Kids on the Coast Magazine - Sunshine Coast - Issue 58

kidsonthecoast ISSUE 58 | September/October 2013 | SUNSHINE COAST

FREE

STARTING PREP: DO AGE AND MATURITY MATTER?

BEST-FOR-US BREAD GENDER AND EDUCATION

ATTACHMENT PARENTING IMPORTANCE OF GRANDPARENTS

HOLIDAYS PARTIES WHAT'S ON CALENDAR LOTS MORE!

URE

FEAT

Y

STOR

DIFFERENCES: THE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT SET CHILDREN APART

Contents SEPTEMBEROctober2013

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4 4 6 7 8

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From the Editor The Social Gathering WHAT'S NEWS CHECK THIS OUT: New, fun and funky things FEATURE: Invisible differences: The chronic conditions that set

children apart

16 NEW TO THE COAST 18 THE ‘P’ FILES: Bridging generations: Grandparents 22 EDUCATION: Starting Prep: Do age and maturity matter?

30 EDUCATION: Gender and education 38 CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Find out what’s happening on the

Coast during September and October

42 48

BABIES ON THE COAST: A detached look at attachment parenting ONLY NATURAL: The loaf lowdown - power your way through the

bread maze 54 56 62 66 66

PARENTVILLE: War on slumber GOOD HEALTH: "Number two" problems PROFILE:Tackling life: Meet Mark Minichiello IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU! LET’S CELEBRATE: Halloween with an Aussie twist

72 HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Escape to Perth... with your family!

74 REVIEWS

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

3

T hesocialgathering Which is your favourite park and why?

Reader April: I love the park at Bells Reach Estate in Caloundra.

Welcome to

Reader Dannielle: Brightwater!

Great equipment for all ages, toilets, and now a great coffee shop across the road.

kidsonthecoast I don’t think I ever truly realised how much having children would change my perspective on life. The things that I now do on a regular basis, words that come out of my mouth (or even thoughts that cross my mind), I would have promised you pre-kids would never have occurred. I am forever changed and funnily enough will be forever grateful for that.

Our spring edition also explores attachment parenting, gives you the lowdown on what to look for in breads and discusses the importance of Grandparents.

Have you missed an issue of Kids on the Coast magazine? All of our articles are online and you can comment and discuss the topics on our website or Facebook page. We add topical news stories regularly as well as blogs, new articles and product, app and book reviews. Please feel free to contact me via Facebook.com/kidsonthecoast, our website or email. And of course, keep an eye out for the stories, reviews, news and competitions that are added almost daily to our website!

Jackie Goldston Editor

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est!

Pinter

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Sprin

If you send someone a snarky tweet, does that make you an angry bird? @AvramOhm

Why am I offering you this insight?

Our feature article this month looks at chronic conditions that are invisible to the eye. This was a particularly important topic for me, as my daughter has type 1 diabetes and we have shared our experience with you in the article. There were so many other conditions and illnesses that we wanted to cover and would love to hear and share your stories and experiences too.

How do you know when your child is ready for school? This is a question that I have discussed with friends, we have pondered in the office and of course is one that has become even more relevant with the changes to the kindergarten program throughout Queensland. In this edition we explore what your options are and whether age or maturity really matter when it comes to starting school, as well as challenging the gender stereotypes in the classroom.

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Win kidsonthecoast ISSUE 58 | September/October 2013 | SUNSHINE COAST

FREE

STARTING PREP: DO AGE AND MATURITY MATTER?

BEST-FOR-US BREAD GENDER AND EDUCATION

ATTACHMENT PARENTING HOLIDAYS PARTIES WHAT'S ON CALENDAR

IMPORTANCE OF GRANDPARENTS

LOTS MORE!

DIFFERENCES:

E FEATUR STORY

THE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT SET CHILDREN APART

Spring

fun!

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While you are online, search for activities on our What’s On Events page, including everything from playgroups and regular classes to ticketed and special events for families. Don’t forget to sign up for the KOTC weekly What’s On newsletter to never miss an event. Your kids will never complain of being bored again!

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ISSUE 58: Dr Scott Parsons, Lisa Williment, Belinda Hopper, Kim Lahey Sandra Smith, Maxine Arthur Luke Goldston, Aleney de Winter COVER:

Photography by Jennifer Oliphant Photography. Special thankyou to Mia. Flower headpiece by Twig and Grace, Cooroy (07) 5442 5440. Find Twig and Grace on Instagram & Facebook.

Kids on the Coast magazine is printed with vegetable/soy based inks on paper supplied using pulp sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured to environmentally accredited systems.

Kids on the Coast encourages recycling.

Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

PUBLISHED BY: THINGS 4 KIDS PTY LTD. PO Box 491, Eumundi QLD 4562 PHONE: 1300 430 320 FAX: 07 5471 2372 WEB: www.kidsonthecoast.com.au ABN: 86 473 357 391. All editorial and advertising in Kids on the Coast is published in good faith based on material, verbal or written, provided by contributors and advertisers. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions and - on the coast opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All material in Kids on the Coast is subject to copyright provisions.

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

PUBLISHER: Toni Eggleston ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Simone Bell EDITOR: Jackie Goldston ADVERTISING: For advertising enquiries please phone Renee 1300 430 320 or email: advertising@kidsonthecoast.com.au Production Department: production@kidsonthecoast.com.au ADMINISTRATION: Kellie Kruger admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au PRINTING BY: Print Works PHONE: 07 3865 4433 DISTRIBUTION: Kids on the Coast (Sunshine Coast edition) is a free publication circulating over 20,000 copies from Caloundra to Noosa and through the hinterland. Separate edition cover Brisbane and the Gold Coast. For distribution enquiries please phone: 1300 430 320 or email: admin@kidsonthecoast.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kate Jones & Alana Falk

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 - on the coast -

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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

Whatsnews

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%

DID YOU KNOW

THE CORNER NOW IN SIX LIBRARY BRANCHES

OF PLANT LIFE IS FOUND IN THE OCEAN?

LEMONS CONTAIN

more sugar than strawberries?

Did you know the only continent with % no active volcanoes is Australia? of PEOPLE

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ARE left

Community

NEWS

handed?

Since the launch of Sunshine Coast Council’s Corner over 16,300 local children and their families have explored creativity through play. The Corner installation has now moved to more Libraries across the Coast including Noosa, Nambour, Coolum, Caloundra, Maleny and Maroochydore.

Each Corner features arts based programs, activities and collections, curated around a theme that will enliven and renew children’s spaces. Children are engaged in a range of language, sound and play activities. Division 8 Councillor Jason OPray, who recently launched the new Corner at Maroochydore Library with his bookworm daughter Lily, said Sunshine Coast Libraries are aiming to provide environments for children, young people and families that encourage joy, freedom, fun and play.

“Research has shown that play is vital to a child’s development. By the age of five, a child has learnt most of the basic skills needed to survive. Children are encouraged to play, explore and create in the Curious Corner,” he said.

The Corners are manned by library staff between Monday – Friday who engage with children to learn through arts based play, story, song and games.

FAMILIES WARNED -

don’t open the door to second-hand smoke Almost one Queenslander a day will die from inhaling tobacco smoke this year, without ever having smoked a cigarette in their life. Cancer Council Queensland is asking smokers to consider the harmful effects of their habit on friends, family and the community, and to take the necessary steps to quit. They have launched their first-ever resource to assist Queenslanders in making their home a smoke-free zone, to protect family members from deadly chemicals found in secondhand smoke. Around 3000 Queenslanders will die from a tobacco-related disease this year.

Walk with me

The World Health Organisation estimates about 300 of these deaths will be due to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke inhalation can cause lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems in adults, and SIDS, asthma, poor lung function and bronchitis in children. Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift said chemicals from second-hand smoke could remain in a home for months after smoking occurs.

Smokers can obtain free info, practical assistance and support from Quitline, 13 QUIT (13 7848), or join the QUEST to quit at www.cancerqld.org.au

The Sunshine Coast community will band together on Saturday 14 September for the MontroseAccess ‘Walk With Me’ fundraising event, to raise awareness and celebrate the inclusion of people with disabilities. Several Coast VIPS, with support from event sponsor Dick Smith Electronics, will walk with and on behalf of young people who each day rely on wheelchairs or walking aids. This year several TV stars to participate include ABC’s Jimmy Giggle from Giggle & Hoot; stars of 7’s Home & Away Nic Westaway, Lisa Gormley and Teri Haddy; and sibling chefs Jake & Elle from 7’s My Kitchen Rules.

Registration is from 8.30am for 10am walk; walkers return approx. 11am for free kids’ activities and food stalls at Pierce Park, Cnr Alexandra & Melrose Pde, Maroochydore. www.walkwithme.org.au

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

NATIONAL ROAD TRIP TO PROMOTE CHILD SAFETY Parents of abducted and murdered school boy Daniel Morcombe are taking child safety messages to all of Australia and promoting Day for Daniel. Bruce and Denise Morcombe embarked upon a ‘66’ day National Tour in late August, to promote and encourage people to take action, by participating in child safety educational activities on Day for Daniel on October 25th.

Driving a Red D-Max 17,000 kilometres through every State in Australia over 66 days, does not faze Bruce and Denise Morcombe in their bid to educate kids and empower communities across the country.

Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action that has grown to include over one thousand schools and more than a million Australians annually, conducting education and awareness activities in their own communities. For more information visit www.dayfordaniel.com.au

RAISING AWARENESS October is Down syndrome awareness month.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality. Around 1 in 800 children are born with DS. The DS community on the Coast is a strong one, knitted together by a Facebook page where families network, compare notes and support each other.

The Down syndrome Association of Queensland (DSAQ) supports families on the Coast by providing music therapy, dancing and swimming activities every week. Pictured are three 4 year olds, Malachi, Riley and Sarah, who love to hang out together every week with their music therapist Hamish.

Sarah’s Mum comments, “Sarah just loves coming to music therapy and socialising with the other kids every week. The repetition of doing an activity on a weekly basis is what makes music therapy so valuable. It’s wonderful that the DSAQ fund this activity for the kids. They provide excellent support to families who are struggling to find their way with a child with a disability”.

You can find out more about DS and the DSAQ at www.dsaq.org.au

Malachi, Riley and Sarah enjoy music therapy every week, funded by the Down syndrome Association of Queensland.

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www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Feature

WHEN CHILDREN HAVE A CHRONIC CONDITION THAT’S LARGELY HIDDEN, IT’S AN INVISIBLE DIFFERENCE THAT SETS THEM APART FROM THEIR PEERS.

By Sandra Smith

T

hese chronic conditions can disrupt the normal growth and development processes of children, and affect their social and emotional development. There may be a fear of stigma, frequent school absences and an inability to participate in age-appropriate activities.

Invisible chronic conditions include autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, asthma, dyspraxia, diabetes, dyslexia and epilepsy. There may be no obvious physical signs of the condition, but the symptoms can be limiting and distressing. These children need encouragement, support and advocacy, so that they can live as normal a life as possible.

GETTING A DIAGNOSIS Sunshine Coast Paediatrics specialist paediatrician Dr Anthony Morosini says that when there is

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

early intervention and access to appropriate services, the hidden disability or chronic disease can be well-managed and the long-term outcomes are improved. With an early diagnosis and treatment, children are more able to achieve to their best, or have programs in place so that they can catch up.

The first port of call for parents is the community child health clinic, which provides free parenting advice and support for Queensland families of children aged 0–12. The Raising Children’s Network (www.raisingchildren.net.au) also has reliable information about child development, from newborns through to early teens. However, if there are concerns, visit a GP for a medical diagnosis or a referral to more specialised health care.

Every child grows at his or her own pace and

there’s a “range of normal,” explains Dr Morosini. Some children who develop more slowly will catch up with time; other children may have an underlying problem that causes delayed development.

Dr Morosini advises that parents or teachers should not attempt to make a diagnosis, as that is the role of the medical practitioner or psychologist. He says teachers can usually identify which children in their classroom are struggling, and they would normally discuss their concerns with the parents.

“If it’s felt by the teachers, the parents or people within the schooling system that it is more than the usual or that there are significant issues or concerns, that’s when they would normally be referred on to doctors, psychologists, therapists,” he says.

Behaviour can have a range of causes, including possible ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or anxiety. Dr Morosini says if children are having ongoing difficulty despite normal behaviour management strategies, then it’s worthwhile continued on next page... seeking further advice. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Feature

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Autism is an invisible difference because there are no outward physical characteristics, however, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) typically have difficulties with communication, problem-solving and social relationships. Autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder all come under the umbrella of ASD. Sunshine Coast mum Nicole* says it wasn’t easy to pinpoint what was wrong with her son, Connor, at first, but she was relieved when he was diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder at the age of five. The diagnosis was made through a series of questionnaires and a health care plan was subsequently put in place.

“He was our first child and we thought we were doing something wrong. Connor couldn't interact or play with other children; nine times out of ten he would hurt the other child,” she says. “ASD is a very broad spectrum and it can be difficult to separate typical behaviour of young children and ASD traits. We all have quirky behaviours.”

COPING AS A FAMILY Growing up with a hidden lifelong condition can be a huge challenge for both the children and their families. Nicole says everything is much more complicated, and even getting ready to go

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Nothing fazes him; he walks to the beat of his own drum.

He can be amazing and infuriating.

somewhere is stressful.

“If he doesn’t have the right clothes or shoes at the ready, it can throw a huge spanner in the works,” she says. “He will have a meltdown and there is a domino effect on the rest of the family.

Sometimes it’s not even worth going. I am sure we have stopped getting invited to things because of this.”

Connor’s meltdowns are confronting for his younger brother and sister, and Nicole says his behaviour towards his two siblings can be “unrelenting.”

“If the other two are busy with an activity, he almost goes out of his way to disrupt or upset them, simply because he might just want to join in or he might be jealous that he can’t seem to be able to join in,” she says.

Dr Morosini explains that a child with a hidden disability or chronic illness can be a “significant burden” for the family. That child may require a lot of support and have high needs, which impacts on the family as a whole.

“If the child with that medical, chronic disease has lots of appointments, parents are involved with doing lots of therapy, or giving medication, then sometimes other siblings can feel left out,” he says. “It’s important for the parents to become aware of that and to try and spend quality time with the other children.”

Nicole says she and her husband often feel stressed, but the family sticks together and tries to stay strong. Their outlets are through sports, including surf lifesaving, running and swimming. She advises other parents not to take the stress out on each other, but if they do, to acknowledge that.

“Patience, patience and more patience,” she says. “Ask for help from friends and family, and don’t worry about being judged. If they could walk a mile in our shoes!”

In 2009, over 42,000 Australian children aged 0-14 had been diagnosed with autism, according to the Raising Children’s Network. Despite the prevalence of ASD, there is often misunderstanding in the wider community, as people assume a child’s behaviour is caused by poor parenting or other factors. Nicole has become accustomed to dealing with this public perception that her son is out of control and badly behaved.

“I have been on the brunt of many ‘looks’ and have been abused more than once by ignorant people. I have toughened up and really don’t care anymore about funny looks or frowning bystanders,” Nicole says. “The other thing that I guess I find frustrating is the opposite—well-meaning people that think they may be able to do a better job and have all sorts of suggestions for me, from changing toothpastes to diet.” * Names have been changed.

continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Feature

I remember sitting there on the chair in emergency promising Freya that I would do everything to keep her safe. I didn’t care that she had diabetes; I just wanted her to live 12

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Dr Morosini advises misconceptions about certain chronic conditions can be overcome by education of the wider public, through support groups, medical services, and Queensland Health.

WALKING TO A DIFFERENT DRUM Most children with autism who attend school have difficulty with communication, Freya wit learning and fitting in socially, so they often h big broth er Declan a need a high level of support. Nicole says cticities. enjoys ever yday 11-year-old Connor is well-supported at school, however, he is “the different one.”

“Kids can be cruel. He can also be difficult.

Connor is really not afraid of authority or anything, really. This can be frustrating, but I guess it can be daily insulin therapy for survival. It is unable to be a positive thing as well,” she says. “Nothing fazes prevented and there is no cure. In 2008, there him; he walks to the beat of his own drum. He can were an estimated 5,700 children aged 0-14 be amazing and infuriating.” years with Type 1 diabetes in Australia, according Unfortunately, Connor was removed from his to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare last therapy group because he put other children (AIHW). at risk. Nicole would like to have access to respite Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people care, but she says this is not currently available aged over 40, however, the AIHW reports that it on the Sunshine Coast, however, Connor’s grand- is increasing in childhood due to higher levels of mother helps out, providing an “oasis” for him and obesity and physical inactivity. This form of diabegiving the family much-needed breaks. tes can often be managed with diet and lifestyle Asperger’s disorder is a lifelong condition and changes, though insulin is sometimes required.

Nicole worries about Connor’s future, which is unSunshine Coast mum Jackie says her daughcertain. She hopes he will be able to have a job, ter, Freya, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and perhaps even attend university and get a de- when she became acutely ill at the age of 11 gree. He has the intelligence to do so, but Nicole months. Freya was rushed to hospital with sympsays it will be a long hard slog for him. toms of extreme drowsiness and rapid breathing.

“We are waiting for him to find his passion; After an anxious wait in the emergency room, other than computer games, nothing much else Freya was finally diagnosed with juvenile (type 1) interests him,” she says. diabetes.

“I remember sitting there on the chair in emerTYPE 1 DIABETES gency promising Freya that I would do everything Another hidden illness affecting thousands of to keep her safe,” Jackie says. “I didn’t care that Australian children is type 1 diabetes, a chronic she had diabetes; I just wanted her to live.” condition that is caused by the immune system The next few hours were critical for Freya, mistakenly turning on itself, destroying beta cells as she was going into a diabetic coma. She had within the pancreas and removing the body's abil- diabetic ketone acidosis (DKA), a life-threatening ity to produce insulin. Insulin allows the body to condition for anyone with diabetes. process sugar to create energy, without insulin, “At that point it was touch and go,” Jackie rethe body literally starves as it cannot process members. “The head of the emergency departfood. ment was very kind, but explained that it was Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune dis- now a waiting game as they slowly hydrated her ease that usually arises in childhood and requires tiny body with fluid and continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

13

Feature introduced small amounts of insulin to remove the ketones from her blood and start to reduce her blood glucose level.”

Later that afternoon, Freya was transferred by ambulance to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and it wasn’t until around 3am that the ICU team were confident that Freya would pull through.

After this initial diagnosis, the next nine days were a steep learning curve as Jackie and her husband learnt how to do the three-hourly blood tests and give her the required five needles a day, as well as learning how to count carbohydrates and calculate an approximate glycaemic index in foods.

“It took a few months of daily and then weekly phone calls with our diabetes team at the Royal Children’s Hospital for us to be confident enough to start making our own decisions with how much insulin she required at each meal,” Jackie explains.

Now there are three-monthly checkups at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where the family is offered a range of medical and support services. Of course there are the tough days for Jackie, especially knowing that there is no cure, but she takes one day at a time.

Type 1 diabetes can be controlled with careful management, however, Jackie has to be vigilant due to the unpredictable and potentially lifethreatening nature of the disease. When she is out and about, she tests Freya in plain sight of anyone who looks their way.

“If Freya tells me she is feeling low, which can become very dangerous, very quickly, we will stop wherever we are to test,” she says. “It may be in the middle of the supermarket or in a queue for the movies. Sometimes people ask what we are doing and they are almost always polite. I am very happy to explain what we are doing and why.”

THE COST OF CHRONIC ILLNESS Mothers of children with Type 1 diabetes consistently report lost wages as a result of time spent caring for their child, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Jackie declined a job offer the day after Freya was diagnosed, as the specialist recommended that she stay at home with her daughter for as long as possible. As well as having to cope with a reduced income, Jackie says there are huge outof-pocket expenses each year for simple things like the lancets for the three-hourly blood tests, which are not subsidised by the government.

As a result, Jackie’s husband decided to take

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

They told us that our child should never be denied opportunities simply because of her illness and we’re eternally grateful for that Jackie and Freya

a fly in, fly out role. This has brought a stable income for the family, but with her husband away for two weeks out of four, Jackie has the added burden of doing all the overnight testing on her own.

“Unfortunately I have become very attached to strong, espresso coffee and have way too many every day,” she says.

BECOMING AN ADVOCATE Type 1, which affects 10%–15% of people with diabetes, is often confused with Type 2, the most common form of diabetes in Australia. Jackie remembers being frustrated by this when Freya was first diagnosed, but she now sees the interaction with others as an opportunity to educate them about Type 1 diabetes, which is a genetic disease.

“We do occasionally have to counter the perception that Freya’s illness is somehow our fault because we gave her too many lollies or fed her a poor diet,” she says. “It probably bothered us a lot more in the beginning than it does now, to be honest. Some people will always be quick to judge.”

A strong believer in being positive and trying to make the best of any situation, Jackie has thrown herself into fundraising for additional research to find a cure. She is also very active with charity organisations that work to raise aware-

ness of the disease, and is involved with an online support group.

Type 1 diabetes is an invisible illness to a large degree, so most people who meet Freya don’t realise she has a chronic condition. She looks just like any other child, but the difference is that she requires three-hourly blood tests and at least five insulin injections a day just to stay alive.

Jackie tries to make life as normal as possible for Freya, who now attends child care for three days a week and will start Prep next year. The child care centre staff have gone out of their way to learn how to do blood tests and insulin injections, she says.

“They told us that our child should never be denied opportunities simply because of her illness and we’re eternally grateful for that,” she says.

Jackie is fortunate to have ongoing support from her husband, her mother and trusted friends.

She says some of her closest friends are starting to learn about diabetes, so they can help her. As the primary carer, she does, however, make the big decisions about her daughter’s care.

After the initial life-changing acute illness and diagnosis, life has settled down for Jackie and her family. Although they have to deal with the financial costs and extra care needed to manage Freya’s diabetes, Jackie believes the family is coping well. Freya is now a happy, healthy, active four-year-old living a very normal life.

“Type 1 diabetes is hard work for the parents and the child; however there is no reason that your child can’t do most things that they want to do with a little more planning,” Jackie says. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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NEW TO THE COAST New to the Coast shares exciting new changes and products by local businesses that cater to Sunshine 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.

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

Little Sparrow

Sunshine Coast’s Sustainable Directions specialise in helping Childcare Centres and Schools become more sustainable.

Their SMALL GREEN STEPS program was developed to help early childhood education and care services meet National Quality standards. Refer: www.smallgreen.com.au. They have also developed the 6P GREEN PROGRAM that is used by schools and colleges around Australia to embed sustainable practices across the entire campus. Refer: www.6PGreen.com.au. Contact Tony on 0416 097 790 to learn how easy it is to become green.

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EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES | TEXTBOOKS | LEARNING SUPPORT Do you want to help your child to grow and learn?

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Worknlearn are the only retail outlet on the Sunshine Coast.

• They specialise in resources and learning support material for PARENTS and TEACHERS. • They have teaching specialists to help you.

• Improve your child’s handwriting, spelling or maths skills.

• Reward stickers, incentive charts, art and craft supplies.

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Sustainable Directions

Little Sparrow Infant Furniture designs and produces stunning furniture specifically to meet the development needs of children aged 0 to 3 years.

Their pieces uniquely tap into the knowledge that children of this age like to mimic those in their environment whilst developing their independence. Each piece is designed for small hands to be able to move them, which fosters independence, strength, co-ordinated movement and self-control.

You can visit them at the Eumundi Markets each Saturday or online at www.littlesparrowinfantfurniture.com Ph 0498 478 189

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Imagine if we were taught from an early age how to sense stress within our bodies and given practical tools to manage stress. That’s what Little Souls Infant Massage intends to teach you and your infant.

Research has shown that infant massage may have many benefits including improving sleep, strengthening the immune system, enhancing cognitive and motor development, relieving colic symptoms, reducing the time your baby suffers from reflux and enhancing bonding. On completion of the four session course, you will have more confidence in understanding your baby’s needs and how you can give your baby the best stress free start to life.

Olivia has been a massage therapist for 12 years and has been trained by the Infant Massage Information Service. Private and group sessions are available and is a great way for your mothers group to gain new skills that benefit both baby and parent. www.littlesoulsinfantmassage.com.au Ph 0419 092 662

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Maroochy RSL keeps the kids entertained these school holidays KEEPING the kids entertained on school holidays can keep you on your toes but Maroochy RSL is ready for the challenge.

This September kids can have their own ‘Junior Cadet’ membership at the RSL

The Club will host The Wizz Magic Family Show during the upcoming term break to complement the venue’s regular children’s facilities and events.

non-members. Benefits of Junior Cadet membership include a birthday card

Maroochy RSL CEO Clare Paton said the family-friendly club understood that members of all ages liked to visit the club for a fun outing so the program of activities is designed to let parents and grandparents relax as well.

Maroochy RSL knows they tick all the boxes for ensuring kids have fun

“We like to welcome all our members to come in and relax over the school holidays, knowing their little ones are enjoying our kids’ activities with professional supervision,” she said.

“We know it can be hard finding new ways to keep the kids busy and happy on holidays so we strive to offer something for everyone.”

for just $1 and entry to Mystery Island is $2.50 for members and $4.50 for and gift from Pirate Pete during the month of their birthday. too at the club, offering free kids meals with an accompanying adult every Wednesday night as well.

“Our team wants to make the whole family feel welcome and help parents have a relaxing and inexpensive night out, knowing their kids are also having fun in a safe and secure environment, so school holiday time is a special focus for us,” Ms Paton said.

A highlight of the program is The Wizz show with a wacky magical wizard to dazzle the kids with tricks and jokes, as well as face painting and balloon animals for the young crowd.

The Wizz Magic Family Show is on Wednesday, September 25, at 7pm on the

“We always get great feedback from parents about the shows our team create; we’ve had magic shows, a masquerade ball and dress-up parties that the kids love, as well as our year round Mystery Island kids club which features a pirate ship and cove, mini cinema, arts and crafts and games including Playstation, Wii and Xbox Kinect,” Ms Paton said.

Favourites Buffet on Level 1 – there’s a new menu for each occasion, with a

The fully supervised kids club caters for children from four to 14 and is available for party hire too.

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main stage. Ensure you get to the club early as face painting and balloon art will be starting at 5.30pm. Remember to reserve your table for the Family delicious selection of all your hot and cold buffet favourites. Remember kids eat free with every paying adult.

For more information about the club or Mystery Island visit www.maroochyrsl.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

17

T he P Files

G

Bridging generations: Grandparents

By Jackie Goldston

18

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

randparents can play many important roles in a child’s life; from link to ancestors, confidant, hero, historian, spiritual guide, teacher or even student. These roles will grow and change as your child grows. Surprisingly there is little data available on the proportion of children who have contact with their grandparents and on how often children see their grandparents.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies believes the quality of the relationship between children and their grandparents can have an impact upon the wellbeing of the grandparent as well as on the developmental outcomes for the child.

Grandparents can, for example, offer children a broader range of knowledge, emotions and experience than they did as parents or may provide a safe place for a child to turn in times of stress should they feel they cannot approach their parents.

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES Sunshine Coast mum Rebecca has two lively girls, the youngest seven and the eldest just about to enter into her teenage years. She shares, “I come from a close family and love keeping in contact with my parents on a weekly basis. I love it that they always make an effort to call and chat with my girls to maintain a healthy relationship regardless of the distance.”

She is someone who has had great grandparent experiences growing up. As she explains, “I was blessed to have two awesome Grandparents whom I was and am very close to. My grandmother had spunk, class and an opinion she just had to share. I was a shy child and she taught me to be proud and be heard. She also taught me to have fun and not care too much what others thought of you.

My Pop always had time for me and gave me his full attention. He taught me to not be afraid to ask for what I wanted in life. He would let me talk and talk, pick me flowers from the garden and treat me like I was special. I am very lucky to still share special time with my Pop and my own girls now. He treats them like princesses too.”

Rebecca’s mum, Janine lives interstate, so doesn’t see her grandchildren all that often. “We speak weekly and try to continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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T he P Files

Grand parent s Day is on Octob er 27.

chat with the grandkids over the phone which is sometime successful and other times not so great,” she explains, however that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel that she isn’t important in their lives. “It’s really important that we are a part or our grandchildren’s lives. As it gives balance to the family relationship.” Rebecca’s kids agree, sharing stories of the many things they have learned from their grandparents, as 7 year old Tori explains, “My Nanny and Poppy have taught me to always be polite at the dinner table. My nanny taught me that you do not need a packet to make a cake. Poppy taught me how to ride my bike without training wheels. I help my nanny in the garden!”

FAMILY BONDS AND GROWTH Anne McLeish, Director of Grandparents Australia agrees that grandparents can play an important role in encouraging connections and bonds in families, “We are always encouraging more family unity, whether it is the grandparents being involved or simply spending time together. Any opportunity you can take to bind families together and to give children a sense of belonging to a family unit is important.

“As far as sharing skills and understanding, I think that Grandparents have much to offer their grandchildren. I think that Grandparents understanding of relationship building and the sort of wisdom and the sense of history they bring about their family is really important. They are like the custodians of family history. Sharing these stories and skills are really important ones that kids don’t

20

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

see in close quarters anymore. Just the ability to sit down and talk, over a cup of tea and have a quiet moment, talk about family stories is a lost art.”

Grandmother Janine has seen a change in her relationships with her kids since they became parents and she a grandparent, “We all became closer, as our kids gained a better perspective of the difficulties of being a parent and better understood the decisions we made whilst raising them… We have loved being able to play with all these gorgeous babies and then give them back to their parents. You get a better appreciation for the time you have with your grandchildren as you didn’t have the quality time with your own due to work etc.”

There is extensive research to support that developing a relationship with older generations has a positive impact on the development of children – where the relationship is healthy and embraced. In fact, the Growing Up in Australia Study found that the relationships children have with significant adults, including their grandparents, are the foundation of their development.

OTHER OPTIONS So what do you do when, for whatever reason, there is no connection available for your children?

In 2012, Cate Kloos launched Find-A-Grandparent, an online service that matches Australian families in need with "surrogate grandparents" – as she herself was in need of the service for her two children. The website is still growing and she cannot believe the demand. "We have heaps

Grandparents are custodians of the values, stories and histories of our families and our communities of families registered but we could have heaps more if there were more grandparents to go around," she said.

Anne from Grandparents Australia also recommends reaching out to your extended family. Older aunts or uncles who can bridge some of the generation gap for young children. She cannot stress enough the importance of developing an understanding between the older and younger generations. “It is crucial that we do more to get the older generations and younger generations together. There is a bit of a disconnection now.

Because families don’t necessarily live close together now, many young people don’t have much experience of dealing with older people and that is a problem.

“We have had people report to us, from smaller communities, that there is a breakdown, sort of a barrier, between older people and younger people. And because Australia’s population is aging, there are going to be a lot of older people in our community and we really need younger people to be able to connect with them in their working lives.”

So if you are lucky enough to have grandparents involved in your children’s lives, think about the advice from the organisers of Grandparents Day, “Grandparents are custodians of the values, stories and histories of our families and our communities. Invest in the memory bank of your grandparents… Share memories and family traditions and more importantly – create new ones by spending the day with your grandparents!” www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

FREE SUNGLASSES for your children when they get their eyes examined by a Looking Smart Optometrist.

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30% of children have some type of eye condition that affects vision?

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In most cases if the eye condition is detected early enough, exercises can be given to avoid it developing into a vision problem at school. In some cases vision problems exhibit themselves in children who have short attention spans but often are undetected by the parents or carers.

(Up to RRP $19.95) for each of your children when they have an eye examination with a Looking Smart Optometrist.

(Age Limit from 6 months - 12 years)

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All eye examinations provided the patient has a Medicare or DVA card

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Near Coles at Pelican Waters Shopping Centre, Pelican Waters Blvd, Pelican Waters Email: info@LSOPTOM.COM SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

21

Education

Do age and maturity matter?

By Maxine Arthur MANY CHANGES ARE OCCURRING IN KINDERGARTENS AND SCHOOLS TO MAKE THEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN’S NEEDS AND TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE TEACHING APPROACHES.

22

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Q

ueensland children may now access approved kindergarten programs in the year before Prep, delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher for at least 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. Kindergarten programs can be delivered in a range of settings, including kindergarten and long day care services.

(Education Queensland) In 2007-2008 Queensland schools came more into line with the rest of the country, increasing the age of compulsory schooling by six months and introducing a Prep year. Children now must be enrolled in school in the year they will turn six by 30 June.

Prep was introduced after an independent review found the Prep Year program was “highly successful in promoting children’s social-emotional development and their communication, numeracy, literacy and motor skills” (Education Queensland). Prep is offered in primary schools and is a full-time program with normal school hours. However, neither kindergarten nor Prep is compulsory and parents may choose to send their child to an alternative early education pro-

gram or keep them at home until compulsory school entry age (6 years and 6 months).

READY OR NOT? AN EXPERT’S VIEW Parents are better informed about early childhood education issues than ever before. The benefits of kindergarten programs are apparent to most parents, but some become concerned about the transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Kathy Walker, Melbourne education consultant and early childhood expert, has written several books on early childhood education. Kathy believes that skills such as reading, writing and counting are not priorities for school readiness.

Social and emotional maturity is the most important factor to consider in deciding when to start a child in school.

“The learning journey is 13 years of school and the Prep year is actually just that: a preparatory year for all of those years and that is what schools do best. What is most needed to thrive and enjoy and make the most of learning is how you travel.

Skills such as adaptability, self regulation, independence, initiative and concentration - these www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

types of attributes are much more important. Maturity helps with this enormously.”

Kathy cautions parents about rushing children into school if there are concerns about their readiness.

“Many children will benefit in relation to their general well being, self esteem, attitudes toward school and belief about themselves as a learner if they move into school without the question mark, without just coping or not just coping, but being able to have a solid and rich childhood of play as a foundation for moving into school with more life experience, maturity and early learning.”

“If parents have concerns they need to consult with the early childhood educator for suggestions and ask if they qualify for funding for an additional year (in kindergarten), although this is becoming increasingly difficult. Funding options for kindergartens are extremely limited and often the safeguard, if you think your child may not be ready, is to delay the four year old kinder year so the child has an extra year of maturity in the first place.”

A TEACHER’S VIEW OF THE PREP YEAR Ida is an experienced Prep teacher based at a Brisbane Catholic school. Her school first offered Prep in 2007.

“We undertake an enrolment process which involves an interview, walk around the school facilities and a visit to the Prep classrooms. The children come for an orientation day in November, where they meet other Prep friends, giving them an opportunity to further become familiar with the Prep environment. There will be additional opportunities for the children who attend our school Kindergarten program, to come over for plays in Term 4, to help the transitioning process.”

All Queensland primary schools follow a curriculum based on well-researched guidelines. Teachers strive for a balance that uses the knowledge, skills and prior experiences the children bring to school to make connections to what they need to learn using a mix of formal learning and active engagement methods.

“Our teaching approachwww.kidsonthecoast.com.au

es are based on the principles of Queensland Studies Authority's (QSA) Early Years Guidelines; which is based on active learning, including inquiry and play; and the Australian Curriculum (ACARA). Inquiry based learning through play in Prep provides opportunities for the children to learn how to problem solve, to self direct their own learning, and make connections to the world around them, which is a foundation for all learning.”

Ida sees many advantages for students who complete a Prep year.

“The Prep year allows students to settle into the school environment, giving them opportunities to become familiar with the school routine and expectations. Having students start school in Year 1 without a foundation Prep year experience, disadvantages the children as they not only have to establish friendships and learn the curriculum, but they also have to learn the 'hidden' curriculum of routines and expectations which continued on next page...

Many children will benefit in relation to their general well being, self esteem, attitudes toward school and belief about themselves as a learner

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

23

Education

The college that Yindi will be going to runs a similar play-based program to her Kindy but with a bit more structure.

I believe this is important as it is getting her prepared for Grade 1

NICKY, YINDI'S MUM

continued on next page...

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

they would have otherwise become familiar with in Prep.”

Teachers are aware that students present with differing needs. Ida explains how her school manages this.

“The enrolment process is an open and transparent process which enables a working partnership between home and school, to support the engagement and readiness for formal learning. In some cases where the student is not socially or academically ready for Prep, it may be suggested that another year in a kindergarten environment may be beneficial. The Catholic Education Enrolment Application also allows opportunities to identify and implement support processes that may be necessary for those requiring additional assistance, allowing a smooth transition into Prep.

“Since the implementation of the Prep enrolment age of turning 5 by the 30th June, we are seeing children being more mature and ready to learn, writing independently and being confident in the recognition and reproduction of letter sounds by the middle of the Prep year, giving them an experience of success and a wanting to learn more and do more. Before the implementation of Prep, we were seeing this development at the end of the Preschool year and then the children had school holidays, missing out on the opportunity to extend and develop what they had learnt.”

A PARENT’S VIEW OF PREP Nicky and Jay, from the Sunshine Coast, moved from Victoria a few years ago with their three children. Nicky said that the two older children enjoyed a Prep year in Victoria that laid a solid foundation for their later schooling.

“It was great to see how much and how quickly they learned from their Prep teachers. There is only so much you can teach them at home. Social activity is what I found to be the most beneficial in Prep. It is amazing how much more they can learn in a social environment with children within the same age group.”

The youngest child, Yindi, is now four and a half years and attending kindergarten.

“We decided to put Yindi through Kindy as being a mum who works from home I found there was only so much I could do with her. I needed to get work done so she was spending a lot of her time in front of the television.

Yindi was learning heaps from children's programs but I didn't find that socially healthy. She demanded my time constantly because she was bored. Yindi created a continued on next page...

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

New Centre Opening in 2014

Childcare on the Coast like it’s

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been done before McKenzie Road WOOMBYE | P: 5451 3333 | E: enrolments@ncc.qld.edu.au | www.ncc.qld.edu.au

C&K is Queensland’s leading provider of early childhood education and care with almost 400 services state-wide.

At C&K your child will develop friendships, connect with nature, learn through play.

C&K offers the following services in the Sunshine Coast region: • Kindergarten • Long Day Care • Family Day Care • In Home Care Enrol your child now and find out what makes C&K special.

P: 1800 177 092 | www.candk.asn.au Proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.

• High quality Prep in small classes with personal attention • Academic excellence in literacy and numeracy from Prep to Year 12 • Waiting list currently for 2014, enrolling now for Prep 2015.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

25

Education

It amazed me how much such a little person could learn NICKY, YINDI'S MUM

26

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

whole new personality after starting Kindy. She was constantly talking about the activities she was doing with her little friends. Her favourite activities were cooking, building a veggie and herb garden, looking after animals and looking for bugs with a magnifying glass. It amazed me how much such a little person could learn. Not only was she learning but she was having fun going to Kindy.”

Yindi is enrolled to start Prep at a private Lutheran College in Noosa in 2014.

“It is important to us to instill the high moral and ethical values that are part of most religious education systems. We also wanted Yindi to go to a school that was close to our home so she could play with her friends after school hours. We have no problems with state school education: we just felt the Lutheran College suited our needs as a family better.”

Nicky and Jay researched Prep options carefully before reaching their decision.

“The college that Yindi will be going to runs a similar play-based program to her Kindy but with a bit more structure. I believe this is important as it is getting her prepared for Grade 1. Yindi is ready for school. It is something she talks about all the time. The Kindy teachers talk about school to the children and are getting them prepared.”

Nicky anticipates a ‘settling in’ period and has planned for this.

“Yindi is very excited about starting Prep as well as very nervous. She is nervous because her best friend from Kindy is not going to the same school and even more nervous about not knowing where the toilets are. All this is normal for a 4-5 year old child. We have taken her to the school to show her where the toilets are and where her classroom will be. Excitement is now overriding the nerves. I plan on being a ‘hands-on’ helper mum in the classroom as much as I can. I do work full-time but will be taking a step back a little just until I know that she is settled.” www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Caloundra Christian College Pre-Kindy - Year 12

Providing quality Christ-centred education, strong foundations for life and learning • Play-based learning • Whole brain teaching • Nurturing environment • Caring for each child’s needs Call today to arrange a tour

7 Gregson Place Caloundra 4551

P: 07 5436 6777

W: www.calcc.qld.edu.au

Caloundra City Private School Give your child the Star Treatment at the new City Stars Kindergarten!

Our brand new state-of-the-art Kindergarten at Caloundra City Private School is now offering Before & After Kindy Care!

This fully air-conditioned, eco-friendly kindergarten is now open and the children love it.

City Stars Kindergarten is open to all children 4 years of age by 30 June 2013. Classes are strictly limited to 24 students with individual needs catered for by a qualified teacher and assistant ensuring your child has every opportunity to thrive.

Students will enjoy the future of learning with iPads too.

CC19426B

Ph: 5437 5800 CRICOS NO: 03241C

Email: admin@ccps.qld.edu.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

www.ccps.qld.edu.au

Pelican Waters Boulevard, Pelican Waters SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

27

Readiness for school or kindergarten is about having the maturity to make the most of these early years THE CITY OF MELTON (VICTORIA) KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION BOOKLET CONTAINS THIS ADVICE: • Young boys, according to some research, may benefit from having an additional year to mature before commencement.

• Multiple births or children significantly premature may also benefit.

• There is no detrimental impact of giving a child an additional year; in fact it is often viewed as a bonus year.

• Don’t assume children will magically ‘catch up’ once they start school. In the majority of cases, they don’t, and in fact the problems in maturity usually become more pronounced.

• Don’t send a child to school already thinking they can repeat prep if they have to. We want the first year of school to be exciting, successful and not just one where the child attempts to ‘cope’ and then has to do it all again.

• Readiness for school or kindergarten is about having the maturity to make the most of these early years.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

SOME CHILDREN NEED MORE TIME If you have concerns about whether your child is ready to start a kindergarten program or Prep, it is too big a decision to make alone. You should discuss those concerns with your local kindergarten program provider and school. It is possible to start kindergarten later (delayed entry) or to repeat the kindergarten year (delayed exit).

Early childhood educators suggest a delayed entry to kindergarten is preferable to repeating either kindergarten or Prep.

There are no waiting lists for enrolment in Prep at state schools though parents are encouraged to contact their chosen school in the year prior to commencement. Enrolments in Catholic or Independent schools are usually taken by application up to two years prior to commencement.

learning environments that take account of children’s diverse needs and nurture them through their school years.

RESOURCES: Top tips for preparing for Prep – www.earlylife. com.au website has excellent practical tips for preparing a child for school, listed under Parenting Factsheets.

Further reading: Ready, Set, Go by Kathy Walker (How to tell if your child's ready for school and prepare them for the best start) and What's the Hurry? by Kathy Walker (The importance of giving children a childhood).

WORKING TOGETHER Schools do not expect that all children will be 100 % ready on all aspects of the various ‘readiness’ checklists that are readily available. Educators are continually refining their ideas about children’s readiness for formal schooling and looking for better ways to engage children in the process. By focusing attention on ‘readiness’, parents have become aware that children’s development is nourished in the play and exploration of their daily lives from birth. The emphasis on good beginnings also encourages schools to create www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Pacific Lutheran Early Learning Centre

WHERE

CURIOSITY

LEADS TO DISCOVERY

Specialist early childhood teachers and assistants inspire a love of learning in children. Creativity and confidence are nurtured as children explore the Queensland Kindergarten Guidelines. Pacific offers the choice of: • Kindergarten in a long day model 5 days a week.

• Sessional kindergarten 5 day fortnight.

Promoting Positive Partnerships

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Enrolment forms or enquiries by calling Mrs Chris Henschke on 5436 7321 or emailing admin@pacluth.qld.edu.au Woodlands Boulevard Meridan Plains 4551

www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Starting Prep

Chris Mallett, Head of Junior School

School is a big step on the journey towards growing up and most children look forward to it. They are keen to make new friends, learn new things and feel like a ‘big kid.’ At the same time, starting school can be stressful for both children and parents if they are not sufficiently prepared for the changes ahead.

Immanuel Lutheran College’s early year’s program focuses on helping each child make that transition, whilst developing their knowledge, skills and confidence in a warm, nurturing environment.

From as early as Prep, this philosophy will encourage children to be active and lifelong learners.

“Our teaching style promotes each child’s learning through worthwhile and challenging experiences but one of the most important things we do is establish partnerships with our families. Good communication will extend a child’s learning and it’s that sense of community, of togetherness, that makes Immanuel a special place to be,” said Head of Immanuel’s Junior School, Chris Mallett.

Families can visit the College at any time for a tour of the Immanuel Early

Learning Centre or Prep facilities. From the very outset, they are welcomed by the College’s Enrolment Registrar, Mrs Irene Dabinet, who organises a number of opportunities to aid the transition. Families who have enrolled their child are invited to attend the College’s Prep ‘Play & Stay’ day. This is an opportunity to spend a morning with Prep staff to familiarise themselves with routines and facilities as well as connect with other families. There is also a special session on how best to prepare each child for Prep as well as an orientation day later in the year. These visits allow children to become familiar and excited about starting ‘big school.’ For children in the Immanuel Early Learning Centre, there are opportunities to borrow from the College library and spend time with specialist teachers for Physical Education, Christian Studies and other subject areas.

Immanuel is committed to producing graduates who will make a positive contribution to the world around them and who have a set of values founded in faith, reason and knowledge. This commitment begins in Prep, where following the new Australian Curriculum, students learn Mathematics, English, Science, Humanities, the Arts, German, Health and Physical Education, Information Technology and Christian Studies.

“From as early as Prep, our curriculum develops students’ knowledge and skills but we also allow them to guide us in their learning, to tell us what interests them,” said Chris.

“At Immanuel, we believe it’s not just what children become, but who they become that’s important. We’re proud of our reputation and achievements and will continue to foster young people of outstanding character and values who are willing and confident to take their place in the world,” he said.

To find out more about Immanuel Lutheran College and what personifies an Immanuel student, go to www.immanuel.qld.edu.au

Prep at Immanuel... make the right choice Finding the right school with supportive and nurturing teachers will set your child on a path of lifelong learning. That’s where we come in.

Enrolling now for Prep 2014, call us today, and find out what makes an Immanuel education so special.

Immanuel… where everyone is someone.

Immanuel Lutheran College 126-142 Wises Road Buderim, Queensland 4556 T: 07 5477 3441 E: dabineti@immanuel.qld.edu.au

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Flinders Early Learning Centre

Play Discover Learn Flinders Early Learning Centre’s (FELC) responsive early learning programs are implemented by a team of experienced, four year trained, early childhood teachers specialising in the development of inspiring play and learning experiences for 3-6 year olds. Their play based pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs provide an excellent foundation for life-long learning, positive learning dispositions and well-being for our young learners.

Their approach to learning has been deeply influenced by current early childhood research and the educators of Reggio Emilia, Italy. This research includes: • The belief that people learn best when they actively construct their own understanding.

• That Learning takes place in the context of our relationships with each other and our encounters with the world.

Our Image of the Child This passion for personalising the Reggio Emilia experience has driven the FELC teaching team to create an environment that is inviting, fun, creative and most importantly “child centred”. Light-filled classrooms offer flexible learning spaces, access to outdoor play and learning areas, rainforest, gardens, art studios, writing centres, discovery areas, reading, interactive whiteboards and the latest in information technology.

They view the child as capable, intelligent, full of complexity, wonder and having a desire to connect with others. They see children as having existing knowledge that they bring to learning opportunities and believe that they have

the right to be treated with respect, dignity and to be a part of the decisionmaking process. Children are viewed not as passive participants but as active discoverers and constructors of their own knowledge.

Discover the Difference The recent playground and garden redevelopment encourages children to develop environmental values and to actively contribute to sustainable practices.

• Continuing the Flinders tradition of providing outstanding educational experiences • Children are immersed in early literacy, music, art, maths, thinking, social, emotional and spiritual play and learning experiences • Continuity of caring staff and families creates strong and meaningful relationships • Opportunities for authentic family engagement and parent support and guidance • Qld Government Kindergarten Approved Program provides a seamless transition into the Australian National Curriculum and the Prep year • Delivered by early childhood teachers who have taught in Kindergarten and Prep to Year 2 classes at MFAC. Come and explore the Flinders Early Learning Centre at the Open Morning, Saturday 19th October from 9.30am – 11.30am. RSVP to Vivienne Walsh (Director of Flinders Early Centre) on (07) 5477 2999 or email enquiries to earlylearning@mfac.edu.au . The 2015 wait list applications are now open.

Visit www.mfac.edu.au for more information.

Play Discover Learn

“ To provide and build a safe, engaging and secure environment where children, teachers and parents are happy playing, learning and growing together. A place where children are viewed as capable, creative thinkers and active learners valuing them for their uniqueness and encourage them to Play Discover Learn.”

2014 Enrolment Offers currently being processed 2015 Wait List Applications Now Open

You are invited to our Open Morning Saturday 19th October 9.30am -11.30am RSVP to 54772999 www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Developing Active Thinking

By Genevieve Hudson, Assistant head of Primary School Preparatory to Year 2, Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Most parents of school age children will recently have been introduced to the phrases ‘21st Century Learning’, or Preparing children for the 21st Century.

But what does that mean?

Once upon a time Primary School age children ‘cut and paste’ a range of materials and held their creations together with glue. They used papers, scissors and sticky glue. Today’s students ‘cut and paste’ from a range of exciting ICT programs, but what skills do they need to ‘glue’ this together?

Today’s ‘glue’ for our children is to be able to think; both critically and creatively; to be innovative with ideas and solutions. Thinking is the glue which ties the understandings and skills together to be able to use them effectively for the future.

But how do we teach children to ‘think’? What does learning to ‘think’ involve?

How can we make it visible in the curriculum? What do teachers need their students to know about thinking and be able to do? How do good schools ensure their teachers know how to use a range of thinking tools to teach thinking?

For Prep age students the teaching should focus on teaching children to inquire, generate ideas and actions, and consider alternatives. Good schools

develop their teachers to know how to provide their students with learning tasks which will encourage children to; • • • • • • • • • • • •

pose factual and exploratory questions based on interests and experiences identify and describe familiar information and ideas during a discussion clarify information and ideas gather similar information or depictions from given sources predict what might happen in a given situation and when putting ideas into action suggest alternative and creative ways to approach a given situation or task imagine possibilities and connect ideas use imagination to view or create things in new ways and connect two things that seem different describe what they are thinking and give reasons why connect information from one setting to another identify the main elements of the steps in a thinking process apply logic and reasoning skills leading them to identify the thinking used to solve problems in given situations.

It is no longer enough for children to be taught to read, write, compute mathematical equations, and have social skills. Becoming innovative and creative should be the result of being taught what Active Thinking is so that children know how to think critically and creatively. Good schools should invest time and money to ensure that teachers have the teaching tools to share with their students so our children can take these skills into the 21st Century and beyond. Contact Sunshine Coast Grammar School on 07 5445 5222 or enquire@scgs.qld.edu.au

Enquire today t about our specialis music lessons.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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Doesn’t your child deserve the best?

Mount Coolum Day Care (MCDC) is jubilantly celebrating and still leading the way with 21 years of high quality childcare on the Sunshine Coast. Since MCDC again became the newest and still the best Sunshine Coast’s early learning centre it continues its quest for stimulating new challenges for Mount Coolum children and families. 2013 has been another very big year.

MCDC is very pleased to advise Mount Coolum families it acquired brand new childcare places during 2013 ensuring that MCDC really has all new available spaces for 2013 and beyond. MCDC especially thanks hardworking Queensland Government Speaker and local Member Fiona Simpson MP and local Sunshine Coast Regional Councilor Jason O’Pray for their generous support, advice and assistance with 2013 MCDC expansions.

While it is true the Centres fully ducted air conditioning is hardly working at present with Spring just here no doubt a 2014 humid Summer will follow shortly.

Perhaps you might like to take a new look. Doesn’t your child deserve the best?

All are most welcome to call in if passing for a look see. Please call Director Christine on MCDC phone 54464000 in advance for an appointment. www.mountcoolumdaycare.com.au

TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT DAY CARE CENTRE FOR YOUR CHILD

During 2013 MCDC installed a major children’s Information Technology Hub with many Microsoft Surface Tablets for their children. It is facinating to see the children navigating the advanced MCDC educational programs on the their new tablets/IPads with ease and enthusiasm. MCDC thanks the Queensland Government for their new information technology Hub support.

•

Use your instinct: does it feel right?

•

Is the centre accredited?

•

Do you like the staff and are they qualified?

•

Is the centre clean and well maintained?

Many Mount Coolum children continue to benefit from the MCDC Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten program where teacher Sadi provides the children with a massive education jumpstart.

•

Is there enough space to play and shade for sun protection?

•

Does the centre have a daily timetable which you can see?

•

What is the procedure for putting children down at sleep time?

•

Read the centres policies and ensure you are happy with them

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And finally is the centre at a convenient location for you?

On the environmental front, MCDC’s vege garden has had several crops throughout the year amazing many excited children, parents and rapt staff. MCDC continues to have the very best Sunshine Coast childcare natural environment of real grass areas, large beautiful melaleucas, cotton trees, triangle palms leopard trees and grevilleas all providing natural shade for our playing children.

New & transformed...

MOUNT COOLUM DAY CARE CENTRE! Newest & still the Best Sunshine Coast Early Learning Centre with: • Full ducted air conditioning • New children’s information technology Hub • Queensland Government Approved Kindergarten Program • All new playgrounds with realistic 2013 synthetic grass and poured colour rubber softball • New playground equipment • Large real grass & tropical plants

ENROL NOW! PH 5446 4000 | www.mountcoolumdaycare.com.au | mountcoolumdaycare@bigpond.com www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Education

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DISCUSSION SURROUNDING SINGLE SEX AND CO-EDUCATIONAL SCHOOLS. DO GIRLS AND BOYS ACTUALLY HAVE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THEY'RE EDUCATED? IS ONE GENDER DISADVANTAGED OVER THE OTHER? ARE SINGLE SEX SCHOOLS THE ANSWER?

By Luke Goldston

&

GENDER EDUCATION G

irls are quiet, well behaved and attentive in class. Boys are noisy, disruptive and can’t sit still. Girls are better at school because they try harder and listen, or so the stereotype runs. Unfortunately for boys, there seems to be more than a grain of truth to this.

Ever since the late 20th century, when girls started to have equal educational opportunities, they’ve outstripped boys at school. Boys in Australia are twice as likely to drop out of school early, they attend university less frequently and in almost every subject area they tend to be outperformed by girls. Boys also have higher rates of learning disabilities and ‘problem’ behaviours.

The one remaining bastion of male dominance is maths and sciences such as physics, where boys still hold a significant edge.

These problems are not new; they’ve been recognised for decades, but despite the best attempts of governments and educators to correct the imbalances, very little has changed.

IT’S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE As attractive as the theory may be to some girls, it’s not simply that girls are smarter. In fact, last year researchers at the University of Georgia in America found that boys who scored the same as girls on standardised tests received lower grades from teachers, usually for reasons of behaviour and attitude.

Whether you think this is a failure on the part of the teachers to recognise the fundamentally different nature of boys or as evidence of an

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

ongoing socialisation problem for males may depend entirely on your point of view. Outright bias probably wasn’t the reason though, because boys who did behave well were actually marked better than their female equivalents.

IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD The reasons for girls’ dominance are frequently debated. Could it be that schools have undergone a ‘feminisation’ process, with male teachers being gradually edged out, physical education de-emphasised and the environment and curriculum becoming generally more geared towards female learning?

ABS figures do show that the proportion of males in state schools has declined between 5-10% in the past decade and this may well have some effect on learning outcomes for both sexes. A 2012 study from the London School of Economics showed that teachers tended to mark students of their own gender higher and students of both genders rated their motivation and effort higher with male teachers than female.

There is also some substance to the charge that changes in the school curriculum have favoured the overall performance of girls. The Federal Education Department found that in 2011 51% of senior students participated in science subjects, down from 94% 20 years ago. Maths has seen similar declines. These are both subject areas in which boys actually tend to achieve similar or better results than girls.

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

DOES SCHOOL MATTER? School isn’t everything, and it isn’t for everyone.

At least part of the reason why boys leave school early so much more than girls is that they often have alternatives to school that girls don’t. The ABS shows that boys are roughly twice as likely to leave school early and this chance increases if they have a parent in a manual or trade job, which are overwhelmingly dominated by men.

While this may be a viable option for many boys, the likelihood is that it will become less so with time. The overall trend is for advanced economies to move away from male dominated industries like manufacturing and agriculture and become oriented to service jobs which are more and more going to educated women.

In Australia, women have long dominated enrolments in university courses such as teaching, nursing and social sciences but are now ahead of men in even traditionally ‘male’ courses such as medicine, accounting and business.

Although men still hold a significant income advantage over women overall, partly because they dominate the upper echelons of most fields, they are also more likely to be unemployed (particularly long term unemployed), go bankrupt and be homeless.

GIRLS AND MATHS DON’T MIX Unfortunately for girls, gender differences at school are not all good news. In the crucial areas of maths and science, girls are lagging and the gap is getting wider. The difference is not as apwww.kidsonthecoast.com.au

parent in primary education and early high school where girls often do just as well as boys in standardised testing but after this, their participation drops off dramatically.

Even younger girls who are good at maths can show signs of the inequality to come. When their maths test results are equal to boys, girls rate their ability and enjoyment of the subject lower, which helps to explain why even girls who do well at maths are less likely to continue with the subject in later years.

By the end of high school the differences are huge and getting worse. The proportion of girls who are not studying maths for HSC in NSW has tripled in 10 years. Female engineering undergraduates represented 14% of the total in Australia 2004, a decline from the peak in the late 90s. Another subject that has seen decline is computer science. While 37% of Australian graduates were women in 1984, in 2011 that number was less than 12%.

In the context of an increasingly technologybased economy, the declining interest of girls in maths, science and technology and the careers that stem from them may turn out to be a bigger problem than the overall underperformance of boys. It may also help to explain why, despite their superiority in overall academic performance, girls still lag behind in overall wages, with maths results being one of the most stable and significant predictors of future income.

In Australia, women have long dominated enrolments in university courses such as teaching, nursing and social sciences

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Education

SEWING, KNITTING AND DARNING At least some of the problem might be rooted in culture and history. When compulsory education first started in Australia in the 19th century, children were separated so that boys could be taught mathematics and geometry undisturbed by the girls who learnt sewing, knitting and darning.

While opportunities are theoretically equal now, more subtle forms of gender bias persist.

Daughters often inherit their mother’s anxiety about maths and science and teachers tend to rate girls’ ability lower than boys at math, even when test results are equal.

It should be noted that problems with maths and science are not exclusive to girls, but are part of a more general decline. Australian school enrolments show that boys are dropping out of maths at almost the same rate as girls; it’s just that girls as a group are being more disadvantaged.

• Maths rewards patience. Most people overrate the role of natural ability in success.

• Maths learning starts at home. Spend time with younger kids teaching them numeracy, just as you would with reading; everything from basic counting games, telling time and putting them in charge of the money when you go to the shops.

• Confidence is everything. Girls in particular are prone to inherit their mother’s anxiety and negative attitudes about maths and science.

If you had problems with these subjects at school, take care not to pass them on.

• Context helps. Girls and boys often lack an interest in maths and science because they fail to see their relevance. Aside from the potential career benefits and real life applications, maths and science teach logical problem solving skills that can improve anyone’s mind.

BUT THEIR BRAINS ARE DIFFERENT...

Are we wrong to expect some kind of parity between boys and girls in their academic results and interests? After all, the male and female brains are

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

…the differences between the sexes are probably not as great as the differences within the sexes fundamentally different aren’t they?

The issue of differences in male and female brains is highly contentious. There is evidence that boys’ brains mature more slowly, with some studies showing that girls’ IQ scores are a little higher until the end of puberty, when boys start to draw level.

There are also some signs that girls and boys in general have different strengths. For instance, cognitive testing suggests some gender based differences in specialised abilities, with girls tending to have higher verbal abilities and boys better at spatial reasoning. However, it’s unlikely the differences are big enough to account for the differences in participation and performance.

Some researchers actually believe that height is a bigger factor in predicting overall intelligence than gender. If you think this sounds ridiculous, perhaps it’s worth rethinking our notions of how

big an effect gender has on our brains.

DIVIDE AND PROSPER? Single sex schooling is often cited as the cure for both boys’ overall lagging and girls’ maths and science problems. The theory runs that each gender finds the other’s presence in the classroom distracting, though possibly for different reasons.

Interestingly, girls seem to be more in favour of separation than boys.

One of the few totally randomised studies of school allocation happened in 2011 in South Korea, where placement in publicly funded coed and single sex schools is based entirely on random allocation. It found that both boys and girls who were allocated to single sex schools were significantly more likely to attend college than those who attended continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

WE OFFER

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Early Education for children 15mth-6years Limited vacancies available for 2013

Call us today for a no-obligation tour of the centre

5472 0505 at 11 Kauri St Cooroy.

Email- info@karinyamontessori.com www.karinyamontessori.com

Foundation College (Prep to Year 2)

LAYING A

STRONG FOUNDATION

TOGETHER

Specialist early childhood teachers support a strong focus on literacy, numeracy and problem solving.

A warm, stimulating, nurturing environment founded on Christian values, featuring: • Strong parent partnerships • High levels of teacher aide support • A fostering of creativity and imagination

Enrolment forms or enquiries by calling Mrs Chris Henschke on 5436 7321 or emailing admin@pacluth.qld.edu.au Woodlands Boulevard Meridan Plains 4551

Together we grow for a better tomorrow.

www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

37

Education co-ed schools. Unfortunately, it appeared to make little difference to whether girls chose maths and science based college courses, though it did appear to improve boys’ performance in these subjects.

Experiments with single sex classrooms within co-ed schools have had mixed results. Some have shown promise in, for instance getting girls engaged in physics and maths and improving their recognition that these fields are not just ‘for the boys’. The results are far from universal though, which suggests that simply separating boys and girls is not the whole answer.

Single gender classrooms have been on trial at some state schools in Queensland for the last five years and have generally received good results and positive feedback from the teachers, students and parents. The current LNP government position is to give local principals, parents and school authorities the option to form single sex classrooms, rather than mandating a statewide policy. One policy proposal from the state Labor opposition is to go one step further and introduce completely single gender state high schools. If you’re interested in introducing single gender classrooms at your school, talk to your principal.

SEX ISN’T EVERYTHING It’s easy to get caught up in the gender debate.

There are clear and significant differences between the education experiences of boys and girls when looking at overall populations.

However, these differences often don’t hold true for individuals and the differences between the sexes are probably not as great as the differences within the sexes.

Although there are often some differences in maturity and behaviour, the differences in boys’ and girls’ biology are probably smaller than was previously thought. Whether your child’s teacher is male or female is probably much less important than whether that teacher is well trained, prepared and able to engage their students; whether their classmates are male or female less relevant than the overall learning environment and their support at home.

Faith Diligence Love

Opening doors for each and every child

ENROL NOW FOR 2014 Providing Christ-centred, quality education since 1979.

Suncoast offers your child innovative and dynamic learning opportunities, delivered by passionate and experienced teachers within a nurturing and supportive community.

Our affordable fees will surprise you.

For more information or to book a campus tour please visit our website.

P. 07 5451 3600 E. info@suncoastcc.qld.edu.au A. Cnr Schubert & Kiel Mtn Rds, Woombye

www.suncoastcc.qld.edu.au 38

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Caloundra City Private School

Our focus is your child Our brand new state-of-the-art Kindergarten at Caloundra City Private School is now offering Before & After Kindy Care!

It’s a wonderful choice to make, deciding on the best school for your children. At Caloundra City Private School we have the benefits of a smaller school with individual attention from expert and caring teachers, and with the best of facilities.

CC19652

Call us today and make the first move towards a better future for you and your child.

CRICOS NO: 03241C

Email: admin@ccps.qld.edu.au www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Ph: 5437 5800

www.ccps.qld.edu.au

Pelican Waters Boulevard, Pelican Waters SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

39

CALENDAR Sunshine Coast

September Foster Care Month

The primary aim of Foster Care Month is to raise the profile of fostering in the wider community as well as creating an opportunity to focus on the secondary aim of increasing recruitment by highlighting the ongoing need for the recruitment of appropriate foster care families Details: www.fosterabrighterfuture.com.au

7 September

Montessori Springfest

Where: The Events Centre Caloundra When: 6pm - 11pm Come celebrate spring with us at Springfest 2013, enjoy a live band, roving artists, stalls, photographer, auctions. $50 per person Includes 1hrs Beverage, 3hrs Canapé Package and Entertainment. Adults Only Details: Tickets on sale www.theeventscentre.com.au

1 – 7 September

Child protection week

“Protecting Children is Everyone’s Business” NAPCAN invites you to play your part in protecting Australia’s children. This year's campaign invites you, your family, your workplace and your community to share how you play your part in preventing child abuse and neglect by keeping all children and young people safe.

Details: www.playyourpart.org.au

7 September

White Balloon Day

Bravehearts White Balloon Day is a day to 'lift the cone of silence' that surrounds child sexual assualt, and is used to increase understanding of the difficult issue.

Details: www.whiteballoonday.com.au

12 September

CHECK OUT SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT kidsonthecoast.com.au during September!

22 September/ 27 Oct

Mini Train Rides Where: Model Railway Park, Florence Street Nambour When: 10am – 3pm Enjoy old fashioned fun on a mini train.

Note: enclosed footwear must be worn when riding on trains Details: Ed (07) 5450 8340 or Doug 0408 711 257 www.scrms.org.au

23 September –3 October

Art on the Wildside Where: Art & Ecology Centre, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden $5.00 per child; materials costs may apply for some workshops. From learning about and creating bugs to script writing and film-making there are activities for all age groups.

Details: www.community.sunshinecoast.qld. gov.au/events Ph 07 5499 5135 (Mon, Thur, Fri) Ph 07 5458 7602 (Tue, Wed)

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3 September & 24 October

7 September

Children’s Gallery Exhibition Tour

Hawaiian Luau Night

Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery When: 3:30 – 4:30pm Special guided tour of the current exhibition for children aged 6–14.

Details: FREE event, bookings essential.

5420 8299

Where: Mystery Island Kids Club, Maroochy RSL When: from 7.00pm Aloha! Come and join us in Mystery Island for a fun filled night of huladancing, limbo and exciting games. There are plenty of prizes to be won. Don’t forget to dress up for the party!

Details: Entry into Mystery Island - $2.50 junior cadets, $4.50 visitors contact ph: 5443 2211 www.maroochyrsl.com.au/mystery-island Facebook/MysteryIslandKidsClub 7 – 28 September

7 – 8 September

Brisbane Festival

Real Food Festival

Where: Maleny Showgrounds When: 8am – 5pm The Real Food Festival is a fantastic celebration of the wonderful variety of food that Sunshine Coast producers, manufacturers, retailers and restaurants have to offer, and a brilliant way to talk, taste and buy from them.

Details: www.realfoodfestival.com.au

Where: Across Brisbane The always incredible Brisbane Festival is set to return bigger and brighter than ever. Enjoy the visually spectacular events, including the swashbuckling Treasure Island, international street circus sensation Urban, the quirky Spiegeltent and the explosive Sunsuper Riverfire!

Details: www.brisbanefestival.com.au

21 September

21 – 28 September or 28 September – 5 October

Mexican Fiesta

R U OK? Day

Are You Ok Day is an annual national day of action that aims to get Australians, right across the entire spectrum of society, connecting with friends and loved ones, by reaching out to anyone doing it tough and simply asking: "Are you ok?" talking about suicide with someone at risk actually reduces the chances of them taking their life. It is the one thing we can all do to make a real difference. R U OK ? Day is about prevention, preventing little problems turning into big problems.

Details: www.ruokday.com

A calendar of regular weekly events is available online. For details of playgroups, library activities, weekly sporting events, craft classes, Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting times and much more, visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Horse Riding for Kids

Where: Mystery Island Kids Club, Maroochy RSL When: from 7.00pm Hola! Come and celebrate one of our many stops on our trip around the world in Mexico.

Join in on the Macarena competition or paint your own sombrero.

There will even be a piñata!

Cost: Entry into Mystery Island - $2.50 junior cadets, $4.50 visitors contact ph: 5443 2211 www.maroochyrsl.com.au/mystery-island Facebook/MysteryIslandKidsClub

Where: Kiah Park Horse Ring Camp, 578 Beenham Valley Road, Beenaam Valley 7 Day horse riding camp for children ages 6yrs-teens & all riding abilities welcome. A great opportunity for your child to have fun and create lifelong friendships and memories Details: Cost $745 full accommodation, tuition & horse riding twice a day www. kiahpark.com.au Ph.5486 6166

22 September

23 September & 24 September

The Fairies “Princess Concert”

Music Mentoring 2 Day Workshop

Where: Nambour Civic Centre When: 11am Rhapsody is a beautiful fairy but she has a dream. She wants to be a Princess.

Details: $23 Adults & Children / $20 Group 10+ / Children under 12 months free, www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5475 7777

Where: Nambour Civic Centre When: 10am to 4pm both days Join us for two days of jam packed music mentoring specially designed for beginners to intermediate guitarists and singers aged 13-18 years. $80 Details: www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5475 7777

23 September –3 October

Kids Chocolate Hub Sessions Where: Nutworks and the Chocolate Factory, Yandina At these sessions kids will get to make delicious take home chocolates, make hot chocolate spoons and participate in chocolate activities!

Details: $21.95 for each participant they run roughly for an hour.

Details: For bookings visit www.nutworks.com.au

23 September – 4 October

24 September

Rescue, Redesign, Remake school holiday activities

Filmmaker Workshops

Where: Sunshine Coast Libraries, various times Libraries take you back to basics this Spring. Creating worm farms; growing things; rediscovering board games and crafts; learning about animation - for kids aged 5-14 years.

Details: www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

23 - 27 September

Peppa Pig LIVE SHOW Where: Riverwalk Stage, Sunshine Plaza When: 11am, 12pm and 1pm Watch Peppa Pig in an upbeat, fun musical show.

Details: www.sunshineplaza.com

Where: The J Noosa When: 10am & 1.30pm Participants will construct a project from scratch using just the iPad. Ideal for 12-17 years. Details: 12-17 years. $25 each, www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5455 4455

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

October

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

30 September - 4 October

30 September to 2 October

2 October

2 October

Dinosaur Train Interactice Activity Zone

Monsters University (G)

Jumpin @ The J

Where: Nambour Civic Centre – Arthouse Cinema When: 10.30am each day After a young Michael "Mike" Wazowski visits Monsters Inc. on a school field trip. He dreams of being a scarer when he grows up.

Details: $8.50 each, www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5475 7777

Where: The J Noosa When: 9am / 10am / 11am Unlimited fun on jumping castles and activities for a whole hour! Free entry for parents.

Details: $10 per child www. scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5455 4455

Spring ArtsCool – Children’s Painting Class

Where: Riverwalk Stage, Sunshine Plaza When: 11am and 2pm Board the 'Dino Train' to play, create, dance and meet the characters.

Details: www.sunshineplaza.com

5 October

8 October

16 October

Kids Art Club: Drawing

Greenzone Disco

Time for Tots

Where:Caloundra Regional Gallery When: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Children of all ages can engage in exciting and creative activities which focus on the exhibiting works with a diversity of themes and processes. Staff and volunteers of the gallery guide visitors in the activity as they discover the artist within.

Details: Kids' Club is a free event at Caloundra Regional Gallery www.galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Where: The J Noosa When: 6pm to 8pm Move and groove to all the latest music!

Strictly for 8 to 12 year olds. $6 per child, Details: www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5455 4455

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre When: 9.30 – 10.30am Storytelling for under 5’s and families, including a toddler tour of the current exhibition and exhibition related art activities. Held in conjunction with Cooroy Library. Free, no bookings required.

Details: Contact the Butter Factory on 5454 9050 for further information or at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/galleries

18 October

19 – 27 October

National Bandanna Day

Children's Week

When cancer strikes, young people need support. At CanTeen, they believe that no young person should have to face cancer alone.

Details: www.canteen.org.au

Children's Week, by the Children’s Council of Australia is an annual event that celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood. It is also a time for children to demonstrate their talents, skills and abilities.

Details: www.childrensweek.org.au/

MARKETS

Sunny Coast Baby and Kids Market

Caloundra/ Talara Primary College - Sunday 22nd Sep Caboolture/Tullawong State High - Sunday 20th Oct When: 8am – 12pm. A locally owned market selling pre-loved, new and beautiful handmade items for the under 5's. Details: www.sunnycoastbabykidsmarket.com.au

The Mummy Tree Markets Sun 6 Oct Where: Mountain Creek State School Hall, Lady Musgrave Drive When: 9am – 1pm. You will find a large selection of unique products, services for hip and stylish families, children’s entertainment, yummy food and more.

Details: www.themummytreemarkets.com.au/sunshinecoast www.facebook.com/themummytreemarkets

Eumundi Markets Every Wed & Sat Where: Memorial Drive, Eumundi When: Wed 8am – 1:30pm Sat 7am – 2pm You’ll find original artworks, sculptures, furniture, handmade toys, homewares, and skincare, as well as cutting edge fashion and jewellery by local designers, all guided by our ethos of “we make it, bake it, grow it, sew it”.

Details: www.eumundimarkets.com.au Mamma’s Market

Where: Buderim War Memorial Hall, Cnr Main St and Gloucester Rd, Buderim Sat 7 Sep and their newest location 'The Plaza Centre Stage' (near McDonalds) this market will run each month and always be held on the Sunday. Sun - 15th Sep, Sun 20th Oct When: Buderim: 9am - 1pm. Sunshine Plaza: 10.30am - 4pm.

Mamma’s Market is a high quality boutique style market with a focus on handmade, unique items and services catering to pregnancy, baby, children’s and family needs. Details: www.mammasmarket.com

Big Pineapple Growers & Artisans Market Every Sat Where: Big Pineapple, Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye When: 6.30am - 12noon. The biggest all weather market with Fresh fruit and veges plus an array of art, amazing food, clothing and more.

Details: www.bigpineapple.com.au/saturday-growers-markets

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

22 October

Pink Ribbon Day

Each year over 13,500 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s one of the most common cancers. Survival rates are growing due to earlier detection and better treatment but we still have a long way to go.

This is why Australians come together on Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon Day, Monday 22 October, to show their support for the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85.

Details: www.cancer.org.au

2 October to 4 October

Where: Butter Factory Arts Centre When:11am – 12noon (5–8 yrs) & 12.30 – 2.00pm (9–12 yrs) Children’s school holiday art class specially developed to complement the current exhibition. Learn the skills and techniques of painting with an experienced art teacher.

Details: $8.00 per child each workshop, bookings and pre-payment essential.

Contact 5454 9050 for further information or at www.galleries.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Flipside Circus Where: Lake Kawana Community Centre When: Various times 14 performers aged 9 to 18 years will express their ‘identities’ through amazing aerials, acrobatics and circus favourites. This high skilled, visually stunning show is a must see for all ages.

Details: $18 each www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5413 1400

16 October – 17 October

Fluff Where: Lake Kawana Community Centre When: Various times Fluff, a delightful story of what happened to a group of mismatched hand-made toys that have unfortunately been lost by the people who cherished them most… but found again by the caring and sweetly nutty Gingham family.

Details: $15 each, www.scvenuesandevents.com.au 07 5413 1400

26 October

25 October

Trick or Treat Halloween Dress Up

Day for Daniel

Where: Mystery Island Kids Club, Maroochy RSL Time: from 7.00pm Get your costumes ready because Halloween is almost here! In the count down to candy day, we will be having a spooky night in Mystery Island. Wear your scariest costume and you might be able to trick us into treating you. Cost: Entry into Mystery Island - $2.50 junior cadets, $4.50 visitors, contact ph: 5443 2211 www. maroochyrsl.com.au/ mystery-island Facebook/ MysteryIslandKidsClub

REGULAR EVENTS Get Creative THIRD SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

Where: The Butter Factory Arts Centre, Cooroy When: 10am to 12 noon Fun, free, family events, Enjoy the current exhibition in a relaxed atmosphere, create a piece with a family member and enjoy the local food on offer. Fun for all ages.

Sustainability Discovery Centre EACH WEEK, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY Where: Sunshine Coast TAFE Mooloolaba Campus When: 10am – 2pm Free to visit, suitable for all ages, has high tech digital media equipment teaching about sustainability Details: www.sunshinecoast.tafe.qld.gov.au Kids Club FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, 7 SEPTEMBER & 5 OCTOBER Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery When: 10am – 12pm Details: Free children’s art activities, based on current exhibition. FREE event, no bookings required. 5420 8299 Family Day SECOND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH, 8 SEPTEMBER & 13 OCTOBER Where: Noosa Regional Gallery When: 11am – 2pm Details: Free children’s art activities, based on current exhibition, second Sunday of each month. FREE event, no bookings required. 5449 5340 Storytelling EVERY WEEK Where: Sunshine Coast Libraries When: Various times - see website for details Storytelling sessions for pre-schoolers, babies and parents occur weekly at every library across the Sunshine Coast and are free! Details: 1300 LIBRARY www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Swampy Gym EACH WEEK, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY Where: Buderim Pool When: Wed 11am to 12noon & Thurs 2pm to 3pm Bring your baby for an hour of watery fun with swim toys, small inflatables, kickboards and music.

Friendly, qualified instructors are on hand to give advice and tips.

Details: $6 for the first child and $3 for any subsequent children in the family.

Newborns to five years all welcome! 5445 6685 Event: MEET ME AT THE CORNER WEEKDAYS Where: Maroochydore, Caloundra, Nambour, Noosa, Kawana, Maleny libraries When: Weekday mornings and afternoons. Quality art based literacy activities for under 8s.

Details: www.library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

The Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. It is about educating children and adults about keeping kids safe through child safety and protection initiatives. It aims to help empower our children to ‘Recognise, React and Report’ if they feel something is not right.

Details: www.dayfordaniel.com.au

TICKETS Grease ON NOW UNTIL OCT 4 QPAC, Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

Harrison Craig 27 SEPTEMBER Concert Hall, QPAC, Brisbane

www.qpac.com.au

FLIPSIDE CIRCUS - Identite` 2 – 4 OCTOBER Lake Kawana Community Centre www.scvenuesandevents.com.au

Dr Seuss’ Cat in the Hat 1 – 5 OCTOBER Playhouse, QPAC, South Bank, Brisbane www.qpac.com.au

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang FROM 19 NOVEMBER Lyric Theatre, QPAC www.qpac.com.au

Queensland Ballet: The Nutcracker 5 – 21 DECEMBER Playhouse, QPAC www.qpac.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

41

Early learning means a good start.

Your local Sunshine Coast Goodstart Early Learning centre offers a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment with friendly professionals who are qualified in early learning practices.

For vacancy enquiries:

1800 222 543 visit goodstart.org.au At Goodstart, children are at the heart of everything we do. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to investing our profits on improved early learning resources, facilities and staff training.

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Why it’s so important to give your child a kick of confidence Self-esteem and confidence patterns start very early in life. Children as young as 5 are now reportedly becoming aware of body image and surrounding pressures, which is leading to the start of low confidence and self worth issues in an alarming number of young children.

activities such as martial arts which promote healthy habits,” he said.

Healthy self-esteem is a child’s shield against the challenges they will face in the schoolyard and also throughout their entire life. Kid’s who feel good about themselves and demonstrate confidence will have a much easier time handling conflict and avoiding negative pressures. A confident child is a happy child that will go on to carry an optimistic outlook on life.

All instructors at Infinity Martial Arts are full-time professionals that take pride in teaching quality, childfriendly martial arts as well as life lessons which include self discipline, strength, respect, honour and personal safety.

As parents it is crucial to think about developing and promoting positive self esteem during your child’s earliest years. Children develop ideas about their own capabilities much earlier than you would think, which is why it helps to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem that are predominant in your own child.

Infinity Martial Arts have developed a program for young children that focuses on creating an environment to bring out positive and confident kids. The classes leave children with constructive ideas about what they can achieve no matter their size, height or age.

Infinity Martial Arts Head Instructor, Neil Owen, believes the classes provide children with the building blocks for complimentary body image and ideas on staying positive with focus on health, not weight.

“Whether the children are struggling with self-esteem and confidence issues or not, they can learn to feel better about who they are by being involved in social

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Each age group has been covered with the Koala’s class catering for the 3-5 year olds, the Python’s for children 6-8, Scorpion’s for 9-11 year olds and the Tiger Sharks for the 12-15 year olds.

If you want to give your child a kick of confidence, bring them along for a free trial class and let them see what all the fun is about. Academies are located in Noosa, Maroochydore and Currimundi. Call 1300 INFINITY for more details.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

43

Babies

A Detached look at

Attachment Parenting

By Belinda Hopper DID YOU SEE THE MAY 21, 2012 TIME MAGAZINE COVER PHOTOGRAPH OF A YOUNG MOTHER, STANDING, HER TOP PULLED DOWN TO THE SIDE, WHILE SHE BREASTFED HER FOUR-YEAROLD SON STANDING ON A CHAIR NEXT TO HER? THE HEADLINE PROVOKED: ‘ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?’ AND PROVOKE IT DID!

S

ince then, Attachment Parenting (AP) has been debated and critiqued regularly.

60 Minutes did a story, calling it Extreme Parenting, saying it “challenges all conventional notions about parenting”. Baby expert, Pinky McKay, was in the news for an expletive-ridden blog rant against those she calls Baby Tamers, who implement Controlled Crying, or Parent-Directive Feeding with their babies. All in defense of Baby Cuddlers, who feed On Demand, central to AP philosophy.

It seems emotions run high when it comes to Attachment Parenting. And Child Psychologist,

Dr. Heather Harrison, reckons this is partly due to the label: “If there is a type of parenting called Attachment Parenting then it logically follows that all other types of parenting are by definition Nonattachment Parenting. And who wants to practice parenting that isn’t attached? You look cold and heartless… The name itself doesn’t allow parents to look at it objectively.”

So let’s put the name aside for a moment and take an objective look at how the philosophy came about, the theories and science behind it, what it looks like in practice and what the critics say.

BACKGROUND: Many cultures have, for thousands of years, practiced breastfeeding well into the toddler years, co-sleeping with their children and carrying their infants in slings for much of the day. But Pediatrician Dr. William Sears is largely responsible for reintroducing this instinctive-parenting style into the mix of modern western parenting philosophies, through the first of his thirty-plus parenting books, The Baby Book (1993).

THE PHILOSOPHY: There are three main tenets to Dr. Sears’ AP theory: AP mothers breastfeed their babies whenever the baby demands it and for as long as the baby wants it, often into toddlerhood and beyond. It is the baby who decides when it is time to wean, not the mother.

AP mothers tend to their babies’ every need so that they are never left to cry unattended. This means having their baby physically attached to them during the day, in a sling or pouch. Dr. Sears claims that babies left to cry for extended periods have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to brain damage. continued on next page...

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

45

Babies

AP babies co-sleep with their parents every night, sometimes for years. Dr. Sears claims that babies left to sleep in separate beds or rooms from their parents grow depressed and feel abandoned by their parents.

THE CLAIMS: Contrary to claims that the physical demands of AP makes parenting more onerous, the Association of Attachment Parenting Australia, claims that AP makes parenting easier and more enjoyable because of the strong bond of trust it nurtures between parent and child. They say this creates a secure child who is also empathic and responsive to others.

In fact, Dr. Sears claims that he has never known of an AP child who has ended up a bully!

He claims that bullies are children of detached parenting, who have built up resentment and anger at not having their immediate needs met by their parents.

THE SCIENCE: A May 2012 report in TIME’s Health & Science section questions whether Dr. Sears’ claims are based on sound scientific research. The focus is particularly on his article “Science Says: Excessive Crying Could Be Harmful” and his claims that babies left to cry develop antisocial behavior, poor school performance and a tenfold increase in the risk of ADHD, with experts countering, “Our findings provide evidence that the quality of maternal behavior appears to be unrelated to this effect”.

IN PRACTICE: Mother of two, Fiona, was introduced to the AP method through speaking with other parents and through her midwives. She was given Dr. Sears’ The Baby Book whilst pregnant and found the more she read, the more the philosophy made sense: “I think AP is really what comes naturally to most parents. Wanting to nurture, love and be attentive without being permissive and indulgent.”

Asked how they found AP in practice, Fiona says she and her husband co-slept with their firstborn, Estelle, until she was 7 months old, “… at which time I decided none of us were actually sleeping well because being that close to the breast she just wanted to nurse all night, or at least use me as a pacifier.”

But she did breastfeed on demand until Estelle was 14 months old, “…she weaned herself, mainly because my milk went back to colostrum as I entered the second trimester of my second pregnancy, otherwise I would have continued to nurse her up to 18-24 months.”

Fiona’s second child, Sadie, did not like co-sleeping at all, “…so from birth she slept in her own bed, right beside me, until she was 13 months. I still fed on demand and wore her eve-

46

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

I think AP is really what comes naturally to most parents.

Wanting to nurture, love and be attentive without being permissive and indulgent rywhere until about 7 months - once she was mobile she wanted to be down and chasing her big sister. She weaned herself around 13 months as well. She just lost interest in nursing.”

Fiona particularly likes the nurturing aspect of AP: “…being responsive to my babies’ needs created a sense of intimacy between us. I felt like we

could really communicate, I knew exactly what they needed.” She also enjoyed wearing her babies in the sling, “…I could do whatever I needed to: cook, clean, play with the older sibling, and the baby was content and often asleep. As she became more aware she also enjoyed being close and involved in whatever I was doing.”

Asked whether she found a downside to the practice, Fiona said she wonders whether being attached to her at all other times made it hard for Estelle to be strapped into her car seat as a baby: “…she did not like to be in the car seat and so if we needed to go longer distances she would be unhappy because she wanted to be held and so would scream for the whole car ride.”

But Fiona believes the practice and benefits of AP reach well beyond babyhood, “AP never really ends, it just changes focus as the child grows. Being available and attached to your child is a workin-progress. What one child needs from you is not necessarily what a sibling needs. Being able to adapt to each child's personality, and help them feel safe and secure, is the ongoing challenge, but AP has given me confidence in my parenting.”

The Criticisms: One of the loudest criticisms of AP is that it is anti-feminist. Just as women earned the right to have a baby and pursue a career outside of the home, thanks to the advent of baby formula and the establishment of child care centres and paid parental leave, a string of parenting experts tells them that to be a good parent they need to be present to meet their child’s every need—on demand.

And not every family can afford to live on one salary while the mother stays home. As economic reporter, Helaine Olen, says; “Whatever one thinks of the pros and cons of Attachment Parenting … it doesn’t come cheap, especially since there aren’t many (if any) employers out there www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

47

Babies

waiting for an employee who turns up with multiple children in slings and otherwise clinging to her body.”

To these criticisms Dr. Sears responds; “Women are the greatest multi-taskers in the world. AP, modified to the parents’ work schedule, helps busy parents reconnect with their child, which actually makes working and parenting easier. It’s attachment moms that forged the long overdue workplace-friendly breastfeeding-pumping stations and laws which respect and value the ability of a working mother to continue part-time breastfeeding.”

But TIME reporter, Kate Pickert, argues that it’s just not practical to both work and be an AP-style parent, “In practice AP can be exhausting because of the lack of sleep. And there’s no evidence that wearing a baby in a sling or sleeping with them will affect how they will turn out as adults.”

The risk of suffocation from co-sleeping with parents is the most alarming criticism of AP. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) there is an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially when a baby is less than 11 weeks, if either parent smokes, is very tired, has drunk alcohol recently or is on medication or drugs that make them sleep heavily. This is because, in your bed as opposed to a cot or crib, your baby could: • Get trapped between the bed and the headboard • Fall out • Get dangerously overheated under a duvet next to two hot adult bodies • Get accidentally suffocated if you unknowingly roll on them.

But Dr. Sears argues that babies learn to arouse themselves through co-sleeping, by following the sleeping rhythms of their parents. He says, “research has shown that in most cases, SIDS is caused by a baby's inability to arouse himself from sleep. Normally, when something occurs that threatens your baby's well being, such as difficulty breathing, he will automatically wake up. For reasons that are still unknown, in some babies, this protective mechanism does not go off, and so these babies are more at risk for SIDS.” Psychotherapist, Dr. Robi Ludwig, is concerned about the impact of AP on a child’s development and whether it creates an unhealthy level of dependence in the child upon their parents, or even whether it creates spoilt children, “When you give a child the feeling that the whole world revolves

48

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

The risk of suffocation from co-sleeping with parents is the most alarming criticism of Attachment Parenting

around them, it’s not good training for the real world,” she says. “The whole world doesn’t revolve around anybody.”

THE REALITY No one would argue against ‘breast is best’, even though according to Australia’s most recent statistics from Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), not many of us breastfeed our babies for an extended period. The statistics showed 92 per cent of children were breastfed at birth, but that figure fell steadily from month to month with only 14 per cent of babies still being breastfed by 12 months.

Yet no parent let their child starve!

And what if you have a back or neck injury that prevents you from using a sling? Or you have twins and can’t physically function with two children slung across your body? Or you have four children and you were all in the bed and the little one said, “roll over”?

What would Dr. Sears say?

He says Attachment Parenting is really about “…opening your mind and heart to the individual needs of your baby, and eventually you will develop the wisdom on how to make on-the-spot decisions on what works best for both you and your baby.” www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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Only Natural

The loaf lowdown By Kim Lahey

power your way through the bread maze DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? SCENARIO ONE: HEAD TO SUPERMARKET BREAD AISLE. PLANT SELF IN FRONT OF OCEAN-OF-BREAD, AS EYES GLAZE OVER, SEIZE THE NEAREST LOAF. SCENARIO TWO: RACE INTO BAKERY, STARE AT CAKES, ASK FOR THE USUAL BREAD. DON’T DESPAIR, IF YOU’RE IN EITHER CAMP, LET’S TALK!

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

B

read’s worth some thought, it forms a substantial part of our diet, we munch on average about four slices a day and it often plays an important role in a child’s lunchbox.

Luckily, a loaf’s look and weight, speak volumes and it’s not so tricky to track down decent bread.

GOODIES IN WHOLE GRAIN Rich in vitamins and minerals, whole grains are also a key source of dietary fibre, and recent revised Australian dietary guidelines emphasise the need for us to eat a greater variety of them.

Three separate areas of the grain hold various goodies. The grain kernel’s outside layer, the bran, holds the most fibre. Wholegrain and wholemeal breads include the ‘bran’, albeit in varying forms.

The bulk of the kernel, the endosperm, has the lion’s share of protein, carbohydrates, iron and major B-vitamins. White flour is made only from the endosperm, while wholegrain and wholemeal flour include all three parts of the grain.

The germ, the grain’s ‘heart’, is the most nutrient-rich part of the grain. Wholegrain and whole-

meal breads include the germ in all sorts of ways.

DIG OUT THE INGREDIENTS Bypass the name, bread may call itself whatever it pleases, and sniff out the ingredient list. After all, it’s mandatory for manufacturers to state the percentage of ingredients and to list them in descending order.

The first ingredient listed makes up the largest percentage, so if ‘whole grains’ or ‘kibbled grains’ appear first – bingo.

But if ‘wheat flour’ takes pride of place, the bread’s mostly white flour.

Further along the list you’ll see other additives, including the iodine, vitamin B (thiamin and folic acid) and folate that all Australian-made breads are required to be fortified with.

Sodium should be the last ingredient listed.

Bread’s a key source of hidden salt in our diet and bread’s sodium content varies widely, from a mega 760mg in one brand to others with a rewarding 110mg per 100g. Bread manufacturers have agreed to reduce sodium to 400 mg per continued on next page...

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

51

Only Natural

100g (or less) by the end of 2013, so keep an eye on the nutrition information panel (NIP).

What about bakery products’ ingredients?

Some baker’s chains give nutrient details on their website, otherwise you need to ask. Default option: look for the good signs - a coarse texture, lots of ‘bits’ and seeds and a chewy texture. The longer it takes you to chomp, the better!

Goodies other than grain help boost nutrient and fibre content too, we’ll take a look at some.

OTHER GOODIES - OILS, NUTS AND SEEDS Seeds and nuts are a super source of dietary fibre and essential nutrients and can be ground into flour or added to the mix. They don’t have to cost more - some home brand soy and linseed breads have a huge seven grams of fibre per 100 grams.

Chia is the newcomer that packs a punch. This Central American seed, related to mint, is a great source of omega-3 fats, calcium and vitamin B. And it contains more iron than spinach!

What about Omega 3? The type of Omega 3 most likely lacking in our diet is from fish and there’s scant ‘fish oil’ Omega 3-enriched-breads out there. But for any type of Omega 3 enriched bread, you’d need to gobble several loaves a day to fulfil the recommended omega 3 intake!

Let’s peek at common bread types now.

LOAF TYPES, NUTRITION AND FIBRE White bread’s made from milled wheat - the grain’s outer (dark) bran layers, fibre and nutrients are removed so the bread’s soft and has less flavour to compete with fillings. It lacks wholegrain’s fibre, but still has the endosperm’s protein and carbs. Fibre - about 1g per slice*. High-fibre white bread has added-in legume fibre, but still lacks the vitamin and mineral range of wholemeal. Fibre: about 2g per slice.

Wholemeal bread that is made from ground whole grains has more fibre, vitamins and minerals than white bread. It’s on par with wholegrain bread nutritionally but it’s digested faster so has a higher GI than wholegrain. But most packaged

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Bypass the name, bread may call itself whatever it pleases, and sniff out the ingredient list wholemeal bread’s made by recombining white flour with the bran and wheatgerm removed during milling. This creates a longer-lasting flour but offers less nutritional value. Even so, this ‘version’ of wholemeal flour contains the bran and germ (albeit added-back-in) while white flour doesn’t.

Fibre: about 2g per slice.

Multigrain breads are made from white flour with grains added or with a mixture of wholemeal and white flours – and these mixes are not-soclear on labels.

“We’re developing a taste for multigrain breads, because they have more flavour and texture than most white or wholemeal varieties, and manufacturers tell us they are healthier,” Choice notes. The supermarket’s own multigrain is usually the cheapest and made with refined white flour

which is nutritionally poorer and contain significantly less dietary fibre and wholegrains, Choice states. “For the healthiest multigrain bread, look for plenty of whole grains, without too much salt.”

Fibre: varies depending on grain added – about 1.9 per slice Whole grain bread isn’t just visibly ‘grainy’ and ‘seedy’, it also contains the invisible nutritious parts - the bran and germ. Wholegrain breads, including rye and sourdough, have up to four times white bread’s fibre, so they help us feel full longer – they’re one of the healthiest choices.

Seeds and grains take longer to digest, so this makes wholegrain breads low GI, which is great for lunchbox sandwiches’ slow release of energy. Wholegrain rye bread’s heavier texture and l continued on next page...

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Only Natural

look for the good signs - a coarse texture, lots of ‘bits’ and seeds and a chewy texture ower-gluten content keep you feeling full longer and wholegrain rye with added grains is top-ofthe-heap for fibre and vitamin content.

Wholegrain sourdough’s long-rising (up to 18 hours) provides more flavour and a low GI - it wins across the board nutritionally. But cheaper sourdough breads may’ve missed the slowrising step. The texture’s a giveaway – cheaper versions are melt-in-the-mouth, traditional sourdough is chewy.

Fibre: wholegrain varieties vary from 1.5 - 4.5g per slice.

Here’s a curly one though. The term ‘wholegrain’ on Australian food labels implies the grain is whole. But, a bread made from finelymilled flour still qualifies as wholegrain provided it contains the same amounts of the bran, germ and endosperm as the original unrefined grain.

Don’t rely on the term wholegrain alone, sniff out the products with the most grainy bits and the wording ‘kibbled’ (grain that’s broken into small pieces, not finely milled) or specified ground whole grains, on the ingredient list. The higher the percentage of the combined total of kibbled grain, nuts and seeds, the better.

Flatbreads, wraps and more… There’s a huge array of flour types in these flat breads and wraps, and their health-rating and fibre depends on the flour used and the weight of the piece. Exciting and nutritious breads include pumpernickel, spelt, buckwheat, quinoa and feekeh grain breads. Again, it comes down to the health-rating of their flour.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

When we’re looking for breads high in fibre, regular whole grain breads that contain more than 6 grams of fibre per 100 grams fit the bill (One slice of bread weighs from 26grams to as high as 35 grams per slice). But keep fibre in perspective. If your family consume lots of fruit, vegetables and other whole grains, opting for a whole grain bread with less fibre is just fine.

HOME-BAKED CHOICES Mmm! The aroma of bread baking. Just like any home baking, great homemade bread morphs from quality ingredients and deft measuring. And the better the flour, the better the bread.

Bread mix’s are fairly foolproof; they’re a blend of everything (except yeast and water) in the right amounts. Never mind any fandangled equipment.

Our fairly-aged breadmaker churns out delicious crusty loaves, we just must watch one ingredient – water! A single tablespoon draws the fine line between a great loaf and a ‘rock’, but my kids sort this out by checking on the churning dough. The downside to some commercial mixes is the additives that make them resistant to mould and suitable for high-speed bakery kneading.

What about baking from scratch? Bread flour needs ingredients like salt, sugar and bread improvers, yeast and water added, so careful measuring is essential. But the beauty of this is you have a ‘blank canvas’ to blend flours, include rye meal, seeds, grain, fruit, flavours, whatever takes your fancy! Bread making by hand does take sound technique, acquired with

practise, but I’m told once you’re in, you’ll be hooked.

GRAINY, SEEDY, COARSE, CHEWY, HEAVY…..

In the end, our best-bet bread is a ‘lovely lumpy loaf’ - the heaviest whole grain bread we can find - packed with fibre, whole grains and seeds.

It may take a little help from a magnifying glass, but if the ingredients stack up in order with kibble or ground whole grains first, you’re almost there.

But don’t knock ’em out with the grainiest, seediest, heaviest bread first up – you might like to try a slow build up…

Once you hunt down a great loaf that passes the family taste-test, tell us about it so we can share it with our other readers!

SOURCES/FIND OUT MORE: www.nutritionaustralia.org Nutrition Australia offers extensive dietary advice including lunch box ideas and recipes including their nutritional value. www.csiro.au CSIRO presents a Wellbeing Plan for Kids and simple bread making recipes for kids which explain the chemical reactions along the way. www.choice.com.au Choice reviews the nutritional value, fibre, taste and texture of 56 multigrain breads. www.bbcgoodfood.com BBC good food has great grainy and seed-flours (like quinoa) bread making recipes. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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PARENT ville

By Aleney de Winter

War on slumber

H

aving long had a dysfunctional relationship with slumber, broken sleep isn’t new to me. So, though I was warned that motherhood would be anything but somniferous, I thought I’d manage just fine when night feeds and a crying baby at 2am became my reality.

In fact, I was lucky to have had previous experience in the world of the perpetually awake, because my son delighted in maternal tête-a-têtes during the wee dark hours for a year, by which time even a seasoned insomniac like myself started to crave sleep. When the circles under my eyes turned from purple to black, I stoically accepted the fact that he wouldn’t sleep through until he was 34.

Until, one morning I awoke feeling oddly refreshed and terrified, and rushed to my baby’s side where, like any normal paranoid mother, poked him repeatedly to make sure he was breathing. He was asleep (or had been).

He’d slept through! On this great day, there was much rejoicing and the people danced and feasted and all was right with the world. Yea, verily.

Night after night, sleep and I snuggled up tight...until someone came be-

With only a tiny 23 year age gap between them, she is my boy’s ‘Demi’ tween us; someone with curly hair, blue eyes, and four teeth. At first their trysts were brief but soon they were spending whole nights together. My diaper-clad despot was ready to go to war to ensure sleep and I were through.

Though I can normally cope with broken sleep, I must clarify. There’s the broken sleep of the occasional insomniac and there’s the broken sleep of the mother of a despotic devil boy. Sleep so broken that it has been smashed to pieces, set fire to and buried, before having its grave danced merrily upon.

Using all my skills of diplomacy, I carefully explained to my son that he was contravening human rights laws as sleep deprivation is defined as torture under UN conventions and figured I could begin rebuilding my fractured relationship with sleep. I knew that it might take time for us to reach those former giddy heights — but I believed that sleep and I were meant to be.

Sadly, my sleep-stealing sadist of a son disagreed. I tried everything, even replacing his bedtime reading of ‘Hairy MacLary’ with ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’, to no avail. Last night he cranked up his war on slumber. After being woken for the seventh time I lay in wait for him to start pulling out my fingernails with pliers and pondered whether, if apprehended, he’d be tried at The Hague and if they’d need me to be a witness for the prosecution.

At 4am I’d have happily testified.

Now, bleary-eyed, I watch as my angel-faced oppressor plays with his Little People, a picture of innocence. But I’m on to my mini-Machiavelli as he toys with their little plastic lives... popping this one in a helicopter and another in a car and the one that looks like a plastic sleeping mummy on the plastic railway tracks — before gleefully mowing her down with a bright red train.

All I can do is wait for a celebrity activist to start a campaign to save me from my tiny tormentor. I pray it won’t be Sting (though his soporific droning could put us both to sleep). Personally, I’m hoping for George Clooney. He likes a good cause and, as well as giving me something nice to look at, he’d be sure to bring a couple of martinis to help ameliorate the pain.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

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GOOD health

Number two PROBLEMS

TOILETING PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY ‘NUMBER TWOS’ ARE A COMMON PRESENTATION TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DURING A CHILD’S EARLY YEARS. EVENTUALLY WE ALL ‘GET IT’ BUT FOR SOME CHILDREN THIS JOURNEY CAN BE SLOW, PAINFUL AND AT TIMES A FEW WRONG TURNS ARE TAKEN. HELPING PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THINGS GO WRONG IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MANAGING THIS PROBLEM.

By Dr Scott Parsons, GP, Coastal Family Health

W

e all eventually toilet train; however sometimes things get ‘stuck’ during this journey and unravelling toileting issues can be challenging. Our nurse has successfully trained her new kitten to use the toilet. Really. But us humans are a somewhat more complicated species and for some kids sitting on a toilet for number twos is the scariest thing ever.

There are two overlapping factors involved when trying to understand toileting issues. Firstly the function of the large intestine which can lead to constipation, and secondly the personality and developmental stage of child (don’t worry, I won’t be getting all Freudian). It is exceedingly rare for toileting problems to be due to a medical condition.

CONFUSION There is much confusion regarding the management of constipation, which often delays appropriate treatment and results in feelings of guilt

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

and frustration in parents who have ‘tried everything’. Poor advice from well-meaning friends, relatives and even poorly trained health professionals is common.

An example, is the discussion on diet. A poor diet can contribute to constipation. Constipation by definition is the passage of hard painful faeces. It can occur at any age but is particularly distressing during infancy and the early years. In a toddler this can be such a negative experience that they will decide to never have a bowel action ever again.

This results in the constipation dance. On tiptoes, the toddler will prance and hold the butt cheeks together, ensuring that a bowel movement does not occur. Eventually sometimes days later, a large delivery will occur, sometimes at the most inopportune time. This distressing experience reinforces the toddler’s withholding behaviour.

The first inclination is to look at the diet. Fac-

tors that increase constipation need to be considered. This is often seen with a high fat, and high calcium diet such as a toddler who is on too much cow’s milk. Replacing these foods with fruits will help, but most parents find that a healthy diet does not usually fix the constipated toddler.

In fact, high fibre and other bulking agents can contribute to the constipation.

WHAT IS NORMAL? Normal bowel function varies from three ‘number twos’ per day to as little as once every 4 - 5 days.

As long as these actions are comfortable and not painful, this is within the realms of normal. When bowel function causes pain, then this needs to be addressed quickly to avoid future problems.

This involves understanding how the large intestine works. Bear with me, this is a bit gross, and as usual in medicine, foodstuffs are used as analogies. The start of the large bowel receives waste from the small bowel with a consistency of ‘soup’.

On the journey to the end, the rectum, bacteria will break down this soup and water will be extracted until eventually soft sausages are ‘made’.

If too much water is removed then sausages become harder, and painful to pass. So when constipation becomes a problem then it is prudent to increase the water in the large intestine. Unfortunately, drinking more water does not work.

Instead, this is done by substances called osmotic laxatives. Over the last few years the most effective of these is macrogol, which is called osmolax or movicol. These products simply attract water and are perfectly safe for prolonged use.

Yep, let me repeat this, can be used for long periods without any issue.

The ‘old wives tales’ that exist with childhood constipation significantly interfere with appropriate management. Addressing such concerns is important to ensure compliance with treatment.

Some children require use of laxatives for months and months until they are at an age where they fully understand their bowels and are mature enough and independent enough to ‘listen’ to their bodies. There is no such thing as lazy bowels due to laxative use.

Using small doses and hoping Mother Nature and a better diet will improve things nearly always fails. The toddler’s memory needs to be retrained so that every bowel action is a joy and pain free.

This requires aggressive continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

59

GOOD health

therapy and sometimes treatment for months. A rule of thumb is that it needs to be treated for as long as it has been a problem.

If this problem is not addressed then some toddlers and children will temporarily lose sensation in the lower part of the bowel. This means they often will soil their underwear inadvertently having many toileting accidents. This is a term called encopresis and can lead to significant psychological distress unless properly managed.

Health professionals who are trained in this area will use aggressive ‘cleanout’ doses of osmotic laxatives, then when things are going well a prolonged ‘maintenance’ regime, combined with a positive attitude and rewarding for ‘toilet sitting’ follows.

TOILET TRAINING So constipation is getting sorted, what about the toilet refusers, those that stubbornly ask for nappies or hold on for days and days until finally it all comes out on a hot day in the car !

Toilet training starts during the toddler years and the majority of children will quickly reach this

developmental milestone by the age of 4yrs. However some children will struggle in this area. They can happily sit on the toilet for wee but will require a nappy and a ‘secret place’ for a bowel action. So the first goal is to fix the bowel actions so they are soft and comfortable, occurring once or twice per day. Then the plan is to slowly re programme the toddler to show that using the toilet is not scary and painful. This involves some fun ‘no pressure’ toilet sitting at regular times with rewards.

Some personalities will prefer to remain in nappies, simply because they are not ready for independence, or the ‘one on one’ time they get when the parent changes them is too much ‘fun’.

All these toddlers require patience, persistence and rewards for small easy to achieve goals. This stepwise toileting is highlighted on the raisingchildren.net.au website.

OLDER TODDLERS/ KIDS Another group we have to deal with (I call them the March/April constipaters) are the prep and early childhood children whose toileting regresses once they attend daycare/ prep/ school.

This is due to them either being ‘too busy’, ‘too embarrassed’, or ‘too gross’ to use a toilet away from their one at home. So they ignore their body’s messages and withhold their bowel actions. Things start backing up.

The management of these children involves some regular toilet sitting before and after school, with some appropriate rewards, and ensuring the bowel actions are soft by using osmotic laxatives as mentioned above.

A final word about cow’s milk. Some children will have an intolerance to the protein in cow’s milk, which will ‘slow down’ the large intestine. It is worth considering a trial ‘off dairy’ for a short period in those children who are particularly resistant to treatment. But this is rarer than people think.

If you feel your child fits into this category it is wise to seek help early from health professionals who understand and are trained in this area. This includes general practitioners, paediatricians and occupational therapists.

Scott is a Paediatric General Practitioner dealing with childhood illnesses at Coastal Family Health.

Dr Julian Paxton MB, BS, FRACP Dr James Scorer MB, ChB, FRACP Dr Anthony Morosini MB, BS, FRACP • Assessing and treating health problems such as Asthma, Eczema, Diabetes and Epilepsy in children of all ages from newborn babies to adolescents • Development, learning and behaviour problems including ADHD and Autism assessment

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BUDERIM

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Phone (07) 5444 5177

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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61

Profile

TACKLING LIFE:

Meet Mark Minichiello LIFE AS A RUGBY LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL MOST CERTAINLY HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS AS MARK MINICHIELLO HAS EXPERIENCED. IT IS A DEMANDING CAREER ON THE BODY AND MIND, REQUIRING THE PLAYER TO MAINTAIN FITNESS AND FOCUS THROUGHOUT THE ON AND OFF SEASONS. MARK, WHO IS CALLED “MINI” BY FANS AND FRIENDS ALIKE, WAS A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION TITANS NRL TEAM IN 2007 AND NOW JUGGLES TRAINING, COMPETITION AND FAMILY ON A WEEKLY BASIS. Interview by Jackie Goldston

Mark started playing rugby when he was 6 years old, but also enjoyed a variety of other sports growing up, including athletics, swimming, tee ball, softball, & tennis. He has found that it’s not always the most talented person, but the guy who is willing to dedicate himself and work the hardest, who will ultimately succeed.

FAMILY It has been an incredibly full and life changing few years for Mark. He married his wife Milena in 2009 and they now have three wonderful boys, Luca (almost 3), Leo (1) and Rocco (a few weeks old!). Mark shares, “Luca was born in August 2010 and he is a sensitive shy boy & very quick to pick up on things; he walked at 9 months. Leo was born in July 2012 and he is a big boy, he is the little bruiser, tough as nails. Rocco was born in June this year and looks just like his dad and hopefully a mixture of the other two.”

It’s something I look forward to every day. It’s not easy but very rewarding.”

ADVICE Becoming a parent has certainly changed Mark’s perspective on life; however he was lucky to have been a part of a family that offered a great example for him. He shares, “I have been blessed with two wonderful parents, who always put us children first, would do anything for us before themselves. Also the work ethic they have passed on to me has no doubt helped me achieve everything in my life so far. To see how hard working my dad was and still is, to give us all the best, is something I will always admire. Those two traits I have learnt from both mum & dad and will definitely be passed on to my children. One other thing mum said that will always stick in my mind is, never ever skimp on food, (we would) rather wear ragged clothing but feed your family well.

Us Italians do love our food!”

LIFE CHANGES So how has having children changed his life? He explains, “I think having children definitely puts life in perspective. You’re no longer just responsible for yourself, you can’t be selfish anymore, you have to put them first (well that’s how my wife and I see it anyway). It’s a big change in lifestyle… All of a sudden those problems that you thought were big ones are now quite insignificant, because you walk in the door and your boys come running for you with the biggest smile on their face.

It’s so pure, that you can’t help but smile yourself.

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

healthy and off the couch playing video games or watching TV, but they will learn these things for themselves along the way.”

SPORTING INFLUENCE Being heavily involved in sport often influences the way people parent or guide their children and this is the case for Mark and his family. “I believe being involved in professional sport teaches you a lot of different traits, communication skills, team work, respect for others, self-discipline, these are only a few, but are all things that will help me parent and guide my children through life.” Mark explains, “I encourage all parents to get their kids involved in sport, not only does it keep them fit and

BALANCE With such a heavy schedule it is hard to imagine how Mark could have any energy left. How does he balance family and training demands? “It is tough to balance because rugby league takes up a lot of your time,” he explains. “It’s not like a 9 to 5 job, on one hand we are very lucky to finish early on some days and have a day off during the week to spend with our family’s.

"On the other hand, you’re away most weekends of the year. While most families are spending time together on weekends, I’m preparing for a game, so you really have to try and find that balance which works for your family. When I’m at training that is my focus. I make sure I’m there early to prepare and don’t leave until I know I have done everything that my body needs recovery wise. By doing that, it lets me walk out of training knowing I have done everything and I can then go home and give everything to my family without having to think of football for the rest of the day.”

So what does Mark do in his spare time? He shares, “Any spare time I like to spend with my family either eating at a nice coffee shop (I love my food), or down at the park and or beach. My boys are full of energy so I need to tire them out somehow. Ideally I would like to put my feet up and relax but with 3 boys that is almost impossible!” www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

e your kids driving you bonkers? Sick of scouring oks and websites for answers? Well Hot 91.1 is re to help. Send us your kiddie conundrums and r very Are own Todd and Sami along with Jan from your kids driving you bonkers? Sick of scouring books ttle Petal could be be coming to your rescue. and websites for answers?

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It's all about

FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT.

The more you smile, your body tricks your mind into believing that it is truly happy even when you thought differently. - ALEXA VARANO, 2013 -

Refresh your make-up!

A hot tip to brighten your spring look is to introduce a bright colour from the palette that suits you best… It may be orange on your lips or yellow tones on your eyes.

66

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

You oxox At the end of winter, vitamin D levels are typically at their lowest…

Cancer Council Australia recommends that Queenslanders need a few minutes of sun exposure on most days, year around to help prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Escape to the movies!

DIANA Advanced Screenings 4th – 7th October Chicks At The Flicks September 25 – Tickets $25 Celebrated and adored by millions, she was the Queen of people's hearts, yet the bittersweet story of the last man to truly capture hers has never been told. Princess Diana (double Academy Award nominee® Naomi Watts), at one time the most famous woman in the world, inspired a nation with her generosity, compassion and kindness – and in her final years she would meet the man, Dr. Hasnat Kahn who in turn inspired her. Starring: Naomi Watts, Naveen Andrews, Cas Anvar, Douglas Hodge. www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

RECENT

Bigger is better!

A large American study has found that you are more likely to marry and less likely to divorce if you have more than two siblings.

The study didn’t examine why (although I am sure we can take a few guesses). Whatever the explanation, when it comes to preventing divorce in adulthood, the group of sociologists from Ohio State University found "the more siblings the better”.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT

HOLDING A GRUDGE CAN

NOT ONLY KEEP YOU SAD, IT CAN

AFFECT YOUR HEALTH. SO, IF IT IS POSSIBLE –

“Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know existed.”

- LINDA WOOTEN -

LET IT GO AND MOVE ON!

I’ve learned so much from my mistakes… I’m thinking of making a few more!

- CHERYL COLE -

QUICK & SIMPLE 10 Banana Bread MINUTE

Sunshine Coast mum, and author of Food before 5, Amanda Arnold has shared a quick and simple recipe from her new cookbook ($19.95 from www.foodbefore5.com.au) Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 1 hr Ingredients: 2 ½ cups self raising flour 1 cup brown sugar ¾ cup milk ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 egg 3 very ripe bananas, mashed 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp mixed spice www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Procedure: 1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease and line a loaf tin (approx. 15cm x 25cm) with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

3. Pour into loaf tin and bake for 1 hour or until cooked through. Check if centre is cooked by inserting a skewer or toothpick. If it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.

4. Leave to cool in loaf tin for 5 mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Storage: Room temperature in airtight container for up to 3 days; in fridge, in airtight container for up to 1 week, freeze, in airtight container/freezer bag for up to 3 months.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

67

LETS celebrate

Halloween with an Aussie Twist

By Lisa Williment, Partee Petite. www.parteepetite.com.au

HALLOWEEN IN AUSTRALIA IS AN OCCASION APPROACHED WITH MUCH SUSPICION. IS IT YET ANOTHER ‘AMERICANISM’ WE CAN DO WITHOUT? IS IT A CREEPY GATHERING OF EVIL WITCHES AND BLOOD SPLATTERED MUMMY’S? OR SHOULD WE APPROACH IT WITH TRUE AUSSIE SPIRIT: ANY EXCUSE FOR A PARTY?!

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

T

raditionally known as All Hallows Eve’, Halloween is said to have originated as far back as Roman times, over 2000 years ago. Samhain (pronounced sow-in) was an ancient roman festival celebrating the end of the harvest and the beginning of the new Celtic year.

It is believed when Christianity spread throughout the Celtic world, All Saints Day, the Christian celebration in honour of the Saints, was combined with the pagan Samhain and All Hallows Mass was the result. It is believed on the eve of All Hallows Mass, the spirits of the dead walk the earth.

Whether you follow this belief, or whether you choose to celebrate just for the fun of it, Halloween is an occasion that is becoming increasingly popular in Australia and particularly amongst children. Most American families celebrate Halloween with almost as much enthusiasm as Christmas: decorating their houses with the endless supply of products available, carving out pumpkins and creating freshly baked goodies. Whilst we Aussies are seeing Christmas trees and tinsel appearing in our stores from early October, American stores are brimming with all the ghoulish pleasures Halloween seems to offer.

If you are being met with pleas to par-

ticipate in Halloween, yet are reluctant, perhaps you could take a positive approach to the theme: aim for a fun celebration without too much of the gore and darkness. Here are some great tips to make Halloween a more ‘Australian’ event, without spending a small fortune on store bought items:

INVITATIONS Start with some simple red back spider invitations: cut out one larger circle of black cardboard then a smaller circle of red (for the spot). Attach with glue. Use either a white, gold or silver marker to hand write your message, or even cut out letters from papers or magazines for a scarier look.

Use black pipe cleaners or black wool for the legs. Add some glitter to the red spot, for a touch of 'bling'. Ask guests to dress up ‘Halloween with an Australian twist’ …children’s imaginations will surprise you! Ask only five or six friends…a manageable number avoiding an all out production.

DECORATIONS Set up a small area with table and chairs. Cover a table with black fabric and make a table runner in contrasting orange crepe paper for the centre. From a sheet of black continued on next page... www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

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- on the coast -

GymbaROO KindyROO and

BabyROO

INFANTS (8wks to 12mths) TODDLERS (1-3yrs) PRESCHOOLERS (3-5yrs)

Taking Enrolments Now

Please note limited spaces apply.

Come and Learn through play!

Discovery and Playtime in the Gym, on large equipment for gross motor skills & small equipment for fine motor skills, balance/vestibular, music & movement & parachute at mat time.

Literacy, phonics, numeracy, art/craft & school readiness for 3 – 5yrs GymbaROO is an established research-based educational

Australian program for children between 6 wks & 4 yrs old GymbaROO is designed and taught by professionally qualified instructors

Classes held at the Goodlife Community Centre, Buderim on Wed, Thurs, & Fri!!

Contact Rachel: 0403 897 842

check our website for details! www.gymbaroosunshinecoast.com

email: buderimgymbaroo@bigpond.com

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

69

LETS celebrate

cardboard, cut out bats, red back spiders…even print out pictures of Tasmanian devils (from the Internet) and glue onto cardboard! Decorate with glitter for some colour. These can be scattered down the centre of the table and/or attached to a tree branch with black wool. (A wattle, bottle brush or eucalypt would look great). Perhaps spray the branch gold or black and place in a vase wrapped in toilet paper, in the centre of the table. You may also like to entwine fairy lights throughout the branch and run along the centre of the table for some ‘mood’ lighting. You can purchase red or black plates, cups and napkins and make spider napkin rings from pipe cleaners.

Have fun and go wild! If you really are keen and have the time, grab a pumpkin, a sharp knife and create a jack-o-lantern.

ENTERTAINMENT Party games are essential; with bobbing for apples being a favourite. Place some apples in a bucket of water and with hands behind their backs, the guests aim to bite/eat the apple with their teeth...not so easy, but very funny to watch and do! It is believed the first to achieve this will go on to be the first one to marry, which some

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

Halloween is an occasion that is becoming increasingly popular in Australia and particularly amongst children

children may find frightening in itself!

‘Trick or treating’ is the much talked about activity of Halloween. However it can be met with resistance from householders wishing for an uninterrupted night in. Perhaps a safer and more certain way for ‘treaters’ to not be disappointed is to have a trick or treat treasure hunt. For a simple version; place lollies, pipe cleaner spiders, jelly cups, vegetables such as broccoli (as a trick!) and some chocolate biscuits/brownies, around your

garden. Appoint one child to be the leader and arm them with a torch. They then lead the others through the darkness to find the treasure. It’s sure to deliver shrieks and cheers.

Creating a ‘potion’ is simple and fun. Start with a large bucket or bowl: tell the children they all need to find leaves, rocks or flowers in the garden to place in the potion. Provide food colouring, bi-carbonate soda and white vinegar and let them go for it: stirring their potion with sticks.

The bi-carb and vinegar should create a foaming effect. They could even make up a simple spell: something with a positive overtone like, “Stars of the Northern Sky, grant me wisdom and tolerance”. This is guaranteed fun.

Wrap the Mummy: Break into teams of two: Hand each team a roll of toilet paper and nominate one member to be the ‘mummy’. Whichever team wraps their mummy with the entire roll of toilet paper first, is the winner, but make sure they avoid the face!

It doesn’t matter how involved you become in the celebration of Halloween, if you choose a small gathering of close friends, dress up and have innocent fun, surely there can’t be too much harm in it? www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

- A FAMILY CONNECT EVENT -

27th

October

Sunday 27th October 2013 11.30am - 2.30pm

Lakefront Parklands Amberjack St, Brightwater free entry

BYO picnic lunch for the family to enjoy at the parklands. Indulge in the delicious cake stall, sweets & lolly stall, coffee, drinks and sausage sizzle.

Join us for old-fashioned games & lots of fun for the kids.

It promIses to be a great day for the whole famIly to enjoy Presented by Women’s Lifestyle Expo & Kids on the Coast

- on the coast -

For more information please visit our event on www.facebook.com.au/kidsonthecoast/events www.womenslifestyleexpo.com.au/family-connect

Personalised Fingerprint Jewellery individually hand-crafted in solid silver, capturing your child's first impressions.

1300 139 230

www.littleprints.com.au

18 Project Avenue, Noosaville, Qld, 4566

- on the coast -

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

71

holidays

ESCAPE TO PERTH… with your family!

YOU WILL FIND ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A GREAT FAMILY HOLIDAY IN PERTH - SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST BEACHES, BUSTLING MARKETS, INNER CITY PARKS, OUTDOOR DINING AND AMAZING MARINE ADVENTURES. By Jackie Goldston

M

any of us rule out a holiday to Perth due to the long flight and end up taking a holiday closer to Queensland. However with flights often on sale for around $250 (each way), it is well worth the effort to take a trip across Australia and explore the West!

SWIM WITH DOLPHINS AND VISIT PENGUIN ISLAND Rockingham is about 45mins south of Perth and is home to the Shoalwater Marina Park where you can join dolphin swim and watch tours (suitable for children) with Rockingham Wild Encounters.

While you are there, why not take a ferry to Penguin Island, an unspoilt nature reserve, to see the fairy penguins being fed in the interpretive centre. The area features great beaches, snorkelling, seals, glass bottom boat cruises and more. (www. dolphins.com.au) HILLARY’S BOAT HARBOUR Hillarys Boat Harbour is located just north of the city (about 15-20 mins drive) and a fantastic day out for families. The harbour has a variety of attractions including the Aquarium of WA (www.aqwa. com.au), Marine Discovery Centre (www.nmdc. com.au), The Great Escape (www.thegreatescape. com.au) which is a fun park offering rock climbing, high ropes, waterslides, mini putt putt and trampolines. Hillarys also has ferries to Rottnest Island

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Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

and whale watching (in season) and an enclosed beach with little waves which means it is really popular for families with young children. (www. hillarysboatharbour.com.au) ROTTNEST ISLAND Rottnest Island is a must do – particularly during the warmer months. Families can hire bikes for all ages to get around the island or join a bus tour.

There are heaps of family-friendly bays, stunning beaches, mini golf and trampolines at the Fun Park, check out the cute Quokkas, climb the Wadjemup Lighthouse, jump aboard the Captain Hussey trail to Oliver Hill and view the WW2 guns and maze of underground tunnels and there is even a great inflatable water park near the main jetty. (www.rottnestisland.com) KINGS PARK Kings Park is the one of the world’s largest inner city parks with great views over the city and river.

For families there are children’s play and discovery areas, a tree top walk, walking tours, bushland trails, grassed picnic areas and during spring a stunning display of wildflowers. Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park is a place for children to connect with the environment and see what it's like to make their own fun: explore, climb ropes, wade through creeks, build cubbies and get dirty. (www. bgpa.wa.gov.au/education/naturescape)

SWAN VALLEY The Swan Valley isn’t just for adults, a lot of the wineries have playgrounds and there are two chocolate factories, the Margaret River Chocolate Factory and Whistlers Chocolate and Whiteman Park and Caversham Wildlife Park (www.cavershamwildlife.com.au), fantastic cycle pathways suitable for children. (www.swanvalley.com.au) PERTH ZOO Perth Zoo has around 1,300 native and exotic animals in three major areas – Australian Walkabout, African Savannah and Asian Rainforest. They have a large grassed picnic area, free zookeeper presentations and feedings at various times during the day. (www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au) SCITECH DISCOVERY CENTRE Scitech is an interactive, educational and engaging science centre in the city offering captivating science experiences for the whole family. Kids can learn about science and technology in a safe, fun and educational environment. They have a planetarium (largest in Australasia), hands on exhibits, feature exhibitions, science performances and puppet shows. (www.scitech.org.au) For more attractions and experiences in Perth, visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au or share with us your favourite places to visit in Perth and surrounding areas! www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

Cultural programs Party entertainment School drumming workshops African drumming classes

0434585992

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

rhythmculture.com.au

7 DAY CAMPS 21 - 28 Sept 28 Sept - 5 Oct 30 Nov - 7 Dec 7 - 14 Dec 14 - 21 Dec 28 Dec - 4 Jan 2014 4 - 11 Jan 11 - 18 Jan 18 - 25 Jan Camps every school holidays with full accommodation & adult supervision WEEKEND CAMPS Ages 6 to teens 18 - 21 Oct DAY TRIPS AVAILABLE Beginners welcome IN THE HOLIDAYS Childcare rebate www.facebook.com/KiahPark1

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Ph: 5486 6166

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013 – Kids on the Coast

73

Books APPS Movies

REVIEWS The 39-Story Treehouse,

BOOKS

by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton, Pan Macmillan Australia, RRP $12.99 Join Andy and Terry in their astonishing 39-storey treehouse!

Jump on the world's highest trampoline, toast marshmallows in an active volcano, swim in the chocolate waterfall, pat baby dinosaurs, go head-to-trunk with the Trunkinator, break out your best moves on the dance floor, fly in a jet-propelled swivel chair, ride a terrifying rollercoaster and meet Professor Stupido, the world's greatest UN-inventor. Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up! Ages 7 – 11

The Very Brave Bear

by Nick Bland, Scholastic Press, RRP $16.99 The Very Cranky Bear is back in his fourth book, and this time he's facing Boris Buffalo in a battle of bravery! But will something surprising send them both fleeing through the jungle? Bright and engaging illustrations with a cheeky and charming story make the book fun for reading aloud as well as for developing readers. Ages 1 - 6

KID’S APP

Pettson's Inventions 2

MOVIES: FOR KIDS THE SMURFS 2 (3D) In Cinemas September 12 Rated: G In this sequel the evil Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like characters called the Naughties that he hopes will let him harness the allpowerful, magical Smurf-essence. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants and only a secret spell that Smurfette knows can turn the Naughties into real Smurfs - Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette. www.TheSmurfs2.com.au

TURBO (3D) In Cinemas September 19 Rated: G From the makers of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, Turbo is a high-velocity 3D comedy about an underdog snail who kicks into overdrive when he miraculously attains the power of super-speed.

Turbo learns that no one succeeds on their own, so he puts his heart and shell on the line to help his pals achieve their dreams, before Turbo-charging his own impossible dream: winning the Indy 500.

Voices include Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Snoop Dogg and Samuel.L.Jackson.

KID’S APP

($1.99 iPad & iPhone) Clever graphics encourage youngsters to figure out how to build different items… but it’s not as easy as it seems.

Drag and drop the parts to their right spot and watch the invention go! A secret waits to be unlocked for those who manages to complete everything. A fun and pedagogic app that teaches logic and stimulates creativity for children of all ages. For ages 4 to adult.

Clay Jam (Free, Andriod and Apple) This is a game pure and simple… it is fun and has no particular educational value.

Guide Fat Pebble as he rolls down five weird and wonderful hills in a world made entirely from clay! Squash monsters on the way, and he'll grow and grow and GROW! Get all the way to the bottom of the hill and meet the nasty Bully Beasts.

The app uses fantastic animation and cute sounds! For ages 2 +.

To see more visit www.kidsonthecoast.com.au 74

Kids on the Coast – SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

www.kidsonthecoast.com.au

s d i k r the

o f e r o m s ’ e r e Th

! e r o f e b r e v e than

m o r f s y a d 7 Open 5pm o . t m m a a 0 9 1 t a t r a t s s e d Ri Keep an eye on our website for upcoming events!

73 Frizzo Road, Palmview, Bruce Highway Sunshine Coast | P: 5494 5444

DSA AW9010f

www.aussieworld.com.au