10 Jan 10am to 12 noon, Picnic in the Park, Paradise Point Park 24 Jan 10am to 12 noon Topic: positioning and attachment St Mary’s 173 Billinghurst Cres, Upper Coomera Contact Glenda 5578 3785 (after hours). www.abagoldcoast.com Fit Mums ‘n’ Bubs Fitness program for mums with babies 9am Nerang 10.30am Burleigh Jo 0412 190 893

THURSDAY

REGULAR EVENTS – EVERY WEEK

Calendar

December/January

New! FREE! Ultimate Adventure A fun mix of mini-urban survivor boot camp, FitKids, bellydancing, a jumping castle, rock wall climbing, skateboarding or circus skills depending on the day, 9am to 1pm.

BYO lunch. No bookings required.

Norm Rix Park, Labrador Dec 17 Stoner Family Park, Merrimac Dec 19 Justin Park, Burleigh Dec 21 (9am to noon) Doug Larsen Park, Beenleigh Jan 2 (9am to noon) Rosser Park, Benowa Jan 4 (9am to noon) Charles Holm Park, Hope Island Jan 7 Laguna Park, Palm Beach Jan 7 Pizzey Skate Park, Miami Jan 8 Pratten Park, Broadbeach Jan 11 Discovery Park, Helensvale Jan 11 Brien Harris Oval, Ormeau Jan 14 Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta Jan 14 (9am to noon) Mitchell Park, Southport Jan 16 (9am to noon) Firth Park, Mudgeeraba Jan 18 (9am to noon)

New! Federation Walk Philip Park, Seaworld Drive, Jan 22, 8 to 9.30am

ze We have 2 fantastic pri over at d lue va ch ea , cks pa $380, to spice up your kitchen this Christmas courtesy of Australian retailer, Lenard’s.

with Kids on the Coast and

CHRISTMAS!!!

To enter, just write your name, address and daytime telephone number on the back of an envelope and send it to: LENARD’S COMPETITION, KIDS ON THE COAST PO BOX 1291, Noosa Heads Q 4567 to reach us no later than 18th December

Lenard’s has a wide range of delicious chicken ideas guaranteed to make your Christmas cooking easy whether you’re cooking indoors, or on the BBQ.

• Circulon Anodized Elite Covered Casserole – RRP $199.95 • Circulon Classic Roast Pan – RRP $169.95 • Lenard’s Cooking With Meat cookbook RRP $20.00

FAMILY FUN FREE! Just walk me! Bring the dog and the kids on a family walk, Sundays 8.30 to 10am. No bookings required.

Robina Parkway (Boowaggan Rd) Dec 8 & Jan 13 Sun Valley Park, Ashmore Dec 16 & Jan 20 Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes Dec 16 (4pm) Discovery Park, Helensvale Dec 23 & Jan 27 Pizzey Park, Mermaid Waters Jan 6

FREE! Kids Yoga Laugh, relax and focus with Michelle 0413 137 155.

No bookings required.

James Overall Park, Southport Dec 18, 9am Merna and John Franklin Park, Mudgeeraba Dec 20, 9am Justin Park, Burleigh Jan 9, 9am Evandale Park, Bundall Jan 15 9am

FREE! Fit Kids Laugh, run, jump & giggle while enjoying games with FitKids 0412 798 316. No bookings required.

Wallace Nichol Park, Currumbin, Dec 17 9am Gambamora Park Oxenford Dec 18, 10am Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes Jan 2, 9am O’Connell Park, Runaway Bay Jan 9, 9am Firth Park Mudgeeraba Jan 10, 9am

Each pack contains:

New! Activities with Busy Bodies at Southport Community Centre, Lawson St. Bookings required 1300 780 447 $5/child Kids Cook Dec 17, 1 to 2pm; Jan 7 & Jan 14, 9.30 to 10.30am Toddler Games Dec 20 & Jan 10, 8 to 9am Cheerleading Dec 20, Jan 10 & 14, 1 to 2pm Hip Hop Jan 16, 1 to 2pm Freestyle Jam Jan 16, 2 to 3pm (caters for special needs kids)

Kidz Quest Treasure Hunt Find the clues to solve the key in this fun and exciting treasure hunt. $3/child, book with Kidz Quest 0439 663 562 or www.kidzquestonline.com Mackintosh Is Park Dec 20 3pm Esplanade North Park, Paradise Point Dec 20 3pm Lands End Park, Biggera Waters Jan 2 9am Glenmore Park, Ashmore Jan 10 9am Laguna Park, Palm Beach Jan 17 9am

FREE! Belly Dancing For all ages with Suraya 0404 071 751 Schusters Park, Elanora Dec 18 10 to 11am Lands End Park Biggera Waters Jan 17 9am

Mangroves to Mud Coombabah Lakes Rockin’ Ranger & Wildlife Show Conservation Area, Shelter Rd, Coombabah, Hinterland Regional Park, Hardys Rd, Jan 15 & 24, 8.30 to 10.30am Mudgeeraba Jan 25, 8.30 to 9.30am

COOK UP A STORM THIS

New! Ridgeline Ramble Burleigh Ridge Park, Girl Guides Hut, Tabilban St, Jan 11, 8 to 9.30am

Creek to Coast Tarrabora Reserve, Gold Coast Hwy, Currumbin Jan 10 & 17, 8 to 9.30am

Naturally Wild Hinterland Regional Park, Hardys Rd, Mudgeeraba, Jan 8 & 18, 8 to 9.30am

Wild Mountain Apple Tree Park, Springbrook Jan 7, 8.30 to 10am

Spotlight Adventures New! Coombabah Lakes, Rain Tree Glen, Jan 2 & 16, 7 to 8.30pm Burleigh Ridge Park, Girl Guides Hut, Tabilban St Jan 9, 7 to 8.30pm New! Tugan Hill Conservation Area, Murray St Jan 23, 7 to 8.30pm

Fruit Bat Frolics Coombabah Lakes Conservation Area, Mildura Dr, Jan 4 & 14, 8 to 9.30am

Creatures of the Wetlands Coombabah Lakes Conservation Area, Rain Tree Glen, Jan 3 & 21, 8 to 9.30am

A walk on the wild side FREE! Guided nature walks with a GCCC ranger. Phone 5581 1521 to book.

An adult must accompany children.

This is just a selection of the activities provided by GC Council. Check out the full range of activities for 4 to 17 year olds at www.goldcoastcity.com.au/activehealthygc. Book with GC Council 5581 5233 or with the activity provider.

December 07 to Jan 08 Get up, get out and get active!

Active and Healthy GC School Holiday Program

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

23

Bookings essential for all activities - 1300 886 511 or www.cws.org.au

Experience Australia’s nocturnal wildlife then camp out overnight under the stars in the sanctuary. 4pm to 8am January 6, 12 & 19, $74/child. For 6 to 12 year olds.

Learn more about wildlife, feed and care for the animals, see behind the scenes, explore Wild Island and more. Weekdays, December 17 to 24, $49/child. For 6 to 12 year olds.

… with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s school holiday programs.

Get closer...

Join a ranger to learn how you can help protect wildlife in national parks and in your neighbourhood. Includes hands-on activities, outdoor games and meeting some very friendly Aussie animals. For 6 to 8 year olds.

Daisy Hill Conservation Park (Brisbane) Tue morning 8 Jan, $7.15 child

Wildlife protectors

Springbrook National Park Tues morning 15 Jan, The Settlement day area.

Free! Join the rangers to learn about some friendly Aussie animals, and watch a puppet show with Charlie the Galah and the other animals at Gumtree Lane. For 6 to 8 year olds accompanied by an adult.

Friends of the forest

Daisy Hill Conservation Park (Brisbane) Tue evenings 22 Jan & 19 Feb $12.85 adult, $8.20 child, $34.15 family

Free! Tamborine National Park Thur evening 17 Jan, The Knoll.

Free! Lamington National Park Thur night 10 Jan, Green Mountains Info Centre.

Free! Springbrook National Park Wed evening 9 Jan, The Settlement day area.

What’s that rustling in the trees? Join a ranger for an easy-paced guided spotlight walk. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bookings required 1300 723 684.

Night walks

GO BUSH!

Free! Circle on Cavill, Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise Watch all your favourites on the FOXTEL big screen.

December Mon 17 - Cars, G Wed 19 - The Grinch, PG Mon 24 - The Nightmare before Christmas, G Tue 25 - The Santa Clause, PG Wed 26 - Elf, G January Wed 3 - Mad Hot ballroom, PG Mon 7 - E.T., PG Wed 9 - A Bug’s Life, G Mon 14 - 101 Dalmatians, G Mon 21 - Fantastic Four, PG Tue 22 - The Pink Panther, PG Wed 23 - Night at the Museum, PG Movie start at 6.30pm. For updated info, check www.surfersparadise.com

A special exhibition in the Children’s Art Centre. From Jan 18 to 28 there will also be a children’s festival with activities such as workshops, quizzes, transforming your photo into a Warhol-style portrait and a free activity book. Check out www.qag.qld.gov.au

Gallery of Modern Art South Bank, Brisbane

The Silver Factory: Andy Warhol for Kids

Summer Movies

4.30pm, Sun 23 Dec. Rotary Park, Salk Oval, Sarawak Ave

NYE fireworks

4pm to 8pm, Sun 16 December Coomera Anglican College, Oval Days Rd

Coomera Community Christmas Carols

A Beautiful Christmas Concerts

6pm to 9pm, Fri 21 Dec, Sat 22 Dec, Sun 23 Dec Dream Centre Christian Church, 1 Chisholm Rd, Carrara Reservations for free tickets are essential Enquiries/reservations 5596 9999

Sat 22 December. Movie World Car Park, Studio Village

Gold Coast Celebrates Christmas

6.30pm, Sat 15 Dec (pre-event entertainment from 2.30pm, fireworks at 8pm). Bischoff Park, Nerang

Nerang Celebrates Christmas

5.30 to 9pm, Sun 23 Dec. 35 Trees Road

Tallebudgera Carols under the Stars

Palm Beach Carols by Candlelight

6.30pm, Sun 23 Dec

Coolangatta Carols on the Beach

6 to 8pm, Sat 22 Dec. Kurrawa Park

Broadbeach - A Very Special Christmas

6 to 9pm, Sat 22 Dec. Siganto Park, Reserve Rd

Upper Coomera Carols in the Park

5.30 to 8.30pm, Sun 16 Dec. Justins Park

Burleigh Heads Carols in the Park

7pm to 8.30pm, Sun 16 Dec Parkwood-Arundel Community Centre

Parkwood Christmas Carols

7pm, Sun 16 Dec. Colgate Palmolive Park, Allied Dr

Arundel Carols by Candlelight

5.30 to 8pm, Sun 9 Dec Somerset Dr & Springbrook Rd, Firth Park

Mudgeeraba Carols by Torchlight

3 to 8pm, Sat 8 Dec. Your Park, 2 Gidgee Crt, Molendinar

Silver Bridle Community Centre Carols in the Park

5pm, Sat 8 Dec Southport Yacht Club, Macarthur Pde, Main Beach

Carols by the Broadwater with Queensland Youth Choir

7 to 8.30pm, Sat 8 Dec. Athletic Oval

Ashmore Community Christmas Carols

6pm to 8.30pm, Fri 7 Dec. Beenleigh Historical Village, 205 Main Street. Gold coin donation.

Beenleigh Carols by Candlelight

Compiled by Avril Priem

Christmas carolling

Broadbeach Kurrawa Beach and Mall. Huge family celebration from 4pm with entertainment, kids’ activities and big screen movie International Paradise Point, Foreshore Internet-free day Park. Family celebration with entertainment from 5pm Sunday January 27 Southport, James Overall Resist the urge to switch Park, Brighton Pde. Family on. Instead, get out and connect with the real world! fun night from 6pm www.globalideasbank.org (Remember to check this website before the date!)

January 26 Celebrate what’s great!

Check www.australiaday. org.au for celebrations in your community

Australia Day

3rd Sunday - Dec 16, Jan 20 & Feb 17 Palm Beach Laguna Park 12 noon to 3pm

Last Sunday - Dec 30, Jan 27, Feb 24 Burleigh Heads Justins Park 11am to 2pm

2nd Sunday - Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 10 Coolangatta Queen Elizabeth Park 11am to 2pm Labrador Harley Park 12 noon to 3pm Southport Washington Waters Park 12 noon to 3pm

1st Sunday - Jan 6, Feb 3 Surfers Paradise Mackintosh Island 12 noon to 3pm

4th Sunday - Dec 23, Jan 27, Feb 24 Beenleigh Doug Larsen Park 12 noon to 3pm Paradise Point Parklands 11am to 2pm

Sport and Recreation Queensland offers exciting 5-day adventure programs for children 5 to 15 years. From bouldering and canoeing to swimming and surf safety all for $50/child/day. Book early!

December 17-21 January 7-11 & 14–18 & 21-25 Tallebudgera Active Recreation Centre, 5507 0200 or more info at www.sportrec.qld.gov. au/holiday_fun.cfm

Free! Pack a picnic, head for a park and be entertained by a music concert of jazz, funk, blues, rock, pop or orchestra. For more information, phone GCCC 5581 6626 or 5581 6984.

Mon & Thurs from 4pm & Sat between 9am & 2pm Dreamcentre Church Chisholm Rd Carrara Enrol by emailing jo@dynamicdance.ws or phone 5533 1142 or 0413 343 482

Prep and Primary Advanced Ballet, Jazz/Funk & Hip Hop classes

DYNAMIC DANCE MINISTRIES

Every Mon and Wed until Jan 8, Music Club 9:30am and Show Me a Story 10:30am. For kids up to 5 years accompanied by their parents/carers. $6/child or $10/ child for both activities. Community Events Hall, Emerald Lakes. Book with Natasha Owens 0405 252 412

Emerald Lakes Kids’ Events

Tallebudgera Sundays in the Park

Adventures at

Colour Me Mine Ceramic Studio 2 Bell Central, Mudgeeraba. 5569 226 www.mudgeeraba.colourmemine.com

Start a new tradition with Christmas ornament painting. Special painting weekend with no studio fee, Dec 8 & 9.

Stocking up for Christmas

Burleigh Waters Wed 19 Dec, 10.30am Coolangatta Thur 13 Dec, 10am Nerang Thur Dec 20, 10am Palm Beach Wed Dec 12, 10am Robina Wed 12, 10am Runaway Bay Tue 11, 10.30pm Southport Dec 19, 10am For summer holiday happening see www.goldcoast. qld.gov.au/library/library_events/library_events.asp

Christmas Story Time @ GC Libraries

January 11 to 19 Fun-filled holiday entertainment for the whole family.

Spotlight Theatre 185 187 Ashmore Rd, Benowa.

Book & pay at 5539 4255

The Magic Pearl

December 18 to 22, 11am It’s Christmas Eve and two convicts, Gilbert and Crosby, faced with yet another miserable festive season, resolve to escape. Their adventures on the run, in various disguises, dodging a host of amazing characters, are all tremendous fun.

Village Theatre Sanctuary Cove All tickets $11; book & pay on 5577 8999

Kidnapped at Christmas

Stage and Screen

School holiday fun at David Fleahy Wildlife Park, Burleigh. For registration forms, date and more information phone 5576 2411

Be a Wildlife Ranger

S P E CIA L E V E N T S

Diary dates

play

KIDS

All that glitters There’s nothing like a bit of gold and glitter to make everyone feel all excited and Christmassy!

Personalised Christmas Bauble Plain white baubles ready to decorate are available at Spotlight for around $3. We used clear craft glue sprinkled with gold glitter and red and green “glue glitter”. The “glue glitter” isn’t as strong or durable - it’s just quicker, and easier to do “dots” with (craft glue tends to go stringy)! You can also use stickers, decoupage, paint, or anything else that takes your fancy.

Decorated candles Festive wreath Get creative! We used Aquadhere wood glue to make dots / decorations and then sprinkled the wet glue with glitter - when dry, a thin layer of glitter may still stick to the candle because of static electricity. You can leave it there or wipe it off carefully with your fingers (you’ll just need to keep washing your fingers!). Gold paint was also used - if you prefer, create smooth lines using masking tape and gold spray paint.

Paint a plain wicker wreath gold (or your preferred colour), and allow to dry.

Use pliers to separate fabric flowers and decorations and trim to suit. Insert wire stems into gaps in the wreath and wind them around to sit on top. Wrap ribbons at appropriate intervals and tie into bows. Trim ribbon ends into an inverted “V” shape to avoid fraying.

Raw materials for all these crafts are available at craft stores (eg Spotlight, Lincraft), and some large department stores and/or discount warehouses.

Firework decoration A bit of a pain (literally, if you’re not careful) to make but looks spectacular!

Stick an unbent paperclip into a Styrofoam ball to use as the hanger when finished. Then push round toothpicks (not the flat ones) all over the surface of the ball. Careful, this isn’t a job for young kids - the more toothpicks you stick in, the harder it gets as they all start to “bump into” each other in the middle - if you push too hard and slip, you’ll get a nasty spike! Cover all exposed surfaces thickly with Aquadhere, with a paintbrush, and/ or your fingers. Then, the fun part - sprinkle all over with glitter (also known in our house as Fairy Vomit).

When dry, shake off excess and tie a hanging cord to the paperclip hook.

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

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ADVERTORIAL

How would you get on without your car?

Karen is a Mum with two kids – Joshua and Emily. It keeps her busy as you would expect, especially at weekends, when Karen has to ferry Josh’s footy team and Emily’s netball team to all their games!! “The kids love their sport” Karen says “and I love them playing. But the 4WD sure gets a work-out at weekends, getting from one game to another.”

If Karen thought that was tough, she had a whole new problem to deal with when she had a small car accident early this year. “We took quite a hit, scary at the time, but once we knew everyone was safe, not having the car became the scariest thing.”

As Karen would agree, what happens next is up to your insurance. Being off the road can play havoc with the way a family operates. Public transport is great if you’re just going to the city once a day, but try getting to far-flung sports grounds every weekend, or doing the school run every day without a car.

Fortunately Karen was insured with Suncorp. “With just one call to Suncorp, I felt like they totally understood where I was coming from. I didn’t get put through to 10 different people and got all the information I needed.”

Because Karen was able to drive her damaged car to a Suncorp Approved repairer nearby, she was able to experience the Suncorp difference. After dropping her car off on a Wednesday, the guys from Suncorp had her car back ready for the weekend and she received a lifetime guarantee on all repairs.

“Suncorp were great, they really helped with everything. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to get back on the road.

Josh’s rugby season is finished now, but the trips to the cricket grounds are really ramping up. It’s great to have my car fixed perfectly and back on the road, and it’s good to know Suncorp are there if anything ever happens again.”

Suncorp customer Mrs Karen Harris, Ashgrove.

1. You need to drop the kids off at school but the car’s getting repaired. Do you: A: Whack on the running shoes and get going B: Do a crash course in home-schooling

Take the Suncorp Insurance quiz

C: Hit the road in a hire car, thanks to Suncorp’s hire car option 2. Someone’s just run into the back of you. There’s steam coming from: A: Your bonnet B: Your ears C: Your cup of tea at the Suncorp Motor Vehicle Assessment Centre 3. Your brand new car is a write-off. Do you: A: Cry in the gutter B: Head to El Cheapo Used Cars C: Relax. Your Suncorp insurance gives you a 2year new car replacement

4. You’ve had your car repaired after an accident.

How long are the repairs guaranteed for: A: What guarantee?

B: The minute you drive out of the repairer’s carpark C: The life of the car, on all repairs authorised by Suncorp.

5. Which song best describes your car insurance: A: (I will walk) 500 miles B: Right here waiting C: On the road again

How did you score?

MOSTLY A’S: Do you need to sort out your insurance?

With Suncorp, you can get back on the road sooner.

Call 13 11 55

MOSTLY B’S: Next to no insurance won’t get you very far MOSTLY C’S: Congratulations, you’ve worked out how Suncorp can work for you.

This advice is of a general nature. Approved applicants only. Terms and Conditions apply. Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance is issued by Suncorp Metway Insurance Limited ABN 83 075 695 966. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision regarding this product. Contact us for a copy on 13 11 55.

SSUNGI2866_KOC

education

all in

together

by Karen Burton

Imagine that next year, instead of joining a class of other little Year Ones, your child enters a class with lots of and Year Two and Three kids in it as well.

Welcome to the world of multi-age teaching, where children are intentionally taught in mixed age groups from the earliest grades. But far from being a frightening scenario where little fish flounder in an enormous sea, advocates of this style of teaching say it is both educationally and socially enriching, as it focuses strongly on the individual development of the child.

First of all, let’s establish what multi-ageing is not. It’s frequently confused with composite class structures – the practice of combining children from two year levels into one class, usually due to uneven enrolments or lack of space.

Within composite classes the children are generally taught according to their age, whatever their level of ability. But children in a multi-age class are taught according to their ability, not their age, using a curriculum that is an ‘ability appropriate structure’ rather than the more formalised lock-step approach of traditional classrooms.

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

18 Carrara Street, Benowa

Ph: 5597 3344 Fax: 5597 2929 Email: info@medlandorthodontics.com.au

www.medlandorthodontics.com.au

COMPOSITE CLASS

MULTI-AGE

â&#x20AC;˘ Designed to suit administrators

â&#x20AC;˘ Designed to benefit students

â&#x20AC;˘ New teacher yearly

â&#x20AC;˘ Same teacher for more than one year

â&#x20AC;˘ Cover more than one curriculum

â&#x20AC;˘ Integrated curriculum

â&#x20AC;˘ Segregated grades for seating, instruction, assignments and evaluation

â&#x20AC;˘ Small group instruction

â&#x20AC;˘ Competitive

â&#x20AC;˘ Individual pacing â&#x20AC;˘ Choice of level of assignments and topic of interest â&#x20AC;˘ Peer tutoring - children move from â&#x20AC;&#x153;noviceâ&#x20AC;? to â&#x20AC;&#x153;mentorâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Cooperative

Adapted from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Multi-age Myths: Misunderstandings About Multi-Age Educationâ&#x20AC;? by Marion Leier

Another way to look at it is that in a multi-age classroom, children are being taught according to their â&#x20AC;&#x153;developmental ageâ&#x20AC;? rather than their â&#x20AC;&#x153;chronological ageâ&#x20AC;?.

Naturally, in order to be able to teach using this approach, teachers must really be prepared to continually assess each pupilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual development, rather than just teaching a standard curriculum in the hope that â&#x20AC;&#x153;one size fits allâ&#x20AC;?.

Dr Nita C. Lester is a university lecturer and educational consultant with years of experience in the practice of multi-age teaching in Australia. She says the benefits of multi-age teaching include increased academic success for students, a greater feeling of being needed and better social mixing as friendships form across all ages.

This continuity strengthens relationships and provides a great foundation on which to build an educational programme, as Dr Lester explains: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The single grade teacher has a new group every year and therefore has to establish ground rules and procedures yearly. However with looping (keeping some children in the class for another year) any new children in the group quickly learn these rules from the other childrenâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, time is not lost learning about a whole new group of 30 children; some of the class are working towards goals set at the end of the previous year. The teacher has a small number of new children to assess and determine their abilities, so learning starts in the first week at the appropriate levels not weeks into the first term as with single grade teaching,â&#x20AC;? she says.

Obviously, if a child fails to gel with a particular teacher, then this kind of continuity can be a problem. Dr Lester suggests that parental involvement is vital.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children develop physically, socially and cognitively at different rates at different times throughout their school life. Multi-ageing focuses upon the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual development,â&#x20AC;? she says.

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Proponents also say that multi-age classrooms result in students developing more confidence, independence, responsibility and self-motivation, improved cooperation and social skills, better study habits and a more positive attitude towards school. (Sounds great, where do I sign? Ed.)

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Dr Lester says that in a well-run multi-age classroom, there is no stigma attached to an older child working with younger children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A child usually has some above-age abilities and so he or she works with older children, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say in maths, but the same child may be below-age ability for English and so they work with younger children,â&#x20AC;? she explains.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The multi-age teacher needs to have the ability to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;let goâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Students in multi-age groups develop high levels of independence, so the teacher is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;not neededâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as the focus of the holder of all knowledge,â&#x20AC;? Dr Lester says.

As every parent knows, the stress and disruption caused by changing teachers can be considerable. For one thing there is that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;getting to know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; period for the teacher, child and parent. In traditional single grade classes, this kind of disruption is inevitable on a yearly basis. In multi-age classes children enter the class at the bottom and remain there (often with the same teacher or set of teachers) for up to three years.

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“Different classroom structures work for different children; a wise parent selects the structure that best suits each of his or her children. If students experience multiageing early they accept it quickly,” she says.

“However, if they are placed into a multi-age group without guidance and assistance later in their schooling life, some children do find the need for independence and sharing of work difficult to accept.”

Sunshine Coast mum Julianne Golding’s three children were part of the introduction of multi-age classes at Burnside State School; daughter Kellsie was in Year One and twins Bradley and Nicholas were at Year Six age level.

“In Grade One it was an instant advantage to Kellsie having older kids in the class,” says Julianne. It was more like her home and family environment as she had always had older children around her.”

“On her first day she had difficulty with her wrap-around skirt and some of the Grade Three girls from her classroom were instantly on hand to help her. Later in the year Kellsie developed as a very competent reader. She had passed the reading levels of her Grade One peers but was still able to have reading groups with s.

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students at a similar level to her as there were Grade Two and Three students for her to work with in literacy groups.”

“By June, Kellsie had learnt all of her sight words but was able to move on to doing the same spelling homework as the Grade Twos without it being ‘different’ or ‘strange’. Yet she still had her Grade One peers to be in her maths groups with her,” she explains.

“On the other end of the [age] scale I had Bradley and Nicholas (twins) in older grades. We had a disrupted middle schooling with Bradley due to a heart condition.

He was able to maintain his ability levels in literacy but had struggled in maths,” Julieanne continues.

Bradley was at the age when he would typically start Year Six, and so was put in a 5/6/7 multi-age class. This was particularly important because there were some foundation skills he had missed out along the way due to his frequent absences from school due to his ill-health.

“Within this class Bradley was able to be in the lower end maths group doing Grade Five work,” Julianne explains. “Brad had no problems with his esteem because

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they were all in the same class. These kids knew he was smart because they knew he could help them to do Year 8/9 tasks on the computer or help them with their literacy,” says Julianne.

“There have also been great opportunities for all the children to gain maturity by being with older students at a younger age. Before, there were the same kids in the same class all the time - mixing it up has created a much greater friendship base for them,” she says.

Many established theories of learning tie in with multi-age practices. For example, a long-standing and well-accepted idea within teaching is that the best way for children to learn is to be in a situation where they are challenged and stimulated by material which is just above their present ability. The theory then expands to incorporate the notion that once you have learnt a new skill and practiced it for yourself, the best way to set it into your long term memory is to demonstrate that skill to someone else. This is where multi-age really comes into play. By having opportunities to be both shown new skills by a more competent other (be that a teacher or more skilled peer) and then also share a skill you have mastered with a less competent peer, the learning experiences and opportunities are expanded.

Of course, this can happen within a single year class and the use of differently-skilled peers is a teaching practice which is often used already in many classrooms (such as buddy reading where a high level reader is matched with a less able reader).

A good teacher will implement similar teaching strategies, regardless of the year level of the students in their class. The key is teaching to match each student’s abilities, and planning to allow them to progress at the pace at which they are capable.

John Turner, Principal of Burnside State School on the Sunshine Coast, describes multi-age teaching as a very child-centred approach to educational provision. “The approach focuses on the learner and the learning, rather than the ‘teaching’. It is identifying each child’s strengths, weaknesses and learning style and then developing and offering learning experiences from this understanding,” he says.

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“Multi-age can suit many children but I have had experiences where it has not been ideal,” he added. “I have found that students in multi-age classes benefit from returning to a single year level class as some point during their primary schooling.

Parents have also requested this and then after a year, request a return to multi-age; this often has good results,” he says.

However international expert Marion Leier, in her brochure titled “Multi-age Myths: Misunderstandings About Multi-Age Education” counsels strongly against this, saying that the real benefits of multi-age classrooms only start to become apparent in the second or third year. She adds that dropping a trial of multi-age classrooms after only one year robs kids of the chance to make the transition into being the older leadership group.

Dr Nita Lester says that while the whole school multi-age approach (where every class is structured across multiple age groups) is remaining constant in Australia, there is currently an increase in part-school multi-age and part-school single age groupings.

“This is difficult to maintain but school administrators are finding some children respond so well to multi-ageing that they are willing to organise some groupings of multi-ageing, especially Years 1/2/3 groupings and Years 6/7 groupings.”

“The early childhood stage fits perfectly into multi-ageing and it is growing in popularity,” she says. “Use of multi-age in high schools is also growing, especially with the middle years of school approach now taking over Queensland. Large schools are combining Years 8/9 and Years 8/9/10,” she says.

Dr Lester also pointed out that interest in how to improve learning experiences for all children individually is a growing phenomenon. “Excellent teachers are noting that many lessons do not ‘fit’ all their students. So isolated teachers – even ones with groups of same age children – are taking on board the multi-age developmental approach,” she says.

For more information on multi-age teaching in Australia go to www.australianassociationofmulti-ageeducation.org Individual school websites are also a great source of information.

Many schools publish information about class structure on these sites.

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

29

health

good

DR. ROGER MORRIS www.doc4kidz.com.au Dr. Roger Morris is a General Practitioner in Maroochydore, who has a special interest in Child and Adolescent Health

Gastroenteritis in Children Gastroenteritis is a very common illness in infants and children. It is most commonly caused by viruses that infect the bowel. It tends to be more common during the winter months.

In most cases the infection begins with vomiting and loss of appetite. Following on from this is usually the development of watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever. The vomiting may last for 3 or 4 days and the diarrhoea may persist for more than a week.

Prolonged fever, severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea may indicate a bacterial cause for gastroenteritis, which should be checked by a doctor, especially in infants and young babies.

Viral gastroenteritis is very infectious and isolation of the affected child from other family members, day-care facilities and schools is important. Frequent hand-washing after toileting, nappy changes and prior to preparing food is absolutely vital to reduce transmission to other people.

Most children recover quickly from gastro without any specific treatment, but some children may need medical attention for dehydration (especially infants and babies).

Encouraging regular sips of oral fluids (especially electrolyte solutions available from pharmacies) is important to reduce the risk of dehydration. Children are unable to use anti-vomiting and anti-diarrhoeal medications prescribed for adults due to side effects.

There are a few newer medications available that may be useful in school age children to reduce vomiting, but these are not widely available at all medical practices. Breast milk is the best rehydration fluid for breastfed babies.

Be sure to seek medical advice should you child exhibit the following: • Infants less than 6 months old • Other chronic health problems • Poor oral fluid intake • Ongoing vomiting, fever, rash, lethargy or drowsiness • Blood or mucous in the stool • Severe abdominal pain, especially with green (bile-stained) vomit • Persistent high fevers, headache, neck stiffness • Your child is slow to improve The most common virus implicated in gastroenteritis, especially in children less than two years old, is rotavirus. This virus is very common and highly infectious, and commonly occurs in epidemics during winter. In fact, most children have been infected by rotavirus by the time they reach 2 years old. Vomiting and diarrhoea can be quite severe and each year in Australia, 2 or 3 children die from complications.

More than 10,000 children are admitted to hospitals in Australia every year with rotavirus infection.

Thankfully there are now oral vaccines available to protect against the commonest strains of rotavirus. These vaccines are very effective and well tested to prove their safety and tolerability. The government now funds these vaccines as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule for infants less than 6 months of age.

These vaccines are not approved for use in children older than 6 months.

Source: http://www.chw.edu.au/parents/factsheets/pdf/gastroenteritis.pdf

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE FROM YOUR PHYSICIAN OR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

30

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

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Modern Mama making the most of your life

Your “old” friends and family may be living far away, or perhaps they’re busy at work most days (especially if they have older kids / no kids).

Mother’s groups can be a terrific source of support and understanding, from people who are getting just as little sleep as you are, and can be a way of establishing lifelong friends for both you and your child. The social interaction is good for your baby and for you, provided you find a group you enjoy.

It’s important to remember, though, that just because you now have a baby in your arms, it doesn’t mean you will instantly be friends with all other mums. Many have found themselves in the midst of a group of “Stepford” type mothers (who appear smiling and well-rested, are perfectly groomed and made-up, and have spotless little bundles gurgling happily) and start to think “who are these people?!” and “what am I doing wrong?!”

DIP YOUR Mother’s groups come in all shapes and sizes - they can start from groups run through the hospital or community health, antenatal groups formed before the babies were born, or a group of mums who met at church, the shops or in the park.

(Don’t forget the Qld Playgroup Association - see Community Directory, p. 42)

If you don’t know where to find such a group, then build your own. Get out and about and chat with other mums. Parks, shopping centres and even walking around your neighbourhood are all good places to make new friends. Anytime you strike up a conversation with a mother you seem to “connect” with, be it while changing nappies in a mother’s room, doing the groceries or at the local cafe, invite them along and have them do the same - you’ll soon have a good-sized group.

A friend of mine, a professional woman in her thirties who found herself as a firsttime mother and not a baby in sight among her friends, left her contact details with the baby nurse at the local chemist. She soon had such a large group going they split in half to accommodate the different ages of the children and are still in touch several years later.

Our babies grow and change so quickly and each month brings different joys and challenges. One of the great joys of mother’s groups is that you can all talk about the things that are of utmost concern to you right now. When you feel like the rest of the human race just don’t get it, it can be extremely affirming to have a group of friends right there with you on “Planet Mother”.

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Whatever the group, chances are that there’ll be people you like immediately, some who may take a little longer and maybe some you find it a little hard to gel with.

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• T ry to see the entertainer in action at a children’s party before you make a decision. Are they good with kids or just good at magic (or whatever)? Are they suitable for your child’s age group?

• I ntroduce the entertainer to your child separately from the rest of the crowd.

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KOTC readers, the Simpson family, say their trip to Finnish Lapland was worth every minute…

Last November, my wife Alison and I and our sons George and Harry, then 7 and 6, were on holidays visiting family in the UK. As a surprise, I had pre-purchased four return air tickets to a very special destination. Flying with Finnair out of London’s Heathrow Airport, we changed planes at Finland’s capital, Helsinki, and after another 1½ hours landed in the town of Rovaniemi, gateway to the Lapland region, and the official home of Santa Claus.

As soon as we exited the small airport terminal, the boys both dived into the snow outside, never having seen it before. After dinner at the Amarillo Tex-Mex restaurant (not what you’d expect to find in Lapland, but good nonetheless) we enjoyed an early night at our hotel, the ‘Scandic Rovaniemi’. Next morning we jumped into a taxi and headed for Santa’s Village, 8kms north of Rovaniemi and just across the Arctic Circle line, famous for it’s ‘Northern Lights’at that time of year.

A true fairytale winter wonderland awaited us, with pine trees around a picturesque village covered in snow. Being the month before the busiest month of the year, we almost had the place to ourselves (well, at least at that time of the morning). But the large external wooden doors were closed and I was worried we’d come at the wrong time. We pushed the doors open and walked slowly down an empty hallway towards the sound of voices. We turned the corner and suddenly, there we were in Santa’s office, with the man himself sitting alone, down at the other end. It was an indescribably magical, mystical moment. I don’t know who had bigger grins on their faces, the boys or us!

Santa looks pretty big in reality and is quite multi-lingual. We spent a good twenty minutes of private quality time with him. (Luckily we hadn’t come in December, when visitors increase dramatically). The boys threw plenty of questions at Santa and he even taught them a few words in Finnish.

Next to Santa sat a huge pot full of babies’ dummies. It turns out that little kids from all over the world have thrown them in the pot, a visit to Santa having persuaded them that they were no longer needed!

Santa produced a massive book, which turned out to be a world atlas. We found Queensland, but when we were asked to place a small ‘X’ exactly where we lived, we discovered our hinterland town wasn’t on the map! Nonetheless our location was marked and the kids were asked to write their names in the book, so that Santa would always know exactly where they were. Then one of Santa’s helpers took our most special Christmas photo of all time. (I don’t know how many copies or formats I’ve had made since!)

• Santa’s Office is open daily, all year round. Check opening times - there are two official “Santa sleep times” per day.

• Snowmobiling, Santa’s Reindeer Farm, Husky Dog Farm, and Reindeer and Husky Sled Rides are all available during peak periods.

• Cafes, souvenir shops etc and Santa’s Official Post Office are all part of the village.

• Dress warmly with thermals advisable, hats, gloves and scarves essential and snow boots strongly recommended.

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BEE MOVIE

Fair Dinkum Aussie Christmas with CD

By Bucko & Champs / Kilmeny Niland On the first day of Christmas a swagman at the gate said, “Have a ripper Aussie Christmas, mate!”

Sing along with the kids this Christmas to 10 of the most Aussie Christmas jingles ever! Fun, entertaining and utterly Australian, Bucko & Champs have compiled a brilliant host of music and lyrics that are guaranteed to have the whole family tapping, laughing and singing for hours this Christmas. This amazing book and CD is sure to be a hit with any Aussie family!

Animated movie created by Jerry Seinfeld.

Barry B. Benson (voiced by Seinfeld) is a bee who has just graduated from college, but doesn’t think much of his one career option: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa (Renee Zellweger), a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms (urgh, geddit?), he discovers humans actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to sue the entire human race, eventually becoming a celebrity in the process.

MR MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM Welcome to the strangest, most fantastic, most wonderful toy store in the world, in which everything inside comes to life - including the store itself. When Mr. Magorium, the store’s extraordinary 243 year-old proprietor (Dustin Hoffman), announces his plans to retire, the store throws an unusual tantrum. It’s up to deputy manager, Molly Mahoney; Henry, the new accountant; and a super-intelligent 9 year-old boy, to find a magical way to fix things.

IN CINEMAS DECEMBER 6 NOT YET RATED AT TIME OF PUBLICATION

IN CINEMAS DECEMBER 13 NOT YET RATED AT TIME OF PUBLICATION

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ENCHANTED This hilarious animated-fairy-tale-meetslive-action modern-day New York starts with Princess Giselle singing her way through a magical forest in the blissful cartoon world of Andalasia. Giselle is all set to marry the handsome (but egotistical and not-too-bright) Prince Edward… until his evil stepmother Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) pushes her down a magical wishing well, and she ends up in the present-day New York City. She and her fellow animated Andalasians end up bursting (literally) into the middle of New York as real-life humans, who nonetheless retain all the trappings of their animated selves - the fancy costumes, ditzy innocence, penchant for singing, and abiilty to talk to small animals. Throw in a friendly lawyer, his suspicious fiance and his fairy-tale-obsessed daughter, and you’ve got a real winner.

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Tiddler

By Julia Donaldson & Alex Scheffler Meet Tiddler – a little fish with a very big imagination! Tiddler tells the tallest stories in the ocean…but did he really ride a seahorse? Did he really meet a mermaid? And what about the scariest story of all – the one about the fisherman in the net!

Children will fall in love with this little hero. This book is from the two superstars of the picture book world and has already sold in 13 languages!

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ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS

THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP

Having delighted three generations of fans, the squeaky-voiced trio come to the big screen for the first time. This live-action/ CGI movie brings the hapless human Dave and his musical and mischievous chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore to the big screen for more singing, dancing and silliness. The buyers of 43 million albums and fans of the cartoons in over 100 countries can’t be wrong…

Combining magic, excitement and adventure, this movie will appeal to lovers of fantasy and in particular dragon mythology. The story begins with an enchanted egg, which hatches into a creature that will take a young boy on an unforgettable journey…into the heart of one of the world’s most enduring legends. From the makers of The Chronicles of Narnia, and the author of Babe.

IN CINEMAS JANUARY 1 NOT YET RATED AT TIME OF PUBLICATION

IN CINEMAS JANUARY 1 NOT YET RATED AT TIME OF PUBLICATION We have FIVE family (admit four) passes to see THE WATERHORSE to give away! Send your entries to WATERHORSE competition at the address below.

SEND ALL COMPETITION ENTRIES TO: (Competition name), Kids on the Coast, PO Box 1291, Noosa Heads Q 4567 Don’t forget to put your name, address and daytime phone no. on the back of the envelope! All entries must be received by 18th December.

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

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Parent’s Choice Supplier Directory

recommended

by parents for parents

CHILDREN’S PARTIES

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES - CHILDRENS

SOLICITORS

SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS

FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES - BABIES

OPTOMETRISTS

SPORT & RECREATION

PHOTOGRAPHERS - PORTRAITS

INTRODUCING PARENT’S CHOICE CO-ORDINATOR,

FIONA GORDON The newest member of the Kids on the Coast team, Fiona has background in newspapers and print media, with over 22 years of experience in areas such as layout, design, sales and administration.

She and her husband Paul have two boys, aged 9 and 11. Although originally from Toowoomba, the family spent several years in Hervey Bay and have been living on the Sunshine Coast since 1996. Fiona also frequently visits the Gold Coast, where she and Paul have many friends and relatives and have been long-time members of the Gold Coast GT Falcon Owners Club.

Whether you’re a business owner or parent, Fiona would love to talk to you about how the Parent’s Choice Programme is designed to benefit everyone in the local community, including you.

To have a chat with Fiona, call the Kids on the Coast office on (07) 5442 8679 or email her at pc@kidsonthecoast.com.au

The Parent’s Choice ProgrammeTM Phone: (07) 5442 8679 Fax: (07) 5442 8709 P.O Box 206, Eumundi Qld 4562 www.parents-choice.com.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Recommended

by Parents for Parents TM

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KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Copyright All Rights Reserved 2005. The Parent’s Choice Supplier ProgrammeTM is operated under license by Things 4 Kids Pty Ltd for inclusion in Kids on the Coast magazine.

Important Notice: As the suppliers listed are nominated by readers and are included in good faith based on that referral. No guarantees can be given or implied as to the suitability or performance of these suppliers. We encourage all readers to fully satisfy themselves as to the competency of these suppliers when ordering products or services.

The Parent’s Choice Programme Phone 1800 795 200 Now!

TM

Welcome to the Parent’s Choice Programme Wouldn’t it be great to be able to rely on other parents’ word-of-mouth, personal recommendations, without having to ask around every time you want to buy something? Well that’s the idea behind the Parent’s Choice Programme, a guide to Gold Coast businesses that are recommended to you by other Gold Coast parents, based on their own positive experiences.

Not just any business will be able to advertise in this directory - Parent’s Choice suppliers have to have a PROVEN TRACK RECORD of excellence when it comes to products, services and looking after customers. Rather than take risks when buying for your family, you can avoid the hit-and-miss by buying from businesses listed in the Parent’s Choice Directory.

You can help other parents and local businesses by supporting Parent’s Choice Preferred Businesses, and letting them know why, and by nominating other deserving businesses to us. But remember, they’ll only be eligible for inclusion in the programme if they meet our required customer satisfaction standards!

Recommended by Parents for Parents

TM

Comments? Questions?

Nominations? profiles@kidsonthecoast.com.au

Help us to help you

Kids on the Coast would like to wish all our readers and advertisers A very happy, fun-filled, joyous, peaceful, prosperous, and safe Christmas and New Year!

We look forward to sharing an exciting 2008 with you.

If your business targets parents and families on the Gold Coast, call us to find out what upcoming features may be a great “fit” with your advertising and promotional objectives, and make Kids on the Coast part of your marketing mix.

Here’s what’s scheduled in for next year so far: • Pregnancy myths and facts

• Holidays on a budget

• BBQ ideas

• Separation Anxiety

• Easter activities

• Moving House

When you choose businesses through this directory, let them know you selected them because they’re a Parent’s Choice Preferred Business.

• Younger Mums, Older Mum

• Values Education

AND Help us to help other parents, by sharing your positive buying experiences, and nominating those who give you and your family great products and services. You can ask to be part of a Parent Profile, or simply let us know which business you’d like to recommend and why.

• Talent schools

• Pool safety

• Bicycling as a family

• Maternity makeover

YOU can be part of this fantastic programme, which already runs successfully on the Sunshine Coast.

Parent Profiles:

Tell us about your family Have your say and contribute to this valuable parenting resource by sharing your thoughts and ideas in your own Parent Profile. Simply call (07) 5442 8679 during business hours for more information.

• Losing weight vs. gaining health • Holidays overseas

• Making the transition from Primary to Secondary school

AND LOTS MORE! Phone: 1800 795 200 Fax: 07 5442 8709 Email: gc@kidsonthecoast.com.au Level 1, 101 Memorial Drive, Eumundi QLD 4562 PO Box 1291, Noosa Heads QLD 4567 www.kidsonthecoast.com.au The No.1 Magazine for Coast Parents and Kids!

Kids on the Coast is proudly published by Things 4 Kids Pty Ltd ABN 86 473 357 391

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

37

parent profiles:

Natalie Moss & Craig Eather Who’s in your family?

My husband Craig and our kids, Ashton (2) and Charlotte (5). And coming soon will be our first family pet!

Anyone else special?

My mum and sisters Keema and Tammie are my support network. Even though miles away in NSW, they are always there to check in on us and give much wisdom and moral support. This is very special to me.

What’s been the funniest moment to date in your parenting career?

Charlotte was 4 and very quiet playing in one of the rooms by herself. After enjoying the peace for a bit, I soon found her into my make-up. She had it all over her hands, face and our bed. She denied that she’d been playing with it until I told her to look in the mirror!

What are your special parenting tips?

Making cubby houses – help them be creative with old sheets and they’ll enjoy making a comfy home to have a picnic inside of.

What are your best beauty, lifestyle, health or diet tips?

Detox for a week eliminating processed foods altogether. You will feel ‘cleaner’ and may discover you’ve had a food allergy if you also substitute for dairy and wheat too.

Any other comments for Kids on the Coast readers?

Beethoven or The Beatles?

BOOK N O FOR HO W LIDAY CLASSE S

All instruments - All ages • Private or Group Lessons

Ask about the Kids on Keys Choir!

Kids on Keys Music School - Southport and Robina 1300 55 49 46 - www.kidsonkeys.com.au KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

Whole Food Nutrition We’ve done the juicing for you!

il Moss Fam

It doesn’t matter! All music helps nurture your child’s cognitive, emotional, social, language and physical development. Our fun and educational Kindermusik program helps babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers discover their natural musical ability - come and see for yourself with a FREE TRIAL LESSON!

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We recently moved into our 1st home and have found it more challenging to balance quality time with work life and house commitments than ever expected.

We have learned to be independent as we have no family here to help us and have found friends to be invaluable when we need some help and are happy we can reciprocate the support. Life is exciting too as we enjoy Ashton begining m m e nde d co to talk and turn into a little man and see Charlotte growing up into a

We all try to eat “2+5” serves of fruit and vegetables…

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Play dough – it doesn’t dry out as quick on a wet day.

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Cooking – something warm and scrumptious like muffins or biscuits. The kids sit on the bench so they can help sit, crack eggs and taste test.

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Contact Brad Mulcahy 02 4390 0873 Mob: 0410 471 849 Email: jpbrad@bigpond.net.au

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What are the best activities to keep children entertained on a rainy day?

“Have fun with your kids and get proper sleep - it can make you smarter and a lot happier!”

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Get the right career/parent role balance for yourself and reassess it whenever you feel the need for change. Whether a full-time employee or mum, you regularly need social time away from children and personal time for yourself (eg. Movie, massage, exercise?) You’ll appreciate your family more and be a better mum/wife/person. Have fun with your kids and get proper sleep - it can make you smarter and a lot happier!

parent profiles: little lady and asking lots of questions. I am really lucky in that I can spend time playing with Learning Ladder products with the kids in the name of research! They have alot of fun with all the exciting (educational) books, games and puzzles. To find out more about The Learning Ladder, you’re welcome to call 0425 241 609.

Who or what makes life easier for you as a parent?

My sister had tried Juice Plus to help with her chronic tiredness and noticed marked improvement, so that’s what prompted me to contact Brad (lovely man) and sign up for our own supply. After a month on the tablets my husband and I both noticed we had alot more energy which was fantastic. We also ordered the yummy Juice Plus lollies for the kids and are reassured of their health even if they refuse vegetables or fruit one day. We are addicted to feeling well and know there’s clinical research to confirm their effects!

I had heard that musical awareness can help children learn better so I looked at what was available locally and found Kids on Keys. Charlotte has been going since the beginning of the year and has grown confidence and formed lovely little friendships in the class. It’s a great opportunity to meet other like-minded mums and be involved in Charlotte’s new learning experience! Ashton will get to start having fun with sounds even younger next year.

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I had to change Orthodontists mid-way through the process as we moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast. I checked out some other Orthodontists on the Coast and found Bleakley Orthodontics to be very professional, have the latest technology and the most genuinely nice staff. Dr Bleakley is a perfectionist and the results are worth the journey. At times when I had to bring Ashton as a baby and he’d wake up mid-way through a visit, the wonderful ladies there took over and made me relax while my teeth were getting looked after!

We offer:

- Interceptive and early treatment - Adolescent treatment with fully bonded braces - Clear, gold or metal braces, colours available - Dentofacial Orthopaedics for jaw discrepancies - Adult treatment – conventional and surgical - Flexible payment plans - Registered Specialist with the Queensland Dental Board

Orthodontists Joseph E Bleakley

BDSc(Qld), MDSc(Syd), FRACDS

Desmond Ong BDSc(Hons)(Qld), MDSc(Qld), MOrthRCS(Ed)

Before

After

Harbour Town Robina Town Centre Helensvale Westfield

5529 0500 5578 7333 5519 3666

Amy Knight Who’s in your family?

My husband Steven, and daughter Jessica, aged 2 years. Jessica also loves visiting her grandparents (Grandma & Pop and Nan & Granddad) and when her cousins visit.

Funniest moment to date in your parenting career?

When Jessica tells daddy he is a ‘good boy’ for doing a wee wee in the toilet and tells him not to do poos in his nundies (undies). (She is toilet training at the moment!)

What are your special parenting tips?

Let your child learn at their pace. We have found Jessica completes some milestones very quickly and others seem to take forever. Jessica loves praise when she’s done a good job and also offers praise for others which is very sweet of her. We have discovered that cuddles fix everything, from a scraped knee to a broken toy.

Also, never under estimate the power of singing as an instant distraction!

What are the best activities to keep children entertained on a rainy day?

We all go jumping in puddles - it’s fun! Colouring in and crafts are also great, and sometimes we make popcorn and watch children’s movies together under a nice big blanket.

What are your best beauty, lifestyle, health or diet tips?

We encourage Jessica to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and we generally don’t eat things that we don’t want her to eat (at least not until she’s gone to bed!).

We also try to keep Jessica involved with food preparation and cooking. She loves helping mummy peel vegies and stirring mixtures. Jessica also loves helping with the washing up while we are waiting for things to cook. She is a great helper and often tells me this herself!

Who or what makes your life easier as a parent?

We enjoy shopping at Best and Less as they have a great range of clothes that are both inexpensive and very cute. Their range of children’s underwear is the best. They have so many styles and are very cheap, which is great when you’re going through toilet training as we Proudly supporting the are! The staff are always friendly (and Knight Family occasionally even mummy gets to buy something for herself).

See our Parents Choice Supplier Directory for business’s recommended

by Parents for Parents TM

DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008 – KiDs on tHe CoAst

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parent profiles:

Rob & Kirrily Hahn Who’s in your family?

Yasmin (8), Blake (4) and Amber (14mths)

Funniest moment to date in your parenting career?

When we were selling our house, and our daughter very sweetly took the hand of the pest inspection man and invited him to “come and see our termite mound!”

(This was actually a pile of dirt, but it nevertheless caused him to change the house value down and cost us $10,000! It was funny LATER!!)

What are your special parenting tips?

ALWAYS read a story to kids when they go to bed. Make sure the family has “fun” times together and the children spend a lot of time playing with each other, so that they develop a strong friendship to last their lifetimes.

What are the best activities to keep children entertained on a rainy day?

Rumbling (play wrestling) on the bed, playdough and building block creations, cooking and dancing to music.

What are your best beauty, lifestyle, health & diet tips?

Be balanced and not too caught up with any one thing.

Any other comments for Kids on the Coast readers?

You can always learn from other people’s tips and ideas - keep your eyes and your mind open.

Who/what makes your life easier as a parent?

FOR AN OBLIGATION FREE DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES PLEASE CONTACT:

Natashia Manhire 0412 966 254 natashia@stuartbarker.com.au

Stuart Barker 0419 244 420 stuart@stuartbarker.com.au

THE MORTGAGE AND FINANCE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA FINANCE BROKERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA THE INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

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HOME LENDING s INVESTMENT LENDING s MORTGAGE REDUCTION

STUART BARKER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1995 AND IS A MEMBER OF:

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Together, we colour , your child s world

SPECIALISING IN

GROUND FLOOR “EVANDALE PLACE”, 142 BUNDALL ROAD, BUNDALL, QLD 4217 21 Bridgman Drive Reedy Creek Qld 4227 PO Box 2503 Burleigh MDC 4220 P: 07 5593 4226 F: 07 5593 4227 E: office@hillcrest.qld.edu.au

WEBSITE: www.hillcrestcc.net 40

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

PHONE: 07 5574 1757 FAX: 07 5574 1758 www.stuartbarker.com.au

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Stuart Baker & Associates are brilliant at what they do! When buying an investment property seemed impossible, they told us of options we’d never thought of and showed us how to make it happen.

“Make sure the family has “fun” times together and the children spend a lot of time playing with each other…”

m m e nde d co

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We love Hillcrest Christian College for its commitment to stay small and retain a lovely family/community atmosphere. The teachers are caring and discipline is consistent. We love the fact that students’ individual needs (whether academically gifted or challenged) are always taken into account and that the principles/values upon which the college was founded remain true.

kids on the coast COMMUNITY DIRECTORY CHILD EDUCATION & WELFARE Child Abuse Prevention Service 24 hour service, 7 days per week Ph: 1800 688 009 Child Support Agency Ph: 131 141. Web: www.csa.gov.au Family Court Ph: 1800 815 597 Web: www.familycourt.gov.au Learning for Life Program - The Smith Family Scholarships / education assistance (eg funds for books, bags, uniforms) to students from low-income families Ph: 5564 7055 Web: www.smithfamily.com.au Life Education Queensland Ph: 5572 0166 or 1300 556 755 Web: www.drugsafe.org Safety House Assoc of Qld Inc Ph: 3356 9922

CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH Free service - assessment of growth & development up to 12 years. Advice on feeding, sleep and unsettled babies, behavioural issues, support for parents.

Free hearing clinic (4 yrs +) Mon-Fri 8.30-4.30pm.

After hours ph: 1800 177 279 Web: www.health.qld.gov.au Community Child Health - Broadbeach Ph: 5572 6231 Community Child Health - Bundall Ph: 5570 8553 Community Child Health - Helensvale Ph: 5580 7800 Community Child Health - Labrador Ph: 5531 1490 Community Child Health - Nerang Ph: 5578 1346 Community Child Health - Southport Ph: 07 5519 2600 Community Child Health - Varsity Lakes Ph: 5531 1560 Palm Beach Child Health & Day Stay Centre Ph: 5525 5602 Tweed Heads Early Childhood Health Centre Ph: 5524 9146

CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS Child Support Agency Ph: 131 1272 www.csa.gov.au

CHILDCARE Child Care Access Hotline Freecall: 1800 67 0305 Child Care Information Service Dept of Families C&K (Creche and Kindergarten Association) Toll Free: 1800 177 092 www.candk.asn.au FAMILY DAY CARE ASSOCIATION OFFICE QLD Freecall: 1800 177 253

COUNSELLING SERVICES Bravehearts Inc Counselling for children & young people suffering from child sexual assault/abuse.

Ph: 1800 114 474 Compassion Services - Compassion 4 Kids Play therapy/counselling children 3-10yrs Ph: 5556 0929 or 5529 7255 Kids Helpline FREE Telephone counselling 24 hours/7 days. Web counselling from 3pm-9pm Mon-Fri Ph: 1800 551 800 Web: www.kidshelp.com.au

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Relationships Australia Resources for couples, individuals and families to help enhance and support relationships Ph: 1300 364 277 Web: www.relationships.com.au Men’s Line Australia FREE for men with family and relationship concerns.

Ph: 1300 789 978 Parentline FREE Confidential telephone counselling/support service providing professional information and support. 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week Ph: 1300 301 300 Web: www.parentline.com.au SALVATION ARMY COUNSELLING SERVICE Family Counselling (relationships, divorce, grief, addictions) Ph. 5531 3471

CRISIS HELP Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline Freecall: 1800 010 1201 Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse

Ph: 1300 65 7380

Child Abuse Prevention Services (24 HOURS) Ph: 1800 688 009 Child Abuse Reporting Department of Families Freecall:1800 811 810 After hours and emergencies: Freecall: 1800 177 135 Dads in Distress Ph: 1300 853 437. Suicide prevention group for men grieving after divorce/separation Web: www.dadsindistress.asn.au dvline - Domestic Violence (24 HOURS) Ph: 1800 811 811 Crisis Care (24 HOURS) Ph: 1800 17 7135 Family Drug Support Ph: 1300 368 186 Gamblers Anonymous Ph: 1800 002 210 Post-Natal Depression Support Ph: 1800 017 676 (weekdays 9-5, except wed, 12.30-5pm) www.womhealth.org.au Lifeline (helpline) Ph: 13 11 14

DISABILITY SERVICES Montrose Access Gold Coast Therapy & respite services to children and young adults with physical disabilities.

Cnr Allied Drive & Byth Street, Arundel.

Ph: (07) 5509 9300 TWEED VALLEY EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION CENTRE INC Educational/therapy program and support for preschool children with disabilities & their families.

Ph: 5506 7558

FAMILY/PARENTING SUPPORT AUSTRALIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES ASSOCIATION Web: www.afssa.org.au BREASTFEEDING HELPLINES 7 days (07) 3844 8977 or (07) 3844 8166 Aust Breastfeeding Assn www.breastfeeding.asn.au CENTRELINK Ph: 131021 Web: www.centrelink.gov.au COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Promotes and protects the rights, interests and wellbeing of all Queenslanders under 18.

Freecall: 1800 688 275 Web: www.childcomm.qld.gov.au FOCUS ON THE FAMILY Australia Counselling support, marriage & parenting resources, community & training programs, print & broadcast media Freecall: 1300 300 361 Web: www.families.org.au GOLD COAST HOMEBIRTH GROUP Meets 1st Wednesdays, 9.30 to 11.30am Bert Swift Community Centre, 11 Centurion Way, Nerang 5533 2258 RIVERTON EARLY PARENTING CENTRE 24 Hour Helpline. Freecall: 1800 177 279 YOUNG PARENTS PROGRAM Northern Gold Coast area - for pregnant young mums and those with young kids.

Wed & Thur, Coomera.

Ph: 0409 756 783 - Helene

FAMILY PLANNING Children by Choice Ph: 1800 17 7725 Pregnancy Helpline Ph: 1300 13 9313 Family Planning Queensland Suite 1 - 47 Nerang St (Cnr Davenport) Southport QLD. Ph/Fax: (07) 5531 2636 Pregnancy Counselling Aust.

Ph: 1300 737 732

FOSTER CARE DEPT OF CHILD SAFETY Ph: 5595 7100 PATHWAYS FOSTERING & INTERVENTION SERVICE Ph: 5527 7455

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Ambulance Call 000 Adverse Reactions To Immunisations Hotline Freecall: 1800 007 468 Poisons Information Centre (24 HOURS) Ph: 13 1126 S.I.D.S. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 24 HOUR emergency Ph: 1800 628 648 www.sidsandkids.org

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES CHILD & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC NORTH 18 Park St., Burleigh Heads. Ph: (07) 5586 1444 CHILD & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC SOUTH 60 High St., Southport. Ph: 5537 0622 Specialised community mental health service to children, adolescents & their families KIDS IN MIND Info on mental health issues (eg school, family and personal problems, depression, anxiety, anger management) facing young people and their families. www.kidsinmind.org.au

SUPPORT GROUPS ANOREXIA & BULIMIA SUPPORT GROUP Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6.30pm 5 Davenport St, Southport Ph Monica or Gwen 5522 8565 GC Childrens Contact Service Supervised changeovers & contact for non-res parents. Ph: 3861 0755 to register.

After both parties are registered Ph: 5527 2555 for changeovers & contact on Fri/Sat/ Sun & Mon for the Gold Coast Gold Coast Homebirth Group First Wednesday of every month 9.30-11.30 am Bert Swift Community Centre 11 Centurion Way, Nerang. Ph: 5533 2258 Gold Coast Multiple Birth Association Inc. Ph: 07 5599 7874 or 07 5527 2624 Email: carl.clasen@bigpond.com Friends Of The Birth Centre (FBC) Birthing support for new mums/ mums-to-be Bring a plate (healthy food) Third Monday of the month 10am - noon Southport Library Meeting Room Call Miranda on 0417 723 081 or miranda.lacy@qmail.com Lifeline Kids in Group Free group programs for children who have experienced grief & loss, trauma or abuse & neglect.

Ph: 5539 9922 Limbkids Support Assoc Inc Caring for children with limb differences (counselling, home & hospital visits, library resources & modified equipment hire) Ph: 5533 9754 MOTHERS AGAINST DEPRESSION (M.A.D!) Non-judgemental support and group therapy 2nd and 4th Tuesdays 9.30 to 11.30am Sue 5578 2457 / Jenny 0412 358 970 (ah) Multicultural Communities Council GC Inc Cross Cultural Childcare Unit Assists children from culturally different backgrounds settle into childcare services.

Ph: 5527 8011 Paradise Kids Support for children & their families suffering major illness, grief, separation, divorce or terminal illness.

Ph: 5574 6853 SALVATION ARMY Parenting classes, music playgroup, counselling 157 Wardoo Street, Southport. Ph. 5531 3471 St Vincent de Paul Child & Family Program Healthy Families Program - volunteers with in-home support. Support/respite for children.

Free service. Ph: 3807 6623

PLAYGROUPS (NB other playgroups may be available in your area.

Check with Playgroup Qld on 1800 171 882) A-SO-BO! KIDS A playgroup for Japanese speaking children Email: gcjapamama-owner@yahoogroups.jp ASHMORE PLAYGROUP Fridays 9.30 -11.30am, hall behind Uniting Church (Good Shepherd) Ashmore Plaza, 144 Cotlew Street, Ashmore. Ph: 5539 2137 GOLD COAST HOME-SCHOOLING PLAYGROUP Anyone interested in H/S welcome Ph: Michelle 07 5571 5678 or email: shellybell2006@hotmail.com Hope Island Playgroup Banksia Park Hall Crescent Avenue, Hope Island Ph: 07 5530 1994 Kindagym for Under 5’s Every Tuesday, Gold Coast Christian Family, 120 Mudgeeraba Rd, Mudgeeraba 5525 2477 LABRADOR TODDLER PLAYGROUP (under 3yrs) Thursdays 1-2.30pm, Broadwater Meeting Room, 370 Marine Parade, Labrador.

Call Dianne on 5591 5353 MAINLY MUSIC Dance, music and play for preschoolers and parents/carers. Tuesdays, Fridays 9.30 Ph: 5531 3471 Nerang Playgroup Ph: 5527 2918 Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre PARADISE POINT PLAYGROUP (0-12mths) Thursdays, 10.30am-midday Paradise Point Community Centre, Community Lane, Paradise Point. Call Val on 5598 5072 Playgroup Ph: 5527 9092 or 5598 1505 Playgroup Assoc of Qld Inc Ph: 1800 171 882 Email: info@playgroupqld.com.au Web: www.playgroupaustralia.com.au Robina-Surfers Paradise Uniting Church Playgroups Ph: 5578 9322 Studio Village Community Services Playgroup Ph: 5529 8253 UPPER COOMERA PLAYGROUP (0-5 yrs) Wednesday 10am - noon Call Val on 5598 5072 / 0423 435 776 Varsity Lakes Community Centre Playgroup Ph: 5593 7006

RECREATION ORGANISATIONS The Gold Coast City Brass Band & Drum Corps (est. 1904) Community band / music tuition Not-for-profit organisation - quality very affordable music tuition in brass instruments and drums for ages 7+. Student membership just $30 per year.

Rehearsals held at Peter Panitz Bandshell, Owen Park, Queen St, Southport.

Ph: 55326 431 DYNAMIC DANCE MINISTRIES Fitness and Fun classes for kids, youth, and elderly Dreamcentre in Carrara End of year Christmas production open to all students Call Jo on (07) 5533 1142 or (0413) 34 34 82 Email jo@dynamicdance.ws www.dynamicdance.ws Guides Queensland - GC Region Develop personal skills, community awareness & good citizenship. From age 6+ Labrador Ph: 5529 0049 Benowa Ph: 5539 1430 Southport Ph: 5531 1867 Nerang Ph: 5596 0212 Nth Tamborine Ph: 5545 3350 Mudgeeraba Ph: 5530 3692 Scout Assoc of Australia Encouraging the development of young people (male and female) aged 6-26 yrs, through a wide range of activities. These include Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturers & Rovers. For membership in your area. Ph: (07) 3870 7000 or 1800 072688 Web: www.scoutsqld.com.au Police Citizens Youth Clubs Wide range of indoor sporting activities for kids of all ages.

Ph: (07) 5538 5201 for your nearest centre Web: www.goldcoastpcyc.com

These listings are provided free to government, community and non-profit organisations.

To list your organisation please email advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au and mark your email ‘community directory’

KiDs on tHe CoAst – DECEMBER 2007 / JANUARY 2008

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